Alpha Trauma Vol. 4 Chapter 9 - Extra (6)

“How old are you, by the way?”

Wooyeon held back from telling her to drink slowly and looked at Jina instead. She shook her head and tilted her chin slightly.

“Twenty? Twenty-one? You showed your ID earlier, so you’re not a high schooler.”

“…I’m twenty.”

“Wow, really? We’re the same age then.”

Her smile looked innocent. At that moment, Wooyeon realized why she resembled Dohyeon.

“Your name’s Yeon? What’s your last name?”

“It’s Seon Wooyeon. Seon is my last name, Wooyeon is my first name.”

“Yeon must be a nickname. Your name’s pretty.”

Jina’s expressions were just like Dohyeon’s. The way she smiled, her furrowed brows when annoyed, and her quick eye for noticing Wooyeon’s needs—all of these little habits, evidence of growing up in the same household, were similar.

“I’m…”

“I know, Kim Jina.”

“Well, yeah. You called me Kim Jina, Kim Jina, like a million times earlier.”

They were clearly family. Sister and brother. Wooyeon felt the closeness of their bond, stronger than what he felt with his own cousin, Suhyang.

“Let’s talk casually. We’re the same age, so it’s weird to be so formal.”

Jina extended her glass of soju for a toast, her first invitation since the beginning of the night. Wooyeon raised his own glass and clinked it against hers with a cheerful clink.

After that, they settled into a true drinking session, exchanging drinks. Wooyeon, who hadn’t touched the meat before, began to eat as Jina picked out the best cuts for him, joking about his “high-class tastes,” to which he could only respond with a bashful smile.

“My major just doesn’t suit me. I’m thinking of transferring. But then my parents will definitely give me an earful…”

She shared that she’d taken a leave of absence right after her first semester of college. She added that she couldn’t stand being home because her parents constantly nagged her to be more like her brother. Although Wooyeon was an only child, he understood how hard it must be to be compared to someone else.

“Oh, right. Do you know what your brother’s tattoo on his back means?”

By now, Jina was clearly tipsy, lowering her voice conspiratorially. Wooyeon held his soju glass with both hands and slowly shook his head. Jina’s lips curved mischievously as she leaned in with half-lidded eyes.

“Well…”

* * *

As autumn settled in, the evenings grew colder. During the day, short sleeves were still fine, but at night, it was too chilly without a jacket.

Wooyeon slipped a hand into his hoodie pocket and held his phone to his ear. After a few rings, the call was picked up.

“Hello?”

― …

He waited a moment, but there was no reply from the other end. Sounds of laughter and chatter flowed out from the busy restaurant behind him. Wooyeon pulled his phone away to confirm the call was still connected and tapped the tip of his shoe on the ground.

“Hyung, could you pick me up?”

― …

“It’s the BBQ place on the corner…”

― …

“You’ll come, right?”

A soft sigh came through. Wooyeon swallowed down an apology and counted the cigarette butts on the ground. One, two, three… By the time he reached four, a warm voice finally responded on the other end.

― It’s cold, so wait inside the restaurant.

The call ended right after, leaving Wooyeon no time to reply. He looked up at the sky, where a faint crescent moon shone through a veil of clouds. Even in this situation, he was worrying about him being cold, knowing exactly what Wooyeon was wearing.

“This is why I can’t help but like you.”

The sweetness of Dohyeon’s kindness was so intense it almost stung. And since Wooyeon had always had a sweet tooth, once he was addicted to it, he had no desire to break free—not that he was ever planning to.

Instead of going back inside, Wooyeon stood by the side of the restaurant and waited for Dohyeon. He was a bit concerned about Jina, whom he’d left inside, but she was comfortably sprawled out, so he figured she’d be fine.

He alternated between looking up at the sky, peeking through the glass at Jina, and bouncing in place to shake off the chill while waiting. After about ten minutes, a familiar car pulled up by the side of the road.

“…”

Dohyeon stepped out and looked at Wooyeon with a blank expression. His steady, measured steps seemed a bit hurried. Wooyeon waited until he got close and then broke into a broad smile.

“Hyung…”

“…”

“I missed you.”

He wrapped his arms around Dohyeon’s waist. Dohyeon, who had told him to stay inside where it was warm, had come in a thin t-shirt with no jacket. As Wooyeon nestled his face against him, a familiar, pleasant scent wafted from Dohyeon’s pheromones.

“Ha…”

Dohyeon let out a soft sigh and hugged him tightly, resting his chin on Wooyeon’s head and slipping his hand under Wooyeon’s hoodie to gently rub his back. The warmth of his large hands brought a sense of peace to Wooyeon.

“You smell like meat.”

“I know.”

“Yeah, you do.”

Her usual gentle voice was laced with concern. The sound of a heart beating fast seemed just a bit quicker than usual. Dohyeon gave Wooyeon a tight hug before gently pulling away.

“What about Jina?”

“She’s inside.”

“Is she in the car?”

Dohyeon handed Wooyeon the car keys before heading inside. Wooyeon walked over to the car parked by the side of the road and climbed into the passenger seat. Not long after, he saw Dohyeon walking toward him, supporting Jina.

With a soft click, the car door opened, and Dohyeon carefully laid Jina down in the backseat. He didn’t say a word as he walked around to the driver’s side and started the car, simply fastening Wooyeon’s seatbelt before silently starting the engine.

“…”

“…”

The entire ride home was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Wooyeon fiddled with his seatbelt, glancing back at the backseat. Jina, completely drunk, was sound asleep and looked very comfortable.

“…Hyung.”

“Mm.”

Dohyeon answered in his usual indifferent voice. He was typically gentle with his words, but right now, it felt like a cold wind was blowing through his tone. Wooyeon rolled his eyes in thought and hesitantly asked.

“Are you angry?”

“…”

It took a while for Dohyeon to respond. He tapped the steering wheel lightly before mumbling, his voice still sounding stiff.

“Can’t we talk face to face?”

“I’m driving.”

“Ah.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but Wooyeon felt slower to pick up on the situation. He wasn’t completely drunk, but he could feel a light buzz. He lowered his head with a slightly sulky expression, and a sigh came from Dohyeon.

“…I thought it would be easier to calm down if I saw your face.”

His voice had softened considerably since earlier. Wooyeon sighed in relief, resting his head against the window. Dohyeon, still focused on the road, looked striking even from the side.

“I’m sorry for making you angry.”

Dohyeon’s chest rose and fell steadily, as if trying to calm himself down. He glanced at the rearview mirror to check on Jina before speaking again in a quiet voice.

“Then tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“Exactly what you’re sorry for.”

Wooyeon’s face turned troubled, as if he had encountered a difficult problem. He furrowed his brow and tried to gather his thoughts. He knew he had to speak carefully if he wanted to ease Dohyeon’s anger.

“I’m sorry for not listening to you and leaving…”

“…”

“I’m sorry for butting into your family issues…”

“…”

“…And for asking you to pick me up when I knew you were angry?”

He hesitated, trying to gauge Dohyeon’s reaction. After a long pause, Dohyeon let out a short chuckle. He stopped the car at a traffic light and reached toward Wooyeon. His hand briefly intertwined with Wooyeon’s before pulling away.

“Everything’s wrong.”

Dohyeon said it casually, even adding that the last part was something he’d actually praise him for. He let out another sigh, looking relieved, as though he’d gotten something off his chest. Wooyeon, after thinking for a while, finally came up with one more reason.

“I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“…”

Thankfully, this time, his apology seemed to be the right one. The expression that had been stiff with indifference softened, as if he couldn’t keep up the facade any longer. Dohyeon sighed again and, in his usual calm voice, continued speaking.

“If you were going to leave, you should’ve at least contacted me.”

“…”

“I didn’t know where you were all day, and I couldn’t even get a hold of you. The sun set, and it was getting dark…”

He briefly glanced at Wooyeon, their eyes meeting for just a moment. Wooyeon realized that Dohyeon had been checking his face.

“You’re probably not feeling well, so why are you running around like that?”

“…”

Wooyeon’s face flushed. The only reason he wasn’t feeling well was because of the intimacy he’d shared with Dohyeon. His back had been aching all day from the uncomfortable chairs at the restaurant.

“Next time, at least tell me where you are. You have ways to contact me, don’t you?”

“Yeah… I’m sorry.”

Wooyeon’s voice was faint, filled with guilt. He fiddled with his earlobe and turned his head toward the window. The passing scenery looked all too familiar. He wasn’t heading to his place but to Dohyeon’s.

With Jina in tow, he wondered if they were planning to stay at Dohyeon’s. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Dohyeon turned into the apartment complex. As he pulled into a parking spot, he suddenly scowled.

“Ah, I did it out of habit…”

A large hand swept across his face. Dohyeon let out a heavy sigh and looked at Jina, who was still in the back seat. It seemed that he had brought her home just like usual, without thinking about her.

“I’ll take a taxi home.”

“…It’s dangerous at night.”

Dohyeon finished parking and shifted the gear to P. Wooyeon was about to get out of the car, but Dohyeon spoke up before he could.

“Kim Jina, stop pretending to be drunk and go upstairs. The passcode is 0626.”

“…”

As expected, Jina, who was already asleep, didn’t respond. Dohyeon let out another sigh at her silence. If the sighs he let out were enough to tear through the ground, he might have reached the other side of the world by now.

“Kim Jina.”

“…”

“Hyung, how can someone who’s drunk get up like that?”

Wooyeon spoke calmly, and Dohyeon’s eyes twisted in frustration. He alternated his gaze between Wooyeon and Jina, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t. After a moment, it seemed he gathered his thoughts, and Dohyeon unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.

“I’ll carry her up. Wait here. Lock the car door.”

“I’m really fine, though…”

“Say you’re sorry for worrying me, Yeon-ah.”

“…”

No matter what anyone said, Dohyeon had the ability to make Wooyeon speechless. Without much effort, Dohyeon picked Jina up and disappeared into the apartment. Wooyeon quietly locked the car door and leaned back against the seat, allowing his body to relax.

“I hope you can feel more comfortable at home, Oppa.”

Jina’s words kept replaying in his mind. Dohyeon’s frustrated face from earlier, after drinking all night, also clearly resurfaced in his thoughts.

Thanks to Dohyeon, Wooyeon had managed to pull out a thorn that had been stuck in his heart for a long time. Though the wound wasn’t completely healed, it was almost there. Now, even when he was in the same space as Suhyang, the suffocating feeling didn’t overwhelm him like it used to.

“I wish that for you too, hyung…”

Wooyeon was aware that such a wish might be a bit selfish. If Dohyeon ever drew a line and told him not to interfere, he would readily step back. After all, he was still inexperienced and didn’t know enough to be of real help, so it was unclear whether he could even be of any use.

“Still…”

Despite all that, Wooyeon couldn’t help but worry about Dohyeon. When people said he had had the privilege of having two parents, his words felt bitter in an excessive way. Wooyeon didn’t know the comfort of a family, but because he didn’t know it, he hoped Dohyeon could have it.

Knock knock.

Before long, Dohyeon, who had come back down, tapped on the driver’s side window. Wooyeon unlocked the door and nodded to Dohyeon. He quickly got into the car and fastened his seatbelt.

“Should we head to the officetel?”

The car smoothly started and followed the familiar route toward the officetel. Since Dohyeon often acted as Wooyeon’s driver, there was no need for a GPS. Wooyeon, resting his head on the seatbelt, spoke playfully.

“Fighting and drinking, just like siblings.”

“Yeah… everyone does it.”

Dohyeon didn’t deny the reason he drank. That was typical of him, and Wooyeon barely managed to suppress a grin. Now that they were about to discuss something serious, he couldn’t let himself laugh.

“I heard why you fought.”

Of course, Wooyeon didn’t know how to dodge the topic. He abruptly brought it up, and Dohyeon glanced at him briefly.

“Why get mad about seeing a phone when you’re going to apologize soon? After all, you’re the one who drank all night.”

Wooyeon understood that Dohyeon didn’t like his privacy being invaded. He himself had felt suffocated when Suhyang watched his every move. But Dohyeon’s anger toward Jina seemed to be different from that.

“I didn’t get mad because of the phone.”

Dohyeon corrected Wooyeon’s misunderstanding with a gentle tone. Then, almost in a whisper, he added.

“I got mad because she asked about you.”

“Is that wrong?”

“It’s not that it’s wrong, but…”

Dohyeon trailed off as he turned the steering wheel. He looked cool as ever when driving.

“I didn’t want her to know more about you and have it end up in my parents’ ears. I said I had someone, but I didn’t mention that it was the heir of SUNJUNG Group.”

“…”

“My parents are a bit… interested in SUNJUNG.”

Dohyeon frowned with a troubled look. Wooyeon, recalling the reason for his adoption, pursed his lips. He was about to say, “I’m fine with it,” but Dohyeon spoke first.

“I don’t want that.”

His voice was so firm that Wooyeon’s words evaporated before they could form. Dohyeon spoke seriously to Wooyeon, who was blinking in silence.

“I don’t want my parents treating you differently for that reason, and I don’t want you to be okay with it either. Relationships shouldn’t become a means or an end.”

Dohyeon seemed to worry that his relationship with Wooyeon might be seen as a business opportunity. Even though it was unlikely to be used that way, he probably didn’t want others to look at it from such a perspective.

“Actually, I didn’t have to be this harsh with Jina, but I was a little sensitive.”

Dohyeon, who had added that he was on edge, awkwardly raised his eyebrows. The next words that followed were so embarrassing for Wooyeon that he could hardly stand to hear them.

“I was frustrated.”

“…”

“It’s been too long since I could touch you.”

Heat slowly started to rise on Wooyeon’s face. Usually, Dohyeon didn’t speak so directly, but it was clear he was still upset. Even knowing Wooyeon would feel embarrassed, he lowered his voice deliberately.

“Anyway… that’s the reason. I was on edge, and Jina was just teasing me like usual.”

“…”

“The problem is how my apology must have looked to her.”

Wooyeon’s eyes widened. Surprisingly, Dohyeon seemed to understand exactly why Jina was upset, as if he had figured it out the same way Jina had figured him out.

“You heard from Jina, didn’t you? The reason she was angry with me.”

Dohyeon asked in a gentle tone, signaling to turn on the blinker. A turn ahead would take them to Wooyeon’s officetel.

“…You knew too?”

“I’ve known Jina for years. Of course, I know that much.”

Dohyeon smiled lightly and then closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. His neatly arranged eyelashes seemed to tremble a little.

“Yeon-ah.”

Wooyeon didn’t understand why Dohyeon’s steady gaze made him feel so melancholy. But after hearing the next words, he tightly gripped his seatbelt.

“I still remember the people who gave birth to me.”

* * *

At eight years old, Dohyeon was abandoned in front of an orphanage. At that age, he could vaguely recall parts of his childhood.

“It’s hard to say, but I was smart even when I was little. So the moment they left me, I realized. Ah, they’re never coming back.”

A bitter smile lingered on his lips. Wooyeon couldn’t respond and just listened to Dohyeon’s story.

“I still don’t know why they abandoned me. After growing up, I can only guess it was for financial reasons.”

The light from the underground parking lot entrance seeped inside. Despite the darkness, Dohyeon’s expression was etched strongly into Wooyeon’s memory.

“I don’t have trauma from it. I was adopted into a good family, I’m in a good relationship, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me.”

His dark eyes were filled with mixed emotions. They seemed as confident as usual, yet they also resembled the vulnerable look Wooyeon had seen before. He could sense the small, anxious emotion lurking behind them.

“Still, sometimes I’m cautious.”

“…”

“After all, I’m not their biological child.”

Wooyeon felt like he’d been struck in the back of the head as his mind went blank. He understood the source of his anxiety, but hearing it directly felt different. Whether it was pity, worry, or embarrassment for his own assumptions, he swallowed all of it and finally said what he had been feeling all day.

“…Jina resembles you a lot.”

Dohyeon looked at him with a puzzled expression. He parked the car in an empty spot but didn’t get out, instead looking at Wooyeon. Wooyeon, meeting his gaze, began to list the little things that Jina shared with him.

“Her smile, the way she scrunches her eyes, how she looks out for others while eating—small things like that.”

“…”

“She’s really like a little sibling. I don’t know how many times I thought that today.”

Dohyeon tilted his head slightly. His eyes softened as if he found Wooyeon’s effort to comfort him endearing. Wooyeon met his gaze and quietly repeated what Jina had said.

“Family doesn’t have to be connected by blood. It doesn’t mean you can only open your heart if you’re related.”

Wooyeon knew that this was a cliché expression. But he was someone who understood better than anyone the meaninglessness of blood relations.

“If you think about it that way, we’re technically strangers too, but here we are, meeting.”

Dohyeon’s expression subtly shifted. His face went blank with surprise, then a small laugh, almost like a breath, escaped him. When Wooyeon looked at him in confusion, his eyes softened into a warm smile.

“No… I never expected to hear relationship advice from you.”

“…Is that so bad?”

“It’s a good thing.”

A pleasant, gentle atmosphere filled the air. A large hand softly caressed Wooyeon’s cheek. Instinctively, Wooyeon rubbed his face like a small animal.

“You must have gotten close to her. You’re calling her Jina.”

Thankfully, Dohyeon didn’t get angry at Wooyeon’s nosiness. Wooyeon, seeing the softened expression, held Dohyeon’s hand with both of his.

“I hope you don’t have to worry about anything.”

His heart was beating irregularly. This was the first time he had confessed something he’d been thinking about for so long.

“Thanks to you, I managed to get through middle school. And now, because of you, I’ve been able to get away from home without cutting off my relationship with my mom.”

It was an unexpected statement. Instead of answering, Dohyeon quietly nodded.

“I know now that there aren’t only bad Alphas in the world, and I also know that someone cares about me.”

“…”

“It’s all because of you, you taught me.”

Dohyeon’s eyes narrowed slightly. His eyes, curved as if smiling, were more about suppressing emotions than expressing happiness. Wooyeon kissed Dohyeon’s hand, lifting his eyes to look at him.

“If you hadn’t taught me… if you hadn’t told me, I would have never known.”

There must be a reason for not speaking, but if you don’t say it, you won’t know. These were words Dohyeon had said to Wooyeon many times before, and something Wooyeon had felt again and again.

“Talk to your family.”

“…”

“I hope you do.”

Dohyeon gently caressed Wooyeon’s cheek for a long time. His fingers skimmed over his skin as if handling something precious, tracing the curve of his ear. The touch was so ticklish that Wooyeon’s eyelids fluttered, and a soft voice reached his ears.

“I’m not stupid enough to lose someone precious to me over the same mistake.”

Wooyeon couldn’t help but regret not telling Jina that Dohyeon’s voice sounded nice. The soft, sweet whispers filled him with warmth.

“I had planned to resolve things through conversation, I just didn’t know when.”

The swirling emotions slowly settled in Wooyeon’s eyes. He realized only after a beat that it was a feeling of deep emotion.

“Sorry for worrying you.”

“…”

“Thank you for worrying about me, Yeon-ah.”

He kissed Wooyeon’s cheek and then followed it with a soft kiss on his lips. The brief warmth lingered, and he kissed him again, this time longer, as if reluctant to let go. Before the kiss could stretch on any longer, Dohyeon pulled away and pressed his forehead to Wooyeon’s, speaking gently.

“I’ll talk to Jina when I get home tonight.”

“Let’s do it tomorrow. Jina’s drunk.”

“Well… that’s fine too.”

Dohyeon laughed playfully and rubbed Wooyeon’s cheeks. He squeezed them as if molding clay before planting more kisses on them. Then, pulling Wooyeon into his arms, he whispered sweetly.

“I love you.”

Wooyeon felt his face flush deeply and instinctively clutched the collar of Dohyeon’s shirt. The sound of his heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears, and the weight of Dohyeon’s words, “I love you,” felt overwhelming enough to make his eyes sting.

“I… I love you too.”

His words came out so softly, almost like an ant’s whisper. Thankfully, Dohyeon seemed to have understood, as he laughed quietly, his smile warm against Wooyeon’s head. After a while, he carefully let Wooyeon go from his embrace.

“Go inside. I’ll contact you later.”

If Wooyeon held on any longer, he knew he wouldn’t want to let Dohyeon leave. He got out of the car obediently and waved at him through the window. The soft smile on Dohyeon’s face tickled his heart.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.”

Wooyeon kept thinking about that as he entered the elevator. It would be so nice if they could take this ride together every day, and that desire kept swirling in his mind. It was a night when Dohyeon’s absence felt especially big.

* * *

Time passed quickly. When Dohyeon returned home that day, he mentioned he would stay at his family’s house for a while. Wooyeon didn’t hear the details but understood vaguely when he saw that Dohyeon had brought back a lot of expensive clothes. No matter what, he was sure the responsible teacher wouldn’t need any worrying and would handle everything perfectly.

“Are you still in touch with Jina?”

Today, after lounging around in Dohyeon’s house, Wooyeon could finally check his phone after being relentlessly pestered by him. As expected, messages from Jina filled the lock screen.

“You two really get along well, being the same age.”

Since they ate samgyeopsal together, Jina had been constantly messaging Wooyeon. At first, she grilled him about whether he’d told Dohyeon anything, but after a few days, she sent him a bunch of gift cards saying thanks and sorry.

Dohyeon had a strange expression when he realized Wooyeon exchanged numbers with Jina, and when he mentioned that she was the first same-age friend he had since Seonkyu, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Jina keeps saying she wants to live in your place.”

“This apartment? She’s been begging me for it all the time.”

Jina had always talked about wanting to live alone. She was eyeing Dohyeon’s apartment, but it seemed like her parents hadn’t given her anything. When Wooyeon asked why, she mentioned that her mom was furious because she had taken an unannounced leave of absence.

“Don’t get too close to Jina. You’re her type, physically.”

Dohyeon sat up from the bed and stretched his stiff shoulders. Wooyeon, having just put down his phone, gazed at his broad back. The well-defined muscles on his back were big and firm.

“She told me I was the second best-looking person she’d ever seen.”

“Ah… did she say who the first was?”

Well, Dohyeon wasn’t the first, obviously. Wooyeon didn’t ask directly. He just casually asked who it was. Dohyeon chuckled and then suddenly lifted Wooyeon into the air.

“Someone from the business school.”

“Ah…”

Wasn’t it a TA’s lover, she had said? Wooyeon remembered that he had only seen him once, but he clearly recalled that the person was an undeniably handsome, striking individual. The fact that he was an Alpha was secondary, but he was definitely good-looking.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen the TA around lately.”

“Yunwoo-hyung?”

Dohyeon, casually holding Wooyeon, walked toward the bathroom. Thanks to his preparation, the bathtub was already filled with warm water. Carrying Wooyeon, he stepped into the tub and nonchalantly replied, “If it’s Yunwoo-hyung, he graduated last August.”

“Really? You didn’t know?”

“No… It’s just… because it’s vacation…”

Now that Wooyeon thought about it, he vaguely remembered hearing something like that. He hadn’t really paid attention, though, so it had just gone in one ear and out the other.

“You even went to his graduation celebration, so why are you acting surprised? Though, I guess the person himself didn’t even show up.”

Feeling a bit awkward, Wooyeon snuggled into Dohyeon’s arms. The warm water rose up to his shoulders, and as they embraced, Wooyeon’s face was right near Dohyeon’s armpit.

“Your tattoo…”

Wooyeon absentmindedly touched the Latin phrase in front of him. His fingers brushed over the many small scratches that were scattered on the tattoo, thanks to the marks Wooyeon had made earlier. Resting his chin on Dohyeon’s shoulder, Wooyeon whispered in a small voice.

“It says… ‘I have a big dick.'”

“….”

Dohyeon’s shoulder stiffened. It seemed that Jina had indeed been correct about the meaning. Wooyeon, noticing Dohyeon’s stillness, asked in a soft tone.

“How could you get such a… bold tattoo?”

“….Hmm.”

After a slight pause, Dohyeon pulled Wooyeon closer. He gently stroked Wooyeon’s bare back, then slowly lay back against the tub. Something heavy brushed against Wooyeon’s bottom.

“Well… It’s not exactly wrong.”

It seemed like Dohyeon had decided to act brazenly now that the secret was out. Wooyeon, giving up on teasing him, settled comfortably into his embrace. His body relaxed completely, and his eyelids grew heavy.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

With just that one word, Wooyeon felt a surge of warmth and affection. Dohyeon’s voice, gentle and soft, made him feel cozy.

“Would you want to live with me?”

It was said in a casual tone, almost like an invitation to have a meal together. For some reason, Dohyeon didn’t respond immediately but paused for a moment, his hand resting on Wooyeon’s back. Wooyeon, snuggling deeper into his embrace, murmured lazily.

“You could come live at my place… or I could come live here…”

“….”

“But I’d prefer if we gave this place to Jina and got a nice officetel.”

It was something Dohyeon had suggested once before. He had whispered to Wooyeon, wanting to create a safe haven for him. Now, Wooyeon wanted to make the suggestion himself.

“I’m not saying we should do it right away, just think about it.”

Actually, he had already casually gotten permission from Suhyang. The only unexpected response Wooyeon hadn’t accounted for was that living together might be a bit early. Still, she had given him the answer that the house was his to do as he pleased.

“I can’t sleep without you, hyung…”

Wooyeon wrapped his arms around Dohyeon’s back and gently brushed his hair against his neck. The damp strands of hair clung to his skin. The sensation seemed to tickle Dohyeon, as his shoulder twitched.

“….”

Or maybe it wasn’t a tickle after all.

“….Why is this growing?”

Dohyeon didn’t answer the question, instead tilting his head back. His exposed Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The pheromones in the air were almost palpable, and it seemed like Dohyeon was trying to calm his rising excitement.

“You shouldn’t have said that.”

The words that finally came out were thick with restrained emotion. As Dohyeon stroked Wooyeon’s back, he placed a gentle kiss on Wooyeon’s crown.

“If our Wooyeon can’t sleep… that would be a big problem…”

“….”

“I guess I’ll have to give the apartment to Jina after all, huh.”

His words were playful, but they were more than enough to convey his feelings. Wooyeon, unable to hold back the emotions welling up inside, pressed his lips to Dohyeon’s ear. After a soft kiss, he whispered something quietly, causing Dohyeon to pull him tightly into his embrace.

“How did you end up with me…”

It was an honest reaction, as if he was laying bare his heart. Wooyeon, blushing like someone receiving a confession for the first time, buried his face into Dohyeon’s chest. Dohyeon held him close and whispered over and over, again and again.

“I love you so much, today and always.”