CR | Chapter 1.3

Everyone knew that the holy grail of free periods wasn’t Friday but Monday. After burning out over the weekend, you needed at least one day to recover. Their neatly crafted schedule, complete with a cherished Monday off, was truly satisfying. A stack of draft schedules with crossed-out options lay next to the laptop, and Donghwa enthusiastically circled the finalized version in red.

“This schedule is solid.”

“Barely any assignments, mostly exams. Just a couple of courses that care about participation.”

“Ugh, I just hope there aren’t any dumb Alpha jerks in the classes.”

Donghwa grimaced in disgust, his expression practically dripping with contempt. The school didn’t have an overwhelming number of dominant Alphas, but the ones who acted as if their secondary gender was a crown grated on his nerves.

Woori chuckled mischievously and jabbed Donghwa’s side with his finger.

“Don’t you secretly want to manifest? You’re just jealous, aren’t you?”

“No, I’d absolutely hate it.”

His answer was so firm that Woori blinked and said, “Oh. Okay, then.”

“That whole cycle thing they go through is weird, and I don’t want any special treatment either.”

Fair enough.

With Donghwa’s striking looks, he already drew attention wherever he went. Growing up as the son of a famously handsome actor, he had been the center of attention his entire life. He avoided unnecessary gossip whenever possible, and whenever his name popped up in conversation, he couldn’t help but groan in frustration.

And every time a new school year began, the admiring gazes of freshmen followed him relentlessly. He hated it so much he’d practically hide his face in a hood. If he manifested, he could already picture the endless questions—“So you manifested?”—and the unwanted attention sticking to him like glue.

And as for me, I’d have to deal with the emotional fallout by his side.

Woori’s mood soured, his expression hardening in resolve. Pointing a straight finger at Donghwa’s face, he declared, “You absolutely cannot manifest. Seriously.”

If Donghwa manifested as an Alpha, he’d probably spend all his time keeping other Omegas at bay. If he became an Omega, he’d complain endlessly about being one.

Just imagining it made Woori shudder. He heaved a deep sigh of relief and placed a hand on his chest to calm down, only to meet Donghwa’s gaze, which seemed oddly unsettled. Woori tilted his head in confusion.

“What?”

“You manifested, but you’re telling me not to? What’s with that?”

What? He didn’t want to manifest just a moment ago, and now he’s suddenly offended?

This was absurd. Arguing over every little detail was pointless, so Woori simply shrugged it off with a lighthearted grin. As he glanced over at Donghwa’s handsome face, raising an eyebrow, his expression practically screamed, Do whatever you want.

“We moved in. That calls for jjajangmyeon.”

Woori declared with a smug grin, only for Donghwa to point at the fridge.

“Takeout is allowed twice a week.”

A neatly written list of house rules, scrawled by Donghwa, was taped firmly to the fridge door. As expected, Donghwa was predictable to a fault.

Woori let out a small laugh, amazed at how little he deviated from expectations.

⛧⛧⛧

Course registration was successfully completed. With the semester starting in just two weeks, the two seated together were having a rather serious discussion.

“So, you’re saying Sunday is the start of the week, or is it Monday?”

Kim Chanyoung, who had been close friends with them since high school, broached the topic. The look he gave them alternately was filled with exasperation. These guys, who fought almost daily, were now arguing over when a week officially begins.

Wi Woori argued, “Since most calendars distributed worldwide start on Sunday, it’s logical to consider Sunday the beginning of the week.” On the other hand, Kim Donghwa dismissed that as nonsense, insisting, “Why else would we talk about ‘Monday blues’? The week starts on Monday,” and that’s how their argument started.

“And why the hell are you discussing this so seriously, damn it?”

Kim Chanyoung shook his head in disbelief as if he was fed up with seeing it.

They could have easily compromised on any random day, but here they were, these guys with plenty of money, seriously discussing how often to order takeout.

“Ah, it’s Sunday. If we’re setting up a meeting for a Thursday, do we say it’s this Thursday or next Thursday?”

“Well, I say next Thursday.”

“Wow, all this time, have I been making plans with a different Kim Donghwa or what?”

“Don’t be absurd. It’s only when Monday comes that we can talk about this Thursday without confusion.”

Neither was willing to concede. Watching them, Kim Chanyoung lamented, as if he were dealing with kindergartners barely graduated. It seemed they might argue all night. He couldn’t just sit idly after taking the time to come over.

“What.”

“I’m holding a coin. Decide heads or tails, and the winner decides for all.”

It was a trivial matter, after all. It wouldn’t have bothered them on any regular day, so the outcome shouldn’t matter much. But of course, they even started arguing about heads and tails.

“Front.”

“Front.”

“Shit, you take tails.”

“No, I want heads.”

This was supposed to be a wise solution that avoided further argument. However, typical of them, they couldn’t even let a coin toss pass without a fight. Kim Chanyoung kept his mouth shut, as it seemed they’d argue no matter what.

“Damn it, they might as well punch each other. They get heated up in these arguments but end up sticking together again so quickly it’s embarrassing for me to even worry.”

“I’m so fed up.”

As he shook his head in utter resignation, cheers and groans suddenly erupted between them.

“The week resets on Monday, get it?”

“Ah! Damn it, this guy always chooses scissors!”

“Then throw a rock sometimes. You always choose paper.”

Apparently, they resorted to rock-paper-scissors.

Sighing briefly at the outcome, the two quickly reconciled and were close again in no time. Kim Chanyoung no longer wanted to be caught between them.

“Damn roaches, I’m out.”

He said his brief goodbye and left, even as the two paid him no mind.

“Kim Chanyoung, have some food before you go. We’re ordering since it’s Monday.”

“Okay.”

Then he came back and sat down again.

Typical, these too-nice friends.

“Where are you going? Let’s have a drink.”

Suddenly, Wi Woori looked incredulously at his two friends. It was ridiculous that Kim Chanyoung would just leave after coming all the way to Kim Donghwa’s house, and just as ludicrous was Kim Donghwa telling him to stay for a meal since he was here anyway.

That was, after all, Kim Donghwa’s way of celebrating Kim Chanyoung’s transfer into their jurisdiction, a sort of housewarming.

They usually found any reason to drink, and this time was no exception, though they nearly forgot and parted without any festivity.

“Oh right,” they realized simultaneously. Even Kim Chanyoung, who had actually brought the drinks, exclaimed in dumb astonishment. Looking at them with disdain, the two promptly sat back down.

Kim Chanyoung quickly took out the bottles of alcohol and placed them on the table, and Kim Donghwa followed by putting out the side dishes he had ordered. Then Wi Woori started to unwrap the plastic packaging and set up the spoons and small plates. Soon, a hearty table of drinks was ready.

The three of them, now gathered around the table, began chatting amid loud noise, clinking glasses and picking up side dishes as smiles blossomed on their faces.

“But why did Wi Woori’s house disappear?”

“Fuck, because of grades.”

Wi Woori cursed harshly and downed a shot of soju.

He slammed the glass down, and his favorite side dish suddenly appeared in front of him. Without even looking, he knew Kim Donghwa had handed it to him, and indeed, when he bothered to check, it was Kim Donghwa.

He boldly took it and swayed his head, nibbling on it. Though it was just a typical side dish, it somehow always tasted better when Kim Donghwa offered it.

Now in their third year and utterly listless, they had no expectations for the new semester. The three discussed the latest games Kim Chanyoung had started playing and the hot topics from recent TV shows online, and inevitably, as young men do, they began talking about relationships.

“Talking about love stories in front of these forever-alone guys makes me tongue-tied, man.”

“Uh, Kim Chanyoung, who just got dumped yesterday.”

“Damn it…”

Kim Donghwa’s firm voice made Kim Chanyoung grimace.

Wi Woori chuckled as Kim Chanyoung’s middle finger approached his face. Though he talked about relationships, he was notoriously bad at maintaining them, rarely lasting a month with any girlfriend.

Of course, as a lifelong single himself, he wasn’t one to talk.

“If you keep getting dumped, why even bother dating?”

“Am I? I got dumped yesterday?”

“Not yesterday, but just past midnight, so the day before yesterday.”

“That’s the same thing.”

Wi Woori’s casual comment was supported by Kim Donghwa, who chimed in, “Right.”

Wi Woori glanced slyly at Kim Donghwa.

It was curious why Kim Donghwa had no interest in relationships. Every time he was asked why he wasn’t dating, he would attach plausible yet strange excuses, and now his true feelings were becoming genuinely intriguing.

If he wasn’t dating, that was a relief for Wi Woori. They hung out every day, and if Kim Donghwa started dating, there would be less time to spend together, not to mention reduced communication due to not wanting to interrupt his time with a girlfriend.

That could lead to drifting apart, feeling lonely and resentful by himself, and eventually suffering in silence.

Just the thought made him shudder. Anything that made his head hurt or his stomach ache was a definite no-go.

“Hey,” Wi Woori started. Suddenly, a tipsy Kim Donghwa gave him a languid look. Wi Woori scooted back slightly and nudged him with his foot, to which Kim Donghwa responded by swinging his leg away, as if saying stop.

“What’s your type, anyway? You don’t date much.”

“I mean, why waste a face like that? Give it to me, I’ll date anyone.”

“Fuck, don’t use my face to mop the floor.”

Wow, what a mouth you’ve got.

Wi Woori clapped so hard that the sound echoed, without even realizing it. Then, Kim Donghwa’s gaze, as if to say, “What the hell is this now?” chased after him.

What do you want me to do about it? Wi Woori, who was equally drunk, sharply raised his eyes in response.

“So, why aren’t you answering my question? What’s your ideal type?”

“As long as it’s not someone like you guys.”

“Oh, so men are okay too?”

“You’re so damn open-minded.”

Even though it wasn’t the first time hearing it, his heart made a fuss for no reason. While Kim Donghwa was saying anyone but him, contrary to his words, only the phrase “men are also okay” from Kim Donghwa stuck in Wi Woori’s head.

“What’s the big deal? Wi Woori here came out early.”

I think there wouldn’t be anything strange if you two started dating right away.

Kim Chanyoung, adding those words, shook his head.

Back in high school, when he knew nothing at all. The day he realized he liked Kim Donghwa. Wi Woori didn’t have the courage to confess to him, yet his mouth was itching, and he ended up unintentionally coming out with ‘I’ve fallen for someone, and he’s a guy.’

Thinking about it now, he wondered where he got the courage from, but so what? It was the audacity one could muster at that age, and whether then or now, not being able to tell Kim Donghwa he liked him remained the same.

Heh heh, resting his chin on his hand and chuckling softly, Kim Donghwa stared at him intently. Wi Woori raised his eyebrow at the gaze filled with obvious displeasure. Even if he didn’t, Kim Donghwa, who was publicly acknowledged for his good looks, seemed even more handsome when drunk.