By Zephyria 
“You’re here again?”
Those were the first words out of the street vendor’s mouth as soon as he saw Kim Yi-eum. Kim Yi-eum gave his signature awkward smile and ordered alcohol and a side dish. Then, before the side dish even came out, he twisted open the soju bottle cap. Choi Won-joon watched every single one of his actions, not missing a thing.
He didn’t know what had happened at the club, but Kim Yi-eum’s eyes were bloodshot. He had a face like he wanted to cry, so he couldn’t just leave him alone and brought him outside, and unlike usual, he had been dragged along willingly.
Judging by his expression, he was completely exhausted and didn’t seem to have the energy to argue. But he absolutely wouldn’t tell him the reason. Then Director Lee called, and Won-joon left Kim Yi-eum and went outside the street vendor for a moment.
“Did you find out?”
【It seems he met Kim Ji-cheol there for a while.】
“Kim Ji-cheol?”
【Kim Yong-taek’s son.】
Won-joon turned his head and looked at the street vendor. Inside the transparent vinyl, Kim Yi-eum was gulping down soju. He pressed hard on his temple and took out a cigarette. Why did Kim Yi-eum suddenly meet Kim Ji-cheol? When he gave him the video about Kim Ji-cheol before, he acted like he had half given up and emptied his mind. Why?
“Track Kim Yi-eum’s movements today and find out what he talked about with Kim Ji-cheol.”
“Yes, I understand.”
After hanging up, he went back inside the street vendor. Kim Yi-eum had already emptied a bottle of soju and raised his hand to call the owner. His face didn’t turn red, but rather felt even whiter.
“Boss- a bottle of soju.”
He must have been drunk, as he stretched out his index finger and smiled, even crinkling his eyes. It was a face that was hard to see normally. Every time they met, he frowned and only complained. He was silently admiring him when he belatedly realized that Won-joon was next to him and frowned. See that? He only gives me shit.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“I have to take care of you. What if someone picks you up when you’re drunk?”
“Who’s going to pick me up?”
“Someone like me.”
Lee-eum laughed, saying nonsense. He laughs well when he’s drunk. He briefly thought that the shape of his mouth when he laughed was pretty. Won-joon poured about half a glass of alcohol into an empty glass and threw it into his mouth. The unique smell of alcohol from the soju rushed up from his throat. Kim Yi-eum giggled and laughed as he frowned.
“It’s bitter, right?”
“Then would it be sweet?”
“It’s always like that. Life is bitter like this soju.”
“Looks like today was a soju-like day.”
“……”
“Tell me. Why were you crying earlier?”
Lee-eum propped his chin and stared intently at Won-joon. Unlike usual, his relaxed face was quite stimulating. Of course, he didn’t know it at all. He thought it wasn’t bad just to admire him, but Kim Yi-eum pointed at Won-joon’s face with his hand.
“Looking at it like this, you look so normal.”
Won-joon laughed.
“I should make you drink often.”
“I don’t want to. I don’t want to drink with CEO Choi. We don’t have anything in common.”
“Then what about Young-shik?”
“……”
“You like Young-shik, right? You think of Young-shik every time you meet me.”
Lee-eum shook his head, looking disgusted.
“Even your eyes are different. Young-shik is nice, but Choi Won-joon isn’t. Come to think of it, what happened? How can a person change so much as they grow up? Did you change because of that kidnapping incident? You used to be nice, but were you shocked back then and became a different person?”
Lee-eum, who had been rambling on, raised his hand, realizing he had made a mistake even while drunk.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke. It must be a painful memory for you, but I brought it up without thinking. Right?”
Won-joon smiled silently, and the owner brought the side dish and placed it on the table. Won-joon’s expression subtly distorted when he saw the side dish, and Lee-eum tore off the chopsticks and placed them in front of Won-joon.
“I’m sorry. Eat. Eat and get the hell out of here.”
“What is it? Are you telling me to eat or get out?”
Won-joon stirred the chicken feet with his chopsticks.
“This isn’t… chicken feet cartilage, is it?”
Lee-eum picked up a chicken foot, put it in his mouth, and nodded. Ah, it’s spicy. As he drank water, Won-joon quietly put down his chopsticks and only drank soju. Lee-eum looked at Won-joon and asked.
“You don’t like spicy food?”
“Why wouldn’t I dislike it because it’s spicy?”
“Should I order something less spicy? Fish cake soup?”
“You’re telling me to get out, but you’re ordering a variety of side dishes?”
Lee-eum was about to order something else, and Won-joon stopped him. He looked fine, but his body swayed as if he was drunk. He grabbed the chair to support himself and carefully examined Kim Yi-eum’s complexion. Now that he looked, his eyes were unfocused.
“Go away, don’t get close. Shoo.”
To push him away even in this state. What a great defense. Won-joon clicked his tongue and sat back down, tilting his glass. Then he got a call and went out for a moment, but when he came back in, Kim Yi-eum had fallen asleep with his forehead on the table.
After laughing in disbelief, Won-joon took out his wallet to pay for the alcohol.
“How much is it?”
“35,000 won.”
Won-joon frowned and asked again, “How much?” The owner flinched and said, “Oh, okay. You ate a lot earlier, so I’ll take off the price of one bottle of soju,” showing off his smooth-talking skills. It was surprising that it came out to 35,000 won after eating quite a bit, but he was taking off even more. Did he even make a profit? Won-joon said it was okay and asked him to just calculate it, and the owner quickly swiped the card.
“That young man seems to have something upsetting him. He came alone earlier and ate for a long time.”
“Is that so?”
Won-joon didn’t ask or answer any further and went back to his seat and woke up Kim Yi-eum. He supported him and took him outside, heading towards a nearby taxi. As he pushed Kim Yi-eum into the taxi, his head touched the top of the entrance, so he hurriedly put his hand on the crown of his head to protect him.
“Please go to ○○ Apartment in Baekhyeon-dong.”
As the taxi started, Kim Yi-eum couldn’t control his body and banged his head against the window. Won-joon wrapped his arm around Kim Yi-eum’s head and pulled him towards the direction he was sitting. His head fell onto his shoulder and he was as quiet as a mouse.
It’s strange because he’s so docile.
He looked down at his face and touched his lips. He was sleeping without a care in the world. Suddenly, an impulse surged, and he touched his lips outright. Then he sighed so loudly that his chest heaved and muttered to himself.
“…sorry…”
Won-joon brought his ear closer. What?
“I’m sorry… because of me… I’m really sorry…”
His voice was full of tears as he kept apologizing. Won-joon pressed his lips shut and didn’t say anything. He had his eyes closed, but he could roughly imagine what kind of look Kim Yi-eum had. So he couldn’t take his eyes off his face until he arrived at his destination.
“We’re here.”
After paying the taxi fare, he pulled Kim Yi-eum out, but now it was completely difficult for him to control his body. Without hesitation, Won-joon carried Kim Yi-eum over his shoulder. People passing by glanced and stared, but he didn’t care.
After pressing the password for the main entrance, he put Kim Yi-eum down in front of the elevator. He couldn’t stand properly and hugged Won-joon tightly. While riding the elevator, Won-joon whispered in Lee-eum’s ear.
“Am I staying over tonight?”
Kim Yi-eum didn’t answer, and Won-joon laughed.
“Okay. If that’s what you want.”
As soon as they got off the elevator, they arrived at the house, and he rummaged through Kim Yi-eum’s pockets to find his card. When it wasn’t in his pants pocket, he groped the chest area of his shirt, and Kim Yi-eum made a strange noise and laughed. When he touched him again, he laughed again, so Won-joon quickly took out his wallet and found the card there.
“You’re so sly. You like it when I touch your nipples.”
Even though he was teasing him with words, Kim Yi-eum didn’t recognize it at all, probably because he was drunk. After opening the door like that, he picked up Kim Yi-eum and strode into the bedroom. After laying him down on the bed, he slowly scanned Kim Yi-eum from head to toe.
He was quietly releasing pheromones, but there wasn’t even the slightest movement. Both at the club earlier and after coming out of the street vendor, he had been continuously releasing pheromones while they were alone, but Kim Yi-eum didn’t react.
Was it because of the Catalyst that he reacted that day? With a pitiful expression, Won-joon reached out and gently caressed Lee-eum’s cheek.
“That’s why others think you’re a Beta.”
The hand that had been on his cheek caressed his earlobe and gradually moved down. He groped his chest over his clothes and pressed down on his nipple, and he frowned, making a sound. For a moment, he felt a thirst and swallowed that area with his mouth.
As he bit his nipple through the fabric and moved his jaw up and down, a low groan was heard from his head. Even in his drunken state, the hand holding his shoulder gained strength and pushed him away, and Won-joon bared his front teeth and bit his nipple before letting go. He raised his head and looked up, and Kim Yi-eum was half-opening his eyes and panting.
Won-joon went up and faced Kim Yi-eum’s face, asking carefully.
“Do you want to do it with me?”
Kim Yi-eum repeatedly closed and opened his eyelids without saying a word, and Won-joon moved his lips to his earlobe.
“I’ll make you feel good. Huh?”
Honestly, if he was this drunk, he could just flip him over and thrust into him. But Kim Yi-eum had warned him several times, and judging from that, he would never just let it go this time. Won-joon whispered desperately in his ear.
“From now on, when I ask you a question, you just have to answer ‘yes.’ Got it?”
“Yes…”
He answered obediently, probably because of the alcohol, and Won-joon’s lips curled up.
“Kim Yi-eum, do you want to have sex with me?”
Lee-eum grabbed Won-joon’s shoulder. He wondered if he had come to his senses, but he slowly moved his pupils and looked at Won-joon properly.
“No…”
Won-joon couldn’t hide his annoyance.
“Why.”
Kim Yi-eum slowly closed his eyes and muttered like a sleep talk.
“You’re… a slut.”