#55
After checking the time, Han Jinheon said he had to get going and picked up his coat. He gave a soulless thank you for her valuable time, and she let out a refreshing laugh. Always so sarcastic.
Kim Yujin followed Han Jinheon out of the consultation room and stood in front of the Department of Genetic Traits. Just before they parted, she re-emphasized the reason for their meeting today. While she was surprised that Han Jinheon and Han Sol were not siblings, she had to focus on what was important.
“The important thing is that you made an excuse to Han Sol… no, it’s not just an excuse, I’ve ended up lying as well.”
“Get your words straight. It’s not a lie.”
“It is a lie. If I didn’t know at all, it would be one thing, but now that I know, I’m deceiving him along with you.”
'Is that so.' Han Jinheon was quick to concede. He was quick to admit things that weren't worth getting worked up about. Kim Yujin looked around and spoke in a lowered voice.
“Anyway, just try to do it well. I still don’t understand why you, of all people, have to be the one to give him pheromones… but since you’ve made the bombshell confession that Han Sol isn’t even your brother, it’s not like I can stop you.”
“……”
“Instead, just give him enough so that the pheromones don’t accumulate too much. Don’t go as far as a pheromone shower, okay?”
'A pheromone shower.' Han Jinheon thought of Han Sol and answered indifferently. 'Though, from time to time, I do feel the urge to release enough pheromones to make Han Sol collapse.'
“I’ll handle it.”
“Please, just handle it. And can I ask you for a favor?”
She smiled, begging him to please attend the hospital’s Christmas event and make a donation. She said he could refuse if he didn't want to, but her way of subtly prodding his conscience by saying, “Are you really going to be like this when we’re in the same boat?” was detestable.
But he couldn't refuse.
“Please, do me this favor. My position is on the line these days because of your new stepmother. She’s using the fact that I hid Han Sol being a non-manifested person to rally even the hospital director and suffocate me…!”
At her genuinely troubled words, Han Jinheon let out a sigh. A sincere irritation at the woman who wasn't even present surged within him.
***
Han Jinheon really screwed me over after I had been tense all day. He said a sudden dinner meeting came up, so he would be home late from work.
'What if he really takes my pants off today.' This thought had been with me from the moment I opened my eyes this morning, through the afternoon when I took Kim Yujin’s call, and until the sun began to set. I had been on edge, letting my mind run wild with all sorts of shameless fantasies since, even though I was a virgin, I knew what was what. And what did he say? A meeting came up, so he’s coming home late?
For me, who had been conscious of nothing but his return time, the air was completely let out of my sails. To exaggerate, it felt like my entire day had been invalidated, leaving a bitter taste. It would probably stay this way until the disappointed expectation was erased from my heart.
I wasn't planning on having dinner separately. Han Jinheon had told me to eat something hearty with the card he gave me, but I wasn't hungry because I'd had cookies. I tried to skip it secretly, but he miraculously anticipated that I would do this. Secretary Song came by with food, just like before. He isn't the person in charge of me like Secretary Jeong Seongwoo, and I feel terribly sorry for making him do work outside of his duties because of me.
Why on earth does he have someone else bring me my food? I can eat by myself, I’m just not eating because I’m not hungry. It's not like I can tell him, "If you have no feelings for me, then please don't take care of me like this."
What Secretary Song brought this time was a clear beef and radish soup. When he said he bought it because he thought I liked it, I could only repeat my thanks. The Han Sol from before I was transmigrated must have liked it. I wasn't particularly fond of it, but I ate it diligently out of respect for his effort.
It was just before Secretary Song, who had been taciturn the whole time I was eating, was about to leave the mansion. He spoke, his eyes behind squeaky-clean glasses flashing sharply.
“Even if you were to be gifted the building, I didn’t think you would decide to become an Omega. I also didn’t know that you were a non-manifested person, Han Sol-ssi.”
“If even you didn’t know, Secretary Song-nim, it seems my brother did a good job of keeping it a secret… But honestly. Does it… look bad…?”
“It’s not that. It’s just surprising to learn something I didn’t know. The standards for an individual’s choices are never absolute.”
'If someone offered me a building on the condition that I become an Omega, I would do it too. Omega rights have improved remarkably compared to the past, and it’s no longer a trend in chaebol families to enforce the duty of giving birth to an Alpha.'
The corners of my mouth lifted at Secretary Song's words. I could feel that this man, who never shows his emotions, was comforting me in his own way. But my smile faded when an unwelcome topic came up.
“However, the Chairman is unaware of this decision, isn’t he? The fact that you hid being a non-manifested person and that you are receiving a building on the condition of manifesting as an Omega… Furthermore, there was that day when the Executive Director injured his right hand. I am concerned that all of this might reach his ears.”
As Han Jinheon’s right-hand man, Secretary Song knew everything. From the fact that I was on bad terms with Chairman Han to the day I was dragged away by Lee Geumyeong, he knew it all. Perhaps because of that, I was at a loss for words and could only manage a smile that conveyed my agreement.
After seeing Secretary Song off, I was alone and went straight to my room. I flopped down on the bed and checked the last message I received from Han Jinheon. He had told me about the meeting over the phone, so the last remaining message was about a different topic.
Jinheon hyung
[You heard from Dr. Kim, right?]
[I don’t have a single thought of hurting you, so trust your hyung]
[No trust, no building] 2:45 PM
My lips pouted as I mulled over the message. 'If you're going to tell me to trust you, you shouldn't have brought up the building. The building isn't premised on trust, it's premised on me manifesting as an Omega.'
Come to think of it, I had only read it and hadn't replied. I remember just glaring at the screen earlier, just like now, and then moving on. He’s probably busy with his meeting right now. I know that, but I wanted to tease him. I also know very well that he’s not the type to be affected by my teasing.
…Honestly, I missed him as much as I had been thinking about him all day. I want to whine and ask why he's at a meeting when I want to see him quickly, but I have no reason, no justification.
If there was anything I could say, it would only be, "You said there's no problem between brothers, so why aren't you here?" Yes, that was it.
[You said you were gonna take my pants off]
[Come and take them off before I wash up (poking tongue out)] 7:48 PM
The message, sent cautiously while rekindling my expectations, had its ‘1’ disappear faster than I thought. He read it, so a reply or a call should come.
“……”
My waiting hands became restless. There was no contact from Han Jinheon.
The other party had no intention, but I feel like I've been screwed over twice on my own. Making me wait and then coming home late, that’s understandable for a working person, but he blatantly leaves my message on read? I want to complain that I'm upset, but I was the one who ignored him first. I've lost face.
I don't know who to be sulky at. With a pouting face, I put down my phone and turned my back. I pulled an extra pillow over and buried my face in it, squeezing my eyes shut.
I didn't want to sleep, but I fell asleep. I dislike sleeping early because it feels like wasting more time than others, so I had planned to just lie down for a bit and then get up to wash or do something, but sleep came unwittingly.
I probably would have slept straight through until morning, but I knew the reason I woke up midway.
I kept sensing an unidentified presence next to me. Who could it be? The question was quickly answered. A body scent wafted gently whenever someone moved. I knew this scent very well.
The sweet smell of coconut. It was the coconut-scented body wash provided in this mansion.
“Hyung…?”
I called for Han Jinheon, rubbing my eyes. Instead of answering my sleep-laced voice, he lay down next to me and clumsily brushed my hair back. Perhaps to avoid waking me completely, I could feel his touch trying to be gentle from time to time, and the corners of my mouth twitched.
Ah... this feels so good....
I fully enjoyed his touch and strained my blurry vision to look to the side. In the darkened room, the face I always see was clear, illuminated by the moonlight passing through the window. Especially his warm gaze looking down at me, which made his presence felt even more.
I want to feel this touch more, but it seems I’m not the type to enjoy such a serene atmosphere. I broke the silence with a voice that tickled its way up my throat.
“When did you get here? What time is it now?”
“A little while ago. It’s past eleven.”
“Eleven…?! I slept way more than I thought.”
I didn't mean to sleep this long.
“Ugh…”
With a strange noise, I stretched vigorously. I was drowsy and considered just lying here, but I had to get up. There were many things to do before bed. I had to drink water and wash up again. The smell of body wash coming from Han Jinheon made me realize I hadn't washed.
“Huh?”
Wait a minute. I discovered something strange. I had only just noticed something that was laid out so openly for me to see.
“Hyung…. why are you in my room?”
And at this late hour, too. It’s strange. This has never happened before. Why are you not in your own room, but in my room, in my bed, of all places?
I strained my neck to lift only my head and ask. Han Jinheon, who had been looking at me languidly while propping his head on his palm, twitched his eyebrows and pressed his finger on my forehead. Unable to withstand the force, my face landed helplessly back on the pillow.
Han Jinheon let out a subtle breath at me, who was looking up at him with wide, curious eyes. Then he confessed the reason honestly.
“To take your pants off.”
“……”
“I was going to let it go if you had showered... but you said it earlier, right?"
Han Jinheon knew that I hadn't washed yet. Just as I could smell the body wash scent on him, he usually smelled it on me, but it seemed he couldn't now. There was a sense of embarrassment. It was as if I had become a kid who intentionally waited without washing.
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