GTLTGIDES chapter 19

My heart dropped with a thud.

‘How does this guy know Yang Heewoon?’

It was strange. Jake Powell and Yang Heewoon had never met.

At least in Yang Heewoon’s memory, Jake Powell was just a name. They had never shared a mission.

If Jake said he ‘saw’ me, it meant he saw me unilaterally.

If he saw me at the Bureau, it was fine. But Jake had an enormous inferiority complex toward Special Team A.

If he saw ‘Guide Yang Heewoon of Special Team A,’ would he react so ambiguously? He would have recognized me instantly.

So, where did he see me?

‘If… Jake saw me through the convenience store’s CCTV?’

I felt a chill.

If Jake knew that a guide from Special Team A was hanging around his biggest weakness, Eunsoo, who knows what he might do.

Knowing this, I tried my best to avoid CCTV. But it was unlikely that I completely hid myself.

Especially on the day the assailant appeared, my focus was solely on Eunsoo, and I didn’t notice anything else…

‘What should I do? Should I run?’

I took a hesitant step back. But Jake approached me faster than I retreated.

A large hand reached out to me. My whole body turned cold with goosebumps.

“Heeik…”

“Hey. Don’t think about touching someone else’s guide.”

Just before Jake’s hand grabbed my shoulder, a large hand pulled me back.

Warmth flowed into my chilled body through the hand touching mine.

It was Rex.

The confident guy with red hair and a self-assured smile.

Seeing him made all my tension melt away. I felt so relieved that my eyes moistened. I was so happy to see him.

Rex pulled me close, protectively wrapping his arm around me. He even waved his hand at me as if to greet me.

“Hi, Yang Heewoon. I’m here.”

“Rex!”

“What, what? Did you miss me that much?”

I hugged Rex tightly. I needed to hide my face. I clung to his broad chest, burying my face.

Rex’s body stiffened in surprise.

“…Wow, why is he suddenly doing this?”

Rex muttered in a flustered tone. I worried he might push me away, but thankfully, only his heart started beating faster.

As I trembled in his arms, he patted my back with his large hand.

“Your guide? Ah, that B-grade? Is this him?”

…Of course.

Jake didn’t see me as a guide for Special Team A.

It seemed I was one step closer to a bad outcome.

I hugged Rex tighter. I couldn’t, absolutely couldn’t, show my face.

“Yeah. So don’t covet him.”

“Puhaha, I have no intention of being guided by a B-grade. Don’t worry, I won’t steal your precious B-grade guide.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go get guided by your amazing A-grade guide. Don’t mess with our Heewoon.”

‘Our Heewoon?’

Since when did this guy call me with such affection?

Was he trying to keep Jake in check? I thought Rex saw Jake as just a loud cowardly dog.

Apparently, Jake felt the same, letting out a sigh of exasperation.

“So, it’s true that Special Team A is all close with their guides.”

“Hey, damn it. What nonsense are you spouting! It’s not like that!”

Rex rarely raised his voice to Jake.

But Jake wasn’t the type to listen. He ignored Rex’s protest naturally, lifting his nose arrogantly.

“Well, that’s possible. With my excellent emotional control abilities, I don’t need to do such sordid things.”

Nonsense.

Jake Powell wasn’t someone with great emotional control or impurity removal efficiency.

He only managed because Eunsoo, whom he imprisoned, guided him frequently, not because he was inherently superior.

In fact, his low efficiency caused such a complex that he did the absurd thing of erasing a child’s record and imprisoning his as his guide.

‘They say the one who farts is the angriest.’

The bigger his flaw, the louder his voice to cover it up.

Seeing Rex speechless, Jake smirked, considering it his victory, waved his hand, and left.

Rex clicked his tongue as he watched Jake walk away, satisfied with his own conclusion.

“…Damn it. If I had experienced it, I wouldn’t feel so frustrated.”

“Sorry, because of me…”

“It’s fine. Even if it wasn’t you, he would have acted the same if he saw me. He’s always eager to bite at me.”

Indeed, Jake had an unusually strong interest in Rex among Special Team A. Maybe because they were both close-range dealers. Thanks to that, his interest in me disappeared, which was fortunate.

Rex looked at me with an amused smile.

“But I’m surprised. You told me not to touch you first, but you hugged me so tightly.”

It was an unavoidable situation, but Rex wasn’t wrong.

“I’m sorry. I was scared…”

“No need to apologize. That guy does have a bad vibe.”

“…Thank you for helping me.”

“If you’re thankful, give me a kiss.”

“…”

He bent down, tapping his lips with his fingertips.

…Damn rascal. Does he want to do this in public?

Rex, it’s because of stunts like this that rumors fly about us being in such and such a relationship.

I don’t know what you plan to explain to Eunsoo later.

I was annoyed, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t do. He had helped me out of a difficult situation.

• Smooch.

I briefly touched my lips to his and pulled away.

…Come to think of it, today it’s not a kiss but a peck?

As I wondered if I should do more, Rex grinned, satisfied.

“You haven’t been reachable for a few days? Cha Junseong said not to worry because he’d handle it. Was something going on?”

“I was sick.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes…”

“Now? Are you still sick?”

“I’m fine now. Rex, do you need guiding?”

“It would be nice, but you said you were very sick. I don’t need it right away. Rather…”

Rex looked down at me, clicking his tongue.

“You lost 3 million won in call fees.”

“…What?”

I quickly turned on the device I had charged while heading to the scene.

Rex was right.

The fee had skyrocketed as I didn’t answer my calls, with promises of 300,000 won for immediate responses and 500,000 won within ten minutes, eventually reaching 3 million won, ten times the usual call fee!

And that got canceled when Rex ran here…

“Aaah…!”

I stared at the word ‘canceled’ for a long time. The immense sense of loss made my head spin. I staggered.

Damn it.

“Such a waste. Such a waste. It’s such a waste!”

The voice trembled.

“…I’ll definitely come if you call me again later…”

“Hmm! I’ll give you a special chance. Tonight, if possible!”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

“……?”

I’m glad to be given a chance. But… that expression. What could it mean? It looks like he’s seeing me as prey.

Is he planning to get revenge just because I didn’t respond to his contact? It’s not like I deliberately ignored him.

“Don’t think of feeding that beast.”

“Ah……”

Someone grabbed my wrist. Looking up, it was Elliot.

It’s a site that Special B Team is handling, so why is the Special A Team here?

I understand Cha Junseong being called due to his useful abilities, but I don’t know why Rex and Elliot are here. It’s not that big of a deal.

Anyway, Elliot’s wording was harsh. Rex was visibly annoyed and raised his voice.

“Watch your words. Calling him a beast!”

“Isn’t it true? What are you doing eyeing someone who’s barely recovered from being hurt?”

“Well, I did plan to make him hurt. But I don’t intend to just keep making him suffer……”

“See, he’s saying he’ll make you hurt. Heewon, don’t go near that beast. Don’t entertain his kisses or whatever. He keeps trying to cross the line.”

I listened quietly to the tense back-and-forth conversation.

…The nuance is a bit strange, but they must be talking about guiding, right?

“It’s okay. I’m used to the pain from guiding because I’ve experienced it before.”

“No, that’s not it… It’s really going to be like the rumors said.”

“What rumors?”

“…Heewon, you’re quite clueless, aren’t you? I’m starting to get irritated.”

It’s unfair. To be called clueless. I’m Yang Heewon, the only outcast in Special A Team, and there are countless bizarre rumors about me. How can I not notice them right away?

“Or maybe it’s better to be clueless? And quite the fortification, too…”

I was about to ask more, but before I could, Elliot muttered something to himself and then turned to me.

He pressed my cheeks firmly with both hands.

“……?”

In an instant, my face was squished into a fish-like shape.

Elliot’s expression, as he looked at my face, turned sour.

“Wow, you’re ugly……. Like a squished steamed bun……”

“……”

His sincerity was too intense.