By Zephyria 
The digestive medicine I had just taken nearly came back up. Hui-won stared at the pharmacist with wide eyes.
She was an Omega too. As a pharmacist, and as a fellow Omega, she had simply asked a reasonable question.
“Early pregnancy symptoms can be similar to this. I think it would be a good idea to check.”
Hui-won just laughed it off lightly. He had been diagnosed as practically infertile, and what little chance of pregnancy he did have was blocked off, so pregnancy was realistically impossible.
“No, I don’t think that applies to me.”
Hui-won picked up the paper bag, gave a light farewell, and headed for the pharmacy exit. He stopped at the threshold. Still, he was already at the pharmacy… just in case.
Hui-won took a short breath, then quietly turned back.
“By any chance… do you sell test kits?”
As soon as he got home, he threw himself onto the bed. He hadn’t even had a particularly busy day, but an uncontrollable fatigue washed over him, and he fell into a deep sleep in that state. When he woke up, the sky outside had already grown dark.
Hui-won picked up his phone first, his face puffy. Checking the time, it was 8 PM. He had slept a solid five hours.
The aftereffects of the nap lingered for quite a while. His body and head both felt heavy. His hazy mind wouldn’t wake up easily, so he lay sprawled on the bed a while longer, being lazy.
There were a few missed calls and messages while he was asleep. After finally shaking off the drowsiness, Hui-won called Kwon Young-je.
– How’s your stomach?
He asked about his business first thing upon answering. The gruff inquiry was so typical of Kwon Young-je that Hui-won laughed softly.
“It’s fine. I took some medicine and it’s all settled down.”
– Just how many hours did you sleep?
At the voice that sounded almost scolding, Hui-won just rubbed his face and smiled. He sat up, leaning his back more comfortably against the hard bed frame. He wondered what Kwon Young-je might be doing at this late hour.
“Where are you? Did you finish work?”
– Not yet. Probably won’t be done until past ten.
He was still tied up at the company. Considering his usual workload, it wasn’t surprising. Still, Hui-won felt sorry he couldn’t be by his side. Using half a day off for something as trivial as an upset stomach had been weighing on his mind all along.
“I’ll be back to work normally tomorrow.”
At Hui-won’s businesslike tone, a sigh came through the phone speaker.
– I can’t tell if I’m talking to my lover right now or receiving a report from my secretary.
“The office is empty, right?”
– That worry again.
Hui-won couldn’t help but burst out laughing. After that, they chatted idly for a long while. Moments like this were when he truly felt they were lovers. Laughing over nothing, feeling the tension melt away just from hearing his voice. The times when he would freeze up just answering Executive Director Kwon’s calls felt like a distant past.
“Ah, and I’m at the villa.”
Han Jin-seo’s scandal had quieted down recently. A while ago, he held a press conference and confessed to the controversy in his own words, stating he would suspend activities for the time being. As an actor whose stock was high, he had dozens of ongoing advertising contracts. Companies, including Apex, filed lawsuits for breach of contract damages.
Between the adultery lawsuit and the damages, the burden was significant for Han Jin-seo. He sold the villa and left as if fleeing. Thanks to that, the reporters who had been camped out also disappeared.
That was last week. Hui-won had been thinking about moving back home eventually, but with the daily commute, he hadn’t found the right moment to tell Kwon Young-je.
As of today, the cohabitation ended, and he returned to his own place. At Hui-won’s sudden, almost sneaky announcement, another sigh followed from the other end of the line. Kwon Young-je was inwardly disappointed.
– You probably haven’t eaten either. There’s nothing to eat at that place, right?
“I’m not really thinking about it. On days like this, it’s better to just keep the stomach empty.”
– I’ll come over when I’m done. Rest.
“Why are you coming again? Let’s just meet tomorrow morning.”
They battled over whether he should come home or not, but ultimately, it was decided according to Hui-won’s wish: they would rest at their respective homes today.
About thirty minutes later, abalone porridge was delivered to his house. He had no prior knowledge of it, but he could guess Kwon Young-je had sent it.
Hui-won finished off one of the small porridge containers. Just in case, he also took some digestive medicine and fever reducer, then lay down on the spacious living room sofa.
Even after sleeping so much during the day, his body felt stretched out like wet cotton. Was the cold still not gone… Thinking he should just go to bed early today, he forced his heavy body up.
As he slowly took a step, he suddenly noticed the pharmacy bag spread open on the dining table. And next to it, the thin, elongated box.
Hui-won picked up the pregnancy test kit and entered the bathroom. With his toothbrush in his mouth, he began examining the box in detail. The phrase ‘For Male Omegas’ written on it was ridiculous.
“Trying all sorts of things.”
He tossed the box onto the vanity for now and brushed his teeth vigorously. It was literally just a test. Hui-won still believed it didn’t apply to him.
And a little while later.
From the running faucet, whoosh— a strong stream of water poured out. Hui-won took a deep breath, then wiped his wet face with his palms. Water dripped steadily from his chin, which had been hit repeatedly by the cold water.
“Haa, fuck. This is driving me crazy.”
On the vanity, the used test kit now sat conspicuously. On the flat plastic, one vivid red line and one faint line were drawn side by side.
The very thing he thought ‘no way’ about had happened.
The accuracy of pregnancy test kits approaches 97%. Even so, one cannot completely trust the test kit’s result.
They say the morning-after pill is only 95% effective if taken within 24 hours after ejaculation; after that, the effectiveness drops sharply the later it’s taken. It literally means a temporary measure, not perfect contraception.
As if anyone didn’t know that. The reason he took the morning-after pill was to find a sort of psychological peace, not because he was really worried about getting pregnant. They clearly said his gestational sac didn’t function properly. Hui-won still firmly believed the doctor’s opinion of infertility. This had to be some kind of solid mistake.
Hui-won didn’t trust the test kit at all. It couldn’t be. He must have gotten a defective product by chance.
But he didn’t have the courage to try again. It would be better to go to the hospital and get a proper test. Even in the midst of this, he was convinced it absolutely couldn’t be pregnancy.
A week had passed like that, with him comforting himself. Hui-won was too busy with work to make a hospital appointment, and the days just continued, his blood running dry.
“…Ah.”
Hui-won bent over, biting his trembling lips tightly. Whether due to stress, he often felt a stabbing pain around his solar plexus.
He usually didn’t show he was in pain, but when the agony was this severe, like now, he couldn’t help it.
Hiding alone behind his monitor, he waited for the pain to subside. In that short time, his complexion turned pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Several minutes passed with him just regulating his breathing, clutching his damp forehead. As the abdominal pain finally eased, Hui-won pushed his desk away and stood up as if he’d decided something. He headed straight for the executive office without hesitation, but his breathing was still ragged, and even his fingers knocking on the door trembled faintly.
“Executive Director, do you have a moment?”
Kwon Young-je, who was reviewing documents, only lifted his gaze. As soon as he saw him, he seemed to notice Hui-won was different from usual and immediately put down his fountain pen.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I need to go to the hospital for a bit. For about an hour… Would it be alright if I stepped out?”
Hui-won opened and closed his eyes tightly, struggling to state his business. Of course, he could never tell him he was going to the OB-GYN.
Kwon Young-je silently stared at Hui-won’s face for a moment, then picked up his phone from the desk.
“Wait in the lobby downstairs. I’ll be down within ten minutes. Secretary Kim, take him to the hospital.”
He gave brief instructions to the driver. As Hui-won made a troubled expression at the situation unfolding before him, Kwon Young-je got up and closed the distance between them in an instant. Without touching him at all, the scent of bergamot enveloped his entire body, as if comforting him with an arm.
“Go get a proper check-up, and if there’s anything wrong, contact me immediately.”
“…….”
“After your hospital visit, go to my place.”
Hui-won barely swallowed his desolate feelings and lifted his head. His gaze met the pitch-black eyes, but his lips wouldn’t part easily.
“Secretary Kim, you need to answer.”
“Understood.”
He forced out the voice that wouldn’t come. He didn’t even know what expression he was making right now. Judging by Kwon Young-je’s displeased expression, he must clearly look like he was on the verge of collapse.
Hui-won made an effort to pull up the corners of his mouth, pretending to be fine. Thank you for your consideration. With a secretary-like greeting, he quelled the other’s unease.
The OB-GYN department at the university hospital was crowded even on a weekday morning. It was a place specializing in sentients, but Hui-won was the only male.
It was only natural that eyes were drawn to a man in a suit sitting alone in a corner with a gloomy face. The whispering was loud enough for Hui-won to hear, but he had no energy to care about that attention right now.
“Phew.”
He let out another sigh and rubbed his face with his sweaty hands. The waiting time was so agonizing he kept shuddering.
“Mr. Kim Hui-won.”
Right on cue, a notification appeared on the display and a voice called his name. Slowly bracing himself on the chair, he got up and headed towards the open door of the examination room. His feet felt like they wouldn’t move, his mood like that of a death row inmate entering the courtroom.
Thirty minutes later, Hui-won came out with a dazed expression. The nurse who followed called his name and told him to take the documents, but as if deaf, he just started walking aimlessly.
Thud, thud. His somewhat hurried footsteps gradually quickened. Hui-won ran into the restroom at the end of the corridor and pushed open a toilet stall door. Ugh. The confusion held inside poured out as vomit.