The guys who had been babbling nonstop suddenly fell silent. Seeing them awkwardly exchange glances and clamp their mouths shut, Yujin beca certain of his suspicion.
How could this be.
It felt like the world was collapsing. Winston had slept with soone else, not . I waited for Winnie all this ti. How could this happen.
“Look, Winston’s constitution is just like that, so it can’t be helped.”
One of them spoke up bravely, and as if waiting for the cue, others chid in with agreent.
“Yeah, if he doesn’t release those pheromones, his head goes crazy.”
“No one wants to go insane and die, right? Anyone in that situation would have no choice.”
“If he can deal with {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} pheromones through sex, then that’s actually good.”
“Right, that’s what they call cost-effectiveness. Getting a big benefit without much effort or risk...”
Yujin let their nonsense slide in one ear and out the other, just lowering his head. They were right. It wasn’t a matter of desire, but a choice forced by his constitution. So people can’t drink milk because of their constitution. It’s no different.
So far, all we had done was kiss, so he must have needed to release pheromones sohow.
Yujin forced himself to suppress his feelings and tried to smile as nonchalantly as possible.
“If it was sothing that couldn’t be helped, it’s fine. It’s okay, now you just don’t have to go anymore.”
It’s okay, from now on I’ll be the one to release your pheromones. Winnie wouldn’t go to that kind of place again leaving behind.
Seeing him add this in his mind like a promise to himself, the others hastily scrambled to cover their mistake by chattering loudly again.
“Yeah, right. Just let it go like that.”
“It’s nothing. If you date an extre alpha, you have to put up with that.”
Everything they said was stuff Yujin hated. How could they call this consolation? Just as Yujin opened his mouth to scold them sharply, soone else spoke up before him.
“We’re not even going to be together that long. Winston’s going to marry Evelyn anyway.”
Suddenly, Yujin’s mind went blank. His face froze exactly as it had while smiling, and he heard one of them nodding in agreent.
“That’s right, Yujin wouldn’t seriously think about it either, right?”
“We’re just enjoying the mont. No need to think too deeply.”
“Yeah, it’s all temporary anyway.”
They laughed loudly and clinked their beer bottles like a toast, but Yujin just stared blankly at them.
“...What did you say?”
At Yujin’s foolish exclamation, the guys who had been spouting aningless jokes faltered and turned their gaze toward him. Yujin kept his eyes wide open, staring vacantly. Their laughter vanished and was replaced by embarrassed expressions.
“Uh, well... you didn’t know?”
One of them nervously broke the silence. Seeing Yujin’s still vacant expression, another hesitated but spoke up.
“S-sorry. We thought you knew...”
“We didn’t an anything bad. It’s just better that way...”
They kept babbling, but nothing could be heard clearly. Only their voices echoed in Yujin’s ears.
“He’s marrying Evelyn?”
With great effort, Yujin barely squeezed out the words. The others looked startled and exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how much to say. After a while, one of them gathered courage and stepped forward.
“They’ve been friends since they were kids, and their families know each other well... They’re already engaged.”
“Hey, why do you have to say that...”
Soone tried to stop him, but another shook their head.
“It’s too late anyway. What’s the point in hiding it after saying it all.”
At those words, the others’ expressions softened as if resigned. One added.
“Everyone thinks they’re getting married. It’s been that way for a long ti. Probably won’t change.”
“Winston has to carry on the family line, so who he marries is important.”
“Sorry, we probably shouldn’t have talked about this...”
“No.”
Yujin responded hoarsely to the apology.
“Thanks for telling . I have to know...”
That was all. He didn’t know what else to say. Yujin stood there in a daze, staring into the distance. He had tried so hard to act like it didn’t matter, but it all went up in smoke. Just knowing Winston was sleeping with soone else left him drained, but this was a knockout punch. Yujin was completely broken.
Then, at that mont.
“Yujin.”
Suddenly, Winston’s voice ca from behind, and he gently pulled Yujin close by the waist. Yujin, limp, was drawn into his embrace. Winston buried his nose in Yujin’s hair and took a deep breath, then, with one arm around his waist, offered the beer he was holding with the other.
“Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t find anything cold.”
His voice was still gentle but failed to lt Yujin’s heart. The others gradually beca uneasy, one by one making excuses and leaving. Until then, Yujin just stood there silently in that state.
“Yujin, what’s wrong?”
Noticing the strange atmosphere late, Winston asked in puzzlent. But for so reason, Yujin barely opened his mouth. Maybe the shock was too great. He couldn’t think how to ask anything. Only the sa words kept spinning in his head.
Winston’s sleeping with so many people.
He has no intention of marrying . I’m just a plaything until he marries Evelyn.
Was his confession of love a lie too?
...I don’t know.
His nose stung sharply, and tears welled up. Yujin tried to hold back the tears but it was difficult. When he blinked hard, thick tears fell down.
“Yujin, are you crying? Why?”
Winston, noticing imdiately, asked in a flustered, raised voice. But Yujin couldn’t answer easily. Just desperately wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Winston was montarily at a loss but then found the cause.
“What did those bastards do while I wasn’t here?”
Since Yujin was with them while Winston was away, the cause was obvious. Winston lowered his voice as much as possible so Yujin wouldn’t get scared.
“What did they say to make you like this? Or did sothing bad happen? It’s okay, Yujin. Tell . Nothing will happen, okay?”
He kept trying to soothe Yujin, but it backfired. The gentle voice only hurt more, and Yujin started sobbing. At that mont, Winston completely lost control.
Huuu.
Yujin exhaled with trembling breath and took a deep breath. The tears had stopped long ago but the sobbing didn’t subside easily. He wiped his stinging eyes again and cald himself, sitting on the bed, when a knock ca. The person who entered was naturally Winston.
“You okay?”
Winston ca in briskly with a towel soaked in cold water and asked worriedly. Yujin said thanks and accepted the towel, pressing it to his face. The cold, soft texture seed to cool the heat on his face.
“What about your friends...? Are they all gone?”
“A while ago.”
Winston spoke shortly, but Yujin knew. He had seen Winston yelling and driving off the unwelco guests.
“No need to shoot them or anything...”
Yujin said softly, and Winston continued reassuring him.
“They’re the kind who wouldn’t leave unless you get rough with them. Should’ve done it from the start.”
Thanks to that, even the police had co by. If it weren’t for the Campbell na, they might have been arrested on the spot. While Winston explained to the police that it was just an accidental discharge, Yujin nervously sat on the bed. It gave him ti to stop crying and calm down, but dangerous things like that shouldn’t happen again.
“Don’t do that again. I’m scared you might get hurt or arrested.”
“Okay.”
Winston promised readily and stroked Yujin’s head, wearing a deeply worried expression.
“Why did you suddenly cry?”
Yujin suddenly felt sothing stuck in his throat. Heavy silence flowed between them.
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