EDR Ch 2

I return to my seat with an uneasy feeling. Let’s just work. If I focus on my work, this resentment will turn into anger directed at the computer. Computers in our company are incredibly slow these days. This is because the server company under contract went bankrupt. It’s so uncomfortable. It seems that the general affairs team is too busy looking for a new server company. Thanks to this, we have to endure the inconvenience of going up to the 3rd floor from the General Affairs department if we have urgent business or if the server goes down.

I moved the chair and was about to sit down when Deputy Kang, who was sitting next to me, became nauseous. Looking back, Deputy Kang is covering his mouth and fanning himself in the air.

“Did Deputy Kang finally get pregnant?”

“Oh, what a terrible thing to say, Deputy Kim. But where and with whom did you fight? You’re covered in Alpha pheromones.”

Deputy Kang points the portable fan at me and starts swinging it.

Pheromone? I sniff my arm, but I still can’t recognize any scent. There is only the smell of fabric softener and the smell of dry air outside. Betas are unable to smell the pheromones of Alphas and Omegas.

“Do I smell that much?”

“No, it’s not really a smell. It’s more of a pheromone feeling… I think it would be close to ‘I’m a little angry’.”

“It’s kind of convenient, like… ‘I know even if you don’t say it’.”

“Convenient my ass, it’s useless. People who are unable to control their pheromones will be unable to play poker. All of their emotions are exposed.”

I nod and fix my gaze on the monitor. Director Lee… That was anger.

I was confused as to why he was angry. It’s ridiculous, but I’ve decided to just work. If a person reacts to the boss’s feelings every time, he or she will be unable to go to work. 3 years. I will most likely only work for three years. After that, I’m going to Hawaii.

“Ah, right, Deputy Kim.”

“Yes?”

“Did you know that there was a new contract employee coming to the General Affairs department today?”

“No. Deputy Kang, who told you about that?”

“No one. I heard it earlier today while buying a cup of coffee for Department Head Han-na during lunchtime.”

“Oh…”

“You know, General Manager Park of the General Affairs department, who collapsed due to a heat cycle the last time, decided to take time-off. It was a complete mess back then. When the two Alphas arrived at the company, they both collapsed… As a result, he simply let them rest and hired a contract employee.”

“Whoever wants to go will go, and whoever wants to come will come.”

Deputy Kang whispered as if he was telling a great secret.

“But the new contract Omega, I heard he looks super pretty.”

“Well, people who are pretty are pretty, and people who aren’t pretty aren’t pretty.”

“Just in time, Department Head Lim is coming over there. Do you want me to ask?”

Deputy Kang pulls the chair back and waves his arms.

“Department Head Lim! Huh? Is that the new employee behind you?”

“Yes! I’m going to introduce him to you!”

I look back without thinking. Department Head Lim was stumbling around with a bunch of documents piled up like a mountain.

And there was the Omega I saw earlier, standing behind Department Head Lim. The Omega who was moaning in the bathroom. The Omega that I gave the suppressant to and sent back.

The Omega, the new contract employee, who is said to be very pretty.

The Omega didn’t take his gaze away from me. I know that expression. That look on his face tells me he’s ready to confess his love to me at any time. I couldn’t hide my displeasure.

That Omega muttered something earlier. I think he said that he fell in love at first sight.

There are such Omegas from time to time. Emotions go on the fritz during a heat cycle, so some people fall in love after too much gratitude when I give them a suppressant and a glass of water.

Some of them leave drinks on my desk every morning.

Their gratitude piled up every day.

They hand me a memo with a good phrase on it, attached to a juice bottle. This is okay. I like beverages. That’s all. I thought they just wanted to thank me.

Contrary to my thoughts, the ending was a confession of love. The Omega hoped to eventually become lovers with me. There were various reasons, such as love at first sight and the more I looked at them, the more they discovered why they fell in love with me, but the ending was the same.

I rejected them all. It’s not that they’re bad, but it’s not that I’m good either.

I just don’t really want to date a man. When I think of the male body, I immediately think of the boring and stuffy atmosphere of a public bath.

When I was younger, my father used to tell me, ‘If you don’t study, you’ll be bald like that uncle later.’

We’re males, but Alphas and Omegas are still the most dominant. They aren’t my target demographic. Betas can only go out with Betas. Furthermore, dating at work? That’s a no.

In order to maintain my values, I greet the Omega with the most astringent expression possible.

“Hello…”

“Hello…! I saw you earlier…, I’m called Ha Won. You can call me Won.”

“Oh, yes…”

“Deputy Kim, what is this greeting? This is Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk. He is our team’s ace.”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Department Head Lim laughed loudly and put a bunch of documents down on my desk.

“Ace! You must do all of this.”

“Oh, isn’t that a bit too much? Are you really going to give me everything?”

“Hahaha!”

When I frown, Deputy Kang turns the portable fan in front of my face. My bangs flutter backward.

“Push your bangs up! Oh, but Deputy Kim’s forehead is handsome!”

“What’s wrong with you today? Are you drunk?”

“It’s good to drink! Would you like to go get a drink after work?”

“Alcohol? Alcohol? Shall we go to the new place?”

While Department Head Lim and Deputy Kang were making a fuss, Ha Won’s face turned bluer every moment. He seemed to be trembling a little. Deputy Kang, who was preoccupied with talking to Department Head Lim, still had his fan blowing over in Ha Won’s direction. Well, in this season, the fan is a little… I wouldn’t be feeling well either.

“Deputy Kang, your fan.”

“Huh? Oh sorry, sorry. The wind must have gone to Won. Sorry.”

“Ah… I’m fine… Deputy Kim is… ” 

Ha Won shrank his body awkwardly. If it’s cold, constantly rub your arms.

“Hmm? Ah yes! Don’t worry~”

“What is it?”

“No, nothing~”

What. I sigh and shift my gaze to the papers.

Department Head Lim seemed to be talking more about alcohol with Deputy Kang, then tapped my shoulder. I wave my hand without looking back. The alcohol discussion has concluded. Today is the day I have to go home and watch the drama.

“What are you doing there? Is your company a school? Go back to your seats.”

The meeting was dissolved only after hearing a word from a passing manager. Someone seemed to be hesitating in the back, but then he quickly walked away. Ha Won is now an employee here.

When I looked at Deputy Kang, he smiled, as if he was holding back a laugh because something was funny, and when I tried to make eye contact with him, he bowed his head deeply.

[Deputy Kang. What’s so funny]

[Hahahahaha]

[?]

[Hahahahaha]

[?????]

I turned on the computer again because I thought he wouldn’t respond, but a message arrived right away.

[No, I think Ha Won caught a whiff of the pheromone on you earlier. Deputy Kim, what did you do? I think he mistook you for Alpha. Hahahaha]

I took my hand off the keyboard.

It’s obvious what kind of day it is today.

***

Thanks to Department Head Lim’s document bomb, leaving work on time was out of the question. I left work for a moment during rush hour and crammed into an elevator with other people.

I went to the coffee shop in front of the company, swimming through the people heading for the train station. I bought a sandwich, an Americano, and a cookie.

Ha Won was standing next to my seat like a stone statue when I returned with a paper bag. I got a bad feeling about this.

“What are you doing?”

“Deputy Kim! Oh, it’s nothing special…”

Employee Ha held the lunch box in his hand, which he then held out shyly. On a white plastic bag, the logo of a nearby lunch box restaurant is engraved in yellow. Employee Ha’s hand trembled, making a rustling sound like crushed vinyl.

I was embarrassed. Thank you for your sincerity, but…

“Ha Won-ssi, are you working overtime?”

“Since Deputy Kim is working overtime… ”

“You didn’t have to buy it.”

“Still, I wanted to buy it. Please eat.”

I look at the new contract employee. He looks young and he probably has little social experience. It is natural to feel affection for the person who helped you in this unfamiliar company. However, it is true that it is a little burdensome. It’d be great if we could be like a good brother…

“Ha Won-ssi, first of all…”

Ha Won, the Omega contract employee. He had a pitiful expression on his face as he looked up at me. His complexion is pale, but his cheeks are flushed.

I don’t want to be cold-hearted, but I’m not going to date. However, if I give him room to snoop, it may be difficult for both of us later on.

However, seeing Ha Won’s pitiful expression, my heart continued to weaken. I don’t think he has anyone he can trust because he just joined the company. Yes, it’s only this time.

“Then, Ha Won-ssi, eat with me. Since I bought a sandwich…” 

“Oh, that’s fine.”

“Yes?”

Employee Ha handed me a lunch box, practically forcing it onto me.

“Deputy Kim, you are an Alpha. When I first saw you, I thought you were a Beta and was expecting something a little bit… I don’t like getting involved with Alphas. It’s kind of bad to have debt left, so I’m repaying it with this. Good-bye.”

After leaving those words, Employee Ha bowed and bid me farewell.

I bowed as well like an idiot penguin.

I open my mouth as I see employee Ha turning around, like I would never see him again in the future. The small back of his head disappeared quickly.

Both of my hands are weighed down by sandwiches and lunch boxes.

***