The Main Character is Obsessed With a Foreign Substance

While heading toward the university cafeteria near the Pharmacy building, Chanwoo asked with a face still drowsy from sleep. In response, Eunchan, walking beside him, forced his similarly sleepy eyes open and answered.

“Uh, the course name is, well…”

As is typical among close classmates, they had synchronized their schedules when registering for courses. Seunghyun smiled slightly and spoke up.

“‘Contemporary Society Through Film.’ Guys.”

“Ah, right!”

Chanwoo clapped his hands as if suddenly remembering. Though only freshmen, they were already tired from the relentless barrage of major courses and theories from their first semester, so they wanted to take elective classes that would be more relaxing. Thus, among the available options, they had agreed on this liberal arts course where they could watch movies and refresh their minds.

“A senior I know said it’s incredibly easy.”

“Yeah. The assignments are just watching movies and submitting reviews.”

“Wow, super sweet, totally awesome.”

Such good courses typically have fierce competition, so it was incredibly lucky that all five of them had successfully registered. After walking and chattering together with his classmates and eating at the cafeteria, Seunghyun headed toward the main building where the liberal arts lecture would be held.

“Come to think of it, that bastard won’t be there, right?”

“Huh? Who?”

As they reached the lecture hall, Chanwoo looked around and spoke in a low voice. Seeing Chanwoo surveying the area like a meerkat, Gahyun opened her eyes wide.

“Oh, that crazy bastard Jin Suhwan. He was always following Seunghyun around last semester.”

Though freely using a graduating senior’s name and even cursing him, no one pointed it out. Instead, as his classmates recalled his antics, their expressions uniformly darkened.

Jin Suhwan’s obsession was already widely known throughout the campus. Stories of him even spending money to kick out registered students so he could take the same classes as Seunghyun would occasionally resurface on the university community site.

Since they were in different departments, he couldn’t follow Seunghyun to major courses, but even sharing the few liberal arts classes was a burden. His classmates glanced at Seunghyun’s expressionless face as they recalled those memories.

“Oh, really. Don’t talk about such ominous things. And even if he’s there, so what? What can he do?”

“That’s right. We’ll protect you, so don’t worry, Seunghyun.”

Seunghyun gave a bitter smile at Gahyun’s words, who was clearly a beta female likely weaker than himself.

“Right, thanks.”

Betas often seemed to think omegas were weaker than themselves, but that was clearly a misconception. However, without bothering to correct this error, Seunghyun walked quietly. Soon they arrived at the lecture hall.

“…Huh?”

In front of the classroom where the liberal arts course was about to begin, Seunghyun ran into Suhwan.

Holding a grapefruit tea, Suhwan’s eyes widened in surprise. He had bumped into Seunghyun right in front of the classroom. Moreover, he wasn’t alone. Friends who appeared to be his classmates stood on either side with equally surprised expressions.

“Ah, th-that is…”

Suhwan was flustered. He had never imagined that the liberal arts course he’d chosen to casually fill his remaining credits would overlap with Seunghyun’s. He had registered for it as if entranced, thinking from the name alone that it would be an easy grade…

He wanted to slap his past self who had danced with joy in the hotel room after successfully registering for this popular course on the first try.

Despite his denials, this looked exactly like he was stalking Seunghyun. The original Jin Suhwan was crazy. Somehow, he would magically find out which courses Seunghyun was registering for and register for the same ones to follow him around. If he couldn’t register, he would spend money during the correction period to make other students cancel, then force his way in.

Thinking that Seunghyun and his friends probably saw him that way right now made his face flush with embarrassment.

Finally unable to bear it, Suhwan turned and started running.

Let’s just give up on this course. And switch to something else. I don’t need good grades anyway. Just anything else, anything that doesn’t overlap with Lee Seunghyun!

“Huh?”

At first, Seunghyun’s classmates didn’t recognize Suhwan. He wasn’t wearing the expensive suits he used to wear even on days he didn’t go to the company, nor did he have his signature pompadour hair with excessive mousse. In his comfortable hoodie and jeans, with his bangs down making him look much younger, Seunghyun’s classmates blinked in confusion.

“Was that really Jin Suhwan… Huh? Seunghyun!”

The bewildered classmates finally came to their senses as Suhwan ran away. But as soon as Suhwan fled from in front of the classroom, Seunghyun also ran after him.

Stunned by this unexpected turn of events, his classmates called Seunghyun’s name with dazed expressions. But Seunghyun paid no attention and continued running.

And behind them, Heeyoung watched with trembling eyes.

***

Suhwan’s mistake was the grapefruit tea he was still holding. Unable to run fast for fear of spilling his half-finished grapefruit tea, he was ultimately caught by Seunghyun before he could get very far.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah!”

Suhwan flinched in surprise since he hadn’t expected Seunghyun to follow him. The hand not holding the grapefruit tea was caught by Seunghyun. Suhwan looked at Seunghyun with eyes showing his inner panic. Why did he follow me?

“I asked where you’re going. Didn’t you come to attend the ‘Contemporary Society Through Film’ lecture?”

“Well… yes.”

But I wanted to drop the course to avoid being called your stalker.

Swallowing the rest of his words, Suhwan awkwardly pulled up the corners of his mouth. He was oddly conscious of Seunghyun’s hand gripping his arm. Seunghyun’s hand seemed even hotter than the still-warm grapefruit tea. When he involuntarily flinched his arm, Seunghyun’s gaze moved downward.

“Ah, this is, well!”

Realizing that Seunghyun’s gaze had landed on the grapefruit tea, Suhwan startled and began to explain. The takeout cup and holder containing the grapefruit tea clearly displayed the name “D.Clare.”

“This isn’t—I didn’t go there to see you, I just wanted a drink…! I went knowing you weren’t there. Don’t misunderstand.”

Suhwan looked miserable, worried about being cursed as a stalker again. Nothing had gone right since the first day of the semester. The cafe employee would have misunderstood, Seunghyun’s friends waiting by the classroom would have developed another grudge against him, and above all, Seunghyun in front of him must be tired of him. He should have been more careful. His trembling eyes began to moisten.

Contrary to Suhwan’s thoughts, Seunghyun wasn’t particularly displeased. Normally, he would have frowned upon seeing Jin Suhwan in front of the classroom, but when he came to his senses, he found himself running to catch Suhwan who had fled in surprise.

Seunghyun’s gaze lingered briefly on the grapefruit tea before moving up again. His eyes went to the red, plump lips that were mumbling something. He knew well that biting those cute lips would taste as sweet as the juice bursting from fruit.

“…Seunghyun?”

“Ah.”

Startled, Seunghyun turned his head to the side. Though not right in front of the classroom, they were in a corridor where people passed by, and he could feel glancing gazes. He tightened his grip slightly on the hand he was holding.

“Let’s go back.”

“What? No, I…”

“Let’s attend the lecture. I won’t say anything.”

“Oh.”

Suhwan was dragged along. Seunghyun let go of his hand right in front of the classroom and approached his waiting friends with a nonchalant face. Then, calming his classmates who asked what had happened, he entered the classroom.

Watching this scene blankly, Suhwan also entered the classroom as if entranced.

The classroom for this popular liberal arts course, which had filled up in just one second during registration, was teeming with students. Coincidentally, having arrived just before the lecture began, there weren’t many seats left. Suhwan looked around nervously before putting his bag down right behind where Seunghyun’s group was sitting.

“Hey, behind us…”

Suhwan could hear one of Seunghyun’s classmates whispering while glancing back. He deliberately pretended not to notice and turned his head away. It was uncomfortable, but strangely, he didn’t feel the urge to flee abruptly like before.

“Senior, is this seat taken?”

“No, it’s not…”

Suhwan was startled as he turned his head toward the voice. A girl with neatly tied long hair and thick-rimmed glasses was looking at him. She was clearly one of Seunghyun’s classmates, but why was she… Oh, what was her name? Hee… something with Hee.

Seeing Suhwan’s confusion, Heeyoung calmly spoke.

“If the seat’s not taken, may I sit here?”

“Ah, sure.”

Heeyoung sat next to Suhwan. Her calm face showed no trace of a smile. Suhwan looked at her with confused eyes before turning to look ahead.

Seunghyun’s classmates were equally surprised. Unable to speak directly, they were sending furious eye signals to Heeyoung. What are you doing? Then a girl with elaborate nails made eye contact with Suhwan, flinched, and quickly turned away.

What is this…? Why is she sitting next to me?

With a face full of confusion, Suhwan watched the instructor who had just entered the classroom. As he stared intensely at the instructor who was smiling awkwardly for being a bit late, Seunghyun glanced back at Suhwan sitting alongside Heeyoung.

Suhwan broke into a cold sweat as he searched his memory. Jin Suhwan, you damn bastard. Did you also mess with Seunghyun’s classmates?

He thought Jin had only made omega friends with benefits, but had he also approached betas? Yet no matter how much he tried to recall the novel’s content, he couldn’t remember Jin Suhwan associating with betas. No, that wasn’t right. The novel’s content wasn’t entirely reliable. It didn’t detail Jin Suhwan’s past in depth.

Swallowing hard, Suhwan awkwardly moved his hand to belatedly take out his writing materials. One side of his face kept tingling. He could feel Heeyoung staring at him intently from beside him.

“…Senior.”

“Uh, huh? Yes?”

Heeyoung called Suhwan in a soft voice. Startled, Suhwan looked at Heeyoung with unnatural movements and opened his mouth. At his dramatic reaction, Heeyoung’s expressionless face contorted slightly.

“Hmm, what is it?”