Career Student Kang Jeongbae (2)
“Ah, with the conference and everything, you seemed busy.”
“I told you to at least send a text. That I’d contact you later. You told me not to contact you first.”
“That’s… because you’re busy and I kept making you worry, doctor.”
Jaehyuk turned his head. Somehow, the conversation between the two felt uncomfortable.
‘…What is this atmosphere?’
The doctor rolled up Jeongbae’s shirt further and moved the stethoscope up to his shoulder. Jeongbae’s body trembled slightly. He couldn’t exhale properly and only inhaled.
“You still haven’t had heat, right?”
The doctor continued quietly.
“Yes.”
“What about using an inducer to force a heat cycle? Instead of heat, getting sick like this every time….”
At those words, Jeongbae’s eyes widened.
“I don’t want that.”
The doctor put his nose to Jeongbae’s nape and smelled his scent. It was less like contact between patient and doctor and more like skinship between lovers. Jaehyuk’s brow furrowed slightly. The doctor added a brief comment.
“You keep trying to get by with strong painkillers, but when an Omega doesn’t have heat without a special reason….”
“…It’s okay. I get better in a day. Please prescribe the same medicine as before this time too.”
‘This is absolutely ridiculous.’
Jaehyuk grumbled internally. A person who’s a doctor desperately clinging to that ugly Omega. For such a thing, Jaehyuk completely forgot the fact that he himself had dutifully followed along at a single text.
That’s when it happened. The doctor suddenly threw down the stethoscope.
“Open your mouth.”
Jeongbae’s eyes widened in surprise. Jaehyuk was equally surprised.
“…Why?”
“Mouth.”
The doctor’s voice dropped to a suppressed low tone.
When Jeongbae hesitantly opened his mouth, the doctor fixed his jaw with a gloved hand. The anger he was holding back was conveyed directly through his fingertips.
“You. When did you get this tooth pulled?”
“Ugh… I’ ‘urts.”
“What do you mean it’s nothing.”
The doctor’s eyes flashed. His fingers persistently rummaged through Jeongbae’s mouth. Jaehyuk felt inexplicably choked up.
“Even though I made treatment appointments for you several times, you didn’t come.”
Jeongbae couldn’t answer and lowered his head.
“What the hell are you doing? Explain the procedure first.”
A sharp voice cut through the examination room.
It was Jaehyuk. Both the doctor and Jeongbae turned their heads simultaneously. Jaehyuk was already gripping the doctor’s arm.
“What are you doing to a patient! Is this a dentist’s office?”
“Who are you to follow in here. Get out.”
The doctor looked at him with wary eyes as if he’d only just noticed Jaehyuk.
“No.”
Silence flowed. Jaehyuk and the doctor’s gazes coldly crossed. Just as a confrontation was about to erupt, Jeongbae suddenly jumped up and pulled Jaehyuk away.
“I’ll be going now, doctor. Just prescribe the medicine please. Thank you.”
“Wait, stop right there.”
“Doctor, the next patient… kyaa.”
Even pushing past the nurse at the door, Jeongbae ran off, and Jaehyuk had no choice but to be dragged out. Only after leaving the waiting room far behind and exiting the building did Jeongbae’s steps stop.
Out of breath and unable to control his body properly, his face was red. Jeongbae’s phone buzzed in his pocket.
“Who is that doctor bastard to handle you like that?”
After saying it, Jaehyuk thought ‘oops.’ This wasn’t like suspecting a cheating lover or anything. Jeongbae took out his phone, checked the caller, then ended the call. Sneaking a peek, it seemed to be that doctor bastard from earlier.
“Ah, he’s just my doctor. Hahaha. I have pretty wide connections, right? It’s good to have someone you know at the hospital.”
Jeongbae tried to laugh and joke around. No matter how he looked at it, the doctor seemed to be clinging to Kang Jeongbae.
‘What does he see in this guy?’
“Um. Could you just get my prescription for me? Sorry.”
“……”
As if he didn’t even have the strength to stand, Jeongbae sat weakly on a bench and soon lay down on his side. Cursing internally, Jaehyuk went back into the hospital building.
When he went to the payment counter, that neat and annoying bastard with glasses was standing there without even examining patients.
“I’m here to pay for patient Kang Jeongbae. Give me the prescription.”
Jaehyuk spoke to the counter staff without even glancing in his direction.
“Um… that is….”
“He said the person has to come get it themselves.”
The staff member mumbled awkwardly. The guy with glasses beside them slipped out a paper.
The name tag caught his eye.
[Suppressant Clinic Specialist Jung Woohyun]
“Dr. Jung Woohyun.”
Jaehyuk’s voice dropped low.
“What right do you have to do this? I came at the patient’s request.”
“Right? What right do you have when you’re not even a real guardian?”
“Isn’t grabbing a patient’s wrist or smelling their nape during examination time more of a problem?”
A brief silence flowed, and fatigue and irritation mixed on Woohyun’s face.
“Follow me.”
Jaehyuk followed behind him without a word. The back view of the white coat walking ahead was annoying for no reason. But he needed the prescription, and he was curious about what exactly the relationship was between Kang Jeongbae and the doctor.
A corner of the hospital, an emergency stairwell. Woohyun looked at him for a moment before letting out a tired breath.
“Kang Jeongbae….”
When he quietly called the name, Jaehyuk’s expression stiffened for a moment.
“That person has been sick for a long time. Instead of heat, he has symptoms of continuous extreme pain with an unknown cause. Probably due to psychological factors. What I prescribe is strong painkillers.”
“……”
When Jaehyuk was momentarily at a loss for words, Woohyun smiled subtly.
“You seem to have approached out of curiosity, but unlike how he looks, Jeongbae is not a light person you can treat carelessly. That friend suffers from unnecessary misunderstandings a lot.”
Jaehyuk’s eyebrow rose slightly.
“…Then what about you? Some special relationship?”
Woohyun laughed briefly and took off his glasses. His smooth face was annoying.
“Well. Would you understand if I said tutor?”
Now it was Jaehyuk’s turn to be surprised. If it’s tutoring, then definitely…. That guy, with this doctor? Seeing the dumbfounded Jaehyuk, Woohyun seemed to catch on to something and smiled leisurely.
“Did you think you were the only teacher? You’re more naive than you look.”
Then he added while making eye contact. At those words, Jaehyuk’s fingertips trembled minutely. A brief silence flowed. Woohyun quietly held out the prescription.
“Don’t poke at food you won’t eat, and you get lost.”
Jung Woohyun turned and disappeared. Jaehyuk’s mood hit rock bottom.
When he came back crumpling the prescription, Kang Jeongbae, who’d been lying weakly on the bench, slowly sat up. The way he sneakily watched for his reaction was disgusting to see. He’d come to teach a honey trap a lesson but only saw something dirty and felt like he’d been playing both drums and gongs by himself. He should have spat at that doctor bastard’s face that they were nothing to each other. Somehow feeling like he’d lost, he couldn’t say it until the end. With a strange sense of betrayal, Jaehyuk looked down coldly at Kang Jeongbae.
‘This kind of ugly, promiscuous Omega—I’ll never see him again in my life.’
Jaehyuk thrust the prescription at Jeongbae as if throwing it.
“Thanks.”
Ignoring even the greeting, he turned around and walked with long strides, but there was no sign of anyone stopping him. When he arrived at his car and tried to open the door, Jaehyuk spat curses and slammed the car door shut with a bang.
“Fuck, this is really getting on my nerves.”
He turned around and hurriedly ran back toward the bench where Jeongbae had been. Sure enough, not far away he saw the pink-haired man curled up and groaning. Half relieved and half angry, Jaehyuk lifted Jeongbae up.
‘This idiot doesn’t even know how to ask for help.’
His insides boiled, but in the end he couldn’t say anything and piggy-backed Jeongbae. His steps heading toward a nearby pharmacy were urgent beyond measure.
“Thanks so much for the ride. You saved my life. Hahaha. Next time I’ll buy you something really good, not cup ramen.”
“…Forget it. Just get out.”
“Ah, sorry. You’re busy and I took up too much of your time. Hurry and go.”
Jeongbae hurriedly undid his seatbelt and got out of the car. As soon as the car door closed, Jaehyuk stepped hard on the accelerator.
‘What kind of work is he going to do like that?’
They said it was painkillers, and after taking the medicine, Kang Jeongbae’s complexion quickly returned—when offered a ride, he nodded repeatedly in thanks. Of course he thought they’d go home, but the destination was some restaurant. Something about doing serving work.
“I already felt bad for flaking on work, but thanks to you I got here comfortably. I’m sorry about our evening plans though, that’ll be tough.”
Jaehyuk deliberately didn’t respond at all. He had one-night stand partners besides himself. There might not be just one. Jeongbae laughed awkwardly and didn’t say anything else until they arrived. As he’d kept noticing, the guy was pretty perceptive.
Sneaking a glance through the rearview mirror, he saw Jeongbae waving his hand toward him. The chest that had felt stuffy since earlier seemed to tingle slightly. As soon as the light changed, Jaehyuk hurriedly departed.
***
[Macheon Granny’s Rice Soup]
Jeongbae entered the restaurant while patting his back. Customers bustled about and earthen pots bubbled in the kitchen. It was the rice soup restaurant where Jeongbae helped with the lunch rush.
“Jeongbae, you’re here already?”
“Someone gave me a ride. What happened while I was gone during the busiest time! Haha….”
Jeongbae laughed and joked around. His hands were already busily cleaning the tables customers had left.
“You seem pretty sick, why don’t you go home today.”
“I’m fine after taking medicine. I’ll work carefully so you won’t say I’m faking. Sorry for leaving during the busy time.”
The owner soon erased her worried expression. It had already been a year working with Jeongbae. Though he got sick once every season change, Jeongbae was always energetic and diligent. Aside from the flashy hair his sibling who was learning beauty work dyed for him being a bit noticeable, he was a young man who’d done welding work at a shipyard for a long time before coming back to Seoul when business got bad. Unlike kids these days, he was sincere and steady.
“Jeongbae, when you finish clearing that, come eat first.”
“Yes! Wow, I was just getting hungry.”
The recently missing tooth was a bit funny, but his affable impression remained. Though his frame was a bit slim, when he stayed still he was as clear and pretty as singers on TV. The owner always hoped Jeongbae would work at the restaurant for a long time, but also thought it would be good if he quickly found a better position.
“You too, you know. Dress up like those suit-wearing folks and get into some company.”
“Ah… I’m going to medical school.”
“That damn medical school talk. They say not just anyone can go there.”
“Ha… Auntie. Well, this year will be tough, but somehow next year it’ll work out. When I become a doctor, I’ll specially treat you for free, Auntie. Haha.”
“If you can’t even talk properly, really….”
While criticizing, the owner still gave Jeongbae an extra bowl of rice in front of his rice soup.
‘Rent 250,000 won, utilities 70,000 won, phone bill 40,000 won. If I do the designated driver part-time job today, will I have 50,000 won left?’
Jeongbae diligently ate his rice soup while busily working his mental abacus. On weekdays he worked at the restaurant and as a designated driver, on weekends he did more profitable construction site work. Monthly savings deposits and living expenses. His income wasn’t bad for working without rest, but to prepare security deposits for housing for the two siblings who’d soon leave the orphanage, plus prepare for his own future tuition, he had to tighten his belt as much as possible. Jeongbae, who came out into society directly from the orphanage with only 5 million won, knew better than anyone how scary the world was. That’s why he never spent money carelessly.
For studying too, he persistently replayed a few free online lectures. Academies were expensive, but more than that, he didn’t have time to attend. That’s how he started what he called ‘one-night stand tutoring’….
The first time was coincidence. It started when some man approached Jeongbae while he was earnestly studying his workbook.
‘That doesn’t seem to be going well. I’m good at math….’
‘…Hahaha. Really?’
When Jeongbae smiled brightly, the man didn’t miss that opening. A subtle body temperature brushed over the back of his hand. A strong musk scent spread. An Alpha. Jeongbae stiffened his expression for a moment but soon started working his mental calculator. He’d heard tutoring cost tens, hundreds of thousands of won per month.
‘If I think of it as one night together… it’s cheap.’
