CHAPTER 103: A SMALL CRACK

HMM?

Lim Garam’s pheromones smell strange?

Song Sihyuk could tell by just Lim Garam’s scent that his wife was upset.

Am I overstaying my welcome?

"Babe, I ordered food and drinks for you and your dongsaengs," Song Sihyuk said, gently putting a hand on his wife’s back. "Enjoy your time with them. I’ll just drive Appa home. But if you need anything, just call me. If it’s urgent, then call Jung Han. He’ll be your temporary bodyguard while Shin Geon is nursing Shin Junho back to health."

Lim Garam smiled and nodded. "Okay, Hyung."

Oho?

Thankfully, it seemed like Lim Garam was already in a good mood.

Song Sihyuk couldn’t help himself and kissed his wife on the lips— yes, in front of his dongsaengs, who let out a collective gasp.

He didn’t care if it was such a public display of affection.

I just hope my wife doesn’t scold me.

"Ah, Hyung..."

Hmm?

Lim Garam’s pheromones suddenly ’exploded’— the sweet scent getting stronger in the air.

Ah, he liked that PDA.

Plus, Lim Garam was blushing.

Heh.

Song Sihyuk smiled, gently pinching Lim Garam’s chin. "See you later, babe."

***

"HYUNG, I’m still shocked that you’re dating a chaebol— but I’m even more shocked that a chaebol could be that handsome and sexy."

Pfft.

Garam laughed at what Lee Eunsang said.

To be honest, he was still feeling a bit shy after Song Sihyuk kissed him in front of his dongsaengs.

But, deep down, he was actually quite happy.

I like how Sihyuk Hyung claims me as his whenever, wherever.

As long as his husband wouldn’t cross a certain line, of course.

"I haven’t seen a real-life chaebol until today," Finn said, still looking amazed. "Now I realized how unfair the world truly is. How can someone as rich as that be handsome and tall as well? He has everything!"

Right.

To be honest, Garam couldn’t blame the kids for thinking that way.

It was true that Song Sihyuk had everything.

Except for good manners, of course.

Other than that, the Alpha was practically perfect.

"There’s something you need to know as well," Garam said, smiling shyly before he started his ’humble bragging.’ "Sihyuk Hyung is also an Alpha, on top of all of that."

The kids let out a collective gasp.

They’re shocked because they’re all Betas— they can’t smell pheromones.

"Your boyfriend is like an apex predator, Hyung," Kwon Jigu said, and then he added worriedly: "That hyung-nim is treating you well, right?"

"Yes, Jigu-ya. Sihyuk Hyung is good to me, so you really don’t have to worry about anything," Garam assured the kids, and then he pointed at the table full of delicious food, pastries, and different flavors of drinks. "See? Hyung is also taking care of you all."

Now I feel silly for getting jealous earlier.

He should be happy that Song Sihyuk was treating his dongsaengs well.

Maybe I just felt a little shocked because I expected Sihyuk Hyung to ignore the kids. After all, he’s usually like that to people he doesn’t like.

But, now, Garam was enlightened.

Sihyuk Hyung is just trying to be nice to people I care about.

And that was a nice feeling.

"We can see that you’re happy with him, Garam Hyung," Lee Eunsang said, smiling. "I can’t wait for Hanseo Hyung to hear that you have a boyfriend now."

Right?

Hanseo Hyung and I are the closest since we’re the two oldest members of the group. But Hanseo Hyung is in the military at the moment. He rarely uses his phone these days because he was traumatized after the internet tore him apart before.

"Speaking of Hanseo Hyung, he actually heard about what happened to you, Garam Hyung."

Garam’s eyes widened a bit after hearing what Kwon Jigu said. "Really? But Hanseo Hyung didn’t contact me."

"Ah, he called the phone in our dorm, Hyung," Kwon Jigu explained. "Hanseo Hyung hasn’t gotten himself a new phone yet, so he’s still using the phone in their base. I picked up the call earlier. Apparently, one of his friends in the military informed him of what happened to you. He asked about you, and I said we were just about to visit you."

"But we assured Hanseo Hyung that you’re fine, Hyung," Lee Eunsang added. "At least, physically. Hyung must still be in shock, right? I would know since I was never the same after my recent kidnapping incident."

Right.

That was the reason Lee Eunsang was receiving counselling at the moment.

Speaking of that...

"I’m considering going to therapy," Garam confessed to the kids. "My schedule is already cleared anyway. I don’t want to live in fear either."

"Good thinking, Hyung," Lee Eunsang said proudly. "We’re also here for you."

Aww.

When did these kids grow up?

"Hyung, I heard your attacker has been locked up already," Finn said carefully. "Do we know why that person attacked you?"

"No, not yet," Garam said while shaking his head. "But I want to talk to her in person soon— I have so many things I want to ask her."

***

GARAM felt better after being ’sick’ for three days.

I’m not in pain anymore, but I’m still in the hospital.

To be honest, he couldn’t remember anything but being in pain during that time.

He remembered Song Sihyuk taking good care of him, though.

Hyung even helped me bathe.

In fact, his husband almost never left the room.

Hyung turned the mini living room here into his private office.

Fortunately, the Alpha allowed visitors, so he wouldn’t feel bored.

In fact, Garam’s group members had just visited him yesterday.

But now that I’m alone again, I’m starting to get tired of being locked up here.

His husband was with him.

But Song Sihyuk would only leave the room if he had to take a call because he didn’t want to disturb Garam’s rest.

Just like now.

It had been half an hour since his husband left the room to make a call.

I’m bored.

And, so, Garam grabbed his phone to check how his fans were.

Hyung said my schedules were cancelled and that the company has already released a statement saying that I wasn’t hurt badly. Even so, I still want to check on my fans...

He trailed off when he saw that he got another weird message from an unknown number.

I just changed my number, and I already got a spam message?

Well, he thought it was just spam.

Until the text message addressed his full name.

Lim Garam-nim, please check all the opportunities that you missed because of Song Sihyuk. Please click the link below this time. If you don’t, then good luck living in a bubble forever.

That message made his heart thump hard and fast against his chest.

Whoever sent this message definitely knows me and Hyung.

Against Garam’s better judgment, he ended up clicking the link that the anonymous messenger had attacked to the text.

And what greeted him was...

Are these real?

Garam was shocked when he saw hundreds of screenshots.

He felt his heart thump fast and hard against his chest while reading them one by one.

To be honest, it was making him dizzy.

Most conversations were between CEO Myung Hyesu and brand representatives trying to get Garam to be their endorser...

... and his boss turning down the offers.

The worst part?

Why does CEO Myung keep saying that it was my decision not to accept the offers when I didn’t even know that these brands reached out to me in the first place?!

Garam felt betrayed.

Of course, he also reminded himself that the screenshots could be fake.

However, there was a specific screenshot that made him think that everything was real.

It was the conversation between CEO Myung Hyesu declining Cindy’s offer to feature Garam in her album on "his behalf."

So, Cindy Sunbae-nim really wanted me to feature in her last album...

But why would CEO Myung Hyesu do that?

"You’re up, babe?"

Garam lifted his head and saw Song Sihyuk enter the room with a paper bag that probably contained food.

To be honest, he didn’t know what to feel at the moment.

I shouldn’t believe a random text that I got from an unknown number, but...

Garam also remembered the message that his attacker left for him during the fansign event.

Your husband is sabotaging your career.

Remembering that gave him the chills.

After all, Sihyuk Hyung is technically CEO Myung’s boss...

"Why are you looking at me like that, Garam-ah?" Song Sihyuk asked, looking confused. "Do you have something to say?"

Garam clenched his hands tightly before asking: "Hyung, do you hate that I’m an idol?"

"Well, I’m not really happy that many strangers love you to the point that some of them are obsessed with you already. But I don’t hate your job. I like seeing you happy, after all."

Oh.

Now Garam felt conflicted.

I want to trust Sihyuk Hyung, but now I’m bothered by those screenshots.

Especially by the sticky note that his attacker had left for him to read.

"Why are you asking that, Garam-ah?" Song Sihyuk asked curiously. "And why do you look upset?"

Was it obvious?

To be fair, Garam knew that he should be honest with Song Sihyuk.

That they needed to talk about the cryptic messages that he had received.

I know, I should just confront Hyung instead of overthinking.

However, a small part of him urged him to keep it a secret from his husband.

And that small part won.

"I’m just wondering if Hyung is unhappy with what I do since it puts me in danger like this," Garam lied, forcing him to smile. "I made Hyung worry, didn’t I?"

"Oh. Don’t worry about that, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said, gathering Garam in his arms. "I like taking care of you."

The Alpha’s sweet words didn’t touch Garam’s heart this time, though.

Even Song Sihyuk’s embrace suddenly felt cold.

Something isn’t right.

Garam clenched his hands tight instead of hugging Song Sihyuk back.

I need to confront CEO Myung first.

***

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