Alpha Trauma

Dohyeon’s prediction was spot on. When Wooyeon asked for the materials, the team members willingly sent over the ones they had given to Junseong. Although the content was a mess, their willingness to cooperate was appreciated. Who would have thought that saying, “I’m going to remove Kang Junseong’s name,” would stir up so much talk?

“If the professor asks, just say you couldn’t reach him and had to remove his name. You have the evidence, right? You asked them to send the PPT, and they all saw and ignored it.”

Following Dohyeon’s advice, Wooyeon didn’t leave the group chat. Just in case, he took screenshots, and when contacting the other group members, he made sure to call them instead of texting. All of this was per Dohyeon’s guidance.

“He’s definitely getting an F.”

The group project counted for 50% of the grade. If Junseong didn’t get a good score here, no matter how well he did on the final exam, it would be hard for him to get a good grade. As Dohyeon said, he was either going to get an F or, at best, a C.

“But what if I promise them they’ll get an A, and they end up with a lower grade?”

“Wooyeon.”

Dohyeon’s final words erased Wooyeon’s lingering doubts. With a voice as gentle as ever, Dohyeon said the most reassuring thing he had heard so far.

“I’ve taken this class before.”

Over the next two days, they used the materials provided by the group members to rebuild the PPT in the club room. Seonkyu and Garam helped here and there, and surprisingly, Garam shone in the design department. The final product was about three times better than what Wooyeon had initially put together.

As soon as Wooyeon finished speaking, the room filled with applause. The professor also looked pleased, jotting something down on the grading sheet. The only one who wasn’t clapping was Junseong, who glared at Wooyeon with a face flushed red.

“The ideas were fresh, and the content was solid. The presentation was also delivered excellently.”

The ideas were Wooyeon’s, the script had been crafted by Dohyeon, and while Seonkyu provided the missing data, the polished presentation was thanks to Garam. Nevertheless, Wooyeon mixed in the names of the group members when he submitted the list.

“But… are there four members in this group?”

The professor marked something on the grading sheet as he asked. Guessing that he was assigning roles to each team member, Wooyeon calmly replied without looking at Junseong.

“The team member responsible for making the PPT couldn’t be reached, so we had to remove his name.”

“Is this something the group has agreed on?”

“Yes.”

“Professor!”

No sooner had Wooyeon finished answering than Junseong shot up from his seat. The loud noise caused the professor to frown as he turned to look at him. Junseong, unable to hide his anger, hurriedly spoke up.

“I’m Kang Junseong, the group leader from the Department of Information and Communication Engineering. There seems to be some misunderstanding…”

“We’re still in the middle of class, so I won’t be listening to that now. If you have complaints, discuss them with your team and come to my office.”

For once, Wooyeon thought this was well-deserved. Despite Junseong’s earlier certainty that the professor wouldn’t care about the group work, he now found himself in this situation. Though Junseong looked indignant, the professor called for the next group, leaving him with a red face as he slumped back into his seat.

On his way back to his seat, Wooyeon could feel the eyes of other students on him and Junseong. They had likely overheard the argument earlier and were now curious about the situation. Rumors would undoubtedly spread, but no one would take Junseong’s side. In fact, no one would take anyone’s side.

Wooyeon knew just how terrifying public indifference could be. Even though it was clear Junseong was at fault, no one would stand up for him. If Wooyeon had removed Junseong’s name unfairly, no one would have defended him either. The same would have applied if Junseong had removed Wooyeon’s name.

Throughout the remaining presentations, Junseong sat with his head down, shoulders trembling. If he weren’t so upset, Wooyeon might have expected him to exude a storm of angry pheromones. But Wooyeon didn’t give him a glance, pretending to focus on the presentations as he rested his chin on his hand.

“You all did much better than I anticipated.”

The presentations finally wrapped up after an hour and a half. The professor flipped through the reports briefly and instructed everyone to send their PPTs via email. He also mentioned that grades would be announced later. As he concluded, the professor glanced at Wooyeon’s group.

“And Group 1.”

Wooyeon straightened up, meeting the professor’s gaze. He thought it might be about removing Junseong’s name, but the professor brought up something else.

“You were flawless. Even among your upperclassmen, few have done as well as you. Did you perhaps use some sort of reference?”

For a moment, Wooyeon hesitated, wondering whether he should mention Dohyeon. If he said a senior had helped, would their grade be reduced? Despite his concerns, his mouth moved on its own.

“Kim Dohyeon Sunbae from the English Department…”

“Oh, Dohyeon.”

Luckily, the professor didn’t seem displeased. In fact, upon hearing Dohyeon’s name, he nodded in satisfaction. He even remarked how diligent Dohyeon was in everything he did and asked Wooyeon to pass along his regards if given the chance.

It wasn’t even a major class, just a general elective with many students. Wooyeon had already been impressed by Dohyeon’s commitment during course registration, but his overall dedication to university life was truly something to admire.

“There won’t be any assignments for a while, so rest up, and I’ll see you all next week.”

As soon as the professor ended the class, Junseong rushed up to the podium. He exchanged a few words with the professor, received permission, and then manipulated the laptop. As the professor silently stroked his chin while looking at the screen, his frown deepened.

“Seon Wooyeon, can you see me for a moment?”

***

The professor’s office had a large desk and a table big enough for multiple people. The shelves on the walls were filled with academic books, and there were even plants and a water dispenser, giving the space a cozy atmosphere.

“So… Junseong claims he did the assignment, but you removed his name. Is that correct?”

The professor frowned deeply, even taking off his glasses as he sighed in frustration. He shook his head, saying he dealt with this sort of issue every year. Junseong stood with his hands behind his back, speaking in a voice filled with indignation.

“As I showed earlier, I definitely made the PPT. It was just delayed a bit, but I think it’s too much to remove my name.”

“Well… okay. Seon Wooyeon, do you have anything to say?”

Wooyeon silently took out his phone and approached the professor. He opened the group chat and showed it to him, causing the professor to squint.

“I asked several times for the PPT to be sent, but I never got a response. If you had at least told me you were working on it, I would have waited. But since you ignored my messages, I got the materials from the other group members. I wouldn’t call it ‘a bit delayed’—I received no contact from you until the day of the presentation.”

At a quick glance, Junseong’s face stiffened with embarrassment, his lips pressed shut. His eyes darted as if searching for an excuse, but nothing seemed to come to mind. The professor drove the point home in a cold voice.

“I don’t know what the story is, but from what I see here, it looks like you ignored the messages. Regardless of anything else, if you were the group leader, you should’ve communicated responsibly.”

“But professor, I did work on the project…”

“In terms of the project quality, there’s no question Seon Wooyeon’s work is far superior. What you made could be completed in a day or two.”

Actually, Wooyeon had also made it in just two days, though the professor had no idea. Judging by the way Junseong’s face twisted, he seemed to think Wooyeon had been planning to mess him up from the start.

“I don’t have anything more to say. You all should come to an agreement among yourselves. If you two come back before the next class, I’ll consider the situation.”

The professor waved his hand, signaling he had nothing further to add. Wooyeon bowed slightly and left the professor’s office without looking back. Before the door closed, he could hear Kang Junseong, unwilling to give up, protesting to the professor.

“But I definitely… with the group members…”

Click. The door closed, and the sound from inside was completely blocked. Wow, soundproofing must be really good, Wooyeon thought absentmindedly as he walked toward the stairs. When he checked his phone again, there was a message from the group members.

“……”

As soon as he read the message, Wooyeon stopped in his tracks. Praise for the presentation, promises to work harder next time—among the polite words, one phrase stood out in his mind.

“You worked hard.”

It was the first time. The first time someone had told him he worked hard after finishing a project. Not cursing him out for ruining everything, but thanking him for saving the day.

“Because of that pig, we failed everything.”

“Hey, what the hell, you can’t even do that?”

“That bastard took our names off too…”

It felt like there was a heavy stone lodged in his throat. The stone was not only hard but burning hot, and Wooyeon couldn’t swallow. He bit the inside of his cheek hard, trying to hold back the overwhelming sensation.

“Useless bastard.”

Wooyeon didn’t think the group members had done a good job either. Though they hadn’t outright bullied him like Junseong, in the end, all they did was slap their names on the work. It would take more than a single “good job” to make him feel moved. The person he truly wanted to share these feelings with was someone else.

Still, the moment he saw the words “you worked hard,” Wooyeon recalled a fact he had barely managed to suppress. During his three years in middle school, he had been treated worse than a pig.

“……”

His stomach churned, and he felt like he might vomit. He was close to tears too. If there had been a teacher in front of him right now, he might’ve collapsed and sobbed, just like he had that one time.

“Hey, Seon Wooyeon!”

However, Wooyeon snapped out of his thoughts. The loud thumping sound of someone approaching—Junseong, his face flushed with rage, was running toward him.

“You bastard…!”

Without warning, Junseong grabbed Wooyeon by the collar. He shoved him roughly, and the back of Wooyeon’s head slammed against the wall. Gritting his teeth, Wooyeon felt the sharp pain reverberate through his skull.

“Ugh…”

For a brief moment, his vision turned white. Judging by the pain, he figured he’d end up with a bruise. Junseong, panting heavily, radiated an overpowering anger.

“Do you feel good, messing with me like this?”

Wooyeon managed to raise his hand and grab Junseong’s wrist. He could feel the rage radiating from Junseong, his pheromones flaring despite being a recessive. As his already upset stomach churned further, Wooyeon twisted Junseong’s wrist outward.

“Argh…!”

With a loud crack, Junseong stumbled back, completely caught off guard. Despite his earlier bravado, his reaction was pitiful, but instead of mocking him, Wooyeon let out a small cough. The pounding in his head reminded him of how hard he had hit the wall.

“Damn it, let go!”

Junseong swore as he shook off Wooyeon’s grip. Wooyeon had no intention of holding on any longer, so he let go and rubbed the back of his head. As expected, it still throbbed where it had slammed against the wall.

“…Seriously.”

In a rare moment of frustration, Wooyeon muttered a curse under his breath. Normally, he didn’t let his emotions get the better of him, but being grabbed by the collar had crossed a line. Slowly, his pheromones began to creep out, weighing down on Junseong.

“You bastard…!”

Junseong started to speak but suddenly gasped for breath. The pheromones in the air pressed down on his lungs, making it hard to breathe. Wooyeon, not bothering to control the release of his pheromones, took a step closer to him.

“What did I ever do to you?”

It had been a long time since Wooyeon had been this furious. No, it was the first time in his life that he was so angry he felt like he was losing his mind. Who was the one really feeling wronged, like he was going to go crazy? Why was this guy always acting like the victim?

“What did I ever do to you, you bastard?”

Wooyeon said this as he grabbed Junseong by the collar.

Junseong, whose face had turned pale, clamped his hand over his mouth and winced. As a beta, his response to pheromones was slower, but Wooyeon’s dominant alpha presence was overwhelming. If Wooyeon unleashed all of his pheromones now, Junseong would probably throw up everything he had eaten.

“Why, when you were scheming behind my back, you were so confident. Now that you’re on the receiving end, does it feel disgusting?”

The world around Wooyeon seemed to darken. His mind felt cold, but his chest burned. The pheromones raging inside him were making even Wooyeon dizzy; there was no way Junseong could handle it.

“Hah…!”

Junseong was barely breathing. His intermittent gasps made it seem like he might pass out at any moment. Wooyeon gradually reduced the amount of pheromones he was emitting and loosened his grip on Junseong’s collar.

“You once asked me why I hated you so much, right?”

“…Ugh.”

Junseong’s limp body crumpled to the floor, though he barely managed to fall away from the staircase.

Looking down at Junseong, Wooyeon spoke in a low, cold voice.

“After everything you did, how can you not recognize me?”

“…!”

Junseong’s eyes widened as he looked up at Wooyeon, realization dawning. His chest heaved with the difficulty of breathing.

Wooyeon calmed his pheromones and allowed himself to recall a memory that had been buried for six years.

“Back in middle school.”

When Wooyeon was fourteen, he met Kang Junseong at the school he had just started attending. At first, they were close, but within just a month, Wooyeon became an outcast.

“Class 1-1 in first year, class 2-3 in second year, and class 3-5 in third year.”

“Ugh…”

“You bullied me for three years straight.”

Even thinking about that bitter connection again left Wooyeon speechless. Whether it was fate or the school that had abandoned him, someone clearly hated him.

“You’re upset that I ignored you and didn’t include your name in the group project?”

Wooyeon chuckled bitterly, pressing his nails into his palm to hold himself together. If he didn’t, the tangled mess of emotions inside him might erupt all at once.

“Honestly, that’s nothing compared to what you did to me.”

“H-heuk…”

“When I think about what you put me through, that was nothing, you bastard.”

The surge of emotions made the pheromones explode out of him again, oppressing Junseong like he was about to burst. Junseong’s pupils trembled violently as Wooyeon’s pheromones overwhelmed him, clouding his vision.

“Ugh…”

Junseong began to crawl across the floor, drooling. From the outside, it looked like he had been beaten up, even though Wooyeon had only grabbed him by the collar once. Wooyeon couldn’t help but grimace in disgust when he noticed Junseong’s crotch bulging.

“Alphas… ugh.”

Even in this situation, Junseong had reacted to the pheromones with an erection. The more Wooyeon learned about this beastly trait, the more repulsive it seemed. Though Omegas might react the same way in reverse, Wooyeon didn’t care to think that far.

“Just to be clear, this isn’t some grand revenge or anything. You’re the one who started this…”

The frustration rising in him had already exceeded its limit. Venting his anger on Junseong felt pointless, and even continuing the conversation seemed meaningless.

“Let’s just stay strangers from now on.”

Wooyeon spoke with as much sincerity as he could muster. Junseong seemed too out of it to fully understand, but Wooyeon didn’t care. He had revealed his identity as

Seon Wooyeon, and with that, Junseong wouldn’t look for excuses anymore.

As Wooyeon turned to walk down the stairs, leaving him behind, he felt his pheromones clinging to him like unwanted residue. Just as he thought about how burdensome it felt, an all-too-familiar voice called out from above.

“…Wooyeon?”

***

Wooyeon quickened his pace, feeling awkward. The person walking beside him seemed perfectly fine, which made Wooyeon feel even stranger. For some reason, the dark hair and pale skin of the person next to him felt distant today.

“What a coincidence, running into you there.”

The person he had run into on the stairs a while ago was a teaching assistant from Wooyeon’s department, someone he occasionally bumped into. As always, he had a calm, composed face, and his alpha pheromones were strong. Though Wooyeon had been surprised by his sudden appearance, he had ended up walking with him to the clubroom without much fuss.

“So, what were you doing in that building? A general education class?”

“Yes… I’m taking Global Leadership.”

“Oh, that professor’s nice.”

The teaching assistant nodded and added in a quieter voice, “It would be better without the group projects, though.” Wooyeon laughed weakly at that. Considering that this entire mess had erupted because of a group project, he couldn’t disagree.

“What about you? What were you doing over there?”

“Running an errand for the professor. Whatever you do, don’t consider going to grad school. Especially not as a TA.”

It was sincere advice from the heart. Wooyeon suddenly recalled how, during the course adjustment period, Dohyeon had bolted at the mere mention of the “D” in “graduate school.”

“…Um, by the way, TA.”

The teaching assistant turned his eyes toward Wooyeon without replying. His jet-black pupils, as if they could draw you in, gave off a different impression from Dohyeon’s. While Dohyeon had a soft and kind aura, the TA’s was a bit colder.

“You’re not saying anything?”

At Wooyeon’s words, the TA shifted his gaze somewhat awkwardly. He seemed to fully understand what Wooyeon was asking. After hesitating for quite a while, he finally spoke, with a slightly sheepish expression.

“To be honest, I heard a bit about it from above.”

“…”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping, it just sort of happened.”

Earlier, when the TA had spoken to him, Junseong had been lying collapsed at their feet. The TA had ignored him with the same expression he always had and suggested to Wooyeon that they head to the club room together. He hadn’t worried about Junseong, who was sprawled on the floor, nor had he scolded Wooyeon for whatever had happened.

“While we’re on the subject, you shouldn’t be releasing pheromones in the hallway.”

The TA’s voice, indifferent to an extreme, didn’t sound like he was holding back questions; it seemed like he genuinely had no curiosity. When Seonkyu had once said, “I think the TA doesn’t know my name,” Wooyeon had replied, “No way,” but now he thought it might actually be possible.

“I’ll be careful.”

Wooyeon didn’t press the issue further, ending the conversation. The TA also wrapped things up, saying, “No need to be that careful.” Silence fell again, but this time it didn’t feel as awkward as before.

In the club room were Garam and Seonkyu, both looking anxious. Dohyeon was nowhere to be seen, apparently having stepped out to smoke, leaving the two fidgeting behind. Wooyeon felt a pang of disappointment at not seeing the face he most wanted to, but when Garam approached menacingly, he instinctively stepped back.

“Your pheromones…”

Garam’s slitted eyes, lacking double eyelids, gleamed sharply. He scanned Wooyeon from head to toe, his expression hardening threateningly. As Wooyeon, with an awkward expression, averted his gaze, the TA stepped in and spoke up.

“They said we can’t run a bar at this year’s festival.”

“…What?”

“Selling alcohol is completely banned.”

Garam’s face quickly turned dumbfounded. He gaped at the TA and let out a shrill shriek.

“That’s ridiculous! Then what are we supposed to do for the festival?”

While Garam was distracted, Wooyeon quietly slipped out of his line of sight. Seonkyu looked at Wooyeon, but when Wooyeon made a gesture as if to say he’d be right back, Seonkyu pretended not to notice.

Only after carefully closing the club room door behind him did Wooyeon let out a sigh and slump against the wall.

“Ah… I’m so tired.”

Perhaps because his tension had eased, a wave of exhaustion swept over him. Even though he knew he had to report the results of the group project, he didn’t feel like doing anything at that moment. And now that Garam had sensed his pheromones, he might even have to explain the scuffle with Junseong.

“I miss the professor.”

As that thought crossed his mind, Wooyeon rubbed his eyes. Leaning his head against the wall, a sharp pain surged through him, almost enough to bring tears to his eyes. Startled, he touched the back of his head, only to find a swollen lump.

“Ugh…”

A groan escaped him. Just the lightest touch was this painful—he couldn’t imagine how much it would hurt when he washed his hair. He really should have punched Junseong back. Now, it was too late for regrets.

“Ah, it really hurts.”

Wooyeon buried his face in his knees and gingerly rubbed the back of his head. Even just by touch, the lump felt huge, and he thought it must look awful if he could see it. Maybe he should ask Seonkyu to take a picture of it later. He could make up an excuse, saying he’d bumped into something…

“Stay still.”

A breeze of pheromones wafted in. It wasn’t Wooyeon’s, nor was it Junseong’s. The scent, cool and refreshing like the autumn wind, gently enveloped Wooyeon.

Wooyeon stiffened his neck and his fingers twitched.

“Let’s see…”

The owner of the pheromones tenderly touched Wooyeon’s head, carefully parting his hair and hovering near the lump. As Wooyeon squirmed slightly, the other person asked, more tenderly than he had imagined.

“Does it hurt?”

“…A little.”

Wooyeon clenched his stomach and bit his lip. Despite the earlier exhaustion, a sweet sensation washed over him, making his mouth tingle. By the time the other person seemed to have gauged the size of the lump, their hand slowly withdrew.

“Should I ask, or not?”

At the gentle question, Wooyeon slowly lifted his head. His gaze moved past the straightened legs in front of him and landed on the one person he most wanted to see—Dohyeon. Dohyeon, bent at the waist, crouched down to look at Wooyeon and spoke.

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

His expression suggested that if Wooyeon asked him not to bring it up, he would gladly comply. Worry filled his eyes, but he was someone who would endure it if that’s what Wooyeon wanted. Wooyeon, captivated by Dohyeon’s concern and kindness, clutched at his clothes like a child.

“Then hug me.”

Dohyeon lowered his eyes without a word. His shiny pupils reflected a moment of hesitation. Wooyeon tugged on Dohyeon’s clothes a little harder, softly pleading with him.

“You said you’d do whatever I wanted.”

“…”

As if casting a spell, Dohyeon moved slowly. He extended his arms to lift Wooyeon up and gently wrapped his arms around his shoulders. The pheromones, warm and enveloping, made Wooyeon’s tense body go limp.

“You’re acting spoiled.”

Wooyeon didn’t respond, burying his face in Dohyeon’s chest. He wanted to reach out and hug him in return, but he couldn’t summon the courage. For some reason, the sound of Dohyeon’s heartbeat in his ears felt oddly similar to his own.