“So as I was saying, Mr. Suhwan.”
“Ah, yes.”
Instead, Suhwan let Yunhyun’s words go in one ear and out the other while thinking about something else. Seunghyun said he was going to the hospital today. Should I have taken a day off and gone with him? No, it hasn’t been long since I started working, so taking a vacation already would be…
“Mr. Suhwan, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
Suhwan answered, blinking belatedly. It didn’t matter if he wasn’t focused since they were just chatting during break time. Hmm, Yunhyun’s eyes narrowed.
Today again, a faint tangerine scent of pheromones wafted from Suhwan. It was an omega’s pheromone, so obvious that it could be detected just by being nearby. Since he mentioned a fiancé, it must be the pheromone left by that beautiful person from yesterday. If not, that would be quite funny.
“Mr. Suhwan, by the way.”
“Yes?”
His lips, which had been sucking on a straw, opened into a circle. Yunhyun smiled and asked.
“You must be close with your fiancé. I can smell the pheromones even when you’re next to me.”
“Ah.”
Suhwan’s face flushed hot. Yunhyun stared at him with intrigued eyes.
“Do you meet every day? Or are you living together?”
“That…”
Suhwan rolled his eyes in embarrassment at Yunhyun’s continued questions. It’s not like there aren’t people who live together before marriage, but Suhwan was reluctant to say it. It wasn’t for a particularly honorable reason that they had started living together.
So he considered hiding the fact they were living together, but then internally shook his head. Yunhyun would probably figure it out eventually as they worked together. Suhwan nodded and answered in a small voice.
“Actually, we’re living together.”
“Oh, I thought so.”
That’s why you smell so strongly of omega.
Yunhyun swallowed the rest of his words and took a long sip of coffee. His eyes, still filled with interest, moved to Suhwan’s nape. It wasn’t clearly visible, so he hadn’t noticed before, but there was a red mark on Suhwan’s nape as he bowed his head. Seeing this, Yunhyun’s eyes narrowed even more.
“Already living together… you must be close.”
“I guess so.”
Suhwan agreed with an awkward face. He was anxious about how others would see him and Seunghyun. Unlike himself, Seunghyun was so pretty and handsome, others might think that Seunghyun and he didn’t match. A gloomy thought suddenly raised its head.
“I’m envious. If I had such a pretty omega partner, I’d have no wishes left.”
“Don’t you have someone you’re seeing, manager?”
That was unexpected. Yunhyun was tall and handsome, so he seemed like the type who would be popular. Seeing Suhwan’s surprise, Yunhyun nodded.
“No, I have a somewhat peculiar taste.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Yunhyun sighed deeply and grumbled without even being asked.
“I like strong-willed types. I have a personality that enjoys accommodating others.”
“Ah.”
“But because of that, I sometimes meet strange people, and one way or another, I’ve had no luck. Sigh.”
Suhwan looked at the deeply sighing Yunhyun with an awkward face. Strong-willed people, huh. Yunhyun had a somewhat unexpected preference.
But imagining it, it strangely suited Yunhyun. Since Yunhyun had a gentle impression and temperament, it made sense that he might be attracted to people with opposite characteristics. And thinking about it, Suhwan felt he was similar. He made an effort to open his mouth while holding a cup with water droplets sliding down.
“You’ll meet someone good.”
“Thanks for saying that, even if it’s just a platitude. Ah, lunch break is already over.”
Looking at the clock, it was already close to 1 o’clock. Yunhyun threw his empty coffee cup in the trash and headed to the office, with Suhwan following him.
Suddenly, he recalled what Seunghyun had worried about yesterday. The concern that Yunhyun, an alpha, might be interested in him. But after their conversation about ideal types, somehow that possibility seemed remote.
He should tell Seunghyun about this when he gets home. Maybe that would ease his mind. Seunghyun might even think he was worrying about something ridiculous. Suhwan followed Yunhyun with a slight smile on his lips.
***
In a pristine white room filled with the smell of disinfectant, Seunghyun sat up straight, appearing uncomfortable.
Hospitals were not places Seunghyun particularly liked. One might think nobody enjoys going to a place usually visited when sick, but for Seunghyun, it was especially true. Though not quite a trauma, the vague memory of visiting a hospital alone in a difficult state after manifesting made him feel uneasy inside.
‘You’ve manifested as an omega. Judging by your pheromone levels, you’re dominant.’
‘What?’
Seunghyun’s parents weren’t dominant. One was even recessive. But he had heard there was just one dominant on his father’s side of the family. He supposed he must have inherited that trait.
But it didn’t matter either way. Once manifested as an omega, whether dominant or not, there wasn’t much difference. That’s how it was until he met Suhwan. Now he actually felt fortunate to be dominant. The fact that Hwalyeon, who would become chairman, accepted them was because he was a dominant omega. So that alone was enough reason to be happy.
“You said the last time you measured your pheromone levels was seven years ago, correct?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
The doctor, wearing simple silver-rimmed glasses, made a small sound. He frowned slightly while looking at the chart and suddenly began asking strange questions.
“Are you currently seeing someone?”
“Yes, I am.”
Why is he suddenly asking about that? Seunghyun felt uncomfortable but answered the questions dutifully for now. The doctor continued asking.
“Is that person an alpha?”
“Yes. But why…”
“Is that person also dominant?”
Seunghyun frowned, looking displeased at the doctor who kept firing questions. But the situation seemed unusual, so he reluctantly opened his mouth again.
“No. He’s recessive.”
“Hmm…”
The doctor’s fingers tapped on the table next to the chart. Looking anxiously at his frowning face, the doctor pushed up his glasses and continued.
“I apologize for asking such questions repeatedly, but have you experienced a rut or heat together with this person?”
“…We’ve experienced both together.”
“Have you imprinted on each other?”
At this cautious question, Seunghyun remained silent for a moment. It was something Jaehyun had asked before too. Seunghyun quietly shook his head.
“I’m not sure.”
“Have you tried to do so?”
“No, probably not.”
“Hmm.”
The doctor nodded habitually at Seunghyun’s calm response. Then he looked up from the chart at Seunghyun.
“For now, your pheromone levels are abnormally high, Mr. Lee Seunghyun.”
“My… pheromone levels?”
“Yes, while it’s possible for levels to rise when influenced by a dominant partner, it’s unusual when your partner is recessive.”
High pheromone levels indicated superior traits. But if they were too high for the body to handle, it could become problematic. It seemed that was what the doctor was referring to.
But Seunghyun hadn’t experienced any major health issues until now. Apart from being unable to control his recent heat cycle with suppressants, he hadn’t shown any other abnormalities. So he didn’t think it was particularly serious. Seunghyun spoke in a perplexed tone.
“But I… I had no issues except that the suppressants didn’t work well during my heat cycle.”
“Hmm, a high pheromone level doesn’t necessarily mean there will be obvious physical changes. Many people don’t realize it, like you, Mr. Lee Seunghyun. But in such cases, problems can arise in unexpected ways.”
“Unexpected ways?”
“Yes, for instance, problems might develop for your partner rather than for you.”
“…!”
Seunghyun’s eyes widened. Then his face contorted as he asked:
“What kind of problems exactly?”
“We won’t know until your partner gets tested. Your case isn’t common. To know precisely, I think your partner should also get tested.”
“…”
“For now, I’ll prescribe pheromone regulating medication. And if you’d like, we can schedule the next examination.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
