Churu for the Angry Guide

73

Ah! I had completely forgotten.

Siwoo’s eyes widened as he saw the pendant shimmering brilliantly under the light. He froze in surprise, as if he had received an unexpected gift.

The necklace floating in the air with telekinesis flew into Siwoo’s hand on its own.

“I fixed the necklace. It’s designed for beastkin, so it won’t choke you.”

Geonho demonstrated how far the necklace could stretch by pulling it. He had internally cursed himself the moment he saw the torn necklace.

Accidents often occurred when carelessly putting any necklace on a beastkin in animal form. It was incredibly fortunate that he wasn’t seriously injured.

“It must have hurt a lot.”

Geonho asked, staring blankly at Siwoo’s slender neck. Siwoo quietly averted his gaze. Pretending not to have heard the question, he showed interest in the new necklace.

“You didn’t have to give me this…”

Muttering words he didn’t really mean, he closely examined the pendant that was back in his hand.

It gave him a strange sense of relief that Geonho, of all people, had the pendant. Though he tried not to smile, the corners of his mouth kept twitching upwards. Embarrassingly so.

“But why did you engrave your name on it?”

Siwoo deliberately spoke gruffly to hide his smile. He tried hard to conceal his elation, feeling like a pet cat if he showed happiness at receiving the necklace.

“My name?”

Geonho, who had been watching Siwoo preciously holding the necklace with both hands, tilted his head. He seemed not to understand what Siwoo was talking about.

“Here on the gold- no, on the pendant, you engraved your name. Even though you’re giving it to me.”

“Ah, that.”

He seemed to have forgotten what he had engraved. He was the kind of guy who made you want to call him an idiot even when you were trying not to. Not just any idiot, but a kind-hearted one.

“It was also before you had a name.”

Geonho answered in a languid tone, chuckling with a hissing sound.

“My name is safer.”

Safer? Siwoo’s head tilted at these puzzling words.

“If it’s mine, no one will take it.”

Geonho rested his chin on the back of his hand and locked eyes with the sky-blue irises. He stared intently, as if stamping Siwoo with his eyes.

Siwoo’s cool sky-colored eyes and Geonho’s hot-temperature-like red eyes interlocked deeply. Siwoo was the first to avert his gaze.

“Why am I yours?”

This time, Siwoo complained sincerely.

“I’m my own. Don’t act like you own me.”

Geonho nodded vigorously in agreement.

“That’s right. You’re your own. Your own.”

He repeated the words, grinning as if he found them pleasing. Siwoo was about to show his fist but let it go because Geonho was smiling so brightly. He didn’t dislike that refreshing smile.

“But what I just said is true.”

Geonho, who had been laughing heartily, said with a languid smile.

“If I say it’s mine, no one touches it. Inside or outside the center, everyone.”

“Why?”

“Everyone pretends to like me on the surface, but they’re actually afraid of me.”

His voice rang low with confidence. Siwoo closed his mouth for a moment.

“So if anyone bothers you or gives you trouble, just mention my name.”

Geonho nodded and pointed at himself with his thumb. As if he was bragging.

“I’m incredibly strong. No one can beat me.”

Siwoo quietly observed Geonho.

“Are you stronger than your brother?”

The question he had intended to keep to himself suddenly burst out. It was an unconscious slip.

As soon as he asked, Siwoo was startled by the image of Taebeom flashing through his mind. Taebeom’s cold expression as he showed his prosthetic hand and the deep scars on his left arm suddenly began to flicker before his eyes.

It looked like an old wound. It was clearly a scar from being torn by the thick claws of a monster or beast.

I wonder if he lost his left hand because of that injury. Siwoo let his imagination run wild.

“There’s nothing stronger than my brother.”

At that moment, Geonho’s low voice cut off Siwoo’s imagination.

“My brother is different. He’s incomparable to me.”

Despite his subdued voice, Geonho was still smiling. He seemed to firmly believe what he had said. Even though he must know that he was far stronger in terms of rank.

“So don’t ask about things like that.”

Geonho leaned back on the sofa and slowly rubbed his eyelids.

“I’ll answer everything else. Just not about my brother.”

Siwoo stared at Geonho for a while before asking casually.

“Can you really answer everything?”

“Yeah.”

The answer came without hesitation, filled with sincerity. Along with a big yawn.

Geonho, who had opened his mouth wide, covered his lower jaw with one shoulder. Siwoo had wondered why he was looking at him with half-lidded eyes, but it seemed he was sleepy. No wonder his eyes were half-closed.

“Did you not sleep well yesterday?”

“No.”

Geonho tried to say he slept well, but consecutive yawns stopped his words. It seems even SS-rank Espers can’t overcome yawning.

“What time did you go to sleep?”

Siwoo narrowed his eyes and urged for an answer.

“I slept early.”

“How early?”

Geonho slightly averted his eyes. Judging by his inability to answer, it seemed he had either slept very late or not at all.

“Didn’t you go to sleep after watching a movie with me?”

Last night, they had watched a movie together in the living room before retiring to their respective rooms. Siwoo had fallen asleep right away, so he naturally thought Geonho had done the same. But now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“Can’t you sleep without sleeping pills?”

“No, I sleep well without them too.”

“Then why couldn’t you sleep yesterday?”

Siwoo examined Geonho’s complexion closely and put on a serious face. It seemed like Geonho hadn’t been able to sleep for more than just yesterday. Because he was always smiling, Siwoo only now noticed the dark circles under his eyes. And he was supposed to be Geonho’s dedicated guide.

“How many days haven’t you slept?”

As Siwoo persistently questioned, Geonho’s red eyes escaped to the ceiling.

“Answer honestly.”

Siwoo immediately grabbed Geonho’s collar. Geonho’s gaze, which had fallen to the floor, slowly returned to Siwoo. His eyes looked somewhat dejected.

“It’s not a problem even if I don’t sleep for a few days.”

“You really haven’t slept for days?!”

Siwoo’s voice grew louder. He had asked just in case, but it seemed Geonho hadn’t slept for more than two days, not just one.

“Is it because you lack guiding?”

As Siwoo was about to pour out guiding right away, Geonho stopped him, patting his shoulder. It was dangerous to receive waterfall-like guiding in such a sleepy state. Geonho was particularly vulnerable to sleep.

“It’s not that. I took guiding medicine too.”

For Siwoo’s safety, guiding should be received when the mind is most intact. At least until Siwoo could control his guiding.

“Then why couldn’t you sleep?!”

“I was afraid you might leave again.”

Geonho, rubbing his face, finally confessed the truth. He had purposely not mentioned it, knowing it would be burdensome.

“When I fall asleep, I’m hard to wake up. I might not even notice if you leave.”

Geonho’s smile deepened. He had such a tired face that looked like he could fall asleep at any moment, yet he smiled so well.

“Who said I’d leave? I’m not going anywhere.”

Siwoo slapped Geonho’s thigh hard and glared at him as he smiled mindlessly. Today especially, the more Geonho smiled, the more bitter Siwoo’s mouth felt.

“So sleep properly!”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’m not leaving! I won’t go even if you tell me to!”

“So you’ll keep staying here?”

“Yeah!”

Siwoo answered boldly, as if angry. In truth, while staying at the Baekya Guild’s lodging, his desire to leave had faded. There was plenty of food here, and people to play with when bored. Though it was often annoying and troublesome, it was better than living alone. It seemed okay to keep living together.

“You promised. You have to keep it this time.”

Geonho smiled like a child who had gotten everything in the world. Even though all he had gained was the ability to stay in the same space as Siwoo, a bright smile bloomed on his lips.

What’s the big deal? Why is he so happy about it?

Siwoo nodded his head vigorously and pushed Geonho’s chest.

“Get some sleep and then go out.”

“I was going to do that anyway.”

Geonho grinned and flopped down on his back on the sofa. He adjusted his position, lying on his side with one arm as a pillow so he could see Siwoo well.

“Do you want to sleep too?”

He patted the wide sofa and smiled transparently. If Yoo Jihan had made the same comment, Siwoo would have recoiled in disgust, but coming from Geonho, it sounded pure.

“I’m not sleepy. I slept a lot.”

“Then shall we play? Want to watch a movie?”

“What play? Just sleep.”

Siwoo pulled over a cushion and pressed it firmly on Geonho’s stomach. Thanks to the large sofa, there was still room even with Geonho lying down.

Geonho looked up at Siwoo intently, hugging the cushion with a disappointed face. He looked like he wanted something.

“What are you going to do while I sleep?”

But he absolutely didn’t say it out loud.

“I don’t know. Just hurry up and sleep.”

“I’m too curious to sleep.”

Despite his huge build, his behavior was even more childish than an elementary school student. This guy who looked like he could take down a bear.

“I’ll just be here. I have nothing to do.”

“Then lie down too. It’s fucking comfortable.”

Siwoo frowned and went to hit that foul mouth.

“What’s with the ‘fucking’? Fucking?”

He scolded Geonho while cursing just as much himself. When Siwoo pretended to hit his mouth, Geonho pursed his lips and giggled.

Then he revealed just a tiny bit of his true feelings. Just a little, so Siwoo wouldn’t recoil.

“Can I hold your hand?”

Siwoo hesitated, lowering his fist and locking eyes with Geonho.

“Do you need guiding?”

“No, I just want to hold it.”

Siwoo’s round eyes rolled away as if escaping. Geonho, observing Siwoo’s blank expression, added:

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

Then don’t bring it up. Siwoo glared at him with a sulky expression. Geonho, as usual, was wearing that refreshing smile.

That smile was the problem. That kind, child-like smile.

Siwoo was weak to Geonho’s smiling face. When he smiled and suggested something, it was hard to refuse.

“Go to sleep quickly.”

The hand that pressed down on Geonho’s eyelids as if hitting them moved downward. Geonho, whose eyes were forcibly closed, tensed up, reading where Siwoo’s hand was heading.

The hand that hesitantly approached his hand finally overlapped his palm. At this, Geonho, who had been smiling broadly, gently bit his lower lip. When Siwoo lightly hit his lips, telling him not to bite them, he burst out laughing.

Han Siwoo had held his hand.

Geonho relaxed his entire body and focused all his senses solely on the hand Siwoo was holding. The soft palm was no less than Shiro’s jelly-like paw pads. In fact, it was even better.

“Hurry and sleep.”

“Okay.”

Almost immediately after answering, Geonho’s lips parted slightly. He fell asleep within seconds of closing his eyes.

It was thanks to Siwoo holding his hand. As his mind eased, his consciousness quickly faded. Regardless of his pounding heart.

“He falls asleep so damn easily…”

Siwoo, staring intently at the soundly sleeping Geonho, muttered quietly. Wondering if Geonho was really asleep, he poked at his tightly closed eyelids and waved his hand in front of his face.

Geonho slept without moving. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to fall asleep immediately since he hadn’t slept for days.

Siwoo examined each part of Geonho’s smooth forehead, sharp eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips. The more he looked, the more he thought Geonho resembled the leader.

When Geonho was smiling, he gave off a different vibe, but when he got angry or frowned, he looked even more like the leader. The leader seemed to be a collection of Geonho’s darker aspects. That’s how it appeared to Siwoo.

Their eye shapes were especially similar. And these lips that curved slightly at the ends.

Siwoo’s hand was now touching Geonho’s sleeping lips. Whether his hand had followed his eyes or he had unconsciously touched his face.

Looking at him like this, indeed, he’s quite handsome.

Crunch!

Suddenly, an unexpected presence was heard from the kitchen. There had clearly been no one there before.

“What…!”

“Shh.”

Jihan, sitting at the kitchen table, smiled as he blocked Siwoo’s lips with telekinesis. While eating the vegetables left by Siwoo and the maknae.

“Mmph!”

When Siwoo made a sound from his throat, Jihan gestured with his eyes towards the sleeping Geonho. Even though he knew Geonho wouldn’t easily wake up, he still whispered quietly. In a disgruntled tone.

“It was supposed to be my turn for guiding.”