COAC 30

Looking at Seo Jeong, who seemed oblivious to everything, his feelings became complicated. The thought that it was a relief and the thought that he did not know how much longer he could hide this precarious peace coexisted.

Could he go back to how things were with Kim Chayeon? The heat cycle and the confession. His resolve, which he thought he could somehow sort out even after that incident, was shattered in front of the stigma of ‘one-sided imprinting.’ It was to the point where he would have nothing more to wish for if things could just stay as they were now.

Kim Chayeon was waiting for Seo Jeong in front of the lecture hall. Do Hyeonjun’s steps, who had spotted him first, faltered for a moment. He quickly tried to compose his expression, but he did not know if he had succeeded. Kim Chayeon, with an attitude that showed he had no interest in what kind of face he was making, approached Seo Jeong who was following behind.

“Did you enjoy the class?”

“I got chewed out a lot. Ah, Hyeonjun got praised by the professor. He said there were signs that he had paid attention to the composition of the detailed cuts and that he would use it as an example in the freshman lecture. Isn’t that amazing, Chayeon?”

Kim Chayeon fixed his gaze only on Seo Jeong, as if consciously erasing Do Hyeonjun from his field of vision.

“Because he’s good.”

It was closer to a customary response to Seo Jeong’s words rather than an agreement with the praise. He knew it in his head, he knew it, but Do Hyeonjun still had to even out his breathing once more.

Then, he suddenly felt his condition, which had been sinking all day, become much better just because he was next to Kim Chayeon. He did not know what to call this. The cold sweat that had been drenching the nape of his neck subsided, and his cheeks, which had been burning with fever, returned to their normal temperature.

The sensation of his unconsciously shortening breath becoming steady and even. Was this the imprinting effect the doctor had talked about, or was it just a delusion led by his heart? Either way, the feeling of being swayed regardless of his own will was quite uncomfortable.

A strange number appeared on the screen. The ringtone of the call from the unsaved six-digit number rang loudly. Thinking it was probably one of the teammates he used to play baseball with, Do Hyeonjun pressed the call button.

“This is Do Hyeonjun.”

-Ah, so this is student Do Hyeonjun’s number. My name is Kim Chaeho. Do you remember Hankuk University Hospital? You kindly took me to the front of the examination room then.

Do Hyeonjun, who had been rummaging through his memories, opened his mouth slightly. It was the time he had gone to get an X-ray for his sprained ankle and had helped an elderly gentleman who was wandering around looking for an examination room. But how did he know his number?

-You must be very surprised by the sudden call. I had a little trouble finding student Do Hyeonjun’s contact information.

There was no way the hospital would give out personal information, and it was too soon for him to have made inquiries at the school.

“Excuse me, but how did you get my contact information…?”

-An acquaintance of mine knows student Hyeonjun. I’m sorry if it was uncomfortable. I really wanted to repay you.

“Not at all. There’s no need to repay me, it was really no big deal.”

Do Hyeonjun shook his head as if the old man were in front of him, declining the offer. However, the old man was firm. After gently chiding the persistently refusing Do Hyeonjun, saying ‘one should not ignore the sincerity of an elder,’ he only ended the call after securing a dinner appointment. Do Hyeonjun had no choice but to head toward the address sent via text message. If things feel strange, I should get out of there right away.

Half a day later, he stood dumbfounded in front of a massive mansion he had never seen before in his life.

“…Is this the place?”

The place he had arrived at was closer to a ‘castle’ than a house. In the short moment he hesitated whether to press the doorbell, the heavy iron gate opened inward without a sound. As if they had already known of his visit. Do Hyeonjun awkwardly scratched his cheek and stepped inside.

After passing through the gate, a picturesque garden unfolded before his eyes. The perfect landscaping, where it seemed no place was untouched by human hands, and the wide driveway that led to the entrance in a gentle curve. The round, arched roof and the spacious terrace that enveloped the mansion created an unrealistic sensation, as if he had stepped onto the set of a chaebol drama. Beyond the classic beauty, there was something that overwhelmed a person.

“Welcome, student Hyeonjun. I should have come to you, but I’m sorry for making you come all this way.”

The old man, who had spotted him from the terrace, approached with a benevolent smile. He was dressed comfortably, but the grace ingrained in his body could not be hidden. Do Hyeonjun unknowingly gripped the strap of his shoulder bag tightly before letting go and bowing his head.

“Not at all. What I did was something I naturally should have done. I’m actually more grateful that you didn’t forget and contacted me. Did your examination go well that day?”

“It was nothing serious, just a regular check-up. Things got a bit complicated because my doctor was attending a seminar overseas. It’s a relief that it was resolved safely thanks to student Hyeonjun. You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?”

He let out a sigh of relief at the words that it was nothing serious. In the dining room he entered following the old man, Do Hyeonjun was once again at a loss for words. Course meals that one would only see in a top-class restaurant were placed before him one after another. Just like its grand exterior, everything about this house was out of the ordinary.

“Is it not to your liking? You don’t seem to be eating much.”

“Not at all. It’s really delicious.”

Do Hyeonjun deliberately cut a piece of the glossy steak and put it in his mouth. The tender meat melted on his tongue, but strangely, he could not taste anything. As if all the senses on his tongue were paralyzed.

The strange fever that had been consuming his body for the past few days had become a terrible cold and body ache by morning, weighing down on his entire body. It was an indescribable discomfort that was more than just a simple body ache. He wanted to go home and collapse onto his bed right away, but he could not do that now.

“Hyeonjun, you’re an omega, aren’t you?”

Do Hyeonjun’s hand, which had been moving his fork, paused.

“…How did you know? Most people who see me for the first time think I’m an alpha. Because I’m tall and have a good build. It’s the complete opposite of the image that usually comes to mind when you think of an omega.”

Is the insight of a life sunbae who has amassed such wealth different after all?

“Hyeonjun, you lack the arrogance characteristic of alphas. You probably don’t know how selfish and violent that race is. They don’t care about the means to get what they want. They will tear down anyone who gets in their way without hesitation. Even if it’s their own family.”

A cold glint flickered in the old man’s eyes for a moment. When he blinked, his eyes curved benevolently again as if nothing had happened.

Alphas and omegas were a rare population, and the only alpha Do Hyeonjun was close to was Kim Chayeon. However, the characteristics of an alpha that the old man was talking about were the complete opposite of the human image of Kim Chayeon, who was more delicate and careful than anyone else, at least in front of Seo Jeong.

“Among alphas, there are those who are born with that instinct in a particularly severe way.”

The old man’s gaze turned toward the door.

Before he could even think about who he was talking about, a cool presence entered.

“Like my grandson.”

The old man’s voice lowered, and Do Hyeonjun’s eyes, which had casually turned, gradually widened. A familiar silhouette slowly walked in and stopped right in front of him.

“Kim Chayeon…?”

It seemed he was not the only one who was surprised, as Kim Chayeon’s brow was sharply furrowed. He strode forward, glanced at Do Hyeonjun for a moment, and then turned to the old man.

“You suddenly asked me to come, so why are you with Do Hyeonjun, grandfather?”

“I was treating student Hyeonjun to a meal after he helped me by chance at the hospital. Is your first greeting to your grandfather, whom you haven’t seen in a long time, an interrogation rather than a greeting?”

Do Hyeonjun looked back and forth between the two of them, unable to grasp the situation. The two, who had no resemblance when seen separately, exuded a remarkably similar atmosphere when standing side by side.

“Do Hyeonjun, you explain. Why are you here?”

A sharp gaze was fixed on him. Was he thinking that he had deliberately approached his grandfather? A surge of unfairness made him jump to his feet. Clatter. The sound of the chair scraping echoed. His vision went black for a moment before returning.

“I told you we met by chance at Hankuk University Hospital. But, after looking into it a bit, I found that you two have a very deep connection.”

“Stop with the useless talk and tell me why you called me here first. If you have nothing to say, I’ll be on my way.”

“Chayeon, you. It seems you’ve experienced a rut. I’m certain of it now that I see you today. What on earth happened to the guy who always endured it with suppressants?”

Kim Chayeon’s body, which had been turning away without hesitation, paused. A cold sweat beaded on the back of Do Hyeonjun’s neck as he endured the dizziness that made his vision spin.

“Student Hyeonjun is an omega…”

“So what.”

A cold voice cut him off mid-sentence.