By Zephyria 
A strаight fingеr pointеd to the tор shеlf. Strаwbеrrу, kiwi, and graре. Тhe voiсe reciting thе cоntents оf the bоttles wаs sоft аnd gentle. Dо-hyun thеn pointed tо the shelf belоw and spokе in a flаt tоne.
“That brighter orаnge one оvеr thеrе is оrange.”
Wоo-уеon starеd аt Do-hyun with wide eуes. Не knew things that еvеn Wоо-уeоn, thе homеowner, didn’t know, and he did so nоnchalаntly. While Wоo-yeоn’s lips рarted аnd сlosed silеntly, Do-hуun held thе rеfrigerаtоr doоr аnd loоkеd dоwn.
“Don’t yоu nоt eаt саrrоts?”
“How… did you know?”
The drinks were made by an employee who squeezed the juice personally. No sugar or other processed additives were used, and herbs or vegetables were occasionally mixed in. Naturally, they weren’t sold commercially.
Do-hyun blinked as if it were no big deal.
“If we’ve eaten together, I’d know that much.”
“…….”
The memory of eating hamburger steak together came back to him. Do-hyun must have remembered him picking at the flower-shaped carrots used as a garnish. ‘No, that’s not it.’ Starting with those words, Woo-yeon pushed a glass bottle in front of Do-hyun.
“The fact that these are for sale—”
In an instant, the look in his eyes changed. Feeling a bad premonition, Woo-yeon hurriedly cut himself off.
“That’s right.”
“……What?”
Do-hyun asked back with an absurd look. Right on cue, the refrigerator, which had been open for a long time, emitted a beeping warning sound. Woo-yeon quickly closed the door and stood with his back to the refrigerator.
“They are for sale, but… nothing is written on them. How did you know what flavor they were?”
“The drinks?”
Woo-yeon nodded. Do-hyun looked at the glass bottle in Woo-yeon’s hand and answered lightly.
“I’ve had them before.”
Cold sweat ran down Woo-yeon’s spine. As soon as he heard those words, memories surfaced one by one. Since he had been served a glass every time during tutoring, it was obvious where he had tasted the drinks.
“I guess… they were the same product.”
Woo-yeon replied calmly and opened the refrigerator again. Glass bottles identical to the one in his hand were lined up. As he took out the strawberry, kiwi, and grape ones, Do-hyun took the bottles from him.
“I see. They said it was homemade, so I guess they make them to sell.”
What Woo-yeon had barely managed to hold in both hands, Do-hyun held two in each hand. He placed the drinks on the island table and added in a light voice.
“There are a lot of things like this these days.”
‘That was close.’
However, in Woo-yeon’s memory, Do-hyun had drunk the beverage from a cup during tutoring. This would be his first time seeing them in glass bottles, so it was surprising that he recognized them as the same kind at a glance. He probably had a keen eye, or perhaps he mistook them for something similar (the former was more likely).
“And usually, you can tell just by the color.”
His face showed no suspicion at all. Only then did Woo-yeon, completely relieved, look through the cupboards here and there. Do-hyun stood leaning against the table, waiting for Woo-yeon.
“What are you looking for?”
“Cups. It’s a bit awkward to give them as they are.”
“What does it matter? I’m sure they’ll drink fine straight from the bottle.”
“Still, they’re guests.”
“Guests are…”
He heard a murmur that sounded like ‘unwelcome visitors.’ Woo-yeon didn’t bother to respond and opened the upper cupboard. Glass cups were neatly placed in a position that his hand could barely reach.
Woo-yeon started to reach out but stopped and looked back at Do-hyun. He had felt it when Do-hyun wore a coat, but now that his clothing was thinner, his straight body line was more apparent. Do-hyun looked at Woo-yeon with clear eyes and tilted his head to the side.
“Want me to get them?”
In truth, he had looked at him to ask for help. For some reason, it felt very embarrassing to show himself struggling while standing on his tiptoes. However, as soon as he saw Do-hyun’s face, all the thoughts that had occurred to him evaporated.
“I’ll get them.”
Why was he so handsome even when just standing still? Perhaps because he was wearing a soft cardigan, Woo-yeon felt that he would smell good if he got closer. He felt as if Do-hyun’s characteristic fabric softener scent was tickling the tip of his nose.
Woo-yeon shook his head a couple of times and reached for the cupboard. As expected, the height was awkward, and the bottom of the glass barely touched his fingertips. ‘Ah, if only I were 3cm taller.’ As soon as that thought crossed his mind, the glass at the very front tipped over.
“……!”
Startled, Woo-yeon flinched back. It was because the falling cup was heading straight for his face. The hand that had tried to catch the glass brushed through the air, and he squeezed his eyes shut in panic.
He was certain he would hear the sound of breaking glass. A transparent glass cup could never survive a fall from this height. His eyelids trembled, and the back of his neck grew chillingly cold. Woo-yeon took a deep breath and waited for the ensuing crash.
“…….”
However, even after a long while, no sound was heard around him. Nothing hit his face, and glass shards didn’t fly mercilessly. Just as Woo-yeon felt something was strange and slowly opened his eyes a sliver.
“Whenever I look at you…”
A familiar voice began softly. A faint pheromone was also felt from a very close distance. Beyond his brightening vision, he saw someone catching the glass.
“…I can’t take my eyes off you.”
Do-hyun was reaching out from behind, as if enveloping Woo-yeon. Perhaps he was also surprised, as a slight amount of pheromone leaked out. With a thin sigh, he lowered his head and met Woo-yeon’s wide eyes.
“Are you okay?”
Woo-yeon’s chest heaved as he stared with wide eyes. The dry Alpha pheromone lit a fire in Woo-yeon’s stomach. It felt as if his own pheromones would pour out indiscriminately if he didn’t hold his breath.
“I’m o…”
He was not okay at all. His heart pounded and his head rang. A hazy, erotic sensation spread from his throat down to below his navel.
“I’m okay……”
He managed to answer, but even that came out pathetically cracked. He wasn’t thirsty, yet thirst rose every time he opened his mouth. Woo-yeon blinked with a bright red face, exhaling shallow breaths repeatedly.
“Be careful.”
Do-hyun quickly increased the distance between himself and Woo-yeon. He placed the glass on the table and took out three more from the cupboard. Unlike Woo-yeon, who had struggled using all his limbs, it was a very effortless action.
“……Thank you.”
No matter how much he tried to suppress his pheromones, he couldn’t stop them from creeping out. His face felt so hot it might explode, and he felt that staying like this would definitely be dangerous. Hurriedly covering his ears, Woo-yeon turned his back to Do-hyun.
“Uh, that… I, I really need to use the bathroom…”
Do-hyun didn’t even have time to answer. Woo-yeon hurriedly rushed past Do-hyun toward the bedroom, as if afraid someone would catch him. There was a bathroom in the living room area as well, but he didn’t have the confidence to pass by where Ga-ram and Seon-kyu were.
Click. As soon as the bedroom door closed, Woo-yeon slid down to the floor. As he buried his face in his knees, the sound of his heartbeat grew loud. Thump, thump—a violent pounding like a drum echoed through his entire body.
“Ugh……”
He had felt this feeling a long time ago. Back when Do-hyun was his tutor, Woo-yeon had been fluttered by the smallest things. It happened when their eyes accidentally met, and likewise when their fingertips happened to touch. He was so shy even to look at his face that he had wished he didn’t like him.
And yet, he was going through the same process again. Woo-yeon took a deep breath with his hand on his chest. He told himself over and over that he shouldn’t do this, but once his heart had opened, it quickly began to rattle.
“……I’m screwed.”
Pheromones that squeezed through his emotions filled the room in undulating waves. No matter how he thought about it, this time was truly dangerous.
* * *
Woo-yeon was fundamentally the type of person who didn’t trust people easily. As was typical for those who possessed wealth, his mother showed the typical traits of the ruling class, and those around him were only people with black intentions. Since similar patterns appeared wherever he went, Woo-yeon’s world grew increasingly narrow.
The first step Woo-yeon took into society was middle school. Entering school for the first time in 14 years, he enjoyed his freedom with a small amount of expectation. However, the space called school was not as easy as he had thought.
In just one month, Woo-yeon was ostracized. It was only two years after that when he met Do-hyun, and they parted ways in the span of a single semester change. The connection that passed by in the blink of an eye became the catalyst for him to learn how to trust others.
In a way, it was an irresistible force. Teacher was kind, gentle, and looked after Woo-yeon without wanting anything in return. Even if those actions stemmed from a sense of duty, the result was salvation. How could he not have loved Do-hyun?
The emotions that seeped in gradually became an ebb only after they had completely soaked Woo-yeon. Although he was no longer submerged up to his neck, it took time to dry his soaked body. If he let his guard down for a moment, it was certain he would fall into a fever instantly.
“You changed your clothes?”
“Yeah, I was uncomfortable.”
Woo-yeon came out of the room after a long time. By the time he had gathered the pheromones he had released and finished washing his face, quite a bit of time had already passed. The three of them were studying with their heads together, and Woo-yeon joined them to prepare for the quiz on Friday.
Before long, twilight began to fall outside the window. It was a time when it wouldn’t be strange to have dinner, but Woo-yeon didn’t have the skill to suggest a meal without feeling burdened. Naturally, they stood up, promising the next study session.
“Is it okay if I don’t walk you out?”
“It’s fine! We’re not kids.”
“Right, just stay there.”
Ga-ram and Seon-kyu adamantly refused Woo-yeon’s escort. He tried to go at least to the elevator, but even that was ultimately rejected. The reason was that since they had visited suddenly, he should now rest comfortably.
“Get home safely.”
Left with no choice, Woo-yeon awkwardly saw them off at the entrance. He also vaguely nodded when they asked him to show them the second floor next time. Do-hyun, who had been quiet the whole time, gave his greeting just before the front door closed.
“See you tomorrow.”
Thud. The closed door cut off communication with the outside. The silence that settled quietly brought a sense of empty floating. He trudged inside, rubbing his tired eyes.
“…….”
I don’t want to like him, but I think I’m going to. A predetermined future was not the kind that could be changed by struggling.