By Zephyria 
Three days into the handover.
Kim Hui-won learned one new fact. No one in the company, except for the secretarial staff, seemed to realize that he had manifested as an Omega.
Everyone he encountered asked if he was feeling better, commented on how pale he looked, and inquired if his sick leave was over. They seemed to think his absence was due to illness.
It turned out that Executive Director Kwon had ordered them to do so. He had thoroughly silenced everyone, and the loyal secretarial staff hadn’t uttered a word about Hui-won’s Omega manifestation. Not that such a secret could ever truly be kept under wraps.
Hui-won didn’t mind if his manifestation became widely known. However, he wasn’t one to go around broadcasting it himself, and since Executive Director Kwon had given instructions, he simply remained silent.
Even though he tried to stay holed up in the office as much as possible, he inevitably ran into people on his way to and from work. Every time he caught a whiff of pheromones instead of cologne or perfume, he found it fascinating. It automatically put him on alert, and keeping his pheromones locked down became a kind of training.
Five PM. As quitting time approached, Hui-won began to tidy up his desk. He neatly packed important documents into cardboard boxes and emptied his personal belongings from the drawers. The sticky notes that had been lined up next to his monitor had long been torn into tiny pieces and thrown into the trash.
The secretaries’ regretful gazes gathered one by one. However, with a farewell dinner already arranged, there was no way to hold him back. Suppressed sighs could be heard from all corners.
Meanwhile, Hui-won finished cleaning his desk and touched the computer one last time. After quickly completing a few tasks, he grabbed the document envelope he had prepared in advance and stood up.
He buttoned his jacket, neatly adjusted his tie, and stood in front of the office door. After a light knock, Kwon Young-je responded in a low voice.
Kwon Young-je, who had been staring at the monitor with a serious expression, slowly turned his gaze. Secretary Kim, who carefully closed the door and walked over, had a radiant glow on his face. It was clear how happy he was, even though the corners of his mouth weren’t raised.
Kwon Young-je put aside his work and leaned back in his chair. As the chair slowly rotated, Hui-won approached the desk and brazenly handed over the envelope.
“What’s this?”
“My resignation letter.”
Kwon Young-je chuckled softly and opened the envelope. The single document inside was pulled out, caught by his fingertips. The content was the same as the one he had submitted before.
However, a thin, hard plastic covered the surface of the document. Kwon Young-je pressed the inside of his cheek with his tongue.
“…Resignation letter.”
“Yes.”
“You even laminated it?”
Hui-won nodded. He calmly accepted Kwon Young-je’s sharp gaze without any agitation.
“You can damage it if you want. The related documents have already been uploaded to the HR system. I’ve arranged for automatic termination, so you don’t have to worry about it, Executive Director.”
“……”
“The handover was completed as of today, and I’ve passed the headhunting firm representative’s contact information to Lee Gyuna. I’ve also forwarded the emails we exchanged to you. I’ve asked them to continue recommending candidates, so please check them from time to time, even if you’re busy.”
“Thorough.”
“Finishing things up is my job.”
Kwon Young-je put down the resignation letter he was holding. He knew better than anyone that destroying it wouldn’t stop Kim Hui-won from resigning. A headache was brewing, and he pressed his fingertips against his temples.
“No second thoughts?”
“I’m sad to give up a six-figure salary too.”
“Name what you want.”
Frankly, clinging on like this was humiliating for Kwon Young-je. It also meant that he didn’t want to let him go. Hui-won, who knew this better than anyone, pretended to consider it for a moment.
“Well, unless you’re going to take responsibility for my life… Oh, do you perhaps have any intention of taking care of me for the rest of my life?”
“Are you serious?”
Hui-won smiled faintly. Of course, he wasn’t. The idea of him being involved with an Omega was as likely as the earth splitting open. He had thrown out a condition that Kwon Young-je could never accept.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
He bowed politely and left. Kwon Young-je didn’t stop him. Hui-won exchanged brief greetings with the secretaries and left the office.
He went straight to the HR department and returned his employee ID card. The HR team leader came to the counter himself and spoke with Kim Hui-won. The entire department was already buzzing about the resignation application that had just been submitted.
“Secretary Kim, is the document you submitted real? It included an Omega trait confirmation…”
“Yes, it is.”
“Oh my, this… How did this happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Hui-won replied blandly. He felt a tickling sensation on his face because of the way people were looking at him as if he were some kind of zoo animal. Not wanting to explain any further, he took a step back from the counter, which was reaching his chest. His clear face had its usual calm expression.
“Team leader, are there any other documents I need to supplement?”
“Ah, no, the documents are fine. There shouldn’t be any problems.”
“That’s a relief. Then, please take care.”
He ignored the murmuring voices and turned around. Perhaps because he had unloaded all his burdens, his steps as he left the company felt lighter than ever.
An hour later, text messages began to pour in. The news that he had revealed his Omega trait and applied for resignation had spread rapidly.
From people he was usually close to, to people he had only exchanged contact information with as a formality, they all sent greetings and inquired about Hui-won’s Omega manifestation. Of course, he had no obligation to answer their curiosity one by one.
As he was wondering whether to put his phone on silent or just turn it off, another text message arrived. This time, it was from Korea University Hospital. Tomorrow was his hospital appointment.
“……”
He felt strange. He thought he had accepted his situation to some extent, but when faced with unexpected moments like this, his mind went blank.
Hui-won closed his eyes. Negative emotions were of no help, so it was best to eliminate them quickly.
I am an Omega, I am an Omega… The sound of him muttering as if chanting a spell continued for a long time.
* * *
“How have you been feeling lately?”
“I’m fine.”
“Is your pheromone control also going well? Have you ever felt excited or distressed by Alpha pheromones?”
Hui-won pursed his lips and nodded. It was a little embarrassing to have these kinds of conversations with Professor Hong. But he had to accept it, what else could he do? He repeated it to himself several times and composed his expression as if nothing was wrong.
“Yes, everything has been fine.”
Fortunately, Professor Hong was professional and treated Kim Hui-won only as her patient. In an atmosphere that felt almost dry, only the necessary questions and answers were exchanged. Hui-won found that more comfortable. An attitude that excluded emotions gave him more stability than excessive kindness.
“Your heat cycle will probably come around early November. Around the 5th or 6th.”
These days, times have improved, and it’s possible to predict the expected date of the heat cycle in advance. It’s even quite accurate.
“Since it’s your first heat cycle, it’s best to go through it without medication.”
“Yes.”
“Find a partner in advance. You probably know this part well, so I won’t explain it separately. Oh, let’s look at the ultrasound we took earlier together.”
Professor Hong turned the monitor so that it was easier to see. Hui-won stared intently at the black and white screen. He was sure it was his stomach, but he couldn’t tell what was what.
“Here, this is the gestational sac.”
“…Ah.”
Professor Hong pointed to a small oval with the end of her pen. Gestational sac, in his 31 years of life, he had never heard of such an organ, and he was simply amazed that it had appeared.
“I’ve looked at it several times, but the shape is very unstable. It probably won’t be able to implant.”
“…You mean I can’t get pregnant?”
“The chances are slim. Usually, in these cases, I would say it’s close to infertility.”
I see. Hui-won readily agreed. Professor Hong stared at him and burst into a hearty laugh.
“Are you relieved to be infertile? You look relieved.”
“Was it that obvious?”
Yes, completely. Professor Hong wiped her mouth and barely managed to suppress her laughter. She looked at Hui-won with a softer gaze. She opened her mouth not as a doctor, but as Hong Yeon-ju.
“Kwon Young-je came to see me the day before yesterday.”
“……”
“He asked about you, Hui-won. He asked if there was any way to reverse it. He’s crazy. That executive director of a pharmaceutical company is talking nonsense.”
“…I think you’re more shocked than I am.”
Professor Hong shook her head. It meant she was dumbfounded. To recall the previous conversation, her upper body leaned more comfortably, and the pen in her fingers spun around.
“And he asked if there was any way to cure his chronic illness.”
“……”
“When I nagged him to death from the side, he didn’t listen, but now he seems to have a sense of crisis.”
“Isn’t that a psychological problem?”
“That’s right, I’m not a psychiatrist, so what answer would he get by consulting me? So I lashed out at him. But it doesn’t seem to have affected him.”
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became, and Professor Hong twitched her upper lip. She openly criticized Kwon Young-je, then suddenly let out a sigh.
“Still, seeing that he’s determined to overcome it, I honestly feel relieved as a friend.”
“……”
“He must have really not wanted to let go?”
It was clear who Kwon Young-je didn’t want to let go of. Unable to agree, Hui-won rubbed the back of his neck for no reason.