Alpha Trauma [Novel] - Chapter 6

The speed at which his mind fumbled for memories was slow. No, perhaps it was too fast, considering he went back four years in an instant. Wooyeon, trying not to show any signs of surprise, moved his Adam’s apple with effort.
“What’s that supposed to mean…?”
It seemed like his words were stuck. His heart sank, and his pupils dilated significantly. The already blank mind couldn’t find the words it should have said. What do you mean, you don’t remember?
“Why, the last time.”
Dohyun remained silent throughout. Even though he knew that Wooyeon was embarrassed, he didn’t have the consideration to stop talking.
“We met near the front gate.”
The front gate.
“
“
…The front gate?
“……That.”
Wooyeon rolled his eyes with a bewildered expression. First, he opened his prelude and carefully retraced his memories. If it was the front gate, it surely wasn’t the four years he had in mind.
“That… how do you remember that?”
Dohyun received a perplexed gaze. Wooyeon calmed his startled heart, let out a hollow laugh, and began to recall the surprise. Although he spoke to Wooyeon for a brief moment, it was just a passing encounter. It wasn’t yesterday, and it had been more than two weeks, but the fact that he remembered was astonishing.
“I naturally have a good memory for people. Besides, it’s even harder not to remember someone as distinctive as you.”
Dohyun seemed to express his disbelief. Even in his additional comment about having eyes, there was a sense of absurdity. Irritated, Wooyeon stared at Dohyun.
“What’s wrong with me?”
His expression became more frowning. He opened and closed his lips a few times, then let out a short sigh. It felt like he had lost something, some sense of grievance.
“…… Anyway.”
The voice of the rustling wind concluded the topic. Wooyeon, feeling a sense of relief that crept in, discreetly brushed away the sweat on his chest. Then, suddenly, he began to question the emotions he possessed.
It wasn’t much of a secret that he received private tutoring from Dohyun. It just wasn’t deemed important enough to mention to Dohyun. Even if he found out now, it wouldn’t be a significant problem. The premise of being “found out” was odd from the beginning.
“I was planning to let it slide if you didn’t know. It’s not a big deal and pretending to know would be amusing anyway.”
It was exactly she said. Wooyeon had planned to let it go if Dohyun didn’t know. Wooyeon’s position was sufficient as a ‘passing junior.’ Not a first-year junior, not a second-year junior, just a reasonably distant third- year junior.
“But what if I bring up the Alpha talk, Wooyeon.”
As if emphasizing, Dohyun tapped on the desk. Wooyeon suddenly regained his composure and followed Dohyun’s fingertips. The nails that touched the desk were round and neat.
“Then, I guess I’ll have to ask.”
Suddenly, an ominous feeling settled in. Dohyun’s voice was sweet, but Wooyeon sensed an instinctive sense of danger. It deepened further when Dohyun’s persistent gaze intensified.
“Why did you ask me if I’m an Alpha?”
‘Oh no.’
The thoughts flooding his mind paralyzed his ability to think. It wasn’t the time to relax and let down his guard. Wooyeon should have skillfully changed the subject when Dohyun smiled warmly. As Wooyeon broke into a cold sweat, the crescent-like eyes, like a waxing moon, pressed the urgency once again.
“Huh? Wooyeon.”
***
Fortunately, Wooyeon was able to avoid answering. It was because the professor entered the classroom shortly afterward. As soon as he arrived, the professor called attendance and enthusiastically began the orientation with a PowerPoint presentation. Wooyeon, for the first time in his life, fervently wished for the class not to end.
“Alright, let’s finish here for today,” the professor said.
The moment the professor spoke, Wooyeon closed his notebook and stood up. He had to get out of this classroom as soon as possible. But before that, a long shadow blocked Wooyeon’s side.
Wooyeon alternated between the empty chair and the person standing beside him. He had definitely hung his bag on the back of the chair, but now it was in Dohyun’s hands. Dohyun put the bag on the desk and
smiled warmly.
“Get your stuff. Let’s go eat lunch.”
The hand holding the notebook trembled. Wooyeon lifted his head to refuse, but Dohyun even took the notebook from Wooyeon’s hand.
“The class ended early, so we have an hour to spare.”
An hour? The time interval was long enough to have a gourmet meal before the next lecture. It wasn’t just for show when he complained about his messed-up timetable.
“I’ll buy you something delicious.”
Dohyun smiled gently. It was a freshly concocted feigned smile. Wooyeon firmly spoke, holding onto the bag
that had become a hostage.
“I’m not thinking about eating food,”
“Still, eat.”
The first excuse was ruthlessly trampled. Followed by the accusation, That’s why you’re skinny’. For the first time, Wooyeon heard someone say he was skinny, and it sent shivers down his spine.
“I don’t really feel hungry.”
“I’m hungry.”
“It’s not time for lunch yet.”
“You didn’t eat breakfast.”
“I was waiting for a friend.”
“Kwon Seongyu has a free period today, right?”
“…… How do you know that?”
This time, it was Dohyun who was surprised. Dohyun stopped talking and blinked his eyes.
“Really? A free period? I just threw it out casually.”
Wooyeon, at a loss for words, loosened the bag strap with a soft sigh. A triumphant smile crossed Dohyun’s face as if he were the winner. Only then did Wooyeon grab his bag and soften his voice.
“Are you coming?”
***
The room, locked with a key, was filled with the chilly air of late winter. Trembling, Wooyeon tightened his padded jacket, and Dohyun, releasing his hostage, turned on the heater. The heater, turned on in haste,
emitted a faintly cold breeze.
“Take a seat and make yourself comfortable.”
There were two sofas and a makeshift bed. Wooyeon sat on the sofa near the entrance. Dohyun, glancing at him, took off his coat and handed it over to him.
“It takes a while for warm air to come out. If it’s too cold, cover yourself up.”
Before Wooyeon could express his gratitude, Dohyun went to the corner where the cabinet was. Because
Dohyun had helped Wooyeon by taking off his outerwear, Dohyun himself was dressed in a thin knit.
‘That’s why I liked him.’
Perhaps Dohyun would have taken off his coat for anyone feeling cold. At least, that was the Dohyun Wooyeon knew. If he were Wooyeon at sixteen, he might have felt excited, but now, he didn’t harbor such
misconceptions.
“…You don’t seem to mind the cold.”
Wooyeon didn’t intend to make a sharp comment. Dohyun, glancing at him, nonchalantly opened the
cabinet. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to look offended.
“I just feel as warm as everyone else.”
Wooyeon covered himself with his coat while lightly caressing his ear. The coat was spacious and had a faint
scent of pheromones. It was more comfortable than burdensome and more dry than sticky. The fragrance,
sweet and subtle, was even appealing to Wooyeon, who disliked Alphas.
‘He must be popular.’
Commonly, Alphas and Omegas determine their first impression through pheromones. Perhaps even an Alpha like Dohyun would sense pheromones first when encountering an Omega. If his pheromones resembled Dohyun’s, his popularity would have soared to the sky.
Feeling discomfort with such thoughts, Wooyeon narrowed his eyes. A vague and ambiguous sensation, as if
it could be grasped, spoken, or felt strangely, hazily surfaced. But that thought was erased when Dohyun sat across from him and asked a question.
“When exactly is your next class?”
He was holding a pen and a piece of paper. Wooyeon, looking at the paper that read ‘Club Application,’
replied casually.
“At 5 o’clock.”
Thud, the movement stopped. Dohyun, furrowing his left eyebrow, tilted his head silently. Question marks
filled his dark pupils.
“Surely, it’s 5 in the afternoon?”
“Not 5 in the morning, I assure you.”
“Huh.”
Wooyeon, already accustomed to such reactions, took out his phone and showed his schedule. Dohyun,
carefully scanning the list, asked with a puzzled voice.
“What on earth did you do to end up with such a timetable?”
What did he do, indeed. He didn’t sleep a wink all night, tossed and turned, missed the timing, and even clicked the wrong options. The cause was the encounter with Kim Dohyun by chance.
“
“There’s still time for schedule changes, so plead with the professors. They probably wouldn’t want freshmen
to drop out.”
“Well, the teaching assistant checked the timetable, but everyone’s probably too busy at the beginning of the semester, so they’re not in their offices.”
“You have to go until they’re there. Send an email or keep waiting in front of their offices. Or, unless you
attend all the droppable lectures without any tricks?”
“…Ha.”
Dohyun touched his forehead with one hand. Wooyeon nonchalantly replied to the comment about not
knowing if he was diligent or had a bad head.
“I have a bad memory.”
“…Sorry, I misspoke. How did someone with a bad memory get into our school?”
Really. Such words didn’t sit well. Dohyun waved his hand and handed Wooyeon a pen.
“Use this. It’s for joining the club.”
Wooyeon hesitated, reaching his hand out of his coat. Dohyun chuckled at Wooyeon’s hesitant gesture, like a
frightened squirrel.
“Still cold?”
Belatedly, Wooyeon realized that the indoor environment had already warmed up. The surrounding air was
warm enough, even after removing his coat and padding. Whether Dohyun knew Wooyeon was feeling
embarrassed or not, he covered his mouth and suppressed a laugh.
“You can keep it if you want.”
“…No, thank you. The coat is warm.”
Due to the wind rising inside, Wooyeon had already taken off his coat. Dohyun, who was about to put back
on the coat he gave him, stopped. His vacant gaze alternated between the coat and Wooyeon.
“What did you ask?”
Did it happen to get something on? Wooyeon thought, standing up from his seat. Wooyeon stood up,
thinking like that. Although it was used to quietly cover him, the length was so long that it was entirely
possible. Dohyun, staring at the coat absentmindedly, muttered. “Something did get on it.”
“Ah… I should have been more careful.”
Wooyeon extended his hand with an apologetic expression. He was about to say sorry and offer to cover the
cleaning expenses, but Dohyun folded the coat and laid it next to him. Then, he handed Wooyeon the pen.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.”
The moment their fingers touched, Wooyeon reflexively pushed Dohyun’s hand away. Startled, Dohyun
stopped abruptly, and the pen dropped and rolled away.
“Sorry… I’m sorry.”
It was already the second apology. Wooyeon squeezed his retrieved hand and hastily added an explanation.
“It wasn’t intentional…”
The fingers that touched Dohyun were surprisingly warm. Even though he wasn’t wearing any rings, his face
turned redder than expected. His throat itched as if pheromones were about to emerge.
“Sorry, did I startle you?”
Dohyun brought back the pen that had rolled away, not giving it directly to Wooyeon this time but placing it
in front of him. Watching this, Wooyeon belatedly realized the nature of the discomfort he had felt earlier.
“It’s okay, please sit down.”
Wooyeon’s pheromones were not perceptible. Neither during their first encounter nor under the coat. The distinct scent of pheromones, usually unmistakable, was not felt by Dohyeon. It was as if Wooyeon was just
an individual whose traces were concealed, resembling more of a Beta than anything else.