Wooyeon held the sharp object in his hand, staring at Junseong. He was trying to gauge the intention behind Junseong’s words. On the somewhat intriguing and rushed topic, Junseong smiled as their eyes met.
“But he looks really different.”
It didn’t seem like an observation. Initially, Junseong wasn’t that intelligent. Wooyeon, unable to find words to reply, quietly clenched his teeth.
“He’s a bit… really like that. Short, but with a lot of flesh.”
It felt like the vomiting was rising in his throat. His cheeks twitched, and his lips hardened. If Wooyeon hadn’t relaxed his grip, his expression might have twisted sooner.
“He wears ridiculously large glasses, and his actions are nerd-like… In many ways, he’s different from you.”
A look of disgust turned into sharp glares, almost as if the eyes were transforming into daggers. While doing so, Junseong admired Wooyeon in front of him, saying, “You’re really beautiful.”
“Besides, their family is really well-off…”
“What does that have to do with you?”
In the end, Wooyeon put the sharp object down nervously. Hearing such disgusting words was frustrating enough. What was this guy’s problem that he had been tormenting him all this time?
“What did he do to you?”
“Huh?”
Junseong reacted with a bewildered face. Feeling the cold gaze, he even furrowed his brow in embarrassment. Wooyeon pressed on his abdomen and controlled his trembling pheromones.
“Why did you give him a hard time when he didn’t harm you?”
He always thought about it. He never said it out loud, but Wooyeon always thought, ‘What does my weight have to do with you?’ His body size, the uniform that was about to burst, the amount he eats, all of it had nothing to do with Junseong.
“No, it’s not about harm…”
Junseong, at the end of his words, scratched the back of his head vaguely. His yellow-dyed hair was as frizzy as a bird’s nest. He awkwardly shifted his gaze and narrowed his forehead with a fierce expression.
“But why are you so sensitive? I didn’t say you gained weight.”
“You’re noisy.”
“…”
“I’m preparing for a presentation right now.”
His face crumpled. The sharp eyes also became harsher. Junseong, who had bitten his lips several times, sighed and spoke.
“Hey, watch your words…”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Now, I’ll start the presentation from Group 1.”
Wooyeon stood up without waiting for Junseong’s words. Before going to the podium, he didn’t forget to grab the paper to submit to the professor. The professor handed the paper to Wooyeon and gave him the microphone.
[I, Seon Wooyeon, am in charge of Group 1 presentation.]
As he spoke in English, the professor smiled with satisfaction. Some students were seen hastily modifying their scripts. Wooyeon explained leadership without giving Junseong a glance, trying to avoid eye contact.
[…So, let’s talk about what qualities a leader should have.]
As Daniel once said, Wooyeon’s English pronunciation was perfect. They say it’s difficult to correct pronunciation after the age of fifteen, but that didn’t apply to him. In fact, Wooyeon spoke better in English than in Korean.
[Leaders should strive to avoid team members feeling excluded as the representatives leading the team.]
Wooyeon momentarily swallowed a laugh. It was funny because Junseong had written down this content. Strive to avoid team members feeling excluded, but Junseong was the one excluding them.
[In addition, leaders should…]
‘I know someone named Seon Wooyeon.’
He remembers. The first thought that came to his mind was that. Remembering him, Wooyeon, and the middle school student he was tormenting. After all that, he boldly brought up the conversation as if nothing happened.
‘But he looks really different.’
I thought he wouldn’t recognize me, but I didn’t expect it to be to this extent. I didn’t expect that. I didn’t expect him to have changed this much. I didn’t expect him to have any sense of guilt, but I thought he would at least have a sense of responsibility. But as expected, people don’t change easily.
Wooyeon mechanically presented the memorized content, suppressing his emotions. The time wasn’t long, and there was no one doing something else. It seemed that the professor was the only one who understood, but in reality, the professor’s understanding was enough.
[That concludes the presentation. Thank you.]
Loud applause filled the classroom. The professor asked a few questions in English and then ushered Wooyeon out. Wooyeon stooped as soon as he returned to his seat. Standing was fine, but sitting made his stomach ache again. While he was swallowing his groans, Junseong, without realizing Wooyeon’s situation, marveled at Wooyeon.
“Hey… You’re really good at English. Are all English people like that?”
Not only Junseong but also other team members each said a few words. When they said they wouldn’t have to worry about midterm presentations if only he was there, Wooyeon thought, ‘They know how to speak.’ He wondered why they had kept his mouth shut when he was planning the outline if they could speak so well now.
“Next, Group 2, please come forward.”
Group 2 also presented in English like Wooyeon. However, it was evident that it was hastily prepared, with occasional mistakes in words. The professor asked questions in English again, then without any specific praise, ushered the presenter out.
In this way, each group had presentations lasting about 3 minutes each. During that time, Wooyeon’s nerves calmed a bit, and he straightened up, sweeping away the pale look from his face. The last group presented in Chinese.
“Thank you all for your hard work. Especially Group 1, you did very well.”
After briefly complimenting them, the professor concluded the class. It was about 30 minutes earlier than usual. As he left, packing his things, Wooyeon stopped abruptly when Junseong called him.
“Hey, Wooyeon.”
No matter how many times he heard that friendly address, it never felt familiar. If it were Seon Wooyeon it might be different. ‘Wooyeon,’ though. ‘Hey, Wooyeon.’ gave him chills.
“I mentioned it earlier.”
Wooyeon forcefully stuffed his notes and stationery into his bag and reluctantly zipped it up. He had planned to leave the classroom immediately, but Junseong caught the bag strap, preventing him. Without waiting for Wooyeon to respond, Junseong brought up the conversation suddenly.
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to compare or anything.”
“…What?”
His head throbbed, ringing loudly. For a moment, he doubted if he had heard something unnecessary. While Wooyeon remained silent, Junseong awkwardly tugged at his bag strap with an embarrassed face.
“I’m sorry. Earlier, I got angry, cursing at that kid with the same name as you.”
His tone was serious. Even his gaze directed at Wooyeon didn’t seem like a joke. Ugh, Junseong sighed and lightly touched the bag with his fist.
“Why make people embarrassed with that kind of thing? I was just talking about a guy I know because it came to my mind.”
“…”
Wooyeon’s vacant gaze stared at Junseong’s face. Keeping his lips sealed, Wooyeon mulled over what he had just said. ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’ Unbelievable words came to his mind.
“…Are you sorry?”
It had been three whole years. Wooyeon had been ostracized for three years, and Junseong had tormented him for three years. He never thought about dying, but he did think about not wanting to live. If it weren’t for Dohyun, if it weren’t for the teacher, he would still be suffering now.
However, now he is hearing the apology that he couldn’t hear back then. Moreover, for such a trivial reason.
‘Why the hell are you alive, you pig?’
“…Huh.”
Various emotions swirled in a complex mix. His pheromones tingled and his hair stood on end. The surging emotion that erupted as if about to vomit was nothing other than anger.
“You’re really amusing.”
Wooyeon chuckled mockingly as he looked at Junseong. If it were in middle school, he might have snapped, asking what he was sneering at, but Junseong only blushed slightly and didn’t engage in any further argument.
“I really hate guys like you.”
Wooyeon snatched his bag from his hands. The pheromones that stealthily emerged were sharp as a veil. Not only Junseong but also other nearby Omegas were taken aback and held their breath in confusion.
“To talk badly about others at your age…”
If he had said this in middle school, would it have been different? If he had protested against Junseong, looking him straight in the eyes, would the outcome have changed even a little?
No matter how much he thought about it, the answer was ‘no.’ Even in middle school, Wooyeon never bowed down to Junseong. Ignored or turned away, he had never avoided Junseong. Nevertheless, Junseong had never treated Wooyeon with contempt.
“You don’t have to apologize. Don’t act like you’re friends with me.”
With those words, Wooyeon turned his back on Junseong. In the place he left behind, heavy pheromones lingered.
***
Rather than heading towards the main gate, Wooyeon collapsed onto a bench as if losing strength. His face showed signs of blood rushing to it as if he could faint at any moment. Wooyeon, hunched over his upper body and bowing his head, let out a long groan.
“Ugh…”
He sighed. And it was a deep one.
His condition suddenly worsened as soon as he left the classroom. It would be better to vomit, but nothing was coming out except for the queasiness in his stomach. His head was dizzy and his fingertips were cold. While doing foolish things alone, Wooyeon, in the midst of his own absurdity, yearned to see Dohyun.
‘I miss Teacher…’
Whenever he felt this way occasionally, he yearned for the teacher. If the teacher could pat his head and say it was okay, everything would truly be fine. Four years ago, just like that time, the current Wooyeon also felt that way.
‘I miss him…’
If he wished for it a hundred times, would he appear? Wooyeon thought so, hugging one knee. If he went to the main gate, Dohyun might be there but he didn’t have the strength to go that far now. Besides, the current Dohyun, if they met, would be just a senior, not a teacher.
Tock, tock―
Suddenly, raindrops began to fall. The slowly falling rain stained the ground, soaking the bench and Wooyeon. Wooyeon bit his lips self-deprecatingly, pulling the hood of his hoodie tightly.
“…”
If he was going to appear because he missed him, he should have appeared four years ago. If everything had gone as expected, there would have been no lonely crying. There would have been no going alone to the U.S., returning home with a faint hope, and getting wet in the rain like this.
He was accustomed to giving up his expectations. In the large house and in the U.S., Wooyeon learned how to give up instead of hoping. When memories with Dohyun melted his heart into a gooey mess, he suppressed such thoughts as luxuries.
“Phew.”
With a short sigh, Wooyeon closed his eyes. Although his stomach still felt bad, the lingering sense of anticipation had washed away.
Just 5 minutes, let’s give up after that.
At that moment, as he was about to lift his eyelids.
“…I wondered why you weren’t coming.”
A shadow was cast on him. The raindrops stopped, and the shadows doubled. Feeling his heart sink, Wooyeon took a deep breath as if he were about to faint. A gentle voice brushed his ear as if he were dreaming.
“You’re going to catch a cold.”
AHHHH 🫠
Is this the scene from the book cover?! It’s such a cliffhanger! I wonder if the next chapter will be an important moment. I’m dying over the fact that I won’t find out until next week 🫠
Also, thanks for the update!
I too assumed that it was the scene from the cover😭💛
and thank youu<3333
Is this the scene from the cover page
Thanks for the chapter
I think it is ^.^
and ur welcomeee<33333