The gathering, attended by around 100 students, reserved an entire barbecue restaurant.
After eating pork soup in the spring, Do-hwa experienced an allergic reaction with swollen lips and spots. However, they disappeared after a short while, and he ate pork again without any issues. Still, just to be sure, he visited the hospital, but everything was normal. Therefore, he had no aversion to the barbecue restaurant itself.
However, his recent health has not been good. Initially thought to be a mild cold, even after visiting the hospital and taking medicine, he didn’t seem to be getting better. Especially on this day, his entire body felt sensitive, as if someone were hitting him. However, since everyone was enjoying the atmosphere, he decided to quietly maintain his position and leave early. The next day had an important appointment, so he wanted to go home as quickly as possible to rest.
Upon entering the low-seating barbecue restaurant, Do-hwa found a seat in a corner. He planned to be as inconspicuous as possible. In the front seats, female classmates Woo Ji-min and Kim Soo-yeon took their seats side by side. Both were Betas, joined the same club, and became friends in the same intake.
‘Why did you come to a place like this when you’re on a diet?’
Woo Ji-min furrowed her eyebrows and used her phone screen as a makeshift mirror. Kim Soo-yeon, who was beside her, joined in and glanced at Do-hwa.
‘Do-hwa, do you also have the look of wanting to go home early today?’
Do-hwa could only raise his lips slightly without giving a response. At that moment, a shadow was cast on the seat next to Do-hwa.
‘Is this seat empty?’
It was Jihoon, who had dyed his hair yellow and had piercings in his ears. He was in the same major as Do-hwa, and they were quite close, having been classmates since elementary school. Just as Do-hwa was about to answer, the barbecue restaurant became noisy. Thanks to that, their attention turned collectively to that place. Cha Min-jun had entered.
Wherever Min-jun was, it was like there was a spotlight, drawing attention. Most people welcomed Min-jun, but there was a tiny group that eyed him with envy. Jihoon was one of them.
‘What’s all this fuss about that guy? Beta on the subject.’
Lee Jihoon was a dominant Alpha, and he seemed displeased with the attention given to Min-jun, a Beta. In fact, most students who envied Min-jun were dominant Alphas.
‘Why? He’s the hero who contributed to the development of our club. Jihoon, get over yourself! Min-jun, our Min-jun, is not here. It’s annoying.’
At Kim Soo-yeon’s shout, Jihoon made a face and shifted his body to the side. Meanwhile, Min-jun had taken off his shoes and was coming up to the room.
‘It’s disgusting to be so superficial as to ignore even one’s character. Ugh!’
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.
Pa kjr atf wbwfca ktfc Altbbc kjr ugewyilcu jcv kjr jybea ab rla vbkc cfza ab Gb-tkj.
‘Do-hwa seonbae, you’re here.’
Zlc-pec jqqgbjmtfv yftlcv Gb-tkj. Aera j wbwfca jub, tf kjr ja atf fcagjcmf bo atf gbbw, jcv Gb-tkj kbcvfgfv ktfc tf tjv mbwf jii atf kjs ab atlr mbgcfg. Gb-tkj ibbxfv ja tlw klat j yfklivfgfv fzqgfrrlbc. Ufgtjqr la kjr pera j offilcu, yea Zlc-pec’r ujhf rffwfv vloofgfca abvjs, ecilxf ereji.
‘I brought back the thing I borrowed last time.’
Min-jun soon wedged himself between Jihoon and Do-hwa and took a seat. Although Jihoon had been irritating towards Min-jun, he seemed on the verge of saying something, but with the entrance of Min-jun’s friends, the situation was defused for the time being.
Min-jun took off the backpack he was carrying and then pulled out a textbook.
‘Min-jun, did you borrow a book from Do-hwa?’
Across the table, Woo Ji-min threw an intrigued gaze.
‘Yes, I needed it for an assignment.’
A few days ago, Min-jun had been struggling with a laptop in the club room, and Do-hwa had lent it to him. He said he would only need it for about a week, so Do-hwa didn’t expect him to return it this quickly.
‘Thank you. Seonbae.’
Min-jun directed his characteristic smile towards Do-hwa. As he did, the gazes of the students around him who had been watching Min-jun flew like arrows and landed on Do-hwa. Although situations like this were common whenever Do-hwa was with Min-jun, he wasn’t accustomed to them.
Min-jun tried to hold Do-hwa’s hand under the table. At the same time, his complexion changed, and he touched Do-hwa’s forehead.
‘You have a fever. Where does it hurt today?’
‘No, I’m fine. It’s just that my condition is a bit off.’
Why could that be? Do-hwa felt something oddly strange about Min-jun’s fingers touching his forehead. With his physical condition not being the best, it seemed like even his sensory functions were compromised. After lifting his head with some difficulty, Do-hwa placed the textbook Min-jun gave him into his large crossbody bag. For a moment, dizziness struck again, but when he swallowed, Min-jun tightly held onto Do-hwa’s hand.
Do-hwa, taken aback by how firmly Min-jun was holding his hand, raised his head. Their eyes met. For some reason, Min-jun’s brown irises felt sticky. Moreover, there was a warmth spreading around his lower abdomen.
At that moment, as meat and alcohol began to arrive, Do-hwa shifted his gaze away from Min-jun. Min-jun’s hand also moved away.
On the grill, thick slices of pork belly and thinly sliced garlic were sizzling, and soju and beer bottles were turning into empty ones one after another. It was the same at Do-hwa’s table. Since it was a place where the staff grilled the meat, everyone was enjoying the meat and drinks fairly.
However, Min-jun didn’t drink alcohol again today. Since the incident of drinking at the barbecue restaurant last spring, Do-hwa had never seen him drink. He seemed to have a considerable capacity for alcohol, and there were no signs of hangovers, leaving Do-hwa curious as to why. Do-hwa speculated that Min-jun simply didn’t like being in a drunken state.
‘Seonbae, please eat a lot.’
Since earlier, Min-jun has been placing the fully grilled meat on Do-hwa’s plate. Whenever they ate, he always made a point to offer Do-hwa the most delicious pieces.
‘Min-jun, you should eat too.’
‘Yes.’
In addition, Min-jun replied gently, telling Do-hwa not to worry. It wasn’t just once or twice that Do-hwa felt Min-jun seemed older despite being three years younger. Every time that happened, his heart felt strange.
‘Cha Min-jun, haven’t you been paying too much attention to Do-hwa since earlier?’
Woo Ji-min put young radish kimchi into his mouth and playfully showed off his mischievous behavior. As a result, the gaze of Min-jun’s followers turned in this direction. It felt sharp, like the edge of a knife. Do-hwa involuntarily slumped and bowed his head.
‘It’s because I like Do-hwa seonbae a lot.’
Min-jun answered with a smile.
‘Do-hwa, you seem to be treating Min-jun exceptionally well. The kid’s eyes are sparkling.’
Kim Soo-yeon made an envious expression.
‘No, actually, Min-jun takes good care of me. He’s a kind and nice hubae.’
It was just a response to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between them. However, Min-jun’s complexion didn’t look good. Even his usually gentle and soft eyes seemed somewhat fierce. Do-hwa slumped as if he had made a big mistake.
However, as the club president’s toast began, Min-jun, who had been frozen, returned to his usual warmth.
‘Seonbae, please have more of this.’
‘I’m fine. You should eat more.’
‘Of course. I’ll have to tease Do-hwa seonbae later.’
Do-hwa’s eyes widened at Min-jun’s remark. However, for having uttered something embarrassing, Min-jun’s face seemed remarkably nonchalant. Did he hear it wrong? Do-hwa touched his ears.
‘Why are you like this? Seonbae, do you have something to say?’
Min-jun was questioned with a puzzled expression. It seemed he read Do-hwa’s displeasure. Do-hwa, rather than saying it was nothing, felt it might be better to lightly touch upon and move past the awkwardness.
‘Did you just say something strange?’
‘Me?’
‘Yeah, I mean… uh, never mind.’
Even if they blamed it on the alcohol, the embarrassment from what was said couldn’t be erased.
‘I just said the meat must be delicious. What did you hear, seonbae?’
Min-jun chuckled as he placed well-cooked meat on Do-hwa’s plate. Well, maybe he misheard. How can someone casually say something like that in a crowd like this? He’s not crazy.
Do-hwa put the sizzling meat in his mouth.
Without knowing the fact that Min-jun beside him is truly one crazy and completely insane person.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE TRANSLATOR
You’re welcome. (≧▽≦)
Oooh
They… Really were dating. Poor bunny has no idea.
I’m camping 🏕️
I feel sorry for the crazy psycho, unrequited love and such a veeeeeeeery dense love interest, tsk tsk, it’s not easy to say goodbye for the single dog status
Bro must’ve thought they were dating already 😭😭
ML thinks they’re actually dating but they’re not 😭
You have to get the other person’s consent first, you can’t just date him just because you want to
😅
Ml seems delulu 😭