ETP Ch 91

The fingers holding the tablet trembled in shock. Yoohyun hurriedly replayed the video he had just closed.

After checking the police report and looking at it again, the two certainly looked close. The way they held each other was also natural.

Yoohyun’s eyes trembled ceaselessly.

Kim Bokseung, who said he only liked women. Kim Bokseung, who said he liked people around thirty-three. Kim Bokseung, who said he had no intention of dating right now.

It was the moment he understood Bokseung’s reaction to his confession.

The sense of expectation that had been swelling without limit, thinking it was only a matter of time before Bokseung confessed his feelings to him once his trauma response was properly treated, popped in an instant.

“Ha…”

Yoohyun pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead.

He had gotten into that accident while dating that social worker. He had been in a coma for a week, and when he woke up, his lover… the social worker who had been his lover was dead, and he was left with aftereffects from the accident.

Since the person he had liked so much he dated him despite his trauma towards men was now gone, he would naturally feel uncomfortable around men again. Since he was used to the mature attitude and care of a thirty-three-year-old, he would prefer adults of that age. And crucially, it must have been scary to even think about meeting someone else after that incident.

Although Bokseung was often thoughtlessly bright, from what Yoohyun had observed while going through several incidents, he was a person who cried more and was more soft-hearted than he seemed.

Since he was that kind of kid, it was clear that even if he were drawn to Yoohyun, it would have been difficult for him to just forget his ex-boyfriend… and say he liked him just like that.

In addition to that, since he had been in a relationship with a Beta male, he probably hadn’t needed much information about pheromones or trait-holders.

Thinking about it that way, his reactions, which still seemed to show a lack of immunity to Alphas, and the considerable delay in his adaptation to pheromones, all made sense.

Yoohyun went over the time since the second semester when he had met Bokseung again, considering each point one by one.

The more his chaotic mind calmed down and became organized, the more he understood why there was such a discrepancy between the emotions Bokseung expressed through his pheromones and his outward actions.

“This is a bit of a big one.”

Yoohyun let out an empty laugh. It was the first taste of defeat in Hwang Yoohyun’s life.

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

Meanwhile, Sungyeon, who had no idea that his and Kim Bokseung’s- that is, his and his own, dating history had been laid bare to Yoohyun, was engrossed in his counseling session with Juhyun.

In response to his story about finding it difficult to have contact with others after experiencing a few incidents, Juhyun offered various pieces of advice. Not only that, but she also suggested they continue with regular counseling, as it would be difficult for him to get better with just this one session.

After talking for a long while, toward the end of the session, Sungyeon brought up that the matter with Kim Taeon had been resolved well.

“Oh my, I was worried because I hadn’t heard from you at all, Bokseung. You didn’t even reply to the message I sent…”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy after that incident…”

“No, it’s okay. Still, just hearing that the issue is resolved is something to be so thankful for.”

Juhyun sincerely congratulated him on Bokseung escaping Kim Taeon’s grasp.

The truth was that the matter hadn’t been resolved through a proper trial process after a police arrest, but rather, it was ‘resolved in less than half a day through Yoohyun’s illegal act,’ but he didn’t mention that part.

He had no intention of spreading a story that was clearly a crime to anyone who looked at it.

“Yeah. Thank you for your concern, Ms. Juhyun.”

“If I don’t worry, who will worry about our Bokseung!”

Juhyun smiled and was about to pat Bokseung’s hand, but then thought better of it and quickly withdrew her outstretched hand.

The two of them met each other’s eyes and laughed awkwardly.

“By the way, Ms. Juhyun. There’s something else I have to tell you today.”

At Bokseung’s words that he had something else to say, Juhyun picked up the pen she had set down.

“Ah, Ms. Juhyun. This isn’t related to the counseling.”

“Is that so? Then what is it about?”

“Um… Actually, I should have said this when I woke up after the accident. But back then, everything was so unfamiliar and scary that I couldn’t say anything. I thought I should correct it now, at least.”

“Hmm?”

Bokseung fidgeted with his intertwined fingers, as if he was nervous even while speaking.

Although Juhyun was curious about what Bokseung was about to say, she waited calmly. Bokseung looked like he was about to cry, so she was hesitant to press him again about what was wrong.

“Actually, Mr. Sungyeon and I were not in any kind of relationship. At that time, several things had happened at once, I had been drinking, and I was going through a very hard time mentally, so I got into an accident, and, so, Mr. Sungyeon got hurt like that while trying to stop me…”

“Ah, uh…?”

“After that, I went to the police station to talk to them, but they said the case was already closed and they couldn’t change it because it wasn’t the direct cause of death. So… I’m sorry.”

Sungyeon bowed his head with a dip.

In truth, it wasn’t something he needed to apologize to Ms. Juhyun for, but from Bokseung’s perspective, it was an action he could certainly take toward Juhyun, who had misunderstood. After all, his colleague Sungyeon had died after getting caught up with Bokseung.

“Th-then…”

“Yes, Mr. Sungyeon just got into an accident while trying to stop me, that’s right.”

That being said, Sungyeon had never regretted it. Perhaps he could think such carefree thoughts because his soul remained, and he was alive and present in this place.

“Ah, um. I see. So Mr. Sungyeon and you, Bokseung, weren’t in any…”

“No. We really weren’t in any kind of relationship at all.”

Sungyeon shook his head. He wanted to avoid any talk about it, even later on.

After seeing the article that included a picture of the accident scene, he had tried contacting the newspaper that published it, but all they said was that they would take it down, and it seemed the article still hadn’t been corrected.

Now that I think of it, I should call the newspaper company again today.

Sungyeon internally cursed the newspaper company for its shoddy work.

What if Yoohyun sees it later! The mere thought of it gave him chills.

“I see. In that case, um. Thank you for telling me, even if it’s now. Were you bothered that I kept misunderstanding?”

“Yes. Because it was my fault.”

“Hmm, still, I hope that you, Bokseung, won’t have an even harder time because of it. With the same courage you showed by telling me now, let’s love yourself a little more. Don’t give up. Okay?”

That was Ms. Juhyun for you. It was exactly what Sungyeon had wanted to say to Bokseung. It was what he would have wanted to say if the Bokseung he met in his dream back then had asked for his body back.

He had hoped that Bokseung would love himself just a little more.

Anyone who knew that small, young boy would have felt the same way.

Sungyeon nodded his head emphatically.

“Right. Mr. Sungyeon would have wanted that too. Bokseung, you must have been so scared all this time by yourself.”

Sungyeon’s nose tingled at her sincere words of comfort. It was a moment where he suddenly missed Bokseung terribly.

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

“Okay, then I’ll see you next week. Have a good week. And be sure to contact me if anything comes up, okay?”

“Yes, I will. Goodbye!”

The two, who had been missing Sungyeon for a long time in the counseling room, finished their first session after setting a time for the following week.

Though no one would acknowledge it, Sungyeon felt proud that he had resolved one of the facts he had been hiding from Yoohyun.

Now, all that was left was Hyungseop. The problem was that the remaining problem, Hyungseop, was an incredibly large mountain to climb.

Just thinking about Hyungseop gave him a headache, so Sungyeon first shook his head to clear away the thoughts.

Then, he saw a banking pop-up message on his phone and grinned, the corners of his mouth lifting.

[Payment 4,800 won / xxCafe / Debit (Lump Sum) / 20xx.12.01 15:35]

He liked that Yoohyun could eat something with his money. Although he couldn’t just buy him expensive things left and right since his financial situation was still not great.

Sungyeon moved his feet quickly, heading toward the cafe where Yoohyun was.

When he arrived at the cafe, Yoohyun, sitting by the window, caught his eye even from outside. The light of the sun, which had since turned red, warmly enveloped Yoohyun. The subtle colors, which could never be created artificially, made his handsome features shine even more brightly.

Before opening the door, Sungyeon paused for a moment to admire Yoohyun. He really only meant to look for a second. But that brief gaze must have been so ardent that Yoohyun, who had his head down, felt Sungyeon’s stare and looked up.

“Ah.”

Embarrassed at being caught secretly staring, Sungyeon smiled awkwardly and waved his hand. It was a gesture that anyone would find suspicious and clumsy, but Yoohyun smiled brightly and waved back.

Sungyeon’s heart pounded so much that he felt a tingling sensation in every corner of his body.

Sniff!

Sungyeon, who had needlessly sniffed once, was fidgeting when Yoohyun, in a flash, had already packed up his tablet and come out of the cafe.

“Did the counseling go well?”

“Ah, yes, sir! It went well!”

“Good job.”

Yoohyun raised his hand and stroked Bokseung’s fluffy hair.

Bokseung stood on his tiptoes as if he had been waiting for Yoohyun to do just that. As a sense of satisfaction welled up inside Yoohyun and he was feeling pleased, the sign of the counseling center across the street suddenly caught his eye.

What if he went to that counseling center and memories of his ex-boyfriend came flooding back?

Come to think of it, what if he came to the conclusion that his ex-boyfriend was better than a young, selfish brat?

Yoohyun’s eyes wavered with confusion. Vile and petty thoughts chased each other, stirring up his mind. And, of course, Bokseung quickly noticed the change in him.

“Sunbae-nim? Uh, are you in a bad mood?”

Sungyeon wore a puzzled expression at the sudden sharpness of Yoohyun’s pheromones.

Seeing Bokseung’s bewildered face, Yoohyun quickly reined in his pheromones. The fact that Bokseung could sensitively detect his pheromones wasn’t always a good thing.

“It’s nothing like that.”

“Oh, if it’s not, then that’s a relief.”

Sungyeon tilted his head, still sensing the sharp, spiky pheromones.