* * *
Peeking out from under the blanket, he stared at the ceiling.
It had once felt unfamiliar, but now, it was starting to feel like home.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Then, suddenly, he seemed to remember something.
With a small sound of realization, he raised his wrist and checked his gear.
As a guide with a paired Esper, his gear could track things like his partner’s energy levels, physical condition, and location.
Almost unconsciously, he checked if Wonho had gone to meet Choi Yoonseo last night.
After what happened between them that day, Wonho had met her while Haebom was asleep.
So he had to make sure…
There were no guiding records with anyone else.
“…Haah.”
A sigh of relief escaped his lips.
Then, just as quickly, a question filled his mind.
Why?
Why did that make him feel relieved?
Over what?
The answer was simple.
He felt relieved that Wonho hadn’t gone to see Choi Yoonseo.
But why?
Why did that even matter to him?
And then, another thought surfaced.
“…Why did I check?”
“…Check what?”
“W-Wha—?!”
At the sudden sound of Wonho’s voice, Haebom shot up from his seat.
He moved so fast that he momentarily forgot about his sore muscles.
That’s how startled he was—he nearly flipped over.
Wonho frowned at Haebom, who was overreacting to something so trivial.
As he approached, he couldn’t help but wonder, ‘How does he function with a heart so weak?’
“Why are you so startled? Feeling guilty?”
“H-Hic! Hup…! You! Hic…! Suddenly…! Hic!”
Seeing Haebom’s eyes well up with tears as he hiccupped uncontrollably, Wonho let out a sigh.
Then, without another word, he turned around and left the room.
‘Why would he come in just to scare me if he was going to leave like that?!’
Holding his breath in an attempt to stop his hiccups, Haebom grumbled internally.
If he hadn’t secretly checked the guiding call logs behind Wonho’s back, he wouldn’t have been this flustered.
Wonho’s accusation of guilt wasn’t exactly wrong.
Checking the guiding call logs of a paired Esper wasn’t a crime, but Haebom’s reasons for doing so weren’t exactly justifiable.
Pushing his uneasy thoughts aside, he focused on stopping his hiccups.
However, they weren’t subsiding easily, probably because he was still shaken up.
Just as he clenched his eyes shut and held his breath, Wonho’s footsteps approached again.
“Hngh…!”
Wonho’s large hands suddenly pressed against both of Haebom’s cheeks, forcing his tightly closed lips apart.
Before he could react, something soft brushed against them, followed by lukewarm water flowing into his mouth.
“Swallow.”
Before he even realized it, he gulped down the water.
Then, blinking rapidly, he found himself staring at Wonho’s face—so close their noses were nearly touching.
“Want more?”
“…No! I don’t need it! Why do you keep giving me water like that…?!”
“Your hiccups stopped.”
As Haebom glared at Wonho for his unexpected actions, Wonho smirked and lifted one corner of his mouth.
Then, with his thumb, he wiped away the dampness—whether it was water or saliva—lingering on Haebom’s now flushed lips.
Haebom jolted again, like a startled rabbit.
Seriously, his nerves were fragile.
Shaking his head, Wonho pulled the blanket off Haebom and effortlessly lifted him into his arms.
“Ack…!”
Startled, Haebom flailed, causing Wonho to adjust his hold with a sigh.
“Unless you want to fall, stay still. You’re not a sunfish—why do you keep freaking out?”
“I—! Of course, I’m startled when you suddenly do things like this…! Can’t you at least warn me first?!”
The thought of falling made Haebom freeze, his struggle ceasing instantly.
Awkwardly, he reached out and wrapped his arms around Wonho’s neck.
He knew there was no point in asking to be put down—Wonho wouldn’t listen anyway.
Feeling Haebom settle down against him, Wonho’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
He didn’t respond to Haebom’s desperate plea for communication.
Not because he ignored it, but because he knew himself well—being careful for his skittish little guide was easier said than done.
Better not to make promises he couldn’t keep.
With that thought, Wonho carried his ‘sunfish’ guide out of the room.
“Why aren’t you answering me…? And why did you sleep in my room?”
Haebom pouted, puffing out his cheeks when Wonho only smirked shamelessly instead of replying.
His eyes unconsciously flickered downward, drawn to Haebom’s lips—red and slightly swollen, likely from last night’s kissing.
They looked…
Tasty.
“Wonho.”
“…What? What now?”
“I asked why you slept in my room! Why do you never give a proper answer when I ask something?!”
Annoyed by Wonho’s usual evasiveness, Haebom narrowed his eyes in a glare.
But for once, it wasn’t that Wonho was ignoring him on purpose—he was simply too distracted by those plump lips to think straight.
Of course, he couldn’t admit that. Instead, he gulped unconsciously.
“Because Yoon Haebom made a mess.”
“What?!”
“Your blanket was soaked, so I couldn’t sleep there. You probably need a new one.”
‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
A curse slipped through Haebom’s clenched teeth.
Instead of glaring at Wonho, he wished he could disappear into a hole.
Unfortunately, there was no hole to crawl into, so he settled for burying his face against Wonho’s shoulder instead.
The same Wonho who caused his humiliation was now the only place to hide. It was infuriating—but what choice did he have?
Wonho chuckled as he carried Haebom to the kitchen.
The air was filled with the warm aroma of food, but Haebom barely noticed.
Hunger wasn’t on his mind—if anything, he felt so humiliated he might as well starve to death.
Oblivious to Haebom’s turmoil, Wonho casually set him down on a chair.
Or at least, he tried to.
“Are you planning to eat in my arms?”
Since Haebom refused to budge, Wonho had no choice but to keep holding him.
Haebom was too embarrassed to lift his head, but eating while being cradled like this was equally mortifying.
With great reluctance, he finally climbed off and sat at the table.
Wonho watched the whole process, amused but holding back laughter.
He knew Haebom was already dying of embarrassment—teasing him more might actually make him explode.
For now, it was best to stop.
They ate in silence, though Haebom never once lifted his head.
No, rather than not lifting it, he couldn’t.
The entire meal passed with him barely aware of what he was eating.
He only finished his bowl because Wonho had declared that unless he did, he wouldn’t be allowed back into his room.
“Who are you to decide whether I can go to my own room or not?!”
He grumbled internally but still forced himself to eat.
It wasn’t a huge portion, so he managed.
The real challenge was enduring Wonho’s presence across from him.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
Finally fed up, Haebom snapped.
It wasn’t that he hated Wonho being around—if anything, it was comforting.
But the constant nagging?
That was unbearable.
* * *
