PO 35

Han Jaegang, who was heading to his grandparents’ house, twisted the steering wheel with all his strength. He entered the opposite lane, pressed the accelerator to increase the speed, and he called Yoon Hyunjun. As soon as the signal tone rang, Yoon Hyunjun spoke

–Yes?

“How do I get into the workshop. Do I just press the password?”

–Workshop? My workshop? Why are you trying to get in there. And at this late hour?

“Hurry and tell me. Lee Woojeong is in there alone.”

–Woojeong-ssi? But what about that? Woojeong isn’t a child, so why is it a problem that he’s alone? He’s probably working.

Woojeong being alone wasn’t the problem. Even if he was sick, unless it was an emergency, there was no reason to rush like this. But Woojeong’s voice, that pitiful single phrase, made Han Jaegang impatient.

<…..I’m sick.>

Woojeong was clumsy at expressing himself. He struggled even with saying what he wanted or showing his feelings honestly, so if he spoke like that, it meant his condition was so serious that he couldn’t handle it alone.

“He seems unwell.”

–What? Where does it hurt?

“I don’t know yet. I’ll have to see.”

–Strange. He was fine when he left work earlier. Anyway, got it. But what was the password for the workshop again? Jaegang, I’ll ask and I’ll send it by text right away.

“Alright. I’m arriving soon, so send it quickly.”

–Hey, am I your secretary? You bastard…….

Han Jaegang hung up while Yoon Hyunjun was still speaking. The wheezing breath and the trembling voice continued echoing in his ears, and he couldn’t concentrate on the call.

His frayed nerves felt like they were getting sharper. He lowered the window to change the air inside the car, and he called his grandmother.

“Grandma.”

–Oh, yes. Jaegang.

“Something urgent came up, so I don’t think I can visit. What should I do?”

–Really? How is it that seeing your face is always so hard. Did you eat dinner?

“I ate. Something urgent came up, so I’m going right away. I’ll contact you later. I’m sorry, Grandma.”

After a short call with his grandmother, Han Jaegang tried to call Joo Yeongmo but stopped and held the wheel.

Checking Woojeong’s condition came first. The rest could wait until after he confirmed it.

It wasn’t even rush hour, but cars were lined up on the road. Han Jaegang, who had stopped at the end of that line, couldn’t bear the frustration and hit the wheel irritably.

Han Jaegang parked carelessly in the gallery’s parking lot, and he walked quickly up the outside stairs. He pressed in the password Yoon Hyunjun had given and unlocked the door lock, and he went straight into the workshop.

The blinds covered the windows, so the interior was very dark. Since it was hard to find the light switch, he turned on his phone flashlight and shone it inside.

“Lee Woojeong.”

He called the name cautiously, but the room was as quiet as if no one was there. Feeling something strange, he walked slowly toward the work table.

As if he had entered a room full of blooming lilies, the ripe floral fragrance pushed into his nose and stimulated his senses. It was clearly Woojeong’s pheromones, but at the same time, it felt unfamiliar and strange.

He couldn’t see Woojeong, but the thick pheromone scent filling the room was pulling him.

Han Jaegang shone the phone flashlight onto the work table. Between the arranged tools, one spot was messy, as if someone had been working just a moment ago, and it caught his eye.

Those traces and the scent in the air told him that Woojeong had been there until just before. But strangely, he couldn’t see Woojeong himself.

Had he left alone in that time? Growing restless, Han Jaegang called Woojeong again. As the signal tone rang, a vibration started somewhere inside the room.

Han Jaegang moved toward the source of the sound. Under the long table placed in the corner of the workshop, a faint light flickered. He bent down without thinking to pick up the fallen phone, and his eyes widened.

“Lee Woojeong!”

Woojeong had collapsed in the space between the table and the wall. Shocked, Han Jaegang ran over and lifted his upper body to support him. Woojeong’s body drooped weakly in his arms, so light and powerless that Jaegang’s brow furrowed.

“Lee Woojeong, Woojeong-ah.”

Han Jaegang quickly patted his cheek, trying to rouse him. Woojeong reacted faintly to his touch, but he couldn’t open his eyes properly.

“Try opening your eyes, Lee Woojeong.”

It was unbelievable that Woojeong’s condition had worsened this much in the short time since Jaegang had hung up and rushed over. He stroked Woojeong’s face and called his name repeatedly. When Woojeong, whose eyes only twitched, barely managed to open them, Han Jaegang let out a breath of relief.

“Are you okay?”

It felt stupid to ask if he was okay. Woojeong’s breath, the burning heat of his body, and the dizzying scent pouring from his whole being were announcing that he had entered heat cycle.

“Since when was your body like this? Didn’t you know you were in heat cycle?”

“……I took medicine, but I didn’t even know if it was a side effect…….”

“Medicine? What kind of medicine?”

Woojeong groped the outside of his pocket, he wanted to show the medicine itself. But since his body wouldn’t move as he wanted, he gave up on taking it out and turned his head toward Han Jaegang.

Woojeong exhaled a trembling breath, he held to Han Jaegang’s jacket and buried his face in his chest.

“Endure a little.”

Han Jaegang first picked up Woojeong’s phone that had fallen on the floor and put it in his jacket pocket. He supported Woojeong’s back leaning against his chest, he slid his hand under his knees, and he carefully lifted his body.

Woojeong’s limp body was powerless in his arms, and Han Jaegang furrowed his eyebrows.

•••

He was impatient, as if he was driving with a patient whose life was at risk. Woojeong kept his eyes closed while he held the seat belt crossing his chest tightly with both hands. The scent rising from his sweat-soaked body grew heavier and heavier.

Han Jaegang increased his speed, and he opened the window all the way. Even if his pheromones had stabilized somewhat thanks to his hospital treatment a few days ago, it was dangerous to take an omega’s heat pheromones directly.

“……Lee Woojeong.”

What would have happened if he had struggled to handle it alone without contacting anyone, and ended up facing a dangerous situation?

Han Jaegang had been releasing his pheromones moderately from earlier. He wasn’t sure if that would help Woojeong or harm him, but he believed it would at least reassure him that someone was by his side.

Woojeong rested his forehead against the window. If it was a heat cycle, the pain would be considerable. But Woojeong only panted as if he wanted to endure it alone, even though an alpha who was intentionally releasing pheromones was right next to him.

“We’re almost there, so endure a little.”

“Hhng…….”

When he patted the back of Woojeong’s hand that held the belt lightly, Woojeong held onto his hand.

Yoon Hyunjun had been puzzled, saying Woojeong looked fine until dinner. For Woojeong’s condition to have reached the peak of heat cycle in such a short time felt suspicious.

After hesitating for a moment, Han Jaegang called Joo Yeongmo.

–This is Joo Yeongmo.

“Call Kim Junghyun to the Snow Reflection Residence.”

–What? Executive Director, are you feeling unwell?

“It’s not like that. Not me, bring medicine that can calm an omega heat cycle.”

The fact that all he could do for Woojeong right now was hold his hand made Han Jaegang sigh.