Chapter 36: The Moment He Fell in Love

Before he knew it, Shin Joowon’s cheek was touching his neck, and their bodies were pressed so close together that his breath could be felt on Yooha’s skin.

He felt dizzy from Shin Joowon’s gradually thickening pheromones.

It was as if he had drunk matured wine to his heart’s content and become intoxicated.

“Ah… wa-wait a moment, Hyung…….”

It was dangerous.

His body sensed the emergency before his mind did, and he lightly pushed Shin Joowon’s shoulder.

Making eye contact with Shin Joowon, who unexpectedly withdrew his body easily, Yooha couldn’t say anything and could only bite the inside of his cheek.

His breathing was too ragged, and a hot heat that was difficult to bear welled up throughout his entire body.

The distance between him and Shin Joowon was far too close.

Because the gaze looking down at him was so dark and deep, his breath was caught.

Yet, Yooha did not wish for him to step any further away.

It was a thought so unlike himself that even he was startled.

As if he had read Yooha’s mind clearly, Joowon stepped closer once more.

His hand, which playfully toyed with Yooha’s soft earlobe and slowly swept down his neck, tickling him, was perfectly composed.

Yooha, closing his eyes tightly, stiffened his body.

The moment he noticed that Yooha’s pheromones had grown slightly thicker, Shin Joowon buried his face in Yooha’s neck without hesitation.

A wildflower scent that wasn’t special but brought no aversion.

And a very weak but not entirely absent sweet scent of fruit.

Perhaps when he had felt his pheromones a couple of times in the car, he hadn’t been able to smell the proper scent because they had been suppressed by the medicine.

Unlike then, Yooha’s multi-layered pheromones gradually awakened Shin Joowon’s five senses.

It was the same for Yooha.

“Huu… haa…….”

Yooha finally let out the breath he had held to its limit.

An unfamiliar sensation coursed through his entire body, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

His toes kept curling inward, and his fingertips felt tingly, even stinging with pain.

Even though his eyes were closed and he shouldn’t be able to see anything, everything about Shin Joowon was vividly painted before his eyes.

The kind smile he gave whenever their eyes met, the worried gaze that shook his heart, the warm body temperature that made him want to rely on him, the pleasant laughter, and… even the pheromones that were felt so clearly at this very moment.

That everything about him was clear even when he closed his eyes, and kept lingering in his mind without being forgotten, meant that probably…….

“…….”

He slowly lifted his eyelids.

Shin Joowon was already standing slightly back from Yooha, wearing his usual kind smile.

The moment their gazes met, Yooha finally realized his true feelings, which he had kept locked within the pretense of resignation and giving up.

Perhaps the wall had already been slowly crumbling long before.

‘I shouldn’t,’ ‘it’s not,’ ‘I dare not.’

The repeated whipping had rather been creating cracks in the wall.

“Since I saw your face, I should go now.”

“…….”

“I want to drive you home… but I have to go home early today.”

Shin Joowon expressed his regret by lightly holding and then releasing Yooha’s pinky finger, just enough to tease him.

The fragile fence, which had already begun to collapse, fell completely at the warmth and touch Shin Joowon conveyed.

Everything about Shin Joowon began to rush in like a tide.

“See you again, Yooha.”

Offering a parting greeting with a refreshing smile, Shin Joowon slowly walked away.

Although the distance was widening, everything he had left with Yooha was excessively clear.

Only after Shin Joowon had completely vanished from sight did Yooha sink to the floor as if all strength had left his body.

He buried his face in both hands and grit his teeth, feeling as if tears would burst out.

“…….”

Even though he knew it was out of line, and even though he knew it was an emotion he had to shake off as soon as possible, Yooha, whose mental walls had completely collapsed, had no choice but to admit it.

The reason his heart thumped at a single light word.

The reason his face flushed at a single smile.

The reason his heart collapsed when he resolved to distance himself from him.

Even the reason he had become hypersensitive to every single one of his actions.

The emotion he had kept pushing away in his subconscious had filled Yooha’s heart tightly before he knew it.

Even though he knew he shouldn’t, he wanted to lean everything on Shin Joowon’s kindness.

Even though he knew he could never be a special person to Shin Joowon, he wanted to risk everything.

Only now did he realize.

That all of it was because he had fallen in love with Shin Joowon.

Although he had comforted himself saying he was used to giving up and resigning, and that it was only natural, in truth, he might have been waiting and hoping for it more than anyone else.

For someone to reach out a hand to him like this.

For someone to look with warm eyes at even his selfish self, who lacked the courage to reach out first and only wished for others to approach.

For someone to readily approach him, when he was too fearful to even strike up a conversation first.

The only one who had answered that desperate wish was Shin Joowon.

‘See you again, Yooha.’

The words, which just a few days ago he would have thought of as nothing more or less than a parting greeting, brought Yooha an overwhelming sense of anticipation today of all days.

Would the day Shin Joowon promised be tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or next Wednesday when they took the lecture together?

Although he couldn’t know for sure, to Yooha, who had only just realized his own feelings, they were the most heart-fluttering words.

His breathing and heartbeat wouldn’t calm down at all, so Yooha, who had been patting his chest repeatedly, barely managed to stand up.

He walked away to finish his work, but his head was entirely filled with thoughts of Shin Joowon.

Somehow, he felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

Because even if he closed his eyes, he would see Shin Joowon, and when he tried to fall asleep, his voice would echo in his ears.

****

When he learned that the wedding venue was The Modern Prime Hotel owned by Taemun, he had thought they must have poured an enormous amount of money into this wedding.

Since the grand hall, which had a capacity of nearly 800 guests and was widely rumored to have had an immense amount of effort put into its interior design, was located right in The Modern Prime Hotel.

As soon as Shin Joowon arrived at the wedding hall with his mother, he was busy greeting the invited guests.

It was so chaotic that he even harbored the absurd thought that he might be busier than the bride, groom, or their parents today.

He let the polite remarks go in one ear and out the other, and Shin Joowon also mechanically repeated similar words.

Yet he never let his smile fade from his face, and his voice also conjured up a sweet tone that respected politeness as much as possible.

Every time someone asked how on earth she had raised such a fine son, his mother’s shoulders were busy rising higher.

After offering their greetings, he entered the hall with his mother and took their seats.

The interior was brilliantly decorated with flowers, predominantly white and pink.

A lush bouquet of hydrangeas was placed in the middle of the table, naturally drawing his gaze.

Taking in the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the flowing silk fabric, and the glittering candlesticks, only one thought surfaced in Shin Joowon’s head.

‘Does a wedding really need to be this loud?’

Of course, everyone’s thoughts on marriage would be different, but Shin Joowon held neither anticipation nor romance for it.

Even though secondary genders tended to marry earlier than betas, Shin Joowon wanted to postpone marriage as much as possible if he could.

To that extent, his thoughts on marriage were highly skeptical and pessimistic.

“Joowon, it’s been a while.”

About five minutes before the ceremony was to start, someone lightly tapped Shin Joowon’s shoulder.

Hiding his displeasure, he lifted his gaze and saw a face that wasn’t very welcome.

It was Seo Eun-seok, the son of Chairman Seo of Bisang Group, whom Chairman Shin had mentioned.

“Director, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Seo Eun-seok, who gave a bright smile, turned toward Choi Hwa-yeon this time and gave a light bow.

A deep flush of pleasure was visible on Choi Hwa-yeon’s face.

“Eun-seok, it’s been a while. But did you come alone?”

“No, I came with my father, but he’s talking to someone else outside. Can I sit in the empty seat?”

“Of course. Sit quickly. There, sitting next to Joowon would be great.”

While Choi Hwa-yeon and Seo Eun-seok exchanged pleasantries, Shin Joowon stared solely at the wedding altar.

Although he had expected to run into Seo Eun-seok, he hadn’t expected to sit at the same table.

Shin Joowon, who swallowed a sigh of complaint toward his mother for explicitly telling Eun-seok to sit next to him, adjusted his collar to calm his mind.

In a place where there were so many eyes watching, he had to be even more careful with his actions.

Shin Joowon closed his eyes deeply and opened them, swapping his expression.

It was a face that anyone would have no choice but to think of as a kind and good-natured chaebol heir.

“I think it’s my first time seeing you since you came back to Korea. How was your travel?”

Seo Eun-seok, taking his seat, subtly narrowed the distance between himself and Shin Joowon as he asked.

Perhaps because it was a crowded place, he had taken suppressants, so his pheromones weren’t felt well, but his clothes were already thoroughly saturated with that fishy water scent that Shin Joowon loathed the most.

“It was fun.”

“I’m jealous. Where did you like best?”

“Everywhere was good.”

The smile plastered on his face was genial and his voice was soft, but his answers were entirely lacking in sincerity.

Yet, as if he hadn’t noticed at all, Seo Eun-seok continued.

“Shall we have a meal together sometime? You used to like Baekonjeong…….”

“An announcement for the guests. In a few moments, the wedding of the groom, Han Jae-jun, and the bride, Kim Da-hye, will begin. All guests are requested to enter the hall and take their seats.”

Fortunately, Seo Eun-seok’s attempt to make a move was drowned out by the announcer’s guidance.

Shin Joowon, only after the announcement ended, tilted his head, pretending he hadn’t heard anything.

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