By Zephyria 
The research institute was instantly plunged into a dark atmosphere. Shin Young-min, the culprit of all this, lightly brushed it off and left the scene, saying he had a date.
“Wow, this is truly legendary.”
“No, seriously, is he insane? Why even take the test if you’re not going to imprint?”
“What are we going to do about poor Mr. Shin-woo?”
“Honestly, I wanted to hit him once.”
The researchers gathered to curse Young-min, but Jeong-min didn’t mind. In fact, he thought it was a relief that a knife fight hadn’t broken out on the spot. Of course, the one holding that knife would have been him.
“You’re Dr. Shin, right?”
One of the researchers approached and sat opposite Young-min.
“Hello. I’m Kim Ari.”
Greeting Jeong-min with a pretty smile, she introduced herself as one of the researchers who had been caring for Yu Shin-woo since they were in England.
“Actually, I’d heard a lot about Young-min and Jeong-min from Mr. Yu Shin-woo. That you were both truly wonderful younger brothers.”
“Haha…. I suppose you can’t think that anymore.”
“It’s come to that.”
Jeong-min and Ari shared a deep sigh, laughing awkwardly.
“Will Hyung… be okay?”
“He said he wanted to be alone right now, so he’s in the patient room by himself. But just in case, our staff are monitoring his condition from outside the door, so you can rest assured.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Um… Mr. Shin is an Alpha, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I see.”
As if having a suspicion confirmed, Ari looked slightly disappointed.
“Is there some kind of problem with me being an Alpha?”
“Ah, no. It’s not that. It’s just… occasionally, twins have similar pheromones. That’s why. But if you’re an Alpha, there was no possibility from the start.”
Kim Ari apologized. Jeong-min stood up as he accepted the apology. He felt that he shouldn’t be here any longer—especially now that he knew why the researchers had been glancing at him.
He wanted to give them hope, and he wished he could save Shin-woo hyung, but unfortunately, he was an ‘Alpha.’
‘Sunbae, would you like to try a pheromone matching test too?’
He recalled the words Kim Ju-hwan had said before disappearing. It was as if he had known things would turn out this way.
“Ridiculous bastard.”
Even if he took the test… even if he beat the 0.0001% odds and had a high match, two Alphas cannot imprint. That would only make things harder for both of them, wouldn’t it? So, it was better not to plant false hope. Shin-woo hyung was suffering enough. He couldn’t put him through the torture of hope again.
✽✽✽
Jeong-min did not go home even after his shift ended. Young-min was at home, and he felt that if he saw him now, he might pour out harsh words. Instead, he checked into a hotel near the hospital and lay silently on the bed.
His mother called several times, likely worried, but he didn’t answer. Just as he was about to turn off his phone after sending a single text saying he couldn’t come home today due to an emergency patient, a call came through.
It was from Yu Shin-woo. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should answer. He was suddenly afraid, wondering if he even had the right to take this call. But he wanted to. He wanted to hear his voice.
With trembling fingers, Jeong-min pressed the call button.
“Hello…?”
─ …….
There was no answer. Jeong-min gripped the phone tightly and pressed it closer to his ear.
“Shin-woo… Shin-woo hyung.”
─ …….
“Hyung… Shin-woo hyung….”
Please, say something. Please.
─ Jeong-min-ah….
Hearing Shin-woo’s voice, he felt he could finally breathe.
“Hyung, are you okay? Hyung….”
─ …Save me… save me. Please.
But that relief was short-lived; he felt as if his heart had stopped again. Jeong-min bolted upright. With shaking hands, he scrambled to find his wallet. He had to get to where Shin-woo was immediately.
“Are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Where is the doctor? The researchers? Are they not there? Hyung!”
─ Save me….
Ah, Shin-woo wasn’t in physical pain. His heart was aching. His soul was dying, and that was why he was begging to be saved.
A doctor cannot heal this. One must either overcome it alone or, at the very least, have someone by their side. And right now, Shin-woo was looking for Jeong-min. For Jeong-min, there was no reason to refuse. In fact, it was what he wanted more than anything.
Thunder rolled. A sudden downpour, unpredicted by the forecast, began to fall violently. He had no umbrella, and there were no taxis. Knowing he would be drenched to the bone, Jeong-min didn’t hesitate and ran toward the hospital.
The researchers were startled to see Jeong-min. He tried to enter after briefly explaining the situation, but a researcher mentioned that being soaking wet might be bad for Shin-woo, so Jeong-min quickly changed into the clothes they provided.
When he entered the patient room, Jeong-min felt a wave of sadness so profound he wanted to collapse on the spot. Shin-woo hyung was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed and weeping.
He hadn’t expected to see that expression on his hyung’s face again. Again….
“Hyung….”
Jeong-min walked over slowly and embraced him. He hadn’t known he would end up holding him like this again.
“I’m sorry…. I’m so sorry….”
“Jeong-min-ah….”
Shin-woo hugged Jeong-min back.
“What do I do? I don’t know what to do anymore. Today, both my body and mind broke at the same time, so I don’t know if I should keep living like this….”
“What are you talking about? Hyung, you have to live. You have to love and succeed just to show the world why they didn’t choose someone like me. So don’t say such weak things.”
When had he said those words?
‘…Why are you so weak? You’re a strong person. Just because of a breakup… think of how much love you’ll have in the future….’
‘Who would ever love me? I’m just an Alpha in name only. An Alpha with azoospermia…. Even I think… it’s absurd…. I understand why Young-min hates me.’
This situation, so similar to that day, was painful. He thought such a thing would never happen again. But what hurt more was that he couldn’t speak as confidently as he had back then.
Because now, Jeong-min felt that there was nothing he could do for him other than holding him like this.
‘If I awaken as an Omega, I’ll marry you, hyung. I’ll be the one to marry you. I don’t need children. I only need you.’
“It would have been good if it were you…. If you were an Omega… that would have been so good.”
No. This was different from back then. Back then, Shin-woo hadn’t wanted it. Shin-woo hadn’t told Jeong-min to become an Omega. But now, Shin-woo was saying this. Jeong-min snapped awake.
“Hyung….”
Jeong-min looked at Shin-woo’s face. He smiled sadly while stroking Jeong-min’s hair.
“I suppose that’s impossible. I’m sorry. I know how cruel these words are to you, but I can’t help but say them. I’m sorry for being so selfish… I’m sorry. I….”
That’s right. Shin-woo hyung, how could you say something so cruel to me? Knowing that these are the words that would hurt me more than any other words in the world, how could you?
“That’s why….”
At Shin-woo’s low murmur, Jeong-min stared at him with vacant eyes.
“Your pheromones felt exceptionally stabilizing. Look. No matter how many suppressants you took, I can still feel your pheromones. Isn’t it strange?”
Shin-woo buried his nose in the nape of Jeong-min’s neck and inhaled. Jeong-min flinched slightly at the ticklish sensation.
“Your pheromones are fine. Even though they are Alpha pheromones, I don’t feel any repulsion. They don’t choke the life out of me. I thought it was strange. But thanks to Young-min, I’ve come to know the reason. It must be because you two are twins, right?”
‘Occasionally, twins have similar pheromones. That’s why. But if you’re an Alpha, there was no possibility from the start.’
He remembered what the researcher had said. During the day, Jeong-min had thought the same. Since he was an Alpha and their pheromones wouldn’t match, it was an impossible task. But if… if the pheromones did match…, if he could only be of help to him, then he just had to become an Omega.
‘I can provide the drug at any time, so please feel free to tell me. I’ll send you the one distributed in Germany, not the one in Korea.’
‘Right, thank you for saying that.’
‘No, I’m not joking. Any kind of drug Sunbae needs… I can get them all for you. If you want, I can even make them for you.’
The image of Kim Ju-hwan smiling leisurely amidst the sound of loud thunder flashed through his mind.
“Hyung….”
Everything seemed to be flowing exactly as planned, as if this were a trap set by you.
“Yes, Jeong-min-ah.”
But I will gratefully step into that trap.
“Shin-woo hyung….”
I don’t know what it is you want.
“I’ll do it. I’ll… become an Omega, no matter what it takes.”
If I can get what I want, I can give you that much.
“…Jeong-min-ah….”
“I won’t fail this time.”
So, Kim Ju-hwan. You must take responsibility and make me an Omega.