บท 18: Things Will Never Be the Same 3

The music is so loud Minwoo gets out of bed. It is orientation night and had he been the same Minwoo he was last year, he would have been down there, dancing and making out with those desperate omegas. But he promised himself to change so he decides to stay in.

Tonight will be his first challenge in rebranding himself as the hard-working, no-party Minwoo but unfortunately for him, the medical department throws the best orientation party in all of campus. And people are already getting drunk he can smell the sex pheromones slipping into his room - faint enough for him to not be affected yet strong enough for him to notice.

Opening the door out of curiosity, he hears the music thumping and a few moments later, sees a couple making out against the wall. The alpha is trying hard to unlock his room and Minwoo can't help but feeling like laughing at the pathetic attempt. He returns back to his room and sits on the bed. Everyone has something to do and he is, alone.

He can just go back to his apartment and watch some TV shows.

Or…

He can try to get through tonight and gain some sort of accomplishment.

Deciding to go for the latter, he gets into his sportswear and jogging shoes. Exercising is not a bad idea. He will get to train his body and prepare for the basketball match next month. Heading out, he almost gag smelling all those pathetic omega's pheromones. Pathetic. Really pathetic.

Hiding his scent, Minwoo had refrain from shoving the flirty omegas away from him as he makes his way out the party house. They were not lying about it being one of the best, he wonders how the university even allows it in the first place. It is like a sex party down there. So weird.

Well, not that things were any different back in Europe though…

Minwoo starts running but only manages to proceed a few meters before he has to start walking to avoid colliding with the drunkards. Looking around, he realizes that the main road is filled with those people, so he decides to take the park instead. There are a few more there too, but at least they are sitting around instead of walking and that makes it easier for him to go through.

After a good hour or so, Minwoo stops to catch his breath. It is damn cold, and he hasn't been exercising during the term break so he gets tired easily.

The noble alpha looks around the park and notices that no one is there. It is also quiet, which is surprising considering every dormitory are organizing parties. Walking towards the lake, he notices some benches and takes a seat. It is still early so the party would still be going on. He should rest for a while before continuing his work out until around midnight before returning.

Minwoo takes a long and deep breath, just enjoying the cold night air. The reflection of the light hitting the lake is really breathtaking and he can just imagine sharing the view with someone special. He may be a firm believer of staying single, but he does have romantic thoughts sometimes. And there is no denying the view is too beautiful to be enjoyed alone.

𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘱. He hears a dripping sound. It sounds like a pebble being dropped into the water.

𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘱. That is certainly a pebble or a stone dropping into the lake.

Minwoo gets up to look for the source. It is ruining his special moment. And the person is not stopping either, judging from the periodical throw of the pebble. Irked, Minwoo feels like confronting the person.

He is already in a bad mood, and the only peace he had is now ruined. He has been holding on his anger since an hour ago, releasing it to a stranger does not seem like a bad idea. The person will probably just cower anyway, because Minwoo is scary and intimidating when mad.

He does not have to look for long though, as the person is just a few steps away from him.

It is a man, crouching beside the lake, collecting pebbles. And surprisingly, seeing the man doing so quietly, and slowly, as if he is doing so to relax, makes Minwoo's anger dissipate. It makes him feel somewhat relaxed as well. The alpha decides not to say anything and just watch. The man is really taking his time, Minwoo is curious as to what the man is doing. He can only see the back of the man.

The man stands up again and starts to throw the pebbles. His body is angled weirdly and Minwoo wonders why before it hits him - the guy is trying to stone skip, but that is obviously not the way to do it.

He is not doing it right. It is frustrating to watch, but funny at the same time.

After a few more attempts, the man crouches back again and starts to recollect more pebbles. He then sits down completely and throws the pebbles he collected with full force, not even trying anymore. It seems he gave up.

Minwoo smiles at himself and decides to join the man. Maybe teach him how to do it. He can make a new friend at the same time. The young alpha starts walking towards the figure before stopping; lake guy just stands up and turns back, his side facing Minwoo.

And he is damn beautiful. No, beautiful is not enough to describe him.

He is ethereal.

His smooth and milky skin...

Those cold, sharp eyes…

That nose…

That sharp jawline

And gulp, the man just looked up.

His neck is begging to be licked.

No, Minwoo. Stop.

Minwoo doesn't realize he was staring until he sees the man looking around with panic on his face. He only manages to catch a glimpse of the stranger's full face before the man starts to run away, leaving Minwoo to catch his breath he didn't realize he was holding.

What just happened?

#####

Wonho runs as fast as he can towards the omega dorm, almost tripping a couple of times.

He made a mistake. He should never have wandered around alone.

He thought he was alone near the lake. Nobody was there so he decided to spend his time alone.

But someone was watching him.

An alpha was watching him.

He couldn't see the alpha but he knew he had to get away.

Wonho dashes into his room and locks the door, pushing his bed towards entrance. Then he stands there, barely able to move from tremors, just staring at the door. He hears people shouting outside and turns, running towards the window and locks it making sure to pull down the curtain.

Then he let himself fall down on the floor. Breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath.

He should be safe now. He is already indoor.

No alpha can come and get him now.