* * *
“Hahaha.”
Yeonseok’s hearty laugh rang through the quiet café.
Annoyed by the stares they were getting, Siyoung shot him a look.
“Keep it down.”
“But it’s hilarious! I was wondering why things had been quiet lately — turns out the target had changed.”
Yeonseok pretended to wipe away tears.
Since Gunjoon, who used to pester him endlessly, was now out of the picture, Siyoung thought maybe he’d finally come to his senses.
But no, the target had simply shifted — and of all people, to Hyun.
“Wait, but Hyun actually went along with it? He should be glad if he doesn’t get reported.”
“I didn’t ask him. But no matter how weird that guy is, he wouldn’t act friendly with someone he’s never even talked to.”
Siyoung was curious too but not enough to reach out.
He figured he’d just ask when he saw Hyun next.
“Right?”
“Of course. Knowing Hyun, even answering a few questions might’ve been enough for that guy to get the wrong idea. He’s colder than I am, so I’m sure he handled it.”
Yeonseok’s grin widened as he anticipated hearing the full story soon.
The truth came out the next day, during a shared elective class.
“Apparently there’s a rumor going around.”
“…”
Hyun’s expression alone made it clear how absurd the rumor was.
Siyoung had expected this, but it was still reassuring to confirm.
‘That guy really seems… off.’
“Did you even talk to him?”
“…”
“You hate those types. Why’d you humor him?”
“I was curious.”
After a long silence, Hyun finally spoke.
Curious?
As if it were something you had to try to understand.
Siyoung couldn’t wrap his head around it.
“You said it yourself. Liking someone makes you curious. I really wondered why he acts that way.”
“That’s ridiculous—”
“Let me finish. I never entertained such a delusion.”
Hyun’s firm tone left no room for misunderstanding.
“Oh.”
At the same time, a sharp burst of pheromones filled the air.
Startled, Siyoung tensed, and Yeonseok clapped Hyun on the shoulder.
“Come on, work on that pheromone control. You’re not a teenager anymore.”
“It’s not like I can help it.”
“He does this when he’s annoyed. You good?”
Hyun’s pheromones quickly settled. Siyoung, surprised but steadying himself, nodded.
“I’m fine.”
It was such a brief release that he didn’t even catch the scent.
But if this was just a leak, he didn’t want to imagine what full pheromone exposure from a dominant would feel like.
Once his breathing calmed, the conversation resumed.
“I only answered him a few times, and he let his imagination run wild. I blocked him days ago.”
“Blocking him seems a bit extreme.”
“It wouldn’t have ended otherwise.”
Hyun shook his head in disbelief, clicking his tongue at how annoying it was.
Yeonseok sighed, disappointed by the anticlimactic end.
“Anyway, that’s not happening to me anymore. I’m dating Lee Yena now.”
Yeonseok held up his phone, the wallpaper showing a photo of him with Yena.
“Guess it finally happened. You did say you liked her.”
“Since yesterday. You’re the first to know.”
“Who asked who out?”
“I did. She seemed worth it.”
Siyoung knew Yeonseok liked Yena because she was a good match for him — someone who wouldn’t embarrass him, with the right looks and status.
Knowing that didn’t make him any less envious.
‘In the end, Lee Yena was someone worthy of being Joo Yeonseok’s partner… and I’m not.’
Even though he knew they’d never have this friendship if they hadn’t started as friends, he couldn’t help feeling odd.
But all he could do was congratulate him.
“Yeah, you’ve had a long enough break from dating.”
“Don’t exaggerate. I’ve gone this long before.”
Yeonseok grumbled about not being that obsessed with dating.
Just then, Jaeyoon, who had a late class, joined them.
“What’s up? What are we talking about?”
“Oh, I’m dating Lee Yena now.”
“Knew that was coming.”
“Hey, did you hear that rumor? People are saying he and Kang Gunjoon are dating.”
“What?!”
Jaeyoon’s eyes widened in shock. It was a rumor no one could take lightly, but it felt like there was another reason behind his reaction.
“…Kang Gunjoon and Hyun?”
“Yeah. Isn’t it hilarious? It’s like his life’s mission is to start dating rumors with every well-known kid at school.”
“But still…”
“You had something going on with him, didn’t you?”
Siyoung, sensing something from Jaeyoon’s confused expression, pressed him further.
Jaeyoon hesitated, frozen by the question, before finally answering.
“…He kept messaging me too… I thought he was interested in me.”
“Really?”
“He doesn’t actually like anyone. He just wants to seem important and act like he’s popular. So, were you okay with it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could I possibly… after those kinds of rumors with him?”
Jaeyoon frowned, as if even joking about it was off-limits.
He wasn’t the type to completely ignore someone, so he responded every day or two.
Yet, deep down, he knew it was a mistake.
“So, what did you end up doing?”
“Blocked him.”
“Ah… Yeah, that sounds like you.”
‘Should I just block him too?’
Siyoung seriously contemplated while fiddling with his phone.
The rumor was corrected faster than it had spread.
At first, people thought Gunjoon might have misunderstood because of Yeonseok’s flashy dating history.
But the second time a rumor started, even Gunjoon’s friends found it strange.
“Why can’t he just live his own life? Why’s he so obsessed with top-tier kids?”
“Yeah, it’s weird, right? I mean, I thought he was a little off before, but I didn’t think he was a bad guy… It’s creepy just hanging out with him now.”
“Can’t he just be himself? Sure, those kids have impressive backgrounds, but… it’s not worth trying so hard to get close to them.”
“Maybe hanging out with them makes him feel important…”
Gradually, even his friends avoided him.
It didn’t take long for everything Gunjoon said to be dismissed as lies.
“I heard Kang Gunjoon came looking for you. That must’ve been terrifying.”
“No kidding. The way he clings to them, acting like that makes him someone important—it’s unsettling.”
Among those gossiping were people who weren’t even close to Jaeyoon and who acted just as annoyingly as Gunjoon.
“Ugh, it’s creepy.”
“Anyway, watch out. Who knows what weird thing he’ll try next.”
These people, who didn’t even know Siyoung well, finally left after talking his ear off.
‘It’s a dorm. There’s no escape.’
Since living in the dorms this semester, Siyoung had to tolerate a certain level of social interaction.
Luckily, his roommate was quiet and knew how to respect boundaries, so at least the room was a refuge.
“You must be exhausted.”
“Yeah… Why is everyone so obsessed with this stuff?”
“Honestly, it feels like a different world to me. I don’t care about it at all.”
Hyo-seong said while unpacking on his desk. In dorm assignments, people were usually paired by the same gender and trait type.
But if an omega could prove their pheromones were faint enough to barely have heat cycles, they could room with betas.
“Maybe it’s because I’m a beta, but all this stuff feels so distant. Alpha, omega, dominant, recessive—I can barely tell the difference.”
“If there were more people like you, things would be easier. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
“That’s why I just stick with other betas. It’s simpler.”
“I never thought things would get this complicated.”
Siyoung flopped onto his bed.
He’d never thought much about his own traits, but lately, with everything happening, his thoughts had grown heavier.
‘Well, I guess this is something you only experience during college.’
Knock knock.
Just as he tried to brush it off, a knock jolted Siyoung upright.
When he opened the door, an unfamiliar senior stood there, looking uneasy.
“Someone’s here to see you. You should probably come out.”
“See me?”
“Yeah. Dorm curfew’s in an hour, so sort it out before then.”
Without much explanation, Siyoung left the room and headed to the first floor.
Waiting there was a face he hadn’t expected.
* * *
