By Zephyria 
The fingertiрs whеre his lips hаd touchеd fеlt hоt, аs if thеу had beеn burnеd. Тhe lips thаt always wоre а soft smilе felt inсrediblу sоft tо the touсh. Feеling as though he might fаint at any mоment, Woo-уeоn quiсkly turned his back to Dо-hyun.
“…….”
He simрlу didn’t hаvе thе confidеncе tо look аt Dо-hyun. He had bаrelу mаnaged tо stор his рhеromоnеs from lеaking out, but he couldn’t stoр the hicсups. His fаce was flushеd deеp red, аnd hе felt a hеat morе intensе thаn anуthing hе had ехpеriеnсed befоrе.
“I-it’s abоut timе tо gо in……”
Without even knowing which direction to go, Woo-yeon first started walking straight ahead. He felt that if he didn’t keep moving, his highly excited pheromones would burst out mercilessly. He shouldn’t have been so reckless. What on earth had he been thinking when he reached out his hand to Do-hyun?
“Woo-yeon.”
Do-hyun called out to him after Woo-yeon had taken three steps. Woo-yeon was still swallowing his hiccups and suppressing his pheromones. When Woo-yeon turned around very slowly, Do-hyun casually gestured with his chin in the opposite direction.
“We have to go that way.”
After saying that, Do-hyun started walking first. Woo-yeon followed him with quick steps, trying to calm his pounding heart. His throat kept feeling parched.
* * *
As Do-hyun had said, the theater was smaller in scale than Woo-yeon’s house. Perhaps because it was a popular movie, the seats were full, and the two of them were around the middle of the back row. Thanks to booking early in the morning and choosing an awkward screening time, they were able to secure relatively good seats.
As soon as he sat down, Woo-yeon checked the right armrest. In movies or dramas, there were often scenes where people raised the armrest in a cinema to lean on each other. Just then, Do-hyun, who was to Woo-yeon’s right, whispered in a low voice.
“Why, do you want me to lift this?”
Woo-yeon’s eyes widened, and he nodded. Then, lowering his voice just as much, he whispered back.
“Does this actually go up?”
“It does.”
Do-hyun moved the drink he had placed there and readily lifted the armrest. Fascinated to see it rise to the same level as the backrest, Woo-yeon followed suit. He lowered it, raised it, and lowered it again before tentatively asking Do-hyun.
“Is it okay to leave it up?”
“Do whatever is comfortable. Just put your drink on the other side.”
Woo-yeon took the drink from his hand and cleared the armrest. It certainly felt different once it was gone, but it was too much of a stretch to lean on the person next to him like in the movies or dramas. He figured if he leaned like that for two whole hours, his spine might actually bend.
‘It’s not that I’m going to lean on him, but…’
He had cleared the armrest with a heart full of ulterior motives, but fortunately, Do-hyun didn’t seem to notice. He probably just thought that Woo-yeon, visiting a cinema for the first time, wanted to try everything. With a heart full of excitement, Woo-yeon hugged the popcorn bucket to his chest.
Before the movie started, various advertisements played on the screen. From movies currently in theaters to those coming out next month. Simple ads for refrigerators and food also appeared, and as soon as an ad for a certain corporation came on, the couple sitting next to them began to talk.
“Wow, they’re even building apartments there now.”
“I’ll probably build one soon too.”
The sound of their giggling hit his ears. They weren’t speaking loudly, yet he could clearly hear them say, ‘I heard that family is a complete mess.’ Woo-yeon picked at the popcorn bucket with his fingernails, trying to ignore them.
“Woo-yeon.”
Right then, Do-hyun tilted his head toward Woo-yeon. From him, who had come close, Woo-yeon could feel a languid Alpha pheromone. Woo-yeon intentionally leaned toward Do-hyun, slightly exposing his ear.
“You said you’re good with horror movies, right?”
The whispering sound was as erotic as a breath. It wasn’t even a special topic, yet his lower abdomen tightened. While Woo-yeon sat up straight, Do-hyun spoke in an even more gentle voice.
“Tell me if it gets too scary. We can just leave in the middle.”
Instead of answering, Woo-yeon nodded his head. The couple’s conversation had already ended, and the corporate ad had switched to another. The movie started shortly after, but Woo-yeon’s mind was filled entirely with Do-hyun’s voice.
In the end, the movie wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t as good as the previous installments, but viewed individually, it deserved a fairly high rating. Woo-yeon barely remembered the previous plot, but he could guess that the identity of the culprit revealed at the end was a twist that spanned the entire series.
“You really are good with scary things.”
Do-hyun seemed inwardly surprised to see Woo-yeon not even blinking. And for good reason, as Woo-yeon was more composed than anyone else in the theater. Do-hyun was also relatively good with them, but he would occasionally frown during the more brutal parts.
“Things made to look fake aren’t scary.”
The only time Woo-yeon showed a reaction was during a sex scene that appeared out of nowhere in the middle. It wasn’t a necessary part, nor was the movie that kind of genre, but the sexual encounter between an Alpha and an Omega was depicted like pornography. Every time a moan came through the speakers, Woo-yeon flinched and stole glances at Do-hyun.
Then, once, their eyes met exactly in the darkness. Before he could look away, his gaze was captured, and they didn’t break eye contact until the erotic moaning stopped. Do-hyun had a look of boredom in his eyes, but the moment he looked at Woo-yeon, his expression shifted subtly.
“What do you want for dinner?”
“……Ah.”
Woo-yeon, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality. The hazy image of Do-hyun vanished, and the real Do-hyun appeared before him. Woo-yeon shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.
“Anything is fine for dinner.”
Do-hyun curled the corners of his mouth loosely, as if amused. “Anything……” he muttered, then winked his left eye at Woo-yeon.
“Anything except chicken and cheap food?”
“……I’ll eat cheap food.”
Woo-yeon fiddled with his ear, telling a lie that no one would believe. He had been caught by the perceptive Do-hyun regarding his tastes, but it felt different to admit it with his own mouth. Do-hyun narrowed his eyes in thought, as if it didn’t matter.
“What should we go eat……”
Woo-yeon also thought of several foods. However, most were restaurants that required reservations, or places where his mother would be contacted if he visited. There was one suitable place, but he didn’t know how to suggest it.
“……If it’s alright with you.”
Woo-yeon started speaking while his eyes rolled De-gururu. No matter how deeply he thought about it, no good excuse came to mind, and he figured Do-hyun wouldn’t misunderstand. No, even if he did misunderstand, it didn’t really matter.
“Would you like to come to my house?”
* * *
They say life is a comedy when viewed from afar, but a tragedy when viewed up close. The night view embroidered across the sky was also such that the more distant it was, the more the tragedies contained within it were erased.
“It’s pretty seeing it at night.”
Do-hyun uttered a monotonous observation while looking at the scenery unfolding outside the terrace. The city viewed from the high penthouse had a different charm than when they had studied there last time. Although Woo-yeon, who saw it every day, felt no excitement, Ga-ram and Seon-kyu would have likely loved it if they had seen it.
‘Since you showed me a movie, I’ll treat you to a meal.’
Do-hyun didn’t show any particular surprise at the suggestion to go to his house. He simply lowered his eyes as if contemplating for a moment, then asked in a soft voice.
‘Will it be okay?’
Instead of asking what he meant, Woo-yeon nodded. It would be one thing if he had never been there, but since he had already visited once, there was no hesitation in inviting him. Do-hyun looked as if he had more to say, but when Woo-yeon made a sullen face, he nodded.
And so, dinner was served on the widest of Woo-yeon’s terraces. Thanks to Woo-yeon contacting the employees in advance, the completed dishes were ready by the time they arrived. Do-hyun let out a hollow laugh at the spread, which was no less than that of a high-end restaurant.
“This is far too much for just showing you one movie.”
“……I think they got a bit excited because I said I was bringing a friend.”
In truth, Woo-yeon was also a bit flustered seeing the meal prepared on the terrace. Setting aside the fact that they had showcased their culinary skills to the utmost, there was even champagne placed in the center of the table to set the mood. Since Woo-yeon usually skipped meals, the staff had clearly made full preparations upon hearing he was bringing a friend.
“For now…… I’ll enjoy the meal. Please tell the person who prepared the food that I’m grateful.”
Do-hyun spoke in a kind voice and naturally picked up his utensils. He didn’t hesitate over what to eat first, nor did he act flustered. He simply picked the appetizer from among the scattered dishes and began to eat with his usual neat movements.
Occasionally, Woo-yeon thought that Do-hyun’s behavior was excessively refined. He didn’t cross his legs, he didn’t lean his chin on his hand, and unlike others, he didn’t slouch in his seat or have a crooked gait when walking. The perfectly educated appearance, much like Woo-yeon’s own, revealed the environment in which he had been raised.
“……Would you like some champagne?”
Feeling inexplicably gloomy, Woo-yeon brought over the champagne placed in the center. While he hesitated, wondering how to open the cork, Do-hyun chuckled and stood up. He took the champagne from Woo-yeon’s hand and spoke in a smooth voice.
“I won’t be able to drive if I drink this.”
Belatedly, Woo-yeon remembered the fact that he had brought his car. He couldn’t drink and drive, nor could he tell him to call a driver to go home. And unless he were insane, he couldn’t tell him to stay the night, so it was a clear slip of the tongue. Just as he was about to put the champagne away again, Do-hyun softly curled the corners of his lips.
“Will it really be okay?”
“……What will?”
For some reason, he had an uneasy feeling. Do-hyun was smiling kindly, but it felt as though words that weren’t kind would come out of his mouth. The gentle and sweet voice sent a sense of crisis crawling up his spine.
“What do you mean, ‘what’.”
Do-hyun replied calmly while looking at the champagne label. ‘This has a surprisingly high alcohol content.’ As he spoke, Woo-yeon could feel that same dry pheromone. At the pheromone drifting gently along with the spring breeze, Woo-yeon unconsciously straightened his back and waited for the rest of the sentence.
“You remember, don’t you, Woo-yeon.”