“Alright, confirmed. Once Wonho’s tests are done, you’ll both go in for the compatibility check. I know it was already done in Busan, but it’s better to be thorough. It’s a hassle, I know, but thank you for understanding.”
“Sure, I get it.”
“Thanks. Looks like you’ve lived in Busan all your life. So when did you meet Esper Wonho? Oh, I’m not asking as a researcher—just personally curious. Wonho doesn’t exactly go out of his way to meet people.”
Jin Seyoung watched his expression closely as she asked.
Haebom was smiling, technically, but there was something sad about it.
Maybe even… mournful.
She found it puzzling.
This was her first time meeting him, and yet she thought he looked familiar.
Even more confusing was why Haebom would make that kind of expression at her, not at Wonho.
“Well…”
A look of distress spread across Haebom’s already sorrowful face.
He hadn’t planned for this.
Everything had been a blur since morning, and he hadn’t thought to coordinate stories with Wonho.
It wasn’t as simple as saying, “We just met.”
Jin Seyoung likely knew almost every detail of Wonho’s schedule since becoming an Esper.
Even if she didn’t remember everything, his movements were all recorded—one search would reveal it instantly.
He wasn’t even sure if Wonho had ever been to Busan.
And even if he had, it would’ve been gate-related, making it hard to claim they met then.
“If it’s hard to say, you don’t have to tell me. I was just personally curious.”
“…Okay.”
Haebom let out a quiet breath of relief.
He’d been worried she’d keep pressing until he answered, but thankfully, she didn’t.
Still, Jin Seyoung narrowed her eyes at him.
The Guide Wonho had been searching for was clearly named Yoon Haebom, and yet this Guide was simply Hae Bom.
The names were similar, but not the same.
And yet… they were Imprinted.
It didn’t add up.
There were too many strange things.
And this wasn’t even the first time she’d had this kind of uncanny encounter.
What was it?
Jin Seyoung furrowed her brow.
“Guide Haebom, have we met before? You seem really familiar.”
Startled, Haebom looked up at her.
Had she remembered him?
But no—her expression was just puzzled, maybe a little cautious, but not the look of someone recalling a memory.
BANG—!
Just as Haebom was searching for an answer, the exam room door slammed open violently.
Naturally, the one storming out was Wonho.
He looked irritated as hell, his brows furrowed deeply, stomping toward them.
“Trying to flirt? What kind of outdated tactic is that? How lame…”
“What are you even saying? You’re done with the test?”
“Don’t flirt. He’s mine. Hands off.”
Oh god… Jin Seyoung massaged her temple.
Sure, she was a researcher obsessed with this particular Esper’s condition.
And sure, he was more high-maintenance than any other Esper.
But still—she had a boyfriend.
A perfectly good one who she was still with.
So what the hell was Wonho on about?
Besides, Haebom and Wonho were the same age.
There was a big age gap between Jin Seyoung and Wonho.
She remembered exactly how old she was when Haebom entered high school, for crying out loud.
Espers who got obsessed with their Guides were always a pain to deal with.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Jin Seyoung shook her head.
“Come here. Bom.”
“Huh?”
“I said come here.”
Wonho, who usually called him Haebom, now called him Bom—Haebom looked at him in surprise.
When Haebom didn’t move, Wonho walked over himself and pulled the chair Haebom was sitting in closer to him, putting more distance between Haebom and Jin Seyoung.
Looking satisfied, Wonho smiled. Jin Seyoung could only laugh in disbelief.
Unbothered, Wonho started playing with Haebom’s silky hair.
“Aren’t you going to check the test results?”
Without even looking at Jin Seyoung, Wonho kept fiddling with Haebom’s hair as he spoke.
Was this just what all Imprinted Espers were like?
There were plenty of Espers at the center who got weird around their Guides, but this was on another level.
She’d never seen one this far gone.
Still, it made for an interesting research subject.
“Hold on. I’m checking now. After that, head to the compatibility test.”
“Do we really have to do it again? Ugh, fine. The result’s going to be the same anyway.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Jin Seyoung reviewed the test data—from energy wavelengths to overall physical condition.
Unsurprisingly, the readings were great—probably because of yesterday’s guiding.
Every physical stat that had been scraping rock bottom for over six months was now up.
Even lingering injuries had vanished.
His results were as flawless as his smooth face.
In contrast, Haebom looked utterly exhausted—likely the cost of the guiding.
After reviewing the data, Jin Seyoung put in a request for the infirmary to give Haebom an IV.
She recommended he get it after the compatibility and imprinting checks.
Haebom had already been thinking of getting one, so he thanked her.
“Go do the compatibility test. Once that’s done, we’ll draw up the pairing contract. Everything’s ready for your transfer to the Seoul branch.”
“Okay, we’ll go. Bom, let’s go.”
“…Mm.”
They acted like they were especially close—even though Jin Seyoung had no idea Haebom was even in Busan.
Until now, the only person Wonho spoke casually with at the center was Choi Yoonseo.
Now there was one more.
Actually—he’d started speaking formally to Yoonseo again, so maybe only one remained.
After sending them off, Jin Seyoung went back into the exam room to prepare the pairing contract for the two.
Normally, a pair contract would be signed in the presence of either the Esper or Guide department head, but in Wonho’s case, things were a bit special—so Jin Seyoung handled it directly.
As he proceeded, a strange sense of déjà vu crept in.
It felt like this had happened once before.
But this was his first time handling Wonho’s pair contract… It was odd.
As Jin Seyoung stared at the contract, lost in thought over the strange familiarity, the door suddenly burst open.
Haebom and Wonho had returned from their compatibility test.
“Here.”
They handed over the test results to Jin Seyoung.
As expected, their compatibility was 100%.
It was surprising to see such a number actually appear.
Judging by the satisfied curve of Wonho’s lips, he clearly liked the result.
It was a shame they couldn’t know the original compatibility before the imprinting.
If they had imprinted, the compatibility must have been quite high even before.
It didn’t matter now that it was at 100%, but Jin was personally curious.
Knowing the earlier figure would’ve helped in research.
“A perfect 100%, huh. We’d need a more thorough test to be sure, but I guess Haebom really did imprint on you.”
Seyoung said this while glancing between Haebom and Wonho.
No matter how he looked at it, they were research material.
Since they’d be transferred to the Seoul branch anyway, he figured he could take his time studying them.
Their conditions were more than enough to be paired, so the contract should proceed.
“The guide contract was already handled in Busan, so there’s no need to do it again here. Just signing this will officially make you two a pair. Hey, Wonho! Read the contract before signing! You’ve never seen a pair contract before, have you?”
Pair contracts came with a lot of clauses.
