MM 124

Ju-yeon and Yu-young’s eyes widened in surprise.

For Yoon-seok to suddenly appear with such a serious expression and say he had something to discuss—it usually only meant one thing at their level of seniority. Alarmed, Ju-yeon hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Yoon-seok, you’re not… You wouldn’t happen to be talking about something that starts with ‘res…,’ would you? You know, that ominous word…?”

“Oh… No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Really? Okay, then I’ll leave you two to talk.”

Ju-yeon looked somewhat relieved. She still couldn’t completely shake off her suspicion about Yoon-seok suddenly asking to talk to Yu-young, but for now, she tactfully stepped aside.

Once she was gone, Yu-young turned to Yoon-seok, studying his face carefully.

“Yoon-seok, is something wrong?”

“N-No, not exactly. There’s just something I wanted to say…”

“Oh, I see. Then should we talk in the break room—”

“No. Um… If possible.”

Yoon-seok hesitated, lowering his gaze before lifting it again to meet Yu-young’s eyes directly. For some reason, his gaze felt unfamiliar today.

“I’d like to speak somewhere we can be alone.”

“…Alright. How about the rooftop?”

“Yes.”

What is this about?

Even as they rode the elevator up together, Yu-young kept sneaking glances at Yoon-seok’s face. Usually, he was like an oversized puppy, always smiling brightly whenever he saw him. But today, there wasn’t a trace of that warmth.

Did something happen? Or… is this about what he tried to say outside the bar last time?

As that thought crossed his mind, Yu-young’s chest tightened with unease. He had a vague idea of what Yoon-seok was about to say, and part of him wished he didn’t.

When they stepped onto the rooftop, a sharp gust of wind rushed at them, making Yu-young instinctively wince. Yoon-seok, noticing this, quickly removed the scarf he had been wearing.

Now that Yu-young thought about it, Yoon-seok had come straight up after dropping off his bag and was still dressed in his full outdoor attire.

“Assistant Han, here…”

Fidgeting slightly, Yoon-seok moved to wrap the scarf around Yu-young’s neck. A fresh lime scent wafted toward him. But instead of accepting it, Yu-young took the scarf from Yoon-seok’s hands and returned it.

“I’m fine. You’ll be cold too. Keep it on and say what you need to say.”

“But you came all the way up here because of me…”

“I was the one who suggested the rooftop. It’s fine. Just speak freely.”

Yu-young smiled lightly as he refused, and Yoon-seok gave him a conflicted look. He seemed to struggle with his words, just as he had that night in front of the bar.

Sensing this, Yu-young patiently waited, doing his best to suppress the shivers running through his body from the cold.

Finally, Yoon-seok spoke.

“Assistant Han… Do you really have someone you’re seeing?”

Ah, so he overheard my conversation with Ju-yeon.

Yu-young blinked for a moment before nodding firmly.

“Yes. I do.”

Even if it was a secret from others, for some reason, he felt he had to be honest with Yoon-seok. If his guess was correct, giving false hope would only be cruel.

“Ah…”

“…….”

“So it’s true.”

Yoon-seok’s expression turned complicated as he lowered his head.

The silence between them was filled with another gust of cold wind.

Then, Yoon-seok looked up again, his voice quieter than before.

“Assistant Han… Is the person you’re seeing… the Team Leader?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Yu-young felt his heart drop. His eyes widened in surprise.

‘Was it that obvious?’

Now that they were officially together, it wasn’t like getting caught by coworkers would be catastrophic. But he and Do-won hadn’t yet agreed on revealing their relationship at work.

So he hesitated to answer.

But as he looked into Yoon-seok’s steady gaze, he realized there was no use in trying to deny it. Yoon-seok was already convinced. He wouldn’t ask something this significant so casually unless he had strong suspicions.

Yu-young stood frozen for a moment, his lips slightly parted, unable to say anything.

Before he could respond, Yoon-seok let out a small, bitter laugh.

“…Ah, you don’t have to answer if it’s difficult for you.”

“…….”

“But… since we’re already talking about this, can I confess something?”

Before Yu-young could say anything, Yoon-seok lowered his head again and continued.

“I like you. No… I liked you, Assistant Han.”

“…….”

“I’m sorry for confessing when you already have someone.”

“…Yoon-seok.”

“But if it’s the Team Leader, then… I guess it can’t be helped.”

The smile on Yoon-seok’s face lacked all its usual brightness.

Seeing his usually cheerful junior wear such an expression made Yu-young’s chest ache.

But there was nothing he could do to change the situation.

All he could do was listen as Yoon-seok spoke.

“Team Leader Choi is just… perfect in every way. You two really suit each other.”

“…….”

“If it’s him, then… It’s going to be tough for me for a while, but I think I’ll be able to let go.”

“Yoon-seok…”

“You don’t have to look at me like I’m some pitiful guy.”

His face looked like it might crumble at any moment, yet after saying his piece, there was also a certain relief in his expression. Even with that exhausted look, he forced the corners of his lips upward.

“I probably seem selfish for this, but… now that I’ve said it, I actually feel lighter. …I’m sorry again for confessing like this, Assistant Han.”

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You didn’t do anything wrong, Yoon-seok.”

There was nothing wrong with liking someone. It was just that their paths didn’t align.

Now that Yu-young had experienced the pain of unrequited love himself, he wanted to offer some kind of comfort. But what could he possibly say to someone who had just confessed their feelings for him?

No words would make a difference right now.

Even so, Yu-young called out to Yoon-seok. There was something he needed to tell him.

“Yoon-seok… You know you’re a really good person, right? Kind, and genuinely good-hearted.”

“Assistant Han, you don’t have to say things like that to comfort me.”

“I know. I know it doesn’t help. But even so, I just had to say it.”

Yu-young extended his hand.

Yoon-seok hesitated for a moment, staring at the small hand before slowly reaching out and clasping it. A gentle warmth spread between them.

“You’re a better person than you think you are, Yoon-seok. I just hope you realize that. And… this might sound cruel, but… to me, you’re a dear junior and colleague. That won’t change, ever.”

“Haha… Thank you.”

Yu-young knew this wasn’t the best comfort he could offer.

No matter what he said now, it would only sting Yoon-seok like a thorn.

But he still wanted him to know. Even if Yoon-seok ended up remembering him as the person who hurt him, Yu-young wanted to tell him this much.

With time, this pain would fade, dissolving like ink in water.

And one day, when fate allowed it, Yoon-seok would meet someone better suited for him—someone who would make him truly happy.

Another gust of wind blew past, making Yu-young shiver. He gestured toward the door.

“It’s freezing, Yoon-seok. You’ll catch a cold. Let’s head back down.”

“Yeah.”

As they stepped into the elevator, Yu-young suddenly broke the silence.

There was something he had been wondering about but hadn’t been able to bring himself to ask.

“By the way, Yoon-seok… how did you know? That it was the Team Leader?”

“Ah.”

Yoon-seok let out a small laugh.

“I just had a feeling. Ever since I manifested as an Alpha, I’ve been more sensitive to these things. There was always a faint trace of the Team Leader’s pheromones mixed with yours. Even now, actually.”

“…Oh.”

“And more than that… it was in the way he looked at you.”

With a soft ding, the elevator came to a stop.

But Yu-young wasn’t paying attention to the doors opening—he was too focused on Yoon-seok’s words.

“He always looked at you so tenderly. No matter where you were, his gaze was always on you. It’s been that way for a while now.”

“…….”

Ah.

That was all Yu-young could say in response.

“But honestly, I think it was better for me that I figured it out early on. Once I started suspecting it was the Team Leader, I think I was already beginning to let go.”

“…I see.”

“Yeah.”

The doors opened, and they stepped out side by side. The office was bustling with people getting ready for work.

Just before they walked in, Yoon-seok spoke up again.

“Oh, Assistant Han. Don’t worry—no one else knows. Not even Assistant Kim Ju-yeon. I won’t say anything to anyone, so you don’t have to worry.”

“…Thank you, Yoon-seok.”

“Then, I’ll be heading off.”

Even with that bitter expression, Yoon-seok forced a smile.

Yu-young watched him walk away, noticing how his usually bright face [Read on]looked strangely pale. His heart ached at the sight.

After staring at Yoon-seok’s retreating figure for a moment, Yu-young headed to the break room and poured himself a glass of cold water.

He let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the heaviness in his chest.

It was painful to see someone he cherished go through this, but there was nothing he could do.

This pain belonged to Yoon-seok alone.

Until the day he was able to fully move on, all Yu-young could do was quietly cheer him on from afar—pretending not to notice his heartache and waiting for the day they could smile together again as just senior and junior.