These days, the very first thing Won-hyeok did upon opening his eyes wasn’t going into the bathroom to wash up, nor drinking water, nor lighting a cigarette.
“There’s nothing from him again.”
The first thing he checked was his phone. He had pinned his chatroom with Han-gyeom right at the very top of his messenger. There had been no message from Han-gyeom this morning after ending things with a goodnight text yesterday.
It wasn’t as though he had fully figured out Han-gyeom’s daily routine, but one thing he had naturally come to learn was that Han-gyeom slept like some dried-up old man with no taste for sleeping in. That didn’t really change much just because it was the weekend. And yet when morning came, eight times out of ten, Han-gyeom only replied after Won-hyeok texted first, so how could that not be frustrating?
Moments like this really drove home the absurd fact that, for the dumbest reason, his boyfriend had never dated anyone before. Won-hyeok sat down on the bed, roughly sweeping back his tousled hair. His hand stopped just as he was typing out a message asking if he was awake. After hesitating over something, Won-hyeok erased the text and impulsively called Han-gyeom instead.
The ringing went on for quite a while, and when no voice came from the other end, Won-hyeok unconsciously bit down on a curse. Then, right at that moment, with a click, a voice finally came through.
“Hello….”
Han-gyeom’s voice was unexpectedly thick with sleep. The dissatisfaction spread all over Won-hyeok’s face slowly began to melt away.
“Sorry, did I wake you up?”
Apparently Han-gyeom really had still been asleep. That was why he hadn’t texted, either.
“You always get up early. That’s why I called.”
“It’s okay. I stayed up studying until dawn yesterday, so I guess I didn’t hear my alarm.”
That sleep-soaked voice felt strangely unfamiliar. Normally it had a lively bounce to it, but right now it was soft and sunken, giving off a completely different impression. Maybe because of that, the irritation that had been boiling in him over not getting a morning text burned away almost instantly.
“You said you were going to your family home today, right, sunbae?”
“Yeah.”
Won-hyeok got up and walked into the kitchen. The way Han-gyeom, still barely awake, was trying his best to articulate clearly just because he was talking on the phone with him was somehow funny and cute. He had meant to tell him to go back to sleep and hang up, but even if Han-gyeom might be a little tired, Won-hyeok still wanted to keep him on the line just a little longer.
“I hope you eat lots of good food while you’re there.”
As Won-hyeok drank down a glass of cold water, he found himself thinking. So Kang Han-gyeom, who was answering the phone right now… was he lying in bed with hazy eyes, taking this call from him? Did he have any sleeping habits? Or maybe, unexpectedly, his hair stuck up wildly every time he woke up.
He was finishing the glass with thoughts like that when soft, steady breathing came through the phone.
“Han-gyeom? Did you fall asleep?”
“…….”
There was no answer. It seemed while Won-hyeok had been lost in thought and silent for too long, Han-gyeom hadn’t been able to wait and had simply drifted back to sleep.
“What even is this?”
That was what he said, but even so, Won-hyeok let out a small laugh as he looked at the screen showing the call was still connected. Just how late had he stayed up studying for exams to pass out this helplessly?
Come to think of it, Han-gyeom was pretty diligent about studying for exams. Of course grades mattered for getting a job, but it felt like there was something even more desperate than that driving him. The number of things Won-hyeok was curious about when it came to Han-gyeom seemed to grow by the day.
Won-hyeok didn’t hang up. When he switched to speakerphone, Han-gyeom’s soft, baby-like breathing became even clearer.
Using that sound as background music, Won-hyeok started getting ready in earnest. Going to his family home wasn’t exactly welcome, but on days like today, when there was an occasion, it couldn’t be helped. It was obvious how much his father would hound him if he skipped the event. Besides, today was that father’s birthday.
He put on black slacks and a white shirt, then a charcoal cardigan. To go along, at least suitably, with the family atmosphere that valued formality more than anything, he tied a thin, casual necktie and then picked up his car keys and phone.
Even in the middle of all that, Han-gyeom’s breathing was still steadily coming through. How had he not woken up even once? Won-hyeok had already been planning to ask what he was doing today, but with him sleeping that soundly, there was no way he could wake him.
Then again, Won-hyeok had already figured out that if Han-gyeom wasn’t seeing him on the weekend, he usually had nothing else going on. Staring absently at Han-gyeom’s name on the screen, Won-hyeok finally ended the call and headed down to the parking garage.
When he pressed the key, the lights of his luxury sports car flashed with a loud chirp. He slipped naturally into the driver’s seat and soon pulled out of the garage.
He liked driving, but he didn’t usually take the car to school. Back in his freshman year, on one careless day when he had driven there, he’d been hounded by endless stares and rumors.
He had no idea why Koreans were so obsessed with what other people wore, what they drove, and where they lived. Once driving to school became impossible, Won-hyeok had properly moved out of his family home by getting an officetel close to campus.
His family home was also in Seoul, but far from the university. It wasn’t so far that commuting was impossible, but he absolutely hated the idea of taking public transportation like buses. Well, thanks to that, he’d at least been able to get out of that suffocating house, so it had worked out for the better in that sense.
“Once exams are over, maybe I’ll take him somewhere outside the city.”
When the car stopped at a red light, Won-hyeok pressed the brake and muttered under his breath. If he put Han-gyeom in this car, he’d definitely sing its praises with those big eyes sparkling, saying how cool it was. Thinking of Han-gyeom, who was probably still asleep, Won-hyeok turned to look out the window.
Maybe because it was noon on a weekend, the streets were fairly crowded. Normally, when he sat in the car looking outside like this, the only thing he thought was, What’s so fun and enjoyable that all these people keep crawling out here?
But the first thing that caught Won-hyeok’s eye now was couples linking arms affectionately, smiling at each other as if they were happy, or as if they found each other unbearably lovable.
Maybe he was too absorbed in looking at them. He didn’t even notice the light had changed until the car behind him blasted its horn loudly.
“Fuck, like I wouldn’t move on my own.”
Clicking his tongue, Won-hyeok slammed down on the accelerator.
Not long after, he arrived at his family home in Cheongdam-dong. The exterior of the detached house, built of stiff yellow-brown brick, looked as lousy as ever. When he pressed the doorbell on the gate, the sitter who recognized him through the intercom opened it right away.
“Won-hyeok, you’re here?”
As soon as he stepped inside, his mother was the first to come out and greet him. Since it was a special day, she wore an ivory silk dress with a scarf draped over her shoulders, and even at her age, there was still an elegant dignity about her. Won-hyeok accepted her touch along with a formulaic greeting.
“I heard you came by the house last time. Why did you leave without even seeing your mother’s face?”
“I didn’t especially want to see Father.”
At her son’s blunt answer, his mother gave a bitter smile, as though she’d expected no less. When they entered the dining room together, he saw the faces of the people who had gathered today one by one.
Among them, the person seated at the head of the table was Won-hyeok’s father, Do Won-cheol, who shot him a displeased look the moment he saw him.
“You shouldn’t keep your elders waiting.”
“I came on time, so it’s a little unfair to hear that I’m late. Maybe you all just didn’t need to come so early.”
“And that mouth of yours…!”
Even as he answered without backing down, he still politely bowed his head toward his uncle, who had gathered here to celebrate his father’s birthday today.
“Hey, Do Won-hyeok. Long time no see?”
And beside him was his cousin Do In-seok, the same age as him. The moment their eyes met, Won-hyeok made a point of frowning openly, didn’t even bother acknowledging him, and simply went to sit down. He could feel his father’s sharp glare burning into the back of his head, but he ignored it.
While the food was being laid out on the table, Won-hyeok pulled out his phone beneath the table and checked his messenger. There was still no message at all from Han-gyeom. He thought, He really is sleeping for a damn long time, but then remembering the faint breathing he’d heard earlier made him feel a little better.
“By the way, Won-hyeok, you really do seem to get more handsome by the day.”
At his uncle’s words, Won-hyeok put his phone away.
“I hear that a lot. I live my life feeling lucky I take after my mother.”
At his smooth answer, one that also seemed to say why ask something so obvious, his uncle let out an awkward laugh.
“Hyung-nim must be very proud. To have such a handsome son attending the best prestigious university in Korea, too.”
Taken at face value, it was the highest kind of compliment. But for some reason, at those words alone, a chilly expression briefly settled not only on Won-hyeok’s face, but on Do Won-cheol’s as well.
“As for our In-seok, I sent the brat abroad and all he does is go around having fun. If I’d known it’d be like this, I should’ve just told him to go to Hankuk University too, haha.”
Despite the words, his tone was openly smug, and even Do In-seok’s expression as he puffed up and looked this way said as much.
“…Hm, still, even so, how can you compare Hankuk University to an Ivy League school?”
As if nothing had happened, Do Won-cheol smoothed over his expression and took a spoonful of seaweed soup.
“Won-hyeok, you said you’re in the English Department?”
“Yes.”
“I honestly thought you’d definitely go into law like your father.”
Won-hyeok didn’t bother answering. Do Won-cheol was currently the managing attorney of Chaeun Law Firm, the top law firm in South Korea, and already a famous figure with an established reputation in legal circles.
“That’s what people usually call prejudice.”
At the sharp retort, the man failed to keep control of his expression and furrowed his brow. Won-hyeok didn’t stop there.
“Ah, In-seok. I heard something recently—at your school, the Asian students had some kind of group sex party, right? And there were rumors drugs were involved too. Is that true?”
At the casually delivered but high-intensity remark, Do In-seok’s face went cold in an instant. Even Won-hyeok’s mother, seated beside him, closed her eyes and sighed as though she had known this would happen. The only person there who looked relieved was Won-hyeok.
To begin with, the other side had started the provocation first. He had no intention of silently letting it slide. He had the kind of temper that only settled down after returning what he’d been given in full.
After that, the atmosphere at the meal was practically a cold war. In any case, there probably wasn’t a single person gathered here who hadn’t expected things to end up like this. They all knew it, and yet they still gathered here rattling on about appearances and etiquette and all that bullshit, which made it all the more laughable.
Feeling Do Won-cheol’s frigid stare, Won-hyeok thought even more strongly that he had done the right thing by moving out. Right then, his phone, tucked away in his pocket, vibrated.
[Sunbae, I’m awake!]
Won-hyeok immediately set down his spoon and got up from his seat.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a moment.”
As he left the dining room, Won-hyeok sent Han-gyeom a reply.
[Did you sleep well?]
[Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve slept this late. Ah, sunbae, are you eating something good? You said your whole family was gathering together for the first time in a while, right? It must be nice.]
An emoticon popped up underneath. It was a puppy character with sparkling eyes and a tail wagging furiously. How on earth had he managed to pick an emoticon that suited himself this perfectly? It really was amazing.
He had been feeling nothing but uncomfortable, like the food he’d just eaten was sitting badly in his stomach, but the moment he saw Han-gyeom’s message, he felt at ease.
[What are you doing today? Studying again?]
“You said you were going to the bathroom. Who are you texting like that?”
Just then, a voice came from the hallway. Do In-seok approached Won-hyeok with his hands shoved in his pockets, standing there with a loose, loutish posture.
“And why exactly should I tell you that?”
“Fuck, how do you keep getting more and more rude every time I see you? That thing you said earlier about the group sex party—you said that on purpose, didn’t you?! So my dad would hear!”
“If you know that much, then stop making that shitty face every time we run into each other. Do you know what it makes me feel like?”
As Won-hyeok strode toward him, In-seok reflexively faltered and stepped back. There wasn’t much difference in their height or build, yet In-seok looked away as if cowed.
“It takes everything in me not to want to grind your face into the asphalt.”
“Y-you crazy bastard….”
“Still, we’re cousins in name, so let’s not make trouble bad enough to turn faces red. Yeah?”
Won-hyeok patted In-seok on the shoulder. And in that moment, he let his pheromones seep out faintly, making In-seok clench his teeth and bite down on his lip.
Do In-seok was an alpha too. That was exactly why the dense pheromones deliberately released with emotion by a dominant alpha naturally felt disgusting to him.
Right then, a new message from Han-gyeom popped up on the screen.
[I, I’m meeting Han-ul today! There’s something I need to buy, and Han-ul said he’d come with me!]
“Ugh.”
That was when it happened. In-seok covered his mouth and glared at Won-hyeok, eyes wide and strained. The concentration of pheromones had suddenly grown much stronger.
“You fucking psycho, have you lost your mind?! Do something about your pheromones, fuck… I feel like I’m gonna puke!”
As a fellow alpha, there was no way a dominant alpha’s pheromones would feel pleasant. And on top of that, the concentration was anything but mild.
Alphas usually gave off thick pheromones when they were angry or when their emotions were violently shaken, and this was exactly that level. Was he really that furious over him bragging about universities?
Do In-seok was already regretting provoking this lunatic, but Won-hyeok still didn’t budge. He had gone strangely rigid, only staring at his phone as if trying to bore a hole through it.
“Hey, are you even listening to me?”
“…Fuck, can you just shut up for a second?”
Won-hyeok ground his teeth so hard his jawbone jutted out. Faced with the bomb Han-gyeom had abruptly dropped over text, he couldn’t think of anything at all.
