Thanks to receiving antipyretics along with other IV fluids, fortunately the fever in Eunwoo’s body was gradually dropping. His face that had been flushed red also gradually began to regain its original color, and his breathing that had been mixed with groaning sounds also found considerable stability. His sleeping appearance also looked comfortable, unlike when first discovered. Seeing that, Juheon could feel a little relieved.
However, since the test results weren’t out yet, it was too early to be at ease. Because Eunwoo was pregnant, the tests proceeded more carefully, and of course complex tests using machines couldn’t be done.
So they only proceeded up to ultrasound examination after finishing blood tests and pheromone tests to find out as many results as possible with simple tests. For now, they had no choice but to be satisfied with these tests.
Unlike Juheon who was very worried because he couldn’t know where Eunwoo was sick, the doctor seemed to guess what was wrong as soon as he saw Eunwoo. It was also the doctor’s recommendation to unhesitatingly conduct a pheromone test. When the results came out shortly after, the doctor nodded as if he knew this would happen and conveyed the condition.
“As expected, my prediction was correct. It looks like a simple fever cold, but the cause is completely different from that. Baek Eunwoo-ssi’s high fever didn’t occur because of a cold or high inflammation levels.”
“…You’re saying it’s not a fever cold? Then what’s the reason? Is there some big problem?”
Juheon couldn’t help but be puzzled by the doctor’s diagnosis that it was different from what he expected—a high fever from a cold. Juheon, who looked back once at Eunwoo sleeping with even breathing, demanded an answer from the doctor again. The doctor opened his mouth with a somewhat stern expression.
“I clearly told you last checkup. About pheromones. Executive Director and Baek Eunwoo-ssi’s situation is different from other couples, so didn’t I earnestly ask you to inject pheromones periodically? Did you properly listen to what I said?”
The doctor frowned as if rebuking Juheon, asking if he didn’t care about his words. And when the word pheromones came from the doctor’s mouth, Juheon thought “oh no.” He looked at Eunwoo again with an expression as if he had made a big mistake.
“…Ah, pheromones…”
“Haah, Executive Director. What should I do if you speak as if you just now remembered that!”
Even at the doctor’s reproachful words and actions, he was so flustered he couldn’t make any retort. He really did pay attention for a while after coming back from the checkup. But the truth was that afterward, both were busy and hectic, so applying pheromones wasn’t properly done. Since it was all true, Juheon had nothing to say. The doctor emphasized and asked Juheon once again.
“An alpha partner’s pheromones are really, really important to a pregnant omega. No matter how much this is emphasized, it’s not enough. In the case of a surrogate mother who only lends their body for childbirth, they’re not affected by the contractor’s alpha pheromones. That’s because literally the surrogate’s genes aren’t mixed. They only injected into their body after receiving genes from both the contracted alpha and omega. In such cases, they take separately prescribed pheromone medication. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
“Yes…”
“But Baek Eunwoo-ssi isn’t that case. It’s not just lending a body, but the maternal body itself. Because it’s a pregnancy with Baek Eunwoo-ssi’s genes and the Executive Director’s genes, in this case, the Executive Director’s alpha pheromones are absolutely necessary.”
Juheon obediently nodded toward the doctor who was speaking strongly.
“Cases like this aren’t nonexistent. They’re not common, but they happen occasionally. Cases where they broke up with a lover while pregnant or got divorced. It’s a phenomenon shown by such omegas. It’s a typical pheromone abnormality that occurs from lack of alpha pheromones.”
“Then what treatment do other cases receive at times like this?”
“There’s no treatment, only the method of terminating the baby. If this state continues, both the omega and fetus eventually become endangered.”
“…What?”
Juheon made many dumbfounded sounds today, unlike himself. But such sounds came out without him realizing. He heard things that made it inevitable, and moreover, he couldn’t help but be surprised that this also applied to his contractor.
“If they receive absolutely no alpha pheromones, the baby must be terminated for the omega to live. Do you understand now? How serious a problem this is? I emphasized it so much, how could both of you make this mistake?”
“…It’s true we couldn’t pay attention recently, but I definitely did release pheromones. I did, but…”
“Then even then it was insufficient. The pheromones you released, Executive Director, were very insufficient. This is a more serious problem than you think. If handled wrong, both the pregnant person and fetus are in mortal danger. If things go wrong, Baek Eunwoo-ssi could lose his life.”
When even the word life was mentioned, Juheon’s eyes shook greatly. Right, if life is in danger, they would terminate the baby. Juheon really made a big mistake. He could have put Eunwoo in great danger.
“To emphasize once more, to a pregnant omega, the partner alpha’s pheromones are like life itself. That’s the same for the fetus too. If the maternal body lacks alpha pheromones, the fetus also can’t absorb pheromones by sharing.”
“Ha… I was too ignorant.”
“Normal lovers or couples pour out large amounts of pheromones in the process of making love or showing affection, so they absorb each other. That’s why there’s no pheromone deficiency phenomenon, but… in recessive cases or cases like now, that’s not possible, so the worst problems arise.”
“So in conclusion, Eunwoo-ssi becoming like that is a problem caused by my pheromone deficiency?”
“Yes. Right now in Eunwoo-ssi’s body, there’s one more person. The fetus. Twice as many pheromones and nutrients are needed. Just like craving nutritious food, he’ll want that many more pheromones, but if that’s not satisfied, even I can’t guarantee what’s next. Just as a person’s body can’t survive if lacking water or blood, a pregnant omega will repeatedly get fever as if all the water has drained from their body if alpha pheromones are lacking. They’ll keep losing consciousness like this and an accident will happen.”
“Ah… From when should I inject pheromones? If I do it right now, will Baek Eunwoo-ssi’s body get better?”
The doctor shook his head at Juheon who asked with the momentum to release pheromones right away.
“No. In the current state, even if you inject pheromones, Executive Director, they won’t be absorbed into the body. First, the priority is to return the unstable pheromones to a normal state with injections and medication until tomorrow. After that, it would be better to go with the method of gradually releasing your pheromones, Executive Director, to calm Baek Eunwoo-ssi.”
Juheon nodded in agreement after hearing the treatment method. His heart was urgent, but in the end, there was nothing Juheon could do now. While sticking with Eunwoo until now, he should have paid attention to pheromones rather than the road to part-time jobs.
Juheon had never properly met an omega and formed a connection until now, so releasing his pheromones to an omega was quite awkward. So honestly, he often forgot because it didn’t become a habit. Applying pheromones to handkerchiefs or objects and delivering them was woefully insufficient.
After the contract, he had reprimanded Eunwoo for not quitting work and acting precariously. Why wasn’t he properly fulfilling the contract and acting dangerously… But thinking about it now, it wasn’t Eunwoo who didn’t properly fulfill the contract, but Juheon himself.
‘Maintain the contractor’s environment and body in the best condition.’ This was the part Juheon didn’t keep. Even if it’s a situation that occurred because he was inexperienced in dealing with omegas and couldn’t recognize pheromone-related matters, there’s no room for excuses. Though he didn’t deliberately create this situation, his indifferent actions drove Eunwoo to a cliff.
“It’s because Baek Eunwoo-ssi is a dominant omega that he endured until now. That’s truly fortunate. It’s urgent to find an appropriate method so this kind of thing doesn’t repeat.”
An appropriate method… What would be good? Pheromone injection isn’t something that can end as a one-time short-term thing. Juheon’s pheromones will be needed until Eunwoo gives birth and his body isn’t ruined. At least until Juheon’s traces remaining in Eunwoo’s body after childbirth are gone. Then an appropriate method is needed so pheromones can circulate smoothly and fluidly until then.
After the doctor left, Juheon looked at Eunwoo who was still sleeping unconsciously. Even while canceling all future schedules. He didn’t know if it was a duty toward the contractor or apologetic feelings for not properly looking after the contractor, but he wanted to do so.
That seemed like it would put his mind at ease. He felt very sorry for seeming to neglect the person he should have paid the most attention to when he desperately needed the baby and even made a contract.
“…Still, I’m glad we found the cause before your body got worse.”
Juheon muttered while placing a wet towel on the forehead that was hot with remaining fever. Looking at Eunwoo who showed no reaction to his soliloquy mixed with apology, Juheon fell into deep thought. After being lost in deep thought for a while, Juheon repeated as if organizing his thoughts.
“After all, living together seems like the best method.”
