Someone Came Knocking

He was speaking with conviction, but we had no chance of running into each other and weren’t acquaintances either.

I don’t know how he claims he would have found me, and saying he would have come looking even if our worlds had changed is just a grandiose and absurd assumption.

An unrealistic assumption of something that would never happen.

Yet Beomwoo was speaking with absolute certainty that it would have been so.

As if stating an undeniable truth, there wasn’t a trace of wavering in his eyes.

……How on earth can he speak with such confidence?

Even if his affection for me were genuine, in this life, we haven’t known each other for long, and it’s not like we’ve loved for a thousand years.

Logically, I thought it was just pretty words to say, but strangely, my heart responded to that preposterous claim.

Even if saying he likes me that much is an act…… if he doesn’t change this demeanor even after marriage, wouldn’t that be fine in its own way……?

A strange impulse like that.

For a moment, Haejin’s heart wavered at his demeanor, but he reminded himself that this unchanging demeanor was merely his own wishful thinking, and Beomwoo was someone who could completely transform once his objective was achieved.

Didn’t he immediately seek another Omega upon discovering I was incapable of bearing children?

That was something one shouldn’t do to a spouse with whom they’ve lived side by side, even without love.

The image of the cold Beomwoo had become half-understandable, lessening the hurt of being left lonely, but it wasn’t something he could forgive.

Even though he knew the Beomwoo before him seemed sincere and was unrelated to his past life, the wounds in his heart ran too deep to accept and believe.

Because of that, even faced with words overflowing with love, Haejin could only awkwardly lift the corners of his mouth, unable to give any response.

Although he hadn’t outright rejected with a clear answer, his lack of response itself held the meaning of refusal, and there was no way Beomwoo didn’t know that.

Beomwoo worked from home as usual and shared meals, but Haejin, perhaps because it was right after such a situation, awkwardly watched his reactions.

Even now, as they were having lunch together, despite the meal being perfectly suited to his taste, it was hard to savor, to the point he couldn’t tell if it was entering his mouth or his nose.

‘……This is awkward.’

He tried to act normally and avoid being conscious of it, but at times, he felt more bothered by Beomwoo’s silence, thinking it might be better if he said something instead.

If Beomwoo had brought up that day’s conversation again and pressed for an answer, it would have been burdensome and hurtful for both.

But if he truly had no intention of ever trusting Beomwoo again, wouldn’t it be right to end things clearly?

Yet, it remained a thought; he couldn’t bring himself to act.

Initially, he rationalized it as unavoidable since he needed help to escape his adoptive parents.

Beomwoo had also said he wouldn’t force marriage, so he resolved to simply live like that until the end.

But seeing Beomwoo, unlike in the past, becoming increasingly honest and expressive toward him, and now feeling his own heart leaning toward him, he couldn’t bring himself to decisively push him away.

He knew that making excuses and keeping him at arm’s length without fulfilling his desires was only tiring and toxic for both, yet he couldn’t take any action.

With a conflicted heart, he had emptied half his bowl when suddenly, a strange sound came from outside.

Bang bang bang!

“Gasp……!”

It was a thunderous noise, as if someone was violently shaking and hitting the front gate.

Shortly after, the deep, gruff voice of an adult man could be heard shouting something.

He couldn’t tell who was shaking the gate and yelling, but it resembled the threatening appearances of loan sharks who came to collect debts when he lived with his adoptive parents.

The memory of Jeong-yeon, who had come to harass him, also surfaced, making his mind go blank with fear.

Haejin had been trembling with fear due to recent events, but living with Beomwoo, he had been adapting to an uneventful daily life.

Occasionally, memories of that day surfaced as he tried to sleep, keeping him awake and trembling alone in fear.

But on sunny afternoons, he would even think, ‘Is there a need to continue this peculiar cohabitation?’.

He had been trying to erase the memory of that day, treating it as if it were just a bad nightmare, due to the immense shock.

But now, with this commotion and terrifying situation unfolding, it felt as if he was being grabbed by the collar and dragged back into reality, told, ‘Wake up from the dream. This is real.’

As Haejin stopped eating, his face turning pale, Beomwoo, seeming to notice, pushed his chair back and stood up.

“I’ll go see. You stay here, Haejin.”

“Hah, hoo……. Y-yes. I’ll l-leave it to you…….”

It feels like I’m accepting too readily but…….

I didn’t know I’d be like this; I’m not in any state to think about what to do.

I just want to hide somewhere.

As Haejin gasped for breath like someone with breathing difficulties, Beomwoo was about to go out immediately but first slowly stroked his back, then finally went outside.

After Beomwoo went out, the banging commotion subsided not long after.

As the surroundings quieted, Haejin’s mind, which had been scared out of its wits, gradually returned.

It’s unlikely debt collectors would find a house even his adoptive parents didn’t know, so it seemed like Jeong-yeon had come……

Beomwoo, who went out to check, didn’t return immediately, and with the outside quiet, he grew curious about the situation.

Swallowing his fear, Haejin tiptoed to the living room window to peek outside.

From the living room window, he could see the yard, so he might see who had come.

Though seeing Jeong-yeon’s face was scary, he felt he needed to know what was happening.

Hiding his body behind the curtain, he peeked outside with just his eyes, and an unexpected scene unfolded.

Standing opposite Beomwoo at the gate was not Jeong-yeon, but Hyun-nam.

‘……Why is that person looking for this house?’

Didn’t he hear any news?

Since he had visited before, it wasn’t that surprising he knew Haejin’s whereabouts and came.

And it was better than if Jeong-yeon had come.

But it was still unsettling that he had come so abruptly.

Also, Jeong-yeon might have secretly come with him, so he couldn’t easily decide to go out.

They had come together last time, too.

So he continued hiding, observing the situation outside.

He couldn’t hear what conversation they were having from here, but by the look of it, Hyun-nam seemed extremely angry.

Beomwoo, dealing with him, looked utterly composed, making it seem like Hyun-nam was unilaterally venting his anger.

Judging by Beomwoo’s attitude, it didn’t seem related to Jeong-yeon.

It just looked bothersome.

‘……It’s not about Jeong-yeon? Ah, maybe it’s about the cohabitation?’

When Beomwoo proposed cohabitation, they had discussed that Hyun-nam might disapprove and cause problems.

If it wasn’t about Jeong-yeon, that seemed the only reason.

Although Hyun-nam was also an uncomfortable person for Haejin, if it wasn’t about Jeong-yeon, there was no need to have specifically asked Beomwoo to go out.

And when they discussed it last time, Beomwoo said they could just say they hit it off during their properly earned date opportunity and decided to cohabit.

But even if Beomwoo said that unilaterally, it seemed unlikely Jeong-yeon would believe it.

Haejin felt much calmer just knowing Jeong-yeon wasn’t here and cautiously got up from his spot.

He felt he had burdened Beomwoo with too much.

As he went out, still highly alert, thinking they might be caught off guard, the moment he opened the front door and stepped out, Hyun-nam, who had been talking to Beomwoo, spotted him, widened his eyes, and shouted accusatorily.

“Haejin! Haejin, you tell me! I thought the dates were all over! Why are you still meeting Beomwoo?! And it looks like you’re even living together!”

As expected…….

As anticipated, Hyun-nam seemed to have come with complaints about why Haejin was separately meeting and cohabiting with Beomwoo.

Judging by the look of it, it didn’t seem Jeong-yeon had come with him.

While relieved Jeong-yeon wasn’t there, he couldn’t fully let his guard down, as Hyun-nam could inform his adoptive parents of his whereabouts, which was why he had accepted the date proposal in the first place.

As Hyun-nam questioned him outright, Beomwoo tried to intervene, but Haejin thought this wasn’t something he could ignore or brush off, so he cautiously opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry but……. Um, we, after the date, felt we got along well and decided to keep meeting, and we’re cohabiting temporarily due to some matters. It’s not with marriage in mind, so…….”

“Got along? Our date went well, didn’t it?

There’s no way this emotionless bastard could have done better.

You’re lying, right?”

Embarrassing as it was, Haejin tried to send Hyun-nam away with the reason he and Beomwoo had discussed: they hit it off during the date, started dating, and even decided to cohabit.

But it wasn’t with the intention of marriage, so please calm down.

However, Hyun-nam didn’t believe him.

Even during his date with Hyun-nam, he had dismissed the idea that Beomwoo could have had a proper date, and he didn’t hide that thought even in front of Beomwoo.

To others, Beomwoo might seem like a dry, emotionless person who’s never experienced love, so one could think he’d be clumsy in such matters.

But what Hyun-nam was saying wasn’t that; it was sheer hatred and contempt directed at Beomwoo.

Unconsciously, Haejin’s expression twisted at Hyun-nam’s demeanor.

Hyun-nam’s appearance, unable to hide his hostility in his excitement, was ugly, but Haejin couldn’t accept his words.

I…… found watching a movie with Beomwoo, taking shelter from the rain at home, having trivial conversations, and playing games together far more enjoyable than the luxurious cruise date with Hyun-nam.

The only date where I felt genuine emotional exchange and a proper date was the one with Beomwoo.