AAGULT Ch 24

Chapter 24

 

His lips nearly touched the tip of his thumb. He wanted to touch it. Even though it was a place they had already touched several times, he was curious what it would feel like now.

Objectively, he knew he looked like an idiot right now. But, but… how could he help it when he was so beautiful…?

Jaeha was bewitched by his gentleness, and by his beauty. Like a dog abandoned on a rainy day becoming blindly attached to the person who holds out an umbrella, or like a duckling imprinting on the first living being it sees after hatching.

“…Why?”

The question he barely managed to ask sounded rather pathetic. His voice trembled so much, it wouldn’t have been strange if he cried right then and there. Fortunately, the man didn’t point it out.

“Ah…”

He simply blushed shyly and smiled. His eyes curved gently.

“Because I like you, Jaeha.”

“…”

Objectively, it was all very strange. They had only known each other for a month or two, and had merely slept together a few times. On top of that, theirs was a thoroughly superior-subordinate relationship, so it would have made more sense to be suspicious that someone in his position would lower himself to say he liked him. He was someone from the Association, and Jaeha was a criminal.

But even fully aware of all that, Jaeha couldn’t help but fall for him helplessly.

“…”

Instead of answering, he turned his head slightly and, timidly, kissed him. He was too shy to go directly for the lips—it required more courage than he could muster—so the best he could do was the corner of his mouth. The man, who received a peck barely worthy of being called a kiss, let out a bright and cheerful laugh.

Jaeha also laughed awkwardly.

He was happy.

Even though he didn’t deserve to be.

For several days, he lived in a floating daze. He had always thought his 26 years of life had been rather miserable, but perhaps it was all to meet Aiden. Even if it all began from being entranced by his guiding, the fact remained that Aiden was the greatest fortune he could ever encounter in his life.

It was Christmas Eve. To be precise, 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with only thirty minutes left until Christmas.

He was supposed to meet Aiden tomorrow. Aiden was coming to pick him up, and Jaeha had begged and pleaded with puppy eyes to the manager to close the bar for a day so he could rest.

He laughed to himself foolishly. While wiping a wine glass, he turned his head to look at the scarf hanging neatly on the coat rack. He had probably looked at it five times in the past five minutes. Well, how could he not be happy? Aside from donations that came in bulk to the orphanage, this was the first real gift he had ever received.

“…Come to think of it, should I buy something too?”

Shouldn’t he prepare a gift as well? He scratched his head absently as he mumbled. It was too late to buy anything now, but tomorrow he would wake up early, get some supplies for the bar, and look for a gift while he was at it.

He set the clean glass down.

He still wasn’t sure if this was the right choice. Separate from the happiness, the fact remained that the road ahead would be rough.

The two of them hadn’t clearly defined their relationship out loud, but Jaeha knew it was heading toward a rosy direction that didn’t suit him. He should stop now, but he didn’t want to. Even though lies would grow like snowballs over time…

“Sigh…”

The floating feeling sank again under the weight of worries about the future. The way his mood had been swinging like a roller coaster lately—up and down—might’ve seemed funny to others. But…

“…It’s gentle.”

In the end, he decided not to end this relationship just yet.

Jaeha gently touched the scarf hanging on the coat rack with the tips of his fingers. He made sure not to apply too much pressure, worried it would wear out quickly. He was tempted to wrap it around his neck again.

But right then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a call.

What could it be at this late hour? He put down the towel and held the phone to his ear. Holding the phone in place with his shoulder, he bent down slightly to check the ice.

“Hello? Harin?”

—Jaeha-nim! Merry Christmas in advance! How have you been?

“Haha.”

He hadn’t expected such a warm holiday greeting, especially after Harin had granted him paid time off for Christmas. Though his mood had sunk earlier, the floating feeling returned—and this time, it soared. Maybe it was finally time for sunshine in his life.

“Thank you, Harin. Merry Christmas to you too.”

Jaeha had a very narrow circle of acquaintances. At the orphanage, he had no one he was close to besides the director. The one older boy he was friendly with scammed him the moment he left the orphanage. After that, all the people he met at the boss’s company were scary. How should he put it—having someone he could talk to and laugh with so freely was rare.

—Is everything okay over there? If you’re busy, should I come over now?

“No customers, so it’s fine. Besides, you’re on holiday. I won’t pay you extra even if you show up.”

He replied playfully, and a bright, easy laugh echoed through the phone.

—Aww, that’s not it. I just feel weird suddenly not working after always being on the go…

“Didn’t you say you had another part-time job?”

—I just got off from that!

“Then rest up. We’ll see each other Monday after the weekend.”

He wanted to give Harin, who had no parents and was raising a younger sibling alone, at least a day or two of proper rest. He checked the ice with the phone still cradled between his shoulder and ear, then washed his hands.

—Alright, then. See you next week!

“Okay.”

—And don’t overdo it either, Jaeha-nim.

“Of course.”

The conversation might’ve seemed too casual for a boss and a part-timer, but this level of comfort was just right.

He wrapped up the call after exchanging some final pleasantries. As he wiped his wet hands with a towel, he glanced at the mirror in front of him.

“…”

Jaeha frowned and leaned in close to the mirror. Then, with hands still slightly cold from washing, he touched the area around his eyes. His irises, filled with a mix of vague happiness and unease, were teal in color.

“You’re finally back…”

A few days ago, when he returned home after seeing him, he had screamed after catching sight of himself in the mirror while washing up.

His eyes had reverted to the dull green shade they were before his Esper awakening.

No matter how hard he thought about what might have caused it, only one likely reason came to mind. Just in case, he tried taking three ampoules—yesterday and twice again this morning. But even after coughing up blood, his eyes hadn’t changed. So it really must’ve been the guiding that did it.

He’d been worried for a long time that they wouldn’t return to normal.

After all, getting guided by him had to be kept a secret… He had to eliminate all factors that could point to him receiving guidance. If anyone ever found out, he would be as good as dead.

“…”

He finished tidying up the bar and, with no customers around, stared blankly. For a moment, he leaned his head against the wall.

That was when it happened.

Ding.

“Ah, welcome.”

He quickly pulled his head away from the wall and greeted the customer. A reflexive, socially polite smile hung on his lips as he turned toward the entrance.

“…”

“…”

And he froze in place.

The man who entered was very tall. Snow dusted the black formal coat he wore, signaling that it had begun snowing outside. But more than that…

“…Boss?”

The man who had taken a few steps into the bar was someone he knew all too well.

“Yes.”

He had only ever come to Zone A-5 through teleportation, never walked through the front door. The polished shoes clicked neatly on the wooden floor. The man looked around the bar with a blank expression and replied flatly. His face was unreadable. His thoughts, unfathomable…

“Wh-What brings you here…?”

Did he come for a guiding session? Why didn’t he teleport like usual? Could it be—was he found out? Was he here to punish him?

Jaeha’s anxiety spiked rapidly. He tried his best to hide his trembling as he hurried out from behind the bar and approached him. In his haste, his leg bumped into a chair, and it was all a bit chaotic. Finally, he respectfully clasped his hands and looked up at the man.

Up close, he smelled of winter’s chill. Similar to Aiden, but different. There was something colder… more frightening. Standing in front of him felt freezing.

“…Ah, right.”

While Jaeha was shaking, the man didn’t say a word, but as if jolted by guilt, Jaeha rushed off to fetch a towel. Then he gently brushed the snow off the man’s shoulder.

“…”

The man neither stopped him nor looked pleased—he just stood still. As if being waited on like this was natural, something he was used to. While Jaeha hung up his coat on the rack, the man checked the firearms on his harness, then took off his gloves. With the coat off, his muscular chest showed through his tight shirt. Though Jaeha had never seen him undressed—had never even dared imagine it—he already knew that his body would be covered in scars and muscle. Unlike Aiden, this man’s body would bear countless marks of life and battle.

Jaeha returned to him, still trembling, and waited.

Only then did the man finally look at Jaeha and scan him from head to toe.

Then he reached out his hand.

“Ugh…!”

He grabbed Jaeha’s chin firmly. Then tilted it lightly. Like he was examining a product.

“Jaeha.”

“Y-Yes…!”

His name was called calmly. There was no anger or annoyance in the tone, but Jaeha still flinched and tightly shut his eyes as he replied quickly. The man’s hand was very cold. Calloused and scarred, large and intimidating. Without his gloves, the touch of bare skin was terrifying.