CR | Chapter 1.1

Unrequited love, someone once said, is the most brilliant and magnificent feeling in the world. Wi Woori, however, wanted to shove a big, fat “Yeah, right!” in the face of whoever came up with that nonsense.

“Ah, look at Kim Donghwa’s trashy personality,” he muttered.

Wi Woori frowned as he checked his messages first thing in the morning.

Donghwa
If you’re going to ask me to run errands for suppressants.
At least answer your phone.
Did you sell your ears to a junkyard or something?
What am I supposed to do if you don’t pick up?

Donghwa
Image

The way he cunningly sent an image as the last message to ensure Woori couldn’t check the previous ones without viewing it—absolutely infuriating. The picture, taken haphazardly, showed the mailbox with what looked like the suppressants carelessly shoved inside. So, he had come all the way to Woori’s doorstep only to leave them there. Truly, Kim Donghwa was a piece of work.

With a groan, Wi Woori stretched his aching body, weighed down by the onset of his heat. Slowly, he got up.

It had been a few years since this whole “trait thing” blew through their otherwise noisy but peaceful world. The sudden emergence of Alphas and Omegas, once foreign concepts, had initially taken society by storm, especially among high-ranking elites. What was a novelty back then was now just a fact of life.

Back then, both Wi Woori and Kim Donghwa had thought that this grand “trait revelation” had nothing to do with them. But as the range of manifestation widened, it eventually caught up with Woori, pulling him into its grasp. The trait even began to have a profound impact on their relationship.

It had been two years since Woori manifested as an Omega.

Had it happened before he enlisted, maybe he wouldn’t have had to join the military at all. But no, fate had to be cruel. Right after finishing his first semester of university, he enlisted together with Kim Donghwa. And as if timed to be the universe’s cruel joke, he manifested as an Omega the moment they were discharged.

How unfair it was. Never in his life had he cursed his own decisiveness, but back then, oh, how he hated it. If only he had delayed enlistment for two more years. If only he had endured a little longer. Then the military would have been someone else’s problem, not his.

That resentment didn’t last long. Even Kim Donghwa, who had initially made a big fuss when he found out his childhood friend was an Omega, grew indifferent. To be fair, Woori had been making Donghwa fetch suppressants for him every couple of months like clockwork. If he wasn’t used to it by now, that would have been strange.

“Still, what a jerk. Huh?” Woori muttered.

When had his dear Donghwa become this level of trashy? If he was going to deliver the meds anyway, couldn’t he at least bring them to the door like a decent human being? Clicking his tongue in irritation, Woori snapped a photo of the pills in his hand and sent a reply to Kim Donghwa.

—

Image
Snack.

Donghwa
So many unnecessary “ㅗ” in there, huh.
ㅗㅗㅗㅗㅗ

Kim Donghwa, the sharp bastard, caught on instantly. Woori had intentionally added a “ㅗ” to each syllable, and Donghwa nailed it right away, as if it were second nature. Wi Woori clicked his tongue in annoyance, shaking his head. Just then, a deep, familiar voice called out from behind him.

“I was gonna bring it up, but you couldn’t even wait that long.”

Woori spun around. There stood Kim Donghwa, holding a plastic bag so full it seemed heavy just to look at. It seemed he had gone somewhere after dropping off the suppressant.

“Then why’d you send the picture?”

“So no one steals it.”

“In that short time?”

Woori gave Donghwa a light thump on his broad chest. True to form, the guy flared his eyes open, glaring as if even the smallest physical contact was a mortal sin. And yet, Woori couldn’t care less.

Without a word, he stepped into the elevator, Donghwa naturally following suit, and the two headed back to his apartment. Once inside, Woori wasted no time stripping off his clothes.

When his heat started, his body alternated between burning hot and freezing cold, but this time, it was all heat. He couldn’t bear to keep the clothes on any longer. Donghwa averted his eyes with a sharp, almost pained, “Ugh.”

No matter how many times Donghwa had seen his body, a body as pretty as Woori’s, his reactions always stayed the same.

“Call Kim Chanyoung and ask if he’s going to class today.”

“Why me? You do it.”

“Just do it, and I’ll cook that thing for you.”

“Do you even know what that thing is?”

“Soft tofu stew, obviously.”

Woori downed the suppressant in one gulp and snatched the bag from Donghwa’s hand. Inside was a container of stew with bright red broth visible through the lid.

Donghwa’s thoughtfulness wasn’t lost on Woori. He knew all too well that Woori craved soft tofu stew whenever he was under the weather. Smiling, Woori poked Donghwa’s arm, earning an annoyed scowl.

“You’re still going to class? Don’t you have an Alpha in your department?”

“So what? Are you gonna take care of it, Kim Donghwa?”

“That’s not the point. Don’t Alphas smell your pheromones or something?”

“And? I smell theirs too.”

It had been two years since Woori’s Omega manifestation. By now, it was nothing new. But Donghwa scratched the back of his head, clearly displeased, before reluctantly dialing Kim Chanyoung’s number.

Unlike Woori, who had manifested, Donghwa remained unmanifested. This wasn’t unusual since most people didn’t manifest. He wasn’t bothered by it, but Donghwa’s behavior suggested otherwise.

“Chanyoung?” Woori called when the line went silent. Finally, a lethargic voice replied:

“What.”

“When’s your class for the seasonal semester?”

“Same as yours, obviously. Why are you asking?”

Woori relayed the message. “He says it’s the same as ours.”

“Why? Are you two together again?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Are you jealous?”

Chanyoung’s reply came laced with expletives. Yesterday, the two of them had been fighting like cats and dogs, and here they were today, acting as if nothing had happened.

“Stop worrying about us,” Donghwa shrugged.

Chanyoung sighed, defeated. “Fine. Screw you both. I’m done worrying.”

After eating, Donghwa headed to the sink, naturally taking charge of the dishes. His hands moved deftly, finishing the task in minutes. Then he turned to Woori, hand outstretched.

“What?”

“Give me your medical certificate. I’ll handle it.”

“Oh, so I don’t have to go to class?”

“I’ll record it for you.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“Everyone else skips school when it’s heat or rut season. Why do you insist on going? It’s just a seasonal semester. Stay home. I’ll get the materials for you.”

Donghwa wiggled his fingers expectantly, but Woori hesitated, reluctant to hand over the document.

Seeing Woori’s resistance, Donghwa sighed, adjusting his cap and slinging his heavy bag over his shoulder. He had already made up his mind.

“Hurry. I’ll be late.”

“You’re too nice sometimes, Donghwa. You’re gonna give me ideas.”

“What ideas?”

“That you might like me.”

Donghwa clicked his tongue. “I should’ve known since your ‘think big’ phase. You’re too creative.”

He flipped Woori the bird with perfect precision.

Eventually, Woori handed over the certificate and saw Donghwa off at the door. Even as Donghwa tied his shoes and adjusted his bag, he nagged incessantly about Woori taking his meds.

“Got it, got it! Were you the one who gave birth to me? Just go already!”

“Don’t even think about coming to school.”

“Mind your own business!”

As Woori retorted nonchalantly, Donghwa’s face hardened. Opening the door, Donghwa took a step out but turned back one last time. His lips moved as if he wanted to say more, but all that came out was a single sentence before he slammed the door shut.

“I don’t want anyone else smelling you.”

Of course, how could Woori not suspect him after something like that? Wide-eyed, he bit his lower lip, heart thumping with shy affection.

No matter what Donghwa felt, the truth was that Woori liked him.

Donghwa
If it gets worse, let me know.
I could just stay with you for a week.
I can’t smell your scent anyway.

And this is why Wi Woori’s heart had no choice but to fall for him.

Annoyingㅗ

Woori tried to suppress the grin tugging at the corners of his lips and instead acted sulky. Almost immediately, another message pinged through.

Donghwa
Turning goodwill into Doolyㅗ.

As expected, Kim Donghwa never lost an argument, not even in a single word.

And yet, liking someone like Kim Donghwa made Woori realize he was just as hopeless as ever.

⛧⛧⛧

“Ugh…” Wi Woori let out a frustrated groan.

Thanks to Kim Donghwa’s diligent care, Woori had managed to get through his heat safely over the past few days. But now, just as he was enjoying his peaceful days, an unexpected letter had landed in his lap, throwing everything into chaos.

A letter? Could you even call it that?

Leaning against the kitchen island, Woori tilted his body at an odd angle. He had this habit of twisting into strange positions whenever he was trying to brainstorm solutions. Yet today, no matter how much he twisted, no brilliant idea seemed to come to mind.

“I think I’m screwed…”

Sitting right in front of him was a letter from his mother.

Back when Woori was about to enter college, his parents had suddenly decided to leave their city life behind and move to the countryside. They had uprooted themselves to a quiet rural village on a whim, leaving Woori worried sick that he might have to abandon his acceptance to a prestigious university in Seoul to follow them.

Fortunately, his parents, being both reasonable and proud of their son’s accomplishments, had instead purchased him a high-end studio apartment in the city. Thanks to their generosity, Woori had been living comfortably while attending school—until now.

Eviction Notice
Reason: I’ve never raised a shameless son.

His mother’s sharp handwriting pierced Woori’s eyes.

Did she really have to send this by mail? Wouldn’t a phone call or even a text message have sufficed?

When his parents had set him up in the apartment, they gave him only one condition: “Don’t let your grades drop below a C.” Woori had done his best to adhere to that rule. Even the notoriously annoying Kim Donghwa had pitied him enough to bring him study materials and record lectures.

But, Woori admitted, he had gotten a little lax recently. Now in his third year, with his parents’ watchful eyes not as strict, he’d started slacking off bit by bit.

Clearly, his mother had caught wind of his recent grades, and now this letter had arrived with unnerving precision. Clicking his tongue, Woori decided to call his mother and face the music. He knew better than anyone that resisting her was futile. His only hope was to grovel and use his position as the baby of the family to his advantage.

“Oh my, who is this? Isn’t this the squatter?”

“Mom! How could you just send a letter like this, so heartless?”

“Son, our relationship is as heartless as that D on your report card. Do you think we’re paying that expensive tuition for you to scrape by like this? And what about the apartment? Do you know how much rent we could get every month if we put it on the market?”

“Are you planning to sell your own son for money?”

“Who said I’d sell you? You’ve got Donghwa next door, don’t you?”

Just then, Kim Donghwa barged into Woori’s apartment, casually kicking off his shoes as if it were his own place. He raised a brow and lazily muttered, “What?”

Realizing Woori was on the phone with his mother, Donghwa immediately went quiet. Having spent their childhoods glued together, he knew all too well that when one of them got scolded, the other often ended up caught in the crossfire.