Chapter Sidе Stоrу 2. Outsider

Summеr vасаtiоn ended. Woо-уeon, whо had staуеd аt Dо-hуun’s hоuse throughоut thе brеak, got а studio apаrtment аs soоn as thе new sеmеstеr began. It wаs an оfficetel with а large window thаt let in the sunlight and аn interiоr sрacious enough tо run around in for а whilе. It fеlt а bit еxcеssive tо bе callеd а “studio,” but Woo-yеon thоught it wаs more оrdinаrу thаn thе prеviоus pеnthouse.

Do-hyun exрressed а fleeting sеnse of regrеt ovеr Woo-уеon moving оut. It was beсausе hе had bесomе fаr toо асcustomеd tо the dаilу rоutinе of seeing Woo-yeon’s face every morning and evening. He tried to stop Woo-yeon a few times, but he gave up after realizing that the new officetel was a place where one couldn’t even press the elevator button without an access card. He seemed to judge that, one way or another, the officetel would be safer than his own apartment.

Regardless, Woo-yeon became independent, and the time he spent facing Do-hyun decreased. Although Do-hyun visited every day, it was woefully insufficient compared to when they had practically lived together. Feeling a growing sense of emptiness, Woo-yeon began to suffer from an even more extreme thirst starting a week ago.

“……Do you have to go right away today, too?”

Woo-yeon sat in the passenger seat of the car, fiddling with the seatbelt. Do-hyun, who had no afternoon classes, had waited for Woo-yeon’s classes to end and had just dropped him off at home. Since the officetel was newly built, it was impossible to enter the underground parking lot unless the vehicle was registered.

“Yeah, she’s probably waiting.”

Even as he answered, Do-hyun had a look of utter reluctance on his face. To be precise, he looked as if he were deeply regretful about parting with Woo-yeon. Frowning slightly between his straight brows and letting out a shallow sigh, he reached out toward Woo-yeon.

“Sorry. I’ll persuade her quickly and send her back.”

Long fingers traced the tender skin beneath the eye. When Woo-yeon reflexively blinked, Do-hyun’s eyes curved softly. He lightly held Woo-yeon’s head, tilted it, and locked their lips.

Chu. The lips parted lightly, then repeated the action a couple more times. Chu, chu. Despite the ticklish sensation, there was no sign of Woo-yeon’s expression softening. Seeing the sulky, sunken face, Do-hyun continued the kiss more deeply. In the close proximity, his eyes were filled with an inscrutable desire.

“……Should I not go?”

Only then did Woo-yeon let out a silly laugh. It was because he felt he had been too spoiled, considering they were both in a position of regret. Woo-yeon rubbed his face against Do-hyun’s hand and obediently lowered his eyes.

“I’ll endure it just a little longer……”

There was one reason why they shared farewells as poignant as long-distance lovers. It was because of an outsider who had come to stay at Do-hyun’s house for a few days. Well, to be precise, it wasn’t an outsider, but his family.

“Jin-ah will give up soon, too.”

The identity of the outsider was a younger sister four years younger than Do-hyun. Her name was Kim Jin-ah, and her genetic trait was Beta. Having followed Do-hyun since childhood, she had currently left home and was staying at Do-hyun’s house on her own whim. The reason was something like a fight with their parents. According to Do-hyun, it was something that happened often.

“Get inside safely. Contact me when you get home, okay?”

“Yes, you too, Hyung.”

Woo-yeon stepped out of the car, hiding his deep sense of disappointment. Before leaving the car, he didn’t forget to rub his lips against Do-hyun’s once more. Pheromones tangled and clung, but both pulled their lips apart before the act became too dense.

Do-hyun’s car did not leave until Woo-yeon disappeared from sight. Woo-yeon sighed as he tapped his access card at the entrance and stepped into the elevator. His right hand was habitually fiddling with the watch on his left wrist.

‘I shouldn’t have gotten a place……’

It was a decision made because he felt sorry for continuing to rely on him and was conscious of Soo-hyang’s gaze. If he had known it would be like this, he should have just settled into Do-hyun’s house. Then the sister named Jin-ah wouldn’t have stayed away from home for this long, either.

Woo-yeon bit his lip as he watched the numbers on the elevator rise one by one. He already began to miss Do-hyun, whom he had parted with just a moment ago. If it were simply that their meetings had become shorter, it would be one thing, but physical contact beyond kissing had been absent for roughly a few weeks.

‘Those times were great.’

Recalling those events, his ears naturally turned red. It was around the time the semester was about to start, the day Do-hyun had bought a cake to celebrate their 100th day. Since Woo-yeon had no concept of keeping anniversaries, he had greeted Do-hyun without preparing anything.

‘What is all this?’

‘Today is our 100th day.’

Do you count the days? Woo-yeon had a reason to hesitate before asking that. The image of himself proudly reciting the counted days when Daniel came to Korea. He hadn’t meant they should keep anniversaries. Just as he was about to correct that, Do-hyun spoke in a gentle voice.

‘Let’s go on a trip somewhere nearby tomorrow.’

‘…….’

His feeling of apology vanished instantly. In its place rose anticipation for the trip. As Woo-yeon’s face flushed, Do-hyun smiled brightly.

‘You’re going to eat the cake, right?’

As a result, they didn’t go on the trip. It was because their eyes suddenly met while eating the cake topped with strawberries. The act, which began at the dining table without even time to go to the bed, did not stop until the dawn of the next morning. Woo-yeon lost consciousness in Do-hyun’s arms as he washed him, both of them smeared with whipped cream and bodily fluids.

Although he always knocked out first, the acts with Do-hyun were always satisfying. Pheromones as dry as withered leaves became feverish with heat, and pitch-black pupils were covered in passion. The only moment when the always-composed man lost his composure. The surging satisfaction and the pleasure that felt like it was massaging his brain were simply unforgettable.

“I miss Teacher……”

He hadn’t known, but it seemed he, who had lived his whole life without sexual desire, was actually a quite vigorous Omega. Seeing how his lower abdomen felt tight at the thought of Do-hyun even when it wasn’t his heat cycle. Do-hyun’s large hands and firm upper body came to mind vividly.

He was sexually frustrated.

One day, two days, three days. Time flowed as slowly as a turtle. Woo-yeon, who missed Do-hyun every night, eventually had an embarrassing dream and resorted to masturbating. When Woo-yeon arrived at school with hollow eyes, Ga-ram made a fuss, asking what on earth had happened. At the mention of whether something was wrong with Kim Do-hyun, Woo-yeon couldn’t hide his gloominess. Because he was practically praying that something—anything—would actually happen.

“Did Do-hyun Hyung not come to school today?”

“Yeah, he has a free period.”

“He usually comes to see Woo-yeon even during his free periods.”

He could hear Ga-ram and Seon-kyu whispering. Woo-yeon recalled the message he had received from Do-hyun this morning.

Hyung: [Sorry, I don’t think I can drop you off today because of my sister.] 07:32am

Setting aside the ride, Woo-yeon also had a free period starting tomorrow. That meant he wouldn’t see Do-hyun until Monday. He was already going crazy, and now he couldn’t see him for another three days. The Tteokbokki he was holding with chopsticks was miserably crushed.

Even while listening to the afternoon lecture, Woo-yeon’s head was filled entirely with Do-hyun. When he took out his phone to check, the ‘unread’ mark was still there on the message saying it was okay, which he had sent in the morning. ‘Hyung, I miss you.’ He wrote and erased those words dozens of times. In the end, the lecture ended without him sending it, and before he knew it, he was in Driver Yoon’s car.

“Haa.”

It was only three days. Since today was already gone, it was ‘only’ three days starting tomorrow. He was someone he hadn’t seen for four years once; not seeing him for three days should be no big deal.

And yet, as soon as Woo-yeon returned home, he flopped onto the bed. He missed Do-hyun so much that he felt beyond thirsty; he felt like he was going insane. He pulled a white fennec fox plushie into his arms, but the thirst was not quenched at all.

[I miss you, Hyung] 06:00pm

Eventually, Woo-yeon picked up his phone and sent a message to Do-hyun. Surprisingly, the ‘read’ mark appeared immediately. Woo-yeon bolted upright and sat kneeling politely. The plushie he had been holding was now rolling around on the blanket.

“…….”

However, even after several minutes, no reply came. One minute, two minutes, five minutes. Even after a full ten minutes, it was the same. Woo-yeon blinked and sent one more message.

[Hyung?] 06:11pm

“…….”

Do-hyun had vanished. Moreover, without any reply to a read message. At the blatantly visible ‘unread’ mark (for the second message), Woo-yeon set his phone down irritably.

The next day, waking up early, Woo-yeon checked the missed calls on his phone. It had come late in the evening, and the caller was Do-hyun. Woo-yeon practically tumbled out of bed and touched the missed call record. After a few rings, a familiar voice was heard over the phone.

—……Hello?

“Hyung!”

—Yeah, Yeon-ah.

The gentle voice wrapped around his ear. It was the characteristic kindness of Do-hyun, soft and sweet. Wow, he really is a teacher. Overwhelmed with emotion, Woo-yeon let his eyebrows droop.

“Hyung… I fell asleep early yesterday, so I couldn’t answer the phone……”

—Is that so?

If he had known a call was coming, he would have waited until late at night. Strictly speaking, the reason he slept early was that Do-hyun had ignored his message, but he didn’t remember that fact at all. He was simply becoming impatient hearing the disembodied voice.

“I miss you……”

A whining tone came out. Whenever he dealt with Do-hyun, a spoiled side he didn’t even know he had would pop out. It was because he knew Do-hyun didn’t dislike it or find it annoying.

—……Yeah, I miss you too.

Woo-yeon thought the reason his voice sounded low was because he missed him. He was too happy to realize that it had been that way from the moment he answered the phone. Focusing on the quiet sound of breathing, Woo-yeon tentatively asked Do-hyun.

“Is your sister still at home?”

—Hmm……

It wasn’t a difficult question, but the answer was excessively slow. Woo-yeon waited for Do-hyun’s response, feeling unnecessarily nervous. Making a sound that could have been a sigh or a laugh, he replied lowly.

—I think she went home.

“…….”

If she went, she went; if she didn’t, she didn’t. Why was there a reason to speculate rather than be certain? He thought she was still at home, so had she gone out without a word?

“What does that even mean……”

—Yeon-ah.

“…….”

Woo-yeon gasped. It was because the voice heard over the phone was too stimulating. His heart pounded, and his face turned red. Whether he knew it or not, Do-hyun whispered in a smooth, seductive voice.

—Do you want to come to my house now?

Woo-yeon threw on a thin knit sweater and headed straight to Do-hyun. The thought ‘Why isn’t he coming to pick me up for once?’ occurred, but only for a moment. Do-hyun wasn’t his personal driver, and he couldn’t always pick him up or drop him off.

As soon as he got out of the taxi, he entered the door code and went upstairs. He was in such a hurry that even the elevator felt slow. Only after entering the familiar password wrong twice was Woo-yeon able to fling open the door to Do-hyun’s house.

“……Hyung?”

Contrary to his expectation that Do-hyun would come to greet him at the door, there was no sign of anyone inside. Only the exceptionally thick pheromones informed him that Do-hyun was in the house. Woo-yeon slowly entered, fully savoring Do-hyun’s scent.

“Hyung.”

He was sitting on the living room sofa without looking back. He had a towel on his head, as if he had just showered, and the table was full of headbands used during the festival. At the completely random combination, Woo-yeon approached with a puzzled face.

“Hyung.”

For the third time, Woo-yeon called Do-hyun. Do-hyun, who had been sitting askew, slowly looked at Woo-yeon. He was a person with naturally perfect posture, so there was no way he would sit so crookedly. Thinking this, Woo-yeon realized a new fact only after their eyes met.

‘……He’s drunk?’

“Yeon-ah.”

The double eyelid on his left eye was languidly loosened. His eyes blinked slowly, and a faint smile hung on his lips. It was a face with a certain amount of intoxication, just as it had been at a drinking party once.

“Did you drink?”

“Uh……”

Instead of denying it, Do-hyun looked around the table with awkward eyes. Judging by the fact that he added, “I cleaned it all up,” it seemed he had intended to keep the fact that he drank a secret. Not a chance. With reactions this slow, who did he think he was fooling?

“Why are you drinking alone?”

Woo-yeon murmured in a worried voice and sat next to Do-hyun. Now that he looked closer, water was dripping from his half-dried hair. Fearing he might catch a cold, Woo-yeon began to dry his hair with the towel, and the corners of Do-hyun’s mouth curved softly.

“Why did you take out the headbands?”

“Jin-ah was looking at them. She asked to borrow them later.”

“Ah,” Woo-yeon, who had answered half-heartedly, blinked as he saw Do-hyun’s expression change. To be precise, the moment the name ‘Jin-ah’ came out, his elegant eyes furrowed.

“Did something happen with your sister?”

He had asked it impulsively, but the answer came immediately. It was only three words, but that was enough.

“We fought.”

“……Why?”

While fighting between siblings was common, drinking after a fight was strange. Woo-yeon didn’t have siblings, but he knew that Seon-kyu often fought and brawled with his only older brother. That bastard would come to school saying his brother wasn’t even a brother, only to reconcile as if nothing happened the next day.

“It just happened.”

Do-hyun avoided his eyes as if he didn’t particularly want to talk about it. Since he was someone who generally hid nothing after a certain incident, Woo-yeon didn’t pry and kept his mouth shut. Once he sobered up, he would spill it without being pressed.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence continued for a while. Because the surroundings were quiet, the sound of hair brushing was vivid. While Woo-yeon moved his hands, Do-hyun wore a pleasant smile and emitted languid pheromones.

“I’ve dried it all.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Woo-yeon wasn’t the only one who became more spoiled when drunk. It was evident from the way Do-hyun rubbed his head against Woo-yeon’s shoulder as soon as the towel was removed. Do-hyun interlaced his fingers with Woo-yeon’s and asked softly.

“How did you get here?”

“I took a taxi.”

“That’s dangerous…… You should have asked Reporter Yoon to bring you.”

“Waiting for Reporter Yoon takes longer.”

What was so dangerous about a taxi that everyone else takes? He had a tendency to overprotect him. It seemed to have worsened after they met a reporter during a few outings.

“Hyung.”

Woo-yeon wiggled the hand that was being held. Warmth and pheromones tickled his palm. Various emotions surged and mixed deep within his stomach.

“Are you feeling very bad?”

“Hmm……”

As he had done last time, Do-hyun raised the hand that wasn’t being held and slightly bent his thumb and index finger. Through the gap in his fingers, his elegantly curved eyes were visible.

“A little?”

“…….”

“But I’m okay now.”

He already had a gentle face, but when he was drunk, that goodness was indescribable. His eyes folded as if closing, and straight teeth were visible through the gap of his parted lips. Not the fake smile he wore in front of others, but the real smile he showed only to Woo-yeon.

“Hyung……”

Woo-yeon spoke slowly, fiddling with Do-hyun’s hand. His face was as beautiful as an angel’s, but his fingers were long with thick joints. While they were on the pretty side, Woo-yeon thought they were cool rather than pretty.

“Hyung, should I……”

Instead of rushing him, Do-hyun blinked. His black pupils repeatedly disappeared and reappeared behind his eyelids. As if enchanted by the picture-like scene, Woo-yeon brought Do-hyun’s hand to his own cheek.

“Shall I make you feel better?”

It was an impulsive question, but he didn’t regret saying it. First, because Do-hyun looked at him with eyes that found him cute, and second, because he asked ‘How are you going to do that?’ with a satisfied smile. Woo-yeon immediately let go of the hand and slid down below the sofa.

“That’s not a place to sit.”

However, Do-hyun put his hands under Woo-yeon’s armpits and lifted him up. He even shook his head with a mock-stern face. Woo-yeon was hugged tightly in his arms and protested timidly.

“What do you mean ‘that place,’ this is your house, Hyung……”

“What reason would you have to kneel in my house?”

Even while drunk, only that one sentence was firm. Woo-yeon, who had turned his head slightly, wrapped his arms around Do-hyun’s neck. A large hand calmly stroked Woo-yeon’s back.

“I was going to do it with my mouth……”

“…….”

In an instant, the movement stopped. While he usually would have realized the intention long ago, this time he seemed genuinely flustered. Woo-yeon spoke softly, his face buried in the crook of the neck.

“How can I do it if I don’t sit on the floor?”

It was a conclusion reached from very simple thinking. Because Do-hyun seemed to be in a bad mood, and because his stomach felt strangely ticklish while looking at him. A cunning thought to kill two birds with one stone naturally moved his lips.

“……Exactly.”

Do-hyun let out a shallow breath, his voice trailing off. His thinking was clearly slowed down by the alcohol.

“Who on earth did you learn this from……”

Who did I learn from? I’ve only ever had one ‘Teacher’ from childhood until now.

“I’ll do it for you, too.”

Woo-yeon whispered in a voice like a breath. It was because he had felt a belated sense of shyness, despite having the audacity to climb down from the sofa. He didn’t forget to subtly check, as Do-hyun might not be in the mood.

“Do you hate it?”

“…….”

Was it just his imagination, or did the loosely released pheromones suddenly tighten? Seeing that the amount had decreased compared to before, it was clear that Do-hyun was intentionally suppressing them. After remaining silent for a moment, Do-hyun pushed Woo-yeon away from his embrace.

“Woo-yeon, you can’t do it.”

“……Why?”

“What do you mean, why……”

He slowly examined Woo-yeon’s face. It was a gaze so explicit that it made his cheeks flush. Tilting his head slightly, he fixed his eyes on the reddened lips.

“What exactly are you planning to put in this tiny mouth?”

“…….”

The words didn’t sound like a joke at all. It felt even more so because he added, “It’ll rip,” while gently touching the corner of his lips. Woo-yeon rolled his eyes and mournfully lowered his eyelashes.

“……So, do you hate it?”

“…….”

Drunk Do-hyun was about 120% more honest than usual. The fact that he couldn’t hide his wavering gaze even a little bit proved it. Unable to answer whether he hated it or liked it, Do-hyun reached out toward the table.

“Just, well……”

Out of countless headbands, he picked up one with rabbit ears. Then, he placed it on the bewildered Woo-yeon and wore a satisfied smile. The touch as he gently tidied the hair was incredibly careful.

“Ah, cute……”

At the sound of the laughter vibrating in his throat, Woo-yeon lowered his head, his face turning bright red. He had confidently said he would use his mouth, yet he felt embarrassed over a mere headband. Even though he knew Do-hyun was trying to change the subject, the memory of wearing a headband in the club room previously came flooding back.

“Teacher, look at me.”

He must really be drunk. Seeing as he was calling him ‘Teacher’ with his own mouth, something he never usually did. But as always, Woo-yeon responded faithfully to Do-hyun’s words. When he lifted his head and met his eyes, Do-hyun softly pressed their lips together.

“Mm……”

It was a kiss where lips simply met lips. No tongue entered, and there was no wet mixing of saliva. He simply held the lower lip slightly and nibbled on it with his front teeth.

Woo-yeon wrapped his arms around his neck and wiggled his toes. Do-hyun must have drunk quite a bit, but Woo-yeon felt only things other than the smell of alcohol. The fragrant scent of shampoo and Do-hyun’s characteristic dry pheromones. The soft lips gradually heightened the sexual arousal.

‘I love this so much……’

Sexual desire stirred in his lower abdomen. Before he knew it, his loosened pheromones poured out, soaking Do-hyun. Gently stroking the nape of Woo-yeon’s neck, he slowly pulled his lips away. Woo-yeon stared blankly at Do-hyun with unfocused eyes.

“I can’t tell who’s the drunk one.”

Even the playful voice sounded strange. Long fingers wrapped around his ear as obsessively as a snake. Pinning the earlobe between his fingers and rubbing it, he whispered with their foreheads touching.

“Can you do it?”

“……Yes.”

Woo-yeon nodded, letting out a heated breath. His heart pounded with an emotion he couldn’t tell was anticipation or fear. When he carefully raised his body, this time Do-hyun didn’t hold him back.

“…….”

“…….”

Kneeling below the sofa, Woo-yeon spread Do-hyun’s legs left and right. Thanks to the plush rug, his knees didn’t hurt. Before starting, as he stroked the right thigh with his palm, he felt something other than a leg starting from the middle.

“……Yeon-ah.”

Do-hyun’s fingers twitched. He let out a low laugh while stroking Woo-yeon’s hair with a languid touch. When Woo-yeon looked up at the laugh that didn’t fit the situation, the eyes he met were full of dark lust.

“Do you know what you’re wearing right now?”

“……!”

Woo-yeon stopped moving as he belatedly remembered his appearance. The rabbit ears Do-hyun had put on him were still there. The moment Woo-yeon, red as a ripe tomato, grabbed the rabbit ears, Do-hyun stopped his hand.

“Why? Just do it like that.”

The tone was clearly teasing. That included the way he pulled the captured wrist toward the space between his legs. But if he pushed him away and said no, the act he wanted to perform would probably be stopped too.

“If you can’t do it, tell me now.”

A large hand slowly traced the curve of his ear. After touching the outer rim and stroking the earlobe, he gripped the slender jaw in one hand. Pressing the lower lip with his thumb, he leaned down and warned.

“I’ve been drinking, so…… I can’t stop halfway. You know that, right?”

“…….”

These were clearly words meant to intimidate him. In fact, Woo-yeon’s spirit was half-broken, and his hand twitched. Even though he wasn’t fully undressed, the outline revealed through the clothes was large, menacing, and scary.

‘……No, it goes in the back too.’

But the more someone knows nothing, the easier it is to find courage. In Woo-yeon’s opinion, it was equally burdensome to put it in the front or the back. He had put Do-hyun’s thing in a place narrower than his mouth several times, and he didn’t remember it ever ripping.

Woo-yeon swallowed hard and reached for the waistband. Do-hyun was still observing Woo-yeon with obsessive eyes. After a few clumsy attempts, as he pulled down the pants and underwear at once, the protruding member twitched threateningly.

“…….”

Even though he had touched it and had it inside him before, it felt strangely unfamiliar now. Something so thick, long, and large seemed impossible to fit entirely in his mouth. First, as he carefully wrapped his hand around the shaft, he felt a body temperature so hot it felt like it would burn.

“……Ugh.”

He had simply stroked it up and down, but Do-hyun groaned, the sound vibrating in his throat. Gaining confidence, Woo-yeon rubbed his lips against the member held in both hands. When he stuck out his tongue to lick the sensitive area, the fingers gripping his head tightened.

“Huu……”

Do-hyun’s pupils turned pitch black. Blinking slowly, he touched Woo-yeon’s eyebrows. Woo-yeon thought he would tell him to stop if it was too much, but surprisingly, he even helped him.

“Just take the tip.”

It was similar to when he used to get a cigarette to smoke. The observing gaze meticulously touched Woo-yeon from head to toe. Fragrant pheromones brushed the tip of his nose, and the member before his eyes swelled a bit more. Feeling the surge of pheromones, Woo-yeon opened his mouth and took the glans inside.

“Uuu……”

The smooth tip filled his mouth tightly. He had only put it in a tiny bit, but it was already overwhelming. Ah, it’s too big, way too big…… The moment he thought that, he heard a cracking voice.

“Don’t let your teeth touch……”

“…….”

“Use your tongue.”

Woo-yeon moved obediently as he was told, like a well-behaved child. He opened his mouth wider to ensure his teeth didn’t scratch and rubbed the glans with his tongue. As if praising him, a large hand patted the back of his head.

“Lower your jaw more……”

“…….”

“Use your hands, too.”

Even he thought he was a mess. Saliva leaked from the corners of his mouth, and he had not a shred of knack for this. How on earth did Teacher do this? He was managing to hold it somehow, but at this rate, his jaw would probably dislocate before Do-hyun ejaculated.

“You haven’t even taken half of it.”

Do-hyun seemed to find Woo-yeon simply adorable. The gentle hand was now wiping away the tears that had welled up. Feeling inexplicably wronged, Woo-yeon swallowed the saliva that had gone down his throat while still holding the member.

“…….”

The hand wrapping around the back of his head tightened. With a slightly coercive touch, Do-hyun fixed Woo-yeon’s head in place. Then, rubbing his member against the inside of the mouth, he murmured quietly.

“I told you I can’t stop……”

At the same time, he moved his hips. Woo-yeon’s eyelashes trembled as he looked up, meeting those pitch-black eyes. The moment the clinging tears flowed down his cheeks, the member slammed into the back of his throat.

“Khek……”

It was a depth incomparable to when he had put it in voluntarily. The member, pressing down on the root of his tongue, forced open his throat without giving him room to breathe. Woo-yeon squirmed, but Do-hyun didn’t let him go and released his pheromones.

“It’s okay, breathe.”

Breathe? How am I supposed to breathe like this?

“Uuu……”

“Good boy……”

Despite pushing in mercilessly, his touch was excessively tender. Do-hyun rubbed the back of his head and nape, loosening his grip. Simultaneously, the member slid out slightly, making it easier to breathe than before.

But soon, he slowly entered again, scraping the roof of the mouth.

“……!”

It wasn’t a sudden insertion like before. It was a movement so slow it was almost teasing, allowing Woo-yeon to adapt. As the object smelling of lust entered his mouth, Woo-yeon’s shoulders trembled.

“Lower your tongue……”

The experience of the throat being forced open was not a particularly pleasant sensation. It was clearly difficult even to breathe, but perhaps because of his knack, he didn’t gag. To Woo-yeon, who was making whimpering sounds, a soft command fell.

“You have to suck it.”

“…….”

Reflexively, he tightened his throat. When he pressed his tongue in the mouth where there was no gap, Do-hyun stroked his hair as if praising him. With his other hand, he touched the stiff rabbit ears and slowly moved his hips.

“Uuu, hng……”

It was torture if it was anything. He couldn’t breathe, and tears flowed continuously. Yet, from a certain point, Woo-yeon’s hips began to heave. It was clearly an agonizing act, but every time he touched the tender mucous membrane inside the mouth, the sexual pleasure intensified.

Do-hyun touched Woo-yeon with a hand so careful it felt as if he might break. Since slamming it to the end of the throat earlier, his actions had never become rough again. However, the question he asked, his voice vibrating in his throat, was terrifyingly threatening.

“Can I cum in your mouth?”

“…….”

After hesitating for a moment, Woo-yeon closed his eyes and sucked the member. Just as he had learned from him, he opened his throat to take it deep and tighten around it. When he pursed his lips to keep his teeth from touching, Do-hyun’s eyes twitched.

“…….”

A surge of semen was vomited out. Half went down the back of his throat, and the other half remained in his mouth. Startled, Woo-yeon’s shoulders heaved, but Do-hyun didn’t pull out the member until the ejaculation was finished.

“……Cough!”

Eventually, Woo-yeon choked and hurriedly turned his head. A long string of saliva stretched from the member as it left his mouth. Do-hyun rubbed the wet tip against the clear cheek and licked his lips like a sated lion.

“Uuu……”

He couldn’t tell if the liquid flowing down his jaw was saliva or semen. Thanks to the constant flow of tears, the corners of his eyes were flushed red. The member that touched his cheek left a watery trail, and Woo-yeon let out a dry cough while clutching his throat, which still felt the presence of a foreign object.

Do-hyun carefully reached out to such a Woo-yeon. He wiped the corners of his eyes and cheeks and gripped his jaw to make him look up. Kissing the damp corners of his eyes, he brought his right foot between Woo-yeon’s legs. His hunched shoulders flinched.

“Here……”

“……Hng.”

“Why are you hard?”

The stiffly erect member was pressed under the sole of the foot. It had increased in volume on its own without him realizing it. Woo-yeon shook his head frantically, but Do-hyun didn’t pretend not to know and traced the outline with his foot.

“Don’t, hng, don’t do that……”

Woo-yeon hurriedly grabbed Do-hyun’s leg. Only when he pressed his forehead against the knee with a desperate face did the movement stop. To Woo-yeon, who was letting out ragged breaths, Do-hyun tenderly reached out his hand.

“Come here, Yeon-ah.”

Do-hyun picked Woo-yeon up in his arms and headed for the bedroom. Although it was Do-hyun who had ejaculated, it was Woo-yeon’s legs that had gone weak. As if the cloudy liquid didn’t bother him, he kissed the wet face a couple of times even as he walked.

Carefully laying Woo-yeon on the bed, he crossed his arms and took off his T-shirt. Below the disheveled hair, a straight nape and shoulders were revealed. Woo-yeon unconsciously opened his mouth and scanned the toned upper body.

“…….”

It was a body he had seen many times, but his impression differed every time. The broad shoulders and the finely defined abs were enough to make him admire them instinctively. Even Woo-yeon, who had exercised quite a bit in America, hadn’t achieved such a body; it seemed he was born with a lean, correct physique.

“You can touch me.”

Do-hyun took Woo-yeon’s hand and brought it to his upper body. He felt the moderately firm chest through his palm. As he instinctively curled his hand, the soft skin clung to him.

“It’s all yours.”

The subtle voice felt like it was casting a spell. With a face red as if it would explode, Woo-yeon moved his hand slowly. Passing the chest, he touched the bumpy abs and traced down to the barely revealed iliac crest. The sound of him swallowing was excessively explicit.

“Hyung, really……”

I love you so much…… The rest of the words didn’t come out. It was because his throat tightened due to his heart beating excessively. Watching Woo-yeon touching him with both hands, Do-hyun couldn’t hold back the smile leaking out. Even so, he didn’t forget to steadily strip Woo-yeon’s lower half.

“Ugh.”

Thick fingers entered inside. The knit Woo-yeon was wearing had rolled up, exposing his chest. Do-hyun pressed and widened the narrow inner walls while tracing the upper body with his lips.

“Hng……”

Was it because it had been a long time since they had a relationship? Even though only fingers had entered, he felt like he was going to come. Forgetting the fact that he was still wearing the headband, Woo-yeon rubbed the back of his head against the pillow. The rabbit ears revealed between the messy hair bent awkwardly.

“I didn’t know I had this kind of taste……”

Whispering almost inaudibly, Do-hyun increased the number of fingers. Thanks to being intoxicated by the pheromones, widening the bottom wasn’t that difficult. Normally he would have widened it more, but Do-hyun wasn’t in a very relaxed state either.

“Yeon-ah…… do you want to try it on top?”

“Hng, on top……”

Hazy, unfocused eyes turned toward Do-hyun. Do-hyun got a condom from the nightstand next to the bed and handed it to Woo-yeon. Then, he supported Woo-yeon in his arms and changed their position. Having ended up sitting on top of Do-hyun helplessly, Woo-yeon braced himself with both hands on the chest.

“You know how to put on a condom, right?”

“I know, but……”

Woo-yeon had only seen condoms being used; he had never used one himself. As he peeled off the rustling plastic, the rolled-up rubber was revealed. Woo-yeon stared blankly at the condom and then quite aggressively stripped Do-hyun’s pants.

“Just hold the tip and slide it down from the top.”

As if he had never ejaculated, Do-hyun’s member was menacingly erect. Recalling what he had done, Woo-yeon put the condom on starting from the tip. While he slid his hand from top to bottom, Do-hyun half-raised his upper body and tidied Woo-yeon’s hair. With the touch of taking the headband off and putting it back on, Woo-yeon couldn’t help but realize the existence of the rabbit ears belatedly.

“……Am I still wearing this?”

I really seem like a pervert……

Even though he said it with a bright red nape, it didn’t have much of an impact. Rather, Do-hyun brazenly even touched the bare skin inside Woo-yeon’s knit. Reflexively shrugging his shoulders, Woo-yeon’s thighs trembled.

“I’ll be a pervert just for today.”

It was a way of telling him to keep wearing it. Instead of arguing, Woo-yeon frowned his eyelids and let out a moan. This was because Do-hyun pinched his stiffly erect nipple and gripped his buttock with the other hand.

“Relax……”

In the end, Woo-yeon didn’t receive permission to take off the headband. To be precise, the anticipation for the act to follow blurred his rational thinking. He couldn’t see it anyway, and other things were more urgent now, so there was no time to bicker over something like this.

“Our Woo-yeon is small everywhere.”

The large hand kneaded the soft flesh wildly. At those words, Woo-yeon widened his eyes and glared at Do-hyun. As expected, it wasn’t a threat; Do-hyun slid his middle finger down the buttock crack and pushed it into the wet entrance.

“This is where it goes in. You can do it, right?”

“Hng……”

The middle finger rotated as if indicating the position. The entrance, already loosened and soft, nibbled at the finger. Woo-yeon lifted his trembling thighs to escape Do-hyun’s finger.

“Haa, hng……”

Even before insertion, pre-cum gathered on Woo-yeon’s member. Do-hyun held his own member with one hand and gripped Woo-yeon’s pelvis with the other, aligning the glans with the hole. Holding his breath, Woo-yeon slowly, slowly lowered his position.

“Haa-ugh……”

His shoulders curled round. The hands bracing his upper body twitched, and his stomach sank flat. He tried to insert it several times, pushing down, but the narrow entrance only pushed the glans back out.

“Hng, hng……”

Do-hyun didn’t rush him and quietly watched what he was doing. His entire body was flushed pink, and he breathed raggedly through parted lips. White rabbit ears were perched atop his dark hair, and the loose knit at the nape revealed his prominent collarbones.

“It… it won’t go in…… hng……”

The low, locked voice grew wet. The hole, which had once again taken the tip, stretched to its limit and twitched. Woo-yeon parted his small lips and shook his head.

“I can’t do it…”

It was an object that had felt overwhelming even when Do-hyun put it in. But trying to insert it himself, the pressure and fear were no joke. He felt that if he forced it in, things below would go very, very wrong.

“It won’t go in, Hyung, hic…”

“Why won’t it go in, hm?”

Do-hyun coaxed the whining Woo-yeon, rubbing near his tailbone. He whispered, You can do it, and gripped his pelvis tightly. As Do-hyun pressed firmly downward, Woo-yeon tilted his head back.

“Ha-eu…”

The hole, forced open, barely managed to take the glans. If he could just get past the thickest part, it would be fine, but since his body was stiff as a rock, it wasn’t easy. Left with no choice, Do-hyun stroked the inside of Woo-yeon’s thighs with his palm and firmly gripped the penis before him.

“…!”

In an instant, the strength left his entire body. The moment his weight shifted, the penis that had been hovering at the entrance pushed through the inner walls. At the sensation of being pierced all at once, Woo-yeon widened his eyes and gasped.

“…Ah, ah, it hurts, hng….”

After a short pause, new tear tracks formed on his tear-stained cheeks. Woo-yeon’s round eyes distorted as tears streamed down. With a trembling body, he buried himself deep in Do-hyun’s embrace.

“Hic… it hurts… it hurts, Hyung…”

It wasn’t so much that it truly hurt, but rather that the feeling of his body opening was unfamiliar. It had been so long, and because he wasn’t used to the position, the fact that he was being pierced felt only frightening. Knowing this, Do-hyun held Woo-yeon tightly and softened his voice.

“It’s okay, good boy…”

“Hng, hng…”

It felt just like the day they first had sex. Though they had mixed their bodies incessantly since then, a few weeks of absence had reset everything to zero. The sensation of his insides being filled was too heavy, yet it felt strange that his sensitivity remained so acute.

“I’ll stay still until it feels okay.”

Do-hyun wiped his wet face and kissed both eyelids. Chu. The lips that pulled away then moved toward the lips letting out moans. Their tongues mixed wetly, slowly calming the splashing sorrow.

“Hng…”

Woo-yeon breathed heavily while sprawled on top of Do-hyun. He was still pierced below, and he felt a foreign sensation in his throat. Despite that, he loved the fact that he was touching Do-hyun so much that he rubbed his face against him like he was acting cute.

“Are you okay now?”

“Hic… I’m not okay…”

“I guess you are.”

Every time Do-hyun laughed, the penis inside him vibrated. The pain was gone from the start, and even the slight lingering feeling of being overwhelmed turned into pleasure. The twitching, trembling inner walls were waiting for the stimulation they had grown accustomed to.

“Now try moving, Yeon-ah.”

“…Me?”

“You can do it yourself, right?”

It was like a bolt from the blue. He couldn’t even put it in by himself, so how was he supposed to move? Seeing Woo-yeon’s face turn pale, Do-hyun smiled kindly.

“What if it hurts because I’m the one doing it?”

It was clearly a trick, but the face saying it was far too gentle. The smile that settled softly like sunlight made Woo-yeon place infinite trust in him.

Right. Nothing he had told him to do so far had ever been wrong, so it would be fine if he just did as he was told this time too.

“…….”

With a determined face, Woo-yeon slowly lifted his upper body. As he got into position and lifted his hips, he saw Do-hyun’s brow furrow slightly. Woo-yeon pulled the penis out halfway and sat back down heavily.

“…Hng….”

A tingling pleasure shot up his spine. He had only thrust once, but it was stimulating enough to make his toes curl. Chasing the pleasure, Woo-yeon bounced his hips and sat down again, putting his full weight into it.

“Ha-eut…”

It was a different feeling from when Do-hyun did it. There was a slight sense of emptiness, but the difference was that he could prepare for the coming pleasure. Unlike when he was always intoxicated by ecstasy without pause, he moved toward the climax step by step.

“Hut, hng, nng…”

Woo-yeon forgot that Do-hyun was watching and moved his waist solely by instinct. He would pull out slightly and then shove it in deep, or press and rub against the most sensitive spot. However, still feeling something missing, he gripped the swaying penis with his hand and shook it.

“Hng, it feels good… hng…”

“…….”

The thick pheromones mixed sweetly. Even though he was just shaking it without any real technique, he felt so far gone that he seemed ready to ejaculate at any moment. Moving back and forth while keeping his hips pressed low, the sensation of crushing his insides wasn’t bad.

“Hng-eut…”

It was closer to masturbation than sex. Do-hyun seemed to think so too, as he let out a hollow laugh and grabbed Woo-yeon’s wrists. Woo-yeon, who had been moving well, lifted his eyelids with an aggrieved expression.

“Yeon-ah.”

Woo-yeon’s both wrists were quickly bound. Do-hyun, gripping both wrists with one hand, grabbed his buttocks with the other. It was a grip strong enough to leave deep finger marks.

“I told you to move yourself, I didn’t tell you to use me as a dildo.”

“…Ngh, I didn’t… let go of this…”

“If I let go, are you going to try doing it alone again?”

“…….”

He was just a little more away from the climax, and the lingering regret was indescribable. As Woo-yeon, unable to let go of the desire, shifted his lower body, Do-hyun wrapped an arm around his waist. Then, he thrust hard against the most sensitive part.

“…!”

The pale penis spat out semen. The liquid surged out, splattering across Woo-yeon’s knit sweater and Do-hyun’s chest. A moan escaped his open mouth at a pleasure so intense it made his brain tingle.

“Ha-eu…”

“See, you came alone.”

It wasn’t as if Woo-yeon coming alone was a new occurrence, but Do-hyun pointed it out for no reason. He lifted Woo-yeon’s body slightly and easily stripped off the semen-stained knit.

“We should do it together, right?”

Along with the knit, the headband fell to the floor. Instead of putting it back on, Do-hyun traced the pure white naked body with his fingertips. He passed over the chest without leaving a mark, pinched the small bud, and then caressed the solar plexus, the navel, and the penis that had lost its erection.

“Hut, if you touch there…”

The penis that had just ejaculated raised its head again. Do-hyun massaged the shaft and stroked the wide-open thighs with his palm. Then, without warning, he pierced Woo-yeon deeply.

“…Ah-hut!”

Woo-yeon’s upper body collapsed weakly. His bare skin pressed tightly against Do-hyun’s upper body. Do-hyun hugged Woo-yeon as if to crush him and began to move his waist as much as he had been holding back.

“Ah, hut! Wait, you… you’re too fast… hic…”

Thump, thump, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed obscenely. Woo-yeon, who had been enjoying himself leisurely, couldn’t adapt to the belated stimulation. Seeing him shaking without even being able to hold his body up, Do-hyun supported Woo-yeon’s back and lifted his upper body.

“Ha-eung!”

“…Ha.”

The thick shaft slid inside. The already sensitized inner walls clung tightly from the tip to the root. Do-hyun buried his lips in the pale nape of the neck, lifting Woo-yeon with the strength of his arms before letting him down.

“Ah, ah…”

He wondered why Do-hyun wasn’t leaving marks for once. He was someone who picked only the places that wouldn’t be seen even in summer to leave traces, but now that it had become quite cool, there was no reason to hesitate. Biting from the neck to the collarbone as if grinding teeth, he rubbed his sweat-soaked forehead against the shoulder.

“Hut, slow, slowly… hng…”

Woo-yeon scratched the area with the long lettering tattoo with his fingernails. Since it was a place that was touched when gripped, there were scars carved here and there from previous times. Even though he always kept his nails short, they became useless whenever he couldn’t overcome the pleasure.

“Ah… uugh.”

It seemed the few weeks of abstinence had been grueling for Do-hyun as well. Judging by how he pushed Woo-yeon to the limit as if no matter how much he put it in, it wasn’t enough. Soon, he kissed him urgently and hurried his movements while inserted to the very root.

“…….”

“Ah…”

The moment of reaching the climax was similar for both. As soon as Do-hyun let out a low moan, Woo-yeon also met his second ejaculation. The penis that spat out thin semen rubbed against the firm stomach.

“Haa…”

Do-hyun grabbed the panting Woo-yeon’s chin and kissed him softly. He sucked on the small tongue and playfully bit it. How long did they enjoy the afterglow like that? After teasing him a few more times, Do-hyun pulled his penis out and laid Woo-yeon down straight.

“Yeon-ah, lift your waist.”

“Ah-hut…”

Having changed the condom, Do-hyun started the second round as promised. Woo-yeon did not push him away; instead, he clung tightly to the firm shoulders.

“Hut, hng, ah-heu…”

Until then, Woo-yeon had almost forgotten the fact that Do-hyun had fought with his sibling. That this act started to cheer him up, and that Do-hyun had been distressed to the point of drinking alcohol, which was unlike him.

It was late the next afternoon when Woo-yeon thought of him again.

Ding-dong—

He had slept a deep sleep for the first time in a while. Whether it was because he had used up all his strength the day before or because he was drenched in Do-hyun’s pheromones, by the time he opened his eyes under the cozy blanket, the sun was already high in the sky.

Ding-dong—

“Ugh…”

Woo-yeon groaned, tossing and turning his stiff body. Do-hyun, who had been giving Woo-yeon an arm pillow, patted his back. Normally, he would have been up long ago, but it seemed the past day had been just as exhausting for him.

Ding-dong—

“Hyung… I think someone’s here.”

“It’s okay, there’s no one who would come.”

Do-hyun replied languidly and buried his face by the pillow. The warmth filled with morning sunlight gently called for sleep. As he closed his heavy eyelids, the annoying sound was heard again.

Ding-dong—

“…….”

Inevitably, Do-hyun got up from his spot with a low sigh. The thick blanket slid down, revealing an upper body without a single stitch of clothing. He kissed the forehead of Woo-yeon, who couldn’t even open his eyes, and picked up the clothes on the floor to put them on.

Ding-dong—

“Who on earth is it…”

Click, the sound of the bedroom door closing was heard. Woo-yeon barely opened his eyes to look at the entrance where Do-hyun had left. Not long after, the doorbell rang once more, and the sound of the door lock opening was heard.

“…….”

Should I go out? That thought was brief. The muscle pain hitting his entire body was too intense to get up out of mere curiosity. Woo-yeon hugged the pillow that held Do-hyun’s pheromones and buried himself in the rushing sleepiness.

‘Ah, there… hut.’

‘Here?’

‘Yes, hut, hng…’

Yesterday, the sex that followed immediately was much more relaxed than the first time. Driven by a desire for revenge, Woo-yeon bit Do-hyun’s nape, and Do-hyun let him. After waiting for him to leave marks bit by bit, he suddenly changed and pushed him to the limit.

By the time they finished everything, it was already past noon. Not only Do-hyun’s drunkenness, but also Woo-yeon’s own sorrow from not seeing Do-hyun for a while had flown far away. They had a light meal and repeated the cycle of matching their bodies whenever their eyes met, as if filling each other’s deficiencies.

Having spent such a day, it was no wonder Woo-yeon couldn’t get up. Every time he tossed and turned, a moan escaped, making him think he would be miserably stuck for the next two days. Still, it wasn’t this bad when they did it every day. It was definitely harder because it had been a while.

“…….”

But why… isn’t Teacher coming back?

In a state of drifting in and out of sleep, Woo-yeon slowly lifted his eyelids. He thought he could fall asleep instantly, but it felt empty now that the person who was there was gone. Even soaking up the pheromones on the pillow, the void couldn’t be filled to this extent.

Eventually, Woo-yeon managed his heavy body and decided to go look for Do-hyun. He planned to check who the visitor was, bring Do-hyun back, and go back to sleep. It was already broad daylight, but since it was a day off anyway, it would be okay to be a bit more lazy.

Even when Daniel came, Woo-yeon woke up as soon as he realized the spot next to him was empty. It was because he had grown accustomed to Do-hyun in just a few months, despite having slept alone his whole life. Now, if he went to bed alone, he had to toss and turn for a long time before falling asleep.

‘I really shouldn’t have gotten a house.’

They say you don’t notice when someone arrives, but you notice when they leave. Once he had been tamed by the warm heat, there was no way out. No, even if he could escape, he didn’t actually want to.

“…so….”

“You…”

As he stepped out wearing any random clothes, he heard the sound of murmuring voices. He thought it would be a solicitor at most, but it seemed to be someone important enough to let into the house. Woo-yeon rolled up the sleeves of a t-shirt that wasn’t his and approached the direction of the voices.

“I told you it’s not like that.”

Two figures were visible in the middle of the living room. Woo-yeon blinked at the voice that sounded somewhat troubled. He wondered who it could be that made Teacher, who rarely gets shaken, so flustered.

“What do you mean it’s not? Oppa, this isn’t the first or second time you’ve done this.”

‘…Oppa?’

Woo-yeon stopped awkwardly and looked at them. It was because he realized who the other person was upon hearing the title ‘Oppa’. Should he avoid the situation? In the moment he was contemplating, his eyes met with the person in front of Do-hyun.

“…….”

The eyes without double eyelids widened. The eye shape, which curved downward like water droplets, felt somewhat similar to Do-hyun’s. Not in appearance, but in atmosphere or expression. Unless Do-hyun had two siblings, that person must be ‘Jin-ah’.

“What… if there’s a guest, you should have told me.”

Do-hyun suddenly turned his head. Woo-yeon frowned, not even thinking of avoiding the gaze. It seemed too late to excuse himself from the spot.

“Ah… you’re awake?”

Awkwardness flashed across the neat face. He looked back and forth between Woo-yeon and Jin-ah and winked his left eye. In that utterly awkward silence, Woo-yeon barely managed to start the conversation.

“I wondered who came…”

His voice wasn’t like usual. Since he had spent the whole day crying and moaning, it was no wonder his voice was thin. The object that had filled him up to the end of his throat also played a part, but he had completely forgotten that fact.

“…Please continue your conversation. I’ll go back inside.”

Woo-yeon gave a knowing nod and stepped back. Do-hyun had even drunk alcohol because he fought with his sibling, so he couldn’t interfere with their conversation.

A low voice stopped such a Woo-yeon.

“You don’t have to go back in.”

Jin-ah adjusted his bag and glanced at Woo-yeon. The gaze that scanned from the messy hair to the oversized t-shirt was incredibly burdensome. Woo-yeon awkwardly avoided the gaze, covering his likely mottled nape with his hand.

“I just came because I left something, so I’ll just take that and go.”

Having spoken without much emotion, Jin-ah strode inside. Woo-yeon, who had worried he might enter the bedroom, felt relieved seeing him head toward the guest room in the back. It was the room where Daniel had stayed last time.

“Sorry, I guess you woke up because of me.”

Do-hyun, who had approached unnoticed, tidied up the messy hair. When fixing the clothes, he also stroked the marks left on the nape. Unaware that he himself had heat flowers blooming all over his collarbone.

“No, it’s not really because of Hyung…”

Woo-yeon trailed off ambiguously, glancing at the room Jin-ah had entered. It was his first time seeing a partner’s family, so he didn’t know how to treat them. Moreover, the atmosphere was unusual.

“You said you fought with your sibling. Shouldn’t you make up?”

“…….”

Do-hyun would usually say it’s fine, but this time he just sighed while turning his head. Woo-yeon read the worry on his face and asked with a feeling of doubt.

“…You didn’t fight because of me, right?”

“No.”

He answered immediately, but Woo-yeon couldn’t believe it. As if to reassure him, Do-hyun softened his expression.

“What would there be to fight about because of you?”

“…….”

Indeed, what reason would there be for him to be linked with a sibling he was meeting for the first time today? A lingering uneasiness remained, but he couldn’t ask further.

“Anyway… I’ll leave you two alone, so make up. Hyung, you even drank alcohol yesterday because of that.”

Do-hyun showed hesitation and couldn’t answer easily. At that moment, Jin-ah, who had gone into the room, walked out aggressively. It was a stride full of intimidation that didn’t match his small stature.

“…….”

Jin-ah headed for the entrance without looking back. As a flustered Woo-yeon looked at Do-hyun, he reluctantly called out to Jin-ah. At the call of ‘Jin-ah,’ Jin-ah glanced back.

“What?”

“Wait a second. I’ll drive you.”

“Forget it, I’m not going home.”

“Kim Jin-ah.”

“Ah, what!”

Leaving the raised voices behind, Woo-yeon slowly returned to the room. As soon as he closed the door, the sound of the conversation was completely cut off. No, the sharp question asking what business the older brother had was clearly conveyed even through the gap in the closed door.

‘Why did they fight?’

As far as Woo-yeon knew, Do-hyun wasn’t the type to start trouble. Seeing how he treated his hubaes, it was clear he would be very good to his younger sister as well. Above all, hadn’t he said he was doing his best for his family to adapt to the place where he was adopted?

Filled with curiosity, Woo-yeon opened the closet and took out the clothes he had left behind previously. The outdoor clothes he had worn yesterday were stained with various things and were unwearable. Once he put on a comfortable hoodie and shorts, the marks on the nape of his neck were hidden to some extent.

When he stepped outside again, the two were still bickering in the middle of the living room. To be precise, it was a situation where Jin-ah was angry on her own and Do-hyun was enduring her irritation. Even at a glance, a one-sided fight felt strange for some reason.

“Oppa, every single time…”

Jin-ah, who had been shouting emotionally, bit her lip hard. It was because she locked eyes with Woo-yeon as he stepped out of the room. Looking at her distorted face, Woo-yeon spoke slowly.

“…I think I’ll be going now.”

“….”

“I feel like it might be uncomfortable if I stay.”

He couldn’t stay in the room indefinitely when he didn’t know how long the conversation would last. He planned to go home first and wait for contact from Do-hyun. Seeing Do-hyun remain silent, it seemed he also judged that it was better to let Woo-yeon go.

“See you later.”

Woo-yeon gave a subtle nod of farewell and passed them. He also nodded back to the worried gaze, signaling that he was okay.

“…Ah, so annoying.”

The moment Jin-ah spoke was the exact moment Woo-yeon stepped out the front door. It was also the moment he felt the fresh outdoor air and realized the house had been filled with pheromones. Just as he felt relieved once again that Jin-ah was a Beta, Jin-ah strode forward and gripped Woo-yeon’s arm firmly.

“Kim Jin-ah!”

Startled, Do-hyun raised his voice sharply. However, Jin-ah closed the front door without even looking back. With a loud thud, Woo-yeon’s eyes widened, and his lips parted.

“What is this…”

“….”

Jin-ah dragged Woo-yeon along without a word. Since it was his first time being handled so roughly by someone, Woo-yeon stood before the elevator without even thinking of resisting. In the meantime, Do-hyun, who had followed them, grabbed Woo-yeon’s other arm.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“….”

Do-hyun’s face was pale, showing how flustered he was. Suddenly caught between the siblings, Woo-yeon frowned slightly. Jin-ah pressed the elevator button repeatedly and warned in a low voice.

“Don’t follow us.”

“What?”

Ding— the elevator doors opened. Jin-ah brushed Do-hyun’s hand away and ushered Woo-yeon inside. Since he couldn’t bring himself to use force against Do-hyun’s sister, Woo-yeon obediently moved as Jin-ah told him to.

“If you follow us…”

Blocking the door with determination, Jin-ah looked up at Do-hyun. Her clipped voice sounded quite ominous.

“I’ll tell Mom and Dad about the tattoo on your back, and that you’ve been drinking and smoking since high school.”

“….”

Do-hyun’s face crumpled mercilessly. Woo-yeon found it fascinating that he was showing his emotions this much. He had seen him cry and seen him smile brightly, but this was the first time he’d seen a face that looked like he’d been properly pranked.

“If you understand, move.”

Jin-ah pressed the first floor and then immediately hit the close button. However, instead of backing down obediently, Do-hyun caught the elevator door with his hand. With a clank, the door swooshed open again.

“If you have a complaint, tell me.”

“I don’t have a complaint.”

“You really…”

“Wow, Oppa, you actually know how to get angry.”

Her tone was openly sarcastic. Not stopping there, Jin-ah even glared at Do-hyun defiantly.

“I thought you were just a pushover who couldn’t get angry for the rest of his life.”

“….”

The words that followed, spoken as if chewing them, sounded thorny even to Woo-yeon. Looking at Jin-ah’s wavy hair, Woo-yeon reached a conclusion on his own. He didn’t know exactly what it was, but the conflict between the two might actually be quite deep-rooted.

“…Yeon-ah, get off.”

“Hyung.”

What should he do?

It wasn’t hard to organize his thoughts. Since he had received Do-hyun’s help in all his human relationships so far, he wanted to be of help at least once. And to do that, it seemed it wouldn’t be bad to take a bit of a gamble.

“I’ll contact you.”

He reached out and gently pushed Do-hyun’s hand away. Perhaps not expecting Woo-yeon to act this way, Do-hyun’s face was colored with shock. Not missing the opportunity, Jin-ah pressed the close button, and the elevator doors shut with a thud.

The shabby-looking pork belly restaurant was clean compared to the traces of time on its exterior. Round steel tables, drum-shaped chairs, and smoke vents hanging from the ceiling. Jin-ah handed Woo-yeon an apron provided by the staff as he shifted his hips awkwardly.

“Wear this. Your clothes are white.”

The apron featured a famous soju brand that Woo-yeon recognized. Woo-yeon looked at his white hoodie once, then at the worn piece of fabric, and put the apron around his neck without a word. He didn’t spill food while eating, but oil would likely splatter while grilling meat.

“What do you want to eat? I just brought you here randomly, but you can eat meat, right?”

A moment ago, Jin-ah had abruptly dragged Woo-yeon out and then abruptly put him in a taxi. She didn’t give any explanation, nor was there even an apology. It was only after arriving in front of the shop with the shabby sign that she bluntly asked, ‘Do you drink?’

“Stop looking around. You’ve been acting like this is your first time coming to a place like this.”

“….”

It was his first time, but Woo-yeon didn’t bother to confirm it. He remembered the looks Ga-ram and Seon-kyu had given him when he said it was his first time eating tteokbokki. As he remained silent, Jin-ah made another suggestion.

“I’ll buy, so pick whatever you want to eat.”

“No, you don’t have to buy.”

Anyway, Woo-yeon couldn’t even put smelly pork in his mouth. He wasn’t particularly hungry, nor did he feel like being treated by his partner’s sister. So he refused first, and Jin-ah’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you rich?”

“….”

He was. Very much so.

“Where would a student get the money to refuse a treat?”

Jin-ah, who had no way of knowing Woo-yeon’s circumstances, called the staff with an indifferent expression. She ordered two servings of pork belly and soju, and even took out her ID to verify her age. At her fluid, natural movements, Woo-yeon also presented his ID.

“I’m the one who dragged you here, so I’ll pay. I have plenty of money.”

Again, Woo-yeon didn’t bother to correct the misunderstanding. There was no need to insist he was rich, nor did he have the desire to bicker unnecessarily. He would just stay quiet. As soon as he thought that, an awkward silence descended again.

It was inevitable. They had no common ground, and there was no way they would have a proper topic of conversation having met for the first time today. Since Woo-yeon was shy and quite taciturn even with people he was close to, it was obvious that the conversation wouldn’t start unless Jin-ah spoke first.

However, Jin-ah also just stared at Woo-yeon. A gaze that subtly resembled Do-hyun’s scanned his face intently.

“…Is there something on my face?”

“No.”

He barely managed to ask a question, but it was cut off immediately as if with a knife. Unfortunately, since it was early, Woo-yeon and Jin-ah were the only customers. There was the humming sound of an unknown machine and the sound of a boring drama coming from the TV above. Only after a long silence did the side dishes, soju, and meat arrive.

Without a word, Jin-ah poured soju to fill Woo-yeon’s glass and then filled her own. He thought they might toast, but the clear liquid disappeared into her mouth in one gulp. Woo-yeon just watched Jin-ah’s actions without even thinking of drinking the soju. With a ‘kh,’ Jin-ah’s throat bobbed, and she picked up the tongs to start grilling the meat.

“Why did you follow me out?”

“…What?”

Sizzle— the pork belly sizzled on the heated grill. The skill with which she placed the meat and added garlic and kimchi suggested she had grilled meat more than once or twice. Jin-ah filled her glass with the hand holding the tongs and clinked the tongs together.

“I asked why you followed me out. It’s strange that you just obediently followed a stranger who suddenly dragged you away.”

Actually, this was something Woo-yeon should have asked Jin-ah. ‘Why did you take me out?’ He could have asked that, but Woo-yeon answered directly without taking the long way around.

“Because I was curious why you two fought.”

He didn’t know how to beat around the bush to subtly get what he wanted. Nor did he want to engage in a power struggle with Do-hyun’s sister.

“I was also curious where you were dragging me.”

“Ah, you’re quite curious.”

Jin-ah flipped the pork belly. The golden-brown surface looked appetizing even to Woo-yeon. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to eat it because it would smell like pig as soon as it entered his mouth.

“First… there’s no particular reason why I dragged you out. I heard you were Oppa’s lover, so I wanted to talk to you. And…”

The words that followed seemed important, but Jin-ah just trailed off. After cutting the meat with scissors and arranging it neatly, she downed a shot of soju.

“…Do you want me to tell you why we fought?”

Woo-yeon nodded while pretending to be expressionless. Just hearing that would make following her worth it. He didn’t want to interfere in someone else’s family history, but since Jin-ah had brought it up, it must be something she was okay with sharing.

“First, the superficial reason is… I saw Oppa’s phone. A message that said, ‘I miss you, Hyung.’”

“….”

And she said it was nothing.

Woo-yeon knew better than anyone who had sent that message. Jin-ah flipped the meat again as if it were no big deal.

“I wondered if it was a lover, so I asked a few things to tease him, and Oppa suddenly snatched the phone away and got angry. You can eat the ones that are cooked.”

“…Hyung got angry?”

“Yes. Or more accurately, was it irritation?”

He couldn’t imagine it at all. The Do-hyun Woo-yeon knew was not a person who would get angry over something like that. He might dislike others looking at his phone, but he wouldn’t say something so harsh that his sister would get upset and go home.

“But the funny thing is, he got angry himself and then apologized himself.”

“Then why did you fight?”

“Because the apologizing was annoying.”

Once again, he couldn’t understand. Seeing Woo-yeon’s bewildered expression, Jin-ah furrowed her brow.

“You don’t understand, do you?”

“No.”

“Wow, usually people say ‘no’ out of politeness in times like this.”

Jin-ah chuckled and downed another glass of alcohol. She took a handful of meat with the tongs and pushed some toward Woo-yeon.

“Oppa doesn’t usually get angry.”

Jin-ah smiled bitterly and put new meat on the grill. She urged him to eat before it burned, so Woo-yeon reluctantly took a piece of meat. As he clumsily made a wrap, Jin-ah lowered the heat.

“He’s never raised his voice at me in my life. Even if I wake him up from sleep, or interfere with his studying, or even if I break something and pin it on him, he just says it’s okay and ends it with a smile.”

He was a brother that others would call ideal. Jin-ah seemed to think so too, as she blurted out in a light tone.

“He seems like a really great brother, right?”

This time, Woo-yeon couldn’t answer easily. The image of a gently smiling Do-hyun came to mind. A teacher who doesn’t get angry and just says everything is okay. That was less ‘great’ and more…

“Actually, he’s just drawing a line.”

“….”

“And stupidly, nobody knows it.”

Even when tutoring Woo-yeon, Do-hyun had always been kind and gentle. While Woo-yeon didn’t do things to make him angry, there was definitely an intended kindness. That was something he only vaguely felt now that it had all passed.

“Honestly, I did it on purpose. I know Oppa is sensitive about his private life. He’s never shown his friends, the person he’s dating, or family, so it was obvious he’d be unpleasant if I showed interest. Sure enough, he got angry saying it’s none of my business…”

She frowned slightly. Chewing the meat aggressively, she swallowed the food along with the soju. Thud, the soju glass she put down made a heavy sound.

“And then he apologized again. With a face that clearly said ‘Oops’.”

Actually, it was hard to understand just by hearing it. What exactly is wrong with getting angry and then apologizing? Woo-yeon was about to ask that but swallowed the question. It was because Jin-ah continued immediately.

“You can’t know this unless you experience it. It’s not that he’s yielding; he’s just giving up. It’s not that he has a good personality; he just hates the hassle. Because getting angry, being irritated, and fighting are things you can only do with people inside your line.”

“….”

Woo-yeon had already had a similar experience once. Hadn’t Kang Jun-seong been met with a consistent lack of reaction whenever he picked a fight? He had maintained an attitude of ‘You bark, I’ll leave,’ because even the energy to deal with him was a waste.

“Do you know what I think whenever Oppa does that?”

Their gazes met in the air. It was the same look he had seen when she fought with Do-hyun. Jin-ah gave a light snort and muttered as if chewing the words.

“Wow, he really acts like a stranger.”

“….”

He instinctively thought that Do-hyun must have heard these words last night as well. If they had simply fought, there was no way he would have drunk all night and called him from the early morning. He felt he could roughly understand why Do-hyun hadn’t felt good.

“That’s why we fought. That’s why I left Oppa behind. Though I didn’t expect him to call his lover and hang out immediately.”

As soon as Jin-ah finished speaking, she ate the meat aggressively. It didn’t look delicious; it was merely venting her anger. Woo-yeon quietly placed the wrap he was holding onto his plate.

“Did you say that to Hyung too?”

“Say what?”

“That he acts like a stranger.”

“Ah.”

The answer was vague, but it was also an affirmation. Woo-yeon looked down at the ruined wrap and chewed the inside of his cheek.

‘Did something happen with your sister?’

‘We fought.’

The things he wanted to say grew like a snowball. However, the clumsily gathered snowball crumbled before it could take a proper shape. Whether it was something he was allowed to say, or something he shouldn’t say. He couldn’t gauge such things at all.

“…Don’t you know why Hyung draws a line?”

At the sudden question, Jin-ah made a puzzled expression. She probably didn’t expect him to ask this. Reading the ‘Could it be?’ curiosity in her gaze, Woo-yeon spoke in a calm voice.

“I heard he was adopted.”

Do-hyun had previously explained his family situation to Woo-yeon. Things like what his relationship with his parents was like, and how he got along with his sister. Woo-yeon couldn’t perfectly empathize with the situation, but he could guess to some extent why Do-hyun was so quick-witted.

“I’m not Do-hyun Hyung, so I don’t know for sure, but…”

Various emotions tangled inside him. The face of Do-hyun he had seen last as they parted came to mind as clearly as if it were drawn.

So he chose his words. He picked and chose them carefully, fearing that a single word of his might cross the line.

“If I heard that I act like a stranger, I think I’d be heartbroken rather than angry.”

But after saying this much, something surged up inside him.

“Because he really is a stranger.”

“….”

“Only Hyung is.”

He shouldn’t have added the last part. Woo-yeon thought that only after seeing Jin-ah’s expression. However, since spilled water cannot be gathered back, he looked down, pretending to be as calm as possible.

“Anyway, you… no, the sister is a biological child, so if I were Hyung, I don’t think I’d feel good hearing those words.”

The weight of words spoken by a real one to a fake one, and words spoken by a fake one to a real one, is fundamentally different. Especially if Do-hyun considers himself an outsider.

“Hyung drank all night that night.”

“….”

“It must be because he was heartbroken.”

Jin-ah fell silent with a face that looked as if she had been splashed with filth. The juices of the meat on the grill rose appetizingly. Jin-ah, who flipped the meat mechanically, spoke softly.

“He’s not a stranger.”

It was a firm statement. Or it sounded like a vow.

“You don’t have to share blood to be family.”

Woo-yeon deeply empathized with that. There are cases where people don’t feel like family even if they share blood, so how could the fence of family be classified only by blood ties?

“Don’t talk like that.”

Despite her words, it was Jin-ah who looked as if she had made a mistake. She seemed to have realized only now what impact his words might have had on Do-hyun. Woo-yeon apologized, saying he was sorry if she felt bad, and awkwardly turned his head.

For a while, no conversation passed between them. Jin-ah moved her chopsticks in silence, and Woo-yeon, without touching either the meat or the alcohol, pictured Do-hyun who would be at home. He felt a belated regret that he should have pushed him away and not come.

“…There was an incident like that once.”

When the soju bottle hit bottom, Jin-ah tentatively broached the subject. Despite having finished a bottle on her own, her complexion remained unchanged.

“I went to visit Oppa at school, and he was with a friend. Do you happen to know who? A girl who’s really tall and looks a bit scary.”

From the description alone, it was Ga-ram. Jin-ah let out a small chuckle, as if she wasn’t particularly expecting an answer.

“Anyway, the face Oppa was making while getting annoyed at his friend back then…”

Her droplet-like eyes drooped melancholily. It was incomparable to the times she had glared fiercely at Do-hyun. Letting out a self-deprecating sigh, Jin-ah tapped her side plate with her chopsticks.

“Even though he was being blunt, he looked more comfortable than when he’s with family.”

“…….”

“Once I saw that, I started noticing the difference. The expression he shows us, and the expression he makes when he’s actually happy.”

Woo-yeon was someone who reacted more sensitively to that difference than anyone. To the point where he could tell it was fake even if Do-hyun smiled with just a hint of pretense. Thus, he fully understood the sense of deprivation Jin-ah must have felt.

“It wasn’t just a matter of friends being different from family. It was a fundamental problem. Oppa is still uncomfortable with us. He hasn’t been able to accept us as family.”

Jin-ah was speaking about the disappointment she felt toward Do-hyun. Regardless of her own slip of the tongue, it was a fact that Do-hyun treated her like a stranger. It seemed she simply couldn’t accept that subtle distance.

“It’s not like I’m asking for much.”

Without a word, Woo-yeon picked up the soju bottle and ordered another. As soon as the server brought the bottle, Jin-ah popped the cap and filled her glass.

“Just small things. If it’s a hassle for me to come home, just say it’s a hassle. If there’s something to discuss at home, discuss it. If he needs to meet a lover, just say he’s going without walking on eggshells.”

It’s not like I’m throwing a tantrum telling him not to meet anyone. Woo-yeon had a response to her grumbling addition.

“He said his sister would be waiting at home.”

“Ah, of course I’d wait. Because I’m bored! But would I really tell him to cancel a date and come home? That’s something I only did in elementary school.”

Did she really do that in elementary school? Woo-yeon started to ask but decided against it.

“Oppa tries too hard to be perfect. Going to a foreign language high school, going to his current university—none of it was his own opinion. He just goes ‘yes, yes’ to whatever our parents tell him to do. But annoyingly, there’s nothing he can’t do, so our parents end up scolding me instead…”

He remembered hearing from Do-hyun once. That the reason Jin-ah fought with their parents was related to him. Likely, Jin-ah had been compared to Do-hyun again, leading her to leave home and end up at Do-hyun’s place.

“You heard earlier, right? Oppa has a tattoo on his back. He’s been drinking and smoking since high school. All that ‘good boy’ act at home is just a facade; if you think about it the other way, it makes me wonder how suffocating home must be for him to act like that outside.”

Woo-yeon was surprised by how much Jin-ah worried about Do-hyun. While it was surprising that she knew about his delinquency, he hadn’t expected her to guess the reason behind it. And quite accurately, at that.

“I don’t know why he walks on eggshells so much. Why does he keep acting like someone who’s about to leave? He’s clearly family, he’s my brother, but I know his inner thoughts less than I know the neighbor’s dog.”

At the mention of the neighbor’s dog, Woo-yeon couldn’t help but laugh a little. Ridiculously, it was because he couldn’t deny it. A dog at least wags its tail, but Do-hyun just stood there smiling quietly.

“Oppa isn’t like that with you, is he?”

Unlike Woo-yeon, who had been pondering how to address her, Jin-ah had no hesitation in calling him ‘you’ (geu-jjok). Of course, Woo-yeon replied without minding at all.

“He was like that with me, too.”

Jin-ah’s eyes widened. Her thick eyelashes curled upward. Thinking that she was a person with a very diverse range of expressions, Woo-yeon fiddled with his soju glass.

“Hyung didn’t tell me a single thing about himself.”

Whenever there was something he didn’t want to say, Do-hyun would gloss over it with an impeccably sweet smile. To avoid upsetting Woo-yeon, he would talk in circles, showing only the outer shell.

“We were clearly dating, but I didn’t even know what he was thinking. What he was worried about, what made him anxious, what on earth he was hiding from me.”

“…….”

“I even started thinking that I was the only one who liked him.”

It was a relationship spent solely on reading the other’s mood. He liked Do-hyun, but he was so afraid of being hated in return that he couldn’t even attempt to find out, pushing past an inexplicable feeling of unease. In the end, the emotional part was just a worry, but their relationship had been ruined beyond repair.

“And then we broke up.”

Jin-ah’s mouth fell open. She seemed not to have known they had broken up, trailing off with, “No, how did you get back together…?”

“Right after the breakup, it felt like the world was collapsing…”

At that time, Woo-yeon was certain he could never trust Do-hyun again. Hating himself for being anxious even while liking him, he thought running away was the best option for now. He believed that whatever Do-hyun said was nothing more than sweet talk.

“Once the disappointment faded, curiosity set in.”

“What kind of curiosity?”

“Why didn’t he say a single word to me?”

“…….”

“Did I not give him enough trust? Was I only that much to Hyung?”

These were the things Woo-yeon had thought about all night under his covers after returning to his parents’ house. The resentment toward Do-hyun was brief, and the arrow soon turned toward himself. Of course, his selfish mind ultimately shifted the weight of the guilt more toward the other person.

“There’s something Hyung told me when he apologized to me back then.”

So Oppa caught him first. Jin-ah seemed surprised only by that fact. It was evident from the way she murmured with a stunned face. Instead of reacting, Woo-yeon recalled the words Do-hyun had spoken.

‘Yeon-ah, I…’

He wondered if it was okay to say this. Even if they were lovers, he worried if he was interfering too much in family affairs.

Nevertheless, Woo-yeon hoped his meddling would be the catalyst for clearing up the misunderstanding. If Do-hyun were to drink alone in loneliness again, he felt that even those embarrassing rabbit ears wouldn’t be enough to comfort him this time. He didn’t want Do-hyun, who had been his salvation, to fall into a piercing loneliness.

“Hyung said he was just scared.”

Yeon-ah, I was just always scared. That one sentence still occasionally echoed in his ears. The thinly trembling voice was the raw form of Do-hyun’s fear.

“He said he didn’t want to be abandoned.”

“…….”

Jin-ah’s eyes shook violently. She had clearly remembered something at the mention of being abandoned. Jin-ah couldn’t possibly be unaware of the fact that Do-hyun had been abandoned in front of an orphanage.

“Because he didn’t want to ruin the relationship, he was more cautious, and he tried harder to show only his best side.”

“…….”

“I don’t think I could ever do something like that.”

Understanding is not based entirely on reason and thought. There were countless cases where the heart didn’t follow, no matter how much the head accepted it.

“How hard must it have been for him.”

That’s why he realized it later. The fact that Do-hyun must have been more exhausted and lonely than anyone else.

“Every single day must have been a struggle.”

Do-hyun was only fourteen when he was adopted. When he became Woo-yeon’s tutor, he was twenty, the same age Woo-yeon was now. No matter when he thought of him, he seemed so young; how hard must he have worked to be adult-like?

“He’s not acting like a stranger.”

Woo-yeon murmured and looked at Jin-ah. Jin-ah, with her hand on the soju glass, was looking at Woo-yeon without even drinking. Her blank gaze somehow looked dazed.

“He’s scared of becoming a stranger.”

Her front teeth gnawed at her tightly closed lips. After crushing her lips enough to leave teeth marks, Jin-ah turned her head and drank. Woo-yeon watched her without filling her glass or turning his gaze away.

Jin-ah drank two more glasses of soju, ate some soybean paste soup, and then put down her spoon.

“……I know.”

A voice like a sigh settled on the table. The meat on the grill had already burnt black.

“Actually, I understand it all in my head. I’m just disappointed.”

The latter part sounded extremely self-deprecating. Jin-ah, who had been smiling bitterly while talking about Do-hyun, now spoke with a truly lifeless face.

“The fact that Oppa is like that is partly our parents’ fault too…”

“Your parents?”

“They’re a bit… They have a lot of money, but they’re also greedy, so they attract the wrong kind of people. Bringing Oppa here was also… no, forget it.”

Woo-yeon unintentionally wore a surprised expression. It was because it was hard to believe that Jin-ah knew that too. Seeing how she interpreted that expression, Jin-ah let out a hollow laugh.

“I guess Oppa has no secrets from you.”

“…….”

Feeling awkward, he tried to drink water, but oil was floating on the surface. When Woo-yeon quietly put the cup down, Jin-ah had the server bring a new cup.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

Jin-ah casually cleared away the burnt meat and put up the last remaining strip. Since Woo-yeon hadn’t eaten a single bite, it meant Jin-ah was handling two portions alone. Jin-ah likely knew this, but she didn’t bother urging him to eat.

“When I was young, I thought our parents did a good thing. I liked having a brother, and I thought it would be great if he earned a lot of money too.”

Pausing for a moment, Jin-ah sighed. “But now that I’m older, it’s strange,” she added, her voice tinged with irritation.

“Sometimes it gives me the creeps to think that if it weren’t for Oppa, I would have grown up the same way.”

Woo-yeon recalled his memory of meeting Do-hyun when he was in the third year of middle school. In a space that was entirely suffocating, he was the only existence that allowed Woo-yeon to breathe. If it hadn’t been for Teacher, Woo-yeon wouldn’t have reached his current stable state.

“I’m telling you this so you don’t misunderstand, but our parents do cherish Oppa. To put it bluntly, how could they hate a son who does everything so well? That’s why those stingy people bought him a car and an apartment.”

He habitually fiddled with the watch on his wrist. The product, far too expensive for a student to buy, was a gift Do-hyun had given him for his birthday.

‘Well, I guess it’s the price for being a good son.’

There are many ways to express affection, and sometimes those methods fail to contain complete love. Generally, people tend to give the form of affection they want to give, rather than the form the other person wants to receive.

“What do you like about Oppa?”

Jin-ah asked Woo-yeon abruptly. Woo-yeon couldn’t answer immediately and his cheeks twitched.

“……Why so suddenly?”

“I’ve been curious for a while. Usually, people like him for his money and face, so I wondered if you were the same.”

While he could deny the former, he couldn’t deny the latter, so Woo-yeon averted his gaze ambiguously. He tried to act as calm as possible, but his ears were already flushed red.

“Just…… everything.”

“Eh, there’s no such thing. Then tell me exactly three strengths.”

Jin-ah held up three fingers. She firmly added, “Excluding money and face.” Since he had no intention of mentioning money in the first place, Woo-yeon rolled his eyes and parted his lips.

“He’s kind.”

It was a safe reason. Jin-ah nodded in great agreement.

“Oppa is kind.”

“He’s also sweet…”

“Pass on that. Being kind and being sweet are the same thing. Let’s combine those into ‘personality’.”

One finger folded. Looking at the extended index and middle fingers, Woo-yeon instinctively thought of Do-hyun’s face.

“The way he smiles…”

Do-hyun was the man who smiled the most beautifully of anyone he knew. When he folded his eyes gently and smiled brightly, he sparkled so much that Woo-yeon sometimes wondered if he was hallucinating.

“The way he smiles?”

“……Because it’s pretty.”

Woo-yeon answered in a trailing voice and took a sip of water. It was to cool down his flushed face, but it didn’t seem to have much effect. Jin-ah, who he thought would immediately nitpick that it was ‘face,’ folded another finger without a word.

“And the last one?”

What should he say for the last one? A safe answer would be his voice, but he didn’t want to focus Do-hyun’s good points only on external aspects. Because the reason he liked him wasn’t simply for those reasons.

“Hmm……”

Woo-yeon slowly reflected on the days he spent with Do-hyun. Their first meeting during the time he couldn’t adapt to school, the sweet words he spoke to him, and the various sides he showed after entering university.

To say it was simply because of the specificity of the situation, Do-hyun was too precious a presence to him. Without a doubt, no matter when or where he had met him, Woo-yeon would have fallen deeply for the person named Kim Do-hyun. The reason for that emotion was something too vast to be called a single element.

“……I can’t pick.”

“Wow, are you rubbing it in right now?”

Jin-ah shuddered her shoulders, but she didn’t seem to intend to pry further. She simply picked up her chopsticks with her open hand and took a piece of well-cooked meat. After chewing and swallowing the meat, she winked.

“I thought pheromones or something would come out. You are an Omega, right?”

Winking with the left eye was one of Do-hyun’s long-time habits. The sister is the same. As Woo-yeon drank water thinking this, Jin-ah spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“I guess you didn’t just like each other for your faces.”

“……How can someone like a person based only on looks?”

“Why? It’s possible. I like people based only on their faces.”

Jin-ah replied confidently and pointed at Woo-yeon with her chopsticks. At the sudden pointing, Woo-yeon blinked blankly.

“You’re very handsome too. I think you’re the second most handsome person I’ve ever seen. Ah, the first isn’t Oppa, so please keep this a secret.”

“Yes, well……”

He nodded slowly. He was curious who the first was, but not enough to actually ask. Jin-ah ate one more piece of meat and poured the remaining soju into her water cup.

“But Oppa must really like you. He has such strong pride, yet he apologized first after the breakup.”

“I heard that proud person apologizes to his sister every time.”

“…….”

It was a look of being caught off guard. Jin-ah, who lightly bit the tip of her tongue, gulped down the alcohol in the water cup. Thud, the motion of putting it down was rough.

“Drinking like that…”

“By the way, how old are you?”

Woo-yeon swallowed the words telling her to drink moderately and looked at Jin-ah. Shaking her head, Jin-ah tilted her chin.

“Twenty? Twenty-one? I saw your ID earlier, so you’re not a high schooler.”

“……I’m twenty.”

“Wow, really? We’re the same age.”

Her grinning face looked innocent. Only then did Woo-yeon realize why she looked like Do-hyun.

“Is your name Yeon? What’s your surname?”

“I’m Seon Woo-yeon. Surname Seon, name Woo-yeon.”

“Yeon is a nickname then. Your name is pretty.”

Every single one of Jin-ah’s expressions resembled Do-hyun. The smiling face, the way her eyes narrowed when frowning, and even the way she quickly took care of Woo-yeon. As if proving they grew up in the same house, their small habits were similar.

“I am……”

“I know, Kim Jin-ah.”

“Right. You called me Kim Jin-ah, Kim Jin-ah, so many times earlier.”

They were definitely family. A sister and a brother. Even to Woo-yeon, the bond they shared seemed stronger than the one between him and Soo-hyang.

“Drop the formalities. It’s weird using honorifics when we’re the same age.”

Jin-ah said this and held out a soju glass. It was the first time she had suggested a toast during this gathering. Without a word, Woo-yeon raised his glass and clinked it cheerfully against Jin-ah’s.

After that, they had a proper drinking session, pouring drinks for each other. Woo-yeon, who couldn’t even touch the meat at first, began to eat little by little as Jin-ah picked out the right cuts and grilled them for him. He ended up laughing awkwardly at her playful grumbling that he had a ‘high-class palate.’

“My major really doesn’t suit me. I’m thinking of retaking the entrance exam. But then my parents would scold me again…”

Jin-ah said she was on a leave of absence as soon as the first semester of university ended. She added that she didn’t want to stay at home because her parents scolded her, telling her to be even half as good as her brother. Woo-yeon had no siblings, but he knew how painful it was to have someone to be compared to.

“Ah, right. Do you know what the tattoo on Oppa’s back means?”

Now quite flushed from the alcohol, Jin-ah lowered her voice secretly. Woo-yeon held the soju glass with both hands and slowly shook his head. With half-closed eyes, Jin-ah playfully parted her lips.

“That is……”

As the weather entered autumn, a chilly wind blew at night. While people still wore short sleeves during the day, it felt cold without an outer garment once the sun set.

Woo-yeon put one hand in his hoodie pocket and brought his phone to his ear. The ringing signal, drrrr, cut off shortly after.

“Hello?”

—…….

He waited for a long time, but no answer came from the other end. Noisy sounds drifted out from the shop behind him. Woo-yeon pulled the phone away from his ear to confirm the call hadn’t been disconnected and tapped the ground with the toe of his shoe.

“Hyung, please come pick me up.”

―…….

“I’m at the pork belly place at that intersection…”

―…….

“……You’ll come, right?”

A low sigh was heard. Woo-yeon swallowed his apology and counted the cigarette butts on the ground. One, two, three. Just as he reached four, a gentle voice came through the phone.

―It’s cold, so wait inside the shop.

The call ended immediately, leaving Woo-yeon unable to respond as he put his phone away. The sky, where a sliver of a crescent moon hung, was thick with clouds. Even in this situation, he worried about him being cold, despite knowing exactly what he was wearing.

‘This is why I love him.’

His kindness had a sweetness that almost made the inside of Woo-yeon’s mouth ache. Already fond of sweet things, once Woo-yeon became addicted to it, it was difficult to break free. Not that he had any intention of doing so, anyway.

Instead of going inside, Woo-yeon stood beside the shop and waited for Do-hyun. He was worried about Jin-ah, whom he had left inside, but she was slumped over and out cold, so she should be fine.

He looked at the sky, checked on Jin-ah through the glass door, and hopped around occasionally to shake off the smell. After about ten minutes of waiting, a familiar car parked on the roadside next to the alley.

“…….”

Do-hyun stepped out of the car and looked at Woo-yeon expressionlessly. His steady stride seemed a bit hurried. Woo-yeon waited for him to draw closer before breaking into a beaming smile.

“Hyung……”

“…….”

“I missed you.”

He opened his arms and hugged Do-hyun around the waist. Despite telling him to stay inside because it was cold, Do-hyun himself was wearing a short-sleeved shirt without even a coat. As Woo-yeon rubbed his face against the thin t-shirt, Do-hyun’s characteristic pheromones wafted fragrantly.

“Haa….”

Do-hyun let out a small sigh and hugged Woo-yeon tightly. Resting his chin on the crown of Woo-yeon’s head, he reached his hand under the hoodie’s cap and rubbed gently. The warmth from the large hand put his heart at ease.

“You smell like meat.”

“I know.”

“You know, huh.”

That same tender voice was now laced with worry. The thumping of his heart seemed a bit faster than usual. Do-hyun gave Woo-yeon one firm squeeze before pulling him away from his chest.

“Where’s Jin-ah?”

“She’s inside.”

“Go wait in the car.”

Handing over the car keys, Do-hyun walked into the shop. Woo-yeon approached the parked car and climbed into the passenger seat. Before long, he saw Do-hyun walking back, supporting Jin-ah.

With a click, the door opened and Do-hyun laid Jin-ah down in the back seat. He didn’t say a word until he had walked around the car and climbed into the driver’s seat. He simply fastened Woo-yeon’s seatbelt and silently started the engine.

“…….”

“…….”

A heavy silence lingered in the car all the way home. Woo-yeon fidgeted with his seatbelt and turned his head to check the back seat. Jin-ah, completely wasted, was sleeping very comfortably.

“……Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

Do-hyun answered in a blunt voice. Usually, even a single word was gentle, but right now, a cold wind was blowing. Woo-yeon rolled his eyes and asked tentatively.

“Are you angry?”

“…….”

It took quite a while for an answer to return. Tapping the steering wheel, Do-hyun’s lips parted slightly. “A little.” Even that response sounded stiff.

“Can… can’t we talk while looking at each other?”

“I’m driving.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, his perception of his surroundings was sluggish. He wasn’t drunk, but it was true that he felt a bit lightheaded. As Woo-yeon lowered his head with a sullen expression, another sigh was heard.

“……I just thought my anger would fade if I saw your face.”

His voice was much softer than before. Relieved by this, Woo-yeon leaned his head against the car window. Looking at him, Do-hyun looked polished and wonderful even from the side.

“I’m sorry for making you angry.”

Do-hyun’s chest rose and fell slowly. He seemed to be regulating his breath to control his anger. Checking the back seat through the rearview mirror, Do-hyun tentatively spoke.

“Then tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“Exactly what you’re sorry for, and how.”

Woo-yeon made a troubled face, like someone facing a legendary conundrum. Drooping the corners of his eyes, he worked hard to organize his thoughts. He had to speak well now to soothe Do-hyun’s anger.

“I’m sorry for going without listening to you……”

“…….”

“And for meddling in your family history on my own……”

“…….”

“……And for asking you to pick me up even though you were angry?”

As he spent a long time reading Do-hyun’s mood, Do-hyun let out a short chuckle. Stopping the car at a red light, he reached out toward Woo-yeon. The hand that approached interlaced fingers with his left hand before returning to the wheel.

“You’re wrong about all of them.”

Do-hyun spoke nonchalantly, even adding that the last one was something to be praised for. As he sighed, he looked as if he were feeling relieved. After some thought, Woo-yeon guessed one more reason.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“…….”

Fortunately, this time it seemed to be the right answer. His expressionless, stiff face softened as if he couldn’t help it. Do-hyun sighed once more and continued in that same soft, measured voice.

“If you were going to go, you should have contacted me.”

“…….”

“I didn’t know where you were or what you were doing all day, and you weren’t answering your phone, and the sun was setting, and it was getting dark outside……”

He glanced at Woo-yeon. It was only for a brief moment, but Woo-yeon knew that he had been checking his complexion.

“You’re probably not feeling well, so why are you wandering around like that?”

“…….”

His face flushed instantly. The only reason Woo-yeon’s body would be “not feeling well” was because of their sexual encounter. In fact, the shop’s chairs had been uncomfortable, and his lower back had been aching all day.

“From now on, at least tell me where you are. It’s not like you don’t have a way to contact me.”

“Yes…… I’m sorry.”

His voice came out weak. Woo-yeon fidgeted with his earlobe and turned his head toward the window. The scenery flashing by was very familiar. They were heading to Do-hyun’s house, not Woo-yeon’s.

Was he planning to let Jin-ah sleep over too? While he was thinking this, Do-hyun entered the apartment complex. Then, in the middle of parking, he suddenly frowned.

“Ah, out of habit……”

A large hand swept across his face. Do-hyun let out a deep sigh and looked at Jin-ah in the back. He had likely forgotten about Jin-ah and brought them home as usual.

“I’ll take a taxi home.”

“……It’s dangerous at night.”

Do-hyun finished parking and shifted the gear to P. As Woo-yeon tried to get out of the car, Do-hyun spoke first.

“Kim Jin-ah, stop pretending to be drunk and go up. The passcode is 0626.”

“…….”

Naturally, the already asleep Jin-ah did not answer. Seeing her consistent silence, Do-hyun sighed again. If the ground could be pierced by the sighs he let out, they would have reached the other side of the Earth by today.

“Kim Jin-ah.”

“…….”

“Hyung, how is a drunk person supposed to wake up just because you say so?”

As Woo-yeon spoke calmly, Do-hyun’s eyes twisted. He looked back and forth between Woo-yeon and Jin-ah, his lips parting as if to speak. Eventually, having organized his thoughts, Do-hyun unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car first.

“I’ll take her up. Wait here. Lock the car doors.”

“I’m really okay……”

“You said you were sorry for making me worry, Yeon-ah.”

“…….”

His ability to leave someone speechless was truly top-tier. Without effort, Do-hyun carried Jin-ah and disappeared into the apartment. Woo-yeon obediently locked the car doors and leaned back comfortably against the seat.

‘I wish Oppa could be a bit more comfortable at home.’

The words Jin-ah had said kept echoing in his mind. The image of Do-hyun drinking all night and feeling upset followed vividly.

Thanks to Do-hyun, Woo-yeon had pulled out a thorn that had been embedded for a long time. The wound hadn’t fully healed yet, but it was almost closed. Now, even when he was in the same space as Soo-hyang, he didn’t feel as suffocated as before.

‘I wish the same for Hyung……’

He knew how greedy such a thought was. If Do-hyun drew a line and told him not to interfere, he was ready to step back willingly. Since he was more immature and knew less, he wasn’t even sure if he could be of any help.

‘Still……’

Despite that, Woo-yeon worried about Do-hyun. The voice that said he had had parents twice, unlike others, felt excessively bitter. He didn’t know the coziness a family provides, but because he didn’t know it, he wanted Do-hyun to have it even more.

Knock, knock.

Do-hyun, who had returned before he knew it, tapped on the driver’s side window. Woo-yeon unlocked it and nodded to him. Do-hyun climbed back into the car and fastened his seatbelt.

“We’re going to the officetel, right?”

The car started smoothly and headed toward the officetel along a familiar route. Since Do-hyun always acted as Woo-yeon’s driver, there was no need for a navigation system. Woo-yeon leaned his head against the seatbelt and spoke playfully.

“Siblings are exactly the same when it comes to fighting and drinking.”

“Well…… everyone is like that.”

Do-hyun didn’t particularly deny the reason for drinking. That was so like Do-hyun that Woo-yeon barely managed to pull down the corners of his mouth. He was about to discuss something important; he couldn’t just giggle.

“I heard why you fought.”

As expected, Woo-yeon didn’t know how to beat around the bush. As he brought up the subject abruptly, Do-hyun glanced at him.

“Why get angry about her looking at your phone when she was going to apologize anyway? In the end, you’re the one who drank all night, Hyung.”

Woo-yeon understood the dislike for interference in one’s private life. He too had felt suffocated when Soo-hyang monitored his every move. However, the reason Do-hyun got angry at Jin-ah seemed to be of a different nature.

“I didn’t get angry because she looked at my phone.”

Do-hyun corrected Woo-yeon’s misunderstanding in a gentle tone. Then, he added a barely audible remark.

“I got angry because she was asking this and that about you.”

“Is that not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but……”

Trailing off, Do-hyun turned the steering wheel. No matter when he saw him, Teacher looked truly sophisticated while driving.

“It would be troublesome if my parents found out about you through her. I told them I’m seeing someone, but I didn’t say that person is the heir to Selection Group.”

“…….”

“My parents are… quite interested in Selection.”

Do-hyun frowned with a troubled expression. Recalling the reason for his adoption, Woo-yeon parted his lips. I’m okay. Just as he was about to say that, Do-hyun was faster.

“I hate it.”

The voice was so firm that the words he intended to say flew far away. To Woo-yeon, who was blinking blankly, Do-hyun spoke in a serious tone.

“I hate the idea of my parents treating you with other intentions, and I hate that you take it so lightly. Human relationships shouldn’t become a purpose or a means.”

He was likely worried that his relationship with Woo-yeon would be used as a business tool. Even if it were impossible to be used, such a gaze might be unwelcome.

“Actually, I didn’t need to be like that with Jin-ah; I was just being a bit sensitive.”

Adding that his nerves were on edge, Do-hyun moved his eyebrows awkwardly. The next sentence that followed was embarrassing even for Woo-yeon to hear.

“I was sexually frustrated.”

“…….”

“It’s been too long since I could touch you.”

Heat began to rush to his face. Do-hyun didn’t usually speak so directly, so he was clearly still grumpy. That’s why he was lowering his voice softly, knowing Woo-yeon would be embarrassed.

“Anyway…… that’s just the reason. I was sharp, and Jin-ah was just teasing me as usual.”

“…….”

“The problem is how my apologizing first appeared to her.”

Woo-yeon’s eyes widened. Surprisingly, Do-hyun had accurately pierced through the reason why Jin-ah was angry. It was as if he understood Jin-ah as well as she understood him.

“You heard it from Jin-ah, didn’t you? The reason she’s angry at me.”

Do-hyun asked in a casual tone and turned on the turn signal. One more turn here, and the entrance to Woo-yeon’s officetel would appear.

“……You knew too?”

“I’ve known Jin-ah for years; of course I know that much.”

With a short laugh, Do-hyun closed and opened his eyes. His neat eyelashes seemed to tremble for some reason.

“Yeon-ah.”

Woo-yeon didn’t know why the gaze fixed straight ahead felt so desolate. He only gripped the seatbelt tightly upon hearing the words that followed.

“I still remember the people who gave birth to me.”

Do-hyun had been abandoned in front of an orphanage at the age of eight. Eight was an age where one could vaguely remember their early childhood.

“It’s awkward to say it myself, but I’ve been smart since I was young. So, as soon as those people left me, I realized immediately. ‘Ah, they’re never coming back.’”

A bitter smile hung on his lips. Woo-yeon listened to Do-hyun’s story without being able to say a word.

“I still don’t know why they abandoned me. Only after I grew up did I vaguely guess it might have been for financial reasons.”

The light from the underground parking entrance seeped inside. Even in the darkness, the expression Do-hyun wore was etched strongly into his mind.

“It’s not that I have trauma. I was adopted into a good home, I’m dating a good person, and I don’t think there’s anything lacking in myself.”

Various emotions mixed in his dark pupils. It looked like his usual confident gaze, yet also like the fragile gaze he had shown before. Beyond that, Woo-yeon discovered a small, anxious emotion.

“Still, I’m cautious sometimes.”

“…….”

“After all, I’m not their biological child.”

Woo-yeon felt his mind go blank, as if he had been hit in the back of the head. He knew the reason for the anxiety, but hearing it directly from his mouth felt different. Whether it was pity, worry, or shame for having presumed too hastily. Swallowing all of that, Woo-yeon spoke about something he had felt all day.

“……I noticed that Jin-ah resembles you a lot.”

Do-hyun looked puzzled. After parking in an empty spot, he didn’t get out but looked at Woo-yeon. Facing him, Woo-yeon counted on his fingers the things Jin-ah resembled him in.

“The way she smiles, her habit of frowning, the way she takes care of others while eating—the small things are like that.”

“…….”

“A younger sibling is a younger sibling, after all. I don’t know how many times I thought that today.”

Do-hyun tilted his head slightly. Warmth filled his eyes, as if he found Woo-yeon’s effort to comfort him cute. Keeping eye contact, Woo-yeon calmly repeated the words Jin-ah had said.

“You don’t have to be related by blood to be family. It’s not like that’s the only way to open your heart.”

He knew it was a cliché expression. But Woo-yeon was someone who knew the meaninglessness of blood relations better than anyone.

“If you put it that way, we’re strangers too, yet here we are meeting like this.”

Do-hyun’s expression changed subtly. He looked blank with surprise for a moment, then let out a breathy laugh. When Woo-yeon looked at him curiously, his eyes curved softly.

“No…… I just didn’t expect to receive advice about human relationships from you.”

“……Am I not allowed to do that?”

“I mean I like it.”

A pleasant pheromone drifted softly. A large hand gently caressed Woo-yeon’s cheek. Habitually, Woo-yeon rubbed his face like a small animal.

“You must have become quite close. Seeing as you call her Jin-ah.”

Fortunately, Do-hyun wasn’t angry at Woo-yeon’s meddling. Seeing the softened gaze, Woo-yeon held Do-hyun’s hand with both of his.

“I hope there’s nothing that makes you feel anxious, Hyung.”

His heart beat irregularly. It was the first time he was confessing the things he had always been thinking to Do-hyun.

“I survived my middle school years thanks to Teacher. And now, thanks to your help, I’ve escaped my home without having to cut ties with my mother.”

It was an abrupt statement. Instead of answering, Do-hyun simply nodded.

“Now I know that not all Alphas in the world are bad, and I know that someone worries about me.”

“…….”

“You’re the one who taught me all of that, Hyung.”

Do-hyun’s eyes narrowed. The two eyes curved as if smiling, but it was actually closer to suppressing emotion than smiling. Woo-yeon kissed Do-hyun’s hand, looking up at him with only his eyes.

“If Teacher hadn’t taught me…… if you hadn’t told me, I would have known nothing until now.”

There may be a reason for not speaking, but if it isn’t said in words, nothing can be known. This was something Do-hyun had told Woo-yeon many times, and it was something Woo-yeon had felt about him many times.

“Try talking it over with your family.”

“…….”

“I hope you do.”

Do-hyun caressed Woo-yeon’s cheek for a long while. He traced his skin as if handling something precious, his fingers dancing along the curve of the ear. When Woo-yeon’s eyelids trembled from the ticklish touch, a gentle voice drifted over.

“I’m not such a fool that I’d lose someone precious to the same mistake.”

Suddenly, Woo-yeon regretted not telling Jin-ah that Do-hyun’s voice was lovely. The softly whispering tone made him feel utterly sweet.

“I intended to resolve it through conversation eventually. I just didn’t know when that would be.”

The swirling emotions slowly settled behind his eyes. Woo-yeon realized a moment too late that what he was feeling was being moved.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“…….”

“Thank you for worrying about me, Yeon-ah.”

He kissed Woo-yeon’s cheek and then followed it with a soft peck on the lips. As if the brief warmth was not enough, he lingered on the lips again for a longer moment. Before the kiss grew too long, Do-hyun pulled away and spoke with their foreheads touching.

“I’ll try talking to Jin-ah when I get home today.”

“Do it tomorrow. Jin-ah is drunk.”

“Well… I guess that works too.”

Do-hyun laughed playfully and rubbed both of Woo-yeon’s cheeks. Kneading them as if they were clay, he peppered them with kisses. Then, pulling Woo-yeon into his embrace, he whispered sweetly.

“I love you.”

Woo-yeon felt his face turn bright red and gripped Do-hyun’s collar. A heartbeat—he didn’t know whose—thumped loudly around them. The weight of ‘I love you’ as opposed to ‘I like you’ was so overwhelming it made his eyes sting.

“I… too…”

The rest of the words came out as small as an ant’s voice. Fortunately, Do-hyun seemed to understand everything, as a laugh scattered around the crown of Woo-yeon’s head. Only after holding him like that for a long time did he carefully release Woo-yeon from his arms.

“Go inside. I’ll contact you.”

If he held on any longer, it was certain he wouldn’t want to let Do-hyun go. Woo-yeon obediently got out of the car and waved through the window. The softly smiling face tickled the area around his chest.

‘I don’t want to part.’

Even after getting into the elevator, that was all Woo-yeon could think about. He wished they could go up here together every day; such greed constantly circled in his mind. It was a night where Do-hyun’s absence felt exceptionally large.

Time passed quickly. That day, Do-hyun, upon returning home, mentioned for some reason that he would be staying at his parents’ house for a while. Woo-yeon hadn’t heard the detailed story, but he figured it out roughly when Do-hyun returned home carrying a lot of expensive clothes. No matter what anyone said, the mature Teacher had surely handled everything perfectly without needing to be worried about.

“Are you contacting Jin-ah again?”

Woo-yeon, who had been lounging at Do-hyun’s house today as well, was finally able to check his phone after being thoroughly tormented by him. As expected, messages from Jin-ah filled the lock screen.

“You two really hit it off since you’re the same age.”

After eating grilled pork belly together, Jin-ah sent messages to Woo-yeon at all hours. At first, she pestered him, asking if he had spoken to her brother, but after a few days, she sent plenty of gifticons, saying she was grateful and sorry. Do-hyun had a strange expression upon learning they had exchanged numbers, but he ended up chuckling when told that this was his first friend of the same age since Seon-kyu.

“Jin-ah keeps saying she wants Hyung’s house.”

“This apartment? She’s always begging me to give it to her anyway.”

Jin-ah lived with the desire to live on her own constantly on her lips. It seemed her parents gave her nothing, as she was constantly eyeing Do-hyun’s apartment. When asked why, she said her mother was furious because she had taken a leave of absence on her own whim.

“I’m saying this because he’s not here, but don’t get too close to Jin-ah. It’s not because of Selection Group or anything, but you’re exactly the type of look Jin-ah likes.”

Do-hyun pushed himself up from the bed and stretched his stiff shoulders. Woo-yeon, who had just put down his phone, looked at the broad back. The finely knit muscles were wide and firm.

“She told me I’m the second most handsome person she’s ever seen.”

“Ah… did she say who the first one is?”

First of all, Do-hyun had said it wasn’t him. Woo-yeon didn’t say that. He simply asked suggestively if he knew who it was. Do-hyun let out a few chuckles and lifted Woo-yeon up suddenly.

“The Management God.”

“Ah…”

Had he been called the Teaching Assistant’s lover? He had only seen him once, but the fact that he was a dazzling beauty remained in his memory. Setting aside the fact that he was an Alpha, he was certainly a handsome man.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen the Teaching Assistant Hyung at school lately.”

“Yun-woo Hyung?”

Do-hyun habitually carried Woo-yeon toward the bathroom. Thanks to his preparation, the bathtub was filled with warm water. Entering the tub while holding Woo-yeon, Do-hyun replied nonchalantly that Yun-woo Hyung had graduated last August.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know?”

“No… it was during break, so…”

Now that he thought about it, he felt like he had heard something similar. He just hadn’t been interested, so it had gone in one ear and out the other.

“You even went to the graduation celebration drinks, so what’s with that? Then again, the person himself didn’t even show up.”

Woo-yeon felt unnecessarily embarrassed and snuggled deep into Do-hyun’s arms. The warm water splashed, reaching up to his shoulders. Because they were hugging face-to-face, the shoulder blades were right in front of his eyes.

‘A tattoo…’

He absentmindedly toyed with the Latin words visible before him. Because Woo-yeon had scratched him plenty today, there were scratches here and there. Resting his chin on Do-hyun’s shoulder, Woo-yeon murmured in a small voice.

“I have a large penis.”

“…….”

Do-hyun’s shoulders stiffened. It seemed the meaning Jin-ah had told him was exactly correct. Woo-yeon asked the still-frozen Do-hyun softly.

“How could you get such a scandalous tattoo?”

“……Hmm.”

After a short pause, Do-hyun embraced Woo-yeon. After stroking his lean back, he slowly lay back against the tub. Something heavy brushed beneath his hips.

“Well… it’s not a lie.”

It seemed he decided to be brazen since he’d been caught. Woo-yeon gave up on teasing him and leaned comfortably into his embrace. His whole body relaxed languidly, and his eyelids kept closing.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah, what is it?”

It was just one word, but it felt full of sweet affection. The softly sunken voice was fluffy and ticklish.

“Do you want to live with me?”

His tone was light, like asking, ‘Do you want to eat together?’ Perhaps because of that, instead of reacting immediately, Do-hyun’s hand paused for a moment on Woo-yeon’s back. Nuzzling deeper into the embrace, Woo-yeon spoke in a drowsy voice.

“You could come to my house… or I could come here…”

“…….”

“But I wish you’d just give this house to Jin-ah and we could move to an officetel.”

It was something Do-hyun had once suggested. He remembered the voice that had whispered tenderly, saying he wanted to create a sanctuary for Woo-yeon. But now, Woo-yeon wanted to suggest it to him.

“I’m not saying we do it right now, so think about it.”

Actually, he had already received a vague permission from Soo-hyang. The only variable Woo-yeon hadn’t anticipated was the normal response asking if moving in together wasn’t a bit too early. Well, regardless, he had managed to get the answer that since the house was his, he could do whatever he wanted with it.

“I can’t sleep when Hyung isn’t here…”

Woo-yeon wrapped his arms around Do-hyun’s back and rubbed his hair against the nape of his neck. Damp hair clung to the area around the neck. Do-hyun flinched his shoulder, as if the sensation was ticklish.

“…….”

No, it seemed it wasn’t ticklish.

“……Why is this getting bigger?”

Do-hyun didn’t answer the question and tilted his head back. His exposed Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Looking at the pheromones wafting about, it seemed he was trying to calm his excitement somehow.

“You can’t take those words back.”

The words that barely escaped were full of suppressed emotion. Stroking Woo-yeon’s back, he kissed the crown of his head.

“Our Woo-yeon… it would be a disaster if he couldn’t sleep…”

“…….”

“I guess I’ll have to just give the apartment to Jin-ah; this won’t do.”

It was a playful remark, but it was more sufficient than ten answers. Unable to overcome the surging emotions, Woo-yeon brought his lips to Do-hyun’s ear. After a peck, he whispered something small, and Do-hyun hugged Woo-yeon tightly.

“How did you come to me…”

It was an honest reaction, as if pouring out all his heart. Woo-yeon, blushing like someone receiving a confession for the first time, burrowed into Do-hyun’s embrace. Holding such a Woo-yeon, Do-hyun whispered over and over, and over again.

That he, too, loved him very much today.

Alpha Trauma Side Story

―End.