PSS Ch 20

—Touch the other one, too. I want to see both of them.

I completely took off the robe and showed him my chest. I gently touched the area around my breasts, caressing the skin, then circled inward and grabbed my nipples. Ughn! I let out a moan at the electrifying pleasure that washed over me, rubbing my nipples as if to tear them off.

“Aheung! Eung!”

My hips bucked rapidly. I pushed my chest forward, twisting my body this way and that, and tilted my head back. Heok, heok. The sound of Mr. Jang Taejin’s breathing grew louder as he stroked his cock. Even that felt lewd, and my body grew more excited. He touched his cock, I touched my nipples, and we masturbated together. Below, my stiffly erect cock trembled, dripping pre-cum.

—Does it feel good to play with your nipples while I watch?

The low voice, thick with breath but forced out through suppressed panting, gently scratched at my eardrums.

“I don’t know, something like that…”

—You’re doing it right now. To seduce me.

“Eung… I wasn’t trying to seduce you, Mr. Jang… Heung.”

—You made me hard just by looking at you, so isn’t that seducing me?

“You’re too lewd, Mr. Jang.”

—I have to be lewd so that Mr. Lim Jaegyeong will show me his pretty side.

“Am I only pretty in your eyes when I’m like this, Mr. Jang?”

The hand that had been stroking his cock stopped. He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath like a sigh.

—No.

“Then…”

—You’re always pretty. Not just when you’re naked like now, but all the time.

What were those words, ‘you’re pretty,’ that I felt a sudden surge of emotion, on the verge of tears.

“You’re not just saying that because you want to see me masturbate, are you?”

—You’re pretty even when you’re just there. Though I do prefer you naked, if given the choice.

“Why do you make a person’s heart flutter like that? What if I start whining that I miss you?”

—Should I just go? It won’t take long to get to Seoul from here.

I shook my head. I felt like I was going to cry for no reason. Teardrops formed at the corners of my eyes.

—I miss you.

I closed my eyes. I took his hand to my lower regions, fully savoring his sweet voice.

—I miss you, Mr. Lim Jaegyeong.

My breathing grew heavier. Using his voice as my side dish, I frantically stroked my cock, which was swollen as if it would burst at any moment.

—I miss you, baby.

At that moment, white fluid spurted from my cock. I held the phone, still fixed on my chest, and trembled as I came. Pleasure spread across my contorted face, and my body, awash in ecstasy, shook violently. As if I had forgotten he was watching, I let out cries and threw my head back. Just his voice, coloring my ears, was enough to make me explode with pent-up desire.

“Haah, haah, hah…, haaah, hah…”

My chest heaving raggedly, I finally regained my senses. I slowly lifted the phone and stared at it blankly. His face, looking incredibly tender, was in it. It was the face of a handsome alpha that I wanted to hide away and keep all to myself.

—Did you go and come by yourself without showing me?

He said, his voice sounding a little disappointed, yet still not losing its tenderness.

“I don’t know. You made me too excited, Mr. Jang.”

—I didn’t do anything. I only said that I missed you, Mr. Lim Jaegyeong.

“There’s something you don’t know.”

Just how exciting those words are. I kept the rest of the words to myself.

The night, approaching midnight, was quiet. The motion sensor light at the main gate, which was almost never on except when Mr. Jang Taejin came home, was also dormant, and the garden was just dark.

“I’m sleepy now. My eyes are closing.”

Having masturbated and come, and since I always went to sleep in Mr. Jang Taejin’s arms at this time, sleepiness washed over me.

—Are you saying we should hang up just because you took care of yourself?

“Who was the one who always said the baby has to sleep at this time?”

—You talk as if you’ve always been a good listener.

“Yes. Because I’m a baby, I’m going to keep listening to you well from now on, Mr. Jang.”

He chuckled softly. But his voice didn’t sound entirely pleased about ending the call.

—I shouldn’t have said that. It’s fine to sleep a little later at times like this.

“That’s how scary words can be.”

—I understand. I said them, so I have to keep my word.

His voice was sweet. He was smiling so warmly it was as if he could reach out and stroke my hair at any moment, and I could see him bidding me a final farewell with a voice even more tender than his smile.

—Sleep well. Don’t toss and turn all night just because I’m not there.

I fought to keep my eyelids, which felt like they would droop at any second, open and replied to his farewell.

“Sleep well. Mister.”

⋆.˚🦋₊ ⊹

I slept well through the night without waking up once. The call with Mr. Jang Taejin was sweeter than I had expected, and masturbating while talking to him had let me sleep soundly without having any dreams. I buried my face in the bedding that held his scent and rubbed it all over. When the servant came in after I woke up to take the bedding, I stopped them, telling them not to. I planned not to wash it at all while he was away.

“Still, I miss you…”

Even though his scent remained in the room, it was still best to be in his arms. It would be so nice to sleep with my face buried in his strong arm and my head resting on his shoulder. As if the existence of an alpha was to put an omega to sleep, he put me to sleep very well.

“…”

Thinking of him again, my lower half had become hard. I let out a long breath like a sigh and tried my best to ignore my erection. It was always like this when I thought of him. There was no case more hopeless than this. I frowned, then suddenly found the thought funny and let out a chuckle. It was because I realized I was thinking about Mr. Jang Taejin more than necessary. Lately, my head was filled with nothing but thoughts of him. No matter how much he was the father of my baby and the person I was dating, this was troublesome.

Get a grip, get a grip. I finally got out of bed. Just then, the sound of my phone ringing announced the arrival of a message.

[Are you awake?]

It was him. A sentence as concise as his way of speaking was greeting me good morning. Tap, tap, tap. I picked up the phone and replied to him. I don’t know how many times the corners of my mouth went up while I was typing.

[Yes just now]

[Then why didn’t you contact me]

[I just said I woke up]

He sent a reply the instant the ‘1’ indicating I hadn’t read it disappeared.

[You should have done it as soon as you woke up for the person waiting]

I burst out laughing. A person waiting. The thought of a busy person like Mr. Jang Taejin waiting for an idle person like me seemed somewhat absurd, which made me laugh.

[What is this you were pretending to be all busy but aren’t you actually free?]

[I am free, limited to Mr. Lim Jaegyeong]

Lately, the phrase he often used, ‘limited to Mr. Lim Jaegyeong,’ struck a chord in my heart.

[I’m busy, limited to Mr. Jang, too]

Through the phone’s function, I could see him typing and deleting his message. After a long while, I burst out laughing again when I saw the message that arrived.

[Why are you only busy for me it’s disappointing]

Was this alpha really the same alpha who had been so mean to me at the beginning? When he’s this cute. When he’s this lovable. It was impossible to know why on earth he had tormented me in that way at first.

[Thinking of Jang Taejin when Jang Taejin isn’t here
Rubbing my face on the bed that smells like Jang Taejin
Bathing while thinking of Jang Taejin
Opening Jang Taejin’s closet and picturing Jang Taejin’s handsome body]

I sent the message thinking he would be pleased, but he didn’t reply for a long time. What the. He said he was free for me, did he get busy all of a sudden? I stared at the phone with a slightly pouting face. Still, no reply came. I was about to put down the phone with a heavy heart, staring at the motionless screen, when the reply I had been waiting for finally arrived.

[If you’re busy with things like that, I’ll acknowledge it]

I laughed like a fool again. Lately, I was really becoming strange. Crying and laughing because of Mr. Jang Taejin, I had no idea what I was doing.

[And it might be good to stay a little busier]

The feeling was strange for no reason. Perhaps because we had been so close, being far apart made me feel more tender and like him even more.

[Okay I’ll be incredibly busy]

[I’ll contact you again later before that you contact me first whenever you miss me]

I stared blankly at his message, feeling like I was going to cry for no reason.

[Okay I will]

The messages exchanged with him ended there.

I stared at the phone, which had no more messages, for a long time before hugging it as if it were precious. Now, I was even feeling affection for inanimate objects. I must have gone crazy. Why was I becoming such a fool? I had never been like this in my life.

Still, I didn’t dislike this change. It was good that I could spend the day just thinking about him. Just as I was about to leave my spot in a good mood and head to the bathroom, I was about to put the phone I was holding on the table when the phone, which had been quiet, rang again.

“What? Are you this free?”

Even as I said that, I couldn’t hide my happy heart and picked up the phone. Thinking it was obviously Mr. Jang Taejin, I was about to accept when I saw the name on the screen and froze.

It was my father. Because I had transferred the data from the phone I used to use, my father’s number was saved. The hand holding the phone trembled. At the same time, my pupils also shook uncontrollably. Just as he said he would contact me soon, my father called me.

I just wanted to avoid it. Just thinking about what he might say was terrifying.

“…”

Buzz. Buzz. The vibration of the ringing phone was transmitted through my palm. I stared at it for a long time before finally dragging the call button as if in resignation. A long sigh escaped along with my lips. I let out the word I didn’t want to say.

“Yes. Father.”

From the other side of the receiver, my father let out a small, dry cough. He spoke in a voice completely different from when we had met at the department store.

—Why are you only answering now?

I could tell just by his voice how much he disliked me. As if he were extremely displeased, he spoke to me in the same way he always had, looking down on me.

“I’m sor… ry.”

—You got rid of your phone.

“I had my reasons.”

—Why. Because Mr. Jang Taejin treated you a little well, did you think, ‘This is my home now’?

That time, I had clearly told my father. Not to contact me anymore. Not to look for me. I had said that while giving him the ten-million-won check I received from Mr. Jang Taejin. Even if he had forgotten about it over time, shouldn’t he not be doing this to me? After living without contact all this time, wasn’t it wrong for him to shamelessly contact me now that he knew I was pregnant and talk to me like this?

“Why did you call?”

—A father doesn’t always need a reason to call his son.

“You’re not that kind of person, Father. You’re the kind of person who only calls when there’s a reason.”

—This brat, talking back at every turn. Where did you learn such manners?

If this hadn’t been a conversation over the phone, he might have already slapped me across the cheek.

—There’s not a single thing about you that I like, from one to ten.

“Why did you call?”

The hand holding the phone trembled. My heart pounded as I waited for his words.

Ahem, ahem. He cleared his throat. It was a habit my father had whenever he was about to say something difficult.

—You’re pregnant.

“What… does that have to do with you, Father.”

—What do you mean? You’re pregnant, so why wouldn’t your father have something to do with it? I’m the one who sent you to that house. Do you remember what I said to you? That Mr. Jang Taejin would take even better care of you. You remember, don’t you?

Of course, I remembered. He had said he would never touch that, so wouldn’t I listen to him just this once, begging on his knees in front of his son.

“So?”

—I need to get some money.

My face crumpled into a frown. I had expected it to some extent, but now that it was a reality, I couldn’t contain my anger.

“What money?”

—Since you’re pregnant, shouldn’t Mr. Jang Taejin naturally pay the price for it?

“Father.”

—To be frank, you’re a dominant omega. On top of that, you’re twenty. You’re young, and it’s your first pregnancy. It’s obvious a baby with good traits will be born.

“…”

—Get about a billion won from Mr. Jang Taejin as a service fee.

My face twisted at the unbelievable words. Get a service fee? Get about a billion won? Why, why… should I get money from him just because I’m pregnant? It’s a child we made together. I didn’t want to unilaterally place the responsibility on him, nor was there any reason to. The child in my belly was my responsibility too. So why should I get money from him? Because I was someone who had sold my body to him for a price? Because I had come to live in this house for that reason?

—That much money will be nothing to Mr. Jang Taejin. You can get more once you give birth, so just get that much for now.

“Father.”

—I’m saying this just in case, but don’t you dare think about raising that child out of some maternal instinct or whatever. You can get more money if you give it to Mr. Jang Taejin. It seems Mr. Jang Taejin is treating you well now because you’re pregnant, but that won’t last long. It’s best to get what you can and settle things.

I thought he was at least human… I thought he was at least human… The moment I heard my father’s words, I realized he wasn’t human.

It felt like he was crazy. He was thinking of the child in my belly as just a means to make money. He was urging me not to raise this precious and dear child with some worthless maternal instinct, but to sell it to Mr. Jang Taejin. To him, my child was just money. He didn’t have a single thought that it was a precious being to me. How could a person be so crazy? It was the child of someone he once loved. How could he be so cruel?

—Do you understand?

Even if my father had gotten on his knees and begged like last time, instead of ordering me like this, I couldn’t obey this time.

“No. I don’t understand.”

—What?

“How… how could you say such a thing? It’s my child. The child in my belly. I’m your son, Father. But… you’re telling me to get money from Mr. Jang Taejin as compensation for having a child? To haggle with the baby? Are you in your right mind? Are you even human, Father?”

Tears welled up in my eyes. My disgust for my father and the pity I still had for him as family, the emotions I had left behind that day, all got jumbled up in my head again. I thought it was over then, but I didn’t know why he had to come find me again and torment me like this. I was just starting to feel like I could live, I was so happy being pregnant with Parang and Bora.

—Tsk, tsk. Foolish boy. Get a grip. You think you’re something now that Mr. Jang Taejin is treating you well, don’t you?

“…”

—What would a person like Mr. Jang Taejin see in you to be like that? He’s just being nice to you now because you’re carrying his seed, so he can take the baby. That’s what Gichul said back then, too. That Mr. Jang Taejin has someone he’s going to marry.

“It’s a misunderstanding. It’s not like that.”

—Anyone can say that. Mr. Jang Taejin is in China right now, isn’t he? He went there with the old man of that house. He’s playing the role of a son-in-law, so what do you mean it’s a misunderstanding?

The corners of my eyes crumpled. It’s not true, what my father is saying is not true, I repeated to myself.

—You pathetic fool. Do you live without even watching TV? Look who Mr. Jang Taejin is with right now. The whole world is talking about the same thing, so why don’t you even know that?

My heart felt like it would explode. My mind was in a whirlwind.

—Stop talking nonsense and get the money. You’re going to lose the baby anyway. You can’t protect it. So at least take the money and get out. You’ll realize later that your father was right.

My teeth chattered so much my lips wouldn’t close. In my head, I believed it wasn’t true, but my heart ached so much. He had said he couldn’t put it off any longer, that it was a business trip he had put off and put off, that he had to go because he couldn’t help it. He had looked at me with a regretful expression, as if he was sad that he couldn’t be with me. My father was mistaken. Just like Nam Gichul had babbled on without knowing anything, he was telling me nonsense.

—My boy, Jaegyeong.

“I will not be receiving any money from Mr. Jang Taejin.”

I have to believe him. Getting hurt from not believing him once is enough.

“Don’t call me about things like this again.”

—Hey, Jaegyeong. Lim Jaegyeong!

“I’m hanging up.”

Click. The screen of the phone I hung up on turned black. My reflection in the dark screen was a complete mess. Thud, thud. Tears streamed down my cheeks. The sunlight that had filled the room began to fade. Like the tears wetting my cheeks, thick raindrops soon began to stream down the window.

⋆.˚🦋₊ ⊹

Autumn rain had a more desolate quality than any other season’s. Staring at the drizzling autumn rain, I paced the room, submerged in anxiety. After receiving my father’s call, I hadn’t taken a single step out of the room. The aunty had brought my meal to the room, but I had barely touched it.

My father’s call had been a tremendous shock to me. His words, telling me to get money from Mr. Jang Taejin using the baby as leverage, evoked a stronger sense of disgust than anything else. Yet, at the same time, I kept thinking about his words. The story about Mr. Jang Taejin being in China with the father of the woman he was promised to marry.

I shouldn’t have… In the end, I couldn’t overcome my anxiety and searched for news articles. As my father had said, Mr. Jang Taejin was in China. A photo of him standing next to a politician, a candidate for the next presidential election, appeared on the computer screen. A politician whose name even I knew. He and Mr. Jang Taejin were together.

Mr. Jang Taejin hadn’t even told me where he was going. He had just said it was a business trip, so I had assumed as much. A sudden ominous thought occurred to me. What did I know about him? Besides the fact that he was a child born out of wedlock, what did I know? No, was he really planning to take responsibility for me and the children in my belly? The man who asked me to be his lover had not made me any promises about the future. He hadn’t even said he wanted to marry me.

Why… He said he wanted to take responsibility for me. Why hadn’t he told me anything? While still being close enough to go on a business trip with that woman’s father…

The fact that he was with the father of the woman he was promised to marry was more unsettling than the fact that my father had demanded money from me using the baby as leverage. I wanted to believe his gaze, which was endlessly gentle when he looked at me, but for some reason, my mind kept dwelling on it. I felt like I was going crazy with anxiety. I just wanted to be in his arms.

“Ah…”

Thinking that I couldn’t quell my anxiety like this, I hurried to the dressing room. I rummaged through the clothes, taking out everything that had his scent and bringing it to my nose. But no matter how much I smelled his scent, no matter how much I tried to find comfort in it, I couldn’t. A whirlwind of emotions, so unlike me, was driving me crazier and crazier.

“No. This isn’t enough… I can’t bear it…”

The tears kept coming. It was still a long way until evening, but I felt like I would go crazy wanting to hear his voice. I had said I would contact him first, but I didn’t want to contact him while he was on his schedule. Because I didn’t want to be a bother to him… If I were to find out that that woman’s father was really by his side… I felt like I wouldn’t be able to handle it…

Buzz. Buzz.

I, who had been making a mess of the dressing room in search of his scent, quickly got up at the sound of the phone vibrating from the bedroom. I approached with quick steps and looked at the phone, and Mr. Jang Taejin’s number was displayed. Thick teardrops poured down like a midsummer shower. I tried not to cry, but the tears kept coming. I hesitated, but unable to even stop my tears, I dragged the accept button. His voice came from a place that was somewhat quiet, with not a single bit of static.

—What were you doing?

Because it was the voice I always knew, because his unchanging voice was so welcome, the tears wouldn’t stop even more.

“Just… being here.”

As I answered with difficulty, he suddenly fell silent. He was quiet for a long time, as if trying to gauge something.

—What’s wrong with your voice? Are you pre-emptively striking because you’re afraid I’ll scold you for not calling?

It was a playful tone, but for some reason, I couldn’t answer with a smile.

“…”

—Mr. Lim Jaegyeong?

No. It’s not that. It’s just that my throat is a little tight. It’s actually nothing. I had to answer like that. I should have just answered like that, reassured him, and swallowed my pain alone, but it wasn’t easy.

“Mr. Jang… Heuk.”

In the end, I ended up crying while talking to him. I had tried so hard not to let him know, but the tears poured out and I couldn’t hold them back.

—What is it? What happened?

“Mr. Jang. Mr. Jang… Where are you now, where are you.”

I was barely in my right mind. It could have been because my hormones were unstable due to the pregnancy, but even setting that aside, my condition was very poor.

—What are you suddenly talking about? Asking where I am.

“Where are you? Where are you, Mr. Jang…”

—Did I not tell you? Where I was going?

“No. You didn’t tell me. Anything… Nothing at all…”

I bit my lip hard. I had to use all my strength not to blurt out the words asking why he was with that woman’s father.

—I’m in China. I’m sorry for not telling you beforehand.

Ah… A groan like a lament, filled with a long lingering feeling, escaped. My hands trembled uncontrollably. Tears streamed down my cheeks without drying, and my sobbing shoulders shook.

—Why are you suddenly asking where I am? Did something happen? Right?

“Heuk, heuk…”

—Mr. Lim Jaegyeong.

“No, it’s not. It’s nothing…”

In the end, I shut my mouth. I forced myself to swallow my sobs, not wanting to let him see me crying out of disappointment in him.

—What on earth…

He fell silent without finishing his sentence. I, too, wiped away my flowing tears with the back of my hand and kept my lips sealed. I was exhausted. I couldn’t control the swirling emotions, and it felt like my whole body was drained.

—Mr. Lim Jaegyeong.

“I’m tired.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him, but I couldn’t completely trust him either. I was confused and tired. I couldn’t do anything that would be a burden to Parang and Bora anymore. I decided to put aside my tumultuous heart and rest for a while. That seemed to be the most necessary action for me right now.

—I understand. Get some rest.

“I’m hanging up.”

I unilaterally hung up on him first. Then I collapsed onto the floor as if I were crumbling. Even though I had firmly resolved not to cry, to just rest for a moment, I couldn’t do anything about the tear ducts that had finally burst. Outside the window, thick raindrops were still falling. Like my shattered heart, the loud sound of the rain lashed against the window.

How long had I slept?

When I opened my eyes, I was collapsed on the floor, not the bed. The night-shrouded view outside the window was much more desolate than usual. I struggled to get up in the dark room, thanks to not having turned on the lights. My face, where tears had dried, felt tight and stiff. I was hungry and thirsty, but I had no desire to eat anything, so I headed straight for the bed. As I buried my face in the pillow full of his scent and pulled the blanket over me, I thought of the call I had with him yesterday.

I had come at his words that he missed me. Thinking there would be no voice as sweet as his, I had unleashed all my desires at the sound of him telling me he missed me.

It was that good. I liked him that much. I loved him enough to come just by hearing his voice.

That’s why it hurt. I had been hurt by the fact that he had someone he was going to marry, I had been happy again at the fact that they had broken up, and now I was sad again at the fact that he was with that woman’s father. My heart throbbed as if a large thorn had been embedded in it. It wasn’t just a feeling, I could actually feel the pain in my heart. For the first time, I learned that the phrase “heartache” wasn’t just a metaphor, but a real symptom.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, I felt the outside of the window brighten. I wondered who it could be at this hour and was about to look, but I didn’t have the energy, so I just lay there. It didn’t matter who came and went from this house, there was no reason for me to care. It was probably Yeo Kyungmin. Mr. Jang Taejin must have told Yeo Kyungmin to check on me since my voice sounded bad.

I just pulled the blanket, which was stained with his scent, over my head and continued to cry. My mood was a mess, and I didn’t want to care about anything. How much time had passed? The door suddenly burst open, and his scent came wafting in strongly.

No way…

Even as I thought it couldn’t be true, I was filled with an absurd sense of hope. And when the blanket covering me was finally pulled back, I saw him before me, but for a long while, I couldn’t believe it and just blinked my eyes. Could I be dreaming? Was I yearning for him so desperately that I was seeing a hallucination?

But.

“Hk!”

When he urgently pulled me into his arms, I could finally realize that this was not a dream. It was his scent. Spreading the scent I loved all around, Executive Director Jang Taejin stood before me, looking as disheveled as he had when he came all the way to the island to find me after I ran away. His neatly swept-back hair and the tight-fitting suit he wore were no different from usual, but he somehow looked undone, his face full of worry that something might have happened to me as he rushed over in a single stride and held me.

“Why do you drive people so crazy?”

“…Executive Director.”

“Mr. Lim Jaegyeong is crying. He’s crying while telling me it’s nothing, so what in the world am I supposed to do?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“That’s why I came running. I canceled my next appointment. I just boarded a plane without any plan.”

“Executive Director…. Hh!”

He hugged my body tightly once more. Burying my face in his firm, broad chest, I sobbed wretchedly. I didn’t know why I wanted to believe him so much. Even though it was an unchanging fact that he had been in China with that woman’s father, I had no way of knowing why I wanted to deny it so desperately.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask, nor could I do anything about my sorrowful heart, so I cried for a long time, soaking the collar of his shirt. He lent me his shoulder and continuously stroked my hair. He wiped my wet eyes and held me tight in his arms, patting my back.

And yet, he didn’t ask. He didn’t ask why on earth I was crying.

“Are you done crying?”

When the sound of my sobbing had subsided a little, when my eyes were swollen shut and my voice was nasal, he set me down from his arms and brought me a glass of water. I took the glass he offered and gulped it down. Belatedly, seeing his ruined jacket, a wave of shame washed over me. Not just tears, but snot was smeared all over it. I felt sorry that the chest of a handsome alpha had been ruined by my traces.

I stopped crying abruptly and just fiddled with the empty cup in my hands. I couldn’t lift my lowered head, worried that he might ask why I had been crying.

“I have something to confess.”

He spoke first. I lifted my head, my eyes barely opening due to the swelling, and wore a rather dazed expression.

“I was with that woman’s father.”

I thought my heart was going to drop. Even though it was something I already knew, I looked at him with an expression of disbelief.

“I hadn’t heard anything about it, but I found out after arriving there. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I didn’t want to create any situation that could be misunderstood.”

“…”

“The whole way here, I kept thinking. What could possibly be the reason for Mr. Lim Jaegyeong to cry like this. I thought you might have found out somehow. There were probably a lot of articles and it must have been on the news.”

Ah…. Belatedly, a sigh like a lament escaped me, along with self-reproach for my foolish behavior. My head was spinning. I resented myself for having listened only to my father’s words and for misunderstanding him, crying and making a scene.

“I’m sorry if you misunderstood. I was with him for work, and it has no other meaning beyond that. I’ve clearly ended things with that woman. Both of our families know about it. I hope Mr. Lim Jaegyeong doesn’t misunderstand.”

The tears that had momentarily stopped began to pour down again. I buried my face in his chest and soaked his jacket once more. His scent wafted up strongly. It was a comforting and gentle scent, just like his consoling touch. My rapidly calmed heart stilled my trembling shoulders. Buried in his scent, I let go of my sorrow.

“Do you feel a little better now?”

I nodded in his arms. My heart, which I thought was being dragged into a swamp, was now peaceful, as if none of that had ever happened.

“I’m sorry. For misunderstanding.”

I, too, apologized to him. I had thought so strongly that being hurt by misunderstanding him once was enough, yet I had misunderstood him and gotten hurt all by myself again.

“No, it’s alright. It was understandable. But how did you find out? Did you really see it on the news?”

I felt I shouldn’t hide it from him. Just as he had, it was probably right for me to share the story about my father with him.

“Actually, my father called.”

“Mr. Lim Jaegyeong’s father?”

“Yes. After finding out I was pregnant…”

“But why would Mr. Lim Jaegyeong’s father talk about me?”

“…He told me you would abandon me, that I shouldn’t be mistaken.”

Hearing my words, Executive Director Jang Taejin’s expression contorted. It was obvious he was forcibly suppressing his anger.

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood you just by listening to my father.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“I’m really sorry….”

He held my foolish self in his arms and soothed me. His embrace was warm, and broad enough to cover my mistake and hide it without a trace. I felt a sense of peace in his arms. It felt as if my anxious feelings had been washed away, disappearing without a trace.

“Were our Parang and Bora playing well?”

He placed a hand on my belly and gently rubbed it. There was no way I could feel any quickening yet, but it felt as if the babies inside were responding to their father’s touch. With a slightly bashful face, yet with eyes that couldn’t hide his happiness, I looked at him.

“I think your belly has come out a little.”

“Yes. You can see it a bit when I’m sitting down.”

“It’ll be more noticeable since you’re a male omega. And with twins, at that.”

He completely pulled away from me. Lowering himself beside the bed, he knelt on one knee and pressed his face to my belly. My face flushed hot. Even though we had been so intimate, the moment he actually pressed his ear to my belly and began to caress it, my heart pounded as if it would explode. He stroked my belly for a long time, as if caressing something he treasured dearly. He rubbed his cheek against my belly, where nothing could be heard. It was lovely, and I was happy. The sight of him cherishing my child was lovely, and because of it, I could feel happy.

“This feels strange.”

I placed my hand on his head. My fingers slipped through his raven-black hair, which was like a blanket of darkness. I stroked his hair. For a long while, I caressed the hair of the man who remained with his ear against my belly.

“It still doesn’t feel real that you’re the father of my child.”

He, who had his face buried in my belly, lifted his head. His upward gaze met mine.

“I think… I’m happy. I’m thrilled… and feel a tender affection.”

He got up. He pulled my face toward him and sought my lips. The moment they briefly met and parted, the sound of their friction echoed in the quiet room. Sharing his breath with me, he whispered softly.

“It’s the same for me.”

I closed my eyes. The scent carrying his sincerity wrapped around my body.

“I’m happy that Mr. Lim Jaegyeong is carrying my child.”

His tongue slipped between our joined lips. Buried in his arms, I fell back onto the bed.

⋆.˚🦋₊ ⊹

I returned to my daily life. Back to how things were before Executive Director Jang Taejin left on his business trip, I continued to intentionally ignore my father’s persistent calls, and eventually, I even blocked his number. I didn’t want to contact my father anymore.

As a result, the only calls that made my phone ring were naturally from Executive Director Jang Taejin. I was taking a walk in the garden after lunch. Never forgetting his words to keep my phone with me even in the shower, I always carried it around. I took the vibrating phone out of my pocket and checked the caller ID. Seeing the three characters, Jang Taejin, on the screen, I smiled happily and dragged the accept button.

“Hello.”

There wasn’t a set time for him to call, but he often did around this time. He was probably using the short break he had after his meal to call me.

—Have you eaten?

A voice that suited him so well, firm yet cool like his appearance, flowed through the phone.

“Yes. I have. What about you, Executive Director?”

—I’ve eaten too.

“What did you have?”

—Sushi. I had it delivered as a bento box and ate in my office.

“You must have been busy.”

—I’m only a free man when it comes to Mr. Lim Jaegyeong.

We both laughed at the same time. It was because of the phrase, ‘when it comes to so-and-so,’ which had become a frequent inside joke between us lately.

—What did Mr. Lim Jaegyeong eat?

“The housekeeper made me taro soup.”

—You know how to eat things like that?

“Am I not allowed to eat taro soup?”

—You were always going on about malatang. I thought that’s all you ate.

“What are you talking about? I’m not a picky eater, you know.”

A single trivial word, a lighthearted joke, made my mood as light as a feather. I laughed at things that weren’t a big deal and felt my spirits lift. So this is what it feels like to talk on the phone with someone you like. I realized this anew every time I spoke with him.

—Mr. Lim Jaegyeong, who eats anything and everything.

“Yes.”

—Let’s go out for dinner tonight.

“Eating out?”

—Yes. We’re going to Epicure for the first time in a while, so be ready.

Of all places, Epicure… Since I had worked there before, visiting as a customer felt burdensome and I was reluctant, but I remembered him once saying, as a joke, that he liked the food there, so I didn’t argue.

“Okay. I will.”

—I’ll send a car around 5.

“Okay.”

Usually, people’s phone calls end after they’ve arranged their next meeting. My call with him would likely be no different.

—I have to go now.

“Okay. Work well.”

—See you later.

And with that, the call ended. I stared at the screen, which had now turned back to the wallpaper, for a moment before walking away with light steps.

The car drove along a familiar road. The exterior of Epicure, which I arrived at for the first time in a while, hadn’t changed at all. I gazed blankly at the dark gray, slanted facade of the building before slowly making my way inside. As I entered, the manager I hadn’t seen in a long time greeted me with delight.

“Welcome, Mr. Jaegyeong.”

The manager was so welcoming that the nearby staff glanced at me. Fortunately, they were all faces I didn’t know. Whether a lot of people had changed or not, they were all people I was seeing for the first time. I let go of my slightly uncomfortable feeling and took the manager’s outstretched hand. We shook hands lightly, and I put on a bright face.

“Have you been well, Manager?”

“Of course. And you, Mr. Jaegyeong? You’re looking well.”

“Huh? Me?”

“You used to have a somewhat gloomy air about you, but that’s gone now.”

Even though it was likely just a polite comment, the question ‘Is that really true?’ popped into my head.

“The Executive Director is waiting for you inside. I’ll show you the way.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I followed him toward the VIP room. The manager, with his calm and neat personality, didn’t ask any unnecessary questions, like what my relationship with Executive Director Jang Taejin was.

“Executive Director. Mr. Lim Jaegyeong has arrived.”

The manager said so after knocking, then gave me a bright smile. I went inside through the door he opened for me. Executive Director Jang Taejin was sitting alone at a round table. He put down the phone he was looking at and turned his gaze to me. His half-lidded eyes looked languid, but I could tell he was actually happy to see me.

With the help of a server, I sat down opposite Executive Director Jang Taejin. Normally, the chairs and tableware should be set according to the number of diners, but for some reason, there was one more place setting besides ours.

“We’ll have our meal later.”

“Yes. Understood. Please let us know when you need us.”

Puzzled by the extra place setting for an absent person, I stared at it for a long moment before my eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Executive Director Jang Taejin’s words. Only after the server left did I turn my gaze to him.

“Is someone else coming?”

He didn’t answer my question. Instead, a knock-knock sound came from the door.

“Yes. Come in,” Executive Director Jang Taejin answered.

The door soon opened and someone entered the room. My gaze naturally turned that way. My face stiffened as I recognized the person entering the room. My wide-open eyes and parted lips wouldn’t close.

“Good evening, Executive Director.”

He greeted Executive Director Jang Taejin. Executive Director Jang Taejin merely replied impassively with a languid expression.