Blinking, Suhwan ended the call and got up. So he could go outside. It was completely different from what Seunghyun had said. Thinking about it now, Hwalyeon’s words seemed more correct, but why had he acted so foolishly in front of Seunghyun? Like a computer that had been turned off for a long time and suddenly powered on, Suhwan snapped back to attention and moved.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine now.”
Hwalyeon was looking at him with the same worried eyes as Seunghyun, as if he might fly away if she called him. Of course, Suhwan had been struggling at that time, but his strong alpha body recovered quickly. Suhwan just smiled awkwardly.
“If you’re having difficulties in other ways, it would be okay to get counseling.”
“Counseling?”
“Yes, it was… quite a traumatic incident.”
“Ah.”
Suhwan couldn’t actually tell Hwalyeon the whole truth. She only knew that Geonyul had kidnapped and assaulted him. Suhwan couldn’t bring himself to tell everything that Geonyul had done to him.
It wasn’t because of petty pride. He simply didn’t want to complicate matters by bringing up something that had only been attempted. The trial was already proceeding quietly to hide the victim’s identity from the public, and he didn’t want to create additional problems that would draw attention.
And if Hwalyeon knew about the incident, she might also become suspicious of his relationship with Seunghyun. The pheromone issue was already troublesome enough, and he didn’t want any more problems affecting his relationship with Seunghyun. Even if it was just a temporary deception.
“I’m really fine.”
“I see.”
Despite his smiling response, Hwalyeon’s stern expression didn’t soften. Where else would Suhwan have been beaten like that? He had probably always been the one beating others. Hwalyeon silently heaved a deep sigh.
“Call me anytime if you’re struggling.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’ll be busy for a while, so I won’t be able to visit. Don’t worry about anything else and just rest well.”
“I understand.”
After a short walk near the house, Hwalyeon returned directly to the company. Suhwan remained awkwardly standing with the bodyguards for a moment.
Should he go home now? But since he was outside for the first time in a while, he wanted to go somewhere. It seemed a waste to just go back in. After hesitating, he asked the bodyguard:
“Would it be okay if I stopped somewhere?”
“As you wish, sir.”
“Thank you.”
Suhwan turned away from the stoic bodyguards. At first, he thought about going to the convenience store he had been so vocal about earlier, but as he walked, he ended up wandering quite far. Suhwan looked around and spotted a familiar sign.
“Ah.”
[D.Clare]
It was the cafe where Seunghyun had worked. He had heard that Seunghyun had quit his part-time job at the cafe to help with laboratory work.
Seeing it after so long made him crave one of the cafe’s drinks. After hesitating a bit, Suhwan entered the cafe.
Ding.
“Welcome… Oh?”
“Hello.”
The employee recognized Suhwan and widened their eyes. As Suhwan approached the counter and greeted them, the employee smiled awkwardly and spoke:
“It’s been a while since you’ve visited.”
“Yes, I’ve been busy.”
The cafe hadn’t changed at all. Maybe it was a little warmer because they had turned on the heating due to the chilly weather? Suhwan looked around and then at the menu.
“Would you like to order?”
“Hmm.”
Suhwan pondered in front of the menu for a moment. Then, finally deciding, he said to the employee:
“I’ll have a hot citron tea, please.”
“Understood. Um…”
“Yes?”
The hesitant employee held out something. Suhwan’s eyes widened when he saw it.
“You’ve never used a loyalty card… I’ve stamped it generously.”
“Ah.”
Looking at the coupon stamped with the cafe’s logo, he reached out his hand. He thought there weren’t any coupons since nobody mentioned them when he visited before. Perhaps the original Jin Suhwan, with his temperament, had considered stamping coupons something only commoners would do. Suhwan accepted the coupon with a bright smile.
“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it from now on.”
“Yes.”
The employee, looking a bit embarrassed, turned to prepare the drink. Suhwan carefully tucked the coupon into his wallet. I should come here often from now on. Just as Suhwan was smiling, feeling his heart flutter…
Ding.
“Oh my, Seunghyun?”
“…?”
“What brings you here at this hour?”
Seunghyun?
Suhwan turned his head with a puzzled expression. Seunghyun, who had just entered the cafe, strode toward the counter.
“Huh? Aren’t you supposed to be at school…”
“Hyung.”
A strong scent of pheromones wafted from Seunghyun as he approached. Suhwan’s body flinched at his piercing gaze.
“Why are you here? Who are you meeting?”
“I came out briefly because noona called me. What about you?”
“…”
“Seunghyun?”
Seunghyun kept his mouth tightly shut without answering. Surprised by the sudden encounter, Suhwan looked at Seunghyun with wide eyes. He should be at school at this hour, so why was he here…
“Your citron tea is ready.”
“Ah, yes.”
Startled by the employee’s announcement that the drink was ready, Suhwan quickly approached the pickup counter. As Suhwan picked up his citron tea, the employee asked Seunghyun who was standing behind Suhwan.
“Would you like something to drink too?”
“No, thank you.”
Seunghyun answered with a stiff face and grabbed Suhwan’s hand.
“We’ll be leaving now.”
“Oh.”
Whatever his urgency, Seunghyun walked forward without looking back. Suhwan, whose hand was in Seunghyun’s grasp, was dragged all the way home.
The citron tea in his hand sloshed around. He was so flustered by Seunghyun suddenly grabbing his hand that he hadn’t even properly thanked the employee before being pulled outside.
Suhwan examined Seunghyun’s tensed face. His pheromones felt heavier than usual, making it hard to breathe. Seeing him somehow angry, Suhwan couldn’t easily open his mouth.
Why did he look so angry? Was it because he went out without saying anything? But he went out because Hwalyeon had called him…
Suhwan’s thoughts didn’t continue for long. Upon arriving home, Seunghyun stood in the middle of the living room and turned to Suhwan.
“I told you not to go outside.”
“I told you I went out briefly because noona called me.”
“Even so…!”
Seunghyun shouted roughly. Seeing his extremely agitated face, Suhwan’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Do you know how worried I was?”
“…”
“When you weren’t home, I was so…”
Seunghyun raised his hand to sweep back his hair. It was a gesture of anxiety. Watching him, Suhwan swallowed dryly. Strangely, his throat kept tightening. Feeling the stinging sensation in his throat, he barely opened his mouth.
“How… did you know I wasn’t home?”
“…”
“How did you know… I was at the café… and come there?”
His heart pounded anxiously. All the questions he had felt until now tangled together in his mind.
When had it started? How Seunghyun had always unnaturally followed him wherever he went. Suhwan frowned at the flood of memories.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Suhwan’s finally asking the right qns.
I want these two together, I mean it, it’s just…they need to put this stalking to a stop now. It’s gone on for far too long.