“Seriously, what a man.”
“Wow. The Emperor really is on another level. That’s insane.”
Gyeol’s face burned hot. He couldn’t bring himself to turn his head toward where Sun Choi was sitting.
His throat felt dry. He raised his beer again, chugging it down like a punishment—though Sun Choi himself hadn’t even been drinking.
Then Sun Choi reached out and lightly touched the wrist holding Gyeol’s can.
It was a soft, careful touch.
Even so, the meaning was unmistakable.
Don’t drink so fast.
Was it the alcohol? Or the heat from the campfire?
The back of Gyeol’s neck felt unbearably hot.
When Gyeol set the can down, Sun Choi spoke.
“My turn, right?”
“Yes! Sun Choi, go ahead and ask!”
“Then... Yo Han Sung.”
At the unexpected choice, curious glances gathered.
“Yes, Sun Choi.”
Earlier that day, the two of them had gone head-to-head in the Alpha Death Save Match, fighting fiercely for first place. In the end, it was Yo Han Sung who had taken the win, surpassing the Swimming Emperor.
A hush fell. Tension spread thickly enough that someone’s faint mutter of “This is crazy...” reached Gyeol’s ears.
Finally, Sun Choi asked his question.
“Today’s game. The rescue. And the CPR. Were they driven by personal interest?”
“Oh my god!”
The cast reacted before Yo Han could, covering their mouths. They hadn’t even drunk that much, but they were already acting as if they were thoroughly drunk.
Their eyes flicked toward Gyeol.
The center of the triangle.
The one at the heart of it all.
Their gazes were full of envy and admiration.
Humans really were fickle. He’d spent his whole life aching for this kind of attention—and now that it was here, it was nothing but uncomfortable.
Covering his mouth with one hand, Gyeol widened his eyes as if startled.
But inside—
I want to get the hell out of here. Right now.
Sun Choi really wasn’t ordinary.
To throw a question like that straight out.
Yo Han, sitting squarely at the center, looked at Sun Choi.
No—he took in both Sun Choi and Gyeol at once.
Then he let out a short, amused laugh.
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
Ignoring the others’ questions, Yo Han lifted his drink and started chugging.
Gulp. Gulp.
Each swallow was audible. His Adam’s apple moved sharply, the motion carrying an almost indecent undertone.
Everyone stared at him, transfixed.
Yo Han was on another level.
There was something about him that pulled people’s attention in, irresistibly.
It felt like watching a real beer commercial. One of the Omegas even swallowed unconsciously.
“You don’t have to finish it.”
Jun Shin tried to stop him halfway, but Yo Han emptied the can anyway.
Exhaling, he wiped the beer from his vividly colored lips with his thumb.
Crack.
The {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} empty can crumpled in his grip.
“At least this much, for a question like that. Don’t you think, Sun Choi?”
Despite the action, his voice was gentle—so gentle that anyone but Gyeol might think he was being considerate.
But Gyeol could see right through him.
He’s pissed.
And it made sense.
Sun Choi had openly tied him to Gyeol—someone he wanted nothing to do with.
Regardless of how he felt about Sun Choi, Yo Han would hate being dragged into any kind of dynamic involving Gyeol.
“It would’ve been better if you answered instead of drinking.”
Sun Choi didn’t back down. He didn’t let himself get swept up like the others.
Just like the competitor he was known to be.
“But that wouldn’t be fun. Today’s my first day—and the game is just getting started.”
“Yeah, you guys are already going this hard. I don’t even know what to ask next.”
Woo Seok Jung chimed in casually.
But to Gyeol, Yo Han’s words carried a bite.
He wasn’t just talking about this Truth Game.
He meant the entire show.
R-Connect Season 10 itself—was a game.
“Well, so far only the Alphas have been asked questions. I’ll ask an Omega. Jaekyung Park.”
“Oh—okay.”
The focus shifted quickly as Yo Han directed his question elsewhere.
Then—
A quiet scoff brushed against Gyeol’s ear.
So faint it probably didn’t reach anyone else. Maybe not even the microphones.
Gyeol was startled.
Sun Choi... scoffing?
Are they... sizing each other up?
Was he imagining it?
His throat felt dry again. He took another sip of beer.
And then—
His eyes met Yo Han’s.
It was their first eye contact since Gyeol had heard that Yo Han had saved him.
He wanted to look away.
But he didn’t.
Saving him didn’t change anything.
Not the long, tangled history between them.
Not the fact that Yo Han had a grip on his weakness—and was using it.
Yo Han didn’t look away either.
Even from a distance, his gaze was intense, piercing straight through him.
Like a command.
Don’t move.
Like a reminder.
I’m watching you.
“Gyeol? Gyeol!”
“Ah—yes!”
Startled, Gyeol snapped his head around.
Hee Jun Kang was waving his arm, trying to get his attention.
“I asked you something. Did you hear it?”
“Sorry—could you repeat it?”
“You’re not drunk already, are you?”
“Looks like it. He’s drunk.”
Woo Seok Jung and Jaekyung Park teased him.
Gyeol didn’t bother denying it—just smiled awkwardly.
There was no way he’d admit he’d zoned out staring at Yo Han.
“You’re the most popular one right now, Gyeol! So how many people are you interested in?”
“Ah, I...”
“No boring answers like ‘I want to talk to everyone.’”
Hee Jun Kang cut him off preemptively.
Gyeol hadn’t planned to give that kind of answer anyway.
Under the Alphas’ collective gaze, he set his beer down.
Then he answered.
“Two.”
It was a moment where joy and disappointment split cleanly apart.
Some believed—without doubt—that they were one of the two, relieved they only had one rival.
Others already knew they weren’t—and felt their hearts sink.
“Right now, I’m interested in two people.”
The perfect answer to spark imagination—and competition.
***
The drinking session wound down in a blur.
Everyone had gotten drunk faster than expected.
It was still early for a Truth Game. More than anything, no one wanted to take unnecessary risks.
As expected of a season filled with celebrities, everyone thought fast.
Better to drink than to give a careless answer and tank their favorability—or the public’s opinion.
“This is boring. Everyone’s just drinking.”
Jaekyung Park grumbled.
He wasn’t wrong.
But from the production’s perspective, it didn’t matter.
The triangle between Yo Han, Sun Choi, and Gyeol had already given them more than enough footage.
“I—Jun Shin, can we talk for a moment?”
The first to make a move was Isu Yoon.
His face flushed red, he led Jun Shin away toward the lodging.
A strange feeling stirred in Gyeol, but—
He had something he needed to do, too.
He’d had enough to drink.
Might as well say what needed to be said while he could still blame it on that—and shake off this lingering discomfort.
“Yo Han Sung.”
As he stood and called out, both Sun Choi and Tommy looked up at him at the same time.
This is really uncomfortable.
But he had to do it.
“Do you have a moment?”
Tension tightened deep in his chest.
Crackle, pop.
Across the flames, Yo Han’s face was calm—as if nothing about this surprised him.
While everyone else was drunk, he alone looked perfectly composed.
“I’d like to talk.”
“Sure.”
Yo Han rose without hesitation.
Gyeol deliberately chose a direction where the cameras were plentiful and started walking.
Step. Step.
The sound of Yo Han following behind him felt like his heart was being crushed with each step.
***
“I heard you saved me. Thank you.”
Standing by the shore, Gyeol bowed his head.
It might’ve been overly formal—but better that than giving him anything to use against him.
“It was nothing more than what anyone would do.”
Yo Han replied smoothly, placing his hands on Gyeol’s shoulders.
Gyeol flinched despite himself.
“You don’t need to be nervous.”
As if soothing him, Yo Han straightened his posture.
The way his hand lingered, rubbing his shoulder once before falling away—
It was repulsive.
If I could just bite it. Or snap it backward...
“...Still. It feels different, thinking of you as someone who saved my life.”
Gyeol forced the words out.
Wouldn’t you be nervous? You psycho.
He couldn’t keep looking at Yo Han.
Turning away, he faced the dark sea.
The sound of black waves rolling in and out helped steady his shrinking composure.
Behind him, cameras filled the space.
So Yo Han would be careful with his words.
Don’t worry. Don’t worry.
“Even if I hadn’t drawn the unicorn float, I would’ve gone to save you.”
“...What?”
“The moment you fell into the water, it felt like my heart dropped.”
Gyeol looked up without realizing it.
Moonlight rested softly across Yo Han’s face.
“You got my card, didn’t you? Twice.”
Yo Han was flawless.
When he didn’t show hostility like this—
Even knowing it was all an act—
Gyeol felt himself being dragged back to the moment they first met.
“Today makes three. I’ve been watching only you. Sending cards only to you, Gyeol.”
What the hell is wrong with this man?
“I told you. I only think about you.”
Faced with the greatest problem of his life, Gyeol felt himself drifting.
“Have you really... only been thinking about me?”