03 – A Familiar First

Eun-soo read the message three times over. It was a simple message, and given the situation, it was only right that he apologize. He didn’t know why he felt so touched and happy.

In the past,

[Eun-soo. What are you doing?]

[We just parted, but I miss you already.]

[Can’t I sleep at your place? If I turn the car around now, I can be there in fifteen minutes.]

[Eun-soo. I’m in a meeting, but I can’t think of anything but you.]

[Your face keeps overlapping with Manager Park’s face.]

[Manager Park’s belly is as big as a mountain.]

[You’d be cute even if you got a belly.]

[Do you have any interest in gaining weight?]

[I’m thinking of making a Yoo Eun-soo AI.]

[It would be great if your voice told me the weather and organized my schedule.]

[I should fire Secretary Jeong and hire Eun-soo AI.]

[-Sparkling eyes emoticon]

[Eun-soo. It’s only 2 o’clock. I have to wait four more hours to see you.]

[Time isn’t moving.]

[Annoyingannoyingannoyingannoying]

[-Volcano exploding from head emoticon]

[Lie and say you have something to report to the director’s office and come play.]

[I bought cookies.]

[There’s the roll cake you like, too.]

[Aren’t you coming?]

[Are you really not coming?]

[-Crying and hitting the ground emoticon]

[Eun-soo. Sleep well.]

[Eun-soo. I love you.]

He used to receive messages like that almost every single day. To be touched by something like this…

But had he not slept until this hour? Why hadn’t he slept when he was in so much pain? Could it be that he had been agonizing over it all this time because he felt sorry for sending me away like that?

…I hope so. I hope you were thinking of me.

As Eun-soo’s lips danced lightly in a smile, Seong-heon, watching from opposite, raised an eyebrow.

“Who is it at this hour?”

“Ah… it’s Do-kwon.”

“Ah….”

Seong-heon nodded as if he had expected as much. Only a lover could be that happy seeing a message arrive in the early morning. It seemed their relationship was still sailing smoothly despite such a major accident.

But wasn’t it strange? No matter how you looked at it, Eun-soo’s current state was not normal. Was Eun-soo wandering alone because Do-kwon was in the hospital? But if it were the Eun-soo he knew, he would be stuck by Do-kwon’s side twenty-four hours a day. He would be taking care of every little thing, holding his hand, and catching snippets of sleep.

Seong-heon stared at Eun-soo, who was smiling foolishly at the message, for a long time. As he did, a streak of mean-spirited mischief reared its head.

He had known Eun-soo much longer. He had known him from the moment he stepped into this company. He felt irritated, as if he had done all the hard work only for someone else to take the prize, wondering how Eun-soo had ended up becoming Do-kwon’s person.

Just as Seong-heon’s eyes narrowed, Eun-soo put his phone away and looked at him.

“But why are you still at the company at this hour, Executive Director?”

“Ah, so you won’t tell me anything, but you’re going to ask me?”

At Seong-heon’s playful remark, Eun-soo’s eyes became like those of a startled rabbit. He waved his hands quickly.

“No, no. You don’t have to tell me if it’s uncomfortable. Really.”

Seeing Eun-soo’s lively reaction, Seong-heon leaned his upper body forward, resting his elbows on both knees. Then, as if sharing a secret, he whispered softly.

“I was stealing company secrets. To sell them to a broker.”

“……What?”

Eun-soo’s small face was clouded with bewilderment. His pitch-black pupils scattered wildly, unable to find their center. Seong-heon stared intently at that with an expressionless face. As if threatening him.

Eun-soo’s fingers fidgeted, not knowing what to do. Watching this, Seong-heon suddenly burst out laughing and clapped his hands.

“It’s a joke. Even if I stole secrets and sold them to a broker, how much would that even be worth? I’ve felt this for a while, but you’re really fun to tease, Eun-soo.”

“Ah… ahhh… why are you like this, Executive Director.”

Eun-soo relaxed his shoulders, which had been hunched up to his earlobes. Seong-heon crinkled the bridge of his nose as if he had successfully pulled one over him.

“I was here because I’m handling matters for the US branch. It’s currently peak business hours over there.”

“Ah….”

“……That’s the official story. The truth is, I haven’t adjusted to the jet lag yet. I get so sleepy I could die as soon as the sun rises. But since I can’t just skip work because the Executive Director wants to sleep, I make up an excuse like that.”

Eun-soo laughed softly at the very realistic explanation. The two chatted for a while, exchanging updates on their lives. As they did, Eun-soo’s eyelids grew hazy. It was understandable, as a quick glance at the time showed it was 3 AM.

Fighting through the subway since morning, catching up on piled-up work after arriving at the office, studying pregnancy and childcare after leaving work, lying down to sleep, then taking a taxi to the hospital upon hearing Do-kwon had collapsed, then going to Do-kwon’s house by car only to be kicked out and wander the night streets, and finally ending up here—it would be stranger if he weren’t sleepy.

Just as Eun-soo’s head was about to drop, Seong-heon crossed his legs the other way and let out a hum from his throat. Then, he tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger.

“But the more I think about it, the more surprising it is.”

“……What is?”

“That you and Do-kwon became so deeply involved.”

“Uh… is that surprising?”

“Do-kwon used to hate Omegas immensely.”

“……Do-kwon did? Omegas?”

Do-kwon and Omegas. At a combination he couldn’t help but be concerned about, Eun-soo snapped awake as if splashed with cold water. At Eun-soo’s captivated gaze, Seong-heon deliberately rolled his eyes.

“No, I wonder if ‘hate’ is the right word…. ‘Loathing’ or ‘hatred’ might be more appropriate.”

“……Why, why? Why did he hate them?”

“A lot happened.”

“What happened?”

Eun-soo pressed for details. His back, which had been leaning languidly against the sofa, stiffened. His upper body tilted toward Seong-heon as if being pulled in.

“I wonder if I should say this…. Well, it’s an old story. Since he loves you enough to give his life for you now that you’re an Omega, it should be fine.”

Seong-heon smiled brightly and began a long story.

By the time the dim morning arrived, Eun-soo left the company. He left the box at the office. Thus, with only his phone and wallet on him, his limbs felt heavy and sagging.

Entering the subway station, Eun-soo slumped down onto a bench. He stared blankly at the electronic board indicating the subway was three stops away. He felt like he wanted the slowly moving subway icon to move faster, yet at the same time, since he didn’t want to get up from the bench, he wanted it to move as slowly as possible.

“Haa….”

Eun-soo let out a long sigh and leaned his back against the cold wall. His mind was complicated. His heart was unsettled by the unexpected story heard in an unexpected situation.

He hadn’t known Do-kwon had such a past. After hearing about his stale past, he understood why Do-kwon had asked if he was an Omega as soon as he opened his eyes, why he had frowned saying the smell was nauseating, and why he had sneered asking if it was money he wanted.

Eun-soo slowly closed his eyes. It had been a day where both his body and mind were excessively exhausted. But to think he had to wash up as soon as he got home and then head out again. It was miserable.

Just then, the alarm announcing the arrival of the subway echoed loudly through the station. Eun-soo distorted his eyes in pain.

* * *

Eun-soo caught a cold. It was a natural result of wandering the night streets with a frail body and letting cold sweat dry in the chilly wind.

Despite that, Eun-soo forced himself to go to work. This society was not generous enough to allow sick leave for a mere cold. Since it hadn’t been long since his vacation ended, being sick again would leave a bad impression.

He wished he could at least take medicine. But because he was pregnant, he couldn’t just take any medicine. He didn’t even have time to stop by the OB-GYN. He simply hoped to get well soon by diligently forcing himself to eat three meals a day.

Even during lunch, he didn’t use the cafeteria with his team members but went alone to a porridge shop near the company and finished a whole bowl. There was no way he had an appetite, but he had to eat something. For the baby in his womb.

Eun-soo lived busily, pulling together his limp body. As he did, the weekend approached in a stride.

He agreed to meet Do-kwon at a traditional Korean restaurant. It was a place where private conversation was possible as it was enclosed on all sides, quiet, easy on the digestion, and had many nutrients good for a pregnant Eun-soo.

Well, setting that aside, it was a restaurant he and Do-kwon had visited often because the food tasted good. Secretary Jeong had likely given him a hint.

Do-kwon had sent a message as if scheduling a business appointment:

[Harim-jeong, Cheongdam-dong.

Saturday the 17th.

12:00 PM.

Reservation: Seo Do-kwon.]

Seeing this, Eun-soo smiled for a moment, recalling the time before they started dating.

Eun-soo came out wearing a soft-textured shirt layered with a thick sweatshirt. He arrived at the restaurant around 11:40. Having used the subway, it had become a habit to leave with plenty of time. This was because, unlike a car, things he couldn’t control happened frequently.

Actually, even without that, he had come to match ‘Do-kwon time’ because Do-kwon always arrived 15 minutes early.

Five minutes passed. Fifteen minutes before the appointment time, Do-kwon had not arrived.

Eun-soo wore a bittersweet smile. It seemed the thirty-year-old Do-kwon no longer had a separate ‘Do-kwon time.’

Do-kwon appeared exactly three minutes before 12 o’clock. His hair was half-styled up, and he wore a burgundy knit with black suit pants, which suited him very well.

“You came early.”

Do-kwon said as he sat opposite Eun-soo. Without even looking at Eun-soo, he tried to press the call bell. Eun-soo quickly spoke up.

“I already ordered.”

“…….”

Do-kwon’s brow furrowed as if dissatisfied. He seemed to dislike that Eun-soo had ordered on his own without asking. It was entirely understandable. Do-kwon had a very picky palate and there were many foods he didn’t prefer.

However, Eun-soo knew Do-kwon’s tastes inside and out. They had met every day for two years, and there were many days they had eaten all three meals together; it would be stranger not to know.

Furthermore, this was a place they had visited several times a month. He was even acquainted with the owner. The order was completed just by Eun-soo smiling and greeting them. Ah, he had also been told that some seasonal ingredients had come in which Do-kwon would like.

“You don’t have to worry. You’ll like it.”

“……Have I been here before?”

“Yes. We came often. It’s not that far from the company, and the food is delicious.”

“I suppose that’s why Secretary Jeong made the reservation here.”

“Secretary Jeong always has great sense.”

Eun-soo smiled, sipping his water. Secretary Jeong was a subordinate suffering under Do-kwon, but at the same time, he was a great helper in their relationship.

Just as Eun-soo was thinking he should send a thank-you message to Secretary Jeong after the meal, Do-kwon stared intently at him. Then, as he poured water into his own glass, he spoke.

“I think your voice has changed.”

“Ah…. I guess I’m a bit tired since it’s been a while since I worked. Commuting by subway is also quite exhausting.”

Eun-soo stroked his neck with his hand. The cold hadn’t fully healed yet. Fortunately, he wasn’t coughing, but his throat felt scratchy, and a mild fever gently tickled his veins.

Do-kwon clicked his tongue lightly. It had only been four days since he last saw him, but Eun-soo had grown thinner in that short time. It was visible to the eye. No, how on earth was he managing his health while being pregnant? He said he had plenty of money. Did he simply have no interest in eating?

“Can you still not ride in a car?”

“No. Still can’t.”

“Then move your house next to the company. Gangnam is crawling with officetels. Or stay at a hotel until the trauma fades.”

It was a method that was easy to say but difficult to execute. However, Do-kwon was a man who could execute things easily. Though he had no memory of it, wasn’t the child Eun-soo was carrying his? If Eun-soo wanted it, Do-kwon was willing to do whatever it took, whether it was booking a hotel or buying a house.

Thinking about it, a hotel seemed better. They provided cleaning services, twenty-four-hour room service meant he wouldn’t go hungry, and if he happened to get sick or injured, he could get help immediately. As Do-kwon mentally listed the hotels around the company,

“Hmm… I thought about that too.”

Eun-soo disrupted the train of thought.

“And?”

“But then I’d hate it because Do-kwon’s scent wouldn’t be there.”

“…What?”

“My house is permeated with Do-kwon’s scent everywhere. But if I move, it’ll just be a new house. I don’t want that. It’s hard for me to sleep without Do-kwon’s scent now.”

Eun-soo spoke these embarrassing words with utter confidence, in a flat voice. Do-kwon blinked rapidly, repeating the words in his head, wondering if he had misheard.

The ‘Do-kwon’ he was referring to must be him, so how could he say such a thing with such an indifferent face?

“Aren’t you embarrassed to say things like that?”

“I used to be, but Do-kwon changed me into this.”

“I did? You?”

“Yes. You used to love it when I said things like this. You’d smile foolishly like a child.”

If the man sitting in front of him now were the Do-kwon of the past, he probably would have made a fuss, saying he’d saturate the new place with his scent and that he’d commute from there for the time being.

He might have even packed a large suitcase full of clothes and daily necessities, preparing in earnest to merge their households.

“….”

Do-kwon didn’t answer. Just then, a knock sounded. It seemed the ordered food had arrived. Eun-soo answered with a low “Yes.” Soon, two familiar-looking clerks entered and neatly laid out the food.

Do-kwon and Eun-soo shared a moment of silence.

Before long, the table was full, and the clerks bowed and left. Once again, only Eun-soo and Do-kwon remained.

Eun-soo picked up his chopsticks. Do-kwon scanned the food slowly. He looked like a wild beast wary of something. As if to show him, Eun-soo popped a piece of zucchini pancake into his mouth. After chewing and swallowing it, he pushed the plate of grilled deodeok toward Do-kwon.

“This is something you like. You used to refill it twice every time you came here. Try some.”

Do-kwon reluctantly picked up his chopsticks. Watching him, Eun-soo’s lips parted.

“And there’s something I’ve wanted to say for a while.”

“Yes.”

“I am not ‘that person’ (geujjok).”

“…What?”

Do-kwon, who was moving the grilled deodeok to his side plate, twitched his eyelids. It was a statement that was hard to understand at once. Not ‘that person’? Then was he ‘this person’? He had no idea what Eun-soo was talking about.

Eun-soo laughed silently at Do-kwon’s bizarrely twisted expression.

“I’m not ‘that person,’ I’m Yoo Eun-soo.”

“….”

“Yoo Eun-soo. Eun-soo-ssi. Eun-soo-ya. You can call me whatever you want, just call me by my name.”

Eun-soo kindly provided three examples. Being called ‘Eun-soo-ya’ like before was the best, but others were fine too. Anything was far better than ‘that person.’

Having thrown the words out there, Eun-soo continued his meal bit by bit. It had been a very long time since he’d eaten with Do-kwon, his heart felt peaceful from the subtle scent wafting from him, and the food was delicious. He felt like he could polish off two bowls of rice.

“….”

Without a word, Do-kwon poked the deodeok with his chopsticks. Even though it had already been tenderized, it seemed insufficient. Just as Eun-soo clicked his tongue and delivered a new piece of grilled deodeok to his plate—

“Fine. Yoo Eun-soo-ssi.”

“….”

Eun-soo accidentally dropped the grilled deodeok. Fortunately, it didn’t fall on the table but landed on Do-kwon’s plate. Do-kwon picked it up and put it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, his eyebrows twitched. From then on, he started eating various things well.

Eun-soo gazed blankly at Do-kwon.

Why? Why did he suddenly become nice? Before, he was like a high schooler going through puberty. Why did he suddenly mature?

The way he apologized to him, the way he asked to eat together first, and even now.

“Today’s Do-kwon… is quite different from before,” Eun-soo murmured, slowly withdrawing his hand.

“In a good way?” Do-kwon asked back while cutting the braised tofu with his chopsticks. There was no wasted movement in the hand moving the chopsticks. The way his knuckles moved was strangely sexy.

“Yes. In a good way.”

Eun-soo nodded while staring at Do-kwon’s hand. In response, Do-kwon placed a fresh piece of tofu on Eun-soo’s plate instead of the one he was cutting. He seemed to have mistaken Eun-soo’s intense gaze for a desire to eat the tofu.

“I’ve been thinking. About the relationship between me and ‘that person’—no, Yoo Eun-soo-ssi.”

“And? What conclusion did you reach?”

Eun-soo broke the tofu with his spoon. The braised tofu, topped with plenty of sliced pork in a non-spicy seasoning, was delicious. With his cheeks full, Eun-soo immediately scooped some rice.

“The fact that my house is full of Yoo Eun-soo-ssi’s traces, the fact that my parents, who are usually indifferent to others, are head over heels for you, the fact that your name never fails to appear throughout Secretary Jeong’s briefing on the past I’ve forgotten, and the fact that my head feels like it’s splitting every time I face you.”

“…And?”

“It seems we must have been in love.”

“Wow… you’ve realized something incredibly important.”

Eun-soo let out a hollow laugh. He had made it so obvious, and he only realized it now. It was absurd. It was also ridiculous that he said it like Columbus discovering a new continent.

Shaking his head, Eun-soo tried to focus on his meal, but—

“Once I regain my memories, I’ll probably regret the things I’ve done to Yoo Eun-soo-ssi,” Do-kwon said in a low voice.

“Probably. And I’ll probably scold you severely.”

Eun-soo nodded and began to pick the bones out of the grilled yellow croaker. He wasn’t bad with chopsticks, but deboning fish was hard. He wanted to eat a lot. He wanted to eat a huge amount at once. Just as he pressed his lips together in frustration over the slipping chopsticks—

Do-kwon snatched the plate of croaker. Eun-soo’s eyes widened as his food was suddenly stolen.

“So, I intend to make an effort starting now.”

Unexpectedly, Do-kwon personally removed the bones from the croaker. The flesh that had stood like a shield against Eun-soo’s chopsticks melted away easily under Do-kwon’s.

“What kind of effort?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far. You’ll probably have to help me, Yoo Eun-soo-ssi.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Since you’re pregnant, contact me if there’s anything you need. Other than that, if it’s something a lover should do, I will do it.”

Do-kwon placed the neatly cleaned croaker in front of Eun-soo.

Eun-soo stared silently at the exposed white flesh. After finishing the fish, Do-kwon took a sip of water.

“But right now, I don’t know if I love you, I don’t know how to find that feeling, and I don’t know how to express it.”

“….”

“So, Yoo Eun-soo-ssi, please tell me. Demand what you want me to do, and what you want me to stop doing.”

“….”

“Then you won’t have any reason to be upset, and it will be easier for me to adjust as a lover and as the father of the fetus in your womb, wouldn’t it?”

Eun-soo blinked slowly. Do-kwon was saying he would do his best, but for some reason, it didn’t feel entirely good. It felt like they were drafting a business contract. However, there was no other way. The method Do-kwon was proposing now was the most realistic.

Eun-soo put down his utensils and straightened his back. Then he looked Do-kwon straight in the eye. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Do-kwon also squared his shoulders.

“Then there’s something I want to do,” Eun-soo said.

“Yes,” Do-kwon replied simply. A faint tension tickled his solar plexus. He had no idea what Eun-soo would demand. Just as he clenched his fist hidden under the table, Eun-soo’s lips parted.

“After we eat…”

“Yes.”

“Let’s have coffee too.”

Ah? Do-kwon let out an uncharacteristically foolish exclamation. What? Coffee? Do-kwon forgot to blink as he stared at Eun-soo. Eun-soo still had a determined look in his eyes. Looking at his expression, one would think he had asked for half of his assets.

“…Just that?”

“Yes. Just that.”

Eun-soo nodded firmly. Do-kwon let out a short laugh. He had felt this before, but this Omega was truly unpredictable. At this point, he wondered if that was why he had loved him.

“Fine.”

Do-kwon readily agreed. Eun-soo smiled brightly and scooped up a large piece of fish with his spoon and put it in his mouth.

The salty, chewy flesh was incredibly delicious.

The sun, past noon, shone brightly upon the world. The sunlight of the early spring days was warm. Even when it hit the skin, it wasn’t stinging or unpleasant.

Eun-soo ordered citron tea at the cafe, and Do-kwon ordered an Americano with an extra shot. The two of them took their drinks to go. The reason was simple: Eun-soo wanted to.

Eun-soo and Do-kwon walked slowly through a common street in Seoul. That, too, was what Eun-soo wanted. Do-kwon had agreed, thinking they would walk for ten minutes at most. But thirty minutes had already passed. Do-kwon, who had been granting Eun-soo’s requests without a word, finally spoke up.

“Is it okay to walk this much while pregnant?”

“It’s a stroll, not running, so it’s fine.”

“Still… how about doing something more… productive?”

“Something productive?”

Eun-soo hummed, pretending to think deeply. Do-kwon stood steadfastly, waiting for the ‘productive thing’ he would come up with.

Well… going to buy items good for prenatal education, buying supplies needed for a pregnant person, or going to eat a dessert far more nutritious than citron tea—weren’t there many options?

Eun-soo looked at Do-kwon, who was radiating an aura of ‘I’m in a very bad mood right now,’ and curled the corners of his lips into a smirk. Facing that smile, Do-kwon instinctively took a step back. He had a bad feeling.

Sure enough. Eun-soo suddenly reached out. Do-kwon widened his eyes, wondering if he was about to be slapped, but his hand was caught.

And,

“….”

That was it.

Do-kwon stared silently at their joined hands. Clearly, Eun-soo had grabbed his hand, but because the difference in hand size was so great, it looked as if he were the one holding Eun-soo’s hand.

Eun-soo’s hand was small and warm. He didn’t know if his body temperature was naturally high or if it was because he had been holding the hot citron tea. And it was soft. His hands didn’t seem plump, so it was mysterious how they could be so squishy and smooth.

As Do-kwon couldn’t take his eyes off their entwined hands, Eun-soo thrust his face into his field of vision.

“Something productive.”

He smiled, his eyes curving.

“….”

At the sudden smile, Do-kwon’s breath hitched.

Eun-soo’s smile was like an unexpected bombardment. Thus, Do-kwon had to crumble completely without any preparation.

The smile, brimming with sunlight, was dazzling. Yet, he couldn’t blink.

Just then, a breeze blew, and Eun-soo’s bangs fluttered. A faint scent of shampoo and a sweet pheromone fragrance flowed softly. The moment he inhaled it, his chest tightened.

It felt as if someone had gripped his heart tightly. His solar plexus felt stifled and tight. But it wasn’t bad. Rather, he wished his heart would be squeezed a little more. If asked what kind of idiot thought that, he would have no answer. Because right now, Do-kwon was the very definition of a clueless idiot.

As Do-kwon stood there dazed, Eun-soo stepped closer. Worry shimmered in his clear eyes.

“Are you hurting by any chance?”

“Eh?”

“I asked if your head hurts.”

“…No.”

Do-kwon answered in a somewhat lifeless voice.

“Then it’s fine.”

Eun-soo smiled brightly and pulled Do-kwon’s hand. Fortunately, Do-kwon followed without any particular complaint or dissatisfaction.

Eun-soo’s cheeks were filled with excitement.

In truth, he had suggested the walk just to do this—to hold Do-kwon’s hand—but he had struggled to find the right opening.

He had done everything possible with his body. As an Alpha and Omega faithful to their instincts, they had rubbed their flesh together lewdly and messily on the bed.

Yet, he didn’t know why his face felt so hot from a mere bit of skinship like this. Perhaps it was because it had been so long.

Eun-soo’s throat was parched, but he pretended to be fine, walking while staring straight ahead. Do-kwon also walked, staring only at the back of Eun-soo’s round head.

It was a day with beautiful weather.

* * *

Eun-soo decided to meet Do-kwon according to Do-kwon’s schedule. Do-kwon was busy filling the four-year gap, and Eun-soo only had to live through similar days that felt like a spinning hamster wheel.

In fact, even if something happened to Eun-soo, the decision on their meetings had to be Do-kwon’s because Do-kwon had to be ready.

The two met quite consistently. At first, they met twice a week, then three times, and now it had become four.

They met to eat together, drink tea, go shopping, and do the usual things one does on a date. No particularly memorable conversations took place, but because Eun-soo consistently held Do-kwon’s hand during those meetings, Do-kwon now sometimes held his hand first.

And Do-kwon, who used to notify him of the meeting place in advance, like when he reserved the Korean restaurant, eventually changed to—

[What are you doing after work tomorrow?]

[Let’s have dinner together.]

And then, the next time—

[Let’s meet today.]

[I’ll go to your company.]

And lately—

[I’m in the company lobby.]

Eun-soo welcomed this change. It felt as if he were gradually returning to the Do-kwon of the past.

‘See, whether his brain is broken or not, this man loves me,’ he boasted to himself. It felt as if the doctor’s words—that love is also a function of the brain—had been proven to be nonsense, and he giggled, feeling as if he had won against those annoying doctors.

6 o’clock. It was time to leave work. Eun-soo, who had finished his tasks long ago, jumped up. After quickly saying goodbye to his team members, he went down to the lobby. More accurately, to the emergency stairs in the corner of the lobby.

As he pushed open the heavy iron door, a familiar back came into view. Broad shoulders, a wide back, and a graceful line subtly revealed from the shoulder blades to the waist. And pheromones that filled the fairly spacious emergency exit.

It was Do-kwon.

Even after coming to the company, Do-kwon had to hide himself like this. Of course, walking around wasn’t the problem, but officially, he was still recovering from the accident. Moreover, it would be a disaster if anyone found out that Do-kwon was strange.

That’s why Eun-soo had suggested meeting somewhere slightly away from the company, but Do-kwon had refused. When asked why, he simply said it felt ‘unsettling.’ His stubbornness over strange things was the same then as it was now.

Thanks to that, the two of them had been meeting in secret lately, as if they were a famous celebrity couple.

“I’m here.”

Eun-soo lightly grabbed Do-kwon’s hand.

“You’re here?”

Do-kwon looked down at Yoo Eun-soo, who wore a barely visible smile. After locking eyes for a moment, Eun-soo let go of his hand. Do-kwon’s shoulders flinched. Just as he parted his lips to say something—

“What should we do today?”

Eun-soo asked while fastening the jacket button he had missed in his rush to get out.

“…Whatever Yoo Eun-soo-ssi wants to do.”

Lightly licking his lower lip, Do-kwon helped Eun-soo fasten his button.

Accustomed to Do-kwon’s touch, Eun-soo let out a soft moan. Then, he remembered what his team members had said during lunch today. They said a new series of a famous hero movie had been released. It was a series that both Eun-soo and Do-kwon used to watch.

“Hmm… shall we go see a movie after dinner? I heard Maskman 3 was released.”

“3? Not 2?”

“….”

At the unexpected reaction, Eun-soo let out a short sigh. Four years ago, the second one must not have been out yet. To think he had forgotten even that.

Eun-soo wrinkled his nose. Then seeing a movie was out of the question, and as always, they would probably just eat, have a cup of tea, and part ways.

“Then just…”

“We can just watch it together.”

“Eh?”

“Come to my house and watch it with me. And we can go see the next part tomorrow.”

Do-kwon buttoned up Eun-soo’s coat completely and took his hand in his. Eun-soo scratched his cheek with an ambiguous expression.

“……Do-kwon’s house?”

“Why? You don’t want to?”

“No…… it’s not that I don’t want to……. But what if you get sick again?”

Eun-soo was worried. He had already been thinking that they were meeting too often lately. He had said that twice a week would be good, but they were meeting four days a week……. While it wasn’t a bad thing for him, he was genuinely concerned that Do-kwon might have another seizure.

“I won’t be sick.”

But Do-kwon cut Eun-soo’s worries short.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I haven’t been sick once while meeting you for several weeks, so I won’t be sick anymore.”

Do-kwon’s voice was full of conviction. However, Eun-soo’s eyelids, heavy with worry, showed no sign of lightening. At this, Do-kwon quickly pulled him along by the hand.

Since it was a 15-minute walk from here to his house, there was no need to take a car, making it a very good ‘date’ spot. It was almost a pity he hadn’t realized it until now.

Seeing Do-kwon looking somewhat excited, Eun-soo reluctantly started walking.

It was the first time in a full month that he was visiting Do-kwon’s house. It was still clean, and still luxurious.

Unlike when he had come before, Eun-soo entered the house hesitantly. He glanced at Do-kwon while taking off his shoes, looked at Do-kwon while taking off his coat, and looked at Do-kwon while drinking water.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Do-kwon asked as he opened the refrigerator door.

“Because I’m worried you’ll collapse.”

Sitting on a dining chair, Eun-soo answered while tracing the floor with his toes.

“I told you, I won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

A hint of irritation seeped into Eun-soo’s eyes. It wasn’t something that could be asserted so definitively. Do people who suddenly collapse do so knowing they are about to? The body isn’t that kind.

If Do-kwon collapsed in front of him, the shock would be immense. Even now, whenever he lay down to sleep, images of Do-kwon glaring at him while pleading in pain, Do-kwon with a nosebleed, and Do-kwon collapsing while clutching his head flickered before his eyes.

Seeing Eun-soo’s pouting face, Do-kwon roughly closed the refrigerator door and approached. He lightly cupped Eun-soo’s cheeks with his large hands. Then, he spoke clearly in a low voice.

“I have no headache. If I feel like I’m going to be sick, I’ll tell you in advance.”

“…….”

“And no matter how sick I am, I won’t kick Yoo Eun-soo out like last time. Don’t worry.”

“……That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“I get it, I get it.”

Do-kwon chuckled softly and straightened his bent upper body. He then picked up the cardigan he had draped over the chair.

“There’s nothing to eat at home. Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll go buy it.”

“I don’t know. Nothing comes to mind.”

“Then I’ll buy everything that catches my eye. I won’t let you get up from there until you’ve eaten it all.”

It was a rather scary threat. This was how Do-kwon used to be. He would look displeased when Eun-soo just nibbled on snacks like cookies instead of eating a meal, then take him to a restaurant and warn him that he couldn’t go home until he finished everything.

“Hmm, then…… I want tteokbokki.”

“Tteok…… bokki?”

Do-kwon’s eyebrows twisted crookedly. He thought he could provide anything. The completely unexpected menu was baffling.

“Yes.”

Eun-soo nodded. Do-kwon shook his head with a stiff face.

“No. Isn’t that food with terrible nutritional value? Carbohydrates, sugar……. It’s not good for the baby either.”

“I can just add sausages to the tteokbokki. And fried squid. Then the protein is covered. I want to eat gimbap too. There are vegetables in that, so it’s fine. And cheese sticks. Those are fats.”

“Ha…….”

Do-kwon let out a hollow laugh, as if it were absurd.

On the other hand, Eun-soo kept giggling, seemingly delighted. He hadn’t thought about being hungry until a moment ago, but after listing the menu, he suddenly felt famished.

Eun-soo dangled his feet. Tteokbokki, tteokbokki, tteokbokki. With extra cheese. As he looked up at Do-kwon, Do-kwon still had a stubborn look on his face.

“Then let’s have a Korean meal first, and eat tteokbokki for dessert.”

“Unfortunately, my stomach isn’t wide enough to accommodate all of that.”

“…….”

Do-kwon’s eyes narrowed in disapproval. It was just as Eun-soo looked at him with a smirk. Bzzzz, the phone inside Eun-soo’s jacket vibrated violently. Eun-soo reached for the phone.

It was Myeong-hui, Do-kwon’s mother.

Showing the caller to Do-kwon, Eun-soo swiped the call button.

“Yes, Mother.”

Eun-soo. Are you at home?

“Uh…… no.”

Then where are you? I was going to have my secretary bring some dinner.

“…….”

Eun-soo bit his lip and looked up at Do-kwon standing in front of him. Do-kwon tilted his head. His expression seemed to ask if there was a problem. Eun-soo answered with a faint smile.

“I’m at…… Do-kwon’s house.”

……Do-kwon’s?

Yes. Do-kwon’s. Eun-soo nodded awkwardly. It wasn’t as if they were meeting in secret, nor were they doing anything embarrassing, and it was a place he used to visit frequently in the past, so he didn’t know why he felt so shy.

…….

Myeong-hui didn’t say anything for a moment. Considering the time when the two of them were as cold as ice, it was understandable that her current situation seemed strange. Just as Eun-soo opened his mouth to add an explanation, Myeong-hui beat him to it.

Oh my, oh my, oh my. Yes, yes. That’s good, that’s very good. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? Then I’ll send it to Do-kwon’s house.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Is there anything specific you want to eat?

Eun-soo, who had almost instinctively answered “No, nothing,” suddenly gave a mischievous grin. Then, he quickly wiped the expression and acted pitiful.

“Ah…… um…… Mother.”

Yes?

“I want to eat tteokbokki.”

Ah, tteokbokki? Right, I’ll buy that and send it too.

“But Do-kwon won’t let me eat it.”

……Why is that crazy brat doing that?

“I know, right? But I’m glad you’re sending it, Mother. Please, make sure to send it.”

Yes, yes. I’ll tell them to be there within 30 minutes.

As the conversation went exactly as planned, Eun-soo smiled brightly and said, “Thank you. You’re the only one for me, Mother.”

“Ha…….”

Do-kwon, who had witnessed all of this, let out a hollow laugh. He felt it occasionally, but contrary to his fragile and clear appearance, Eun-soo was sharp and cunning. Of course, being cunning was better than being naive for social life, but the strange discrepancy was sometimes chilling.

Eun-soo tapped Do-kwon’s forearm as he stood there dazed.

“I guess you don’t have to go out to buy food. Shall we watch a movie then?”

Having said that, he trotted over to the living room TV.

Whether Myeong-hui felt a mission to feed Eun-soo every food that existed in the world, she sent all sorts of dishes. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and even tteokbokki. Not one, but two secretaries came, unpacked the piles of food, and left.

It was an amount that Eun-soo probably couldn’t finish even if he stayed at Do-kwon’s house for a whole week.

Eun-soo moved his utensils excitedly. Since they were prepared by Myeong-hui, who wouldn’t have sent just any food, every single dish was eye-openingly delicious. In particular, the tteokbokki and fried foods, wrapped in black plastic bags as if bought from a street stall, were a work of art.

While Eun-soo was preoccupied with the tteokbokki, Do-kwon moved braised short ribs, stir-fried vegetables, and simmered black beans onto Eun-soo’s plate. He then tapped the plate with his chopsticks, urging him to eat.

Eun-soo finished them without any particular complaint. He wasn’t a picky eater to begin with, and since it was for his own body—more accurately, for the baby in his belly—he could eat as much as needed.

After eating heartily and clearing the table, he lined up the desserts. The sensible Myeong-hui had prepared the desserts thoroughly as well.

Eun-soo was thrilled. He loved desserts.

While Do-kwon focused on the hero flying busily across the sky, Eun-soo focused on the cake. The cake, filled generously with large strawberries, was delicious. The strawberries were tart yet sweet, the cream was savory, and the bread was moist and soft.

Munching on that and then drinking warm, bitter tea felt like nothing less than heaven.

Eun-soo finished two slices of cake in one go. It was then, as he picked up a fig-flavored financier from the box, that it happened.

“Do you always eat like that?”

Do-kwon asked. Startled by the sudden voice, Eun-soo shuddered and dropped the financier. After looking sadly at the bread rolling on the floor, Eun-soo glared at Do-kwon.

“You almost made the baby fall out!”

“Ah…… I didn’t know you’d be that surprised. I’m sorry.”

Do-kwon apologized sincerely. He then picked up a new financier and placed it in Eun-soo’s hand. Strangely, Eun-soo’s sharply raised eyebrows relaxed.

Do-kwon learned something new. Contrary to his clear appearance, Eun-soo was cunning, but he had a weakness for desserts. But since that suited Eun-soo so well, Do-kwon almost burst into a silly laugh.

You shouldn’t follow strange old men who say they’ll buy you strawberry cake. I’ll buy you three boxes, so just call me. He thought that a day might come when he would say such things.

“Yes. I always eat like this. It’s partly due to the pregnancy, but I’ve always been this way. But I don’t eat like this every meal. When I’m not thinking about it, I don’t eat at all. When I want to eat, I eat a ton.”

Eun-soo replied while chewing the crisp yet dense financier. Do-kwon took a deep breath, showing his surprise.

“I wondered why Mother sent so much food. I guess there was a reason.”

Do-kwon had a picky palate, but his appetite wasn’t small. With his tall height and plenty of muscle, he ate a lot to match his high basal metabolic rate.

But Eun-soo…… no matter how he looked, his basal metabolic rate didn’t seem high. Moreover, while he wasn’t skin and bones, his forearms, waist, thighs, and neckline were all slender.

It was simply mysterious where all that food went.

While Do-kwon was momentarily dazed, Eun-soo finished one financier and picked up another. Then, he uttered something quite scary.

“Later, when the morning sickness starts and the baby grows a bit more, I’ll probably eat even more, right?”

“Ah……. Yes, I suppose so. I will make thorough preparations.”

Do-kwon spoke in a solemn voice, his eyes narrowing slightly. Eun-soo nodded and praised him for his good attitude. After that, he focused on the desserts again, and Do-kwon continued watching the movie.

About five minutes passed. Suddenly, Eun-soo burst into a childlike giggle. Do-kwon’s gaze naturally drifted toward Eun-soo. As if he had been waiting, Eun-soo began to chatter.

“Something just occurred to me.”

“Yes.”

“When you first tried to seduce me, you bought me tons of delicious food too.”

“……I did?”

Do-kwon looked bewildered. Seduce? Me? Yoo Eun-soo? And with food, of all things? Do-kwon’s eyes twitched at the unbelievable claim.

Eun-soo nodded three times in a row. Meanwhile, his fork fiercely attacked a fudge cake covered in plenty of chocolate.

“Yes. I don’t know how you knew I love eating. You really fed me a lot. Meals, alcohol, desserts—you even sent me home with all sorts of things when we parted.”

“Ha…….”

“But the funny thing is, I actually fell for it.”

“…….”

“Eating delicious things makes you feel good, right? Because I felt good, you, sitting in front of me, looked ve-ry cool, and you seemed like a decent person, and I’d look forward to what we’d eat when we met tomorrow. I couldn’t help it.”

Eun-soo smiled as he recalled the past. It had only been a little over two years, yet it felt like a very long time ago. Even after they became lovers, Do-kwon always bought him delicious things, but it felt quite different from back then.

If he had to compare, it was closer to how things were now. They used polite speech with each other, a ticklish excitement passed between them, and a slight brush of hands felt like an electric shock.

Thinking about it that way, well…… meeting like this didn’t feel so bad.

Eun-soo sucked on the fork covered in chocolate. His plump lips moved busily.

“But it’s not much different now. Every time I meet you, I eat delicious things. I feel like I’ve gone back to the flirting stage. At this rate, it might not be bad to date again…….”

Eun-soo’s words were suddenly cut off. Without warning, Do-kwon gripped the back of Eun-soo’s head with one hand and swallowed his lips.

Eun-soo’s eyes widened. His beautifully curled eyelashes fluttered rapidly.

What is this…… no way, a kiss…… my god…… how long has it been since I felt his lips…….

His thoughts mixed in a chaotic, irregular jumble. After being dazed for a moment, Eun-soo dropped the fork. Then, he wrapped his arms around Do-kwon’s neck. As if he had been waiting, Do-kwon gripped Eun-soo’s underarms and waist, pulled him toward himself, and sat him on his lap.

The kiss, which had been just a touch of lips, instantly became wet and messy.

“Mngh…….”

Do-kwon sucked on Eun-soo’s lower lip. The strong suction made his lips throb. Eun-soo unconsciously parted his mouth. Do-kwon didn’t miss the gap and pushed his tongue deep inside.

Eun-soo’s shoulders trembled. But it was only for a moment. At the surge of Do-kwon’s pheromones flowing between their locked lips, his muscles instantly melted. His lower abdomen tightened, and his thighs pressed together.

Even though his entire body was pressed against Do-kwon, it wasn’t enough, and he began to cling to him with a whimper.

Do-kwon’s tongue was thick yet agile, long, hot, and wet. Eun-soo tilted his head back fully and accepted his tongue. His spine tingled as the tongue pulled his own, scraped the roof of his mouth, and licked his teeth.

Their lips rubbed together stickily. Then, at some point, Do-kwon let out a long breath.

“Haa…….”

Eun-soo’s fingertips trembled at the pheromones coiled tight like a ball. However, Do-kwon didn’t stop there and tilted his head to the side. Then, he explored the inside of Eun-soo’s mouth more deeply. He even took the whole tongue and sucked on it greedily.

The inside of Eun-soo’s moist mouth tasted of chocolate. Do-kwon wasn’t one to enjoy sweets, but the taste of chocolate mixed with Eun-soo’s pheromones was ecstatic. His saliva was so sweet that he felt he could live his whole life just sucking on it.

Do-kwon sucked on Eun-soo’s mouth as if he had been starving for days, and unable to bear the stimulation, Eun-soo suddenly arched his upper body forward. Consequently, their clinging lips parted. Dropping his head loosely, Eun-soo gasped for breath.

“Wait…… haa……, wait a second…….”

Kissing Do-kwon was so good it felt like his mind was melting, but it was equally exhausting. It wasn’t as if they had only kissed once or twice, yet he ran out of breath every time.

His instinct-driven body continued to inhale, trying to absorb even a bit more of the Dominant Alpha’s pheromones. It was an action completely devoid of Eun-soo’s intention. That was why a single kiss left him feeling dizzy.

While Eun-soo caught his breath as if he had run a full sprint, Do-kwon pressed his lips against Eun-soo’s small face in quick, light pecks. On his forehead, the bridge of his nose, his cheeks, and under his chin.

After some time, Eun-soo’s breathing calmed down. Do-kwon gently cupped Eun-soo’s cheek. Eun-soo looked at Do-kwon with half-lidded, dreamy eyes.

“Do-kwon…….”

His voice sounded as if he were pleading for something. A moist tongue was visible through his weakly parted lips.

On the TV screen, a hero and a villain were facing off while destroying the Earth, but he couldn’t care less about such things. Do-kwon’s gaze was entirely on Eun-soo. Eun-soo’s eyes, Eun-soo’s lips, and the ecstatic pheromones emanating from him dominated the entire world.

“Eat dinner here tomorrow too.”

Do-kwon whispered softly.

“……Yes.”

Eun-soo nodded with an expression as if he were possessed.

With that conversation ending, their lips locked again. The two rubbed their lips fiercely. As if they intended to fill months of absence in a single day. As if they were compensating for the time they couldn’t touch each other.

Lips and tongues moved busily. Their nostrils, seeking each other’s scent, did not rest. They also sensually stroked the back of the head, the nape of the neck, the shoulders, and the waist.

Every single action was lovely. At least, it was for Eun-soo.

Although Do-kwon had become considerably softer recently, it was still a world of difference from the man he was when they dated. But because this kiss seemed to soothe all the heartache he had endured, and because he felt that if he endured just a little longer, Do-kwon would return to being fully his, he was happy and excited.

Eun-soo smiled faintly and burrowed deeper into Do-kwon’s embrace.

Eun-soo, whose lips were swollen like sausages, leaned back against the sofa, practically sprawling. His mind was hazy, as if he had drunk himself blind. His body, which had accepted an Alpha’s pheromones for the first time in a long while, felt as if it were melting. He felt exactly like a squid. A squid with no bones or muscles.

Thinking about it makes me want fried squid.

I didn’t eat it all earlier; there’s some left. Should I eat it?

While Eun-soo let his thoughts drift aimlessly, Do-kwon, having finished tidying up, approached him. Being a neat person, he always took charge of the cleanup. Eun-soo, on the other hand, tended to put off cleaning or dishwashing until he picked a specific day to handle it all at once.

But since meeting Do-kwon, he had nothing to pile up because Do-kwon cleaned everything immediately. Of course, since Do-kwon hadn’t been coming to his house lately, he was back to doing the housework in batches.

Recalling the laundry piling up at home, Eun-soo wrinkled his nose, and Do-kwon, sitting beside him, tenderly brushed back Eun-soo’s bangs.

“Are you sick?”

“No.”

Eun-soo shook his head. Despite the clear denial, Do-kwon placed his palm on Eun-soo’s forehead to gauge his temperature and subtly checked various parts of his body to see if he was truly unwell.

Watching him, Eun-soo’s lips parted slightly.

“But… there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes. Ask me.”

“Why did you suddenly change?”

“…What did?”

“I mean, at the hospital, and when you came over the other day. When you were kicking me out, you acted like you’d never want to see me again. But then, a few hours later, you sent a message saying you were sorry and asking to have a meal together.”

The message he sent while Eun-soo was with Seong-heon had been welcome, but it was a bit strange.

Eun-soo could understand the cold behavior Do-kwon had shown him. An accident happened, he woke up to a changed world, and in the midst of that, an Omega smelling foul claimed to be his lover and said there was his child in the belly—it would have been stranger if he hadn’t been bewildered.

Furthermore, he had heard about Do-kwon’s past from Seong-heon.

However, he couldn’t understand why he had suddenly become kind. It was true, as he said, that traces of their love were scattered everywhere. Perhaps he feared the regret he would feel after regaining his memories.

But the thirty-year-old Do-kwon he had seen so far wasn’t the type of person to fear such things.

How should he put it? It felt more like Do-kwon’s style to say, ‘Future events? Fuck that. Right now, I don’t give a damn if they’re an Omega or whatever.’

“….”

Do-kwon’s lips pressed into a straight line. Eun-soo stared at him blankly. What is it? What reason is he hiding?

Not expecting this reaction, Eun-soo felt somewhat nervous. He worried it might be something like Myeong-hui threatening Do-kwon, saying, ‘If you don’t treat Eun-soo well, consider yourself kicked out of the company,’ or that he was pretending to be kind because he was worried about public perception. He was nervous that it might be for reasons like that.

He was afraid that Do-kwon didn’t care about him in the slightest, that he still found his scent disgusting and hated the existence of Omegas, but was forcing himself to stay by his side.

Eun-soo pulled himself together and sat up straight. At that, Do-kwon abruptly stood up.

“Wait a moment.”

Saying so, Do-kwon disappeared into the bedroom. Eun-soo blankly watched Do-kwon stride away with his long legs.

Do-kwon reappeared quickly. In his hand, he held a small box. It was a box as small as Eun-soo’s palm, white with a light blue ribbon tied around it. It looked like a gift for someone.

But why that, all of a sudden?

As Eun-soo tilted his head in confusion, Do-kwon, crouching down below the sofa, placed the box on Eun-soo’s lap.

The lid of the box was covered in plastic, allowing him to see what was inside.

“….”

Upon confirming the contents, Eun-soo took a sharp breath.

Inside the box were shoes. Baby shoes, as small as Eun-soo’s fingers.

The white, fluffy shoes had no particular decorations. They were just white lumps like clouds with velcro straps, which made them feel surreal. It felt as if they would be pressed flat and disappear like cotton candy if he touched them, or fly away in a light breeze.

As Eun-soo couldn’t take his eyes off the shoes, Do-kwon asked with a grin.

“They’re pretty, right?”

“Yes… they’re very pretty….”

Unable to bring himself to open the lid, Eun-soo gently stroked the box with his thumb. To think a foot could fit into shoes this small. Just how tiny was the baby? In a life that repeated only between work and home, babies were beings he rarely encountered, making it hard to gauge their size and appearance.

“I found them in my dressing room.”

“Your dressing room?”

“Besides these, there are plenty of rattles, dolls, and clothes. It seems one whole side was filled entirely with baby supplies.”

“….”

“Judging by your expression, it seems you didn’t know either, Mr. Yoo Eun-soo.”

Eun-soo nodded. From the moment Do-kwon started bringing all sorts of nutritional supplements, he had suspected that he would unintentionally live a ‘maximum life’ rather than a ‘minimalist life,’ but he never dreamed that toys and clothes had already been bought.

But well… this kind of spending was welcome.

As Eun-soo looked at the shoes with a faint smile, Do-kwon carefully placed his hand on Eun-soo’s lower abdomen.

“They must be for the child in here.”

“….”

“No matter how cold-blooded I am, I couldn’t remain indifferent after seeing this.”

“….”

“That’s why I thought I should apologize for the sake of the future, and that’s why I sent the message.”

Eun-soo nodded as if he understood.

The two of them looked at the shoes in silence for a while. Emotions he had never felt before began to well up. His heart fluttered, his throat felt tight, and strangely, his eyes grew misty.

A paternal instinct he had never felt before suddenly poked its head up.

After examining the shoes for a long time, Eun-soo slowly spoke.

“This weekend.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to go to the OB-GYN with me?”

“….”

Do-kwon’s eyes widened. His mouth stiffened, and his cheeks froze. Interpreting this as a refusal, Eun-soo lowered his gaze and murmured to himself.

“I mean, you don’t necessarily have to come… I’ve run out of suppressants, and I’m curious if the baby is growing well….”

“….”

“It’s just… when I go to the OB-GYN… everyone else seems to come with someone….”

Eun-soo tapped the corner of the box with his fingernail. For some reason, he felt apologetic, as if he were making a shameless request. No, that’s not right. Isn’t this something he should naturally do as the father? Providing medicine and buying clothes isn’t the only obligation.

Just as Eun-soo lightly licked the inside of his cheek and put on a stern expression:

“I understand.”

Do-kwon nodded. At the easier-than-expected affirmation, Eun-soo’s shoulders slumped in relief. Do-kwon gently wrapped his hand around Eun-soo’s hand, which was holding the baby shoes.

“Is there anything I need to prepare? This is my first time going to an OB-GYN.”

“Uh… probably… nothing? I’ve only been a few times myself.”

At Eun-soo’s somewhat vacant answer, Do-kwon laughed softly. Right, it was just that he remembered more than Eun-soo did. Eun-soo was also just an inexperienced father entering his third month of pregnancy.

The two of them giggled at the absurdity of their situation. Then, Eun-soo held up the shoes and said,

“Give these to me.”

“Okay.”

Do-kwon agreed without a moment’s hesitation. One of Eun-soo’s eyebrows arched.

“What… so easily?”

“There are about ten others similar to these.”

“Ah….”

Eun-soo let out a short exclamation. He didn’t know there were ten. He thought there would just be one pair of shoes, one rattle, and one outfit. The former Mr. Do-kwon, who did everything in excess, had bought ten of each.

He could easily imagine him going to a baby store and buying every type and color, yet he hadn’t expected it. It was his own fault.

In the past, if he mentioned that macarons, donuts, or even a cake tasted good, Do-kwon would buy every single variety. He once bought as many as eighty macarons and shared them with all the employees on the 14th floor.

Letting out a silent laugh, Eun-soo glanced at his wristwatch. It was already 10 PM. He didn’t know why it was 10 already after having dinner, half-watching a movie, and just rubbing lips.

Eun-soo stood up from the sofa holding the box.

“I should go home now. It’s 10.”

“…Already?”

“What do you mean ‘already’? Even if I leave now, it’ll be past 11 by the time I get home.”

Eun-soo frowned as if it were horrific. The thought of crossing Seoul by subway made his heels feel heavy. Still, he had to go quickly. That way he could wash up and lie down soon.

An office worker, by nature, falls asleep to survive and wakes up as if being dragged.

Eun-soo put on his jacket and searched Do-kwon’s house for a paper bag. He packed the food for tomorrow’s breakfast and the baby shoes. Do-kwon followed him around, attending to him in a way that wasn’t quite service but close.

“Take this too.”

Do-kwon tried to put seaweed soup filled with beef into the bag. Eun-soo frowned and pulled the bag back.

“I don’t want to because it’s heavy.”

“How is this heavy?”

“It’s not heavy if you just hold it. But it’s heavy if you carry it for an hour. It’s hell if there are no seats on the subway.”

“Then I’ll go with—”

Do-kwon stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth. He had been about to say, ‘I’ll go with you,’ but he stopped, thinking that would be excessive consideration.

In fact, when Eun-soo said he would head back earlier, he had thought, ‘Is it necessary?’

He said he couldn’t take a car. He said he hated taking the subway. Why on earth would he go back at this hour when he had Do-kwon’s house, which was 15 minutes from his office? He thought, ‘He could just sleep here,’ but he couldn’t say it because the thought felt too creepy and unfamiliar.

“Yes?”

Eun-soo asked back.

“…It’s nothing.”

Do-kwon took a step back. Eun-soo looked at him as if he were strange before hurrying toward the entrance. Do-kwon followed him with a somewhat sulky face.

“See you this weekend.”

Having put on his shoes, Eun-soo gave a monotonous farewell and turned around. Then, Do-kwon quickly grabbed his elbow.

“Tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“We agreed to see each other tomorrow. You said earlier that you’d have dinner at my place tomorrow.”

At those words, Eun-soo let out a short ‘Ah.’ Do-kwon had said that while they were kissing. ‘Have dinner here tomorrow too.’ And he had answered ‘…Yes,’ dazed and enchanted by his pheromones.

So it wasn’t just something he said. If they met tomorrow and through the weekend, they would have seen each other every single day this week. Is that okay?

Eun-soo scratched his cheek with his index finger while observing Do-kwon.

No particular pain was visible on his handsome face. He hadn’t complained of a headache throughout the day. He was perfectly fine even after they had rubbed lips.

Eun-soo nodded lightly.

“Alright. I’ll come here after work. Then we can eat the seaweed soup together tomorrow evening.”

“That would work.”

Do-kwon smiled with satisfaction and let go of his arm. Eun-soo smiled back. He opened the front door and stepped outside.

“Then I’m leaving, Mr. Do-kwon. Good night.”

“Yes. You too, Mr. Yoo Eun-soo.”

The door closed. The sound of the door lock engaging echoed loudly in the hallway.

Do-kwon stood still, listening to the sound of Eun-soo’s footsteps beyond the door. Soon, the alarm sounded, indicating the elevator had arrived. He heard the sound of the elevator doors opening and closing.

Around then, Eun-soo’s scent, which had permeated the air, began to dissipate. Do-kwon clenched his fist tightly.

He needed an excuse.

An excuse to take Eun-soo home without it being awkward.

Or an excuse to make him sleep at his house, by his side.

Do-kwon stood at the entrance for a long time, repeating the same worries his past self had once had.

* * *

Eun-soo and Do-kwon met in front of the OB-GYN. It was the same clinic Eun-soo had visited after a hurried search previously.

“Does it… have to be here? There are so many OB-GYNs in Seoul.”

Do-kwon twisted his lips as if dissatisfied. He seemed to strongly dislike the shabby exterior of the clinic.

It was understandable. The OB-GYN was on the second floor of a dilapidated five-story building. It was a strange clinic with a narrow, musty-smelling elevator, a small pharmacy on the first floor, and a pub with a tattered sign.

Still, the interior of the hospital was clean, the windows were spotless, and it was spacious enough to have everything—consultation rooms, delivery rooms, and inpatient wards. The best part was that it was close to Eun-soo’s house.

He didn’t have the confidence to force himself into a taxi when he was feeling sick. He had even less confidence in taking the subway. So, it absolutely had to be close to home. Close enough to reach on foot.

“The doctor is good,” Eun-soo said, taking Do-kwon’s hand.

“Wouldn’t a doctor at an OB-GYN that charges a lot of money be better?” Do-kwon countered.

“Still, I like it here.”

Eun-soo pulled Do-kwon’s hand, as if he wouldn’t listen any further. He liked that the cliché, robot-like doctor didn’t pry into things. How should he put it? He seemed like someone who had done this so many times that he felt no emotion. Yet, he didn’t miss anything that needed to be done.

Thanks to that, the consultation time was short, and it was easy to ask what he wanted to ask and hide what he wanted to hide.

After taking the elevator into the clinic, Do-kwon’s expression became even more grim. Since this was where his child would be born, it should have been plated in gold, yet it was a place like this. He was not pleased.

Regardless of Do-kwon’s mood, Eun-soo finished registration and took a seat on a sofa in the corner. He patted the spot next to him, signaling Do-kwon to come over. Do-kwon reluctantly sat beside him.

The clinic was crowded. Not bustling like a marketplace, but just enough to fill the sofas.

Eun-soo scanned them slowly. There were few people with flat stomachs like his; most were heavily swollen. Their size was clearly visible even though they were wearing baggy clothes.

How do they walk around with something like that? It feels like if you touch it wrong, it’ll pop like a balloon.

He had learned some things about pregnancy and childbirth through formal education, but seeing it this close made it feel new and strange.

Eun-soo stroked his own stomach with a blank expression. In a few months, his stomach would swell like that too. Would it be heavy? It probably would. Would he be able to keep going to work? Looking at Team Leader Seong from the next team, it seemed she had worked until full term.

Lost in thought for a while, Eun-soo suddenly remembered Do-kwon’s presence and looked at him. He was at least on his third time, but this was Do-kwon’s first, so he must be thinking all sorts of things.

Sure enough, Do-kwon was staring intently at the stomach of a pregnant woman sitting in front of them. It was a fiery gaze. He was staring only at the perfectly round, swollen belly, and Eun-soo, feeling that gaze indirectly, shrunk his shoulders. Naturally, there was no way the woman wouldn’t feel it.

As expected, the pregnant woman was staring back at Do-kwon with an expression that said, ‘What is wrong with this guy?’

Eun-soo yanked Do-kwon’s hand. Do-kwon’s gaze followed a beat late. Eun-soo scolded him silently, wrinkling the bridge of his nose. Do-kwon tilted his chin as if asking what that meant. Shaking his head, Eun-soo smiled awkwardly and looked at the pregnant woman.

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Everyone stares like that.”

The pregnant woman waved her hand with a faint smile. Eun-soo apologized again, adding that it was because there were still many things he found fascinating. Just as he was about to end the conversation, the pregnant woman shifted her position and began to look at Eun-soo and Do-kwon in earnest.

“Who is the one pregnant? Or are you both guardians?”

“Ah, I am….”

Eun-soo raised his hand timidly, like an elementary school student called upon by a teacher. At that, the pregnant woman blinked rapidly.

“Oh my… are you an Omega?”

“Yes.”

“Still in the early stages?”

“Yes. I’m almost three months along.”

“Oh my, oh my, that’s the time when you’re most fussy. So that’s why your husband came along?”

The pregnant woman looked at Do-kwon with a warm gaze. In an instant, Do-kwon, who had been some strange guy, became a devoted husband.

“My husband doesn’t even come with me anymore,” she began to chat. Eun-soo’s eyes widened.

“Why, why doesn’t he come?”

“He just lost interest. The baby doesn’t come out that quickly. Ten months is quite long. The fussiness that surged at the beginning doesn’t last until now.”

“Ah….”

“Your husband over there needs to keep coming with you. Especially to the OB-GYN. You think all sorts of things while waiting for your appointment here.”

“What kind of things?”

“Just trivial thoughts. Will the baby come out healthy? Will they have all their fingers and toes? Will I be able to give birth safely? Will I be able to raise them well? Things like that. Everyone thinks about it, but when I do, it doesn’t feel trivial.”

“Ah….”

“Besides, when you’re pregnant, your hormones fluctuate so much that your mood swings back and forth. You get hurt and depressed over nothing, you know? Just seeing a leaf fall can make your heart flutter, and if a complete stranger brushes past you, you might burst into tears.”

The pregnant woman made a gesture as if dabbing away tears with her hand. Eun-soo and Do-kwon’s eyebrows furrowed in sympathy. Without even realizing it, they were completely focused on her words.

The pregnant woman slowly stroked her bulging belly and continued.

“Then, once your belly gets as big as a mountain, it becomes hard to move, your stomach tightens, your back aches, and sleeping is a struggle, which makes you even more depressed. But that bastard of a husband is right there beside you, fast asleep and snoring away. I’m thinking of getting a divorce before I even register the birth.”

Having spoken in a continuous stream, she let out a long sigh, perhaps feeling the discomfort of her swollen belly, and leaned back against the armrest of the sofa. Then, she stared intently at Do-kwon as if giving a warning.

“So, husband, please be very—good to your pregnant Omega. If you fail now, it will stay in their heart for a lifetime.”

Do-kwon nodded. Eun-soo nodded along with him. Just as the pregnant woman gave a beaming smile at the two of them, finding them somehow cute—

“Patient Sung Mi-yeon. Please come into the examination room.”

A nurse called the pregnant woman. She answered energetically, “Coming!”

“I’m off. See you next time.”

The pregnant woman let out a grunt as she stood up. Eun-soo and Do-kwon gave a slight bow from their seats. The two of them watched silently as she waddled away.

Once she disappeared into the examination room, Do-kwon covered Eun-soo’s hand with his own.

“I will definitely come with you next time too. No, I’ll come every single time for the next ten months.”

“Yes. I think you’ll have to.”

Eun-soo laughed silently at Do-kwon, who looked like a private with strict military discipline. In truth, Eun-soo wasn’t worried at all. The Do-kwon he knew was someone who wouldn’t stop fussing not only until the birth but even after the baby was born.

However, Do-kwon didn’t know how to relax his stiff expression. After thinking seriously about something for a long while, he spoke softly.

“And… I don’t snore.”

At that, Eun-soo burst into loud laughter, then remembered they were in a hospital and quickly clamped his mouth shut. He then whispered to Do-kwon.

“I know.”

I’ve slept with you hundreds of times; how could I not know your sleeping habits?

The doctor guided them to the examination room, explaining that they would be doing an ultrasound today. Eun-soo couldn’t hide his nervousness at the unexpected test. Last time, it had just been a routine consultation.

Lying on the bed, Eun-soo chewed on his lip. His toes couldn’t stay still, curling and uncurling frantically. His fingers fidgeted, scratching at the bedsheets.

It was just a test, but he felt as nervous and afraid as if he had entered an operating room without anesthesia.

Do-kwon, standing beside the bed, looked at the pale Eun-soo. He then asked the doctor, who was preparing for the exam.

“Does it hurt?”

“…What does? The ultrasound?”

The doctor asked back with a twisted expression. It was a look that questioned whether he was seriously asking if an ultrasound hurt.

“It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt,” Eun-soo quickly answered on his behalf. He didn’t know why he felt embarrassed when Do-kwon was the one who asked.

“Please lift your clothes.”

At the doctor’s words, Eun-soo clumsily pushed his clothes up. He thought it was a relief that he had worn a hoodie instead of a shirt.

“I’m applying the gel. It’s cold.”

Before Eun-soo could even respond, the doctor squeezed out a line of gel. Startled, Eun-soo let out a small gasp and grabbed Do-kwon’s hand. Surprised in turn, Do-kwon gripped his hand tightly.

Do-kwon glared at the doctor with sharp eyes.

“It does—not hurt at all.”

The doctor indifferently ignored Do-kwon’s irritation. Then, after spreading the gel with the ultrasound probe, the doctor pressed down on the belly firmly enough to be slightly uncomfortable.

Suddenly, unrecognizable shapes began to scatter across the monitor. It was impossible to tell what was flesh, what was the womb-sac, and what was the fetus.

Eun-soo and Do-kwon narrowed their eyes, trying to find the baby. Then, the doctor tapped a small dot on the monitor with a finger.

“This is the fetus.”

Eun-soo and Do-kwon tilted their heads simultaneously, letting out a confused “Huh?” What the doctor pointed to was a lump about the size of a thumb. Even for a fetus, if it was human, it should have a human-like shape. They wondered what this shriveled sea cucumber-looking thing was.

The doctor, who had seen this reaction countless times, explained the “sea cucumber” by dividing it into head, chest, and legs in a monotone voice.

“This round part is the head, and next to it is the body. The triangular protrusion is the leg. The arms are curled up, so they aren’t very visible.”

“It’s so….”

“Small, right?”

“Yes.”

Eun-soo nodded. The doctor continued the explanation like a robot.

“Being small is normal. A fetus carried by an Omega grows slightly slower than a general fetus. It evolved that way to smoothly pass through the early stages, where the risk of miscarriage is high. Instead, once it enters the stable period, it begins to grow very rapidly from the fifth month.”

“…….”

“From then on, it will put a strain on your body. You’ll have stomach pains, muscle tension, swelling, irregular pheromones, and so on. Since the belly swells later than in general pregnancies, it all happens at once later on, so it can’t be helped. You’ll need to manage it diligently.”

Eun-soo put on a solemn face as if vowing to keep this in mind. It was information he had read while searching the internet, but hearing it like this felt new. How should he put it? It felt much more real. A sense of mission welled up within him.

Regardless, it was a wondrous feeling.

“The Alpha’s pheromones are also important. The Omega’s pheromones will become increasingly irregular, so please maintain regular physical contact and stay close. An Alpha’s pheromones provide a sense of stability and help with sudden mood swings. It can also prevent depression.”

The doctor spoke without taking his eyes off the monitor. He wasn’t looking at Do-kwon, but he was clearly speaking to him. Do-kwon nodded quickly as if he understood.

The doctor spoke only what he needed to say, without checking for Eun-soo or Do-kwon’s reactions or responses. It was a relief that he spoke slowly; if he had been fast, it would have been hard to follow.

“Since it’s now the 9th week, we can also do a screening for congenital abnormalities. We’ll do it now.”

Startled by those words, Eun-soo bolted upright.

“Ab—abnormalities? Why? Is there something wrong with the baby?”

Surprised by the sudden movement, the doctor’s eyes widened. It was the biggest reaction he had seen since they met.

“Whoa, you can’t get up. Everyone does this. It’s a test to see if there are any problems.”

“Ah….”

Eun-soo laughed awkwardly and lay back down. He was in no position to criticize Do-kwon for being overprotective.

“The results will be available during your next visit. We can tell the gender now, but whether it’s an Alpha or an Omega can be determined in the fifth month. Would you like to know the gender?”

At those words, Eun-soo looked at Do-kwon. Gender. It was something he hadn’t particularly thought about, so it felt strange. Another emotion, which he hadn’t felt even when looking at the sea cucumber, surged up. He realized that what was inside his belly was truly a living being.

Do-kwon also looked at Eun-soo. After locking eyes for a moment, he answered.

“Yes. Please tell us.”

Eun-soo readjusted his grip on Do-kwon’s hand.

“It’s a girl.”

The doctor spoke dryly, as if reciting a lunch menu. No, even if he were reciting a lunch menu, he wouldn’t have been that emotionless.

But for Do-kwon and Eun-soo, it was profoundly moving. A daughter. That one word carved itself deep into their hearts. Their palms and soles tingled, and a shiver ran down their spines. Their eyes stinging was an added bonus.

A daughter. A daughter! To think that what he was carrying was a daughter. Eun-soo felt like stomping his feet in joy. He hadn’t even been this happy when he first found out he was pregnant. Now, he was so happy that his cheeks were practically lifting.

He imagined the moment in the near future when the child would call him ‘Daddy’ in a clear, ringing voice. He didn’t know her face, didn’t know her voice, and all he knew was that sea cucumber-like lump. He was being sentimental.

Eun-soo smiled, his whole face crinkling. Do-kwon gently stroked Eun-soo’s hair.

A daughter. A daughter, huh. When imagining the child, he had unconsciously thought it would be a boy. There was no particular reason. Both he and Eun-soo were men. It was a stupid reason. But the fact that it was a girl left him dazed yet excited.

She’ll probably look like Eun-soo. How pretty will she be? White and tiny, she’ll probably monopolize all the beauty in the world.

I’ll give her everything. I’ll let her do whatever she wants. I’ll make sure she only sees beautiful things and lives only in good places.

Do-kwon vowed, pressing his lips firmly.

Glancing at the two of them, who wore similar expressions, the doctor fiddled with the speaker button.

“You can hear the heartbeat too. Would you like to?”

“Yes!”

“Yes.”

Eun-soo and Do-kwon answered simultaneously.

Eun-soo underwent various tests, including having some blood drawn and his blood pressure measured. Having been at the hospital for a while, fatigue began to creep in, and he felt hungry. When Eun-soo stroked his belly and muttered that he was hungry, the doctor, who was flipping through the chart, spoke up.

“Eat a lot now. Morning sickness will start soon.”

“Morning sickness?”

“Yes. You won’t be able to eat things you usually enjoy, and you’ll feel nauseous even when staying still.”

“Will that happen even though I usually eat very well?”

“Do you drink alcohol?”

At the sudden question, Eun-soo straightened his back. Alcohol? He didn’t even drink caffeine, so how could he drink alcohol? Eun-soo shook his head vigorously.

“No! Of course I don’t! I don’t even drink coffee.”

“No, not now. Before the pregnancy.”

“Ah… Ah, before the pregnancy… I drank then. I liked it.”

“You’ve had the experience of feeling sick the day after drinking too much, right? Nausea, a dry throat, a heavy body, and feeling thirsty but finding water repulsive.”

“Yes.”

“That’s it.”

“…Yes?”

“That’s what morning sickness is like. It can feel two or three times worse than a hangover. From morning until night.”

Ah…. Eun-soo sighed with a vague expression. Feeling like a hangover all day? That was a bit worrying. No matter how great his digestive capacity was, he had no appetite while suffering from a hangover. He was also the type to avoid food when stressed.

As Eun-soo stroked his knee as if scratching it, Do-kwon asked instead.

“Then what should we do?”

“You have to eat, even if you have to force it. Try various things to find what suits your palate. Tastes change during pregnancy, so things you usually don’t eat might become delicious.”

“Of course, you must also take your supplements diligently,” the doctor added, clicking the mouse. Then, pushing up his glasses, he asked Eun-soo.

“Shall I prescribe pheromone suppressants?”

“Yes. I’m almost out of the ones I got last time.”

“You’re not taking too many, are you?”

“I only take three a day.”

“Good.”

The doctor gave a light nod. Do-kwon frowned slightly at the somewhat unsettling conversation.

“Is it not okay to take a lot of suppressants?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Why not?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, the doctor stared silently at Do-kwon. Do-kwon pulled his chin back at the cold and sharp gaze, and then the doctor hit the Enter key with a clack. He then put on a conventional smile.

“The consultation is over. Mr. Yoo Eun-soo, please go out and receive your medication. The guardian, please stay for a moment.”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

Do-kwon and Eun-soo asked back simultaneously. The doctor lightly interlaced his fingers on the desk. Behind the rimless glasses, his makeup-free eyes narrowed sharply.

“The guardian needs to hear an explanation before leaving.”

“What kind of explanation?”

“Since this is an OB-GYN, it’ll be related to the pregnancy, right? Five minutes should be enough.”

“What about me?”

Eun-soo asked. An explanation only for Do-kwon? He was the one who was actually pregnant. Why was he being left out? He felt puzzled and a bit slighted.

But the doctor was firm.

“Mr. Yoo Eun-soo is fine. Please head out.”

In the end, Eun-soo had to leave the examination room feeling as if he were being kicked out.

Eun-soo received the ultrasound photos from the nurse and picked up the suppressants from the pharmacy on the floor below. Just then, Do-kwon appeared. Exactly about five minutes had passed. He took the bag of medicine from Eun-soo’s hand.

“What did the doctor say?”

Eun-soo asked inquisitively. What could it be that he only told you? Is there a serious problem with my body? Usually, they tell the guardian first in those cases.

“I got scolded.”

Do-kwon said as he handed his card to the pharmacist.

“…What?”

Eun-soo’s eyes widened at the completely unexpected answer.

“He asked if I had ever said anything negative about Eun-soo’s pheromones.”

“…….”

“He scolded me, asking how I dared to spout such things to a pregnant Omega in their early stages.”

“I. Got. Ripped. A. New. One.” Do-kwon dragged out his words to express how severely he had been scolded.

After being dazed for a moment, Eun-soo giggled and laughed like a child. To think the doctor would say such a thing. He seemed like a robot. Then again, during their first visit, he had asked if the husband treated him poorly. Both then and now, he was a person full of observation and warmth.

Receiving his card and receipt, Do-kwon put them in his wallet and asked.

“Did you really? To the doctor? That I dislike your pheromones?”

“Yes. You said that when you were hospitalized.”

“…….”

“You covered your nose and glared at me with a face like this, as if I smelled like food waste.”

Eun-soo covered the lower half of his face with his hand and wrinkled his whole expression, imitating Do-kwon at the time. Do-kwon clenched and unclenched his fist. The medicine bag in his hand rustled and crumpled.

“…I’m sorry. At that time, you were just… a strange Omega to me….”

“Yes. I understand. I woke up from a coma after losing four years of memories; if a huge Dominant Alpha like you told me, ‘Are you awake? I am your husband. And you are pregnant. With my child,’ I would have reacted the same way, shouting, ‘Who is this crazy guy!’”

Eun-soo acted out the scene with a low and sharp voice. Do-kwon laughed silently. Eun-soo looked up at Do-kwon and playfully narrowed his eyes.

“By the way, I told you he was a good doctor, right?”

“What?”

“To call Do-kwon aside just to scold him—that’s truly impressive. Who else would be able to say unpleasant things to someone like you?”

Eun-soo chatted away. Do-kwon gently stroked the back of Eun-soo’s head.

“Yes. He seems like a good doctor.”

Sometimes—no, often—he could understand why he had loved Eun-soo and why his parents cherished him so much.

Lovely, cute, bright, good-natured, and apparently very competent at his work.

He even had the wicked thought that it was a relief that the version of himself he had forgotten loved Eun-soo, and that Eun-soo had sprouted a life in his womb so that he wouldn’t easily leave him.

Then, Eun-soo tugged firmly on Do-kwon’s sleeve.

“Do-kwon.”

“Yes.”

“Buy me this.”

He pointed to some chewable gummy vitamins. They were packaged like gum. Without hesitation, Do-kwon took the whole box and handed it to the pharmacist.

Startled, Eun-soo tapped his forearm to stop him.

“One is enough, just one.”

“You might want to eat it again in the evening. Or maybe tomorrow….”

“No, not that.”

Eun-soo took the box from Do-kwon’s hand and put it back in its place. Then he picked up one, then another, and handed two to the pharmacist. The pharmacist, who looked friendly, smiled and tapped the POS machine.

Handing his card to the pharmacist, Do-kwon spoke to Eun-soo.

“About the pheromone suppressants.”

“Yes.”

“Please don’t take them when you’re with me.”

“…What?”

“I didn’t know they were bad for a pregnant body. I’m sorry. I should have looked into it more. I was out of it.”

“…….”

Eun-soo kept his mouth shut. He looked at Do-kwon with moist eyes. After hating his scent so much, now he was telling him not to take the suppressants. On top of that, he was apologizing for not knowing.

Normally, it would be annoying to be so inconsistent. But Eun-soo welcomed the change. Because it felt like Do-kwon was slowly, bit by bit, returning to the Do-kwon of the past.

“Okay. I won’t take them.”

Eun-soo beamed. Do-kwon smiled in return.

The two of them left the pharmacy and stood at the crosswalk right in front of the building. They planned to go to a famous bulgogi restaurant nearby. Since it was within walking distance, the location was perfect. Eun-soo wondered if they would end up stopping by every time he came to the OB-GYN if the food suited his taste.

Sticking close to Eun-soo’s side, Do-kwon began to peel open a vitamin jelly with his large hand. He then brought the exposed piece to Eun-soo’s mouth. Eun-soo popped it in.

A sour, tangy, yet sweet taste filled his mouth. It had been a long time since he’d experienced that chewy, sticky texture. When he was a child, he used to get one or two of these whenever his mother dragged him to the hospital.

Eun-soo chewed the jelly diligently. Just as his mouth became empty, Do-kwon peeled open another one. Eun-soo snapped that one up as well and smiled, looking pleased.

Do-kwon gazed at him blankly. A full spring breeze brushed past, fluttering Eun-soo’s hair. His slowly blinking eyelashes were surprisingly long and thick. His round eyes, high bridge of the nose, rounded tip, and plump lips moving as he chewed.

Every single detail was excessively sparkling and lovely. Do-kwon didn’t know why someone eating jelly could look this pretty. Since the version of himself from the four years he had forgotten was still himself, he could understand why he had fallen for Eun-soo. He could also understand why he had seduced him by buying him all sorts of delicious things.

Do-kwon subtly lowered his hand. It was to hold Eun-soo’s hand. Now, whenever they were together, he was anxious, wanting to touch or rub against any part of him. Whether it was his hand, his forearm, or his lips.

But at that moment, the signal changed. The bright red pedestrian icon turned blue.

Without hesitation, Eun-soo stepped forward. Do-kwon followed him with a look of regret. Well, was this the only chance? They would be together all day.

“Since it’s a bulgogi place, they don’t just sell bulgogi, right?”

Eun-soo asked.

“Why? Is there something else you want to eat?”

“Hmm, like cold noodles and dumplings. It would be great if they had soybean paste stew, too. They’ll definitely have glass noodle toppings, right?”

Eun-soo smacked his lips, imagining the moist, tender meat. After eating something sweet, he craved Korean food even more intensely. He felt he could easily polish off two bowls of rice today.

“Should I call and check? If they don’t have it, let’s go somewhere else.”

Do-kwon asked seriously. At that, Eun-soo burst into laughter. Just as he was about to answer that no, they could just eat whatever was there and fill the void with dessert—

Screeeech!

The sound of screeching tires grated harshly against his ears. Eun-soo instinctively turned his head. A white sedan was approaching, swerving wildly across the road. The way the car body lurched from side to side was clearly abnormal.

Eun-soo froze. The flashing headlights burned his retinas white. And when his vision cleared again, Eun-soo was back in Do-kwon’s car a month ago, on the way to the OB-GYN.

The weather, just as spring had begun, was chilly yet sunny, and—

‘The baby.’

‘Yeah.’

‘I hope they look like you, Do-kwon.’

‘I don’t want that. They should look like you. If they look like me, I don’t think I’ll be fond of them.’

‘Why? They’d be incredibly handsome.’

‘My impression is too mean.’

Do-kwon’s voice had been lovely, and—

‘Eun-soo.’

‘Yes.’

‘Shall we…’

‘Yes.’

‘Get married?’

That moment when the shyly delivered proposal had been ecstatically happy. At that exact moment, the violently blaring horn and the dump truck that slammed into them.

‘Eun-soo.’

‘Do-kwon.’

In an instant, ending with their locked gaze, there was a tremendous roar and pain as if his body were shattering, the seatbelt crushing his shoulder, and Do-kwon’s red, hot blood pouring over him. Blood. Blood. Blood.

Eun-soo’s breath stopped. His body began to tremble violently. Horns blared incessantly in his ears. He couldn’t tell if it was a hallucination or reality. He just stood there stupidly, staring at the dump truck—no, the sedan—no, the dump truck charging toward him.

At that moment, someone grabbed his wrist firmly. Then, his body felt as if it were flying halfway through the air. His landing spot wasn’t the ground. It was a familiar embrace. An embrace full of warm, wide, and mellow pheromones.

The moment Eun-soo instinctively took a deep breath, the car spun sharply to the side. It missed Eun-soo’s knees by a hair’s breadth. Then, Crash! It collided with the traffic light with a massive sound.

Eun-soo slid down and sat on the ground. He stared at the car emitting acrid smoke with unfocused eyes. As he did, someone gently shook his shoulder.

“Eun-soo.”

The voice was close. He could feel the breath of the person speaking. Yet, it sounded very distant and muffled. It felt as if he were trapped underwater.

“Eun-soo. Look at me.”

The voice called him again. But Eun-soo’s consciousness, cast down into the depths of the abyss, showed no sign of rising. As if commanded by someone, Eun-soo continued to stare incessantly at the wrecked car.

Then, a large hand gripped both his cheeks and turned his head the other way.

“Yoo Eun-soo.”

Only then did Eun-soo’s gaze meet the owner of the voice.

“…Do-kwon?”

“Are you okay?”

“Ah… Do-kwon, Do-kwon. Are you hurt? Are you okay?”

Eun-soo fumbled over Do-kwon’s face and forearms with trembling hands. He had to check if he was bleeding, if anything was broken, or if his head was split open.

Do-kwon took off his jacket and wrapped it around Eun-soo’s shoulders. He then checked Eun-soo’s body.

“I’m fine. What about you, Eun-soo? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

“Ah… the baby…”

Eun-soo quickly clutched his stomach. He focused on his belly while calming his breath, and there was no particular pain. He only felt a slight pulling sensation as his entire body’s muscles tensed.

“I think… I’m okay,” Eun-soo stammered. Do-kwon, with a deeply distressed expression, brushed back Eun-soo’s bangs.

“You’re sweating so much…”

“I… remembered the accident… I think I was a bit shocked…”

Eun-soo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Do-kwon rubbed Eun-soo’s back and supported him as he guided him off the road. As he did, he looked at the car that had nearly hit them.

Just then, the driver got out of the car. A man who looked thirty at most had a bright red face, and his gaze was drifting strangely from the sky to the ground. Combined with his staggering legs… he was clearly not in a normal state.

Do-kwon grit his teeth. He strode toward the driver. His large shadow covered half of the driver’s plump body. The driver looked up at Do-kwon with glazed eyes.

Simultaneously, Do-kwon shifted one shoulder slightly back. He then swung his arm from behind and slammed his fist, like a steel ball, right into the driver’s cheekbone.

“Ugh…”

The driver couldn’t even scream. He froze as if suddenly paralyzed, then his eyes rolled back and he fell backward. He landed flat on his back, stiff as a wooden board.

The people gathered around let out various exclamations—”Oh my,” “Wow,” “Gasp.” Eun-soo, on the other hand, was just:

“My goodness…”

Having been with him for several years, he knew well that Do-kwon was strong. He’d seen it on the bed, how Do-kwon could flip him over with one hand. But he never dreamed that a single punch could neutralize a person like that.

While a startled Eun-soo could only blink, Do-kwon grabbed the driver by the collar. The driver, limp as blanched spinach, was lifted halfway into the air. In that state, Do-kwon continued to strike the driver’s face. Thud, thwack—dull sounds echoed across the wide road.

As the violence grew more intense, nearby citizens tried to stop Do-kwon. Do-kwon brushed their arms away with an irritated face. He then pointed his index finger at Eun-soo, who was sitting on the ground.

“Pregnant Omega.”

Next, he pointed to himself.

“The father.”

Finally, he pointed to the bloodied driver.

“Attempted murder.”

At the brief but clear explanation, the people gasped. They hesitantly backed away. Just as Do-kwon raised his fist again after clearing the obstacles—

Eun-soo, having finally come to his senses, rushed over and grabbed his fist.

“Do-kwon! You can’t!”

“I can.”

“What do you mean you can! I’m okay. Stop it.”

Eun-soo pulled Do-kwon’s fist back with his meager strength. Do-kwon’s mouth twisted in irritation. However, unable to push Eun-soo away, he obediently stood up. Eun-soo let out a silent sigh of relief.

Do-kwon tossed the driver aside carelessly. Holding Eun-soo’s hand with one hand, he reached for his phone with the other. He pulled up a familiar number from his recent calls and pressed the call button.

“Secretary Jeong. It’s me. There’s been an accident. A car accident. We aren’t hurt, but…”

Eun-soo listened quietly to Do-kwon’s conversation. But strangely, his head began to feel heavy. His limbs felt tingly as if they were falling asleep, and he felt as if all the blood was draining out of him.

Eun-soo closed and opened his eyes tightly to regain his composure. But it was useless. His mind grew increasingly clouded. He felt as if he were sinking very slowly into an abyss.

It seemed… that he… was not… okay.

Eun-soo thought, blinking slowly. He had loudly proclaimed to Do-kwon that he was fine. If he collapsed here, Do-kwon might actually kill that driver.

Eun-soo stumbled, shifting his feet. Then, the strength in the hand he was holding with Do-kwon vanished. Do-kwon whipped his head around to look at Eun-soo. Eun-soo also looked at Do-kwon with clouded eyes.

Do-kwon. He called out, but no voice came out. And then, he fell backward.

“Yoo Eun-soo!”

Do-kwon’s voice seemed to echo through the entire world.