ETP Ch 20

Sungyeon was very annoyed by Yoohyun dragging him away without a word.

Beautiful fireworks were still bursting in the sky, where did he think he was going! He should go by himself!

… is what he wanted to shout.

Earlier, when Sungyeon suggested they go home, Yoohyun wouldn’t listen, but now, as soon as the most exciting part, the fireworks, started, he was suddenly in a rush to leave.

At Yoohyun’s mood swings, worse than a teenager going through their rebellious phase, Sungyeon imagined whacking the back of his head. Only in his imagination, of course.

Seeing Yoohyun pay for their meal, Sungyeon returned to his respectful junior mode.

With Yoohyun’s long legs, trying to keep up with his brisk pace was truly like a wren trying to follow a stork. Sungyeon’s stomach, full of beer and snacks, sloshed around, and his thighs and calves ached from the wider-than-usual strides.

Feeling like he’d collapse on the street before even reaching home, Sungyeon shook the arm Yoohyun was holding.

“Sunbae! C-can’t we walk?”

At his words, Yoohyun tilted his head sideways. His expression said it all.

“We are walking.”

Right, he knew he would say that. Sungyeon gritted his teeth at the young soul who clearly lacked empathy.

When I was 183cm Lee Sungyeon, I shortened my stride so much for people shorter than me, but kids these days have no consideration for others.

Grumbling internally about “back in my day,” Sungyeon finally surrendered.

“Sunbae, you go ahead. I’ll take my time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

“I said I’d take you home.”

At Yoohyun’s words, Sungyeon retraced the time he’d spent with him. No matter how meticulously he replayed his memories, there was no scene where Yoohyun offered to take him home.

“You didn’t say that to me.”

“Did I not? But, so what?”

Yoohyun’s expression implied, ‘so what are you going to do about it?’ 

It meant Sungyeon couldn’t refuse his offer to drive him home.

As expected, Hwang Yoohyun’s inconsiderate nature was truly applause-worthy.

That shamelessness, unfazed by his own mistakes. Having experienced this several times since meeting Hwang Yoohyun, Sungyeon was no longer angered by his tone. Human adaptability was more remarkable than he thought.

“Right, I’d be grateful if you took me home, Sunbae.”

Only after hearing Bokseung agree did Yoohyun’s expression soften. He slowed down, matching his pace to Bokseung’s.

Whenever the wind carried the younger man’s scent, Yoohyun tensed, but he had to pretend to be unaffected.

When they arrived, the giant teddy bear still sat majestically in the back seat.

Sungyeon sat in the passenger seat and looked back. His pride swelled as he thought about the shooting game.

Although it wasn’t very practical for a top prize, he hoped to sell it on the used market for some snack money.

A large carp-shaped candy in his right hand, a giant teddy bear in the back seat. He felt rich just looking at them.

“Enter your address.”

Despite Yoohyun’s words shattering his sense of accomplishment, Sungyeon obediently entered Bokseung’s address. He was as familiar with it as his own, having ordered deliveries and takeout.

Bokseung’s neighborhood wasn’t far from the university, so they arrived quickly.

“Kim Bokseung.”

“Yes?”

Hwang Yoohyun, slowing down in the alley, called out to Bokseung. Having been silent the entire drive, his sudden call made Bokseung jump.

Yoohyun hesitated, even as he felt Bokseung’s gaze on him. But the thought of this happening in front of another alpha infuriated him.

That absolutely could not happen.

Yoohyun barely suppressed the violent thoughts filling his mind and asked very carefully, at least by his standards.

“Did you take your medicine?”

“Yes… huh?”

It was a question without consideration for how the listener might misinterpret it.

Sungyeon’s shoulders jerked again at the unexpected question. Take his medicine? He had no idea what Yoohyun meant.

Confused brown eyes stared at Yoohyun. Feeling the gaze, Yoohyun asked again, more specifically this time.

“Your suppressant, did you take it?”

Finally understanding which medicine he meant, Sungyeon let out an “Ahh.”

Just saying “medicine” so abruptly these days made him feel like a criminal.

Sungyeon shot Yoohyun a quick glare and replied,

“Uh, I took it…!”

Wait! He didn’t!

Sungyeon frantically rummaged through his pockets. Half a pill, in a ziplock bag, came to hand.

These days, Sungyeon found it easier on his stomach to split his dose, so he was making it a habit. He had brought it with the intention of taking half in the morning and half in the evening, but he had completely forgotten, preoccupied with the shooting game and the뽑기 (drawing/lottery game).

Sungyeon, who had been searching his pockets for the pills, stopped and turned to the driver’s seat with a pale face.

The fact that Hwang Yoohyun knew he hadn’t taken his suppressant meant he had smelled Bokseung’s pheromones.

Sungyeon quickly sniffed around his wrist. But he couldn’t smell anything sweet, not even the scent of the skewers.

I can’t even smell my own pheromones! How did he know?

Sungyeon pressed himself against the window, his body rigid. As if that wasn’t enough, he quickly crossed his arms defensively.

That wolf-like alpha smelled Bokseung’s pheromones!

“Huh?”

Yoohyun glanced sideways, bewildered by Bokseung glaring at him with a distrustful and rebellious look.

He couldn’t claim complete innocence, given his earlier thoughts, but was it necessary to look at him like he was some kind of pervert?

Bokseung looked ready to bolt out the door if Yoohyun said one more word.

“Who said I was going to eat you?”

“Oh, you’re not?”

Yoohyun was momentarily speechless at Bokseung’s question. He had felt the urge, after all. But there was no reason to admit it outright.

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Sungyeon’s expression crumpled further at Yoohyun’s reply.

Still plastered against the window, Sungyeon fumed. What was wrong with Bokseung that warranted such a ridiculous comment like “Don’t flatter yourself”! Where could you find someone as cute and pretty as him!

Sungyeon was angry as if his own child had been rejected on a blind date. He was indignant no matter what.

Bokseung’s facial expressions changed rapidly, mirroring Sungyeon’s fluctuating emotions.

Unaware that Yoohyun found this amusing, Sungyeon grumbled internally.

“Make sure to take your medicine properly.”

“I know.”

“If you know, why is it still in your pocket?”

Yoohyun’s nagging began. Enjoying the reversed roles, Yoohyun was amused, while Sungyeon wanted to cover his ears.

He always tried his best to be impeccable, hating to be criticized. Being called meticulous was the highest compliment for Sungyeon.

However, having entered the world of those with secondary genders less than two months ago, Sungyeon was barely a toddler in this new environment.

As a result, he made many mistakes, and Hwang Yoohyun always seemed to catch them.

It was utterly humiliating.

Sungyeon popped the suppressant into his mouth and swallowed. The bitterness lingering in his mouth was unnoticeable, overshadowed by his wounded pride.

“Hey!”

Startled by the sight, Hwang Yoohyun stopped the car in front of a convenience store. He rushed inside and returned with a bottle of water and a pack of gummies.

Sungyeon stared at him wide-eyed, surprised by the sudden action.

“Who takes pills without water, you idiot!”

“Idiot…”

“Drink some water, quickly.”

Yoohyun opened the water bottle and held it to Bokseung’s lips.

Sungyeon had no choice but to accept the water with both hands respectfully. He felt that if he refused, Yoohyun would force his mouth open. The young man’s assertiveness was quite something.

He wondered what good drinking water would do now, when the suppressant was already dissolving in his stomach acid.

“Here.”

After confirming that Bokseung’s Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, Yoohyun placed a gummy bear in his small palm.

Looking at the bear-shaped gummy, Sungyeon tilted his head and asked.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Your mouth will be bitter from the pill. Eat it.”

But the pill had already passed through his esophagus long ago.

Looking at the yellow gummy bear, Sungyeon thought that Hwang Yoohyun’s kindness was so self-centered that it apparently didn’t require the other party’s consent.

Still, since Yoohyun bought it for Bokseung, he should eat it.

Though not a favorite snack, Sungyeon put the gummy in his mouth. The ambiguous texture, neither hard nor soft, lingered in his mouth. As expected, it wasn’t to his taste.

“You don’t like gummies?”

“Mmm.”

Yoohyun, who had caught the slight furrow of his brows, spoke. Sungyeon honestly nodded, lest he be coerced into eating gummies again in the future.

“I see.”

He expected Yoohyun to complain about him disliking the gummy he had bought, but surprisingly, he accepted it readily.

“Ah! You can drop me off here!”

Bokseung pointed at an orange-brick apartment building. Yoohyun parked in front and turned on the hazard lights.

Despite being scolded by Hwang Yoohyun, Sungyeon had arrived safely and comfortably thanks to him.

Getting out of the car, Sungyeon bowed as respectfully as possible.

“Thank you, Sunbae! Drive safely!”

After his energetic farewell, Sungyeon remembered to retrieve the teddy bear from the back seat and sling it over his shoulder. It was precious evidence that his shooting skills hadn’t deteriorated.

Carp candy in front, teddy bear in back. Bokseung’s small frame was surrounded by today’s spoils of war. He felt proud, unaware of how bizarre he looked.

Watching Bokseung’s every move from the driver’s seat, Hwang Yoohyun let out an amused chuckle, finding him utterly endearing.