"Are there side effects to manifesting? Not just being sick when you haven't manifested?"
"There are, aren't there? Side effects happen even when it's safely induced. Still, preparing for manifesting makes the possibility of side effects significantly lower, and the symptoms are milder."
She laughed it off, saying it was too much that I forgot every time, even though she explained it every time.
There were various side effects to manifesting. Starting with pheromone dysfunction, it could cause various physical problems, and even lead to mental issues. I had only thought about the side effects of not manifesting, so I was flustered and worried.
I calmed my uneasy heart without them knowing. I really made the right decision. Like she said, it's best to induce manifesting safely rather than suddenly manifesting and suffering from side effects. Good job, good job.
"And this is, not as a medical professional, but as an older sister who cares about you, I'm glad you said you'd manifest. If you hadn't, I would have scolded you right away."
"Why, why?"
"Living with a mated couple like Chairman Han and his wife would be comfortable because you wouldn't be affected by pheromones, but living with your hyung..."
Kim Yujin narrowed her eyes, trailed off, and looked at Han Jinheon. Han Jinheon was listening with his long legs elegantly crossed. With an indifferent face that didn't even care whether she suddenly looked at him or not.
I lowered my gaze from that handsome face to Han Jinheon's shoes. The regular shaking of his foot caught my eye for no reason. I wonder what he's thinking when I look at it.
"Living with an Alpha who isn't mated means you have to be prepared."
"Prepared?"
"Yeah, prepared. You're defenselessly exposed to your hyung's pheromones. You know about everyday marking, right?"
It was an unfamiliar term to a Beta like me, but I nodded because I wasn't completely ignorant.
Everyday scent-marking was the domain of those with traits. And except for cases where an Alpha intentionally marks an Omega because they want to possess them, marking was usually scent-marking.
Everyday marking meant that trace amounts of pheromones unconsciously emitted from unmated trait individuals rubbed off on their housemates. Even though this marking was socially widespread, it could be fatal to the Unmanifested depending on the situation and conditions. Especially bad for Unmanifested individuals who have no intention of manifesting. Even a trace amount could trigger manifesting.
If I were a complete Beta, it wouldn't have rubbed off on me. Only complete Betas were immune to another’s pheromones, which was the same as in the world I came from. That must have been why Lee Geumyeong had looked at me so suspiciously when she heard from Park Wonyoung that I smelled of an Alpha.
Kim Yujin pretended to whisper to me, but raised her voice. Giving a look to Han Jinheon, who was just standing there.
"Actually, it seems like you've already been marked a bit. I smelled Jinheon's scent when you came in."
Cool but somehow humid, sweet but smoky, a subtle scent.
"Now that you've decided to manifest, it's not a problem, but if that weren't the case, your brother would have gotten a beating from me."
I looked at Han Jinheon. Did he keep me by his side knowing the dangers of everyday marking?
I had a lot of thoughts. Han Jinheon didn't show any particular reaction this time either. This time, he stopped shaking his foot and was just regularly tapping the armrest of the sofa with his tattooed fingers. I really wonder what he's thinking.
I looked at Kim Yujin, passing by the bookshelf in the examination room. I wanted to ask something, but I was cautious because I was strangely aware of Han Jinheon.
"By any chance. If I want to live as a Beta?"
"As a Beta? You decided to live as an Omega, didn't you?"
"I will, but hypothetically. If I were to live as a Beta, is there no way to prevent manifesting from happening at all?"
Lowering the Omega ratio and raising the Beta ratio. If it's possible to trigger manifesting as an Omega, wouldn't it be possible to keep it as a Beta the other way around? That's what I was thinking.
"Of course, it's possible. Just like Omega manifesting, you can take medicine or get injections to stabilize by raising the Beta ratio, or you can just cut off the pheromone glands altogether. I don't recommend this."
"......"
"I've told you repeatedly. The general opinion in the Society of Trait Studies and among those with traits is that people who are genetically destined to manifest should manifest. Preferably when they're young and healthy."
"Since you have a secondary gender, do you think the same way? Do you think it's better for me to become an Omega?"
Even I could tell that I wasn't being objective. Unlike at first, I had completely lost objectivity now. My feelings for Han Jinheon and my desire for the building were smoldering and covering my heart.
But I knew it wasn't something to ask others, but wouldn't a doctor who knows my condition better than I do be different?
"When I think about your future health..."
As her closed lips parted, saliva was swallowed involuntarily. What will she say?
"It would be better to be an Omega than to be a Beta...! But your choice is the most important. Medical care can be provided in any way, and we can plan your future health management accordingly."
It was a bland statement that anyone could make as a third party. Still, the slightly Omega-leaning opinion was enough to make my heart flutter.
To be honest, it didn't really hit me when I came to the hospital. Even when I was getting my blood drawn, I was more focused on the fact that I had come here for an examination in an unfamiliar place than on the fact that I was here to plan my Omega manifesting, so I didn't think much about it. So I proceeded in a somewhat dazed state.
But after meeting Kim Yujin and having this conversation, I'm gradually realizing that I've decided to become an Omega. The fear I had forgotten about pheromones, heats, and pregnancy related to the trait rose to the surface and I became a little scared.
"Enough with the useless conversation. When will the results be out?"
Han Jinheon came up behind me and I looked back at him. He seemed very displeased with us, and a crease was forming between his eyebrows. His hand came up on my shoulder and added weight. It was clearly an act of pressuring me to stop chatting, but on the contrary, my shoulders felt cool and my tension was relieved.
"Why are you rushing me so much? It's not like the hospital will give me the results faster if I rush them.... Ah, the results are out. Wait a minute. Let me take a look."
Kim Yujin immediately pulled up the results and started looking at them intently. Han Jinheon was still standing behind me, massaging my shoulders. I looked back at him again.
"Why."
"I was wondering why you're standing behind me..."
"To make you stop talking."
"I wasn't talking that much..."
And it was a necessary conversation as a patient.
"When I gave you a chance to back out, you didn't say anything, and now that we've come this far, I'd be upset if you said you wouldn't. Beta or Omega, it's not too late to say something after seeing the numbers."
You shouldn't be fooled by his calm voice. He was in a state where he wouldn't let me get away with it if I tried to make it like it never happened or cancel what I said now.
I couldn't raise my voice because of the pressure of the examination room. And there was the burden I felt from Han Jinheon's hand on my shoulder. With my presence shrinking, I quietly waited for the doctor's words.
Soon after, she read the results as a whole and picked out only the things she needed to say.
"The hormone levels and concentrations involved in the trait are generally at a good level on average. So are the other numbers.... Except that your hemoglobin level has dropped slightly compared to the previous result. Get an iron supplement."
"Okay. What about the trait ratio?"
"The trait ratio has also changed. Is it because you two live together?"
"How has it changed?"
"In the last test, it was 60% Beta and 40% Omega. Now it's exactly half and half. This kind of number is rare, but Han Sol is pulling it off."
"Half and half. I've heard that number before."
"You've heard it before? From who?"
Han Jinheon briefly explained to Kim Yujin what had happened. He left out Lee Geumyeong and just said that he had accidentally gotten a test at a certain hospital and heard that the result was half and half. He wasn't very interested because it was the same number as before.
I felt the same way, but I was impressed by one thing. The ratio is affected just by being together.
"If something like that happens, tell me in advance. As your doctor, I need to know."
Kim Yujin said firmly. And continued to explain.
"We usually see 70% as the limit. If it reaches 80%, it's irreversible. manifesting will be right around the corner, and it will already be too late."
"80%? Not 100%?"
80% was a narrow range compared to 100%, even if it wasn't 70%. That meant that manifesting could come pretty soon. I became a little uneasy.
"It becomes 100% after manifesting when Omega pheromones are released."
"So if it's really just 80%, manifesting could come at any time..."
"Yeah. On average, manifesting comes when it's over 80%. Now that the ratio is half and half, this may be the last chance to decide on a path. Because the ratio can change quickly without you knowing."
Even though she said that, Kim Yujin smiled, saying that since I had already decided to become an Omega, let's talk about the manifesting induction plan. I rolled my eyes and glanced at Han Jinheon. I felt like if he wasn't here today, I would have asked for time to decide on a path. I might have run away like that.
The manifesting induction plan wasn't anything special. It was the same as what I had heard from Han Jinheon. I would take medicine to induce manifesting and frequently be exposed to Alpha pheromones.
I could even get injections if I wanted. But injections were recommended for people who wanted to achieve manifesting quickly. Usually, you would choose one of the two, either taking medicine or getting injections. People who don't believe in these prescriptions seemed to just be exposed to Alpha pheromones.
"The sooner the better, but I hope you manifest healthily."
Due to Han Jinheon, who expressed his opinion instead of me, who was silent, I was considering three methods.
She said she would prescribe a month's worth of medicine first, and I should take it twice a day, morning and evening. For injections, I could come to the hospital twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, or call for a house call, but she recommended coming to the hospital if possible. If I came to the hospital, I would have the advantage of being able to have a brief consultation with her. As for pheromones, she said to find a suitable Alpha.
I've already found one. An Alpha named Han Jinheon.
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