Chapter 15: Unexpected Company

“Come in.”

Turning on the lights, I surveyed the immaculately organized interior. Jae-hyun, who had followed me in, dragging a large suitcase, let out a low whistle upon seeing the spacious accommodation—far too large for one person.

“You’re living in a nice place.”

Though expensive, this was the only lodging suitable for an extended stay in the village. I appreciated the emerald sea visible in the distance from the window, and its quiet solitude as a detached villa. It was a satisfactory place in many respects.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted!”

Jae-hyun shoved his suitcase carelessly against the wall, then flung himself onto the sofa. He grumbled about the ten-hour journey, but I only half-listened before retreating to my room to change.

After changing into light pajamas, I emerged to find Jae-hyun, already making himself at home, with his suitcase wide open and its contents strewn about. He was just finishing pulling his arm through a t-shirt as he spoke.

“This isn’t bad. I might try to get a place here too.”

I had come all the way to a foreign land, seeking solitude to erase Yoo Seo-jin’s lingering presence, but Jae-hyun’s company threatened to nullify that purpose. My expression shifted from contemplation to a subtle hint of reservation as I addressed him.

“I don’t think there are any spare rooms.”

“From what I saw earlier, the neighboring villa seemed empty.”

Indeed, the adjacent villa had remained vacant throughout my stay, just as Jae-hyun stated. Given I hadn’t mentioned it, I suspected he must have checked it out while I was changing.

“Got anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“No.”

“Room service?”

“Room service here closes at eight.”

“Wow, that’s harsh.”

Rubbing his empty stomach, Jae-hyun rose and headed to the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, he found nothing but a few bottles of mineral water. Whatever alcohol had been stocked, I had finished it all the previous day.

“There really isn’t anything to eat.”

Disappointed by the barren refrigerator, Jae-hyun grumbled. I sighed deeply and went into the room to retrieve an extra blanket. After all, I couldn’t simply kick out Jae-hyun, who had nowhere else to go, so I had to let him stay.

“Here’s a blanket. You can sleep in the living room.”

“Hey, I can’t sleep unless it’s on a bed!”

“There’s only one bed.”

This accommodation offered only a single bed. As it was for my use, Jae-hyun’s only options were the sofa or the floor. Despite this, he stubbornly insisted he needed a bed.

“Ah, I have a great idea.”

Suddenly, Jae-hyun strode over and grabbed my arm. He then led me into the bedroom, seated me on the right side of the bed, and returned with another blanket to create a dividing line.

“Can’t we just sleep like this?”

“…Do you actually think that makes sense?”

“I don’t have any bad sleeping habits. I sleep like the dead, I swear!”

“No. I’d be uncomfortable.”

“Hey, wouldn’t *I* be uncomfortable? It’s just for one night, so—”

“You’re an Alpha.”

As I pointed out this crucial fact, Jae-hyun’s lips pressed into a tight line. No matter how close our friendship, I was an Omega, and he was an Alpha. That fundamental truth remained immutable.

Just as alcohol can blur the lines of friendship, Alpha and Omega pheromones posed an even greater danger. They could instantly shatter one’s reason, leaving only primal instincts, making them far more perilous than any drink.

A heavy silence descended. Jae-hyun, who had been hanging his head, retrieved the blanket he had used to draw the line. Before leaving the room, he spoke in a low voice.

“…I’m sorry. Get some rest. I won’t bother you.”

As Jae-hyun closed the door, a thick darkness enveloped the room. I let out a deep sigh, then lay on the bed, staring at the pitch-black ceiling. The surrounding quiet allowed me to hear Jae-hyun moving around beyond the closed door.

‘This is suffocating.’

The thought of a stranger occupying this familiar space suddenly made me feel stifled. It was likely due to my unfamiliarity with sharing a living area with anyone else.

Taking a deep breath, I rose from the bed and threw open the window. As a cool breeze filled the room, I felt my constricted chest begin to ease.

Leaning against the windowsill, I closed my eyes. A faint floral scent wafted in on the gentle breeze. The fragrance grew stronger, as if there were a flower garden nearby.

It was a scent I’d encountered before, yet I couldn’t place it. Was it a sponsored perfume, or perhaps flowers used as props during a shoot? As I groped for the fading memory, I inhaled deeply, drawing in the comforting and gentle aroma.

‘This feels good.’

****

[What?!]

Jae-hyun, who had visited the hotel front desk early that morning, was utterly dismayed. He had just learned that someone had booked the villa right next to mine, which had been definitively empty just last night.

Jae-hyun protested to the hotel manager, but received only an unyielding response. Furthermore, with an upcoming conference, most accommodations were fully booked, leaving him with only the villa furthest from mine.

“What is this? It’s too far.”

Though technically within the same hotel grounds, its extensive layout, mostly comprising detached villas, meant a considerable scale. Jae-hyun’s new lodging, in particular, was so distant from mine that he would need a car to reach it.

Having hastily packed his belongings, expecting to be in the adjacent room, Jae-hyun now had to properly organize his suitcase. He grumbled continuously as he headed to his villa to check in.

After seeing off a disappointed Jae-hyun, I made my way to the hotel restaurant instead of my villa. Normally, I would have ventured out for a sandwich in the village, but today, I lacked the energy.

‘It’s quiet here.’

As breakfast service was nearing its end, only a few patrons remained in the restaurant. I surveyed the nearly empty space, then settled into a seat near the window.

The moment I sat down, a staff member approached to pour water into my glass. I lightly wet my lips, took a moment to relax, then rose to collect my breakfast before it was too late.

I filled my empty plate abundantly and returned to my seat. Not wanting anything too heavy for breakfast, my plate was more than half-filled with green vegetables.

Before drama shoots, I often had to manage my diet, frequently opting for salads as meals. Some might find it tiresome, but once accustomed, it wasn’t so bad to simply fill up on salad instead of a lavish spread.

As I slowly continued my meal, gazing out at the scenery, I suddenly felt a gaze upon me. Cautiously, I turned my head and saw someone sitting on the opposite side of the room. Though I couldn’t be certain, a distinct presence emanated from that direction.

Due to the considerable distance, the person’s face was indistinct. Just as I was about to focus more closely, Jae-hyun abruptly appeared, obstructing my view.

“You really need to fix that habit of leaving without a word.”

I was about to retort that I hadn’t said we were going for breakfast, but instead, I quietly ate the rest of my salad. As Jae-hyun sat opposite me, a staff member swiftly approached and refilled his empty glass with water.

My gaze drifted back to the opposite side of the room, but the seat was now empty. The reason I had even looked there was unclear, so my interest quickly dissipated.

“Hey, you should eat a balanced meal. Are you just eating weeds?”

When I asserted that it wasn’t so bad, Jae-hyun shook his head decisively and rose to get his own food.

In stark contrast to mine, Jae-hyun’s plate was piled high with meat. He speared a few pieces of steak with his fork and placed them onto my plate.

“You need to eat some meat to keep your strength up.”

“…Right, thank you.”

Lacking the energy to argue, I simply ate the meat Jae-hyun had given me. As I carefully chewed the mouthful of meat, Jae-hyun watched me silently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because it’s nice to see you eat well,” Jae-hyun replied with a gentle smile. Soon after, he began his own meal. Having finished the steak, I took a sip of water, then resumed eating the remaining salad on my plate.

After breakfast, as I was heading back to my villa, Jae-hyun followed behind me. When I asked why he was trailing me, he insisted he had something to say, and resolutely entered the villa.

“Yoo Joon-hee, look at this.”

I was about to ignore him and go to my room when Jae-hyun suddenly stepped closer and grabbed my arm. I was half-forcibly pulled to the sofa, and as I sat down, he pulled something from his shirt pocket to show me.

“Let’s go here today.”

“…Where is that?”

Jae-hyun handed me a ticket instead of answering. The neon-lit letters against a pitch-black background suggested it was some kind of club.

However, it was highly unlikely that a village whose only notable feature was its beach would have a club. A glance at the bottom of the ticket confirmed my suspicion: it was a club located in a city famous for its resorts.

“You want to go here?”

“Hey, a super famous DJ is coming today! This place is renowned for its lively atmosphere.”

Jae-hyun’s voice was filled with excitement. He raved about the dazzling lights, thrilling music, and the abundance of beautiful Omegas that would be there, but I simply returned the ticket.

“I’m not going.”