NOVEL NEXT #38
#38
“Is that what you wanted to say?”
“No, it’s not that. While messing with the head of the manager who manages Espers, I discovered that they’re planning to imprint one of the S-class Espers with the Minister’s daughter this time.”
“……”
“Even imprinting is just a means to them.”
Choi Seon-woo thoroughly irritated Oh-yul, telling him to behave well so that other S-class Espers wouldn’t imprint. Then he left the office with light steps, saying he had said all he needed to say.
Imprinting…
Oh-yul sought out the person at the end of the incomplete imprinting. During their time apart, he habitually searched for Ho-woo. The faint sensation that previously only allowed him to know Ho-woo was there was gradually becoming clearer and more distinct, increasing its presence. The more Ho-woo thought of him, just as he thought of Ho-woo, the stronger and clearer their connection became.
He lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and finally left the office. It was almost time for that great Guide to arrive.
Though unwelcome, it wasn’t yet time to show his claws. He tidied up his slightly disheveled clothes and left the office.
****
On the last Friday of the workweek, Ho-woo glanced at Oh-yul’s house on his way home from work. It had already been a week since they last commuted home together. Usually, Oh-yul lived so quietly that it was impossible to tell if he was home or not, but this time there was a clear indicator that he wasn’t home.
A black plastic bag had been hanging on the doorknob for three days, rustling pitifully in the wind. Just as Oh-yul had done for him, Ho-woo had bought some snacks from the convenience store and hung them in a bag, which was now endlessly waiting for its owner who hadn’t returned.
Is he not coming today either?
Ho-woo hesitated in front of the open door, then entered his own home and saw the wrist-watch style pager neatly placed on the desk visible immediately upon entering. He gave it a complicated look.
This was why he was afraid to accept Oh-yul. The worlds of Lee Ho-woo and Oh-yul were too different, and if Oh-yul unilaterally cut off contact, Ho-woo could never approach his domain.
Oh-yul’s number was saved in the phone in his hand, but it was difficult to initiate contact first. What kind of relationship did he have with Oh-yul to text or call him?
Ho-woo carelessly tossed his phone aside and finished showering. With flushed cheeks and rubbing his wet hair, he came out of the bathroom and turned on the TV as if it were a natural part of his routine.
It was time for the variety show he often watched, but the screen showed a large hall filled with reporters and several men wearing familiar black Esper uniforms.
[Today, the Corporation officially announced that Kim Seon-young, daughter of Minister Kim Dong-cheol, has manifested as a Guide. Ms. Kim immediately completed matching rate tests with each Esper at the Corporation, and this test showed a record-breaking result, so her future actions are anticipated…]
Ho-woo bit his lower lip hard as he saw a familiar figure standing at one side of the press conference room filled with constant camera shutter sounds and flashing lights.
The man who hadn’t been seen at all for a week was sending a gentle smile next to the young girl who had newly manifested as a Guide. His eyes, curved like when he looked at Ho-woo, and his pitch-black pupils were filled with the image of the Guide.
[We’ve heard that S-class Esper Oh-yul hasn’t found a suitable imprinting partner due to low matching rates with Guides until now, but what percentage matching rate did you record with Ms. Kim Seon-young?]
[72%. This is a groundbreaking difference from the previous record where he never exceeded 40% with most Guides. They will make a good pair. The imprinting will take place after Guide Kim Seon-young becomes an adult…]
Ho-woo stared blankly at the TV. The remote control in his hand fell from his weakened grip, painfully hitting his foot, but even that pain felt vaguely distant.
The screen zoomed in on Oh-yul’s genuinely happy smile. Below it, a cheesy caption read ‘The happy smile of an Esper who found his true match’.
“……”
Belatedly, Do-hyun’s words flashed through his mind.
‘Their brain structure is different from ours. They don’t even react to anyone except Guides.’
Even though he thought he knew this would happen someday, it still felt awful. His body, already heated from the hot water, suddenly flared up with anger.
“Bastard.”
The curse ground between his lips was spat out. It was disgusting to see the face smiling brightly with his arm linked with a young girl, when just a week ago he had said he liked Ho-woo. Ho-woo picked up the dropped remote and turned off the TV completely, then collapsed onto the sofa.
It was Ho-woo who had rejected Oh-yul, and Oh-yul couldn’t cling only to Ho-woo forever, so it was natural for him to turn to a Guide with a good matching rate if one appeared. Ho-woo himself had even cheered for a Guide with a good matching rate to appear for Oh-yul.
But still, this isn’t right.
Disappearing for a week, and making me find out like this?
If he had given a heads up cleanly in advance, Ho-woo would have slowly folded his wavering heart and sorted things out, but because it was so sudden, all sorts of emotions mixed together, making his head throb.
drrr…. drrrr….
Ho-woo, who was holding his aching head, checked who was calling when he heard his discarded phone vibrating.
“Kim Do-hyun”
He probably saw the news or heard about it and hurriedly called Ho-woo like this. Ho-woo answered the phone, pretending to be as nonchalant as possible.
“What?”
-Are you okay?
As soon as Ho-woo answered the phone, Do-hyun blurted out the main point. His tone was full of confidence that Ho-woo must have seen the news.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? We weren’t dating or anything.”
He tried to retort coldly, but his voice trembled finely at the end. Ho-woo couldn’t tell if this feeling was misery, betrayal, or disappointment. Do-hyun, who sharply caught that small confusion, kept a brief silence on the other end of the phone before carefully asking.
-…Should I come over now?
“What would you do if you came?”
-We could at least drink together.
“It’s fine.”
Despite the refusal, sounds of hurriedly putting on clothes and slamming a door could be heard over the phone. It seemed he was planning to come regardless of being told not to. Whether he was walking quickly or running, an apology came along with Do-hyun’s breathless voice.
-I’m sorry.
“…For what?”
-For encouraging you to give it a try, I guess.
“Yeah, changing your mind in one day was a bit much. I thought I was talking to someone else.”
-Did I do that?
“You did.”
Ho-woo leaned back deeply into the sofa and closed his eyes. He let out a long sigh with the phone wedged between his shoulder and jaw.
It would be nice if even one text came from Oh-yul now, then he would believe everything.
Whatever the content.
Whether it made him more miserable, or was an excuse that it was all a misunderstanding. Either would be better than this. At least it wouldn’t be as bad as cutting things off as if there had never been anything from the start.
-I’ll be there soon. Wait.
The sound of a car starting could be heard, but the call didn’t end. With neither of them saying anything, just small noises audible, Ho-woo whispered very softly with the phone to his ear.
“Thanks, Do-hyun.”
-What’s with the cheesy talk?
“Buy some alcohol on your way. I don’t have any in the fridge.”
-I’ll bring beer.
“No, something stronger.”
It seemed like this dirty feeling might improve a bit after getting properly drunk. Ho-woo turned on the TV again. His figure was captured very small in a corner of the press conference room where the interview was still ongoing.
Standing in line with other Espers, the face smiling with one corner of his mouth twisted up felt unfamiliar and distantly far at the same time. He had always been such a distant person.
“He’s a real bastard.”
He said all sorts of sweet words to Ho-woo, but then completely went to a girl 15 years younger than him, and a minor at that. And Ho-woo had been thinking very selfishly even though he had no intention of accepting Oh-yul.
If he truly cared for Oh-yul, he should congratulate him on finding a good Guide, he should first think about how Oh-yul wouldn’t have to suffer when receiving Guiding anymore, but he couldn’t do that well.
Lee Ho-woo was a coward and selfish.
He was too scared to take the hand offered by the other, but now that the hand was withdrawn, he felt regretful. A bitter smile hung on his lips.
When Ho-woo heard hurried footsteps running down the corridor of this old apartment, he slowly got up and opened the front door.
“Lee Ho-woo!”
Do-hyun, who had pushed his upper body through the open door, came running with a flushed face, panting. He had hurried so much that the buttons on his shirt were misaligned by one. Meanwhile, the soju bottles he had dutifully bought as ordered clinked against each other in the bag.
“You’re here. Is it okay if there’s not much for side dishes?”
“Why are you watching that?”
Do-hyun discovered the TV screen Ho-woo had been watching and cursed. Half of it was directed at Oh-yul. Listening to the sound indifferently, Ho-woo opened the refrigerator. The small container of dried squid was still full, only slightly reduced.