By Zephyria 
To begin with, sentients don’t serve in the military. Alphas, after screening, perform alternative service in fields where they can contribute to society, and Omegas were exempted regardless of reason. Hui-won had been indignant many times over the fact that he had enlisted just like a regular person, as a punishment for his late manifestation.
Who would have thought there’d come a moment to boast about that experience.
“I may look like this, but I’m someone who got first place in marksmanship and even received a reward vacation.”
Hui-won knelt down and secured the toy gun to the counter. He firmly pressed the stock against his right shoulder and steadily supported the barrel. His form, squinting one eye and focusing on the target, was nothing ordinary.
“You can’t just shoot blindly. The basics of marksmanship start with zeroing in.”
A faint crosshair was etched on the plastic lens, but the sight was practically useless. The focus wasn’t great either, so he had to rely on feel. Hui-won placed his index finger on the trigger. A fine tremor melted into his breath.
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
In the tense atmosphere, bb bullets were fired in rapid succession. Only one target fell over. Kwon Young-je, with his arms crossed, glanced alternately between Hui-won and the target. He spoke in a dry tone devoid of any laughter.
“First place, you say.”
“…….”
“Our country’s military capability level is serious.”
“It’s because the clothes are uncomfortable.”
Hui-won took off his coat and threw it aside. Heat surged through him despite the cold weather. He blew a puff of air that made his bangs flutter, then lowered his stance again and gripped the gun.
“CEO! You didn’t put some adhesive on there, did you?”
The CEO gestured by lying down and standing up a stick, as if to say there was absolutely no problem with the target. The way it wobbled and fell only fueled his competitive spirit.
To restore his cracked pride, Hui-won gripped the barrel tightly. He was the one who complained about wasting money earlier, but now he was more heated about the game than Kwon Young-je.
This time, he managed to hit three. The CEO handed over a cheap-looking keychain as a prize. Hui-won clutched the tacky keyring fiercely, then lifted his flushed face.
“Just one more time.”
“That’s enough, stop.”
Kwon Young-je draped the coat he had been holding over Hui-won’s shoulders. Then he took out his wallet again.
“Can I just purchase the stuffed animal?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Of course.” “How much is it?”
Hui-won fumbled to put on his coat while watching the peculiar transaction happening before his eyes. When the fluffy ball entered Kwon Young-je’s embrace, he wondered if he was seeing things correctly.
“You… wanted the stuffed animal?”
Kwon Young-je glanced at him as if asking what the problem was. He reached out and straightened the flipped collar of Hui-won’s coat. Contrary to the affectionate touch, his expression remained indifferent.
“Did you think I wanted to have a bb gun fight like a kid?”
“Wanting a stuffed animal isn’t that much different… Besides, Executive Director, you don’t have a hobby of collecting stuffed animals, do you?”
“I wanted it. It resembles someone.”
As he started walking first, Hui-won quickly followed by his side. His gaze kept drifting sideways. The sight of a handsomely dressed Dominant Alpha walking with a giant stuffed animal tucked under his arm was far too conspicuous.
“I’ll carry it.”
Worried someone might see, he swiftly took the stuffed animal. It didn’t look any better with Hui-won carrying it, but at least he felt a bit more at ease.
Hui-won quietly examined the stuffed animal, which was cumbersome to hold even with both hands.
A quokka stuffed animal with tawny fur and perky upright ears. Its pose with both hands politely clasped was cute, but… It felt vaguely familiar somehow.
“What does it resemble?”
“You’re quick to catch on.”
Kwon Young-je let out a soft laugh. Then, he suddenly stopped walking and pulled out his phone from inside his coat.
Hui-won, staring blankly, and the quokka were captured together in an affectionate composition, filling the screen. Kwon Young-je curled up the corner of his mouth as he looked at the phone screen.
“Don’t lose to the stuffed animal. You have to smile cuter.”
“…….”
Hui-won’s shoulders trembled slightly. It was true that he wanted to be Kwon Young-je’s lover, but this kind of behavior was still unfamiliar and gave him goosebumps. He wasn’t sure if he’d get used to it.
Meanwhile, Kwon Young-je gazed intently at the phone in his hand. On the screen, Hui-won, unable to bear the awkwardness, kept fidgeting with the stuffed animal. His flushed red face, the glances he kept stealing, even the shape of his mouth muttering ‘hurry up and take it’ were clearly captured.
Before he knew it, he couldn’t take his eyes off Hui-won for even a moment. Looking at Kim Hui-won, he truly felt himself sinking into unfamiliar emotions. He thought having him by his side would be enough, but now even that felt insufficient, making him anxious at times.
Slowly lifting his head, he took in the person standing outside the screen directly with his eyes. And then he took the first step. He pulled over the bewildered face and carefully kissed it. For this moment, he wanted to remember the present without caring about anyone else’s gaze.
In the car on the way home, Hui-won suddenly received a flurry of contacts and grew serious. Messages were flying in for Kwon Young-je as well. Both looked at the article that had appeared online with stiff expressions.
Headline News
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Currently, the internet was in an uproar over Han Jin-seo’s affair scandal. Within less than 10 minutes of the initial report, follow-up articles poured out like a flood. SNS and portal sites were plastered with Han Jin-seo’s name.
It was a situation where he had an inappropriate meeting with a married Omega and got caught by the other spouse. The evidence was solid, so there was no wriggling out of this. Only the path of downfall remained.
“He’s finally caused trouble.”
Kwon Young-je rubbed his forehead with a long sigh. While it’s common for celebrities to cause scandals and crash and burn, from the perspective of an advertiser closely tied to him, the scandal couldn’t be welcome.
The mistake was knowing about Han Jin-seo’s messy private life and leaving it alone. His head was already starting to throb at the thought of damage control.
“Executive Director, what will you do?”
“…….”
Lost in thought for a moment, he then picked up his phone. Without hesitation, he made a call. Although it was late, given the emergency, the other party answered almost as soon as the ringtone sounded.
“Take down all promotional materials related to Han Jin-seo immediately. Call the contractors and strip off all the building wrapping too. Yes, proceed today.”
Kwon Young-je’s instructions were sharp. Even when scandals break out, the industry practice is usually to wait and see how things unfold before cutting ties, but he made the decision as if he had been waiting for this day.
He also gave instructions to Hui-won.
“Tell the legal team to convene an emergency meeting as soon as work starts tomorrow. We’re reviewing all contracts related to Han Jin-seo and calculating penalty fees.”
“Yes.”
The high-pressure tone made Hui-won tense up as well. He immediately contacted a legal team employee to relay the information. That side also seemed aware of the situation, as tension laced their answering voice.
The front of the villa where Hui-won lived was already packed with reporters. Even in the middle of the night, the lights illuminating the entrance were bright, and camera flashes burst intermittently. The fervent reporting zeal made it impossible to muster the courage to push through there.
“…….”
Hui-won looked blankly at the shared entrance before turning away. Having assessed the situation, it was right to send Kwon Young-je back first. Somehow, the situation had turned into Kwon Young-je seeing him off, so Hui-won gave a slight bow of his head.
“Executive Director, I’ll go in first now.”
At the polite farewell, his eyes narrowed shrewdly.
“You’re going to push through there?”
“Yes. I have to go.” “You think the reporters don’t know Secretary Kim lives next door?”
“…….”
Just then, as one villa resident came out holding a dog, the reporters desperately rushed over, eager to get any source related to Han Jin-seo. The sound of barking dogs and shouting mixed together, creating a scene no different from a warzone.
If an unrelated resident was in that state, it was clear that if he went in, he’d be skinned alive.
Hui-won lightly chewed his lower lip with his teeth. So what should he do? Should he go to a nearby motel or something? While he was pondering, Kwon Young-je suddenly grabbed Hui-won’s wrist and started walking on his own accord. It was in the direction of his house.
“Executive Director.”
Hui-won lowered his voice, worried the reporters might hear. But no matter how desperately he called or tried to hold him back, he couldn’t stop his steps.
“Stay with me for a while. It’ll probably take quite some time for the commotion to die down.”
“I have plenty of other places to stay. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Kwon Young-je, who had been walking ahead without looking back, stopped at those words. The grip on Hui-won’s wrist tightened even more.
“If I want to be together.”
“…….”
“Right now, I’m not taking care of Secretary Kim, I’m taking care of Kim Hui-won.”
Hui-won was speechless, only moving his lips. Then he burst out laughing. Right. The one holding his hand now wasn’t Executive Director Kwon, but Kwon Young-je. The subtle difference, felt anew, made the tension suddenly melt away.
“But at least let go of my wrist. Just in case.”
“In case someone runs away.”
“Ah, please.”
The two deliberately took a detour towards a path with few people. On their faces illuminated by the moonlight, an unconcealed smile was vivid. Even the night air seemed to warmly embrace the lovers who had just begun.