While eating dinner, I heard his story about visiting the hospital.
After Han Sol goes to the hospital, Kim Yujin sometimes calls to give an update, and Jeong Seonwoo also submits a separate report. Because of them, Han Jinheon already knew the details, but he wouldn't feel at ease until he heard it from Han Sol himself.
“I decided to get tested on the 29th.”
“The 22nd doesn't sound bad, but if that’s what you want.”
The patient and the doctor both agreed on the 29th, so there was no need for him to be so impatient. He knew this well, but his heart had grown anxious today when Han Sol smelled his pheromones.
Han Sol was taking his medicine diligently, never missing an injection, and was even accepting the pheromones without avoidance. Since he was following the plan so obediently, it was a certainty that his omega ratio had increased.
'Just how much has it gone up?'
Lost in thought, Han Jinheon stared at a corner of the dining table with a heavy expression. He even let out a “Hmm.” Han Sol, who had been watching him, smiled awkwardly and tried to smooth things over.
“You said it this morning, Hyung. That my manifestation seems to be getting closer.”
“I did.”
“Noona said she couldn’t say anything for sure until she checked the ratio. But she said there’s no need to be impatient.”
“There’s no need to be impatient, but we just need to know the numbers.”
The man’s sharp gaze, though he appeared calm, was burdensome. It felt as if he was being scolded for not having taken the initiative to schedule the appointment for the 22nd, and my spirit sank.
Han Sol avoided his eyes with a half-hearted smile and pondered. 'Should I call again and move the test date forward?'
“That’s just my thought. The 29th is fine.”
Han Jinheon backed down. It seemed he had no intention of forcing the issue. Han Sol let out a sigh of relief and tried to focus on his meal, but he called out to him again as a topic suddenly came to mind. There was one more piece of news he had to deliver.
“I tried to see if I could smell your pheromones when you weren't here. Guess what happened?”
“What happened.”
“Take a guess! What happened?”
Han Sol wanted to tell him right away but decided to build up the situation by generously giving him a chance to guess the answer. He was being a bit forceful because he wanted to liven up the mood.
“I don’t know.”
In contrast to his excited expression, Han Jinheon’s face was listless, and he seemed to have no intention of guessing, as if any answer would do. That was Han Sol's perspective, but Han Jinheon had already heard from Kim Yujin. He knew he had smelled it.
“This is really big news, and you’re going to be so boring about it?”
Han Sol pouted his lips and grumbled, then his eyes began to sparkle.
“I smelled it! I really got goosebumps! You weren’t even here, but I smelled that scent from this morning! I mean, I smelled your pheromones again, can you believe it?!”
After that, Han Sol continued to chatter like a chirping bird.
Since he was the type to talk on his own with just a few simple replies, Han Jinheon pretended to listen attentively on the outside while entertaining different thoughts on the inside. 'Smelling the pheromones means he’s almost there. I need to push things a little harder.'
“Can I really go to your room tonight? C-can we sleep together?”
'Perhaps, it might be okay to be a little late.'
Han Jinheon stiffened without Han Sol noticing, suddenly occupied by a question in his mind. Han Sol, who had leaned his upper body slightly to peer at Han Jinheon’s face, smiled gently when their eyes met.
'He's smiling, not knowing what's in my mind. It never fails to stir a person’s heart in a strange way.'
***
It was ten o’clock. Han Jinheon, who had been engrossed in work even after coming home, left the study holding only his phone. 'Is he already in bed?' As he walked leisurely down the hallway, he stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Han Sol squatting in front of his door.
This wasn’t an apartment. The sight of him sitting there like a child waiting for family because he couldn't open a locked door was absurd. It was also absurd that he himself found the boy, clutching his pillow, to be cute.
There were pillows in this room, so why did he bring his own? Is that sly kid planning to be cute on purpose?
As he approached with this fleeting suspicion, Han Sol looked up. He quickly rose his slender body.
“Hyung.”
He acted as if he were seeing someone who had just come home. It also seemed like he didn't know what to do now that he'd been caught, but to be clear, this was inside the house. The two of them were already living together in the same mansion, and Han Sol was merely standing in front of the door.
“Didn’t I tell you I’d be here at ten, so you should go into the room first?”
“I was going to, but… it felt a bit weird going into your room when you weren't there…”
The gist was that it felt wrong to enter without the owner's permission.
Han Jinheon’s brows furrowed at Han Sol’s contradiction. He must think I don’t know, but I already knew. That Han Sol entered my room when I wasn't there. I didn’t know what he did in the room, but I could easily detect his presence from his scent.
Alphas had heightened senses. Through smell and touch, they could sense the presence of others by their scent. In Han Jinheon’s case, he never forgot a scent he had smelled once. Even without trying, his body, which had learned the scent, could distinguish it on its own.
In Han Sol’s case, the mandarin scent from his citrus-based shampoo, which he used exclusively, was instantly recognizable. It was distinctive among the sweet scents, so it was impossible not to notice.
And the one who sneaks in when I'm gone is now acting all shy in front of me, saying it felt weird to go in. It was laughable. Han Jinheon suppressed a smirk and opened the door. When he gestured with his head for him to enter, Han Sol hesitated but stepped inside.
The sight of him trotting away, hugging his pillow, was really…
“Did you wash up?”
“Of course. I scrubbed myself clean while you were working.”
'I thought so.' A scent wafted along Han Sol's trajectory. The smell of coconut mingled with mandarin before dissipating.
It was still unknown what kind of pheromones Han Sol would have when he manifested as an Omega, but a purely sweet scent was far too ordinary. Compared to the flamboyant and eye-catching Han Sol, the scent would feel plain.
In Han Jinheon's view, a sharp and refreshing scent like citrus suited Han Sol. It had to be a clear and lively scent, if only to preserve his childlike purity. He had once nonsensically mentioned espresso or affogato, but that was just a joke.
Wishing for this or that was meaningless. If Han Sol imprinted on an Alpha, he wouldn't be able to smell it anyway. Han Jinheon had no intention of forcing it, knowing Han Sol held a negative view on imprinting. However, if asked whether he "wanted" him to imprint, he was prepared to say yes.
Just seeing him cling to me saying the scent is good is enough reason for it.
Most individuals with traits tend to want to imprint on their mates. This is because they have personally experienced how dangerous and difficult it can be when their pheromones affect others against their will and intention. Putting all that aside, the simple act of clinging to his waist saying the scent was good was reason enough for Han Sol to need to imprint.
Han Sol, who had climbed onto the bed first, kept patting his own pillow that he had placed on the right side. Pat. Paaat. He patted it over and over while glancing towards Han Jinheon.
The Alpha, who couldn’t possibly be unaware that he was being watched, told him to wait a moment, went into the bathroom, and washed his hands with hot water. Then, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and sneered.
“Tsk.”
The face that was secretly filled with anticipation was unsightly. This was merely an act to effectively transfer pheromones, yet he hated the sight of his own eyes, which were strangely flushed with something more.
Han Jinheon casually composed his expression and returned to the bed. The moment he saw Han Sol, his brows narrowed and he bit his lower lip. Han Sol had brazenly taken off his pants and was wearing only his underwear. What a seductive little thing.
It seemed the skills he had accumulated through his promiscuous days hadn't gone anywhere. He took off his pants so casually, even in front of me. At first, he was appalled, wondering how I could touch his dick, but now he takes off his lower clothes without a word, urging me on.
He turned off the main overhead light and switched on the bedside lamp. Alphas generally adapted well to the dark, so the brightness of the room didn't matter. Han Jinheon’s vision adjusted immediately, and he took off the ring necklace from his neck and placed it on the table. It was his routine before getting into bed.
When Han Jinheon took the left side of the bed, Han Sol lay down straight as a board. The attitude that said he was ready to be touched was welcome, but it also made him want to act contrary. A part of his mind still held onto the image of Han Sol looking up places for lovers to go on Christmas.
'He tried to smooth it over by saying he wanted to go with me, but his true intention must be to go with the guy he liked.'
He couldn't pretend not to notice that feeling. It was subtly bothersome. And so, the Alpha, leaning against the headboard with a pillow propped up, casually patted his own thigh and instructed.
“Come on top.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s sit facing each other. I’ll touch you like that today.”
The pale white face clearly visible through the darkness was unmistakable. Between the blinking eyelids at the unexpected development, even the light black pupils were seen to tremble slightly.
“It's fine to do it like this... Just do it like you always do..."
Han Jinheon just stared at him without answering Han Sol's voice. Han Sol then sat up at a noticeably slow pace. Han Jinheon remained unhurried despite the hesitant glances and gestures. He slightly tilted his head back, adding a languid atmosphere.
“C-can I sit with my back to you, Hyung?”
“Didn’t I just say to sit facing each other? Don’t make me say it twice.”
“But sitting face to face…”
“Shy all of a sudden? After all the times you sat on my lap.”
Besides, he didn’t see how this was any different from being touched while lying down. In any position, they would have to look into each other’s eyes, and Han Sol would still cling to his chest and bury his face there all the same.
“Still, it’s too embarrassing… I somehow managed to sit on your lap, but…”
“Should I help you up?”
“No, you don’t have to… No! I said I’m fine! Ah…!”
The sun would rise before Han Sol climbed up on his own. Han Jinheon grabbed the arm of Han Sol, who was refusing, and pulled him closer. The moment Han Sol’s posture collapsed towards him, he put his hands under his armpits and set him down on his thighs.
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