#80
“What? Birthday?”
Secretary Kang asked again, wondering if he had misheard.
“Yes. The day our fairy’s ears fell off is approaching.”
Secretary Kang felt dazed by Taemin’s cringeworthy expression, as if he’d been hit with mala sauce, but tried not to show it.
“So, you’re saying it’s Madam’s birthday soon?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know that?”
“Everything about Yeo Idam is in my head. I even know the brand of the blanket he was wrapped in when he was left at the orphanage.”
“What? Even the blanket?”
Secretary Kang wondered when he had ever investigated such details.
“Moreover, I overheard Yeo Idam talking to his friend today. I thought it was time to start preparing for the party.”
“What does that have to do with staying on this island?”
“We need to celebrate.”
Taemin’s expression suggested this was an obvious answer. Secretary Kang was so taken aback by Taemin’s nonchalance that he almost coughed.
“You could have the birthday party in Korea.”
He thought this place probably wasn’t meaningful to Idam, so why do it here?
“If we go to Korea, I can’t have him all to myself.”
Even before coming to this island, Taemin had been monopolizing Idam. It didn’t seem like changing locations would make any difference, so Secretary Kang couldn’t understand this twisted logic.
“Besides, it’s the baby’s first birthday as an adult turning twenty. How much would he want to be celebrated?”
Taemin grinned. His eyes seemed to sparkle with pink flower petals. He was romanticizing so much that it felt like he was talking about a young girl. Secretary Kang felt dizzy wondering how grand a birthday party Taemin was planning to cause such a fuss.
It seemed clear that this crazy alpha liked Yeo Idam far more than imagined. Secretary Kang wanted to ask how Taemin really felt about Idam, but refrained, fearing he might catch some fallout.
“How long will you be staying here, Secretary Kang?”
“I should return tomorrow.”
“You can go back earlier if you like. I permit it.”
Taemin’s words clearly implied “get out soon.” Secretary Kang seriously considered taking the private jet back today. Honestly, he didn’t want to see any more of Taemin fawning over Idam. He decided to leave today and stood up.
“Alright then. I’ll head back this evening.”
“Okay.”
Taemin smiled benevolently and even waved. Feeling annoyed, Secretary Kang cursed inwardly as he left the reception room.
“He’s completely lost his mind over that omega. It’s sickening, really.”
As he walked away grumbling, his phone started ringing. It was a video call from a number saved as “Sister.” He accepted the call with an excited expression.
A middle-aged woman who looked just like Secretary Kang appeared on the screen.
[It’s me. Juhyuk wants to talk to you.]
The screen changed.
[Bababa.]
With babbling sounds, a chubby-cheeked baby filled the screen. Instantly, Secretary Kang’s stern expression melted into that of a doting uncle, and he smiled brightly.
“Oh my, how’s our Juhyuk doing?”
[Oong. Bababa!]
“Oh, so cute, so cute.”
As Secretary Kang cooed with baby talk, he felt a chilling shadow fall over him from behind. When he turned around, he nearly had a heart attack from shock.
Taemin was standing there.
He felt embarrassed at being caught showing a side of himself he’d never shown anyone, and was bewildered at how this crazy person had followed him without notice. But looking closely, Taemin wasn’t paying any attention to Secretary Kang; his gaze was fixed on the baby in the screen.
“Who’s that?”
[Oong?]
The baby’s eyes widened upon seeing Taemin. Secretary Kang broke into a cold sweat, worried the baby might start crying at the sight of Taemin. However, contrary to his concern, Taemin smiled brightly. The baby on the screen grinned in response. That was a relief.
Well, despite Taemin’s nasty personality, his smiling face was generally likeable to anyone. Even so, Secretary Kang felt uneasy. Taemin usually disliked babies, saying they whined, were noisy, and acted on their own. He might do something unpredictable and make the baby cry. Secretary Kang hastily ended the call.
“Whose baby is that? Did Secretary Kang secretly get married?”
Taemin asked with great interest. Secretary Kang shook his head.
“Of course not. It’s my nephew. My sister gave birth recently.”
“Is that so? Do you have more photos?”
“What photos?”
“Of the baby.”
“Pardon?”
Secretary Kang wondered why Taemin was suddenly interested. He felt very uncomfortable, as if he was unintentionally encountering new, unwanted sides of Taemin today.
“He’s quite cute. I’d like to see more.”
“……”
Secretary Kang reluctantly opened his gallery. He had even made a separate folder for his nephew, who was really cute. Although he was just showing photos, it felt like he was offering a sacrifice. He hesitantly handed over his phone. Taemin viewed each photo one by one, swiping with his index finger.
“Cute.”
He smiled, even giving incomprehensible compliments. This made Secretary Kang even more tense. Why is this crazy person acting like this? What scheme is he plotting? Everything was confusing.
After finishing his photo appreciation, Taemin returned the phone to Secretary Kang and asked:
“Secretary Kang. What do you think a baby that looks like me would be like?”
“Pardon?”
Secretary Kang was momentarily shocked by this bizarre question but tried to compose himself.
“Well… it would be a baby, I suppose.”
Unable to say “a monster baby,” this was his best attempt at an answer. He also thought that social life could be really dirty sometimes.
“Then, what about a baby that looks like Yeo Idam?”
“Madam? It would be cute, I guess.”
Secretary Kang answered without hesitation, as this question seemed relatively normal compared to the previous one. Idam had big eyes and was quite beautiful.
Therefore, a baby resembling this omega would likely be very pretty. But why was he asking about this?
His gaze was somewhat sticky, which gave Secretary Kang goosebumps.
“I think so too.”
Taemin grinned. Secretary Kang felt the creepiness he sensed from Taemin’s indecipherable smile intensify.
“Well then, Secretary Kang, finish your work and head back soon.”
Taemin left an enigmatic impression as he walked away, leaving Secretary Kang behind.
* * *
“Baby, baby…”
Taemin muttered, his eyes calculating as if planning something. Soon the terrace came into view, and he saw Idam. Just as he was about to approach with eager steps,
“Huh?”
Suddenly, he felt an intense heat rising in his chest. It felt like swallowing a flame. Dizziness followed. But it wasn’t too severe, so he could regain his balance.
“What’s going on? This is strange.”
He touched his forehead, puzzled. After taking a moment to catch his breath and calm down, he started walking again. His body quickly returned to its normal condition. The symptoms felt somewhat familiar. Gradually, Taemin’s lips curved into a wicked smile. But as he approached the table where Idam was, he once again became the gentle alpha.
The table, which had been full of fruit, now had mostly empty plates. Idam’s cheeks were noticeably puffed out. It seemed he had eaten everything while Taemin was away. While Taemin had found the fruit so sweet it stung his tongue, it appeared to have suited this fairy’s taste perfectly.
Idam was chewing delicately and gulping down juice. His already puffy cheeks became even more so. Honestly, Idam was 100 times cuter than Secretary Kang’s nephew. Taemin, completely smitten, sat down next to Idam.
“You’re back?”
Idam quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin. Taemin found even this action cute as he took in the sight of Idam.
“Yes. I had a good talk. You’ve finished everything?”
“Ah…”
At the same time, Idam’s cheeks flushed.
“It was so delicious. I couldn’t help it.”
“You did well.”
Taemin smiled and gently caressed Idam’s cheek. Idam also felt his heart flutter at Taemin’s touch. Meanwhile, employees approached to start clearing the table. Just as Idam and Taemin were about to leave,
Crash!
The sound of breaking dishes was heard. Startled, Idam looked in that direction, and so did Taemin. It seemed a female employee had an accident while moving dishes. Moreover, she had fallen and was sitting on the ground.
“Are… are you okay?”
Idam approached her and reached out to help. Taemin stopped him with sensitive eyes.
“It’s fine. What if you cut your hand on the dishes?”
“But still…”
As Idam hesitated, still wanting to help, he felt an unfamiliar scent stinging his nose. Taemin also tilted his head and muttered,
“What’s this scent?”
At the same time, the employees’ expressions changed. Soon, one employee left the terrace and disappeared. Not long after, hurried footsteps approached, and a shout rang out.
“What are you doing now!”
Surprised, Idam and Taemin turned around. Secretary Kang approached the fallen female employee with a pale face.
“Quickly, get her away from the CEO.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
The employees dragged away the fallen female employee. Then Secretary Kang examined Taemin from head to toe.
“CEO, are you feeling alright?”
“What? Yes…”
Taemin wondered why Secretary Kang was being so sensitive. Moreover, he didn’t see what the woman’s fall had to do with him.
“I told you earlier that I brought a new employee. We had no choice but to bring in an omega due to staff shortages. I instructed her not to directly face you, though.”
“What? Then, that woman just now was an omega?”
Taemin frowned deeply. Secretary Kang continued, sweating profusely at his temples.
“Yes… I just found out from an alpha employee and rushed here. This employee told me that the female worker released her pheromones in front of you. Are you okay?”
Taemin’s expression changed instantly. Although he had sensed an unfamiliar scent from that woman earlier, it hadn’t bothered him. Taemin had always experienced difficulty breathing and fever even with the slightest exposure to omega pheromones since he was seven years old.
“No way…”
Taemin looked at his hand. At the same time, his grandfather’s voice echoed in his mind.
‘Your aversion symptoms will improve if you continue to receive pheromones from the omega you’re currently keeping. It will take at most half a year.’
Taemin looked at Idam right there. Then he bit his molar and touched his forehead.
“Yes. I’m having trouble breathing.”
