Taming the Obsessive Attachment

“Once you’ve finished mixing, we’ll add the milk and heavy cream. When using dairy products, always check the expiration date first. Look at the date on the package to make sure it’s fresh.”

“Hmm… The date looks fine.”

“Good. Let’s add them. One cup of milk, and just a little bit of heavy cream.”

“One cup is clear, but how little is ‘just a little’?”

“Eyeball it… about this much.”

Kwon Jae-jin squeezed the heavy cream into the glass bowl. The contents surged out, some smearing onto his hand. Without much thought, he licked the cream off his fingers—only to feel a gaze from above.

Seo Eui-woo was staring at him.

Their eyes met—Eui-woo’s glossy gray irises locked onto his. Jae-jin suddenly felt a strange discomfort deep in his chest, as if something under his ribs was itching.

“That’s dripping.”

The heavy cream was running down his fingers. Jae-jin frowned slightly, feeling as if he’d stepped into the role of a B-grade drama heroine.

Getting messy with cream, licking it off, getting caught, then being called out for it—wasn’t this a cliché straight out of a cheap romance drama? A man of his build, his age, his perpetually expressionless face, and the weary cynicism of a seasoned office worker—Kwon Jae-jin was hardly suited for such a scene.

Maintaining a neutral expression, he pulled out a kitchen towel and wiped his hands without hesitation.

“This kind of thing happens often when you’re cooking. Just wipe it off with a kitchen towel or rinse it in the sink.”

“Ohh. It happens often, huh?”

“Now that all the ingredients are in, let’s mix. Stir it like before. Then take that sieve—the one hanging on the wall—and strain it through there.”

“So, Jae-jin, you often lick things off while cooking, huh?”

Ah, fuck.

“Should I lick mine too? Some splashed on my hand.”

Seo Eui-woo stopped stirring mid-motion. A few drops of the milky egg mixture, blended with milk and heavy cream, had landed on the back of his hand. Without a word, Jae-jin ripped off a sheet of kitchen towel and aggressively rubbed it over Eui-woo’s hand.

“You don’t even eat food, Seo Eui-woo. What are you licking things for? Enough.”

“That’s true. I don’t eat. Then how about you lick it off for me, Jae-jin?”

“Stop talking nonsense and strain the mixture already. We’re going to strain it twice. The more you strain it, the smoother and tastier the egg custard will be.”

“Jae-jin.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t get it. Did I really not cook even once in the past four years? Why not? This is actually fun.”

“…….”

“Hmm, there are a lot of different types of sieves. Is this the right size…? It’s my own kitchen, and yet I completely forgot I even had these tools.”

Seo Eui-woo picked up a sieve and strained the egg mixture. Carefully, just as Kwon Jae-jin had instructed, he filtered it twice. When he finished, he turned to Jae-jin with a bright, beaming smile.

Jae-jin couldn’t return the expression.

His chest felt like it was being wrung out. Like his heart was being pressed under a scorching iron.

Is this really okay?

Seo Eui-woo…

The Seo Eui-woo from the first timeline…

He hadn’t let go of him yet. Was it really fine to be standing here, smiling so carelessly with the Seo Eui-woo of the second timeline?

There was no real reason why it shouldn’t be, but still, something about it didn’t sit right. It was suffocating. Like a tiny bean crushed under an enormous millstone.

“Jae-jin? I’m done with this.”

“Ah… Yeah. Good job. Now, pour that into the frying pan and make scrambled eggs.”

“Frying pan, frying pan… Found it. This one should work.”

“Put the pan on low heat—just enough that it barely stays on. Drizzle some olive oil… Now, use a wooden spatula. It has to be wooden, or the coating on the pan will peel off. Stir slowly and gently.”

“Got it.”

Jae-jin gave rough instructions and crossed his arms.

Even though he’d only explained it once, Eui-woo followed along without a hitch.

Cooked gently over low heat, the scrambled eggs took on a decently fluffy shape. Jae-jin hadn’t even told him to turn off the flame, but Eui-woo must have judged that it was done, as he switched off the gas on his own.

“Wow, it’s done. I did it. I cooked. Do you think it’ll taste good? Hm?”

Seo Eui-woo, brimming with excitement, reached for a plate. Using his ability, a large white dish floated to his hands as if it had a will of its own. He plated the scrambled eggs neatly, then slid the dish toward Jae-jin.

“Here.”

His face was flushed, the pale and innocent expression reminiscent of a cheerful, overgrown puppy.

Seo Eui-woo—hero to all, revered and worshiped—had just made a plate of food for Kwon Jae-jin, and now, he was waiting for his reaction with eager eyes.

It felt surreal.

Jae-jin had no idea who this Seo Eui-woo in front of him was supposed to be.

He wasn’t the first-ever S-rank Esper, the all-powerful being who stood above everyone.

He wasn’t the lunatic obsessed with Guiding, the crazy bastard Jae-jin was all too familiar with.

And he wasn’t the pitiful, desperate 24-year-old Seo Eui-woo, the one who had sobbed and clung to Jae-jin, begging for forgiveness.

“Well? Try it, Jae-jin.”

“…….”

“Do you not want to eat it? Do you think it’ll taste bad…? Did I mess something up?”

“…….”

“You’re not going to eat it…?”

Jae-jin let out a small breath.

He gave a slight shake of his head, then lightly sprinkled some salt and pepper over the steaming scrambled eggs. Picking up a spoon, he scooped up a generous bite and put it in his mouth.

The rich, savory taste of the eggs spread on his tongue. The texture was soft, melting gently as he chewed. The warmth of it was just right. It was… delicious.

“It’s… it’s good… Seo Eui-woo, you seem to have a talent for cooking…”

Surprised by the unexpectedly good result, Jae-jin blurted out his honest thoughts without meaning to. It was rare for him to be so straightforward, and Eui-woo, noticing that, beamed even brighter.

“Really? Should I make more? I feel like I can do even better on the second try.”

“No, this is enough…”

Jae-jin lifted the spoon again.

After taking a few more bites, his old habit kicked in—without thinking, he scooped up another portion and held the spoon out toward Eui-woo’s mouth.

It was only when he was about to feed him that he realized what he was doing. He blinked in momentary disbelief.

“That was a mistake. It’s just a habit of mine.”

He knew full well that Eui-woo wouldn’t eat it. Tch.

Feeling awkward, Jae-jin moved to pull his hand back. But before he could, Eui-woo grasped his wrist, stopping him.

“Jae-jin… you’ve always been like this, haven’t you?”

Eui-woo’s glossy, clear gray eyes slowly traced over the spoonful of soft eggs, then over Jae-jin himself.

His gaze wasn’t entirely peaceful. There was a flicker of something beneath the surface—something unsettling.

“You kept trying to feed me. Isn’t that right?”

“Well, yes…”

“Will I eventually start eating meals too? Will I eat together with you, Jae-jin…?”

By now, these kinds of questions weren’t hard to answer anymore.

Jae-jin slowly nodded. His wrist was still held in Eui-woo’s grip.

It didn’t seem like a hold he couldn’t shake off if he really tried, but if he did, the carefully placed eggs on the spoon would end up falling apart. So, he stayed still.

“Yes. Just like how you’ve been able to sleep better lately, soon you’ll be able to eat properly too.”

“I see. Then, I’ll eat.”

Without hesitation, Seo Eui-woo lowered his head and opened his mouth.

Before Jae-jin could say a word to stop him, Eui-woo had already eaten the neatly scooped scrambled eggs from the spoon.

He took it all in one bite, chewing thoroughly before swallowing.

Jae-jin stared at him, utterly dumbfounded, his dark eyes slightly out of focus. What the hell is wrong with this guy now? He had no clue what was going on in Eui-woo’s head.

“Seo Eui-woo, you don’t have to force yourself to eat. You don’t even seem to have an appetite yet—why are you doing this?”

“Hmm… It’s soft. Warm, too. But there’s a bit of an eggy smell. Some parts are overcooked.”

“What are you even—”

“It’s not good. Did you really find this tasty, Jae-jin? I did a terrible job.”

“…….”

“I need more practice. I’ll make it better next time.”

Eui-woo finally released his wrist.

Jae-jin, feeling unsettled, mind tangled in questions about what the hell Seo Eui-woo was trying to pull, resumed eating with a heavy sense of doubt. Eui-woo had called it bad, but to Jae-jin, it tasted just fine.

Without saying another word, Jae-jin continued eating in silence until his plate was empty.

Eui-woo, on the other hand, watched him the entire time.

From the tips of his hair to the very ends of his toes. He observed the way Jae-jin’s lips parted each time he brought the spoon to his mouth, how his jaw muscles shifted as he chewed, the angle of his arm when lifting the spoon, the way his fingers held the plate, and even the faint rise and fall of his chest and shoulders with each breath he took.

His gaze, completely unrestrained, was far bolder and more obsessive than before.

For the first time in a long while, Jae-jin felt a genuine urge to escape from Eui-woo’s stare. It was too much. He subtly curled his toes inward, lowered his head ever so slightly—just enough to avoid being obvious.

Something was off about Seo Eui-woo.

Undeniably.

Something about him had changed.

And yet…

For some reason…

‘This… this kind of relationship, this way of being together… maybe it’s not so bad.’