AOA 16

Baek Mugyeong was quite serious, but I didn’t blame him. From my experience before the regression, Choi Jaeha was unpredictable, someone who could go off in any direction.

“I really am fine, but if you feel that way, I’ll accept the apology. Please get back safely. I’ll be heading in now.”

I gave a polite farewell and walked off first. Without looking back even once, I returned to the bungalow.

*

“Hey, ugly. You are using separate rooms from Mugyeong hyung, right?”

So Baek Mugyeong had lied. Choi Jaeha appeared confidently in front of me and spat out a crude line.

It was dinnertime. The cafeteria was filled with people enjoying their meals.

Rather than ordering room service at the bungalow, I preferred to pick and eat the things I liked. I’d come to the cafeteria knowing I might run into Choi Jaeha or Baek Mugyeong, wanting to chew over my solitude amidst the bustle.

Baek Mugyeong had said he’d make sure I wouldn’t run into Choi Jaeha, but I already knew it wouldn’t work out that way. So I wasn’t particularly surprised when Choi Jaeha casually sat across from me.

“Yeah. We use separate rooms.”

“Did you just drop honorifics?”

“I don’t know your age. You look younger than me.”

“You look even younger, okay? How old are you anyway? I’m twenty-two.”

“Same age. I’m twenty-two too.”

“Ugh, fine… Just speak informally.”

Choi Jaeha was twenty-two and still in college. He looked way younger than his age, and his behavior was completely unpredictable. Even now, I had no idea why he came looking for me.

“What do you want?”

“If you haven’t manifested yet, that means you haven’t slept with Mugyeong hyung, right?”

“That’s private. No comment.”

“So it’s true. Hyung doesn’t do it with guys. Even if they’re omegas. Shit.”

Even though it was only our second meeting, Choi Jaeha didn’t hold back. I had to suppress a bitter laugh, suddenly recalling the story of how he once tried and failed to sleep with Baek Mugyeong.

He had once drunkenly whined that even though he was in heat, Baek Mugyeong had just walked away, and although he was definitely an alpha, he must’ve had something wrong with his dick. I’d sat next to him patting his back and kept pouring him drinks.

“You do know that Mugyeong hyung is a dominant alpha, right? Most omegas can’t handle him. You’re not even manifested, he wouldn’t even look your way. You should know that.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Since he wasn’t drunk this time, Choi Jaeha didn’t start shouting about how Baek Mugyeong was defective. Instead, he criticized me bluntly, saying I didn’t match Baek Mugyeong at all.

Since it was something I already knew, I just nodded quietly. That made Choi Jaeha’s face crumple.

“You married Mugyeong hyung.”

“It was a political marriage.”

“Then you won’t mind if I steal him?”

“Go ahead.”

I answered honestly. Choi Jaeha, who didn’t hide his emotions, was easy to deal with. He was blunt, impulsive, and said whatever came to mind, but he wasn’t underhanded or fake.

Before the regression, I had followed him around like a lackey. But he never did anything truly cruel to me. He was the only one who celebrated my birthday and gave me a gift. He’d looked after me more than anyone else, so maybe he’d even shed a few tears after I died.

If I could, I wanted to be friends with him again this time. But since I was now in my right mind, I couldn’t guarantee how things would go. Still, I hoped we could have a good relationship.

Baek Mugyeong was a perfect decoy. And just as I thought, Choi Jaeha brightened immediately when I told him to do as he pleased.

“No take-backs, okay?”

“Just don’t do it where I can see. That’s basic courtesy.”

“Hahaha. Got it.”

Choi Jaeha smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling like a cat. Then, as if in a fantastic mood, he started chattering like a bird. He began with the story of how he first met Baek Mugyeong, something I’d heard even before the regression, but I didn’t tell him to stop.

I genuinely hoped things would work out between him and Baek Mugyeong. That way, maybe Baek Mugyeong would agree to divorce me more easily.

“Want ice cream? They’ve got Häagen-Dazs here.”

Even while listening to his nonstop talking, I still ate. I got up to grab some ice cream and asked just in case.

Choi Jaeha liked Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream. His catlike eyes sparkled with expectation.

“Do they have chocolate?”

“They do. I’ll get it for you.”

I brought back a cone of strawberry for myself and chocolate for Choi Jaeha. We sat across from each other, eating ice cream in a rather pleasant mood, until a shadow loomed over us. A tall figure.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

It was Baek Mugyeong, his face stiff as stone. He glared at Choi Jaeha. I didn’t know what had happened between them, but the cheerful look on Choi Jaeha’s face vanished in an instant.

“We were just talking! Damn… Fine, it was my fault! I’m going!”

Yelling in frustration, Choi Jaeha shoved the rest of his ice cream into his mouth, stood up, and stormed off. Then Baek Mugyeong sat down in his place.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Having a conversation.”

I took a bite of my strawberry ice cream and answered calmly. I’d mostly just been listening, but technically, we had been talking.

Baek Mugyeong didn’t seem satisfied with that answer, and one of his eyebrows twitched slightly. It was the first time I’d seen him react like that.

Despite being in a picture-perfect seaside resort, his outfit was immaculate: a white shirt, ivory pants, and even a belt. The only thing relaxed about him was his naturally messy hairstyle, he hadn’t used any product. That slight difference aside, his good looks shone no matter what he wore. With his sharp features, he looked more like a mafia boss on vacation than a tourist.

“Don’t get close to him. To Choi Jaeha.”

His low warning reminded me of what he had said before the regression. He’d told me not to hang around Choi Jaeha, but it hadn’t taken long before he gave up.

Instead of agreeing like I had back then, I simply stared at him in silence. A quiet refusal.

“Jeong Minchae.”

“Didn’t we agree to stay out of each other’s business? Who I meet and what I do isn’t something I need your permission for.”

I took a deep breath and responded logically. Honestly, I did want to build a trustworthy relationship with Baek Mugyeong. In situations like this, it might’ve been better to just say “okay” and move on.

But that would’ve made me a liar. If I wanted to become friends with Choi Jaeha again, I’d have to keep seeing him.

Since I couldn’t explain that well, I brought up our agreement to mind our own business, but somehow, it came out sounding combative. Sure enough, Baek Mugyeong’s expression turned stone cold.

My heart thumped uneasily, maybe I’d messed up, but it was too late to take it back.

“For the same reason, if you meet with Choi Jaeha or do anything with him, I won’t interfere either. Just don’t let me see it.”

I added the same condition I’d given to Choi Jaeha. Even if we were in a political marriage and living as a show-window couple, there were still boundaries that should be respected.

Baek Mugyeong’s face stiffened as he pressed his lips into a line.

“Choi Jaeha is the kind of person who follows someone all the way to their honeymoon. He’s as irrational as you said, a stalker.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve warned you, Jeong Minchae.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

He emphasized how dangerous Choi Jaeha was, but it went in one ear and out the other. Clearly dissatisfied, Baek Mugyeong furrowed his brow.

Honestly, if our roles were reversed, I’d be just as frustrated. But I had no intention of becoming enemies with Choi Jaeha.

“I thought you were a sensible person, Jeong Minchae.”

“I’m a little foolish.”

I answered back to the end. Baek Mugyeong looked at me like I was a child stubbornly demanding an expensive toy. After a long staring contest, he gave in and said I could do whatever I wanted before walking away.

Left alone, I let out a bitter laugh. Before the regression, I’d never had this long of a conversation with Baek Mugyeong. Even though we lived under the same roof, he was always out, and his secretary usually handled any schedule checks.

Eventually, when he found out I was hanging around as Choi Jaeha’s lackey, he, very rarely, warned me in person. He’d told me to stay away from Choi Jaeha as much as possible.

Back then, I was already out of my mind, so I was just a yes-man. I’d grinned and promised to do so, then gone out again the moment Choi Jaeha called.

That happened about four times before Baek Mugyeong finally gave up. When he said, “Do whatever you want,” his face was filled not with concern but with disgust. To be fair, the situation warranted it.

At least I hadn’t been hurt by his words back then because I hadn’t been in my right mind. But now… it did sting a little.

Still, the fact that I’d won an argument with someone so cold and emotionally distant was worth celebrating.

I considered treating myself to another ice cream, but ended up holding back, as a chill suddenly crept into my body.