By Zephyria 
“Imprinting…”
Seo Baek-han merely stared at Joo Tae-hyun, who was repeating the word “Imprinting” like a broken record. He seemed to think that the word hadn’t quite registered with the younger man, that there was a slight delay in processing. He didn’t seem to think much of it.
“Yes. You and I, we’re Imprinted on each other.”
“…I see.”
However, that was truly all Joo Tae-hyun felt.
I see.
He’s Imprinted on me. Now Hyung is even telling lies like that.
Well, now that the pregnancy is out in the open, it wouldn’t be difficult to speculate about a one-sided Imprinting phenomenon. Regardless of Seo Baek-han’s indifference towards him, he was an expert with a degree in trait studies, and even the head of the country’s leading researchers.
So, bringing up Imprinting was one thing… but why was he probing him, claiming it was mutual? What was he hoping to gain? Did he think Tae-hyun wouldn’t cooperate if he questioned him about the Imprinting phenomenon?
Or maybe…
“I don’t understand why Hyung is suddenly acting like this.”
Joo Tae-hyun casually shook off Seo Baek-han’s hand. It wasn’t a forceful rejection, but it wasn’t as cautious as he usually was with him. It was as if a stranger had suddenly grabbed him in downtown Pyongyang. He tried his best to act nonchalant.
“Is it because of the sex?”
“…What?”
Ah, that’s right. That could really be the reason.
Even though he would have chosen spitting rather than melting his stiff body, Seo Baek-han had been playing with his body quite intensely ever since.
He could hold him for days and treat him carelessly, and he wouldn’t really resist. His body was strong, so he could use him as he pleased without any problems… From Seo Baek-han’s perspective, there couldn’t be a more convenient sex toy.
Yes, that seemed to be it.
‘Yeah, it’s none of my business if your body breaks down because you can’t receive my Pheromone.’
If Hyung was really Imprinted on him. If he was Hyung’s Imprinting partner.
‘Love? That thing that makes you go crazy and cause accidents every time?’
He wouldn’t have thrown those words in his face like knives.
He knew all too well how affectionate he was with the girlfriend he dated for a while.
The subtle change in his expression as soon as he heard from Choi Yeon-jun that his girlfriend had arrived. Seo Baek-han putting down his glass and picking up the cookies she liked first.
There was no way such a person would treat someone he believed he was Imprinted on, whether mutually or one-sidedly, so carelessly.
“Since Hyung is Imprinted on me, you want me to stay by your side so your Pheromone doesn’t get messed up, right? So, even though this whole mess happened, you still want to have sex, right now.”
“Why do you have to say it like that? There are more gentle and elegant ways to express it.”
“I’m mocking you because I don’t know why Hyung is telling lies about Imprinting.”
“Oh, did it sound like I was making things up?”
Even though he seemed bothered that he dismissed it as a lie, Seo Baek-han was just relaxed, like someone who had the upper hand.
“And you, you expect me to believe those ridiculous things you’re saying about pregnancy and divorce?”
“Hyung.”
“But Tae-hyun, I’m even going out of my way to do things I don’t normally do. Could there be any more solid proof than this?”
It’s because I’m Imprinted on you.
There was not even a hint of sincerity in his carelessly whispered voice.
“It’s all because of Imprinting.”
Seo Baek-han was the type of person who couldn’t stand things not going his way. So, even though he seemed like a closed-off person, he knew how to act more flexibly than anyone else. If things went wrong, he would immediately change direction, somehow managing to derive the result he wanted.
So, tearing him apart in this way… contrary to his words that he was acting out of character, it was truly a very Seo Baek-han-like action.
It was true that a slight expectation had unknowingly bloomed at the words that he was Imprinted on Joo Tae-hyun. But this was merely a very old, habitual reaction that was beyond Joo Tae-hyun’s control.
Even if it were a mutual Imprinting, what would change? He wasn’t sincere with him anyway. Mutual Imprinting was just a temporary phenomenon that appeared more than Pheromone.
A heart that was no different from rags. He had to slowly digest it alone and eventually throw it away. So, divorcing Seo Baek-han, that meant the time had really come to end his long, unrequited love.
“That’s a relief, actually. If that’s the case, it’ll be easier.”
Joo Tae-hyun slightly tilted his head, avoiding Seo Baek-han’s gaze, which was strangely sharper than usual.
“I was looking into it myself. They say that mutual Imprinting is easier to break than one-sided Imprinting.”
As he spoke whatever came to mind, he became even more convinced. That’s right. If it was really a mutual Imprinting, would Seo Baek-han have been able to remain so calm? He would have immediately given him medicine or had him undergo surgery to break the Imprinting.
“Why won’t you listen to me?”
However, Seo Baek-han only lightly raised his eyebrows. His coaxing tone was full of leisure and playfulness. He seemed to have no intention of accepting even a single grain of his sincerity. Whether it was love, or his firm determination to give up everything, whatever it was.
“I was holding onto a tired person and rambling for too long. Sorry.”
“…”
“I’ll go up to Seoul the day after tomorrow, so get some rest and let’s see each other then.”
Seo Baek-han’s voice, which didn’t sound sorry at all, was sweet. So sweet that it was painful. He wanted to block his ears, but his hand holding him didn’t budge. As if he had been generously tolerating his antics earlier.
“I hope we can have a more productive conversation the day after tomorrow.”
Only then did Seo Baek-han let go of his hand. After gently rubbing his wrist, where a red handprint was clearly visible even in the darkness, he leisurely returned to the car he had come in.
Seo Baek-han’s broad back, not turning around even once.
The sound of the car starting, the heavy engine noise, and the glowing headlights.
The huge car body moving smoothly and elegantly as usual, unlike the rough driving from earlier, as if worried about damaging the wheels.
The bodyguards, only glancing at him, unsure of what to do since he hadn’t given them any instructions.
The car that his older Hyung was in, repeatedly lowering and raising the window.
And him, habitually replaying Seo Baek-han’s words and actions.
Joo Tae-hyun, like a person abandoned alone in ruins, was immersed in the senses that Seo Baek-han had arbitrarily abandoned, barely able to catch his breath.
“Young Master.”
“Ah… Yes.”
“Is it okay to send him back like this? Director Seo Baek-han, I mean.”
“…Yes. It’s okay, so please tell my older Hyung to go now.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Yes, he had to go to Seoul.
He had to go back to his real home.
He was grateful to his older Hyung, who had watched until the end without running out, even though the atmosphere was unusual. He felt like he had to go to Hyung and tell him that it was all over, that he was okay… He knew it well in his head, but his body wouldn’t move.
The lies that had been so easy were no longer clinging to the tip of his tongue. He couldn’t even utter the three syllables that he was okay, even as a platitude, even as a murmur.
Joo Tae-hyun stared blankly at Joo Guk-won’s car, which had started, and got into his own vehicle.
Acting like a child was only until today.
He had declared it was the end, but he couldn’t cut it off immediately. He was prepared for that. Whether it was his feelings for Seo Baek-han, or his relationship with him.
So, from the moment he arrived in Seoul, he was going to be okay.
His face, fleetingly reflected in the car window, was indifferent. It was the same gloomy and depressed look as usual. It was the moment when his constant practice of not revealing his inner thoughts on his face to please Seo Baek-han was paying off.
Was it fortunate that at least one thing remained from his messed-up relationship with him?
It was a reasonably late hour, so the Ferris wheel was slowly turning as before. However, only the shape was faintly visible due to the reporters who were waiting nearby with lights and reflectors set up.
Facing the blinding flashes of light head-on, Joo Tae-hyun recalled the scenery from their date.
Although it ended with rough sex that completely ruined his body, he was really excited the whole way here.
What were they talking about as they walked here that day? What color was the cabin they rode in…? It was only recently that he had bragged to his sister that he was going to ride the Ferris wheel with Baek-han Hyung, but he couldn’t remember anything.
Staring at the streaks of light that remained long on the window as if paint had been splattered, Joo Tae-hyun closed his eyes.
Thinking that it was also really fortunate that he wasn’t the type to cry pathetically.
* * *
“Oh, my baby. Our Tae-hyun.”
As soon as the car entered the parking lot, Chairman Baek ran out without even putting on his shoes.