Cozy Obsession Chapter 40

“The day the genetic test results ca out... It was that day. I was shocked to find out that Iheon was a Pri Alpha.”

“I see. That must have been a lot to take in.”

“Yes... It felt like my whole body was being torn apart... I was upset... sad... It felt like betrayal.”

“What do you think betrayed you?”

“...The whole world.”

‘Seo Heemin’ felt as though the entire world, the entire universe, had abandoned him once again. As if it wasn’t enough that he had been born an Oga, the one person he had truly wanted to open his heart to turned out to be an Alpha. Of course, the shock was overwhelming.

Soon, ‘Seo Heemin’ was completely engulfed in terror and anxiety. Looking back, he realized that the animalistic instincts unique to Alphas—their brutality, their ferocity, their inherent violence—were embedded in Iheon as well.

He recalled the day they had gone to a bustling shopping district to buy art supplies, only to be harassed by a group of thugs. One of them had sneered, “You look like the type to get fucked by a guy.” And in that instant, Iheon’s expression had shifted. His eyes turned cold, and without hesitation, he beat them half to death.

Back then, ‘Seo Heemin’ had been more shaken by that than anything else.

— Heemin, what did you get?

Still reeling from despair, ‘Seo Heemin’ had been sitting motionless, a shadow of sorrow darkening his face, when Cha Iheon approached him. He avoided looking at him, remaining silent. Just like always, Iheon smiled playfully and ruffled ‘Seo Heemin’s’ hair.

— Why that face? Are you disappointed we won’t be in the sa class next year?

— Don’t touch .

‘Seo Heemin’ slapped Iheon’s hand away.

For a mont, Iheon’s face darkened—his sharp eyes clouded over, his expression wiped clean. And that terrified ‘Seo Heemin’ even more.

The image of their debate teacher, caught in a rut, overlapped with Iheon’s. The murmurs of the students around them were painfully clear.

“What’s with him? Is he acting like that because he ca out as an Oga?”

Panicked, ‘Seo Heemin’ grabbed his test results and his bag and bolted out of the classroom. Iheon kept calling him, sending ssage after ssage, until finally, ‘Seo Heemin’ turned off his phone altogether.

Before the person he trusted the most could hurt him.

Before the horror and pain could repeat themselves.

For both their sakes, he decided to sever their ties completely.

Foolish ‘Seo Heemin’ truly believed he was doing Iheon a favor. What Alpha could possibly love an Oga plagued by trauma? He had neither the courage to reveal his past nor the resolve to burden Iheon with it, asking him to overco it together.

Heemin watched ‘Seo Heemin’s’ immature decision with pity. That eighteen-year-old, who had no choice but to rely on a defense chanism to protect himself from his own fears, was utterly miserable and pitiful.

If only the world had been free of pheromones, they wouldn’t have drifted apart. There wouldn’t have been layers of misunderstandings leading to their inevitable downfall.

— I have nothing to say to you. Don’t ever co looking for again.

The scene shifted. ‘Seo Heemin’ stood at the gate of his ho, coldly turning away the boy who had co to talk.

— Heemin. Please, just look at . Let’s talk.

— ...Ugh.

The scene changed again. Unable to endure being treated like he was invisible, Cha Iheon appeared before ‘Seo Heemin.’ But now fully manifested as a Pri Oga, ‘Seo Heemin’ couldn’t withstand the pheromones of an overwhelmingly dominant Pri Alpha like Cha Iheon. Right in front of him, he vomited.

— I’m transferring schools tomorrow. I just... I just wanted to see your face one last ti. Even if it’s just for a mont, please...

— I have to go to my art class.

— I’ll wait. I’ll keep waiting. Until you co.

Once more, the scene shifted, and Heemin saw the final glimpse of their past.

Knowing it was truly the last ti, ‘Seo Heemin’ decided to skip class and head to their promised eting place. But just as he was about to leave, his heat struck, rendering him helpless. anwhile, Cha Iheon, waiting for soone who never ca, ended up being brutally beaten in retaliation.

“...It feels like my chest is being torn apart.”

The self-loathing in ‘Seo Heemin’s’ heart, for rejecting him so completely.

The desperation in Iheon’s expression, still clinging to hope even after losing everything.

Heemin couldn’t forget it.

During the hypnosis, the nineteen-year-old Cha Iheon Heemin saw had no scar on his eyebrow like he did now. But his heart—his heart had already been covered in wounds. And those sa scars had been engraved onto ‘Seo Heemin’s’ own heart as well.

“Ugh... Ugh...”

It wasn’t just ‘Seo Heemin’s’ body that had been possessed.

Facing this scene head-on was suffocating.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

A torrent of crushing regret and guilt surged through Heemin. His body trembled, like standing beneath freezing winter rain, caught in an inescapable storm of emotion.

“The music is starting now. You will wake up from hypnosis.”

Sensing the rising distress, Dr. Eun-kyung played a piece by Bach, signaling the end of the session. The soothing classical lody washed over him, and the world around him darkened as if twilight had fallen.

“One, two, three. Open your eyes, Heemin.”

“Hah... hah...”

His breath ca in ragged gasps. A dizzying, nauseating sensation swirled through him, his vision montarily blurring into a sickly yellow haze. Heemin had to clutch his head and sit still for a mont, unable to move. His entire body was drenched in sweat from the unbearable tension he had endured during hypnosis.

“Drink this. It should help you calm down.”

Dr. Eun-kyung poured him a cup of tea.

As Heemin took a sip, the lingering warmth seeped into his body, gradually easing the turmoil within him.

“When people feel betrayed by the world, they usually respond with anger first. But Heemin, [N O V E L I G H T] you must have held onto a lot of lingering feelings. It’s clear from how those regrets have been stuck in your heart all this ti.”

“...I must have been really... really sad.”

Since Heemin had only possessed ‘Seo Heemin’ right after his abduction, this version of ‘Seo Heemin’ knew nothing about what had beco of Cha Iheon—the boy he once knew had turned into a ruthless mob boss.

He didn’t know.

He didn’t know that it was his own mistakes, his ignorance, and his father’s cris that had planted a deep hatred in Iheon’s heart.

What’s worse, ‘Seo Heemin’ had been completely deceived by Seo Jae-han’s lies. He truly believed that Cha Il-moon had been scheming to steal Shinwon Cent, had failed, and had taken his own life. He had also been led to believe that Cha Iheon had played an active role in his father’s conspiracy.

Even so... he regretted how cruelly he had treated him.

That only ant one thing—Seo Heemin’s feelings for Cha Iheon ran deeper than even he had realized.

“You must have been through so much... Thank you for holding on, Heemin. Other versions of you haven’t even reached this stage yet.”

Now that they had finally made so progress after being stuck for so long, Eun-kyung seed genuinely relieved as Heemin’s therapist.

“...It’s all thanks to you.”

He couldn't bring himself to say it—that the only reason he had reached this stage was because he wasn’t truly ‘Seo Heemin.’ Instead, he simply flashed Eun-kyung a grin.

“Take care on your way ho. See you next week.”

“Yes. I’ll see you next week, doctor.”

After finishing the rest of his tea, Heemin stepped out of the consultation room. His body felt drained, completely devoid of strength, but his resolve burned fiercely. He was determined to face Cha Iheon properly—to look him in the eye and have a real conversation.

Perhaps Iheon's coldness toward him was nothing more than a defense chanism, just as ‘Seo Heemin’ had once done to him.

But instead of confronting his emotions head-on, he was denying the situation altogether, choosing avoidance over resolution.

Maybe that detached exterior was nothing but a mask to conceal his own anxiety. Even though he was nine years older than Heemin, wasn’t he still just as clumsy—whether in love or revenge—like a child fumbling his way through emotions he didn't quite understand?

That was why Heemin had made up his mind. No matter what it took, he would tear that mask off.

When it ca to relationships, avoidance wasn’t a pause—it was a retreat. Like ‘Seo Heemin,’ like Cha Iheon, those who refused to face each other and instead stepped back would only find the distance between them growing too vast to close.

“Are you finished, sir? I’ll go handle the paynt now.”

As soon as Heemin stepped out, Minseok, who had been waiting the entire ti, imdiately clenched his fists and sprang to his feet. There was really no need for him to be so rigid, but even when it was just the two of them, he always stood at attention like a soldier awaiting orders. Now, Heemin could see exactly why Iheon had assigned him as a watchdog.

“Let’s stop by the store first.”

“The store? Do you need sothing?”

“I’m buying alcohol.”

“Oh, that’s an excellent idea, sir. If you share a drink, the boss will surely agree to make up with you.”

Minseok was right—alcohol was the best way to break the ice. And the best way to tempt soone.

Besides, Heemin had been curious about the results of his recent physical training and therapy. If his condition was back to normal, maybe he could at least go for a reconciliation kiss.

Not that he could just lean in and do it sober—that would be too embarrassing. But with a little help from alcohol, maybe he could push things along.

“What should I get...?”

They stopped by a small local store on their way ho.

Heemin hesitated between beer and soju before reaching for a bottle of soju. That’s when Minseok pointed at a box of six neatly packaged bottles.

“One bottle won’t be enough. Let’s get this.”

“In that case, why not just get two boxes?”

Heemin’s drinking limit was two and a half bottles of soju. He had no idea how much Iheon could handle, but given his life in the underworld, there was a chance he could drink soju like water.

It was better to have too much than not enough.

“Sir... I know it’s not my place to say this, but twelve bottles seems a bit excessive.”

“I plan to keep so for later.”

“Ah, I see. A long-term strategy.”

Minseok eagerly tossed the two boxes into the shopping basket.

anwhile, Heemin wandered over to the seafood section, wondering what to prepare for side dishes.

The thought of drinking properly for the first ti in a while actually made him feel a little excited.

Just wait and see. Whether it’s alcohol, food, or kisses—I'll make sure you fall head over heels.

You stubborn old man.

***

“You’re back?”

It was past eleven by the ti Iheon returned.

Heemin had been prepared to wait until dawn if necessary, but surprisingly, Iheon ca ho early. Almost as if he had read Heemin’s mind.

“I set up a table. Let’s drink together.”

Before Iheon could escape into his room, Heemin grabbed his arm and dragged him into the kitchen.

The table was filled with dishes Heemin had prepared.

“Drinking? Out of nowhere?”

Iheon gave him a tired, skeptical look. His thick brows furrowed as if to say, What are you scheming now?

But even faced with his cold deanor, Heemin didn’t back down.

Instead, he smiled, his eyes curving into gentle arcs, and said,

“Tonight, I’m going to seduce you.”