"I'm not in the mood for games.""You're not playing. We both know that. However, you need to understand that you will never receive the answers you seek unless you give yourself up to the process.""I don't care. Go away!""You're not being honest with me. I know you've been through some rough times because of him, but you still haven't accepted the fact about your sexuality. But the moment you start accepting it, you will become aware of how wonderful this feeling is.""Who cares about that?!""Everything is connected to everything else. Everything you feel today is influenced by the past events that shaped your feelings. Therefore, we should try to resolve these things first before moving on to the other matters.""I don't need your help! Kindly leave my dormitory if you value your life!""If I leave, you won't move forward. Only when you overcome this hurdle will you be able to progress to the next step.""Are you out of your mind?! I am NOT going to do this shit!" I shouted, glar
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he sighed and looked at the floor. This was the first time I'd seen him doing that. Usually, he was the type to never show weakness and to always be mischievous. I guess he couldn't hide it from me."Well, it's been bothering me for a while now..." he finally said."And what's that?" I asked.Minseok walked over to the window and gazed outside."So you know... I am not like most people," he started. "I'm not a full-blooded Korean—""Pfft, tell me about it." I cut him off. "Your looks are a walking stereotype of 'I'm not just a Korean', not to mention your accent.""Yes, well... that's because I'm half Russian." He looked back at me. "My mother is Russian, and my father is Korean. They met while my father was working in Russia, fell in love, and decided to get married.""Ohh..." I nodded. "That makes sense.""I had lived in Russia for the majority of my childhood until I became a Guide," Minseok went on. "Then suddenly, everything changed. One day,
"Alright everyone, it's a brand new day." Commander Moon, the man who led our squadron, stood on top of a small hill overlooking the camp. Everyone else gave him their undivided attention while packing up the tents or preparing breakfast. It wasn't until he made eye contact with me that I realized he'd called me up there too."Seojin, I wanted to talk to you about something that happened last night."Damnit!Did that Luna chick say anything bad about me?I mean, she did call me names when she got mad at me, but I could still remember some of her words. I couldn't believe she might actually paint me as a pervert..."I was told that Mr. Lee might pose a danger to you."Hmmm?I turned my eyes up to the commander and waited for him to continue."A lady said you two shared a special moment yesterday, and she said that you two were close friends since you joined the Guild. She also mentioned how she didn't want to see you go through any unnecessary pain."I knew it! A twist to the story. We
It's a tough decision, but I guess the best choice would be to accept his challenge..."Be careful next time, won't you?" I said, grinning at him."What...?!" He shrieked, completely taken aback."You're the ones who came here to cause trouble, aren't you? I just wanted to make sure we understood each other," I announced, turning away from him before continuing. "Anyway, what are the rules of this duel?" I asked, turning back to Dohyun."We can't use our ability, obviously. We're fighting with our hands and feet; no weapons either," he answered immediately.So that means I need to take advantage of my stats and skills to win, huh? I think I'll have to focus on my stat growth for a while after this."Alrighty, shall we get this party started?" I said, cracking my knuckles and getting ready to fight."I agree. Let's start off easy, and if this doesn't work out, we can always increase the difficulty from there." He agreed with a nod, his expression changing to one of determination."Hm,
Dohyun stretched out a hand towards me, his fingers curled slightly. I had no intention of letting him win this match. I was fast enough to dodge his attack, but I wanted to see if he could run faster than me."Come on, hurry up and make your move," he said arrogantly.I don't need to rush. I haven't lost yet. Wait until I'm ready before you try something stupid."Hahaha, you're just scared that I'll beat you, aren't you? If you want to lose, then go ahead and come at me. I won't hold back."So he was trying to bait me into attacking. Well, I wouldn't fall for such cheap tricks."As you wish. You're not going to be able to escape my grasp, anyway.""And why not?""Because you're slow. So unless you have some sort of secret technique to help you run faster... Then you're dead meat.""Good luck finding it, then."We both formed fists and exchanged smiles. I knew he was bluffing, but the way he'd said those words made me feel like he really meant it.I jumped forward and pushed with all
"You'll see!" Hye Jin giggled mischievously."Oh... kay? Sometimes I miss Soo Min's ability; we could be at our destination at the tip of her fingers." I sighed."Don't worry, there's something a lot more interesting than that." She winked playfully. "And besides, I have my own abilities too!""Right, fire manipulation." I replied, "What do you plan to do with that? Burn your way through the street? Or maybe you're planning to burn down the city?""That'd be bad, wouldn't it?" Her mouth twisted into a smile as she looked up at the sky."Well, thankfully, we still have this method of transportation." I waved my hand to call a cab.*****Looking above and at the signboard that read "H&G Restaurant" made me feel nervous. The restaurant was located right next to the train station, so it wasn't hard to find. All the tables were occupied and there were a few people standing in line waiting to order. It was already past six o'clock in the evening; most of the customers here were probably s
"You're spoiling the mood," I whispered, making him laugh.He let out a chuckle and then said, "Well, I don't know what to order, so I guess I'll just get the most expensive thing on the menu, hmmm... Let's see..." He narrowed his eyes and then said, "How about I go with this?" He pointed at a steak called 'Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin Steak'?I looked at the price of the Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin Steak—1,800,000 won. I gulped and nodded."Yeah, that sounds good," I said, forcing a smile.His eyes widened, and he gave me a look that made me feel embarrassed. "Don't tell me the rich and lovable Seojin can't afford such a meal that costs more than the average person makes in a year." His tone was mocking."No, I can definitely afford it. You don't have to worry about that," I said, trying to sound confident.My money!!! Damn!Sigh!Not that I had what I spend money on anyway, so no worries."Soo, what would you like to get for yourself?" Minseok asked again, still smirking at me."Uh
We left our table and went over to the corner where there weren't many people. The place wasn't very big, and there were only two tables by the wall.As soon as we sat down, Minseok opened the wine bottle and poured a small amount into a glass."A toast, then?" he asked, raising his glass."Is there something I'm supposed to know? Like, why you didn't want me to drink?" I asked quietly."Well, one thing I'll say is that it reacts with an Esper's powers, so if you drink enough of it, you'll probably lose control of your reasoning. It won't kill you, but it will make you hyperactive and in some extreme cases, it might induce your arousal.""And that's why you wouldn't let me have more of it?""Right, because I'd prefer you not to get carried away. You can have as much as you want later tonight, but—""But you wanted me to enjoy myself, right?" I cut him off.There was a pause before he answered."Yes, I did.""How nice of you."I felt a smile stretching across my lips."If it were other
The air inside the hive felt heavy, saturated with the smell of rot and an unsettling sweetness. Every breath was a struggle, as if the very atmosphere wanted to choke us. The dim glow of our lanterns barely pushed back the oppressive darkness, and the whispers at the edge of my mind grew louder with every step we took."Seojin," Minseok said quietly, his voice sharp but not unkind. "Stay focused. You're zoning out again."I clenched my jaw, shaking off the haze creeping into my thoughts. "I'm fine," I replied, though my grip on my sword tightened instinctively. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, searching, before he nodded and turned his attention back to the path ahead.The walls of the hive seemed alive, pulsating with a sickly green light that traveled along vein-like patterns embedded in the structure. It wasn’t just a visual effect—there was a rhythm to it, like a heartbeat, making the entire place feel unnervingly sentient. Jiho, walking a few steps ahead, kept glancing over
His eyes widened slightly at my reply, but he didn't push further. Instead, he held my shoulders gently, looking deep into my eyes. “Look, Seojin…” I knew what he would say before he opened his mouth. “I just need to train,” I said, pulling away from him. “That’s all.” Minseok sighed, his eyes searching mine. “You don’t have to do this alone, Seojin. Whatever it is, I can help.” I shook my head, my throat tight. “Not this time.” I paused, then added quietly, "I've got to perfect this move." "Okay," Minseok murmured. He left my side, making his way over to where the other Espers and Guides were practicing. I watched him go, unable to hide the pain and loneliness I felt. It had been nine days since our last battle against the enemy, and I still hadn't been able to master the technique. My body was so heavy; my mind was numb. The others were all moving around, chanting, and practicing their moves, while I stood there like an idiot, struggling with my own thoughts. Could I real
Na Ri swiped at her neck, grimacing. "Ugh, it’s like walking into a sauna filled with mosquitos and nightmares. Why are jungle missions always the worst?" Jiho adjusted the straps of his gear, glancing at the corrupted zone ahead. "Because jungles are naturally hostile, and now they’re corrupted. Double the fun." “Cut the chatter,” Minseok said sharply, though not unkindly. His eyes scanned the dense foliage, assessing the safest route. “We don’t know how far the corruption has spread. Stay alert.” As we ventured deeper, the once-vibrant greens of the jungle gave way to muted, ashen tones. Trees twisted unnaturally, their bark blackened and oozing an eerie, viscous liquid. The ground beneath our boots was spongy, as though the earth itself was rotting. Then the whispers began. ] I flinched. The voice was faint but unmistakable, like a breeze brushing past my ear. I glanced at Minseok, but he was focused on his tracker. The others didn’t seem to notice either.
The flight back to the Korean Guild HQ was meant to be uneventful. The tension of the South American mission was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and the team was uncharacteristically quiet as the jet sliced through the skies. Na Ri sat near the front, absently scrolling through her tablet. Soo Min had taken up the rear, her head leaning against the window, earphones in but no music playing. Hye Jin, ever practical, was already drafting a post-mission report on her laptop. I sat near the middle, Minseok beside me, reviewing the corrupted structure’s schematics one last time. He didn’t say much, but his quiet presence was grounding. The whispers were blessedly silent, though I had a feeling they weren’t gone for good. They were waiting. I could feel it. --- It wasn’t until we were thirty minutes from landing that Soo Min’s voice shattered the silence. “Uh... guys?” she called out, her tone hesitant and confused. Na Ri turned, raising an eyebrow. “What now?” “There’s... so
You're telling me to stop because it makes you uncomfortable?! How could anyone find it pleasurable when they're being made to go through this?!"He shook his head and gave what I could only call a ruse smile. "It's not that I can't help. To be honest with you, I hate it. I hate this feeling. I've been through this with those in my past. I thought we were different, Seojin. But it's fine; after all, I'm the guy that's only needed when things go wrong, the one that everyone else will abandon once the problem is solved. I guess this is the price I pay for awakening as a Guide, huh? The price of becoming someone others rely on."His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. It was just us, standing there in the glow of the setting sun, the connection between us humming softly like a melody only we could hear."I’m glad," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You don’t just guide me, Minseok.
I opened my mouth to respond, but then I remembered that I was still out in the open. I took a deep breath."Hm? What is it?" Minseok asked, looking up from where he sat cross-legged."Oh. No. Nothing. Sorry."I shook my head, trying to clear away the lingering sensation from the kiss.He grinned. "Don't be sorry. Why don't we get back to work first? We can continue elsewhere.""Right."The team had scattered across the Guild when we arrived, each of us retreating to our respective spaces to decompress after the tension of the mission. The world map displayed on the wall monitor flickered as I watched the red zones of corruption pulse ominously. My mind kept racing, unable to settle on anything. The threat we faced was enormous, but what kept gnawing at me was the strange, unsettling feeling that something was off—something that hadn’t quite clicked yet.Minseok’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “You’re brooding again.”I looked up to find him leaning against the doorframe
After the final session, the trainees dispersed, each saying their goodbyes. Most of them made a point to give me a friendly hug before leaving, which I didn't mind at all. Being hugged felt great, and I knew I looked forward to it every day.---The rest of the session passed quickly. By the time the trainees were dismissed, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the training grounds in hues of orange and gold. I stood by the edge of the barrier, watching the Espers file out, their laughter and chatter filling the air.Minseok joined me, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?""Training them? Yeah, it’s not so bad. They’ve got potential." I glanced at him, my tone softening. "And it helps that you’re here."He didn’t respond immediately, but his lips curved into a small smile. "You’ve changed, Seojin. You’re...happier. It’s good to see."I turned to face him fully, leaning casually against the barrier. "That’s your doing, you know.
The compound’s alarm blared the next day, jolting me from a restless sleep. A breach. I rushed to the command center, finding Commander Moon and Dr. Yoona already there.“It’s a group of corrupted Espers,” Commander Moon said grimly. “They’ve broken through the outer defenses.”My heart sank. Corrupted Espers were rare but deadly, their minds twisted and their powers amplified by the same darkness I was fighting.The team mobilized quickly, engaging the intruders near the compound’s perimeter. The battle was chaotic, the corrupted Espers fighting with reckless abandon. I joined the fray, my energy flaring uncontrollably.“Seojin, focus!” Minseok’s voice rang out, anchoring me briefly. But the corruption was too strong. My attacks became wild, destructive, and I could see the fear in my teammates’ eyes.When the battle finally ended, the compound was in shambles. The corrupted Espers were defeated, but the damage was done. The team avoided my gaze, their unease palpable.---That night
The room fell into a stunned silence, Jiho’s words slicing through the tension like a blade. Everyone froze, their eyes snapping to him. He didn’t look frightened, but there was an eerie calm in his expression, a stillness that sent shivers down my spine. “What do you mean, Jiho?” Minseok asked, his voice steady but strained. Jiho raised his gaze to meet ours, his dark eyes holding an unshakable certainty. “It’s here. The corruption—it’s close.” For a moment, nobody moved. Then Minseok sprang into action, issuing commands with the efficiency of a seasoned leader. “Na Ri, secure the perimeter. Hye Jin, monitor any energy spikes. Soo Min, take Jiho somewhere safe. We can’t risk—” “No.” Jiho’s voice was firm, louder than I’d ever heard it. Everyone turned to him in surprise. “You can’t hide me. If you do, it’ll find another way in. It always does.” “What are you talking about?” I asked, stepping closer. “How do you know this?” Jiho hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “I