* * *
The moment Joo Minhyuk gave me permission to go out, I practically bolted from the palace.
Forget the convenience store—I dragged Hyunwook straight to the gym where Seojoo was staying.
I had to see his face, even if only for a moment.
If I just watched from afar, it would be okay, right?
I don’t even know how long it’s been.
My heart hammered against my ribs at the thought of seeing him. It felt so heavy on my chest that I’d found him but couldn’t even visit.
I’d only been hearing updates through Hyunwook—that his cold was gone and he was back to exercising regularly.
And yet, he still has no memory.
I am still not a part of his mind.
It seems Seojoo really won’t remember me.
But in a way, isn’t this for the best?
There’s no guarantee that out of all these countless people, we are the only ones who reincarnated.
If so, does everyone hold memories of their past lives?
Probably not.
Hyunwook and I are just strange cases; most people likely don’t remember.
Perhaps not having those memories allows one to live more fully in the present.
If one is so obsessed with old memories and ties that they can’t focus on their current life, then having no memory might actually be a blessing.
Still, I can’t help the lingering longing.
I wish he would remember me for just one single moment.
Even if he forgot again immediately, it would be enough…
If I wait and he never remembers, I can just start over with the current Seojoo.
Even if we aren’t brothers, we could stay together for a lifetime as friends.
If I see him today, I probably won’t be able to come back out until Joo Minhyuk returns from America.
Should I sneak a photo today?
It might look natural if I take one while he’s sparring with Hyunwook.
I entered the gym with Hyunwook and looked around, searching for Seojoo.
He usually stands out anywhere, so he should be easy to find.
Where is he?
“Oh? It’s been a while.”
The voice I missed so dearly suddenly came from behind, making my shoulders flinch.
It… it was Seojoo.
Seojoo was greeting me, saying it had been a while.
I guess he recognized me since I’d dropped by a few times?
I slowly turned around toward the sound of his voice.
There was our Seojoo, carrying two rolled-up mats, one on each shoulder.
My goodness, he’s carrying two of those heavy mats at once.
“Ah, hello. Aren’t those heavy?”
“These? Not at all. It’s fine. Go on in. You came with Hyunwook?”
“I’m here to loosen up a bit. Hyung, want to spar with me?”
“Sure.”
Seojoo looked at Hyunwook and me with a slightly strange expression as I stood there blankly, then he headed inside.
Every time I see him, I feel a strangely cold aura.
It’s a different kind of chill than Joo Minhyuk, who always pretends to be warm while being cold.
His face brightened with a small smile when Hyunwook asked to spar, though.
Well, seeing him like this is better than nothing.
I sat down in the safe spot Hyunwook had prepared and openly watched Seojoo.
Hyunwook has a good build for a Beta, but next to Seojoo, who is an Alpha, he looked a bit small.
Seojoo seems only slightly smaller than Joo Minhyuk—so just how big is Joo Minhyuk?
‘He’s really not human… No wonder I suffer so much every night. Ahem.’
These weren’t thoughts I should be having in front of my brother, so I quickly cleared my head and focused on the two of them.
As expected of a professional, it felt like Hyunwook was going easy on him, but Seojoo’s movements were quite impressive.
As they sparred, the other friends exercising nearby cheered and rooted for them.
It was heart-warming to see Seojoo sparring with Hyunwook, especially since he used to say his wish was to play soccer with him.
I sat there with my mouth hanging open, watching them for a long time.
“…That person fell asleep.”
“What?”
Seojoo, who had lost track of time while exercising with Hyunwook, noticed Haejoo behind them and informed Hyunwook of the situation.
Without anyone noticing, Haejoo had fallen asleep with his head leaning against the wall.
Startled, Hyunwook rushed over to check if he was unwell.
Haejoo has a weak constitution; he starts coughing if even a little wind blows.
The temperature here is kept low for the athletes.
He might have been cold. Hyunwook imagined the face of the Emperor scolding him with a murderous smile.
‘Damn it, no.’
If I take him out and he goes back sick, the Emperor’s “rampage button” will be pushed again.
“Thank goodness. He’s just sleeping.”
Fortunately, Haejoo had simply drifted off while watching them.
He had no fever, and his breathing was steady.
Hyunwook quickly went into the office, brought a blanket, and covered Haejoo.
He decided to let him sleep a bit longer before waking him.
Haejoo had been so excited about seeing Seojoo, yet he fell asleep in an instant.
“You’re quite delicate with your care, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. Well, haha.”
‘Because I don’t want to be executed.’
“Are you two very close? You always bring this friend when you come. But which family is this Omega from?”
Seojoo, staring quietly at Haejoo, wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked cautiously.
There was curiosity in his expression.
Seojoo doesn’t use social media or look at the internet much, so he hadn’t seen Haejoo’s face, which had been circulating online until recently.
So, he didn’t know who Haejoo was yet.
Since Seojoo had no interest in the Imperial Family or the internet, Hyunwook quickly gave him an answer.
“He’s my best friend, but you wouldn’t know the family even if I told you.”
“I wouldn’t know? It’s not like you hang out with just anyone.”
Seojoo tilted his head, thinking of Hyunwook’s background.
In fact, Hyunwook’s family is so well-off that it’s harder for him to meet ordinary people.
The same goes for Seojoo.
Since the level of people they associate with is usually similar, they can usually tell which family someone belongs to just by the name.
But he wouldn’t know?
Just by looking at him, he oozed wealth; he definitely didn’t look ordinary.
Was it a family he shouldn’t mention?
Despite Seojoo’s question, Hyunwook just gave a vague smile.
“He can’t even exercise, so I thought it was strange that he kept following you here just to sit like that.”
“I just brought him because he said he wanted to watch.”
‘He’s here to see you.’
Those words were stuck in Hyunwook’s throat.
‘Haejoo is here to see you, Seojoo.’
But those were words he could never say.
Seojoo was currently asking about Haejoo with a strangely sharp edge.
Hyunwook wondered what had bothered him to make him react so sensitively.
And Seojoo was irritated by the way Hyunwook kept slickly dodging his questions.
“I’m saying this because I feel something every time that friend comes.”
“Like what?”
“That friend. Is he maybe interested in me? Every time he looks at me, the look in his eyes…”
“What? It’s not like that at all, so don’t say such nonsense! That’s impossible, and if it were true, things would get really bad.”
At Seojoo’s absurd guess, Hyunwook raised his voice and cut him off quickly.
There was interest, of course, but it wasn’t that kind of interest.
Even a tangled family tree has its limits.
Hyunwook frowned in disbelief.
‘No, wait—could Seojoo be misunderstood?’
It was obvious to anyone that Haejoo wasn’t there for the workout.
Every time he came, he couldn’t take his eyes off Seojoo, showing his affection.
Though he didn’t say it in words, his eyes followed him all day clearly enough for Seojoo to feel it.
And above all, Haejoo was clearly an Omega, and Seojoo was an Alpha.
As an Alpha, it was a logical conclusion to reach.
When a beautiful Omega who can’t even exercise keeps showing up and won’t take their eyes off you, what would that Alpha think?
‘Is that Omega interested in me?’
It was a very likely misunderstanding.
Especially given the look in Haejoo’s eyes when he watched Seojoo.
Seeing his beloved brother right in front of him, looking so healthy, filled him with pride, and he probably couldn’t hide his affection because he wanted to take in every moment.
So Seojoo mistook that for the common interest an Omega shows an Alpha.
It’s complicated, so complicated.
“It’s definitely not that. If that made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not? I thought you were trying hard to set me up with that friend.”
“What… No, that’s not it either. Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t know you’d think that.”
‘Set you up? My own situation is dire enough.’
Hyunwook secretly liked that the fundamentally cold Seojoo only showed interest in him.
It was painful enough just to watch from afar because he couldn’t approach him—how could he set him up with someone else?
“Well, that’s a relief then. So the two of you aren’t in that kind of relationship, right?”
“…That’s the craziest thing I’ve heard today. Did you forget? I’m a Beta. Why would an Omega like a Beta?”
“They could. There are so many Omega-Beta couples these days. Plenty of Beta-Alpha ones, too. So, the two of you aren’t like that?”
“I told you, no! We’re just friends. We’re truly like family, so hearing stuff like that makes my stomach turn and makes me want to puke.”
Hyunwook’s blunt, unexaggerated tone rang with sincerity.
Hearing those words, a smile spread across Seojoo’s lips.
“…That’s a relief.”
“What?”
“I said it’s a relief. That there’s nothing between you two. It was really bothering me.”
While saying it had been bothering him, Seojoo didn’t take his eyes off Hyunwook and let a smile show.
As soon as Seojoo finished speaking, Hyunwook’s heart sank.
Why would he say something like this?
Even if he has no memory, maybe Seojoo still…
Hyunwook couldn’t hide his flushing face as he looked at Seojoo’s fingertips gripping the string of his uniform.
“Hyunwook!”
Just then, Haejoo’s startled voice rang out.
Hyunwook and Seojoo, who were surrounded by an awkward energy, both turned their heads at the same time.
Haejoo was flustered, having just woken up.
“I—I have to go now. Time’s up. I finally came after so long, but I fell asleep. I’m so upset.”
Haejoo called for Hyunwook with a face full of sorrow.
And Hyunwook ran to Haejoo before he could even take the hand Seojoo had reached out.
Seojoo could only watch the two of them, feeling resentful toward Hyunwook for going to Haejoo without hesitation.
“…It’s not like he’s Cinderella; what does he mean ‘time’s up’? He slept all he wanted and now he’s upset.”
Seojoo’s heart ached as he watched Hyunwook approach the Omega as if he would do anything for him.
‘That Omega always comes first.’
But for some reason, Seojoo didn’t hate that Omega.
It was a very strange feeling. Far from hating him, he kept lingering in his mind.
* * *
SEOJOO’S JEALOUS RIGHT?