Chapter 23: I’m an Alpha Too
by GideonZion carefully set Jubin down in a secluded smoking area. Jubin let out a hollow laugh, utterly bewildered, as he put a cigarette in his mouth.
“…What the hell are people going to think?”
“They’ll think we’re close.”
“They’ll think we’re weird.”
“They’ll think we’re special.”
Jubin tried to light the cigarette, but his fingers were too weak. A short sigh escaped his lips.
Suddenly, Zion snatched the cigarette from Jubin’s mouth and put it in his own.
“Hey… What the—”
Jubin stared at him, stunned and bewildered. Zion quickly lit the cigarette, took a slow drag, and gazed steadily at Jubin.
“This is a pheromone cigarette.”
He knows, of course, Jubin thought, but the way he takes a deep drag and slowly exhales… it’s like a damn photoshoot.
“I know.”
He took the cigarette from his lips and turned his wrist, offering it to me.
The tip glowed a fierce red in real-time.
“Suck it.”
The words, spoken with a lingering smile, felt strangely uncomfortable. Why did he have to use that specific word out of all the options? What was he trying to provoke?
“Hurry up.”
He urged me, the cigarette’s ember threatening to die out. Normally, I would have told him to keep it and smoke it himself. But right now, I was desperate for a cigarette, too exhausted to light one myself, and too tired to even refuse.
Still, I didn’t want to just obediently take it as ordered. I shoved my hands into my pockets and leaned in, parting my lips slightly as if inviting him to let me take it.
It was the same flirtatious move he’d used on me before.
One corner of Zion’s mouth quirked up.
“Do you need some courage?”
Pretending not to notice Zion’s more-than-satisfied smile, Jubin urged him with a look to hurry up.
He thought he felt the cigarette trembling slightly as it touched his lips.
Soon, a bitter pheromone that calmed his mind and body lingered on the tip of his tongue, and his exhaustion seemed to fade a little.
“Phew…”
Exhaling the smoke, he frowned, feeling his physically drained state.
“…I need to build up my stamina. I can’t keep up with the class.”
Zion said it was a good idea and suggested working out with him at the gym at dawn.
“No.”
Of course, Cha Jubin refused firmly with a smile on his face.
“Ah, why?”
He whined in a low voice.
“Do you really have to ask?”
“Ah, sunbae—come on. Let’s do it together.”
He nuzzled his forehead against Jubin’s shoulder, dragging out the end of his sentence in a low voice.
My heart hammered in my chest, perhaps because of the pheromones rolling off him in waves. Now I’m even finding this cute. This is ridiculous.
“It’s good for us to see each other more often, isn’t it?”
“If I spend any more time with you, I might actually die young from smoking all the cigarettes I’ll need.”
“You said you smoke a lot even when I’m not around.”
“Who told you that?”
“CEO Moon and Director Bae.”
I had no comeback. Those two knew my habits and patterns far better than my own parents did.
“If you hate the gym, do you want to learn self-defense from me?”
“Self-defense?”
“It’ll be useful for emergencies, and more importantly, it’ll come in handy when you’re filming action scenes.”
Learning something that helps with acting seems a lot more interesting than working out just to survive.
“So, what do I need to learn first?”
“The key is to survive and escape, so it’s pretty simple. If someone approaches you like this—”
Suddenly, his expression hardened as he closed the distance. Jubin instinctively dropped his cigarette and stumbled back.
The man felt dangerous.
“Push my neck or chest with both hands. With all your strength.”
“What?”
While Jubin hesitated, Zion’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar.
Terror surged through him. He was completely immobilized by the man’s grip.
“If you don’t push first, you’re already subdued like this.”
Zion released his grip and stepped back. His expression remained impassive, yet terrifying. What’s wrong with him? If Jubin had been tense before because of the man’s pheromones, now he was purely, simply afraid of him.
“You can do it this time, right?”
“I don’t want to.” Cha Jubin frowned, his discomfort plain to see.
“…But why do I have to do this now?”
“Because you never know when, where, or how I might take you down, sunbae.”
The words were heavy with implication.
“I’m an Alpha, too.”
The added remark was so menacing it made him swallow hard.
“You must stop me. Got it?”
It sounded like a command—to resist with all his strength, to defend himself and restrain him.
At first, he’d thought the proposal was absurd. But recalling the two incidents that had just occurred, his resolve wavered. Should I do this?
If he were to lose himself to pheromones and throw himself at the man, the man would be more than capable of overpowering him.
But what if the man threw himself at him?
Even after being kissed, he hadn’t given much thought to that possibility.
The man stepped closer again, his presence a silent threat.
I knew I had to stop him, had to push him away… but my mind was a blur, and my body refused to move.
In the end, I couldn’t even put up a proper defense. I just kept backing away, completely cornered, until the cold wall met my back.
Thud.
He slammed a hand against the wall, pinning me in place as he looked down. The sheer difference in our size, so close I could feel it, and the way he loomed over me with that oppressive gaze… it was a silent demand.
Why didn’t you stop me?
“Sunbae, you’re really going to get hurt if you keep this up.”
Jubin sighed softly and averted his eyes.
“Just let it slide today. I’m just… really tired.”
I hope this excuse works. I’m still adjusting after the first class, and I’m just exhausted.
“I’ll do a better job of blocking you next time,” he lied with a smile, slipping past Do Zion’s arm and escaping the wall.
As I brushed past him, the faint scent of his pheromones stirred something deep inside me.
I’d often indulged in the wild thought of doing something to Zion, but I’d never once imagined he would do this to me.
The sweet scent of his sweat-dampened skin faded as he moved away.
Why did I let this happen? Was it because I naively believed he’d only ever go as far as a playful kiss?
What truly shocked me, though, was that I was only just now starting to worry.
What the hell was I relying on? Zion was an Alpha. A Dominant Alpha at that.
He was bigger, his strength was overwhelming—I should have fought back with everything I had. That was the only rational response.
Shame washed over me. Did I not pull away because I’m an Omega? It was as if I’d been waiting for this to happen all along.
Or maybe I’ve started to feel something for Zion?
He’d always been special, ever since the beginning.
He was younger than me, but a natural-born actor. I’d felt a childishly petty streak of inferiority because of it, yet I also felt a need to look out for him, being my first-ever junior. I’d even been envious of how quickly he was improving.
But now?
He’d always just been my naive junior, but thinking of him now—so mature and capable—sent my mind spinning.
The moment my naive belief that Zion would never do this to me, even if he were an Alpha, shattered was the same moment I found myself reacting so strongly to his scent.
Sigh… I don’t even know how I’m supposed to feel about you anymore.
Swallowing the dizzying internal monologue, I forced myself back into the training, trying to shake off what had just happened.
The hwando—the traditional Korean sword used in historical dramas—was heavier than Jubin had expected.
Though this particular blade was a dull practice sword, he still had to rehearse the motion of drawing it from its scabbard over and over again to ensure the shot looked dynamic and full on screen.
“Yes, exactly. Draw it like that, then immediately transition into the attack on Segyeom.”
My body can’t keep up, Jubin thought. His mind understood the movements, but his limbs felt clumsy and uncoordinated.
In contrast, Zion—who claimed this was his first time using a hwando—handled the sword with surprising skill. His movements were clean and efficient. With a simple shift of his shoulder and a change of grip, he flowed into the next position with a grace that seemed second nature.
Jubin found himself staring, completely captivated by the sight.
“He’s good, isn’t he?” Director Kang asked, his voice brimming with pride.
“Yes, he’s very good,” Jubin admitted readily.
“He’s the same kind of sword as me, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Director Kang, seemingly thinking the same thing, couldn’t hold back a smile and added, “Zion is the type to pick things up quickly once he gets the hang of it. He knows how to use his body well, and he’s also skilled in self-defense.”
Director Kang’s gaze softened briefly as he looked at Zion. It was the proud look of a mentor watching his favorite student, more than just an actor.
He turned his gaze back to Jubin and continued, “Self-defense. Should I teach you too, Cha Jubin? It’s good to know.”
Cha Jubin let out an awkward laugh and subtly declined.
To shake off his unsettled heart, he poured all his recharged energy into the training.
Thud!
His body spun through the air and landed with a smooth, effortless roll—no more awkward stumbling.
“Was that good?” Jubin asked.
“That’s the feeling! That’s exactly how your body should roll. Remember it. It was perfect.”
The rush of successfully nailing the fall sent a surge of dopamine through him, far more than he’d expected. “Thank you, Director.”
“Good work. You’re learning much faster than the other actors. I’ll see you at the next session.”
“Yes, sir. See you then. Thank you.”
After bowing, Cha Jubin stepped out of the Action School building. His sweat-soaked clothes clung to his skin, feeling sticky and uncomfortable.
No matter how much water he drank, his thirst wouldn’t subside. All he wanted was to go home, shower, and crash.
“Sunbae.”
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