Cozy Obsession

“It’s not work.”“Then what is it?”“Case analysis.”Heemin glanced at the table. Although the front text was obscured by the tablet, the paper that caught his eye first read “Case Studies for Disability Recovery.”He tilted his head, wondering if Yiheon was looking up related papers because of Ms. Ahn’s speech disability, but Yiheon tugged on his arm more forcefully, as if demanding his attention.“Don’t stray from my sight.”Everything was visible from all directions, and the walls of Heemin’s room were made of transparent glass, so he could be seen clearly from inside. Yet, Yiheon insisted on having him sit right beside him…“Are you finally not angry anymore?”“What do you mean, angry?”He responded with a tone indicating he didn’t understand.“You were upset about making Do Junyoung’s brother apologize at the department store.”“I wasn’t.”“Then why…”Why were you distancing yourself from me? Acting so unnaturally. I know you’ve been deliberately coming home late.He suppressed the urge to voice these thoughts, swallowing hard to keep himself from saying anything further. Complaining to Yiheon, who was still defensive, would only make him seem pathetic.“Because I don’t know what trouble you might cause next.”So, it wasn’t that he wasn’t angry; he wanted to keep an eye on Heemin to prevent any mischief. Heemin’s attempt at reconciliation felt thwarted, and he looked at Yiheon with a displeased expression.“Do you think I’m some troublemaking kid?”“Aren’t you? A kid.”“I’m not.”“Then should I call you baby?”“Hyung, I’m an adult. I’ve been out of high school for a while now.”Twenty-one, legally nineteen. Old enough to engage in legal activities without parents, buy alcohol and cigarettes, and watch restricted movies. It was ridiculous to be called a baby.Lately, Heemin felt he was being treated like a child, and now Yiheon confirmed it. Frustrated, he glared at Yiheon, who sarcastically asked,“Can you call someone who can’t eat alone an adult?”“……”“Age alone doesn’t make you an adult.”Is he doing this now? Using words instead of fists to get back at me?The incident at the department store wasn’t about right or wrong. Yet, wounded pride led Yiheon to retaliate through words and actions.He wanted to argue that he could do everything independently, but since arriving in this world, he hadn’t done anything alone except for that one escape. So he had no comeback.“I’ll just read my book, so don’t talk to me, old man.”“Seo Heemin.”“Go on with your work.”Feeling deflated and bitter about their strained relationship, Heemin turned his back on Yiheon, adjusting his position to face away. He opened his book and aggressively flipped through the pages, avoiding any further conversation.A heavy silence filled the room. Though the oppressive quiet felt suffocating, Heemin remained silent, reading to the last page.When they had walked together each night, everything seemed to flow smoothly. He never imagined their relationship would sour so suddenly over a minor issue.Was it fate’s doing that caused this rift, a tragic outcome linked to ‘Seo Heemin,’ or was it due to himself inhabiting Seo Heemin’s body?The keyword-switching project was still at a standstill. The hope of returning to his real life felt more distant than ever.* * *Cha Yiheon’s Obsessive Traits:As Heemin finished listing Yiheon’s traits, he felt a surge of anger. Two weeks had passed since their light argument, but Yiheon still hadn’t let it go. Unlike the rising temperature outside, Yiheon remained icy and distant.The once brilliant flower petals had all fallen, and their warm, evening walks seemed to have ended forever.Heemin realized he might have been mistaken in thinking their relationship had progressed. The hope of reconnecting with Yiheon and returning home was fading away.It’s ironic that even though he refused to have a proper conversation, he still made sure Heemin went to the hospital regularly. Thanks to this, Heemin became friendly with his watcher, Kim Minseok, and stopped by the snack bar to eat tteokbokki every time he went for a check-up.When Heemin casually mentioned to Minseok that he wanted to try painting, the next day, Minseok converted the study into an art studio, complete with art books and supplies.If he’s going to act cold, he should stay cold all the way.Heemin couldn’t understand why Yiheon displayed such dual behavior. Was it that hating Heemin out of wounded pride and loving ‘Seo Heemin’ were two separate things?Being treated coldly after receiving a dual personality diagnosis was less confusing than this. It felt worse to have something taken away, especially when that something was the intangible feeling of hope.Heemin folded the paper detailing Cha Yiheon’s traits, tucked it into a book, and left the study. Ready to go out, he spoke to Minseok, who stood holding the car keys.“Shall we go?”It was another hospital day. Initially, he was uneasy about receiving therapy while under hypnosis, but now he considered it a journey to better understand ‘Seo Heemin,’ and he somewhat enjoyed tracing his past.“Mom, I’m heading out.”[Take care.]“Goodbye, Auntie.”[Have a safe trip.]Heemin bowed to Ms. Ahn, who had come out to see them off, and stepped outside with Minseok. There was a warm, friendly atmosphere that ‘Seo Heemin’ never experienced. If someone saw him now, they might think he was a cherished youngest son from a good family rather than someone being confined. The thought made Heemin chuckle.If only Cha Yiheon, who constantly ignored him like a cold winter wind, weren’t here, he would have been quite content with life in this place.Thinking about Yiheon again made Heemin’s shoulders slump. He felt lost, unsure of where to start or what to do next.‘That jerk. He’s a total bastard.’No, he was a jerk, but not a complete bastard. Compared to Seo Jaehan, Gwak Yunseong, and Shin Seungbeom, who pushed others to their deaths for their gain, Yiheon was a saint.He quickly corrected his thoughts. He didn’t want to feel guilty for cursing Yiheon, even if just in his mind. Eventually, Heemin couldn’t suppress the frustration swelling in his chest and let out a faint sigh.“Sigh…”“Hyung, do you have something on your mind?”“A worry?”“You laughed, then got sullen, almost cried, and finally sighed. Did something happen?”Maybe because Minseok trained in a sport that required anticipating opponents’ moves, he could be quite perceptive. Even without the pheromone-sensing abilities of an alpha or omega, he had good intuition.“The boss has been upsetting me lately.”Thinking it wouldn’t help to lie, and feeling a need to vent, Heemin answered honestly.“Ah… the boss, huh…”Mentioning Yiheon seemed to make Minseok uncomfortable. He hesitated, likely because Yiheon was someone both he and his mother revered like a deity.Ding.The descending elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. Heemin walked down the corridor and headed toward Minseok’s light blue compact car. He opened the back door and got in, now familiar with the routine.“Uh, hyung.”As Minseok started the car and input Haesong Psychiatric Clinic into the GPS, he cautiously called out to Heemin. Glancing at him through the rearview mirror, Heemin asked silently with his eyes what was wrong. Minseok, sporting a sincere smile, turned around and gave Heemin a thumbs up.“Alcohol is the best for reconciliation.”A thin stream of golden liquid poured into the teacup with a trickling sound. The color reminded Heemin of the liquor Yiheon enjoyed, and he muttered to himself.“Western liquor tastes bad…”“What did you just say, Heemin?”Eunkyung, placing the teapot on the table, blinked and asked.“Oh, nothing.”Worried she might think he was complaining about the tea she made, Heemin quickly grabbed the teacup handle and took a sip.“Ouch, hot!”He should have blown on it to cool it down but drank it too quickly. The steaming tea was hotter than expected, burning his mouth.“Are you alright?”“It’s just a slight burn, but I’m okay.”Feeling Eunkyung’s pitying gaze, Heemin was slightly embarrassed by his clumsy behavior, so unlike ‘Seo Heemin.’ This was probably why Yiheon kept treating him like a child. Heemin awkwardly smiled and sipped the remaining tea.“You’ve grown quite accustomed to hypnosis, so today we’ll step up and try facing some of the painful and sad parts of your past. If you’re not feeling well, we can do it another time. Just tell me if you’re uncomfortable.”From losing his mother at birth, being assaulted by a trusted adult, to awakening as an omega and losing dear friends, and being sold to a human trafficking ring—‘Seo Heemin’ had a painful and tragic past.To forget his traumatic childhood, he avoided anything that caused him anxiety. But the defensive barrier he erected to protect himself ended up hurting others, creating the monster known as Cha Yiheon.To overcome the trauma etched into his body and unlock Yiheon’s heart, Heemin needed to meticulously revisit ‘Seo Heemin’s’ past, no matter how unpleasant it might be.“No, I want to do it. I really do.”When Heemin showed his firm resolve, Eunkyung looked surprised and then smiled softly. She leaned back comfortably in her chair and gently instructed Heemin to close his eyes with her soothing voice.“We’ll gradually progress through three stages: memories of regret, memories that scarred your heart, and the most painful memories. Today, since it’s the beginning, we’ll focus on a memory of regret.”“Okay.”“This treatment might be very difficult for you, Heemin. If it becomes too much, give me a signal and I’ll wake you up immediately. Trust me and follow along.”As always, her calm and steady tone was reassuring. Given her willingness to stop the hypnosis midway, it was clear that this treatment would not be easy. With his eyelids gently lowered, Heemin nodded.“Before we dive into the treatment, let’s briefly focus on the emotion of regret.”“…Okay.”“While you take slow breaths in and out, recall a regret from today. It doesn’t have to be anything significant. It could be something as small as wishing you had woken up 30 minutes earlier or worn different clothes. Even these minor regrets are still valid feelings of regret.”Heemin relaxed his body and took deep breaths, as instructed. Then he thought about calling Yiheon an utter piece of trash.“With that feeling of regret in your heart, focus on any images, colors, smells, or sounds that come with it. Now, let’s travel back to the moment of your greatest regret. One, two, three.”The hypnotic music playing in his ears gradually faded. As he ascended the river of darkness and stood at the passageway of his memories, Heemin let out a light breath, bracing himself for what was to come. He was curious about ‘Seo Heemin’s’ regrets and also a bit scared of encountering a sudden terrifying scene.“Have you arrived, Heemin?”“…Yes.”The blinding white light that seemed to burn his retinas slowly dissipated, and the surrounding objects of ‘Seo Heemin’ began to take shape.He had expected the most regretful memory to be the moment ‘Seo Heemin’ first stepped into the essay class, but instead, it was the familiar sight of his high school classroom that came into view.“What do you see?”“I see a schedule. Second year, Class Three… the schedule.”Cha Yiheon and ‘Seo Heemin’ had been in the same class until their second year of high school. The fact that this was a second-year classroom meant they were still maintaining their friendship at that time, but what could have caused ‘Seo Heemin’ such regret?Despite being emotionally unstable and stuck in past memories, hadn’t he managed to hold on because Yiheon was by his side? It was puzzling.“The regrettable event took place at school, then. Can you tell when during the second year it happened?”“It feels like winter.”The sight of the winter uniform he had seen the first time he was hypnotized came into view. The classroom scene was almost identical. Seeing the same floral-patterned blanket draped over the chair diagonally across from him, it seemed to be around the same time.Could it be that the regret was…With unfocused eyes, ‘Seo Heemin’ lowered his head and folded the paper he was holding in half.His fingertips trembled, and his heartbeat grew louder, resonating within Heemin as they shared the same body. The tremor and shock felt by ‘Seo Heemin’ were directly transmitted to him.― Today’s homeroom is over. Don’t forget to take your genotype results home and show them to your parents.― Yes!As the homeroom teacher left the classroom, the kids instantly became rowdy, chatting loudly. Most of them were Betas, so they casually shared their results.The voices of kids checking each other’s results and joking about not expecting them to be Betas mixed with those asking Yiheon about his results echoed in ‘Seo Heemin’s’ ears.― Wow, amazing. Yiheon’s a dominant Alpha!― A dominant Alpha? Really?― So you’ll be in the Alpha class next year?In this world, classes were divided by genotype starting in the third year, matching the onset of secondary sexual characteristics. The Alpha class was Class One, Classes Two to Eight were for Betas, and Class Nine was a special class for Betas and a few Omegas.The school kept Class One for Alphas and Class Nine for Betas and Omegas at opposite ends of the school to prevent any potential incidents.But for ‘Seo Heemin,’ the physical distance between classes meant nothing. His heart, which had been racing, suddenly felt like it dropped.Cha Yiheon was an Alpha. A dominant Alpha at that.The fervent hope that they were both Betas shattered like a glass dropped to the ground. The happiest day of his life had passed, and suddenly, misfortune struck like a sneak attack, mocking ‘Seo Heemin’ who had naively dreamt of a peaceful future.“Ugh…”Sweating coldly and fidgeting, Eunkyung placed her hand over Heemin’s to comfort him. She conveyed through her touch that he didn’t have to continue the hypnosis if it was too much, but Heemin moved his lips to explain the situation.“It was the day the genotype test results came out. I was shocked that Yiheon was a dominant Alpha.”“I see. That must have been very surprising.”“Yes… It felt like my whole body was being torn apart… I was upset… sad… and felt betrayed.”“What do you think betrayed you?”“…The whole world.”‘Seo Heemin’ felt that the entire world, the whole universe, had abandoned him once more. As if being an Omega wasn’t enough, the only person he wanted to share his heart with turned out to be an Alpha, so the shock was inevitable.Soon, ‘Seo Heemin’s’ whole body was engulfed in severe fear and anxiety. In hindsight, he realized that the animalistic instincts, cruelty, and violence inherent in Alphas were also present in Yiheon.He recalled the time when they had gone to buy art supplies in a busy area and were harassed by a gang. The memory of Yiheon’s eyes changing after a single comment, “You look like you’d get screwed by a guy,” and him beating them to a pulp had shocked ‘Seo Heemin’ more than the incident itself.― Heemin, what did you get?Cha Yiheon approached ‘Seo Heemin’, who was sitting despondently with a shadow of deep sorrow cast over his face. Without any reaction, ‘Seo Heemin’ averted his gaze, prompting Yiheon to playfully ruffle his hair as he always did with a mischievous smile.― Why the long face? Are you disappointed we won’t be in the same class next year?― Don’t touch me.‘Seo Heemin’ swatted away Cha Yiheon’s outstretched hand. The shadowed, darkened eyes and expression momentarily vanished, making ‘Seo Heemin’ even more frightened. The image of their rhetoric teacher in a rut overlapped with Yiheon, causing him to shrink back. The voices of the students gossiping, ‘What’s with him?’, ‘Is he acting like that because he’s an Omega?’ rang clearly in his ears. ‘Seo Heemin’ hurriedly gathered his test papers and bag, fleeing the classroom as if to escape. With Yiheon continuously calling and texting him, he eventually turned off his phone. Determined to sever ties before causing any pain to the person he trusted most, before repeating the awful, painful past, for the sake of both of them. Foolish ‘Seo Heemin’ believed it was for Yiheon’s benefit as well. What Alpha would love an Omega tormented by trauma? He lacked the courage to reveal his past or the confidence to burden Yiheon with overcoming it together.Heemin watched ‘Seo Heemin’s immature choice with a heavy heart. Pitying the eighteen-year-old ‘Seo Heemin’ who had no choice but to use defense mechanisms to protect himself from anxiety. If only the world were devoid of pheromones as he wished, they wouldn’t have grown apart, and misunderstandings wouldn’t have piled up, leading to catastrophe.― I have nothing to say to you. Don’t come looking for me again.In a scene change, ‘Seo Heemin’ coldly rejects Cha Yiheon, who had come to his house to talk.― Heemin. Please, just look at me. Let’s talk.― …Ugh, urgh.In another scene change, Cha Yiheon appears before ‘Seo Heemin,’ unable to bear being treated like an invisible man. But the fully manifested dominant Omega ‘Seo Heemin’ cannot endure the intense pheromones of the dominant Alpha Cha Yiheon, and ends up vomiting in front of him.― I’m transferring schools tomorrow. I want to see you one last time, even if just for a moment.― I have to go to art class.― I’ll wait. I’ll keep waiting until you come.The scene changes again, showing the two’s final past moments in Heemin’s view. Thinking it might truly be the end, ‘Seo Heemin’ skips art class to go to the meeting place. But suddenly struck by a heat, he collapses, and Cha Yiheon, waiting for him, ends up being attacked in retaliation.“…It feels like my chest is tearing apart.”‘Seo Heemin’s heart was filled with resentment towards himself for rejecting him with his whole body. And the desperate expression of Yiheon, who still tried to believe in ‘Seo Heemin’ even amidst losing everything, couldn’t be forgotten. The eyes of nineteen-year-old Cha Yiheon seen through hypnosis did not have the scar they now bore, but his heart was already deeply wounded. This was etched into the surface of ‘Seo Heemin’s heart as well.“Ugh, ugh…”Not only was ‘Seo Heemin’s body possessed, but facing this scene head-on was excruciating. Intense regret and self-blame swirled within Heemin. Like being drenched in cold winter rain, his body shivered uncontrollably. Heemin struggled in the uncontrollable depths of his emotions.“Now, the song plays, and you wake up from the hypnosis.”Sensing the danger, Eunkyung played a Bach piece to stop the treatment. As the classical music that eased the mind reached his ears, darkness descended like twilight.“One, two, three. Open your eyes, Heemin.”“Gasp, gasp…”He laboriously calmed his rapid breathing. Dizzying vertigo turned his vision yellow, forcing Heemin to hold his head and remain seated for a while. His body, tense throughout the hypnosis, was drenched in sweat.“Drink this. It’ll help calm you down.”Eunkyung poured tea into an empty cup. Heemin drank the warm tea, slowly settling his body and mind.“Usually, when betrayed by the world, anger comes first, but it seems Heemin had a lot of lingering regrets. Seeing the regrets tangled in his heart, it looks like he was very sad.”“Yeah… I must have been very sad.”Having been possessed right after the kidnapping, the current ‘Seo Heemin’ knew nothing about the gangster Cha Yiheon had become. In other words, he was entirely unaware that due to his own mistakes, ignorance, and his father’s crimes, Yiheon harbored resentment towards him. Furthermore, ‘Seo Heemin’ believed, due to Seo Jaehan’s lies, that Yiheon’s father committed suicide after a failed plot to take over Shinwon Cement, and that Cha Yiheon had actively participated in his father’s schemes. Nevertheless, the fact that he regretted treating him harshly in the past showed how deep his love for Cha Yiheon was.“It must have been very difficult, thank you for enduring so well. Other Heemin has not yet reached this stage.”Seeing progress in the previously stagnant treatment process, she felt a sense of accomplishment as ‘Seo Heemin’s therapist.“It’s all thanks to you, Doctor.”Unable to admit that he reached this stage because he wasn’t the real ‘Seo Heemin’, he flashed her a broad smile.“Take care on your way home, and see you next week.”“Yes, see you next week, Doctor.”He drank all the remaining tea and left the clinic. Though his body felt utterly drained and weak, his heart was ablaze with determination. He was determined to face Cha Yiheon properly and have a real conversation with him.Yiheon’s cold behavior towards him might be a defense mechanism, just like how the past ‘Seo Heemin’ had acted. Instead of confronting the conflict directly with the twenty-one-year-old ‘Seo Heemin,’ Yiheon might be denying the situation itself. His cold exterior could be a mask to hide his anxiety. Despite being nine years older than Heemin, wasn’t Yiheon just as clumsy as a child when it came to both revenge and love?So, Heemin resolved to do whatever it took to remove that mask of Yiheon’s. In human relationships, avoidance isn’t a pause but a retreat. If you keep avoiding facing the other person, like ‘Seo Heemin’ and Cha Yiheon did, it becomes increasingly difficult to close that distance later on.“Are you finished, sir? I’ll handle the payment right away.”Minseok, who had been waiting for the treatment to end, stood up with clenched fists the moment he saw Heemin. Even though it wasn’t necessary to be so formal, Minseok stood at attention like a soldier even when they were alone. Heemin could understand why Yiheon assigned Minseok as his watchman.“Let’s stop by the mart.”“The mart? Do you need anything?”“I’m thinking of buying some alcohol.”“Oh, that’s a great idea, sir. If you have a drink, the boss will surely agree to reconcile.”Indeed, as Minseok said, alcohol was the best for reconciliation. It was also the best way to seduce someone.Heemin was curious about the results of his exercise and treatment. Once he regained his condition, he thought he could at least manage a kiss for reconciliation. It would be embarrassing to go for a kiss while completely sober, so he planned to use the alcohol to make some progress.“What should we get…?”They went to the nearby neighborhood mart after leaving the hospital. He was debating between beer and soju when Minseok pointed to a box of six soju bottles.“One bottle won’t be enough, so let’s get this.”“Then why don’t we get two boxes?”Heemin’s drinking limit was two and a half bottles of soju. He wasn’t sure about Yiheon’s limit, but given his job in the underworld, Yiheon might drink soju like water. So it was better to have plenty prepared, even if it meant leftovers.“I shouldn’t say this, but twelve bottles might be a bit much, sir.”“I’m planning to stock up and drink occasionally.”“Ah, I see. That’s a good plan.”Minseok promptly put two boxes in the basket. Heemin walked to the seafood corner, thinking about what snacks to make to go with the alcohol. The thought of drinking properly after a long time made him quite happy.Just wait. I’ll make you fall head over heels, whether it’s with alcohol, cooking, or kissing, you stubborn man.* * *“You’re back, sir?”Yiheon returned past eleven o’clock. Heemin was planning to wait until dawn, but Yiheon came home early for once. It was as if he could read Heemin’s mind.“I’ve set up a drinking table. Let’s have a drink together.”Heemin grabbed his arm and dragged him to the kitchen so he couldn’t go straight to his room. The table was filled with snacks Heemin had prepared.“Why the sudden urge to drink?”Yiheon looked at him with eyes full of fatigue. His thick eyebrows furrowed as if to ask what scheme Heemin was up to now. Despite Yiheon’s indifferent response, Heemin smiled warmly at him.“I’m planning to seduce you tonight, sir.”