NOT 2

The moment fate’s signpost changed.

Just before tumbling down the stairs, Haon realized he had been transmigrated into a novel.

The pain that surged with each impact against the stair edges told him so.

Do not doubt your transmigration.

＊ ＊ ＊

Haon lay on the bed, staring blankly at the stark white, cold hospital ceiling.

‘Where do I even begin to explain this?’

It was a life where he had never once doubted that he had lived as Yoon Haon and would die as Yoon Haon.

But just before tumbling down the stairs, along with unfamiliar memories, he learned an unbelievable truth.

That the world he lived in was someone’s creation.

This novel was set in an Omegaverse,

‘And I had to remember it’s a trashy, messed-up thriller?’

It was a tragic novel where the protagonist, falling in love, imprisons and controls their partner, leading to ruin. Of all the countless novels out there, why this one…?

With a troubled heart, he turned his head.

The emergency room had a typical hospital atmosphere. The smell of disinfectant lingered, and the fluorescent lights were harsh on the eyes. Listening to the intermittent beeps of machines and footsteps, he slightly pulled aside the curtain.

‘Wow…’

On the bed right next to him, a man with a frame so large it made the bed look small was asleep. He was so tall his feet stuck out from the end of the bed.

Haon turned his whole body to the side to lie facing him. Propping his head on his hand, he examined the man closely.

Smoothly flowing black hair, sharply defined features. Even in sleep, an extraordinary aura was palpable.

His eyelashes were so long they cast shadows on his cheeks, and the bridge of his nose was high enough to seem arrogant.

His lips… were fuller than expected.

And then Haon remembered his name.

‘Cha Jeong-won.’

The protagonist of this story, and Haon’s university senior.

Fourth-year, Interior Architecture and Design major, Alpha, born into a family of artists—a silver spoon.

Perhaps inheriting that bloodline, Cha Jeong-won himself was already a skilled artist who had held three solo exhibitions.

‘I thought I’d never have anything to do with such a perfect senior.’

He had everything, and that was precisely the problem—he had too much.

Cha Jeong-won. The protagonist. And he was…

In the original work, Cha Jeong-won was an artist who brought misfortune.

A person who kept getting into accidents yet strangely never died. Instead, everyone around him became unhappy.

He had to take a long leave of absence after a major accident in his final year, but he ultimately survived and returned.

Haon’s heart sank.

‘I… I made eye contact with that man.’

Haon had made eye contact with Cha Jeong-won at the top of the stairs.

Was it right after he had taken his first step without much thought? A scream from an unknown person pierced his ears. Turning around, a massive figure was collapsing toward him.

Without even a moment to inhale, his body was pushed backward. Just before his back hit the cold edge of a stair, a solid arm wrapped around Haon’s waist.

The memory after that was hazy. He vaguely remembered the person who had crashed into him somehow shielding and protecting his head.

Thanks to the sturdy embrace that held him, Haon wasn’t seriously injured. However, along with the shock of the fall, he realized he had been transmigrated into this novel.

No, perhaps it was because he got entangled with the protagonist that his memories returned.

‘Ending up in the hospital with the protagonist.’

It was an astounding situation.

Haon let out a hollow laugh and sat up. Having sorted out his thoughts to some extent, he planned to get out of there quickly.

“Ugh…”

His head was a little dizzy. Haon sat on the edge of the bed, holding his head.

Even though he wasn’t seriously injured thanks to Cha Jeong-won, he was still confused by the flood of new memories.

Even without that reason, it wasn’t a relaxed situation.

Just this morning, he had resolved to make a good first impression on the professor right after the semester started!

In preparing for graduation, Haon was in the exact same position as Cha Jeong-won.

By student ID number, Cha Jeong-won was three years his senior, but due to the leave of absence after the accident, they were both in their first semester of fourth year.

Just as Haon raised his arm to call a nearby nurse to ask about discharge procedures, “Mmm…”

A small groan from beside him made Haon pause, arm still raised. Then he reflexively looked at the next bed.

Cha Jeong-won slowly opened his eyes. Black pupils were revealed.

His gaze, unfocused at first, stared at the ceiling, then slowly, very slowly, turned toward Haon.

‘……’

How to put it.

The pressure from his gaze alone was considerable.

Even just waking up, his eyes were sharp. It felt like facing a large wild feline—beautiful but dangerous.

As Cha Jeong-won was a well-known figure in their department, Haon had seen many photos of him, but this was the first time seeing the real person this close up.

Like a small animal spotted by a natural predator, Haon’s body instinctively tensed.

Cha Jeong-won stared blankly at Haon with eyes still lacking focus. He remained silent for a while.

“Um, Senior?”

Haon got off his bed and approached Cha Jeong-won.

Whoever he was, he was the person who got hurt while shielding him.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Do you have a fever?”

With a worried expression, Haon reached out and placed his hand on Cha Jeong-won’s forehead. His temperature was normal.

From the hand placed on his forehead, something like a warm current seemed to flow in. It wasn’t pheromones. It was something more fundamental and primal.

‘This is…’

The warmth starting from his fingertips traveled up his arm and spread to his chest. A tingling sensation, like dipping hands in cold water on a winter day and then into warm water.

“…Take your hand off.”

Cha Jeong-won spoke in a low, husky voice.

The smooth baritone carried an undeniable weight. And simultaneously, Beep beep. A machine sound came from somewhere.

“Patient. Please return to your bed.”

A nurse who had been checking an IV at the next bed hurried over upon hearing the sound. Consequently, Haon’s hand, which had been on Cha Jeong-won’s forehead, fell away.

As his hand fell away, the earlier warmth also disappeared. He felt a strange sense of regret.

The nurse looked at the monitor, pressed some buttons, then tilted her head and turned away. Meanwhile, the fluorescent lights flickered once.

Haon looked up at the ceiling.

‘What’s going on?’

But he had no time to dwell on these strange signs.

Cha Jeong-won slowly raised his upper body. Even just sitting, his size and presence were overwhelming.

“Who are you?”

Cha Jeong-won’s eyes narrowed. The gaze that swept over Haon from head to toe was extremely cold and sharp. It was a look as if appraising an object.

‘Huh? Could it be amnesia?’

Just when he was trying to find a way not to get entangled with him, this changes things.

He also knew Cha Jeong-won’s personality wasn’t good. How could the personality of an unfortunate artist be good!

Moreover, his own presence in the original work seemed so minimal it was hard to even say he was mentioned. Reluctantly, he had to admit he probably wasn’t mentioned at all.

Just a nameless, passing junior #1. That’s about it.

Above all, even though he remembered his past life, he didn’t want to be swept up in the original plot.

‘I am Yoon Haon.’

Haon wanted to live his own life as he was.

Of course, there might be some advantages to being by Cha Jeong-won’s side. Since he roughly knew what would happen to Cha Jeong-won upon his return to school after the major accident, there might be some crumbs to pick up.

‘No. Let’s not have unnecessary thoughts.’

Getting entangled in the protagonist’s life would only mean getting hit by stray sparks.

Haon’s goal for this entire year was a stable graduation, first and foremost.

“I was just a passerby. I’m sorry.”

Good, that was natural.

Just as Haon was about to turn away,

“Hey.”

Cha Jeong-won grabbed Haon’s arm. That strange feeling came again.

It wasn’t just simple warmth. This time it was more intense. It felt like a sense of stability, as if finding its place.

‘Is it a pheromone issue?’

After all, he was a famous Alpha, and Haon was an Omega.

While idly wondering when his next heat cycle was, another beeping sound came from nearby.

“This keeps giving errors.”

The nurse from earlier came back, peered at the monitor, and pressed a few more buttons. Cha Jeong-won and Haon paused their movements for a moment.

Soon, the nurse who had adjusted the equipment moved toward another patient.

This was already the second time. Every time Haon touched Cha Jeong-won, strange phenomena occurred nearby.

Others might call it coincidence, but Haon couldn’t just let it go.

‘It’s a signal from the universe to run away!’

A warning that he absolutely must not be by that person’s side!

“I asked who you are. I’ve never seen your face before.”

“I’m…”

“Same department? You called me senior, so you seem to know me. Besides, you don’t look like a freshman.”

“Yoon… Haon.”

His voice trembled faintly.

“I’m in the same Interior Architecture and Design department as you, Senior. I’m in my graduation year this time.”

He explained that with Cha Jeong-won returning after a long leave, though their student IDs differed, they were in the same position of preparing for graduation. It was an introduction subtly hinting they would see each other occasionally from now on.

Of course, it didn’t mean he would stick close to him, just that if they met, that’s the extent of what he needed to know.

He thought this should be enough, but Cha Jeong-won’s gaze didn’t leave Haon.

“The reason we’re both in the hospital is…”

“We fell together.”

Hmm. So not amnesia.

As Cha Jeong-won tightened his grip, a sharp pain shot through Haon’s elbow. It was near where a bandage was applied.

“Ah, I’m fine. It’s not like I need a medical certificate for this level of injury…”

“You got hurt because of me, and you’re asking if I’m playing the protector?”

He wasn’t asking if Haon was okay; he was trying to blame him?

Haon was flabbergasted. No matter what, he was the reason for this situation. How could he be so brazen?

“Um, it stings and hurts a bit. Could you let go of my hand…”

Haon couldn’t finish his sentence. It was because Cha Jeong-won suddenly stood up without any warning. Reflexively, Haon’s body flinched.