PAO 12

His first suspicion was whether Junghoo had asked Minsung separately, rather than sensing the pheromones. Junghoo was a recessive alpha, so his sense of smell for pheromones wasn’t keen, and Minsung was also a recessive omega, so his pheromones were faint, which was why people often assumed he was a beta and moved on.

A faint-pheromoned omega and an alpha who can’t smell pheromones well. And those two met?

“I knew because it was nice to be with him.”

Junghoo’s reply was slow, but sincere. Of course, the content was up to the listener to interpret.

“What does that mean?”

Seowon frowned as if he’d heard something strange. What on earth was this guy talking about?

“There was an omega scent, but it wasn’t strong, so it was okay.”

“…You mean you smelled it?”

“Yes.”

Junghoo leaned on Seowon’s shoulder, just as he had done with Minsung earlier.

“The pheromones of the girl sitting in front of us were vibrating so much it gave me a headache.”

As he went limp, relaxing his body, his lips pressed against Seowon’s shoulder, and his words were naturally muffled. Soon, the sound of soft breathing could be heard. Seowon gently lifted Junghoo’s chin and looked closely into his eyes. There was no reaction, his pupils didn’t move, so it seemed he had fallen asleep.

“Did he really smell Minsung’s pheromones?”

Could it be a lie? There was no reason for him to lie, but Junghoo’s words were that hard to believe.

Seowon was sighing and about to take Junghoo’s phone when his own phone, which he had put in his pocket, vibrated. He took it out and saw that it was Minsung.

“Oh, Minsung.”

—I’m in a taxi, but I forgot about the bill.

“It’s fine. I have the gold card here.”

—Gold card?

“Gold-spoon bastard’s card.”

—Ah, but is he okay? He kept muttering that he had a headache.

“Really?”

—I asked if he’d feel better if he leaned on me, and he said it was the same. But that it hurt a little less. Yes, here. I’m here. I’ll call you again.

“Okay.”

Seowon lowered his phone and looked at Junghoo’s sleeping face. It was as good as confirmation that Junghoo had sensed Minsung’s pheromones, and a sudden tension washed over him. He’d sensed pheromones yesterday, and today too…

“Is he really a dominant?”

But for a dominant, Junghoo’s pheromones were far too weak…

If he was hiding them like Seowon himself did, it would be understandable, but Seowon’s own keen senses hadn’t detected Junghoo’s pheromones, so he was sure he wasn’t a dominant.

“I’m starting to get a little confused.”

Seowon decided to think about it at home and woke Junghoo up.

“Yoo Junghoo, wake up.”

“…When did I fall asleep?”

“You should have drunk in moderation.”

Feeling Junghoo’s high-bridged nose rubbing against the nape of his neck, Seowon gave his shoulder a slight shrug. It was a signal to get off him now that he was awake, but it was also an attempt to push him away out of wariness that he might sense his pheromones.

“I didn’t drink much.”

“Then why can’t you get a grip? You, a guy who can hold his liquor.”

“Right. Why can’t I get a grip.”

When Junghoo pulled away slightly from the nape of Seowon’s neck, he saw him lick his lips in disappointment. Can’t he act a little more normal? As he was staring at him in exasperation, Junghoo raised his head and met his eyes.

“Am I drunk on you?”

“You crazy bastard, do you want to die?”

Ugh, so cringey. Seowon made a show of rubbing his arms.

“You really don’t act your looks, you know that?”

With a monolid on only one eye, he looked cringey-handsome when he half-lowered his gaze, and he’d look good even with a flower in his hair. Why did a guy like this get a face like that?

Seowon tried to push away the thought, mixed with a sense of self-deprecation, and grabbed Junghoo’s chin. As he tilted it this way and that, his sculpted face showed different images depending on the angle. He tried to find what had changed about Junghoo, but at least on the outside, he was the same.

He’s just a recessive alpha.

“Are you really a dominant?”

“Why?”

“Seeing as you smelled Minsung’s pheromones, it seems like you are.”

“Is that so?”

Junghoo pretended to think deeply and tried to lean his head again, so Seowon tightened his grip on his chin.

“Don’t lean on me for no reason.”

“My head doesn’t hurt when I smell you.”

“Should I buy you a hangover cure?”

Seowon, looking unimpressed, was about to push Junghoo away when a thought occurred to him, and he let Junghoo lean his head on him again.

“Junghoo.”

“…Yes.”

“What do I smell like?”

Junghoo’s half-dazed pupils focused. He reacted a beat slower, as if thinking about Seowon’s question.

“Your scent?”

Without realizing it, Seowon held his breath and waited for Junghoo’s answer.

“Like laundry dried in the sun.”

“…”

For a moment, an image of himself hanging on a clothesline flashed through his mind. Seowon let out a chuckle at the absurd thought and was finally able to relax. The smell of sun-dried laundry was a far, far cry from syrup.

“Agh, this pain in the neck.”

Minsung was about to throw Minhee onto the bed but couldn’t bring himself to do it and timidly laid her down. Minhee, who somehow sensed she was lying on the bed even in her drunken state, turned over.

“I was rejected… You’re the first man to reject me.”

Minsung clicked his tongue at Minhee’s drunken rambling.

“First, my ass. You could make a soccer team with all the guys who’ve rejected you.”

Minsung dished out a harsh truth he couldn’t say in front of a sober Minhee and returned to his room. He took off the bag that was weighing down his shoulders with textbooks and hung it on a chair, then sat down on the bed as if collapsing. His body, drained of energy from carrying Minhee, leaned back until his back touched the wall. As he let out a sigh, the events of earlier naturally came to mind.

As soon as Seowon had stepped out to take the call, Junghoo’s expression had changed. The corners of his brightly smiling mouth had twisted, and his gaze had become languid, the atmosphere clearly sinking. Minsung glanced at Minhee. Her eyes were glazed over from drinking so much at some point, and she didn’t seem to have the capacity to properly grasp the situation.

‘Park Minsung.’

‘Huh?’

Minsung jumped in surprise, his shoulders jolting at the sound of Junghoo calling his name as if to confirm it.

‘Why do you smell like Seowon?’

Instead of answering, Minsung lifted his own arm and sniffed. Other than the smell of chicken that had seeped in, there was nothing special to smell. He wondered what scent he was talking about.

‘What is your relationship?’

Junghoo’s voice, neither high nor low, was strangely sharp. He had to say something, but for some reason, his voice wouldn’t come out.

We’re just friends… Even with the thought that no further definition of the relationship was needed…

‘Why does Seowon say he’s going to your house?’

He could feel Junghoo’s wariness, so much so that it made his skin tingle. The way Junghoo had been looking at him had been unsettling for a while now. He figured it was because of his relationship with Seowon, but at the same time, he didn’t understand.

Why is he so displeased that Seowon is coming to my house?

‘I don’t really know what you’re saying.’

Being naturally timid, Minsung couldn’t even say a single word about why Junghoo was being so rude to him.

‘Come here.’

Junghoo beckoned with his finger. Of course, he had no intention of doing as the drunk man ordered.

But…

‘Ugh.’

Minsung covered his mouth. From somewhere, he could feel the strong pheromones of an alpha, so strong it made him want to vomit. It should have been a fragrant alpha pheromone, but it seemed to have been altered, mixed with a wariness directed at him. It was a pheromone that could in no way be seen as friendly.

‘Hurry.’

He wondered if Junghoo was intentionally releasing his pheromones to pressure him, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Just looking at Junghoo’s expression, it felt as if he had reached his limit of holding back and everything had been let loose. He wondered if there was any reason to be in so much pain just from releasing pheromones, but he couldn’t know the exact circumstances.

As Minsung timidly approached Junghoo, he reached out and pulled him by the arm. Then he buried his nose in his neck. Even knowing what he was about to do, Minsung couldn’t do anything.

‘What, you’re an omega.’

Junghoo, flustered that his guess had been wrong, roughly tousled his own hair with a coarse hand.

It was amazing enough that he had smelled his pheromones, but Junghoo couldn’t smooth out his frown, as if there was some problem.

‘Is it a problem that I’m an omega?’

Most people didn’t know that Minsung, a recessive, was an omega, and even if they found out later, they weren’t particularly pleased. As such, not many considered him a potential romantic partner. Wondering if Junghoo was treating him with a similar mindset, Minsung couldn’t control his expression. He was in a bad mood and didn’t have the composure to hide it.

‘What’s the problem with you being an omega?’

But Junghoo’s answer was unexpected.

‘Huh? But just now, you smelled my pheromones and seemed to dislike it…’

‘Not you, Seowon. Seowon is a beta who can’t feel pheromones. So don’t get any pheromones on his body by any chance. I mean, don’t let other guys get the wrong idea.’

Only then did he understand why Yoo Junghoo had reacted so sensitively to his pheromones. It was a relief that he didn’t say his pheromones were bad, but as he pointed out a different issue, Minsung shook his head.

‘We’re not in that kind of relationship.’

Seowon was someone who didn’t need him to rub his pheromones on him or anything like that.

‘Don’t group us together.’

‘Right.’

‘If anyone clings to Han Seowon, contact me separately.’

At some point, Minsung’s phone was in Junghoo’s grasp. Junghoo entered his number and said.