By Zephyria 
In-ho pressed his temples firmly as he climbed the long flight of stairs.
The intoxication was hitting him harder by the second, and he wanted nothing more than to lie down. He briefly considered collapsing right there on the stairs to shut his eyes, but he thought of Haon in the guest room and kept walking. He imagined Haon would be terribly startled to find him asleep on the stairs.
“That wouldn’t do.”
Muttering softly, he stripped off his stifling shirt and tossed it onto the floor. He started to unzip his trousers but remembered Haon was downstairs again, so he headed into the bedroom to take them off. He wanted to avoid doing anything that might frighten the boy, who was like a timid sea otter.
A sea otter. Ever since In-ho first brought that small, thin Omega into his home, he had thought he resembled one.
It wasn’t so much his looks, but rather his peculiar behavior. The vacant expression and the way he constantly tried to snuggle up reminded In-ho of a sea otter he had seen in a random animal video recently.
Their faces didn’t look alike at all. Even to In-ho, Haon possessed a striking appearance. He dressed carelessly, but if he were styled properly, he was at a level that could overshadow the most arrogant of Omegas.
Was he wearing those clothes on purpose to avoid standing out? If so, In-ho wanted to stop him.
In-ho thought it would be more beneficial for Haon’s own sake to adorn himself with luxury brands or dress flashily, like the people around him. His excessively plain appearance only served to make his face stand out more. That was likely why Park Jung-hyuk had set his sights on him.
Buzz—.
In-ho let out a short laugh as he checked his phone, which was ringing late at night. It was Park Jung-hyuk. That bastard had the timing of a ghost.
Where are you? Home?
A voice that sounded just as drunk as In-ho’s came through. It was quiet around Park Jung-hyuk, suggesting he had also left the club.
He was a distant cousin who had spent his school years with In-ho in the States. Park Jung-hyuk was a year older, but since they attended the same grade, they acted as if they were the same age. That didn’t mean they were close. They simply met often because their social circles overlapped.
“Why do you want to know?”
Su-hyun called me crying. She said you dumped her right in the middle of sex.
“I left before we started.”
Hey, that’s basically the same thing.
Pffft. Park Jung-hyuk burst into an exaggerated laugh and suddenly cursed at his driver. Judging by the way he shouted at him to drive properly, it seemed they had hit a speed bump a bit too hard.
In-ho regretted answering the phone and tried to hang up.
You’re not by that baby’s side, are you?
However, because Park Jung-hyuk mentioned Haon, In-ho stayed on the line. Taking In-ho’s silence as an affirmation, another exaggerated laugh echoed through the phone.
Haon was an Omega Park Jung-hyuk had brought to the club. One of their high school alumni had come to Korea for a vacation to celebrate a birthday and was throwing parties every night. That was where In-ho first met Haon.
Did you like him that much? Just how tasty is he?
“Jung-hyuk.”
I gave him up without even getting a taste because of you. The least you could do is give me a review.
“Park Jung-hyuk.”
When In-ho called him by his full name in a low voice, the giggling subsided.
I was just joking. Why are you getting so serious?
Even without seeing him, Park Jung-hyuk could tell In-ho’s expression had hardened. Having known him longer than In-ho’s own siblings, Park Jung-hyuk knew him well. He knew exactly what In-ho found interesting and what he loathed.
“Stop being interested in Haon.”
Park Jung-hyuk suppressed a laugh at the way In-ho addressed him. Then, he slowly continued.
I’m just saying this because I’m worried about you.
Walking into the bathroom, In-ho contemplated hanging up again. If he were sober, he would have done it instantly, but the alcohol prevented his brain from making a quick decision.
In-ho, do you even know what kind of kid he is?
In-ho rubbed his forehead and let the words drift in one ear and out the other. He rarely listened to Park Jung-hyuk anyway. In fact, he tended to tune out almost everyone.
I told you. He’s a rent-boy.
Park Jung-hyuk had introduced Haon as a whore at the club. He had said it because In-ho seemed interested in Haon. He made up a bunch of lies, claiming that since he had bought the boy from a shop, he wouldn’t be In-ho’s type—all to ensure he wouldn’t lose him to In-ho.
“That’s why I bought him from you. What’s the problem?”
In-ho had taken Haon away after paying a sum far greater than the price Park Jung-hyuk had asked. When In-ho tossed him the watch he was wearing instead of cash, a reluctant Park Jung-hyuk had quietly shut his mouth. It seemed Haon wasn’t worth as much as the watch.
What’s the problem? I’m just worried you’ll give your heart away after only seeing that beauty’s shell.
A series of unpleasant sighs followed between his drawn-out words.
Do you think your brother will just stand by if you date a whore? I might even be hated because you found out through me.
“You’re probably already hated.”
In-ho chuckled, placing the phone on the sink on speaker mode. He swept back a few stray strands of bangs and turned on the water. Because of this, Park Jung-hyuk’s voice sounded faint.
Anyway, just eat him a few times and throw him away. Don’t go taking care of him just because he looks pitiful.
The sound of a liquid being swallowed echoed briefly. Park Jung-hyuk was still drinking even after leaving the club.
All those whore brats are just acting to bleed our money dry. You saw that kid whimpering on the table. Wagging his tail like a dog just to seduce some rich guy—
Click. In-ho hung up and frowned. He should have ended it sooner; he had let his ears be polluted for too long.
Even after closing his eyes and shaking off Park Jung-hyuk’s voice, he didn’t feel particularly good.
He stepped into the shower and drenched his entire body in cold water. He dozed off for a moment while standing, then leaned against the wall to shampoo his hair. He washed for twice as long as usual to erase the scent of alcohol remaining on his body.
Even after finishing, his slumped mood showed no sign of improving. Why?
With a wet towel draped around his neck, he sat on the edge of the bed and tapped the duvet with his fingertips. A question mark seemed to float on his languid face. Why?
“Why hasn’t he asked for my name…?”
He had long since erased the conversation with Park Jung-hyuk from his mind. What was weighing on In-ho was the fact that Haon had not asked for his name until now.
“Is he not curious?”
It was strange that despite In-ho calling him “Haon-ssi, Haon-ssi,” he didn’t ask for his name in return. It didn’t seem like he was uninterested.
Perhaps he wasn’t curious because they were only seeing each other for a few days. Thinking that made his mood sink even further.
He felt like he would fall asleep the moment he closed his eyes, but he didn’t want to sleep like this. Whenever he fell asleep in this state, he always had bad dreams. He wanted to have only bright dreams.
Water. Had he drunk any water?
Suddenly feeling thirsty, he got up from the bed and went back down the stairs. He was far more intoxicated than he realized. He thought the shower would sober him up, but strangely, the alcohol seemed to hit him harder.
Perhaps it was because he felt relieved.
In-ho had been extremely worried after receiving Haon’s call. He thought something terrible had happened to him. In that dilapidated goshiwon, it wouldn’t be strange for anything to happen. It was almost surprising that he had survived unscathed until now.
It wasn’t that nothing had happened, but he was relieved that Haon wasn’t hurt. He felt a bit sorry that some lunatic had tried to open the door because Haon had followed him. Not much, but a little.
Maybe he should have just ripped the door off its hinges and brought him home then. Looking at Haon, who had called him, In-ho felt this regret internally. If he had known there was no one around him, he wouldn’t have left him alone in such a house.
Maybe he should just rent him a place. He seems uncomfortable staying here… Ah, but then he might be even more uncomfortable.
Emptying two bottles of sparkling water, he stared blankly at the firmly closed guest room. His body, swaying with intoxication, instinctively tried to head toward the room where Haon was sleeping.
“No you don’t.”
In-ho forced himself to stay conscious and opened the innocent refrigerator. A sigh escaped him at the sight of the empty fridge. Inside were only drinks and some fruit kept for snacks. For now, he’d have to order food or eat out tomorrow.
Glancing repeatedly at the guest room, he took out a bowl and arranged the fruit attractively. He put it out just in case Haon came to the kitchen because he was hungry. Given Haon’s personality, he didn’t think he would dare open the refrigerator himself.
He left the fruit plate on the dining table along with a fork. He hoped Haon would at least eat this if he were hungry. But…
“I wonder if he won’t even touch this.”
Touching his chin while looking at the plate full of fruit, he eventually decided to stay downstairs. He lay down on the living room sofa so he could know immediately if Haon came out of the room. Haon was a light sleeper and tended to be sensitive.
In-ho expected Haon to look for food as soon as he woke up. It was because Haon’s gaunt body and the image of him crying and saying he was hungry the first day they met were etched into his mind.
‘I’m hungry….’
Haon’s sobbing voice, mixed with moans, still lingered vividly in his ears. It was an image that wouldn’t be easily forgotten.
He craned his neck to watch Haon’s door for a while before finally burying his face in the backrest of the sofa. Using the silence of the dawn as a blanket, he curled up and closed his eyes.