LM 12

“It’s raining heavily. I’m waiting for it to let up before leaving.”

The umbrella that would look like a parasol if Siyul held it seemed a normal size for the man. Whether it was the lingering effects of alcohol or the increased familiarity from the drinking party, dealing with Woo Hyunse felt easier than before. Siyul wiggled his feet as he spoke.

“Weren’t you leaving with the manager?”

“I sent Manager Kang home first.”

Siyul thought he would just go on his way, but Woo Hyunse climbed the steps and entered the convenience store. Curious about what he might buy, Siyul craned his neck to peek. The part-timer took out cigarettes, and after paying, Woo Hyunse came back out. Siyul quickly lowered his gaze to his phone, pretending he hadn’t been looking.

Without asking permission, Woo Hyunse sat across from Siyul. Though Siyul tried to focus on his game, all his attention was on the person sitting across the table, making it difficult to concentrate. In the blink of an eye, he lost a precious life in the game.

About to try again, Siyul changed his mind, closed the game, and put his phone on the table. Even if he tried again, he knew he’d just die anyway.

Next to Siyul’s hand, Woo Hyunse placed a hangover cure drink with a thud. Siyul looked up, following the hand that had placed the drink.

“Didn’t you drink a lot?”

“I’m fine…”

“Drink it anyway.”

Though he felt tipsy, it wasn’t enough to make him suffer tomorrow morning. But he couldn’t refuse that single command to drink. Siyul bowed his head in thanks and took a sip. The tart lemon flavor and sharp carbonation made his nose wrinkle involuntarily.

“Is the job manageable?”

“Yes.”

“No one giving you a hard time?”

“Everyone’s been kind.”

“Of course they should be, since you’re someone’s parachute hire.”

Woo Hyunse took out a cigarette but hesitated. He looked at Siyul, asking with his eyes. Siyul shook his head and pointed to a sticker on the convenience store’s glass door. It read “No Smoking” in large letters. Woo Hyunse saw the sticker, clicked his tongue, and put the cigarette pack back in his pocket.

“Do you smoke?”

“No.”

When he was younger, some older boys he knew had offered him cigarettes to try, but after nearly choking and almost throwing up, he never touched them again. He couldn’t afford to buy cigarettes anyway. With utilities and groceries already stretching his budget, there was no room for luxuries. Even when his finances improved, he never felt inclined to smoke, perhaps due to the unpleasant memory.

“That’s unexpected, for a drug dealer.”

Siyul looked at Woo Hyunse with wide eyes. Drugs? Although he had delivered drugs, he never used them himself. Above all, wasn’t it said that taking them would turn you into an omega? Kwon Yuwon often cursed about the omega trait. Siyul didn’t even have curiosity about it.

“I don’t do drugs.”

“That can’t be true.”

“Really. I never touched them because they say you become an omega if you take them. Living as an omega is so hard…”

“Living as an omega is hard, you say?”

“Yes. Alphas and betas are okay, but omegas have it rough. My friend said so.”

The man sipped his own drink and just hummed in response. Siyul moistened his throat too. Strangely, his throat felt dry despite the heavy rain and humid air.

“Are you a beta, Director?”

“Alpha.”

“Then you probably don’t know.”

“Know what?”

“What it’s like living as an Omega. It’s really tough for them. Even with suppressants, they struggle a lot during heat. Don’t you find it difficult during heat, Director?”

“For Alphas, it’s called rut, not heat. And it’s not that hard. If anything, it’s enjoyable. Everyone gets excited and clings to you.”

Siyul finished his drink and set it down. The scene he had witnessed at the bar flashed through his mind. As drinks were passed around and seats changed, Manager Kang had taken the opportunity to sit close to Woo Hyunse. Subtly stroking his thigh or leaning her head on his shoulder – it seemed more than just drunken behavior.

Tracing the rim of the can with his finger, Siyul stole glances at Woo Hyunse. His appearance was always breathtaking. Even with a slight curve in the middle of his nose bridge, it suited him as if deliberately designed that way. The angular jawline, firm cheeks, lips, long eyes, and forehead – his face alone drew attention, and on top of that, he was tall with a sturdy build.

While strongly suspecting some Samoan or Viking ancestry in his lineage, there was no doubt that Woo Hyunse would have been an object of envy even if he weren’t an alpha, but a beta or even an omega.

“How tall are you, Director?”

“I haven’t measured since passing 190 cm.”

“Hic!” Siyul raised his eyebrows high. He knew the man was tall, but not to that extent. No wonder his shadow seemed unusually long.

“And you?”

“178 cm.”

To be precise, it was 177.6 cm. That’s what he measured at his physical, so he might have grown a bit since then. Not wanting to lose, he rounded up. He wanted to lie and say 180 cm, but knowing he’d be caught immediately, he added just a touch of pride to the truth.

“You’re short.”

Woo Hyunse’s lips curved into a smile. Seeing it as mockery, Siyul bristled and straightened his back.

“You’re just too tall. I’m not short. I’m above average.”

“So you wear a size M?”

“I wear L. Look.”

Siyul flipped his hoodie inside out, trying to show the tag. He had no reservations since the clothes were bought a size larger. As he pulled at his clothes, his fair nape was fully exposed under the convenience store light. Like the small mole under his right eye, there was another one between his neck and shoulder, as if a drop of ink had splattered there.

Woo Hyunse’s gaze fixed on that spot. His hand holding the can twitched as if about to rise. Siyul leaned his shoulder towards Woo Hyunse, urging him to look. The loose-fitting clothes revealed much of his skin. Even his straight collarbone was barely visible.

“…”

A motorcycle passed by the alley, honking its horn. Only then did Woo Hyunse tear his eyes away from Siyul’s exposed skin. He neatly fixed the flipped hoodie. Then, instead of the mole, he grabbed Siyul’s forearm firmly. Even when Siyul flinched, he didn’t let go, kneading it as if measuring its circumference.

“How can a man be this skinny? What use are you? Eat more. Exercise more too.”

“Hey, want to see my bicep?”

Siyul boldly rolled up his sleeve and bent his arm into an L-shape. Woo Hyunse snorted at the round, protruding muscle. Proudly showing off what he considered muscle, Siyul was every bit the kid who hated to lose.

Siyul’s phone on the table lit up. He quickly answered. As soon as he said “Hello,” the question “Where are you?” shot through. It was Kwon Yuwon.

“I’m near the store. I’ll walk when the rain stops.”

“Why don’t you take a taxi?”

“I need to save money. I’ll be home soon.”

“… Should I come pick you up?”

“No. It’s cold at night. You might catch a cold, so just stay home. Did you eat dinner? Should I buy something?”

“I ate. Just come quickly.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Siyul looked out past the railing. The weather forecast seemed accurate; the rain had lessened considerably. It seemed okay to walk with just the hood on now.

“—Lover?”

Siyul startled as he was about to stand up and looked at Woo Hyunse. He was hearing a lot of surprising things today. “Oh no, no,” he shook his head.

“Yuwon is my friend.”

“Seemed too affectionate for just friends. Do people usually talk like that?”

For Woo Hyunse, whose friends mostly insulted and mocked each other sincerely, it was hard to understand. Wasn’t that the kind of embarrassingly sweet talk that only lovers exchange? On the other hand, Kwon Yuwon was the only person Siyul could call a friend. With no other point of comparison, Siyul nodded vigorously this time.

“Yes.”

“Or do you have romantic feelings for that friend? It’s not a crime for a beta to like an omega.”

“What? No, no. What are you thinking? We’re absolutely not like that. How can you think such a scary thought? Yuwon and I came from the same orphanage. We’re like siblings.”

Siyul revealed openly. Despite disclosing that he was an orphan and emphasizing the strong friendship between him and Kwon Yuwon that was as good as blood brothers, Woo Hyunse just hummed and stared at Siyul. He seemed unconvinced. For a moment, Siyul interpreted that look differently.

“Even if you look at me like that, I can’t introduce you to my friend. He hates alphas.”

Perhaps it overlapped with the incident where the pig had told Yuwon to bring Siyul, suddenly arousing suspicion. Moreover, Woo Hyunse was an alpha and Yuwon was an omega. What if sparks flew when they met?

No matter how rich and handsome Woo Hyunse was, Siyul couldn’t show his precious friend to someone who said ruts were “enjoyable” and that “everyone gets excited and clings to you” – such a promiscuous person. As he raised all his defenses, Woo Hyunse let out a laugh as if he’d seen the funniest thing.

“You must hear often that you’re oblivious, right?”

“I’m actually quite perceptive…”

Siyul pouted his lips, saying something no one would believe. Woo Hyunse chuckled, his shoulders shaking lightly.