By Zephyria 
“Please return this to Hyung.”
“This is… Ah, is this Director’s shirt by any chance?”
Even though I abruptly handed him the clothes, he didn’t seem too surprised, which made it clear that Secretary Nam was also involved in Cheon Seung-pil’s sudden kidnapping.
“Yes. I’ll go to Hyung’s room by 5 PM.”
It was a bit early for dinner, but I figured it would be alright since we weren’t planning on having a leisurely full course meal. Besides, I didn’t think I’d be able to eat anything anyway.
“Yes, I understand. Then, please get some rest, and I’ll see you later. Ah! Here’s the key card.”
Secretary Nam seemed pleased with this unexpected gain, smiling broadly as he closed the door. Still, how could he just hand over the key to someone else’s room like that?
“Wow, what’s all this?”
Only then did Cheon Seung-pil peek his head out and glance at the huge flower basket placed by the door.
“This is from Seo Baek-han, right? Why is that guy suddenly acting like this?”
“Cheon Seung-pil.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t go even if Baek-han hyung calls you from now on. You can just use me as an excuse.”
Cheon Seung-pil grumbled, saying it was easier said than done, how could he possibly do that with his status. Leaving him behind, Joo Tae-hyun picked up the phone in the room.
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, but I’d like to request some cleaning. No, nothing else is needed. I just want to dispose of a large flower basket.”
Joo Tae-hyun stared at the flower basket, which was exuding an artificial peach scent, for a moment before averting his gaze.
“There might be shifter pheromones on it, so please handle it with special care. Yes, I would appreciate it if you could take care of it as quickly as possible.”
Joo Tae-hyun hurriedly ended the call, trying hard to stop himself from clenching his fists without realizing it.
Now, Joo Tae-hyun doesn’t needlessly bite his lip even when he needs to suppress his emotions. He knew it was a bad habit, but he only managed to fix it now. Only after deciding to leave Seo Baek-han.
It wasn’t like he was deliberately recalling his request, which wasn’t really a request. He realized that it was much easier to simply observe the scenery in front of him, whether he faced difficulties or had to endure something.
Someday, all this commotion will pass. Thinking that way gradually calms his restless heart. If there’s a beginning, there’s bound to be an end. The meaningless bickering with Seo Baek-han won’t last long either.
“Hey, are you really going to throw it all away? It’s a waste… The flowers are so fresh.”
Joo Tae-hyun closed his eyes deeply without replying, then opened them.
He wished he could throw away, empty, and erase everything like these flowers.
* * *
“Who is it?”
“Ah… I’m sorry, I came right at 5 PM.”
Opening the door with the key card he received from Secretary Nam, Seo Baek-han, who was changing clothes in the living room, turned to Joo Tae-hyun, narrowing his brow as if troubled.
“Does the owner family also have master keys to the hotel? Isn’t this abuse of power?”
“Secretary Nam gave it to me.”
“Why didn’t you get it from me?”
Seo Baek-han acted as if nothing had happened. He even seemed more nonchalant than usual…
“Let’s go out.”
“Go out?”
“I don’t want to settle for room service. It’s neither tasty nor stylish.”
Wasn’t that something he shouldn’t say to the owner family of this hotel? Seo Baek-han didn’t hesitate to make rather harsh remarks as he fastened the buttons on his sleeve. It was such a natural movement, as if he was born wearing those clothes.
“Hyung hasn’t had his emergency suppressant shot that long ago. What if it affects other shifter guests?”
“Do you think Donghwa Hotel wouldn’t have any countermeasures for that?”
Seo Baek-han winked playfully, saying there was no need to worry at all if he was concerned about his condition.
“…I got cursed at enough in Pyongyang, are you telling me to get cursed at in Seoul too now?”
However, Seo Baek-han’s mouth snapped shut at Joo Tae-hyun’s immediate addition.
“Wouldn’t people think it’s strange if we’re seen having dinner together after declaring so grandly that we’re getting a divorce?”
As always, the easy target was him, so the finger-pointing would be concentrated on him. Especially the people who had put him on the chopping block like sashimi until the press conference. Now that the public opinion had turned around and they were embarrassed, they would lash out even more, feeling like they had a good catch.
“I don’t want to get pelted with raw eggs in Seoul either.”
A subtle crack appeared on Seo Baek-han’s face, which had been relaxed all along. It was such a faint crack that even Joo Tae-hyun wouldn’t have noticed it unless they were this close.
“…I was being short-sighted.”
Seo Baek-han brought up the order screen on the room’s tablet and handed it to Joo Tae-hyun.
“I didn’t consider that far because I wanted to make up for the ruined date. I’m sorry.”
Joo Tae-hyun only glanced down at Seo Baek-han’s hand reaching out to him.
Make up? Sorry?
The sudden, sincere apology and his words about wanting to make up for the ruined date. There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t unfamiliar. Now he understood what Cheon Seung-pil meant when he complained that Seo Baek-han seemed a bit strange.
“…I don’t want anything, just order what Hyung wants to eat.”
Joo Tae-hyun unconsciously hesitated and took a step back.
There was a time when he dreamed of this moment. A wish that had been longed for over a very long time, worn down and frayed.
But now, the kindness he had so desperately wanted was suffocating Joo Tae-hyun.
Why was he suddenly acting like this? The threat of not granting the divorce didn’t work, and now that there were no children to hold hostage, was he trying to put on an act?
“Really? Then I’m not hungry either. What should we drink?”
“I’m going to America.”
He hadn’t intended to open the conversation like this. His body, which was surprised by just this much kindness, and his tongue moved regardless of his will.
“America? Wouldn’t it still be difficult for you?”
“It doesn’t matter. Nothing is set in stone, but… I’m planning to rest there for a while. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
It was true that he was planning to leave soon, but not as soon as tomorrow.
Joo Tae-hyun closed his eyes deeply at the familiar sense of déjà vu, then opened them. He had made a sudden decision to leave the country like this after confessing to Hyung on a whim.
Counting by years, it wasn’t that long ago, but why did that time feel so distant?
“…Where are you going? Washington?”
“I wanted to see Hyung to tell you this. I want you to stop having Cheon Seung-pil give me the clothes you wore, and stop sending things like flower baskets. I won’t be in Korea anymore anyway.”
“No, it might be a bit awkward to go straight to Washington right now.”
“The divorce issue will be handled by my lawyer, so please keep that in mind. I’ve delegated everything, so you can consult with my lawyer without bothering to look for me.”
“Still, it’ll be on the East Coast, right? New York?”
He was so dumbfounded by the way he was unilaterally saying only what he wanted to say that he just stared at him, and Seo Baek-han shrugged.
“I understood everything. You’re leaving tomorrow, so don’t use Cheon Seung-pil anymore, and don’t send flowers, you said.”
Had that man ever seriously considered the divorce even once? Did he even know how he felt, even using the word ‘love’ to hold a press conference?
“I’m diligently focusing. Hmm, I’m just, I feel like your body has recovered enough for you to get on a plane. Yeah, hearing your story makes me feel good for some reason.”
Seo Baek-han’s next words were even more absurd.
“Hyung.”
“And if it’s America, the flight times are mostly fixed, so it shouldn’t be a problem to adjust my schedule.”
“What does that mean?”
“The one who’s feeling the loss has to go see you, what else can I do?”
As Seo Baek-han said, he seemed to be serious in his own way.
“I’ll go to work on weekdays, and I think I can leave on Thursday night. And if I schedule it so that I arrive at Pyongyang Airport on Monday morning Korean time… Good, it’s not particularly difficult. There’s in-flight Wi-Fi, so I can just think of it as working from home for a day and do my work on the plane.”
“…Hyung.”
“Staying abroad for a while is a good idea. It’ll be a change of pace, and the field of shifter studies is more advanced overseas than in Korea-.”
“Hyung, does everything I say sound like a joke to you?”
At Joo Tae-hyun’s cold voice, like a sharpened knife, Seo Baek-han finally hardened his expression.
“…I never did. I just want to have a good atmosphere as much as possible-.”
“A good atmosphere? Since when have you cared about that? I was always the one who was mindful of you.”
He tried not to load his emotions into his voice, but he couldn’t help but choke up. He didn’t cry pathetically or raise his voice, but he couldn’t even hide the surge of emotion.
“I’m not planning to bring up the past and resent you. It was my choice, and it was still good back then. I liked you, and I was happy just being able to live in the same house as you. If I got your approval, I would be energized even if I couldn’t sleep for days……”
What? A good atmosphere?
Joo Tae-hyun scoffed, chewing over his words.
“But it’s not like that anymore. It’s all over.”
Seo Baek-han seemed to think that if he acted nonchalantly like this, and threw in a few sweet words, then he would give in and follow his words.
To Seo Baek-han, Joo Tae-hyun was just that easy, an easy person.
“I fell for you from the moment we first met. I’ve liked you ever since… It’s been longer than you think.”
“…Tae-hyun.”
“Please don’t make me regret and deny half of my life, most of the days I’ve lived.”
Seo Baek-han opened and closed his mouth several times. Like someone who had too much to say and didn’t know what to do.
“…This is my last request.”
Joo Tae-hyun took in the familiar room behind Seo Baek-han, then turned around.
It’s a relief.
It’s really a relief that he can’t feel his pheromones anymore.
The faint signal of imprinting, mutual imprinting… He doesn’t want to care about that anymore. Whether his body is ruined by the side effects or not, he will no longer live by his side with his heart shattered.