Chapter Twenty

So-Won almost went back to his parents' house without knowing anything, but So-Won was able to arrive safely at Tae-Woo's house in the heavy rain.

So-Won went straight to the bathroom as soon as he got home because his body was already wet.

It took a little long to wash thoroughly this time because he was bothered to wash in Tae-Woo's private room.

So-Won was hungry after washing up.

There was still a lot of time before the person who made the food came, and So-Won thought that the person might not be able to come today because of the heavy rain.

So-Won was snooping around the kitchen when he found the food in the refrigerator and heated it up and ate it.

When he felt full, he went around a little, and time passed by.

So-Won tried to start guiding as soon as he got home, but it was delayed a little for some reasons.

'I really didn't want to put it off….' So-Won thought.

So-Won showed an embarrassing smile in front of Tae-Woo's room and knocked on the door.

"Tae-Woo, can I come in?" So-Won asked.

"Come in" Tae-Woo replied.

So-Won opened the door without hesitation as soon as he heard an answer.

Tae-Woo, who was standing by the window, looked back at So-Won.

When Tae-Woo entered the house with So-Won, the clothes that were wet in the rain were changed into indoor clothes.

In the meantime, Tae-Woo might have washed up again, because the room smelled like body wash.

"What were you doing?"

"I was looking out the window for a while because it was raining a lot."

"Can I guide you now?"

"Yes, please."

So-Won naturally climbed onto Tae-Woo's bed.

So-Won realized that he had come up to bed without his permission until he had fully settled down.

He was relieved to see Tae-Woo come and sit next to him without saying anything.

When So-Won reached out his hand, Tae-Woo carefully touched the back of his hand like last time.

Then the familiar wave flowed in again.

Perhaps because of the worsening condition after returning from the gate, there was no sign of positive repercussions.

"I'm sorry I visited you without your permission yesterday. I contacted you, but there was no reply…"

"No, thank you. Thanks to you, I've gotten a lot better. I'm sorry I looked ugly."

So-Won was silent for a moment.

So-Won couldn't understand Tae-Woo describing such a severe condition as ugly.

'That's ugly? Isn't he dying?' So-Won thought.

So-Won, who barely suppressed the urge, asked him.

"Do you always do that when you come back from the gate?" So-Won asked.

"There are good days." Tae-Woo answered with an excuse.

"In the case of low-grade gates, they could be cleared without using physical strength. After going to such a gate, my body only felt a little sore, but my condition didn't get worse. And in the case of yesterday, it was not that bad compared to usual. If the guiding machine was attached for two to three days and did not move, it was a mild symptom enough to calm down quickly."

The strong wind shook the window and it began to rain even more.

Even though it was the middle of the day, the sky was dark as if it would soon be night.

"So-Won is…" Tae-Woo hesitated for a long time as if he was thinking about whether to talk or not.

"Aren't you scared of me?" Tae-Woo asked.

'It was a stupid question.' Tae-Woo thought.

There was no one who wasn't afraid of Tae-Woo, a person who will explode aet any time.

In addition, yesterday, he showed a terrible appearance after going to the gate.

If it were ordinary people, they would have run away by now, but So-Won stayed next to him. It was amazing and he inadvertently asked questions.

Tae-Woo regretted seeing So-Won hesitate to answer.

However, it was impossible to pick up the words that had already been uttered.

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer."

Tae-Woo's deep and calm eyes like the night sky avoided So-Won's gaze helplessly.

So-Won looked at Tae-Woo.

There was a dark red blood vein in sight.

Disgusting, no, just blood vessels that stood out big.

'Since when? It wasn't scary.' So-Won thought.

At some point he wasn't scared at all.

Large and small blood vessels spread around the eyes, thick metal bands around the neck for unknown purposes. Rugged dark red veins on the skin that were exposed because they could not be covered by clothes.

'I wasn't afraid of anything. Obviously, when I visited him yesterday, I was still scared of him, but now I'm not. I didn't even feel the usual nervousness around him.' So-Won thought.

'After seeing such a terrible sight yesterday, I can't believe he's not scared. It was beyond belief. I can't believe it either, will he?' Tae-Woo though.

So-Won could not answer Tae-Woo's question.

Tae-Woo, who opened his eyes at dawn, looked at So-Won that was stuck next to him.

Yesterday and the day before yesterday, So-Won said he would guide Tae-Woo at night.

Then, when Tae-Woo opened his eyes in the morning, So-Won was hugging Tae-Woo like a big doll.

Every time So-Won opens his eyes, Tae-Woo leaves his seat so that So-Won doesn't get surprised, but Tae-Woo had a hard time trying to take leave without waking So-Won up every morning.

Even today, Tae-Woo succeeded in leaving So-Won without waking him up.

When Tae-Woo disappeared, the movement of tossing and turning quickly became positive when Tae-Woo gave So-Won a large pillow.

Tae-Woo looked at him and quietly left the room.

Monday.

Normally, Tae-Woo would have gone to work at the Esper Association as soon as he opened his eyes. He would write a gate report that he went to last week, but two weeks have passed since So-Won became Tae-Woo's guide.

Tae-Woo recalled the words that the doctor in charge had repeatedly said as he visited him.

Midterm examination.

Today was the day of the midterm examination.

So-Won and Tae-Woo had to go to see Tae-Woo's doctor at the Esper Association by 10 a.m.

However, Tae-Woo's house, located outside of Seoul, was far from the Esper Association.

40 minutes to the association, even if you drive yourself.

There seemed to be no private car for So-Won.

Public transportation was not good either, so it was clear that it would be a rough journey if So-Won headed alone to the association.

Rather, even if Tae-Woo was uncomfortable with himself, it was better to take So-Won and go to the association together.

However, even when the time to start came, there was no sign that So-Won would come to the organization alone.

Tae-Woo sat there for a few minutes and thought while waiting, and eventually went into his room to wake up So-Won.

So-Won was still asleep with the pillow Tae-Woo gave him in his arms.

When Tae-Woo woke up So-Won with a happy expression as if he was having a good dream, he felt guilty.

"So-Won. Lee So-Won."

Tae-Woo couldn't shake So-Won to wake him up because he was afraid that his weak guide So-Won would get hurt, that's why Tae-woo continued to call out So-Won's name.

"Hmm…."

When Tae-Woo tries to wake So-Won up for a long time, So-Won responds.

So-Won's eyelids trembled and blinked lazily as if it was hard to wake up.

"I'll sleep a little longer…"

Tae-Woo woke up So-Won again in panic.

"You have to get up now."

So-Won frowned and mumbled his mouth as if he didn't want to get up.

Tae-Woo was embarrassed.

So-Won turned his back on Tae-Woo and he looked at So-Won with his face buried in the blanket.

Tae-Woo looked down at So-Won that didn't move again and agonized for a moment.

Although the doctor in charge emphasized so much, there was no problem not doing an interim test.

It may be a little annoying considering that the department in charge and the doctor in charge will contact him, but Tae-Woo chose to let So-Won sleep even a little more.

Tae-Woo opened his mouth.

"Get some more sleep. I'll be on my way."

So-Won's eyes opened at Tae-Woo's words, which seemed unlikely to respond to any words.

"Are you leaving?"

So-Won stood up and looked at Tae-Woo, who was about to leave the room.

Tae-Woo in outdoor clothes was seen as if he was trying to go outside, maybe he heard something wrong.

"Today is the day of the mid-term examination, but you can sleep a little more. I'll put off the examination for a few days."

"Oh… The mid-term examination…" So-Won finally realized that today was Monday, when the mid-term examination was held.

So-Won belatedly checked the time.

It was way past Tae-Woo's time to leave the house.

Tae-Woo seemed to have waited for So-Won without going first.

So-Won came out of bed with an apologetic look on his face.

'I kept him waiting, but fortunately it's not too late.' So-Won thought.

"No, I'll get ready quickly." So-Won hurried back to his room.

So-Won shamelessly slept in Tae-Woo's room yesterday, but So-Won also had a situation.

Last night So-Won came back to his room from Tae-Woo's private room.

So-Won tried to sleep alone, but the typhoon was severe outside and he felt scared whenever he closed his eyes.

So-Won couldn't sleep without Tae-Woo.

He was already sleeping next to Tae-Woo, making an excuse to guide him for two days.

So-Won was a little self-conscious, but… he couldn't help it.

Still, the typhoon has completely passed over the weekend and now that it has returned to a dull summer weather, it may have been better from today.