Chapter 45: Scent That Shouldn’t Be There

“The traffic’s really bad.”

“It’s not really that bad.”

“…….”

He just said it to say something, but unfortunately the light turned green and the car started moving.

Still, since it was rush hour and the road was crowded, Hyunwoo kept talking shamelessly.

“It’ll get congested soon.”

“Probably.”

“…….”

After that, they didn’t talk at all on the way home.

Hyunwoo felt like a criminal being escorted in silence.

But why did he have to feel this awkward?

The thought bothered him.

When that uneasy feeling lingered long enough, they arrived at the apartment parking lot.

Seunghyuk parked cleanly in the familiar spot and glanced at Hyunwoo.

“Don’t drink for a while.”

“…What?”

“I mean, preferably just don’t drink at all. You’re bad with alcohol.”

“How do you know that?”

“…….”

“…….”

He snapped back instinctively, but then remembered the mess he made just yesterday.

True, the alcohol had been strong, but someone like Seunghyuk who holds his liquor well would only laugh at that.

“…I usually don’t drink much.”

Even during company dinners, no one pressured him. When he met clients, he’d drink a little, but now that he was a department head, others could handle those meetings instead.

And unlike Cha Kwon-oh, most people didn’t suddenly push high-proof liquor on him.

They had drinking buddies for that. No one forced him.

He also rarely attended the chaebol kids’ late-night gatherings.

That’s why, before his regression, when drug scandals started popping in clubs they frequented, Hyunwoo and Moonseong had stayed relatively unscathed.

If this body belonged to the original “Joo Hyunwoo,” maybe he would have gone to those parties to blow off steam.

But he was the one living as Hyunwoo now.

There would be no repeating that life.

“Anyway, whether I drink or not—what does that have to do with you?”

“What do you mean? I’m saying it because I’m worried.”

“I can handle myself. Don’t interfere.”

“…….”

Seunghyuk looked at him quietly.

The gaze carried an inexplicable pressure, and Hyunwoo swallowed without meaning to.

Seriously.

Protagonist buff and unnecessary intensity.

Hyunwoo clicked his tongue inwardly and turned away, stepping out of the car to escape the stare.

But living together made that pointless.

“I saw you like that yesterday. Of course I’m going to worry.”

He followed him closely, voice edged with frustration.

At their apartment door, Hyunwoo didn’t even look back.

“You can stop worrying. It’s not your problem.”

“…Not my problem?”

“……!”

His sharpened tone echoed down the hallway.

Hyunwoo’s hand froze on the door lock, and he turned.

The hallway lights cast a shadow over Seunghyuk’s face, his eyes dark and heavy.

Why was he reacting like this?

Hyunwoo couldn’t understand. He frowned.

“It isn’t your problem. Unless it’s your business somehow?”

“…….”

Seunghyuk looked… hurt.

That unsettled Hyunwoo immediately.

He hadn’t said anything wrong—so why did he feel guilty?

He turned away abruptly.

“…Just come in.”

The door unlocked with a soft beep. Hyunwoo stepped inside first.

“Hyung.”

“…What?”

“…….”

He turned the living room lights on.

While staring blankly at the now-bright room, he sensed Seunghyuk coming closer—

“……!”

He couldn’t move.

Because arms wrapped around him from behind.

Hyunwoo’s whole body stiffened.

“…Even I get hurt hearing things like that.”

“…….”

The voice was soft, almost pleading.

Hyunwoo could have shoved him away—they were both Alphas—but he didn’t.

“Hyung…”

“—ngh.”

Warm breath brushed against his cheek.

When he turned slightly, their faces were too close, lips nearly touching.

He should push him away.

He knew he should.

But the faint trace of Seunghyuk’s pheromone brushed his senses, and his body just… stopped responding.

“Wait—”

“Do you hate me that much? Hm?”

“…….”

He never said he hated him.

He knew Seunghyuk was doing this on purpose—leaning in, sounding hurt, acting fragile.

But even knowing that… he had no answer.

If this continued, they would kiss again.

And yet, his mind blanked, everything went white.

Hyunwoo squeezed his eyes shut.

“…?”

But nothing happened.

No touch.

He opened his eyes slightly.

Seunghyuk’s face was even closer than before—yet twisted, pained.

“…Why do I still smell his scent?”

“…What?”

“Hyung. Did you meet Cha Kwon-oh again today?”

“Me?”

Hyunwoo was so bewildered he almost laughed.

You’re the one who met him today…

He wanted to say—but stopped.

“No. I didn’t.”

“Then why is his pheromone on your lips?”

“…What?”

Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.

He had seen Cha Kwon-oh yesterday—just once.

And they were never close enough for pheromones to transfer.

Unless—

“The alcohol you drank. Did he open it in front of you, or was it already opened?”

“…The alcohol?”

Hyunwoo recalled the bottle.

It had already been opened.

And partly empty.

His face hardened instantly.

Now the meaning of everything snapped into place.

That lunatic spiked the liquor with his pheromone?

He’d heard rumors of Alphas mixing pheromone into expensive alcohol.

But Cha Kwon-oh?

And he drank it?

Suddenly, he could taste a faint scent lingering on his tongue.

He had assumed it was just leftover alcohol earlier.

But it wasn’t.

“—Ugh!”

“Hyung!”

Hyunwoo gagged and bolted to the bathroom.

He clung to the toilet and retched.

The same posture as yesterday—like a replay.

“Hah… Haah….”

“Hyung, are you okay?”

“Son of a b*tch…”

Cha Kwon-oh.

Just…
die.

He wanted to kill him.

For real.

“Lean on me.”

“…Tch.”

Hyunwoo let Seunghyuk support him back to the bedroom.

He didn’t want to, but his strength was gone.

“…Thanks.”

“It’s nothing.”

“……?”

Sitting on the bed, Hyunwoo noticed the look in Seunghyuk’s eyes.

Dark again.

What now?

“Let me help you undress. You’ll feel uncomfortable sleeping like that.”

“…What? Are you crazy?”

“Hold still. It’ll be quick.”

“What are you talking about—”

Hyunwoo tried to pull away, but Seunghyuk was already unbuttoning his jacket.

The suit fell away.

Then hands reached for his shirt—Hyunwoo snapped.

“Hey—stop!”

At that moment—fast footsteps echoed—and the door swung open.

“Hyung, are you—”

Hyunjin froze in the doorway.

“……!”

Seunghyuk was on top of Hyunwoo.

Hyunwoo’s shirt halfway undone.

Their bodies tangled.

No matter how you look at it—

It looked like Seunghyuk was pinning Hyunwoo down.

Hyunjin’s eyes shook violently.

And Hyunwoo thought:

Of all times.
Why now.