#59
“Urgh…”
“Eunsol, what’s wrong? Are you in a lot of pain? I was thinking your complexion didn’t look good today.”
When Eunsol covered his mouth and let out a suppressed groan, Ryu Jeong-woo, who was sitting across from him, jumped up from his seat in surprise.
He placed his hand on Eunsol’s shoulder and examined his pale complexion closely.
“Look at this cold sweat. This won’t do. Let’s go to the hospital.”
Seeing the beads of cold sweat forming on Eunsol’s forehead, Ryu Jeong-woo returned to his seat to collect his wallet and car keys.
He felt pathetic for having called Eunsol out from home to feed him something delicious, not knowing he was this sick.
It was obvious that even if Eunsol was in poor health, he would have hidden his condition just because Ryu Jeong-woo had called him out. And Ryu Jeong-woo knew this about Eunsol’s personality.
If he thought Eunsol’s complexion didn’t look good, he should have paid more careful attention. It was his oversight.
“Hyung, I’m fine. It’s just lately… sometimes when I suddenly smell food, my stomach feels queasy. If I drink some water and take deep breaths, it subsides quickly.”
“What…?”
Not noticing Ryu Jeong-woo’s expression becoming seriously rigid at his words, Eunsol wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. The nausea that had been twisting his organs until just a moment ago was gradually calming down.
However, contrary to Eunsol’s improving complexion, Ryu Jeong-woo’s face was turning pale.
It was when Eunsol noticed his shocked state and worriedly called Ryu Jeong-woo’s name.
“Jeong-woo Hyung?”
“Eunsol… I think you might…”
* * *
“There’s really life growing in here… Hyun-oh’s and my baby…”
Eunsol carefully examined his still-flat stomach with a face covered in sadness. It was the opinion he had heard from the doctor he met with Ryu Jeong-woo today.
‘You are five weeks pregnant. The fetus appears to be in a healthy condition.’
At first, Ryu Jeong-woo had intended to take Eunsol to the hospital. With a pale face, he told Eunsol it seemed like pregnancy symptoms, and then began moving around busily, more excited than Eunsol.
‘Hyung, wait a moment.’
The one who stopped him was none other than Eunsol. It was because of the contract terms that had flashed through his mind.
Recalling Hyun-oh’s voice saying he didn’t want children and his icy expression when saying those words, Eunsol couldn’t bring himself to go to the hospital.
‘Instead of a hospital… is there a way to get a quiet examination? Without leaving any traces?’
He didn’t know what his expression was like when saying those words. However, he only confirmed that Ryu Jeong-woo’s expression, which had been overjoyed, froze blankly like someone who had been doused with cold water.
‘…Yes. There is such a way.’
Ryu Jeong-woo didn’t ask Eunsol for a reason. Instead, he took Eunsol to his home, had him lie down in the guest room, and then called in the personal doctor who had regularly examined his physical condition during his own marriage.
With instructions to bring the necessary tools for diagnosing male omega pregnancies.
Thanks to that, Eunsol was able to receive an ultrasound image of the baby at Ryu Jeong-woo’s house.
‘Eunsol, if something becomes too difficult for you to handle alone, you should contact Hyung anytime. Don’t feel burdened. Understand?’
Afterward, Ryu Jeong-woo drove Eunsol home himself. When Eunsol was about to undo his seatbelt and get out of the passenger seat, Ryu Jeong-woo held his hand and said words that left a strange lingering feeling in Eunsol’s heart.
In truth, while feeling dazed and happy, he was also afraid.
It wasn’t just his child. The thought that that person would not be happy at all to see the baby made him feel like he was burning up inside.
Thanks to Ryu Jeong-woo, who offered reassuring words as if he could see into Eunsol’s mind, Eunsol was able to show a faint smile for the first time since learning about the pregnancy.
‘I will, Hyung.’
Only after hearing his response did Ryu Jeong-woo drive away slowly. Eunsol remained in that spot for a while even after Ryu Jeong-woo’s car had disappeared.
It was because he was afraid to enter his and Hyun-oh’s nest. All sorts of thoughts came to mind.
Hyun-oh had asserted from the beginning that he had no intention of having children. When Eunsol refused to take contraceptives, Hyun-oh said he didn’t have to take them, but that was a decision made because he didn’t think Eunsol would get pregnant.
Calculating the dates, it was clear that on the day his heat cycle suddenly erupted, a child had been conceived in his womb.
He was afraid that if Hyun-oh found out about the pregnancy, he might immediately tell him to get rid of the baby. All rights regarding children belonged to him. If he urged Eunsol to give up the baby, Eunsol would not have the strength to refuse him.
‘Huh, huh…’
When that thought occurred to him, Eunsol couldn’t even breathe properly and had to writhe in pain with his waist bent.
‘Pheromones…’
Then he desperately wanted to smell Hyun-oh’s pheromones. Like someone addicted to a terrible drug, he was overcome with an ominous premonition that if he didn’t smell Hyun-oh’s pheromones right away, something would happen to him, no, to the baby.
Soothing his panting breath, he stepped into the house that he had been so afraid to enter.
Near the front door, Hyun-oh’s pheromones were barely detectable. His urgent footsteps naturally led to the bedroom.
‘Haah…’
Only after smelling Hyun-oh’s pheromones subtly permeating the bedroom did he feel like he would survive. Eunsol sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the edge of the bed.
He took out the ultrasound image he had received from the doctor today from his pocket. After being in his pocket, the corner was already crumpled.
Eunsol carefully smoothed out the wrinkled part.
“…It’s like a bean.”
The baby was very small even in the picture. It was probably only as big as Eunsol’s pinky nail. It was amazing to think that such a tiny dot would gradually grow into a child who resembled both him and Hyun-oh equally.
Eunsol stroked the gestational sac in the picture with the tip of his index finger. Though no facial features were visible now, if it resembled Hyun-oh, it would certainly be the most beautiful baby in the world.
“Your coming to us is truly a blessing that deserves nothing but celebration… I’m sorry, little one…”
Transparent raindrops flowed down onto the picture. Eunsol roughly rubbed his eyes with his hand, but once the tears started, they showed no sign of stopping.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
He felt endlessly sorry to the baby.
Did his omega father feel this way when he was carrying him? Was he terrified to the point of suffocation by the fear of not being able to give the child proper parents?
Was life so difficult that he couldn’t overcome that fear and had to leave him with his alpha father?
Since he had already passed away, there was no way to know how he felt when he learned he was pregnant with Eunsol.
“Daddy will… somehow make it work. Our baby… will live happier than anyone else in the world.”
Eunsol gathered his weakening resolve. He was an illegitimate child. But he was Hyun-oh’s legitimate legal spouse.
And the only alpha Eunsol had ever accepted was him alone.
So their precious baby must never experience an unfortunate childhood like his own. The baby should grow up receiving abundant love from both fathers, without even a faint stain of sadness appearing in their eyes.
The baby must live happily like that.
* * *
“…You’re home, Hyun-oh.”
As soon as Hyun-oh opened the front door, he glanced at his wrist upon seeing the person waiting for him. The small hour hand was passing the number 2. And it wasn’t afternoon, but dawn.
Usually, around this time, Eunsol would be asleep in the bedroom. If Kim Myungjun didn’t inform Eunsol of his return time, he would fall asleep first, tired of waiting.
“Why are you still awake?”
He hadn’t intended to come home this late. While working, the thought of processing just one more document led to another, and before he knew it, it had become this hour.
It wasn’t a bad feeling to be greeted by Eunsol instead of the long corridor shrouded in darkness. Even though Eunsol’s face was clouded with apprehension as he watched his reaction, his fragrant pheromones were enough to soothe Hyun-oh’s tired mind and body.
“I… well…”
Hyun-oh’s eyebrows twitched slightly. The emotion he had felt during a recent dinner with Eunsol stirred his feelings so strongly it was unpleasant.
Again. Facing Eunsol being overly cautious around him.
It wasn’t as if Eunsol had ever been comfortable around him, but still, he and Eunsol had spent countless nights together. During those times, Eunsol would honestly ask to be held tighter, or cling to him as if there was no one else in the world.
But now he’s being cautious again, as if Hyun-oh were a fearsome teacher.
“Haah…”
Unable to contain his stifled breath, Hyun-oh exhaled deeply and loosened the tie choking his neck. Seeing Eunsol’s shoulders twitch at his sigh, his temples began to throb.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
