“I…”
“…”
“I really had a good time today. I was looking forward to seeing you, Kang Biso, and everything we did—eating together, walking around—it all felt really nice.”
Even though I’d hesitated at first, the words came out surprisingly smoothly. Still, I couldn’t lift my gaze. My eyes were glued to my dirt-smudged shoes.
I wondered how Kang Biso was looking at me right now.
“The ring… it was a bit much, but… I was happy to get it.”
“Then…”
“I was kind of bummed when we were about to say goodbye in front of the dorm earlier, but when you said you didn’t want to part either, it made me feel like we were thinking the same thing, and that made me really happy. I also like how you drop by often, and even calling me hyung and following me around… I’ve actually grown to really like that too…”
By the time I realized I was just rambling, not even sure what I was saying anymore—
“I like being with you, Kang Biso.”
That was the moment it hit me.
I like Kang Biso.
“……”
Kang Biso didn’t say a word. I couldn’t bring myself to look up, so I had no idea what kind of expression he was making. Honestly, I wanted to run away.
But this—this was the answer he’d been waiting for. I couldn’t just turn my back on it now.
“So… ah!”
Suddenly, Kang Biso cupped my cheeks with both hands, lifted my face, and made me look straight at him.
Our eyes locked, and my heart plummeted. He was wearing an expression I’d never seen before.
His eyes were trembling with raw emotion. His whole face had gone bright red.
That unguarded, unfiltered look on his face left me completely frozen.
“I like you. I really, really like you.”
“……”
“You like me too, don’t you, hyung?”
“That’s…”
“I like you, and you like me too, so…”
The faint whisper of “Please go out with me” brushed past my ears, and the heart that had sunk just moments ago began to race violently.
The truth was, I still wasn’t sure. This thing between us—it would end eventually. I was certain of that.
But even if we had to say goodbye tomorrow… right now…
I wanted to be with Kang Biso.
“Okay.”
As soon as I gave my answer, Kang Biso lit up with a dazzling smile.
Seeing him smile made me smile too. But then I realized my face was still in his hands, and we were way too close. That thought made my face burn with embarrassment.
“But, uh… how long are you planning to keep holding me like this…?”
Kang Biso paused for a moment… then slowly leaned in.
His face kept getting closer, and just as I squeezed my eyes shut out of reflex—
“Bark bark!”
A dog’s sudden barking rang out, and Kang Biso stopped in his tracks. He dropped his hands and turned his head, and when I followed his gaze, I saw a familiar little white dog barking at us.
…Baek Beom?
Baek Beom, in his fluffy white dog form, was racing toward us like a missile, barking like a maniac. He wedged himself right between me and Kang Biso.
“Bark! Bark bark!”
Then, like Kang Biso was his sworn enemy, he bared his teeth and went completely berserk.
What the hell?! Why’s he acting like this all of a sudden?!
Flustered, I reached out to grab him, but the way he was growling—like he had rabies or something—was honestly terrifying. I couldn’t even touch him.
“Is he your dog? He’s kind of loud, but… he’s cute. Tiny and feisty.”
Kang Biso gave a smile, but it was nothing like the one from before. Just moments ago, he’d looked genuinely happy—like he couldn’t help but smile. Now, though, his expression felt forced, like he was barely holding it together. It was obvious the unexpected interruption had soured his mood. Still, the fact that he was trying not to show it made my heart ache a little.
But… would he still call that dog “cute” if he knew it was actually a full-grown man?
I was just as annoyed by the interruption. For a split second, I even considered blurting it out—but I held back.
I suddenly remembered what happened back at the hotel.
He’d been jealous then too. And if he found out this dog was the same “younger brother” who used to visit the hotel—and that he was still hanging around now…
I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen.
I stood up from the swing and scooped the dog into my arms.
“…Yeah. He’s mine. I must’ve taken too long, so he came looking for me. Shhh, quiet now. It’s late—you need to settle down.”
“Bark! Grrrr, bark bark!”
No matter how gently I tried to calm him down—stroking his head, whispering soothing words—Baek Beom refused to settle. His teeth stayed bared, growling low at Kang Biso while barking nonstop. Watching the tense standoff, Kang Biso scratched his head, looking a little awkward, then spoke.
“Yeah… I don’t think he likes me very much.”
“I… I’m really sorry.”
“Come on, hyung, you don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. By the way, what’s his name?”
“Uh… well…”
“Bark bark bark! Bark bark! Grrrr! Bark!”
The moment Kang Biso pointed at him, Baek Beom lunged forward like he’d been waiting for the chance—stretching his neck as if he was about to bite his finger clean off.
I couldn’t let this go on. With a sigh, I clamped a hand over Baek Beom’s mouth and held him tighter. At this point, continuing the conversation was pointless.
“I should probably head back. I left him alone all day—he must’ve felt really lonely.”
“Then let me at least walk you ba—”
“It’s fine. The dorm’s nearby anyway… and if you come with me, he might not stop barking.”
“…Still.”
The way Kang Biso looked at me—eyes full of longing—reminded me of a kitten in boots, all sad and sparkly-eyed. It made me feel guilty, but I didn’t have a choice.
If Baek Beom was this worked up just from us talking, who knew what would happen if we walked home together?
“You’re coming back on Monday for Guiding, right? We can talk more then.”
“…Okay. Yeah.”
Kang Biso nodded reluctantly, his gaze still clinging to me. He clearly didn’t like Baek Beom, judging from the sideways glare he shot him. Baek Beom, of course, glared right back—sparks practically flying between them.
We need to get out of here… now.
Leaving them in the same space any longer felt like asking for disaster.
Especially if Baek Beom decided to transform into his human form here—that’d be catastrophic.
“Well then, I’ll head out. See you Monday.”
“…Hyung!”
“Yeah?”
Just as I turned to leave, Kang Biso called out, almost in a panic. I turned back—and there he was, suddenly standing right in front of me. I felt Baek Beom tense in my arms again, heard the low rumble of a growl, but thankfully his mouth was still covered.
Kang Biso hesitated, standing close, then leaned in slowly.
Smack.
He gently pressed his lips to mine.
No tongue, no extra movement—just a soft, sincere kiss. So simple, so sudden, it left me frozen.
I didn’t blink. Didn’t even breathe. Just stood there.
When he finally pulled away, he stepped back slightly and spoke in a quiet, shy voice.
“I just… didn’t want to end the night like that.”
“……”
“Get home safe, okay?”
“…Yeah.”
I had no idea how to respond, so I just bowed my head. It’s not like we hadn’t kissed before during Guiding, but… this felt totally different. Just a quick brush of the lips, and yet my heart was thudding like crazy.
I couldn’t handle the storm inside me, so I started absentmindedly kneading Baek Beom’s belly with one hand. To my relief, the racing in my chest began to ease.
“Grrrr…”
Baek Beom’s eyes were still murderous. Even with his mouth held shut, the way he glared at Kang Biso was downright terrifying. The look in his eyes screamed kill, and if I didn’t do something soon, he really might go off.
“Well… I’ll get going now.”
“Okay! Be careful getting back!”
I offered a quick wave and turned around. Behind me, I heard Kang Biso’s voice ring out with a faint laugh. He probably thought I was flustered and running away from embarrassment.
Not that he was wrong. But at the moment, all I could think about was what the hell I was supposed to do with the guy in my arms.
***
After parting ways with Kang Biso, I hurried back to the dorm.
Strangely enough, Baek Beom—who just minutes ago had seemed ready to rip someone apart—was now curled up quietly in my arms.
It was… too quiet.
Not a single growl or whimper the whole way back. He didn’t even squirm. You’d think that would be a relief, but it only made me more nervous. Normally, he’d have thrown a fit by now.
“What the hell was that all about back there?”
The question had barely left my lips before his transformation began.
In a blur, the small white dog expanded, limbs stretching, fur vanishing. Within seconds, the familiar canine form had melted into a fully grown man—and all I could do was stand there, stunned.
The man who stood before me now wasn’t the lazy mess I’d seen earlier that morning. His hair was a wild, tangled mop, and his crimson eyes were burning with fury as he glared at me.
But honestly… that wasn’t even the biggest problem right now.
Seriously, could you at least put on some damn clothes first?
Seeing Baek Beom completely naked—without so much as a thread on him—left me with a weird, heavy feeling in my chest. Did he seriously not care about modesty at all? I really wished he’d start caring, even just a little.
But nope. Still totally unbothered, he walked toward me like it was nothing, and my body instinctively backed away.
Apparently, he didn’t like that.
In the next instant, Baek Beom grabbed me by the collar and slammed me up against the wall. He didn’t say a word. Just stared down at me in silence.
“……”
I could’ve easily pushed him off if I wanted to. But something about his expression was too serious—dead serious. I figured I should at least hear what he had to say.
Only… he wouldn’t speak.
If you’re gonna pin someone to a wall, maybe try saying something while you’re at it. What is this even supposed to be?
I couldn’t make sense of him. First, he shows up at the park out of nowhere and goes ballistic barking at Kang Biso. Then, on the way home, he acts like the world’s calmest little puppy. Now he’s pinning me to the wall and glaring without a word. His behavior was all over the place—impossible to follow.
There’s only so much waiting I could take. I grabbed his hand—the one fisted in my collar—and gave it a slight squeeze as I spoke.
“If you’re not gonna say anything, at least let go.”
“……”
“You’re not gonna let go?”
Normally, by now he’d be pouting or snapping back, sulking like a grumpy kid. But not this time. He still didn’t say a word.
I added more force to my grip, and finally, with a grimace that looked like it physically hurt, he let go.
“What the hell is this, Baek Beom? Sneaking out of the dorm is one thing, but the rest of this? There’s gotta be a reason for it.”
“……”
“You’re seriously not gonna talk?”
His mouth opened like he had a lot to say, but no words came out. His brows scrunched tight. Then finally, in a low, gritted voice, he muttered:
“…I’m mad.”
“What?”
“You’re my Guide. So why the hell were you with that bastard?”
“That’s—”
“You’re mine! So why the hell were you with him like that?! Why were your lips on his?! You never even treated me like that—so why him?! Why does he get that and not me?!”
He was shaking now—his voice trembling, chest rising and falling fast, like he was struggling to hold everything in. Everything he’d been bottling up was finally bursting out of him, boiling over.
At the core of it, it was jealousy. Baek Beom had convinced himself that I belonged to him—and the sight of me with someone else had shattered that illusion.
It was a childish kind of possessiveness, like a kid screaming, “Mine!” without understanding what that meant.
But he couldn’t be more wrong.
“Why do you think I’m yours?”
“…What?”
“I asked why you think I belong to you. I never did.”
The words hit him like a slap. His eyes widened, completely stunned. But I kept going—he needed to hear this.
“There’s nothing between us. We’ve just been staying together because it benefits both of us. That’s all.”
I was only here to get the Book of Wishes—and to stay close to the dog I’d bonded with. And he stuck around for the Guiding. That was the extent of it. There were no deeper ties.
“And about Kang Biso… I’m dating him. So watch what you say.”
Saying that out loud still felt a little awkward, a little unfamiliar—but it wasn’t a lie. And now that I’d admitted to myself how I felt, I had no intention of hiding it.
“Y-You’re lying…”
His mouth fell open like he’d just been punched in the gut. But I didn’t flinch. I drove the point home, clear and final.
“I’m with Kang Biso now. So don’t go around saying I’m yours. I never was.”
