The man recognized Seonwoo as well, and his eyes widened. Seeing the other instructor, Ina and Hanna proudly lifted their chins.
"Our teacher is more handsome."
"Hmph, our teacher was on the national team. He has one of those jerseys that only national team members wear."
"Our teacher almost became a national team athlete too, and he's insanely good at skiing."
The children continued their little rivalry beneath them as Seonwoo met the man's gaze. The amusing situation pulled a grin onto his face.
"Hello. We've met before. I'm Nam Seonwoo."
"Joo Doyoon. Seriously... you really are an instructor?"
"Looks like it."
"Our teacher is so popular it's hard to even book a lesson!"
"Our teacher too! We paid extra to get him!"
Glancing at the children bickering, Seonwoo asked,
"You used to be on the national team?"
"Yeah. Looks like you competed too. I don't think we've met before, though."
"She means we paid a premium, idiot! Besides, our teacher was expensive from the beginning!"
"It was only for a short time when I was young. I competed overseas, at Nives."
"Ah...! The one sponsored by Myeonghyeon..."
The way Doyoon looked at Seonwoo immediately changed. Just as he was about to continue the conversation, Ina's booming voice split the moment in two.
"Our Seonwoo teacher costs 890,000 won an hour!"
The oddly specific number was so ridiculous that Seonwoo couldn't help laughing before immediately denying it.
"That's not true."
"...The kids are adorable."
"Shall we head back up?"
Seonwoo said as he gathered the twins' skis. Doyoon stared at him for a moment before nodding.
The ski competition for hot chocolate ended exactly as everyone had expected—with a crushing victory for the twins.
Determined to leave undeniable proof so Han Yunwoo couldn't change his story later, they even dragged him into a commemorative photo. After thoroughly enjoying their victory, the twins happily sipped their hot chocolate.
After retrieving Hanna and Ina's shoes from the lockers, Seonwoo noticed Yunwoo sitting alone in the distance. He walked over.
Embarrassed and upset from losing, Yunwoo had tears welling in his eyes. He glanced at Seonwoo before quickly looking away.
"You said you only started skiing last year, right? Your form looked good. Your instructor must've taught you well."
"...What's the point? I lost anyway."
"But you still had fun, didn't you? I mean while you were skiing. You enjoyed it, so you practiced hard. That's why you wanted to win."
Yunwoo gave a small nod.
"Then that's enough. Keep enjoying skiing."
Seonwoo ruffled his hair and stood up. The moment he turned around, he came face to face with Doyoon, who had just returned carrying Yunwoo's things.
Seeing Yunwoo unable to take his eyes off Seonwoo, Doyoon shot him a teasing look and shook his head.
"Isn't that cheating? It's frustrating enough that he lost to someone with five years more experience. At this rate, starting tomorrow you're going to steal my student too."
"My schedule's completely full. I can't accept any new students. I'll reject him in advance."
"Are you comforting me or making fun of me?"
Seonwoo merely shrugged before picking up the shoes and heading back to the twins.
* * *
The hotel where the children were staying was nearby, so after dropping Hanna and Ina off, Seonwoo ran into Doyoon coming out from the opposite direction.
They exchanged a brief nod as they passed each other, but Doyoon called after him.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"Who knows. Probably the same thing as yesterday."
"If you don't have any plans, want to grab a beer?"
Seonwoo was the type who never turned away an interested Omega and wasn't particularly good at refusing one either, but he still hesitated for a moment. Glancing at his phone, which was still filled with nothing but pointless messages, he gave a light nod.
"Sure."
Despite looking younger, Doyoon was actually two years older than Seonwoo.
Since they had both been athletes before and now worked for high pay through private ski shops, conversation came easily between them.
"What about tomorrow? If you're teaching the twins again, want to meet up afterward?"
"No. Different students starting tomorrow. Lessons from the afternoon all the way through the night."
Ever since earlier that day, Doyoon had been openly showing interest in him. For something casual, he was easy to talk to and comfortable to be around. He was exactly the type Seonwoo usually preferred.
It had already been several months since Seonwoo had relieved his desires. Tomorrow's lessons didn't start until the afternoon, and sitting in front of him was an Omega who fit his taste perfectly. There was no reason to drag things out.
Sneaking another glance at his phone, Seonwoo murmured,
"I'll be fine, but won't it be rough on you tomorrow, hyung?"
"Why would it be? He's just a kid."
Doyoon's provocation drew a quiet chuckle from Seonwoo.
All he had to do now was stand up.
One sentence.
Just say, "Let's go."
Instead, the words that came out were completely different.
"I think I'll have one more drink. What about you, hyung?"
"...Forget it."
Doyoon's face instantly cooled as he shook his head.
I've really pissed him off.
An awkward smile tugged at Seonwoo's lips.
Instead of subtly leaning closer like before, Doyoon now leaned all the way back against his chair. The moment another beer was set on the table, he asked,
"Waiting for someone's call?"
Seonwoo looked at him as if asking what he meant.
Doyoon gestured toward Seonwoo's left hand.
"You never put your phone down. Every chance you get, you check it. You're waiting for someone's call, aren't you?"
"...Was I really doing that?"
"Are you seriously asking me?"
Doyoon let out an exasperated sigh.
Right then, almost as if by magic, the phone in Seonwoo's hand began to ring.
The moment he saw the three words—
Eun Hyeonchae
—Seonwoo grabbed his coat and shot to his feet.
The sudden urgency that overtook the carefree, teasing expression he'd worn all evening left a bitter taste in Doyoon's mouth, and he frowned.
"Sorry, I'll just—"
"At least pay the bill before you leave."
"I'll call you."
Without a word, Doyoon raised his middle finger.
Fortunately, the phone kept vibrating until Seonwoo reached a quiet alley.
He stared at the name on the screen for a moment, committing it to memory, then took a small breath before answering.
"Hello."
"..."
"Hyeonchae."
No reply came.
He wasn't some twenty-year-old virgin who couldn't sit still. Restlessly crushing the snow piled in the corner beneath his feet, he waited for something—anything—to come from the silent other end.
Eventually, his patience ran out.
"Why did you only call now?"
"...You sound like you've really been waiting."
"I have."
It was incredibly good to hear his voice again.
Leaning back against the wall, Seonwoo admitted it without hesitation.
Hyeonchae asked in a trembling voice,
"Why didn't you call again after that?"
"I figured there had to be a reason you weren't answering."
"...I really hate that."
Behind the complaint was a sincerity he couldn't quite hide.
"But... I missed you so much."
Maybe this was his last chance.
If he pushed him away hard enough now, maybe Hyeonchae would finally disappear into the distance.
Just like every other time.
Seonwoo silently rubbed his lips.
The truth was...
He had never really struggled with the decision in the first place.
"Then come see me right now."
* * *
Ignorance really is bliss.
The old saying wasn't wrong.
Sitting on a bench with a cigarette between his lips, Seonwoo thought to himself.
Some magic.
It was stalking all along.
"Come on out."
A large shadow separated itself from behind a streetlamp.
As the figure stepped out of the darkness, light slowly spread across his face.
It had been a while.
He'd somehow become even more handsome.
"If you thought someone your size could actually hide, that's a pretty shameless assumption."
"...I didn't hide on purpose. I wanted you to see me."
Seonwoo brushed the snow off the bench beside him and gestured for him to sit.
"How long have you been here?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you've been here since the first day."
"...Not since the first day."
One day or two, what difference did it make?
Seeing Hyeonchae deny it with such complete seriousness and that flawless expression made Seonwoo laugh in disbelief.
After quietly watching him for a while, Hyeonchae looked at the cigarette resting between Seonwoo's lips.
"Would you like me to light it for you?"
Seonwoo shook his head and tucked the cigarette back into the pack.
"Have you eaten dinner?"
"Not yet."
"Come on. Let's go eat."
It's a little late...
Checking the time, Seonwoo quickened his pace.
"Have you lost your mind? We're closed. I'm not selling anything."
"My junior hasn't eaten a thing since lunch. You're not really going to send him away hungry, are you?"
"I absolutely am."
"The sign's still lit. That means you're not closed. Make us the special ramen."
"...You damn ramen pig..."
Seorin, who had been closing up the snack bar, looked at the two troublesome customers she'd run into simply because she'd taken longer than usual to finish.
One noisy nuisance.
One silent nuisance.
Without realizing it, her eyes drifted to the broom leaning against the wall.
Even if she swung it with all her strength, she doubted it'd do much against those two giants.
Her gaze moved back and forth between Seonwoo and Hyeonchae before she finally opened one of the folded parasols for them. Narrowing her eyes fiercely, she asked,
"So how many packs are you eating? Answer with at least a little shame."
"...Four?"
The weight of Seonwoo's conscience amounted to exactly one extra pack of ramen.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Seorin turned to Hyeonchae instead.
"And how many packs of ramen do you eat?"