Minseok smiled, moving his hand to the back of my head before pressing his lips against mine.The feeling of his soft, sweet lips was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before.My senses were overwhelmed by the sensations of our bodies coming together, and I couldn't help myself from letting out a small moan.Minseok's lips moved against mine while his tongue sought permission to enter.Our tongues danced with each other, tasting each other's saliva."Mn..."He pulled away and chuckled. "We're still at the restaurant, you know. Who knows, someone might be able to recognize us. It can wait until after we finish our meal," Minseok responded, firmly grabbing my wrist and interlocking our fingers."Okay, whatever."While it wasn't exactly true that the two of us hadn't done anything yet, we weren't really doing anything either. The kiss had been so short that it barely qualified as something more than a peck.Still, just knowing how Minseok felt about me made my entire body feel like i
Tears? No. It can't be tears. Why am I crying? Am I crying because I'm happy or sad? What does happiness feel like when you've lost everything you loved? "Did I say something wrong, Seojin?" Minseok asked hesitantly after a moment of silence. I shook my head, wiping the wetness off my cheeks with my sleeve. I'll pretend nothing happened, I told myself. "No, it's fine." I smiled weakly. "I was just thinking of my family, that's all. Thank you." For making me remember them. "Let's go, then!" Minseok declared, grabbing my arm and pulling me along. Just like how he grabbed me by the heart. ***** When we reached the parking lot, I saw Minseok's silver BMW parked in the very front row. A big signboard stood at the entrance of the parking area, saying "No Parking," but we ignored it without hesitation. We both got inside the car, and I took one last look at the parking lot before locking the doors. The first thing I noticed was the smell. The scent of lavender mixed with the smel
I knew he could sense my nervousness, but Minseok didn't show it. He stood right in front of me, looking down at me with those beautiful blue eyes. I could feel the heat radiating off of him, and I found myself longing for him to touch me again."You know," he began, "you don't have to pretend to like me. You're making this harder than it needs to be."His words hit home. It wasn't true that I hated Minseok. What I felt was something entirely else. I pulled him close, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight."I want to be with you, all right?" I said.Minseok's hands reached into my hair and cupped my head, pulling me closer. My heart pounded in my chest; every fiber of my being screamed in pain.Yet again, we are kissing.Minseok pulled off his jacket, throwing it onto the floor. The shirt he wore underneath it quickly followed suit, leaving him clad only in his undershirt and black pants.Minseok seemed to take liking to my living room, and he took advantage of his presence
"No, um... That was just—""A coincidence, huh? You were just saying it because you happened to get caught off guard, right?""N-No, uh... that's not what I meant...""It sounded like you did.""It's not like that! Agh, why am I even trying to explain this?!"I didn't have the strength left to argue. My chest was heaving, and I was gasping for breath."Just admit it already. You've been wanting this since the moment we came here, haven't you? Admit it.""Fine, okay! Yes, of course! I think you're gradually growing on me; I'm attracted to you, and I want you to touch me!"He chuckled quietly.I closed my eyes, embarrassed by my own words."Shut up, stop laughing," I growled. "Why do you have to make this so hard?! Why are you taking all the fun out of confessing?""I'm just teasing you. Are you upset?""Yes, of course I am!" I snapped, turning to glare at Minseok. He smiled softly at me, gently stroking the back of my hand."Oh, come on, no need to act so high strung. Just relax, okay?
"Wha—"He leaned forward, kissing me again.Ew!Instead of sucking on my cock, he kissed me. And this time, I wasn't expecting such a move, so my reaction was delayed.It felt as though I was the one who sucked my cock, not him. The sensation of him slithering along my skin made me shiver.Of course, I couldn't tell him I didn't like it...His fingers ran through my hair. His kisses were soft and gentle. My eyes closed, and I surrendered myself to his lips.I liked how Minseok seemed to be enjoying himself, smiling happily when he saw the look on my face.Yet, deep down, I was afraid to let go—terrified of losing control of myself. I knew I could become addicted to this—to being dominated by another man.The reason I hadn't done this before was simple: I feared that it would remind me of my past. That I wouldn't be able to distinguish between right and wrong anymore.Then I felt a finger intrude on my tight hole, and I snapped out of my reverie.I instinctively kicked at his face.Wha
The next day, I went to the shop where I usually bought coffee from when I had some time to kill. The shopkeeper, who we all refer to as 'Ajumma', was a middle-aged woman with pretty brown hair, and while I appreciated her service, I never really talked to her much.She was standing behind the counter, which made it hard to tell how old she actually was, but I guessed she was somewhere between thirty and forty years old. She wore glasses over her long lashes, and her smile looked kind.Today, though, it seemed she recognized me—and I couldn't help wondering why."Excuse me, sir!" She called out as I stepped inside, forcing me to stop and look at her. "Sorry for bothering you so early, but I just wanted to know if there's something that's weighing on your mind."Her voice sounded warm and friendly, and I could feel the concern in her eyes.There were some things I needed to say but didn't know how to explain them, so I just shook my head awkwardly."Oh, okay. Well then, I'll let you ge
I nodded and tried to smile.The kid came closer and gave me a hug. I patted his head awkwardly and let out a small sigh."Thank you," said the kid.I wanted to say, 'No worries' or something similar, but I couldn't find the words."Thanks for coming," said a little girl standing next to the boy. She was about five years old and wore a yellow dress with a red cardigan.She smiled at me too, and I felt a bit better."Are you the superhero we saw on the TV two days ago?" asked the boy.On the TV...I was struggling to remember what the broadcast was about. Was it the news? Or maybe a program?"Some big, BIG monsters attacked that big building that's full of superheroes and stuff, and the heroes saved the day!"I remembered now. That had happened a few days ago, actually. The day I found out I could communicate with some of these monstrous beings.I was tempted to lie, but I decided to tell the truth instead."Yes, I am.""Are you really?""Yeah, I'm a superhero.""There are lots of supe
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the floor. My head still ached, and my mouth was dry.Where am I...? Where's the children... Huh?I tried to sit up, but I couldn't move my body. I realized that I was chained, tightly bound by glowing metal chains that were wrapped around my arms and legs."Mr. Han!" came a voice from above.My eyes focused on the ceiling, which was illuminated by bright lights. I looked over and saw a lady standing on top of a chair, staring down at me."It's me," she said in a soft, gentle tone. She seemed like she was in her mid-twenties, with long black hair tied back in a ponytail. Her skin was fair and smooth; she looked like the kind of lady who'd be popular among men. But the way she stared at me made her seem somehow intimidating."Yeon-seo? What are you doing here?" I asked.Yeon-seo was an Esper and ex member of the Korean Guild gone rogue. I didn't really think much of her—she was a bit of a flake. I guess she got herself involved with the wr
The moment the figure's voice echoed again, I felt an odd pull deep within me, like a thread being tugged at the core of my being. Minseok tightened his grip on my arm, his sharp gaze scanning the vast expanse of blackened earth around us. “Seojin, whatever it’s saying, don’t listen,” he said firmly, his voice unwavering. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”I nodded, though the pull was almost irresistible. The figure remained still, its featureless head tilted slightly, as if it was waiting for something. The oppressive sky above seemed to churn with energy, and for a brief moment, I wondered if this was the end. But then, a thought struck me—if this was the end, why did it feel so... familiar?Minseok's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “Do you recognize this place? It feels... off.”Before I could respond, the ground beneath us shifted. Minseok and I instinctively braced ourselves, but instead of another collapse, the blackened earth morphed, twisting and transforming. Wi
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