Alpha Trauma Vol. 5 Chapter 5 - Special Extra (5)

Wooyeon handed the application form to the suspiciously relaxed Garam and felt a twinge of unease, as if he’d just sold his personal information. Garam laughed at him, teasingly calling him a goldfish, but unlike Wooyeon, her smile was bright, almost smug, as though she’d accomplished something satisfying.

It wasn’t until Monday, the day of the first lecture, that Wooyeon understood the reason behind that smile.

* * *

After that, there were no apparent issues between Dohyeon and Wooyeon. Dohyeon remained as kind as ever, acting as if he had no memory of that day’s events. But the more normal he seemed, the more Wooyeon’s anxiety grew. With no clear reason or trigger, he couldn’t bring himself to voice his concerns.

“You have to attend today. Got it?”

Monday arrived, the day of the special lecture for which Garam had coerced Wooyeon into submitting an application. The event had been announced on the department’s bulletin board, and word was that a fair number of people were attending.

“Wasn’t this something I didn’t need to attend?”

“Aww, but Wooyeon, it’s something you definitely need,” Garam said, playfully patting his back. She added that she’d personally chosen the snacks, so he should make sure to enjoy them.

Thus, Wooyeon headed to the designated location just in time for the lecture. The venue was a small auditorium, often used for similar special events. As he scanned the posters near the entrance, Wooyeon decided to sit in a corner near the door, ready to leave at any moment. He took out his phone and sent a message to Dohyeon.

[I’m at the lecture.] 3:50 PM

[It’s supposed to end around 6.] 3:50 PM

[Hyung, are you coming t—]

“Wooyeon?”

“….”

Just as Wooyeon was about to send the last message, someone called his name. Looking up from his phone, he saw a familiar face entering the room.

“You’re attending this too?”

It was a peer he was somewhat acquainted with—a fellow omega and someone he’d shared a few major courses with. Occasionally, they’d even had lunch together. Wooyeon relaxed his expression and responded warmly.

“Yeah, Garam noona told me to.”

“Oh… that explains it. I was wondering what brought you to something like this.”

His peer likely knew this kind of lecture was unnecessary for Wooyeon. After all, Wooyeon was the sole heir to SUNJUNG. What use would Seon Wooyeon, destined to inherit everything, have for a career-prep lecture?

“Hey, but Garam noona gave you good advice. I heard the lecturer is super handsome.”

“Really?”

His peer quickly changed the subject. Wooyeon, uninterested in such matters, merely nodded while checking his phone again. Dohyeon had responded to the question he hadn’t managed to send.

♥Hyung♥: [I finish at 6 too.] 3:52 PM

“…6?”

Why 6? He usually finished at 5.

“Come on, you won’t see anything from back here. Let’s grab a seat up front,” his peer said, pulling on his arm before Wooyeon could linger on his thoughts. Still holding his phone, Wooyeon reluctantly got up. He didn’t care if the lecturer was handsome or not, but his peer pleaded with droopy eyebrows.

“I don’t want to sit alone. Come with me, okay?”

“Sure.”

Wooyeon didn’t care about the lecture, but sitting with someone was better than being alone. Following his peer’s bright smile, he settled in the middle rows and checked his phone again.

♥Hyung♥: [Make sure to pay attention to the lecture, haha.] 3:53 PM

Pay attention to what? Dohyeon didn’t even know what the lecture was about. The message felt oddly rushed, as if he was trying to end the conversation.

“…”

Feeling strangely dejected, Wooyeon pressed down on Dohyeon’s profile picture. The profile image was blank, but the background photo was one Dohyeon had taken during a trip—a shot of Wooyeon crouched by the beach, looking at seashells. Dohyeon always used pictures of Wooyeon for his profiles, though they never showed his face. It was usually a silhouette, a full-body shot, or something like a couple’s watch on their wrists. Pictures with his face were reserved for Dohyeon’s private phone wallpaper.

“Is that you, Wooyeon?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, that’s me.”

His peer, peeking at the phone, asked casually. Seeing no reason to hide it, Wooyeon handed it over.

“Oh, it’s Dohyeon oppa’s profile.”

The peer immediately recognized it, flipping through the photos with ease. “He’s so cheesy,” they said, chuckling. All the photos were of Wooyeon, no matter how far back they went.

“This guy really… He doesn’t even show your face because he doesn’t want anyone else looking at you.”

“…Yeah.”

Wooyeon lowered his gaze awkwardly, unable to deny it. He knew better than anyone that Dohyeon wanted to keep him as hidden as a precious treasure. He didn’t mind—it was mutual.

“You and Dohyeon oppa are definitely getting married someday,” the peer remarked casually.

Wooyeon’s cheeks reddened at the thought. If that could happen, he’d be overjoyed. He could already imagine himself smiling just as brightly as those sunbaes at their weddings.

“When you get married, you better invite me, okay?”

“Okay.”

Wooyeon nodded with a warm smile. His peer teased, asking if that meant he wasn’t denying it, then noticed Dohyeon’s saved contact name and gasped.

“Wow, Wooyeon, you’re such a couple.”

At that, Wooyeon hastily flipped his phone over. Of course, his peer had already seen everything and was now giving him a knowing look.

“Ugh, I’m so jealous. How are us single people supposed to live?”

“You’re totally teasing me.”

“No, I’m not.”

The senior didn’t seem to intend to tease him for too long, as he quickly backed off without much resistance. Still, the faint chuckles slipping from his lips showed just how much he enjoyed Wooyeon’s reaction.

The reason behind Dohyeon’s contact name being “♥Hyung♥” actually had a bit of a backstory. When Wooyeon first got Dohyeon’s number upon entering university, he initially saved it as “Kim Dohyeon Sunbae.” Later, feeling a touch of affection, he changed it to just “Hyung.” The issue arose when Seongyu happened to see the contact name and commented,

“Hey, you’re still saving Dohyeon as just plain ‘Hyung’?”

The word plain made Wooyeon flinch briefly, and Seongyu, noticing his expression, gave a knowing smirk.

“Usually, people add little things like hearts… Well, I guess that’s not really your style.”

If someone were to ask whether Seongyu was right, Wooyeon would simply reply that he hadn’t thought of it before. Having never been in a relationship, he lacked a certain finesse in such matters. Up until that comment, he hadn’t put much thought into contact names at all.

After much deliberation, Wooyeon timidly added a single hollow heart next to Dohyeon’s name. Even with just that, he felt so embarrassed that he hid his phone for a while. But once Dohyeon discovered this change, he burst out laughing and snatched Wooyeon’s phone.

“Here, let’s do it like this.”

That’s how the current “♥Hyung♥” came to be. Dohyeon not only filled in the heart but also added one at the beginning for good measure. Although Wooyeon thought it might be a bit over the top, the sight of it always gave him a ticklish warmth in his chest.

Dohyeon, on a roll, even changed Wooyeon’s contact name on his own phone from “Wooyeonie” to “My Yeonie,” also bookended with hearts.

“Come to think of it, Wooyeon, it makes sense you wouldn’t care about what your instructor looks like. You’re always either looking in the mirror or at Dohyeon oppa anyway.”

While Wooyeon couldn’t confirm the first part, he could certainly agree with the latter. He had never been interested in others’ appearances to begin with, and all his standards revolved around one person: Dohyeon. Since middle school, Wooyeon had never met anyone who could surpass Dohyeon.

“I’ve never seen anyone more handsome than Hyung.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” the senior replied, accustomed to such remarks. If it were anyone else, they might have been accused of being overly dramatic, but no one could argue when it came to Dohyeon.

Honestly, the teacher’s better-looking.

Wooyeon thought this to himself as he turned his head toward the podium, just as Garam began the lecture introduction.

That morning, Wooyeon had once again found himself entranced, staring at Dohyeon in a suit. With his naturally neat features and well-defined face, Dohyeon exuded a mix of restraint and sexiness when suited up. Especially with his broad chest and the occasional glimpse of his ankle as he walked.

Just like that man stepping onto the stage…

“…?”

Wooyeon blinked, his gaze narrowing as a tall man ascended the podium. Broad shoulders, a confident stride, and composed eyes scanning the auditorium—it couldn’t be.

“…Teacher?”

The muttered word reached no one’s ears. Even the senior next to him seemed wide-eyed in surprise.

As the lecture hall fell into a stunned silence, the man at the mic gave a soft smile and greeted them.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Kim Dohyeon, and I’ll be giving today’s special lecture.”

His calm voice resonated through the hall. After a brief pause, the students, still processing the surprise, began murmuring. Soon, applause and cheers erupted like thunder.

“Woooo!”

“Kim Dohyeon is so handsome!”

The whistles that followed seemed to come from underclassmen familiar with Dohyeon. With a slightly awkward smile, Dohyeon gave a playful wink in their direction, signaling for them to quiet down. He even raised a finger to his lips to emphasize it.

“Let’s settle down, shall we?”

Soft giggles rippled through the crowd. “Yes, Hyung!” someone called back, likely from his club. Nearby, some seniors exchanged teasing glances with Wooyeon.

“So, the guest lecturer is Dohyeon Sunbae?”

“No wonder Garam nuna…”

“Lucky you, Wooyeon.”

Garam stood at the side of the stage, arms crossed and looking immensely proud. Even Wooyeon’s classmate next to him glanced between Dohyeon and Wooyeon with an excited expression.

Receiving all this attention, Wooyeon could only let out a faint laugh, his face still blank with disbelief.

“What the…”

What on earth is going on?

His lips twitched uncontrollably, forming a weird, uneven smile. It felt so surreal he had to cover his mouth with the back of his hand. A moment ago, his mood had been low, but now it soared, like he was on a plane flying high.

Meanwhile, Dohyeon, out of the dozens of faces in the audience, had already spotted Wooyeon. He gave a soft smile, his eyes curving gently.

“Thank you for such a warm welcome, everyone. I see more familiar faces than I expected.”

Ah, so this is why he told me to listen carefully.

No wonder he didn’t bother explaining what the special lecture was about. When Wooyeon had pouted, asking why he needed to attend a job preparation lecture, Dohyeon had simply tousled his hair and said it’d be useful. Normally, he would dismiss Garam’s words outright, but this time, he subtly backed her up.

“Wooyeon, did you know Dohyeon oppa was coming?”

“…I had no idea.”

Wooyeon’s voice was soft as he replied to his classmate’s question, his eyes unwaveringly fixed on Dohyeon. The same Dohyeon he’d seen that morning, hair styled and suit perfectly tailored—his boyfriend.

“I attended this university until last year, so most of you probably know me,” Dohyeon began calmly. “But I hear there are quite a few first-years here, so let me introduce myself briefly.”

He went on to share his student ID number, past club affiliations, and the company he currently worked for. When the club name “Yeong Gojeon” was mentioned, the seniors applauded, and when he named his company, gasps of admiration followed.

“The lecture will run for about two hours, with twenty minutes at the end for questions. Please think of some, or I’ll feel awkward.”

“Yes!”

The enthusiastic response made Dohyeon flash a bright smile that was so captivating even Wooyeon, who saw it every day, couldn’t help but feel a flutter. Predictably, murmurs of excitement spread throughout the room.

“Hey, what’s this?”

“He’s ridiculously handsome.”

“Wow…”

Wooyeon straightened his posture, caught in a mix of pride and annoyance. While he appreciated the way Dohyeon kept glancing and smiling warmly in his direction, he didn’t enjoy the sight of others around them blushing in reaction.

“Did we really have a Sunbae like that at our school?”

“Ugh, I wish I were born just a year earlier.”

“Sunbaes are so lucky. They got to attend school with him.”

The murmurs seemed to come mostly from freshmen, judging by their guessing game about Dohyeon, as if meeting him for the first time. Then came the inevitable question:

“Does he have a girlfriend?”

“He must. I mean, with that face.”

“But he’s not wearing a ring.”

“And if he doesn’t, what are you gonna do about it?”

Wooyeon fought down the urge to turn around and announce that he was the boyfriend. Even though Dohyeon wasn’t wearing a ring, they had matching couple watches. Subtly, Wooyeon rolled up his sleeve to expose the watch, though he knew the freshmen behind him couldn’t see it.

“If I were his girlfriend, I’d put a ring on him right away.”

“Right? I wouldn’t let him roam around looking like that.”

“…Seriously, is he single?”

“And if he is, what are you gonna do?”

Their giggles grew louder, and Wooyeon’s mood steadily sank. Even his friend sitting beside him turned back with a disapproving look, lowering their voice to console him.

“Don’t let it bother you, Wooyeon. They don’t know anything.”

“I’m fine,” he replied softly.

Truthfully, Wooyeon was used to situations like this. Dohyeon had always been popular, with his kind nature drawing people in wherever he went. Early in their relationship, even during a school festival, Dohyeon had attracted more than his share of admirers while making cotton candy.

This was nothing new. After all, Dohyeon was dating him, and Wooyeon knew better than anyone that Dohyeon wouldn’t stray. Besides, wasn’t the whole reason for Dohyeon being here today possibly related to him?

“Today’s lecture will cover…”

Meanwhile, Dohyeon began his presentation, using the prepared slides. His calm, steady voice was nothing like the monotonous lectures of professors; it was engaging, soothing even.

Wooyeon recalled the time Dohyeon helped him with a group project for a global leadership class. Back then, they’d had to present in English, and Wooyeon had struggled alongside their groupmate, Kang Junseong. Dohyeon had stepped in confidently, saying, “I took this class before. Trust me.”

Now, watching him point to key parts of the slides with a laser pointer and speak flawlessly, Wooyeon understood that confidence. His delivery was more polished than most professors, without hesitation or missteps, even keeping a consistent tone.

He could’ve been an announcer, Wooyeon thought, eyes fixed on Dohyeon’s every move. It was the first time he’d seen him deliver a lecture, even though Dohyeon had tutored him before. Just as Wooyeon admired this new side of him, Dohyeon turned to glance at him again, flashing that warm smile.

“Hey… Did you see that? He just smiled at me,” came a voice from behind.

Wooyeon froze mid-smile, the comment pulling him out of his daze. The person’s friend retorted, “Oh, please. Why would he smile at you? It’s a lecture.”

“No, seriously! He looked right at me and smiled!”

“So what? You think he’d scowl while giving a lecture?”

“But still… it felt different…”

Wooyeon balled his fists and exhaled slowly, willing himself to stay calm. They didn’t know anything. If he let every little comment get to him, he’d never survive.

Because deep down, he knew: That smile was for me. He smiled at me because we made eye contact.

“See! He smiled again!”

…But was Dohyeon smiling too much?

Wooyeon knew Dohyeon was naturally cheerful, often flashing radiant smiles that could be charming or mischievous. Yet, those smiles were usually a façade, making them easier to overlook.

But not now.

Now, every time their eyes met, Dohyeon’s smile was so genuinely joyful it felt like he was glowing. It was the same kind of smile that had once made Wooyeon fall for him, pure and angelic.

“Wow, it’s kind of suspicious, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, why is he smiling like that? He’s not going to date anyone here, anyway.”

“Well… you never know. Maybe I’ll ask for his number afterward.”

Though half-joking, the comments grated on Wooyeon’s nerves. His friend couldn’t stand it either, eventually turning back to scold the freshmen. “Can you guys be quiet? The lecture’s still going on.”

“Sorry,” they mumbled, finally settling down. But Wooyeon’s sour mood didn’t lift.

Why did Dohyeon have to give a lecture here, of all places? He knew exactly how captivating he looked as a working professional, especially to students just stepping into adulthood.

I fell for that same image, after all…

Sure, there were countless reasons why Wooyeon loved Dohyeon, but his kindness and maturity had drawn him in the most. At sixteen, high schooler Seon Wooyeon had been utterly dazzled by twenty-year-old Kim Dohyeon.

Caught in these swirling thoughts, Wooyeon couldn’t help but sulk. Even Dohyeon’s unannounced arrival began to bother him. Why hadn’t he given a heads-up? They’d been texting just before this. Couldn’t he have mentioned it?

Though Wooyeon had been thrilled to see Dohyeon at first, now all these thoughts weighed on him.

Lost in his musings, Wooyeon didn’t realize how quickly the two-hour lecture flew by. He stayed seated even during the break, watching Dohyeon busy himself with Garam and the slides.

“And that concludes today’s lecture…”

As promised, Dohyeon wrapped up the session twenty minutes before six. Checking his watch, he switched to the Q&A slide and addressed the audience.

“For our next session, feel free to bring your portfolio drafts, and I’ll give personalized feedback. For now, we’ll take questions. If you have any, please raise your hand.”

The words had barely left his mouth when countless hands shot up. Normally, this wouldn’t happen during an ordinary lecture, but having a young Sunbae as the guest speaker seemed to spark a lot of curiosity. Though, judging by the atmosphere, about half of it felt more like ulterior motives than genuine interest.

“Wooyeon, aren’t you going to ask a question?”

“Me? Well…”

Wooyeon trailed off, his gaze fixed on Dohyeon. The older man briefly glanced in his direction, but Wooyeon couldn’t think of anything worth asking. Besides, if he had any real questions, he didn’t need to ask them right now.

“Hmm, then… you, the one in the cap?”

Dohyeon casually shifted his attention to a male student on the side and pointed at him. With a thrilled expression, the student sprang to his feet and confidently asked:

“Sunbae, do you have a girlfriend?”

“I do. She’s beautiful.”

The answer came out sharp and immediate, almost as if Dohyeon had been expecting the question all along. While the playful question was met with a playful answer, it still drew plenty of cheers and jeers from the crowd.

Dohyeon smiled warmly, though, and swiftly redirected the focus.

“Alright, let’s move on to less personal questions. Does anyone have anything else they’d like to ask?”

His tone was gentle yet firm, effectively cutting off further inquiries into his private life. The rest of the questions were much more academic, and Dohyeon’s ability to carefully select his respondents ensured the session stayed professional. Both as a lecturer and as Wooyeon’s boyfriend, his conduct was flawless. Yet, watching him, Wooyeon couldn’t help but think:

…He’s used to this, isn’t he?

It seemed like Dohyeon had dealt with questions like that more than once. His response was far too natural to be improvised on the spot.

“Alright, let’s wrap up the questions here. If you have any further inquiries, feel free to reach out to me via email—I’ll try to respond as soon as possible.”

For a moment, Wooyeon worried that Dohyeon might give out his phone number, but thankfully, the PPT screen displayed a familiar corporate email address. Not even a personal one—it was clearly his work email.

“Sunbae! Could you give us your phone number instead?”

“Nope. If you email me, I can pretend it’s work while replying.”

Someone boldly suggested it, but Dohyeon deflected with a light-hearted quip, adding an apologetic grin as he explained how difficult it was to check his phone at work.

Some students began pulling out their phones, prompting Dohyeon to step aside slightly, as if encouraging them to take a picture of the screen. However, Wooyeon noticed a few sneaky students pretending to snap the email address while actually taking photos of Dohyeon himself. Watching this, Wooyeon pressed his lips together tightly, his expression hardening.

“Will you all be attending Wednesday’s lecture as well?”

“Yes!”

The enthusiastic response drew a soft chuckle from Dohyeon, almost as if he found the students endearing. With a polite bow, he concluded:

“Then, I’ll see you all on Wednesday.”

The lecture ended with a round of applause. As the session came to a close, Dohyeon glanced toward Wooyeon once more, offering him another gentle smile. Despite his earlier declaration of having a girlfriend, the same freshmen from before squealed and whispered excitedly again.

As soon as Dohyeon left the auditorium, Wooyeon shot to his feet and hurried after him. He moved quickly, but unfortunately, Dohyeon was already surrounded by a crowd of students. Seeing the group, Wooyeon hesitated briefly before gripping the strap of his bag tightly and calling out:

“Hy—”

But Wooyeon never finished the word. Before he could say “Hyung,” someone behind him called out instead.

“Sunbae?”

“…?”

Startled, Wooyeon turned around to see a familiar face. The freshman who had once asked him to visit an amusement park together was standing there, looking a little flustered. After reflexively calling out to him, the younger student awkwardly covered his mouth, then gave a belated bow.

“Uh… hello.”

“Ah… hi.”

The student fidgeted for a moment before blurting out:

“So, uh… you attended the lecture too?”

It was a clumsy attempt at small talk, but even he seemed to realize how obvious the question was. “Oh, of course you did,” he muttered under his breath.

“Well, since… it was your boyfriend’s lecture, you would’ve been here, obviously.”

The word boyfriend was spoken with a hint of reluctance, and the freshman’s expression soured as if he’d just bitten into something bitter. Amused, Wooyeon let out a small laugh. The sound made the freshman’s face flush slightly.

“Your Sunbae… he’s really good at giving lectures.”

“Yeah, he is.”

Dohyeon always made Wooyeon feel proud. Nodding easily at the compliment, Wooyeon noticed the freshman’s face twist even more.

“Well… I should get going now.”

The freshman left hastily, bowing as he did so. Once so eager to follow Wooyeon around, he now acted as though Wooyeon might devour him whole. Wooyeon found the change amusing, though he was somewhat relieved by it.

Turning his attention back to Dohyeon, Wooyeon saw him still surrounded by students, chatting and answering questions. For a brief moment, it seemed like Dohyeon’s eyes flicked toward him, making brief contact before moving on.

…Was that just my imagination?

It felt like Dohyeon had been looking at him just moments ago, but now he was smiling—one of those polite, guarded smiles that Wooyeon used to call fake.

Did he not see me?

Wooyeon let out a small sigh, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment. Of course, he knew Dohyeon couldn’t just drop everything and come to him. He wasn’t here for leisure, and a lecture didn’t end just because the talking stopped.

Don’t act like a child.

Wooyeon reminded himself, turning away with a quiet resolve. He’d leave the building and wait outside for Dohyeon to finish up. Surely, they wouldn’t be going home separately. Dohyeon would come to him eventually.

But just as Wooyeon took a single step, a loud voice called out from behind.

“Yeon-ah!”

Wooyeon froze in place. The creeping sense of disappointment melted away instantly, replaced by a rush of warmth. Standing still, neither turning around nor moving forward, Wooyeon heard Dohyeon’s hurried voice behind him:

“Wait—just a second…”

When I slowly turned my head, Dohyeon had excused himself from the students and was walking toward me. His purposeful strides reminded me of the way he had walked on campus once before.

His slightly disheveled hair, his unusually hurried steps, and the way his expression softened the moment our eyes met.

“Yeon-ah.”

Once, I used to think of him as a fleeting star—a “fox star,” as they call it. A star that suddenly appears on gloomy days, bewitches you, and vanishes without a trace. I thought he was someone who would stay briefly by my side and disappear without a promise to return.

“Why are you walking alone?”

Dohyeon, now standing close, grabbed Wooyeon’s wrist. His hand, which had slid down naturally, interlocked their fingers in a familiar grip. Despite his restless face, his touch was incomparably gentle. Wooyeon, holding his warm hand in return, mumbled an answer hesitantly.

“…You looked busy.”

“I’m not busy. It’s all done.”

Even if he had been busy, Dohyeon would likely have given the same response. He might act sly like a fox at times, but he wasn’t a fleeting star. He wasn’t a mirage that shimmered briefly and disappeared. He was a constant presence by my side.

“Please send any questions by email. I’ll be here on Wednesday, so you can ask then,” Dohyeon told the students who were still gathered around. Yet, he didn’t let go of Wooyeon’s hand. Ignoring the students staring back and forth between them in a daze, Dohyeon flashed a bright smile at Wooyeon.

“Let’s go home.”

* * *

On the way home, Wooyeon received a message from a classmate who had attended the special lecture. The message said Dohyeon had made it abundantly clear to everyone that he was Wooyeon’s boyfriend. Curious about how exactly he had done so, Wooyeon replied with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment.

“How was the lecture?”

As soon as they got into the car, Dohyeon kissed Wooyeon twice and fastened his seatbelt with a practiced hand. Then, he asked the question casually. Wooyeon, gazing wistfully at Dohyeon’s lips, blinked slowly.

“It was interesting.”

“But not helpful?”

“Um…”

Wooyeon couldn’t bring himself to offer a polite lie. Honestly, he had been too busy admiring Dohyeon’s face to focus on the content. Though he had listened to his voice intently, the lecture wasn’t particularly useful for him.

“It was probably helpful for others,” Wooyeon said, offering what he thought was the best answer. Dohyeon smiled faintly, as if he found Wooyeon’s effort endearing, and ruffled his hair.

“Thanks for saying so, at least.”

It wasn’t just an empty compliment. Wooyeon touched his hair where Dohyeon’s hand had been, wishing he would do it again. But since the car was already moving, he decided it was unlikely.

“When… when was the lecture planned?”

Instead of asking for more affection, Wooyeon asked something he had been curious about. It was a personal question he hadn’t dared to ask during the Q&A session.

“Has it been decided for a long time?”

“No, it had been discussed for a while, but I only agreed to it recently. Even though my company approved the schedule, I still feel a bit self-conscious about it with my team.”

Dohyeon explained calmly, adding that he initially hadn’t planned to do it but was persuaded by the professor’s earnest request. Despite his reluctant tone, his final comment sounded completely sincere.

“And… well, I thought it’d be nice to see someone at school.”

There was no need to ask who. It might have been a bit presumptuous, but Wooyeon was fairly certain that was the main reason Dohyeon had agreed to give the lecture. So much so that he had snuck glances at Wooyeon as if fishing for praise.

“I even replied this time,” Dohyeon added.

Wooyeon remembered the message Dohyeon had sent just before the lecture began, cheekily telling him to pay attention as if he knew nothing.

“I thought it was a nice surprise. Should I not do it again?”

“No.”

Wooyeon shook his head firmly. Whatever else had happened today, Dohyeon showing up unexpectedly was always welcome—whether it was to pick him up from school or to appear on stage during the lecture.

“I like it when Hyung comes.”

The sincerity of his words wasn’t exaggerated, and he was sure Dohyeon understood that. But what Wooyeon really wanted to say came next.

“But I don’t like it when other people look at Hyung.”

“Huh?”

Dohyeon glanced at him. Wooyeon fidgeted with his seatbelt and lowered his head.

“They kept saying Hyung was handsome… and wondered if you were smiling at them.”

“…Did they really?”

“They did. I mean, why would freshmen even attend a career lecture…”

Wooyeon grumbled and let out a sigh. Saying it aloud made the irritation from earlier bubble up again. He even felt a twinge of annoyance toward Dohyeon. Yet, Dohyeon simply paused for a moment before chuckling lightly.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect freshmen to attend.”

“…”

Did he just laugh? Wooyeon turned to glare at him, but Dohyeon only winked apologetically. Then, as if trying to soothe him, Dohyeon reached out and lightly patted Wooyeon’s thigh.

“I was smiling at you. I can’t help it—I’m happy whenever I see you.”

The irritation melted away. Like an autumn breeze, Dohyeon’s words gently brushed away Wooyeon’s unease. Dohyeon squeezed Wooyeon’s hand once before letting go and returning his hand to the gear shift.

“So that’s why you looked upset…”

His soft muttering carried a note of relief. Dohyeon must have been subtly gauging Wooyeon’s mood.

“And now, I think it’s safe to say everyone knows we’re dating.”

“That’s true, but…”

That was one less thing to worry about. At least now no one would assume he was single just because he didn’t wear a ring. And they would no longer mistake Dohyeon’s smiles for something else entirely.

“…Can’t you wear a mask for the next lecture?”

“A mask?”

At Wooyeon’s absurd suggestion, Dohyeon burst into laughter. He thought about saying he was serious but decided against it, feeling it might make him seem petty.

Dohyeon, laughing for quite a while, even turned the question back to Wooyeon.

“Yeon, do you want to wear a mask to school?”

If anyone understood that this wasn’t just a joke but something Dohyeon genuinely meant, it was Wooyeon. Unable to respond affirmatively, Wooyeon gave Dohyeon a dissatisfied look.

“It’s Hyung who needs it more than me.”

“Hmm… I don’t think so.”

Their lighthearted bickering didn’t last long before shifting to deciding dinner plans. Dohyeon suggested a nearby restaurant he had discovered, but Wooyeon mentioned he’d prefer to eat at home. He wanted to spend the evening away from others’ prying eyes, just the two of them.

And so, Dohyeon’s first special lecture seemed to pass uneventfully, wrapped in small, trivial concerns.

The problem arose on Friday, the day of Dohyeon’s third special lecture.

* * *

The second lecture went by quietly without any incidents. While many still showed interest in Dohyeon, the frequency had decreased since they’d become aware of Wooyeon’s presence. Even the freshmen who had been whispering about Dohyeon on the first day were now saying things like:

“Hey, he smiled at you!“

“Shut up, it’s embarrassing…”

“We don’t stand a chance against him.”

Wooyeon wasn’t oblivious to the fact that these students harbored no ill intentions. Watching them tease each other and laugh about how embarrassed they were even seemed endearing to him. That didn’t mean the attention Dohyeon received had waned entirely, though.

“But he really is good-looking…”

It would’ve been a lie to say Wooyeon wasn’t bothered by those gazes watching Dohyeon as if admiring a work of art. Still, he wasn’t petty enough to get angry over something like that. As mentioned earlier, he was quite used to situations like these.

By 6 PM on Friday, Dohyeon’s final lecture began. He reviewed the portfolios the students had revised, shared tips for writing resumes and interviews, and provided detailed feedback. While it wasn’t of great interest to Wooyeon, it must have been immensely helpful for the students in attendance.

“That concludes the prepared lecture. Thank you to everyone who attended throughout the week. If you ever join our company, make sure to say hi!”

It was a neat finish, a farewell leaving no room for regret. Amid resounding applause, Dohyeon stepped down from the podium without hesitation—a textbook example of “leave on a high note.”

“Such a shame—it was so interesting.”

A fellow student who had attended the lecture with Wooyeon expressed their regret, much like the other students. Meanwhile, Wooyeon was eagerly preparing to leave with Dohyeon, feeling more upbeat than usual. He regretted that Dohyeon wouldn’t be at the school anymore, but he was looking forward to spending the weekend with him.

“You’re heading home with Oppa again today, right?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“Alright, take care. Say hi for me! See you next week.”

After a friendly exchange, Wooyeon hurried out of the small lecture hall. Because of the handouts distributed on the last day, he had taken a bit longer than usual to pack up. While there was no rush, Dohyeon’s area tended to get crowded quickly, so Wooyeon had to move fast.

As expected, Dohyeon was surrounded by students. His height made him stand out, and from a distance, Wooyeon could clearly see his face, looking especially refreshed with a faint smile.

I should tell him to hurry home. Maybe we can finally try that restaurant he mentioned. He doesn’t like cake, so we can grab some dessert nearby and eat it at home.

Wooyeon’s steps were light. Now that everyone knew about their relationship, people naturally stepped aside when he approached.

So there was no need to feel jealous anymore, was there?

“…?”

Wooyeon stopped in his tracks, frowning. Dohyeon was awkwardly smiling as he accepted a phone from one of the students in the crowd.

What’s he doing?

Narrowing his eyes, Wooyeon watched Dohyeon type something on the phone. He was struck dumb for a moment.

“No way…”

The student took the phone back with a wide grin, bowing deeply as they said, “Thank you!” Their voice rang clearly in Wooyeon’s ears, even from several steps away. Nearby students murmured in protest, and Dohyeon shrugged nonchalantly, hands in his pockets.

No way…

Shaking his head didn’t change the scene he’d just witnessed. Dohyeon—his boyfriend, Kim Dohyeon—had just given his number to someone else.

“…”

It felt like a slap to the back of the head. Wooyeon’s expression hardened as a wave of displeasure washed over him.

He turned around and left the building without looking back.

* * *

Dohyeon had left two missed calls. Wooyeon stared at his vibrating phone, knowing he should answer but unsure of what to say.

The scene from earlier played on an endless loop in his mind. Dohyeon taking the phone, typing something, the student’s bright smile—it was undeniably a situation where he had given out his number.

Though this wasn’t an unusual occurrence in special lectures, with some instructors openly sharing their contact information, it still stung.

Yeah, so it’s not a big deal…

But did it have to be this way?

“…Ugh.”

Frustrated, Wooyeon pulled up his hoodie and buried his head. Not ready to face going home alone, he wandered aimlessly until he found himself at a bench on campus. It was the same bench he had sat on once before after eating a hamburger and feeling sick.

I miss him…

That day, he had desperately wanted to see Dohyeon. Even now, the longing remained, but his emotions were a complicated mix of resentment, anger, and a desire to be comforted.