DFLT 30

Time passed uneventfully. Yeonoh was gradually adjusting to the new department, familiar yet unfamiliar tasks, and new colleagues he was working with for the first time. Even as he struggled through each day in an environment that flowed naturally around him…

“Yeonoh.”

“…….”

“Yeonoh!”

Whenever the relentless pace of daily life showed even the slightest crack, thoughts of Seo Heonyoung would slip through, sometimes plunging him into a bottomless abyss. Like now, for instance.

“Yes? Yes?”

“Why are you zoning out like that?”

Dojin, looking at the dazed Yeonoh, let out a small chuckle as if amused.

“Oh… Sorry.”

“You worked late yesterday. I hope I didn’t drag you out for nothing.”

“No, I wanted to come out.”

“What do you think?”

It was the weekend, and they were at a tailor shop for Dojin’s suit fitting, as he’d recently had one made. Heonyoung frequented this place too, so it was familiar.

“It looks really great.”

Yeonoh answered with a bright smile. Meeting Yeonoh’s crescent-shaped eyes, Dojin glanced away and approached the tailor. Left alone again, Yeonoh recalled coming here about a year ago for Heonyoung’s new suit fitting. It must have been this same spot.

‘What do you think, Ji Yeonoh?’

Seo Heonyoung looked impeccable in any outfit, and a suit tailored for him was, needless to say, stunning. As Heonyoung casually asked while checking the fit, Yeonoh, thoroughly flustered, couldn’t look him in the eye and answered in a crawling voice.

‘It’s… good.’

Ugh, why did he answer like that? It might have sounded like his ‘good’ was laden with personal feelings.

Half-worried, half-thrilled by his feelings for Seo Heonyoung, he looked up to see Heonyoung staring down with a sullen expression.

‘Then why do you look like you’ve bitten something sour?’

‘No, it’s not that!’

‘Is it my neck feeling bare? Grab a tie.’

When Yeonoh handed over the tie Heonyoung pointed to, Heonyoung, collar up, looked at him expectantly.

‘You think I can tie it looking like this?’

Showing his pinned-up sleeves, Heonyoung put Yeonoh in an awkward spot. Holding his breath and ignoring his pounding heart, Yeonoh reached out. But reaching Heonyoung’s shoulders, a good 20cm taller, was impossible without standing on tiptoes.

‘Didn’t you drink milk as a kid?’

That didn’t seem like something a dominant alpha should say to an ordinary beta. Grumbling inwardly, Yeonoh saw Heonyoung lean down with a smirk, his face suddenly close. Overwhelmed by Heonyoung’s scent, Yeonoh’s breathing faltered, and his hand holding the tie trembled.

“Yeonoh, come here.”

Dojin’s familiar voice snapped Yeonoh’s focus back. Having finished pinning, Dojin stood with the tailor, gesturing to Yeonoh.

“Yes, sunbae?”

“Try this on.”

Dojin draped his jacket over Yeonoh. As an alpha, Dojin was much taller and broader, so the jacket was oversized, and wearing a suit jacket over a sweatshirt looked comical. Yeonoh let out a small laugh, but Dojin was serious.

“It suits you. Clothes really make the man.”

“Expensive clothes have their reasons. Still, it looks better on you, sunbae.”

“Designer, can you take his measurements?”

Dojin pointed to Yeonoh, addressing the designer, who Yeonoh frantically waved off.

“No, no! Sunbae, I’m serious, I’m not doing this.”

“I want to do this for you.”

“If you keep spending big money on me every time we meet, I’ll feel too burdened to see you.”

The designer left to fetch supplies, leaving them alone. Dojin spoke calmly.

“When I saw your suit last time, it broke my heart. Think of it as a belated congratulations for your job, a celebration for your department transfer, and for escaping a lousy boss—all rolled into one. A close hyung giving a nice gift. It’ll make me feel better. Okay?”

“…….”

“Okay?”

No matter how many reasons he gave, Yeonoh couldn’t accept it and refused repeatedly, but Dojin was steadfast. Caught between the designer waiting with a measuring tape and Dojin’s insistence that good clothes lead to good results, Yeonoh finally gave in. They agreed on the cheapest fabric, and his measurements were taken.

Exhausted after helping Dojin drop off his finished suit at his place, Yeonoh sighed while rummaging for the visitor pass to return at the residence lobby. With too many items, he’d left the pass on the shoe rack and come down without it.

“I forgot the visitor pass. I’ll go get it.”

Waiting for the elevator to come back down while texting Dojin, the chime sounded as it reached the ground floor. Focused on his phone, Yeonoh stepped forward and bumped into something solid.

“Oh, sorry!”

Realizing it wasn’t a wall but a person, Yeonoh rubbed his stinging forehead and apologized. Looking up after apologizing, he saw—

“Ji Yeonoh?”

Oh no. It was Seo Heonyoung, of all people.

How could they meet here? Stunned at the unexpected encounter, Yeonoh gaped like a startled goldfish before realizing this was Heonyoung’s residence. It was stranger for an uninvited Ji Yeonoh to show up.

“Uh, uh, hello, Executive Director.”

Yeonoh gave an awkward smile and greeted first. Naturally, no response came.

Even on a weekend, Heonyoung was in a suit. Where was he going? Suppressing his sudden curiosity, Yeonoh maintained a professional smile.

“You’ve gone so far as to…”

As Heonyoung stepped slowly out of the elevator, Yeonoh instinctively backed up.

“…start stalking?”

Even stepping back, Heonyoung’s long strides brought him closer, hands in pockets, looking down at Yeonoh. His furrowed brow suggested Yeonoh’s presence wasn’t welcome. Feeling wronged, Yeonoh spoke up.

“…That’s not it…!”

“Then how did you get in here?”

“I came to meet someone I know.”

“Someone you know?”

Heonyoung’s neatly arched eyebrow twitched momentarily.

“Yes, they live here.”

Worried about arousing suspicion, Yeonoh stood frozen, unable to move. Heonyoung suddenly leaned in close, so close that a chill ran down Yeonoh’s neck, raising goosebumps. A soft scoff escaped Heonyoung’s lips.

“Now you’re doing it openly.”

“…What?”

“You’re quite carefree, aren’t you?”

More upsetting than Heonyoung’s casual, piercing words was Yeonoh himself, regretting not bringing the visitor pass. If they hadn’t crossed paths, Heonyoung wouldn’t be disappointed in him again. His shoulders shrank.

“I don’t care about your ‘someone’ or whatever.”

Perhaps losing the will to press further, Heonyoung shook his head. His sharp eyes, full of displeasure, pierced Yeonoh, who averted his gaze, feeling his face flush.

“Then you must be heading up to their place.”

“…Yes.”

“Well, sorry about this, but you’re coming with me somewhere.”

“What?”

Heonyoung, with a completely unapologetic face, brazenly lied about being sorry.

“W-Where?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Gesturing lightly toward the exit, Heonyoung walked off. Yeonoh, head full of question marks, had no clue what was happening. Why was Seo Heonyoung suddenly taking him somewhere?

Did he anticipate meeting Yeonoh here? For the meticulously planned Seo Heonyoung, that was near impossible. Then, he must have thought of a use for Yeonoh upon seeing him—suspicious. Unable to tear his eyes from Heonyoung’s back, Yeonoh followed slowly.

“Ji Yeonoh.”

Seo Heonyoung, walking briskly, stopped abruptly, and Yeonoh, trailing anxiously like a duckling, halted too.