Wait, doesn't this mean I don't have to stay in the restricted zone either?
["A guide? Wait, I'm coming over."]
If Wi Hajoon was planning to do the work alone while Hyeong Ki went home early, the fight scene wouldn't even have the chance to light a spark. Rim Young suddenly flashed a smile in Wi Hajoon's direction. Lowering the walkie-talkie in his hand, Wi Hajoon slightly narrowed his eyes on him.
"Wipe that smile off your face. You're going to the safe zone no matter what you do or say."
Rim Young instantly flattened his mouth. It didn't take longer than a minute for Hyeong Ki to find them standing in the middle of the open road. The exchange went well. Rim Young happily went with Hyeong Ki, who had agreed to take him to the safe zone. Rim Young was occupied with stealing glances back at Wi Hajoon, who was going in the opposite direction now, still a little worried about him, when Hyeong Ki spoke out.
"Did you come here of your own accord?"
Rim Young upturned his neck and replied.
"Yes..."
"You're not injured anywhere, are you? I don't know what reason you had to try to get into a restricted zone, but you are putting your life at risk here. I have never even heard of a person trying to sneak into the restricted zone before, much less willingly go exploring. This area is full of monsters you'll be helpless against."
"..."
Finding himself being lectured by the male lead he was saving too, Rim Young had no response to Hyeong Ki's words. Hyeong Ki stopped to stare at his face that didn't have an ounce of regret on it and spoke again in a gentler tone.
"So what I mean is... don't deliberately put yourself in danger. We Espers need guides more than ever right now."
"I've only just joined the Seoul Center. I'm still in training as a B-Class Guide."
He knew what Hyeong Ki meant by that. There was a time when guides were a rarity in the world. With the concept of fissures, Espers were definitely the most needed people, but guides were just as important. However, the number of guides had always been way less than the number of Espers. It got to the point where genders weren't prioritized over their guiding abilities, and with more and more male guides in the world, it became a norm for there to be male and male pairs.
Since Espers are also naturally all bisexual, with them being highly attracted to all kinds of guides. Only a few Espers are known to have normal people as their partners, while almost all Espers are officially paired with guides now. This was one of the excuses for Wi Hajoon to go to Rim Young for guiding only. The number of S-Class guides at the Seoul Center were countable on hands, but as a B-Class Guide still in training, Rim Young didn't think that statement applied to him yet.
"Then... did you come here to see Wi Hajoon? I remember Iseul mentioning a B-Class Guide this morning. Is that you?"
With hands placed on his hips and asking seriously, Rim Young felt like he was being interrogated by Hyeong Ki. Covered by his large figure, Rim Young simply nodded at his inquiry. Right at that moment, someone who both of them had just left behind came running back and grabbed Rim Young by the shoulder.
"....On another note... I will just take him to the safe zone myself."
Wi Hajoon declared, gripping his shoulder tightly, surprising both of them. Rim Young was truly taken aback by seeing Wi Hajoon return. He stared at him as if he had just been caught selling drugs to a high-class Esper, looking even more suspicious to Wi Hajoon. Gazing at that face, Wi Hajoon scoffed as Hyeong Ki shared his opinion.
"There are not many monsters left now that the fissure is closed. If you go back, it will take longer to clear the zone. That's why I suggested we do it together. I will drop him off and come back. We will work together."
"No. Why do I have to work with you? We are not even in an emergency here. I'm taking him to the safe zone. If you're aging already, I will come back later to clear the zone."
Not even glancing in Hyeong Ki's direction, Wi Hajoon's hand slid to grab hold of Rim Young's hand, determined to take him to the safe zone himself, but before they could take a single step, Hyeong Ki grabbed his other hand. Rim Young glanced right and left between them, becoming anxious by the escalation. This is exactly what he had feared. He had thought it was going way too smoothly. Wi Hajoon didn't like to work with Hyeong Ki because he knew Su Iseul liked Hyeong Ki, which naturally made him dislike Hyeong Ki. Who would want to work together with their crush's crush?
Are they going to fight now?
"What is this? Let go of his hand."
Wi Hajoon irritably voiced.
"I will take him to the safe zone. You clear the zone if you don't want to work with him. You're the one uncomfortable with me, so you do the extra work so everyone can leave early."
Hyeong Ki had a great point too. If Wi Hajoon takes longer, then everyone working on clearing the restricted zone will have to work late too, including the guides and the center staff.
"Everyone can leave then. I will just have Su Iseul wait for me at the safe zone."
Wi Hajoon pulled him to his side with pure strength. Hyeong Ki's hand slipped from him as Rim Young stumbled to Wi Hajoon's side, almost losing his footing.
"Stop being childish. You can't just drag Iseul with you too. Some friend you are..."
"What did you just say?"
The situation was looking really bad, but Rim Young was more busy stabilizing himself. Wi Hajoon had dragged him onto a pile of rocks on which he was having a difficult time balancing. Rim Young was already clumsy enough, but challenged with the task of standing on rocks. The thing he feared the most happened right as Wi Hajoon raised his voice at Hyeong Ki.
"....."
"....."
"....."
For a while, there was only silence in the air. Wi Hajoon and Hyeong Ki were staring at each other as Rim Young clung to Wi Hajoon's leg in an awkward position. Worse, he had missed the timing to get up, and now it was even more embarrassing to stand up as all the attention was on him. Rim Young was thinking of just digging a hole directly under him to put his head in the hole to save himself from the mortification.