RFL Ch 18

“Sell the watch, get Song Jaeyi a bodyguard, transfer Suye to a different hospital, visit her often. Is that it?” Choi Jooyoung asked, standing up after putting the watch in a safe. His usually handsome face, even when frowning, was unusually grim today. He looked frustrated, as if he wanted to intervene as much as he worried, but felt it would be useless.

“One more thing. Get something for me.”

“Ah, what now! You ask for so much without explaining anything, you asshole.”

Sooin smiled sweetly, as if acting cute. He whispered, “Just this once,” and Choi Jooyoung shuddered. He threw the newspaper down, complaining about the goosebumps, and returned to his desk. The small velvet box disappeared into a drawer.

“It’s an item… the size is a bit tricky. I’ll check and text you.”

“What kind of item? Hey, are you… If you’re asking for something like adult toys, you’re dead.”

Crazy bastard. Sooin was about to laugh and explain the use of the ‘item’ when suddenly, BANG! A loud noise erupted as the office door flew open, nearly breaking. Choi Jooyoung screamed and grabbed the mouse.

“…Hyung.”

Standing in the doorway was Song Jaeyi. He must have run up, as his hair was a mess. His broad chest heaved as he caught his breath, and his eyes blazed as he looked at Sooin. His eyes, red with worry, anger, resentment, and disappointment, glared at Sooin.

Even though they’d only been apart for a few hours, it felt like an eternity. Sooin was so happy to see him, even with the anger on his face.

Sooin slowly stood up and walked towards him. He hugged Jaeyi’s agitated, panting body and rested his head against him. The skin against his face was hot.

“Hyung was wrong again this time.”

“…”

“Be as angry as you want.”

Sooin whispered softly and stroked Jaeyi’s back, which was heaving like an angry animal. Choi Jooyoung yelled from afar, slamming the innocent mouse onto the floor.

“Hey! What are you going to do if you tear down my door! You’re going to pay for that!”

The two of them were kicked out of the office. Forced into Jaeyi’s car by a yelling Choi Jooyoung who insisted they take their lovers’ quarrel elsewhere.

The cool air from the air conditioning lingered in the car. The cool air was a welcome relief from the increasingly warm weather, but Sooin rolled down the window halfway. Jaeyi’s gaze, which briefly flicked towards him, was filled with cold fury.

“How could you meet with that man without telling me? I told you it was dangerous.”

Song Jaeyi didn’t look at Sooin. His hands, clenched tight around the steering wheel, were white with suppressed anger. He looked as though he wanted to crush the steering wheel just like he had the office door.

“Without your phone, what if something happened?”

“I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

“…Ha, did he say anything strange again? Did he insult you?”

“He didn’t.”

It would have been better if the man had thrown an envelope of money at him or splashed water in his face, like in a drama. Sooin smiled bitterly and looked at Song Jaeyi.

“Jaeyi.”

Were you having a hard time at the movie theater back then? Did you take tranquilizers to endure it, and that’s why you got drunk so quickly and were quiet at the drinking party?

Countless questions came to mind, but he didn’t have the right to ask them now. Sooin trailed off and simply brushed back his hair, which was ruffled by the lukewarm breeze.

“Hyung will quit his job. I won’t leave your side until everything is resolved.”

The car jolted for a moment. Song Jaeyi, about to turn to Sooin with wide eyes, seemed to make up his mind and changed lanes. He pulled over to the side of the road and unbuckled his seatbelt. His large body turned toward the passenger seat.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“…I received a proposition today.”

“From that man?”

“Yeah. He said if I drugged you and brought you to a hotel, he’d take care of Suye’s medical expenses for life.”

“…”

“Hearing that made your words real. You said I didn’t know what he was capable of.”

Song Jaeyi briefly lifted his head. He took a deep breath, looking up at the car ceiling as if trying to calm his agitation. He lowered his gaze, now calmer, and took Sooin’s hand.

“I’m sorry. I should have thought first that he would go to the hospital to find leverage…”

Even though his neck was still flushed with anger, he apologized first. Sooin took a deep breath and murmured as if sighing.

“Jaeyi, Hyung told you… Don’t apologize.”

Song Jaeyi didn’t answer, just lowered his gaze. He kept fidgeting with their joined hands. Perplexed, Sooin cupped his face, gently squeezing his cheeks to make him look up. Reluctantly, those beautiful eyes met his.

“If you hear what I’m about to say, you won’t be sorry at all.”

What is it? His long eyelashes fluttered as if asking. Looking at his own reflection in those sparkling eyes, Sooin made his quiet declaration.

“I’m going to accept the offer.”

“…W-What are you saying?”

“I’m going to tell him to call that Omega when your rut comes. I’ll also get some rut inducing drugs just in case.”

“…”

The clear eyes that held Sooin wavered. The turmoil of emotions within them was so transparent that Sooin quickly continued.

“So let’s plant people in advance and gather evidence. I think we need to catch that devil, no matter what.”

Ha. Song Jaeyi let out a relieved breath and slumped down. Leaning against Sooin’s shoulder, he muttered in a small voice, I was so scared, Hyung, I thought you were going to leave me…

Instead of replying that it was nonsense, Sooin initiated a surprise kiss. There was no better way to dispel the long, agonizing emotions he had felt today.

Sooin cupped Song Jaeyi’s lowered head and kissed him. He brushed and caressed his soft lips, leaving small, lingering kisses. He nipped and sucked, drawing out wet sounds, and Song Jaeyi let out a low moan. A faint, sweet scent drifted through the car, as if time had stopped.

Sooin pulled away with a smile.

“Shall we continue this at home?”

He whispered seductively, their foreheads touching. The ability to soothe an angry lover with physical affection was a dirty privilege of being in a relationship.

Song Jaeyi’s brow furrowed in displeasure. Don’t think you can get away with it like this. His sulky expression implied as much, but he didn’t refuse.

Abruptly returning to his seat, Song Jaeyi started the car. As soon as they merged back onto the road, the speedometer began to climb.

❤︎₊ ⊹

“Huk, eught…, deep… Ah, too much….”

Sooin gasped, his forehead pressed against the cool glass. It was already the third time, but the cock thrusting from behind was overwhelming. He felt as if his insides were melting, due to the unusually rough pounding today.

Every thrust sent a shudder through his body. Sooin, now past the point of moaning, felt his vision blurring, the world around him flickering.

“Hyung.”

Every time he felt like he was going to pass out, Song Jaeyi bit him. He nipped and gnawed at his shoulders, neck, and ears, while his hands gripped Sooin’s ass, spreading it wide.

His entrance, barely containing the cock, stretched to its limit, sending shivers down his spine. A whimpering moan escaped his lips.

Thud, thud. Song Jaeyi pressed closer, his arms wrapped around Sooin’s torso, preventing him from slumping forward. He moved his hips slowly, the swollen head of his cock grinding against the heated walls.

The sex, which had been playfully rough all along, suddenly became languid. Song Jaeyi pushed his cock deep inside and began to move his hips in short, shallow thrusts, like a series of gentle kisses.

But this tenderness, amidst the thick pheromones filling the house, was torture. Sooin whimpered and clutched Song Jaeyi’s arms, scratching and pulling at the hard biceps crossed over his chest, instinctively bucking his hips. He thrashed, chasing the rising wave of pleasure.

“Heung, euk, ah, good.”

Instead of thrusting, Song Jaeyi played with his nipples. As if trying to soothe the hardened buds, he rolled them between two fingers, then scratched them with his nails. A tingling pleasure spread from his chest to his toes.

He let out a sharp cry and bent at the waist. The layers of shallow but persistent pleasure made it impossible to stay still. His knees buckled, his legs weakening. He wanted to collapse.

“Hyung, are you going to… ha, disappear again without a word?”

Song Jaeyi yanked on his hips as his legs threatened to give way. The sudden, deep thrust sent a jolt of pleasure bordering on pain through him. The hot cock pierced his tight hole, stimulating every nerve ending. He relentlessly plowed through the clenching walls.

“Heuk, eu… Jaeyi, I’m… I’m going to…”

His lower abdomen tightened, even though he’d already come multiple times and there was nothing left. The relentless waves of ecstasy were too much to bear. Desperate, Sooin reached down, intending to grab his aching cock and stroke himself.

But Song Jaeyi got there first. He rubbed the already slick tip, as if to help him, then suddenly clamped his hand over the entrance, blocking it. He squeezed tightly, almost painfully, and resumed thrusting.

Sooin cried out, calling Jaeyi’s name over and over. Jaeyi, Jaeyi. He pleaded, bucking his hips, and Song Jaeyi rubbed against his urethra. The world flashed white.

“Answer me. Will you listen to me now?”

“Keut, eung… Yes… geut, I will…”

Sooin nodded, swallowing a scream. He begged, rocking his hips, desperate to come. Hyung is going to die, Jaeyi, hurry. At his hoarse plea, the hand finally released him.

“You promised.”

Song Jaeyi picked up the pace again. The fierce thrusts, hard enough to rattle his bones, sent him over the edge once more. Thin, watery cum splattered against the glass and the floor.

“Hyung, fuck, it feels good.”

He cursed under his breath as he thrust deep, burying himself to the hilt. His cock twitched inside him. Sooin’s mouth fell open at the shocking pleasure that exploded within him like a supernova. His vision blurred again as the world dissolved into fragmented light.

When Sooin opened his eyes again, it was dark. He was in bed, the soft sheets a comforting contrast to the earlier violence.

Light spilled in from the open doorway. The sounds of sizzling and the smell of food wafted from beyond the soft glow. His side of the bed was empty; Jaeyi must be cooking.

‘What time is it?’

Sooin rubbed his swollen eyes and habitually checked his wrist. Then he stopped and chuckled. Ah, I sold the watch. He absently rubbed his bare wrist and got up. Dwelling on potentially awkward details was not Sooin’s way.

Song Jaeyi stood in the kitchen, shirtless, tossing a wok. The muscles in his arms and back flexed as he wielded the heavy pan with one hand. Sooin smiled and approached him from behind.

“Looks good.”

He wrapped his arms around Jaeyi’s waist and pressed his lips against his bare shoulder. Song Jaeyi chuckled at the muffled words. I wasn’t trying to show off. His embarrassed excuse was endearing, and Sooin giggled.

While Song Jaeyi finished cooking, Sooin set the table. He placed two large plates on either side of a trivet and poured water. The finished pasta was placed on the trivet, still in the pan.

Cream pasta. The thought reminded him of something, and he quickly walked over to the living room window. Thankfully, the glass was clean.

Dinner was peaceful. His body was heavy from the aftereffects of their rough sex, but the warm pasta warmed him from the inside out. He enjoyed the simple act of eating in comfortable clothes, with his hair still messy. He wanted to savor this moment, so ordinary yet so extraordinary, for as long as possible.

But perhaps because he knew this peace would be shattered soon, distracting thoughts kept creeping in.

What should I do first? I need to pretend to accept the deal and get the drugs from the man. Just in case, I should also carry a recorder and gather every little clue. If I can get a testimony from the other Omega, that would be the best…

“Tell him it failed.”

“…?”

“It would be natural to say that I found the drugs and you were caught.”

Song Jaeyi suddenly interrupted his train of thought. Sooin, who had been chewing on a mouthful of pasta, widened his eyes. His expression was bewildered, not immediately understanding what Jaeyi meant.

Song Jaeyi smiled briefly and reached out, wiping the cream sauce from the corner of Sooin’s mouth. He then casually sucked on his thumb. Just as Sooin was about to exclaim in disgust, Song Jaeyi spoke again.

“The deal. You were going to accept it, right?”

Sooin finally grasped the topic of conversation and quickly swallowed his food.

“And?”

His eyes lit up at the thought of finally being able to directly intervene. But the peaceful atmosphere quickly cracked.

“Tell him you were caught and broke up. And you’re out of this.”

Sooin was speechless. Anger flared before he could even think. He almost made another slip of the tongue.

He sure has a knack for saying things that piss me off. Sooin barely managed to suppress his irritation and ran a hand through his hair. He gestured with his chin, telling Jaeyi to explain himself. Song Jaeyi calmly laid out his plan.

His explanation wasn’t long. It was concise and airtight, clearly something he had thought through many times. There were few flaws to pick at, so Sooin remained silent for a while.

“Now that I think about it, I don’t even have a contact to tell him I accept the offer.”

This was the only loophole he could come up with after much thought. As if expecting this, Song Jaeyi had a quick answer.

“He’ll contact you. He’ll be anxious if I say I’m going to make an appointment with my mother right away.”

Sooin’s lips pressed together again.

He really didn’t like Song Jaeyi’s plan. He had finally prepared to step up for him, but now he was being pushed back again, forced to stand by and watch.

“Just the thought of my mother finding out about something I’ve been hiding my whole life is a huge burden.”

“…”

“If I think Hyung will be in danger too, I’m not confident I can handle it.”

But there was no way to overrule Song Jaeyi’s decision. Hearing his low, strained voice and seeing his moist eyes softened his resolve. Already feeling defeated, Sooin bit his lip.

“And you promised earlier. You said you’d listen to me.”

Song Jaeyi drove the point home. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who knew how to use physical intimacy as leverage in a relationship.

Sooin let out a hollow laugh and nodded slightly. One strategic step back. He consoled himself, forcing a playful smile.

“Alright. But, Jaeyi.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you can break up with Hyung?”

Sooin grinned and stretched his legs out under the table, casually caressing Song Jaeyi’s foot and then sliding his hand up his bare leg. He teased the skin, as if about to move inward, and Song Jaeyi bit his lip. His pink lips twitched in forbearance before finally bursting out in frustration.

“We’re not breaking up.”

Was that comment more upsetting than the footplay? Sooin stifled a laugh at the adorable frown and petulant tone.

“Even a temporary separation is still a separation. I didn’t know you could break up with me so easily… Hyung’s heart hurts a little.”

He feigned a small moan and rubbed his chest dramatically. Then, without giving Jaeyi a chance to reply, he picked up the now-cold pasta pan and stood up. As Sooin calmly placed the dishes in the sink, Song Jaeyi stood up behind him. He hugged Sooin tightly, his solid body a firm presence like a defender in a sports game.

“No, that’s a lie… You don’t really mean it, do you?”

His round forehead bumped lightly against Sooin’s shoulder. His sulky voice resonated warmly against his back. He sounded genuinely hurt.

In truth, Sooin was the one who felt hurt by Jaeyi’s plan to exclude him. He had quit his job, which he hadn’t let go of for three years, and even sold his father’s heirloom for Jaeyi, yet he couldn’t help him at all. That’s why he thought he deserved to sulk a little…

“I know, I’m kidding.”

A single hurt reaction was enough to change his tack. Sooin chuckled and stroked Jaeyi’s arm. Sorry, he whispered, and Jaeyi pressed his lips against the spot where his forehead had been resting. Warm, soft lips pressed firmly against the thin fabric of his pajamas.

“So your heart doesn’t hurt anymore?”

The arms wrapped around his waist crept upwards. Large, warm hands explored his abs and then cupped his chest, squeezing hard enough to hurt. Sooin’s back arched involuntarily. Crazy… He sighed, bursting into laughter.

“You never give in.”

Sooin grumbled but leaned back against Jaeyi. As he relaxed, Jaeyi adjusted his stance as if waiting for this.

He offered his firm body as support for Sooin, and his grip on his chest softened, his warm hands gently caressing his skin. Sooin’s soft laughter mingled with slow, languid breaths.

❤︎₊ ⊹

As expected, the man contacted him quickly. It was the very next day after Song Jaeyi had deliberately mentioned setting up an appointment with his mother. The call came from a suspicious international number.

— I’m afraid I can’t give you much time to think. My son is impatient.

The man was hardly one to criticize his son’s impatience, considering he jumped straight to the point himself. Sooin shook his head invisibly and picked up his textbook.

— Due to a change in plans, we need to use the drug for sure. So, what do you think? Still interested?

Holding the thick book in one hand, Sooin walked down the school hallway. Before him stretched a scene of utter normalcy. The recently renovated building was white and clean, the laughing students passing by seemed like characters in a drama, and Sooin had no plans after his last class. A sense of leisure he hadn’t felt in years made the bright sunshine even more radiant.

“You already know the answer. You made this offer knowing what Suye means to me…”

He felt a strong sense of dissonance between the peaceful surroundings and the sharp words he spoke. It felt surreal to be having this conversation in such an ordinary, tranquil setting.

— Haha, are you very upset? I’m sorry, but since Kim Sooin is also smart, you’ll understand my feelings. If it’s a deal that must be done, you have to create a situation where the other party can’t refuse. Even if it means blocking their escape route.

Compared to what that guy’s spouting, this is nothing. Sooin entered the lecture hall with a cold smile. Yiso waved enthusiastically from afar, and Choi Junyoung, sitting next to her, bowed his head in greeting. Song Jaeyi, already settled in a seat behind them, was already half-asleep, his languid eyes blinking at Sooin.

Sooin gave them a friendly smile but lowered his voice as he spoke.

“I don’t need a sermon, just tell me the date and place.”

The other party seemed to like Sooin’s whisper. Haha, the man laughed heartily and finally revealed the D-day. It was the upcoming weekend night.

He’s deliberately not giving me time to prepare.

Sooin hung up without replying. That was the only revenge he could take at the moment. He shoved his phone into his bag irritably and headed for the seat next to Song Jaeyi.

“Sunbae, do you want to have okonomiyaki again after class today? Junyoung said he wants to eat it too.”

As soon as he sat down, an excited Yiso tapped on the desk. Beside her, Junyoung nodded, mimicking her posture with both hands clasped tightly as if holding a spatula over a hot plate. His expression, however, was stiff and awkward.

Junyoung still seemed embarrassed whenever he saw Sooin. He seemed unable to forget the incident at the freshman welcome party where he mistakenly called Sooin an Alpha and said he was his type. He acted awkwardly whenever their eyes met, so Sooin tended to agree to most of Junyoung’s requests, lest he feel intimidated.

This time, the timing was bad. Taking out his textbook, Sooin gave an apologetic smile.

“I don’t know about that. I have a prior engagement today.”

“With whom?”

Before the person who made the suggestion could even react, a question came from an unexpected source. It was Song Jaeyi, who had been lying face down next to Sooin. The three of them turned to look at him, surprised by his sudden question.

“With whom and what engagement?”

He looked as though he wanted to demand how Sooin could make plans without him knowing. Sooin burst out laughing in disbelief.

“You.”

“…With me?”

Sooin nodded at the dumbfounded Song Jaeyi and turned back to Yiso.

“I have a date.”

At his playful reply, Yiso shuddered. “Ugh, even Sunbaes are disgusting when they’re dating. But it’s cute.” With her contradictory compliment, she changed the shape of her tightly clenched fists, giving a thumbs-up with both hands. “Awesome, awesome!” she muttered halfheartedly, and Junyoung quietly followed suit.

As Sooin was smiling at their cute reaction, the lecture began. Professor Kwak, who had been suffering from his car troubles for the past two weeks, started the class listlessly.

As Sooin was taking notes, an unfamiliar pen suddenly appeared beside his. It was Song Jaeyi’s.

Song Jaeyi was writing diagonally in the corner of his notebook. Despite his handsome face, his handwriting, especially in this awkward position, looked clumsy. The unexpectedly round and cute letters made Sooin chuckle as he wrote a reply.

❤︎₊ ⊹

As soon as the lecture ended, the two headed to the restaurant. The same place where Song Jaeyi had made a reservation but they had to leave without taking a single bite.

The restaurant seemed even more extravagant than before. Lush trees had grown around the church-like building, making it feel even more suitable for a wedding venue.

As they entered the arched entrance, Sooin linked arms with Jaeyi and hummed the wedding march. Even for this brief, playful procession, Song Jaeyi immediately stiffened.

It had been a long time since Sooin had enjoyed a lunch break unrestricted by time or money. He deliberately ordered a steak that took over 30 minutes to cook and a glass of wine, something he could never drink while working. As a result, the bill showed a price that made his shoulders tense, but he didn’t care.

“Hyung will pay.”

At the end of their leisurely two-hour meal, Sooin snatched the bill from Song Jaeyi at the counter. He handed his card to the staff before Jaeyi could protest.

“I wanted to treat you.”

Sooin nudged Song Jaeyi’s frozen shoulder and smiled gently. The pleasant buzz from the delicious meal and wine made his face more relaxed than usual. Perhaps because of his soft smile, Song Jaeyi finally surrendered.

“…It was delicious. Thank you.”

Sooin laughed at the stiff thank you, as if Jaeyi was about to bow at a 90-degree angle. He found Jaeyi endearing, even though he was awkward, he never forgot to express his gratitude or apologies. As his laughter continued, Song Jaeyi twitched his eyebrows, as if asking why he was laughing.

As Sooin pulled his disgruntled lover out of the restaurant, they passed the arched entrance again. Sooin hummed the wedding march again. Song Jaeyi stiffened as before, but this time he squeezed Sooin’s arm in time with the tune. His arm, bent at a right angle, looked determined, and the way he subtly matched Sooin’s pace was cute. Sooin couldn’t help but laugh again, even longer this time.

After lunch, they went to the department store. Although he had pretended to be shopping for himself, Sooin had only one goal: to replace Song Jaeyi’s t-shirt that he had ruined on the day of the incident.

To give a gift befitting Jaeyi’s wealth, he should have bought him something designer, but Sooin had never spent more than a few tens of thousands of won on a t-shirt in his life. So, choosing a brand where a single white short-sleeved t-shirt cost over 200,000 won was his best effort.

“You don’t have to buy me anything.”

“Jaeyi, try this one on too.”

Sooin picked out several similar-looking t-shirts, holding them up against Song Jaeyi’s chest one by one to make his selection. He narrowed it down to three or four. Standing awkwardly in the middle of the store, Song Jaeyi refused to try them on without even looking at the price tags.

“I was going to throw away the shirt I wore that day anyway.”

“But Hyung promised to buy you a new one.”

“I don’t want you to.”

Sooin often saw children begging their parents to buy them things at the mart or department store. But here, Jaeyi was refusing even when offered a gift… Sooin put the other shirts back, leaving only one.

“Then just try this one on.”

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden, like we’ll never see each other again?”

“What? That’s not true.”

He chuckled and held out the last remaining shirt. He draped it over Song Jaeyi’s shoulders, and the t-shirt settled comfortably on his broad frame. Sooin checked the mirror.

Song Jaeyi looked great in the white t-shirt. The slightly loose but well-fitting size accentuated his broad shoulders, a contrast to his innocent face, and made his fair skin look even brighter.

“You hate people who break promises. I’m trying to keep my promise, so why…?”

But Song Jaeyi still looked sulky. Like a child forced to wear clothes he didn’t like, his handsome face was cold as he glared at Sooin’s reflection in the mirror. His expression clearly said, Hyung, I’m mad at you. Sooin chuckled and patted Jaeyi’s chest.

“Jaeyi, let me do this much since we’re about to break up. As a parting gift.”

Sooin gave a playful wink and headed to the counter, taking the t-shirt he had just draped over Song Jaeyi with him. As he was asking the staff to check for the largest size, Song Jaeyi followed him and growled.

“Ah, really. Stop saying that. We’re not breaking up.”

His resonant voice easily caught the attention of others. As the staff member’s expression changed with interest, Sooin reached back and grabbed Song Jaeyi’s wrist. “I know,” he whispered. But Song Jaeyi didn’t seem appeased by that alone.

“We’re not breaking up. Never.”

The staff member glanced at Song Jaeyi, clearly curious about their story. Their inquisitive gaze lingered for a while.

Even though he knew it was just curiosity, Sooin stepped to the side, partially blocking Song Jaeyi from view, and offered a polite smile.

“Could you gift wrap this, please?”

“Ah, yes! Please wait a moment.”

The startled staff member hurried away to get a gift box. Sooin turned and took Song Jaeyi’s hand.

“Jaeyi, Hyung will never break up with you either.”

The stiff hand that had been expressing his displeasure relaxed. Song Jaeyi’s cold expression softened, and he muttered,

“…Thank you for the gift. I’ll wear it well.”

He’s so cute when he acts his age. Sooin smiled and nodded. I’ll get you another prize today too, he whispered, and Song Jaeyi narrowed his eyes. Stop treating me like a kid, he grumbled, but his tone was soft.

Though he’d spoken half-jokingly, Sooin was quite serious. As soon as they left the store with the wrapped gift, they headed towards the movie theater to win a prize. Fortunately, there were still plenty of white bear plushies in the claw machine.

“I really don’t need it.”

Song Jaeyi said curtly, still frowning as if he thought Sooin was treating him like a child.

“Hyung wants it.”

Sooin replied lightly and put money into the change machine. He exchanged a 30,000 won bill for coins and returned to the machine. Several 500 won coins clattered into the slot.

“There are many machines that take bills these days. This one must be old.”

He hadn’t even inserted half the coins yet, and he felt a little embarrassed by the constant clinking. Sooin chuckled, and Song Jaeyi, who had approached him, covered the coin slot with his hand. His long, white fingers caught Sooin’s hand holding a 500 won coin.

“You gave me a similar plushie back then. Why are you getting another one?”

Why is he acting like this today, when he usually counts every penny even for a meal at the student cafeteria? Song Jaeyi’s expression as he looked down at Sooin crouching in front of the machine clearly conveyed that thought.

“Similar isn’t good enough. Hyung wants matching keychains.”

Sooin smiled and pulled his hand back. Even though the coins were gone, Song Jaeyi remained wary. He kept his hand over the slot and asked,

“…Matching keychains?”

“Yeah, I want to carry around a plushie just like yours.”

“…”

Song Jaeyi’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed. His hand moved from the coin slot to the top of the machine. Slightly hunched over because of the low height of the claw machine, Song Jaeyi peered through the transparent panel. He scanned the pile of plushies and muttered,

“I think that one looks easy to get.”

Surprised by the unexpected words, Sooin bent his head. Gripping the machine, he muttered, “Ah, this is crazy,” and laughed for a while before he could stand up.

“You cute thing. Hyung will definitely get it for you.”

He placed the remaining coins neatly on the corner of the machine. Based on his previous experience, he had planned to insert at least 10,000 won, but he changed his mind. Unlike then, he was now filled with enthusiasm thanks to his cute younger lover. Maybe he could win it on the first try.

But Sooin’s expectations were dashed. While he didn’t lose all his money, he had to use all 20,000 won before finally winning the keychain.

“I guess I’m not talented at this.”

As Sooin chuckled awkwardly, Song Jaeyi shook his head. Moving closer, he took the plushie from Sooin’s hand.

“You’re the best I know.”

With a firm reply, he attached the keychain to his bag. Only then did Sooin understand why Song Jaeyi had been so happy just to attach a keychain. He couldn’t help but smile.

He had grown quite fond of the white bear head, which he had previously considered ugly, thanks to Jaeyi. Although it clearly didn’t match his bag, he didn’t want to remove it. Looking down at the dangling plushie, Sooin spoke to it inwardly.

Nice to meet you. Something important might happen to you too.

“What are we doing next?”

Song Jaeyi, standing next to Sooin again, took his hand. Sooin held the familiar large hand and swung their arms.

“Let’s walk for a bit, and if we get hungry, we’ll have dinner at the restaurant I found.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, should we take a picture? To look at while we’re apart.”

There were several photo booths near the movie theater. As if wanting to go right away, Sooin tugged on Jaeyi’s hand, but Jaeyi stopped. Sooin had to stop as well, blocked by his large frame.

“Why? Don’t you want to take pictures?”

Sooin turned and asked gently. Song Jaeyi shook his head, but he looked troubled. His expression, which others might interpret as simply blank, conveyed a lot to Sooin. He knew Jaeyi had sensed something.

“Hyung, you’re acting strange today. Did that man contact you?”

He was asking even though he knew the answer. Since Jaeyi had set the bait himself, he couldn’t possibly have missed it. Sooin nodded with a regretful smile.

“This morning. I thought about telling you first, but I just wanted to have a normal date today.”

Song Jaeyi was silent for a moment. He blinked slowly, his face devoid of emotion, before finally taking a step. He walked towards the photo booth with uncharacteristic haste.

“Then let’s do everything today.”

“What, are you planning to stay up all night?”

“It wouldn’t be impossible.”

Since we’re only parting for a few days and will see each other again soon. The usual Kim Sooin would have replied like that, but this time he just smiled. Sure, Hyung has plenty of time. At his gentle reply, Song Jaeyi nodded resolutely, as if determined to spend the entire night exploring the city.

Song Jaeyi, leading the way enthusiastically, entered the photo booth first. As if worried Sooin would pay again, he quickly inserted the money and then fell silent, his face serious as he read the instructions on the screen.

Sooin looked around the small, square space from behind him. It was a relief that the lighting was bright and the entrance was half-open, but he still wondered if Jaeyi would be uncomfortable. He tied the curtain at the entrance, a peculiar action that drew glances from passersby.

“Why are you tying that?”

“It’s the secret to good pictures.”

“You seem to have taken a lot of pictures.”

“Well…”

Whether willingly or not, as a well-known figure in the department, Sooin was familiar with photo booths. Unlike Song Jaeyi, who frowned from the very first screen, unsure what to do, Sooin was experienced. He expertly chose the number of photo divisions, the background color, and the frame type. These were skills he acquired after being dragged into photo booths countless times by drunk people.

Sooin grabbed Song Jaeyi’s shoulder as he held the remote. Song Jaeyi, who had only tilted his body stiffly, muttered in dissatisfaction.

“You’re very skilled.”

Why is he acting so cute today? Sooin smiled and pulled Song Jaeyi closer. He noticed someone watching them from outside, but he ignored them and brought his lips close.

“But this is my first time taking pictures with my boyfriend.”

Sooin pressed the remote the moment his lips touched Jaeyi’s cheek. Startled, Song Jaeyi flinched but didn’t pull away. He froze for a moment before lunging forward as if to swallow Sooin’s lips. He stubbornly refused to move even when Sooin pushed him away, saying their faces wouldn’t show.

The final result was disastrous.

Only the first photo was decent. It captured Song Jaeyi looking straight ahead and Sooin smiling as his lips brushed against Jaeyi’s cheek. The rest of the photos showed Sooin being pushed out of the frame and Song Jaeyi’s scrunched-up nose as Sooin’s hand covered his face, more than half of his face blurred.

As they walked from the mall to the restaurant, they blamed each other. Hyung suddenly kissed me! And you pounced on me like that? Meaningless bickering filled the air.

The restaurant they chose for dinner was a barbecue place famous for its terrace seating. Wanting Song Jaeyi to be as comfortable as possible, Sooin had deliberately chosen a place with open surroundings.

“Won’t it be hot?”

“It’s still okay at night. And the atmosphere is nice.”

Although there were some empty tables inside, they sat at an outdoor table. Song Jaeyi gave him a suspicious look before sitting across from him.

Contrary to his lighthearted banter, the night air was heavy and humid. The heat rising from the other diners made it feel even hotter. Sooin brushed his hair back more often than usual, feeling sweat starting to form.

“Let’s go inside if it’s too hot.”

“I’m not hot. My hair has grown a lot…”

“Hyung.”

Sooin had a feeling a difficult question was coming. He instinctively reached for his water glass, hiding half his face behind it as he raised his eyes and asked, “Why?”

“You heard.”

“Hmm?”

“You heard everything. That’s why you kept insisting on taking the escalator earlier.”

Sooin’s eyes, usually so adept at feigning innocence, dropped. He had been caught too soon, having planned to reveal this after everything was resolved. His flustered gaze wandered aimlessly among the side dishes.

He had acted out of consideration, but now that he had been discovered, he regretted it. He had offered unsolicited kindness… It might lead to misunderstandings, like pity. Sooin’s heart pounded nervously.

A heavy sigh came from across the table. Sooin nervously raised his eyes. He had never felt so afraid of disappointing someone before.

“You don’t have to go this far.”

Song Jaeyi muttered, rubbing his eyes roughly. He lowered his hand, revealing tired eyes. His usually bright eyes looked somewhat weary.

“I’m okay. Thanks to having a father who couldn’t accept his son being defective… I’ve tried every treatment there is.”

“…”

“I can drive, ride elevators and airplanes. We even watched a movie together, Hyung.”

Sooin nodded silently. He didn’t want to bring up the tranquilizers now.

“Sorry, I wasn’t planning to keep it a secret forever. I was going to tell you later because things are complicated right now…”

Did people make more mistakes the more they liked someone? He felt like he kept doing things to apologize for to Song Jaeyi lately. He felt guiltier now than when they used to argue every day, or when he used to deliberately say mean things and pretend to be indifferent.

“It was too obvious, wasn’t it? I tried not to, but I kept worrying about you…”

I wish I could lie convincingly like I used to. With a rare awkward expression, Sooin bit his lip. There was nothing more he could say.

“You worried that much?”

A glint suddenly appeared in Song Jaeyi’s previously darkened eyes. It was a positive sign. Sooin readily replied, “Yes.”

“Then… it’s fine.”

Jaeyi answered indifferently, then added,

“If you’re sorry, buy me lots of meat.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Sooin pressed the button on the table. There was no need to hesitate. He immediately ordered two servings of the ‘Special Assorted Set,’ the most expensive item on the menu. It was the first time he had spent so much money on a meal in a single day, but he didn’t regret it at all.

After their long date, the two spent an even longer night together. As a result, Sooin was late for class for the first time. His perfect attendance record, which he had maintained even while working night shifts, was now in jeopardy.

Song Jaeyi, who didn’t even manage his own attendance, drove more anxiously than Sooin. He sped to the lecture hall and unlocked the car doors as soon as they stopped. Sooin jumped out and rushed up the stairs, just like he had at the hospital.

Fortunately, this lecture hall was very close to the lockers. Sooin hurriedly flung open his locker door. He grabbed his familiar textbook and was about to close it when an unfamiliar object caught his eye. He quickly stopped the closing door.

In the corner of the locker was a small, clear plastic container. Inside the unnaturally upright cylinder were five blue pills.

Next to it was a hastily scribbled memo. Sooin instantly recalled the unpleasant voice in his head.

“Even at a young age, he could maintain his sanity with just one pill… so it’s safer to give him about three.”

Dirty bastard. Sooin cursed inwardly, gripping the container tightly. He wanted to throw it down and crush it under his foot, but he couldn’t. This too would be important evidence.

Sooin put the textbook back in his locker. He turned around slowly, taking deep breaths. Dealing with someone who could find out his locker location and password was more important than attending this lecture.

“What is it?”

Song Jaeyi, who had followed him upstairs, blinked. He looked confused to see Sooin returning after dashing off. Sooin smiled faintly and replied.

“I’m skipping class, just this once.”

It was very unlike him. Perhaps that’s why Song Jaeyi seemed to know what Sooin was holding without even seeing it. Without asking any questions, he put his arm around Sooin’s shoulders as they walked down the stairs. They both sighed softly. The fake breakup was imminent.

Starting tomorrow, they would be a separated couple. Not just any breakup, but one where Sooin had been caught trying to secretly drug his lover with rut inducers. It was very different from a typical college couple’s breakup, so they couldn’t pretend to be just friends.

They couldn’t go home together, attend lectures together, or even exchange brief conversations or greetings. They might even be monitored, preventing them from not only meeting but also exchanging messages or calls. Their opponent was a man who didn’t consider stalking or surveillance a crime.

Despite the preciousness of this last day together, Sooin decided to meet Choi Jooyoung. He needed to prepare more ammunition to fight this devil.

The official reason was communication. Someone with the information network to plant rut inducers in his locker without a scratch could also access his call logs. He needed a safe way to communicate for the remaining three days.

“Just use an app!”

Sooin had expected Choi Jooyoung to be enthusiastic, finding the situation interesting, but his reaction was unexpected. He slammed his hand on the table, startling the employee, Shin Jongro. The tray he was carrying wobbled precariously, the teacups clinking nervously.

Sooin stood up to help him, placing the three cups of coffee on the table. His hands became sticky; coffee had spilled all over the tray, as if Jongro had already spilled half of it on the way.

“Why are you making such a fuss over just a few days of communication…”

Choi Jooyoung grumbled, glancing at the wet tray and the employee. Shin Jongro, noticing Jooyoung’s disapproving gaze, gave an awkward smile. Choi Jooyoung tossed him a wet wipe with an annoyed expression.

“So, you absolutely have to put me in the middle of you two and use me as a communication channel?”

He looked back and forth between Song Jaeyi and Sooin with a disgruntled expression. Despite his sarcastic tone and upturned lips, Sooin just smiled softly.

“Yes.”

Sooin calmly wiped the cups with the wet wipe Shin Jongro had given him. Choi Jooyoung watched in disbelief as Sooin wiped Song Jaeyi’s cup before his own. Glaring at them with an “Oh really?” expression, he huffed.

“I don’t want to be stuck relaying lovey-dovey messages between a couple, okay? Like, Ooooh, honey, I miss you too. See you later. You want me to pass on that kind of crap?”

“Who’s going to send messages like that?”

Sooin chuckled, setting down the clean cups. He gestured to Song Jaeyi that it was okay to drink, and Jaeyi silently picked up his cup.

“It’s only three days, from tomorrow until the weekend. We’ll just discuss how things are going, if there are any problems, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, come on, you said the plan is already set, right? You can just contact each other after it’s over.”

Choi Jooyoung had always been stubborn about strange things. True to his character, he had complied with requests to sell heirlooms and find hospitals without complaint, yet he was making a fuss over this unexpected issue.

“Just don’t contact each other for three days. That’s it.”

Now he was being completely unreasonable. Sooin laughed in exasperation. What’s gotten into him today… he muttered. Song Jaeyi, who had been quiet until now, spoke.

“I can’t.”

His low, calm voice echoed briefly.

“Not even for a day.”

The blunt reply finally snapped Choi Jooyoung’s patience. He pretended to gag and threw himself on the sofa, dramatically drooping his head like a corpse and making whimpering sounds.

“Oh, my life. I should have run away sooner.”

Shin Jongro cautiously patted Choi Jooyoung’s back as he fake-sobbed, muttering awkwardly.

“But, sir, you really said last time that if things got bad, we should run away…”

“Hey! You’re bringing that up now?!”

Choi Jooyoung roared, jumping up. Shin Jongro, startled, looked around nervously before scrambling out of the office. Choi Jooyoung yelled after him.

“Do you really want to try that red hair dye today?”

His booming voice echoed through the building. As the chase continued down the stairs, Song Jaeyi shook his head.

“They’re like children.”

He muttered disapprovingly, then leaned his head against Sooin. Sooin chuckled softly and stroked his hair. Jaeyi, who had become more affectionate with the impending separation, seemed like a child, and it was cute. As Sooin swallowed his unspoken sentiment, he received a message from Choi Jooyoung, who had just run out.

Choi Jooyoung:

I put the thing you asked for in the fourth stall of the restroom.

But why do you need this anyway?

Explain it to me, okay?

Sooin quickly locked his phone screen after reading the message. Fortunately, Song Jaeyi had his eyes closed, enjoying the comfort of Sooin’s shoulder.

“Isn’t it hard?”

“It’s comfortable.”

Song Jaeyi’s voice was drowsy, as if he was falling asleep. Thinking it was a good opportunity, Sooin carefully pulled away. He handed Jaeyi a soft cushion and smiled.

“Restroom. I’ll be right back. Hold this and think of Hyung.”

“Treating me like a kid again.”

Song Jaeyi hugged the cushion, his eyebrows furrowed. He settled into a comfortable position and muttered as an afterthought,

“Hurry back.”

Sooin, who was just turning around, burst out laughing.