PO 50

“It feels a little sad now that I’m really about to go home.”

Whenever the cool breeze blew, the leaves in the garden rustled and swayed. Sitting on the bench and watching the scenery, Han Jaehee quietly spoke. On the morning of the day she was going back home, Woojeong came out to see her off instead of Han Jaegang who had left early for work.

“Can’t you stay a few more days?”

“I can’t just play every day. Woojeong-ssi said you’re going to work soon too.”

“But I feel sad that noona is leaving. I think it will feel really empty.”

“The house is big, so it will feel even more so. Next time, Woojeong-ssi should come visit my house.”

“Can I really?”

“Of course. You can come any time, and I can let you stay overnight.”

Woojeong felt genuinely sad that she was leaving. They had only spent a few days together, but since they had been stuck to each other almost all day, he had quickly grown attached.

“I really feel sad too. Why don’t you just come with me to my house?” Han Jaehee spoke jokingly, and she told him one by one the things they could do together if he came visit.

While the two were talking, Secretary Kim who had finished preparations for departure came over and nodded to Han Jaehee as a signal.

Han Jaehee nodded, she held Woojeong’s hand, and she opened her mouth with a face more serious than ever.

“Woojeong-ssi. Can I ask you one favor?”

“Yes.. what is it?”

“You never know how things will go with people. Right now you and Jaegang are getting along fine, but if a day comes when he makes things so hard for you that you feel like you want to throw him away.”

“Yes?”

“At that time, make sure you contact me first. Just once. Can you do that?”

The words were so unexpected that Woojeong could not speak for a moment. Right now he was the one relying on Han Jaegang for everything. He was the one who had feelings for him, and he was the one who feared drifting apart.

Woojeong couldn’t understand why Han Jaehee who must have noticed that much about his feelings was saying this.

“Would an Executive Director even make things hard for me? I’m the one who keeps depending on him.”

“You don’t need to think that way. Woojeong-ssi can be confident in front of Jaegang. So promise me. Promise me you’ll do as I said.”

“…..I will.”

Woojeong did not ask further, he smiled and nodded. It didn’t seem likely that the situation she described would ever come, but since she had always treated him warmly, he could promise her at least that much.

•••

“Hello.”

Woojeong carefully greeted while holding drinks he bought from the first-floor cafe in both hands. He had only been attending the workshop for a short time, and then he ended up going on a leave almost immediately, and during that time he had not even contacted them, so he thought people wouldn’t look kindly at him.

“Parachute. Long time no see.”

“Woojeong-ssi, are you okay now?”

“How do you feel now?”

But the atmosphere in the workshop was different from what Woojeong expected. Everyone first asked about his condition and worried for him.

“The Director said Woojeong-ssi was sick and would be resting for a long time, so why did you come out already? Shouldn’t you rest more?”

“No. I’m okay now. Please have this.”

Woojeong quickly answered and set down the drinks he had been holding with care. Even after he decided to come back to work, he had a lot of worries. He felt like he was causing trouble for Yoon Hyunjun, and Han Jaegang also didn’t welcome his return that much.

<Are you already planning to go back to the gallery?>

Han Jaegang had asked if there was really a need to go back to the gallery again. He suggested that since things had changed now, it would be better to rest more and prepare for university entrance or properly learn something.

When Woojeong said he would go to the workshop first and think about it, he said fine and added one more line.

<You don’t need to push yourself while enduring hardship. Do whatever you want.>

The words he said stayed deep in Woojeong’s heart. Now he no longer needed to endure hardship. It was okay to do what he wanted. Woojeong’s world had certainly changed from before.

“Anyway, I’m glad. But what use is a young guy who looks so weak like this.” Manager Jang playfully said that and patted Woojeong’s shoulder. The worry just a moment ago seemed to have lessened.

“Since Woojeong-ssi is back, why don’t we all go have a simple meal together after work today? Does everyone have time?”

With Manager Jang’s suggestion, a dinner plan was quickly made. After deciding the time and place, everyone returned to their seats and started their work for the day. Feeling once again moved by the workshop atmosphere he had forgotten for a while, Woojeong felt excited.

While chatting with Woojeong, Manager Jang called over Chief Choi.

“Anyway, let’s say Lee Woojeong’s probation period is finished, and from now on we should properly teach him the work.”

After discussing with Chief Choi and arranging a simple training schedule, Manager Jang quickly came to a conclusion.

“For now, Chief Choi, you take charge of training Woojeong. From now on, you need to teach him step by step so that later, even if you take time off, he can handle his part.”

“Of course. Let’s do well together, Woojeong-ssi.”

Chief Choi, who became Woojeong’s mentor, sat him down beside him and explained in detail the work they would be doing together. As he was checking his schedule on his phone, he suddenly remembered something, and he showed the screen to Woojeong.

“Woojeong-ssi, want to see this?”

On the phone screen was a photo. Woojeong stared for a long time at something speckled like stains on a black background, and then he realized what it was.

“Is this by any chance…….”

Chief Choi, famous for his good nature, had married a few months ago and become a husband. He told Woojeong the happy news that came to the couple.

“Yes. Our baby’s ultrasound picture. I’m pregnant.”

“Ah. Congratulations. Chief.”

For a couple to have a child was natural, but to Woojeong who had only lived in the small world under Kang Eonju’s control, it felt strange and amazing.

Chief Choi seemed to feel close to Woojeong because he was also a male omega like him, and he put work aside for a moment and started to talk about the story of when he first learned of the pregnancy.

“In the beginning I kept craving food. Then one day suddenly I couldn’t even stand the smell of rice. That was when the morning sickness started.”

Chief Choi rubbed his belly gently and tilted his head, and his face looked a little thinner than before.

“It’s better now, but for a while whenever I ate anything I threw it all up and it was a mess. But, that wasn’t all.”

Even as he spoke, he kept unwrapping snacks and putting them in his mouth. After handing Woojeong a candy, he drank water and continued.

“No matter how much I slept, I kept feeling drowsy, and my mood kept swinging up and down. Pregnancy isn’t easy.”

“Does everyone get like that when they’re pregnant?”

“It’s different for each person. But you keep doing things you’d never normally do. Isn’t it amazing how a baby the size of a bean inside your belly can sway a person like that?”

Woojeong couldn’t take his eyes off Chief Choi’s face. Even though he said it was hard and painful, he kept smiling softly all the while. That look left a strong impression.

Chief Choi sat comfortably and fiddled with the scarf he had laid on the desk.

“What’s with the scarf?”

“Ah, this?”

Chief Choi lifted the light brown scarf, pressed it briefly to his face, then set it back down on the desk.

“They say for male omegas it isn’t easy to sustain a pregnancy. So they say it’s important to supply your partner’s pheromones sufficiently at all times, that’s why I carry it.”

…..It’s amazing.

After talking about pregnancy for a while, Chief Choi went back to work talk and explained the schedule for this week. Meanwhile Woojeong glanced at the hand resting on the scarf. It felt like the couple’s earnest wish for their baby’s health was reaching him.

Since he had woken up early after a long time and had been busy all day, by the time work ended Woojeong looked clearly exhausted. But when he arrived at the barbecue place near the gallery, the dinner venue, vigor returned to his body. The delicious smell naturally made him hungry.

“You’re finally eating with good appetite.”

Manager Jang who had pulled Woojeong to sit beside him bustled about grilling meat. He looked at Woojeong who usually ate half-heartedly but now was eating with relish, and he praised him with a pleased face.

“Jaegang doesn’t forbid you from eating at home, right?”

Yoon Hyunjun who joined late for the dinner sat down across from Woojeong and spoke in a playful voice meant only for him to hear. After having shared a few drinks with the people around, he once again brought up Han Jaegang.

“It’s nice to see Woojeong-ssi again at the gallery. That guy who pressured me in every way to pick Woojeong-ssi kept calling today too and nagged me for quite a while.”

“What did he say?”

“He was babbling that the working conditions were lousy, that we shouldn’t give you hard tasks, but it basically sounded like he was telling me to just hand over the Director position to you. He even told me not to offer you alcohol, but one glass of beer is fine, right?”

Yoon Hyunjun jokingly poured Woojeong a glass of beer. The dinner gathering was moderately lively. In the past, even when he sat at a table like this, he always felt nervous. He would keep checking the time and dread going back home to face his family.

But now Woojeong was naturally blending into the atmosphere of the dinner. After this ended, he had a home he could return to with a peaceful mind.

“Do you want some more of this?”

“I’m fine now. You should eat plenty too, Manager.”

As Woojeong spent time like that, he lightly rubbed his upper stomach. Maybe because he had eaten too hastily at first, he felt discomfort. He pushed aside the glass of alcohol that was almost untouched and drank water. When he swallowed the lukewarm water, he felt like he might vomit.

“Woojeong-ssi, do you need anything more?”

“……No. I ate a lot.”

“Huh? But why is your face so pale? I think you’re sweating cold sweat too? Do you feel unwell?”

“My stomach feels a little off. I think I ate too quickly because it was tasty.”

“Ah. At times like this, pressing here helps.”

At Woojeong’s words, Manager Jang quickly pulled his hand and held it. He pressed firmly on an acupoint said to aid digestion and worried that Woojeong’s hand felt cold.

“Did you get indigestion?”

“……It seems so.”

When Manager Jang pressed and held his hand, Woojeong felt a little better, but then he felt the nausea again, and he covered his mouth.

“Should I call Jaegang?”

He felt sorry to call a busy person for something like this. Woojeong tried to answer that he was fine, but Yoon Hyunjun was already calling Han Jaegang.

“Hey. Are you busy? ……Yeah. We’re at a dinner, but Woojeong-ssi seems a little unwell. His stomach doesn’t feel good, what should we do?”

After finishing the short call, Yoon Hyunjun delivered Han Jaegang’s words.

“Jaegang said he’ll come pick you up right away.”

Just that made Woojeong feel somewhat better, and he nodded.

Woojeong went out to the roadside in front of the restaurant and waited for Han Jaegang to arrive. He stopped Yoon Hyunjun who said he would come wait together and came out alone.

[Arriving soon] 10:48 p.m.

Woojeong bit his lip as he stared toward the direction the car would come from. He had vomited in the bathroom and felt his stomach settle, but it felt like it was overturning again.

Woojeong tried hard to endure, but in the end he couldn’t resist the rush of nausea and ran to the roadside trees.

“Uugh…….”

But nothing came out except the heaving. Woojeong crouched down and gagged for a while, and he lifted his head when he felt a hand on his back.

“Let it out. It’s okay.”

Before he knew it, Han Jaegang was beside him and was patting his back. Woojeong who sat there breathing hard shook his head.

“Then get in the car. I’ll go buy medicine.”

Han Jaegang supported Woojeong into the car and drove quickly to a nearby pharmacy. Woojeong leaned his head against the window and blankly watched him. When he was just coming out after talking briefly with the pharmacist, something happened.

“Uugh.”

He felt the nausea rising again, and Woojeong quickly covered his mouth and groped for the door. But just before he opened it, he ended up vomiting right inside the car. Frozen in shock, Woojeong couldn’t move.

“Looks like you really got indigestion.”

Han Jaegang who happened to climb into the driver’s seat at that moment spoke calmly. He took wet tissues from the console box and began wiping Woojeong’s hands.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do it.”

“Just give me your hands.”

“……It’s dirty.”

Without replying, Han Jaegang silently cleaned up the place where Woojeong had vomited. He thoroughly wiped his hands, tidied the damp spots on the clothes and the floor to some degree, and finally opened the window a little for ventilation.

“Can you take the medicine now?”

“I’ll take it a little later.”

“Alright. I’ll drive now, but if you feel like throwing up again, tell me.”

“Yes.”

The car started slowly and entered the road. Worried he might vomit again, Woojeong fidgeted, but fortunately his stomach seemed to calm down, and he let out a slow breath.

Though he seemed focused on driving, Han Jaegang reached out his arm toward the passenger seat. He wrapped Woojeong’s hand with his large hand and asked quietly.

“Your hand feels warmer than before. Do you feel better?”

“……Yes.”

Woojeong blankly watched his profile as he drove, then he quietly held his hand back. The warmth of the large hand felt like it was surrounding his whole body.

Suddenly, he thought that maybe he felt better because Han Jaegang was next to him, but he quietly erased that thought.