“Lee Hyedam! Still asleep? I feel like I’m going to die from heartburn.”
Junseok punched in the passcode without hesitation and entered Hyedam’s house, rubbing his churning stomach. While he and the friends he’d gone with were drinking and playing wildly, Hyedam and his group had disappeared.
The boss who had been drawing crude curses from Hyedam’s mouth was more impressive than expected. If one were to score a person based on first impressions alone, he would definitely get at least 90 out of 100 points. Since Junseok already knew about the atrocities he’d committed against Hyedam, he’d started at -100 points, but he was actually surprised by the guy’s polite attitude and his ability to observe proper etiquette.
He seemed like a pretty decent boss, so why did Hyedam dislike him so much?
Anyway, Junseok approached the bed while battling his throbbing headache and churning stomach, and an empty sigh escaped his lips.
They say you never know what’ll happen in this world, but…
Didn’t he say nothing happened? That back then the guy ate and ran, and that he was some weirdo who didn’t even remember now?
Then why were the two of them tangled up together sleeping in that narrow bed?
Didn’t he say he’d put the woman who was with them in a taxi, and that the boss hadn’t been drinking so he’d either go on his own or call his driver or whatever?
Unable to easily connect what was floating in his mind with the situation unfolding before his eyes, Junseok rubbed his still uncomfortable stomach while staring blankly at them.
With almost his entire body draped over his boss, Junseok was looking for a way to wake only the sleeping Hyedam when he met those green eyes staring at him—and stopped breathing for just a moment.
One hand was gently patting the sleeping Hyedam’s back while the other was gesturing for him to be quiet—there was no embarrassment or surprise on that face. Rather, it was a gaze that looked at him like an annoying fly or a problem to be solved.
Instead, it was Junseok—who had come to cure his hangover with his friend who should be all dazed from his hangover, as they’d promised yesterday—who found himself in a situation where he seemed to have interrupted a couple’s morning time. It felt like he’d seen something he shouldn’t have seen, like he’d been forced to know something he shouldn’t have known.
Having stumbled backward in bewilderment, Junseok had no choice but to witness the atrocities of Hyedam’s workplace superior—who, not content with patting his back, swept back his disheveled hair and even kissed his forehead and head area, anyway, kissed Hyedam’s head.
That guy was a problem, but Hyedam, who had seemed deeply asleep just moments ago, also seemed to have woken up, slightly raising his head and opening his eyes. Then, despite clearly seeing the guy doing such things to him, Hyedam closed his eyes again as if it were nothing.
Meanwhile, the boss had gotten off the bed, and after Hyedam tossed and turned and wrapped the blanket around his body to go back to sleep, he swept his hair back once more.
Should he consider it fortunate that both the boss and Hyedam were at least somewhat clothed…? No. That wasn’t the problem.
His head was already throbbing from the hangover and now it was overloaded and lagging—during that time, the boss put on the top he’d taken off, grabbed his jacket, and even gestured for Junseok to follow him out.
“……He didn’t sleep properly, so let him sleep a bit more. I gave him hangover medicine, and he drank less than usual, so he shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.”
Due to his brain not functioning properly, Junseok followed him out to the hallway outside the house and stared at the boss who was explaining the situation while rubbing his face. Was a handsome guy still handsome even after waking up? Unlike yesterday, his hair wasn’t neatly styled and was a bit messy, and he clearly hadn’t washed his face, so why……
“Pardon?”
A small sound escaped Junseok’s mouth since he couldn’t fully understand the low, husky voice.
“He won’t know I was here. So I’m asking you not to tell him that we met like this today. Not that he’ll ask.”
Wait, they slept together in the same bed and he won’t know? You two just woke up and made eye contact.
“Isn’t he your workplace subordinate?”
“After seeing what you just saw, do you still think that?”
What are you doing in my friend’s house? It seemed right to yell at him to get lost immediately. But seeing the other person even smirk with a relaxed expression, Junseok couldn’t rashly speak up.
Relationships between people weren’t something you could judge carelessly. Although Hyedam was currently a beta, he’d been an omega as a child and might have a special trait. He couldn’t be certain since he was a beta himself, but the guy in front of him was definitely an alpha.
“……”
He wanted to slam him into the ground right then and there, but thinking there might be a relationship he didn’t know about, all Junseok could do was clench his fist tightly. For now, he’d trust this guy’s words, but if today’s events turned out to be something unpleasant for Hyedam, he could always meet up with him later and give him a proper punch.
“Please take good care of my little fool today.”
Watching the retreating figure of the guy who’d said words that drove another nail of certainty into his suspicions, a long sigh escaped Junseok’s lips. He didn’t know about that guy, but Hyedam had been sincere. The first and last time Hyedam had confided his true feelings about him kept circling in his head.
[That was my first kiss, you know. It was also my first time sleeping like that in a narrow bed. Sleeping in someone’s embrace felt better than I thought. I didn’t know a person’s warmth could be that warm.]
The words before and after were all cursing the boss, but there had been a faint smile on Hyedam’s face as he rambled on before slamming his head on the table.
If this was the case, at least it wasn’t one-sided? But then what was with that guy leaving quietly, and what did he mean saying Hyedam wouldn’t remember?
With complicated feelings, Junseok returned to Hyedam’s house and was met with the sight of Hyedam stretching his body long on the bed like a lazy cat.
“Ahh. That’s nice. How is it different day by day? When I get my salary this time, I should buy some red ginseng or something. I’m dying. Dying.”
Junseok felt conflicted watching Hyedam, oblivious to his inner turmoil, eating warm naejangtang soup while moaning in pleasure, then smacking his lips saying he wanted hangover soju. To hide his feelings, he stuffed a large piece of kkakdugi in his mouth and chomped on it loudly.
“Red ginseng my ass… Just quit drinking, you bastard. Is blacking out something to brag about?”
“Seriously. You said your memory cuts out often too, so why are you giving me shit? Even if I black out, I still make it home to sleep, so my homing instinct is still alive and well—no need to worry.”
“What do I care whether you crawled home on all fours or got carried on someone’s back?”
“I crawled on all fours. Is something wrong? Why the sour face this early in the morning?”
“I don’t like your boss.”
While watching Hyedam respond to his every word yet still eating the naejangtang well, Junseok casually brought up that guy.
“Ah. I forgot about that. Hey. If you came to eat gopchang, you should’ve just eaten nicely with the people you came with. Why’d you come over to say hi? I was totally flustered.”
“I was curious because you came to eat without telling me. Wanted to see the handsome face of that boss bastard whose hobby is tormenting you because he can’t eat you alive.”
“Do I have to report to you every time I go to the gopchang place? And what’s the point of seeing that guy’s face?”
“He was fucking handsome.”
Feeling wronged that Hyedam was eating so well while his own stomach was turning, Junseok shoveled down the naejangtang before testing the waters.
“You don’t live off someone’s face.”
“With a face like that, it’s worth living off of. He’s rich too. Capable too.”
“His personality is shit though.”
“Even when I barged in like that yesterday, he received it gentlemanly, greeted me, seemed like a decent person.”
Didn’t he say the guy was three years younger than them? Ha. That face this morning… I should’ve punched it. The young bastard was clearly speaking politely, but it still pissed me off.
Contrary to what was in his heart, Junseok laid out some appropriately honeyed words.
“Would a guy like that call you out on the weekend to make you work? Shit. Talking about that bastard makes me crave a drink again.”
“You need to quit drinking, you bastard. You don’t even know what happens. Anyway, you said you get extra pay for working weekends!”
“…They do pay me. I really work just looking at my bank account.”
Having finished eating, Hyedam put down his spoon, leaned back in his chair, and patted his full belly while spouting nonsense—Junseok lost his appetite and put down his spoon too.
“What? Not eating more? There’s still some left.”
“Lost my appetite, you bastard.”
“Is it the end of the world today? For you to lose your appetite.”
Since Hyedam was putting the spoon back in his hand telling him to eat more, Junseok reluctantly ate a few more spoonfuls.
“That bastard’s an alpha, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t they say anything when you went to the hospital?”
“I’m actually planning to get a detailed examination when I go for my comprehensive checkup. If it’s positive, it’s positive; if not, then not. You’re making me worry about every little thing.”
“Would you want to be an omega?”
“Just hurry up and eat. So we can go get coffee.”
Maybe he could watch over them just a little, just a tiny bit more? Junseok looked at Hyedam, who was nonchalantly whistling while waiting for him to finish eating. When he recalled the smile Hyedam had made when he briefly opened his eyes in his sleep and locked eyes with someone—his face puffy and swollen—his mouth turned bitter. It was a face he’d never once seen in the decades they’d been friends.
And Junseok couldn’t bring himself to say the words lingering in his mouth.
‘Since when did you start drinking coffee again?’
