By Zephyria 
“…….”
A strange current flowed between the three of them. A moment later, the elevator doors closed, and the surroundings turned dark.
Han Seung-jae slowly turned around, confirming Seo Yi-kyung’s movements as he seemed to fumble along the wall in the darkness, and strode toward him.
As Seo Yi-kyung pressed the elevator button again, the doors opened and the area brightened. The bracelet on his wrist slid down.
In that instant, a shiver ran down Seo Yi-kyung’s spine. He had realized that Han Seung-jae was standing right in front of him.
Water droplets clung to the black coat that draped over his broad shoulders. A cold breeze wafted from Han Seung-jae as he leaned his upper body forward. It was the scent of a freezing winter night that nipped at the tip of the nose, and the voice that followed was equally low in temperature.
“Did you come down because you’re hungry?”
“Ah.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted slightly. His surprise was fleeting. As Han Seung-jae leaned down to meet his eye level, Seo Yi-kyung caught sight of Min Ra-hyeon looking over Han Seung-jae’s shoulder. Something felt different—had he cut his hair? He had been wearing it tied up this morning. Now, his hair was cut short enough to look neat and refreshing.
Seo Yi-kyung pressed the elevator button firmly, bracing his body so his knees wouldn’t buckle.
He was curious about what the two of them had discussed here, but for now, he answered as if focusing on Han Seung-jae in front of him.
“……I did have dinner, though.”
To be precise, he had been tossing and turning in bed because he couldn’t sleep and had come down to the first floor. But he couldn’t exactly say that.
“That’s good.”
“……?”
What was so good about it? Because of Min Ra-hyeon’s gaze, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t fully concentrate on Han Seung-jae’s words, and a look of doubt clouded his face. At that, Han Seung-jae straightened his posture. With that alone, Seo Yi-kyung could no longer see Min Ra-hyeon.
“I was just thinking of having a drink myself.”
Seo Yi-kyung turned around following Han Seung-jae. He withdrew the hand that had been pressing the elevator button.
“Haven’t you already had some?”
Indeed, a faint, sweet scent of alcohol was emanating from Han Seung-jae. Along with it was the smell of cigarettes, which wasn’t usually there. Had he been to the Ivory Pavilion?
“The taste of the alcohol was off, so I couldn’t really drink it.”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae walked ahead, and Seo Yi-kyung followed. Had something happened outside? Was the Alphas’ gathering today? Was that why he came home late? Not because he was talking to Min Ra-hyeon… Seo Yi-kyung stepped forward, lost in various thoughts.
With a thud, Han Seung-jae entered the dining room and draped his coat over a chair. He took out his phone and summoned Butler Do and the chef.
The house brightened in an instant. Warmth spread as delicious aromas began to waft through the air.
Seo Yi-kyung took a seat at the table. Han Seung-jae, still in his suit, sat opposite him. He lightly picked up the whiskey glass in front of him. The ice clinked against the crystal glass, creating a clear, ringing sound.
“Go on. You said you were hungry.”
Seo Yi-kyung gripped his chopsticks. He looked down at the feast prepared by the chef, who had been called out late at night.
“I did have dinner. There was no need to prepare this much.”
Furthermore, the chef was still handing plates to Butler Do from the kitchen. Han Seung-jae brought the glass to his lips, took a sip, and spoke.
“I doubt you ate much.”
Seo Yi-kyung lowered his eyelids. Han Seung-jae had a point. Seo Yi-kyung felt his stomach become uncomfortable whenever he ate something. He only ate enough to stave off hunger. Even at dinner, his mouth felt bitter and he lacked energy. Was it because he was pregnant? Or was it because there was someone in the house he didn’t want to face?
“If it’s hard to eat, should I ask them to make something else? You know, something you like.”
“No. I’ll eat.”
Shaking off his thoughts, Seo Yi-kyung moved his chopsticks. Watching him, Han Seung-jae swirled the glass in his hand before bringing it to his well-shaped lips.
* * *
Buzz—
Min Ra-hyeon, who had been sitting in the living room the whole time, looked at his phone and checked the messages being sent by Min Seon-woong, who had started arriving around evening.
[Hyung Seung-jae left a moment ago.]
[Left? Where to?]
[He left after telling me that I can’t read the room.]
[What does that mean? Did you two get to talk?]
[He left so abruptly that I couldn’t. More importantly, are you actually close with Seung-jae Hyung?]
Min Ra-hyeon couldn’t answer the message immediately; he hesitated for a moment before moving his fingers. Then, in the next instant, he flinched and lowered his phone. He had felt a presence behind him.
With steady footsteps, Butler Do passed by him first. Han Seung-jae was walking behind him, adjusting his sleeves while holding a coat.
Min Ra-hyeon slowly turned his head and stared at Seo Yi-kyung, who was walking toward them. His pale complexion made his red lips stand out particularly. Their gazes intertwined in the air. Under the pressing gaze, Min Ra-hyeon gripped his phone and wore a gentle smile.
“You must have been very hungry. Were you waiting to have dinner with Seung-jae?”
Seo Yi-kyung stared blankly at Min Ra-hyeon, as if he had no intention of answering. Min Ra-hyeon brushed back the hair that Seo Yi-kyung was looking at.
“It was cumbersome, so I cut it. Now that it’s short like yours, Yi-kyung, it feels refreshing and nice. I should have cut it sooner. Oh, right.”
Min Ra-hyeon pointed to the shirt he was wearing.
“I borrowed one of your shirts for a moment. They told me my clothes are being laundered and won’t be ready until tomorrow morning.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze slowly lingered on Min Ra-hyeon’s shirt. On the collar and shoulders of the shirt he was wearing, oil paint remained like stains. There were likely some around the waist as well. They were stains that had soaked in several times and wouldn’t come out no matter how much they were washed.
“I meant to tell you, but you hardly ever come down to the first floor, so I couldn’t. I’ll wear it cleanly and return it tomorrow.”
Seo Yi-kyung usually wore the same clothes whenever he painted. No matter how careful he was, there was no way to avoid getting paint on them. Before he knew it, stains would inevitably appear. That was why he insisted on the same shirts, so his other clothes wouldn’t be ruined.
Min Ra-hyeon was wearing those clothes.
However, there were countless clothes in the dressing room—so many that he struggled to decide what to wear. Yet, among all those clothes, Min Ra-hyeon had chosen one that clearly showed signs of having been worn by him; his intentions were far too transparent.
Click, the sound of the dressing room door opening echoed, and Butler Do walked out first. He closed the door firmly and stepped forward.
It was the moment Min Ra-hyeon’s gaze unconsciously drifted back and then returned. Seo Yi-kyung, who had been listening in silence for a while, finally spoke.
“Just throw it away.”
Min Ra-hyeon looked at him, bewildered. Seo Yi-kyung continued in a calm tone.
“I don’t wear those clothes anymore.”
Butler Do, who was walking over, looked in the same direction. He blinked as he looked at the shirt Min Ra-hyeon was wearing. If he wasn’t mistaken, that shirt belonged to Seo Yi-kyung. And Butler Do couldn’t be mistaken. He was the one who always prepared those clothes whenever Seo Yi-kyung entered the painting studio.
Seo Yi-kyung pressed the elevator button. He stepped inside, and the doors closed.
A moment later, Han Seung-jae emerged from the dressing room and approached the elevator.
When Butler Do pressed the button, the elevator from the second floor descended to the first. Han Seung-jae entered, accepting Butler Do’s greeting.
Once the two disappeared, Min Ra-hyeon looked down at the phone in his hand and stood up.
[More importantly, are you actually close with Seung-jae Hyung?]
Stopping halfway through replying to the message, Min Ra-hyeon walked away and pressed the call button. After a short ringing tone, the voice of his younger brother, Min Seon-woong, came through. Before he could say anything, Min Ra-hyeon muttered angrily in English.
『I am close with him, that’s why I’m here right now.』
Returning to his room, Min Ra-hyeon closed the door behind him. Throughout the conversation with Min Seon-woong about the Han Seung-jae he had seen at the Ivory Pavilion, Min Ra-hyeon felt a throbbing headache. It was because the gap between the Han Seung-jae he saw in the house and the person he knew was so large that he doubted if it was really the same man. His expressions and way of speaking didn’t seem to have changed much from then to now.
Yet, the way he had approached Seo Yi-kyung first upon discovering him just now made him seem like a completely different person.
* * *
Click, Han Seung-jae opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. He looked at the bed out of habit. However, only the traces of someone having left remained; Seo Yi-kyung was nowhere to be seen. Soon after, the sound of the bathroom door opening was heard. Han Seung-jae’s gaze shifted there immediately.
Seo Yi-kyung, having finished his shower, was coming out wearing a robe. Water droplets clinging to his hair brushed past his chin, lingered on his hollow collarbone, and then slid down.
Han Seung-jae reached his hand effortlessly between the open folds of the robe. The tie around the waist loosened under his hand, and the front, which had been half-covered, was revealed wide open.
Han Seung-jae caressed Seo Yi-kyung’s chest. As cold fingertips touched his nipples, Seo Yi-kyung’s sides trembled slightly. Was it because the fair, white skin was damp? Or was it because the flawless, unscarred skin was so soft? Han Seung-jae’s hand moved down without hesitation. He stroked Seo Yi-kyung’s thigh while gazing at his wounded lips. In that moment, the distance between the two narrowed sharply.
“You’re not wearing underwear?”
“……I forgot to bring some.”
“Ah. Then should I bring some for you?”
The towel that had been barely hanging from Seo Yi-kyung’s fingertips dropped to his feet. Han Seung-jae’s words continued matter-of-factly.
“Tomorrow morning, of course.”
With a thud, Seo Yi-kyung’s body was laid flat upon the bed.