By Zephyria Because Seo Jeong-woon had come so close, his facial features were naturally clearly visible. Do Yi-hyun unconsciously scanned Seo Jeong-woon’s neat yet glamorous appearance.
Certainly, Seo Jeong-woon was the most dazzling person Do Yi-hyun had ever seen. But that was all.
‘What am I supposed to do about it.’
Do Yi-hyun raised his eyes indifferently. Unfortunately, Do Yi-hyun had zero interest in others’ appearances. This meant Seo Jeong-woon’s greatest advantage held no appeal for him.
“Maybe.”
Do Yi-hyun answered vaguely. At the ambiguous response, Seo Jeong-woon’s neat eyebrows twisted. His pride seemed quite wounded.
Seo Jeong-woon stretched out his hand and lightly grasped Do Yi-hyun’s wrist resting on the desk. Do Yi-hyun reflexively tried to pull his hand away.
“Don’t avoid me.”
But at Seo Jeong-woon’s affectionate whisper, Do Yi-hyun unconsciously paused.
“…Is that an order from a superior?”
Do Yi-hyun looked down at Seo Jeong-woon’s long, straight fingers. If acknowledged as an order, he intended to report it as an unfair directive. Finally, a justification to get rid of Seo Jeong-woon.
“No. It’s a personal request.”
But unfortunately, Seo Jeong-woon skillfully evaded again. Do Yi-hyun swallowed his disappointment.
“But I think I’d be hurt if you avoid me, Lee Hyun-ssi.”
Seo Jeong-woon muttered like a sigh. Seo Jeong-woon, who always smiled brightly and acted annoyingly, now had a hurt expression as he fiddled with Do Yi-hyun’s sleeve. The neatly pressed white fabric rustled.
Each time Seo Jeong-woon moved his fingers, a delicate floral scent tickled Do Yi-hyun’s nose. Others would have been restless wanting to comfort Seo Jeong-woon. But Do Yi-hyun didn’t budge.
It was all clearly an act anyway.
“Nonsense…”
Do Yi-hyun was about to rebuke Seo Jeong-woon for talking nonsense. But suddenly, glass bead-like glossy grayish-brown eyes came into view. For some reason, it felt like he shouldn’t withdraw his arm.
“…Please let go.”
Do Yi-hyun put strength into his arm but couldn’t easily move. It was the first gap Do Yi-hyun showed Seo Jeong-woon. Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes gleamed with interest.
‘I made a mistake.’
A faint look of dismay appeared on Do Yi-hyun’s face.
“Alright. I don’t want to be disliked by you, Lee Hyun-ssi.”
But Seo Jeong-woon, who seemed like he would persistently cling on, stepped back cleanly as if it were any other day.
“Enjoy your lunch. I’ll come again tomorrow.”
Seo Jeong-woon left behind a fresh smile and departed.
‘…What a strange person.’
Do Yi-hyun rotated the wrist that had been held by Seo Jeong-woon and watched the retreating back. That day, for some reason, Do Yi-hyun completely finished his fruit lunchbox. Though the amount was still insufficient, such a comfortable meal had been a long time coming.
***
True to his “see you tomorrow” farewell, Seo Jeong-woon consistently visited Do Yi-hyun the next day and the day after that. And each time he left, he steadfastly winked and said ‘see you tomorrow’. Rumors that Seo Jeong-woon appeared at Accounting Team 2 just before lunchtime spread in an instant.
Employees even began loitering around Accounting Team 2 for no reason around the time Seo Jeong-woon would appear. Consequently, the strange rumor that ‘Team Leader Do Yi-hyun got scolded by Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon’ also disappeared.
“See? Why would Team Leader Do get scolded?”
Accounting Team 2 members teased other team employees whenever they met them.
“Lee Hyun-ssi is busy again today.”
Do Yi-hyun heard the gentle voice and pressed his aching brow with his thumb. The murmuring conversation sounds naturally followed Seo Jeong-woon.
‘It’s already the fourth day.’
This was the first person since Joo Na-hye to cling so persistently despite being coldly rejected without any leeway. Seo Jeong-woon dragged a chair from somewhere and sat side by side next to Do Yi-hyun.
“What are you doing now?”
There were still about 1-2 minutes left until lunchtime. Do Yi-hyun gave a cool glare, but as if now immune to what wasn’t quite scolding, Seo Jeong-woon smiled brightly.
“Take a short break and do it. Lee Hyun-ssi, you like iced Americano, right.”
Thud. Seo Jeong-woon placed a drink carrier on the edge of the desk. The square paper box contained two cups of iced Americano filled with ice.
“No, thank you.”
Do Yi-hyun hardened his gaze and stared at the transparent cup. In the past, he would have accepted coffee from Seo Jeong-woon without hesitation. Regardless of feelings toward the person, the coffee itself wasn’t at fault.
But now it was different. Today, just looking at the black liquid made him feel nauseous. Do Yi-hyun sharply turned his head the other way.
“Don’t be like that, just a little…”
Seo Jeong-woon whispered affectionately as if coaxing a child and picked up the iced Americano. Then, after neatly inserting a straw, he extended the cold coffee toward Do Yi-hyun.
“I think… I’ll vomit.”
Unable to bear the churning in his stomach, Do Yi-hyun abruptly pushed away the cup sitting there. Thud! Unintentionally putting too much force, the coffee cup was shoved roughly. It almost spilled directly under the desk.
“……”
Seo Jeong-woon stopped with his hand still in the air.
“Uh…”
Team members who had been lingering, unable to leave the office, also held their breath at the unusual development. Seo Jeong-woon, who had been holding his head straight, only lowered his gaze to quietly stare at the crookedly placed coffee cup. The corners of his mouth still formed a faint curve, but his deeply colored grayish-brown eyes flashed dangerously.
Describing it simply as anger fell far short. But Do Yi-hyun, who was awkward in interpersonal relationships, couldn’t read any emotion other than rage.
“…I’m sorry.”
Do Yi-hyun suppressed his breath and lowered his head. No matter how casually Seo Jeong-woon acted in front of him, he was still his superior. Whether Do Yi-hyun had a reason or not, objectively speaking, his behavior just now was excessively rude.
“Hoo.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a short breath. Surprisingly, he gathered his intense emotions in an instant and calmly curled the corners of his mouth.
“It can’t be helped.”
Seo Jeong-woon picked up his drink nonchalantly and left the office without looking back at Do Yi-hyun.
“Vice President Seo seemed really angry, didn’t he?”
“Probably……”
“Will Team Leader Do be okay?”
The team members who remained in the office cautiously whispered among themselves while gauging each other’s reactions. Most of them were worried about Do Yi-hyun. Meanwhile, Do Yi-hyun calmly waved his arm to disperse the coffee scent.
‘Finally gave up, huh.’
Seo Jeong-woon didn’t say he’d be back tomorrow. Another ending had abruptly arrived. It took unusually long, but there was nothing particularly special about it.
People always had their own expectations of him, were disappointed in their own way, and left in their own way. Do Yi-hyun glanced at the empty office entrance.
***
As Do Yi-hyun expected, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t show up during lunchtime after that day.
Amidst the hectic work, a week had already flown by. In that time, Do Yi-hyun developed a strange habit of frequently glancing toward the office entrance. It felt like Seo Jeong-woon might suddenly appear at any moment and disrupt his work.
Even though a leech-like presence had fallen away, and he should feel relieved, he still felt oddly unsettled. That’s how persistent and unpredictable Seo Jeong-woon was.
‘My concentration is dropping; this is a big problem.’
Do Yi-hyun slowly swallowed the lukewarm water in his tumbler. Even quenching his thirst was a chore because of the metallic taste. Just a week ago, he could finish an entire fruit lunch box, but his physical condition had deteriorated rapidly in a short time.
Yesterday, the doctor seriously suggested he take a leave of absence.
‘That’s impossible right now.’
The company wouldn’t suffer if he were gone, but several troublesome issues would arise. While the baby was precious, he didn’t want to irresponsibly abandon his work. Do Yi-hyun took a deep breath and tried hard to focus on his tasks.
“Did you see Vice President Seo today?”
However, the faintly heard mention of ‘Vice President Seo’ shattered the concentration he had painstakingly gathered.
‘Why is this happening?’
Do Yi-hyun frowned sharply. He couldn’t understand why only Seo Jeong-woon bothered him so much.
“He looked really handsome today. They should film a company ad with Vice President Seo as the model. What’s the marketing team doing?”
“Really? Where did you see him?”
The team members chattered about how handsome Seo Jeong-woon was, as if they were idol fans. As always, he wanted to ignore their voices, but it didn’t go as he wished.
“……But it’s the first time I’ve seen Team Leader Do react so strongly. I think Vice President Seo wanted to get close to Team Leader Do.”
The gossip topic had shifted to the day Seo Jeong-woon last visited. Despite the Alpha Seo Jeong-woon constantly hovering around the Omega Do Yi-hyun, no one thought Seo Jeong-woon had romantic interest in him. Everyone assumed it was a friendship rivalry between Alphas.
Of course, Do Yi-hyun, who knew the truth, thought the same. It was extremely rare for an Alpha to like another Alpha, but even if Seo Jeong-woon did like Alphas, he wouldn’t consider Do Yi-hyun a romantic interest unless he was blind.
“I would’ve been hurt too.”
“What are you talking about? Vice President Seo just lacks persistence! Do you think getting close to Team Leader Do is easy?”
When one team member sympathized with Seo Jeong-woon, Kim Yu-min flared up.
“Yu-min, why are you pretending to be close to Team Leader Do?”
“I am, I am getting close to Team Leader Do!”
Kim Yu-min, whose weak spot was hit by Park Ji-eun, jumped up and down.
“Maybe Vice President Seo did something wrong to Team Leader Do?”
“That makes sense. Team Leader Do wouldn’t get angry without a reason.”
“Right. He’s…… a bit blunt, but surprisingly kind.”
Still, blood is thicker than water, and the team members took Do Yi-hyun’s side. Some of them seemed utterly smitten. Rustle.
Do Yi-hyun touched the corner of his mouth and stood up.
“Team leader, where are you going?”
Kim Yu-min stuck his head out like a meerkat and showed interest in Do Yi-hyun.
“I’ll go get some fresh air.”
“O-okay, take care!”
At Do Yi-hyun’s monotone reply, Kim Yu-min quickly ducked behind the partition. It was rare for Do Yi-hyun to leave his seat during work hours. It usually happened when a major problem occurred or someone made a critical mistake.
The team members who overheard their conversation cautiously kept their mouths shut to avoid irritating Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun headed to the outdoor garden located around the middle of the building. He would have preferred the open rooftop, but it was a smoking area, making it awkward to enter.
The formal name of the outdoor garden was Hwawon. Not Hwawon (flower garden), but Hwawon (fire garden). It was a name given by the founder of Taewon Group.
According to rumors, the founder wanted to name it Taewon (泰運) meaning ‘burning everything that blocks the way,’ but faced fierce opposition from family and executives, so he changed it to Taewon (太運) meaning ‘great fortune.’ Do Yi-hyun sat on a bench next to the railing and basked in the sunlight for a moment.
Even though it was morning, the weather was quite warm for late autumn. It felt like his highly strung nerves were relaxing a bit.
‘……Should I rest for five more minutes?’
Leaning deeply against the backrest, he gently closed his eyes. Lately, he hadn’t been sleeping well, and a drowsy feeling slowly crept over him.
“Wow, Vice President Seo, are you planning to walk a runway or something? How about switching your career to modeling altogether?”
Just as he barely regained his composure, Seo Jeong-woon shook Do Yi-hyun up again. At this point, it really felt like a cursed connection.
“I have an important shoot today.”
“……Isn’t that an evening schedule? Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
At the faintly laughing voice, Do Yi-hyun frowned and looked around. His gaze was soon captured by a tall, handsome man neatly dressed in a burgundy three-piece suit. It was a flashy color hard for anyone to pull off, but it suited him as if it were made for him.
“Well, killing two birds with one stone.”
The man, Seo Jeong-woon, playfully shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps because of Seo Jeong-woon’s uniquely languid and relaxed tone, Do Yi-hyun could recognize him just by his voice.
If Kim Yu-min found out, he’d cause all sorts of fuss and jealousy.
‘He looks like a different person.’
Do Yi-hyun slightly furrowed his brow and kept looking Seo Jeong-woon over. Hearing a familiar voice from an unfamiliar appearance felt quite awkward. He usually wore comfortable clothes, so what sudden wind had blown?
“Oh my, really. Do you need the whole company to look at you to be satisfied?”
An employee he didn’t know crossed their arms and shook their head side to side.
“Haha, I wish.”
Seo Jeong-woon slowly turned his head. His clear gaze landed directly on Do Yi-hyun. As if he had known Do Yi-hyun was there all along.
Seo Jeong-woon’s light grayish-brown eyes shimmered silver under the bright sunlight. Dazzled by the brilliant color, Do Yi-hyun momentarily lost his senses.
‘Ah, I should greet……’
Belatedly coming to his senses, Do Yi-hyun tried to stand up and bow. But Seo Jeong-woon indifferently averted his gaze as if he had spotted a complete stranger. Do Yi-hyun stood frozen in place.
In their relationship, it was always Do Yi-hyun who drew the line first and pushed away. The moment that dynamic was overturned, not only Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance but everything about him felt unfamiliar.
“They say handsome people try even harder, and it’s true. You’re too much.”
“Then why didn’t you style your hair?”
“If a person is too perfect, it’s bad luck, you know.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who smiled with softly crinkled eyes, tilted his head. His slightly tousled curly hair naturally fluttered in the wind. As Seo Jeong-woon deliberately acted pretty, the employee with him gaped.
“……Oh my god. That was really……”
“Was it bad luck? That’s a problem.”
At the employee’s dazed reaction, Seo Jeong-woon let out a clear laugh and shrugged his shoulders. Even to Do Yi-hyun, who had zero social skills, Seo Jeong-woon was very good at social interactions. He was considerate without making the other person uncomfortable and knew how to maintain boundaries.
And such a person only acted mischievously toward Do Yi-hyun.
‘Did he become curious because I didn’t show interest in him?’
It was a plausible guess. But now, it was also a meaningless guess. Because it was all in the past.
Do Yi-hyun stood blankly and watched the two people cross the garden and exit through the opposite exit. Only Seo Jeong-woon’s indifferent gaze remained vivid in his mind. He no longer needed to meaninglessly glance at the office entrance, wondering when Seo Jeong-woon would visit.
Now he could finally return to his real daily life.
“Good.”
Do Yi-hyun muttered softly and also moved his steps.
***
A couple of hours later. With about ten minutes left until lunchtime, Kim Yu-min hesitantly approached Do Yi-hyun.
“Um, Team leader. Are you busy?”
Kim Yu-min fidgeted restlessly like a dog needing to poop, his cheeks twitching.
“Speak.”
“Vice President Seo is looking for you.”
“……Vice President Seo?”
The conversation felt like déjà vu from a month ago. The only difference was that Do Yi-hyun was much more surprised now than then. Of course, it didn’t show much on the outside.
‘Why is he calling me?’
Do Yi-hyun stroked his chin. Just this morning, Seo Jeong-woon had blatantly ignored him as if he would never pretend to know him again. Yet suddenly summoning him to the vice president’s office.
It made no sense at all.
“He said to come right away. Maybe it’s urgent business?”
As Do Yi-hyun reacted awkwardly, Kim Yu-min hunched his shoulders. He carefully observed Do Yi-hyun’s expression.
“I understand for now.”
Do Yi-hyun gestured for Kim Yu-min to go. There was no reason for the innocent Kim Yu-min to feel awkward caught between him and Seo Jeong-woon.
‘I need to separate work and personal matters.’
Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh and took reluctant steps. The possibility was slim, but Seo Jeong-woon might have called to give work instructions. Arriving in front of the vice president’s office, Do Yi-hyun habitually straightened his clothes.
But before he could knock, the door swung open. Do Yi-hyun reflexively covered his stomach and took half a step back.
“Lee Hyun, you’re here?”
Seo Jeong-woon deliberately opened the door himself and gave a faint, fleeting smile. Though not overly friendly like before, his attitude was quite amicable. It was an appropriate and sensible distance between a superior and subordinate, but Do Yi-hyun felt a strange sense of dissonance.
“What is the matter?”
As Do Yi-hyun showed signs of wariness, Seo Jeong-woon gently curved the corners of his eyes. Looking up at the prettily smiling Seo Jeong-woon, Do Yi-hyun tightly pressed his lips together. Up close, it was clear how meticulously Seo Jeong-woon had dressed up.
From the sophisticated tie to the simple tie pin, the sparkling cufflinks, and the perfectly fitting suit that followed his broad shoulders and firm waist. Even Do Yi-hyun, who had zero interest in others, was momentarily impressed. Do Yi-hyun stared at Seo Jeong-woon a few seconds longer than usual.
The once vaguely shimmering mass that was Seo Jeong-woon’s face now had delicate features. But even so, they would disappear cleanly from his mind the moment he turned away.
“Come in and talk.”
Seo Jeong-woon stepped aside and gestured. It would be nice if he just briefly stated the matter and sent him away, but Seo Jeong-woon didn’t seem inclined to keep it short.
“……Yes.”
Do Yi-hyun had no choice but to brush past Seo Jeong-woon and enter the vice president’s office. It was his second visit following a month ago. From the faint floral scent permeating the entire space to everything else, nothing in the office had changed.
“This way.”
Seo Jeong-woon opened the leftmost of three doors lined up on one wall of the office. A spacious meeting area, large enough to seat about ten people, was revealed.
‘Did he really call me for work? I can’t take on more tasks.’
Do Yi-hyun followed Seo Jeong-woon with a stiff expression. The thought of increasing his workload was no longer welcome.
“Make yourself comfortable.”
Following Seo Jeong-woon’s guidance, Do Yi-hyun slowly lifted his gaze, which had been fixed on the floor. However, a scene completely different from his expectations awaited him.
“What is all this?”
Do Yi-hyun stared at Seo Jeong-woon with an astonished face. On the wide table, black lunchboxes with elegant patterns were endlessly displayed. Roughly enough to feed over ten people.
“What else? Lunchboxes.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled nonchalantly. He knew full well that Do Yi-hyun wasn’t asking because he didn’t know they were lunchboxes—utterly shameless. It seemed Seo Jeong-woon still hadn’t given up on having lunch with Do Yi-hyun.
‘Why does he keep getting worked up over unnecessary things?’
He couldn’t understand at all why Seo Jeong-woon was so fixated on lunch. Do Yi-hyun gritted his teeth and rubbed his face. He had come determined to separate work and personal matters, but Seo Jeong-woon was the one not distinguishing them.
“I’ll be going now.”
Do Yi-hyun coldly announced. This was clearly overstepping authority. He felt his facial muscles stiffening, but he couldn’t manage his expression well.
“Don’t be so cold; at least try it. Think of the effort I put into preparing it. Hmm? It’s lunchtime anyway.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled with his eyes and opened one lunchbox.
“Stop…….”
Do Yi-hyun hurriedly tried to stop Seo Jeong-woon, but Seo Jeong-woon was a step ahead. Neatly arranged galbi patties were revealed.
“Ugh……”
Do Yi-hyun reflexively held his breath. As his morning sickness worsened day by day, sometimes even seeing food photos made him nauseous. He didn’t want to make a spectacle of himself, at least not in front of Seo Jeong-woon.
Giving a persistent man an excuse to nitpick wouldn’t do any good. But Do Yi-hyun couldn’t easily tear his gaze away from the galbi. The golden-brown surface looked incredibly delicious.
Instead of nausea, hunger surged.
‘Why is this happening suddenly?’
Do Yi-hyun’s pitch-black pupils trembled slightly. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt appetite in front of food. It was welcome news, but the problem was that the person before him was anything but welcome.
‘Of all times, now.’
Do Yi-hyun frowned. The doctor had repeatedly advised him to eat as much as he could whenever possible. If he missed this chance, he clearly wouldn’t be able to eat anything again.
“I didn’t know what Lee Hyun likes, so I prepared everything. I’ll take care of the leftovers myself, so don’t worry and eat.”
Misinterpreting Do Yi-hyun’s expression, Seo Jeong-woon made excuses while opening the next lunchbox. This one contained steak cut into bite-sized pieces. Do Yi-hyun stood frozen as if nailed to the spot.
While Do Yi-hyun hesitated, over half the lunchboxes were opened. Seo Jeong-woon had prepared all sorts of menus, from Korean to Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine.
“I don’t like eating alone, but I don’t have anyone to eat with.”
Seo Jeong-woon clutched a lunchbox lid with both hands and looked at Do Yi-hyun with a sullen face. It was a pitiful sight.
‘Lies.’
But Do Yi-hyun didn’t believe a word Seo Jeong-woon said. Among Taewon Group employees, there were more than a few who were desperate just to make eye contact with Seo Jeong-woon, let alone have a meal.
Meaning there was no reason for Seo Jeong-woon to desperately cling to Do Yi-hyun.
‘……What should I do?’
Do Yi-hyun stood blankly, conflicted. Judging by Seo Jeong-woon keeping his distance for a few days, if he refused here, Seo Jeong-woon likely wouldn’t stubbornly chase him anymore. It was a perfect opportunity to return to a normal daily life.
Do Yi-hyun cautiously inhaled the breath he had been holding, just in case. Strangely, the food smell wasn’t offensive.
“……I can’t eat raw food.”
In the end, Do Yi-hyun succumbed to the hope that he might be able to eat a proper meal. It was a dilemma with a predetermined answer from the start. If he continued starving like this, his own condition would become more dangerous than the baby in his womb.
“Yes, understood.”
Seo Jeong-woon brightly smiled as if asking when he had ever been sullen, and selected a lunchbox containing sashimi or yukhoe. Do Yi-hyun sat down without hiding his awkward expression. Seo Jeong-woon quickly took the seat next to him.
Do Yi-hyun looked at him discontentedly, but Seo Jeong-woon, with an excited face, diligently handed him everything from utensils to napkins.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Do Yi-hyun, who found it a waste of time to tussle with Seo Jeong-woon, neatly ignored him, picked up a large galbi patty, and took a very small bite from the end. Then he carefully tasted it. Do Yi-hyun’s morning sickness was very capricious.
It wasn’t once or twice that he had put something in his mouth only to spit it out. But the moderately sweet and savory seasoning clung perfectly to his tongue. After chewing a couple of times, rich meat juices filled his mouth.
Gulp. Do Yi-hyun could swallow the galbi patty without issue. No rejection reaction occurred.
‘It’s edible. No, it’s delicious.’
Do Yi-hyun’s eyes widened slightly. It had been a long time since he could fully taste food. His stomach didn’t feel queasy either.
Do Yi-hyun took another big bite of the galbi patty and then a large spoonful of glossy white rice. At that moment, his appetite suddenly surged. Do Yi-hyun put the spoon in his mouth as if entranced.
“Does it suit your taste?”
A warm voice tinged with laughter was heard. Do Yi-hyun, who was about to pick up a well-fermented red kimchi, flinched in surprise. Absorbed in the food, he had momentarily forgotten that Seo Jeong-woon was sitting next to him.
Seo Jeong-woon was resting his chin lightly on the back of his hand, watching Do Yi-hyun.
“Aren’t you going to eat, Executive Director?”
“Just watching you eat fills me up.”
“……”
The words ‘stop talking nonsense’ rose to the tip of his tongue, but Do Yi-hyun barely swallowed them. No matter how frivolously Seo Jeong-woon acted, he mustn’t forget that he was his superior. However, he couldn’t quite hide his displeased expression.
“Haha, just kidding. Don’t make such a scary face.”
Seo Jeong-woon chattered away as he picked up his chopsticks. Do Yi-hyun glanced at Seo Jeong-woon while lifting a piece of braised tofu evenly coated in sauce. Seo Jeong-woon was acting friendly again, as if the week-long gap had never existed.
What kind of change of heart had he undergone? While Seo Jeong-woon’s 180-degree changed attitude was puzzling, Do Yi-hyun didn’t bother asking as he wasn’t particularly curious. Instead, he focused on his meal.
Do Yi-hyun kept his hands moving without pause. Not wanting to waste food by overeating and getting indigestion, he didn’t forget to chew thoroughly. Except for the occasional clinking of chopsticks, the table was silent.
He had expected Seo Jeong-woon to keep talking and be a nuisance, but surprisingly, he was quiet.
“Lee Hyun, try this too.”
Seo Jeong-woon placed a yellow pancake on Do Yi-hyun’s rice bowl. Although he could serve himself, Seo Jeong-woon kept passing him various side dishes, which was a bit annoying. Still, the side dishes weren’t at fault, so he ate everything without leaving a bite.
“It’s all gone. What a shame.”
Seo Jeong-woon then muttered something incomprehensible. His gaze lingered around Do Yi-hyun’s sleeve area again today. It didn’t seem like he expected an answer, so Do Yi-hyun pretended not to hear.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Having polished off the bowl of rice in the blink of an eye, Do Yi-hyun formally expressed his thanks and put down his chopsticks. He was full and couldn’t eat anything more. It was a very satisfying meal, except for the uncomfortable feeling of being constantly observed from the side.
“Is this little bit enough? You eat like a bird.”
Seo Jeong-woon looked at the lunchbox still full of food with a regretful expression.
“……”
Like a bird? It was such nonsense that it wasn’t worth responding to, so Do Yi-hyun coldly ignored him. Although he ate much less than his usual amount, perhaps because his stomach had shrunk, he still ate more than the average adult male.
It seemed Seo Jeong-woon had forgotten that what he had prepared amounted to 15 servings. Seo Jeong-woon himself had barely eaten his rice, too busy watching Do Yi-hyun.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Thank you for having lunch with me, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon expressed his gratitude with a gentle, spring breeze-like smile to Do Yi-hyun, who stood up bluntly as if he had no sense of shame.
“……Where did you buy this from?”
Do Yi-hyun, about to leave the executive director’s office, impulsively pointed to one of the lunchboxes. At the tip of his finger was a colorful namul side dish. It was a light, clean-tasting side dish that kept drawing his hand back.
“Curious? Then tomorrow, let’s also together……”
“No, thank you.”
“Ah, okay. I give up.”
As Do Yi-hyun turned away without any hesitation, Seo Jeong-woon hurriedly blocked his path. With a pouty expression, Seo Jeong-woon told him the restaurant where he bought the namul. Do Yi-hyun sharply rejected Seo Jeong-woon’s offer for coffee and returned to his office.
While lightly reviewing the documents he had written in the morning, his team members returned one by one. As lunchtime was nearing its end, Kim Yu-min stealthily approached Do Yi-hyun.
“Team leader, did you make up with Executive Director Seo?”
“There’s nothing to make up or not make up about.”
“Aw, Team leader, you look in a really good mood?”
At Kim Yu-min’s fuss, Do Yi-hyun touched the corner of his own mouth. While his condition was quite good after a proper meal for the first time in a while, his expression wasn’t much different from usual. Kim Yu-min was clearly talking nonsense.
“Go do your work. If you’re free…”
“Yes, understood!”
The quick-witted Kim Yu-min sensed that Do Yi-hyun was about to assign him work and quickly ran away.
***
That evening, Do Yi-hyun canceled his hospital appointment. He had made daily medical appointments because his morning sickness was so severe, but since he had a proper meal today, there was no need to go to the hospital.
He also didn’t want to ruin the barely recovered condition by being exposed to the Alpha pheromones that didn’t suit him well. The doctor who received Do Yi-hyun’s call initially exploded in anger but then rejoiced as if it were his own achievement upon hearing the report that he had eaten well, urging him to go home and rest quickly. Do Yi-hyun, who left work on time, headed straight to the Korean fine dining restaurant Seo Jeong-woon had told him about.
Contrary to its name, Sodamjeong, several detached hanok buildings lined a spacious garden. Upon entering, an employee dressed neatly in hanbok greeted Do Yi-hyun.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“No, I don’t. I just want to take out; is that possible?”
“I’m sorry, sir. We operate by reservation only……”
The employee, who was explaining with an apologetic expression, suddenly trailed off and stared intently at Do Yi-hyun.
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps Do Yi-hyun?”
“……Yes, I am.”
Hearing his name come from a stranger’s mouth, Do Yi-hyun naturally showed wariness.
“Oh my, you’re exactly as Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon described. The Executive Director made a separate reservation. Please wait a moment.”
The employee clapped his hands, beaming brightly, and disappeared before Do Yi-hyun could stop him. Instantly left alone, Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at the empty spot. He had no idea what Seo Jeong-woon had said to elicit such a reaction.
‘If it’s a place that requires reservations, he should have said so.’
Do Yi-hyun frowned vaguely, recalling Seo Jeong-woon’s face, which had given off an unnecessarily shiny impression. Soon, the employee returned with a large lunchbox meticulously wrapped in cloth. It was an excessively large amount for one person.
Moreover, Seo Jeong-woon had already paid in full, so there was no need to settle the bill. On the way home, Do Yi-hyun kept glancing at the lunchbox placed on the passenger seat. He felt indebted to Seo Jeong-woon, which wasn’t very pleasant.
His mood, which had been gradually sinking, hit rock bottom as soon as he arrived home. Although the namul had gone down smoothly at lunch, as soon as he opened the lunchbox, he felt nauseous. He couldn’t bring a single bite to his mouth.
Do Yi-hyun put the large lunchbox into the refrigerator as is. It was bitter, but considering his physical condition, it was fortunate he had managed to eat at least one proper meal.
***
The next day, as lunchtime approached, Kim Yu-min kept hovering around Do Yi-hyun’s desk.
He wanted to ignore him, but because his concentration had dropped, Kim Yu-min loitering around was extremely irritating.
“What is it?”
“Ugh. Team leader, well……”
“Is it about Executive Director Seo again?”
Do Yi-hyun, who had been wiping his stiff eye area, narrowed his eyes. Judging by the normally spirited Kim Yu-min’s flustered state, it was clear Seo Jeong-woon had made him do something strange again.
“Yes, yes. He called you to the executive director’s office.”
Sure enough, Kim Yu-min nodded hurriedly. It was obvious Seo Jeong-woon was up to something to have lunch together again. It seemed he had realized that relaying the message through Kim Yu-min was much more effective than coming himself to persuade.
Do Yi-hyun left the office without hesitation. If left like this, it was clear Seo Jeong-woon would keep being a nuisance. He intended to settle things by telling him not to summon him for non-work-related matters.
Although his morning sickness had temporarily subsided when he ate lunch with Seo Jeong-woon, it was obviously a temporary coincidence.
‘Stop messing with my stomach.’
Do Yi-hyun rubbed his lower abdomen and smirked. Just how remarkable was this guy to cause such a commotion from inside his belly?
“Do Yi-hyun from Accounting Team 2. I’m coming in.”
Upon arriving at the executive director’s office, Do Yi-hyun announced unilaterally and opened the door on his own. It was impolite, but Seo Jeong-woon was the one who first blurred the lines between public and private matters. Not wanting to be swayed by Seo Jeong-woon’s pace, Do Yi-hyun acted even more forcefully.
“Ah, Lee Hyun. I wanted to welcome you; what a shame.”
Far from pointing out Do Yi-hyun’s rudeness, Seo Jeong-woon started talking nonsense as soon as their eyes met. Do Yi-hyun stared intently at Seo Jeong-woon, who was approaching with wide strides. Seo Jeong-woon was dressed in a beige three-piece suit.
Far from looking bulky in the bright color, he looked very stylish. Yesterday, he mentioned having some shoot; it seemed he had some schedule today too. Although he hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, perhaps because he had overheard a conversation between Seo Jeong-woon and an unnamed employee in the garden, he was slightly bothered by the slightly disheveled ash-brown hair that didn’t match the neat attire.
The person who used to prefer comfortable knitwear now looked completely different, dressed neatly.
‘……I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.’
Something vaguely surfaced in his mind, but Do Yi-hyun dismissively erased it.
“But barging in like this feels like we’ve become close, which is nice, right? You don’t need to knock from now on.”
Seo Jeong-woon lowered his head, bringing his face close to Do Yi-hyun’s nose, and grinned.
‘The nonsense never ends.’
Despite the sunny smile like spring sunlight, Do Yi-hyun’s gaze was as cold as midwinter frost.
“I’d prefer if there were no reason to come again.”
“Isn’t that too cold? Well, that is part of your charm, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon leisurely swept back his softly wavy hair. Since Seo Jeong-woon showed no sign of creating distance, Do Yi-hyun took a couple of steps back. As Do Yi-hyun moved away, Seo Jeong-woon took another step forward.
Whether to call this fortunate or not, he didn’t force the distance any closer. Seo Jeong-woon really knew how to maintain an ambiguous line well.
“What is the matter?”
Do Yi-hyun opened the conversation as professionally as possible. If he brought up lunch again this time, he planned to refuse outright.
“Lee Hyun, you like Korean food, right? I prepared galbitang and bibimbap. There’s also bossam.”
But the appetite that had been crawling on the floor began to stir at the menu Seo Jeong-woon recited amiably. For Do Yi-hyun, it was quite a bewildering matter. Even if the first time was an unfortunate coincidence of timing, it was hard to call the second time a mere coincidence.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Seo Jeong-woon reached out his hand to the conflicted Do Yi-hyun.
‘Let me just check.’
Do Yi-hyun hesitated, then ignored Seo Jeong-woon’s hand and trudged towards the meeting room. He wasn’t the simple type to be swayed by food, but given his current special circumstances, he had no choice. As long as he could have a meal, he didn’t care what image Seo Jeong-woon had of him.
“Haha.”
Although the roles were reversed, Seo Jeong-woon followed Do Yi-hyun with light steps, looking pleased. On the table, several lunchboxes were displayed again today. At least the number had significantly decreased compared to yesterday.
“I heard you went to the place I told you about yesterday.”
Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes sparkled with interest as he quickly opened all the lunchboxes. Among the hearty dishes were neat side dishes brought from Sodamjeong. Do Yi-hyun carefully looked around the table.
Even though most were foods he wouldn’t dare touch normally, his stomach felt comfortable.
“Why didn’t you tell me in advance that reservations were needed?”
“You don’t need a reservation, Lee Hyun. I’ve put in a separate word, so you can just go anytime.”
“That’s fine.”
Do Yi-hyun bluntly refused while holding his spoon. Since he probably wouldn’t be able to eat it anyway, he didn’t want to receive special treatment from Seo Jeong-woon.
“Do as you like, Lee Hyun. I’ll do as I like too.”
Perhaps now accustomed to Do Yi-hyun’s refusals, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t even blink.
‘Is there something special about the executive director’s office? Or……’
Do Yi-hyun glanced at Seo Jeong-woon, who was smiling brightly as he put bibimbap in his mouth. It couldn’t be, but he hoped the reason his morning sickness had subsided wasn’t solely because of Seo Jeong-woon.
***
However, the next day, Do Yi-hyun refused Seo Jeong-woon’s summons and visited the company cafeteria, only to have to run to the bathroom, unable to hold back his nausea.
He was slowly forced to acknowledge it. For reasons unknown, the terrible morning sickness temporarily and completely disappeared only when he ate in the executive director’s office with Seo Jeong-woon. Do Yi-hyun headed to the executive director’s office with reluctant steps.
It was already 20 minutes past the start of lunchtime. Even if Seo Jeong-woon had lost interest and left, he had nothing to say.
“The Executive Director is inside.”
But the secretary guided him as soon as he saw Do Yi-hyun. Weary from prolonged nausea, Do Yi-hyun, finding everything bothersome, knocked roughly like yesterday and entered the executive director’s office. Upon spotting Do Yi-hyun, Seo Jeong-woon, who had been sitting askew on the sofa, brightened up and sprang to his feet.
The slightly wrinkled navy vest stretched taut.
“You’re a bit late today. You’re the first person to stand me up and also the first to make me wait like this, Lee Hyun. You know that?”
Do Yi-hyun let Seo Jeong-woon’s nonsense flow past him familiarly and took a deep breath. His stomach had been churning all the way up, so he had half given up, but as soon as he entered the executive director’s office, the nausea gradually subsided.
“Why is your complexion so pale? Did something happen?”
Seo Jeong-woon reached out towards Do Yi-hyun’s face with an anxious expression. Just before the long, slender fingers touched his cheek, Do Yi-hyun raised his arm and pushed Seo Jeong-woon away.
“Please refrain from giving Kim Yu-min non-work-related instructions from now on.”
“Lee Hyun.”
“And the quantity is too much.”
Do Yi-hyun indirectly conveyed his intention to come for lunch even without being summoned. He didn’t know when the morning sickness might act up again, but until then, he planned to clock in at the executive director’s office. The child was more important than annoyance and unease.
“Yes, understood.”
The quick-witted Seo Jeong-woon immediately understood Do Yi-hyun’s underlying meaning and smiled amiably.
“I’ll also pay for the meals.”
“No need for that, but if I tell you not to, you won’t come, right?”
“Correct.”
“Then I have no choice. I’ll bill you all at once later.”
Seo Jeong-woon deliberately let out a deep sigh and shook his head. Do Yi-hyun twitched his eyebrows. Although he said that, it was clear Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t bill him for the meal expenses in the end.
But it didn’t matter much what scheme he was plotting. He could just ask first how much had accumulated at an appropriate time.
“I’m happy I can see you often, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled shyly, which didn’t suit his stature. Wrinkles formed on Do Yi-hyun’s brow. He wanted to scold him for being annoying, but facing those eyes prettily folded into crescent moons, he lost his words.
***
As work gradually got busier, time passed in a blur. It was already Friday. From Monday to Friday, Do Yi-hyun had lunch with Seo Jeong-woon a total of five times.
Apart from lunch, he still only barely managed to eat fruit, but since he had at least one solid meal a day, some color had returned to his complexion. Waking up frequently at night had also significantly decreased. Having continuously listened to Seo Jeong-woon’s nonsense, he seemed to have developed some immunity and could let it slide.
Thanks to their unofficial agreement to meet at a set time, Do Yi-hyun no longer needed to be on high alert, worrying that Seo Jeong-woon might show up unannounced at any moment.
‘Am I supposed to be happy about this?’
Do Yi-hyun washed his face with cold water.
“Team leader, Team leader.”
Just before quitting time, Kim Yu-min came running over, panting.
“It seems Vice President Seo really wants to get close to you, Team leader. He even gave us a card for a team dinner.”
Kim Yu-min whispered, slyly pulling a square card from his pocket to show.
“Yeah.”
Do Yi-hyun turned his gaze indifferently. No matter how he thought about it, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t seem to want to be friends with him. It was clear he was just acting on some strange stubbornness.
“This is his personal card, no less. He said we can eat anything, even beef.”
Undeterred by Do Yi-hyun’s indifferent attitude, Kim Yu-min chattered on. It seemed Kim Yu-min himself had become close enough with Seo Jeong-woon to even exchange small talk. Even though Seo Jeong-woon acted casually, there were moments when you were reminded that a chaebol was still a chaebol.
Whether it was preparing an excessively large amount of food for just the two of them or funding team dinners with his own money, Seo Jeong-woon showed no hesitation in wasting money.
“It’s been a while since you joined us, Team leader…”
“No, thank you.”
Do Yi-hyun cut off any room for a formal invitation before Kim Yu-min could even make one. He never liked company dinners to begin with, and today he had a regular check-up and needed to stop by the hospital.
“If you come, Team leader, maybe Vice President Seo… might join us too, you know?”
“That won’t happen.”
Kim Yu-min was unusually persistent today. Did he secretly receive some request from Seo Jeong-woon? When Do Yi-hyun looked at him suspiciously, Kim Yu-min awkwardly smiled and took a step back.
The other team members were already stealing glances at Do Yi-hyun with curious expressions, having likely heard about Seo Jeong-woon giving the card. Rumors had already spread widely within the company that Do Yi-hyun visited the vice president’s office every lunch break. It wasn’t Kim Yu-min or the other team members who spread the story.
Ever since Seo Jeong-woon started visiting the Accounting Team 2 office, gossip about ‘what kind of relationship Vice President Seo and Team Leader Do have’ had become a hot topic, so it was a natural progression.
Starting from colleagues whose names he couldn’t even remember to some section heads and department heads. Wherever he went, people flocked to probe about his relationship with Seo Jeong-woon. Of course, Do Yi-hyun consistently ignored them.
Fortunately, everyone quickly gave up, knowing Do Yi-hyun’s stubborn personality well. But he couldn’t stop the increased attention on his every move compared to before.
“Aren’t you curious what Vice President Seo’s pheromones smell like?”
As the topic of Seo Jeong-woon came up, someone subtly expressed curiosity. If it wasn’t during a heat or rut cycle, or without special intent, pheromones could be considered just a slightly stronger body scent. Many people even viewed pheromones as a kind of perfume, to the extent that there were surgeries to change one’s pheromone scent.
Though the effects weren’t dramatic.
“Has anyone smelled Vice President Seo’s pheromones?”
“Probably no one in the company, right? He keeps them perfectly contained.”
‘…Come to think of it, I’ve never smelled his pheromones.’
Until his pregnancy caused him to have a rejection reaction to pheromones, Do Yi-hyun could hardly distinguish between Alphas and Omegas. He knew in his head that Seo Jeong-woon was an Alpha, but since he hadn’t experienced any rejection reaction while being around him, he hadn’t been aware of it.
‘He does use a strange perfume.’
Do Yi-hyun stroked his chin, recalling the fragrant floral scent that lingered in the vice president’s office.
“It’s really amazing. I’m embarrassed to say, but I still can’t control mine well.”
One team member brushed the back of his neck while glancing at Do Yi-hyun. The team member seemed to firmly believe that Do Yi-hyun, like Seo Jeong-woon, could perfectly control his pheromones. In reality, his pheromones were just too weak to be noticeable.
While others could release pheromones as naturally as breathing, Do Yi-hyun could hardly handle his. It was unusual for Do Yi-hyun, who was quick to learn anything, especially physical skills.
“Alright, let’s clock out! Let’s go eat beef!”
Not long after, the team members rushed out under Kim Yu-min’s lead. Left alone, Do Yi-hyun finished up his work appropriately and stood up. Seeing a large shadow at the office entrance, he casually turned his gaze and met eyes with a man in a long coat.
“Mr. Lee Hyun, are you heading out now?”
Seo Jeong-woon approached Do Yi-hyun, the hem of his coat fluttering. The camel coat was so long it would drag on the floor on most people. It matched quite well with the gray suit with a faint check pattern.
“What brings you here?”
“Mr. Lee Hyun always asks me ‘what brings you here’ when he sees me. Can’t you change that line? It’s too stiff.”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. His ash-brown hair slid smoothly over his forehead with the movement.
“Why didn’t you go to the dinner?”
“If you have no business…”
“Want to have dinner with me?”
As Do Yi-hyun openly showed annoyance, Seo Jeong-woon quickly got to the point.
“…I have a prior engagement.”
Though momentarily swayed by Seo Jeong-woon’s offer, Do Yi-hyun quickly regained his senses. He didn’t want to involve Seo Jeong-woon in his private life, even if it was unavoidable within the company. One meal a day was enough to manage his condition.
“Mr. Lee Hyun doesn’t even bother to change his excuses?”
“……”
It wasn’t an excuse, but Do Yi-hyun silently packed his bag.
“…Is it a prior engagement I can give you a ride to?”
Seo Jeong-woon grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s wrist. If he had shown even a hint of trying to overpower him by force, Do Yi-hyun would have mercilessly pushed him away without hesitation. But contrary to expectations, the gentle touch made Do Yi-hyun pause for a moment.
Seo Jeong-woon didn’t miss that brief opening and softly rubbed the inside of Do Yi-hyun’s wrist with his thumb.
‘What are you going to do if I don’t let you give me a ride?’
Do Yi-hyun pulled his arm back a beat late and looked up at Seo Jeong-woon with displeasure.
“Ha, alright. It’s none of my business.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a deep sigh and raised both hands.
“I feel as small as dust in front of you, Mr. Lee Hyun. It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt this way.”
As small as dust. That wasn’t something a man over 190cm tall should say. The exaggeration was too much.
“If I wait, will you come this time?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Do Yi-hyun frowned. Though he was gradually growing numb to Seo Jeong-woon’s nonsensical chatter and absurdly close proximity, he could hardly adapt to his cryptic way of speaking.
“Do you want to pretend it never happened at all? I don’t.”
Seo Jeong-woon kept bringing up stories only he knew, whenever he felt like it.
“I’ll be going now.”
Do Yi-hyun gave a slight bow and started walking. If he kept exchanging riddles with Seo Jeong-woon, he’d likely be late for his hospital appointment.
“…I’ll wait.”
Seo Jeong-woon stubbornly called out to the back of Do Yi-hyun’s head as he left without hesitation.
***
“Are you secretly meeting the baby’s mother or something?”
That was the first thing the doctor said upon seeing Do Yi-hyun for the first time in about a week. Since Do Yi-hyun consistently remained silent whenever the doctor asked about the child’s other parent, the term ‘baby’s mother’ had solidified at some point.
At the very least, it was certain it wasn’t ‘baby’s mother’ but ‘baby’s father,’ but Do Yi-hyun didn’t feel the need to actively clarify. They were people he’d never see again anyway.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun bluntly corrected the fact. Lately, he felt like he was being misunderstood everywhere he went.
“What kind of person is the baby’s mother? If they have any decency as a human being, they should at least show their face.”
The doctor clicked his tongue while checking Do Yi-hyun’s test results.
“But it seems it’s true you’ve been eating well. If you can just maintain this, there’s nothing more to wish for.”
The doctor sighed in relief, saying he could finally relax a bit.
“Is it possible for morning sickness to subside only in a specific space?”
Do Yi-hyun asked about something that had been bothering him. He hoped that if he could figure out why his morning sickness decreased only in the vice president’s office, he might be able to apply it elsewhere.
“If it’s a psychologically comfortable space, maybe, but such cases are rare.”
When he was in Seo Jeong-woon’s vice president’s office, he was far from psychologically comfortable—it was extremely uncomfortable. So it probably wasn’t a space issue.
“Then what about when with a specific person?”
“Is that person an Alpha?”
The doctor’s eyes lit up as he vaguely guessed the reason Do Yi-hyun had been able to eat at least one proper meal a day lately.
“Yes.”
“That’s not common either, but there’s a possibility you have good pheromone compatibility with them. Bring them once. If it really doesn’t work, you could at least ask them to help with pheromone therapy.”
The doctor spoke excitedly and rapidly. Usually, they don’t use the pheromones of someone acquainted with the patient for pheromone prescriptions. That alone indicated how poor Do Yi-hyun’s condition was.
“That’s probably not it. I’ve never smelled his pheromones. And since he’s my superior, it would be difficult to ask.”
The doctor looked at Do Yi-hyun with a dissatisfied expression but didn’t push further. He knew Do Yi-hyun hadn’t yet informed the company about his pregnancy, and that the reason was the high risk of miscarriage, so he couldn’t recklessly add more.
“Then get close to that guy. What’s the big deal? You need to eat something to survive.”
Do Yi-hyun pressed his lips together tightly. He knew in his head that the doctor’s advice was right, but he didn’t really want to get close to Seo Jeong-woon. Whenever he got involved with him, it felt like something kept going wrong.
“For you to react like that. It’s unexpected.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean showing clear dislike. It’s not common for you to express likes or dislikes.”
Despite the rigid doctor-patient relationship, having seen him for a long time, the doctor knew Do Yi-hyun quite well.
“And it seems the baby’s mother is indeed an Alpha.”
The doctor tapped the screen with a troubled expression. It meant that as the fetus grew, he would experience more severe side effects from other Alphas’ pheromones.
‘Of all things.’
At the bad news, Do Yi-hyun’s mouth stiffened. He was already suffering from pheromone rejection syndrome, and now it could get even worse.
“Are the pheromone rejection symptoms still the same?”
“Yes.”
The doctor stroked his chin with a serious expression, then opened his mouth with a hesitant look.
“You’ve heard about imprinting, right?”
“…I learned about it.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded slowly. Imprinting is a special phenomenon that occurs only between Alphas and Omegas, completed only when they choose each other as mates. Omegas become able to sense only the pheromones of the Alpha who imprinted on them, allowing them to live like Betas except during heat cycles.
Conversely, Alphas become sensitive to pheromones of all traits. Although nothing has been precisely confirmed, the hypothesis that an Alpha’s pheromone detection organs evolve due to the instinct to protect their Omega is considered the established theory.
“I asked other doctors and looked through papers. There are mutation cases where an Alpha suddenly turns into an Omega. They’re so rare there are only a few worldwide. Among those people, there are some who were unilaterally imprinted on, and even though they’re Omegas, they became more sensitive to pheromones.”
“So you’re saying I might have been imprinted on by that Alpha?”
For Do Yi-hyun, who felt no particular emotion toward that man, it was a hard statement to accept.
“Not necessarily, but there are various cases. In a way, you’re also a unique case of changing from a Beta to an Omega. Actually, you might have been an Alpha whose traits didn’t manifest.”
Since it was a delicate matter, the doctor carefully offered his opinion. Despite 30% of the population being Alphas and Omegas, most things about traits remained shrouded in mystery.
“…Thank you for looking into it.”
That was all Do Yi-hyun could say. After all, it didn’t mean there was an immediate solution for his pheromone rejection syndrome. Do Yi-hyun left the hospital bitterly.
He felt like he had only reconfirmed the fact that he was a Mutant Omega.
***
Having declined the pheromone prescription and returned home, Do Yi-hyun sat on the sofa for a while before dozing off. His mind was hazy, making it hard to distinguish between reality and dream.
“Your chest is incredibly sensitive.”
A voice tinged with laughter seeped through his muffled hearing. Following that, a blurry man’s face floated up. Even though his features were indistinct, you could tell the man was handsome.
The man freely fondled Do Yi-hyun’s chest, then lightly bit it.
“Do you know it tightens a lot when I touch here?”
“Ah, ahk, stop….”
Before he knew it, the man inserted a finger into Do Yi-hyun’s lower part and pressed hard against the inner wall. Every time the man dragged his fingertip over the protruding flesh, Do Yi-hyun’s genitals twitched.
“Haa, I feel like I’ll go crazy from the tease.”
The man also rubbed his nose bridge against Do Yi-hyun’s nape and took a deep breath. Do Yi-hyun was pinned under the man, unable to move even when his shoulder was bitten sharply.
“Can you feel it? I reached the end.”
The man, who was spreading Do Yi-hyun’s legs and thrusting up strongly, met his eyes and grinned. The man buried his genitals as deep as possible, applying weight to stimulate the deepest part of Do Yi-hyun’s inside.
“Huek…!”
The man’s glans touched a place it absolutely shouldn’t have. Do Yi-hyun’s mind went blank from a sensation he couldn’t tell was pleasure or pain. The man playfully pressed the bulging skin of Do Yi-hyun’s stomach even as he gasped.
Stimulated from inside and out, Do Yi-hyun came helplessly. He was suddenly frightened by the overwhelming pleasure. Do Yi-hyun reflexively wrapped his legs around the man’s waist.
“Are you begging now? How cute.”
The man laughed lowly and ran his fingers over their joined parts. Due to the continued intercourse, Do Yi-hyun’s lower part was a mess with unidentifiable fluids. When the man slowly pulled out his genitals, a squelching sound accompanied the trickling fluid.
Even during heat, he had never been this wet. Do Yi-hyun grabbed the man’s shoulder. No, he tried to grab it.
But the moment Do Yi-hyun’s hand was about to touch the man’s shoulder, he woke up.
“Ha…”
Do Yi-hyun let out a bitter sigh looking at his own hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air. A memory he wanted to forget forever had surfaced in his sleep. The problem was that Do Yi-hyun’s genitals were erect.
Having a wet dream after thirty, something he hardly ever had even in middle or high school. It was shameful. Do Yi-hyun staggered into the bedroom.
It was just a bad dream because he slept uncomfortably on the sofa. But his half-erect genitals showed no sign of subsiding. Moreover, his nipples were stiff, tingling every time they brushed against his clothes.
Even pheromones, though very faint, were flowing out.
‘Has sexual desire built up?’
Do Yi-hyun usually relieved various urges through intense exercise. Since becoming pregnant, he hadn’t felt any desire due to poor health, so it was absurd that sexual desire stirred just from eating properly for a few days. As if entranced, Do Yi-hyun leaned against the bed headboard, hesitated for a moment, then took out his genitals.
Just a few swipes with his palm, and his genitals stood erect, almost touching his lower abdomen. He’d heard Omega genitals have a light pink tip and remain soft even when fully erect. But Do Yi-hyun’s genitals had prominent veins and were larger than most Beta men’s.
“Ah, ugh.”
Not wanting to masturbate for long, Do Yi-hyun quickly stroked the shaft, focusing on the glans. But instead of feeling the approach of orgasm, his backside began to grow wet. Having been used to stimulating the front rather than the back even during heat due to habits from his Beta days, he was quite flustered.
The hand stimulating his genitals gradually slowed. All of Do Yi-hyun’s nerves concentrated on the tingling space between his buttocks. He had lived like a scholar indifferent to worldly affairs, but once ignited, sexual desire showed no sign of dying down.
Unable to resist the endless urge, Do Yi-hyun raised his knees and spread his legs. Soon, his right hand passed his testicles and perineum, reaching the entrance. The tightly closed folds parted with a soft sound, welcoming his finger.
Maybe it was his imagination, but the entrance seemed plump and swollen.
“Keuk.”
Even with just a light brush, his waist was already trembling uncontrollably. Do Yi-hyun had forgotten, but his body remembered vividly. The pleasure of that day.
‘It might harm the baby.’
With superhuman patience, Do Yi-hyun only fumbled around the hole. Then, he gently pushed his index finger in just half a knuckle.
“Hahk…!”
It was an act too embarrassing to even call insertion, but even that made his hair stand on end. Do Yi-hyun held his breath and trembled faintly. As he carefully rubbed inside the hole, the soft inner wall clung to his finger.
‘Not enough.’
Do Yi-hyun barely suppressed the desire to insert his finger deeper and gritted his teeth. A trivial act of self-pleasure couldn’t satisfy him. He needed something longer and thicker, something hot and hard.
Like a man’s fully erect member. Do Yi-hyun silently chewed on a curse he rarely used. Once the pleasure surfaced, he couldn’t forget it.
It was astonishing how vividly it tormented him, considering he had completely forgotten about it all this time.
“Ah, haa, ugh.”
Do Yi-hyun recalled the intimacy with the man whose face he didn’t know and gripped his own member tightly. The ambiguous agony of feeling like he was about to climax but not quite persisted. Hesitating, Do Yi-hyun then grabbed his own chest, just as the man had done.
The well-defined chest muscles sank softly under his rough grip.
“Huhk, ugh!”
Clearly, there was no sensation at first, but when he brushed near the nipple, a tingling ran down his spine. Do Yi-hyun unconsciously arched his back.
“Haa.”
Do Yi-hyun exhaled a heated breath and looked down at his own chest. The nipples were also far from the bright color typical of Omegas. His skin was pale white due to the suppressants, making the contrast even stronger.
‘Why here…’
Do Yi-hyun knew intellectually that the chest was an erogenous zone, but he had never actually felt it before. Chasing the pleasure, Do Yi-hyun rubbed the slightly enlarged areola and pressed down on the nipple.
“Hhuuk, ah…”
A desperate moan escaped Do Yi-hyun’s lips. Twisting his waist from the sharp pleasure, he unconsciously sought stronger stimulation, raking his nails across the tender flesh. Since he always kept his nails neatly trimmed, no wounds were made.
The more he touched places he had never explored before, the pleasure gradually amplified. His skin became so sensitive that even brushing against the bedsheets aroused pleasure.
“Relax your strength. Spread your legs wider.”
A voice slightly cracked from excessive excitement. A hand gently coaxing while pushing up his thigh. Soft lips that swallowed Do Yi-hyun’s ragged breaths.
“Hhuuk…!”
As fragmented memories of the man surfaced, Do Yi-hyun reached his climax. White fluid soiled Do Yi-hyun’s hand.
‘What have I done?’
Coming to his senses belatedly, Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at his own hand. Do Yi-hyun quickly cleaned up, then forced his still-excited body to calm down and tried to sleep.
***
“I’m going to get lunch!”
Monday lunchtime. The team members left the office with faces as bright as at quitting time. As he had done all last week, Do Yi-hyun slowly tidied up his work and headed upstairs.
Having eaten nothing since Friday evening and receiving a pheromone prescription only on Sunday, he felt drained of energy.
“Mr. Lee Hyun, he didn’t come after all.”
As soon as he entered the managing director’s office, Seo Jeong-woon, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, grumbled with a petulant expression. Seo Jeong-woon was wearing a light sky-blue suit. It was a color impossible not to notice.
Lately, there hadn’t been a day when he wore an ordinary color. It seemed Seo Jeong-woon truly enjoyed being the center of attention.
“Hello.”
Do Yi-hyun ignored Seo Jeong-woon’s incomprehensible complaint and offered a polite greeting. Seeing that Do Yi-hyun showed no sign of entertaining his grumbling, Seo Jeong-woon let out a short laugh and approached. As the distance between them narrowed, the smile faded from Seo Jeong-woon’s face.
By the time he reached right in front of Do Yi-hyun, Seo Jeong-woon was glaring sharply at him, or more precisely, at his neck. Do Yi-hyun blinked slowly. As he put on a cool expression, Seo Jeong-woon felt unfamiliar, like a completely different person.
“This is too much. They say you’re a workaholic, but are you addicted to other things too? How do you have a different one every week…”
Grr. Seo Jeong-woon continued in an agitated tone before gritting his teeth and stopping.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I can’t tell if Mr. Lee Hyun is shameless or indifferent. Even after I’ve gone this far, you could give me one more chance. Honestly, it hurts my pride. Are you just playing with me?”
Despite Do Yi-hyun’s question, Seo Jeong-woon only spat out what he wanted to say. From Do Yi-hyun’s perspective, it was unclear where Seo Jeong-woon’s judgment had gone awry. The one playing with the other wasn’t Do Yi-hyun, but Seo Jeong-woon.
Normally, Do Yi-hyun would have ignored whatever fault Seo Jeong-woon found and let it slide. But today, he suddenly felt curious for no reason.
‘Why does Managing Director Seo only act like this with me?’
The Seo Jeong-woon people talked about was always smiling brightly and never losing his composure. He was said to be affectionate to everyone, never unfairly discriminatory, and never scowled even if a subordinate made a big mistake. He was very different from the Seo Jeong-woon Do Yi-hyun knew.
‘Which one is the fake?’
It was a rare occurrence for Do Yi-hyun to take an interest in others. And of all people, the subject was Seo Jeong-woon. Seo Jeong-woon was not an easy target for Do Yi-hyun, who was socially awkward, to figure out.
Do Yi-hyun, who had been blankly staring up at the fuming Seo Jeong-woon, glanced at the wide-open conference room. Do Yi-hyun didn’t know how to naturally shift the atmosphere through conversation. On the contrary, the more he spoke, the more often the situation worsened.
He thought maybe he should ask what Seo Jeong-woon was talking about while eating lunch. After all, anyone gets sensitive on an empty stomach. But with just one look from Do Yi-hyun, Seo Jeong-woon’s expression hardened even more.
“Let’s eat and go. I have something to take care of, so I need to step out.”
Seo Jeong-woon turned away from Do Yi-hyun and coldly announced. Then, he picked up the coat draped over the chair and left in a flash. Left alone in an instant, Do Yi-hyun looked back at the firmly closed door of the managing director’s office.
It didn’t seem like Seo Jeong-woon had left because he was truly busy. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been sitting idly waiting for Do Yi-hyun.
‘What did I do wrong?’
His friend Joo Na-hye often warned Do Yi-hyun not to act in ways that would cause misunderstandings. Strictly speaking, Do Yi-hyun didn’t do things that would cause misunderstandings; he simply didn’t feel the need to build bonds with others. Was it such a big mistake to imply they should eat lunch first during lunch break?
By that logic, Seo Jeong-woon, who had gotten angry first without any clear reason, was also at fault. Do Yi-hyun slowly entered the conference room. Cloudy dumpling soup and moist braised short ribs were waiting for him.
Each dish steamed with white vapor.
‘…It’s tasteless.’
But after a few bites, Do Yi-hyun put down his chopsticks. His stomach wasn’t upset, but his appetite just wouldn’t come. The dumpling filling felt gritty like sand, and the braised short ribs tasted like chewing paper.
There was no way the food Seo Jeong-woon prepared would be tasteless; it seemed his morning sickness was acting up again. Still, it was fortunate he could eat at all. Do Yi-hyun mechanically chewed and swallowed the food.
But he couldn’t pick up speed, so it took nearly twice as long as usual to finish one bowl of rice. Seo Jeong-woon didn’t return by the time Do Yi-hyun finished his meal. After briefly tidying up what he had eaten, Do Yi-hyun took a look around the office before leaving.
‘Was the managing director’s office this empty?’
He knew from the start that the managing director’s office was spacious, but it felt desolate with just Seo Jeong-woon absent. Clearly, Seo Jeong-woon had a strong presence. Click.
Do Yi-hyun left the managing director’s office without any lingering attachment. Despite his complaints, he had secretly hoped that at least weekday lunches could be normal meals, so he felt a bit disappointed. His steps back to the office were heavy.