What if Tae-Woo isn't here? Although there is no guide, Tae-Woo was often dispatched to the scene because he was also an S-class Esper.
Compared to other S-class Esper, Tae-Woo participated in the gate attack the most frequently because he followed the instructions from the top.
Most of the gates in Korea were below the difficulty level of C, so they often attacked and returned in a day. Sometimes it would take several days if the difficulty is level of A and B, but for Tae-Woo, it was not a problem.
So-Won still have a great fear of being left alone with Tae-Woo.
Although So-Won held Tae-Woo's hand first and even hugged him during the guided test last time, it was possible because others were watching.
So-Won took a deep breath.
He was still afraid of Tae-Woo, but it didn't seem as scary as before. He was a little nervous, but didn't he say hello first? Plus he didn't cry because of his appearance.
A small, courageous hand knocked twice on the door.
When a clear sound rang down the hallway, a calm voice came from inside.
"Come on in"
Fortunately, Tae-Woo was inside.
So-Won opened the door carefully, feeling relieved.
So-Won, who opened the door and peeked inside and met with fierce eyes.
He didn't look very happy.
So-Won quickly looked down.
Tae-Woo could see his shaky legs. He was even overwhelmed by the urge to close the door.
Tae-Woo was surprised by the unexpected guest.
As soon as So-Won's hand touched during the guiding test Tae-Woo fainted. It was like someone had hit his brain.
That evening, he woke up alone in a private room where no one was present. He felt uncomfortable and disappointed because he couldn't remember anything, but he felt lighter than usual.
Tae-Woo couldn't even remember the feeling of his first guide.
He looked at the back of his hand, which had touched So-Won's hand for a while.
Not long after he went to the gate, he was definitely not feeling well, but even the pain that was always there disappeared. He only had been guided for a while, but he felt strange when the pain that had tormented him for the rest of his life disappeared.
However the next day the pain came back.
His body was struggling with a squeezing pain and his body kept looking for a guide.
The warm energy he felt even though he didn't even touch him, the strange feeling of relieving tension all over his body when he touched him, and the appearance of So-Won looking up at Tae-Woo with a slight blush.
Tae-Woo can only suppress his desire as soon as he remember So-Won shaking pitifully after he saw him.
After the guided examination, Tae-Woo's doctor frequently visited Tae-Woo's private room.
As usual, he wouldn't come for anything other than checkups. When the doctor in charge encountered Tae-Woo, he approached him even though he was usually busy. He praised his Guide, to the point that it seemed like he would suffer from neurosis.
In the end Tae-Woo couldn't hold back anymore. He narrowed his brows and stared at the doctor in charge. The doctor in charge ran right away, but after a while, he came back to Tae-Woo.
*Knock*
Tae-Woo heard a light knock.
Tae-Woo sighed and dried his wet face.
The doctor in charge seemed to have come again. He thought he was going to explode at the gate, but it looks like he was going to explode at the Esper Association in the middle of Seoul.
"Come in."
*Squeaked*
The door opened cautiously.
There was no loud voice.
Tae-Woo looked at the door, since the doctor was difference than usual.
A face was visible with his head poked out.
The guest who bowed his head as soon as their eyes met, was Tae-Woo's guide.
Tae-Woo realized that he was frowning without realizing it. He quickly loosened his expression, but it was already after So-Won was very scared.
Looking at So-Won who couldn't raise his head, Tae-Woo can only blame himself.
So-Won wanted to run away.
However, he felt Tae-Woo's gaze, so he couldn't move a step.
As soon as the door opened, So-Won's confidence went down after he received Tae-Woo's fierce look.
It was clear that he suddenly came to Tae-Woo's personal space and made him feel uncomfortable.
So-Won couldn't leave, his eyes still like an anxious puppy, but eventually muttered helplessly.
"I… I didn't know how to contact you, so I came here. I'm sorry if you were offended. " So-Won apologized to Tae-Woo.
It was a voice that seemed appeared, even So-Won himself realized.
This isn't it…. So-Won closed his eyes tightly.
Before opening the door, he wasn't afraid.
Hearing So-Won's words, he realized that he had passed out on the first day and didn't tell So-Won how to contact him. He remembered the doctor in charge who told him several times about the conversation he had with So-Won after the test was over.
'I'll tell my own number to So-Won.' Tae-Woo thought.
Tae-woo's ears seemed to hear the doctor's squishy laughter.
"That's all right. Come on in."
So-Won, who was standing at the entrance without being able to come in, looked at Tae-Woo.
Tae-Woo's expression was loosened a little, perhaps because he felt So-Won's sincere apology.
So-Won came into the room with great relief in his heart.
The sound of the door closing was unusually loud.
So-Won darted his eyes around the room.
So-Won was amazed after seeing Tae-Woo's private room for the first time.
It was more like a big studio than a private room.
The sun shone in from the window that filled one side of the wall.
There was a large well-organized bed right in front of the window, and next to it was a rugged guiding machine.
In the middle of the room, a three-person sofa was placed facing each other with a table in between, and Tae-Woo was sitting there looking at So-Won.
"Mr. Lee So-won."
"Yes?"
So-Won, who had been relaxed for a while, answered with surprise.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Oh…"
So-Won scanned the room and found a green tea bag on the water purifier.
"I'd like green tea, please."
"All right. Please sit down."
So-Won felt awkward talking to Tae-Woo because he had never talked to him.
Tae-Woo's low voice was also unfamiliar.
So-Won rose from the sofa and glanced at Tae-Woo heading to the water purifier.
Short black hair with no brown color mixed with a large build.
Even though it is summer, the body wearing black long-sleeved clothes was large, so the clothes stuck together and showed Tae-Woo's line.
Even though it's summer, Tae-Woo's body wore tight black long sleeves showing his body lines.
The skin that is uncovered by the clothes like the face and hands showed dark red veins. There is also a thick black ring on his neck for an unknown purpose.
So-Won's gaze on the sofa was soon fixed on Tae-Woo's back.
'In my dreams, there is always a big hole there.' So-Won thought.
So-Won can still see the hole in Tae-Woo's back. So-Won imagined that blood would flow out to Tae-Woo the moment he lifted up Tae-Woo's long sleeved shirt.
So-Won's hand trembled slightly when he recalled Tae-Woo's death again.
He clasped his hands tightly to calm his cold hands.
Tae-Woo put the green tea bags with cool water in a paper cup and handed them to So-Won.
"Thank you."
As soon as So-Won received the paper cup, his mouth dried up and took a sip of green tea.
Tae-Woo sat across from So-Won and looked at him.
Tae-Woo almost thought that So-Won was not afraid of him. So-Won seems natural behavior when facing him, but because of So-Won's small trembling hands and evasive eyes, Tae-Woo had no choice but to admit that it was an illusion.
'While drinking water, he felt Tae-Woo's gaze. He felt like he was going to have an upset stomach. When So-Won sipped water while looking at him, half of the water in the paper cup disappeared.
So-Won put the paper cup on the table.
"Can I give you my contact information for now?" Tae-Woo asked.
So-Won, who had completely forgotten the purpose of visiting Tae-Woo, came to his senses at Tae-Woo's words.
"Yes, you can."
So-Won nodded, feeling ashamed for no reason.
Tae-Woo rose from his seat again and brought something from the desk and handed it over to So-Won.
When he accepted the small piece of paper, the first thing he saw was Kang Tae-Woo and three characters.
"There was a business card, too…"
So-Won muttered to himself.
For eight years as Tae-Woo's guide, So-Won didn't even know Tae-Woo's phone number or business card.
So-Won was holding a piece of paper and couldn't take his eyes off of it.
So-Won looked at the business card with the momentum to memorize the phone number, but he was afraid that he might lose it so he immediately input it.
He took it and saved his number.
So-Won's thin fingers moved busily to store Tae-Woo's number.
Tae-Woo stared silently at So-Won.
As expected, whenever So-Won was nearby, Tae-Woo's body was in good condition as if he had attached a guiding machine.
The warm energy that felt soft was strange but not unpleasant.
"I, and… ."
So-Won's round eyes looked at Tae-Woo and looked into his eyes.
He hesitated to speak with his small hands twitching.
"Because of the Mandatory Guide System, we have to live together. There is also a state-funded dormitory, but I don't like it."
Was there such a provision?
Come to think of it, other S-classes seemed to live with their guides.
The image of living with So-Won came to Tae-Woo's mind for a moment.
A dedicated guide that welcomes him when he enter the house, and a guide that he can feel without having to attach a guiding machine. It's not bad
'Your guide must be unhappy.' He remembered what another esper had told him.
But why do the other Esper's words come to Tae-Woo's mind?
At the same time, Tae-Woo remembered the life of a guide who lived in the same house as him and became unhappy.
On the day he comes back from the gate, Tae-Woo will enter the house looking more terrible than usual.
After using the ability, the blood vessels that cover the body wriggle and become several times more sensitive than usual.
If he accidentally touch the guide in a situation where he can't control his power properly, his guide might be seriously injured.
Will this guide be able to withstand staying in a place with a monster?