PIA 20

Someone had unannounced dropped a bomb into the silent house. Ji-an pressed the call button without hesitation. After a few rings, a low voice answered the phone.

– Hello.

Having started the call energetically, Ji-an hesitated at the voice. Jeong Hee-seo’s deep and low voice gave a different impression over the phone.

– Seo Ji-an.

“Why.”

– Where are you?

“Why do you need to know?”

For a moment, Ji-an felt a bit disheartened but answered bluntly, and a small laugh was heard on the other end.

– Seeing you answer energetically, you must be at a friend’s house or something.

Huh. Ji-an widened his eyes. It was clearly just a voice call, right? Trying to hide his surprise, Ji-an cleared his throat and adjusted his tone.

“Why did you call?”

– … If I’m not mistaken, it was you who made the call?

“Ah, message. Why did you send that message? What does it mean?”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Jeong Hee-seo’s gently ringing voice felt affectionate.

– What did I mean? Just as it is. If you’re asking about the intention of sending such a message, it was because I thought you might contact me after getting upset like this.

“You know well. Because you turned our house upside down without consulting with me, I’m in this awkward situation now.”

– We made it together, and you’re no different, not consulting it.

“Anyway, it’s my body. I’ll take responsibility.”

– You should take responsibility like an adult. Don’t run away from home like a rebellious teenager.

As Ji-an sighed, Jeong Hee-seo remained silent for a moment.

–  I apologize for that part. I should have asked for your opinion first. I’m sorry for barging into your house without notice.

“…Since we’re on the topic, what exactly are you thinking? You come to my house out of the blue, wanting to do something with me. I doubt you genuinely want to marry someone you only know by face.”

Ji-an asked even though he knew the answer. Throughout the drama, it seemed that Jeong Hee-seo genuinely wanted to marry Ji-an. Because he wanted confirmation, something close to his nature, Ji-an found himself asking again, even though he already knew the answer. He wanted to know the genuine sincerity behind the playful words he had teased with.

– I want to take responsibility. I think things between us are pretty simple, is it difficult for you?

“…”

– It also concerns your health.

Ji-an was left speechless. He couldn’t refute it. For Jeong Hee-seo, who didn’t know what would happen later, it might indeed be an overwhelmingly complicated situation. Since the Omega pregnant with his child needed his pheromones, his instincts must have been stimulated…

In a situation where Jeong Hee-seo could have pretended not to know and turned away, Ji-an should be grateful for his sense of responsibility in stepping forward to take care of him. Having collapsed in front of him, Ji-an found himself with nothing more to say.

– I’ve been saying the same thing from the beginning. Use me as you wish. If you only need pheromones, we can live together; if marriage is necessary, we can get married.

“Why are you going so far when there’s nothing to gain from me?”

Right, Ji-an feared his sense of responsibility. The blindly passionate sense of responsibility and the reckless approach felt like a dramatic plot device.

– It would be a lie if I said I didn’t want anything. I’ve actually liked you for quite some time.

“…”

– You didn’t like such simple answers?

“…”

– I made a fairly reasonable proposal, but what exactly is the reason for avoiding it? I want to solve it. I’ve been living like this all along.

Now, it felt like he was showing possessiveness rather than a sense of responsibility. Perhaps it was an Alpha’s instinct towards the pregnant Omega. Ji-an recalled what the doctor had told him about an Alpha’s pheromones changing when they recognize their baby to protect the Omega.

There was also the devilish Omega pheromone that Ji-an was embarrassed to even mention out loud, which was said to be a perk of possession. Jeong Hee-seo might have become fixated on that… and that’s why he was acting so blindly.

When Ji-an remained silent, Jeong Hee-seo sighed softly and changed the topic.

– Is it a trustworthy friend’s house? How about the pheromone issue?

“It’s okay.”

– Still, wouldn’t it be better to go home?

Ji-an snorted without realizing it.

“You say that easily, even though you were beaten by my grandmother.”

Then Jeong Hee-seo also chuckled quietly.

– She just corrected me.

Ji-an pouted his lips since he felt nice because he responded to the joke. The sound of someone lying down or rustling could be heard. There was also the click of a switch and some murmuring noises, making Ji-an’s ears itch.

“Are you going to sleep now?”

– Yeah. I just finished my work, so I sent you a message. I didn’t see…the time. I keep creating reasons to apologize.

“It’s okay. I saw it after waking up.”

– Did you wake up because the bed changed? If your grandmother is a problem, it might be better to live independently, like my younger brother.

It was strange to hear about Jeong Han-joo from him. Ji-an recalled a scene where Hee-seo might be angry about “Seo Ji-an’s” place next to his younger brother’s officetel. He felt a sudden sense of guilt.

He also had this strange thought that he should dispose of the officetel quickly. This was despite planning to leave for another country just before. Of course, Ji-an himself didn’t realize his ironic feelings.

“I know that JM Grandmother is amazing. I heard a lot about it from my grandmother.”

– Your grandmother isn’t that simple either. At that age, her grip strength…

“Wow, you’re crossing the line. Why are you criticizing someone else’s grandmother? JM Grandmother even appears on YouTube.”

After letting the words slip, Ji-an regretted it. JM’s Myeong Hyun-sook is well-known since it was initially a story about the world in which Ji-an lived.

– Haha, it’s just a joke.

Fortunately, Hee-seo’s reaction to these details was not much different. Ji-an sighed with relief but scolded himself inwardly for his carelessness.

– Are you afraid of the grandmother who lives in my house? Ji-an-ah?

“Isn’t it obvious?”

If the two worlds are similar as if reflected in a mirror, then the person with the greatest power in that family here as well would be Mrs. Myeong Hyun-sook. Since the grandfather of the Jeong brothers and the husband of Mrs. Myeong Hyun-sook passed away young from a heart attack, she participated in management from an early age. It was no exaggeration to say that she was the one who raised JM to its current position.

– Then shall I become independent too?

Jeong Hee-seo muttered as if he was talking to himself.

– Would you be more comfortable if I lived alone?

“…”

Ji-an couldn’t find words to answer for a moment.

In the drama, Hee-seo has never been able to escape from the main stage of the chaebol family as the legitimate heir. However, now he was saying he would come out to live with Ji-an.

– What do you think about it? Ji-an-ah.

“What… Why are you asking me that?”

– I told you. I like finding a solution to anything.

“Do you mean you want to live with me in any way?”

– Haha, does it sound like that? Okay. Then, yes.

“…”

Ji-an, who was leaning against the wall with his back straight, slumped without even realizing it.

– Tell me more, Seo Ji-an. What do you need?

It was unclear whether Hee-seo’s laughter-filled voice or his own hollowness was causing his heart to crumble.

∞

Knock, knock.

“Come out. I brought Jjamppong.”

Woo-seok knocked on the door where Ji-an was sleeping. He asked before deciding on the menu, but there was no answer, so he went ahead and ordered delivery according to his own preference. Now, even after the food had arrived, the silence made him feel quite annoyed.

The knocking sound changed from a light knock to a more forceful one, and in a brief moment of impatience, Woo-seok abruptly opened Ji-an’s door.

“Ah, damn…”

Woo-seok cursed without realizing it as Ji-an’s pheromones spread throughout the room. Even though he reflexively pulled up the hem of his t-shirt to cover his nose and mouth, he could feel it through his skin.

Ji-an was sleeping with only a few strands of hair peeking out from under the blanket. The tightly wrapped bundle looked like a large cotton candy.

“Hey, eat. You’re pregnant; your baby is hungry.”

Woo-seok stretched his long legs and slipped his feet under the blanket. He found soft flesh and tried to pinch it with his toes, but Ji-an sat up and fluttered the blanket.

“What kind of food is it?”

“It’s Jjamppong! Just eat it!”

The answer came from a distance. Woo-seok had run away at the speed of light due to the explosion of pheromones trapped inside the blanket.

Despite the free atmosphere at work, Woo-seok consistently wore suits. Otherwise, he felt like his appearance was too shabby. Ji-an found it amusing to see him delicately wearing an apron over a white shirt while carefully eating Jjamppong.

“If you’re going to do that, take it off and eat.”

“Because you’re here…”

Slurp, oh fuck! Ji-an laughed as he did so. Eventually, Woo-seok started inhaling the noodles in earnest. It seemed he planned to change his shirt after finishing the meal.

With his mouth full of noodles, Woo-seok grumbled discontentedly.

“Are you really going abroad? Should I get ready?”

Ji-an, who was enjoying his food, nodded when he heard this unexpected question. Woo-seok sighed loudly this time.

“You! If you involve me in something like a love quarrel, I’m really going to die. I’ve prepared everything, so if you don’t go, you’ll die, and I live. Got it?”

Not only did spit fly onto his face, but the content was so absurd that Ji-an almost burst into laughter. What? A love quarrel?