Love Me More

Chapter 16

[A little]

Si-yul gasped, covering his mouth. It was a message that just came from Woo Hyun-se. The answer to his question about being busy had finally arrived.

Considering the wait time, it wasn’t a very thoughtful reply. Still, Si-yul bit his lip. The corners of his mouth turned up involuntarily. His cheeks rounded, and his eyes sparkled as he looked down at his phone.

He knew it was impolite to call at this late hour, but seeing the message suddenly made him want to hear that voice unbearably. The laughter that spread like a stream, too. Whether it was the power of the early morning or because he had let his guard down after finishing work, it was difficult to control his impulse.

Si-yul bit his lip and pushed his hands between his thighs, shaking his legs anxiously. He tried to resist. While it might be okay with Kwon Yuwon, calling someone else at this hour would be inconsiderate.

[You haven’t been calling lately]

He managed to control himself and moved his fingers. This time, it was read immediately. Si-yul found himself biting even his nails as he waited for a reply.

[I’ve been busy]

[Do you want to talk?]

Woo Hyun-se hit the nail on the head. Si-yul held his phone with both hands and lowered his head. He had been holding back, but that single message asking if he wanted to talk made his heart flutter greatly.

In the end, Si-yul pulled up Woo Hyun-se’s number. He called while inwardly hoping that the other wouldn’t answer.

“Hello.”

But when had Si-yul’s wishes ever come true? Woo Hyun-se answered the phone. His voice through the receiver was low and a bit rough, as if drunk with sleep.

“Ah, um, are you very busy?”

Having acted on impulse, he hadn’t prepared what to say. Si-yul threw out whatever came to mind. He was curious about why Woo Hyun-se hadn’t been coming to the bar lately and why he was slow to reply to messages, but he was too embarrassed to ask outright.

“Hmm… Yeah, a bit.”

“Did I wake you up?”

A faint “Just a moment” was heard from far away on the receiver. It sounded like he was whispering to someone else who was with him. Si-yul pressed the phone tightly to his ear. He was curious about who was with Woo Hyun-se right now. A lover, perhaps, or a friend, or maybe a business associate.

“No. But what’s the occasion? For Kwon Si-yul to call.”

He couldn’t honestly answer that he just wanted to hear the other’s voice. Si-yul scratched the back of his neck and kicked at the ground with his toes.

“The meal… I wanted to ask when would be good to treat you.”

Once the words left his mouth, he realized how lame the excuse sounded. Repeating something they had already discussed via text, Si-yul roughly messed up his hair, frustrated at his own poor quick thinking. But unlike Si-yul, who was at a loss from embarrassment, Woo Hyun-se seemed to find it quite amusing, as his characteristic laugh came through the receiver.

“We could decide that when we meet.”

“I just feel indebted.”

“…Is that so?”

His voice sounded drowsy and languid. Although Woo Hyun-se had denied it, Si-yul thought he must have woken him up or that he was very tired. He wanted to continue the conversation, but it seemed he should let Woo Hyun-se go soon. Hiding his reluctance, Si-yul spoke.

“You seem very tired, so let’s decide next time we meet. Good night. Sorry for the late call.”

Si-yul even bowed his head as if the person was in front of him. A “Yeah” overlapped with an “Mm” sound. The breathing seemed a bit rough. He sounded like he might be sick. Si-yul moved the phone away from his ear and placed his finger over the end call button. He just had to swipe it.

At that moment, a faint sound reached his ear. It sounded distant, as if Woo Hyun-se thought Si-yul had already hung up. Si-yul quickly pressed the phone back to his ear. He covered his mouth and nose, focusing all his attention on the other end of the line.

A thin, high voice like a bird’s chirp asked, “Lover?” In contrast, a low voice close to the phone clearly said, “No,” impossible to miss.

“…”

Si-yul swiped the end call button a beat late. The suggestive moan that had started to rise disappeared in an instant.

He debated whether to buy soju or beer, and chose beer. He had planned to drink outside, but seeing drunk people shouting in the dark alley and urinating against walls killed his mood for drinking. Thinking it would be better to drink quietly, he went into the room. Kwon Yuwon was sprawled out, having kicked off his blanket.

Without turning on the TV or lights, Si-yul sat in the corner and opened a beer can. It must have been shaken on the way, as white foam bubbled up, and he quickly put it to his lips. Perhaps because the sound of him gulping it down was quite loud, Kwon Yuwon, who had been buried in his blanket, stirred.

Si-yul froze, but it seemed Yuwon’s sleep had already flown away. Rubbing his eyes, Yuwon sat up.

“You’re back? What time is it?”

Yuwon’s voice was also hoarse, like someone else’s. Si-yul tapped his phone to check the time.

“3:40. Go back to sleep.”

“I’m fully awake now.”

Yuwon stretched like a cat and turned on the TV. Considering the poor soundproofing, he turned the volume down to minimum. A greenish light from the screen illuminated their faces.

“Why the beer?”

“Want some?”

When Yuwon nodded, Si-yul took out a can from the bag and handed it over. Despite having just woken up with messy hair, he drank the beer well, gulping it down. Si-yul thought it was good timing, as drinking alone would have been boring. He sat with his legs drawn up.

“Yuwon, do I become a nuisance when I’m drunk?”

“No. You just sleep.”

“Really, just sleep?”

“Yeah. You don’t wake up even if shaken. Why? Did someone call you a nuisance? Who did you drink with? Was it a woman?”

Yuwon poked Si-yul’s side with his index finger, nagging. His eyes were surprisingly bright for someone who had just woken up. Si-yul just mumbled, “It’s nothing.”

Being early morning, the movie playing on TV was quite mature. An 19+ rating was clearly marked in the top right corner. With the sound turned down, the suggestive moans couldn’t be heard, but the two protagonists on screen were busy rubbing their naked bodies together. Even the title was trashy. “That Alpha’s Lovemaking” was apparently a movie that had been released over 15 years ago.

Still, it was suggestive. Looking at the protagonist tilting their head back, Si-yul suddenly recalled the cat-like moan he had heard earlier. The giggling between lovers and the increasingly heated breathing he had heard through the phone. That sound that made him feel guilty, as if he was peeking through a hole in paper doors.

“Is that really that good?”

Yuwon, who had been drinking beer, paused and looked at Si-yul. He widened his eyes mischievously and said, “Oh.”

“You’re finally showing interest in that kind of thing. Wow, I thought our Si-yul was impotent until now.”

“Impotent? It stands up well every morning, what nonsense.”

“Ah, don’t talk about that, it’s gross. But what are you curious about? This hyung will tell you everything.”

Yuwon puffed out his chest proudly. But as far as Si-yul knew, Yuwon had no experience either. He suffered during his heats, but he always ran away saying alphas were terrible to even touch, only to come back crying every time. Si-yul looked Yuwon up and down skeptically.

“You?”

“I know more than you.”

They were both interested but inexperienced. That was the same for both Yuwon and Si-yul. Still, as an omega, Yuwon might have heard and seen a bit more than him. Si-yul wet his burning throat with beer. He put the beer to his lips, hesitated, then asked, pretending to have no interest at all.

“They say it feels good to sleep with an alpha?”

Yuwon, who had been focused on the movie, immediately made a sour face. It was the expression he made when drinking milk that had gone bad. Si-yul turned his eyes back to the TV, thinking, “See?” Yuwon probably wouldn’t know either, so it was pointless to ask.

“What could be good about doing it with an alpha? It’s like doing it with a beast in heat. You shouldn’t get involved with those kinds of people. Just do it with a woman, why with an alpha… Wait. Why are you curious about that?”

Yuwon, who had been rambling, suddenly shut his mouth and glared at Si-yul. He widened his eyes and brought his face close, examining Si-yul from all angles. He flared his nostrils, sniffing, and his eyes flashed fiercely.

“Don’t tell me you’ve presented?”

“Are you crazy? I haven’t.”

“Then why are you asking about doing it with alphas? You’ve never shown interest in that before.”

“It’s just because it came up in the movie, why are you turning this on me? Nothing like that happened. I won’t get involved with alphas, and I’m definitely a beta.”

“Come to think of it, that pig was all over you last time too. I let it slide thinking he just had shitty taste, but… Kwon Si-yul, you.”

Yuwon put his beer down on the floor and grabbed Si-yul by both shoulders. He turned his body completely towards Si-yul and advised seriously.

“Be careful of alphas.”

“Did you not wake up properly?”

“No, listen to hyung. Do you think I’ve only seen alphas for a day or two? I overlooked it with the pig, but now that I think about it, you’re the type that alphas would really go for. Sometimes there are crazy alpha bastards who like betas. No, even if that’s not the case… Shit. Just listen to me. If there’s an alpha around, avoid them at all costs and put up an iron wall. That’s the way to survive.”