Episode 5

He couldn’t muster the courage to lift his head and confirm who it was. That morning, he had parted ways with the man and had been trying to forget about him ever since. Well, to be honest, he had occasionally crossed his mind out of the blue. Each time, he had brushed it off as a mere coincidence and forcibly dismissed it as a happening. But why did they have to meet here? Tae-seo took a step back as he released his hand from the button. He wouldn’t forcibly close the elevator door, but  if the man didn’t get on, it would close on its own. Anyway, he must also want to avoid him.

[The door is closing.]

With the announcement, the elevator door began to move. Looking at the narrowing field of vision, Tae-seo knew that the man wouldn’t get on.  If they continued on their separate ways like this, they might accidentally run into each other next time…

As the closing door reopened, Tae-seo’s gaze rose. When Kang Se-heon met his eyes, he realized he had been continuously looking at him.

Kang Se-heon stepped into the elevator. Then, after gazing at Tae-seo a little longer, he turned away.

As the elevator door closed, leaving only the two of them in the confined space, Tae-seo suddenly became aware of the scent emanating from Kang Se-heon.

The refreshing scent seemed to enter his nostrils and linger in his chest as  if it were pure and honest in its movement.

“Nice.”

It was a scent he had thought was quite nice at that moment. So, he had deemed it unforgettable, yet today, he had recognized the man first by his scent again. What perfume could it be? He wondered  if it could be pheromones. In this place, even pheromones were perceived and accepted as smells.

Tae-seo subtly raised his arm and sniffed. Since he himself had claimed to be an omega, he wondered if he emitted a scent. Come to think of it, why hadn’t he ever thought of smelling his own pheromones before?

“Hmm?”

Tae-seo tilted his head. Apart from fabric softener, there was nothing particularly noticeable. Then, wasn’t he an omega? But that day, he clearly felt the heat…

“Yoon Tae-seo.”

At the voice that struck him like a bolt out of the blue, Tae-seo’s body trembled. Since there were only the two of them in the elevator, Kang Se-heon must have called him.

“I was just trying to ignore you.”

Kang Se-heon’s voice, neither loud nor soft, reverberated subtly in the confined space. There was no specific reason to focus on his voice, but strangely, all his attention was directed towards him.

“There’s something bothering me.”

Tae-seo’s eyebrows twitched. Let’s say they could pass by pretending not to know each other since they hadn’t seen each other in a while. They hadn’t even exchanged words when they had coincidentally met then. But what could be bothering him? It felt as  if he could smell something on the man’s body, just like when he had…

Tae-seo’s furrowed brow relaxed as he forced a smile. Maintaining his smiling face, Tae-seo glared at Kang Se-heon. Since he wouldn’t see himself anyway, he might as well stare at him.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“I think you have something to listen to.”

“Do you think I’ll obediently answer?”

No way. Tae-seo didn’t want to adjust himself to the man’s mood in front of him. No, there was no need to. He wasn’t someone like Kang In-hyuk or Seo Da-rae whose lives depended on it. It wasn’t pleasant to worry about Kang Se-heon either.

“Oh, right. That’s true.”

At Tae-seo’s sharp response, Kang Se-heon seemed to remember something.

“You weren’t a good kid. I forgot that while I was away.”

“…Are you joking with me right now?”

“I mean you’re not the type to obediently follow whatever I say. Anyway…”

Kang Se-heon pushed Tae-seo’s rebuttal aside as  if it were bothersome.

“Come with me.”

[The door opens.]

With the announcement, the elevator door opened, and Kang Se-heon gestured outside. Tae-seo checked the floor number. He was heading underground, so there was no need to get off on the first floor.

“I don’t want to.”

Tae-seo casually rejected his proposal. Then he gestured for Kang Se-heon to get off quickly. Tae-seo discreetly placed his hand on the button, ready to close the door  if Kang Se-heon got off.

Observing Tae-seo’s response, Kang Se-heon chuckled before stepping out of the elevator. It was the moment when Tae-seo was about to press the button to close the door, wishing they would never meet again.

“Well, I can’t help it. I have to look for someone who knows 25-year-old Yoon Tae-seo. Starting from the party that day, I might catch at least one person. But where should I start? Should I start by mentioning that I suddenly had a hit?”

It was a light tone, as  if there was no need to ask the person directly, but ultimately, it was a threat towards Tae-seo. Even  if Yoon Tae-seo was a beta, even if he said so, who would believe him? It would be better to ignore it.

“…Where are we going?”

As 25-year-old Yoon Tae-seo, who hadn’t fully erased his misdeeds and was still in turmoil, hesitated, he pressed the open button.

***

“If only it were someone I knew.”

Tae-seo’s face, watching Kang Se-heon, was full of displeasure. He wouldn’t have felt this annoyed if it were Kang In-hyuk instead. He knew well how to handle the main character of the original work, but he couldn’t figure out how to deal with the man in front of him.

Even  if he were an unimportant supporting character,  if he had been mentioned a few times, he could have tried to piece together the puzzle, but nothing came to mind. This meant that the information I knew about Kang Se-heon was of no use in dealing with him.

But ignoring him might lead to trouble, as the man’s personality was not to be taken lightly.

“If you won’t take responsibility…”

As Tae-seo suddenly interjected, Kang Se-heon, who had been looking at his phone, felt his gaze.

“You said not to pretend to know each other next time. You said not to stick around. But why did you pretend to know each other and even have coffee together?”

Tae-seo looked genuinely aggrieved. Even  if he wanted to comply with Kang Se-heon’s words because he was grateful for his help, it was he who had drawn the line first. He had told him not to act like a magpie, just to repay the favor today.

“You even told me not to think about getting your phone number, right? Then why are you sitting here? I’m really busy right now.”

“What are you busy with?”

“I have to go home and have dinner.”

Tae-seo’s bold reply made Kang Se-heon’s lips shut tight.

“Yeah, you’re good at taking care of yourself. What did I want to say again?”

“If you’re not going to take responsibility…”

Kang Se-heon’s lips pressed into a thin line at Tae-seo’s sudden remark.

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before. So what? You’re still young and energetic.”

“…Do you happen to know Kang In-hyuk?”

“…Who?”

For a moment, Tae-seo thought he had misheard. But as Kang Se-heon kindly repeated, Kang In-hyuk was firmly imprinted in his mind.

“He’s my cousin, and he said there’s someone named Yoon Tae-seo among Kang In-hyuk’s friends. I thought it might be you.”

Kang In-hyuk. Kang Se-heon. As the gears turned mercilessly in Tae-seo’s mind, trying to match human relationships…

“So, I possessed an antagonist’s body because I happened to like the main character, and then I ended up having coffee with his cousin?”

It’s all twisted… Even the person I sought help from is twisted…

“…Who is he?”

Tae-seo’s dilemma was short-lived. He knew Kang In-hyuk and Kang Se-heon were cousins, but that didn’t mean he intended to reveal who Kang In-hyuk was.

“No? Then forget it. I’m done talking, so go.”

As Kang Se-heon put his phone down on the table and picked up his coffee cup, he smiled kindly at Tae-seo, as  if apologizing.

“Go have your meal.”

Tae-seo felt his seat getting colder than he expected and stood up hesitantly. Then he walked towards the elevator again but stopped.

“Why is everything so tangled?”

Tae-seo frowned deeply and nervously rubbed his forehead. Then he turned around and stood in front of Kang Se-heon.

“Why? Did you lie to me?”

It was a question about whether their relationship as Kang In-hyuk’s and an unknown person was a lie. But Tae-seo shook his head.

“Give me your number.”

“Suddenly?”

“It’s not because of any other feelings. Just ask me later  if you want to know 25-year-old Yoon Tae-seo again, instead of pretending from the beginning to the end. Anyway, give me your number.”

“Because you said that, I feel even less like giving it to you.”

Kang Se-heon chuckled and leaned back in his chair. Tae-seo glanced at him. Despite being a few years younger, he didn’t like the relaxed atmosphere of the man from start to finish. Now he even disliked his scent.

“There’s no way I’ll do that. Even  if you pretended not to know me first today, that’s not what you wanted to say. Anyway, give me your number.”

Tae-seo pressed on, pointing to his phone with annoyance. Kang Se-heon looked at Tae-seo for a moment, then flashed a brief smile and handed over his phone. While Tae-seo entered his number, Kang Se-heon glanced at him.

Despite his youthful appearance, he had a distinct impression. He was softer than his cousin Kang In-hyuk, but Yoon Tae-seo was also a handsome face. He was tall and had broad shoulders. But what caught his attention was another charm he saw that day. His seemingly dull body line couldn’t have been so beautiful.

Moreover, although mischievous, he didn’t seem weak in his self-esteem, knew how to handle jokes appropriately, and, above all, was quick-witted.

Even in conversation, there was a lively humor that made Yoon Tae-seo seem quite likable. Of course, only to a certain extent.

“If you call me because you’re lonely, I’ll be mad.”

“Are you feeling chilly in your side because you’re getting older?”

Tae-seo retorted with a chuckle.

Receiving his phone back from Yoon Tae-seo, Kang Se-heon suddenly felt something strange. The scent he had smelled as he held him close all night had disappeared.

“But you… you’ve hidden your pheromones well.”

As Kang Se-heon spoke, Tae-seo, who had been playing with his phone, froze with a stiff expression.