Chapter 14
“What are you going to do about housing?”
At Han Taekyung’s question, Igeon blinked.
“First-years have to live in the dormitory, right?”
“Ah, that’s right. I forgot about that.”
At the National Sports University, everyone was required to live in the school dormitory for the first year. It was one of the school rules that no one could escape.
“I’ll be in the dormitory. You too, right?”
“I have to be.”
“I heard it’s two people per room. It would be funny if we ended up in the same room.”
“Would it?”
“Of course. Oh, by the way, have you also heard a lot about me from before?”
“As your rival… something like that?”
“Yeah.”
Igeon took this opportunity to ask something he’d been extremely curious about for a long time. Han Taekyung nodded.
“I heard a lot. To the point of being sick of it.”
“Ah, as I thought. So you experienced it too. Me too. I’ve never even sparred with you, but people were always talking about how you’re my legendary rival and whatnot… I think I’ve been hearing it since elementary school.”
“Same here. As soon as I won my first match, your name was the first thing I heard.”
“Wow, me too!”
Igeon, thrilled to finally have someone to talk to about this, poured out all the frustrations and stories he’d been holding in. Han Taekyung had experienced similar things, so they both empathized with each other’s stories and promised that if they ever met the first person who named them rivals, they would give them a good kick.
“Still, I’m grateful to that person.”
Han Taekyung said, swirling his empty glass.
“Why?”
“Because thanks to them, I got to know an athlete named Seo Igeon.”
This guy sometimes says embarrassing things so casually.
“Ahem, well… I’m honored to hear you say that. To be Han Taekyung’s rival. But at this point, doesn’t the word ‘rival’ feel awkward? Why don’t we be friends instead of rivals?”
It’s embarrassing. Two dark-haired high school seniors having this kind of conversation. But Igeon felt it was necessary for their relationship, so he bravely suggested it.
“Hmm…”
Han Taekyung pondered with a serious expression. Is this really something to think so hard about?
“I don’t want to.”
The unexpected answer almost made Igeon drop the chicken wing he was holding. Taekyung’s rejection was so firm and clean-cut that it was bewildering.
“Oh, really? Well, if you don’t want to be friends, I can’t help it…”
What should he say next? He had no idea. Why did he come back here with chicken and pizza if not to be friends? If Igeon were an omega, he might suspect ulterior motives, but they’re both alphas, so that’s not it either…
“I think I prefer being rivals.”
“Why?”
“It feels like we’re more tightly bound that way. Friends can break up, but rivals… even if we fight, we can still be called rivals.”
Is that how it works? Igeon was amazed by Han Taekyung’s unexpected theory that merged the concepts of rivalry and friendship. To think that he felt rivals were more tightly bound than friends. Honestly, he couldn’t fully agree, but if that’s how Taekyung felt, so be it.
“So you’re saying we’ll continue like this?”
“Yes.”
Another quick answer.
“Well, that’s fine with me. I don’t care whether we’re friends or rivals.”
“I thought you’d say that.”
Igeon tore into a chicken wing as he looked at Han Taekyung’s profile. He’s really handsome. And his personality is just as good. Sometimes he was curious about Taekyung’s parents. He wanted to tell them they’d raised their son so well and properly. They didn’t discuss any more complicated or deep topics, instead just chatting about trivial things as they finished the pizza and chicken. After cleaning up, when Taekyung came out of the bathroom after washing his hands, Igeon checked the time and asked.
“It’s midnight, what do you want to do? Want to stay over?”
“Can I?”
“Yeah, but the master bedroom is a mess right now, so you’d have to sleep in my room, which is small. Is that okay? There’s no bed either.”
“It’s fine.”
“Okay, then let me find you some comfortable pajamas to sleep in. Wait a bit.”
Since they had similar builds, Igeon rummaged through his drawer thinking his clothes would fit Taekyung. Fortunately, he found a relatively new t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants and handed them to Han Taekyung, who soon changed in the bathroom and came out. The outfit didn’t match the clothing style Igeon had seen him in until now, and in some ways it looked comical, but the wearer himself didn’t seem to mind at all.
While Taekyung neatly folded the clothes he had been wearing and placed them on the sofa, Igeon spread out a blanket in his room and put down two pillows. Somehow, seeing that scene gave him a strange feeling. He had never thought there would come a day when two pillows would be placed side by side in his room.
Sensing Taekyung approaching, having finished what he needed to do, Igeon pointed to the right pillow with his finger.
“I’m on the right, you’re on the left. Is it too cramped?”
“No, it’s just right.”
“Do you snore?”
“I’ve never heard anyone say I do. You?”
“Me neither.”
Since neither had slept with anyone before, it was natural that they didn’t know their own sleeping habits.
“Then if we’re lucky, tonight we’ll find out if either of us snores.”
“I guess so?”
Taekyung agreed that would be nice. He’s really an interesting person. He feels like an even older friend than Gyeongsu, who’s been my friend for years… Oh, not a friend? A rival then. Thinking about it that way, rival was definitely better than friend. Taekyung lay down first, and Igeon turned off the lights and lay down. Perhaps because they had eaten so much, sleep didn’t come easily. He stared blankly at the ceiling, then glanced to the side and was startled. Han Taekyung was looking at him.
“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”
“It’s my first time sleeping with someone.”
“Ah, same here.”
Igeon explained that although he probably slept with his dad or father a lot when he was very young, it was too early to remember, and from his earliest memories, he was already sleeping alone. Taekyung nodded, saying it was the same for him.
“Sorry I’m not a pretty omega.”
Igeon joked, feeling a bit awkward.
“I’ve never said I dislike you for being who you are.”
And Han Taekyung responded seriously.
“It was a joke.”
“I know. But if you’re thinking that even a little, I hope you won’t. I’m happy to be lying in the same room with you, Seo Igeon.”
“…Okay. That’s good then.”
“Seo Igeon.”
“Yes?”
“…Congratulations on getting into university.”
“…Oh, you too. Congratulations.”
“I’m looking forward to our future together.”
“Me too. Looking forward to it.”
“Sleep well.”
“You too.”
Igeon greeted him back, then turned around and closed his eyes. For a brief moment, Taekyung’s words made his heart ache. Was it because he heard from Han Taekyung the words he most wanted to hear from his parents? It felt strange. And a little happy. How grateful it was that there were still people in the world who would say such things to him. Seo Igeon closed his eyes, thinking he had made the right decision to let Han Taekyung stay over tonight.
◆
When moonlight filled the small rooftop room window, Han Taekyung opened his eyes and slowly looked at the back of the man sleeping beside him, breathing evenly. He slightly raised himself and, watching the other’s back, gently grabbed his shoulder. Seo Igeon murmured in his sleep, straightened his body, and turned toward Han Taekyung. After watching him quietly, Han Taekyung got up silently, went to the living room, and retrieved his phone from among his neatly folded clothes on the sofa.
2 AM. As expected, there were many missed calls. After debating whether to call back, he decided it would be better than causing worry and pressed the call button.
[Hello?]
The call connected immediately after just one ring.
“It’s me. Taekyung.”
[Taekyung. What happened to you? Why didn’t you contact us?]
“I’m sorry. I tried calling earlier but you didn’t answer, so I left a text message. Didn’t you see it?”
[No, I saw it. That’s why I didn’t call the police. But you could have called later. Your father has been worried sick.]
“Ah… I didn’t realize it had gotten this late while talking with my friend. I’m sorry.”
It was a lie. His first lie to his parents. But in a way, it was also true. Being with Seo Igeon was very enjoyable.
“Is Father okay?”
[He’s making a fuss right beside me. He bought a cake to celebrate your university acceptance… I couldn’t answer your call earlier because I was choosing the cake.]
“Ah…”
[I’m not saying you have to come home right now. I was just worried… You know, right?]
“I know.”
[That’s fine then. It’s kind of surprising to hear you’re spending the night with a friend. You can do whatever you want now. Just keep in touch, that’s all.]
“Yes.”
[Congratulations on getting into university.]
“Thank you.”
[Haha, your father says he’ll talk to you when you get home. You’re not a child anymore. But you know? Your father and I are very proud of you. Thank you, really.]
“I should be thanking you. I could get this far because of you both.”
It was true. When he was young, Han Taekyung had several near-death experiences, and it was because of his parents that he could endure them. Especially his big father, who was now upset, had sacrificed a lot for him. Because of that, he always felt sorry towards Taekyung and wanted to do everything for him… That’s why Taekyung did his best to be good to both of them, and he would continue to do so.
[I’ll see you later then.]
“Yes, I’ll come in the morning.”
[Okay. I’ll be waiting. Sleep well.]
“Yes. Good night to you both. See you later.”
After hanging up, Han Taekyung went back to the room where Seo Igeon was sleeping. Watching him sleep, he quietly inhaled. Seo Igeon’s pheromones filled the room. The pheromones of another alpha, but somehow, they didn’t feel repulsive or unpleasant.
It was a relief. That sadness couldn’t be sensed in his pheromones. Taekyung carefully lay down beside him, gazing longer and deeper at Igeon’s face before closing his eyes. It was his first time sleeping at someone else’s house. Despite never having slept on the floor instead of a bed in his life, he didn’t feel any discomfort at all.
“Sleep well.”
He bid goodnight, though it wouldn’t be heard. Hoping that Igeon would have happy dreams.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
