90
Yeon Ji-ho’s head kept lowering at Soo-cheol’s gentle admonishment.
He knew well that Soo-cheol wasn’t scolding him with bad intentions. As a pediatrician who directly dealt with children, rather than being a specialist in another field, he knew better than anyone how difficult pregnancy and childbirth were for omegas.
That’s also why Seon-rok and Soo-cheol hadn’t had children so far. Although both of them wanted children, pregnancy for omegas, especially male omegas, was extremely dangerous.
There was one reason why pregnancy and childbirth were difficult for omegas. They required alpha pheromones until delivery.
“Set… might not be an alpha.”
“What?”
“So even if he comes, it won’t make a difference, uncle.”
Yeon Ji-ho consoled himself like this. Unlike Set, who had said he felt Yeon Ji-ho’s acacia scent, Yeon Ji-ho himself hadn’t felt Set’s pheromones yet. Even though Yeon Ji-ho was a recessive omega, he shouldn’t be unable to sense pheromones, so perhaps Set really wasn’t an alpha.
“Oh dear… Even if it’s not just because of pheromones, a husband should be by your side. Ji-ho, are you going to raise that child alone?”
“He’ll come.”
This time, Yeon Ji-ho spoke with certainty.
“He’ll definitely come.”
He remembered Set’s eyes when he said he loved him. Even though he couldn’t tell him about carrying his child, Set would surely return to him.
So, don’t be too sad until we meet again.
Thinking of Set, Yeon Ji-ho finally felt his confused heart settling. There was only one thing he could do here.
Not being swayed by Hadad, raising the child in his womb healthily, and waiting for Set.
He decided not to think that he might never meet him again, or that he might have to raise this child without another father. Yeon Ji-ho steeled himself.
“Alright. That’s fine then.”
“What’s fine? Nothing’s fine. Ji-ho, when are you going to the hospital? Tomorrow?”
“Don’t I need to make an appointment?”
“It’s just a check-up. Stay at our place tonight, and go with me tomorrow.”
Unlike Soo-cheol who ran a private clinic, Seon-rok, who was a nurse, was resting at home. When he offered to take time to go to the hospital together, Yeon Ji-ho felt inwardly relieved.
“No, why don’t you just stay at our place the whole time? It’s really hard on your own. Cleaning, cooking, those things might seem like nothing, but when your body gets heavy, it becomes incredibly difficult.”
Yeon Ji-ho waved both hands in surprise at Seon-rok’s consideration. Although he had planned to stay for a night since he couldn’t go home unintentionally, he wasn’t shameless enough to keep staying at someone else’s house.
“No, no. I’m really fine.”
“Why? It’s just setting one more spoon, what’s so difficult? Right, honey?”
“…He might be more comfortable at home. Don’t push too much.”
At Soo-cheol’s words, Seon-rok tilted his head and said, “I see.” In the end, the conversation concluded with telling Yeon Ji-ho to do what was comfortable for him.
As he listened to Soo-cheol and Seon-rok’s chatter, Yeon Ji-ho thought. Just today, only today, he was staying here to avoid Hadad. And after that…
I should go back home.
***
Morning came in an instant. As soon as Yeon Ji-ho, who had slept in a soft and cozy bed for the first time in a long while, woke up, he stretched out his arms.
But when he felt his abdominal muscles tighten, he quickly bent his waist. Even stretching carelessly was scary for a first-time pregnant person.
However, Yeon Ji-ho’s eyes still showed traces of fatigue. That was because he had tossed and turned several times last night, sleeping alone without Set for the first time in a while. After repeatedly falling asleep and waking up several times, Yeon Ji-ho, who had finally fallen asleep near dawn, yawned lightly as he went outside.
“Ji-ho, you’re up?”
“Yeah… Where’s Uncle Soo-cheol?”
“He’s already gone to work.”
Usually, he would check the time on his phone when he woke up, but since he didn’t have his phone right now, Yeon Ji-ho belatedly checked the time on the wall clock. It was already 10 AM. It was natural for Soo-cheol to be gone at this hour.
Flustered, Yeon Ji-ho apologized, stumbling over his words.
“I’m, I’m sorry, I woke up too late.”
“It’s natural for pregnant people to sleep a lot. It’s fine, so come and sit quickly. Soo-cheol made a delicious bean sprout soup today.”
As he cautiously approached the dining table, he saw neatly arranged dishes including rolled omelet without ketchup, clear bean sprout soup, and various side dishes. Yeon Ji-ho carefully sat down at the table that was already set for eating.
Although he didn’t have much appetite, urged by Seon-rok, Yeon Ji-ho first picked up his spoon and managed to bring only the bean sprout soup to his mouth. The mild and warm broth filled his mouth, delivering a pleasant warmth.
Unlike yesterday, when he was able to swallow a few spoonfuls, Yeon Ji-ho looked down at the soup with round eyes. Seeing this, Seon-rok, who had been watching without eating, smiled slightly and said,
“How is it, can you eat better today?”
“Yes, uncle, how did you…”
“Soo-cheol said you seemed unable to handle strongly seasoned food.”
Yeon Ji-ho couldn’t hide his surprised look. Although he usually preferred mildly seasoned food, he had never disliked strongly seasoned food.
“Anyway, Soo-cheol and I already ate breakfast, so you eat. We have to go to the hospital today too.”
With those words, Yeon Ji-ho diligently used his spoon. Of course, he couldn’t finish a whole bowl, only managing to eat about half a bowl.
The amount he was eating was gradually decreasing. Yeon Ji-ho tried not to think about this fact by deliberately using his spoon a few more times.
By the time he finished eating and was ready to go out, it was already past noon. However, since it was just the hospital’s lunch hour, Seon-rok hesitated.
“Ji-ho, what about your house? Don’t you need to stop by?”
“Ah, home…”
He did need to stop by his house before going to the hospital. Not only did he not have his wallet, but he had also left without locking up properly yesterday.
But he was uncomfortable about Hadad being there. As Yeon Ji-ho hesitated to answer, Seon-rok tilted his head.
“Why? Is there something wrong at home?”
“No, it’s nothing. Then uncle, I’ll just stop by my house.”
Yeon Ji-ho made Seon-rok, who was about to stand up, sit down again. Actually, Seon-rok and Soo-cheol’s house wasn’t far from Yeon Ji-ho’s pension grounds, and it was a place he could go to and return from within 10 minutes on foot.
Finally, Yeon Ji-ho opened the front door of Seon-rok’s house and stepped outside. But Seon-rok, who should have been inside, peeked out.
“Ji-ho, let’s go together.”
“What? No, it’s okay.”
“I think if we go to your house and then to the hospital, the timing will be just right. Let’s go!”
As Seon-rok went ahead, Yeon Ji-ho had no choice but to follow. As they walked to his house, Yeon Ji-ho pondered for a moment.
Should I explain about Hadad in advance? When we meet him… what should I tell Seon-rok?
Before his thoughts could be organized, Yeon Ji-ho and Seon-rok reached the gate. As Yeon Ji-ho hesitantly opened the gate, it creaked, and the large house and several pension buildings greeted the two.
“Should I come in with you? Or should I wait here?”
“Uncle, that…”
Just as Yeon Ji-ho was hesitating to enter the house rashly, the front door of the main building where Yeon Ji-ho lived opened with a sound.
The one who poked his head out from inside the door was Hadad. With dazzlingly beautiful golden hair and eyes full of sparkling green, Hadad looked this way and exclaimed joyfully as soon as he saw Yeon Ji-ho.
“Ji-ho, you’re back?”
At that voice, Seon-rok’s head turned first. Yeon Ji-ho tightly closed his eyes at the unavoidable encounter with Hadad. He really had no idea how to drive this man out of here. He was also worried that if he tried to drive him out, he might end up suffering undeserved harm.
“Ji-ho, who is that person?”
Seon-rok, who had asked Ji-ho kindly, quickly noticed that his reaction was subtly different from when it was Set.
Seon-rok let out a low snort as he saw Hadad smiling brightly at them. Then, seeing Hadad open the door for Yeon Ji-ho to come in, he squinted one eye.
“Does he think he’s the homeowner?”
Yang Seon-rok, in his 15th year of marriage this year. Having attended all sorts of gatherings through years of housekeeping, he was a man with an exceptionally keen eye for human nature.
