By Zephyria 
Side Story 2
“Gasp, it really is Cal Front?”
“Huh? I thought the suppressants were coming tomorrow?”
“I know, right?”
“But still, the scale is too big!”
Everyone watched the procession of trucks in bewilderment. The trucks stopped one by one along the road, unable to fit into the narrow alleys. Soon, a man jumped down from the lead truck. Upon seeing the man’s face, Jeong-min was left speechless in absurdity.
Kim Ju-hwan, so that’s why you didn’t call!!
“Sunbae.”
As soon as he saw Jeong-min, he approached with a smile.
“What happened to you?”
“I brought everything you said you needed. And I came in person to collect the money for the suppressants while I was at it.”
Jeong-min felt a throbbing headache. He felt as if the bread he ate earlier was causing indigestion. No, actually, it wasn’t that kind of unpleasant feeling. This was… a tingling sensation. What is this? Is he actually glad to see this guy in this situation?
“Sunbae.”
At Kim Ju-hwan’s voice, Jeong-min looked up. In an instant, Kim Ju-hwan’s face came into clear view. This guy was really right in front of him. He couldn’t believe it. Just as he felt it wasn’t reality, Kim Ju-hwan reached out, grabbed Jeong-min’s arm, and pulled him in. He was sucked into the man’s embrace in an instant. Since he wasn’t an Omega, it wasn’t a full-body snuggle, but it looked like a welcoming hug between friends.
“You’re too much. Aren’t you glad to see me?”
The moment the scent of Kim Ju-hwan’s pheromones hit the tip of his nose, along with the perfume he often wore, Jeong-min snapped back to his senses and pushed him away.
“Hey, you startled me.”
“Sunbae.”
When Kim Ju-hwan was pushed back slightly and approached again, Jeong-min stepped backward this time.
“Stop, let’s talk first. No, let’s do introductions first.”
Feeling many people around them watching in confusion, Jeong-min sighed and gathered the staff to introduce Kim Ju-hwan. Everyone was grateful and amazed that the President of Cal Front had come here. Kim Ju-hwan also exchanged greetings with them, but his gaze remained fixed on Jeong-min, who tried his best to ignore it.
“Then, is everything you brought suppressants?”
“No. I heard the medical facilities and environment were very poor, so I plan to build a hospital next to this clinic starting tomorrow. The materials are loaded in those trucks.”
“A hospital?”
“Yes, I’ll build a hospital about three stories high. This is being carried out through an agreement between this country and Cal Front, so you don’t have to worry. It won’t take very long. Since it’s a prefabricated building, it’ll be completed in about ten days.”
He had thought the scale was immense, but it was even more incredible than expected. He had anticipated that Kim Ju-hwan wouldn’t just bring suppressants, but to this extent… He had mentioned the suppressants a month ago; had he been preparing this all along?
“And I heard that food and daily necessities are very lacking, so I brought plenty. It’s late today, so you can check them tomorrow.”
“Thank you so much.”
Everyone thanked Kim Ju-hwan with sincere gratitude. It was understandable. No matter how much they had volunteered, life here hadn’t been easy. Jeong-min also felt at ease seeing the bright smiles of his colleagues. Then, his eyes met Kim Ju-hwan’s again.
“Sunbae.”
As he approached again, Jeong-min stepped back a couple of paces this time.
“Ah, you must be exhausted from the long trip, so go get some rest. Dr. Ha, please guide him. I’m not finished with my consultations yet.”
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
“Then, see you later.”
Unable to maintain eye contact with Kim Ju-hwan, Jeong-min quickly returned to his room and closed the door. Was it because it had been a while? Why did he feel so uncomfortable? His chest felt heavy. This feeling was unfamiliar.
But he had no time to think about the cause of this feeling. There were many waiting patients, and the days here were short… Jeong-min quickly sat down and focused on his work.
✽✽✽
“Sigh…”
He couldn’t concentrate at all throughout the consultations. Was it because he had smelled Kim Ju-hwan’s pheromones after so long? He felt as if those pheromones were constantly hovering around him.
“Dr. Shin. Please go home. I’m begging you.”
The nurse spoke with a troubled expression. Well, it was only natural. If he didn’t leave, the nurse wouldn’t be able to leave either… Jeong-min apologized, tidied up his desk, and stood up.
“Dr. Ha went to Haban earlier. He got a call saying there was an emergency patient.”
“Haban… it takes two hours just to get there…”
“It can’t be helped.”
Because medical facilities were lacking not only in this village but in all the surrounding villages and tribes, there were often business trips to neighboring villages like this. It was a good sign that those who were initially unfamiliar and wary were now gradually accepting them… but on the other hand, he worried that the medical staff might burn out.
“Sunbae.”
“Ah.”
When he opened the door and stepped out, Kim Ju-hwan was leaning there.
As Jeong-min blinked in surprise and looked up at him, Kim Ju-hwan smiled.
“You have the look of someone who had completely forgotten about me.”
His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not. His sunken pheromones and gaze… sensing something unusual, Jeong-min found himself unable to move forward. In that gap, Kim Ju-hwan reached out and gripped Jeong-min’s hand tightly.
“Where is your lodging, Sunbae?”
“My lodging?”
“Yes.”
“Why my lodging?”
“Then where do I sleep today? Do I sleep here? Or on the street?”
“No… you could sleep at a hotel…”
Ah, right. There was no way there was a hotel here, and even the only shabby hotel in the city was a four-hour drive away.
“Let’s go.”
Above all, Kim Ju-hwan looked as though he had no intention of going alone, even if there were a hotel right in front of him. Jeong-min nodded.
“Let go of my hand first. We have to walk. It takes about 30 minutes.”
“Why should I?”
“Hey. Kim Ju-hwan.”
Kim Ju-hwan gripped Jeong-min’s hand even tighter, as if to show off. He felt pain, but Jeong-min didn’t show it and accepted whatever Kim Ju-hwan wanted to do. It seemed he was in a bad mood.
However, it was Kim Ju-hwan who signaled surrender first. He relaxed his grip and tenderly interlaced his fingers with Jeong-min’s.
“Tell me if it hurts.”
“It doesn’t.”
“Let’s just go. I have a car.”
“Hey, the roads are bad; you’ll ruin the car.”
“Then I’ll just buy a new one.”
“No, let’s just walk…”
“Sunbae, can’t you just do as I say? Honestly, I feel fucking shitty right now.”
As expected. Resigning to let him have his way, Jeong-min was led by Kim Ju-hwan’s hand into the Jeep parked in front of the clinic. The car rattled noisily the whole way, but the two didn’t say a word, as if they had made a pact. Even though it was an old Jeep, it was still a car; they arrived in 10 minutes at a distance that would have taken 30 minutes on foot.
Jeong-min’s lodging was in a somewhat secluded spot, away from the village at the entrance of the mountain. The nearest house required walking several hundred meters. Far from any lights, it wouldn’t have been strange for a wild bear to come down at any moment, but it was unlikely there was any life on this mountain of withered soil. Rather, it was surprising that there was even a house here. Of course, that house was worse than a studio apartment… in Korean terms, it felt like a stable… or maybe a thatched house? No, it seemed worse than that.
It was an old, flimsy house that barely managed to keep out the rain, but since he had stayed there for several months, he had grown accustomed to it.
“Wear slippers; the floor is a bit rough, so you might hurt your feet.”
Jeong-min pressed the light switch at the entrance. The house, lit by a flickering light, was truly embarrassing to show a guest. No, above all, it must have been hard to get here; wouldn’t it be better to rest in a slightly more comfortable place? Jeong-min pointed to the only decent single bed and made an awkward excuse.
“See? This is absolutely not a space where two grown men can lie down. Why don’t you go to a hotel now? No, actually, the clinic might be more comfortable.”
“You’re coming too, right, Sunbae?”
“Huh? No? Why would I? I have to work tomorrow. This is my home—”
It happened in an instant. Kim Ju-hwan grabbed Jeong-min by the collar and threw him onto the bed.
“Ugh!!”
He had said it was decent, but the springs were old, and there was an immediate impact on his body and head. While struggling to absorb that shock, Kim Ju-hwan’s pheromones poured over Jeong-min.
“Home? Why is this your home, Sunbae? Your home is in Korea. Not here.”
He brought his face close to kiss him. Jeong-min quickly turned his head away. Then, Kim Ju-hwan poured out even more pheromones, pulled Jeong-min’s chin, forced his mouth open, and pushed his tongue inside. It was a rough, ignorant kiss, as if he were trying to devour him.
No, he felt a sense of desperation. It was different from the relaxed kisses he had shared with Kim Ju-hwan until now. Jeong-min resisted with all his might. He pushed him away and even punched him. But the man didn’t budge. Above all, there was no winning against the pheromones of a Dominant Alpha.