99 Percent Love

‘Work is work and personal is personal. I think people who can’t separate the two don’t deserve to be in the centre.’  

“He really said it…”  

Back in his dormitory, Rion replayed Yuwon’s words over and over again in his mind, each time fuelling his anger and making him kick the innocent blanket in frustration.  

He had been prepared to reply to the infuriating comment with ‘When have I ever said such a thing?’, but on a whim he searched for his name along with the phrase ‘separation of work and personal matters’. To his horror, an old interview appeared in which he’d said exactly that.  

As one of the faces of the centre, Rion had received countless interview requests. However, after about a year on the job, he’d stopped accepting most of them, so he’d completely forgotten about this one.  

‘So, what do you think is the most important quality for Espers and guides?’

‘Hmm… rationality, I think. Inside the Gate, you are faced with completely unpredictable situations. In those moments, you have to be more logical than anyone else… though, to be honest, it’s still hard for me.’

On the screen, a slightly younger Rion scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.  

Twenty to twenty-one years old. Younger and much more energetic than he was now.  

If he’d said something like that in front of his elders, they’d have scoffed and said, ‘Look at this twenty-four year old, acting like the good old days were so long ago’. But the truth was that working without guidance and pushing his body to its limits had left Rion chronically fatigued, and each passing year now felt increasingly significant.  

With the guidance problem solved, he thought he could finally relax and take it easy, but why was it only making him more irritable?  

“A pair… Next month we’ll be officially partners. Can I really do that with these feelings?”  

Rion muttered to himself as he stared into the air. He wanted to get along, so why was Yuwon so prickly?  

[Kangwoo: Are you okay? How could you just leave the gate without being guided?] 5:17 PM

[Kangwoo: If you really don’t want to see him, come to room 301. I’m here. At least get some emergency treatment.] 5:18 PM

“Ugh.”  

Staring at his phone, Rion got up from the bed and pulled on his jacket. As Kangwoo had said, he’d pushed himself hard, expecting to be guided afterwards. But Yuwon’s insufferable attitude had annoyed him so much that he’d skipped it and come straight back, leaving his shoulders feeling unbearably heavy.

It seemed that having a suitable guide wouldn’t change much after all. Rion typed a reply with one hand.

[I’m coming now.] 5:20 PM

He couldn’t avoid Yuwon forever, but at least for today he didn’t want to see him again. Rion left his dormitory and went to the leadership centre.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I heard that Kang Rion has finally met his match?”

The rumour had clearly spread through the centre, as everyone he passed was teasing or consoling him. Rion brushed them off with quick replies and hurried to the command centre.

“I’m here.”

“You came? Sit down.”

Rion sat into the chair across from Kangwoo. Without hesitation, he held out his hand and Kangwoo took it, channeling the guiding energy into him.

“…Hah.”

Rion let out a small sigh. He knew it was impolite to sigh while being guided, but he couldn’t help it.

After experiencing the feeling of a 99% match S-class guide, there was no way he could be satisfied with a 34% match A-class guide.

“You know that even if I guide you for an hour, it’s only an emergency treatment, right? Eventually you’ll have to go to him for proper guiding.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I know. But not today.”

“Yes, I thought so. That’s why I called you.”

Kangwoo handed Rion a health drink he’d prepared beforehand. Now that Rion finally had a suitable guide, Kangwoo had thought he wouldn’t have to take care of him anymore. But until things improved between them, he thought he’d have to step in.

“This boy has a hell of a personality.”

“I really want to get on with him, you know. But why does he…”

Although kicking the blanket and looking up his old interview had calmed Rion’s anger a little, it hadn’t made him feel much better.

Rion took a long swig of the health drink with his free hand and spoke.

“Well, we’ll probably go down in history for another reason. A pair that doesn’t get along? No one will believe it.”

“The guides have heard all about it. No one would have thought he’d act like that in training or at the centre.”

“What?”

Rion’s eyes widened in surprise. So he hadn’t been that rude to anyone else?  

“Tell me more. How was he at the centre?”  

“Hmm… he seemed a bit shy, like he wasn’t very outgoing. He didn’t talk much, didn’t show any strong likes or dislikes, so everyone just thought he was a quiet kid.”  

“So it’s really just me?”  

The more he heard, the worse he felt. Rion tapped the table lightly with one hand.  

“Did you ever talk to him?”  

“I didn’t have a real conversation with him, but we exchanged greetings in passing. I’ve also seen him chatting with other guides.”  

“Who is he close to?”  

“Nobody you’d call a close friend, but he doesn’t seem like the type to push people away.”  

If he didn’t push people away because he found them annoying, and if he wasn’t rude to everyone, then there was only one conclusion. He must not like me. Rion thought as he laughed bitterly.  

“Don’t let it bother you too much. The centre director said he’d already spoken to him, and we’ll have a word or two with him as well. Besides, you’ve already sent in the parter’s application form, haven’t you?”  

“…”  

“Things will get better with time. Even among the people who get along with you now, weren’t there quite a few who didn’t like you at first? You’re just that kind of person – someone people can’t help but like once they get to know you.”  

Kangwoo tightened his grip on Rion’s hand as he spoke. As a sudden genius Esper, it was natural for Rion to face a lot of envy at first. But even those who had been jealous of him eventually came to acknowledge him.  

“He’ll probably end up the same way. If not, shall I scold him for you?”  

“Scold him? For what? Forget it. The guy’s got a seriously fit body – if I try to pick a fight and he hits me, I might not even recover my bones.”  

“Wow, why do you take it so far…”  

Rion made a comment that sounded like a complaint, but it helped to ease his mind a little. Yes, it’s impossible for everyone in the world to like him. It was just unfortunate that the one person who didn’t like him happened to be his guide. But, as that obnoxious guide had said, work is work, and personal is personal.  

Refusing to be guided by his Matching Guide just because he didn’t want to see him would only end up hurting Rion. If he just treated it as if Yuwon wasn’t there, maybe the unexplained hostility would subside in time.  

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about me.” 

“Alright.”  

“And the guide, that’s enough. I’ll get the rest from my brilliant S-Class matching guide later.”  

His head was still throbbing a bit, but it wasn’t unbearable. Rion let go of Kangwoo’s hand and got up from his seat.  

“Alright, I’ll go.”  

“Yeah. Get some rest.”  

Rion closed the door of room 301 behind him and let out a small sigh. At least he wouldn’t have to see Yuwon today. Thinking this, he lifted his head to see a familiar face coming out of a room further down the same corridor.  

It was Yuwon.  

Great. If I try to talk to him now, we’ll probably just end up fighting again. Rion decided to pretend he hadn’t seen him and turned to leave the corridor.  

“…”  

“What’s wrong?”  

“Nothing.”  

Yuwon watched Rion’s retreat for a moment before turning away. A paper bag he was holding swung slightly, swaying with his footsteps.  

***

For almost a month, Rion had told himself to think positively, rationally and calmly. But today, as he faced the fact that he had to see Yuwon again, he found himself grinding his teeth during his morning workout.  

“That annoying bastard. Well, you’re great. You’re just great.”  

In just two days, the adjustment period required to register as a pair would be over and they’d officially become partners. Over the past month, Rion had lost count of the number of times he’d considered quitting altogether.  

Yesterday had been no exception. No matter how exceptional an Esper Rion was, the Gates were unpredictable and full of uncontrollable variables.  

It was natural to get injured or come out half exhausted. But Yuwon, as if he never ran out of energy, always had something to criticize.  

“If you’re afraid of getting hurt, you shouldn’t even be an Esper. That’s what normal people do. At least say something that makes sense.  

Four years younger and four years his junior. At first, Rion had thought he should be the mature one and just take it. But now he doesn’t care about seniority or anything else.  

‘So you’re saying it’s best to throw yourself into harm’s way, even if you know you’re going to get hurt?’

‘Yes. What else can I do?’

‘What about Seoha or Juseop? What do the other elders do? I think I’ve told you several times that you have to stop this terrible habit of rushing in without looking back and insisting on doing everything on your own.’

What’s more, Yuwon’s choice of words had become sharper, his sarcasm more cutting, and he didn’t seem to hesitate or hold back at all.  

“In two days… I’ll be officially paired with this guy…”  

As if Rion wasn’t already annoyed enough, the thought of Yuwon nagging him even more after the pairing was finalized made him dread the future.  

Bzzz—.

No matter how much time passed, be it a month or a year, Rion doubted that he would ever be able to get along with Yuwon. This thought crossed his mind as he continued his training. Suddenly, his mobile phone buzzed.  

“What the hell? Nobody ever calls me…”  

Who would call him so early in the morning? Grumbling, Rion got off the machine and answered the phone.