By Zephyria 
After having lunch at the company cafeteria, Eun-soo stopped by a cafe with his team members. Since he couldn’t consume caffeine after becoming pregnant, he couldn’t use the breakroom, which only had coffee and tea. It was terrible that he couldn’t drink coffee when sleep was pouring over him like a rainstorm.
As is typical for office workers, Eun-soo had lived on one or two cups of coffee a day. He didn’t think he was heavily dependent on it. However, given the situation, it wasn’t just for a day, but for a full five months that he hadn’t been able to drink it, and he missed the caffeine.
Especially after lunch, the craving became unbearable. An immense drowsiness would wash over him.
Whenever Eun-soo was nodding off, his team members would be considerate and tell him to go take a quick nap in the lounge. The company lounge was an ideal environment for a short nap, equipped with cot beds, bean bags, and massage chairs.
However, Eun-soo always shook his head. This was because, during the early stages of pregnancy, he had once slept for two hours in the lounge. He had even set an alarm, but he didn’t hear it at all. He had felt so embarrassed and sorry. Since then, he didn’t even set foot in the lounge.
So, as a second-best option, Eun-soo would go to a cafe and buy the largest size of a sweet, cold smoothie-type drink, keeping it by his side all afternoon. He drank whenever he felt sleepy, trying his best to stay awake until 6 PM.
Today, Eun-soo bought a smoothie with chunky blended Oreo cookies. The team members each held a drink in their hands, and as always, Eun-soo paid.
As the six of them walked into the company lobby in two rows, chatting away, buzz. The inner pocket of Eun-soo’s jacket vibrated. Eun-soo took out his phone and checked the caller. It was Do-kwon.
Eun-soo gestured for his team members to go up first. Then he sat on a bench in front of the company. The weather was a bit chilly, but not so much that he couldn’t stay for five minutes.
Setting his drink down, Eun-soo swiped the call button.
“Hyung.”
-Yeah, Eun-soo. Did you eat lunch?
“Yes. I stopped by a cafe after eating and was just about to head back to the office.”
-Is that so?
“What about you, hyung? Did you eat?”
-Yeah, just something simple.
“……Simple?”
Eun-soo’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. He was displeased with Do-kwon’s vague answer. Had he been that busy? How busy could he be to skip a proper meal? No matter how busy one is, they should eat.
Do-kwon’s workload had increased since he was promoted to CEO. On top of that, Eun-soo was pregnant and they were moving; there must have been so many things to worry about. That was why Do-kwon worked incredibly hard when he was at the office. He split his time by the minute to work busily, and after getting off work, he busily tended to Eun-soo.
For such a person to eat “something simple”—this was as serious as when he said he only slept occasionally.
Just as Eun-soo was about to nag him, Do-kwon spoke first.
-Um…… Eun-soo.
It was a common way of calling him. However, Eun-soo caught his breath for a moment. Do-kwon’s voice sounded unusual. It was low and heavy, as if something had happened.
Worry immediately filled Eun-soo’s face. He gripped the phone tighter. He waited calmly for the words Do-kwon would say.
-Today…….
“Yeah.”
-I can’t come pick you up.
“……Huh?”
-I’m sorry. Something came up, and since it’s regarding an overseas branch, the meeting is likely to run late. They say it starts at five, and no matter how much I push it, I don’t think I can make it by your clock-out time…….
At those words, Eun-soo blinked rapidly. Then, he let out a hollow laugh. His shoulders, which had been tense, suddenly relaxed. He sipped his Oreo smoothie. The sweet, cool drink filled his mouth. The corners of Eun-soo’s lips curled up and then down.
“Is that all? Your voice sounded so heavy just for that?”
-What do you mean ‘is that all’? ‘Just for that’? This is an important matter to me, Eun-soo.
“Pfft……. It’s okay. I’m not a child; it’s not like I can’t get home by myself. I’ll manage just fine, so don’t worry.”
-Still……. You can’t even take your pheromone suppressants, you’re pregnant, it’s cold outside, and…… how can you commute home alone……. I have to make sure you have dinner……. I’ll send Secretary Jeong, so…… go by car. Okay? Got it?
Do-kwon’s voice trailed off. He seemed absolutely miserable about the fact that work had stripped him of his role as Eun-soo’s driver. Eun-soo giggled quietly. He really was cute these days.
“Yes, I will, honey. I’ll leave a message as soon as I get home, so don’t worry too much. Work hard. You have to work diligently if you want to leave a lot of inheritance for Mango.”
At Eun-soo’s playful teasing, the sound of Do-kwon laughing flowed through the receiver. However, the laughter didn’t last long.
-Still, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Eun-soo. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.
“It’s not like it’s always up to you……. Things like this happen when you’re working. I’m out all weekend whenever there’s an event. Then you have to eat all three meals alone. I’ve never felt sorry about that once……”
-How can you and I be the same?
“…….”
At those words, Eun-soo shut his mouth. How can we be the same? He wanted to ask what was different, but he stopped, feeling that doing so would bring up painful pasts for both himself and Do-kwon.
Eun-soo changed the subject while fumbling with his drink cup.
“……Alright. But you’ll be home before I go to sleep, right?”
-Yeah. I’ll definitely be back by 8.
“Okay. See you then.”
-I love you.
“……Yes.”
The call ended there. Looking at the black screen of his phone, Eun-soo stood up with a groan. An evening without Do-kwon. This was the first time since their marriage.
Perhaps it was because Do-kwon usually fussed over him so much, but he felt strangely empty.
Three o’clock in the afternoon. The smoothie was almost gone. After sucking up the last bit, Eun-soo stood up. He lightly rinsed the stained cup in the breakroom and threw it in the recycling bin. Then he rummaged through the refrigerator.
Colorful juices stood in a row. Juices made from blended fresh fruit without sugar were delivered by the twenty every morning from a specialty shop. Of course, this was Do-kwon’s doing.
After a moment of hesitation, Eun-soo picked up a juice blended with bitter grapefruit, sour lemon, and sweet orange. To escape the creeping drowsiness, he had to torment his tongue.
He debated whether to pour it into a cup and add ice to drink it cold or just drink it as is, and chose the latter. The smoothie had been cold enough, so he felt drinking something cold again might not be good for Mango.
After grabbing the juice, Eun-soo also took a few individually wrapped cookies. Just as he was about to leave the breakroom—
A loud crashing sound echoed from outside. Following that, a piercing scream was heard. It was a noise as if a war had suddenly broken out. Startled, Eun-soo set down what he was holding and headed outside. His hand instinctively covered his lower abdomen.
Coming out of the breakroom, he saw that several office desks were empty. People were crowding toward the entrance. Then, someone’s shouting could be heard. It was a voice that sounded like it was screaming; the pitch jumped wildly, perhaps due to excitement, and it was extremely raspy.
Eun-soo pushed into the crowd. He craned his neck to see what was happening, but because of the throng of people, he couldn’t see anything. Just then, Seo-young pushed through the crowd. Eun-soo lightly grabbed her elbow.
“What’s going on?”
“Team Leader! Some crazy bastard is throwing a fit—no, he’s acting out! He broke the glass and it’s total chaos.”
“Acting out? Here? Why?”
“You know about the lawyer support for pregnant women since last month, right? You know, for those who aren’t receiving child support or are being abused……”
“Yes, I know.”
“He says he lost 100 million won in child support because of that. And since there were signs of abuse, he apparently even received a restraining order. If the child support is overdue again, he’ll face imprisonment. That’s why he came here to cause a scene.”
“Ah……”
“I mean, if that crazy bastard had just paid regularly from the start, it would have been fine. To come here now……”
Eun-soo frowned at Seo-young’s words. Hmm, I expected him to be a crazy bastard just from the voice, and as expected, he is one. As Eun-soo looked up to get a glimpse of the crazy bastard’s face, the crowd happened to part, allowing him to come face-to-face with the ‘crazy bastard’s’ mug.
The crazy bastard was younger than expected. Late thirties at most. To have 100 million won in overdue child support at that age—it was surprising. He later found out the man had fathered three children and hadn’t paid a single cent.
The crazy bastard was covered in glass shards, as if he had broken the glass entrance door with his body. His eyes were bloodshot, and the teeth visible between his lips were yellowed. His skin was dark, but rather than being tanned by the sun, it looked like his complexion had died from excessive drinking.
Moreover, there was a pungent Alpha scent. It was sour and musty, to the point where one wondered how an Alpha pheromone could be this repulsive. It felt sacrilegious to even put it in the same sentence as Do-kwon’s pheromone scent, let alone compare them.
The crazy bastard threw nearby flowerpots, pushed miscellaneous items off the nearest desks, and kicked chairs, causing a ruckus. All the while,
“Fuck! Tell the CEO to come out! The CEO!”
He screamed at the top of his lungs, fitting the profile of a crazy bastard of that level. He didn’t know why such delusional people always sought out the CEO without knowing their place. There are people in charge; if they have a complaint, they can file it formally. Was rushing in and colliding physically a result of low intelligence?
“How did he get in?”
Eun-soo tilted his head. The security in Eun-soo’s building was strict. After all, would Do-kwon have left it wide open?
Not only for entry, but even for emergency exits and restrooms, one had to swipe an employee ID card. Thus, it wasn’t a place where a crazy bastard could run wild like that.
Then, he suddenly noticed an employee ID card wrapped around the crazy bastard’s wrist. A familiar logo and a familiar design. It was an ID card Eun-soo had designed. Come to think of it, yesterday or the day before, during a snack break, one of the employees had mentioned losing their ID card in the cafeteria. To think it had fallen into those hands.
As Eun-soo let out a faint sigh, the crazy bastard suddenly pulled something sharp and glinting from his inner pocket. Eun-soo gasped.
“Is that…… is that a knife?”
“I-it looks like it.”
Seo-young’s eyes also widened. Eun-soo pushed Seo-young behind his back.
“Seo-young. Contact the security team. The number should be written on the top right of my desk.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seo-young moved urgently. Eun-soo fumbled through his pockets for his phone. He had to report it to the police. It would be slower than the security guards on the floor below, but still, a report……. But he couldn’t find his phone. He belatedly remembered he had left it plugged into the charger on his desk. Eun-soo pulled the arm of another team member nearby and whispered.
“Ha-yoon, you call the police……”
Eun-soo couldn’t finish his sentence. His eyes had locked with the crazy bastard’s.
The crazy bastard’s eyes gleamed intensely. Then, he approached, swinging the knife. People screamed and split to the left and right. The crazy bastard finally arrived in front of Eun-soo. Then, breathing heavily and angrily, he glared at Eun-soo. It seemed the mention of the police had made him snap.
“…….”
In contrast, Eun-soo looked at the Alpha with indifferent eyes. He wasn’t afraid. Because a crazy bastard is just a crazy bastard. Then, he belatedly thought of Mango. Covering his lower abdomen, Eun-soo took a step back, and in that moment, the crazy bastard’s eyes flashed.
“You Omega bitch, you’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
The crazy bastard chuckled and grabbed Eun-soo’s elbow roughly. Then he yanked him forward. Eun-soo’s body was pulled sharply by the rough force. The surrounding employees tried to stop the crazy bastard, clawing at him.
“Oh my god, you crazy bastard! Let go!”
“What do you think you’re doing to a pregnant person!”
As if the screeching voices were annoying, the crazy bastard narrowed his eyes. Then, swish, swish, he swung the knife. The blade, marked with fingerprints, cut through the air with a dull glint. The employees screamed and backed away.
“Just try reporting me! I’ll shove this knife into this pregnant bitch’s neck. Huh? I just need to see the CEO. Tell the CEO to come out!”
“No, our company doesn’t have a CEO. I’m telling you, it’s not much different from a welfare organization.”
“Then the highest-ranking guy, huh? Tell the highest-ranking guy to come out!”
Whether he was ignoring the words or not, the crazy bastard continued to repeat the same thing. Eun-soo let out a long sigh. A headache began to form. The blade flickering before his eyes kept bringing back memories he didn’t want to recall.
At that moment, the crazy bastard flared his nostrils and chuckled.
“Holy fuck, look at the smell on this bitch.”
“…….”
“You’re a gold-digger too, aren’t you? Is it great living off Alphas? Huh?”
“…….”
“Bitches who can’t do anything but get pregnant……”
Eun-soo didn’t react. Regardless of Alpha or Omega, there were several men here. He simply found it disgusting—this crazy bastard who started every insult with ‘bitch,’ this crazy bastard who called the high-ranking person he so desperately sought a ‘guy,’ this crazy bastard whose thoughts on pregnancy he wanted to rip open and examine.
Seeing no reaction from Eun-soo, the crazy bastard seemed to fly into a rage. Eventually, the blade pressed against Eun-soo’s neck. The employees screamed for him to stop.
Eun-soo glanced at the crazy bastard and murmured.
“……You shouldn’t do this to me.”
“What?”
“You’ll die.”
At Eun-soo’s low voice, the crazy bastard flinched. Because the words spoken by an insignificant Omega—a thin Omega with only a protruding belly—were somehow unusual.
While the crazy bastard was stammering, Eun-soo personally corrected the error in the crazy bastard’s common sense.
“Gold-diggers only stick to guys who actually have something to be taken. They don’t stick to bastards who struggle over a mere 100 million won.”
“……What?”
“And let’s say the only thing an Omega is actually capable of is getting pregnant. Even then, what kind of Omega would want to carry the child of a foul-smelling Alpha like you? If they have a choice, they’d want to be pregnant with the child of an Alpha who is handsome, smells good, and shells out 100 million won a month in childcare expenses. Who would ever want someone like you…”
The employees gasped at Eun-soo’s monotone words. While it was true, they felt more worried than relieved. There was nothing to be gained from provoking a madman. Right now, the priority was to soothe him and get the knife out of his hand.
Sure enough, the madman’s eyebrows began to twitch and twist menacingly.
“You… you…!”
He ground his teeth. The tip of the knife trembled. Even so, Eun-soo didn’t even blink.
It was reasonable to be afraid. He was a different breed of crazy than Seong-heon, but he was still a lunatic. Strangely, Eun-soo felt no fear.
Perhaps it was because he knew Do-kwon would come.
Eun-soo knew that Do-kwon would appear soon. If asked how he knew, he could only answer that he just did. He didn’t know if he would fly through the sky like Superman or burst through a wall like the Hulk, but he had a certainty that it would happen.
It had always been that way. Whenever he was sick, in danger, or even if he just tripped, Do-kwon was the person who would appear from somewhere to catch him. This time would be no different.
“You fucking bitch, you fucking bitch!”
The madman raised the knife. A sharp whistling sound cut through the air. It happened just as Eun-soo tightly clutched his lower abdomen.
“Where do you think you’re putting your hands?”
A large hand reached out from behind. It grabbed the madman’s face in a full grip and yanked him backward with a sudden force. The madman’s waist snapped back under the immense power, like a scene from The Matrix.
“Gah…!”
Due to the sudden jerk, the madman dropped the knife. It clattered across the smooth marble floor. The owner of the hand gripping the man’s face kicked the knife far away from Eun-soo. The blade slid away with a chilling sound.
“Wha— what— what…!”
Flustered, the madman tried to look at the identity of the shadow that had suddenly appeared. The owner of the shadow kindly grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him up into his line of sight. The madman wasn’t exactly small, yet his feet dangled uselessly in the air.
Finally, the source of the power was revealed.
It was Do-kwon.
“Who— who are you! Let go of me! Let go! I’ll kill you!”
The madman struggled pathetically, desperate to escape Do-kwon’s grip.
“…”
Do-kwon looked at the madman with a coldly frozen face. Then, he suddenly let go of the collar. The madman’s pale complexion brightened slightly, seemingly thinking that Do-kwon had been intimidated.
Just as the man regained his balance, something heavy sliced through the air with a thud. It was a tightly clenched fist. That fist slammed—CRASH!—right into the madman’s nose.
“Gah…!”
The madman fell backward. He collapsed straight down, like a thick log tipping over.
With a single punch from Do-kwon, the bridge of the madman’s nose was flattened. Blood erupted like a fountain. The capillaries in his eyes burst in succession.
“Ugh…”
The madman’s limbs twitched in spasms. His eyes rolled halfway back. He was in a state of grogginess from a single blow. But Do-kwon was not merciful enough to stop there. He whipped his foot up and stomped hard on the hand that had been clutching Eun-soo.
A sickening crunch echoed as bones seemed to shatter. The wrist, the back of the hand, and the fingers twisted grotesquely. The madman fainted instantly, unable to even scream.
After crushing the hand with his dress shoe, Do-kwon lifted his foot again. This time, he aimed for the space between the madman’s eyebrows. Just as he was about to bring his foot down—
“Do-kwon hyung.”
An absolute voice pierced his ear. Do-kwon stopped dead, like a robot that had been powered off. Light seeped back into his darkened eyes. He snapped his head up to look at Eun-soo.
Clutching his lower abdomen, Eun-soo stood blankly a few steps away. Do-kwon carelessly kicked the madman aside and strode toward Eun-soo with his long legs. He hurriedly checked Eun-soo’s body for injuries.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? Anywhere? Your stomach? Does it hurt? Should we go to the hospital?”
“I’m okay. I wasn’t even that surprised,” Eun-soo replied with a faint smile.
Facing that smile, Do-kwon let out a powerless sigh. He then buried his forehead in Eun-soo’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“What do you mean, sorry? Your timing was perfect. But how did you get here?”
“Ah, I bought some snacks. And I wanted to see your face while I was at it. I couldn’t stand the thought of not seeing you until the meeting ended. So I came myself.”
Do-kwon gestured behind him. There stood Secretary Jeong and the other secretaries, holding various paper bags and boxes.
Eun-soo had expected him to appear, but the reason was completely unimaginable. Eun-soo let out a laugh. Do-kwon tried to stroke Eun-soo’s cheek, but noticing the blood on his fingertips, he quickly curled his hand back. He couldn’t touch Eun-soo with hands like these.
Do-kwon took off his coat and draped it over Eun-soo’s shoulders. Then, he pulled Eun-soo into an embrace. Eun-soo breathed in Do-kwon’s scent deeply. The pheromone fragrance, which was on a completely different level from the madman’s, made his lungs feel cleansed.
Eun-soo wrapped his arms around Do-kwon’s waist. Being pressed against him seemed to erase the memory of the madman’s slime-like, sticky touch.
Secretary Jeong, who had been standing behind them, pulled out a wet wipe from a desk and handed it to Do-kwon. As Do-kwon scrubbed his hands, the security guards finally rushed in. Do-kwon glared at them with disdain and spoke to Secretary Jeong, his black eyes filled with murderous intent.
“Fire all the security. Change the agency.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And move that piece of trash to the parking lot.”
“Yes, sir.”
Secretary Jeong nodded to the other secretaries. Then, the burly subordinates picked up the madman like a piece of luggage and disappeared out of the office. Do-kwon ground his teeth as he watched the scoundrel be carried away. Simultaneously, the intense pheromones characteristic of a Dominant Alpha exploded outward.
The surrounding employees held their breath and stepped back. An Alpha’s pheromones triggered by rage rather than lust were a threat rather than a temptation. To release such pheromones in a company teeming with Omegas…
Eun-soo spoke urgently.
“Hyung. Your pheromones. They’re too strong. You can’t let them out like that here.”
“Haa… sorry.”
Do-kwon quickly suppressed his pheromones. Sweeping back his disheveled bangs, he curled the corners of his mouth as he looked at the employees. He then comforted the staff, who must have been shocked by the sudden situation and the rampant violence.
“Everyone, please leave work early today. I’ll treat this as a natural disaster, so don’t worry about half-days or your salary; just go home and get some rest. I bought some snacks, so please take some on your way out. I’ll instruct a separate company to handle the cleaning.”
“Ah, yes, CEO.”
“Yes…”
The employees answered softly and dispersed. A few seemed bewildered, but most followed Do-kwon’s orders with familiarity.
It made sense, as Do-kwon was the ‘highest-ranking person’ the madman had been searching for. They had seen him often when the company was first being established. Although he hadn’t shown his face much after the company settled in, Do-kwon was, after all, the representative of the company.
One by one, the employees began to leave. Once the office was empty, Do-kwon looked down at Eun-soo with concern.
“Let’s go to the hospital, Eun-soo. Just in case.”
“I’m fine, though…”
“I’m just so worried. Please?”
At the desperate plea, Eun-soo reluctantly nodded. As he said, just in case. He felt indifferent, but Mango might have felt differently.
“Fine, let’s go. But I’ll go alone. You said you’re busy.”
“The meeting is at five. I’m fine until then. Right?”
Do-kwon asked Secretary Jeong, his expression saying, Tell him it’s okay. Eun-soo also looked at Secretary Jeong, his expression asking, Is it really okay? Suddenly, the power of decision rested in Secretary Jeong’s hands.
“Uh… yes. It is fine.”
Secretary Jeong nodded slowly. Work was important, but the top priority right now was the tiny being inside Eun-soo’s belly. If another tragedy befell that small existence, Do-kwon and Eun-soo might just hold hands and jump off a cliff.
“I will escort you to the hospital,” Secretary Jeong said, turning around. Do-kwon gripped Eun-soo’s hand.
The three of them left the office together. Once they boarded the elevator, Secretary Jeong asked Do-kwon quietly.
“How should I handle that man from earlier?”
“…Later. For now, don’t hand him over to the police; just keep him.”
“Yes, sir.”
Eun-soo heard the conversation clearly but gave no reaction.
Do-kwon certainly wouldn’t handle that madman lightly. He would likely show him a terrible hell. Even if he ended up killing him, Eun-soo felt it would be okay.
Because he was a truly, truly bad person. Unless he became disabled in some way, he was the type of person who would cause trouble wherever he went. Someone who would exploit Omegas with the typical pheromones and strength of an Alpha, then abandon them without a second thought. Someone who would claim to be the victim at any moment.
It was better for him to disappear from the world.
Indeed. Absolutely.
Eun-soo let out a small, knowing smile.
* * *
“Mango is healthy.”
The doctor said in a low voice while looking at the ultrasound. Do-kwon and Eun-soo, who were holding hands tightly, let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. Do-kwon gently rubbed Eun-soo’s forehead and the corners of his eyes with his thumb.
“I guess you really weren’t scared.”
“Of course. I’m a bit tougher now.”
“Tougher?”
“No, I don’t mean my punches are strong. I mean I can keep my cool through most things.”
At the bold statement, Do-kwon let out a soft, airy laugh. The doctor, who was listening, also let out a faint smile. There was no reason not to be happy seeing Eun-soo, who had been swept away by waves of emotion, speak so confidently.
The doctor moved the ultrasound probe around, examining Mango’s condition more closely. Then, he raised and lowered his eyebrows.
“You came at the perfect time today.”
“Is there a test we need to do? Or is there a problem…?” Do-kwon asked worriedly.
The doctor shook his head.
“No. I can see the gender. Would you like to know?”
Eun-soo and Do-kwon stopped breathing at the same time. The two locked eyes for a moment, then nodded. The doctor’s lips moved simply.
“It’s a girl. Congratulations.”
At those words, Eun-soo’s mouth clamped shut, and Do-kwon’s mouth fell open. Eun-soo looked down at his rounded belly.
In today’s world, where secondary gender is mentioned before biological sex, one might wonder why being a boy or a girl mattered so much, but it was still his child, and he was curious. But hearing it was a girl—that she was the same gender as Bomi—made his heart swell for some reason. The fact that both he and Do-kwon were men made the news of a daughter feel even more welcoming.
The doctor wiped off the gel. Do-kwon personally tidied Eun-soo’s clothes. Eun-soo gently stroked his belly and murmured.
“Bomi is getting a little sister…”
At that, Do-kwon chuckled and kissed Eun-soo’s cheek.
“She is.”
The father of two daughters. He felt like he might faint from happiness.
The car driven by Secretary Jeong headed home. Do-kwon, who was stuck to Eun-soo’s side stroking his belly, asked tentatively.
“…Should I just not go to the company?”
At those words, Secretary Jeong almost slammed on the brakes in the middle of the road. What on earth was he talking about with only 30 minutes left until the meeting? He glared at Do-kwon through the rearview mirror, but fortunately, Eun-soo, who knew how to distinguish between public and private matters, shook his head.
“You have to go. You said it was an important meeting. I told you I’m fine. The hospital said I’m fine, too.”
“Still… I’m worried… I feel like my heart is going to jump out of my throat. What if something happens while you’re alone?”
Do-kwon buried his nose in the crook of Eun-soo’s neck, whining uncharacteristically. Eun-soo gently brushed back Do-kwon’s hair and patted him. Do-kwon spent a long time inhaling Eun-soo’s scent. Then, he asked in a low voice.
“Why weren’t you scared?”
“Huh?”
“That guy was swinging a knife. He was holding onto you. Why weren’t you scared?”
“…”
Eun-soo’s mouth closed tight. Do-kwon pressed him with his gaze. Eun-soo had said he was tougher now and wouldn’t blink at most things, but it was still a bit strange to be unfazed in front of an assailant with a knife.
After a moment of silence, Eun-soo slowly spoke.
“Because I knew you’d come, hyung.”
“…What?”
“I knew you’d come.”
“How?”
“I just know. Because you always have.”
Do-kwon’s brow furrowed at the casual response. He couldn’t understand. How could Eun-soo have known he would come? He hadn’t given any hint because he thought Eun-soo would hate it or tell him not to come if he said he was stopping by the office.
Did Eun-soo install a location tracker on his phone? Or was he secretly exchanging messages with Secretary Jeong? While he was thinking this, Eun-soo suddenly leaned his face in. Then, he smiled, his eyes curving.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know the first thing I said when that madman grabbed me?”
“…”
“’You’re dead if you touch me.’ That’s what I said. I could say it because I knew you’d come, and I knew you wouldn’t leave that madman alone.”
“…”
“I… just know. That whenever I’m in danger, you’ll appear from somewhere, somehow. Because you always have. There’s never been a time you didn’t. Because you’ll save me. Because you won’t stand by and watch me be in danger.”
“…”
“I have that faith. Very clear and firm.”
Do-kwon fell silent at Eun-soo’s utterly reckless words. His eyebrows and eyes formed a straight, hard line. But he melted away in an instant.
Do-kwon hugged Eun-soo tightly. He wrapped his arms around his waist, gripped the back of his head, and pulled him fully into his embrace.
“Ah, Eun-soo… I love you. Really, I love you…”
At the desperate confession of love, Eun-soo chuckled and stroked Do-kwon’s back. Do-kwon held Eun-soo until the car stopped in front of the house. Unable to watch any longer, Secretary Jeong quietly announced their arrival. Do-kwon reluctantly let go of Eun-soo.
“Then, I’m going. See you tonight.”
As Eun-soo tried to get out of the car, Do-kwon couldn’t help himself and grabbed Eun-soo’s wrist.
“I’ll just postpone the meeting. Let’s have dinner together. I don’t want to be apart. I’m worried, too…”
“No. I want to meet your mother and father today.”
“…My parents?”
“Yeah. Since you’re busy, I’ll just have dinner with them. And I can tell them Mango’s gender. I should call them and ask them to buy me something delicious.”
“Still…”
“Don’t worry too much. Okay? Honestly, I think so. I’m safer by your mother’s side than next to the Minister of National Defense. I feel like even if a war broke out, I could live in luxury by her side.”
Eun-soo said, stroking Do-kwon’s chin. Then, he took out his phone and sent a message to Myeong-hui. He was even humming a tune, appearing truly fine.
Do-kwon shut his mouth. What happened today was certainly not a small matter. An Alpha, a knife, and the screams of a madman. It was something that stirred up a painful past. He could have thought of Seong-heon. Do-kwon had worried that Eun-soo might be stabbed by the sharp edges of the past and cry in agony. It had been a needless worry.
Do-kwon pressed his lips firmly against Eun-soo’s cheek and then pulled away.
“Alright. See you tonight.”
The mature Eun-soo, the strengthened Eun-soo, was truly lovely and wonderful.
Eun-soo spent a wonderful evening with Myeong-hui and Ki-ho. They went to a high-end Hanwoo restaurant for a meat course, and for dessert, they went to a cold noodle specialty shop for naengmyeon and handmade dumplings. After that, they went to a department store to buy things for Mango.
Myeong-hui and Ki-ho displayed a level of ‘spending spree’ that was on a different scale than Do-kwon’s. From clothes and shoes to strollers, bouncers, car seats, baby bottles, sterilizers, diapers, handkerchiefs, and all sorts of mobiles and dolls. They acted as if they intended to demolish every baby-related store in sight.
Eun-soo happily accepted everything they bought. He had the items delivered to the house in Yeoksam-dong, where he would soon be moving.
The kind and meticulous Ki-ho said that around the time the packages arrived, he would send people to open the boxes, assemble the items, and wash the dolls, clothes, and towels, adding that it would be too cumbersome to do it all by oneself.
Eun-soo kept giving him thumbs-ups. He finally understood what Do-kwon meant when he said that raising a child is easier if you have a lot of money.
Afterward, they went to a quiet tea house, chatting over traditional Korean sweets and tea. Eun-soo also took photos and sent them to Do-kwon to let him know he was doing well.
Around 9 o’clock, Do-kwon appeared. After exchanging brief greetings with the parents, he took Eun-soo and left.
Once home, the two washed up, changed their clothes, and met in the bedroom. Cradled in Do-kwon’s arms, Eun-soo chattered on about the things he had eaten and bought today. Do-kwon participated actively in the conversation, nodding along to Eun-soo’s words and asking follow-up questions regarding the baby supplies.
But suddenly, Eun-soo’s eyes narrowed.
“Something’s weird.”
“Huh?”
“I think Hyung is angry. Why are you mad?”
Eun-soo cupped Do-kwon’s cheeks and scrutinized his handsome face. The strangely stiff expression, the tightly closed lips, and the coldly sunken eyes—he was definitely different from the usual Do-kwon. Given how long they had been together, there was no way Eun-soo wouldn’t notice the change.
“…….”
Do-kwon remained silent. It was a silence of affirmation. Eun-soo gently rubbed his cheekbone with his thumb and pressed for an answer.
“Tell me. Why are you angry? Because of what? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, no. How could you do anything wrong? It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what?”
“…….”
Do-kwon didn’t open his mouth easily. Eun-soo’s lips twisted into a pout. He pulled his body back, distancing himself from Do-kwon.
“Fine, if you’re not going to tell me.”
At that, Do-kwon quickly snatched him by the waist. He pulled him back into his embrace. Their gazes met. In their eyes, illuminated by the soft light, each other’s faces floated like moons.
Licking his dry lips, Do-kwon slowly spoke.
“While I was in the meeting, a thought kept running through a corner of my mind the whole time.”
“What thought?”
“That if an accident happened… I’d likely appear and stop it, but if for some reason I couldn’t. You, Eun-soo, would save Mango even if it meant sacrificing your own life. Then I would have to lose you all over again. I kept thinking about that. And then that thought led to the wish that you wouldn’t do anything at all.”
“……What?”
“The thought that I wish you wouldn’t go to work, wouldn’t go outside, and would just stay in the space I created for you, seeing only good things and eating only good things.”
“…….”
“Even if doing that forever is difficult, I wished that just while you’re pregnant, just until you give birth to Mango and recover your health, you would stay entirely in my arms.”
“……Hyung.”
“But I shouldn’t think like this. It’s bad. I don’t have the right to. And yet, I seriously contemplated how I could lock you away. Then I thought, ‘Ah, Eun-soo shouldn’t know, he’d hate it,’ so I quickly tried to think of something else. But the moment I snap back to my senses, I’m thinking it again.”
“…….”
“Then I wondered if I should just ask you casually. And if you said no, I wondered what it would be like to tie you down by force. I thought that far. I’m crazy.”
Do-kwon closed his eyes tightly and opened them again, as if the memory was painful. Eun-soo couldn’t offer any response. So, he just stared blankly at Do-kwon.
Do-kwon let out a faint groan and buried his face in the crook of Eun-soo’s neck. He hugged Eun-soo tightly. He was afraid that Eun-soo, having heard his inner thoughts, would be horrified and run away. He was terrified that he might be abandoned.
“I was just so angry at myself for having these thoughts. I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“…….”
“I’m sorry, Eun-soo.”
Eun-soo blinked slowly as he listened to Do-kwon’s desperate apology. The words Do-kwon had uttered were quite shocking. He hadn’t expected him to think such things even in the slightest.
Still, he didn’t find Do-kwon scary or creepy. After all, weren’t they just thoughts? Do-kwon hadn’t breathed a word about it until now. If he had continued to keep it a secret, Eun-soo would have lived his whole life without knowing.
The fact that he was speaking now wasn’t a demand for him to do so, but an apology for having such thoughts. The starting point of the anger was Do-kwon himself, and the destination was also Do-kwon himself.
After a brief silence, Eun-soo hugged Do-kwon back. He found it strange yet endearing that Do-kwon felt guilt over mere imagination.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“……Huh?”
“I said thank you. If you hadn’t told me, I would have had no idea you were worrying about such things.”
At Eun-soo’s gentle words, Do-kwon lifted his head. His pupils trembled rapidly. Eun-soo softly stroked the corners of Do-kwon’s eyes and whispered.
“I’ll be careful.”
“…….”
“If something like today happens again, I’ll run away without looking back. Whether you appear or not. First, I’ll try my best not to get hurt.”
“…….”
“No matter what happens, I won’t leave you alone.”
At these words full of consideration and trust, Do-kwon felt his nose tingle uncontrollably. To think that he wouldn’t be left alone—it was an overwhelming sentiment. Still, he thought it would be unsightly to cry at this timing, so he endured and endured. However, he couldn’t hold back the confession that escaped his lips before he could stop it.
“I love you, Eun-soo.”
I love you. Do-kwon confessed deeply. Eun-soo laughed softly and gave Do-kwon a quick kiss on the cheek. Then, he hugged Do-kwon tightly in return.
Do-kwon had once said that he hoped Eun-soo would keep whining to him even when they grew older, when they were fifty or eighty. He finally understood what that meant.
The two of them basked in this fullness while holding each other. Just then, something squirmed inside Eun-soo’s belly. Startled, Eun-soo caught his breath. Feeling this, Do-kwon looked at Eun-soo with a slight frown.
“What is it? Are you in pain?”
“No, no……. It’s just…….”
A small crease formed above Eun-soo’s eyebrows. He tilted his head, wondering if he had misfelt it or if it was an illusion. Then, his belly squirmed again. It felt as if a blunt tree were growing inside. This time, he felt it clearly.
With wide eyes, Eun-soo shouted loud enough to ring through the bedroom.
“Mango just moved!”
“……What?”
Do-kwon wore a blank, foolish expression. At this, Eun-soo pulled Do-kwon’s hand and made him wrap it around his belly. Then, he whispered in a small voice.
“Mango, just once. Try moving one more time.”
No sooner had he spoken than his belly gave another lurch. That small, cute movement seeped into Do-kwon’s palm. Do-kwon’s eyes widened. The skin around his eyes and cheeks tightened, and his eyebrows shot up to the middle of his forehead.
“This is…….”
“It’s fetal movement. I think Mango has grown a lot.”
Eun-soo smiled brightly. But Do-kwon couldn’t smile. An unfamiliar emotion surged within him, and he didn’t know how to react. This was the first time Do-kwon had ever felt fetal movement. He hadn’t been by Bomi’s side during their fetal movements, so he had never experienced it.
But Mango had let him know. With this small yet significant movement, Mango told him that they were alive, growing well, and that they should meet soon.
A shiver ran down his spine. An emotion that could not be fully described in words filled his chest. His heart thudded heavily—thump, thump, thump—and his throat began to sting.
In the end, that day, Do-kwon could not hold back his tears.
* * *
Do-kwon and Eun-soo moved into a house in Yeoksam-dong, a gift from Myeong-hui. The house, with interiors and furniture personally chosen by Eun-soo, was sophisticated yet warm and beautiful. It was bright throughout as sunlight streamed in, and it was spacious and uncluttered, with no miscellaneous decorations, for the sake of the soon-to-be-born Mango.
Around the time they adjusted to the new house, Eun-soo took a leave of absence from work. He was in his 36th week of pregnancy. He was full-term. Eun-soo’s belly had grown steadily and eventually became as large as a watermelon. His skin was stretched so taut that he worried it might pop if he bumped into something.
Beyond such imaginary worries, Do-kwon had a truckload of other concerns. Thus, instead of going to the office, he worked from home to stay by Eun-soo’s side. He didn’t know when or how an emergency might occur, so he had to stick close to Eun-soo and watch over him.
Because of this, only Secretary Jeong suffered. Once or twice a day, he would bring a mountain of approval documents to get signatures. Still, since there were few tasks that couldn’t be handled from home, it was manageable. If there were meetings, Do-kwon would stop by the office early in the morning and finish them quickly.
After staring at his tablet for a long time while sitting on the living room sofa, Do-kwon glanced to the side. Eun-soo, who had been reading a book, had fallen fast asleep. Leaning diagonally against the sofa with his belly supported and his head tilted to the side, he looked quite uncomfortable.
Do-kwon quietly stood up and approached Eun-soo. He supported Eun-soo’s neck and waist and laid him flat on the sofa. In his heart, he wanted to take him to the bedroom, but he feared Eun-soo would wake up in the middle.
He already struggled to sleep at night. Do-kwon wanted him to sleep deeply, even if it was just for these occasional naps.
As his belly grew, Eun-soo began to lose sleep at night. His legs would go numb, he would be short of breath, and his belly was so heavy that it was difficult to lie flat. Consequently, he often woke up or tossed and turned every thirty to forty minutes. He would feel cold as his hands and feet chilled, then become hot enough for his cheeks to flush red.
Moreover, Mango moved so energetically. Even while sleeping soundly, if Mango did a “hurrah” or kicked, Eun-soo would frown and groan in pain.
Watching this from beside him, Do-kwon felt as if his blood were drying up. He even had nightmares where Eun-soo was crushed to death by his mountain-like belly.
Do-kwon let out a soft sigh and brought a thick blanket. As he covered Eun-soo with it, Eun-soo’s belly was undulating again.
Crouching below the sofa, Do-kwon whispered in a low voice.
“Mango. Daddy is sleeping. Stay still.”
At the somewhat stern tone, Mango moved violently, as if annoyed. Then, as if saying ‘I’ll let it slide this once,’ the movement subsided. As if praising the baby, Do-kwon lightly pressed his lips against Eun-soo’s belly and pulled away.
Do-kwon covered Eun-soo with the blanket. The large blanket was more than enough to cover Eun-soo from his shoulders to his toes.
Do-kwon continued to watch Eun-soo for a while.
Full-term Eun-soo breathed more loudly than usual. The sound of him inhaling and exhaling was prominent, and his shoulders and chest moved significantly. He had mentioned once that it was hard to breathe because Mango was pressing on his organs.
About a month ago, he had fallen asleep breathing through his mouth because he lacked air, which led to a sore throat. Because he was pregnant, he couldn’t take proper medication; his throat hurt, and he struggled to swallow food. It had been so heartbreaking. Do-kwon never wanted to experience that again.
After some time, Eun-soo’s brow suddenly furrowed. Then, he slowly bent his knees upward and stretched them back down. His soles, peeking out from under the blanket, stretched upward.
It was an action Eun-soo unconsciously did whenever his legs felt numb.
Do-kwon quickly pulled back the blanket. He sat on the sofa and placed Eun-soo’s legs on his own thighs. Then, with his large hands, he firmly massaged the soft calves. As he pressed firmly with his thumbs from behind the knees, through the calves, to the Achilles tendon behind the ankles, Eun-soo’s tense legs relaxed.
After massaging for about five minutes, the tension in Eun-soo’s face vanished, leaving him looking peaceful. Do-kwon carefully lowered Eun-soo’s legs. He tidied the blanket and gave a short kiss to his pretty forehead.
After watching Eun-soo for a bit longer, Do-kwon picked up his tablet again.
Mango would be born soon. I have to work hard. I have to earn a lot of money. With that mindset, he stared intensely at the text filling the screen.
By the time Do-kwon had looked through a few PDF files, Eun-soo squirmed. It was unclear if his back hurt or if he was waking up. Do-kwon approached Eun-soo, intending to help him turn over. But the moment his hand touched Eun-soo’s waist, Eun-soo slowly opened his eyes.
“Sleep more,” Do-kwon said softly.
Eun-soo blinked a few times and shook his head. Then, with a groan, he pushed his upper body up. Do-kwon supported his waist to help him rise.
“How long did I sleep?” Eun-soo asked, rubbing his eyelids.
“About an hour.”
“I slept a lot.”
“You barely slept.”
Do-kwon replied while gently brushing back Eun-soo’s hair. He had hoped Eun-soo would sleep deeply and wake up tomorrow morning, but he had opened his eyes after just an hour. It was obvious he wouldn’t be able to sleep properly at night due to the tossing and turning.
Filled with worry, Do-kwon gently massaged Eun-soo’s hand.
“What should we have for dinner?”
“Hmm……. Something…….”
“Something?”
“Not heavy, fresh, and light.”
“Salad?”
“No, that’s too light…….”
Eun-soo narrowed his eyes in thought. His large pupils rolled around. It was so adorable that Do-kwon rubbed his lips all over Eun-soo’s plump cheeks. Accustomed to Do-kwon’s playful skinship, Eun-soo ignored it and continued to ponder the dinner menu.
Then, his eyes suddenly lit up.
“Snow crab.”
“Huh?”
“I think snow crab would be good. Protein, no carbs, not too salty—it’s perfect, just perfect.”
Eun-soo nodded, licking his lips. Do-kwon chuckled.
“Sure. Let’s have snow crab. Should I buy some and bring it here?”
“No, I want to go out. I’ve been home all yesterday and today. I feel suffocated.”
As Eun-soo tried to stand up, holding his belly with one hand and the sofa with the other, Do-kwon slid his hands under Eun-soo’s armpits, lifted him up, and carefully set him on his feet. It was as if he were handling a precious doll.
Thanks to this, Eun-soo was able to stand up without any back pain.
“I really—love that you’re so strong, Hyung.”
Eun-soo gave Do-kwon a thumbs-up. He had gained quite a bit of weight during the pregnancy, but Do-kwon still felt no burden regarding his weight. Whenever Eun-soo struggled to move and let out a faint groan, Do-kwon would appear from somewhere and effortlessly move him wherever he wanted.
Do-kwon smiled proudly, like a praised child. Finding that face cute, Eun-soo gave a short, quick kiss to the tip of his chin.
Entering the dressing room, Eun-soo took off his maternity clothes and put on a wide, boxy hoodie. As he groaned while stretching his arms because his belly felt tight, Do-kwon took care of pulling the fabric over his head and sliding his arms into the sleeves.
After that, the socks were the problem. With something larger than a watermelon attached to his belly, his hands couldn’t reach his feet. Do-kwon had Eun-soo sit on a small stool in the dressing room and knelt on one knee before him. Then, he personally put on the cozy socks.
Looking down at Do-kwon, Eun-soo let out a low sigh.
“Wow……. How would I live without you, Hyung?”
“Why worry about that? I’ll be by your side, always, from now on.”
At those words, Eun-soo grinned widely. It was a very clear and satisfying answer.
Do-kwon wore a knit sweater and suit pants. The soft texture of the knit clung to and released from his thick muscles every time he moved. His straight legs were so long that he looked like a professional model.
Eun-soo wrinkled his nose and let out a small sound of admiration. He was his husband, but wasn’t he excessively handsome? Do-kwon looked at him as if asking what was wrong, but Eun-soo shook his head, saying it was nothing.
The two walked out of the dressing room side by side. While Do-kwon grabbed the car keys, Eun-soo looked at the garden and spoke.
“Let’s water Bomi before we go.”
When they moved, they had transplanted Bomi’s tree into the garden—in a spot with plenty of light and good soil. Perhaps happy to be free from the suffocating pot, Bomi’s leaves had been full of vitality lately. When the sunlight hit them, the leaves glowed blue and were incredibly beautiful.
“I already did. While you were sleeping.”
Do-kwon followed Eun-soo’s gaze toward the garden. As evening fell, the garden lights turned on automatically. The Bomi tree stood quietly under the soft golden glow.
“And the nutrients?”
“I gave those too.”
Eun-soo nodded as if that settled it. Then, from a distance, he waved his hand flutteringly toward the Bomi tree.
“Daddies are going to eat dinner and come back.”
No sooner had Eun-soo finished speaking than a gust of breeze swirled through the garden. Because of that, the leaves trembled as if in response. Eun-soo beamed a wide smile.
* * *
The time for birth drew near. The hospital told them to prepare for admission, and Mango’s movements became very rough and frequent. He felt nauseous and occasionally had abdominal pain.
Lying sprawled on the sofa, Eun-soo stared with unfocused eyes at the TV, which he wasn’t really seeing. He wasn’t in a state of great condition, but it wasn’t as if he were dying of hardship. Yet, he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and couldn’t do anything.
It was because his heart was pounding wildly. Because he could give birth today, tomorrow, or the day after.
It felt exactly like the nerves before a major exam, an important interview, or a presentation. His mouth kept going dry, his stomach felt unsettled, his heart pounded, and his breathing became labored due to the heaviness of his belly. Eventually, he even broke into a cold sweat.
Whew, whew. Taking deep breaths, Eun-soo couldn’t hold back and tugged firmly on the sleeve of Do-kwon, who was sitting beside him.
“Hyung. My pheromones… I need some pheromones…”
As if he had been waiting for this, Do-kwon lifted Eun-soo and settled him between his knees. Then, as if holding a small child, he gathered Eun-soo’s legs to one side and held him in a way that wouldn’t make his belly uncomfortable.
Eun-soo buried his nose in Do-kwon’s chest. Do-kwon slowly released his pheromones. Eun-soo inhaled the scent deeply, over and over. As he did, his tense muscles melted away, and his pounding heart finally calmed down.
Do-kwon tenderly stroked Eun-soo’s back.
“Are you nervous?”
“Yeah.”
“It’ll be okay. You can do this.”
Do-kwon kissed the corner of Eun-soo’s eye and whispered in a low voice. Eun-soo nodded in agreement.
In truth, there wasn’t much to “do” or “be good at.” For male Omegas, natural birth wasn’t really an option. It was always a C-section. Once the contractions intensified and he went to the hospital, Eun-soo would lie on a bed and be put under general anesthesia. Then, it would be over.
By the time he closed and opened his eyes, everything would be finished.
His belly would be light, Mango would be in the newborn nursery, and Do-kwon would pat him, telling him he did a great job and thanking him.
He wasn’t afraid of the surgery. He hated hospitals and loathed the smell of alcohol, but it wasn’t an exaggeration to say he had spent half his life in one, so he was used to examinations, treatments, and surgeries. Moreover, it wasn’t a major operation that took hours. It wasn’t dangerous, either. According to yesterday’s visit to the OB-GYN, both Eun-soo and Mango were healthy.
But he didn’t know why he was shaking so much.
Ah, should I just go to the hospital now? Should I just get the surgery? But they said it was better to keep the baby inside as long as possible before the operation. If he gave birth too early, the baby might have to go into an incubator. Just a little, just a little longer. Let’s hold on.
Eun-soo took a deep breath.
“Are you hungry?”
Do-kwon asked. Eun-soo answered by shaking his head. Then, he let out a small moan. Maybe I should eat something. I haven’t eaten properly all day.
“Should we have some misutgaru or something?”
“Cocoa?”
“Yeah, cocoa sounds good.”
“Wait here. I’ll make some.”
Do-kwon carefully sat Eun-soo back down on the sofa. As he turned toward the kitchen, Eun-soo grabbed his wrist. Do-kwon stopped abruptly. With a grunt, Eun-soo pushed himself up.
“I… I’ll do it.”
“Isn’t it hard to move?”
“No. I think I’ll feel better if I move even a little. My belly doesn’t actually hurt. I’m just nervous, uh, that’s why.”
Clutching his own waist, Eun-soo waddled toward the kitchen. Do-kwon didn’t insist on stopping him, but appearing worried, he followed closely behind. It wasn’t even a long distance—just moving from the living room to the kitchen—yet his face was full of concern.
Eun-soo took out a cup and looked for the cocoa. But… did they have cocoa at home? If they did, where was it? He tilted his head, scanning the numerous cupboards. As he did, Do-kwon stepped closer and found the cocoa sticks in a low drawer for him.
Eun-soo looked embarrassed.
Since becoming pregnant, he hadn’t set foot in the kitchen at all. At least in their previous home, he had lived there long enough to know where everything was. But since moving, he had only checked the interior design and hadn’t so much as glanced in this direction. He let out a hollow laugh, finding it absurd.
Taking the stick, Eun-soo tore open the packaging and poured the powder into the cup. As he approached the water purifier, Do-kwon stood right beside him.
“Hot water is dangerous. Can’t I do it?”
He pleaded with a pouting face. Wrinkling his nose, Eun-soo handed the cup to Do-kwon as if granting a favor. Do-kwon beamed and took the cup.
While Do-kwon prepared the cocoa, Eun-soo stood a couple of steps back. Perhaps it was because of what he’d said; the hot water really did feel dangerous. He felt that if it splashed by mistake and he jumped in surprise, Mango might just slide right out.
Do-kwon carefully adjusted the water. He stirred gently until the powder dissolved and added a bit of cold water at the end so that Eun-soo could drink it immediately.
As Eun-soo watched Do-kwon with a satisfied smile, his entire body suddenly went cold. It felt as if all the blood was draining out of his fingertips and toes. He felt like a slab of meat in a refrigerator.
Eun-soo blinked slowly. What is this feeling? The house is warm enough to be almost hot. Why the sudden chill… Just as he thought this, his groin became damp. Warm water began to flow out. Eun-soo stiffly looked down. His loungewear pants were soaked. Soon, a murky puddle began to spread across the floor. Eun-soo’s body trembled.
His breath hitched. Even then, he instinctively supported the bottom of his belly. He was terrified that Mango would be swept out by the leaking amniotic fluid.
Eun-soo gasped, trying to force air through his constricted throat. Then, barely, he managed to utter a single syllable.
“…Hyung.”
At that call, Do-kwon turned around. And then, clatter, he dropped the cup.
* * *
Thick needles poked at his wrist. Doctors and nurses bustled around him. The hands carelessly massaging his belly and the eyes examining his lower body were unpleasant. The sound of bed wheels dragging and people talking in jargon he couldn’t understand were noisy. The pungent smell of medication was nauseating. Indescribable emotions weighed down on Eun-soo.
Without saying a word, Eun-soo just let tears stream down his face. Even as he cried, he didn’t know why. He just… wanted to see Do-kwon. The Do-kwon who had disappeared somewhere a few minutes ago.
Where was Do-kwon? Why had he left him alone? Where, where, where on earth was he? He had said he would always be by his side, so why wasn’t he here?
Eun-soo’s eyes darted around frantically. However, his tear-blurred vision made it difficult to distinguish between the ceiling and the floor. This made him even more scared, more terrified.
Eun-soo gasped for air, over and over. He was on the verge of hyperventilating. He felt as if his eyes would roll back before the anesthesia even kicked in.
Just as his eyelids were fluttering shut, a familiar scent rushed in, and a firm, warm hand grasped his.
“Eun-soo.”
It was Do-kwon. Do-kwon said he had met the doctor, signed the surgical consent form, and received a brief explanation. He relayed that explanation to Eun-soo. Eun-soo simply nodded vaguely. None of that mattered. What he needed right now was Do-kwon’s presence itself.
Eun-soo squeezed Do-kwon’s hand tightly. Do-kwon kissed the back of Eun-soo’s hand, rubbed his cheek against it, and whispered over and over that it was okay, that everything would be fine, and that it would be over soon.
These were words for Eun-soo, but they were also words for Do-kwon himself.
“We’re moving to the operating room now.”
The nurse wheeled the bed away. Do-kwon didn’t let go of Eun-soo’s hand and followed the bed. In an instant, the bed arrived in front of the operating room. Eun-soo could tell, even though his vision was completely blurred.
He urgently readjusted his grip on Do-kwon’s hand.
“Hyung, Hyung.”
“Yes, Eun-soo. I’m right here.”
“I love you.”
“…”
“I love you, Hyung.”
He absolutely wanted to say those words. Words he hadn’t been able to bring himself to say for years. He felt he had to say them now. No matter how simple the surgery was, there was no knowing what might happen. He might enter the operating room and never wake up. He had to tell Do-kwon this.
I love you too. I love you as fervently as you love me. I love you enough that it’s okay to end my final moment with a common confession of love.
“…”
Do-kwon’s breath caught, and he couldn’t say a word. He could only stare at the pale Eun-soo, unable to even blink.
“Guardian, please stay here.”
The nurse pushed Do-kwon away. The tightly held hands were severed. Eun-soo gave a faint smile toward where Do-kwon stood. Soon the door closed, and Eun-soo entered the operating room.
The characteristic harsh light of the operating room dominated his vision.
Eun-soo stared blankly at the light. Then, just as his eyes began to sting, he slowly closed them.
* * *
Where Eun-soo opened his eyes was the familiar sofa. The living room sofa at home. Eun-soo let out a groan and stretched. As he looked around, the house was excessively quiet. Normally, there should have been the sound of tiny feet thumping and crashing all over the place.
Tilting his head, Eun-soo stood up. He stood there blankly for a moment, wondering what he was supposed to do or what he had been doing. Suddenly, he faintly heard the sound of giggling.
He turned his head toward the sound. Beyond the large living room window, in the wide garden, two familiar figures were huddled together.
As if possessed, Eun-soo moved toward them. He opened the window and stepped barefoot onto the green grass. The grass tickling the soles of his feet was incredibly fresh. A soft, gentle breeze, characteristic of spring, blew lightly.
Eun-soo brushed back his hair and approached the figures. One was the very tall, broad-shouldered Do-kwon. The other was a tiny child who didn’t even reach Do-kwon’s thigh.
Sensing Eun-soo’s presence, the two turned around.
“Eun-soo. You’re awake? I was giving Bomi some water.”
“Daddy, I gave water to Bomi-unnie!”
The child proudly lifted a plump watering can with two fern-like hands. Do-kwon gently held the spout of the watering can to help with the weight. Beyond the two of them, a lush green tree stood tall. As Eun-soo stared quietly at the tree…
“Daddy! Come here! Hurry!”
“Eun-soo. Come here.”
The two called out to him. Pure, clear smiles bloomed on their lips.
Eun-soo blinked slowly. Unable to wait any longer, the two began to approach him. Step, step, pitter-patter—different footsteps echoed.
Between the swaying breeze, the scents of the two people mingled. Inhaling that scent, Eun-soo slowly curled the corners of his mouth.
Soon, a bright smile blossomed on his face as well.
-The End-