Chapter 5: Interesting Little Performance

He swallowed back the curse that rose to his throat at words he didn’t even want to dignify with a response. He nearly let his temper flare up again.

Outwardly it didn’t show, but on paper, Go Ha-jin was an year older than him.

Did the bastard really know his age and still talk so disrespectfully?

He tightened his grip on his thigh once more, forcing the anger down.

‘This guy is money. A house. A lottery ticket that’ll make me a building owner.’

Don’t forget that.

“…My father’s been pressuring me a lot. His health isn’t great, so…”

“Sounds like he really cares about you.”

He understood what the man meant beneath the words.

For most omegas, the luxury of choosing their own life partner rarely came around. More often than not, they were matched off according to their secondary gender, practically sold, and even when that wasn’t the case, parental pressure usually decided everything.

In Korea especially, that tendency was far more pronounced. While the times were changing and more people talked about human rights, omegas alone continued to be thoroughly ignored.

“Ha… It won’t be long now. He said if I don’t find someone myself, he’ll step in directly…”

“America really is more open, I guess.”

“I suppose so.”

For a moment, Ha-jin thought he saw displeasure flicker across Chae Woo-seok’s face.

Well, that was understandable.

An alpha, especially a dominant alpha, could easily find an omega like Ha-jin distasteful. An omega daring to choose his own spouse? In Korea, that was still absurd. But the excuse of having grown up in the U.S. worked as a decent shield.

The conversation that followed was nothing special. What was strange was how naturally it flowed.

Ha-jin stayed tense, braced for some sharp question to come flying at him, but Woo-seok kept things light, almost casual, like he genuinely wanted to get to know him.

It was confusing enough to make Ha-jin wonder whether this man truly had no intention of marrying him.

“But your pheromones are unusual.”

“My phero… what?”

“I’ve never smelled anything like it before. Hard to explain.”

Woo-seok drew in a deep breath, pulling Ha-jin’s scent deep into his lungs. It wasn’t like typical pheromones, nothing floral or fruity. It stirred a far more dangerous impulse, one that made him want to bite into the back of Ha-jin’s neck right then and there.

Maybe it was the late hour, or the dim lighting, but the impulse crept up stronger than it should have.

It felt like another hunger entirely, one that rose even though he’d already eaten.

Woo-seok forced down the dark desire bubbling up inside him. The urge to drag Ha-jin straight to a hotel was unfamiliar, and yet, strangely, he didn’t want to.

“I… don’t really know.”

“No wonder alphas swarm around you.”

Ha-jin took another sip of wine, turning Woo-seok’s words over in his mind as he stared back at him.

Was it mockery? An accusation of promiscuity? Or… jealousy, perhaps, over something he himself didn’t have?

Whatever it was, Ha-jin chose to take it positively. Any emotion was better than indifference.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Already?”

Woo-seok suddenly stood, as if he’d reached some conclusion. He buttoned his jacket and held out his hand.

“If there’s a chance, we’ll meet again.”

He was impossible to read. He’d barged into Ha-jin’s blind date and ruined it, yet now he was politely seeing him off after nothing more than dinner.

Moments ago, everything had felt like it was heading somewhere else, drinking more, being drawn in by pheromones, losing control. And yet, nothing happened.

Even when their hands met, Woo-seok showed no sign of agitation. He merely guided Ha-jin by the arm, a perfectly formal escort.

“I’ll take you home.”

“It’s fine-”

“There you go again. You know there’s nothing to gain by pulling that with me.”

“…Fine.”

According to the rumors, Woo-seok should have dragged him straight to a hotel. Instead, he kept drawing lines. Almost like he was saying goodbye for good.

“You should be more careful about the men you meet next time.”

“…What?”

“Maybe you don’t know since you lived abroad so long, but that guy tonight? Total trash.”

So that was his excuse for interfering, he wouldn’t have stepped in if the other man had been decent.

That only deepened Ha-jin’s certainty. No matter how he looked at it, this operation felt like a failure. He’d had two chances and still hadn’t secured Woo-seok’s favor. There was no guarantee a third or fourth would change anything.

Strangely, instead of frustration, relief washed over him. This man was nothing like the rumors. Not some easy, money-flashing playboy. He was cautious, unpredictable, dangerously sharp.

“Please take me to Ritz Forest.”

More than anything, there was something unsettling about Woo-seok’s gaze, as if he could see straight through Ha-jin’s core.

Choosing a dominant alpha might have been a mistake. There was no certainty he could keep his true identity hidden next time. It was disappointing, sure, but the sense of relief outweighed it.

“Oh, right. How’s Professor Mark doing?”

“…Professor Mark?”

“I suddenly remembered enjoying his platform economics class.”

A trap like that, out of nowhere.

Ha-jin couldn’t relax for a second around him.

“I think it was Platform Structures.”

“…Right. Platform Structures.”

Woo-seok laughed loudly, tapping Ha-jin’s thigh with his finger.

“Ha… Yeah, this won’t do.”

The car was still gliding smoothly down the road, but the air inside shifted instantly.

Woo-seok grabbed Ha-jin’s shoulder, closing the distance in one swift motion.

“W-why… what are you-”

Too close. Way too close.

Woo-seok’s face hovered within inches, carrying the faint scent of wine, sweet, bitter. Ha-jin’s lips parted uselessly.

“Ending it like this feels like a waste. You think so too, right?”

He leaned in further, their breaths mingling. Warmth radiated from his lips as he cupped the back of Ha-jin’s neck, whispering near his ear. Ha-jin’s heart slammed wildly against his ribs.

“I-I’m not comfortable with this…”

Half true, half lie.

“Want to see each other again?”

Woo-seok’s voice seemed to echo inside his head. Ha-jin nodded, barely managing to answer.

“…Y-yes. So please…”

Even then, Woo-seok didn’t pull away right away. His fingers traced slow, gentle patterns over Ha-jin’s skin.

The car had long since stopped. Silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

“Go in carefully.”

At last, Woo-seok withdrew, smiling brightly, far too brightly for eyes that sharp.

He brushed Ha-jin’s cheek, his thumb grazing his lips.

“…Thank you. For the ride.”

“No. I should be the one thanking you.”

His hand was huge, cradling Ha-jin’s face easily. For a split second, just a split second, Ha-jin almost bit down on his finger.

He fled the car instead, without even asking for Woo-seok’s number.

“See you soon.”

Woo-seok watched calmly from his seat as Ha-jin walked away, heart still racing, face flushed.

Security at the luxury officetel was tight. Ten steps. Five. Three. One.

“May I help you?”

Only then did Woo-seok’s car finally pull away.

“…No.”

Of course, it wasn’t Ha-jin’s home. He crossed the street, staring up at the building he’d claimed as his. A place so tall it strained his neck to see the top. Each unit worth over five billion won. A dream.

But if this plan worked, if the target was Chae Woo-seok, that dream might not stay a dream.

He took a taxi back to his real place. Picked up beer and cup noodles on the way. Only then did he regret not eating more steak earlier.

Reality was still a dump.

23 square feet studio. Beer. Cup noodles.

As he climbed the dim stairwell to the third floor, shouting spilled from the neighboring unit, another couple’s fight. Same as always.

Still, tonight felt hopeful.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside, then froze.

The door didn’t close behind him.

The motion sensor light went out, plunging the entryway into darkness. He couldn’t bring himself to turn around.

But he knew.

Someone was there.

The familiar scent of wine spread slowly around his neck.

“Interesting little performance you’re putting on.”

‘…f*ck. I’m screwed.’