Espers... Guides... What are they? I'm not sure how much I should talk about this topic. My name is Han Seojin. It would probably be best if I didn't say anything at all. But here we go. Let me start from the beginning. Twenty years ago, back when I was still seven and living with my parents, I had a pretty rough time of it after an event that scarred my innocence. I don't want to go over details right now; safe to say, it made me lose trust in males and the world around me. This wasn't a problem unique to everyone; no one would ever want such an experience. The difference between me and most people is that I got help and love to overcome most of my trauma. And not just from my family but from the neighborhood as well. Everything had been a little rosy up until a gate opened somewhere in Seoul and a huge number of monsters poured out. It was all over the news, so it seemed weird to have gone unnoticed, but no one could explain where they'd come from or why they were
"Yes," Dr. Yoona nodded firmly. "The best match for you, Seojin. He understands your kind and knows everything there is to know about you. Even though he's new here, he's also an S-rank Guide. He has the power to take on any Esper. More importantly, he's one of you." It wasn't clear to me why she needed to say all these things. In fact, it felt like a waste of time. "I told you, I don't want a Guide! Fuck this! Not a male!" I yelled, pushing Dr. Yoona's hands away from mine. "No way am I letting some guy get close to me. No fucking way!" But Dr. Yoona didn't budge. "Minseok is waiting outside. Please let me introduce him to you. You won't regret this, I promise. His power is remarkable. I've never seen anyone with so many skills, strong pheromones, and techniques at his disposal before. This is your chance to live your life to the fullest. Why would you refuse him?" "Because I'm not interested in becoming your pawn, Dr. Yoona," I snarled. "Don't be silly," she replied. "A p
Minseok leaned closer to me to whisper, "Don't worry, I know you're not gay. I can smell it on you." "Please shut up! And stop looking at me with those creepy eyes of yours! It's freaking me out! Stop staring at me!" "Well, well. Are you getting angry now?" He teased. "Get away from me!" I tried to shove him, but he grabbed me, keeping me still. The room was too small for both of us, and I struggled against his hold. But for some reason his touch made my skin tingle, and I couldn't bring myself to push him away. "Stop touching me!" "Why are you getting so upset? We haven't done anything yet, right? Maybe you should calm down and listen to what I have to say..." He pulled my body closer, trapping me between his arms, and he looked at me with those gorgeous, blue eyes... and his lips curled up into a devilish smirk. "I'm telling you I am NOT interested in doing anything with you!" "Not interested? That's a shame. I thought we had some chemistry going on here." He wa
I woke up the following morning with a splitting headache. I groaned and lifted my head off the pillow, staring at the ceiling for a moment before I glanced across the bed and noticed I was alone. I realized that I had managed to walk back to my apartment before falling asleep. At least I'll be able to rest easy today. I slowly climbed out of bed and stretched, trying to move as little as possible. I slipped on a pair of boxers and a shirt before heading to the kitchen to make breakfast. I threw some eggs into a pan and scrambled them while I went over my daily schedule in my mind. After finishing breakfast and taking a bath, I quickly grabbed my backpack from the closet. Today, I'd be returning to our facility, which is also known as humanity's last defense, Guild Headquarters. I opened the front door and walked outside. The sun was shining bright overhead, and I could smell the faint scent of flowers coming from somewhere nearby. I didn't know where, but it reminded me of h
"What does that mean?" I asked, confused.He smiled mischievously, his voice low and sensual. "It means I'm attracted to you," he whispered.My heart skipped several beats. I swallowed hard."Attracted to me?" I repeated stupidly, unable to process what he'd just said."Didn't think I would be, did you?" he said.I shook my head. "It's your guiding instincts that are talking; you can't be remotely attracted to someone who you just met and doesn't see the need for the arrangement he's forced into.""No, it's not." He grinned, and then his expression turned serious. "I'm not going to take advantage of you, Seojin. Not like you're thinking.""That was what I had heard the last time I was—" I paused, swallowing hard. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. It's not important."I caught sight of his eyes narrow in suspicion, and I averted his gaze."Are you sure? Because it sounded pretty important." His voice was soft, and he sounded amused.I glanced up at him. "Tell me the true reason why y
"Where do you think you're going?" His eyes glowed dangerously as he watched me. "You should stay here for the next few hours until your corruption subsides or I'll make it a lot faster and less painful for you by aiding you." I stared right into his face, trying to keep my composure. "I'm fine!" I replied immediately, trying to avoid eye contact with him. He continued staring at me, unshaken by my response. "There are things that we should talk about. Things that you need to know if you want to live your life to its fullest potential." I glanced at him cautiously. What did he mean by that? What sort of things? I knew that I had to listen to him; he was a rare rank just like I was and Guides were naturally adept at reading people. But I couldn't tell what he was thinking. His expression remained blank, and the only thing I could feel emanating from him was pure rage at my defiance, even with the state I was in. The last thing I wanted right now was to get angry back
To be honest, I hadn't planned on doing this. This was the first time I'd ever allowed myself to be guided. I wanted to try seeing things from another perspective. I needed to learn about the inner workings of this man and how I could see how far he could go to guide me.This time it wasn't an Esper that'll be controlled by a Guide. It would be me."I had lost control a little and I had to do something about it before I completely lost myself."Dr. Yoona walked to Minseok, giving him a hug from behind. "Thank you. You've helped me save Seojin's life!"Minseok smiled and replied, "You're welcome. I can tell you care a lot for him, so I'm glad I could return some of what you have given him.""That's not true!" Dr. Yoona said, wiping her face with the back of her hands. "I don't think I'll be able to thank you enough for finally breaking through his tough shell. Thank you, Minseok."He bowed his head slightly. "No, no, your gratitude is unnecessary. I was only trying to help Seojin.""I
Soo Min threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly.Gasp! Gasp!"Can't breathe!!" As the air left my lungs, I yelled in pain."Oh, sorry! Sorry!" She apologized, releasing me from her grasp."Y-You're okay now, right?" She asked, looking concerned."Yeah, I'm fine. Just surprised!" I replied, forcing a smile."—and then when we heard there was an S-rank gate in Gangnam, we need you, Seojin Oppa." Na Ri chimed in, "Since we knew that Minseok Hyung would be accompanying us, we are going to nail this mission no matter what!" she announced proudly.It was no surprise that they would choose to wait on my decision, since I am the leader of our team. It was difficult to disagree with them, though. I mean, if they say so, then I have no choice but to agree. Even though I'd rather spend my days lazing around doing nothing, I couldn't deny that they were my team mates.I couldn't also sit back and watch so many lives being lost, knowing that if I just acted faster, things wouldn't turn out
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
The turning point came during a routine training session. Jiho had been sitting on the sidelines, watching quietly as the team sparred. Suddenly, without warning, he cried out, his small body convulsing as an invisible force seemed to grip him.“Jiho!” Soo Min screamed, rushing to his side.I was there in an instant, kneeling beside him as his eyes rolled back and his body trembled. The whispers roared in my mind, louder than they’d ever been.**He’s the key. Protect him.**Minseok was beside me, his hands glowing faintly as he tried to stabilize Jiho’s energy. “He’s connected to something,” he said, his voice tense. “Something big.”As Jiho’s convulsions subsided, his eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine. “It’s coming,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “And you’re the only one who can stop it.”---The weight of Jiho’s words hung heavy over the compound. Director Yoona ordered an immediate lockdown, and the team threw themselves into researching the boy’s connection to the c