By Zephyria 
As soon аs hе heard thоse words, Wоо-уеоn stоod up. Нis mind fеlt blаnk; something fеlt strange. No mоre vоicеs cоuld be hеаrd frоm inside, but an unknоwn humming cоntinued to linger in his еars.
“Heу, you…”
Thе momеnt Gа-ram opened hеr mouth, his legs movеd. Аs if hе hаd nеver stoрpеd, his рacе grаdually quickenеd. Bу thе time he rеgаinеd his sеnsеs, Woо-уeоn was practicallу running out of thе building.
* * *
With an emрty head, Wоo-уeon wаndеred aimlеssly arоund the саmpus. Тhе momеnt hе heаrd Dо-hуun’s final words, аn оminous fееling hаd wаshed over him. He felt that if he eavesdropped any further, he wouldn’t be able to stand on his own two feet while pretending to be fine.
‘I like that teacher.’
In his younger days, Woo-yeon’s confession had been closer to surrender than courage. Once he could no longer contain the swelling emotions, he had simply thrown them away, as if letting them go.
Naturally, no miracle occurred, and Woo-yeon was wounded beyond expression.
What a foolish pain that first heartbreak was. Afterward, it seemed as though nothing could hurt his heart anymore. It was fine even when Jun-seong spat out curses, he grew accustomed to his mother’s indifference, and he remained calm when leaving for America alone.
It wasn’t a cliché experience of the ground hardening after the rain or becoming stronger by overcoming adversity. It was simply that the wound that had ravaged his insides was so massive that he no longer easily felt pain from a few minor scratches.
But no matter how numb one becomes to pain, it cannot be painless to touch the wounded area again.
“Oh, Woo-yeon! Over here!”
In the lecture hall, where he arrived late, he saw Seon-kyu sitting about halfway back. Seeing Woo-yeon, Seon-kyu greeted him warmly and moved the bag that had been next to him. As Woo-yeon trudged closer, Seon-kyu’s eyes widened.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Woo-yeon set his bag down and awkwardly touched his cheek. He knew his expression was stiff, but he hadn’t realized it was obvious enough to be noticed immediately. Once again, he felt glad that he hadn’t opened the door and entered the club room earlier.
“I just didn’t get much sleep.”
“And here I thought you ran into that guy, Kang Jun-seong.”
Without much suspicion, Seon-kyu fiddled with his phone. Woo-yeon took out his major textbook and pencil case, then rested his chin on his hand, covering his mouth. It was a good thing he got the injection. Despite his emotions fluctuating like this, not a speck of pheromone was leaking out.
“Hey, Woo-yeon. Let’s order something to eat at the club room after the lecture. Ga-ram Noona said she’d buy whatever we want.”
Seon-kyu spoke in an excited voice, having been messaging Ga-ram. Still resting his chin on his hand, Woo-yeon replied indifferently.
“I’m tired today, so I’m going straight home.”
“Are you that tired?”
Seon-kyu turned to Woo-yeon with a look of disappointment. When Woo-yeon shifted his gaze to meet his, Seon-kyu spoke suggestively.
“Do-hyun Hyung is there too; are you really just going to leave?”
Woo-yeon bit his lower lip hard and looked down. He had already confirmed with his own two ears that Do-hyun was in the club room. That was the very reason he intended to go straight home. He didn’t know why those words had come out of Seon-kyu’s mouth.
“…What does it matter to me if Seonbae is there?”
“Ah.”
As if realizing a mistake, Seon-kyu frowned. He then flipped his phone face down, his lips twitching. He glanced around ambiguously before lowering his voice.
“You like Do-hyun Hyung.”
“…….”
Ah, why was his luck so terrible today? To have the feelings he had voiced only once confirmed twice by the mouths of others. And while he was in such a poor state, no less.
“I didn’t think you were trying to hide it… sorry if I offended you.”
Seon-kyu belatedly admitted his mistake and apologized. He added that he hadn’t told anyone and would pretend not to know from now on. Woo-yeon struggled to compose his expression and replied calmly.
“It’s fine. It must have been obvious.”
It probably would have been obvious to anyone. Especially to someone as perceptive as Do-hyun. Knowing everything, he had helped him, hugged him, shown him movies, and acted kindly. If the reason for that was ‘to see how long he would consider it a facade,’ then he had been excessively devoted.
“I’ll go to the club room. I’ll just stop by for a bit and then go home.”
“You will? Then I’ll tell her you’re coming?”
Seon-kyu quickly sent a reply to Ga-ram. When she asked if there was anything he wanted to eat, Woo-yeon vaguely answered to just get whatever she wanted. There was a high probability that Tteokbokki would be waiting in the club room.
“Ugh, I don’t want to take this class.”
The professor, who entered five minutes later, skipped the attendance check and started the lecture immediately. Woo-yeon mechanically took notes of the professor’s words while erasing the thoughts popping up in his head. The words he had heard in front of the club room, and the image of Do-hyun as his tutor long ago.
In Woo-yeon’s memory, he was an infinitely merciful teacher. He didn’t scold him for forgetting homework, and he didn’t press him when he got a problem wrong. Whenever Woo-yeon couldn’t concentrate on the lesson because he wasn’t feeling well, Do-hyun would soften his voice and explain things again gently.
At one time, Woo-yeon hoped that such kindness was reserved only for him. Because it was his first tutor, because he was young, because he was bullied at school. Whether the hidden emotion within was pity or something else, he consoled himself thinking that someone else wouldn’t have experienced it.
But he was kind even to his Hubae. He bought him meals, helped him study, and drank the alcohol Woo-yeon didn’t want to drink. Thus, Woo-yeon unconsciously came to believe that Do-hyun would grant all his requests.
‘Because he does everything I ask.’
From course registration to stroking his hair, asking for hugs, and even things beyond that. Was this what they meant by ‘not blocking those who come and not holding onto those who leave’?
Rather than thinking he had been played with, he realized there was no possibility. Even if it had been someone else, Do-hyun would have reacted the same way. There is nothing more foolish than mistaking kindness given equally to everyone as a privilege.
Woo-yeon repeated these thoughts until the lecture ended. At some point, even the hand taking notes stopped, but he didn’t have the leisure to care.
Packing his things, slinging his bag, and moving buildings until he stood before the club room. The thoughts that had been circling endlessly settled in one place the moment Seon-kyu opened the door.
“We’re here!”
I should give up. No, I should stop. If I keep running forward, I might get my legs cut off by the trap called love. No matter how much I resist and wound myself here and there, I’ll eventually end up as the subordinate awaiting disposal.
‘If that’s how it’s going to be anyway…’
“I ordered Tteokbokki, so you guys just sit.”
While Woo-yeon was organizing his thoughts, Ga-ram stood up abruptly, grabbed her cigarettes, and went outside. Seon-kyu also pushed Woo-yeon inside and followed her. At the sound of the door clicking shut, Woo-yeon finally realized that Seon-kyu had been avoiding the situation until now.
And that Do-hyun’s gaze was fixed on him.
“Are you sick?”
Do-hyun asked in his usual gentle voice. The emotion reflected in those pitch-black pupils was a sweet kind that Woo-yeon knew well. At the fact that he was worried about him, his lips parted helplessly.
“I am.”
Immediately, the pheromones drew closer. The dry pheromones, like autumn, approached within reach and wavered softly. Because Woo-yeon’s pheromones were suppressed, the Alpha pheromones were exceptionally vivid.
“Look at me.”
Do-hyun lowered his head slightly to meet his eyes. Seeing him start to reach out and then stop, it seemed he had intended to check for a fever. Woo-yeon grabbed the hand that had stopped in mid-air and pressed it against his own forehead. A flinch; the fingertips trembled slightly.
“You don’t have a fever, but…”
Muttering this, Do-hyun gently stroked the lukewarm forehead. Having come in from the outside wind, Do-hyun’s hand was warmer than Woo-yeon’s. Woo-yeon closed his eyes tightly and buried his face in Do-hyun’s hand.
“Could you take me home?”
A request of this level would be granted even without pleading. Since a Hubae said he was sick, the kind Do-hyun wouldn’t ignore it. As expected, he held Woo-yeon’s hand back gently.
“Let’s go.”
They headed straight for the parking lot without eating the Tteokbokki. Do-hyun seemed to be leaving a message for Ga-ram, but Woo-yeon couldn’t see because his head was lowered.
Do-hyun opened the passenger door for him and, this time, even fastened the seatbelt.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“No, not really.”
Clutching his bag, Woo-yeon leaned his head quietly against the car window. He had said he didn’t just let anyone sit in the passenger seat, yet he let him sit there as if it were nothing. How on earth could he not have expectations when he acted like this?
“This is the third time I’ve sat in the passenger seat.”
Instead of answering, Do-hyun raised an eyebrow. Stopping while starting the engine, he turned his head and gazed steadily into his eyes. Woo-yeon didn’t avoid it and blinked.
“…I guess so.”
It was a very bland response. Starting the engine again, Do-hyun shifted gears as if nothing had happened. At that nonchalant reaction, the surging expectations calmed down.
“…….”
“…….”
The way home felt exceptionally long today. It was a distance he could have walked if necessary, but it was because of the persistent anxiety. Moreover, because the conversation had stopped, he eventually felt self-conscious even about breathing.
“I guess you took your suppressant.”
Only when they were almost in front of the house did Do-hyun speak casually. Woo-yeon gave a vague answer and rested his chin on his bag.
Entering the underground parking lot with familiarity, Do-hyun stopped the car near the entrance.
“…You got here fast.”
Woo-yeon blurted out words he didn’t mean while unfastening his seatbelt. Do-hyun was staring at him blankly without even turning off the engine.
After a short pause, Do-hyun spoke slowly.
“Get some rest. Tell me if you’re very sick.”
“…….”
Woo-yeon took a deep breath. His heart was pounding so hard that the suppressed pheromones felt like they would burst out. He expanded his chest a few times, but his heart would not easily calm down. Eventually, Woo-yeon simply turned his body to look at Do-hyun.
“I don’t want to be alone.”
The time was still early and ambiguous. Do-hyun had another lecture, and Woo-yeon’s heat cycle would begin in five hours. Even knowing all these facts, a desperate voice flowed from Woo-yeon’s lips.
“Stay the night, Seonbae.”