TATMFL - 74

Alpha and Beta?

Raon might not fully understand how possessive an Alpha could be, but even when she believed herself to be a Beta, Do-kyung had no intention of letting her go. If he hadn’t cared so deeply, he wouldn’t have sought her out like a madman on the day his rut hit.

So now that she was an Omega?

Another Alpha near Raon?

Do-kyung’s lips curled into a deadly smirk as he tilted one corner of his mouth upward.

One Alpha—himself—was more than enough for Raon.

At that moment, Do-kyung abruptly lifted his head and stared intently at Raon’s bedroom door.

“Ah.”

The calming pheromones were drawing closer.

Soon, click. The door that had tormented him all night finally opened, revealing Raon with her hair tied back in a messy ponytail and an exhausted expression.

And then—

“…?!”

Caught off guard by the sight of Do-kyung, Raon’s eyes widened in shock.

Her trembling lips formed a silent scream, prompting Do-kyung to grin mischievously, his eyes narrowing playfully.

“Good morning.”

Startled as if she’d seen a ghost, Raon stumbled backward into her room. Even without looking in a mirror, she could feel her pupils quivering uncontrollably.

Watching her reaction, Do-kyung chuckled softly.

“Why are you here?”

“For someone who went through the trouble of bringing you home last night, that’s a rather ungrateful response, don’t you think?”

Raon instinctively flinched, her facial muscles tightening awkwardly as she stammered.

“That’s…”

“That’s?”

“…I’m grateful.”

Regardless of whatever embarrassing state she might’ve been in, it was true that he’d carried her home from a distant location. A basic thank-you was warranted.

…Or maybe not.

Raon quickly reconsidered.

If he hadn’t been there in the first place, she wouldn’t have gotten drunk at all.

This realization reignited her sense of injustice. Why had he been there in the first place?

But before she could voice these thoughts, fragments of their conversation echoed in her mind.

[Not knowing when someone avoiding me would show up, I had to come every day.]

[I like you so much.]

“Raon?”

Snapped out of her thoughts by Hye-sung’s call, Raon spun around and headed toward the kitchen.

Her heart, which had barely calmed down, began to race erratically again.

Something was terribly wrong.

She absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck, which burned hot, as she opened the refrigerator door. Just then, Do-kyung, who had been sitting on the couch observing her, stood up.

Despite trying to look away, her attention was inexplicably drawn to him, her nerves tingling.

At that moment—

“Ah?!”

As she exited her room, the hastily tied ponytail loosened, causing strands of hair to spill over her shoulders.

Surprised, she turned around, only to find Do-kyung impossibly close. His trademark black shirt caught her gaze as she slowly raised her head.

Tilting her chin up, she finally met his face—he was holding her hair tie and waving it provocatively.

Clutching the loose strands of hair in one hand, Raon stepped back nervously. But just as she moved, her back hit the refrigerator, causing her grip on her hair to tighten.

“What do you think you’re—”

“Too much visual stimulation.”

With the finger holding her hair tie, Do-kyung tapped her nape, partially hidden by her hair. His lips curved into a deep smile as his gleaming eyes fixed on her neck, which she reflexively touched.

The pinkish skin of her neck, glowing beautifully, stiffened under his covetous gaze.

Just then—ding dong . The doorbell rang at the perfect moment.

Breaking the suffocating eye contact, Do-kyung reluctantly stepped back, his face filled with barely concealed frustration.

“It must be the hangover soup.”

Unaware she’d been holding her breath, Raon swallowed dryly and repeated belatedly,

“Hangover soup?”

“Yeah.”

Do-kyung casually walked to the door and opened it as if it were his own house.

Standing outside was Joon, holding white plastic bags in both hands.

Joon bowed politely to Raon, who stood awkwardly behind Do-kyung.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes.”

“This is the hangover soup Master Do-kyung ordered.”

…That title still felt strange no matter how many times she heard it. Muttering this under her breath, Raon reflexively bowed her head and took a step back.

Joon nodded in thanks for making way and brushed past her to set the soup on the table. Like Do-kyung, he moved with such ease that it was hard to believe he was in an unfamiliar place. In contrast, Raon and Hye-sung, standing quietly by the wall, looked more like outsiders.

In no time, four servings of hangover soup were laid out on the table.

After neatly arranging spoons, Do-kyung sat down and pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing to Raon.

“Sit. Let’s eat.”

Do-kyung acted as though his sole purpose had been to share a meal with Raon. After finishing, he tidied up and promptly left.

The next day, Raon entered the studio looking haggard, having barely slept due to her restless thoughts.

And immediately, she was bombarded with questions.

“What’s going on between you and Han Do-kyung, the extreme Alpha from Business Administration?”

“We heard rumors you two are dating. Is it true?”

“They say he came to the exhibition every day just to see you. Is that true?”

Surrounded by her classmates, Raon pressed her palms against her ears, overwhelmed.

“What are you talking about?”

One classmate placed a hand on their hip and replied,

“No use denying it, Raon. We already know everything. That Han Do-kyung has completely set his sights on you.”

“Even the professors said they didn’t know Han Do-kyung could smile so much.”

“Plenty of people saw the two of you sneak out during the after-party. You were too drunk to notice.”

Sly glances flew at her, questioning what they did afterward.

Massaging her furrowed brows, Raon answered in an exasperated tone,

“An Alpha and a Beta? What nonsense.”

“At first, we thought so too, but things seem far from ordinary.”

Peering intensely at Raon, the speaker continued,

“To be honest, Raon, you’re prettier than most Omegas.”

“If you say that out loud, you’ll get stoned.”

Embarrassed by the exaggerated compliment, Raon forced a laugh and shook her head, denying it firmly.

“Anyway, it’s not true. We’re not in any kind of relationship.”

“Then who’s that?”

One classmate leaning by the window whistled and pointed outside.

Everyone crowded around the window.

“Wow, those legs are unmistakable even from 100 meters away.”

“It’s not just the legs. His face practically radiates a halo, impossible to miss.”

Once again, sly glances darted toward Raon, but she couldn’t respond.

From a distance where facial expressions were clear, Do-kyung suddenly lifted his head.

As if he knew she was watching, his gaze locked onto hers. Startled, Raon blinked twice, her heart sinking as if she’d been caught sneaking a glance.

At that moment, Do-kyung’s lips curved into a long, smooth smile. The deeper the dimples etched into his cheeks, the more sighs escaped from her classmates.

“He’s insane.”

“That face smiling like that? It’s unfair.”

“Hey, I’m getting some inspiration here.”

“…And you’re still saying there’s nothing between you two?”

Someone’s ominous question struck Raon’s ears, but she remained silent.

Meanwhile, Do-kyung disappeared inside the Fine Arts building.

It wasn’t long before he reappeared right in front of Raon.

She couldn’t pretend not to see him waving by the door—not with her classmates’ probing gazes boring into her back.

“Hah.”

Reluctantly leaving the studio, her steps felt unbearably heavy.

“Follow me.”

Leaning casually by the door, Do-kyung trailed behind Raon as she passed, asking lightly,

“Did you sleep well?”

How could she have? Raon scowled irritably, staring straight ahead.

Then she asked,

“You’re not seriously planning to keep showing up, are you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I like you.”

Before she could finish processing his answer, his voice cut through her thoughts, halting her steps.

Standing directly in front of her, Do-kyung leaned down and smiled brightly.

“You already know, Raon. That I like you.”

Caught off guard by his straightforward confession, Raon let out an involuntary groan.

In that moment, Do-kyung closed the remaining distance between them. By the time Raon realized, she was already enveloped in his arms.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Startled, Raon struggled, but his arms around her waist refused to budge.

Burying his nose in her shoulder, Do-kyung exhaled lazily. Only now, inhaling her scent deeply, did he feel truly alive.

“Ah, I feel like I can breathe again.”

“What—”

“Raon.”

Her hand, poised to push him away, froze at the sound of her name, called out with desperate longing.

His warm breath tickled her eardrums, sending shivers down her spine. Her chest, pressed against his, raced wildly.

‘Damn.’

Unable to deny her body’s blatant response to him, Raon squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

No matter how much she tried to rationalize it, the truth was undeniable: she was responding to Do-kyung.

Her face crumpled as if on the verge of tears, biting her lip hard while swallowing thickly.

The hand meant to push him away fell limply to her side.

What was she doing?

Why?

Her clenched fists turned pale against her thighs.

She was acutely aware of Do-kyung.

There was no denying it, not rationally.