Chapter 4
The final bell echoed faintly across the campus, signaling the end of the day. Students began to pour out of their classrooms in clusters, their voices blending into a soft hum of conversation. Among them, Mathen walked beside Lucas, his expression calm, almost distant, as if his thoughts were somewhere far beyond the present moment.
"Sunbae! Thank you for today!"
The voice came from behind bright, sincere, and unmistakably directed at him.
Mathen turned slightly. Rino stood a few steps away, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes carrying a quiet gratitude.
"It was not a big deal," Mathen replied, his tone composed, though his gaze lingered on Rino a fraction longer than necessary.
Rino nodded, then looked toward Lucas. "Hello, Lucas sunbae." Lucas returned the greeting with a friendly grin. "Hello." The three of them fell into step together, an unexpected trio bound by coincidence more than intention.
Lucas glanced at Rino. "How do you usually go home?" "By train," Rino answered simply.
Lucas's eyes lit up. "Same here."
F
or a moment, Rino's expression brightened noticeably. "Really? Which station, sunbae?"
As Lucas mentioned it, Rino's smile widened, their shared route creating an instant connection. Meanwhile, Mathen walked beside them in silence, feeling oddly excluded from the conversation.
"Then let's go together," Lucas suggested casually.
"Sure," Rino replied, before turning toward Mathen. "What about you, sunbae?"
Lucas chuckled lightly. "You're asking the wrong person, Rino. He's a boy born with a silver spoon. His car is probably waiting outside the gate." Mathen shot him a glance. "So are you. Just because yours is in another city right now, that's why you're taking the train."
Lucas laughed. "Okay, okay. But still, I would've been bored. At least now I have Rino."
With that, Lucas casually placed his hand on Rino's shoulder. Something in Mathen tightened.
Before he could think it through, he stepped forward, gently but firmly removing Lucas's hand. "Don't bother him," he said, his voice low, controlled. Without waiting for a response, he walked ahead toward the gate.
Outside, his car was already waiting. The butler stepped forward promptly, taking his bag and opening the door with practiced precision.
As Mathen settled into the seat, he heard faint voices behind him.
"Bye, sunbae!"
"See you tomorrow!"
He didn't turn back.
As the car began to move, Mathen leaned slightly against the window, his reflection staring back at him. A strange uneasiness settled in his chest subtle, unfamiliar, and impossible to name.
Why did that bother me? This questions coming. But he had no answer.
Meanwhile, Rino and Lucas boarded the train together. The rhythmic motion of the carriage and the soft chatter of passengers created a comfortable atmosphere.
Their conversation flowed easily light, effortless, and unburdened. Soon, the train slowed.
"This is my stop," Lucas said, standing up. He looked at Rino with a teasing smile. "See? It wasn't boring, was it?"
Rino smiled faintly. "Yeah… it wasn't."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye, sunbae."
As Lucas stepped off, the train doors closed, leaving Rino alone with his thoughts.
The reflection in the window showed his face but his mind was elsewhere. For some reason, the way Mathen had stepped in earlier replayed in his head. That moment… why did it feel different? He shook his head lightly, trying to dismiss the thought.
The next morning, Rino entered the classroom with a noticeably dull expression. His usual quiet calm was replaced with something heavier.
"What happened to you?" his friend asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm just sleepy," Rino replied.
His friend smirked. "You're always sleepy. Sleepyhead."
Then, leaning closer, he added with excitement, "There's a basketball competition this evening. Let's stay and watch."
Rino hesitated. "Maybe… from the hallway."
"Fine. As long as you stay."
By evening, the campus buzzed with energy. The court was filled with cheering students, their excitement rising with every passing second.
From the hallway above, Rino watched silently.
On the court, Mathen moved with precision and confidence. Every pass, every step, every leap carried a natural dominance that drew attention effortlessly. His presence alone seemed to command the game.
Beside him, Lucas matched the pace, their coordination sharp and seamless.
The crowd erupted repeatedly especially the girls, whose cheers grew louder with every impressive move. Rino's eyes followed Mathen unconsciously. His jumps… his movements… everything feels so different. A quiet realization formed within him. They belong to a different world.
The match ended with a loss, but it didn't matter. The applause they received was louder than that of the winners.
"They're amazing," Rino's friend said.
Rino simply nodded, lost in thought.
Then suddenly, Mathen looked up. Their eyes met. And for a brief moment, Mathen raised his hand and waved.
Rino froze.
Something in his chest fluttered unexpectedly.
"You know him?" his friend asked in shock.
"He helped me… during Mina's incident."
"Seriously? Why didn't you tell me?"
Rino shrugged. "Why would I?"
His friend hesitated, then spoke more quietly. "Just… don't get too close to them."
"Why?"
But instead of answering, his friend looked away. "You know how rich people are."
Rino didn't respond—but he understood.
Still… something about that warning didn't sit right with him.
That night, the campus transformed again, this time into a lively gathering space. Music played, laughter echoed, and students gathered for the drinking party.
"I'm not coming," Rino said firmly.
"You are coming," his friend insisted. "At least for one round."
Rino sighed. "If you're not going to listen, don't ask."
Across the room, Lucas observed Mathen.
"You're attending a drinking party? That's new."
"Yeah," Mathen replied shortly.
Lucas frowned. "What do you mean 'yeah'?"
But Mathen wasn't listening.
His eyes were searching.
And then he found him. Rino sat quietly with Lexi and others, detached from the noise around him. Mathen took a step forward.
"Wait," Lucas said, grabbing his arm.
"What?" Mathen asked.
"Look." said Lucas.
Two seniors were cornering a girl, pressuring her to drink. Her discomfort was obvious, but she couldn't refuse. Mathen and Lucas exchanged a glance. No words were needed.
They approached calmly, introducing themselves and creating an opening. Lucas subtly signaled the girl. She understood instantly.
"My friend is calling me," she said, slipping away. But as Mathen and Lucas turned to leav
"Where are you going?" one senior grabbed them. "Stay. Drink with us."
One drink turned into several. And then too many. By the time they escaped, Mathen's steps were unsteady. Because the sunbae was giving too many shots to Mathen. Lucas was lucky because the sunbae with was not that aggressive about this matter.
A phone rang.
Lucas answered. His mother's voice was urgent, his father needed him home immediately. The taxi Lucas booked for Mathen came.. but he looked at Mathen, then around the room. And then he saw Rino.
"Rino, are you going home?"
"Yes, sunbae."
"Please can you take him home? I'll explain later. It's urgent."
Rino hesitated. But then nodded. "Okay."
The journey was exhausting. Mathen leaned heavily against him, his weight difficult to manage.
At the building, Rino paused. Is this… a resort?
Inside, manager did not questioned them. As seeing Mathen alone cleared the way. On the twelfth floor, Rino struggled with the door until Lucas provided the password over the phone. Rino entered the floor.
Inside, the space was vast, silent, almost unreal.
He lives here… alone? Thinks Rino. Rino: "You are so heavy sunbae."
After placing Mathen on the bed, Rino prepared to leave.
But "It's hot, I want to shower," Mathen murmured, getting up unsteadily.
"You can't"said, Rino
But Mathen didn't listen. Rino thought he should wait until Mathen comes out as he is drunk . He will make sure he is fine then leave. Later, as Rino waited, a strange tension filled the air.
When Mathen returned, still clearly drunk, Rino helped dry his hair.
"I should go now…"
He reached for the door. A hand stopped him.
Mathen's hand.
"There is a pleasant smell," he said softly.
Before Rino could react, Mathen gently moved his hair aside and leaned closer.
"Here, it's here."
Rino's breath hitched.
His face flushed instantly, heat rising uncontrollably. His heart pounded so loudly it felt like it might be heard. Without another word, he slipped out, almost running. Even after stepping into the elevator, his chest refused to calm down. Why did that feel like that? Morning came with clarity and regret.
Mathen stood in the kitchen, staring blankly as memories resurfaced in fragments.
A scent.
Warmth.
Closeness.
His hand gripping the door.
"What did I do?"
His voice was low, almost disbelieving. His phone rang.
Lucas.
"What happened last night?" Mathen asked immediately.
Lucas sighed. "You don't remember?"
"Not clearly."
There was a pause. Then Lucas spoke, his tone unusually serious.
"You drank too much. Those seniors pushed you hard. I had to leave because of my parents, so I asked Rino to take you home."
Mathen's grip tightened slightly around the phone.
"Rino stayed?"
"Yeah. He helped you get inside. Honestly, if he wasn't there, you would've been in serious trouble."
Silence followed. Then Lucas added, softer this time, "You should thank him properly. And… maybe apologize too."
"Yeah," Mathen replied quietly.
After the call ended, the silence of the apartment felt heavier than before. Mathen stood still, his thoughts slowly sinking deeper.
Rino. That moment came back again. Not just the memory.
The feeling.
The scent.
He frowned slightly, confusion surfacing in his expression.
"That doesn't make sense."
His voice was barely above a whisper. Mathen closed his eyes, trying to recall it more clearly.
That pleasant smell. That strange pull.
It wasn't normal. It couldn't be.
"I don't react to pheromones…" he muttered under his breath.
For as long as he could remember, he had never been affected not by any omega, not even the strongest ones. It was something he had always been certain about.
Then why?
Why did Rino's scent feel so clear?
So close?
S0 different?
His chest tightened slightly. For the first time, uncertainty crept into his thoughts.
"What was that?" Mathen thinks.
He opened his eyes slowly, staring at nothing in particular. The question lingered unanswered, unsettling. And somewhere within that confusion, a quiet curiosity began to grow. Something had changed. And he didn't know why. But one thing was certain,
he wouldn't be able to ignore it anymore.
Far away, in a small, quiet room
Rino sat on his bed, staring at his hands.
His face still burned faintly at the memory.
That voice.
That closeness.
That moment.
He pressed his lips together, trying to steady himself.
"Why do I feel like this" Rino says.
Outside, the world continued as usual.
But for both of them, something had already begun. Something neither of them understood yet. And something that would slowly pull them closer, whether they were ready or not.