#132
“You crazy bastard, really!”
Rickdi was bewildered by Taemin’s rough handling. But Taemin, still feeling uneasy, started tightly binding Rickdi’s ankles as well.
“Hey! This is too much!”
Rickdi shouted in shock.
“Think of it as karma for what you did.”
Taemin finished with a touch that was hard to tell if he was tying or twisting Rickdi’s ankles.
“I’ll give you 5 minutes. Say everything you need to say within that time.”
Delivering this ultimatum, Taemin looked at Idam. His eyes were full of reluctance, not wanting to leave him alone with that pervert. However, as if respecting Idam’s wishes, he slowly left the hospital room. For a moment, silence fell in the room.
Idam was also about to speak, wanting to start and finish the conversation with Rickdi quickly.
“I’m sorry about that day.”
Surprised by Rickdi’s sudden apology, Idam swallowed his words. It was something he wanted to hear, but he didn’t expect to face it so quickly.
“It was right after I had a dispute with Taemin, and I wasn’t in my right mind after being confined.”
Even if he said this, what Rickdi had done to him was unforgivable. Idam remained silent with a stern look.
“Actually, I had an inferiority complex towards Taemin.”
“What?”
Inferiority complex? Idam’s eyes widened, wondering what this meant.
“I was bothered from the moment I found out Taemin and I were half-brothers. Unlike me, Taemin was loved by his biological father. It stemmed from seeing him perfectly running a larger company than mine.”
“…”
“Amidst these precarious days, my omega girlfriend, who had promised to marry me, showed interest in Taemin.”
“How did she know the CEO?”
“We came to Korea together on a trip. We had some business near Baekwol Corporation, and our timing matched with Taemin’s, so we ended up having lunch together. When my girlfriend met Taemin then, she showed considerable interest.”
“Ah…”
“When I confronted her, she insisted it wasn’t true, but it was clear she had feelings for Taemin. I suffered a lot because of this. A few months later, my girlfriend had an affair with another alpha, and we eventually broke off the engagement. That’s why I ended up going to that gathering alone.”
Idam, who had been listening attentively, tensed up.
“In the end, your girlfriend didn’t have anything with the CEO and chose someone else, right? She’s the one who did wrong, so why blame the CEO?”
At Idam’s point, Rickdi’s shoulders slumped.
“I know. That’s why I just had this needless inferiority complex boiling in my heart.”
“The CEO didn’t just live happily in a harmonious environment either. He had his own circumstances.”
Unable to speak about the unjust death of Taemin’s mother, Idam explained this much. He felt that such a crucial matter wasn’t something he should reveal to Rickdi. So he changed the subject.
“Above all, he struggled a lot because of his rejection syndrome.”
“Rejection syndrome…”
Rickdi’s lips curled bitterly.
“Maybe I should have suffered from rejection syndrome too.”
“What?”
“Then maybe you and I could have had a connection.”
“What…”
“Because my feelings for you were genuine.”
Idam felt burdened by Rickdi’s intense gaze and avoided it. But Rickdi persisted and continued speaking.
“Actually, I ordered Im Hoyoung to bring you out of Jihwado because I wanted to meet you. Everything I told you about Taemin’s family was also out of my affection for you.”
At his confession, Idam spoke the words he had wanted to say.
“As I said that day, I like the CEO. No, I love him very much.”
He wanted to clearly convey his feelings for Taemin to Rickdi. As soon as he said it, he felt his heart grow hot. And now he was certain. He wanted to picture a future with Taemin.
“I know. But I just wanted you to know that someone like me exists in this world too.”
“I hope you find a good relationship.”
Idam drew a clear line. He had no intention of accepting Rickdi’s feelings at all and didn’t want to give any unnecessary misunderstandings. Rickdi’s eyes were full of disappointment.
But just as he was about to open his mouth to say something more-
Bang!
The door opened roughly, and Taemin entered.
“Five minutes are up.”
“Ah, has that much time passed already?”
“Yes.”
Taemin glared at Rickdi with extremely wary eyes.
“Can’t be helped. Then, untie this now.”
Rickdi raised his arms and held them out to Taemin. Taemin, with an unwilling expression, started to untie him reluctantly. Rickdi looked up at Taemin and spoke.
“And don’t tell your father about me. I think it would be better for both of us if you just think of me as a non-existent person, and I don’t really want to see him either.”
“Alright.”
Taemin nodded as if agreeing.
* * *
“What did you talk about with Rickdi?”
As they left the hospital room, Taemin asked Idam, who was holding onto his arm.
“Ah… Well…”
Idam found it difficult to relay Rickdi’s words to Taemin. He felt it would only cause more conflict between them. Especially if Taemin learned that Rickdi had confessed to him, he would likely rush back into the room and strangle him.
“He just apologized to me for what he did.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Idam nodded, feeling a slight cold sweat on his forehead. Taemin stared at Idam for a moment, then smiled gently. In fact, earlier when he had left the room, he hadn’t fully closed the door, leaving about a 1cm gap, and had been watching through it. He had been uneasy even after tying Rickdi’s wrists and ankles.
‘Because my feelings for you were genuine.’
At Rickdi’s confession, Taemin had felt magma boiling up from his chest. He had wanted to burst through the door and strangle Rickdi right then. But…
‘I like the CEO. No, I love him very much.’
Seeing Idam firmly reject Rickdi, saying he liked Taemin, made him stop all action. It was as if he was being drawn into a spring garden led by a fairy. It was an unbearably pretty sight. That’s why he gave up on punishing Rickdi. He had asked the question despite knowing the situation, wanting to hear those sweet words from Idam’s mouth once more. But this fairy seemed shy and remained silent. Though a bit disappointed, Taemin found it cute and decided to let it go.
“Now let’s go to Im Hoyoung to check the test results.”
“Okay.”
Idam nodded.
* * *
“Hah, in the end… I’ve been rejected like this.”
Rickdi sighed.
Until he had knocked down Secretary Kang and gone to Taemin’s mansion just recently, his mind had been full of Idam. Wanting to make a good impression, he had taken a sports car abandoned at the factory where he had been confined, tidied up his disheveled appearance, and arrived in front of the mansion. As he was wondering how to get in, he spotted an iron gate where employees were coming and going, and Rickdi had sneaked in following them.
Seeing Idam sitting there, covered in Taemin’s pheromones, anger rose in his chest and his inferiority complex towards Taemin flared up. In the end, these excessive emotions led to this result of being rejected. Now that Idam was even pregnant, it seemed even more impossible for him to have a chance. Rickdi picked up his phone from the bedside table and called his father in English.
“Father, it’s me. Rickdi. Yes, yes… I’m in the hospital now. There was a bit of an accident. I’m going to return to America now.”
* * *
The sedan speeding towards the obstetrics department smoothly cruised down the road. Idam’s large eyes were fixed on the view outside the window. The sky was clear and the sunlight sparkled vibrantly. With this weather, the sea would probably be beautiful in the evening too. Idam turned his head, filled with anticipation, and saw the back of Secretary Kang’s head as he drove. He had been noticeably less talkative since earlier. Until they left the mansion, he had been so chatty that Taemin had even scolded him.
As Idam was wondering about this stark difference, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He checked to see who it was.
It was a message from Hayun. As he was about to reply that he was on his way to the obstetrics department, he felt Taemin’s gaze on him pointedly.
“Is it Jang Hayun?”
“Ah… Yes…”
Idam became cautious, worried that Taemin might be uncomfortable.
“I see.”
But contrary to his expectations, Taemin turned his head and looked at his own phone. He didn’t seem to mind much. Idam first replied to Hayun that he was on his way to the obstetrics department. Then he looked at Taemin once more. He had definitely changed from before. He seemed not only kinder but also more relaxed. Idam felt gratitude and a tug at his heart.
“Um. I heard from Hayun. CEO, I heard you helped when a burglar broke into Hayun’s house.”
At Idam’s words, Taemin’s moving fingers stopped.
“Well… Yes, I did.”
“Thanks to you, Hayun was safe. Thank you.”
Idam bowed politely, expressing his feelings. Taemin held Idam’s hand tightly, as if it was nothing special.
“I helped because it was your friend.”
“…”
“If it had been another omega, I wouldn’t have cared if they were raped or killed by the burglar. Above all, I also felt sorry for using him before.”
He seemed to be referring to when he had kidnapped Hayun and handed him over to Heo Jitae. Taemin also bowed his head to Idam.
“I want to apologize to you too, Idam. I’m sorry for back then. Even though it was because I desired you so much, I shouldn’t have done it.”
At his apology, Idam’s heart pounded.
‘He even apologized to me.’
He recalled the voice he had heard during the phone call with Hayun a few days ago. Unlike before, he felt that Taemin was respecting and cherishing him. Thanks to this, Idam felt his heart grow warm once again.
“It’s okay. It’s in the past now, so I’ll forget about it.”
Now that Taemin had done so much more for him, Idam decided to bury past transgressions. In a way, though twisted, it proved how much Taemin had wanted to take him as his wife. Taemin stared at Idam intently. At the same time, he gripped Idam’s hand tightly.
“Won’t you be jealous?”
“What?”
“Aren’t you upset that I took care of Jang Hayun?”
Idam’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s at Taemin’s abrupt statement.
“No… I’m just grateful.”
“Hmm… I see… Okay.”
Taemin looked disappointed. Idam was bewildered, not understanding why he would ask such a question. Soon, the hospital building came into view.
* * *
After entering the omega examination room, Idam greeted Im Hoyoung and underwent various tests with Taemin. Then they sat in chairs facing Im Hoyoung in the consultation room.
“First of all, the test results from the Cheongdo obstetrics department are very good.”
Taemin and Idam looked at the monitor in front of them. The ultrasound screen showed the shape of the fetus. Unlike when he had seen it alone last time, it felt different seeing it with Taemin. Taemin too couldn’t take his eyes off the monitor, seemingly fascinated by the first glimpse of his child.
“The genetic screening results are normal, and the baby’s condition is all stable. The growth is faster compared to other fetuses, but it’s not abnormal.”
“That’s a relief.”
Idam touched his belly and felt relieved. It was wondrous and amazing to think that his and Taemin’s child was growing day by day.
Im Hoyoung continued with detailed explanations about the fetus’s condition. He said that so far, it was in a stable condition with no major issues expected until delivery.
“An alpha’s pheromones are especially beneficial for pregnant individuals. Frequent exposure will be good for both the mother and the fetus in the future.”
“Haha. Looks like I’ll have to give more love to my honey with my dick from now on.”
Taemin said with a sly smile. At the same time, Im Hoyoung’s expression soured, and Idam blushed in embarrassment.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
