Beyond The Control

Chapter 61

“It’s not temporary anymore?”

“As of today, we’ve signed an official pair contract. Right?”

No, this is news to me…

While everyone else was silent, only Song Ji-hyeok seemed lively. He spoke to the employee who looked more surprised than us, mouth agape.

“Senior Su-hyeon, you’re my pair now, so reject all guiding requests from other guys.”

“Ah, that… J-just a moment. Let me check if there’s an official notice…”

“It’ll come today. If you don’t believe me, ask the Guild Master.”

It was ridiculous to mention the Guild Master, who wasn’t just some coworker next door, but someone we rarely saw even once a year. Regardless, Song Ji-hyeok turned to Jeon Hyeon-wook with a confident gaze.

“If you don’t believe it either, go ahead and ask the Guild Master. Your eyes look urgent, so you’d better find another guide quickly.”

Then Song Ji-hyeok turned to me and smiled.

“Let’s go.”

He grabbed my wrist instead of going alone, making me walk along with him. When we entered the guiding room, I decided to verify the truth, just in case.

“You were just making that up, right?”

“What?”

“About it not being temporary anymore.”

There’s nothing as disappointing as false hope. It would be a lie to say there was no hope at all, but it was right to block it quickly before getting carried away.

But to my surprise, Song Ji-hyeok gave an unexpected answer.

“It’s true.”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

“…Really?”

“Yes. I forgot to tell you earlier.”

Come on, that’s not something you just forget! Anyway, that means…

“You’re really signing an official pair contract?”

“Yes.”

I almost asked, ‘Why so suddenly?’ but quickly caught myself. It would be foolish to look a gift horse in the mouth when I should be bowing in gratitude.

However, it was hard to believe, so I asked him a couple more times to confirm. Really? For real? Each time, Song Ji-hyeok answered with a “Yes,” and finally laughed as if he found it ridiculous.

“Have you been deceived all your life? Why can’t you believe what I’m saying?”

“It’s just hard to believe.”

The expression about life flashing before your eyes – I thought it was just a figure of speech, but it turned out to be possible. From our rude first meeting to the day we took the matching rate test, the first guiding session, and the day we nervously signed the temporary contract – all these memories quickly flashed through my mind. Overcome with emotion, I hugged Song Ji-hyeok without realizing it.

“Thank you so much.”

“Whoa, you surprised me.”

Despite the sudden attack, he didn’t push me away. Soon, I heard a low voice from above my head.

“If you’re grateful, just guide me.”

“Oh, right. Sit down quickly.”

I sat down first, and Song Ji-hyeok sat next to me. Usually, we would sit facing each other, but at some point, we started sitting side by side like this. It was because most of the time, regardless of his condition, we would start with a kiss and end up going further.

Even now, Song Ji-hyeok naturally cupped the back of my neck and pressed his lips against mine. The sensation of his tongue invading my mouth sent shivers down my spine.

Somehow managing not to forget my duty, I started guiding. He must have worked up quite a sweat in the skill training room, as his energy had built up considerably compared to the morning.

“Mmm, haa…”

A warm sensation bubbled up not just from our connected lips, but throughout my entire body. The power of repetition was proven even in unnecessary places. Now, just a kiss was enough to make my core tingle. When he pulled away first, I even felt a momentary disappointment.

On the other hand, Song Ji-hyeok spoke as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“From now on, reject all guiding requests from other Espers.”

“Of course.”

Satisfied with my answer, Song Ji-hyeok nodded and pressed his lips against mine again. I too was feeling the loss, so I wrapped my arms around his neck without protest.

As usual, the guiding was completed after more intense contact. As I rolled up the tissue stained with semen and tossed it in the trash, Song Ji-hyeok, who had already straightened his clothes, said to me.

“Is there anything you want to eat for dinner? My treat.”

Normally, I would have immediately shouted for meat, but today was a bit difficult.

“I have plans for dinner… How about tomorrow?”

“What kind of plans?”

“I’m supposed to go look at houses with a real estate agent.”

Song Ji-hyeok, who had been asking casually, seemed to pause at my answer.

“You’re going to look at houses?”

“Yeah. Since I can’t go back to my old studio, I need to start looking for a new place.”

Honestly, it’s already a bit late. When the dungeon break happened, I already knew I couldn’t return home, but I’ve been turning a blind eye, making excuses about being busy and overwhelmed.

But now that the situation has somewhat settled, it was right to stop postponing and start looking for a new place to live.

“Then you’ll be coming home late today too, right?”

“Probably?”

When looking for a house, you can’t just trust the photos on real estate apps; you must see the place in person. Whether I’d be lucky enough to find a suitable property quickly or have to spend days searching was something I’d only know once I started looking.

“If it’s okay, let’s eat together tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

Song Ji-hyeok gave a short reply and left the guiding room. I stared for a moment in the direction he disappeared, then quietly zipped up my pants that were still embarrassingly open, and reached for the chocolate bar basket.

***

Our ancestors must have been truly wise and intelligent people. Or perhaps I should say they had excellent literary expression skills.

“Words without feet travel a thousand miles.”

I don’t know who first coined this phrase, but there was no better expression to describe my current situation.

It all started yesterday afternoon. After Song Ji-hyeok left, I was killing time dealing with various odd jobs when, around 5 PM, I left the guiding room intending to go up to the office.

But then I saw an Esper sitting in the waiting room nudge the person next to them and whisper something. I didn’t pay much attention and continued walking down the corridor, but even an Esper coming from the opposite direction gave me a strange look. It wasn’t just that I had entered their line of sight; there seemed to be some intention behind their gaze.

I quickly passed by without stopping to ask what was wrong, but I did feel a bit uneasy. When I climbed the stairs and opened the office door, I finally understood the reason. As soon as he saw me, Gitae asked with an excited expression:

“I heard you’ve signed an official contract with Ji-hyeok? Is it true?”

“Not yet, but it looks like we will soon. But how did you know?”

“The rumor’s already spread everywhere. Everyone except those in the field probably knows by now.”

Starting with Gitae’s congratulations, delivered with a grin, the other team members who had been waiting for the right moment also offered their sincere congratulations.

The effects of the rumor continued into the next day. Kim Young-joo, who had left work early yesterday, called me as soon as she arrived at work today and we went up to the rooftop rest area together.

When we opened the door, a pleasantly cool breeze greeted us. The rooftop rest area was popular, with a small garden and a glass-enclosed lounge, but it was empty due to the early hour.

Kim Young-joo bought two canned coffees from the vending machine and handed one to me. We sat on a bench under the vine planters and had an impromptu tea time early in the morning. The topic was, as I had guessed:

“Congratulations on getting a pair Esper.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

I lightly clinked my can against hers. I decided not to ask how she knew. As Gitae had said, the rumor had spread throughout the guild, and even my sister had called last night. Surprised when she said she’d seen an internet article, I hung up and checked, finding there were indeed a few articles, including one with a poorly edited video.

While becoming a pair is a very special event for awakened ones, it’s not something that greatly interests the general public. The reason it made the news, even if only briefly, was undoubtedly because of Song Ji-hyeok.

Moreover, it seemed another rumor had spread within the guild. Kim Young-joo leaned in with a face that couldn’t hide her amusement and said:

“I heard Ji-hyeok told another Esper, ‘Senior Su-hyeon is mine.’ Is that true?”

“…No.”

I took a sip of coffee with a disgruntled voice. He had said something similar, but certainly not with that nuance.

In my mind, I briefly recalled yesterday’s situation. I remember there were only burly Espers around, but it seems one of them must have acted like a tattletale despite their size.

“Have you done the imprinting yet?”

“No, not yet.”

Just as physical contact allows you to know if you’re compatible with someone, I’ve heard that when an Esper and a guide imprint on each other, they instinctively know it. Ji-hyeok and I still have excellent guiding compatibility, but we haven’t felt that strong bond as if we’ve become one yet.

“Now that you’ll be spending more time alone together, the imprinting is just a matter of time. Anyway, congratulations again. Now you’ve really got nothing but smooth sailing ahead.”

“Thanks.”

My heart swelled at her sincere congratulations. But Kim Young-joo, who had been smiling at me, slightly tilted her head.

“But why do you look like that?”

“Huh?”

“It seems like you’re forcing your smile a bit. Is it because of people’s attention?”

Even though I tried to act naturally, Kim Young-joo seemed to see right through me.

“It’s not that…”

I trailed off, fiddling with the can in my hands, but then decided to be honest. The incident began last night.