By Zephyria Due to Seo Jeong-woon’s persistent hold, Do Yi-hyun could only return home after having dinner together. During that time, Seo Jeong-woon stuck close to Do Yi-hyun and wouldn’t let go. Whenever Do Yi-hyun showed discomfort, Seo Jeong-woon would lower his long eyelashes and murmur pitifully that he had no choice if he wanted to deliver pheromones.
Since it was mostly just shoulder-to-shoulder contact or wrapping an arm around the waist, Do Yi-hyun couldn’t bring himself to coldly push him away either. For Do Yi-hyun, who rarely interacted closely with others, it was a very unfamiliar time. His body was comfortable, but his mind was tired.
Still, perhaps because he had absorbed enough of Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones, his condition recovered significantly at once. Although he woke up a couple of times around dawn due to an unexplained chill, he could sleep quite soundly. To think such a big difference could come from just an Alpha’s pheromones.
Even though it was his own body, it was quite amazing. On Monday morning, despite Seo Jeong-woon’s urging to rest one more day, Do Yi-hyun went to work as usual. Although he had mild nausea, his body was fine enough to finish a whole container of salad for breakfast, and lazing around didn’t suit his personality at all.
With proper sleep and meals, his concentration naturally improved. Do Yi-hyun quickly handled the piled-up work. The only problem was that other Alphas’ and Omegas’ pheromones felt more pungent than before.
‘I hope it’s just my mood.’
If his pheromone rejection syndrome worsened more than now, it would be troublesome in many ways. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
The phone placed under the monitor vibrated shortly in succession. Do Yi-hyun habitually saved the file he was working on and checked the palm-sized screen.
[Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon: Are you busy, Lee Hyun?]
There was a message from Seo Jeong-woon. Do Yi-hyun slightly frowned at the round rabbit emoticon Seo Jeong-woon sent.
It seemed to fit, yet it didn’t.
[What is it?]
Do Yi-hyun replied briefly. If it was something unnecessary, he planned to block him until lunchtime. As if he had been staring at the screen, the ‘read’ mark appeared immediately after sending the message.
[Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon: What do you want for lunch? Not anything, though haha]
Do Yi-hyun, who was about to type ‘anything,’ paused at the following phrase.
Until morning sickness started, Do Yi-hyun hadn’t thought about lunch menus for years. Because he used the company cafeteria every single day without fail.
[How about the company cafeteria?]
Do Yi-hyun pondered for a moment before tapping the screen. It was a half-impulsive decision.
A desire to regain the ordinary daily life before the sudden pregnancy had arisen. If he went to the cafeteria with just Seo Jeong-woon, all sorts of rumors would definitely spread. Through the experiences of the past few weeks, he had keenly realized that going around with Seo Jeong-woon required accepting a certain level of inconvenience.
‘It’s not like we’re doing anything wrong.’
But Do Yi-hyun was indifferent. For the next few weeks, or even months, he would have to have lunch with Seo Jeong-woon. Sooner or later, it would become known that the two were sticking together.
They weren’t secretly dating within the company, so there was no reason to uncomfortably hide it. Moreover, Do Yi-hyun wasn’t the type to care about people’s gazes. It might be bothersome, but he could endure it for the baby’s sake.
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been replying promptly, was quiet for a while. The phone rang again about 3 minutes later.
[Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon: Alright. Can I come pick you up?]
“Hmm…….”
Do Yi-hyun hummed lowly. Perhaps because he always ate alone, making plans to meet someone felt awkward. It seemed Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t just show up unannounced like before anymore.
Somehow, it felt like he would force his way in even if told no, but Do Yi-hyun found meaning in Seo Jeong-woon at least pretending to ask for permission.
[It doesn’t matter.]
[Executive Director Seo Jeong-woon: See you in a bit]
Seo Jeong-woon sent an emoticon this time that was unclear whether it was a fox or a cat. Do Yi-hyun looked down at it with an ambiguous expression before eventually placing his phone face down on the desk.
He tried to finish up his paperwork, but his concentration, once broken, didn’t easily return.
‘My mouth feels bored.’
Perhaps it was because he had been snacking frequently while staying with Seo Jeong-woon since Friday. Suddenly, sweet treats kept coming to mind. Licking his lower lip, Do Yi-hyun got up from his seat without hesitation.
Ever since the severe morning sickness began, he was grateful just for feeling the desire to eat something. Visiting the break room for the first time in a while, he couldn’t tell what was where. Do Yi-hyun casually picked up a few chocolate snacks he saw and sat at a table tucked away in the corner.
But as soon as he unwrapped it, his appetite vanished. Just in case, he took a small bite, but his mouth felt greasy as if he had taken a big bite of butter. Barely swallowing the slippery chocolate, Do Yi-hyun dropped the snack he was holding with a thud and wiped his mouth dry.
He felt inexplicably irritable.
“Executive Director Seo must be dating, it seems.”
A whispering voice came from somewhere. At the word ‘Executive Director Seo,’ Do Yi-hyun reflexively turned his head.
Taewoon Trading’s break room was cafeteria-style, and the spot where Do Yi-hyun sat was hidden by partitions and plants, making it hard to see from the outside. Conversely, it was also hard to see outside from inside. Do Yi-hyun could barely make out the silhouettes of two men and one woman.
“Executive Director Seo?”
“Who said that?”
At the man’s words, the other two asked back in surprise. It had already been three years since Seo Jeong-woon was appointed as a director at Taewoon Trading. Since he had never shown any signs of dating during that time, there were quite a few people, knowingly or unknowingly, orbiting around Seo Jeong-woon, hoping to become the protagonist of a drama.
“I saw him earlier, holding his phone and laughing for a long time, as if he was talking to someone.”
“Ah, the Executive Director always smiles a lot anyway.”
“That’s true.”
“No, it wasn’t that kind of business smile! It was a genuinely bright smile! I thought his eyes would disappear!”
As the two didn’t believe him, the man jumped up and down in frustration.
“I also got intel that he’s been looking at a photo happily since morning. They say it seems like a photo of his lover.”
The man let out a deep sigh and spoke dejectedly. His voice sounded gloomy, as if the world had split in two.
“What about the possibility of it being a photo of a dog or a hamster?”
“My colleague actually tried to ask the Executive Director sneakily, but he hid it so they couldn’t see. And that’s not all. Did you see how meticulously he dressed up today? His looks are no joke. He definitely has a date tonight.”
“…That part is undeniable.”
“I should walk around the hallway for the first time in a while.”
At the man’s lament, the other man shook his head side to side, and the woman’s eyes sparkled.
‘Hmm.’
Do Yi-hyun indifferently lowered his gaze. It wasn’t the first or second time he had inadvertently overheard talk about Seo Jeong-woon, but when the topic was as extremely private as this, he didn’t know how to react.
‘Is he really dating?’
But perhaps because he was so tightly entangled with Seo Jeong-woon privately, he felt a bit of curiosity this time. Of course, whoever Seo Jeong-woon dated had nothing to do with Do Yi-hyun. He had only promised to take responsibility for the child, not that they were dating.
‘I hope other Omega pheromones don’t get mixed in and come over.’
Do Yi-hyun unconsciously frowned. The memory of an Omega’s pheromone, which had made him even more nauseous when mixed with Seo Jeong-woon’s, came to mind, making his hair stand on end. He felt like he might vomit for no reason.
Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at his darkened phone screen. He wondered if he should give Seo Jeong-woon a separate warning. Or maybe it would be better to add it as a clause to the contract now.
‘…He’ll handle it well on his own.’
Do Yi-hyun let the arm he had just raised drop back under the table with a thud. He didn’t want to meddle unnecessarily. Even though it was an unwanted child, Seo Jeong-woon was excessively attentive.
Moreover, since he knew Do Yi-hyun had severe pheromone rejection syndrome to the point of being taken to the emergency room, he would probably be careful in advance. In a way, Seo Jeong-woon dating was good news from Do Yi-hyun’s perspective. If he got a lover, the likelihood of the child not being taken away increased.
He should be pleased, but somehow it felt uneasy.
‘Then is Executive Director Seo a playboy?’
Do Yi-hyun tilted his head while meaninglessly fiddling with the torn snack wrapper. It was only two days ago that Seo Jeong-woon admitted with his own mouth that he had hit on Do Yi-hyun. Moreover, he had been with Do Yi-hyun from morning till night just yesterday.
If he had gotten a lover since then, it meant he was hitting on at least two people simultaneously.
‘Or he was hitting on me while already having a lover.’
Of course, the reason he messed with him was simply out of stubborn pride, but either scenario was the worst.
‘He shouldn’t take after that.’
Do Yi-hyun worriedly stroked his lower abdomen. As his physical condition stabilized and he learned about the child’s other parent, he found himself suddenly imagining the time when the child would be born in concrete terms. Do Yi-hyun tried to recall Seo Jeong-woon’s hazy face and swallowed a bitter sigh.
At the very least, he didn’t want to forget the child’s face, but he wondered if that was possible. While lost in thought for a moment, it grew quiet, perhaps because the three people talking about Seo Jeong-woon had left. Do Yi-hyun slowly heaved his heavy body up.
Come to think of it, it seemed about time to start thinking of a nickname for the baby.
***
Knock knock. Someone lightly tapped on Do Yi-hyun’s desk.
“Lee Hyun-ssi.”
Having tuned out the knocking sound while staring at the screen, Do Yi-hyun reflexively jerked his head up at the low call.
“Ah.”
Meeting Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes, Do Yi-hyun let out a small gasp and blinked. Perhaps because his naturally disheveled hair was neatly styled and swept back to slightly reveal his forehead. Even though he knew it was Seo Jeong-woon, he looked like a completely different person.
Thanks to the neat styling, his distinct and handsome features stood out even more, and the deep gray classic suit amplified his elegant aura.
“……”
At this appearance, closer to ‘that man’ than ‘Executive Director Seo,’ Do Yi-hyun was momentarily speechless.
It was an annoyingly dazzling appearance, and he couldn’t easily tear his eyes away.
“Let’s go eat.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled with his eyes crinkled and extended his hand. Do Yi-hyun stared at him intently for a few seconds before pushing off the desk and standing up.
“Hmm.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been pouting his lower lip while looking at his empty hand, soon grinned slyly and approached Do Yi-hyun. Then he naturally tried to put his arm around Do Yi-hyun’s waist. During his stay at Seo Jeong-woon’s house, Seo Jeong-woon had supported him as if he were a heavily pregnant woman.
Even when Do Yi-hyun refused, saying it was okay, Seo Jeong-woon was so persistent that Do Yi-hyun half gave up. Having grown numb to the overprotectiveness in just one day, Do Yi-hyun watched Seo Jeong-woon’s actions without much thought. Then, belatedly snapping back to his senses at the piercing stares from around them, he hurriedly and forcefully pushed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder away.
Thump. Flustered, Do Yi-hyun couldn’t control his strength properly, and Seo Jeong-woon took half a step back with a fairly loud sound.
“Gasp.”
The team members, who hadn’t left their seats and were sneakily watching because Seo Jeong-woon had appeared right as lunch began, inhaled sharply and bowed their heads. Since the so-called ‘Americano incident,’ tension had been hanging in the office.
Do Yi-hyun also curled his fingers into a fist and observed Seo Jeong-woon’s complexion.
“Ah, are you embarrassed? Can’t be helped.”
But Seo Jeong-woon himself just shrugged nonchalantly.
‘Does he have no awareness that this is a company?’
Do Yi-hyun pressed his lips into a thin line and glared at Seo Jeong-woon. The others didn’t seem to have noticed what Seo Jeong-woon was trying to do. It was only natural.
Who would imagine an Executive Director trying to put his arm around a Team Leader’s waist?
“…Step back.”
“Let’s go quickly.”
At Do Yi-hyun’s softened warning, Seo Jeong-woon instead smiled brightly and urged him on. For some reason, he seemed to be in a very good mood.
“Sigh.”
Do Yi-hyun let out a deep sigh and reluctantly moved his feet.
‘Please.’
He earnestly wished the child wouldn’t take after Seo Jeong-woon. As unfortunate as it was for Do Yi-hyun, Seo Jeong-woon’s friendly skinship continued even in the elevator. Seo Jeong-woon pushed Do Yi-hyun into the corner spot and stood with their shoulders tightly pressed together.
“Executive Director, are you going to eat?”
“Yes. I’m going to the company cafeteria with our Team Leader Do.”
At the employee’s question, Seo Jeong-woon smiled amiably and pulled Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder close. His tone was excited, as if boasting about something great. Do Yi-hyun subtly twisted his shoulder and glared at Seo Jeong-woon secretly from the employees.
Now Seo Jeong-woon knew that Do Yi-hyun held his breath in the elevator because of others’ pheromones. He clearly knew Do Yi-hyun couldn’t speak properly and was blabbering on his own. Despite the subtle resistance, Seo Jeong-woon stubbornly gripped Do Yi-hyun’s shoulder firmly with his large hand.
“The company cafeteria? I should go for the first time in a while too.”
“Right. But I didn’t know you two were close.”
The employees smiled following Seo Jeong-woon’s lead and busily tapped on the phones in their hands. It seemed the company cafeteria would be more crowded than usual.
“We’re close. Very.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled with his eyes and tilted his head toward Do Yi-hyun. People looked back and forth between the blunt Do Yi-hyun and the affable Seo Jeong-woon with subtle expressions. It was as if they were watching Beauty and the Beast.
Do Yi-hyun couldn’t even begin to guess what rumors would spread within the company.
“Oh my, Team Leader Do. It’s been a while since you’ve been here.”
Lee Su-jin, a veteran who had been working in Taewoon Trading’s company cafeteria for ten years and was commonly called ‘Auntie Sujin,’ beamed as soon as she spotted Do Yi-hyun holding a tray.
“How did you lose so much weight? You’re not unwell, are you?”
“I’m fine.”
Despite the friendly concern, Do Yi-hyun’s response was brief. It was an attitude that could seem unfriendly, but Kim Su-jin smiled warmly and piled on a generous portion of stir-fried pork.
“Come often. You know how much I like Team Leader Do.”
“Our Team Leader Do is quite popular. Makes me jealous.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who was beside him, suddenly interjected into the conversation. Seo Jeong-woon smiled broadly as if determined and tilted his head.
“Oh my, Executive Director. Even if you use a beauty tactic, it’s no use. I’m a Team Leader Do fanatic.”
Far from being intimidated by Seo Jeong-woon, Lee Su-jin chattered away and winked.
“What should I do? I’m a Team Leader Do fanatic too.”
“Oh my. I have a rival.”
As Seo Jeong-woon muttered with a deliberately serious expression, Lee Su-jin’s eyes widened. Do Yi-hyun gave a slight nod to Lee Su-jin and strode off to find an empty seat. Normally he would sit anywhere, but since Seo Jeong-woon was so conspicuous, he placed his tray in as secluded a spot as possible.
“I heard that lady just now has her eye on you as a son-in-law. Did you know?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had quickly followed, sat across from Do Yi-hyun and asked in a lowered voice. In that short time, they had exchanged all sorts of stories.
“Yes.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded indifferently.
“Ha. So? Have you met them? Is that person an Alpha too? Since she said son-in-law, is it an Omega? Are they prettier than me?”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a disbelieving laugh. Do Yi-hyun stared at him intently. He had no idea what had offended his sensibilities this time.
Having already withdrawn his smile, Seo Jeong-woon tapped the table with his fingertips as if urging an answer.
‘Weird.’
It might be a misunderstanding, but Seo Jeong-woon clearly seemed anxious. Did he dislike the Omega carrying his child meeting another Alpha? But it was all unnecessary worry.
“He’s fifteen years old.”
Do Yi-hyun replied curtly.
“Huh?”
“The first one is fifteen years old.”
And she had said the second one was ten.
“……”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been blinking blankly for a moment, quietly picked up his spoon. Perhaps embarrassed for being competitive against a child, Seo Jeong-woon lowered his gaze. Do Yi-hyun watched his long eyelashes for a moment before silently starting his meal.
‘Is this an Alpha’s possessiveness?’
Like an Omega’s pale white skin, strong possessiveness was one of the typical characteristics of an Alpha. Even so, Do Yi-hyun was a bit taken aback that he would show possessiveness just because he was carrying his child, despite having not an ounce of affection.
‘…It might just be a matter of pride.’
Do Yi-hyun slightly frowned. Seo Jeong-woon had asked if he was an Alpha, if he was prettier than him. Maybe he simply disliked losing to others.
After all, the reason he had hit on him in the first place was because his pride was hurt from being rejected by someone for the first time. Perhaps because he was born with so much, Seo Jeong-woon had a surprisingly troublesome personality.
“Over there…”
“…with the Executive Director…”
The murmuring grew gradually louder. Casually looking around, he saw it was packed so densely that it was hard to find an empty seat. It was rare for the company cafeteria to be this crowded.
The numerous crowd was mostly looking this way, precisely at Seo Jeong-woon. It seemed quite novel for an Executive Director to appear in the company cafeteria. The rumor that Seo Jeong-woon had dressed up more than usual probably played a part.
At least it was fortunate no one was shoving their tray forward insisting on eating together.
“Is it okay with so many people? If you’re uncomfortable, tell me right away.”
Perhaps misunderstanding Do Yi-hyun’s action of surveying the surroundings, Seo Jeong-woon lowered his voice. He seemed worried that pheromone rejection syndrome might manifest strongly.
“It’s fine.”
Do Yi-hyun nodded indifferently. Even though he had asked Seo Jeong-woon to refrain from using pheromones at the company as much as possible, from the moment they faced each other, his stomach, which had been queasy again since dawn, gradually settled. It had been like that even before he knew Seo Jeong-woon was that man, but even without strongly receiving his pheromones, just being near him improved his condition considerably.
“Don’t push yourself.”
As if still not convinced, Seo Jeong-woon added once more. He seemed ready to take Do Yi-hyun to the Executive Director’s office immediately if he said it was hard. Do Yi-hyun twisted the corner of his mouth slightly.
If you thought about it, it was because Seo Jeong-woon had proudly blabbered in the elevator about going to the company cafeteria that the crowd had gathered. Meaning Seo Jeong-woon was the root cause of everything.
“Let’s go eat something more delicious tomorrow.”
“As long as I can eat it, anything is fine.”
Although Seo Jeong-woon smiled with his eyes crinkled and made the suggestion, Do Yi-hyun’s tone was utterly indifferent. He didn’t want to waste too much time eating.
“…You’re really peculiar, Lee Hyun-ssi.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had been staring intently for a moment, shook his head side to side.
‘Look who’s talking.’
Do Yi-hyun swallowed the complaint that had risen to the tip of his tongue. Picking a fight with Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t do any good.
“The sunlight was warm today. It’s perfect weather for a walk, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Just like yesterday, the pattern repeated throughout the meal where Seo Jeong-woon occasionally threw out questions and Do Yi-hyun brushed them off. Even while leading a one-sided conversation, Seo Jeong-woon quickly emptied his tray. He seemed like someone who would be picky about food, but surprisingly, he ate well without complaint.
Do Yi-hyun looked Seo Jeong-woon over. His posture was straight, and he made no sound when putting down or picking up his utensils. Although he kept trying to make conversation, he didn’t talk with food in his mouth.
Despite his light attitude, refinement was evident. Certainly, Seo Jeong-woon possessed various charms. The more time he spent with him, the more Do Yi-hyun could understand why people held favorable feelings toward Seo Jeong-woon.
Usually, about half the compliments about Seo Jeong-woon were mentions of his radiant appearance, but Do Yi-hyun’s thoughts were a bit different. More than anything else, his habit of smiling brightly was Seo Jeong-woon’s greatest asset. Do Yi-hyun looked at Seo Jeong-woon’s gently curved lips and touched the corner of his own mouth.
In stark contrast to Seo Jeong-woon, it was stiffly set.
‘It would be good if he took after Executive Director Seo in smiling well.’
Do Yi-hyun, who had unconsciously thought this, paused. He thought of it as his own child, yet he wished it would take after someone else. It was a strange feeling.
Naturally, he became curious about who the child would resemble. But due to his poor imagination, he couldn’t picture anything.
“Did I get something on me?”
Perhaps because he had been staring too intently, Seo Jeong-woon looked up with a puzzled expression.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun avoided Seo Jeong-woon’s gaze by looking down at his tray. He had promised to remember Seo Jeong-woon’s face, so it wouldn’t matter even if he stared openly. Yet, for some reason, he felt awkward.
“You can keep looking.”
Seo Jeong-woon, wearing a peculiar smile, rested his chin on the back of his hand and wiggled his nose. Wondering what nonsense he was spouting now, Do Yi-hyun glanced at him.
“You like pretty and handsome people, don’t you, Lee Hyun-ssi?”
“…Me?”
At the absurd statement, Do Yi-hyun’s expression twisted mercilessly.
“Yes.”
Despite the negative reaction, Seo Jeong-woon nodded confidently with a grin. He seemed convinced that he himself was pretty and handsome.
“That’s not true.”
Seo Jeong-woon continued spouting nonsense as if it were an established fact.
“That’s not true.”
“You’re lying.”
Even though Do Yi-hyun corrected him, Seo Jeong-woon narrowed his eyes. He appeared certain that he was pretty and handsome.
“Or could it be that you don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Whenever I dress up and come…”
Seo Jeong-woon trailed off, curling his lips. A playful glint filled his ash-gray eyes.
“It’s a secret. I want to keep it to myself.”
“…”
‘I’m not even curious.’
Do Yi-hyun furrowed his brow and focused on his meal. Since developing morning sickness, his eating speed had significantly slowed as he was careful not to gag.
“Let’s go have a snack.”
The moment Do Yi-hyun scooped his last spoonful, Seo Jeong-woon whispered. He meant to go to the executive office.
“…Understood.”
Although he was reluctant, recalling his failed attempt to eat chocolate snacks in the morning, Do Yi-hyun nodded slowly. The snack was clearly just an excuse; it was obvious he was being called to talk with the baby for ten minutes. Picking up his cleanly emptied tray and standing up, Do Yi-hyun glanced at Seo Jeong-woon.
It felt strangely novel that he had to tilt his head back to look at Seo Jeong-woon’s face.
“How tall are you, Executive Director?”
“Wow, so you’re starting to take an interest in me now?”
Seo Jeong-woon brightened and stepped closer. Do Yi-hyun took a step back and closed his mouth irritably. Really, Seo Jeong-woon never gave a straightforward answer at once.
“188cm.”
Seo Jeong-woon shrugged as if he had expected the question and answered. However, no matter how he looked, he didn’t seem that height.
“Aren’t you taller than that?”
Do Yi-hyun looked at Seo Jeong-woon with disbelief in his eyes. Even roughly estimating, Seo Jeong-woon was nearly 10cm taller than Do Yi-hyun, who was 183cm.
“Hmm.”
At Do Yi-hyun’s pressing, Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head as if troubled.
“Roughly around 190cm.”
Seo Jeong-woon gave an ambiguous answer to the end, narrowing his eyes with a smile. He seemed unwilling to reveal his exact height.
“Why are you understating it?”
Do Yi-hyun couldn’t understand hiding a clear measurement at all. He reminded himself once again that Seo Jeong-woon told trivial lies as easily as breathing.
“Because it creates distance.”
Seo Jeong-woon lightly tossed the words while pressing the elevator button. It seemed similar to deliberately tousling his hair.
‘Is that so?’
But to Do Yi-hyun, whose way of thinking differed from ordinary people, it didn’t resonate much.
‘They’ll grow tall, then.’
Regardless of the baby’s gender or traits, they seemed likely to grow quickly. The more he learned about Seo Jeong-woon, the more he felt he was learning about the baby too.
‘I hope they’re not a half-omega.’
Do Yi-hyun covered his lower abdomen with his right hand. Though he himself, with his dull personality, lived without much inconvenience, he didn’t want to pass on incomplete traits to the baby. He felt Seo Jeong-woon’s ash-gray eyes fixed on the back of his hand but pretended not to notice.
“Let’s go in.”
Seo Jeong-woon opened the executive office door and wrapped an arm around Do Yi-hyun’s back. Do Yi-hyun reflexively glanced sideways. He was bothered by Seo Jeong-woon’s secretary, who stood quietly as if present yet not.
“It’s fine.”
Seo Jeong-woon chuckled softly and embraced Do Yi-hyun’s waist. Click.
“Ugh…”
The moment the door closed and he was alone with Seo Jeong-woon, a fragrant yet bittersweet pheromone dizzyingly enveloped Do Yi-hyun. His knees buckled on their own.
“You should be careful.”
Despite unleashing pheromones without warning or permission, Seo Jeong-woon shamelessly caught Do Yi-hyun. But Do Yi-hyun couldn’t complain. Clenching his teeth, he could only endure, trying not to let unfamiliar moans escape through his teeth.
His waist trembled from the first-time experience of a pheromone shower. It took a while before Do Yi-hyun could barely adapt to Seo Jeong-woon’s intense pheromones. When he regained his senses, he was in Seo Jeong-woon’s embrace, leaning his forehead against his shoulder.
“You, you didn’t have to go this far.”
Struggling to hide his flustered expression, he pushed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder away.
“I told you. It’s for our baby. I’m worried about you, Lee Hyun-ssi, and want to send you off like this, but that won’t do, will it?”
Seo Jeong-woon muttered regretfully.
“Have you lost your mind?”
Do Yi-hyun frowned seriously, disgusted. He simply couldn’t phrase it nicely. For someone not even married to be drenched in another’s pheromones was unacceptable to the rigid Do Yi-hyun.
“Hmm. Okay.”
Surprisingly, Seo Jeong-woon nodded obediently and seated Do Yi-hyun on the sofa. Then he brought over a flat, wide box from somewhere.
“Snacks.”
Inside were colorful donuts, packed full. Seo Jeong-woon even handed over white milk and an Americano.
“The Americano is decaf.”
Seo Jeong-woon’s eyes sparkled as if asking for praise.
“…Thank you.”
He thought the snack was just an excuse, but being more seriously prepared than expected left him slightly flustered. Do Yi-hyun scanned briefly before picking up a donut coated with glossy chocolate. Clearly, when he tried to eat one in the pantry earlier, it was so greasy that even swallowing was a struggle, but this one went down smoothly, sweet and soft.
Do Yi-hyun glanced at Seo Jeong-woon curiously.
‘Can’t come to the executive office every time I want a snack.’
Thinking such a ridiculous thought, he quickly finished one donut. Drinking the savory milk left him quite satisfied. The subtle irritation lingering since morning melted away.
“Have more.”
Seo Jeong-woon, sitting beside him as usual with his chin propped, watching Do Yi-hyun eat, pushed the donut box toward him. Do Yi-hyun didn’t refuse. In the blink of an eye, he devoured three donuts.
“Now it’s my turn, right?”
Seo Jeong-woon snatched the empty milk bottle Do Yi-hyun was holding, wearing an excited expression.
“…Yes.”
The corners of Do Yi-hyun’s mouth drooped. Baring his stomach to his superior in the superior’s office—it was an absurd situation.
“Can I take it off?”
Seo Jeong-woon stroked the collar of Do Yi-hyun’s shirt and whispered suggestively. It was a question that crossed the line by a long shot.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun sprang up, intending to leave the executive office. But he couldn’t move under the gripping force pressing down on his shoulder.
“Just the vest.”
Seo Jeong-woon tapped Do Yi-hyun’s chest with his index finger. Feigning a sullen expression as if hurt by the misunderstanding was detestable.
“I want to talk properly with our baby. We only have ten minutes a day.”
Seo Jeong-woon even let out a deep sigh as if resentful of Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun watched awkwardly before moving his hand to the buttons. It was clear Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t back down until he got what he wanted anyway.
It wasn’t like he was taking all his clothes off; just the vest was fine. He simply didn’t like being swayed by Seo Jeong-woon every time.
“Let me take it off.”
But Seo Jeong-woon grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s wrist to stop him.
‘What are you trying to do?’
Do Yi-hyun looked up at Seo Jeong-woon askance. Seo Jeong-woon’s ash-gray eyes sparkled clearly. Seeing his expression filled with anticipation, Do Yi-hyun’s heart softened again.
As Seo Jeong-woon said, it was only ten minutes. There was nothing he couldn’t endure.
“Do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
As he lowered his arms, Seo Jeong-woon smiled broadly. Pop. Pop.
Contrary to expectations, Seo Jeong-woon undid the buttons very slowly. Do Yi-hyun turned on his phone indifferently.
“You can’t time it yet. This is still preparation.”
Seo Jeong-woon leaned in and said firmly. He seemed to have noticed him setting the timer.
“Finish quickly.”
“Haha.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a low laugh. But as the third and fourth buttons came undone, the smile faded from his lips. It was around when the loosened vest parted left and right, revealing Do Yi-hyun’s chest.
Seo Jeong-woon paused for a moment.
“At this rate, lunchtime will be over.”
Unable to bear it, Do Yi-hyun pushed Seo Jeong-woon’s hand away and undid all the buttons. Then he pushed the jacket and vest aside for easier access.
“Ha, really, Lee Hyun-ssi…”
Seo Jeong-woon suddenly held his forehead and groaned.
“Starting now.”
Without giving a gap, Do Yi-hyun started the timer.
“That’s too harsh. I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
Despite saying so, Seo Jeong-woon hastily placed his hand on Do Yi-hyun’s lower abdomen. Then he stroked it softly, drawing circles.
“Baby, it’s Mommy.”
Bending his waist, Seo Jeong-woon whispered playfully to Do Yi-hyun’s lower abdomen.
“But our baby doesn’t have a prenatal name?”
“I was planning to choose one soon anyway.”
“Ah.”
Seo Jeong-woon nodded as if understanding why Do Yi-hyun hadn’t given a prenatal name. It wasn’t because of a caring personality that he didn’t give one despite knowing about the pregnancy. But Seo Jeong-woon accepted it as if he hadn’t given one out of anxiety, fearing something might go wrong with the baby.
He wanted to say it was a misunderstanding, but no voice came out as if an invisible hand were strangling his throat.
‘…Could it be that I was really scared?’
At that reaction, Do Yi-hyun suddenly realized he had been afraid something might go wrong with the baby all along. Do Yi-hyun stared blankly at his stomach. He didn’t want to admit it, but he thought maybe he had been scared all along, just unaware due to his indifferent nature.
He also vaguely understood why being with Seo Jeong-woon naturally eased his nerves. It seemed he instinctively felt the baby was safe. Seo Jeong-woon babbled useless stories to Do Yi-hyun’s stomach.
Enduring the ticklish feeling, the ten minutes passed quickly.
“Can’t we talk for just one more minute?”
“No.”
Even though Seo Jeong-woon pleaded with an anxious expression, Do Yi-hyun cut him off sharply.
“Thank you for your help.”
Do Yi-hyun fastened his vest and expressed sincere gratitude. But due to his blunt tone, it sounded like a formal courtesy even to his own ears.
“Don’t talk like a stranger. It hurts my feelings.”
Seo Jeong-woon pouted with a sulky expression.
‘If not a stranger, then what?’
Do Yi-hyun blinked but didn’t voice it. He quietly sprayed a generous amount of the pheromone neutralizer handed by Seo Jeong-woon. Though unsure what the problem was this time, Seo Jeong-woon watched with crossed arms, looking displeased.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
Do Yi-hyun bowed. As he turned to leave, Seo Jeong-woon strode over and blocked his way.
“Lee Hyun-ssi, can I kiss you?”
“…What?”
Do Yi-hyun’s face contorted again. Today, Seo Jeong-woon kept asking strange questions.
“That’s impossible.”
“I looked it up, and they say pheromones can be absorbed through skinship too. Especially exchanging through mucous membranes is effective.”
Seo Jeong-woon parted his flushed lips and lightly tapped the corner of his mouth with his index finger. A glimpse of a bright red tongue showed through the narrow gap. Do Yi-hyun stiffened his shoulders, startled.
“What are you talking about?”
Do Yi-hyun frowned blatantly. Yet, he couldn’t easily tear his gaze away from Seo Jeong-woon’s blood-flushed lips.
“If you absorb enough through mucous membranes, it seems spraying neutralizer has the same effect as wearing pheromones around.”
Seo Jeong-woon continued his words slower than usual in a voice devoid of laughter. The subtly whispering tone, mixed with much breath, was strangely suggestive.
“Is that certain?”
Do Yi-hyun’s black eyes looking at him were filled with disbelief. Though nearly 200 years had passed since the emergence of Alpha and Omega traits, much remained questionable. Amid rampant unfounded rumors—like it being a transitional period evolving into a new humanity or that the first humans were Alphas and Omegas—this was the first he’d heard about absorbing pheromones through mucous membranes.
If it were a plausible theory, the Doctor would have told Do Yi-hyun long ago.
“You don’t trust me?”
Seo Jeong-woon widened his eyes and tilted his head. Despite knowing full well he frequently told lies and white lies, his expression was innocently pure enough to make one hesitate momentarily.
“Yes.”
If he were an ordinary person, he might have anxiously denied it and tried to soothe Seo Jeong-woon, but Do Yi-hyun nodded without changing his expression. He was merely amazed at how Seo Jeong-woon could move his facial muscles so freely.
“That’s too harsh, Lee Hyun-ssi.”
Seo Jeong-woon pouted with a hurt expression. But when Do Yi-hyun looked at him as if telling him not to play games, he quickly narrowed his eyes and smiled again.
“Pretend to be fooled and try it. It’s not like we’ve kissed just once or twice; one more time won’t change anything now.”
Seo Jeong-woon, slightly bending his neck, shrugged and casually mentioned what happened that day. The distance closed enough that if Do Yi-hyun tilted his head back, their noses would touch. Do Yi-hyun stared at him intently and swallowed a sigh.
Seo Jeong-woon was starting to insist unreasonably again. He seemed to have no intention of persuading Do Yi-hyun based on rational grounds. Even if he had solid evidence, he clearly wouldn’t utter a word.
Seo Jeong-woon wanted to shake Do Yi-hyun up, and when Do Yi-hyun pretended to yield to coercion, he visibly enjoyed it. From calling him out to eat lunch together to taking him on business trips or to hotel bars, it was all along similar lines. Seo Jeong-woon curved his lips into a smile, finding the current situation quite amusing.
He intuited that it wasn’t that Seo Jeong-woon couldn’t explain logically but that he simply chose not to. Do Yi-hyun glared at the corner of Seo Jeong-woon’s mouth before glancing at his wristwatch. Only about ten minutes of lunchtime remained.
Normally, he would have returned to the office by now to prepare for work.
“Don’t you want to?”
Seo Jeong-woon stealthily grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s wrist. Do Yi-hyun’s gaze, directed at the watch’s minute hand, shifted to his fingertips. Given his judo background, Do Yi-hyun’s forearms were thick even for a man, but Seo Jeong-woon, being tall, also had large hands, so he grasped them comfortably.
It seemed he could even hold both of Do Yi-hyun’s wrists with one hand.
“I’ll make it short.”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled silently and rubbed the inside of Do Yi-hyun’s wrist in circles with his thumb. It was an action that seemed deliberately seductive, even though he knew Do Yi-hyun was an Omega.
‘What are you trying to do now?’
It was natural for Do Yi-hyun’s eyes to fill with intensity. He examined Seo Jeong-woon’s face, wearing a smooth smile, to grasp his true intentions but couldn’t read anything. When his pregnancy was discovered, Do Yi-hyun clearly stated he had no intention of dating Seo Jeong-woon.
Seo Jeong-woon had only gotten angry at drawing a line not to care about the baby, showing no particular enthusiasm for a relationship with Do Yi-hyun. Initially, Seo Jeong-woon’s blatant interest in Do Yi-hyun over the past month was likely just lightly pushed out of simple stubbornness. Though they agreed to cooperate for the baby, given their special superior-subordinate situation, maintaining appropriate distance would be better for both.
But Seo Jeong-woon kept acting sweetly as if they were lovers. For Do Yi-hyun, who disliked ambiguous relationships, it was quite awkward.
‘Is the mucous membrane story real?’
It wasn’t just anyone; Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t bother with such unconvincing tricks just to kiss a subordinate employee who had no trace of cuteness no matter how hard you looked. Someone with nothing to lack wouldn’t do such troublesome things. Though hard to believe, it was highly likely he proposed it purely for the baby’s sake.
After all, Seo Jeong-woon also knew from the Doctor that if Do Yi-hyun’s pheromone rejection syndrome worsened, the baby would be in danger too.
‘Come to think of it…’
After the one-night stand, his condition had been unusually good for a while. If it was possible to absorb pheromones through the mucous membrane, that was welcome news for Do Yi-hyun.
“I understand.”
After a moment of contemplation, Do Yi-hyun replied indifferently.
“Huh?”
Seo Jeong-woon seemed a bit surprised, as if he hadn’t expected such easy agreement. Do Yi-hyun simply lifted his heel. If he didn’t attach meaning to sex, there was no reason to attach meaning to a kiss either.
Until now, he had consistently pushed Seo Jeong-woon away because there was absolutely no reason to get close to him. He also disliked being unfairly manipulated by a superior. Whether it was a kiss or anything else, if there was a reason, there was nothing he couldn’t do.
“W-wait a minute.”
But Seo Jeong-woon, who had been acting proactively until then, suddenly hesitated and stepped back just before their lips touched.
“What is it?”
“Ha, haha.”
Seo Jeong-woon looked down at Do Yi-hyun, who was glaring up at him, and let out a hollow laugh. The tips of his ears were slightly flushed. Even for Seo Jeong-woon, it seemed burdensome to suddenly kiss in the office.
He had probably just wanted to tease Do Yi-hyun, but the unexpected reaction seemed to have flustered him.
‘I was too hasty. There’s no need to test it now.’
Do Yi-hyun quickly gave up. He had momentarily forgotten it was work hours. When it came to matters about the child, his rationality kept getting paralyzed, which was a big problem.
“I’ll be going now, um…”
Just as he was about to announce his return to the office, Seo Jeong-woon suddenly pressed his lips together. Do Yi-hyun reflexively closed his mouth.
Seo Jeong-woon grabbed Do Yi-hyun’s chin and persistently licked his pale lips. Do Yi-hyun’s fingers twitched. The soft yet prickly sensation on his sensitive skin felt unfamiliar.
“O-open your mouth.”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head and spoke in a low, hushed voice. His previously gentle tone had subtly shifted to a commanding one. However, Do Yi-hyun didn’t feel any sense of incongruity.
“Hurry.”
It was because Seo Jeong-woon whispered affectionately, as if urging him again. He cupped Do Yi-hyun’s chin and rubbed his own lips against them. He gently scraped Do Yi-hyun’s full lips with his front teeth and occasionally tapped the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
It seemed like he intended to endlessly lick Do Yi-hyun’s lips if he wasn’t allowed in. Not wanting to waste time, Do Yi-hyun reluctantly forced his lips apart.
“Huh…”
As soon as a tiny gap was provided, Seo Jeong-woon invaded Do Yi-hyun’s mouth as if he had been waiting.
‘This is… strange.’
Do Yi-hyun stiffened, unsure how to react.
“Haa. Why are you so stiff? Is it because it’s been a while?”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled with his eyes crinkled and touched Do Yi-hyun’s motionless tongue. Do Yi-hyun winced one eye. He vaguely remembered kissing Seo Jeong-woon countless times that day, but being sober made it his first time kissing, so it felt awkward.
‘Why do people do this?’
Do Yi-hyun, who had no interest in skinship, found it utterly difficult to understand the act of mixing saliva with another person. The slippery, hot thing roaming freely inside his mouth felt really strange. When Seo Jeong-woon pressed his tongue tip against his palate, tickling it, he almost reflexively clenched his teeth.
Whether he knew he almost drew blood or not, Seo Jeong-woon playfully thrust his tongue deep into Do Yi-hyun’s mouth and pulled it out several times. It felt like having sex with their mouths.
“Ugh, uh, haa.”
Do Yi-hyun breathed heavily with his mouth open. He had thought it would be a light, casual kiss, but it deviated far from his expectations. He could feel his eyelids and the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.
The fragrant pheromones that had been wafting strongly since earlier made it even harder to keep his composure. Even though he had used pheromone neutralizer to barely erase it, he was instantly soaked inside and out with Seo Jeong-woon’s pheromones.
“Move your tongue. Yeah, like that.”
Seo Jeong-woon coaxed Do Yi-hyun and continued the kiss. The longer their lips stayed connected, a strange sense of pleasure began to creep up. When his tongue brushed against Seo Jeong-woon’s, a tingling sensation shot up his spine for a moment.
Do Yi-hyun’s legs gave way, and he staggered. Seo Jeong-woon skillfully wrapped an arm around his waist to support him. It should have felt heavy, but it was surprisingly stable.
“Ah, haa.”
Do Yi-hyun leaned against Seo Jeong-woon’s arm and clenched his fists. Perhaps due to lack of oxygen, his head grew foggy. Seo Jeong-woon’s warm pheromones began to gradually turn menacing.
Simultaneously, Do Yi-hyun felt a tingling in his lower abdomen. It was a sensation similar to when he had woken up from sleep and masturbated once.
‘This is dangerous.’
As heat surged, Do Yi-hyun grew impatient. A brief kiss was one thing, but getting sexually aroused was unacceptable.
“Vice President, please, stop…”
Do Yi-hyun urgently grabbed Seo Jeong-woon’s shoulder.
“We agreed you’d call me by my name.”
But Seo Jeong-woon clung relentlessly and teased Do Yi-hyun’s lips. His skin, sensitized from all the rubbing, evoked vivid sexual sensations even from short kisses.
“At the company, it’s Vice President, ugh.”
Do Yi-hyun wanted to argue but couldn’t complete his sentence because Seo Jeong-woon arbitrarily bit his lower lip.
“But it’s fine when we’re alone. Calling me Vice President while kissing so unromantically, really.”
Seo Jeong-woon grumbled, rubbing his nose against Do Yi-hyun’s cheek.
‘What romance.’
Do Yi-hyun swallowed a sigh. He had thought it was a simple therapeutic act, but Seo Jeong-woon seemed to perceive it differently. A playboy was indeed a playboy.
And to an Omega as big as a house. His tastes were truly peculiar. Instead of arguing, Do Yi-hyun sharply turned his head to the side.
Trying to win an argument with Seo Jeong-woon through words would only be to his own detriment. A small laugh was heard from above, but Do Yi-hyun ignored it cleanly.
“Please let me go now.”
“If you release your pheromones for just a moment, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon whispered ticklishly near his ear. He had already wrapped a large hand around the back of Do Yi-hyun’s neck and was stroking his earlobe with his thumb. His other hand was also sweeping over his side.
Unfamiliar with the sensation, Do Yi-hyun hadn’t noticed the groping hands and felt bewildered, but didn’t show it outwardly.
“No.”
Do Yi-hyun replied more bluntly than usual, twisting his waist to escape Seo Jeong-woon’s embrace. Even if he knew how, he would have let it go in one ear and out the other, but since he didn’t know how to handle pheromones, it was an impossible request. Yet, for some reason, he didn’t want to admit the truth straightforwardly.
It was unusual for the indifferent Do Yi-hyun. The unique trait he had found convenient sometimes felt like a flaw since having the child.
“Hmm.”
Seo Jeong-woon looked down at Do Yi-hyun with apparent dissatisfaction. Do Yi-hyun straightened his disheveled clothes, pretending not to see his peculiar gaze.
“Please give me the neutralizer again.”
“I don’t want to either.”
Seo Jeong-woon seemed offended at another strange point, crossing his arms and pouting. His twisted lips were smeared with petulance.
“If we erase Vice President’s pheromones, we can check whether absorbing through the mucous membrane is effective or not, right?”
Do Yi-hyun suppressed his rising temper and calmly persuaded.
“……And if it is effective?”
Seo Jeong-woon’s grayish-brown eyes sparkled as he abruptly pulled Do Yi-hyun’s waist. Their foreheads lightly touched. Tsk.
Do Yi-hyun unconsciously clicked his tongue. Seo Jeong-woon’s unusual sense of distance was a headache.
“Then we’d have no choice but to kiss every day? For the baby’s sake?”
Seo Jeong-woon giggled as if finding something amusing and pressed for an answer. When Do Yi-hyun didn’t respond immediately, he wrinkled his nose impatiently. Surprisingly, he seemed to have an impatient personality.
“Well…”
Do Yi-hyun lowered his gaze and pushed against Seo Jeong-woon’s chest. Through the smooth fabric, he could distinctly feel firm muscles. He didn’t know about every day, but if kissing was effective for pheromone rejection syndrome, he would have to periodically kiss Seo Jeong-woon.
If just a few minutes of kissing could suppress the severe symptoms of pheromone rejection, it would be beneficial. He might even have to ask to kiss first. Do Yi-hyun subtly gauged Seo Jeong-woon’s reaction.
Seeing that he had suggested it first, it seemed Seo Jeong-woon also didn’t find kissing him unbearable, which was a relief.
“Ahaha.”
Do Yi-hyun wished he would step back a little, but Seo Jeong-woon kept closing in.
“Since we’re testing it, we should do it thoroughly at once, right?”
Seo Jeong-woon smiled brightly and pressed his lips together again.
‘Lunch break is almost over.’
Do Yi-hyun felt awkward but opened his mouth. His mind knew he should stop, but for some reason, he couldn’t refuse.
***
In the end, Do Yi-hyun could only leave Seo Jeong-woon’s vice president’s office five minutes after lunch break ended.
‘What on earth did I do at the company?’
Belated regret washed over him, but there was no use regretting what had already passed. Do Yi-hyun, who had boarded the elevator, kept adjusting his clothes.
‘If it’s effective, maybe I should meet Vice President Seo separately in the morning, kiss, and then come to work…’
Do Yi-hyun, who was contemplating what to do in the future, shook his head and stopped thinking. As Do Yi-hyun entered the office, his team members’ gazes focused on him. Since he had never been late even once before, they seemed quite puzzled.
Moreover, since they had seen him with Seo Jeong-woon during lunch, they must have many questions. Murmurs filled with curiosity were faintly heard, but Do Yi-hyun returned to his seat with an expressionless face. Kim Yu-min, with a determined expression, approached stealthily, tightly holding approval documents.
“Looks like you made up with the Vice President.”
Kim Yu-min handed a black file to Do Yi-hyun and grinned. His face looked like he had a lot to say.
“What are you talking about.”
Do Yi-hyun replied indifferently without even looking at Kim Yu-min. He didn’t want to talk about Seo Jeong-woon right now. He thought kissing or whatever had no meaning, but his lips kept burning, making it very awkward.
“Aww. Don’t be shy.”
Somehow interpreting the blunt response, Kim Yu-min covered his mouth and giggled. Then he showed a clenched fist.
“I support your friendship! Sincerely!”
Kim Yu-min, who firmly believed Do Yi-hyun was an Alpha, seemed convinced that what existed between the two was friendship. What existed between Seo Jeong-woon and himself was not friendship or love, but merely obligation. It was laughable.
Do Yi-hyun snorted and handed over the documents.