RACA 15

Once again, he swallowed his complaints and glanced at Pyo Jaebeom. His smiling face with eyes crinkled shut, was infuriatingly smug.

“Just a moment. I’ll bring the snacks.”

Recalling there was beer in the fridge, Eunsol tried to rise from him seat.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll get it.”

Before he could react, Pyo Jaebeom had already risen and walked briskly toward the kitchen.

“Huh? What? Where’s he going?”

He muttered to himself before suddenly realizing. It seemed Pyo Jaebeom must have his own private liquor stash somewhere.

“Well, he’s loaded, so he probably stocks up on expensive booze.”

After all, it’s the kind of job where bribes to get favors wouldn’t be surprising. Recalling his preconceptions about gangsters, Eunsol hurriedly cleared the empty dishes and wiped down the table.

“But is it wine or whiskey? Surely not makgeolli or sake?”

The choice of drink would affect the snacks, but unfortunately, he had no information from Pyo Jaebeom. In times like this, the easiest option, fruit, was best.

Eunsol opened the refrigerator door and scanned its contents quickly. He didn’t need to look long before finding the ingredients he wanted.

He picked out cheese and prosciutto that looked expensive at a glance. From the produce section, he grabbed melon and strawberries.

“So that’s why it was in the fridge, it was for snacks.”

Eunsol muttered as he laid out the armful of items he’d gathered. It was because of the smoked ham that had become the ingredient for the glossy kimchi fried rice on the first day.

He cut the melon into bite-sized pieces and placed a slice of prosciutto on top of each one. He’d learned this dish during his brief stint in a pub kitchen, and it made another perfect snack.

He washed the strawberries thoroughly, dried them, removed the stems, halved them, and arranged them decoratively beside the melon. The colors looked nice together. He sliced various cheeses and placed them on another plate. He found nuts in the pantry and scooped them into a separate deep dish.

“Not bad, huh?”

“Eek!”

Eunsol turned around in fright. When had he appeared? Pyo Jaebeom stood there, holding a hefty bottle of liquor in one hand.

“J-just, just give a little… warning…”

Honestly, was that even human? More like a big cat predator. How else could he appear without making a sound?

Clutching his startled chest, Eunsol found himself glaring at Pyo Jaebeom before immediately softening his eyes when their gazes met.

“What?”

“Nothing… Never mind. Um, please sit down. I made some snacks.”

Eunsol reminded himself of a fact he kept forgetting because of the familiar face. The man sitting before his was a gang boss who could decapitate someone if he got angry.

Of course, he probably wouldn’t actually do that, but isn’t that just the nature of his line of work?

Having judged him based on stereotypes, Eunsol tried to carry the prepared food to the table.

“Come with me.”

But the moment he lifted the tray, Pyo Jaebeom turned and left the kitchen. Startled, he followed him to find himself at a window overlooking the cityscape.

The space, complete with a table and plush sofa, gave off the distinct vibe of where Pyo Jaebeom would typically “enjoy his drinks.”

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

Eunsol set down the liquor bottle and hesitantly approached the spot he indicated, lowering himself onto the seat. After transferring the plates from the tray and setting down the glasses, he felt his gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that…”

“Just pour me a drink.”

“Huh?”

Why was he smiling so unsettlingly again? With the corners of his eyes crinkling, he looked twice as mischievous as usual.

“You went straight for the straight glass.”

“Ah…”

That was just habit, something he’d picked up working at the bar. Eunsol glanced at the bottle Tae-jun had brought.

The cap, performing a dramatic magic trick as if ready to race down a track at any moment, belonged to Blanton’s Gold Edition, a premium line among bourbon whiskeys.

He’d never tasted it himself, so he didn’t know the flavor. He only remembered coworkers describing its sophisticated taste as having a sharp bite with a hint of vanilla.

‘I can’t even begin to imagine what it tastes like.’

Why would he ever get to drink such an expensive liquor anyway? Besides, he’d discreetly checked its price, it was pretty steep.

To keep a bottle of liquor that costs over 100,000 won per glass just sitting there like that is the kind of swagger you’d expect from a gangster boss who controls the financial sector.

“Your eyes are sparkling brightly. “

His tone was playful yet somehow confrontational, typical of Pyo Jaebeom. Only then did Eunsol realize he’d dared to daydream in front of a predator, and he flinched.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem too upset. Instead, he poured liquor into two glasses with a light, almost humming motion. In the bottle, it had appeared a deep honey color, but poured into the glasses, it seemed lighter.

“Here.”

As he stared down at it, Pyo Jaebeom personally pushed a glass toward Eunsol. Not content with that, he even raised his glass suggesting a toast. Eunsol awkwardly clutched his glass in imitation.

“Cheers.”

The glasses clinked with a clear, resonant sound as they collided. Following Pyo Jaebeom, who downed his drink in one gulp, Eun Sol raised his glass to his lips.

Immediately, a rich, woody aroma filled his senses, like stepping deep into a forest. Within it, a faint sweetness lingered, definitely reminiscent of the light chatter among part-time workers.

“Kuh…”

But the alcohol touching his tongue was fiercer than anticipated. His brows furrowed involuntarily, drawing laughter.

“This is totally baby-strength.”

Brows still knitted, Pyo Jaebeom refilled his glass without touching the snacks. He treated this expensive liquor worse than soju.

“No, it’s not.”

“No?”

“Yes.”

“How old are you?”

“I may look like this, but I’m twenty-seven.”

Eunsol answered firmly, clearly annoyed by the question that assumed he was young. He almost added that he’d earned a reward leave for marksmanship training and completed his full military service term, but stopped himself.

It wasn’t just because he’d noticed Pyo Jaebeom’s forearms, made more prominent by his short-sleeved shirt. Nor was it because he suspected that if he mentioned his Army background, he’d casually reveal he’d been in special forces.

‘Come to think of it, there was a rumor that Pyo Jaebeom was from a special unit only Alphas could join.’

It wasn’t just a plot point in the drama; rumors circulated on social media and forums about how physically gifted Pyo Jaebeom truly was.

His hobbies were diverse too, swimming, shooting, horseback riding, I believe. That’s why various physical variety shows tried to invite him, but he reportedly declined, saying he needed to focus on acting.

Ah, so that’s why he’s drinking that.

A liquor bottle sculpted with a dynamic horse and rider? Come to think of it, the taste of the liquor suited Jaebeom perfectly.

That rich, deep aroma, that faint sweetness lingering on the tip of the tongue. The moment he sipped it, he recalled the intense alpha pheromones radiating from him. How he’d been helplessly swept away by his overwhelming presence, as if he were declaring himself the apex predator.

“Seven years old?”

“Eek, no!”

Eunsol jumped in his seat at the sudden interruption. His reaction was heightened precisely because he’d been replaying the events from just hours ago.

Fortunately, Pyo Jaebeom didn’t seem to notice anything odd, so he quickly spoke up. He was startled, but he had to set the record straight.

“TWEN! TY! SE! VEN!”

Pyo Jaebeom watched Eunsol, who was flustered as he answered his age one syllable at a time, with apparent interest.

“Ah, really? And you served in the military too?”

“Of course!”

“Oh… really? Where?”

“I served in Gangwon Province.”

“Ah, really?”

Ever since earlier, his way of raising the end of his sentences sounded like he was deliberately teasing him. Was it just his imagination? Probably not. If it were, his mouth wouldn’t be curled up like that, making him want to pinch it.

“That’s surprising. I guess they send Omegas to the front lines these days. Back in my time, even if you volunteered, you’d only get near the capital area.”

His playful remark made Eunsol’s face freeze unconsciously. He’d forgotten. That he was an Omega.

‘Ah, another slip-up.’

“No… I mean…”

How to salvage this? Eunsol’s forehead glistened with cold sweat as his mind raced.

Should I just spill everything now?

I woke up inside a drama!

What would Pyo Jaebeom say?

“Yeah, right.”

If he just scoffs dismissively, calling it another one of his tricks, that’d be lucky. This time, he might bring in a psychiatrist instead of a genetic specialist for the evaluation.

The one who halted Eunsol’s thoughts as they careened off in yet another bizarre direction was none other than the gang boss across from him, who had just tapped his ankle.

“Guess it manifested late because you’re a baby.”

“I told you I’m not a baby…”

His protest was weaker than before. Yeah, if he’d just said he was seven, people might have accepted it.