By Zephyria Kwon Tae-hee sighed irritably. It wasn’t just the hospital that had gone awry. He had planned to move to a more suitable environment for raising a child, but that too had been postponed indefinitely. All the plans he had carefully and firmly established had become nothing more than bubbles without even being properly executed.
“Hah.”
The moment Chief Jung, sensing the ominous aura beside him, turned his head, Lee Ye-rim appeared. As soon as she saw the two of them, she bowed politely.
“Hello.”
“There’s no suitable place, shall we talk in the car?”
“I don’t mind anywhere.”
Kwon Tae-hee smiled and opened the passenger seat door. Only after she got into the car did Kwon Tae-hee sit in the back seat.
“Since you’ve probably seen it all, I’ll get straight to the point.”
Lee Ye-rim briefly reported on Seo Jeong-won’s current condition. She started by saying that the fetus’s development was smaller than the gestational age. The mother’s condition wasn’t bad, but she informed them that blood was pooling in the membrane surrounding the amniotic sac.
“I’ve never heard that before during any of the checkups, that…”
“Blood pooling is usually a symptom that continues steadily from the beginning of pregnancy, but if it hasn’t happened at all, it’s definitely due to stress.”
“…”
“In Seo Jeong-won’s case, the amount of pooling isn’t large, and it can be naturally absorbed, so I didn’t want to cause unnecessary anxiety by mentioning it separately.”
Lee Ye-rim carefully finished her explanation. She couldn’t see what expression Kwon Tae-hee was making because he was only looking ahead, which was frustrating. But she didn’t want to turn around either. This distance was the best for her.
“Are there cases where the amount increases or isn’t absorbed?”
“Yes, of course. If the amount increases, there may be bloody discharge, and if it’s not absorbed, the chances of premature birth or miscarriage cannot be ignored.”
Lee Ye-rim was taken aback by the sharp, negative energy that spread rapidly. It was too sharp and rough to be the Pheromone he was emitting to protect his Omega.
“Executive Director, generally, these symptoms improve quickly with a Pheromone shower. The problem is that the situation isn’t normal right now, and Seo Jeong-won is showing a rejection response to Pheromones.”
“I don’t know why you’re saying that.”
“You must refrain from actions that would shock Seo Jeong-won. For the sake of the fetus.”
Lee Ye-rim carefully continued, watching Kwon Tae-hee in the rearview mirror.
“As you already know, Omegas tend to rely heavily on Alphas when they become pregnant due to their nature. They instinctively consider it the safest place. And Alphas protect Omegas carrying their children to an excessive degree.”
“…”
“But you two aren’t in that kind of situation…”
With every word she spoke, she wondered how to convey the message without greatly upsetting Kwon Tae-hee. But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t find a delicate way to convey the stark fact that he wasn’t being relied upon.
“Right now, to Seo Jeong-won, you are… a problem he wants to avoid at all costs. It’s a distinctly different reaction from what a typical pregnant Omega shows. He’s rejecting you quite vehemently. His dependence isn’t high either. Psychiatric counseling should be done in parallel from now on.”
“It doesn’t seem like a good idea to leave him be. I should bring him back.”
“That… I don’t think that’s a good idea, Executive Director.”
“The professor is saying that I’m the problem, is that right?”
At the direct question, Lee Ye-rim swallowed hard. She paused for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s my opinion.”
“That’s contradictory. Something bad might happen to Jeong-won if I stand idly by.”
“If you force it, you might witness an unfavorable situation firsthand. I regret to say that’s my judgment. I’ll send the detailed, three-dimensional ultrasound images we confirmed today to General manager Jung.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
A low voice echoed. Chief Jung escorted her as she bowed lightly and exited the vehicle. Lee Ye-rim comforted him by saying he was going through a lot. Then, feeling a sense of kinship with his trembling lips, she quickly walked away.
Only after Chief Jung got into the passenger seat did the vehicle slowly leave the parking lot. Kwon Tae-hee’s expression was hardened as he looked out the window. His light brown eyes were deep, as if lost in thought.
“I need to meet Song Hae-seop.”
“Yes, when should we schedule it?”Tell them to adjust to their schedule.””
“Shall I arrange it for today?”
Kwon Tae-hee sighed deeply at the question asking for confirmation. He swept his hair back with an irritated gesture.
“Would I have brought it up if I meant to see him in a few days?”
“I apologize.”
Chief Jung felt his mouth drying up and bowed his head, unseen by Kwon Tae-hee. He immediately sent a message to Song Hae-seop. He said he would go there if they set the time and place.
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Song Hae-seop handed the takeout food he had intended to eat with Seo Jeong-won for lunch and sent him home alone. He made up an excuse that he had urgent business to Seo Jeong-won, who asked if something was wrong. He was glad that he believed him. If it were him, he would have been suspicious first.
“Eat a lot, and if there’s any left, put it in the fridge.”
“Okay, drive safely.”
“Yeah, go on.”
While waving his hand towards the smiling face, his mind was filled with Kwon Tae-hee. He wondered what he would say to upset him today, as he had suddenly received a call to meet. He told him to set the time and place, but he knew that meant to go to a nearby place right away.
“If I knew he would use me like this, I would have asked for money.”
Song Hae-seop shuddered as if disgusted and replied that it would be good to meet not far from the cafe, adding that he would leave now. He didn’t like the situation where he had to meet him again so quickly. It was only natural since he never heard anything good whenever they met. Getting into the driver’s seat, he quickly drove out of the alley, feeling like livestock being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
It took less than 30 minutes to get to the meeting place. Song Hae-seop thought about showing courtesy by ordering a drink for Kwon Tae-hee in advance, but then he wondered what he would hear and ordered only his own.
He waited for another 10 minutes after the coffee came out. Finally, a car that had become familiar due to seeing it often in the past few days stopped in front of the cafe. Chief Jung got out of the passenger seat first, followed by Kwon Tae-hee. He embarrassed Chief Jung, who was about to open the car door for him. He used to think everything about him was cool, but now he just seemed rude. Enough to make him frown involuntarily.
Couldn’t he just wait a little? Nothing would happen if he waited, it wouldn’t take dozens of minutes to open the door, and it wasn’t like he would die if someone else opened the door for him!
He couldn’t look at him with a good eye anymore. Song Hae-seop sat near the window and looked at the two of them before naturally averting his gaze. He felt like his malicious expression would be caught.
After taking a few more sips of his drink, Kwon Tae-hee entered the cafe as the door opened. The gentle expression he usually wore like a mask was gone.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got here too. I didn’t know what you’d like to drink, so I only ordered mine…”
“Good job.”
Even the habitual smile at the end of his sentences was gone. Song Hae-seop tensed up at his unusual atmosphere and smiled awkwardly.
“So… what’s going on? If it’s about the hospital, I’ve already sent everything to General manager Jung.”
“Yes, I’ve confirmed it. You’re doing a better job than I expected.”
“…”
“That’s not why I asked to see you.”
Then why did you ask to see me? Song Hae-seop was about to open his mouth again as he stared at him, who was just staring without getting to the point.
“Jeong-won seems to be stressed, did something happen?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m asking because his condition isn’t the same as before. It seems like something happened while he was with Song Hae-seop.”
Is he asking because he doesn’t know? If Seo Jeong-won’s condition is different from before, the reason is clearly himself, so does he want to avoid it?
“I didn’t hear anything separately from the hospital… Jeong-won said he’s sleeping and eating better than before. In my opinion, the only thing he’s lacking is not receiving Tae-hee’s Pheromone shower, but that can now be replaced with supplements.”
Song Hae-seop smiled brightly as he answered. It meant that Seo Jeong-won was doing great with him, so he should stop beating around the bush and spit it out.
“…Tae-hee?”
“I’m in the process of choosing a place for Jeong-won to stay, and I remembered what Song Hae-seop said back then, so I asked to meet.”
“Pardon? Ah… that’s, not Jeong-won’s condition… no, yes. I see.”