TCBW C51

Chapter 51

“Why? Does it bother you that I will know your address? Fine, then—let’s just go out right now and grab a taxi.”

Seojun shifted as if to rise from his seat.

“N-no, that’s not it….”

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t know it. The address.”

At that, Suhoe’s movement halted mid-way.

“…You.”

“……”

“Are you messing with me right now?”

Suhoe’s face flushed crimson.

In truth, once he left home, it was the office; once he left the office, it was home again. That was his entire world, and with the chauffeur driving him every time, he never had to memorize the address.

Of course, even Suhoe knew it was unbelievably foolish not to know the address of his own residence.

“Haa…”

“I hate myself like this too.”

“You can’t help it.”

With a sigh, Seojun plopped down on the bed beside Suhoe.

“Then how about we just go out together tonight and sleep somewhere? Like a jjimjilbang* or something.”

“Go out?”

“Yeah. I don’t think the two of us alone in the house is a great idea.”

“…Why?”

“What do you mean why. I’m an Alpha, and you—oh right, you said you like someone. That CEO ahjussi.”

An enigmatic smile curved Seojun’s lips.

“T-that was just because I was drunk…!”

Suhoe’s face heated as if it would burst.

“After saying something that outrageous, you’re really trying to deny it now? That’s kind of funny, don’t you think?”

“I-it’s really not like that.”

“Okay, okay! Calm down.”

Though he was clearly amused, Seojun waved his hand lightly.

“If you start banging your head against the wall like last time, we’re in trouble. This villa’s so old it might actually collapse.”

“Ugh.”

“What, were you actually about to do it again?”

“No! I wasn’t! And seriously, I don’t like him. It’s just—there are circumstances I can’t talk about.”

With rare desperation, Suhoe flailed his hands as he muttered.

Rolling his eyes dramatically, Seojun stared at him as if he could not believe this man.

“…Haa. I wasn’t going to bring this up, but—last time, when the CEO found you asleep, he carried you himself and put you in the car.”

Suhoe tensed, knowing exactly which day he meant.

“T-that was because of something else too.”

“What reason?”

“I can’t say, but there was a reason.”

“You’re unbelievably frustrating.”

Rubbing his forehead, Seojun sighed.

“Why are you so desperate to deny it? Is it because of the CEO’s lover?”

The moment he said “lover,” Sara flashed through Suhoe’s mind. He bit his lip.

“……”

“Oh. Did I go too far?”

Seeing his reaction, Seojun murmured under his breath, “Forget I said that.”

“Anyway, by your words, you don’t have feelings for him, and you two aren’t dating. That means you can meet someone else, right?”

“M-meet someone else…?”

Suhoe echoed blankly.

“Yeah. If you don’t like him and you’re not dating, then there’s no problem seeing someone else.”

Logically, his words were correct.

At least in the world of ordinary people. But Suhoe was far from that world right now.

Maybe someday he could live in such a world. But not now—not in his current circumstances.

And since he couldn’t explain any of that, he hesitated briefly and then reluctantly nodded.

“R-right?”

As if he had known precisely how Suhoe would respond, Seojun stared squarely at him.

“Then.”

“Then?”

“Go out with me. Forget that old man.”

“What? Go out? With me? Why?”

Suhoe’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit—an expression that truly fit the phrase.

“Why not?”

Seojun replied coolly.

“N-no. I can’t. I have… circumstances.”

“I can guess what kind of circumstances. Then what if you resolve all of that later?”

“After… everything is resolved?”

“Yeah. What if I wait?”

“Wait? For me? Why would you do that?”

“Oh please, because I like you, obviously.”

“You like me? Why?”

“Do I need a reason to like someone?”

He let out a soft chuckle.

“……”

His words were warm, sunlight-soft. Yet instead of warming him, they only pushed Suhoe deeper into shadow.

So this was how normal people thought.

But he had been born to be a curse-bearer. Raised only to live for Dowoon’s sake, to break his curse. His life was not his own.

How could someone like him dare to like anyone? How could he dare to be loved?

A face surfaced in his mind—but even that emotion felt borrowed. Like it didn’t belong to him, so he couldn’t acknowledge it.

“Well? Will you date me?”

Date? In his position?

His face immediately stiffened.

“No, Jun-ah.”

Seeing that, as if he had already known the answer, Seojun asked softly:

“You’re going to say no, right?”

“Mm…”

“But that just means you can’t right now.”

“…Huh? I-I guess?”

“Then is there at least a tiny chance—someday—you might date me?”

His gaze darkened, serious.

“What?”

“I’m willing to wait, you know.”

“But… how would I know whether we could date someday?”

“Hmm…”

He thought for a moment, then smirked mischievously.

“You know there’s a saying these days—date after sex first.”

“After… sex?”

Hearing the unfamiliar phrase, Suhoe blinked.

“Yeah. Like, you try mixing bodies first to see if you match.”

Mix what? Suhoe’s face went nuclear red. Every drop of blood seemed to rush to his head.

“N-no!”

“Why? You’re not dating the CEO, and you don’t like him, right? Then what’s the problem? Or are you some abstinence-until-marriage type?”

“That’s not it, but still—!”

“And physical attachment is a scary thing.”

His smirk deepened.

“What if you end up falling for me because of it?”

“Physical… attachment?”

Could that really sway someone’s heart?

If he felt the same electric shock from Seojun that he had felt with Dowoon… could he come to like someone other than Dowoon?

Lost in confusion, he couldn’t speak. Seojun gently held his trembling hand.

When Suhoe flinched and looked up, he wrapped an arm around his waist, firm yet slow.

“U-uh… J-Jun-ah.”

“Just relax… and feel it, Suhoe.”

He lifted Suhoe’s chin with one hand and drew their bodies close.

The sudden closeness made Suhoe clamp his eyes shut. But he could feel him—his warmth, his breath brushing so close their lips nearly touched.

His scent, his heat wrapped around him. His mind blanked as lips hovered just one breath away.

“W-wait!”

But their lips never met. Seojun’s expression hardened, and he pushed Suhoe away.

It happened almost at the same time Suhoe gasped and turned his head aside.

Panting, he retreated, breath trembling.

“N-no.”

“Yeah. I figured.”

His voice was strangely calm.

“You can’t kiss me, right? Because someone else kept filling your head.”

“Haa… haa…”

As Suhoe looked at him, flushed and breathless, Seojun gave a small smile.

“You thought of the CEO, didn’t you?”

“…How…?”

“Because you like him, Suhoe.”

He bowed his head in the end. It was true. With Seojun so close—he thought of Dowoon. Of that voice whispering don’t let an Alpha touch you. Of that embrace.

Every contrast only made Dowoon clearer, every difference pushing him away from Seojun.

Silently rising, Seojun picked up his jacket.

“I don’t know what you’re struggling with alone, but if you like someone, just admit it. He seems to care about you a lot too. What are you so afraid of?”

“D-Dowoon… likes me?”

Still catching his breath, Suhoe looked up, dazed.

“Isn’t it obvious? I told you before—it’s frustrating to even watch.”

“Jun-ah.”

“Consider it shock therapy. You’re welcome.”

He smiled awkwardly.

“Come on. Get up. I’ll take you to the office lobby. They can give you the CEO’s number there. Then he’ll take you home safely.”

“J-Jun-ah.”

“What?”

“Like you said… I keep thinking of him.”

“……”

“I know he’s dating someone else, and someone like me has no chance… but still…”

“Yeah, everyone knows. He’s publicly dating Han-Sara.”

For a moment, Seojun hesitated over his words.

Footnotes

* Jjimjilbang public bathhouse/sauna facility where people can relax, sleep, and enjoy various heated rooms.