By Zephyria “Mmm……”
Do Yi-hyun let out a low groan from his throat and opened his eyes into narrow slits. Bright sunlight poured in through the half-open curtains.
‘I overslept again.’
Even as he pressed his sore eyelids with his fingertips, the fatigue wouldn’t easily fade. Instead, his eyelids kept wanting to close. Recently, he had started using Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones to treat his unstable trait.
As a side effect, his sleep had noticeably increased. Unable to fully shake off his drowsiness, Yi-hyun habitually groped the space beside him. But instead of a warm body temperature, he only felt the cold, cooled-down sheets.
It was the moment a slight emptiness caused him to frown.
“A-woo.”
A babble, calm for a baby, broke the silence. Yi-hyun reflexively turned his head toward the source of the sound. Eyes as dark as the night sky captured his gaze.
The round cheeks were tinged pink, and the tiny lips moved incessantly. The hair, neatly tied in two pigtails, was still short and stuck straight up toward the sky. The fresh yellow dress, its hem flared out widely, was quite adorable.
Jeong-hyun, soon to be one year old, was gradually resembling Seo Jeong-woon’s features more and more. Even Jeong-woon, who used to stubbornly insist the child looked exactly like Yi-hyun, had recently been forced to concede a step back. On the other hand, the personality revealed Yi-hyun’s tendencies much more strongly.
As a newborn, he used to smile brightly with babyish grins, but as days passed, his expressions diminished. He didn’t even cry much unless something was really wrong.
“Daddy’s finally awake. They say beauties are heavy sleepers.”
A gentle voice followed. Peeking his face over Jeong-hyun’s shoulder from where he sat on the bed, Seo Jeong-woon playfully grumbled. His curly hair, which had a nice wave, was more disheveled than usual, as if he had been playing excitedly with the child.
The sight of him holding Jeong-hyun comfortably in his arms looked very pleasing. Jeong-woon, enjoying Yi-hyun’s blank stare, curved the corners of his eyes. Ease dripped from his eyes, which had turned into crescent moons, and his long eyelashes sparkled, holding the sunlight.
“……Did you sleep well?”
Yi-hyun stared blankly at the two for a moment before belatedly offering a greeting.
“Mhmm. I thought you’d be tired, honey, so I deliberately didn’t wake you. Figured I’d have a little date with just our Jeong-hyunie too.”
Jeong-woon lifted the child up and planted a kiss on his chubby cheek. He then straightened Yi-hyun’s hair with his straight fingers before handing the child over to him.
“Wait a sec……”
Hurriedly sitting up, Yi-hyun carefully cradled the small child. Even though he had become quite accustomed to childcare, he still felt a strange tension, as if the child might shatter if he touched him wrong.
“Hee-hee.”
The child giggled and rubbed his cheek against Yi-hyun’s chest. The soft cheek flesh squished here and there like white rice cakes. Jeong-hyun particularly liked Yi-hyun.
Even when playing well by himself, he would suddenly start sniffling, looking for Yi-hyun. At such times, no matter how much Jeong-woon coaxed and soothed him, it was useless. He wouldn’t stop whining unless Yi-hyun held him.
But that didn’t mean he would stay quietly in his arms either. Jeong-hyun would cling tightly to Yi-hyun’s chest for a while, then act as if nothing happened and go back to playing. Even if Yi-hyun tried to comfort him more, he would squirm and refuse.
Jeong-woon referred to Jeong-hyun’s utterly incomprehensible, irregular routine as ‘recharging.’
Whenever Jeong-hyun cried and clung to him, Yi-hyun felt both awkward and secretly pleased. Apart from trying his best to be good to the child, his inherently blunt nature simply hadn’t changed. Still, he was grateful that the child followed him as a parent.
“Hahaha.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been gazing softly at the two, suddenly burst into a bright laugh.
“What is it?”
“A-woo-woo?”
Yi-hyun and Jeong-hyun both looked back at Jeong-woon with the same expression. At that, Jeong-woon’s laughter grew a bit louder.
“Because you’re cute.”
Jeong-woon boldly took out his phone and started taking pictures of Yi-hyun and Jeong-hyun. The bright yellow pajamas and the forsythia-colored dress matched the leisurely holiday sunlight perfectly. Both were clothes Jeong-woon had personally picked out.
“Haa.”
Yi-hyun let out a faint sigh, his neat eyebrows twitching. It wasn’t a one- or two-day occurrence for Jeong-woon to shove a camera lens in his face without warning, but he still couldn’t get used to it. Yi-hyun openly displayed his discomfort and sharply turned his head away.
“You have to look here, Yi-hyun-ssi.”
Unfazed, Jeong-woon playfully poked at the stiff corner of Yi-hyun’s mouth.
“Why are you so pretty? My heart won’t survive.”
After taking his fill of pictures, Jeong-woon hugged Yi-hyun and Jeong-hyun and kissed them to his heart’s content. Yi-hyun tilted his chin slightly, offering his cheek, but still shot Jeong-woon a dissatisfied look. Jeong-woon showered them with kisses at every opportunity.
It was to the point where Yi-hyun worried his lips might swell.
“A-woo, woo!”
The child, who disliked feeling stuffy, waved his tiny limbs vigorously.
“Huh? What did you say?”
Jeong-woon pretended not to know, feigning ignorance even though he clearly knew why Jeong-hyun was being fussy. Then, mischievously wrinkling his nose, he patted the child’s bottom, which was plump and round from the diaper.
“Woo-ah, ah, woo-woo!”
Jeong-hyun continued his stubborn babble as if refusing to lose. At the unclear pronunciation, Yi-hyun’s expression darkened slightly. Jeong-hyun was slow to speak.
He seemed to understand almost everything said to him, but he hadn’t yet uttered even simple words like ‘daddy’ or ‘mama.’ Jeong-woon said not to worry, but Yi-hyun couldn’t feel at ease.
Was it because he had suffered a lot in the womb? It all felt like his own fault.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Jeong-woon asked with a soft, smiling glance, planting a smacking kiss on Yi-hyun’s forehead.
“I am hungry.”
Yi-hyun stroked the child’s soft cheek and nodded lightly. As if he had been waiting for just those words, Jeong-woon scooped Yi-hyun up into his arms.
“This is dangerous.”
Yi-hyun frowned and hugged Jeong-hyun tightly. Of course, there was no way Jeong-woon would drop him or the child, but when it came to matters involving the child, he was extremely sensitive to even the most trivial things.
“I’ll be careful.”
Jeong-woon replied nonchalantly while stroking Yi-hyun’s lower back. He didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of putting him down willingly. Yi-hyun clicked his tongue softly.Seo Jeong-woon was still overly protective. Though Do Yi-hyun had repeatedly told him not to treat him like a fragile Omega, Seo Jeong-woon shamelessly retorted that he was just treasuring and cherishing him. Giving up quickly, Do Yi-hyun leaned his head against the sturdy shoulder.
It was absurd how he had grown accustomed to Seo Jeong-woon’s unreasonable stubbornness. Soon, Do Yi-hyun rubbed the bridge of his nose against the nape of Seo Jeong-woon’s neck. As he inhaled the fragrant pheromones, his unsettled heart grew calm.
“…Are you trying to seduce me now? Jeong-hyun is here too.”
Seo Jeong-woon scolded in a low, hushed voice. Then, he gently tapped the top of Do Yi-hyun’s head with his chin, careful not to hurt him.
“That’s not it.”
Do Yi-hyun firmly denied it, yet he didn’t lift his face from the soft skin.
“If it’s not, then I’m disappointed.”
Seo Jeong-woon pouted his lips and, while readjusting his hold on Do Yi-hyun, playfully fussed. Whether Seo Jeong-woon was flustered or not, Do Yi-hyun firmly pressed his lips against the straight line of his neck. With just a few kisses, Seo Jeong-woon’s body temperature rose warmly.
“You’re too much, Yi-hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a soft groan and sat Do Yi-hyun down on a dining chair. On the wide table, steaming soybean paste soup and various side dishes were neatly arranged. It seemed he had finished preparing breakfast and had come to wake him.
“Jeong-hyun should sit in his own seat too.”
Seo Jeong-woon skillfully plucked the child from Do Yi-hyun’s embrace.
“Ooh, ooh!”
“Yes, yes.”
Though Jeong-hyun clenched his little fists in a pout, Seo Jeong-woon leisurely tied a bib around the child’s neck. Do Yi-hyun brushed off his empty arms and chest. As the warmth of the two left him, he couldn’t help but feel regretful.
“I’ll hold you plenty later. Let’s eat first.”
Seo Jeong-woon brought over the homemade baby food and smiled slyly. Even with such a trivial gesture, he managed to see right through Do Yi-hyun’s thoughts.
“Ah, ah!”
As soon as Jeong-hyun saw the baby food, he opened his tiny mouth like a baby bird, as if he had never thrown a tantrum. Though they had worried he might be fussy due to morning sickness, Jeong-hyun eagerly ate whatever was given to him. He didn’t seem to dislike anything.
‘Who does he take after?’
The corners of Do Yi-hyun’s mouth relaxed. It was true that having a child gave him more reasons to smile. Soon, Do Yi-hyun also picked up his spoon.
Even during times when they were distant, Seo Jeong-woon had always made sure Do Yi-hyun ate his meals on time, and now he personally prepared almost every meal for him. If you thought about it, he seemed born to be a chef.
“Ah, ah.”
Seo Jeong-woon watched Do Yi-hyun and Jeong-hyun contentedly, then suddenly parted his rosy lips.
“Hurry up.”
When Do Yi-hyun simply stared blankly, Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head and urged. It was a playful request to be fed. Even while doing this, he skillfully managed to feed Jeong-hyun his baby food without missing a beat.
‘What a pointless thing to do.’
Do Yi-hyun twisted his lips slightly. Feeding him a bite was something he could do anytime. The problem was that, judging by Seo Jeong-woon’s recent behavior, it was clear it wouldn’t end with just one or two times.
Contrary to his public image, Seo Jeong-woon had a subtly mischievous side. However, for the past couple of months, Do Yi-hyun had felt an indescribable sense of dissonance. It seemed less like Seo Jeong-woon was teasing him because he found his reactions amusing and more like he was acting spoiled.
A sturdy Alpha well past thirty acting spoiled. It was a combination that didn’t quite fit, but perhaps because of Seo Jeong-woon’s uniquely easygoing personality, it didn’t feel particularly out of place. Still, finding his spoiled behavior cute and actually indulging it were two different matters.
“Wait quietly.”
Instead of granting Seo Jeong-woon’s request, Do Yi-hyun indifferently kissed his cheek. It was a casual yet affectionate touch.
“Haha, hahaha.”
Seo Jeong-woon laughed so hard his shoulders shook, as if something was incredibly amusing.
“Ah-uh, ooh!”
Jeong-hyun, his eyes wide open, banged his tiny attached table.
“Sorry.”
Seo Jeong-woon brightly apologized and placed the soft spoon into the child’s mouth. Even though it was a sight he saw every day, Do Yi-hyun couldn’t take his eyes off Jeong-hyun. The plump, protruding cheeks and the adorably moving lips were endearing.
“If I wait quietly, will I get a reward? Will you bite me?”
Seo Jeong-woon rubbed his forehead against Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder, subtly revealing his true intentions. Just once, Do Yi-hyun had lost his senses in the euphoria of Seo Jeong-woon becoming his Alpha and bit his cheek. Inexplicably, ever since then, Seo Jeong-woon occasionally begged Do Yi-hyun to bite his cheek or neck.
“There won’t be a next time. Unless I’ve lost my mind…”
Do Yi-hyun, unusually, let his words trail off and shuddered. Remembering Seo Jeong-woon attending an important meeting with a bruise on his cheek still made his head ache. He swore he would never leave bite marks in such conspicuous places again.
If he made another mistake, there was no telling what kind of trouble Seo Jeong-woon might cause.
“Is that so?”
Seo Jeong-woon gave a sly sidelong glance. Beyond the radiant smile, his differently shaded grayish-brown eyes flashed dangerously. It seemed he had unintentionally fueled Seo Jeong-woon’s competitive spirit.
Do Yi-hyun shook his head vigorously. After finishing his meal, Do Yi-hyun sat on the sofa and patted the child’s back. It was his favorite time of day.
“Ah-oooh, ah, ooh-ah.”
Jeong-hyun, seemingly in a good mood, babbled away while tightly clutching Do Yi-hyun’s clothes. Later, when he looked in the mirror, tiny handprints would be left here and there. The sweet baby scent, the small frame that fit perfectly in his arms, the ticklish breathing sounds, and the childishly high body temperature.
Even the lovely appearance and innocent smile that were the spitting image of Seo Jeong-woon. Holding Jeong-hyun, an indescribable emotion welled up from deep within his chest like a fountain. It was a feeling similar to, yet distinct from, what he felt when looking at Seo Jeong-woon.
‘I want to protect you.’
Do Yi-hyun carefully kissed the child’s forehead. Though it felt a bit awkward, he was imitating Seo Jeong-woon’s habit of frequently planting lip prints on his or Jeong-hyun’s forehead and grinning. His desire to shower the child with affection was immense, but it didn’t come as easily as he thought.
It was likely due to the influence of having lived for so long without revealing his inner feelings. In contrast, Seo Jeong-woon was sometimes excessively expressive with his affection. It was only natural that Do Yi-hyun gradually, albeit clumsily, began to mimic him.Seo Jeong-woon could discern Do Yi-hyun’s intentions from a single glance, but Jeong-hyun was still a child who knew nothing. Seo Jeong-woon would watch Do Yi-hyun’s efforts with delight, then playfully tease him, asking for a kiss just the same.
‘…This is troubling.’
A crack appeared in Do Yi-hyun’s previously calm expression. It had only been an hour since he woke up, yet a wave of drowsiness was already crashing over him. Ever since receiving the trait treatment, his body no longer felt like his own.
“Ah-woo!”
Jeong-hyun wriggled and moved without rest. It was still too early for his nap, so his pitch-black eyes, resembling Do Yi-hyun’s, were wide awake and sparkling. Do Yi-hyun slowly pushed himself up.
He intended to go to the child’s room and play with toys. If he sat still, he felt he might fall asleep without even realizing it. Having Seo Jeong-woon there meant there was no need to worry, but today, he wanted to spend even one more minute with the child.
“Ugh…!”
Suddenly, a tingling numbness shot up his spine. Do Yi-hyun gritted his teeth and hunched his upper body. At his feet, the thick scent of figs surged and swirled.
Even as his body trembled uncontrollably, Do Yi-hyun carefully readjusted his hold on Jeong-hyun. Thanks to Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones, his Omega traits had stabilized significantly, but the phenomenon of pheromones sporadically gushing forth as if he were going into heat still persisted even after giving birth. On the contrary, as time passed, the frequency only increased.
On days when his condition was poor, the symptoms could occur nearly ten times a day. Now, even absorbing Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones through his mucous membranes was of little use. After numerous tests, the doctor diagnosed it as a side effect of not releasing pheromones over a long period.
Since the symptoms had worsened to a point where daily life was nearly impossible, Do Yi-hyun had no choice but to take sick leave from the company and focus on treatment for a while. Though it was regrettable that his return to work would be delayed, he felt no impatience. After all, he now had something far more precious than work.
“Oo, oo?”
The child blinked his large eyes. Seeing Do Yi-hyun, who had been composed, suddenly grimace seemed to make him a little uneasy. Do Yi-hyun forced the corners of his mouth upward and gently stroked the child’s round head.
It was fortunate that Jeong-hyun was not yet affected by pheromones, as secondary sexual characteristics hadn’t developed.
“It’s okay. It’s nothing serious.”
Do Yi-hyun reassured Jeong-hyun in a calm tone, then lowered his head to meet the child’s eyes. Even in that brief moment, Do Yi-hyun meticulously examined every tiny feature of the child’s face.
“Hoo.”
Do Yi-hyun took a deep breath. He tried to suppress the wildly rampaging pheromones, but they refused to obey. The Omega’s pheromones, filling the living room, swirled slowly around Do Yi-hyun like lava.
It felt as if they might violently explode at the slightest lapse in control. This was distinctly different from the sporadic pheromone surges he had experienced until now. It was languid yet intense.
‘It feels unfamiliar.’
Do Yi-hyun gritted his teeth. His throat felt parched.
“It seems it’s about to start. Sooner than expected.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had approached from behind the sofa without notice, whispered as he embraced Do Yi-hyun. The hand caressing the nape of Do Yi-hyun’s neck felt strangely provocative.
“…It seems so.”
Do Yi-hyun hung his head low and swallowed dryly. The viscous scent of fig pheromones clung to Seo Jeong-woon as if they had been waiting. This was a precursor, a sign that heat was about to begin.