AOA 92

He admitted he was physically attracted to Jeong Minchae. The heat spread through him as the memory of that blissful moment, triggered by just a bit of contact, came back.

But that didn’t mean he intended to have sex with Jeong Minchae. Originally, he had planned to resolve things by simply avoiding him. He believed that if he didn’t see him, the feelings pulling him in would naturally fade.

Of course, life didn’t go the way he wanted. When he saw Jeong Minchae a mess, crying in a hotel room on Jeong Suchan’s sixtieth birthday, it wasn’t just upsetting, it was infuriating. He thought he might lose his mind.

He wanted to kill the bastards who had done that to Jeong Minchae. He was furious someone had dared to touch what was his, and it took him a second to realize that what he felt was possessiveness. On top of that came pity and sorrow, tangled together.

The unfamiliar emotions left his head in chaos. It wasn’t just desire. He couldn’t believe he had started to obsess.

When Jeong Minchae mentioned divorce to Baek Jinseok, he was stunned. If they divorced, Jeong Minchae would have to return to a family that abused him, yet his stance was unwavering.

His feelings for Jeong Minchae were impossible to define with a single word. He was confused by the surging desire and the nameless impulses that accompanied it.

He agonized over it for days. And when he saw Jeong Minchae’s message saying he was going to Geumpalang Art Museum, his heart sank.

Im Songyoon had been taking Baek Yeongseop around museums on weekends for matchmaking. That day’s meeting was at Geumpalang.

Considering what had happened between Baek Yeongseop and Jeong Minchae before the regression, he couldn’t leave it alone. And sure enough, he caught Baek Yeongseop handing Jeong Minchae his business card.

Distrust and resentment, which had dulled, filled his chest all over again. In a moment where he should have stayed cold and rational, he was furious.

And still, even then, he realized he was drawn to Jeong Minchae, who looked him straight in the eye. He wanted to grab him by the collar and kiss him until they were both breathless.

He couldn’t even laugh. In that same instant, clarity struck. Simply avoiding Jeong Minchae’s face wasn’t enough anymore to calm his feelings. So he decided to send him far away.

He knew it was an unreasonable, one-sided decision. Of course Jeong Minchae would be angry. But it wasn’t just for himself. It was for Jeong Minchae too.

Baek Mugyeong intended to send him abroad whether Jeong Minchae protested or not. Italy was a great country to travel in. Just touring the famous cities would take a month. Then he could go to Switzerland and France. Two or three months would pass in no time.

After buying about half a year that way, he could completely ruin Baek Yeongseop and make the divorce go through without trouble. Then he’d tell Baek Jinseok that he simply wasn’t attracted to Jeong Minchae, that sex was impossible, and to find someone else.

There was even a way to stop Jeong Minchae from returning to his abusive family after the divorce. He could relocate his entire support system to another country. Baek Mugyeong had the means to support not only Jeong Minchae, but also the younger sibling and aunt he cherished. There was also evidence that Jeong Guhyeon had used drugs, which meant Jeong Suchan could be dealt with effectively too.

The plan was perfect. And yet, for some reason, the tension wouldn’t go away while he waited for Jeong Minchae. All he could picture was Jeong Minchae, scowling and storming off.

Uncontrollable emotions were unfamiliar, and therefore uncomfortable. He clicked his tongue again and again, and then suddenly sensed the shift in the air.

It wasn’t pheromones. But he could tell Jeong Minchae was near.

He didn’t turn his head right away. And as expected, Jeong Minchae soon spoke.

“You got here early.”

His clear voice greeted him, and he made no effort to hide the wariness in his eyes.

“Um, I have something to say. About the overseas trip. Not now. Let’s talk later. Before we go back.”

Jeong Minchae’s expression was determined, almost solemn. He was clearly prepared to argue about the one-sided travel plan. He looked like a little bird puffing itself up before a fight.

And Baek Mugyeong couldn’t take his eyes off him.

Jeong Minchae didn’t look very different from usual. A neutral-colored suit and neatly combed hair. That was all.

And yet, he seemed to shine for some reason. His dark brown eyes, looking straight ahead. His flushed cheeks. His softly curved pink lips. Everything appeared sharp and vivid, like a filtered photograph or edited video.

Baek Mugyeong had never experienced anything like it. He even started to wonder if something was wrong with his eyes.

“I don’t know much about art. I worked briefly at my stepmother’s gallery last winter, but I can’t really tell what’s good. Can you give me some advice?”

“With things like paintings and art, it’s important that it looks good to you. Just pick something you like.”

“I understand.”

As they walked side by side, making small talk, Baek Mugyeong recalled how things had been before the regression. Back then, they had gone to the exhibition separately. He showed his face to Im Songyoon and left. Jeong Minchae had gone around with his stepmother.

They had met briefly, but hadn’t talked much. So he never found out what kind of painting Jeong Minchae had bought.

He was reminded again how much had changed.

Baek Mugyeong glanced at Jeong Minchae walking beside him. He still seemed to glow. He even felt like if he bit him, he would taste sweet.

That too was new. Baek Mugyeong didn’t question what this feeling meant. If there was nothing wrong with his eyes, then it was just proof that he was burning up with the desire to have sex.

This is insane.

Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue inwardly, and assessed his condition. Even without direct exposure to Jeong Minchae’s pheromones, just being close made him recall the pleasure he had once felt. And a slow, creeping urge to seduce him began to rise.

Giving in to alpha instincts and acting on impulse was something he despised most. Which is why sending Jeong Minchae away was, again, the most rational choice.

Baek Mugyeong hardened his resolve.

*

The pheromones released by four alphas filled the large space. It was a violent kind of pheromone that carried the intent to destroy the opponent.

The alphas were riled up, and their pheromones amplified one another in the worst way. The concentration thickened, stimulating both alphas and omegas.

The omegas didn’t look back. They ran. The alphas, on the other hand, let their pheromones grow stronger, showing their desire to join the fight.

Facing this unprecedented situation, Baek Mugyeong had to fight the urge to charge in and start swinging. It was hard. His clenched fists even began to tremble.

Unlike omegas, alphas perceive other alphas’ pheromones as a threat. Not just unpleasant, but a real form of aggression.

Especially for Baek Mugyeong, a dominant alpha. He rarely reacted to omega pheromones, but was highly sensitive to those of alphas.

That dominance also gave him the strength to hold himself back rather than lunge in blindly. Still, this was a natural disaster that no individual could truly resist. There was only so much he could do to stay upright in a rushing flood.

I have to get out of here.

His rational mind screamed it, but his body didn’t obey. All he could think about was beating Baek Yeongseop to death, who was out there fighting like a demon.

A pheromone rampage would make for a convenient excuse. Deaths caused by alpha hazards happened from time to time.

That thought made his heart pound with heat. He felt good. The anticipation made his body twitch.

Then it happened.

“Pull yourself together.”

A shaking sensation in his arm snapped him out of it just a little. He slowly turned his head and met Jeong Minchae’s eyes.

It was a strange feeling. Everything else was blurry, but Jeong Minchae’s face was crystal clear.

“Get out of here.”

Jeong Minchae grabbed his hand without warning. That was enough to bring him back from the dizzying void.

The sounds of alphas fighting. The stares of the onlookers. The warmth of Jeong Minchae’s hand.

His hearing, vision, and sense of touch all returned at once.

“Jeong Minchae?”

“Yes, it’s me. This way.”

Jeong Minchae’s actions left no room for argument. Baek Mugyeong let himself be led.

After a few steps, he finally realized his state. He had nearly lost control, drunk on alpha pheromones. He had almost let instinct drive him to kill Baek Yeongseop.

But just holding Jeong Minchae’s hand had brought him back in an instant. It was incredible. Everyone knew omega pheromones could calm unstable alphas. But this was his first time experiencing it.

The sensation went beyond surprise. It felt like a jolt of electricity. His heart beat again, but for a different reason than before.

As he walked with Jeong Minchae’s hand in his, another realization hit him. Jeong Minchae wasn’t affected at all by the pheromones flooding the room. While all the other omegas had fled, Jeong Minchae walked steadily, not the slightest bit shaken.