When he opened his eyes, he was alone.
Seo Jeong-won lay still, buried deep in the cool air and thick bedding, blinking only his eyes.
There was no sound at all, so he wondered why Kwon Taehee was not there.
Then he realized it was Monday and closed his eyes again.
He reached out toward the cellphone resting neatly on the bedside table, charger still plugged in.
Since he had no memory of this, it was probably something Taehee had done.
Seo Jeong-won habitually checked his phone first.
It was as clean as usual.
There were no popups indicating missed calls or unread messages.
He pulled the blanket over himself completely and closed his eyes.
After a while, realizing he could no longer laze around in an empty house, he reluctantly pulled off the blanket and sat up.
The cool air touched his bare skin.
Shivering, his body trembled.
He looked for clothes but gave up, finding none, and swung his legs off the bed.
Wrapping his arms around himself, he moved slowly.
He limped from the pain felt in a place long stretched.
His lower back was aching incessantly.
His face felt hot as if he was running a fever.
As soon as he entered the bathroom, passing the mirror, Seo Jeong-won headed toward the shower booth.
“Ha…….”
His whole body ached as if he had been beaten badly.
Even the slightest movement of his arms and legs sent sharp pain spreading.
Leaning his forehead against the wall, he turned on the water, and hot water poured out as if waiting for him.
He wanted to stand under the hot water longer but quickly washed up, reminded that this was an ownerless house.
He roughly rinsed off the foam and moved, feeling his pain slightly eased.
He towel-dried the water from his hair with a fresh towel, then took out clothes he had packed from a bag placed in a corner of the dressing room and dressed.
He didn’t know where the clothes he had taken off were, so he had to take the empty bag out.
He neatly arranged the bed sheets, filled a cup with water, and poured it onto the potted plant.
He greeted the plant with a farewell, thinking he wouldn’t come back until Friday night next week.
Quietly stepping into the living room, a delicious smell—one he hadn’t noticed for two days—filled the space.
“Ah.”
Is that the person coming from today?
Seo Jeong-won guessed coldly in his own way and hurriedly crossed the living room.
It would be awkward if they met.
He thought he should have gone when Kwon Taehee left for work in the morning, but he couldn’t wake up because he fell asleep at dawn.
Just as Seo Jeong-won scratched his cheek and was about to leave the hallway, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
“Are you Seo Jeong-won? Hello, I didn’t know you came out because the executive director told me to make sure you had a meal. You must be hungry? If you wait just a bit, the food will be ready soon.”
“Oh, no. I’m fine.”
“Please eat. If you leave without eating, the executive director will scold me.”
The older man smiled gently, softening his expression.
He skillfully guided Seo Jeong-won.
Seo Jeong-won, caught while trying to sneak out of the house, followed the man with a bewildered face.
“Don’t feel uncomfortable. I only prepare meals when the executive director isn’t here, so we probably won’t meet often. The person who cleans the house usually comes after the executive director leaves, so it’s the same.”
“Oh, yes. Understood.”
“If you want to ask for something, you can call me ‘ajusshi’ (mister), or if that’s awkward, just say ‘excuse me.’ Or you can call me by my name. I’m Kim Jaesik. By the way, the executive director calls me Manager Kim.”
Kim Jaesik smiled as he seated Seo Jeong-won.
He was kind throughout.
The table was filled with dishes, all looking delicious.
After filling a tall glass halfway with water, Kim Jaesik gently put down the water bottle and spoke.
“I’ll be inside, so if you need anything, call me.”
Kim Jaesik bowed lightly and left quietly.
Seo Jeong-won looked at the neatly arranged utensils and quietly picked up a spoon.
He tasted the clear seaweed soup first.
The food was as delicious as it looked.
Much better than the lunchboxes Kwon Taehee had ordered and eaten together for two days.
From mild seasoned greens to grilled fish, and stir-fried dishes full of meat and vegetables, Seo Jeong-won’s chopsticks stopped on each dish once.
The taste was similar to what he ate on the first day. Could it be the same person’s cooking?
While slowly continuing the meal, he heard footsteps in the hallway.
The sound of slippers dragging as someone walked.
Seo Jeong-won suddenly turned his head, confirmed who it was, and bowed his head.
“Hello.”
“Oh, I hesitated because I thought you didn’t have shoes, but you still do? It’s past three o’clock.”
It was Song Hae-seop.
He looked at Seo Jeong-won with a rather annoyed expression, frowning deeply as if meeting someone he wasn’t supposed to.
Then, covering his nose, he let out a bitter laugh.
“The smell… it’s very strong.”
“Huh?”
“Not an omega, right? Well, if it was an omega, you wouldn’t be eating leisurely like this.”
“I don’t really understand what you’re talking about.”
Seo Jeong-won stopped eating and put down his chopsticks, mumbling.
Song Hae-seop narrowed his eyes, then sighed deeply and sat beside him.
When asked his age, Seo Jeong-won hesitated.
Unsure if he should reveal it, he only moved his lips.
Looking at Seo Jeong-won, Song Hae-seop sighed again.
“Why did a beta who can’t even smell pheromones come here? I couldn’t ask that day since we met briefly. Are you pretending to be a lover like me?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Not sure if you know, but if nothing special happens, I’ll probably marry that person. That’s why I came. We’ll live together, naturally get pregnant, have kids, and live happily. That person’s family knows about me too. I’ll be going to greet them soon.”
“Ah.”
Seo Jeong-won quietly nodded at the clear explanation of his role.
He had already guessed that day when they met. That he was the one to replace his older brother.
“I don’t know what Taehee was thinking. Why bring you here, why did he do the pheromone shower?”
“What use is a pheromone shower on a beta? Weird. But really, won’t you tell me your age? You seem younger than me. Twenty?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Really young.”
Song Hae-seop’s mouth dropped open when he heard Seo Jeong-won’s age.
Then he saw Kim Jaesik coming out of the kitchen and greeted him warmly.
“Ajusshi!”
“You’re here.”
“Yes, today I want to eat seaweed soup for dinner.”
“I’ll prepare it so you can eat.”
Kim Jaesik quickly checked Seo Jeong-won’s dishes and, seeing they were almost empty, decided to clean up.
At the same time, he thought the meeting between the two men shouldn’t be prolonged.
It was just a feeling of an old man who was eating in this place on the sidelines.
“I’ll see you out.”
“Oh, no. I can go out alone.”
Seo Jeong-won flustered, unsure how to respond to Kim Jaesik’s attentive care.
“A vehicle is waiting to take you home. The executive director asked me to make sure you ride it.”
When Seo Jeong-won stood, Song Hae-seop also stood up.
He said he would see Seo Jeong-won out along with Kim Jaesik.
“Be careful. Are you coming again this Friday?”
“Probably.”
“I see. Then we might run into each other again. I’m twenty-eight. Feel free to call me hyung. I’m really not Taehee’s lover, and our relationship is a bit awkward… but it’s funny, right?”
“The power struggle too. Is there any need to be hostile? Don’t you think? It might be funny to get along well, but at least let’s not glare at each other like we want to kill one another.”
Song Hae-seop lowered his guard from before and continued speaking in a lighter tone.
“As long as Jeongwon doesn’t take my spot, I’m fine. I just mean don’t ruin the guaranteed future. Got it? If you just do that, I’ll understand whatever you do with that person over the weekend. You’re Beta, so you can’t have kids anyway, right?”
Seo Jeong-won briefly recalled the contract he had made with Kwon Taehee.
The contract clearly stated terms about sexual contact for manifestation and pregnancy.
Worried his trembling gaze might be noticed, he lowered his head.
“Goodbye.”
Slipping his feet into worn-out sneakers that didn’t match the shiny entrance, Seo Jeong-won turned back once more and bowed his head.
Song Hae-seop waved his hand with a reluctant expression.
As Seo Jeong-won hurried out, he emphasized,
“Let’s not get angry at each other and get along well.”
Kim Jaesik followed Seo Jeong-won out the door.
He was also busy trying to figure out the current situation.
But on the other hand, he seriously wondered whether it was necessary to know exactly what kind of relationship the two had with Kwon Taehee.
“I’m just the one who does what I’m told. I just have to be Taehee’s eyes and ears and report every detail of Song Hae-seop’s daily life.”
The things he saw and heard today would also be reported to Director Jung, and that report would be refined before being delivered to Kwon Taehee.
“It’s hot today. Take care of your health, and see you again.”
“Yes, and…Thank you for the meal. It was warm and delicious. Thank you for seeing me off.”
“You’re welcome.”
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