Siwoo, lying on the bed without even a twitch, slowly opened his eyes to the sound of vibrations. The phone placed on the side table buzzed and trembled. Lazily reaching out, Siwoo grabbed the phone and squinted at the screen. Manager Jung’s name appeared on the display.
“Manager Jung…?”
He spoke with a slightly hoarse voice. On the other end, Manager Jung replied.
– I’m sorry to disturb you, sir.
As always, Manager Jung’s voice was calm. However, there was an unmistakable sense of urgency in it. Siwoo sat up in bed and spoke.
“No, it’s fine. What’s going on?”
– Could you… open the door? I’m in front of your room.
Siwoo’s furrowed brow deepened further. What could be so urgent that Manager Jung had to come here? The answers that came to mind were all unsettling. Slipping on room slippers, Siwoo got out of bed.
“Just wait a moment.”
The lock, which had been tightly shut after the previous encounter, clicked open. When he opened the door, Manager Jung stood straight, bowing his head towards Siwoo.
“I apologize for coming without notice. It’s a bit urgent….”
As Manager Jung continued speaking, he glanced at Siwoo’s face and momentarily fell silent. Siwoo’s pale face looked somewhat haggard. He forced a smile.
“It’s okay, just tell me.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No. I wasn’t thinking about it. What’s going on…?”
Manager Jung let out a short sigh and lightly bowed his head again.
“It seems that Baek Sanho has gone to school.”
Siwoo quietly closed his mouth. The smile he had tried to maintain gradually faded.
“He went to… school?”
“Yes. There seems to have been a small altercation at school… but it’s nothing to worry about. He’s not hurt.”
If it’s nothing to worry about, then why did he come all the way here? Siwoo’s eyes narrowed slightly. Manager Jung looked at Siwoo and cautiously opened his mouth.
“There’s a regular JR internship training today. It’s at the convention hall at 7 PM. I was wondering if Baek Sanho might come this way….”
Siwoo checked the time on his phone. 6:30 PM. Following Siwoo’s gaze, Manager Jung carefully spoke.
“The chairman will be attending the training today. Normally, when the internship is in progress, he would at least make a brief appearance at the training—”
Siwoo urgently swung the door wide open. Manager Jung looked at him with concern as Siwoo was about to step out without even putting on anything.
“Sir, what are you planning to do…?”
“I need to find Sanho. He shouldn’t be here—”
“Sir…!”
Ignoring Manager Jung’s voice calling from behind, Siwoo dashed across the hallway. When he stopped in front of the elevator, his heart raced. Breath escaped through his lips. The lingering effects of the rut stirred pheromones within him. The elevator, unaware of his urgent feelings, slowly arrived at the top floor. With a soft electronic chime, the doors slid open. Siwoo quickly stepped into the elevator. Manager Jung approached and pressed the button for him.
“…….”
He stared intently at his reflection in the polished elevator doors. Siwoo pressed his brow with his middle finger. The rationality that had struggled to keep pace with his urgent heart began to find its footing. Taking a deep breath, Siwoo turned his gaze to Manager Jung.
“Please find Sanho without being noticed. If my father finds out that Manager Jung is looking for Sanho, he will surely send people after him, so you need to be extra careful.”
As Siwoo faced Manager Jung, who was silently gazing at him, he pressed his brow again, looking troubled.
“I know my father probably already knows.”
“…Yes, that’s likely. The chairman is probably keeping tabs on Baek Sanho as well.”
His heart thudded uncomfortably. Siwoo bit his lip and continued.
“It’s fine. If it’s not me he’s facing, he won’t touch Sanho first. It’s been a month since they last met… The people watching him must have loosened their guard to some extent. We just need to get through tonight. Then….”
The elevator arrived at the lobby. The display panel softly lit up with the letter L, indicating the lobby. The solid doors slowly opened. Siwoo smiled faintly as if making a promise to himself. The stiff corners of his mouth curved into a gentle arc.
“Once tonight is over, nothing will….”
As the doors fully opened, Siwoo stepped toward the lobby. Though he was tired from the lingering effects of the rut, he didn’t care. He could return home and prepare for his departure a bit earlier. If he safely got through the night and the day broke, he could go meet Sanho. Sanho, Sanho…
“…….”
Upon entering the lobby, Siwoo abruptly stopped. The cheeks that had smiled in determination stiffened again. His eyebrows began to tremble. It was the pheromones that enveloped him in an instant. The humid, sweet scent that could arise when crushed fruit is stirred in water. It was a strong and alluring fragrance that made every neuron in his brain scream. His body reacted instantly. Siwoo turned his head toward Manager Jung.
“Manager, right now….”
Before Siwoo could finish his sentence, someone suddenly approached him. Siwoo’s face, which had frowned, became even more flustered. Hyun Jae-il, wearing a bright sky-blue suit, staggered and leaned toward Siwoo. He too was exuding weak pheromones, but compared to the pheromones filling the lobby, it was extremely faint. At the same time, it was utterly repulsive.
His face was contorted in pain. Almost collapsing, he threw himself toward Siwoo.
“Why… why is Hyun Jae-il here… what happened…?”
Words that couldn’t form a complete sentence spilled out in fragments. Jae-il’s face, twisted in agony, didn’t look like an act. He was clearly in genuine pain. There were red handprints around his neck, as if someone had choked him. Siwoo instinctively caught Jae-il’s shoulders, which seemed to be collapsing.
“Siwoo… uh, please help me.”
Though his overtly clingy behavior was unpleasant, he couldn’t just push away someone who was in pain. As Siwoo stood stiffly with Jae-il gripping his shoulder, Jae-il pressed even closer. Then he whispered softly in Siwoo’s ear.
“You can tell from the pheromones, right? That leech-like Omega has come here.”
Siwoo’s grip on Jae-il’s shoulder tightened. Even in his pain, Jae-il’s eyes sparkled with malice as they flickered toward Siwoo.
“There are many eyes watching us here, so please help me for now. It would be even better if you could take me to the hospital.”
“Get away.”
Siwoo spoke, barely moving his lips. Jae-il continued, touching his neck.
“I met that Omega. I found out what kind of fool you, Jin Siwoo, are infatuated with. I think we should avoid a situation where I end up teaming up with your father to torment that Omega, don’t you?”
“…….”
“At least I can make your life difficult. Think clearly about the situation.”
Siwoo bit the delicate mucous membrane inside his mouth. He had no interest in what this despicable man was babbling about, but he needed to get through tonight safely. Creating more trouble would only lead to more problems. Siwoo sighed in resignation. He turned his head toward Manager Jung.
“Manager.”
“Sir, are you okay?”
Manager Jung seemed to have vaguely grasped the situation. As a beta, he wouldn’t directly feel the pheromones, but the sight of Jae-il, who had been choked and was now clinging to Siwoo, and the whispers he was making certainly hinted at something. Moreover, the mention of “Omega” in Jae-il’s whispers made it reasonable to suspect that Baek Sanho might already be in this hotel. Manager Jung’s expression also slightly twisted in discomfort. Siwoo smiled wryly at his face.
“I think we need to take this person to the hospital.”
“Yes, then I will—”
“No, I’ll call someone else. Manager Jung, for now… just do what I asked.”
He couldn’t make a clear request in front of Jae-il. Manager Jung silently stared at Siwoo. He understood that it meant to first ascertain Baek Sanho’s location.
“What will you do, sir…?”
“I’ll stay at home. I have suppressants. I’ll be fine—”
“You’re not fine. You haven’t eaten properly throughout the rut.”
His tone was unusually strong for Manager Jung. Siwoo smiled again. He could clearly feel the pheromones leaking out. It was something he had barely managed to suppress. The pheromones, having encountered the trace of the person he longed for, surged forth as if trying to find their mate. A sip of water only stirred up more conflict. Like a mirage, Siwoo’s pheromones began to rise. It seemed to swell as if searching for Sanho.
“No, I have to be fine.”
“…….”
“Let’s go. I’m counting on you.”
Siwoo grabbed Jae-il’s arm, which was cold and resting on him. Covered in the pheromones of a dominant Omega, Jae-il was also feeling Siwoo’s pheromones and trembled easily at even the slightest stimulation. Siwoo murmured to him in a low voice.
“I’ll call someone, so let’s go to the hospital. Don’t say anything more.”
“…Jin Siwoo….”
“And one more thing.”
“…….”
“If you speak carelessly about my mate.”
“…….”
“I’ll tear your mouth apart.”
Siwoo’s expression remained calm as he walked forward. His voice was steady, even carrying a hint of warmth. Jae-il quietly closed his mouth. He felt a slight tremor in his body, making it difficult to take a step. Jae-il realized that this was a faint but real sense of fear.
“…….”
Crossing the wide lobby, they finally exited the hotel. While Manager Jung was calling someone to take Jae-il to the hospital, Siwoo coldly released Jae-il’s arm. The road in front of the hotel was wide open. The sky was slowly turning orange as the sun began to set. After taking a few more steps, Siwoo turned to face Manager Jung, who was matching his pace beside him.
“Manager Jung, you must—”
Find Sanho for sure. And keep him safe at home. Without my father noticing. Just wait a few more hours until I can come find him. The desperate plea couldn’t escape Siwoo’s lips.
“…….”
His heightened senses picked up a signal. The presence he felt behind him was intense. The sound of small footsteps, the sweet scent mingling in the air. No, even without that, Siwoo could tell. Someone was approaching him. That someone was the very person he had been longing for. But at this moment, it was someone he shouldn’t face.
“…….”
In the distance, a large car turned the corner and entered the road in front of the hotel. It was Chairman Jin Tae-seok’s limousine.
“Hyung.”
A small voice came from behind him. The voice he had replayed in his mind every night was just as sweet as ever. His heart ached. The ring on his fourth finger sent a sharp pain coursing through his body as if it were conducting electricity.
“I came looking for you since you didn’t come.”
It was a small, soft voice. Siwoo’s eyes welled up as he fought back tears.
“So… please, just look at me.”
He had to turn around and run to that person. He had to hold them tightly in his arms and kiss them gently. Nothing else mattered. But, at this moment, he couldn’t do that. The large limousine that had been caught at the signal remained stopped, even though the light had changed. Through the heavily tinted windows, he could feel the gaze watching them.
Siwoo carefully touched the ring on his fourth finger with his thumb. The hard, cold object spun on his finger, holding a warm heat.
“……Hyung, I’m here.”
“…….”
“Don’t you see me? Don’t you want to see me?”
“…….”
“Was it only me who wanted to see you?”
