Chapter 23: Spice, Friends, and Unexpected Calls

“Drink water, quickly.”

“…….”

Hyunwoo quickly handed a cup of water to Seunghyuk.

Seunghyuk, still struggling with the curry burning his mouth, grabbed the cup desperately.

He gulped down the water in large sips.

“Haa….”

Hyunwoo watched him silently, noting the sigh of relief as Seunghyuk finally swallowed.

It seemed one bite wasn’t so unbearable after all.

Still, the tears at the corners of his eyes suggested it had been pretty intense.

Hyunwoo had seen people who couldn’t handle spicy food before, but a spice-averse like Seunghyuk was rare.

Suppressing a smile, Hyunwoo swapped their bowls.

“The menu’s the same, maybe the staff got confused.”

Usually, even if the menu items were identical, the server would double-check the spice levels.

Today, perhaps because it was busy or they assumed the spice levels were the same, they just left the bowls.

“Now… it’s okay.”

“Hmm, really?”

“Don’t laugh, hyung.”

“When did I laugh?”

Hyunwoo pressed his twitching lips firmly.

He absolutely did not find it cute that Seunghyuk couldn’t handle spice.

Absolutely not.

He repeated this to himself like a mantra.

“Still too spicy?”

“…I said it’s fine.”

“Want me to get you an X-Piece?”

“…….”

Seunghyuk glared at Hyunwoo, who had been teasing him mercilessly while shoveling the mild curry into his mouth.

Hyunwoo realized he might have overstepped his “villain” role by teasing the protagonist.

Being with Seunghyuk made him forget his usual persona.

He bit his lower lip in thought.

“Why bite again? You’ll hurt it.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.”

Yet, just talking led them to bicker naturally again.

Hyunwoo could do nothing about it.

He lowered his head, silently eating his curry like someone burying his nose in the bowl.

The curry was good.

No, it was excellent, befitting a popular restaurant.

The only problem was that Hyunwoo couldn’t fully taste it.

He needed to get Seunghyuk out of the house soon.

But first, he needed to secure Hyunjin’s place.

Maybe he should look near the university again, he muttered to himself.

Then he remembered Seunghyuk had applied for an internship at Moonsung.

Even if he got Seunghyuk out of the house, during vacation he would meet him again at work.

Just thinking about it made his stomach churn.

The X-Piece wasn’t for Seunghyuk—it was for him.

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue.

“Oh? It’s Lee Seunghyuk.”

“……!”

As they were finishing their meal, some people exiting the restaurant stopped abruptly near their table.

Someone called Seunghyuk’s name precisely.

Hyunwoo turned, surprised.

It seemed these people knew Seunghyuk.

They looked like peers, young and approachable.

Could they be his classmates?

One girl and two boys, all staring at Seunghyuk.

“Is it really Lee Seunghyuk?”

“What are you doing here? Live nearby?”

They surrounded the table quickly.

Seunghyuk looked at them, annoyed.

“Don’t pretend to know me. Go away.”

“Wow, look at how he talks.”

The classmates laughed it off as if it were normal.

Surprisingly, Hyunwoo had expected Seunghyuk to be kind to close friends, despite being a gentle alpha toward Hyunjin.

He watched them with curious eyes.

“You’re not with Hyunjin?”

“Why would I be with him?”

“You were contacted yesterday. Did Hyunjin come looking?”

“…Haa.”

Clearly, they were Hyunjin and Seunghyuk’s classmates.

Hyunwoo spoke on Seunghyuk’s behalf.

“Hyunjin’s fine.”

“Uh… who are you…?”

“I’m Hyunjin’s hyung, Joo Hyunwoo.”

“Wow, really?”

The only girl in the group gasped dramatically.

Hyunwoo tilted his head at the reaction.

“Oh, hello. Honestly, I thought Hyunjin exaggerated about his smart and handsome hyung, but he was right!”

“Uh… well…”

“So he never showed photos but always bragged verbally. But it’s true!”

“Hmm, hmm.”

Hyunwoo coughed awkwardly at the unexpected praise.

The classmates continued chattering.

“They said they never showed photos because they were precious.”

“Hyung, you work for a big company, right? Really Moonsung?”

“If he’s smart and handsome, isn’t that unfair?”

“….”

Hyunwoo felt overwhelmed by their curiosity and sparkling eyes.

“Hey, stop and go away.”

“Why are you the only one meeting Hyunjin hyung?”

“I’ve known him for a while.”

“Then we can know each other too!”

One bold girl shouted at him.

“Want to go to a coin karaoke with us?”

“Coin…?”

Hyunwoo barely remembered the term, realizing it meant a coin-operated karaoke.

At his age, coin karaoke felt childish.

“Coin karaoke? You can’t. And don’t you see my arm? I can’t handle it.”

“Why are you the only one complaining? Hyung hasn’t said anything.”

“Ha ha….”

Hyunwoo laughed awkwardly at Seunghyuk and his classmates.

“I’ll go next time. Seunghyuk, if you want, go with them.”

“I don’t want to go either.”

Seunghyuk sounded utterly disgusted.

But the classmates were persistent.

“Why not! Exams are over, let’s have fun.”

“You ignored Hyunjin’s messages but now ignore us.”

“That’s not fair!”

They surrounded Seunghyuk, but he pushed them away.

“Enough. Eat and leave.”

“Ah! Alpha Woo-sung catches a Beta!”

“….”

Hyunwoo watched the classmates dragged away and stood up.

“Please include their table in the payment.”

“Okay.”

Naturally, Seunghyuk paid for the classmates’ meals.

“Why did you pay for them?”

“It’s only right to do so.”

“Don’t do that next time. When married, it’s our money. Don’t waste it.”

“….”

Hyunwoo blinked, astonished at Seunghyuk’s boldness.

“Ha… fine, fine.”

Hyunwoo shook his head and stepped outside.

The classmates were already gone, likely at karaoke.

Hyunwoo turned to Seunghyuk.

“You’re really okay not going with them?”

“I’m not going. You’re hurt; I won’t leave you.”

“You’re barely hurt now…”

Though it still hurt to touch or bump, it was fine when still.

No painkillers were needed.

“You still have to be careful.”

“You’re really… picky.”

Hyunwoo shook his head and walked with Seunghyuk toward the parking lot.

His phone vibrated in his pocket.

Buzz, buzz.

“Oh?”

[Hyunjin]

It was a call from Hyunjin.

Hyunwoo answered quickly, startled.

“Hello? Hyunjin?”

• Hyung….

Hyunjin’s weak voice came through.

Hyunwoo stopped, firing questions rapidly.

“Are you okay? Is the heat over? Did you take the suppressant?”

• Mm, I’m fine now.

“Phew….”

Relieved, Hyunwoo glanced at Seunghyuk.

“Is anyone home with you? Are you alone?”

• Yeah, I think I’m alone.

“Okay.”

Hyunjin’s voice yesterday had been tense, so he had worried if he’d follow the rules.

• Hyung, can I… go home now?

“You… better stay until tomorrow.”

Even after taking the suppressant, traces of the heat remained.

Being with an alpha like Seunghyuk might be dangerous.

But hearing Hyunjin’s soft voice, Hyunwoo couldn’t insist otherwise.

• But it’s uncomfortable staying at someone else’s house…. I’ll stay in my room, is that okay?

“….”

Hyunwoo hesitated, but the answer was clear.

“Alright. I’ll pick you up now.”

• Mm, hurry.

“Okay.”

After the call, Hyunwoo looked at Seunghyuk.

He must have heard everything.

Yet his expression wasn’t good.

Hyunwoo nudged him with his elbow.

“You heard that? Let’s go get Hyunjin.”

“…Okay.”

“…?”

Why was he upset now?

Hyunwoo frowned, puzzled.

He should be happy to meet Hyunjin soon.

Hyunwoo tilted his head and continued walking.