Alpha Trauma

“Think carefully.”“…….”“If I really tell you everything, you might open the car door and jump out.”It wasn’t just a casual warning. After a brief moment of contemplation, Wooyeon chose to keep his mouth shut. Since it was his teacher speaking, it was wise not to dismiss it lightly.Before long, they entered the apartment complex. While exchanging trivial conversations (mostly about school life), Wooyeon quickly turned as soon as Dohyeon finished parking. His clear eyes were filled with anxiety.“Uh… Sunbae.”There were many questions he wanted to ask, but the journey home was far too short. Even though there was a mountain of conversation topics piled up, he couldn’t just let Dohyeon leave like this. Moreover, the sudden farewell felt somewhat disappointing.“Do you want to come in for a bit?”“…….”At those words, Dohyeon stared at Wooyeon blankly. Wooyeon, who had mustered the courage to speak, flinched and hunched his shoulders. The intense gaze was too relentless.“……Why?”“Uh, no….”Instead of giving a reason, Dohyeon shook his head and turned off the engine. He took out the car key and unbuckled his seatbelt, then carelessly swept his hair back. Wooyeon thought his furrowed brow looked quite sexy and swallowed dryly.“Uh, just in case, I’m saying this…”Before getting on the elevator, Dohyeon opened his mouth with a somewhat hesitant expression. When Wooyeon looked up at him, he asked casually.“You haven’t forgotten that I said I like you, right?”“……How could I forget that?”Wooyeon turned his gaze away, his ears turning red. Rather than forgetting, it was precisely because he remembered that he had invited him in. He wanted to take his time and have a deeper conversation.“Oh, it’s not like that last time.”Wooyeon waved his hands in denial, letting out a light gasp. He had no intention of implying that, but it felt similar to when he had a hit cycle before.Dohyeon silently observed Wooyeon and then let out a soft sigh.“You trust me too much.”At that moment, the elevator arrived, so Wooyeon couldn’t ask about the meaning of that statement. He could only confirm that the way he looked at him was quite complicated.* * *The sky filled with fluffy clouds appeared brilliantly blue. Dohyeon leaned his upper body against the terrace, holding the end of a cigarette in his mouth. Whenever the breeze blew, the hazy smoke wafted away gently.“Would you like something to eat?”“No, I’m fine.”Wooyeon sat at a distance, watching him smoke. Dohyeon had told him to stay inside, but Wooyeon insisted on being out here. After much discussion, they had settled on this distance since indirect smoking was said to be worse for health.“Does it taste good?”“It’s bad.”“Liar.”“It’s true.”“Then why do you smoke?”Dohyeon squinted and exhaled the smoke slowly. The way his slightly parted lips moved was provocatively enticing. Although Wooyeon didn’t like cigarettes, seeing Dohyeon smoke made his mouth water.“I’m addicted. It’s partly a habit.”“Hmm….”Wooyeon, lost in thought, rested his chin on his hand and blinked. While smoking was one thing, why was he smoking pheromone cigarettes of all things? Usually, that kind was smoked primarily by betas who couldn’t sense pheromones or recessives with faint pheromones.“Don’t you smoke regular cigarettes?”“I used to, but I don’t much these days.”“Why switch to pheromone cigarettes?”Dohyeon tilted his head slightly, the cigarette dangling from his fingers. His steady gaze firmly held Wooyeon in place.“Sometimes, I need artificial pheromones.”He didn’t ask why he needed artificial pheromones. Wooyeon felt his face heat up under the intense gaze and subtly pressed his earlobes down. The warmth radiating from his body was distinctly transmitted to his fingertips.“I’ll air out the smell before going in… If you’re curious, feel free to ask more.”By now, Dohyeon had extinguished the short cigarette butt in the ashtray. The crystal ashtray had been a decoration somewhere in the living room.Wooyeon decided to confirm the most basic question that came to mind.“……Are we dating?”He couldn’t bring himself to ask if he liked him. Although he wanted to hear “I like you,” he lacked the courage to be so greedy. It felt easier to ask about their relationship rather than his feelings, as it would be simpler to deal with a negative answer that way.“Generally, if both like each other, it’s right to date.”The answer he received was neither positive nor negative. It was closer to speculation than certainty, causing Wooyeon to frown and challenge him.“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be in a CC?”“Did Moon Garam say that?”“…….”Could it be that he was overhearing things just like Wooyeon did? Even though he knew it wasn’t true, that was the only thought that came to mind.“When you date in school, it can be a hassle. There are rumors, and it gets awkward if you break up. Then one person goes to the military or has to take a leave of absence to calm things down.”Dohyeon only spoke negative words. As he listened, Wooyeon’s expression gradually fell. So they weren’t dating after all. Just as he concluded that with dread, an unbelievable statement reached his ears.“Even so, I want to date you.”Wooyeon’s eyes widened as he stared at Dohyeon. The sky behind him, cleared of clouds, looked beautiful. Dohyeon smiled gently.“The question of whether we’re dating should be mine to ask. I said I like you, and I promised to tell you until you believe it.”Thanks to the longer days, the sunlight made his eyes appear warm. His lips, which formed a gentle curve, spoke even softer words.“I like you.”“…….”“If you’re worried about what happens after we break up, then let’s not break up. Isn’t that right?”Wooyeon nodded instinctively, as if enchanted. Although his mind was foggy, he felt that whatever Dohyeon said must be correct. Dohyeon defined their relationship in a voice as sweet as melting candy.“We are dating, right?”It felt exhilarating, as if his spirits were soaring. His chest swelled, and his nose tingled. As Wooyeon nervously bit his nails, Dohyeon playfully opened his mouth.“You’re supposed to kiss at a time like this…”“I want to.”Wooyeon replied immediately and walked over to Dohyeon. In an instant, he closed the distance and grasped the collar of Dohyeon’s shirt tightly. As he lifted his head, he saw Dohyeon’s eyes widen in surprise.“I want to kiss you.”“…….”Dohyeon remained unresponsive for a long moment, creating an unbearable tension. His hazy gaze was filled with hesitation. Slowly, he reached out and spoke in a subdued voice.“I just smoked a cigarette.”His hand brushed against Wooyeon’s cheek and ear. The warmth that gently enveloped his face was more cautious than ever. Wooyeon didn’t respond, but his silence was not a rejection.Through slowly closing eyelids, Wooyeon saw Dohyeon lowering his head.“…….”“…….”The sensation of their lips touching sent shivers through Wooyeon’s body. While Wooyeon trembled, Dohyeon cradled Wooyeon’s head with both hands. Long fingers gently swept across his temples and the nape of his neck.“…You should open your mouth.”With a slight parting of their lips, he whispered like a breath. This time, a soft tongue pressed in as their lips connected again. Wooyeon felt as if his legs might give way, but he held on tightly to Dohyeon’s waist.It felt like handling something fragile. Their slow, careful kisses overwhelmed him with emotion. The air was thick with pheromones, and though his head was spinning, Dohyeon occasionally gave him space to breathe.This was their first kiss. It was his first love and first relationship. As if the gloomy clouds had suddenly cleared, his previously heavy heart felt bright and sunny.* * *Seonkyu thought the atmosphere in the clubroom had been peculiar lately. They had gathered at similar times and for similar reasons, but the mood had shifted recently. Specifically, it revolved around one small guy who had always been a bit grumpy.This was Wooyeon, one of Seonkyu’s classmates. With his small face and delicate features, he had caught everyone’s attention since the start of the semester. Seonkyu couldn’t take his eyes off Wooyeon when he first saw him.Although they hadn’t known each other for long, it was Seonkyu’s first time meeting someone so stunningly beautiful. Wooyeon’s round forehead, button nose, slender jawline, and rosy lips all felt unreal.If only Wooyeon hadn’t been standing alone, Seonkyu might have never had the courage to speak to him at a drinking party.Fortunately, Seonkyu was remarkably sociable. Partly fueled by alcohol and partly by hero complex, he had approached Wooyeon without hesitation, making him one of the closest friends among their classmates. Well, whether Wooyeon felt the same way, he wasn’t sure, but at least he was closer to him than to others.Two months had passed—short enough to feel fleeting yet long enough to make an impression. They attended the same classes, went on a trip together, and studied at Wooyeon’s house (which was surprisingly impressive upon reflection).From what Seonkyu gathered about Wooyeon, he was rather complex and hard to define in a single sentence.The problem was that starting last week, Wooyeon began to show conspicuous signs that caught everyone’s attention.“…….”Wooyeon’s bright eyes stared intently at the clock on the wall. Every time his slow eyelids blinked, his thin double eyelids stood out more prominently. He probably didn’t realize it, but his cheeks had been flushed for a while now.Seonkyu knew exactly why Wooyeon was acting like this. After seeing the same face for a week, it was impossible not to notice. He also knew exactly what to say to elicit a reaction from Wooyeon.“Dohyeon will be here soon.”“……!”Wooyeon jumped slightly, his shoulders twitching. Seonkyu stifled a laugh at the startled bunny-like expression on Wooyeon’s face. Despite his fox-like appearance, he acted as clumsily as a bear.“Uh… he’ll be here soon.”Wooyeon cleared his throat awkwardly. He covered his face with his hand, but he couldn’t hide how his ears had turned bright red. His neck was so flushed that it looked like it might burst if touched, revealing his feelings.“Oh, so you like Dohyeon?”Seonkyu had realized this fact a while ago. The day after Wooyeon had missed study group because he got sick from eating too many hamburgers, he had encountered Wooyeon in class, who somehow exuded a soft, pleasant atmosphere.His usually sharp expression was unexpectedly gentle that day, prompting others to approach him to greet him.“Is something good happening?”Until he asked that, Seonkyu had no idea why Wooyeon was wearing that expression. He thought Wooyeon might just be in a good mood or had something nice happen, or maybe he had seen a cute cat that morning.“No, nothing like that.”Wooyeon replied casually while pinching his cheeks. He quickly returned to his usual calm demeanor. After putting on round glasses, he focused intently on the lecture, making Seonkyu think it was nothing serious.The real odd behavior came after class when they headed to the clubroom. Wooyeon, who had been avoiding the clubroom like it was contagious, willingly followed Seonkyu that day.And when they met Dohyeon in the clubroom, Seonkyu realized the truth.“…Hello.”Anyone could see it was a face in love. His eyes were glistening, and his cheeks were flushed. His gaze wavered, unable to look directly at Dohyeon.However, it seemed a bit unfortunate that Dohyeon showed no reaction.In truth, the signs had been there from the beginning. Wooyeon claimed Dohyeon was fake, but he unconsciously followed and sought him out. While he rarely showed emotional changes in front of others, he reacted strongly to every word Dohyeon said.Was it a new beginning or a belated realization? Seonkyu believed there must be a reason. It wouldn’t make sense for Wooyeon’s reactions to change overnight.It was likely the latter rather than the former.A month later, Seonkyu noticed the subtle tension between the two. Though Wooyeon seemed oblivious, Dohyeon’s gaze had begun to mirror Wooyeon’s.As the saying goes, those who are in love are often the last to realize it. Seonkyu was prepared to be surprised if they suddenly announced they were dating.“Honestly, I’d be surprised if they weren’t dating.”Far from being rejected, Seonkyu saw that their relationship was flourishing smoothly. His perceptive yet oblivious classmate seemed to misunderstand something, but Seonkyu believed that Dohyeon would lead the way regardless.Last week, when Dohyeon had been rumored to have been dumped, hadn’t he called out “Yeon-ah” in such a sweet voice that anyone watching would have felt their heart flutter?So this reaction now—“Are they finally dating?”If so, it was certainly something worth celebrating. Clearly, some progress had been made in their relationship while he, as the freshman class president, had been away from the club room for a week due to student council work.With the festival starting tomorrow, Wooyeon was sure to see the world through rose-colored glasses.“Looks like Kim Dohyeon is here.”Garam, who had been lounging on the makeshift bed, said this just as Dohyeon entered. She seemed to know Dohyeon had arrived because she mumbled, “I told him to bring some drinks.” Dohyeon must have arrived just as Garam texted him.At the same time, the door to the club room clicked open.“Hey! Can’t you go back and get the drinks?”“No, I can’t.”Dohyeon, answering indifferently, looked stylish as usual. He wore a light cotton t-shirt under a cardigan, with perfectly fitting pants. Seonkyu had similar clothes, but no matter how he wore them, they never exuded the same vibe.“Hyung, you’re here!”Dohyeon smiled warmly at the enthusiastic greeting. His neat, bright smile made Seonkyu’s heart flutter, despite him not harboring any romantic feelings. So how would Wooyeon, who had been eagerly waiting for Dohyeon, feel?“…You’re here.”Wooyeon barely managed to greet him in a tiny voice. Seonkyu, noticing Wooyeon’s red ears, shook his head. He’s so awkward. He reminded Seonkyu of an elementary schooler with a crush on their homeroom teacher. As expected, Wooyeon was terrible at hiding his emotions.“Seonkyu, you’re here in the club room today?”Dohyeon casually sat across from them and spoke in his usual tone. But when Seonkyu looked at the two of them sitting together, he felt a bit tense, though Wooyeon was just sitting beside him as always. Yet it seemed that kind sunbae was paying attention to that fact.“Since the festival’s tomorrow, I said I had to help with the club preparations and just came here.”“Isn’t the student council busy?”“It is, but… they don’t give much work to freshmen. Besides, the club’s events are more fun.”“Is it okay for a class president to say that?”Though Seonkyu was talking with Dohyeon, he was highly conscious of Wooyeon sitting beside him. Wooyeon, who had been fidgeting like a puppy waiting for its owner, grew quiet the moment Dohyeon entered. His cheeks were still red, but he didn’t seem inclined to start a conversation.Dohyeon, noticing this, spoke to Wooyeon first.“Wooyeon-ah.”“Y-yes?”Wooyeon flinched noticeably and sat up straight. Garam, still lazing on the bed, looked on in amusement at his over-the-top reaction. Dohyeon patted the spot next to him and pulled out his phone.“Come here, I’ll show you the headband we’re using for the festival.”Anyone could see that this was a blatant attempt to get closer to him. If he just wanted to show him a headband, he could’ve handed him the phone, but he was clearly calling Wooyeon over on purpose.“A headband?”But Wooyeon, oblivious to the obvious flirtation, scooted over to Dohyeon’s side with curious eyes, peeking at his phone. Soon, Wooyeon’s face showed a look of surprise, as if he’d forgotten his blushing earlier.“…Is this a rabbit?”His slightly furrowed brow indicated his genuine dislike. Dohyeon tilted his head and spoke softly.“Yeah, a rabbit. There’s a cat one too.”Their faces were only a handspan apart. Wooyeon’s breath caught as he rolled his eyes nervously. His shoulders stiffened, and he looked visibly tense.“We all… have to wear this in the club, right?”Wooyeon asked awkwardly as he stood up, trying to escape. Quickly, before Dohyeon could stop him, he hurried back to his seat next to Seonkyu. Seonkyu looked startled, but Wooyeon simply fiddled with his earlobe out of habit.“…Everyone in the club has to wear it.”Was it just his imagination, or had Dohyeon’s voice lowered as he said that? No, his normally gentle expression seemed to crack slightly. Seonkyu, confused, signaled Garam with his eyes.“What’s going on?”Why had Wooyeon bothered to come back when he could’ve just stayed by Dohyeon’s side? And why was he now avoiding Dohyeon’s gaze, head bowed low? Seonkyu didn’t understand, but Garam seemed oddly familiar with the situation.“Ugh.”Garam shrugged and got up from the bed. She fished a cigarette out of her pocket and gestured to Seonkyu.“Hey, Seonkyu. Let’s go smoke. Kim Dohyeon, you don’t smoke, right?”“You know me well.”It was clear Garam wanted to explain the situation and give them some space. Seonkyu stood, ready to leave, but Wooyeon got up first.“M-me too!”Wooyeon awkwardly jumped up from the sofa. Dohyeon’s gaze followed him slowly. Realizing this, Wooyeon furrowed his brows in embarrassment.“Not to smoke… I’ll go buy drinks.”The situation was clearly awkward. They were trying to leave Dohyeon and Wooyeon alone, but Wooyeon seemed clueless, acting like he wanted to get away from Dohyeon instead.“I’ll head out first.”With that, Wooyeon was the first to leave the club room.Left behind, the three remaining people were quiet until Garam broke the silence.“What did you do to him?”“….”Dohyeon smiled silently, but that smile seemed more like a warning not to ask any further questions. Seonkyu held back the question on the tip of his tongue: Is Wooyeon avoiding you?Whatever had happened, the atmosphere in the club room felt incredibly strange.* * *The festival had arrived in the blink of an eye. Though the name “Cherry Blossom Festival” didn’t seem fitting with the trees now covered in green leaves, the excited atmosphere was as lively as the coming summer.Everyone was busy preparing for the festival, but Wooyeon was preoccupied for a different reason.“We are dating.”That day, after clarifying their relationship on the terrace, they shared warmth for a long time before reluctantly parting late into the night.Their first kiss left Wooyeon in a daze, and Dohyeon holding him close marked the beginning of their relationship. After finishing dinner, Dohyeon stood up, leaving behind a wistful Wooyeon.“Are we really dating?” Wooyeon asked repeatedly, even as Dohyeon was heading out the door. He needed confirmation—was this really happening? Was it real and not just a dream? Would everything vanish as if it never happened when tomorrow came?At first, Dohyeon answered calmly. But after Wooyeon asked for the fifth time, Dohyeon looked at him seriously and said, “If you ask one more time, I’ll stay the night.”Though the words weren’t meant as a threat, the tone might as well have been. Dohyeon gave a light kiss to the now quiet Wooyeon before heading straight home.Later, Wooyeon regretted not asking one more time, but by then, the elevator carrying Dohyeon had long descended.As Wooyeon settled into bed, he remained in a hazy state, the pheromones lingering in the air and the warmth on his lips igniting a heat deep within him. He felt like his senses might become as heightened as they were during his heat cycle if he let go of reason even a little.It was inevitable. Wooyeon had harbored a long unrequited love for Dohyeon, but he had never hoped for a relationship. Just the act of liking him felt excessive, and Wooyeon had tried to suppress his feelings many times.To Wooyeon, Dohyeon was like a mirage—someone to long for, desire, and dream about, but nothing more.But now, they were dating. He’d heard Dohyeon say he liked him, and they’d shared affectionate kisses. The warmth that had mingled between them was so addictive that it even appeared in Wooyeon’s dreams that night.Just once. Yeah, it was only once.“Wooyeon, you’re here already?”On the day of the long-awaited festival, Wooyeon arrived at the club room earlier than the appointed time. Though it was about an hour early, Garam and a few upperclassmen were already there, gathered around a table with a cotton candy machine, engrossed in reading the manual.“Where’s Dohyeon Sunbae?”Wooyeon asked as he approached the table, naturally looking for Dohyeon. As the club president, he would usually be the first to arrive, but he was nowhere to be seen. Garam casually replied.“He just went to get something. He’ll be back soon.”Though a bit disappointed, Wooyeon also felt relieved. At least he had time to mentally prepare. He pressed his earlobes and took a deep breath.“So, you put the sugar in here…”As Garam was explaining, Dohyeon returned to the club room in less than five minutes. It was just as the club members, looking like apes discovering new technology, had made a mess of their first attempt at cotton candy. Dohyeon entered, carrying a large box in one hand and immediately locked eyes with Wooyeon.“…”“…Hello.”Their brief eye contact stretched into a long gaze. Wooyeon greeted him, but Dohyeon didn’t blink as he continued to stare, his dark eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.“Dohyeon, you’re here? Look at this. Our cotton candy is amazing,” Garam said, breaking the awkward silence without a care.Though Dohyeon seemed to have a lot to say, he eventually shifted his gaze from Wooyeon and grimaced at the cotton candy (or whatever it was that Garam claimed it to be).“…Is that supposed to be cotton candy?”Finally, Wooyeon let out a breath, placing a hand over his chest. His heart pounded so hard that his face must have turned red. If Garam hadn’t spoken, Wooyeon would have surely bolted from the room.“They said making cotton candy was easy, but it doesn’t look that way now.”“This guy’s criticizing our masterpiece. You’d better do better.”It had been a week since Wooyeon started dating Dohyeon. Every time they met, Wooyeon reacted awkwardly like this.It wasn’t because the change in their relationship felt burdensome, or because sudden dating was unfamiliar, or even because it still felt surreal. It was simply that looking at Dohyeon was so embarrassing that Wooyeon couldn’t even lift his head.“I must be out of my mind.”The reason for Wooyeon’s reactions traced back to the night they started dating.That night, after falling asleep consumed by a mix of emotions, Wooyeon encountered an unbelievable scene in his dream. It was the moment when, drunk, he had climaxed in Dohyeon’s hands.“Can you take my pants off?”For Wooyeon, forgetfulness wasn’t an eternal blessing. The memories that had surfaced only in fragments before were so vivid in the dream that he even realized what Dohyeon meant when he’d asked for a “helping hand.”The pleasure Dohyeon’s large hands had given him, the way Wooyeon clung to him as if on the verge of tears, and the sensation of reaching climax.Sure, if it had stopped there, maybe Wooyeon wouldn’t feel this embarrassed.“Pass me the cutter knife. This tape won’t come off.”“What’s that?”The real problem was that Wooyeon woke up the next morning with a wet lower half.He wasn’t a teenager going through puberty, nor was he in his heat cycle, yet he had a wet dream about Dohyeon. Overwhelmed with shame and self-loathing, Wooyeon had, for the first time in his life, hand-washed his underwear.“Oh, the headbands are here!”Naturally, after that, Wooyeon avoided Dohyeon like the plague. He knew it wasn’t right, and he understood that Dohyeon must be confused, but before Wooyeon could gather his thoughts, his body would always move first.Though Dohyeon kept his eye on Wooyeon, he didn’t have time to ask about the avoidance due to the busy festival preparations.“We also have T-shirts.”“Wow, these are adorable. Wooyeon, come here. Let’s try them all on.”Just as Wooyeon was finally calming down, he sulkily shuffled over to Garam.Inside the box Dohyeon brought were the various headbands they hadn’t been able to agree on during their last meeting. In the end, they had decided to “just order all of them!” The box contained cat ears, bunny ears, and even ribbons.“Here, try this on first.”Garam pulled out a headband with bunny ears and handed it to Wooyeon. Wooyeon frowned deeply and reluctantly inspected the headband. It was black, with white ears, which would probably stand out even more against his dark hair.“Do I really have to wear this?”At least Wooyeon’s hair was brown, not black, which was the only silver lining. Garam nodded seriously, a deadpan expression on her face.“Of course. If no one else, you definitely have to wear it.”“Yeah, and the youngest always wears it first.”“The youngest has to put it on, come on.”Under the pressure of the club members, Wooyeon accepted the headband. He could feel Dohyeon’s intense gaze following him as he moved.As Wooyeon hesitantly put on the headband, his sparkling eyes drew the attention of everyone around him.“I feel like this is going to look weird…”Even without looking in a mirror, he had a feeling that he looked utterly ridiculous. Even Dohyeon was glaring at him with such a scary expression.Unable to overcome the awkwardness, Wooyeon nervously fiddled with the bunny ears on the headband. At that, Garam gulped audibly.“Hey, this is…”At that moment, Dohyeon, who had been silent, reached out towards Wooyeon. His swift and precise hand gently removed the headband without causing any pain. With the sudden proximity, Wooyeon froze, holding his breath.“Don’t wear it now. Try it on later.”Dohyeon said this while tossing the headband back into its box. His cold expression seemed unusually upset. Wooyeon, forgetting that he was supposed to be avoiding him, asked in an indignant tone.“Is it really that bad?”Their gazes met—Dohyeon’s, and another from Garam. While the other club members stood speechless in their confusion, Garam grinned, showing her teeth.“Ah, not a fan of the bunny ears? How about cat ears, then?”Looking excited, Garam pulled out headbands of various types, slipping them between her fingers and holding them out to Wooyeon like a bundle. Her smile was mischievous, to say the least. Naturally, Wooyeon refused them all with a sullen look.“I’m not wearing any of them.”As much as he didn’t care for the look, what was the deal with just yanking it off without a word? He hadn’t really wanted to wear it anyway, but now he just felt embarrassed.“Aw, come on, just try the cat ears.”“No way. Noona, you’re teasing me, right?”“Gosh, you don’t understand Noona’s heart at all.”Still not giving up, Garam persistently pushed the headbands toward Wooyeon. By then, the playful mood had spread, and the other club members began chiming in, teasing as well.Once again, it was Dohyeon who put a stop to it.“He said he doesn’t want to wear it. Don’t force him.”Dohyeon casually grabbed Wooyeon’s arm and pulled him down to sit next to him on the sofa. Wooyeon, surprised, shifted uncomfortably, trying to get up immediately, but Dohyeon was quicker.“Hold still, your hair’s a mess.”Turning toward Wooyeon, Dohyeon carefully started fixing his hair. He ran his fingers over the top, sides, and back of Wooyeon’s head in a slow, deliberate manner that felt far too intimate to just be “tidying up.”Wooyeon’s face turned bright red, just as one of the club members blurted out, bewildered.“…Are you two dating?”An awkward silence fell over the club room.Wooyeon didn’t know how to react, his gaze darting around nervously. They hadn’t exactly agreed to keep it a secret, but was it really okay to confirm it so openly?But before Wooyeon could say anything, Dohyeon answered first.“Yeah.”With that, Dohyeon gave Wooyeon’s ear a final gentle touch before pulling his hand away. Even though his hand had moved, it felt as though the sensation of his touch lingered like a trace of pheromones.As Wooyeon stammered, his lips moving wordlessly, Dohyeon furrowed his brows, looking slightly troubled.“We were trying not to make it obvious…”Despite his frown, Dohyeon seemed oddly pleased, a subtle smile curling at the corners of his lips as he glanced at the other club members.“Guess it wasn’t that subtle.”No one seemed to believe his words. Wooyeon was the only one blushing and nervously gauging the mood. Garam muttered under her breath, “What a sly guy,” but her quiet remark didn’t reach Wooyeon’s ears.The news of their relationship had a ripple effect within the “English Classics Reading” club. The other members quickly recovered from their shock and, as if they’d been waiting for this moment, began bombarding them with questions. Dohyeon answered casually, but after someone commented, “I didn’t expect this from you, no shame at all,” he interlaced his fingers with Wooyeon’s.And so, Wooyeon was stuck on the sofa, holding Dohyeon’s hand, until all the attention died down. The warmth between their clasped hands was almost too much, releasing pheromones, but Wooyeon endured it without moving. Every time he tried to wiggle free, Dohyeon’s fingers intertwined more tightly.Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the club members became preoccupied with preparing for the festival. They soon began gathering their things, promising to meet later for the afterparty. Wooyeon also tried to get up, but the others beat him to it.“We’ll be outside getting things ready!”“Take your time, no rush.”“See you in a bit, Wooyeon!”Before Wooyeon could respond, the club members swiftly left the room. They packed up the cotton candy machine, sugar, and other supplies with an efficiency Wooyeon had never seen before.As Garam finished packing the headbands and T-shirts, she winked at them before placing the box down.“You two can carry this.”Without looking back, she exited the room, leaving only the box between Wooyeon and Dohyeon.The moment everyone left, Dohyeon let go of Wooyeon’s hand and rummaged through the box.“Why’d you come so early today?”“Huh? Oh, I couldn’t sleep…”Wooyeon answered quietly, fidgeting with his hand that still retained the lingering warmth of Dohyeon’s touch. It was the first time they had properly held hands, and Wooyeon could feel the pheromones still clinging to his skin. He half-jokingly thought about not washing his hand, but Dohyeon suddenly held something out to him.“Want to try it on?”It was the bunny-ear headband from earlier. Wooyeon grimaced and shook his head. Dohyeon had taken it off with such a serious face before—why insist on making him wear it again?Instead of putting the headband away, Dohyeon gently tugged Wooyeon’s chin.“Come here.”As always, Wooyeon’s body instinctively reacted to Dohyeon’s words.When Wooyeon turned toward him, Dohyeon carefully placed the headband back on his head. Wooyeon only flinched when Dohyeon’s fingers brushed against his ears, but other than that, he quietly let him do as he pleased.“Good boy.”Dohyeon nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the now docile Wooyeon.Eyes, nose, mouth, and back to his eyes—Dohyeon’s gaze meticulously examined Wooyeon’s face, and then he covered his mouth, smiling with his eyes curved into soft crescents. His expression, once irritated, was now as bright as sunshine.Embarrassed, Wooyeon fidgeted with the back of his ears where the headband pressed against his skin.“Can I take it off now?”“No, keep it on.”“…Why?”“Because it’s cute.”For a moment, Wooyeon was at a loss for words. The overly sweet tone in which Dohyeon spoke left him speechless. As if he wasn’t even embarrassed to say such things, Dohyeon continued in a teasing tone.“You’re cute even without it.”“……”Blushing all the way to his neck, Wooyeon quickly took off the headband. As he threw it back into the box, Dohyeon clicked his tongue in disappointment. Before Wooyeon could grumble in protest, Dohyeon chuckled and rummaged through the box again.“I wasn’t teasing.”“Yeah, right.”“I’m serious.”“You were giving me weird looks earlier.”“Me?”Dohyeon tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what Wooyeon was talking about. Realizing that arguing further would only embarrass himself, Wooyeon shook his head and muttered, “It’s nothing.” Unbothered, Dohyeon pulled out a new headband.“Let’s try this one next.”He held out a headband with cat ears. Like the previous bunny ears, it was soft, with a white exterior and pink insides. It was so adorable that it made Wooyeon’s skin crawl.“…Is Sunbae Garam Noona?”“Yeah, she’s Noona, and I’m Sunbae.”Even though Wooyeon protested, Dohyeon stubbornly placed the headband on him. Sitting side by side on the sofa, Wooyeon had nowhere to escape. After carefully fixing his hair, Dohyeon looked at Wooyeon and let out a laugh.“You’re adorable.”That wide smile on Dohyeon’s face made it seem like he really meant it. Dohyeon even asked if Wooyeon wanted to try on a ribbon, but Wooyeon flatly refused.“Fine, then talk to me.”Resting one arm on the back of the sofa, Dohyeon used his other hand to gently stroke the back of Wooyeon’s head. The soft caress tingled as it lightly touched his nape. Trapped between Dohyeon’s arms, Wooyeon shyly averted his gaze.“…About what?”Every time Wooyeon looked at him, memories of that day resurfaced. The feeling of being held, the whispering voice in his ear, and even the curses Dohyeon had muttered right before it all began.“…Shit, I don’t know anymore.”It was unexpected, coming from someone like Dohyeon who never seemed to swear, but it made him look so sexy. His husky, broken voice sounded so erotic that it made Wooyeon’s stomach tighten with heat.Turns out, it really depends on who’s swearing. Wooyeon thought that if it was Dohyeon, any words coming from him would sound good.“Yeon-ah.”Of course, the best thing was when he called him like that.“Did I do something wrong?”Wooyeon felt his heart soften as he lowered his eyes. He had been pretending not to know for the past week, but it seemed he had reached his limit. Thankfully, Dohyeon, who was usually quick to notice things, didn’t seem to have caught on to what Wooyeon was really thinking.“It’s not that.”“Then why are you avoiding me?”By now, Dohyeon’s hand was cupping Wooyeon’s cheek. Every time his thumb gently brushed his skin, Wooyeon’s face turned a deeper shade of pink. The pheromones Dohyeon was giving off only added to the heat in his face.“It’s just… something happened.”Lying about not avoiding him was useless. But it wasn’t like he could say, “You were in my dream.” If he kept throwing in little lies, eventually everything would spill out.“What could’ve happened…”Dohyeon’s voice dropped as if he wasn’t going to let this slide easily. As he traced under Wooyeon’s eyes with his fingers, Dohyeon tilted his head.“Was it because of the kiss? Did you not like it?”“No!”Wooyeon quickly replied in shock. Not like it? He had liked it so much he’d even had a wet dream about it. It was no wonder Dohyeon’s lips kept floating around in front of his eyes.“I liked it… a lot, actually.”Wooyeon answered hesitantly, swallowing dryly. His lips were so parched that he licked his bottom lip to moisten it. Dohyeon squinted slightly, staring into Wooyeon’s eyes.“Really.”His voice sounded desperate. He was worried that if Dohyeon misunderstood, he might never kiss him again.Looking at the fidgeting Wooyeon, Dohyeon gently spoke.“Then, stick your tongue out like this.”“…?”Confused, Wooyeon obediently stuck his tongue out a little. He was about to ask, “Why my tongue?” when Dohyeon firmly held the back of his head. Then, without warning, Dohyeon caught Wooyeon’s tongue between his lips.“…Ah!”Dohyeon’s sharp teeth nipped at the tip of his tongue. It wasn’t painful, more like a thrilling sensation. Before Wooyeon could push him away, Dohyeon gently brushed their tongues together.It felt as if Wooyeon’s brain was melting. The pheromones in Dohyeon’s breath seemed to leave their mark all over him. Sucking lightly on his tongue, Dohyeon adjusted his posture, tilting his head slightly. Wooyeon squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to keep up with his breathing.“Mmm…”The pheromones seeped deep into his lungs, making his throat quiver and an involuntary moan escape his lips. Dohyeon must have found Wooyeon’s soft whimpering adorable because he chuckled against his lips. As Wooyeon repeatedly clenched and unclenched his restless hands, Dohyeon grabbed one and wrapped it around his neck.“Oh, this feels good…”Swallowing thickly, Wooyeon could feel his saliva being gulped down. The second kiss was much more intense than the first. There was no room to breathe, only Dohyeon’s pheromones and this newfound desire. Every time Dohyeon’s warm, slick tongue explored the inside of Wooyeon’s mouth, Wooyeon unknowingly released a flood of omega pheromones.How could Dohyeon ask if he hadn’t liked it? Unlike last time, when he had been filled with nothing but giddiness, now his whole body was overcome with heat. Even the way Dohyeon touched his ear sent sharp tingles down his spine, making him overly sensitive.