None of Us Are Unaffected

“…Why are you guys here?”

“And where’s Eunsu?”

When Baek Dojun arrived at Unshin Pocha, the place where he was supposed to meet Seo Eunsu, the person he expected most was nowhere to be seen.

Only the faintest trace of Eunsu’s pheromones lingered in the air, like a scent that had already begun to fade.

It was barely there.

Just enough to confirm he had been here.

But not anymore.

The entire bar was empty.

Too empty.

As if someone had deliberately cleared it out.

No customers.

No staff.

Only three familiar figures sat waiting.

Joo Yunchan.

Joo Taegang.

Yui Seo.

“…Answer me.”

“Why are you here?”

Dojun’s voice lowered, irritation creeping in.

“Why?”

Yunchan scoffed, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with hostility.

“Like we’d ever let a sly fox like you be alone with innocent little Eunsu.”

His tone dripped with mockery.

And open disgust.

“…”

Dojun’s expression hardened.

Taegang leaned back in his seat, crossing his legs, his gaze cold and evaluating.

“I don’t like agreeing with him,” he said flatly.

“But this time, I do.”

“Baek Dojun… no matter what, Seong Chanyeong is still technically your fiancé.”

“And yet you’re here trying to meet Seo Eunsu alone?”

“What do you call that, if not disgraceful?”

“Disgrace?”

Dojun let out a quiet breath, forcing himself to stay composed.

“We’re just friends.”

Yunchan barked out a laugh.

“You think that excuse works?”

“Weren’t we all working together for the same goal?”

“….”

Of course it didn’t work.

None of them were idiots.

Baek Dojun.

Joo Yunchan.

Joo Taegang.

Yui Seo.

All four of them liked Seo Eunsu.

That much had never changed.

Before, they had been bound together by a single purpose—

To protect Eunsu from Seong Chanyeong.

An unspoken alliance.

A shared enemy.

But now that enemy was gone.

And what remained…

Was nothing but rivalry.

Bare.

Ugly.

Unavoidable.

And yet—

Dojun had tried to meet Eunsu alone.

Of course they wouldn’t let that slide.

“Answer properly, Dojun.”

Yui Seo stepped forward.

His expression was calm.

Too calm.

He placed a hand on Dojun’s shoulder.

Lightly.

But the pressure behind it was anything but gentle.

Long fingers.

A broad palm.

Firm.

Restricting.

“Were you planning to enjoy a private little date with Eunsu?”

“Drinks included?”

“I told you already.”

Dojun’s voice sharpened.

“I just had something to talk about.”

“Whatever filthy thoughts you’re having, that’s not it.”

“So move.”

“Filthy…?”

Yui Seo tilted his head slightly.

The faint smile on his lips didn’t reach his eyes.

Dojun raised his hand to push him away—

But in that instant—

A second hand shot up.

And wrapped around his neck.

“…What are you doing?”

“Let go.”

There was no intent to kill.

No direct threat.

But the grip didn’t loosen either.

It stayed.

Tight enough to control.

Loose enough to mock.

Like a leash.

“No.”

“I need to check something first.”

“What?”

“Stop clinging to me like a creep.”

“The creep here is you, Baek Dojun.”

The air changed.

Instantly.

Yui Seo’s expression hardened.

And then—

A surge.

A suffocating wave of Alpha pheromones crashed down on Dojun.

“—!”

His breath hitched.

Alpha pheromones came in two forms.

One that lured.

And one that crushed.

This was the latter.

Overwhelming.

Dominant.

Violent.

“I hate liars.”

“Don’t—talk—shit…!”

“You’re the one acting up.”

“You have a fiancé.”

“And this is what you do?”

“Trying to deceive me with pheromones too?”

“Pathetic.”

Dojun couldn’t even properly process the words.

The pressure was too much.

His lungs burned.

His thoughts scattered.

All he could feel was—

Unfairness.

Raw.

Irritating.

Unjust.

And before he could stop himself—

He snapped.

“We broke it off!”

“…What?”

“Seong Chanyeong and I—”

“We’re not engaged anymore.”

Silence fell.

Heavy.

Stiff.

For a brief moment—

Even the tension paused.

“So?”

Yunchan’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Then why are you running around trying to find him?”

“…How do you know that?”

“How?”

Yunchan shrugged.

“I looked into it.”

“…You had me followed?”

“It’s a world where money solves everything.”

“And you do the same thing, don’t you?”

“….”

“Why?”

“Feeling betrayed now?”

“No.”

There was no room for betrayal between them.

They weren’t that kind of relationship.

Never had been.

“We were.”

Taegang’s voice cut in quietly.

“…Joo Taegang.”

“You’ve been acting strange lately.”

“Like an Alpha that lost its mate.”

“And now you’re trying to meet Eunsu?”

“If that’s not suspicious, what is?”

“…You’re saying I’m hung up on Seong Chanyeong?”

“If you’re not, then explain your pheromones.”

“….”

Dojun exhaled slowly.

Then reached up—

And forcefully shook off Yui Seo’s hand.

This time—

He was released.

“…Fine.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been distracted because of him.”

“Finally.”

Yunchan snorted.

“Some honesty.”

“Shut up.”

Dojun shot back immediately.

“But I’ve been looking into him for a reason.”

“Chairman Seong told me—”

“He might be seriously ill.”

That changed everything.

“…What?”

“Sick?”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is this some kind of trick now?”

“Trying to get sympathy?”

They laughed.

Dismissive.

Mocking.

Unbelieving.

But Dojun noticed.

The flicker.

The hesitation.

The subtle tightening in their expressions.

They weren’t unaffected.

Not even close.

“It’s not a lie.”

“I heard it directly from Chairman Seong.”

“He’s looking for him right now.”

“….”

The air shifted.

Just slightly.

“…So you’re saying…”

“He’s actually sick?”

“And still left everything behind?”

“…And you?”

Yui Seo’s gaze sharpened.

“He left you too?”

Dojun’s jaw clenched.

“Who said I was abandoned?”

“He asked for the breakup.”

“And I accepted.”

“Then why do you look like that?”

“…Yui Seo.”

“Don’t deny it.”

“Your pheromones already said enough.”

“Your mother said you’ve been having nightmares too.”

“….”

Dojun’s eyes darkened.

But instead of reacting—

He looked at all three of them.

Carefully.

Slowly.

“…You’re not any better.”

They stiffened.

Just for a second.

But it was enough.

The air carried it.

Their pheromones betrayed them.

“Fine.”

“Let’s say I was abandoned.”

“Then what about you?”

“….”

“He didn’t just follow me around.”

“He chased all of us.”

“So tell me—”

“Did any of you get anything meaningful from him?”

“….”

No one answered.

Because they couldn’t.

All they got—

Was a cold, perfunctory message.

A dismissal.

And then silence.

Blocked.

Gone.

“…Exactly.”

Dojun stepped closer to Yunchan.

Lowered his voice.

“Then don’t act like you’re above it.”

“….”

“Your pheromones are just as unstable.”

“Don’t pretend otherwise.”

Silence swallowed the room.

All four of them—

Were shaken.

By the same person.

The one they had hated the most.

And from that day on—

None of them could sleep properly.

Especially Joo Yunchan.

The one who had hated him the most.

Bang—!

His fist slammed into the punching bag.

Again.

And again.

Relentless.

‘Me?’

‘Shaken because of that bastard?’

His teeth ground together.

His breathing turned rough.

‘I’ll never accept that.’