He must have had a feeling this time would be different. Looking back, that was probably why it had hurt so much.
Seonwoo absently picked at his lips as he looked at the two people sitting across from him. Iwon happened to notice and clicked his tongue in exasperation.
"There you go again. Your lips are going to get chapped."
If the table hadn't been between them, it looked like he would have reached over and physically pulled Seonwoo's hand away. Catching Heejun's gaze lingering behind Iwon's gesture, Seonwoo subtly leaned back just enough not to make it obvious and smoothly changed the subject.
"Heejun, you said you go to Korea University too, right? What's your major? I can't believe today's the first time I've seen someone with a face that stands out this much."
At the teasing question, accompanied by Seonwoo's raised eyebrow, Heejun flushed and waved both hands.
"It feels weird hearing that from you, hyung. You're even better-looking than I am... You don't have to be so formal with me. You're Iwon hyung's best friend. We'll be seeing each other a lot from now on."
"Oh? Should I? All right, then."
"I'm in Fine Arts, by the way. Our building's pretty far from Business, so that's probably why we've never run into each other."
"Ah, Fine Arts. It really suits you."
"That was a compliment, right?"
"Of course."
Seonwoo smiled and nodded at the blushing Heejun. But unlike the warm smile on his face, the slow gaze sweeping over Heejun's features was dark and unreadable.
"Oh, right. I decided to join the ski club this semester because of Iwon hyung."
"Schuphur?"
"Yeah. I've never actually skied before, so I'm kind of worried. I heard everyone goes to the ski resort together in winter? Honestly, I wanted us to go overseas, but hyung..."
Watching Seonwoo and Heejun chat with easy smiles, Iwon tapped the table with his fingertips. When both of them looked his way, he dragged out his words in mock disappointment.
"You two are getting way too friendly. I'm getting jealous."
"Ah, hyuuung. It's not like that."
"I'm kidding. If you two get along, that only makes me happy. One's my best friend, and the other's the person I love most."
He slipped an arm around Heejun's shoulders and leaned his head against him. Mortified, Heejun protested, telling him to stop saying embarrassing things.
My best friend...
Seonwoo silently repeated the words to himself, forcing the corners of his lips upward.
The conversation drifted on after that—how the two of them had met, plans for the ski camp during winter break, and other trivial topics.
Keeping his discomfort buried beneath an easy smile, Seonwoo stayed with them for quite a while longer. The moment he decided he'd done enough, he grabbed his wallet and stood.
"Where are you going?"
As Iwon started to get up as well, Seonwoo pressed a hand onto his shoulder, pushing him back into his seat while casually waving the cigarette between his fingers.
"I'll be back in a minute."
Despite saying he'd only be gone for a moment, Seonwoo headed past the nearby smoking room and walked all the way outside the hotel instead.
Remembering Heejun's bright, cheerful smile, he frowned, slipped a cigarette between his lips, and muttered,
"'We'll be seeing each other a lot'... Yeah, right."
He hadn't even taken a few steps before his phone vibrated in his pocket.
He smiled faintly, already knowing who it was without looking, and answered. An impatient voice greeted him immediately.
"Nam Seonwoo. Where are you? You're not in the smoking room."
"It's Friday night. I should give you two some privacy. Heejun's sitting there by himself, isn't he? Get back inside."
"You didn't have to leave this early. Heejun's going to be disappointed when he realizes you've gone."
"It's just..."
"He kept talking about you even after you left. I'm really glad I introduced you two today. Heejun's usually pretty shy around other Alphas..."
At some point, the conversation became nothing but stories about Heejun.
Seonwoo listened quietly, lifting his eyes toward the sky.
Clouds covered everything. The night was pitch-black, without even a single satellite visible overhead.
When had he become capable of calmly listening to the person he loved talk about his boyfriend?
It used to hurt so much.
Now, even the feeling of his chest being wrung tight and his stomach twisting into knots had become more familiar than breathing itself.
Time really does heal everything.
Thinking that, Seonwoo slowly exhaled a stream of smoke.