EDR Ch 31

Director Lee called a substitute driver. I thought Director Lee, in his current state, could drive like this. But I would never let myself say that. I’m not going to the police station again. I only want to go there once in my life.

Director Lee looked down at me in front of the sedan. It was a playful expression.

“Are you going to sit in the passenger seat today?”

I pushed the rose under Director Lee’s nose.

“Open the back seat door quickly. We’re going to sit close together.”

It’s much more comfortable to rest my head on Director Lee’s shoulder. Director Lee continued to sigh. I look at Director Lee, my cheeks still resting on his shoulder.

“What are you so worried about? Well, I suppose if a handsome and talented employee like me leaves the company, the company will suffer a lot.”

I opened Director Lee’s hand and put my hand on it. His hand seems to be a little bigger than mine. I’ve never been told I have small hands. I’m also defeated in the weight category. This is why Alphas are superior. With the power of genes, anything is possible.

Director Lee put his head on my head. It’s warm. I’m sleepy.

“Where is my rose?”

“Joo-hyuk-ssi is holding it. Shall I give you one rose every day?”

“Okay. One rose every day.”

The substitute driver clicked his tongue. It makes me a little self-conscious. But I close my eyes again. I don’t mind because the same substitute driver doesn’t come every day.

“Sometimes, one bunch at a time.”

Director Lee kissed the top of my head gently. I feel ticklish. I haven’t dated in a very long time. Looks like it’s time to do it. It’s difficult to date only Betas. Surprisingly, the number of Betas decreases with each step in society. I feel that the number of Betas I can meet is drastically decreasing. Alphas rise to positions of power, while Omegas assist them. What happened to all the Betas?

“Young Master Si-hyun, we’ve arrived.”

A terrifying chill ran through my body. Wasn’t it a substitute driver? Will I run into him again? I force my eyes open. My gaze was drawn to the driver reflected in the rearview mirror. I can’t read his expression with my eyes alone. My stomach churned furiously. My liver began to detoxify the alcohol rapidly.

Director Lee helped me out of the car. I couldn’t take my gaze away from the rear mirror. The driver and I exchanged stares until the car door closed.

He took me in front of Seol Ki-do’s house again.

I considered when I should inform Director Lee that this is actually Ki-do’s home. But Director Lee attempted to see me off without giving me the opportunity to speak. He encourages me to go in because I appear tired. Do I have to go up to the apartment like this? To Ki-do’s house again? While holding a rose.

“Go in.”

I grabbed Director Lee’s sleeve. Director Lee wrapped my hand warmly. No, that’s not it. I don’t mean to set the mood, this is not my home.

“I don’t want to say goodbye.”

Director Lee gave a soft smile. It’s nice to be happy, but this isn’t my home. I simply cannot bring myself to say it. I just created a strange atmosphere after drinking and talking about Seol Ki-do. And now how dare I come to look for Seol Ki-do. Shameful. I want to punch myself in college. If there was even a can of beer next to me, I wanted to drink it and get drunk again.

“Huh? Hyung?”

It’s Ki-do. He is holding a bundle of beer cans in his arms. No, I wasn’t asking for real beer.

I’m still clinging to Director Lee’s sleeve. While also holding a rose in one hand. What an eyesore, really. Seol Ki-do-do looks at me with puzzled eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

I mean, that’s what I’m saying. What am I doing here?

Director Lee turned around and gave a nice smile.

“We meet again.”

“Ah, hello.”

Perhaps Seol Ki-do was having a party since even the man behind him smiled and said hello. He looked familiar when I looked closer. He’s the Beta from last time. The Beta that looks like a prairie dog.

“Huh? That Beta!”

The man recognized me. There’s the sound of something hitting the plastic bag in his hand.

“Ah, hyung, this is my manager hyung. Well, I’m actually a celebrity, and this is my manager.”

An awkward introduction followed. I released my hand from Director Lee’s sleeve. Ki-do came to me.

“Did you drink? I smell a lot of alcohol. Have another drink with us while you’re at it.”

No, send me home. Let me go home.

“Yeah. This is fate.”

The Beta manager pats my shoulder. They both appeared to have had a few drinks. They seem to be in a great mood.

“Do you usually let out a lot of pheromones like that?”

Director Lee asks Ki-do. I think Director Lee was grinding his teeth a little bit, but I don’t know why I’m so embarrassed about the rose in the meantime. I’m out of my mind. I’m jealous of Ha Won. I want to knock everyone down and flee. Ki-do answered him with a smile.

“Ah, when I drink, some pheromone, some pheromone comes out. I’ll sort it out soon.”

“You’d better not drink. You’re going to get your rut soon.”

Director Lee smiled. Ki-do’s expression also became serious.

“Hyung, let’s go inside.”

“Ok.”

“Yes.”

I and the manager both responded at the same time. Director Lee cast a glance at me. Slowly taking me a step backward, Director Lee then said,

“Joo-hyuk-ssi stay. You’re going back with me today.”

The manager went into the apartment without any loyalty and left me. I begged him for help, but all he did was take his hand out of the plastic bag and wave it gently. Nobody in the world can be trusted. I was abandoned by a fellow Beta.

“Isn’t it better to take a break for your rut?”

“I don’t go through a rut as ignorantly as other Alphas.”

Director Lee smiled. I could tell that was a little bit of an annoyed smile when I saw it.

“Your pheromone is extremely strong. It’s very thick, but the Betas didn’t seem to notice, so I guess they didn’t know.”

“I’m very good at controlling my pheromones. I just couldn’t help it in front of the people I like.”

I’m not sure what time it is that they’re discussing their ruts. My head is spinning. Before I can relax, I need to call Kim Joo-young and ask her to piledrive me.

They both looked at me at the same time. It was scary. Both of them were in a bad mood. Seol Ki-do opened his mouth again.

“By the way, hyung, it seems you are getting along well with this Alpha. I thought you considered Alphas flirting with you to be very strange.”

If I hadn’t decided to quit my job, I’d beat you up at home, you jerk. I can’t say anything else in front of the Boss Alpha. We should discuss it when just the two of us, idiot.

“Because I’m not the type to be ignorant like other Alphas.”

Director Lee came one step closer to me. His arm was wrapped around my shoulder, and I covered my hand holding the rose with the other hand. The hand that held the rose trembled as if it were holding a knife. I don’t know if it’s alcoholic tremors or because of the atmosphere.

“I have no intention of being overly cautious.”

Ki-do looked at me and smiled bitterly.

“The rose is beautiful.”

My heart dropped.

“You are so ugly when you smile like that.”

When I drink, I smile a lot. I also keep saying nonsense.

You look so ugly. I was so ugly that day, and I’m still ugly. It’s the same as then. Me too, you too. Still haven’t been able to make any progress.

I wanted to cry if I could. It doesn’t make sense to say that I drank so much and not a single drop of water came out of my eyes.

I thought that if I were a Beta, I should act like a Beta. I believed that if you were an Alpha, you had to act like an Alpha. That’s why we shouldn’t do it. It can’t be done now. That ship is sinking. You and I have only a lingering attachment to each other. Our bottom line was the same. And you’re right, the rose is pretty.

“I’m going in. Hyung, do whatever you want. I’ll be waiting.”

I did not look back at Ki-do. Director Lee wrapped his arm around me again. I didn’t push him away this time.

“Do you like that friend?”

There was such a time. Perhaps, now that I think about it, there was a time like that. I touched my forehead. I lost strength in my legs. And I squatted down. I feel pathetic holding a rose like a torch. But I can’t put this on the ground. It’s a non-detachable game weapon.

Director Lee looked at me and lowered his posture in the same way. I feel like a kindergartener.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. I took a deep breath.

“You’re an Alpha, do you like me? Seriously, I’m sorry I keep asking, but you’re an Alpha, do you like me? Really?”

I feel my nose getting wet. If I get a runny nose here, I’m leaving tomorrow. I will be absent from work without notice. Goodbye, Director Lee, thank you for everything.

“I really like Joo-hyuk-ssi.”

Director Lee grabbed my hand.

“Do you remember when we first met? You may have forgotten it, but it was when Joo-hyuk-ssi joined the company. I saw Joo-hyuk-ssi for the first time during the orientation that day.”

I remember. It was a time when we were burning our hearts and minds that will never come again. I read the declaration as the representative of the customer management team. It was a declaration that we would do our best for the development of the company and the happiness of our customers. After the declaration, I shook hands with Director Lee, who was waiting next to me. Oh, that’s what happened. I shook hands. I was embarrassed at the time. I couldn’t believe I was standing on the platform.

‘You’re a Beta.’

I wonder how that sentence from Director Lee sounded to me at that time.

‘Congratulations on joining the company.’

Usually, it would be an Alpha in such a position. It didn’t matter if the Alpha was exceptional or average, but all that mattered was that they were an Alpha. Director Lee was aware that I was a Beta, so I think it was surprising that I was chosen as the representative.

“At first, I was just surprised. A Beta is on the podium after beating an Alpha. That’s a big deal. At first, I wasn’t interested in a new employee who doesn’t have pheromones and doesn’t smile at me. Really, I wasn’t.”

I glanced at Director Lee. He started talking about the things I did one by one.

“You took a taxi to send an Omega employee home after the dinner party that day. You also proceeded without stuttering or a blue face during your first PT. When an employee was on leave because of their heat cycle, you had to work overtime and struggled to do so. Every month, the secretarial team opens a postcard box for commendations for outstanding employees. ‘An angel is always present to help the Omega employees.’ Everything pointed to Deputy Kim Joo-hyuk-ssi. I occasionally receive a postcard stating that Deputy Kim is handsome.”

My entire face is red-hot. Director Lee’s praises for me did not stop there. He even mentioned how I picked up trash on the side of the road. All of the minor details arose. It was a little burdensome that Director Lee saw me so much, but I didn’t mind. That’s not to say it’s not burdensome. It’s like getting a three-tiered wedding cake on my birthday when I’d be fine with a franchise cake.

Love was oozing out of Director Lee’s voice. I was not a perfect employee. Director Lee described my strengths for a long time. Director Lee’s bean pod has evolved into a 5-tier wedding cake.

“I don’t mean to say this in front of the person I like, but my exes were all Omegas. And I assumed I would continue to date only Omegas in the future. But I keep looking at you, my heart pounding, wondering what you’ll do next. You were the first Beta I liked. Because I don’t know how to like Betas, I may have been a little immature. Still, I like you, so I tried my best.”

“Even though I’m Beta?”

“I like you because you are a Beta. But even if you weren’t a Beta, I’d still like you. You’re kind to your co-workers, and you’re thoughtful enough to call 911 on your boss at the beginning of your career.”

I buried my face in Director Lee’s shoulder. I chuckled as I considered this exaggeration. I lifted my head because I thought tears would come out. I can’t make someone else’s suit wet.  Director Lee grabbed my head and buried it in his shoulder. I relaxed there.

“I would have liked Kim Joo-hyuk anyway. If you were an Omega, it would have been easier for me to ask you out. That’s all. It might have been harder if you were an Alpha. But I’d still like you.”

“…”

“You didn’t have to be a Beta.”

“…”

“I like Joo-hyuk-ssi as he is.”

“…”

“If you think you won’t be able to date an Alpha because you’re a Beta, then I won’t be an Alpha. From now on, I won’t go through a rut, and I won’t even release pheromones.”

“You’re just talking without thinking right now.”

“Yes. Joo-hyuk-ssi, don’t think about having a romantic relationship as a Beta. Just love me. That’s all I need.”

“…”

“Not an Alpha named Lee Si-hyun, just love me.”

I put the rose on the ground. My legs were tingling. I hugged Director Lee. Director Lee also hugged me back. Director Lee’s hands tightened.

While we were still hugging each other, Director Lee broke the silence.

“Did I successfully seduce you? Did I succeed?”

“You surpassed the bar.”

Director Lee laughed and took a deep breath. I was tired. I feel refreshed. Director Lee leaned his head on my shoulder.

“I can’t get up because my legs are numb.”