#53
How long had Idam been waiting for Hayun? The sound of a door opening was heard. Could it be Hayun returning? Just as Idam, full of expectation, was about to grab the dressing room doorknob, he froze. The footsteps he detected were not just one person’s. It sounded like at least two or three people.
“If we don’t catch that omega today, we’re screwed, right?”
“The CEO’s state is no joke right now.”
“This is crazy. He escaped a few days ago, and now he’s doing it again?”
“Stop complaining, everyone, and just search.”
Among the voices of the irritated men, Secretary Kang’s voice was clearly heard. It seemed Taemin had finally sent his employees after Idam. This was an expected outcome, as it had happened a few days ago too. Idam began to worry if he would be able to safely escape from this hotel today. First, to buy some time, he carefully locked the dressing room door.
He looked around the interior, trying to find a way out. Fortunately, he saw a window. Unlike the mansion, this window didn’t have iron bars. Idam quickly opened it. Being a hotel in the mountains, unlike the city, the wind felt quite cold despite it being afternoon. Luckily, it wasn’t a very high floor, and there was a large tree right in front.
That’s when he heard knocking on the door behind him.
“This door is locked.”
“Is he in there?”
“Hurry up and open the damn door!”
The men’s shouts could be heard. With every second crucial, Idam hurriedly climbed onto the windowsill and jumped out. He stretched out his arms and grabbed the nearest tree branch. Then he nimbly climbed down the tree.
He had always been good at sports, but climbing trees was his specialty. Back in the orphanage, during hide-and-seek, most other children would hide in places close to the ground, like behind trees or inside cabinets. But Idam always climbed up trees to hide. It was a place not easily found by shorter children. As a result, Idam always won at hide-and-seek.
After getting down from the tree, Idam started running.
The men who had belatedly broken down the door tried to follow Idam, but being much heavier than him, they either broke the branches as soon as they grabbed them and fell to the ground, or descended the tree much slower. Secretary Kang finally made it down and chased after Idam. But Idam was incredibly fast.
“Hah… Was he some kind of track athlete?”
Though Idam had escaped on that stormy night before, Secretary Kang didn’t remember him being this fast. Honestly, that night he could have caught Idam if he had really tried. But now, this seemed like a bolt from the blue. He called Taemin to report that he had found Idam as ordered, but couldn’t catch him.
* * *
Taemin sat on the sofa in the party hall, his eyes extremely on edge. The group sex party they had planned to proceed with was suspended due to Idam’s escape, and everyone was watching Taemin cautiously.
Taemin was just waiting for the moment when Secretary Kang or other employees would spot Idam. The hotel was large, and searching without any clues would only waste energy. He planned to step in himself once someone found Idam.
“Um… Taemin… Could you put that down?”
Rickdi cautiously voiced his opinion. Taemin was currently holding a food knife. His expression looked like he might stab something at any moment. It wasn’t just Rickdi who was trying to stop him. The other friends were also looking at Taemin with concern. Knowing his habit of collecting real swords and his violent temperament, they were all treading carefully, afraid they might meet their ancestors if they provoked him.
At that moment, Taemin’s phone on the table rang. He hurriedly answered it.
“Yes, Secretary Kang. Did you catch him?”
[Ah, no. We’re still in pursuit. But…]
“But what?”
[He’s too fast. The boys are all chasing him, but was Yeo Idam perhaps a track athlete?]
“Hah…”
In fact, Taemin knew Idam was fast. But he was dumbfounded that even Secretary Kang, who he had heard was an ace in the track team and had worked for a security company, couldn’t catch up. He decided he couldn’t just stay put any longer. Taemin’s eyes became intense and sharp.
“Where is he heading now?”
Secretary Kang explained, panting. It happened to be nearby. Taemin quickly stood up and looked around. His eyes fell on the sports bike near the balcony. As if entranced, he approached it. After taking in the bike’s appearance, Taemin touched its surface. Then he pulled the bike onto the balcony.
“Taemin, why are you taking that? You’re not planning to ride it, are you?”
“Of course not.”
Answering briefly, Taemin opened the balcony door. A strong wind blew. He looked down carefully. Amidst the scent of grass, he could see Idam running, like a flower blooming.
He looked so white and beautiful.
Though he didn’t know what this hot emotion blooming in his chest was… Even if the flower wilted a little, he had to cage it in his greenhouse. He lifted the bike. The muscles on the back of his hands and forearms stood out prominently.
* * *
“Huff, huff!”
Idam ran with all his might. His legs were starting to ache, but he ran with the thought that he would die if caught. He wondered what had happened – surely Hayun would have returned to that room with clothes for Idam to change into. He felt like crying.
That’s when he sensed something falling from the sky. It was a shadow that felt like some kind of monster. Idam looked up. He couldn’t identify the shape properly, but something bigger than his body seemed to be pouring down.
Sensing danger, Idam nimbly avoided it. But he lost his balance and fell on his backside.
Soon after, there was a loud noise, a cloud of dust rose, and debris scattered. It was like facing a bomb. Idam rolled his body like a ball, covered his head with both arms, and curled up as much as possible. The sound that seemed like it would last forever quieted down after a short while. Idam relaxed his tensed body and looked to see what had nearly hit him.
What lay before his eyes was a smashed bike. The wheels had come off and the handlebars were bent. However, due to its unique color and somewhat familiar shape, it didn’t take long for Idam to realize it was the bike he had seen in the party hall earlier.
He was confused as to why it had suddenly fallen here. It hadn’t been in a precarious position to begin with, and it couldn’t have moved on its own. Then he felt another shadow from above. At the same time, a sweet pheromone descended from above.
Someone landed in front of the bike. Idam swallowed and looked up.
“Where were you trying to go?”
Taemin was standing in front of him. Idam felt his heart sink. Surprised by Taemin’s sudden appearance, Idam almost hiccupped but managed to hold it back. He was sure Taemin would kiss him again, claiming to stop him. Taemin slowly approached Idam and gently extended his hand.
“I won’t be angry that you ran away, so come here.”
His fingers were tinged with affection. His gentle gaze was the same. Idam wavered for a moment but then gritted his molars and spoke.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m different from you, CEO…”
“What’s different? Tell me.”
Taemin asked sincerely, not understanding. From their physique to their tastes and personalities, everything about Taemin and Idam was opposite. So of course they were different. It seemed that Idam was harboring some dissatisfaction with him now.
But Idam couldn’t honestly express his anxieties and closed his lips. As a subordinate, he was in no position to criticize Taemin. And if this was normal for the life Taemin had lived, they were simply incompatible. So it was right to end their relationship here, with Hayun’s help.
Idam slowly stood up, intending to run away again. Taemin approached with hurried steps.
The distance between them narrowed. Taemin’s pheromones gradually felt closer. Idam felt like he might melt into that sweetness. But he endured, trying hard to swallow and hold back. Soon, Taemin’s arms stretched out towards Idam. It seemed Idam would be trapped in his embrace at any moment. It felt like a prison.
“No!”
Idam impulsively raised his hand. As he swung his hand to push Taemin away, he ended up slapping Taemin’s cheek.
“Gasp!”
Idam froze, wondering what he had just done.
I’m dead now. I’m dead now. I’m dead now. I’m dead now.
This thought dominated his mind like a runaway train. His heart felt like it would explode like a volcano. Idam’s eyes, shocked beyond measure, instantly became wet.
“I-I’m sorry… It wasn’t intentional. I’m sorry.”
Idam apologized, trembling violently. Unable to face Taemin, he lowered his head. Taemin’s rough breathing gradually came closer. Idam was terrified, thinking Taemin might harm him at any moment. He took small steps backward.
“Hah… This is driving me crazy.”
Taemin’s voice sounded ominous. Idam, even more intimidated, trembled as he slightly raised his head. But the expression on Taemin’s face before him was the opposite of what Idam had expected. For some reason, both of Taemin’s cheeks were flushed red. His gaze was also strange. Rather than anger, there was something else mixed in.
Slowly, Taemin’s lips began to move.
“It’s the first time… someone has made me…”
Feel this way.
Taemin’s gaze was not normal. His pupils had shrunk so much they seemed barely visible. Facing him, Idam felt a fear greater than on that stormy night. He already knew Taemin wasn’t normal, but now he seemed truly insane.
Amidst all this, what Idam couldn’t understand was that the pheromones flowing from Taemin had become even sweeter.
