Chapter 9
“Are you Seo Igeon?”
“Ah, yes…”
Only then did Han Taekyung look at Igeon.
“Number 35, and Han Taekyung is number 36, so you two can go to the isolation room together.”
“Together?!”
“Yes. You’ll take the test in pairs.”
The examiner added that this had been announced in advance. It was clear that neither Seo Igeon, Han Taekyung, nor Instructor Kim had properly checked this detail. Of course, since the test had been conducted the same way every year, no one could have anticipated that failing to carefully review the announced changes would lead to such a surprise.
“Taekyung, let’s give up the test. A two-person team is just not acceptable.”
Give up the test…? Han Taekyung giving up? Why? Just because of this pheromone test?
Han Taekyung, who had been saying he was confident, wanted to do it, and would do well until just now, was suddenly silent. What’s going on? Why? Seo Igeon couldn’t understand. Even worse, Instructor Kim wasn’t trying to stop him but actually encouraging him to give up the test. Somehow, it made Igeon’s chest feel tight. He felt irritated.
‘The selection match… you’ll do it, right?’
Where was the man who had asked so carefully?
“Then am I automatically qualified?”
Igeon asked the examiner with a smile.
“No. You still have to take the test.”
“Ah… that’s too bad. Well, let’s get on with the test then. No need to hold back someone who wants to quit.”
Even to his own ears, it sounded arrogant and rude. In a way, it was childish provocation. Whether Han Taekyung would take the bait or not was up to him. It was disappointing. Igeon had wanted to spar with Han Taekyung. He wanted to block his kicks and receive his pushing techniques. If he gave up today, such an opportunity might never come again. It really made no sense. What was so special about this test that he was talking about giving up?
“Please sit here.”
There were two chairs in the isolation room. Unlike other areas, the isolation room was sealed like a recording studio, and they used airplane doors. It was designed to prevent others from being affected by their pheromones, a shelter-like space prepared for the possibility of an omega or alpha going into heat.
Outside the door, Igeon could see Han Taekyung’s back. He deliberately didn’t greet him. The door slowly began to close. This seemed to be the end. Igeon had thought they could have a good relationship, but he wasn’t leisurely enough to extend a hand to someone who was going to drop out, so this was truly the end.
“Wait.”
Before the door closed completely, Han Taekyung grabbed it.
“I’ll take the test.”
Why did those words bring such relief? It felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. With Instructor Kim making a phone call somewhere as the last thing they saw, the door closed, and Han Taekyung sat on a chair about 2 meters away from Igeon.
“Hello.”
Han Taekyung greeted Igeon.
“Hello.”
And Seo Igeon greeted him back. Han Taekyung smiled. At the same time, an announcement came through the isolation room speaker.
– We’ll be releasing a very small amount of omega pheromones. It’s not enough to trigger a rut, just a tiny amount.
Really, what next? Hah.
– For 5 minutes, we’ll observe how well you control yourselves without being affected by the omega pheromones. We’ll start the countdown from 10 seconds.
This is too much. Without any preparation.
Seo Igeon took a deep breath. He glanced at Han Taekyung. He was sitting straight with perfect posture, looking only forward. Seo Igeon also looked forward, and soon felt the hair on his body stand on end as he sensed the subtle omega pheromones coming from somewhere.
Except for the first time he smelled omega pheromones after presenting as an alpha, he had never smelled pheromones again. Since then, he had been continuously taking pheromone regulators and had undergone a lot of mental training to not be dominated by pheromones like a beast. He thought that if he ever smelled omega pheromones again… it would surely be his mate. Yes, even someone like him had held onto the hope that there would be an omega who would love him, occasionally dreaming of a happy future that might exist. He had forgotten about it for a while… but smelling omega pheromones like this reminded him of that dream.
But now was not the time to indulge in sweet dreams. He needed to be tense. Responding to omega pheromones was natural for an alpha. The test was about overcoming that. Seo Igeon focused intently. He held his own pheromones tightly inside his body to prevent them from leaking out. Han Taekyung was also quiet and calm. But for some reason, the air felt heavy. Even though he couldn’t sense Han Taekyung’s pheromones at all… was this because of the omega pheromones? He felt slightly pressed down by something. As his body began to feel heavy and sluggish, Seo Igeon regained his focus.
– One minute left.
It might be better if they didn’t announce that; they’re being excessively kind. Thanks to them, he unconsciously counted down from 60 seconds. As expected, it made the time feel even longer.
– 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Test ended. Numbers 35 and 36 may come out.
With the test completion announcement, neutralizers were sprayed inside and ventilation began. And a few seconds later, the isolation room door opened.
Seo Igeon and Han Taekyung got up and left the isolation room. Instructor Kim, who had been sitting anxiously on a chair in the hallway, jumped up and rushed over as soon as Han Taekyung came out.
“Han Taekyung, are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Haa… I’m really aging because of you.”
“You didn’t contact my fathers, did you?”
“I didn’t, kid. But I did contact the hospital just in case. Do you still not need to go?”
“No.”
What was this conversation about? Hospital? Instructor Kim Tae-woon seemed to cherish Han Taekyung as if he were a fragile object that might break if touched, despite him appearing healthier than anyone. It could be seen as an instructor caring for his student, but it seemed a bit excessively sensitive.
“Numbers 35 and 36 have passed the test. Neither of your pheromones showed any reaction. Both of you.”
“That’s a relief.”
Instructor Kim looked as if he had aged ten years with relief.
“Please receive instructions for the next test on your way out.”
“Yes, understood. Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Igeon and Han Taekyung thanked the examiner and walked out through the corridor. Throughout their exit, Instructor Kim kept asking Han Taekyung if he was okay, and Han Taekyung calmly repeated that he was fine without showing any irritation.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
Thinking he should at least say goodbye even though he considered just leaving, Igeon greeted Han Taekyung and Instructor Kim. Instructor Kim barely acknowledged it with a slight nod. On the other hand, Han Taekyung made eye contact and properly returned the greeting. Though he didn’t know what was going on, Igeon felt sorry for Han Taekyung. It must be frustrating to have an instructor like that… Well, it’s not my business anyway. Seo Igeon ran to Instructor Jin, who was waiting for him in the waiting room.
“Instructor, I’m done.”
“Oh, good job. You passed the test, of course?”
“Of course. Buy me some pork belly.”
“I’ll buy it for you if you pass all three rounds. And only if you pass in first place.”
“That’s so cheap. How much does it even cost?”
“Instead, how about kimbap and ramen today?”
“Sounds good.”
The two of them energetically left the National Sports University, planning to enjoy kimbap and ramen for the day. On the way to the snack restaurant in front of the gym, Igeon received a text from Han Taekyung.
‘See you tomorrow.’
Seo Igeon sent the exact same reply back.
◆
“By the way, Instructor.”
Instructor Jin, who had been slurping up his noodles, stopped and looked up at Igeon’s words.
“Go ahead and eat.”
“Hmm, hmm, yes. Why did you call me?”
“I just had something to ask. I saw Instructor Kim Tae-woon today, you know? The one who handles Han Taekyung.”
“Yes. Why do you ask about Tae-woon?”
“Well… this might just be me, but something seemed a bit strange.”
“What?”
Seo Igeon picked up a piece of kimbap and ate it, then explained what had happened today. Instructor Jin, who had been listening seriously, nodded.
“That makes sense.”
“What? What does?”
“Han Taekyung was extremely frail as a child.”
“What??”
What is he talking about? That man who looks like the symbol of health with that physique was frail as a child?
“When you say frail… did the meaning of ‘frail’ change in the meantime?”
“The meaning you know is probably correct. Well, from what I heard, he had several surgeries… almost died multiple times… that sort of thing.”
“This sounds like a rumor. Can’t you tell me something more specific?”
“I don’t know either. Tae-woon would know, but when I asked him once, he just vaguely said that Taekyung had been frail since childhood. That’s all. He said he couldn’t tell me more than that.”
“I know he’s the eldest son of the NI Group’s owner family, but is he such an important figure that his secrets need to be kept so tightly?”
“It’s just privacy, I guess. So I heard that Tae-woon has taught him preciously since childhood.”
“…But what does being sick as a child have to do with pheromones? To think he was about to give up everything he’d been waiting for his whole life just for a pheromone test.”
Or maybe not. Since he’s rich, he might have been doing this just as a hobby. Yes, that could be it. Maybe he had been overestimating Han Taekyung all this time. But… he still took the test without giving up, right? That means he really loves taekwondo.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
