By Zephyria 
“You’ve never been here before, right?”
“Uh-huh…”
Seo Yi-kyung started to say something but let his voice trail off.
Seon-yu, who was walking ahead, pointed toward a spot.
“The atmosphere over there is great, so it’s a good place to drink.”
“Is it?”
Seo Yi-kyung gave a light nod in agreement. The manager approached Jin Seon-yu and offered a greeting.
“Welcome. We have already prepared a table for you.”
Seo Yi-kyung stared blankly at the manager. His attitude suggested that he had known they were coming. Perhaps it was because Jin Seon-yu visited so frequently.
Following the manager’s lead, Seo Yi-kyung ascended to the pavilion with Jin Seon-yu. The spacious pavilion was made of dark wood, giving it a heavy, solid feel. He recalled a scene from the original novel where Alphas gathered here. As he did, the silhouettes of boisterous people seemed to flicker before his eyes.
Seo Yi-kyung’s bangs fluttered in the wind. Perhaps because they had climbed higher, the breeze felt refreshing.
“I will have everything ready shortly.”
Jin Seon-yu gestured toward the manager.
“Gyu-ho came yesterday too, right?”
The manager, who had been walking away, snapped into a formal posture. He replied with a smile, as if this were a routine request.
“Of course. If I recall correctly, he sat over here.”
The manager pointed out a specific spot, and Jin Seon-yu scurried over to sit there. Watching this, the manager smiled and trotted back down the stairs. Although a small commotion had occurred here the previous day, it was insignificant compared to the revenue they earned from those people.
Walking to the opposite side, Seo Yi-kyung slowly folded his knees to sit. There was a chair to lean his back against, making it comfortable. Furthermore, the surroundings were quiet. Because of that, the sound of Jin Seon-yu humming was even more audible.
Even at this wide table, he sat skewed to one side. To be precise, he was in the exact spot the manager had mentioned Ham Gyu-ho had occupied.
“Ah, how great would it be if I had been born an Alpha. I could join the gatherings, sit next to Gyu-ho, and drink.”
Jin Seon-yu tapped the wooden table before shaking his head.
“No. If that were the case, I’d have to watch Gyu-ho marry someone else. I can’t stand the sight of that, so this is better.”
A staff member came by and set down tea. Soon after, the manager and the chef personally came up to place food on the table. Jin Seon-yu also ordered alcohol. The manager recommended a wine that would pair well with the meal, but Jin Seon-yu firmly declined. He requested whatever Gyu-ho had been drinking.
Jin Seon-yu gripped the fork and knife, cut a large piece of meat, and stuffed it into his mouth. Seo Yi-kyung moved his fork but stopped. He felt a twinge of pain because the nail of his left index finger was slightly lifted. Ultimately, he relaxed his grip and slowly trimmed the edge of the food to eat. From the scent hitting his nose to the way his mouth watered, the taste was indeed superb, just as Jin Seon-yu had said.
Even the golden-brown roasted vegetables were savory and melted on the tip of his tongue. Jin Seon-yu placed a glass in front of Seo Yi-kyung and filled it.
It was a drink that didn’t pair well with the food at all, but Jin Seon-yu didn’t care. Just as Seo Yi-kyung was about to taste the strong liquor while holding the glass—which was only about the size of a finger joint—
“Where is Seon-yu?”
“He is upstairs. You’ve arrived at the perfect time.”
As the voice of someone continuing a conversation with the manager echoed, Jin Seon-yu dropped his glass. The tilted glass spilled all its contents and rolled away. Jin Seon-yu, whose complexion had turned pale compared to a moment ago, pulled up one knee.
“Yi-kyung.”
“…?”
“Run.”
Jin Seon-yu bolted upright. Seo Yi-kyung, slower than him, set down his fork. He couldn’t even manage to stand up.
However, there was only one set of stairs leading up to the pavilion. Jin Tae-won, guided by the manager, ascended from there.
“Hyung…”
With a gloomy face and lowered eyebrows, Jin Seon-yu hesitated in front of the stairs that were now completely blocked.
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Jin Tae-won, who had fully revealed himself. A deep smile was etched onto his cold features. It seemed that this was what made Jin Seon-yu even more terrified.
“I came thinking I’d grab a bite too. What a coincidence that we meet.”
“…”
Jin Seon-yu’s resentful gaze landed on the manager. The Jin Tae-won that Jin Seon-yu knew would have certainly contacted this place before coming. If so, he should have told him that his brother was coming. Had he done that, Seon-yu would have left this place without looking back.
In fact, the previous day, Jin Tae-won had made a reservation while leaving, mentioning that Seon-yu would visit. And just as he said, Seon-yu had indeed come. The manager had committed no crime other than welcoming him gladly.
Jin Tae-won acted as if he had known Jin Seon-yu would be the first to run here. He told the manager to bring the same food and casually looked straight ahead.
“I will prepare your meal shortly.”
The manager disappeared quickly. Jin Tae-won pulled a cigarette from his inner pocket, lit it with a Zippo lighter, and exhaled a long breath. The scent of tobacco carried by the wind drifted over to where Seo Yi-kyung was sitting.
Just as he thought the smell felt somewhat familiar—
“Shall we talk while eating something you like? Or shall we talk while I drag you down?”
It seemed like there were two options, but in reality, there was no significant difference.
“Ah… I’ll sit.”
Jin Seon-yu hurriedly turned around and returned to his original spot. As he sat down, he stared at Seo Yi-kyung with a blurred expression. Until then, Seo Yi-kyung had simply been watching.
Jin Tae-won, moving his steps, looked at the liquor bottle next to Seon-yu. He took a deep drag of his cigarette and spoke bitter words. He then slowly took in the sight of Seo Yi-kyung, who was sitting opposite Jin Seon-yu. Seo Yi-kyung had tried to stand up following Seon-yu, but he hadn’t even managed to lift his leg.
“Wait, could you step away for a moment? This is a family matter.”
When Seo Yi-kyung looked at Jin Seon-yu, the latter lifted his head.
“No. If Yi-kyung leaves, I’m going to jump from here.”
“…”
His life wouldn’t be in danger, but he could certainly break a leg. Jin Tae-won crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. Immediately after, he put another new cigarette in his mouth. Then, he shifted his gaze to look at the head-bowed Jin Seon-yu.
“Give it up.”
Jin Seon-yu’s hands curled. In the ‘Omega’s World,’ the words of Alphas were mostly absolute. He seemed to quickly grasp the meaning behind Jin Tae-won’s words.
“I don’t want to.”
Jin Seon-yu’s connection with Seo Yi-kyung had been severed when he transferred schools as a child. Because of that, the original novel did not describe in detail how Jin Seon-yu had lived. However, with two Alphas above him, Jin Seon-yu’s heart couldn’t have been at peace. Seo Yi-kyung could guess that. Even though Jin Tae-won was an Alpha who cherished the Omega, Jin Seon-yu.
And he could guess why Jin Tae-won was saying this. Jin Tae-won likely knew that Ham Gyu-ho had absolutely no feelings for Jin Seon-yu. Yet, he was avoiding saying those crucial words. He probably didn’t want him to be hurt.
Even as he watched Jin Seon-yu stubbornly argue, Jin Tae-won maintained the same gaze throughout.
“It’s always whatever Hyung wants. I told you I like Gyu-ho.”
“Stop talking nonsense and just come home.”
“I’m not going!”
The manager, who was coming up with the food, paused. This was because Jin Tae-won, with the cigarette still in his mouth, had grabbed Jin Seon-yu by the throat. It looked as if he intended to drag him away just like that.
Seo Yi-kyung spoke.
“Home.”
Jin Tae-won’s gaze remained fixed on Jin Seon-yu. Nevertheless, Seo Yi-kyung leaned on the table to try and stand up to stop him. A sharp pain shot through his left finger.
“Seon-yu has his things here.”
“Throw them away.”
Jin Seon-yu couldn’t even speak because his throat was gripped tightly. His parted lips trembled. Even breathing seemed difficult.
“They seemed quite important. Then I’ll just give them to Seung-jae.”
Whether he reacted to Seo Yi-kyung’s words or the person he mentioned, Jin Tae-won’s head turned.
Seo Yi-kyung added with a calm face.
“Is that alright?”
Jin Tae-won released his grip on Seon-yu’s throat.
“Cough…”
Seon-yu hunched his upper body and rubbed his neck. Coughing repeatedly, Seon-yu looked at Seo Yi-kyung with eyes half-filled with tears.
“Follow me before I drag you down.”
As Jin Tae-won stood up, Jin Seon-yu walked behind him. Seo Yi-kyung hurried down the stairs.
“I know where Director Han’s house is. Go ahead.”
Jin Tae-won roughly grabbed Jin Seon-yu’s shoulder and forced him into his Bentley.
Seo Yi-kyung sat alone in the car he had arrived in. It stung. He looked down at his finger. Blood was seeping from the lifted index nail. He then slowly lifted his head and watched Jin Tae-won’s car following him through the rearview mirror.
Perhaps Jin Seon-yu knew as well. The fact that Ham Gyu-ho had no feelings for him at all.
Was it lingering attachment or faith that made him unable to let go?
* * *
Before they knew it, the surroundings had grown dim. Stepping out of the sedan, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head. The headlights of the car that followed shone brightly.
Seon-yu stepped out. He looked completely defeated, regardless of what he had been told on the way here.
As Seo Yi-kyung opened the door and entered first, Jin Tae-won’s voice echoed behind him.
“Don’t make a scene, and come out immediately.”
“…”
Jin Seon-yu followed behind Seo Yi-kyung with his head hanging low.
As Jin Tae-won pulled a cigarette from his inner pocket, his secretary lit it for him. Jin Tae-won exhaled a deep breath.
“Hyung.”
Behind the Bentley Jin Tae-won was leaning on, another car approached. The person who stepped out of it was Jin Seok-young.
The handprints from where Jin Tae-won had hit him the previous day were still clearly visible on Jin Seok-young’s cheek and neck. Compared to that, there were no marks on Seon-yu’s neck. He had stopped at just scaring him.
“Get out, quickly.”
However, Jin Seok-young was not alone.
“…”
He stepped out of the car while gripping Ham Gyu-ho by the collar. One side of his face was covered in a deep blue bruise.