“Hyung, you’re so pretty.”
Kang Biso kept murmuring how pretty it was as he stared in satisfaction at the marks he’d left on my neck.
Pretty? That’s the issue right now? How the hell am I supposed to get anything done like this?
I didn’t exactly regret letting it happen. I’d gotten just as into it. But the aftermath… yeah, that was the real problem. The shirt I was wearing left my neck completely exposed.
In other words, the hickeys all over my neck were out in the open, with nothing to cover them. I had no idea how many there were, but there was no way I could face anyone like this. My entire sense of dignity was hanging by a thread.
“…Maybe I should put some patches on.”
It was the best solution I could think of. But right away, Kang Biso tilted his head and said with a baffled look,
“Why? They’re so pretty. Why cover them up?”
God, he was so smug it made me want to scream. I let out a long sigh and pressed my palm over my eyes, trying to calm my nerves.
“Haah……”
“What’s wrong?”
“…I have work to do, so… can you head out now?”
“Already?”
“We lost enough time earlier. And I need to cover my neck before any Espers come in.”
“Ah…”
Only then did he nod like he finally understood. Kang Biso stood up with a clearly disappointed expression, which made me feel a little bad, but I couldn’t exactly let him hang around either.
“It’s a shame to cover up proof that you’re mine… but thinking about someone else seeing it makes me jealous.”
“…What?”
“I mean, what if someone jumps you during Guiding?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Still makes me worry.”
His words didn’t sound like a joke. He reached out to gently brush my neck, his fingertips grazing over where his marks probably still lingered under the skin. His expression turned unexpectedly solemn. But it lasted only a moment before he brightened up again, flashing a cheerful smile.
“I’ll drop by around the time you’re done. So hang in there today, okay?”
—Smooch
With that, he gave my forehead a quick peck and spun around, slipping out of the Guiding Room before I could even react. Left alone, I stared at the door he’d disappeared through, then slowly turned back around.
“This is insane……”
***
Finally. Off work.
The day had been a complete disaster—constant stares, awkward questions, whispers behind my back. If I’d known it’d be this bad, I would’ve just faked being sick and stayed home. Honestly, with all the patches slapped over my neck, it was no wonder I’d been getting so much attention.
Some people asked if I was okay, but others? They clearly knew what was under the patches. All day, I’d been stuck between trying to explain and avoiding eye contact.
What the hell kind of misery is this…?
And the culprit behind all of it? Walking right next to me, smiling like he had no care in the world—Kang Biso.
“What’s wrong, hyung? Hungry? Wanna grab dinner?”
Noticing I was staring daggers at him, Kang Biso looked at me innocently and asked. I just shrugged and shook my head.
“No thanks. With these patches, I stand out wherever I go.”
Even someone as oblivious as me couldn’t bear the idea of going through all that attention again.
“But they look good on you… Can’t you just leave them uncovered?”
“I’m not trying to draw attention with something like this.”
“But that’s what makes it better…”
“…What?”
“I like it. It’s like shouting to the world that you’re mine. Come on, don’t cover them. Let’s go eat. Yeah?”
The way he pouted while saying it was admittedly kind of cute. But still, the fact that he could say stuff like that with a straight face was just so infuriating.
“I said no. I’m tired. I’m going home and going straight to bed.”
Hearing that, Kang Biso stared at my neck again. He looked like he was imagining the marks beneath the patches as he smiled softly.
“Well… if you’re tired, I guess there’s no helping it.”
So damn simple.
Even after I turned him down, he still looked weirdly satisfied. I guess the fact that he’d bitten and marked me up was enough to put him in a good mood. I let out a soft snort.
He kept chatting the whole walk back to the dorms. We’d only been apart for half a day, but he talked like it had been weeks. Apparently, a lot had happened during those few hours.
Eventually, we reached the dorm entrance. Kang Biso turned to me, looking genuinely disappointed.
“We’re already here, huh.”
“…Yeah. Looks like it.”
“Thanks for walking me home. See you tomorrow, Kang Biso.”
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
With a hint of regret in his voice, Kang Biso leaned in and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before stepping back. Then, like he was planning to stand there and watch until I actually disappeared inside, he waved at me with both hands. I stared at him for a moment, thrown off by the gesture, before giving a small wave back and heading into the dorm.
***
“I’m home.”
As soon as I opened the door, I heard a flurry of footsteps—thump thump thump—and out came Baek Beom.
Ever since he went on about how I was his Guide, he’d started greeting me at the door every time I came back from outside, like he was trying to impress me or something. For a guy who used to be glued to the couch 24/7, seeing him run up like this really made it feel like I was raising some kind of loyal guard dog.
“Oh, you’re—”
Baek Beom opened his mouth with a smile, about to say something—then froze mid-sentence.
“What?”
“You…”
His eyes locked on my neck. A second later, he charged forward and reached out without warning.
—RIP!
“Shit—!”
With one swift motion, Baek Beom yanked the patch clean off my neck. I winced, instinctively grabbing at the burning spot. The pain flared sharp and raw—he didn’t even hesitate. My skin felt like it had been scraped raw with sandpaper.
“What the hell’s your problem?!”
I snapped, irritation boiling over. But Baek Beom just stood there, eyes wide, jaw slack, staring at my neck like he’d seen a corpse.
Ah. Right.
That’s why I put the patch on. To cover up the marks Kang Biso had left—those hickeys he’d laughed over like they were trophies. Somehow, I’d forgotten all about it.
How the hell did I forget that in just a few minutes…?
Leaving Baek Beom frozen in place, I rushed past him and headed straight for the bathroom. I needed to disappear, fast. Somewhere to hide and collect myself before the full humiliation hit me.
But the moment I looked in the mirror above the sink, I felt my soul leave my body.
What the actual fuck…
That was my neck?
The skin was red and inflamed from where the patch had been ripped off, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. Faint bite marks. Deep, angry hickeys. The whole area was a minefield of spots where Kang Biso had sucked and nibbled like a man possessed.
“…That little shit—Kang Biso!”
He should’ve known when to stop. I should’ve told him to stop. Or at least tried. But no, I just let him keep going until my neck looked like a battlefield.
Thank god I had that patch. If I’d gone around all day like this… chills ran down my spine just thinking about it.
—BANG BANG BANG!
“Hey! Open up!”
Baek Beom started pounding on the bathroom door like he meant to tear it off the hinges.
Of course. That hot-headed bastard. I was wondering when he’d snap.
“Hwang Seol-bin! Open this door! Now!”
He was seriously losing it.
Judging by how hard he was hitting the door, either the hinges were going to give, or his wrist was.
I stood there, weighing my options. There wasn’t really a good one. Eventually, I sighed and just said screw it—I unlocked the door and opened it.
“Hey—!”
Baek Beom, mid-scream, bulldozed his way in the second the door cracked open. He grabbed me by the shoulders and shoved me hard against the wall.
“…Tch. That hurts.”
I winced as pain shot through my back. Instinctively, my body tensed, ready to fight back—but I stopped myself just in time. He’s just a dumb, angry puppy, I reminded myself. Not worth breaking animal cruelty laws over.
“What the hell is your problem?!”
“What the hell is this?!”
“Hickeys. You’ve never seen one before?”
“Don’t play stupid. You know damn well that’s not what I mean. Who did this? Who the fuck touched you?!”
His sharp canines glinted between his clenched teeth, and his pupils were narrowed to slits—predatory. The look in his eyes was downright lethal. If Kang Biso were standing here right now, Baek Beom might actually kill him on the spot.
I let out a long, tired sigh.
As if Kim Yong-ha and Kang Biso weren’t enough, now I had to deal with him too?
“…I told you already. You and I? We’re strictly business.”
“Cut the crap! You’re my Guide!”
“No. You’re the one talking crap. When did I ever say I was dating you?”
“That’s—”
Baek Beom didn’t say a word. He just glared at me, eyes dark and wild.
But I wasn’t in the mood to deal with another one of his immature tantrums. I shut him down with a cold, final tone.
“I’m gonna take a shower. Quit overreacting and get out.”
He didn’t move.
Instead, without a single warning, Baek Beom grabbed me by the collar and yanked me toward him. He dipped his head fast and hard, like he was about to bury his face in my neck. The look in his eyes was completely unhinged—more beast than human.
Startled, I shoved his face away and drove my knee straight into his gut.
“Guh—!”
“Ugh…!”
The hit landed clean, and he dropped to his knees with a grunt of pain. But even then, he lashed out, sinking his teeth into the hand I’d used to push him. A sharp jolt of pain shot up my arm as I winced and clenched my jaw.
You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.
“Baek Beom. Let go.”
Even kneeling, he refused to release me. His jaw clamped down so tight, blood started to bead where his teeth dug into my skin. I had half a mind to punch him again, but before I could lift my other hand, he finally opened his mouth and let me go—slow, deliberate, and full of attitude.
I frowned at the deep, angry bite marks. Baek Beom glanced up, cautiously watching my expression, then gently took my injured hand and started licking it.
Like a dog.
Was this his way of apologizing?
His tongue kept moving, slowly working its way up from my hand to my forearm. It was weird. Not cute, not charming—just unsettling.
When it started creeping past my elbow, I finally shoved him off.
That must’ve snapped something in him, because Baek Beom suddenly jumped to his feet, voice raw and breaking.
“Why?! Why is it okay for him to touch you, but not me?!”
Unbelievable.
“You fucking mutt…”
“Yeah! I’m a mutt! So just say you got bit by a dog and call it even!”
He didn’t even flinch at the insult. If anything, it made him louder. He stormed toward me again, completely forgetting the pain from earlier.
He was past reason now, nothing but emotion and adrenaline. I lifted my fist again, warning him not to come any closer.
“…You’re so cruel.”
That stopped him.
He froze mid-step, voice dropping as his expression twisted into something wounded. His eyes lost that wild gleam. Instead, they looked soft, hurt—like a stray dog left out in the rain.
I didn’t say a word. Just stared at him, silent.
Baek Beom stared back for a long moment before his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Why… Why is it not okay when it’s me…?”
“……”
“You bastard… selfish piece of shit… some freak who only likes dogs when they act like dogs…”
He kept muttering curses under his breath as he turned away and stormed out of the bathroom. His shoulders were hunched low, his steps dragging like someone who’d lost everything.
I hesitated for a second, caught off guard by how small and defeated he looked. But before I could say anything—
Beep beep.
The front door unlocked.
Then—slam!
The door slammed shut with a deafening bang.
Startled, I ran out into the living room, but Baek Beom was already gone. All that remained was the silence and the faint echo of the door slamming behind him.
I stood there alone, staring at the empty space he’d left behind, and let out a bitter, humorless laugh.
Seriously. What the hell was that…
Baek Beom had walked out.
Not that it mattered. He always did this. He’d cool off and come crawling back like nothing happened.
And when he did, I was going to make damn sure he never tried something like that again.
…Or so I thought.
But morning came, and Baek Beom still hadn’t returned.
