CH 50

“Who are you?”

– I’m calling from the Esper Association.

So-Won didn’t think it was really an Esper Association call. So-Won listened over the phone, thinking that he was lucky, he answered it.

– It’s confirmed that you’re at Kang Tae-Woo Esper’s house. Is that right?

“Yes…, but….”

-Kang Tae-Woo Esper’s condition is not good. I think you should come to the association right now.

“What? Tae-Woo?”

So-Won asked back in astonishment. He didn’t expect anyone else would tell Tae-woo’s condition for him.

– The vehicle from the association should be arriving soon. Please follow the staff’s instructions and move to the association.

“Is he in a bad condition?” Can I talk to Tae Woo for a second?”

-Esper Kang Tae-woo is not available right now. The condition is…

He hesitated to speak over the phone. However, So-Won quickly grasped the condition when he was told that he could not answer the phone. He cut off the employee’s words and answered.

“All right. I’ll be right there!”

So-Won hung up the phone, hurried up to the room, changed his clothes, and came out. As he was restless in front of the house biting his nails, a black car came towards So-Won from afar. Uh… So-Won’s body felt stiff seeing a very familiar vehicle.

It was a car that always came to So-Won. Every time So-Won ran away this car would come to pick him up, so he stepped back without realizing it.

The vehicle that arrived in front of So-Won stopped with a loud noise. The rear door swung open and a familiar person appeared in it. It was a face he couldn’t help but memorize because he was a person who came to catch So-Won steadily for eight years.

“Guide Lee So-Won?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Since they are both busy, they only greeted each other with their eyes and got into the car. It was a little awkward because it was the first time So-Won went inside the car on his own initiative, but now was not the time to care about that. When asked to wear a seat belt, So-Won nodded and pulled the seat belt next to him and put it on, making a clicking sound. The car then started with a frightening momentum.

The car heading for the association was quiet. So-Won closed his mouth as he watched the surrounding scenery passing by quickly. His mind was complicated because he had a lot of thoughts.

Guiding beyond kissing has been difficult since the last guiding test. The degree of holding hands or hugging lightly was now nothing, but when the atmosphere felt a little strange, So-Won ran away, and Tae-woo did not force her. If he knew this would happen, So-Won would have worked harder on guiding.

So-Won checked the text he sent two days ago on the day Tae-Woo went to the gate. Tae-Woo still didn’t reply, and only the message he sent was displayed at the end.

So-Won doesn’t know why he took it for granted thinking he would come home right away. So-Won knew he’d be in a bad condition after he went to the gate. Recently, So-Won was too conceited because Tae-Woo was in good condition.

Arriving near the association, the staff took out the walkie-talkie.

“How is he?”

– It’s not to the point where he’s going crazy yet, but it’s getting worse.

After fiddling around, the answer came. He didn’t say who it was about, but So-Won could tell .

It’s Tae-Woo.

The association is getting closer. When the building was really just around the corner, the staff explained what to do.

“When we arrive at the association, guide Lee So-Won will move to the isolation room with us. Esper Kang Tae-woo is in the quarantine room, and you can guide him there. Esper Kang Tae-wo’s condition is not good, but he’s completely restrained. The agents will completely protect you.

The employee continued to explain, but as soon as the association came into view, So-Won’s head was full of worries about Tae-Woo and he did not hear a sound. In his eight years as Tae-Woo’s guide, he had never been on time when he needed a guide. He always ran away and hid and was forced out late. By that time, even though the worst condition had passed to some extent, So-Won screamed that he could not guide him when he saw him.

His condition, which So-Won will soon see, will be similar to what he first saw in a private room eight years ago.

The horrible appearance of the blackened veins popping out and wriggling. So-Won remembered him in pain and he was just terrified. Tae-Woo is not scary, he is just having a hard time. Tae-Woo must had suffered a lot while waiting for him.

“This way!”

Upon arriving at the association and getting out of the car, So-Won began to move urgently under the guidance of the employee. So-Won ran through the hallway. The staff took the lead, but So-Won knew the way. If you go straight down this corridor and turn left, there is a gray door that looks sinister.

“Tae-Woo!”

As soon as he opened the thick iron door and went inside, he saw the armed Espers in combat suits and Tae-woo. The doctor in charge was checking the machine nervously, Tae-Woo was lying on the bed as if he were dead.

Tae-Woo’s condition was worse than expected.

Usually, when he entered the isolation room, Tae-Woo just sat still with a guiding machine attached. He looked like a monster hanging on a guiding machine, so when his So-Won made eye contact with Tae-Woo he usually froze in place, he only avoided his eyes. But now Tae-Woo lay on the bed and did not move at all.

“Guide Lee So-Won!”

The doctor’s expression brightened when he saw So-Won. So-Won hurried to Tae-Woo’s side without saying hello to the doctor in charge and checked his condition first. Tae-Woo was retrained and attached a guiding machine all over his body. He was unconscious and could not open his eyes even though So-Won approached him. Only a very distorted face informed him that he was suffering.

So-Won held his hand tied to the bed tightly with both hands. As soon as the wave flowed in, he almost dropped his hand due to the stinging pain that seemed to have been cut by a knife, but soon he held Tae-Woo’s hand with more strength. So-Won felt a wriggling vein in his palm.

This moment seemed too similar to the day Tae-Woo died. Tae-Woo lying helplessly, everyone can’t do anything but watch him and So-Won also sat helplessly holding his hand.

Suddenly, tears came out. So-Won thought Tae-Woo would notice that he came and open his eyes and say he’s okay, and apologize for showing this, and reassure him. But he still didn’t budge with his eyes closed.

“Tae-Woo is not opening his eyes. What should I do…?”

So-Won was suddenly scared, he barely managed to hold back his tears and asked the doctor next to him. A small trembling voice was heard. The doctor in charge opened his mouth while looking pitifully at So-Won who had tears in his eyes.

“Esper Kang Tae-woo’s condition was not good, so I administered a sedative. I’m sure he had quite a few doses and won’t be awake for a while… When the wavelength stabilizes to some extent, detoxification will begin as soon as possible, and he will wake up quickly.”

As soon as So-Won heard that, he looked at Tae-Woo to guide him. However, there was a guiding machine all over his body, so there was no place where the So-Won could touch. Then suddenly, his tightly closed lips caught his eye.

So-Won moved his body and kissed his lips. It hurt. It hurt, but So-Won knew Tae-Woo was hurting more. So he was even more desperate.

He licked and rubbed his lips as if telling him to open his eyes, but Tae-woo still didn’t respond. Since this was not enough, So-Won tried to push his tongue in, but his tightly closed lips wouldn’t open.

“Sigh…”

So-Won felt miserable while kissing an unconscious person.

He should have guided him a little more before he sent him to the guide. Or So-Won should have forced himself to follow. Regret kept pouring in. So-Won knew Tae-Woo’s condition would get worse, but he didn’t know it would get this bad. Tae-Woo was in the best condition So-Won had ever seen, so he thought he’d be okay again if he just guided a little bit even if he got worse. So it was all So-Won’s fault.

So-Won could feel Tae-Woo’s veins beating over his skin. Every time, Tae-Woo made a scratching sound in pain. So-Won took off his lips to wipe away the tears because the tears kept pouring out of his eyes. However, it was a waste of time, so he swept roughly around his eyes and kissed him again soon.

Every time their lips touched it stung as if he had been torn. So-Won placed his hand near Tae-Woo’s heart and constantly roughly kissed his lips. And yet, Tae-Woo didn’t open his eyes, so So-Won became increasingly anxious.

“Tae-Woo, I’m here. Open your eyes…. okay?”

Rubbing his forehead against his shoulder, he whispered softly. Cold sweat flowed and the wet body hardened. So-Won wants to guide him quickly and make him feel comfortable, but all So-Won can do now that Tae-woo can’t wake up was a hasty kiss.

Tae Woo, Tae Woo.

He leaned his upper body on a body full of guide machines. So-Won tried to widen the contact area as he thought his condition would improve a little faster if the skin touched.

The coffee from before and the patreon is still updated is still valid.