PAO 73

It was because Junghoo had always been by his side. Comparing then and now, there was no ‘better.’ It was good with Junghoo, and good without him.

“What should I do from now on.”

If Junghoo gets completely better, does the pretext for having sex disappear?

Honestly, if they were dating, they could do it anytime. However, although Junghoo loved Seowon and called him his sky, he never mentioned advancing to being lovers.

“Then again, am I any different.”

The words ‘let’s date’ didn’t come easily. He knew their relationship was ambiguous, but something about his own feelings wasn’t clearly defined. It was true that he liked him… but because they had their first sexual encounter for Junghoo’s treatment, something felt strange.

He wondered if it was okay to have a relationship with peace of mind, and then again, when he thought of the beginning, the thought that he couldn’t fully enjoy it came first. It was just complicated.

He wanted to live his life as simply as possible, but everything became complicated whenever he thought of Junghoo. The very fact that he was holding onto something he could have just brushed off as nothing.

“What’s the point of me being like this all by myself.”

Even if he felt hung up or whatever, it was obvious Junghoo would make a move in the end.

Just as he was thinking it would be better to let things flow even if his heart was uncomfortable, his phone rang.

“He’s not giving me any time to rest.”

He muttered without even checking who was calling.

Because there was only one person who would call at this early hour.

As soon as Seowon put the phone to his ear, he said.

“I’m sleeping.”

Wouldn’t Junghoo get the hint and hang up if he just said that? Or he might ask if he was dreaming of him.

—Sorry to call while you’re sleeping.

As soon as he realized it wasn’t Junghoo’s voice, Seowon lowered the phone to check the caller.

“Taeha hyung?”

—Can you possibly come to the hospital?

At Yoo Taeha’s serious voice, Seowon shot up.

“What happened.”

Seowon, who had come to see Yoo Taeha, immediately asked about Junghoo’s condition before he even caught his breath.

To be honest, he thought he would be fine.

The reason he had kept Junghoo at the villa out of his own greed was all because his pheromones had become noticeably milder than before. When the amount of pheromones increased from time to time, he had continuously helped him release them, so by the time they came up to Seoul, he really thought he was fine.

But apparently not.

“Sit down first.”

At Yoo Taeha’s words as he pulled out a chair, Seowon roughly pulled it closer and sat down. Even then, he was perched on the edge, so precariously that the chair looked like it might slip backwards. Still, thinking that at least he was sitting, Yoo Taeha didn’t urge him further.

“How should I explain this.”

Yoo Taeha tapped the table with his index finger, contemplating. His heavy gaze made Seowon serious as well. It was then that he truly grasped what Yoo Taeha’s profession was.

Sitting in front of a doctor was such a nerve-wracking thing that Seowon clasped his hands tightly.

“I can divide it into good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”

He wanted to say that this was no time for such jokes, but seeing Yoo Taeha’s calm expression, Seowon forced himself to swallow and calm down.

“Please tell me the bad news first.”

Thinking it’s better to get the beating over with, he wanted to know the bad situation that had befallen Junghoo.

“He’s not completely cured. If you look at this, you can see the numbers are noticeably high, right? There were several pheromone explosions.”

“Ah…”

His mind went blank, and he couldn’t think of anything to say back. His heart felt heavy. So this is why Junghoo told me I didn’t need to feel responsible, he thought.

He wasn’t cured… Then is Junghoo’s life in danger again? They were even trying to develop a new drug, but his own arrogance in thinking he had cured him ruined everything. If he had known this would happen, he should have sent Junghoo when Sung Hangyeol told him to follow.

He wondered if he should do that even now, but the words wouldn’t come out readily. The thought of being separated from Junghoo again—even though it just meant not being able to see him every day—he hated it.

“…What’s the good news?”

He asked without much expectation. In a dry voice that was closer to an obligation to ask, since it was about what had happened to Junghoo.

“There is a definite medicine for the treatment.”

At least the situation was better than before, when they said there was no cure. Seowon nodded, but felt a strange sensation under Yoo Taeha’s piercing gaze.

Why is he looking at me like that.

“You said a new drug was being developed, so I guess it’s out.”

“Not yet.”

“Then what medicine is it?”

“You.”

“…”

What did I just hear.

Seowon stared at Yoo Taeha with dazed eyes.

“It’s a conclusion we reached after looking at it in various ways, but it seems Junghoo has imprinted on you. So every time he thinks of you, his pheromones explode.”

“Then isn’t that even more dangerous?”

It meant that he was the cause of Junghoo’s pheromone explosions.

“You can calm them down. Gosh, pheromones really make life difficult for people. Don’t they?”

Seowon, who didn’t hear the awkward joke Yoo Taeha added, muttered.

“That’s the good news?”

“It is. It’s good news because Junghoo likes you.”

Once again, Yoo Taeha offered a joke that wouldn’t land at all. Not that Seowon showed any reaction.

“Think of it simply. He’s imprinting and reacting to you, it’s just more severe than a typical alpha.”

Yoo Taeha let out a staccato laugh and threw out a question like, “It’s fine, right?”

“But… the illness isn’t cured.”

“If it was really dangerous before, now you’re here.”

As Seowon fell silent again, Yoo Taeha stealthily glanced at the window of the consultation room. He sent a signal to Junghoo, who had been watching since a while ago. It was a signal to come in now, but Junghoo showed no intention of entering.

The guy who would drop everything and run whenever Seowon appeared, why wasn’t he coming in now?

“Ahem. That’s not to say we’re just going to stand by and watch. We are going to treat him, but in the meantime, we need your help.”

Yoo Taeha hadn’t expected to get this kind of result either. He thought it would just calm the pheromones, but imprinting? Hadn’t even Junghoo, who had heard this whole situation, been unable to open his mouth at the unexpected conclusion?

“In a doctor’s opinion…”

Seowon raised his head and looked at Yoo Taeha.

“If it can be managed well, it will be helpful for prevention and treatment.”

“Management? What kind of management?”

“Appropriate skinship and expressions of love, I suppose?”

Yoo Taeha, who had practically squeezed out his words, closed the chart with a relieved face. He was telling him that his consultation was over, but his face was faintly flushed.

It was more embarrassing than any consultation he had ever given. And since it was about asking him to love his own cousin, Yoo Taeha tried to act nonchalant, but the area under his eyes trembled.

“Am I low on magnesium.”

As he pressed firmly under his eyes and feigned indifference, Seowon stood up from his seat.

“Thank you for telling me. I’ll be going now.”

“Alright.”

As Yoo Taeha waved goodbye, Seowon also bowed his head in farewell and opened the door. He had definitely opened the door, but the reason it felt blocked in front of him must be because someone was in the way.

“Yoo Junghoo.”

He hadn’t shown up during the consultation with Yoo Taeha, but here he was.

As Seowon called his name, Junghoo tilted his head to meet his eyes.

“They say I have an incurable disease.”

“Don’t use that term lightly.”

Although he would have to be careful for the rest of his life, the weight that the term ‘incurable disease’ carried was different, so Seowon said sternly.

“Then lovesickness.”

“Do you miss me?”

When he once again attached a ridiculous illness name, Seowon retorted with a dumbfounded face, then let out a sigh and said.

“Let’s just go with high blood pressure.”

Let’s manage your pheromones like we manage blood pressure.