“By the way, Oppa, what’s with this strong smell of cigarettes?”
“That’s right! What kind of patient smokes? You’ve got no fear!”
“I wasn’t exactly a patient.”
“What’s that gauze on your head for?”

Choi Taehun shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t want to make excuses for smoking. An hour ago, cigarettes had been his only escape from the harsh reality.

For a moment, he had forgotten about it, but now the shame slowly crept back into his mind. The unfinished task made his heart race, as if the worry about it was making him anxious. He had always told his younger siblings to “do things immediately without delay,” and he himself had always handled his tasks straightforwardly without cutting corners…

But, honestly, this one thing, he wanted to delay and escape from as much as possible.

Since he was five, a time when he couldn’t even remember, he had manifested as a Guide. Thanks to that, this center had been a part of his life from the point his memories began. Over the long years, he had seen many pairs come and go. Right now, Oh Yeon had a same-sex Guide. He didn’t harbor any disgust toward them… It’s just that, he never expected that the person involved would be him.

Choi Taehun pulled out a cigarette from his shirt pocket. He couldn’t bear it without one. As a result, his younger siblings, and even his parents, were surprised and tried to stop him. But Taehun, with a sly smile, said, “Just one, just one,” and lit the tip of the cigarette.

Everyone was shocked by the eldest son’s unusual behavior, as he had never smoked in front of his parents. Soon, they noticed that Taehun was trembling slightly, as if a bit nervous.

As soon as the smoke came out of the Guide’s mouth, the air purifier in the center immediately turned on. Taehun clenched his fist, trying to hide his sweaty palm.

“…Can you hear me?”
“Hyung?”
“Come down. We need to talk.”

Everyone looked confused at his strange behavior. But in less than a minute, they all turned their heads toward the sound of someone knocking on the living room door, now with even more stunned expressions. It was because of the top star standing at the door.

Taehun, despite his trembling hands, explained his situation and ‘Esper Ji Gwanyeong’ to his family in a calm tone. When his family heard that the person associated with the name tattooed on Taehun’s back was “that Ji Gwanyeong,” they were shocked. When they also learned that their matching rate was at least 94% and as high as 150%, they were so stunned they couldn’t even show a facial expression of surprise.

Among the family, only Taehun was the Guide, but no one was unaware of what the high number meant. Taehun’s parents briefly went outside, saying they were going to get some fresh air. Taehun watched them with a bitter smile, while his younger siblings, feeling they had done nothing wrong, lowered their heads in shame.

In fact, when they first found out that the name on Taehun’s back was Ji Gwanyeong, his younger brothers teased him by saying, “Hyung is totally gay now,” and his younger sisters joked every time Ji Gwanyeong appeared on TV, saying, “Oppa, your guy’s on TV!”

But now, it had half become a reality. Taehun watched his younger siblings and felt a wave of emotion rise in him, so he began to pat their round heads affectionately.

“Why are you all so down?”

“Then hyung, does this mean… you have to work as a Guide now?”

The one who asked was Choi Woojin. It was something everyone was curious about but couldn’t bring themselves to ask, and it was a question Ji Gwanyeong, the person directly involved, was also waiting to hear the answer to.

After entering the living room, Woojin subtly observed the expression of the Esper, who had only greeted with “Hello, I am Ji Gwanyeong.” He still had the clean and polished face of a top star, but Woojin couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

…It’s Ji Gwanyeong, after all.

Even though he was his brother, was it really okay for him to have to physically interact with a man he barely knew? Woojin couldn’t shake off the creepy sensation running down his spine, and unconsciously rubbed his arm as if trying to get rid of it.

Taehun was about to take another cigarette, but upon seeing the empty cigarette pack, he crumpled it up in frustration.

“…I need to ask the center a few things.”

The announcement that visiting hours were over filled the living room. Since Taehun still needed to undergo more tests with the medical staff for a few more days, he sent his family out first. Even Ji Gwanyeong received awkward greetings from the family. The Esper greeted them with impeccable politeness, as expected.

Once everyone who had gathered left, only Ji Gwanyeong and Taehun remained in the living room. At the same time, a deep sigh unconsciously escaped from Taehun. He slouched onto the sofa.

Gwanyeong sat across from him, calmly waiting for the Guide to speak. He wasn’t bored, just listening to Taehun’s rapidly beating heart.

After a while, Taehun finally spoke up with some difficulty.

“…Ji Gwanyeong-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“You, I mean, Gwanyeong-ssi…”

This was the first time Taehun had properly said his name. The monster’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Is it… okay if you’re a male Guide?”

“….”

Taehun still couldn’t look directly into Ji Gwanyeong’s eyes. His face didn’t seem to fully grasp the fact that the man standing before him was an Esper, born for him, and that his name was engraved on his back.

Ji Gwanyeong slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. Taehun, who had been avoiding his gaze, suddenly noticed the action and turned pale.

“What, what, what, what, what are you… doing?!”

“I think you need to see this.”

“What… What do you mean by that?”

As the man’s body, filled with muscle that seemed to be carved from stone, started to be revealed, Taehun swallowed dryly in tension. Of course, it wasn’t from excitement, but from the overwhelming pressure that the thought of being with someone of the same sex had placed on his mind.

Ji Gwanyeong smirked, furrowing his brow, and completely removed his shirt before slowly turning his back. Taehun had unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut, and at the ensuing silence, he flinched and opened them again. Soon after, a small sound, almost like a gasp, escaped from Taehun’s mouth.

The Esper felt the Guide’s gaze on his back.

How long had they been like that? A very soft, slow question fell, one that only Ji Gwanyeong could hear.

“Is this… my name?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Ji Gwanyeong lightly raised his hand. Then the water in the cup shifted slightly. Taehun blankly watched as the liquid floating in midair changed into the shape of his name, engraved in the same handwriting as his.

Ji Gwanyeong slowly began to dismantle the complex name, piece by piece, carefully, without hurrying, so that the man who shared the name could understand it.

ㅊ, ㅗ, ㅣ, ㅌ, ㅐ, ㅎ, ㅜ, ㄴ.^[1]The characters “ㅊ, ㅗ, ㅣ, ㅌ, ㅐ, ㅎ, ㅜ, ㄴ” represent the syllables for “Choi Taehun” in Hangul.

Taehun remained silent.

The Esper left the floating water as it was, and after putting his shirt back on, he finally looked at the Guide again. Taehun had lowered his head and covered his face with both hands.

The Esper and the Guide sat in silence for a long time, and eventually, after a while, Taehun spoke in a slightly shaky voice.

“Should we… leave?”

They stood up.

As soon as they opened the living room door, the researchers, who seemed to have been waiting in the hallway for quite some time, quickly looked up. Taehun, seeing Miyeon’s restless expression, smiled as if there was nothing else to be done.

“You should’ve knocked. You’ve been waiting, huh?”

“…Um, Taehun-ssi.”

“Miyeon-noona^[2]Noona – Older sister, not blood related though, but a respectful way to call a women older than you, is a Guide a government worker?”

‘Miyeon-noona.’

That was a name Taehun usually used when they were drinking together. Miyeon was momentarily taken aback by Taehun’s kind, yet somewhat formal question. Even Oh Yeon, who had been leaning against the wall, twitched his eyebrows.

“Pardon? Yes, that’s right. They join as government employees.”

“What level?”

Taehun’s question had become much more specific now.

“Starting level… 7th level.”

“Do you receive a pension?”

“Yes…”

“What about housing?”

“For Guides… if you want, housing is always provided…”

The researchers, along with Ji Gwanyeong’s gaze, were all focused on Taehun, whose face seemed to be deep in thought. Taehun seemed to be pondering something, then added a follow-up question, as if he had just thought of it.

“Ji Gwanyeong, will you continue acting?”

“Pardon?”

“I hope you do. Is that not possible?”

Miyeon answered in a voice full of uncertainty.

“If you register as a personal public Esper, there wouldn’t be any problem…”

This time, the gaze shifted to Ji Gwanyeong. The Esper, who had never shown a relaxed expression in front of the researchers, blinked his eyes as if he couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

Taehun scratched his chin, observing Gwanyeong’s expression, then added in a small voice, his eyes flickering around as though a bit embarrassed.

“…Our fourth child lives for the pleasure of watching Ji Gwanyeong.”

For that reason? Is that all?

Miyeon wanted to ask, but swallowed the words. She didn’t know what had happened in that small living room, but it seemed like the staunchly heterosexual Taehun was trying to accept the dangerously irresistible Esper.

As a researcher, that was something to be happy about, but as Taehun’s drinking buddy and older sister, it was something to be worried about. And on top of that, she was worried about Ji Gwanyeong’s acting career!

A strange silence filled the hallway.

“…Hah.”

A small laugh escaped from Ji Gwanyeong.

It wasn’t a forced smile, but a pure laugh of his own. Taehun, for some reason, felt his ears burn from that laugh, so he distracted himself by making a small sound and taking a deep breath. Slowly, Taehun extended his hand toward the Esper.

“I’m Choi Taehun. Please take care of me.”

It was the second handshake. This time, Taehun was the one to offer his hand first.

Ji Gwanyeong met Taehun’s gaze with his dark brown eyes. A strange thirst, as though his mouth had gone dry, suddenly arose.