Churu for the Angry Guide

20

Siwoo froze with his sore tongue sticking out. His heart pounded, startled even by Jihan’s playful words.

To think he thought he was receiving guiding. What an absurd… yet plausible statement.

Various thoughts mixed in his malfunctioning brain. After hearing Jihan’s words, he really felt like energy was draining from his tongue.

But he wasn’t certain.

Siwoo was a rookie guide who hadn’t even held an Esper’s hand more than a few times. Moreover, feeling averse even to light contact, he had insisted only on radiant guiding.

Because of this, Siwoo didn’t realize that he had just performed mucosal guiding on Jihan. He had no idea that such a sensation could be felt when deeply connecting with an Esper with high matching rate.

Chomp!

Siwoo, who had been dazed for a moment, quickly pulled his tongue back in. It was because Jihan tried to grab his tongue.

Siwoo glared at Jihan’s suddenly approaching hand, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

“I’ll just touch it.”

Jihan, who had missed the exposed pink tongue, leaned forward. With a disappointed face, he knelt on the floor and rested his arms on the bed.

“It’ll only take a moment.”

Siwoo pushed away Jihan’s approaching face with his paw. What does he mean, just a moment.

“Then can I just look? Is that not allowed either?”

Absolutely not. He’d surely grab it if Siwoo stuck out his tongue after saying that. Somehow, he seemed like the type who would.

Siwoo was about to shake his head firmly but then looked away, inwardly exclaiming “Ah.” He had almost answered. I’m a cat right now.

“You don’t like it, huh.”

Jihan smiled languidly and obediently withdrew his hand. Thankfully, he didn’t try to force Siwoo’s mouth open.

“Then there’s nothing I can do.”

He rubbed his hand regretfully, the one that had missed the tongue, and rested his chin on it. Despite saying he would back off, he kept sitting there, examining Siwoo’s face closely.

Siwoo found his gaze very burdensome.

However, to avoid showing it, he swallowed dryly and acted as nonchalant as possible. He gritted his teeth and pretended not to be conscious of Jihan.

He sensed that if he avoided him now, his secret would be discovered. Maybe… it had already been found out.

No. If so, he would have been kicked out immediately.

Calming his anxious feelings, he focused only on the raindrops falling outside the window. Even though he felt like dashing out of the bed, he couldn’t even attempt to move because Jihan was guarding the front.

Jihan kept staring at Siwoo without saying anything. He examined him very carefully, as if trying to engrave Siwoo’s face in his eyes.

How long was he going to keep looking? Siwoo finally couldn’t bear the persistent gaze on his face and shifted his body.

Mmm…

Pretending to be sleepy, he blinked his eyes slowly and snuggled up close to Geonho, avoiding Jihan. Resting his face against the firm chest made him feel a bit more at ease. But this didn’t last long.

“Do you like Geonho that much?”

Siwoo felt annoyed by Jihan’s light tone, asking teasingly.

What’s he saying? Without even knowing properly.

Siwoo inwardly insisted that he didn’t like the fool, he was just comfortable. Suppressing the urge to refute directly, he glared at Jihan.

“Well, of course you’d like him when he treats you so well.”

I don’t like him!

Again, he strongly denied it only inwardly and exhaled a stifled breath. He wanted to punch that parasite-like face.

But if he hit him with this cotton ball of a body, he’d probably just be called cute. Siwoo sighed repeatedly and just hugged Geonho’s arm tightly.

Geonho’s scent, now familiar, calmed Siwoo’s mind. Thanks to that, even his racing heartbeat was settling down.

See? He’s just comfortable, I tell you.

“I can treat you well too.”

Just then, Jihan’s hand slipped under the thin towel covering Siwoo.

He gently stroked Siwoo’s back. Since the touch approached slowly, Siwoo wasn’t startled. It wasn’t the first time he had stroked his back either.

“I’ll treat you even better.”

Jihan whispered softly as he caressed Siwoo’s white fur. He stroked along his back and even massaged his nape.

Of all places, the nape. The back of the neck was Siwoo’s weakest spot.

Purr, finally unable to hold back the sound, Siwoo bit Geonho’s innocent arm. Contrary to his desire to shake off Jihan’s hand, his tail swayed gently from side to side.

That Yoo Jihan’s touch was no ordinary thing. He hadn’t realized it because he didn’t touch him often.

“You like it here, don’t you.”

The hand massaging his nape moved down to under his chin. As he scratched under his chin pleasantly, Siwoo’s eyes slowly closed.

Ah, that feels good.

Siwoo’s relaxed body naturally started to open up towards Jihan.

Oof!

Suddenly, a heavy arm tightly pulled Siwoo’s body. Geonho had hugged him in his sleep.

‘I can’t breathe, you idiot!’

When the startled Siwoo meowed and struggled, Geonho’s arm quickly loosened.

“Sleep… sleep more…”

He mumbled while petting Siwoo, even with his eyes closed. It seems he could sense Siwoo’s presence even while sleeping.

Seeing this, Jihan stood up, laughing silently.

“Yes, sleep more.”

Before leaving the room, he took one last look at Siwoo’s back, tightly hugged by Geonho. The white, round shape looked just like a snowball, and he etched it in his mind. Just because it was cute.

“I have lots of Churu too.”

Jihan left these last words before closing the door. Siwoo’s ears perked up only at the word ‘Churu’.

* * *

After that day, Siwoo avoided Jihan.

Whenever he saw Jihan, he would flee to the room even while eating, or escape to the top of the high cat tower. The tingling sensation that had touched his tongue kept coming to mind, making him avoid Jihan.

As much as he distanced himself from Jihan, he clung more to Geonho.

Meooow―!

“What now, what?”

Thanks to this, a smile always lingered on Geonho’s lips. As Siwoo sought only Geonho all day, he looked as happy as if he owned the world.

“I already played with you. Want to play more?”

Geonho firmly supported Siwoo’s bottom as he climbed onto his neck, smiling as if he couldn’t help it. He had just finished playing a hunting game with Siwoo. Despite playing for over two hours with all sorts of toys, Siwoo still seemed unsatisfied.

“Rest a bit. I’ll go out for a moment.”

‘Take me too! Don’t leave me alone!’

Siwoo grabbed the back of Geonho’s head and wouldn’t let go. He tried not to be apart from Geonho’s side even for a moment.

It was to avoid being alone with Jihan.

“Ah, I need to go for a walk.”

Geonho grinned even as his hair was being pulled, looking out the window. Despite the pouring rain, Geonho insisted on going for a walk.

Walks should be taken on nice days. Siwoo couldn’t understand Geonho’s insistence on outdoor walks even after the rainy season had started.

If he wanted to move his body, he should go to the fitness room. He always put on raincoat and went out for a stroll.

‘You’ll catch a cold, you fool!’

“I’ll just walk for three hours, no, two hours and come back.”

Geonho tried to pacify Siwoo, saying he would call Jihan hyung instead. When Siwoo recoiled at that, he said he would call the secretary then.

He never left Siwoo alone. Even when he had to leave briefly, he always left someone behind. Unfortunately, it was often Jihan, which made Siwoo adamantly refuse. Being with Geonho was the most comfortable anyway.

‘Don’t gooo―!’

When Geonho still tried to take out his raincoat, an angry Siwoo meowed even more loudly. In the end, Geonho had no choice but to give up on his walk.

“Okay, okay. I’m not going. I won’t go.”

With a laugh that sounded like a sigh, he hugged Siwoo and headed to the window. He plopped down on the floor and played a raindrop-catching game, holding Siwoo’s paws.

They spent some time hitting the transparent raindrops falling on the window.

After thoroughly smacking raindrops, Siwoo glanced up at Geonho. He was a bit concerned that he might be the only one having fun.

Indeed, Geonho still seemed to want to go out for a walk. His red eyes, looking out the window, were full of lingering attachment.

What’s so fun about walking.

Siwoo tilted his head while glancing at Geonho.

Could it be… is he an animal that likes walks?

Siwoo still didn’t know what kind of beastkin Geonho and Seojun were. They always stayed in human form. They never even showed their ears or tails.

Unlike Siwoo, who sometimes even showed his whiskers when alone, they thoroughly maintained human appearances. Why?

Is it because of the leader?

The ill-tempered leader of the Baekya Guild was said to dislike animals. Since Geonho and Seojun were very mindful of him, they might be deliberately staying in human form to avoid giving him any reason to criticize them.

Or he might have ordered it outright.

Siwoo’s breathing became rough, angered just by the thought. If he really ordered them not to transform into animals, Siwoo would pluck out all the leader’s hair.

‘Bad guy. How can he dislike his own brother?’

Geonho, resting his chin on the windowsill, suddenly patted Siwoo’s back as he started huffing. He seemed used to soothing Siwoo, who often huffed angrily by himself.

Poor guy.

Siwoo rubbed his face against Geonho’s stomach. While Geonho caressed Siwoo more attentively, he kept looking out the window. He really must want to go out.

Just stay inside with me. It’s raining.

Siwoo, clinging tightly to Geonho, gazed at him more intently. Seeing how much he wanted to go for a walk, Siwoo had a slight guess about what kind of animal he might be.

“Ah, this won’t do.”

Geonho, who had been staring intently out the window, stood up abruptly, holding Siwoo.

“Let’s just go out together. That’ll work, right?”

Geonho sought agreement with his eyes from Siwoo, who had dug his claws into Geonho’s clothes. It seems he was thinking of taking Siwoo out too.

Siwoo snorted and rested his head on Geonho’s chest. It meant do as you please. As long as he wasn’t left alone here.

“Let’s just walk a little. Since it’s raining, just for a bit.”

Geonho, his pace quickening, quickly grabbed his raincoat. Since he had to take Siwoo out too, he moved busily, having many things to prepare.

Siwoo watched Geonho, who had quickly become excited, and thought to himself.

Kang Geonho is a dog. An enormously big dog.

He wondered why he hadn’t realized it sooner. With so many dog-like aspects.

“Alright, let’s go!”