By Zephyria 
While Haon ate his ice cream, the two didn’t share much conversation. The man, glancing back and forth between the raindrops clinging to the glass window and Haon, simply drank his coffee in silence.
“We can still cancel the movie,” the man said as they left the ice cream shop, checking Haon’s complexion one last time. Haon was smiling in his own way, but it seemed to look quite awkward in the man’s eyes.
“If you’re tired, make sure to tell me. Don’t push yourself.”
To this, Haon gave a deliberately bright smile and replied that he was looking forward to the movie. He meant it.
“I’ve always wanted to visit a movie theater.”
“Are there no movie theaters in the countryside?”
Haon answered that there weren’t, the corners of his mouth curving upward. There were many homes without even a common television, so there was no way there would be a movie theater.
“Thank you for showing me a movie.”
In truth, since coming to Seoul, he had desperately wanted to visit a movie theater, but he had put it off until now because he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had been shocked by ticket prices that were more expensive than most meals, and he lacked the courage to go to a crowded place alone.
If the man hadn’t brought him, he probably wouldn’t have set foot in a movie theater until right before returning to the countryside.
“I’m thankful you came with me, too.”
At the man’s following tender greeting, Haon’s focus blurred. He stared blankly at the face of the man who only said pleasant things today, then consciously averted his gaze. For some reason, he felt he had to.
“There’s about thirty minutes left. Shall we sit in a cafe until then?”
Checking the time, the man pointed to a nearby cafe. Because the inside of the ice cream shop had been chilly, they had left a bit early, leaving them with some spare time.
“Haon, you didn’t have a drink, so have something warm.”
Since he had just eaten something cold and was feeling a bit chilly, Haon quickly nodded in agreement.
I must be the one to buy the drinks, he vowed, sliding his hand into his pocket to make sure he had his wallet. Since it was obvious the man would refuse if he brought it up, he planned to thrust the money forward when it was time to pay.
Fortunately, the inside of the cafe was not cold. The man, walking ahead of Haon, scanned the spacious cafe and told him to sit wherever he liked. There were few people, so everywhere looked quiet and comfortable.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Um… I’ll choose after looking at the menu.”
Haon deliberately stood near the counter, pretending to ponder the menu. The man ordered his own drink first and then waited for Haon to choose. He already had his card in hand.
Seeing no opening, Haon quickly opened his wallet to take out some money.
“Please let me buy the drinks.”
“I don’t want to.”
With a slight smile, the man reached out and blocked Haon’s hand. As if determined not to let Haon spend a single cent today, he had already handed his card to the employee.
Haon had no choice but to pick a warm tea and tuck his wallet neatly back into his pocket. He thought that he should set their next appointment as soon as possible.
“Where do you want to sit, Haon?”
“Anywhere is fine.”
“Then shall we go further inside?”
The man led Haon to the seat furthest from the glass window. It was a spot where the sight of the falling rain was invisible.
Haon sat on the inner sofa as the man led him. The distance between tables was wide, making the already sparsely populated interior seem even more spacious.
In the seat closest to them, a young woman was alone, staring into her phone.
A tall, beautiful woman. Haon unconsciously glanced at her, as she exuded an aura like a model. He found himself looking because he wondered if she was a celebrity.
“Do you usually not drink coffee, Haon?”
The moment the man spoke, he completely forgot about the woman. When the most handsome and wonderful person in the world is speaking right in front of you, there is no way another existence could catch your eye.
“I’ve tried it before.”
“I see,” the man nodded and placed the round vibration bell on the table. Every time Haon answered, the man’s thin lips curved into an arc as if something was funny.
“I drink it often. I tend to like it.”
“How much?”
“Hmm, about four cups a day?”
Haon’s eyes widened at the staggering amount. Come to think of it, he had already been drinking that pitch-black coffee water earlier, yet he had ordered the same thing again.
To drink bitter water without any sugar so frequently. Does he like bitter tastes?
“Isn’t that bad for your health?”
“I eat plenty of healthy things too, so it should be fine.”
“Still… four cups seems like too many.”
As Haon murmured worriedly, the man, who had been chuckling, suddenly turned around. He looked toward one spot as if someone had called him.
Where the man’s gaze landed was that model-like woman. She was still focused on her phone with her chin resting on her hand. Then, feeling the man’s gaze, she looked over and wore a troubled expression.
What is it? Just as Haon felt puzzled, the vibration bell rang. The man averted his gaze from the woman and went to get the drinks first. Haon tried to go, but the man naturally stopped him and told him to stay seated.
As the man passed the table, the woman stared up at him intently. Haon wondered if they knew each other, but seeing as she didn’t speak to him, it didn’t seem to be the case.
Since both were striking people, it seemed natural for eyes to be drawn to them. If one happened to turn their head and saw such a beauty sitting alone, interest was inevitable. And it was only natural for the gaze to go toward the man.
“Excuse me…”
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke to Haon, who had been lost in idle thoughts. The moment he snapped his head up and identified the person approaching, Haon spoke with a serious expression.
“Are you alright?”
It was the woman who had been sitting at the front table until just now. Because the woman was staggering, Haon hurriedly stood up to support her.
“I… are you an… Omega?”
The woman’s voice trembled as she struggled to speak. On the table where she had been sitting, her handbag was wide open, and all its contents were spilled out.
“Yes, I am an Omega.”
“Please… lend me some… suppressants…”
Leaning on Haon, the woman sobbed, begging him to lend her the medicine, promising she would pay him back. It seemed she had either lost her suppressants or forgotten to bring them.
With a troubled face, Haon first tried to get the woman to sit in his seat.
“I’m sorry. I don’t carry any medicine with me.”
“I’ll pay you back…! Please, help me…”
The woman, seemingly unable to hear Haon’s words, pleaded with her hands pressed together.
Then, she brushed off Haon’s hand as he tried to seat her and rubbed her face against his lean shoulder. Seeing her try to cling even to Haon, a fellow Omega, it seemed her reason had already begun to blur.
“W-wait a moment. I’ll go ask the staff if they have any!”
Haon struggled to get the woman to sit in the chair somehow.
Because the tall woman was wearing high heels, she was at least 10cm taller than Haon. Just supporting her as she leaned her weight on him made his arms tremble.
“Just a moment, please stay seated. Okay? I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t go…!”
As Haon tried to push her back down, the woman, whose breathing had become ragged, swung her arm. Her sharp fingernails scratched Haon’s cheek.
Haon quickly jerked his head back and held the woman firmly. Since she was wearing high heels, he felt she might injure her ankle if she collapsed as she was.
“Haon, step back.”
At that moment, the weight pressing heavily on his chest vanished instantly. The man, who had approached with a cafe employee, grabbed the woman’s shoulders and pulled her away from Haon.
The moment the man’s hand touched her, the woman shuddered violently and reached out with both arms. With a desperate gesture, she clung to the man in a sudden embrace and showered kisses upon his fair neck and jaw.
In-ho turned his head away to avoid the woman and first checked on Haon’s condition.
The cafe employee standing beside him asked In-ho with a bewildered face if he was an Alpha. Since In-ho was clearly an Alpha at a glance and was holding an Omega in heat, it was natural for the employee to be concerned.
“Haon, are you okay?”
Regardless of that, In-ho cared only for Haon.
Haon, his clothes disheveled, was panting with a startled expression. On his left cheek, there was a red line where the woman’s fingernails had scratched him. It didn’t seem to be a deep scratch, but a red drop of blood had formed.
Seeing this, In-ho’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Where is the infirmary?”
The employee flinched at In-ho’s sharp voice and hesitated to answer.
Because the employee was a Beta, they were not affected by pheromones, but because they were short and very slight, they lacked the strength to support the woman. Since the other employee was also an Alpha, In-ho was the only one who could support the woman immediately.
“U-um, you are less affected by pheromones, right?”
Even without hearing the answer, it was naturally felt that In-ho was an Alpha strong against pheromones. A beautiful Omega was clinging to him, exhaling erotic breaths, yet he seemed to have not a shred of interest. The only person he was watching was the partner he had entered the cafe with.
The employee naturally assumed Haon was his partner. This was because of the atmosphere the two exuded outwardly.
“The infirmary is right downstairs.”
The employee, who helped support the woman by grabbing her other arm, hurriedly guided the way. In-ho ignored the woman clinging to him and spoke to Haon.
“Follow me.”
Inevitably, Haon left the cafe with his arm wrapped around the woman’s waist. The other customers who had been inside the cafe had already left to avoid the woman’s pheromones.
“…….”
Haon stared blankly at the retreating backs of In-ho and the woman. When In-ho stopped and looked back, Haon snapped out of it and followed them.
“I’m coming…! Go on ahead!”
He spoke loudly on purpose so as not to make In-ho worry.
After In-ho went ahead, Haon ran as hard as he could, but it was not enough to catch up with them, as they walked fast. Eventually, as the distance widened, Haon gave up on running.
His crestfallen gaze kept clinging to In-ho’s arm wrapped around the woman’s waist. Why am I like this? Haon rubbed his chest, which felt a stinging prickle, and quickened his pace.
29 – 29.
As soon as In-ho laid the woman down on the infirmary bed, he turned his back to her. The wet moans of the woman craving a kiss did not reach his ears.
“Please look at the injury first.”
Approaching the infirmary staff, he tapped his own perfectly fine cheek, explaining the location of the wound. The staff member, who had been calmly preparing the suppressant, looked at the woman’s smooth cheek according to In-ho’s explanation and tilted their head.
“There is no injury.”
“No, not this person.”
In-ho’s gaze shifted toward the wide-open infirmary door. Haon, who walked slowly, was not yet in sight.
In the meantime, the staff member injected the suppressant into the woman, and since they were using a fairly high-quality drug, she quickly began to calm down.
“Haon-ssi, over here.”
In-ho stepped outside and approached Haon, who was running toward him from a distance. As soon as Haon saw In-ho, he asked about the woman’s condition.
“Is she alright?”
“Yes, she’s fine.”
Answering curtly, In-ho led Haon into the infirmary and seated him in front of the staff member in the white coat. He requested treatment with a very grave expression, as if Haon’s cheek had been torn open.
“It’s just a slight scratch, so please don’t worry too much.”
Since the wound was shallow, the treatment ended very simply. After having a small bandage applied to his cheek, Haon continued to stare only at the woman lying on the bed from the moment he entered the room.
“It’s not a wound that will leave a scar. Just take good care of it.”
The staff member spoke to In-ho, not Haon. This was because In-ho was paying more attention to the injury than the injured party himself.
“Is that lady alright?”
Haon, unable to take his eyes off the woman, asked with a worried face.
“Yes, the suppressant is being absorbed well, so she’ll wake up soon.”
No sooner had the staff member finished speaking than a shallow cough came from the bed where the woman lay. Fortunately, she regained consciousness faster than expected.
“Are you feeling awake?”
The infirmary staff calmly explained the previous situation.
“Thanks to this gentleman releasing a small amount of pheromones of the same dominant trait, your pheromone levels didn’t increase significantly.”
Pointing to In-ho, who was standing close to Haon, the staff explained that she had woken up quickly thanks to his pheromones.
“If too much is released, it can have the opposite effect, but a moderate amount actually helps with calming down.”
Only in the case of the same dominant trait. As the staff member emphasized the last part, their gaze briefly landed on Haon before moving away. Just as they had immediately recognized In-ho as a dominant Alpha, it seemed they were speaking after noticing that Haon was recessive.
“Ah… I’m sorry. I am truly sorry.”
Realizing the situation, the woman bowed her head, turning pale. She apologized repeatedly with a particularly apologetic face toward Haon, who had injured his cheek while trying to support her.
“I always carry my medication with me, but….”
She asked for his contact information, saying she would definitely provide a reward along with the treatment costs. Haon hurriedly waved his hand in refusal.
“No, it’s okay. It’s just a slight scratch, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“Still….”
“I’m really fine.”
Haon approached the woman and told her to stay lying down since she might still feel unwell.
“Shall I stay with you until your family arrives?”
Perhaps relieved by Haon’s kind attitude, the woman’s eyes grew red.
Seeing the expression that looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment, Haon thought he should definitely stay by her side. Knowing better than anyone the embarrassment and fear that come when a heat cycle hits unexpectedly, he wanted to be a source of strength.
“My home is nearby, so my family will be here soon. Thank you for worrying about me.”
The woman shook her head while looking at In-ho, who stood behind Haon. In truth, she wished Haon, a fellow Omega, could stay, but since In-ho, who appeared to be his partner, looked as if he wanted to leave immediately, she had no choice but to decline.
“Haon-ssi, let’s go.”
In-ho grabbed the arm of Haon, who couldn’t readily move his feet, and led him out of the infirmary. Because In-ho’s walking pace was so fast, Haon had to move his feet quickly, almost as if he were running.
“Why are you worrying so much? It’s not like you even know her.”
In-ho muttered lowly as they stepped onto the escalator. Flustered by his unusual tone, Haon’s lips trembled as he tried to scratch his cheek.
In-ho stopped his hand and told him to be careful not to touch the wound. Though it was a word of concern for Haon, a sense of displeasure leaked through his lowered voice.
“I’m sorry….”
Seeing In-ho like that, Haon suddenly apologized. He had a habit of apologizing first whenever the other person seemed to be in a bad mood. Regardless of whose fault it was, Haon would first bow his head.
In-ho paused, as if about to say something, then suddenly clenched his fist. He soon stepped up a stair, creating distance between himself and Haon, and even turned his head away.
At this, Haon’s heart sank; not knowing what to do, he could only pucker his lips. Did he get even more upset because he apologized out of the blue? His mind went blank as he recalled Alphas who had become angry, claiming his apologies lacked sincerity.
“Um….”
Just as he was about to follow In-ho up the stairs, fearing that In-ho might leave him behind like this.
“Don’t come.”
In-ho reached his arm back and blocked Haon, telling him not to approach. Dazed, Haon stood there blankly, staring at In-ho’s back as he climbed the stairs first. His heart began to thumping again, asserting its presence.
“Ha….”
In-ho, who had reached the upper floor first, faintly hissed a curse. Pressing his temples, he focused on his breathing to calm his gradually accelerating pulse.
Was that woman a dominant Omega?
It seemed her pheromones were as strong as the aura she projected. In-ho rubbed his eyes, feeling a sudden dizziness that almost blurred his vision. In-ho’s pheromones, which had been as still as a deep sea, began to waver little by little.
He must have been too complacent, trusting his own trait. Letting out a long sigh, he composed his stiff expression and first turned around toward Haon.
“Haon-ssi—”
“I… I was wrong.”
Just as he was about to explain that he seemed to be affected by the woman’s pheromones, Haon interrupted him. Haon stood stopped in front of the escalator, mumbling in a faint voice.
“I should have thought about the movie time… I’m sorry for deciding on my own without asking.”
The way he continued to speak while fidgeting with his hands looked very unstable. Even though people were coming up behind him, he remained rooted to the spot as if his feet were tied, repeating his apology.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
A bewildered In-ho blinked. He couldn’t understand why Haon was suddenly apologizing.
As he tried to approach him, he had to take another step back because of the pheromones leaking from his own body. Seeing this, the corners of Haon’s eyes wrinkled even more pitifully.
Ah, so that’s why.
“Haon-ssi, come here.”
He reached out and called Haon. Fearing they might collide with customers coming up the escalator, he urged him to hurry.
At that, Haon ran toward In-ho at a speed faster than ever before. To In-ho, it was barely a power-walk, but for Haon, it was his fastest speed.
“You shouldn’t touch me right now.”
In-ho, who widened the distance as much as Haon had approached, explained his condition.
“Normally, I’m hardly affected by pheromones, but I guess I’m not in good condition today.”
“Are you… are you very unwell?”
Listening carefully to In-ho’s calm explanation, Haon understood the situation instantly. His eyes, full of worry, quickly tried to scan In-ho’s complexion.
“Should I go down and get some medicine?”
“No, it’s fine. I have a separate oral medication.”
In-ho gave a small smile to reassure the startled Haon and said he would go to the car for a moment. Since his rut period was still far off, he kept his suppressants in the car.
“I’ll see you in front of the ticket booth. I’ll be back soon.”
Saying there was plenty of time before the movie started, he looked around for a moment. He was concerned about Haon, who had said this was his first time at a cinema.
“Can you find the ticket booth on your own?”
Even while taking deep breaths to settle his pheromones, he worried about Haon. Haon nodded his head with intentional confidence.
“Don’t worry about me.”
He could not sense the scent leaking from In-ho’s body at all.
Looking at Haon, who could not detect his pheromones, In-ho felt relieved inwardly. He thought that since Haon was insensitive to others’ pheromones, he would be less affected.
“See you in a bit. Call me if anything happens.”
If he had thought just a little deeper, he would have known that wasn’t the case.
* * *
After parting with In-ho, Haon immediately went to find the ticket booth. Thanks to In-ho’s directions, he arrived without getting lost.
I wonder if he’ll be alright on his own.
He sat on the waiting chair, anxiously glancing around while waiting for In-ho to return. His heart burned with frustration that he, as an Omega, could do nothing to help.
Of course, as a dominant Alpha, he wouldn’t lose his reason easily, but one never knows. All problems and accidents happen when one lets their guard down.
Haon anxiously fidgeted with a movie poster someone had left on the table. He checked his silent phone frequently, preparing to run to the man whenever he called.
After a short while, Haon suddenly frowned and rubbed his stomach. His stomach had been uncomfortable for a while, and a faint pain began to set in.
With a familiar expression, he stroked his throbbing abdomen. Whenever he was stressed, his body always reacted this way. Since it was a common occurrence, he let out a dry sigh and tried to ignore the pain.
“Uh….”
However, surprised by the pain spreading below his lower abdomen, he bolted up from the chair.
With a loud crash, the chair overturned, and he frantically ran toward the restroom, pulling his foot out from where it had gotten caught. Fortunately, the restroom was not far.
Click.
He took a spot in the furthest stall, locked the door firmly, and lowered his underwear first. Only after touching around his perineum with an anxious heart did he let out the breath he had been holding.
“Haa….”
Fortunately, he wasn’t wet. Because his lower area was throbbing, he thought fluid might have leaked out. Getting wet was an early symptom of heat.
As expected, it must have been a simple stomachache triggered by stress. Since his heat had occurred about fifteen days ago, it wasn’t time for estrus to hit yet.
So, it will be fine.
“It’s okay….”
Stroking his stomach, which felt as if someone were poking it with needles, he headed toward the sinks. Wondering if the man had arrived, he intended to wash his hands quickly and leave. For some reason, he felt the pain would subside if he saw him.
The moment he squeezed soap onto his palm and turned on the faucet,
“…….”
A popcorn bucket filled to the brim entered Haon’s field of vision. Inside the red bucket, white and yellowish popcorn were piled high. Perhaps because it was freshly popped, a savory smell permeated the air.
“You brat, you said you’d be here in ten minutes.”
He heard the owner of the popcorn bucket talking on the phone. He was venting his anger at a companion who hadn’t arrived yet while tending to his business.
“Fuck, we agreed to meet at two-thirty. The movie is at three.”
Startled by the harsh profanity, Haon reflexively curled his body. Thinking he had to leave quickly, he hurriedly rinsed off the soapy water. However, his hands would not move as quickly as his mind wanted.
His head was facing forward, but his violently shaking pupils were fixed on the popcorn bucket placed at the corner of the sink.
Even though he tried not to look, his gaze kept drifting toward it. The moment he thought he should just close his eyes, saliva pooled at the corner of Haon’s trembling lips and dripped down.