By Zephyria 
Тrrr, thе ringing sound echоеd. Standing in front оf the smoking аrеа, Wоо-уeon sсrарed the grоund with the toe оf his shoе. Pеoрle раssing bу glancеd at him оccasiоnally.
—Thе subscriber yоu havе сalled is not availаble…
Hanging uр withоut hеsitаtiоn, Woo-уeоn diаled anоthеr number this time. After аbout thrее rings, a familiаr vоiсе аnswerеd frоm the оther end.
—Hello?
It was Dо-hyun.
“Ah, Sеonbaе. Did you get уour sсreen fiхеd?”
Woo-уeon аdjusted his griр оn the рhоne аnd lеanеd his bасk against а wоodеn fеnсе. Inside the partition, Ga-ram and Seon-kyu were smoking. They were having what is commonly called a ‘post-meal smoke’ after finishing their cake.
—Yeah, I’m on my way. Did you enjoy the lecture?
Perhaps because it was over the phone, Do-hyun’s voice sounded slightly different than usual. It was still soft and kind, but the tone was somewhat subdued. Woo-yeon looked down and spoke slowly.
“Yes… I went to the cafe and now I’m waiting for Noona and Seon-kyu to finish smoking.”
—…The smoking area?
“Yes. Are you driving?”
He was clearly in a car, but there was a bustle beyond the phone. Instead of engine noise or road sounds, he could hear the faint sound of people. As expected, Do-hyun answered after a slight pause.
—No, I’m walking.
He must not have gotten in the car yet. Woo-yeon nodded without saying much. Even though it was impossible for him to see it over the phone, Do-hyun calmly continued.
—You should have stayed in the club room. It’s dangerous because of the reporters.
“It’s not like I’m alone.”
—Still.
The reporters wouldn’t be able to shove cameras in his face in earnest anyway. If they had any sense, they wouldn’t swarm him. Since his face hadn’t been officially revealed, it wasn’t that dangerous yet.
“Um… Seonbae.”
Woo-yeon started slowly, fiddling with his earlobe. Since their conversation at the cafe earlier, he had been feeling strangely gloomy. He thought everything had become okay, but it seemed the stories of the past were still a burden.
—Yeah, what is it?
“It’s nothing much…”
Should he say it or not? Two thoughts weighed against each other in his mind. They had only been apart for about three hours; if he acted like a child, Do-hyun might find it burdensome.
But contrary to his thoughts, his lips moved on their own.
“…I miss you.”
—….
No voice was heard from the other end of the line. Only the occasional sound of breathing was the sole evidence that the call hadn’t been disconnected. Just as Woo-yeon, unable to bear the embarrassment, was about to say anything, Do-hyun spoke softly.
—Stay right there.
“Huh?”
Click, the call ended. Woo-yeon stared at his phone with a bewildered expression. The numbers indicating the call duration disappeared, and the default wallpaper appeared. He glared at the screen for a long time, but nothing changed.
“…He hung up?”
He said he missed him, and this was the answer he got. Before any other thoughts could form, his mind went blank from the sheer abruptness. Just as a hollow laugh was about to escape him, he heard footsteps from somewhere.
Woo-yeon leaned away from the partition and slowly raised his head. Tap, tap, the footsteps drew closer. His slowly beating heart began to accelerate, and a familiar pheromone mixed into the blowing wind.
“…….”
He looked like a mirage. His hair was disheveled, his pace was hurried unlike usual, and his expression softened the moment he saw Woo-yeon.
“Yeon-ah.”
There is such a thing as a Shooting Star. A star that appears through the clouds on a gloomy day and vanishes in an instant. A mischievous existence that steals one’s heart and leaves them dazed, like a bewitching fox.
“…Seonbae?”
Do-hyun strode forward and embraced Woo-yeon without hesitation. The pheromones that wafted over were hot, mixing with his body heat. The faint scent of fabric softener and Do-hyun’s characteristic skin scent. All of it calmed the heart that had been wavering with anxiety.
“Ah… that was tough.”
Taking a deep breath, Do-hyun murmured in a languid voice. Against the full swell of his chest, Woo-yeon could feel the thump, thump of a heartbeat. Breathing deeply once more, he tightened his arms around Woo-yeon.
“I haven’t run that much in a long time.”
“…Did you run here?”
Woo-yeon raised his hands and wrapped his arms around Do-hyun’s waist. As he buried his face there, Do-hyun rubbed his cheek against his hair. A soft chuckle tickled his ear.
“I was on my way to the club room.”
“…….”
“I was just about to enter the building when I got the call, so I came this way.”
Woo-yeon kept his mouth shut and burrowed deeper into Do-hyun’s embrace. A large hand gently patted his thin back. He soothed him as if putting a child to sleep, then slowly stroked from top to bottom.
“If you say you miss me, I have to come quickly.”
The low voice was like a Shooting Star. The gentle, quiet tone seemed to cast a spell on Woo-yeon. As if, if he soaked into this feeling completely, he would never be able to escape.
“People will stare.”
“…They stared even when I was alone.”
Woo-yeon replied barely audibly, greedily inhaling the pheromones. If people were going to stare regardless, he figured he might as well do as he pleased. Fortunately, Do-hyun didn’t seem to have any intention of pushing him away either.
After quite some time, Ga-ram and Seon-kyu came outside. Approaching while smelling strongly of cigarettes, their eyes widened the moment they saw Do-hyun.
“Huh? Do-hyun Hyung?”
“What the, Kim Do-hyun is here?”
At the familiar voices, Woo-yeon flinched and pulled away. It would be one thing if they were strangers, but he had no intention of engaging in public displays of affection in front of these two. However, Do-hyun caught him and locked him back into his embrace.
“Why did you bring a kid who doesn’t even smoke to a smoking area? He’ll smell.”
With one hand on the back of Woo-yeon’s head and the other around his shoulder, he scolded Ga-ram and Seon-kyu. Seeing him complain about the smell of cigarettes, it seemed he wanted to prevent Woo-yeon from smelling them.
“Hey, Woo-yeon said it was okay.”
“Still.”
“Ugh, you smitten fool. My affection for you drops every time you’re like this.”
Ga-ram grumbled, pouring out all sorts of criticism toward Do-hyun. Telling him not to play tricks, asking if he just wanted to hold Woo-yeon, and complaining that he was making a fuss even though he’d smoked himself. To the scathing insults, Do-hyun gave a peaceful reply.
“If you know it’s a trick, just pretend you don’t.”
“…….”
Push, Woo-yeon shoved Do-hyun away, his face turning bright red. Glancing to the side, he saw Ga-ram grinning widely with eyes full of mischief.
“Why? You should’ve stayed embraced.”
“…Forget it.”
Even Seon-kyu, whom he trusted, had a face full of amusement. Only Do-hyun looked disappointed as he put his hands in his pockets. Woo-yeon turned his back to them to cool the heat rising in his cheeks. The gazes that were clearly teasing him were far too embarrassing.
As he wiped his face with one hand, he saw a group of people approaching the smoking area.
“This bastard’s condition today is…”
Most were strangers, but two were familiar faces. The one with bleached yellow hair was Kang Jun-seong, and beside him was Jun-seong’s classmate who took the same lecture. The moment Woo-yeon reflexively frowned, the other party spotted him.
“…Seon Woo-yeon?”
Jun-seong’s mouth dropped open in surprise. Jun-seong’s friends also looked at Woo-yeon in bewilderment. With an annoyed expression, Woo-yeon vaguely averted his gaze.
“What, isn’t that guy Ji Su-hyang’s son?”
“Who? Ji Su-hyang has a son?”
“Didn’t you see the article? You know, the illegitimate child…”
“What’s with them?”
First of all, Ga-ram frowned. She glared at them openly, her eyes sharp. Those who had been whispering loud enough to be heard flinched and shut their mouths.
“I mean, who is rude enough to talk about someone else right in front of them!”
Ga-ram warned the group with a booming voice. Woo-yeon stopped her without any change in expression.
“You shouldn’t pay attention to things like that.”
It wasn’t the first or second time other people had whispered; there was no need to react to every single one. Moreover, seeing Jun-seong’s face turn pale, it seemed his prediction was correct.
“It’s not just once or twice… I’m okay.”
However, at those words, the expressions of the three others changed. Even the easy-going and good-natured Seon-kyu frowned deeply. Do-hyun wrapped his arm around Woo-yeon’s shoulder and slowly turned his gaze.
“Let’s go.”
He seemed upset, but he didn’t get angry like Ga-ram. He simply glanced once more toward where Jun-seong was.
It was just as they were about to move.
“Wait, wait a second! Woo-yeon!”
In an instant, Do-hyun’s pheromones became sharp. Woo-yeon reflexively looked up at his face. His stiffened expression was excessively cold.
“Hey, let me talk to you for a bit…”
Jun-seong, approaching as if running, reached out toward Woo-yeon.
This time, Woo-yeon intended to grab Jun-seong’s arm and twist it back. But before he could, Do-hyun stepped between the two.
“…….”
The urgently extended hand brushed through the air powerlessly. Do-hyun shielded Woo-yeon as if protecting him and stared intently at Jun-seong.
“I guess reaching out with your hands first is a habit.”
The voice was gentle, but the gaze was not. The sharply edged pheromones were also full of vigilance. Ga-ram and Seon-kyu, realizing the situation late, whispered among themselves.
“What’s this, isn’t he that guy from back then?”
“I think so. The guy from the group project.”
Jun-seong bit his lip, looking back and forth between Do-hyun and Woo-yeon. He seemed very upset, but he appeared intimidated by the overwhelming height difference. Clenching his fists, Jun-seong ignored Do-hyun and spoke to Woo-yeon.
“Talk to me. I have something to say.”
“I don’t.”
Woo-yeon said that and pulled Do-hyun’s arm. As he had said repeatedly, he wanted no conversation whatsoever with Jun-seong. Seeing his haggard appearance and the hollows under his eyes, any talk would likely be nothing but excuses.
“Wait… Seon Woo-yeon, hey!”
Jun-seong didn’t give up and kept calling out to Woo-yeon. Although he couldn’t grab his arm, he followed them persistently. Just as Ga-ram looked back, muttering, “Ugh, this crazy bastard,” Jun-seong shouted.
“I didn’t do it!”
Stop, Woo-yeon came to a halt. Do-hyun, who had been pulled along by Woo-yeon, also slowly looked back at Jun-seong. Jun-seong ruffled his hair frantically with a face full of grievance.
“Ha, fuck. I’m saying I didn’t do that!”
A chilling silence fell. Ga-ram exchanged glances with Seon-kyu, wondering what this was about. Amidst the silence, Jun-seong added haltingly.
“I saw the article too. I saw it, but… I didn’t do it. I contacted you to tell you this, but you didn’t answer the phone…”
“Phone?”
Woo-yeon’s expression changed. He frowned and carefully searched his memory. Then, he replied in a calm voice.
“I didn’t get any such call.”