Alpha Trauma Vol. 4 Chapter 5 - Extra (2)

“Hyung, you’re making it uncomfortable.”

“I’m more comfortable this way.”

Well, knowing Wooyeon, he probably just saw me changing clothes or something. The reason for his vague answer was probably because he was still upset about the fact that he had liked Yunwoo. If it was for revenge, he had succeeded, but the fact that he still remembered it was the issue.

[You said his name was Daniel?]

[…Huh?]

As soon as Dohyeon spoke, Daniel blinked in surprise. Since he had been silent all along, he hadn’t expected Dohyeon to speak in English. Dohyeon smiled warmly and offered him his luggage.

[There’s an extra room at my house, so stay here for now.]

It was the same smile that Wooyeon had called fake. It was a smile that put everyone at ease, except Wooyeon. Fortunately, Daniel seemed to be one of the latter, so Dohyeon decided to continue with this momentum.

[Hotels are boring, right? Don’t you think?]

The three of them went up to the house together. In the elevator heading up, Daniel looked at Dohyeon with a somewhat ambiguous expression. His gaze seemed to hold both curiosity and animosity, and it was so direct that it couldn’t be mistaken.

But Dohyeon ignored his gaze without blinking. He also pretended not to hear Wooyeon’s whisper, as if asking him to reconsider. Maintaining a neutral face wasn’t difficult for him.

[Come in. Take off your shoes.]

A house that was too big for one person came in handy at times like this. Even though he had a bedroom, study, and dressing room, there was still a guest room left. Dohyeon gave Daniel the guest room next to the bedroom he shared with Wooyeon.

[Unpack your things here. The bathroom and restroom are in the living room, but feel free to use the one connected to my room.]

The large room, furnished with a bed and wardrobe, was occasionally used by his younger sibling, Jina, when she visited. When Wooyeon had stayed over before, he was supposed to be in this room, but he had ended up sleeping in Dohyeon’s room—a fact Wooyeon would never know.

[If I use this room, where will Wooyeon sleep?]

Daniel, who had been eyeing the room with bright eyes, now looked around, opening the wardrobe and drawers. Wooyeon, who had been standing with a slightly sour expression, responded nonchalantly.

[I’ll use the room next door.]

[Hmm… I see.]

Dohyeon leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched Daniel. Sitting on the bed, Daniel pressed down on the mattress, smiling slightly.

[Then let’s sleep here together.]

Dohyeon’s face immediately stiffened. After bringing him all the way here, Daniel was still saying things that flipped his stomach. Daniel, oblivious or pretending not to know, added with a casual tone.

[We can sleep in separate rooms for a few days. The bed’s big enough, so it’s perfect.]

His grinning face was infuriating. It was one thing for friends to share a room, but with an ex-lover sitting right there, it was a whole different story. Somehow, even though they hadn’t mentioned living together, Daniel had already asked which room he would use.

[That’s not happening.]

Dohyeon immediately rejected Daniel’s suggestion. Wooyeon, who had been murmuring something under his breath, glanced at Dohyeon. He grabbed Wooyeon’s arm without changing his expression.

[I can’t sleep alone at night.]

He gently entwined their fingers, which startled and tightened slightly. Daniel stared at their clasped hands before asking.

[Why can’t you sleep alone?]

[Because it’s scary.]

It was a ridiculously bold answer. Wooyeon, too, laughed softly and mumbled, “Scary…” Dohyeon didn’t let go of his hand and pulled Wooyeon toward him.

[Take your time unpacking, then come out. Let’s eat something.]

With that, Dohyeon led Wooyeon out of the room. Daniel didn’t follow, but Dohyeon could hear his laughter as if the air was deflating behind them. Wooyeon silently followed Dohyeon, then playfully spoke up.

“You’re scared to sleep alone?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?”

As he answered, a smile escaped his lips. He couldn’t help but find it absurd. When had he ever thought that sleeping alone was scary? Wooyeon seemed just as stunned, his voice tinged with laughter.

“Then what did you do when I wasn’t here?”

“I cried and slept holding my pillow.”

“Wow… no shame at all.”

Dohyeon stopped suddenly and turned to look at Wooyeon. They had reached the door to the bedroom. Before he could say anything more, Dohyeon suddenly lowered his head.

[… ]

With a shy sound, their lips parted. Wooyeon, perhaps longing for the kiss, squinted his eyes. Dohyeon grinned, rubbing their noses together.

“I kissed it.”

It was a childish joke, but Wooyeon didn’t mock him. Instead, he blushed and fiddled with their intertwined hands.

“If you’re going to lie like that… don’t you think this is a bit too little?”

His free hand subtly grabbed Dohyeon’s collar. With a clear intention behind the gesture, Dohyeon gently brushed his eyes with his fingers. Once again, their lips met and this time, they didn’t part for a long while.

Daniel came out to the living room after a while. Having changed into comfortable clothes, he immediately said he was tired today and would rest at home, and then wanted to order some delivery food. Dohyeon readily handed over his phone and helped him choose what he wanted to eat.

The menu Daniel chose included a lunch box and tteokbokki. He had mentioned several times that he had wanted to try tteokbokki, which he had heard about from Wooyeon. Considering that Wooyeon hadn’t eaten yet, Dohyeon decided to hold off on the tteokbokki for dinner and ordered a lunch box with Korean food first. Fortunately, the food tasted good, and Daniel seemed satisfied.

The day passed surprisingly well. It was amusing to see Daniel be amazed by the different types of delivery food and to witness how quickly the food arrived. While it was a bit annoying to listen to the private conversations between Wooyeon and Daniel, the way they teasingly tried to make him eavesdrop actually seemed kind of cute.

[You want to visit the university?]

The next morning, Daniel, who had just seen Dohyeon, immediately asked if he could visit the university. There was no greeting like “Did you sleep well?” and he didn’t even ask if Wooyeon was still asleep.

[Yeah, I was curious about the university Wooyeon goes to.]

Was it shamelessness or just his sociability? Dohyeon awkwardly trailed off while looking at his disheveled blonde hair.

[That’s not difficult, but…]

Dohyeon had met many kinds of people in his life, but Daniel was a strange one he hadn’t encountered before. He didn’t treat people like invisible figures, didn’t directly provoke jealousy, and yet here he was, speaking to Dohyeon so casually today.

Dohyeon was perceptive about people’s reactions and feelings. He had already figured out, after just one day, that Daniel did not view Wooyeon in a romantic way. First, Daniel didn’t seem jealous about any physical closeness between Wooyeon and Dohyeon. Second, his gaze towards Wooyeon showed nothing more than friendship.

So why was Daniel acting so unpredictable with Dohyeon?

It wasn’t that Dohyeon thought he had an unpleasant appearance. His gentle eyes and well-defined features were pleasant, and while he’d heard the word “likable” before, “disliked” was something he had never heard. (Taegyeom was the only exception.)

Despite that, Daniel had regarded him with a cold gaze ever since he entered the café with Wooyeon. Even when they shook hands and greeted each other, he deliberately spoke in short sentences. However, Dohyeon didn’t sense any hatred, so he remained calm.

In any case, it meant Daniel’s antagonism wasn’t directed at “Kim Dohyeon” but rather something else. In fact, the night before, Daniel had spoken to him freely, which made the situation even more contradictory.

[Then I’ll take you after breakfast. It’s not far from here.]

[Oh, I have something I want for breakfast.]

[What do you want to eat?]

Normally, Dohyeon wouldn’t have cared about how Daniel evaluated him. He had long realized it was hard to be loved by everyone, so he wouldn’t have paid any attention to some foreigner who’d soon return to his home country.

But he did care this time because Daniel was Wooyeon’s friend and the only person who had taken care of Wooyeon when he wasn’t around. Even if it might be driven by jealousy, there was a clear bond between them.

Or perhaps it was sympathy for a relationship that had started off wrong, like his own.

[Isn’t “Kimchi Jjigae” available for delivery?]

[It is. Do you want that?]

[Not delivery… I want to eat homemade food. Can’t you cook?]

Dohyeon smiled in spite of himself, seeing Daniel demand something so blatantly. Whatever his intentions were, it was clear that he wanted to bother him while Wooyeon wasn’t around. His expression made it obvious that he didn’t think Dohyeon could cook and was requesting it with a mocking tone.

[I’ll make it.]

That was a bit cheeky, but it was cute.

[Sit and wait. If you have nothing to do while waiting, look up something you want to do today.]

Anyway, Dohyeon wanted to keep Daniel on his side. He wanted to be recognized as the right person for Wooyeon and hear how Wooyeon had been doing in the U.S. He wanted to know what kind of life Wooyeon had lived without him, and if his absence had affected him much. It would be nice to confirm those things.

[…You really will make it?]

[Yeah.]

Dohyeon had made kimchi jjigae for Wooyeon several times. The picky young master liked it, so it would probably be better than delivery food. Though he wasn’t particularly good at cooking, he wasn’t bad at it either.

Dohyeon entered the kitchen, leaving Daniel, who was lost in thought, behind. As he took out the kimchi from the fridge, Daniel, who had followed him, peeked into the refrigerator. He seemed fascinated by the side dishes and drinks inside, as if he had never seen them before.

[Korean beer! I like this!]

Daniel pointed at a blue can like a child who found a toy. It reminded Dohyeon of when Wooyeon’s eyes had lit up upon seeing an arcade. No wonder they were friends—they had strange similarities.

“I can see why you two are friends.”

Dohyeon muttered to himself as he closed the fridge door. Daniel blinked a couple of times before smiling brightly. His head tilted slightly.

[What did you say?]

[Nothing.]

It would’ve been nice if there were some canned ham or tuna, but unfortunately, they were out. The only reason the side dishes were there was because he had been taking care of Wooyeon. At his home, Wooyeon had probably eaten only the best food, and Dohyeon couldn’t just feed him fast food every day.

[Are you going to stay there? Go wait in the living room.]

[Want to watch while you cook.]

This was exactly why Dohyeon found Daniel hard to read. Usually, when people didn’t like someone, they wouldn’t want to be in the same space, but Daniel maintained a strangely unbothered attitude. As long as Wooyeon’s name wasn’t mentioned, he seemed like a curious tourist.

[Kimchi? Did you make this too?]

[No, I bought it.]

[I thought Koreans make kimchi every winter… ]

[It’s different for every household. These days, a lot of people buy it.]

Dohyeon took out a pot and skillfully began stir-frying the kimchi. With a savory smell, the sizzling sound of cooking filled the air. Daniel sniffed and wrinkled his nose.

[I really love the smell of kimchi.]

His voice was filled with awe. He had reacted similarly when eating tteokbokki the day before. He liked Korean beer, and he liked the smell of kimchi. Maybe he would like hanok too.

[But is Wooyeon still asleep?]

“……”

He froze, unsure of what to say. It would have been fine to just say “yes,” but for some reason, his conscience pricked at him. After all, he was partly to blame for Wooyeon sleeping in so late.

“Hmm… Hyung, just a moment…”

“Shh, don’t make noise.”

Last night, as usual, Wooyeon had been unable to sleep and snuggled into Dohyeon’s arms. His body temperature was warm, and his pheromones were in full force. Without hesitation, Dohyeon had kissed Wooyeon, and that was the start of everything. Though he hadn’t gone as far as intercourse, even the light petting seemed too much.

[…He must be tired.]

Dohyeon muttered vaguely and poured water into the stir-fried kimchi. Recently, his own sleep had decreased, but he chose to ignore that fact. It had all started with him, but Wooyeon was always the one to set things in motion.

[Is that so?]

Fortunately, Daniel didn’t ask any more questions and began humming a tune. He seemed to be in a better mood from the fragrant smell of kimchi stew. The dish was coming along nicely. When it reached a simmer, it seemed like the perfect time to wake Wooyeon.

After a while, casual questions and answers passed between them. Daniel asked if Dohyeon could make all the dishes he knew, and Dohyeon replied that if he knew the ingredients and the method, he could. Then he made some scrambled eggs.

Wooyeon woke up just when Dohyeon was about to go and wake him. As usual, he turned toward the familiar pheromones and saw Wooyeon stumbling into the kitchen. He rubbed his eyes as if in disbelief.

“…When did you two get so close?”

It was certainly a strange sight. The two, who had met for the first time just yesterday, were now in the kitchen, making kimchi stew together. It wasn’t surprising that Wooyeon was confused.

“Daniel said he wanted kimchi stew.”

“Daniel…”

Wooyeon, still half-asleep, glanced back and forth between Daniel and Dohyeon. “When did you two…?” His muttering was clear enough for Dohyeon to hear.

[Wooyeon, have you ever had kimchi stew? The smell is really good.]

[I’ve had it. But you should’ve woken me up instead of bothering my boyfriend.]

Dohyeon quietly suppressed a smile at the mention of “boyfriend.” He hadn’t had a fitting term for Wooyeon, but hearing it felt sweet. Daniel blinked, his eyes widening, and then asked with an innocent expression.

[What, are you jealous?]

Immediately, Wooyeon’s face scrunched up in annoyance. He took a bottle of water from the fridge and replied curtly.

[No.]

Though it was obvious he was teasing, Wooyeon’s voice, slightly hoarse from just waking up, still sounded oddly sexy. It was just a single word, but it came across as rather suggestive.

“Both of you…”

Wooyeon fiddled with the bottle, opening his mouth hesitantly. His still pouting face seemed to be silently glaring at Dohyeon. Dohyeon barely held back a laugh, knowing that Wooyeon’s face was showing that he was jealous.

“You two really look like a married couple.”

Wooyeon wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Whenever he felt jealous, his emotions were plainly written on his face, from his expression to the tone of his voice. Compared to when he used to hide his feelings, it was a huge improvement.

“Yeon-ah.”

Dohyeon knew exactly how to soothe Wooyeon when he was in this mood. It wasn’t that Wooyeon was really angry; he was just sulking, and calming him down was easy.

“Come here.”

Wooyeon obediently walked over to Dohyeon. In his hand was a partially opened bottle of water. Dohyeon took it from him, opened the cap, and gently stroked his disheveled hair.

“Why are you awake already? I was going to wake you up.”

Just a few strokes and the fierce look in Wooyeon’s eyes softened. The corners of his mouth, which had been turned down, slowly curled up again. Wooyeon, looking like he might purr any second, mumbled back.

“I woke up because it felt empty next to me.”

Every morning, Wooyeon would wake up surrounded by Dohyeon’s pheromones, so it wasn’t surprising he felt empty without him next to him. It was easy to imagine that he had gotten up right after waking up to look for him, much like a chick looking for its mother.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m just… my head is kind of…?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Dohyeon, almost habitually, leaned in to kiss him but pulled back his hand, conscious of Daniel’s eyes. A sweet pheromone bubble surrounded Wooyeon. If Daniel weren’t a beta, his face would surely have turned bright red.

“Go wash your face. Let’s eat.”

Wooyeon nodded obediently and left the kitchen. Daniel, left standing behind, stared at him with a bewildered expression. A breathy, half-laugh escaped from his lips.

[Oh my.]

It was a phrase filled with many meanings. There was a look in his eyes that seemed to ask for an explanation, but Dohyeon just shrugged. Just at that moment, the kimchi stew was finished.

After a simple breakfast, the three of them headed to the university together. Wooyeon sat in the front passenger seat as usual, and Daniel claimed the backseat with a happy expression, just like yesterday. This time, Dohyeon chose to participate in the conversation instead of staying silent.

When they arrived on campus, there were very few people around. A few students taking summer courses, some graduate students, and a couple of outsiders. Since it was still summer vacation, there was no bustling atmosphere at all.

[Wow, it’s so big!]

Dohyeon parked the car inside the campus and led them toward the Humanities building. Since he couldn’t show them the whole campus (it was big enough for a shuttle bus), he decided to show them the buildings he usually used. Fortunately, the excited foreigner kept exclaiming in admiration no matter what he was shown.

[Why did you try to quit such a great school?]

At Daniel’s question, Dohyeon looked at Wooyeon. Did you try to drop out? His gaze seemed to ask, and Wooyeon awkwardly avoided eye contact.

“…I tried to drop out because my course registration was a mess.”

There seemed to be more to it, but Dohyeon didn’t press him for more. He too had made mistakes at the beginning of the semester. He had once made things awkward for Wooyeon, so he could understand the thought of dropping out.

[Is that a smoking area?]

[Yeah, if you’re going to smoke, go ahead. I’ll wait.]

A faint smell of cigarettes wafted from behind a screen partition where the smoking area was. It was probably graduate students exhausted from their papers, burning their frustrations along with their cigarettes. Dohyeon slipped his hands into his pockets and recalled a memory from just a few months ago.

“I should smoke.”

It was a memory of when Wooyeon, clueless, had tried to learn to smoke. It had been a turning point in Dohyeon’s decision to quit his pheromone-infused cigarettes after smoking them for four years. Strangely, Dohyeon had felt a strange sensation looking at the filter hanging from Wooyeon’s lips at the time.

[What about you?]

“…Ah.”

Suddenly snapping back to reality, Dohyeon looked up. Perhaps because he hadn’t thought about cigarettes in a while, a slight craving arose. After swallowing a dry gulp, he spoke nonchalantly.

[I quit.]

[Really? Then I’ll quit too.]

Daniel, seemingly indifferent, took the lead and walked ahead. Dohyeon followed him, subtly glancing at Wooyeon. His eyes were drawn to his lips over and over, and it felt like withdrawal, in more ways than one.

[What about the club room? I want to see that too.]

In a building not far from the smoking area, Dohyeon noticed the club rooms clustered together. Just as Daniel spoke up, Wooyeon shook his head firmly.

[Club rooms are off-limits for outsiders.]

Strictly speaking, outsiders weren’t “forbidden” from entering. It was just that if they visited too often, it became difficult to manage, so they’d decided to restrict access as much as possible. As Dohyeon was thinking about this, he casually asked.

[Do you want to go?]

Two pairs of eyes followed his words. One was Daniel’s, and the other was Wooyeon’s. Both asked the same question at the same time, though with very different expressions.

[Can I go in?]

“Can he go in?”

Honestly, Dohyeon thought he understood why they were friends.

“What’s the big deal? I’m the club president.”

Dohyeon pulled his phone out of his pocket and mentally weighed his options. Since it was vacation, it was unlikely anyone else from the club would be around, and he had the keys as the president. The weather was hot, so he thought it might be better to let Wooyeon rest in a cool place rather than leave him out in the blazing sun.

“Should I call Garam and Seonkyu?”

* * *

The club room, left untouched for a month, was filled with the stifling heat of summer. Dohyeon opened the windows first and began airing out the room. He didn’t plan to turn on the air conditioner just yet; first, he needed to deal with the dust that had settled everywhere.

“Wow, it’s been a while!”

“Hi, hyung!”

Garam and Seonkyu arrived just as Dohyeon was tidying up the club room. They had both brought plastic bags, filled to the brim. From the sound of glass bottles clinking inside, Dohyeon could guess what was in them.

“You two are just the same as before, huh.”

It had only been two people joining the group, but the room had quickly become lively. Daniel, probably surprised, stared with wide eyes. Just then, Garam, who had entered, stopped in her tracks when she saw Daniel.

“…What’s this, an exchange student?”

“No, he’s Wooyeon’s friend.”

“Wooyeon’s friend?”

Garam asked back and then moved closer to the sofa. Wooyeon sat next to Daniel, Dohyeon sat at the diagonal, and Garam and Seonkyu took the other side of the sofa.

After they had settled, Wooyeon introduced Daniel to them. He was “Daniel Corner,” a friend he had made in America. Garam, who had been about to greet him, froze upon hearing the next words.

“…He can’t speak Korean?”

“No.”

“Not at all?”

“He can say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’.”

“……Wow.”

Garam, who was usually the most sociable, found herself at a loss when language became a barrier. Even though she was a student of English literature, it didn’t mean she was fluent in conversation. In fact, Garam was someone who absolutely disliked English.

“Hey, Seonkyu, you do the greeting for me,” she said.

“Noona, I specialize in the English from the SATs,” Seonkyu replied.

“Still, you’ll probably do better than me.”

“Now’s the time for the Sunbae to set an example.”

“Is there such a thing?”

The hushed murmuring grew louder than expected. Their voices were quiet, but their banter was still rather disruptive. Dohyeon couldn’t help but laugh at the exchange between the two, who were busy with their broken English, asking “How are you today?” and replying, “I’m fine, thank you, and you?”

[Can you say their names? “Garam” and “Seonkyu.”]

[Garam?]

Meanwhile, Daniel was busy trying to pronounce the names Wooyeon had given him, practicing “Garam” and “Seonkyu.” Dohyeon suddenly realized that Daniel had never once called his own name.

[Daniel, try repeating after me.]

It was just a whim, but he felt like they had grown close, and he didn’t like the closeness between Wooyeon and Daniel. Dohyeon tilted his head and said in a gentle voice:

“Kim, Doh, Yeon.”

[……]

Daniel’s eyebrows twitched. He let out a soft snort, then proudly lifted his chin. A crooked smile curled at his lips.

[I don’t want to.]

“Hey.”

The one taken aback was Wooyeon. He grabbed Daniel’s arm with a serious look, seemingly worried about Dohyeon’s feelings. However, Dohyeon was more bothered by the fact that Wooyeon’s neat fingers had touched another person.

[Why are you…]

Wooyeon whispered the rest of his sentence into Dohyeon’s ear, and Dohyeon only caught the first part. Watching them, Dohyeon couldn’t help but slightly smile. Hadn’t he said earlier that he had no romantic feelings for Daniel? Despite whatever Daniel’s feelings were, Dohyeon couldn’t say he liked seeing them so close.

“Alright, I don’t care. Let’s just drink. Daniel? Corner? What do I even call you?”

Just as Dohyeon’s patience was reaching its limit, Garam suddenly stood up. She seemed to have reached a conclusion in her conversation with Seonkyu, wearing an expression of detachment. Dohyeon was secretly relieved by Garam’s interruption, but pretended not to care.

“Ugh, Garam, I’m sick of you. Is drinking all we’re doing after such a long time?”

“You’re acting like a tired old couple. If you don’t like it, then don’t drink.”

“I brought my car, so I can’t even drink.”

“Ugh, bourgeoisie driving around in their own car.”

Even though a bourgeois was standing right next to her. As always, Garam’s choice of words was blunt. Wooyeon, however, didn’t care at all.

[Oh, I like this!]

“What, you like that? Drink it all. There’s plenty more over there.”

[Can I drink this?]

“Drink, drink. Go ahead.”

The drinking session started in an instant. Garam swiftly locked the door, turned on the air conditioner, and halfway closed the window. She handed out drinks to everyone and took out snacks as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“What should we order? Anything you want?”

“Tokbokki?”

[Tokbokki? I love Tokbokki!]

Dohyeon observed the group’s food choices. Two were speaking in Korean, and one in English, yet somehow, the conversation was flowing. They were all just agreeing that they liked tokbokki, but who cares?

[Wooyeon, don’t you drink?]

[Ah, I… well…]

Wooyeon hesitated to drink, clearly uncomfortable with the idea. From his hesitant expression, it seemed like he didn’t enjoy drinking due to past mistakes. Dohyeon was about to tell him to relax and drink, but Daniel spoke first.

“Why? Let’s drink together, it’s been a while.”

Wooyeon flinched, his eyes narrowing. “A while.” That word made his lips close involuntarily.

[I’ve always wanted to drink Korean beer with you.]

From what Dohyeon knew, Wooyeon wasn’t of legal drinking age when he was in America. He couldn’t buy alcohol, nor was he supposed to. Yet, it seemed that he had drunk with Daniel, and from the way Daniel said it, it seemed like it happened quite often.

[Can you just drink a little? Huh?]

[……Shut up.]

Wooyeon lowered his voice, glancing at Dohyeon. Dohyeon was surprised by the speed of Wooyeon’s response, but what came next left him even more surprised.

[You made me develop some weird drinking habits.]

“……”

This time, Dohyeon made an effort not to let his expression falter. Between the smooth English pronunciation, one word had caught his ear. Daniel seemed to be puzzled as well and tilted his head, repeating the question.

[Drinking habit?]

“Just…”

For a brief moment, a memory flashed by. It was from a terrace with a beautiful night view, where Wooyeon, with a flushed face, had said one thing.

“It was my drinking habit.”

Dohyeon’s eyes narrowed. His mouth straightened into a thin line, and deep wrinkles formed on his forehead.

Wooyeon, avoiding Dohyeon’s gaze, fidgeted with his earlobe. He neither offered an excuse nor immediately replied. Instead, he awkwardly shook his head with a frown.

[There’s such a thing.]

“Such a thing…”

Where?

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Just then, he made eye contact with Daniel, who had lifted his head. Dohyeon quickly shut his mouth and covered it with one hand.

He had almost made Wooyeon uncomfortable in front of all these people. Wooyeon had avoided answering, and Dohyeon couldn’t push him into speaking. Maybe he could talk to him about it later, when they were alone.

Dohyeon struggled to suppress his impulses and calmly gathered his thoughts. Memories of the days Wooyeon had been drunk came to mind one by one. One day, he had cuddled up to Dohyeon because he was cold. Another day, he tried to take off his clothes because he said he was too hot. Another time, he wanted to take a shower even though he could barely stand. Most of it had been cute and endearing, but Dohyeon figured that if anyone else had been there, it would have looked a bit crazy.

Jealousy flared up, making his throat burn. The bold things Wooyeon had said—asking for hugs, kisses—still echoed in his mind clearly. It felt like just yesterday that Wooyeon, smiling sweetly, had cuddled him like a cute doll, and now, which drinking habit had formed because of Daniel?

“…Yeon-ah.”

Dohyeon, forcing himself to calm down, raised his voice kindly. Wooyeon, who had been arguing with Daniel, looked back at Dohyeon, wondering why. Even so, the way their shoulders were pressed so closely together was getting on Dohyeon’s nerves.

“If you want to drink, just drink. If you get drunk, I’ll take care of you.”

He didn’t give a friendly smile. If it were Wooyeon, he would have noticed right away if Dohyeon’s expression twisted. Instead, Dohyeon opened a beer can and set it down on the table, trying to appear as calm as possible.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen my friends. We should have a drink.”

“Still… you can’t drink, though.”

“It’s fine. If necessary, I’ll just leave the car and go.”

At this, Wooyeon seemed hesitant. His beautiful eyes showed a clear desire to drink. His pale hand slowly reached for the beer can that Dohyeon had handed him.

“Well, just a little…”

[Oh, are you going to drink?]

It wasn’t a forced drinking situation, and it wasn’t a drink for the sake of getting drunk, so Dohyeon thought he’d let Wooyeon drink if he wanted to. After all, the only alphas here were Dohyeon and Garam, so if pheromones started to come out, he could just cover them with his own.

“Hey, guys, raise your glasses. Hey, Daniel! Cheers, okay?”

The sound of beer cans and paper cups clinking began with a bright voice. It wasn’t the crisp clink of a glass, but it was enough to lighten the mood. Dohyeon held a paper cup with a drink and tried to suppress the bubbling feeling inside.

He’d understand what drinking habits were like once he got drunk.

* * *

Three hours passed.

Seonkyu had become a bit dazed, and Garam had turned into an English genius; no more, no less, it had been just three hours.

[Listen, Dan. I really hate English.]

[Really? But you’re speaking English right now.]

[No, no, I can’t speak English.]

Maybe because of the alcohol, Garam seemed to have gained some confidence and tried to converse with Daniel when she was halfway drunk. Her pronunciation was awkward, and her vocabulary limited, but communication wasn’t impossible. Dohyeon thought that if she had brought a bottle of soju to her oral exam last year, she might have done well.

“Ah, Noona, why are you speaking English again…”

On the other hand, Seonkyu, as time went on, became more and more unable to understand Daniel’s words. At first, he managed to catch some, but now he couldn’t understand much at all. No, it seemed like he just wasn’t able to understand anything, English or Korean.

Through this chaotic situation, Dohyeon kept his eyes on Wooyeon. He was watching him in case he stumbled, spilled his drink, or needed help when leaning on Daniel. Fortunately, Wooyeon didn’t make any mistakes and only drank beer.

“Hey, kid. Don’t just drink, eat something too.”

“…”

Wooyeon flinched, his brows furrowing. Despite drinking a fair amount, his face still looked relatively fine. He seemed a bit more expressionless than usual, and his eyes were a little hazy. To others, it might seem like he was just a lightweight, but Dohyeon concluded something after watching him closely.

“You’re drunk.”

“Why am I a kid?”

His pronunciation was accurate, but his speech had slowed down. His voice was calm, but his tone was lower, and whenever he blinked, his head tilted. He was clearly drunk, yet his face didn’t show it. This was exactly why Dohyeon often said, “You shouldn’t drink.”

“If you’re smaller than me, you’re a kid.”

“I’m taller than Noona.”

“Oh? Talking back, huh?”

Maybe others wouldn’t know. That Wooyeon, who spoke so boldly with such a delicate face, would forget everything the next day. He was handling his pheromones well, so it was fine for now, but soon it would need to be dealt with.

“How tall is Noona?”

“Noona is tall. Almost 2 meters.”

“…I’m the same.”

Whether it was about height or whether he was a kid, Dohyeon couldn’t help but chuckle. Both of them, probably because they were drunk, were having a serious discussion about something trivial. The most amusing part was that Wooyeon, unlike usual, was stubbornly arguing.

“I don’t like being called that.”

“It’s a habit, a habit.”

“Still, I don’t like it.”

Garam’s “kid” nickname was just a drunk habit, but Wooyeon seemed to dislike the cute tone. In the end, Dohyeon reached out and patted the back of Wooyeon’s head.

“He usually calls everyone a kid when he’s drunk.”

“There must be about fifteen ‘kids’.” That comment softened Wooyeon’s expression. Maybe it was the gentle touch on the back of his head. Either way, it was an unfair sight for Garam.

“Wow, you didn’t listen to me, huh? How can I survive being so lonely?”

Wooyeon ignored Garam’s words and grabbed Dohyeon’s hands with both of his. Rubbing his face on Dohyeon’s palms like a child asking to be petted, it seemed like he was asking to be petted. Since the meaning was similar, Dohyeon couldn’t resist rubbing Wooyeon’s soft cheek.

“Your face is hot.”

“I know.”

Any unpleasant feelings melted away like snow. Just by touching Wooyeon, Dohyeon felt unexpectedly calm. It wasn’t like separation anxiety or anything. His mood fluctuated with the smallest things.

[Wooyeon, are you okay? Are you drunk?]

[I’m fine. I’m not drunk.]

[Look at me. Are you really okay?]

[I’m fine, I said.]

Daniel, seemingly fascinated by Wooyeon’s gentleness, turned his body to watch him. Maybe it was the first time he’d seen him drunk, or maybe it was the first time he’d seen him act so cute.

“I guess he learned this from Daniel.”

Dohyeon, with a calm pheromone, recollected the memory. Earlier, when he was blinded by jealousy, he forgot, but if Wooyeon was drunk, there was something besides skinship he might do.

It was only after the overwhelming jealousy subsided that he could think rationally. Even though he knew it wasn’t likely, his mood was ruined by unnecessary assumptions. Wooyeon hadn’t even planned to flirt, but Dohyeon, like a flag swaying in the wind, had been caught up in it.

“…Let’s clean up and go.”

Dohyeon, giving a small chuckle, pulled his hand away from Wooyeon. Though Wooyeon’s disappointed expression lingered, he could pet him at home. The real issue was that he wasn’t sure he could pet him just yet.

Dohyeon started cleaning the table for the intoxicated ones. The alcohol was all gone long ago, and Seonkyu had already fallen asleep on the couch. Garam wasn’t fully drunk yet, so he could leave her alone.

“Hey, just leave it. I’ll clean up and take Seonkyu, you go.”

With a huff, Garam brushed Dohyeon’s hand away and mumbled something. She glanced at Wooyeon, signaling to hurry and take him. No one could deny Garam was sharp and had probably figured out something had been off during the party.

“Well, I’ll leave it to you then. Yeon-ah, can you walk?”

“Yes.”

Wooyeon confidently jumped up from his seat, but quickly wobbled and fell into Dohyeon’s arms. It wasn’t that he couldn’t hold his balance, but more that he had somewhere to lean, so he let himself collapse. The sight was so cute that Dohyeon let out a ticklish laugh.

“You said you could walk.”

“I can.”

[…Oh my.]

Daniel stared at them in astonishment. First at Wooyeon, then at Dohyeon. The alternating glances were too uncomfortable. Letting out a breath, Daniel sighed once again.

[Oh my…]

“He’s a little drunk too.”

Seeing Daniel only repeat the same words made it clear that he was also tipsy. Well, since he had been drinking beer and said he liked Korean alcohol, it made sense. Even if the alcohol wasn’t strong, drinking a lot would still get him drunk.

“Yeon-ah, you have to use your legs.”

Dohyeon wrapped his arm around Wooyeon’s waist to support him. He didn’t forget to block Garam’s pheromones with his body. Wooyeon seemed to enjoy being close to Dohyeon, and pleasant pheromones wafted from him.

“Ugh, Seonkyu won’t wake up. I want to go smoke.”

“Do it here.”

“I’m not smoking. Hurry up and go. Bye, Daniel!”

“Goodbye!” Garam, shouting as she lay back on the couch. Daniel, who had been staring at Wooyeon until then, only finally began to move after catching Dohyeon’s gaze. The way his eyes followed Dohyeon and Wooyeon together somehow seemed hopeless.