A stalker? At this hour? Could it be the same people he saw on Hajoon's phone?
The thought of Li Xingyuan being followed alone at night set off alarm bells in his mind.
He didn't waste a second. Carefully, he backed up into a cover of some corner and placed his groceries down before sprinting.
Li Xingyuan was about to turn another another corner, heading onto a narrower side road that led toward the dorms. Going there with someone on his tail, would be the perfect isolated place for the follower to corner him.
As Damien ran, he saw a shadowy figure in the corner of his sight. It wasn't Li Xingyuan but the stalker that had followed the red-haired teen.
Damien picked up his pace, making sure to approach Li Xingyuan from the side to avoid startling him.
"Seongwon!" Damien called out.
Hearing his name, Li Xingyuan spun around in confusion. Damien quickly caught up with him and grabbed Li Xingyuan's sleeve, pulling him into a tiny alley. It was a risky move, but they only needed a brief cover.
"What the—"
Damien only pressed a finger to his own lips. Recognizing Damien in the dim alley light, Li Xingyuan clamped his mouth shut.
Only once did Damien see the shadowy figure pass by did he breathe out a soft sigh of relief. Turning to Li Xingyuan, he leaned in and whispered, "Someone was following you."
Li Xingyuan's eyes widened. "Who is it?"
"I don't know. They were definitely tailing you from the convenience store. Maybe even before that..."
Li Xingyuan stayed quiet for a few moments before saying, "Let's lose them."
"Great idea." Damien quickly scanned his surroundings. "Follow me, and try to stay quiet."
Without waiting, he led Li Xingyuan further down the alley. Their footsteps echoed softly against the brick walls. The far end opened into a small parking lot behind a row of closed shops. Damien navigated around a couple of parked scooters and hopped over a low chain fence, lending a hand to Li Xingyuan who swung over right after.
They turned onto a quieter street, dim and deserted. Damien pointed left, and they broke into a jog. His thoughts raced alongside his feet.
"Cut through here," he muttered, veering into a narrow uphill lane.
He knew this path—it twisted like a maze, but he'd run it countless times. After all, this area was near his apartment. Li Xingyuan followed without a word, eyes sharp, steps steady.
They weaved past villa-style houses, cut down a small stairwell, and burst onto a broader, well-lit road. Damien halted, breath catching, and glanced back.
Nothing.
Just still air, glowing street lamps, and silence. He let out a breath, tension easing from his shoulders.
"I think we lost them."
Li Xingyuan straightened and turned back as well. "I think so too. Doubt they could keep up with those turns." Then, he pulled off his cap, running a hand through his hair. "That was... something. Thank you. If I hadn't noticed... I can't believe someone was actually tailing me. I wasn't even out doing anything interesting."
"It might be a sasaeng..." Damien said grimly.
"Great, the last thing I need is even more sasaengs coming after me. I haven't even debuted yet." He slumped back against a lamp post. After a moment, he glanced back at Damien. A thought suddenly popped up in his mind. "What about you? What happened to your groceries. Don't tell me you left them?"
"I did... I'll have to retrieve them later. They're probably safe since I hid them, but they can wait. Your safety was more important."
Li Xingyuan stared at him for a moment, then a slow, sincere smile curved his lips. "You really came running to save my ass, huh?"
Damien shrugged it off. "Of course. I wasn't about to let some creep shadow you. What are friends for?"
"Well, I owe you one. Big time." Li Xingyuan's voice was tinged with sincerity. "Thank you, hyung."
Damien smiled lightly. "Anytime."
"By the way, you're weirdly good at this whole stealth thing. Ever consider doing a job as a ninja?"
Damien laughed, caught off guard.
"I'll add it to my resume. Trainee by day, vigilante by night."
Their shared laughter softened the lingering tension between them. It was only then Damien realized that in leading them here, he'd instinctively navigated home.
The adrenaline had faded, but unease crept in again. He glanced over his shoulder one more time—still no sign of a pursuer. It seemed clear. Still… the thought of Li Xingyuan walking alone back to the dorms didn't sit right with him. It wasn't far, maybe ten minutes—but after what they'd just escaped?
He didn't trust it.
They could call a staff member or alert company security. But that would take time. Not to mention, Seongwon would be caught for being out late at night...
A quieter solution tugged at him.
"Hey, Seongwon," Damien began, voice low.
Li Xingyuan turned to him, brows raised.
"I don't feel great about you walking back alone right now. Not until we're sure they're really gone."
The red-head tilted his head. "You suggesting I camp out in the practice room 'til morning or something?"
"Actually…" Damien hesitated. "My place is just around the corner." He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes flicking sideways.
Why did it feel so awkward? He inwardly remarked.
"If you want, you could crash at mine tonight. It's quiet, safe. No one would follow you there. You can rest."
There was a pause.
Damien quickly added, "I mean—you don't have to. Just a thought."
Li Xingyuan looked at Damien blankly before a blush bloomed across his face. "W-wait. Do you... Do you even know what you're saying?"
Damien blinked.
"What?"
Li Xingyuan looked genuinely flustered—an expression Damien had rarely, if ever, seen on the usually cocky trainee.
"I'm inviting you to crash at my place, that's all," Damien said slowly, baffled. "It's really no trouble. I've got a couch. Or a spare mattress, if that's more—"
Li Xingyuan held up a hand, ears visibly pink.
"No, I get that. I do. Just…" He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. His eyes darted around the quiet street before landing back on Damien's with incredulity. "Aren't you an omega?"
Damien stared at him.
Omega?
"Huh?" Damien let out a sound.
"Huh?" Li Xingyuan said back.
"..."
Damien pointed a finger at himself. "Me? An omega? What..."
He blinked, the question hitting him like a misplaced puzzle piece that didn't fit anything. And then it clicked.
Oh.
He never really told the group he was an alpha, did he?
He nearly smacked his own forehead. How had this not come up sooner? Well, to be fair, secondary genders weren't exactly daily conversation material in an atmosphere where all everyone's focused about is debuting.
A rush of thoughts snapped into place.
Damien didn't exactly scream "alpha" either. He was slender, not really lean. Pretty-faced. And had softer features than most alphas did. His family and classmates from the academy often described him as "doe-like." On top of that, he took suppressants to keep his pheromones suppressed—which was a norm in Korea.
So if Li Xingyuan had never been told—and couldn't scent anything clear…
Of course he thought Damien was an omega.
Li Xingyuan, still staring with wide eyes and a rising blush, clearly thought Damien had invited him over despite being an omega—which, in this world, could easily be misread as something bold... or even suggestive.
Before the poor guy spiraled any further, Damien spoke up.
"I'm not an omega," he said, meeting the red-haired teen's gaze. "I'm an alpha."
"You're an alpha?" His eyes roamed over Damien's form as if reassessing everything he knew. "But you're so..." He trailed off, perhaps realizing what he was about to say might be rude.
"I know. I get it a lot, actually. People have thought I was a beta or omega plenty of times."
Li Xingyuan looked both relieved and embarrassed. He took a deep breath, and the flush on his face began to recede. "Wow. I feel silly. Here I was thinking—" He broke off and gave a nervous laugh. "Never mind. So, you're an alpha. Okay. That changes things."
"Changes things? Did the idea of staying over scare you that much when you thought I was an omega?" Damien laughed lightly.
Li Xingyuan opened his mouth, closed it, then gave a half-shrug. "I mean… kind of? If you were an omega inviting an unmated alpha like me over, that… could be dangerous for you, you know." He said it earnestly, concern still lacing his tone. "I wouldn't want to put you at risk of... well, pheromones and stuff."
Damien laughed then shifted the topic back. "So… now that we've cleared that up—still up for staying over? The offer stands. It's probably safer. And… I wouldn't mind the company."
"Yeah. I'd like that." He glanced in the direction of the dorms. "Besides, sneaking back in after curfew's a hassle. Crashing at your place beats bribing the dorm guard or climbing those tall ass walls."
They walked side by side toward a building at the end of the block—Damien's apartment.
"Need to let your roommate know?" Damien asked, glancing over.
"Oh—right." Li pulled out his phone, thumbs flying over the screen. "Told him I might not come back and to just stuff my bed with pillows if a staff member does a headcount. He won't rat me out."
Damien shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you've really got a system going on."
Li Xingyuan smirked. "You said it yourself—I'm a troublemaker."
There was a hint of self-deprecation in his voice, likely recalling how Damien had referred to him before. That had been Damien's initial impression after all: Seongwon as the spirited member of the group, always up to something. But tonight, Damien felt that perception shifting. He'd seen different sides of Li Xingyuan today—his easy friendliness at the store, his genuine gratitude and concern during the stalker incident, and even his shy, flustered side just now. There was more to Li Xingyuan than the role of a troublemaker.
They entered Damien's apartment a few minutes later, the elevator opening directly into the warmly lit foyer. The doorman downstairs hadn't batted an eye at Damien bringing a guest—probably assumed it was a friend.
Li Xingyuan stepped inside slowly, taking in the space. It wasn't huge, but it was clean, thoughtfully decorated in soft neutrals and minimalist lines. A guitar by the window, a canvas painting on the wall and some family photos on the shelf—it all felt personal, lived-in.
"Your place is really nice. Feels... really you."
Damien let out a quiet breath. "Thanks. Make yourself at home. You can set your stuff down anywhere."
Li Xingyuan took off his hoodie, revealing the simple white t-shirt he wore beneath. He draped the hoodie over the back of the couch and took off his cap, ruffling his fingers through his hair to restore its fluffiness. Then, he set his left over food on the coffee table.
Damien showed him around, from the kitchen and living room to the bathroom and bedroom.
"If you want, you can take a shower first before heading to bed. I've got some spare clothes I can give you."
"That'd be great."
"As for sleeping arrangements..." Damien paused for a moment. "I've got a spare mattress but its tucked away deep inside the storage room. I'm pretty sure it has to be dusted. All that's left is the couch or the bedroom."
Li Xingyuan glanced at the couch, then back at Damien. "You're offering your room?"
Damien nodded. Thinking about it further, he said, "Actually, I'll take the couch. Don't worry about it."
"You sure?"
"After all that fiasco, I'm sure you want some security. You'll sleep better in the bedroom. Lock on the door too, if that helps."
Li Xingyuan opened his mouth to protest—paused—then let out a breath. "...Okay. Thanks."
For the first time, he'd wondered if Damien lacked any... self-awareness. An alpha's bedroom—any bedroom for that matter was an intimate space. Even he'd hesitate to bring classmates and friends to his bedroom unless they had his full trust.
Right... We're two alphas. It should be fine, right...?
Meanwhile, unaware of Li Xingyuan's conflicting thoughts, Damien opened the lights to his bedroom. He grabbed extra blankets and pillows for himself and Li Xingyuan to use. He also grabbed spare clothes and handed it to Li Xingyuan.
"You can use the bathroom first, I'll be crashing on the couch."
Li Xingyuan hesitated before saying, "Thanks, Damien."
Damien smiled and left the room, leaving the red-haired teen to himself. Li Xingyuan looked around the room and sighed.
"Hah... What a day."