Bad Relationship – Chapter 89

“You know what people say every time we make a move, don’t you?”

There was no need to look far.

The divorce rumors about him and Junghyun that spread after just five days of deviation were proof enough.

If news of the pregnancy got out in this situation, it would become even more chaotic. All kinds of strange rumors would likely circulate as if they were facts.

In truth, Suhyuk was also most concerned about that situation.

There was no way to silence everyone who would gossip.

To maintain sanity, one had to either enjoy all the rumors and attention or ignore them if enjoyment wasn’t possible.

However, both Suhyuk and Yongwoo were the type of people who could neither enjoy nor ignore such things.

So the only option was to avoid it.

— That’s true.

“If you understand, hurry up.”

— Okay. I’ll try to speed things up. Then, let’s have a meal together before you leave. With Junghyun too.

“Don’t worry about us. It’s not like we’re leaving forever. We often go to Hawaii for surfing, so we’ll drop by when we’re there. We can see each other then.”

— Come to think of it, that would work.

“Well, get back to work.”

— You too. And take good care of Junghyun.

“That’s another unnecessary concern.”

When hyung was scolded for worrying about things he didn’t need to, Suhyuk just laughed.

— Right. Well, I’ll hang up now.

After saying goodbye with a voice tinged with laughter, he ended the call first.

With the call finished, Jaehyuk put his phone down on the desk and turned his attention back to the tablet screen.

But as expected.

The email content wouldn’t register. No, there was no way it could.

For the past five days, he hadn’t been able to focus properly on work for even a single hour.

Only one thought kept circling in his mind.

Realizing this, just sitting here seemed meaningless.

Having already canceled his afternoon schedule, there was work piling up, but it wouldn’t come together anyway. Trying to work at a time like this would only waste time and energy.

Feeling a sudden wave of fatigue, Jaehyuk leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingertips against his temples.

He knew the cause of this fatigue.

He had been going out suddenly, plus he hadn’t been sleeping properly lately.

His thoughts were still unsettled, so he needed to minimize the time he spent with Junghyun.

That’s why he’d been going to work as early as possible and leaving late, even making up work if necessary, then sleeping in the guest room.

Fortunately, Junghyun hadn’t noticed this yet.

Director Jang seemed to have already figured it out but deliberately chose not to mention it.

Her uncharacteristic attitude made him feel guilty, and he made excuses about coming home late and leaving early, but she wasn’t the type to believe such things.

She was just pretending not to know.

She judged it wasn’t an issue for her to interfere with.

Her consideration was appreciated, but he couldn’t continue in this state indefinitely.

He knew this was simple avoidance.

All the answers were already clear.

The problem was the cause.

Since that day, he felt like a cold flame was burning in his heart.

It was a strange emotion—cold, hard, somehow painful and cumbersome, but occasionally intense.

He was bewildered by this emotion he’d never felt before, but thought it would soon pass as it was just momentary anger.

Contrary to his expectations, that flame refused to extinguish.

So he went to meet the person who had come to mind when he felt that sensation.

Attorney Choi Seojun.

Under the pretense of coincidence, he deliberately checked when Seojun would be at the office and visited Dongha Law Firm. Whether it was good or bad luck, he ran into him as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.

Recalling that moment, Jaehyuk let out a wry laugh.

It was a farce.

As dramatic and childish as the climax of an elaborately staged play.

Honestly, even as he rode the elevator up, he’d been half-doubtful whether he’d recognize Seojun if they met.

Though the man had made a striking impression on him, he wasn’t 100% confident.

Nevertheless, strangely, he recognized him instantly.

No, he couldn’t help but recognize him.

It wasn’t because of the few photos he’d seen.

That familiar cologne sharply awakened his senses.

In that brief moment, countless memories flashed through his mind.

When he had asked Junghyun, who seemed to particularly enjoy his scent, what his pheromones were like, Junghyun had said:

Like winter morning fog, or frost—cold, but slightly sweeter.

That specific description had remained in his mind, and the moment he saw Seojun, he immediately recalled it.

What a winter sea or frost-like scent meant.

He hadn’t understood when he used it himself, but smelling that cologne on someone else, it felt exactly like that.

Most Alphas use cologne that complements their natural scent, and even the same cologne reacts differently with each person’s body chemistry.

That’s why Alphas who use the same cologne often have similar basic pheromones.

As he realized this, all the cause-and-effect relationships became clear.

Additionally, he couldn’t help but understand.

Why Junghyun, who would look at him with distaste when they kept their distance, would have an excited expression when he came closer.

And why Junghyun occasionally liked to smell his wrist or nape—he couldn’t help but notice the reason.

In that moment, that cold flame ignited again.

And finally, he had to recognize the identity of that dirty feeling.

It was unmistakable jealousy.

That strange emotion—cold in the pit of his stomach yet burning hot.

Even without Junghyun’s story about wanting to become family with that guy, he could roughly guess the relationship between the two through his investigation.

Their relationship was based on family affection and friendship.

Nothing more than that.

While he understood this intellectually, he still couldn’t control this unpleasant emotion.

So, unconsciously, he abandoned himself.

It had clearly started as a mistake.

Due to overwhelming emotions, he failed to control himself and in that moment, excessively released his pheromones.

Even seeing Seojun suffering and collapsing to the floor right in front of him, he deliberately didn’t restrain his pheromones.

Until there was commotion in the office and Junyoung came running into the hallway to grab his arm, he openly let his pheromones flow.

Probably the reason Suhyuk suddenly came to the office today, using a non-urgent signature as an excuse, was because he’d heard about the incident.

That happened last Friday, and after attending gatherings all weekend, he likely received grandfather’s orders to come and check what had happened.

Fortunately, Junyoung seemed to have resolved the incident well, but it was a dangerous act regardless of how emotional he’d been.

Given that the Omegas and Alphas in the office were affected to some extent, he’d created a major incident.

But he didn’t regret it.

It was a confirmation of hierarchy.

To clearly establish who was superior and who was inferior.

That was how an Alpha dealt with another Alpha. And the way an Alpha dealt with an Omega wasn’t much different.

Only in that case, hierarchy was determined by relationship rather than strength.

The way dominant Alphas handle others is ultimately the same.

That’s how he’d been taught, and that’s how he’d handled everyone until now.

But he didn’t know how to treat Junghyun.

Overpowering with strength would be simple. Even without physical force, it would be easy to mess up Junghyun’s hormonal system.

Junghyun probably knew this too.

That’s why he maintained an appropriate distance and engaged in this delicate tug-of-war with him.

No matter how many different exercises Junghyun did, an Omega is still an Omega. Above all, they were in completely different weight classes.

But he didn’t particularly want to do that.

No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t.

The power in this relationship had already shifted to Junghyun.

And Jaehyuk knew the reason all too well.

He also knew what it was called.

Now he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

Because this emotion was his first, he couldn’t readily make a judgment and had been stalling for time, but now he had to acknowledge it.

What the name of this relationship was.

And to maintain this relationship, he inevitably had to turn a blind eye to reality.

Nothing had happened between them.

And nothing would happen in the future.

Even if he had discovered everything about Junghyun, and even if Junghyun had noticed, there was no problem.

Everything was according to plan.

As per the contract, this relationship had to be maintained for a year, and before the contract ended, he needed to somehow redefine this relationship.

Even if Junghyun had initiated it, he would be the one to end it.

Carefully and prudently, approaching one step at a time, starting from the beginning and sorting things out one by one.

Then Junghyun would eventually change his mind.

Surely Junghyun had feelings for him too.

As he organized his thoughts, everything became clear.

He just needed to set aside his pride and follow where his heart led.

That was enough.

At least for now.

Author: Hyacinthus B

Hyacinthus