By Zephyria 
A drinking session that began unexpectedly. Until a moment ago, they had been setting a mood in a luxurious restaurant, but now they were in a quiet basement bar.
Neither good nor bad, and devoid of customers. Just a quiet bar they had entered on a whim, simply because it was in sight.
The two men sat in silence before dried snacks and cheap liquor. They simply repeated the cycle of filling each other’s empty glasses and drinking.
Having drunk this much, they should have been intoxicated, yet both remained clear-headed until the bottles were empty. No, if anything, they seemed to be becoming more lucid.
Both Jeong-min and Su-han had a lot to say, and yet nothing to say. However, they couldn’t just keep drinking. They had to find some kind of answer. Judging that if they parted ways like this, he wouldn’t be able to treat Ji Su-han as he had before and only an awkward atmosphere would remain, Jeong-min spoke first.
“Did you know, Dr. Ji Su-han?”
It didn’t seem like he didn’t know. He did know. That was why he had made those expressions whenever Jeong-min asked about Su-eun. That was why, when told that Jeong-min would meet Su-eun, he had said things like being worried that Jeong-min would be hurt.
“Yes.”
He admitted it honestly and downed a glass. Jeong-min ordered more liquor.
“I noticed before Su-eun even realized how difficult her love was. That guy, Su-eun, and I were childhood friends.”
At Ji Su-han’s words, a certain scene flashed through Jeong-min’s mind. Young-min, Jeong-min, and even Yu Shin-woo. Jeong-min shook his head, trying hard to forget.
“Su-eun liked that guy. She was prickly, but—that was her way of expressing affection. That guy liked Su-eun too. I was the one who cheered them on and brought them together. I wanted them to work out. But then, that guy manifested as an Omega. It was in the first year of high school. Naturally, he avoided Su-eun, but Su-eun chased after him, saying it was okay. She said she would become an Alpha, and if not, a Beta would be fine. But Su-eun also became an Omega.”
A story he had heard somewhere, a story someone had experienced. It was so eerily similar that Jeong-min could only let out a hollow laugh. He couldn’t dare imagine what kind of life Su-eun had lived since then, how she had suffered, what hardships they faced to be together, or what resolution they had made, but because he knew that pain to some extent, Jeong-min simply drank and listened to Ji Su-han’s story.
“Through a cycle of breaking up and reuniting, I also came to realize that they were a pair that could not be separated. But it is a fact that the same orientation is not accepted. Especially in our family… Eventually, talk of Su-eun’s marriage came up, and those two… decided to run away. It’s a cliché story.”
No. That is not a cliché; it is a deeply painful story.
“But then why did you have me meet her?”
“When my parents chose Dr. Shin, Su-eun and I looked into you. We were surprised that you were a doctor at the same hospital, but your reputation wasn’t bad, and you seemed like a good person in many ways. As you know, you are well aware of how filthily people in this world play.”
“Compared to that, I was clean. Is that it? I wonder why that was the reason I was ‘selected.’”
He thought he had selected Su-eun that day—or more accurately, his family had—but it turned out he was the one who had been selected.
“Because you had to be tight-lipped.”
Ah, so that was it. Indeed, being tight-lipped was an area where he had confidence. Since he didn’t have many connections in this field, there was no one to talk to anyway.
“Does that mean this meeting was planned by the two of you?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm… I want to hear the full story. Dr. Ji Su-han. I believe I am entitled to know.”
At Jeong-min’s words, Ji Su-han emptied a full glass of liquor in one gulp and began with an apology.
“‘We won’t go as far as an engagement before meeting. We will break it off somehow. But we won’t say anything. Just refuse and say you don’t like her.’ That’s what Su-eun said, but I told her that wouldn’t be the end of it. I told her the parents would introduce someone else and push until the engagement happened… If that’s the case, let’s ask someone for help. You’ll meet a good person eventually, and let’s talk to that person. Ask for their help. That’s the only way you’ll survive. That’s how I persuaded her. And then we met you. If the rumors weren’t true, I might have acted out at that meeting to make you lose interest. But the first impression wasn’t like that. I watched you a few times at the hospital, and you were a good person. You were the person we were looking for. We were lucky. When I told Su-eun, she liked the idea too. I suggested we tell you everything and arrange a meeting. But… the more we met, the more I realized Dr. Shin Jeong-min was an even better person than I thought, so it became harder to tell you. Eventually, Su-eun stepped up. She said it would be worse for you if we dragged it out any longer. That’s how this meeting was arranged. But… I didn’t know Su-eun would speak so quickly. She must have been that desperate. Those two did seem to have no breathing room lately. In the end, we ended up involving a third party. And that person is Dr. Shin… I’m sorry.”
“I… roughly understand the situation. And thank you for telling me.”
Jeong-min downed a glass. As soon as the glass was empty, Su-han refilled it.
“Are you not offended?”
Because Jeong-min was unexpectedly calm, Ji Su-han felt even more apologetic and asked cautiously.
“I am offended. Of course I am. But that doesn’t mean I have any intention of blaming the two of you. I just… think that you must have been desperate enough to ask for help from someone as insignificant as me. And in a way, aren’t you seeing me in a positive light?”
“I like that Dr. Shin is so positive. And your patience.”
“Patience?”
“Yes. Hasn’t the harassment toward Dr. Shin been increasing lately? From fellow doctors or Sunbaes. Yet, you just stayed quiet.”
“Ah, that.”
Jeong-min smiled and swirled his glass.
“It’s childish, isn’t it? I don’t even want to bother paying attention to every single thing. To be honest, in my heart, I want to punch them… but it’s a waste of time. I don’t want to be on the same level as them… something like that. It’s not that great of a reason.”
He was grateful for being seen positively, but he actually wanted to appeal that he had a ruthless side too; however, Ji Su-han simply looked at Jeong-min. With a serious gaze.
“Then, Dr. Shin. You can punch me once.”
“What?”
Jeong-min looked at Ji Su-han in surprise.
“I did something that deserves a punch, so you may hit me.”
“No. It’s fine. I’m really fine.”
“I will definitely repay this debt.”
“You don’t have to. I don’t want to be owed a debt. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“…I’m truly sorry to Dr. Shin. I just thought it would be… better if I were the one to tell you. I don’t want to be hated by Dr. Shin. I really don’t.”
“How could I hate Dr. Ji Su-han? I respect you.”
At Jeong-min’s words, Su-han smiled as if relieved.
“…And you can speak informally. Even if it’s for a short time, we’re about to become like brothers.”
Ji Su-han stopped drinking. Then he looked at Jeong-min in surprise.
“Dr. Shin.”
“I will call you Sunbae, then.”
Ji Su-han finally sprang up from his seat and looked at Jeong-min.
“Are you… alright?”
“There’s no reason why it wouldn’t work. Honestly, I’ve been struggling with the constant talk of marriage myself. I wanted to enjoy the single life a bit longer… and for the time being, my parents probably won’t have much to say. Since it’s an opportunity to back out by claiming I’m still nursing a broken heart, there’s no reason not to do it.”
He was intentionally framing it as a favorable condition for himself, but Ji Su-han knew it was a lie. The Shin Jeong-min he had seen, however briefly… was not the kind of person to put others down even if it meant taking a loss himself. That was why Su-han occasionally felt he was excessively kind, but…
“Thank you. Thank you so much, Dr. Shin.”
There was a tremor and a hint of moisture at the end of Ji Su-han’s voice. Jeong-min pretended not to notice, closed his eyes, and downed the full glass of liquor in one go.
And so, one week later—the engagement between Jeong-min and Su-eun was formalized.
When Jeong-min visited the house in person to announce the engagement and was left alone with Su-eun, he gently comforted the repeatedly tearful Su-eun, telling him that he would protect him for six months, so he shouldn’t worry.