Unlike him who wore a gentle smile, Hyowoo’s expression darkened.
‘What’s his standard for saying someone is good?’
If he were truly a good person, he wouldn’t have suspected this kind and honest man so much.
He was far from smart too.
If he’d been intelligent, he wouldn’t have been so easily fooled that day, ruthlessly trampled and violated.
“I’m grateful you see me favorably, but… I’m not good. I’m not smart either.”
As if he’d committed a great wrong, he hung his head, and he quietly opened his mouth.
“A truly good person wouldn’t say such things with their own mouth.”
It was a kind remark. Not simple comfort or soothing words, but warmth that felt sincere.
“We’ve only met twice, but I can tell. Hyowoo-ssi is a good and kind person.”
He was about to say ‘but…’ but closed his mouth. In the end, he felt that the reason he came to like him was because of his outward appearance.
‘Even after knowing everything, will this person be able to continue liking me…?’
Lee Seohee, who had been examining his face sunken in depression, carefully continued speaking.
“I heard you entered as the top student overall and that you’re a full scholarship student. Who would believe such a person saying they’re not smart?”
“That’s… because I only studied…”
Words like ‘smart’ or ‘brilliant’ were expressions that suited Alphas like Gyeonwoo or Taeseo.
Unlike them who were born with brains, Hyowoo’s grades were proportional to the time he sat at his desk. He could only have good grades because he fiercely clung to books.
Gyeonwoo, who normally played excitedly but occupied the top ranks with just a few days of cramming during exam period. Taeseo wasn’t diligent about studying either, but she was a prodigy with a record of perfect college entrance exam scores and top admission to a prestigious university.
Alphas were different beings from birth. He could never reach them.
That’s why Hyowoo studied harder, frantically. He wanted to prove that Omegas could be as excellent as Alphas. However, five years ago, ‘diligently’ changed to ‘desperately.’
“The only thing I can lean on is studying…”
After that day’s incident, Hyowoo had to accept with his whole body the cruel truth that Omegas, especially male Omegas, were never respected in this society. He felt deep in his bones the reality that the existence of one Omega could be sacrificed at any time for a noble Alpha.
Then there was only one way for an Omega to survive—the ‘numbers’ stamped on documents.
Grades were the only shield permitted to him, and the path to lessen his parents’ worries.
“Because studying is my only means of survival…”
Shocked by the words that suddenly popped out, he covered his mouth.
‘Why would I say such things…’
This was a secret he’d never confided to anyone, hidden deep in his heart.
‘It’ll only be troublesome if he hears this kind of story…’
Along with the shock at his own actions, embarrassment washed over him. His eyes shook as if tears would form at any moment.
“Have you tried this game by any chance? It was released last week.”
Instead of awkward comfort or questions, Lee Seohee naturally changed the subject to a game story that Hyowoo liked.
“I wanted to buy the limited edition collector’s edition, but I missed the reservation period.”
Showing a photo of a game box he’d received by delivery, he smiled as if regretful.
“I have this…”
Only then did Hyowoo finally lower the hand that had been covering his mouth. His expression became comfortable as if the sadness had subsided a little.
“If you’re okay with an opened one, I’ll give it to you.”
Hyowoo, who had been hesitating while looking at the photo, asked.
“Haha, it’s okay. You must have obtained it with difficulty too, Hyowoo-ssi.”
“I have two. One is my younger sibling’s, but I’m not very greedy about limited editions. If I really need it, there’s a way to obtain it.”
“I know it’s sold out, but you can get it?”
Hyowoo nodded to his surprise.
“The creative director of this game series is my older sister.”
Introverted and tight-lipped Hyowoo didn’t talk about himself well. He found himself suddenly feeling strange—casually revealing family stories to this man that he rarely brought up even to friends.
“It must have been something your noona deliberately sent you, are you sure you can give it to me?”
“Yes. And if I say I gave it to Player Lee Seohee, she’ll probably be really happy. My noona is a fan of Player Lee Seohee’s… team.”
Actually, his noona had been a fan since the day he debuted. But saying that to his face was embarrassing, so he slightly changed his words.
“It’ll be hard to give it to you today… I’ll give it to you next time we meet.”
For a moment, he stared intently at Hyowoo.
Did something get on his face? When he rubbed his cheeks and asked, he smiled softly.
“Okay. Give it to me when we meet next time.”
Only then did Hyowoo realize he’d inadvertently promised their next meeting.
Seeing Lee Seohee’s delighted face, his cheeks heated up again. Afraid his reddened ears would be discovered, he hastily changed the subject.
“Um, excuse me… OOO Studio announced a new game, did you hear about it?”
***
Thud.
The small head that had been nodding off gently touched Seohee’s shoulder. Seohee chuckled looking at Hyowoo who had leaned his body as it was and fallen into a deep sleep while breathing evenly.
“Being this tired, yet so stubborn.”
The clock had already passed 3 AM by far. Until just a few minutes ago, he’d told Hyowoo, who was rubbing his eyes and holding back drowsiness, to go home several times, but he stubbornly insisted on staying by his side until the end.
‘He must have felt sorry about leaving me alone at the airport.’
Seohee drew a line in his heart matter-of-factly, thinking he was only doing this because he was so kind, and it wasn’t more than that.
‘If he was going to sleep like this anyway. He should have slept comfortably at a hotel instead.’
If he really wouldn’t go home, he’d recommended resting his eyes at least at an airport hotel, but Hyowoo refused outright. Even when he said they’d get separate rooms, he firmly held out saying he wouldn’t even go near a hotel.
‘I’m not very tired. I’m really okay, so I’ll just stay here.’
It was only 20 minutes ago that he boasted confidently he could stay awake. But in the end, he’d fallen asleep like this using Seohee’s arm as a pillow.
Seohee quietly gazed at Hyowoo’s face as he slept defenseless.
The rabbit-like appearance that was always tense and startled at any time was nowhere to be seen. His peaceful face, like a person without any worries, was truly a small and precious living creature itself.
‘He was young back then, but now he’s quite an adult. Well, even then he had a mature feeling compared to his peers.’
Actually, the blind date wasn’t their first meeting.
When he saw the photo his cousin showed him, Seohee was certain he was ‘that child’ who had passed by a few years ago.
‘I just wanted to meet him again once…’
Even when he requested the blind date, he didn’t have other feelings. He just wanted to confirm if that memory was correct, that was all. But the moment he actually met Hyowoo who came out to the meeting place, Seohee felt romantic interest for the first time in his life.
‘Is this… what falling in love at first sight is?’
Unlike his outward appearance that seemed easygoing and good-natured, Seohee was a cold and realistic person.
Reason always came before emotion. So he’d dismissed expressions like ‘falling in love at first sight’ as stories that only applied in fairy tales.
But he was uncontrollably drawn only to Hyowoo.
There was absolutely no way to explain this feeling without having fallen in love at first sight.
Even in romance, Seohee was bland to the point of being dry.
A glamorous background and outstanding appearance, a famous sports star admired by many. Moreover, thanks to the title of Dominant Alpha, attention toward him was always overflowing. He’d received confessions from easily dozens of people so far, and the initiative in romance was always with Seohee.
Among his not-few romantic experiences, he’d never confessed first even once.
Of course, once he started a relationship, he did his best for his partner. He was considerate and cherished them with devotion, but that was all.
Though good feelings arose, he’d never fallen in love.
He, who had been like that, never imagined he’d have his heart stolen by someone like this.
‘Is it that hard to believe I like him?’
Looking at Hyowoo’s expressions and actions so far, it was clear he didn’t believe his confession.
But he knew well himself too. That he could be a burdensome existence as a romantic partner.
It was bitter, but for now he had no choice but to accept reality.
‘He’ll understand someday. He seems to have a cautious personality, so I should avoid actions that put too much pressure on him.’
He carefully removed the glasses that had been precariously perched on the tip of his nose and looked down at his small face. Perhaps thanks to his white skin, his long eyelashes and pink lips stood out especially.
‘That aside, why is his body in such bad condition?’
Back then too, Hyowoo had been on the thin side. Though he had almost no expression, he’d looked comfortable and bright. But now he was even more gaunt, and darkness dwelt in his face. From the sensitive reactions he occasionally showed, it was suspected he’d experienced a major accident or wound.
‘I don’t know what story there is, but… what I can do now is just approach slowly and carefully.’
So that his feelings wouldn’t become a burden or another wound. He decided to carefully maintain boundaries.
It was when he adjusted his posture so Hyowoo would be comfortable and was quietly gazing at his elegant face. Two women who looked to be about twenty years old who had just entered the departure area stopped in their tracks. They seemed to have recognized Seohee.
They whispered for a moment and tried to approach this way, but when Seohee brought his index finger to his lips, they quietly stopped.
When he smiled lightly and pointed at the sleeping Hyowoo, the two people waved with excited faces then turned their steps away.
‘Well then, shall I kill some time appropriately?’
So the soundly sleeping Hyowoo wouldn’t wake, Seohee carefully took out wireless earphones and put them in his ears. Then he opened his phone’s OTT app and began slowly choosing a movie.
