#66
Idam felt an ominous feeling at Taemin’s appearance. Just as he was trying hard to recall his memories, Taemin put his lips on Idam’s nape and started sucking and licking. Thanks to the unusual tongue movement, Idam’s mind became hazy again. Moreover, Taemin’s hands moved towards Idam’s nipples. Since the bandages didn’t cover his fingertips completely, there was no problem in touching the hardened buds.
“Mmnh.”
Gradually, a vibrant pheromone blossomed from Idam’s body like a flower in full bloom. It was as if a floral festival had unfolded in this bedroom.
As a result, Taemin felt energy surging throughout his body. It felt like even the injury on his hand would heal soon.
He remembered his grandfather’s words. If he continued to be exposed to Idam’s pheromones like this, his aversion would disappear in half a year at most. But from what he could feel, it seemed like it would heal even before that. This was troublesome…
Even if he fully recovered, as long as he didn’t get tired of it, he felt like he would keep seeking this fairy’s scent. He was confused and unsure whether this emotion stemmed from his body’s instinct or if there was another reason. It was just hot and intense. He continued his thrusting more vigorously.
The act continued until dawn.
* * *
“Mmm.”
Idam opened his eyes with difficulty, letting out a moan. The bright interior of the bedroom, signaling midday, came into view, and simultaneously, a hot sensation enveloped his entire body. As he turned his head, he saw Taemin sleeping while embracing him. Idam admired his face as if entranced. Long eyelashes, a high nose bridge, sculpted lips. His flawless appearance was beautiful to the point of being dazzling.
Because of this, Idam felt a tingling sensation, and his chest felt hot. It was strange. He was confused about how to handle this blooming heat.
Taemin slowly opened his eyes. At the same time, his gaze met Idam’s. His blue irises seemed to shine as if they would devour Idam.
“Ah!”
Startled, Idam hurriedly averted his gaze.
“Why are you avoiding my eyes?”
“No… It’s nothing.”
He felt embarrassed, as if he had become a child caught stealing, even though he hadn’t been secretly peeking.
“Hmm.”
Taemin smiled even more mischievously and openly met Idam’s eyes. Idam, feeling even more embarrassed, tried to avoid his gaze, but Taemin wouldn’t allow it. He kept staring at Idam with an even more intense look.
Feeling overwhelmed with embarrassment, Idam wanted to change the subject. So he shifted his gaze to Taemin’s hand.
“How’s your hand?”
“I barely feel any pain. Maybe it’s because I’ve been with you all night, Idam.”
Taemin exuded an air of “don’t worry,” but Idam still felt anxious.
Even if his pheromones were like a healing agent for Taemin, he didn’t have any fantasy-like ability to heal such wounds instantly.
“You’re going to the hospital today too, right?”
“Yes, I’ll need outpatient treatment for a while. I’ll stop by the hospital on my way to work today.”
“Please make sure to tell me about your condition when you get back.”
“Alright.”
Taemin answered affectionately and checked the time. It was past 11:30 AM.
“I’d like to stay together longer, but I should start getting ready for work now.”
He showed a regretful look as he got out of bed. For some reason, Idam felt disappointed that he was leaving.
* * *
After Taemin left for work, Idam went out to the garden alone. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, and the sunlight was quite intense. It felt like the scent of summer. Idam’s footsteps headed towards the annex. Earlier, while having a meal with Taemin, he had asked curiously about where Hayun was staying now.
‘He’ll be in the east annex.’
At Taemin’s answer, Idam hurried his steps to see Hayun’s face. Although his body, exhausted from Taemin’s attentions all night, hadn’t fully recovered, it was still sufficient to move around. Following the pouring sunlight, he walked for a while, and even before fully reaching the annex, he saw Hayun sitting on a bench. Dressed in clean clothes, he looked quite different from his disheveled state last night, and his complexion seemed much better.
“Hayun!”
At Idam’s call, Hayun turned his head. Then he quickly got up from the bench and approached.
“Idam. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Did you rest well too?”
“The room was surprisingly good. I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep right away without even washing up. I barely managed to shower in the morning.”
“Oh… Really?”
Considering what happened yesterday, it made sense that he wouldn’t have had the energy to wash up.
“Did you manage to eat?”
According to Taemin, there was a kitchen and dining room in the annex too, so Hayun would be able to have his meals there and not to worry. Still curious, Idam asked the question.
“I ate what the staff prepared for me just a little while ago. It was quite delicious, so I inhaled it like someone who hadn’t eaten for days.”
As Hayun was talking, his gaze fell on Idam’s nape. Overnight, the red marks had increased significantly. Because of this, Hayun’s expression became quite heavy, and he lowered his head like a criminal.
“Idam. I’m sorry. You’ve become more troubled because of me, haven’t you?”
“Huh?”
“I just wanted to free you from Ji Taemin’s shadow, but I wasn’t of any help at all.”
“No, no, it’s okay.”
Idam shook his head vigorously in denial. And he was sincere. Hayun had only tried to help Idam. It was just that due to external factors, he had almost fallen into danger.
However, this incident also became an opportunity to face a new side of Taemin. He was kinder and more considerate than expected. Even if it was because of his genetic disease, he valued Idam’s pheromones, desperately sought them, and welcomed them gladly. He made Idam, who had a disability, feel hope that he could become normal. As he reflected on this fact once more, he felt his heart turning red and pounding.
“Yeo Idam, are you sick somewhere?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Why is your face so red? Are you running a fever?”
Hayun raised his hand to touch Idam’s forehead. Realizing this, Idam shook his head while touching his cheeks to hide the heat blooming in his chest.
“No. I’m not sick at all.”
“Then why are you like this?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because the sun is so hot today?”
Idam hastily changed the subject. Although it was a rather narrow excuse considering that the heat wave hadn’t arrived yet, it couldn’t be helped.
“Well, your skin does turn red instead of tanning when you’re under the sun. Let’s just sit and talk. It’s okay here in the shade.”
Hayun approached the bench where he had been sitting earlier and sat down. Idam followed and sat next to him. Indeed, they could avoid the assault of the sunlight.
“So, did Ji Taemin go to work?”
“Yes. He left earlier.”
“I see…”
Hayun sighed with eyes full of guilt.
“I’ve been wondering how to refuse Ji Taemin’s kindness.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I’m also trapped in his shadow now. And it feels suffocating. Also, I’m incurring a debt… But in my current situation, there’s nothing I can do. I have so little, I’m young and poor. So even though I’m in a position where I have to work under Ji Taemin now, I’m thinking of how to rescue you somehow.”
Hayun seemed to view Idam as a sacrificial lamb being abused by Ji Taemin. Of course, Idam couldn’t have denied this in the past, but now that Taemin’s attitude was changing, he wanted to alleviate some of the weight of Hayun’s worry.
“No, Hayun. I’m fine.”
“If only I were Ji Taemin. Then I could treat you more humanely…”
At Hayun’s meaningful statement, Idam was at a loss for words. Hayun stared intently at Idam. That gaze felt somewhat unfamiliar. It also felt like there was something intertwined beyond friendship. Feeling burdened, Idam gently avoided Hayun’s gaze.
“Did Ji Taemin torment you again last night?”
Hayun asked with a worried expression. Idam quickly denied it.
“No, that’s not it. And the CEO hurt his hand trying to save me.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. His right hand was bandaged, wasn’t it?”
“I saw that.”
“Above all, the CEO has circumstances that require me to be by his side.”
At Idam’s answer, Hayun’s gaze became even more intense.
“What circumstances?”
“That’s…”
Idam couldn’t bring himself to mention his genetic disease. It seemed like a secret intertwined with his family, and he felt it shouldn’t be carelessly disclosed. He wanted to substitute it with another situation, but no words came to mind. As Idam continued to hesitate, Hayun sighed, his eyes looking as if he had made his own assumptions.
“Forget it. You don’t have to try so hard to protect such trash. I’ll definitely save you, Idam.”
“No, the CEO is a good person. So…”
Just as Idam was about to finish speaking, his eyes widened. He saw Taemin through the trees on the opposite side. At a glance, his presence was so discreet that one might not even notice he was standing there.
“Huh? CEO, why are you there?”
Flustered, Idam stood up.
“What?”
Hayun also looked at Taemin in surprise. Taemin approached Hayun and Idam with a strange smile, as if wearing a mask.
“So this is where you were.”
“Didn’t you go to work?”
Idam’s eyes, widened by Taemin’s sudden appearance, showed no sign of returning to normal.
“I came back because I had something urgent to tell you both.”
“Something to say?”
“Yes. First, let’s move to that reception room we talked about at dawn.”
“Alright.”
As Idam was about to take a step with a somewhat tense face, Hayun spoke up.
“Idam, I have something to say to CEO Ji. So you go ahead first.”
“Huh? With the CEO?”
Idam’s expression became puzzled at Hayun’s sudden statement. He also recalled how Hayun had looked at Taemin suspiciously at dawn.
Taemin’s eyebrows furrowed deeply. His expression also conveyed the meaning of “What is this detestable omega babbling about now?” But this was only for a moment. He quickly adorned himself with the kindest smile in the world again.
“That’s right. Idam, you go ahead.”
“Okay…”
As Idam headed towards the main building with a bewildered face, Taemin shot a cold look at Hayun.
“What is it you want to talk about with me?”
The garden, which had been full of warm sunlight, seemed to have suddenly turned chilly. Hayun licked his lips briefly before asking a question.
“You… do you like Idam?”
