Kiss the Scumbag – Chapter 143

Yu-jin was at a loss for words now and could only stare at him. But Winston, as if he couldn’t care less, immersed himself in the documents—signing them rapidly, scribbling comments, glancing at the screen—completely ignoring Yu-jin.

Then why even bother being here?

The question crossed his mind, but he held his tongue, sensing that speaking up might only worsen the mood. Instead, he turned his body away, deciding it would be better not to look at Winston’s face. But that moment of distraction brought a sudden, unexpected jolt of pain.

“Ah—ugh.”

A soft cry escaped him before he could stop it. It hadn’t even been that loud, but immediately, the sound of papers rustling filled the room. Within seconds, Winston had rushed over to the bed.

“What is it? Are you okay?”

Yu-jin wanted to tell him not to worry, but he was afraid another cry might slip out if he opened his mouth. So he just shut his eyes and held his breath. Seeing this, Winston wasted no time in pressing the call bell.

A nurse entered promptly, quickly assessed the situation, and injected something into the IV line.

“You’ll feel better soon.”

The nurse offered him a warm reassurance before observing for a moment and then quietly stepping out. Just as she’d promised, the medication kicked in fast. Yu-jin’s ragged breathing steadied, and only after watching his tense shoulders relax did Winston finally speak.

“You don’t have to hold it in. I already told them—no injections that risk addiction.”

The words hit differently now that the pain had subsided and his clarity was returning. Yu-jin remembered.

He remembered when the doctor had said that Winston might never leave the bed again, tethered to machines for life. He remembered seeing it for himself.

A chill ran through him. Slowly, hesitantly, he glanced over his shoulder to steal a peek at Winston. Thankfully, he had returned to his stack of documents, focused on work.

Does he know…?

It didn’t even compare to Winston’s injuries. He had almost died—literally. Yu-jin had clearly seen the scars left behind on his body, though he’d pretended not to notice. The grotesque reminders carved across what had once been a flawless form were still vivid in his mind.

And Winston still took medication. Because of the lingering aftereffects.

“…You’re not, like, addicted to anything, are you?”

Only after the words left his mouth did Yu-jin realize he’d spoken out loud. Flustered, he froze, but Winston lifted his head and looked at him.

“Usually not.”

Winston’s tone was dry and flat. Usually? What did that mean? As Yu-jin tried to guess, Winston added an explanation.

“I don’t get addicted to most drugs. It’s just how my body works.”

Then, in a low, bitter murmur, Winston added—

“The most dangerous poison is already inside me anyway.”

Pheromones.

Yu-jin thought of it instantly. For those with the same traits as Winston, the most lethal addiction wasn’t to any substance, but to pheromones.

Powerful enough to neutralize all other toxins.

That poison had consumed even Winston’s love for Yu-jin.

Now, all that remained was an empty shell.

Yu-jin let the conversation die.

A scent he’d barely noticed before seemed to surface in his mind.

The faint trace of an Omega’s scent—drifting off Winston.

Fortunately, as the medication took effect, his thoughts began to fade.

Yu-jin let out a steady breath and soon drifted off to sleep.

***

A strange sensation stirred him from slumber. With a faint sigh and a furrowed brow, he slowly opened his eyes. The view that greeted him was the darkened window.

The sky was blanketed with storm clouds, pouring down relentless sheets of rain. The sound of it battering the window was almost enough to dull his senses. He stared blankly at the downpour for a moment—until another sound caught his attention.

He turned his head belatedly toward Winston—and froze.

Winston was leaning against the desk, shoulders heaving.

Haa… haa…

The ragged sound of his breathing was faint but unmistakable. Even without hearing it, Yu-jin could see that he was in pain.

“…Winston.”

His name slipped from Yu-jin’s lips in a whisper of hesitation. Winston, still panting and braced against the desk, jolted slightly at the sound and lifted his head.

A bolt of lightning flashed outside the window, illuminating the room for a fleeting second.

In that flash, Yu-jin saw Winston’s face—drained of all color, drenched in cold sweat, like a corpse.

Yu-jin’s breath caught in his throat.

Winston said nothing for a moment, simply stared at him. Maybe the pain was so overwhelming that he couldn’t even form a thought. Yu-jin saw the way his eyes were out of focus, dazed and unfocused, and he knew his hunch was right.

They stared at each other for only a few seconds, but it felt far longer. Then, without warning, Winston abruptly pushed himself upright.

Yu-jin watched him stumble toward the bed—limping, but moving fast as if trying to run.

“Are you okay?”

Winston gasped the words between breaths.

He was soaked in sweat now, his breathing so erratic that it was hard to make out what he was saying. Yu-jin blinked in confusion, then nodded slowly.

“Y-Yeah… I’m okay.”

“Really?”

Winston asked again, pressing harder this time. He looked anxious—terrified, even.

“Really…? You’re alive, right…?”

Winston’s trembling hand reached toward him.

It hovered in the air—wanting to touch his cheek, maybe—but stopped just short, unable to close the distance.

…It’s a rut.

The realization struck Yu-jin too late.

This man wasn’t in his right mind.

The flickering gold in his eyes, his unstable breathing—all of it pointed to one thing.

But more than anything, what proved it was the sheer terror etched on Winston’s face as he looked down at him.

He wasn’t lucid.

His pheromones were overwhelming the room, and the scent of Omega clinging thick to his body was unmistakable—strong and all-encompassing.

It was obvious he’d picked it up at a pheromone party.

And the reason anyone went to those parties was clear.

On the flip side… if he hadn’t found a release—

He’d missed the window to suppress it.

And now the rut had hit.

It had come.

So simple. So painfully clear.

And this man—he likely wouldn’t remember a single thing once the night was over.

Yu-jin hesitated for a moment, then reached for Winston’s trembling hand and guided it to his cheek.

The moment their skin touched, Winston flinched as if he’d been shocked. His eyes flew wide open, and he stared down at Yu-jin, breath caught in his throat.

Yu-jin didn’t avert his gaze. He opened his mouth and spoke softly.

“It’s okay. I’m alive.”

“…Haa.”

Winston let out a long, shuddering breath all at once, like something inside him had just unclenched.

Then—unbelievably—tears welled up in his eyes.

“…Thank God.”

He whispered the words with a sigh, and then his body collapsed onto Yu-jin’s as if all his strength had left him.

“I thought you were dead.”

Face buried in the mattress beside Yu-jin, Winston muttered the words, voice muffled and broken, but the meaning came through with aching clarity.

“I thought… I’d lose you again…”

Even without the words being finished, Yu-jin understood.

He had felt the same.

“I know.”

His voice came out dry, almost emotionless.

“I thought you were going to die too, back then.”

That’s why he had done it.

For Winston’s sake, there had been nothing he wouldn’t do. He’d just wanted to say he loved him again.

“…I never thought you’d forget me.”

A bitter, self-deprecating smile followed the words. Winston lifted his head, his expression dazed and confused, like he didn’t understand what that meant.

Yu-jin stared at him for a moment, then said,

“Doesn’t matter. It’s all over now.”

“…Over? Us?”

Winston asked in a dazed voice, still hazy with the intoxication of his rut.

Yu-jin’s reply was firm.

“You don’t trust me. And I don’t have the strength left to keep trying to make you believe me. All I can say is that I’m innocent. But I have no proof. What am I supposed to do with that?”

He let the words linger, calm and deliberate despite the weight they carried.

“So yeah… we’re done. Aren’t we?”

Though his tone was slow and steady, Winston just kept repeating the same thing, his brow tightly knit.

“You think I don’t trust you…? Why?”

Yu-jin exhaled softly.

It’s already too late.

The pheromones had taken over Winston’s mind—just like that day.

“Don’t go.”

Winston whispered as he nuzzled his face against Yu-jin’s chest.

“Don’t go anywhere. You’re mine.”

He clung to Yu-jin like he was trying to crawl inside him, trying to force his large body against him with desperate urgency.

“You said I was yours…”