After I complimented Min-Cheol, he suddenly looked down, skeptical, and then looked up at me, his smile fading gradually.
"Is there something you want from me?" He asked and I nearly flinched.
Ah, he was such a sharp one. Even acting like a normal person wasn't working, huh? Then I better play it by the horns.
"Yes, I need something from you." I said and his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Of course, hearing that would make him displeased. He had lived with people always wanting something from him. They would do anything just to get in his good books and then start using his name for their own superficial needs.
He realized this early and that was why he didn't have any friends.
I don't even know what to call his relationship with the other three. They were more like business partners who had one goal and that was to put a baby in me. Ugh.
"But I already told you what I wanted," I said and smiled. "You name. Can you tell me your name? That's what I want."
Min-Cheol looked at me surprised and then looked away shyly.
"Why do you want my name?"
"It's because you're so handsome. You look like one of those K-pop idols. In fact, you're more handsome than them so I would very much like to be friends with you. Can I?"
Min-Cheol stared at me as if he had been hit by a whale.
What? Was it that surprising that I compared him to K-pop idols, or was it that I asked to be his friend?
Well, given that he had no friends and was always on his toes, he might dismiss that idea but oh well, it was worth the try.
"You want us to be... Friends?" He asked and I nodded. "Why though? Do you know who I am?"
"Hm, I don't," I tilted my head, acting oblivious. "Ah, am I supposed to know? Did I make a mistake? Are you someone important? Please tell me I didn't make a mistake."
Min-Cheol stared at my frantic efforts and then laughed.
I paused, staring at him as he laughed. It wasn't a forced laugh. It looked like he was genuinely amused. Was my acting that good?
"Don't worry; you didn't make a mistake, Jo-Pil," Min-Cheol said, and I gasped.
"You know my name?"
"Yes, and you're right. I am an important person but since you don't know me, I'll introduce myself." He finally got down from me and I could tell my legs had gone numb.
That insensitive brat didn't even know he could cause temporary leg paralysis with his actions. Just how much did he weigh?
He was younger than Jo-Pil but he was definitely taller and more manly than Jo-Pil.
Come to think of it, how old was Jo-Pil?
Before I woke up in this weird dream, I was already 30, but in the novel, Jo-Pil was... 26?
Ah, I had grown 4 years younger.
It wasn't scientifically possible but this was a dream so who cares?
"My name is Kang Min-Cheol and I am your Alpha." He said with a beaming smile that was enough to blind my eyes.
Ack, my eyes.
For a child who wore a mask all his life to avoid showing his true emotions, his smiles sure were bright.
"My Alpha?" I asked, confused. "Wasn't that the man from yesterday? I mean, he was the one who bought me, right?"
"Hm, did he not tell you that he wasn't the only one?" Min-Cheol asked and I pretended to think.
Gosh, acting oblivious was so difficult.
"No, he didn't mention anything like that during dinner."
"Dinner? You two had dinner?" He asked, peering closer to me but I shook my head and said,
"He left early so I ate on my own."
"Hm, that old man had dinner with you?" He asked, skeptically observing me.
Well, no. I just said he left early. Did you not hear me?
If only I could scream out those words but let's be patient.
"Then, shall we have breakfast together?" He asked and I tilted my head.
"You want to have breakfast with me?" I asked.
This guy... He was jumping a lot of details. Wasn't he supposed to tell me how he was also my Alpha and things like that?
It was as if his mind was on the clouds and he only said the things he felt like saying. The same goes for hearing.
His ear somehow filled the words I said.
"What? Do you not want to have breakfast with me?"
"Well, of course I do. But I haven't taken my bath this morning and I'm still in my pajamas, so..."
"Oh, that doesn't matter." Min-Cheol said, grabbed my hand, and pulled me out of the bed.
It was as if he was picking up a piece of freshly washed sheets. It was a shame, really. My weight was being compared to a piece of washed sheets.
What had become of me?
Min-Cheol pulled me into his arms and stared at my face which made me slight a bit uncomfortable.
"Haha," Min-Cheol smiled, tilting his head. "Jo-Pil is also very pretty and cute."
Ah, my cheeks couldn't help but flush at his compliment.
Okay, this time I wasn't faking it. I really liked compliments, you know.
"Jo-Pil, you're so much older than me so can I call you Hyung?"
"All... All of a sudden?" I asked. "But... Didn't you say that you're also my Alpha? Is it okay to call me that?"
"Of course, don't bother about that. It's just formalities in the end." Min-Cheol said. "I'll call you Hyung and you call me Little Min."
"B-but, I don't think that's appropriate." I said.
There was no way in hell. This never happened in the early part of the novel. No, it never happened at all so why the change?
Wait, did this mean I had gained his trust already? So soon?
I couldn't sense any predatory feelings from him, and it looked like he really meant it when he said I should call him Little Min, but... I just couldn't feel comfortable about it.
I know I had no plans of walking the same lane as the main character in order to use future knowledge to my advantage but I at least thought I could maintain the flow a bit.
Without the knowledge of their abstract behavior and the kind of actions they took in specific situations, how was I going to play my own actions?
'Ugh, it's already happened. No use crying over spilled milk.' I thought.
Gosh, this was such a headache.
But at least, with my knowledge of Min-Cheol's personality, I wouldn't make a mistake that would raise his guard.
"Alright, I'll call you Li-little Min." I said with a smile and he beamed even brighter.
It looked like he liked it. It was almost as if I could see a tail wagging behind him. He was cute though.
"But Little Min is so much taller than me and..." I grabbed his arm. "Thicker. So, how can I call you little?"
"Haha, I simply drank a lot of milk." He said and I darted my eyes away.
Sure.
"Since Hyung is so skinny, let's have a lot of milk during breakfast." He said and I smiled.
"Sounds great."
Someone save it, I feel I've been drained of two years of my life just talking to Min-Cheol.
It honestly feels like I'm dealing with a kid with a very dangerous but delicate 'on' and 'off' switch.
At this rate, would I be able to make it?