RCKS 36

“Lee Yoonsan.”

“Huh, huh?”

“Where should we go after we eat.”

But the words that came out in a nonchalant tone were unexpectedly different. From Lee Yoonsan’s perspective, this was a dinner he had luckily joined after waking up, so he had been secretly thinking they would all go their separate ways after the meal. That was why Hwang Haekyung had spoken up first, just as he was wondering how he could hold onto him a little longer.

“I, um….”

So Lee Yoonsan was flustered again. It would have been great if he had thought of a place to go in advance, but he hadn’t looked up any places because he had given up on the idea of roaming around anyway, due to his injured foot.

Should we get coffee since we’ve eaten? But it’ll be nighttime by the time we finish our meal, so wouldn’t it be better to have a drink at night? But Hwang Haekyung has to drive, so he’s not even drinking now. Is it okay to suggest we go for a drink to someone like him? Won’t it seem like I’m blatantly trying to make a move?

Just as Lee Yoonsan’s mind was becoming a jumble of various questions, Lee Seokjae, who was talking across from him, checked his phone and said.

“Hey, they say there’s a beach pub in Jungmun. They say it’s a hot spot and we should definitely check it out.”

It seemed to be a place recommended by Lee Seokjae’s followers. Lee Seokjae always left a trace of his visit on his stories when he came to tourist spots like this and asked for recommendations of places to visit.

“Oh, I’ve heard of that place too. I heard they decorated the outdoor tables and everything just like overseas and sometimes have performances. My friends told me to go check it out since I was coming to Jeju.”

“They say it’s a trending hot spot. It pops right up when you search for it.”

At Lee Seokjae’s words, Shin Soohyun and Kim Jihoo also each searched for the pub on their phones and read out the details. At that, Lee Yoonsan also sneakily took out his phone to search for images, and he felt Hwang Haekyung lean his head close right beside him. As if to look at the screen together. Then, he suddenly threw cold water on the idea with a firm voice.

“No.”

At that, Lee Seokjae looked up with a dissatisfied expression, and Ham Sejin, who was filling his glass with soju, also looked at Hwang Haekyung. With an expression that seemed a little contemptuous.

“They say this place is a mecca for hitting on people.”

“Then shouldn’t we go even more?”

Over the table where silence had fallen, after Kim Jihoo revealed the reason instead, Shin Soohyun joked with a laugh. After turning twenty, Shin Soohyun had slowly started to take an interest in dating and the opposite sex. Moreover, she had been watching for an opportunity to spend a little more time with Ham Sejin, whom she had met today in Jeju. Kim Jihoo chuckled at Shin Soohyun, and Lee Seokjae, as if he had now completely grasped the situation, quickly targeted Lee Yoonsan.

“Hitting on people is for those who do it. The atmosphere here is nice, what do you think? It’s safer and better for Yoonsan and his friends to go with us than to go to a place like this by themselves.”

“Uh… the pictures look nice.”

“Let’s go, Yoonsan. Huh? I think if you go, your hyung will go too.”

“Uh….”

No one stopped Lee Seokjae from targeting Lee Yoonsan. Only Hwang Haekyung glared at Lee Seokjae as if he was displeased, while Lee Seokjae chewed on a lettuce leaf and continued to look at Lee Yoonsan as if pleading with him.

Lee Yoonsan once again fixed his gaze on the photo Lee Seokjae held out. The outdoor scenery of the beach pub, taken against the backdrop of the dusky evening sky, looked very nice. He thought it would be good to visit a place like this since he was here for fun, but the news that there was a lot of hitting on people made Lee Yoonsan hesitate. He was worried that if they went to this place where there was a lot of hitting on people, someone might try to hit on Hwang Haekyung.

No, there would definitely be people who would try to hit on Hwang Haekyung. Hwang Haekyung and his friends stood out from their height alone, regardless of their looks. Enough to make it obvious to anyone that they were alphas.

Most people admired alphas. They had outstanding looks and physiques, and above all, they had ruts. It was a similar principle to how not a few beta men desired omegas who were capable of pregnancy, had decent looks, and had heats. It seemed that they each had different fantasies or delusions about the ‘rut’ or ‘heat’ that second-genders possessed.

“Wouldn’t it be better to go for the experience when you’re all together, rather than when they’re alone? It’s better than leaving them with unresolved curiosity.”

To the deliberating Lee Yoonsan, this time, Lee Seokjae’s voice, which had become a little more meaningful, flew in. When Lee Yoonsan looked up at Lee Seokjae, Lee Seokjae raised an eyebrow, grinned, and cocked his head as if to say, ‘choose.’ Hwang Haekyung, as if he had tolerated Lee Seokjae as much as he could, threw a perilla leaf at him, and Lee Seokjae caught the perilla leaf, wrapped some meat with it, and put it in the mouth of Kim Jihoo, who was sitting next to him. It was a fluid, natural action.

And finally, the conclusion came out of Lee Yoonsan’s mouth.

“Let’s go. Let’s go. I want to go.”

Hwang Haekyung, whose eyes met Lee Yoonsan’s as he finally turned his head to look at him and speak, said no more. Only his now-silent mouth and his changed, displeased expression let it be known that he was acquiescing to Lee Yoonsan’s request.

Everyone was happy with the final agreement. It was a moment when all six of them were on the same page. And in the midst of it all, Lee Yoonsan thought. Just as Lee Seokjae had said, it would be better to go together now while he was there, ‘than when the alphas are by themselves.’ At least for now, he had an excuse to stick by Hwang Haekyung’s side.

The beach pub they arrived at had a very free-spirited atmosphere. It was the time of day when the sunset had almost melted into the sea and the sky had grown dim. In the lounge’s outdoor seating, people in comfortable clothes sat around, each chatting, drinking beer or cocktails, and eating pizza or chicken.

The spacious lounge had outdoor sofas and sunshades for each group to sit comfortably, and depending on the section, there were also sunbeds with parasols, couches, and small wooden platforms. It was literally a scene one would see in an overseas magazine. The typical appearance of a resort you might see if you went to Bali, Guam, or Phuket. And even the summer music playing there, with its distinctive Bossa nova sound, stood out. It was a sight that couldn’t help but make one’s heart flutter just by entering the space. Except for the fact that it was packed with people.

“Grab my waist.”

“Huh?”

“I said grab my waist. Because it’s crowded.”

Hwang Haekyung whispered that as soon as he and Lee Yoonsan came outside to find a seat. Lee Yoonsan flinched his shoulders a little because Hwang Haekyung’s words were spoken right into his ear, but he didn’t want to make the atmosphere awkward, so he acted nonchalant and did as Hwang Haekyung said, wrapping his arm around his waist to support his body. It seemed Hwang Haekyung was worried about his clumsy walking due to his injured foot.

Then, Hwang Haekyung soon wrapped his arm around Lee Yoonsan’s shoulder. Hwang Haekyung walked in step with Lee Yoonsan’s limping pace. Because of that, they missed all the cooler outdoor sofa seats closer to the indoor area and had to walk quite a way to the outer part of the lounge before they could find a spot. But even so, Hwang Haekyung didn’t say anything about being frustrated or that he would go ahead and grab a seat.

He just looked out for the area around Lee Yoonsan’s foot and the crowd on Lee Yoonsan’s behalf, leading him toward the less crowded side. Even after finally finding a spot, Hwang Haekyung only added that ‘it’s nice because you can see the beach well.’ Even though the seats were at the edge of the lounge, meaning the music was quieter and it was much hotter. For Lee Yoonsan, who had been wondering if he was being a nuisance because of his slow pace, these were words that melted away his worries.

“There are so many people.”

“That’s what people come here for.”

For people to meet people. Hwang Haekyung added that in a listless tone and sat Lee Yoonsan down first. He seated Lee Yoonsan on the inner side of the couch, where the backrest was high, and he could feel him sitting down next to him in a relaxed posture. Just from that movement alone, Hwang Haekyung, who looked comfortable and languid, suited this scenery very well.

He was currently wearing navy blue summer slacks that revealed his ankles and a comfortable white pique shirt. His hazel eyes, which were mysterious and pretty but sensitive to light, had him wearing sunglasses to prevent eye strain. It was a style that felt a bit more adult compared to Lee Yoonsan himself, who was wearing a dark green short-sleeved boxy shirt with a palm tree pattern and beige shorts that came to slightly above his knees.

Should I have worn a regular shirt instead of this? Lee Yoonsan briefly had that thought but soon gave up. The Hawaiian-style shirt he was wearing now didn’t look particularly gaudy thanks to its dark base color. And the shorts—he couldn’t help it, as most of the pants he had packed this time were shorts. Hwang Haekyung had said he wasn’t coming, and since he was scheduled to go camping here and there with his family, these were clothes he had packed with the intention of wearing them at the beach. In other words, it had been a choice that considered only the heat, without any thought for what others might think.

“Kkamto.”

“Huh?”

Just as he was feeling downcast while comparing his clothes to Hwang Haekyung’s, his nickname, which he hadn’t heard in a long time, came from Hwang Haekyung’s mouth. At that, Lee Yoonsan’s eyes widened, and he looked at Hwang Haekyung.

Kkamto was a nickname that even Shin Soohyun, who had given it to him, hadn’t called him since he was nineteen. The reason was that it was cute when they were young and didn’t know any better, but it felt cringey to call him that now that they were all grown up, as it seemed like an overly cute pet name. So currently, no one called Lee Yoonsan ‘black rabbit.’ Hadn’t Hwang Haekyung also called him ‘Lee Yoonsan’ from early this morning until just a moment ago? But hearing that nickname unexpectedly in a situation where it was just the two of them made Lee Yoonsan feel strange. His stomach tickled, he felt embarrassed and shy, and also subtly excited. Just like when he had first started exchanging DMs with Hwang Haekyung.

“There are no other alphas next to you today.”

“…Huh? What?”

“So don’t even think about getting any funny ideas.”

Because I’m going to block them all. Hwang Haekyung said that as if openly declaring war, then crossed his legs and sat down. And just as he had done at home, he stretched his arm out long over the backrest behind Lee Yoonsan. Seen from a distance, this looked like nothing other than flirting. Until the rest of the group came back to the table with the food and drinks they had ordered, not a single word was exchanged between the two.

Because Lee Yoonsan was too busy wrestling with how to accept this atmosphere with his rapidly beating heart and beet-red face, while simultaneously guarding against the surging sense of anticipation, and Hwang Haekyung was only looking at him.

It was the beginning of a blue night on Jeju Island.

---

By the time the group, excluding Lee Yoonsan who wasn’t a picky eater and Hwang Haekyung who had never even intended to come here, had eaten more than half of the beer, cocktails, and food they had bought according to their tastes, the volume of the music playing in the lounge changed to that of a beach club. The sky had grown dark, and all the outdoor lights had come on, signaling that the real night had begun.

“Is that beer good?”

“Seokjae hyung, what are you going to do since you can’t drink? Can’t you just call a designated driver and have a drink?”

“It’s fine. I can have just as much fun without drinking as if I were.”

When Kim Jihoo, who was sipping an ale beer that was a Jeju specialty, was asked by Lee Seokjae, Lee Seokjae gave a sly reply with a mischievous smile. At that, Kim Jihoo, who seemed to be in high spirits and excited, also laughed and chugged his beer. It wasn’t that the food was particularly delicious. It was just that the atmosphere had become lively, so they were excited in turn, and whatever they drank or ate was enjoyable.

Meanwhile, Shin Soohyun looked at Ham Sejin, who was sitting across from her. She had been looking for a chance to talk to Ham Sejin, who was constantly holding onto his phone, texting someone, but it wasn’t easy. The music was loud, she couldn’t think of a particular topic to strike up a conversation by calling out loudly, and Ham Sejin, who was focused on his phone, seemed like a person separated from this space.

“Hey, Ham.”

As if he had noticed Shin Soohyun, Lee Seokjae tapped Ham Sejin’s arm to get his attention. Lee Seokjae gestured toward Shin Soohyun with his eyes and frowned at Ham Sejin, a silent signal not to be on his phone when they were all hanging out together.

Ham Sejin frowned back at Lee Seokjae’s expression, then soon put his phone down on his thigh and looked at Shin Soohyun. It wasn’t a 3-on-3 blind date by any means, but it wasn’t good manners to treat the person sitting near you like a scarecrow. Ham Sejin was also a person with that much common sense.

“Sorry. My friend asked if Jeju was fun, so I was replying.”

“What did you say?”

“That it’s fun. I heard about a beach club when we went on an away game, and the atmosphere is just like that.”

“I know, right. It’s pretty exciting.”

At Shin Soohyun, who couldn’t hide her excited expression and looked around at just a few words from Ham Sejin, Ham Sejin also ended up smiling. Even though there was only a one-year age difference, these twenty-year-old omegas seemed innocent compared to them. Perhaps it was the emotions and thoughts that were transparently revealed on their faces that made them seem that way.

In fact, that was why Ham Sejin firmly decided that he needed to keep a certain distance from Shin Soohyun. He thought it would be better to draw a line before the feelings grew any stronger, now that the feelings Shin Soohyun was showing him were just a favorable impression based on curiosity. Because this kid was too good to like him, who had given his heart to someone else.

“Soohyun.”

“Yes?”

“The indoor area will probably be getting a club-like atmosphere soon. Most of the hitting on people will happen in there.”

“……”

“You came here to have fun, so it’s okay to have that much fun. If you get caught by a weirdo, let me know.”