* * *
From down the hallway, Kang Dohee watched them like a bear guarding a cave.
He walked over slowly, but neither Na Taejoon nor Ji Sunyu seemed willing to give up their spots.
“Taejoon, why are you acting like this between friends? We should all get along.”
Na Taejoon pouted at the gentle scolding.
He wanted to argue that the class outcast couldn’t possibly be considered their friend but held back.
Yeo Woohee was far too kind-hearted and meddlesome for his own good.
That was part of why Taejoon liked him so much.
At the far end of the hallway, Kang Dohee, who stood like a bear guarding the entrance of a cave, raised an eyebrow as he observed the scene.
Slowly, Dohee approached, looking for a way to join in, but Taejoon and Ji Sunyu showed no intention of making room for him.
“Sorry, Dohee. Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just finished practice. But, Taejoon, didn’t you say you were busy today?”
In response, Taejoon tightened his grip on Yeo Woohee’s arm.
“I can at least walk him to the school gate.”
His tone practically dripped with disdain, as if mocking Dohee in his head.
Taejoon shot Dohee a glare before softening his expression when looking at Yeo Woohee.
“It’s such a shame we can’t hang out today.”
“You can just clean up at home and hang out with us all later.”
“Still, it annoys me to think about you spending time alone with Dohee. Don’t you dare get closer to him than me, got it?”
“Haha, alright.”
Yeo Woohee gave Taejoon a subtle side-eye.
He must’ve sensed something off, perhaps even guessed about the money Woohee had given him.
But Woohee didn’t bother saying something like, ‘I gave you 30 million won, so you’re my toy now.’
Ji Sunyu, unwilling to be left out, timidly asked Yeo Woohee if he could join them later.
Before Woohee could answer, Taejoon ripped off the name tag from Ji Sunyu’s chest and threw it away.
“Who the hell do you think you are, clinging and acting like this?”
Ji Sunyu burst into tears and ran to retrieve his name tag.
Yeo Woohee gently unlinked Taejoon’s arm from his own.
Taejoon, who should be pestering Woohee instead, directed his aggression toward Sunyu.
Typical behavior from the story’s original lunatic.
If someone had to suffer from Taejoon’s antics, it should’ve been Woohee.
Playing the good Samaritan to support the outcast was all part of his plan for the perfect college life.
“I’m really disappointed in you. Don’t talk to me anymore.”
“…What? You’re breaking off our friendship because of some outcast loser?”
Taejoon kicked at the ground in frustration, venting his anger.
Kang Dohee’s face hardened as he took Yeo Woohee’s bag and slung it over his shoulder.
“Hey, don’t cling to Yeo Woohee. He’s not someone you can mess with. If you want to hook up with a successful Alpha and secure your future, look elsewhere. Let’s go, Woohee.”
Dohee grabbed Yeo Woohee’s wrist and pulled him away.
Woohee hesitated, realizing that completely cutting ties with Taejoon might lead to relentless torment later.
He stopped and turned around.
Dohee, thinking Woohee was worried about Taejoon, reassured him, “Don’t waste your time on someone like that. He’ll never change.”
“But Taejoon isn’t a bad person. He just slipped up in the heat of the moment.”
“You’re impossible. How are you still the same as when we were kids? You’re not a person; you’re an angel.”
Feigning support for Taejoon, Woohee pretended to step into the fray, planning to mediate.
As he approached, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Taejoon, seeing Woohee approach, froze for a moment. His sharp gaze softened.
“Sorry, Hee. I’ll be nicer to Ji Sunyu. Let’s stay friends, okay? Please?”
“Okay, Taejoon. Calm down now.”
Hee sighed inwardly.
‘How could someone this trashy be so pathetically sweet at the same time?’
Ji Sunyu returned, having retrieved his name tag.
Without missing a beat, he told Taejoon, “You didn’t know? Woohee likes me.”
What nonsense.
The only type Woohee liked was a terrifying, dominant Alpha with a certain… size.
Realizing his preferences only made his headache worse as people constantly clung to him.
He staggered, thinking how to endure this ordeal, resting his forehead in his hand.
As Yeo Woohee faltered, three people rushed to support him.
“Woohee!”
“Yeo Woohee!”
“Woo-Woohee!”
Kang Dohee blocked the two Omegas with his broad shoulders and helped Woohee stay upright.
Resting briefly against Dohee’s chest, Woohee met his concerned gaze.
“Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?”
“No, I’ve just been up late studying for exams.”
Dohee’s large hand gently cupped Woohee’s cheek.
‘If he slapped me with that hand, I’d probably see stars and bleed.’
Dohee had the physical traits Woohee admired, but his overly gentle nature disqualified him as a potential match.
Woohee steadied himself and stood on his own.
Facing Ji Sunyu, he delivered the final blow.
“I don’t like you. I don’t know why you got that idea, but I’m not interested in dating any Omegas here.”
Ji Sunyu, flustered, muttered an apology and bolted.
Dohee seemed pleased with Woohee’s firm rejection, while Taejoon laughed loudly at Sunyu’s retreating figure.
“Who does he think he is? Get lost, you delusional idiot!”
At a pasta restaurant near the school, Woohee and Dohee shared a meal.
The owner complimented them, saying they were the prettiest couple she’d seen since the school was founded and gave them free drinks.
Embarrassed, Dohee stammered, “We’re not a couple!”
“Not a couple? You look perfect together. That pretty student must drive you crazy with jealousy. Treat him well.”
Dohee, seated awkwardly in a chair that seemed too small for his frame, lowered his head, his neck reddening like steam rising.
Amused, Woohee sipped his peach soda and playfully tapped Dohee’s foot under the table.
“What’s wrong, Dohee? Are you embarrassed because people think we’re dating?”
“No… Let’s just eat.”
Hee chuckled at Dohee’s shy reaction. When they finished, Woohee reached for his bag, but Dohee grabbed it first, along with his own.
“Hey, give that back! It’s heavy!”
“You’re right. Why are you even carrying something this heavy?”
“It’s no big deal. Come on, hand it over.”
In front of the pasta shop, Yeo Woohee hopped up and down, trying to take back her bag from Kang Dohee.
He deflected her by casually asking, “So, where should we go next?” and pretended not to notice her protest.
“We need to go buy uniforms.”
“Then let’s stop by the place at the intersection ahead.”
Fearing Yeo Woohee might insist on getting her bag back, Kang Dohee strode ahead with his long legs.
He slowed down to match her pace as she scurried after him.
The cherry blossoms by the school gate scattered pink petals every time the wind blew.
Running his hand through his windswept hair, Kang Dohee glanced around when Yeo Woohee, whom he thought was right behind him, wasn’t there.
He was standing still, staring blankly into space.
“What are you doing? Hurry up.”
Kang Dohee walked up to hi,, his face drawing closer.
Startled, Yeo Woohee instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, only to open them again when nothing happened.
He had simply plucked a flower petal stuck to the tear-shaped mole near his eye.
Embarrassed by his misunderstanding, Yeo Woohee’s cheeks flushed red.
“Um… Woohee, what do you think about an alpha dating another alpha?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Never mind. Let’s just go.”
* * *
