PIA 75

“Really, it’s not. This happened because I broke a cup.”

“Why did you break the cup?”

When he couldn’t come up with an answer, Ji-an was met with fierce anger. Jeong Hee-seo glared off into the distance with sharp eyes. While it was fortunate that gaze wasn’t directed at him, the pheromones emanating from his body made Ji-an flinch.

“Please don’t be angry, Hyung-nim.”

Ji-an tugged at Jeong Hee-seo’s clothes with an uncertain hand, but he didn’t relax his stiff shoulders.

“I’m not angry at you.”

Why do people who grew up in an environment where they lack nothing have such low self-esteem?

Whenever the usually bright Ji-an showed signs of shrinking for no apparent reason, Jeong Hee-seo had suspected something was happening in the most loving place, the family that should have raised and nurtured Ji-an with affection.

When he first learned that they were physically abusing their only remaining grandson, he should have taken Ji-an away from that house. He became frustrated at Ji-an for not moving according to his wishes.

“What benefit will you gain if you cover it up like that and pretend it didn’t happen? The situation isn’t getting any better, so why do you keep avoiding it?”

If he comes out beaten again next time, would I be able to maintain my composure? How has he lived all this time? The more he imagined, the more anger welled up inside him. Jeong Hee-seo pressed his increasingly hot eyes with his hand.

“I’ll just be more careful.”

“Ji-an, why do you think you need to be careful?”

Ji-an lowered his eyes. Again, avoiding the situation.

“Look at me again.”

Jeong Hee-seo pulled Ji-an’s hand.

“Ah!”

He had unknowingly used too much force, startling even himself. The air between them instantly froze. Uncharacteristically, Jeong Hee-seo lost his composure and looked anxious.

“…”

“…”

The shop door jingled open. The store owner, who had gone to the warehouse to fetch clothes in Jeong Hee-seo’s size, had returned. She was startled by the cold atmosphere between the two as she came back with an excited expression, having accomplished her goal.

“Here, I found clothes in your size…”

Her previously pleased expression faded when she saw the unresponsive customers.

“But, uh, this is a couple’s t-shirt… Are you two not a couple?”

Jeong Hee-seo’s eyes fell on her as she slowly took a step back. As she flinched and tried to turn away, he strode over and snatched the clothes from her arms with a deeply furrowed brow.

After Jeong Hee-seo entered the fitting room, warmth began to return to the room. The innocent shop owner patted her chest in relief and made eye contact with Ji-an. Ji-an shrugged apologetically.

The waves rushed between their toes and into their newly bought pants. They had entered the shore intending to only wet their ankles, but before they knew it, they were sitting absentmindedly with their bottoms soaked.

Sand repeatedly burrowed between their big and index toes, which were tightly gripping thin flip-flops, before being washed away with the seawater. Ji-an would wiggle his toes when they became ticklish from the sand, but would grip tightly again when he felt the soles of his slippers flipping in the current, afraid of losing them.

Ji-an glanced at Jeong Hee-seo, who was sitting with his bottom right next to him. The sun was setting towards the pine forest at the eastern edge of the sea. Nevertheless, the seawater was thoroughly dyed red, and that light touched the man’s face, outlining it in a rosy glow.

“I’m sorry, hyung. For always making you worry.”

A new bandage was securely in place on his hand. The roughly applied bandage had been replaced with a ten-thousand-won bandage, insisted upon by Jeong Hee-seo for its skin regeneration effects.

The awkward atmosphere that started with their argument at the clothing store continued until they finished dinner and walked along the beach. It was Jeong Hee-seo who led the cautious Ji-an to the sandy beach. Sitting by the water, soaking their bodies like children, he felt a sense of relief.

Ji-an felt a mix of confusion and fatigue over Hee-seo’s anger about his injury and the guilt he felt in response, gave in to the beautiful scenery and apologized first.

Anyway, he didn’t want Jeong Hee-seo to be angry with him. No matter what.

Jeong Hee-seo took a deep breath until his chest swelled, and then let it out helplessly. He threw away the seashell he had been holding. His eyes, turning to look at Ji-an, were filled with complex emotions.

“Ji-an-ah.”

“Yes.”

“The things I can do for you… let me do them freely.”

“…”

Ji-an was suddenly at a loss for words. Jeong Hee-seo had brought up again what he had been trying to ignore. And with this atmosphere, with this face.

This was unfair.

Feeling that something was coming, Ji-an quietly looked at the man.

Jeong Hee-seo came a little closer. His sand-covered hand lightly touched Ji-an’s earlobe before wrapping around his neck.

Looking straight at Ji-an with eyes reflecting the red sunset, he opened his lips.

“Date me.”

“…”

“Let’s date. Seo Ji-an.”

It was a soft, sincere request without a hint of alcohol. Ji-an’s pupils trembled slightly.

A gust of wind passed between the two, ruffling their hair and brushing sand against their cheeks. When Ji-an reopened his tightly shut eyes, he saw Jeong Hee-seo staring at his lips.

Ji-an could feel the warmth and blush spreading on his cheeks. Ji-an closed his eyes again, feeling something indescribable.

The fingers around his neck tightened. The moment he felt himself being pulled, his eyelids trembled involuntarily. Their lips gently touched and then pulled apart. Ji-an flinched and opened his eyes slightly.

“…”

“Close your eyes again.”

Ji-an could feel the heat in Jeong Hee-seo’s eyes looking at him. As he stared, mesmerized by the beautiful dark eyes, Jeong Hee-seo kissed him gently and repeatedly. Ji-an’s heart felt like it would jump out of his throat. He had to part his lips to breathe in oxygen, feeling out of breath.

At that moment, his lower lip was suddenly swallowed. His tender inner lip rubbed against Hee-seo’s. His mouth became moist from the sweet scent. Soon, a warm tongue slipped in, brushing against the inside of Ji-an’s cheek and sucking gently, as if tasting him.

Intoxicated by the stimulation, Ji-an grabbed Jeong Hee-seo’s collar. He felt something explode inside him. He could feel his pheromones flowing out uncontrollably, making his spine tingle.

“Mhm…”

Ji-an didn’t realize he was urging him on. Unconsciously, he opened his mouth and accepted him. Jeong Hee-seo responded by delving deeper. As their saliva mixed, the Alpha’s pheromones flowed into his body. The erotic sound of their mingling saliva echoed in his ears.

When breathing became too difficult, Ji-an turned his head slightly. Hee-seo cupped his face with both hands, and when their lips finally parted, their foreheads touched, and their eyes met.

They sat on the beach, completely soaked and lusted after each other. Like lovers kissing for the first time rather than having sex, they focused solely on each other, repeatedly sucking and tasting, not even aware of people passing by right next to them.

Jeong Hee-seo’s gaze was too intense to be distracted by anything else. He greedily sucked on Ji-an before trapping him in his arms. Ji-an couldn’t tell if the heartbeat he heard was his own or Jeong Hee-seo’s. It seemed like the two had mixed together. As he leaned completely into his embrace, it felt like his body was melting and being drawn into the broad chest.

“…”

“…”

After being entwined for a long while, they separated due to a sneeze. They thought they had only been embracing and rubbing lips for a moment, but when they came to their senses, the surroundings had darkened.

As the sun set, the sea breeze sapped their body heat.

Ji-an kept shivering and sneezing like a frail creature, prompting Hee-seo to stand and lift Ji-an to his feet. Both were covered in sand and soaked in salty water, looking a complete mess. Ji-an laughed awkwardly.

“What is this? We look like children… rolling around recklessly.”

“It was worth losing control.”

When Ji-an looked up at the low voice, Jeong Hee-seo kissed his forehead as if he couldn’t resist. He wrinkled his nose as he brushed the sand off Ji-an’s body.

“First, we need to dust the sand off you.”

“…I think I saw a water faucet over there.”

Although he couldn’t answer the request to date, Jeong Hee-seo didn’t press him. Instead, he took Ji-an’s hand and led the way.

Their feet sank into the sand, and their wet feet stung, but with all attention focused on Jeong Hee-seo, Ji-an didn’t notice the discomfort.

Near the foot-washing area set up for cleaning feet, there were more people than on the beach. When Ji-an’s face reddened from the cold water washing his legs, Jeong Hee-seo approached with a slightly frowning face and whispered in his ear.

“You know you’re not controlling it at all right now, right?”

“…Yes.”

When Ji-an frankly admitted it, Jeong Hee-seo’s face darkened further. Jeong Hee-seo wanted to shield Ji-an from the bustling crowd, but it was impossible.

He could feel blatant glances, but his pheromones seemed completely broken, impossible to control.

Ji-an pulled down the front of his T-shirt with a flushed face. What had been bulging since earlier was becoming increasingly unmanageable. Even the cold water that made his legs numb seemed to be taken as stimulation by his body.

Wondering if Jeong Hee-seo had noticed, he glanced up to check, but his expression was already not good. Well, he couldn’t not know…

“…I’m sorry.”

“Haa.”

The life of a heat cycle is so tiring. Or is this an after-effect of the possession? He didn’t know where to put himself from embarrassment. Ji-an felt extremely embarrassed as it seemed he was seducing everyone around with his pregnant body.

Jeong Hee-seo urgently sprayed water over Ji-an’s body. Despite the cold water hitting his skin harshly, the pheromones showed no sign of subsiding.

Anyone watching might think he was in a heat cycle…

“Hyung-nim?”

Ji-an thought he saw Jeong Hee-seo’s arm that was holding him bulge and twitch. His momentary confusion was interrupted as Jeong Hee-seo fiercely poured out his pheromones. It was the moment of implementing his threat to cover Ji-an with his own if he couldn’t contain it.

Ji-an stumbled and clung to Jeong Hee-seo. With a deeply furrowed brow, he half-carried Ji-an under his arm and walked quickly. At an incredible speed, they crossed the road in front of the beach and instantly arrived at the hotel entrance.

Ji-an covered his face with both hands. He was at a loss. It wasn’t just guilt; he was completely out of control, far beyond his abilities. Moreover, Jeong Hee-seo had ignited the situation with his Alpha pheromones.

‘Oh shit…’

It was a pheromone flood.