PIA 39

It has only been a few days since he became distant from the pheromones of Alpha, Jeong Hee-seo, the baby’s other father. Ji-an was suffering from severe physical condition. How much hardship did he have to go through for Jeong Hee-seo to appear even in his dreams?

Ji-an glanced at his phone. He wanted to call immediately in response to Jeong Hee-seo’s message asking if he was eating well, but he resisted the urge.

“No, I can’t. Pull yourself together, Ji-an. You’re just a person who will disappear in a year.”

His determination faltered. His body yearned for Jeong Hee-seo earnestly. His rumbling stomach confirmed it. Perhaps what missed Jeong Hee-seo the most at this moment was not him, but his stomach. Ji-an weakly got up and headed to the bedroom.

“Ugh… I feel like I’m dying, seriously.”

Ji-an took prescription medication and sat down at the table to eat, but even in front of the delicious braised beef ribs, he felt nauseous. The fact that there was no grandmother nagging him or his guilt-ridden mother at home somewhat comforted Ji-an.

“…Ha.”

He missed Jeong Hee-seo as if he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. He initially thought it was because of food, but now it seemed like even his lower body missed him. This body seemed to know about the sex Ji-an hadn’t even tried yet.

He thought his infatuation with Jeong Hee-seo would fade if he didn’t see him, but his pregnant body, bound by pheromones, did not allow that.

Whenever he fell asleep, his mind would conjure up images of Jeong Hee-seo, leaving him helpless.

“Young master, a guest has arrived.”

Butler Ahn brought Woo-seok in as Ji-an trembled. When Butler Ahn, the bulky Alpha standing behind him revealed an unpleasant expression. He looked Ji-an up and down with disdain as he sat haphazardly at the dining table.

“You look pathetic.”

“Don’t pick on me.”

Ji-an retorted angrily, echoing the man’s previous words. He was well aware of his own pathetic appearance.

“It’s rude to speak that way to someone who brought you gifts.”

Woo-seok grumbled and placed what he was holding on the table. Forgetting his anger, Ji-an smiled happily and grabbed the package eagerly. Woo-seok slightly pushed up his pants and sat down across from Ji-an. Even though he spoke sullenly, he carefully asked him as if he was worried about Ji-an, who had turned pale.

“That… Is that morning sickness? Is it that hard?”

“Don’t even start. It’s beyond imagination. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

“Of course it’s the first time. What kind of bastard would get pregnant after doing it once?”

Even if it was just once, it was still unfair.

Tsk. Ji-an swallowed the last response and reached for the bag Woo-seok brought.

What Ji-an asked Woo-seok for was his mother’s kimchi stew. No other kimchi stew would suffice. Not the kimchi stew from the top-rated restaurant in Korea, considered a must-try restaurant for teenagers before they die, nor the kimchi stew made by the winner of the Korean Cuisine Competition.

Only Woo-seok’s mother’s kimchi stew that they occasionally ate when they went to visit her was needed. There was no reason. It was just like a divine revelation. The deity responsible was the god of the baby in his stomach.

Ji-an hurriedly unpacked the bundle and found the insulated lunch box. Ji-an opened the lid with hopeful eyes, but as soon as the smell of kimchi stew hit him, he covered his mouth and ran to the bathroom.

Ha, damn it, this shitty soap opera.  F*cking morning sickness…

Ji-an clung to the toilet, tears and snot streaming down his face. Preventing him from eating. This was what happened to people. Babies are born to live, so why should they be so desperate to not let their own mother eat.

After washing his face and staggering back to the dining table, Woo-seok looked at Ji-an with a stern expression. Ji-an quickly noticed that the kimchi stew had already been covered.

“I’m sorry… You brought it after I begged you. Just tell your mom I ate well and leave it at that… She went through so much trouble to make it.”

“No, my mom was excited to make it. She was planning to come herself to make it, but I stopped her.”

Oh… Woo-seok looked at Ji-an with a pained expression as he banged his head on the table. In this situation, Woo-seok felt truly pitiful for the first time in a long time when Ji-an was crying and saying that he could barely eat white rice porridge for this meal. Running away, coming to him to harass him, engaging in lover’s quarrels… He’s a pain in the ass friend, but this time, he felt genuine sympathy.

Woo-seok rested his chin and thought deeply before asking Ji-an.

“Tsk. “Can’t you eat it with your nose covered?”

“Would that work? Get rid of the pheromones properly.  I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“Ah… You crazy Chihuahua…”

Cancel the pity. Woo-seok pretended to spit out saliva.

Sniffing the faint scent of Woo-seok’s pheromones, Ji-an reflexively longed for Jeong Hee-seo even more. Resting his cheek on the cold marble table, he cooled his head while tapping on his phone.

[I’m fine. Hyung. I’m eating well. Long live modern medicine.]

Jeong Hee-seo was the type of person who would come running to him with lights in his eyes if he told him that he couldn’t eat. So, while he still had some willpower left, he sent a message in advance..

“I may not know much. No matter how much you fought, he shouldn’t mistreat someone with his baby like this.”

Woo-seok, who had been quietly watching what Ji-an was doing, interjected. He was saying this without knowing anything, but when others saw it, it seemed like that was exactly what it looked like. Ji-an’s eyes widened.

“It’s not like that. He’s not that kind of person. …I’m just avoiding him.”

“If it’s not then forget it.”

Be afraid. Woo-seok raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.

Ji-an’s flushed face quickly changed. It would obviously look like that to anyone. He couldn’t subject Jeong Hee-seo to such dishonor. Ji-an got up abruptly.

“Where are you going?”

“The hospital. Even if it’s just a nutrient shot, I need to get myself together.”

* * *

It had been about a week since he boasted about enduring it alone. How long has it been since he parted ways with his Hyung-nim…? Ji-an lay on the bed and tried to count his fingers, but he didn’t have the strength to even do that, so he dropped his arm.

“Are you even properly developing when I don’t even eat? How do you plan to procure the ingredients for making fingers and toes while being so uncooperative with me?”

Even murmuring while rubbing his flat stomach, there was no way he would get an answer.

When he asked the doctor at the nearby clinic while getting an IV drip, the only response he received was that there was no need to worry. If he was worried, he could go to an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, but since there was still plenty of time before the scheduled check-up date, he was worried that it might seem like an unusual situation.

There weren’t any of the bad signs the doctor had mentioned.

It seemed like the baby was growing safely. The only one who wasn’t safe was Ji-an himself. Had he ever eaten so poorly in his life…

As he rubbed his dizzy head, the door creaked open, and an unwelcome visitor entered.

“Your grandmother’s here, but you’re lying down without a care in the world.”

“I’m just resting.”

Ji-an really closed his eyes this time. Even the faint remaining energy was completely drained away by his grandmother’s voice, and it seemed like he could really fall asleep.

“Get up quickly. You have a place to go with me.”

“Where? I don’t even have the strength to lift my hand.”

“If you have no strength, that’s even more reason to go. Let’s go to the traditional medicine clinic and get some herbal medicine and acupuncture to get you back on track.”

“…Herbal medicine? What herbal medicine?”

Kang Boon-nam glanced back at Ji-an, who was questioning dumbly, as if wondering how such a stupid person existed, then left the room. He probably asked because he was surprised that his grandmother would give him herbal medicine.

Ji-an was frowning because he couldn’t tell what he was talking about, but she yelled at him from outside the room, telling him to hurry up and come out. Ji-an slowly got up with his weak body. Well, if it’s herbal medicine, then he should go. If he could take that at least, wouldn’t he be able to survive without much food?

Kang Boon-nam led them to a building whose exterior was too flashy to be considered an oriental medicine clinic. Ji-an looked at the 10-story building, which had glass windows on three sides and was all dedicated to the clinic, with his mouth open.

“It looks expensive… You’re telling me you’re giving me medicine in a place like this? Grandma?”

“Why, don’t you want it?”

“No, no. Thank you.”

If he had come without hearing about the herbal medicine, he might have misunderstood and thought she had come shopping with his weak grandson. It felt more like a small department store than a hospital. They even had a staff member welcoming reserved guests.

“Hello. I’m Park Hee-jeong, the coordinator who will guide you to the treatment room today. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes… Hello.”

“If you go straight up to the 8th floor, I’ll guide you. Follow me.”

The elevator directory showed that the 8th and 9th floors were VIP rooms. Below that were the examination rooms, manufacturing rooms, billing departments, treatment rooms, and so on, typical of a traditional medicine clinic. It reassured him that they had really come to a clinic.

They were guided to the bamboo room among several waiting rooms separated by independent spaces. Here, they could rest with their guardian until the therapist visited to provide a treatment course, the coordinator explained before treating them to tea and leaving.

“Wow… Is this… the cost of the herbal medicine?”

Ji-an screamed as he carelessly opened the clear file that was lying on the table. It was because the amount was staggering. His grandmother, who was glancing around outside while the doctor was coming, clicked her tongue when she saw Ji-an’s fuss.