TGIC Ch 127

Chapter 127

The door opened with a soft sound, and Gidam stepped out quietly. Having finished showering, he was once again dressed in a shirt and suit trousers.

While Gidam was away, the sky outside had grown dim. Vasily checked his watch and spoke.

“It’s getting late. You must be hungry.”

“Are we going to have dinner?”

“That’s right. I made a reservation.”

Vasily greeted him as though nothing had happened. Seeing that calm demeanor, Gidam sensed nothing amiss and simply nodded.

As always, they headed to the restaurant they frequented.

Following the attendant, Gidam paused in front of the private dining room.

“What is it?”

“I think we’ve come to the wrong room.”

He stepped back, uncertain. The attendant rechecked the reservation and replied,

“This is the correct room.”

“Huh?”

“Is something strange?”

Vasily glanced inside. The table was neatly set with the dishes he had pre-ordered—nothing unusual.

“This is the right place, Guide Kwon Gidam.”

“If you need anything more, please let us know.”

Leaving the bewildered Gidam behind, the attendant departed with a polite smile.

Inside, Gidam scanned the table with displeasure. As Vasily took a seat naturally, Gidam asked,

“Isn’t this too much food?”

“I thought you’ve been eating too little lately.”

Vasily answered, recalling Gidam sitting on his lap earlier.

Lighter than before. A month in bed had inevitably cost him weight, but the stark difference still bothered him.

From today on, he would make sure Gidam ate more. At this rate, he would gain neither fat nor muscle.

“We can’t finish all this between the two of us.”

“Is that so?”

The table was indeed packed, nearly every dish on the menu arranged across it. He had asked the restaurant to prepare one of everything.

With half-resigned eyes, Gidam sat down. Vasily smiled.

“Eat it all.”

“Did you hear anything I just said?”

“I’m joking.”

Gidam let out a deep sigh and picked up his fork. Vasily watched him take a large bite of steak, then slowly poured wine into his glass.

Listening to Gidam toss and turn unable to sleep, Vasily passed the night awake. Dawn arrived quietly.

So he truly can’t sleep deeply without Guiding.

Warmth alone wasn’t enough. Opening his eyes, Vasily sat up.

He turned his head. Gidam was asleep at the edge of the bed. Instead of coming to Vasily’s room, he had clung to his own until late into the night. Exhaustion now clouded his face.

Deciding to let him rest a bit longer, Vasily slipped into the bathroom.

Still asleep?

Even after he returned washed and dressed, the blanket bulged in the same shape. The gentle rise and fall showed deep sleep.

Approaching, he saw Gidam curled under the covers, sleeping soundly. Even the sound of running water earlier hadn’t woken him—he must have been extremely tired.

But he couldn’t let him sleep all day. Tomorrow they would enter the Gate. Training could not be skipped, even for a day.

“Guide Kwon Gidam, wake up.”

“Mmm…”

At the call of his name, Gidam stirred. Vasily expected him to turn, wary and guarded, but instead Gidam rolled over and buried his face in the pillow.

Determination to keep sleeping—fearlessly showing his back. Vasily’s lips gradually lifted.

“Trying to sleep more? What should I do with you…”

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached toward the hair spilling across the pillow.

Soft strands slid through his fingers. He brushed them gently, then smoothed them down, cupping the round back of Gidam’s head.

Warm scalp, silky hair—his hand kept moving of its own accord.

After some time, the tips of Gidam’s ears flushed red. His shoulders tensed—awake at last.

“You’re awake?”

“…How could I sleep like this.”

“Then get ready. We’ll go to the conditioning room first and then have your body checked again by the doctor.”

“…Understood.”

Vasily withdrew his hand and rose. Behind him, the blankets rustled as Gidam attempted to sit up.

“Ugh!”

The pained cry made Vasily turn immediately.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing.”

Half-collapsed on the bed, Gidam forced an awkward smile.

His trembling lips gave him away. Vasily’s mellowed mood cooled.

Gidam turned his head stubbornly, but as Vasily’s gaze bore into him, he relented.

“…I think I have muscle soreness.”

He spoke with humiliation, voice small. Vasily reached toward him to check. Gidam flinched away—only to collapse back onto the blankets as pain seized him.

It was true then. He couldn’t even support himself. It seemed severe.

“Stay lying down.”

“I can manage—”

“What exactly do you intend to do in that condition? Rest today. I’ll cancel everything.”

“….”

Gidam pressed his lips together tightly, pride clearly stung.

Vasily watched as he gave up and fell back against the bed, then pressed firmly on his calf.

“Ah—!”

Gidam jerked and cried out. The muscle throbbed visibly beneath Vasily’s fingers.

“You didn’t stretch before sleeping?”

“…No.”

“That’s why you’re like this.”

Of course. Overworked muscles with no cooldown—pain the next morning was inevitable.

He should have checked last night. But when Gidam locked himself in his room immediately after dinner, Vasily had given him space as well—he, too, needed time to think.

Since he bore responsibility for this state, he would handle it.

“Mm…”

“Relax. I’ll loosen it.”

He kneaded lightly. Gidam clenched his jaw, twisting as though to escape, but his strength failed him—he couldn’t move away at all.

Staring down at Vasily massaging his leg, Gidam whispered uncertainly,

“Why would you… do something like this…”

“I told you—we’re lovers.”

“…”

He used the excuse he knew Gidam could not refute yet, kneading through the fabric, studying the contours beneath his hand.

He really had lost weight and muscle since the incident. Would his memory return once his body recovered? He showed no sign of it yet, but…

Lost in thought, Vasily continued. The more he touched, the more Gidam’s body tensed stiffly.

“Relax.”

“You can stop. I can handle—ah!”

The sight of him—unable even to sit up—yet still arguing, irritated Vasily. He tightened his grip when Gidam tried to slip free; a sharp cry burst from him.

“Stop—! Agh!”

Each time Vasily pressed the tight knots, amusing sounds escaped Gidam. Vasily continued, entertained, until the noises suddenly ceased.

When he glanced down, Gidam lay trembling, face flushed scarlet, lips bitten, breath uneven.

Anyone watching would misunderstand entirely.

Vasily loosened his grip and began a gentler massage. If he continued teasing him, it would lead to… complications on both their sides.