By Zephyria “How was it?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked amiably as they descended the theater stairs. The popcorn tub in his hand was almost full. It seemed Do Yi-hyun had only picked at a few pieces before the movie started.
If that was the case, it was baffling why he had insisted on buying popcorn.
“I don’t remember.”
Do Yi-hyun replied indifferently. He was definitely awake until he saw the film company’s logo, but in the quiet, warm space, he had succumbed to an irresistible sleep. It was a calm independent film, and he couldn’t even properly remember the lead actor’s face.
When he finally woke up, the ending credits were rolling through his tilted field of vision. Blinking dazedly, he lifted his head and met Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes. He didn’t know since when, but it seemed he had fallen fast asleep leaning on Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder.
The moment he met those ash-gray eyes, he recalled a low mutter he heard in his sleep: that he should have rented out the entire theater.
‘It must be a misunderstanding.’
Do Yi-hyun slightly furrowed his brow. He must have misheard. No matter how much of a money-flush chaebol he was, he wouldn’t waste money on such a pointless thing.
It’s not even a date.
“I’m sorry.”
Do Yi-hyun lowered his voice and apologized, touching the corner of his mouth with eyes still heavy with sleep. It was something that could have been unpleasant, but Seo Jeong-woon instead smiled brightly and moved his lips. Did you sleep well?
Even after reading Seo Jeong-woon’s lips, Do Yi-hyun bluntly turned his gaze forward. Then he stared at some random, uninterested name for a long time.
“Haha, you slept cutely, breathing softly.”
Seo Jeong-woon shook his head and threw the popcorn tub into a trash can.
‘I wish he’d stop with the nonsense.’
Calling a man over 180cm tall “cute.” Even empty compliments should have their limits. The people walking ahead also glanced back with expressions that seemed to say they had heard something they shouldn’t have, likely feeling the same as Do Yi-hyun.
Even Do Yi-hyun, who usually didn’t care about others’ gazes, felt a bit embarrassed this time. Thanks to Do Yi-hyun’s persistent refusal, Seo Jeong-woon had his arm around his shoulder instead of his waist. But since they were still stuck closely together, they didn’t look like simple friends.
With two men who were clearly Alphas sticking so close, everyone looked on with curiosity. He tried nudging him away with his elbow, but Seo Jeong-woon shamelessly held his ground. Do Yi-hyun looked up at him with dissatisfaction.
‘It’s uncomfortable.’
Every time they went somewhere together, he felt a renewed confirmation of how mismatched he and Seo Jeong-woon were. He wasn’t even secretly in love with Seo Jeong-woon, so feeling this way was utterly unwelcome.
“Can’t we walk a bit apart?”
With his patience worn thin, Do Yi-hyun whispered in a low, subdued voice. Even though it was midwinter, the theater interior was warm, making him a bit hot.
“Yes, you can’t.”
Though phrased as a question, he hadn’t sought Seo Jeong-woon’s opinion. But Seo Jeong-woon naturally refused and tightened his grip on Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder. It didn’t hurt, but it was firm enough that he couldn’t easily shake it off.
Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh and shook his head. Since they were in the middle of exiting through a long passageway, he couldn’t stop and struggle. Lifting his lowered gaze, Do Yi-hyun’s eyes met those of a woman with thick, wavy hair cascading down over Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder.
The woman blushed and smiled shyly. Do Yi-hyun awkwardly scanned her. She was a woman who resembled Seo Jeong-woon in some way.
Of course, Seo Jeong-woon was more dazzling.
“What are you looking at?”
Suddenly, Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head to the side, blocking Do Yi-hyun’s view.
“I wasn’t looking at anything.”
Do Yi-hyun answered indifferently and looked at Seo Jeong-woon. It was obvious the woman had blushed looking at Seo Jeong-woon anyway. There were more than one or two people who held a favorable impression of Seo Jeong-woon, and he felt no need to tell him about each one.
No, to be a bit more precise, he didn’t want to. For some reason, the thought of Seo Jeong-woon smiling brightly and talking to the woman irked him.
“Is that so? Let’s go this way.”
Seo Jeong-woon, narrowing his eyes, tested Do Yi-hyun for a moment. Then he began pushing Do Yi-hyun to the side unnaturally. Suddenly, Do Yi-hyun was moving diagonally instead of in a straight line.
“……What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
He shot him a disbelieving look, but Seo Jeong-woon just blinked his large eyes innocently. Anyone seeing them would think he was accosting a stranger. Do Yi-hyun was about to argue, telling him to stop the pointless act, but he held back.
If he wanted to, he could have argued loudly with Seo Jeong-woon right in the middle of the street, regardless of attracting attention. But doing so wouldn’t change Seo Jeong-woon. In the end, it would only waste his own energy.
Helplessly, Do Yi-hyun arrived at the parking lot with Seo Jeong-woon attached to his side. Seo Jeong-woon kept smiling brightly, as if something was very enjoyable.
“Get in, Mr. Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon unnecessarily opened the passenger door for him. Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at the wide-open car door for a moment.
“I have hands too.”
“Yeah, I know. It would be really nice if those pretty hands would hold mine instead.”
Do Yi-hyun protested, but Seo Jeong-woon grinned slyly and spouted more nonsense. He didn’t seem tired of it.
“Shall we go out for a cozy dinner?”
He started the car smoothly and observed Do Yi-hyun’s complexion.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Do Yi-hyun leaned back into the plush seat and answered perfunctorily. Since his words would likely go in one ear and out the other anyway, he couldn’t understand the purpose of asking.
“Can’t we add one more condition?”
“……The contract, you mean?”
“Yes.”
At Seo Jeong-woon’s sudden request, Do Yi-hyun frowned. At this point, after all agreements were finalized, there was only one thing Seo Jeong-woon could possibly demand.
‘Has he already grown tired of it?’
Do Yi-hyun had also anticipated that Seo Jeong-woon might act capriciously. But he hadn’t expected him to propose modifying the contract terms after just a week.
‘Ugh.’
He thought he wouldn’t care whenever Seo Jeong-woon left, but suddenly his stomach churned. It felt like morning sickness was starting again.
‘……Is it a sense of betrayal?’
It was a bit shocking that he had been clinging to him nonchalantly—no, more affectionately than usual—until just moments ago, only to suddenly change. He knew Seo Jeong-woon was a good liar, but this went beyond simple lying to deception.
“I’ll listen and decide.”
Do Yi-hyun clenched his fist and responded in a businesslike tone. He could feel his facial muscles stiffening in real-time.
“Agree not to meet other Alphas.”
Seo Jeong-woon, keeping his eyes on the road while turning the steering wheel, lightly tossed out a new clause.
“……What?”
It was an unexpected condition, so Do Yi-hyun asked back in confusion.
“Ah, other Omegas or Betas too.”
Seo Jeong-woon cleared his throat and added belatedly.
‘What’s his scheme?’
But Do Yi-hyun’s suspicions only deepened. Like the other clauses Seo Jeong-woon had proposed, this one didn’t benefit him at all either. If anything, this clause was also more advantageous to Do Yi-hyun.
‘Is it because of an Alpha’s instinctive possessiveness?’
Do Yi-hyun observed Seo Jeong-woon’s handsome profile. Perhaps he disliked the idea of the Omega carrying his child meeting other Alphas. But due to pheromone rejection syndrome, Do Yi-hyun couldn’t meet other Alphas even if he wanted to.
He never wanted to in the first place, and he was too busy taking care of himself to have ever shown any sign of it. Maybe it was a restriction Seo Jeong-woon was placing on himself. A few days ago, rumors had spread widely within the company that Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon was in a relationship.
Perhaps because the rumor seemed quite credible, several employees who weren’t even close to Do Yi-hyun had approached him, asking if he had heard anything about Seo Jeong-woon’s lover. Judging by how he acted toward the child, he seemed responsible, but since he was fundamentally a person with a loose lower half, there might be a need for specific clauses.
“Do as you please.”
Do Yi-hyun answered indifferently. He didn’t know Seo Jeong-woon’s exact intentions, but it was a condition that had no effect on him. Accepting it wouldn’t cause him any particular loss.
“Really?”
“Is the term until the baby is born?”
“……Well.”
Seo Jeong-woon looked at Do Yi-hyun with a pleased expression, then vaguely trailed off. When Do Yi-hyun stared at him intently, he nodded with a reluctant expression.
“For now, let’s do it that way.”
Even though he agreed to his suggestion, Seo Jeong-woon pouted his lips as if something still didn’t sit right with him.
“Anyway, it’s a promise, right? Mr. Lee Hyun, what do you want to eat……”
Bzzzt. Just as Seo Jeong-woon was trying to change the topic, Do Yi-hyun’s phone vibrated briefly. Perhaps because the car was quiet.
Seo Jeong-woon stopped talking, having somehow managed to hear the small vibration sound.
“Who is it?”
“Do I have to report that too?”
Do Yi-hyun twisted his lips coolly and checked his phone. There were only two people who would contact him on the weekend anyway. Either his mother or Joo Na-hye.
Sure enough, a familiar name appeared.
[Mother: Come over for dinner tomorrow evening]
After checking the message, Do Yi-hyun expressionlessly stared at the square screen.
Do Yi-hyun couldn’t easily reply and just tapped the edges of his phone.
“Who is it that makes you make such an expression, Lee Hyun?”
“It’s personal.”
“You just promised not to see anyone else. If you keep acting like this, I’ll get suspicious.”
Though Do Yi-hyun evaded the question, Seo Jeong-woon persistently pressed with a whiny tone.
“…It’s my mother.”
Do Yi-hyun reluctantly answered. He didn’t want to share his private life, but it seemed Seo Jeong-woon would keep asking until he got an answer, so there was no choice. If he aroused Seo Jeong-woon’s suspicion, troublesome things would likely happen.
“You’re not close?”
Seo Jeong-woon paused briefly before cautiously asking.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun slowly shook his head. They weren’t particularly close due to both having indifferent personalities, but they were intimate. To Do Yi-hyun, his mother was his only remaining blood relative in this world.
‘But…’
“Does your mother know?”
At the following question, Do Yi-hyun snapped out of his thoughts. He pressed his thumb firmly against his throbbing forehead.
“I haven’t told her yet.”
He couldn’t tell her for fear something might go wrong with the baby. He planned to tell her once he entered the stabilization period. Seo Jeong-woon, who knew Do Yi-hyun’s circumstances to some extent, would have easily guessed why Do Yi-hyun hadn’t yet confided the truth to his mother.
“Then our baby is a secret only you and I know in the world?”
But instead of pointing that out, Seo Jeong-woon changed the subject and smiled brightly. His crescent-shaped eyes and red lips curved like arcs were beautiful. Even in the dim car, Seo Jeong-woon’s face seemed to shine.
Do Yi-hyun, realizing why he felt comfortable with Seo Jeong-woon, pressed his lips tightly together. Seo Jeong-woon didn’t leave him alone and shook him up recklessly, but if he showed discomfort about a specific topic, he wouldn’t bring it up again. From his appearance, which was un-Omega-like, to his rare condition of pheromone rejection syndrome, and even stories about his mother.
From Seo Jeong-woon’s perspective, there must be more than one or two suspicious aspects, but if Do Yi-hyun showed discomfort, he wouldn’t dig into them. It was a small but significant difference.
“The doctor knows too.”
The nurses also know. Do Yi-hyun swallowed the rest of his words and turned his head away.
“Ha, in times like these, you should just agree.”
Seo Jeong-woon grumbled under his breath, but Do Yi-hyun pretended not to hear. Bright streetlights flashed by quickly outside the window. When he closed his eyes, vivid afterimages remained.
But the long trails gradually faded and soon disappeared without a trace.
‘If only Seo Jeong-woon would pass by like that too.’
Even if he left a brief afterimage, he wished he would completely leave his life.
‘Can I tell her tomorrow?’
Do Yi-hyun, opening his eyes slightly, stroked his lower abdomen with rough hands. Since the doctor had spoken positively, it seemed okay to gradually tell his mother. He planned to meet Joo Na-hye briefly on his way back from seeing his mother.
What would she say when she found out he was pregnant? Joo Na-hye would nag and scold him sharply as usual. He already felt his ears ringing.
On the other hand, he couldn’t imagine how his mother would react.
[I’ll come at 5 tomorrow.]
Do Yi-hyun slowly moved his fingers. Even though it was trivial content, he could only send a reply to his mother after reviewing it several times.
[Mother: Seon-woo says he misses you, how about inviting him? If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll politely decline for you.]
Seon-woo. At the name, unfamiliar but one he would have to get used to someday, Do Yi-hyun momentarily held his breath.
Do Yi-hyun still vividly remembered the first time he saw Choi Seon-woo.
[I’m sorry. It’s still uncomfortable]
Do Yi-hyun started typing a message but erased it. Then he wrote again from the beginning.
[This time, I have something to discuss separately, so it’s not possible.]
He debated whether to add an invitation to eat together next time but sent it as is.
[Mother: Okay. Don’t worry about it.]
The reply came back quickly, as if she had been checking her phone continuously.
“Haa.”
Do Yi-hyun let out a long sigh and placed his phone face down.
“What’s wrong?”
Seo Jeong-woon glanced at Do Yi-hyun with a worried face.
“Nothing.”
Do Yi-hyun clearly drew a line. Even if Seo Jeong-woon was the baby’s other parent, they weren’t close enough to share his family matters.
“How about going for a drive tomorrow afternoon? The weather is supposed to be nice.”
As if wanting to lighten Do Yi-hyun’s mood, Seo Jeong-woon suggested with a gentle smile. But Do Yi-hyun shook his head with a cold expression.
“I have plans with my mother.”
He wanted to act as usual, but even to his own ears, his tone sounded stiff. Do Yi-hyun swallowed dryly.
“Evening plans?”
“Yes.”
“Then I want to come too.”
As soon as Do Yi-hyun affirmed, Seo Jeong-woon made an absurd request as if he had been waiting.
“…Why would the Head of section want to meet my mother?”
Even though he knew it was better to cleanly ignore Seo Jeong-woon’s nonsense, Do Yi-hyun reflexively asked back. It was truly absurd.
“I want to greet your mother. Isn’t that okay? And it’s not ‘Head of section,’ it’s Jeong-woon. Jeong-woon.”
Even seeing Do Yi-hyun’s furrowed brows, Seo Jeong-woon smoothly continued.
“Of course not.”
Do Yi-hyun firmly expressed his refusal. No matter what, there was no way he would introduce Seo Jeong-woon to his mother. There shouldn’t be.
***
“Are you really going alone?”
The next day, Do Yi-hyun packed his things to leave after even eating lunch at Seo Jeong-woon’s house. Seo Jeong-woon subtly appealed, asking to be taken to the dinner whenever he got a chance, but Do Yi-hyun pretended not to hear each time.
“I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Wait a moment, Lee Hyun. Did you forget anything?”
As he tried to leave quickly before Seo Jeong-woon arbitrarily followed, Seo Jeong-woon hurriedly grabbed Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun felt his pockets. His phone and the handkerchief received from Seo Jeong-woon were neatly in his pocket.
“Nothing.”
Since he hadn’t brought much to begin with, there wasn’t much to leave behind.
“This, this.”
Then Seo Jeong-woon, with his eyes curving, tapped his own lips.
“You should kiss me before leaving.”
As if determined, Seo Jeong-woon pursed his lips and gently closed his eyes. The entrance light falling from above looked like a spotlight. Do Yi-hyun was standing near the front door with his shoes on, and Seo Jeong-woon was on the hallway step.
If he refused and quickly turned to leave, it was a distance where he couldn’t be caught. Seo Jeong-woon seemed to have no intention of holding Do Yi-hyun back, even leisurely putting his hands behind his back. So, if he wanted to kiss now, Do Yi-hyun had to voluntarily kiss him.
Seo Jeong-woon always wanted Do Yi-hyun to kiss him first like this.
‘What’s the difference?’
Once the kiss started, it didn’t matter who started it. Seo Jeong-woon often attached meaning to unnecessary things. Do Yi-hyun gazed for a moment at Seo Jeong-woon, waiting defenselessly.
Seo Jeong-woon was beautiful. To the extent that no other modifier was needed. And Seo Jeong-woon was also very clearly aware of that fact.
Pretending to be shy, he fidgeted his lips and fluttered his long eyelashes. Even though he was a giant Alpha, nearly 2 meters tall with a bit of exaggeration, he seemed fragile at times, with aspects that stimulated people’s lust. Do Yi-hyun swallowed dryly.
Occasionally, when observing Seo Jeong-woon’s elegant features, he felt a strange sense of elevation, as if looking at a well-made sculpture. He thought he understood why Seo Jeong-woon was confident he wouldn’t forget his face.
“Hoo.”
A short sigh escaped Do Yi-hyun’s lips. When people at the company made a fuss about Seo Jeong-woon, he thought they were being excessive. But the more he spent time with Seo Jeong-woon, he gradually realized that was all a natural reaction.
People flocking around him was like butterflies gathering around a flower. Simultaneously, irritation suddenly surged.
‘Why am I like this?’
Do Yi-hyun bit his curled lip. But his churning insides wouldn’t calm down easily. The man standing before him seemed like someone completely unrelated to him.
It felt like a relationship that would end if he turned around now, closed the front door, and left. No, that was actually the case. If Seo Jeong-woon let go, the two would return to having no connection.
That was what Do Yi-hyun had so desperately wanted. But he couldn’t stand the displeasure. Was it because all decision-making power lay with Seo Jeong-woon, or because he had to be swayed by him until the end that felt unpleasant?
Even though it was his own heart, he couldn’t gauge it at all. So Do Yi-hyun stretched his long legs and stepped forward. Then he roughly kissed the lips of Seo Jeong-woon, who was waiting demurely, while grabbing the back of his neck.
‘Because I can’t show my mother me having morning sickness.’
It was an extremely rational and logical decision. As Do Yi-hyun kissed hard, Seo Jeong-woon, as if waiting, parted his reddish lips to welcome him. Through his palm, he felt Seo Jeong-woon’s low, rumbling laugh.
Ignoring the playful laughter, Do Yi-hyun deeply entangled his tongue with Seo Jeong-woon’s. Seo Jeong-woon, who obediently offered the inside of his mouth, bowed his head and wrapped his arms around Do Yi-hyun’s neck.
***
The place where his mother called Do Yi-hyun was a clean Korean restaurant that showed slight signs of age.
“You’re here.”
As Do Yi-hyun opened the hanji-papered sliding door and entered the small room, his mother, sitting neatly, raised her head.
“Did you have a good trip? I’m sorry I couldn’t contact you in advance.”
Do Yi-hyun bowed politely in greeting and sat opposite her. Pale skin, black hair, indifferent eyes, and distinct features. If not for their strikingly similar appearances, the distance between them was such that one might mistake them for business partners rather than mother and son.
“It’s fine.”
His mother, giving a short reply, looked at her son, whom she was meeting for the first time in almost two and a half months, with affectionate eyes and smiled faintly. Following her, Do Yi-hyun also slightly curled the corners of his mouth. When he was young, his mother smiled more often.
But after his father, a firefighter, died in the line of duty when Do Yi-hyun was around ten, she lost her bright smile. Fortunately, she had recently regained her smile. Do Yi-hyun bitterly lowered his gaze.
After briefly exchanging greetings, there was no further conversation. Regardless of their affection for each other, Do Yi-hyun and his mother were people accustomed to silence even when living together. No matter how long it had been since they last met, that didn’t change.
Knock knock. With a small knocking sound, the door opened, and side dishes neatly arranged on ten plates filled the table. From grilled fish to clear soup.
It was more like a home-cooked meal than a full-course Korean meal.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Do Yi-hyun carefully lifted the soup. He had been slightly nauseous on the way, so he was worried, but fortunately, no dry heaving came up.
“Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable?”
His mother examined Do Yi-hyun with a worried expression. It seemed strange to her that he was eating slowly, unlike usual.
“…I’ll tell you after the meal.”
Do Yi-hyun evaded the question. He didn’t want to lie to his mother, nor did he want to make a bombshell announcement before eating.
“Alright.”
Instead of pressing further, his mother nodded lightly. It was always like that. His mother always trusted that Do Yi-hyun would take care of himself well.
Confirming there were no morning sickness symptoms, Do Yi-hyun deliberately took a large spoonful of rice. Then he picked up the glossy stir-fried bracken. Come to think of it, Seo Jeong-woon still received seasoned vegetable side dishes from Sodamjeong.
And it seemed he received them frequently in small amounts. He could have said it wasn’t necessary, but Do Yi-hyun chose silence. Sodamjeong’s seasoned vegetable side dishes were the most labor-intensive side dish.
Once Seo Jeong-woon came to mind, thoughts kept linking one after another.
‘I thought he’d insist until the end.’
He had been inwardly worried about what to do if Seo Jeong-woon insisted on coming to the meal without giving up. If he had come here, the thick-skinned Seo Jeong-woon would have clung affectionately even in front of his mother, spouting nonsense like calling him pretty. He would have been busy glaring at him.
‘How would mother react if she saw Seo Jeong-woon?’
His mother was the closest person to Do Yi-hyun, but ironically, predicting his mother’s reaction was the hardest thing in the world for Do Yi-hyun. The next hardest was Seo Jeong-woon. Anyway, if Seo Jeong-woon had joined, it would definitely have been noisy.
A boisterous meal time with his mother.
‘I can’t imagine.’
Do Yi-hyun, unknowingly letting out a silent, hollow laugh, wrapped his left hand around his stomach. He had no idea his mother was closely watching that gesture. After the quiet meal ended, warm omija tea and four hangwa (Korean traditional sweets) were served as dessert.
Do Yi-hyun left the hangwa untouched and only sipped the omija tea.
“You said you had something to say?”
His mother directly asked about Do Yi-hyun’s business. Do Yi-hyun, putting down his teacup, slowly gathered his breath. From the moment he found out he was pregnant, he had pondered many times how to tell his mother.
But no clear method came to mind.
“…I’m pregnant.”
So eventually, Do Yi-hyun honestly confessed without beating around the bush as usual.
“Pregnant?”
At the sudden announcement, his mother seemed very surprised, moving her lips with a bewildered expression. Do Yi-hyun captured that expression with an unfamiliar gaze. He had no memory of seeing his mother surprised or sad.
Even when his father passed away, his mother had gazed blankly into space with an indifferent expression. To young Do Yi-hyun’s eyes, that seemed sadder than wailing, so he clumsily hugged his mother. Perhaps his mother thought she had to not show weakness to protect Do Yi-hyun.
“…So there’s someone else. Right?”
His mother, who had been staring intently at the impassive Do Yi-hyun, asked decisively. His mother knew Do Yi-hyun had planned to have a child alone. So she had deliberately made no mention, but she immediately sensed Seo Jeong-woon’s existence.
“……”
Do Yi-hyun couldn’t easily answer and closed his mouth. Of course, it was true there was another parent for the baby, but it probably wasn’t the kind of partner his mother was thinking of.
“Bring them.”
Reading affirmation from his hesitation, his mother said firmly.
“Mother.”
“Whether you marry, live together, or separate, that’s not for me to interfere with. But shouldn’t I at least see their face once?”
His mother took an unusually tough attitude. That was because, from the first time he mentioned it, his mother had opposed Do Yi-hyun’s plan. Partly because she knew how difficult it was for an Omega to raise a child alone, but also because she felt sorry for Do Yi-hyun, who showed no interest in interacting with others.
But Do Yi-hyun couldn’t understand his mother’s worry at all. He thought each person had a different total amount of affection. His affection was exceptionally small compared to others, so after pouring it into his family, it ran dry.
Yet he could obtain sufficient satisfaction and peace. The reason Do Yi-hyun didn’t care about others’ evaluations was purely because he was firmly rooted in the foundation called family. In return, his attachment to family was particularly strong.
Even if it didn’t show outwardly, it was natural since he obtained the bonds he could form with dozens of others solely from his mother. That’s why it was even harder to accept the news of his mother’s remarriage. It felt like losing his only remaining family.
A sense of loss far greater than when he lost his father greatly shook Do Yi-hyun’s foundation.
“Is it someone you can’t show me?”
As Do Yi-hyun remained silent and quietly agitated, his mother cautiously asked. If he lied and said yes, his mother would reluctantly take his side.
“…No.”
But Do Yi-hyun slowly shook his head. Even if he spoke ill of Seo Jeong-woon to his mother now, he wouldn’t know, but for some reason, arbitrarily belittling him didn’t sit well.
“Then let’s talk again with the three of us then.”
His mother nodded gently.
***
Do Yi-hyun went to meet Joo Na-hye with a troubled heart. Introducing Seo Jeong-woon to his mother was no big deal.
Seo Jeong-woon would have readily agreed, and Mother would respect Do Yi-hyun’s choice. But the more he tried to remove Seo Jeong-woon from his life, the more he couldn’t shake the impression that they were becoming increasingly entangled. The most unpleasant part was that it didn’t feel entirely bad.
“Over here!”
Joo Na-hye, who had arrived at the cafe first, waved her hand vigorously. A few months ago, she had said she cut her hair into a bob, and now it had grown into a short pixie cut.
“Do Yi-hyun, so you are alive? Give me a call sometime, okay?”
Joo Na-hye slurped her iced Americano while looking Do Yi-hyun up and down. The table was filled with all sorts of drinks. It was Joo Na-hye’s habit to drink every kind of beverage until she was about to burst whenever she came to a cafe.
Do Yi-hyun ignored Joo Na-hye’s nagging and sat down across from her.
“You always look so handsome, our Do Yi-hyun.”
Joo Na-hye giggled and playfully clapped her hands. Do Yi-hyun let the familiar routine slide as he scanned the table and picked up a strawberry fresh fruit juice.
“Hey, that’s mine. Have the Americano instead.”
Joo Na-hye, as if to prevent it from being taken away, firmly grabbed the bottom of the cup and gestured with her chin toward the iced Americano at the edge of the table. However, Do Yi-hyun maintained an indifferent expression.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Yeah, pregnant or not, my strawberry… what?”
Joo Na-hye, who had been grumbling out of habit, seemed to belatedly understand the meaning of Do Yi-hyun’s words and suddenly shouted, jumping up from her seat. Do Yi-hyun frowned and covered his ears. He had known it before, but Joo Na-hye’s voice was just too loud.
“What! What are you saying?”
Joo Na-hye, who had shouted loudly, awkwardly sat back down under the employees’ sharp glances and lowered her voice.
“That’s how it turned out.”
Having secured the strawberry fresh fruit juice with his bombshell announcement, Do Yi-hyun took a sip of the drink. It was a bit too sweet, but the tangy flavor suited his taste quite well.
“I have so many questions right now? Should I grill you one by one, or will you explain?”
Joo Na-hye raised her eyebrows and pointed at Do Yi-hyun threateningly. Do Yi-hyun gave a very brief explanation of what had happened so far. How he ended up having a one-night stand, got pregnant, and found out that the one-night partner was his superior.
Whenever Do Yi-hyun glossed over the details, Joo Na-hye dug into every little thing, and eventually, he ended up telling her almost everything. Except for the fact that they kissed or that he performed fellatio.
“…Aaaah.”
Every time a new story came out of Do Yi-hyun’s mouth, Joo Na-hye writhed and pulled at her own hair. Do Yi-hyun simply watched her indifferently.
“You had such an interesting, eventful thing happen and didn’t even consult me once? I really feel betrayed.”
“Telling you wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“No, well, that’s true. But still… You should be grateful there’s a baby in your belly. If not, who knows what would have come out of my mouth.”
Joo Na-hye glared at him menacingly, but Do Yi-hyun didn’t even blink.
“How many weeks are you now?”
“Almost 12 weeks.”
“Wow, I really can’t believe it… I forgot you were an Omega.”
Joo Na-hye rubbed her cheek with a dazed expression. It was Joo Na-hye who took Do Yi-hyun to the hospital when he collapsed from acute manifestation fever in their third year of high school. But instead of scolding Joo Na-hye, Do Yi-hyun nodded along.
Because he, too, had forgotten he was an Omega.
“…Are you doing okay physically?”
Joo Na-hye, who had been deliberately maintaining a playful attitude until now, chewed her lips and asked in a whisper. She even hunched over as if worried someone might hear.
“No problems.”
Do Yi-hyun answered appropriately. If she found out that he had almost fainted from severe morning sickness early on, Joo Na-hye might chase him to his house every day. Fortunately, Joo Na-hye sighed in relief without much suspicion.
“So, is that superior handsome?”
“Haa.”
This time, Do Yi-hyun let out a deep sigh and turned his head toward the window. It wasn’t even worth answering.
“No, don’t ignore me. This is a very important issue. My niece’s or nephew’s future life depends on it?”
Joo Na-hye crossed her arms with a serious expression.
“It’s not your niece or nephew.”
“If it’s your child, it’s my niece or nephew.”
Joo Na-hye shrugged her shoulders and grinned mischievously. She seemed determined to argue every time the baby was mentioned until she was acknowledged as the aunt.
“Can’t I meet him once?”
“Why would you?”
“You know, it really hurts when you draw lines like that sometimes?”
When Do Yi-hyun coldly retorted, Joo Na-hye slumped her shoulders and muttered gloomily. At any other time, he wouldn’t have paid attention, but for some reason, Seo Jeong-woon overlapped in his mind, and he softened.
“I don’t even expect an introduction. Can’t you just ask him to come pick you up here?”
Joo Na-hye, noticing the subtle change, pounced on the opportunity.
“…He’s my superior.”
“Superior or whatever, he’s the baby’s other parent. From what I heard, it sounds like he’d come running right away?”
Joo Na-hye chuckled and tempted Do Yi-hyun.
“I’m the baby’s father.”
“No, you’re also the baby’s father, but… Then is that person the baby’s mother?”
“Yeah.”
Do Yi-hyun answered curtly. Joo Na-hye’s expression changed subtly. Just then, Do Yi-hyun’s phone on the table rang loudly.
‘Of all people, it had to be Seo Jeong-woon calling.’ If he had to pick the two most annoying and persistent people in Do Yi-hyun’s life, it would undoubtedly be Seo Jeong-woon and Joo Na-hye. If he answered the call, Joo Na-hye would somehow try to get Seo Jeong-woon to come here, and if he left the two together, the worst synergy was sure to happen.
Moreover, Joo Na-hye couldn’t resist anything beautiful, whether people or objects. And Seo Jeong-woon was the most beautiful man among the people Do Yi-hyun knew. If by any chance Joo Na-hye became infatuated with Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance, it would be troublesome in many ways.
While Do Yi-hyun hesitated, Joo Na-hye stretched her neck and confirmed the six characters floating on the screen: ‘Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon.’
“Not going to answer?”
Joo Na-hye narrowed her eyes and looked at Do Yi-hyun meaningfully. It seemed suspicious that Do Yi-hyun, a workaholic, was reacting lukewarmly to a call from his superior.
“……”
Do Yi-hyun flipped his phone over without saying anything. It was practically admitting that the caller was the baby’s other parent. But he thought it would be less bothersome to endure Joo Na-hye’s pestering.
And for some reason, he didn’t want a connection to form between the two of them.
“So that person is the baby’s mother? Right? Seo Jeong-woon…”
As expected, Joo Na-hye quickly figured out Seo Jeong-woon’s identity. Then, with a rather serious expression, she mulled over his name. He thought she would urge him to answer the call, but instead, Joo Na-hye stared intently at Do Yi-hyun.
She looked quite intrigued.
“What’s he like?”
Joo Na-hye curled the corners of her mouth upward.
“What do you mean.”
“What kind of person is Mr. Seo Jeong-woon?”
It was a simple question, but a rather difficult one to answer. Especially for someone as indifferent to others as Do Yi-hyun.
‘What kind of person is Seo Jeong-woon?’
Do Yi-hyun lowered his gaze and thought of him. The speed at which his vague image came to mind had increased noticeably compared to before, but his striking and distinct features still seemed blurred as if shrouded in mist. He felt a bit stifled.
“Lee Hyun.”
The voice full of laughter came to mind more clearly than his face. Seo Jeong-woon used a sweet and gentle tone as if holding cotton candy in his mouth. Perhaps because of that, even when he grumbled occasionally, it wasn’t really annoying.
“Weird.”
Do Yi-hyun muttered softly. He was a really strange person. Other than that, he didn’t know how to describe Seo Jeong-woon.
Joo Na-hye nodded her head. It seemed like she wanted him to say more. Do Yi-hyun swallowed dryly.
Various words swirled on the tip of his tongue, but none came to mind clearly.
“…Uncomfortable and annoying.”
After pondering for a while, Do Yi-hyun belatedly added. Even though he now knew there were many good points, they wouldn’t come out.
“Do Yi-hyun. We’ve known each other for almost 20 years now.”
“It’s 13 years.”
Do Yi-hyun corrected the exaggerated number of years Joo Na-hye had inflated. Rounding up instead of rounding off—typical of Joo Na-hye.
“Same difference.”
“It’s different.”
Do Yi-hyun asserted again and glared at Joo Na-hye. When he was with Joo Na-hye, he felt like he was back in high school. Even though they wasted time on pointless conversations, he didn’t want to leave.
Originally, Do Yi-hyun wasn’t the type to be tight-lipped. He just kept his mouth shut because misunderstandings were bothersome and annoying. Perhaps because Joo Na-hye was someone he didn’t have to worry about misunderstanding him, they could have normal conversations.
“Anyway, I’ve seen you for more than a year or two.”
Joo Na-hye lowered her voice as if they were having a secret meeting.
“But until now, whenever I asked you what someone else was like, I never got a proper answer even once?”
Joo Na-hye shook her head with a fed-up expression.
‘Was that so?’
He carefully recalled the past, but he had no memory of Joo Na-hye asking such a question. Although she often played pranks, Joo Na-hye didn’t tell big lies to Do Yi-hyun. It seemed he had forgotten because he wasn’t interested.
“The kid who always said ‘I don’t know,’ ‘Who’s that,’ ‘Not interested’…”
Joo Na-hye exaggeratedly acted touched, covering her mouth with both hands. She looked like she was about to tear up any moment, but the corners of her eyes were dry. Do Yi-hyun watched her with mixed feelings.
At most, he had only complained that Seo Jeong-woon was weird, uncomfortable, and annoying, so he didn’t understand why she was making such a big deal. It wasn’t like he treated everyone as if they were strangers. It was highly likely that the people Joo Na-hye had specifically asked about were insignificant.
“If Mr. Seo Jeong-woon proposed marriage, would you do it?”
Joo Na-hye called him familiarly, as if she had met Seo Jeong-woon herself.
“Not unless I’ve lost my mind.”
Do Yi-hyun furrowed his straight eyebrows. Becoming a couple meant accepting a complete stranger as family. He had no intention of considering someone as frivolous as Seo Jeong-woon as a lifelong partner.
‘Now, one child is enough for my family.’
Do Yi-hyun, his expression stiff, placed a hand on his lower abdomen.
“You can live together and divorce if you don’t get along.”
Joo Na-hye, knowing that Do Yi-hyun was rigid about marriage, deliberately tested him.
“……”
Do Yi-hyun pressed his lips into a straight line. It wasn’t even worth responding to.
“Congratulations.”
Joo Na-hye, who had been resting her chin and observing Do Yi-hyun’s complexion, suddenly offered congratulations.
“Congratulations on gaining a new family.”
When Do Yi-hyun gave her a puzzled look, Joo Na-hye smiled faintly. Then, as usual, she calmly picked up a new drink. Although she had never said it herself, Joo Na-hye vaguely knew that Do Yi-hyun had a special attachment to family.
Do Yi-hyun nodded slowly. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had received congratulations. It felt quite awkward.
“But is that enough? Really?”
Joo Na-hye raised her round eyes sharply and stared at Do Yi-hyun. Her face was gentle, which didn’t match her eccentric personality.
“What are you trying to say?”
“You’re lonely.”
“I’m…”
Although he felt a bit bitter when his mother remarried, he wasn’t particularly lonely. He should clearly say no, but like someone who had been hit where it hurt, no words came out.
“You’re always one-sided. So honestly, I’m worried.”
Joo Na-hye, with her arms crossed, grumbled.
“Speak so I can understand.”
Do Yi-hyun narrowed his brows and touched the corner of his mouth.
“Do you expect anything from me?”
“No.”
The wrinkles between Do Yi-hyun’s brows deepened further. He hated conversations with vague topics and intentions. There was no way Joo Na-hye didn’t know, yet she kept talking nonsense since earlier.
‘Not like Seo Jeong-woon.’
He swallowed a sigh that threatened to escape.
“What about Mother?”
“Nothing.”
Do Yi-hyun answered without hesitation. It wasn’t just Joo Na-hye and Mother. Do Yi-hyun had never placed expectations on anyone.
“That’s your problem. Not expecting anything is the same as not caring.”
Joo Na-hye acted smug and wiggled her fingers left and right.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
Seo Jeong-woon alone was enough to twist conversations. Do Yi-hyun pressed his thumb firmly against his brow.
“Look. If I weren’t interested in delicious things, I wouldn’t have ordered all sorts of menus while having high expectations.”
Joo Na-hye pointed to the nearly ten glass cups scattered on the table and smiled playfully.
“You’ve never thought about wanting to do something with me or imagined how we’d be living in the future, right? Same with Mr. Seo Jeong-woon?”
Joo Na-hye narrowed her eyes. Do Yi-hyun showed no reaction. Of course, he had never done such a thing.
He couldn’t understand at all why Joo Na-hye was asking such questions.
“Ugh, this is why it’s no good.”
Joo Na-hye shook her head with a mischievous expression and picked up a new drink. It was topped with a heap of whipped cream, making his mouth water just by looking at it. It seemed Joo Na-hye, as usual, intended to nag him appropriately and then drop the subject.
Buzz. Do Yi-hyun’s phone rang again.
“Answer it. And tell him to come pick you up here.”
Joo Na-hye seemed convinced that the caller was Seo Jeong-woon even without looking at the screen.
“I brought my car.”
“Leave it. Anyway, it’s close to your house. I need to see Mr. Seo Jeong-woon’s face at least once.”
Both Mother and Joo Na-hye—he didn’t understand why they were so desperate to see Seo Jeong-woon.
‘Am I that unreliable?’
Do Yi-hyun clicked his tongue with mixed feelings. Even as he hesitated, the vibration showed no sign of stopping.
“Hello.”
Do Yi-hyun reluctantly answered the call. Calling not once but twice meant there was definitely something important. Joo Na-hye held her breath, her eyes sparkling.
-Lee Hyun, did you have a good meal with Mother?
“Yes.”
-I thought about it, and I realized I haven’t talked to our baby today.
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, even though they had been together since yesterday, they hadn’t filled the promised 10 minutes even once. Since Seo Jeong-woon had been diligently requesting conversation time whenever possible, he hadn’t thought to keep track. One day might be okay, but going over two days felt uneasy.
Tap tap. Joo Na-hye tapped the table and mouthed her lips. Tell him to come pick you up.
-When can you come? Or should I go to Lee Hyun’s house?
Seo Jeong-woon, completely unaware of the situation here, continued the conversation calmly. Suddenly, he wondered if Seo Jeong-woon would come obediently if he asked him to pick him up.
“…Pick me up…”
-I’ll come. Where should I go?
The moment Do Yi-hyun impulsively moved his lips, Seo Jeong-woon quickly asked as if he had been waiting.
-I just stepped out of the front door. You can’t take it back.
Even though such a sudden request should be bothersome, Seo Jeong-woon said firmly with a voice full of laughter.
“I’ll send you the address.”
-Okay, got it. See you in a bit.
Do Yi-hyun hung up the phone in a daze.
“He’s coming?”
“…Yeah.”
“Great.”
Joo Na-hye rubbed her hands together excitedly and neatly arranged the table, which had become a mess with empty cups. In the meantime, Joo Na-hye had finished all the drinks except for two.
“Hey, move inside. Hurry.”
Joo Na-hye, bustling around, pushed Do Yi-hyun aside and plopped down on the seat next to him.
“What are you doing?”
“Shh. Don’t say anything. Just trust this Noona.”
Joo Na-hye smiled with a sinister scheme in mind. Then she leaned her back halfway against Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder.
“Joo Na-hye. Move away.”
Do Yi-hyun called out in an irritated voice. Not only Do Yi-hyun, but Joo Na-hye also wasn’t the type to willingly engage in skinship with others.
“No. Stay still.”
But Joo Na-hye stubbornly held her ground. It was suspicious that she kept doing things she normally didn’t. However, instead of stopping her, Do Yi-hyun let her be.
At the very least, she wouldn’t act rudely toward Seo Jeong-woon. Perhaps this was a chance to see Seo Jeong-woon flustered.
“Lee Hyun.”
Not long after, Seo Jeong-woon arrived. Clearly, just a few hours ago when he left Seo Jeong-woon’s house, he had been wearing comfortable clothes, but now he was neatly dressed in a three-piece suit as if going to work.
‘Did Executive Director Seo have an appointment?’
Do Yi-hyun unconsciously frowned slightly. Seeing how neatly his hair was styled, it seemed like he had met someone important.
“Wow.”
Joo Na-hye also let out a small exclamation of admiration. Fortunately, she didn’t seem particularly taken with Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance. It was a strange thing.
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been approaching with a bright smile and quick steps, noticeably slowed down only after arriving at the table, as if he had just noticed Joo Na-hye sitting beside him.
“You’re here.”
“Ah, are you Seo Jeong-woon? I’m Joo Na-hye.”
The moment her eyes met Seo Jeong-woon’s, Joo Na-hye sprang up and forcefully pushed Do Yi-hyun down by the shoulders. Then, she introduced herself directly to Seo Jeong-woon and offered a handshake. Do Yi-hyun looked at the back of Joo Na-hye’s round head with a reluctant gaze.
He couldn’t see what expression she was making.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Seo Jeong-woon. What’s your relationship with Lee Hyun? I heard you were meeting Mother today.”
Seo Jeong-woon, wearing a calm smile, glanced briefly at Do Yi-hyun as he took Joo Na-hye’s hand. Do Yi-hyun reflexively clenched his fist.
“We have a special bond, one of a kind in this world.”
Joo Na-hye boasted, tilting her chin up. Since she was his only friend, it wasn’t entirely wrong, but it was unbearably boastful.
“Is that so?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked softly while looking at Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun looked back at Seo Jeong-woon with the most indifferent expression he could muster.
“Haha, you must be very close with Lee Hyun.”
“Of course. Our Lee Hyun is weak against proactive people. Like me.”
“Ah.”
Both were smiling, but somehow it felt like sparks were flying. Joo Na-hye was short, not even 160cm, with a petite frame. Yet, she didn’t seem intimidated in front of the towering Seo Jeong-woon.
Do Yi-hyun’s gaze kept drifting toward the two people’s firmly clasped hands. Joo Na-hye was gripping the back of Seo Jeong-woon’s hand so tightly that her fingertips were turning white. Even though he knew it wasn’t an affectionate gesture, he felt strangely displeased.
“Lee Hyun is weaker against pretty people, though. Like me.”
Seo Jeong-woon confidently smiled, mimicking Joo Na-hye’s tone exactly.
“Tsk, looks aren’t everything. Our Lee Hyun likes people with beautiful hearts more. Exactly like me.”
Joo Na-hye added a retort as if refusing to lose. Do Yi-hyun squinted one eye. Somehow, it felt like two peas in a pod.
‘I didn’t call Executive Seo just to listen to childish bickering.’
He couldn’t read Joo Na-hye’s intentions at all. Meanwhile, the two were still gripping each other’s hands tightly.
“I’ll go ahead.”
Do Yi-hyun abruptly stood up from his seat. For some reason, he had an intuition that he shouldn’t leave Seo Jeong-woon and Joo Na-hye in the same space any longer.
“What, you’re leaving already?”
Joo Na-hye tried to follow him, looking disappointed, but Seo Jeong-woon, with his eyes curved into crescents, blocked her path.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon gave Joo Na-hye a light nod and quickly caught up with Do Yi-hyun. Then, as if to show off, he wrapped his arm around Do Yi-hyun’s waist.
“Outside…”
“I don’t care.”
Joo Na-hye was probably still watching. Do Yi-hyun showed signs of discomfort, but Seo Jeong-woon pouted and stubbornly held onto his waist. When they got into Seo Jeong-woon’s car, a message arrived from Joo Na-hye.
[Joo Na-hye: I knew you were slow, but this is a bit much]
Joo Na-hye sent a series of angry emoticons. At the nonsensical message, Do Yi-hyun blinked in confusion.
“Was that the person from earlier?”
“Yes.”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head and asked. Do Yi-hyun nodded nonchalantly.
“Are you really close? What’s your relationship?”
Seo Jeong-woon stared intently at Do Yi-hyun, as if he had no intention of starting the car.
“Well…”
[Joo Na-hye: If he asks what our relationship is, say it’s special. If you don’t, you’ll regret it. Absolutely]
Just as he was about to answer that they were just friends, Joo Na-hye urgently sent a message, as if she knew somehow.
“……We have a special relationship.”
Do Yi-hyun muttered awkwardly, exactly as written in the message.
[Joo Na-hye: And I’m serious, let’s become in-laws. Just wait a bit]
Do Yi-hyun didn’t send a single reply, but Joo Na-hye chattered away on her own.
Judging by her words, she seemed to like Seo Jeong-woon’s appearance. Do Yi-hyun twisted his lips. Even though it was natural, he felt strangely upset.
As Do Yi-hyun’s phone kept ringing incessantly, Seo Jeong-woon’s expression gradually darkened.
“Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon suddenly grabbed the wrist of Lee Hyun, who was holding his phone.
“Special? How special?”
Seo Jeong-woon pressed, leaning in close. Do Yi-hyun, who was about to ask if they weren’t leaving, stared at him quietly for a moment. Seo Jeong-woon, who always seemed overflowing with ease, looked somewhat anxious.
Seeing him with Joo Na-hye must have triggered some Alpha possessiveness. It was a pointless display of jealousy. Joo Na-hye and he were absolutely nothing more than friends.
“……I wonder.”
But instead of clarifying the truth, Do Yi-hyun replied ambiguously. It was an impulsive action, just like when he had asked Seo Jeong-woon to pick him up. The moment those words left his mouth, Seo Jeong-woon’s grip on his wrist tightened with force.
Do Yi-hyun winced at the stinging pain, wrinkling one eyebrow. But he wasn’t particularly angry. After always being swayed by Seo Jeong-woon, being on the opposite side felt quite refreshing.
Should he thank Joo Na-hye for this?
“Is she your younger sister? You don’t look alike. Or is she a relative?”
Seo Jeong-woon persistently questioned about Joo Na-hye. The most harmless option—friend—never came up.
“Do I have to tell you even that?”
Do Yi-hyun acted petty for no reason. He didn’t like that Seo Jeong-woon assumed he had no friends.
“We agreed to let each other know who we meet if plans come up.”
“That was only for lunch or dinner plans. This is neither.”
Do Yi-hyun casually brushed off Seo Jeong-woon’s unreasonable demand. The clause wasn’t about reporting every detail of his private life.
“More than me…”
Seeing that Do Yi-hyun didn’t want to answer, Seo Jeong-woon pursed his lips for a moment before letting out a short sigh.
“Do you remember the last clause we added?”
He narrowed his eyes as if testing Do Yi-hyun. It was the clause about not meeting anyone else until the child was born.
“Yes.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Do Yi-hyun thought he wouldn’t give up until he got a concrete answer, but Seo Jeong-woon surprisingly backed off cleanly. It seemed he wasn’t that interested in Joo Na-hye’s identity after all. Seo Jeong-woon, with a pouty smile, loosened his grip and brushed his thumb over the inside of Do Yi-hyun’s wrist.
By now, a vivid red mark had formed on Do Yi-hyun’s pale skin.
“I’m sorry.”
Seo Jeong-woon apologized in an intentionally affectionate voice. Yet, he continued to press firmly along the clear mark with his fingertips. It was obvious that continued stimulation would make the mark last longer, but Seo Jeong-woon showed no intention of stopping.
“It’s fine. I’m sorry too, for calling you out suddenly.”
Do Yi-hyun pulled his arm away appropriately and bowed his head. Even though they weren’t close, it was surprising that Seo Jeong-woon had come willingly despite the sudden call.
“Just let me know whenever you need me. It’s for our baby.”
Seo Jeong-woon, despite being pushed away, stubbornly grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s wrist again and smiled brightly. Then, he hurriedly added more. Do Yi-hyun nodded indifferently.
Seo Jeong-woon clearly didn’t want his goodwill to be misunderstood in another direction. Do Yi-hyun reminded himself once again that Seo Jeong-woon’s affection was solely directed at the baby. Seo Jeong-woon continued to stroke the inside of Do Yi-hyun’s wrist, gradually releasing his pheromones.
The sleek car interior filled with Seo Jeong-woon’s scent. At the fragrant pheromones he hadn’t smelled in hours, Do Yi-hyun reflexively took a deep breath. Since he started absorbing Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones through his mucous membranes, Do Yi-hyun had been able to live normally as before.
However, it was only that he could endure the discomfort; his pheromone rejection syndrome wasn’t completely cured. When he went out alone, he would unknowingly become more sensitive. Smelling the comforting pheromones, he felt the tension that had been wound tight slowly loosen.
“You don’t dislike it, right?”
Seo Jeong-woon observed Do Yi-hyun’s pale complexion.
“…….”
Asking for permission after releasing pheromones—the order was completely wrong. But Do Yi-hyun kept his mouth shut, eyes lowered. Even now, it was enough to erase the lingering traces of others’ pheromones.
But he wanted to smell it a little stronger.
‘Why do I keep doing this?’
Do Yi-hyun swallowed dryly. He felt unfamiliar with himself, constantly fixating on Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones. Just as Seo Jeong-woon instinctively displayed possessiveness, was his Omega instinct awakening too?
“Haha.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a light laugh and released his pheromones even more intensely. Even though he hadn’t shown any signs, it felt like his inner thoughts were completely exposed. The rich floral scent and bittersweet woody aroma blended harmoniously.
Only after confirming that Do Yi-hyun’s eyes had relaxed drowsily did Seo Jeong-woon carefully start the car. Do Yi-hyun looked down at his wrist, where the warmth had disappeared. It felt empty and cool.
His dark eyes soon fixed on Seo Jeong-woon’s profile as he turned the steering wheel. Seo Jeong-woon sparkled from every angle. It was because his features were delicate.
Especially the line from the bridge of his nose down to his lips was beautiful. Do Yi-hyun repeatedly traced the elegant line in his mind, trying to memorize Seo Jeong-woon’s face.
“How was the meal with Mother?”
Though aware of the blatant gaze, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t mind and kept his eyes on the road. Seeing the softly curled corners of his lips, it seemed like he was enjoying Do Yi-hyun’s attention.
“Nothing special…”
A crack briefly appeared in Do Yi-hyun’s indifferent expression. It was because he suddenly remembered his mother’s words about wanting to meet Seo Jeong-woon.
“Huh?”
Seo Jeong-woon widened his eyes and glanced at Do Yi-hyun. It seemed strange to him that Do Yi-hyun, who usually spoke clearly and concisely, was being ambiguous. If he conveyed his mother’s wish, Seo Jeong-woon would likely agree readily without showing any particular reaction.
He might even go a step further and suggest making plans for tomorrow. Meeting his mother could also be seen as something for the baby’s sake. For the baby’s sake, Do Yi-hyun could bend his personality and tolerate Seo Jeong-woon’s unreasonable demands.
It was the same for Seo Jeong-woon. But somehow, it felt awkward.
“It’s nothing.”
Do Yi-hyun rubbed his left wrist, where Seo Jeong-woon’s mark remained. Since it wasn’t urgent, they could discuss it slowly later.
“Hmm.”
Seo Jeong-woon hummed softly.
“Did you have plans?”
Do Yi-hyun looked at Seo Jeong-woon’s neat forehead and subtly asked. The suit aside, now that he looked, Seo Jeong-woon had even neatly styled his curly hair. If he hadn’t been somewhere, there would be no reason to dress up so neatly.
But Seo Jeong-woon didn’t answer, only curling the corners of his lips brightly. He seemed to be in a very good mood.
“Why are you making that expression?”
Contrary to Seo Jeong-woon, the corners of Do Yi-hyun’s lips drooped awkwardly.
“I like it when Lee Hyun shows interest in me.”
“…….”
“I was grooming myself to look good for Mother. Just in case you called me.”
Seo Jeong-woon shamelessly rambled on with a radiant smile.
‘Lies.’
If he had said he had important plans, Do Yi-hyun would have believed him without doubt. Frowning, Do Yi-hyun turned his head to look out the window. Now, he couldn’t tell whether Seo Jeong-woon’s words were sincere or jokes.
“Shall we go to Lee Hyun’s place?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked subtly, letting out a light laugh.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun refused flatly, leaving no room for argument. His place was closer, but he didn’t want to bring Seo Jeong-woon into his private space.
“Alright.”
Seo Jeong-woon nodded as if he had expected it.
***
After getting out of the car, Seo Jeong-woon insisted on supporting Do Yi-hyun by wrapping an arm around his waist, even though Do Yi-hyun refused. He was a little worried about how Seo Jeong-woon would act once the due month approached.
Of course, he wasn’t sure Seo Jeong-woon would remain interested in him until then.
“This feels like our home.”
Upon arriving at the house, Seo Jeong-woon suddenly spouted nonsense. Do Yi-hyun quietly frowned. He didn’t understand what he meant by saying it wasn’t Seo Jeong-woon’s house.
“Wait a moment.”
He suddenly pushed Do Yi-hyun inside, then closed the front door without entering himself. He didn’t even say where he was going.
‘What?’
Left alone in someone else’s house out of nowhere, Do Yi-hyun stared at the firmly closed front door with an astonished expression. As Do Yi-hyun blinked a couple of times, the doorbell rang. Without even checking the intercom, Do Yi-hyun opened the door immediately.
It was obvious it would be Seo Jeong-woon. Sure enough, Seo Jeong-woon’s beaming face appeared through the door crack.
“I’m back.”
Seo Jeong-woon, with a bright smile, immediately pulled Do Yi-hyun into a hug. He acted as if he had returned from far away.
“What are you doing?”
“Hmm. Playing house?”
At Do Yi-hyun’s sharp question, Seo Jeong-woon chuckled. Then, as soon as he took off his shoes, he scooped Do Yi-hyun up into his arms.
“Can’t you stop doing things like this?”
Do Yi-hyun reflexively grabbed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulders and looked up at him.
“No, I can’t. Lee Hyun always overexerts himself. At least when you’re with me, you should relax.”
Seo Jeong-woon shook his head with a stern expression, as if scolding Do Yi-hyun.
“It’s not relaxing at all.”
“That’s because it’s awkward. I should hold you more often until you get used to it.”
Seo Jeong-woon didn’t yield a single word until the end. Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh. The problem was that, as Seo Jeong-woon said, it seemed faster for him to adapt.
He took Do Yi-hyun to the sofa. As if he knew Do Yi-hyun felt awkward about receiving fellatio on the sofa, Seo Jeong-woon sat in a different spot than usual. Do Yi-hyun felt embarrassed.
Somehow, that was even more awkward.
“Baby, it’s Mommy.”
Seo Jeong-woon immediately covered Do Yi-hyun’s stomach with his large hand and affectionately called out to the baby who couldn’t hear yet. His voice was low and soft enough to make one’s ears tingle. Do Yi-hyun clenched and unclenched his fist.
“I missed you. Nothing happened while Mommy was away, right? I want to be with our baby all day…”
Seo Jeong-woon murmured gently while glancing at Do Yi-hyun. At that ambiguous gaze, Do Yi-hyun frowned.
‘Does he mean he can’t be with the baby because of me?’
It felt like he was being treated as an obstacle. A sharp pain stabbed deep in his chest. Whether he knew Do Yi-hyun’s feelings were hurt or not, Seo Jeong-woon continued speaking to the baby calmly.
“Can I give our baby a kiss?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been bending over, looked up at Do Yi-hyun with an affectionate expression. Even though they met every day, Seo Jeong-woon always acted as if they hadn’t seen each other for years.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun pushed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder away. But he stubbornly held onto Do Yi-hyun’s waist and persisted.
“Just once. It’s for the baby.”
“It’s my stomach.”
Until now, he hadn’t thought much of it, but today, every time Seo Jeong-woon mentioned the baby, he felt strangely displeased.
“Do you dislike it that much?”
When Do Yi-hyun, who would usually pretend to give in, refused until the end, Seo Jeong-woon made a sullen face.
“…….”
Do Yi-hyun held back his words. The problem was that he didn’t dislike it.
“Then I’ll do it over your clothes.”
Seo Jeong-woon slumped his shoulders as if he had made a big concession.
“……Were you planning to lift my clothes?”
“Of course.”
When Do Yi-hyun asked again, dumbfounded, the shameless Seo Jeong-woon nodded confidently.
“It’s no different from touching, right? Hmm?”
Seo Jeong-woon rubbed his cheek against Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder as if acting cute. When he thought about it, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“……Alright.”
Do Yi-hyun reluctantly nodded.
“Thank you.”
Seo Jeong-woon planted a quick kiss on Do Yi-hyun’s cheek. It was so natural that there was no time to react.
“Why…”
“Baby.”
Do Yi-hyun couldn’t ask why he had kissed him. It was because Seo Jeong-woon quickly bent down to speak to the baby. Do Yi-hyun pursed his lips tightly.
“Our pretty baby.”
Seo Jeong-woon leaned his cheek against Do Yi-hyun’s upper stomach and gave it a few pecks. He started from Yi-hyun’s upper stomach and slowly moved downward. Occasionally, he would lightly caress his side.
‘It tickles.’
His stomach kept tensing up. Unconsciously squirming, Yi-hyun heard Jeong-woon chuckle softly.
“Dad must be really ticklish, huh?”
Even though he knew Yi-hyun was uncomfortable, Jeong-woon didn’t stop. Instead, he pulled Yi-hyun’s waist closer and even rubbed his forehead against his chest. Yi-hyun looked down at Jeong-woon’s round crown.
He could have pushed him away to tell him to stop, but for some reason, he couldn’t move his arms. Perhaps it was because of the warm body heat.
“Have you ever imagined doing something with me, or thought about how we might live together in the future? Or with Mr. Seo Jeong-woon?”
Suddenly, Joo Na-hye’s calm voice echoed in Yi-hyun’s ears. For a moment, Yi-hyun’s heart fluttered. It was always like this.
A single offhand remark from Na-hye would later create huge ripples in Yi-hyun’s heart.
“I’ll get along well with Dad. Don’t worry.”
Jeong-woon’s playful voice felt as warm as sunlight. Even though he knew the affection wasn’t directed at him, it felt like it was his own. Yi-hyun froze stiffly.
“You need to grow up big and strong. If you take after Mom and Dad, you’ll shoot right up.”
Jeong-woon casually spoke of the future. Suddenly, an image came to mind: himself holding a small child, and Jeong-woon hugging him and smiling. With Yi-hyun’s limited imagination, he could only vaguely guess at what life with the child would be like.
But the image of the three of them together rose in his mind as clearly as a framed picture. The three people Yi-hyun imagined looked like a harmonious family. They seemed perfectly, happily complete.
‘No.’
Feeling a sense of crisis, Yi-hyun unconsciously shoved the defenseless Jeong-woon away roughly.
‘I can’t do this.’
Now, for the rest of his life, the child in his belly was enough family. No one else, especially someone like Seo Jeong-woon who might leave at any time, should be allowed in. A chilling shudder ran down his spine.
“Ouch. That hurts.”
Jeong-woon groaned, clutching his shoulder. Since Yi-hyun had pushed with all his might, even if there was some exaggeration, it must have genuinely hurt.
“It’s been 10 minutes.”
He had forgotten to time it and didn’t know how long it had been, but Yi-hyun quickly turned his head and made a hasty excuse.
“It’s only been a minute.”
It must have been at least five minutes, but Jeong-woon was being unreasonably stubborn again.
“I should be going now.”
Yi-hyun abruptly stood up from his seat.
“Where are you going? It’s late, stay and sleep. Hmm?”
Then Jeong-woon clung to Yi-hyun’s waist again. Yi-hyun couldn’t move, as if nails had been driven into his feet.
“You’re lonely, aren’t you?”
Na-hye’s voice came again.
‘No. I’m not lonely.’
Yi-hyun denied it in his heart and slowly pushed Jeong-woon’s arms away.
“I’m sorry.”
Yi-hyun’s voice trembled pathetically.
“Lee Hyun-ssi?”
Sensing something was wrong, Jeong-woon followed Yi-hyun and stood up.
“I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”
But Yi-hyun left his house as if fleeing, without even looking back.