RFL Ch 1

The Passion Pub, welcoming Friday night, was brightly lit and noisy. Even before Sooin stepped inside, he was greeted by drunks who had lost all sense of reason. He navigated past a group of intoxicated people playing tag and encountered a lawless bunch waving lit cigarettes around, barely able to stand.

This is why I hate school events.

Sooin sighed. He’d always found these events tiring, but especially now, nearing graduation, he wanted to avoid getting dragged into freshman welcoming parties. He hesitated, hand on the door, for a moment.

As if to rouse him from his indecision, a voice echoed in his head.

“I’ve been telling everyone that Kim Sooin is my star pupil! And you disappear for three years without a word!”

It was the day of his individual counseling session for readmission. Professor Kwak, his department advisor, had sprayed him with a barrage of spittle and complaints, just like during his lectures.

“You’re good at apologizing, aren’t you… Anyway, Kim Sooin, you’re attending this freshman welcoming party. I was already worried about leaving it all to Pyo Hyungyeon. This works out well. Go and make sure no one causes any trouble, and while you’re at it, get to know the kids.”

What kind of forced logic is this? Sooin had thought at the time, but outwardly, he just grinned. He gave a reassuring nod, promising to attend, and added a trustworthy closing remark.

“I’ll make sure there’s nothing for you to worry about, Professor.”

Remembering Professor Kwak’s satisfied smile, Sooin pushed the door open. If he couldn’t avoid it, it was better to get it over with quickly.

Loud music assaulted his ears the moment he stepped inside. Shouts, laughter, and someone leading a toast erupted every few seconds, creating a cacophony of noise.

Sooin slowly made his way into the chaotic scene. A pink banner celebrating the freshman welcome party fluttered in the warm air from the heater. Underneath the banner, at the main table, were more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones.

Just as he spotted the familiar faces of the student council members, their eyes met his.

“Hey, isn’t that Kim Sooin?”

“Huh? Sooin Sunbae!”

“Whoa, he actually came?”

“Holy crap, what? I thought he dropped out!”

Wide-eyed, they all turned to look at him. Before he could even utter a greeting, he was swept away. Hands reached out from everywhere, grabbing his arms and pulling him in different directions.

Carried along like a leaf on a stream, he finally came to a stop at the front of the table. Placed in the seat of honor without any official role, Sooin gave an awkward, silent laugh. Even this quiet reaction was met with whistles and cheers.

“What the hell have you been doing?”

“I heard a rumor you transferred. Is that not true?”

“I heard he got a job at a hotel overseas.”

Before he could distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar faces, a barrage of questions erupted, mostly echoing Professor Kwak’s inquiries.

Sooin simply maintained his habitual smile, taking off his coat. He draped the neatly folded coat over his arm and flashed a charming smile.

“At least let me sit down.”

His lighthearted joke drew laughter from the crowd. “Yeah, yeah, let him sit,” one of his classmates shouted good-naturedly, and proceeded to pour him a penalty drink. Everyone, except for one seemingly disgruntled upperclassman, cheered.

Ignoring the upperclassman, Sooin downed the drink in one gulp. Another round of cheers erupted.

Finally, he was able to sit. Even then, he was pushed, like driftwood, to the center of the table. Youngsoo, a junior, had forced him there, declaring he’d introduce their department’s pride and joy to the freshmen.

Although it was awkward to be suddenly placed among the freshmen, it was a familiar situation. He was used to being paraded around as the face of the department at the beginning of every semester.

He started by asking the freshmen their names, telling them they didn’t have to call him Sunbae, and clinking glasses. After a few rounds of this, the initially shy, youthful faces quickly relaxed. Especially the freshman named Choi, who sat right next to Sooin.

“Hyung, by the way…”

Already tipsy, Choi leaned against Sooin’s arm. While the other freshmen still hesitated to drop the honorific, Choi had quickly adopted the more casual “Hyung.”

Although he seems a little clueless.

“You’re an Alpha… right…?”

Choi nuzzled his warm, alcohol-flushed cheek against Sooin’s arm and giggled. The subtle scent he exuded intentionally revealed him to be an Omega.

Sooin simply smiled and raised his glass, downing the mixed drink in one go. Just then, the warmth of Choi leaning against him disappeared. Thanks to the girl sitting next to Choi.

“Hey, hey! Are you drunk? What are you doing to Sunbae-nim, you crazy idiot?”

“No… Yiso… Sooin Sunbae is…”

It seemed they were acquainted before becoming classmates. Yiso, as the girl was called, looked horrified and started pulling Choi away. Her hand slapped his back and arm without hesitation.

Despite the assault, Choi didn’t give up. He mumbled with alcohol-laced breath, his gaze fixed on Sooin. His eyes were hazy with drink, but the desire within them was quite blatant.

Might as well hear him out. Experience had taught Sooin that such displays of affection were best dealt with by giving them a chance to dissipate.

Sooin rested his chin on his hand and faced the freshman directly, his eyes gently crinkled in a way that encouraged him to continue. Choi’s face flushed.

“Sunbae is…”

“Sunbae is?”

Choi gulped. Yiso, standing frozen behind him, looked as though she might faint.

“Handsome… Totally my ideal type.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yiso screamed. Before Sooin could even react, she grabbed Choi and started dragging him away.

“Aack, shut up! You idiot… I’m so sorry, Sunbae-nim. He’s drunk…”

Yiso frantically apologized, bowing repeatedly as she pulled her classmate away from the table. Chairs scraped and the table wobbled as Choi struggled to break free.

The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the pub. The stares were enough to sober anyone up, but Choi was still persistent. Even as his feet dragged across the floor, he shook his head to avoid Yiso’s hand and shouted,

“Sunbae, really, mmmph! Totally… my type… uugh…”

Yiso screamed again. “Just shut up and come on!” After several desperate pleas, the pub door finally closed behind them. From beyond the door, Choi cried out one last time, “Sooin Sunbae!”

And that was the cue. Those who had been silently watching the struggle burst into laughter.

“Man, Kim Sooin’s still got it.”

Sooin gave a tight-lipped smile at the cheers, which were mostly jeers. “He’s just really drunk,” he replied calmly, and the jeers only intensified. As with any drinking party, the excitement, sparked by a trivial incident, showed no signs of dying down.

Back in school and already at the center of rumors. Sooin hid his exhaustion and played along. At least he’d managed to liven up the party, which meant he could appease Professor Kwak.

“Yeah, but Kim Sooin is past his prime.”

But there’s always someone to throw cold water on things. The upperclassman, who had been glaring at Sooin since the penalty drink, spoke up. The jovial atmosphere shifted subtly.

“He’s an old man now. There are fresh chicks around!”

The upperclassman, Pyo Hyungyeon, had been failing to graduate for ten years. Among Sooin’s classmates, he was known as the quintessential fossil, and among the younger students, who considered the term “fossil” outdated, he was simply known as a nuisance.

And this fossil was talking about being past one’s prime. He even laughed as if he’d told a hilarious joke, seeking agreement from those around him. “Right? Younger guys are all the rage these days,” he added, using outdated slang. Even the upperclassmen who had been teasing Sooin just moments ago averted their gazes, quietly refilling their drinks. The freshmen exchanged glances, some whispering, “What’s a ‘fresh chick’? What’s an ‘old man’?”

Sooin didn’t react. He simply smiled sweetly and said, “If Sunbae says so.” He knew this response would irritate Pyo Hyungyeon even more.

As expected, Pyo Hyungyeon stood up and walked over to Sooin, bringing a bottle of soju and glasses. He sat down next to Sooin and slammed the bottle and glasses onto the table with a rough clang.

“Now that I think about it, Kim Sooin, you arrived late today, didn’t you? You have to do the three-glass penalty.”

Confused looks were exchanged among the freshmen again. The freshman who had asked about “fresh chick” now whispered, “What’s the three-glass penalty?”

“I’ll pour them all at once so the alcohol doesn’t get warm. See? Such a thoughtful Sunbae,” Pyo Hyungyeon said, tilting the soju bottle over three lined-up glasses. He didn’t stop pouring until the glasses overflowed, spilling soju across the table. The freshman sitting opposite silently cursed.

Sooin handed a stack of napkins to the freshman and picked up the first glass. He’d come here to play the role of a shield anyway. In situations like this, it was better to quickly offer himself as the sacrificial lamb.

“Bottoms up! Chug, chug, chug!”

Pyo Hyungyeon chanted, and the hesitant freshmen started clapping along. His classmates and other upperclassmen gathered around, joining in the chanting and singing, the noise deafening.

Hoping it would end quickly, Sooin downed the first glass. He reached for the second when a deep voice came from behind the gleeful Pyo Hyungyeon.

“That’s my seat.”

Pyo Hyungyeon had taken the seat Choi had just occupied. So, if anyone had a claim to the seat, it was Choi. www

However, Choi’s voice bore no resemblance to the strangely familiar low voice Sooin had heard. Puzzled, Sooin tilted his head. Meanwhile, Pyo Hyungyeon turned around, his thick lips curled into a sneer that clearly said, “Who the hell is talking down to me?”

“I said it’s my seat.”

Finally, Sooin turned around as well, his brows furrowed from being interrupted mid-drink.

A large man stood there, his head tilted slightly as he looked down at Pyo Hyungyeon. His partially shadowed face held unusual features.

I know that face. The realization hit Sooin, and he gaped, forgetting the bitter taste of the soju. The color drained from his face in rare display of surprise.

“Oh, uh, hey… Our fresh chick Song Jaeyi has arrived!”

Pyo Hyungyeon’s attitude immediately changed. His lips, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, stretched into a wide grin. As if nothing had offended him, he chuckled and started joking.

“I’ll just finish this and go. Wait! It’s a three-glass penalty, so you have to do it too, right?”

Song Jaeyi, facing him, was expressionless. No, he looked irritated. He stood there, cocked an eyebrow, and asked in an annoyed tone,

“Three-glass what?”

The apprehensive atmosphere instantly turned icy. Even Pyo Hyungyeon, the epitome of a bully, found his lips tightening.

The awkward set of his mouth betrayed his inner struggle. To save face, he should be angry, but perhaps maintaining a playful attitude was better if he couldn’t win this confrontation.

“Three-glass bastard?”

Song Jaeyi put an end to Pyo Hyungyeon’s internal debate. He scoffed and asked, not even waiting for a reply. His insolent eyes, beneath raised eyebrows, quickly shifted to Sooin.

Looking at a stunned Sooin with a sneer, Song Jaeyi mouthed the words,

See you again.

That was their third encounter.

A chilling silence fell over the table. No one dared to intervene, observing Pyo Hyungyeon frozen in place and Song Jaeyi standing with his legs crossed.

Sooin predicted what would happen next. Once Pyo Hyungyeon realized he’d been openly disregarded by Song Jaeyi, his face would turn crimson, and he’d explode with curses and insults. The party would turn into exactly what Professor Kwak had feared – “Pyo Hyungyeon causing trouble.”

“Maybe kids these days don’t know what a three-glass penalty is.”

Damage control was necessary before things escalated. Sooin smiled gently and put his arm around Pyo Hyungyeon’s shoulders.

“Maybe I’m an old man, just like Sunbae said.”

He added a playful tone to his self-deprecating remark, and cracks appeared in Pyo Hyungyeon’s grim expression. He seemed to appreciate the friendly gesture.

“Right, I shouldn’t leave the drink Sunbae poured for me.”

Sooin quickly downed the remaining two glasses of soju. He winced as if the sweet alcohol was too bitter to handle. Leaning slightly against Pyo Hyungyeon, playing to his ego, he cued his classmates, who quickly jumped in to help.

“That’s right. I saw earlier that the kids didn’t even know what a ‘black knight’ is.”

“Whoa, right? So creepy. They didn’t know any of that stuff like black knight, black rose, wish, or anything.”

“And Song Jaeyi came from Canada. I think he’s not fluent in Korean yet!”

Desperate attempts to salvage the situation flew from all directions. Finally, Pyo Hyungyeon’s expression softened. He stood up with a “Tsk” and pulled out a cigarette.

“Hey, let’s go have a smoke.”

He tapped the cigarette pack against his palm nervously and brushed past Song Jaeyi’s shoulder, the height difference making it more of a shove to the chest. No one laughed. The tension remained, as everyone wondered if Song Jaeyi would react angrily.

But Song Jaeyi simply sat down without a word, his expression one of relief, as if he had finally reclaimed his rightful place.

Seizing the hard-won opportunity, the upperclassmen hurried out with Pyo Hyungyeon to appease him. The remaining freshmen whispered among themselves, glancing at Song Jaeyi, who was staring intently at Sooin.

I want to disappear.

Sooin thought, but knew it was impossible. So, he met Song Jaeyi’s gaze with a nonchalant expression.

“Fancy seeing you here. How have you been?”

The world is so small. Sooin forced out the words, suppressing the urge to curse.

“Looks like you’ve been doing well?”

Song Jaeyi’s filter seemed to be broken. He replied with the same arrogant, cold tone as their first meeting.

The surrounding freshmen, who had been subtly eavesdropping, flinched. Aware of their presence, Sooin lowered his voice. He gave Song Jaeyi a pointed look that said, “Behave yourself,” and smiled.

“Yeah, thanks to you.”

But Song Jaeyi wasn’t cooperating. He twisted the knife further.

“Amazing. I’ve been doing fucking terribly, thanks to you.”

Didn’t someone just say he wasn’t fluent in Korean? The unexpected attack caught Sooin off guard, and for a moment, he lost his composure.

Quickly regaining his usual calm demeanor, Sooin stood up. Getting this ticking time bomb away from the others was the priority. He cleared his throat, trying not to betray his urgency.

“Jaeyi, shall we talk outside?”

“……”

Song Jaeyi looked up at Sooin with a look that clearly asked, “Why should I?” Sooin racked his brain. He’d never tried to coax someone into doing something, so he wasn’t sure what to say.

“Um… I’ll buy you ice cream.”

That’s what the upperclassmen always used to say. Sooin dredged up the memory, trying out someone else’s tactic.

Song Jaeyi scoffed, seemingly muttering something about how ridiculous it was. But he stood up, which meant the tactic wasn’t entirely baseless. Intrigued, Sooin quickly led the way before he could change his mind.

The secluded alleyway to the left of the Passion Pub had a peculiar shape. The building was built diagonally, creating a blind spot from the street as you went deeper inside. Furthermore, the smoking area was on the right side, leaving the left alley deserted.

He knew this thanks to the man he dated two years ago, who was five years older.

Their first encounter began with the man mistaking Sooin for an Alpha, like everyone else. His opening line was a blatant proposition to spend a heat cycle together.

Sooin had never dated a man before, but he didn’t feel any particular aversion. A one-night stand wasn’t a big deal, and he always enjoyed sharing warmth with another person.

Even after they spent the night together and the man learned Sooin was a Beta, he continued to contact him. The texts, which initially contained only hotel addresses, changed to movie and dinner invitations, and their relationship transformed. Exactly two months later, the man confessed he couldn’t live without Sooin.

Sooin couldn’t relate to the man’s desperate pronouncements of missing him every second, but he accepted the confession. The man was earnest, and Sooin generally wanted to preserve that earnestness. Life tended to be quite dull after losing it.

Overflowing with affection, the man would often try to get close, even when they were just having drinks. Each time, Sooin would gently remind him, with a kind smile, of how unseemly public displays of affection were.

And this alleyway, to the left of the Passion Pub, was where the man would drag Sooin for a cigarette. Secluded enough to be hidden from view, it was a place where any honest act or word was possible.

“You go to our school.”

“So it seems.”

“I never thought we’d meet like this.”

“Me neither.”

Song Jaeyi leaned against the black metal door of the building, his expression daring Sooin to speak.

Sooin met his arrogant gaze and said calmly,

“I apologize again for that day. Something urgent came up, and I couldn’t make it.”

He felt a pang of guilt, but it was over. He’d apologized, and he hadn’t taken any payment for the missed work. There were no outstanding debts.

“I understand if you’re upset with me. But could you please not make things uncomfortable for the people around us?”

A clear and concise conclusion. Shouldn’t that be enough? Sooin tilted his head with a relaxed expression. “Hmm?” he asked gently, and Song Jaeyi let out a hollow laugh. Sooin thought he heard the word “bullshit” muttered under his breath.

“What kind of emergency makes you unable to contact someone for over two days? We were talking fine the night before, and then suddenly, nothing.

“……”

“You ghosted me, then sent a single text message. You call that an apology? I don’t.”

Well… his eloquence has improved. That was the only thought that crossed Sooin’s mind, completely speechless.

Admittedly, there was no room for excuses. He had agreed to work for a hefty 200,000 won per hour but disappeared on the day itself, and as Song Jaeyi said, hadn’t even contacted him. Normally, such a thing would never happen to Kim Sooin.

However, that day, Kim Sooin genuinely had unavoidable circumstances. Circumstances that would explain disappearing on the day itself after communicating perfectly fine until the day before, and remaining out of contact for several days.

“I guess people have always fallen for your fake act. But that bullshit doesn’t work on me.”

Song Jaeyi pushed himself off the wall and slowly walked towards Sooin, his shadow looming, increasingly menacing. Sooin forced a placating smile.

“We were lovers, even if it was fake. That’s harsh, Jaeyi.”

“Lovers, my ass. You broke your promise, Sunbae.”

Who the hell spread the rumor that this guy wasn’t fluent in Korean? Sooin let out an incredulous laugh.

Song Jaeyi, however, didn’t laugh. His eyes burned with intensity, the shadows deepening on his already sharp nose. His expression was fierce, as if he might throw a punch at any moment.

“Take responsibility for me.”

His breath hitched as he got closer. Boiling anger seeped from his dark eyes. A faint scent of pheromones, revealing him to be a dominant Alpha, began to emanate from him.

Song Jaeyi mistook Sooin for an Alpha. So, he probably interpreted the small amount of Alpha pheromones as a warning. But Sooin was at a loss. He instinctively pushed Song Jaeyi away.

“Wait, I get it, so back off.”

As soon as Sooin pushed him, Song Jaeyi grabbed his wrist, pulling him closer. The faint scent of pheromones suddenly intensified. Sooin gasped.

“You think I don’t know you’re trying to run away again? Be honest. You met my father first that day, didn’t you?”

“What the hell… Wait, get lost.”

“He offered you more money, so you went with him, right? That’s what people like you do.”

Sooin didn’t understand the accusations. His mind felt foggy, as if deprived of oxygen. It was the first time he’d been directly exposed to another person’s pheromones.

I have no immunity to even this small amount of pheromones? The sudden changes in his body were so bewildering that he couldn’t speak. He lowered his head slightly, trying to catch his breath, but it was difficult. Every shallow breath was choked by the heavy scent of tropical flowers.

Song Jaeyi, unaware of Sooin’s struggle, seemed to interpret his silence as a prelude to escape. His solid body pressed closer, radiating heat. Sooin clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the shock that coursed through him.

“I told you I had a reason, you punk. Have you been living under a rock?”

He shoved Song Jaeyi’s chest hard, creating a loud thud, and finally, Song Jaeyi released him. He stepped back and replied with a sigh,

“Yes.”

“Yes,” what?

Sooin was dumbfounded, but then he realized he had, in fact, deceived Song Jaeyi. I really have nothing to say… He muttered, leaning against the wall. His legs felt weak after the brief struggle.

“I asked what the reason was.”

As the distance between them increased, the scent of pheromones faded. Despite this, Sooin’s chest heaved. His breathing, once destabilized, showed no signs of calming down. He let out an exasperated sigh and glared at Song Jaeyi.

“I presented that day.”

“……”

“As an Omega.”

The moment he uttered the last word, Sooin cursed inwardly. He felt an uncomfortable sensation between his thighs. His body, finally reacting to the pheromones, was preparing to receive something. Kim Sooin, a novice Omega, clutched his head, unable to cope with the unfamiliar changes.

Song Jaeyi, silent for a moment, frowned.

“…You said you were an Alpha. You lied?”

His handsome eyebrows furrowed, a deep crease forming between them. Contrary to his harsh expression, the pheromones surrounding them began to dissipate. It felt as though the fog clouding Sooin’s mind was lifting.

Sooin pressed his throbbing temples, trying to recall their first meeting. The day he’d jumped at the high hourly wage and readily agreed to the strange part-time job.

“I don’t remember saying I was an Alpha.”

With that reply, Sooin recalled that day. The afternoon he first met the employer, who was clearly a dominant Alpha.

---

A man, who was “clearly a dominant Alpha,” sat in the middle of a large café. The ceiling soared two stories high.

Gray brick walls rose high on all sides, creating an imposing atmosphere. It felt like trespassing in a fortified castle. The stark yet beautiful ambiance didn’t suit a job interview.

Sooin felt unusually intimidated as he walked through the café. The weekday morning quiet amplified the sound of his footsteps on the dark floor. He was anxious about the approaching interview time but couldn’t rush.

Large potted plants were scattered throughout the café, which was furnished with cold metal tables and chairs. The leaves, the only splashes of color in the monochrome space, were excessively large and vibrant. Searching for the employer among them felt like hunting prey.

A seat where I can see a blue painting.

Based on the text message from the employer, Sooin tried to pinpoint his location.

He stood facing a large oil painting hanging on the wall and slowly turned in a circle, like a human compass. He saw a table with four women, a couple kissing in front of them, and three men looking at magazines in a corner booth. Eliminating all of them left only one candidate.

The man who was clearly a dominant Alpha.

Surely, it can’t be him. But he was the only one sitting alone where the blue painting was visible. Sooin looked at the man questioningly. Their eyes met for the third time as the man noticed Sooin’s gaze and narrowed his eyes.

Sooin was here for an interview for a “lover-for-hire” part-time job. The only requirements were “Beta or Alpha male” and “Over 180cm tall.” The hourly wage of 200,000 won was too good to pass up, so he applied without hesitation.

“He’s probably a balding Omega in his 40s. If he tries to get in your pants, just play along and squeeze more money out of him.”

Choi Jooyoung had said, smacking his gum. It was a vulgar and discriminatory remark, a relic of the past, steeped in lookism and prejudice against Omegas. Annoyed, Sooin had flipped him off.

But despite criticizing Choi Jooyoung, Sooin couldn’t help but think the same way. Even if this man was the only person sitting alone in the café, it seemed unlikely that a dominant Alpha would be looking for a lover-for-hire. Because…

The man was beautiful. Undeniably, strikingly handsome. The shadows on his nose were visible even from afar, and his jawline was sharp and defined.

At the same time, the delicate curve of his nose and lips gave him a subtle, intriguing look. His tall stature was evident even while seated, his broad shoulders and straight back picturesque. He possessed a physique that ordinary people couldn’t achieve without innate good looks and a disciplined lifestyle. His clothes and watch looked expensive, even to Sooin, who knew nothing about brands.

Why would a man like that need a lover-for-hire at 200,000 won per hour? Sooin scoffed at himself for thinking similarly to Choi Jooyoung and circled the café again. But the result was the same. The man was the only person sitting alone in the vast café.

Is it really him? He frowned, and their eyes met again. For the fourth time.

The man’s sharply defined eyebrows twitched. He seemed annoyed by Sooin loitering and glancing at him. Sooin couldn’t blame him. He was about to explain that he was looking for someone when…

The man moved his hand. Still frowning, his elegant fingers tapped the screen of his phone. Perhaps because of his appearance, even this simple action seemed dramatic. It wouldn’t be out of place if he were to utter a line like, “Get rid of that annoying guy over there.”

Sooin almost laughed at his own absurd imagination. He quickly turned around, covering his mouth. I must look like a creep. Just as he was about to walk away, his phone vibrated in his coat pocket. It was a call from “Blue Painting.”

He checked his watch. He was already late. No employer welcomed a late interviewee. Sooin quickly composed himself and put on a friendly voice.

“Hello, this is Kim Sooin.”

The other side was silent for a moment. An uncomfortable silence.

“You’re here, right? I apologize. I got lost inside the café. Could you tell me what you’re wearing today…?”

Not wanting to lose the job, Sooin explained calmly and politely. But he was interrupted by a sound. The scraping of a chair being pushed back.

Then came the sound of footsteps. The rustle of high-quality shirt and coat fabric cutting through the warm café air. Someone stopped very close to Sooin and let out a short sigh.

“Turn around.”

—Turn around.

The same words echoed from behind him and from the phone. A tap on his shoulder startled him. Uncharacteristically flustered, Sooin turned around with wide eyes. The man he’d been scrutinizing stood before him.

He seemed twice as large standing up. Even though they weren’t that different in height, the man’s presence was strangely overwhelming. Like the café’s stark walls, he possessed a power that compelled Sooin to look up.

“Are you always this slow on the uptake? That’s going to be a problem.”

A critical assessment, bordering on an insult, came before Sooin even had a chance to sit down. He didn’t let it show.

“I’m not like this when I work.”

This was a 200,000 won per hour job. Pride was a luxury.

“…Let’s sit and talk.”

The man, his expression unreadable, walked ahead. Sooin followed, clearing his throat.

Untouched drinks sat on the table. Sensing he wouldn’t have another chance to drink it, Sooin quickly took a sip of his coffee before setting it down.

Their eyes met again. The man continued to observe him with an impassive expression, his gaze sweeping from the top of Sooin’s head to his feet. The blatant scrutiny was unpleasant, but Sooin maintained a neutral expression.

After a while, the man, who had been studying Sooin like a work of art, asked,

“You’re an Alpha, right?”

Sooin blinked. The job posting hadn’t specified that being an Alpha was an absolute requirement. But the glint in the man’s eyes clearly indicated his preference, so Sooin hesitated to answer truthfully. He licked his lips, conflicted, when the man spoke again.

“You look more like the type my father would hate than anyone I’ve seen so far.”

The man delivered a cryptic assessment to a hesitant Sooin. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Sooin let out a soft, involuntary chuckle. The man added,

“That’s why I like it. I’m hiring a lover to torment him, you see.”

In that moment, Sooin swallowed his honest answer about being a Beta. He’d been mistaken for an Alpha hundreds of times in his life. He could easily handle a spoiled rich kid’s scheme to annoy his father.

“Thank you.”

Conscience was also a luxury in the face of money. Sooin simply offered a polite smile.

❤︎₊ ⊹

That brief interview ended with, “I’ll contact you soon.” After a few days passed with no word, Sooin gave up hope. He’d been through enough interviews and jobs to know he’d been rejected.

Sooin deleted the contact saved as “Blue Painting” without a second thought. Although he felt a tinge of regret, he was fine. He could make up for the lost income by increasing his hours at the café and taking on more tutoring sessions. Besides, since that day three years ago, Sooin had decided to avoid living a life of longing. The principle was simple:

Don’t expect or wish for too much. Then he could remain composed even in the face of sudden misfortune. For example, like in moments like this.

“Sooin Hyung totally looks the type. I bet he’s been living off his looks.”

Sooin, on his way to take out the trash, stopped in front of the café’s back door. Agitated voices drifted from beyond the metal door that led to the alley.

“Dude, forget about him. He just played you.”

“Right. I think it’s for the best! That type is scarier than an outright playboy. They smile and act nice, but they’re rotten inside!”

Between the two loud voices, a sob was audible. It sounded like Geonhui, who had confessed his feelings to Sooin a month ago.

Geonhui had pleaded with Sooin to date him for just one week, even if Sooin didn’t like him back. So, Sooin agreed. There was no reason to push away someone who claimed they’d die if Sooin didn’t date them.

He’d done his best during their week together. They talked every night, and Sooin even covered Geonhui’s shifts at the café. Since it was only a week-long relationship, they didn’t go to each other’s homes, but Sooin eventually gave in to Geonhui’s incessant pleas and went to a hotel with him. We were dating, after all. A one-night stand isn’t a sin.

“Isn’t that basically using and dumping someone?”

“Exactly. He’s probably a repeat offender.”

Or is it a sin? Sooin set down the large trash bag and scratched his forehead. It was consensual between two adults. What’s the problem? But since he was the one who initiated the breakup after a week, he decided to just listen. Meanwhile, the gossip beyond the black door grew increasingly malicious.

“Honestly, this is just my guess… but I think that Hyung has a sugar daddy.”

“Huh? A sugar daddy?”

“I mean, someone who works part-time at a café and tutors multiple students to pay for tuition… Did you see his watch? That’s a ten-million-won watch.”

“Holy shit, really?”

As the voices grew louder, someone shushed them. Geonhui, who had been quiet, sniffled and added, “So that’s what he was like. I didn’t know.” Even Sooin felt sorry for him. His friends started raising their voices again. They concluded that Kim Sooin was a jerk and decided to go out for drinks. The group, after a flurry of curses, gradually dispersed.

Sooin waited until the alley was completely silent before emerging. He had a feeling things would be troublesome for a while, but it would pass. The café job paid well, and the manager, Soyoung, was a good person. Plus, it was close to campus, making it convenient for the upcoming semester. He couldn’t lose the job over mere rumors.

He quickly brushed off his unease. The world always showed you what you wanted to see. Taking everything seriously would suffocate him.

So, Sooin lived as detached as possible. The desperate longing that Geonhui and his ex from two years ago expressed – “I can’t live without you” – was the first emotion Sooin discarded.

He replaced it with thoughts like, “I guess so. Or not. It can’t be helped. You gotta do what you gotta do.” This made most things bearable.

Back inside, the café was bustling with a sudden influx of drunk customers, keeping Sooin busy until closing time. He left the darkened café and headed home. He absentmindedly checked his phone, which was devoid of any notifications.

On his way home, he stopped by the convenience store. He was out of food waste bags, and he had a craving for beer. He placed two packs of imported beer on the counter.

The clerk, a gruff-looking man who was probably an Alpha, was always unfriendly. He also seemed to mistake Sooin for an Alpha, and perhaps because of that, he was much more curt with Sooin than other customers. Today, he’d glared at Sooin without greeting him and hadn’t bothered to ask if he needed a bag.

To make matters worse, the amount displayed on the POS system seemed higher than usual. Since when were food waste bags so expensive? Sooin’s eyes widened, and he quickly put one of the beer packs back. The price still seemed too high, so he put back the other pack and placed a single can of beer on the counter.

Each time, the clerk sighed dramatically, not even bothering to tell Sooin the price, just jerking his chin towards the POS system while leaning against the counter. His thick eyebrows seemed to be telling Sooin to just pay up.

Sooin grabbed a lollipop from the display and added it to his purchase. The clerk sighed again at the additional item. Sooin offered him the lollipop.

“Having a bad day?”

“…Excuse me?”

“You keep sighing.”

Sooin smiled, his large eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Cheer up.”

He made a fist, and the clerk flinched, stepping back before returning with an embarrassed look. “Uh, yeah…” he mumbled, accepting the lollipop. Sooin added a polite “Have a good night” and left the store. A mumbled “Goodbye…” followed him out.

Sooin walked with a food waste bag in one coat pocket and a can of beer in the other. The mismatched contents peeked out from his sleek, black coat, leaving him with nowhere to put his hands.

So, he walked holding his phone, which never received any calls or messages. The usually silent device felt even more dormant today. That’s strange. He was wondering why when the phone vibrated in his cold hand. The number wasn’t saved.

But there was a familiar quality to the unknown number. Could it be? The thought of “Blue Painting” crossed his mind, and Sooin quickly answered the call.

“Hello, this is Kim Sooin.”

— When are you free?

The man’s tone was still direct, bordering on rude, but again, Sooin remained calm.

He hadn’t expected or longed for this call, but the moment he received it, he realized he’d desperately wanted it. He’d tried to convince himself that increasing his hours at the café and taking on more tutoring sessions would be enough, but he’d been anxious.

“Tomorrow works for me.”

Like this, I can’t help but still live with expectations. Sooin let out a sigh of a laugh and continued the conversation.

The man explained that a family gathering had been moved forward by a week, leaving him with limited time. Sooin considered whether he could adjust his part-time job schedule next week and replied, “Yes, it is a bit tight.” The call was short. They exchanged pleasantries and names and hung up.

Sooin walked home with a lighter step. The relief of solving a problem outweighed the burden of becoming a fake lover to a man he barely knew. His fingers excitedly typed a message.

I’ll adjust to the rate increase you requested. Thank you for your continued support.

Less than ten minutes after he pressed send, he received an apologetic reply. It was from the caregiver who looked after his younger brother, who had been in a vegetative state for three years.

She had nothing to apologize for. She’d been working for less than other caregivers for three years and often brought Sooin side dishes. Of course, her request for a 10,000 won raise per day translated into a significant monthly burden for Sooin, but that wasn’t anyone’s fault.

I’m sorry I couldn’t take care of it sooner.

He added a smiling emoticon and sent the message before opening the large gate to his home. His only happiness, preserved amidst countless misfortunes, lay within.

Beyond the red gate lay a two-story house and a small garden. Sooin strode up the stone steps of the gentle slope, his tall frame quickly reaching the wooden bench.

The peeling, creaking bench was a project he’d diligently assembled with his parents ten years ago. So, despite his energetic approach, he sat down carefully. The bench creaked in greeting as his weight settled upon it.

In the darkness of the winter night, Sooin took out the cold beer and gulped it down like someone dying of thirst in midsummer. A few swallows emptied half the heavy can. He felt a sense of relief.

Another text message arrived. Assuming it was another apology from the caregiver, he checked the screen with a slightly bitter expression.

But this message was from someone far removed from apologies.

(Unknown Number)

Did you save my number?

Let’s save each other’s numbers as if we’re close, starting now.

The message itself lacked any sense of closeness. The strangely textbook-like tone made Sooin chuckle. He let out a soft snort of laughter and took another sip of beer. He typed a quick reply with one hand.

(Unknown Number)

As what? Honey, darling, my love? Something like that?

The message was read instantly. Curious about the reply, Sooin kept his eyes glued to the screen as he drank.

(Unknown Number)

Honey, darling, my love.

Sooin spat out the remaining beer.

(Unknown Number)

They’re all cheesy.

Coughing and sputtering with laughter, he went inside. Meanwhile, another message arrived from Song Jaeyi.

(Unknown Number)

Let’s just use names.

“This guy’s never been in a relationship.”

Sooin shook his head, washing his sticky hands. As soon as he dried them, he replied that using names didn’t sound close at all. But Song Jaeyi was resolute.

(Unknown Number)

If we act too lovey-dovey, my father will get suspicious. He’s sharp.

He doesn’t hesitate to call my suggestion “too lovey-dovey.” Despite that, perhaps because he was five years younger, or because of the sweet lure of 200,000 won per hour, or perhaps because he’d provided some much-needed amusement, Sooin didn’t find him entirely annoying. He just chuckled in disbelief and nodded.

(Unknown Number)

Okay, I’ll save your name. You should at least call me Sooin Hyung, Jaeyi.