107

Do-won checked the message and turned to Yu-young.

“Assistant Manager Han, go ahead and have your meal.”

“Huh? What about you, Team Leader?”

“I have an urgent appointment. I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“…Ah, I see. Enjoy your meal, then.”

Yu-young answered obediently, but his wide eyes and puzzled expression made it clear he had no idea what was going on. Do-won usually ate with the team. There had been times when he had gone out for a work-related lunch alone, but never this suddenly.

Do-won felt a strong urge to reach out and ruffle Yu-young’s hair, but he held back. Instead, he just gave a slight nod before turning away.

There was no way Sun-hyung could come inside the company building, but even so, Do-won didn’t want Yu-young and Sun-hyung to run into each other. Since Sun-hyung was already waiting outside, it was best to get him away from the office as quickly as possible.

His pace quickened on its own.

Reaching the first floor, Do-won made his way toward the entrance. The moment he spotted Sun-hyung standing by the security gate, his face hardened.

Practically striding over, he didn’t bother with greetings and got straight to the point.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s been a while, Do-won.”

Sun-hyung tilted his head slightly and smiled.

Tall and slender, with delicate, refined features—seeing him again after so long, Do-won remained silent.

Sun-hyung was the same as ever, for better or worse. His neatly controlled pheromones, his polite smile, and behind them, that ever-present arrogance and subtle provocation in his eyes.

“You should have set up a meeting in advance. What are you pulling here?”

“Do-won.”

Despite the sharp reprimand, Sun-hyung showed no sign of backing down.

“It’s really been a long time. If I hadn’t done this, would we even have met?”

“……”

“You know I get it. That you hate things like this. But it’s been so long—can’t you at least just be happy to see me? I only came to have lunch with you.”

Looking up at him as he spoke, Sun-hyung’s tone was casual, but Do-won let out a deep sigh.

Only now did he realize just how on edge he had been. He had been too preoccupied with making sure Yu-young and Sun-hyung wouldn’t cross paths, worrying that Yu-young might get hurt because of it.

“…Fine. Let’s go. Where’s your car?”

“Oh, I didn’t feel like driving, so I took a taxi.”

“You didn’t go to work today?”

“I took the day off. Needed a break.”

Sun-hyung smiled and naturally reached for Do-won’s arm as he stepped through the gate.

Do-won frowned slightly, grabbed Sun-hyung’s hand, and removed it without a word before gesturing toward the exit.

“Wait outside. I’ll bring my car around.”

“Mm. Are we going far? I don’t mind wherever.”

“There’s nowhere decent around here during lunch hours. We’ll have to go a bit farther.”

After sending Sun-hyung outside, Do-won quickly headed down to the underground parking lot.

There were a few quiet restaurants a short drive away that he remembered.

Am I overreacting?

It’s just an old friend grabbing a meal.

Even as he muttered that to himself, his hands moved mechanically, starting the car and pressing down on the accelerator.

When he had first seen Sun-hyung’s face, his immediate reaction had been suspicion—Why did he come all the way here? But after thinking about it again, maybe he was being too harsh.

During their last phone call, Sun-hyung had been crying, demanding, How could you get married without even telling me? So it was understandable to be wary.

He couldn’t fully let his guard down, but if Sun-hyung had come all this way, maybe it meant he was beginning to accept the situation.

And, truthfully, Do-won didn’t want to completely cut ties with him either.

They had been in each other’s lives for too long to become enemies. If Sun-hyung could act like nothing had happened, maybe he had someone new in his life. If that was the case, Do-won genuinely wished him well.

With that thought, he pulled up in front of the building where Sun-hyung was waiting.

Sun-hyung opened the passenger door to get in, but Do-won stopped him with a subtle motion.

“Not there. Get in the back.”

“…What?”

“Sorry, but I need you to sit in the back. My spouse is sensitive to pheromones.”

For a brief moment, Sun-hyung’s face twisted, but he quickly masked it with an easygoing expression.

“Alright, then.”

Without further complaint, he slid into the back seat.

Do-won smoothly accelerated.

It was obvious Sun-hyung had been caught off guard, but there was no helping it.

Yu-young was sensitive to pheromones. If another person even briefly sat in his usual spot, he would notice and feel uncomfortable.

And beyond that—Do-won simply didn’t want anyone else sitting in his car’s passenger seat.

The drive wasn’t long, about twenty minutes, and they soon arrived at a restaurant on the outskirts of the city.

It was a quiet place, but since it was lunchtime and they hadn’t made a reservation, Do-won was prepared to wait. Fortunately, a couple of tables were still available, and they were seated right away.

As soon as they sat down, Do-won glanced at his watch. It wasn’t particularly late, but for some reason, he felt an urgency pressing on him. At the same time, Yu-young’s face—his wide eyes looking up at him—overlapped with that feeling.

That pale face seemed to be the reason behind his growing impatience, the sense that he needed to return quickly.

Still, he tried not to let it show as he poured himself some water, but Sun-hyung abruptly spoke.

“How’s married life?”

Do-won had expected questions about his marriage, but he hadn’t thought Sun-hyung would start with this the moment they sat down.

He cleared his throat briefly before giving a short but careful response.

“It’s good.”

“What exactly is good about it?”

“What kind of question is that? …Just everything.”

His reply was indifferent, but Sun-hyung caught the fleeting emotion that flickered in Do-won’s eyes.

At times like this, he hated that they had been friends for so long. He wished he hadn’t recognized that warmth buried beneath Do-won’s seemingly dry gaze.

Suppressing the turmoil bubbling inside him, Sun-hyung forced a smile.

“What was his name again? Han Yu-young? What kind of person is he?”

As he asked, he carefully observed Do-won’s reaction. Since Do-won wasn’t showing any particular response, it seemed Yu-young hadn’t told him about their meeting with Madam Lee yesterday.

That was unexpected.

Sun-hyung had assumed Yu-young would run straight to Do-won and spill everything.

Then again, if Yu-young had mentioned it, Do-won wouldn’t have followed him here so easily. He would have come at him with that fierce expression, demanding to know why he had arranged such a meeting.

The mere thought made Sun-hyung clench his fists in anger.

But for now, it was fortunate.

“Sun-hyung.”

Instead of answering, Do-won spoke in a quiet voice.

“Why don’t you answer me first? Are you okay now? If not, there’s no point in this conversation.”

“Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Sun-hyung let out a laugh, baring his teeth slightly.

“I’m not someone who has to grovel for affection. Once I looked around, I realized there are plenty of great people out there. It made all those years of looking only at you feel completely pointless.”

He stole a glance at Do-won’s face as he spoke, hoping—just hoping—that he would see some reaction, some flicker of unease.

It was foolish, but he still wanted it.

That hope was utterly crushed.

“So, did you meet someone?”

Do-won’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest.

Sun-hyung’s face twisted for a moment.

“I’m happy for you. Congratulations.”

Do-won’s voice was calm—too calm.

It wasn’t just indifference.

With his gaze lowered, smiling faintly, Do-won looked as though he felt relieved.

Even if my feelings had always been one-sided, did he have to look so freed by it?

Watching Do-won’s face, Sun-hyung felt something simmering deep within him.

Hatred.

A new, seething hatred toward that small omega—one that he had never felt in all his years by Do-won’s side.

But he forced himself to keep it hidden, managing to smile again.

He had come here with a firm resolve. He wasn’t about to let his emotions ruin his plans.

Because he hadn’t come all this way just to congratulate his married friend and share a simple lunch.

“Yeah. We’re still getting to know each other, but it’s nice to hear congratulations in advance.”

Good people? That’s bullshit.

Cursing inwardly, Sun-hyung elegantly picked up his utensils.

“Let’s eat. You have to get back soon, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Eat plenty.”

Do-won’s voice was as warm and steady as ever.

The voice Sun-hyung had once loved so much.

That only made the fire inside him burn hotter.

His grip on his fork tightened instinctively.

If that omega had never appeared—

If he hadn’t, Do-won might have eventually given in to his family’s pressure and considered marrying him.

They had been close enough to understand each other with just a glance.

The time they had spent together was something that insignificant omega could never compare to.

It might have been awkward at first, transitioning from friends to something more, but living together would have made it easy to adjust.

And the whole thing just didn’t make sense.

Choi Do-won wasn’t the type to fall for someone at first sight, let alone push for marriage in such a short time.

And that omega? He wasn’t nearly captivating enough to warrant such an exception.

Sure, he had a pretty, cute face, but his personality seemed far from gentle.

Do-won had always despised omegas like that.

There had to be something else.

One year.

That was the time limit.

Before then, he would find out everything about their relationship.

And he would tear them apart.

They weren’t even officially married yet—no pregnancy, no legal registration, no imprinting.

What kind of marriage is that?

Recalling what he had once told Madam Lee, Sun-hyung quietly cut into his food and took a bite.