“…”
“That’s why both parties must receive imprint cancellation. Unlike Omegas, Alphas don’t immediately receive pheromone influence even if imprinting is canceled. It’s because the trait itself is aggressive, so at most they just become a bit duller to others’ pheromones than before. But Omegas are a system that maintains bodily immunity with their own pheromones, so if they suddenly unilaterally lose the imprinted Alpha, a trait abnormality occurs. Then it causes pheromone abnormalities and affects the body in some way.”
Facts he’d been putting off not wanting to know until now entered his head with an easy explanation. According to the explanation, the pheromones that had been blocked by imprinting suddenly opened, causing sudden changes in the body and resulting in side effects.
“Then the longer the imprinting period… the worse it is.”
“That’s right. If the imprinting period was long, it means the organ that had been suppressed that long suddenly opened, so it’s difficult to predict how it will run wild. Dizziness and vomiting are really minimal side effects, and in severe cases, there can be sudden anemia, hemorrhaging, or fainting. If you take medicine or receive treatment it will get a bit better, but it’s not a fundamental solution.”
“It’s really a time bomb…”
It was clearly something he’d heard the first time too, but to only feel it now. Muyoung himself thought he was quite dull. But at those words he unknowingly recited, Lim Hyunsu had a more surprised expression instead.
“It’s fortunate you realized it now. You said you haven’t felt others’ pheromones since imprint cancellation until now, right? But looking at the values after just collecting blood, though still faint, they’re descending toward the stable range.”
“Ah, yes. I still haven’t felt them… Nothing changed except hurting.”
In the graph right next to it pointed to with the pen tip, he could definitely confirm a bar with lower values than last time.
“Prescribing medication is merely gradually controlling it before abnormalities come to the body. This category doesn’t directly improve with medication, so it’s good to know the reason it became like this and respond…”
Lim Hyunsu, who had been thinking for a moment, casually asked Muyoung a question while writing down several things on the screen.
“Do you happen to have an Alpha you frequently contact recently?”
“…Pardon?”
Muyoung, who had been looking at Lim Hyunsu with surprised eyes at the sudden question, blankly asked back. His startled heart felt like it was racing fast, unable to calm down.
“I asked the question wrong. I’m asking if there’s an Alpha in a relationship where you have skinship or are deliberately exposed to pheromones, or have sexual relations.”
“…Ah, does that become a problem?”
At the worried voice lest he hear negative words, Lim Hyunsu shook his head. With a lightly smiling face, the continuing words had not a speck of ulterior motive, so rather only the listening Muyoung had to feel embarrassment.
“No, it means you’ve improved. It would be good if the relationship continues frequently and regularly. Spending cycles together…”
The words unusually recommending sex were awkward yet he mechanically nodded, which was also strange. Somewhere in his belly was ticklish. Not knowing what to reply, he was like this, but it felt like he was implicitly plotting something behind Dowon’s back. To Muyoung, who pointlessly looked down only at his fingertips, the conclusion was driven in like a wedge.
“If you actually imprint with that partner, there would be no worries either.”
It was a very troublesome and difficult answer.
Can we have dinner together?
Before going out to the meeting place, he sat in the room and quietly continued thinking.
Han Dowon
You mean a meal?
I didn’t expect to hear you say to meet first. I should make time even if I don’t have it.
Of course it’s fine.
Sending a text asking Dowon if they could meet on the way back from the clinic was impulsive. Rather, it was Muyoung who was flustered by the noticeably delighted answer. Though they couldn’t meet today right away because of busy work, even while making an appointment for a few days later, Dowon’s meticulous consideration repeatedly checking the schedule was even compared to himself. It was text content that would be believable even if he said it was a meeting Dowon had suggested, not himself.
He’d barely finished with the story of seeing each other at mealtime. Thanks to a few lines of Dowon’s answers that seemed more excited than meeting face to face directly, laughter flowed out even while checking the text again.
Usually he was someone who always seemed to have more weight than himself, and because of the dominant feeling that came from the position itself, would it be strange to say that such moments where this somewhat difficult person suddenly appeared seemed… cute?
He’d had more thoughts for a few days after going to the hospital. It was because the fact Muyoung had been trying to forget hit him as reality. Just because he didn’t feel discomfort about his trait didn’t mean others’ pheromones didn’t exist around him at all. He hadn’t thought about that point at all even while mixing bodies together because he couldn’t feel pheromones. But as it came out in the diagnosis, his body was already receiving help from Dowon, from his pheromones.
‘It’s visible on ultrasound too. You can see here, right? The place that was swollen as if damaged has subsided a bit. It calmed down temporarily at least by being influenced by the Alpha’s pheromones.’
He probably said that believing he had a subject with whom he was in a steady relationship. For himself who couldn’t quite decide and was putting off everything vaguely, it stirred up guilt in various ways. He’d already received quite big help beyond everyday life. Even setting that work aside, he couldn’t ignore that he was feeling special emotions toward Dowon.
To give at least the answer he was postponing, he had to spill all the facts he hadn’t revealed. Even if the relationship became twisted or returned to the starting point entirely after that, they were ultimately things he had to bear.
Muyoung knew painfully well that not telling the truth until now was his own greed. The goodwill of others he’d faced after a long time was sweet and comfortable. He couldn’t ignore the affection he’d pleasantly faced.
‘However, since the recovering organ is trying to find its role, for now imprinting or spending a cycle is too much. I’ll prescribe medicine for now, but the suppression function will weaken considerably. You need to control it while watching the trend a bit sensitively. Instead, pheromones may suddenly run wild and you could be hit with a heat cycle. I’ll also prescribe emergency suppressants you can keep on hand to prepare for any unforeseen situation, so be especially careful.’
Moreover, a reason he could no longer retreat appeared. He hoped a situation would come where he could cope when alone, but the explanation urging caution rather said heat could come when jostling with other people. He couldn’t let the person he’d been closest with recently face an embarrassing situation first. He didn’t want to become such a person.
He’d already caused too much trouble for Dowon until now. Despite his resolution, Muyoung left for the meeting place, putting behind the heavy heart that still made him hesitate.
Though he gave the reason of wanting to treat him, Muyoung, who thought it was impossible to match Dowon’s tastes, chose the lounge at the hotel they’d first visited. It was because there weren’t many places he knew that couldn’t be easily approached by just anyone and where privacy was respected to a degree, as he’d been tipped off before. He thought he’d need some alcohol along with a comfortable meal to have a long conversation.
And though it was the worst imagination, even if Dowon got angry or was disappointed in him while listening to the story, if it was a place with people appropriately around, he might not waver too much. …Though the fact that he was even thinking like this seemed like he already had the worst ending in mind.
Muyoung forcibly stopped the negative thoughts that kept following. He let out a long sigh and moved his steps inside to resolve the situation he’d brought upon himself.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, a reservation for two under Lee Muyoung.”
“Confirmed. I’ll guide you to your seat.”
Walking slowly to the guided seat, he checked his appearance once again. With beige pants and a thin linen shirt, wondering if it looked too casual, he wore a thin light blue jacket. He judged it wasn’t a bad outfit at first glance, but as he was tense, he couldn’t help but look again. Fortunately, the dress shoes he usually didn’t wear much because they felt too formal fit his feet well. As much as this was a time to bring up the story he’d resolved to tell, he didn’t want to look foolishly young for no reason.
“We’ll guide your party when they arrive. Have a pleasant time.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After sending off the staff with a brief bow, he sat down and looked at his phone screen. There was no particular text from Dowon, whether he was on his way after finishing work on time.
Though he thought he could just comfortably talk as things were, apart from reason, the anxiety that kept popping up made him keep pressing the screen to check the time. Unable to endure even 1 minute passing and checking, he felt himself and eventually laid the phone face down on the table. He didn’t think he was like this even when he first acted. Feeling like he’d made a fuss alone, he ran his impatient hand over his face.
He reached for the glass of water prepared in front and moistened his mouth. Feeling the thirst fade a bit, he placed his hands neatly on the table and took a big breath in and slowly exhaled. He listened to the music filling the space. The piano sound spreading softly, not monotonously, calmed his mind a bit.
“Did you wait long?”
The man who leisurely approached from across met Muyoung’s eyes and grinned. Still in his classic suit outfit today, he sat down while unbuttoning his jacket. If there was anything different from usual, it was his bangs that had come down about halfway, which looked like intentional ease.
“I just came too. What should we do about the meal?”
“How about Muyoung-ssi? Are you very hungry now?”
“I’m, not. I ate lunch a bit late. CEO-nim should eat, right?”
“I’m fine too. Let’s order something simple together and eat. Is there anything you want?”
Dowon, who took care of the other person first as usual, was a bit excited. It was just that Muyoung wasn’t relaxed enough to notice such things. He was just gauging Dowon’s mood, thinking he had to spill everything today and confirm Dowon’s feelings.
“CEO-nim’s preference, please choose. Today I’m treating anyway…”
“Should I? Then is it okay if I eat a lot?”
“Of course, naturally.”
