This morning was the same as any other. It began with me making breakfast.
Han Jinheon’s handsome face was as flawless as ever, but the breakfast I served was so simple it was almost embarrassing to call it a meal. There were times I felt ashamed to serve it to him, but he never made an issue of it.
Coming from a wealthy conglomerate family, he must have grown up eating only the finest, most delicious food. I’d assumed it would be difficult to cater to his palate, but to my surprise, Han Jinheon wasn’t picky at all.
He ate whatever I made without complaint, which made my job in the kitchen much easier. While I was grateful for that, my conscience pricked me for my lack of effort and poor attitude.
Once, I’d ambitiously tried to make a salad, only to mess up the dressing and ruin the entire dish. I’d been on the verge of tears, insisting we had to throw it all out, but Han Jinheon had gently chided me, “You worked so hard to make it, why waste it?” Then he proceeded to eat it without a problem.
‘It’s edible. You did well.’
Along with that simple praise, he’d playfully ruffled my hair, and honestly, my heart had skipped a beat. I’m certain anyone, even the original Han Sol, would have felt the same.
If he hadn’t been my brother, I would have thrown my arms around him then and there. His mature charm was a direct hit to my heart.
***
“So, you don’t need the card?” Han Jinheon asked, daintily wiping his lips.
“Yeah. I thought about it, and it just doesn’t feel right.”
For me, “thinking about it” was a refusal. To be precise, saying “I’ll think about it” was my polite way of saying “I have no intention of doing it” or “I don’t want to right now.” Still, I had spent the previous night carefully considering my decision so I wouldn’t have any regrets.
My decision was to let the card go. It wasn't mine to begin with, so I had no lingering attachments. If I had at least touched it or used it once, I might have known what I was missing and felt a pang of regret.
Han Jinheon stroked his cleanly shaven chin. His eyes, which had narrowed for a moment as if suspecting I wanted something else, returned to their normal size.
“It’s an unexpected decision, but I understand your intention. You’re saying you’re so against becoming an Omega that you’d turn down the card.”
“It’s less that I’m against it and more that I’m scared…”
The conclusion I’d reached after contemplating the transformation into an Omega was fear. Sure, since I was already possessing this body, I could try living as an Omega. But that was only if the body I possessed had been an Omega from the start.
Whether before or after possessing this body, I had only ever lived as a Beta. The thought of my body suddenly changing into a different dynamic felt deeply unsettling. I would have hesitated even if it were just a change on paper.
Becoming an Omega meant I would be able to smell pheromones and experience heat cycles. According to Han Jinheon, I could even carry a child. These were immense physiological changes for me. I was already stressed enough; I couldn't handle the additional burden that would come with a trait transformation.
Am I being too weak?
“You have a lot to be scared of. You’re afraid of becoming an Omega, but you’re fine with having no money? You, Han Sol?”
“I can earn money, but I can’t change my traits back. It’s not like I can just return to being a Beta… I’d have to live my whole life bound by pheromones and heat cycles.”
I knew those two factors typically diminished an Omega’s quality of life.
Han Jinheon crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“It doesn’t have to be for your whole life. You can just imprint.”
Right, there was that strange thing called imprinting. I’d heard that if you imprinted, you could only smell your partner’s pheromones and could only resolve your cycles with them.
“That’s also… For Betas, if a marriage ends, you get a divorce and it’s over. But imprinting isn’t like that. You can’t break an imprint easily, and even if you do, the side effects are severe… I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right for me.”
I was just about to put the last piece of toast in my mouth.
“Perhaps it’s because you watched my mother…”
His words were a low murmur, easily missed if one wasn’t paying attention. By “my mother,” he must have meant his deceased mother. What did he mean, “because you watched my mother”?
The mention of his late mother made me serious, but Han Jinheon, in contrast, took a sip of water to wet his lips and smirked mockingly.
“It’s not because you want to meet this man and that man, so you don’t want to imprint, is it? It’s not enough to just live a chaste life. Your thoughts can’t be loose, either.”
“What kind of thoughts are considered loose? The way you talk… The important thing is, I’m not interested. Unless it’s a life-or-death crisis, I have no intention of becoming one.”
“You’ll want to, eventually, even without a life-or-death crisis. It’s not for nothing that I’m keeping you around, you know.”
“Huh?”
“The food was delicious.”
With those meaningful words, Han Jinheon stood up and ran his large, warm hand through my hair, messing it up. His face was indifferent, as if to say, 'Here, I’ll grant you this much', but my heart still pounded. I wished he would do it a little longer.
Damn it. I think I’m starting to like this skinship a little too much.
***
‘Hyung-nim. Have a good day at work. Koreans get their strength from rice, so please be sure to eat a hearty lunch.’
Recalling Han Sol’s formal morning farewell, the corners of Han Jinheon’s mouth crept upwards.
“Ha…”
A sound that was half sigh, half stifled laugh escaped him. He’d managed to swallow the laugh that threatened to burst out, but he couldn’t suppress it completely. Unfortunately, it happened in the middle of a meeting, and everyone else had to exchange wary glances, trying to decipher its meaning.
Han Jinheon composed his features, returning to his usual impassive expression as he politely listened to the presentation. But it didn't last a minute. The image of Han Sol bowing deeply, hands clasped over his stomach in a gesture of utmost respect, flashed in his mind again, and he had to clench his jaw to keep from smiling.
He had no idea why Han Sol was mimicking that kind of speech. When he’d offered him the card yesterday, Han Sol had looked thrilled, saying something about respecting him. Jinheon had wondered if he wanted something this time, too, but Han Sol had merely tilted his head and said there was no special reason. He just wanted to try a different greeting for a change.
Truthfully, when Jinheon had asked if he wanted something, he’d expected him to say money. Or perhaps a card without the condition of Omega expression.
Han Sol was a kid who lived for money. He and his mother had lived without a penny to their names until he was fifteen, when he miraculously became the second son of the HANQ family and was thrust into the life of the newly rich.
At first, he didn’t know how to spend money, but he soon got a taste for it and started causing trouble. He began to believe that money could buy people and even love, and he failed to exercise any restraint. The dangerous attitude that money could solve anything had come to dominate him.
It wasn't that money couldn't solve everything. After all, Jinheon had thought he could entice Han Sol with it. Still, his spending habits shouldn’t have been so reckless. If he’d been the type to use money to improve his life in a positive manner, Jinheon might have considered leaving him a small amount.
He was on his way back to the executive office.
Song Hyeon-oh briefed him on his remaining schedule. There was a lunch meeting with the executive director of Jungshin Construction, followed by a video conference with stakeholders regarding the newly approved new city development project.
“And…”
Secretary Song hesitated before mentioning the last item on the schedule.
Han Jinheon stopped walking and looked at him. As soon as those dark eyes were on him, Secretary Song continued.
“You have a dinner appointment with Mr. Cha Seonmin.”
“A dinner appointment with Seonmin? Was that today?”
Remembering the forgotten dinner, a frown creased Han Jinheon’s brow. He had been the one to ask for the appointment to be made, but he’d completely forgotten about it. Seeing his rather surprised expression, Secretary Song gave a slow nod. It was indeed today.
“Yes. The restaurant reservation has been finalized, just as you requested. The restaurant called to confirm if you would be coming today and to ask what time would be best.”
In other words, he needed a firm answer on whether Jinheon would be meeting Cha Seonmin or not.
Han Jinheon couldn’t postpone this. The appointment had been made about a month ago, on the day he had gone to Jeju Island to retrieve Han Sol.
Cha Seonmin had been busy for the entire month, having gone abroad for a new film shoot. He had said he would be back in a month, and they had agreed to meet then. That day had already arrived. It was today.
Postponing it on the day of would be difficult, and more importantly, Jinheon had something to discuss with him—a matter that needed to be definitively concluded.
“Confirm it, and just in case, contact Seonmin’s side as well.”
“Mr. Cha Seonmin’s agency has already contacted us. He arrived back in the country this morning and asked what time you would be available for dinner.”
“Punctual as ever. Six o’clock should be good.”
“Understood. I will contact the restaurant and Mr. Cha Seonmin’s representative.”
They started walking again. Upon entering the executive office, Han Jinheon took off his jacket and hung it up. No sooner had he sat down and rolled his shoulders than Secretary Song entered. He pushed up his glasses, which glinted under the lights, and reported.
“We’re confirmed for six at Maehwa Hall. Mr. Cha Seonmin’s been notified and agreed. I’ll finalize the schedule accordingly.”
“Secretary Song, do you have plans tonight?”
“No, sir. Were you hoping I would join you for your appointment with Mr. Cha Seonmin?”
Although Song Hyeon-oh was Han Jinheon’s personal secretary, he tried to stay out of private matters like those involving Cha Seonmin. He had naturally assumed he wouldn’t be attending, but the sudden question made him wonder if today was an exception.
It wasn't frequent, but there were occasions when he joined them, usually when Cha Seonmin felt uncomfortable meeting one-on-one out of consideration for Kim Gyuyeong.
“Not me. I was hoping you’d keep Han Sol company.”
“Sir?”
“Take him out for a decent dinner. Korean beef, or something else nice.”
“With Han Sol-ssi, sir? Me?”
“Right. He doesn’t take care of his meals when he’s by himself… I know how you feel about Secretary Song, so feel free to turn it down if you’d rather not. But if you’re willing, I’ll add a bonus to your pay.”