TATMFL - 72

Joon glanced at the backseat through the rearview mirror and shook his head. The humming resonating inside the car sent chills down his spine, raising goosebumps on his arms as he gripped the steering wheel.

Do-kyung, cradling Raon and humming a lullaby—a gesture so uncharacteristic of him—wore an expression as if he owned the world.

It was surreal. No, it wasn’t just surreal; it felt like witnessing the sun rise in the west, utterly bizarre and unsettling. Joon would have preferred being at a crime scene splattered with blood and gore rather than this unnerving sight.

Clearing his throat awkwardly to break the tension, Joon suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

“I handed over Jin Si-yoon to Se-jin’s side, just as you instructed.”

With a disinterested nod, Do-kyung replied lazily,

“Good. Things will quiet down now.”

For days, Se-jin’s side had bombarded them with requests to return their heir, sending messages nonstop. Even Do-kyung’s father had recently urged him to hand over Jin Si-yoon, saying it was time to end the matter.

Ignoring those demands had been manageable for a while, but finally, yesterday, Do-kyung decided to relinquish Jin Si-yoon. Playing with him had grown tiresome, and returning a broken toy didn’t faze him in the slightest.

‘Hmm.’

Recalling the shocked faces of Se-jin’s people when they received Jin Si-yoon, Joon muttered under his breath. Then, shaking his head, he added,

“This is only going to get noisier.”

He’d heard that renowned doctors had already rushed to Jin Si-yoon’s mansion earlier that morning.

Though Jin Si-yoon would likely spend years recuperating, the fallout from his family’s wrath would surely complicate Chairman Han’s position. Yet Do-kyung, who snorted dismissively at Joon’s suggestion that he might need to turn off his phone soon, seemed entirely unconcerned.

Sighing deeply, Joon changed the subject.

“By the way, are you sure about this?”

“What do you mean?”

Without taking his eyes off Raon, Do-kyung gently stroked her flushed cheek.

The humid weather outside had amplified her drunkenness. She sat slumped on the bench in front of the restaurant, dozing off intermittently. Though she didn’t seem to have a low tolerance, the amount she’d consumed over two hours far exceeded any reasonable limit.

‘Passing out anywhere—is this her drunk habit?’

“Mmm.”

When Do-kyung tapped her nostrils, she scrunched her nose and let out a soft groan. Watching her swat irritably at the air, Do-kyung’s chest vibrated with suppressed laughter.

Joon’s voice interrupted his amusement.

“I’m talking about pheromones.”

Do-kyung raised an eyebrow and briefly locked eyes with Joon in the rearview mirror before looking away.

Joon continued,

“Professor Yang warned that the longer you suppress your pheromones, the harder it’ll be on you.”

A few days ago, Professor Yang had visited Do-kyung, visibly perturbed by the complete absence of pheromones emanating from him.

[Extreme Alphas are different. If pheromones build up without release, even someone like you could suffer abnormalities in your glands.]

Remembering Professor Yang’s words, Joon sighed heavily as Do-kyung ignored him entirely.

“What happens if your rut cycle gets disrupted because of this?”

“We have inhibitors.”

“Are you really going to rely on that excuse when even specially formulated drugs don’t work on you?”

“You’re nagging too much, Joon. You’ll wake Raon.”

Joon stared at Do-kyung, speechless, before muttering bitterly,

“If you die alone from all this pent-up frustration, how pitiful will that be? Gah!”

“Should I perform a memorial rite for you?”

At that moment, the car stopped at a red light, and Do-kyung kicked the front seat with a sly smirk. His lips curved into a grin, but his eyes remained cold, prompting Joon to purse his lips in irritation.

Just then—

“Ugh…”

Raon stirred, slowly blinking her heavy eyelids.

That damn brat.

Do-kyung shot Joon an annoyed glare before turning his attention back to Raon.

“Sleep a little more, Raon. We’re still far from home.”

Pressing her temples as if her head hurt, Raon mumbled hoarsely, her voice cracking.

“…Han Do-kyung?”

“Yes.”

As if he hadn’t glared moments ago, Do-kyung smiled brightly, delighted simply by her calling his name.

Watching this exchange through the mirror, Joon quickly averted his gaze, unable to bear the sight.

No matter what reaction came from the front seat, Do-kyung’s focus remained unwaveringly fixed on Raon.

“This place…”

Do-kyung caught her murmured words and replied softly,

“We’re in the car, heading home.”

“Home…”

Blinking sluggishly, Raon finally realized she was nestled against Do-kyung and scowled deeply. She began to struggle.

“Let me go.”

Effortlessly restraining her weak attempts to break free, Do-kyung shrugged.

“If I let go here, you’ll fall.”

“…?”

Raising an eyebrow skeptically, Raon glanced at Do-kyung’s lap, which was practically glued to the front seat, and snorted.

“There’s nowhere to fall. What nonsense.”

“Exactly. Which is why it’s unfortunate that my legs are so long.”

“Huh?”

Fighting to keep her eyelids open, Raon eventually gave up, going limp in Do-kyung’s arms. Muttering faintly, she said,

“You’re such a liar…”

“Heh.”

Do-kyung chuckled, amused by her candidness. Alcohol had loosened her tongue, making her spill thoughts she’d normally keep hidden—and he found it utterly adorable.

At that moment, Raon, half-lidded and drowsy, mumbled something.

“What? I can’t hear you, Raon.”

Leaning closer to catch her slurred words, Do-kyung felt her warm breath tickle his cheek, laced with the scent of alcohol.

“…Why…”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you like this with me?”

Rubbing her face with her palm, Raon muttered wearily.

“I don’t like you.”

“What can I do? I like you.”

“…Liar.”

Kissing her forehead, Do-kyung teased,

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

Raon swatted at him as if shooing away a fly, glaring at him with narrowed eyes that screamed accusations.

“It’s just…”

“It’s just what?”

His voice was thick, as though drowning in desire.

“Someone like you…”

“Someone like me?”

“A thug who’s always scheming to exploit others.”

“Oh.”

Do-kyung’s lips twitched at her blunt response. Then, without warning—

“HAHAHAHA!”

He burst into uncontrollable laughter, tears welling up in his eyes.

Still laughing, he looked at Raon, who glared at him indignantly, and asked in a trembling voice,

“So? Does that mean you hate me?”

“Yes. I hate you.”

“What if I stop being a thug? Will you stop hating me? Can you trust me?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Why not? Is there something else?”

Do-kyung’s eyes sparkled mischievously. He was thoroughly enjoying this moment.

Perhaps getting Raon drunk occasionally wasn’t such a bad idea—assuming her habit of passing out anywhere didn’t interfere. But even if it did, he’d be there to catch her.

In fact, the thought of her falling asleep defenselessly in front of him was oddly appealing.

As he pondered this, Raon hesitated, caught off guard by his question.

Watching her, Do-kyung adopted his most gentle tone, asking sweetly,

“You have to tell me so I can fix it. Okay?”

Meeting his gaze reluctantly, Raon spoke with surprising clarity despite her hazy pupils.

“Because you’re an Alpha, and I’m a Beta.”

“Hmm?”

Do-kyung blinked twice, caught off guard by her unexpected reasoning.

Setting aside the fact that she still saw herself as a Beta, he hadn’t anticipated this kind of answer. He had expected resentment for the trauma he caused or for using her friend as leverage.

Before he could fully process her words, Raon sighed and added, scrunching her face and pinching her nose shut,

“Besides, your pheromones make me sick. They stink. I feel like throwing up.”

Her half-muttered complaint made Do-kyung smile faintly.

“I think it’s just because you’ve had too much to drink.”

“What do you mean?”

“Smell me.”

As Raon furrowed her brow, Do-kyung leaned closer.

“Can you still smell it? Do you hate me?”

The exposed collarbone visible through his loosened shirt distracted Raon. With a playful wink, Do-kyung deliberately opened his shirt further.

Flustered by the sudden proximity, Raon blinked rapidly and turned her gaze away.

“Hmm? Raon?”

In her stubborn refusal to look at him, Raon stared resolutely at the front seat. A cajoling voice, almost flirtatious, whispered in her ear, its vibrations tickling her eardrums and tightening the muscles around her waist.

Unsure where to direct her gaze, Raon’s pupils darted aimlessly before she finally squeezed her eyes shut.

There was no verbal response.

But even without words, Do-kyung smiled radiantly, as if he possessed the entire world.

Raon’s pheromones, released hesitantly due to her lowered inhibitions from alcohol, lingered uncertainly in the air.

That hesitation alone was enough of an answer. If she truly hated him, her scent wouldn’t carry such sweetness.

“Ah.”

“What… what do you mean…!”

“Raon.”

Pulling her tightly into his arms, Do-kyung pleaded desperately,

“I like you so much.”