VDN Ch 52

Nothing could be concluded yet. 

It must have been bought by mistake. Because he’s a fool.

Seo-oh suppressed his anxiety and picked up Nam-woon’s fallen cellphone. He intended to put it back in the bag. However, a message on the main screen caught his eye.

[Nam-woon-ah]

[Don’t you like the dildo you saw?]

[Should I buy another one?]

[Next time, it will come without the smell.]

[photo.jpg]

[Is it too big?]

Despite growing up being told he was smart, he couldn’t immediately understand the messages displayed on the phone. Dildo? Was it the kind of dildo he knew about? Even looking at the photo, he doubted his eyes.

Moreover, the message about coming without the smell was obvious. It referred to his pheromones.

Rut suppressants and the messages. Even without jumping to conclusions, these objectively pointed to one thing.

Nam-woon has been involved with another alpha.

Seo-oh’s heart pounded anxiously. He stared at the phone screen, forgetting to blink for a moment.

It can’t be true.

Nam-woon had said he wasn’t seeing anyone. This left two possibilities: Nam-woon lied to him or he slept with someone without being in a relationship. Either way, it was the worst case.

Nam-woon didn’t seem like he was lying. His expression when he said he wasn’t seeing anyone was the same as usual, and Nam-woon seemed unaware of pheromone showers altogether. If he was in a relationship, the other person wouldn’t have sent such playful messages.

The remaining possibility was,

A sexual relationship without dating.

All the hopes Seo-oh had carefully built up collapsed in an instant.

He wanted to grab Nam-woon by the collar and demand answers. Did you sleep with that guy? Since when? Why him?

….And why not me?

Nam-woon’s face, smiling like a fool, flashed before his eyes.

It felt like a hole had been punched in his heart, and the empty space was quickly filled with unbearable jealousy and anger. Seo-oh’s eyes darkened more than ever.

***

After browsing the pop-up store for a while, Nam-woon and Se-han returned with both hands full of bags. They settled on a bench near where Seo-oh was sitting in the shopping center corner. 

“Wow, Hyung, look at this!”

Se-han was too busy opening the newly acquired items to pay attention. Nam-woon stood in front of the bench, handing Se-han the unwrapped packages while glancing at Seo-oh. 

It’s too quiet.

Seo-oh watched Se-han’s actions without saying a word. His expression didn’t seem pleasant, unlike when they were playing the claw machine. His face lacked any emotion, and his complexion wasn’t great. Was something bothering him? Nam-woon glanced at his phone. Perhaps he was hungry, it had been a while since they left. 

“Seo-oh, are you hungry?” 

Nam-woon asked, but Seo-oh didn’t respond or even look at him. Finally, Se-han raised his head to look at his older brother. Seo-oh suddenly stood up. 

“I’m going out for some fresh air.”

“Hyung, where are you going?”

Se-han shouted, but Seo-oh quickly walked toward the escalator. Se-han glanced at Nam-woon, looking worried. Nam-woon sat on the bench, picking up the items in front of him.

It seems like he felt suffocated because there were too many people.

“What is this, Se-han?” Nam-woon asked, pointing at the item. Se-han quickly shifted his gaze and began explaining seriously, “Oh, that is…” Nam-woon responded while occasionally glancing towards the escalator where Seo-oh had gone down. 

While waiting for Seo-oh, Nam-woon handed the unopened items to Se-han one by one. Se-han quickly unwrapped them with his nimble hands. His lips puckered like a duck’s beak as he concentrated. Then, a familiar voice was heard.

“Seok Nam-woon?” 

Both Nam-woon and Se-han turned their heads. A charming man with a smile stood in front of them. 

It was Jin-sang. Nam-woon looked at the man with a grim expression. Jin-sang approached them.

“What brings you here?”

“I have something to buy.”

“You should have come with me. But why didn’t you reply?”

“I don’t want to waste my time replying to you.”

Jin-sang’s messages were always strange, so Nam-woon usually ignored them. Jin-sang sat next to Nam-woon, staring at Se-han. 

“…Who’s this?” 

“My younger brother.”

“You have a brother?” 

Under the man’s stare, Se-han hesitated and slowly put down the items he was holding. Nam-woon, sending Se-han behind him, said,

“We’re busy, so go away.” 

Suddenly, the Jin-sang came close to Nam-woon. Bending over and bringing his face right up to Nam-woon’s, he muttered softly,

“I can’t smell it anymore.”

“What?” 

Nam-woon pushed Jin-sang’s face away. Jin-sang nonchalantly grabbed Nam-woon’s hand that had risen to his face and sat down next to him.

“Hey, it’s cramped!” 

“Why aren’t you delivering pizza today?” 

Nam-woon looked at Jin-sang with a frown. Why did he say that when Se-han is here? At that moment, Se-han, seeing Jin-sang with his arm around Nam-woon’s shoulder, cautiously spoke up.

“Please don’t.”

Startled by Se-han’s sudden words, Nam-woon turned his head. Se-han’s large, dark eyes were fixed on the Jin-sang sitting next to Nam-woon. Jin-sang looked at Se-han expressionlessly and then waved the hand on Nam-woon’s shoulder.

“Oh, this?” 

“……” 

Se-han’s clear eyes wavered slightly. Before Nam-woon could say anything, Jin-sang lowered his arm from Nam-woon’s shoulder. 

“I took my hand off. Satisfied?” 

Jin-sang showed Se-han his open palm. But Se-han shook his head. 

“Not that.” 

“Hey, you should leave now.” 

They are going to need to move to another place. As Nam-woon was picking up the items scattered on the bench, Se-han spoke in a small but firm voice. 

“That smell… Please stop it.” 

At that moment, Jin-sang paused. He raised the corners of his mouth and said admiringly, 

“An Alpha? Aren’t you a kindergartener?” 

“I’m an elementary school student.” 

“Quick learner.” 

The man finished speaking with a smile and turned his gaze back to Nam-woon. At that moment, Se-han shouted even louder, 

“I said stop it!”

“Are you really Nam-woon’s younger sibling? How rude.”

Se-han’s face turned red, and he suddenly stood up and started kicking the man’s feet with his short legs. Small stains appeared on the man’s expensive-looking shoes. Surprised, Nam-woon quickly picked Se-han up and held him in his arms. 

“Se-han.” 

“Stop it! Don’t do that to Wooni Hyung!” 

Jin-sang looked at Se-han and Nam-woon alternately with an expressionless face and then bluntly said, 

“You two don’t look alike at all.” 

“Hey.” 

Nam-woon glared at Jin-sang, swallowing the curse he wanted to say. With Se-han in one arm and several bags hanging from the other, Nam-woon left first. Hae-geon watched Nam-woon’s figure disappear down the escalator. 

Even though he doesn’t have a younger sibling,

Jin-sang muttered expressionlessly. 

“Se-han, are you okay?” 

Se-han buried his face in Nam-woon’s shoulder without saying a word. Although he wasn’t crying, his face looked like tears were about to burst. Outside the shopping center, Nam-woon held Se-han close, scanning the surroundings. Kwon Seo-oh was nowhere in sight. As Nam-woon dialed Seo-oh’s number on his phone, he noticed Seo-oh walking toward them in the distance. Approaching them, Seo-oh asked with concern.

“What happened?” 

“Um, well…” 

Nam-woon hesitated, unsure what to say. Seo-oh extended his arm toward Se-han. 

“Se-han, come here.” 

Seeing Seo-oh’s face, Se-han’s body relaxed as he was lifted into his arms.

“Why are you like this? What happened?” 

Se-han buried his face in Seo-oh’s neck, tears streaming down. Nam-woon tried to comfort him, wiping Se-han’s face with his sleeve. Se-han continued to sob, explaining in stammering words,

“That, that tall man… Hiccup, he to Hyung, even though I told him not to… Uggh… He kept doing it, even though I said no… Ughh…”

Seo-oh listened, but the words were incomprehensible. Finally, he spoke.

“Seok Nam-woon.”

“Uh?” 

“What did you do while I was gone?”

“I just met someone I know…” 

Suddenly, Seo-oh roughly grabbed Nam-woon by the collar and pulled him towards himself. Surprised, Nam-woon was dragged along to Seo-oh. After a moment, Seo-oh released Nam-woon’s collar, as if pushing him away, and let out a hollow laugh. 

“Just someone you know?” 

Then, seeming angry, he asked,

“Are you out of your mind?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Do you want to act like that even in front of a kid?” 

“What do you mean by act like that?” 

Seo-oh’s jaw tightened visibly. It was clear to anyone that he was holding back his anger. He glared at Nam-woon with piercing eyes and walked forward. Nam-woon followed him and said, 

“I didn’t do anything.” 

“Shut up.” 

What is this? Nam-woon was completely confused. As he followed from behind, he grabbed Seo-oh’s hand and said, 

“Hey, let’s go home. We can talk at home.” 

Nam-woon held onto Seo-oh’s hand, but he immediately shook it off and headed towards the taxi stand. Nam-woon closely followed behind Seo-oh.