He changed back into his school uniform and sat down, yet Kyung-wook’s expression still showed no sign of softening. Avoiding his gaze, Kang-woo immediately opened his workbook. He forced his eyes to rest on the paper filled with dense black text. But his awareness kept drifting toward the seat beside him.
Still wearing his gym clothes, Kyung-wook leaned back against the wall and stared straight at Kang-woo, who sat stiffly in his chair. The gaze clinging to his cheek felt relentless. The pheromone scent pressing down on Kang-woo gradually grew stronger.
Even so, Kang-woo stubbornly kept his eyes on the workbook.
He knew Kyung-wook hated being ignored, but if their eyes met now, it would inevitably turn into another provocation. It was better to simply endure it like this.
Kyung-wook sometimes displayed such severe mood swings that one might suspect bipolar disorder. Kang-woo could only hope that this would be one of those times.
Unfortunately, it seemed Kyung-wook had no intention of showing mercy today.
“Kang-woo.”
“Yeah.”
Despite trying to pretend he hadn’t heard, Kang-woo raised his head immediately. After the reflexive reaction, he cautiously watched Kyung-wook’s expression.
Did he notice that I was deliberately avoiding his gaze?
Fear struck him suddenly.
Kyung-wook let out a low breath. “Hmm.” Then he tapped his fingers against the desk.
Tap. Tap.
The fingers that had been moving rhythmically suddenly stopped.
“Follow me.”
Kyung-wook stood up first.
Kang-woo was aware that there wasn’t much time left in the break period, but he didn’t hesitate. He jumped to his feet and followed behind him. There was no room to worry about the students stealing glances at them.
With the bell for class approaching, the hallway had grown quiet. Only the sound of their footsteps broke the silence.
Today, the air outside the classroom felt especially cold.
Kang-woo briefly glanced at Kyung-wook’s back as he walked ahead, then lowered his head again.
Trying to read Kyung-wook’s mood and act accordingly had become a part of Kang-woo’s daily life. But familiarity never meant he became good at it. Kang-woo failed to satisfy Kyung-wook’s temper time and time again. From the start, Kyung-wook wasn’t someone who could be dealt with through ordinary common sense.
His mood changed abruptly. His whims were unpredictable. Even those who carried the title of being his friends often shook their heads and cursed his personality as being unbelievably fucked up.
And recently, Kyung-wook had grown even more sensitive. Kang-woo was finding it harder and harder to keep up with the fluctuations of his emotions.
After climbing one floor, the two of them stopped in front of a classroom that had been closed due to declining student numbers.
“Go in.”
Kyung-wook opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing toward Kang-woo as if escorting him inside.
Kang-woo forced his heavy feet forward. The moment he stepped into the dim classroom, the door shut behind him.
Creeeak—thud.
The noise sounded unusually loud, making his shoulders flinch.
Slowly turning around, Kang-woo saw Kyung-wook watching him from within the darkness. When their eyes met, Kyung-wook lifted the corners of his lips into a smile.
“Kang-woo.”
“Yeah.”
“You know why I brought you here, right?”
With the question, he took a step closer. Kang-woo braced his legs so he wouldn’t instinctively step back.
“I know.”
“What’s the reason?”
When Kang-woo nodded in response, Kyung-wook asked as if posing a riddle.
“…Because I did something wrong.”
It was something he had heard so often his ears had practically grown calluses from it.
According to Kyung-wook, the problem was always Kang-woo. And the root of that problem stemmed from Kang-woo’s traits.
In truth, Kyung-wook wasn’t the only one who said such things. Everyone who insulted omegas said the same things.
Omegas are loose. Dirty. Base. Naturally vulgar.
Kyung-wook let out a crooked laugh.
“Back in gym class earlier, the atmosphere between you two looked pretty good.”
The mocking tone was unmistakable.
With both hands shoved into his pants pockets, Kyung-wook slowly approached Kang-woo. His movements were relaxed and leisurely, like a predator herding prey into a corner.
Meanwhile, his sharp eyes crushed Kang-woo’s breathing.
“I told you over and over not to act easy with just anyone. Is seducing people your instinct whenever you get the chance?”
Kyung-wook’s gaze slowly swept up Kang-woo’s body from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. Disgust clouded his light brown eyes.
Kang-woo stared quietly at him before finally opening his mouth.
“It’s not like that.”
“What’s not like that?”
They had only exchanged a brief conversation. There had been nothing special about it.
So what exactly did I do wrong?
Honestly, he wanted to demand that answer from him. But what would be the point of arguing or explaining? Baek Kyung-wook was the kind of person who only saw what he wanted to see and heard what he wanted to hear.
“What did you two talk about? Say the same thing to me.”
“……”
“Why can’t you talk? Ah—did you try to seduce him by saying you’d spread your legs for him and sleep together once? Is your lower half getting harder to control lately without pheromones?”
Each humiliating word tore into Kang-woo. But even denying it out loud had become exhausting. So the only thing Kang-woo could really do now was silently endure the verbal abuse.
At the same time, he couldn’t help wondering why Kyung-wook acted so emotionally toward him. Instead of tormenting him like this, maybe it would be better if he just killed him outright. At least then his mind might finally feel at ease.
Perhaps something like that showed in his gaze. Kyung-wook’s expression twisted instantly.
“What did I say, Kim Kang-woo? I told you not to look at people like that—it pisses me off.”
Smack.
A sharp hand struck his face. His head snapped to the side, and searing pain instantly flooded his cheek. His balance faltered and his body swayed, but Kang-woo didn’t make a single sound.
Violence without reason directed at him had become familiar.
No. Kyung-wook always had his own reasons.
Because his gaze was annoying.
Because his answer wasn’t satisfactory.
Because his attitude was irritating.
Because he acted frustrating.
Because Kyung-wook simply felt like shit today.
Because he hated omegas.
“Fuck.”
Kyung-wook exhaled harshly. Unnameable, chaotic emotions flickered in his eyes as they met Kang-woo’s.
At that moment, loud voices began echoing from somewhere. The noise gradually approached, and suddenly the closed door burst open.
“Oh? What the hell? Baek Kyung-wook, you’re here? Class is about to start—why aren’t you in the classroom?”
Seong-cheol entered with a group of four or five others.
Without thinking, Kang-woo lowered his head. He didn’t want to catch their attention. Looking pathetic in front of Kyung-wook alone was already more than enough. But as always, things didn’t go the way he wished.
“Oh? Kim Kang-woo’s here too.”
A flippant voice spoke up in recognition.
“Hi there, Kim Kang-woo.”
Seong-cheol strolled over and stopped beside him.
“If someone greets you, at least lift your head. Why are you standing there with it hanging like that?”
Kang-woo ignored him and stayed still. Then suddenly a hand grabbed his chin. When Kang-woo resisted, the rough grip forcibly yanked his head upward.
“Damn, you weak bastard. No strength at all but still trying to resist.”
Clicking his tongue, Seong-cheol met Kang-woo’s eyes and suddenly brightened.
“Oh? Hey, did Baek Kyung-wook hit you again? Wow, look at the handprint on that precious face of yours.”
Seeing Kang-woo’s swollen red cheek, Seong-cheol wrinkled his brow—then burst into laughter. His finger tapped against Kang-woo’s cheek. Each deliberate touch against the bruised spot sent throbbing pain through it.
“Stop.”
Kang-woo muttered quietly with a frown. Seong-cheol and the surrounding boys chuckled.
“Oh, does it hurt? Huh? Is that it?”
Kang-woo clenched his teeth and stared at him.
“What a shame. That pretty face is all messed up now.”
Speaking in an exaggeratedly sympathetic tone, Seong-cheol finally released Kang-woo’s chin as if tossing it away. Then he turned around and addressed Kyung-wook.
“Kyung-wook, why are you mad again? Huh? What did this bastard do wrong this time?”
Kyung-wook didn’t answer. Instead, he opened the window.
The expression that had seemed ready to explode moments ago had disappeared. Now his face had cooled into something icy.
As the wind blew in from outside, the stale air trapped in the classroom began to dissipate.
“Hey, what the hell. What is it? Hey, Kim Kang-woo, you tell me. What did you do wrong?”
With no sign of an answer from Kyung-wook, Seong-cheol immediately shifted his questioning toward Kang-woo. But Kang-woo had no intention of answering him either. It wasn’t any of Lee Seong-cheol’s business, and he had no obligation to explain anything. Moreover, Kyung-wook’s cold gaze had settled on him. As if observing how Kang-woo would react, he simply watched the situation unfold.
“This bastard’s ignoring me again.”
Apparently irritated at being disregarded from every direction, Seong-cheol suddenly raised his hand and shoved Kang-woo’s shoulder. The rough push sent Kang-woo stumbling backward.
“Kang-woo, when someone talks to you, answer them. Your ears aren’t blocked, are they?”
Then Seong-cheol raised his index finger and repeatedly poked Kang-woo’s forehead, forcing his head back.
To keep his neck from snapping backward, Kang-woo had no choice but to step back.
Step by step, Seong-cheol followed him, continuing to jab and shove at different parts of his body.
Endure it. Just endure it. This isn’t a big deal.
Despite trying to calm himself, heat began to sting behind his eyes.
“Hey, are you crying? Kang-woo? Just because I pushed your shoulder once?”
Tilting his head, Seong-cheol grinned while examining Kang-woo’s face.
There was nothing more humiliating than shedding tears in front of someone who mocked you.
Kang-woo forced his eyes wide and clenched his teeth.
“Lee Seong-cheol. That’s enough.”
Kyung-wook, who had been silently watching the whole time, finally intervened.
Seong-cheol stopped immediately and turned to him. No matter how much of a delinquent bastard he acted like, in front of Kyung-wook he was nothing more than a dog obedient to its owner.
Dropping his attitude at once, Seong-cheol spoke to Kyung-wook in a softer tone.
“No, it’s just—this bastard’s being rude and ignoring me, Kyung-wook.”
Speaking ingratiatingly, Seong-cheol walked over to Kyung-wook’s side.
Watching this, Kang-woo suddenly met Kyung-wook’s indifferent gaze. A sudden sense of injustice surged through him.
Kang-woo had never done anything wrong to them—not even once. Yet the blame was always forced entirely onto him. The reason he couldn’t rebel against them even once despite being treated this unfairly…was because of his relationship with Baek Kyung-wook.
***
The beginning of that ill-fated relationship traced back a very long time.
Even before Kang-woo and Kyung-wook were born, their fathers had already maintained a close relationship.
The two men had met as university classmates.
Coming from affluent families and sharing similar interests and tastes, they had many things in common.
They grew close quickly, and for decades they remained the closest of friends—cherishing and trusting each other more than anyone else.
