#82
At Im Hoyoung’s words, Taemin’s eyes curved into an arc. He brushed up his slightly lowered bangs. His exposed eyes glimmered with a swirling light.
[The Alpha specialist told me this is effective. You’re about to go into rut soon, right?]
“That’s right. The symptoms are starting to show, I think it’ll happen within two weeks.”
[Usually, the cycle is monthly. Didn’t you skip last month?]
“Yeah. Well, it happens sometimes.”
Very occasionally, once or twice a year, it had been delayed. So he didn’t think much of it.
[I’m worried you might have aftereffects again this time.]
He always suffered from aftereffects after an irregular rut.
“Well, those aftereffects don’t last long anyway.”
[That may be true, but they’re still severe. Was it delayed this time because of that extreme heat omega?]
“You think so?”
[You met an omega who could turn your life upside down. It might have been delayed due to hormonal changes from that influence. Wow… it’s a shame you can’t try this suppressant now, it would be good for you.]
“There’s no need to take it. I have an omega by my side.”
[What crazy talk is that? That omega isn’t dominant, they’re extremely heat-prone. Sure, you don’t have to worry about contraception since they’re infertile, but still, you can’t.]
Taemin’s eyebrows twisted at Im Hoyoung’s firm statement.
“Why can’t I?”
[That omega looked really weak. Do you think they can handle your knotting?]
“……”
[Until now, you’ve only been with alphas, and even they barely managed. Don’t ever do it. Just think of them as a remedy for your pheromone rejection and put them aside.]
But Taemin was barely listening to Im Hoyoung’s words. The flame attached to his chest only burned stronger. He thought it would be much more efficient to see Idam than to listen to Im Hoyoung’s voice any longer. He cut off Im Hoyoung’s words and ended the call. Im Hoyoung seemed to sense something from Taemin and called back, but Taemin didn’t answer.
* * *
“What’s this?”
Taemin’s face turned pale white when he returned to the gazebo. It was because Idam, who had been sitting there until just now, was nowhere to be seen. Thinking he might have run away again, he frantically scanned the surroundings. His heart pounded with anxiety. After circling about halfway around the gazebo, a sweet scent tickled his nose. Soon, Idam came into view, appreciating flowers in front of a flower bed.
Idam’s appearance under the soft sunlight looked truly fairy-like. Even the flowers seemed more vibrant as if receiving Idam’s vitality. Above all, the sweetness of Idam’s pheromone scent mixed with the flower fragrance was reaching its peak.
Taemin felt his heartbeat gradually quicken. His body temperature rose to the point where he could barely keep his senses.
Whether due to the approaching rut, a storm-like change was occurring in his body.
“You’re here!”
Idam got up and approached Taemin. Despite being apart for just a short while, his eyes were full of longing. Taemin also embraced Idam with both arms. At the same time, Idam struggled on tiptoe, trying somehow to make eye contact with Taemin.
Finding Idam cute in some way, he initiated a surprise kiss. Idam also obediently closed his eyes and accepted Taemin’s lips, opening his mouth as if inviting Taemin’s tongue. Feeling satisfied with Idam, Taemin inserted his tongue like a snake and sucked deeply.
In response, Idam’s pheromones intensified as if calling for a floral symphony. Every time he felt the pheromones like this, the meeting lips were incomparably sweet. The groaning sounds were the same.
Taemin thought Idam was really a special toy that he liked.
One that he could discard anytime when bored. Taemin rationalized this way, ignoring the strange feeling in his heart.
* * *
After leaving the gazebo, the two explored the island a bit more. However, the island was larger than expected, and the sun was already setting, so they decided it was unreasonable to look around further. Taemin went to the study for work, and Idam entered the bedroom.
After showering and sitting on the bed, Idam touched his lips. They were slightly swollen. This was because they had shared intense kisses every time they moved locations. Having done it more than ten times, Taemin’s warmth seemed to linger vividly.
“Ah… what should I do?”
Idam’s cheeks were flushed. His head and heart seemed full of Taemin. No matter what he did, he could only see Taemin, driving him crazy. He didn’t understand why he was like this. Thinking he should focus on something else, he sat on the bed and opened his pad. He started watching various videos on YouTube.
The first video he turned on was a nature documentary featuring a black spider. Seeing it reminded him of the tattoos on Taemin’s chest and back. The same went for his firm body full of sexual scent. Every time their flesh rubbed together, even the hot heat was recalled. Idam felt a tickle in his lower abdomen and grabbed his stomach. Feeling it wasn’t right, he opened another video.
It was a video summarizing the plot of a newly aired period drama. It was an action piece about a swordsman approaching his parents’ enemy for revenge. Seeing the real sword the protagonist was holding overlapped with Taemin, making his heart race.
Moreover, the protagonist beheaded a man who looked like a ruffian with the real sword. Thanks to that, the image of Heo Jitae’s severed head flickered. Although it was very shocking at the time, remembering Taemin saying he was precious made him feel hot with excitement. His heart was beating so fast that his fingertips tingled.
“Ah… I’m really going crazy.”
Feeling it wasn’t working, he watched the next video. It was an eating show featuring a notoriously spicy pork cutlet. Realizing that Taemin likes spicy food, his heart raced again. In the end, Idam gave up on watching videos. No matter what he watched, it all led back to Taemin.
He must be going crazy. Idam sighed, unable to calm his continuously jumping heart. Soon after, a voice call ringtone sounded. Idam took out his phone from his pants pocket and checked the screen. It was a voice call from Hayun. Wanting to escape Taemin who kept circling in his mind, even if just for a moment, he answered.
“Yes, Hayun.”
[Idam, what are you doing?]
“Just… um. I was here.”
Feeling awkward to say he was thinking about Taemin, Idam gave a vague answer.
“What about you? Aren’t you at work now?”
[Yeah. It’s break time so I made a voice call. Have you thought about your birthday present?]
“Ah… no.”
In fact, he didn’t even have the mind to choose. And he felt sorry to explicitly say he wanted something.
[I see. Take your time thinking about it. By the way, did something happen? Why does your voice sound so weak?]
“No. It’s nothing…”
[Why? Did that bastard Ji Taemin do something awful to you?]
“No, he’s been treating me really well these days.”
[Then why are you like this?]
“No, it’s nothing.”
[It doesn’t sound like nothing. Your voice is full of stories. What’s wrong?]
As Hayun pressed, Idam wanted to confirm what this puzzling feeling was. But he couldn’t reveal everything to Hayun, who was so wary of Taemin. So Idam decided to ask indirectly.
“Um, Hayun, an employee working here says they’re having a confusing situation right now.”
[What is it?]
“They say they keep thinking about someone they work with. When eating, when sleeping, even when watching YouTube, that person keeps appearing in their mind.”
[Huh? Really? Did they lend money or something? When I worked part-time before, I lent a million won to a coworker who didn’t pay it back, so I kept thinking about that bastard day and night until I got the money back. Later, that fucker even appeared in my dreams.]
“Ah… no, that’s not it.”
Hayun had done a short-term factory job before. At that time, a beta coworker said they needed money for their mother’s surgery, so Hayun lent it, but it turned out they spent it all on entertainment. In the end, Hayun went to their house, made a scene, and got the money back. But what Idam was talking about now was a completely different issue, so it was perplexing.
“No… I mean, they say just looking at and thinking about that employee makes their heart race. They say their chest feels hot and ticklish, and they feel like they’re floating on clouds.”
[Really?]
“Yeah. So they say they don’t know why they’re like this.”
[They’re in love.]
“Huh?”
[That employee is in love with that person.]
In love…?
Idam’s eyes shook rapidly. His already racing heart beat even faster. Even as he clutched his chest hoping it would stop, it just wouldn’t calm down. His eyes also became hot and moist. Taemin’s image flickered more vividly.
[Don’t tell me. Yeo Idam, this isn’t about you, right?]
“Ah.”
Idam, hit right on the mark, hastily shook his head.
“No… no.”
[You. Don’t tell me. Ji Taemin… no, right?]
Hayun asked again, as if in disbelief. For some reason, Idam couldn’t answer, as if his throat was choked up, and tears welled in his eyes.
[Idam, you can’t. That person is…]
Hayun tried to continue in an anxious voice. At that moment, the sound of the bedroom door opening was heard.
“Hayun, the CEO is here. Thanks for the answer. I’ll call you back later.”
[What? Idam! Wait]
Despite Hayun’s urgent voice continuing, Idam ended the call. Then he wiped the tears that had formed in his eyes with his hand and regulated his breathing. Meanwhile, the door opened fully and Taemin entered.
“You weren’t sleeping?”
“Ah… yes… Um, CEO. No, honey, are you done with work?”
“Yes, of course.”
Facing Taemin, Idam’s heart tingled even more. Perhaps because he had heard Hayun’s words, he felt more nervous, excited, and like he was going crazy. Taemin naturally sat down next to Idam.
“Why are your eyes so red? Did you cry?”
He asked kindly and stroked Idam’s eyes. Because of this, Idam’s heart beat even hotter and faster.
“No. I didn’t cry… I just… y-yawned.”
Idam didn’t know why he was tearing up either, so he made an excuse for now.
“My dear is sleepy now. Shall we sleep together?”
Instead of answering, Idam nodded. Taemin drew the curtains on the window and turned on the mood light. Then they naturally lay down on the bed. Soon, Taemin wrapped his arms around Idam’s body. Thanks to this, Idam’s small body was fully embraced in Taemin’s arms. His heart pounded even more. But Taemin’s heartbeat, which was in contact with him, was the same. No, it felt even faster than Idam’s.
Why were both he and Taemin like this?
‘That person is in love.’
Hayun’s voice seemed to be stuck in his ear, repeating.
If Hayun was right, Idam loves Taemin. But Idam, who had never properly liked someone before, couldn’t easily define this emotion. Or perhaps he was more afraid because it felt like he was being greedy for someone he shouldn’t have, even though he might know.
He just thought it would be incredibly blissful if Taemin felt the same way.
