In the days leading up to Cheon Tae-seong’s business trip, Ha-jin had worked—no, shopped—with all-out, warlike intensity.
The shopping spree had been entirely orchestrated by Cheon Tae-seong, and Ha-jin was simply dragged along. He’d been so exhausted that he couldn’t digest his dinner last night, and his stomach was still hurting from it.
So when Yushin smiled at him, Ha-jin couldn’t help but feel a little indignant.
“That’s just a prop to fool that guy, Kang Sung-oh. He told me to drive it around. Said, ‘No one would believe my boyfriend rides the bus.’”
“Wow, he actually said that himself? All that for something fake?”
“Mhm…” Ha-jin nodded with an uneasy expression.
When they’d finally finished placing the watch order Friday afternoon, he thought they’d cleared the last hurdle. But then Tae-seong, as if proving him wrong, dropped something even bigger on him.
The “last stop” turned out to be a mansion on the outskirts of the city. There, in the driveway, Ha-jin was forced to choose—from one of the many luxury cars in Cheon Tae-seong’s personal collection.
Even if it was for cover, picking such an outrageously expensive car like it was a toy was far too much for him.
But no matter how long Ha-jin hesitated, Tae-seong showed no signs of backing down.
“Even if you don’t pick one, I’ll just park it outside your place anyway.”
Even insisting he had no parking space didn’t work. Tae-seong had already scoped out nearby paid parking lots. In the end, Ha-jin was practically shoved into accepting the car keys.
“Guy’s insanely thorough.”
Yushin fidgeted with the key, shaped like a miniature version of the car. The cake was already forgotten.
“Right?”
“But, Hyung…”
“Hm?”
“What about you?”
To Yushin, the most important person in the world was Ha-jin. Even when his brother had abandoned their home and run away, Yushin had never once resented him. Even then, Ha-jin had seemed cool, fun, and like the person he felt closest to in the world.
And just like fate rewarding his patience, Ha-jin had returned during Yushin’s darkest hour.
When he’d gone into pheromone shock from their father’s death, it was Ha-jin who had rushed him to a hospital in Seoul and got him treated. Back then, Ha-jin had only just turned twenty. Before Yushin could even feel like a burden, they were already living together again. That was seven years ago.
Treating his condition had cost a fortune. Ha-jin had worked tirelessly, spending all his time earning that money. But even so, he had never once said he wanted to give up or that it was too hard. He simply endured everything, quietly, as if it were his natural duty from the start.
Was it just because they were blood? There were plenty of parents who abandoned their children. Their own parents had done just that.
Yushin genuinely wanted Ha-jin to be happy. He didn’t want his brother making choices he didn’t truly want just because of him.
Seven years was enough. More than enough to repay any debt with love.
“So how do you feel? When you see him.”
Ha-jin was sorting only the white laundry into the washing machine.
“When you’re fake-dating the CEO. You… like it, don’t you?”
“What’s there to like…”
He was so flustered, he dropped the laundry basket.
“Be honest—Hyung, you’re acting different. That’s a fact. Would you really have gone along with this if it were any other Alpha?”
It was Ha-jin who had proposed the fake relationship.
Having returned from death, he found too many things suspicious—strange elements in the job, the unknown conspirator, and even possible clues about the experimental drug. He was desperate to figure it out.
But it was definitely because it was Cheon Tae-seong that he acted differently. If it had been someone like Choi Chan-hyuk? Not a chance. He would’ve stalked Kang Sung-oh on his own, if anything. It was only with Tae-seong that the idea of a fake relationship even crossed his mind. The circumstances just lined up that way.
And maybe—just maybe—it was because of everything they’d been through in the timeline before the reset.
“If you’re not into it, then just call it off. Cut it clean. Why let yourself be dragged around? What’s so great about him that you’re acting all out of character?”
“I’m not acting out of character…”
Am I? Ha-jin pressed the detergent button firmly, replaying the past few days in his head. Maybe Yushin wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Don’t just deny it. Honestly, you and that guy… you look good together. Like, really. Even Mari-noona said so.”
Yushin sounded like he genuinely hoped Ha-jin would end up with Tae-seong.
“‘Look good together,’ my ass. No way—”
“The ones who say ‘no way’ are always the first to start dating.”
Ha-jin was left speechless. He’d just been comparing Tae-seong’s pheromones to his own nonexistent ones, and suddenly couldn’t come up with a retort.
Then the phone rang, cutting off the conversation. Grateful for the escape, Ha-jin lit up—only to grit his teeth when he saw the name on the screen.
Speak of the devil—Cheon Tae-seong was calling.
***
Ha-jin rushed down the alley at a brisk pace, wearing the pristine white sneakers Tae-seong had given him. He’d tried to head out in slippers, but Yushin had stopped him and made him change shoes.
As always, the same car was parked by the main road. That glossy black hunk of metal stood out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood. Tae-seong was leaning against it, his arms casually draped across the open backseat door.
“You came fast. Were you waiting for me?”
He glanced at his watch as he spoke, grinning as if delighted by Ha-jin’s hasty arrival.
“No, I just happened to be quick.”
“You’re not gonna see me for a whole week, and you feel nothing, huh?”
“……”
Ha-jin couldn’t come up with a good answer. He found himself cursing Yushin a little for saying too much.
Tae-seong, now a step away from the car, opened his arms. It was a clear signal—receive my pheromones. Ha-jin didn’t resist. As their chests touched, he leaned into the warm embrace, and those strong arms wrapped firmly around his shoulders. It was tight enough to feel slightly suffocating, but oddly… it didn’t feel bad.
No, it feels… kind of nice.
His usual floral scent now had an earthy note mixed in, making it all the more intoxicating. Ha-jin raised his arms and hugged him back, feeling the solid muscle beneath Tae-seong’s sleeves.
“Ha-jin.”
Tae-seong rested his chin on the crown of Ha-jin’s head.
“You’re gonna swing by Boseong Bathhouse after I leave, aren’t you?”
“…No.”
“Don’t lie. You’re totally going to wash my pheromones off before going home.”
“Checking like that just feeds your compulsive tendencies. Some things are better not knowing.”
Tae-seong let out a soft chuckle. He rested his chin on Ha-jin’s head a little longer, staring toward the distant Boseong Bathhouse.
He’d already had Kim Dae-hong check it out: the owner was an old man in his 80s, and most customers were Betas. Still didn’t sit well with him. Honestly, it was already strange enough that a Type 2 would go to a public bathhouse in the first place.
He understood Ha-jin’s situation—but understanding didn’t make it feel any better.
“You go in there and strip down completely, yeah?”
“…What, you think I bathe with clothes on?”
“Where’d you learn to answer questions with more questions, huh, Ha-jin?”
He ruffled Ha-jin’s hair, then suddenly gripped the back of his neck.
“But seriously. You’ve got a boyfriend like me, and you go waltzing into a bathhouse swinging your dick around like it’s nothing? How are you so chill about that?”
Startled out of the embrace, Ha-jin narrowed his eyes. He had no response—just stared silently. Tae-seong seemed to give up, slumping his shoulders.
“I’m leaving.”
His goodbye was ridiculously short. He offered Ha-jin a lukewarm smile and climbed into the car. It was a stark contrast to the deep hug from earlier—so brisk it left Ha-jin stunned. Tae-seong told the driver to head out right away.
Ha-jin stepped back, blankly watching the car begin to move. Then, suddenly, he bolted forward.
As he sprinted after the car, the taillights flashed red and it stopped.
He caught up just in time and yanked on the back door—but it was locked tight.
“CEO…!”
Instead, the window rolled down halfway. Ha-jin, inexplicably desperate, placed his fingers on the edge of the glass.
“Are you… really going to be okay?”
Even as he asked, he thought it was a coward’s question. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to say, Take me with you. That’s how torn he felt.
Tae-seong, who had been staring straight ahead, slowly turned his head. Seeing Ha-jin’s flushed face, he smiled sweetly, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction. Ha-jin was so entranced by that smile he forgot the car had even stopped.
Then Tae-seong leaned down and gently kissed the tips of Ha-jin’s fingers where they rested on the glass.
“I’ll be fine.”
His calm voice left Ha-jin no choice but to pull his hand back. Even as the car moved away, he couldn’t take a single step forward. The lingering sensation on his fingertips had them tingling; he clenched and unclenched his fists over and over.
The road curved cruelly, and in the blink of an eye, Cheon Tae-seong’s car disappeared from sight.
