"No. I've been kind of all over the place lately, so I was just about to start looking."

"Tell me if it's hard. I'll help you."

"No, really, it's fine."

"You'll keep tutoring, right?"

"Yes. Why? Is there..."

Was he about to tell me to stop? I tried to think if I had made any mistakes, but nothing came to mind.

Seeing my expression, sunbae quickly waved his hands.

"No, nothing like that. I actually just called you over so we could have a drink. We've never really had a chance to drink alone together before... but with your wrist like this, that might be difficult. When did you get hurt? Are you okay?"

"Ah..."

Only then did I let out a relieved breath. I was glad he wasn't telling me to stop tutoring.

"I just slipped and fell a little... I can drink. I'll buy you that meal I promised you last time right now."

"I don't think that's a good idea. Doesn't it hurt?"

"It wasn't a bad injury, and the cast was just in case, so I'm really fine. Should we go out? I'll buy the drinks."

"Oh, actually I bought some because I wanted to drink with you. I can make some snacks quickly, too. That's okay, right?"

"But that's not me buying you anything. You keep treating me, and I'm embarrassed."

"It's fine. Do you find it awkward to drink at home?"

"No, not really, but..."

"Then wait a moment. I'll get it."

Before I could even say, "Oh, wait," sunbae had already left the room. After an awkward wait, he came back with whiskey and glasses, plus a plate of assorted fruit. Watching him fill the table as if he had prepared it in advance, I muttered with a troubled expression, "Next time, I'll really buy you something."

"It's really fine. It's a little awkward letting someone younger than me pay."

"No, I've just been receiving too much from you."

Sunbae only smiled without saying anything. Then he sat down beside me again and poured liquor into my glass.

"...I've never had whiskey before."

"You don't have to drink it if you can't. I have wine. Want me to give you that instead?"

"No, really, it's fine. I'll try it."

I watched his face for a moment, then lifted the glass and sipped. Unlike what I had feared, the alcohol smell wasn't that strong, which was a relief, but I didn't really like drinking, so all I felt was a dry burn down my throat.

"How is it? Is it drinkable?"

There was no way I could say it tasted bad with him looking at me like that... Seeing the sparkle in his eyes as if he were waiting for a review, I nodded awkwardly and drank the rest down.

"It's good... I think it's good."

"Really? I'm glad."

I smiled with him as he grinned brightly, rolling my stinging tongue around in my mouth. Stuffing sweet fruit into my mouth helped a little.

I had meant to only drink a little, but I couldn't bring myself to refuse, so I kept accepting whatever he poured me, and before I knew it, I'd emptied several glasses. The whiskey bottle was almost empty, and I was starting to feel tipsy. By the end, maybe because I was drunk, I couldn't even taste the alcohol properly anymore.

When I checked my phone, it was already past ten. My younger sibling was probably asleep by now. There wasn't any contact, so Mother must have put them to bed, but... I couldn't help worrying.

"I think you should stop. Your face is red."

When I looked up, I saw sunbae watching me with concern.

"I get like this whenever I drink."

Sunbae stared at my flushed face for a while, then let out a small laugh.

"Why...?"

I touched around my lips and cheeks, wondering if I'd gotten something on me, and he laughed harder, shaking his head.

"No, it's just... You're usually kind of stiff, right? I've never seen you this relaxed before."

"Ah..."

Only then did I straighten my messy posture. Now that he mentioned it, I probably had been way too comfortable in front of sunbae. That seemed to make him panic a little, because he waved his hands repeatedly.

"I don't mean that's a bad thing. I just think it's cute... and I like it this way better. Don't treat me like that, Haemin."

"I'm really not uncomfortable. It's just, I have a lot to be thankful for, and you're my sunbae... I always think I'm grateful to you, sunbae."

Sunbae stared at me as I rambled, then moved closer.

"Honestly, I thought you hated me, Haemin."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You kept acting like you were avoiding me."

I tilted my head at that. Had I? Thinking back, maybe I had. It was true I had kept my distance when I first heard he was an Alpha.

Whenever he tried to talk to me, I had always run away as fast as I could.

But the rumors I heard around me, and the fact that he kept looking after me even though I was just a junior in the same department, gradually wore down my guard.

He was the first exception I had ever made for the belief that all Alphas were the worst.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm a little shy around people I don't know well."

"Still, it seems like we've gotten a lot closer now, so that's a relief."

"Yeah..."

Looking at sunbae's bright smile, I fidgeted with my fingers. He really seemed like a good person. I wanted to do something for him too, but I didn't know how to help, and that was frustrating.

While I absently toyed with my glass and thought about what I could do for him, sunbae asked with a puzzled look, "But Haemin."

"Yes?"

"Do you have an Alpha in your family?"

I didn't understand him at once and tilted my head. Then, after hesitating for a second, sunbae spoke carefully.

"You didn't before, but... for the past few weeks, I think I've been picking up pheromones from you."

Only then did I realize it.

I smelled like Cha Seonwoo.

But why? Was just being in the same house enough for his pheromones to cling to me so strongly that other people could notice? As far as I knew, no. I was recessive, but even when I had been with Cha Taewoo, no one had ever said anything like this. Was it different because Cha Seonwoo was a dominant Alpha? Then why had his father been fine? Unless I had deliberately gotten someone else's pheromones on me or taken a pheromone shower, there shouldn't have been anything to smell.

As soon as that thought hit me, my face tightened before I could stop it. Could Cha Seonwoo be...

Flustered, I couldn't manage my expression and scowled, and sunbae looked unsure of what to do.

"Sorry if that was rude."

"No, it's fine."

Honestly, I didn't need to get this flustered. I should have just admitted that I had an Alpha in the family. But I couldn't do that.

After that, I could feel the atmosphere turn awkward. For both sunbae and me. I couldn't tell what exactly was making him uncomfortable, but at least I had a headache from the thought of Cha Seonwoo popping into my head over and over.

I felt betrayed and angry at the realization that all this time, I hadn't known Cha Seonwoo had been rubbing his pheromones all over me.

"I'm sorry, sunbae, but I'm worried about my younger sibling... I should get going."

At my words, sunbae looked at me in surprise.

"Huh? Oh, right. You should head home. It is late."

"Yes. Thank you so much for tonight. I should have treated you, but I just kept being treated again..."

"No, really, you don't need to feel bad. I'm the one who's grateful you stayed and drank with me this late."

I stood up, put on the coat I'd hung up, and slung my bag over my shoulder. Sunbae, looking at a loss, followed me out.

"Next time, I'll really buy you a meal. And I'll work even harder for Taewon, too."

"It's okay. He seems to be working hard enough already."

"I'll do my absolute best."

Only then did sunbae relax his stiff expression. He placed a hand on my head and ruffled my hair lightly.

"I'd drive you myself, but I've been drinking too. Wait a second. I'll call a taxi."

"Thank you."

Sunbae soon called a taxi on his phone and came out after me, pulling on his coat.

"You really don't have to escort me."

"It's fine. Let's hurry."

When we got into the elevator and went downstairs, the cold air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside. The warmth from the alcohol kept me from feeling too cold, but I still couldn't help shrinking a little.

"Are you very cold?"

Sunbae's hand reached toward my cheek.

"Ah... sorry. I got startled."

I reflexively pulled my head back, and sunbae laughed awkwardly.

Luckily, the taxi arrived soon after. Sunbae opened the door for me and said in a gentle voice, "Then go safely. Make sure to text me when you get home."

"Okay, I will. Thank you for today."

I waved my hands and bowed to sunbae before getting into the taxi. He kept waving until the taxi pulled away.

I kept bowing back at him the whole time, and only after he grew distant did I exhale deeply and let my body go slack. But the moment I thought, I probably still smelled like Cha Seonwoo, my body stiffened again without meaning to.

I looked out the window at the empty road and closed my eyes for a moment. Maybe I nodded off, because when I opened them again, I had already arrived at the mansion.

"Ah... here."

I fumbled for my wallet to pay the fare, but when I was told it had already been processed automatically, I nodded blankly and got out of the taxi. I owed sunbae again.

Alcohol really did make me sleepy in a way I wasn't used to. Was I going to have to drink until I was this drunk from now on...?

I wasn't actually that weak with alcohol, but today I must have gotten drunk on the atmosphere and overdone it a little. I steadied my swaying steps and crossed the garden toward the main house.

Because it was late, I opened the front door carefully and put my shoes away. As I made my way toward my room without making any noise, a faint light was leaking from the living room in the dark mansion. For some reason, I couldn't just pass by carelessly and ended up hesitating. But there was no way around it.

Please don't let it be Cha Seonwoo, I prayed as I walked past. Then I saw Cha Seonwoo sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed, and our eyes met.