Chapter 8

Normally, he would have inspected Rian’s phone and deleted everything deemed unnecessary, yet contrary to his impulses, Yu-gyeom found himself surprisingly unable to put that into action right now.

Rian bit down hard on his lower lip and spoke up with cautious hesitation. “Hyung, can’t you give it back now…?” Rian asked timidly.

Had the look in his eyes changed? A restless breeze had clearly found its way into his heart.

An atmosphere distinct from before emanated from his expression. He looked strangely excited, too. For Rian, who had never experienced adolescent rebellion, a slight fissure seemed to have opened.

Was he going through a late puberty now? Perhaps before long, he might even attempt something like defiance.

Ah, thinking about it was both endearing and secretly dreadful. Kwon Rian rebelling? If the boy truly attempted to defy him and escape his grasp, Yu-gyeom intended to give him a stinging whipping. Where should I strike him so it stings the most?

Yu-gyeom swept his tongue along the inside of his cheek and locked the phone screen. If it were up to him, he would have loved to type out a rejection message himself. However, seeing that Rian appeared uncomfortable, he decided to take a step back this time.

“Sure, alright,” Yu-gyeom said, relenting. “I trust you. You ought to be able to look after yourself by now, right?”

Rian brightened at once, a relieved smile returning to his face. “Yeah, thanks, hyung. I knew you’d trust me.”

Building trust like this was exceedingly vital. While Rian tended to be obedient toward Yu-gyeom, he harbored a suspicious disposition toward everything else. The thought that such suspicion might one day turn toward him was not something Yu-gyeom had overlooked. That was why he had to be all the more thorough, all the more unyielding.

“But Rian, you do know that whatever happens regarding the choices you make on your own, you have to take responsibility for it, right?” Yu-gyeom asked.

Rian blinked in confusion. “Huh…? Responsibility?”

Responsibility—Rian could not disguise his bewilderment. Ever since he was young, had Yu-gyeom not rushed to resolve anything concerning Rian as if it were his own affair? Thus, discussing everything about himself with Yu-gyeom and following Yu-gyeom’s judgment was second nature to him. It was comfortable, too. Yet the instruction to take responsibility for his own decisions felt as heavy as a lead weight.

And at such sudden timing, no less… Rian was prone to fearing change, so when Yu-gyeom—the one person he trusted implicitly—spoke like that, it felt as though Yu-gyeom was letting go of his hand, leaving Rian wearing a thoroughly dazed expression.

In truth, he was terrified. Rian grew acutely anxious whenever Yu-gyeom seemed to pull away from him. As mentioned before, should one call it separation anxiety? He suffered from something very much like that.

“Why are you saying that, hyung…?” Rian asked weakly.

“I told you before, you’re so soft and pretty that anyone could covet you,” Yu-gyeom said, sighing heavily. “Haa, I’m truly worried.”

Yu-gyeom rubbed his lean face with a gloomy expression. Rian looked at his sternly hardened features, feeling an icy chill of dread.

“About what?” Rian asked softly.

Yu-gyeom let out a low, tender murmur. “Rian…” Even within the narrow confines of the car, Yu-gyeom lowered his voice to a hushed whisper, as if wary of unseen listeners. “Your body, your pheromones… What will you do if some crazy Alpha bastard suddenly rapes you?”

* * *

“Hyung!” Rian cried out in horror.

That’s absurd. How could he say something so terrifying?

Watching Rian’s pupils tremble violently, Yu-gyeom secretly cheered inside. Seeing the boy shiver in sheer terror actually softened his own mood completely. Ever since Rian had awakened as an Omega, Yu-gyeom had painstakingly brainwashed him into believing he was helpless prey.

The fact that Rian was so lovely had to remain exclusive to his eyes alone. The more ruined the boy became, the better. The more thoroughly alienated he was from others and from society, the better. At the end of the path where Rian came fleeing in utter terror, Yu-gyeom had to be the only one waiting. Looking upon the pitiable Rian, Yu-gyeom felt an affection so overwhelming it drove him mad with adoration.

Looking down at him with gentle reproach, Yu-gyeom asked, “That’s why, you see… I worry far too much. Right, Rian…?”

As if he were the one in agony, Yu-gyeom cradled his head in his hands.

Yu-gyeom always worried to an excessive, hypersensitive degree. Watching him act like that made Rian feel as though something truly terrible was destined to happen, which only heightened his own anxiety and fear. Because of that, he clung to Yu-gyeom even more desperately. Then the words “It’s alright” would spill from Yu-gyeom’s lips once again, and only then could Rian regain a semblance of peace.

Even now, though he felt Yu-gyeom was overreacting, hearing his words made Rian believe that such a nightmare could genuinely come to pass.

At the university, there were plenty of burly students, as well as a few physically dominant Alphas. To guys like that, Rian would undoubtedly make an easy target.

“I’m scared, hyung,” Rian pleaded. “Please don’t say things like that.”

Rian looked as though he might burst into tears at any second. Hunching his shoulders tight, he gripped Yu-gyeom’s hand firmly with both of his own. Rian’s skin felt somewhat chilly—undoubtedly from the sheer anxiety.

The more the boy trembled, the more thrilled Yu-gyeom became.

Yu-gyeom rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Rian, I’m not trying to frighten you. I’m just worried about you. Truly.”

“…Yeah, I know,” Rian said, trembling. “I’ll just tell them I won’t join the club and leave the chat room. So please don’t say things like that.”

“I’m sorry, Rian. It’s just that I’m always worried about you. From the heart of a parent…” Yu-gyeom whispered.

Rian lowered his head contritely. “Yeah. I’m sorry, hyung… I feel like I troubled you for nothing.” Stroking Rian’s hair with a gaze full of apparent concern, Yu-gyeom pressed a soft kiss to his reddened eye rims. Only then did Rian feel the anxiety that had consumed his entire body begin to settle. He was finally able to relax his shoulders, which had grown stiff with tension. What had made him most fretful was the thought that Yu-gyeom might be angry. But when Yu-gyeom smiled warmly at him at last, Rian felt his heart ease. He was flooded with relief.

“Yeah, I’ll tell them flat out that I’m not doing it,” Rian promised.

“Right, I trust you,” Yu-gyeom said. “You’re clever, so you always handle things well on your own, don’t you?”

Rian nodded. “Yeah.”

“Rian, I have only you,” Yu-gyeom said, his tone velvety soft. “Raising you made me feel as though I’ve tasted every joy the world has to offer. I just wish… you would be a little considerate of me.”

“Yeah. I understand, hyung. I’m sorry,” Rian murmured softly.

“My sweet Rian, you always speak so prettily,” Yu-gyeom cooed. “Yes… I’ll trust only you.”

Rian loved Yu-gyeom’s tender voice. Hearing that affectionate cadence made him feel as though he could weather any tempest in the world. To Rian, Yu-gyeom was family and the protective sanctuary shielding him from harm. Causing sorrow or disappointment to such a person was something that could never be permitted.

Even so, a faint lingering regret tugged at his heart. My sweet Rian… I’ll trust only you. His brother’s gentle words and the warm, welcoming remarks his classmates had showered on him kept resurfacing in his mind.

A wave of disappointment swelled up inside him, but Rian promptly forced it down. He had never made close friends to begin with anyway. It’s fine, it’s alright, he consoled himself.

Concluding that this entire predicament was merely the result of his own greedy desires, Rian forged a firm resolve within his heart.

I’ll go today and tell them I can’t do the club…

* * *

A short while later, the vehicle carrying the two men pulled to a stop before the main gate of Hanguk University. Fortunately, Yu-gyeom was able to deliver Rian safely to campus.

Yu-gyeom offered an affectionate smile as Rian stepped out of the car and waved goodbye, watching until he vanished into the university grounds.

Only when Rian’s cheerful figure had completely vanished from sight did Yu-gyeom roll up the car window. He stepped on the accelerator, a vicious chill stealing over his features.

“Fucking bastards…” Yu-gyeom muttered under his breath. “Every stray dog and their mother trying to swarm him.”

This makes me too uneasy. Would it be better to just make him take a leave of absence?

Yu-gyeom smoothly spun the steering wheel with deft hands, driving away from the campus.

In any case, what should I make for my sweet Rian for dinner tonight?