* * *

A large hand gently caressed Jungin’s cheek, careful and tender.

The faint heat radiating from his skin made Beomhyeon frown.

“If you’re feeling sick, you should’ve told me. Why did you hold it in?”

“It’s not that bad… It’s just that the smell of food made me feel queasy.”

Beomhyeon’s sharp eyes scrutinized Jungin’s face, as if trying to discern whether he was lying.

“I’m going to sleep now… so go eat, okay?”

“I’m full. Thanks to you, I had breakfast twice.”

Just as Beomhyeon knew Jungin well, Jungin knew Beomhyeon just as intimately.

No matter how much he told him to leave, Beomhyeon wasn’t going anywhere.

Knowing this, Jungin hesitantly shifted his body, making space on the narrow single bed.

The bed was clearly too small for two people, but Jungin decided to give in to a small, selfish desire. His long lashes fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, his red lips parted.

“Do you… want to lie down with me?”

There was no refusing that. Beomhyeon couldn’t say no to Jungin.

He squeezed himself into the space Jungin made and wrapped his arms around him.

The softness of Jungin’s skin and his sweet, familiar scent stirred the instincts of the dominant Alpha in him.

The desire to completely cover Jungin with his pheromones surged within him.

“Beomhyeon?”

“Don’t get sick.”
“Okay.”

Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Jungin pressed his lips together.

He didn’t want to cry.

He didn’t want to burden Beomhyeon, who was pretending not to notice how Jungin was feeling.

Feeling the gentle hand stroking his head, Jungin closed his eyes.

Even though Beomhyeon was the one holding him, it felt like Beomhyeon was the one clinging to him.

‘What am I to deserve this…?’

A bitter taste filled his mouth.

He had tried several times to tell Beomhyeon the truth, but the words wouldn’t come out.

He knew he should say something before deceiving him any further, before his feelings grew even deeper.

But the warmth of Beomhyeon’s love was so comforting that he couldn’t bear to let it go.

“Beomhyeon, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s all okay.”

“I’m… sorry…”

Beomhyeon felt the damp warmth of tears soaking through his thin school uniform shirt, accompanied by Jungin’s heavy breaths.

Just that morning, Jungin had been cheerful, but his condition had worsened rapidly after he tried to jump out of the car, saying he’d seen someone he recognized.

‘He said he thought he saw someone he knew. Who could it have been to distress him this much?’

Deep in thought, Beomhyeon tightened his embrace around Jungin’s seemingly smaller frame.

He closed his eyes, silently wishing that at least in his arms, Jungin could find peace, even if only for a moment.

Just looking at Jungin pained him. Just touching him felt like a privilege.

Beomhyeon wished he could share Jungin’s burdens, but he regretted that he couldn’t.

As time passed and the sound of steady breathing filled the room, Beomhyeon lowered his gaze to Jungin, whose flushed face glistened with the remnants of tears.

His heart ached at how beautiful Jungin looked even in his sleep.

Watching him quietly, Beomhyeon leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

---

Perhaps Beomhyeon’s earnest prayers were answered, because Jungin’s condition improved quickly after taking his medicine.

With a calmer expression, Jungin finished a call with Jungjin and returned to their classroom, only to frown at the sight of Beomhyeon sitting there alone.

“I told you I have plans today. You should’ve gone home already.”

“At least let me walk you to the main gate.”

“I mean, sure, but…”

‘But I’m worried you might run into Jungjin-hyung.’

Jungin bit back his thoughts as he reached out to take his bag from Beomhyeon’s hands.

“I can carry it myself.”

“I know.”

“Then why…?”

“Because I want to.”

“Someone might think you’re my lackey!”

“Sounds good to me.”

Even though his pride should’ve been hurt, Beomhyeon ruffled Jungin’s hair and lowered his head to meet his gaze.

“Your lackey. That’s fine. But I’m the only one allowed to be your lackey forever, okay?”

Instead of returning the bag, he took Jungin’s delicate hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

“What the—what are you doing?!”

Even though the building was empty, anyone could walk in at any moment!

Especially if that “anyone” was his older brother, which would be disastrous.

Flustered, Jungin yanked his hand away, but not before Beomhyeon smirked and leaned in for another kiss.

Jungin’s face turned red as if it might explode. His mouth opened and closed as he stammered, trying to find words.

The warmth of Beomhyeon’s lips still lingered on his skin, as if he’d been burned.

“Jungin, your face is red.”

“It’s—it’s hot! The weather is hot!”

Jungin fanned his face and turned away, but his mind was filled with the image of Beomhyeon’s playful smirk as he kissed his hand.

‘He’s seducing me. He’s definitely seducing me.’

A handsome guy, and one who knew just how handsome he was, openly teasing him like this—it was enough to make his heart race uncontrollably.

Jungin shut his eyes tightly, trying to erase Beomhyeon from his thoughts.

“Jungin, what are you doing? Your brother’s waiting.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t your hyung picking you up?”

How did he know that?

As if reading his thoughts, Beomhyeon answered, “You’ve been glancing at the parking lot for a while. I just guessed.”

It wasn’t strange for Beomhyeon to call him “hyung,” but coming from him, it felt oddly intimate.

‘It’s like we’re married or something…’

“I’ll walk you out.”

“Okay…”

Jungin let Beomhyeon hold his hand tightly as they left the school.

Matching his pace, he walked slower than usual, though no one would notice.

After parting ways to avoid his brother’s watchful eyes, Jungin climbed into Jungjin’s car and stared at the hospital entrance ahead.

He took a deep breath.

“Hyung, are you really staying outside?”

“Yeah. I’m not going in. If anything happens, call me.”

Jungin nodded firmly, and Jungjin smiled faintly before speaking again.

“All right. I’ve got a meeting with Dr. Choi, so I’ll only be gone for about 30 minutes.”
“Okay.”

Jungin looked into his brother’s reluctant gaze and smiled.

Taking his hand, he gave it a small shake before glancing at the bodyguards in black suits behind him.

“Don’t worry, hyung. The bodyguards are here too, right?”

The guards, who had once felt burdensome, were now something he’d grown used to in just a few days.

“Hyung, how about we have dinner at JS Hotel later?”

“JS Hotel?”

“Yeah. I went there by chance with Beomhyeon last time, and it was really good. I got my paycheck recently, so I want to treat you and the others.”

* * *