How to Escape the Seduction of the Second-Ranked Side Story 15

When the movie ended and the ending credits rolled up, Baek Han spat out a curse.

“Fucking hell. If you’re going to act crazy, at least don’t drag other people down with you. Why seduce innocent people?”

“Right? Only the people who had a thing going in the middle got screwed over.”

Running his hands through his hair, he clicked his tongue, saying he couldn’t understand why anyone would like it that much. Though it seemed like he’d watched it pretty passionately for someone saying that.

Habin let out an awkward laugh and nodded along with Baek Han’s words. Honestly, he’d found it entertaining. There were some makjang elements, but wasn’t that what made it fun?

There’s a reason makjang dramas are popular, after all.

“Anyway, I’m going to bed. Was there a bathroom in the room?”

“Yeah.”

“What? You’re going to sleep already?”

“I drank, so I’m feeling pretty drowsy. Figured I’d lie down in bed. Why?”

“Just… we haven’t seen each other in a while, so it’s a bit disappointing.”

At Habin’s words, Baek Han stared at him intently, then let out a snicker. As if thinking he was really good at saying things he didn’t mean. It seemed like those two had something they wanted to talk about right now.

Still, knowing it wasn’t completely insincere, he lightly tousled Habin’s hair.

“It’s not like we won’t see each other again, so quit being dramatic. Fine, I’m going to bed.”

After seeing off Baek Han, who disappeared with long strides, Habin looked at Dojin. Usually by now he would have fixed Habin’s disheveled hair, but he was just sitting still, lost in thought.

He didn’t really seem sick. Since when had he looked so upset?

“Should we head in too?”

“Mm, let’s.”

Habin, who had been pondering, suddenly lifted his head at Dojin’s voice. Dojin gently swept back the fallen strands of hair and led Habin to the room they’d used every time they came here.

Click—the door closed with the sound of metal meeting metal. At that moment, Habin figured out why Dojin was in a bad mood. Thinking back, he’d started acting strange from the moment they watched the movie, so it wasn’t really that difficult a problem.

Habin nearly laughed and let out a small cough. Should he say Dojin was worrying about something useless? Still, it also meant he was serious about their relationship, which made him feel pretty good.

“Kwon Dojin.”

“Mm?”

Dojin, who had been removing the watch from his wrist, half-turned his body at Habin’s call. Habin approached him from behind, wrapped his arms around his waist, and rested his chin on his shoulder. He was actually on his tiptoes since he was too short, but that was a minor detail.

“Are you anxious?”

“…About what?”

Ah, the answer came too late.

Habin realized he’d hit the mark. They’d become comfortable with each other over the time they’d spent together, and they’d also revealed their weaknesses to each other just as much. More precisely, it was because there was no reason to hide them thoroughly, but it was similar enough in meaning.

Habin chuckled softly and leaned his cheek against Dojin’s firm shoulder. Dojin moved his stopped hand to remove his watch while letting out a faint sigh. He thought he’d hidden it, but apparently he’d been caught.

“I don’t think we’ll hit a relationship slump.”

“Well, you never know about the future.”

“Mm, I guess so.”

Despite Dojin’s skeptical response, Habin acted as if it was no big deal. As if he’d seen the future itself, his attitude was confident that it would absolutely never happen.

“It’s not like all couples break up just because they hit a slump.”

“Yeah.”

“More importantly, would you let me go so easily?”

I really don’t think so.

At Habin’s words, Dojin pressed his lips shut. He couldn’t even pretend to deny it.

“Plus, I show my face around a lot.”

At his playful tone, Dojin finally let out a laugh. Though it was a hollow laugh tinged with absurdity, the important thing was that he’d laughed at all.

When Dojin made a motion to turn around, Habin stepped back one pace from him. Thanks to that, he smoothly stood facing him. He reached his arms back to grip the table and leaned against it slightly. Once Dojin was in position, Habin tilted his head.

“Is there anyone with looks that suit my taste as much as you, Dojin?”

“There might be.”

“Even if I concede a hundred times that there is, wouldn’t the probability of it leading to a relationship approach almost zero?”

I don’t even have that intention in the first place. Habin was someone who preferred the familiar over the new, and that wasn’t much different when it came to human relationships.

Would such a person be any different in romance? Besides, Habin knew that meeting someone like Dojin again was close to impossible.

“Don’t worry. You’re such an amazing person.”

When he leaned his body against Dojin, Dojin wrapped his arms around his waist to support him. Habin played around lightly while stroking Dojin’s hair.

“We shouldn’t watch movies like that from now on. Right?”

“Right.”

Habin let out a faint sigh and tapped Dojin’s lips with his index finger as he agreed. Wrapping his arms around the neck of Dojin, who was bending down, Habin lifted his heels slightly and kissed him.

Really, for someone who pretended otherwise, he was a lover who worried a lot.

* * *

[The obsessive guy story seems to be true;;]

To cut to the chase, someone who kept getting on story guy’s nerves disappeared. For reference, they were coming to school just fine until last week.

I guess they hated story guy because they went around talking mad shit about him, saying he only acts out because he trusts his face, that he has no manners, anyway they said all kinds of things ㅇㅇ (yes yes) And maybe because they didn’t bother hiding the trash talk, story guy seemed to dislike that person too.

Anyway they knew way too many people so they talked shit behind his back everywhere, but starting this week they suddenly aren’t showing up at school;;

This person was obsessed with grades because of job hunting. Our department professors are famous for being super strict about attendance, but they’re not attending. It doesn’t make sense for someone obsessed with grades not to attend.

Honestly at first I thought they were sick, but as it approached about a week I was like huh? It didn’t take long for that “huh” to become “no way.” When I thought about it, that person was supposed to do a team project with story guy.

When I thought that far, I got chills; If I hadn’t seen the anecdote I would’ve just thought something happened, but this is…

So everyone be careful. If you mess with story guy, you might be done for ㄷㄷ (shivering/trembling);;;;

– Wow if this is real, creepy as hell ㅇㅈ (I agree)

└ As if it’s real ㅋㅋ (lol)

– What could obsessive guy even do?

– This seems like going too far

└ ㅇㅈ (I agree) Too far

– Huh? Really? Seems totally possible to me since he’s a third-generation chaebol

└ Wh…? A chaebol????

└ No wonder he only wears expensive clothes

└ That face AND a chaebol ㄷㄷ (shivering)… ㄹㅇ (for real) He really has it all

└ Why would a chaebol go to Korea University…? I mean, it’s the best university, but don’t they usually study abroad?

└ Why else? Because of story guy

– People who think “no way” just don’t know obsessive guy. He’s the one who makes the saying “no way gets people killed” come true

└ This is right ㅋㅋ (lol)

– I wish the person himself would show up and tell us what’s really true, ㅈㄴ (fucking) curious

└ 22 (I agree x2)

└ 333 (I agree x3)

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.

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* * *

Habin checked the post through the link Hyeonwon sent him and burst into laughter. Somehow Dojin had been portrayed as a terribly scary person. Dojin, who had been beside Habin as he lay sprawled on the bed kicking his feet, showed interest at the boisterous laughter.

“What is it?”

“Take a look at this.”

Habin rolled half a turn and placed his face on Dojin’s chest, then stretched his phone-holding arm upward. Dojin took the phone and read the text displayed on the screen. As time passed, Habin confirmed that his expression was subtly crumpling and burst into laughter once more.

“Just what do they think I am?”

“What else? A scary person?”

“Haa…”

At Habin’s voice full of playfulness, Dojin pressed his forehead. He looked troubled, but Habin was busy teasing him.

Anyway, he knew it would settle down soon, so he didn’t worry about it. Isn’t that how rumors are? Well, it doesn’t seem like anything said is particularly wrong, but how many people would believe this anyway?

“Won’t I lose what few friends I had thanks to my boyfriend?”

At the mischief filling his eyes, Dojin’s eyebrows twitched. After maintaining silence for a moment, he suddenly sat up and laid Habin down on the bed, taking the position above him.

With his arms braced on either side of Habin’s head, his view was limited. Habin looked up at Dojin, who appeared somewhat dark since he was backlit by the ceiling light. When their eyes met, the deliberately hardened expression naturally softened.

It seemed wrong to show Habin a frowning face, so he quickly changed course and curved his eyes into rounds.

“So, do you dislike it?”

“Mm-, well.”

Habin, who had drawn out his words, deliberately turned his gaze away. He forcibly held down the corners of his mouth that kept trying to rise, then stretched out his arms to wrap around Dojin’s neck.

“Let me think about it?”

At Habin’s playful scrunching of his nose, Dojin burst into the laughter he’d been holding back.

“You can’t dislike it already-.”

What should I do to make you like it?

At the low whisper, Habin rolled his eyes around, then slightly closed them. Dojin, watching him, obediently lowered his head and kissed him at the mischievous action.

The moment their soft skin touched, a gap formed between their lips. It seemed he didn’t want a light kiss.

When he kissed deeply as desired, Habin was the first to tangle their tongues. When he deliberately stayed still without moving, Habin opened one eye and looked at Dojin.

The moment their eyes met, Dojin curved his eyes into rounds. At the smile full of playfulness, Habin lightly bit the tongue that had invaded his mouth.

Thinking he shouldn’t tease anymore, when Dojin lightly swept the roof of his mouth, the hand wrapped around his neck flinched and trembled. There was an illusion that wet sounds were echoing through his head.

Dojin stroked the faint flush that had formed on Habin’s lowered cheeks with his thumb, then slowly separated their lips as if expressing reluctance. When breathing resumed, Dojin gently bit the lips of the softly panting Habin without hurting him, then slightly raised his upper body.

“Are you happy with me again now?”

At Dojin’s action of not forgetting to ask, Habin’s eyes widened. Soon he held a clear smile on his lips and whispered in Dojin’s ear.

Beyond liking—

“I love you.”

<End of ‘How to Escape the Seduction of the Second-Ranked’ Side Story>