The Outsider Omega Wants to Be Alone! Chapter 26

He only drank half and set it down, but after smirking at the boss, Choi Jigu got chewed out and ended up downing the remaining half in one go.

Even Kim Wooju, who seemed endlessly relaxed, smiled faintly and drank slowly but steadily until he set down his empty glass.

Are these people crazy?

Lee Yuseong, who had been secretly trembling his hand for a moment, also brought the glass to his lips. Let’s try to drink as much as possible.

But three or four sips were his limit. The 500ml beer glass was still two-thirds full. Even if Lee Yuseong didn’t empty his glass, they weren’t the type to say anything, but by nature, it bothered him that he was the only one not doing a shot.

“Give it here.”

Kim Wooju took Lee Yuseong’s glass. The boss let out an oooh of admiration, clapping cheerfully. Meanwhile, Choi Jigu, who had been grinning and joking around the whole time, stopped dead.

“It’s, fine…”

Lee Yuseong tried to reach for the glass with both hands to take it back, but it was too late. Kim Wooju nonchalantly drained Lee Yuseong’s glass.

“Phew…”

His reddish lips glistened from the alcohol pooled at the corner of his mouth. Lee Yuseong felt like he’d seen something he shouldn’t have and quickly averted his eyes.

“Wow, Kim Wooju’s no joke today.”

The boss refilled the glasses and egged them on. Choi Jigu silently sipped his newly filled glass, then popped some meat into his mouth and chewed.

Lee Yuseong, unsure how to react, quickly picked up a piece of beef and brought it to Kim Wooju’s lips.

“Have this.”

At that, the boss, Choi Jigu, and Kim Wooju all stopped moving at once.

Belatedly sensing the subtle atmosphere, Lee Yuseong opened his eyes wide like a startled rabbit.

What now? Did I do something wrong again?

A slow, playful smile spread across Kim Wooju’s beautiful face.

His lips slowly parted. Lee Yuseong could even see the red tongue inside his mouth. Finally, when his teeth scraped the chopsticks as he took the meat in, Lee Yuseong felt heat rising from the back of his neck for no reason.

“Thanks, Yuseong.”

As expected, it’s this face that’s the problem. Why is he so pretty and handsome that he confuses people?

Instead of answering, Lee Yuseong shoved three pieces of meat into his mouth at once. Only after his cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish did the boss clear the strange atmosphere.

“Yuseong eats well. Makes it worth coming out for beef, huh?”

Bowing his head slightly to express his thanks, Lee Yuseong chewed the meat diligently. Amidst it all, the 1++ sirloin was out of this world. As befitting the great meat that, by Lee Yuseong’s standards, was more beautiful than cherry blossoms—reaching the peak of snow-flower marbling—it melted softly in his mouth, leaving a deep flavor and nuttiness.

Scrape. Choi Jigu pulled his chair and stood up.

“I’ll go have a smoke.”

“Now? We just started eating.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Swallowing the meat, Lee Yuseong looked at Choi Jigu. Feeling his gaze, Choi Jigu also looked back at Lee Yuseong. He had a somewhat sullen expression. But without any particular words, he turned and left the restaurant.

What’s up with him? Why that face?

∞ ∞ ∞

The drinking party grew lively.

“Come on, drink, drink!”

The boss.

“Wooju hyung. Stop drinking Lee Yuseong’s share for him.”

Choi Jigu.

“Boss, the kids seem pretty drunk—don’t push too hard. Even Jigu’s eyes have gone funny.”

Kim Wooju.

“Ah, Kim Wooju! You talk back to your hyung! Did I raise you like that? Drink! Everyone!”

The boss again.

“Can I order more meat?”

Lee Yuseong.

∞ ∞ ∞

He had no idea how much he’d drunk.

Though Kim Wooju had been drinking on his behalf in between, the drinking-boss was elated and kept refilling glasses, while Choi Jigu, for some reason in a low mood, downed his drinks rapidly.

Given the atmosphere, Lee Yuseong couldn’t help but drink to some extent too. Since he was inherently a lightweight, his face quickly turned red and hot, and his mind grew hazy.

Feeling like he needed some air, Lee Yuseong stumbled out of the restaurant and crouched in the alley next to the meat place.

The ground seemed to heave upward, and the sky seemed to flip and flow down. Hugging his knees with his arms, he buried his face in them. His own ragged breathing sounded incredibly loud.

A cool spring breeze blew in the late night. It brushed past his flushed cheeks and neck.

‘Feels good.’

He’d eaten a ton of delicious beef. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had beef—months ago, probably.

Even though he was weak to alcohol, the somaek the boss had mixed felt amazing as it coolly swept down his throat.

‘…They’re good people, I suppose.’

Though they were burdensome, they all took good care of Lee Yuseong and accommodated him. Even today’s dinner—hadn’t Kim Wooju tipped off the boss to order beef sirloin, making this gathering happen in the first place?

‘If only that one thing hadn’t happened.’

That one thing. The night Lee Yuseong lost his virginity. The thing that barely remained in Lee Yuseong’s memory.

‘I still have no idea who it was.’

Among the three suspects, the most suspicious so far was Kim Wooju. The one who seemed least likely was Choi Jigu, and as for the boss—he had no idea what to make of him. All that came to mind was the giant bee from his dreams.

Thinking of the boss-bee who, in his dream, chased Lee Yuseong around offering him a shop and even a country, Lee Yuseong chuckled quietly. Because of the alcohol, it just felt silly and amusing.

If only that one thing hadn’t happened.

“I could keep working here…”

He murmured in a small, absentminded voice.

But then, an answer came from above his head.

“Then stay.”

For a moment, he thought it was a dream. Reality and unconsciousness overlapped chaotically and blurred. Slowly raising his head as if groping for the source, Lee Yuseong’s vision caught the face of someone looking down at him against the night sky.

Even in his blurry vision, that face sparkled, as if stars were scattered across the dark night sky.

Like Wooju (the universe).

Lee Yuseong, who had been squinting, broke into a soft smile.

“You smile pretty.”

Kim Wooju placed his hand on Lee Yuseong’s head and tousled his hair. The touch felt good. Even without the alcohol, it was a pleasant touch. Tender, and soft.

Drunk, Lee Yuseong unconsciously followed his instincts. Forgetting his shyness, he rubbed his head against Kim Wooju’s palm like a cat.

Letting out a breathy laugh, Kim Wooju sat down beside Lee Yuseong. Then he wrapped an arm around his shoulder, leaning him against himself.

“You startled me, sneaking out alone like that.”

Kim Wooju had a pleasant scent. It was a warm, comforting fragrance that easily melted people’s hearts. Following the trail of the scent, he ended up burying his face in his neck. Lee Yuseong relaxed completely and leaned against him.

“…Hyung, you scare me.”

Kim Wooju answered with a low laugh.

“Really?”

“You talk like you know everything…”

“I see. So that made you upset?”

Kim Wooju, having sat down entirely on the ground, pulled Lee Yuseong’s waist toward him. Since he had no strength in his body, Lee Yuseong crumpled into his embrace as he was, resting his cheek against his neck. It was warm.

Kim Wooju slowly smoothed down Lee Yuseong’s hair.

“I tried to, run away… but I feel like I shouldn’t…”

“Then don’t go.”

“I have to go, that’s, what I’m saying.”

Lee Yuseong mumbled.

“Why?”

“…I can’t tell you.”

Truthfully, I wanted to ask if you don’t know anything about that night. Weren’t you the one who stayed sober until the very end while everyone else was drunk? If so, do you know what happened to me that night?

Was it you, hyung, who slept with Lee Yuseong that night?