GTLTGIDES chapter 23

* * *

As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, a familiar figure greeted me.

It was Cha Junseong, dressed casually as before.

He opened the apartment door for me, aware that something was off and had been waiting.

“…Yang Heewoon.”

“I’m sorry for coming so suddenly at this late hour….”

I knew I was being a nuisance, but I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

What happened this time was more shocking and terrifying than when Eunsoo was assaulted right in front of me.

Back then, no matter how threatening, it was just a troublesome customer—a complete stranger.

With CCTV in place, it wasn’t hard to catch and eliminate the source of the threat if needed.

But Jake Powell was different. He controlled every aspect of Eunsoo’s life, hiding his in places no one could see.

If Jake decided to abuse Eunsoo, could I stop him?

The fear that Eunsoo might get hurt where I couldn’t see because of me was beyond imagination. I couldn’t handle it alone.

“It’s okay. Come in. You don’t look well. Let me get you something to drink.”

“…Junseong.”

“Yes?”

“Can you… hold me?”

My heart was racing so fast it hurt. I felt like I might die any second.

Seeing Cha Junseong’s face, realizing I wasn’t alone anymore, made my emotions overflow uncontrollably.

I wasn’t even exercising, but my breathing became increasingly labored.

“Hah, huh, hah….”

“Yang Heewoon, what on earth happened?”

Hyperventilation. Even though I was breathing, it didn’t feel like I was.

The dizziness from lack of oxygen in my brain came and went repeatedly.

Cha Junseong, who had been heading to the kitchen, hurried back in shock.

“Yang Heewoon, calm down. Breathe slowly.”

“S-sorry, haah, huh….”

Cha Junseong held me and shouted for me to calm down, but I couldn’t control my emotions.

Eunsoo got hurt.

Much worse than when he was slapped.

Because of me. I liked Eunsoo without thinking, acting on a silly sense of justice, standing out too much.

Eunsoo could’ve handled it on his own. he didn’t need someone like me meddling.

Yet, who am I to intrude on his life out of self-satisfaction?

“Huh, ah….”

Unable to breathe properly, tears started falling.

Damn it, I keep showing Cha Junseong my worst side.

Even though he’s the closest to my age and a source of support…

“Huh, sorry….”

“…I’m sorry.”

I wondered why he was apologizing when it was my fault, but then he grabbed my arms and pressed me against the wall.

As soon as my back touched the cold, hard surface, his lips overlapped mine. Cha Junseong’s breath filled my mouth.

Simultaneously, his presence overwhelmed my heart. It hurt!

My racing heart felt like it was being squeezed. Tears flowed again from my eyes.

Faced with this unexpected aggressive presence, my body instinctively tensed.

I tried to push him away, but there was no way I could overpower him. His firm grip on me didn’t budge.

“Mm, huh….”

Held by both hands, Cha Junseong repeatedly blew air into my mouth.

His presence and breath seemed to invade me from inside and out.

But it was warm.

His hands gripping me tightly and the stubborn breaths he blew in felt comforting.

His grip seemed to promise he wouldn’t let me go, as if saying he’d accept my outburst.

The breath he shared felt like his earnestness towards me.

Gradually, that warmth melted my heart. I relaxed my body and closed my eyes, accepting him. I focused on the guiding.

Having something else to concentrate on stabilized me quickly.

As I began to respond to his kiss rather than just keeping my mouth open, his arms that had been painfully holding me loosened.

He wiped the saliva and tears from my face.

“Come inside. Let’s talk slowly about what happened.”

Before starting the conversation, I got scolded. He found out I skipped dinner. So, we decided to eat first.

“Wow….”

For someone who’s such a workaholic they barely eat one meal a day at home, he prepared a salmon bowl.

Cha Junseong even made it himself.

Thickly sliced, vividly colored salmon with avocado, shredded onions, wasabi, and radish sprouts beautifully arranged.

The young master’s cooking skills were a popular trait in the original work, but seeing it in person was even more heartwarming.

“Eat up. It might not be enough since it’s made with the remaining ingredients.”

“No, it’s plenty! I don’t eat much!”

“Please eat a lot.”

“…Yes. Sorry….”

Feeling guilty seeing his frustrated expression, I took a big spoonful and ate.

The tender, fatty salmon was thickly sliced, chewy, and the sharp taste of the onions and wasabi balanced out the rich flavor.

The lightly drizzled soy sauce on the rice added a savory taste without being too salty, blending perfectly.

Truly… it was moving.

‘It’s delicious!’

How long has it been since I’ve had such a delicious home-cooked meal?

Probably since the abalone porridge Cha Junseong made for me.

The taste was so good it made me realize my hunger, and I ate ravenously.

As if meeting today’s quota, he also brought out sweetly grilled rolled omelets.

I’m grateful, but… can I eat all this? I started feeling anxious.

As I stared at the omelet, Cha Junseong spoke.

“You can leave some. Don’t feel pressured.”

“No! I’ll eat it all.”

If I try, I can eat it all. It’s too delicious to waste.

Taking another big bite, my cheeks puffed up, making Cha Junseong smile as he sat beside me.

“So, why did you come?”

“….”

As soon as I remembered Eunsoo’s injury, my heart ached. I almost cried again. Barely holding back my tears, I took another bite.

I need to eat now. I need to eat to gain strength and do something.

This weak body becomes critical even if I skip one meal. I can’t afford to be powerless when it matters most.

Never.

“If, really if….”

I can’t speak too frankly.

How can I ask the questions I want without getting caught by Cha Junseong?

“What if Mr. Junseong was so taken with my guiding that he went so far as to kidnap and imprison me just to keep me all to himself?”

“…What?”

The response was so intense that it seemed the comment might have been too unrealistic.

My face turned uncomfortably red.

But this was the only analogy that came to mind to match the situation Eunsoo was in as closely as possible.

Both Jake and Cha Junseong are from prestigious families that have produced many outstanding espers, making this analogy quite fitting.

Mentioning an S-class guide, which doesn’t exist in our country, wouldn’t be appropriate, and I’m the only guide around Junseong.

I know that Junseong wouldn’t be satisfied with my clumsy guiding, but I’m afraid it might sound like I have an inflated sense of self-worth…

“I didn’t know you had a talent for writing novels.”

Was the idea so ridiculous that it made him angry? Junseong’s face seemed to turn a bit red.

I’m sorry.

I didn’t really want to use such an absurd example, but with my limited imagination, this was all I could come up with.

“Alright. Assuming I kidnapped and imprisoned you, what would you want to say?”

“You were competent. The fact that I was kidnapped and imprisoned was a perfect crime, and no one knew. We lived in peace for years, keeping the secret between just the two of us. But what if one day a low-level employee discovered it? What would you do, Mr. Junseong?”

I neatly finished putting another mouthful in. I’d eaten just over half now.

“What would I do…”

He looked troubled. Maybe the scenario was just too far-fetched.

Cha Junseong kidnapping and imprisoning Yang Heewoon.

Even though Junseong is from a genre known for its 19+ dark themes, it might still seem too unrealistic.

After pondering for a while, Junseong covered his mouth with his hand and said,

“…I’d probably silence you.”

“Silence me? Whose mouth are you talking about?”

This answer is important.

I leaned forward towards Junseong.

“…Yours.”

“Me? Are you really thinking of killing me to remove the root of the problem?”