Haon awoke with a grimace, his eyes puffy and swollen.
His head felt heavy—no doubt from crying himself to sleep in Inho’s arms the night before. Normally, he didn’t cry so much when he was sober, but for some reason, the tears hadn’t stopped.
He lay on his side, absently touching his swollen eyelids as he turned toward the empty space beside him. The light was on in the room next door, suggesting that Inho had gone out for his morning workout.
Instead of getting up right away, Haon reached over and touched the spot where Inho had lain. He wanted to stay in Inho’s bed just a little longer.
Though he’d occasionally come upstairs to clean, this was his first time actually lying on Inho’s bed. Haon pressed his nose against the pillow and blanket, inhaling deeply. That gentle scent of Inho clung to the bedding too. No matter how many times he smelled it, it made his heart race. That scent had become Haon’s favorite in the world.
‘I wonder if his pheromones smell like this too.’
He mulled over the thought as he carefully stroked Inho’s pillow. With a scent this intoxicating coming from his body, his pheromones were probably just as alluring.
Haon imagined the scent of Inho’s pheromones.
It was something he could never smell for himself. His body didn’t produce the kind of attractive pheromones that Alphas and Omegas used to lure each other in.
A fact he’d long known, but which suddenly felt more painful than before.
Before meeting Inho, he used to think it was a relief that he didn’t emit pheromones. But the more he fell for Inho, the more acutely he became aware of his own shortcomings.
‘Why is there nothing good about me?’
His body was skinny and frail. He always looked spaced out, and whenever he got the chance, he was either sick or bedridden. And yesterday…
“Are you awake?”
Just as Haon was sinking into his spiral of self-doubt, Inho walked into the bedroom. At the same moment, Haon’s drooping lips lifted into a soft smile as if they’d been waiting for him.
“Did you go work out?”
“Yeah, went for a run.”
Inho wiped the sweat from his neck with a towel slung around it as he approached the bed.
“Get some more sleep.”
He gently pushed Haon back down when he tried to sit up, then knelt on the floor beside the bed to meet his gaze. He even pulled the blanket up to Haon’s chin.
Haon leaned his cheek into the pillow, facing Inho. The blanket Inho tucked around him gave off a cozy warmth. It was the kind of warmth that lulled him back to sleep.
“I’ll wash up slowly, so just rest a bit more.”
Inho smiled as he softly brushed Haon’s heavy eyelids. Haon still looked half-asleep.
“Don’t go downstairs—stay here and sleep.”
He whispered the words against Haon’s round cheek, then planted a gentle kiss on his forehead before rising to his feet.
Haon didn’t move a muscle from the position Inho had laid him in—only gave a small nod.
A genuine smile had crept onto his lips, the heaviness from earlier nowhere to be found. Even the gloom that had weighed on him just moments ago had quickly vanished.
Cradling that pleasant smile, Haon slowly drifted off to the sound of water running in the shower.
Meanwhile, Inho finished his shower and began preparing breakfast. He made just enough food for Haon, arranged it neatly on a tray, and returned to the bedroom.
Haon was still out cold, sprawled on the bed as if unconscious, even by the time Inho came back.
Inho stood over him for a while, watching the way Haon had fallen asleep in the exact position he’d been placed. The quiet, steady rhythm of Haon’s soft breathing echoed louder in the still room. Listening to that sweet little sound, Inho gently brushed away the hair that had fallen into his face.
Haon’s face bore clear traces of having cried himself to sleep. That sight tugged at Inho’s heart. He tenderly stroked the puffed-up lids and reddened corners of Haon’s eyes.
He so rarely cried. But last night, it was as if a dam had burst—Haon had poured out everything he’d held back. Seeing him sob for so long, it wasn’t hard to imagine how much he must’ve been bottling up until now.
“Haon-ssi.”
Inho leaned down to look at his face, then lightly shook his hand to wake him. He wanted Haon to eat before the food got cold.
“Eat a little, then go back to sleep.”
He helped Haon sit up and had him drink some lukewarm water first. Haon sipped with a dazed expression and leaned against the headboard, clearly still half-asleep.
He hadn’t gotten much rest after their first date, all excited from the aquarium trip. The exhaustion from being out in such a crowded place after so long had lingered. And now, lying in a bed that smelled so much like Inho’s only made him sleepier.
“You should… eat too, Inho-ssi.”
Haon murmured as he chewed on the rice porridge Inho fed him, rubbing his eyes sleepily. Inho hadn’t touched a single bite himself—just focused on feeding Haon.
“You first.”
Inho gently shook his head, clearly unconcerned.
“Does your stomach still hurt?”
That response helped clear a bit of Haon’s grogginess, and he asked in a worried tone. He hadn’t forgotten how Inho had quietly excused himself after dinner at the restaurant to vomit in secret.
‘He must not be feeling well.’ Concern welled up in Haon’s puffy face.
“I’ll eat later.”
Inho gave a calm smile, then opened his mouth slightly and said, “Ah,” coaxing Haon to take another bite. The fact that he didn’t deny feeling unwell only confirmed it—something really was off.
Haon’s eyebrows drooped as he accepted another spoonful of porridge. Eating something delicious by himself didn’t sit right.
“Make sure you eat later.”
Even so, he didn’t pressure Inho to eat now. He didn’t want him to get sick again.
Haon just hoped Inho’s stomach would settle soon. He chewed each bite with care, hoping that if he ate well, it might help Inho regain his appetite too.
Inho watched Haon fondly, the corners of his mouth lifting with quiet satisfaction. The way Haon kept stealing glances at him while chewing was so cute, he almost burst out laughing. But he held it in, knowing that if he laughed now, Haon would become self-conscious and look away.
Once the porridge bowl was about halfway empty, Haon began to slow down. Inho naturally handed him a glass of water instead and started to tidy up the bowl. Then, he spoke up in a calm voice.
“The person who came yesterday—that was my brother. My second-oldest brother.”
‘So he was his real brother.’ Haon paused mid-sip, caught off guard. He hadn’t thought they were related at all—there wasn’t even a hint of resemblance.
And after seeing Inho’s mother, who looked just like him, it only made the difference more jarring. The mood between them had been so drastically different too—it had never crossed his mind that they could be siblings.
“As you probably noticed, we don’t exactly get along.”
Haon nodded earnestly, letting Inho know he was listening. He’d been curious, and he appreciated that Inho brought it up first.
“I’ve got two older brothers and one older sister.”
Inho smiled lightly as he watched Haon nod along, expression serious. He placed the tray on the nightstand, his eyes wandering as if searching for the right words. Then, with a playful tone, he added,
“We’re in the kind of relationship where you can’t afford to show weakness.”
Haon’s bobbing head stilled for a moment. ‘A relationship where you can’t show weakness.’ He didn’t quite understand what that meant. It was a difficult concept for him to grasp.
“But don’t worry—I always win.”
Inho chuckled and rubbed the space between Haon’s furrowed brows. The words he spoke were heavy, but he said them with a smile, making them feel a little lighter. Even though the topic was far from light.
“If anyone ever comes to see you, let me know right away.”
He took Haon’s hand and laced their fingers together, entwining them tightly. This was why he’d brought up his family.
“No matter what they say, don’t let it get to you. Just tell me everything.”
As if that alone would be enough to take care of it all, Inho finished with a soft smile that reached his eyes.
Haon stayed quiet for a beat, his attention fully on Inho. Then he swallowed and opened his mouth again.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
‘So please don’t worry.’ He added the silent reassurance with all the strength he could muster into his delicate voice.
He could feel how much Inho was worrying about him. He didn’t quite understand what exactly Inho feared, but he was certain of one thing—he would never keep secrets from him. That part was easy.
Inho gently caressed Haon’s innocent face, moved by the confidence in his reply. As he touched the fading bruises on his cheek, Haon subtly leaned into his palm.
He quietly offered up his face, tilting his body toward Inho. He liked being touched by him. It didn’t matter where—he just wanted Inho’s hand to stay on him for as long as possible.
“Should we bring a few of your clothes into my room?”
The sudden question made Haon tilt his head. Clothes? he asked with his eyes, confused. Inho grinned and rubbed his lips against Haon’s cheek.
“Going up and down the stairs all the time is a pain.”
Still puzzled, Haon soon blinked, Oh… and his cheeks turned red. Then, without hesitation, he answered with a quick, Okay.
Inho pressed his lips against Haon’s flushed cheek, the touch naturally deepening into a kiss.
Haon parted his lips in response, welcoming the weight of Inho’s body as he slid beneath the covers. Wrapped tightly in each other’s arms, they kissed with quiet intensity until, eventually, they both drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Haon once again had breakfast in Inho’s bed.
The two of them shared the bed, lounging together and savoring the brief tranquility they’d been allowed. After basking in those tender moments, Thursday finally arrived.
