In my surprise, I couldn’t hide my emotions, and my eyes widened.
While I blinked, still unable to clear my dazed expression, Kim Seunghyun answered clearly.
“Because I’m furious. I need to meet them in person and talk.”
Kim Seunghyun spoke firmly, saying this was a matter that had to be coordinated between them.
As it happened, the other three also wanted to meet Kim Seunghyun, so it seemed the meeting between the four of them would take place without any issues.
But why did I feel so uneasy?
It felt as if a massive storm was about to blow in.
I tried my best to hide that feeling and asked,
“How about this weekend?”
“Good. One o’clock. We should eat before we meet. Otherwise, we’ll get indigestion.”
Kim Seunghyun answered leisurely and held my hands tightly while facing me.
The hand applying slight pressure felt as heavy as a lead weight.
“That day, don’t say anything and just stay by my side. I’ll be upset if you take their side just because they’re your lovers.”
“That won’t happen.”
“I’m sure. You’re kind to me. But still, there are three of them and only one of me, right? It’s a disadvantaged meeting for anyone to see, so how about you be on my side? No. Just be on my side. No matter what I say, just say everything I say is right. Okay?”
I wanted to do that for him, but I didn’t plan to be at that place that day.
When I simply nodded at his whining tone, Kim Seunghyun’s face brightened.
“You promised? You better not betray me.”
“……I get it. It looks like you’re done eating, so can I go now?”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. Moon Dowon is waiting outside.”
“Tell him to wait more. Or tell him to go back first. You came to see me. Do you really have to go this fast? Stay a little longer.”
He wasn’t a child, yet Kim Seunghyun began to beg while still holding my hand.
I made a troubled expression at how he was pestering me in a way I couldn’t handle.
Then, Kim Seunghyun blinked his eyes piteously, like Puss in Boots.
“I’m sorry. But someone is waiting outside.”
“Fine. But you. Why aren’t you asking? I’m saying I’m meeting your lovers, aren’t you curious about what I’ll say?”
“I am curious.”
“Really? Then ask me. Ask me why I want to meet them.”
“……Why do you want to meet them?”
“It’s a secret.”
Kim Seunghyun answered simply and wore a soft smile.
A sense of futility washed over me as I watched him smile so calmly, but I didn’t want to pry any further.
At this final chance to change fate, the four of them were officially meeting.
Though it was late, I didn’t want to ruin the plan at this opportunity to turn everything back.
When I let go of his hand to slowly get up, Kim Seunghyun erased the smile from his lips and reached out.
It was near my collarbone where the marking was.
“I want to do this too.”
“Huh?”
“I’m jealous. Can’t you do it on my neck?”
“……On your neck? Me?”
“Yeah. Leave the same mark. On this side, along with you.”
Kim Seunghyun had an expectant expression, looking bright as if he would definitely do it himself.
Knowing full well what a marking meant to Alphas and Omegas, I firmly refused and stood up.
“No.”
“Why? You always did what I wanted, so why not now?”
“This isn’t a game. You want me to mark you?”
“Yes. Do it.”
Kim Seunghyun stood up as well and pulled his clothes down.
His pale skin was revealed, showing his collarbone.
“Why are you suddenly being like this? I’m not even an Alpha.”
“Since you’re not an Alpha, do it. It doesn’t matter. Like you said, you’re not an Alpha.”
“Yes, like you said, I’m not an Alpha. Still, save that for when you have someone precious to you, and ask them then.”
“But that precious person is you. You know how much the meaning of a friend matters to me.”
A sigh escaped my lips at how he wouldn’t back down until the end.
I knew well enough how much a friend meant to Kim Seunghyun, but my head throbbed at how he was crossing the line.
I couldn’t tell if he was jealous of me being with Alphas or if he was whining because he truly wanted to do it out of pure friendship.
I slowly rubbed the small wrinkle forming on my forehead and answered in an exhausted voice.
“Seunghyun, no means no. There are lines even between friends.”
“You’re too much. Is it so bad even though you just have to bite?”
“I’m leaving now. Seeing you now, it looks like you’ve regained some energy.”
I didn’t want to bicker with Kim Seunghyun over this issue anymore.
When I drew a sharp line, Kim Seunghyun soon looked dejected and slumped his shoulders.
“Fine. Go then.”
“……I’m sorry.”
My heart weakened at his pathetic appearance, but I forced myself to turn away.
I felt that if I stayed by Kim Seunghyun’s side out of pity, the same thing would repeat.
Ignoring him like that, I left the studio and climbed the stairs, finding Moon Dowon leaning against the wall outside.
“You took a long time. It made me contemplate dozens of times whether I should go in or not.”
“You’re the one who said you’d wait.”
“I know. That’s why I stayed here quietly. Since you’re out, let’s eat before we go home.”
“Now?”
I took out my phone to check the time, and it was only four o’clock.
It was too early, and many places were on break and wouldn’t reopen until five for dinner service.
“It seems too early.”
“Eat even if it’s early. You said we’d eat when we got back from Busan.”
Moon Dowon approached me, telling me to keep that promise.
He suddenly bowed his head and put his face to my neck, lightly pressing his lips against the spot they touched.
Startled, I put my hand over the spot his lips had touched.
“What was that, all of a sudden?”
“Because a faint smell was lingering on you.”
“…….”
“It’s shitty. The smell.”
It seemed the pheromones of Kim Seunghyun, who had taken medicine because his heat was near, felt sensitive to Moon Dowon.
Moon Dowon frowned and brushed his hair back.
Then he suddenly pulled me into a tight hug.
“Moon Dowon?”
“Just stay still for a moment.”
I couldn’t smell pheromones, but it seemed he was trying to hide the pheromones lingering from Kim Seunghyun with his own.
However, because he failed to control his strength, I felt like I was going to suffocate against Moon Dowon’s muscles.
When I lightly patted his back, only then did Moon Dowon let me out of his embrace.
“If it’s early, let’s walk in a nearby park or something.”
It seemed Moon Dowon wanted to spend time alone together rather than just wanting to eat.
Like he wanted to go on what people call a date.
“Okay.”
There wasn’t much time left for us to be together, and I felt more comfortable being outside than being alone in the house.
I thought we could just walk lightly and part after eating.
“Is your body okay?”
“Yeah. I guess I’m sturdier than I thought. I feel fine after taking the medicine.”
“It must be your constitution.”
Moon Dowon laughed softly and led the way toward the park.
Due to his naturally blunt personality, the flow of conversation didn’t continue.
I looked at Moon Dowon because of the glancing gazes from around us, but he seemed fine as if he were used to it.
‘He’s such a fine man.’
It felt strange that he liked me, giving me a lump in my throat for no reason.
Did he feel my gaze?
Moon Dowon stopped walking and turned his head.
“Is something uncomfortable?”
“No. Why?”
“Because it looks like you’re conscious of your surroundings. Should we go somewhere without people?”
“I’m really fine. Actually, I like being where people are more.”
It was a safe place, and rather than moving elsewhere, I liked walking in silence like this.
Since I had always been trapped inside the house receiving the attention of the three, I liked the wide-open space.
Walking in search of a place with cool shade, I gave a long stretch.
“It really is good. I love the color green. I feel like I get energy from it. What about you, Dowon?”
“Not particularly. Does that mean you like summer?”
“Yeah. I like spring and I like summer. I just hate autumn and winter. I get cold easily, so I really dislike it when it’s chilly or cold.”
I didn’t know about this body, but before the possession, I felt the cold so much that I carried heat packs even in the spring.
My hands and feet got cold easily, and poor blood circulation was a given.
As I smiled while recalling the past, Moon Dowon cupped my face.
“You like spring, and you like summer. You like green too.”
“…….”
“Keep telling me. The things you like.”
Moon Dowon’s chestnut-brown eyes looked pale in the sunlight.
When I just blinked at his staring gaze, Moon Dowon softly brushed my cheek.
“It’s good to get to know them one by one. So tell me every time we meet. Tell me about yourself.”
His serious gaze was overwhelming, but I could only blink rapidly because of how he held my face.
It was a sign of affirmation.
As if satisfied with the answer, Moon Dowon overlapped his lips with mine just like that.
As if the gazes of people passing by were of no concern, he pressed down and then pulled away.
“This is nice. Giving you a kiss like this.”
Moon Dowon lowered the hand that had cupped my face while maintaining a warm gaze.
His lips, which were always tightly closed, rose softly as he politely held out his hand.
“I think we can hold hands next.”
