Was it because the shock was so intense?
For some reason, memories from the past came back to Yeonwoo more vividly than ever. He glanced at Chahyun, focused on driving, and let his mind drift.
Like many unfortunate families, Yeonwoo's had its complications. He was born out of wedlock and raised solely by his mother. His biological father, who had been pretending to be single, was actually married to another woman.
When Yeonwoo turned nine, his father’s legal wife died from illness. Only then did his father marry his mother—finally shedding the label of “mistress.” That was when Yeonwoo officially gained a legal father.
But their circumstances didn’t improve, and his mother continued working as a caregiver. That continued until Yeonwoo was in his third year of middle school—when he met Chahyun at the villa.
“Hyung. My head hurts too much. I can’t sleep.”
On nights when everyone else at the villa was asleep, Chahyun would come to his door drenched in sweat.
“Wanna sleep here?”
“Yeah.”
“Come on in.”
Even when he was half-asleep, Yeonwoo would always let Chahyun crawl into bed next to him. Maybe it was because he was the son of a wealthy family, but Chahyun was unusually clingy for his age.
“Pet my hair.”
“Okay.”
“Until I fall asleep.”
“Alright.”
“Don’t stop.”
“I won’t.”
Chahyun, only in his first year of middle school, had big eyes and a doll-like nose—cute, but incredibly particular.
“I’m going to wake up in the middle of the night and check if you’re still doing it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Are you getting annoyed at me?”
“…No.”
“When you do it, my head stops hurting. My throat feels less tight. My throat always hurts at night.”
“That sucks.”
“Maybe it’s because your hands are so white and long.”
Chahyun had a sixth sense for catching on the moment Yeonwoo started to get irritated, and he knew exactly how to say the right things—like a tongue inside his mouth.
But Yeonwoo didn’t find him annoying. Despite both being boys, and Chahyun being two years younger, he honestly found him kind of cute. His looks helped, too—Chahyun really was pretty at that age.
Fortunately, the isolation treatment seemed to work. As he grew, the pheromone issues subsided. After a few weeks at the villa, the two drifted apart naturally.
They didn’t become lovers until much later—when they reunited in a university club. By then, Yeonwoo had already presented as an Omega.
Their story had picked up again in college… and led them all the way to now.
Yeonwoo had always thought they were keeping things quiet, flying under the radar. No scandals. No attention. But now—
****
When Yeonwoo came out into the living room after his shower, Chahyun was already sitting on the couch. He motioned for Yeonwoo to come closer.
As Yeonwoo approached, Chahyun pulled him in and started tugging at his robe.
“I’m tired. Let’s sleep early. I have work tomorrow morning.”
Yeonwoo tried to push Chahyun off as he kneaded Yeonwoo’s waist, but this time Chahyun didn’t let go.
One look at his face, and Yeonwoo could tell—he was annoyed from being rejected.
Normally, Yeonwoo would’ve just let it happen. Let himself be pulled in. But today, all he could think about was that conversation with Chahyun’s mother. It made it impossible to pretend everything was fine.
“Then don’t go to work tomorrow.”
“I can’t just not go.”
“Your café runs fine without you.”
“Hey.”
“You don’t even do anything.”
“…….”
He wasn’t wrong. From choosing the location to opening the place—everything had been Chahyun’s idea.
Yeonwoo had originally started working as an intern after college. But when long hours or fieldwork wore him out, his ankle always gave him trouble.
Chahyun, who’d watched it all happen, had offered to open a café for him inside his family’s building.
As the baby of the family, Chahyun had been pampered all his life—especially because of his past health problems. So if he wanted something, his family gave it to him. Opening a café inside Huiseong Tower was no big deal for them.
“I don’t even have a barista license. I don’t drink coffee that much. How the hell would I run a café?”
“I’ll take care of it. Just show up. Don’t overwork yourself—just pop in, make sure things are running, and keep your ankle safe.”
“If the owner’s that lazy, the café’s not gonna last.”
“I said I’ll handle it. Isn’t it nice, being in the same building as me?”
“Do you think customers are idiots?”
“So what? Just have all the office workers buy from you.”
“It doesn’t work like that. Quit saying weird shit.”
“Enough already. Hong Yeonwoo, just smile and bring me coffee when I stop by. Don’t sit there all grumpy. Got it?”
At first, Yeonwoo refused. But as he realized how serious Chahyun was, he gradually gave in. And deep down, he was grateful.
Ironically, Chahyun—who had no plans of working—started going into the office every day just to see Yeonwoo’s face. Word was, his sudden interest in company work made the Huiseong Group chairman extremely happy.
Once they committed to opening the café, Yeonwoo got his barista license. He studied coffee beans, visited roasteries, and picked out the best beans himself.
If he was going to do it, he wanted to do it right. So after some thought, he chose an espresso bar concept, renovated the space, and poured in his savings.
Now, Neo Belle was one of the more well-known cafés in the area.
Yeonwoo was always thankful to Chahyun for making that possible.
But the problem was… Chahyun had his hands in everything—from work to their private life.
Like now.
“I told you not to go in tomorrow.”
Yeonwoo wanted to say, Who the hell are you to decide that? But the words wouldn’t come out. Not when Chahyun technically had a stake in everything, including Neo Belle.
He was genuinely afraid that if they fought, he’d be too exhausted to work tomorrow.
He could feel Chahyun’s gaze cling to his skin. The scent of Alpha pheromones was thick in the air. Against his will, Yeonwoo felt his body start to react—his shoulders tightened. Chahyun wasn’t planning on letting him off the hook tonight.
Watching him cautiously, Yeonwoo finally sank to the floor between Chahyun’s legs.
“I’ll use my mouth.”
“You suck at that.”
Chahyun looked a little surprised and rested his hand on Yeonwoo’s shoulder.
“Then don’t.”
“Who said no? I’m just saying you suck too much to get me off.”
Taking that as a yes, Yeonwoo ignored the crude language and reached under his waistband. He could feel it growing, firm and hot, beneath the fabric. The muscles in his thighs tensed.
“Take it out. Now.”
Chahyun urged impatiently.
When Yeonwoo pulled down his underwear, Chahyun’s cock sprang free with aggressive force. Just seeing it, standing hard and proud, made the back of Yeonwoo’s throat sting—as if his body already anticipated the pain to come.