FHO 12

Haon looked up at the man with a bewildered expression. He wanted to ask why he was being told not to go. But the man’s expression was so dark that he couldn’t easily bring himself to speak.

“I’m saying this for your own sake, Haon.”

The man continued to speak in riddles. For his own sake? Haon couldn’t simply brush it off, as the man didn’t seem like the type to talk nonsense.

“Quit that place and find another job. A different restaurant.”

“Why… why…?”

Haon asked cautiously, swallowing hard, but no answer came from the man. He bit his lower lip lightly, his face momentarily lost in thought.

“I’ll make sure they settle your pay and send it to you within today.”

Sensing Haon watching him for a reaction, the man belatedly continued the conversation.

“You don’t need to contact them.”

This time, Haon avoided answering. He kept his mouth shut and waited for the man to explain the reason. If he didn’t tell him, Haon intended to go to work. Every single job was precious to him.

While Haon was spiraling into confusion, In-ho was hesitating. Had it been anyone else, he would have spoken his mind without hesitation, but because it was Haon, it wasn’t easy. Telling him about that day.

But he had to.

“You said you don’t remember how you first ended up at my house.”

No matter how much Haon refused to explain, this was something he needed to know. There was a reason why Haon, who worked at an ordinary restaurant and not a bar, had been led by Park Jung-hyuk to a club where he didn’t belong.

Park Jung-hyuk was the executive director of the hotel where Haon’s restaurant was located. He made a hobby of seducing hotel employees who were Omegas. But to lay a hand on an employee who had lost consciousness due to a heat… He knew the man was crazy, but he hadn’t realized it was to this extent.

“I met you at the club that day.”

“What…?”

“And the bastard who brought you there is someone I know.”

In-ho slowly delivered a condensed version of the situation. He softened the story as much as he could so as not to shock Haon. He couldn’t bring himself to mention that Park Jung-hyuk had forcibly stripped Haon’s clothes in front of people. He would have told him if the man had asked for details, but seeing Haon’s face turn pale in an instant, he decided to hold back.

“I’m the one who brought you to my house from there. As you know, it’s quite close.”

Park Jung-hyuk was the one who committed the crime, yet In-ho’s voice grew small as he recounted the situation. Now, he slightly regretted bringing Haon straight to his home. He should have taken him to the hotel instead. He suddenly worried that Haon might think he was also a strange person for being acquainted with Park Jung-hyuk.

“I was also drunk, which is why I brought you home.”

While In-ho added the last part like an excuse, the word ‘club’ was the only thing floating around in Haon’s head.

A club, a club.

The only club he had ever been to in his life was ‘Tonkatsu Club.’ The name of the restaurant where he had his first solo meal after arriving in Seoul was ‘Tonkatsu Club.’

Back when he was an ordinary Beta, Haon had no aversion to food. Until early last year, he had felt hunger and eaten meals just like everyone else.

Too many changes had occurred in just a year and a half. Haon was overwhelmed just trying to adapt to his weakening body. Every time he went through an estrus, he didn’t have the capacity to remember every person who had pierced through his body or to reconstruct the situation.

So, he let it all be forgotten. That was why Haon neglected his severe level of forgetfulness. It was better for his mental health.

“Haon.”

The man stepped closer to the dazed Haon and looked closely at his pale face. Worry filled the man’s deep, charcoal-colored eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

Haon, who hadn’t been focusing on the conversation at all, let his lips flutter. He tried to ask him to repeat it, but strangely, his throat felt tight and no sound came out.

“Cough…!”

Trying to force air in, he ended up coughing. Perhaps he had inhaled incorrectly.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“I’m… fine.”

He had only coughed once, but the man became serious as if Haon had fainted. Haon repeatedly told the man, who was now holding his shoulder to support him, that he was perfectly fine, but it didn’t work.

“Just sit down for now.”

The man looked between the sofa and the dining table chairs, then asked Haon if he wanted to go to the room. Feeling embarrassed, Haon weakly pushed the man’s hand away, insisting he was truly alright. He was in a state where he could easily walk and run on his own.

“Ah, sorry.”

The man suddenly apologized as he withdrew his hand from supporting Haon. Haon thought he was apologizing for stepping on his foot. The man’s indoor slippers had slightly pressed against the tips of Haon’s bare feet as he had stepped closer. Since they were slippers and not dress shoes, it hadn’t hurt.

“Wait a moment.”

The man, with his hands behind his back, suddenly went to get a glass of water. Haon stayed still, assuming he was pouring water for himself.

Ding—

In-ho pressed the hot water button on the purifier and took out a tin case containing tea bags. While the tea steeped, he stood there for a moment, pressing his clenched fist firmly against the table as if scolding himself.

He should have asked first before supporting him. He was deeply reflecting on the fact that he had touched Haon’s body without thinking. He worried that Haon might decide to leave again because of it.

“Drink this. It’s chamomile.”

Handing the warm cup to Haon, In-ho maintained a proper distance. He didn’t mention that day’s events any further.

It seemed that the stress Haon suffered during his estrus was more extreme than the worry itself. That was likely why he didn’t try to know. Not because it was common or familiar, but because it was too overwhelming to face, so he seemed to forget and bury it entirely.

“Ah… thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

But isn’t that too dangerous?

In-ho recalled the sight of Park Jung-hyuk feeding alcohol to a semi-conscious Haon.

In fact, when he first saw Haon that day, he thought he was drunk on alcohol or drugs, not in heat. It was because no pheromones were detected from Haon at all. There was so little scent that he hadn’t realized Haon was an Omega until he saw his face. Was there something wrong with his pheromones?

“I won’t go to work.”

Haon spoke after blowing on the hot tea and taking a sip.

“That’s a good decision.”

In-ho immediately told him not to worry about the pay. He would settle everything. Even if Haon didn’t ask, In-ho intended to handle Park Jung-hyuk.

“Thank you.”

At this, Haon simply bowed his head again. In-ho’s expression grew even darker as he watched him.

He had felt it from the first time they met, but Haon’s politeness was excessively bright. It seemed to be a habit to bow and say thank you indiscriminately. Without even knowing what kind of situation he was in.

Watching the gentle face slowly lift, In-ho bit his lower lip. He rubbed his furrowed brows while holding back a sigh, only then realizing that his expression had been too stiff.

“Um…”

As In-ho lightly pressed his brows and temples, Haon hesitantly spoke. In-ho consciously tried to relax his expression so Haon wouldn’t feel uncomfortable, responding with a “Yes” while pulling the corners of his mouth up further.

“By any chance… do you have any honey at home…?”

Honey, all of a sudden?

“One moment. I’ll look for it.”

Though it was a bit strange that he was suddenly looking for honey, In-ho immediately opened the kitchen cabinet doors one by one. Unfortunately, no honey was in sight.

“Do you want something sweet?”

In-ho looked back at Haon, who was standing awkwardly behind him, while searching the cabinets.

“I have ice cream. And fruit.”

Seeing Haon’s lips quiver with an “Uh…”, it seemed he really wanted honey. In-ho immediately opened all the remaining cabinets.

“You can stop looking. I’ll go buy some.”

Haon spoke hurriedly as he closed the open cabinet doors one by one. In-ho, who had opened the refrigerator just in case, soon pulled out a white container. It was a can of condensed milk with the plastic seal still intact.

“Would this not work?”

Tilting his head, he checked Haon’s expression and, seeing it wouldn’t work, put it back. He figured he should go out and buy some as quickly as possible. He had searched first because buying it would take time.

“Just rest for a bit.”

“Are you going to buy it?”

Haon blocked In-ho’s path as he closed the refrigerator door.

“I want to eat it now.”

“No! I’ll buy it.”

“I don’t want to.”

After rejecting him flatly with a smile, In-ho walked past Haon. Because his stride was fast, Haon couldn’t catch up to him.

“I, that is! It’s not that I want to eat it…!”

At those words, In-ho stopped and turned back toward Haon. If he didn’t want to eat it, why was he looking for it?

“It’s not for eating… I, honey water…”

Haon, stepping closer to In-ho one step at a time, mumbled while scratching his cheek. In-ho’s gaze naturally drifted to the reddening cheek.

“I was going to make honey water for you…”

At Haon’s clearer voice, In-ho’s eyes widened slightly. He shifted his gaze from the cheek with the red handprint to meet the round eyes.

“For me?”