Love Me More

Chapter 12

“It’s raining heavily. I’m waiting for it to let up before I go.”

The umbrella that would look like a parasol if Si-yul held it seemed normal-sized in the man’s hand. Whether it was the lingering effects of alcohol or the increased familiarity from the drinking party, Si-yul felt more comfortable dealing with Woo Hyun-se than before. He wiggled his feet and spoke.

“Didn’t you leave with Manager Kang?”

“I sent her off first.”

Si-yul expected him to go on his way, but Woo Hyun-se climbed the stairs and entered the convenience store. Curious about what he might buy, Si-yul craned his neck to peek. The part-timer took out cigarettes, and after paying, Woo Hyun-se came back out. Si-yul quickly lowered his gaze to his phone, pretending he hadn’t been looking.

Without asking for permission, Woo Hyun-se sat across from Si-yul. Though Si-yul busied his fingers trying to play a game, all his attention was focused on the person sitting across the table, making it difficult to concentrate. In the blink of an eye, he lost a precious life.

About to try again, Si-yul changed his mind, closed the game, and put his phone on the table. Even if he tried again, he knew he’d just die anyway.

Next to Si-yul’s hand, a hangover cure drink was placed with a thud. Si-yul looked up, following the hand that had placed the drink.

“Didn’t you drink a lot?”

“I’m fine…”

“Drink it anyway.”

Although he felt tipsy, it wasn’t enough to suffer tomorrow morning. But he couldn’t refuse that single command to drink. Si-yul bowed his head in thanks and took a sip of the drink. The tart lemon flavor and fizzy carbonation made his nose scrunch up involuntarily.

“Is the job manageable?”

“Yes.”

“Is anyone giving you a hard time?”

“Everyone’s been kind to me.”

“Of course they should be. You’re my parachute hire.”

Woo Hyun-se took out a cigarette but hesitated. He looked at Si-yul, asking with his eyes. Si-yul shook his head and pointed to a sticker on the convenience store’s glass door. It read “No Smoking” in large letters. Woo Hyun-se saw the sticker, clicked his tongue, and put the cigarette pack back in his pocket.

“Do you smoke?”

“No.”

When he was younger, some older boys he knew had offered him cigarettes to try, but after nearly choking and almost throwing up, he never touched them again. He couldn’t afford to buy cigarettes anyway. With utilities and groceries already tight, how could he spend money on luxuries? Even when his financial situation improved, he never felt the urge to smoke, perhaps because of that unpleasant memory.

“That’s unexpected, for a drug dealer.”

Si-yul looked at Woo Hyun-se with wide eyes. Drugs? Although he had delivered drugs, he never touched them himself. Moreover, wasn’t it said that taking them would turn you into an omega? Kwon Yuwon often cursed at the omega trait. Si-yul didn’t even have any curiosity about it.

“I don’t do drugs.”

“No way.”

“It’s true. I never touched them because they say you become an omega if you eat them. Living as an omega is so hard…”

“Living as an omega is hard?”

“Yes. Alphas and betas are fine, but being an omega sucks. That’s what my friend says.”

The man sipped his own drink and just hummed in response. Si-yul also wet his throat. Despite the heavy rain and humid air, his throat felt strangely dry.

“Are you a beta, CEO?”

“Alpha.”

“Then you wouldn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“What it’s like to live as an omega. It’s really tough for them. Even with suppressants, heat times are really difficult. Don’t you find ruts hard, CEO?”

“For alphas, it’s called a rut, not heat. And it’s not that hard. It’s rather enjoyable, isn’t it? Everyone seems excited to cling to you.”

Si-yul finished his drink and put it down. The scene he had witnessed at the bar flashed through his mind. As drinks were passed around and seats changed, Manager Kang had taken the opportunity to sit close to Woo Hyun-se. She subtly stroked his thigh or rested her head on his shoulder – actions that seemed too deliberate to be blamed on alcohol.

Tracing the rim of the can with his finger, Si-yul stole glances at Woo Hyun-se. His appearance was always breathtaking. Even with a slight curve in the middle of his nose bridge, it suited him as if deliberately designed that way. From his angular jawline to his firm cheeks, lips, long eyes, and forehead – his face alone was enough to draw others’ attention, and on top of that, he was tall with a solid build.

While seriously suspecting if he had Samoan or Viking ancestors in his lineage, there was no doubt that Woo Hyun-se would have been the object of envy even if he were a beta or even an omega, not just an alpha.

“How tall are you, CEO?”

“I haven’t measured since I passed 190cm.”

Si-yul raised both eyebrows with a gasp. He knew Woo Hyun-se was tall, but not to that extent. No wonder his shadow seemed unusually long.

“What about you?”

“178cm.”

To be precise, it was 177.6cm. That’s what he measured during his physical examination, so he might have grown a bit since then. Not wanting to lose, he rounded up. He wanted to lie and say 180cm, but knowing it would be easily caught, he added just a touch of pride to the truth.

“You’re short.”

Woo Hyun-se’s lips curved into a smile. Perceiving it as mockery, Si-yul bristled and straightened his back.

“You’re just abnormally tall. I’m not short. I’m above average.”

“So you wear a size M?”

“I wear L. Look at this.”

Si-yul tried to flip his hoodie to show the tag inside. He had no reservations since the clothes were bought a size larger. As he pulled at his clothes, his fair neckline was fully exposed under the convenience store lights. Like the dot under his right eye, there was also a mole between his neck and shoulder, as if a drop of ink had fallen there.

Woo Hyun-se’s gaze fixed on that spot. His hand holding the can twitched as if about to rise. Si-yul leaned his shoulder towards Woo Hyun-se, urging him to look. The loose-fitting clothes revealed quite a bit of skin. Even his straight collarbone was barely visible.

“…”

A motorcycle passed by the alley, honking its horn. Only then did Woo Hyun-se tear his eyes away from Si-yul’s exposed skin. He neatly fixed Si-yul’s flipped hoodie. Then, instead of touching the mole, he firmly grasped Si-yul’s forearm. Even when Si-yul flinched, he didn’t let go, kneading it as if measuring its circumference.

“How can a man be this skinny? What use is that? Eat more. And exercise more.”

“Hey, want to see my bicep?”

Si-yul boldly rolled up his sleeve and bent his arm into a right angle. Seeing the rounded muscle, Woo Hyun-se scoffed. Proudly showing off that little muscle, he was every bit like a kid who hated to lose.

Si-yul’s phone on the table lit up. He quickly answered it. As soon as he said “Hello,” a question came through: “Where are you?” It was Kwon Yuwon.

“I’m near the shop. I’m waiting for the rain to stop before walking back.”

“Why don’t you take a taxi?”

“I need to save money. I’ll be there soon.”

“…Should I come and get you?”

“No. It’s cold at night. Just stay home, you might catch a cold. Did you eat dinner? Should I buy something on the way?”

“I already ate. Just come quickly.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, he looked beyond the railing. The weather forecast seemed to be accurate as the rain had become much lighter. It seemed okay to walk with just his hood up now.

“…Boyfriend?”

Si-yul startled as he was about to get up and looked at Woo Hyun-se. He was hearing a lot of surprising things today. “Oh no,” he said, shaking his head.

“Yuwon is just a friend.”

“Seemed too affectionate for just friends. Do people usually talk like that?”

For Woo Hyun-se, whose friends mostly insulted and teased each other in earnest, it was hard to understand. Wasn’t that the kind of cringeworthy conversation that only couples would have? On the other hand, Kwon Yuwon was the only person Si-yul could call a friend. Having no other point of comparison, Si-yul nodded emphatically this time.

“Yes.”

“Or do you have romantic feelings for that friend? It’s not a crime for a beta to like an omega.”

“What? No, no. What are you thinking? We’re absolutely not like that. How can you think such a scary thought? Yuwon and I came from the same orphanage. We’re like siblings.”

Si-yul revealed without hesitation. Even after disclosing that he was an orphan and emphasizing the close, brotherly friendship between him and Kwon Yuwon, Woo Hyun-se just hummed and kept staring at Si-yul. He seemed unconvinced. For a moment, Si-yul interpreted that look differently.

“Even if you look at me like that, I can’t introduce you to my friend. He hates alphas.”

Perhaps overlapping with the incident where the pig had asked Si-yul to bring Yuwon, a sudden suspicion arose. Moreover, Woo Hyun-se was an alpha and Yuwon was an omega. What would happen if sparks flew between them?

No matter how rich and handsome Woo Hyun-se was, Si-yul couldn’t show his precious friend to someone who said ruts were “good” and that “everyone gets excited and clings to you” – such a promiscuous person. As Si-yul’s wariness peaked, Woo Hyun-se let out a laugh as if he’d seen something ridiculous.

“You must hear a lot that you’re oblivious, right?”

“I’m actually quite perceptive…”

Si-yul pouted his lips, saying something no one would believe. Woo Hyun-se chuckled, his shoulders shaking lightly.