“No…”
Since Eunseong-ssi is also an alpha, he would know just by smelling. I wasn’t using pheromone deodorant. I’d heard various stories about marking and pheromone showers, but even so, it wasn’t interfering with my daily life… I had an examination with Professor Choi yesterday, so I’d receive suppressants to prepare for heat cycles, but I didn’t particularly feel the need.
“No, why?”
“It doesn’t seem… particularly necessary.”
“What? Not necessary? I could smell your pheromones that time…”
“Café latte is ready.”
In the meantime, when had he finished making it, Baek Woojin appeared with warm café lattes on a tray.
“Kkotsu’s father is really fast with his hands…?”
“Jeonghan’s father seems to be the same.”
Having said that, Baek Woojin knocked away Eunseong-ssi’s hand that was placed on the sofa backrest behind me.
“The sofa is leather, so it gets a lot of hand marks.”
“Hand marks?”
Baek Woojin left the bewildered Eunseong-ssi alone and squeezed between me and Eunseong-ssi, sitting down firmly.
“No, Kkotsu’s father, why here of all places…”
“This seat is my designated spot.”
Baek Woojin spoke firmly to the flustered Eunseong-ssi and immediately offered the teacup from the tray.
“Please drink.”
At Baek Woojin’s words, I drank the café latte whose fragrant smell was spreading throughout the room. The bitter coffee beans and the smooth, savory taste of milk filled my mouth.
“Huh…”
A sound escaped involuntarily. I tasted the café latte once more and looked at Baek Woojin.
“Woojin-ssi, this is really delicious. How does it taste like this…? It’s different from what I usually drink.”
“…I followed the recipe.”
Even at my praise, Baek Woojin spoke bluntly and stirred his café latte with a teaspoon.
Huh, this isn’t the reaction I expected…
Is it because of Eunseong-ssi? Just earlier, he would smile faintly whenever I said something was delicious…
“…Ah.”
I thought it would be good to give him praise that would make him feel good.
“No. I think… it tastes better because Woojin-ssi made it?”
When I smiled and turned to look beside me, the teaspoon Baek Woojin was holding snapped in half like a sugar cookie.
“No, why did the spoon suddenly…”
Wait, was it that easy to break? I put aside my bewilderment and quickly fished out the half teaspoon that had fallen into the teacup. At that moment, someone shook my shoulder.
“Dad.”
It was Hyeol. I was wondering where he had gone, and Hyeol handed me the communication notebook with expectant eyes.
“Communication notebook?”
“Yes.”
Hyeol had a look that said to read it quickly. I briefly asked the two men for their understanding, then moved to the guest room and opened the communication notebook.
“Hmm…”
When I opened the page with today’s date, the kindergarten teacher’s writing was densely written.
“No way, Hyeol. Did something happen at kindergarten today…?”
“Read it.”
As Hyeol said, I calmly read through the communication notebook. After reading about half, it was roughly about how children named Areum and Minho in the Forsythia Class fought because of Hyeol. It was also written that Jeonghan had a hard time trying to break up the fight, and that the teachers tried to stop it, but they fought quite severely.
In the end, what completely ended the commotion was Hyeol’s cutting remark, which the teacher personally wrote down.
[No matter what you guys do, my feelings won’t change.]
That was very much like Hyeol.
“The kids fought, so today must have been hard for Hyeol…”
After checking the entire communication notebook, I offered words of comfort to Hyeol. But Hyeol made a face that said he didn’t really care.
“But why did Areum and Minho fight? Did the kids just ask Hyeol to play only with them?”
I asked, recalling the sounds of children shouting on the school bus earlier.
“No.”
“Then?”
“…It’s not worth talking about.”
Hyeol handed me a pen with an indifferent face, requesting me to sign the parent confirmation.
“Still… Dad is curious about it… Won’t you tell me…?”
I muttered in a disappointed voice while signing. It seemed to have an effect as Hyeol had a momentarily troubled expression. Then he whispered softly in my ear.
“They said they’d kiss my cheek however they wanted… I never said that was okay.”
“What?!”
My voice rose without me realizing it. Kisses? I thought that kids these days are really honest about their feelings, but I also thought that Hyeol, who’s popular wherever he goes, must be quite tired too.
“Huh, Kkotsu might wake up…”
I belatedly covered my mouth with my hand after shouting loudly. I should have closed the door.
“It’s okay, he woke up earlier.”
Then Hyeol removed my hand and said that.
“Really? I should go see him.”
I came out of the guest room and headed straight to Kkotsu’s room. Through the open door, I could hear the faint voices of Kkotsu and Jeonghan having a conversation.
“It really is true. Hyeol, hurry up and go in too.”
I was urging Hyeol who had followed me, but Hyeol made an indifferent face.
“Why?”
“Huh…? What do you mean why…”
Of course, because you’re the main character in this novel…!
Since I couldn’t say that, I wondered if Hyeol and Kkotsu could naturally become closer.
In the meantime, giggling laughter echoed from Kkotsu’s room. As soon as I heard it, anxious feelings arose. I had a strong thought that at this rate, Kkotsu’s heart might turn toward Jeonghan instead of Hyeol.
What should I do… The main character can’t lose to the sub-top, right…?
I had to do something.
“Um… Hyeol.”
I grabbed Hyeol’s shoulder and asked seriously.
“Hyeol, then, is it okay for Dad?”
“What?”
I decided to persuade Hyeol using a desperate measure I quickly thought up.
“Kissing. Is it okay for Dad to kiss Hyeol’s cheek?”
“…!”
Then, as if surprised, Hyeol’s eyes opened wide.
“As expected… is it not okay…?”
Since there didn’t seem to be an immediate reaction, I tried to probe once more, when Hyeol suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Do it.”
Hyeol offered me one of his cheeks. His chubby, peachy cheeks looked adorable just looking at them. I didn’t hesitate and gave that cheek a kiss. Then Hyeol immediately offered me his other cheek too.
“Here too.”
He even urged me to hurry up. I also wanted to shower him with kisses right away if I could… but I held back. This was all for Hyeol’s sake.
“Hmm… what should I do…”
“Why?”
When I didn’t give him a kiss, Hyeol blinked and asked. Was it just my imagination, or were his black pupils especially full of life today?
“Why won’t you do it?”
“Well… actually, I was hoping Hyeol would do dad one favor…”
“A favor? What is it?”
Hyeol raised his eyes as if telling me to say it right now.
“Yeah, dad would like it if Hyeol went to Kkotsu’s room and talked with Kkotsu like Jeonghan did… and took care of him…”
“To Kkotsu…?”
“Yeah, then… I think dad could give you a kiss…”
I felt sorry for shamelessly using kisses as a bargaining chip with the child, but today Hyeol absolutely had to score points with Kkotsu.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
