AOA 132

Even days later, just hearing Jeong Minchae’s name made his heart skip a beat. The slightest lapse in focus brought him back to mind.

Even now, a single message was enough to make his head spin.

Before the regression, Baek Mugyeong hadn’t attended the charity bazaar, so he didn’t know exactly what had happened. He only learned later that Im Songyoon had been tormenting Jeong Minchae. She was given trivial errands, provoked in his face, and had malicious rumors spread about him.

At the time, Jeong Minchae brushed it off as nothing. It wasn’t because he was bold or thoughtless. He simply hadn’t realized he was being bullied due to the drug’s side effects.

That was probably why he was used by Baek Yeongseop too. He likely didn’t even know he was handing over information.

“Haa…”

Baek Mugyeong sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Multiple events had created a complex web of causality. After the marriage, Baek Jaehan used drugs to suppress Jeong Minchae’s abilities. Because of that, Jeong Minchae became a puppet due to the drug’s side effects.

He could understand that far. But handing over the psychiatric counseling information to Baek Jaehan this time, that must have been done while fully conscious.

“I don’t know what to do with you.”

Baek Mugyeong spoke to Jeong Minchae, who wasn’t there. His tear-stained face flickered before him. He probably didn’t realize how pitiable his expression was.

Baek Mugyeong took a deep breath, his shoulders heaving. He moved his hand, which had been frozen, and finished unbuttoning his shirt. It was foolish to agonize over a problem with no solution.

*

The next day, staring at the entrance to the ballroom where the charity bazaar was being held, Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue.

He hadn’t planned to come here just this morning. He intended to keep his promise to Jeong Minchae to never see him again.

But moments ago, he received a message from Choi Jaeha, tattling that Im Songyoon was openly tormenting Jeong Minchae while they were moving chairs together.

He couldn’t bring himself to ignore that. He knew exactly what Jeong Minchae was likely enduring.

At the New Year’s gathering last time, hot tea had spilled on Jeong Minchae’s leg, causing a minor burn. Before his regression, he’d thought it was just an accident. But this time, he felt the assistant had done it deliberately.

It was almost certain Im Songyoon was behind it. He himself had been burned at Baek Jinseok’s birthday banquet before his regression, due to an assistant’s carelessness.

The Im Songyoon he had encountered over time was insidious. She wore a smiling face on the outside while meticulously tormenting people.

After that, whenever there was a family event, he accompanied Jeong Minchae whenever possible. Regardless of his resentment towards him, he couldn’t just leave him alone, knowing he would inevitably be tormented.

This time was no different. The moment he checked Choi Jaeha’s message, his body moved of its own accord. But the thought of actually facing Jeong Minchae made a heavy weight settle in his chest.

No matter how much he tried to turn away, lingering feelings remained. No, they overflowed. It was a truth he didn’t want to admit, but having come this far, he couldn’t just turn around and leave.

Taking a deep breath that made his chest heave, Baek Mugyeong entered the banquet hall. The interior was bustling with people.

He sought out Im Songyoon first.

“Oh my. I thought you weren’t coming?”

“I found the time.”

“Minchae mentioned it. I heard you two had a fight? Your grandfather, who cares for both of you, would worry if he found out.”

“Grandfather already knows.”

When Im Song-yoon smiled and feigned concern, Baek Mugyeong readily admitted it. He hadn’t always gotten along well with his aunt. It was wiser to let this minor dispute slide than to get worked up over it.

Not getting the reaction she wanted, Im Songyoon frowned like she’d bitten into a sour plum and sarcastically remarked that the couple looked alike. 

Regardless, Baek Mugyeong offered only a perfunctory greeting before withdrawing.

The banquet hall hosting the charity bazaar was vast and crowded. As Baek Mugyeong slowly surveyed the surroundings, he noticed Jeong Minchae was absent from the hall. His pheromone scent had been detected outside the banquet area.

This was strange. Jeong Minchae usually controlled his pheromones meticulously. Except for the first time after his manifestation when he experienced a heat, he had never revealed his pheromones during daily life.

Hesitating briefly on what to do, Baek Mugyeong followed Jeong Minchae’s scent and exited the banquet hall. Just as he entered the bustling hall, he spotted Jeong Minchae standing at the far end opposite him.

A wave of relief washed over him, like successfully finding a hidden object. But in that instant, a man blocked Jeong Minchae’s path and grabbed his hand. A loud struggle ensued between the two, then Jeong Minchae vanished in the opposite direction.

Though the distance was considerable, recognizing the man wasn’t difficult. It was Lee Jaegwang.

“Damn it…”

Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue and quickened his pace. This was the same man who had made advances toward Jeong Minchae at the hospital and at the museum. He had thrown flirtations his way, even with Mugyeong right beside him.

Lee Jaegwang wasn’t just a simple womanizer. Beyond seducing Omegas, he was notorious in these circles for his despicable nature, using pheromones to force submission.

And of all places, it was a hotel. Realizing what Lee Jaegwang intended, he felt furious.

How dare he try to touch what’s mine?

Baek Mugyeong sped across the hall. Just as he rounded the corner, two figures standing side by side at the restroom entrance came into view.

As he drew closer, he could sense pheromones emanating from Jeong Minchae. The thought that he might be affected by Lee Jaegwang’s pheromones made his head grow cold.

He couldn’t accept that Jeong Minchae was reacting to another alpha.

Jeong Minchae stood with his back slightly turned to him, his face hidden. Lee Jaegwang was snorting angrily.

“This bastard.”

“Why? You want to hit me?”

“You think I won’t?”

“Yeah.”

Jeong Minchae raised his chin defiantly, provoking Lee Jaegwang. Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue at the tense atmosphere. Taking a hit first and then aiming for mutual assault was Jeong Minchae’s method. It was a reckless tactic, and he couldn’t help but be impressed.

Baek Mugyeong grabbed Lee Jaegwang’s arm as he raised it threateningly.

Stepping closer, he could take in several things at once. Jeong Minchae was in pretty bad shape. On top of that, Lee Jaegwang’s pheromones were all over him.

For a moment, his reason nearly snapped.

 He had been angry when Baek Yeongseop did the same thing last winter, but now he was overwhelmed by the urge to kill Lee Jaegwang.

Many eyes were watching. He rationally decided he should just quietly threaten him and end it there, but his body moved first. He hit Lee Jaegwang with all his might. He suppressed the murderous intent he felt toward Lee Jaegwang as he left, saying, “We’ll see about that.”

What mattered now was Jeong Minchae. The pheromones emanating from Lee Jaegwang were unbearably irritating. But overlaying his own pheromones was a recipe for disaster.

He’d averted the worst-case scenario; returning now would suffice. But he felt compelled to offer a warning against reckless behavior.

It was unavoidable that Lee Jaegwang, whom he’d met by chance, had followed him. But deliberately provoking him was dangerous.

“Are you a fighter? Don’t you know people can be scary, Jeong Minchae-ssi?”

Baek Mugyeong couldn’t finish his sentence properly. He barely caught Jeong Minchae as he lost his balance and stumbled. In that instant, Jeong Minchae’s pheromones cut through Lee Jaegwang’s and hit him like a wave.

“Jeong Minchae-ssi. Are you…”

Goosebumps rose at the sweet scent seeping into his skin. It had been two weeks since he last smelled Jeong Minchae’s pheromones. It wasn’t a faint scent, and the direct contact made his body want to react. No, his mind went blank for a second.

He felt it clearly once more, he was an Alpha. It was always like this around Jeong Minchae.

“Ah… So, I’m running a fever because of the heat. Could you call Jaeha? I’m too dizzy to get my phone out.”

Jeong Minchae called for Choi Jaeha in a trembling voice. From an Omega’s perspective, the safest state during heat was a Beta, followed by another Omega. Choi Jaeha would roll up his sleeves and help Jeong Min-chae.

But Baek Mugyeong couldn’t bear the sight of Choi Jaeha hovering beside Jeong Minchae. He knew this was absurd jealousy. He knew his reaction wasn’t normal.

Simply holding Jeong Minchae’s soft body made the emotions he’d been suppressing explode.

Resentment, hatred, adoration, affection, lamentation and regret, longing, yearning.

If this continued, he would inevitably be swept away.

He knew he had to make a choice. His hesitation lasted only a brief instant. Baek Mugyeong tightened his arms around Jeong Minchae.

***

The first thing that caught my eye was the stark white ceiling. As I blinked to clear my blurry vision, I realized I was in a hospital. The faint, distinctive smell of disinfectant hung in the air.

I had fainted.

After sex, a sudden dizziness had made me lose consciousness. Baek Mugyeong must have brought me to the hospital.

I exhaled a sigh of relief, thinking it was fortunate, but something felt off. The IV needle in my forearm was understandable, but the nasal tube felt strange.

Glancing around, I saw a middle-aged woman sitting in one corner of the ward. The woman, whom I hadn’t seen before, was probably a caregiver.