Chapter 30: The Taste of Melting Ice Cream

“Huh?”

Hyun-woo blinked, holding ice cream and drinks in both hands.

‘What’s this? The atmosphere looks pretty good, doesn’t it?’

He quietly observed Hyun-jin and Seung-hyuk sitting side by side on the bench.

For some reason, neither of them was speaking — both were just staring at their phone screens — but still, the mood didn’t look bad.

Hyun-woo stood at a distance and watched them for a while.

There was a certain aura about them — something that made it difficult for outsiders to approach — as expected from the two main characters of a novel.

“…….”

He should have done this long ago.

Hyun-woo smiled bitterly as he looked at the two who looked so perfectly matched, like a picture.

It was a relief that things were finally falling into place.

Even if he realized it only after dying once, at least now everything was returning to where it belonged.

“Ah.”

Just then, the vanilla ice cream he had bought for Hyun-jin started melting and dripping down.

He had planned to take his time coming back, but the thought that Hyun-jin liked ice cream more than drinks made him buy it impulsively — and so he returned faster than he intended.

Hyun-woo started walking again.

After all, from now on, the two of them would probably want to spend time together alone.

So today would be the last time he awkwardly inserted himself like a third wheel.

“Hey, you’re back?”

“Yeah.”

Hearing his footsteps, Hyun-jin, who had been staring at his phone screen, looked up.

His face, which had looked expressionless just moments ago, instantly brightened like a blooming flower.

“This one’s for you, Hyun-jin.”

“Thanks, hyung!”

Hyun-jin exclaimed happily as he took the vanilla cone ice cream.

Smiling faintly at the sight, Hyun-woo turned to Seung-hyuk.

“What do you want to drink?”

“……”

He had bought two kinds of soda, but of course, Hyun-woo already knew what Seung-hyuk preferred.

Still, asking felt safer — otherwise, it might seem strange that he knew his tastes so well.

Without a doubt, the clean and calm Seung-hyuk would choose a caffeine-free drink.

That’s what Hyun-woo thought to himself indifferently.

“There’s ice cream on your hand.”

“Huh?”

But Seung-hyuk’s eyes weren’t on the drinks — they were on something else.

At his words, Hyun-woo glanced down at his own hand.

Just as Seung-hyuk said, a small round blob of white liquid had landed on the back of his hand — melted ice cream.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh, you’re right.”

Flustered, Hyun-woo looked around for something to wipe it off with.

But one hand was holding the drinks, and the other had ice cream on it, making it hard to move.

Then, without a word, Seung-hyuk lowered his head — and stuck out his red tongue.

He slowly licked the melted ice cream off Hyun-woo’s hand.

His warm tongue brushed and pressed against the skin.

“Ah…!”

Startled, Hyun-woo yanked his hand back.

He was utterly shocked, while Seung-hyuk’s face stayed calm and shameless.

“Hey, that’s disgusting—!”

“What’s disgusting? It’s your hand.”

“You—!”

Seung-hyuk smirked while watching Hyun-woo’s horrified expression.

Hyun-woo was too dumbfounded to even speak properly.

“Hyung, I have tissues!”

“Oh… thanks.”

Hyun-jin shouted as he pulled some tissues out of his bag.

A bit late, but still, the ice cream — now mixed with Seung-hyuk’s saliva — felt gross enough that Hyun-woo gladly accepted the tissue.

Hyun-jin even insisted on wiping Hyun-woo’s hand himself.

He rubbed so hard that the skin turned red.

It actually stung, and Hyun-woo winced a little.

“Hyung, should we go wash your hands?”

“No… it’s fine.”

Hyun-woo shook his head tiredly.

In just a moment, his face had turned noticeably paler.

“Here, take yours.”

“Thank you, hyung.”

“Haa…”

This time, without even asking, Hyun-woo tossed Seung-hyuk the drink he knew he liked.

As they say, even a hateful brat still gets his share.

He couldn’t just throw away what he’d bought for him, after all.

“Hyung, should we go ride something now?”

“……”

And so, the true hell began.

Hyun-woo sighed deeply.

“Ugh…”

“Hyung, are you okay?”

“I’m… fine…”

He tried to answer, but it felt like everything inside him was about to come up.

He quickly covered his mouth.

Hyun-jin looked anxious beside him.

“What should I do? Hyung, do you want to go to the restroom?”

“No, just… move aside.”

“Hyung…”

He just wanted to be alone for a while.

Pushing Hyun-jin gently aside, Hyun-woo staggered off.

He needed some cool water, at least.

“Hyun-woo hyung, here.”

“Ah… thanks.”

Right on time, Seung-hyuk came over from the kiosk, holding a bottle of water.

Hyun-woo nodded slightly and reached for it.

The coldness of the bottle immediately calmed him.

“Phew… that’s better.”

Keeping as far away as possible from the rides that gave him PTSD just by looking at them, Hyun-woo took a long drink and sighed.

When he glanced back, he saw the other two standing together, studying a brochure with serious faces.

If they suggested another ride, he’d make sure only the two of them got on.

Hyun-woo clenched his jaw silently.

Bzzz, bzzz.

“Huh?”

His phone vibrated inside his jacket.

He pulled it out and checked the caller ID.

[Kang Seong-yoon]

‘What’s Seong-yoon calling for on a holiday?’

Hyun-woo answered, puzzled.

“Hello? Chief?”

– Are you resting well, young master?

“Ah… haha, I’m out right now.”

– Oh? Is that so?

Seong-yoon sounded slightly surprised — he had clearly assumed Hyun-woo would be home.

Smiling bitterly, Hyun-woo replied,

“I came out with Hyun-jin.”

– I see. Are you enjoying yourselves?

“Well… so-so.”

He couldn’t exactly tell the truth, so he deflected vaguely.

Thankfully, Seong-yoon didn’t pry further.

– Actually, young master, it’s about the upcoming Parents’ Day.

“Ah…”

When he brought that up, Hyun-woo bit the plastic rim of his water bottle in frustration.

That damned day again.

He suppressed a sigh and asked,

“I thought I left that matter to you, Chief.”

– Well… the chairman has requested that both you and the young master come to the main house that day.

“What? Why… ah.”

Chairman Joo Moon-hyuk was never one for sentimental family occasions.

He only bothered with family meals on his birthday — and that too for appearances.

On Parents’ Day, he always let Seong-yoon handle sending an appropriate gift and carnation.

After a brief pause, Hyun-woo remembered — this was part of the original timeline.

It had happened before, five years ago, before his regression.

‘Right… this is the day the chairman first tries to put Hyun-jin on the marriage market.’

Chairman Joo hadn’t raised Hyun-jin — who wasn’t even his biological son — out of affection, nor just because of Hyun-jin’s mother’s influential family.

It was because Hyun-jin was an alpha-compatible omega — an extremely valuable trait in their world.

Only a handful of people knew that Hyun-jin wasn’t the chairman’s real child.

Still, outwardly, he was his son — and one of the most desired omegas among the rich elite.

In the previous timeline, the chairman had summoned both brothers on Parents’ Day to pressure them into arranged meetings.

Hyun-woo, obsessed with Seung-hyuk at the time, had flatly refused — which only shifted all of the chairman’s anger and expectations onto Hyun-jin.

‘I wonder what kind of mess I’ll make this time.’

Hyun-woo murmured inwardly.

Even though he had taken Seung-hyuk from Hyun-jin back then, he had never wanted to see Hyun-jin forced into a loveless marriage.

That’s why he had crashed the arranged meeting that day, making a huge scene.

The chairman had scolded him harshly, but since Hyun-woo was his only heir, he hadn’t dared punish him too much.

‘But… maybe this time, I shouldn’t make a scene.’

After all, this time, it wasn’t Hyun-jin the chairman wanted to marry off — it was Hyun-woo himself.

If he obediently agreed to go along with it, perhaps Hyun-jin could be spared from his father’s schemes.

After thinking it over, Hyun-woo finally said,

“Alright, I’ll go.”

– …Are you sure, young master?

“Of course. It’s Parents’ Day — it’s only right to visit.”

Seong-yoon sounded uncertain, knowing how Hyun-woo avoided the main house, but Hyun-woo smiled and replied lightly.

– Very well. I’ll inform the chairman.

“Thank you.”

After ending the call, Hyun-woo let out a quiet sigh.

This life, he had already decided — he would make sure Hyun-jin and Seung-hyuk ended up together.

And for that, he would play his own part, obediently doing as the chairman wished.

Even though he had made that decision long ago, now that it was upon him, his chest felt strangely heavy.

“Hyung, are you done with the call?”

“Yeah.”

“Who was it?”

“Chief Kang.”

“Ah…”

Hyun-jin’s face dimmed slightly.

He had always been uncomfortable with Seong-yoon — perhaps because he had grown up being treated like an outsider in that house.

Hyun-woo looked at him with quiet sympathy.

“What did he call about?”

“Well… it’s about Parents’ Day.”

He told the truth, though omitting the part about the arranged meeting.

“If it’s too uncomfortable, tell me. I’ll talk to him.”

“No, it’s fine. If we’ve been called, of course I should go too.”

“…Yeah.”

He had expected that answer — it was exactly what Hyun-jin had said in the previous life too.

Hyun-woo gave a faint, wistful smile.

“It’ll be fine. Nothing’s going to happen.”

“Hyung…”

“I’ll be there with you.”

“……!”

Hyun-jin looked at him, eyes wide and trembling.

“…Okay.”

Then, with a small smile, he nodded.

As his expression brightened again, Hyun-woo’s heart finally felt a little lighter.