Chapter 24
“Well, then I’ll also say last Thursday.”
“Last Thursday? The day we… met?”
“Yes.”
Hey, isn’t this cheating? Igeon glared at Taekyung, but Han Taekyung didn’t care at all. The senior, unable to hide his joy, raised the corners of his mouth and smiled broadly. It really stung. But this was just one loss. With effort, the senior would show him that kind of expression too, Igeon thought, trying hard to comfort himself. And that night, he exchanged messages with the senior again. First, the senior sent a message thanking him for helping in various ways today, and Igeon, who had been lying down to sleep, bolted upright.
– I should be thanking you. Talking with you made me feel so comfortable, Sunbae.
– Me too. Igeon seems like a really good person. I can see why you’re so popular.
– Me?
– Yes, you’re popular. A lot of people in our department are asking to be introduced to you.
Ah, what should I say? I can’t ask to be introduced to someone else, and I can’t bluntly say “I’m interested in you, Sunbae.” I’m afraid the senior might offer to introduce me to someone first. I don’t want that…
“What are you doing?”
Han Taekyung, who had just come out of the shower, approached the despairing Igeon and asked. When Igeon just stared blankly at the screen, Taekyung snatched the phone, read the messages, and clicked his tongue.
“What are you going to reply?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m like this. What would you say- no, never mind. I shouldn’t be asking my competitor. I was being stupid.”
Igeon took back his phone from Taekyung’s hand. Then Taekyung sat down next to Igeon and rested his chin on Igeon’s shoulder.
“Ah, what are you doing? It’s hot.”
“Hurry up and reply. Otherwise, I’ll send a message.”
“…Don’t cheat.”
“Then write something.”
“Ugh…”
What should he write to make a good impression? Resisting the urge to ask someone, Igeon wrote what he wanted to say.
– Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Sunbae.
This should be a decent response, right?
– No problem^^
Wow, the senior added an emoticon. That’s a first. Realizing his answer was the best, Igeon was so happy that he turned his head to give Taekyung a “See! I did well, right?” look. And he was startled. Han Taekyung’s face was too close. Moreover, he wasn’t looking at the phone but at Igeon’s face. They were so close that their lips almost touched.
“Ah, what! Get away.”
Igeon quickly pushed Taekyung away. Slightly distanced, Taekyung stood up and shook his wet hair with a towel. He’s disgustingly handsome—what were his parents thinking when they had him? I sometimes wonder. And seeing his good physique, it’s hard to believe he was once weak.
“Were you really weak physically?”
Unable to contain his curiosity, he suddenly asked Taekyung. Taekyung hesitated before throwing the towel at Igeon.
“Go to bed.”
“Are you being temperamental because it seems like I’m getting along well with the senior?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Han Taekyung quickly turned off the room light and lay down on the bed.
“Hey, dry your hair properly before sleeping. You’ll catch a cold otherwise. Hey, Han Taekyung.”
No matter how much he called, Taekyung didn’t answer. He just turned his back and lay down.
â—†
The cold was caught by the wrong person.
[I’m sorry.]
On Thursday morning, when they were supposed to meet the senior, a call came from him. His voice was completely hoarse, indicating how unwell he was.
[*Cough* My cold is so severe that I don’t think I can come today. *Cough* Shall we meet next week?]
“Are you very sick, Sunbae? Have you been to the hospital?”
[I couldn’t go. I can’t even go… Don’t worry. It’s not that severe. I’m just concerned about passing it to you athletes.]
“Don’t worry about that.”
[I’m sorry.]
“No, don’t worry and get some rest.”
[I’ll contact you.]
“I’ll be waiting for your call.”
After a brief phone conversation with the senior, Igeon was overwhelmed with worry. From what he heard before, the senior lived in the regular student omega dormitory. Should he go visit? Since he couldn’t go to the hospital, he probably couldn’t get medicine either.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“The senior says he can’t meet today.”
“Ah, really?”
“He said he couldn’t even go to the hospital. I’m thinking of buying some medicine for him.”
“Why you? Doesn’t he have friends?”
“Hey.”
“Seo Igeon,”
“What?”
Han Taekyung flicked Igeon’s forehead.
“Take it easy.”
“What?”
“Even if you’ve never dated before, don’t you know about push and pull? Why do you keep pushing in?”
“With a huge guy like you around, do I have that luxury? And this isn’t about push and pull or dating or interest, it’s about human compassion. It’s natural to worry about someone who’s sick, isn’t it?”
“Did the senior ask you to buy medicine?”
“No.”
“Then why are you stepping in?”
“I’m worried. Is it wrong to worry?”
“…Would you worry like that if I got sick?”
Igeon was taken aback by Taekyung’s sudden question. What a childish question.
“Of course.”
And the answer was obvious. If Han Taekyung was sick and alone, he would have done the same. He would have bought medicine and porridge and gone to him.
After hearing Igeon’s answer, Taekyung sighed deeply and ruffled Igeon’s hair.
“Still, don’t go. You might catch the cold.”
“Okay, okay.”
A guy with no human compassion. Igeon smacked Taekyung’s hand away and went back into the gym. Since they needed to focus on the national team selection trials starting this winter, the training intensity increased, and the time extended. In the weekly tournament among students up to the fourth year, Seo Igeon and Han Taekyung were tied for first place. Because of this, even the seniors couldn’t do anything to the two. They were annoyed that these already talented guys were also skilled, but since both had good personalities, there was a growing atmosphere of acceptance.
After finishing a training session sparring simultaneously with three seniors, Igeon’s body was in tatters. He showered and changed in the waiting room. Though his body was exhausted and tired, he was still concerned about the senior and sent a message, but there was no reply. Could he have collapsed? Was he really too sick? He tried calling as well, but there was no answer. Igeon jumped up, left the waiting room, bought medicine from the pharmacy inside the school, and headed to the senior’s dormitory.
“Huh? Wait a moment!”
When Igeon tried to enter the dormitory, a security guard stopped him.
“Yes?”
“You’re not from this dormitory, right?”
“Ah, yes. But I’m from the Taekwondo Department.”
“I understand that, but are you an omega?”
“No, I’m an alpha.”
“Then you can’t enter. Only omega students can enter here.”
“Ah…”
I see. What should I do? While Igeon was pondering, he saw someone entering the dormitory and quickly approached them.
“Excuse me, just a moment. Hello.”
“Ah, yes… What can I- oh? Athlete Seo Igeon?”
“Ah.”
He didn’t expect to be recognized here. The man greeted him with a genuinely delighted face and offered a handshake, which Igeon accepted.
“What brings you here? Isn’t Athlete Igeon an alpha? Alphas can’t enter.”
“Yes, I didn’t know… I almost got into trouble. Could I ask you a favor?”
“A favor?”
“Yes, do you happen to know Senior Kang Yuhan?”
“Ah, Yuhan? He’s my roommate.”
Whoa, what fate is this? Igeon felt incredibly fortunate.
“Why do you need Yuhan?”
“Ah, he’s the senior who counsels me… I received a message that he was sick. He said he couldn’t go to the hospital, so I bought some medicine, but I can’t enter. If you could deliver it, I’ll definitely repay the favor later.”
As Igeon politely bowed and made his request, the man waved his hand.
“No, it’s fine. He’s my roommate anyway. I’ll make sure to give it to him. In return, could you give me an autograph later? I’m a fan of Athlete Igeon. I hope you make the senior national team.”
“Really, thank you!”
Igeon felt happy and relieved that he had entrusted the medicine to someone reliable. And by the time he completely arrived back at his dormitory, he received a message from the senior.
– I received the medicine well. Thank you so much. I’ll buy you a meal when I get better.
– No need, Sunbae. Please get well soon.
– I really appreciate it…
Until just a moment ago, his heart had been uneasy and anxious, but now it felt warm. He hoped the senior would recover quickly. And Igeon hoped they could talk more and get to know each other better.
“Where have you been?”
Ah, you scared me. Han Taekyung had been sitting on a bench in the small park in front of the dormitory and approached when his eyes met Igeon’s.
“We were supposed to eat together, but where did you suddenly disappear to?”
Ah, that’s right. We were supposed to eat together.
“Sorry. I was concerned about the senior, so I went there. Ah, I didn’t meet him directly. I met the senior’s roommate in front of the building by chance and gave the medicine to him, so don’t worry.”
“You knew I was worried? If so, you could have contacted me.”
He seems angry somehow. Igeon quickly checked his phone. When he had just seen the senior’s message, there were no missed calls or anything. Not even a message from Han Taekyung.
“There were no messages or calls from you?”
“You could have contacted me first.”
“That’s true, but I was planning to be back quickly… Still, I’m sorry for making you wait.”
When Igeon honestly admitted his mistake and apologized, there was nothing more to say. Han Taekyung said he understood and entered the dormitory first, with Igeon quickly following behind.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
