RACA 112

Eunsol, watching the twins eagerly drink their formula, tapped his phone screen. Jaebeom had said he’d be back soon, but more than an hour had passed without a word.

“I’ll step out for a bit.”

“Yes, of course.”

Unable to wait any longer, he stood up to call him. He didn’t realize the twins were following him with their eyes even while sucking on their bottles. As soon as he closed the door, he pressed the call button.

– …Yes, Eunsol-ah.

Thick pheromones seemed to emanate from the slow reply. Eunsol flinched, then composed himself.

“Where are you, Jaebeom-ssi?”

He focused on the sound coming from the phone. The silence suggested it was indoors.

– I’m sorry. I don’t think I can come home tonight.

“Where are you?”

He’d already guessed as much from the lack of contact. His voice trailed off, feeling guilty that he hadn’t noticed Jaebeom’s condition.

– I came to a hotel near the house. My doctor said he’ll be here soon, so don’t worry.

At the mention of hotel, Eunsol quickly scanned his memory for nearby places Jaebeom might be. He remembered the elegant building they’d passed while walking together.

“Is it that H Hotel we saw before?”

– Yeah, that’s the one.

“Should I come too?”

– No, you don’t need to. Once I get a sedative, I’ll be fine. Stay home and rest with the twins.

Even though his voice sounded calm, Eunsol couldn’t easily agree. Considering the past ruts he had spent with Jaebeom, it was only natural.

When Jaebeom went into rut, he spent the entire day in bed, wringing Eunsol dry. He’d kept going without rest, and after several failed attempts to escape, Eunsol couldn’t tell if he’d passed out or fallen asleep. The memory was still vivid.

And now he wanted to rely on a sedative?

“I’m here, so why would you take medicine? It’s better if we go through it together. Wait for me, I’ll leave now.”

– Eunsol-ah.

“No. I’m not leaving you alone.”

Jaebeom fell silent at Eunsol’s unusually stern tone. Eunsol easily recognized that silence as agreement.

Even while he went into the dressing room to change, the call was still connected.

“Just get examined for now.”

When he heard that the doctor had arrived, he finally ended the call. Then he explained to the helpers that he’d have to go out tonight for work and might not be back until morning.

“I’ll probably be back tomorrow afternoon or maybe in the evening. If it takes longer, I’ll let you know.”

After a short hesitation, he added quietly,

“Someone else might call instead of me.”

The helpers, all betas with experience caring for trait-bearers couples’ children, understood immediately that this kind of situation wasn’t unusual.

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“We’ll take good care of Beomwoo and Eunwoo.”

“The babies are strong, they’ll be fine.”

Eunsol felt relieved by the three helpers’ comforting words. Still, just in case, he left a generous trace of his pheromones in the room and recorded a short video for the twins, sending it to the helpers’ phones in case they woke and looked for him.

“I’ll be back soon.”

After saying goodbye, Eunsol stepped out of the house. He waited for the elevator, not noticing anything strange, until he stepped inside and suddenly paused.

“How am I supposed to get there?”

He realized he’d never gone out alone before. Usually Jaebeom or Bulgom accompanied him, but today he was on his own.

Now that he thought about it, he’d never felt any inconvenience because someone had always been there by his side. He realized how comfortable his life had been.

“What am I even gonna do from now on?”

He bit his lip in embarrassment, thinking that this problem arose because he’d grown used to being looked after.

In the past, he would’ve just taken his motorcycle, or called a taxi. But now, he didn’t even have a motorcycle, and there wasn’t a taxi app on his phone.

Jaebeom’s cars were parked in the basement, but he didn’t have the keys, and he wasn’t even sure if he had a license.

“Probably not.”

In the drama’s setting, he’d been a college student with neither time nor money to spare. Scratching his head, Eunsol pressed the button for the first floor and called Bulgom.

– I’m already waiting in the basement.

“Ah… okay.”

To his surprise, the moment the call connected, Bulgom spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world that he was already waiting.

Eunsol quickly pressed the button for the basement level. When the elevator doors opened, he saw Bulgom standing beside the car he had already parked.

“Did Jaebeom tell you?”

“Yes, he did!”

Bulgom answered loudly and opened the backseat door for him. How could Eunsol possibly stop an alpha who, despite saying not to come, still prepared everything with such care?

He sat down with a smile. Not wanting to disturb Jaebeom during his examination, he only sent a message, then turned to look out the window at the scenery speeding by.

At that time, Jaebeom was staring at the doctor, dumbfounded by what he’d just heard.

“So you’re saying this happened because I didn’t have enough physical contact with Eunsol?”

“That’s correct. Dominant alphas require physical intimacy with their omegas outside of rut as well”

He knew that. He had done his best to maintain that balance. The doctor, noticing Jaebeom’s frown, added an explanation.

“The deeper the affection between partners, the more important regular intimacy becomes. Since you haven’t been fully satisfied for some time, your rut seems to have arrived early.”

“But it’s not like we haven’t done anything at all.”

He and Eunsol had kissed, touched, and when Eunsol’s condition allowed, they had been careful with intercourse. But the doctor spoke firmly.

“Were you satisfied?”

Jaebeom frowned at the direct question, unable to say yes. He had often stopped himself, thinking of Eunsol’s health, never letting things go too far.

“Self-relief isn’t enough to release it properly. So the accumulation of that restraint is what led to your current state.”

“Ha…”

Jaebeom covered his eyes with one large hand. Of all the things he expected to hear, this hadn’t been one of them.

“You can take it as proof of how close your bond is,” the doctor offered comfortingly, but it meant nothing to him.

After a moment of silence, Jaebeom asked quietly, “Would a sedative work?”

It wasn’t that he wanted to confirm it, it was more that he needed to prepare himself mentally.

“For now, spending time with Eunsol-nim is the best solution.”

“I can’t let Eunsol overexert himself.”

His body was reacting already. Pheromones were overflowing, and heat was rising through his hands, feet, forehead, and nape.

Jaebeom could tell the state he was in from the swelling heat at his center. If he was already this bad before the rut had fully begun, he might completely lose control when it did.

That was what worried him most.

“He’s a dominant omega, so he’ll be fine. As I said, the two of you trust each other. You don’t need to be overly concerned.”

Just then, Jaebeom’s phone rang. When he checked the screen, he saw a message from Eunsol saying he’d left home.

“Stay in the room next door just in case,” Jaebeom instructed, not wanting any danger to reach Eunsol, even by accident. Then he pressed the call button.

“Eunsol-ah.”

His low voice sounded sweet, but the thick and sticky alpha pheromones permeated the air.

The moment he realized Eunsol was getting closer, all his attention locked on that single person as if nothing else existed.

Even when the doctor bowed and left the room, Jaebeom was focused on the sound coming from the phone.

“You’re here?”

– Yes. I’m on my way up now.

Jaebeom stood up abruptly, striding toward the entrance faster than usual. His mouth was dry, his senses heightening by the second.

He could almost hear Eunsol’s footsteps, his breathing, even his heartbeat, echoing right by his ear. Soon only one large door separated them.

He wanted to open it, but the last fragment of reason told him to wait.

– I’m here.

He hung up as soon as he spoke. Jaebeom stared at the door.

Click.

The handle turned, and the door slowly opened. A subtle, fresh and sweet scent drifted in.

The last thread of his reason snapped.

“Jaeb…”

He thought he heard Eunsol call him.

Bang!

But before he could even finish pronouncing his name, Jaebeom had already pulled him into his arms and closed the door behind them. His large hand cradled the back of Eunsol’s head as he pulled him closer.

Eunsol’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t push him away. The next moment, as the sweet scent filled his lungs, their lips met.