Chapter 37
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m just going to the roof for some fresh air.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Just for a moment, just a moment.”
He felt like they shouldn’t be in the same space right now. He couldn’t understand what this suddenly accelerating feeling in his heart was. He thought he heard a voice from somewhere. Han Taekyung took the elevator up to the 7th floor rooftop. There was no one there, and since it was a place that touched the sky, he thought he could clear his head.
“Hah.”
Opening the door and feeling the wind, Han Taekyung closed his eyes. He needed to calm down. It was just an omega’s pheromones. Even when Seo Igeon said he liked Kang Yuhan, he had maintained his composure well. He had to. He had known his feelings for Seo Igeon for a long time. At the very least, he wasn’t seeing him as just a friend… But it was subtle to say it was love accompanied by sexual desire. Currently, Taekyung felt no sexual desire at all, so he couldn’t know that for sure. Still, he didn’t want to lose Seo Igeon to anyone. He didn’t want to give him up to any omega who came along. He wanted to be by his side, in the spot right next to him, for his entire life. But if that was his own selfish desire toward Seo Igeon… if it wasn’t the path to Seo Igeon’s happiness, he had thought that they didn’t need to be anything more. He thought it was just giving up the right-side seat… that he was the owner of the left-side seat, but suddenly someone appeared aiming for the right-side seat. If he was going to be this shaken by just that one thing, why had he pretended to be so mature? Pretending to be open-minded, pretending to be ready to accept everything.
“It was all fake.”
It was a cold judgment toward himself. This is pretense. It’s a mask he forcibly wore because he didn’t want Seo Igeon to hate him.
Just a little while ago, his pheromones had tried to come out. He had seen a dark shadow that was about to pin down Seo Igeon right there. It would have been terrible to think what might have happened if he had done that. Han Taekyung tried to find his composure again and balance his body and mind. He tried to think good thoughts, happy thoughts. But once cracked, it was hard to restore something to its original state.
Han Taekyung sighed and took out his phone. Then he found his father and pressed the call button.
[Yes, Taekyung.]
“Dad.”
[Yes. I’m here.]
The gentle father who gave birth to me. The person who would hug me whenever I struggled against the monster, telling me I could win, telling me not to worry.
“What are you doing right now?”
[Hmm, I’m working with your father. About the charity event at the end of the year.]
“Both of you are getting older now, so please delegate to your subordinates if possible.”
[What are you saying? We’re still young. And if the seniors don’t work, how can the juniors work? We always have to set an example.]
“That’s true.”
[But why does your voice sound like that? Did something happen?]
He thought he was talking in his normal voice, but perhaps that’s what it means to be a father. Taekyung couldn’t help but laugh at how absurd it was.
“I just wanted to hear your voice. It’s also late, so my voice might be deeper.”
[You tend not to say anything because you worry about us. It’s okay, tell me.]
“…I’ll tell you sometime.”
[Alright, I’ll wait. But Taekyung, remember one thing. We’re on your side. Whatever you choose, we’ll support you.]
“Yes, thank you.”
His mind felt much more at ease. The balance was somewhat restored, and the darkness that had been leaking through the crack was slowly returning to its place.
“I’ll hang up now. Good night.”
[Sleep well. Let’s talk again tomorrow.]
“Yes.”
After ending the call, he put his phone in his pocket. Then Han Taekyung walked forward little by little and picked up a wooden stick from the rooftop floor.
“Persistent bastards.”
During the call, he heard a thud and when he turned his head, three men in hoods entered from the rooftop door. When and how had they been watching to know he had come up to the rooftop? Did they install listening devices in the dormitory? Or were they hacking the CCTV? Either way, this was quite a dangerous situation now. Is it because one wasn’t enough that they sent three? He quickly tried to call for help with his watch but realized he had left it in the dormitory. No choice then. Han Taekyung thought he was going to have a difficult night after a long time.
â—†
“Sigh…”
After Han Taekyung went out, Yeonwoo sent a text asking if he got back safely. As soon as he saw the text, Seo Igeon felt perplexed. Of all things, Han Taekyung had to say something like that, making his heart flutter. Did Yeonwoo really put his pheromones on him with that intention? Isn’t that a kind of marking? Something both alphas and omegas could do, marking by applying saliva in advance to prevent other alphas or omegas from targeting. He had no idea. Honestly, he still wasn’t sure. Was Han Taekyung able to tell because he was a dominant alpha? Igeon couldn’t reply to Yeonwoo and kept pacing around the dormitory room.
That’s when it happened. His phone vibrated, and it wasn’t Yeonwoo but Sunbae Kang Yuhan.
“Yes! Sunbae!”
[Sorry for calling so late.]
“No problem. Is something wrong?”
[No, nothing. It’s just… I was a bit concerned about what happened this afternoon.]
“This afternoon?”
[Yeah, when you left saying you had an appointment. That…]
“Yes, that… Did I make some mistake? Oh, if leaving suddenly without telling you in advance was a mistake, then I guess it was. I’m sorry.”
Igeon bowed to the empty air.
[Ah, no. No. That’s not what I meant. Um… I was wondering if you deliberately left to give me and Taekyung time alone.]
“Ah…”
[I’m right, aren’t I?]
“Ah, no. I really met someone. A friend named Yeonwoo who worked with me at my part-time job.”
[Oh, I see. Then it must have been my misunderstanding. Sorry.]
“Not at all.”
While talking with Sunbae, he suddenly glanced at the clock on the wall. It seemed like more than 30 minutes had passed since Han Taekyung left. Why wasn’t he back yet? He did say “just for a moment,” but how long did he mean by that?
[I’ve felt for a while that you care a lot about me and Taekyung. But don’t worry too much. I’d like it if you just treated us like usual. I’m also your counselor.]
“Sunbae, you’re doing a great job as a counselor. I always find peace of mind whenever I talk with you. So… I always hope that Sunbae also finds peace of mind when meeting me and Taekyung. Besides, I feel sorry if I’m always on the receiving end. So… I guess I was just trying to be thoughtful in my own way. I’d be grateful if you could think of it like that.”
[You’re really a good person. Truly.]
“No, Sunbae is the better person. I’m really happy to be in the same team as you.”
[Why couldn’t it be you.]
At Kang Yuhan’s sudden words, Igeon’s heart dropped. What did this mean?
“Sunbae.”
[Sorry, I’m sorry. Please forget what I just said. It’s just… I’ve been thinking that sometimes lately. That I would have been happier if I had liked you instead…]
“……”
He couldn’t say anything. He wanted to comfort Sunbae, but he was afraid his heart would waver again, so he held back. Now he understood from Sunbae’s words. The only one who could make Sunbae happy was Han Taekyung.
“I may not be able to make you happy, Sunbae, but I’ll help you.”
[Igeon.]
“I’m doing this for my own happiness too. Don’t worry about it.”
[I’m sorry. I…]
“Don’t say things like that. Just be there as you have been until now. That’s enough.”
[Thank you. Really… I think meeting you was my greatest luck this year.]
“I feel the same way.”
After meeting Sunbae Kang Yuhan, Igeon learned what it meant to have fluffy emotions. It was a feeling he had never known in his life. So it couldn’t be wrong to want to do something for Sunbae who had shown him these feelings.
[Ah, I should go to sleep now. See you next week.]
“Yes, Sunbae.”
[Sleep well.]
“You too, Sunbae.”
After the final greeting, the phone call ended. Igeon sighed and thought back to their conversation, checking if he had made any mistakes. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any major issues. His heart was aching a lot, but he would meet someone better. When that time came, instead of loving one-sidedly like this, he hoped they would love each other. How happy would it be if they both felt the same? He suddenly envied his fathers who had known that happiness first. That must be why they had him.
“By the way.”
He’s too late. Should I go check? He said he was going to the rooftop. Igeon looked at his watch once and after waiting another five minutes with Han Taekyung still not returning, he decided to go to the rooftop.
But before the elevator even arrived, he heard an unpleasant sound. Something falling and crashing. Igeon stared at the elevator door. And as soon as the door opened, he kicked at the black hoodie that lunged toward him.
“Damn! What’s this?!”
He kicked first because he was under attack, but what was this? Another dormitory student? Did he kick the wrong person? No. He definitely lunged with killing intent. Igeon looked at the fallen man. He looked at him carefully, but his appearance was suspicious no matter how he looked. And hearing the sounds of wooden sticks clashing and groaning from the rooftop, he quickly ran up.
“Han Taekyung!”
Five men in black hoodies. They all looked at Seo Igeon at once. It was too dark to see their faces, but he could tell they weren’t easy opponents. However, he was more worried about Han Taekyung.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
