GTLTGIDES chapter 72

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“Thank you for being kind to Eunsoo.”

I said it sincerely. If my compliments made Rex open his heart to Eunsoo and treat him kindly, I could say it a hundred or even a thousand times.

Rex’s face flushed red, and he glanced away.

He let out a short sigh, even though I had complimented him.

“It’s frustrating that you only care about that brat, but seeing how you genuinely care for him makes me think I’m in deep…”

“Stop treating Eunsoo like he’s bad. As his guardian, I’ll get angry.”

“Yeah… I’m trying… But he’s just—well. What can I say to someone with rose-tinted glasses like you? And anyway…”

Rex’s thick arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close.

I felt the familiar sensation I had when he first confessed to me, and my body tensed up involuntarily.

To make matters worse, Rex leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“If I date you, I’ll become that brat’s guardian too, won’t I?”

“…”

The thought of Rex being Eunsoo’s guardian with me made me feel strange.

It was almost like we were a married couple.

‘What… Married couple?’

As soon as the word popped into my head, my mind went blank.

I hadn’t even said we were dating yet, and now I was thinking about marriage.

I must be out of my mind.

I felt unbearably embarrassed.

“Oh. Heewoon. You’re making a really cute face right now.”

“Wh-what kind of face?”

“It looks like you don’t hate me.”

“Well… yes, I guess so…”

Of course, I’d look like that. I liked Rex.

I did like him.

It’s just that, when it came to becoming a couple, my feelings got complicated.

I liked Rex just as much as I liked the idea of him being with Eunsoo.

And… since I’m going to die soon…

And I’m dying because I guided Rex and the Special A Team…

Can we really be lovers in such a relationship?

It makes my head and heart feel all tangled up.

It would be simpler if Rex just ended up with Eunsoo…

“You’re cute. I’m glad I confessed.”

Not knowing my complicated thoughts, Rex laughed briefly and pulled me into a tight hug.

Then he rubbed his forehead against my shoulder, murmuring softly as if asking for affection.

“Heewoon, I just want to hold you.”

“…”

“I won’t ask for much. Just once… can’t you?”

Though he’s already holding me, saying ‘I want to hold you’ doesn’t seem to mean exactly what it says.

As soon as I grasped his meaning, I was reminded of the flood of emotions I felt during my kiss with Rex and the ecstasy it brought.

I felt a heat rising in my belly.

When I stayed silent with my lips closed, his blue eyes searched my face.

“Should I not say this? You don’t like it?”

“It’s not that I dislike it…”

“Good. As long as there’s a chance. I’ll wait. But… is this much okay?”

Rex’s hand subtly moved down from my waist.

He hesitated as if gauging my reaction, and when I gave a brief nod, the hesitation in his hand completely vanished.

“Ugh…”

I gripped him tightly.

As I trembled and buried my face in his chest, he kissed my ear softly, as if to calm me.

“Rex…”

“It’s okay. I’m hiding us well. No one can see.”

Before I could even voice my concern, he responded as if he already knew what was on my mind his large frame seemed to shield us from view.
Anyone watching would probably just assume we were guiding.

I relaxed in his arms.

Though I flinched out of embarrassment, that seemed to please him, as the smile on his lips deepened.

“It’s worth the effort of playing with this little brat. I love you.”

His sudden expression of affection startled me, especially since it came so naturally after his deepening physical closeness.

Rex bit my ear playfully before letting me go with a satisfied smile.

“Ah. My throat’s dry. I need to grab a drink. You’re heading to the safari, right? I’ll meet you there.”

And with that, he quickly left.

I was left alone, with all the embarrassment on my shoulders, smoothing out my wrinkled clothes.

‘How did it come to this…?’

My heart pounded as if I’d had too much caffeine.

I could still feel Rex’s touch lingering where his hand had been.

It felt both hot and ticklish.

‘Should I have told him not to do that?’

I was confused. What stance should I take in this situation?

If I accepted Rex’s feelings, I’d soon be dead, and I still needed to guide him.

Lying and pretending I didn’t care wouldn’t work.

If I tried to push him away without a good reason and he got mad at Eunsoo because of it, things could get complicated.

‘But I can’t just tell him the truth either…’

I’m going to die soon because of you. So, love our child instead of me… I can’t say that.

If Eunsoo can’t guide and Rex goes on a rampage out of shock, could that lead to a double suicide?

The mere thought of it is terrifying.

“Heewoon.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Did Rex confess to you? The atmosphere was strange, and your face is all red.”

No way. I was so startled by how on point Elliot’s observation was.

Was it that obvious?

I didn’t think I’d get caught this fast.

While I was trying to think of how to respond, Elliot tilted his head slightly.

“Rex was acting strange, but so was Junseong. What happened?”

“Ah, well…”

“It’s true, isn’t it? Did Junseong confess to you too?”

“No! Junseong didn’t!”

“Then Rex did confess.”

“Ah…”

Damn it.

Did he just figure that out by fumbling around?

Did I really just give it away like that?

I was speechless.

With that confident voice and tone, there was no point in denying it.

Elliot stared at my face his delicate brows furrowed slightly.

“So, what did you say? Are you two dating?”

“No… we’re not dating.”

“But judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like you completely rejected him either.”

“It’s just… I needed time to think. It was all too sudden.”

It was embarrassing.

A part of me thought he might wonder why someone like me would hesitate after being confessed to by an S-class Esper like Rex.

Elliot might even decide he doesn’t want to guide with me anymore.

Even though it’s a professional matter, anyone would feel uncomfortable about working with a colleague’s romantic partner.

Special Team A can’t afford to bring in more guides, so it’d be a mess if things got awkward.

Should I have just rejected Rex right away?

Maybe I can use this as an excuse, and Rex will give up.

“Heewoon.”

Elliot’s pale, slender fingers brought me out of my thoughts.

He lightly tapped my cheek and gazed down at me with his cherry blossom-colored eyes.

“…‘We’ are Hope’s dads, after all.”

Wait a second.

Now that I think about it, I should have talked to him about this.

We need to discuss what will happen to Hope’s guardianship after I’m gone.

I’ve done everything I can on the legal side, but I still need to talk to him about it.

After all, he’s become Hope’s guardian because of me.

However… what should I say?

I want Hope to be adopted into a good family, but Elliot might not want to let go of a child he’s become attached to, especially given how he’s emphasizing ‘Hope’s dads.’

Elliot stayed silent for a long time, his thin lips pressed firmly together, clearly lost in thought just like me.

“These days, when I see you, I feel weird…”

“Why? Did I do something wrong…?”

“No. It’s not that. But whenever I see you, it bothers my pride. Heewoon, guide me.”

A pale hand reached out to me.

“Take it slow today.”

Since I’d promised my left hand to Eunsoo, I placed my right hand in Elliot’s.

I was a bit tense after our last guiding session, which had been quite painful, but today wasn’t as bad.

Still, guiding Special Team A’s Espers always hurt more than regular ones.

Elliot squeezed my hand tightly and smiled with his eyes.

“‘We’ are different from others; we have a firm connection, right?”

Though Elliot’s words were always loaded with meaning, this one in particular carried weight.

Elliot was clearly hoping for something from me.

That’s how he is.

Instead of being direct, he speaks in circles, especially when he deeply wants something but fears rejection.

“Ah.”

But before I could guess what it was, my vision went dark.

I felt myself losing balance, and by the time I realized it, it was already too late.

“Heewoon?”

Thankfully, Elliot was right beside me and still holding my hand, so I didn’t fall flat on the ground his slender arms gently wrapped around my waist, supporting me.

Suddenly finding myself in Elliot’s arms, I remained dazed.

‘What just happened…?’

It was definitely a close call.

If I had fallen, I could have seriously hurt myself.

But instead of fear, all I felt was confusion and disbelief.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

I’d fainted before, and Elliot had caught me.

But this time felt different.

Back then, I had a high fever, but today I didn’t.

I slept well last night and ate properly.

I didn’t feel like I was in bad condition.

I was just a little fatigued, like any modern person… but this…

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