RFL Ch 14

Why would they call each other at this hour, especially when their relationship was distant enough to warrant such a generic contact name? And even more so when he wouldn’t even answer calls from his closest friend?

There are times when intuition precedes reason. A sense of foreboding, inexplicable by words, washes over you, and actions begin before the mind can process.

Just like now.

Sooin answered the phone with a vacant expression, staring into the distance. As soon as he put Song Jaeyi’s phone to his ear, Choi Jooyoung’s bright voice filled the line.

“How did it go?”

“…”

“I bet he’s completely buried now, right? Once the posters go up, it’s over, honestly.”

Posters. Sooin repeated the word silently and watched Song Jaeyi approaching from afar. He was wearing a light blue shirt, perhaps borrowed from the medical staff. The fluttering, light blue fabric complemented his pale face. Like an angel.

“Oh right. And about that thing, asking me to put someone on Sooin?”

But the words reaching his ears were far from angelic. Sooin chuckled dryly and wiped his eyes. Just then, Song Jaeyi, with his angelic face concealing dark intentions, began to draw near.

“Hey, Choi Jooyoung.”

Sooin spoke loudly, intending for Song Jaeyi to hear. At his low, cold voice, Song Jaeyi, who was a couple of steps away, stopped.

“What the fuck are you doing behind my back?”

A surge of betrayal made his eyes redden and his throat tighten. Unable to contain the rising heat, Sooin threw down the shopping bag along with the phone.

“What did you prepare by digging into my past?”

Even though it was within easy reach, Song Jaeyi simply watched as the items fell at Sooin’s feet. His pale face offered no excuse.

Song Jaeyi was always like that. Even when caught red-handed, he offered no excuses or justifications. His expression, one of quiet acceptance as if awaiting punishment, always softened Sooin’s heart.

“You’re really tiring, Song Jaeyi.”

But not this time. Sooin suppressed his ragged breath and calmly cleared his throat. He didn’t want to appear hurt. Concealing his trembling fingertips in a fist, he took a step towards Song Jaeyi.

“I’m so disgusted by being involved with you that I can’t stand it anymore.”

Muttering the words with a weary expression, Sooin turned and left. He walked away without looking back, crossing the lobby and the ground-level parking lot. Even as he walked, he laughed hollowly, wondering if Song Jaeyi, with his injured back, would be able to drive.

The hospital lobby and parking lot were vast, as always. Even after what felt like a long walk, he was still in front of the hospital. Glaring at the restaurant he had visited with Song Jaeyi, Sooin started to walk even faster. He felt anxious, as if he could hear someone running after him.

“Wait… wait a minute.”

As expected, Song Jaeyi caught up. Sooin heard his words, spoken between gasps, but didn’t reply, simply stopping by the roadside. He reached out to hail a taxi, and Song Jaeyi stepped onto the road to face him. A car whizzed by, honking sharply.

“Are you insane?”

Startled, Sooin quickly grabbed the back of Song Jaeyi’s neck. He started to pull him up, but stopped, worried about his injured back, and instead pulled him onto the sidewalk by his shoulder.

The flimsy hospital shirt had come half-undone during the brief struggle. Frowning, Sooin tightened the knot and shoved Song Jaeyi hard.

“Get lost. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.”

“…Just listen for a second.”

Song Jaeyi, pushed back two steps, swallowed repeatedly and spoke. It was the first time Sooin had seen him so childishly pleading, sweating and speaking in a hesitant tone.

…Couldn’t he at least listen to what he had to say?

Momentarily wavering, Sooin slapped his own cheek and reached out to the road again. “Taxi!” he shouted, glancing at Song Jaeyi, who stood frozen in surprise. His gaze was fixed on Sooin’s burning cheek.

He manipulated Pyo Hyungyeon into ruin, put someone on Sooin, and yet he was frozen by a single slap…

Sooin swallowed his frustration and opened the door of the waiting taxi. Song Jaeyi, still frozen like a statue, looked at him with pleading eyes. The wavering in his eyes made Sooin’s heart clench.

He thought he had been relentlessly pushing him away and defending himself, but it wasn’t true. He had given everything, trusted, and even held expectations. The raw pain in his chest prevented him from offering the hypocritical farewell of “Take care.” He wanted to inflict the same pain he felt onto Song Jaeyi.

“You said you hate pretense. You’re the hypocrite.”

Even until the end, he couldn’t be insincere with Song Jaeyi. He always ended up being too honest, showing his ugly side. Scoffing at himself, Sooin got into the taxi.

The car started moving as soon as the door closed. He hadn’t even given a destination, but Song Jaeyi was already receding into the distance. Quickly relegated to the edge of the window, Song Jaeyi soon disappeared from even the side mirror. He vanished without a trace.

It was a truly easy goodbye.

Sooin’s phone rang persistently throughout the ride home. As if taking over from Pyo Hyungyeon’s relentless barrage of messages, Choi Jooyoung called incessantly. The calls poured in until his phone finally gave up and shut down, but Sooin didn’t answer.

Instead, he bought two bottles of soju and returned home. With no friends to confide in and no one to blame, it was the only thing he could think of.

As soon as he put his bag down in the living room, he opened a bottle of soju without any snacks. The taste of the strong liquor, drunk in broad daylight, resembled his mood. Bitter, burning, and frustrating, but he didn’t want to give in.

Even though no one was forcing him to drink as punishment or as a newcomer’s toast, Sooin emptied the entire bottle without hesitation. Still feeling unsatisfied, he twisted the cap off the next bottle and thought, is this misfortune really the last drink?

Even as he laughed self-deprecatingly, his mind was filled with Song Jaeyi. No matter how much he drank, his anger wouldn’t subside, and he couldn’t understand either Song Jaeyi or Choi Jooyoung. The vivid sense of betrayal sent shivers down his spine. He wanted to mock himself for being naive enough to let the relationship drag on this far.

Yet, Sooin felt conflicting emotions at the same time. He wanted to hear the full story from both of them, he was worried about Song Jaeyi’s injury, and he even regretted turning away so coldly. The conflicting emotions wouldn’t subside, constantly churning within him. He remained stuck in this cycle even after finishing both bottles of soju.

Sooin cleared away the empty bottles and stretched out on the sofa. He blinked, his vision blurring from the sudden surge of alcohol. Even though the soju he had gulped down on an empty stomach burned in his throat, he felt strangely sleepy. Like the time he lay on the bench while talking to Song Jaeyi, his heavy eyelids drooped. And then, a voice irresistibly surfaced in his mind.

“Are you sleeping now?”

“Fuck, after making me worry all day, you’re sleeping…!”

He wanted to hear that voice, shamelessly. Smiling hollowly, Sooin closed his eyes. No one would be angry if he fell asleep like this today. So, he decided to take a long nap, something he hadn’t done in a long time.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Thanks to the soju he had consumed like poison, Sooin slept for a long time. A chaotic stream of dreams, reflecting his troubled mind, continued endlessly, but if left undisturbed, he could have slept straight through till morning.

“Hey, Kim Sooin!”

A sudden, deafening crash, as if the door was being smashed, pulled him back to consciousness. Forced awake, Sooin came face-to-face with an unexpected intruder.

“You bastard, you turned off your phone? Huh!? You’re ignoring me after everything?”

The intruder climbed on top of Sooin, breaking through the dim darkness. The force with which he grabbed and shook Sooin’s collar wasn’t strong, but it was enough to make him nauseous.

Sooin, his face contorted from the effects of two bottles of soju, pushed Choi Jooyoung away. “Move,” he commanded curtly, and Choi Jooyoung scrambled off and sat on the floor. Kneeling with his hands clasped together, he began to offer various explanations. His mumbled words were barely audible.

“What are you saying? I can’t hear you.”

Sooin picked his ear and walked to the kitchen, where he drank some water. He emptied the small bottle in one gulp, crushed it, and threw it at Choi Jooyoung. Choi Jooyoung, who had been scrambling after him, tried to catch it with an awkward motion but was hit in the head instead. The crumpled plastic bottle fell to the floor with a pathetic thud.

Choi Jooyoung’s voice grew louder. He followed Sooin around, practically begging, as Sooin tidied the house, sorted the recycling, and brushed his teeth.

“No, I mean, I’m upset too. Even if I’m a guy who does anything for money, how could you think I’d do that to you?”

Choi Jooyoung, leaning against the bathroom doorframe, poured out his heart. Sooin watched him indifferently as he pounded his fist into his palm in agitation. As Sooin continued brushing his teeth halfheartedly with a nonchalant expression, Choi Jooyoung shouted, his face red, “Do I look like that kind of person to you? Someone who sells out their best friend?”

Now he’s turning the tables. Sooin twitched his eyebrow and spat out the toothpaste. Then, gripping the door, he muttered coldly, “My balls don’t have friends.”

“Hey, damn it!”

Pushed by the closing door, Choi Jooyoung continued shouting from outside.

“Anyway! I can’t tell you the details, but! What Song Jaeyi asked me to do was hire security, not to stalk you! It was for protection!”

Pretending to ignore him, Sooin couldn’t bring himself to turn on the water. Gripping the faucet handle, he stared at the mirror. His reflection, still wanting to believe Song Jaeyi, had his ears perked up.

“And that Pyo whatever guy. The posters, honestly… that was my idea, and there’s a reason why… I can’t tell you right now. But if you hear it, you’ll understand.”

The anxious excuses from beyond the door ended vaguely. Sooin sighed and turned on the water. Even amidst the rushing water, Choi Jooyoung’s voice occasionally filtered through.

Sooin couldn’t ignore Choi Jooyoung any longer. As he said, they were best friends. He knew all too well how proud Choi Jooyoung was, and what he must have given up to rush to his house in the middle of the night. It was near impossible to coldly chase him away after seeing him plead like that.

He was already half-forgiven before even hearing a proper explanation. Annoyed by his own easy forgiveness, Sooin deliberately took a long shower. He slowly emerged into the living room only after his churning stomach had settled and his mind had cleared. It was past four in the morning, and rain was falling outside the dimly lit window.

Rainy nights brought back bad memories. It made it even easier to feign a somber expression. Deliberately maintaining a sullen demeanor, Sooin dried his wet hair.

Choi Jooyoung continued to follow him around. He took the wet towel and put it in the laundry basket, even bringing him the hairdryer. If left unchecked, he would probably start vacuuming. Finally, Sooin asked reluctantly, “Why did you bury Pyo Hyungyeon without telling me?”

Choi Jooyoung’s face, which had been somewhat bearable, suddenly transformed into a scene from a horror movie. His eyes widened, and he pounded his chest.

“I can’t tell you! I signed a non-disclosure agreement!”

“…”

“Do you know how much the penalty is if I leak information to you? Crazy, it’s a whopping fifty million won!”

Seeing the expression on his face that seemed to want to lament the weight of fifty million won, Sooin clicked his tongue dismissively. Maintaining his disdainful expression, he retrieved a pack of his favorite canned beer from the refrigerator. Sensing the softened atmosphere, Choi Jooyoung fidgeted.

“Anyway… it wasn’t like what you think. There’s a good reason for everything, really.”

Sooin silently placed the beer on the table. As soon as the heavy thud echoed, Choi Jooyoung quickly reached out, tore open the packaging, and asked, “Should we order more?” At his coaxing voice, suggesting they order more drinks and Sooin’s favorite snacks, Sooin chuckled softly.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. I still don’t understand since I haven’t heard the reason yet.”

“I really want to tell you, but I can’t!”

Despite fidgeting, Choi Jooyoung diligently scrolled through his phone. Seeing his eyes darting around as he browsed the delivery app, Sooin could only feel bewildered. He shook his head firmly and opened a can of beer.

“Then I guess I’ll continue not understanding until I hear the reason.”

“You bastard, then why didn’t you ask the person involved? You slammed the door on Song Jaeyi, and now you’re trying to grill me!”

Choi Jooyoung, who had been acting subservient despite feeling wronged, finally exploded. Along with utterly incomprehensible words.

Slammed the door? Sooin, mid-sip of beer, raised an eyebrow. Choi Jooyoung, absorbed in ordering food, finally looked up.

“What? He didn’t even ring the doorbell?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Song Jaeyi’s car is outside, though.”

“Now?”

“Yeah, I saw it when I came in. Don’t tell me he was waiting without contacting you? I thought you chased him away.”

Choi Jooyoung finished ordering and tossed his phone onto the sofa. “Man, there’s not much to order at this hour,” he mumbled, opening a beer with a bored expression. Leaving him be, Sooin immediately stood up and headed for the entrance.

A downpour raged outside. The smell of wet earth and water hit him as soon as he opened the door. Slipping on some shoes, Sooin went out and stood in front of the bench. Looking out from the highest point on the hill where his house stood, he saw the familiar silhouette of the white car.

But the car was dormant, without any lights. It was empty and silent, both inside and out. Where could he have gone, leaving only his car in this downpour? Sooin bit his lip and went back inside.

“He didn’t contact you either?”

He asked irritably, rummaging through his bag. He pulled out his phone, plugged it into the charger, and immediately pressed the power button. Choi Jooyoung watched his frantic movements with a bewildered expression.

“Uh, there wasn’t anything… he must have contacted you, right?”

He had no way of knowing, since his phone had been off and he had passed out after drinking soju. Instead of answering, Sooin just frowned and fidgeted with his phone anxiously. The screen, unresponsive for a while, finally began to brighten.

Countless notifications had accumulated on the phone that had been off for so long. Professor Kwak’s ominous missed calls, worried texts from Yiso, Junyong, and other classmates, over a hundred missed calls from Choi Jooyoung, and Pyo Hyungyeon’s curses and threats filled the screen. Amidst the red notifications, there were only two from Song Jaeyi.

One missed call and one message.

Song Jaeyi:

I’ll wait.

Judging by the circumstances, it was clear he had sent it from in front of his house. Sooin sighed, staring at the timestamp of the message, which was over eight hours old.

“Where did he go at this hour, it’s dangerous.”

He was the one who had turned away coldly, saying he didn’t want to hear anything. And yet, now he was anxious and wanted to know where Song Jaeyi was. Choi Jooyoung gave Sooin a strange look as he ran a hand through his hair anxiously.

“…Hey, are you aware of your client’s size?”

“I know him better than you do.”

Having been pinned down by him, who else could understand Song Jaeyi’s size better than him? But did there have to be a reason for someone to be in danger? The world was a dangerous place these days. Sooin kicked Choi Jooyoung’s shin irritably.

“Go find Song Jaeyi.”

In his urgency, he ended up asking for Song Jaeyi to be tracked.

Choi Jooyoung laughed as if dumbfounded and took out his phone. He made a call, and the person on the other end answered immediately, despite the late hour. Looking down at Choi Jooyoung as he rattled off Song Jaeyi’s personal information without hesitation, Sooin let out a long breath.

He had been shortsighted. This was why you shouldn’t take your eyes off kids for even a second…

❤︎₊ ⊹

It was the fourth day, and the white car was still parked in front of Sooin’s house.

Sooin peered into the darkly tinted windows. The dim interior of the car remained empty and cold, with no sign of anyone having been there, even briefly.

“I stopped by before going to the cafe, just in case, and it’s still there. It’s been abandoned for days.”

Sooin held his phone between his ear and shoulder and placed his index finger on the window. As he swiped across, a streak appeared on the seemingly clean glass. Sooin blew away the dust like a sigh.

“So, still no news.”

“Yeah, he vanished without a trace. I haven’t found any leads yet.”

Choi Jooyoung on the other end seemed to be pounding his chest again. At the faint thudding sound, Sooin paused. He briefly considered keeping his thoughts to himself, since Choi Jooyoung was also frustrated, but his lips moved on their own.

“…How do you make a living doing this?”

“Hey, why are you taking it out on me… I know, I know.”

Choi Jooyoung, who had flared up momentarily, quieted down and hung up after mumbling something about trying harder to find him. His promise to keep searching didn’t sound very confident.

On his way to the cafe, Sooin tried calling Song Jaeyi a few more times. Each time, he was met with the cold message that the phone was turned off, and there was no other progress.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even know where he lives.”

Someone had parked their car in front of his house for days, and yet, he didn’t even know the name of Song Jaeyi’s neighborhood. The realization left Sooin feeling utterly hollow.

In truth, Sooin didn’t know much about Song Jaeyi. He didn’t know if he lived with someone or alone, whether he had pets, or even if he liked dogs or cats.

The process of getting to know someone points in the same direction as falling in love.

He had deliberately avoided it, refraining from asking questions even as his curiosity grew. He had intended to endure and suppress it until the very end. But now, an unbearable wave of regret washed over him. He felt powerless, unable to even visit Song Jaeyi’s house when the person he liked had disappeared overnight.

Powerlessness and regret were the emotions Sooin hated most. They were a swamp he had tasted to the point of nausea, sinking up to his neck. Because of that, he knew how to escape once his feet got stuck in that mire.

Just like he had done three years ago, Sooin decided to focus on what he could do now. As soon as his cafe shift ended, he retraced his steps from his memories with Song Jaeyi. He even declined the surprise party the staff had prepared to commemorate his resignation and visited the restaurants, movie theaters, arcades, and bars they had been to. He wandered the streets aimlessly, searching for anyone who resembled Song Jaeyi. It was something Sooin, who valued efficiency and time, would never normally do.

Despite that, Sooin walked the streets until late at night. He even stopped by Suye’s hospital room, hoping against hope, but there was no trace of Song Jaeyi. Throughout this cycle of hope and disappointment, resentment bubbled up inside him.

‘Shouldn’t I be the one getting angry and disappearing? Why am I the one anxiously searching for him, just because he’s pretty?’

He could have earned much more money if he had worked part-time during this time.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sooin decided to end his search for the day. But he still didn’t take the bus. He planned to swing by Vecum Seoul on his way.

If he happened to run into the general manager, could he ask about Song Jaeyi’s whereabouts? Lost in thought, Sooin stopped dead in his tracks as he stood in front of Vecum Seoul. There was no need to enter the lobby. The moment he stood before the large, round entrance of the hotel, his phone rang loudly.

He had recently changed his phone settings from vibrate to ring. He was afraid he might miss a call from Song Jaeyi.

Thanks to that, Sooin was able to immediately answer the call from an unknown number. A strange chill tightened his throat, and his greeting was curt.

“Hello.”

“…My phone… is broken.”

Song Jaeyi’s familiar voice came from the other end. Just hearing his low, rough voice, Sooin could tell he wasn’t in good condition. Yet, relief washed over him, and he sighed.

A short, hollow chuckle escaped his lips, and Song Jaeyi added another explanation.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I suddenly went into rut.”

Even so. How could he just leave his car and disappear? Couldn’t he have at least sent a text, even if he was in rut? The rising heat made Sooin’s breathing grow ragged. He adjusted his grip on the phone and took a deep breath.

“…Do you know how much I…!”

Sooin was about to yell, but suddenly stopped. Come to think of it, he had also disappeared after going into rut on the day of their date. And to put up walls as if he couldn’t stand the sight of him, and then ask, “Do you know how worried I was?”, was hypocritical, something said during a lovers’ quarrel.

Of course, during the short four days, Sooin had realized he liked Song Jaeyi more than he thought. Contrary to his actions, driven by the fear of him disappearing, Song Jaeyi’s absence had already greatly affected Sooin. He couldn’t maintain his daily routine as if nothing had happened.

So, if he could just find him, he planned to confess his true feelings. Even if it was a flame that would burn briefly and die out, he wouldn’t try to extinguish it anymore.

He hadn’t yet conveyed anything close to that. Not wanting to be the pathetic older one who only yelled over the phone to make his feelings known, Sooin barely managed to regain his composure.

“…Where are you? Let’s talk face to face.”

The other end fell silent at his low words, spoken after clearing his throat. Sooin felt a strange tension, wondering if his determination to settle things today had come across. The bellman kept glancing at him as he gripped his phone and bit his lip. He must have looked suspicious.

To appear natural, Sooin entered the lobby. As he slowly walked under the bright lights, the long silence broke.

“You’re right, Hyung.”

Song Jaeyi mumbled, his voice unusually weak and husky, making Sooin’s heart sink. Stopping in the middle of the hotel lobby, Sooin narrowed his eyes. He spotted a familiar face in the open café in the distance.

Even from afar, Sooin could tell Song Jaeyi had lost weight in the few days they hadn’t seen each other. His jawline was sharp, almost fragile, and the shadows beneath it were deep. But even more striking were his injuries. Scabs covered his handsome forehead and lips, and a long, dark red mark slashed across his cheek.

As if the wounds were fresh, Song Jaeyi wore a pained expression. Grimacing, he pressed his temples and said, “I thought I could clean it all up. If I could, I was going to tell you, Hyung.”

So, it wasn’t some kind of event he’d been preparing for. Sooin, realizing this belatedly, fell silent. Song Jaeyi let out a shaky breath and smiled faintly. “Everyone gets dirty when they’re involved with me.”

This was the same guy who had begged Sooin to listen to him, promising to wait and repeatedly seeking him out, just before disappearing. Now, suddenly filled with fear, he was trying to back out. Something must have happened.

Sooin walked silently, like a predator encircling its prey to prevent escape.

Still with his eyes closed, Song Jaeyi’s lips moved several times. He furrowed his brow as if holding back words, then exhaled. The words he finally chose were, “It’ll be difficult to contact me for a while.”

The call ended. Sooin wanted to rush over and grab Song Jaeyi by the collar, demanding to know why he was so presumptuous as to shoulder the burden alone, who dared to damage his precious possession. His breath quickened, and his pace accelerated.

Song Jaeyi was sitting in a spot blocked by a large planter, making it impossible to approach directly from the lobby. Sooin had to take a detour, entering the café first. He whispered to the approaching waiter that he would order later, then walked slowly. He needed to calm his excitement; he didn’t want to confess with a trembling voice.

[My son, what brings you to call your father out like this?]

Unexpectedly, someone beat him to it. A middle-aged man brushed past Sooin and headed straight for Song Jaeyi’s table. Startled, Sooin instinctively hid behind a thick, large column.

Song Jaeyi’s seat was reflected in the gold trim of the opposite column. Slowly opening his eyes, Song Jaeyi roughly wiped his face. The pained expression vanished instantly, replaced by a mask-like composure. He looked robotic despite his injuries.

[How curious. I thought I didn’t have a father.]

Song Jaeyi spoke coldly, his voice resonating deeper than usual when he spoke English.

[These days, do people call someone who hires others to beat their son a father?]

Unlike the coldly composed Song Jaeyi, the middle-aged man seemed relaxed. Even when his offered handshake was ignored, he sat down with a smile and called a waiter. He leisurely flipped through the menu and even asked questions, giving Sooin an opportunity.

Sooin pressed his cooling fingertips and sat at the table next to the column, diagonally across and partially hidden by the planter and column from Song Jaeyi’s table.

[Whatever happened to you, it hurts me that you suspect me, your father, first.]

[Go back to Canada quietly. If you promise never to come back, I’ll keep my mouth shut.]

[…You haven’t changed. Whenever something happens, you assume it’s my fault, and you threaten me with things I haven’t even done…]

[You still seem to think I’m a child who falls for such words.]

Their conversation went nowhere. Sooin realized this was the communication style he’d noticed in Song Jaeyi at the beginning of the semester. The conversation paused momentarily as a waiter brought the man’s drink.

As the waiter placed the tray on the table, the middle-aged man greeted him warmly with a polite “Thank you,” which the waiter returned with a pleasant smile before leaving.

[If only you had impregnated that Sunnung Group Omega back then, none of this would have happened.]

However, as soon as the waiter was gone, the man’s words turned vulgar. Sooin’s eyes widened involuntarily, and he instinctively looked at Song Jaeyi. A glimpse of Song Jaeyi beyond the planter’s leaves showed him letting out a hollow laugh.

[When you forcibly locked me up with an Omega, I was sixteen years old. Are you aware of that?]

[You disgrace the Baekro name. What kind of dominant alpha can’t even handle an Omega during their first rut?]

[I don’t want to waste my breath with you, so just listen to the main point.]

Until now, Sooin had thought it was just a rich kid’s complaints. He figured that while a chaebol family might have conservative and frustrating parents, the benefits they enjoyed would outweigh the burdens. But these stories…

The more he listened, the angrier he became, his fingertips trembling. Song Jaeyi’s excessive calmness made it even harder to contain his fury.

Normally, it was Song Jaeyi who didn’t hold back. He spoke his mind directly to anyone, expressing his opinions frankly. He showed anger when angry, mocked when he wanted to mock, and acted as if he didn’t know why he should hide his feelings.

But in front of his parents, Song Jaeyi became a different person. Poised, mature, and calm. He became a vague person, as if wearing a mask.

[Don’t approach my mother anymore. If you don’t return to Canada within the next week, I’ll expose everything.]

Song Jaeyi calmly warned, maintaining a slow and clear tone, like someone negotiating business terms.

[So what exactly, what did this father do wrong?]

His father remained calm. He deliberately slurped his warm drink and leaned back comfortably in his chair. Song Jaeyi’s eyebrows twitched momentarily.

[If I start with the story of being locked up for an hour for every wrong answer on a test, it’ll take too long, so I’ll skip it.]

Song Jaeyi quickly regained his composure and spoke tonelessly.

[My mother believes you’ve returned to your old self. That you’ve regained your gentle nature, allowing your son to freely stay in Korea and learn the hotel business.]

[Isn’t that the truth? I’m even paying your tuition at that pathetic university.]

[What if my mother learns the real reason I quit ice hockey?]

[That again? It was an accident! How much longer are you going to be consumed by paranoia? Isn’t it enough that you blackmailed me into coming to Korea with fabricated stories? I’ve tolerated you because you’re my son!]

The man suddenly stopped his escalating outburst and sighed deeply. He pushed his coffee cup aside and reached out a hand.

[Come to your senses. Your mother won’t believe such nonsense.]

[You believe she won’t because there’s no proof.]

[How can there be proof of something I didn’t do?]

[First, the teammate you bribed to destroy my knee will testify.]

It seemed Song Jaeyi had slapped the man’s hand away. The clattering noise drew the attention of a waiter, but the man raised his hand, smiling and indicating that everything was alright. He muttered in a low voice, [What are you talking about?]

[Thankfully, the second son of the Sunnung Group has also offered to come forward. Thanks to your recent identical proposal to the youngest Omega of that family.]

[…….]

[The parking garage where I was locked up when I was sixteen… was right below here, wasn’t it?]

Suddenly, images flooded Sooin’s mind.

The underground parking lot where he waited for his parents to finish work, the van in the corner that Suye had pointed out, the ominously shaking vehicle, Suye’s small, pale hand, the boy he had rescued by breaking the window.

[…You’re delusional again. You were just kids back then, inexperienced with ruts and heat cycles. It was an accident that could have happened… and someone helped, and it all ended without any major problems, right?]

“Yeah, no big deal. He said it was an accident that happened because you kids were young and inexperienced, and didn’t know how to handle ruts or heat cycles yet. He was so grateful he offered ten million won as compensation.”

The memory struck Sooin like lightning, and he jumped to his feet. Each step towards Song Jaeyi felt incredibly heavy, but he didn’t stop. He reached Song Jaeyi and pulled him up as if extracting him.

“Get up.”

Song Jaeyi’s poker face crumbled at Sooin’s rough grip on his collar. His previously calm face, despite the shocking conversation, wavered as he looked at Sooin. His eyes, asking why Hyung was there, how he knew, darted nervously towards his father. The alertness in his eyes as he sensed danger made Sooin even more furious.

Song Jaeyi was clearly thinking of ways to extricate himself. Seeing his intentions so clearly, Sooin growled and shoved him.

“Get out before you embarrass yourself further.”

Sooin pushed his large frame towards the exit and then lowered his gaze. The middle-aged man was looking up at him with interest.

“You’re taking Jaeyi away before he’s even finished his coffee. I apologize.”

Sooin smiled sweetly at the man, his eyes curving into crescents as he glanced at the half-full coffee cup. Unfortunately, it had cooled to lukewarm.

Too bad…

Sooin murmured inwardly and nudged the cup. It teetered precariously on the saucer’s rim, then tipped towards the man.

“Oops, my hand slipped. I’m so sorry.”

The cup toppled over, spilling its contents onto the man’s lap, staining his suit pants dark.

“What a waste, this place makes good coffee.”

Despite the sudden coffee shower, the man remained composed. Momentarily stunned, he then chuckled, picking up the fallen cup. His movements were slow, as if he’d never picked up anything dropped on the floor before, and the eyes he finally revealed were sinister. They gleamed with dark curiosity, curving into a smile.

[My son has made some interesting friends.]

Sooin found the man’s smile familiar. The practiced, insincere grin felt like looking in a mirror. The man was very much like him.

At that moment, Sooin fully understood why Song Jaeyi loathed insincerity so much. A faint wave of regret and dismay made Sooin’s lips tremble.

“What’s your name?”

Fortunately, the man’s composure was also a facade. His low voice trembled slightly with agitation. This allowed Sooin to regain his composure. Maintaining his friendly smile, he parted his lips, showing no intention of backing down.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Kim S…”

Suddenly, his wrist was seized. A force strong enough to make him gasp pulled Sooin away, interrupting his introduction mid-sentence.

[Don’t you dare cause any more trouble.]

Song Jaeyi stood between his father and Sooin, blocking them.

[Don’t even contact him unless you intend to accept the terms of the deal.]

He warned quietly and then, without waiting for a reply, roughly pulled Sooin away. His long legs carried them out of the café with large strides.

Sooin silently kept pace. The grip on his wrist was so tight it felt like it might break, leaving him no choice.

The small commotion in the quiet café drew surprised looks from the staff. They looked confused, wondering if they should offer assistance or call the police. Song Jaeyi’s father waved them off with a casual gesture, assuring them everything was fine. Thanks to his magnanimity, the two were able to quickly leave the lobby.

Even after leaving the hotel, Song Jaeyi didn’t stop. He walked and walked, past the entrance of WonHyung and down a seemingly endless slope, without saying a word. Sooin examined his wrist, sure it would be bruised, but he couldn’t bring himself to pull it away.

Finally, they stopped when they reached a busy main road. Song Jaeyi abruptly released Sooin’s wrist as if flinging it away and turned to face him. Sooin quickly hid his likely marked hand behind his back.

“Why did you interfere?”

Song Jaeyi, stripped of the composure he had maintained in the café, looked hurt. Or perhaps sad, disappointed, or discouraged. A multitude of emotions swirled across his grimacing face.

“I’m not supposed to interfere in your world, Hyung, but you can interfere in mine?”

Sooin had thought this pampered young master didn’t need to know about his messy life. It might be interesting at first, but getting involved with a complicated life would only tire him out, and he would soon grow bored. Bored enough to want to leave.

He didn’t want that to happen because he was afraid Song Jaeyi would realize how miserable his life truly was. He hadn’t realized how naive and clueless he had been, acting presumptuously, treating Song Jaeyi like a child, envying him, trying to teach him, and pushing him away.

Yet, despite all that, despite all the unappealing behavior Sooin had shown, Song Jaeyi was still worried about him.

“He’s going to try to use you openly now, Hyung. What were you thinking, interfering like that?”

‘Openly now.’ 

Did that mean he had been subtly manipulating things behind the scenes before? Sooin pondered Song Jaeyi’s words and sighed.

“Jaeyi, I think you’ve interfered enough in my life too. …Pyo Hyungyeon doesn’t even contact me anymore. What did you do?”

Song Jaeyi, who seemed ready to argue, paused. Then, he started pacing around, making excuses.

“….It’s different. You don’t know how dangerous it is, what could happen… Hyung.”

His words tumbled out disjointedly, interspersed with ragged breaths. His usually cold and indifferent face was flushed and agitated, as if he wanted to cry.

“What were you thinking? I was already so worried he’d try to approach you…”

Song Jaeyi, pacing anxiously, buried his face in his hands. His injured skin scraped against his palms as he roughly rubbed his face. At that moment, Sooin’s carefully maintained patience shattered.

Hardening his expression, Sooin grabbed Song Jaeyi and stopped him. He overpowered Song Jaeyi’s panting, agitated form and grabbed him by the collar. He pulled him closer, and a faint pheromone scent emanated from Song Jaeyi.

He was in rut recently, and it’s still…? Sooin frowned and deliberately took a shallow breath, murmuring, “So you were planning on continuing like this? Cleaning up behind my back, hiding everything that happens.”

Song Jaeyi clenched his jaw as Sooin caressed his thin cheek. His tightly pressed lips twisted, and his injuries glistened precariously. Noticing the reddish cracks about to split open, Sooin pressed against Song Jaeyi’s lower lip.

“Coming back with this kind of thing.”

“….”

“Jaeyi, did you think Hyung would like that?”

Song Jaeyi slowly shook his head. Despite his still-ragged breathing from his outburst, his pretty face was subdued. His easy appeasement weakened Sooin’s resolve even further.

Truthfully, he hadn’t even said half of what he wanted to say. He hadn’t heard the full story about Pyo Hyungyeon and Choi Jooyoung, and he had a lot to say about the shocking things he’d learned today.

Sooin wanted to yell at Song Jaeyi, demanding to know why he let him hear those things without intervening, if he planned to confess while hiding so many secrets. He wanted to know how long Song Jaeyi intended to keep him in the dark, why the guy who visited Suye’s hospital room didn’t tell him a single thing about his own family. He could have blamed and pressured Song Jaeyi, winning the argument.

But Sooin took a deep breath. He blinked to cool his heated eyes and calmly brushed his hair back.

“…I’m sorry.”

He no longer wanted to win against Song Jaeyi. Sooin lowered his head and rested his forehead against Song Jaeyi’s broad shoulder.

“For calling you a spoiled brat and speaking carelessly.”

His slow, quiet apology settled on Song Jaeyi’s collarbone. The reflected heat seemed to warm Sooin’s face.

“I’m sorry for pretending to be honest when I wasn’t. I’ve been selfish. Saying I like you, but only looking out for myself, pushing you away.”

“….”

“I… won’t do that anymore.”

He hadn’t expected to be blushing and confessing to someone five years younger than him. Sooin was relieved they weren’t facing each other. He cleared his throat, slowly pulling away and lifting his head. Sooin’s reflection filled Song Jaeyi’s wavering eyes.

“If you’re worried about me being in danger, keep me by your side. I won’t run away.”

Sooin took Song Jaeyi’s hand, intertwining their fingers so they wouldn’t easily separate. Song Jaeyi’s dazed gaze fell upon their joined hands. The atmosphere felt like a proposal, complete with a ring, making Sooin feel awkward. He tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

“You can do whatever you want with me. Lock me up, tie me up…”

Oh, come to think of it, “locking up” wasn’t something he should say to Song Jaeyi. Startled, he stopped mid-sentence, and his body was pushed forward. Before he could react, his cheeks were cupped in Song Jaeyi’s hands. Song Jaeyi leaned in eagerly and kissed him.

The kiss was clumsy, their teeth clashing. But as the sense of relief deepened, the kiss became more passionate. Even Sooin, who usually avoided public displays of affection, was quickly swept away, pulling Song Jaeyi closer. They forgot their surroundings, pressing their bodies together and generating heat.

Then someone in a passing car on the main road yelled.

Startled, Sooin pulled away abruptly. His shameless hand had somehow found its way inside Song Jaeyi’s shirt. As he withdrew his hand and stepped back, the dazed Song Jaeyi followed.

“More.”

Pressing his hot forehead against Sooin’s, Song Jaeyi nuzzled his nose against his. His fluttering eyelashes made him look like a cute, affectionate cat.

However, a dominant alpha still under the influence of his rut was dangerous. Despite his beautiful and endearing face, the heat and pheromones emanating from his body were intense.

Sooin gently pushed Song Jaeyi away, trying to appease him. “Yes, Jaeyi, let’s go to your house and do more.” His words were interrupted each time Song Jaeyi nipped at his lips. Song Jaeyi nodded in agreement. His hazy eyes seemed unaware of what he was agreeing to, but Sooin, determined to get his address, wouldn’t let him off the hook. He planned to hail a cab immediately and have Song Jaeyi recite his address.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Song Jaeyi’s house was a small, low-slung single-family home located at the top of a quiet neighborhood with scattered houses. They got out of the cab some distance away and continued walking, hand in hand.

The house resembled a modest contemporary art museum. White walls formed a maze-like enclosure, and only after walking through this corridor-like structure did the main building come into view. The black iron gate was large and imposing, but the mostly glass interior didn’t seem austere.

The house was entirely white. The ceiling, hallways, and even the floor were white. Yet, a warm glow emanated from the soft lighting, giving the space a sense of warmth. The surprisingly cozy and inviting house resembled Song Jaeyi.

“It’s different from the chaebol houses you see in dramas.”

“Hmm…”

As soon as they entered, Song Jaeyi clung to him, exhaling warm breath onto his neck. His low murmur, whether a reply or a moan, clearly expressed his desire.

I wasn’t planning on jumping into bed right away… I wanted to feed him something, check if his back was okay, talk a bit more…

But as Song Jaeyi’s hand slid around his waist, caressing his skin, Sooin couldn’t resist. Laughing at the ticklish sensation around his ear and neck, he pulled Song Jaeyi closer. He tugged on the arm wrapped around his waist, and the heavy, warm body reluctantly followed. Their shoes were left scattered near the entrance.

Forget dinner, we’ll be lucky if we don’t end up rolling around on the floor. Thinking this, Sooin headed towards the living room. The dark brown sofa stood out against the all-white living room and looked quite comfortable.

But the leather seems pretty… Sooin hesitated, having reached his destination. Song Jaeyi pushed him down onto the sofa.

“Why?”

Song Jaeyi climbed on top of Sooin and ripped off his shirt. The raw pheromones emanating from him made it difficult for Sooin to control himself. But he still had some semblance of rationality left.

“No… the sofa looks expensive… Are you sure it’s okay to mess it up?”

He knew how inappropriate his words were in the current atmosphere, but he couldn’t help it. The feel of the luxurious leather against his skin made him uneasy. Sooin gave an awkward smile and bit his lip. Sorry for saying this. He looked up with that exact expression, and Song Jaeyi chuckled dismissively.

“Yes, it’s okay.”

He gave a sweet, dazzling smile and undid his belt. Then, he bent his head and took Sooin’s earlobe between his lips. An irresistible request whispered into his ear.

“Mess it up.”

He doesn’t look like the type, but he’s talented at dirty talk.

Sooin found him adorable and felt a surge of sexual excitement. A satisfied smile spread across his face, like a well-fed lion. He reached out and pulled the praiseworthy alpha closer.

Until that moment, Sooin had only taken Song Jaeyi’s words as playful banter. So, when Song Jaeyi asked again in a low voice, “Are you really going to mess it up?” Sooin nodded eagerly. There was no need to ruin the heightened arousal with practical considerations. They were too busy rubbing against each other and seeking each other’s lips.