Alpha Trauma Vol. 4 Chapter 1

For days, the clouds that had built up finally found their target for anger and poured down in a downpour. At first, Wooyeon got angry, then cried from sadness, and finally felt a deep sense of injustice at the thought that he had been deceived. Only after the rain of tears soaked his pillow through the night could he think rationally again.

Wooyeon was hurt by the fact that Dohyeon hadn’t been honest. He fully understood Dohyeon’s situation, but the lingering bitterness made it hard to forgive. Though the wound may heal, the aftereffects couldn’t be cured, so he decided to wait until time could solve everything.

Yet, upon reflection, Wooyeon realized he wasn’t the only one who should feel wronged. Dohyeon had been cornered without a chance, even stripped of the opportunity to confess on his own terms. If anyone should be resentful of Suhyang’s manipulation, it was Dohyeon.

Even so, Dohyeon sought out Wooyeon, not to express anger but to ask for forgiveness. He apologized, explained himself, and pleaded to start over. Unlike Wooyeon, who just wallowed in sorrow, Dohyeon had been trying to resolve the situation.

“The important thing is not to collapse under the weight of your circumstances.”

That’s what Dohyeon had told Wooyeon back in middle school. When Wooyeon had tried to rationalize the bullying, Dohyeon had whispered it to him over and over. It wasn’t his fault, and he shouldn’t give up. Once you settle, escaping becomes exponentially harder.

“If it ever gets too much, I’ll be there to help,” he had said.

“Sniff…”

When asked why he felt so sorrowful, Wooyeon couldn’t answer. And if someone questioned whether he was completely blameless, he couldn’t fully agree. It was just the overwhelming frustration and regret that the beginning and end had all been shaped by others’ intentions.

* * *

As soon as dawn broke, Wooyeon headed to school, passing through the swarm of reporters as he made his way to the classroom. Seonkyu, seeing Wooyeon’s swollen face, was initially startled but cautiously spoke to him after class ended.

“You’re still going to the club room, right?”

In fact, Wooyeon had planned to quit the club. He didn’t feel ready to face Dohyeon and assumed that Suhyang would interfere with his school life. But by now, he was feeling like it didn’t matter either way.

“There’s no need to quit, is there…?”

“What? Are you seriously thinking of quitting the club?”

Seonkyu widened his eyes, looking at Wooyeon suspiciously. On their way to the club room, he launched into a mini-lecture about how one shouldn’t quit a club mid-semester. Even though Wooyeon felt down, each of Seonkyu’s words held a surprising warmth.

“Hey, everyone. There’s a new item on the menu at the tteokbokki place. Today’s lunch is set.”

Dohyeon wasn’t in the club room, but Garam, who seemed to spend more time excitedly choosing lunch than attending class, was already picking between options: black bean and carbonara tteokbokki. She noticed Wooyeon holding something.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“Oh, this.”

Her eyes were on the shopping bag Wooyeon had been carrying all day. It was hastily packed that morning, with a department store logo on it. The brand was well-known, though the contents didn’t match the fancy packaging.

“It’s borrowed; I brought it to return. I just used this bag since I didn’t have anything else.”

“Oh, I thought you’d bought something.”

Garam didn’t ask further and lost interest, focusing on ordering the tteokbokki. She showed Wooyeon a picture of a wallet from that brand on her phone, saying it was lovely. Suhyang, known for her picky taste in accessories, also carried it frequently.

“But it’s too expensive, so I can’t buy it. If I did, I’d have to go hungry for a month.”

“It’s that expensive? Dohyeon-hyung uses a wallet from there too.”

“Yeah, come to think of it, his family’s pretty well-off too.”

It was a casual remark, unaware of the wealth in front of them. Perhaps it was even more comfortable because they didn’t pay attention to Wooyeon’s background. It was only after Dohyeon’s name came up that they briefly hesitated.

As Wooyeon listened to their chatter, he kept glancing at the clock. The short hand was nearing one. By this time, Dohyeon would normally have arrived, but today he was late.

Finally, just as Garam and Seonkyu’s conversation shifted to why department stores close on Mondays, the club room door clicked open. It was Dohyeon, whom Wooyeon had been thinking about all day.

“You’re here? What made you late today?”

“It’s the end of the semester…”

Wooyeon suddenly stood up. Dohyeon’s gaze landed on him, widening in surprise upon seeing Wooyeon’s face.

“Your face…”

Dohyeon didn’t have a chance to ask further. Wooyeon grabbed his shopping bag, walked briskly to Dohyeon, and firmly took his arm.

“Teacher, let’s talk.”

Dohyeon didn’t resist and was quietly pulled out of the club room by Wooyeon. Just before the door closed, Garam’s puzzled voice echoed from inside.

“…Teacher?”

* * *

They went to the vending machine area outside the building. They hadn’t chosen a specific spot; it was just a convenient place with benches. Dohyeon, quietly following Wooyeon, finally spoke once they stopped.

“Wooyeon, if you go out like this…”

Dohyeon’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Wooyeon’s grip on his wrist transmitted the quickening beats of his heart. Taking a small breath, Wooyeon extended a shopping bag to Dohyeon.

“First, take this….”

“…Huh?”

With a hesitant expression, Dohyeon peered inside the bag. When Wooyeon released his wrist, Dohyeon closed his mouth, appearing reluctant to let go. Inside the shopping bag was a shirt Wooyeon had worn a few days before.

“Didn’t you say you’d give it to me through Officer Yoon?”

Dohyeon’s voice held a strange tension as he squinted slightly, studying Wooyeon’s expression. When he sensed the atmosphere wasn’t quite right, his gaze lowered awkwardly.

“Did you bring me out just to give me this?”

Wooyeon swallowed hard. Even though he had thought things through all night, seeing Dohyeon before him made his lips freeze, like the time he confessed to his teacher long ago.

“No… I have something to say.”

Wooyeon knew what he had to say. Maybe “I’m sorry,” or perhaps “There’s been a misunderstanding.” If not, at least an explanation for rejecting him.

“What is it?”

Sometimes, admitting a mistake was harder than forgiving someone. Embarrassed and shy, Wooyeon lowered his head, unable to speak.

“It’s just…”

“….”

I heard from my mom. I was thoughtless. He couldn’t bring himself to say any of the countless words swirling in his mind. Even after clenching his fists and taking several deep breaths, nothing came.

“…I…”

With a resolute expression, Wooyeon looked up. Since it didn’t seem like words would work, he thought he’d try to reschedule the dinner date he had postponed.

But before Wooyeon could say anything, Dohyeon suddenly moved closer.

“….”

A soft click was heard as a large hand gently cupped the back of Wooyeon’s head, bringing Dohyeon’s t-shirt within inches of his face. As he stumbled slightly into Dohyeon’s embrace, a wave of Dohyeon’s scent washed over him.

“…Certainly.”

With a slow, deliberate tone, Dohyeon wrapped his arms around Wooyeon, not with a romantic intent, but rather a gesture of protection. His gentle voice was soft and kind.

“It would’ve been safer at home than here.”

His voice carried a hint of resignation. Feeling his heart sink, Wooyeon took a sharp breath. His chest felt cold, as if he had swallowed a block of ice.

“Someone took a photo.”

“….”

“I saw their face. If you’re worried, I’ll go ask them to delete it.”

Even in such a moment, Dohyeon was considerate, mature, and gentle, caring for Wooyeon’s safety first. Four years ago, and even now. Dohyeon was someone Wooyeon couldn’t help but love.

“Sorry, I startled you by pulling you close like that.”

Feeling a wave of emotion, Wooyeon wrapped his arms around Dohyeon’s waist. When he buried his face in Dohyeon’s neck, Dohyeon flinched and stopped moving. The familiar scent grew even stronger.

“I’m sorry.”

The surrounding air felt foreign as though time had stopped. It didn’t matter that they were outside or that Dohyeon was flustered. With a trembling breath, Wooyeon murmured softly.

“I’m sorry, teacher.”

“….”

Dohyeon’s fingers trembled slightly. His hand, which cradled the back of Wooyeon’s head, softly ran through his hair. A small voice replied beside him.

“Why are you apologizing?”

Wooyeon bit his lip as he held Dohyeon tightly. It had only been a few days, yet he was aching for the warmth he hadn’t felt in so long, wondering how he had even considered letting go of this relationship.

“I thought everything was because of my mom.”

His words tumbled out slowly. Although his mind was blank, he spoke on instinct.

“I thought…our dating, my staying at your place…that you were reporting everything to her.”

“….”

Silently, Dohyeon stroked the back of Wooyeon’s head, then gently rested his cheek against his hair.

“…That doesn’t change the fact that I deceived you.”

His voice was filled with self-mockery, and even though Wooyeon was the one who had embraced him, Dohyeon’s hesitant grip betrayed his unease.

“Even if you knew, you probably couldn’t forgive me.”

Wooyeon didn’t deny it. Even if Dohyeon had explained earlier, he couldn’t be sure he’d feel any different from now.

“Some things take time to resolve.”

“….”

“Or sometimes, it’s only resolved when there’s someone you resent more than me.”

Dohyeon’s words calmed Wooyeon’s restless heart. Each of his statements felt like a comforting truth. As Wooyeon’s heartbeat steadied, Dohyeon quietly spoke again.

“Are you able to forgive me completely now?”

Wooyeon cautiously nodded. Though it was a small movement, Dohyeon understood, smiling in acknowledgment. However, his next question came out quietly, lacking confidence.

“Then…can you love me the way you used to?”

“….”

Wooyeon wasn’t sure why he was at a loss for words. It wasn’t so much the word “love” as it was the “way you used to” that made him hesitate.

As if anticipating Wooyeon’s reaction, Dohyeon murmured softly, almost to himself.

“I made you wait too long, didn’t I?”

He had loved Dohyeon unrequitedly for four years, clinging to him since those days of knowing nothing. While Dohyeon avoided him out of fear, Wooyeon poured his entire heart into the one-sided affection.

“I’m sorry for making you apologize.”

Saying this, Dohyeon gently released Wooyeon from his embrace, meeting his gaze. He gently stroked Wooyeon’s flushed eyelids.

“I’m good at waiting.”

“……”

“So I’ll wait as long as you waited.”

I like you, Wooyeon.

The confession was sweet enough to make his throat ache. Wooyeon couldn’t respond, but Dohyeon just gave a gentle smile, as if that was enough. The emptiness in his heart felt like it was slowly filling up.

Since that day, Dohyeon had quietly stayed by Wooyeon’s side. He helped him with his studies, and when they had free time, they even attended some first-year lectures together. Dohyeon’s presence was so significant that, by the time finals approached, even the professor jokingly called his name for attendance.

“Hey, did you see that article about our school?”

The campus had become chaotic around the time Wooyeon walked out of his first final exam. Thanks to his hard work and Dohyeon’s study guides, Wooyeon had a satisfying test experience, but he slowed down when he overheard a passing comment.

“Seriously, what a crazy jerk! Some of us bust our butts studying to get here, and he gets in just because he was born into a rich family….”

The student, seeing Wooyeon, lowered his voice. Wooyeon pretended not to hear and walked on, but distant murmurs trailed behind him.

“Isn’t he that kid? The one everyone’s talking about?”

“Wait, who? Oh… yeah. I thought he was admitted unfairly.”

“We don’t know that yet. But maybe he was….”

Though he couldn’t hear the rest, he could easily imagine the gossip. But none of it had anything to do with Wooyeon.

“[Exclusive] Prestigious University Under Investigation for Admission Scandal.”

“Ji Suhyang’s Son Denies College Admission Scandal Allegations.”

“College Admissions Fraud: Allegations of Document Tampering Spark Outcry.”

The morning’s flood of news stories had unleashed a storm on campus. Reporters swarmed the main and rear gates, and officials from the Ministry of Education bustled around inside the campus.

“Man, that guy is insane!”

Garam, who was hanging out in the club room as usual, let out an unending stream of swears in her bold voice. She cursed whoever was behind the scandal and grumbled about the university’s reputation. Dressed in a purple tracksuit and biting on a pen, she looked every bit as laid-back as usual.

“Isn’t he just another rich kid messing around while Wooyeon’s busting his ass to study!”

Instead of responding, Wooyeon quietly lowered his gaze. The scattered notebooks on the table showed their efforts to prepare for finals, though none of them were particularly focused.

“God, I should’ve punched him earlier!”

The main culprit Garam was so mad at—the one responsible for the admissions scandal and, reportedly, who had given Wooyeon trouble—was someone Wooyeon had known about well before things blew up.

“I heard his family is filthy rich.”

Recently, Suhyang had casually informed him about the family background of Junseong, the person in question. One parent was a professor, and the other was an executive in a corporation. He had three older siblings, all holding top positions in major companies.

“There’s been so much talk about admission fraud, and it turns out the real culprit was someone else all along.”

Usually, something like this would fade with time, unless someone came forward with a public complaint. The situation only exploded because reporters, after learning about “Ji Suhyang’s Son,” swarmed in like vultures.

“The investigation’s going to catch him sooner or later. He got in the same year as us, after all.”

It was as if Suhyang was set on ensuring Junseong would be caught. Her eyes glinted coldly.

“He should know who he’s messing with.”

“Is he even coming to campus? No way, right? That bastard!”

The truth about the admissions scandal spread quickly. Rumors of a problematic student with poor attendance and sudden disappearance were already known. Professors even skipped his name during roll call, subtly avoiding any mention.

The story had spread from the Engineering building across the entire campus in just half a day. When Wooyeon arrived at the club room after his test, Garam was venting her anger to Dohyeon.

“Of course he didn’t show up. Wooyeon, he hasn’t reached out to you, right?”

“No… well… ah.”

Wooyeon frowned awkwardly. His phone hadn’t rung, but that didn’t mean much.

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Seonkyu’s eyes widened in surprise. “Not sure”? That seemed to be his question.

“It’s just… his number…”

“I blocked it.”

Dohyeon finished the sentence Wooyeon had started. Both Seonkyu and Garam blinked at him in surprise. Dohyeon spoke in a calm tone, placing a notebook in front of Wooyeon.

“I thought he might try to contact Wooyeon, so I blocked him a while ago.”

There was no immediate reply to Dohyeon’s straightforward words. Wooyeon, about to check his phone, froze, meeting Dohyeon’s gaze as he gently added,

“I won’t stop you if you want to check….”

“……”

“But I’d rather you just leave it alone, Wooyeon.”

There was no hint of force in his tone—if anything, it was closer to worry. After a long moment of contemplation, Wooyeon handed his phone to Dohyeon.

“If there are any messages… please delete them.”

Dohyeon silently took the phone, and when he returned it, it was empty. Whether he deleted something or there had been nothing there to begin with, only Dohyeon knew.

At fourteen, the bitter connection they shared from childhood finally came to an end.

* * *

“To summer vacation!”

“Cheers!”

Clink! The sound of soju glasses clashing filled the air. They were already on their fifth round of toasts, and the mood had grown lively. Garam’s face was flushed as she mixed her soju and beer, and Seonkyu was grinning widely, chatting with his friends. Wooyeon set his glass down on the table and glanced at the seat next to him.

“Oppa, you’ll probably be at the top of the class again, right?”

“I’m losing my scholarship because of him!”

“Get real, it’s not like you were going to get it anyway.”

It was Friday, the end of finals week. After a turbulent semester, the club held a drinking party to celebrate the beginning of summer break. Apparently, there was a department meeting at a nearby chicken joint, but even Student Council member Seonkyu chose to come to the club gathering. Wooyeon had planned to slip home quietly but ended up tagging along with Seonkyu to the party.

“I don’t know about being top of the class. I didn’t get to study much this time.”

As soon as they arrived at the bar, Wooyeon claimed a seat in the corner where he wouldn’t have to drink. No one would force him, but he wanted to avoid the risk of getting carried away and drinking more than he intended. Even though the intensity of the media coverage had decreased (thanks to the scale of Junseong’s scandal), he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

Dohyeon naturally took the seat next to Wooyeon.

“Hyung, have another drink!”

“Bottoms up, cheers! Down it!”

No sooner had Dohyeon sat down than his juniors started pouring him drink after drink. As soon as he finished one glass, another was set in front of him, and if he drank that one, someone brought out another round of soju mixed with beer. Usually, Dohyeon knew how to pace himself, but today, he took each drink they gave him.

“Dohyeon-hyung’s really handling his drinks well today!”

Leaning back against the wall, Wooyeon watched Dohyeon absentmindedly. The way his large hand held the soju glass, the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed, and the occasional glint of his gentle gaze.

“Why does it feel like you guys are only making me drink tonight?”

His voice was languid, the drawling tone different from his usual self. His slow blinks were another clear sign that he was drunk.

“Shouldn’t you stop drinking?” Wooyeon blurted out. He was worried; Dohyeon hadn’t eaten much and was drinking heavily. Dohyeon paused, his eyelids fluttering, then glanced to the side.

“Yeah… I probably should stop.”

Despite saying that, he took another drink. Another junior promptly filled his glass the moment it emptied, clearly as intoxicated as Dohyeon was, judging by their sloppy pouring.

“Who wants a drink of my special soju-beer mix?”

It was strange and unfamiliar to see Dohyeon drinking like this. Dohyeon, usually disciplined and composed, had never gotten drunk at any gathering before—or rather, Wooyeon hadn’t seen him drunk, as he’d often been the one to get tipsy first.

“Here, for our club leader! Not just anyone gets this,” Garam said, setting down a beer glass in front of Dohyeon with a flourish. She called it a “soju-beer mix,” but judging by its color, it looked closer to barley tea. There was at least a 50% soju ratio in it. Wooyeon frowned at Garam.

“Noona, how is that a soju-beer mix….”

“Chug it down! Chug!”

“Yeah! Drink! Drink!”

“…Excuse me…”

Wooyeon was beginning to understand that, at a drinking party, anyone who wasn’t intoxicated was a loser. No matter what he said, his drunken clubmates only clapped and cheered. To make matters worse, even Dohyeon picked up the glass without a word of protest.

“Are you really going to drink that?”

Wooyeon asked in a shrill voice, genuinely shocked, but Dohyeon didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah, they’re giving it to me, so I’ll drink.”

When had he ever been so obedient? Refusing a drink without killing the mood should’ve been no problem for him.

“You’re really drunk….”

Unable to stop him outright, Wooyeon reached out and lightly tugged on the hem of Dohyeon’s shirt. Their relationship was ambiguous—neither dating nor not—and he couldn’t quite figure out where to draw the line.

But his small gesture received an unexpectedly strong reaction.

“…Ah.”

The beer glass toppled over. Dohyeon had accidentally let it slip, spilling the drink everywhere, and half of it soaked into Dohyeon’s pants. The rowdy club members immediately went into a frenzy, scrambling to find napkins.

“Oh no, napkins! Napkins!”

Wooyeon, wide-eyed, grabbed some napkins from the corner of the table and handed them to Dohyeon, who sat there dazed, doing nothing to clean up. Left with no choice, Wooyeon pulled out a napkin and reached down between Dohyeon’s legs.

“Why aren’t you wiping it up?”

The light beige slacks were now stained a deep brown. Of all things, it wasn’t soju but beer, so the amount of liquid was no joke.

In an effort to clean up quickly, Wooyeon was wiping from the chair to Dohyeon’s thigh when Dohyeon suddenly gripped his wrist tightly.

“Why are you…”

Their eyes met. Wooyeon looked at Dohyeon with wide eyes. His mouth closed, and whatever words he’d been about to say got caught in his throat. His wrist hurt, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask Dohyeon to let go.

“…”

Dohyeon’s expression was unusually tense, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Wooyeon as his pupils trembled. One second, two seconds, three. Just as the tension between them peaked, Dohyeon’s face flushed red.

“…I’ll go get some air.”

With that, Dohyeon abruptly stood up and left the table, leaving Wooyeon to watch him leave, alternately glancing between his retreating figure and his own wrist in bewilderment.

Even after a long time, Dohyeon didn’t return. His clubmates, seemingly having forgotten about him, continued chatting happily, and eventually, Wooyeon stood up to go look for him. Dohyeon had seemed quite drunk, and there was no reason for him to be gone for so long.

He checked the bar’s bathroom, the smoking room in the corner, and the emergency exit near the entrance, but Dohyeon was nowhere to be found. In the end, Wooyeon went down the stairs and stepped outside.

“Where did he go…?”

Outside, neon signs flashed loudly, and the cool breeze felt refreshing. Though the night air was still chilly, the sweltering summer nights would soon arrive, and with them, hopefully, the media attention would die down.

Instead of wandering aimlessly, Wooyeon took out his phone and dialed Dohyeon’s number, thinking this would be more efficient than relying on his poor sense of direction. Fortunately, as soon as the call started, he heard a vibration nearby.

“Is he in the back?”

One step, then another. Following the faint sound, Wooyeon found himself in a narrow alley behind a streetlight, where someone was sitting against the wall. He recognized Dohyeon right away, even in the dim light.

Wooyeon quietly closed the distance between them. Dohyeon, with an unlit cigarette between his lips, was staring blankly at his phone screen, where “Wooyeon” was displayed.

“Do you think it’ll answer itself if you just stare at it?”

Dohyeon’s broad shoulders flinched. His tall, straight, and composed back seemed to tense awkwardly. After a brief pause, he turned his head slowly.

“Oh…”

He looked somewhat surprised, though it was only natural since he’d been spoken to from behind. Wooyeon ended the call and put his phone away.

“Weren’t you quitting smoking?”

Dohyeon blinked a couple of times, then immediately removed the cigarette. It wobbled slightly between his long fingers as he hesitated, opening and closing his mouth several times before frowning clumsily.

“…Why did you come out?”

Sensing that Dohyeon wasn’t exactly pleased to see him, Wooyeon felt a bit taken aback. In an ambiguous relationship like theirs, perhaps following someone who’s drunk was out of line.

“It’s not like… I’m accusing you or anything.”

As if reading Wooyeon’s thoughts, Dohyeon slowly shook his head. Resting the back of his head against the wall, he closed his eyes slightly, still looking a bit tipsy.

“For a moment, I thought I was seeing things.”

“…Why?”

“I was thinking about you…”

And with that, Dohyeon smiled softly. His eyes curved into crescents, his lips forming a gentle arc, and his face looked incredibly innocent.

“Yeon-ah.”

“…”

Wooyeon didn’t respond, just stared at Dohyeon blankly. He’d always thought he looked beautiful when he smiled, but right now, he seemed almost angelic. His legs nearly gave out as if he might collapse at any moment.

“Come here, sit down.”

Dohyeon patted his own thigh. Wooyeon, almost dazedly, nearly did as he was told before catching himself. He hadn’t had a drop to drink, so there was no way he’d fall for something like this.

“Are you drunk?”

“Hmm…”

Dohyeon tilted his head, his hair gently falling over his forehead. With the cigarette between his fingers, he folded his thumb and index finger, winking playfully.

“A little?”

“…Doesn’t seem like a little.”

“It’s just a little.”

Unable to argue, Wooyeon sat down on the stairs beside him as Dohyeon gestured. Though it was surely dirty, he’d already lost the chance to worry about it. Dohyeon settled next to him, then slowly leaned his head on Wooyeon’s shoulder.

“Too low.”

Despite being the one to lean in, Dohyeon had the nerve to complain. Remarkably bold, he even asked Wooyeon to sit up straighter. Amused, Wooyeon complied, adjusting himself so Dohyeon could rest more comfortably.

“What were you doing here?”

Instead of answering, Dohyeon rubbed his cheek against Wooyeon’s shoulder, like a cat or a dog marking its scent. It seemed his teacher became affectionate when drunk—a discovery Wooyeon hadn’t expected.

“You’ve been gone too long… people are worried.”

In truth, no one had worried, but Wooyeon said it anyway. Without such an excuse, he couldn’t justify why he’d come looking for Dohyeon. But Dohyeon dismissed his words as a lie without a second thought.

“You’re terrible at lying.”

“…”

It wasn’t just a mumbled comment. It almost felt like he was deliberately teasing Wooyeon, who turned his head away in embarrassment.

“I was thinking about you.”

It was an oddly ticklish statement, different from simply saying “I like you.” In a relaxed, almost sleepy voice, Dohyeon continued.

“I thought about how much I missed you, how cute you are, and wondered when you might finally accept me…”

“…Why did you have to come out here to think about that?”

“Because… already being a little drunk, being near you just feels… strange.”

“Didn’t you say you weren’t drunk?”

“I said… I was a little drunk.”

There was a faint smell of alcohol and pheromones coming from Dohyeon. The scent was stronger than usual, probably because he’d let his guard down due to the alcohol. Not wanting to call him out on it, Wooyeon spoke slowly.

“Sunbae.”

“Hyung.”

It was déjà vu. He had asked for it several times, so it remained clearly in his memory.

“Not ‘teacher,’ not ‘Sunbae’… just Hyung.”

“…”

“I want you to call me Hyung.”

Those words held multiple meanings. A desire to have a different relationship than before, a wish to be more than just “Sunbae,” a desire to be someone closer to Wooyeon.

Wooyeon sensed all of these meanings. Perhaps because Dohyeon was drunk, his intentions were unusually easy to read today. In truth, though, Wooyeon had been noticing his feelings clearly for some time.

“It’s not the rabbit doll you gave me, Sunbae.”

It was an abrupt change of topic, but Dohyeon readily went along with it. When he asked what it was then, Wooyeon sighed in relief as he replied.

“It’s a fennec fox.”

“A fennec fox?”

Dohyeon murmured a prolonged “Hmm…” as if picturing the doll, then let out a soft laugh and buried his face against Wooyeon’s neck.

“It looks like you.”

“In what way?”

“In a lot of ways.”

Wooyeon thought the breath touching his neck was quite alluring. Dohyeon himself seemed oblivious, but Wooyeon’s body grew more sensitive. Whether he knew or not, Dohyeon chuckled softly.

“I thought it was a rabbit… Saying ‘cute, cute’ all the time, and now I’m captivated.”

Dohyeon’s fingers intertwined with Wooyeon’s. The familiar sensation of their fingers entwining made Wooyeon feel emotional. Holding Wooyeon’s hand tightly, Dohyeon whispered gently.

“I like you so much, I don’t know what to do.”

Sometimes, there are moments of sudden realization in the midst of ordinary life. Like noticing a healed scar, forgetting a bad memory, or realizing that time has passed so much already.

“I like you, Wooyeon…”

Summer was approaching. A semester had ended, and after today, it would be summer break. This meant that meeting with Dohyeon or having conversations like this would no longer be possible unless they made specific plans.

“…I.”

With his mind blank, Wooyeon began to speak hesitantly. Dohyeon still leaned his head against him, holding his hand tightly. Warmth flowed through the palms pressed together.

“I…”

His heart pounded loudly. His pheromones surged, and his ears flushed with heat. Though it wasn’t his first time saying it, he was more nervous than he’d ever been.

“…I do too.”

The words he finally managed to say were so small that Wooyeon himself felt it. It was so quiet that even a small rustle could have drowned it out. Dohyeon didn’t respond, so Wooyeon mustered up more courage and spoke again.

“I like you.”

It wasn’t the same as the confession he’d blurted out that day, saying he liked his teacher. This time, he was openly showing his feelings, baring them fully. His mind and heart shouted that it had to be Dohyeon.

“I thought about it…”

“…”

“I don’t think I can be without Sunbae.”

In the end, it was Dohyeon. No matter how far Wooyeon wandered, his heart had always been set on one destination.

“I like you, Hyung.”

As soon as he let out his true feelings, which he had suppressed for so long, they regained their size. Like a sponge swelling in water, his emotions expanded quickly, filling his heart to the brim.

“…”

Dohyeon froze, barely able to breathe. It was as if time had stopped, and even the occasional sound of breathing disappeared. The rustling of leaves, the distant chatter of people, and other faint noises only became audible upon deep focus.

“…Right now.”

A voice, soft as a breath, broke the silence. It sounded surprised and flustered, not a reaction he had anticipated from Wooyeon.

“Right now, what did you say…?”

“I said I like you, Hyung.”

Wooyeon repeated his earlier words clearly. They say the first time is always the hardest, and the second time wasn’t as nerve-wracking. Dohyeon was at a loss for words, covering his eyes with his other hand.

“…Ha.”

A rough breath escaped him. His pheromones grew a bit denser, and he lowered his head, leaning against Wooyeon. The tips of their interlocked fingers began to tremble slightly.

“No way…”

Wooyeon looked at Dohyeon with a bewildered expression, slowly gazing at him. He wanted to see Dohyeon’s face, but the angle wasn’t right, so he couldn’t make out his expression clearly. He could, however, clearly see Dohyeon biting his lip, prompting him to speak without thinking.

“…Are you crying?”

The pheromones stirred intensely. Dohyeon, who appeared to be slightly shaking his shoulders, stammered out an excuse.

“It’s because I drank.”

“Are you really crying?”

“…I told you, it’s because of the alcohol.”

There was a tremble in his voice. The ends of his words shook, and his breath lowered, almost sinking. As Wooyeon froze, unable to do anything, Dohyeon turned around and clung to him.

“Tell me one more time…”

Wooyeon awkwardly embraced Dohyeon, who had leaned into him. Although Dohyeon had clung to him before, he had never been the one to hold Dohyeon like this. The position was clumsy and uncomfortable, yet he could sense how desperately Dohyeon clung to him.

“I like you.”

“…With ‘Hyung’ added.”

“I like you, Hyung.”

“One more time…”

“I like you, Hyung.”

The more he confessed, the more certain he felt. It wasn’t because Dohyeon was his teacher, nor because he was kind and mature; he simply liked Kim Dohyeon, the person. No matter how it began, this time, it was solely Wooyeon’s choice.

“See?”

“…”

“I told you it wasn’t pointless.”

Dohyeon helplessly buried his face in Wooyeon’s shoulder. His shoulder was starting to feel damp. As Wooyeon gently patted his back, a voice full of earnestness whispered a confession.

“I like you too.”

“…”

“Really, I like you, Yeon-ah…”

And there, the long downpour finally ceased. Just as the rain ends and the sky clears, clear days returned once again. Dohyeon didn’t pull away from Wooyeon’s embrace for a long time.

* * *

Garam propped her chin on the table, staring at the two empty seats. A haze seemed to cover her vision as the alcohol took effect. She rubbed her eyes a few times, but her focus didn’t easily return.

“Do you think they’ll make up?”

Seonkyu, sensing Garam’s state, asked her quietly. He, too, had been drinking a lot, but he was the most sober among the club members. Garam tilted her head and spoke slowly.

“Well… they probably will.”

Two hours had passed since the drinking party, under the excuse of summer vacation, had begun. With Dohyeon and Wooyeon gone, the remaining group played drinking games. Normally, Garam would join, but tonight, for some reason, she wasn’t in the mood.

“If he followed after a drunk Wooyeon, it’s a hundred percent.”

“True…”

Seonkyu nodded, sipping his soju-mixed beer. The way he looked relieved prompted Garam to smile and playfully tease him.

“Were you that worried?”

“Of course I was. Weren’t you worried, too, Noona?”

“Well… I was a bit. If things went wrong between them, Wooyeon would probably leave the club.”

Everyone in the club knew that the two had had a fight. Even the great Kim Dohyeon, who kept the freshman by his side and rejected everyone else, had openly declared, “We’re dating” about the Omega that followed him around. It was impossible not to notice when Wooyeon’s attitude, once completely attached to Dohyeon, had turned cold overnight.

“But I wasn’t too worried. You know what kind of person Kim Dohyeon is. He always follows through on what he says.”

Garam had been confident Dohyeon would resolve things since the beginning of their silent feud. Although she hadn’t known him for that long, two years with Kim Dohyeon was enough to make her sure.

Never had she imagined he’d be this frantically thrown off balance, though.

“Wooyeon is amazing too, making Kim Dohyeon act all anxious.”

“Wow, I think Dohyeon-hyung is impressive. Seeing him take freshman classes with him, I wondered just how much he must like him.”

Garam didn’t respond, but she agreed. She had known for a long time just how much Dohyeon liked Wooyeon.

That awareness had first struck her months ago, on the very day she met Wooyeon.

“He’s wearing head-to-toe designer.”

Being someone who liked fashion, Garam had instinctively taken in Wooyeon’s outfit from head to toe the first time she saw him, noting the luxury brands he wore. From his light-gray padded jacket to his thick sweater, sneakers, and even jeans—everything.

The cost alone could pay a deposit on a small apartment, maybe even more.

“Born with a silver spoon.”

Garam had a bias against those from wealthy backgrounds. Although being friends with Dohyeon had softened this somewhat, her first impression of Wooyeon wasn’t the best. She’d even decided to avoid getting involved with him.

But that decision had only lasted a moment. The instant Wooyeon turned his head toward her, her feelings shifted in an instant from dislike to intrigue.

“…Oppa, what’s his name?”

Every single one of his features hit her ideal type. With his small, white teeth, Wooyeon was the very embodiment of Garam’s dream.

Not that she had any intentions of pursuing him.

“I heard from the TA. His name’s pretty, too.”

Garam simply wanted to recruit Wooyeon into the club. She thought she could buy him snacks every day, so she suggested it to Dohyeon. She hadn’t anticipated Dohyeon’s dramatic reaction upon hearing his name.

“He’s called Wooyeon, Seon Wooyeon.”

“…”

Dohyeon immediately ran off in the direction Wooyeon had disappeared. Watching his figure with that clearly loaded reaction, Garam subconsciously realized, “Ah, he’s got a history here.” She’d told herself she had no ulterior motives, yet it felt like a sneaky revelation.

“They must’ve known each other before.”

“Come to think of it, he did call him teacher back then, right?”

What kind of relationship could make the legendary Kim Dohyeon so vulnerable? Garam’s instincts, usually accurate, hinted at only one possibility: that the private student Dohyeon once mentioned was none other than Wooyeon.

“…Doesn’t that make him a total cradle robber?”