Ch 22

Ji-an’s face and ears turned bright red as he looked at Ideun, who was muttering to himself with the gentlest, warmest smile in the world.

“W-What… What is it!”

Seeing a small grain of rice stuck to his thumb, Ji-an hastily wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You could just say things like that, you know.”

Ji-an, embarrassed, raised his voice as he gathered the dishes and headed to the sink. Standing in front of the island sink, he glanced up at Ideun, who was still smiling mysteriously, and signaled with his eyes for Ideun to step aside. But instead of moving, Ideun tried to take the dishes from him. Ji-an shook his head and, without realizing it, nudged him slightly.

“That’s not fair.”

“What’s not?”

“I have to say something every time I touch you, and you just do it?”

“Do you know how childish you are? Move over. I’m not so inconsiderate as to eat and make you clean up. I’ll do my share.”

The debate over who should do the dishes turned into them doing it together when Ideun offered to teach Ji-an how to use the dishwasher. As Ji-an looked around the house with Ideun’s guidance, he noticed air fresheners placed here and there, and glanced at him. Ideun was clearly sensitive to scents. Walking beside him, Ji-an noticed the woody scent that Ideun carried, and instinctively rubbed his arms, crossing them over his chest.

A blend of musk and wood. It felt like an odd but fitting match, creating a strange illusion that, even though only the two of them were here, someone else was around. After exploring Ideun’s surprisingly spacious studio, Ji-an said he’d pay over 50 thousand for the rent, but the offer was flatly rejected. With Ideun now sitting in an armchair by the living room window, engrossed in a stack of files from the study, Ji-an couldn’t bring it up again.

After watching Bobo eat in the corner of the kitchen and tidying up with a tissue, he found himself with nothing to do. It felt impolite to go into the main bedroom without Ideun, and it would be awkward to hover by his side while he worked. The study was Ideun’s space, and heading to the guest room felt odd. Standing indecisively in the middle of the living room, Ji-an eventually sat down on the sofa. Sofas were meant for resting, right? Though he didn’t like the stiff couch that seemed better suited for an office or government building, he wasn’t in a position to be picky.

Bobo, who had been following him around, started playing with the hem of Ji-an’s pants and, claws out, began to climb up his clothes.

“I’m staying over. Feel free to watch TV or relax; don’t mind me.”

“Huh? But you said you have another place.”

Leaning momentarily against the sofa back, Ji-an straightened up and looked at Ideun, who was focused on his documents.

“Thanks to someone today, I didn’t have to go to work, but I’ll have to leave early tomorrow morning. Someone comes three times a week, so there’s no need to worry about housework. The fridge is also stocked automatically. If you want something specific or need any ingredients, just write it on the memo pad on the fridge. And…”

The living room was still softly lit, and jazz music was playing. Though Ideun’s eyes were on the documents, his right hand was twirling a pen in circles. Watching Ideun discuss household matters with such an air of philosophical depth made Ji-an’s lips curl into a smile.

It felt like he was starting to have various issues. Maybe it was his unstable pheromones that hadn’t settled as the doctor suggested, or perhaps it was something else, like lingering effects from the depression and anxiety that had surfaced after his rut partner phase. Under normal circumstances, he would never have accepted such an offer. He wondered if it was okay to stay so comfortably in the home of someone who’d eventually be someone else’s partner. Yet, seeing an Alpha as flawless as the protagonist before him made his heart race a bit.

But this wasn’t his fault. When an ideal, perfect person treats you warmly and kindly, it’s only natural to feel a sense of fondness. Just being around someone like that felt like a kind of guilt. It was his fault for interpreting Ideun’s compassion as something other than kindness. Or maybe it was due to the musk scent filling the place. It was a pleasant mixture of relaxation, excitement, and a languid yet good feeling. Whatever it was, Ji-an was really enjoying this feeling for the first time. Bobo, who had climbed up his pants, began playing with the string on his hoodie, and Ji-an moved it around even more.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

After six sounds, the door clicked open. Focused on playing with Bobo and overwhelmed by his cuteness, Ji-an had just grabbed Bobo in both hands and covered him in kisses, when he glanced at Ideun instead of the entrance.

“Oh. I’m exhausted. So tired. You’ve got beer, right?”

Hearing a stranger’s voice alongside the sound of slippers shuffling, both Ji-an and Bobo turned toward the entrance. The man, who had entered while removing his coat, opened the fridge and pulled out two cans of beer as if he were at home.

“…Who are you?”

Unsure if the person was a guest or not, Ji-an awkwardly got up while holding Bobo in his arms, bowing slightly at the man’s gaze.

“Why are you here?”

“Someone didn’t go to work today, so I had to cover for him. Needed a break. But… have we met before? You seem familiar.”

Listening to the voice behind him, Ji-an instinctively searched for an escape, but as soon as the man addressed him, Ji-an straightened his posture. The man was as tall and well-built as Ideun, enough to confuse anyone from afar. Maybe like attracts like? If Ideun gave off an unapproachable, cold vibe, this man seemed more laid-back. The only difference was that he wore glasses.

Yet Ji-an couldn’t recall ever seeing him and slowly shook his head.

“No way. I remember almost every face I see, and there’s no way I wouldn’t remember someone like you.”

“Quit talking nonsense. I’m changing the door code, so from now on, go to your own place.”

“Why! It’s close to work, and where else am I going to find a place as nice as this? You keep it perfect, plus the night view’s great. I’m staying here tonight.”

As Ideun passed by, he took a beer can from the man’s hand. However, the man managed to keep one for himself and, with a look of defiance, opened it right in front of him and took a long gulp.

“From now on, Ji-an will be staying here, so think of the shared spaces as gone.”

“Ji-an? That… Seo Ji-an. Haneul’s friend?”

Ji-an, who had been awkwardly standing and hoping for a moment to slip away, was startled when he heard the man point him out. He looked over at Ideun in surprise. It was shocking that the man knew his full name, but even more so that he referred to him as Haneul’s friend.

“Right, the ID photo. That’s it. I saw it in the ID photo. Ah… but you look much better in person.”

“Ha Taemin. Instead of drinking here, just go. Get back to your own place, and I’ll understand if you skip work tomorrow.”

“Go? Where would I go? If I leave now, it’ll be drunk driving. You’ll be charged with aiding and abetting a DUI.”

“Want me to call a designated driver? Or maybe a driver service?”

As the man, who was speaking quickly in a relaxed tone that contrasted with Ideun’s slower, deeper voice, approached, Ji-an involuntarily took a step back. He couldn’t tell if the musk scent hanging in the air was intensified by the man’s movements or if it was emanating from him.

“Hello, I’m Ha Taemin. I’m the CEO of the same company as this guy. I heard you’re joining us as a new employee? Nice to meet you, Mr. New Recruit.”

Ji-an glanced at the hand extended toward him and swallowed. A person close to Ideun. Someone who freely came and went from this home and seemed at ease with staying over. Tall, broad-shouldered, with large hands. Hesitating slightly, he rubbed his hand on his pants before slowly reaching out. Unlike Ideun, who had a predominant wood scent, this person was enveloped in a strong musk fragrance. Even with the faint smell of alcohol, the musk scent was unmistakable.

Just as he was about to take the man’s hand, the man was suddenly pulled back, leaving Ji-an’s hand lingering in the air.

“Noo. I’m tired. Really, really tired. Mr. New Recruit, see you tomorrow.”

The man, swaying as Ideun turned him around, headed straight for the guest room.

“Ha… As he mentioned, his name is Ha Taemin. He’s a founding member and my partner in the company. Since we live close to the office, we’ve always been comfortable with each other, but he’s too drunk to talk properly now, so I’ll explain in more detail tomorrow and change the door code.”

Ji-an nodded at Ideun’s words, but they didn’t completely register. His gaze was still fixated on the guest room door, unable to easily look away.

“Ji-an.”

“…”

“Seo Ji-an.”

“Oh, yes. I was just…”

Ideun, noticing that Ji-an still hadn’t taken his eyes off the door, continued speaking.

“Should I… open the door for you?”

The door wasn’t the issue, so Ji-an shook his head quickly. If that man’s pheromones were really musk-based, then that was the real concern. The calm, languid, pleasant feeling he had felt was quickly replaced by a sense of unease.

Meeting him had seemed like a good idea, but now that he’d actually encountered what seemed to be the right person, anxiety surged. Clenching and Ajusshinching his fists a few times, Ji-an grabbed Ideun’s collar as Ideun took the beer can he’d taken from Taemin and opened it.

The pheromones of Alphas and Omegas carried a lot of weight. They were as unique as fingerprints, so they tried not to expose them openly. It was illegal to let them out carelessly. That’s why they were always conscious of controlling their pheromones and rarely revealed them to anyone but those close to them.

Although Haneul had recently emitted a slight apple scent, that had been directed at Ideun, not Ji-an. As a registered Beta, it was natural for him not to notice it, and Haneul likely hadn’t paid him any mind either. But none of that mattered at the moment.

Since even the most cautious people sometimes slipped up, Alphas and Omegas typically wore perfumes that closely matched their natural scents. Haneul often used fresh, fruity fragrances. Ideun’s base note was consistently wood-scented, and Jeongwoon, whom he’d met recently, had a sweet, candy-like scent. Haneul and Jeongwoon often joked, calling each other “fruit” or “candy.”

Which meant… Ha Taemin’s pheromone base was likely…

Ji-an, who had been slightly shaking his head, glanced back toward the guest room.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa, so don’t worry. I’m serious about the offer to break your bond, but I don’t intend to force you into anything.”

At Ideun’s reassuring voice, Ji-an looked up at him. “Head,” he said, then felt a pat on his head that made him swallow back his questions. He didn’t have the courage to open Pandora’s box just yet.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa…”

The hand patting his head disappeared, only to be replaced by a sudden, sharp flick on his forehead.

“What kind of mad Alpha would leave their Omega just lying around? I’ve got work to catch up on, so I’ll be up late. Take Bobo and go to bed.”

Feeling Ideun gently push him toward the main bedroom, Ji-an couldn’t clearly hear what he was saying. Only after hearing “Go on” one more time did he head into the main bedroom and collapse onto the bed.

“I don’t know anymore.”

With a tight chest and his mind overwhelmed with thoughts, Ji-an lay back and pulled the blanket over his head. Surrounded by the now-intensified musk scent, he shut his eyes tightly, gripping one side of his neck. It seemed he would need an Alpha’s help to break the bond soon—although that person would likely not be Ideun.