PIA 23

Ji-an continued to worry about how to appear less shameless when telling Jeong Hee-seo to provide a place for him to stay.

He hated how his mind kept coming up with conscienceless plans. However, he couldn’t do anything when his thoughts seemed to consistently drift in the most convenient direction. Ji-an felt he had no choice now that Woo-seok was on his grandmother’s radar.

He couldn’t go to Jeong Hee-seo’s family house… He had no intention of getting married, so there was no reason to stay there.

He could frame it as a favor, considering he would safely deliver Jeong Hee-seo’s child into the world.

Ji-an’s thoughts went one after the other and only went in the direction that was convenient for him.

First of all, it was urgent to find out whether Jeong Hee-seo wanted a child. If he wants a child and treats him well, he’ll be a good brother and brother-in-law, and Ji-an will be able to get along with him without feeling pressured.

After safely delivering the baby, he would leave the baby to Jeong Hee-seo and return to his world with a comfortable mind. Although it sounded like a plan, he still wished to discuss it with Woo-seok, but it was a shame that he had to avoid him now.

It was clear that Woo-seok wouldn’t be of any help, but since he was the only person in the world who knew everything about Ji-an’s situation, he wanted him to be someone to talk to.

“Did you search through, you bastard… Did you search through?”

After thinking for a while, Ji-an put down his spoon and took a sip. The previously barely swallowed chocolate pudding now left an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He couldn’t eat the scone, so I chewed it with his front teeth like a rat. He shouldn’t have bought it.

Even though Ji-an drank some hot tea to alleviate his nausea, there was no effect. Perhaps it was because he was nervous. He kept gazing at his unused cell phone’s clock, but that didn’t help…

“How long would it take to drive from Gangnam to Jongno? Is it rush hour now?”

Removing the SIM card had made things inconvenient. He could have easily found out the travel time with a map app.

He became sleepy as he stared blankly out the window waiting for Jeong Hee-seo. The uneasiness had dissipated. Thinking about it only made the situation more unpredictable. The nonchalance of thinking that he had to think about when it happened suddenly reared its head.

Moreover, his energy levels were depleted after the thrilling run, and his eyelids kept drooping. 

Ah, he had to contact Woo-seok… This was bad…

Then Ji-an dozed off.

His head flopped as the arm supporting his chin gave way. He didn’t hit the table, but instead jerked awake.

When Ji-an looked up, he saw a white and elegant sedan waiting on the opposite lane behind the glass window, seemingly out of place. It strangely caught his attention. While there were plenty of foreign cars passing by, this one seemed different. However, it made a U-turn and stopped on the road in front of the cafe where Ji-an was sitting.

Ji-an’s eyes widened.

The back door opened, and a long pair of legs gracefully emerged, and then Jeong Hee-seo got out. His tall, slender body moved gracefully. The sight of him placing his hands together and buttoning the front flap of his jacket, which was billowing in the wind, moved slowly, like a slow-motion video.

The midday sunlight glistened on Jeong Hee-seo’s fine hair. He brushed his hair half-heartedly and raised his slightly frowning eyes. Ji-an gasped for air the minute he made direct eye contact with those eyes.

Despite the fact that a window was blocking the way, it felt like a breeze was blowing right at him. His heart was pounding and his chest felt tight. He even thought he could hear a faint buzzing sound.

Jeong Hee-seo, who was walking towards the direction where Ji-an was sitting, casually averted his gaze as if nothing had happened. It seemed as if he didn’t notice him at all. He turned to the right and walked, pushed open the door of the cafe Ji-an was in, and went inside.

Why?

Ji-an suddenly wanted to run away.

Despite the comfortable indoor temperature, he felt a sudden surge of heat all over his body. His face must have changed color as he became warm. Ji-an drank a sip of cold tea to quench his thirst. However, his tense body did not relax.

It felt like every hair on his body was standing on end. The distinct sound of approaching footsteps in the cafe grew clear. Even though he didn’t have his eyes on the back of his head, he could keenly feel Jeong Hee-seo’s presence approaching from behind. His presence was so strong that it was actually frightening.

Ji-an mentally calculated the distance between himself and Jeong Hee-seo. One step, two steps, three steps. The moment Jeong Hee-seo extended his hand toward him, Ji-an abruptly turned around and got up from his seat. Startled, Jeong Hee-seo awkwardly withdrew his hand.

The anticipated atmosphere became awkward and tense. Ji-an stammered as he finally opened his mouth.

“You… you came quickly.”

“…”

Jeong Hee-seo stared at Ji-an without responding. His meticulous gaze swept from Ji-an’s face down to his legs. Ji-an fidgeted for some reason, wiggling his toes inside his sneakers.

“In fact, the reason I called you is that…!”

Ji-an couldn’t finish what he wanted to say and had to keep his mouth shut. It was because Jeong Hee-seo suddenly reached out and adjusted his hat. Ji-an was startled and quickly leaned back, tilting his upper body.

Jeong Hee-seo was looking down at Ji-an with strange eyes. He awkwardly clenched his outstretched hand into a fist in the air.

“…”

“…”

Where did all the early morning conversations go? Was the person who spoke to him on the phone not actually Jeong Hee-seo but a ghost? How could it be this awkward…

The two people stood frozen and looked at each other for a long time. Ji-an’s face slowly heated up and turned bright red. Huh! Ji-an tried to change the mood by forcing himself to clear his throat, but a growling sound came from his stomach as if it had been waiting.

“… Fourth meeting, let’s go eat. Is there anything you want to eat?”

Jeong Hee-seo suggested with a slight narrowing of his eyes.

“The fourth meal… you said you’ll decide it.”

Ji-an didn’t know how to address him, so he called him ‘you_¹’, but it felt like a stone was rolling around in his mouth. Jeong Hee-seo also raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t like it. His cool-smelling pheromone bloomed unexpectedly.

Ji-an felt a sense of disappointment at that moment.

He was screwed. It was really starting to go downhill.

Why was his heart pounding in this situation? Was he a pervert…?

Jeong Hee-seo wrinkled his nose and smiled slightly as he looked down at him with dissatisfaction. He looked straight at Ji-an with his gently dim eyes. It seemed to pierce through his pupils.

No, it felt more like getting thoroughly beaten. His pupils were inscribed with a clear and intense flame.

Given Ji-an’s eight years of unrequited love experience, he knew exactly what this sensation was. That’s why he kept repeating that he was screwed. To think that such a thing would happen even after possessing.

“This time, I’ll hand over the menu selection rights to the pregnant person.”

Jeong Hee-seo continued, pointing with his chin at the scone on the table that looked like it had been gnawed by a rat and then thrown away.

“If I choose, I’m afraid you won’t be able to eat even one bite. I’ll give you a chance, so think of what you want to eat.”

There was no other way than Jeong Hee-seo. Ji-an called him as the world collapsed around him and there was no way out. Despite thinking of him as the last hope, he began to hesitate.

Perhaps it was because Ji-an was afraid that if he held Jeong Hee-seo’s hand and stepped outside, he would irreversibly fall for him.

A mere slip and he, a professional in unrequited love, would surely become a recessive Omega obsessed with this dominant Alpha.

No, no, he shouldn’t fall in love. But in the first place, he didn’t even know how to avoid such a situation.

“…”

Ji-an muttered without even looking at Jeong Hee-seo. Despite the warning sounds ringing in his head, telling him that he had to run away.

“Not a meal. Before eating, I have something to ask you. Once that is decided, I will move on.”

“Not a meal?”

“I… A place to stay… No, please protect me. Please pick me up.”

“…”

Jeong Hee-seo had thought a lot after receiving Ji-an’s call. When he first heard Ji-an’s dejected voice, which was different from the morning, his thoughts naturally turned to concerns about his health. Considering that he unexpectedly became pregnant at such a young age, Jeong Hee-seo speculated that there would be many symptoms beyond his expectations.

Based on Ji-an’s condition and reactions upon arrival, his original worry about his health seemed to be almost right. However, when he looked into the situation, he discovered a different story. Seo Ji-an continued to deviate from his expectations.

“Suddenly changing your mind like that overnight… Protect you. Who forced you to ask for protection like this?”

Jeong Hee-seo quickly relaxed his expression after a brief flash of assumptions flashed through his mind. Ji-an panickedly shook his head and replied.

“You said you wanted to take responsibility.”

Ji-an didn’t have the courage to raise his hand and hold Jeong Hee-seo’s hand, but instead he lightly touched on the tips of his fingers. Despite feeling his gaze, he didn’t let go.

Looking back, there was no other way. In that case, he has no choice but to charge through. It was a pity for Woo-seok, but Ji-an had erased the idea of escaping from his mind a long time ago.

Since he had to endure for a year and live through it for a year, as well as the child he decided to have, it would be safer if he stayed close to Jeong Hee-seo.

Jeong Hee-seo was taken aback by Ji-an’s sudden change of attitude, yet he did not shake his hand.