The Guide Is Fixing His Regrets

Time flew by, and tomorrow was already the date of departure.

So-Won read the overseas dispatch notice sent by the association repeatedly and became familiar with the contents. It was not until he could tell the schedule smoothly without looking at it that he could release the paper from his hand.

After completing all the preparations for departure, So-Won counted with his fingers to check if anything was missing. He packed all his clothes in advance, and all that was left was to board the plane at the airport.

So-Won entered Tae-Woo’s room earlier than usual. Tae-woo’s health had improved for a few days, and he now had only gray marks left around his eyes. So-Won, afraid of sending him to the S-class gate, did his best to guide him every night.

Today was his last chance to guide him before leaving the country.

” Tae-Woo.”

So-Won approached Tae-Woo and kissed him carefully. The cute sound of something touching soon turned into a sloppy sound.

So-Won quietly brushed the hard body before him and gently pushed Tae-Woo to sit on the bed. Then he casually climbed on his lap. His skills improved compared to the first time.

So-Won tried to take off his clothes to continue his guidance. However, Tae-Woo stopped So-Won and pulled down the hem of the half-peeled clothes.

“Lee So-won, this is enough.”

“What? No, Tae-Woo… You are leaving tomorrow, and I need to guide you.”

“You’ve been overdoing it. Rest well today.”

So-Won’s body floated into the air. Tae-woo laid the guide on the bed.

The blanket was covered up to the end of the neck with a friendly touch. So-Won, whose face was sticking out, was puzzled and tried to raise his body, but So-Won’s small rebellion quickly fell through due to Tae-Woo’s behavior of wrapping the blanket meticulously.

Darkness fell in the room when the lights went out with a click. So-Won looked up at Tae-Woo, relying on the faint moonlight flowing through the window. However, Tae-woo did nothing and just came up to So-Won’s side and lay down.

So-Won blinked at the ceiling without sleeping for a long time. Perhaps because he didn’t do the guiding or because he was worried about the overseas dispatch the next day. He couldn’t sleep because his heart was restless. If he knew this would happen, So-Won would have taken tranquilizers. So-Won changed his mind about taking medicine and quietly talked to Tae-Woo.

“Tae-Woo, are you asleep?”

“I’m still awake. Do you have anything to say?”

An answer was immediately heard from Tae-Woo, who he thought might have already fallen asleep. When So-Won turned his head, their eyes met in the darkness. So-Won purposely opened his eyes and looked at Tae-woo.

“I can’t sleep.”

“Is it because of overseas dispatch?”

So-Won nodded quietly to Tae-Woo’s question.

“Tae-Woo, it’s your first time going to the S-class gate, right?”

“Yes. Since I awakened, I’m only going to A-Class gates in Korea.”

“Will S-class gates be very dangerous…? I’ve heard that a grade S Esper died there before. Of course, Tae-Woo is strong, so it’s okay but still scary.”

He pretended that it wasn’t Tae-Woo’s story. So-Won didn’t know if there was an S-list Esper who died at the gate. But So-Won muttered as if he was anxious when he heard such news.

So-Won curled up, pulling the blanket. Tae-Woo seemed to see through his inner thoughts. In case he was caught feeling guilty, So-Won buried his face in the blanket and hid in it.

“ Lee So-won, I’m a physical-strengthening Esper.”

Tae-Woo again emphasized the fact that So-Won also knows. So-Won poked is head out of the blanket.

“Do you know that there is a gap in abilities for spurs according to their grades, and that is particularly severe for body-enhancing types?”

“No… I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Body-enhanced Esper is specialized in defense. The strengthened skin is hard enough to withstand any attack and can recover quickly. And the intensity increases exponentially as the grade goes up, so even if you’re in grade B, you don’t get hurt by most attacks.”

So-Won quietly listened to Tae-Woo. There was not much-known information because of the small number of body-reinforced esper. Throughout the world, Tae-Woo was the only S-class body-enhancing Esper.

“People who have entered the same gate called me a monster that never dies.”

“…….”

So-Won realized that Tae-Woo was now trying to reassure him.

So-Won stared at Tae-Woo. Even while he was saying that Tae-woo looked as blunt as usual. However, the anxiety eroding So-Won disappeared when he looked at Tae-Woo’s face. But So-Won didn’t make it obvious and spoke back.

“It wasn’t the case last time I bit you.”

“That’s…”

Tae-Woo felt embarrassed at his words, and So-Won giggled.

So-Won knew. It was because of the bomb Tae-Woo was wearing around his neck. The material of the ring is a substance that weakens Esper’s ability, so Tae-Woo’s skin is only slightly affected. Now that the influence has completely disappeared, even if So-Won bites hard with all his might, no marks will be left. So-Won’s mouth would hurt as if he had bitten a stone.

So-Won’s laughter slowly stopped. After laughing to his heart’s content, he was relaxed and sleepy. So-Won no longer teased Tae-Woo and dug into Tae-Woo’s side.

“Tae-Woo, please hug me until I fall asleep.”

Tae-Woo opened his arms, and So-Won was embraced. So-Won leaned into Tae-Woo’s arm instead of a pillow and buried his face on his chest instead of a blanket. Thump, thump. He listened to the steady beating of his heart. So-Won was able to close his eyes only then.

He woke early and started getting ready to leave the house. They had to arrive at the airport by lunch, but there was a stopover before that.

On the day the overseas dispatch was decided, So-Won called his parents to ask how they’d been doing after a long time. He forgot to contact his house, so he couldn’t escape the long nagging. At the end of the call, he told them he was going abroad with Tae-Woo. His parents asked him to stop by before leaving, so he had to show his face before going to the airport.

So-Won came downstairs with a suitcase the size of his body. When he came outside, he saw Tae-Woo waiting for him. Tae-Woo’s luggage was only one simple bag in his hand. So-Won could be sure there would only be clothes to change during their stay abroad. It was different from So-Won’s bag.

So-Won glanced at her carrier. Just in case, he took care of this and that, so there are too many. items that he wanted to bring when dispatched overseas. So-Won suddenly felt embarrassed because he thought it was too much.

Tae-Woo saw So-Won’s luggage and opened the trunk right away. As So-Won approached the side, Tae-Woo lifted the carrier and loaded it into the luggage compartment.

“Is this all you have?”

“Yes…”

“Then we’ll leave.”

It has been a long since So-Won went to his house with Tae-Woo. Before that, So-Won went to the private room shortly after the match. Tae-Woo told So-Won he would take him to his parent’s house; that was the first and last time they visited the house together. It was so embarrassing then, but now the passenger seat was comfortable as if it were his place.

The scenery outside the window changed drastically. So-Won realized he hadn’t told Tae-Woo where his house was until quite a while after they left. He didn’t notice anything strange because the fast-changing background was the direction toward So-Won’s house. Tae-Woo didn’t ask for the location either.

He must have remembered So-Won’s house, which he had only been to once.

So-Won suddenly wondered if he remembered, so he didn’t open his mouth all the way home. And when they arrived in front of the house, he looked at Tae-Woo with admiration.

So-Won asked as he was about to get out of the car.

“Tae-Woo, do you want to join us?”

It was a sincere remark, but Tae-woo shook his head.

“If I go, your family will feel uncomfortable. Please feel free to say hello.”

So-Won hesitated. It has already been a month since they were matched, and Tae-Woo’s condition has improved noticeably. He wanted to introduce him to his parents and the house where he grew up. However… As Tae-Woo said, his parents would be very surprised if he took Tae-Woo without contacting them. So-Won had no choice but to say he would come soon and get out of the car.

So-Won stood in front of the house for a while before ringing the doorbell. He came a while ago, but somehow, he felt he shouldn’t just go in.

“Who are you… son? Why aren’t you coming in and ringing the doorbell?”

“You just… you think I should?”

“Oh, are you someone else’s child? Don’t stand outside and come in quickly.”

So-Won was embarrassed when he saw his parents talking absurdly and came into the house. They didn’t forget to give him a big hug once in a while at the front door just because they did not saw him for a long time.