—Great. Then let’s meet for lunch on Sunday. If you let me know where you live, I’ll send my manager to pick you up. I know a fantastic BBQ steak place…
Yeon Yiseo hesitated, unsure how to respond. Moments like this reminded him just how much of a Hollywood star Hugo Cruz really was.
The steakhouse Hugo mentioned was over five hours away by car. Since he was suggesting lunch, that meant he must be planning to travel by some other means—something like a helicopter, maybe.
“Thank you for the offer, but if you could just let me know the location, I’ll head there myself.”
Yeon Yiseo subtly hinted that he couldn’t travel that far. Fortunately, Hugo wasn’t the type to miss a cue; he caught on quickly.
—Ah… Did I mess up just now?
“Not at all. It’s just, it might be better to find somewhere closer by.”
—Got it. Hmm… In that case! I’ll take care of it. I’ll text you the time and place by Saturday afternoon.
“Sounds good.”
—Alright then, I’ll be in touch, Yiseo!
Ever confident, Hugo ended the call with cheerful energy. Just like that, Yeon Yiseo had weekend plans lined up for both Saturday and Sunday. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing—maybe it was better to stay busy and not overthink.
***
Saturday came—the day he was supposed to meet Alexander. The weather had taken a turn, and rain was pouring down hard. Thunder and lightning flashed now and then, making it clear this wasn’t going to pass quickly. Still, Yeon Yiseo didn’t mind. He rather liked the sound of rain. The problem was that he had to go out in it today.
It felt odd to wear a suit when it was raining and he wasn’t even going to work, so he picked out a hoodie and a pair of jeans. Since he didn’t have the budget to buy a whole new wardrobe, he’d only bought clothes that could be tossed in a coin laundry without worry.
This was a personal visit, sure—but still, going to the Director’s house dressed like this? He wasn’t sure it was appropriate. But what choice did he have? He didn’t even have the money to buy something else right now.
When he arrived at Alexander’s home, the staff member at the front desk recognized him immediately and guided him in.
Alexander came out as if he’d been waiting. The moment the door opened, his pheromones enveloped Yeon Yiseo in a gentle embrace. The damp, heavy air from the rain suddenly felt crisp and dry. But this wasn’t the Alexander he was used to.
That might sound a bit dramatic—but it was true. His hair wasn’t styled professionally; it had been naturally combed into place. He was wearing a sweater and jeans.
Jeans. Alexander in jeans. Yeon Yiseo had always pictured him in slacks at the very least, if not full suits. It was a refreshing change.
“Hello.”
“Come in. The timing’s a little odd—would you like something to eat?”
“Ah—no, it’s okay. I already ate.”
He hadn’t, not really. Breakfast and lunch had been little more than snacks. But it felt wrong to ask for food outside of a proper mealtime.
“I see.”
Alexander nodded, though his response felt slightly different from usual. Concerned, Yeon Yiseo looked at him and asked what was wrong. Alexander gave a soft laugh.
“Nothing. It’s just the first time I’ve seen you wearing anything other than a suit.”
“Oh? Ah… now that you mention it.”
“From an East Asian perspective, people like me might come across as older than we are. But from my point of view—you look significantly younger dressed like that.”
“Do I…?”
Yeon Yiseo tugged lightly at the hem of his hoodie. He could see that. After living in the U.S., he’d heard that kind of comment more than once. Still, hearing it from Alexander somehow made it feel different.
“But since you’ve come dressed like that, it looks like I won’t be needing the clothes I prepared for you today.”
He was referring to the clothes Yeon Yiseo used to borrow whenever he came for pheromone treatments. For some reason, that comment stung a little—though maybe that was just in his head. From his perspective, there was no reason Alexander would be bothered by something like that.
“We might still need them next time.”
He fidgeted with his bangs as he continued.
“Do I really look that young?”
“Hmm… I’d say you look about seven years younger than the age I know you to be.”
That meant he looked like a high schooler. Yeon Yiseo let out a soft hum and laughed quietly. Alexander gently ran his finger through Yeon Yiseo’s hair, brushing it ever so lightly.
With a warm smile, Alexander said,
“I’ve gone on too long about your appearance, haven’t I?”
“Not at all. It’s fine. I’ve heard that kind of thing plenty of times.”
It wasn’t a lie. But he figured it was best to wrap up this conversation soon. Before his stomach betrayed him with a growl, he wanted to get the pheromone treatment done and go.
“Shall we begin, then?”
“If that’s what you prefer. Come on over.”
Yeon Yiseo followed Alexander into the living room. On the sofa sat a neatly folded blanket he hadn’t seen before. It looked soft and warm, even from a distance.
“I thought you might need it to lie down after the pheromone supply, so I got it ready.”
The way Alexander said it so casually left Yeon Yiseo momentarily speechless. He glanced at the blanket again.
“Shall we start?”
“You seem in a bit of a rush today. Do you have plans afterward?”
“No, but if we finish quickly, you’ll have more time to rest too.”
He couldn’t bring himself to admit that he hadn’t eaten and just wanted to finish before his stomach made embarrassing noises. Instead, he gave a vague excuse. Alexander’s lips curled into a smile.
“You don’t need to worry about that. If I were short on time, I wouldn’t have invited you at all.”
The response was kind, and Yeon Yiseo nodded quietly. Even if he was just being polite, those words felt warm. He knew Alexander’s kindness wasn’t an act.
“Since I have the day off tomorrow, you’re welcome to spend the night.”
With Alexander going so far, it was hard to just brush it off.
“Thank you for the offer, but I have plans tomorrow. I’ll need to head home tonight.”
Alexander’s eyebrows lifted slightly at that. Then he gave a small, regretful smile.
“I see. That’s a shame.”
They sat facing each other on the sofa. The stillness between them was oddly ticklish. Alexander’s pheromones, which had been faint, gradually grew stronger. But Yeon Yiseo didn’t mind. They wrapped around him like a rich, concentrated warmth, enveloping his entire body. He didn’t want to leave. It felt like being cradled outside of time—completely disconnected from the world. It was addictive.
Every breath he took seemed to draw more of Alexander’s pheromones into his body. Not just into his lungs—he could feel it soaking into his skin, making him lightheaded. It felt like floating on a fluffy cloud. How could anything feel this cozy? He didn’t want to come back down.
Pheromone treatments with Alexander always felt like being full after a delicious meal and lying down in a warm bed. Yeon Yiseo let out a contented sigh.
“Your temperature’s rising again.”
At the sound of that voice, Yeon Yiseo realized he’d been leaning against Alexander. At some point, his body had naturally gravitated toward him. Without hesitation, Alexander wrapped his arms around him, as if it were only natural to do so.
He gently cupped Yeon Yiseo’s cheek, then lightly stroked it. His hand felt pleasantly cool, and without thinking, Yeon Yiseo nuzzled into it. His head was foggy—he couldn’t think clearly. The only thing filling his mind was how good this felt, swelling like a balloon inside him.
“…Mmh.”
A small sound escaped his lips as his eyes remained closed. Alexander let out a low chuckle. With Yeon Yiseo pressed close to his chest, the vibration of that laugh echoed right into him—and it felt wonderful.
Alexander stroked his cheek and hair, subtly shifting his position to let Yeon Yiseo lean on him more comfortably. He ended up practically cradled in Alexander’s lap. Trying to return the embrace, Yeon Yiseo raised his arms, but they felt heavy. His hands kept slipping, unable to find strength.
Alexander, watching the whole thing, gave a small laugh before gently pulling him in and lying back with care. Yeon Yiseo tipped forward at first, but Alexander held him securely, making him feel safe rather than startled. Without hesitation, he nestled deeper into Alexander’s embrace, focused entirely on the warmth of his pheromones and body heat.
