“……?”
“Sex is much better than medicine. You liked it too.”
At Seunggeon’s last added words, Chaehun was dismayed. He definitely had liked it. But that was only until before the knotting.
You’re going to say that even after seeing me sick in bed for half a day?
Chaehun held back from grabbing his collar and confronting him.
“Walk around with ‘I am a shameless alpha’ written on your forehead. Then I’ll think about it.”
Even he thought it was a childish joke. But as if it was funny, Seunggeon burst into light laughter. It was a hearty laugh. He did recall that Seunggeon liked this kind of joke.
“I’ll try taking the medicine.”
At the answer tinged with laughter, Chaehun was somewhat satisfied. Exchanging such trivial talk, Chaehun left the hall together with Seunggeon. He felt people’s gazes clinging to his back, but deliberately ignored them.
*
*
After getting an IV at the hotel bungalow and even eating porridge, what awaited Chaehun when he returned to his studio apartment was Seo Jumyeong.
Chaehun lied to the tired-looking Seo Jumyeong that he was dating Seunggeon. Seo Jumyeong’s reaction was dramatic.
“You two are dating?”
To Seo Jumyeong’s surprised eyes, Chaehun quickly nodded. There was no other way to explain last night’s events.
“Whoa, since when?”
“It’s been a while.”
“Why didn’t you say anything… No, it’s not like you have to say it.”
Seo Jumyeong, who had been about to scold him, held back his words. Among his friends, Seo Jumyeong was the only one who knew about Chaehun’s orientation. And Chaehun didn’t talk much about his love life.
“Yesterday we just fought. It’s all resolved now.”
“I’m glad it’s resolved. But he said he won’t meet us? It would be awkward to see him later if you two break up… Do as you like. I’m not getting involved in someone else’s love life.”
Seo Jumyeong, having reached his own conclusion, didn’t pry any further. He just ended with cheering him on to do well.
Seo Jumyeong, who had also gone to work on Sunday, lay down early. And Chaehun also washed up, changed into comfortable clothes, and lay down on the bed.
Even though he’d gotten an IV, his body felt heavy as a thousand pounds. He thought he’d be able to fall asleep right away, but when he closed his eyes, memories from the past two days came flooding in, making his mind chaotic.
It had been a tiring day. No, a tiring weekend.
Though he’d experienced many bitter tastes of life living so far, this time was severe. As soon as he acknowledged he liked Seunggeon, reality hit. He didn’t hope things would work out well with him. But the fact that they were merely in a contractual relationship pierced his heart coldly.
The man who had intruded into Seunggeon’s apartment last night regarded Chaehun as Seunggeon’s mistress and treated him as such. More than being kicked out by him, he was angry that he couldn’t even properly protest.
More than anything, complex emotions surged toward Seunggeon who mentioned the contract at every crucial moment. Even though he’d said emotions shouldn’t get tangled, he resented the guy who acted affectionately saying he was on his side. He even wanted to hit himself for liking such a bastard.
Letting out a long sigh, Chaehun squeezed his eyes shut. He had to stop the gloomy thoughts. It was a relationship with a set time period anyway. The best thing was to enjoy it without suffering emotionally.
Take everything that’s given, don’t have expectations, and don’t even think about having sex with the guy when he’s in rut.
More than anything, telling himself not to have an unrequited love, Chaehun steeled his heart and forced himself to sleep.
* * *
Kang Yeonghwan bit his lips firmly while watching Chaehun and Seunggeon leave the hall side by side. The alpha next to Chaehun was the CEO of Taehwa Group.
Choi Seunggeon. Chairman Jeong of Taehwa Group’s grandson, third-generation chaebol, successor of one of Korea’s leading companies. Dominant alpha. The words describing the man who was Chaehun’s lover were all tremendous.
Kang Yeonghwan, who arrived late at the art museum due to traffic, focused on the most conspicuous man in the party venue. Finding out the man’s name and background wasn’t difficult. However, because he had no connection to Seunggeon who was surrounded by beautiful omegas, he couldn’t approach and just watched. But then he said he was dating his hyung, and the two disappeared together.
When people gossiped about the ordinary beta lover the young CEO of Taehwa Group had brought, he thought no way. Though he doubted whether a beta and alpha were really dating, he never dreamed that partner would be Chaehun.
Why. An alpha.
Kang Yeonghwan thought of Seunggeon who was no longer here. The tall man with a great body was a sculpture-like handsome man. The pheromones subtly emanating from him were overwhelming. Everything was perfect. However, his value wasn’t in his appearance, but in belonging to the most powerful among the people gathered at the art museum.
He couldn’t shake the thought that something was wrong—such a man dating Chaehun, who wasn’t even an omega but a beta.
In anger rooted in jealousy, Kang Yeonghwan denied reality.
Kang Yeonghwan had known since childhood that he would become an omega. An omega being born between beta parents was a very rare case, so he received a lot of attention. After fully manifesting as a dominant omega at sixteen, Kang Yeonghwan’s life had no difficulties. Wherever he went, he only heard he was pretty.
Though he had no interest in studying, his head was good, so he entered a prestigious university. Because his family was reasonably well-off, he didn’t worry much about money. Still, his greatest asset was the trait of being a dominant omega. He always received preferential treatment at clubs and social gatherings. He ordered alphas around with the tip of his chin.
However, it didn’t take long to realize he was a frog in a well. In the real upper world, the title of dominant omega alone couldn’t do anything. Background was important there. No matter how dominant an omega, they didn’t even glance at a family that ran a small lighting store.
Of course, there were many places that wanted a dominant omega. Marriage proposals came in even from semi-chaebol families, but Kang Yeonghwan wasn’t satisfied with that. His goal was in a high place. So he worked hard to enter the world that was truly above. Even today, only after mobilizing all kinds of connections could he get a ticket to the art museum reopening event party.
But Chaehun appeared as if to mock his efforts, with a big shot by his side as his lover. Everything Chaehun wore looked expensive.
Especially the watch. The wristwatch he was wearing today was more expensive than what he’d worn last week. It cost a whopping 80 million won. Because it was a design he liked and had been coveting for a while, he clearly remembered how much it cost.
The thing he couldn’t even dare to buy because it was too expensive was shining on Chaehun’s wrist.
Envy and a sense of defeat overwhelmed him. More than anything, he didn’t like having to feel these emotions at all.
Chaehun had been nothing special except for being good at studying. Even that, after failing the college entrance exam, he’d entered a shabby university and was doing shabby work. He’d thought he’d live below him for life, but at some point he was way above.
“Ah, really…”
“Want to drink champagne?”
Kang Yeonghwan, who had been grinding his teeth, looked at Kim Seongho who was asking with a smiling face. Kang Yeonghwan reflexively compared Seunggeon and Kim Seongho.
Kim Seongho was a beta who wanted to date an omega. As the only son of nouveau riche, he had an innocent and devoted personality, so he said it was okay for Kang Yeonghwan to meet other alphas. So they’d gotten along well until now, but that was all. No matter how hard he tried, getting a ticket to this party was his limit. He couldn’t even be compared to Taehwa Group’s CEO.
Suddenly he thought that maybe the rich grandfather whose life Chaehun had saved was the chairman of Taehwa Group. Maybe through that connection he’d met the grandson.
Some high school classmate.
Since a third-generation chaebol wouldn’t attend an ordinary academic high school, saying they were high school classmates was just an excuse. He thought he understood why he’d desperately hidden the rich grandfather. Curse words came out at Chaehun’s behavior of lying to his family while secretly planning to live well on his own.
Though it was just his own speculation, Kang Yeonghwan believed it was the truth.
“You’re not drinking?”
Kim Seongho urged and asked once more.
“No thanks. Leave me alone for a bit.”
When Kang Yeonghwan bristled, Kim Seongho turned around with a sullen face. However, Kang Yeonghwan didn’t care at all.
“We meet again. Remember me?”
Kang Yeonghwan, who had been continuously looking at the entrance where Chaehun had disappeared, turned his head at the voice calling him. A somehow familiar man had approached closely.
The man smiling slyly was the man who’d been beaten by Chaehun at the club last week. He remembered his name too. Chaehun had cursed tremendously at having his name impersonated by him. Park Gwangho. He was a recessive alpha.
“What?”
“I saw an interesting scene. I’m thinking we hate the same person?”
At the meaningful words, Kang Yeonghwan’s mind spun quickly for a moment. He thought he knew what Park Gwangho wanted, but Kang Yeonghwan didn’t show it.
“So?”
“I think we’d get along. I can’t live being wronged. What about you?”
Only then did Kang Yeonghwan look at Park Gwangho again. He’d mocked him, a recessive alpha who’d been beaten by Chaehun. But right before that, his eyes had gone to what Park Gwangho was wearing. It was the same now.
“I can’t live being wronged either.”
“You’ve got spirit. I need your help.”
“……?”
“If we help each other, can’t we do something?”
Park Gwangho’s proposal was vague. Still, Kang Yeonghwan recognized this was an opportunity. His mind cleared up completely. He’d never failed to get what he wanted so far. For alphas, omegas suited them, not betas. That was the law of the world.
“We could do something good.”
Kang Yeonghwan smiled broadly.
