The Devil Judge [Bl Version] - Chapter 22: The Love Spark

The morning sun casted a soft glow through the curtains, gently illuminating Yo-han\’s bedroom. He lay still, wrapped in a tangle of sheets, his face contorted with distress as he navigated the turbulent waters of his dreams.

Flames danced menacingly, and amidst the fiery chaos, Yo-han saw his boyfriend, Isaac, standing just out of his reach, his hand stretched toward him. But the flames, as if possessed by an unforgiving force, kept them apart.

Tears welled up in Yo-han\’s eyes as he struggled in vain to bridge the gap between them. The dream was a recurring nightmare, one that had haunted him for weeks, leaving him with a lingering sense of helplessness and longing when he awoke.

Yo-han\’s abrupt awakening was accompanied by a stifled sob, and his teary eyes blinked rapidly to adjust to the dim morning light. His breathing was ragged, and the echoes of his dream still clung to his senses.

As he tried to gather himself, Yo-han was jolted by the sight of Ga-on standing in his doorway, concern etched across his face. Ga-on had likely heard Yo-han\’s cries and had rushed to his side., \”Yo-han… are you okay?\”

Yo-han\’s heart pounded in his chest, startled by Ga-on\’s presence. He hadn\’t expected anyone to witness his vulnerable moment. His disheveled appearance spoke volumes about the turmoil he had experienced during the night.

Ga-on, without hesitation, stepped closer to the bedside, extending a caring hand to touch Yo-han\’s forehead, checking for fever or any other sign of illness, \”You look like you\’ve had a rough night. Let me see if you\’re running a fever.\”

\”I\’m fine, Ga-on, really. It was just a bad dream.\” Yo-han batted Ga-on\’s hand away with a quick, almost instinctive motion.

Elijah, sensing the tension in the room, wheeled herself up to the doorway, her curiosity piqued. Her sharp eyes darted between Yo-han and Ga-on, as if trying to piece together the puzzle.

Elijah couldn\’t resist taunting Yo-han, her voice laced with a mocking tone. \”What\’s going on here? Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You look uncharacteristically surprised, like you saw someone you killed.\”

\”We\’ll talk about this later when you\’re ready, okay?\” Ga-on exchanged a knowing glance with Yo-han and left.

Yo-han\’s emotions were still raw from his unsettling dream, and he was in no mood for Elijah\’s games. His voice, trembling with a mix of fear and frustration, cut through the tension in the room, \”I don\’t care about who I\’ve killed or not, Elijah. So, save your accusations for another day.\”

Elijah\’s glare intensified for a moment, but she said nothing more. With a dismissive huff, she wheeled herself out of the room, leaving Yo-han alone to collect himself.

At the study hall,

Ga-on stood in front of Yo-Han and could see the distress in Yo-han\’s eyes, a stark contrast to the confident and composed persona he typically displayed, \”Yo-han, I\’m truly sorry for what I said. I didn\’t mean to hurt you, and I shouldn\’t have let my frustration get the better of me. I promise I won\’t complain or hold it against you if you decide to boot me from the show.\”

Yo-han, realizing the sincerity in Ga-on\’s apology, reached out and gently lifted Ga-on\’s chin, their eyes locking, \”Ga-on, it was… unpleasant hearing that accusation from someone with your face. But it\’s not your fault. You just happen to look like someone important from my past.\”

Ga-on, his gaze unwavering, knew that it must be difficult for Yo-han to see him every day, a constant reminder of someone he had lost or was estranged from, \”I understand if it\’s too hard for you to look at me, Yo-han. I can step down from the show if that\’s what you need.\”

Yo-han, however, surprised Ga-on with his response. He shook his head gently, a small smile playing on his lips, \”Ga-on, you don\’t need to step down. I don\’t blame you for coincidentally looking like Isaac. You\’ve been nothing but supportive since you joined the show, and I appreciate that. Let\’s put this behind us and focus on moving forward together, okay?\”

Ga-on, still harboring a sense of guilt and the need to be honest, decided to come clean about something that had been bothering him for a while, \”Yo-han, there\’s something I need to tell you. I… I looked into your background before joining the show. I wanted to know more about the man I\’d be working with. I know it\’s not something I should have done, and I\’m sorry.\”

Yo-han, though surprised by Ga-on\’s admission, appreciated his honesty, \”It\’s alright, Ga-on. I understand your curiosity. What did you discover?\”

Ga-on took a deep breath before sharing his thoughts,\” Well, from what I found, it seems like you\’ve been preparing for this \”hunt\” for a long time. Your dedication to the show and your expertise in tracking down targets… it all suggests that you\’ve been honing these skills for a while. It\’s as if this has been a part of your life for longer than just the duration of the show.\”

Yo-han contemplated Ga-on\’s words, his mind drifting to memories and experiences that had shaped him over the years. The notion that he had been unknowingly preparing for this moment intrigued him, \”You might be onto something, Ga-on. Perhaps this \”hunt\” has been a calling I couldn\’t ignore, even before I knew it.\”

Ga-on, while trying to make sense of Yo-han\’s emotions and motivations, was acutely aware of one thing—he understood Yo-han\’s anger. He might not grasp the full picture, but he could sense the intensity of the emotions swirling within Yo-han.

\”Yo-han, I might not understand everything, but I understand that what you\’re feeling right now is real. And I agree, manipulating a trial is wrong.\”

Yo-han expression turned serious and unwavering, \”Ga-on, let me be clear. I have no problem eliminating obstacles that get in my way. So you have to decide on whose side you are?\”

Ga-on met Yo-han\’s gaze, not flinching in the face of the warning. He knew that he had a choice to make, one that could define their collaboration.

\”But I don\’t want you to step down, Ga-on. Despite everything, I enjoy working with you. You\’ve brought a fresh perspective to our team, and I believe that together, we can achieve something great.\”

Ga-On smiled and was about to leave when Yo-han couldn\’t help but notice him slightly limping. He quickly reached into his desk drawer, retrieving a small container of pain relief medication. \”You might find this helpful for that pain.\”

Ga-on was taken aback, his expression revealing surprise and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized that Yo-han had indeed noticed their shared intimacy from the previous night, \”So, you do remember what happened last night.\”

Yo-han, a playful glint in his eye, responded with a smirk,\”How could I forget such an amazing night? And, by the way, you might want to add some more foundation on that neck bite.\”

Ga-on\’s hand instinctively went to his neck, feeling self-conscious about the visible mark from their passionate encounter. He quickly decided it was best to leave the room, attempting to conceal his embarrassment, \”I should… uh, get going. We have a busy day ahead.\”

With a hint of a smile, Yo-han watched Ga-on make a hasty exit, the playful banter between them leaving a sense of warmth and camaraderie in its wake.

Their relationship was evolving in unexpected ways, and both seemed to be navigating it with a mix of surprise and enthusiasm.

As Ga-On walked away from Yo-Han, his mind couldn\’t help but drift back to that early morning moment when he had awakened beside him naked.

The memory of their intimate encounter played vividly in his mind, but he couldn\’t shake the thought that perhaps Yo-Han would assume it had all been a dream.

In an attempt to spare himself and Yo-Han any awkwardness, Ga-On had quietly cleared the room and slipped out, leaving behind no evidence of their shared intimacy.

He had chosen to exit the scene like a phantom, hoping that the reality of the night before would remain a secret, safely tucked away in the corners of their memories.

\”What was I thinking!!\” Ga-on cursed himself in silence as he disappeared down the hallway.

Yo-han\’s loyal associate, who had been lurking in the shadows, finally emerged into the dimly lit room. The lackey\’s presence had been unobtrusive, as usual, but his loyalty to Yo-han was unwavering.

\”That didn\’t go as planned. Why are you letting him stay if he\’s a potential problem?\”

Yo-han, a conflicted expression on his face, pondered the question for a moment. It was a question he had asked himself too, \”I\’m not entirely sure. Maybe because… his understanding of my anger, something I\’m not used to, flustered me. Or maybe there\’s something about him that I can\’t quite put my finger on.\”

The lackey nodded, respecting Yo-han\’s decision even if he didn\’t fully understand it. The dynamics between Yo-han and Ga-on were shifting, and it was clear that this was more than just a professional partnership. \”Whatever your reasons. We\’ll make sure this hunt goes according to your plan.\”

At the mansion, the housekeeper decides to cook a meal for Ga-on since he\’s a guest, however \”unwelcome.\” Yo-han finds her in the kitchen and harshly reminds her she\’s not supposed to be in the house after sunset. She apologizes and walks out.

Ga-on follows her, confused. She posits that Yo-han must think she\’ll poison him or something for what he\’s done. Ga-on asks if she\’s sure Yo-han was responsible and guesses she probably doesn\’t want to believe that of the child she raised either.

To be continued….