“So you’ve completely cut ties with your family now?”

“You could say that.”

Perhaps it was because my heart had already grown thick callouses, but I was relieved that talking about this didn't make my chest ache uncontrollably like it used to.

“I see.”

I looked at Jeong Haejun with a sense of wonder. Is this how a normal person reacts? Whatever he might be thinking inside, wouldn't a typical person offer some words of comfort, like saying it must have been hard or asking if I resented my parents, out of consideration for my situation?

Yet, there wasn't even a flicker of change in his expression. I found Jeong Haejun’s reaction—so far removed from the ordinary—quite peculiar.

“So even if Hyung disappeared, there wouldn't really be anyone looking for you, right?”

“What?”

Startled by the words that reached me while I was observing him, I asked back, but he only shrugged and smiled as if it were nothing.

“What does that…”

“Here is the dish you ordered.”

The words I’d heard were so strange that I was about to ask what he meant again, but I was cut off by the server approaching us. The Kkanpunggi and Menbosha came out first, followed shortly by the Jajangmyeon.

“You said earlier there was something you didn't get to finish.”

“Ah, yeah.”

It felt unsettling to just let it slide, but because Jeong Haejun changed the subject the moment the food was served and the waiter left, I completely missed the timing to ask again.

“The kid you’ll be tutoring is an Omega.”

“An Omega?”

“Yes. But since you’re an extreme recessive, it shouldn't be dangerous, right?”

“Well…”

I hadn't imagined they would be an Omega…

“Why? Do you think it’ll be difficult?”

As I hesitated in my fluster, Jeong Haejun, reading my reaction, asked sharply.

“No, like I said earlier, I’m a complete extreme recessive, so I’m hardly affected by Omega pheromones, and I barely experience ruts once or twice a year, if at all, so it’s fine, but…”

“I told my aunt that you’re a Beta. So, manage yourself well. As long as you don't get caught, nothing will happen. After all, putting a grown Omega and Alpha in the same room is dangerous. No one knows what might happen with an Alpha who has no pedigree. My aunt might be lax about other things, but she isn't someone who can tolerate that. If you’re careful about that one thing, this will be a really good tutoring job for you.”

Spouting words in an ambiguous way that made it unclear whether he was worrying about me or crushing my self-esteem, Jeong Haejun took a bite of the Menbosha after he finished speaking.

The phrase ‘Alpha who has no pedigree’ buzzed in my head, while the sound of the Menbosha’s crispy exterior being bitten echoed. The fragmented Menbosha entered Jeong Haejun’s mouth. It was clearly a Menbosha that Jeong Haejun was chewing, but for some reason, that square piece of food looked like me.

“……Is it a boy or a girl?”

I asked, suppressing the anger rising from my gut by clenching my fists tightly.

“A boy.”

“A dominant?”

“Extreme dominant. There are no recessives in our family.”

“Ah, I see.”

My mood soured further at the conversation that showed absolutely no consideration for the other person. My appetite vanished along with it. I knew it was a hasty generalization, but I couldn't help but wonder if all kids who were wealthy and well-off were inevitably like this.

Deciding that I should distance myself from Jeong Haejun once this tutoring job was settled, I didn't continue the conversation and just ate. Jeong Haejun tried to start a conversation occasionally during the meal, but because I remained consistent with one-word answers or didn't respond at all, the conversation failed to flow smoothly.

“Hyung, are you angry?”

“No.”

Eventually, after we had finished a fair amount of the meal, Jeong Haejun asked, seemingly not entirely lacking in tact. I naturally replied that I wasn't. I was only enduring it because the tutoring job hadn't been finalized yet.

“Hmm, is that all you’re going to eat?”

“Yeah.”

When I answered, Jeong Haejun lowered his gaze to look at my plate.

“You left a lot. Was it not good?”

“It was delicious.”

“……Then shall we get going?”

I stood up the moment Jeong Haejun finished his sentence and headed to the counter to pay. Before Jeong Haejun, who was trying to stop me and asking what I was doing, could even get close, I handed over my card first.

Jeong Haejun rushed over and grabbed my arm.

“Hyung, what are you doing?”

“I’m paying for thi—”

“Excuse me, sir. This card is showing insufficient funds.”

“What?”

Looking at the server with a shocked expression at the unbelievable words, he held out my card.

“It's insufficient funds, sir. How would you like to proceed?”

“That can't be right, try it again…”

“Use this, please.”

Jeong Haejun blocked my hand as I tried to offer the card again and handed over his own card. The server eventually put my card down and took the one Jeong Haejun offered. My pride was hurt, and at the same time, a wave of embarrassment washed over me, making it impossible to lift my head.

“Yiwon Hyung.”

From the moment we left the Chinese restaurant and took the elevator down, silence flowed between us without a word. Finally, just before getting into the car, Jeong Haejun called out to stop me. I paused in the middle of getting in and slowly turned around.

“Why are you being like this all of a sudden?”

“Being like what?”

“You’re acting like you’re angry. And why did you try to pay?”

“That's because you paid last time.”

“Don't worry about stuff like that. Did I ever ask you to buy me anything?”

“……”

“More importantly, tell me why you're angry.”

I looked at Jeong Haejun, whose expression had finally turned unpleasant after showing no particular sign until now. I didn't understand why he was acting like this suddenly, but I felt like if I wasted any more time here, I’d lose the tutoring job and everything.

“Can we just get in the car first? We’re going to be late.”

“I’m not going until Hyung tells me.”

“……To be honest, what you said earlier… it upset me.”

As I let out a sigh and continued, my heart racing with impatience, Jeong Haejun furrowed his brows.

“What words?”

I thought he would understand if I said that much, but Jeong Haejun asked back with a look of genuine confusion.

“You're asking because you don't know?”

“Yes. So tell me, what was so upsetting?”

“Calling me an Alpha with no pedigree to my face when I’m an extreme recessive, and saying there are no recessives in your family… you think I wouldn't be upset?”

When I finally spoke, Jeong Haejun let out an “Ah,” as if he finally understood.

“That upset you? I wasn't specifically thinking of Hyung when I said that. I was just speaking from my aunt’s perspective.”

“Still, I’m the one taking the tutoring job. Couldn't you at least consider that I would obviously be upset if you spoke like that?”

“I get it. I was wrong. I’ll be careful with my words in front of Hyung from now on.”

The apology was absurdly dry. I couldn't tell if he was apologizing because he truly empathized with me, or if he was just saying the words because I said I was upset, but in my opinion, his attitude seemed closer to the latter.

“We’re good now, right?”

“What do you mean, ‘good’?”

“I apologized. So from now on, don't walk out before me, turn your back on me, or ignore me like that.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“It makes me feel bad.”

“……”

“Understand?”

Jeong Haejun spoke with a smile, but it was clearly a forced one. For some reason, that expression sent a chill down my spine.

“Aren't you coming?”

After speaking, Jeong Haejun got into the car first, then opened the window on my side and asked. His mouth curved naturally into a line, appearing perfectly kind as if he had never worn that forced smile.

________________________________________

Silence continued to pass between us during the drive away from the hotel. Since I didn't make any effort to break the silence either, an icy stillness filled the car.

“It's not far from here.”

By the time I began to find that silence suffocating, Jeong Haejun spoke first. I felt a slight tension at his words. Regardless, the place we were headed to was my job interview. Whatever my personal feelings toward Jeong Haejun, I had a duty to faithfully complete the task given to me today.

“Don't be too nervous.”

Perhaps he saw my hands clenched with tension even while driving, as Jeong Haejun added.

True to his word, not long after leaving the hotel, the car entered a residential area. The car slowed as it turned into a quiet alleyway. The neighborhood itself felt like a wealthy one at a glance.

“We’re almost there.”