NB | Chapter 13

Woohyun tilted his head slightly, puzzled.

He didn’t recognize the face at all. It made sense since he had only recently started familiarizing himself with celebrities in media. He barely knew what dramas or movies were currently airing, and this face didn’t ring a bell.

So, he wasn’t a famous actor everyone would know. Plus, since they were taking acting classes together, he assumed he was a newbie like himself.

“Haven’t you watched ‘Paradise on the Hill’?”

“I watched a one-hour recap…”

It seemed to be one of the man’s works. It was a famous piece that swept the year-end awards last year, but all Woohyun had seen was a condensed one-hour version of the 16-episode drama. Most side episodes were edited out, focusing on the main storyline, so he only remembered the faces and names of the main and villain actors. This man wasn’t in it.

“I’m a semi-regular on TBS’s ‘Pro Fashion’ too.”

Pro Fashion. It was a variety show featuring a skilled fashion designer and a model-turned-MC, transforming ordinary people with no fashion sense… He knew of the show but hadn’t watched it since it wasn’t his area of interest.

The man chuckled as if he could already guess Woohyun’s response from his evasive glance.

“Ha… realizing my popularity like this. I’ll take it as a sign to work harder. My name is Park Sejin.”

It seemed he unintentionally motivated someone. Fortunately, Park Sejin took it positively, but Woohyun felt a bit guilty.

“Sorry. I thought you were a rookie actor since you were sitting here.”

“I am a rookie. I signed up for extra classes because I wanted to learn more. I was curious since a new instructor was coming…”

Park Sejin trailed off with a smile. Woohyun silently admired him. Even actors with official debuts worked tirelessly.

He made a mental note to look up Park Sejin’s name online later.

***

By the time all the classes ended and Woohyun left the building, the sky had turned dark.

Dragging his tired legs, Woohyun headed to the subway station. He was quite exhausted from attending a proper class after a long time. The omega sitting next to him, who didn’t bother to hide his pheromones, was also quite a challenge.

According to Park Sejin, managers usually handle actors’ commutes, but Woohyun’s manager position was still vacant. Team Leader Kim Younghoon was managing his schedule temporarily, but he had other actors to handle, so Woohyun couldn’t ask him to be a driver too.

Currently, his schedule only involved training, so commuting alone wasn’t too difficult, but it was tiring in a different way than manual labor. Today alone, Woohyun thought about going home at least a dozen times.

He thought he had some talent since he caught the eyes of Director Lee and Executive Kang, but the perspectives of producers and educators were different, and he got quite a scolding on the first day. If they had yelled at him, he might have brushed it off, but being told calmly that there was a lot to learn made his face flush.

Still, it was better than being called a dumb can. Just before the class ended, he was praised for his confidence in making eye contact, even if he was embarrassed.

Woohyun touched the corner of his eye. You never know how things will turn out. Who would have thought that someone who was always told they looked unfriendly would be praised for their expressive eyes when acting?

Walking on the side of the road, Woohyun sensed a car approaching slowly from the opposite direction. It was an expensive foreign car, clearly not something he’d be associated with, so he was about to walk past when the honk stopped him.

What’s this? As Woohyun approached the car, the driver’s window rolled down.

“Heading home now?”

The person revealed beyond the window was unexpected. As Woohyun looked puzzled, Park Sejin chuckled and asked.

“Want a ride?”

At the same time, there was a click as the door unlocked. It was a clear invitation to get in, but Woohyun still looked bewildered. Then he noticed the luxurious interior of the car.

Why refuse such kindness? He was more tired than usual from focusing on the class, and the comfortable seats promised a smooth ride, plus he could save on transportation costs. Moreover, since Park Sejin was the first actor he met at Newon, it wouldn’t hurt to get closer and ask questions if needed.

That’s when he noticed the faint omega pheromones mixed with the cotton scent in the car. It was a similar cotton scent, but there was a clear difference between artificial fragrance and a person’s pheromones. The alpha instinctively squinted one eye, and his hand, which had been reaching for the door handle, stopped.

Come to think of it, Park Sejin was sitting alone in the driver’s seat without a manager. The classroom was much larger than the car, and there was a beta instructor present, but now it was different.

“No, I’m fine.”

Woohyun declined casually. Park Sejin’s eyes showed a hint of curiosity, but he soon nodded plainly.

“Hmm. Okay, got it.”

The expensive foreign car drove past Woohyun as smoothly as it had stopped.

Such a small person driving such a big car.

Woohyun glanced at the receding car and started walking towards the subway station again.

***

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

At the next class, as soon as Woohyun sat down, Park Sejin asked.

“Huh? No.”

“Liar. Anyone can see you’re uncomfortable.”

He stared at the distance between them.

The gap was indeed wider than last time. But it couldn’t be helped. Last time, he had sat too close without realizing it and was exposed to omega pheromones for hours, which affected his concentration. Trying to focus in that state even gave him a headache. Fortunately, he was by the window and kept it open for ventilation, but this time, Park Sejin was sitting by the window.

For those with traits, pheromones are a means of self-expression, but since they also affect others, openly releasing them isn’t polite. Especially alphas often used pheromones as a form of power play, and in his experience, the more inconsiderate they were, the more they tried to suppress others with pheromones.

Woohyun was rather indifferent to pheromones. He could sense them, but his nerves didn’t react sensitively. So, he hadn’t often been overwhelmed by other alphas. The exceptions were Kim Sungmoon, whose pheromones were nauseating to the point of trauma, and Kang Jiwon, whose density was extraordinary.

The problem was the omega. Having mostly interacted with betas or alphas, Park Sejin’s pheromones were unfamiliar to Woohyun. If it were a cycle pheromone that directly stimulated the senses, he could just leave, but he wasn’t sure how to handle the ordinary, everyday scent.

Not all traited individuals he met were confrontational. Some mistook him for a beta and didn’t even realize they were releasing pheromones. Assuming Park Sejin might be one of those cases, Woohyun finally spoke honestly.

“I can smell your pheromones.”

Park Sejin’s eyes widened, then softened apologetically.

“Sorry. I manifested late, so I’m not good at controlling my pheromones.”

Typically, traited individuals manifest before 18, but those closer to betas can manifest later. Statistics show that the later the manifestation, the longer it takes to get used to pheromones. Like Woohyun, who manifested as an alpha after turning 20 and was insensitive to pheromones, Park Sejin seemed inexperienced in controlling them for similar reasons.

“Is it because I’m also an omega?”

“No, it’s the opposite.”

“Oh… an alpha. So, Woohyun is an alpha.”

Since he hadn’t released any alpha pheromones, it seemed Park Sejin hadn’t even guessed until now. Woohyun wondered if he was disappointed because he didn’t fit the typical alpha image, but Park Sejin’s expression was unexpectedly intrigued. Maybe it was the fluorescent lights, but his eyes, which had seemed innocent, now glistened as if interested.

“I didn’t expect that at all. I thought you were a beta.”

Park Sejin, hiding his piqued interest, spoke as if to himself. Woohyun thought he might have imagined the fleeting expression.

“I’ll go out during the break and buy some deodorant. Then you won’t be uncomfortable with me anymore, right?”

Actually, just giving up the window seat would have been fine, but since he offered to use deodorant, Woohyun didn’t want to stop him. He nodded lightly.

“Yes, sunbae.”

“Sunbae…?”

Park Sejin’s expression changed as if holding back laughter. The formal title seemed quite amusing to him. He couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

“Woohyun, you still find me uncomfortable? We only have a year’s difference in experience, so let’s just speak casually.”

“Um. Okay, hyung.”

Woohyun replied awkwardly, and Park Sejin chuckled again. It was a bit of a blow to his pride, but he understood why. Despite looking barely older than twenty, Park Sejin was surprisingly 26. He hadn’t expected Woohyun to call him hyung.

Woohyun secretly pouted.

It’s one thing to mistake me for a beta, but do I really look that old?