* * *
His voice, heard through the receiver, sounded downcast.
“How about this weekend? Are you free on Saturday? My younger relative from the countryside wants me to show him Seoul. But he’s an Alpha, and I feel uncomfortable being alone with him.”
“Then just tell him to come on a different day.”
“I know, but… I’m not good at saying no.”
“…”
“Of course, since he’s my cousin, nothing much will happen. But there’s no harm in being careful, right? And you’re the only friend I know…”
Hesitation was laced in his fading breath over the line.
He seemed to think that Siho was avoiding him because of the time Kim Seunghyun, drunk on pheromones, almost sexually assaulted him.
‘But if I meet him just like that, those three won’t leave me alone…’
Thinking of Kim Seunghyun, who was vulnerable to pheromones, made it hard for Siho to easily refuse his request.
“Okay. I’ll meet you then.”
“Thank you. Is there anywhere you want to go?”
“You should ask your relative, not me.”
“That’s true. Hey, do you want to sleep over at my place that day?”
“That would be a little difficult.”
Just going out with Kim Seunghyun was an adventure for him.
What if he spent the night out too?
The thought alone was horrifying.
“Why? Because of your lovers?”
“…My lovers?”
“I’m quick-witted. I guessed it the moment I smelled the pheromones on your body. Can’t I join you guys too, while we’re at it?”
“What?”
“I’m kidding. Half-kidding.”
It was his usual tone, yet it was filled with a subtly alien feeling.
After getting a taste of the pheromones’ scent, he seemed to be constantly eyeing Siho.
“Think about it. What difference does one more person make when there are already three? Are you perhaps worried that I’ll covet your lovers?”
“No, you can covet them.”
“What a brutal joke. Is there anyone in the department who doesn’t know how much you liked those three? What if I really take one of them away?”
His conscience pricked him at those words.
Kim Seunghyun replied with a voice layered with kindness.
“But I have no intention of doing that, okay? I need someone who will be by my side when I’m struggling and consistently take my side. Someone who will stay close so I won’t feel lonely.”
His calm tone sounded exactly like words directed at Siho.
Kim Seunghyun’s words, though probably spoken without much thought, felt like a trap.
“What, why aren’t you saying anything? You aren’t misunderstanding that I like you, are you?”
“I was listening.”
He only said that one sentence, but he heard a snickering sound through the receiver.
“I like that. Just silently listening, no matter what nonsense I utter.”
“I’m just doing it because I have nothing to say…”
“I still like it. You didn’t hang up the phone.”
“…”
“You’re the first person I’ve ever talked to this long on the phone, you know? I like that the way home isn’t boring. Should we talk often?”
“Sure.”
His heart ached for Kim Seunghyun, who must have had no friends.
He couldn’t ignore him as a friend, thinking of how, due to the original setting, he always ate alone and spent all his time alone.
Siho, too, was alone in this transmigrated world, just like him.
Listening to his words, Siho leaned his head against the train seat.
It was only possible because he was alone in the train compartment he was riding; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to talk for so long.
“—The next stop is Busan Station. Busan Station.”
Hearing the announcement, he hung up the phone, got up from his seat, and exited the train.
The air was too quiet, even though it was approaching lunchtime, and it felt awkward.
“Why does it feel so empty…”
It was only right for him to feel strange when the possessive capturers weren’t there every hour.
Gently rubbing his neck, he left the station and got into a taxi.
He had impulsively come because he wanted to see the sea, but it felt good to be alone after a long time.
He filled his empty stomach at a famous market and browsed items at a cluster of shops.
After wandering around without much thought, he finally headed to the beach.
The seawater glittered like the Milky Way had been poured onto it by the orange sunset.
How long had it been since he had felt such peace?
He let out a slightly dry laugh, feeling his breath loosen.
“This is nice.”
He loved having this carefree leisure time.
He thought about walking on the sand but instinctively shook his head, remembering the sneakers he was wearing.
He expected them to notice his absence by now and call, but it was surprisingly quiet and peaceful.
If he ran away secretly like this, perhaps he could live a quiet life without getting entangled with anyone.
“Should I really run away while I have the chance…”
He fleetingly thought about it, then shook his head.
Running away should be saved and used properly as a last resort.
Frowning slightly, he slowly smoothed his hair, which was ruffled by the early summer breeze.
The gradually deepening sunset seemed to be telling him it was time to go back.
His feet wouldn’t move, so he looked around and spotted a nearby café.
The sunset was so beautiful that he intended to only have a drink and leave.
The prices were high because of the good view, but he ordered a glass of fresh fruit juice, took a buzzer, and went up to the second floor.
“Oh, the view is great.”
The open space was dazzlingly bright.
He stretched his arms out like he was waking up, then looked around to find an empty seat.
Tiny, adorable fabric chairs, fit for children, were grouped together.
The tables were gold, which matched well with the modern chairs.
The area decorated with densely strung greenery seemed to be a photo zone and was full of couples.
Lacking the confidence to go closer, he took out his phone from afar and captured the sea with his camera.
“Even if I have terrible photo skills, a picture here would be a lifetime shot.”
He let out a small gasp of admiration and found an empty seat.
It was a corner where the sea wasn’t clearly visible, but it wasn’t bad.
He sat alone, resting his chin on his hand, and realized a long time had passed since he ordered his drink.
“I didn’t think there were that many people…”
He pouted slightly and was about to get up to change his order to takeout when he heard whispering around him.
The way people’s eyes were fixed on the entrance by the stairs suggested someone was coming up.
“Did a celebrity show up…”
He muttered with an emotionless face, but as the atmosphere grew louder, he peeked his head out to look at the entrance.
It was a corner with his back to the stairs, so he couldn’t see well, but his face turned utterly white as the figures came into view.
“Hi, lover.”
Joohwan smiled brightly at him, holding a tray with drinks.
A green shirt covered in floral patterns and beige cotton pants.
He was wearing a straw hat that looked like something out of a comic book.
The multiple earrings on his ears and the thick, chunky bead bracelet on his hand made him look flashy, like someone heading overseas.
His brazen face and bold way of speaking disoriented Siho. He stammered with a blank expression.
“…How?”
“You mean, ‘How did we know’?”
“Moon Dowon told us.”
As soon as Siho uttered one word, Moon Dowon, who appeared right after, answered, and Joohwan finished the sentence.
Moon Dowon’s thick neck, masculine looks, and hair neatly pointed up with pomade were truly overwhelming.
He seemed to have tried to dress casually, but his image still felt like a scary gang member.
His broad shoulders and the shirt he was wearing looked so tight it seemed ready to rip.
“Did you want to see the sea?”
Kang Taeyun, who squeezed between the two, gently curved his eyes with a kind impression.
His neatly dressed attire, like someone on a date, was refreshing and suited the summer.
“When we heard you left alone, we thought you ran away.”
“…”
“Please tell us next time. What if I misunderstand?”
At Kang Taeyun’s words, Joohwan chimed in and strode over, putting the tray he was holding down on the table.
He naturally flopped into the opposite chair like a member of the party and draped his arm over the headrest.
The small chair seemed uncomfortable, and as he crossed his long legs, the gap between his firm thighs, where his pants rode up, became prominent.
Joohwan clicked his tongue and said, “Huh,” as Siho’s gaze naturally drifted downwards.
“You run away here and then you’re still so lustful?”
“…I am not.”
“Yes, you are. Your gaze was fixed downward.”
Despite his teasing look, his appearance, partially silhouetted against the sunset, looked as cool as a photoshoot.
“Kang Taeyun was going to hire people to track you, but I stopped him. Good job, right?”
He revealed a chilling smile, implying that Siho would have been dragged away by those people if it weren’t for him.
So, it wasn’t that no one was following him.
It seemed they were.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have known he was staying at this café.
As if sensing Siho’s thoughts, Joohwan held out his hand, asking for his phone.
“Give me your phone for a second.”
* * *
