Chapter 14: Tension in the Parking Lot

It was still a little early to leave work, so the underground parking lot was still packed with cars.

Hyunwoo walked past them absentmindedly and headed toward his usual parking spot.

“Hyung.”

“…….”

It wasn’t long before Hyunwoo spotted Seunghyuk.

Leaning against a car as if he owned it, Seunghyuk was staring at his phone screen but looked up when he noticed Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo had approached as quietly as possible, but Seunghyuk always seemed to notice his presence as if by instinct.

Watching him for a moment, Hyunwoo let out a short sigh and stepped closer.

“You don’t need to come every day.”

“I know. You have plenty of people who can drive you besides me.”

“Then why….”

“Because I want to.”

“…….”

Yeah, who could ever persuade that stubbornness.

Hyunwoo eventually gave up trying to convince him and quietly took out the car keys.

It seemed Seunghyuk blamed himself for Hyunwoo getting hurt.

Since it happened while they were together, feeling some guilt or obligation made sense, but to do this much for a man he hated so deeply…

When Hyunwoo pressed the button, the lock clicked open.

Seunghyuk, already holding the keys, opened the passenger door with practiced ease.

“Get in.”

“…….”

Did he really need to open the door for him? Hyunwoo could manage that much himself.

But knowing any protest would be useless, he climbed in without a word.

“…Ugh.”

Reflexively, Hyunwoo tried to pull down the seatbelt with his left arm and felt a sharp pain, gritting his teeth.

Seunghyuk, finally in the driver’s seat, frowned.

“I’ll do it, so stay still.”

“…I can do it myself.”

“Wait until the wound heals, then do it.”

“…….”

Seunghyuk spoke tersely, leaning slightly toward Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo knew there was no avoiding it given the spacious interior, but he couldn’t help feeling tense whenever Seunghyuk’s body came close.

Seunghyuk gripped the seatbelt tightly, and a refreshing scent emanated from him more strongly than before.

“Are we stopping anywhere?”

“…No.”

“Then I’ll take you straight home.”

“Okay.”

After that, Hyunwoo kept his mouth shut.

It seemed he was the only one conscious of the tension.

Hyunwoo turned his head to look out the window, trying to hide the redness creeping into his face.

The car was quiet without music.

Hyunwoo usually didn’t listen to music or the radio while driving, and Seunghyuk seemed the same.

Yet, at this moment, the absence of music felt painfully noticeable.

In the silence, Hyunwoo felt an odd discomfort and frowned.

Being alone in the car with Seunghyuk kept reminding him of their kiss in this very place.

Since the stalker incident, he hadn’t had to deal with it, but it felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

Why had Seunghyuk kissed him back then?

It didn’t feel like a momentary act of anger.

It had been a bit rough, but not like venting frustration.

Hyunwoo felt as if the memory of that kiss still lingered on his lips.

He traced them lightly with his fingers, feeling a strange warmth.

“Hyung.”

“Uh, yes?”

“We’re here.”

“Ah….”

The house was close to the office, so they arrived quickly.

Since he had left work early, traffic hadn’t been a problem.

Hyunwoo had to suppress a fleeting sense of regret.

He realized he hadn’t been entirely sane since entering the car.

He gritted his teeth.

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

As he tried to get out, Seunghyuk’s grim voice made him turn back.

Seunghyuk’s expression was rigid.

“Is Joo Hyunjin still at your house?”

“Yeah… so what.”

“Ha….”

Seunghyuk’s face twisted.

It seemed that Hyunjin still staying at his house displeased him greatly.

Of course, Hyunjin couldn’t return to the house where the stalker had lurked.

Hyunwoo didn’t plan to send him back to that poor home either.

Until they found a proper place, it was better for him to stay here than at a hotel or their distant family home.

But it seemed to have struck a nerve with Seunghyuk.

“I’m looking for another place, but it’s still during the semester, so nothing suitable near campus. During the vacation, there might be some empty spots, but until then….”

“…….”

Hyunwoo tried to explain diligently.

Others already assumed he and Hyunjin were half-brothers, so Seunghyuk likely wouldn’t find it strange.

But still, seeing an Alpha and an Omega living together might not sit well with him.

“Do you really have to keep him here?”

“The school’s a bit far… but I can’t exactly make him stay at a hotel…”

“You want Joo Hyunjin…!”

“Yeah?”

“…Damn.”

Seunghyuk, about to shout in anger, suddenly muttered a curse and slammed his hand on the steering wheel.

“…….”

Is he about to hit me? Hyunwoo swallowed nervously.

He remembered how Seunghyuk, a dominant Alpha, had mercilessly stomped the stalker.

“Then… do you want to see Hyunjin too?”

“……!”

If he was worried about Hyunjin, maybe it was better to let Seunghyuk go with him.

Thinking that, Hyunwoo asked, and Seunghyuk’s eyes lit up as he quickly turned his head.

“Yes, I’ll go.”

“…Okay.”

Hyunwoo didn’t really want to stay with Seunghyuk any longer, but he had no choice.

Seunghyuk was far too sensitive about Hyunjin.

They entered the house together.

“Hyung, I came home early…!”

Hyunjin’s smiling face immediately stiffened.

He pointed at Seunghyuk and asked,

“Why is Seunghyuk here?”

“He’s been driving me lately.”

“Then why didn’t you just part ways downstairs?”

“How could I? At least let him have a meal.”

Hyunwoo playfully ruffled Hyunjin’s hair.

Hyunjin still looked displeased.

Hyunwoo thought he’d be happy to see Seunghyuk, but apparently not.

Hyunjin wore a pink apron he somehow got, and Hyunwoo glanced it over.

“Did you cook?”

“No… I ordered. Just transferring it to plates…”

“Well done.”

Like Hyunwoo, Hyunjin had no talent for cooking.

As a child, he once almost caused a fire cooking ramen in secret.

Even if exaggerated for the story, it was better to be careful.

But if it was just transferring delivery food, the apron seemed unnecessary.

Hyunwoo looked at Hyunjin’s cute pink apron, puzzled.

“But I only ordered enough for two….”

“You two eat. I’ll manage with a little.”

“What? No! You need to eat properly to recover!”

Hyunjin shouted in alarm, loud enough to startle Hyunwoo.

“You won’t die from skipping a meal.”

“Ah, no. But….”

“Hmm?”

“Actually… I ordered plenty, so you can eat together…”

“…….”

Hyunwoo looked at Hyunjin in confusion.

Why would he lie like that?

Anyway, it was a relief the situation was resolved.

Hyunwoo looked back at Seunghyuk.

“I’ll change clothes first. You two eat.”

“…….”

Though Seunghyuk didn’t reply, Hyunwoo turned toward the dressing room.

He wanted to quickly change into comfortable clothes after being uncomfortable in a suit all day due to his bandage.

Click.

“……?”

The door closing made Hyunwoo frown.

He hadn’t closed it when entering.

“Why?”

“…….”

Seunghyuk followed, staring intently.

He slowly approached Hyunwoo.

“I’ll help you change.”

“No… it’s fine.”

Hyunwoo didn’t understand why Seunghyuk felt so obligated, and he started feeling uneasy.

He stepped back slowly, sensing a strange chill.

“Don’t refuse. It’s inconvenient to do it alone.”

“Ugh, wait….”

Seunghyuk reached for Hyunwoo’s tie first, loosening it and letting it fall.

Hyunwoo rarely let anyone help undress him, and now it was Seunghyuk.

He bit the inside of his lip, afraid of making a sound.

“What about your clothes?”

“Just anything over there…”

Hyunwoo pointed to the pile of clothes.

Seunghyuk glanced.

“Can I choose?”

“…Yes.”

While Seunghyuk picked out clothes, Hyunwoo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

His suit jacket had already been removed by Seunghyuk’s hand.

The main issue was his arm, so he thought he could manage changing his shirt himself.

But he felt uneasy for some reason.

“Hey, hey! Wait a minute!”

“Why?”

“Why are you taking off my pants?”

“You need to change them too.”

“……!”

Unfortunately, Hyunwoo’s uneasy premonition never failed.

He grabbed the belt, raising his voice at Seunghyuk.