By Zephyria 
How much time had passed? By the time the moon visible through the window had disappeared toward a higher point, the sound of Young-min’s sobbing on Jeong-min’s chest had turned into steady breathing.
Jeong-min laid Young-min flat on his back and stood up, thinking of having a glass of water, when the phone on the desk rang. Fearing he would wake Young-min, he pressed the call button without even looking at the screen.
“Who is…”
─ Sunbae.
What a surprise. How was it that this guy’s voice was unforgettable? Jeong-min sighed and checked the clock. 1 AM…
“Kim Ju-hwan, are you crazy? Calling at this hour—”
─ That’s my line.
Seeing this bastard use casual speech again, he must be offended by something. Fearing his voice would get louder, Jeong-min quietly left the room and headed for the balcony.
“What do you mean by that?”
─ Did you block my number?
Jeong-min snapped awake at those words. Come to think of it, he had blocked Kim Ju-hwan’s number long ago. But—why was the call possible now? Jeong-min quickly looked at the screen. It was an unknown number.
─ I guess it was true.
What? Was he playing a prank?
─ You wouldn’t answer calls, and you wouldn’t read my messages, so I wondered. I see.
His voice was sinking. This wasn’t good. When Kim Ju-hwan was truly angry, there was no telling what he would do. Even so, Jeong-min didn’t feel like apologizing. So, Jeong-min chose silence. Over the receiver, he could hear the sound of tapping—tapping on a table.
─ Well, whatever. Sunbae, where are you right now?
Is he just letting it go?
“I’m… at home.”
─ Can we meet for a moment?
“Why? Is it urgent? If not, let’s meet tomorrow.”
─ As if you’d actually meet me tomorrow. Especially after blocking me.
“Kim Ju-hwan. I’ve been listening, but your speech is getting shorter and shorter.”
─ It’s not like this is the first or second time, so what are you talking about? Didn’t you block me knowing I’m a son of a bitch?
Seeing him keep emphasizing the word ‘block,’ he must have been properly triggered.
─ Sunbae, why don’t you give me an excuse? That way I’ll feel better.
He had nothing to say. And he didn’t want to. Jeong-min decided he should block this number too.
─ ……
The silence felt heavy over the phone. Jeong-min also remained silent before saying, “I’m hanging up,” and ended the call first.
The silence at the end had lingered a bit. He wondered if something was wrong, but if it were urgent, he would have thrown a bigger fit; since he didn’t, he decided not to worry about it. As he was about to go back into the room, his phone rang. The caller was Su-han.
“Yes, Su-han hyung.”
─ Oh? You picked up? You weren’t sleeping?
“If you think I’m sleeping, you shouldn’t call at this hour.”
─ So cold… By any chance, can you come out for a bit?
“What? Come out? Now…? Where are you?”
─ In front of your house.
“What? No, why? Didn’t you go home?”
─ I stopped by because I thought of you. You can just stay asleep. I’m not saying you have to come out. I’ll head back in about ten minutes anyway. The choice is yours.
With that, Su-han hung up. Jeong-min was speechless. While wondering what on earth this man was trying to do, he let out a hollow laugh as he found himself instinctively gathering his clothes and preparing to go outside.
“How childish.”
Closing the door carefully so as not to wake Young-min, Jeong-min went down to the first floor and stepped outside, again being cautious not to wake his parents. Su-han was standing in front of the large main gate, looking pitifully lonely.
“You look like a thief.”
As Jeong-min grumbled and opened the gate, Su-han beamed and pulled him into an embrace.
“Let go. What is this, in the middle of the night?”
Despite the protests, Jeong-min didn’t push Su-han away; instead, he adjusted his posture to hold him tighter. To Su-han, Jeong-min seemed so lovely he could die.
“I suddenly missed you.”
“Still, this isn’t right.”
“Jeong-min.”
“What?”
“Can I kiss you?”
“…Of course not. We’re in front of my house.”
“What does it matter? No one is watching.”
“Don’t.”
“…Hmm… I can’t help it. I’ll just do as I please.”
Su-han grabbed Jeong-min’s chin and gave his lips a light, quick peck. When Jeong-min remained still, Su-han gathered his courage to press their lips together again, pushing further the moment he felt a slight opening. Feeling Su-han wanting him so desperately, Jeong-min closed his eyes.
Bit by bit, the heart that had been frozen for so long began to melt. Like a first fetal movement, a thumping—some emotion began to beat, and because it felt unfamiliar yet painful and warm, tears welled up slightly in Jeong-min’s eyes.
Perhaps, if it were this man, he could truly love him even as an Alpha. Shin Jeong-min, the Alpha… ‘me’ as I am….
✽✽✽
RRRRR-
─ The subscriber you have called is unavailable….
Jeong-min sighed and pressed the end-call button. It had already been two days. Neither Su-han nor Su-eun had come to the hospital.
Even when he asked other doctors, they only told him that the two were on leave, without providing a reason. Usually, if the two were off, they would let Jeong-min know or explain the reason later, but now there was no answer at all. Just a consistent, stony silence.
“Haa….”
Seeing that no one was home when he visited Ji Su-han’s house yesterday, they must have gone back to their family home…. What on earth is happening? The Director mentioned he wasn’t feeling well; did his health deteriorate? No. If that were the case, he would have come to this hospital where his primary physician is. Then why…
“Su-han Hyung….”
Jeong-min sent another text to Su-han, not knowing how many it had been now. ‘Please contact me.’ There was nothing more he could do.
But two more days passed after that…. There was no contact from either of them, and they didn’t answer the phone.
With no replies to his messages, Jeong-min’s growing anxiety made it impossible to focus on work, and he spent sleepless nights. He wondered if he should even file a missing persons report. Just as he was contemplating this—
“Doctor Shin!”
Another doctor, a colleague of Ji Su-han, called out to Jeong-min from a distance.
“Ah, yes. Doctor Kim.”
“I heard from the professor earlier that both Su-han and Su-eun have gone to their family home for a while.”
“Did Doctor Ji contact you?”
“I don’t know. I just heard it from someone else. I’m telling you because I thought you’d be worried.”
“Yes…. Thank you.”
It wasn’t a complete resolution, but at least he confirmed that he was safe. As Jeong-min breathed a sigh of relief, a surge of anger rose within him. What on earth did Su-han think of him? Could he not even send a simple message? Just wait until he comes back to work—!
“Sunbae Shin Jeong-min.”
As he walked, huffing and cursing Su-han under his breath, a chilling voice called his name. Jeong-min slowly turned around. As expected, it was Kim Ju-hwan.
“Oh…. It’s been a while.”
“So you actually realize it’s been a while, do you?”
Ju-hwan spoke sarcastically. Normally, Jeong-min would have snapped back, but right now, his mind was entirely focused on Su-han.
“Sunbae.”
“Yeah.”
Ugh, how annoying. When is this kid going to leave?
“Shin Jeong-min.”
“Yeah.”
When I see Su-han Hyung, I’ll tell him we’re breaking up if he makes me worry like this again. I wonder what face he’ll make.
“…Shin. Jeong. Min.”
“Uh-huh.”
His gaze was already elsewhere, his thoughts even further away—seeing Jeong-min respond so half-heartedly, Ju-hwan smiled.
“Sunbae is truly… an interesting person no matter when I see him.”
“Yeah.”
“Covered in Alpha pheromones like this. Why? Does that man say he loves you, an Alpha?”
What?
Startled, Jeong-min looked up. But Ju-hwan was already gone from his sight.
“Kim Ju-hwan….”
He had vanished as if he had never been there. However, Jeong-min could feel his pheromones, which had sunk to a terrifyingly sharp level, proving that he had indeed been right in front of him.
‘Where on earth did he go?’
While he was debating whether to look for Kim Ju-hwan, his phone rang. However, it wasn’t the call he had been waiting for, but one from his mother.
“Yes, Mother.”
─ Jeong-min…. What are we going to do?
─ Mom! Give me the phone!!
“What is it? Did something happen to Young-min?”
─ Jeong-min….
─ Mom! Just tell him!
Young-min’s voice could be heard in the background. Young-min sounded extremely agitated. Finally, he snatched the phone from his mother and screamed.
─ Shin Jeong-min! I heard your fiancée is in some kind of relationship with another Omega?!
Thump—Jeong-min’s heart dropped to the floor.
“What… are you talking about?”
─ What do you mean! You’ve been cheated on in your engagement! You idiot!!
“Wait… I’m coming home now.”
He didn’t remember what was said or how. When he came to his senses, Jeong-min was already at home. His mother, shocked by the news, was repeatedly drinking cold water, and Young-min was beside her, continuing to fume and curse Su-eun.
Jeong-min calmly approached his mother and sat before her. She stroked her son’s face once and then hugged him tightly.
He could tell how shocked she was, but Jeong-min was more curious and urgent about how she had found out. However, thinking it would be difficult to ask his mother, he calmed her down and quietly took Young-min up to the second floor.