Chapter 43: Unease in the Passenger Seat

“Since I have a lot of things to carry, could you help me out?”

“Ah, yes! Professor!”

Startled out of his daze, Hyunjin hurried over to Do-kyung.

The classmates who had been holding onto Hyunjin had no choice but to let go.

“Just help me to the parking lot.”

“Of course.”

Hyunjin nodded and quickly lifted Do-kyung’s bags.

Then, before the others could say anything, he escaped the lecture hall together with Do-kyung.

Thankfully, the last class of the day had been Do-kyung’s.

Hyunjin let out a breath of relief.

His classmates were persistent, and it would have been very troublesome.

“Thank you, Professor.”

“No, I’m just glad I could help.”

“Haha… yes.”

With no one else around, Do-kyung’s tone grew more casual.

After receiving his help a few times, Hyunjin had naturally become closer to him.

Though Hyunjin still couldn’t speak casually to his professor.

“You can talk comfortably with me too, you know.”

“Oh, but I can’t really…”

“I don’t mind.”

“…….”

Do-kyung’s tone was gentle, yet Hyunjin felt something he couldn’t describe.

It was strange.

Do-kyung was a Beta—he had no pheromones, nothing that would cause discomfort.

But for some reason, being near him felt like being near an Alpha.

Maybe it was his scent.

Do-kyung always carried a subtle fragrance, something unusual.

Perhaps that was why Hyunjin felt so strangely tense.

Hyunjin forced a small troubled smile.

“If people see, I’ll get in big trouble.”

“Well, yes. At school, it could be risky.”

“Haha…”

Do-kyung winked playfully.

Hyunjin steadied the bags in his hands and followed him.

“Are you going home now too, Professor?”

“Yes. You too, Hyunjin?”

“Oh, yes. I was planning to go straight home.”

“Then I’ll give you a ride.”

“Oh… but…”

He had helped Do-kyung carry things, yes, but truthfully it was Do-kyung who saved him from being dragged away.

But riding in his car too felt like too much.

“It’s fine. It’ll be quick by car. Don’t worry about it.”

“Mm… then I’ll accept your kindness.”

Hyunjin nodded.

He also calculated that taking the ride might mean getting home before Seung-hyuk.

That alone made it worth it.

“The car’s messy. I haven’t cleaned it. Just put everything in the back.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Do-kyung seemed a little embarrassed, but Hyunjin didn’t mind.

He carefully placed the laptop bag in the back seat.

The car was full of things and disorganized.

“Do you teach at other schools too?”

“Well… you could call it that.”

“……?”

Hyunjin tried to make light conversation, but Do-kyung’s response was vague.

Hyunjin blinked.

Time-based lecturers often taught at several universities.

Hyunjin assumed it was the same here—but maybe not.

Then why did the car have so many belongings?

He wondered briefly, but dismissed the thought.

“I noticed you live with your brother now. Should I head that way?”

Now alone in the car, Do-kyung’s tone loosened again.

Hyunjin quickly took out his phone.

“Ah, yes. I’ll give you the address.”

“Hmm.”

Hyunjin showed the navigation map.

Do-kyung looked at it and smiled faintly.

“It’s not too far.”

“It’s kind of far from school… sorry.”

“Don’t be. I was headed that direction anyway.”

“Oh…”

Come to think of it, Do-kyung’s apartment wasn’t far from Hyun-woo’s house.

Hyunjin remembered the time he had stayed there during his heat.

“You’ve been living with your brother long?”

“No, I used to live alone.”

“Then why move? His place isn’t even near school.”

“…There were some circumstances.”

Thanks to Chairman Moon stepping in, Kim Min-jae’s incident never reached the school.

Kim Min-jae simply disappeared from campus and rumors died quickly.

Hyunjin couldn’t say any of that.

He simply glossed over it.

Thankfully, Do-kyung didn’t pry.

“You seem close to your brother.”

“Yes, we get along well.”

“…….”

Hyunjin’s expression softened completely when he thought of Hyun-woo.

Do-kyung watched him out of the corner of his eye while driving.

“Must be nice. I grew up alone. Only child.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Having someone like that must be really reassuring.”

“Hehe…”

Hyunjin beamed.

Compliments about Hyun-woo made him happier than compliments about himself.

Seeing his expression melt like that, Do-kyung chuckled softly.

Then he spoke again.

“By the way, Hyunjin… that advice I gave you during your heat.”

“…Yes?”

“That wasn’t about Lee Seung-hyuk, was it?

It was about your brother, wasn’t it?”

“……!”

Advice during the heat.

Hyunjin’s grip tightened on his seatbelt.

He remembered the day he accidentally went into heat while walking to class.

He had forgotten his suppressants.

Do-kyung had helped him—but not without saying something unsettling.

‘Pheromones make it easy to hold someone.
Alphas are weak to pheromones.’*

At the time, Hyunjin had been delirious.

But when he woke up to find Hyun-woo holding him, it all made sense.

And so… he had clung to Hyun-woo.

Trying to use the heat as an excuse.

Trying to use his body as a way to stay connected.

Something desperate.

Something selfish.

Something shameful.

But Seung-hyuk disrupted everything.

And when the heat ended, Hyunjin was relieved and ashamed all at once.

Now, his heart pounded painfully.

“T-There’s no way. I would never have those kinds of feelings for my brother.”

“Hmm…”

“Why… would you think that…?”

His heart hammered.

He remembered Seung-hyuk had figured it out too.

Was he really that transparent?

And if Do-kyung realized… then someday, Hyun-woo might too.

That was unthinkable.

“Ahaha, don’t get so startled.
I was just teasing.”

“J-Just… teasing?”

“Yeah. You two are close, so I thought I’d joke a little.”

“Ah… a joke. I see…”

Hyunjin’s shoulders sagged in relief.

His hands slowly released their tense grip on the seatbelt.

“Sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“No. I’m okay.”

“That’s good.”

Do-kyung turned the wheel smoothly.

Hyun-woo’s neighborhood came into view.

“Ah, you can let me off here.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

He parked in a quiet area.

Hyunjin unbuckled his seatbelt and bowed politely.

“Thank you for the ride.”

“It was nothing. Rest well.”

“You too. Get home safely.”

Hyunjin stepped out.

The car drove away quickly.

“…….”

He couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

He frowned, then forced himself to dismiss it.

Instead, he thought of Hyun-woo.

He’d need something to help with the hangover.

Should he buy something warm and easy to digest?

Or go home first to check on him?

Hyunjin decided to stop by a convenience store and picked up drinks and snacks Hyun-woo liked.

Then he hurried home.

“…I’m back.”

Two pairs of familiar shoes were at the entrance.

Even though he came home early, the others were already here.

Hyunjin’s heartbeat quickened.

The living room was empty.

No way.

A sinking feeling hit him.

He turned toward Hyun-woo’s room.

At that exact moment—

A loud crash erupted from inside.