‘Severe panic disorder….’
It was Soohyun’s illness that Seokhyeon already knew about. The incident that made him, who had become sick in body after losing his alpha, also sick in mind. Seokhyeon smiled bitterly as he recalled that time.
‘The medication… the dosage has decreased.’
Soohyun, who had once taken medication almost to the limit, had recently been reducing the amount. Although Seokhyeon didn’t have much medical knowledge, he noticed from the numbers written on the prescription that Soohyun was reducing his medication.
—Rode a bus (about 15 minutes)
—Rode in a stranger’s car besides acquaintances’ cars.
—Able to go to spaces that aren’t too crowded.
Every record meant that Soohyun was getting better. Seokhyeon wasn’t happy at all seeing such records.
“Why… why now? Why the hell!!”
Bang—!
Seokhyeon’s fist struck the desk as if to split it. Although better than before, once Seokhyeon got angry, it was too hard to control himself. Soohyun, who hadn’t changed much despite all his efforts, was changing after merely meeting an actor trash like Choi Seojun.
Seokhyeon had first met Soohyun at a cafe he had stopped by by chance and fallen for him at first sight.
‘I’m sorry. I’m not in a position to meet anyone right now.’
‘Lee Soohyun-ssi, I’m asking for a chance.’
Soohyun pushed Seokhyeon away, but he liked that what was reflected in those eyes was himself. Seokhyeon persistently chased after him. Until receiving his assignment as director, Seokhyeon acted like Soohyun’s shadow, trying to win his heart. Sometimes he gave him flowers, watches, or clothes as gifts, but Soohyun wasn’t swayed at all.
‘Soohyun-ssi. This is the first time in my life I’ve put this much effort into something. Can’t we even have one meal together? I didn’t eat anything all day because I wanted to eat with Soohyun-ssi.’
‘Then… just a meal….’
That was the beginning. The day Soohyun showed a gap in his heart to Seokhyeon. Seokhyeon only learned later that he, who had seemed cold, was actually a very affectionate person, and that he was simply living a life that wasn’t really living due to the shock of losing his alpha in an accident.
Of course, Soohyun hadn’t brought up such stories first. It was something Seokhyeon learned by having people dig into his past because he wanted to know everything about him.
‘Soohyun-ssi. Can I hold your hand for a moment?’
‘What? I… I….’
That day was a date sitting side by side watching the night sky. After eating at a fancy restaurant and tilting cocktail glasses while sitting at a rooftop bar, Seokhyeon gently held Soohyun’s hand. His long, slender fingers had no knuckles, and the back of his hand was soft like silk.
‘I like you. Lee Soohyun-ssi. The moment I saw Soohyun-ssi. So in 3 seconds, I think I fell for you.’
‘Seokhyeon-ssi… I….’
Before Soohyun could say anything, Seokhyeon grabbed his face and kissed him. A faint alcohol scent was felt through the slightly parted lips.
‘Where have you been hiding all this time to appear in front of me only now?’
‘…What?’
‘I’m saying it’s unfair. That I lived until now without knowing Soohyun-ssi….’
After meeting Soohyun, Seokhyeon cleaned up his messy lifestyle. Even Seokhyeon’s father was surprised to see him suddenly change, when he was a playboy who swung his dick around at any omega regardless of gender.
‘Seokhyeon-ssi… I….’
‘Soohyun-ssi, I want to spend the night together. I don’t want to send you home.’
Seokhyeon had never once made a pitiful request to someone over night affairs. There were plenty of men or women who would spread their legs if he wanted. However, that day Seokhyeon asked Soohyun to spend the night together for the first time in his life.
‘Ah….’
Seokhyeon knew that acting more desperate worked better on Soohyun than pushing strongly. Hoping that he, who was soft-hearted, would waver more, Seokhyeon held his hand and even deliberately acted out trembling legs.
‘See me trembling now? Whew… I feel like my heart is going to burst.’
As Seokhyeon wanted, Soohyun spent the night with him that day. Soohyun’s wet hair after just showering, his face drawing gentle curves, his deep eyes and pink lips. And even his beautiful body as if sculpted by an artist. Seokhyeon was ecstatic thinking he had finally gotten him in his hands.
A sensitive body that reacted to his touch and got wet easily. Even the beautiful face gasping with heated breaths beneath him. Everything was perfect.
‘Soohyun-ssi… your pheromones…?’
‘……’
But no matter how much he poured out pheromones, no scent came from Soohyun’s body at all. When he’s this pretty, this lovely, his pheromones must be ecstatically fragrant. Seokhyeon felt like he hadn’t completely possessed him.
“Secretary Lee, make an appointment with Choi Seojun-ssi. Anything is fine. Something that bastard would like. Anything.”
[Understood.]
Seokhyeon, who had been immersed in old memories for a moment, turned his head again. To approach Soohyun, he had to use Seojun anyway.
‘There isn’t much time left. Soohyun-ah.’
Seokhyeon covered his eyes and smiled pleasantly.
* * *
“Soohyun-ssi, I have an appointment again today. I might be a little late.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Soohyun and Seojun were getting closer, albeit at a slow pace. At first it was awkward to sleep skin to skin with him, but now Soohyun had reached the point where he felt empty without him.
“I’m sorry for going out so often lately. Let’s go out on the weekend. The villa last time was nice…. No, should I book a hotel?”
“Seojun-ssi.”
“Yes?”
Soohyun straightened Seojun’s disheveled shirt collar. Before Seojun went out, Soohyun occasionally adjusted his appearance like this.
“I told you I’m fine right now. It’s enough. There’s nothing lacking.”
“I… I feel sorry. I want to do more of this and that…. Anyway, let’s go somewhere on the weekend. I’ll make plans. Okay?”
“Yes. Okay.”
When did it start? When Soohyun’s smile became natural. Whenever he saw the smile on his face, which rarely smiled, Seojun’s heart would beat as if pounding. The belief was born that if he worked harder, there would be a day when he too would recognize his sincerity.
Seojun’s efforts were not in vain. Like snow melting gently in a field greeting spring, Soohyun’s frozen heart also slowly melted away. Toward Seojun, who was honest without hiding his feelings and sometimes pure, Soohyun gradually opened his heart.
“Then I’ll be going. If I’m too late, I’ll contact you. You can sleep first without waiting.”
Soohyun hesitated for a moment and then muttered in a small voice.
“…I can’t sleep without you anyway.”
“What?”
“I said I can’t sleep without Seojun-ssi… anyway.”
Both Seojun’s face and Soohyun’s face heated up to the color of a ripe apple. Seojun stammered and said something vague, then scratched his head and left through the front door.
‘Really… why am I so excited even over nothing?’
* * *
“I hope I’m not calling busy Seojun-ssi too often for no reason.”
“Not at all, Director-nim. I’m coming out because I enjoy it too.”
Seojun and Seokhyeon were at a golf course on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province. Seojun didn’t have a great hobby in golf, but he had learned everything from golf to horseback riding and even archery for acting.
“As expected of a young person, you’re strong. I’m envious of how the ball extends straight.”
“Director-nim is beyond amateur level yourself.”
“This is the only exercise I do.”
Tak—
The two who had gone through all the holes naturally headed to the restaurant. He thought it would be a meeting close to entertaining, but the impression wasn’t like that at all. Seokhyeon was a much more down-to-earth person than expected and showed favor by paying for all the golf and other meal expenses.
“I feel like I’m receiving too much help.”
“You don’t need to think that way at all. I told you I’m a fan. There’s no one to hang out with me anyway. I’m grateful just that Seojun-ssi is spending time with me like this.”
Seokhyeon’s good-natured smile had the talent to make people around him comfortable. Even Seojun, who had often been told he had a good impression, was sick of Seokhyeon’s personality and appearance.
Handsome, the son of a conglomerate chairman, and single to boot. After manifesting as an alpha, Seojun had felt in his skin that life wasn’t fair. He thought he was pretty decent too, but compared to Seokhyeon, he was really feeling quite desperately these days that he was nothing. It was admiration beyond inferiority complex.
“When someone like Director-nim, who seems perfect, says such things, I don’t know what to do with myself. It seems like everyone would want to become close with Director-nim.”
“No way. Not at all. There are many things I regret and lack. In fact, there are far more things I can’t do. I couldn’t adapt to married life, which others do just fine, and even got divorced.”
Seokhyeon, who had been smiling throughout the conversation, smiled very painfully. For Seojun, who had never seriously considered marriage, it was difficult to understand his worries.
