The car heading towards Building K was enveloped in lukewarm silence. Sanho frowned at the pheromones that Gyu-cheol, sitting in the driver’s seat, was intentionally dispersing little by little. He pulled Siwoo’s cardigan, which was draped over his shoulder, closer to him. The faint scent of Siwoo embedded in the cardigan mixed with Gyu-cheol’s pheromones, and it was horrifically unpleasant.
The car driven by Gyu-cheol stopped in front of Sanho’s house, at the blue gate. It was possible for the car to come up to the alley because the alleyway had been tidied up. Sanho got out of the car without hesitation and slammed the door shut. He wrapped Siwoo’s cardigan closer to his chest again. The gentle smell of earth warmly enveloped Sanho. It was a trivial and weak scent, but at that moment, he craved even this. Just as Sanho took a step into the shabby yard of his house.
“Mr. Baek Sanho.”
After the sound of the car door opening and closing, the sound of footsteps followed. Ignoring the presence behind him, Sanho continued to look straight ahead. He wanted to ignore Gyu-cheol and go inside, but he found it difficult to take a step.
“Do you really believe what Director Jin Siwoo said?”
The question was extremely unpleasant. The meaning of the word ‘really’ was obvious. Sanho remained silent, still standing.
“Director Jin Siwoo’s engagement has already been decided. The meeting was postponed due to the stabbing incident.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“It means don’t believe it. That’s what the director said.”
“What do you know…!”
“If it were me.”
Gyu-cheol’s pheromones seeped out a little more. Sanho, who had furrowed his brow, tightened his grip on the cardigan and turned to glare at Gyu-cheol. He glared at Gyu-cheol with a fierce expression, but Gyu-cheol merely met Sanho’s gaze with a blank face.
“An Omega who blindly touches a stranger’s body without knowing their face wouldn’t give their heart away. No, anyone would feel that way, not just me.”
“What…?”
“You know better than anyone that Director Jin Siwoo is a kind person. He’s friendly and kind to everyone.”
“…….”
“How can you be sure that the feelings he has for you are compassion or pity? How can you be sure that you haven’t mistaken pity for love?”
It felt like his body was sinking into an endless darkness. Sanho bit his lip hard enough to make a sound. The soft texture of the cardigan he held in his hand felt as if it had turned into sharp thorns, and his senses were on edge.
“I have no personal regrets about you, Mr. Baek Sanho.”
“…….”
“Watching you, I find it a bit pathetic.”
“…Shut up. One more word and—”
“If you know how fiercely Director Jin Siwoo’s engagement was decided, you wouldn’t be under the illusion that you’re the only one enchanted by that charming alpha. So many people are after Director Jin Siwoo. There’s no way he would choose just you.”
“What did you just say—”
“Someone like Director Jin Siwoo would never choose someone like you.”
“I told you to shut up…!”
“Unless you’re the one who traps Director Jin Siwoo, then maybe.”
His expression, which had been emotionless, suddenly twisted grotesquely. The expression that had appeared on his face, which had acted like a robot devoid of feelings until now, was extremely chilling. The most chilling part was the fact that the distorted expression was one of delight.
***
Standing in front of the hospital elevator with unsteady steps, Siwoo frowned. He suddenly realized that the wound from the stabbing was crying out in pain. When he touched the wound area, something damp soaked his palm. A reddish color reflected on his patient gown. Blood was seeping through the bandage. Had the carefully sutured wound opened up? With the heavy pain, Siwoo bit his lip.
His steps into the hospital room were a bit unsteady. As he pushed the door open, two people standing inside the room turned to look at Siwoo simultaneously. It was Manager Jung with a stiff face and a nurse. The nurse, who had been pleading with Manager Jung in a desperate voice, widened her eyes when she saw Siwoo. Her face, filled with surprise, opened slightly as she looked at Siwoo’s bloodied wound, appearing even more flustered.
“Oh my, patient! Goodness, what happened….”
The nurse hurriedly led Siwoo to the bed. As Siwoo sat on the edge of the bed, she knelt down and began to check the wound in a flustered manner.
“How could you go out without saying anything? You need to follow the hospital’s instructions.”
Her voice was more filled with concern than reprimand. The nurse carefully examined the wound, which was seeping blood, then looked up at Siwoo.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be too badly opened, but I think we need to check it properly. It seems like you moved roughly and caused the bleeding. It must have hurt a lot; are you okay?”
Siwoo looked at the nurse with an apologetic expression. I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt… but when the nurse touched the wound, his nose crinkled slightly. The nurse looked at Siwoo’s face and let out a deep sigh. Soon, she turned her head towards Manager Jung and opened her mouth.
“The patient absolutely needs to rest. This is not a wound to take lightly.”
Manager Jung nodded stiffly. Just as the nurse was about to nod in agreement and stand up, Siwoo lifted his head towards her. His earnest gaze met the nurse’s face. The nurse tilted her head slightly, blushing at the intense gaze directed at her.
“What….”
“Could you call Professor Kim for me?”
With a polite voice, the nurse frowned slightly and put on a businesslike expression.
“Well, since we need to check the wound anyway, Professor Kim should be in his office right now, so I can call him right away.”
The nurse, holding the chart, threw a light glance at Manager Jung and then exited the room. After she closed the door, silence settled in the hospital room. Siwoo leaned back against the head of the bed. As he blankly stared at the flawless VIP ward, he turned his head towards Manager Jung, who was standing silently by the bedside.
“I’m glad Manager Jung is here with me.”
The stiff expression on Manager Jung’s face softened a bit. He replied in a slightly relaxed tone.
“It would be best to rest for now, Director.”
Siwoo quietly kept his lips sealed and gazed at Manager Jung. Despite the pain in the wound gradually intensifying, he felt strangely calm. It was because the tasks he needed to do had narrowed down to one. He would assess the situation coldly and resolve it.
“Manager.”
“…Yes.”
“We might be running out of time more than I thought.”
Manager Jung’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He looked at Siwoo and replied calmly.
“Actually, I have some news regarding your engagement… But I’ll tell you about this tomorrow, so please rest today…”
“No, it’s okay.”
“But—”
At that moment, there was a knock on the hospital room door. Siwoo and Manager Jung’s gazes turned towards the door simultaneously. The attending physician entered, pushing up his glasses.
“Director.”
Looking at Siwoo sitting on the bed, the physician frowned as he examined the bloodied wound, just like the nurse had. As the physician approached, Manager Jung bowed his head slightly and quietly stepped back to give way. Over the physician’s shoulder, Siwoo spoke to Manager Jung.
“There might be… another way. A slightly easier way.”
Manager Jung, who had been about to step back, halted in his tracks. Siwoo smiled faintly at Manager Jung, who looked at him with a puzzled expression. Seeing Siwoo’s lips sealed tight, Manager Jung seemed to conclude that this was not a conversation they could have right now. He soon exited the hospital room.
Pulling a round chair closer, Siwoo sat beside the bed and turned to look at the attending physician.
“I’m sorry, Professor Kim. I have something important to discuss.”
“It was an accident that could have endangered your life. Was it something more important than your life?”
Siwoo’s smile deepened a little. His head tilted slightly.
“Yes, something more important.”
As the physician pressed his lips together, Siwoo slowly continued. Each word was filled with careful consideration.
“You mentioned that I could react to specific pheromones. You said it was a kind of imprinting.”
“……Of course.”
“Please explain in detail.”
***
[One Month Later]
Sanho stood in front of the mirror. This was the only mirror in this small house, which was the only thing his mother had passed down to him. The worn corners of the mirror gleamed. It was a small mirror, the size of a notebook, but it was sufficient to reflect the entire narrow house. Sanho quietly gazed at his reflection in the mirror. He looked very unnatural in luxurious clothes that didn’t match the shabby house at all.
“…….”
It was the navy slacks and the generously designed casual shirt that Siwoo had bought for him at the luxury store when he went to register for his internship. Yes, it’s pretty. Sanho clearly remembered the smile that had spread across Siwoo’s eyes.
[The JR family has been very noisy for the past week due to rumors of discord, and now the engagement news of J, the only son of Chairman Jin Tae-seok, the subject of the rumors, is making headlines again.]
A small light flickered behind him in the mirror. It was the light from a TV the size of a palm, pouring out its rays.
[The news was even more surprising because the JR owner family had long been shrouded in mystery. J, who is predicted to be the next chairman, is known to be one of the largest shareholders after Chairman Jin Tae-seok. Although they had been shrouded in mystery, the fact that there had never been any publicized discord between father and son made the news of the discord between Chairman Jin Tae-seok and J shocking, and it seems to be becoming a fact beyond mere rumors. Amidst this, the engagement news has sparked various speculations.]
[Yes, that’s right. There are speculations that the breakup with JR is due to this engagement. Could it be a love for the ages?]
[Well, some say there are political reasons behind it, but… our entertainment news is here to show you the glamorous engagement ceremony instead of the complicated news of politics and business.]
[Yes, sounds good. The newly formed couple is a fantastic alpha and Omega couple, isn’t it? Just looking at them warms the heart…]
The voices of the panelists filled the small house. The names that had been circulating in the news since yesterday echoed again. The screen being broadcast on the TV briefly reflected in the mirror and imprinted itself on Sanho’s retina.
The venue in the screen was a vast space, as large as a cathedral with high ceilings. Surrounded entirely by white marble, it resembled a shrine more than a church. White lilies were lavishly lined up, and on the raised platform, a cake decorated with flowers and icing was placed. A man in a light lilac suit walked towards the platform.
[With the announcement of J’s engagement, interest in his partner has surged, and yes, he is now appearing on screen. He is said to be the second son of the WT family. At the engagement ceremony, he wore a bright pastel-toned suit…]
Sanho slowly turned his body. He walked towards the TV and pressed the power button firmly. The pressure on his finger made the knuckle turn white. The electronic sound and the loud voice of the VJ faded into the air. Sanho’s head lifted straight. His black eyes were empty, devoid of anything. The emotions that had swelled up were seemingly exhausted over the past month.
“…….”
Sanho walked across the tiny single room. He briefly brushed over the long scar across his collarbone but soon lowered his hand. As he reached for his shoes, Sanho hesitated for a moment. He quietly gazed at the still snow-white sneakers. A simple design made of lightweight canvas. He had walked carefully, afraid of scuffing them. Only because of the person who had gifted him these sneakers.
‘Now that I think about going to school and work together.’
‘…….’
‘I feel good.’
Sanho slowly put on the sneakers. He was heading to a school where the person who gifted them would not appear.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
