By Zephyria Song Hae-seop pushed a glass of water towards Seo Jeong-won, who was hastily swallowing his food, and nagged him with concern to eat slowly. As if he were his Hyung.
“Thank you…”
“Drink some water too. It’s good to see you eating well.”
From Seo Jeong-won’s appearance, barely concealing a body that stimulated the protective instinct, it was obvious how Kwon Tae-hee had behaved throughout the Rut.
He couldn’t possibly be unaware that Kwon Tae-hee treated Seo Jeong-won differently from him. Seo Jeong-won had emerged from the bedroom where he had never been allowed even for a moment. With an innocent face that knew nothing.
The validity that he had become wary of Seo Jeong-won was entirely due to Kwon Tae-hee’s attitude even arose. He worried about what would happen if Seo Jeong-won, who was mindlessly munching on pasta, really stole his place.
Had he popped the champagne too early, celebrating having finally grasped the comfortable life he had so desired? When the worries before his eyes were mountainous.
“…Hyung, aren’t you eating more?”
“I’ve finished. I was trying to eat slowly because I didn’t want you to eat alone, but I guess the portion was quite large. I’m full.”
His expression crumbled as if moved by the fabricated kindness. Truly, wasn’t he the perfect person to drag one’s life into the mire?
Did Kwon Tae-hee have similar feelings for Seo Jeong-won as he did? The desire to break him. Perhaps the affection was even greater for him.
“Eat slowly. You might get indigestion.”
“You can get up first…”
“It’s lonely. I really hate eating alone. It feels lonely and pathetic. I’m sitting here because it’s something I dislike, so don’t worry about me and eat comfortably.”
“…Yes.”
The small head nodded lightly. The light pink skin became a little redder. Whether it was because he was innocent, it was very easy to gain his favor.
But it would be troublesome if he developed feelings just because he was being a little kind. Because that meant it would be easy for him to develop feelings for Kwon Tae-hee as well.
So, he would make him feel increasingly uncomfortable in this house, make him feel uncomfortable with the situation, so that he wouldn’t harbor other feelings for Kwon Tae-hee. Even if he did harbor other feelings, he would make him feel too sorry to covet his place.
“Jeong-won, do you have any dating experience?”
“Me? Ah… No. I don’t.”
“I’m older and have more experience in that area, so I’m just saying this out of concern.”
“Yes.”
Seo Jeong-won even put down his fork and began to listen attentively. That attitude made Song Hae-seop feel like he was in a higher position than him. He was seized by a feeling of elation.
“You’re not developing those feelings for Tae-hee, are you? He’s like that with me too, just like he is with you. You mustn’t be mistaken. You’ll end up like that person.”
“…Pardon?”
“The person who was mistaken for being special and ended up being kicked out. The person who was in my place here.”
Seo Jeong-won’s expression hardened. Song Hae-seop described Seo Gyu-won as a foolish and pitiful person.
“He was mistaken for being special, got hurt, and ended up being abandoned. I’m afraid that might happen to Jeong-won too. Because you’re kind and innocent…”
Song Hae-seop deliberately chose words that would hurt Seo Jeong-won. His emotional collapse was evident on his clear face.
“If you mistake kindness for affection, only Jeong-won’s heart will get hurt.”
He drove the wedge in. He had already subtly tested him earlier and realized that he was distinctly different from him. In fact, he had never even had proper sex with Kwon Tae-hee.
He drew a line, saying that he avoided meaningless relationships. He would only give him a Pheromone shower when he took Heat-inducing drugs, and if it didn’t progress further, he would leave him there, humiliating his pride more than once or twice.
But his attitude towards Seo Jeong-won, who was a Beta, was different, wasn’t it? He had practically soaked him in Pheromones and even spent his Rut with him.
If he had called for him, who was an Omega, if he had even Knotting him once, he too would have immediately gone into Heat.
“So, if you’re mistaken, we’re the only ones who suffer. We only get hurt. When emotions get mixed into a relationship tied to money, it becomes messy. Like that person who was here before I came. The end becomes miserable.”
“…Yes.”
“You really mustn’t be mistaken for being special. Got it? Don’t give your heart away for nothing. If I were your Hyung, I’d be really upset. If I knew Jeong-won was doing this, I mean.”
“…I guess so.”
Song Hae-seop wore a look of pity. He even sighed deeply as if he was genuinely upset.
“The kind people I know always lose out.”
“…”
“But Tae-hee said that once he gets married, he won’t allow these kinds of relationships anymore. So, you’ll be able to escape soon. Just bear with it a little longer. Okay?”
The clumsy Seo Jeong-won didn’t properly understand the expression that his usefulness was different from his. He sat there with a consistently foolish and innocent expression.
* * *
He finished a meal that was quite enjoyable but not entirely comfortable. Seo Jeong-won suppressed the urge to return immediately. Kwon Tae-hee had said he was coming, so he felt he had to wait. But being in the same space as Song Hae-seop felt somehow uncomfortable.
Song Hae-seop was sitting in the middle of the living room sofa, humming a tune. He felt awkward leaving him alone and going into the bedroom.
Seo Jeong-won dragged his creaking body outside and habitually picked up the long hose and started watering. He was so tired that his legs were trembling. The pain that had spread from his waist was throbbing.
As he bent over and caught his breath, he occasionally turned his head and saw Song Hae-seop standing in front of the living room window. Every time, he sighed.
He held a mug in his hand and watched him, and when their eyes met, he smiled brighter than the sunlight.
Somehow, his heart fluttered. If you looked at them separately, they were all clearly good people, but when they were together, wasn’t it a very strange relationship?
Song Hae-seop and Kwon Tae-hee, Seo Jeong-won and Kwon Tae-hee, Song Hae-seop and Seo Jeong-won too. It was most strange for the three of them to get along well.
But it seemed like he was the only one who thought that way.
If Kwon Tae-hee had thought it was strange in the first place, he wouldn’t have allowed them to meet so often.
Perhaps Song Hae-seop didn’t think it was strange because Kwon Tae-hee’s attitude was so natural.
“…Am I the only one who’s bothered by it?”
Seo Jeong-won’s conscience pricked him just by Song Hae-seop looking at him kindly. It wasn’t wrong for him to be here, but he kept feeling like he was sinning against him.
“Haa…”
He was lost in thought, listening to the sound of the pouring water. It was difficult to even take a step, but he was stubbornly standing his ground just because he couldn’t be in the same space as him.
He hadn’t brought his phone with him, so there was no way to check the time. He barely managed to move and watered for a long time when he felt a presence behind him.
“Seo Jeong-won.”
“Hng…!”
Startled, Seo Jeong-won twisted his body and turned around. Unfortunately, he was still holding the hose, and the water was directed at Kwon Tae-hee, not the garden plants.
“Ah!”
He was so surprised that he didn’t even think to take his hand off the switch he was pressing, or to lower his hand. As he floundered, Kwon Tae-hee wiped his wet face and reached out his hand.
“You’re up and walking. I thought you’d be lying down.”
“I, I, I’m sorry.”
“The cardigan suits you well.”
“I… I borrowed it without permission. I’m sorry.”
Seo Jeong-won, who had taken his finger off the switch, apologized, tugging slightly at the cardigan. Kwon Tae-hee smiled without saying anything.
“Why are you out here?”
“I just felt a little stuffy.”
“Let’s go inside.”
“That’s… Executive Director.”
Kwon Tae-hee, who was about to gently lead him away with his arm around his shoulder, stopped at the cautious call.
“I closed the garden for so long that I’m worried that… the plants might have died again.”
“…”
“It’s not cool yet, so even if I skip a day, the leaves will dry out. And the fish have been starving for days.”
He swallowed hard. Seo Jeong-won avoided the obvious gaze and lowered his eyes.
“So, can I go back to the garden? I’m not so weak that I can’t move as much as you’re worried about. I feel a little better after getting the Intravenous drip…?”
It was an exaggerated expression, but it wasn’t entirely a lie since he actually felt a little better. More than anything, he absolutely couldn’t go home with him.
Seo Jeong-won glanced around and headed towards the faucet. He neatly arranged the long hose and stood in front of Kwon Tae-hee with a limping gait.
“Could you please allow me to go…?”
“I’ll take you there, then.”
“That’s… Thank you.”
Seo Jeong-won, who had almost refused, quickly shut his mouth and bowed his head in greeting.
“I’ll just grab my bag quickly.”
“Why don’t you leave it. You’ll be coming again anyway.”
“Should I…? But I can really go as I am, but the pants are also Executive Director’s.”
Seo Jeong-won found it difficult to imagine Kwon Tae-hee wearing them, but he cautiously brought it up, thinking that he might want to wear them.
“Take them off at home.”
“…Ah, I will.”
“Let’s go. I heard you had dinner, but was it good? I was too busy to check.”
“Yes, Hyung came and ate with me. It was delicious.”
Kwon Tae-hee, who was crossing the garden, stopped as if reacting to a certain word.
“Hyung?”
He had received a report that Song Hae-seop had come, but even so, the word he heard from Seo Jeong-won’s mouth was not only puzzling but also unpleasant.