It had just been hard to accept, in that moment, that Chae Jinyeong had become an alpha — but even as an alpha, Chae Jinyeong was still Chae Jinyeong. Feeling that, I realized nothing was actually changing. Or at least, that was what I decided to believe.
And on top of that, his request — asking me to help him until he got used to his pheromones, given how late he’d presented — had been a little, no, more than a little cute.
“Are you two going straight home today?”
“Yeah. Coming over to hang out.”
“I have practice though…… ugh, I don’t want to. I want to come too!”
Lee Seono, standing in the hallway beyond the open window, was whining as he talked. Watching a guy that big shaking his shoulders and all — it was quite a sight. The classmates nearby started doing gagging impressions at it. I covered my mouth and made an ugh sound along with them, and Lee Seono’s face went indignant.
“That’s a bit much!”
“Sorry, just teasing.”
Lee Seono, who’d been about to cry, turned his head and fixed his gaze on a spot somewhere. Then redirected toward me.
“Chae Jinyeong’s been getting pulled around all day. Now that he presented as an alpha, everyone’s grabbing onto him and won’t let go.”
From inside the classroom, I craned my neck out past the window for a look. Just as Lee Seono said. Chae Jinyeong was out in the hallway, held up by a group from another class.
It had been like this dozens of times just today. Kids who only knew Chae Jinyeong by face, and even homeroom teachers from other classes — all the same. Grabbing Chae Jinyeong and asking about him being an alpha and all that.
Chae Jinyeong had always been like this. There were always people around him. When they were little it was because of a face nobody could leave alone even when he kept to himself, and now that they were past elementary school and he’d grown into someone who spoke his mind, he was still popular even after it became known he wasn’t the gentle type he used to be.
Even when those who approached him couldn’t get past the wall he’d put up and walked away disappointed on their own, there were always people willing to try. Regardless of secondary gender — alpha, beta, omega, whatever.
“Wait, Han Juwon is interested in Chae Jinyeong too? Well, there were always a fair number of people hitting on him just for his face. I’m an alpha too so why is he the popular one.”
Even from far away, Chae Jinyeong was conspicuous enough to be unmistakably him. Standing in the hallway, he stood a full head above the other students — impossible not to notice the difference. I hadn’t thought I’d still be calling a guy pretty at this age, but in my eyes, Chae Jinyeong had always just been pretty.
And the reason it had become hard to say it about anyone else — was because of the tears Chae Jinyeong had shown me all those years ago.
That actress is pretty.
Yuhan…… you like that actress?
She’s pretty. Hanhi’s a huge fan of her too.
It was something I’d said while hanging out at home, watching an actress on TV. I didn’t usually pay attention to celebrities, but Hanhi was such a big fan that she’d caught my eye more than usual.
More than me?
What kind of comparison is that. Obviously you’re……
Something about the atmosphere felt off, so I turned my head — and got a shock.
……Hey, Chae Jinyeong.
……
Are you…… crying?
Those eyes looking back at me, lips pressed tightly together as if they resented me — they looked like they could spill over at any second. Chae Jinyeong’s face, turned toward me with reddened eyes like they’d been stained with flower dye, caught me completely off guard. He wasn’t actually crying yet, so I couldn’t wipe his tears away.
Not knowing what to do, I fumbled around and reached my hand toward Chae Jinyeong’s face — but couldn’t quite bring myself to touch him, and hesitated. The moment our eyes met, he raised one eyebrow slightly, then took my hand and pressed it against his own cheek.
Somehow, the instant my hand made contact with Chae Jinyeong’s skin, my fingertips went numb. It was just as I was calling his name.
Chae……
That’s so mean.
A tear fell from Chae Jinyeong’s pretty eyes, which had been fixed on me.
The moment I saw the tears dropping one by one from those reddened eyes, I froze completely. Every time Chae Jinyeong cried, I locked up like someone who’d committed an unforgivable sin.
At the same age, even after Chae Jinyeong had grown close to my build — when he cried, he became more fragile than anyone. Fragile enough to want to hide him behind me right then and there. Like those childhood days when I stood up to older kids on his behalf.
How can you call someone else pretty when I’m right here?
Hey, I just……
……I’m sad, Yuhan.
Chae Jinyeong’s face still looked like it was saying how could you do that to me. I watched him shed thick tears with his lips pushed out in a pout, and wiped the corners of his eyes with my thumb. My hand was trembling faintly for some reason, but Chae Jinyeong simply received my touch without a word.
Why…… why are you crying over that.
……
You’re the prettiest. There’s no one prettier than you in my eyes. Did you not know that.
It was less a comfort than it was my honest truth. Chae Jinyeong, who had been staring at me steadily, said one thing in return.
I like you the most too, Im Yuhan.
Still with tears clinging to the corners of his eyes, those were the words he said. The way his eyes curved cutely and his round cheeks rose was endearing. Even though it hurt to see Chae Jinyeong cry, that pure smile on his face left a strange ache in my chest.
Was it because Chae Jinyeong was crying? Because it hurt to see him like that?
Afraid that Chae Jinyeong might hear my pounding heartbeat, I teased him.
But I never said I liked you, did I?
……
Haha, I’m joking. Joking! So don’t cry over something like this. When you cry, I feel like my heart actually drops.
After that, it seemed I stopped using the word pretty for other people much. At least not by choice.
And beyond that — there really hadn’t been anyone who measured up in my eyes.
I’d seen quite a few people fall for Chae Jinyeong’s looks and then drift away when he wouldn’t let them in. Being the one who’d been by his side longer than anyone, I couldn’t help but be aware of his every move. Things like alphas and omegas naturally being around each other — that was something I’d come to understand without needing to learn it in school.
But I couldn’t understand why it felt strange now, only because Chae Jinyeong had become an alpha. Something about the atmosphere looked different. Maybe it was because of the small omega, Han Juwon, standing in front of him. Somehow I felt stifled, like something was lodged in my chest. I couldn’t stand there and keep watching.
“I’m heading out first.”
“Huh? What about me?!”
“Have a good practice.”
Leaving Lee Seono’s voice behind me, I picked up my bag and walked out of the classroom. Even then, Chae Jinyeong was just standing there with a loose smile on his lips, easygoing as ever. That infuriating habit of his — being just the right amount of unbothered, brushing everything off with a smile.
The moment Chae Jinyeong, who’d been looking at Han Juwon, lifted his head — our eyes met. Chae Jinyeong’s eyes went wide for just an instant, and then he broke into a bright smile like flowers blooming all at once. The corners of his mouth lifting pleasantly, his eyes curving along — that was a face he showed when he was with me. Something about that one expression filled me with a deep sense of satisfaction.
“Chae Jinyeong, let’s go.”
When I reached them, Han Juwon saw me and stepped back slightly. Small. I’d heard the others talk about how cute he was a few times. That’s probably what omegas are generally like.
“Did you come to pick me up?”
“You said you were coming over to mine. You want to keep talking, come by later?”
I stopped beside Chae Jinyeong and looked down at Han Juwon. Chae Jinyeong, seeming inexplicably pleased, stepped up right next to me and shook his head.
“Mm, no.”
“……Ha, what?”
Han Juwon’s face fell into disbelief the moment Chae Jinyeong finished. I really did cut in out of nowhere. I felt a little bad. At that moment Chae Jinyeong reached out and took hold of my arm. The instant that warm touch made contact, every other thought disappeared.
“I’ll take him then. Sorry.”
I gave an apologetic smile, draped my arm over Chae Jinyeong’s shoulder, and started walking. Chae Jinyeong went along easily with my pull as we moved down the hallway. Grinning that loose, pleased grin of his.
“What are you smiling at.”
“You’re cool.”
