Alpha Trauma Vol. 4 Chapter 2

Garam had often witnessed people hitting on Dohyeon—either getting his number on the street or meeting him by chance at a festival. She knew that although he was a hard wall to approach at school, he dated freely outside of it.

So, when he showed interest in Wooyeon, Garam was a bit surprised. She even wondered if he was simply toying with the clueless freshman. She sensed there might be something between them, but she didn’t want to lose a junior she liked over a fleeting relationship.

“Why are you trying to win over Wooyeon?”

To be honest, her past grievances of losing multiple Omegas to Dohyeon also played a part. By some twist of fate, the ones Garam had liked usually ended up falling for Dohyeon.

Still, her concern for Wooyeon was genuine.

“If you’re not serious, drop it. I want Wooyeon around for a long time.”

Garam was a naturally affectionate person, and Wooyeon was someone who constantly caught her eye. He didn’t have the arrogance typical of the rich; at times, he was as innocent as a child. If she hadn’t worried about him, that would’ve been stranger.

“…He says he thinks my smiles are fake.”

At first, Garam thought, “What nonsense is this?” But the moment Dohyeon continued speaking, it felt like she’d been hit over the head.

“I want to see how long he’ll keep thinking that.”

The content of his words wasn’t what mattered. It was his expression that counted. With the corners of his eyes softened, wearing a faint smile, even Garam—who had no romantic interest in him—felt her heart skip a beat.

“Hey, you…”

She’d interfered, assuming it was mere curiosity. As someone who loved the club, as a sunbae who cared for her junior, and as a concerned friend, she had spoken up. But if Dohyeon was truly serious…

“If I keep at it like this… he’ll realize I like him too.”

That was when it began—when Garam started watching Dohyeon and Wooyeon’s relationship from a distance, choosing to observe rather than intervene like Seonkyu did.

Looking back, there were plenty of hints Dohyeon liked Wooyeon. He would always take the seat beside Wooyeon at drinking gatherings, and whenever Wooyeon ate something, Dohyeon’s expression softened, as if he found it endlessly endearing.

“…Well, he definitely met his match.”

Wooyeon probably didn’t know. He was unaware that whenever he called Garam “Noona,” Dohyeon would furrow his brows, or that Dohyeon once sat by a cafe window looking out like a dog needing to go to the bathroom when Wooyeon went inside for a study session.

A guy who hated inconveniences had helped him register for classes, stayed up all night during a club trip, and refrained from smoking whenever Wooyeon was around—all part of that same emotion.

“Turns out, he joined the study group for Wooyeon’s sake too.”

Kim Dohyeon was cunning; he volunteered first and then stopped suggesting study sessions once they started dating. From the beginning, the study group had only been an excuse to see Wooyeon.

“Sigh, I need a smoke.”

Garam fished her lighter out of her pocket as she stood up. She asked Seonkyu if he wanted to join, but he declined, saying he felt tipsy. There was nothing quite like a smoke when buzzed, yet Seonkyu didn’t get it.

Unfortunately, the smoking area was crowded. After a brief moment of thought, Garam turned towards the bar’s exterior. She didn’t mind her own smoke, but she wasn’t keen on inhaling others’ smoke.

The evening air was still cool, with a humid breeze signaling the approaching monsoon season. Holding a cigarette between her lips, Garam took a deep breath, looking up at the sky. Smoking in open spaces always felt best. Just as she thought that, she heard familiar voices nearby.

“You should touch up your hair soon.”

“I was thinking about it. Maybe I’ll just go black…”

She’d had enough to drink that recognizing the voices was easy. One was Kim Dohyeon, the other Seon Wooyeon. So here they were, peacefully chatting about hair color. Garam chuckled, putting her lighter back in the cigarette pack.

“Want to take a trip over the break?”

“Where to?”

“I don’t know, maybe somewhere nearby. I can drive.”

They must’ve made up. Seeing them planning a trip together, she figured they’d reconciled. Given the time that had passed, Wooyeon had likely come around to Dohyeon. She felt relieved, though a small sense of emptiness crept in.

“I have a license too.”

“Yeah, but you can’t use it here.”

“…Why not?”

Hearing Wooyeon’s indignant tone, Garam laughed quietly. She considered walking over, but the atmosphere was too pleasant to disrupt. Smoking nearby would only blow the scent their way. Her buzzed mind was slow to figure things out.

“By the way, your pheromones really got on my shirt.”

“Really? I washed it though.”

“I know, but I guess they stuck somehow.”

He went on, saying it felt strange and that he almost didn’t want to wear it again. His words dripped with fondness.

Garam couldn’t say much about the rest, but she did agree with Dohyeon that Wooyeon’s pheromones had a distinct appeal. Not only were they dominant, but also uniquely fresh and sweet—truly incomparable.

“The rainy season starts next week.”

“…Yeah, I suppose it’s about time.”

Holding a cigarette between her lips, Garam tied her long hair high. It had grown down to her shoulder blades, and she thought it might be time to cut it short.

“Wooyeon.”

“Yes?”

“Wooyeon.”

“…”

“Yeon-ah.”

“…Why do you keep calling me?”

“Just because… I like it.”

“Kim Dohyeon, you’re completely out of it.”

Garam, with her hair neatly tied back, turned and walked away without hesitation.

In the two years she’d known Dohyeon, this was the first time she’d seen him so utterly smitten. If she tried to smoke here, it’d surely spoil her mood.

“Guess I’ll go smoke inside.”

Not that it felt bad. Even though she hadn’t directly helped, she felt a surprising sense of pride. She decided she’d share the news with Seonkyu, then head to the smoking area to enjoy a cigarette.

“Sigh… I want to be in a relationship too.”

The words escaped her lips before she realized it. With a sigh, Garam returned to the bar. The sky was high, her heart felt unsettled, and the unlit cigarette filter tasted bitter for some reason today.

There are things people naturally look forward to during summer break: late mornings, the sound of cicadas instead of alarms, vacations at the height of summer, and the wide, blue sea spreading before them.

On the first day of break, Wooyeon was wrapped up in such thoughts, feeling content. He had formally made up with Dohyeon, and they’d even casually mentioned going on a trip. All of it filled him with anticipation for the happy days ahead.

Would they go to the East Sea, Jeju Island, or maybe choose one of the villas overseas? Bursting with dreams, Wooyeon woke up on the first day of vacation to a call from Dohyeon.

— I need to go to my family’s place for a few days.

It was like a balloon of hope had been popped all at once. All the plans he’d had to do things with Dohyeon dissipated in a flash. Though disappointed, Wooyeon forced himself to respond nonchalantly.

“I’ll keep myself busy.”

In truth, he had nothing to do and had spent the last few days just rolling around in bed—after only three days of break, no less.

Usually, in times like these… back in the U.S., he would have spent time with Daniel, and since returning to Korea, he’d been too busy. During the semester, he’d focused on studying, and after finals, his mind had been occupied with thoughts of Dohyeon. It had been so long since his mind and body were completely free that he didn’t know what to do.

“Daniel hasn’t been in touch… and the teacher must be really busy.”

Wooyeon turned over, glancing at the message Dohyeon had sent about arriving at his family’s house, which had been their last exchange. He could call him, but the idea of bothering him felt uncomfortable.

With a sigh, he reached for the stuffed toy at the edge of his bed—a white, fluffy fennec fox, not a rabbit. Hugging it close, he found himself missing Dohyeon even more.

Maybe he’d take a nap. Despite already having slept a lot, it seemed the best thing to do with nothing else to occupy him. As he slowly closed his eyes, various thoughts swirled through his mind.

“…The monsoon starts next week.”

He’d almost forgotten—it was nearly monsoon season. Soon, the blue skies would be covered with thick clouds, and the thought of torrential rains added an inexplicable restlessness.

* * *

A week passed. Wooyeon had dyed his hair black and visited his doctor for a detailed pheromone checkup. The last time, the suppressants hadn’t worked, and he wanted to know why. This time, all levels were normal, with the doctor suggesting that stress and nearby alphas could have influenced the previous results.

Su-hyang hadn’t shown up even once since Wooyeon’s break started. It seemed she was busy with work, but that wasn’t the only reason. He knew that around this time of year, Suhyang would often bury herself in work, minimizing her sleep.

Because of that, Wooyeon was enduring a remarkably uneventful summer break. He had watched so many movies that his eyes had become dry, making it hard to focus. He’d worked out in the PT room and swum in the pool, but the boredom remained.

And then, the monsoon began. As Wooyeon prepared for bed, raindrops began to hit his window, growing heavier. There was no one else at home, and he sat by the window frame, holding his phone in both hands.

“Should I…?”

It had been a week and three days. That was surely long enough to wait. He’d gotten occasional messages asking if he’d eaten, but he hadn’t heard Dohyeon’s voice. It was honestly a little harsh to be left alone right after they’d reconciled.

[Are you busy?] 

Wooyeon sent the message, chanting under his breath. Please call, please call, please call. He knew it was useless but repeated it exactly five times. Of course, the phone didn’t ring, and his mood sank further.

“I really miss him…”

Just as he whispered those words to himself, his phone rang. The caller ID showed “Dohyeon hyung,” the one he had been waiting for.

“Hello?”

Wooyeon answered hurriedly, his heart pounding as his pulse raced. Dohyeon’s voice, gentle as ever, came through.

—Yeah, Wooyeon. What were you up to?

“…”

He couldn’t answer right away. A mere week, a few extra days—yet hearing Dohyeon’s voice after that gap felt overwhelmingly emotional. If he said even one word, he felt like he might cry.

“…Sunbae.”

So, Wooyeon finally mustered the courage to say it. As soon as Dohyeon heard the title “Sunbae,” he let out a quiet laugh.

— Didn’t see me for a few days and you’re calling me Sunbae again?

What should he do about this title that had already become so familiar? It was a relief that he didn’t call him “teacher” by mistake. Of course, the title needed to be corrected.

“When are you coming back?”

His voice came out sulky. He tried not to show it, but he was already feeling overwhelmingly lonely. Dohyeon must have sensed it, as his gentle question followed.

— Do you miss me that much?

“Yes.”

— …..

“I miss you.”

— …..

“I miss you….”

Would he come if Wooyeon said that? Wooyeon leaned his forehead against the window, thoughts swirling. The rain poured down, leaving streaks on the transparent glass. Beyond the rain, all he could see was a high stone wall and the garden.

— That’s a problem.

Dohyeon muttered that one word and sighed. The silence that followed made it clear he was carefully choosing his words. Had he been too clingy? Just as Wooyeon had that thought, Dohyeon softly whispered.

— I was going to leave because it’s late.

As soon as Wooyeon heard those words, he jumped up and rushed out of the room. He ran across the unnecessarily large house, opened the front door, and hurried outside, still wearing his shoes hastily. Through the open door, he could see someone standing there with an umbrella.

“…….”

“…….”

A person standing tall with a black umbrella. The person who, upon seeing Wooyeon, widened their eyes in surprise. The one who hadn’t left his thoughts for even a second these past few days.

Wooyeon, without realizing it, parted his lips.

“If you stand like this, someone might report you.”

It was a comment that showed no sign of affection. Of course, Dohyeon let out a soft laugh and tilted the umbrella towards Wooyeon. Water droplets from his already soaked hair dripped down.

“Is that the first thing you have to say?”

Wooyeon didn’t respond. Instead, he threw himself into Dohyeon’s arms with such force that the umbrella fell to the ground. A soft splashing sound of rain followed as Wooyeon began to sob.

“Hyung….”

All the sorrow welled up inside him. He missed him, longed for him, and even felt a bit lonely. If he were to exaggerate, he would say that this past week without Dohyeon had been harder than the last four years.

“Ah, I see.”

Dohyeon held Wooyeon tightly and gently rubbed his cheek against his wet hair. He didn’t seem bothered at all by the dampness of Wooyeon’s hair. With a firm embrace, Dohyeon whispered tenderly into Wooyeon’s ear.

“I missed you too.”

It wasn’t until some time later that the two of them finally entered the house. It happened exactly when Wooyeon sneezed loudly.

Dohyeon said he should leave since it was late, but Wooyeon kept him there, saying that no one was home.

“Why did you go back to your family’s place?”

The two of them finished showering in separate bathrooms. Wooyeon had briefly thought about showering together, but before he could bring it up, Dohyeon had grabbed some spare clothes and left without a word. Wooyeon regretted not asking him to get the clothes later.

“My parents and my younger sibling sometimes call me. When I go, I have to pretend to be a good son, so I can’t check my phone much.”

“I see….”

After roughly drying his hair, they lay down side by side on the bed and continued talking. Wooyeon had expected a bit more clingy physical affection, but Dohyeon just rested his arm around Wooyeon’s shoulder and gently rubbed his back.

Looking at Wooyeon, who was quietly cuddling, Dohyeon subtly asked.

“What did you do while I was gone?”

“…I watched movies.”

“And?”

“I worked out, swam… I was going to read a book, but got too lazy to finish it.”

“Seems like you kept yourself busy.”

“What does that even mean?”

Their legs tangled under the blankets. The conversation was peaceful, yet pauses formed between each response. Wooyeon snuggled closer to Dohyeon, but he shook his head sternly.

“No, this isn’t your own place.”

“…But no one’s here anyway.”

“You’re going to get in trouble if you keep acting recklessly.”

His words carried a strong warning. His dark eyes had a shadow in them, making his warning all the more convincing. The problem was that, despite the intense look, it had no effect on Wooyeon.

“Then just a kiss….”

Wooyeon wrapped his arms around Dohyeon’s waist and looked up at him with pleading eyes. As much as he missed him, he also missed the pleasure Dohyeon gave him. He wanted to feel Kim Dohyeon through their kiss, their tongues intertwined, and their skin touching—he wanted to experience all of it.

“Yeon-ah.”

However, instead of kissing him, Dohyeon gently ran his fingers through Wooyeon’s hair. His long fingers softly disheveled Wooyeon’s fine hair. He pressed his lips to Wooyeon’s forehead, eyes, and the bridge of his nose, one by one, then asked in a soothing tone.

“Are you not feeling well?”

“……”

Wooyeon lowered his gaze. As he snuggled closer to Dohyeon, Dohyeon comforted him with a gentle hand on his shoulder. Wooyeon buried his face in Dohyeon’s chest and mumbled softly.

“I’m okay now.”

That meant he wasn’t okay earlier. Dohyeon, who surely knew this, began releasing his pheromones gently. The warm, calming pheromones soothed Wooyeon’s heart.

“I had a private tutor when I was little.”

Wrapped in Dohyeon’s arms, Wooyeon started sharing little stories. He never went to elementary school and had various tutors while being homeschooled. Among them, one alpha left a particularly strong impression on him.

“She taught me English, but all I remember is being scolded.”

He wasn’t physically punished, but he was scolded to the point that it almost felt better to have been hit. She constantly told him that he was too dumb to understand, belittling young Wooyeon. Despite that, he learned English, and because of it, his speaking, writing, and listening skills remained perfect to this day.

“Alphas are always like that.”

Wooyeon, like many others, had learned certain stereotypes from a young age. These ingrained beliefs didn’t change easily, even with a few exceptions. Even now, with Dohyeon, an alpha, holding him, Wooyeon still felt uneasy around other alphas.

“Where did the chairman go?”

Dohyeon, instead of empathizing, changed the subject. Wooyeon, who didn’t want to talk more, thought it was a perfect timing to move on. Moving his fingers absentmindedly, Wooyeon casually responded.

“She probably went to my mother’s grave.”

“…In this rain?”

“There’s nothing that can be done.”

It was the rainy season. The rain was falling outside the window, and Suyang hadn’t been home for more than a week. On days like this, when the rain poured down, Wooyeon’s mood was always low.

“It’s my mom’s anniversary the day after tomorrow.”

“…”

“She’s always away around this time.”

The rain became heavier. Without saying anything, Dohyeon lowered his head towards Wooyeon. Their lips met softly, as though offering comfort.

* * *

The next day, as Wooyeon woke up, he found the bed empty and quickly got up. He had fallen asleep while talking to Dohyeon, but when he woke up, Dohyeon was nowhere to be found. He looked around, but there were no traces of him.

“Could he have left already?”

With that thought, Wooyeon sprang up from the bed, as if the spring had just popped. It didn’t make sense for Dohyeon to leave without waking him up, especially after such a long-awaited meeting.

Still half-asleep, Wooyeon hurried toward the door. As he dragged his slippers on the floor, the door to the study suddenly opened with a click. Dohyeon stepped out.

“Ah, you’re awake?”

“…Why are you coming out of there?”

Wooyeon, holding onto the doorknob, slowly walked toward Dohyeon. Dohyeon, who was smiling so gently, opened his arms and hugged Wooyeon. A warm wave of pheromones washed over Wooyeon.

“I went to the bathroom, then I noticed the room where we used to study together, so I took a look. Sorry for going in without asking.”

“I thought you left already.”

“Where would I go without you?”

Dohyeon’s long fingers gently tousled Wooyeon’s hair. Wooyeon didn’t need to look in the mirror to know that his hair was a mess. Dohyeon caressed the top of his head and the back of his neck, then pressed a soft kiss to his crown.

“Your black hair is pretty, too.”

A small, silly laugh escaped Wooyeon. It was because Dohyeon’s voice was full of affection. After some more playful kisses from Dohyeon, they went downstairs before the mood could get too heated.

In the kitchen, there was a meal set by the housekeeper, and in the living room, piles of unmarked boxes were stacked. Dohyeon quietly ate, then suddenly asked a question.

“Was it like this every year?”

“Huh?”

“Every year?” Wooyeon didn’t understand. Breakfast was always prepared, and the housekeeper usually didn’t cross paths with him much.

“Well, always…”

Dohyeon’s expression became serious as Wooyeon trailed off. He furrowed his brows, deep in thought, before speaking up.

“I heard that Garam moved.”

“Moved?”

“Yeah, I think she moved from a studio to a two-room apartment.”

Wooyeon nodded slowly, realizing that Garam must have been busy moving since they hadn’t heard from her during the break. Dohyeon then asked, in a soft voice.

“Do you want to visit her?”

* * *

Wooyeon had never been to anyone else’s house except Dohyeon’s. A “living alone” space was almost like an unknown world to him. So, the idea of visiting Garam’s apartment, with the “living alone” title, was far more exciting than a trip to an amusement park.

As soon as they finished their meal, they took a taxi to Garam’s place. They could have had the housekeeper drive them, but Dohyeon didn’t want to alert anyone at home. Without a word, Dohyeon called for a taxi and carefully helped Wooyeon put on his outerwear.

“It’s a bit chilly.”

After getting out of the taxi, they walked side by side under one umbrella. Dohyeon had taken care of the umbrella when they left the house, so they forgot to bring a spare. The umbrella was too small for both of them, and their shoulders bumped against each other unless they stayed close, but it wasn’t bad at all.

“Are you staying dry?”

“I’m fine… but aren’t your shoulders getting wet?”

“I’m okay.”

Step by step, each footstep splashed little droplets of water. The drizzle tapped against the umbrella in time with their steps. Wooyeon glanced sideways at Dohyeon, then tightly gripped his arm.

“I think I’m okay with rainy days.”

Holding an umbrella for someone who isn’t the chauffeur, sharing an umbrella with someone else, walking down the street on a rainy day—everything was new to Wooyeon, but it was okay because it was with Dohyeon. Every time their shoulders brushed, he felt a flutter in his chest, just like when he had been secretly in love with him. Dohyeon, wearing a pleasant smile, tilted the umbrella toward Wooyeon.

Garam’s apartment was a new villa not far from the school. They had to input a password at the entrance, and as soon as Dohyeon made a call, Garam came down. She was wearing a large boxy t-shirt and lime-colored shorts, so her presence was noticeable even from behind the door.

“Oh, Wooyeon dyed his hair?”

She had rushed downstairs, but her shoes were mismatched—one was a flip-flop, and the other a light blue three-stripe slipper. The colorful mismatched look was quite a sight.

“I haven’t unpacked yet, so it’s a bit of a mess. Seonkyu just got here too.”

Garam lowered her voice and led the way up the stairs.

The narrow, low stairs were too small for both of them to climb together. Wooyeon discreetly looked around while following Garam.

“Seonkyu! They’re here!”

“Welcome.”

Seonkyu greeted them casually, sitting comfortably in the living room like he owned the place. Although only a week had passed since they last saw each other, he looked exactly the same as on the day of the semester’s end.

“Nice house. It’s clean.”

Dohyeon glanced around without much interest as he closed the front door. Wooyeon, not missing the chance, followed him to look around. As soon as they took off their shoes, the kitchen came into view, and just a few steps further, they saw a room. Wooyeon was surprised that the whole house could be seen so easily.

“Is this your first time in such a small house?”

Garam smiled brightly while patting Wooyeon on the shoulder. Wooyeon, who had been looking up at the ceiling, suddenly turned to Garam.

“Oh… sorry.”

“Oh, no, you’re not denying it, huh?”

Fortunately, she didn’t seem upset. In fact, she seemed to find it amusing. Garam giggled as she pushed aside a pile of boxes with her foot.

“I just shoved things aside… But why are you two empty-handed when you’re moving in?”

“Wow, I didn’t expect that. I even bought tissues.”

Dohyeon sat down next to Seonkyu, unfazed by the teasing. Wooyeon, hesitating a bit, sat next to him with his legs crossed. It felt uncomfortable since he wasn’t used to it.

“Order whatever you want. I’ll pay.”

“Hey, I’ve been waiting for that. Seonkyu, open the app.”

The lack of furniture made their voices echo in the room.

The place was chaotic, and the sound of rain could be heard through the window. Despite the less-than-ideal atmosphere, Wooyeon’s mood was elevated.

“How about Chinese food?”

“Come on, the one who has money should buy something expensive.”

“Don’t you usually eat jjajangmyeon when moving into a new place?”

“They deliver jjajangmyeon here too. Should I order some for you?”

“No, I want something expensive.”

“Geez.”

If they hadn’t gone out, Wooyeon would have definitely wasted another day, staring out at the rain in an empty house. As usual, he would have been adrift in a sea of gloom until the rainy season ended.

“What do you want to eat, something safe like chicken?”

“Wooyeon can’t eat chicken.”

“Then how about pizza?”

“I had pizza yesterday.”

“Seonkyu won’t let that slide, really.”

“Why are you picking on me?”

Wooyeon stifled a laugh as he listened to Garam and Seonkyu bicker. It never seemed to tire them, and when they were together, the chatter never stopped. Even if it was just silly, meaningless conversation.

“How about sushi? Kim Dohyeon loves sushi, right?”

Garam said that, pointing at Dohyeon. Wooyeon, hearing for the first time that “Kim Dohyeon likes sushi,” casually turned his gaze away. Dohyeon, however, wasn’t paying attention to the conversation and was staring blankly at Wooyeon.

“…You like sushi?”

It was almost an instinctive question. Dohyeon’s eyes were full of something cute, and Wooyeon couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, moving his lips. Dohyeon, seeing Wooyeon like that, gently closed his eyes with a smile.

“Yeah, I like sushi.”

Wooyeon felt his face heat up. It wasn’t the first time he had seen Dohyeon smile like that, but for some reason, it always felt different. While Wooyeon pressed his earlobe, Garam began picking out dishes from the highest-rated sushi restaurant.

So, the menu they chose consisted of sushi, pizza, and tteokbokki. Despite Garam boasting that they would order something expensive, the choices weren’t much different from what they normally ate. Garam, with a sigh, lamented their menu, saying only those who had eaten it before would understand.

“Come to think of it, the grades will be out soon.”

“Ugh, yeah. This is bad. I messed up the finals.”

Luckily, all the food arrived around the same time. There was no dining table, so Garam casually spread out a box and started unwrapping the food on it. It was the first time in a while that they ate something on the floor, the last time being after a drinking session during an MT.

“Our study goal was 4.0, right?”

“Bullshit. We didn’t study at all until the end. What 4.0? Is that the name of a dog?”

“Wooyeon, do you think you did well on your grades?”

When Seonkyu asked, Wooyeon shook his head, not knowing. He thought he had done decently, but since it was his first time dealing with final grades, he couldn’t be certain. Still, with Dohyeon’s help, it would probably be among the top.

“Have you two gone on many dates? I didn’t contact you on purpose to surprise you.”

“I couldn’t meet him because I went to my parents’ place.”

“Ah, well, if I had known that, I wouldn’t have hesitated to contact you.”

Wooyeon brushed off Garam’s words about how bored she must have been. When asked what they had done, Wooyeon mentioned watching movies, working out, and swimming, just as he had with Dohyeon. Garam showed interest in the movies, and Seonkyu’s eyes widened when he heard about the pool.

“You can come over when you have time.”

“Where? To your house?”

“Yeah. You can watch movies or use the pool…”

“Wow. I’ve never been to such a big house before, not even at Ji Suhyang’s.”

Since Suhyang was usually never home, no one would care if anyone came over. The housekeeper would probably be happy if they knew guests were coming. Didn’t they prepare an extravagant dinner when a friend was coming over last time?

This time, Wooyeon decided not to drink champagne. He only thought it to himself.

After eating, they spent a long time lounging around the house. The leftover food was eaten through the night, and in the meantime, Garam ordered coffee and cake.

They ate, laid down, and chatted, and before they knew it, it was almost midnight.

“Ahem.”

Just ten minutes before midnight, when they were starting to think it was time to go, Garam awkwardly cleared her throat. She nudged Dohyeon with her foot and gestured toward the entrance.

“Hey, go out with Wooyeon and buy some ice cream.”

It was almost a command, but Dohyeon got up from his seat without hesitation. He reached out his hand, and Wooyeon awkwardly followed, getting up as well.

“Aren’t we supposed to leave now?”

“Stay a little longer. It’s your place anyway.”

“Right, right. Hyung, I like cornetto.”

Wooyeon, holding Dohyeon’s hand, tilted his head. It was hard to explain, but something about the atmosphere felt off. Seonkyu’s expression had also awkwardly stiffened.

“Let’s go, Yeon-ah.”

Well, maybe it was just his imagination. Wooyeon shook off the odd feeling and slipped his feet into his shoes. At that moment, he didn’t notice Dohyeon subtly exchanging glances with them.

Though July was approaching, the night air felt quite cool. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining, but the humid air left a chill on his skin. Dohyeon, holding a convenience store bag in one hand, gently shook the hand he was holding with Wooyeon.

“Did you have fun today?”

His soft voice fit well with the dark surroundings. It was sweet, warm, and the kind of kindness that Wooyeon liked about Dohyeon. Without hesitation, Wooyeon nodded.

“I think both of them are really funny.”

Although Wooyeon didn’t have many close relationships, he knew that Garam and Seonkyu were kind. He thought it would have been nice to meet them earlier. He felt that way, especially since Daniel was also a good friend, but their starting points were different, so he excluded him from this thought.

“I’m glad. As long as you had fun.”

Dohyeon nodded and checked his watch. He had already checked it more than five times since they left the convenience store. Was he supposed to go home now? While wondering, Dohyeon slowly began to speak.

“Today…”

Maybe it was just his imagination, but his pace seemed to slow down. Wooyeon didn’t rush him, just watching Dohyeon quietly. The streetlights illuminated his sharp nose, making it look smooth.

“You can’t sleep at Garam’s place, so…”

“…?”

“Do you want to go to my place later?”