“You’re the most important person to me. So.”
He didn’t want to see someone precious to him suffer. He knew how ignorant and selfish prejudiced people could be. If Suhwan was hurt so much by words from strangers, he didn’t want to see Suhwan hurt by facing the caustic Jaehyun.
“Thank you, Seunghyun. You’re the most important to me too.”
“Hyung…”
“That’s why I want to get along well with your family, who are important to you.”
“……”
“It will be hard, but I want to try. Can we?”
If Suhwan hadn’t known this was a world inside a novel, he wouldn’t have rushed to meet Seunghyun’s family.
But he still had knowledge of the original story, and he knew that the main character, Geonyul, could reach out with his evil hand at any time.
Hwamyeong needed to become HS’s investor as soon as possible. Just as the month they had initially promised had passed so quickly, the time to develop the new drug would surely approach rapidly as well.
“Seunghyun, do you remember?”
“…Remember what?”
“After this week, our promised month will be over. Do you remember the promise we made then?”
“Ah…”
How could he forget? It was a promise that Seunghyun himself had made. Ironically, back then, he had asked to live together again thinking about the end of their relationship. He never imagined they would fall into such a deep, once-in-a-lifetime love.
Recalling that promise, Seunghyun nodded.
“Of course.”
“Just as that month wasn’t the end for us, I think it will be the same with other people.”
“……”
“So… let’s at least try talking to them. You never know. Okay?”
After repeated persuasion, Seunghyun finally had to give in.
“Alright.”
But as soon as he answered, a cold aura emanated from his beautiful face.
“But if my brother says something too harsh, I won’t stay quiet.”
“Uh…”
His eyes looked fierce, as if he might grab Jaehyun by the collar at any moment. Suhwan looked at Seunghyun’s face with a surprised expression and tightly held his hand.
“Don’t get angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“I mean don’t get angry at your brother.”
“That…”
That depends on how he behaves.
Seeing Seunghyun already in battle mode, Suhwan let out a small sigh. But somehow, along with the sigh, he also felt like laughing. With a slight smile, he asked Seunghyun.
“What kind of person is your brother? I’m curious.”
“My brother is…”
Seunghyun, who seemed about to speak without hesitation, somehow closed his mouth after starting. Then he frowned. Suhwan looked at him with curious eyes.
Seunghyun frowned and pondered for a moment. What should he say? It seemed like only negative things would come out. If he spoke honestly, Suhwan would be intimidated, and might even question his own character for having such a brother. He didn’t want to be treated the same as his personality-wrecked brother.
But if he lied, it would be exposed immediately. And Suhwan should be mentally prepared for Jaehyun’s sharp tongue.
Seunghyun sighed and opened his mouth again.
“My brother… has a bad personality.”
“Really?”
“Yes, he thinks he’s the best in the world. He doesn’t treat people who aren’t smart by his standards as human beings.”
“I see.”
Hearing that, Suhwan understood why Seunghyun opposed them meeting.
Not smart enough, huh. He would certainly fall into that category. So unless one had specs like the main character, they wouldn’t be acknowledged? Suhwan felt depressed.
“But surprisingly, he likes cute things.”
“Cute things?”
“Yes, like hamsters or rabbits. He likes real animals and also characters like that.”
“Ah.”
Listening to Seunghyun, Suhwan could roughly imagine what kind of person Jaehyun was. Cold on the outside with a sharp tongue, but warm inside… The type who might casually pick up a kitten caught in the rain and hold it to his chest. Was that what they called a tsundere?
In the original story, Jaehyun had fallen completely for Geonyul whose scheming hadn’t been exposed, so he didn’t show his prickly side. But Suhwan had a feeling that Jaehyun would be difficult to win over as a foreign element, which worried him already.
“Are you worried?”
“Yes, a bit.”
“You’re the one who wanted to meet him first.”
“Just a little. A little.”
“Okay.”
I’ll leave it at that.
Swallowing the rest of his words, Seunghyun smiled. Suhwan had become perceptive enough to roughly understand what Seunghyun was about to say. When Suhwan glared at him while pursing his lips, Seunghyun smiled back.
“How are you feeling? Are you better now?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
He had said he was fine countless times since yesterday, but neither Seunghyun nor Hwalyeon believed him. Feeling unjustly treated, he pouted, and Seunghyun embraced him with a persistent smile.
“I’m glad.”
“Yeah.”
Suhwan, who had been sticking out his lips, melted like ice at just one hug and grinned. He raised his hands to wrap his arms around Seunghyun’s back and rested his head on his shoulder.
“…Huh?”
Unconsciously inhaling Seunghyun’s pheromone scent, Suhwan’s eyes widened. Among the sweet and bitter citrus scent, a foreign aroma wafted.
This assertive scent was… mint? Suhwan frowned as he buried his nose in Seunghyun’s neck. Seeing this, Seunghyun tilted his head and asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“You smell like mint.”
“Mint?”
Seunghyun’s eyes widened at Suhwan’s words, then his mouth opened slightly with an “Ah.” It seemed that some of Jaehyun’s pheromones, released when he was angry, had rubbed off on him.
“I think some got on me when I met my brother earlier. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yeah… I see.”
Suhwan nodded slightly upon learning the circumstances. But even knowing the truth, it didn’t make him feel any better. Even though they were brothers and it was just another omega’s scent, it didn’t feel good that Seunghyun smelled of a pheromone other than his own.
Perhaps because of this, Suhwan unconsciously began to release his own scent. He might have even mixed in some pheromones with the meaning of seduction out of anxiety. Seunghyun’s face gradually hardened as he smelled Suhwan’s pheromones.
“Hyung, what are you… doing right now?”
“What am I doing?”
Suhwan, who had been unconsciously releasing his scent, looked puzzled, not understanding the reason. The sweet, suggestive scent with a clear meaning made Seunghyun’s head spin.
“You’re releasing pheromones right now.”
“Really?”
Even after being pointed out, for some reason, the pheromones continued to leak out steadily. Whether it was the desire to erase another omega’s scent on his partner, or if the stimulant’s side effects had affected his pheromone glands, the exact reason was unknown. Suhwan was also flustered and didn’t know what to do.
“Don’t do that. We’re not doing anything tonight.”
“…Why?”
Though it wasn’t his intention, Suhwan realized that Seunghyun was aroused after smelling his pheromones. But Seunghyun deliberately suppressed his excitement and shook his head. Suhwan frowned at this seemingly rejecting behavior.
“You’re still not feeling well.”
“I told you I’m fine now.”
“Still, just to be safe.”
Despite his persuasive words, the pheromones didn’t weaken but rather grew increasingly stronger. Seunghyun furrowed his brow and said:
“…Hyung.”
Seunghyun’s voice deepened. By now, Suhwan knew very well when Seunghyun’s voice would drop like this.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
