“Whew.”
I need to hand this huge bouquet to its owner as soon as possible.
I told them to make it as pretty and high-quality as possible, and they really made it too eye-catching.
Hyunwoo entered the hotel lobby and looked around.
He was supposed to meet Seunghyuk here in the lobby.
But there was no sign of him anywhere.
“Hm…”
He’s someone who always keeps time down to the second.
Did something happen?
Hyunwoo started feeling unnecessarily anxious.
“……!”
At that moment, someone walked into the lobby.
Tall, with neatly cropped hair and skin pale enough to look almost porcelain.
A perfectly shaped mouth tinted with a natural red.
And a soft beige casual suit that made him stand out effortlessly.
People passing by glanced at him without even trying to hide it.
It was Seunghyuk.
Wearing the outfit Hyunwoo had insisted he wear, he walked in with his usual slow, relaxed steps.
Hyunwoo stared at him without realizing it.
“Ah.”
No.
He couldn’t be doing this.
Hyunwoo shook his head in disbelief at himself for zoning out.
Soon, Seunghyuk spotted him.
His gaze fell on the large bouquet in Hyunwoo’s arms.
He paused, his brow lightly furrowing, then walked closer.
“What is that?”
“What do you mean what? It’s the bouquet for Hyunjin.”
“…….”
“What, don’t tell me you didn’t bring flowers?”
Hyunwoo frowned at Seunghyuk, who was clearly empty-handed.
Coming to celebrate the birthday of someone who would soon be your lover—
and you show up with nothing?
What good was dressing nicely if he couldn’t even prepare the basics?
Hyunwoo let out a long sigh.
“Ha… Just give this bouquet to Hyunjin yourself. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
Seunghyuk looked like he didn’t want to, but he accepted it anyway.
Watching him awkwardly holding the bouquet like it was something fragile, Hyunwoo tilted his head.
Still, this was a bit too empty-handed, even for him.
Hyunwoo asked, just to be sure.
“You did buy a gift, right?”
“A gift?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
Seunghyuk pressed his lips shut.
Hyunwoo felt his blood pressure spike and pressed his fingers to his forehead.
He had told him over and over to make sure to prepare something.
What on earth had this kid been thinking?
“Hey, no matter how busy you are lately… It’s still his birthday.
You should at least bring something. Right?”
“…Sorry.”
He apologized, but his face didn’t look even the slightest bit sorry.
Hyunwoo suddenly felt exhausted.
Was he really doing the right thing helping this emotionally dull idiot end up with Hyunjin?
He seriously questioned his life choices.
“…Just make sure you buy something for him later.”
“Yes.”
He let out another sigh.
Still, today should go smoothly.
There was the bouquet, the restaurant booking, and the suite room.
Hyunjin would probably soften after all that.
He would have to cover for the gift himself today.
He could give the gift he bought himself to Hyunjin through Seunghyuk,
but the gift he prepared wasn’t suitable for being presented between people who were becoming lovers.
That would cause too many complications.
And there was no time left to buy something now—
they were right up against their reservation time.
It was better to handle it separately later.
“When we go up, the three of us will have dinner together first.
Then when I get up to leave, I’ll tell the staff to bring out the cake.
You hand over the bouquet at that moment. Understand?”
“Instead of that, why don’t you stay and eat the cake together too?”
“I already said I’m only staying for dinner.”
“But still…”
“……”
He really had a lot of demands, didn’t he.
Hyunwoo clicked his tongue as Seunghyuk clung to him like someone refusing to drown alone.
“You don’t think the two of you should have some time alone?”
“It’s too early for that kind of thing between us.”
“Too early? You two are about to—”
“About to what?”
“Hm, never mind.”
“……?”
Hyunwoo could not tell him that this world was a novel or that the story was approaching the romantic climax that would officially make them lovers.
If he said that, Seunghyuk would definitely treat him like a lunatic.
And honestly, Hyunwoo would rather be hated the old way than seen as insane.
He cleared his throat lightly and continued.
“And I already told you the suite room downstairs is booked, right?”
“…About that.”
“You two are staying there tonight.”
“Hyung, are you out of your mind?”
“Out of my mind? You really have no manners speaking to your elder like that.”
“Haa…”
Seunghyuk let out a long sigh.
His hands tightened on the bouquet—so tightly that it looked like he was going to crush it.
The thin wrapping paper crackled under the pressure.
Do you have any idea how much that cost—
Hyunwoo was just about to start scolding him when—
“Hyunwoo?”
“……!”
A voice from behind made Hyunwoo flinch.
He turned his head—and froze.
Why was Dokyung here?
Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.
Suddenly, the memory of Hyunjin’s original birthday event flashed in his mind.
On his birthday, Hyunjin was supposed to be emotionally worn down by being pursued by multiple suitors.
In the original story, not only the protagonist Seunghyuk, but also Hwang Dokyung and Cha Gwono showed interest in him.
However, in this timeline, Hyunjin had never even met Cha Gwono.
Hyunwoo had tried to keep Hyunjin distant from Dokyung too—
but that had failed.
If anything, it felt like Hyunjin was leaning more toward Dokyung than toward Seunghyuk.
So that’s why Dokyung is here.
For Dokyung to show up at a birthday celebration that only the closest people knew about?
That was too much to call coincidence.
Did Hyunjin invite him personally?
No—if Hyunjin had done that, he would have told him.
Hyunwoo’s expression tightened.
“Ah, did I interrupt something?”
“No, nothing like that, Professor.”
“Professor? Haha, just call me by my name.”
“…Alright. Dokyung.”
When Hyunwoo spoke his name, Dokyung smiled like he was pleased.
His silver-rimmed glasses glinted in the lobby lights.
Dokyung stepped closer—too close.
Hyunwoo didn’t show it, but his stomach twisted.
The memory of the café encounter resurfaced—
when Dokyung had invited him out as if tempting him with something sweet.
He swallowed.
“So, what are you two doing here?”
“Hm?”
Dokyung’s eyes flicked to Seunghyuk.
To the bouquet he was holding.
He smiled—naturally, habitually—but something about it felt different today.
What did he mean what?
Did Hyunjin not tell him?
Hyunwoo blinked and asked—
“Weren’t you invited by Hyunjin?”
“Hyunjin?”
“Yes.”
“……?”
Dokyung genuinely looked like he had no idea what Hyunwoo was talking about.
A dreadful feeling rose in Hyunwoo’s chest.
“It’s Hyunjin’s birthday today.”
“Oh. Is it?”
“…….”
So he didn’t even know?
Hyunwoo stared at him in disbelief.
“So it’s Hyunjin’s birthday today.
Is that why you all gathered to celebrate?”
“Yes…”
“Ah, I see.”
Dokyung nodded in understanding—and smiled.
There was something like relief in that smile.
And that made Hyunwoo’s stomach turn even more.
This was bad.
This was really bad.
If Dokyung followed them, there would be no good way to stop him.
He would just say he wanted to congratulate Hyunjin too and follow them to dinner.
There was no justifiable reason to reject him outright.
Think. Think.
Hyunwoo bit his lip.
He had waited too long for this event.
He could not let someone intrude.
“……”
Then he remembered something—
Dokyung seemed to show more interest in him than in Hyunjin.
If he asked Dokyung to go somewhere with him—
there was a good chance Dokyung would actually go.
If he led Dokyung away, Seunghyuk and Hyunjin would be alone together.
Maybe that was even better.
Hyunwoo swallowed and stepped closer to Dokyung.
“Hyung.”
“…….”
“What are you thinking right now.”
Seunghyuk grabbed his arm, sensing something was wrong.
Hyunwoo met his eyes silently.