Chapter 22
Han Taekyung sighed and stood up. His expression was truly indifferent. He probably wouldn’t even look at the coffee he’d been drinking before Kang Yuhan arrived with such disinterest. Igeon quickly approached Taekyung and nudged him in the side.
“Yes, I’m Han Taekyung. Looking forward to working with you.”
Taekyung shook Yuhan’s extended hand as he spoke. Igeon quickly pulled out a chair for Yuhan.
“Sunbae, please sit here.”
“Ah, you don’t need to do things like this. Just speak comfortably… We’ll be spending time together, though not for long, so let’s get along well without any awkwardness.”
“Yes!”
Igeon’s voice was a bit louder than his usual volume. While he was always respectful to seniors, Taekyung couldn’t understand why he was being this formal. Looking at Igeon, his gaze was directed straight at the senior. His slightly flushed face showed he was very happy.
Ah, now that he thought about it, he had that same expression when he bumped into this Yuhan person. Is that a good thing? Does he like him?
Taekyung quietly observed Kang Yuhan. He seemed like any other omega…
“Um… is there something on my face?”
“No.”
The response was so cold and definitive, like running across a Siberian field, that even Igeon felt embarrassed.
“Ah, by the way, thanks for helping me that time.”
Huh? Helped? Igeon rolled his eyes, not understanding what was being said. Somehow it seemed like a conversation between the two of them. But the conversation didn’t continue. Taekyung just smirked. It wasn’t a smile of joy but one of disbelief. Whether Kang Yuhan understood this or not, he continued talking.
“Perhaps you don’t remember?”
Ah, this is a bit awkward. Igeon scratched his cheek.
“Did something happen between you two?”
So he butted in. He could feel Taekyung glaring at him, but he pretended not to notice.
“Ah, yes. We met at my part-time job place and I… made a mistake… I could have been fired, but Taekyung helped me.”
“That wasn’t helping.”
“Huh? R-really? But I thought you helped me. So I was grateful.”
Kang Yuhan fidgeted with his hands and couldn’t lift his head. Seeing this, Igeon somehow felt a tightness in his chest. Ah, could he have feelings for Taekyung? Well, it’s possible. Even from his own perspective, Han Taekyung was a cool guy with a solid future. He had much more than Igeon, who had nothing, and could offer much more too… But.
“I see. Wow~ This guy helping someone. I should have seen it. Did a good deed, huh?”
He couldn’t smile. The corners of his mouth wouldn’t turn up. So he tried to joke around, but it was of no use. Taekyung remained expressionless, and Kang Yuhan was looking at Taekyung. He waited for Taekyung to say something, but Taekyung didn’t open his mouth.
“So what should we be doing going forward?”
So Seo Igeon did his best. He kept talking so that Yuhan would look at him. Thanks to that, perhaps, Kang Yuhan looked at Igeon and started talking with a smile. He took out his laptop and discussed the future plans.
“The professor will probably give us a few group assignments. About three, but we’ll know the topics when they’re announced. And I’ll be writing observation diaries about you two, and will do psychological counseling about twice a week.”
“Together?”
“No, individually. That way I can talk more and understand better.”
“I see. Ah, can I write this down?”
Without a laptop or anything, the only place to write was on his phone, so he opened the memo app.
“If it’s okay, can I send you the plans I’ve drawn up via messenger?”
“Of course. That would be helpful for us.”
“Then let me have your phone numbers.”
“Sure.”
Igeon quickly gave Kang Yuhan his phone number. And when Yuhan extended his phone to Han Taekyung, Taekyung pointed at Seo Igeon.
“Seo Igeon, make a group chat. Add me there.”
“Ah, that would work.”
Despite the cruel cut-off, Kang Yuhan smiled. He then said that was a good method and cast his vote for Taekyung’s opinion. Somehow, it felt pitiful. So Igeon listened to Kang Yuhan’s explanations even more attentively. He also showed him making the group chat and adding Taekyung. After going through all that process together, they had a cup of coffee and parted ways.
“Let’s meet here next Thursday.”
“Yes.”
Kang Yuhan waved goodbye, and Seo Igeon put all his strength into his arm to say farewell. And when Yuhan was out of sight, Han Taekyung grabbed Igeon’s wrist.
“Your arm’s going to fall off.”
“What’s wrong with just saying goodbye properly… But what was with your attitude toward the senior?”
“I just need to do what’s necessary. I’m not interested in anything else.”
“What do you mean ‘anything else’… In the end, it’s a class, and it’s connected to our grades. Besides, don’t you know that a psychology student’s counseling report can have a significant impact on our evaluation? You could lose your qualification for the national team selection because of it.”
“For someone saying that, you were being too friendly to the senior.”
“Huh?”
Han Taekyung, who had been walking ahead toward the dormitory, stopped and turned around.
“When you were asked before if you knew that senior, you said you didn’t. Remember?”
Wow… The person in question doesn’t seem to remember that day, but this guy who saw from a distance, how did he see it?
“I remember. We really don’t know each other. You saw us meet today.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“Are you interested? In that omega senior.”
“Huh?”
“Romantically, the way an alpha is interested in an omega, are you interested?”
He didn’t expect such a direct question. And on the other hand, Seo Igeon himself hadn’t yet realized what emotion he felt when looking at Kang Yuhan, but Han Taekyung clarified it for him. I see. This is interest. As an alpha, toward Kang Yuhan, an omega.
“Did I fall in love at first sight?”
Is that it? This being his first time, confusion came again. And his face turned bright red.
“Ha.”
Taekyung laughed incredulously at Igeon’s question.
“Hey, wait a minute. Is that really it? This is my first time experiencing this. Actually, when I saw the senior earlier, my heart was pounding and I was so happy. If… if it’s love at first sight, doesn’t that all fit?”
“Pathetic.”
Who was he saying that to? Han Taekyung swept his hair back as if annoyed.
“So you’re not interested in that senior, right?”
“Why?”
“Then… let me try.”
“What?”
Han Taekyung’s brow furrowed. This was the first time I’d seen him look so displeased and annoyed. What exactly was he so irritated about? I really couldn’t understand.
“What do you mean by trying?”
“Um… to make the senior notice me?”
“Are you that serious?”
“Actually, it seemed like the senior was interested in you… so I felt a bit down. I wondered why I was feeling this way, but thinking about it, that must be it. That I’m interested in the senior. The feeling of not wanting him to look at anyone but me. Ugh, it’s making me cringe, but anyway, I think that’s how I felt. I can’t express it any other way.”
“…You thought of me as that kind of rival?”
“No, not exactly. It’s just… the senior seemed to have feelings for you. Anyway, you’re not interested, right? Then I-“
“Who knows.”
“Huh?”
“Who knows about that. With an omega and an alpha… you never know when feelings might suddenly develop and they become attracted to each other. Just as you have a connection with that senior, I’m not without one either.”
“Wow, why are you changing your stance?”
“I’m not changing my stance. I’m saying we don’t know what will happen in the future. Besides, since you’re so interested… honestly, I don’t see the charm yet, but maybe I could discover it too.”
He really, sincerely wanted to say, “Give me a break.” Honestly, if Han Taekyung was his opponent, he wasn’t confident he could win. But he didn’t want to give up either. If anything, it made him more determined. Igeon clenched his fist.
“Fine, okay. Honestly, it’s a bit funny that we’re doing this without the senior’s input.”
Igeon raised his fist.
“Let’s fight fair. And leave everything to the senior’s choice. I’ll really do my best. Since I don’t know anything, I’ll try even harder.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
I also find it a bit absurd that I’m doing this with Han Taekyung after seeing that person only a few times, but human hearts are unpredictable. As soon as I realized I’d fallen for the senior at first sight, I charged ahead recklessly. Is this what they mean by “ignorance is courage”? I just wanted to follow my heart right now.
Han Taekyung stared at Igeon for a long time. Then, with a sigh, he bumped his fist against Igeon’s.
“He might not be worth your affection.”
“That’s for me to judge, not you. So you do your best too. Or quickly give up and support me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Han Taekyung lowered his head for a moment and then entered the dormitory first. Igeon watched him go in and then plopped down in the small park in front of the dormitory.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
