Tensegrity

The bloody documentary dampens the mood. Without any special conversation,  Jun-Kyung just hugged and felt the warmth of the other person. Still, it wasn’t uncomfortable. Compared to the beginning, it was a great improvement. It was so comfortable that he fell asleep before he knew it.

As Jun-Kyung repeatedly lowered and raised his heavy eyelids, tension flowed out of the large body holding him tightly. His long, thick arms were still wrapped around Jun-Kyung’s waist, but they didn’t feel like chains as before. Jun-Kyung wanted to enjoy a quiet and peaceful time to the fullest.

Bzzt.

The phone’s vibration broke the sweet silence. Both raised their heads reflexively. The screen turned on was Jun-Kyung’s. Three letters of the senior’s name was displayed on the screen. Executive Director Min picked up the cell phone and handed it to me.

“It’s the sun-bae I talked earlier. He said he’d call me later.”

Director Min didn’t even ask when Jun-Kyung answered. When he was about to hand it over as if nothing, Executive Director Min replied, “take it”.

“I can take it later.”

“Take it now. It might be urgent.”

It was an atmosphere not to be refused. After letting Jun-Kyung go, Director Min immediately crossed his arms. It was certain this time. He doesn’t like it. It’s not even a woman calling but a man.

“Hello?”

ㅡJun-Kyung-ah, do you have time this weekend?

“I told you before. It’s a bit difficult.”

—Not about work. The kids are getting together this Saturday. You come out, too.”

“This Saturday?”

—Yeah. Let’s see faces after a long time and catch up.

“Ah, I…” Reflexively, he checked the complexion of Executive Director Min sitting next to him.

“That will be also difficult.”

ㅡWhat? Why are you so expensive? Are you going to cut ties?

“It’s not like that. There are some reasons for that.”

— If that’s the case, come out and talk. I’ll send you the time and place by message.

The senior talked one-sidedly and hung up and sent the address immediately. It was a bar in Gangnam. Of course, he didn’t intend to go, but Executive Director Min’s gaze looking at this side was strange.

“What’s wrong?”

“I heard you invited a friend to your wedding.”

“Yes, about a few people.”

“When you meet a friend, don’t you introduce your fiancee and give them a wedding invitation? The wedding invitation hasn’t come out yet.”

A chill went down Jun-Kyung’s spine. Don’t tell me that he’s planning to come?

“No, that’s okay. We are not even close enough to invite.”

“If you are close enough to call him hyung, wouldn’t he be sad hearing this?” Both ends of his mouth, which had been moving stiffly the entire time, went all the way up. His mouth was smiling, but the eyes looking at Jun-Kyung weren’t smiling at all. Jun-Kyung was scared. It was a mannequin expression he hadn’t seen in a long time. There is no room for objection.

Before Jun-Kyung could answer anything, Executive Director Min called his secretary to adjust his schedule. He knew exactly when and where and when.

Damn it. Jun-Kyung almost lost contact with his friends from middle school and high school. He did all the sports growing up, so he couldn’t stand the change in treatment after the Omega manifestation.

On the contrary, he got along fine with people he met who knew him after he was an Omega. In particular, even after graduation, he maintained close relationships with seniors and alumni in the security department who had little preconceived notions about omega.

The person who asked him to come to the meeting this time was Lee Gun-Yeong, a senior whom Jun-Kyung respected the most. Becoming a VIP bodyguard before Jun-Kyung, he actively advocated for the necessity and expertise of Omega bodyguards and was also the one who introduced Jun-Kyung to a VIP bodyguard company that would be difficult to enter without his connections. That’s why it was hard to ignore the call.

Upon entering the bar, Gun-Young immediately recognized Jun-Kyung.

“Jun-Kyung-ah, here.”

“Hello, hyung.”

“Hey, it’s been a while.”

In addition to the senior, other classmates welcomed Jun-Kyung. Most of the people he was close with were married, so it was rare to meet separately outside like this because they have work and family.

This time, the recent newly weds were also present. It was the first time Jun-Kyung had seen the wife since the marriage, so he greeted her politely. This event was hosted by the same colleague in place of the after-wedding party.

“Have a drink.” Senior Gun-Young says while pouring beer into an empty glass. Jun-Kyung didn’t even have a chance to catch his breath before being offered to drink.

“That drink is a bit…”

“Why? Did you quit?”

Jun-Kyung was asked by a senior who knows that he usually doesn’t like alcohol very much.

“It has been that way for a while.”

“Hey, but just a glass of beer is fine.”

“Yes, Mr. Jun-Kyung. It’s been a while since we met, and we’re all together.” His colleague and wife urged one more time. Normally, he would drink a beer or two without hesitation but now?

“I’m sorry.”

Embarrassingly, he smiled and ordered a regular drink. Senior Gun-Yeong looked closely at Jun-Kyung.

“Not even a glass of beer. Where are you sick? Are you seriously ill?”

It was not unheard of for even healthy young people to be sentenced to a terminally ill condition overnight. Jun-Kyung’s colleague and his wife also suddenly became serious.

“Oh, it’s not like that.” Emphasizing that he was absolutely not sick, Jun-Kyung accepted the drink bottle from the server. His colleagues become suspicious as they watched Jun-Kyung refill his own glass.

“What’s wrong with you? I was wondering what’s up with you since you quit a good company and decided to take a break all of a sudden.”

“Did something happen at work?” Someone chipped in.

“You asked to see me after a long time. Did everyone come out to interrogate me?” While taking a sip of the drink, Jun-Kyung made a joke, but the atmosphere did not ease easily. This is a place where there are only close people anyway. Jun-Kyung has no choice but to confess.

“I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry, but are your parents healthy?”

“Hey, if that’s the case, they’ve already contacted us.” They were making a fuss between themselves.

 Jun-Kyung felt his mouth dry. He took another sip of the drink and cleared his throat.

“I am getting married soon.”

“What?”

“What, marriage?”

“Oh my gosh!” The atmosphere froze for a moment.

“Hey, Jun-Kyung Ho!”

“You bastard!”

“Wow! I thought you were going to die! You little bastard, why are you serious about such news?”

A loud sound erupted all at once. The classmates and seniors sitting on either side of Jun-Kyung were making a fuss, hitting him on the shoulder. His colleagus’s wife also clapped and laughed loudly.

“Ha, I knew you would feel scared. Here, have a drink!”

“That’s right. Punishment drinks are in order. Have a drink no matter what!”

Jun-Kyung shook his head at his colleagues, who are pouring half beer and half soju in the glass.

“No, not alcohol.”

“Are you taking care of yourself just because you are married? Is that why you quit the company too?”

“No, it’s not that…how do I say this?” Feeling stuffy, Jun-Kyung gulped down the drink and filled it up again as if pouring soju.

“Who is your partner? Is she pretty?”

“He said he wasn’t getting married, but I knew otherwise.”

“The quiet kid finally makes a good living.” His colleagues were talking nonsense and making jokes.

“How did you meet?”

“Blind date?”

“When will you introduce us?”

There were the colleagues that knew Jun-Kyung’s temperament well and assume that he’d never be with an alpha, so it was more difficult to tell the truth. But in many ways, it was better to inform his colleagues ahead before Director Min showed up and destroyed the meeting. He was supposed to come in after 30 minutes, and it’s already been more than 15 minutes.

“He’s older than me. I met him at work, and I quit because of the wedding preparations. And it’s not a woman but a man.” It was spit out with a rapid-fire cannon. His colleagues who were filled with excitement to hear the news froze.

The chatter disappears, replaced by a bitter silence.

His sun-bae asked seriously while staring at Jun-Kyung.

“A man? Then?”

“Yes, he’s an Alpha.”

“Ah.” The senior, who nodded slowly, suddenly filled his glass. He then took a gulp and then  asked again.

“Someone from the company?”

“Yes. To be exact, the boss of the company.”

“It’s Taewon then.”

“Yes.”

“There are many alpha in large companies. This can be happen.”

“And the reason I don’t drink…”

Then, suddenly, one of his classmates raised his hand and covered Jun-Kyung’s mouth. “Uh, that’s it. That’s it for today.”

“Yes, I understand, so you don’t have to tell us. Here, have another bottle of Sprite!”

The atmosphere suddenly turned strange. Everyone coughed and talked about something else. The colleague’s wife asked her husband what she didn’t understand. After explaining her in a whisper, his wife widened her eyes and looked at Jun-Kyung.

“Ah, congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Jun-Kyung replied awkwardly. Is there a more uncomfortable place than this?

The colleague’s wife asked, as if out of pure curiosity for Jun-Kyung, “Then speeding?”

“Ah, what?”

“Everything is like that these days. My friend also got pregnant and got married.”

When the word pregnancy came out, Jun-Kyung’s seniors and classmates scrambled to empty their drinking glasses. The bar server quickly brought sojus and beers.

“What kind of person is he?”

On behalf of the silent men, Hong Il-Jeom actively stepped forward. Even though it was embarrassing, it was a little better because someone he didn’t know well asked.

“Is he handsome?”

“Yes, a little.” He is handsome. It’s just that fear comes first before good looks.

“If Jun-Kyung is like that, he must be really handsome. Do you have a picture?”

“Oh, there are no pictures right now.”

They can find anything they want to find about him. All it took was the search for his name on the Internet and there will be plenty of photos. However, in terms of the flow of conversation, the other way was better than the search. Jun-Kyung decided to tell them everything at once.

“He’s nearby, should I ask him to come? The real thing is much better.”

“Oh, my! Then, tell him to come!”

Hooked up by the alpha Handsomeness, the colleague’s wife applauded. Jun-Kyung looked around at his seniors and classmates. They were all speculative, but there was no objection.