TTOA Chapter 87

“Jae-jin, what should I do? I didn’t know that dating… a proper relationship was like this.”

Seo Eui-woo rambled, dazed.

“Guiding too, I didn’t know what proper Guiding was…? But thanks to Jae-jin, I learned it for the first time. This feeling now is just like that time.”

The joy and elation he felt when he first received proper Guiding was very similar to the emotion he felt upon learning about proper dating. Unable to contain his excitement, Seo Eui-woo held Kwon Jae-jin in his arms and floated into the air. His ability spread throughout the exhibition hall as they flew together in the air.

“That’s right. Jae-jin and I have to do everything properly.”

“Seo Eui-woo, wait, Eui-woo! Control your ability. It’s a waste if the paintings get damaged. Those are all genuine.”

“Answer me first. Do you understand what I’m saying? We have to do everything properly!”

“I understand. I know! Let’s do it properly! Let’s date properly. That’s what I was thinking from the start.”

“Yeah. The real dating that you couldn’t do even after 4 years, I’ll do it all with you. Everything, without missing a single thing. Jae-jin and I will do it together.”

“Well, I told you that’s what we’re going to do….”

“Jae-jin.”

“Yes….”

“Jae-jin, Jae-jin….”

Seo Eui-woo smiled with a face he had never shown before.

His long eyes curved beautifully and softened, and his cheeks were tinged with Seo Eui-woo’s unique, familiar color. It was definitely a familiar expression, but it was a face he had never seen before. In the already dim space, his face, which alone shone, seemed even brighter.

Suddenly, he had the illusion that his vision was brightening. It was as if the brightness and saturation of the world had changed, centered around Seo Eui-woo.

“Haa… I’m overwhelmed.”

“……”

“Why do I feel choked up? This is strange. I guess if it’s too, too good, I feel like I’m going to cry.”

Seo Eui-woo began to spin around. In the middle of the exhibition hall, he hugged Jae-jin tightly and turned slowly, as he had done in the vast sea. Like an ornament on a music box, he drew a circle with his ability.

It was as if the two of them were dancing a slow dance together.

In Jae-jin’s vision, famous paintings hung intermittently along the white-painted walls came into view. They were paintings that he hadn’t been interested in even after seeing them for 4 years because he had no knowledge of art, but now, detailed features such as rich colors and deep depictions caught his eye.

For some reason, each and every painting in the background felt beautiful.

The painting depicting a deep blue meadow was refreshing, and the painting depicting a crowd was dynamic. The yellow was cheerful, and the purple was weighty.

“……”

Kwon Jae-jin quietly melted into a world that was a little brighter and a little clearer than yesterday.

In the center of that new world was Seo Eui-woo.

Seo Eui-woo, who spoke of slaughter without hesitation for Kwon Jae-jin. Seo Eui-woo, who said to abandon his promising life and run away. Seo Eui-woo, who spoke as if threatening to have a proper, real relationship.

Strangely enough, Kwon Jae-jin also felt like his eyes were getting a little red. Not to the point of sobbing, but his eyes became slightly warm, like when dicing onions.

It felt like the lump that had been 쌓여 accumulated from being in a frustrating situation for 4 years, building walls alone, and suffering in silence, was dissolving like cotton candy in water.

The fear of being identified as a Mutant/Late-Blooming Esper and being culled overnight was resolved by Seo Eui-woo, who said he would slaughter without hesitation any Espers who tried to kill Kwon Jae-jin,

The sorrow of having his life as an ordinary person, which he had lived for 26 years, taken away was resolved by Seo Eui-woo, who said he would abandon his life as an Esper, which he had lived for 20 years, without hesitation and become a vagrant,

The twisted relationship with Seo Eui-woo in the first timeline, which stemmed from love and hate and could not be called a normal relationship even as a figure of speech, was resolved by Seo Eui-woo, who was excitedly running wild like a madman, saying that they should have a proper relationship.

Then it was bright. Like a curtain rising on a stage.

The bleak trauma that had been mixed with fear, sorrow, and love-hate and suppressed was lifted, and dazzling light shone down. Seo Eui-woo looked like a rising sun.

He was so overwhelmingly great that he couldn’t help but look at him.

The first date. He thought it was a mess from the start, but it wasn’t. It was perfect. He couldn’t ask for anything more.

*

After that riot-like commotion in the exhibition hall, Kwon Jae-jin had to soothe and soothe Seo Eui-woo, who was so frenzied that he almost hyperventilated.

It felt like watching a large dog that had been tied to a leash for 20 years without being able to take a single walk, frolicking in a field for the first time and jumping for joy.

‘No, if you like it that much… I feel sorry.’

He felt a bit bad for doubting Seo Eui-woo even for a moment. If it was Seo Eui-woo, and no one else, if it was Seo Eui-woo who was crazy about stimulating acts like sucking holes, sticking dicks in, and making people pee, he might not be very impressed by simple expressions of affection like dates or couple rings.

‘Unnecessarily, haa…. Really, unnecessarily….’

With a repentant heart, Jae-jin patted Seo Eui-woo’s thick back. The feel of the smooth suit was unfamiliar because it was different from the stiff combat uniform.

“Eui-woo. Seo Eui-woo. Let’s calm down now.”

“Yes, yes… Jae-jin.”

“And I’m saying this because I think you’ve forgotten for a moment, but our date isn’t over yet.”

He meant that they hadn’t finished touring the exhibition hall, but Seo Eui-woo took it differently.

“Ah, yes, that’s right. It’s not over.”

Seo Eui-woo raised his head sharply. The two were still floating in the air under the downlight.

“What do you want to eat, Jae-jin?”

“What… what do you mean, what do I want to eat?”

“You said that wearing nice clothes, going to nice places, and eating good food is dating.”

He had already worn nice clothes, so all that was left was eating.

“I’ll make it for you. The food that Jae-jin will eat. I’ve read a lot of cookbooks and practiced a lot.”

With that, the two headed to the kitchen side by side.

Seo Eui-woo kept asking what he wanted to eat, and Jae-jin chose the most date-like and common menu. Steak.

“Steak?”

“We should have all the ingredients.”

Jae-jin paused for a moment.

He thought that if he didn’t tell him in advance, Seo Eui-woo might make a fuss later.

“People usually eat steak or pasta on their first date. Because it’s neat to eat.”

“Really? I see. Jae-jin always eats neatly, though.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. I’m probably just eating like a normal person.”

“I think it would be nice if you ate a little messier. I want to see that too, just once.”

“Why do you keep trying to see all my sloppy sides, Seo Eui-woo?”

“Because it’s Jae-jin.”

He didn’t know what kind of answer that was. Anyway, Seo Eui-woo took off his suit jacket and rolled up his black shirt to his elbows. The sight of him washing his hands cleanly at the sink showed that he was now quite familiar with kitchen work.

Seo Eui-woo marinated the thickly sliced tenderloin beef with oil, herbs, and salt, and said casually.

“Cooking is fun. I still don’t have much of an appetite, but if I think that this food will go into Jae-jin’s body, then yes.”

“I’ve said this many times, but we’re only four months in. Seo Eui-woo will have an appetite before half a year passes.”

“Not really. I think it would be better to feed Jae-jin, whether I have an appetite or not.”

He then washed and neatly sliced the asparagus, butternut squash, carrots, and tomatoes to use as garnish. The kitchen knife in Seo Eui-woo’s hand caught his eye. He couldn’t guess the cause and effect of why Kwon Jae-jin’s favorite kitchen knife was firmly in Seo Eui-woo’s hand.

“You see, what I’m making now isn’t steak. It’s Kwon Jae-jin. This food will soon become Jae-jin’s blood, flesh, bones, and cells.”

“What kind of novel nonsense is that…?”

“I’m personally creating the future Jae-jin. So I have to put my heart into it, don’t I?”

“Yes, yes…”

“Hold on. Eui-woo will make it delicious for you.”

He heated a frying pan drizzled with olive oil over high heat until it smoked, and when he placed the large piece of meat on it with a thud, a delicious smell spread quickly. The silent ventilation device automatically sensed the heat and started operating.

Seo Eui-woo left the steak to cook for a while and stepped back. As if he didn’t want to waste even a moment until he flipped the meat, he slyly approached and whispered in Jae-jin’s ear.

“So, does this meal mean the end of the date?”

“It could be the end, or it might not be.”

“What do you mean? Is there anything else left to do?”

“No, rather than that…”

Jae-jin, who was standing with his arms crossed, glanced up. Then Jae-jin’s ear lightly brushed against Seo Eui-woo’s lower lip, who was whispering.

“Ah.”

Jae-jin flinched. If it were before, he would have twisted his head to avoid it or remained frozen, but he didn’t particularly want to do that now.

Jae-jin slowly raised his chin, so that his ear was pressed a little more against Seo Eui-woo’s lips.

Soft skin touched with a *chok*.

“…If we’re in the mood, we might have some skinship.”

“……”

“Nothing is set in stone like that.”

It was about time to flip the steak on the pan.

But Seo Eui-woo didn’t leave Kwon Jae-jin. Fearing that he would burn it and waste the ingredients, Jae-jin removed the ear that he had attached. Then Seo Eui-woo chased after him and deeply buried his lips in Jae-jin’s ear and kissed him.