Chapter 10: Unraveling Desire

Once, he had imagined kissing Seunghyuk.

What would it feel like to touch those soft-looking lips?

If he met his tongue, would it taste like pheromones?

He had secretly entertained such blatant thoughts alone.

But imagination was always nothing compared to reality.

Hyunwoo frowned as he felt the hot tongue pushing into his mouth.

Seunghyuk’s tongue was thick and hot.

Just by entering, it filled his mouth completely.

At the same time, the slick tongue pressed and rubbed against Hyunwoo’s, entangling him.

His mind went completely blank.

A muffled moan escaped from his mouth.

“Hut….”

Contrary to appearances, Seunghyuk was aggressive.

He held both of Hyunwoo’s cheeks and pressed the kiss persistently.

His tongue swept through Hyunwoo’s mouth, from every tooth to under the tongue, exploring and sucking.

Hyunwoo had kissed many people before, but never with such urgency and raw intensity.

Barely regaining his wits, he tried to pull back, but Seunghyuk’s pheromones overwhelmed him.

Hyunwoo could not move, struggling helplessly.

“Ugh, wa… wait….”

Unable to endure any longer, Hyunwoo pushed Seunghyuk away with his hands.

But Seunghyuk’s body did not budge.

Instead, Hyunwoo was pushed further back, crumpling into the driver’s seat.

Seunghyuk’s body partially covered him, pressing down gently.

“Wait, ugh, this… Seunghyuk…!”

“Haah….”

His dark eyes fixed on Hyunwoo.

The brown-tinted eyes appeared dim and murky against the weak light of the parking lot.

Desperately pushing back created the tiniest gap.

When their lips parted slightly, Seunghyuk exhaled a deep sigh.

A desire Hyunwoo hadn’t anticipated shadowed Seunghyuk’s face, making him shiver involuntarily.

“Why?”

“Stop… and move aside… ugh…!”

Ignoring Hyunwoo’s words, Seunghyuk captured his lips again.

His tongue pushed deep, blocking Hyunwoo’s airway.

He couldn’t breathe at all.

‘This crazy guy should at least give me space to breathe!’

Hyunwoo tapped Seunghyuk’s shoulders in frustration.

“Ugh, stop… I said!”

“Haah, ha….”

Between their parted lips, transparent threads of saliva stretched.

Hyunwoo panted roughly, unable to wipe the drool sliding down his chin.

His mind slowly processed the situation.

He had kissed… Seunghyuk.

And he was still staring into Seunghyuk’s beast-like eyes, as if being hunted.

“Ha… is it over now?”

“…What?”

“You did it, kissed.”

“……!”

Seunghyuk tenderly touched Hyunwoo’s jaw.

He felt a warm liquid, unidentified, being wiped away.

Seunghyuk lowered his head, whispering softly.

“I don’t intend to be your nominal spouse either.”

“Ugh….”

Seunghyuk’s lips pressed gently against Hyunwoo’s eye corner.

A tiny tear appeared in that area, incongruous with his face.

A shiver ran down Hyunwoo’s neck from the brief kiss.

Ding, ding….

“……!”

At that moment, a loud bell rang between them.

Hyunwoo, having set his phone to silent for work, realized it must be Seunghyuk’s.

Sure enough, Seunghyuk flinched, glancing at his phone pocket.

Hyunwoo, still catching his breath, said quietly.

“…Answer it.”

“But….”

“It’s noisy. Just pick it up.”

“…….”

Hesitating, Seunghyuk finally took out the ringing phone.

Seeing the name on the screen, his expression hardened, and he got out of the car.

“Ha….”

As Seunghyuk disappeared, Hyunwoo exhaled deeply.

“This crazy….”

What had just happened?

He couldn’t believe it.

Seunghyuk had kissed him.

Hyunwoo, touching his still tingling and damp lips, flinched in surprise.

Through the glass, he saw Seunghyuk talking to someone on the phone.

Snapping back to reality, Hyunwoo gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands.

What should he say when Seunghyuk returned from the call?

The thought made him dread the aftermath.

“…Damn it.”

Everything was a complete mess.

Hyunwoo pulled at his hair and impulsively started the car.

He decided to avoid the problem for now.

Chapter 2: Change

“Hyung, hyung. Are you listening to me?”

“…Yeah.”

Hyunwoo, resting his chin, slowly turned to look at Hyunjin sitting across from him.

Hyunjin pouted, his face expressing mild discontent.

Thankfully, after the shocking incident with Seunghyuk, Hyunwoo hadn’t had to see him yet.

The incessant messages had also calmed down.

Luckily, it was exam period.

“But aren’t you studying?”

“Hmm… me? Hehe.”

“…….”

Hyunjin smiled innocently.

While other students were busy studying, Hyunjin had popped over that morning, bothering him.

Hyunjin had never been interested in studying, and he only attended university because his mother promised to open a café after graduation.

Hyunwoo watched him quietly, eating ice cream without reading a single book.

Hyunwoo was still in shock.

Meeting Hyunjin only made his mind more chaotic.

He cautiously spoke.

“Hyunjin.”

“Hmm?”

Hyunjin looked up at him, spoon in mouth.

Hyunwoo asked nervously, seeing curiosity in his round eyes.

“Are you in the same class as Lee Seunghyuk?”

“Yeah, why?”

Hyunjin nodded and took the spoon out, asking.

Hyunwoo hesitated, cleared his throat, and said.

“Hmm, no… I was just wondering what he’s been up to.”

“He’s probably studying, right? He’s always after scholarships.”

“…Right.”

Seunghyuk, with perfect credentials, had been a top student every semester and earned scholarships.

After graduating, he developed globally recognized programs at his company.

In the original story, his brilliance hadn’t been highlighted, but now it truly shone.

However, Seunghyuk’s achievements had previously been a painful reminder for Hyunwoo.

Now, he didn’t want to think about that.

He pushed pre-regression memories into a corner and asked.

“Does he… say anything else?”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing… never mind.”

Seeing Hyunjin’s confused wide eyes, guilt washed over Hyunwoo.

Around this time, Hyunjin and Seunghyuk must have been dating.

Even if not, the story would have them on the verge of a romance.

Even if Hyunwoo intervened, erasing that ‘flirtation’ wasn’t possible.

Strangely, Hyunjin didn’t seem concerned about Seunghyuk.

Was he still cautious of him?

Hyunwoo opened his mouth again.

“But you and Seunghyuk…”

“Hyung.”

“Hmm?”

Hyunwoo, about to ask if Seunghyuk was progressing well with him, paused at Hyunjin’s subdued tone.

Seeing his wide eyes, Hyunjin smiled faintly.

“Why do you keep talking about Seunghyuk when I’m right here? It’s upsetting… hmm?”

“…Upsetting?”

“Yeah. I’m happy to see you after so long… but you keep talking about someone else…”

“Ah, got it. Sorry, hyung.”

“Really sorry?”

“Yeah.”

Hyunwoo nodded.

He sensed Hyunjin was diverting the conversation but didn’t think it strange; Hyunjin was naturally playful.

To ease Hyunjin’s slight sulk, he reached out and patted his head.

“Hehe.”

“…….”

Hyunjin rubbed his head against Hyunwoo’s hand like a playful puppy.

Hyunwoo watched, feeling conflicted.

Trying to pair the two like the original story was harder than expected.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Hyunwoo sighed deeply.

“Hyung, are you worried about something?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You sighed so many times in front of me, like five times already.”

“…….”

He sighed that much?

Hyunwoo’s face stiffened.

He had apparently overthought Seunghyuk too much in front of Hyunjin.

“I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. How about you? Everything okay?”

“Me too….”

Hyunjin mumbled, poking the ice cream with his spoon.

Hyunwoo’s eyes narrowed.

This must have been the time when that damn stalker had been harassing Hyunjin.

Hyunwoo recalled the story events and observed Hyunjin’s dark expression carefully.