"Are you hurt?"

He didn’t answer and changed the subject, which made me worry.

“No. I can show you how healthy I am right now.”

Suddenly, he climbed onto the bed and brought his face close, as if he was about to kiss me.

Facing his eyes that sparkled with intense desire, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I lowered my head in discomfort. Then, Joo Seunghyuk grabbed my chin and brushed his lips against mine. The touch was so suggestive that I couldn’t help but lower my head again.

“W-Well. It’s good if you’re healthy. I think I need to rest. Uh, I’m feeling dizzy.”

After waking up from a coma for fifteen days, I couldn’t engage in that. The shock from mana depletion was terrifying enough, but the overwhelming lust was even more frightening.

Avoiding eye contact, I stared at the white bedsheets. Joo Seunghyuk let out a soft laugh and kissed my cheek.

“Rest. I’ll call the doctor.”

“Okay.”

He went down from the bed and pressed a button on the wall to notify everyone that I had woken up.

I looked at my hand. When I had guided him, Joo Seunghyuk’s mana had attacked me. I had been struck by the attack of an S-Class Esper, who was on the brink of rampage.

I thought my hand might be seriously injured, but luckily, it was fine. There was a small scar, though.

I curled and straightened my fingers before asking Joo Seunghyuk.

“Seunghyuk, what happened to Kim Jun?”

“Why are you asking about him?”

Joo Seunghyuk’s voice instantly turned cold.

I was honestly scared, but the image of Kim Jun lying unconscious in my mind prevented me from letting it go.

“I’m worried because he was hurt at the time too.”

“He’s fine now, attending school like nothing happened. Don’t worry.”

“So, he was hurt so badly that he couldn’t attend school for a few days?” 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“There was no one hurt badly enough for you to worry about. So don’t concern yourself.”

“But...”

Joo Seunghyuk tightly grasped my hand.

“I’ve been thinking about you for fifteen days. But as soon as you wake up, you start talking about some other guy. It feels like shit.”

“I’m sorry...”

“Just think about me. Only me.”

“...Okay. I’ll do that.”

I nodded.

Joo Seunghyuk’s desperate appearance made me feel more sympathy than fear. So I couldn’t bring myself to say anything harsh.

***

Because it was shock from mana depletion, there was no real issue as long as my mana recovered.

But because of Joo Seunghyuk’s fuss, I had to undergo a detailed examination.

As expected, the results were fine.

“There are no abnormalities in the test results. But you must absolutely not overdo it. If you experience shock again, it could be very dangerous. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you’re S-Class, it will take at least a year for your mana to fully recover. Be careful during this time. You should also limit the number of times you guide.”

The doctor warned me repeatedly. For the next year, no more than ten times of guiding a day was allowed.

Normally, I never conducted that much guiding anyway, so it wouldn’t be a problem as long as I lived normally.

After finishing my long hospital stay, I was able to return to the dormitory.

Looking at the building, I felt deeply emotional. The cold, icy weather from fifteen days ago had turned into full spring, and flowers were blooming all around the dormitory.

As I was about to enter the building, Joo Seunghyuk grabbed me.

“Hyung, this won’t do. Let’s go to my house.”

“Seunghyuk...”

He had been insisting since the hospital that I should stay at his house, and now he still couldn’t let go.

“Just stay at my place until you recover.”

A lie.

The obsessive guy’s house was like a ‘swamp,’ once you entered, you could never escape.

Moreover, it was said that it would take a year for my mana to fully stabilize. If I went now, I wouldn’t be imprisoned per se, but I’d have to live there for at least a year.

I had no intention of staying at the obsessive guy’s house. But I knew that if I spoke too harshly, it would backfire, so I gave a faint smile.

“I’m comfortable here. It’s not that your house is uncomfortable, it’s just that I feel I can rest better in a place I’m used to.”

“...Alright.”

Since I had hurt myself trying to save him, Joo Seunghyuk surprisingly listened to my words.

As I entered the dorm, the manager greeted me warmly.

“Yeonsu-sshi!”

“Hello.”

“You’ve been discharged? How’s your health?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Oh, I’m so glad. Really, it’s such a relief.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

I bowed my head in gratitude.

“Wait a moment. You’ve got a package.”

“Yes.”

The manager went into his office and brought out a small package.

Ah, this must be it... It had probably been in the office for almost fifteen days.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for leaving it with you for so long.”

“Don’t worry about it. Go in and rest.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I thanked him again. Then, Joo Seunghyuk quietly approached and whispered in my ear.

“Why are you smiling so sweetly at that guy?”

This crazy guy.

He had been quiet while I was in the hospital, but now that I was discharged, it started again.

“You should be polite to adults.”

“There was no need to smile so sweetly.”

I tried to have a normal conversation, but it didn’t work with an obsessive guy.

“...I’ll be careful from now on. Oh, the elevator’s here!”

I quickly changed the subject and entered the elevator. Joo Seunghyuk followed me in.

“Here.”

“Huh?”

“The package is heavy.”

“It’s fine...”

“Give it to me.”

Joo Seunghyuk took the package and pressed the button for the 6th floor, the S-Class exclusive floor.

Since I was the only S-Class living in the dormitory, it was practically like I rented out the whole 6th floor.

When we entered my room, there was a slight chill in the air.

I guessed it was because it had been empty for so long.

Even though I had returned after 17 days, I didn’t feel anything special.

Seventeen days—if you consider that I had been unconscious for most of it, it only felt like I had been away for two or three days.

“What do you want to drink? I only have water and instant coffee...”

Ah, I almost made the mistake of offering instant coffee to an obsessive guy.

I quickly realized my mistake and shook my head.

“I’ll go buy something from the cafe next door. Wait for me for a bit...”

There was a cafe next to the dorm. I tried to rush out again, but Joo Seunghyuk grabbed my hand.

“You’re a patient. Where do you think you’re going?”

“But I don’t have anything to offer...”

“If you’re going, I’ll go with you. Don’t worry about unnecessary things, just rest.”

“Okay...”

Joo Seunghyuk sat me down, then pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

“Aren’t you going to check your package?”

He held up the package the manager had just handed me.

“Oh, that’s not ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) mine.”

“It says Yeonsu on it.”

Joo Seunghyuk looked at the shipping label on the package.

“...So, it’s yours?”

I hesitated about how to respond, then eventually decided to be honest.

“It’s mine?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, Joo Seunghyuk opened the package. When he saw what was inside, he stopped for a moment.

“Is this mine?”

I was surprised. Inside the box were pastel-colored handmade candies. They were beautiful candies in a glass jar, but they seemed completely out of place for Joo Seunghyuk.

“That... it was White Day, so...”

The day after the mock battle training was White Day.

I thought Joo Seunghyuk would fall for Kim Jun during the mock battle. But just in case I was wrong, I had ordered White Day candy in advance.

I didn’t think Joo Seunghyuk would care much for such holidays, but I figured there was no harm in trying.

I had put a lot of thought into choosing it, but when I saw Joo Seunghyuk’s stiff expression, I knew I had messed up.

“It says to store it at room temperature, but it’s been too long, hasn’t it? I should throw it away.”

I hurriedly tried to remove the candy, but Joo Seunghyuk firmly refused.

“Why would you throw it away? I’ll keep it forever.”

“Y-You like it?”

“Fuck.”

When he said he would keep it, I thought he didn’t dislike it, but then suddenly, harsh curses came out.

“Yeonsu, why did you give me this?”

He cursed and immediately started speaking informally.

‘Why did he suddenly get angry, my obsessive guy?’

It was hard to follow Joo Seunghyuk’s mood change, but feeling the tension, I cautiously answered.

“Well, because we’re dating...”

“You made a mistake.”

Joo Seunghyuk spat out the words like he was chewing on them. It seemed like I had pissed off my obsessive guy.

What exactly did I do wrong? Was it that handmade colorful candy wasn’t the answer, and I should have gone with 99% dark chocolate instead?

“I should’ve given you chocolate instead? But since it was White Day, I thought candy would be better...”

As I rambled, trying to explain myself, my body suddenly tilted.

Joo Seunghyuk climbed on top of me and grabbed both of my hands forcefully.

“I...I’m still a patient...”

“You shouldn’t have given me this. If you do this, I’ll...”

What was he going to do to me?

I froze, waiting for his next words, but suddenly, his lips pressed against mine.

Joo Seunghyuk’s body weighed down on me, and my hands were bound as if I couldn’t move.

But despite his rough actions, the kiss was gentle.

He kissed me again and again, as if asking for permission, exploring my lips with persistence, as if he wouldn’t let go until he understood every inch of me.

It wasn’t my first kiss, but it felt like Joo Seunghyuk was uncovering everything about me, making me feel embarrassed as my toes curled.

He explored me thoroughly before slowly pulling away from the kiss.

“I’ll stop here. You’re still a patient.”

Perhaps his anger had subsided, and his words became longer.

“Thank you.”

He cupped my face and kissed me again, a light peck on my lips.

After finishing the kiss, Joo Seunghyuk held me tightly for a long time. Once I felt assured that he wouldn’t touch me anymore, I felt a little more at ease.

Joo Seunghyuk seemed at ease too. But why did he get so mad earlier?

“What are you looking at?”

Joo Seunghyuk stared at me silently.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight.”

His sharp jawline had become even sharper.

“Who’s saying what to whom?”

He chuckled and pulled me into his embrace. Then, he reached for the glass jar with the candies.

“Should I try one? It might have gone bad, but I’ll give it a taste.”

“No. It’s mine. I’m not giving it to anyone, not even you, Yeonsu.”

Joo Seunghyuk said firmly, then kissed my cheek again.