“Hyung…”
“Seojun-ah, hey, your face…? Why are you suddenly like this?”
“It’s nothing, something… shocking happened. How’s the reaction to the article?”
“Ah! Right! I was going to tell you about that! The atmosphere has improved. Public opinion is flowing toward sympathizing with you too. If you publish a letter or statement to your fans soon, it should be fine. The CEO said so too.”
“Okay, got it. I’m going to go home now. That’s okay, right?”
“Huh? Yeah. Do that.”
Throughout the ride home, Seojun was very quiet. Jinwoo tried talking to him while gauging his mood, but Seojun only looked out the window without even giving small responses.
* * *
[I’m sorry. There’s no indication of a kidnapping at all. Furthermore, in the case of males, even if they’re omegas, missing persons reports can’t be filed immediately. At least 48 hours must pass…]
“No, does that make sense? A person has disappeared! I’m telling you I know who took Soohyun hyung!”
[Procedurally, it just can’t be done. If he doesn’t return by the day after tomorrow, then go to the nearest police box…]
Chaeho hung up before the police officer finished speaking. The signal indicating Soohyun’s location was still stopped at H Pharmaceuticals. Since he couldn’t get help from the police, he was the only one who could save Soohyun. He briefly thought of Choi Seojun but shook his head. Since Soohyun had left his house, Seojun was now someone unrelated to Soohyun.
‘Let’s wait for now. He won’t keep Soohyun hyung at the company.’
Chaeho parked his car near H Pharmaceuticals and stared intently at the building entrance. 6 PM. When quitting time came, employees appeared one by one. Chaeho waited only for Jang Seokhyeon and Soohyun to appear. But even past 7 o’clock, neither of them appeared.
‘There didn’t seem to be a back door…’
Chaeho circled the building to check if there were any other entrances or exits, but H Pharmaceuticals only had one entrance at the front. Chaeho decided to wait with more patience.
“!!!”
Around 8 PM, he saw a familiar face emerge from the building. There was Soohyun, clearly in poor condition at a glance, and a man tightly gripping his wrist. Chaeho recognized the man as Jang Seokhyeon and followed them with his eyes.
‘What should I do? There are too many people watching here. I should… follow them.’
Chaeho checked Soohyun’s phone location once more. Fortunately, it seemed he had his phone with him. Watching Jang Seokhyeon’s car depart, Chaeho followed behind.
* * *
“Have you sorted out your feelings?”
“……”
Seokhyeon’s face heading home was full of excitement and anticipation. To think a day would come when he’d go home with Soohyun again. Even after marrying and divorcing, Seokhyeon had always suffered from thirst. No one could quench Seokhyeon’s burning thirst. He’d had sex with omegas with strong pheromones, and tried mixing bodies with multiple omegas, but Seokhyeon could never be satisfied.
It seemed like Soohyun was the only one who could fill him.
“I bought some good wine. You used to like it. And…”
“I can’t drink alcohol. Because I take medication.”
Soohyun’s voice was cold.
“Ah. That panic medication… Right. But couldn’t you stop taking that now?”
“What… are you talking about?”
“I’ll help you so you don’t have to take it.”
Hearing the word “help,” Soohyun clenched his fists and trembled. It was such a nauseating thing to say that he almost laughed. When I started taking medication because of you…
“Help… you say? You’re crazy?!”
“That medication isn’t good for your body. You should quit it soon.”
He was infuriated by the man’s shamelessness. It wasn’t medication he wanted to take. It was medication he took to continue the life Jeongwon had left him.
“……”
Soohyun was about to say more but closed his mouth. If he ended up going to this man’s house like this, he might never be able to come out again… Soohyun thought of Chaeho. If he found out Soohyun had disappeared, he’d be more worried than anyone. But as long as Jang Seokhyeon was by his side, he couldn’t even send that child a small greeting.
“We’re almost there. I moved houses. I put care into the interior design too.”
A house that looked lavish at a glance came into view. The wall that seemed over 5 meters high was reminiscent of a massive castle. It was a luxurious house anyone would envy, but in Soohyun’s eyes it only looked like a prison to confine him.
“I decorated the inside with things you’d like… Argh!”
“Huk!!”
The moment Seokhyeon was about to enter his house’s parking lot, the car shook violently with a crashing sound. Seokhyeon, who was holding the steering wheel, screamed and bent forward, and Soohyun also screamed and curled up his body at the sudden situation.
CRASH—
Due to being suddenly rear-ended, Jang Seokhyeon, who hit his head hard against the steering wheel, lost consciousness. Soohyun shook his body, but there was no response.
“Wh-what do I do?”
Unlike Soohyun who was wearing a seatbelt, Seokhyeon wasn’t wearing one, and because of that, while Seokhyeon fainted from the sudden impact, Soohyun was able to maintain consciousness.
Soohyun opened the car door and rushed out urgently. Currently, Jang Seokhyeon was unconscious, and there was a car that had caused the accident from behind, so he might be able to request help.
“Soohyun hyung!”
“Chaeho-ya?”
Getting out of the car, Soohyun discovered that the person who had hit Seokhyeon’s car from behind was Chaeho. How did he know he was here? Soohyun took Chaeho’s hand and examined various parts of his body.
“How did you get all the way here… Are you hurt anywhere?”
“How can hyung ask about my well-being? Are you okay, hyung? Did anything happen?”
Looking at Chaeho holding his hand with a face that looked ready to burst into tears, Soohyun nodded along with saying he was okay.
“I’m fine. For now… But what happened here?”
“I was worried about hyung so I followed. There was no other way, so I just did what I could in a hurry… What about Jang Seokhyeon?”
“He seems to have fainted. He hit his head hard.”
“Really? Good. Then let’s go, hyung.”
Chaeho pulled Soohyun’s hand, but Soohyun stopped him.
“Hyung, why? We need to hurry!”
“That person seems hurt… Is it okay to leave like this? What about you?”
“Since I caused the accident, I’ll handle it. Let’s go first!”
Chaeho was stubborn about wanting to leave with Soohyun. But Soohyun was afraid that Chaeho might get hurt because of him, so he grabbed his wrist once more.
“Why? I said let’s go quickly.”
“If you, if you go like this right now… something big might happen. So when that person wakes up, talk to him and then go.”
“Soohyun-hyung!”
“Please… please do that. If something happens to you because of me, I won’t be able to face your parents.”
Chaeho swept his hair back in frustration and first put Soohyun in his car. Chaeho approached the driver’s side and knocked on the window, and when there was no response, he opened the car door.
“Jang Seokhyeon-ssi.”
“Kugh… ugh…”
“Jang Seokhyeon-ssi, please open your eyes.”
“What? You fuck…”
Seokhyeon, regaining consciousness, opened his eyes with difficulty. Then, realizing Soohyun who should have been next to him was gone, he looked around and his eyes met Chaeho’s.
“You! What the hell is this!”
“I made a mistake because I got a bit distracted. I’ve already filed an accident report with the insurance company.”
“What! Kim Chaeho, you!”
Chaeho was seeing Seokhyeon’s face for the first time today, but Seokhyeon seemed to already know Chaeho. However, Chaeho took out a business card from his pocket with an unconcerned face and held it out to him.
“I’m truly sorry about this. This is my business card, but it seems you already know me?”
“…What?”
“I have someone with me, so I’d like to handle this quickly.”
Seokhyeon staggered out of the car. Seeing Soohyun sitting in Chaeho’s car, sparks flew from his eyes. Chaeho blocked him as he rushed frantically toward Chaeho’s car.
“What! Get out of the way!”
“Do you have business with Soohyun-hyung?”
“What? You bastard!”
“Hyung is going to my house.”
Even while watching Seokhyeon’s face turn bright red, Chaeho didn’t bat an eye. Seokhyeon tried to push Chaeho aside to get to Soohyun, but Chaeho grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go.
“Kim Chaeho! Let go of this! Do you think you’ll be safe after this?!”
