NPC Fell onto My Bed C35

Chapter 35

Noah and Gu Taeheon left only after noon. Because they checked out late, they paid another fee on the way out, then walked to the nearby parking spot to get to the car. Even on the drive back to Taeheon’s home, neither of them spoke.

Noah understood where this suffocating silence came from. Likely from the moment he dismissed everything that happened the night before as “treatment.”

After hearing that, Taeheon’s expression had sunk heavily, weighed down by something thick and unspoken. Noah worried he had phrased it wrong. He had only said it to ease Taeheon’s burden, after all…

He didn’t want Taeheon to feel any guilt because of last night. Everything that happened was something Noah chose of his own will. Taeheon had even given him a phone and tried to push him out of the room to escape.

“Noah.”

“Yes?”

As Noah entered the living room, Taeheon finally spoke. The unexpected voice made Noah jump slightly, shoulders twitching, and Taeheon looked at him with a subtle expression.

“I don’t think I can have lunch with you.”

“You won’t be dining together, Taeheon-nim?”

…Was he so disappointed in Noah that he didn’t even want to share a meal? That thought filled Noah’s face, and Taeheon immediately shook his head.

“I need to go to the hospital.”

“…The hospital?”

“Yeah. Not for my leg — because of the rut.”

Hospital…

In this world, that was where one went when ill. Noah wanted to say he could heal him, but Taeheon continued first. If it was for rut, then there was nothing Noah could help with. Even so, a small pang of sadness made his head lower — only for Taeheon to hurry toward him.

He gently lifted Noah’s chin, thumb grazing from behind his ear to under his jaw, making Noah meet his gaze.

“It’s been too long since a rut. I just need to make sure there’s nothing wrong. Honestly, I wish I could get you checked too…”

“I’m not unwell. I already scanned and healed myself.”

“I know. So wait for me… actually, do you want to stay with Jeonghyeok?”

The mention of An Jeonghyeok came out almost impulsively. Taeheon hated the idea of leaving Noah alone — partly out of concern, partly because Noah didn’t seem to like being alone. Though truthfully, he hoped Noah would refuse.

“Yes. Then after lunch, I’ll go visit Jeonghyeok-nim and Iron.”

Noah accepted immediately, without hesitation. Rather than sit alone waiting, going to see Jeonghyeok and Iron felt better.

The lack of hesitation left Taeheon wearing a complicated expression. But soon he called Jeonghyeok to say they’d be coming. Hearing they hadn’t eaten yet either, Noah decided to eat lunch there.

After changing clothes at home, they left again. While driving, Taeheon kept sneaking glances at Noah, who stared straight ahead.

Jeonghyeok was already waiting outside when they arrived. Taeheon pulled up briefly and got out with Noah.

“Where are you going?”

“The hospital.”

“Why?”

“Rut.”

Jeonghyeok gave him a strange look. Taeheon ignored it and spoke curtly,

“I’ll be back right after. Stay here and don’t go anywhere.”

“Yeah, sure. Think I can relax when you’re like this?”

“…If there’s anything you want to eat, Noah has my card. Get it with that.”

“Oh, a card.”

Done speaking to Jeonghyeok, Taeheon turned to Noah. He pulled a card from his wallet and placed it in Noah’s hand.

“Noah, buy anything you want with this. If you go somewhere, tell Jeonghyeok first. …You might get lost again.”

The excuses tumbled out awkwardly — all so Noah wouldn’t wander alone. Yesterday, when he thought Noah was gone, his heart nearly collapsed. Giving him the card wasn’t generosity; it was so Noah would message where he was and what he was doing.

Hiding that selfish motive, he continued urging caution. After listening intently, Noah spoke softly.

“If you feel unwell… you must tell me too, Taeheon-nim.”

“Huh?”

“Since you’re going to the hospital… I might be able to do what hospitals cannot, so you must not hide things from me…”

Noah rambled. Ever since hearing “hospital,” his mind had felt restless. Why did it sound so much like Taeheon was going somewhere to… cheat?

Taeheon listened and then chuckled, answering,

“Okay. I’ll just get examined there and get healed by you.”

“…That’s not what I meant—”

“I know. But being healed by you makes me feel safer.”

Only then did Noah realize his own heart.

He didn’t want Taeheon going to the hospital.

Noah had always been loved — by God, by humans. He was loved because his healing ability was beyond divine blessing. He wanted to prove his worth to Taeheon too — and healing felt like the only way.

He was afraid Taeheon would go to the hospital and realize Noah wasn’t useful anymore.

“Noah, I’ll be back.”

“Yeah, yeah, go already. I’m starving. Noah-nim, got anything you want to eat?”

From the car, Taeheon watched Noah and Jeonghyeok walk inside. When Noah turned back, he waved with a small smile. Jeonghyeok leaned down and whispered something, making Noah burst into laughter.

Taeheon’s heart quivered. He recognized this feeling — when had he felt it last?

Ah, right.

When he first discovered judo — before he even became an athlete. When his heart raced nonstop and he could think only of one thing.

Pressing a palm over his pounding chest, he waited until the two disappeared, then finally drove off.

“When Noah-nim disappeared yesterday, he freaked OUT. I seriously thought he’d gone insane.”

“He did?”

“He barged into my place the moment the door opened and started ripping open every room we had. We don’t even have many!”

Jeonghyeok narrated animatedly to Noah. The moment Taeheon left in the car, it had all begun.

As they rode the elevator to the third floor, Jeonghyeok continued casually,

“And he’s still like that. ‘Tell me where you go,’ ‘buy it with my card,’ blah blah. Isn’t it kinda pathetic? It’s not like you’re mates or imprinted.”

“…Imprinted? What is that?”

“Oh, you don’t know? Hm…”

Jeonghyeok thought for a moment, then spoke — his tone far more serious than before.

“I’m an Alpha too, so I’ll explain from an Alpha’s perspective.”

“Yes.”

“It’s like… feeling like you don’t really want to live.”

“…Pardon?”

Ding.

The elevator doors opened. Jeonghyeok gestured for Noah to step out first as he continued.

“My parents imprinted. Alphas say it’s like this — every decision, goal, and direction you ever had gets blurry. Your whole life starts revolving around that person.”

“….”

His face remained calm as he spoke unsettling words.

“If they’re not there, there’s no real reason to live. If someone has no desires left, how do they keep going?”

“That sounds… dreadful. Then imprinting must never be done. If one dies first, the other would suffer terribly.”

“That could happen.”

Reaching his door, Jeonghyeok touched the keypad and unlocked it.

“But imprinting isn’t something you can choose to do — or choose not to do.”

“….”

“It’s… extremely one-sided.”

So avoid it if you can.

Those indifferent words brushed Noah’s ear like a quiet warning.