Seo Inho returned to the department store and called Ryu Su-hyun. He had blocked Su-hyun’s number but hadn’t deleted it. He had left it there for no particular reason.
“Where are you?” Inho asked.
Ryu Su-hyun answered the phone after exactly three rings. He had been waiting for Inho’s call but didn’t show it.
“Come down to the parking lot,” Inho said, explaining his location. He then tossed his phone aside and closed his eyes, massaging his stiff neck and letting out a heavy sigh. He rolled down the car window a bit, feeling claustrophobic.
An unfamiliar emotion was making him feel restless. At the center of this emotion was a small, delicate omega, Haon. Inho struggled to understand how to interact with Haon, who was so different from him in every way—their upbringing, personality, and even their manner of expression.
He thought he was starting to understand Haon, but perhaps he had been wrong.
Inho’s mind raced with thoughts as he sat with his eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected Haon to be so difficult to figure out. Until they had drinks together, Inho had assumed the remaining year and a half would be smooth sailing.
He had thought Haon liked him.
But maybe he was wrong. Haon’s refusal of the clothes Inho had offered confused him.
Inho had assumed that Haon would be happy to receive a gift from someone he liked. He thought taking Haon shopping would improve his mood after meeting Ryu Su-hyun.
But it hadn’t. Haon’s actions had defied all of Inho’s expectations.
The sound of approaching footsteps snapped Inho out of his thoughts. He opened the car door and stepped out, grabbing the shopping bag from the passenger seat. As Ryu Su-hyun approached, he tilted his chin up arrogantly.
“Why did you come out? Let’s talk inside the car,” Ryu Su-hyun said, looking around the nearly empty parking lot and walking towards the passenger door instead of Inho. “I’m tired from walking. I want to sit down.”
He tried to open the door, but Inho had already locked it. Inho then walked up to Ryu Su-hyun and handed him the shopping bag. When Ryu Su-hyun refused to take it, Inho dropped it at his feet.
“Inho!” Ryu Su-hyun exclaimed.
“Is this what you were so worried about?” Inho asked.
The bag contained the clothes and shoes Ryu Su-hyun had left at Inho’s place. Inho took out his wallet and tossed a few checks onto the bag—payment for the clothes Haon had worn.
“Why are you being so childish about some clothes?” Inho asked, taking a step closer to Ryu Su-hyun and tilting his head. Ryu Su-hyun’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger, and he clenched his fists, shaking with humiliation.
“You’re the one who left them behind. If they were so important to you, you should have taken them with you.”
Inho nudged the shopping bag on the ground with the toe of his black dress shoe. Haon had only mentioned that Ryu Su-hyun claimed the clothes were his. But Inho knew there had to be more to the story.
“Why? Does it bother you that someone prettier than you is wearing your clothes?” Inho asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.
He could tell from Haon’s pale face that Ryu Su-hyun must have said something hurtful—something that had wounded Haon’s pride.
Inho’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he realized his own mistake. He had chosen clothes for Haon without considering his feelings, simply assuming he would appreciate the gesture. He had noticed that Haon always wore the same clothes and wanted to buy him something new, but he hadn’t stopped to think about how Haon might feel about it.
“Of course, it bothers me,” Ryu Su-hyun muttered, stomping on the shopping bag. He ground the million-won checks under his heel, a sharp smile on his face. “How could I not be upset when the next person you’re with is so… lacking?”
Ryu Su-hyun knew that Inho didn’t form emotional attachments with his partners. When Inho had blocked his number, Ryu Su-hyun hadn’t confronted him, instead hoping for a chance encounter. But Inho had stopped going out, making it impossible for Ryu Su-hyun to “bump into” him.
He had assumed Inho was tired of his lifestyle, but now he realized the truth. “You stopped talking to me because of that worthless kid,” Ryu Su-hyun spat.
Inho ignored him and turned to leave. He had no intention of engaging in a lengthy conversation with Ryu Su-hyun.
But Ryu Su-hyun blocked his path, spreading his arms wide to prevent Inho from opening the car door. All pretense of dignity was gone, replaced by desperation.
“You know the rumors, right? They say you’re being played by that kid,” Ryu Su-hyun said, feigning concern. In reality, there were no such rumors—he had made them up after hearing about the incident at the club party from Park Jung-hyuk.
“You’re not actually living with him, are you?” Ryu Su-hyun asked, a note of panic in his voice.
Inho’s expression remained impassive, giving nothing away.
“Why won’t you let me come to your place? Are you really living with him?” Ryu Su-hyun demanded, his voice rising.
“Move,” Inho said, his voice cold.
“Have you lost your mind? Why are you protecting that worthless kid?” Ryu Su-hyun shouted.
Thud! Ryu Su-hyun’s back hit the side of the car as Inho grabbed him by the collar and pinned him against the vehicle.
“You’re the worthless one,” Inho growled, pressing his knee into Ryu Su-hyun’s crotch in a clear warning. “Keep your mouth shut and worry about your own reputation. I only kept you around this long out of pity.”
Ryu Su-hyun gasped in pain, his face contorting.
Inho shoved Ryu Su-hyun aside, releasing his grip on his collar. Ryu Su-hyun stumbled, leaning against the back door of the car, gasping for breath.
Inho didn’t even glance at him as he opened the car door. But Ryu Su-hyun persistently grabbed Inho’s wrist, his eyes filled with desperate longing.
“Do you like him?” Ryu Su-hyun asked, barely able to believe his own question. He couldn’t imagine Inho actually caring for someone.
“Yes,” Inho replied casually, shattering Ryu Su-hyun’s hopes.
Inho shook off Ryu Su-hyun’s hand and got into the car. He tried to close the door, but Ryu Su-hyun, now frantic, blocked it with his body, sticking his leg into the gap.
“You’re kidding, right? You’re just saying that to push me away,” Ryu Su-hyun accused, his dignity forgotten. His face was a picture of desperate pleading. “Someone like you won’t last long with him. A month, tops.”
“Move your leg,” Inho ordered, his voice cold.
“Admit it. You’re already getting tired of him, aren’t you? Regretting bringing him home?” Ryu Su-hyun pressed, ignoring the warning in Inho’s voice.
“Move. Your. Leg,” Inho repeated, starting the car engine. He was ready to drive off, regardless of whether Ryu Su-hyun moved or not.
“You treat your own family like dirt,” Ryu Su-hyun blurted out, desperate to keep Inho’s attention. Inho’s gaze flicked to him, and Ryu Su-hyun clung to that tiny glimmer of hope.
“I understand you, Inho. I really do,” Ryu Su-hyun said, his voice earnest. He truly cared for Inho and felt even more drawn to him after learning about his personal struggles.
“You have trust issues. You can’t open up to anyone,” Ryu Su-hyun continued, leaning into the car, his long arm reaching out to touch Inho’s thigh. “I’ll be here for you. Go ahead and see other people. I’ll wait.”
He leaned in to kiss Inho, his lips brushing against Inho’s lower lip. But before he could deepen the kiss, a sharp pain exploded in his mouth.
“Mmph!” Ryu Su-hyun cried out, pushing against Inho’s shoulder in panic. Inho hadn’t budged an inch.
The pain was excruciating, as if his lip had been torn off. Ryu Su-hyun let out a animalistic cry, tears streaming down his face as he desperately looked around for help. The seconds felt like an eternity.
“You started it,” Inho said finally, releasing Ryu Su-hyun’s lip. He nodded towards the parking lot’s CCTV camera. “I’m the victim here.”
Inho pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from his mouth, then handed a few more to Ryu Su-hyun. Ryu Su-hyun, pale as a sheet, sat on the ground, staring at the tissues in front of him.
Haon had looked just as pale, and seeing Ryu Su-hyun like this somehow made Inho feel a bit better.
“Move your leg,” Inho said calmly. Ryu Su-hyun quickly pulled his foot out of the car door. He remained silent, both hands covering his mouth, as the car drove away.
He thought his lip had been torn, but it was just a small amount of blood. Ryu Su-hyun had been terrified, thinking his lip had been ripped off. Inho’s empty, dark eyes had filled him with fear, amplifying the pain.
***
Inho pulled down the rearview mirror to check his mouth. He wiped away the remaining blood with a dispassionate expression. His phone rang, and he glanced down to see another call from an unknown number. He declined the call and gripped the steering wheel again, a satisfied smile spreading across his clean mouth.
He finally understood how Haon must have felt. He realized that his actions had likely hurt Haon’s pride.
Tap, tap, tap. Inho lightly tapped the steering wheel, thinking about how to apologize. He wanted to express his feelings naturally, so Haon wouldn’t feel burdened.
‘I just wanted to give you a present,’ he thought. ‘It didn’t have to be clothes; I just wanted to give you something without considering your tastes.’
“Too long…” he muttered, rubbing his chin. If he said all that, Haon might get distracted halfway through. He needed to keep it short and clear.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Haon. Inho smiled and eagerly answered the call. He had been thinking about Haon, and it seemed Haon had been thinking about him too.
“Hello, Haon,” he said, his voice warm.
