After that day, Yunhui kept track of Yudam’s heat cycles even more carefully than Ian did. Somehow, he always noticed before the heat even began, and neither Ian nor Yunhui was ever caught off guard by Yudam’s heat again.
The relationship among the three of them proved far more stable than everyone had feared, and it was all thanks to Yunhui. Their days went on much as they always had when they were children. Ian never doubted that things would stay that way forever.
Tell me the truth. You like Yudam, don’t you?
Ian couldn’t remember exactly when he had asked him that. It must have been not long after they started high school. That day, too, Yunhui had realized Yudam’s heat was about to begin before Yudam himself did. Ian hadn’t smelled anything at all, but Yunhui had always been unusually sensitive to hormonal scents.
After Yunhui hurriedly sent Yudam home early and came back, Ian asked him about it. He wondered if Yunhui was especially sensitive to Yudam’s scent because he had feelings for him.
Ian had meant it as a casual question, but Yunhui paused and stared straight at him, his expression asking why Ian would suddenly bring that up.
Well, think about it. I couldn’t tell at all… and I bet none of the others noticed either. His scent was barely there, but you still picked up on it. I just thought it was strange. Maybe Yudam’s your fated omega or something? They say that can make you extra sensitive to each other’s scents.
After hearing Ian’s explanation, Yunhui gave a dry little laugh, as if the whole thing were ridiculous.
What about you?
The question came right back at Ian.
Me?
Ian pointed at himself.
If Yunhui was asking whether Ian liked Yudam, there was no need to think about it. Of course he did. But Ian had never seriously considered what kind of feeling that affection actually was.
Of course I like him. But I like you too.
Are Yudam and I the same to you?
An alpha and an omega. There was a significant difference between them.
But to Ian, regardless of secondary gender, they were both his friends.
You’re equally important to me. You and Yudam have both been with me for ten years already.
As if the answer were obvious, Ian couldn’t understand why Yunhui even had to ask.
Yunhui said nothing. Yet there had been something subtle about his expression then. He looked as though he felt nothing in particular, and yet his gaze seemed to turn cold.
I mean, Yudam’s an omega, so I guess someday he might end up dating either you or me. He could meet some completely different alpha too, but if possible, I’d rather he chose one of us. Wouldn’t it get harder to see him if he married some other alpha? That alpha probably wouldn’t like us hanging around him.
Ian added the explanation.
What about me?
Yunhui asked again.
You’re different. No matter who you marry, nothing between us is going to change.
Because they were both alphas.
Ian didn’t bother saying it aloud, but there was no way Yunhui didn’t understand.
Yunhui gazed at him in silence for a moment before finally giving him a faint smile.
Right. Of course.
Ian thought his reaction was a little strange, but he didn’t dwell on it. Back then, he still believed nothing would change between the three of them anytime soon. He thought there was plenty of time before Yudam became an adult and chose his alpha.
I like you! Not as a friend. I mean I like you as someone I want to date. Seo Ian, I don’t want to just be friends anymore. I want us to be together for real.
Not long after they turned seventeen, Yudam confessed to Ian.
Yunhui had gone home early that day for a family event. On the way home from school, Yudam suddenly shouted Ian’s name, squeezed his eyes shut, and blurted out at the top of his lungs that he liked him.
Ian was caught completely off guard.
He had told Yunhui that he hoped Yudam would eventually date one of the two of them, but he had never imagined that person might be him. Maybe, because he didn’t want to lose either of them, he had only vaguely assumed it would be easier if Yudam and Yunhui ended up together.
I…
Ian had meant to tell him that he had never thought of Yudam romantically.
But when he saw Yudam trembling after forcing himself to confess, the words wouldn’t come.
It took Ian a moment to understand just how much courage Yudam must have worked up to say it. If Ian rejected him, even their friendship might become awkward.
Once that occurred to him, he hesitated.
It wasn’t that he disliked the idea. He simply had never considered it before. He wasn’t even sure exactly where the line between friendship and romance was.
If they could keep being together the way they always had, maybe it wouldn’t matter.
All right. Let’s date.
Yudam’s face lit up at Ian’s answer.
Then, without warning, he burst into tears.
Whoa, why are you crying? Huh?
Startled, Ian tried to soothe him. Yudam wiped his tears away with the back of his hand, then looked at Ian with his eyes still brimming and gave him a sheepish little smile.
I was just so nervous. Now it’s all coming out.
Only then did Ian understand just how tense Yudam had been.
For some reason, Yudam even looked cute to him in a way he normally didn’t.
Ian still couldn’t separate what he felt from friendship, but he thought being with Yudam might not be so bad. And compared to watching Yudam date some alpha he couldn’t trust—someone other than Yunhui—Ian felt much more at ease knowing he could protect him himself.
Yudam and I decided to start dating for real.
Ian told Yunhui the truth the next morning on their way to school. He thought it would be better to tell Yunhui before they met up with Yudam.
Walking beside him, Yunhui came to an abrupt stop.
It was the first time Ian had ever seen his brows draw together like that.
Wait. Did you like Yudam? When I asked you before, you didn’t say anything.
Only then did Ian begin to worry that Yunhui might have feelings for Yudam too.
If that was the case, what was he supposed to do?
The last thing Ian wanted was to end up competing with Yunhui over the same person.
Yudam confessed to you?
Yunhui asked.
For Yudam’s pride, Ian had been about to claim that he was the one who confessed first, but Yunhui sounded so certain that Ian missed his chance.
When Ian merely opened and closed his mouth without answering, Yunhui let out a long breath.
The crease between his brows deepened. He even raised a hand and swept his tousled hair back.
Kang Yunhui was displeased.
Ian had never seen him like this before, but the look in his eyes and every movement of his hand made his irritation unmistakable.
If you liked Yudam too…
I don’t.
Yunhui cut him off flatly.
Ian was relieved, but at the same time, he couldn’t understand what had put Yunhui in such a foul mood.
Even if Yudam and I are dating, nothing between us is going to change. The three of us will still hang out together just like before, and we’ll never leave you out. I swear!
Ian hurried to explain, worried that Yunhui might feel excluded.
Yunhui stared at him for a long moment without saying a word. Then he turned away and strode ahead, quickly putting distance between them.
Hey! Wait for me!
Ian ran after him and fell into step at his side.
Kang Yunhui! Say something, will you? Huh?
Ian kept talking as he looked at Yunhui’s profile, but Yunhui did not say another word all the way to school.
I thought he’d congratulate me…
If Yudam had told Ian that he was dating Yunhui, Ian would have congratulated them without a moment’s hesitation.
So he had naturally assumed Yunhui would be happy for them too.
Ian worried about what would happen if Yunhui reacted the same way in front of Yudam, but his concern proved unnecessary. Whenever Yudam was there, Yunhui acted exactly as he always had.
Even so, Yunhui’s reaction that morning continued to bother Ian.
And it wasn’t until Yunhui disappeared that Ian finally realized something.
From the moment Ian told him he was dating Yudam, he and Yunhui had never spent time alone together again.
Ian had fallen asleep with his head resting beside his mother’s bed when the buzz of his phone scraping across the table woke him.
In the dead of night, the vibration sounded unusually loud.
Worried it might wake the other patients in the room, Ian quickly grabbed his phone.
Yudam’s name was on the screen.
Ian stepped into the hallway. The instant he answered, Yudam’s urgent voice came through.
[You’re at the hospital, right?]
“I am, but…”
[I’m coming over now.]
“Now?”
Ian checked the time on his phone.
It was after three in the morning.
Something was wrong if Yudam was coming to the hospital at this hour.
[They’ve been watching me constantly, so I couldn’t contact you until now. I’m sorry.]
It had been three days since Ian last heard from Yudam.
Even without Yudam explaining, Ian had already guessed more or less what was happening.
“It’s okay. Don’t push yourself—”
[I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Just wait for me.]
The call ended before Ian could even finish speaking.
Yudam had sounded frantic, almost as though someone were chasing him.
Apparently, he was trying to sneak out without his parents knowing.
Should Ian really let him do this?
Yudam’s mother had already made her position toward Ian perfectly clear. Yunhui had come to the hospital himself and warned Ian never to contact Yudam again.
A deep sigh escaped him.
Would letting Yudam go be best for everyone?
For Yudam. For Yunhui…
Was stepping aside really the right thing to do?
His chest felt tight.
It was as though he had been sealed inside a pitch-black cave. He couldn’t see even one step ahead, much less tell which direction would lead him out of the darkness.