JADE 42

By the time I was dazedly finishing my second glass, it occurred to me that there was really no one sitting alone. It seemed like there would be many people traveling alone, even if not for business, but strangely, at this very moment, all I could see were couples.

‘Don’t tell me… am I the only solo traveler in the package tour too?’

It was a pointless worry since not everyone in the lounge was going to Spain.

Slightly drunk, I boarded the plane. I was about to refuse the meal, but I couldn’t sleep despite being tired, so I ate a little.

After reading a paper on pheromones that I had loaded onto my tablet for the first time in a while, I also watched a movie. Then, when I closed my eyes in exhaustion, memories of the past immediately came to mind. Mostly things from the past days where my conduct now seemed embarrassing to think about.

Why did I keep contacting Kwon Joowan separately after meeting him as a patient? Why did I make sex jokes at the academy? Why did I peek at his dick? Was I crazy?

Starting with things like that, I later came to regret not getting properly angry at Kwon Joowan. Of course, I did throw a bit of a fit when he dumped me at the convenience store table, but I couldn’t get angry about him playing games with me without any intention of actually hooking up, as if he was just messing with me.

Because Jin Sejun had enjoyed it too…

I was like that for the entire flight, so even after landing, I didn’t feel any excitement about arriving at the airport of my destination. I just felt more clearly that this sudden trip was an escape.

After collecting my luggage and the tour leader called for attendance, it really seemed like everyone had come in groups of at least two. Like an elementary school student who couldn’t find a partner, Jin Sejun stuck close to the tour leader.

“I have a question. Am I the only one who came alone?”

“No, were you worried? There is one more person. He’ll be joining us locally.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Um… is this the first time you’re hearing this, by any chance?”

“Huh? Yes. I haven’t heard anything about it.”

The tour leader wore a troubled expression even as he walked briskly, and Jin Sejun immediately became anxious.

“It’s because you and that person joined at the last minute, Mr. Sejun. And since it’s peak season, I think there was a lack of communication. You were only charged the single room supplement for two days, right?”

“Uh…”

To be honest, I had swiped my card without checking every detail, so I couldn’t answer smartly.

“You’ll be sharing a room with him from the third day… I apologize for not informing you in advance.”

“Well… it’s fine if he’s a beta, but if he’s an alpha or an omega―.”

“Don’t worry about that part, he’s a male beta, of course!”

“Yes, well, that’s a relief. It’s fine.”

It seemed like a big problem had been averted, but it wasn’t something that personally bothered me, so I just let it go. The schedule was so packed anyway that we’d be changing accommodations every day, checking in, and just crashing, so as long as we weren’t sharing a bed, I didn’t want to be petty.

Had I ever tried to meet a beta? Lately, I had seen beta-omega couples like the student guardians or Kwon Joowan and Ahn Saeha, but the reality is that things rarely work out between dynamics and betas.

As a matter of damn fact, I didn’t even want to meet any other beta.

In any case, I had only two days to myself, so I decided I should enjoy them to the fullest.

When packing, I had grumbled about looking too Korean when Jin Youngjun handed me things like cup ramen, scorched rice, and stir-fried kimchi. But now that I was actually here, the room was strangely chilly, and I felt hungry even after eating, so I broke out the cup ramen on the very first day.

The next day, it became painfully clear that I was the only solo person in the package group until the locally-joining beta arrived. And at this point in time, it was not a pleasant thing; more and more people were taking an interest in the tall and handsome alpha, and many tried to strike up a conversation with Jin Sejun.

“Hahaha, my hyung and his wife came here before and bragged about how great it was, so I came to see for myself.”

“We came as a married couple too.”

“I came with my son. Mr. Sejun, you could find someone here.”

“Hahahahahaha…”

Sure enough, a young omega was lightly tapping his omega mother’s arm, telling her to stop. His skin was fair, and his appearance was charming—it was hard to tell if he was really young or just had a baby face—but I was definitely not in a state to meet someone new yet.

If only I had actually dated Kwon Joowan, if only we had at least touched lips, I would feel less wronged! All that happened was that I got dumped relentlessly without ever even telling him I liked him.

‘Come to think of it, I never even got to confess.’

It probably would have pissed me off even more if I had. Jin Sejun brushed it off and tried hard to maintain the smile on his face.

Two days flew by as I saw Gaudi’s architecture among the teeming crowds, ate local food, and even visited a monastery in the high mountains.

Except for the pitying looks people gave me at photo spots or during meals, it wasn’t bad to travel alone amidst the bustling atmosphere.

Oh, and let’s exclude the time I had to draw a line as discreetly as possible with the omega who came with his mother because he kept trying to be nice to me.

And also the fact that I thought I saw Kwon Joowan here and there among the people… The former was understandable, but the latter seemed to be a serious mental issue.

‘No way, I’m seeing all sorts of crazy things.’

We weren’t even that close, yet I was making such a fuss. It’s a country with a large tourism industry, so big, black-haired guys like Kwon Joowan must be flocking here from all over the world.

Maybe my body was weak because the room was so cold. I was already sensitive to the cold in bed, but with the drastic temperature changes and the heating not being on, the chill seemed to penetrate to my very bones.

I shouldn’t have refused when Jin Youngjun tried to give me hot packs, saying I had too much small luggage…

The third day. Checking out every morning, loading the suitcase onto the chartered bus, running a tight schedule, and then taking the suitcase out to check in again was more tiring than I expected. Normally, I would have been grateful and enjoyed it when others talked to me and included me in their group during meals or sightseeing, but right now, I really wanted to be alone.

Unlike the subtly withering Jin Sejun, the others seemed to become more and more lively as they saw beautiful sights and ate delicious food.

See, even if you do what others say is good, if you don’t have the peace of mind to enjoy it, even the first and last picnic you had together, just the two of you, ended like that.

“…”

It was common for unwanted memories to ambush Jin Sejun like this without warning.

“Mr. Sejun, would you like some of this?”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

“Have it later then!”

The crinkling corners of the omega Eun Garam’s eyes were cute, but still, nothing stirred within me. I had been rejecting various things to draw a line, but Eun Garam would approach me like a spear trying to pierce through everything.

Was it because on the first day, his mother joked that if Jin Sejun was a single alpha, he should meet her son? He seemed shy at first, but thinking back now, he was probably just pretending to be embarrassed.

Jin Sejun was pushing him away because of his situation and mental state, but honestly, Eun Garam was a charming omega who was kind, active, and had such a cheerful laugh that he drew attention wherever he went.

“If I had a child, I would have asked Mr. Garam to join our family!”

“Me too. He’s so bright and lovely.”

“Mr. Sejun, seize the opportunity.”

“Hahaha… As for me, well, I’m too old.”

“They say you don’t even check the compatibility for a four-year age gap. Look how humble he is.”

Don’t you guys think of it as a rejection…? There are times when even an alpha’s head is clear of the craving for an omega. Well, that was a fact Jin Sejun had only learned this year himself.

Jin Sejun smiled bitterly and quickly boarded the bus. He took a seat in the middle where he wouldn’t disturb those who would sit together, and soon others filled the empty spots.

He was just looking at the hotel parking lot scenery when the tour leader suddenly took the microphone.

“Today, along with our new guide, we have a beta who has joined us locally. Well then, shall we have a simple self-introduction?”

It seemed the aforementioned beta roommate had arrived. The moment he looked forward without much thought, Jin Sejun felt a confusing something welling up from the pit of his stomach… something closer to negative than positive.

“My name is Kwon Joowan, please take good care of me.”

“Wow~. A round of applause!”

Clap, clap, clap, clap…

He heard Eun Garam, sitting across from him, cheering, but the sound soon faded.

“Mr. Sejun, you’re happy, right? From now on, you two can go around as partners.”

Is this something to be happy about? Should I be happy? Why are we meeting so suddenly like this?

While Jin Sejun was staring blankly, Kwon Joowan walked over without hesitation. Then, when their eyes met, his eyes widened as he looked at Jin Sejun and the empty seat next to him, before taking the seat right behind.

Just the fact that Kwon Joowan was sitting that close made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

‘Did he follow me?’

He had only told the director in advance about quitting the academy, so to be honest, he hadn’t been without the intention of ghosting Kwon Joowan. Embarrassingly, he had even secretly hoped Kwon Joowan would show some lingering attachment to him, but not the kind of fucking huge lingering attachment that would make him chase him to the other side of the world…

But how easy is it for that to happen when nothing much had been going on between them? Besides, didn’t Kwon Joowan join locally? Yiseo might have chattered about her parents’ trip, or he could have just gotten a recommendation from Jin Youngjun and his wife.

In the first place, it was a hot travel destination and it was peak season, so the possibility of this incredible coincidence happening wasn’t entirely zero. Judging by Kwon Joowan’s surprised expression when their eyes met on the bus, it seemed to be a crazy coincidence.

While Jin Sejun was lost in thought, the friendly Eun Garam leaned his upper body out and spoke to Kwon Joowan, who was sitting diagonally behind him.

“I thought you were an alpha at first sight, are you a beta?”

“Ah, yes. I get that a lot.”

“How did you end up alone… Oops.”

As the bus lurched, Kwon Joowan reflexively grabbed Eun Garam’s arm.

“Thank you…”

At his voice, which was considerably softer than before, Jin Sejun reflexively glanced to the side, then quickly averted his gaze. Eun Garam, his cheeks flushed rosy, had promptly moved to the empty seat next to Kwon Joowan.

“So you were traveling alone and then joined us?”

“I left from Korea a little late.”

“It’s a shame you missed two days.”

“There’s still a lot left.”

“Ahaha, you’re so positive.”

Jin Sejun wanted to cover his ears at the conversation coming from behind him, but he hadn’t brought a single pair of noise-canceling earphones. Besides, if he tried to ignore it, his imagination would just run wild, and he would feel just as crappy.

‘Mr. Garam, your mother…? What are you doing, leaving your mother behind?’

Is this how Kwon Joowan felt when he scolded Coach Hong at the academy, telling her not to look for an alpha there? But this wasn’t the academy, and there was no particular reason why Kwon Joowan and Eun Garam shouldn’t get together.

‘I feel like I’m going to throw up…’

A cold sweat broke out, and he felt strange, as if he were getting motion sickness. He had rarely ever not been the center of attention wherever he went, but thanks to Kwon Joowan, he was now feeling like something had been taken from him like this. Well, just looking at the surface, Kwon Joowan did look like a truly amazing alpha.

No, rather than feeling like something was taken…

No, it’s right that I feel like something was taken. Kwon Joowan was taken by Eun Garam…

‘I want to die.’