Predator Alert chapter 56

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Yoontae immediately recognized the animal.

Sound asleep, it didn’t budge even when he shifted slightly.

He poked its belly with his finger, and though the weasel wriggled, it didn’t wake up.

Holding his thumb and middle finger apart, he measured the weasel’s body; it was smaller than the span of his hand.

“So tiny.”

No wonder it could be mistaken for a rat.

It must have been even smaller when it was young.

Watching its small white belly rise and fall steadily with its breaths, Yoontae’s lips curved into a smile.

He’d already figured it out—this weasel was Jeongseo’s other form.

Still, he hadn’t expected to confirm it with his own eyes so quickly.

Jeongseo seemed to be aware that he was Yoontae’s first love, yet he was trying to hide it, so Yoontae played along.

“Jeongseo is too clumsy to fool anyone,” he murmured, gently scratching the weasel’s chin.

The weasel stretched out its front legs and smacked its lips but remained asleep.

Watching for a while, Yoontae eventually stopped and lay back down.

He could reveal he knew, but he didn’t plan to.

Jeongseo’s attempts to keep it hidden, despite being so obvious, made it all the more amusing.

---

“Yoontae, wake up!”

The vibration of someone shaking him brought Yoontae back to consciousness.

It seemed he’d fallen asleep again after closing his eyes at dawn.

Opening them slowly, he saw Jeongseo leaning over him.

“What time are you catching the bus? There’s one at 12:40, another at 3:30, 6:20, and the last one at 8! It’s 10:14 now!”

As Jeongseo rattled off bus schedules, Yoontae calmly reached out with both hands, pulling Jeongseo down onto him.

“W-what are you doing?!”

Through the thin fabric of their clothes, Jeongseo’s small frame and racing heartbeat pressed against Yoontae.

Holding him tighter, Yoontae smirked.

“Let go of me!”

“Nope.”

Jeongseo shuddered at Yoontae’s uncharacteristically playful tone.

He couldn’t understand this behavior, but he reluctantly acknowledged he couldn’t overpower Yoontae.

“Fine, but when are we eating?”

“Later. There’s something I want to hear from you first.”

“What is it? Oh!”

Suddenly remembering, Jeongseo beamed as he shouted, “Yoontae, happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Jeongseo.”

Yoontae murmured contentedly.

“I bought a cake. Should we eat it after lunch?”

“You even got a cake? You’re the best. What should I do to repay you?”

Despite his teasing smile, Yoontae didn’t loosen his grip, Seo Jungseo decided to let the birthday boy have his way for now.

There was still plenty of time.

---

Jeongseo let his body relax and go limp, and Pyo Yoontae responded by nuzzling and licking Jeongseo’s face with a soft, purring sound.

It brought back memories of the time when Pyo Yoontae had groomed him.

Back then, it felt like an expression of intimacy, and he enjoyed it.

But now…

Now, although it still felt good, a whirlwind of emotions stormed within Jeongseo.

He felt a pang of disappointment—wondering when Yoontae had managed to notice someone else he liked, despite sticking so closely to him and acting so friendly.

He also wanted to free himself from the fluttering tension he felt.

“Yoontae.”

Pyo Yoontae, who had been gently nibbling on Jeongseo’s ear, answered with a muffled “Yeah,” still holding his ear between his lips.

“Can feelings of affection change so easily?”

Jeongseo, who had been leaning against Yoontae’s chest, lifted his face to look up at him.

As he did, Yoontae’s brown ears slipped from his mouth.

Their gazes met at eye level, and a subtle, charged atmosphere filled the air.

The silence didn’t last long before it was broken.

“No, never.”

Though short, Yoontae’s answer carried a resolute certainty.

Jeongseo’s eyes quivered slightly, and his chest tightened with a frustrating ache.

Overwhelmed, Jeongseo pushed himself up.

“Ugh.”

Yoontae frowned as Jeongseo pressed against his stomach to get up, but Jeongseo didn’t stop.

With a thoroughly sulky expression, he stomped out of the room.

“Come out for dinner!”

Yoontae couldn’t help but chuckle softly, careful not to let Jeongseo hear.

This reaction… wasn’t it obvious?

As Yoontae lazily stretched and sat up, he caught a faint scent of sweet chocolate lingering in the air.

It was Jeongseo’s pheromone.

This was, without a doubt, the perfect birthday.

---

The summer vacation was brief, and September had already arrived.

The new school term was just around the corner, and everyone had hoped for school closures due to an incoming typhoon.

But to their surprise, the massive storm that was supposed to pass directly over the peninsula had veered off to the right, far away.

As planned, Dangang High School reopened without incident.

Even though it was autumn, the heat lingered, and Jeongseo arrived at school in his summer uniform.

Perhaps because it had been a while since anyone had been to school, the usually quiet atmosphere during Jeongseo’s morning arrival was livelier.

A few students were entering through the front gate.

“Seo Jungseo!”

Hearing someone call his name, Jeongseo turned to see Ha Sumin approaching.

“Hey, how was your break?”

Sumin casually walked up beside him, smiling warmly.

“Good! How about you…”

Jeongseo gave Sumin a once-over and felt something was off.

Before the break, their height difference hadn’t been this noticeable.

Now, Sumin seemed a full head taller.

Noticing Jeongseo staring at him in silence, Sumin scratched his flushed cheek.

“What is it?”

“You look taller. Did you grow?”

At that, Sumin let out an “Ah,” straightened his shoulders, and looked pleased.

“Yeah, I grew 8 cm. I might hit 180 cm soon.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

Jeongseo clapped in admiration, and Sumin beamed.

As they walked, Jeongseo recalled the question he hadn’t asked earlier.

“So, did you have a good vacation?”

“Me? My mom made me go to cram school every day, so I mostly studied. But we did take a short family trip overseas.”

“Where to?”

“Vietnam. It was so hot there. I thought I was going to melt.”

As Sumin excitedly showed Jeongseo pictures from Vietnam, time flew, and they soon reached their classroom.

Realizing how much he had been talking, Sumin sheepishly asked, “What about you? Did you go anywhere?”

“Me? I went to my family’s house in Seoul for a bit, and then… Hmm.”

Jeongseo thought back to his short summer vacation and the most enjoyable memory from it.

“I went to a valley with Yoontae and had fun there!”

Sumin froze mid-step as they entered the classroom, which was still cool and empty since they were the first to arrive. P

uzzled by Sumin’s sudden halt, Jeongseo turned back.

“Sumin, what’s wrong?”

Sumin looked nervous and avoided Jeongseo’s gaze as he asked hesitantly, “Seo Jungseo… Are you dating Pyo Yoontae?”

“Dating Pyo Yoontae?” Sumin’s question echoed in Jeongseo’s mind as he stared at Sumin in shock, his mouth opening slightly.

Seeing Jeongseo’s stunned expression, Sumin’s suspicion deepened.

Jeongseo quickly waved his hands in denial.

“N-no! Yoontae and I are just friends!”

Friends?!

Jeongseo’s face flushed as he rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand, embarrassed.

Despite his denial, Sumin placed his bag down and asked again, “Really?”

Unable to figure out why Sumin didn’t believe him, Jeongseo nodded vigorously.

“Yeah! And Yoontae’s here to find his first love, remember? There’s no way we’re dating…”

Although Yoontae’s first love was actually him, Yoontae mistakenly thought it was someone else.

So technically, it wasn’t a lie.

Yet, even as he explained, Jeongseo felt a bitter taste on his tongue.

The words “Yoontae would never date me” left his lips, but they didn’t sit well with him.

Satisfied with the explanation, Sumin finally nodded. “Okay, then.”

‘But… did we really seem like we’re dating?’

Jeongseo wondered how others might perceive their relationship.

After realizing his feelings, he’d noticed how often Yoontae initiated physical affection.

He’d assumed it was normal, but perhaps it wasn’t.

Contrary to his expectations, Sumin didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he hesitated, rubbing his forehead awkwardly.

“Not really. You two just seem really close, so I was curious.”

“Oh, I see.”

Jeongseo felt a twinge of disappointment.

If people saw them as a couple, maybe Yoontae liked him too but wasn’t aware of it.

Like Jeongseo himself.

Feeling deflated, Jeongseo placed his bag on his desk and sat down.

Watching him, Sumin settled into the seat next to him.

Was Sumin planning to keep chatting?

But that seat belonged to Yoontae.

If Yoontae saw this, he might get annoyed.

Should he ask Sumin to move?

The thought made Jeongseo frown.

“Why would he get mad about me talking to a friend?”

They weren’t a couple, and having multiple friends shouldn’t be an issue.

Huffing, Jeongseo glanced at the seat next to him before turning away.

When Sumin noticed Jeongseo’s shifting expressions, he looked puzzled.

Embarrassed, Jeongseo quickly changed the subject.

“Isn’t it nice being back at school?”

“Yeah, it is. I didn’t used to like coming to school, but now it feels good.”

Seeing Sumin’s slightly flushed cheeks, Jeongseo assumed he was hot and pulled out a small fan he’d gotten at an event recently.

He switched it on and aimed it at Sumin’s face.

Startled by the sudden breeze, Sumin leaned back.

“Oh! Sorry, did I scare you? You looked hot, so I thought you’d like it!”

As Jeongseo tried to turn off the fan, Sumin shook his head with a nervous smile.

“No, it’s fine. I was hot. Thanks.”

While they continued chatting, Jeongseo suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

Instinctively, he turned toward the hallway window.

And there he was—Pyo Yoontae, standing stiffly outside, glaring directly at him.

Startled, Jeongseo let out a small yelp before quickly glaring back.

“Again?!”

Furious, he whipped his head away.

Meanwhile, Yoontae stared at him in disbelief, his mouth slightly open.

‘What the…’

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