By Zephyria 
Listening blankly to Kim Ju-hwan’s words, Jeong-min soon felt a strange sensation, as if his chest were tingling. He thought that perhaps this was what he had wanted to hear. The anxiety that had dominated his entire body vanished in an instant, and a sense of relief rushed in.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Kim Ju-hwan asked again, sounding anxious.
“Do I have to answer?”
“…You’re cruel. I’ve gone this far, can’t you give me an answer?”
“You’ve already decided everything your own way.”
Yes, Kim Ju-hwan had decided everything arbitrarily on his own. But it was strange. It was worlds apart from what Shin-woo hyung had said earlier. What hyung said only resulted in wounds. Why hadn’t Yu Shin-woo asked for his opinion? He had been filled with questions about whether a future ‘together’ even existed in his plans, but in Kim Ju-hwan’s words, a future where they were together was painted.
It was truly exhausting. A future with this guy. But well, they’ve been together until now, so why not? He found himself exhausted by the fact that he was even thinking this.
“Just let me give birth first… and then do whatever you want.”
Jeong-min said. He believed that even if it wasn’t the answer Kim Ju-hwan wanted, he would understand the meaning implied. Sure enough, he saw Kim Ju-hwan look greatly relieved.
“Right. Let’s give birth first. Safely… healthily. Just think about that, Sunbae.”
Kim Ju-hwan carefully stroked Jeong-min’s arm, then moved his hand to his back and pulled him into an embrace. Every single action was so cautious that Jeong-min also closed his eyes and let himself be pulled in. Through their touching chests, he could feel Kim Ju-hwan’s heartbeat. It was a ‘breath’ that provided stability.
✽✽✽
Once Jeong-min fell asleep, Kim Ju-hwan reached out and stroked his cheek. Then, he slowly lowered his hand and caressed his belly. He hadn’t imagined that pregnancy would happen. He had hoped for it desperately, but he thought such a thing would never occur… He was so happy that he wanted to believe in a god he had never believed in. But at the same time, he was worried about Jeong-min’s health.
The pregnant Alpha he was sponsoring was also suffering a lot right now. Because he was receiving reports that the Alpha’s body was deteriorating day by day, he couldn’t help but worry about Jeong-min. If this child harmed Jeong-min’s body, in his honest heart, it didn’t matter if it wasn’t born. Yes… he only worried about Jeong-min’s body. It didn’t matter who the child’s father was. Those weren’t words spoken just to reassure Jeong-min. He meant it.
“Sunbae, don’t worry.”
Because he would protect him even if he had to mobilize everything he possessed. Hoping that Jeong-min wouldn’t be afraid, wouldn’t be in pain, and would just stay comfortable like this, Kim Ju-hwan stood up. He wanted to stay longer, but there was much to be done. First, he had to build a nest where he could protect Jeong-min.
“I’ll contact you later.”
He kissed Jeong-min’s lips and wrapped his body once with his pheromones. For a pregnant Omega, an Alpha’s pheromones provide stability. In Jeong-min’s case, since he was also an Alpha, he didn’t know if it would apply. Hoping it would help even a little, he gently stroked him with pheromones and left the room.
“Persistent, really.”
Young-min, who had been waiting in front of the door, spoke to Kim Ju-hwan in a fed-up tone. As soon as Kim Ju-hwan saw Young-min, he smiled.
“Isn’t that something you’re not in a position to say, Sunbae?”
“No, from what I see, I can’t even follow your footsteps. To be this obsessed with another Alpha. Is it because you’re an extreme dominance?”
At Young-min’s words, Kim Ju-hwan shrugged.
“Or did you always like Alphas?”
“No way.”
“Yeah, I thought so. You like Jeong-min, not Alphas.”
“Sometimes, Sunbae, you’re good at grasping the core. You’re quite intuitive.”
“If any other bastard had said that, I would have beaten them, but since you’re just that kind of guy, I’ll endure it. But I wonder if Jeong-min knows you’re that kind of guy.”
“He knows.”
“He knows?”
“Yes, Jeong-min Sunbae knows even my most lacking parts. So don’t worry. There’s nothing I’m hiding from Jeong-min Sunbae.”
“Hmm… does Jeong-min know that you’ve been sleeping with his fiancé or people Jeong-min dated?”
At the words Young-min tossed out lightly, Kim Ju-hwan’s relaxed face stiffened instantly. Seeing this, Young-min patted his shoulder.
“Wow, I get to see Kim Ju-hwan look this flustered. Jeong-min must not know. Don’t worry. I won’t tell him.”
Young-min leaned against the wall and laughed.
“You look curious about how I found out… Actually, only that dummy didn’t know. The rumors spread all over this circle. That you’ve been sleeping with people related to Jeong-min. To the point where there were people who intentionally approached Jeong-min to make a connection with you. Of course, I knew before that and cut them all off.”
As expected… he thought it was likely to become a rumor, but strangely, it hadn’t. Young-min had been blocking it. Even if he seemed to live recklessly, Young-min’s sociability and network could not be ignored. Moreover, even if he didn’t seem like it, he cared quite a bit for his twin brother, Jeong-min, so he wouldn’t tolerate bad rumors.
“Well, it seems you, Kim Ju-hwan, were hoping the rumors would spread.”
“I’ve been caught.”
“You thought I wouldn’t know your thoughts, and you tried to make Jeong-min come to you somehow, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. Jeong-min Sunbae has never come to me. It was my wish to make him come to me of his own accord once.”
“You should have told me~ Then I might have granted my beloved Hubae’s wish once.”
“You’re good at lying. You would have pushed Jeong-min Sunbae away from me. Didn’t you just watch because I wasn’t moving?”
“Wow, caught me.”
Young-min laughed. But his eyes weren’t laughing at all. The same went for Kim Ju-hwan.
“I don’t like you. Jeong-min is too good for you.”
“I admit Jeong-min Sunbae is too good.”
“But, I dislike Shin-woo hyung even more. And I didn’t like Jeong-min being foolishly dragged around by Shin-woo hyung.”
Jeong-min had never told Young-min that he was dating Shin-woo. But Young-min knew everything. He knew, but he had just ignored it because his own life was too overwhelming.
“That’s unexpected? I thought you didn’t dislike Shin-woo Sunbae that much.”
As Ju-hwan frowned and looked at Young-min, he clicked his tongue.
“Shin-woo hyung was a good person. When we were young… specifically until high school. But well, it might be because of me, but after we broke up, he became a bit strange… and after he went to America, you could say he changed completely.”
Jeong-min might not know, but Young-min had met Yu Shin-woo separately a couple of times. He hadn’t met him because he wanted to. It was just that Shin-woo happened to be where Young-min was going, and he had no choice but to talk because Shin-woo stopped him. Every time, Shin-woo stopped him, but Young-min had coldly brushed him off. The last time he saw him was then, during the tests at the hospital. At that time, he felt he was being too harsh, but he thought that was the only way to shake off Yu Shin-woo, so it was unavoidable. He just didn’t know that as soon as he shook him off, he would cling to Jeong-min.
“How was I to know that idiot Jeong-min would snap him up so quickly.”
Young-min ruffled his own hair. It was no use regretting it now. It was also his fault for underestimating the depth of that love, even though he had known since long ago that Jeong-min liked Yu Shin-woo.
“So what I’m saying is, even if that guy was born an Alpha, he can’t function as an Alpha, so I wondered if he’d end up being caught by some random guy. Still, I thought you were better than that. So I won’t oppose whether you devour Jeong-min or not. But just one thing, don’t make him hurt. He’s suffered a lot cleaning up after me just because he was born as my brother.”
“You’ve matured?”
“You’re talking back?”
“You’re the one treating me poorly, so what. And stop worrying about Jeong-min Sunbae. I’ll take care of it.”
“Wow… look at that attitude. Is that how you talk to me? No matter what, I’m Shin Jeong-min’s twin, you know?”
“So? What does blood mean. Then again, the reason you’re still alive is probably because you share blood with that person.”
Kim Ju-hwan said with a smile. But there was a chill mixed in that smile, making Young-min shiver. Those words meant that if Young-min weren’t Jeong-min’s brother, he would have been disposed of long ago.
Right. He was this kind of guy. That’s why he remembered warning Jeong-min to be careful not to fall into Kim Ju-hwan’s mouth. Thinking that if Kim Ju-hwan found out he had given such a warning, today would be his funeral, Young-min kept his mouth shut.
“Keep an eye on Jeong-min Sunbae, and if he seems unwell, contact me immediately.”
Watching Kim Ju-hwan disappear after making a bold demand, Young-min sighed and leaned against the wall. Jeong-min’s door remained firmly closed. Well, in the end, life is something one must live for oneself. He’ll handle it. Thinking that he should wash his hands of it before something big happened, Young-min sent his support to Jeong-min and escaped to where the angel he had sired was.