OAO | Chapter 6

“What’s with the wine?”

He asked, looking at the wine on the table.

“I just suddenly felt like drinking. Let’s have some together.”

Smiling brightly, Jaeyoon invited him. Kangyoon squinted slightly, looking back and forth between the wine and Jaeyoon’s face, then told him to wait a moment. He took off his jacket and hung it on a chair. Then he washed his hands at the sink and started taking things out of the fridge, seemingly to prepare some snacks to go with the wine.

“Before dinner, right?”

Instead of scolding him for wanting to drink wine without eating, he was preparing something substantial to eat along with it. He’s so considerate. Most people don’t know this side of Kangyoon and think he’s just aloof.

He sautéed garlic in olive oil to bring out the aroma, then added shrimp, Vienna sausages, and vegetables in sequence to the oil sauce. After seasoning with salt, he ground some herbs and black pepper over it, quickly completing a dish of Gambas al Ajillo.

“Let’s eat together.”

It seemed a bit much for a wine snack, but since it was before dinner, the sight of the delicious dish made Jaeyoon hungry. Jaeyoon picked up a shrimp and put it in his mouth, smiling bashfully. Seeing this, a smile also appeared on Kangyoon’s lips.

“You made it with shrimp on purpose, didn’t you? Because I like it.”

Jaeyoon asked, squinting his eyes and smiling. Kangyoon didn’t respond verbally but poured wine into both Jaeyoon’s and his own glasses.

“Sometimes, this isn’t so bad. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, though.”

Jaeyoon felt relieved that Kangyoon was willing to go along with the mood. From now on, it was up to him.

They chatted about everyday things, gradually emptying their wine glasses. By the time the wine bottle was nearly empty, Jaeyoon’s cheeks were flushed.

“There’s another bottle of wine. I’ll get it.”

Kangyoon’s complexion hadn’t changed at all. He was the type who didn’t show signs of drinking easily. Jaeyoon, who thought Kangyoon still looked too sober, stood up to get the wine but felt dizzy and swayed. He reached out to steady himself on the table, but Kangyoon was quicker, wrapping an arm around Jaeyoon’s chest to support him.

“That’s enough.”

He meant no more drinking.

“But…”

Jaeyoon looked up at Kangyoon in disappointment. Thanks to Kangyoon catching him, his face was right in front of him.

“Hmm…”

Staring intently and making a nasal sound, one of Kangyoon’s eyebrows raised slightly.

“Hyung, you’re really handsome up close.”

Jaeyoon reached out and cupped Kangyoon’s cheek. Lightly touching his face or brushing his hair back. It was definitely something mentioned in moments when he wanted to kiss.

When Jaeyoon’s palm touched his cheek, Kangyoon flinched and stiffened. Ignoring his reaction, Jaeyoon smiled brightly.

“Such a waste. You’re so good-looking, but you’re too busy working to even care about others…”

The scent of aged grapes and alcohol was thick in Jaeyoon’s breath. Realizing he was tipsy, Kangyoon let out a short sigh. Jaeyoon wasn’t much of a drinker to begin with, and even when he did, it was usually just a glass or two of beer.

“You should just head back and rest…”

“Kangyoon Hyung.”

Jaeyoon’s low, subdued voice carried an inexplicable sensuality. Taken aback by the unfamiliar tone, Kangyoon shut his mouth and met Jaeyoon’s gaze. When their eyes locked, Jaeyoon’s eyelids curved gently into crescent moons.

Jaeyoon’s hand moved slightly upward, brushing aside Kangyoon’s hair that had fallen over his forehead. His fingertips barely grazed Kangyoon’s skin, pulling away and then returning in a repeated motion. Each spot Jaeyoon touched seemed to tingle faintly, though Kangyoon’s expression remained unchanged. He simply observed Jaeyoon silently, letting him do as he pleased.

“Hyung…”

Jaeyoon’s fingers slid down Kangyoon’s cheek, stopping just in front of his lips. They hovered there, close enough to touch yet maintaining a precarious distance.

“Can I… kiss you?”

The words were barely audible, spoken so softly they were almost drowned out. Yet they rang too clearly in Kangyoon’s ears. Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Kangyoon’s eyes widened. Before he could respond, Jaeyoon’s face drew closer. That same sweet scent from before tickled Kangyoon’s nose, making him momentarily dizzy, unable even to think about pushing Jaeyoon away.

Their lips barely brushed when a sudden “clack” sound accompanied a sharp pain. It was the sound of their teeth colliding.

“Ugh!”

Jaeyoon flinched, covering his mouth with one hand as he stepped back. Kangyoon, staring blankly at Jaeyoon in this absurd moment, soon burst into laughter. The Jaeyoon who had exuded such unfamiliar sensuality just moments ago finally felt like the same person Kangyoon knew.

So he really hadn’t kissed anyone before. Kangyoon now had proof of Jaeyoon’s earlier claim.

“You’re so clumsy.”

At Kangyoon’s amused remark, Jaeyoon’s face flushed bright red. His cheeks and neck had already been tinted from the wine, but now they burned even hotter, as if they might burst at the slightest touch.

“Forget it. I’m going to bed. Hyung, you should wash up and sleep too.”

Clearly embarrassed, Jaeyoon rattled off his words without so much as glancing back at Kangyoon, then abruptly turned as if to leave the kitchen.

“Yoon Jaeyoon.”

On reflex, Kangyoon reached out and grabbed Jaeyoon’s arm. Just calling his name caused Jaeyoon to flinch, and somehow, tonight, Kangyoon found that unbearably endearing. His eyes lingered on Jaeyoon’s skin, flushed red from his nape to his earlobes.

“Should I show you how it’s done properly?”

“…What?”

Jaeyoon reacted a beat too late to Kangyoon’s usual, calm tone. When he turned to face Kangyoon, his dark brown eyes wavered, visibly unsettled.

“W-What do you mean…?”

Kangyoon lowered his gaze instead of answering. Noticing Kangyoon’s eyes fixed on his lips, Jaeyoon gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly.

Was it because of the wine? Jaeyoon’s lips, already well-defined and slightly reddish for a man, seemed even redder than usual today. It was probably just the alcohol.

“Kiss.”

Kangyoon gave a delayed answer while rubbing Jaeyoon’s lower lip with his thumb. Jaeyoon’s lips quivered slightly at the touch of Kangyoon’s fingers.

Though Jaeyoon tried to appear composed, Kangyoon could see through him. Yoon Jaeyoon was so tense he couldn’t meet Kangyoon’s gaze directly, his eyes darting around nervously.

The reason Jaeyoon was initiating a kiss was probably because of the movie. Kangyoon had observed over the past few days just how much Jaeyoon cared about this project.

As Kangyoon tilted his head and leaned in as if to kiss him, Jaeyoon’s already large eyes widened even further. Kangyoon suppressed a low sigh and stopped just short of letting their lips meet.

“Is this okay with you?”

The quiet question hung in the air, met with silence. It was unclear whether Jaeyoon was too overwhelmed to respond or if he simply didn’t understand the question.

“I mean, even if it’s for the movie, are you really fine with me?”

When Kangyoon rephrased his question, Jaeyoon, who had been staring blankly up at him, gave a barely noticeable nod. Then, as if embarrassed, his earlobes flushed bright red.

It was a strange feeling. Even if he chalked it up to the influence of alcohol, he couldn’t deny it. Yoon Jaeyoon, whom he’d known and seen for a decade, somehow looked different tonight. A kiss with Jaeyoon? He had never even imagined it before… yet now, he felt he could. No, he felt a vivid desire to do it.

Kangyoon slid his hand to the back of Jaeyoon’s head, gently gripping and pulling him closer. As the distance between them shrank, Jaeyoon finally couldn’t take it anymore and shut his eyes tightly. That reaction made Kangyoon stifle a laugh—this guy really was inexperienced.

Cute.

The thought came unbidden as their lips met. Softer than he had expected, Jaeyoon’s lips felt warm, likely from the flush of alcohol.

Ah…

That sweet scent teased his nose again, stirring a peculiar heat inside him. As something snapped within him, Kangyoon tilted his head, deepening the kiss. He parted Jaeyoon’s lips slightly, slipping his tongue past them.

Jaeyoon flinched as Kangyoon’s warmth invaded his mouth, his tongue instinctively retreating. Kangyoon caught it, intertwining their tongues. Reflexively, Jaeyoon’s hands gripped Kangyoon’s shirt tightly. A faint whimper slipped out between their lips, brushing against Kangyoon’s hidden instincts as an alpha. He suckled Jaeyoon’s tongue a little more firmly, causing him to stiffen.

“S-stop!”

Jaeyoon pushed Kangyoon’s chest hard with both hands. Covering his now glistening lips with the back of his hand, he panted shallowly. It was only then that Kangyoon came to his senses. Even if Jaeyoon had been the one to provoke him, what had he just done?

Jaeyoon had only asked him to be a practice partner for dating. He hadn’t intended to take it this far… but now Kangyoon found himself wondering just how far that “practice” was supposed to go.

“Go to bed. It’s late.”

As if nothing had happened, Kangyoon ruffled Jaeyoon’s hair and turned away. He deliberately avoided looking back, fearing he might act even more out of character if he stayed. Because of that, he didn’t see Jaeyoon crouch down in place, covering his face with one hand.

“Ugh…”

Only after Kangyoon had entered his room did Jaeyoon groan. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of his ribcage.

He really… really kissed Lee Kangyoon. His lips still tingled, as did the inside of his mouth where Kangyoon’s tongue had roamed. The heated sensation that had almost melted him lingered, radiating through his body. Even his heart ached. No matter how much he tried to calm himself, telling himself it was no big deal, it didn’t work. Looking at his trembling hands, he realized just how tense he’d been.

It was just a kiss.

But it wasn’t just a kiss. It was his first kiss. And with Kangyoon, no less. Calming down was impossible.

“More than I expected…”

A dry laugh escaped him at the thought.

Kangyoon was unexpectedly good at kissing. Where had he even learned something like that?

Jaeyoon couldn’t tell if he felt frustrated or flustered.

And Kangyoon had been so nonchalant. While Jaeyoon’s heart felt like it might explode, Kangyoon acted like it was nothing. Well, of course. That’s why Kangyoon had been able to guide his awkward first kiss into something so intimate.

It was just practice. Jaeyoon had asked Kangyoon to help him practice, and Kangyoon had simply obliged.

He cooled his head and rationally understood why Kangyoon had kissed him, but his heart was still pounding.

“Looks like I won’t be sleeping tonight.”

There was only one bedroom in Kangyoon’s house. Since he used a king-size bed by himself, whenever Jaeyoon stayed over, they would naturally share the bed. Kangyoon didn’t view him as a sexual object, so sharing the bed had always been uneventful. Jaeyoon liked Kangyoon but had never been conscious of sharing the bed with him.

But tonight seemed impossible. If he lay next to him in his current state, Kangyoon would surely hear his heart pounding.

🎥🎤

After showering in the bathroom attached to the bedroom, Kangyoon sighed lightly at the sight of the empty bed. He wasn’t sure if he felt relieved or disappointed that Jaeyoon hadn’t come in yet. As the heat from the shower subsided, thoughts started flooding in.

Could they continue practicing dating like this? Despite being together for ten years and believing that nothing could easily break their bond, he worried that human relationships could completely sever over trivial matters.

He had thought that pretending to be lovers and going on dates would be enough…

The longing in Jaeyoon’s clear eyes as he looked at him, hoping for a kiss, stirred desires in Kangyoon. More than Jaeyoon’s whimsical actions, his own feelings bewildered him. But he couldn’t tell Jaeyoon to find someone else to practice with. Once Jaeyoon fixated on something, he wouldn’t consider anything else. He might actually go to Alpha Club and ask anyone to be his practice partner.

On the other hand, he wondered why it should matter to him if Jaeyoon did that. Jaeyoon was no longer the precarious teenager he had first met. He was now in his late twenties and capable of managing his personal life responsibly.

Was he overprotective?

‘I’m sorry. Did I worry you? I’ll turn off the lights and come in soon.’

It was shortly after the group was formed and they started living together. The kitchen light was on, and Jaeyoon was sitting at the table, fiddling with his phone, seemingly waiting for someone to contact him.

Kangyoon hadn’t intended to say much. He was about to pass by, thinking nothing of it, but Jaeyoon apologized for keeping the kitchen light on. The other members were all asleep, but he hadn’t been noisy or caused any trouble. Yet, he apologized for being a bother.

‘Why are you apologizing?’

Kangyoon asked, puzzled. Keeping a light on in the living room or kitchen wasn’t a big deal. But Jaeyoon seemed flustered by the question. The dorm was a shared space for all members. Whatever he did there was his freedom, at least from Kangyoon’s perspective. But Jaeyoon didn’t seem to think so.

Thinking back, Jaeyoon had always been overly mindful of the other members. He always had a smile on his face, but he would take a step back at critical moments, something Kangyoon had noticed after living with him for about a month.

‘It’s just that…’

Jaeyoon himself seemed unsure of how to answer. His eyelids fluttered quickly before he ultimately bowed his head, unable to find a response.

‘You don’t have to be so mindful. Just relax.’

Kangyoon added, and Jaeyoon flinched. So he had been mindful of others. It wasn’t just because Hanjun was so prickly. Even when Hanjun wasn’t around, Jaeyoon was overly considerate of the other members.

It wasn’t until later that Kangyoon understood why. Jaeyoon needed a place to belong. He feared having nowhere to go if he was kicked out of the dorm. Knowing that reason made it impossible to leave him be.

Even so, there was no need for overprotection anymore. Ray and Junie were right when they told Kangyoon to graduate from his role as Jaeyoon’s guardian. Jaeyoon now had his own home and job. He was a fully capable adult who could live independently.

First impressions are hard to change.

Even as he tried to convince himself, Kangyoon couldn’t help but laugh wryly. No matter how he thought about it, kissing him out of a sense of responsibility made no sense.

Though he had initiated it, Jaeyoon was likely just as embarrassed and coming down from the high as he was. Kangyoon decided to give him time to calm down, pulled out some materials the company had sent, and slowly went through them. It was a request for the OST of the movie Jaeyoon was filming. This time, there were no conditions that Kangyoon had to compose the OST for Jaeyoon to get the role. Instead, Jaeyoon’s casting had sparked interest in having Kangyoon create the music.

Time flew by as he read through the film’s content and the mood required for each scene’s music. His neck started to stiffen, so he rolled his head to ease the muscles and saw that it was nearly midnight. Over an hour had passed since Kangyoon had come into the room.

Why hasn’t he come in yet?

Kangyoon frowned, put down the documents, and headed to the living room.

“Yoon Jaeyoon.”

The living room was dark. Had he gone out without a word? If he were sober, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but knowing Jaeyoon had had quite a bit of wine worried Kangyoon.

Click. When he turned on the living room light, he saw Jaeyoon lying long on the sofa, asleep. He let out a small sigh. He was relieved that Jaeyoon hadn’t gone out drunk, but wondered why he didn’t just go to bed if he was going to sleep.

You must have felt quite awkward too, not even coming to bed. Why did you…

He felt like scolding Jaeyoon for being so seductive, but then sighed, realizing he was the one who had fallen for it.

He considered waking Jaeyoon to tell him to go to bed but decided against it. Since he was already asleep, it was better to let him be. Instead, he went to the bedroom and brought out a blanket. The weather had warmed up, so sleeping in the living room wouldn’t cause a cold.

As he covered Jaeyoon up to his chest, his gaze lingered on Jaeyoon’s face, which remained still in sleep.

Come to think of it, there it was again. The sweet scent Jaeyoon had a while ago was present again today. Did he change his perfume? Kangyoon lowered his head closer to Jaeyoon’s neck and took a deep breath, but the sweet scent from earlier was gone.

If it were perfume, the scent wouldn’t disappear so quickly.

Kangyoon’s face grew expressionless as he stared at Jaeyoon. The thought of “what if” crossed his mind, but he shook his head, concluding it was impossible. They had been together too long to doubt. Still, he thought he should confirm, so he found Jaeyoon’s manager’s number on his phone but sighed deeply. It was too late to call. He’d have to do it tomorrow.

He dipped bread in egg wash and placed it on the frying pan. The cheerful sizzling sound and the savory smell filled the house. As he poured fruit juice into a clear glass, Jaeyoon, looking disheveled from just waking up, entered the kitchen.

“Toast?”

Jaeyoon asked in a sleepy voice, resting his chin on Kangyoon’s shoulder from behind.

“Smells good.”

His voice was still heavy with sleep.

“Is your stomach okay? If not, I can make some egg soup.”

He asked, just in case, and Jaeyoon smiled and nodded.

“It’s just a bit of wine, no big deal.”

“Still, you seem to handle alcohol better than before.”

He replied nonchalantly and turned around, meeting Jaeyoon’s eyes. Jaeyoon’s eyes narrowed into a thin line reflexively.

“Good morning.”

Jaeyoon greeted him belatedly and kissed Kangyoon’s cheek with a loud smack. This was something they often did playfully during concerts, so Kangyoon looked at him without any reaction.

“Still drunk?”

Kangyoon asked, faintly frowning, and Jaeyoon burst into laughter.

“Isn’t that a bit of a cold reaction to a good morning kiss? Last night, you even…”

Kangyoon covered Jaeyoon’s mouth with one hand.

“Enough.”

At his low warning, Jaeyoon’s eyes curved into a crescent moon shape. He nodded, indicating he understood.

“Anything I can help with?”

Jaeyoon asked, looking around the table as Kangyoon removed his hand.

“No. Just wash up and come out.”

All that was left was to plate the nicely cooked toast from the frying pan. Jaeyoon hummed and obediently headed to the bathroom. Click. The bathroom door closed, and the sound of running water followed. Kangyoon sighed inwardly.

Maybe I was being too sensitive. Seeing Jaeyoon acting as usual made last night’s sleeplessness feel pointless.

‘Can I… kiss you?’

It was just a mix of anxiety about the movie and the effects of alcohol. Light kisses and hugs were things they often did as fan service. Last night’s kiss was no different. For Jaeyoon, it was an extension of work. So it was right for him to brush it off lightly.

Concluding this, Kangyoon chuckled.

Nothing had changed. Jaeyoon and he were the same as yesterday.

🎥🎤

Standing in front of the sink, Jaeyoon splashed cold water on his face repeatedly, then looked at his reflection in the mirror.

It wasn’t weird, right? It was natural, right?

He replayed the moment he faced Kangyoon, checking if he had acted awkwardly, and took a deep breath.

Upon waking up, Jaeyoon heard Kangyoon doing something in the kitchen and wondered how to face him. His heart was pounding loudly. They had just shared a kiss, and his heart was so restless it made him feel queasy.

He thought a kiss wouldn’t change much, but it felt like the world had completely changed. Just seeing Kangyoon’s face made him nervous and excited.

He knew he shouldn’t show it. If Kangyoon sensed his nervousness, it would make him uncomfortable. For Kangyoon, it was no big deal, so Jaeyoon had to act nonchalant to keep things from getting awkward. And that was the right approach.

Jaeyoon deliberately kissed Kangyoon’s cheek more playfully than usual. If Kangyoon showed even the slightest sign of displeasure, he planned to raise his hands in surrender and promise not to do such things again. But, as always, Kangyoon brushed it off as no big deal.

Jaeyoon felt relieved and disappointed at the same time.

“I really don’t know what I’m expecting.”

He muttered to himself, laughing self-deprecatingly. His face, twisted in the mirror, didn’t look good at all.

He wanted to get closer. He wanted to be someone important to Kangyoon. But he didn’t want to ruin their current relationship. He knew he was already important to Kangyoon as a ‘member,’ and the thought of losing that was terrifying.

‘Jaeyoon, you’re not a kid anymore. You can handle yourself, right?’

Those words, spoken long ago, seemed to echo in his ears. He wasn’t a kid anymore, but he had been seventeen then. Now, at twenty-eight, looking back, seventeen still felt like being a kid. Yet, Jaeyoon had been forced to stand on his own at that age.

Now, he truly wasn’t a kid anymore. He was at an age where if someone told him not to come around anymore and handle his own matters, he would have to accept it.

But it was still scary. The idea of being abandoned by someone.

No, it wasn’t the idea of being abandoned by ‘someone’ that was the problem. It was the idea of being pushed away by ‘Kangyoon.’ Because he liked him. Because he was important.

The perpetual smile vanished from Jaeyoon’s face as he stared at his reflection. His eyes, cold and focused, looked back at him.

Even if you like someone, even if they’re important, you can be abandoned by them. Even parents, who seem absolute to a child, can turn their backs.

Jaeyoon knew that better than anyone. At seventeen, he hadn’t been chosen by either of his parents.

So he had no choice but to be cautious. Absolute relationships didn’t exist. If he didn’t want to lose Kangyoon, he had to hold on desperately.

🎥🎤

The movie casting was complete. All the roles, even supporting ones, were filled, and the first script reading was scheduled. Jaeyoon arrived about 30 minutes early and greeted the director, film staff, and other actors. His friendly, smiling approach made everyone warm to him.

Older actors, in particular, took a liking to Jaeyoon, with one even saying they wished he could be their son. He got along well with his peers too. Despite his standout looks and idol background, his approachable and straightforward personality rarely rubbed anyone the wrong way.

“Aren’t you a bit too popular?”

Choi Sunghyun, sitting next to Jaeyoon, joked. He added that the more Jaeyoon was adored, the more he, playing a character obsessively fixated on Jaeyoon, would become hated.

“Alright, it looks like everyone’s here. Let’s get started.”

The producer from the production company briefly introduced the director and actors. Since they had already exchanged greetings, the actors just nodded and smiled lightly.

“This is a script reading to understand your characters, so if there are any issues or requests, feel free to speak up. Though I can’t promise everything will be accommodated.”

The director mixed in some humor to ease the actors’ tension. The older, experienced actors laughed and asked why bother mentioning it then. With the lightened atmosphere, Jaeyoon also felt comfortable starting the reading. At first, it was smooth. At first.

It didn’t take long before a scene involving a passionate kiss with Choi Sunghyun came up. Though they didn’t need to actually kiss during the reading, they had to realistically act out the breaths and dialogue of Jaeyoon’s character struggling against Choi Sunghyun’s aggressive approach.

Bang. In a scene where Jaeyoon’s character is slammed against a wall and Choi Sunghyun punches the wall, Choi Sunghyun pounded the table for effect. It made Jaeyoon flinch just as his character would.

“Don’t do this…”

His character’s voice trembled finely as it should.

“Why does my blood boil whenever I see you?”

Choi Sunghyun’s low, growling voice made everyone hold their breath.

“I want to swallow you whole and still wouldn’t be satisfied. I feel like tearing you apart and swallowing you up wouldn’t quench this thirst.”

His voice conveyed a terrifyingly intense obsession. The next scene involved Choi Sunghyun forcibly grabbing Jaeyoon’s face, kissing him forcefully, and messily exploring his mouth. Unsure how to proceed, Jaeyoon looked at Choi Sunghyun sitting next to him. Feeling Jaeyoon’s gaze, Choi Sunghyun also looked up from his script and met his eyes.

The moment their eyes met, Jaeyoon felt his breath catch. Seeing his reflection in the pitch-black eyes gave him chills. It felt as if a powerful alpha, just like in the script, was standing before him.

He might devour me.

A primal fear spread through his body like ink on a blotting paper. Even though he knew it was just acting, he felt goosebumps down to his very follicles.

“Okay! Choi Sunghyun, that was great. Jaeyoon, your reactions were good too.”

The director’s voice snapped him back to reality. Jaeyoon licked his dry lips and turned his head. The praise wasn’t meant for him. It was Choi Sunghyun who had led the scene. Jaeyoon hadn’t been acting; he had been swayed by Choi Sunghyun’s alpha presence, like an omega.

Like an omega. The words echoed in his throat, drying his mouth further.

“Let’s take a short break before continuing.”

At the director’s words, everyone put down their scripts and relaxed. Some got up to go to the restroom or fetch coffee.

“Want to get some fresh air?”

Choi Sunghyun suggested to Jaeyoon. Hesitant, Jaeyoon nodded and followed him. Honestly, he wasn’t keen on being alone with him right now. He had thought he didn’t care about alphas and omegas, but being briefly overwhelmed by Choi Sunghyun’s alpha presence made him uneasy. It felt like it had forcibly stirred up his latent omega instincts, which he had never been consciously aware of.

“You were amazing. It made me realize how different a real actor is.”

Jaeyoon said to Choi Sunghyun, who handed him a can of soda from the vending machine. Choi Sunghyun chuckled lightly and got a drink for himself too.

“You’re an actor too. Even the senior actors were impressed by you.”

“That’s only because their expectations were low.”

Choi Sunghyun looked at Jaeyoon’s self-deprecating comment.

“You’re surprisingly humble.”

Jaeyoon gave a bitter smile at the term “humble.” It wasn’t humility; it was just a realistic assessment. Compared to Choi Sunghyun, he was still a rookie with much to learn.

“Can I really do this? Can I pull it off? You’re not the only one who worries about that. We all do.”

Choi Sunghyun continued with a friendly smile.

“Even for me, this is the first time playing this kind of role. I’ve always had a gentle image. Even my agency was worried. Can I really do this? Won’t it just ruin my image? I bet some of the senior actors over there have similar thoughts, even if they don’t say it.”

He seemed to be trying to ease Jaeyoon’s tension.

“No need to worry. Just now, you really seemed like an alpha with an intense need to possess. It was a bit scary.”

Choi Sunghyun laughed heartily at Jaeyoon’s honest response.

“I’m glad you felt that way. The most important thing is to move you more than anyone else.”

Choi Sunghyun was speaking about his role, but Jaeyoon couldn’t nod lightly. He had underestimated facing an alpha revealing his true nature. He thought he could just mimic it because it was acting, but it felt like he had taken a hard hit on the first day.

“But you.”

Choi Sunghyun leaned in closer, making Jaeyoon flinch. He resisted the urge to step back, not wanting to seem overly sensitive.

“Did you change your perfume?”

Choi Sunghyun asked, bringing his nose close to Jaeyoon’s neck and sniffing.

“Perfume?”

Jaeyoon tilted his head, puzzled by the sudden question about perfume.

“It’s different from last time. It’s got a sweet scent…”

Trailing off, Choi Sunghyun furrowed his eyebrows, then smiled and shook his head.

“It smells like omega pheromones.”

Thump. Jaeyoon’s heart dropped at the unexpected words. His expression faltered with surprise. Swallowing dryly, he looked at Choi Sunghyun with a disbelieving smile.

“I thought maybe you got a similar scent to match your omega role. Some actors do that, immersing themselves in their character’s emotions. I didn’t know they sold it, but they do. Perfume that smells like omega pheromones. Betas use it to attract alphas, I hear.”

Choi Sunghyun was casually mentioning something he’d heard about. He wondered if Jaeyoon had used such perfume to get into character.

“My manager gave it to me, so I tried it out. I guess that’s what it was.”

Jaeyoon replied calmly, ignoring his pounding heart. Of course, his manager had never given him perfume. He rarely used perfume, and when he did, it was whatever was at hand. Recently, staying at Kangyoon’s house, he had used Kangyoon’s. There was no way it was a sweet omega pheromone-like scent.

It wasn’t perfume. The sweet scent Choi Sunghyun detected was his pheromones.

Why now?

He had a suspicion but needed to confirm it at the hospital.

🎥🎤

Hanjun checked the subscriber count of his video channel and clicked his tongue in frustration, throwing his mouse. The subscriber count hadn’t increased for days. Neither had the video views. When he first launched his channel, old fans seemed excited, leaving comments and promising to promote it. But that was it.

Compared to the fan base he had during his time with On&On, this was nothing. It didn’t make sense to him since he was the main vocalist of On&On. Even though he was kicked out for causing trouble, he had been the center of all their songs.

He thought On&On would fail without him. They could have replaced him, but they wouldn’t have satisfied the existing fans. As he predicted, On&On ceased activities with Ray and Junie going abroad for studies, and later, Gyuho announced his marriage due to his girlfriend’s pregnancy, leading to an unofficial disbandment.

He thought On&On’s fans would naturally flock to him, but reality was different. He promoted himself as On&On’s Hanjun starting music again, urging fans to subscribe to his channel, but the response was lukewarm.

“If only Lee Kangyoon had cooperated, it wouldn’t be like this.”

He hadn’t expected Kangyoon to cut him off so coldly. He knew Kangyoon wouldn’t welcome him with open arms, given his uptight nature, but he didn’t think Kangyoon wouldn’t even offer a song. Despite everything, Kangyoon had always been the first to help members in need. Hanjun thought he’d help if he pleaded enough, but he didn’t.

Who made On&On successful? It was him and Kangyoon. Kangyoon had acknowledged his talent and sometimes depended on him. Perhaps that’s why being rejected hurt more.

Even if he begged again, Kangyoon wouldn’t listen. Hanjun knew Kangyoon’s personality well, so he didn’t bother trying.

Cursing under his breath, Hanjun sat on the couch and picked up the TV remote. Turning it on, he saw entertainment news.

[We previously reported that director Kim Youngrang, who won Best Director at last year’s Venice Film Festival, has a new project. It’s based on a popular novel, so expectations are high. Today, we visited the first script reading after the casting was finalized.]

Hanjun wasn’t interested in movies. He believed singers should just focus on their music, so he had no interest in variety shows or acting. He was about to change the channel when he saw Jaeyoon’s face fill the screen.

“What the… is he on?”

[The main roles have been confirmed to be played by Choi Sunghyun and Yoon Jaeyoon. The story of their passionate and fateful love promises to be exciting.]

Hanjun’s face twisted as he watched Jaeyoon, looking serious, reading the script opposite Choi Sunghyun.

Ha, damn it. How is that guy doing so well in movies and everything while I’m stuck like this?

All his endless resentment was directed at Jaeyoon. He didn’t care about anyone else, but he couldn’t stand seeing Yoon Jaeyoon succeed. It was the same during their time in On&On. For some reason, that guy always rubbed him the wrong way.