PAO 11

“Are you two really friends?”

Minsung, who couldn’t stand listening to their conversation any longer, asked.

“For now?”

At Junghoo’s words, spoken while stroking Seowon’s shoulder, Minsung sucked in a sharp breath. Feeling the uncomfortable atmosphere, Seowon coolly downed the beer that had arrived first.

‘If I knew it would be like this, I should have just gone home.’

*

It started lightly with draft beer. Even the insane smell of the freshly fried chicken couldn’t beat the sharp, cool refreshment of the draft beer. All four of them practically buried their faces in the 500cc mugs in front of them and drank away.

Only after finishing about half of it did Seowon put his glass down, wiped his mouth, and looked around at the others.

Minsung had already put his glass down long ago, and Minhee, like himself, had drunk about half before pulling her mouth away from the glass with a satisfied look.

And Junghoo…

“You drank all of that?”

Only after completely emptying the glass did he let go of the mug he was holding.

“Are you okay?”

“I wanted to drink.”

“You must have really wanted to drink, huh?”

To drink it all in one go. As Seowon watched with a dazed expression, Junghoo shrugged. Then, as if one glass wasn’t enough, he called an employee and ordered a new beer, and ordering soju along with it was a clear sign that he was planning to go all out.

Before the next mug of beer arrived, Seowon pushed a piece of chicken toward Junghoo’s lips.

“Do you even eat properly?”

Instead of answering, Junghoo opened his mouth and bit into the chicken Seowon offered. Seeing him munching, his lips moving, Seowon thought, so he hasn’t eaten. Seowon silently pushed the chicken toward Junghoo’s mouth again.

“But…”

Minhee, who had been watching them from across the table the whole time, asked.

“Are you feeding him because he’s your sweetheart, or are you feeding him because he’s your friend?”

Are you taking care of him so affectionately because Junghoo’s sweetheart is Seowon? Seeing her keep asking what was essentially the same question, she must be terribly curious.

“Why would I be his sweetheart? It’s not like that.”

Seowon said bluntly as he put down his empty fork. In the meantime, Junghoo drank some of the new beer that had arrived, then mixed in soju and downed it. Seowon snatched away the half-drunk glass and scolded Junghoo.

“Why are you drinking like that?”

“Looks like he’s the one who wanted to drink.”

Seeing Junghoo drinking hard by himself, Minhee interpreted it positively.

“Drink in moderation.”

Seowon pushed the bowl of puffed rice in front of Junghoo. It was meant as a suggestion to eat something, but Junghoo’s hand didn’t leave his beer mug. Having no choice, Seowon picked up a piece of puffed rice and held it to Junghoo’s mouth, and Junghoo readily accepted that.

“What’s this, are you guys really not in some kind of relationship?”

“I said we’re not.”

“Then can I try feeding him too?”

With a shy face, Minhee held a piece of puffed rice to Junghoo’s lips. Junghoo stared down at it and frowned.

“Get it away.”

“So you know how to refuse, huh?”

Minhee popped the puffed rice into her own mouth, looking disappointed. At the same time, she sent Seowon a look that said, And you’re still saying there’s nothing between you? Of course, Seowon ignored it.

“Junghoo, is your preference by any chance betas?”

Junghoo, who had just finished his glass and was ordering another draft beer, turned his eyes to look at Minhee. Minhee didn’t miss the chance when his attention was on her and asked.

“Seowon is a beta. But you like him?”

“Yes.”

“More than a friend?”

“Yes.”

“Did you ask Seowon to date you?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Junghoo’s answer was cut off by the arrival of the draft beer. But Junghoo just downed the beer again, swallowing his answer.

“Park Minhee, enough with that kind of leading interrogation.”

“So this was the reason you refused when I asked you to introduce us.”

I thought it was strange when he mentioned his ‘sweetheart’ earlier. Minhee snorted and said, “So that’s what it was,” changing the subject.

“Then it must be one-sided, right?”

At Minhee’s casual question, Seowon drank his beer. It was a natural avoidance, but there was no way the quick-witted Minhee wouldn’t notice. Minhee’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Seowon meaningfully.

“So, to sum it up, since he’s a guy who likes you, he wouldn’t bat an eye even if another girl made a move on him, so you were telling me not to even get interested from the start.”

“Just drink your beer.”

“I knew it, I was right.”

“I’m getting a call.”

Feeling cornered by Minhee one way or another, Seowon stood up, holding his phone. The timing was good. He was a bit puzzled when he checked who the caller was, but he tapped Junghoo’s shoulder to take the call. At Seowon’s signal to fold his legs, Junghoo immediately stood up and moved out of the way.

“He could have just moved his legs to the side. Look at that.”

Minhee clicked her tongue, then poured soju into her beer mug with a gurgle, as if she’d just had her heart broken. After confirming everything from Junghoo, she seemed to be feeling bitter. It would have been better if she hadn’t gotten interested from the beginning.

Seeing Minsung awkwardly patting Minhee’s shoulder, Seowon left the restaurant. Looking at the name on his phone screen, he couldn’t bring himself to answer right away. It was Yoo Taeha. Junghoo’s older cousin, and someone he had naturally grown distant from when he and Junghoo lost contact.

Feeling the continuous vibration of his phone, Seowon wondered what to do before finally pressing the call button.

“Hello.”

—It’s been a while, Seowon. You haven’t had any trouble, have you?

Normally, one would first ask how they’ve been, but since he mentioned “trouble,” Junghoo came to mind. It looks like Junghoo has had some trouble, not me.

“I haven’t had any trouble. But what is it?”

—Ah, it’s nothing much, but I have a favor to ask…

He seemed embarrassed to mention a favor after calling for the first time in several years, and his words trailed off.

“If it’s something I can do for you.”

—That… I’ll be honest. I heard you met Junghoo again.

“It hasn’t been long.”

—Right. How is Junghoo, now that you’ve seen him again?

How is he? Seowon peered into the restaurant. They had parted about a month before graduating from middle school. It wasn’t something he had known about in advance; one day, Junghoo suddenly stopped coming to school.

When they were young, he couldn’t get away even though he wanted to so badly, but Junghoo had disappeared just as he was getting used to having him around. He ended up going to a different high school, and there was no news until he entered university, so it was a reunion after a full nine years.

The Yoo Junghoo he met again was unusually thin for his towering height. His frame wasn’t delicate, but he had no meat on his bones. On top of that, his face was so pale, he looked like he’d just gotten out of a hospital.

The shock of their first meeting had been diluted little by little by the perverted things Yoo Junghoo spouted every time he opened his mouth, but the memory of that time was beginning to surface again.

“Hyung, is Junghoo perhaps sick somewhere?”

—Did Junghoo say something?

Asking what he said, does that mean he really is sick?

“It’s not exactly that, but his complexion is not good.”

—In that case, could you keep a close eye on him? He probably gets headaches often.

He wanted to ask if Junghoo had some kind of illness, not just that he was sick because his condition was bad, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words. At Seowon’s hesitation, he heard Yoo Taeha’s deflated smile.

—He used to catch a cold from even a little bit of chilly wind since he was a kid. It’s the same now. He only grew tall like a beanpole; he’s still sickly. I called because I heard you’re living with him. He doesn’t go to the hospital even when he’s sick, so you keep a good watch on him.

At Yoo Taeha’s playful reply, Seowon was able to relax a little. It seemed he had called out of worry, rather than because Junghoo had some illness. He had been more sensitive because he’d seen Junghoo in pain, but thankfully it didn’t seem to be a major problem. Well, my dad used to want me to eat well, too.

“I understand. I’ll keep a close eye on him and contact you.”

—Okay, let’s talk again.

“Yes.”

Hearing the beep indicating the call had ended, Seowon felt a strange sensation.

“What’s this. I feel like I’ve become his guardian.”

He felt it was something a grown adult should handle on his own, but he thought, we’re even living together, couldn’t I at least do this much for him?Then, the headache today, did he go to the hospital? He’d missed something he should have asked earlier. Thinking he should ask now, he returned to find a scene he hadn’t seen before. Junghoo was leaning his head on Minsung’s shoulder.

Has Yoo Junghoo ever been that close to someone else? Seowon paused for a moment at the unfamiliar sight he had never seen before, but he acted as if nothing was wrong. Making a fuss would only do Junghoo a favor.

“When did you two get so close?”

“It’s nothing much, I think he’s drunk. He kept stumbling, so I held onto him, and he leaned on me.”

Minsung briefly explained the situation and went to Minhee. Minhee, who was just as drunk as Junghoo, had her head bowed low and was completely still.

“Park Minhee, let’s go home.”

As Minsung shook Minhee’s shoulder to wake her, Seowon checked the time. The phone call hadn’t been that long, but for both of them to get that drunk in the meantime, he had no idea how much they had drunk.

“A game… we have to play a game. King’s game. Kiss the king, number 1.”

At Minhee’s words, slurred as her body swayed, Junghoo lifted his head.

“Kiss the king?”

Junghoo’s half-dazed pupils turned directly to Seowon.

“My king is Seowon.”

“Sob, he says he’s his sweetheart and his king. He’s a king-sweetheart. A king-sweetheart.”

Minhee whined drunkenly, on the verge of tears.

“Damn it, a prince…”

“Let’s go home. Be quiet. Seowon, we’re leaving.”

Minsung slung one of Minhee’s arms around his neck and pulled her up. Then he gave Seowon a nod with his eyes and left the restaurant. Suddenly left alone, Seowon wondered when he should get up. Then he turned his head to Junghoo.

“Do you even know who Minsung is to be leaning on him?”

“He’s an omega.”

“…Huh?”

“Minsung is an omega.”

Seowon stared blankly at Junghoo’s face as if at a loss for words.

“How did you know?”