Chapter 22: Whispers in the Rehearsal Room

“…I’m leaving. Go on with your business.”

Chaewoo hurriedly left the department room.

He was flustered by the unexpected encounter with Euigeon.

His heart pounded as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.

He wondered what had possessed that jerk, who usually never reacted to anything said about Chaewoo, to spout such nonsense.

As he was almost at the lecture hall, Chaewoo remembered the money he had withdrawn from the school’s ATM.

Ah. The motel fee.

‘Maybe I should have given it to him.’

Chaewoo, who had briefly stopped walking, soon shook his head and entered the lecture hall.

Then, as usual, he sat in the very back.

Judging by how disgusted he looked when he had spoken to him at school last time, it would be better to transfer the money later.

That aside, seeing as there had been no contact over the weekend, did that mean the contract would proceed as planned?

Chaewoo took notes on what the professor was writing on the board and considered the possibility of the contract being terminated due to them having slept together.

If the contract really was terminated… it was a bit despicable, but since it was a mutual act, he should be able to just return the money he had received from Euigeon.

Of course, he had already used all that money for his father’s hospital bills…

He felt like Euigeon might be considerate if he explained the situation and promised to pay it back in installments.

His thoughts reached that point, and he became depressed.

He didn’t want to be in debt again.

He was just starting to breathe.

Just the thought of going back to how things were made his vision go dark.

He didn’t know what would happen yet, so there was no need to worry in advance.

Even though he knew that, his thoughts ran wild, feeding on the worst-case scenarios.

His mind was a mess.

But contrary to Chaewoo’s worries, Monday passed quietly, as if nothing had happened.

****

The opera rehearsal on Tuesday ended early.

Of course, the main singers had to stay late, but the minor roles, with short lines and brief or non-existent solo parts, didn’t need to stay for long.

For the time being, rehearsals would be conducted separately.

Thanks to that, even though he shared a rehearsal room with Euigeon, they rarely crossed paths.

However, for some reason, a rumor was circulating within the ‘Benigni’s Last Train’ opera team that an Alpha-Omega couple had been born.

“No way. When did they even fall for each other?”

“I don’t know. Someone said they saw the pheromone concentration meter spike super high last week.”

“Wasn’t it a malfunction?”

“Come on, the meter went up like that because something happened between them. Would it have gone up for no reason?”

“That’s true. It’s hard for it to get that high if you’re just standing still.”

“I heard the team that rented the rehearsal room after us even complained.”

“Who could it be? It hasn’t even been that long since we started practicing, and there’s already a couple.”

“Oh, I’m curious too.”

Throughout the rehearsal, the scriptwriter went around pestering the singers, telling any dating couple to confess honestly.

When asked if he knew anything, Chaewoo naturally feigned ignorance.

It was the truth, after all.

Feeling needlessly guilty, he made several mistakes during the rehearsal.

Fortunately, everyone seemed to believe his clumsy excuse that he wasn’t feeling well because of a cold.

In any case, everyone except Euigeon knew him as a Beta, so he was far from being a suspect.

Whenever he glanced over at Euigeon, he didn’t seem nervous or guilty at all.

Perhaps he thought the rumor had nothing to do with him.

In any case, apart from feeling guilty about the rumor, Tuesday passed without much incident.

****

On Wednesday, he didn’t even run into Euigeon.

His phone was also quiet.

At this point, Chaewoo was convinced there would be no changes or termination of the contract and relaxed his guard.

****

Thursday.

He stopped by the department room to get some sheet music he needed.

It was usually bustling, but for some reason, today it was quiet with only a few juniors he didn’t recognize.

Since it was like this, he thought it would be fine to organize his materials in the department room instead of the library.

Chaewoo went to a corner and unpacked his things.

He put on his earphones and began to review and take notes on the assignments and materials for the week.

Lately, he had been neglecting school because his mind was occupied with various things.

Since he couldn’t do anything in the evening because of his part-time job, he had to be diligent and work on assignments or reviews whenever he had a free moment.

Was it because he was in good condition?

Chaewoo thought he was concentrating well today, listening to Schubert’s Fantasie on repeat.

“…was… everyone… oh. Focus…”

“……”

“Senior. Senior Chaewoo!”

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

His immersion was broken when someone touched his shoulder.

Chaewoo took off his earphones and looked up to find his junior, Jo Seeun, standing there.

The number of students in the department room had increased significantly; he wondered when they had all come in.

“You didn’t answer when I called.”

“I didn’t hear you because of my earphones. What is it?”

“Ah, the students on break are going to a new board game cafe. Do you want to come too, Senior?”

“I have something to do.”

“Well then, I guess you can’t. We’ll head out so we don’t disturb you.”

As if she had expected Chaewoo’s refusal, she turned back without any lingering attachment.

The group swarmed out of the department room like an ebbing tide.

As a result, the once-crowded room emptied out, and the atmosphere returned to a state of calm.

“……”

However, one thing started to bother him.

He hadn’t realized because he was wearing earphones, but it seemed Euigeon had also been part of the group that came in.

For some reason, he hadn’t followed the group out and remained in the department room.

Chaewoo glanced at Euigeon, conscious of his presence.

He was browsing the bookshelves near the entrance, as if looking for something.

He didn’t seem to care whether Chaewoo was there or not.

‘He’ll probably leave soon.’

Chaewoo tried to think on the bright side and continued reading his book.

After that, he heard the sound of the department room door opening and closing a few more times.

As it grew quieter, Chaewoo decided to ignore Euigeon’s presence at some point.

Perhaps he had already left as soon as he found what he was looking for.

“Did you eat?”

He would have believed that if not for the calm voice that suddenly reached his ear.

The hand holding the pen flinched.

Though he knew it was Euigeon’s voice, Chaewoo didn’t react.

“Senior Seol.”

This time, Euigeon called him by name.

“…Yeah?”

Looking up in surprise, his eyes met Euigeon’s.

He was sitting slanted on the desk across from him, looking directly at him.

The corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

‘Why is this jerk talking to me?’

Chaewoo frowned warily.

“I asked if you ate.”

“I ate.”

“Coffee?”

Euigeon asked again.

“I drank.”

Even if he hadn’t, it seemed he had to say he did to cut the conversation short.

“The new cafe at the entrance of the humanities building is pretty good. Their desserts are famous too.”

“……”

‘So what?’

The words rose to his throat, but Chaewoo intended to ignore him.

Instead of retorting, he slowly turned the page of the book he was reading.

…No, wait.

Why is he speaking so casually all of a sudden? That jerk.

As he replayed the words he had just heard, Chaewoo’s thin eyebrows twitched.

“You, you’re speaking…”

Who told you to drop the formalities?

His words were cut off mid-sentence.

It was because Euigeon was leaving the department room, having apparently found what he was looking for on the bookshelf.

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped him as he watched the shameless back recede.

What was with the change of heart?

A person who had been so disgusted just by having a conversation with him.

That expression Euigeon had worn in the library and the rehearsal room—he couldn’t have been mistaken.

It was a look that anyone would recognize as utter disdain.

But even if he wanted to ask why he was acting friendly now, the person who could answer was already gone.

He was completely unpredictable.

Chaewoo shook his head as he put his earphones back on.

‘He’s always so self-centered.’

****

Friday.

It was an opera rehearsal day, as usual.

The schedule was becoming quite familiar by now.

Since they were not yet at the stage of practicing with the lead and supporting roles, the minor role team, which had little to prepare, was relaxed.

It was peaceful because he had no reason to overlap with Euigeon.

When Chaewoo was in the back of the rehearsal room, Euigeon’s team was on stage, and when Chaewoo used the stage, Euigeon was in and out of the storage room discussing props.

“Ugh. I’m sweating so much. I need to shower as soon as I get home.”

“Shall we take a short break?”

“Please! I’m dying for a cigarette. I’ve been holding it in this whole time.”

“Then let’s take a break!”

“Yes!”

“Lunchtime is soon, so we can’t take a long one… We’ll start again in exactly fifteen minutes.”

Once the break was set, people flocked outside like zombies.

Those going to buy coffee headed for the front door, and those rummaging through their pockets for cigarettes went up to the back door.

Chaewoo considered joining the minor role team to get some fresh air but ended up slumping down in his seat.

Mingling with people would lead to unnecessary spending.

‘I should just stay here.’

“Aren’t you going out, Mr. Chaewoo?”

“I want to sit for a bit. My legs hurt.”

“Then we’ll just step out for a moment. See you later.”

“See you.”

As he stared blankly at the emptying rehearsal room, he spotted Euigeon sitting in a corner by the mirrored wall.

Chaewoo immediately frowned.

He usually went out with the supporting role team, but for some reason, today he was sitting on a chair, looking at his phone.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Break time is ticking away.”

Usually, a few people would remain in the rehearsal room even during a break, but today everyone was leaving, saying it was stuffy.

Chaewoo watched the backs of the people anxiously.

At this rate, he would be left alone with Euigeon.

The air already felt prickly, and the seat he was in was becoming uncomfortable.

“Aren’t you going for coffee today, Mr. Euigeon?”

‘Yes, hurry up and go!’

“I’ll pass.”

No, why?

Chaewoo, who had been listening with his ears perked up, secretly glared at Euigeon with incomprehension.

Seeing even the singer who usually stayed in the rehearsal room playing phone games getting up, Chaewoo quickly followed suit.

“I’ll go too.”

“You too, Mr. Chaewoo? What are you getting?”

“…I’ll decide when I get there.”

Chaewoo quickly passed Euigeon and caught up with the singer who was walking ahead.

It might have been his imagination, but he felt a gaze on the back of his head.

But that was it.

Except for that brief, uncomfortable moment, the resumed rehearsal ended uneventfully.