-“Still, Director Ji, you must be really pleased with how well Jaekyung is doing. You have no idea how much we’ve been praising Jaekyung lately.”
The wife of the chairman of SON Bank brought it up as she elegantly sipped her tea.
The meal had lasted nearly an hour, and not once during that time had Jaekyung’s name come up. So when she suddenly mentioned him, he tensed in surprise, though he made sure it didn’t show.
“I’m flattered.”
Jaekyung quickly thanked her.
“I still have a lot to learn, but I’m grateful that the madams think so highly of me. This young man will eventually take over our gallery, so please continue to look after him and give him your support.”
-“Director Ji, don’t say that. You’re still so young and beautiful. It’ll be a long time before it’s Jaekyung’s turn.”
-“Thank you.”
When Director Ji bowed her head, saying that the compliment was more than she deserved, Jaekyung also lowered his head beside her.
-“Jaekyung, learn as much as you can under Director Ji. There are very few people with as much knowledge of art as she has.”
“Yes. I’ll work hard and learn as much as I can.”
-“Good. We have very high hopes for you going forward.”
“Thank you.”
-“Come to think of it…”
Of the three madams, the wife of the president of MISO Bank—the only male omega among them—ate a piece of traditional Korean confectionery while staring intently at Jaekyung, then opened her mouth.
-“Were you and Executive Director Han still not imprinted?”
Why was this subject coming up here?
Jaekyung lightly bit his lip before letting go. He had only just managed to put it out of his mind…
He was caught off guard.
“Yes. We haven’t been imprinted yet.”
Director Ji answered first, her voice relaxed. Unlike Jaekyung, who looked as though he might crumble at any moment, Director Ji never lost her poker face. With an elegant gesture, she refilled another madam’s empty teacup.
-“What does it matter if they haven’t been imprinted? As long as the two of them are happy together, that’s what matters. I told them to do it when the time comes that they both feel they truly need it.”
Everything she was saying was a lie. Even the warmth and sincerity that seemed to come through in her words were a lie.
But Jaekyung nodded anyway.
The other two madams nodded as well, apparently in agreement.
-“Then there’s no need to insist that they absolutely have to be imprinted these days… I’m sure Executive Director Han and Jaekyung will know what’s best for themselves.”
-“Exactly. Jaekyung, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Imprinting has its benefits, but there are drawbacks too.”
-“Drawbacks? An omega wouldn’t say that.”
The wife of the MISO Bank president frowned sternly and cut the other two madams off.
-“Especially male omegas. Pregnancy is already somewhat difficult for them… and you’re a recessive omega, aren’t you, Jaekyung? In that case, imprinting is essential. Besides, there are so many omegas in this circle who have their eyes on Executive Director Han… One little slip, and—”
He launched into an impassioned tirade, apparently about to pour out a whole string of remarks at Jaekyung, when the sharp sound of a teacup being set down hard on the table rang out.
It was Director Ji.
The gentle expression she had worn moments ago was gone. Her face had turned cold as she stared at the wife of the MISO Bank president.
The woman immediately clamped her mouth shut.
-“I would appreciate it if we could refrain from discussing matters that are too private to the family. This isn’t some gathering where ordinary neighborhood ladies sit around gossiping about rumors, is it?”
-“Th-that’s right. Of course.”
Jaekyung could see the woman backing down.
It was obvious that Director Ji’s mood had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
Somehow, Jaekyung had a feeling the ride home was going to be exhausting.
And sure enough, the moment they were in the car, Director Ji began berating him.
-“I’m so embarrassed I can’t even hold my head up.”
“I’m sorry.”
-“You. What exactly are you doing with Taeseok? Even if Taeseok says he doesn’t want it, you should be the one to make your feelings known forcefully.”
“I’m sorry.”
There was nothing Jaekyung could say other than that he was sorry.
Well…
I don’t know either.
She didn’t know, of course. Jaekyung hadn’t seen Han Taeseok even once since the promotion party where that incident had occurred.
He didn’t know whether Taeseok came home or when he left.
In the meantime, Jaekyung had gone through one heat cycle.
Naturally, he had taken suppressants when it came.
He didn’t want to face that day alone and miserable.
-“Are you going to the hospital properly?”
“…Yes.”
-“Good.”
-“Understood.”
“Come to think of it, next week is your injection day, isn’t it? You don’t have to come to the gallery that day. Just make sure you get your injection properly.”
So it is.
The day for his next injection was coming up.
It had already been two months.
Jaekyung let out a deep breath and gazed out the window.
The days continued to be loud and chaotic, full of commotion all around him.
But to Jaekyung, none of it could be heard.
None of it could be seen.
***
“Ugh—”
In the farthest stall of a spacious hospital restroom, with no one else around, Jaekyung collapsed to the floor while clutching the white toilet and continued vomiting.
He hadn’t eaten anything, yet he threw up even the little water he had managed to drink. Stomach acid rose into his throat, leaving a bitter taste filling his mouth.
“Ugh…”
Am I finally done?
Jaekyung picked up the bag that had been carelessly left on the floor and, using the wall for support, barely managed to stand. He went to the sink, rinsed out his mouth, and used the mouthwash he had brought along just in case.
After washing his face, he looked at himself in the mirror.
Even to his own eyes, he looked terrible.
Dark circles filled the area beneath his eyes, and his skin looked dry and dull.
It was obvious that if he showed up at the gathering looking like this, he would hear more unpleasant remarks. So he hurriedly booked a session at a massage shop, then sat down on one of the hospital sofas for a while to rest.
He had been receiving the same injection and taking the same medication every time, but lately, it had become unbearably difficult.
The time that came only once every two months was gradually becoming something he dreaded.
When he had consulted his professor about the vomiting, the doctor had explained that it was a strong injection and that, since the medication altered his hormones, such side effects could occur.
Jaekyung had assumed that was the reason.
But he was worried because instead of gradually getting better, it seemed to be getting worse.
“Phew…”
Once the nausea and burning in his stomach had eased somewhat, Jaekyung called his driver and got up. A car was waiting in front of the hospital entrance, and as soon as he got in, Jaekyung told the driver to take him to the massage shop before closing his eyes.
Today was the celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Gyeongsil Newspaper, a publication that had maintained a long-standing, close relationship with NI Company.
It was originally a function Han Taeseok was supposed to attend, but since he was currently overseas on a business trip, Secretary Oh had contacted Jaekyung and asked him to go in his place.
Jaekyung had tried to avoid going if possible, but then he remembered his promise to always take care of his responsibilities properly, so he agreed.
The problem was that today happened to be his injection day.
Whenever he received the injection, he felt unwell for the entire day and suffered through it. He had wanted to postpone it, but the hospital had told him that it worked best when administered regularly, so he had no choice but to get the injection as scheduled. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
And, as expected, he felt absolutely miserable now.
After arriving at the massage shop, he hurried through a massage session, then stopped by a department store and changed into the outfit Secretary Oh had prepared in advance.
But his legs trembled with every step.
He absolutely did not intend to let them see him like this.
The moment it had been confirmed that he and Han Taeseok had not been imprinted, just as Director Ji had warned, rumors had spread throughout their social circle. For months, Jaekyung had been subjected to strange looks and people deliberately picking fights with him.
There were even some people who seemed determined to humiliate him, to the point that Jaekyung found himself thinking Director Ji was relatively tolerable by comparison.
At first, their behavior had made him shrink into himself. But eventually, he realized that was exactly what they wanted, so he began carrying himself confidently instead, meeting every remark head-on.
But if he showed weakness again today, it was obvious that he would become several times more of a laughingstock and a target for ridicule than he was now.
Driver Seo pulled the car up to the main entrance of the hotel where the banquet was being held.
The door opened, and the moment Jaekyung stepped out, three tall men approached him.
They were betas.
“Mr. Jaekyung, we’ll be accompanying you today.”
Judging by their appearance, they seemed to be bodyguards.
Usually, bodyguards tended to blend into the crowd while pretending to be ordinary people. But today, the fact that they had approached Jaekyung so openly caught him by surprise.
He didn’t think they needed to go this far, but considering what had happened that day, perhaps it was better to have them around.
Naturally, entering the banquet hall with three men dressed head-to-toe in black drew plenty of attention.
The moment Jaekyung entered the banquet hall, he could feel people watching him and, as expected, the whispers beginning.
But Jaekyung straightened his back and walked in confidently.
He stopped in front of the guest of honor, Chairman Kim Jong-un, the honorary chairman of Gyeongsil Newspaper, and greeted him.
“Hello, Chairman Kim Jong-un.”
“Oh, and who might this be? You must be Executive Director Han’s mate…”
An elderly, white-haired man with his back completely stooped as he sat in a wheelchair warmly welcomed Jaekyung.
He beckoned Jaekyung closer, then took his hand firmly in his own.
“Hello, Chairman Kim Jong-un.”
“Oh, who do we have here? You must be Executive Director Han’s mate.”
The elderly white-haired man, his back completely stooped as he sat in his wheelchair, warmly welcomed Jaekyung. He beckoned Jaekyung closer and clasped his hand tightly.
“You must have gone through a lot to make it all the way here.”
“Not at all. It’s still Seoul.”
“As a matter of fact, Executive Director Han called earlier to apologize for not being able to attend today. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that the two of you are being so considerate. Have a good time here and get plenty of rest before you leave.”
Have a good time… and get plenty of rest… Is that even possible?
“Thank you.”
As soon as Jaekyung finished greeting the chairman and the other key figures, he was escorted to a large table and shown to his seat.
When Jaekyung sat down, the table had been completely empty. But one by one, people soon arrived and took their seats until the area around him was bustling with people.
Strangely, though, not a single one of them spoke to Jaekyung.
He had secretly hoped someone from Jaewang Group might be there, but there was only a congratulatory flower arrangement. It seemed Jaewang Group hadn’t sent anyone.
Why?
Attending an event like this would be good for the company as well…
And with the company’s stock price falling lately, along with several economic articles he had seen, it seemed as though the company had been unusually passive.
They had said that the reason they had arranged for Jaekyung to become involved with Executive Director Han in the first place was for the sake of the company…
Could something have happened?
It had also been quite a while since Jaekyung had called home.
I should give them a call sometime soon.
Jaekyung sighed and rose from his seat.
He had been there for about thirty minutes, greeting everyone who approached him and introduced themselves.
He figured he had done everything he was supposed to do.