Chapter 33: The Things We Can’t Tell

“When I get back from surgery, I figured you might have already been discharged.”

My mood soured instantly.

Not because he didn’t want my number.

Because he wanted Jaeyul’s.

Even if dominant alphas are rare — this is ridiculous.

And what kind of lunatic asks a minor’s guardian for their number?

This guy’s insane.

“He’s a minor, you know?

He needs to rest.

Please leave.”

What kind of dried-up squid-looking bastard dares to lay eyes on my Jaeyul?

Now that I’m looking properly, he’s endlessly unimpressive.

Get lost.

He clearly didn’t like my cold glare, but he left the room anyway.

I’d better stay glued to Jaeyul’s side until he wakes up.

Who knows how easily a kid could get sweet-talked by someone creepy.

The world’s too dangerous.

“…Ugh… hyung….”

At the sound of him calling me, I looked at the bed.

“Jaeyul! You’re waking up?”

But his consciousness still hadn’t returned.

His eyelids stayed shut, his brows scrunched like he was having a nightmare.

I gently tapped his chest in a steady rhythm.

Whenever he came to my bed at night after having bad dreams, this always helped him fall asleep.

“Get some good rest.

Hyung… is sorry.

For everything.”

Even knowing he’d be fine, I couldn’t help but worry.

Awakening isn’t anyone’s fault, I know that.

But it feels like this is also somehow my fault.

That he’s hurting.

If I hadn’t snapped at him last night…

If he hadn’t forced himself to go to school sick…

The regret and guilt just kept piling up.

After some time, maybe because the tapping worked, his face finally relaxed.

I continued a little longer to help him sleep deeply.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

My phone kept vibrating.

Afraid the noise might disturb him, I quickly grabbed it.

There were several new messages.

Only photos — no text.

“…Those sons of bitches….”

The moment I saw the photos, I nearly threw my phone.

The number wasn’t saved, but I knew instantly.

It was those Six-Pointed-Star bastards.

How?

Because the pictures were of me carrying Jaeyul, me entering the ER, and the hallway outside his hospital room.

That’s a hundred percent proof.

They were still circling around me.

Still threatening me not to do anything stupid.

Maybe they were upset their lackeys got beaten up.

Either way, I had even more reason to deal with them — for Jaeyul’s sake.

“Agh… I can’t breathe….”

It felt stuffy.

My body was warm and comfortable, but my nose and mouth felt blocked.

My breath felt overheated.

I pried my eyelids open.

“That’s what happens when you cling to me like that.

You should’ve slept in the other bed.”

“Wha…? When did you wake up?!”

Startled by the unexpected voice, I shot up — as much as I could on the cramped hospital bed.

I’d stayed awake almost until dawn in case those guys showed up, then ended up lying awkwardly at the edge of his bed because even the guardian cot was broken.

I guess at some point, I ended up hugging him tightly in my sleep.

Annoying.

Embarrassing.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“Jaeyul…! Are you okay? Anything hurting?”

Even though we’d been together the whole time, it felt like I was seeing him after ages.

I already knew he’d wake up fine — but relief washed over me anyway.

Overwhelmed, I hugged him tight as soon as he sat up.

“Can’t breathe…! Hy-hyung!”

“Sorry.

Sorry, Jaeyul….

I shouldn’t have gotten angry like that.

I’m sorry I skipped your match.

I’m sorry I didn’t notice you were sick.

Everything… I’m sorry…”

I spilled out all the regrets that had piled up.

I should’ve said this sooner.

The image of him searching the stadium for me hadn’t left my mind.

Just thinking about it made my eyes sting.

Leaving him alone like that — the guilt crushed me.

“…I’m sorry too, hyung.

I was only thinking about myself.

I regretted it a lot.

I acted childish and didn’t talk things out… sorry.”

Ah…

Thank god.

I worried he might still be upset — but he wrapped his arms around me and spoke sweetly, just like always.

Warmth enveloped me, and relief finally settled.

He hadn’t changed.

Even though I was the immature one, he still trusted me.

That constancy… I was grateful for it.

“…But hyung… can you… maybe let go now?”

“Ah… oh… right…”

The warmth inside me froze instantly.

What?

I pulled back and looked at him.

Normally, he was the one who clung to me first.

But his face and neck were flushed.

He avoided eye contact, staring at a blank wall.

Even pulled the blanket over himself.

…Yeah.

This is that.

Teenagers who used to be affectionate suddenly get cold after puberty.

They don’t want people entering their room.

They avoid skinship.

It’s normal.

He’s a teenage boy — I should understand.

But still… it stings.

The kid who once asked if he could carry me forever now rejects even a hug.

No wonder parents complain their kids grow up too fast.

But well… I’ll deal with it.

“Ahem.

Anyway, how’s your body?

I can’t believe our Jaeyul turned out to be an alpha — I was so surprised.”

“Surprised? Why?

You’re an omega, so I could’ve been an alpha too.

Trait-holders aren’t that special.”

Ah—

That was close.

I’d almost said I never imagined ‘X’ was also an alpha.

The shock I felt when I learned he and Jaeyul were the same person… nothing compares to that.

I thought I’d been fighting a monster — but he was a perfect human with traits, just like me.

“I mean… a dominant alpha!

Our Jaeyul doesn’t know how to be anything but talented.

Smart, athletic, and now an impressive awakening too.”

I redirected the conversation, and luckily it worked.

His doubtful expression melted into a soft laugh.

“What’s that?

Isn’t it because hyung raised me so well?”

Ah.

This brat.

You really know how to make me weak, huh?

Trying not to grin was impossible.

“But how did I even get to the hospital?

I barely remember anything after yesterday afternoon.”

“…Really?”

“…I didn’t… make any mistakes, did I?”

Mistakes?
Like trying to pounce on me because I smelled good?

I almost teased him.

But no — I’d take that to my grave.

He’d die of embarrassment.

He was already anxious just imagining what he might’ve done.

“Mistakes? No way.

You stayed home like an angel.

I came in and brought you here.

Want to go home? The doctor said you can be discharged.”

“…Really…? Good.

Let’s go home.”

On the way, I told him everything he needed to know as a senior trait-holder.

If he felt a cycle coming, take a stabilizer first.

He’d be stronger now, so don’t hit people casually.

I was nagging more than usual, to be honest.

“Good thing I have hyung.

I’m learning so much.

Keep teaching me, okay?”

Even though I talked too much, he listened without a single complaint.

“Of course.

I’ll teach you everything.

Just rest a few days.

I’ll talk to your school.”

Talking like that made the walk home feel short.

I opened the front door—

And immediately wanted to turn around and walk back out.

But Jaeyul followed behind, blocking me.

I’d forgotten the most important thing.

“…Rest at home…?”

“…….”

“You said nothing happened yesterday… hyung?”

Right.

Half of the house had been destroyed last night.

Kitchen table, cabinets, refrigerator, living room sofa, TV — everything reduced to debris.

Because Ppoppi had to reveal his true body to restrain him.

And before leaving for the hospital, I told Ppoppi to clean the place up a bit.

“…Whine….”

Ppoppi looked at me with the expression of someone about to cry.

He’d gathered the shattered debris into neat piles — sofa fragments here, TV fragments there.

As if arranging them would somehow fix things.

What did he think would happen next?

That we could glue them back together?

This dumb dog…

Sometimes he’s a genius, other times he’s unbelievably stupid.

Should’ve just eaten all the evidence clean.

“Hyung?

Why is the house… like this?”

How was I supposed to explain?

‘You awakened, lost control, tried to pounce on me, and Ppoppi turned into a giant monster to stop you.’

Yeah, no.

I couldn’t lie about a burglar either — too obvious.

There was only one path left.

“…Well… maybe… Ppoppi was teething…?”

I’m sorry, Ppoppi.

You’ll have to sacrifice yourself just this once.