Even so, telling him to beat his only son if he doesn’t listen. He doesn’t seem like the type who would just take a beating anyway. And suddenly saying the Lewis alphas are like that. I don’t know what you’re trying to say…
“When I first met Evan, his family was incredible, his looks were outstanding. There was nothing he couldn’t do. He was kind, got along well with people, nothing about him was rough—he was someone who had everything in the world. My feelings grew, but how could I carelessly speak up? I should just fold on my own. I should give up. I did a lot of stupid things thinking like that, but life is the same for everyone. If I like him, that’s enough. Besides, he said he likes me. What’s there to worry about? Neither Evan nor I are that stubborn.”
It was clearly the first time meeting today, but at the way he spoke comfortably as if they had met often and the content within, Hyedam couldn’t easily say anything. Was he perhaps aware of the subtle relationship between himself and Leo when he said that? Even if he didn’t know that much, he seemed to at least know basic personal matters like Hyedam being officially a beta and an orphan.
But you say life is the same for everyone?
You two were members of the same group, your looks are outstanding, your family is harmonious… Recalling information about Leo’s parents, Siwoo and Evan, Hyedam only chewed on his lower lip with his teeth. Even without trying to dig them up, there were too many differences visible.
“Team Leader-nim. He’s considerate and takes good care of people. He’s a good person.”
“Of course he should take good care and be considerate. I know how burdensome, uncomfortable, and hard it must be from Hyedam-ssi’s position. If he doesn’t, tell me.”
“Um… I think there’s a bit of a misunderstanding.”
When his mouth went dry from nervousness, Hyedam took a sip of vin chaud and finally managed to speak while chewing on his lower lip. Unable to properly look into the eyes of the elegant middle-aged man staring at him, Hyedam slightly lowered his gaze and rubbed his sweaty palms on his thighs.
“Lee Hyedam!”
Hyedam, who was about to say they were just a good workplace superior and employee—nothing more—looked around at the voice calling his name.
How did he know I was here in this vast garden and come find me? I didn’t even run into anyone on my way here, and come to think of it, how did this person find me? Suddenly realizing this fact, Hyedam looked at Siwoo with a flustered expression.
Shh.
At Siwoo’s gesture of winking when their eyes met and putting his index finger to his lips, Hyedam jumped up from his seat. Was he telling him to stop Leo from coming here? It seemed like he wanted to keep their meeting a secret?
“…What are you doing out here in the cold? What if you catch a cold?”
Having become like a malfunctioning robot in both mind and body, Hyedam watched Leo approach with long strides.
“Team Leader-nim, how did you get here…”
Answering Leo’s words and turning around, Hyedam faced Siwoo who had risen from his seat while still making the gesture to be quiet.
“I didn’t know you went outside and searched inside for quite a while.”
“Is something the matter?”
What do these people in this family really want from me? A glance at the approaching Leo, a glance at Siwoo who was subtly stepping back. Hyedam looked alternately at them both with trembling eyes.
“Tell me where you’re going when you go somewhere. No matter how careful you are, accidents can always happen when there are many people at a party venue.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful. But what did you come find me for?”
Hyedam watched Leo suddenly fumble to take off the jacket he was wearing and turned around again. The one who had been sitting beside him on the bench had somehow moved far away. When their eyes met, he leisurely waved one hand and went off in the opposite direction.
“Why are you outside in the cold? What if you catch a cold? Did you eat anything? I wanted to be next to you, but there were so many people. Were you bored being alone?”
Why are you saying the same thing again? Come to think of it, he seems to be swaying more than usual and his gait seems unsteady. A wrinkle formed between Hyedam’s brows as he stared at the approaching Leo. Since Leo had his back to the light, he couldn’t read his expression.
When he turned around again, the small figure was quite far from this place.
Unable to properly focus on either Leo or the retreating Siwoo, Hyedam let out a small sound when the now-close Leo suddenly wrapped something fluttering around his body. He had wondered why Leo suddenly took off his jacket—why was he wrapping him in it? Not draping it over his shoulders or putting it on him, but rolling it around him like a blanket—and Leo was full of a strong alcohol scent instead of the subtle coffee aroma.
“Team Leader-nim? Um. Team Leader-nim.”
Hyedam’s urgent words rejecting the clothes being wrapped around him were muffled in Leo’s embrace. The mug he had been holding that he received from Siwoo shook, and he could clearly feel the vin chaud soaking his clothes and the jacket Leo had wrapped around him. If his arms were free, he could somehow push Leo away and deal with the spilled drink, but Hyedam was literally trapped in his embrace.
“I was startled thinking you had left.”
“I need to help Robert-ssi clean up after the party ends before I leave. If you could let go before then…”
Anxious about what words might come out of the clearly drunk Leo’s mouth and how, Hyedam stole a glance at the direction Siwoo was going. The mug seemed to have already overflowed as much as it could, and feeling that appropriate words wouldn’t be able to stop Leo, Hyedam let go of everything and let out a deep sigh.
“Really, how long have you been out here? Your body is completely cold.”
“I just came out for some air a little while ago… That’s not the issue. Team Leader-nim, you seem drunk, so shall we go inside? You’ll feel better if you drink some cool ice water.”
Drink some cold water and get yourself together, you fool. Whether Siwoo had tact or sense, his figure was now completely out of sight. Even without this, there seemed to be a misunderstanding, and the current situation seemed like it would turn his misunderstanding into certainty.
At the throbbing headache, Hyedam looked at the distant sky. Since Leo had his back to the moon, instead of the full moon he had been seeing until just now, only the black sky entered his view. And that black sky felt like his future, and a sense of bleakness rushed in.
Leo, who had hugged him tightly as if he were a doll and buried his face in his nape, didn’t budge.
“I’m not that drunk.”
“Yes, of course. When has a drunk person ever admitted they’re drunk?”
Having let go of everything, Hyedam answered perfunctorily. He felt like he should coax him and take him inside, but even that was bothersome. Being held quietly in Leo’s arms, he let out a hollow laugh. He felt like he was getting drunk on Leo’s scent mixed with coffee and alcohol.
“What if our fool catches a cold?”
At his random words, Hyedam lightly pushed him away with his body. Yes, it’s cold. If we keep standing like this, we’ll catch a cold we wouldn’t have caught otherwise. Never mind me, you’re only wearing a shirt right now.
“That’s right. Shall we go inside before we catch a cold?”
When he put strength in his legs and tried to walk forward, Leo hesitantly stepped backward. When I push this much, you should let go of the person. Why are you backing up while still holding on? You crazy fool!
“Ondal.”
Silently listing all sorts of profanity inside, Hyedam should have either escaped from Leo’s embrace or pushed him like this to get as far away as possible, but at the force suddenly squeezing him tight, he let out an “Ugh!” sound.
“Pretty.”
Leo, who had been easily pushed as Hyedam pushed, stopped and mumbled quietly. Hyedam didn’t bother asking what he had seen. Because he too had been captivated by that moon hanging still over the flowing river. The word “Ondal” that Leo seemed to have thought of upon seeing the full moon made Hyedam’s heart turn cold.
“Pardon?”
“Ondal is in the river.”
“That would be the full moon.”
“No, it’s Ondal… They said the moon is round, completely round, so it’s Ondal.”
Leo’s voice became quieter. At Leo’s explanation, Hyedam bit down hard on his lower lip.
“Who said that?”
Leo, who had been speaking well until just now, didn’t answer.
“Don’t go around calling it Ondal. Whoever it was, that person taught you wrong.”
Honestly, he could have pushed him away if he wanted to. No matter how tightly Leo held him, he could do that much. No, before that, Leo wasn’t restraining him with force. Being held in his embrace like this was partly Leo’s will, but also because he himself wanted to be like this—that’s how this situation came about.
“That’s not right… Who was it?”
Don’t say things like that when you probably won’t even remember—his heart continued to ache at the following silence. What if he remembers me? But at the absurd question, Hyedam let out a long sigh. Besides, you should be the one remembering where and from whom you heard it. Why are you asking me?
“There’s no way I would know that.”
He pushed Leo’s body with his own, and having escaped from Leo’s embrace, Hyedam removed the clothes that had been wrapped around him. As expected, the vin chaud that had filled the mug had ruined both his clothes and Leo’s.
