Pretending to Be the Lover of an Esper C27

Chapter 27

After chatting for what felt like hours, we realized it was already time for Yeonwoo to meet the staff who was picking him up. We stood to leave, timing it so we’d get to the entrance right when they arrived.
He’d mentioned the meeting point was outside since the other person had morning duties, but I couldn’t help feeling grateful—they’d still gone out of their way.

Come to think of it, they were probably part of the weekend shift, same as Yeonwoo.
Weekend duty usually fell to non-ability staff. Some said it was unfair, but those complaints vanished quickly once people saw the state the ability users came back in after field work—exhausted, twitching, walking corpses. Pity replaced discontent soon enough.

Even I’d gotten called out mid-sleep plenty of times on weekends or weekday dawns. Wave periods were chaos, of course.
Still, I figured it wouldn’t sit right for someone working weekends to find me lounging here. Buying them a coffee might be the polite thing to do. After all, they worked at my branch too—no harm in making a good impression.

“Cha-yeon, I’m going to grab some coffee. Wait outside for me.”
“Coffee? To go?”
“No, for the person who’s coming to pick you up.”
“Huh? Why? Shouldn’t I be buying?”

Yeonwoo frowned, but I just waved him off with a vague excuse and slipped back into the café.

It was packed—early afternoon on a weekend. The line stretched toward the entrance. Most groups had two or three people, so it’d take a bit before my turn came.
When only two people were left ahead, I craned my neck to look outside. The café’s front was all glass, but the view was blocked by people sitting near the windows and at the terrace tables.

After scanning around, I finally spotted Yeonwoo by the curb. A tall figure stood in front of him. Was that the staff member?

“Sir, may I take your order?”
“Oh! Yes—one iced Americano, tall size, to go, please.”

Before I got a clear look at the person, it was my turn to order. Luckily, pick-up didn’t take long.

Handing over the drink with the straw already in, I hurried out, annoyed at myself for keeping them waiting. The whole point had been to make a good impression, not the opposite.

“They’ll be right out,” I heard Yeonwoo say cheerfully as I approached. “We were just going to greet each other quickly, but he insisted on grabbing coffee for you. Ah—there! He’s here. Yunseong, this is him.”

“I’m here. Sorry for the delay. And my apologies for keeping you too—”

Smiling, Yeonwoo gestured toward the person beside him. The staff member stood just out of sight, half-turned where the café’s corner curved toward a little side-alley. I stepped forward to greet them properly.

“Hello. I’m Ji Yunseong, Guide with the First Response Division, Team One—”

…

“…Guide Ji Yunseong?”

…

“Ah!”

I jolted like someone who’d just seen a ghost. And judging by his equally startled expression, I wasn’t the only one.
We stared at each other in mutual shock.

Why the hell are you here, Lee Taeon?!

“Why are you here?” I demanded.
“And you, Mr. Ji?”

I looked at him, then at Yeonwoo, then back at him. He mirrored me, glancing from me to Yeonwoo, then narrowing his gaze at me again.

Yeonwoo blinked between us, confusion plain on his face. “…Do you two… know each other?”
“Well…”

There was no point denying it—it would be useless. Not that I had any reason to lie, anyway.
While I hesitated, Taeon exhaled quietly, almost resigned.

“She’s my partner Guide,” he said evenly. “I didn’t realize the friend you were meeting today was Ms. Ji, Engineer Cha.”

His tone was calm—dry, but not hostile. It wasn’t irritation I heard, but the blunt steadiness of a man regaining composure after surprise.

“Partner… oh.”

Yeonwoo made a small noise of realization and promptly shut his mouth.

What was that reaction supposed to mean?

And then I remembered our conversation from earlier. His face was pale now as the context clicked for him:

〈Come on, that’s ridiculous. You’ll be working side by side for years—what kind of partner flinches because you tried to get close first?〉
〈He’s the one being unreasonable. Partners are supposed to cooperate.〉
〈He just doesn’t seem to like me much, that’s all. We don’t really mesh.〉
〈Still, if he doesn’t want you pushing in, maybe back off for a bit.〉

…I had to keep myself from reacting. There was no way he’d ever connect this mess of coincidences—but with guilt gnawing at me, even breathing felt suspicious. I forced myself still, nonchalant.

I gave Yeonwoo a stiff shake of the head. He, catching on without a clue why, nodded back just as awkwardly.

“Is something wrong?”

Taeon’s voice cut in, slow and dubious.
“No, no problem!” we blurted simultaneously.

“Just… surprised, is all,” I added quickly. “Didn’t expect such a coincidence.”

Taeon looked between us, faintly skeptical. Before he could press further, Yeonwoo pointed to my hand with a nervous laugh.

“Yunseong, the coffee—you forgot the coffee.”
“Oh! Right. Please, take this.”

I blurted, thrusting the iced Americano toward him before I knew what I was doing. It was pure reflex.

As soon as I extended my arm, regret hit. But it was too late to pull back now—I could only stand there awkwardly, arm hovering midair. My brain screeched like grinding gears.

I half-expected him to reject it outright, say something cutting like I don’t drink this kind of thing or why would I take anything from you.
Instead, to my utter disbelief, Taeon hesitated, looked faintly displeased—then accepted the cup.

…Was he just being polite in front of Yeonwoo?

Right, that must be it. Even he wouldn’t openly disrespect a colleague’s friend in public.

As he took the drink, I dropped my empty hand and rubbed it against my thigh, searching for dignity.

Still, why was he here at all? Weekend shifts were meant for civilian staff, not Espers. Had I missed a memo?

I almost asked—but stopped myself. The last time I’d indulged personal curiosity, it hadn’t ended well.

Fortunately, Yeonwoo spoke first.
“Ha-ha, what are the odds, huh? Yunseong, remember that machinery I mentioned? The new calibrator setup? We have to test it with an S-rank Esper’s energy signature. That’s why Mr. Lee here’s helping out.”

He smiled sheepishly. The explanation made sense, though it sounded almost too coincidental to believe.

Of all the branches, all the personnel—it had to be him. Just like old times, bumping into him in the most implausible ways.

At this point, I was convinced: we must’ve been enemies in several past lives. Nothing else could explain this supernatural level of cosmic irony.

“Well, I’ll get going,” I said quickly. “You two should start your work.”

Muttering silent curses at those hypothetical past lives, I began edging away. We’d exchanged enough words to be polite. If I stayed longer, the awkwardness might kill me.

Yeonwoo seemed to catch on and made to leave as well. Through it all, Taeon said nothing—just watched me steadily, expression unreadable.

“Uh—Mr. Lee?”

Yeonwoo’s tentative call snapped him out of it. He blinked, nodded curtly, but his eyes lingered on me.

“…Goodbye, then,” he said at last, finally turning properly toward Yeonwoo. Something about parking, a short walk, a car waiting nearby.

“All right, Yunseong, I’m off. Take care, okay? It was great seeing you.”
“Yeah, same. Work hard. Uh, you too, Mr. Lee.”

I waved at Yeonwoo until he vanished around the corner, then—reluctantly—nodded to Taeon. Leave. Please, just leave.

“Guide Ji.”

Of course not.
My prayer went unanswered as he turned back, closing the distance in a few long strides. Reflexively, I stepped back.

“I’d like to talk to you,” he said quietly.
“Talk?”
“Later tonight. At the dorm.”

Why… what about? Fear—or maybe unease—fluttered in my chest. Was he planning another confrontation?

“…Fine.”

Unbothered by my expression, he turned away again, striding off much faster than he’d approached—until, halfway down the street, he glanced sharply back over his shoulder.

“Thanks for the coffee,” he called, voice flat but clear.

And then he was gone.

…What?

It took a full ten seconds for my brain to catch up. I stood there, dumbstruck, wondering whether I’d imagined the last line entirely.