“…As expected, watching this kind of thing….”
“I said I didn’t watch it.”
What the hell. I doubted Lee Hyeonseok’s sanity as he shoved evidence at me and firmly denied it, even cutting off my words. What if he wasn’t actually possessed but had a split personality?
“I didn’t watch it. Fuck, I said I didn’t. I don’t even know what the content is.”
“Ah…. Ah, yeah, yes….”
They say not to provoke someone whose mind isn’t sound. You don’t avoid shit because you’re scared of it, you avoid it because it’s dirty. I buried what I wanted to say in my heart and agreed with his words without denying them. But Lee Hyeonseok, dissatisfied with something, kicked my shin with his foot.
“Ack!”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I said I believe you?”
At the sudden pain, I screamed and crouched down, stroking my shin, when a cold voice came from above. Seeing that his mood seemed to be properly twisting, I appealed as if I were truly wronged. Of course, it didn’t work at all as Lee Hyeonseok snorted.
“What’s so pretty about this kind of thing….”
“Who asked you to find it pretty.”
“What?”
“Is what I plan to pray for while drawing purified water every day.”
Lee Hyeonseok muttered and went to sit on the sofa. This time I was really wronged so I grumbled, but Lee Hyeonseok immediately threatened me. He was definitely a bastard with a character problem.
“I bought books that sell well with the keyword ‘scheming bastard.’ I’ve never turned a single page.”
What I wanted to know was why Lee Hyeonseok bought this book and gave it to me, but he was just making excuses for himself. What the fuck did he want me to do. But instead of saying that, I picked out a word that caught my attention from Lee Hyeonseok’s words and asked back.
“Scheming bastard?”
“What did I say about Lee Juwon?”
“Scheming bastard?”
“That’s right.”
He sure likes saying “that’s right.” I should have just not answered. I just wanted to get up from my seat and go back to my room, but it seemed there was information I needed to know, so I waited for Lee Hyeonseok’s words.
“You don’t know when you’ll run into Lee Juwon again, so it’s better to know something than to be hit without knowing anything, right?”
“I think the only time I’ll run into Lee Juwon now is at graduation…?”
Lee Hyeonseok’s words were always ominous, and I could never understand them. First, because he always started with words only he knew, and second, because every time he spoke, he only said things I didn’t want to understand. It was Lee Hyeonseok who should shut his mouth.
“You know I’m busy with the new affiliate business and trait-related research.”
Feeling that ominous feeling creeping up again, I just nodded. I was tired of asking.
“We’re recruiting participants for trait research, and Lee Juwon’s on the list.”
“Lee Juwon?”
“Of course Cheon Jaekyung and Han Taeseok are there too.”
“Hah….”
Why are you guys coming out there again? It’s not like you’re some love triangle three brothers. I was certainly uncomfortable since my relationship with Cheon Jaekyung was awkward, but at this point I was sick of it. Of course, Lee Juwon and Han Taeseok too. I let out an empty laugh.
“But what does that have to do with me?”
I wasn’t completely unrelated to them yet, but that was only something I could say if I ran into them. I had no intention of participating in trait research. They called it research, but it was no different from clinical trials, so there seemed to be some talk about it.
“I have no intention of participating in that research.”
“Who asked you to participate? You just need to give blood when asked and get regular physical examinations.”
“…You know what I signed wasn’t a physical waiver, right? You know what we signed was a contract about staying here until I manifest and about rut, right?”
“Think about what I’ve done for you and listen obediently.”
I was confused whether to swear first or throw this book. I knew he was like a loan shark, but when he came at me so blatantly like this, as someone who’d lived an ordinary life, I was at a complete loss for how to respond. Flustered, I switched between informal and formal speech, very busy.
“……”
“Fine, I got it. Instead, I’ll watch your back.”
“My back?”
I looked at him silently and picked up the book. As I wondered where to throw it so it wouldn’t leave a scar, Lee Hyeonseok said something I couldn’t understand again. My back, what back? Thinking it might be sexual, I scrunched up my face with all my might, but Lee Hyeonseok meant something completely different.
“Otherwise, I think you’ll really go to prison.”
“……”
Lee Hyeonseok, who spoke meaning he’d cover up whatever I did, spoke as if truly convinced. It was a statement that would make anyone think I went around causing trouble and committing crimes all the time. I didn’t want to hear it from anyone, but especially not from Lee Hyeonseok. The moment I was about to scrunch up my face in displeasure, the things I’d done passed by like a panorama.
“Don’t get into fights like last time, read it and create big data to fight.”
“No, what do you want me to do with a kid who just turned 20….”
Now I was also 20 like them, but my contents were now 27 as the year had passed. I was a whole 7 years older than them, so I had no intention of fighting while even covering genres I’d never seen in my life. Except in unavoidable cases, what adult in their right mind fights with kids?
“Honestly, your real age is now 25, so just moderately—”
“I always do my best when facing off against anyone, no matter who the opponent is. Even if they’re an insignificant bastard.”
Lee Hyeonseok cut off my words and asserted proudly. As a fellow adult, I was utterly ashamed. I wanted to sneer asking if that’s why he gets pushed around by me, but I kept my mouth shut thinking I’d really die if I did.
“I think it would be fine if we just don’t run into each other.”
“I’ll coordinate schedules so you don’t run into them, but you never know.”
“You said outside is dangerous….”
“It’s okay because I’ll go with you.”
No matter what I said, Lee Hyeonseok seemed intent on doing as he pleased. I flipped through the book in my hand quickly to roughly skim it, and disturbing, vulgar words passed by. Only sighs came out.
Still, what Lee Hyeonseok was insisting wasn’t entirely wrong, so I tried to steel myself and read it…. After reading about 10 pages of the BL books Lee Hyeonseok bought, one became a ramen pot holder, three were used to kill bugs, and the rest were roughly shoved somewhere.
* * *
After winter break ended, I had to attend school for about ten days until graduation, but Lee Hyeonseok prevented me from going, so I ended up skipping school. It didn’t matter since there was no penalty for not going, and thinking it was beneficial because it was bothersome to attend was only then. Lee Hyeonseok became scarier as days went by.
Perhaps sensing my rough thoughts and anxious gaze, Lee Hyeonseok stroked my back as if to reassure me. Then he smiled eerily saying ‘I have to take good care of what’s mine,’ and that couldn’t be scarier.
And you’re mine….
Graciously, Lee Hyeonseok let me participate in the graduation ceremony. Lee Hyeonseok had an amazing talent—he made me grateful even for things that were natural. Lee Hyeonseok also tried to participate in the graduation ceremony, but an urgent matter came up so he couldn’t come.
Instead, two guards were attached. I was inwardly dissatisfied with that, but I didn’t say anything in case complaining would prevent me from going to graduation.
“I’m so grateful for this.”
“Make sure to thank your friend.”
“Yes.”
My parents handed me a bouquet of flowers and were startled when they saw the guards attached behind me. When I explained that Lee Hyeonseok was concerned about what Cheon Jaekyung might do again, they were pleased and grateful to Lee Hyeonseok. It was maddening. I wanted to immediately tell them that actually Lee Hyeonseok was dying to devour me, but I just had to endure about 4 more months.
“Still, you should come home soon. No matter how okay your friend is with it, staying this long is rude.”
Dad spoke as if worried and apologetic to Lee Hyeonseok. My parents were relieved I was at Lee Hyeonseok’s house but didn’t like it. No matter how okay the other party was with it, it was impolite and rude.
But I couldn’t go back right away. The problem was Lee Hyeonseok really holding me back. It was clear that if I left that house, Lee Hyeonseok would come to catch me right away. If possible, I wanted to recommend psychiatric treatment to Lee Hyeonseok.
“Actually, I’m planning to go home around June.”
“June? Isn’t that staying too long? Just come home.”
At my words, Mom asked in surprise. Dad’s expression wouldn’t soften either. Since I expected my parents wouldn’t like it, I’d already coordinated with Lee Hyeonseok.
“Hyeonseok is becoming independent this time, and after living with family, he’s lonely living alone, so I agreed to stay until he adjusts.”
“He’s different from how he looks….”
Well, from his appearance, he looked like he’d be friends with loneliness.
“He grew up being pampered and loved.”
“…I see….”
I spoke with a smile to put their minds at ease, but Mom’s face was dark. Dad was the same. Flustered, just as I was about to ask why, Dad opened his mouth first.
“Jiwoo-ya.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you… think you’ll manifest?”
Only then did I realize. Lee Hyeonseok was an Alpha. A dominant Alpha at that. They were worried that if I manifested as an Omega, it would be a big problem. Thinking about it, it was very natural. The constant talk about coming home seemed to be from worrying about that point rather than being a burden.
“Not at all. Not one bit. They say you have body aches before manifesting, but I don’t have anything like that. Plus, people who are going to manifest have been sick for weeks beforehand.”
“That’s true, but….”
To reassure my parents, I smiled and moved my body this way and that, emphasizing my health. Still, they seemed reluctant as if their worry wouldn’t fade. Unlike the parents in the original book who would just say ‘okay then’ when I said I was fine once, refusing my parents’ words, who had become much kinder, made me feel like the world’s most unfilial child.
