Chapter 47

Of all possible combinations to get stuck with....

Yo Han on one side, Sun on the other.

Even the brief silence between them felt suffocating as Gyeol’s mind raced frantically.

It’s not too late. Just get up now. Say you’re going back to the bungalow and run for it.

“Are you alright, Gyeol?”

But Sun Choi moved first.

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“You seemed startled....”

As he said that, Sun shifted closer to Gyeol.

It was practically a declaration that he intended to keep talking.

Just like that, Gyeol’s escape route vanished.

He was not the kind of person who could blatantly ignore someone openly trying to speak with him and walk away pretending not to notice.

At this point, he almost wished Yo Han would leave instead.

But Yo Han remained perfectly still, lounging two seats away with his long legs crossed as he drank beer.

Yo Han Sung.

On a dating show.

Sitting under campfire light drinking beer.

The disconnect still felt so absurd that it looked more like a commercial shoot than reality.

Damn it.

Gyeol gave up cleanly.

It was only thirty minutes, after all. If they chatted a little, the time would pass quickly enough.

Jun still worried him, though.

Woo Seok’s sudden bizarre behavior felt unsettling, and he could not stop thinking about Jaekyung leaving earlier either.

Even Gyeol had noticed the strange tension between Woo Seok and Jaekyung.

During the first-impression vote, Gyeol had received overwhelming support, so Woo Seok had probably chosen him too.

But only that once.

If Gyeol’s guess was right, Woo Seok had not picked him again after the first day.

Instead, he had openly pursued Jaekyung.

And Jaekyung had not seemed to dislike it either, so Gyeol had vaguely assumed the two of them were developing something naturally.

He had barely been managing his own survival here, let alone digging deeper into someone else’s relationship.

But then suddenly Woo Seok switched his attention back to Gyeol.

Why?

They had barely exchanged more than a few words over the past several days.

Everything was becoming exhausting.

Maybe staying around other people was still better than sitting alone drowning in his thoughts—

even if the situation looked like this.

“How’s your hand?”

The abrupt question felt random for a moment before Gyeol noticed the bandaged finger entering his field of vision.

Now that he thought about it, the wound still throbbed faintly.

“You were worried about me, Sun?”

Gyeol deliberately smiled and answered lightly.

Sun nodded, his brows drooping softly.

“I wanted to check on you earlier, but I missed the timing.”

That made sense.

Even Gyeol had been surprised by how quickly Yo Han rushed over.

“It’s okay. It’s not a serious injury or anything. You don’t need to worry.”

The pain in his finger remained, but Gyeol intentionally downplayed it.

For some reason, Sun’s expression darkened further instead.

What do I do now?

Feeling guilty, Gyeol shrugged exaggeratedly as though it truly were nothing.

“.......”

Still, Sun did not brighten.

If anything, he looked genuinely upset.

Watching Sun hesitate like he wanted to say something, Gyeol fell into thought.

Sun was the type to say what he meant even while blushing.

The fact that he struggled this much to speak probably meant it was difficult to say in front of Yo Han.

Back when Gyeol fell into the ocean, Sun had admitted he wished he had been the one to save him.

This probably carried a similar meaning.

What are you supposed to do in situations like this?

Someone liked him.

Someone felt upset because of him.

No matter how seriously he thought about it, no answer came.

Gyeol was not used to receiving affection from others.

Especially not romantic affection.

Because of his pretty face, there had always been people expressing interest in him.

But when he was younger, he had been too consumed by trainee life to notice.

Later, Jun Shin guarded him like an iron wall.

And not long after that, Gyeol became too busy raising Yuli and earning enough money to survive.

His relationship with Jun—and the lingering feelings and wounds afterward—had also played a role.

Dating is a luxury. Clothes that don’t fit me.

That was always how he thought.

The moment he noticed someone’s feelings for him, he instinctively pulled away before anything could even begin.

But I can’t do that now.

...And honestly, I don’t want to.

Maybe that was why he had kept avoiding acknowledging it all this time.

Because he understood his own softness too well.

The moment someone’s affection truly reached him, he knew he would feel guilty.

Grateful.

Like he owed them something in return.

“Sun.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“For what...?”

Gyeol hurriedly elaborated.

“For worrying about me. For always trying to take care of me. And for talking with me like this all the time.”

“.......”

“I mean it. Really.”

Had that been unnecessary?

Regret began creeping in during the brief silence—

until Sun smiled gently.

As though he understood exactly what Gyeol was trying to say.

“...It’s nothing. I’m the grateful one. Thanks to you, I’ve been enjoying my time here.”

Sun was upright.

Straightforward without a single twisted edge.

Having spent his entire life around the entertainment industry, Gyeol rarely encountered people like him.

What kind of life do you have to live to grow into someone like this?

Suddenly, Gyeol found himself hoping Yuli would grow up to become someone like Sun.

Not someone battered and worn down by life the way Gyeol himself had become—

but someone upright and sturdy like Sun Choi.

His throat suddenly felt dry.

Partly to change the subject, Gyeol cleared his throat and began rummaging through the canned drinks.

“Um... should the three of us make a toast or something?”

He could not exactly keep talking only with Sun while completely excluding Yo Han forever.

While his hands busily searched through the drinks, something cold suddenly tapped against them.

Ssommusubi.

Gyeol’s favorite alcoholic drink.

“You like this one, don’t you?”

Turning instinctively toward the voice, Gyeol flinched.

Yo Han’s face was far too close.

He had leaned down to hand him the drink.

Their gazes tangled for a split second.

A chill prickled along the back of Gyeol’s neck.

“...Thank you.”

Pretending nothing was wrong, he accepted the can.

Yo Han smiled faintly before naturally sitting down beside him.

How does he know I like this?

I don’t remember ever telling him.

As Gyeol silently fiddled with the cold droplets forming along the can, Yo Han picked up his own beer and spoke.

“When we went to Ivory Mansion, you drank two cans of only that. I figured you probably liked it. Was I right?”

He noticed that?

Remembered it?

Gyeol nodded obediently.

“Yes.”

The right side of his face burned under Yo Han’s gaze.

He was so conscious of it that he could not even turn his head that direction.

“Then I should drink Ssommusubi too. Are there any left over there?”

Sun rose and moved closer as he addressed Yo Han.

Just like that, Gyeol found himself trapped directly between two Alphas.

“There’s one left here.”

“Ah. Only one? Then Yo Han can have it.”

“No, it’s alright. Sun should drink it.”

Right in front of Gyeol’s eyes, the Ssommusubi passed from one Alpha’s hand to the other.

They were politely offering drinks to each other like close friends—

so why did the atmosphere feel so suffocating anyway?

Hopefully it was just his imagination.

Nervous, Gyeol bit repeatedly at his lower lip.

“Yo Han, would you do the toast?”

“Sure. Hmm....”

The words Can’t we just clink cans and drink already? nearly escaped Gyeol’s mouth, but he barely swallowed them back down.

“I hope Gyeol doesn’t get hurt anymore.”

“Agreed.”

Why is the toast like this?

Heat rushed into Gyeol’s face, but before he could protest, both Alphas were already extending their cans toward him.

Any will to resist instantly vanished.

Left with no choice, Gyeol awkwardly reached out and clinked his can against theirs.

Cold carbonation slid refreshingly down his throat.

Contrary to his worries, the conversation between Yo Han and Sun flowed surprisingly smoothly.

So smoothly that Gyeol barely needed to contribute anything himself.

Maybe this was what people meant by adult conversation.

A top actor truly was not a top actor for nothing.

Despite reaching that level of fame, Yo Han never acted arrogant. Just like the countless stories about him remembering every staff member’s name and treating everyone kindly, he was socially polished and considerate.

“I’ve rewatched your Olympic triple-gold videos many times. Swimming’s one of my hobbies too.”

Yo Han deliberately brought up topics Sun would feel comfortable discussing.

“Thank you. Come to think of it, you’re extremely good at swimming too, Yo Han. That’s beyond hobby level.”

“You flatter me. Compared to an athlete like you, I’m nothing. Actually, I’ve been aiming to compete in amateur triathlons. But during freestyle recovery after the glide phase....”

“Ah, for that part, you need to catch the water more firmly—”

It was not even shallow small talk.

They were completely sincere.

Quietly listening beside them, Gyeol gradually reached the point where he could no longer understand anything they were saying.

Technical swimming terminology started flying back and forth nonstop, making him feel like a clueless new employee trapped between two department managers.

...These two get along really well?

Yo Han genuinely seemed interested in Sun, asking him questions enthusiastically while guiding the conversation forward.

And Sun responded comfortably in return.

Thank god.

Well, they were sharing the same bungalow too.

Looks like I worried for nothing.

The tension that had stiffened inside him finally loosened.

“If we get the chance later, would you like to try swimming in the ocean together? I could at least help correct your posture.”

“I’d be honored.”

Now that he finally relaxed, the beer went down effortlessly.

Gyeol leisurely enjoyed the sweet taste when suddenly both sides fell quiet.

Then both Alphas turned to look at him.

“Gyeol, you really can’t float at all, can you?”

“Not even a little.”

Why are you suddenly dragging me into this?

Gyeol barely managed to swallow the drink before accidentally spitting it out. His throat burned sharply.

“W-why?”

“Come swim with us.”

Yo Han spoke with complete seriousness.

Has this man lost his mind? Swim with what?

“No. I refuse.”

“Gyeol. At the very least, you need to learn how to float.”

Even Sun stubbornly joined in trying to persuade him.

Why are you like this too?

“I’ll just stay safely on land forever. Thanks.”

He answered firmly, but neither of them backed down.

This development was so unexpected it left him speechless.

Not because they were competing with each other—

but because they had somehow united forces to pressure him into learning how to swim.

“Come with us.”

“You really should.”

“Ah, I said no already...!”

Gyeol recoiled dramatically, leaning far backward to escape the intense stares aimed at him.

Then—

another voice suddenly entered from behind.

“What are you doing?”

A voice far too familiar.

No way.

Predictions like that never turned out wrong.

Gyeol slowly turned his head with dreadful stiffness.

Standing there—

was Jun Shin.

And just like that, Gyeol somehow found himself trapped between three Alphas who all liked him.