* * *
Cough.
“You okay, hyung?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.”
A startled Siwoo came closer and patted Raon on the back.
Raon waved him off and motioned for him to go back to his seat.
“I just ate too fast because it was so good. Haha.”
“Eat slowly.”
“Mm.”
Nodding, Raon buried his face in the doenjang stew, trying to hide his embarrassment.
It was his own thought, but it still made him feel like a pervert with no cure.
‘Well, I’ll just take my time thinking things through.’
There had to be something he could do for Siwoo.
Raon went over his own strengths.
‘First, I have money… and the rest… hmm.’
He had funds from the Center and personal wealth, but Siwoo was also an S-rank Esper who had cleared numerous Gates and received substantial compensation from the military.
That reward was practically the price of his life.
He realized—again—he really had no value as a cohabiting partner.
It seemed like the only thing he could offer while living together was Guiding.
‘Well, if I’m a Guide, I should at least do that properly.’
Trying to justify it to himself, Raon scraped up every last grain of rice and muttered internally.
But despite that, he still felt uneasy.
“You done eating?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s just sit and rest now.”
“No, I should do the dishes… ugh.”
He got up quickly to clean up, but his legs suddenly gave out.
His lower back had been throbbing for a while now.
When Raon collapsed back into the chair, Siwoo rushed over in a panic.
“Sorry. I went too hard, didn’t I?”
“No, I agreed to it too.”
“I’ll try to hold back more from now on.”
“Uh, yeah…”
Even though Siwoo spoke seriously, it only made Raon recall the insertion Guiding from last time, making things even more awkward.
He turned his head and stroked his chin.
“Do you want to sit on the couch?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“No need to apologize. I’ll give you a massage later too.”
Siwoo gently led Raon to the couch, placed a soft kiss on his cheek, and turned away.
Watching Siwoo return to the kitchen, Raon rubbed the spot on his cheek where he’d been kissed.
Compared to Espers, Guides were too physically weak.
Maybe he wouldn’t even be able to do proper Guiding.
Feeling both embarrassed and guilty, Raon scratched his cheek.
“Oh, right.”
His wrist felt bare—he’d forgotten he took off his watch.
Though he was on vacation and Siwoo never removed his, meaning any urgent contact would have gone to him, realizing it wasn’t on made him feel oddly uneasy.
“Looking for something?”
“My watch. Is it in the bedroom?”
Raon glanced around as he asked, thinking he hadn’t seen it there.
Then Siwoo came over, holding something.
“Here. I had it.”
“Oh, thanks.”
Raon took it and immediately strapped it onto his wrist.
For some reason, he sensed that Siwoo wasn’t entirely pleased about it, but Raon brushed it off.
“You even cut up fruit?”
“Yeah. It was in the fridge.”
It had taken a while, but now Raon saw why—Siwoo had even brought fruit, neatly sliced.
He set the plate on the coffee table and poked a piece of apple with a fork, handing it to Raon.
“Siwoo… you really…”
“Yes?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Raon almost blurted out “You’re husband material.”
It was right at the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it.
For some reason, he didn’t want to say it.
Instead, he forced a smile and took a bite.
“It’s good. You eat too.”
“Okay.”
Raon grabbed another fork, speared an apple piece, and held it out to Siwoo.
When Siwoo reached out to take it, Raon pulled the fork back.
“…?”
“Oh no, you’re supposed to do it like this.”
Realizing Raon’s intent, Siwoo’s face flushed red.
“Do we really have to…?”
“Of course.”
Half a joke, but still—after Siwoo had cooked, cleaned, and even cut fruit, Raon really wanted to feed him himself.
Even if the person on the receiving end looked mortified.
“…Fine.”
Siwoo sighed and reluctantly opened his mouth.
Raon smiled as he brought the apple to his lips.
Siwoo, face beet-red, took a bite.
“It’s good, right?”
“…Yeah.”
“Tastes better because I’m feeding you, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Siwoo hesitated, but nodded.
It was a slow reply, but Raon was satisfied.
“We’re on vacation… what should we do?”
Raon patted his full belly and asked, resting his head on Siwoo’s shoulder.
Remembering the massage offer, he quickly placed both legs across Siwoo’s lap.
“Do we have to do anything? Can’t we just stay like this?”
“Hmm, well… I guess we could.”
Raon figured he shouldn’t go out anyway—his face was all over the internet thanks to that interview.
Who knows how many views that video had by now?
Looking serious, he nodded.
Siwoo’s face brightened.
“Hyung, your body’s not in good shape anyway. Just relax. I’ll make sure you don’t even lift a finger.”
“That kinda makes me feel bad though.”
“It’s fine. I want to do it.”
“Mm.”
“You said I could do what I wanted.”
“I did.”
Raon nodded unconsciously, convinced by the strangely persuasive logic.
Siwoo, clearly pleased, started massaging Raon’s legs with even more care.
‘Does he really like taking care of me this much?’
Raon looked at Siwoo suspiciously as he diligently worked on the massage.
“Why? Does it hurt?”
“No.”
He shook his head at Siwoo’s worried look.
Siwoo, reassured, continued massaging.
‘I kinda wish I were the only one who knew this side of him…’
Siwoo, who looked cold and distant on the outside, was incredibly attentive and sweet to his paired Guide.
Raon selfishly wished no one else would ever see this side of him.
But that was just a selfish thought.
Their relationship had an expiration date, after all.
Raon smiled bitterly and lifted one leg slightly.
“You can stop with the legs now.”
“Okay. Then where… ugh.”
As Raon lowered his leg, he pressed somewhere firmly.
Siwoo, who was about to continue the massage, clenched his jaw as Raon’s heel rubbed against a sensitive spot.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“Hm? What?”
“You were hurting so much yesterday…”
“That was yesterday.”
Even Raon thought he was crazy, but he couldn’t stop the impulse.
With Siwoo acting all sweet and cute right next to him—how could he just sit still?
Raon smirked as he rubbed Siwoo’s quickly swelling groin with his foot.
Siwoo, now visibly aroused, grabbed Raon’s ankle.
“Seriously, stop. Why do you keep teasing me?”
“Hmm… because I want to?”
“Your body’s still… ugh.”
Raon wiggled his toes and tapped Siwoo’s wrist.
That alone made Siwoo flinch and tremble.
“What are you hesitating for, Siwoo? We still have five days of vacation left.”
“…Still…”
Raon sat up, straddling Siwoo’s lap.
He gently placed his hands on Siwoo’s shoulders and met his gaze.
Siwoo looked away shyly, his dark, glassy eyes rolling around.
He definitely knew how cute he looked doing this.
Raon was sure of it and leaned in.
“I still want to keep going. Don’t you, Siwoo?”
“I…”
Siwoo, avoiding Raon’s gaze, subtly raised his hand and stroked his waist.
Raon let out a short chuckle.
“You said you didn’t want this, but what’s with this hand?”
“I never said I didn’t want it.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes.”
The clothes Siwoo had helped Raon wash up and change into were a loose T-shirt he usually wore as pajamas.
Siwoo’s hand slipped beneath the white shirt.
When he gripped Raon’s chest—bruised and bitten all night—a sharp tingle ran up his spine from the pain.
“Haa, Siwoo.”
Raon sighed contentedly and pulled Siwoo’s head close.
Lifting the T-shirt higher, Siwoo continued to tease and caress Raon’s chest.
After fully enjoying a vacation that was both shameless and stimulating, Raon checked his watch.
The first thing that popped up was the contamination level of his paired Esper, Siwoo.
[Yoon Siwoo’s contamination level: High (71%)]
“Oh.”
Eyes wide, Raon stared at the record-breaking number, the first time it had ever passed 70%.
All that rolling around had paid off.
“Heh.”
Smirking in satisfaction, Raon didn’t notice Siwoo behind him, frowning.
Unaware, he spoke cheerfully.
“Let’s get going, Siwoo.”
“Yes.”
“…?”
Only then did Raon notice Siwoo’s oddly subdued demeanor, tilting his head in mild confusion.
The numbers look great, so why is he acting like that? Did something happen this morning?
But when he thought back, all he could remember was eating breakfast together and getting ready for work.
Puzzled, Raon started walking.
They were already running late, having given in to temptation and guided each other through mucosal contact during prep time.
The two hurried down the corridor from their dorm.
Fortunately, they were still staying at the guide residence, which was close to the training grounds.
“Hmm?”
While walking, Raon suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed at something—or someone—ahead.
As he approached, two familiar figures came into view.
“Hamin, I mean, Guide Hamin. Please, just think it over one more time.”
“Ah, no, I…”
It was Hamin and Yoonchae.
Seeing them standing together made Raon quicken his pace.
* * *
