As though gauging the traces scattered through the empty air, Yoon Haegang slowly drew in a breath. Just as a faintly sweet scent was about to flow into his nose—
“Oops!”
Along with the frivolous exclamation, a large cardboard box was set down on top of the desk. Yoon Haegang’s sharp gaze immediately dropped toward it.
Manager Kim, who hadn’t noticed him, cut through the tape with a box cutter and pulled the box open.
“The orchard back in the countryside sent us Summer King apples. Apparently the harvest was really good again this year, so they’re nice and plump, and they say the smell is incredibly sweet too.”
A fresh, tangy sweetness filled the open space. The scent completely smothered the faint trace that had been stimulating him just moments ago, and a shallow crease formed between Yoon Haegang’s brows. Only then did Manager Kim notice that his boss’s gaze had sharpened. Holding a bright green apple, he awkwardly tugged up the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, uh… the smell’s a little strong, right? I’ll put them away immediately, yes… and open the door too.”
Among alphas, Yoon Haegang had particularly well-developed senses. He was especially sensitive to smells, so they had to be careful around him, but Manager Kim had completely forgotten.
Concluding that his actions had irritated his boss, Manager Kim hurriedly closed the box. But naturally, the apple scent that had already spread through the air did not simply disappear.
Yoon Haegang merely twitched one eyebrow, then turned away without saying anything. Even after sitting down at his own desk, his expression remained cold.
He could no longer clearly tell what the raw, grassy scent of apples stimulating his sense of smell was supposed to mean. Even so, thoughts of Noh Seojin, who had left work because of a severe cold, did not easily disappear from one corner of his mind.
“Manager Kim.”
“Yes, yes. Boss. What is it?”
Manager Kim, who had quickly finished repacking the box, answered as he slid it off into a corner.
“Send me Noh Seojin’s file.”
At Yoon Haegang’s next order, his head snapped up.
“Seo-Seojin’s file? Why…?”
Hadn’t they been getting along perfectly well? Was he upset because Seojin had left early today after getting sick? No, if that were the case, he would have simply told him not to come in again. Why was he suddenly asking for his file?
The very fact that Yoon Haegang was asking for information on one of his employees was so unusual that Manager Kim’s brain began running at full capacity.
“No, forget it. Leave it.”
When his boss suddenly withdrew the order after building up so much tension, Manager Kim only became more uneasy. Yoon Haegang, who had no interest whatsoever in that fact, clicked his mouse.
He had decided it would be faster to check it himself rather than have it pass through someone else’s hands. The light of the monitor made his cool face look even colder.
Soon, information on Noh Seojin appeared on the screen. His gaze moved over the address, the extent of his assets, his previous work history, and eventually even the year he had joined the company, before stopping on his family relations, where only two people were listed.
Taking advantage of the fact that Yoon Haegang was now completely focused on his work, Manager Kim quietly picked up his phone. He swiftly hid his hand beneath the desk and tapped at the keypad.
[Me: Seojin, it’s me. How are you feeling? 11:11 AM]
The number 1 beside the sent message remained there even as the screen dimmed.
He really must be feeling pretty awful.
Manager Kim swallowed dryly and glanced at Yoon Haegang again. The moment Haegang looked as though he might turn his head, Manager Kim hurriedly faced his monitor and pretended to be working.
‘Let’s keep our heads down today.’
That was what his instincts were telling him.
Yoon Haegang was in a bad mood.
So he needed to be careful.
* * *
The muffled sound of the door lock engaging brushed past Seojin’s ears.
The house was dark and silent.
Dragging his heavy feet, Seojin went into Euni’s room.
His joints throbbed, and every breath felt hot. His eyelids were as heavy as lead, and all he desperately wanted was to lie down.
Barely managing to sit on the edge of the bed, Seojin let his body collapse.
‘I need to take the medicine.’
The doctor’s warning not to skip it briefly echoed in his ears, but his consciousness faded before he could act on it.
How much time had passed?
Seojin’s eyes suddenly flew open.
Before the chills and headache pressing down on his body, the first thing he became aware of was a faint, intensely sweet scent.
It had not drifted in from outside.
It was coming softly from his entire body.
“Ah, ah…”
The blood drained from Seojin’s face in an instant.
There was no denying it.
Omega pheromones.
He clenched the sheets tightly in both hands, then abruptly pushed himself upright.
Going out into the living room, he opened the bag he had carelessly tossed onto the floor and pulled out the medicine he had been prescribed. His fingertips were trembling so badly that he struggled for a long time just to tear open the small medicine packet. At last, he managed to pour the pills into his palm and swallowed them dry, without even getting water.
Cough, cough.
His dry throat refused to let the pills go down cleanly, making him cough. Seojin struck his chest and forced the medicine down, then waited for a long while, trembling with anxiety.
Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed.
Instead of weakening, the pheromones steadily saturated the air, making it feel heavier and damper.
Seojin squeezed his eyes shut.
The thick scent filling the entire house felt as though it might overturn the peaceful everyday life he had managed to maintain until now.
‘Once I can control my pheromones, the first thing I’ll do is hand in my resignation.’
The most urgent problem was putting distance between himself and Yoon Haegang, who could notice his condition at any time.
This was no longer something he could afford to keep dragging out.
To do that, he would probably have to tell Manager Kim in advance.
Even while feeling awful, Seojin sorted through the practical steps he needed to take, then pulled his phone from his pocket.
He froze when he saw the time displayed on the screen.
“Ah, Euni…”
It was already almost time for her to get out of daycare.
Coming fully awake, Seojin hurriedly sent Shin Seyoung a KakaoTalk message.
[Me: Seyoung, I’m really sorry, but could you help pick Euni up too? I’ll tell her teacher to let you take her home. 3:52 PM]
It was cutting things a little close, but if the daycare bus had not left yet, they should still be able to change the pickup location.
Seojin was about to hurry and call the teacher when Shin Seyoung’s reply arrived first.
[Seyoung: Hyung! Don’t worry about it. I was already on my way to the daycare as soon as my class ended anyway. I’ll go home with Euni. More importantly, how are you feeling? 3:52 PM]
Seojin stared at the final sentence for a long time before carefully tapping at the keypad.
[Me: You were right. They said it’s a heat cycle. So I don’t think I can stay in the same room as Euni for a while. Could she stay with you for a few days? 3:53 PM]
There was no way he could keep this from Shin Seyoung, so he had decided it would be better to tell him outright.
Even so, instead of admitting that he had only just manifested, he made the excuse that it was a heat cycle and added a request for help.
Seojin could feel his hands trembling uncontrollably from anxiety.
This was the first time he had told anyone about his secondary gender since his older sister.
That only made it harder to imagine how Shin Seyoung would react.
[Seyoung: I knew it! Okay. You helped me a lot during my heat cycles too, hyung. This time it’s my turn. Just explain things properly to Euni for me. Then I’ll head to the daycare first! 3:53 PM]
Seojin replied with a thank-you to Shin Seyoung for ending the conversation so considerately. He also sent the teacher a KakaoTalk message explaining that someone else would be picking Euni up today because of circumstances at home.
At that moment, as though warning him that he still had no reason to relax, the phone he had placed on the floor began vibrating violently.
Seojin’s gaze moved toward it automatically.
A new KakaoTalk message had arrived.
[Boss Yoon Haegang: Noh Seojin, I picked Euni up from daycare and have her with me. Contact me as soon as you see this. 3:55 PM]
Yoon Haegang was with Euni?
At that instant, Seojin’s vision went completely white.
* * *
Meanwhile, Shin Seyoung, who had run all the way to the area near Euni’s daycare as soon as his class ended, was breathing heavily.
“Haa… I’m not… haa… too late, right?”
He tapped the screen and saw that he still had some time to spare.
He hurriedly wiped his forehead and took a few moments to steady his breathing.
Seojin had probably contacted them in advance, but Shin Seyoung figured that both Euni and the teacher would feel more at ease if he looked calm and unhurried.
“Good!”
For the last time, Shin Seyoung drew in such a deep breath that his cheeks puffed out, then exhaled and walked toward the daycare.
However, what was waiting for him there was an unexpected sight.
“Huh? Why is that man…”
Euni was still holding her teacher’s hand.
Beside her stood a man who looked familiar, yet somehow inspired absolutely no sense of friendliness in him.
“Goodbye, Teacher!”
“Yes, Euni. But, um… do you know who this gentleman is?”
The teacher looked troubled.
Because Euni did not seem unfamiliar with the man at all, the teacher apparently could not simply send him away either.
First, Shin Seyoung needed to figure out exactly what was happening.
“Excuse me! Wait, wait a second!”
He hurriedly ran toward the two of them.