Alpha Trauma

So, Wooyeon clung to Dohyeon, his shoulders trembling in confusion. Since he wasn’t yet used to this kind of intimacy, all he could do was barely keep up with whatever Dohyeon did.Dohyeon tenderly stroked his earlobes, under his chin, and the nape of his neck, before tilting his head and brushing Wooyeon’s palate with his tongue.“…!”Suddenly, Wooyeon tensed his lower abdomen. His eyes flew open, and he quickly pushed Dohyeon’s shoulder. Dohyeon, who had awkwardly leaned back, stared blankly at him.“…Why?”Pheromones heavy with heat floated in the air. His lips, having just kissed, were glossy and smooth. Wooyeon covered his mouth with one hand and, holding onto Dohyeon’s shoulder with the other, began to stammer.“Uh, um, it’s just…”His dark brown eyes wavered uncertainly. His round, teary eyes seemed like they could cry at any moment. His awkward posture and the pheromones spilling out in waves were anything but natural.Dohyeon’s gaze slowly dropped, following Wooyeon’s blatant reaction.“…”“…”There was no need for words. Whether Dohyeon parted his lips or whether the mood was broken didn’t matter. All Wooyeon could think about was that he had to get out of there—immediately.Without looking back, Wooyeon bolted out of the clubroom.Luckily, the bathroom at the end of the hallway was deserted. He slammed the door shut, and a wave of shame washed over him.“…He must have seen.”Why had his body reacted like that, just from a kiss? Even with bad luck, this was too much. His shirt tucked into his pants, the bulge in his front—it was all too obvious. And Dohyeon had definitely noticed.Staggering to the sink, Wooyeon removed the cat ear headband he had still been wearing. His hair was messy, his face flushed—a thoroughly disheveled look. He turned on the cold water and splashed his face, but his aroused lower half showed no signs of calming down.“I just want to die…”What must Dohyeon be thinking after seeing him like this? The thought of how much of a pervert he must have seemed made Wooyeon’s vision go dark.* * *By the time Wooyeon left the bathroom, more time had passed than he realized. He couldn’t bring himself to return to the clubroom, unable to face Dohyeon, so he stepped outside instead. Dohyeon, perhaps expecting him to have left first, came out with the box in hand.After finishing the booth setup, everyone took turns changing clothes. Though the headbands were first-come, first-served, Wooyeon couldn’t go against the majority opinion and ended up as a bunny. Dohyeon had handed him the outfit and then disappeared somewhere, leaving no one to stop the other club members.“Wow, Seonkyu has some talent!”Seonkyu, who had arrived late, surprisingly showed a knack for making cotton candy. The neatly rounded shape he made was nothing like what the upperclassmen had managed in the clubroom. He proudly held up a nearly perfect circle of cotton candy, his eyes sparkling.“I’m thinking about selling cotton candy if I can’t get a job.”“Such hopeful talk for a freshman.”Garam clicked her tongue, quickly bursting Seonkyu’s bubble. Garam had cat ears on her head, while Seonkyu sported a bright red ribbon. Though Garam looked surprisingly good with her headband, Seonkyu seemed oddly out of place.“Wooyeon, do you want to try some?”Wooyeon, lost in thought, snapped back to reality at Seonkyu’s words. Dohyeon still hadn’t returned, and Wooyeon had been endlessly replaying the scene between them in his mind. If Seonkyu hadn’t spoken, he probably would have stood there frozen until Dohyeon came back.“Here, this one’s for you.”Even after receiving the cotton candy, Wooyeon struggled to regain his composure. He had been eagerly anticipating cotton candy, yet his heart was too heavy for him to enjoy it. Regret gnawed at him, wondering why he had acted so pitifully.He could say with certainty that he wasn’t someone with a strong desire. When he was younger, he had craved sweets, but even that had only been a way to release stress caused by pressure. Naturally, his sexual desire was much lower than that of other Omegas.For example, he rarely masturbated unless it was during his heat cycle. Even then, he managed his heat with suppressants, so it was rare for him to touch himself at all.So having a wet dream about Dohyeon, or getting aroused from a simple kiss—these were things that, under normal circumstances, would never happen.“Haa…”“You’re going to make a hole in the ground.”A familiar voice dropped beside him. Wooyeon straightened his back and turned, creaking as he moved. Dohyeon, now dressed in the light pink club t-shirt they had all coordinated, stood nearby.“Uh… when did you get here?”“Just now.”Dohyeon casually responded and took the cotton candy from Wooyeon’s hand. His familiar, kind gaze slowly scanned Wooyeon from head to toe. Wooyeon shrank under the weight of that gaze, his shoulders trembling slightly.“A bunny, huh.”His voice was hard to read. It seemed both pleased and, somehow, a little irritated. He’d said it was cute back in the clubroom, but now, he didn’t seem to like it as much.“The upperclassmen made me wear it…”Was he mad? Wooyeon widened the distance between them, wondering. Considering the way he had run off during the kiss, it wouldn’t be strange if Dohyeon was upset. Wooyeon wanted to explain himself, but the embarrassment made it hard to say anything.“…Does it look weird?”“No, not weird at all.”Thankfully, Dohyeon soon relaxed his expression and smiled softly. His gentle eyes curved into a line, and Wooyeon couldn’t help but stare, his mouth hanging open.As always, Dohyeon’s smile was blindingly bright. Though this time, there was something a little unsettling about it.“Did Seonkyu make this?”“Yeah, he’s really good at it.”“Wow, maybe he really should open a cotton candy stand.”Wooyeon fidgeted with his earlobe, glancing nervously at Dohyeon. Despite his embarrassment and awkwardness, Dohyeon’s nonchalant attitude made things more bearable. The mature teacher seemed kind enough to overlook his lover’s embarrassing reaction.“You’ve never tried cotton candy before, right?”“No.”Wooyeon nodded and looked from the cotton candy to Dohyeon. At first, he had dismissed carrying cotton candy around as a silly promotional tactic, but seeing Dohyeon now, he was starting to think differently. Wearing a pink t-shirt and holding pink cotton candy, Dohyeon looked incredibly stylish in Wooyeon’s eyes.How could pastels suit him so perfectly? He always wore neutral tones, so Wooyeon hadn’t noticed before, but now it was clear that bright colors looked just as good on him. Standing next to Dohyeon, Wooyeon thought they almost looked like a couple in matching outfits, and his heart raced just thinking about it.Wooyeon followed along as the other club members packaged the cotton candy that he and another person had made. Since they didn’t have enough time to make and sell them on the spot, they decided to prepare a few in advance and display them. Wrapping the cotton candy without ruining its shape took much more effort than expected.“But hyung, aren’t you going to wear a headband?”“Yeah, it seems like you’re the only one not wearing one.”While carefully wrapping the cotton candy, Wooyeon listened to the conversation around him. Seonkyu pointed out that Dohyeon was the only one not wearing a headband, which prompted a few playful complaints. Though mostly in jest, there was a bit of sincerity behind their words.Dohyeon, casually twirling a wooden stick, responded nonchalantly.“This is the club president’s privilege.”“Come on, there’s no such thing.”“As the president, you should set an example!”“Right, Wooyeon, you want to see him wear one too, don’t you?”Suddenly, the question was directed at Wooyeon, catching him off guard. He flinched and squashed the cotton candy he was holding. He looked at Dohyeon in surprise, but Dohyeon gently reassured him.“It’s okay, you can eat the ones you mess up.”“Yeah, the cotton candy isn’t the main concern right now.”“Wooyeon, say something too.”Even though selling cotton candy was supposed to be the priority, the club members seemed to have forgotten about it. Garam, who had gone to promote their booth, would likely be furious if she saw them now. Wooyeon awkwardly unwrapped the plastic and slowly started speaking.“Uh, I….”A teacher wearing a headband? If Dohyeon didn’t like the idea, Wooyeon didn’t want to push it, but he had to admit he was a little curious. Dohyeon looked great in the pale pink t-shirt he was wearing, so animal ears would probably suit him too.Wooyeon hesitated over his words, then shyly blushed as he remembered something from the clubroom.“…What headbands are left?”In the end, Dohyeon had to try on all the headbands, becoming the star of an impromptu fashion show—well, a “headband show.” From the ribbon Seonkyu was wearing to the leftover cat ears and even Wooyeon’s bunny ears, Dohyeon tried them all. Though he wasn’t thrilled at first, when Wooyeon’s eyes sparkled with excitement, Dohyeon reluctantly offered his head.“I think the bunny ears suit you best.”Wooyeon spoke with unusual enthusiasm. They had tried out all sorts of headbands, but in the end, the bunny ears fit Dohyeon the best. His neat eyes and generally gentle expression matched perfectly with the soft, floppy bunny ears.“Can I bend the ears a little?”Dohyeon, now resigned to his fate, bent over slightly, allowing Wooyeon to reach up and fold the right bunny ear halfway. When Wooyeon had been wearing them, he didn’t notice, but there was wire inside the ears, so they could be reshaped freely.“Is this okay?”“Yes, it’s perfect.”The other club members watched the two with great interest. Even though they had started this whole thing, it was Wooyeon who seemed to be having the most fun. In fact, Wooyeon was brimming with excitement as he admired the “teacher with bunny ears.”“Cute.”For the first time, Dohyeon, usually so mature, looked different to Wooyeon. When he smiled warmly, Dohyeon chuckled softly.“I’m not sure who’s cuter here.”Muttering quietly, Dohyeon reached out and ruffled Wooyeon’s hair. Since Wooyeon had given his headband to Dohyeon, he wasn’t wearing anything on his head.Wooyeon’s face turned bright red as Dohyeon’s fingers tousled his hair.“Um… are you guys selling cotton candy?”The voice came from a group of students who looked to be around twenty years old. They approached hesitantly, glancing between Dohyeon and Wooyeon as they fumbled through their words.“The person with the cat ears told us we could buy some here….”“Oh, yes! That’s right!”Seonkyu, recovering first, quickly nodded in response. Dohyeon, too, greeted the customers with his usual friendly smile. The person at the front of the group blushed as they met Dohyeon’s kind eyes.“How many cotton candies would you like?”Wooyeon, feeling his earlier excitement quickly fade, turned to head toward the side table. His role was to sit by the side like before, leaving the transactions to the other members. But before he could take another step, Dohyeon grabbed his arm.“Let’s put this on and explore the festival later.”Dohyeon whispered this, then turned his attention back to the customers. The customer who had been blushing earlier seemed to catch on to the dynamic between the two and looked disappointed. Somehow, those words made Wooyeon feel a little better.* * *Contrary to their initial concerns, the cotton candy sold out in no time. At first, customers trickled in one by one, but soon enough, a line formed in front of the booth. Despite the successful sales, Wooyeon’s mood remained sour.“Um, can I get your number?”The cotton candy Wooyeon was wrapping crumpled in his hands. Garam, just returning from promoting the booth, noticed his frustration and looked at him with an awkward expression.Wooyeon took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Before he could say anything, a familiar voice gently stepped in.“I’m already seeing someone.”It was Dohyeon. He handed a freshly made cotton candy to the customer, offering them a polite, practiced smile. “Thank you,” he added, prompting the customer to leave, albeit with visible disappointment.This was the fifth time. The fifth time Dohyeon had politely turned someone down. And the fifth time Wooyeon had ruined a cotton candy.“…I’m sorry. I’ll pay for the one I messed up.”Wooyeon muttered apologetically, setting down the misshapen cotton candy. It was supposed to be heart-shaped, but one side had collapsed, much like his mood.“Just toss it. Honestly, it’s quicker to eat it,” Garam said with a dismissive wave. She took the squashed cotton candy from his hands and compressed the fluffy mass into a small bite-sized piece. Holding it up to his mouth, she offered it to him with a grin.Wooyeon hesitated for a second before accepting the candy, chewing as it crunched like a cookie.“Tastes better like this, doesn’t it? I always think so,” Garam remarked casually.Wooyeon nodded, but the sweetness did little to improve his mood.“You seem pretty down,” Garam observed, squinting at him. She ran a hand through her long hair before biting down on a wooden stick, as if mimicking a cigarette. Clearly, she was resisting the urge to smoke, given the festival rules.“People act like this during festivals. Must be the vibe… Plus, Kim Dohyeon has that kind look about him,” she added with a smirk.Garam let out a small, incredulous laugh at her own words. When she said Dohyeon had a dirty temper, Wooyeon didn’t agree and shook his head.“Are there usually not many people asking for his number?”“You mean Kim Dohyeon?”“Yes.”“Hmm…”The fact that she didn’t answer right away made it clear that this wasn’t an unusual occurrence. Garam neither confirmed nor denied it, instead diverting the conversation.“Don’t worry. You know Kim Dohyeon is firm about these things.”Firm, indeed. He turned them down with a smile, yet left no room for misunderstanding. He seemed so used to it that it made Wooyeon feel even more uneasy.“If you’re feeling that bad, go leave your pheromones all over him. Seems like he’s covered you in his, too.”Garam tilted a wooden stick in her hand and wrinkled her nose. Every time Dohyeon touched him, his pheromones stuck to Wooyeon, leaving traces of him. Whether it was deliberate, as Garam suggested, Wooyeon couldn’t be sure.“You’re like this, so imagine how bothered he must be.”“What does Sunbae have to be bothered by?”Wooyeon responded indifferently, glancing over at Dohyeon. At that moment, his eyes met with someone’s, but the person quickly turned and hurried away, phone in hand. Wooyeon felt a brief sense of unease, but shook his head.“It’s not like I’m popular or anything…”There weren’t people asking for his number or even striking up conversations like they did with Dohyeon, so what was there for him to be concerned about? Even if there were, Wooyeon was sure his teacher wouldn’t care.“You, Wooyeon…”Garam started to say something, then just grinned, showing her teeth. She unwrapped the neatly packaged cotton candy and compressed it into a small bite like before.As Wooyeon stared blankly at her, she held out the cotton candy again.“Here.”Once more, Wooyeon opened his mouth and accepted the candy. The texture, now crunchy, was more unique than eating it the usual way.As he chewed, Garam was about to unwrap another cotton candy when—“Moon Garam.”The soft voice reached Wooyeon’s ears with clear intent. Wooyeon slowly turned his head, sensing the rush of pheromones. Dohyeon had approached them without him realizing and now removed the headband he was wearing, placing it on the table.“You go make the cotton candy.”Dohyeon looked vaguely displeased. His eyes were hard, and his brow furrowed deeply. Garam, however, didn’t seem to care, responding with a grumble.“Really, making me do cotton candy after I just got back from promoting?”Though her words sounded irritated, she didn’t look the least bit upset. In fact, her lips curled into a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying herself. She stood, gave Dohyeon a playful tap on the shoulder, and swaggered off toward the customers.“Hah…”Dohyeon sighed lightly, brushing his hair back. His disheveled bangs now revealed his smooth forehead. Wooyeon, still watching him, asked in a hopeful tone.“Are you taking a break now?”Dohyeon’s gaze shifted to Wooyeon. The sweet scent of sugar from making so much cotton candy lingered around him, and today, his pheromones seemed sweeter than usual as well.Dohyeon’s expression softened, and he pointed at the cotton candy Garam had been holding.“This.”The cotton candy he pointed to was pink, resembling cherry blossoms. There was so much pink sugar left over that all the cotton candy Wooyeon had eaten that day had been the same color.“It’s got food coloring in the sugar, so your tongue will turn this color.”“…Really?”Wooyeon’s eyes widened as he pulled out his phone, opening his mouth to check his tongue. However, the dark screen didn’t reflect the color. Dohyeon took Wooyeon’s phone and set it on the table, speaking softly.“Your mouth is already pink.”Why did that simple statement make his stomach feel warm? Why did his gentle voice sound like a warning?For a moment, Wooyeon pressed his lips tightly together, but soon, Dohyeon subtly took his hand in his.“Let’s go check out the festival.”* * *Walking around the festival with Dohyeon turned out to be more fun than Wooyeon had expected. Having only attended events with his mother before, he was amazed at the variety of street food lined up along the paths.Dohyeon bought Wooyeon every food he seemed interested in, finishing off with a slushie.“Tasty?”Wooyeon nodded, sipping at the straw. The slushie came in a clear plastic cup, the top half red and the bottom blue. Wooyeon had trouble deciding between the two flavors, so the student selling it had given him both.“Everyone seems really prepared for this.”There was an array of foods, from simple rice cakes to fried rice. The dish that surprised Wooyeon the most was stir-fried soondae (Korean blood sausage), but Dohyeon, shaking his head, said Wooyeon wouldn’t like it, so he didn’t try it. There were also stalls selling random knickknacks and booths offering tarot readings.“Did they used to sell alcohol at these kinds of things?”The stickers plastered all over the ground looked like they’d be a pain to clean up later, and the scattered flyers didn’t help either.“No, they always sold this kind of stuff on the walking path. The pubs were further down, where there was more space for the food and tables.”“They made the food themselves?”“Yeah, they cooked it.”“Did Sunbae, too?”“I mostly did the serving.”Dohyeon took the empty cup from Wooyeon and tossed it into a nearby trash bin. When Wooyeon opened and closed his hands, chilled by the slushie, Dohyeon instinctively took his right hand. His grip, familiar yet warm, was almost too hot.“Before, you said you couldn’t come to tutoring because of the festival.”As Wooyeon spoke, he absentmindedly fiddled with his earlobe. His ears felt hot—if his hands weren’t so cold, it might’ve been a problem. Though he was used to the stares from holding hands all day, the warmth of their touch still made him feel uneasy.“Was that night because you were running a pub too?”Dohyeon squinted, as if trying to recall something. A crooked smile spread across his lips, hinting at his thoughts.“We went drinking, right? I couldn’t concentrate at all.”“Why not?”Dohyeon’s gaze drifted over the top of Wooyeon’s head. He calmly spoke while brushing the back of his hand with his thumb.“Because you said you were home alone, and I was worried.”That day was rare—one of the few times the employee left work early. Usually, they stayed until late, but that day they hurried off, saying they had personal matters. It was unusual, and Wooyeon only realized after arriving home.“You don’t like being alone.”Wooyeon glanced at Dohyeon before lowering his head deeply. “Worried,” huh? No matter how often he heard it, that word always gave him a ticklish feeling. With pheromones already thick in the air, hearing such words only made him feel more relaxed.“Luckily, we broke even quickly, so one of the seniors sent me home. You know, that Noona Minjung.”“Oh, I know Minjung Noona.”Wooyeon recalled Minjung, who was good at mixing drinks, and acknowledged it with a nod. Dohyeon let out a faint, almost inaudible laugh.“When did she become your Noona?”Wooyeon glanced over at him, but Dohyeon just shrugged, as if it were nothing. However, his grip on Wooyeon’s hand tightened, their fingers intertwining a little more deeply.“Are you feeling better now?”“Feeling better?”Wooyeon blinked in confusion at the question. Dohyeon continued speaking without missing a beat.“You didn’t look too happy earlier at the booth.”Wooyeon’s face immediately showed a look of realization. He had been busy selling cotton candy and hadn’t noticed, but Dohyeon had seen it.“Oh, that…”“What bothered you?”“It was nothing.”Wooyeon replied in a calm tone, pretending everything was fine. His mood had genuinely improved, and he couldn’t even name what had upset him earlier. How could he explain such feelings to Dohyeon?“…Really?”Dohyeon’s voice was subtly questioning, but he said nothing more for a while. His dark eyes were filled with unreadable emotions. Wooyeon avoided making eye contact and pretended to look around at the booths.“I was jealous.”The soft voice took him by surprise. Wooyeon instinctively lifted his head to look at Dohyeon. Dohyeon squeezed his hand tightly and spoke quietly.“I was bothered when you accepted something from Moon Garam. It got to me.”“….”Wooyeon’s throat felt blocked, making it hard to speak. Jealousy. The word sharply pricked at his chest. The feelings Wooyeon had and the feelings Dohyeon was talking about. Two emotions with the same name swirled in his mind.“Let me ask you again, Yeon-ah.”“….”“What was bothering you?”It took a while, but Wooyeon eventually stammered out a quiet response. It was something he had once complained about to Seonkyu.“I don’t like it when… Sunbae forces himself to smile.”He understood that people could show interest, especially in someone like Dohyeon, who was charming and attractive to anyone. But Dohyeon smiling at them—well, that was a different matter.“I get that it’s unavoidable, but he doesn’t have to fake a smile.”“….”Dohyeon didn’t react at all, even though he was the one who asked. After staring blankly for a moment, he slowly opened his mouth.“That’s interesting.”There was no need to ask what was interesting. Dohyeon stopped walking and looked Wooyeon in the eye as he quietly posed a question.“Can you really tell the difference?”Wooyeon couldn’t find the words to reply, so he kept silent. It didn’t seem like Dohyeon expected an answer either, as he soon resumed walking. His other hand slid into his pocket as he spoke in a calm tone.“Anyway… if you ever have something you want to say, don’t hold it in. Even small things can fester if you keep them bottled up.”“….”“Especially you, Wooyeon. You can always say whatever you want to me.”It was a sweet, tender sentiment that made Wooyeon’s eyes sting. Without realizing it, Wooyeon tightened his grip on Dohyeon’s hand. Rather than pulling away, Dohyeon smiled beautifully.“That’s what relationships are about.”The mood felt strange. Just a little while ago, his insides had been aching, but now he felt like they were loosening. The sweet pheromones in the air also helped to calm Wooyeon’s heart.Feeling the stir of his own pheromones, Wooyeon cautiously asked,“Will you do the same, Sunbae?”There was a slight delay before Dohyeon answered. His expression seemed to shift ever so slightly, but it was too subtle to call out. With his usual kind smile, Dohyeon nodded.“I will.”After that, they continued wandering around the campus, checking out the caricatures and calligraphy drawn by the art students, and even looking at tattoo stickers. Wooyeon briefly thought of the tattoo on Dohyeon’s back but quickly shook his head as memories followed.“An idol is supposed to perform later. Do you want to go watch?”“No, I’m not interested in celebrities.”Since Wooyeon didn’t watch TV, he didn’t know who any celebrities were. There would likely be a crowd, and he didn’t want to be stuck in the middle of that. Dohyeon had only suggested it out of courtesy, but he seemed to have anticipated Wooyeon’s refusal.“Then let’s head back. We should check how the booth is doing.”Without saying much, Wooyeon followed Dohyeon’s lead. They had seen enough and eaten their fill. Though it was a bit disappointing that their alone time was over, they couldn’t avoid their responsibilities forever.“Should we drink after the festival?”“Yeah, I’ll go with the club members. Some of the other seniors will be there too.”Dohyeon mentioned Minjung and Sungjae, as well as someone new named Taegyeom. He also said that Yunwoo hyung might come to pick them up, though he seemed slightly hesitant about it.“After the festival, we always have an afterparty. Normally, we’d drink at the club’s bar, but tonight we’ll go to a pub.”“So, Sunbae, you skipped the afterparty last time to come to my place?”“Well… there’s always another drinking session.”Nodding quietly, Wooyeon suddenly blinked, sensing something off. It was touching that Dohyeon had chosen to come to him, but something about it didn’t sit right.“What is it?”It had been four years since that day. Wooyeon could clearly recall the sight of his teacher crossing the garden, but everything else was hazy. All he remembered was that there had been many difficult moments, and that Dohyeon had made everything better.“If Moon Garam gives you something weird again, don’t take it.”“She didn’t give me anything weird earlier.”Maybe it was just his imagination. Wooyeon brushed off the nagging feeling. He was holding Dohyeon’s hand now, and things felt as sweet as cotton candy. Nothing else mattered at that moment.“For the honor of Yeonggo!”“Cheers!”Since the club had quite a large number of members, they headed to a pub where each seat was separated by walls and doors. Seongjae, who wasn’t even a current student, shouted the toast, and the members, familiar with the routine, clinked their glasses in response.Dohyeon, caught by Seongjae, who said, “I want to hang out with the youngest for a change,” had taken a seat next to him. Seongjae’s voice was so loud that his lively chatter could be heard even from far away.“Minjung, put him to sleep already.”“Tranquilizing a bear requires government permission.”Wooyeon, who had been absentmindedly holding a soju glass, burst out laughing when he overheard the conversation between Minjung and the teaching assistant. No matter how bear-like someone’s build might be, bringing up tranquilizers right away was amusing to him.Minjung, noticing Wooyeon’s laughter, struck up a conversation with a friendly tone.“Did you get home okay last time?”The last time she referred to was when Wooyeon had drunk too much of the soju bombs Minjung had mixed and blacked out. Feeling a pang of jealousy seeing Dohyeon getting along with others, he had impulsively downed a lot of alcohol. He couldn’t remember much from that night, but it was clear that he’d left the bar completely drunk.“Yeah, sorry about that.”“Why are you apologizing? I was the one who got you drunk.”“Right, Wooyeon was pretty wasted that day.”Garam, who was sitting next to Minjung as usual, nodded as if recalling the memory fondly. The teaching assistant, unaware of the event, continued fiddling with his phone without asking any questions.“Oppa, when’s Taegyeom sunbae coming?”“He said he’s almost here. He’s stuck in traffic, so it’s taking a while.”After answering, the teaching assistant placed his phone on the table. Despite the dim lighting, the ring on his left ring finger sparkled. Wooyeon, who had been staring at the couple’s ring, casually asked a question.“Is he the business god?”“Pffft.”The teaching assistant covered his mouth as he laughed aloud. His usually indifferent eyes softened, and his expression changed instantly. His gentle laughter was so charming that even Wooyeon’s heart fluttered for a moment.“Ah… sorry. Taegyeom really hates that nickname. Try not to mention it in front of him if you can.”“Is he your boyfriend?”“Yeah, that’s right.”Wooyeon thought it was the first time the teaching assistant had exuded such a warm and approachable vibe. Though always kind, his facial expressions rarely shifted. The moment the name “Taegyeom” was mentioned, though, his demeanor transformed. Even though Taegyeom wasn’t physically present, Wooyeon could tell just how much the teaching assistant adored him.“But you still call him ‘teaching assistant,’ Wooyeon. Just call him hyung. Yunwoo oppa doesn’t care about that kind of thing.”Wooyeon glanced over at the teaching assistant in response to Minjung’s comment. Whether to call someone hyung or not didn’t really matter to him, but he wondered if it was up to someone else to decide that for him. Fortunately, the teaching assistant didn’t seem to mind and told him to call him whatever felt comfortable.“Unnie… Can you make me a soju bomb?”“Pass me your glass. Oppa, would you like one too?”“No, I’m good. I’ll be driving later.”“And you, Wooyeon?”Wooyeon looked over at Dohyeon, who was sitting far away, and shook his head. He didn’t want to drink and risk blacking out again. Minjung didn’t insist, instead smoothly starting to mix the soju.“I’m just going to the restroom for a bit.”Feeling suffocated, Wooyeon thought some fresh air might help. To be honest, it was more about not being able to be near Dohyeon, but either way, the result was the same. Without glancing at Dohyeon’s direction, Wooyeon hurriedly slipped out of the booth.“…Wow, I’m going to get lost.”As the door clicked shut, Wooyeon muttered in disbelief. He hadn’t noticed when they all came in together, but now he realized just how confusing the pub’s layout was. If he didn’t remember the room number, finding his way back to his group would be nearly impossible.“Room 17…”Wooyeon repeated the room number to himself as he walked toward the counter. He didn’t feel like going outside, so he planned to head to the restroom to splash some water on his face. Room 17, room 17. As he murmured the number and turned the corner, he was suddenly hit with a wave of strong alpha pheromones.“…..”The distance between them was only about a step. Had he not stopped in his tracks, he would have bumped directly into the person coming from the other side. Confirming that the source of the pheromones was indeed the person in front of him, Wooyeon furrowed his brow and raised his head.“…..”“…..”The man in front of him was unnaturally beautiful. His features were light, and his eyes, as if drawn in a painting, were captivating. His height, similar to Dohyeon’s, his broad shoulders, and the striking pheromones—all of it was nothing short of perfection.“A dominant alpha.”Just four words. Wooyeon took a step to the side, his already irritated face now fully contorted. No matter how good-looking someone was, the fact that they were an alpha was enough to make him want nothing to do with them.“Go ahead.”“…..”What was funny was that the man in front of Wooyeon was wearing a similar expression. Although he hid it better than Wooyeon, his pheromones gave away his displeasure. Without saying a word, he brushed past Wooyeon and turned the corner.“Wow, what a jerk.”Wooyeon cursed under his breath as he turned around. Normally, if someone made an effort to move out of the way, the other would at least offer an apology, but this guy had blatantly ignored him. It was better than dealing with someone all giggly and flirtatious, but that haughty attitude was no less irritating.Just like an alpha. That’s what Wooyeon thought as he tried to bury the encounter in his memory. But before he could move on, the sound of a door opening and a familiar voice reached his ears.“…Taegyeom sunbae?”* * *Wooyeon alternated between looking at the two people in front of him with a slightly sour expression. One was the teaching assistant, who was always kind to him, and the other was the dominant alpha he couldn’t stand. The teaching assistant calmly introduced the person sitting next to him.“This is Choi Taegyeom. He’s a senior from the club and my boyfriend.”“And the business god,” Minjung added with a smile.Taegyeom’s face subtly twisted at that, and Wooyeon found it surprising just how much he seemed to dislike the nickname “business god.” He had assumed someone with such a famous title would brush it off, but apparently, Taegyeom’s opinion hadn’t been taken into account.“Did you run into Wooyeon earlier?”“Yeah, he must be a new member of the club.”The moment Taegyeom locked eyes with the teaching assistant, his expression softened instantly. It was such a radiant smile that Wooyeon instinctively recoiled. Alphas were already a turn-off, but this guy, with his seemingly nasty personality, made Wooyeon shudder even more.“Where did you go by yourself?”Dohyeon gently asked as he held Wooyeon’s hand under the table. Earlier, he had tried and failed to leave the bar, but by the time Wooyeon returned from the restroom, Dohyeon had managed to move away from Seongjae and sit at Wooyeon’s table. He had smoothly taken the seat that had previously been occupied by Seonkyu.“Just the restroom. Sunbae, were you following me?”“Yeah, you left suddenly. It’s dangerous to walk around alone in a bar.”Wooyeon thought the soft pheromones floating in the air felt pleasant. Dohyeon’s pheromones were dry and refreshing, making him feel clean, even though he was an Alpha. It was the complete opposite of Taegyeom, who was sitting across from them.“I’m tired, Yunwoo.”“You look tired. Should we have gone home so you could rest?”“No, let’s head out a little earlier.”Wooyeon frowned at the sight of Taegyeom leaning affectionately against the teaching assistant. Was this the same person who had left earlier without a word? It felt like someone else with the same face had returned.The assistant noticed Wooyeon’s expression and gave a sheepish smile.“Did he act rude to you?”“….”Wooyeon’s face twisted slightly. It felt awkward to admit that his partner had been rude, but it was also uncomfortable to outright deny it.Surprisingly, Taegyeom answered instead.“I didn’t realize they were in the same club. He’s an Omega.”The statement had a tone that almost confirmed Taegyeom’s previous rudeness. When the assistant asked what had happened, Taegyeom replied it was just a near-collision. Slowly, Wooyeon finally spoke up.“I don’t like Alphas either.”It was simply something he could tell because they were of the same kind. He knew Taegyeom disliked Omegas and that was why he had treated him that way. With looks and pheromones like his, Taegyeom’s life must have been hard.“Glad to hear it,” Taegyeom replied casually, though the assistant looked at Wooyeon in surprise. There wasn’t much change in the assistant’s expression, but the slow turn of his head was noticeable. Taegyeom, smirking, gestured toward Dohyeon sitting beside Wooyeon.“And is he okay?”“….”Wooyeon’s ears turned red as he averted his gaze. He could feel Dohyeon tightening his grip on his hand under the table. As Dohyeon gently stroked the back of Wooyeon’s hand, he replied calmly.“I’m different. Sunbae, you’re fine with Yunwoo, too, right?”“…What’s going on between you two?”The assistant asked, belatedly looking confused. Wooyeon’s face flushed deeper, and he fidgeted with his fingers. It was clear from his reaction that they were dating.“I knew it,” Minjung mumbled, clicking his tongue softly. The assistant repeated something Minjung had said before.“Thief.”“….”There was no reply, but everyone silently agreed. Even Taegyeom glanced at Dohyeon with surprise, as if he hadn’t expected this.It was Wooyeon who protested.“We’re only four years apart.”They weren’t eight years apart, and Wooyeon wasn’t underage. What was so bad about a mere four-year gap for Dohyeon to be called a thief?But Minjung quickly undermined Wooyeon’s argument.“When a university senior who’s done his military service dates a freshman, it’s definitely thievery.”Minjung pointed at Dohyeon and then Wooyeon in turn.“One’s a post-military student, and Wooyeon, you’re a newly-adult freshman.”“…”After a brief pause, Minjung added in a flat voice.“Definitely a thief, right?”A small laugh was heard from someone—Dohyeon. He had been quietly stroking Wooyeon’s hand, but now he intertwined their fingers and pulled their joined hands onto his lap, holding them with both of his.“Yeah, I’m definitely a thief.”His fingertips slowly traced over Wooyeon’s palm. The soft sensation of Dohyeon’s fingers brushing each knuckle made Wooyeon squirm. Just from that simple touch, a strange tickling sensation spread below his navel.“Sometimes, stealing is part of life.”His tone was light, so casual that even Taegyeom, who had been indifferent, chuckled. Taegyeom glanced back and forth between Dohyeon and Wooyeon, a smile spreading across his face.“The youngest has grown up a lot.”“Youngest? That’s a long time ago.”When Wooyeon was with his Sunbaes, his teacher seemed like a different person than the one he knew. He was more indifferent and prickly, which contrasted with his usual maturity. But even so, Dohyeon’s touch remained as gentle as ever as he softly held Wooyeon’s hand.“Well… Anyway, good for you guys. Congratulations.”Minjung picked up a bottle of soju and handed it to Dohyeon. Dohyeon, still holding Wooyeon’s hand on his lap, took the shot glass with both hands. The transparent liquid poured into the glass.“Sunbae, would you like some too?”One by one, he filled the others’ glasses as well. Wooyeon and the assistant were the only ones not drinking. After filling Garam’s glass last, Minjung raised his own shot glass.“Okay, let’s toast.”The drinking party quickly gained momentum. Seongjae was loudly leading a drinking game on one side, while the others were chatting and clinking glasses. As the number of empty bottles increased, Minjung stood up from his seat.“I’m going to get some ice cream. Do you want to come?”“Ice cream?”Dohyeon looked up at Minjung with a puzzled expression. Garam also stood up, but Minjung pressed her shoulders down, making her sit back down. Dohyeon opened a soda can and placed it in front of Wooyeon before standing to follow Minjung.“I’ll be back in a bit.”Dohyeon ruffled Wooyeon’s hair playfully. Holding the soda can with both hands, Wooyeon watched the two of them as they left. Across from him, Taegyeom was still clinging to the assistant, putting on a display of affection.“Yunwoo, I think I’m getting drunk.”Despite burying his face in the assistant’s neck, Taegyeom didn’t look very drunk. The assistant must have thought the same, as he scolded Taegyeom, telling him to stop exaggerating. But the way he gently stroked Taegyeom’s cheek betrayed his words.“How did you two meet?”Garam asked them curiously. Wooyeon also listened quietly, though he wasn’t particularly interested in other people’s relationships. He was just curious about how Taegyeom, who disliked Omegas, ended up with the assistant. Plus, the assistant didn’t seem like someone who would commit to a long-term relationship either.“We’ve been friends since we were kids.”The assistant answered as if he was used to these kinds of questions. Garam, who had been sulking earlier, now looked intrigued.“Oh, so you’re childhood friends?”Suddenly, Wooyeon remembered something. Once, someone had asked him about his ideal type, and he had said he hoped they didn’t have a childhood friend. He didn’t know why that thought popped into his head now, but it weighed on his mind.“How long have you been dating?”“It’s been about four years now.”“Wow, who confessed first?”“Confess… It’s hard to say who did.”Bzzz. Dohyeon’s phone, which he had left on the table, began vibrating. Bzzz, bzzz—it wasn’t a message, but a call. Wooyeon stood up, only half-listening as Garam asked who had liked who first, and picked up the phone.“I’ll be right back.”Wooyeon stepped out of the bar, phone vibrating continuously in hand, to find him. There was no real need to bring him his phone, but he felt a strong urge to see Dohyeon’s face right now.Fortunately, Wooyeon spotted the two of them in the alley outside the bar. Dohyeon, holding a plastic bag—perhaps after a quick trip to a convenience store—was standing with Minjung. As he was about to approach them, he clearly heard Minjung’s voice.“When did you start seeing Wooyeon?”Wooyeon instinctively stopped in his tracks behind the wall. He wasn’t one to eavesdrop, but things had felt a bit delicate lately. He wanted to ask the gods of timing why he kept overhearing conversations about himself.“Not long ago. Just over a week, I guess.”“Right, not that long.”There was a rustling sound from the plastic bag. The vibrating phone in Wooyeon’s hand had stopped without him noticing. He almost checked the caller, but changed his mind.“Want to smoke for a bit? I have something to say.”“I quit smoking. Just tell me what you want to say.”Wooyeon was surprised to hear he’d quit smoking. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t seen him smoke since the last time on the terrace. Dohyeon never smoked much around him, so he hadn’t noticed, but it seemed like he no longer carried cigarettes.“What did you want to talk about?”“It’s nothing major.”Minjung hesitated for a while, as if choosing his words or gathering courage. Just when the prolonged silence was becoming agonizing, he finally spoke.“I was wondering if you’re okay with gatherings like today. You don’t get along with Taegyeom Sunbae, do you?”Wooyeon remembered the way Dohyeon would frown whenever the topic of “the god of business” came up. It always felt a bit awkward, but he hadn’t realized they didn’t get along. They had sat at the same table without a problem today.“That’s so random… Why wouldn’t I be okay with it? It’s just a regular after-party.”“Is that so?”“Yes, I don’t have a problem with Taegyeom Sunbae.”Minjung fell silent again. The faint sounds of insects blended into the peculiar atmosphere. In the awkward pauses between the conversation, Dohyeon finally spoke up.“Noona, is this because I used to like Yunwoo hyung?”Wooyeon’s heart skipped a beat, his mind going blank as if someone had popped a balloon right next to his ear.He unconsciously peered around the wall to get a look at them. It all started to make sense: the out-of-place mention of an ideal type, the frown whenever Taegyeom was brought up, and the way the teaching assistant acted today. It all connected, piece by piece.“Well…”Minjung didn’t explicitly confirm or deny it, but her vague response was an affirmation to Wooyeon. With a humorless chuckle, Dohyeon responded, sounding a bit incredulous.“That was years ago.”Though Dohyeon brushed it off, Wooyeon couldn’t do the same. He pressed a hand to his racing heart and bit his lip, fearing that his pounding heart might release some kind of pheromone.“It took me about a month at your age to get over someone I liked.”So it was the teaching assistant.The scattered puzzle pieces began to fall into place. Back then, he had thought it was easy to forget, but looking back, a month seemed like an eternity. Seeing Dohyeon talking to the assistant now just made him feel angry.“I thought you were going to say something else.”Wooyeon crouched down and took a deep breath. Whatever he might hear, he wanted to listen to it all. He didn’t want to make any mistaken assumptions like last time; he wanted to hear everything from Dohyeon until the end.“It was just for a short while. I gave up quickly.”Dohyeon spoke without a hint of wavering. It wasn’t an act to pretend he was fine—he genuinely seemed to have no lingering feelings. Even his follow-up comment, “I was serious at the time, though,” only proved that he had fully moved on.“It wasn’t a first love or anything… When you’re young, you want things you can’t have.”“You’re still young.”“Weren’t you calling me a thief earlier?”The hint of normalcy in Dohyeon’s voice was the only comfort Wooyeon had. Rationally, he knew it would have been strange if Dohyeon hadn’t liked anyone before. Even so, knowing that didn’t stop the feelings of jealousy.“Taegyeom Sunbae is just… it’s like self-loathing, I guess. The Sunbae probably doesn’t think much of it either.”“Taegyeom Sunbae finds you adorable because you’re the youngest.”“Ugh, I hate that. You know I don’t like being called the youngest.”The slightly petulant tone was not the voice of the Dohyeon Wooyeon knew. Dohyeon, being seen as cute by the seniors, was something he’d never imagined. Whenever he glimpsed sides of Dohyeon he didn’t know, it only made him feel a sense of distance.“Noona.”A wave of sadness washed over him. Even though he knew he didn’t need to feel this way, his heart insisted otherwise.But just as Wooyeon was about to sink deeper, Dohyeon’s voice pulled him back.“I’m not in this for a casual fling.”His tone was dead serious. The soft, earnest voice firmly held his wavering emotions in place. The gloomy feeling that had been swelling up disappeared before it could overflow.“I don’t know why Noona is concerned about this… but there’s only one person who doubts my feelings, and that’s Wooyeon.”It seemed Dohyeon was aware that Wooyeon had trouble trusting his feelings. Knowing how perceptive he was, it would have been stranger if he hadn’t noticed. Wooyeon felt both apologetic and relieved.“I really like him.”“…”“It’s hard to believe I could like someone this much.”A lump formed in Wooyeon’s throat. His heart felt tight, as if someone had a grip on it. Hearing someone you like say they like you back felt nothing short of a miracle.“It wasn’t that I was worried you still had lingering feelings.”Minjung began slowly, as if to apologize, but the words she added were rather blunt.“You’re not really the devoted type.”It was a harsh assessment. Even though Dohyeon muttered, “That’s harsh,” he didn’t refute it.“I was just thinking, if you kept running into him, Wooyeon might find out and get hurt. He seems kind of fragile.”“You’ve been observing closely. Even noticing he’s fragile.”Minjung chuckled lightly at his sarcastic reply. “I’m not going to steal him.” Right after she said that, Dohyeon spoke slowly.“I won’t let him get hurt.”It sounded like a promise to himself. With a determined tone, Dohyeon declared he would make sure it would never happen.“I’m not going to mess things up like those Sunbaes did. I won’t let Wooyeon make any mistakes either.”“Mess things up, huh…”Minjung let out a dry laugh. She threatened to tell Yunwoo about it, but Dohyeon didn’t seem to care.With a gentle smile, Dohyeon spoke kindly.“My Wooyeon has grown up so well, I can’t let him fumble through things.”