“Ah… I roughly understand how this conversation went.”
Jukyung sighed. He rubbed his face as if tired.
“Yukyung must have said that, that the person I have a one-sided crush on is Jehyun hyung. Well, I mean, that guy believes that because that’s what I told him.”
You told him that? With your own mouth directly?
I could hear the color draining from my face. Not imagination—really. Then it’s true.
“There was just something that happened. I was teasing that guy a bit… No, well, never mind about that, it’s not real, obviously. The person I like is… I mean….”
Jukyung’s face reddened a bit and he averted his gaze.
“So it’s not Jehyun hyung, really.”
Jukyung said while turning his face away and waving his hand dismissively.
If it’s not true, why are you blushing when you say that person’s name? I kept staring at Kwon Jukyung with suspicious eyes but couldn’t find words to say.
Kwon Jukyung was trash and shameless, so he was actually the type to talk about things openly. Wasn’t he the one who boldly declared that although he likes someone else, he enjoys sleeping with me so he’ll keep doing it? So if Jukyung says Seo Jehyun isn’t his crush, it’s at least not a lie.
While I felt relieved inwardly, my mind fell into confusion. Then who the hell is it? The subject fell back into mystery. Even while falling into confusion, part of me was secretly relieved. If Kwon Jukyung liked Seo Jehyun, who was a completely different type from me, I felt like I’d have no chance of winning at all.
With an unsettled feeling, I cut out a thread of hope to cling to from the story Jukyung had spat out. A little while ago, didn’t he say the story about the person he likes was an old story? Then could I understand that the one-sided crush feelings had already passed? That affection for me had really grown while spending time with me….
But as I tried to convince myself with this mental victory, the image of him blushing just now bothered me. I didn’t like how he pretended to be innocent when he wasn’t even that innocent. What the hell? Has he given up on those feelings or not?
“So you two are in contact and hanging out? With that guy Kwon Yukyung?”
While my mind was going back and forth by myself, Jukyung asked again in a tone that sounded truly pathetic.
“No, well, it’s not really contact, just….”
“You get along with that kid? Are you two similar in mental age by any chance?”
Jukyung tilted his head and said.
“Hey!”
“Well, it’s better than having a bad relationship… but still, that bastard Kwon Yukyung has flowers for brains, so whatever he says, filter it appropriately.”
I’d never heard the expression “flowers for brains” before, but when I thought of Yukyung’s round face, I had a strange feeling that I somehow knew what it meant. No, I shouldn’t be doing this too. Feeling strangely like I was betraying Yukyung, I shook my head apologetically. But at least, I thought I understood why Yukyung disliked his hyung. He seemed a bit pitiful too.
“Let’s finish cleaning up and go to bed.”
Jukyung yawned slightly and said.
“I was too stressed out all day, so I’m more tired than usual.”
“……”
I got up and helped tidy up the table, following Jukyung who was bustling around cleaning, and prepared for bed. We stood side by side brushing our teeth and went into my bedroom together. By the way, there’s a guest room, so why my room?
Especially, I didn’t understand why hyung told Jukyung to sleep in my room. It seemed like he’d noticed that kind of relationship, and on top of that, Kwon Jukyung seemed to have hammered in that he was an Alpha, so rather than interfering, what the hell was his scheme?
Anyway, I never thought the day would come when I’d share my familiar bedroom bed with Kwon Jukyung.
“So this is your room and your bed.”
Jukyung looked around anew and muttered to himself.
“It feels a bit strange.”
“……”
I should snap back asking what’s so strange, but I felt weird too, so I had nothing to say.
“Uh… wait a minute, I’ll get another blanket and change the sheets. I did change them yesterday since I was coming… but….”
Seeing the sheets crumpled from my brief nap earlier, I felt embarrassed and was also concerned about Kwon Jukyung’s germaphobia, so I tried to go to the linen closet in the dressing room, but Jukyung grabbed my arm.
“No, it’s fine. Let’s just sleep.”
Jukyung pulled me with a bit too much force to be just polite refusal. Eventually, like at Jukyung’s house, we lay side by side under one blanket. Although I was used to sleeping under one blanket anyway, I was a bit worried that if someone saw us tomorrow morning they’d think it was strange. I should wake up early before anyone comes to wake us.
“It smells like you.”
“What? Where?”
I was briefly distracted when I was startled by what Jukyung said and sniffed the blanket. Since it would have been freshly washed and put out, all I could smell was fabric softener. There’s no way my body odor would have soaked in from just closing my eyes for a few hours earlier.
“It doesn’t smell?”
Jukyung laughed quietly.
“I mean, your pheromone scent. I’m still in a sensitive state, so I can smell even faint scents well.”
Jukyung pulled me into an embrace and buried his nose in my nape.
“Yeah, this scent. Ah… your scent is good.”
“Uh… mm… yeah, well.”
My face felt like it was turning red somehow, so I let Jukyung do as he pleased and just turned my gaze elsewhere. Kwon Jukyung becoming sensitive to my scent… it was a strangely peculiar feeling. It seemed embarrassing and also heart-fluttering. Come to think of it, I realized that Kwon Jukyung had accepted me being an Omega far too nonchalantly.
“But aren’t you bothered at all?”
“About what?”
Jukyung answered in a mumble, his face still buried in my neck.
“That I’m an Omega. You didn’t know until now and only found out yesterday.”
“……”
Since his lips were practically touching, I could clearly feel Jukyung flinch.
“Not really…. You said you didn’t hide it on purpose.”
“Well, that’s true, but.”
“It’s fine. Whether you’re a Beta or Omega, you’re you, so it doesn’t matter. And since I’m an Alpha, of course it’s naturally better if you’re an Omega.”
“Mm….”
I wanted to ask specifically in what way it was better, but I kept my mouth shut since it was obvious the answer would be related to sex anyway.
As I just closed my eyes, drowsiness crept in. It was because I’d been on edge all day. It was nice to lie side by side with Kwon Jukyung and sleep for the first time in a while. I was about to drift into sleep when I grabbed the hand that had sneakily slipped into my pants and was descending toward my butt.
“Hey.”
“Really can’t?”
Jukyung asked in an indifferent voice.
“Yeah, can’t.”
I answered with my eyes closed.
“Not even just touching a little?”
“Does it end with just touching when it’s you?”
And honestly, I wasn’t confident I could endure to the end if Jukyung touched me either. Tsk, Jukyung clicked his tongue and then stubbornly gripped my butt firmly. I opened just one eye slightly and looked at Kwon Jukyung with a scowl. When our eyes met, Jukyung smiled shamelessly.
“I’ll just stay like this, so go to sleep.”
“……”
When I just kept staring without answering, he finally sighed and withdrew his hand.
“No trust….”
What trust? Considering what he’s done so far. If I had work tomorrow maybe, but it’s Sunday and that shameless bastard wouldn’t show mercy just because we’re at my house.
“Come on, sleep already.”
I hugged Kwon Jukyung and patted his back soothingly as if putting a child to sleep. An absurd laugh flowed from Jukyung’s mouth, but he didn’t shake off my arm. Jukyung wrapped his arms around my back, hugged me tightly once, then kissed my head.
“Okay, let’s sleep, sleep.”
Like that, we fell asleep wrapped around each other’s bodies like cocoons in my room, in my bed. It was a peaceful and cozy night that came after being swept up and shaken relentlessly.
CH 22
When I woke up in the morning, it was late. I thought it would be awkward to see hyung’s face, but fortunately hyung had already left. As if having been notified by hyung in advance, a hearty breakfast was prepared including Jukyung’s portion, so Jukyung and I ate our fill of the late breakfast, rolled around in my room for a bit, then left the house.
I planned to stop by Father’s hospital before returning, and Jukyung planned to go straight home.
I’d said I’d stay at home for about one more week. Jukyung complained irritably about why I had to, but there was no choice. Yesterday, even though we’d unexpectedly talked about many things, we hadn’t talked about the most important thing.
That is, me confessing that I like Kwon Jukyung. It seemed like nothing major, but this surprisingly required considerable courage. I never knew before that I was such a coward. Probably because I know the same weight of emotion won’t come back from the other person.
