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“So, how long are Lee Hyeonmook-ssi and Yang Yohan-ssi dating?”
A casual question thrown by Jeong Siyoung as she languidly downed her drink. The Sun Guild members stopped and looked at each other, silently debating. All of them present, well, except for the two mentioned, who were late due to traffic.
It was a gathering held by the Special Unit Suppression. After being saved by the Sun Guild multiple times and receiving purification from Yohan for free, Jeong Siyoung decided to treat them to dinner today. So here they are.
“How would you know they’re dating?” Seo Yakrin asked, bewildered.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jeong Siyoung asked back.
“Yeah, even among us, the only one who didn’t realize it back then was only you, old hag. Even Changha-hyung, who joined us last in the Abyss, knew instantly,” Yeon Seoryeong chipped as he grilled the meat enthusiastically. But then his head was smacked by Seo Yakrin. The sound ‘thwack!’ echoed loudly, but no one batted an eye. “Damn, that hurts!” he protested, to which Seo Yakrin ignored.
“Since in the Abyss,” Lee Changha, the Vice Leader, replied in a professional tone and demeanor of answering the journalist's interview. It’s not like Lee Hyeonmook planned to keep it a secret either, not that he needed to, and with Jeong Siyoung’s abilities, there is even less reason to lie. “Team Leader is the first one to meet with Yang Yohan-gun.”
“So lucky,” Joo Hooyoung muttered.
Yeon Seoryeong chuckled. “It’s shocking, right? When I first saw them, I was shocked too. Even before falling into the Abyss, Team Leader doesn’t show interest in any romantic pursuit,” he added, and this was known even to outsiders like Jeon Siyoung. All of Lee Hyeongmook’s life seems to be dedicated to fulfilling one role only; to be the most reliable hero in South Korea. With how many casualties increasing everyday because of the Breaches and Great Rifts, they’ll always be shortstaffed. For the former Sunrise Guild, having half a day break can be counted as the highest luxury. Added with his very withdrawn self, never revealing his private life, even a rumor of him dating can only be called with one thing; delusion of someone getting their brain severely contaminated.
If that’s what even his guild members think about Lee Hyeonmook, it’s not that far from the impression Jeong Siyoung got. Lee Hyeonmook, although always respectful and smiling kindly, was like an unbreachable wall that stood firm and unwavering withstanding million crashing waves. Someone who you can get close, but not close enough to glimpse at what’s really inside.
That was before he fell into the Abyss. As the Lee Hyeonmook right now…
“Although not romantically, what we felt to Yohan is no less strong than Team Leader,” Seo Yakrin added, looking at both of her hands, once so grotesque, malformed wings that would soar on the neverchanging crimson sky that knows no sun nor stars, and use it tear other monsters, even her own teammates, to pieces.
“Yeah,” Yeon Seoryeong agreed. “It feels like an eternity full of agony, endless suffering. Death was a mercy for us, and we were not even granted that by our Team Leader. It’s like wandering for eons in the darkness, and suddenly, you found a beacon of light and warmth.”
Jeong Siyoung already knew that time flies differently between the Abyss and the real world. Yang Yohan only reported missing for two weeks, but he said he spent a whole year in the Abyss. How about the Sun Guild members, who spent three years in that hellish place? Even without monsters’ attack, the contamination air in the Abyss alone can corrode any living and nonliving beings. Turning them into monsters, chipping all their sanity gradually. Lee Hyeonmook, the strongest of them all, would have to witness his guild members fall into madness one by one, and finally, he himself.
She now understands why all of the Sun Guild members seem to be very overprotective of Yohan. He is literally their savior. No matter how strong you are or how high your awakened level, once you fall into the Abyss, there is only one fate that is certain; driven to madness and becoming the monster itself.
She also knew that all of the Sun guild members were already becoming monsters. As lucky as they’re to find Yang Yohan, it was simply too late. Once the transformation takes place, there is no reverse. Even now, as she sits at the table together with them, she can’t shake the feeling of being in grave danger; something she only encounters when in close proximity with high-level monsters.
As the atmosphere turned gloomy, Seo Yakrin clapped her hands cheerfully. “Well, that’s that! So now our Team Leader is dating our precious maknae, so please wish them happiness in the future!”
“I will,” Jeong Siyoung said sincerely with a smile.
As she saw, these people, seemingly human, also wished to be fully human.
“What’s with Hyeonmook-hyung and me?” Yohan asked as he slightly running to their table, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead. Behind him, Lee Hyeonmook walked with a trained gaze to him, never once moving somewhere else. “Sorry that we’re late! There was a sight of monsters nearby so Hyeonmook-hyung had to make a detour to take care of it, and it caused traffic!”
“No matter, no matter. Come, come, sit,” Yeon Seoryeong beamed as he patted the empty seat behind him, gesturing for Yohan to sit there. Once sitting, he dutifully fed Yohan with all the meat he grilled beforehand, and Yohan ate them cheerfully. Their movements indicated that it’s a daily basis that no one finds new or strange.
Lee Hyeonmook naturally took a seat beside Yohan, sandwiching the youngest between him and Yeon Seoryeong. He greeted Jeong Siyoung. “Thank you for treating us tonight, Jeong Siyoung-ssi,” he bowed his head.
Yohan quickly turned to her, mouth full and he had to swallow all the contents in his mouth before speaking. “Thank you, Jeong Siyoung-ssi! It’s such a nice place, the food is great!”
“It’s nothing compared to what you did to us,” Jeong Siyoung said humbly.
“Yohan-ssi? Yohan-ssi already arrived?”
“Oh, you’re right! There he is!”
“Yohan-ssi!”
Some people of the Special Unit Suppression began approaching the Sun Guild’s table and gave greetings to all of them, and they thanked Yohan profusely for all the purification they received. Yohan would be flustered with the sudden crowd and wave of thanks and praises, but Lee Hyeonmook slid a hand to his waist. The warm hold and steady hand gave strength and reassurance so Yohan could maintain his composure.
After they finally be left alone, Yeon Seoryeong will swiftly raise his chopstick again with meat, but this time Yohan was hesitating, his eyes darting to other tables. He may be thinking about how others might think about him, a 24 years old man being spoonfed like a child.
"Our dear youngest is becoming more and more popular," Seo Yakrin sighed like a parent witnessing her own child slowly becoming independent. "I don't know if I should rejoice or not."
That's true. Even before his Advanced Awakened Purifier identity was revealed, Yohan can be considered popular. He's kind and cute, added with his purifier ability that always give off warmth which made people drawn closer naturally. With him being known as Purifier and healed so many people, this popularity is to be expected.
Yohan smiled sheepishly at that, not knowing what to say.
“Yohan, it’s going to be cold. I already grilled so many for you,” Yeon Seoryeong still faithfully holding the chopstick in the air, pretending to be hurt with a whiny voice. Seo Yakrin made a face like she’s about to smack his head for the second time today, but Yohan couldn’t bring himself to waste his hyung’s effort. So he reluctantly opened his mouth. Seoryeong beamed and the meat slid smoothly to his mouth.
Well, it’s okay, right? I’m slightly embarrassed, but no one seems to mind… Yohan thought as he chewed the delicious meat.
On the other table, they began murmuring.
“So the rumor is true…”
“Yeah, no doubt.”
“About Team Leader Sun Guild dating Yang Yohan-ssi?”
"At this point, those who can't see it better check their eyes."
“I admired Lee Hyeonmook-ssi so much, but you know, sometimes he’s downright scary. But when he’s around Yohan-ssi, he seems mellowed a lot.”
"Agree there."
“Do you see how protective Lee Hyeonmook-ssi is? He held Yohan-ssi in the waist like a porcelain doll.”
“I think I understand him. Yohan-ssi is so cute…”
“Sssh! Do you have a death wish!? Don’t even dream about it!”
“W-wait, no! I don’t have that intention! I’m only being honest! Are you saying Yohan-ssi is not cute? You’re the one with the death wish! And blind!”
“I-I mean, yeah… he is-”
“Umm, yes, he is cute… but…”
“But I think if we ever do something wrong to Yohan-ssi, it’d be the last thing I do…”
“Yeah, don’t even think. Don’t you know the fate of Park Seungmin and Go Jaewon? Those bastards reportedly fled overseas, but who knows whether they really managed to flee, or… something else happened.”
“I bet my entire year’s salary that it’s the latter.”
“Same here.”
So in the end, the Special Unit Suppression’s gossip gathering today’s conclusion is: never offend Yang Yohan. They’re grateful that Yang Yohan is good natured and not the scumbag kind like Park Seungmin, so as long as they treat him nicely, there’s no chance they’ll catch the other Sun Guild members' ire. Even better, Yohan is so kind that he will offer purification even if he detects any kind of contamination from them. So literally they’re only doing themselves a favor.
Unfortunately, although they’re whispering all the time, the hearing sense of people at Sun Guild’s table was extraordinary, so they heard it all. Seo Yakrin nodded in agreement, “They learnt well.” And although no one said anything, they seemed satisfied with this conclusion. Only Yohan was blushing, hiding his face in his palms.
Lee Hyeonmook patted his back comfortingly. “Are you feeling uncomfortable with us being open with our relationship?” he asked, a tint of sad tone in his voice.
“No! Of course not!” Yohan quickly said, afraid his lover might be misunderstood. Maybe even more than Lee Hyeonmook, he’s the one who is happy that everyone knows they’re dating. Like, he’s literally dating everyone’s idol! His idol! How could he not be proud about it? A childish side of him wanted to brag it to everyone, Look! Lee Hyeongmook is my boyfriend! Like that. He bet Lee Hyeonmook will let him do that, just like he alwasy do, but it's only in his wildest dream.
But when he looked at Lee Hyeonmook, he knew the latter was only teasing him. “Hyeonmook-hyung…” he whined.
Lee Hyeonmook was laughing lightly as he kept stroking Yohan’s back, eyes as gentle as summer breeze, as he apologized for teasing him and said comforting things in a voice so sweet and tender. His emotion and gesture was so human-like. And it might be so. Jeong Siyoung watched this unfold and made a mental note for herself.
Among the Sun Guild members, Lee Hyeonmook was a monster even amongst the monsters. That’s how dangerous he was. Yohan might not know, but when the younger man is not looking, or when he’s not present, Lee Hyeonmook resembles more like a monster clad in a human skin. Eyes so dark and fathomless, void of life. Maybe because they’re both Advanced Awakened, but the feeling is stronger; a gut instinct that this man is threatening, the most dangerous entity she ever faced in her entire career.
Yet in this moment, his gaze held so much warmth and his smile was so delicately sincere. The oppressive pressure he had when Yohan wasn’t around was decreased a ton, even though not entirely vanished. Sitting together at the same table, Jeong Siyoung knew that the only humans were only him and Yohan. Yet, the conclusion she arrived at was the same as the other members in her team: so long as no harm came to Yang Yohan, these people… will not harm anyone. And for now, that’s the only reassurance she got. And that’s enough.
The feast was short-lived, and they still have duties tomorrow, so they all parted ways. When they’re about to go home, Yohan ran to Jeong Siyoung and said a few words, before climbing into Lee Hyeonmook’s car.
“What are you so happy about?” Lee Hyeonmook asked, caressing his lover’s chubby and flushed cheeks. Sometimes he wanted to bite it so hard… but then it would make the younger cry, so he held back.
“Heheheee,” Yohan showed Lee Hyeonmook what he got. An autograph of Jeong Siyoung. She rarely gave it due to her always rushing here and there, so Yohan seems delighted that he got one so easily. “I will put this in the trophy room!”
“Good for you.”
Lee Hyeonmook started the car. Since they came late together in his car, the other Sun Guild members already departed first to the headquarters.
“Jeong Siyoung-ssi is so nice! She looks so cool when I see her on television, but she’s even cooler in person!”
Lee Hyeonmook drove the car as he listened raptly to Yohan’s rambling, a small smile etched on his lips. A simple act that he recently realized he’s doing a lot around Yohan, yet his simple act was also one so impossible to do back when he’s in the Abyss. He cherished these moments a lot.
“It’s like meeting idols and finally working with them…” Yohan trailed off. “Come to think of it, I also admired the Sunrise Guild a lot, but I don’t have all of your autographs at all!” he shrieked as he belatedly realized this fact. Lee Hyeonmook chuckled at his panic tone. “I gotta ask them before I forget again!”
Yohan fished out his phone and typing fast on their group chat.
Yang Yohan: Hyung!!! Hyung!!!
Seo Yakrin: Yes, our dearest maknae?
Yeon Seoryeong: What is it? Is there something you need?
Lee Chanha: Just say it, and we will give it.
Joo Hooyoung: Did you leave something in the restaurant earlier?
Yang Yohan stared at the phone as if in a trance. This warmth and infinite indulgence he got from his idols seems like a dream come true, making his eyes watered. He held back his tears as he typed.
Yang Yohan: I want all your autographs!
Yohan would be immersed in the group chat as the others happily obliged with such a cute and adorable request. Lee Chanha even offered to give him an autograph in gold ink and framed in jeweled diamonds, but Yohan hurriedly assured that an ordinary autograph is fine, thinking the Vice Leader is sometimes take things too seriously.
Seeing how happy his little lamb and precious sun were, Lee Hyeonmook’s hand reached out to stroke Yohan’s fluffy hair. The younger would turn his head and lean to the touch, flashing the brightest smile. And Lee Hyeonmook thought, as long as he has this, he’ll be fine, he’ll survive anything, even throwing back into the Abyss.
As long as his dear Yangyang is by his side.