* * *
Having passed through the gate, Yoonwoo looked at the busy stream of tourists and felt his mind go blank, like a doll with its soul sucked out.
He couldn’t distinguish whether the ground beneath his feet was reality or a dream.
His sense of time and space were both blurred. It was as if he were standing inside a hallucination.
‘…Someone said they were coming to pick me up… who was it…?’
He was weakly groping for a faint memory in his dazed mind when it happened.
He sensed someone approaching him.
At the sound of the firm footsteps, Yoonwoo turned his head indifferently.
A tall young man, easily a head taller than him, entered his vision.
Just by looking, he was clearly an Alpha with a solid build.
The terrifying memory from the hotel a few weeks ago, and the violent force that had pushed him away like he was a bug, reflexively sprang to mind.
A shiver ran down his spine, and goosebumps rose all over his body.
He unconsciously stiffened slightly and stared at the approaching young man with eyes full of suspicion and caution.
The young man stopped a few steps in front of Yoonwoo.
Up close, he was obviously a dominant Alpha.
His broad shoulders, strong chest, and long limbs, which couldn’t be hidden even by a baggy hoodie, showcased the superior physique typical of an Alpha.
His face had distinct features, like an actor, with large, kind eyes and pleasantly upturned lips that were particularly striking.
His slightly curly hair naturally covered his ears, giving off a comfortable vibe.
Unlike his well-defined, athletic build, his eyes were surprisingly clear and gentle.
He was definitely handsome and cool enough to draw attention anywhere, but strangely, he lacked the arrogant and imposing atmosphere that was often felt from other Alphas.
Instead, his slightly awkward, nervous smile and his warm, friendly eyes brought to mind a gentle, large dog that simply follows its owner around.
Although he lacked a tail, he exuded an innocent energy that made it seem like he might happily run up to greet someone at any moment.
But no matter how gentle he looked, an Alpha was still an Alpha.
Having been severely traumatized by an Alpha, Yoonwoo could not lower his guard just based on a first impression.
“Uh…”
The young man, Kim Dojin, felt his heart beat fast at the fact that the person standing before him was truly the designer he admired, Seo Yoonwoo.
Yoonwoo was even more beautiful than his photos, but he also looked incomparably more fragile.
The intense branding and sensual graphic visuals of “Project Aurora,” which Yoonwoo had overseen, flashed through his mind.
That unique visual language and the minimalist yet rich expressiveness that touched the user’s emotions. His work was so overwhelming that one couldn’t even feel jealous.
The thought that such a delicate-looking person had created such incredible designs made him swallow his gasp of admiration.
At the same time, he felt a pang in his chest, wondering why such a talented person, such a luminous being, was immersed in such deep sadness.
A mix of respect, the strong attraction he felt at first sight, and a feeling of pity and a protective urge for the man’s hurt, all swirled together, leaving him confused.
He stared blankly at Yoonwoo for a moment, then reminded himself of the reason he was here.
Seoyeon’s request, and above all, the thought that he needed to safely take this fragile-looking person to the guesthouse.
“Um… Mr. Seo Yoonwoo , right? I received a call from Seoyeon noona and came to pick you up from the Sagyeri guesthouse. My name is Kim Dojin, the guesthouse owner’s son.”
His voice was bright and healthy, just like his looks.
But his eyes were different.
They were mixed with respect, worry, and a certain sense of regret, and they shone particularly brightly as they stared fixedly at Yoonwoo ‘s face.
That unadorned and intense gaze felt a little burdensome to the current Yoonwoo.
It was as if the young man could see right through his inner thoughts, or as if he were expecting something from someone who was neither great nor worthy.
“…Yes.”
Yoonwoo answered briefly, avoiding his gaze.
He felt a little relieved that the young man seemed to know Seoyeon well, but caution still lingered in his voice.
He could feel the Alpha’s aura emanating from Dojin’s body, but fortunately, it wasn’t threatening.
“Oh, great!”
Dojin’s expression quickly brightened despite Yoonwoo ’s short, cold reply.
“I parked the car in the airport parking lot. Let’s go that way!”
As he answered brightly, he soon realized that Yoonwoo was still looking at him with eyes full of suspicion.
His bright expression was instantly tinged with embarrassment.
‘Did I make a mistake? Did I seem too happy to see him?’
He hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do about Yoonwoo ‘s attitude, which he couldn’t understand.
Then he spotted a small suitcase at Yoonwoo ‘s feet and quickly reached out a hand, as if trying to change the mood.
It was an act born from a pure intention to help, something he thought was perfectly natural.
“Ah, let me take your luggage!”
“…I’m fine. It’s light.”
Yoonwoo subconsciously pulled the suitcase back, refusing his offer.
Accepting help from others, especially an Alpha, felt awkward and uncomfortable.
“Ah… right! I see.”
Dojin scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, slightly abashed by Yoonwoo ’s cautious attitude.
He clearly understood that Yoonwoo ‘s state was not normal and tried to avoid saying anything unnecessary or showing excessive kindness.
Beneath his bright energy, a hint of confusion and carefulness was noticeable.
He kept a distance so as not to make Yoonwoo uncomfortable and waited for him to move.
All the way to the parking lot, only the sound of Yoonwoo ‘s small suitcase wheels rolling seemed unusually loud.
Dojin walked a few steps ahead of Yoonwoo , trying to match his pace.
His steps seemed restless, and he clearly looked unsure of how to act around Yoonwoo.
Dojin very carefully opened his mouth, trying to break the awkward silence.
“Um… The weather in Jeju is a bit chilly today. It looks like it’s going to be quite windy, did you dress warmly?”
But Yoonwoo walked on, looking only at the ground, without answering.
It seemed like he couldn’t hear anything. Dojin was embarrassed again and shut his mouth.
The two soon arrived at where Dojin’s father’s old, worn-out truck was parked.
The flatbed was cluttered with what looked like fishing tools or farm equipment, and a few of Dojin’s design sketches were scattered on the passenger seat.
Dojin hurriedly opened the passenger door, cleared the sketches, and smiled a little sheepishly.
“Oh my, why are these here… I’m sorry.”
As Yoonwoo silently glanced at the sketches and got into the truck, Dojin carefully loaded his small suitcase onto the flatbed and got into the driver’s seat.
‘He’s a designer, too….’
A thought briefly crossed Yoonwoo ‘s mind.
If so, he could understand the look of respect in his eyes earlier.
He was a designer well-known in the industry, so Dojin might know of him.
But Yoonwoo quickly lost interest.
It didn’t matter now whether Dojin knew him or not.
He just didn’t want to do anything, and he didn’t want to think about anything.
His soul seemed to be in a deep sleep.
An awkward silence filled the rattling truck, along with the faint smell of sea salt and the damp, stale odor unique to old trucks.
It was a smell unfamiliar to Yoonwoo , but strangely, he didn’t feel repulsed by it.
Dojin held the steering wheel and occasionally glanced at Yoonwoo ’s expression.
Yoonwoo was still staring blankly out the window.
The wall of caution in his mind had not lowered, and Dojin only became more embarrassed and careful in response to Yoonwoo ’s behavior.
Just in case, he turned off the radio that was playing quietly.
The car left the airport and entered the coastal road.
Outside the window, the desolate late autumn, or perhaps early winter, Jeju sea unfolded.
White waves crashed onto the dark basalt beach beneath a gray sky, and low oreums (small volcanic cones) were visible beyond the silver reeds swaying in the wind.
It was a beautiful but somehow lonely landscape.
But even that scenery did not properly register in Yoonwoo ‘s eyes.
His eyes, like glass beads that had lost their light, stared into the darkness outside the window.
His reflection in the window was faint, like a ghost.
The shaking of the rattling truck hit the bruised spot on his side that had been hurt recently, and he let out a small, involuntary whimper.
But Dojin in the seat next to him did not seem to notice.
Due to extreme fatigue, Yoonwoo ‘s consciousness grew dimmer and dimmer.
‘If I fall asleep like this, will I be able to forget all the pain?’
He closed his eyes for a moment.
The car turned onto a quiet village road near Sagye Beach.
Driving along the winding road, the car was heading deeper into the silence.
Yoonwoo continued to look out the window, unable to even guess what awaited him in the future.
The careful consideration of the unfamiliar Alpha next to him, the beautiful scenery outside the window, and the pain felt in his body—none of it held any meaning for him right now.
He felt as though he was merely an empty shell.
* * *
