"EUNTAK-AH, wait!"

Why would Cho Euntak wait just because someone told him to?

He walked faster, slightly annoyed that Jung Heesung was following him.

It’s kinda scary when a bigger and stronger Alpha chases me like this.

"Hyung-nim, I said our conversation is over," Cho Euntak said in a hurry, not even looking back. "And you don’t have to explain to me. It’s not like we’re dating. It’s alright. I get it, so we have nothing else to talk about." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"It’s not like that, Euntak-ah!"

Aigoo.

Cho Euntak flinched when Jung Heesung yelled.

After all, he didn’t like it when people yelled at him.

"Cho Euntak!"

Ouch.

Cho Euntak flinched again when Jung Heesung grabbed him by the arm.

And he realized that the other Alpha was a lot stronger than he was when he almost felt his wrist break.

"That hurts..."

Jung Heesung’s eyes widened a bit as if he were surprised. "I’m sorry—"

"Cho Euntak, do you need help?"

Hmm?

When Cho Euntak turned to his side, he was surprised to see Kim Heedo, Yang Jaewon, and Kwon Gaon.

Only then did he realize that he was making a scene in front of the smoking area.

"Hyungs..."

"Y-You’re acquainted with him, Euntak-ah?"

Cho Euntak turned to Jung Heesung and realized that the older Alpha looked quite shaken.

I guess he got intimidated by Heedo Sunbae-nim, who’s a known Dominant Alpha.

"They’re my hyungs," Cho Euntak said, pulling his arm away from Jung Heesung’s grasp. Then he immediately headed to the three Alphas when he realized that Jung Heesung was too scared to follow him now. "Goodbye, Heesung Hyung-nim."

***

"EVEN Dominant Alphas will die if you kick them hard between their legs."

Aigoo.

Cho Euntak still felt awkward around Kim Heedo, so he couldn’t believe that he was hanging out with him and his friend group now.

But these hyungs saved me, so...

So he followed the three when they asked him to have lunch with them.

They ended up going to the newly opened pizza restaurant near their university.

The hyungs ordered four types of pizza: sweet potato, bulgogi, seafood, and pepperoni.

Their order came with overflowing fries, huge soda drinks, and sliders.

The mini-cheeseburgers are cute...

Honestly, Cho Euntak thought the amount of food was too much for four people.

After all, I have a small appetite.

However, the hyungs with him wolfed down the food in no time.

"Euntak, do you work out?" Kwon Gaon, the Alpha who came from a family of martial artists, asked. "I can help you if you don’t know where to start. Or, if you already have a work out routine, I can help you improve that."

Oh.

To be honest, Cho Euntak was aware that he was pretty skinny.

He was tall, so he looked lanky.

"Working out isn’t just for bulking up, kid," Yang Jaewon said. "It will also help you stay healthy."

Ah, the hyungs were being kind.

They just can’t say in front of my face that I’m too weak for an Alpha...

"Cho Euntak, you’re too weak for an Alpha."

Except for Heedo Sunbae-nim, of course.

"I know I sound like a jerk, and I also know that saying Alphas are supposed to be strong is a harmful stereotype. But I’ll still say it," Kim Heedo said casually. Yes, this sunbae-nim had always been this unapologetic and intimidating. Probably because he was a Dominant Alpha. "You need to be strong as an Alpha. We’re already naturally stronger than average people. It will be such a waste if you don’t utilize your strength."

Cho Euntak flinched.

Yes, call him a coward.

But Kim Heedo was really scary, even though he was only giving a piece of advice.

I mean, Heedo Sunbae-nim sounds condescending...

"Don’t scare the kid," Yang Jaewon scolded Kim Heedo before looking at Cho Euntak. "Putting Kim Heedo’s opinion aside, I don’t think it’s bad to learn how to protect yourself, Euntak-ah. I believe that whether you’re an Omega, an Alpha, or a Beta, you still need to learn self-defense. You don’t want what happened earlier to happen again, do you?"

Cho Euntak shook his head. "But bigger and stronger Alphas like Heesung Hyung-nim are scary, especially when they chase me like that. I feel like running away instead of confronting them. I think my meek personality is the problem here..."

"No, your reaction is perfectly normal. Every person reacts to perceived threats differently. Fight, flight, freeze, remember?" Kwon Gaon reminded Cho Euntak. "Running away isn’t a wrong response. But if you’re not happy with the way you reacted, we can teach you self-defense. No pressure, of course."

Aww.

Cho Euntak didn’t expect to be comforted by these hyungs.

It’s always Sohee Hyung and Sera Noona who come to my rescue, but this isn’t a bad feeling.

Maybe hanging out with his fellow Alphas from time to time wasn’t a bad thing.

"Thank you, hyungs," Cho Euntak said. "Please take care of me from now on."

"Good," Kim Heedo said, clapping his hands once. "Let’s order beer."

***

"EUNTAK-AH, why weren’t you picking up my calls?"

Cho Euntak blinked, wondering if Baek Jeho was really standing in front of his apartment.

He was tipsy after drinking with the hyungs.

Hence, he wasn’t sure if he was hallucinating or what.

"It’s not even 10PM yet, and you’re already tipsy?" Baek Jeho nagged at him. "I almost lost my mind looking for you, but you were drinking all this time? Is it fun to hang out with Heedo Sunbae-nim and the other hyungs?"

"How did you know I was with Heedo Sunbae-nim?"

"He sent me a message. I was where you were because I heard someone say that they saw you leave the school with Heedo Sunbae-nim."

"Why were you looking for me?"

"I heard people talking," Baek Jeho said, suddenly sounding pissed. "Apparently, you were harassed by that playboy sunbae-nim."

Ah, so the news had already spread.

Cho Euntak braced himself for Baek Jeho’s inevitable ’I-told-you-so’ line.

However...

"Are you okay?" Baek Jeho asked worriedly. "Were you hurt? Do you want me to beat up that bastard for you?"

Oh.

"Actually, I was thinking about looking for that bastard to beat him up. But I’m more worried about you. I wanted to make sure that you’re fine. Heedo Sunbae-nim told me that you weren’t hurt, but I still wanted to see it with my own eyes."

Cho Euntak couldn’t believe that he was such a sucker for Baek Jeho even now.

That his childhood friend’s words were enough to sway his heart once again.

And that he still felt safe with Baek Jeho.

Heedo Sunbae-nim said that I should be strong as an Alpha, but...

"What do I do, Baek Jeho? I’m not built to be an Alpha," Cho Euntak said in a cracked voice. Maybe it was because he was a bit drunk, but he suddenly became emotional and vulnerable. And he wanted to act spoiled around Baek Jeho. "I want to be the one being protected and not the other way around."

"You’re crying just because of that?" Baek Jeho asked, clicking his tongue while wiping Cho Euntak’s tears with his hands. "It’s my job to protect you, Cho Euntak. So why are you worried about that?"

But you’re not mine...

***

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