By Zephyria 
After finishing the performance, In-ho and Haon went straight to eat. Although they had drinks at a cafe recently, they felt a bit hungry, perhaps because they had walked so much.
It was a moderate hunger that didn’t feel repulsive.
Haon opened the menu with curious eyes, then closed it again. It was all in English, and there wasn’t a single letter he could read.
“How much do you think you can eat?”
As Haon set the menu down, In-ho naturally began choosing the food.
“Uh, a little… a lot.”
In-ho’s eyebrow quirked slightly at the unexpected answer. He had likely assumed the answer would end at ‘a little.’
“I’m a bit hungry.”
“Good. Then I’ll order a lot.”
In-ho gazed at Haon steadily, as if checking his complexion, before calling the server. Haon looked comfortable as he admitted he was hungry. It seemed he was starting to accept hunger naturally.
“This place is nice, right?”
Having finished the order, In-ho gestured toward the window. They were seated in a spot overlooking the panoramic view of the Han River. It was a high-end restaurant with elegant classical music flowing through the air.
“Yes, it’s wonderful.”
“I thought you’d like it, Haon.”
In-ho thought Haon would enjoy this restaurant. He had chosen the place because Haon seemed to eat Western food well and liked wine. Above all, he thought the open view of the Han River would please Haon’s eyes.
His prediction was narrowly correct. If they had been in general seating rather than a private room, Haon would have been overwhelmed by the luxurious atmosphere and ended up with indigestion. Since it was a room with just the two of them, it felt less awkward. Plus, there was alcohol.
“I have to drive, so only you drink, Haon.”
“Okay.”
Haon nodded, picking up the glass of champagne the server had poured. Since he was drinking alone, he didn’t feel particularly inclined to touch the alcohol. It was cool and delicious, of course, but he only sipped it a few times before setting it down.
While waiting for the food, the two continued a pleasant conversation, talking about the things they had seen at the aquarium. Both Haon and In-ho were happy, laughing loudly even at trivial remarks.
Buzz—.
While Haon was savoring the dishes as they arrived bit by bit, the phone in his pocket vibrated.
“Who is it?”
“Ah… it’s Tae-hwi hyung.”
Haon’s expression brightened even more upon checking the message. It was the first text he had received from a colleague. It was very typical of Tae-hwi hyung to send a single emoticon asking what he was doing without any other words.
“Do you two have each other’s numbers?”
“Huh?”
Haon, who hadn’t heard In-ho’s question because he was busy replying, asked back. He had just sent a shy emoticon along with a sentence saying he was having a meal with In-ho.
“You seem to be close with the people you work with.”
In-ho, holding a water glass, took a light sip and showed interest. He didn’t bother to repeat the question Haon had missed.
“It’s the first time. Being this close.”
Haon wore a faint smile as he picked at some octopus salad.
He had gone through numerous part-time jobs, but there had never been a colleague who took an interest in his work or worried about him like Tae-hwi hyung. Hyung-cheol was also a reliable older brother figure who always made sure he ate, even if he seemed cold. Not to mention the kind youngest, Ho-yeong.
“It’ll be a shame since you’re quitting soon.”
There are about fifteen days left, right? In-ho continued the question while fiddling with his napkin.
“Yes… it is a bit of a shame.”
Actually, it was a great shame. Thinking that he had to say goodbye to such precious people again made him feel a bit gloomy already.
“You can still meet even after you quit. Don’t be too sad.”
As if reading Haon’s sinking mood, In-ho offered words of comfort. Thanks to that, Haon’s expression brightened again quickly. He had a surprisingly simple side to him.
From Tae-hwi, a reply came back saying let’s contact each other next time, accompanied by an emoticon with a mischievous expression. Haon took a sip of alcohol for no reason and turned off the screen. Deciding he would reply later, he firmly folded one thumb down.
“What are you doing?”
At that moment, In-ho followed Haon and folded his thumb.
“I’ve been curious for a while, is it some kind of marker?”
It seemed In-ho had noticed Haon folding his fingers whenever there was something he needed to remember. Haon answered lightly with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“I’m making a memo on my fingers in my imagination. If I fold them like this, I don’t forget easily.”
“Oh, I should try that too.”
In-ho smiled softly and firmly folded his finger, mimicking Haon. He didn’t look like he was teasing; rather, he looked genuinely interested in the new piece of information.
“By the way, Haon.”
In-ho waited until Haon had swallowed his food before continuing the conversation.
“Everyone is a Beta, right? Except for one person who seems like an Omega.”
“That’s right. Only Tae-hwi hyung is an Omega.”
He can tell just by looking.
Haon, who was dull when it came to distinguishing secondary genders, picked up a piece of grilled asparagus in amazement. He wondered how In-ho had noticed that Tae-hwi hyung was an Omega.
Is it because hyung is handsome? Tae-hwi hyung had a face striking enough that entertainment agencies had contacted him. His skin was fair, and he always smelled good.
“…….”
For a while, only the sound of cutlery clashing echoed over the silent table. A fork circled the plate, and the sound of a light crystal glass touching the tablecloth rang out occasionally.
“In-ho.”
This time, it was Haon who broke the silence.
In-ho, who was putting down his water glass, tilted his head and looked at Haon. A smile, as if etched onto his moist lips, bloomed.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
Conversely, Haon’s expression darkened as he checked the plate in front of In-ho. His food hadn’t decreased at all.
“Do you feel sick?”
“No, I’m just a bit less hungry.”
In-ho shrugged and smiled as if telling him not to worry. Surprisingly, Haon had eaten far more than In-ho.
“You didn’t eat breakfast.”
Haon’s round face filled with worry. Because he had been at home with him before they left, he knew exactly what In-ho had eaten.
“Are you sure you’re not feeling unwell somewhere?”
Recalling how In-ho had drunk strong liquor without any snacks in the early morning, he became even more concerned. However, In-ho merely smiled nonchalantly and didn’t seem serious at all.
“It’s because I ate quite a lot while you were working last night. I guess it hasn’t fully digested yet.”
He actually seemed to enjoy Haon’s genuinely worried reaction and told him to focus on the meal now. Even while taking a spoonful of soup, Haon couldn’t pull away his worried gaze.
And for good reason; it was the first time In-ho hadn’t touched his food in front of Haon.
Is he really okay? With his eyebrows slanted in worry, Haon stared intently at In-ho every time he took a bite of food. He didn’t do it on purpose, but if the goal was to get In-ho to eat, it was successful.
“It tastes good.”
In-ho began putting small amounts of food into his mouth, following Haon’s lead. Relieved by this, Haon recommended other dishes.
“This is delicious too.”
Because In-ho didn’t decline, Haon assumed the food was going down well and continued to recommend this and that. If he had known In-ho felt sick, he wouldn’t have done that.
* * *
The sky was pitch black on the way back home.
Instead of leaning toward the driver’s seat, Haon leaned closer to the window, looking at the dark night sky. Even though there was nothing to see, he pretended to admire the sky.
“Haon, do you want some chocolate?”
To draw Haon’s attention, In-ho held out a small snack. Haon tried to refuse, but he forced himself to take the chocolate that had already reached his hand.
“Thank you.”
Even though he had no desire to eat it, he didn’t forget his manners. As could be felt from his attitude, Haon was currently slightly sulking. Not much, just very slightly.
“How was today?”
In-ho asked the question and answered first before Haon could open his mouth.
“I had a lot of fun.”
“…Me too.”
Of course, Haon had fun as well. He had spent the whole day feeling so buoyant that it couldn’t be summarized by such a simple expression.
“Really?”
However, In-ho, unable to see inside Haon’s heart, asked back as if to confirm. If he could have shared emotions with Haon, he would have been shocked, wondering if a person could be this happy.
“It was really great.”
Haon answered, hoping his sincerity would be conveyed.
A short while later, In-ho stopped the car at a red light and suddenly leaned in.
“But why is your expression like that?”
Even though you know why.
Haon conveyed his feelings through a gloomy expression and looked down. He avoided eye contact because he felt that if he looked at In-ho now, his expression would soften.
“I told you I’m really okay.”
In-ho chuckled, poking Haon’s puffed-out cheek. It was a smile that could make the dark interior of the car feel bright. Looking only at his bright face, he really seemed fine, just as he said.
“You threw up….”
But Haon did have some intuition. Though it was a problem that he often lacked it.
Before leaving the restaurant, In-ho had gone to the restroom alone again. And when he returned, the refreshing scent of mouthwash wafted from his mouth.
“I didn’t. I just used mouthwash.”
In-ho insisted on this until the end, but Haon didn’t believe him easily. It was because the evidence that he had emptied his stomach was visible. The fact that he returned late from the restroom, the mouthwash, and his slightly reddened eyes were the evidence.
“You forced yourself to eat, so your stomach feels worse, right?”
Having experienced vomiting many times, Haon noticed immediately.
“No, my stomach is perfectly fine.”
But In-ho denied it to the end. He didn’t have to hide the fact that he was hurting.
“Alright.”
Haon didn’t pry any further. He had no intention of digging into something the other person didn’t want to talk about.
However, he felt upset.
Whenever he was sick, In-ho had personally made him rice porridge. Yet, he had been oblivious to In-ho’s pain and had even encouraged him to eat more.
He should have told him there was no need to force himself. He had just been happy seeing In-ho eat along with him. Like a fool.
“Want me to peel it for you?”
In-ho asked, seeing Haon just holding the chocolate.
Instead of answering, Haon peeled the wrapper himself and put the square chocolate in his mouth. Because he put it in all at once instead of biting it bit by bit, he swallowed almost half of it. Only a bitter taste remained in his mouth, which had become sticky with melted chocolate.
After that, Haon continued to give only simple answers to In-ho’s questions. To the point where he wondered why he was acting this way, he didn’t hide his upset feelings and let them show.
Before long, the car arrived at the apartment parking lot.
In-ho parked in his usual spot and looked at Haon without unbuckling his seatbelt. Haon followed suit and didn’t unbuckle his either.
He felt sorry for the serious Haon, but honestly, seeing that sulky expression made the corners of his mouth want to lift. He liked that Haon was showing his disappointment.
“Haon.”
Yes, he answered immediately, but he wouldn’t meet his eyes. It was a problem that even his pouting was cute.
“I really didn’t throw up.”
In-ho made the excuse that there was mouthwash in the restroom, so he used it. Haon was about to let it slide, but he looked In-ho straight in the face and asked, hoping he would answer honestly.
“Really?”
At that moment, a horn sounded louder than Haon’s voice.
Honk—! Startled by the piercing noise, Haon’s shoulders flinched.
The loud horn had come from right in front of them.
A short horn sounded again from the car parked opposite. As if they had been waiting for In-ho’s car to arrive, the driver’s side door opened shortly after.
“Haon.”
Click, In-ho, having unbuckled his seatbelt, spoke in a soft voice. He kept his head tilted slightly toward Haon while watching the person getting out of the driver’s seat. It was a familiar face.
“Go up first.”
With his back to Haon, In-ho opened the car door, and his expression froze coldly.