Joo Seunghyuk hated having his looks commented on more than anything in the world.

Even if it was a compliment.

There was a legendary story still passed around about a B-rank Guide who once told Joo Seunghyuk he was handsome—and ended up with a broken arm.

And now, despite being enemies, Yeonsu had done the very thing Seunghyuk despised most!

Jihui truly cared about Yeonsu, but stepping in now could cost her life. She had no choice but to stay still.

Yeonsu, I think you're just going to have to take the hit and get it over with.

As Jihui resigned herself internally, something miraculous happened. Joo Seunghyuk’s eyes, which were always angled like clock hands at ten past ten, curved gently.

“I’m... handsome?”

“Yeah. Really handsome. I’m jealous.”

Yeonsu gave a goofy smile, then wobbled, losing his balance. Joo Seunghyuk quickly steadied him to prevent him from falling.

Those who had expected that psycho to shove Yeonsu away—and had braced themselves to catch him—were shocked once again.

“Sunbae Park, I think Student Lee Yeonsu is drunk. I’ll escort him back to the dormitory.”

Joo Seunghyuk asked Jihui for permission in a respectful tone. It seemed he knew that she was the senior closest to Yeonsu.

“Ah... Yeah. Go ahead.”

Jihui nodded instinctively. As soon as she answered, a faint regret welled up—but she didn’t take it back.

Better him than one of the jerks who’d been forcing drinks on Yeonsu.

Besides, the moment Joo Seunghyuk had appeared, those obnoxious seniors had shut their mouths. If it hadn’t been him, they would’ve been tripping over themselves, insisting on walking Yeonsu back.

Yeonsu might have a slender build, but he was still a man. It had already been difficult for her, a woman, to support him.

Of course, she still worried that Joo Seunghyuk might do something—but seeing the way he was carefully holding Yeonsu to keep him from falling made it seem unlikely.

Joo Seunghyuk wasn’t the type to scheme behind the scenes. If he’d wanted to hit Yeonsu, he would’ve done it right then and there.

Once Jihui gave her consent, Joo Seunghyuk leaned down and whispered into Yeonsu’s ear.

“Student Lee Yeonsu, let’s go.”

His voice was soft, but there was a chill to it.

Jihui, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) who had nodded as if hypnotized, suddenly snapped back and shouted.

“W-wait! I’ll go with you!”

“No. You stay here, Sunbae Park.”

Though his tone was courteous, there was a strange pressure behind it. In the end, Jihui couldn’t move, and could only watch the two of them disappear.

***

According to Jihui noona, I had apparently come on to Joo Seunghyuk while drunk, saying he was handsome and everything.

I must’ve been completely out of my mind.

If I was that far gone, maybe I really did say something crazy about taking responsibility for his virginity.

But even if I had said that, did he seriously take it at face value?

No way Joo Seunghyuk’s a virgin. He definitely doesn’t believe in saving himself for marriage, either.

I knew that for certain—100 percent—because I’d read the original novel.

He’d been with plenty of people before he met Kim Jun.

It wasn’t just implied—it was described outright. Even now, there were constant rumors about him hooking up with Guides.

If I really did tell him I’d take responsibility for his virginity, he’d probably be disgusted.

So then, why the hell did he say something that ridiculous?

Could he be trying to bait me into clinging to him first, like in the original, and then get rid of me?

No, if he wanted to kill me, he could’ve just done it. There’d be no need for such a tedious setup...

Maybe he found out I was a virgin and was mocking me?

Guiding often involved physical intimacy, so most ability users lost their virginity early on.

There was also this stupid mindset going around: if someone was still a virgin, it meant they were incompetent or irresponsible.

Joo Seunghyuk probably figured out last night that I had no experience.

He’s a promiscuous guy—he must’ve found it hilarious. That’s why he said that crap about “first time” and “saving yourself for marriage,” just to mess with me. He wanted to see how I’d react, and probably got a kick out of watching me panic.

Yeah. That’s it. That’s what this is.

Joo Seunghyuk was mocking me.

Once I realized the true meaning behind his words, I finally felt at peace.

I wasn’t pretending to be chill while secretly fuming—I genuinely felt relieved.

I’d gotten involved with a possessive lunatic, but if all I had to suffer was some mockery—no death threats, no imprisonment—that was honestly the best-case scenario.

Having resolved the issue of Joo Seunghyuk in my head, the next problem came knocking.

My whole body started aching in places I didn’t know could hurt.

Even though I had no memory of last night, it must’ve really happened.

I lost my virginity... with a guy...

I didn’t remember my past life all that clearly, but I hadn’t been gay. Still, the fact that my first time was with a man didn’t exactly shock me.

Because I was Lee Yeonsu now.

I’d been born and raised in this world, and this world’s way of thinking was more familiar to me than my old one.

I had been shocked when I realized at age fourteen that I’d transmigrated into a novel—but that hadn’t changed my mindset or values.

In this world, an ability user’s role—as a Guide or Esper—mattered more than gender. After that came classifications like Alpha, Omega, and Beta.

Usually, Espers manifested as Alphas, Guides as Omegas, and civilians as Betas. But that wasn’t absolute.

Some ability users didn’t manifest any secondary gender at all. And there were rare cases of Alpha Guides or Omega Espers. Even among civilians, Alpha and Omega traits sometimes appeared.

I was an S-rank Guide, but I hadn’t manifested a secondary gender. Based on the novel, I likely never would.

Given all that, there wasn’t much societal bias against same-sex relationships.

And growing up in that environment, I’d come to think that gender wasn’t a big deal.

Even if I had been straight in my past life, that didn’t matter anymore.

So the fact that my partner was a man didn’t bother me. Being the receiving party didn’t bother me either.

I’d braced myself for that ever since I awakened as a Guide.

Still, it was a little disappointing not to remember my first time.

It’s not like I had some fantasy about it, but... come on. This is just depressing.

Then again, considering my partner was Joo Seunghyuk, maybe it was a blessing I blacked out.

But seriously—why does it hurt this much? How rough was he? Or is it just normally like this?

Did we... really do it consensually?

Why the hell did my first have to be Joo Seunghyuk?

No, no. Be positive. Maybe this is a good thing. Ever since I transmigrated, I kept running into him because of narrative gravity. Maybe this one encounter will break the tension and end it all.

We slept together. He mocked me. That’s it. We’re done.

Still hurts. Still full of regret. Still confused. One second I think I’m okay, and the next I’m irrationally pissed off.

A thousand thoughts kept rising and fading.

While I was lost in the aching pain and mental chaos, the lecture ended.

At any rate, there was no way I’d get involved with Joo Seunghyuk again. He wouldn’t come looking for me, and I’d do everything in my power to avoid him.

According to the original plot, Joo Seunghyuk and Kim Jun were supposed to meet for the first time last night. The fact that the gong and shou’s first event got messed up nagged at me a little, but it probably wouldn’t cause any major problems.

Once lectures ended, I felt completely drained.

Even though we only had theory classes today, it felt like I’d done ten G-ssions. Just walking felt exhausting.

I didn’t even feel like going to the cafeteria. I had no appetite. I turned to head to the dorm, when a large figure blocked my path.

“Hyung.”

“Holy crap!”

The moment I saw Joo Seunghyuk’s face, a scream escaped me.

“Hyung, why’re you so shocked?”

“Joo—Joo Seunghyuk—what are you doing here...?”

The Academy for Ability Users was divided into Guide and Esper zones.

Guides had their classes in the West Hall, Espers in the East Hall, and training took place in the central facilities. So there was no reason for an Esper to be in the West Hall.

Unless they were visiting a bonded Guide or a lover.

“What’s with this ‘student’ talk between us?”

“What do you mean, ‘between us’?”

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way “we” could be a thing.

When I flinched and asked, his eyes cooled instantly.

“You’re not drawing a line, are you?”

“Drawing a line...?”

“Hyung, are you going to hit it and quit it?”

“...Huh?”

“You used me and now you’re throwing me away, huh? Lee Yeonsu.”

His voice dropped even lower.

“N-no! I-I didn’t throw you away!”

I freaked out and looked around. Thankfully, the halls were empty since classes had ended.

“This is exactly it, though. You seduced an innocent guy who said no, slept with him, and now you’re ghosting him. Used me once and now I’m disposable, huh?”

The more he talked, the more like garbage I felt. But honestly... he wasn’t wrong.

I didn’t think he was innocent, but the rest? That hit way too close to home.

I had been the one to hug him first. I had flirted with him, calling him handsome. And I was the one trying to cut him off the next day.

Still, knowing all that didn’t make me feel any less wronged.

“Joo Seunghyuk—student.”

Did I really say I wanted to sleep with you first? Are you just lying because I don’t remember?

“Please, stop calling me ‘student.’”

The Academy had a few unique customs.

One was the term “hakwoo-nim” (student).

If both parties were the same type—Guide to Guide or Esper to Esper—they usually just called each other by name, unless they were in a feud.

But when a Guide addressed an Esper, or vice versa, it was customary to add “student” as an honorific.

Because of the physical intimacy involved, etiquette was taken seriously, and unless there was a close personal bond, using first names was rare.

“But—”

“We already shared our virginities. I think we’re past ‘student.’”

What do you mean shared our virginities?! You’re not even a virgin!