What time is it now? I must have fallen into a deep sleep. That’s probably why I’m out of it and my eyes won’t open. Still, unlike yesterday, it wasn’t that my body was heavy from being sick, but rather my eyes wouldn’t open because I slept too long. I was in a state of disorientation after waking from a very deep sleep.
I had a high fever and my body ached and hurt, but whether I slept well, my body felt much lighter. But from earlier, I kept hearing a humming sound. When I wondered what the sound was, it was the sound of people talking.
But wait, how did other people get into our house, into my bedroom no less? While I was puzzled not knowing why, the men’s conversation was heard a little more clearly.
‘Not bad. Then do that. First of all, Eunwoo’s thoughts are important.’ ‘I’ll take care of that myself.’ My thoughts are important? I wanted to know what they meant by taking care of it themselves, and why my name was mentioned in their conversation. I didn’t hear it clearly, but roughly those kinds of words were exchanged.
I want to get up and ask, but my body won’t move as much as I thought. My eyes are stuck shut and won’t open… My mouth and throat are parched and I want to drink water, and my back hurt, maybe from lying down so much. Still, I can’t stay lying down like this forever, so I squirmed and moved my immobile body as much as possible.
“…Ugh…”
“Huh? Baek Eunwoo-ssi! Eunwoo-ssi, are you coming to?”
The one who reacted intensely to my groaning was none other than Executive Director Cha Juheon. Bewildered by Cha Juheon’s unexpected voice for only a moment, I remembered talking to him on the phone before falling asleep. Ah, and then I collapsed from being sick, right? I soon remembered that I had lost consciousness from being sick.
It wasn’t that I fell into a deep sleep because I was sleepy, but I lost consciousness from being sick. Cha Juheon must have come looking for me when the call was cut off in the middle. I don’t know how he got into the house, but anyway, that’s my guess. For now, I should answer.
“…Executive… Director.”
I tried to answer calmly, but a strange sound came out. Unlike my intention, a voice like a tragic protagonist came out, unintentionally making me sound like I was whining.
But Cha Juheon, as if not caring at all, was busy supporting me as I tried to get up and even supported my back with his hand. And to me clutching my throat and looking for water, he even served me water. My goodness, how honored I am.
“…Ah.”
The moment the water went down my throat, a scream came from my mouth.
“Why? Can’t you drink water? I deliberately gave you lukewarm water, is it hard to drink?”
My throat stung for a moment and I screamed, with no time to answer Cha Juheon’s question. When I drank the water, after the coolness, stinging pain rushed in. I don’t know if my throat is swollen or injured, but as the water went down, I felt stinging pain. I unintentionally made a fuss like a fussy person. I’m like a problem customer. How embarrassing.
“I’m, cough cough, I’m fine. Cough cough.“
Oh my. On top of that, I took it one step further, coughing violently, showing the peak of making a fuss. It was maddeningly shameful.
“Maybe it’s because you suddenly drank water. Breathe slowly. Yes, like that.”
So that my reddened face wouldn’t be embarrassing, Cha Juheon spoke kindly. This was the first time hearing such a kind voice. I think he’s being very understanding because I’m sick, but my cheeks grew warm for no reason. I guess the fever hasn’t completely gone down yet.
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t talk if it’s hard. First of all, I’m glad you came to. You’ve been sleeping without any movement since yesterday, so I was worried. If you didn’t wake up by today, the hospital said they’d think of other methods.”
“Ho-hospital?”
While coughing and calming my throat, Cha Juheon said hospital. Oh, this is a hospital? Only then did I realize what this unfamiliar blanket covering me was, and that he didn’t come into my house but brought me to the hospital. I wanted to know what it meant that they’d think of other methods if I didn’t wake up by today.
When I slightly turned my eyes, beyond the window was filled with a dark sky. The day had already darkened and it had become pitch black night. Wait, then that means I slept for a whole day. Rather than sleeping for a long time, it was definitely more certain that I had lost consciousness. Above all, it was surprising that it was the next day when I opened my eyes.
“I’m glad you woke up, but your voice still isn’t good. I should be careful.”
“…Chair… man?”
I heard a familiar voice from behind Cha Juheon, and when I looked, the Chairman was sitting and looking this way. Wait, even the Chairman came? Surprised, I called the Chairman with a voice that was hoarse and rough from being totally worn out. Then he raised his hand telling me not to overdo it and offered me a seat, telling me to lie down again quickly.
“I got worried at the news that you were sick and came all the way here acting foolishly.”
“No. Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you? Of course he should come. Do you want to lie down comfortably?”
“I won’t lie down, I’ll just sit leaning here.”
“Okay. Then.”
At my request, Cha Juheon supported my back and helped me sit leaning against the bed. And the Chairman was watching Cha Juheon helping me with quite an interested look. It was a look like seeing a mysterious animal from legend. As I came to my senses a bit, I remembered the most important thing and asked Cha Juheon.
“The baby is okay, right? I was sick, so there’s nothing wrong with the baby, is there?”
I was momentarily alarmed thinking that being sick might have had a bad effect on the baby. My heart that sank in surprise wasn’t simply because of the contract. I was really worried about the baby and afraid that the baby would suffer because I didn’t take care of my body. Whether knowing my sincerity or not, Cha Juheon let out a long sigh and covered me well with the blanket up to my stomach.
“The baby is of course safe. Now is not the time to worry about the baby, I’m worried about Eunwoo-ssi’s health. I’m sorry for not knowing until it got to this point.”
Cha Juheon, who I wondered if he’d ever apologized before, apologized to me. My body being sick wasn’t something Cha Juheon should be sorry about, but he suddenly offered an apology, so I didn’t know what to do either.
“I should have paid more attention when my grandson didn’t know, so I’m sorry too. I’m already sorry for requesting a surrogate from a student at such a young age and making a contract, but letting your body get damaged like this, I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths.”
“N-no. Chairman. I should have taken better care of my body…”
“The thing is… this time, it wasn’t a matter of whether Baek Eunwoo-ssi managed well or not.”
“What?”
“You’ll hear it again anyway when the doctor makes rounds, but what condition Eunwoo-ssi’s body was in and why you were sick… I’ll explain it to you first.”
“Executive Director. What’s wrong? Do I have some big problem?”
Cha Juheon’s hesitant attitude made me wonder if something went wrong with the pregnancy. After shaking his head several times to reassure me, he who had been hesitating opened his mouth.
***
While hearing that the reason I was sick was a problem with our pheromone rapport, the doctor came in and gave additional detailed explanations before leaving. Thanks to that, I could understand easily too.
So the reason I was sick was because of a lack of Cha Juheon’s alpha pheromones. There were several coats that he’d given me with pheromones rubbed on them, but we were both busy so we took it lightly and stopped doing it.
That’s why this trouble happened. Also, the more I heard Cha Juheon’s story, the more I understood my strange physical condition all this time. I finally realized why my condition was good when I was with Cha Juheon. When I was with Cha Juheon, my light body and good condition were all not my imagination. Just the subtle pheromones of Cha Juheon that came out naturally in daily life had a good effect on my body.
“From now on, I think we need to pay as much attention as possible to Eunwoo-ssi’s body above all else. If something like this happens again, it’ll be really dangerous.”
“Right… If I’m sick, the baby’s condition probably won’t be good either. I should have paid more attention too…”
“I’m not worried about the baby right now. It’s Eunwoo-ssi. I’m only talking about Eunwoo-ssi’s health. Baby or surrogate, right now Eunwoo-ssi’s body comes first.”
Cha Juheon, frowning, emphasized that my health comes first. At Cha Juheon’s words that my body is more of a priority than the baby, my face reddened again unexpectedly. It doesn’t feel bad, but it’s the first time someone thought about my health, so in needless embarrassment, I immediately changed the subject.
“Th-then what method could there be? I should think about it now. It seems like a situation where everyone is comfortable when I’m healthy.”
“The best method is for us not to be apart and stay together.”
“Ah, not be apart and together… together…? What?”
Following the end of Cha Juheon’s words, I raised my voice at his words that we should stay together. What does this mean?
“How about staying together with me?”
At his serious attitude, I was speechless for a moment. I didn’t know exactly what he meant by living together. Is it like boarding together? It can’t mean dormitory life…
“What do you mean by that…”
“Eunwoo-ssi. Let’s stay together until the contract ends. I’m suggesting we live together for the time being.”
What…?
