NOT 111

The moment Kim Hyun-gyu presented the ticket, Haon’s plans for the day were instantly overturned.

He had intended to, after class, walk along the cherry blossom path, pluck the petals from Cha Jeong-won’s shoulder, use that as an excuse to hold his hand, and enjoy a romantic date like that.

But an exhibition opening?

Haon slowly rubbed the ticket paper. It looked brand new, as if the ink might smudge, and the uniquely smooth texture of the paper strangely made his heart flutter.

“No, you, suddenly, what exhibition, an exhibition is…”

It was an unexpected opportunity. It was also an exhibition he had originally wanted to see.

“You wanted to go, didn’t you?”

“So you got it to give to me?”

“What are you talking about. It just came my way, so I’m giving it to you.”

Kim Hyun-gyu spoke as if it were nothing, but he couldn’t hide a hint of regret in his eyes.

Come to think of it, since Haon was interested, Kim Hyun-gyu, being in the same major, would likely be the same.

Haon instinctively looked at Cha Jeong-won.

Cha Jeong-won looked at the ticket Kim Hyun-gyu handed over, then looked at Haon’s face.

“Let’s go.”

There was no particular reason to refuse. At Cha Jeong-won’s words, Haon covered his mouth with the ticket.

It was even better that they would go together.

“Have a good time. You, that teaching assistant… Yeah. Do well.”

Come to think of it, being both a department representative and someone who takes good care of people around him, with a wide network and an active personality, there’s no one as suited to be a teaching assistant as Kim Hyun-gyu.

“You’ll probably get busier from now on.”

Kim Hyun-gyu shrugged his shoulders for no reason and then spoke to Cha Jeong-won with a smile.

“Please take good care of our Yoon Haon in my stead.”

“That’s unnecessary talk.”

Haon cut in from the middle, but Kim Hyun-gyu didn’t relent.

“He may seem outgoing at first glance, but in reality, he’s [visit our site]not. Look, he seems to get along with everyone, [visit our site]but in reality, he’s only close with me.”

“Hey, Kim Hyun-gyu.”

Thinking it would be a disaster to let this go on any longer, Haon tried to cover Kim Hyun-gyu’s mouth.

“But he’s really picky about people. I’m really the only one who’s seen Yoon Haon’s whole li…”

Mid-sentence, Kim Hyun-gyu, who had grabbed his side, gaped.

Even though Haon was telling him to stop, he kept blabbering on, so Haon’s fist struck Kim Hyun-gyu’s side.

Because of that, he almost spilled his coffee, but Cha Jeong-won lightly caught it, so it was fine.

“Hyun-gyu, just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want.”

“What was I going to say…”

Haon sent a grateful look to Cha Jeong-won and then retorted curtly to Kim Hyun-gyu.

“Just don’t. Absolutely don’t. Senior, don’t listen either. It’s best if the senior finds out for himself who I am. Okay?”

Haon spoke as if warning him and then turned Kim Hyun-gyu’s body.

“You go.”

“Why? Are you uneasy because I know everything about you?”

“Know everything, my foot.”

Even though he kept pushing Kim Hyun-gyu’s back, he didn’t budge easily.

“Mrs. Kim told me. So I even [unauthorized [visit our site]copystolen contentstyle="font-size:0;position:absolute;left:-9999px;">]know about that time you were really sick when you were little.”

“Go.”

Saying he couldn’t listen anymore, he gave a strong push, and Kim Hyun-gyu didn’t resist further.

“Going, going.”

As Kim Hyun-gyu waved his hand as if he would leave now, Haon waved the ticket at him.

“Thanks.”

For some reason, it seemed like it would be hard to see his face from now on. But regardless of the regret, Haon was elated.

Cha Jeong-won spoke.

“We’ll have to go as soon as it ends.”

“We said we’d go see the cherry blossoms…”

“The flowers are here, so we don’t need to see them.”

Cha Jeong-won lightly pulled Haon into a brief hug and then let him go.

Haon asked belatedly.

“Who is the flower?”

Me? Or the senior?

＊ ＊ ＊

The way to the exhibition hall was closer than expected. Having brought the car was a big help.

Perhaps because it was the first day, it looked packed with visitors. Haon checked the ticket several times even while walking.

The date, time, location. He traced every written character with his hand and eyes.

“Seeing the crowd, it looks like almost everyone is here.”

There would probably be events prepared for the exhibition opening. For Haon, who rarely had the chance to attend such occasions, it was hard to hide his excited heart.

Haon looked around the exhibition hall entrance and then suddenly turned to look at Cha Jeong-won and paused.

Perhaps because he was dressed in a suit, he looked like an invited guest from the start.

Today, his gaze kept being drawn to Cha Jeong-won as if bewitched, causing him to bump into things several times. Just now, Haon pretended to look at the poster and guide banner attached in front of the exhibition hall entrance while continuously stealing glances at Cha Jeong-won’s face.

“Jeong-won.”

Then someone blocked Cha Jeong-won’s path.

In an instant, Cha Jeong-won reflexively pulled Haon behind him.

“Mother.”

Haon was inwardly surprised. He had seen her in passing, but it really was Cha Jeong-won’s mother.

Cha Jeong-won’s gaze went down very briefly and then came back up. He seemed to be debating whether to greet her or pretend not to know her.

The woman didn’t step back, and Cha Jeong-won finally opened his mouth.

“What brings you here?”

“I was invited.”

It was a soft voice, but for some reason, it felt even colder.

Haon swallowed once.

Cha Jeong-won had never talked about his parents. A few words occasionally mentioned in passing and a few lines of information from the original work were all there were.

As Cha Aeri appeared, the surroundings quieted.

Only the voices of people who had been laughing and passing by just moments ago or the staff guiding at the entrance sounded like blurred waves in the background.

“Just a moment.”

Cha Jeong-won said, looking at Haon.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Haon just smiled. Cha Jeong-won followed the woman. Watching the backs of the two people, his heart felt strange.

Then Cha Aeri slightly turned her head and looked at Haon.

They only made eye contact for a moment, but Haon’s heart dropped.

The expression with which she looked at Haon was unusual.

He didn’t know why she was looking at him like that, but Haon bowed his head in greeting.

Cha Aeri left only her gaze instead of a reply. That gaze swept over Haon’s collar, passed over his face, and finally stopped on his pupils before sliding away.

It was a moment, but strangely, it felt long to Haon.

Haon entered the exhibition hall alone.

Perhaps because the ceiling was low, people’s voices echoed. Everyone spoke in low voices and their footsteps were cautious.

Haon liked the unique atmosphere of the exhibition hall.

He should have liked it.

His eyes kept facing the entrance rather than the artworks. Cha Jeong-won said he’d be right back, so he thought he would really come soon, but he kept feeling uneasy.

＊ ＊ ＊

Cha Jeong-won was standing facing Cha Aeri.

To people’s eyes, they might have just looked like a well-dressed mother and son, but Read on Read BL Novelscontent">stolen contentCha Jeong-won’s expression seemed to [unauthorized copy]reveal a more complicated relationship than that. His gaze was coldly hardened, and his lips were shut even more tightly.

Cha Aeri turned her gaze first and looked toward the exhibition hall.

“Your expression is bad every time you see me.”

Cha Jeong-won didn’t answer. Cha Aeri continued speaking, unconcerned.

“I didn’t come to see you. I just intended to greet the artist and leave.”

Cha Jeong-won didn’t easily relax his expression. He seemed to want to leave this spot immediately.

Inside, there was someone waiting for him.

“I’m the one who wants to ask. Didn’t you think we might run into each other here?”

Cha Aeri laughed. It was a beautiful smile, but to Cha Jeong-won, who knew the meaning of that smile, it [unauthorized unauthorized copy[visit our site]copy]was only endlessly uncomfortable.

“If that’s all you have to say, I’ll be going now.”

“How is it this time?”

Cha Jeong-won paused and then looked back at her.

“You remember, don’t you? Don’t pretend you don’t know. I told you I prepared someone you wouldn’t be able to refuse since you always reject the talismans.”

Cha Jeong-won’s face hardened.

“I told you not to do that…”

“Then you should have pushed him away from the start.”

At the bold retort asking why he just stood by, Cha Jeong-won’s brow furrowed.

When he heard those words from his mother before, he suspected that Haon might be someone his mother sent. Even while saying it couldn’t be, the fact that he had such a suspicion itself was unpleasant.

He hated that he was being swayed by a single word from his mother to evaluate Haon.

Cha Jeong-won’s voice grew even lower.

“Don’t speak as if it’s a joke.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Cha Aeri was rather calm. Calm, and thus even more cruel.

Cha Jeong-won stopped speaking for a moment. During that pause, something changed.

Into his gaze, which held only displeasure, a different calculation suddenly mixed visit visit our siteour sitein. Cha Jeong-won opened his mouth very slowly.

“Is it okay if I get married? With an Omega.”

Cha Aeri’s eyes widened slightly. A clearly surprised expression flashed. Then soon, her face lit up.

“Isn’t that obvious.”

Cha Jeong-won tilted his head. It was an action that seemed somewhat light, and thus appeared even more dangerous.

“As I thought, it won’t do.”

Cha Aeri’s eyes trembled.