#111
“You seem to be heading out a bit later today.”
“I pushed back my meeting time to have breakfast with you. Keep eating after I leave. Don’t leave anything I prepared for you.”
Jaeha gestured with his chin toward the dining table. He had been spouting nonsense about how eating properly helps bones heal well, but when Eunhong just quietly stared at him without responding, he changed the subject.
“You’re thinking about going to the hospital where An Woohyun is admitted? To help… what’s his name…”
“Haesung. Jang Haesung.”
“Whatever.”
Eunhong couldn’t readily continue and just rolled his eyes. It was true that he was concerned. Despite all the insults he’d endured, his heart was already leaning toward visiting the hospital. He found his own character frustrating, unable to cut ties so decisively.
Jaeha clicked his tongue lightly.
“I understand how you feel, but you know nothing good will come from going there, right? Honestly, I’d prefer if you didn’t go. What’s the point of going just to collect all kinds of trash talk and insults?”
“That’s true…”
Seeing Eunhong agree, Jaeha narrowed his eyes. He figured Eunhong must have heard some nasty comments. A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
“When are you going to cut ties?”
Eunhong’s social circle was as narrow as his own. The difference was that while Jaeha felt no regret about this, Eunhong struggled to make friends and became attached to those who entered his boundaries. His shell appeared tough, but it was merely a sugar candy, with the inside soft like pudding—in vulgar terms, he was a pushover.
And to make matters worse, the people who stuck around him were mostly troublemakers… They all ran away because of me. Jaeha shook his head.
“I wish I could just push them all away.”
Eunhong burst out laughing at the unexpected remark.
“How can you say something like that? Even as a joke.”
Jaeha’s expression stiffened flatly as he watched Eunhong laugh through the mirror.
I’m serious.
Eunhong approached Jaeha from behind, stood on his tiptoes, and rested his chin on Jaeha’s shoulder. Liking the scent of his cologne, Eunhong placed his nose near Jaeha’s ear and inhaled. The pheromones Jaeha released felt refreshingly cool, giving him the sensation that even his head was clearing. Eunhong kissed the skin just below the ear where the pheromones seemed to emanate from, then gently nibbled on the earlobe as it turned red.
The stiff expression instantly softened and flushed red. Jaeha detached Eunhong from his shoulder and hurriedly grabbed his ear. Even the hand holding his ear turned red. Eunhong stuck out his tongue and chuckled mischievously.
“If you don’t go to work, I won’t go to the hospital either.”
“…Eunhong, why have you become so weak?”
“I’m serious. If you don’t go to work, I won’t go either, and I’ll play with you all day.”
“But didn’t you once tell me to work diligently?”
I did say that once. The issue was why someone who used to slack off was now working so hard. Honestly, I’d be fine with getting married. Words that meant he should just stop this power struggle with his grandfather rose to the tip of his tongue.
When Eunhong paused mid-sentence and just stared at him silently, Jaeha urged him to continue.
“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t make that tunneling expression again.”
Jaeha’s voice seemed to hit some switch, making Eunhong jump.
“Oh, no. It’s nothing.”
His suspicious behavior of hurriedly turning around and scurrying toward the dining room was suspicious. Jaeha picked up his jacket and gazed at Eunhong’s retreating figure.
“I have nothing else to do anyway. Going to the hospital briefly won’t wear me out. It’s not like it’s the first time Woohyun has insulted me, and there’s nothing special to get hurt about.”
Haesung is struggling too… Eunhong mumbled, trailing off, then lifted his head sharply while sitting at the table and added:
“Oh, by the way, Haesung said he’s pregnant.”
Jaeha put on his jacket without answering. It was typical of his temperament not to bat an eye even if a fire broke out next door if it didn’t concern him. Eunhong poked at the remaining food and stretched his neck toward where Jaeha was moving, shouting once more.
“But I’m serious. If you don’t go to work, I really won’t go out either.”
Despite the words filled with regret that warranted a response, Jaeha just continued preparing for work. Usually, when there’s no reply, monologues get longer. Eunhong kept grumbling endlessly. Complaining that Jaeha used to not care about the company or work, acting like a gentleman of leisure who only wanted to play with him, but now he’d changed.
***
“Ah, we’re saved.”
As Jang Haesung exclaimed with relief, the employee who received the documents smiled gently. Eunhong, who had just completed payment for the high-priced caregiver service system, subtly rubbed his wrist.
“Is everything set now?”
“Yes. The payment is complete, and from now on, an employee from the Omega Care System will come to assist with caregiving during the requested time slots. This means you guardians can take turns watching the patient and don’t need to stay by their side all day. Here’s the contact information for the caregiving agency and guidance…”
Haesung nodded repeatedly as he read the stiff guide sheet. Eunhong also lowered his head to look at the tiny print together.
“Hey, thank you so much. I’m relieved because you helped. By the way, Hanjae and I had a huge fight because he got a private room for Woohyun.”
“Didn’t you feel sorry for him before?”
“What does that have to do with money? When I think about our little Pompom being born…”
As Haesung clenched his fist, the paper in his hand crumpled helplessly. The Omega ward and Omega Care System were twice as expensive as regular hospital services. This is why it’s so hard for omegas to survive.
“Pompom is the baby’s prenatal name?”
Eunhong smiled as he looked down at Haesung’s swollen belly. Suddenly, he remembered Lee Jaeha when he was young. Thinking that something that cute would be born, pregnancy didn’t seem so frightening after all…
No, no. What am I thinking? Eunhong shook his head vigorously.
“But aren’t you on leave? Won’t this payment make a hole in your salary? Is it okay for you to pay for this? I feel embarrassed asking for this favor.”
“It’s fine. I’m not completely without freelance work, so I just used some advance payment I received. Once my fingers heal, I can rush to finish my deadlines.”
He’d stepped forward thinking that he would help with the caregiver until Woohyun’s arm healed and he could move around on his own. It wasn’t a small amount of money, but he couldn’t turn his back on Haesung and Kang Hanjae. If Woohyun’s mother came up from Busan, it would complicate matters further, and Woohyun was adamant about keeping it secret…
Despite trying to pull together various excuses, looking directly at his true heart, he could say he wanted to feel unburdened.
“I’m spending what I can afford, so don’t worry about it.”
“Reliable Eunhong. You’ve always been like an older brother to me.”
Haesung patted Eunhong’s back and laughed.
What do you mean, older brother?
Later, if Woohyun found out, it would be fortunate if he didn’t go ballistic, accusing Eunhong of pitying him. In truth, Eunhong spent the money to make himself feel better. It was to alleviate the strangely nagging guilt.
‘If only you had been an omega, it would have suited you better.’
He recalled Woohyun’s melancholic expression when he said those words once. Indeed, he had become an omega much later, and not just as the dominant type that Woohyun had always yearned for, but as the ultra-dominant type. If Woohyun learned the truth, he would certainly feel relative deprivation. Despite having done nothing wrong, a sense of apology welled up suddenly.
If my very existence is a wound to you, then letting you know about my manifestation while staying by your side would truly be a terrible thing to do.
So this would be his final gift to Woohyun, his friend of ten years. A last duty to alleviate his sense of debt, perhaps. A small selfishness to feel like he had done his part.
After glancing at the sleeping Woohyun from outside the door, Eunhong said his goodbyes.
“I’ll just leave from here without going in.”
“Are you afraid that bastard will have a fit? Oh, that nasty tempered bastard. Really, what can we do about that jerk’s terrible personality…”
Perhaps feeling sorry for Eunhong, Haesung unleashed a barrage of curses in a harsh tone. He covered both sides of his round, protruding belly with his hands. Eunhong laughed emptily at the sight of him trying so hard to cover it as if there were baby ears attached there.
“Stop it, I’m fine.”
“Anyway, thank you. When the caregiver arrives, I’m going to leave too. I’ll make Hanjae watch over the night shift.”
“Alright. You all are working so hard. Just a little more effort.”
“Come once more before he’s discharged. Let’s eat something delicious, just us. There’s a famous rib restaurant in front of here. I saw it on social media, people wait in long lines to eat there. I’ll come early in the morning and get a number for us.”
Haesung, who had gained considerable weight, grabbed Eunhong’s arm and chattered away. Though he had always felt a subtle distance, at times like this, Haesung was quite affectionate. Somehow, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. There probably wouldn’t be another meal together. Eunhong responded with a slightly subdued expression.
“After he’s discharged and everything is settled… Yes, let’s have a meal sometime if we get the chance.”
“Don’t just say it, really…”
It was when Haesung was pestering him for a commitment. The glass door blocking the middle of the corridor opened, and a tall man wearing a white coat walked in.
It was a face Eunhong knew well. Well, it would be strange not to meet this person here.
As their eyes met, the man increased his stride and approached with large steps. The distance closed in an instant. Eunhong looked at him with a wary expression, and Haesung, sensing the strange atmosphere, alternately examined the two.
When the distance narrowed to about five steps, the man’s presence seemed to fill the corridor. The man, who had put on a friendly expression like a mask, opened his mouth.
“Eunhong? Are you here because you’re sick? Sick enough to be hospitalized?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
