ETP Ch 86

The group project ended with a rough agreement on opinions. Staying longer would only make the atmosphere awkward.

“Then, let’s schedule the rest of the work later, and make sure to attend the afternoon class well!”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work!”

Hearing Seolun’s closing remarks, Sungyeon also bowed his head repeatedly in greeting. Jihye also warmly waved goodbye to Seolun and Bokseung, and gave a hesitant, silent nod only to Yoohyun.

Naturally, Hwang Yoohyun did not greet anyone. He just took Bokseung and left the area.

“Sunbae-nim! You should at least say goodbye!”

“I won’t.”

“Why!”

“They were rude to me first.”

Well, that’s true. No matter how good the intention, you shouldn’t just shove it like that! And to no one else but Hwang Yoohyun!

Thinking about it again, Sungyeon fumed and let out a snort.

Yoohyun tilted his head, watching Bokseung, who had suddenly turned into an angry peach after exchanging a few words.

He couldn’t tell if not greeting them was something to be so angry about, or if it was because the etiquette level in his Hwang Yoohyun Raising game hadn’t gone up.

Yoohyun quietly tucked in his tail, making his own assumptions about the reason for Bokseung’s anger.

“Cheer up. I’ll greet them properly next time.”

“Pardon?”

“I won’t do anything impolite.”

Sungyeon quickly shook his head after hearing Yoohyun’s words.

“I’m not upset because of that!”

“Oh?”

“Yes! Thinking about it, Jihye really did something rude to you, Sunbae-nim! It’s understandable that you didn’t greet them!”

He was upset not because I did something wrong, but because someone else did something wrong to me?

Yoohyun, who was carefully reviewing Bokseung’s words, subtly curled up the corners of his mouth.

Is having someone take my side like this, even at 23 years old, such a good feeling?

Yoohyun gently stroked Bokseung’s hair once. The fluffy hair tickled his palm.

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

“Sunbae-nim, aren’t you tired?”

“Hmm?”

“Please sit here.”

Sungyeon pulled a chair from the corner, looking at Yoohyun’s white face, which seemed almost forlorn.

“You didn’t have to come in for your part-time job today. What if you overdo it and collapse again?”

Who was worrying about whom?

Objectively speaking, his height, well over 180cm, and the dense muscles covering his whole body were not something to worry about in any setting.

Not that Yoohyun had ever specifically pretended to be weak in front of Bokseung. The reason being, he didn’t think pretending to be weak would work now.

However, even without Yoohyun’s efforts, Bokseung handled Yoohyun as if he were a glass about to break, not knowing what to do.

Yoohyun found Bokseung’s actions puzzling but didn’t bother to inform him of his good health. He quite liked this situation where Bokseung was worrying about him.

If Yoo Sunjung had been around, she would have groaned in disgust at their behavior and gotten annoyed, but unfortunately, it was just Yoohyun and Bokseung at the PC bang.

In other words, there was no one to stop the unconscious doting of the two.

“Oh? Yoohyun-ie? Are you feeling better?”

As it was nearly midnight, Hyungseop, who came out to the PC bang, asked Yoohyun, seeing his face after a long time.

“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”

Yoohyun politely bowed his head and replied that he was okay.

Hyungseop nodded. Fortunately, considering he had been sick enough to miss a week of work, he looked perfectly fine. His jawline was a bit sharper, but since he was so handsome, it wasn’t noticeable.

Maybe it’s because he’s an Alpha. He wasn’t as sick as he had worried, which was a relief.

Just as Hyungseop finished the greeting and was about to send Bokseung and Yoohyun off.

“Boss! I have something to tell you.”

“Huh? What is it, Bokseung-ie?”

Bokseung requested a talk with Hyungseop.

“As you can see, Boss, Hwang Yoohyun Sunbae-nim’s body hasn’t fully recovered yet. I was wondering if I could work alone for the time being…”

“What?”

No? He looks perfectly fine! I saw him, he looks really okay!

Hyungseop was about to ask where he looked sick.

But Yoohyun cut in first.

“No.”

“Huh?”

Hyungseop stared blankly at Yoohyun, who answered instead of him.

“How can Bokseung work alone? Of course not, right?”

“But, Sunbae-nim, what if you push yourself too hard and collapse?”

“Why would I collapse?”

“Why, you ask! You look like you’d whirl and collapse if I just tap you!”

Yoohyun remained silent, knowing that even if the small fry, barely over 170cm, hit him, he wouldn’t collapse. He was curious to see how far this misconception would go if he just left it alone.

“Still, you can’t be alone.”

“Are you looking down on Kim Bokseung right now?”

“How is that looking down? I’m worried.”

Wait, can’t I say something?

Hyungseop made a troubled expression, watching the two part-timers squabble as if he wasn’t there.

I’m the boss though, why is everyone ignoring me?

Hyungseop first separated the two people who were fighting over an incomprehensible topic.

“Bokseung-ah, no matter what, you can’t work alone now. If Yoohyun-ie isn’t well, I’ll find another part-timer, so don’t even think about doing it alone.”

“Ah, I can really do it alone.”

Sungyeon felt wronged. He didn’t like bringing the sick Yoohyun in for work, and he didn’t like Hyungseop having to go through the trouble of finding a replacement for him.

He had done well alone until now and would continue to do well, so it was quite unfair to be treated as someone who couldn’t do anything alone because of those rotten guys.

“What’s not allowed is not allowed.”

Naturally, Hyungseop dismissed Bokseung’s opinion. Yoohyun also chimed in on Hyungseop’s side.

“Kim Bokseung, I’m really fine, so don’t even think about that. Where do you get the nerve to think about going alone?”

“Hmph!”

“Oh, really.”

Yoohyun lightly tapped Bokseung’s pouting lips.

At that moment, Sungyeon felt heat rush to his lips, starting from the point where his finger touched. Not only that, but his lips also pulsed as if his heart was beating. To feel this even while bickering meant it was truly serious.

“Anyway, Yoohyun-ie’s body is fine, so Bokseung-ie, don’t worry unnecessarily, just work together. Understood?”

“Ye-es.”

“Yoohyun-ie, if you feel sick, contact me right away.”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then both of you go. It’s past 12.”

Hyungseop, who had reached a cool conclusion, waved his hand dismissively.

Sungyeon was still uneasy, but since everyone else, besides him, said it was fine, he had no choice but to drop his insistence.

The two people left the PC bang and walked towards Yoohyun’s parked car.

“Sunbae-nim, you must be tired, should I drive?”

“What?”

“No, I drive well…”

What is he talking about? Bokseung doesn’t have a license!

Sungyeon stopped mid-sentence and laughed awkwardly.

“Th-that meant I’m worried about you so much that I want to drive!”

“I’m not sick enough to make you drive without a license, so don’t worry.”

Yoohyun said as he got into the driver’s seat.

“Kim Bokseung, why are you pouting?”

Yoohyun barely managed to suppress the laughter rising in him, looking at Bokseung’s protruding lips all the way home.

When his rut period was exposed and he showed his beastly side, he was worried about how he should comfort Bokseung if he was scared. But it seemed all his worries were groundless.

Instead of comforting Bokseung, it seemed he had been marked as the one who needed comforting by Bokseung.

Yoohyun decided to enjoy this novelty. But first, he had to deal with the pouting.

“I’m not pouting. I was just worried.”

Bokseung insisted he wasn’t pouting in a voice that clearly showed he was.

“Oh, thank you for worrying.”

“No, that’s not it! Sunbae-nim’s pheromones are still unstable, and your face looks gaunt!”

“Yes, yes, that’s why you decided to look after me well from beside me.”

Sungyeon fell silent at Yoohyun’s reply.

Right, that’s it. I just need to be by his side. If he collapses, I can just carry him on my back.

Sungyeon concluded, ignoring the physical differences between Bokseung and Yoohyun.

“Oh, now that you mention it, that’s true. Yes, that’s right! Don’t worry, Sunbae-nim! I’ll take care of everything!”

“Yes, yes. You’re very reassuring.”

Yoohyun bit his lip again to hold back his laughter.

Whatever happened during the past week, Bokseung had become quite spirited and brave. It was both quite pleasant to see and cute.

Then again, Yoohyun would like Bokseung no matter what he looked like.

“So, Sunbae-nim?”

“Yes.”

“Um, how would you feel about moving back into the house…?”

Screech!

Yoohyun slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, the light also changed the moment he braked, so there was no major incident, but it was enough to startle them.

“S-Sunbae-nim?! I thought we were going to crash.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“Whew, ah! So, what’s your answer to what I said?”

Yoohyun stared blankly at Bokseung. Was it true that he asked to live together, and he didn’t mishear?

Whether he knew Yoohyun’s feelings or not, Bokseung, with his round cheeks flushed, still had a clear expression.

“Uh, c-can I?”

Yoohyun cursed inwardly at the stuttering, idiotic words that came out, but he couldn’t help it. How could he maintain his composure when Bokseung asked him to live together…!