Siwoo smiled, seemingly flustered. The tips of Sanho’s fingers resting on the nape of his neck moved lightly like feathers, but there was an inexplicable tension in the air.
“Then, did you only like the smell of that kid when you were young?”
Siwoo smiled broadly.
“No, I like your smell too, Sanho.”
Suddenly, Sanho’s hand stopped. It pointed to the place where the pulse throbbed, specifically where the pheromone gland of a phenotype was located. A slight pressure was applied to the fingertips.
“I don’t like it when you smell other Omegas…”
I’d rather your pheromone gland be broken. So you wouldn’t feel the pheromones of other kids at all. Siwoo quietly took Sanho’s hand that had climbed onto his nape and pulled it down. His face was awkward, but the warm smile remained.
“Why? Why don’t you like it?”
Looking at his hand being pulled down by Siwoo, Sanho remained silent for a while, keeping his mouth shut. The next moment, what Sanho said was not an answer to the question. His voice was slightly subdued.
“Have you ever thought about wanting to go somewhere with no one around?”
“Well, have you, Sanho?”
Sanho was still looking at the hand held by Siwoo. It was a strange gaze. Sanho slowly opened his mouth.
“Yes. I’ve thought about it a lot. The thought of wanting to be alone in a place with no one around. But not now.”
“What about now?”
“I want to be alone with you in a place where no one is around.”
Siwoo’s eyebrows gently tilted down. Sanho had a face that didn’t seem to understand what kind of imagination his words were evoking. Looking at Sanho’s innocent face, Siwoo let out a small laugh. It was closer to a sigh than a laugh.
“Is that so?”
“…Yes?”
“You know, there are dramas where the rich protagonist buys a deserted island and gifts it to someone precious, and they go on a trip together. I have that kind of ability too.”
His voice was playfully teasing. As Sanho stared blankly at Siwoo, Siwoo laughed out loud.
“Just kidding, that kind of thing…”
“I’m not joking.”
Sanho’s voice, which interrupted Siwoo, was small but clear. The gentle curve of Siwoo’s eyes slowly began to straighten. The corners of his mouth, which had been rounded, gradually softened. Sanho touched the tips of Siwoo’s fingers holding his hand and lowered his gaze.
“Three months… no, a month. No, even a week would be fine. I just want to be alone with you.”
Sanho’s fingers, which were gently stroking the tips of his large hand, were fully felt. What is this kid thinking? Does he really not know how much he ignites desire? Or does he trust me enough to say such things, such thoughts? Siwoo tightened his grip on Sanho’s hand. As his strong grip enveloped Sanho’s hand, Sanho looked up at Siwoo.
“Sanho, you know…”
“Yes.”
“Why… do you say things like that?”
“…Because I want to.”
“So why?”
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment. It was a brief time. However, it felt as long as an eternity. Finally, it was Siwoo who spoke first.
“Sanho, do you like me?”
Sanho’s lips, which had been sealed, pressed together. A complicated emotion rose in Sanho’s eyes. Watching Sanho fiercely chew on the inside of his mouth, Siwoo’s eyebrows furrowed tightly. His unheld hand reached toward Sanho’s lips. But Sanho gently turned his head away. The hand that had been held by Siwoo quietly twisted away. It was a kind of rejection. Siwoo quietly lowered his hand.
“…Do I have to answer?”
“…….”
“I don’t want to answer.”
The stiffness around Siwoo’s eyes slowly began to soften. The voice that slipped through his lips was kinder than usual.
“Then… I’ll wait until you want to answer. I’m good at waiting.”
Siwoo’s beautifully curved eyes gazed softly at Sanho.
In the end, Siwoo couldn’t sleep a wink. When Sanho curled up and lay down in the small tent, Siwoo simply covered him with his large cardigan and stepped out of the tent. It seemed impossible to lie down next to Sanho and fall asleep. But it wasn’t that sleep wouldn’t come just because it wasn’t next to Sanho.
A few times, Sanho’s phone rang inside the tent. Who could be calling at this late hour? He was concerned, but Siwoo silently sat down on the camping chair next to him. Just like Sanho had done, he straightened his back and looked up at the sky. The countless stars studded in the sky were so beautiful and enchanting that it felt like they could suck him in.
A thought began to take root in Siwoo’s mind. About the question Sanho had said he didn’t want to answer. Perhaps he had been thinking about that question for a long time. It was also a thought about himself, who was concerned about the phone alarm ringing late at night. Once a thought sprouts, it gradually stretches out branches and grows leaves. The fresh air in the quiet mountains helped the thought to grow.
As the sun began to rise dimly, Siwoo slowly got up. After searching, he found a small restaurant nearby. Even though it was nearby, it would take at least an hour round trip. Siwoo glanced at the closed entrance of the tent for a moment and then slowly started walking. He was going to buy breakfast.
When Siwoo returned with breakfast, he saw Sanho sitting in front of the tent on a camping chair. Sanho was swiping his hand across his phone screen, looking at something. His slightly furrowed face seemed quite focused. He didn’t look like he had just woken up, so Siwoo subtly lowered his gaze to check his wristwatch. It was still early; when had he woken up? Was he perhaps startled because Siwoo and his car were gone? Hearing Siwoo’s footsteps, Sanho suddenly looked up. He flipped his phone screen over so it wouldn’t be visible and looked up at Siwoo.
“…Hyung.”
“You woke up early.”
“Yes.”
There was still moisture on Sanho’s pale face. The tips of his black hair were slightly damp as well. He didn’t look like he had just washed his face, but a momentary anxious expression crossed his clear face before he looked at Siwoo as if nothing was different. Siwoo smiled warmly and sat down next to Sanho.
“I brought breakfast.”
Sanho looked at the plastic container resting on his lap and then turned to Siwoo. Siwoo smiled as if to explain.
“Breakfast is only served as a set meal. They said they don’t do takeout, but I managed to persuade them.”
“…Ah.”
“There was only that restaurant nearby.”
Sanho smiled faintly. His lips moved slightly. Thank you for the meal. At the light greeting, Siwoo’s eyes curved beautifully.
“Yeah, you have to eat all of this without leaving anything.”
Sanho burst into a small laugh. Yes, I’ll eat it all. A thought crossed his mind that he had really done well to buy such a meager meal after running for over an hour.
The way back to the hotel was quite short. Although he had moved without any plans at the start, making the route inefficient, the return trip was different. The refreshing feeling of driving smoothly on the road was very pleasant. Sanho opened the car window to feel the wind and blinked as he looked up at the clear sky. The cool breeze brushed through Sanho’s black hair. His straight forehead was revealed, and his plump lips curved roundly. Holding the steering wheel, Siwoo smiled pleasantly. He felt quite reluctant to arrive.
However, the car soon entered the city center. It took an astonishingly short time to reach the hotel. After parking in the hotel parking lot, Siwoo unbuckled Sanho’s seatbelt.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Sanho, who got out of the passenger seat, looked up at Siwoo standing in front of him.
“Yes, I’m fine. You seem more tired than I am…”
“Huh? No, I’m fine too.”
“…Liar. You didn’t sleep a wink.”
Siwoo’s eyes widened. But soon he smiled at Sanho. It’s okay, one day won’t matter. He answered in a nonchalant tone. It seemed that Sanho had also noticed that the space next to him in the narrow tent had not been filled last night. He wished he could have slept comfortably without knowing anything. The two entered the hotel lobby side by side.
A few travelers and people in suits were scattered in the hotel lobby. It was an ordinary scene without any sense of discomfort. As Siwoo reached the elevator after crossing the lobby, he pressed the button and turned to Sanho to speak. Just as he was about to say something, someone approaching caught his eye. Siwoo’s gaze shifted toward the approaching figure.
“……”
The person approaching Siwoo and Sanho was the hotel concierge. His steps seemed quite hurried. Moreover, his usually calm face appeared anxious. His uneasy gaze swept over Siwoo and Sanho in turn.
“Um, Director.”
He seemed slightly out of breath, but he bowed respectfully to Siwoo. Siwoo tilted his head in confusion.
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
A momentary awkward expression appeared on the concierge’s face. Standing straight, he continued in a low voice.
“The chairman is here. I thought I should let you know.”
“Father… the chairman?”
“Yes. In fact, he has been staying since last night. He already knows that you are staying in the secret room with your party… I was going to contact you, but the chairman strongly advised against it. I’m sorry for not informing you in advance.”
Siwoo’s lips slowly closed. If it was since last night… Father Jin is not a leisurely person. Siwoo knew well that his father’s tightly packed schedule was very tight. It was quite unusual for such a father to spend a long time from dinner until the next afternoon. Unless it was an urgent and important matter…
Siwoo hurriedly grabbed Sanho’s hand. Sanho, who was pulled close to Siwoo, looked back and forth between the concierge and Siwoo with a puzzled expression. Siwoo glanced up at the elevator’s indicator and said to Sanho.
“Sanho, go up first…”
At that moment, the heavy sound of footsteps approached. The gaze that had been on Sanho shifted beyond the concierge’s shoulder. A sudden strength filled Siwoo’s hand holding Sanho. Instinctively, as if to hide Sanho behind him, Siwoo pulled him even closer. Finally, the heavy footsteps stopped, and a large shadow stood before them.
“Siwoo.”
It was Chairman Jin. The concierge hurriedly stepped aside and bowed deeply.
“Chairman. The director just arrived…”
Chairman Jin nodded with a smile. He gently patted the concierge’s shoulder and spoke.
“Yeah, it seems so. Thank you. Would you mind stepping aside?”
“Yes. Of course, Chairman.”
The concierge exchanged a glance with Siwoo and bowed once more to Chairman Jin before quickly stepping aside. In the brief moment of the concierge’s greeting, Siwoo tilted his head slightly and whispered to Sanho in a small voice.
“Go up first.”
“Just me?”
Sanho seemed to want to confirm the middle-aged man standing before them, but Siwoo blocked Sanho’s gaze with his broad shoulders. Siwoo’s awkward smile replaced the answer. Just then, the electronic sound indicating the elevator’s arrival was heard, and Sanho looked up at Siwoo for a moment before nodding. It felt like quite a long time passed before Sanho got on the elevator without saying anything, and the elevator doors closed with a soft sound. Only after the doors had completely closed did Siwoo let out a small breath and turn his body toward his father.
“Father, what brings you here?”
The words he spoke to his father were casual in tone. A faint smile lingered on Siwoo’s lips. But his heart was anxious. His father’s sudden appearance clearly hinted at something. Chairman Jin must have sensed Siwoo’s anxious heart as well. Nevertheless, Chairman Jin smiled gently at his son.
“I came to see you since I heard you were here.”
“If you had contacted me, I would have come to see you.”
“Actually, I went to your house, but it was empty.”
“Oh, that’s…”
Chairman Jin’s voice was leisurely, without a hint of reproach. His posture standing tall before Siwoo was the same. Siwoo scanned the spacious hotel lobby. Talking to his father in the middle of the busy hotel lobby was not a wise idea. Even though the JR Group’s family was shrouded in secrecy, there was a considerable chance that someone might recognize them. It would be better to move to another place. Just as Siwoo was about to speak, Chairman Jin seemed to catch on to Siwoo’s intentions and shook his head.
