PAO 40

“Looking at you muttering, it seems you’ve sorted things out.”

Yoo Taeha, who had gone out, came back in and placed a coffee in front of Seowon. His hands, chilled by the air conditioner, wrapped around the warm coffee. The heat spreading from his palms gradually seeped into his body.

Leaning into that warmth, Seowon let out a breath for a moment and muttered.

“How does he get better?”

“Cough, what?”

Yoo Taeha, who was drinking his coffee, asked after holding back a cough as if he had choked.

“The treatment method.”

“Uh…”

“Is sex all there is to it?”

Seowon wanted to hear it in more detail. There was something that bothered him. It was the fact that he had been regulating Junghoo’s pheromones with his own every night while Junghoo slept.

“They say that’s the solution, but honestly, it’s ambiguous.”

It was said to be the best method, but it was not a definitive answer.

“Releasing the pheromones would be best. Just letting them out isn’t enough. If he does that, they’ll attack Junghoo. So, he just needs to go through a rut with an omega who can accept his pheromones, but…”

Yoo Taeha bit his lip. He was a doctor. He observes a patient’s condition and provides appropriate treatment and prescriptions. So, he had told Junghoo it was the most suitable method for him, but his voice lacked conviction.

“Whether he can truly get better with just that is… Ugh, I really… I have to see it happen to know. Trying to talk about something that hasn’t even happened, my voice won’t come out.”

“Is sex all he needs to do?”

“…”

“I’m asking if it’s okay even if they’re not skilled.”

Yoo Taeha’s brow furrowed as he understood the meaning behind Seowon’s words.

“It’s not like it’s not allowed, but…”

He, too, had never considered whether an omega having sex for the first time could handle Junghoo. After pondering for a moment, Yoo Taeha opened a drawer next to him and took something out. It was small enough to fit in one hand, and only after it was on the desk did Seowon realize it was a small vial.

“This is the injection Junghoo has been getting until now. An anti-hormone agent that forcibly suppressed his hormone secretion.”

While Seowon picked up the vial and looked it over, Yoo Taeha spoke gently, as if apologetic.

“If it doesn’t work, we’ll have to calm it down with this.”

“Then I’ll contact you when I need it. Please come and give him the shot.”

“Huh? You want me to go?”

“I can’t administer the injection myself, can I?”

“That’s true, but…”

Yoo Taeha’s voice trailed off. It was not a particularly pleasant moment, as he was once again made aware that Seowon had him properly leashed. Unaware that Yoo Taeha’s voice had faded, Seowon stroked the vial.

So this is the medicine that has been holding Junghoo together all this time.

“That… ahem, don’t misunderstand, and just listen. I’m asking this as a doctor, not as a cousin…”

“I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Seowon cut Yoo Taeha off. He put the vial down after memorizing the English and Korean text that was densely packed in tiny letters.

“I haven’t thought as far as sex.”

“Then why did you ask?”

“Because I need to know.”

“Right. I was just saying that because I’m worried as a cousin, so don’t mind me. And since Junghoo is a dominant alpha, his partner also…”

This time, Seowon did not cut him off, but Yoo Taeha trailed off on his own. He had seen the word attached in front of ‘omega’ in Seowon’s personal information.

“Even if he’s a dominant, Junghoo’s pheromone level is high. So to handle that…”

“He’ll have to do well on his own if he doesn’t want to ruin me.”

“What? I couldn’t hear you, can you say that again?”

Because it was a small voice, Yoo Taeha, who had been leaning in to listen, asked again. However, Seowon did not repeat himself and got up from his seat. His business with Yoo Taeha was finished.

“I’ll be in touch.”

Seowon bid him farewell before leaving and added a subtle smile as he looked at the dazed Yoo Taeha.

“As his doctor, please come anytime. Got it?”

“Seowon, didn’t you say you haven’t thought about it yet? Huh?”

Yoo Taeha asked, but Seowon had already closed the door and disappeared.

After leaving the hospital, Seowon rotated his arms widely to loosen his stiff shoulders. He had waited until the clinic closed and had been sitting for a long time listening to Junghoo’s situation.

“This bastard, is he really this stupid, or is he just cunning?”

The people he knew were not limited to just Yoo Junghoo. Junghoo’s father, mother, cousin… All of those people liked Seowon. So once he set his mind to it, there were so many different routes to find things out.

Seowon called Yoo Younghan. A few rings sounded before the call connected, and Yoo Younghan’s voice came through.

“Hello. Hello, Mister.”

—Yes, it’s nice that you’re calling often.

“I like it too.”

Although the man could not see his face, Seowon filled his voice with laughter so that he could feel it sufficiently.

“I meant to tell you something, Mister, but I forgot.”

—Ask me anything.

“It’s just that I can’t sleep if my sleeping arrangements suddenly change.”

—Oh? Haha. I see. Does Junghoo know about this?

“No. He doesn’t.”

Because I just made it up.

“But while I was staying at Junghoo’s place, my body got used to that bed. So…”

Seowon held the phone to his ear and looked around. His destination was set.

An unpleasant mechanical sound kept preventing Seowon’s entry. The door lock would not disengage, saying he had entered the code incorrectly several times.

“Junghoo.”

Seowon pressed the passcode again, firmly. As expected, it did not open this time either.

“Were you always this meticulous?”

To think he changed the passcode. Seowon gave up trying to open the door and leaned his back against the wall. He rested his head back and looked at the ceiling. To come all this way and not be able to get in.

“I almost made a wasted trip.”

Seowon, with his head still against the wall, looked to the side.

“Junghoo.”

Junghoo, who had flinched upon spotting him, turned his gaze to the door.

“Oh, right. It wouldn’t open, so I was standing here.”

“Seowon.”

Junghoo let out a sigh.

“What do you think is the reason the door won’t open? It means you’re not supposed to come in.”

It was a gentle tone, as always. The only difference was that the guy who had always been pulling him in was now pushing him away.

On his way to Junghoo’s house, Seowon had thought hard. How should I break the hard shell he has surrounded himself with to keep me out?

He thought simply calling the Mister would not be enough. It did not seem like it would work as easily as it did with Yoo Taeha.

So what he came up with was to act shamelessly. It was a time to pretend not to understand whatever was said. This was not an easy thing to do, but fortunately, there was someone he could use as a model, so imitating him did not feel awkward.

“Junghoo.”

Seowon mimicked the sweet voice Junghoo used and hid poison within it. At that, Junghoo’s eyebrows twitched. All he had done was call his name, but why was the reaction coming back so intensely…

It was fun.

He now understood why Yoo Junghoo had called him like that all this time. How fun his own deadpan reactions must have been. This must be why people say you reap what you sow.

“Change the passcode for this house back to the original.”

Along with Seowon’s bright laughter, Junghoo’s sigh could be heard.

“Seowon, this is my house…”

“Yeah, it’s my house.”

Seowon, just as he had done with Yoo Taeha, took his phone out of his pocket. He had a master key here that granted all his wishes.

“The Mister said he’s giving it to me.”

He lit up the screen and showed him the message that had come from the Mister. After reading the message saying he had decided to give the house to Seowon, Junghoo frowned as if dumbfounded. Seeing that face, he could clearly tell who the real person in power in this family was.

“No matter what, this isn’t right. Don’t you know why I’m doing this?”

“You don’t want to change the passcode?”

“Seowon, I’m sorry, but if you stay around me like that…”

“Or should I report you to the police?”