* * *
After all, he hadn’t found any kind of link inside the gate he had chosen as a grave.
He’d been on the verge of going berserk, so he probably hadn’t had time to check, and thus couldn’t say for sure whether such a passage existed or not.
Either way, Wonho was helping Jin Seyoung with his research in order to avoid losing Haebom.
Just like how Haebom had appeared suddenly in this world, there was always the fear that he might just as suddenly vanish again.
The thought that Wonho shared that same fear made Haebom’s heart tremble.
He regretted not being honest with Jin Seyoung and Wonho earlier—if only they had looked into it together from the start.
Jin Seyoung had explained things thoroughly so that Haebom wouldn’t misunderstand Wonho’s intentions.
Even without the explanation, Haebom hadn’t thought that Wonho was helping with the research just to send him away.
If anything, it made his heart ache more to see Wonho working so hard for him, despite Haebom never coming clean about everything from the start.
He’d never expected their relationship to turn out like this…
To be honest, considering he had appeared out of nowhere from inside a gate, it wouldn’t have been strange if people thought he was some kind of humanoid monster.
Sure, there had never been intelligent monsters before, but the gates themselves were already anomalies—why wouldn’t other anomalies follow?
Back then, he’d been too overwhelmed to think clearly, focused only on making sure Wonho didn’t get hurt.
Now, though, he was grateful to Jin Seyoung too.
“Thank you.”
“Huh? For what?”
“I mean, I showed up out of nowhere from a gate, and there was nothing in this world that could prove who I was. If it weren’t for you, Team Leader… I really don’t know what would’ve happened to me.”
At Haebom’s words, Jin Seyoung blinked in surprise and looked at him. It seemed she hadn’t expected any thanks.
But unlike Haebom’s assumption, it hadn’t mattered to Jin Seyoung whether he had come from a gate or didn’t exist in any official records.
What mattered to her was one thing: that Haebom could guide Wonho.
It wasn’t really about helping Haebom—it was an act of selfishness for Wonho’s sake.
Yet Haebom interpreted it so kindly…
He was too good. Too kind.
“I only did it because you could guide Wonho. I don’t think I’m someone you need to thank.”
“Whatever your reason was, you helped me. And you kept helping me adjust, even after that. That’s something to be thankful for.”
When Jin Seyoung furrowed her brows and tried to downplay her kindness, Haebom responded firmly.
If she had only been thinking about guiding Wonho, there’s no way she would have treated him that well.
Maybe that was her reason in the beginning, but he believed she’d truly opened her heart to him over time.
Hearing Haebom’s words, Jin Seyoung gave a reluctant nod.
After all, she did care about him now.
Honestly, for Wonho’s sake, she didn’t want Haebom to go back.
And if he did want to return, she’d probably resort to any means to persuade him to stay.
That part hadn’t changed.
But if Haebom genuinely wanted to return and was suffering because of it, then she couldn’t be selfish.
Beep-beep—
Just as the two were sharing a warm, grateful moment, the front door’s digital lock clicked open.
Only two people knew the password to this place: Wonho and Haebom.
Since Haebom was here, that could only mean one thing—Wonho had arrived.
“Yoon Hae—… What the—why’s the team leader here?”
Wonho had flung the door open and was about to call Haebom’s name when he spotted Jin Seyoung sitting comfortably in the living room.
His face immediately twisted into a scowl.
Jin Seyoung clicked her tongue at him, unbothered by the lack of welcome.
“Am I not allowed to be here?”
“Of course not. This isn’t your house. Why are you entering someone else’s home?”
Wonho snapped back and strode over with long strides, plopping himself down right next to Haebom.
Jin Seyoung shook her head in disbelief.
‘Why do you think I’m here, you idiot…’
She wanted to point that out, but figured there was no point.
Wonho, blinded by love, was being childish—but it was kind of endearing.
Ever since he was young, being an Esper meant he hadn’t had many close friends—she was the only one, and even that came with a large age gap.
And then, high-compatibility guides had only demanded that he endure his pain as a duty.
So it made sense that the first person he could truly call “his guide” would become precious to him.
She understood.
“Well then, should I call Haebom to the center instead? That’d be more comfortable for me.”
Wonho clamped his mouth shut at her words.
He knew, after all.
He knew Jin Seyoung had chosen to come here rather than summon Haebom.
But still—why were they talking in secret behind his back?
She could’ve just come when he was home.
That thought crossed his mind, but he bit his tongue, knowing it would sound petty.
The more Haebom put down roots here, the better it was for him…
He told himself not to get jealous over every little thing.
But it was impossible not to be jealous of everything Haebom came into contact with.
“Ugh, fine, I’m leaving. The way you’re staring at me, I swear, if your ability wasn’t ice-type, you’d have blasted me already. Haebom, I’m going.”
“Huh? Wait! You’re leaving now?”
Saying he was shooting lasers with his eyes was half a joke—but only half.
It wasn’t like she’d been glued to Haebom’s side.
She was sitting across from him, just talking.
But even that was apparently too much.
Haebom looked flustered as Jin Seyoung stood up, having barely touched the fruit prepared for her.
Same with the cake she’d brought.
“It’s fine. We pretty much wrapped things up. You two can finish the rest. It’s nothing urgent.”
She gently tapped Haebom’s outstretched hand as if to reassure him.
They’d been going over the similarities between the gate Haebom had come from and another gate where a connecting passage had appeared.
Both had disappeared, but records remained.
And now that she’d heard for sure that Haebom had no intention of returning, her work for the day was done.
“You don’t have to leave…”
“I’m good. Rest up, Haebom. Let me know once you’re done talking with Wonho.”
“O-okay…”
Wonho half-heartedly reached out as if to stop her, and Jin Seyoung let out an exasperated laugh.
If he was going to stop her, he should at least put some sincerity into it.
The look on his face clearly said “Please go,” while his hand said “Wait.” It was absurd.
As Jin Seyoung strode out, Haebom saw her off with a sheepish expression and let out a deep sigh.
“What?”
When Wonho asked, Haebom only shook his head. He thought to himself that it had been wrong of him to invite someone into Wonho’s home without asking.
“Sorry. I should’ve told you first.”
“What?”
“This is your place. I invited a guest without asking the owner—it makes sense you’d be annoyed.”
“No…! That’s not why…!”
When Haebom suddenly apologized, Wonho’s face crumpled. He decided then and there: ‘That little brain of his shouldn’t be allowed to overthink.’
Whenever Haebom was left alone, he always jumped to the wrong conclusions.
“…I was jealous.”
“Whuh?!”
Wonho let out a deep sigh and muttered under his breath.
* * *
