It was crazy. Baek Sanho was clearly completely out of his mind. With a bright face and a nonchalant voice, he said such things. It was even more so after Jin Siwoo had torn his own flesh with the broken pieces of a plate. To be honest, it was a twisting feeling in his heart.
“Ha, ah….”
Gyu-cheol knelt at the door and approached Baek Sanho, who was panting heavily. With each step closer, the damp smell of earth grew stronger. It was Jin Siwoo’s pheromones. The pheromones that Jin Siwoo had spilled clung to Baek Sanho’s body, crawling like a leech over his white skin. That pheromone, which was stimulating the sensitive Omega’s sexual feelings, was incredibly annoying.
“…….”
Gyu-cheol roughly grabbed Baek Sanho’s arm, pulling him up with ease. It took less than a second to lift him. Baek Sanho, who had been gasping with his eyes closed, opened them wide when Gyu-cheol’s hand touched him. The look in Baek Sanho’s eyes, directed at him, was filled with disgust.
“Ugh, let go of me.”
Baek Sanho pushed Gyu-cheol away roughly and bit his lip. Despite being heated up due to the pheromones of a lustful man, he found it distasteful that the Alpha in front of him was ready to embrace him. Jin Siwoo, who didn’t touch such an Omega, was equally detestable.
“You’ve failed again, Baek Sanho.”
If only he had just cuddled with any Alpha other than Jin Siwoo, it would have been easier. Baek Sanho had no idea how much he stirred up the desire to conquer him. In other words, it meant he couldn’t gauge his own worth at all. If Baek Sanho thought a little more, he could live a life without envy. Gyu-cheol found him pathetic. And at the same time, a little… impatient. With a voice full of sarcasm, Gyu-cheol spoke.
“Of course, it’s not surprising. You must have had some expectations when moving Jin Siwoo to the JR Hotel. Perhaps you thought that if it was the secret room you stayed in together, Jin Siwoo’s memories might return.”
“Shut up.”
Baek Sanho answered without even looking at him. Gyu-cheol felt a surge of desire again and opened his mouth.
“Seeing you, a dominant Omega, releasing pheromones and spreading your legs to seduce, yet not moving an inch, you must know. Jin Siwoo will never embrace you. No matter what you do.”
“I told you to shut up.”
“Am I wrong? The feelings Jin Siwoo had for you could never have been love. He doesn’t even remember you now, so why are you going this far?”
Gyu-cheol had long realized that he was saying too much in front of Baek Sanho, which was unlike him. But it couldn’t be helped. He truly couldn’t understand. Baek Sanho. And Jin Siwoo.
In fact, Gyu-cheol had met Baek Sanho a long time ago. It was possible because he had been handling the behind-the-scenes affairs of the business world for a long time. When he first stepped into the business world at a young age to learn the ropes, he heard that Chairman Jin Tae-seok had taken measures to prevent a certain Omega from approaching. That Omega was to have no connections with anyone in politics or business. It was not uncommon for wealthy conglomerates to bring an Omega into their family, and troubles were bound to arise in that process. Therefore, Chairman Jin Tae-seok’s orders were not unusual.
However, when Gyu-cheol first saw that Omega, who had fallen out of favor with Jin Tae-seok, from a distance, he felt puzzled. Why did that kid incur Jin Tae-seok’s wrath? If it was out of desire, it would be one thing, but what was the reason for deliberately keeping him away?
He saw that kid again when he took on Jin Tae-seok’s work. Gyu-cheol knew that he had been chosen to exclude Director Jeong Ji-hwan, who had long been in charge of the JR family. Director Jeong had worked for Jin Siwoo, and Chairman Jin Tae-seok had given him orders that he could not give to Director Jeong. Ironically, most of those orders were related to the Omega, Baek Sanho, who had been scorned by Jin Tae-seok.
Gyu-cheol didn’t like that Baek Sanho was blindly wanting Jin Siwoo. He didn’t like that someone as perfect as Jin Siwoo had captured Baek Sanho’s heart. In truth, it twisted his insides terribly.
Park Gyu-cheol.”
Baek Sanho quietly called him. It was a gentle voice. When calling someone he had no interest in, Baek Sanho’s voice was always like this. Thoroughly indifferent. Without knowing how maddening that intentional indifference could be. As Gyu-cheol silently looked at him, Baek Sanho slightly tilted his head. It was a habit he had picked up from Jin Siwoo.
“Just shut up and do what you’re told.”
“…….”
“The only thing Chairman Jin Tae-seok instructed you to do was to grant my request. Not to babble on with useless words.”
Gyu-cheol’s eyebrows furrowed tightly. Once again, desire surged within him at the mocking tone.
“Baek Sanho. You must know that half of a week has already passed.”
“…….”
“You initially failed to deceive Jin Siwoo into thinking you were trapped together to lower his guard. Now you’re just busy trying to prevent Jin Siwoo from escaping. That means there are only three days left to watch that spectacle.”
“Just get to the point. I find talking to you unpleasant.”
At his cold voice, Gyu-cheol bit his lip. That arrogant Omega. With nothing but a tempting body to boast of. His mind was completely filled with Jin Siwoo, utterly broken, yet that Omega remained haughty. He wanted to break him. Well, he was already broken, but still.
“This is the point. Baek Sanho, I want to keep reminding you of your trashy reality. I hope you don’t forget that what you’re doing now is merely a childish game with a time limit.”
Baek Sanho’s expression, which had hardened for a moment, relaxed as he let out a small laugh. His slightly lowered chin lifted, and his dark eyes turned toward Gyu-cheol.
“A childish game?”
“It’s a childish game. Are you pretending to have a newlywed life while keeping someone locked up—”
“You’re the one who’s desperate to play that childish game with me.”
Gyu-cheol suddenly fell silent. The corners of Baek Sanho’s mouth tilted up slightly. The smirk on his bright face had a somewhat chilling edge to it.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you subtly marking me with your pheromones? It’s useless. Even if you try to layer your pheromones over your senior’s, it’s just disgusting.”
Gyu-cheol clenched his teeth hard enough to make a sound. Baek Sanho tilted his head again.
“Stay out of my and your senior’s business. Don’t be so vulgar as to be curious. Whether your senior finds his memories or not….”
Baek Sanho suddenly fell silent as well. His previously indifferent voice now carried a distinct emotion as it seeped through his lips.
“Pray that your senior doesn’t find his memories.”
Like a light bulb turning off, the emotions that had surged on Baek Sanho’s face extinguished in an instant. Watching Baek Sanho walk past him, Gyu-cheol fell silent.
“Pray that he doesn’t find his memories…?” What did that mean? Wasn’t he hoping that Jin Siwoo would remember him? Baek Sanho was a madman, completely obsessed with the desire to possess Jin Siwoo, throwing himself into the road. But why?
The next day, Baek Sanho deliberately rolled down the stairs to keep Jin Siwoo from escaping. Jin Siwoo couldn’t abandon the injured Baek Sanho and fled. Baek Sanho successfully locked Jin Siwoo up again. Even with his head split open and blood pouring out, Baek Sanho said nothing to Gyu-cheol. He only took the bandages and medicine for emergency treatment. It was clear whose emergency treatment it was for.
Baek Sanho did not come out of the secret room for a long time. It was the first time he had stayed out for such a long time. Gyu-cheol felt a bit anxious.
The following day, the Alpha’s pheromones were felt by Gyu-cheol, even beyond the tightly closed door. It was a fact he had learned from lingering at the door, as Baek Sanho had not come out for a long time. With this level of pheromones, it was clear that Jin Siwoo’s rut cycle had begun. Baek Sanho was still inside the room. An Omega in the same space as an Alpha releasing pheromones. It wasn’t hard to guess the situation.
And suddenly, a strange thought crossed his mind.
Did Baek Sanho really wish for Jin Siwoo not to remember him? Was he afraid that if he remembered, Jin Siwoo would feel guilty…? It was a ridiculous thought. A kid who had completely lost his mind over wanting Jin Siwoo couldn’t possibly have such altruistic thoughts. Gyu-cheol looked again at the firmly closed door with dissatisfied eyes.
***
[Back to the Present]
Siwoo, who had cradled Sanho curled up at the door, gently laid him on the bed. He quietly gazed at Sanho, who was breathing a little heavily, and spoke softly.
“Sanho.”
“…….”
“I liked you, didn’t I?”
“…….”
“What were we to each other?”
“…….”
“Why do I want to hold you like this, and why am I holding back so much? Why… is holding you so terrifying? Remind me.”
A small crack appeared in the tightly sealed memories. It was a crack so small that even a thin beam of light couldn’t seep through.
“……Senior.”
“…Yes.”
“Do what you want to do the most right now.”
“…….”
“Don’t think about anything. Just do what your heart desires right now.”
Once, this kid had said the same thing. It was in front of a glamorous street. At that time, I… The small crack began to widen. Through that gap, something poured out like a tide. Memories from the past year. Siwoo slowly bent down toward Sanho. He carefully pressed his lips against Sanho’s slightly parted ones. The delicate skin of their mucous membranes touched each other.
“…Senior.”
“…….”
“I want to know too. If you liked me.”
“…….”
“Or if you just felt sorry for me.”
“…….”
“It’s okay if you don’t remember.”
“…….”
“I remember everything.”
Every time their lips drew closer, a ticklish sensation arose. Sweet breaths continued to spill out. Siwoo felt the strength in his arm supporting the bed beside Sanho. The white bed sheet crumpled tightly in his clenched fist.
“…Baek Sanho.”
With their faces so close, Siwoo could feel Sanho’s eyelashes fluttering. During the six days he had been trapped here, and while he had lost his memory, Siwoo had never once called out Baek Sanho’s name completely. He had only called out a half-hearted name.
As Sanho trembled and tried to rise, Siwoo gently pressed down on his shoulder to stop him. As he straightened his back a little, their faces, which had been close, slowly drifted apart. Sanho’s face came into full view. It was a face like a white porcelain doll.
“Baek Sanho.”
At the sound of his name being called again, Sanho’s eyes widened a little more. The corners of his eyes slowly flushed.
“Name… my name… who told you?”
It was an awkward question for someone who had kept him locked up all this time. Nevertheless, looking at the dazed Sanho, Siwoo smiled faintly. His heart crumpled.
“You told me. A year ago at school.”
“…Senior?”
“The ointment I bought for you, you forcibly accepted it and held it tightly in your hand.”
Sanho’s widened eyes twisted slightly. It was unclear whether the trembling in his eyes was from confusion, pain, or joy. Regardless of which, it was certain that a huge emotion was surging. Siwoo brought his lips to the corners of Sanho’s eyes.
“Not from anyone else, I wanted to hear it directly from you. Your name.”
“Do you… remember?”
“Yeah. I remember. I remembered.”
The corners of Sanho’s eyes, which touched Siwoo’s lips, felt hot. Siwoo brushed his thumb over Sanho’s forehead. As the hair that had stuck to his fingers was pushed aside, his white and smooth forehead was revealed. He moved his lips, which had touched Sanho’s eyes, to his forehead. The soft forehead felt as hot as heated metal.
“Was it hard to remember all this time…?”
His lips moved again, touching the prominent bridge of Sanho’s nose. The lips that had pressed down like a stamp slid down to the round tip of his nose.
“…Senior, ugh….”
He slightly bared his teeth and bit the tip of Sanho’s nose. A short moan escaped. It was a lewd sound. His body reacted sensitively to even the slightest stimulation.
“…….”
“…….”
