#99
Washing his face with cold water, he slightly lifts his clothes in front of the mirror. His white skin was a mess, as if patterned with blotches. New marks continued sporadically over the fading ones, as if they had been painted over.
“He really bit me all over. Seriously…”
Looking at the red marks, he let out a shallow sigh. Memories of when he manifested seemed to have faded, but they suddenly resurfaced in moments like this when he was defenseless. They were memories that made him want to punch walls and kick off blankets.
As Lee Suhyeok’s health condition showed no signs of recovery and became precarious, articles emerged predicting the succession direction of Han Jung Group. Surprisingly, the information leaked from the hospital where Lee Suhyeok had returned to Korea and been admitted. Additionally, Lee Jaeha’s health status, who had long been without an official omega partner, also came under scrutiny. When eyewitness accounts about a civilian accompanying Jaeha emerged in stock communities, rumors of his imminent marriage gained momentum. Needless to say, Jaeha was completely upset about this.
“……”
The flaws he possessed stung and dug into his heart. The biggest one was undoubtedly the accident that occurred on the day he manifested. Eunhong wondered if he should find the other person and have a conversation before it was too late. He also recalled Lee Jaesung’s voice telling him to speak up before things got irreversibly bigger.
[I’ve blocked all articles, eyewitness accounts, and photos. Don’t worry about anything. This won’t affect you at all.]
That was the message from Jaeha in the morning. Jaeha had gone to Han Jung headquarters since dawn, whether he was really considering accepting Chairman Lee’s request or thinking about changing his approach. Was he really trying to gain some strength…? He just repeatedly told Eunhong like a parrot to trust him and not worry.
“I’m fine though.”
It’s okay even if you act selfishly. It’s fine even if it affects me negatively.
Taking out a paper towel to wipe his wet face, he stared at himself in the mirror.
‘We are not getting married.’
Recalling that firm voice, a strange pang shot through a corner of his heart. The spot where it felt like a heated needle had pierced through was dully aching, and he was rubbing it without even knowing why.
‘Ah… am I actually upset about this?’
If asked whether he separated the concepts of dating, family, and marriage, Eunhong was quite the opposite. He had not only revealed his inner circumstances to Jaeha like an inside-out sock, but he had even told him about the number of underwear his brother Sunhong had in their Busan home.
And yet… when it came down to it, he realized he didn’t know much about Jaeha.
‘What is this? What’s going on? I’m really starting to get upset.’
Eunhong turned on the cold water forcefully and washed his face roughly again. After a while, when he raised his head, he saw Shim AD looking down at him through the mirror. He looked like he wanted to ask something, but Eunhong spoke first.
“AD-nim. No, Giyoung hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“What do you think about getting married after dating for just a month?”
Shim AD widened his eyes.
“Hey! That’s crazy. Who said that? Did your alpha boyfriend ask you to marry him?”
“His grandfather did.”
“…Well, that’s wise in a way… but still, that’s not right.”
Seeing Shim AD’s embarrassed expression, Eunhong laughed, letting out an empty sigh. Yes, that reaction was normal. There was no need to feel hurt.
“Are you really getting married?”
Shim AD asked again. Lost in thought, Eunhong replied nonchalantly.
“What marriage? All of a sudden. I was just joking.”
Eunhong snorted exaggeratedly.
“Right? You manifested barely a month ago, so why would you.”
Shim AD joked that people were always exaggerating. He was right. How old was Eunhong to be talking about marriage already? It hadn’t even been a year since he manifested, just a month. Even Yoo Junseok in the next seat was three years older than Eunhong. Yet there was talk of getting married early. Chairman Lee was indeed being hasty, and Lee Jaeha’s refusal made sense.
Eunhong shook his head as he returned to his seat. Marriage, what a ridiculous thought.
That was right, but…
He cleared away the gift boxes strewn across his desk, replied to Jaeha’s message, responded to Professor Choi’s contact… turned on the program, checked the schedule, and mechanically drew lines while occasionally snorting consciously.
‘Right, what marriage? Chairman is just getting ahead of himself. Jaeha is right.’
That’s right.
***
It had been nearly two months since he had been to his studio apartment. Half because of his condition and half because of Jaeha’s stubbornness, he had been living elsewhere since manifesting on Christmas Eve. Now his pheromones had stabilized and the situation had changed, but his relationship with Woohyun had completely soured, making it a place he needed to clean up. It had been recent that he was happy about being able to extend his contract for two years under good conditions, but human affairs can be so unpredictable.
Walking along the path that had become unfamiliar, Eunhong looked around needlessly. He clutched the large tarpaulin bags in his hands like a colleague’s hands. Taking advantage of commuting alone for the first time in a while, he decided to pack some important things—figurines and gifts from Jaeha. It was obvious that Jaeha would complain if he knew, asking why Eunhong hadn’t gone together with him, but Eunhong didn’t want to come together when he might meet Woohyun.
Moreover, after experiencing incidents like the reporters swarming the airport on their return day, he was truly getting scared. Eunhong looked around, wondering if someone was photographing him. He didn’t mind being photographed himself, but he worried it might harm Jaeha’s image.
Since this was a place he wouldn’t need to visit twice after packing his things today—in fact, Eunhong was leaning towards giving up on the deposit until the contract end date—he had rushed over as soon as the opportunity arose. He had firmly decided to pack just a few things he cared about and stay away from Woohyun from now on.
However, that resolution shattered as soon as he arrived at the studio apartment door. Trying the door lock again, Eunhong quietly cursed.
“He changed the password? Is he crazy, seriously?”
Not terminating the house contract and changing the password were separate issues. An indignant feeling rose like fire. Eunhong took out his phone, unblocked Woohyun, and called him. As if Woohyun knew he was at the door, he didn’t answer. After trying a few more times, Eunhong sat down in front of the door, rubbing his head vigorously.
Chewing his lips, Eunhong called Jang Haesung. He was worried that Haesung might avoid him since contact had been cut off after the situation with Woohyun, but fortunately, he answered cheerfully. Jang Haesung poured out everything that had happened in the meantime, as if he had been waiting.
– Among the guys Woohyun is seeing… no, never mind. Are you at the studio now? I’ll come out. Let’s have a drink.
“What drink? You don’t even drink.”
– I may not drink, but Hanjae does. Hanjae just got off the subway.
He had called hoping Haesung might know the changed password, but things got complicated. Should he have just waited for Woohyun to come? Eunhong looked at the door lock and shook his head. Since Haesung and Hanjae lived within a ten-minute walk, they had often had dinner and drinks together like this before. Eunhong thought about asking Jaeha about his evening plans first, but thinking they would part ways soon, he agreed and hung up.
They arrived at the familiar restaurant around the same time. Jang Haesung stood for a moment, looking Eunhong up and down, then tilted his head. He said the atmosphere had changed strangely. Asking if it was because Eunhong was dating, he smiled, lifting his plump cheeks.
“Hongi!”
Kang Hanjae, who was already inside, greeted Eunhong with a shout as soon as the restaurant door opened. Eunhong consciously raised his wrist to check his watch. Even though he was in a stable period, he didn’t want to reveal that he was an omega, as he had a vague feeling that Woohyun shouldn’t find out yet.
“I heard you moved out. What did that bastard Woohyun do this time? But you look like you’re doing well—your complexion is bright!”
“Yeah. I’m living comfortably.”
“Living together from the beginning of a relationship isn’t good. Look at me. I’m wrapped around Haesung’s finger. It’s better to keep a proper distance. Then get married, and if you marry quickly, you’ll regret it.”
Eunhong laughed through his nose with a puffing sound. Ignoring the nonsensical talk, he opened a bottle of soju. Jang Haesung, as if his partner’s words were nothing new, pouted, saying he regretted it too.
Although he had chosen a place hoping to eat quickly and part ways, the portions were so generous that it seemed difficult. Eunhong thought this was probably the only restaurant where hospitality kept increasing, and shared a round of soju with Kang Hanjae. With several toasts, they exchanged greetings and small talk about daily life. Listening half-heartedly, Eunhong widened his eyes at the news of Haesung’s pregnancy. He also felt a slight guilt for cutting off contact with Woohyun, so he added that Haesung should definitely contact him when the baby was born.
As the drinking party was in full swing, Jang Haesung hesitated, chewing on his chopsticks, before asking a question.
“By the way, Eunhong, is the person you’re living with that alpha from before?”
“What? That alpha? The one who caused a scene when we were drinking?”
“Woohyun gets upset whenever your name comes up, so I couldn’t even ask.”
“Eunhong, are you dating an alpha?”
Kang Hanjae opened his eyes wide. He glared at Jang Haesung, asking why he was only bringing this up now.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
