Chapter 134: Iconic Mood Special Side Story 1
by GideonSpecial Side Story 1. One Day, a Status Window
One day, I woke up to find something strange floating on the ceiling.
A transparent, window-like screen was just… drifting in mid-air.
What the hell…
Zion rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was still half-asleep, and stared at it again.
It’s not disappearing?
Was he seeing things because he was exhausted from playing with Jubin all night?
He decided to go back to sleep, closing his eyes and pulling Jubin, who was sleeping soundly beside him, into a hug.
But even with his eyes shut, a faint light seeped through, illuminating his vision.
When he slowly opened one eye, the translucent, pinkish-rectangular panel that had been on the ceiling was now floating right in front of him.
Did it follow me?
He reached out, expecting it to vanish like smoke, but his hand passed right through it.
A sudden chill ran down his spine at the surreal sensation.
“Is this… that thing I’ve only heard about in stories…”
Is this… a Status Window?
“Mmm…”
At the sound of his low voice, Jubin snuggled deeper into his embrace. Zion’s hand kept patting his back to soothe him to sleep, but his eyes were glued to the mysterious window.
“Zion, I need some wa—”
“Water? Hold on.”
At Jubin’s unconscious request, Zion sprang up and rushed to the water dispenser. As he filled a cup, a flash of annoyance flared at the Status Window that kept floating right in his line of sight.
Is this a delayed side effect from the chip?
It made sense. He’d always seen hallucinations when the chip malfunctioned. Usually, the hallucinations were of Jubin, but today it was this translucent pink window. Just as he wondered if he should go to a hospital, a familiar scent of pheromones drifted closer.
Zion checked that the cup was full and turned around.
“Ah, Hyung. Here’s your water…”
Zion froze mid-sentence. This time, the pink Status Window was completely blocking Jubin’s face.
Of all things to cover, it had to be his face…
In that instant, Jubin’s arms wrapped around Zion’s neck, and he pressed his lips against Zion’s, right through the pink Status Window.
It was their usual morning kiss.
Ah, so sweet. Tangling their tongues and exchanging pheromones like this was far sweeter than a bite of cake in the morning.
My Jubin is the best, Zion thought, slightly opening his eyes to see his face. But the Status Window had moved behind Jubin, and it now displayed a strange line of text:
Cha Jubin’s Number of Relationships: ??
Zion reached down, squeezing Jubin’s buttocks as he glared at the Status Window. His lips were busy kissing, his hand busy caressing skin, and his eyes busy trying to process the situation.
What the hell does that mean?
“Haa…”
Jubin pulled his lips away with a reluctant sigh, his breath still ragged.
“If I didn’t have my morning schedule, I’d stay here and play with you longer.”
“You can play with me after you get back,” Zion replied.
He should have been used to this by now. But the half-lidded eyes, the flushed corners of his lids, the pale expanse of his neck, and the disheveled collar—every single detail acted as a fresh stimulant, sending a jolt of arousal through Zion.
“Zion, I’m hungry.”
“Drink some water first.”
Jubin rubbed his eyes and gulped down the water Zion handed him.
“What do you want for breakfast?” Zion asked, his gaze repeatedly darting to the Status Window that had appeared before him.
“Something simple today? Maybe rice balls?”
“How about anchovy rice balls and a salad?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
Zion swallowed hard and asked cautiously, “Um, Hyung?”
“Hmm?”
Jubin turned around, taking another sip of water as he looked at Zion.
I know this question is so tacky. But still…
“Hyung, before you met me… how many people have you dated?”
“Where did that come from?”
Jubin tilted his head, set his glass on the table, and walked toward Zion.
“Why? Did you have a weird dream or something?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Ah, I knew it. I sounded so desperate just now, didn’t I?
Zion’s face flushed crimson, and he hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand.
“I was just curious…”
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“That must be Joo-won. I’ll go let him in.”
Perfect timing, as always. Jubin slipped away without answering, leaving Zion behind.
“Good morning.”
Joo-won, Jubin’s manager, arrived looking as sharp as ever.
Jubin, who had a morning schedule, hurried to get ready. Meanwhile, Zion prepared a lunchbox with anchovy rice balls and salad for the two of them to share.
“I’m heading out for my schedule~”
“Take care,” Zion replied, seeing him off.
As he turned back to the living room, the Status Window followed him, floating along.
Cha Jubin’s Number of Past Relationships: ??
Zion glared at the window. “Why the hell does it have to be a question mark?”
The window offered no reply.
There had been a time when Zion had agonized over where he ranked among Jubin’s past partners. After all, everything was a first for him with Jubin, but he knew it wasn’t the same for Jubin.
Yeah, if I’m being honest, it felt unfair.
I hated how pathetic I looked, comparing myself to Jubin’s exes. I wanted to be a much better person than anyone he’d ever been with—to treat him so well that I’d stand head and shoulders above them all.
The real problem with that question mark was that it gave no exact number.
A hundred…
It could be that. Or maybe there were so many he’d lost count, which is why there was a question mark. Or maybe he just couldn’t remember because there were too many to count.
“If that’s the case, I’m going to be really hurt.”
Zion rubbed his face with both hands, his eyes wide and frantic.
At first, he’d tried to brush it off, wondering why a mere number mattered so much. But the more he thought about it…
“I need to find out. What that question mark means.”
Zion pulled out his phone and messaged Jubin.
Hyung, when do you finish?
The reply came quickly.
Jubin: I’m done in the evening. Want to grab dinner before heading back?
I’d love to. I’ll come to you.
Zion stood up from the sofa, taking a deep breath as if he’d just made a solemn vow. He sneered at the Status Window that had followed him all the way into the dressing room, hovering right before his eyes.
“If you won’t tell me, I’ll just find out myself.”
He spent extra time styling his hair today and dressed up in his finest clothes. He even deliberately put on the couple ring Jubin had given him.
His resolve was palpable.
“I’m not wearing this because I’m anxious,” he grumbled at the Status Window, snatching up his car keys.
After plugging the address Jubin had sent into the GPS, Zion pulled up in front of a charming-looking restaurant. As he stepped out of the car, he noticed a few passersby recognizing him and stealing glances.
He gave them a light wave before quickly heading inside.
Tinkle.
The bell chimed softly as he pushed open the door.
The restaurant was filled with the low murmur of conversation and the smooth strains of jazz playing in the background.
“Hyung doesn’t even like pasta…” Zion muttered.
Jubin was a notoriously picky eater who rarely enjoyed anything other than Korean food. Zion feigned concern for his palate as he walked deeper into the restaurant.
“Zion, over here!” Jubin raised a hand, waving.
He was seated at a window table, his face lighting up with a bright smile. Zion’s pace quickened instantly.
“Was the traffic bad?”
At that moment, a strange Alpha pheromone wafted strongly from him.
Simultaneously, a Status Window message materialized before Zion’s eyes.
[ Cha Jubin’s Number of Past Relationships: ?? ]
Why does it have to appear right now, right in front of me?
Zion bit his lower lip, desperately swallowing his anxiety.
“Zion?”
Jubin’s voice reached his ears, but his reaction was half a beat late.
“Oh, what did you say?”
“I asked if the traffic was bad.”
“It was about the same as usual. Did you wait long?”
“No, not long at all.”
The unfamiliar Alpha scent clinging to him. The Status Window message hovering in his peripheral vision.
As Zion replayed the meaning of the message over and over in his head, Jubin’s image—showing him the menu and asking, “Should we get this? How about that?”—felt strangely distant, as if he were watching a slow-motion video.
“They say the desserts here are amazing too. How about the gorgonzola you like, and maybe some basil? I heard the ragu sauce is good, too.”
“Who said that?”
Zion’s voice dropped an octave, the words slipping out before he could stop them. The air instantly turned frigid. Sensing the shift, Jubin began to carefully study Zion’s expression.
“The chef recommended it.”
Jubin was always excessively considerate of others, making him hypersensitive to even the slightest change in mood. Zion had wanted to make him feel as comfortable as possible, but that damn Status Window kept grating on his nerves.
“Is the chef an Alpha?”
“Huh…?”
Jubin blinked, tilting his head in confusion.
“I’m not sure about that…”
His voice trailed off as he gently placed his hand over Zion’s.
“Zion, did something happen? Are you feeling okay?”
The Status Window continued to hover beside Zion, fueling his anxiety. I don’t want to doubt him, but what if there’s something I don’t know?
“Hyung, you’re not hiding anything from me, are you?”
“Hiding what?”
Just then, a man in a white chef’s coat walked out from the kitchen. Several customers greeted him warmly, and Zion’s gaze instinctively followed the commotion.
The chef strode across the dining room, stopping right in front of Jubin and Zion’s table.
That scent.
Found it.
The source of the Alpha pheromones that had been clinging to Jubin.
“Hello, Do Zion. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
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