AAGULT Ch 51

Chapter 51

 

“Ah… Uh… …Jiwon?”

“Is that what matters right now? Are you crazy?”

“Did, did the Association… catch him?”

“I found him and took him home. Happy now? Get up!”

Thank god… At least the original goal—Jiwon—was brought back. Honestly, from Jiwon’s perspective, it might’ve been better to be rescued by the Association, but if Jiwon’s sole goal was money, then this was the right call, and he had no right to interfere.

The trap still threatened to snap shut around his ankle, yet instead of escaping, he felt relieved for having saved the other person. With that, Jaeha let his eyes close completely.

“You lunatic!”

“Just a little… Just a little more sleep…”

“Hey!!”

Perhaps grabbed by the collar, his body was being shaken hard, accompanied by a booming voice that he could barely sense. You know how when you’re put under anesthesia, you’re supposed to count backward from 10 to 1 but fall asleep before you even get to 1? It was just like that—before Eunyul’s shouting could even end, Jaeha had already shut his eyes.

It was a sweet and peaceful sleep.

Jaeha woke up exactly six hours later, at noon. Eunyul was gone; he was alone in the bar. His first thought upon waking was simple.

‘I’m fucked.’

Not only had he had mind-blowing morning sex in enemy territory, but he’d also been guided. And instead of reporting the situation to the boss right away, he’d fallen asleep—and now only barely had enough time left to clean up the place. Today was the day they were officially closing down the bar.

His body felt weighed down like it does after staying up for three nights and then finally sleeping in on a weekend. A dull ache came from unfamiliar muscles, making everything feel heavy, yet he couldn’t say he felt bad. On the contrary, it had been so good that he had to wrestle with the conflicting emotions.

Just like there are people who would plant an apple tree even if the world were ending tomorrow, there were people who had to clean up the bar even if tonight everything was about to go to shit. That person was Jaeha.

“Sigh…”

Even as he let out a long sigh, Jaeha gathered the chairs that remained inside the bar and pushed them to one side. Today was the final day of closing, and the agreement was that the company would come tomorrow and take care of the rest if he did as much as he could.

He left the alcohol that needed refrigeration alone and began wrapping the bottles that could be stored at room temperature in protective packaging. Some were expensive enough that if they broke, it wouldn’t end with just a scolding from Manager Kang. His hands trembled every time he wrapped one of those. It might seem laughable to be this jumpy when he’d literally fired a gun yesterday, but still…

He packed up the liquor and cleaned up the kitchen. Lemons, limes, mint, and other leftover ingredients that were too good to throw away were handed out to nearby stores. By the time he returned to the bar, it was already two in the afternoon.

There were still roughly ten hours left until Jaeha would potentially die at the hands of the boss.

“…Do I still smell a lot?”

If by some miracle, the boss didn’t notice Aiden’s guiding scent lingering on Eunyul’s body, and if Eunyul chose to hide what he’d learned yesterday, and if the guiding scent clinging to his own body had faded a bit… Maybe… there was a chance… Though even as the thought formed, he realized how overly optimistic it was and gave up immediately.

“…”

He brought his sleeve to his nose. He thought he might still smell Aiden’s scent… Just like how people soaked in perfume can’t smell themselves, he felt uncertain and tilted his head. …Whatever, it’s not like worrying about it now will help anything.

Jaeha picked up more padding and a cup to continue packing.

Ding-ling.

That’s when the door to the bar opened, and the bell above the door chimed. The opening hours were long past, and there was a notice posted saying the bar was now permanently closed, so he responded reflexively.

“The bar’s closed–”

“You’re still here.”

“…”

Ah. He had momentarily forgotten.

“Jaeha.”

How had he not expected this man to come? Despite having exposed him as a criminal, he hadn’t run. He stood right here, at a place he knew Jaeha would be.

Jaeha blinked blankly, still holding a cup, until he eventually dropped what was in his hand.

Crash.

Glass shards scraped against his leg, stinging sharply, but he couldn’t pay it any mind.

It was Aiden.

How quickly must he have rushed over? Considering he hadn’t shown up while Jaeha had been stupidly sleeping like a rock and then cleaning the bar, he probably hadn’t thought Jaeha would still be here.

The man was slightly breathless as if he had run. Slowly, he stepped inside. He was still dressed in that thin, white Association uniform that didn’t look particularly suited for the cold. Over it, he wore only a formal coat. His military boots clacked rhythmically against the floor.

“…”

Should he run? But where? Jaeha didn’t even know where his own crime syndicate’s headquarters were. Then maybe… maybe the best option was to turn himself in and get arrested by him now…

If Aiden pulled out handcuffs, Jaeha was ready to resign himself and offer up his hands, just like he had earlier that morning. But that was a passive choice. If Aiden didn’t try to arrest him by force, then Jaeha wouldn’t be caught. The reason was simple.

“Aiden…”

He couldn’t bring himself to actively betray the boss.

The boss had saved his life more than once. He’d paid off Jaeha’s debts, given him money, provided a roof over his head, given him affection. Compared to everything the boss had done for him, what had he given back? Barely anything.

Even in this moment, uncertain whether he’d survive the night, Jaeha had already told countless lies to the boss. Even getting arrested by the Association felt like an act of disloyalty to the boss.

‘If Aiden contacts you again, let me know.’

His hand drifted toward his phone in his pocket. But somehow, as if Aiden knew what he was thinking, he suddenly stepped in close, and Jaeha quickly pulled his hand back.

“Why are you shaking?”

Only then did Jaeha realize his body was trembling. He missed the boss so much.

“Ah, ah, it’s nothing…”

Thinking of someone else in front of the one you love—it felt pathetic and shameful. It was also bitter, how he always ended up showing this man his most pitiful side.

“I think I know why you’re trembling.”

Aiden had come all the way up to the bartender’s counter. Resting his hand on the surface, he smiled. He looked sad, too. But his smile was as kind and gentle as always.

He reached out his hand.

He should avoid it. No one knew better than Jaeha that he should avoid that hand. Every time Aiden wasn’t around, he’d promise himself he would—but the moment he stood in front of him, that resolve melted away. It was pathetic.

“Don’t avoid my hand.”

His voice grew shorter. The usual politeness was gone. For some reason, that made Jaeha’s heart drop.

He’d pretended to be a civilian despite being a criminal, had been caught, and even so, this man had tried to save him—only to end up drugged in his place. Expecting him to keep being kind and gentle would be pure greed. Even an idiot like Jaeha could understand by now—Aiden had been deliberately kind to him all along… He could choose not to be kind.

Ironically, that change in demeanor only drove home the fact that Aiden was a kind person who cared about him. Even though the truth was the opposite.

“Urgh…!”

Then suddenly, his collar was grabbed. Aiden pulled him in with abnormal strength—far more than an average person could muster. And despite the shock, some part of him felt relieved. The more means someone had to protect him as a Guide, the better… especially someone like Aiden, who was lovely, delicate-looking, high-ranking, and soft-hearted.

As his body nearly collapsed forward, Jaeha instinctively braced himself against the counter to keep from smashing his face. He was so overwhelmed he didn’t even register the crash of glasses tumbling from the counter he had set up for cleanup.

His entire body was already soaked in guiding energy, and yet, when Aiden’s bare skin brushed against the back of his neck, a fresh surge of guiding flooded in.

Because of his obsessive requests, Aiden hadn’t properly guided him since the day he gave him that scarf. But now, Aiden wasn’t listening to those requests anymore.

A massive wave of guiding energy filled the shattered vessel of Jaeha’s body. Like a cracked bottle submerged in the sea—Aiden’s guiding didn’t merely pour in and leak out through the cracks. It filled it before a single drop could escape.

The ever-burning little flame that had endlessly gnawed at his flesh was doused with a crashing wave and fizzled out helplessly. His body stilled.

“Jaeha. Look at me.”

He didn’t even have the energy to lift his gaze. But the command, as if hypnotic, made him raise his head. His eyelids fluttered. Aiden was smiling. Jaeha had expected him to be angry, but he wore the same gentle, polite expression as always.

“There you go.”

Aiden praised him. And somehow, that praise felt so good—it made him want to obey every command. Why? Was it because he was used to physical contact with Aiden? Or… was it because he was used to following orders?

For a moment, a tall, dark man loomed in his mind like a mirage, but the white of Aiden’s uniform quickly erased him.

Pitch-black eyes appeared. Eyes the same color as the boss’s. His eyelids curved ever so slightly to mimic a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Even though his level had dropped drastically, Jaeha still heard his voice. Loud and clear, as if meant for him to hear.

[You’re turned on, huh…]

“…”

[You’re scared. What should I do? That’s so cute…]

“…”

And yet, even in all of this, Aiden still found him cute. Maybe Aiden was just a saint.

[Want to XXX you so I can XXX and then XXX you again.]

…Or maybe, he was just a pervert.