After receiving something that was almost permission, Eun Hyeonchae became even more blatant about stalking Seonwoo and sneaking into his classes. Whenever Seonwoo saw those oddly confident shoulders, the corners of his lips would curl up before he even realized it.
Surely Hyeonchae had classes for his own major. So how was it that he managed to show up almost every hour of the day? Did he actually live on campus? The thought crossed Seonwoo's mind in all seriousness.
Of course, the world did not always revolve around Eun Hyeonchae.
"The student sitting over there—who are you? I don't remember seeing you in previous classes. Did you skip the earlier lecture?"
"...Eun Hyeonchae."
"Hm? Your name isn't on the roster."
"I wasn't able to register for the course. ...I was interested."
Perhaps because his previous attempts had worked a few times, Hyeonchae confidently played the "I'm interested" card again.
This time, however, it failed.
"This class only accepts registered students. Your enthusiasm is admirable, but I'd appreciate it if you left."
At the professor's firm response, Hyeonchae lowered his head obediently and picked up his bag.
Stopping by the classroom door, he looked back at Seonwoo with pitiful eyes that practically begged for help.
Resting his chin on one hand as he watched the show, Seonwoo only grinned and waved him goodbye.
Since Hyeonchae showed up whenever he didn't have classes of his own, Seonwoo had gradually pieced together his schedule without ever actually seeing it.
Like now.
Seeing Hyeonchae with flushed cheeks and breathing hard, Seonwoo raised an eyebrow.
Hyeonchae pulled out the chair beside him, sat down, and bowed his head.
"...Hello."
Seonwoo could have pretended not to notice the greeting.
Instead, he deliberately asked,
"Did you run here?"
"..."
"What time did your last lecture end?"
By now, Seonwoo knew that whenever things turned against him, Hyeonchae would simply clamp his mouth shut.
Watching his chest rise and fall with each quiet breath, Seonwoo chuckled before sliding the can of Pocari he'd bought for himself across the desk.
Hyeonchae's eyes followed the can.
"Drink."
"...Thank you."
For quite a while, Seonwoo couldn't take his eyes off the hands carefully cradling the can as though it were something precious.
* * *
Maybe it was because he had suddenly acquired a clingy shadow.
Recently he hadn't had much free time, but normally, whenever Seonwoo got bored, he would head to a bar for a one-night encounter.
The moment he finally had a little spare time again, the familiar emptiness returned like clockwork.
So Seonwoo headed straight to Liberty.
After arriving, he took out a cigarette in the alley beside the entrance.
Just as he was about to put it between his lips, he froze.
A surveillance camera he had never seen before was mounted up ahead.
It looked brand new.
Had something serious happened while he'd been away? Serious enough for Liberty to install new security equipment?
Lighting his cigarette, Seonwoo took a deep drag.
Only then did he remember that this was where he had first met Eun Hyeonchae.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He absentmindedly exhaled smoke when voices drifted over from nearby.
"I'm telling you, it's not."
"I'm telling you, it is! If it's really him... Huh?"
Glancing sideways, Seonwoo found himself making eye contact through the haze with two men.
Neither of them could take their eyes off him.
One eyebrow lifting, Seonwoo casually nodded in greeting.
The two men awkwardly smiled back, stiffly returned the greeting, then hurried back inside.
Out for a smoke?
Seonwoo himself wasn't particularly picky, but some people preferred not to smoke if someone else was already there.
Figuring he'd free up the space, Seonwoo dusted himself off and stood.
"Seonwoo, why's it been so long? Busy?"
"Same as always. Want your usual drink?"
"No. Just something light."
When Seonwoo shook his head, Sejin smiled as she scooped ice into a glass.
"Oho? Sounds like you're planning to drink with someone tonight."
"Maybe. By the way, did something happen here?"
"Happen? Not really."
"There's a new CCTV camera outside."
"Really? I didn't notice. Wasn't it always there?"
"No, it's new. It covers the alley."
"Hmm. Maybe the building owner installed it? They own every building on this block anyway. They can do whatever they want. At least it's good for security. Here."
Hearing that, Seonwoo didn't think much of it and accepted the drink.
While chatting casually at the bar, he hadn't even finished one glass before a woman approached him.
The two of them moved to a quieter, more secluded spot.
"Do you come here often, Seonwoo?... Huh? What's with that smile? Don't tell me you're actually a regular. And I didn't even know."
"I haven't come in a while. But now I finally know why I suddenly wanted to come today."
"Oh, please. That's exactly the kind of line someone experienced would use."
The woman sitting across from him suddenly looked past his shoulder.
The warmth disappeared from her smile.
Who could possibly steal my date's attention?
It had never happened before.
Feeling an oddly competitive urge, Seonwoo turned around as well.
And immediately locked eyes with a man staring at him with the most heartbroken expression in the world.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
"Do you know him?"
The woman blinked in surprise at the curse that had slipped out.
If Hyeonchae's plan was to make him look like trash so nobody would want him—
Mission accomplished.
Eun Hyeonchae.
Grinding his teeth, Seonwoo stood up with the most apologetic expression he could manage.
"I think I need to go. I'm really sorry."
He quickly collected Eun Hyeonchae and left Liberty.
After bringing him to a nearby twenty-four-hour café, Seonwoo folded his arms and stared at the man sitting across from him.
"Go ahead. Explain yourself."
"..."
Hyeonchae kept his mouth firmly shut, staring only at the cup in front of him.
He looked hurt.
But judging by the stubborn set of his lips and the trace of defiance in his eyes, he clearly didn't think he'd done anything wrong.
"I thought you said you wanted to be my junior, not just some random Alpha."
Even now, thinking about the situation made Seonwoo let out a disbelieving laugh.
Tapping the table with his fingers, he said,
"You can be my junior at school. That's it. You should respect your senior's private life. I'd rather you didn't come all the way to Liberty again."
Only then did Hyeonchae finally raise his head.
Even after Seonwoo had so clearly drawn the line, he showed no sign of being upset.
If anything...
He looked happy.
Unable to understand him, Seonwoo frowned.
Hyeonchae spoke.
"Anyone can go there."
"Sure. But that's not why you went."
"You could've ignored me. But you didn't."
It didn't sound like he was talking only about what had happened tonight.
Seonwoo found himself speechless.
Only after a long silence did he finally speak.
"What exactly makes you so confident?"
"You always look at me like that."
"...How do I look at you?" Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Condensation rolled down the side of the cup and dripped over Hyeonchae's fingertips.
Seonwoo found his gaze drawn to those full lips, pressed into a hesitant line before trembling slightly.
After a moment's hesitation, Hyeonchae met his eyes.
"You look at me like you think I'm the prettiest thing you've ever seen."
* * *
Running a hand through his hair, Seonwoo stared at his reflection in the mirror.
His dark eyebrows.
His sharply defined eyes beneath narrow double eyelids.
He didn't exactly have a face that looked kind...
So what on earth was Eun Hyeonchae seeing?
No matter how long he looked at himself, Seonwoo simply couldn't understand.
Nothing had changed after that night.
Because in the end, he still hadn't managed to push Hyeonchae away.
Hyeonchae continued following him to classes.
And the CCTV camera with its little red recording light continued watching over the front of Liberty.
Sometimes Seonwoo wondered...
Maybe it would be easier if Hyeonchae just confessed. If he crossed the line once and for all, everything would finally be settled.
But Hyeonchae was cunning.
He slipped through every crack in Seonwoo's defenses, carefully targeting the softest parts of him and taking full advantage of his indecision.
It wasn't normal for Hyeonchae to practically live at the university and trail after him day and night.
But neither was it normal for Seonwoo to keep allowing it.
Maybe it was because Hyeonchae looked exactly like his ideal type.
Or maybe it was because Seonwoo liked the way those bright eyes only ever looked at him.
Either way...
Since he clearly wasn't going to reject him, he decided not to think too deeply about why.
The moment he finished fixing his hair and put on his jacket, his phone rang.
It was Iwon.
After hearing that he had arrived downstairs, Seonwoo headed outside.
A car was parked in front of his apartment building.
As he naturally reached for the passenger door, he looked up—
And met Heejun's surprised eyes.
Only then did Seonwoo realize his mistake.
Quickly masking his expression, he smiled.
"Hi, Heejun. Been a while."
"Seonwoo hyung! Thanks again for the other day."
"How many times are you going to thank me? Is that the only thing you've got to say whenever you see me?"
"That's not..."
"Get in already. We'll be late."
At Iwon's words, Seonwoo closed the passenger door and climbed into the back seat.
Watching the two of them sitting together in front, he absently touched his lips.
This was the first time Iwon had ever brought a boyfriend to a family gathering.
For a moment, Seonwoo had forgotten.
That wasn't his seat anymore.
He already knew that.
It still felt awful.
As he stared out the window, lost in thought, a text message arrived from Eun Hyeonchae.
[I'm not going to school tomorrow. I have something to take care of.]
Hyeonchae occasionally texted him.
Seonwoo had never once replied.
This time was no different.
He simply thought, Guess tomorrow's going to be boring, then locked the screen.
...But if he'd known it would turn out like this, he should've at least asked what was keeping him away.