TBM Vol 4 Part 7

It wasn’t a lighthearted topic to casually discuss. Lee Il-seo’s life had been completely ruined by Gu Dong-yeong’s lies. At the same time, it was an inconsiderate outing for Lee Il-seo, who was a beta. Speechless, Lee Il-seo clenched his fist under the table. Not knowing what exactly Gu Dong-yeong had said or how much he’d revealed, he couldn’t respond at all.

“Ah! Look at Lee Il-seo’s face. He’s still fucking cute.”

Gu Dong-yeong crowed, throwing his head back in laughter. He looked thrilled that Lee Il-seo, who had been coldly ignoring him all night, had finally shown a flicker of emotion.

“Lee Il-seo, I’m sorry,” Han Yuseok interjected quickly. 

“Gu Dong-yeong didn’t say much—just that you two got close during your trainee days and dated for a bit.”

“Yeah, lighten up a bit. Lee Il-seo.”

As Han Yuseok tried to explain to ease the tension, Gu Dong-yeong chimed in, prompting Han Yuseok to elbow him in the ribs. Lee Il-seo brushed back his bangs and exhaled a hot breath. He was so angry it was hard to bear.

He was just about to excuse himself when Choi Kyung-hyun returned to the table—this time, with someone else in tow. Lee Il-seo froze mid-motion..

“Lee Il-seo, this is my cousin.”

“Hello, I’m Choi Kyung-cheol.”

Choi Kyung-cheol, slightly taller than Choi Kyung-hyun and radiating warmth, offered Lee Il-seo a handshake with an easy smile. Lee Il-seo, catching his breath, quickly relaxed his expression and shook the offered hand.

“Hello. I was surprised by how stylish the interior is. The music selection is really good too. The jazz song playing now is one I frequently listen to.”

As they exchanged greetings, Choi Kyung-hyun glanced around the table and raised his brows in surprise. A couple of the faces here were ones he’d only seen on TV. Blinking, he leaned in and whispered.

“Oh, Gu Dong-yeong? Han Yuseok is here too. Do you know each other?”

“Ah, yes. Gu Dong-yeong and I know each other. The other person  it’s my first time meeting him.”

“Ah, well, it’s nice to drink together.”

Remembering how Lee Il-seo had wanted to unwind, Choi Kyung-hyun smiled cheerfully and greeted the others. Lee Il-seo didn’t have time to stop him.

“Hello. I’m Choi Kyung-hyun, Lee Il-seo’s manager. And this is my cousin.”

“Ah, I came on Hojae hyung’s invitation. He said he’s friends with the owner.”

“Oh, you know Hojae!”

“Please speak informally, hyung.”

Han Yuseok shook Choi Kyung-cheol’s hand and explained the reason for their visit. Apparently, Choi Kyung-cheol’s acquaintance had invited Han Yuseok for some promotional purpose, and Han Yuseok had brought Gu Dong-yeong along. The table soon buzzed with light conversation as introductions circled the group.

Standing like an isolated island, Lee Il-seo had no choice but to sit down and press his eyelids with his hand. With sudden fatigue, all he could think about was going home.

Royal Salute whisky arrived at the table, poured generously into glasses, a gesture of hospitality from Choi Kyung-cheol. When fruit was served as a side dish, Gu Dong-yeong snorted, unbothered by masking his disdain. He mocked the choice of snacks and ordered stronger-smelling dishes, pasta, scallops, and cheeses. Lee Il-seo didn’t object. He welcomed the excuse to move away once the overpowering aromas gave him a reason.

“Lee Il-seo, I’m going to greet someone at that table over there.”

“Okay, hyung.”

“I’ll be back before the second part of the performance starts.”

Choi Kyung-hyun had many acquaintances here, thanks to Choi Kyung-cheol. Soon enough, he walked off, clearly assuming that Gu Dong-yeong and Han Yuseok would keep Lee Il-seo company in the meantime.

Just as Lee Il-seo lifted his glass, a hand cut between him and the rim. Startled, he looked up. A large hand had wrapped around his glass and taken it from him. The familiar scent near his wrist made his heart skip.

‘No way.’

Lee Il-seo waved toward Choi Kyung-hyun, signaling him to enjoy the evening. At least one of them should have a good time. If they stayed together, Gu Dong-yeong’s barbed words would make the night miserable for both.

“Your side dishes are here.”

Grilled scallops topped with truffle cream sauce were placed on the table. Following that, pasta, crackers, and cheese platters—foods with heavy aromas—filled the table, and Lee Il-seo stood up, fighting back nausea from the unbearable smell.

Gu Dong-yeong stopped pouring his drink as he watched Lee Il-seo trying to leave the table.

“What? Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

Lee Il-seo didn’t look back. Once inside, the music dulled behind the closed door. He walked slowly to the sink, took some mouthwash from the wall dispenser, and rinsed his mouth. The mint stung, but it calmed his stomach. In the mirror, dark hollows showed under his eyes. The stress was getting worse. Even a few seconds near the food had made him sick.

In that moment, he found himself missing the calm he used to feel in Sa Seung-yeon’s embrace, where even nausea faded. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. He washed his hands repeatedly and lingered by the window, letting the quietness ease his nerves.

The first part of the jazz performance was currently underway. Originally, he had planned to leave his congratulatory message after the second part, but now Lee Il-seo thought he should leave after the first part. He was sorry to Choi Kyung-hyun, but he couldn’t bear it any longer.

Meanwhile, Gu Dong-yeong, with whisky in his mouth, turned his head at the vibrating sound on the table. Lee Il-seo’s phone was ringing. As Gu Dong-yeong was about to turn away indifferently, his eyes caught the name on the screen.

“Cha Sa Seung-yeon sunbaenim”

‘What the hell?  Cha Sa Seung-yeon?’

Gu Dong-yeong slowly frowned.

‘This bastard ignores my calls but gets calls from him?’

Gu Dong-yeong reached out and snatched the phone. 

“Hey—what are you doing?” Yuseok asked, alarmed, but it happened too fast for him to intervene.

“Hello?” Dong-yeong said casually.

Gu Dong-yeong snickered when the other end of the line went quiet for a moment. A few seconds later, a low voice came through.

[Who is this?]

“It’s Gu Dong-yeong.”

Silence followed again. Perhaps the caller had pulled the phone away from his ear to check the number.

[Why are you answering Lee Il-seo’s phone?]

“Why shouldn’t I?”

[Are you two together?]

Even through the speaker, the coldness in Sa Seung-yeon’s tone was unmistakable. Gu Dong-yeong smirked and picked at a side dish.

“Yeah. We’re drinking together.”

[Where?]

“Oh, now you want to know? When I asked to meet, you ignored me.”

After being quiet for a moment, Sa Seung-yeon laughed belatedly and replied.

[Ah. Sorry, sorry. So where are you?]

Gu Dong-yeong rolled his eyes at the fake-sounding apology. The repeated questions made it seem like Sa Seung-yeon might actually show up. But somehow, Gu Dong-yeong had the gut feeling it wasn’t him Sa Seung-yeon was worried about.

So he was reluctant to answer directly and instead circled around his own story rather than giving Sa Seung-yeon the answer he wanted.

“Just a jazz bar Yuseok’s hyung opened..”

[I see. Send me the address.]

The line went dead before he could respond. Gu Dong-yeong stared at the disconnected screen in disbelief.

“What manners…”

Muttering, Gu Dong-yeong slammed the phone back on the table. At that moment, Han Yuseok, who had been glancing toward the bathroom, whispered to Gu Dong-yeong.

“But seriously, his face is insane. He’s beautiful!”

“Really? You like him? Even though he’s a Beta?”

“I’m gay anyway.”

Han Yuseok had been hoping to find a nice Omega, but he was suddenly drawn to Lee Il-seo, whom he’d met by chance. If Lee Il-seo was also attracted to men, it would be easier to approach him, which was good.

“But is he really easy? He seems like he has walls up.”

“He’s pretending. Try taking care of him a bit. He’ll spread his legs before you know it.”

“Even when you speak, you’re such a bastard…”

“What?”

By the time they emptied a bottle of whisky, Lee Il-seo returned. Han Yuseok immediately straightened, cutting off whatever he’d been saying.

Gu Dong-yeong’s eyes lazily swept over Lee Il-seo from his shoes to his forehead. Whether it was someone he’d just met, like Han Yuseok, or someone who’d filmed a single drama with him years ago, people still wanted Lee Il-seo. And Gu Dong-yeong knew he’d been the one who took Lee Il-seo’s virginity, the one who slept with him multiple times. That memory alone gave him a twisted sense of satisfaction.

So while Lee Il-seo was in the bathroom, Gu Dong-yeong sent the jazz bar’s address to Sa Seung-yeon. If Sa Seung-yeon came here, he planned to expose everything, in front of everyone, all the stories of fooling around with Lee Il-seo during their trainee days. He was curious how spectacular Sa Seung-yeon’s expression would be when he rushed here just at the mention of Lee Il-seo.

Lee Il-seo ignored the bitter, lingering stare as he sat and picked up his drink. Without warning, Han Yuseok placed a generous helping of creamy scallops onto his plate.

“Why aren’t you eating anything? You’ll get sick.”

“Ah… I’m on a diet. Please eat a lot, Yuseok.”

He’d gotten used to that excuse lately. It rolled off his tongue easily. With a soft smile, he pushed the plate toward Han Yuseok, and Han Yuseok widened his eyes, asking if he had any fat to lose.

“From my experience as a model, honestly, I think it would be better if you gained a little weight. I’m not just saying this to make you eat!”

Lee Il-seo, feeling a pang of guilt for Han Yuseok’s efforts to lift the mood, gave a small nod and placed a scallop in his mouth. He barely chewed before chasing it down with a shot of alcohol. The sharp sting of the liquor masked the creamy aftertaste just enough to swallow it like medicine.

Han Yuseok and Gu Dong-yeong kept drinking and chatting. Even Han Yuseok, who had tried several times to draw Lee Il-seo into the conversation, eventually gave up when all he got in return were half-hearted responses. Lee Il-seo simply sat there, silently downing his drink, his attention drifting to the fading notes of the live performance in the background.

Drinking whisky without side dishes, the intoxication came faster than expected. As he became drunk, the reasons for his bad mood became blurred, and he slowly began to enter a dazed state. It was just like in the past when he would obsessively drink to cover his painful feelings.

With a tilt of the wrist, he refilled his glass with amber whisky. He knew this wasn’t healthy. Knew he was leaning too hard on the comfort of intoxication. But if being drunk meant he could fall asleep without tossing and turning tonight, maybe that was good enough. Han Yuseok leaned forward in alarm, reaching for his glass.

“Let me pour for you.”

“You’re too far away. It’s fine.”

“Aren’t you drinking too fast? What if you get drunk?”

“I don’t get drunk easily.”

“But it’s okay if you do! I’ll take you home.”

“It’s fine, I can call a driver.”

Han Yuseok sighed at Lee Il-seo’s wall of indifference, and Lee Il-seo offered a half-hearted smile as he raised his glass again, only to find it no longer in his hand. Standing before him was Sa Seung-yeon, dressed in black sneakers, dark jeans, and a thick, oversized knit sweater. He held Lee Il-seo’s glass.

Sa Seung-yeon brought the glass to his own lips, emptied it casually, and set it down on the table. Lee Il-seo’s eyes wavered.

“Wh-what brings you here…?”

“So you came.”

Before Lee Il-seo could finish his sentence, Gu Dong-yeong greeted Sa Seung-yeon with a casual familiarity that made Lee Il-seo’s hand tremble. Sa Seung-yeon picked up Lee Il-seo’s phone from the table and handed it to him.

“Keep this with you.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Then Sa Seung-yeon sat next to Lee Il-seo. After carefully examining Sa Seung-yeon’s slightly disheveled hair, slightly rapid breathing, and the look in his eyes as he gazed at Lee Il-seo, Gu Dong-yeong sneered.

“You two must have gotten close? Rushing all the way here when I mentioned drinking with Lee Il-seo.”

“…”

“Or is there something between you two?”

Gu Dong-yeong chuckled to himself, clearly amused, while Han Yuseok glanced nervously between them, trying to make sense of the tension. Lee Il-seo stared at Gu Dong-yeong, bewildered.

Since when were they like this? Were they ever this close? The confusion clouding his thoughts sent a chill down to his fingertips.

Still maintaining a calm face, Sa Seung-yeon reached for the bottle and, instead of getting a new glass, poured a drink into Lee Il-seo’s glass and drank it. After emptying the glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, Sa Seung-yeon smiled with his eyes.

“Well.”

“…”

“Did we have something?”

His voice, though soft, hung in the air like damp mist, clinging, cold, and strangely slow to fade. Though his smile reached his eyes, it didn’t warm them. Lee Il-seo stared, frozen.

“Come on, Sa Seung-yeon. I told you to be careful.”

What was he supposed to be careful about? Just as Lee Il-seo frowned at Gu Dong-yeong, Sa Seung-yeon slammed his glass down on the table.

“…!”

Lee Il-seo and Han Yuseok flinched at the loud noise, and Gu Dong-yeong’s smile faded slightly. Lee Il-seo quickly examined Sa Seung-yeon’s hand. Fortunately, the glass hadn’t broken, but there were cracks on the bottom and sides.

Sa Seung-yeon raised a hand to tap his temple lightly, then shook his head. There was something almost suffocating in the way he moved, in his eyes, in the set of his jaw. His dark gaze shifted to Gu Dong-yeong, glinting with something unreadable.

“As I said before.”

“…”

“Spare me the lectures, Gu Dong-yeong.”

The atmosphere instantly sank with his low, husky voice. Sa Seung-yeon kept staring at Gu Dong-yeong, who eventually averted his eyes, shaking out a cigarette from his pack and putting it in his mouth.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Han Yuseok let out a quiet sigh and looked at Lee Il-seo, sitting stiffly between the two Alphas, his complexion pale. The unspoken tension was thick enough to taste.

Since Sa Seung-yeon had arrived, a subtle but unmistakable shift had filled the air. The Pheromones, dominant and unyielding, had started to bleed through. Maybe Sa Seung-yeon’s presence was so intense that the other Alphas were instinctively reacting, putting up their own defenses.

Gu Dong-yeong, who had been casually gossiping about Lee Il-seo, was now being thoroughly ignored, and seeing Sa Seung-yeon release aggressive pheromones at comments targeting Lee Il-seo… it was obvious that interfering further would only lead to embarrassment. Yuseok forced a smile and poured a drink into the glass Sa Seung-yeon had emptied.

“Hello, Sa Seung-yeon-ssi. We met once at a bar before, right? I enjoyed your drama.”

Shifting his cold gaze to Han Yuseok, Sa Seung-yeon answered mechanically without the slightest hint of a smile.

“Thank you.”

“I heard it reached number one globally too. Your popularity is truly amazing. I’m envious.”

At Han Yuseok’s banter, Gu Dong-yeong laughed softly with the cigarette in his mouth.

“Director Chae Geum-soo plus Cha Sa Seung-yeon—that’s a guaranteed hit.”

Then his obvious gaze darted to the quiet Lee Il-seo.

“What’s Director Chae Geum-soo like? Still an alpha even in old age?”

“I’ll leave once the performance is over, so stop it.”

When Lee Il-seo finally lost his composure and answered coldly, Gu Dong-yeong snickered. It seemed absurd to him that Lee Il-seo, who had been ignoring people all along, was showing such a sensitive reaction in front of Sa Seung-yeon.

“You heard earlier, right? This place belongs to my manager’s relative. I’m not looking to raise my voice here.”

The jazz performance was winding down. The room had quieted, dividers barely shielding them from curious eyes. Any raised voice would draw attention. And with celebrities like Sa Seung-yeon, Gu Dong-yeong, and Han Yuseok seated together, especially someone with Sa Seung-yeon’s fame. If there is a commotion, the blame might fall on Sa Seung-yeon

“Look at that, acting all tough because Sa Seung-yeon is here.”

“Ha… Forget it. Just…”

It was more about avoiding a brawl than standing tall. Lee Il-seo stood, unwilling to endure another minute of this. Jazz or not, he couldn’t stomach Gu Dong-yeong’s presence any longer. But just as he turned to leave, a voice cut through him like a blade.

“Right, what wouldn’t you do to be in Director Chae Geum-soo’s film?”

Lee Il-seo’s jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed. He knew exactly what this was—mockery born from unverified gossip. The rumors that he was sponsored by Director Chae Geum-soo. His fist clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.

“Cut the nonsense.”

“Nonsense? You’re exceptional at that one thing.”

“What?”

“Why, should I be more specific?”

Gu Dong-yeong took a slow drag of his cigarette and blew smoke toward Lee Il-seo. But Lee Il-seo wasn’t even looking at him, his gaze had shifted to Sa Seung-yeon.

“Friable, Chae Geum-soo… Some habits never die, huh? You’ll go far, Lee Il-seo.”

Somehow, Gu Dong-yeong’s sarcasm was becoming inaudible. Lee Il-seo’s confused gaze was fixed on Sa Seung-yeon’s face because his expression was peculiar.

“…”

Han Yuseok had a hand clamped around Gu Dong-yeong’s arm, with a nervous look on his face. But Sa Seung-yeon didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed locked on Gu Dong-yeong, expression unreadable. As if… He’d heard this all before.

Rumors about Director Chae Geum-soo had been whispered before, but only those from Lee Il-seo’s old agency would know about the canceled Friable debut. Even his current agency’s CEO didn’t know the whole truth.

Lee Il-seo’s jaw tightened as he stood frozen. Before anyone could stop it, a warm sensation began spreading from the back of his neck, and soon his eyes were burning. His tightly clenched fists turned pale from the pressure.

No. It couldn’t be. Had Sa Seung-yeon misunderstood him from the beginning? Smiling back at him… Accepting every gesture… Opening his home, his time, his heart—all without knowing? Had Sa Seung-yeon believed this whole time that it had all been a lie?

“Ah, don’t tell me. You two didn’t get close that way too, did you?”

The hand with the cigarette alternated between Lee Il-seo and Sa Seung-yeon. An icy silence fell over the table. Lee Il-seo’s trembling voice broke the silence.

“What have you been saying about me and to whom?”

“Well, these days, even if I don’t bring it up first, others mention your story on their own.”

“Gu Dong-yeong, stop it! Please!”

Han Yuseok stepped in, alarmed by the look on Sa Seung-yeon’s face, but it was too late—Lee Il-seo had snapped. His voice rose, distorted by hurt and disbelief.

“That’s a lie…! It was all your lies…”

“What’s a lie?”

“…”

“You and I fooled around when we were trainees, that’s real. Maybe you think you can be bold now that the videos are gone. But after flirting with all the trainees? Come on. What, are they active now too?”

At the mention of videos, the remaining color drained from Lee Il-seo’s face. His fingertips began to tremble, and his stomach churned even more. He remained still, feeling like he might throw up the alcohol he’d consumed. Thinking he’d landed a blow, Gu Dong-yeong became more excited and continued his attack.

“It’s sickening, honestly. People calling you pure, undiscovered… Stop forcing the image. If you act like a slut, people will see you for what you are”

At last, Gu Dong-yeong met Lee Il-seo’s eyes and paused, startled by the trembling in Lee Il-seo’s breath.

“What, are you crying?”

At the same time, tears streamed down Lee Il-seo’s face. A wet voice flowed through his heated breath.

“I auditioned for the drama.”

“…”

“I never flirted with trainees, I just took care of them because they were young. You were the one who was obsessed with me and tried to isolate me using that as an excuse.”

Though he was speaking to Gu Dong-yeong, his words were meant for everyone, but especially for Sa Seung-yeon.

He wanted to speak about the videos. To explain. But shame cut him off. No matter how twisted the truth is, the fact remained that he had been involved with Gu Dong-yeong. And he couldn’t bring himself to admit in front of Sa Seung-yeon that there had once been recordings.

Lee Il-seo wiped at his tears with the back of his hand, but they kept falling. He felt like he’d been thrown back into that suffocating practice room, surrounded by silence, disbelief, and walls that never listened.

“Hey, are you drunk? What’s wrong, really? Let’s go outside.”

“Who’s drunk? I’m not drunk at all. This bastard has been ignoring me the whole time. Who started it first?”

“Still… you should be careful with your words. This isn’t…”

As Han Yuseok tried to defuse the situation, Sa Seung-yeon reached for the whisky bottle, face expressionless. The sound of Lee Il-seo’s suppressed sobs rang in his ears. He closed one eye slowly, like the noise gave him a headache, then opened it again.

Drip. Drip. Lee Il-seo’s large tears rolled down his pale cheeks, collecting beneath his chin. Gu Dong-yeong shoved a stack of tissues across the table toward him.

“Hey, why are you crying over this? Did I say only you were dirty?”

“…”

“Who are we kidding? We all wear makeup and sell a fantasy. We’re all whores. What, did you suddenly grow a conscience?!”

Sa Seung-yeon stood up, and Gu Dong-yeong’s words were cut short. Amber whisky poured over his bleached hair. With one leg forward, Sa Seung-yeon flipped the bottle upside down, shaking it until the final drops spilled onto Gu Dong-yeong’s face.

“Sa Seung-yeon, what are you…?”

“…Hey, you fuck! What are you…!”

Gu Dong-yeong swore as he shook his wet hair and cheeks. Sa Seung-yeon wrinkled his nose bridge and let out a low laugh.

“You said you weren’t drunk. Shut up and drink more.”

“You son of a…! Ugh!”

Just as Gu Dong-yeong lunged forward, he was slammed back into his seat. Han Yuseok covered his mouth in shock. Violent Pheromones radiated from Sa Seung-yeon—oppressive and razor-sharp. Gu Dong-yeong trembled under the weight of it, barely able to speak.

“Hey… You bastard, can’t you control your Pheromones?”

“Say one more word.”

“Hey, Cha Sa Seung-yeon!”

Sa Seung-yeon flipped the bottle, gripped it by the neck, and raised it high, air whistling as it swung. Gu Dong-yeong cowered, eyes squeezed shut. The bottle’s shadow loomed over him.

“Sa Seung-yeon!”

“S-Sunbae-nim!”

Despite Lee Il-seo and Han Yuseok’s protests, the bottle descended rapidly, brushing past Gu Dong-yeong’s ear, and just before it hit his head, it changed direction and shattered against the table corner. With the sharp sound of breaking glass, Sa Seung-yeon pulled up the corners of his mouth coolly.

“Ah, I thought you were prepared to have your head cracked open when you were talking.”

As the jazz reached its climax, cheers erupted for the vocalist’s scat. Amid the applause, Sa Seung-yeon casually dabbed at the alcohol on his shirt, then slowly, mockingly, wiped at Gu Dong-yeong’s drenched face with the same tissue.

“Gu Dong-yeong.”

Sa Seung-yeon spoke in a coaxing voice, discarded the wet tissue, and tapped Gu Dong-yeong’s cheek to make him look up.

“Be good.”

“…”

“If you want to live.”

“…”

“Or you’re fucked.”

Each word was a slap. What started as light taps escalated with every syllable, until the final blow snapped Gu Dong-yeong’s head to the side. His cheek bloomed red.

Gu Dong-yeong shifted, eyes flaring with rage, ready to strike, but his limbs refused to obey. The Pheromones held him down like chains. Sa Seung-yeon leaned across the table…

“And.”

His lowered voice settled heavily on the table. Sa Seung-yeon, already threatening with his posture due to his exceptionally tall stature and build, now erased all traces of the playful smile he had been wearing.

“Don’t mess with Lee Il-seo.”

He slowly withdrew the Pheromones he’d spread across the table, then turned to look at the frozen figure beside him.

Lee Il-seo hadn’t been the one doused in alcohol, but the shock had knocked the breath out of him. His face was streaked with tears, his body rigid. Sa Seung-yeon softened his furrowed brow, but the tension in the air didn’t lift. Right now, the priority lay in removing this fragile, trembling bird from the battlefield.

“Shall we go?”

At the gentle question, Lee Il-seo’s eyes fluttered, as if remembering how to blink. He nodded stiffly, like a machine rusty from disuse. Without another word, Sa Seung-yeon reached for his wrist and led him out.

As they walked down the main road, hand still loosely around Lee Il-seo’s wrist, Sa Seung-yeon hailed a passing taxi. He opened his mouth to recite his home address, then stopped.

“To Ilgok-dong, please.”

“Yes, sir.”

After giving directions to Lee Il-seo’s neighborhood, Sa Seung-yeon leaned back in his seat. The taxi glided quietly through the city. Beside him, Lee Il-seo wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, his crying gradually subsiding. Sa Seung-yeon didn’t look at him. He stared out the window, thoughts roaring in his head like a coming storm. 

He had just exercised the greatest patience of his life at that table. The moment he saw Lee Il-seo crying, his rationality instantly blurred. No, from the moment Gu Dong-yeong answered Lee Il-seo’s phone, something in his mind had snapped.

Knowing Lee Il-seo had asked for space, only to find him drinking with Gu Dong-yeong immediately after, it felt like a colony of insects crawling beneath his skin. But the situation that unfolded before his eyes was different from what he expected. Lee Il-seo was clearly uncomfortable, and Gu Dong-yeong was one-sidedly attacking him.

Lee Il-seo shed tears, and by then, Sa Seung-yeon couldn’t hear anyone’s voice. Once he crossed that threshold, he picked up the bottle without thinking. After emptying its contents, just before he brought it down on Gu Dong-yeong’s head, Lee Il-seo’s voice faintly pierced through his muffled eardrums, and for better or worse, Gu Dong-yeong’s head remained uncracked.

As Sa Seung-yeon stared at Lee Il-seo, who sat lifelessly like a doll with a broken string, he wondered what the young man was thinking. The melancholic look in his eyes seemed particularly lonely, making Sa Seung-yeon reluctant to send him home like this. So he abruptly changed the subject.

“You said your dream was to be a singer, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I’d like to hear other songs besides what Haru sang.”

“…Haha.”

A weak smile broke across Lee Il-seo’s face, like sunlight through mist. Even clumsy praise could draw warmth from him. Sa Seung-yeon suppressed the urge to pull him into a hug. He hadn’t brought it up just to comfort him, he truly did like Lee Il-seo’s voice. And the way he played guitar.

Why was he so angry? The fury still simmered, but he couldn’t find its core.. Gu Dong-yeong had said the same things he always had—then and now. Sa Seung-yeon had believed him. Han Yuseok had, too.

So this anger should be directed not only at Gu Dong-yeong but also at himself for believing his words and treating Lee Il-seo casually. Everyone at that table, except for Lee Il-seo, was just trash of different kinds. Did he even have the right to be angry at Gu Dong-yeong? What was he to Lee Il-seo, and how was he different from Gu Dong-yeong? Unable to answer any of these questions, his insides boiled hotly.

Lee Il-seo had to be promiscuous. The more convinced he was that Lee Il-seo was someone to be treated casually, the more satisfying a partner he became.

The audacity to try and talk about sexual relationships, the lightness with which he accepted the partner’s proposal without much thought, and the skillfulness with which he neatly separated work and personal matters. All of these things had slightly eased the guilt of treating Lee Il-seo carelessly.

But now, those comforting illusions were starting to fall away.

-Ah… I don’t really get hurt by such words. It’s not the first time I’ve been misunderstood.

The word ‘misunderstanding’ stuck in his throat, and his insides grew cold. Lee Il-seo’s heart was already hurt and closed off.

Unable to turn his head from the car window, Sa Seung-yeon quietly clenched his fist. He hadn’t realized his words and actions were gradually entangling him, and now that he understood, it had become a knot he couldn’t untie. Everything was spinning out of control.

When they stepped out near the alleyway, the night air felt heavier than it should. The neighborhood was still, bathed in dim light, and long past bedtime for most. They walked slowly toward Lee Il-seo’s building. When he finally came to a stop in front of the door, Sa Seung-yeon spoke to his back—

“Let’s talk for a moment.”