Today as well, in preparation for rain, they covered the top of the central garden with a white tent roof and placed white rose pots and lights here and there to draw out a spring night atmosphere. Perhaps because of the chilly weather, there were electric heaters everywhere.
The flow was to view paintings inside and have the party outside.
Sitting on a chair isolated in a remote corner of the central garden, Chaehun, instead of telling Seunggeon to sit down, told him to block the front.
“Seunggeon-ah. Stand here.”
To avoid the gazes of people following them even in the party room, Chaehun used Seunggeon as a screen. Fortunately, Seunggeon obediently complied.
“I’ll go back after just watching the main event.”
“Okay.”
“Why do you have no energy? You don’t have a fever though.”
Chaehun blankly stared at Seunggeon’s hand as it touched his forehead and then fell away. He was really unnecessarily affectionate.
“I’m drained. I see why you told me not to smile.”
“Today is mild.”
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Is that right? I feel like I’m acting, to the point where this famous saying comes to mind.”
“It’s a line from a Shakespeare play.”
“Oh. Shakespeare.”
“It really is you. Kang Chaehun. Do you remember me?”
While they were lightly exchanging jokes, a woman with a familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared from behind Seunggeon.
The owner of the lively voice was Sunny. When they met at the club a week ago, she was wearing a lace shirt with exposed shoulders and skinny jeans. But today she was wearing an elegant black dress and had braided her hair to one side. It was a completely opposite appearance, but recognizing her wasn’t difficult.
“Yes. I remember. Sunny. Right?”
Chaehun, who had met the only face he knew, stood up from his chair and greeted her.
“Phew. When I heard Seunggeon oppa brought his lover, I wondered what that was about, but it was you. You’re even more handsome when I see you properly. You know what? Everyone’s curious whether you seduced Seunggeon oppa with those looks, and whether you can become Cinderella that way. What do you think, the person in question?”
Casually bringing up what other people said and asking what you think was a question difficult to ask unless you were quite close.
Chaehun couldn’t tell if Sunny had this kind of personality originally, or if she was picking a fight. So he didn’t react at all. When you open your mouth at times like this, you tend to make mistakes. He also remembered that Seunggeon had told him to stay away from not only Park Gwangho but also Sunny.
When Chaehun stayed still, Seunggeon stepped in instead.
“Stop being interested in someone else’s lover.”
“I can’t do that. It’s a big issue. Oppa with an icy heart dating a lover. Who would believe it? I don’t believe it either. Do you know Seunggeon oppa’s nickname? Icy Heart. Icy Heart. My grandmother said so. He looks at beauties like ice, so Icy Heart. ……Oh my? You smiled. You’re even more handsome when you smile. Totally my type. If only you weren’t Seunggeon oppa’s lover. Oh no. It’s a joke. A joke. Why are you being so scary? Whoa whoa, calm down.”
At the explanation that Icy Heart was Seunggeon’s nickname, Chaehun smiled without realizing it. It was because it suited the indifferent Seunggeon too well. But Sunny’s reaction was strange. She was smiling with her eyes while saying he was her type, then stepped back with a pale face.
“Are you going to be like this?”
“Jokes don’t work today.”
“Right. You do look in a really bad mood. If pheromones were visible, oppa’s pheromones would be sharp blades. Blades.”
Even after listening to their conversation, Chaehun, who couldn’t tell what had happened, was only bewildered. He looked back and forth between Seunggeon and Sunny. It was Sunny, still standing at a distance, who spoke.
“Seunggeon oppa threatened me. To stay away from Chaehun-ssi.”
“……?!”
“Dominant alphas are thugs. Thugs. Among them, Seunggeon oppa is a really strong thug. Hmph. What? You don’t like me badmouthing oppa to your lover?”
Chaehun only then realized that Seunggeon had threatened Sunny with pheromones. If an omega’s pheromones were to seduce alphas, he had once heard from Kang Yeonghwan an explanation that alpha pheromones were to show power regardless of whether they were alphas or omegas.
Not long after Sunny, who grumbled for them to have a pretty love, left, a staff member appeared and informed them that the main event would be soon. Chaehun moved inside with Seunggeon.
A famous painter was introduced along with the painting that was today’s main feature. When they listened to the explanation and applauded, the event ended quickly.
After that, Chaehun, who had briefly left to go to the bathroom, couldn’t approach Seunggeon right away. Seunggeon, who had been standing in the spot where Chaehun had told him to wait for a moment, was surrounded by people. Especially the ratio of young women was high. Some were people he had just exchanged names with. Everyone was focused on Seunggeon.
Chaehun had never thought about what work Seunggeon did, who he met, or what evaluations he received. He had anticipated he’d be popular since he was a rich and handsome alpha, but seeing it directly before his eyes was a different feeling.
It felt like becoming an audience member watching Seunggeon standing on a glamorous and sparkling stage. He, with a cold expression not even making a polite smile, even looked arrogant at a glance. Yet the reason many people headed toward him like moths to a flame wasn’t only because Seunggeon was an alpha or a third-generation chaebol.
When making eye contact and focusing with him, it felt like facing a deep and vast space. When that was entirely directed at himself, he felt like he became special. When you realized that composure and precariousness coexisted in a guy who seemed perfect as if not even a needle could enter, you couldn’t help but fall for him.
Chaehun, who had become an onlooker like that, watched as some woman leaned in and whispered to Seunggeon as if telling a secret. While thinking that Seunggeon and the woman looked good together, at the same time he wanted to shout at her to get away.
An emotion that could be called jealousy surged. At least he was relieved that Seunggeon didn’t seem to be treating her warmly. He didn’t hope that he and Seunggeon would work out, but still, in a situation where he’d introduced him as his lover, it would be more annoying if he turned his eyes to someone else.
I hate one-sided love.
Chaehun, who had been cursing his own situation inwardly, quietly swallowed a sigh. In any case, he had to break through there and stand next to Seunggeon again.
“Hyung?”
While putting full strength into his face, he heard a familiar voice. When he looked to the side, Kang Yeonghwan was standing there.
“What brings you here?”
“What brings you here, hyung? Wow. You’re totally dressed up today? You look like a different person.”
Kang Yeonghwan’s eyes, looking Chaehun up and down, flashed. Because it was just a fleeting moment, Chaehun didn’t notice it.
“Chaehun-ah.”
This time, Seunggeon’s voice was heard. Before he knew it, Seunggeon was right next to him. Before Chaehun could say anything, Kang Yeonghwan stepped forward first.
“Hello. I’m Kang Yeonghwan. I didn’t know Chaehun hyung had such a wonderful friend.”
“I’m Choi Seunggeon. I’m dating Chaehun.”
“Really? Hyung didn’t say anything like that.”
“There’s no need to tell family about one’s love life. Chaehun and I will go ahead first.”
Before Chaehun could step forward, the two exchanged names with each other. And Seunggeon first asked for understanding and pulled Chaehun along.
Following Seunggeon, Chaehun deliberately ignored Kang Yeonghwan’s gaze piercing his back. Only after they’d gotten quite far did he quietly ask Seunggeon.
“Is it okay to tell my younger brother we’re lovers?”
“Everyone here knows that. Why?”
“My younger brother… I think he’ll ask me to introduce you.”
“Cut him off appropriately.”
Cutting him off appropriately as Seunggeon said was the right answer, but Chaehun knew it wouldn’t be easy. Kang Yeonghwan had a persistent personality. At the premonition that he’d probably make a scene like before, his stomach already began to hurt.
As he sighed deeply inside, suddenly his left leg gave out and he staggered. It wasn’t enough to fall, but fortunately Seunggeon caught him, allowing him to feel relieved.
“Thanks.”
After stumbling and standing straight, Chaehun looked at Seunggeon and immediately thanked him first. But Seunggeon’s reaction was unexpected.
“Let’s go to the hospital first.”
“Hospital for what?”
“You need to either take medicine or get a shot. If you don’t like the hospital, I’ll call Director Shim.”
“I’m fine. What shot. If I go home and sleep for a bit, I’ll get better.”
“Get a shot at the hotel, eat dinner, then go home.”
Seunggeon’s hand embracing his shoulder tightened with force. At the stubborn grip, Chaehun tried to argue but held back. His physical condition wasn’t good. Still, he’d get better if he covered himself with blankets and slept well, but he thought Seunggeon was overdoing it.
“When I’m with you, I feel like a very fragile person.”
“You staggered.”
“Because of who did I overdo it last night. In that sense, next time take your suppressants. Don’t tell me to get an IV.”
Chaehun smiled faintly while looking at Seunggeon. Once was enough experiencing sex with an alpha in rut. But Seunggeon, who frowned ambiguously, didn’t agree with Chaehun’s words.
“Well. Let’s see when the time comes.”
