FETCH 51

“…Unlucky bastard.”

Jaechan frowned deeply, gave Han Kang’s solid thigh a hard thwack, and stood up. Seriously, what a jerk. Here I was, incredibly nervous, trying to confess in my own way. Seeing him swaggering around as if he were standing right on top of my head made my irritation flare up.

So, I struck his back with my fist once more—thwack!—making a loud sound. Han Kang cried out, “Agh!” and straightened his chest. As he caressed his back with his arm, his face was crumpled in a grimace. His wide-open eyes were thick with the underlying question: What is it this time?

“You’re so damn annoying. Good for you, you’re so great.”

“What? Why are you picking a fight again? What did I even do? No, I just said we should do a good job with that thing. Isn’t it what you wanted to do?”

“Fine, then do it. Who’s saying otherwise?”

“No, really, what’s the problem? You said you hated being a Guide. Even if you hate it, what can you do? You are a Guide. That’s why I changed my mind. I thought it would be better to just imprint it on other people’s minds that you’re my Guide. Is there a problem?”

“Yeah, there are too many problems. You find the answer yourself.”

He says he hates Guides, but then what’s this about imprinting?

Jaechan huffed, his breath coming out rough.

‘Even if you know, could you act like you don’t?’

Thinking about it again, it felt like a clear rejection despite him knowing. Han Kang was sharp-witted to begin with. He probably had no trouble reading the nuances Jaechan was showing.

If his feelings were different, he could have rejected me differently; even if you know, could you act like you don’t?

Jaechan’s brow furrowed even deeper. Moreover, he hated how Han Kang spoke as if Jaechan would be the only one in trouble if the training went wrong. Sure, I know. There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t know that Han Kang is a competent and talented Esper.

Naturally, I knew that if the broadcast aired, people’s judgment would be directed at me. Rather than focusing on Han Kang doing well, it was certain they would tear me apart, saying, ‘Let’s see how well that Guide does.’

But saying, ‘Since you came in as a Guide, your position will be awkward if you can’t perform Guiding,’ was basically saying his own position wouldn’t be particularly awkward at all.

Even though I already knew him well, I couldn’t help but get heated again, so Jaechan struck Han Kang’s back one more time before leaving the training room.

Thud! Behind the loudly echoing rupture sound followed Han Kang’s pain-filled groan as he tumbled over, crying, “Agh!”

It was truly annoying because the very person causing the most stress was acting as if he were graciously acknowledging me as a Guide for the sake of the broadcast, all while pretending to be considerate of me with his words.

I felt lousy because it seemed like I ended up arguing with Han Kang every time a major event was approaching. Furthermore, whenever we fought like this, the important task always ended up being ruined.

I didn’t have to look far; the previous informal training was exactly like that. In the end, Han Kang went into a rampage, and didn’t I spend a fairly difficult time blaming myself?

If possible, I wanted to work without fighting and without any noise, but I was at the point of worrying that a jinx might be forming.

There’s nothing good about creating a jinx.

They say jinxes are what athletes are most wary of. Once your ankles are caught by one, you end up missing the important things because you’re too busy worrying about that damn jinx.

“Sigh…”

Jaechan, exhaling a long sigh, roughly swept back his bangs as soon as he left the training room. While his face remained tightly frowned for a moment, the thought that he had been rejected by him weighed heavily on his chest regardless.

Even though it was somewhat sudden, I thought it had been a golden opportunity in its own way.

Han Kang’s words that it didn’t seem like the right time yet echoed in my ears. Whether he said it knowing or without knowing, the impact those words left was quite significant.

“Ow, damn it. Why are your hands so stinging?”

I snapped a glare at Han Kang as he followed me out, grumbling. Han Kang, who hadn’t expected Jaechan to still be there, flinched and cringed. He looked completely shrunken as if afraid he’d be hit again, but since I had no intention of hitting him further, I just watched him quietly.

“Honey, your hands are too stinging.”

“Endure it.”

Naturally, the words didn’t come out kindly.

.✦ ݁˖

“Jeon Jaechan, are you preparing well?”

At the sly voice heard right next to him, Jaechan smiled awkwardly and replied, “Yes.” The preparation Ji Sangtaek was referring to must be for the public training.

In truth, it wasn’t going properly at all, so his smile was beyond awkward. It was only natural, as Han Kang, who seemed like he would act quite cooperatively, was still being prickly every now and then, and every time that happened, Jaechan got annoyed.

“It’s not going well, I see.”

Ji Sangtaek chuckled as if he had expected as much.

Since there was nothing else to say in rebuttal, Jaechan just kept his mouth shut in a straight line and smiled. More accurately, he tried to smile.

As if things weren’t bad enough, I had been arguing with Han Kang until just a moment ago. Even when I tried to perform Guiding at the right timing, Han Kang, who kept dodging here and there like an eel, ultimately almost went into a rampage once more.

It was lucky I saw the figures on the electronic board, quickly grabbed his hand, threw him down, and kissed him; if I hadn’t, he really would have rampaged in the middle of the training room again.

The rampage aside, I hated Kim Daeyoung even more, whom I’d have to face because of it. Talking about whether he rampaged again, whether he’s taking his medicine properly, and so on. Thinking about how he’d treat me like an ‘object’ and threaten me as if he’d kick me out right away made me beyond annoyed—my chest felt suffocated.

Resentment surged toward Han Kang, who kept avoiding me without even knowing my situation. Is it really that hard to just accept it a little? One moment he says he’ll mark me as his Guide on the broadcast, then he changes his mind again—every time he wavered, it became harder for me internally.

At this rate, what if Han Kang rampages on a broadcast watched by the entire nation? Setting aside being branded as an unqualified Guide, I also hated that sharp comments like ‘To think that kind of person is a national representative’ would be directed at Han Kang.

Furthermore, this was a highly technologically advanced society. All sorts of clips would circulate on the internet, and no matter how much of an improved side he showed later, it would surely follow him like a tag: ‘Han Kang’s Dark Past.’

Just thinking about it made a sigh escape.

“Haaah…”

As I exhaled a long breath, Ji Sangtaek guffawed right beside me.

“Han Kang isn’t easy. Yeah, his personality is more than just a little dirty.”

I thought Ji Sangtaek seemed to handle Han Kang well, but I guess not. It sounded like he put a particularly strong emphasis on the word ‘dirty.’ As if he, too, had been burned many times by Han Kang.

“We’re friends, but sometimes he’s such a jerk.”

“Didn’t you say he’s the youngest at home? Han Kang.”

“Yes, he has two brothers with a large age gap above him.”

“It’s hard to grow up with such a strong spirit under older brothers. You just have to hold on, what else can you do?”

The reason Han Kang was able to grow up so high-spirited was probably because, even if his brothers treated him roughly saying, ‘This is what a man should do,’ they treated their precious youngest like gold and jade, listening to everything he said out of fear he might be lonely.

However, I didn’t think Ji Sangtaek would be particularly curious, so I kept those words to myself.

“Yes…”

Right, I just have to hold on, what else can I do?

Jaechan shrugged his shoulders and stood up. In his hand was a tablet PC displaying the statistics of the training he had done with Han Kang so far.

Now it was time to analyze the results and make the final preparations. It had already been two weeks since I was notified of the schedule. The public training was in two days, and the time had come where it could no longer be delayed.

.✦ ݁˖

“Han Kang, come sit here.”

Jaechan called Han Kang and patted the seat next to him. Since it felt like they only ever fought in the training room, he brought Han Kang out to the cafeteria inside the Center to change the atmosphere.

There were many people coming and going on the first floor. The researchers, glancing at them, smiled when they saw Han Kang but stiffened their expressions when they looked at Jaechan.

Jaechan was now used to such attitudes. Taking his eyes off them without a particular response, Jaechan motioned for Han Kang to come quickly.

Han Kang, walking in slowly, looked tired for some reason. As soon as he plopped down into the seat, he threw himself facedown onto the table. Perhaps the morning training had been grueling, as he let out a pained sound, “Ah, I’m dying.”

“Want me to Guide you?”

I asked lightly on purpose. Very lightly, as if I weren’t particularly conscious of it. Han Kang only lifted his eyes to glance at Jaechan. Then, he returned his head to its original position.

“Sure.”

I wondered why he was agreeing so readily. The moment I grasped his hand, a wave of coldness struck as his wavelength was sucked out like crazy. After a brief startle and a tremble of my hand, this time Han Kang gripped Jaechan’s hand very tightly.

“Why are you letting go? It’s Guiding.”

“Why is your condition like this?”

“I’m getting back the karma for holding out and not receiving Guiding from my honey…”

Han Kang groaned and frowned. Part of me wanted to scold him and say, ‘Serves you right,’ but seeing Han Kang groaning in actual pain, those words wouldn’t come out.

Jaechan quietly held Han Kang’s hand and performed the Guiding with all his heart. Then, Han Kang slowly lifted his eyes to look at Jaechan. He squeezed the hand a little tighter. Then, he would gently rub it. Finding the fidgeting behavior unfamiliar, I just watched him, and Han Kang gave a small smirk.

“You’re good at it.”

“It’s just because you try so hard not to receive it; I am good.”

“I guess so.”

Han Kang replied briefly and nodded his head. Watching him, Jaechan cautiously broached the subject.

“…I want to do well on the broadcast. I want to do well normally, too, but because it’s a broadcast… Like you said, everyone is watching, so I want to do well.”

It was a way of asking for his cooperation.

I didn’t want to say things like this if I could help it, but looking at Han Kang lately, I was worried about whether he would act differently in front of the camera.

Even if he hated it, I wanted him to do well in front of the camera. I didn’t want to hear Kim Daeyoung’s nagging, and I didn’t want to hear people say I was lacking while being by Han Kang’s side. I also wanted to be recognized more because I was by Han Kang’s side.

If possible, as a Guide—as a dedicated Guide who was not lacking compared to him.

Having said it, I felt upset. It would be a lie to say I hadn’t suffered mentally, so my throat felt slightly tight. When I cautiously made the request in a small, receding voice, Han Kang slowly sat up.

“You want to do well?”

“…I want to be recognized. Because I’m a Guide.”

“Okay.”

This time, too, Han Kang unexpectedly nodded his head readily. Grinning, he cast his gaze down for a moment, then gave his answer once more as if he had made some sort of decision.

“Let’s get you recognized, as a Guide.”

Han Kang gave a very reliable smile.