Alpha Trauma Vol. 4 Chapter 3 - Main Story End

Wait, he didn’t quite understand those words. But the moment their gazes met, Wooyeon immediately nodded.

“Yes.”

It was late already, and it didn’t matter where they stayed now; no one would contact him anyway. In fact, he was probably unaware that Wooyeon wasn’t at home in the first place.

“I’ll sleep at your place.”

Hearing that answer, Dohyeon squinted and grinned, his face showing a clear sign of happiness. Wooyeon’s mood lifted as well, and in fact, he was already feeling quite elated. He had been with Dohyeon the night before, and now, being able to be with him again today made him happy just thinking about it.

“Oh, that time we drank champagne.”

Because Dohyeon’s steps had slowed, it took quite a while for them to arrive at the building. It felt like it took almost twice as long as it did when they were heading to the convenience store. Only when they reached the building did Wooyeon ask a question that had been on his mind.

“Why did you have muscle pain that day?”

The day Wooyeon had worn a gown and opened his eyes. According to Dohyeon, that was the day he had talked about Daniel. Even though nothing had happened between him and Dohyeon, his back had been oddly sore. Of course, the pain wasn’t significant enough to be aftereffects of a relationship.

“Oh… muscle pain.”

Dohyeon squinted and muttered slowly, then playfully shrugged his shoulders.

“Looks like it. I just threw it out there casually.”

“Casually?”

“Yeah, there was a loud noise from the bathroom.”

Wooyeon gave him a stunned look, but Dohyeon didn’t seem to mind. He mischievously squinted and brought Wooyeon’s hand to his face. A soft kiss on the back of his hand caused an awkward sound when it pulled away.

“Please forgive me. I was just being naughty.”

“…What is there to forgive now?”

To think that a kiss would solve everything. Even Wooyeon thought it was rather simple.

“Maybe it was a hangover, or I tripped in the bathroom without realizing. Either one, I guess?”

Dohyeon said, pulling out his phone. It was 12:01 AM. As he looked at the time, he furrowed his brows, as if trying to gauge something, before starting to input the entrance code.

“Did Garam Noona tell you?”

“Yeah, she told me to press it and come in.”

Wasn’t that a bit risky? Still, it was his house. Wooyeon, having thought about it for a moment, suddenly tilted his head. He felt like he had heard a similar thing from Dohyeon before. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t recall it.

“Be careful with your step.”

After passing the stairs they had already climbed, Dohyeon simply said this one line before they reached the third floor where Garam’s apartment was. Naturally, they had to be quiet since it was nighttime, but the silence felt strangely awkward.

“…Did you get the door code too?”

Wooyeon asked in a hushed voice, standing right behind Dohyeon. Looking at how confidently Dohyeon entered the door code, it seemed like he already knew it.

Then, with a beep, Dohyeon stepped aside. His eyes were filled with mischief as his gentle gaze looked at Wooyeon. Wooyeon blinked in confusion.

“Yeon-ah.”

“Yes?”

For some reason, Wooyeon felt strange. Maybe it was nerves, or maybe it was because he felt a little jittery. The moment Dohyeon opened the door felt unexpectedly long.

“Happy birthday.”

He didn’t have a chance to respond. From the crack of the door, there was a loud bang! The sound of fireworks exploding. Wooyeon blinked, his eyes wide open, slowly turning his head.

“Happy birthday, Seon Wooyeon!”

“Happy birthday, Wooyeon!”

Bang!Bang! There were two more loud explosions. In contrast to the dimly lit hallway, the inside was brightly lit, and Seonkyu was holding a cake with lit candles. Garam quickly rushed over to place a party hat on Wooyeon’s head.

“Hey, close the door! People will complain from other houses.”

Wooyeon, almost in a daze, followed Garam inside. Dohyeon shut the door, and Seonkyu held the cake in front of Wooyeon.

“Make a wish!”

“Hurry up and blow it out. The wax is going to drip.”

“Wooyeon, make a wish!”

The candle flames flickered in front of him. A pink and a yellow candle on a cake piled high with strawberries. Wooyeon, still in a daze, heard Dohyeon’s gentle voice.

“You need to blow out the candles.”

Finally, everything clicked. Garam’s earlier behavior of trying to get rid of him, Seonkyu’s awkward face, and Dohyeon repeatedly checking the time.

“This is…”

“Ah, Wooyeon. Blow out the candles.”

Unable to resist Garam’s insistence, Wooyeon, still in a daze, blew out the candles. The smoke swirled up from the extinguished flame. Seonkyu called out with a disappointed look on his face.

“Oh no, the wish!”

“Forget it. What if we can’t eat the cake?”

Garam neatly pulled the candles out of the cake. Wooyeon looked around, still wearing an expression of disbelief. The delivery food was spread out untouched, and the confetti from the party poppers they’d set off lay scattered messily across the floor.

“…Ha.”

A short breath escaped him. It sounded half like a gasp, half like a sigh. Wooyeon made a few more similar sounds, then covered his mouth, breaking into laughter.

“What… is all this?”

Everything about the situation just struck him as funny. Garam, subtly tense without meaning to be, Seonkyu looking wistfully at the extinguished candles, Dohyeon quietly observing his reaction.

“…How did you know it was my birthday?”

It was a birthday he’d never told anyone about. One he’d never had celebrated, not even once, since he was born. Today was also his mother’s memorial day, and Suhyang had always left Wooyeon to himself. Gifts were something he received in abundance, but this was the first time someone had truly, sincerely celebrated for him.

“Why wouldn’t I know your birthday?”

Dohyeon spoke as he reached out to Wooyeon’s head, brushing off bits of paper from the poppers and adjusting his party hat to sit properly. After that, he gently stroked the corners of Wooyeon’s slightly reddened eyes with an impossibly bright smile.

“Thank you for being born.”

Ah, how could he put this feeling into words? Should he say he felt like crying, or that he wanted to laugh? The one thing he knew for sure was that, either way, his eyes stung.

“Hey, hey, I tried my best to keep you from crying, but he just goes and pulls all the cool moves himself.”

“That’s right, if you cry on your birthday, you lose your luck.”

It was a clumsy bit of comfort, but Wooyeon managed to swallow down his tears. Luckily, they didn’t spill, and Seonkyu held up his phone, offering to take a picture. Wooyeon, holding the cake, ended up taking a commemorative photo with a slightly awkward expression—neither fully smiling nor crying.

* * *

For Wooyeon, a birthday was simply the day he’d been born, nothing more and nothing less. Around this time of year, the monsoon season was in full swing, and rainy days usually dragged his mood down. When he was younger, he’d wished over and over that this day wouldn’t come.

But now, on his twentieth birthday, he thought for the first time that maybe it was good to be alive. Having people he loved celebrate this day was a far more precious experience than he’d imagined. He stayed wrapped up in that happiness the entire time, and as soon as he got home, he nestled right into Dohyeon’s arms.

“What’s up, hm?”

With a gentle voice, Dohyeon soothed him. When Wooyeon rubbed his cheek against him, Dohyeon took off his shoes and lifted him up like a child. Normally, Wooyeon would have squirmed away, but today he quietly leaned into Dohyeon.

“How old is my Wooyeon?”

“…I want to get down.”

“Kidding.”

Laughter laced Dohyeon’s voice. Without any sign of strain, he carried Wooyeon to the living room. In Dohyeon’s house, where he hadn’t been in a while, the familiar dry scent of his pheromones lingered everywhere.

“It’s late—you should shower and go to bed.”

Wooyeon shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to shower; he just didn’t want to be apart. Instead, he pressed closer, murmuring in a pleading tone.

“Let’s shower together.”

At some point, he wasn’t sure when, his clothes had come off. By the time he was aware, he was in the steam-filled bathroom, kissing Dohyeon. Water poured from the shower, and the air was thick with a heavy, lingering scent of pheromones.

“Haa… mm…”

Wooyeon clung to Dohyeon’s back, swallowing nervously. His hands kept slipping, but Dohyeon’s tongue was relentless, filling his mouth with a fervor that blurred the lines between water and saliva, each kiss sounding messy and wet.

Heat, softness, and a hazy mind made his head swim. Even the breath he took through parted lips felt like it could scorch him.

“Yeon-ah, look at me.”

Dohyeon cupped Wooyeon’s face, planting gentle kisses along his cheeks. Each light peck made Wooyeon’s eyelids flutter, and through his hazy vision, he could see the desire flickering in Dohyeon’s gaze.

“It’s so hot…”

“Hot?”

The bathroom was supposed to be for showering, yet they were barely focusing on that, too busy rubbing their lips together. Wooyeon panted, resting his forehead on Dohyeon’s shoulder, wondering why they’d bothered holding back last night.

“Here we are… but you’re just going to leave like this?”

With that, Dohyeon gently took hold of Wooyeon. Even just that touch made Wooyeon’s shoulders tremble. He was already hard, and even the smallest stimulus felt overwhelming.

“Ah… hng…”

Dohyeon’s large, slippery hand moved along him, stimulating him in ways that felt different from before, given how wet his body was. Somehow, it was more intense—enough to stir a faint sense of nervousness.

“Should I use my mouth?”

It was an enticing whisper, like a devil’s temptation. Dohyeon smiled kindly, but Wooyeon swallowed dryly and shook his head. Though it was clearly a refusal, Dohyeon knelt down in front of him anyway.

“Wait… ah!”

Dohyeon’s tongue teased Wooyeon’s sensitive tip, prompting him to grip Dohyeon’s hair reflexively. But before he could pull away, Dohyeon had already taken him fully into his mouth, down to the base.

“…!”

Even being touched by hand made him sensitive there, but now, with the delicate wetness of Dohyeon’s mouth, the sensation was beyond words. His thighs shook, and his whole body seemed to plunge into an overwhelming climax.

“…Haa…”

Wooyeon, eyes squeezed shut, released into Dohyeon’s mouth. As he finished, Dohyeon didn’t pull away, accepting everything. Wooyeon, shuddering with faint spasms, eventually collapsed weakly.

“Haa…”

Dohyeon swallowed the last traces, watching Wooyeon sit down, his gaze holding no hint of apology for the act. His gently curving eyes were tantalizingly mischievous.

“I told you to stop…”

“As long as it felt good, that’s what matters.”

Wooyeon held onto Dohyeon’s arm, trying to stand despite his wobbly legs. His strength kept failing him, but Dohyeon’s firm support kept him steady. Wrapped in Dohyeon’s broad chest, Wooyeon whispered in a breathy voice.

“…I want to try it too.”

The words slipped out, half impulsively. As expected, Dohyeon chuckled, stroking Wooyeon’s back.

“Why would you do that on your birthday?”

That—as if he hadn’t been the one initiating “that” all along.

With a hazy gaze, Wooyeon blinked, the remnants of pleasure still clinging to him, causing traces of pheromones to linger. His thoughts were sporadic, but his hand moved instinctively.

Slowly, his hand drifted down to grasp the rigid member in front of him—not his own, but Dohyeon’s, who was still holding him. As soon as Wooyeon’s hand moved along its length, a muffled groan escaped Dohyeon.

“Ugh…”

Resting his forehead between Dohyeon’s neck and shoulder, Wooyeon pressed his thumb against the sensitive tip, mirroring the gentle touch Dohyeon had given him earlier. Watching Dohyeon respond to every touch was more thrilling than he’d imagined.

“I’ll use my mouth for you.”

Dohyeon’s dark eyes flickered with hesitation. He didn’t respond, but Wooyeon knew he was considering it. Just as Wooyeon was about to continue, Dohyeon suddenly shifted Wooyeon’s body.

“Later.”

A soft kiss brushed Wooyeon’s ear, then trailed along his earlobe, down to his jawline, and finally his neck. With one arm wrapped firmly around Wooyeon’s waist, Dohyeon murmured, “Not now.”

Dohyeon didn’t explain what he meant, instead letting his hand slide down Wooyeon’s abdomen, stopping at his nipples.

“Ah…”

Something firm rubbed between Wooyeon’s cheeks, gliding along from his tailbone down to a sensitive spot just near the entrance. As Dohyeon’s fingers teased Wooyeon’s nipples, he whispered firmly, “Put your hands on the wall.”

“…Hng.”

“And keep your legs together.”

Wooyeon pressed his palms against the wall, obediently closing his thighs. He didn’t know what Dohyeon intended, but following Dohyeon’s guidance during these moments had never led him wrong. As Wooyeon settled into place, Dohyeon brushed a few kisses on his neck in approval.

“Don’t spread them.”

“Hm… mmm…”

Dohyeon’s hand traveled down and wrapped around Wooyeon’s now half-erect member, giving it a gentle touch. It responded immediately, rising in his hand. His other hand drifted lower, positioning himself between Wooyeon’s thighs.

“What are you doing?”

Dohyeon chuckled softly, nuzzling into Wooyeon’s neck. Droplets of water from his damp hair trickled down Wooyeon’s shoulder. With his free hand, Dohyeon tilted Wooyeon’s face and captured his lips in a slanted kiss.

“This… for now.”

Dohyeon’s shaft moved slowly back and forth between Wooyeon’s closed thighs. Even though it was only his legs, the sensation sent little jolts through Wooyeon. Dohyeon adjusted his pace, his suppressed voice spilling out between breaths.

“Even like this… I need you.”

“Ah…!”

Dohyeon pressed in firmly, rubbing himself against Wooyeon’s sensitive spot, making Wooyeon reflexively jerk his hips. He leaned his forehead against the wall, the strange sensations overwhelming despite the lack of direct contact.

“Hn…”

Dohyeon kept a steady, gradually increasing rhythm, exploring Wooyeon’s body with every touch. And just as Wooyeon felt the urge to part his legs, Dohyeon’s whisper reached his ear.

“Yeon-ah, your legs.”

“Ah… mmm…”

Each press and slide of Dohyeon’s tip teased against Wooyeon, grazing him up front and nudging sensitive areas at his core. The sensation on both fronts was overwhelming, but the subtle touches at his back felt unfairly tantalizing.

“Uh… mmm… hyung…”

Wooyeon twisted his head just enough to catch Dohyeon’s gaze, and the look they shared sent a spark through him. Pressing back with a trembling voice, Wooyeon pleaded softly.

“Please… I want you inside.”

Dohyeon stopped moving, and the pheromones that had been flooding the air vanished momentarily. Wooyeon, holding onto the wall, gently clasped Dohyeon’s wrist, lowering his gaze.

“Please… put it in….”

There was no need to say anything else. The moment he spoke, Dohyeon’s eyes darkened intensely. He let out a sigh and bit down firmly on Wooyeon’s earlobe.

“…Let’s go to bed.”

* * *

The impact of asking him to “put it in” was enormous. Without even time to dry off, Wooyeon spent the entire night at Dohyeon’s mercy on the bed. At first, he clung to the pillow, groaning, and later, he held onto the sheets, whimpering. The activity, teetering between fear and pleasure, only came to an end as dawn broke.

Wooyeon finally opened his eyes with the sun high in the sky. The soft sound of rain pattering down pulled him from his deep sleep. Through his half-lifted eyelids, he could see the sky shrouded in heavy clouds.

“…Ah.”

As he murmured, his voice came out hoarse. Slowly blinking, Wooyeon looked at the raindrops streaming down the window. How many condoms had they gone through last night? As he pondered this, a gentle voice interrupted.

“Did you sleep well?”

The one who had exhausted him all night was now caressing Wooyeon’s hair with a tender touch, planting a kiss on his cheek near his ear and pulling him close. Rolling over, Wooyeon nestled comfortably into Dohyeon’s arms.

“Your eyes are all puffy.”

Dohyeon’s face was full of smiles, as though he found something delightful. Unlike Wooyeon, who looked swollen and worn out, Dohyeon’s face was perfectly composed and clear. Feeling a bit mischievous, Wooyeon gave a small nip to the hand on his cheek.

“Ouch.”

Though it didn’t actually hurt, Dohyeon humored him by feigning a little pain. The funny thing was, this silly act did lift Wooyeon’s spirits.

“What time is it?”

“A little past one. And what are we going to do about your hoarse voice?”

“You’re the one who did this….”

Wooyeon replied irritably, burying his face in Dohyeon’s chest. Unlike Wooyeon, who wore an oversized t-shirt, Dohyeon was only in black briefs. It seemed Dohyeon had dressed Wooyeon while he slept but hadn’t put on any clothes himself.

“So warm….”

Maybe it was the cozy blanket, or the skin-to-skin contact, but the warmth made him feel drowsy again, as if he could easily drift back into a dream. But Dohyeon didn’t let him fall back into sleep so easily.

“I have a birthday present for you….”

At the mention of a present, Wooyeon perked up. He had already received gifts from Garam and Seonkyu (a bath bomb and a phone case), but a gift from Dohyeon felt different.

“…What’s the present?”

Wooyeon opened his eyes just a bit, his reaction openly hopeful, which made Dohyeon chuckle. He interlocked fingers with Wooyeon’s left hand and brought it close to his face.

“This.”

Their clasped left hands—specifically, his left wrist—now bore a watch with a sleek design that caught the light. Although the design appeared simple, the unique hands and the brand mark etched on the side were unmistakably recognizable to Wooyeon.

“I thought you’d know right away. Didn’t you feel anything?”

Wooyeon, stunned, stammered and looked down at the watch. Even someone like Wooyeon, who had almost no sense of money, knew the price range of this brand. It was definitely not something a college student could afford.

“This… isn’t this expensive?”

“Well….”

Dohyeon hesitated slightly, looking a bit troubled, before he gave a wink and smiled.

“Think of it as a reward for being a good son.”

Their eyes met, and almost by reflex, Dohyeon leaned in to place a soft kiss on Wooyeon’s cheek.

“Happy birthday.”

Hearing those words again felt just as good. Four years ago, Dohyeon had hoped to hear them from his teacher. Back then, Dohyeon disappeared before his birthday even arrived, but now, they were still together even after it had passed.

“I thought about giving you a ring, but I worried it might feel too overwhelming.”

Several replies hovered at the tip of his tongue—thanking him, saying he loved it, or admitting that even a ring wouldn’t feel burdensome at all.

As he internally cursed his lack of words, Dohyeon’s eyes crinkled into a warm smile.

“They’re matching watches.”

Only then did Wooyeon burrow into Dohyeon’s embrace, overcome with gratitude. Just one confession spoke louder than ten words of thanks.

“…I love you, hyung.”

“…”

“I really love you.”

He felt a comforting pheromone fill the air—dry, fresh, and familiar, though he wasn’t sure whose it was. Dohyeon chuckled, pulling Wooyeon close as if he’d never let go.

They lazed around in bed for about another hour. There wasn’t the intensity of the night before, but rather relaxed, entwined limbs and lighthearted conversation. The topic? “Why is your birthday so special, even on its own?”

“Is it that fascinating to have a birthday on Christmas Eve?”

“Of course. It’s impossible to forget.”

Wooyeon had already chosen Dohyeon’s birthday gift a full six months early. Since Dohyeon was tall, a coat would suit him well, and a knitted scarf would look just as perfect. Now that they had matching watches, other couple items seemed like a good idea too.

“Yeon-ah.”

Dohyeon gazed at Wooyeon, who was sprawled on top of him, looking up at him like a puppy.

“I just wanted to ask, casually…”

He seemed to be taking his time with his words. It reminded Wooyeon of a similar moment last night—hadn’t Dohyeon asked him to come live at his place?

“Do you want to move in with me?”

“…What?”

Wooyeon’s eyes widened as he stared in shock. This was different from the casual “stay over for a night” suggestion; it wasn’t something he could answer right away. Dohyeon gently stroked his hair as if to reassure him not to worry.

“Even back when I tutored you, I felt like it’d be too lonely for you to be alone in that house.”

Wooyeon’s mind blanked out, a calm like a still lake spreading where anxious thoughts had been. Dohyeon continued, speaking softly with a serious look in his eyes.

“I’m not asking for an immediate answer. We’d need your father’s permission, and I know it might be inconvenient for you too. There’s the risk with the reporters lurking around the apartment and all that.”

“…”

“But, Yeon-ah, I just want you to have somewhere to escape to when things get too hard.”

It was such a gentle sentiment it nearly brought Wooyeon to tears. Dohyeon’s voice was steady, but Wooyeon’s heart was anything but. He could already envision the lonely scenes waiting for him when he returned home, the days that would inevitably repeat. All those thoughts tangled up inside him.

Honestly, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted. Having a place to escape the prison of his current life… it would make each day so much easier, and he’d never have to feel that suffocating loneliness again.

“I…”

Wooyeon spoke slowly, feeling choked. Unlike the quick answer he gave last night when Dohyeon asked him to stay, the words wouldn’t come. It felt as if something was pressing against his throat, constricting his chest.

“That’s…”

Just then, his phone began to vibrate. The repeated buzzing signaled a call rather than a message.

“Looks like you have a call.”

Wooyeon rose, as if using it as an excuse to change the subject. Instead of holding him back, Dohyeon simply reached for the phone on the side table. The call was on Wooyeon’s phone.

“…”

The moment he saw the screen, Wooyeon’s face fell. He didn’t scowl exactly, but there was a hint of distress. Staring at the phone for a second, he finally sighed.

“I… I think I have to go.”

Mr. Yoon. Just hearing the name lodged a heavy lump in his throat, bringing him back to reality with a jolt.

* * *

The high walls looked even grander in the rain. The downpour left dark marks on the brick, traces that reminded Wooyeon of his own murky thoughts.

“Be careful getting home.”

As soon as Wooyeon hung up the phone, Dohyeon offered to drive him, making sure his birthday gifts were neatly packed in a clean shopping bag for him. Wooyeon stood by the gate, looking as downcast as an animal headed to the slaughterhouse.

“I don’t want to go…”

It wasn’t like they’d never see each other again, but the thought of parting weighed heavily on him. The moment he stepped through that gate, he’d be alone again. It wasn’t like he couldn’t leave if he wanted, but the thought of returning on his own left a bitter taste.

“We’ll see each other tomorrow.”

Dohyeon’s voice was soft as he gently brushed Wooyeon’s cheek, trying to soothe him, but somehow it only made the feeling of longing intensify.

“Go on inside; I’ll wait until you’re in.”

Finally, Wooyeon sighed and turned around, reluctantly pressing the entry code. Before he could even touch the keypad, a mechanical beep sounded. The security system deactivated, and the heavy door swung open with a deep sound.

Through the narrow opening, Wooyeon saw someone dressed entirely in black—a composed figure with slicked-back hair and a dark suit, almost like a grim reaper in the night. If it weren’t for the chauffeur holding an umbrella for him, he could have easily passed for a ghost.

“Where have you been, showing up only now…”

Suhyang’s tired face softened slightly as he spoke, his tone low. Although he often appeared stern, tonight he seemed particularly tense. His pheromones were so intense that, even from several steps away, Wooyeon found it hard to breathe.

“…Welcome back.”

Wooyeon spoke as though he were echoing Suhyang’s words. Although Wooyeon was technically the one who had returned, it was Suhyang who had been away much longer. Suhyang looked back and forth between Wooyeon and Dohyeon, pressing his temples as if exhausted.

“You’re late.”

But it wasn’t particularly late. Thanks to the long daylight hours, it was still bright outside. It wasn’t even close to dinnertime.

“You should’ve been home on a day like this. Do I really need to call to track you down?”

Wooyeon bit his lip and took a step inside the gate.

On a day like this. Suhyang likely didn’t mean his birthday; he was probably referring to the memorial day of Wooyeon’s mother, the Omega mother whom Suhyang had loved but Wooyeon barely remembered.

“I just stepped out for a bit.”

“I heard you’ve been out since yesterday. If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.”

Suhyang gestured to the chauffeur, who approached Wooyeon and opened an umbrella over him. Casting a quick glance at Dohyeon, Wooyeon said in a barely audible voice, “Thank you for seeing me home.”

Once that gate closed, this joyful day would be over. He’d be back in a silent house, reheating cold seaweed soup and opening gifts sent by people he didn’t even know, just as he did every year.

“…”

Dohyeon watched Suhyang and Wooyeon with an unreadable expression. Wooyeon moved forward, but Dohyeon remained standing there, as if he had something left to say.

“You should go now, too.”

Suhyang’s cold, curt voice struck like ice. As he turned to walk away, he added in an exasperated tone, “I’ll assume you don’t know what today means; that’s why you came this far.”

Hearing that made something in Wooyeon snap. The emotions he’d been suppressing surged up, and he let out a self-deprecating whisper.

“Today, of all days…”

His voice was so faint it barely rose above the sound of the rain. If the rain hadn’t been pouring down so hard, no one might have heard it. But Suhyang did, and his response was ice-cold.

“Seon Wooyeon.”

Just his name, yet it made Wooyeon’s whole body freeze. Just as always, the words he’d wanted to say vanished from his throat.

“Don’t act so irresponsibly. Not today.”

As if there had ever been a time when Suhyang would listen to him. Wooyeon felt that familiar frustration well up, as though Suhyang was saying it was only today that he wasn’t allowed to speak.

“…”

Wooyeon bit down on his lower lip, lifting his gaze. The rain was still falling, and the chauffeur held the umbrella, unmoving. Wooyeon clenched his fist as he looked at Suhyang’s face, weary with exhaustion and stress.

“Agh…”

It felt like everything was sinking into a muddy mess. As good as last night had been, today felt equally disastrous. The happiness he’d felt was crumbling, his once-bright heart shredded by sharp words.

“I’m really done with this.”

With that, Wooyeon stepped away, not toward the house but back toward Dohyeon standing by the gate.

“Seon Wooyeon!”

Even as Suhyang’s sharp voice cut through the air, Wooyeon didn’t stop. He didn’t notice the rare look of surprise on the chauffeur’s face, either. Fixated only on Dohyeon, he took his arm and said, without preamble, “Let’s go. I’m not going back to that house.”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Suhyang strode toward Wooyeon, furious, and at some point had dropped his umbrella to the ground. Just as he reached to grab Wooyeon’s arm, Dohyeon stepped between them, blocking Suhyang.

“Chairman, please wait.”

“Move.”

“Chairman.”

“Did you not hear me? I said move.”

Suhyang was an Alpha, one who could rival even the most dominant of his kind. His intense pheromones prickled over Dohyeon’s shoulder, unmistakably sharp and stinging. Yet Dohyeon, calm as ever, kept Wooyeon shielded behind him.

“Please, calm down.”

Dohyeon’s voice was low and steady, more composed than ever as he held Wooyeon’s hand tightly. The warmth of his palm brought Wooyeon a small measure of comfort.

“Don’t interfere and move aside. This is an issue between Wooyeon and me to resolve.”

Suhyang pressed his fingers against his temples and glared fiercely at Dohyeon. His eyes, sharp as a predator’s, showed little room for patience today. From the moment he opened the door, he had looked tense and on edge.

“I’ll step aside, just…”

“Kim Dohyeon.”

The single word, saturated with pheromones, made Dohyeon instinctively clamp his mouth shut. Suhyang spoke in a flat voice.

“I have nothing to discuss with someone like you who doesn’t even know what parents are.”

“Mom!”

The words were cruel. Even Wooyeon, who had been quietly listening, felt hurt, though Dohyeon didn’t so much as blink as he replied.

“Why wouldn’t I understand? While others only had two, I had four.”

Suhyang fell silent, wearing an unreadable expression. Though it might have been his imagination, he looked slightly taken aback. Turning his head, Dohyeon sighed, his tone polite.

“Not today. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

“…”

“There’s nothing we can discuss properly under these circumstances.”

This time, Suhyang didn’t immediately respond, but clenched his teeth before speaking.

“Of all days, today…”

“It’s Wooyeon’s birthday today.”

Suhyang wasn’t the only one who froze. Wooyeon flinched at the unexpected mention of his name. Dohyeon’s calm voice continued as usual.

“It’s the chairman’s son’s birthday today.”

He couldn’t understand why he chose that moment to let his emotions show or why the tears he’d been holding back suddenly felt ready to spill.

“While the chairman was away, Wooyeon spent the day alone at home. In that large house, he just watched the rain all day, this little kid.”

“…”

“It’s a miraculous day, the day the chairman’s son was born. Even if we can’t celebrate, he shouldn’t have to feel like he’d be better off never born.”

Suhyang silently opened her mouth as if to speak. Her eyes, unfocused and trembling, seemed somehow shocked. Wooyeon leaned his forehead against Dohyeon’s back, clutching his collar.

“…That’s enough.”

The now heavy rain pounded loudly between them. Dohyeon’s heartbeat thudded distinctly, clear even to Wooyeon. Though no tears fell, the resentment he’d held in finally burst free.

“Stop it, please, teacher.”

It was a tearful plea. As soon as Dohyeon heard those words, he turned his head. He covered his eyes with one hand, seeming deeply affected. Wooyeon stayed still for a long time before lifting his head to look at Suhyang.

“If only…”

“…”

“You’d taken me with you to visit mother’s grave.”

There was no answer. The three of them, now thoroughly drenched by the rain, each remained in their own silent thoughts. Wooyeon pulled Dohyeon’s arm, stepping outside the gate.

* * *

Nothing crumbles as easily as a tower built without care. Any balance that seemed intact could easily collapse with even the slightest intrusion. The relationship between Wooyeon and Suhyang was nothing more than a precarious tightrope, one that could snap at any moment.

A day filled only with wounds. Even after that day passed, the monsoon continued for a long time.

Wooyeon stayed at Dohyeon’s home, and no word came from Suhyang. It seemed almost an anticlimactic end, as if she could let go over something so trivial.

“Which one do you think is me?”

“Uh… this one?”

“Wow, you got it right away.”

One early afternoon, Wooyeon woke up and looked through Dohyeon’s yearbook with him. He had promised to show it someday, though it ended up being delayed until now.

“You really suit your school uniform.”

Even among the students in uniform, Dohyeon’s head stood out, tall above the rest. He had grown quickly and always sat in the back row at school. Wooyeon took in the sight of the young Dohyeon in the picture, thinking he’d always wanted to see him in his school uniform.

It was only a few days later, while having a late dinner with Dohyeon, that Wooyeon received a call. They had been discussing how unusually long the monsoon season was when Wooyeon checked the phone resting on the table, his face instantly stiffening.

“What’s wrong?”

The caller was none other than Suhyang. The name “Mom” showing on the screen felt so strange it made his mind go blank. She always reached out through Yoon, the chauffeur; this was the first direct call.

“A call…”

Wooyeon was so stunned that he didn’t think of answering. Whether to pick up or not left him in a daze, and the call ended before he decided. But before long, the phone started ringing again.

“Are you not going to answer?”

Dohyeon asked casually, but Wooyeon struggled to respond. How could a simple call make his throat feel so dry?

The reason Wooyeon answered the call was because of a single sentence Dohyeon spoke.

“What if something’s happened?”

Wooyeon pressed a hand against his stomach, feeling nauseous. The broad study, filled with a thick scent of alpha pheromones and woody undertones, matched the alpha sitting across from him on the sofa.

“Tea?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

It was Suhyang, with whom he had lost contact for as long as four years. Although she was the mother he’d spent his entire life with, she felt like a stranger more than anyone else. Even Dohyeon, who had been so unknowable, began to show his true colors after spending just a few days together, but Wooyeon felt like even several years wouldn’t reveal Suhyang’s inner thoughts.

“Just get to the point.”

Not long ago, Wooyeon had received a call from Suhyang and, pretending otherwise, was extremely tense. He couldn’t help but worry that something might have happened, just as Dohyeon had suggested—an accident, an illness, some unavoidable threat. Of course, Suhyang, who had an entourage of bodyguards and more than three personal doctors, would probably be able to avoid even that.

“Yes… I suppose I should.”

Fortunately, Suhyang’s business wasn’t some grim accident. She only asked about his schedule and briefly suggested he stop by the family home if he could. He could have ignored it and pretended not to know, but Dohyeon’s words held him back.

“To truly start over, you need to bring things to a complete end. Like with you and me, Wooyeon.”

Of all the examples he could have chosen, he had to say that. Unable to argue back, Wooyeon answered that he would meet Suhyang. It was a reluctant response, but even that was enough to put a look of relief on Dohyeon’s face.

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the air once more. Since Wooyeon had entered the study, there hadn’t been a single moment when the silence lifted. Even as they spoke, the stillness tinged with awkwardness hovered constantly in the study.

“If you don’t have anything more to say, I’ll be going.”

Unable to bear the atmosphere, Wooyeon stood up. He thought he had shown enough courtesy, but Suhyang’s gaze turned sharp at once.

“Sit down. We’re not done talking.”

Her attitude remained just as overbearing as ever. He thought something might have changed since she had called him first, but the years he had spent watching Suhyang were too long for him to hope for such a miracle. Realizing this, a bitter laugh escaped him.

“I thought you called to apologize.”

Even though he knew better, why had he let himself hope? One impossible event was enough in his life: the time he and his teacher had become lovers.

“I was foolish. Mother isn’t someone who would do that.”

Saying this, Wooyeon picked up the umbrella he had set beside him. He no longer felt any resentment, just a fervent hope that it wouldn’t rain on his way home. It had been raining when he arrived at the family home, so there was little chance the monsoon season’s evening rain would stop.

“From now on, please have Mr. Yoon call me. When I see your number on my phone…”

“Wooyeon.”

“…Yes?”

Wooyeon suddenly stopped walking. The way she called him was unfamiliar to him—she hadn’t called him “Seon Wooyeon,” but simply “Wooyeon.” It felt stranger than when Kang Junseong had said his name.

“…Please, go ahead.”

Without realizing it, Wooyeon gave Suhyang yet another chance. Rather than just returning home, he thought it better to be sure of what she wanted to say. Luckily, Suhyang spoke about a reason he’d heard several times before.

“I wanted to protect you.”

“…That’s not protection.”

Wooyeon’s reply, too, was something he had said before. Suhyang seemed to have anticipated this and brought up a completely unfamiliar name this time.

“Hayeon…”

Her voice was filled with a longing that seemed to crumble her gaze, which had once seemed unbreakable, with a single name. Suhyang, her brow deeply furrowed, began to speak in a voice full of restraint.

“Your mother… she’s the one who gave you the name Wooyeon.”

It was something Wooyeon was hearing for the first time. He had never once asked about the origin of his name. As if in a trance, he sat back down, and Suhyang gave a faint, bitter smile.

“Technically, it was supposed to be a nickname for the baby before birth.”

* * *

Seon Hayeon.

It had been so long that he had forgotten the name, which had already faded into the recesses of his memory. He had barely heard it and never thought to remember it, even if he did.

Suhyang went on to talk about Hayeon for quite some time. The order of her words was all over the place, and she would start speaking only to go back to the beginning abruptly. Wooyeon held on to every faded memory she shared, leaving none to slip by.

“Her body was so frail that she couldn’t even travel far.”

She said Hayeon was pale-skinned and as delicate as if she could break. The family hadn’t been poor, but treating her illness had drained their resources. They were nearly on the brink of bankruptcy when she finally met Suhyang and Wooyeon.

“My family was strongly against it, but at the time, I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

The connection that began at the young age of seventeen continued through their twenties. Initially as friends, then lovers, and finally as partners who promised a future together.

“After I found out about Hayeon’s pregnancy, I took her home.”

Until then, Suhyang believed everything would turn out fine. They were already legally married, and he thought he could simply cure Hayeon’s illness by investing millions in treatments. What he overlooked, however, was the fundamental difference in the worlds he and Hayeon had grown up in.

“I was a fool. Back then, I thought the only solution was to inherit the company as soon as possible. I was so focused on securing the future that I ignored the immediate present.”

Hayeon withered away under Suhyang’s neglect, hounded by the relentless scrutiny of the media. Unable to withstand a life where every move was watched, she withdrew deeper into the house.

“I wasn’t the one who confined her.”

By the time Suhyang realized her illness wouldn’t improve, it was too late. With no will to recover, no amount of money could make a difference. As the due date approached, Hayeon continued to grow frailer.

“Had she never met me, maybe she would have lived a happier life.”

What he once believed to be fate ended in a tragedy that was beyond redemption. Hayeon passed away before Wooyeon was even born, and skilled doctors managed to save Wooyeon. Despite naming Wooyeon with the “Seon” family name, Suhyang couldn’t bring himself to look at Wooyeon’s face, which bore such a resemblance to Hayeon.

“Except for bringing back the dead, there’s nothing that can’t be done with money.”

Having lost the person he loved, Suhyang didn’t want to lose the child as well. Though he hadn’t properly embraced Wooyeon, he feared someone else might covet him, so he decided to hide Wooyeon. Erasing traces of Hayeon, and making Wooyeon seem as if he didn’t exist, was not a difficult task for Suhyang.

“I couldn’t protect her, so all I wanted was to protect you.”

Suhyang confessed his love for Hayeon, not as a memory but as a present truth. Wooyeon couldn’t even fathom the depth of such love, nor could he easily define the way it had twisted after losing its intended recipient.

“I suppose… I owe you an apology.”

For someone who had never bowed to anyone, those words must have been hard to say. Proud, overbearing, and embodying the typical chaebol, his apology came out awkwardly.

“I’m sorry.”

Naturally, Wooyeon didn’t offer any consolation, as it was anything but okay. He had no intention of comforting Suhyang by pretending otherwise.

“I don’t understand what you’re apologizing for.”

For Wooyeon, it was an obvious question. This was a grudge built up over twenty years. How could it be resolved as quickly as a passing monsoon rain?

“I got a call… from that person.”

It was clear who “that person” was. There was only one person who would dare call Suhyang to question him about Wooyeon.

“I wasn’t the only one who lost a family, but I only realized that too late—and to think I had to hear it from someone outside our family.”

Suhyang’s expression was truly remorseful. The man who once seemed as if he’d never shed a tear forced a bitter smile.

“Now, it’s just you and me… Do you think you’d come back if I asked you to come home?”

It was a bold, if not audacious, question. Wooyeon let out a chuckle and shook his head. Even if it hadn’t been Suhyang who confined Hayeon, he was the one who had confined Wooyeon.

“So… is that why you came to my place?”

Lying beside him, Dohyeon gently stroked Wooyeon’s hair. As his hand tousled through Wooyeon’s hair, he covered Wooyeon’s neck with his palm. Wooyeon shivered slightly and shook his head.

“I sorted things out before I left. Once the second semester starts, I’ll be moving out again. I plan to stay somewhere closer to school and focus on university for a change.”

“Will it be safe?”

“I think there will be more security guards.”

After the conversation ended, Wooyeon got in the car with Driver Yoon to head to Dohyeon’s place. Despite witnessing everything that day, Driver Yoon never brought it up. That’s probably why he had remained by Suhyang’s side for so long.

“He may have apologized, but people don’t change so easily. If forgiveness were that simple, I wouldn’t be in conflict with him now, would I?”

Wooyeon felt indescribably strange. Relieved, yet uneasy—a lack of reality as nothing had fundamentally changed. Dohyeon silently observed him, then pulled Wooyeon into his arms.

“Well… Some say the way to get along with difficult family members is to keep your distance.”

“Is that from personal experience?”

“Halfway, yes.”

A subtle scent of pheromones wafted in, and after smelling Suhyang’s all day, Wooyeon finally felt at ease. He marveled at how comforting this scent could be and wrapped his arms around Dohyeon’s waist.

“I never knew they genuinely loved each other.”

Wooyeon had heard bits and pieces about Hayeon from the staff. Gossip exchanged while working around the house had reached young Wooyeon’s ears all too clearly.

Rumors about the vice-chairman bringing in a poor Omega, how his obsessive behavior eventually led to her death. Some even said the young master would end up like that Omega. Those words still lingered vividly in his memory.

“It’s hard to imagine the chairman loving anyone.”

“I think so too.”

That Ji Suhyang had a lover? Wooyeon found it impossible to imagine, even though she was his own mother. Brief glimpses of her expressions were erased from his mind as if his brain rejected them.

“Teacher.”

“….”

“Sunbae.”

“….”

“Hyung.”

“Yes? What?”

Wooyeon chuckled and buried his face in Dohyeon’s chest. In the past, he would call him “teacher” as needed, but now he openly responded only to “hyung.”

“Just… because I’m grateful.”

“What’s there to be grateful for?”

There were so many things that wouldn’t have changed if Dohyeon hadn’t been there. Like Wooyeon’s middle school years, his way of thinking, and even his attitude towards Suhyang.

“This and that…”

“This and that?”

“…I heard you called my mother.”

“…I got a call from her.”

It was obvious who “she” was. Only one person in the world would dare to call Suhyang to question him about Wooyeon.

“I wasn’t the only one who lost family, but I realized that too late. And I didn’t expect to hear it from someone outside the family.”

Suhyang looked genuinely sorry, with an uncharacteristically bitter smile on his face, someone usually impenetrable, as though he wouldn’t bleed even if pierced by a needle.

“Now it’s just you and me… would you come back if I asked you to?”

It was a bold, shameless question. Naturally, Wooyeon chuckled and shook his head. Even if Suhyang wasn’t the one who confined Hayeon, he was the one who’d confined Wooyeon.

“…I…”

Dohyeon hesitated after starting to speak, tightening his arms around Wooyeon as he went on, though his words came out without much confidence.

“I thought I was offering you a place to escape.”

The term “escape” didn’t sound entirely positive, and his gentle tone that followed was the same.

“I worried that by asking you to stay with me, I might have fueled the fire.”

Dohyeon probably thought he was responsible for causing this situation. He might have worried he’d amplified something that could have quietly passed by. And he did it with such kindness.

“I won’t say I didn’t think that…”

Wooyeon slowly opened his mouth, choosing his words carefully. He couldn’t deny that he’d thought about Dohyeon’s place the day he left home. It was true that knowing he had a place to go made him more willing to walk away.

“But it was just an excuse.”

Yet, it was bound to happen at some point, even without Dohyeon. The timing had only moved up slightly; Wooyeon had always wanted to leave that place.

Dohyeon quietly patted Wooyeon’s back as he listened.

“The chairman probably feels the same.”

“…”

“Even if it wasn’t me, he would have apologized to you someday.”

His breathing was steady, and the heartbeat Wooyeon heard in his ear was calm and warm.

“So don’t think it was all because of me.”

Dohyeon’s words hit the mark, understanding Wooyeon’s thoughts perfectly. Wooyeon had believed it was all thanks to Dohyeon, but it seemed Dohyeon had picked up on that. Of course, it was Kim Dohyeon, quick-witted and ever-attentive.

“…Should we go on a trip?”

“A trip?”

To Wooyeon, Dohyeon was his first love, someone he had never forgotten, a comfort, a savior, and now even a place of escape.

“Since the rainy season’s over starting today, I think it’d be nice to go somewhere.”

Four years ago, they had separated before even two seasons could pass. From spring to summer, in that brief moment. In those few days of rain, Wooyeon had found himself immersed in Dohyeon, like being drenched in spring rain.

“I don’t mind staying local or going abroad…”

The bond that had ended before the rainy season even began now persisted past its end. Surely, even as the seasons changed again, Dohyeon would stay by Wooyeon’s side.

“Anywhere is great as long as it’s with you.”

Wooyeon’s heart swelled with warmth. Dohyeon let out a soft laugh, nodding slowly. His response—”Anywhere’s fine with you”—was full of affection.

“I like you too, Yeon-ah.”

Though it was an answer that didn’t exactly match the question, Wooyeon didn’t point that out. Instead, he closed his eyes as Dohyeon leaned in for a kiss.

Even after the rain stopped, Wooyeon was still nestled in his arms. The dark clouds that once tormented his heart had cleared without a trace. It was a night without rain, and he was no longer alone.