Pig Government Official

-18-

Jihoon dropped his fork. He took Jeonggwan’s phone and examined it intently with an expression that said, “Is this for real?” Jeonggwan warned him again, fearing he might accidentally hit the like button.

“If you hit the like button, I’ll stab you with the fork and then jump out the window.”

“Okay, okay.”

Jumping from the fourth-floor pub wouldn’t kill him, but it would be a big blow as Jihoon’s cafe short cakes would be suspended for a while. Jihoon slowed down his hand movements slightly to avoid accidentally hitting the like button.

“Wow… But you really dated this guy? For true love, without any ulterior motives?”

“Yeah.”

Jihoon’s gaze at Jeonggwan changed to “You sly thing…!” He had thought Jeonggwan was so inexperienced that he had never even talked to an alpha, let alone dated one, and was worried he might fall for some strange nouveau riche guy who showed him a little kindness…

“You… are quite cunning, aren’t you?”

Kim Jeonggwan was a very sly fox who knew how to handle himself.

“But you…”

“Yeah?”

“…You really have a type.”

The man in the SNS that Jeonggwan showed was currently studying at Tsinghua University, the second-top university in China. A couple of photos with friends, a couple of photos of him studying in a cafe. Just from those, this dominant alpha’s handsomeness was evident.

Jeonggwan said he dated this guy in high school, and at first, Jihoon thought it was a lie, but when Jeonggwan showed him photos stored in the cloud, he immediately knew it was true. Wow… this guy’s eyes must have been dripping with honey…

But the man resembled someone in a subtle way.

The broad shoulders, the fierce-looking face… Ha. This could be called a budget version of Won Junjae. Kim Jeonggwan’s taste really is consistent. Thinking that Jeonggwan had high standards, Jihoon scrolled down the man’s feed.

“Hey. Isn’t this talking about you?”

“Probably.”

As he scrolled down the man’s feed, there were many photos of a chubby cat, all with similar tags.

#IMissYou

#IMissYou

#IMissYou

The man had created his SNS account 5 years ago, and in the beginning, most of the posts were photos of this chubby cat with “I miss you” tags. There weren’t many of them though. But after about 5 months, there were no more cat photos, and most of the posts were just about his daily life.

Jeonggwan seemed to know. Who those “I miss you” tags were directed at. And also that such tags had stopped.

“Did you know?”

“Yeah. As soon as he created his SNS, I made a secondary account and stalked him every day.”

“How much sneakier can you get?”

Jihoon looked at Jeonggwan with concern, wondering if he had been hurt a lot back then. Being forcibly separated from a guy who was so much his type… and watching him seem to forget about him. Even if he didn’t say it, he must have been devastated.

“So he never contacted you after going to China?”

“We kept in touch for about 5 months after he went to China… but then…”

He must have met another omega…! That’s why gradually…! Jihoon felt terrible. Even though Kim Jeonggwan pretended to be calm on the outside… even though he acted like it was nothing, he must have struggled a lot alone. It was his first love and they liked each other so much. That bastard. Just like Won Junjae. Typical good-looking alpha bastards. Thinking about how Jeonggwan must have suffered alone made Jihoon’s blood boil.

“At that time, I was really into the baseball player Song Eung-gyu… I often ignored his messages because I was busy fangirling.”

“?”

“Then he told me to choose between him and Song Eung-gyu.”

“…?”

“But I had won a fan signing event at that time… so… it couldn’t be helped.”

Jeonggwan spoke calmly as he downed his beer. His eyes seemed somewhat downcast, but Jihoon didn’t notice. After Jeonggwan finished the remaining half of his beer in one shot, he let out a loud “Ahh-“. Jihoon gave him a double thumbs up with a look mixing slight contempt and respect.

“You really are… crazy.”

Jeonggwan responded with a wink and a smile. Kim Jeonggwan was Kim Jeonggwan.

“But really… do you think Won Junjae… is interested in you?”

“I’d say 92%.”

“What do you think the remaining 8% might be…?”

Jeonggwan hummed as he stroked his chin, then picked up a french fry and ate it. 8%. This was the probability that while it might not be ‘romantic interest’, there was still some kind of ‘interest’. In other words, not interest in Kim Jeonggwan as a ‘person’, but interest in ‘something’ about Kim Jeonggwan. That was the 8% probability.

However, Jeonggwan had noticed Won Junjae’s look of relief when he confirmed that the person Jeonggwan smiled at was his brother Jeongyun, so he was confident in his 92%.

The problem was… as if denying his interest in Jeonggwan, Won Junjae never deliberately looked at him or spoke to him.

“Ah… is this method too classic?”

“What? What method?”

Jeonggwan had thought of one method. But it seemed too much like using someone else, so he hesitated to mention it. If that person found out they were being used, it might hurt them too much…

For now, he’d put this method on hold and just keep trying to catch Won Junjae’s eye as things were.

* * *

That’s what he thought yesterday. But speak of the devil and he shall appear.

“Hi, Jeonggwan~”

The very person he had briefly considered using came to the cafe of their own accord. And exactly 5 minutes before 10:30, when Won Junjae always came. The refreshing citrus scent was the same as always. But so was the sickly sweet smile.

“Yes… Hello, Sejin hyung.”

Won Sejin’s hair was now permed and a chocolate-brown color. He was already someone who exuded softness from his whole being, but with this change in his hair, he looked really sweet and… how to put it… it suited him very well.

Jeonggwan stared at Sejin’s hair, and noticing this, Sejin lightly touched his hair and smiled.

“Do I look too much like a poodle?”

Ah- right. That’s what it was. A poodle.

“…It suits you well.”

“Thank you. The uniform suits you too, Jeonggwan.”

You’re just saying that. Jeonggwan smiled awkwardly and checked the time. Actually, he didn’t want to talk much with Won Sejin because he was too sickly sweet. Normally, he would have made an excuse about cleaning up and fled as soon as he finished displaying the cakes. But thinking of the man who would soon arrive, he felt he could chat a bit more.

He usually tried not to use people because it could unintentionally hurt them… But if someone came of their own accord asking to be used, wouldn’t it be right to oblige? Besides, it wasn’t like he was backstabbing or using them maliciously.

Just slightly. Very slightly.

“I made these cakes. Please take some.”

All he had to do was pretend to be kind.

Ding-.

In front of this incredibly negative strawberry jam.

Jeonggwan turned his head towards the cafe door connecting to the lobby, as if casually looking at the sound of the bell.

“…”

Sure enough, Won Junjae could be seen coming this way.

Won Junjae’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as they met Jeonggwan’s, who was outside the kitchen area.

“Oh, really? Thanks. Should I eat here then?”

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Won Sejin beside Jeonggwan.

“You said Jeonggwan made the shortcakes, right?”

“Yes.”

“Is the peach Earl Grey tasty?”

“I think they’re all delicious.”

Won Sejin, who hadn’t yet noticed Won Junjae, bent slightly to look at the shortcakes Jeonggwan had made and asked. Jeonggwan naturally shifted his gaze back to Sejin.

Then the scent of strawberry jam enveloped Jeonggwan.

Very intensely, as if announcing its presence.

However, Jeonggwan didn’t turn his gaze, calmly responding to Won Sejin’s various questions. Though in reality, all his attention was focused behind him.

“Then this one, and this one… Huh?”

And as Jeonggwan expected, Won Sejin noticed Won Junjae.

Won Junjae just rolled his eyes, alternating his gaze between Jeonggwan and Won Sejin. Exuding a strong “I’m quite annoyed right now” vibe. Behind Won Junjae, Park Jihoon’s eyes were darting between the three of us, his pupils shaking.

“Junjae… What brings you here…?”

“This is my company.”

Jihoon, watch closely. This is how alphas fight.

Won Junjae’s sharp voice crushed Won Sejin.

“Ah… right. Haha. I came because I heard Jihoon opened the place…”

Won Sejin, a heat alpha with not such a great rank in the family, visibly lowered his tail to Won Junjae.

Even Won Sejin, who seemed more alpha-level around others, looked small in front of the apex predator. Jeonggwan felt a bit sorry for Sejin.

“Hyung, please sit over there. I’ll bring your coffee.”

“Huh…? Oh…”

But he’d use what he could use. No matter how pitiful Won Sejin looked, what good would it do for a beggar to worry about a prince? Jeonggwan smiled slightly at Sejin and pointed to the seat right next to where Won Junjae usually sat.

Then Won Junjae’s eyes turned to Jeonggwan. His expression was typically cold, so it wasn’t 100% clear what this expression meant, but Jeonggwan could guess what he was feeling.

Slight disappointment. Annoyance.

At times like this, you shouldn’t give a carrot while feeling proud of your success. If you let your guard down and treat them well out of happiness, they might think, “Ah, I’m this person’s top priority anyway,” and it could backfire, leading to neglect.

He hadn’t dated much, but he had watched that famous omega YouTuber’s “How to Seduce Any Alpha!” video several times and finished running imaginary simulations.

Jeonggwan just nodded slightly at Won Junjae as if feeling awkward, then averted his gaze and approached the cafe bar. Jihoon, who had been watching like a statue that had seen Medusa, startled and came over.

“One cafe latte here and… Sejin hyung, do you drink coffee?”

“Huh? Uh… Uh… Um…”

“One hot Americano, please.”

While receiving Jihoon’s gaze that said “What are you doing? What is this? Have you gone crazy?”, Jeonggwan calmly stood in front of the bar, waiting for the coffee with his back to Won Junjae.

Then the scent of strawberry jam from behind him grew stronger.

Was he angry? Jeonggwan wanted so badly to turn around and check his expression, but the “How to Seduce Any Alpha” video had said to never give even 1g of attention. Good things come to those who wait, they say.

Thud thud thud.

Footsteps passed behind Jeonggwan’s back.

Ding-.

In the end, Won Junjae left the cafe.