TATMFL - 71

Han Do-kyung.

Why was she hearing that name here, right now? Raon’s eyelids trembled as she struggled to hide her confusion.

Meanwhile, the sound of polished shoes grew steadily closer.

And then it came—his voice.

“Hello.”

A light yet commanding baritone, smooth and warm.

“I thought you’d come today too.”

At the professor’s cheerful greeting, Do-kyung—who had already stopped behind Raon—chuckled softly.

“It’s the last day. As an honorary member, I had to show up.”

Leaning slightly forward, close enough for their shoulders to almost brush, Do-kyung met Raon’s eyes.

“Right, Raon?”

“…!”

Startled, Raon jerked her head back, only to meet his brazen wink. She held her breath, feeling pinned under his intensely dark gaze.

“Well, well. So you two know each other?” The professor’s voice broke through the moment.

“Of course,” Do-kyung replied smoothly, his smile deepening as murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.

“He’s visited the studio a few times.”

“He was at the festival too.”

Feeling all eyes turn toward her, Raon forced an awkward laugh, exhaling sharply through her nose while keeping her lips pressed tightly shut.

“...We’ve crossed paths.”

“Crossed paths, huh…”

“Hmm.”

“That’s quite an understatement for what we are, don’t you think?”

His husky whisper slithered into her ear, dangerously low and intimate—like the voice she remembered from after they’d had sex, raw and heavy with desire. Raon’s spine stiffened instinctively.

Watching her recoil, Do-kyung shrugged casually.

“Still, starting with ‘acquaintance’ isn’t entirely wrong.”

“What…?”

Raon’s brow furrowed in confusion at his cryptic words. Before she could fully process them, she flinched again as his warmth brushed against her lower back. A fleeting touch—but enough to make her pulse race.

Curious glances darted between her and Do-kyung. Especially piercing was the knowing look from her professor, who was aware of her Omega manifestation. His gaze carried a hint of mischief.

Quickly stepping away from Do-kyung, Raon followed the group deeper into the gallery.

Thankfully, no one pursued the topic further, likely due to her dry, composed expression—though lingering stares remained.

Focusing on the group ahead, Raon asked flatly,

“What exactly is this ‘honorary member’ thing?”

“Oh, that.”

Trailing lazily behind her, Do-kyung answered indifferently.

“The result of visiting the gallery enthusiastically every day for a week.”

“…Huh?”

Raon frowned, turning to glare at him. He met her gaze eagerly, dimples carving deep into his cheeks.

“Since I didn’t know when someone would show up, I figured I’d better come every day, despite the effort.”

Her eyes twitched involuntarily as he added, his tone smug,

“And since we’ve finally met, it wasn’t all for nothing.”

Watching him shrug nonchalantly, Raon gaped in disbelief.

So…
He’d come to the gallery every day just to see her?

Because she hadn’t shown up that day?

“Tsk.”

The exasperated sigh slipped out before she could stop it.

“Honestly…”

Trailing off in frustration, Raon saw Do-kyung perk up.

“When will you reply to my texts?”

“…”

Speechless, Raon turned away without answering, brushing past him.

Her neck prickled uncomfortably as if something were tightening around it.

She couldn’t understand why Do-kyung kept appearing before her like this, as though their breakup had been nothing but a dream. What could someone like Han Do-kyung possibly want from her? Why go so far as to humiliate himself by chasing after her?

‘Because he likes me?’

The thought made Raon clench her fists tightly.

‘Because I manifested as an Omega?’

He had said he liked her pheromones. That people with certain traits were easily swayed by pheromones and often mistook that attraction for affection.

So…

“…”

Chewing on the tender flesh inside her cheek, Raon tried to evade the thoughts swirling in her mind.

No.

Shaking off the doubts clouding her head, she reminded herself of how blatantly obvious his feelings had been even before her manifestation—so obvious that she couldn’t help but notice.

But back then, she had dismissed it as a fleeting infatuation, something easy to ignore.

Reflecting on this, Raon gave a bitter laugh, correcting herself.

‘…Actually, it wasn’t easy even then.’

Ever since realizing Do-kyung’s emotions, whether consciously or not, she had found herself increasingly preoccupied with him. Her heavy-lidded eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

‘Still, I don’t believe it.’

Their relationship had started off on the wrong foot.

Even normal couples who dated properly often ended up breaking apart. How much more doomed was a connection like hers and Do-kyung’s? It was clear without needing to see it.

This whole thing was just another one of Do-kyung’s antics. Since she hadn’t reacted to his attention, he had grown intrigued. That was all.

His daily texts, his unexpected appearances—it would all fade once his interest in her waned. Surely.

Love with Han Do-kyung?

It was the most mismatched concept imaginable.

‘Ah.’

A sharp weight settled in her chest, twisting unpleasantly. Raon’s features flickered briefly.

Just then—

The professor, who had been walking ahead, muttered, “Oh, right,” and turned back.

“There’s an after-party tonight. Do-kyung, you’ll join us, won’t you?”

Walking leisurely beside Raon, matching her pace, Do-kyung smiled faintly.

“Am I allowed to attend?”

“Oh, please! If our honorary member doesn’t go, who will?”

“…?”

Raon stared at Do-kyung as if seeing something bizarre. His slick, polished tone was unlike anything she’d ever heard from him.

Had he worn some kind of mask over the past week to charm the professors?

Meeting her shocked gaze, Do-kyung nodded innocently.

“In that case, I suppose I should.”

As cheers erupted from the professor and classmates, Raon pressed her throbbing forehead into her palm.

The boisterous noise filled the restaurant—a beef place highly recommended by the exhibition’s featured artists.

“You know, I just realized something. Our classmate Han Do-kyung is actually our age!”

“He’s from the class of ‘12, so yeah, same age.”

“I was confused about what to call him since he’s technically older than me.”

Whether because of his background as Han Young or his status as an extreme Alpha, everyone clamored to speak to Do-kyung, desperate to get his attention.

Perhaps the honorary membership title had been given in that same context, Raon mused, swallowing another sigh along with her drink.

She’d lost count of how many glasses she’d had. Between the ones the professor insisted she take and those her excited classmates poured for her escape from the studio, she knew she’d drunk far too much.

Normally, she would’ve declined politely after a reasonable amount, but thanks to a certain someone, she’d recklessly downed every refill.

“You’re drinking too much.”

No sooner had she set down her empty glass than that person’s voice reached her ears. Raon glanced sidelong at him.

Do-kyung, who hadn’t responded to anyone else’s words, sat grinning beside her and picked up a piece of meat.

Raon’s sullen gaze locked onto the meat he offered. Despite everything, she hadn’t uttered any harsh rejections or demands for him to leave.

“Eat something while you drink, Raon.”

“…”

“It’d be better if you stopped drinking altogether.”

Watching her flushed eyes, glazed from alcohol, Do-kyung exhaled softly.

How could someone look so damn seductive? Just looking at her made him want to bundle her up and leave immediately.

If only there were something to cover that face of hers.

No, even covering her face wouldn’t be enough.

His gaze drifted downward slowly.

The reddish heat staining her pale nape was intoxicating.

And thanks to summer, the skin peeking through her white blouse…

“Damn.”

Swallowing hard, Do-kyung felt his lower body stir. The thick outline pressing against his thin pants was unmistakable.

Was he always this sensitive to visual stimuli? Everything about her—from her name, Yoo Raon, to her very presence—stirred him uncontrollably.

Seeing her made him feel like a horny teenager, constantly aroused. It was both amusing and thrilling.

Being with Raon always made him feel new.

That’s why he loved it. Thinking about her alone drove him wild. She was too beautiful, too adorable to resist.

“This is unbearable…”

Not only did his lower abdomen tighten painfully, but it also throbbed with need.

Licking his lips greedily, he watched her hazy, drunken gaze follow his movements like a tail. She’d clearly drunk quite a bit.

The predatory gleam in his eyes promised he wanted to devour her whole.

Despite the lively chaos around them, the air between Raon and Do-kyung felt unnervingly silent.

“…”

Was it the alcohol? Her heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears.

Her face flushed, her throat inexplicably dry. Even her vision blurred.

The alcohol was definitely hitting harder now.

…Otherwise, there was no way she’d feel this suffocated.

“Hah…”

Letting out a long, hot breath, Raon abruptly stood up. Moving too quickly, she felt dizzy for a moment.

“Ah.”

Her legs gave way, and she swayed unsteadily. Do-kyung caught her with a subtle smirk.

“Going home?”

“…Let go.”

Trying to signal that even if she were going home, it had nothing to do with him, Raon squirmed, attempting to push his hand away from her waist.

But instead of releasing her, he pulled her closer. His body temperature burned hotter than hers, searing through his clothes.

His lips hovered dangerously close to her ear, his breath scorching.

“Hnn!”

The heated whisper sent shivers racing down her spine.

“Everyone seems pretty drunk.”

Gently nibbling her earlobe before releasing it, Do-kyung whispered,

“Let’s go, Raon.”