GCT 37

He should have just said no more firmly, so why was he stuttering, swept up by the mood? Thinking back on it, Lear was boiling with anger. He deliberately bit Yohan’s tongue lightly and kissed him as if to show everyone. Eruptions of cheers and, at the same time, curses broke out all over. To be honest, it was also true that his actions had become excessive due to the crowd’s intense reaction.

“Haa…”

As soon as their lips parted, Yohan buried his head, his face beet red, while Lear, looking at the kiss cam screen, grabbed Yohan’s left hand, lifted it up, and showed the fourth finger to everyone.

Saying he was dying of embarrassment, Yohan gritted his teeth, kept his head down, and said to Lear.

“Hey, this is being broadcast.”

“It’s the mid-game commercial break.”

“Someone probably filmed it.”

“Then I’ll just sue them as soon as they upload it.”

“Anyway, you never lose an argument.”

Lear shrugged his shoulders, his face full of satisfaction. But Yohan was no longer comfortable staying here.

“Let’s go home.”

“Why? We’re winning the game.”

“Just, let’s go.”

“You said you’d watch until the end.”

“Please.”

“Weren’t these tickets hard to get?”

“Hey!”

Yohan tugged at the hem of Lear’s clothes. The game had already started again, but he just couldn’t sit here any longer.

“If you say so, then I guess there’s no choice.”

Lear wasn’t disappointed at all, but with a face that looked extremely disappointed, he clicked his tongue and handed the Sprite in his hand to the woman sitting next to Yohan, who was still staring at him.

“Here, have this.”

Lear gave a smiling-eyed glance at the woman’s reluctant face. It was the expression of a victor.

“You know you were in the wrong this time, right?”

“No, I’m telling you, I didn’t know something like that would suddenly happen there either.”

“As expected, should I just buy the Lakers and get rid of the kiss cam? Such an indecent and terrible… A huge accident almost happened.”

Yohan let out a deep sigh.

“Forget it. It’s not like I’ll be going to a Lakers game for at least 10 years.”

“Yohan, honey. Darling… will you be okay? It’s your favorite sport after football.”

As Lear spoke while holding the steering wheel, Yohan glared at him intensely. Lear, who was speaking with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, pretending to be sympathetic, seemed so detestable he could die. Yohan’s fingers twitched as he debated whether or not to pull at Lear’s lips.

“Honey, don’t look at me like that. Unless you want to get knotted twice in one day.”

“You know you’re really annoying and detestable, right? You caught me on one little thing, is that it?”

“But, you were in the wrong just now. You’re Yohan Crawford now, not Yohan Kwon. With another woman… in front of all those people. What were you going to do if I hadn’t come?”

“No, I’m telling you, I was flustered too.”

Lear clicked his tongue and pulled the car out of the parking lot. Then, his expression hardened as if he had never been smiling, and he said.

“Even though you’re a married man.”

“Hey, I’m really being unfairly blamed here. I really had no intention of doing it. I’m innocent. And besides, you were the one who ended up kissing me.”

“While your husband was watching with his eyes wide open.”

“Right. Thanks to you, I ended up broadcasting such a deep kiss in front of everyone. I wonder if it’s spread on social media by now? I won’t be able to pretend to be single anywhere I go.”

At Yohan’s words, Lear suddenly stopped the car in the middle of driving and said.

“Were you planning to pretend to be single?”

“It’s just an expression. Have you ever seen me go around without my ring on?”

“Ha, you’re so dangerous.”

“You know you’re the only one who thinks that, right?”

Despite Yohan’s words, Lear still had a face full of discontent. Yohan figured that at this rate, he wouldn’t even make it home and would end up spending the whole night in a standoff with Lear on the side of the road, so he sighed deeply and gave in.

“Hah, what do you want.”

“A peck.”

“What?”

“Give me a peck.”

Yohan looked at Lear with a look of disgust. However, Lear shamelessly offered his right cheek and tapped it with his finger.

“You’re telling me you’d be satisfied with just that?”

At Yohan’s question, which was full of suspicion, Lear nodded seriously. With a reluctant expression, Yohan clicked his tongue once as if he had no choice, then, with a slightly nervous face, he gave Lear a light kiss on one cheek. Only then did Lear’s tightly hardened face relax.

“Sometimes, things like this feel ticklish and nice.”

“Whatever, just drive.”

Yohan felt a tickle in his stomach. Sometimes he wondered if he had decided to marry Lear too impulsively, but at times like this, he felt a strange mix of cringing and feeling like he could die from happiness.

‘I’m crazy. Really.’

Is this what it feels like to be blinded by something? Lear looked seriously cute. Yohan pretended to be unfazed, looking out the car window and furrowing his brow.

The scenery, which had become familiar at some point, seemed to make him feel strange. It felt like just a little while ago they were wandering all over the place picking out their newlywed home, but now it was amazing how everything had become so familiar.

Of course, as long as he was with Lear, it wouldn’t matter if they lived in a rat hole instead of a Malibu mansion with an ocean view.

‘I shouldn’t give in this easily…’

Yohan smacked his lips, blaming himself for his heart so easily weakening towards Lear. And Lear did not miss that moment.

“By the way, Yohan.”

“Yeah.”

“We’ve got a ton of vacation days for a change, should we go on a trip or something?”

Only then did Yohan look at Lear and ask.

“A trip?”

“Open the glove box.”

Lear gestured to the glove box with his chin as he drove.

“What is it?”

“Go on.”

Yohan was immediately suspicious of Lear’s somewhat lecherous expression. He wondered if a pile of condoms would come pouring out if he opened the glove box.

“It’s not something weird, is it?”

“Something weird?”

“Considering what you’ve done to me on a normal day—no, even just today, isn’t it reasonable for me to be suspicious?”

“That’s—”

“It’s not something like a sex trip or a ticket to bed, is it?”

“Honey, aren’t you being a little too lewd? No matter how good our sexual chemistry is, if we keep at it like that, our bones will wear out.”

Yohan snorted and opened the glove box. And inside, there weren’t condoms, but passports and plane tickets. Yohan, bewildered, blinked his eyes, then turned his head to ask Lear.

“Lear, are we really… going on a trip?”

“Stay a few days in Rome, then a winery tour in Tuscany. How does that sound, honey?”

“That’s insane.”

His heart began to pound like crazy. Yohan couldn’t hide his emotions and, with sparkling eyes, looked at the plane tickets in his hand, then lifted his butt slightly to give Lear a kiss on the cheek and said.

“Want me to suck you off?”

Lear almost hit the car in front of them for a moment, but since they had to leave for Rome tomorrow, he held on tight to his reason and focused on driving.

“Ha, honey, I feel like my dick is going to explode already. First, let’s get home and—”

“Fuck, Lear. I can’t take it. Just step on it, quick!”

“Darling…!”

Yohan felt as if all the things Lear had done to him today could be forgiven.

At the prospect of a sudden trip to Italy, Yohan was more excited than anyone. It was because it was his first trip to Europe. Never mind that he had given Lear a blowjob in the car as soon as they got home; he was so busy hastily packing and planning the travel itinerary on the internet that he couldn’t sleep properly. However, he was in a state of being more energetic and happier than anyone.

“Just how many Hawaiian shirts did you pack?”

“Because there’s nothing as comfortable and cool as these.”

“Won’t it be chilly at night?”

“Then, you can just hold me.”

At Yohan’s sudden, direct words, Lear clutched his chest.

“Darling, if you keep saying cute things like that… I might die early of a heart attack.”

“If you die, I’m going to remarry right away, so stop saying such weak things and keep your head on straight.”

“How could you say something so harsh?”

The guy, who was unnecessarily huge and had a face like a Dolce & Gabbana model before the nepo babies took over, pouted his lips and tried to act cute, which didn’t suit him at all. At first, Yohan had been flustered by that behavior, but now, being used to it, he closed the suitcase and said with a calm expression.

“You think acting cute will solve everything… but it doesn’t suit you at all, you know?”

“So if I die first, are you going to remarry someone cute?”

“Yes. It would be nice if they were cute, adorable, and petite. Someone who fits perfectly in one arm.”

Yohan stood up from his spot and held back his laughter as he looked at Lear’s sullen face. Then, in a serious voice, he called his name.

“Lear.”

“Yeah.”

“Look at me.”

At Yohan’s words, Lear raised his head and met his eyes. Yohan opened both his arms just like that. At that, Lear naturally approached Yohan, curled up his body, and hugged him tightly.

“So live a long life.”

“Honey.”

“You’d be pissed if I remarried, wouldn’t you?”

“Remarry? You can never remarry. Even if I die, I won’t go to heaven; I’ll become an evil spirit and stick by your side to torment you.”

“That’s scary.”

“Yes, I’m a scary person. Didn’t you know I only pretend to be a good person like this in front of you?”

“Oh dear, is that so? My husband is so scary, my hands are shaking.”

Yohan let out a laugh and patted Lear’s back. Then, he subtly glanced at the watch on his wrist and said.

“By the way, shouldn’t we be heading out soon?”

“Ah, is it that time already?”

“Let’s just grab breakfast on the way out.”

“Whatever you want to do.”

As soon as Yohan let him go, Lear made a disappointed face. At the same time, his gaze turned slightly lecherous, and Yohan lightly punched Lear’s chest with his fist.

“Is that the only thing in your head?”

“I wasn’t thinking anything, what are you talking about?”

At Lear’s violet eyes that feigned innocence, Yohan grabbed the handle of the suitcase and said.

“Whatever, didn’t you say Ms. Sheridan was coming?”

“Probably, she should be here by now.”

“We should at least say hello before we go.”

“We didn’t even say hello when the next-door neighbors moved in recently. Do we really need to…”

“What are you talking about? Is that the same thing?”

At Yohan’s glare, Lear nodded as if he had no choice, then left the room first. And a short while later, just as Lear had said, they were able to meet Sheridan, who had already arrived.

“Ms. Sheridan.”

Sheridan, the butler, who usually worked mainly at the main family house and managed the household affairs, but had come to their newlywed home specially for Lear and Yohan today, was holding an armful of daffodils. She nodded her head slightly and gave a light greeting.

“It’s been a while. Mr. Lear. Mr. Yohan.”

“I know, right? Was it three months ago?”

“It would have been about that long. It was Ms. Laura’s birthday then.”

At Sheridan’s words, Yohan smiled and said.

“That’s right. By the way, the clothes you’re wearing today are very stylish.”

When he complimented Sheridan, who was wearing a beige suit, she became slightly shy.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve thought this before, but bright colors really suit you, Sheridan. By the way, what are those flowers?”

Yohan asked, his eyes full of curiosity, gesturing towards the daffodils she was holding.

“The next-door neighbors gave them as a housewarming gift.”

“The neighbors? The house with all the cypress trees planted?”

“Yes… well…”

“They didn’t even say hello to us…. Actually, before we moved in, we were deciding between the house next door and this one. The architect is the same, but the feel is subtly different. Ah, there weren’t any cypress trees then.”

Sheridan replied awkwardly, asking if that was so.

“So what kind of person moved in?”

As if uncomfortable with the attention focused on her, Sheridan nodded slightly, coughed twice, and diverted the attention that had been concentrated on her.

“By the way, is there anything else you need to tell me, or anything you need to request?”

“No, well…”

Lear, who had been listening to Yohan and Sheridan’s conversation from the side, asked.

“Sheridan. So are you going to keep hiding it like that?”

“Pardon?”

“I can sense someone else’s pheromones, not Sheridan’s. This has never happened before.”

“It was a woman much younger than me, and it seemed she had some difficulty controlling her pheromones. I suppose that’s why it rubbed off on me.”

“Come on, the flowers are a bit suspicious too…. Didn’t they deliberately buy flowers similar to their pheromones?”

At Lear’s words, Yohan looked fascinated. Pheromones. It was something he, as a beta, could never sense, and it was also the first time he had learned that Sheridan’s secondary gender was alpha. Although Yohan was a non-secondary gender person, he had never thought to ask about others’ secondary genders, so he hadn’t known.

“Oh dear, I forgot to take a scent neutralizer. My apologies.”

“No, you don’t have to apologize. So who is it?”

Sheridan looked a little troubled.

“It’s really not like that. The new person who moved in next door came to say hello. The blatant pheromones were flustering as well.”

Lear smiled slightly at Sheridan’s denial. It was because unless the new neighbor was actively trying to seduce someone, they wouldn’t do something so thoughtless as to get their alpha pheromones on another person like this.

“If you say so…. Anyway, I always welcome whatever choice you make, Sheridan. You were always alone, using work as an excuse. You should enjoy yourself now. I don’t mind if it’s an alpha. What’s the big deal with secondary genders these days?”

“I appreciate the thought, but I am still lacking in many ways. And there is still much to be done.”

Yohan nudged Lear’s side with his elbow as if to tell him to get a clue, and asked Sheridan.

“Oh, by the way, is your grandmother doing well?”

“Yes. I heard she will be starting a shoot soon. Perhaps because of that, she’s been staying at the main house lately.”

“But are you okay? If your grandmother is at home, aren’t you busy, Ms. Butler?”

At Yohan’s kind question, Sheridan replied with a good-natured face.

“It’s fine. There are many people who have worked at the main house for a long time. Even if I’m away for a few days, it’s not something to be greatly concerned about, but…”

Sheridan glanced around once and then trailed off. At her behavior, Yohan scratched his cheek. For some reason, he felt more nervous than when he met Lear’s father, Patrick, and his grandmother, Laura.

“Sheridan, if you have something to say, finish it.”

At Lear’s words, Sheridan cleared her throat once and said in a cautious voice.

“It’s nothing major… but I see some areas that need improvement in terms of management. I suppose it’s because there are no live-in employees.”

“We can’t show the live-in staff an unsightly scene.”

“……”

“We’re still newlyweds, you know.”

Yohan, who was next to him, felt somehow embarrassed and lightly hit Lear.

‘That guy will probably still be calling it a honeymoon 10 years from now.’

Lear, with a shameless face, winked at Yohan as if for him to see, then pulled on his arm and said to Sheridan.

“Well then, please take good care of things while we’re gone.”

“Don’t worry about here, and have a safe trip.”

After saying their goodbyes to Sheridan, Lear and Yohan headed to the garage. They loaded the SUV full of luggage, got in the car, started the engine, and after exiting the main gate, they were about to leave the neighborhood.

BOOM—!

A loud explosion was heard. Lear, who had been smoothly exiting the gate, instinctively slammed on the brakes, and the startled Yohan grabbed the seatbelt and let out a groan.

And not long after, a second explosion was heard. Even though they were inside the car, their bodies swayed uncontrollably.