FF Chapter 35

Several overlapping issues had drained both his body and mind, but he wondered if it had really been enough to make him faint. More than anything, he was worried about how much Choi Muhyeok must have been shocked, having witnessed the entire ordeal.

“I remember most of it. I think I recall everything up until I fainted.”

“Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?”

Ji Yeonwoo lightly shook his head.

“Not really discomfort, but I do feel a bit weak.”

“That’s because your energy is depleted. To recover quickly, you need to eat well. Relying on IV fluids for recovery has its limits.”

The hospital director gestured for the nurse standing behind him to check his vitals. The nurse approached and measured his blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. After confirming that everything was normal, the expressions of the people in the room noticeably relaxed.

“You only have some minor bruising at the moment. Once the IV finishes, you’re free to be discharged. However, since you lost consciousness, we couldn’t conduct a detailed test on your latent traits, so I recommend coming back for that later. As I mentioned to the Managing Director, it’s been about four years since the pheromone deficiency began, and if it continues, you might miss the window for treatment.”

“…Thank you.”

The hospital director exchanged a nod with Ji Yeonwoo before bowing his head to Choi Muhyeok and exiting the room. With a soft click, the door closed, leaving only Choi Muhyeok and Ji Yeonwoo in the room. Even then, Choi Muhyeok hadn’t let go of Ji Yeonwoo’s hand.

Ji Yeonwoo grasped Choi Muhyeok’s thick hand a bit more firmly. Choi Muhyeok’s dark brown eyes grew more intense as their gazes met.

“Have I… been asleep for a long time?”

“You’ve been asleep for nearly two full days.”

“I slept that long?”

He had thought it had only been a few hours, so hearing he had been out for two days was surprising.

“While it’s a relief that you’ve woken up, that’s not the real problem right now.”

“Is there something else wrong?”

“I’ve noticed before, but do you not eat well when you’re by yourself?”

“Pardon?”

“The doctor said you’re almost at the point of malnutrition, give or take a little exaggeration.”

Only now did Ji Yeonwoo understand why Choi Muhyeok had been so shocked and worried. If someone who looked perfectly fine was told they were nearly malnourished, being alarmed was only natural.

He had noticed that he had been losing weight, but he didn’t realize it was that severe. Feeling somewhat guilty, Ji Yeonwoo gave a weak smile.

“It’s just that when I’m busy and by myself, I don’t tend to eat properly.”

Knowing there was no point in making excuses, he confessed honestly. As expected, Choi Muhyeok’s eyes narrowed, and a hint of frustration showed on his face.

“You’re pretty good at cooking. Why don’t you eat?”

“I can’t just leave the shop in the middle of work to go eat. And if I order food to the shop, the smell sticks to everything…”

“So you just go without eating during work?”

“No, it’s not like that. I eat things like sandwiches or snacks. But by the time I get home, it’s already past 9 p.m., and eating that late makes me feel uncomfortable, so I just skip meals.”

“Was it like that on the day I made pasta for you—did you go all day without eating?”

Unable to bring himself to say yes, Ji Yeonwoo lowered his eyes and gave up on making excuses.

“Don’t scold me too much. I’ll take better care of myself from now on.”

“I’m not scolding you…”

Seeing him like that, Choi Muhyeok turned his head and let out a sigh into the air. After a moment of thought, he met his gaze again, now a bit calmer.

“If that’s the case, I think you should close the shop for a while. Running the shop might give you some energy, but if this keeps up, something serious could happen to you.”

“Muhyeok…”

“If you can’t take care of yourself when you’re alone, then let’s stay together.”

Ji Yeonwoo blinked in surprise at the sudden suggestion.

“You can’t go back to that house anyway, right? If you’re uncomfortable with the idea, then just stay with me until you’re fully recovered.”

“……”

“As you heard earlier, you don’t need to take the detailed latent trait test right now. It’s already delayed, and there’s no reason to push yourself to take it immediately. I think it would be better to take the test after you’ve had enough rest. And for that, you need someone by your side to take care of you. What do you think?”

Choi Muhyeok wasn’t forcing him. From beginning to end, his words were logical, and the reasons behind his conclusion were clear. Everything he said was true, so there was no reason to refuse. Nowadays, many people live together anyway, and thinking of it as a step toward deepening their relationship could ease the pressure.

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

Only after hearing Yeonwoo’s affirmative response did Choi Muhyeok’s expression soften.

“I’ll have my people pack up your things, so don’t worry about it. Once you’re discharged, let’s go straight to my place.”

Ji Yeonwoo, meeting Choi Muhyeok’s gaze, smiled faintly and nodded. He immediately made a call to someone.

“Yeah, it’s me. Start the discharge paperwork. I’ll leave once the IV finishes. And…”

Watching him give instructions to the person on the other end of the line, Ji Yeonwoo pressed his palm against the uncomfortable bed and tried to sit up halfway. Seeing this, Choi Muhyeok, still on the phone, placed a supportive hand on Ji Yeonwoo’s back, helping him lean back against the bed. Ji Yeonwoo quietly watched him.

Sensing his gaze, Choi Muhyeok turned to look at him. Even as he finished the call, his eyes never left Ji Yeonwoo.

Thoughts began to swirl. Despite how clearly Muhyeok could communicate everything else, he hadn’t mentioned the one thing Yeonwoo was most curious about. He had said he’d explain after the tests, but now it seemed like he wouldn’t say a word unless Yeonwoo asked first.

Yeonwoo knew he was being impatient. From Muhyeok’s reactions, it was clear that he had gone on the arranged date, and there must have been a reason he hadn’t told Yeonwoo beforehand.

If he had been forced into the meeting by his family, that would’ve been a miserable situation for him too.

There were plenty of clues. Yeonwoo thought back to the first day he met Choi Muhyeok. He had gone to Flower Fiancé to buy flowers for the person he was meeting on that date. Even though he had chosen a completely unsuitable flower like marigolds, his comment about giving them as a way to hurt someone indicated that it had been an unwanted date back then too.

Even the first time Muhyeok came to Yeonwoo’s house, his unusual attire and behavior hinted at another arranged date.

Yeonwoo couldn’t be sure how many such meetings Muhyeok had gone to since then, but there hadn’t been any major changes in their relationship, and he didn’t think there would be any in the future either.

The issue wasn’t with Muhyeok—it was with Ji Yeonwoo himself, who was still stuck in a state of pheromone deficiency.

The doctor’s words that his recovery was unusually slow for a dominant omega, and the hospital director’s warning that missing the window for treatment might lead to irreversible consequences, flashed through Yeonwoo’s mind.

Yeonwoo repeatedly clenched the edge of the blanket covering his lower body, swallowing hard.

“Muhyeok.”

Choi Muhyeok’s dark brown eyes sharpened with concern as he continued waiting in silence after ending the call.

“Can I take the test now?”

“Right now? You mean, this instant?”

“Yes.”

Muhyeok, who had looked surprised, responded firmly.

“No, that’s too much. You know how hard phenotype tests are. With your current condition, you can’t handle it—”

“I can do it. I’ll endure it.”

Yeonwoo hastily interrupted, his urgency evident.

“I want to quickly get a thorough test, find the right treatment, and get better. So please, can you wait for me until then?”

Choi Muhyeok, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke, seeming to understand what Yeonwoo was implying.

But before he could say more, Yeonwoo’s voice came out first.

“I know you didn’t have a choice either, Muhyeok. I have some sense, so I couldn’t bring myself to tell you not to go on those dates. But once I recover my pheromones, everything will change. I’m sure of it.”

“Yeonwoo.”

“I was a dominant omega. It’s not a manipulation of my genes or anything like that—I really was. Once I recover my pheromones, then…”

Yeonwoo suddenly stopped speaking, biting his lower lip hard as if to keep himself from saying more. His wounded heart was clearly reflected in his expression.

“It just feels so unfair. Of course, it was a moment of poor judgment on my part, but this punishment… I can’t believe I have to pay for it like this. I’ve lost all my pheromones, and now I might even lose the person I love. I can’t let that happen, so…”

“Yeonwoo.”

At the sound of his name being called firmly, Yeonwoo abruptly stopped talking. He gasped for breath, his chest rising and falling heavily.

Choi Muhyeok, who had approached him, gently placed his hands on Yeonwoo’s shoulders and locked eyes with him.

And then, in a soft voice, Choi Muhyeok spoke words that made Yeonwoo’s breath catch.

“What are you so afraid of? I’m right here.”

At the sound of that calm yet tender voice, Yeonwoo felt his heart drop. The soothing tone swept away the shadows of anxiety that had been consuming him.

“Muhyeok, I…”

His eyes began to sting with heat. Though he tried to hold it back, his emotions, already fragile due to the turmoil caused by Lee Hyunjun, overwhelmed him.

“I…”

The face he had been staring at grew blurry. Unable to finish his sentence, Yeonwoo closed his mouth. Without a single sob, his tears welled up quickly and fell in droplets.

“I’m just so scared that I’ll lose you. That’s…”

Yeonwoo’s voice faltered as he finally expressed his deepest fear. He let out a small sob and covered one eye with his hand. The tears fell onto the blanket, leaving small, round stains.

Watching quietly, Choi Muhyeok moved closer and gently pulled Yeonwoo into an embrace, wrapping his arms around him.

“Ha, what are you talking about? Why would I ever lose you? I’ve been fighting so hard to keep you.”

His large hand slowly stroked the back of Yeonwoo’s head, then gripped his shoulder tightly. Wherever his touch lingered, a comforting warmth spread through Yeonwoo’s body.

“All the people I’ve met on those arranged dates were just fleeting encounters, like brushing past someone on the street. I don’t even remember their faces anymore—they’re people I’d forget easily. I didn’t want them to bother you. Truly, I had no other intentions.”

His hand wouldn’t stay still. Whether it was just my imagination, his movements—brushing down my back, gripping and releasing my shoulders and waist—made him seem restless.

“It’s my fault. If I’d wanted to block it from the start, I shouldn’t have gone to any of those dates at all. But I had no way to refuse, so I just showed up to meet the expectations.”

As Ji Yeonwoo listened, his forehead pressed against Choi Muhyeok’s chest, his tears soaking into the beige sweater.

“I know you’re upset that I even went. But if I can add a little more context, this time things were complicated. It wasn’t something I could easily avoid.”

What hurt the most was learning about it all through Lee Hyunjun. If it had come from anyone else, it might not have been so upsetting or made me feel this insecure.

Choi Muhyeok’s hand gently brushed Ji Yeonwoo’s head a few more times before he placed his hands on his shoulders, pulling them apart. Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes were still shimmering with tears as they faced each other.

“I wanted to explain this once I’d handled it on my end….”

Choi Muhyeok let out a small sigh and, seeing Yeonwoo’s gaze faltering, spoke slowly.

“The truth is, my family knows about you.”

“…!”

Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders trembled. When their eyes met again, Yeonwoo’s already tear-filled eyes grew even wider.

“They know? How, how could they….”

A face suddenly flashed in Yeonwoo’s mind as he stammered.

“Could it be… Did Minhyuk tell them?”

Choi Muhyeok’s younger half-brother, Choi Minhyuk, had visited their house recently. Thinking of him, who was so different in many ways from Muhyeok, Ji Yeonwoo’s face turned pale.

“H-How much do they know? Do they know about my divorce, about me being a pheromone-deficient dominant omega?”

I’d always known that a day like this would come. The closer we got, the more natural it became to worry about the future. But I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. And now, without any preparation, I was faced with a crisis I wasn’t ready for.

“No, no… If they already know… it’s too soon….”

My chest tightened. It felt suffocating, my vision growing white.

Lost in panic, Ji Yeonwoo suddenly paused as warmth spread through his cold hands. Choi Muhyeok had gently grasped Yeonwoo’s trembling hands.

“Listen to me first. Just breathe.”

Muhyeok’s large hands held onto Ji Yeonwoo’s freezing hands a little more firmly. Meeting Muhyeok’s gaze, Yeonwoo unconsciously exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

As if by magic, warmth started to return to Ji Yeonwoo’s body.

“I’m not sure exactly how much they know, but it’s not all Minhyuk’s fault. They were already starting to suspect something. Of course, it’s natural. I’ve been behaving strangely lately—abandoning dates or giving flowers like marigolds, which I never used to do.”

Come to think of it, he was right. The first time he’d come to buy flowers, I’d thought it was because he didn’t know what kind of flowers to get for the omega he was meeting. But then he changed his mind, buying marigolds once he learned what they symbolized. That’s when I realized that Choi Muhyeok had never been interested in the arranged dates from the start.

“I didn’t want to keep avoiding it anymore because I don’t know how my family might react. I’m worried the consequences could fall on you, not me.”

Yeonwoo recalled the day Muhyeok had said something similar, just before I left for the hospital.

“That day, when you said….”

‘It’s not an important promise. But if I don’t go, I might lose something truly important.’

Back then, I’d thought it was just a simple remark. But now, I fully understood. What Choi Muhyeok had meant was that nothing was more important to him than Ji Yeonwoo.

“The reason I’m still going on these dates is because of the complicated ties within my family. It’s not something I can simply say I like or dislike.”

“Is it… like a marriage of convenience?”

It felt unreal, like something out of a drama. But knowing this was happening in real life left me with an unsettling feeling, as if this was something far beyond my control.

Noticing the anxiety written across Yeonwoo’s face, Choi Muhyeok tightened his grip on his hands.

“Something like that. But I won’t let it affect you. Once things with Lee Hyunjun are settled, I’ll resolve my side of things as well.”

“…How do you plan to do that?”

“I’ll negotiate or convince them, whatever it takes. It won’t be easy, but I’ll try.”

Muhyeok gave a bitter smile before continuing.

“That’s why I want you to focus on what you can do, too.”

With his rough hand, he gently wiped away the tears lingering around Yeonwoo’s eyes and met his gaze again.

“I don’t know what Lee Hyunjun said to you, but don’t let him shake you. Whatever he said, don’t waste your time or energy on the 1% of lies he hides behind. You understand what I’m saying, right?”

Looking at the calm Choi Muhyeok, compared to his own emotional turbulence, Yeonwoo had many thoughts. Meeting Muhyeok was a stroke of luck, and no matter what, I couldn’t lose him. I silently vowed to never let him go.

Finally, a small smile formed on Ji Yeonwoo’s face, and he nodded.

“By the way, about Lee Hyunjun… do you remember the promise I made?”

Yeonwoo’s eyes sharpened at the mention of Lee Hyunjun. A promise? It only took a moment for the memory to surface. The day Yeonwoo learned that Lee Hyunjun was the one responsible for so much of his pain, he’d made a promise with Choi Muhyeok.

“I said if that guy threatened you any further, I wouldn’t stand by and do nothing.”

“Ah….”

“That promise is in effect as of now.”

Choi Muhyeok’s gaze turned sharp as he spoke. In other words, from this moment on, Yeonwoo wasn’t allowed to get involved with Lee Hyunjun in any way.