The World of Contrasts Vol. 1 Chapter 8

“Really? Thanks.”

“Then, are we dating now? Just like that?”

“Haha, let me think about it.”

✽ ✽ ✽

Instead of rejecting Kwon Yoojin and her sparkling eyes outright, Daeyoung had postponed his answer because he had discovered that her father was Representative Kwon Sangdo. As a second-term congressman who had gained support with his groundbreaking efforts, such as successfully passing the anti-omega discrimination bill in the National Assembly, Kwon Sangdo was someone Daeyoung knew he had to meet one day.

There was one more reason why Daeyoung kept Yoojin around.

The slender beauty Kwon Yoojin strangely reminded him of Jang Jaemin. It wasn’t that their facial features were similar; it was the fleeting moments and atmosphere she exuded that resembled him. Particularly, the way her profile looked when she smiled—it brought to mind the faint dimples Jaemin would show when he occasionally broke into a genuine smile.

Of course, Jaemin had never once shown Daeyoung that smile. Because of that, the image of Jang Jaemin smiling in Daeyoung’s memory was always from the side, not head-on.

“I’m pretty… irresistible, aren’t I?”

As Daeyoung recalled Jaemin’s voice whispering with trembling eyes full of shame, a familiar heat rushed to his abdomen, and the weight in his lower body grew heavy.

Jang Jaemin undeniably possessed something that drove people insane. The more you knew about him, the more evident it became.

Whenever Daeyoung brushed against him, there was always a sweet scent. It was so faint but impossible to miss. It was a scent that made him want to bury his nose right into its source. If he had to compare, it was perhaps most similar to a lush bouquet of roses—if thousands of roses were distilled into a concentrated essence, it might resemble Jang Jaemin’s scent.

For this reason, Daeyoung couldn’t understand those around him. For example, Park Sejun, that half-witted idiot.

How could an alpha, especially a dominant one, spend so much time so close to Jang Jaemin and fail to notice his pheromones? Unless his brain had been pierced with a knife, damaging some critical neural pathway, it seemed impossible. Or maybe his genetic profile had been falsified.

Not long ago, when Park Sejun hugged Jaemin in a café, Daeyoung approaching them was inevitable.

It bothered him that Park Sejun was an exception to Jang Jaemin’s compulsive cleanliness, likely born from the need to conceal his traits. It also annoyed him to think Park Sejun might discover Jaemin’s one and only weakness, something Daeyoung alone knew.

The thought of other goddamned alphas swarming around Jaemin like flies genuinely disgusted Daeyoung.

“Shit…”

Walking slowly through a darkened alleyway, Daeyoung decided to recall a pleasant memory. As always, the most beautiful memory that brought a smile to his face was the first time they formed a mental bond. Daeyoung remembered that moment vividly.

“Why would I… ever be afraid of someone like you?”

The summer of senior year in high school. On a day when the monsoon rains cooled the scorching heat of the earth, it was the first time he ever brought flowers to someone.

It was after Jang Jaemin, suddenly hit by a heat at the gymnasium, attempted suicide. The pheromone scent that spread from his entire body stuck to Daeyoung’s mind like sticky blood, impossible to forget.

After being denied entry by the guard at Jaemin’s house that day, Daeyoung suppressed his urge to knock the man out and instead climbed over the mountain behind Jaemin’s house, where there was no trail. And finally, the sight of Jang Jaemin made all his efforts worthwhile.

“You should be the one afraid of me. Don’t you agree?”

Jaemin was visibly anxious, biting his pale lips and trembling in an effort to hide it. The sight of him was pitiful enough to make Daeyoung’s mouth water, and he looked so endearing that Daeyoung wanted to shove himself into him right then and there.

“You should kneel before me. You should be grateful to me!”

Watching Jaemin, tears streaming down his face, his neck veins bulging as he shouted, Daeyoung seemed to instinctively know.

You’re mine.

The temperature of Jaemin’s gaze as he looked at Daeyoung didn’t matter much to him. What was certain was only the proposition that Jang Jaemin was his omega. And along with that, Daeyoung realized an undeniable truth about himself: he was an alpha.

None of this had anything to do with Jaemin’s consent.

Looking back, it was clear from the moment Daeyoung first saw him, or perhaps from the moment Jaemin had so unhesitatingly stabbed a knife into his own neck.

“It’d be better if all the inferior beings in this world were just segregated.”

Jang Jaemin despises omegas, even though he himself is one. And Daeyoung, who detests alphas drawn to omega pheromones, reacts to Jaemin’s pheromones. To the point where simply thinking about him can make Daeyoung hard in the middle of the street.

Who’s more contradictory? Honestly, it’s like comparing peanuts.

Click.

Unable to hold back, Daeyoung lit a cigarette in the alleyway. He began to think about how Jang Jaemin smoked.

Recalling the image of Jaemin deeply inhaling smoke until his pale cheeks hollowed, then slowly exhaling it like scattering mist, made Daeyoung’s blood rush to one place. In the hazy world of his thoughts, Jaemin’s figure was stark and vivid, as if rendered in black and white—and therefore beautiful.

✽ ✽ ✽

“…….”

When aroused, pheromones inevitably leaked out, regardless of one’s will. To prevent that, one had to constantly suppress their excitement, a habit Daeyoung had long since mastered, though even he sometimes struggled.

Recently, the reins had slipped on the day of the festival, when Jang Jaemin appeared in a maddeningly seductive state, as though intent on luring every alpha in attendance.

Even when he did nothing but sit still, his radiance drew eyes. The way people stole glances at the table where he sat never failed to annoy Daeyoung.

It was for that reason that Jaemin being a thug was something Daeyoung found reassuring. Years ago, Daeyoung had followed Jaemin once. After seeing him wield a knife firsthand, Daeyoung felt even more at ease. There were countless instances when he masturbated, recalling the image of Jaemin mercilessly slashing his opponent.

Taking Jang Jaemin’s phone from the table at the pub had been a small punishment of sorts. He wanted to see Jaemin’s reaction when he realized it was missing—wanted to watch him curse in frustration.

The sight of Jaemin furrowing his sharply arched brows in anger was unbearably arousing. Daeyoung had planned to pretend to return the phone to him, teasingly suggest he owed him a favor as thanks. But the appearance of Kwon Yoojin’s omega mother derailed the situation.

Even if Daeyoung hadn’t been repulsed by the cloying touch of Yoon Jungha, he had no reason to harbor good feelings toward the man, who was Kwon Sangdo’s spouse. When Yoon Jungha grabbed Jaemin’s wrist and sniffed him, anger boiled inside Daeyoung. If someone annoyed him, one good punch would usually suffice, but Jaemin, though visibly shaken, restrained himself and simply got up to leave.

After Jaemin left, Daeyoung approached Yoon Jungha and “asked” him to refrain from releasing pheromones and ruining the festive mood. Of course, despite the choice of words, it was a threat. Yoon Jungha soon rose from his seat with a composed expression, gave an unsuspecting Yoojin a brief hug, and gracefully exited.

Daeyoung immediately set out to find Jaemin. Following the faint trail left by his pheromones, he ran until he found the pitiful omega destined to fall into his grasp.

See? We’re meant to be together, Jang Jaemin.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Daeyoung stopped in front of a sign reading “Flower’s Heart” at the first exit of the subway station. Just then, his mother was groaning while closing the shop.

“Perfect timing.”

With a grin, Daeyoung took the metal rod from Junkyung and cleared it away, then stretched out his arm to lower the shutter for her.

After one of the guys who had been pestering Junkyung smashed the shop door in the early hours of the morning, Daeyoung had installed the shutter right away. And when he caught someone spraying red graffiti on the shutter, he gave them a thorough “education” on the spot.

He made sure they could never again utter words like “filthy omega slut.” People who couldn’t understand the fragility of a flower’s heart had no place here.

“You smoked?”

“Caught me.”

Though Junkyung cast him a sidelong glance, she didn’t scold him. Junkyung had never once reprimanded Daeyoung. The first and last time she had stopped him was when he came back from labor work at 15 and tried to kill their landlord, who had been raping her. She had clung to him with all her strength to hold him back.

“Do you want me to ruin your life completely?!”

Being born the son of a powerless omega meant growing up witnessing his mother’s misfortune and maturing too quickly.

Watching Junkyung, who had lived far removed from wealth or power, Daeyoung decided to seize strength for himself. To him, secondary gender wasn’t a particularly significant issue. Most of the people who had exploited his omega mother were alphas, so he naturally harbored negative feelings toward them.

However, the fact that he, who had thought he was a beta, eventually manifested as an alpha was undoubtedly an unexpected twist.

✽ ✽ ✽

“I need to let Mom live a good life soon.”

Walking slowly under the streetlights, Daeyoung suddenly spoke. Junkyung, walking beside him, gave a faint smile as if dismissing his words as nonsense.

“You already paid off all the debts and even set up a shop in such a great location… Mom doesn’t want for anything more.”

“Shouldn’t dreams be a bit bigger than that? Especially after giving birth to a son as enormous as me.”

Daeyoung acting cheerful in front of her was a learned habit.

From a young age, Junkyung always carried a look of guilt on her face, though she had no reason to. She hadn’t chosen to be poor, to be born an omega, or to be abandoned by the alpha who impregnated her.

“That… that friend who came by that time… have you stayed in touch with him?”

At Junkyung’s hesitant words, Daeyoung’s throat briefly moved.

“Friend? Who?”

“You know, the one who came with the study abroad documents for the U.S….”

Junkyung’s face darkened as she spoke cautiously. It was natural, given the words Jaemin had said about her were likely running through her mind.

Even though Daeyoung had retaliated by flooding him with pheromones and having sex, thinking back to that day still made his insides boil. It was the first time in his life he had completely lost control.

“I gave him a real scolding, so don’t worry too much, Mom.”

The emotions he felt after unleashing the beast inside him were… relief?

As Daeyoung smiled slyly, Junkyung suddenly stopped walking.

“…Did you fight him? Did you hit him?”

It wasn’t unusual for Junkyung to worry; she had often witnessed Daeyoung beating people up in front of her. Yet her expression seemed slightly off this time.

“Daeyoung…”

Her face, both scolding and worried, seemed unusually serious.

“I told you, I don’t hit people anymore.”

If he said he had sex instead, what kind of expression would Junkyung make?

“Hurry… Haah… Ah, so good… Ugh…!”

A voice he never thought he’d hear from Jang Jaemin. His black hair disheveled and clinging to his flushed forehead. His saliva-slicked red lips and the intimate part of his body that resembled them. As the memory surfaced, Daeyoung felt his blood heat up again.

He could vividly recall the sensation of that red hole gripping his cock. Whenever he tried to withdraw, it clenched so tightly, sucking him in so persistently that he couldn’t hold back his movements.

Thinking about the sticky, messy sex with Jaemin, Daeyoung steadied his breathing. If he got aroused now, there would be no fixing it.

With an alpha index in the top 0.1%, which had only manifested later in life, he had to learn to suppress his desires once he realized how potent his pheromones were—even affecting his family.

He did it to avoid making life even harder for his mother, who had already suffered enough.

“Should we have pork belly tonight, Mom?”

“…Sure, that sounds good.”

Looking at their shadows under the streetlights, Daeyoung smiled faintly. My pitiful, beautiful omega mother, who has no greed, ambition, or strength.

“I’ll really take care of you.”

“…You already do enough.”

Bzzz.

His phone vibrated. The caller was Yoojin. He was annoyed that the conversation he thought had ended kept continuing. It felt like a subtle invitation for him to join their drinking gathering.

[It’d be great if you came too, Sunbae!]

Deleting the message that came with a photo of three beer glasses clinking together, Daeyoung shoved the phone back into his pocket. Junkyung glanced over with curiosity.

“Who was it?”

“A junior from school.”

Junkyung’s face lit up unusually as she looked at him.

“Are you… dating?”

“It’s not like that.”

Daeyoung’s real target was Kwon Yoojin’s father, Assemblyman Kwon Sangdo. He had a hunch that Kwon Sangdo might be his biological father ever since overhearing Junkyung casually mention his name while talking on the phone when he was young and she thought he was half-asleep.

When Kwon Yoojin approached him first, it was only natural that Daeyoung didn’t push him away. He even planned to join Kwon Sangdo’s election campaign to get closer to the man who aspired to be mayor. This was the perfect shortcut.

“Mom, just hold on until everything is revealed. Then you’ll know.”

He would make Kwon Sangdo kneel and beg for forgiveness in front of Junkyung.

And then, he’d kill him.

Watching Daeyoung’s sly smile, Junkyung sighed, her expression tinged with concern.

“It wouldn’t hurt for you to date, though. You know, have some romance.”

Daeyoung rolled the word over in his mouth.

Romance.

“…What’s romance, Mom?”

Junkyung gave him a look of disbelief, then let out a soft laugh.

“How can you not know when you’re so smart?”

“I really don’t, so tell me.”

Daeyoung tilted his head in feigned innocence. If she had asked if he was having sex, answering would’ve been much easier.

Was romance about alphas and omegas coming together, having kids, and going out to eat nice meals? Even after observing people in relationships, Daeyoung couldn’t grasp what the feeling was supposed to be.

“It’s about liking each other and caring for one another.”

“Is it still romance if they hurt each other while liking each other?”

Junkyung paused at his question, which sounded almost like a riddle, then added gently, “If that’s part of how they get to know each other.”

“I already know everything. I can figure people out just by looking into their eyes.”

Junkyung smiled and shook her head.

“No, people are much more complicated than you think. First, you need to understand yourself better.”

“Wow, Mom, you sound like a philosopher.”

Laughing softly, Daeyoung continued walking with her. Yet the conversation lingered in his mind.

Was there anything he didn’t already know about Jang Jaemin?

Daeyoung knew him too well. Spending so much time observing him had naturally led to that. He even memorized Jaemin’s phone password just by glancing at it.

The way he would bite the inside of his cheek and smirk when irritated. His eyes, slightly reddening and creating an odd tension when flustered.

The ostentatious rings stacked on his long fingers—though they seemed disorderly at first glance—were always worn in the same sequence. His belongings were always placed in exact positions.

None of the earrings dangling down his ears were actually pierced into his body. He disliked physically damaging his body, yet he had tattoos, likely to cover scars.

His obsessive cleanliness, hating anything that stained or wrinkled his clothes. Though he appeared indifferent, his academic performance was always consistent. The abundance of turtlenecks and high-collared shirts in his wardrobe, along with the tattoo covering his nape, stemmed from an unconscious fear of being marked.

His self-destructive tendencies. Probably the result of abuse in his childhood, leading to low self-esteem, paired paradoxically with unyielding pride. His omega phobia, which left him no choice but to adopt an excessively flamboyant appearance to hide his omega identity.

His extreme side—preferring to stab a knife into his neck rather than reveal his true nature. The languid air of someone who always carried the weight of death in the corner of his life.

The huskiness in his voice, a result of years of smoking from a young age.

And now, Daeyoung even knew how that slightly husky voice sounded when Jaemin moaned during sex.

Ah, fuck. It’s driving me insane.

Bzzz. Bzzz.

The phone in Daeyoung’s pocket kept vibrating, but he didn’t notice. His mind was overloaded with all the information about Jang Jaemin swirling in it.

Why had he developed a personality so vicious it could make even demons tremble? The shame and inner conflict he must feel when having sex with an alpha—Daeyoung understood it all.

Was there anyone who knew Jang Jaemin better than he did?

“Daeyoung…?”

Junkyung’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“Something’s been buzzing for a while now.”

His phone vibrated in his pocket again. Ah. He casually pulled it out.

The caller was Yoojin. He knew he had to keep dealing with her to get closer to Kwon Sangdo, but pretending to be interested in someone who might be another of his father’s “seeds” honestly grated on him.

[Big news]

[I ran into Jang Jaemin sunbae at a bar and we’re drinking together!]

Daeyoung was typing out a reply as he climbed the stairs, only to freeze mid-step.

“My mom’s unwell, so I can’t to—”

He deleted the partially written message in an instant and tapped on the photo Yoojin had sent. The image downloaded in seconds, and when it opened, Daeyoung bit his lip.

Sitting across from Yoojin, leaning back against the chair with a blank expression and a drink in hand, was none other than Jang Jaemin.

What the fuck are you doing with an alpha at this hour?

“What are you doing, standing there?”

Junkyung, who had opened the front door, looked at him curiously as he lingered halfway up the stairs.

“Mom, you’ll have to eat dinner alone tonight. Is that okay?”

“Of course. But what’s going on?”

“…Nothing much. A TA from the department asked for some help.”

Daeyoung smiled reassuringly, putting her at ease, then turned around.

As soon as he stepped outside, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a deadly glare. By the time he exited the alley, he was running.

No alpha should be anywhere near Jang Jaemin, who lived alone inside the fortress he built with blades turned inward. It didn’t matter whether they were a man or a woman.

The only one who could breach the fortress you’ve built is me, Jang Jaemin.

✽ ✽ ✽

Even though it was a late weekday night, the streets lined with bars near the university were bustling with noise. Jaemin leaned casually against the convenience store’s brick wall, lighting a cigarette with a click.

“So… you’re saying your friend is interested in me?”

Across from him, Yoojin, busy eating ice cream, continued speaking.

“Honestly, I know it’s kind of funny for me to act as the middleman like this, but… they’re really a great person, so I wanted to let you know. They’re a first-year in the dance department, and I think if you and Sunbae stood next to each other, you’d look perfect together. Even your facial features are kind of similar.”

Yoojin, her face slightly flushed from alcohol, nodded earnestly. She was currently waiting for her loyal chauffeur to come and take her home. Or rather, should she call him a beggar instead of a chauffeur?

“What kind of image do I have?”

Jaemin took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly as he asked. Yoojin, tilting her head thoughtfully, blinked her large eyes before responding.

“You’re… really handsome.”

White smoke escaped from his slightly parted red lips, spreading in soft circles.

“By handsome, do you mean I look pretty?”

Jaemin caught the implication behind her roundabout wording. He was fully aware of the limits of his appearance and thought it ridiculous to deny them.

Unlike some other alphas who naturally attracted admiration from others of their kind, like the person coming to pick Yoojin up, Jaemin’s looks were far from that.

His physical condition was no exception either. Standing a little over 180 cm, Jaemin’s height barely met the alpha average, and his long, slender frame lacked any sense of ruggedness. The best compliment he could hope for was being called nimble in a fight.

“Um… I mean a face that’s aesthetically pleasing. Of course, the concept of beauty changes with each era.”

“Now you’re just playing word games.”

As Jaemin flicked off the ash from his cigarette and chuckled lightly, Yoojin shrugged her slim shoulders beneath her clothes.

“I felt like I might have said something wrong. I may seem like this, but I do have a bit of tact.”

“Then you must’ve noticed I don’t like your mom.”

Yoojin opened her mouth slightly as if surprised, then licked her ice cream. If anyone else had seen her, they might’ve thought she looked lovely, but Jaemin felt nothing.

“Oh, I didn’t expect to hear that so directly.”

During the last festival, Jaemin had openly shown his distaste for her mother. Anyone paying even a little attention to the table would’ve noticed. For all he knew, when Yoon Jungha got home, he might’ve asked his daughter who the hell that unpleasant brat was.

“I’m not great at hiding my feelings.”

“Ah, yes…”

“And you’re aware I have a phobia.”

Yoojin, who had been responding half-heartedly, let out a short sigh.

“Well, to be honest, it doesn’t feel great from the perspective of someone with omega parents either.”

That was only natural.

“Really? Then why’d you ask me to join you?”

Yoojin spoke to Jaemin, who smiled faintly.

“Because you’re close with Daeyoung Sunbae.”

“……”

“And honestly, I prefer people like you who openly dislike omegas. Pretending to be supportive while badmouthing them behind their backs feels way more hypocritical.”

Having finished her ice cream, Yoojin tossed the wooden stick into the trash bin with a smile. Jaemin watched her silently, biting the inside of his cheek.

He had felt it from the moment she greeted him without shrinking away—this one was no ordinary person. It was no surprise, then, that even Seol Daeyoung, who always seemed to hold himself above others and kept everyone at a distance, had responded to her.

When Yoojin, whom he’d coincidentally run into at the bar, cheerfully invited him to join her, Jaemin had acted on impulse. At first, it was just to provoke Seol Daeyoung. Watching Yoojin smile brightly as she mentioned introducing that bastard to her parents soon made his insides twist uncomfortably.

Even knowing what kind of person Seol Daeyoung was, would Kwon Yoojin truly be able to proudly introduce him to her parents?

Just a few days ago, Seol Daeyoung had poured pheromones on him, assaulted him in a car, and thrown two 10,000-won bills onto Jaemin’s naked, semen-streaked body before leaving.

“Buy yourself some makgeolli. Today was good.”

Recalling that moment made Jaemin’s scalp prickle and his hands grow cold. The sour scent of makgeolli bursting against the car’s wall, the sharp alpha scent of Seol Daeyoung, and even the fishy smell of his semen—everything was seared into his memory as if branded.

“This bastard, how should I crush him?”

Jaemin tilted his head slightly as he looked at Kwon Yoojin standing before him. She seemed like a girl with a surprisingly innocent side, wanting to get along well because she thought she was close to Seol Daeyoung. Jaemin was beginning to get a sense of how to exploit her.

“Hmm… So you’re saying the dance major friend you want to introduce me to at least isn’t a total trainwreck personality-wise?”

“Haha, of course not. What, did you think I’d try to get revenge on you for my mom, Sunbae?”

Watching Yoojin grin brightly, Jaemin also chuckled.

“Not like I’d go along with that anyway.”

Kwon Yoojin, who resembled Yoon Jungha’s looks and radiated Kwon Sangdo’s confidence. She was such a perfect alpha that it was hard to imagine anyone better suited for the school’s promotional model. Anyone would be tempted to date her.

Even that annoying guy who had shown up in person, ostensibly to escort her safely home. Jaemin took a step closer to her as he noticed Seol Daeyoung emerging from the alleyway just in time.

“Kwon Yoojin.”

“Yes, Sunbae?”

Jaemin knew that Yoojin had deliberately sent a picture of them together to Seol Daeyoung, yet he let it slide. And this was the result.

As soon as Daeyoung found out that Yoojin was with him, he’d called her to ask for the bar’s location. It was obvious why he’d dropped everything and rushed over: he was probably worried Jaemin might say something inappropriate to his girlfriend.

Maybe Seol Daeyoung was so infatuated with Kwon Yoojin that he couldn’t even consider who she’d find most disgraceful to have been involved with—Jaemin himself.

“You’re pretty.”

“…?”

When Jaemin whispered to her, Yoojin blinked her large eyes and gave a slightly awkward smile. Though she was used to such compliments, it seemed she hadn’t expected to hear them from Jaemin.

“Do you hate the smell of cigarettes?”

The orange ember on the cigarette burned faintly, emitting smoke. Yoojin looked at him curiously and shook her head.

“I smoke sometimes too. Not often, though.”

Jaemin turned his head, exhaling a long plume of smoke, then leaned closer to her. Yoojin, looking puzzled, flinched and froze as his lips brushed hers.

Jaemin gently wrapped his hand around her back, clad in a tight top, and kissed her artificially sweet lips.

The audience consisted of just one person. A few steps away, Seol Daeyoung had come to a halt, his face twisting in fury.

“U-uh…”

Facing away from Daeyoung, Yoojin mumbled through their joined lips, but her resistance was faint. Jaemin knew she couldn’t push him away. At this moment, no alpha could repel his pheromones.

Even Kwon Yoojin, who looked like the nation’s first love with her pure, innocent face, was a dominant alpha with violent blood coursing through her veins. It wouldn’t have been surprising if her instincts took over and she tore his shirt apart, climbing on top of him.

Was her ability to resist his alpha pheromones even in this situation the result of strict discipline?

Just as Jaemin wrapped his tongue around hers and deepened the angle of their kiss, Seol Daeyoung cursed under his breath and stormed over, gripping Jaemin’s body roughly.

“Oh, you’re here?”

When Jaemin smiled at him, Daeyoung pried Yoojin away as if ripping them apart and delivered a punch to Jaemin’s jaw. The hit landed squarely, making his skull ring.

Jaemin didn’t even think of wiping the blood from his lips. He simply bit down on the cigarette still in his hand, which was emitting smoke.

Though the spot where he’d been punched throbbed painfully as blood rushed to it, Jaemin felt too good to care. Seol Daeyoung’s enraged expression was immensely satisfying.

“Oh, Su-Sunbae.”

Yoojin belatedly noticed Daeyoung and spoke in a startled voice. It was understandable; being caught kissing someone else in front of the guy she was flirting with would surely be embarrassing.

“Get away from him.”

Without even looking at her, Daeyoung barked the order in a fierce voice. Things were starting to get truly interesting. Jaemin’s heart pounded wildly in his chest.

“You’re misunderstanding. Jaemin Sunbae is drunk right now… He mistook me for someone else, right?”

Yoojin quickly blurted out in a flustered voice, looking at Jaemin as if seeking his agreement. She was doing her best to diffuse the situation peacefully.

“Hey, Seol Daeyoung.”

But that wasn’t going to happen.

Jaemin chuckled as he looked at Seol Daeyoung.

“Why leave your girlfriend alone, you idiot?”

Grinding his teeth, Seol Daeyoung finally cornered Jaemin against the edge of the alley. Grabbing Jaemin by the collar, he hissed through clenched teeth.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Don’t you realize your pheromones are leaking?”

Of course, Jaemin had done it on purpose. There was no way he didn’t know. He twisted his crimson lips into a smirk.

“What does that have to do with you?”

“What…? You—”

Before Daeyoung could finish, Jaemin drove his fist into Daeyoung’s stomach. Staggering briefly, Daeyoung grabbed him again. Punches were exchanged—thud, thud—echoing in the quiet alley. The commotion soon began drawing people in.

Jaemin leaned close to Daeyoung’s ear, snickering as he whispered.

“Your girlfriend tastes fucking amazing.”

✽ ✽ ✽

Thunk! Jaemin’s body slammed against the wall. His pheromones were no longer leaking, but the fight showed no sign of calming down. Seol Daeyoung was utterly consumed by rage.

“Sunbae, oppa…! Stop it, please!”

A flustered Yoojin raised her voice, nearly shrieking, but she couldn’t bring herself to approach. The violence between the two was too intense. Seol Daeyoung pinned Jaemin against the wall, whispering in a hoarse, fractured voice.

“You’ve got all kinds of ways to piss people off.”

“And yet it never crosses your mind that maybe you’re the idiot for leaving your girlfriend unattended while screwing around in the wrong places.”

Jaemin sneered, and a dark shadow flickered in Seol Daeyoung’s eyes. His teeth ground together audibly.

“If you don’t want me to rip you apart here, shut your damn mouth.”

“Do it, you bastard. If you can.”

Jaemin aimed a kick at Daeyoung’s groin, but Daeyoung dodged, missing his chance. Instead, Jaemin seized the opening and slammed Daeyoung’s body to the ground. The threatening frame spun mid-air before hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

Jaemin, now in control, straddled Daeyoung and drove his fist into his face. The satisfying impact sent a fiery rush through his veins.

“Hey, someone call the cops!”

As the intensity of the brawl escalated, a crowd gathered, and someone shouted. Jaemin hesitated briefly, only to have his body flipped over again. Daeyoung, with a twisted expression, grabbed Jaemin’s face with his massive hand, his thumb pressing against Jaemin’s bloodied lips in a form of crude torment.

“Stop pissing me off.”

Jaemin, with his face firmly held, let out a crooked, mocking laugh. All this over a mere kiss with Daeyoung’s girl? If Jaemin had gone further, Daeyoung’s grip alone might have shattered his jaw.

What made it all the more absurd was the distinct outline in Daeyoung’s gray sweatpants—a blatant, undeniable reaction. Feeling the weapon-like arousal pressing against him, Jaemin grimaced but laughed bitterly.

“I always knew you were a freak, but… this is something else.”

This madman, Seol Daeyoung, was aroused watching his girlfriend kiss someone else. The clear evidence left Daeyoung speechless, and Jaemin felt a mix of revulsion and simmering anger he could barely contain.

“Next time, why not invite Kwon Yoojin for a threesome? Alphas love that kind of thing, don’t they?”

Daeyoung’s expression darkened menacingly, and he struck Jaemin’s face with a vicious punch. That was the spark for another bout of rolling, grappling chaos on the street.

“What the hell…?”

From a distance, Sejun gaped in disbelief.

He’d been drinking with Jaemin when Kwon Yoojin walked in. Thinking she was just a passing beauty, he was surprised when she recognized them and cheerfully asked to join.

Of course, Sejun was thrilled, but he hesitated, expecting Jaemin to reject her outright. Surprisingly, Jaemin shrugged and allowed it. Seeing as Yoojin had some cute friends, Sejun thought it was his lucky day.

Drinks were passed around, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

When Yoojin said she was heading home and Jaemin grabbed his cigarettes to follow her, Sejun wasn’t surprised. Jaemin had always pretended to be disinterested in her, but it was clearly all an act.

But when Jaemin didn’t return for a while, Sejun began to suspect something. Maybe this was the first time the aloof Jaemin had decided to seduce someone.

Then someone outside raised their voice about a fight.

In this small neighborhood, alley fights almost always involved hot-blooded young alphas, with bones being broken a common outcome. Not wanting to miss out on the spectacle, Sejun went out—and there they were.

Jaemin and Seol Daeyoung were in the middle of an all-out brawl, with Yoojin looking panicked as she made a call.

“…What a mess.”

Sejun, who had initially planned to intervene and stop the fight, paused. Instead, he pulled out his phone and began recording.

“Ahem… Ahem.”

Dialing a number he had never once contacted first, Sejun couldn’t help but feel nervous given who he was about to call. The phone rang several times before the person on the other end picked up. Sejun spoke up in a polite tone.

“Hel—hello….”

At first, his voice was drowned out by the loud music and singing in the background, but soon, everything fell silent. Then, a hearty voice came through.

― Well, if it isn’t our Jun!

Chairman Jang, who had known him since he was a child, always treated him warmly. From kindergarten days, Sejun had been generously showered with pocket money, so much so that he used to look forward to visiting Jaemin’s house.

But as Sejun grew older and realized that Chairman Jang was his father’s superior at work, he could no longer treat him so casually—especially after understanding exactly what his father’s job entailed.

“Yes, Chairman. It’s Sejun. I apologize for calling you so late.”

― Nonsense. What’s going on?

“You asked me about something before, Chairman. I have some updates.”

― Oh, really?

Chairman Jang’s tone dropped slightly.

Recently, he had personally contacted Sejun. It wasn’t just to check in, as Sejun initially thought; there was, of course, another motive.

Chairman Jang had asked about Seol Daeyoung. Specifically, he wanted to know what kind of relationship his son, Jaemin, had with Seol Daeyoung.

Though Sejun found it strange that the Chairman was inquiring about Daeyoung, he had answered truthfully. He explained that their relationship was far from amicable—Jaemin had always seemed to dislike Daeyoung, likely because of his omega mother, and acted as if he couldn’t stand him.

Sejun had been particularly cautious when mentioning the infamous “knife incident” during their sophomore year of high school, which had worsened their already strained relationship.

After hearing him out, Chairman Jang had asked if Sejun could inform him personally if anything happened between the two in the future. Not long after, Sejun received an allowance so generous that it rivaled the time he got a million-won check at age six.

― So, has something happened between my son and that kid?

“Yes, Chairman. I’m sorry to report this, but…”

― Nonsense. Just tell me.

“It seems to be… a love triangle. Involving a woman.”

― A love triangle? Haha, my Jaemin?

Chairman Jang burst out laughing, his booming voice echoing as if he were in a soundproof room with a live mic. Sejun could guess where he was—most likely a bar.

― So, what’s this girl my son’s so taken with? She must be something.

“She’s a freshman at our school—a perfect bride candidate.”

― Being decent isn’t enough. She has to be the best of the best.

“She lacks nothing, either in family or looks.”

Once again, Chairman Jang chuckled heartily, agreeing enthusiastically.

― So, are my son and that kid beating each other up now?

The sound of a drink being downed came through before Chairman Jang smacked his lips and asked. Startled by the uncanny accuracy, Sejun responded in surprise.

“How… how did you know?”

― How could I not know my own son? Haha. Jaemin always has to get what he wants, one way or another. Whether he steals it or makes it fall into his lap, he’ll find a way.

Sejun didn’t fully understand what the Chairman was implying, but he could tell he was in an excellent mood.

― So, whose punches are landing harder, you think?

“…It’s a close call.”

The sound of Chairman Jang clicking his tongue came through the phone.

― Tsk. Fighting isn’t a sport with a referee. There’s no such thing as a draw, Jun.

After biting his lip, Sejun glanced at the two figures grappling on the ground.

He was familiar with how Jaemin fought. Sejun had always known that if they were to go head-to-head, he’d stand no chance. Jaemin had skills honed through years of training in judo, kickboxing, and other combat sports. However…

― Be honest with me.

“Seol Daeyoung has the upper hand.”

― Oh, really?

“Well, the weight class difference is significant.”

― That can’t be all, can it?

On top of that, there was something oddly off-kilter about Seol Daeyoung’s movements. While Jaemin seemed intent on beating him by relentlessly throwing punches and kicks, Seol Daeyoung’s efforts appeared to be focused on pinning Jaemin beneath him.

More precisely, it looked as though he was trying to crush Jaemin’s body as if to claim it as his own.

“Well…”

― I get it now. That makes sense.

Damn it, the position looks disturbingly like something else.

Sejun had never seen another dominant alpha with a face as striking as Jaemin’s. Blessed by genetics, his features were enough to draw everyone in, even without pheromones.

Even as a longtime friend of 20 years, Sejun couldn’t help feeling unsettled at the sight of Jaemin’s sensual, flushed face—his elegant features contorted, red lips parted and gasping for breath.

From behind, Seol Daeyoung grabbed a fistful of Jaemin’s hair and murmured something into his ear. A guy who usually went around smirking like an idiot, showing anger like that was something Sejun hadn’t seen since high school—back when an omega incident caused a huge uproar.

But now, the glint in his eyes, wild and brimming with fury, was no joke.