Cherry Cake Chapter 4.1

Seo Soohyun warmed himself with a steaming bowl of beef and radish soup, swirling a scoop of glistening black rice into the broth. He’d sautéed marinated beef, then simmered it with winter radishes fresh from the garden and a rich, pre-made stock. The soup looked delicious, and it was. He added a spoonful of kimchi from the latest kimchi-making session to his rice-laden soup, blew on it gently, and carefully took a bite. Warmth spread through him instantly.

His meal was simple. Usually, he’d have a spread of side dishes, but his stomach had been bothering him for the past few days, and his appetite had vanished. He’d made a fresh batch of soup and rice, hoping the warmth would soothe his stomach and coax his appetite back. He’d specifically chosen beef and radish soup, believing it would be gentle. But his stomach still ached dully, and his appetite remained elusive.

“I’ll just eat this and stop,” he muttered to himself, pleased he’d only dished up half his usual portion. Honestly, he didn’t even feel like finishing what was in his bowl, but he’d heard too many times about the karmic retribution for wasting food, especially precious food like this.

Soohyun slowly chewed and swallowed the rice, beef, and radish, his meal stretching out. His phone, which he rarely used, was in his hand. He seldom looked at it, even during meals, but he couldn’t help himself today.

‘…No contact.’

He knew exactly why his appetite had disappeared.

It was because of the man who had vanished without a word. On his bedroom dresser sat the business card Jihwan Seo had left, but Soohyun hadn’t called. He saw no reason to discuss what had happened between him and Gi Taeyeon with anyone else, and more importantly, he didn’t know what to say.

Even amidst the shock of Seo abruptly scooping up the unconscious Taeyeon and leaving, Soohyun had distinctly remembered the word “compensation.” At the time, he’d been too bewildered to process it, but the more he replayed the scene in his mind, the more it bothered him.

Compensation? He hadn’t sold his body to Gi Taeyeon. Nor was he a victim entitled to a settlement. While the sex had been practically forced, Soohyun hadn’t yet classified it as outright rape.

In that context, the word “compensation” felt as if the other man had already decided it was rape.

That was precisely what bothered him. While it was undeniable that the encounter hadn’t been consensual, and his protests had been ignored, ultimately, defining what had happened was between him and Taeyeon. Someone else interfering felt wrong. That was why he hadn’t contacted Jihwan Seo.

Despite not contacting him, he could understand why Seo had taken Taeyeon away. It was likely just after the Lunar New Year holiday; perhaps Taeyeon had urgent business to attend to. An ordinary office worker might have found it strange, but considering Taeyeon was practically a gangster, urgent matters even during holidays didn’t seem that unusual. Or maybe Seo had noticed Taeyeon’s drugged state and come to handle the aftermath.

“But why hasn’t Director contacted me?”

Understanding Taeyeon’s disappearance was one thing, but the complete lack of contact was another. Shouldn’t he have reached out after regaining consciousness?

Soohyun didn’t recall giving Taeyeon his phone number, but he didn’t think the man would be incapable of finding it. Moreover, Soohyun ran a store; it was ridiculous that Taeyeon hadn’t called the store’s number.

The lack of contact was surely contributing to his lost appetite.

Still, Soohyun forced himself to eat and stay active. He didn’t want to wallow in misery like some tragic figure just because the man hadn’t called. He hadn’t done anything wrong; there was no reason for him to act that way.

Thanks to his efforts, the muscle aches that had been plaguing him eased somewhat.

After carefully finishing his meal, Soohyun took his bowl to the sink, scrubbed it until it squeaked, and placed it upside down on the drying rack. He brushed his teeth and retreated to his bedroom, grabbing his phone. He burrowed under the comforter he had painstakingly laundered a few days prior, despite his sore thighs, the fabric enveloping him.

“Oh, right.”

Leaning against his wardrobe, nestled under his covers, he remembered the question he’d posted on an online forum the previous night. He’d managed to retrieve his long-forgotten ID and password for the account he’d created back in elementary school computer class. A notification popped up when he clicked the bell icon: he had a response.

Soohyun tapped the notification.

Q I slept with an Alpha.

Posted by BokshilLiveLong

I ended up sleeping with an Alpha (I think he was in rut). He hasn’t contacted me.

What should I do?

I wanted to talk, but his subordinate took him away before he woke up.

#Alpha #Omega #Rut

He’d turned to the internet for help, unable to discuss this with his neighbors or his friend, Kang Yiseon. Scrolling down, he saw several replies.

A Attorney Cha Hyeonjin

View Profile

Hello, I am Cha Hyeonjin, an attorney at Taeryun Law Firm.

It’s difficult to be certain based solely on your post, but were you involved in an unwanted incident? If so, please secure any clothing or undergarments that may contain the Alpha’s bodily fluids and visit your nearest counseling center. Even without direct evidence, your testimony is crucial, so I urge you to seek assistance.

▶Find the nearest center

I’ve included a link with information relevant to your situation. If you experienced an unwanted encounter, please contact me through my business card. I’ll be happy to assist you.

Can non-consensual sexual relations with an Alpha in rut be prosecuted?

blog.chayen.com/chahyeonjin/230107

▶Taeryun Law Firm Phone Number (Click to call)

Attorney Cha Hyeonjin

Taeryun Law Firm

Soohyun considered clicking the blog link but decided to scan the other replies first.

A Anonymous Reply

You ended up sleeping with him??? If you both enjoyed it, what’s there to say?

A MyDickYourDick

LOL dumped glhf

A BeautifulFlower

Why not contact him first?

But why did his subordinate come and take him away? Weird…ㅡㅡ

Anyway, try contacting him first. There’s no rule that Alphas always have to initiate contact, lol.

None of the replies seemed particularly helpful. The lawyer’s response was the most useful, but Soohyun had immediately washed his clothes, leaving no evidence. Besides, he wasn’t interested in counseling.

“What does ‘dumped’ even mean…?”

Soohyun searched for “dumped.” The definition appeared: “abandoned after being used.”

Come to think of it, Taeyeon had said something similar. The day after the market, when Soohyun had asked when he was leaving, Taeyeon had retorted, “Am I supposed to leave after using you?”

“So it’s a common expression.”

Soohyun stared at the word “dumped.” His lowered eyelashes remained still for a moment.

“Our Soohyun, are you feeling any better?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I made beef and radish soup for lunch,” Soohyun replied brightly, offering his seat to his youngest grandmother who had come to visit. He didn’t mention that he’d only eaten a small portion; she’d be too worried if she knew.

“Good, good. You’re such a capable young man.”

She sat beside him, patting his back, and handed him a black plastic bag.

“What is this?”

“Tangerines. I visited my daughter’s family for the Lunar New Year, and they had two whole boxes. They’re so lovely and sweet. I saved some for you.”

“You didn’t have to… Thank you.”

“Go on, have one.”

Soohyun reached for a basket and transferred the tangerines his grandmother had given him. The fruits, a vibrant mix of yellow and orange, looked like carrots pulled straight from the garden. They were round, smooth, and beautiful, a delight to the eye.

“You have one too, Grandma.”

He offered a tangerine to his grandmother before taking one for himself. He pressed his thumbnail into the bottom of the fruit and peeled it open with his left hand. This method made peeling much easier.

“Is your cold completely gone? Should I bring you some pear tea?”

“No, it’s okay. I’m all better now.”

Bokshil, attracted by the scent of tangerines, approached and scratched at Soohyun’s thigh. He peeled off a piece of the white pith and offered it to his dog. Bokshil sniffed at the segments for a moment before turning away and going back to his spot. He only ate tangerines about one out of every ten times Soohyun offered them; today wasn’t his day, apparently.

“By the way, that car parked in front of the store is gone.”

“Ah…”

Taeyeon’s car came to mind. It had disappeared before the next day even arrived. Jihwan Seo must have come with someone else or sent someone to retrieve it.

“It must have been a customer’s car.”

“I suppose. Lots of out-of-towners with the holidays and all. My son-in-law drove a car I’d never seen before this year.”

His grandmother began chatting about various things. Listening to her, Soohyun suddenly wondered if he should confide in her. He couldn’t reveal it was his own story, but she was older and wiser; she might have some good advice.

“Grandma.”

“Yes?”

Perhaps finding the tangerine too much to finish, his grandmother offered him the other half she’d just peeled. Soohyun stuffed the entire half into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out, and chewed diligently. The sweet and tart flavor seemed to be reviving his appetite slightly.

“I saw this story somewhere…”

“Yes, tell me.”

“There was this man who s… no, this woman who spent the night with a man…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say “Omega,” quickly correcting himself. This version would be much easier for his beta grandmother to understand.

Intrigued, she sat up straighter, urging him to continue.

“And the man was dr… I mean, drunk, and they spent the night together.”

Unable to say “drugged,” he changed the word again.

“And then?”

“And it turns out they weren’t actually in a relationship.”

His grandmother nodded, showing she was listening.

“So, they weren’t involved like that, but because the man was drunk, he kind of… unilaterally initiated things…”

“That son of a bitch!”

Soohyun flinched at her sudden outburst. But seeing his grandmother’s expectant expression, he continued.

“And then the next day, the woman woke up first, but the man was still unconscious, probably from the alcohol. The woman wanted to talk to him when he woke up, but suddenly, a friend of the man’s showed up and just took him away.”

“The nerve! How close are they that someone just comes and whisks him away? Sounds more like a lackey than a friend.”

“…Anyway, that’s what happened, but the man still hasn’t contacted the woman.”

“Tsk tsk.”

His grandmother clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“Soohyun, have you seen those weird relationship advice shows on TV?”

Unsure what she meant, Soohyun simply nodded. His grandmother knew far more about these things than he did. Unlike the other grandmothers, she watched not only morning dramas and soap operas but also evening dramas and other programs like… Netflix, was it?

“They’re entertaining, but the stories are all so dramatic and trashy.”

“Yeah…”

Soohyun agreed. When the story involved Alphas and Omegas, the “beastly” aspect didn’t feel as prominent. But by changing the characters to betas, the man clearly came across as a complete and utter jerk.

“Anyway, if someone like that woman were in your circle, what would you do?”

“What would I do? What wouldn’t I do!”

His grandmother’s eyes flashed, an unusual fierceness in them.

“I’d cut his balls off!”

Soohyun gulped. Even though he was an Omega, he had… well, he had the equivalent, and the thought made him wince.

“Guys like that, you should cut their balls off, boil them in hot oil, and throw them to the pigs! No, wait, that’s not fair to the pigs. They have eyes, noses, and mouths too. They’d know it was disgusting and wouldn’t eat it.”

“…”

“Soohyun, you should never do anything that awful. Understand?”

Seo Soohyun nodded obediently.

‘Awful…’

It seemed undeniable that the man had done something awful to him.

Soohyun diligently peeled the tangerines, his fingertips staining yellow. He wasn’t devastated by the realization that he’d been wronged. He was simply incredibly annoyed that the man still hadn’t contacted him.

🍑

“What?”

Seo Soohyun stared intently at the man. His large, unblinking irises, light in color, seemed to pierce right through him. Gi Taeyeon, sensing Soohyun had something to say, merely raised an eyebrow.

“…Nothing.”

At the man’s almost challenging tone, Soohyun slowly lowered his gaze and straightened up. Reaching up, he grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the dusty top shelf. They were a brand that didn’t sell well, the plastic almost covered in dust. He handed them to Taeyeon, who, despite looking amused, gave him the money.

“Need change?” Soohyun asked, scanning the cash in the register after receiving a fifty-thousand won bill.

“Keep it, Boss.”

“Okay.”

Usually, he might have hesitated, but this time he quickly stashed the money in the register and slammed it shut. He heard a chuckle from above but ignored it.

He’d decided to sell the land. After that, whether he moved with his grandmother in Seoul or found a new place on his own, he would need to relocate. It was better to save every penny he could.

Of course, it wasn’t just about the money. He’d decided to be just as brazen as the other man.

‘Director is so shameless, I should be shameless too.’

He’d been absently watching the store entrance, so he immediately knew it was Gi Taeyeon when the black car pulled up. His heart had started pounding then, not from excitement, but from annoyance.

He’d been resentful of the days of silence, but now that he saw the man, he was prepared to compose himself and talk. However, Taeyeon made no mention of it, simply asking for cigarettes as usual. That was why Soohyun had stared at him.

He’d answered “nothing” to the man’s implied question because it bruised his pride to bring it up himself.

‘Why should I be the one to bring it up when I didn’t do anything wrong?’

Perhaps the man considered that night insignificant.

Then Soohyun should treat it as insignificant too.

While he felt a pang of regret at not receiving an apology, this was the best course of action for now. It was better to treat the man indifferently than to receive a hollow, insincere apology from someone who clearly dismissed what had happened.

To Seo Soohyun, a reluctant or perfunctory apology was worse than none at all. And he didn’t need that kind of apology.

“Soohyun.”

Gi Taeyeon called his name again while Soohyun fumed silently. He only realized it when the man’s fingers tapped against the metal table he’d been staring at. He looked up reflexively, meeting the man’s gaze.

“Sulking because I haven’t been around? Giving me the cold shoulder?”

Soohyun pursed his lips subtly and bit the inside of his cheek. He wasn’t sulking. He was angry.

“Why would I sulk because Director didn’t come?”

“You like playing with me, don’t you?”

Soohyun had liked it, until Gi Taeyeon had, in his words, “dumped” him.

‘Shall we have some fun, little one?’

The words suddenly came to mind. Perhaps, to Taeyeon, that night had been nothing more than a bit of fun, just like the night of the heavy snow. Just like that night, he hadn’t mentioned a word about it.

“You can’t deny it.”

The man chuckled, seemingly convinced Soohyun was sulking, and pulled out a cigarette, as if to light up as usual. The problem was, Soohyun wasn’t feeling usual.

“Don’t smoke inside.”

“Oh really, now?”

Gi Taeyeon paused mid-cigarette, tilting his head, a calculating look on his face. Unfazed, Soohyun busied himself with… well, nothing in particular. He wasn’t tending the garden; there was nothing to do but sell goods. He pretended to organize things, pointedly ignoring the man’s gaze.

“If the Boss says no, then no.”

Apparently not in the mood for an argument, Taeyeon put the cigarette away. Soohyun, thinking he would finally leave, peeked around surreptitiously, but the man remained inside. Instead of leaving, he began to stroll leisurely around the store, looking around. Soohyun found himself involuntarily following the man’s movements with his eyes.

“Where’s the detergent?”

The man, wandering around the unexciting store as if there were something to see, asked pointless questions, seemingly trying to engage Soohyun in conversation.

“…Top shelf.”

“I don’t see it.”

“Look harder. It’s there.”

Soohyun was dumbfounded. The man, who looked like he’d never bought cleaning supplies in his life, was suddenly asking about detergent. Why was he being so chatty?

“Won’t the Boss help me find it?”

“The elders find it themselves. You can look harder too, Director.”

Instead of getting up, he sat still and gave curt replies. He heard a muffled chuckle from the aisle where the man had disappeared.

“Giving the out-of-towner the cold shoulder, huh?”

Soohyun ignored him. He simply scooped up Bokshil, who had been dozing at his feet, into his arms. The dog, just awakened from his nap, felt extra warm.

“No Banana Kicks?” Taeyeon asked, finally reappearing as if he’d finished his tour of the store. Soohyun, while aware of the man’s gaze, kept his eyes fixed on the back of Bokshil’s small head.

“No. The elders don’t like them. They say they stick to their teeth.”

“No potato chips either.”

“They don’t like salty snacks.”

“But you have cheese snacks?”

The cheese-flavored snacks were for Soohyun himself. And, surprisingly, the elders liked them too.

Normally, he would have launched into an explanation starting with, “I bought those for myself,” but he remained silent. Whether Taeyeon found his evasiveness and short replies strange or had finally finished his store browsing, he approached and frowned.

“Our Soohyun’s awfully prickly today.”

He seemed slightly irritated.

“…You have to go outside to smoke.”

“Oh, just get out of here, will you?”

Again, Soohyun simply glanced towards the door instead of responding. If a customer came in, he could at least make an excuse, but there wasn’t a soul in sight.

“You have a customer right here, Boss. Where are you looking?”

The sound of knuckles tapping against the table forced Soohyun to look up.

“Acting like a nervous puppy afraid someone’s going to walk in on an affair.”

Gi Taeyeon’s expression was much the same as usual. The slight furrow in his brow hinted at irritation, but his seemingly amused expression, flippant tone, and lighthearted demeanor were unchanged. Yet, strangely, Soohyun felt as if Taeyeon was the one who found this situation unpleasant.

I’m the one who should be upset, not Director. Just as he was about to retort, the store door opened with a jingle. An elderly man entering paused, startled by the large man inside.

“The elders can’t come in because of Director.”

Soohyun seized the opportunity to blame Taeyeon.

“I have a business to run. This is disrupting my sales. Are you going to compensate me for the lost revenue, Director?”

“You little whippersnapper, talking about disrupting sales.”

Taeyeon turned to follow Soohyun’s gaze, his expression softening as he recognized the customer. He seemed to be in a good mood again.

Did he find the “disrupting sales” comment that amusing? Soohyun watched him leave without protest, bemused.

The elderly man approached after the door clicked shut.

“Hello. What can I get for you?”

“My granddaughter is coming over today, so I’m getting some snacks. And my wife asked me to pick up a few things. Do you have any steamed buns?”

“Yes. Shall I get them for you?”

“No, no. I’ll get them after I pay. I want them warm. You stay there, it’s cold out.”

“Take your time.”

Soohyun gently stroked Bokshil, who was drifting off to sleep again, lost in thought. Naturally, his thoughts revolved around the man he’d just sparred with.

“He’s so shameless.”

Not only had he done that to Soohyun, but his personality was so strange. He might have found Soohyun’s unusual quietness odd, but even so, he’d been too much. Picking a fight out of the blue, wandering around the small store as if there were something to see, acting irritated, and then suddenly being in a good mood again…

“Life must be easy when you can just do whatever you want. Right, Bokshil?”

He’d been agonizing over what to do for days, even resorting to posting online, while Director seemed to have no worries at all. The thought made him feel a surge of indignation.

“Soohyun, could you ring me up?”

“How many steamed buns would you like?”

“How many do you have left?”

“Two. I can heat up more if you need more.”

“That’s fine. Two is enough.”

“Okay. I’ll pack them for you. That’ll be nine thousand eight hundred won.”

Soohyun carefully packed the items into a plastic bag and then retrieved the steamed buns, wrapping them carefully so they wouldn’t cool down.

“Oh, right. Take this.”

Just as he was about to leave, the elderly man suddenly turned back to the counter and offered Soohyun a paper bag hanging from his arm. It felt quite heavy, as if it contained food containers.

“What’s this?”

“My wife wanted me to give this to you. She made dakdori-tang because our grandson is coming over. It’s still warm, so heat it up later.”

“Oh… Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

The elders often brought him side dishes or food, perhaps thinking of their own grandchildren, so Soohyun accepted the paper bag gratefully. He felt bad that they were always looking out for him, but they’d be offended if he refused.

He placed the large paper bag on the counter. Bokshil, attracted by the smell of meat, started sniffing.

“Have a good day.”

Even though there was no snow, so no risk of slipping, Soohyun walked the elderly man to the door. He always made sure the older folks got out safely, even if he didn’t do so for his aunts and uncles.

Just as he turned to go back inside, sniffing slightly from the cold, he felt a warm breath on the back of his neck.

The intensely ticklish sensation made him jump and shrink back. Clutching Bokshil tightly, he turned to see Gi Taeyeon standing there, an incredulous look on his face. He smelled of cigarettes. Then he noticed the white hairs caught between the man’s fingers. Bokshil’s fur must have gotten on him.

“So you’re not just sensitive in your head, huh?”

Soohyun immediately understood. The man was implying that his body was sensitive as well. The comment, somewhere between teasing and harassment, made the suppressed frustration boil over. He blurted out,

“Yeah, maybe it’s because I just lost my virginity.”

“What?”

The man, who had been smiling faintly, instantly hardened his expression. This wasn’t the reaction Soohyun had expected. He’d thought Taeyeon would smirk and ask how good it was. Why was he looking like that?

‘Did someone drug me without my knowing…?

Soohyun suddenly recalled the man’s words about drugs. If Taeyeon didn’t simply consider that night insignificant but actually couldn’t remember it, Soohyun would be even more furious.

Spite fueling him, Soohyun replied calmly,

“I slept with an Alpha.”

He said it casually, as if it were nothing. The man’s slightly upturned eyes twitched and narrowed.

“So please don’t touch me.”

Soohyun drove the point home.

“Unlike Director, I value my first time. I don’t like being touched by others.”

🍑

Gi Taeyeon stared blankly out the car window. The monotonous scenery rushed by, a testament to the rural landscape. He tapped his fingers against the door frame, as if to combat the boredom, and finally spoke.

“Jihwan.”

“Yes,” Jihwan Seo, seated in the passenger seat, turned around.

“Get me a list of all the Alphas living around here.”

“May I ask what you intend to do with it? I’ll prepare it accordingly.”

“Just get me the whole damn list.”

Gi Taeyeon, his hand no longer tapping lightly, raised it to rub his tightly set jaw. The tendons in his hand stood out prominently.

“I want to see their faces.”

He was suddenly curious which son of a bitch had the audacity to deflower the beautiful Seo Soohyun.

🍑

Thwack! Thwack!

With each swing of the hoe, sharp yet blunt, clods of earth flew up and stuck to Soohyun’s cheeks.

“Whew…”

Sweat trickled down over the dirt, and he wiped it away with his arm, smearing the mud into a long streak. He didn’t bother cleaning it properly; he’d wash up after he finished working.

Having cleared the weeds around him, Soohyun groaned slightly as he pushed himself up with his knees. The red cushioned seat, strapped between his legs, dangled awkwardly around his hips. He was wearing oversized work pants his grandmother had gotten from somewhere, and the straps, tight around his thighs, made him look slightly comical.

Unbothered, Soohyun picked up his mud-caked hoe and moved to another spot. He was weeding, targeting the stubborn patches of green that persisted even in winter.

With practiced ease, he settled onto his cushioned seat and resumed his work. City folks thought weeds died in the winter; they had no idea. Just as many crops thrived in the open fields during winter, so did many resilient weeds.

Thwack!

Soohyun placed the neatly uprooted weed with its roots facing the sky and continued working diligently. He planned to gather them all into a sack and dispose of them after he finished, but if he accidentally left any with their roots touching the ground, they might take root again.

“Ha…”

The weather was quite mild. It was still February, but today was the beginning of spring, and it seemed spring was truly on its way.

Soohyun felt warm from his constant movement, but he kept his padded vest on. Even though he wore thermal underwear and a winter shirt underneath, taking off his outer layer while working in the fields and then letting his sweat cool would almost certainly lead to a cold. He had to layer up even if he felt warm.

Even though he had to vacate the land come spring, Seo Soohyun diligently pulled weeds. There wasn’t a particular reason; the repetitive, simple labor of gardening cleared his mind.

He glared at a deep-rooted weed as if it were Gi Taeyeon and swung his hoe again. The weed, its roots firmly entrenched, resisted his efforts. Some weeds were always troublesome like this.

“This is hard,” he sighed, grabbing his water bottle and taking a long drink. The water, chilled by the cold air, felt like ice as it went down his throat.

Thankfully, his stomach hadn’t been bothering him lately, allowing him to eat properly again, so at least he didn’t have heartburn.

“I’ll clear up to there today,” Soohyun decided, looking across the vast field. Years of experience tending the land meant he could instinctively calculate how long it would take to clear a certain area. He’d have to spend a considerable amount of time in the field today to keep his mind occupied.

“This is all Director’s fault,” he muttered angrily, blaming Gi Taeyeon as his frustration grew with the stubborn weeds. He took a deep breath of the cold winter air and exhaled, dispelling the negative emotions stirring within him.

Soohyun enjoyed gardening, working with the soil, and cooking because these activities allowed him to focus on the present and easily dismiss negative thoughts. Such thoughts were rare, but these hobbies helped him quickly shut them down when they did arise.

He was diligently weeding even in the cold weather to quickly banish the complicated feelings he had toward the man. The problem was, his thoughts weren’t disappearing as easily as usual.

“How could he forget?”

Grumbling to himself, he struck the ground near a weed with his hoe. Thwack!

He’d concluded that Gi Taeyeon had completely forgotten that night. Initially, he’d suspected Taeyeon was deliberately teasing him with his reaction, but he quickly dismissed that idea. While Taeyeon hadn’t shown any dramatic change in expression, Soohyun had clearly sensed an underlying discomfort, a sign that the man had completely forgotten what he’d done that night.

‘I guess Secretary Seo didn’t say anything either.’

Soohyun didn’t know whether Seo had chosen to ignore it, respecting Taeyeon’s privacy, or if Taeyeon hadn’t asked and Seo had kept quiet. Regardless, what mattered to Soohyun wasn’t why Jihwan Seo hadn’t said anything, but the fact that Taeyeon had completely forgotten.

“I shouldn’t blame innocent people.”

Soohyun shook his head slightly and focused on weeding. He dug around the weed with his hoe one more time, and with a firm tug, the stubborn weed came loose. He felt a sense of satisfaction, wiping the sweat from his brow with a smile.

Besides the feel and smell of the soil, the rewarding feeling of accomplishment, even for small tasks, was what he loved about gardening. Especially with weeding, no matter how tiring it was, imagining his crops thriving afterwards gave him the energy to keep going.

‘I won’t be able to plant much this year, though…’

He’d probably only be able to plant a few crops that grew in March and April.

Still, Seo Soohyun diligently swung his hoe. He’d worry about that later. For now, focusing on the task at hand and uprooting the thoughts that cluttered his mind, like weeds in his garden, took precedence. Thoughts like… that man, who was stubbornly rooted in a corner of his heart.

His phone rang just as he finished washing, his skin flushed from the hot water. He hurried to answer it. It was his home phone, not the store’s.

“Hello?”

— Soohyun.

“Hyung, what’s up?”

It was Kang Yiseon.

— Are you busy?

“No, I just finished weeding and washing up.”

— Weeding? There are weeds in winter?

Yiseon muttered to himself before continuing, “Anyway… if you’re free, want to come over for dinner? Teacher is out, and it’s too much food for me to eat alone.”

Why would it be too much food? Soohyun glanced at Bokshil, who was happily gobbling down his kibble, and asked, “What are you having?”

— Tteokbokki.

Soohyun looked curiously at the contents of the white plastic container.

“Is this your first time trying it?”

He’d eaten tteokbokki with his friends in school, but he hadn’t had much experience with the franchise versions.

“I figured you handle spicy food well, so I invited you.”

“Spicy tteokbokki?”

“Yeah. I had a sudden craving, and since Teacher was going to Seoul, I asked him to pick some up. It’s the kind you cook at home. The steamed eggs and rice balls have cooled down, though…”

“Speaking of which, where’s Grandma?” Soohyun asked, looking up at Yiseon as he observed the red powder sprinkled over the rice cakes, fish cakes, and cabbage.

“She’s out looking at land again.”

“It’s already dark out…”

“I don’t know the details, but apparently, there are places she needs to check out at night. She said something about the energy of the land… Anyway, is spicy tteokbokki okay? Can you handle it?”

“Yeah. Shall we cook it now?”

“I’ll do it. It’s easy, just add water and boil.”

Yiseon emptied the ingredients from the plastic container into a pot, added water, and started cooking. Even before it began to bubble, the spicy aroma filled the air.

Soohyun stood beside him, watching the sauce turn red, and soon, the tteokbokki was ready. Yiseon rummaged through a white bag and pulled out a small packet, pouring its contents over the tteokbokki. It was cheese.

“You add cheese too? That looks amazing.”

“Should I reheat the steamed eggs? I think it’s okay to just microwave them.”

“I’ll do it.”

He heated the steamed eggs and brought them to the table. The cheese on the tteokbokki had melted perfectly. Soohyun sat across from Yiseon, saying, “Thanks for the food.” He noticed bite-sized rice balls neatly arranged next to the tteokbokki pot.

“When did you make the rice balls?”

“I bought those too. I just shaped them. Try the tteokbokki first. I’ll add more cheese if it’s too spicy for you.”

Yiseon served him some tteokbokki. Soohyun picked up a rice cake from under the melted cheese with his chopsticks and took a bite. It was spicier, more flavorful, and more delicious than he’d expected.

“How is it?”

The moment the rice cake touched his tongue, a wave of heat rushed through him, his cheeks flushing and his nose tingling. He sniffed but replied, “Good.” It was spicy, but strangely delicious. And it even had Vienna sausages.

“That’s good. Eat up. Oh, didn’t you say your tooth was hurting last time? Is it okay now?”

Soohyun nodded as he scooped up a soft rice cake with his spoon, topped it with melted cheese, and ate it in one bite. It was hotter than he’d anticipated, and he winced involuntarily. Yiseon quickly handed him a coolpis.

He gulped down the cold drink, soothing the burning sensation, and finally spoke after swallowing his mouthful of tteokbokki. His tongue and the inside of his cheek felt slightly numb, as if burned.

“It only hurts occasionally, so it’s fine.”

“Shouldn’t you see a dentist?”

“It’s not that bad.”

Seo Soohyun quickly denied it. Nothing was more dreadful than a visit to the dentist.

It only throbbed occasionally, so it wasn’t a big deal. He diligently brushed his teeth, and they didn’t hurt when he ate cold things, so it couldn’t be a cavity. It probably wasn’t anything serious.

“See? I’m eating just fine.”

This time, he blew on his spoonful of tteokbokki before eating it. Despite his burning tongue and lips, the spiciness seemed to relieve his stress.

He really enjoyed the tteokbokki. His only complaint was the lack of vegetables besides cabbage.

‘Tteokbokki is even better with lots of vegetables.’

Still, spicy tteokbokki was a treat in its own right.

“Eat it with the steamed eggs and rice balls. It’ll be less spicy.”

“Okay.”

Soohyun thanked Yiseon for looking after him.

Yiseon, who looked as if he couldn’t handle spicy food at all, was steadily eating the tteokbokki without flinching. He glanced at Soohyun, his kind eyes scanning his face. Soohyun wondered what was up but continued eating until he heard Yiseon ask cautiously,

“Soohyun.”

“Yes?”

“Did… anything happen during the Lunar New Year holiday?”

Seo Soohyun chewed on a soft rice cake, momentarily speechless from surprise. His chewing seemed to reassure Yiseon, who sighed slightly in relief.

“Teacher asked about you as soon as he woke up that day.”

Now he understood why his grandmother in Seoul had tried to stop him. It was probably a coincidence, but it seemed something ominous had been lurking around his store.

“Did Hyung get in trouble because I left?”

It had been his own choice, after all. More than anything, he was worried that Yiseon might have been scolded because of him.

“Not exactly. Teacher just sighed deeply after he realized you were gone and said, ‘So that’s what happened.’ I was worried something might have happened. And the youngest grandmother came by the other day and mentioned seeing a strange-looking car parked in front of the store on New Year’s Day.”

“Nothing happened,” Seo Soohyun replied calmly, scooping up some steamed eggs. He didn’t want to worry Yiseon. The eggs, unlike his burning tongue, were soft and fluffy.

“That’s good to hear… Oh, did you look at what Teacher gave you?”

“Not yet.”

He’d been busy cleaning up his room after the man left and hadn’t been able to go to the store until the next day. That’s when he’d found the shopping basket near the door and the ashtray with cigarette butts crushed in it. He’d thrown away the cigarettes and brought the basket home, storing the fruit in the refrigerator and placing the paper bag in his bedroom.

He should have looked through it sooner, given the thoughtfulness behind the gift, but he’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of the man.

“You have time, so check it out later.”

“Okay.”

“…And I wish you’d live with Teacher and me. You said Teacher mentioned it.”

Soohyun looked at Yiseon, who had broached the subject cautiously.

“Don’t feel pressured, just think about it. Teacher is a good person.”

“Hyung is a good person too.”

Yiseon was just as good a person as his grandmothers. He’d moved from Seoul, so sometimes they had trouble understanding each other’s casual conversations, but Yiseon was undoubtedly kind.

“Um, thanks for saying that, but…” Yiseon chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Anyway, Teacher was sincere, and so am I. Think about it carefully. I’m sorry if I’m putting too much pressure on you.”

“No, Hyung. I’m grateful you suggested it.”

Seo Soohyun chuckled. When Yiseon teased him about his red lips, he had to grab a tissue to wipe them.

🍑

“Ugh, whimper…”

Bokshil’s whimpering startled Soohyun awake. The dog, who had been circling his bed, licked his cheek, seemingly sensing he was awake.

Just as Soohyun was about to ask, “Bokshil, what’s wrong?” he instinctively stopped. He heard a suspicious noise from beyond his door, something that sounded like muffled cursing.

What was that? A burglar? But there’s nothing to steal…

He quietly got up, silently instructed Bokshil to stay put, and carefully opened his bedroom door.

‘Oops.’

The old house inevitably creaked slightly.

The neighborhood was extremely quiet. The slight noise must have been heard, because a figure, crouched in a corner of the living room rummaging through something, slowly stood up.

“…”

Their eyes met in the darkness. And in that instant, Seo Soohyun recognized him.

“Our Soohyun has grown up quite a bit.”

It was his father, whom he hadn’t seen since he was six years old.

Seo Soohyun didn’t have many memories of his father. After all, he’d never seen him after moving in with his mother and maternal grandmother. He might have remembered him if their last meeting had been when he was in elementary school, but it was highly unlikely that a child not yet in school would remember a father he’d been separated from.

His only memories of his father were of him entering his room late at night and showering him with kisses. He’d be awakened from a deep sleep by the feeling of being lifted, and then lips smelling of something strange would press against his cheeks.

‘My precious little one.’

He later realized it was the smell of alcohol.

‘What are you doing out so late? Not only do you come home at dawn, but you wake Soohyun up too?’

‘You know how important entertaining clients is for business, honey.’

He later understood why his mother sighed so often, without him knowing.

After moving in with his grandmother, his mother had tried hard not to show her struggles, but sometimes children were more perceptive of adult worries than anyone else.

‘He asked me for a divorce. He said he’d take Soohyun and raise him.’

‘Nonsense.’

‘Mom, I’ll never agree to a divorce. What good would it do? Do you want me to live with the label of a mistress forever?’

‘…Just get a clean divorce and move on.’

He’d been fast asleep when he woke up needing to pee. His grandmother’s house, although smaller than their previous home, was cozy and comfortable, but he was a little scared to go to the bathroom alone. As he was about to wake his mother, he stopped involuntarily, seeing two figures talking in hushed voices in the living room.

‘I said no. What if she gets pregnant? I’ll never send Soohyun away, but what if, after a divorce, I lose custody? And in that situation, what if they have a child? I won’t tolerate them mistreating Soohyun because they have their own child. So, even if they have a child, I won’t let them register it on the family registry. I won’t give him a divorce.’

‘Why don’t you understand that I care about my daughter just as much as you do!’

‘…I’m sorry, Mom. But I won’t get a divorce, no matter what.’

Even at a young age, he could vaguely sense the adults’ anxieties.

Seo Soohyun occasionally recalled that moment, but he quickly forgot about it. He enjoyed going to the fields with his grandmother, playing with Bokshil, and, most of all, being with his mother without having to go to kindergarten.

Since his father had been quiet after bringing up divorce and custody, he must have broken up with that woman. Seo Soohyun occasionally made such assumptions as he erased the existence of his father from his mind.

‘Don’t show your private parts to strangers.’

‘Okay!’

‘Soohyun, be careful of Alphas. Okay?’

‘Okay.’

He only vaguely remembered his father when his mother and grandmother overreacted about Alphas.

That was why Soohyun thought he wouldn’t recognize his father even if he passed him on the street. He hadn’t drawn his face or tried to find him, so he figured they’d pass each other like complete strangers.

Of course, his father occupied less space in his life than a speck of dust, so he hadn’t given it much thought. He certainly hadn’t expected to recognize him instantly like this.

Seo Soohyun fumbled for the bedroom door, closed it, and turned on the living room light. The sudden brightness made the man wince.

“Who are you?”

Ignoring the man’s reaction, Soohyun asked, “Who are you to break into my house and snoop around like a thief?”

Jeonggyun Seo, his eyes now open, looked at him incredulously and ran a hand through his hair.

“Who are you to talk to your father like that…”

“I don’t have a father.”

Ever since the day his mother and grandmother had wept silently, Seo Soohyun considered himself fatherless. Even though blood ties existed in this world, he believed human hearts held far more power.

“Ha, what kind of upbringing…”

Seo Soohyun stared at the man, who sighed deeply, placed his hands on his hips, and lowered his head. Jeonggyun Seo was dressed neatly, unusually so for someone who’d broken into a house to steal. While his clothes weren’t perfectly pressed, he didn’t look like a criminal.

“Anyway, forget about that.”

Jeonggyun Seo slowly met his gaze.

“Have you decided to sell the land?”

Seo Soohyun finally understood why the man had come. He’d heard about the redevelopment. While Soohyun didn’t know what his father had been doing all these years, all sorts of rumors circulated among business people, so it wasn’t entirely surprising that he knew about the redevelopment plans.

“Soohyun, that’s not all your land.”

“What business is it of yours?”

“It was in your grandmother’s name, wasn’t it? I’m not divorced from your mother, you know.”

Soohyun discreetly glanced around. Even if he called the police right now, it would take a good while for them to arrive. He was wondering what to do when the bedroom door opened slightly, revealing a black nose through the crack.

“That’s how inheritance law works in our country. Since I wasn’t divorced from your mother when she passed away, it’s considered bereavement, and your grandmother’s property is jointly inherited by you and me.”

Seo Soohyun clenched his fists and bit the inside of his cheek at the man’s brazen words. The casual way he mentioned his mother’s death made him furious. He was even more shameless than Gi Taeyeon.

“I’ll sell it for a high price. Okay? That way, even after splitting it, you’ll get a lot of money.”

“Don’t lie. Do I look that stupid to you?”

“What?”

“You came to steal the seal, didn’t you?”

Jeonggyun Seo’s smile instantly vanished. Soohyun didn’t know much about the law, inheritance law, or what was required to sell land. But he knew that if this man truly intended to split his grandmother’s inheritance with him, he would have come to the store during the day, not broken into the house in the middle of the night and snooped around the living room.

“That’s why you broke in. You came to sneak around like a rat in the dark.”

“Ha…”

The man sighed deeply and strode towards him. Soohyun instinctively stepped back. His slender arm was suddenly grabbed by a large hand.

“Soohyun, is this how you treat your father after seeing him for the first time in so long? Are you trying to provoke me into hitting you?”

“I don’t have a father.”

“You little…”

The man raised his hand, as if about to strike him, but stopped, seemingly holding back at the last moment. He wiped his face as if washing it dry and grabbed Soohyun again.

“Let’s sell the land, get the money, and live together with Dad. Are you angry because I came to get you after so long? Hmm?”

Soohyun ignored his conciliatory words. He was angry at the man’s brazen behavior, not because he was seeing him after so long. He hadn’t been waiting, so there was no reason to be angry that he’d finally come.

“I understand. You have a right to be angry. But Dad tried very hard to see you.”

“…”

“But your mother threatened to call the police if I came near again. If Dad becomes a criminal because of your mother’s report, how would you go to school? Rumors spread fast in a small town like this.”

“Do you even know how old I am?”

Jeonggyun Seo was speechless.

“Don’t pretend to care about me now. I grew up just fine without a father.”

It was true. Seo Soohyun was happy with his mother, grandmother, and Bokshil. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t experienced much luxury in his life, but walking in the garden instead of on marble floors, watching the neighborhood dogs play instead of going to the zoo, and catching dragonflies with his few friends instead of going to amusement parks had all been sources of happiness.

And he considered himself well-raised. He might seem less successful than his friends who followed the conventional path of going to high school, but he could support himself, which was enough.

He hadn’t needed a father in the process. He’d grown up surrounded by the love and care of his mother, grandmother, and the neighborhood elders, not his father.

“And don’t you think it’s incredibly unethical to covet Grandma’s property? What did you ever do for her?”

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. It wasn’t about losing money because of this suddenly reappearing father.

Seo Soohyun didn’t care how much money he got. Of course, he needed money to move and make a living somewhere new, but he was still young and healthy; he’d figure it out.

But just because he wasn’t greedy didn’t mean he could stand by and watch this man steal his grandmother’s property. Over his dead body.

“You only made Grandma upset. You hurt Mom, and that hurt Grandma.”

He tightened his fists. But even though he trembled, he didn’t cry. Instead, he looked up at the larger Alpha with clear eyes and spoke firmly.

“Do you know what that’s called? People call that shameless.”

“I was going to go easy on you since you’re my only child…”

Jeonggyun Seo, his patience finally wearing thin, raised his arm. If he was going to be hit, Soohyun intended to hit back. He was looking around for something to grab and swing when—

“Woof!”

“Aagh!”

“Grrrr…”

Bokshil, who had finally pushed the door open, bit Jeonggyun Seo’s calf and quickly backed away, taking a defensive stance.

“Get that damn dog away from me!”

Jeonggyun Seo stumbled backward, his face pale. He seemed terrified of the dog, which was barely bigger than his foot.

Soohyun suddenly remembered that his father was afraid of dogs. He hadn’t been allowed to have a dog as a child, despite his pleas, because of his father’s fear. He now recalled that the reason he hadn’t felt anxious when he first arrived in this unfamiliar town, holding his mother’s hand, was because of the puppy wagging its tail excitedly at him.

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

As Bokshil barked ferociously, his small body trembling, Jeonggyun Seo retreated further, his face increasingly pale.

“Go away! Get out of here! Aren’t you leaving?”

Seo Soohyun started towards Bokshil. He knew people afraid of dogs froze up, no matter how small the dog was, but if Jeonggyun Seo lashed out, a small dog like Bokshil could be seriously injured.

“You little mutt! Are you going to get lost?”

“Bokshil, come here… Stop it!”

Seeing the man raise his foot to kick Bokshil enraged him. Soohyun rushed forward and shoved Jeonggyun Seo hard.

“Ugh! You dare push your father?”

The enraged man grabbed Soohyun’s arm and threw him to the ground.

“Oof!”

“I’ll kill that mutt first.”

Soohyun, sprawled near the sink, groped around with his hand. His fingers closed around something. Recognizing the object, he grabbed it without hesitation and ran towards the man, who was still backing away from Bokshil despite his brave words.

The house was small, so he reached his target in a few strides. Without hesitation, he swung the object in his hand.

Smash!

“What the…”

The startled man blinked. Soohyun seized the opportunity to scoop Bokshil into his arms.

Jeonggyun Seo wiped the liquid dripping from his head and stared at his hand in disbelief, clearly shocked.

“I told you I don’t have a father, you piece of trash!” Soohyun yelled, panting. The broken soju bottle in his hand, only the neck remaining, reeked of sesame oil.

🍑

A bright red sports car roared, its exhaust note a guttural growl, amplified by the strong sea breeze.

Ignoring the cold pre-dawn air ruffling his messy hair, the man in the open-top car leaned his elbow casually on the window, his posture nonchalant, and reached for the gear shift.

The car reversed smoothly, its exhaust scraping against the silence, before lurching forward.

“Aaah! No! No!”

The car stopped less than a meter away.

The man, positioned precariously close to the car’s red hood, screamed desperately, unable to move. He was tied to a chair, which, unlike him, wasn’t fixed to the cement ground. He could have easily moved back if he struggled, but the problem was the sea just inches away. If he fell into the icy water bound to a chair in the middle of winter, he would drown.

“Please… why… why are you doing this to me…”

He sobbed, tears and snot freezing on his face, pleading with the men standing further away. The driver seemed out of his mind, so he pinned his hopes on the ones who looked sane.

He’d often joked with his friends, “What if I get dragged away and disappear one day?” after he started dealing drugs. He never imagined something worse than his imagination would come true.

Even though this had happened several times already, his legs trembled, and cold sweat drenched him every time the car reversed and sped towards him. And with each repetition, the car was getting closer. It wasn’t his imagination. The car was definitely closing the distance.

“This isn’t making me feel any better.”

Gi Taeyeon, watching the sobbing man with an indifferent expression, reversed the car again. Perhaps the sea’s fishy smell was worsening his mood.

He drove the car towards the man again, the vast ocean a backdrop to the pathetic figure huddled in his chair under the gradually brightening sky.

“Aaaaagh!”

Screech! The car stopped with an earsplitting shriek, the hood practically touching the man’s trembling knees. The man screamed instinctively, but no one moved to silence him. No one cared if his shrill cries reached anyone’s ears.

Gi Taeyeon had gone through the trouble of contacting a business partner to borrow this location, despite the sea’s stench, precisely for this reason. The old port, filled with shipping containers, was the perfect place to keep things hidden.

He reversed the car again. He’d sufficiently frightened the man and gotten a feel for the situation, so it was time to begin his interrogation.

The car, stopped a good distance away, lurched forward as he shifted gears, speeding towards the sea. The car, with its flashy exterior, resembled a predator on the hunt.

“Ugh…”

The scream was cut short.

Splash! Hearing the heavy thud of the chair hitting the water, Gi Taeyeon opened the car door.

His large shoe landed where the chair had been moments before. He looked down at the bubbling water and gave a curt order,

“Get him out.”

His men, waiting nearby, rushed down the steps and pulled the submerged man from the water. They moved quickly and efficiently, unconcerned about their soaked shoes and pants.

“Cough! Cough! Hack! Gasp…”

The man, pulled out along with the chair, collapsed onto the ground only after someone behind him cut the ropes with a knife. He didn’t even seem to notice he’d been freed, too busy coughing and spitting up water.