Ordinary Person A

#27

“You know what’s really strange?”

Ho-woo covered Oh-yul’s hand with his own. Oh-yul’s entire hand had cooled down. It was a kind gesture solely to cool Ho-woo’s cheeks and eyes.

“When I touch other people, I don’t feel anything special. But when I touch you, it feels… really strange.”

At first, it had felt like an electric current, tingling and painful, but now it felt good, like being completely submerged in water and gently swaying with the current. Waves washed over his body lying on the beach, repeatedly flowing in and out.

“I thought it was like that with all Espers, but it’s not. It’s only with you.”

“Is that why you asked me if there was electricity flowing when you came for dinner that time?”

“Ah, I must have seemed really weird then.”

Thinking about it again, it was quite a strange question. Ho-woo let out a small laugh.

“So, does it feel unpleasant when we touch?”

“…No.”

The problem was that it didn’t feel bad at all. If it had felt bad, it would have been easier to push Oh-yul away, but because it didn’t feel bad – no, because it actually felt good – it was more problematic. It was a problem because it made it difficult to push him away.

“That’s a relief then.”

Oh-yul slowly lowered his head. His dark blue eyes, slightly downcast under long eyelashes, completely disappeared beneath them. As his face came close enough for their breaths to mingle, Ho-woo closed his eyes as if entranced. Even though a thread of reason was screaming at him that he was crazy, his closed eyes wouldn’t open again.

However, the approaching face briefly kissed the soft skin next to his lips. After pressing his soft, plump lips once firmly, Oh-yul withdrew and chuckled lowly at Ho-woo’s cheeks, which were now flushed red for a different reason.

Damn it…

Ho-woo was completely caught up in Oh-yul’s pace. The ship that had encountered high waves on a rough sea was being violently shaken by the storm’s mischief.

“So where shall we go for our next date? Are you hungry?”

The ocean that had caused those waves began to drive the directionless ship where it wanted, smiling somewhat mischievously.

Ho-woo just couldn’t find the right timing to voice his rejection to the man in front of him.

Considering the unpleasant incident at the cinema, the rest of the date was fairly smooth. Although the surrounding tables at the cafe were empty, they decided to consider it a good thing as it made it quieter. At the restaurant, they had to sit in a corner seat.

Still, it was fortunate that they weren’t driven out like at the cinema, as there was distance between tables. Of course, it wasn’t pleasant that all the servers who brought food were terrified, but Ho-woo held back since Oh-yul didn’t seem bothered.

Those watching from afar were curious, while those who came close were scared – it must be tiring for Espers to live like this. It was a day that made him feel that way.

After finishing their meal, they took a light stroll in the park near the management complex. As darkness gently settled over the park, streetlights began to flicker on one by one.

“Was today okay?” Ho-woo carefully asked Oh-yul.

The day hadn’t been smooth, but it had somehow rolled along like a misshapen wheel forced to turn.

They had received wary looks and were often treated as unwelcome guests. Such expressions and behaviors from people couldn’t have been pleasant.

It couldn’t have been entirely okay, but there was no hesitation in Oh-yul’s answer.

“I enjoyed it.”

It was a genuine look without a trace of lie. Ho-woo felt conflicted about the attitude of this man who said he enjoyed the day despite receiving those uncomfortable stares.

Compassion ignited in his chest like a wildfire.

At this rate, it seemed he would remain tied to Oh-yul in an awkward distance, unable to properly push him away or accept him. Even though he knew well that nothing was crueler than continuously giving hope to someone who said they liked you.

Ho-woo slowly steadied his breath and tried to define their relationship to Oh-yul.

He was about to say that they couldn’t be more than friends.

However, before the firm voice could flow from his slightly parted lips, Oh-yul, who had been sitting next to him on the bench, went down and grabbed Ho-woo’s ankle.

“Your shoelace is untied.”

“……”

As he said, the lace of his sneaker was untied. The end of the white lace that had been dragging on the ground was slightly dirty. Oh-yul grabbed the dirty end without hesitation and tied the lace neatly.

“…I could have done it myself.”

Even without seeing his expression, Ho-woo could sense the satisfaction emanating from the round crown of the man’s head as he bent down. The touch of his hands as he made a pretty bow and pulled it tight to prevent it from coming undone was gentle.

Ho-woo realized he had missed his chance to reject him. Whether intentional or coincidental, Oh-yul had successfully managed to silence Ho-woo at just the right moment.

He was extremely kind and gentle. So much so that if he hadn’t been an Esper, Ho-woo would have wanted to give his heart without hesitation and rely on that kindness to act spoiled.

“Please give me a chance.”

Oh-yul finished tying the lace and, still kneeling, raised his head to meet Ho-woo’s gaze. He was still smiling, but he looked scared. His eyes, crinkled as if he already knew what Ho-woo was about to say, trembled pitifully.

Scared?

Ho-woo was taken aback, wondering if what he was thinking made any sense, but then he bit his lip hard and furrowed his brow as he saw Oh-yul’s face shadowed under the orange glow of the streetlight.

In the darkness, his expression showed fear of the rejection about to come from Ho-woo’s mouth.

“Please don’t say it’s because I’m an Esper.”

“……”

“Isn’t that too cruel?”

Ho-woo couldn’t say it was because Oh-yul was an Esper and he was just an ordinary person without any abilities. The courage to reject him instantly fled from Ho-woo.

The very situation seemed cruel to utter those words.

“Even if you deceive me, please just let me stay by your side.”

It was a desperate plea. Oh-yul had completely become the emotional underdog at this moment. He would laugh or cry depending on Ho-woo’s choice. Both his pleading gaze and his slightly pursed lips, burning with longing, pitifully lingered at Ho-woo’s feet.

“…Mr. Yul.”

A voice full of trouble barely escaped from between parted lips.

“I’m not anyone special…”

He was just Lee Ho-woo. He had lived an ordinary life and was nothing exceptional, so he couldn’t believe this situation where this special man in front of him was clinging to him.

“To me, you’re more special than anyone.”

“……”

Ho-woo’s cheeks flushed red. It was a mix of embarrassment and bewilderment.

He should reject him, and clearly things wouldn’t end well since he wasn’t a Guide, but…

The layers of worry were still there, but Ho-woo couldn’t find the words to reject him. Because he had been robbed of his biggest excuse.

He couldn’t remember how they got back to the management complex. In a daze, he was led by Oh-yul’s hand, walked the path, changed clothes, clumsily washed up, and only then did he come to his senses.

Filled with self-loathing, Ho-woo sent a message to Do-hyun.

[Do-hyun, I think I’m trash.]

His body collapsed onto the bed.

In the end, he couldn’t say the words of rejection to Oh-yul. Rather, Ho-woo had lost his biggest reason to push him away.

Lee Ho-woo, who had inwardly intended to reject Oh-yul because he was an Esper, because he was too different from himself, crumbled at the man’s sorrowful and desperate plea.

‘Please don’t say it’s because I’m an Esper. Isn’t that too cruel?’

Oh-yul’s voice as he said this was choked up. After hearing that voice in that situation, Ho-woo didn’t have the coldness to say he couldn’t give his heart because Oh-yul was an Esper.

Moreover, after being with him all day and witnessing the unfair treatment towards him, Ho-woo sank like a ship hitting a reef.

With blaring red warning lights, Lee Ho-woo completely submerged under the sea. Oh-yul’s gentle waves carefully tended to the sunken Ho-woo.

Now that his feelings were clear, every look, touch, and word from Oh-yul became acutely noticeable, driving Ho-woo nearly mad. However, hesitation always scattered in the depths of his heart, making his head spin.

[OK, trash received.]

The reply from his best friend in the midst of all this was just this, making Ho-woo pound his frustrated chest.

This is so frustrating.

What if things go well with Oh-yul and they start dating? What then?

Ho-woo, who had become infinitely cautious in relationships due to the aftermath of his past romance, didn’t want to meet such an end with Oh-yul. He was a good person, and Ho-woo thought it would be nice to have him around as a fairly close friend, if not as close as Do-hyun who had been with him since elementary school.

His chest felt tight.

[But why are you suddenly trash?]

Ho-woo briefly considered whether he should tell Do-hyun about what happened today when his phone vibrated again, but decided against it. The emotions entangled in it were too heavy to explain in detail.

[It’s nothing.]

[Are you telling me to go to sleep or to die of curiosity?]

[Think of it as the latter.]

Ho-woo threw his violently vibrating phone, along with Do-hyun’s anger, into a corner of the bed. He felt dizzy at the thought of having to sleep in the same bed and stay in the same room for several days in this ambiguous relationship, without properly rejecting Oh-yul.