FF Chapter 12

Rough but well-trimmed hands, without a single hangnail, slid across Ji Yeonwoo’s smooth abdomen and waist, then moved toward his back. Ji Yeonwoo, who had his body curled up with a flushed face, breathing lightly, spoke with difficulty.

“The meaning of Korean bellflowers… Haah.”

As soon as he opened his mouth, the hand that had invaded under his shirt lightly grazed his bony spine, as if tickling him. Ji Yeonwoo shivered, as though an electric current ran through his body, and before he could finish his sentence, he grabbed onto Choi Muhyeok, clinging tightly.

“Haah, ha… Managing Director.”

“Hmm, I’m listening.”

Choi Muhyeok kissed the nape of his neck, sucking in the soft flesh, while the hand inside Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt softly scratched up and down his back, causing his body to heat up.

Each time Choi Muhyeok’s hand touched Ji Yeonwoo’s sensitive skin, Ji Yeonwoo buried his face into Choi Muhyeok’s shoulder, not knowing what to do. Choi Muhyeok glanced at him, then buried his face back in his neck.

“Yeonwoo, you have to answer.”

“Mm, mmm….”

With a wet sound, Choi Muhyeok left marks on the nape of his neck, then lightly bit the tender skin, causing Ji Yeonwoo to let out a languid moan and squirm. As if urging him to answer, Choi Muhyeok wrapped an arm around his twisting waist. Now completely trapped in his embrace, Ji Yeonwoo clung to Choi Muhyeok’s neck.

“The meaning of marigolds is… huh, happiness that is bound to come.”

His languid voice mixed with heated breaths spread across Choi Muhyeok’s shoulder. Was that what it meant? It was unexpected. He thought it would be similar to chrysanthemums, which symbolize parting, but it was intriguing how the meaning of flowers from the same species could be the complete opposite.

Choi Muhyeok, who had been lost in thought while gently rubbing Ji Yeonwoo’s lower back, curled his lips into a smile.

“I like that meaning.”

He whispered softly, tilted his head, and kissed him. He lightly sucked on his lower lip, careful not to touch his teeth, then pressed his upper and lower lips together before drawing them in. His tongue slid in through the slightly parted lips, intertwining. As Ji Yeonwoo focused on the kiss, Choi Muhyeok’s hand inside his shirt moved to touch his flat, divided chest.

“Mm! Stop, ah….”

It wasn’t hard to find Ji Yeonwoo’s sensitive spots. As soon as his fingers brushed against Ji Yeonwoo’s pointed, erect nipples, his thin body jolted violently, more intensely than before.

Even though Ji Yeonwoo was a male omega, it wasn’t common for them to feel through their chest. But judging by how his body was writhing, it seemed this might be one of Ji Yeonwoo’s erogenous zones.

Choi Muhyeok, as if testing his guess, gently teased the nipples with his fingers. Then, as though he had made up his mind, his rough hands began to press and rub Ji Yeonwoo’s chest deliberately.

Already sensitive, Ji Yeonwoo’s chest, now completely pressed and stimulated, caused his previously languid head to snap up before tilting back.

“Aah, ah!”

With his mouth open, his gaze towards the ceiling gradually lost focus, as if a fuse had blown.

Haah, haa. Faint breaths escaped through his lips. Staring at the blurred ceiling, Ji Yeonwoo tightly closed his eyes.

Unfortunately, Choi Muhyeok hadn’t noticed how far gone Ji Yeonwoo was.

Choi Muhyeok lifted the hand inside Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt and pulled the shirt off completely. Then, holding Ji Yeonwoo’s trembling waist firmly with one arm, he buried his face into Ji Yeonwoo’s flat chest.

He teased him by leaving marks around his chest, deliberately circling the protruding nipples before finally sucking one into his mouth and lightly flicking it with his tongue.

“Haa, hh, ah…”

Letting out faint, broken moans like the last embers of a dying fire, Ji Yeonwoo clung desperately to Choi Muhyeok. His body trembled, jerking slightly with every spasm.

Choi Muhyeok, pausing briefly to glance downward, noticed that Ji Yeonwoo’s erect member had soaked through his pants, leaving a wet spot. A small chuckle escaped Choi Muhyeok’s lips. Even with this little stimulation, Ji Yeonwoo was leaking so much—there was no doubt he was an omega.

In fact, the living room was thick with the pheromones of a dominant alpha that Choi Muhyeok had released. Without pheromones of his own, Ji Yeonwoo was filled with nothing but Choi Muhyeok’s scent. Any alpha passing by would immediately know that Ji Yeonwoo was already claimed. Of course, Ji Yeonwoo was unaware of this.

His body couldn’t produce pheromones, nor could it detect them.

It was only recently that Choi Muhyeok realized this preference of his. Just the thought of his omega being filled with only his pheromones made his neck feel hot with excitement.

Obsessively leaving marks on Ji Yeonwoo’s chest, Choi Muhyeok’s grip on Ji Yeonwoo’s waist tightened. As the number of reddish love marks increased, Choi Muhyeok felt blood rushing to his groin. He wanted to push inside Ji Yeonwoo immediately, but since it was their first time, he tried to hold back, intending to take things slowly and gently.

As Choi Muhyeok suckled on Ji Yeonwoo’s chest, his hand, which had been caressing his spine, moved downward, grabbing Ji Yeonwoo’s buttocks beneath his pants. The soft flesh of Ji Yeonwoo’s thighs, wrapped around his waist, began to tremble.

“Haah, this… this isn’t right….”

Unable to endure the overwhelming pleasure, Ji Yeonwoo whimpered. Even hearing his desperate pleas, Choi Muhyeok didn’t stop, mistaking them for cries of passion.

As Ji Yeonwoo’s pleas were ignored, his trembling hands clung tightly to Choi Muhyeok’s head. Each time his hands slipped, he corrected his grip, holding on even tighter, as if desperately seeking something. Choi Muhyeok, without looking, gently held Ji Yeonwoo’s hand, intertwining their fingers in a calming gesture. Then he licked Ji Yeonwoo’s ear and bit down lightly on his cute earlobe.

“What’s not right? I’m being especially gentle since it’s your first time.”

He already knew they wouldn’t go all the way tonight. Not only was it unplanned, but there were no supplies like lube or condoms. Without those tools, it would be difficult to properly connect with Ji Yeonwoo, who couldn’t produce pheromones. It was inconvenient, but it was something Choi Muhyeok had expected and prepared for when he decided to pursue Ji Yeonwoo. Tonight, he planned to simply tease and stop.

As he sucked on Ji Yeonwoo’s swollen chest again…

“This… isn’t gentle, hh, at all.”

“…What?”

The voice echoing from above startled Choi Muhyeok back to reality. When he lifted his head, he saw Ji Yeonwoo’s chest, now a mess of bite marks and kiss marks.

Frowning instinctively, Choi Muhyeok quickly raised his head. The moment he saw Ji Yeonwoo’s face, his eyes widened in shock.

“Heuk, this… this isn’t right.”

Ji Yeonwoo shook his head, tears welling up.

“What do you mean… Ji Yeonwoo?”

“More… more… huff, harder…”

It felt like cold water had been dumped on his head. Ji Yeonwoo’s pale face was drenched in tears, his eyes squeezed shut.

When did he start looking like this?

Ji Yeonwoo was barely coherent. His trembling hands and unusual tone were completely unlike his usual self. Everything felt strange.

This wasn’t the face of someone lost in pleasure. It was fear—no, terror. It didn’t seem like he was frightened because of anything forceful, but why was he reacting this way? Confusion clouded Choi Muhyeok’s mind as he narrowed his eyes.

“…You want me to be rougher?”

At the question, Ji Yeonwoo nodded while sniffling. His trembling hands reached up to cradle Choi Muhyeok’s face, and his lips brushed against him, cold as ice.

Smooch, slurp.

Ji Yeonwoo kissed Choi Muhyeok’s closed lips. Despite the sensitivity he had shown earlier when he climaxed from just a few touches, his kiss was clumsy and hesitant. When Choi Muhyeok didn’t respond, Ji Yeonwoo’s hand slipped down.

His hand trailed over Choi Muhyeok’s well-defined chest, exposed through his half-open shirt, and continued lower. Eventually, it reached the bulge in Choi Muhyeok’s pants.

Even with his abnormal trembling, Ji Yeonwoo’s movements were almost mechanical, as though he were being controlled by invisible strings.

A soft click interrupted the moment. Choi Muhyeok’s focus sharpened as he realized Ji Yeonwoo had undone his belt. His expression darkened.

“What are you doing… Ji Yeonwoo?”

Grimacing, Choi Muhyeok grabbed Ji Yeonwoo’s wrist to stop him.

“Hic, huff, huff…”

Ji Yeonwoo’s head drooped as he cried, unable to meet Choi Muhyeok’s eyes. Only then did Choi Muhyeok realize something was truly wrong.

“Ji Yeonwoo.”

“…”

“Yeonwoo.”

Even when he called him, Ji Yeonwoo’s tears wouldn’t stop.

“I’ll… I’ll do better. I’ll be good. Please, I don’t want the medicine.”

Through sobs, Ji Yeonwoo raised his head and looked at Choi Muhyeok. His eyes were vacant, void of any focus.

“Please, the medicine… huff, huff…”

Just as he was about to speak again, Ji Yeonwoo’s strength seemed to give out.

“…!”

Instinctively, Choi Muhyeok tightened his grip around Ji Yeonwoo’s waist. Seeing his body go limp in his arms made Choi Muhyeok’s heart sink.

This isn’t right. I can’t just leave him like this.

Choi Muhyeok adjusted his hold on Ji Yeonwoo’s wrist, trying to warm him up by rubbing his hands together. Even so, the lost warmth didn’t return easily.

Panicking, Choi Muhyeok glanced around the room and spotted a blanket on the sofa. Quickly grabbing it, he wrapped Ji Yeonwoo in it and held him close.

Bundled up like a cocoon, Ji Yeonwoo rested his head against Choi Muhyeok’s chest. His trembling gradually subsided, but his tears continued to fall.

“Do you really want me to be rough with you?”

Ji Yeonwoo whimpered softly, nodding again as if in agreement.

“Do you like it when it hurts?”

Tears pooled beneath Ji Yeonwoo’s tightly closed eyes. He wasn’t fully present, but it was as though he was hypnotized, responding to Choi Muhyeok’s questions with small nods.

“But you shouldn’t like that.”

“…!”

“And I don’t like it either.”

Choi Muhyeok’s hand gently brushed over Ji Yeonwoo’s bony back beneath the blanket.

“Why do you like that?”

His words and actions didn’t align, which only deepened the mystery. As he murmured softly, Ji Yeonwoo hesitated before pressing his head against Choi Muhyeok’s chest. His faint, uneven breathing could be heard.

It seemed like Ji Yeonwoo wanted to respond but couldn’t find the words.

In the end, Choi Muhyeok never got an answer that night. Ji Yeonwoo’s trembling slowed down, and his anxious breathing calmed as he fell asleep in Choi Muhyeok’s arms.

Even as he slept, his eyelashes were still damp with tears. Choi Muhyeok held him close, lost in thought.

He couldn’t make sense of it all. His mind swirled with confusion, but no clear answers emerged. Frustrated, Choi Muhyeok let out a small sigh.

What had begun as a simple attraction had now morphed into a deep, consuming relationship that was dragging him down into its depths.

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

The sound of a phone vibrating near his head broke the silence. As he squinted his eyes open, bright light filtered in, making him shut them tightly again. Turning his head away from the light, he felt the cool air against his bare skin, realizing he wasn’t wearing a shirt.

It was already morning. He knew he should get up, but his body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion.

There were many reasons for that. The first was the shock that had hit him like a bucket of ice water. The second was the flood of complicated thoughts that followed, thoughts that consumed his mind. Whatever the reasons, they all stemmed from Ji Yeonwoo.

As he shifted lightly in bed, Choi Muhyeok felt a heavy weight on one of his arms. Instinctively, he opened his eyes and turned his head. Ji Yeonwoo was asleep beside him, his head resting on Choi Muhyeok’s arm, facing him. His hands were neatly folded in front of his chest.

“……”

Ji Yeonwoo’s sleeping face was serene. There were no traces of tears left, as though he had never cried. Seeing his relaxed expression gave Choi Muhyeok a sense of relief, as if everything might be okay. His long, closed eyelashes looked like a painting against his now expressionless face. The white nape of his neck was dotted with reddish marks, standing out like imperfections on an otherwise flawless canvas.

Choi Muhyeok gently brushed his thumb over one of the bite marks on Ji Yeonwoo’s neck.

“Uhh…”

The previously calm face contorted slightly, and Ji Yeonwoo squirmed. Choi Muhyeok’s hand froze in mid-air.

Then it happened.

Buzzz.

The vibrating sound that had stopped earlier resumed. Choi Muhyeok’s eyes narrowed as his hand, still suspended, reached for the vibrating phone on the bedside. Cursing internally, he blindly groped for the phone with his fingers and grabbed it.

Upon seeing the name on the screen, one of his already tense eyebrows shot up.

[Hyung, where are you?]

It was a call from his younger brother, Choi Minhyuk.

“Why?”

[Did you really go off the radar after causing that mess?]

Despite the curt response, Minhyuk remained playful, as always. Choi Muhyeok wanted to take the call outside the bedroom, but he couldn’t move without disturbing Ji Yeonwoo, who was still using his arm as a pillow.

[I heard you didn’t even show up this time.]

“……”

[The people involved were calling me, completely outraged. It’s a huge scandal, you know?]

Choi Muhyeok glanced at the still-sleeping Ji Yeonwoo, then turned his head away and lowered the volume of the call.

“That’s their problem. I’m not in a situation to talk right now. Just get to the point.”

[Come on, man. I’ve been cleaning up after your mess. Don’t leave me hanging like this.]

Minhyuk groaned in frustration.

“I never asked you to clean it up.”

[I didn’t want to either, but I had no choice. Things would’ve gotten worse if I hadn’t stepped in.]

His voice turned stern, and he muttered, “I should’ve been born the Hyung.”

Yesterday, Choi Muhyeok had been scheduled to meet with the daughter of a former Minister of Justice, a high-ranking official, and an Omega at that. But he hadn’t even attended, making this situation quite different from last time.

Holding the phone to his ear, Choi Muhyeok scanned the room.

[Where are you?]

He craved a cigarette. However, he realized that his jacket—and the cigarettes—were in the living room. For someone like Choi Muhyeok, who had a routine of smoking first thing in the morning, this felt like torture.

[You’re not at home, are you?]

There was an implied meaning in Minhyuk’s probing words. It suggested that Minhyuk and some of their father’s subordinates had come to his house looking for him. Damn, nothing’s going right. Choi Muhyeok ruffled his hair in frustration.

“If you already know, are you planning to come after me?”

[No, I won’t. Just tell me.]

“……”

[Hyung, I’m on your side here.]

“…Somewhere you don’t know, is that enough?”

[Are we playing hide-and-seek now?]

Minhyuk let out a disbelieving chuckle. Choi Muhyeok felt a bit guilty, but he didn’t want to disrupt the current peace. Yesterday had been exhausting for both him and Minhyuk, and it had drained their energy. He just wanted to rest without thinking about anything.

[Father’s really angry, you know that, right?]

“He would be.”

[No joke, Hyung. This time, it’s serious.]

“……”

[He sent people to find you and bring you back.]

“……”

[Well, if you’re hiding, stay hidden for the weekend. Try turning off your phone too.]

“You’re worrying too much, Minhyuk.”

[Yeah, yeah. Do what you want. Just pretend this call never happened, okay?]

With his usual playful tone, Minhyuk hung up. That annoying brat, Choi Muhyeok muttered, looking at the now dark phone screen. He checked his unread messages.

After a few spam texts and messages from Minhyuk and Secretary Kim, one name stood out.

Min Jiwon?

He lightly tapped the unread message with his thumb.

— Hello, this is Min Jiwon from Freeze. The Q4 results are in, and I’m reaching out regarding that. Please let me know a convenient time for a meeting, and I’ll arrange it accordingly.

He skimmed the polite message with a detached expression. Since they hadn’t brought the report in person, it seemed like the results were good. Without replying, he turned off the phone and draped his arm over his eyes.

Saturday and Sunday—just two days.

Though it was a limited break, at least he wasn’t alone, which was a small consolation.

Still…