DHG Ch 37

Okay, that rejection.

Not just once, but countless rejections.

Jang Seungyung retraced his steps, from the beginning to the end, reviewing the entire process.

Fine, let’s say him pushing Seungyung away during their first kiss attempt was understandable. But the wallet Seungyung dropped that day was blatantly ignored. After that, when Seungyung went to him drunk, Heewoo gave him a fantastic handjob. The kiss was rejected, but, well, let’s say it was because of the alcohol smell!

Jang Seungyung suppressed his rising frustration. At the time, he was sure it was a green light, but looking back, small failures, rejections, had piled up endlessly. It was far too ambiguous to be considered a green light.

And this time’s kiss.

This time, Kwon Heewoo definitely pushed him away.

After experiencing a strong rejection, he’d reached the point of questioning whether even the information he’d overlooked in the past was just his wishful thinking. For example, the energy drinks. The especially large and intensely colored drinks Heewoo gave him might not have been a sign of interest, but simply a flattering bribe offered to his superior.

Moreover, the clothes Seungyung had gifted him, which had vanished as if they’d been thrown away. When he first realized the clothes were gone, he just thought it wasn’t Heewoo’s style and figured they could go shopping together later. Now, it felt like an ominous foreshadowing. Had it actually been a veiled rejection?

Jang Seungyung pressed his temples irritably. He didn’t know why he was so hung up on this issue for days on end.

Couldn’t he just admit that he’d failed in his goal of enjoying Kwon Heewoo before handing him over to Kim Jinhwan? It was either a yes or a no, so why was he racking his brains over this, unlike his usual self?

Secretary Hwang stared bewildered at the groaning Jang Seungyung. So, his boss was agonizing over wanting to sleep with Kwon Heewoo.

“…Is that so?”

Secretary Hwang tilted his head, inwardly agreeing. Immersed in the ideologies of today’s youth through social networking services, his motto was, “If they say so, then so be it.” His boss was saying so, after all. Besides, as a dedicated workaholic, he didn’t care much about anything as long as it didn’t interfere with work.

“Well, if you say so. I won’t worry about it,” Secretary Hwang said brightly. Jang Seungyung glanced up from where his face was buried in his hands.

“I’m glad you’re well aware of Mr. Kwon Heewoo’s various uses. Including as a means of sexual gratification.”

Secretary Hwang, who had been shrugging, flinched and quickly averted his gaze. It was because a chilling air was dripping from Jang Seungyung’s eyes.

‘You said it was just simple lust…’

Was it okay for him to say it, but not for me? Feeling as if he’d encountered a tiger released from its cage, Secretary Hwang’s legs trembled.

However, the other person was his boss. Although he was assigned to him by Chairman Jang, he had great trust in his employer, who was so competent. He’d probably handle it himself this time as well.

Dismissing it as nothing, Secretary Hwang cautiously retreated towards the break room to escape the frozen atmosphere. He intended to warm his chilled insides with a hot cup of tea.

And the moment he opened the break room door, he almost jumped out of his skin.

If he hadn’t been through all sorts of situations while working under Chairman Jang’s secretary and then Jang Seungyung, he definitely would have. Even someone as unflappable as Secretary Hwang felt awkward saying something like “You’re a means of sexual gratification” to someone’s face.

Especially when that someone turned out to be the cleaning fairy he admired.

Kwon Heewoo, clutching trash, empty wrappers, and a dry rag, stood alone in the darkened break room.

✮⋆˙

Towards the end of January, Heewoo’s health noticeably deteriorated.

Even the Head Chef, as well as other employees he was slowly getting to know, expressed concern, saying he looked unwell. Of course, the reason for his illness was none other than his omega traits, which were of no help in life. Heewoo unhappily recalled the doctor’s words.

“You may experience pain as your pheromone glands begin to reactivate.”

It seemed his pheromone system was normalizing faster than he’d thought, likely due to the constant pheromone showers he’d received from the dominant alpha, Jang Seungyung.

“Once your body returns to normal, your heat cycle may return as well.”

Naturally, the doctor’s subsequent warning weighed heavily on his mind.

Actually, he knew how to stop the pain immediately.

It was to let the omega pheromones, which had regained their ability to function normally after being stimulated by alpha pheromones, be released naturally. Like other omegas. And to experience the heat cycle normally.

Heat cycle….

Heewoo’s face darkened. The last time he experienced a heat was in middle school. His friends teased him for being frail, as he would miss school every few months with the excuse of a cold. Back then, Heewoo worried that if his absences continued, his friends might realize he was an omega.

After moving to Seoul, he suppressed his pheromones even more desperately. Perhaps it was because he drastically reduced his sleep and food intake. At some point, his heats disappeared. During that period, he only experienced a slight fever and body aches without any pheromones. He thought his heat cycle had become a thing of the past, but…

Then, an image suddenly invaded Heewoo’s mind.

An image of himself spending his heat cycle with Jang Seungyung, amidst the gentle heat emanating from their pheromones….

Oh my god.

Heewoo quickly erased the shameless image from his mind and nervously bit his lip.

Spending a heat with Jang Seungyung. It was a truly absurd thought.

First, he dealt with the leaking pheromones. It was something the doctor would have stopped him from doing, but he suppressed his pheromones as before and controlled the resulting heat with the medication he’d been prescribed. He also kept the heat suppressants and symptom relievers he’d received from the general hospital within reach.

After berating himself for his delusions, he left his room around 10 a.m., as usual. He was hurrying to clean the CEO’s office. As Heewoo passed near the first-floor hall to get his cleaning supplies, he noticed someone cautiously approaching him.

“Are you… sick because of ‘that’?”

Mingeon, who hadn’t come near him since being called to the CEO’s office in the fall, aside from a few text messages, spoke to him for the first time in a while.

He whispered, checking if anyone was around. 

‘That.’ 

It seemed the responsibility of knowing Heewoo was an omega had gripped Mingeon.

He must look unwell. Heewoo pressed his hand against the side of his head, which was throbbing with a low-grade fever, and nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Oh… what are you going to do? Don’t the meds work?”

“It’s okay,” Heewoo said, trying to be optimistic after a moment of thought.

“It’s not the worst-case scenario.”

He was relieved that his heat cycle symptoms were occurring now. Heewoo’s cycle was longer than average, occurring about once every four or five months. Even though he’d finished studying the GED syllabus a while ago, he wanted to take the exam in good condition. Heewoo mentioned this to Mingeon.

“It’s better that it’s happening now. It would be hopeless if it happened in April.”

His body was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment, with medication unable to postpone the heat. Considering that, it might be better that the bomb was about to explode now.

February was just around the corner. Checking the Department of Education’s website every night to see if the GED application announcement had been posted had become a routine.

The announcement hadn’t been posted yet. But comparing it to last year’s schedule, the application period should open soon.

He’d be able to take the exam this time.

He’d finally be able to enter the examination hall. The image of himself sitting among other test takers and taking the exam appeared more vividly than ever before.

“You’ve been busy lately, too,” Heewoo asked, his gloomy mood lifting slightly. Mingeon, who had been looking at him with a bewildered expression, replied hesitantly.

“Huh? …Yeah.”

“I heard from Daol-hyung. He said you’ve been hanging around with the big guys under the CEO.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Mingeon, visibly flustered for some reason, took a step back. Did something urgent come up? Heewoo was about to ask when Mingeon turned his body completely. He spoke in a suddenly urgent tone.

“If you need my help, call me. I gotta go.”

Heewoo, who was about to call out to Mingeon as he abruptly left, stopped, suddenly aware of his trembling knees. Mingeon seemed to have something going on, but Heewoo had enough on his plate to worry about other people. [You can contact me anytime too]. He only left a text message for Mingeon.

He received his cleaning supplies from the manager and slowly headed to the CEO’s office. He didn’t forget to take another suppressant before entering the passcode, just in case.

Due to the continuing cold wave, a chill lingered even in the inner office. Heewoo ventilated the room and turned on the heating to dispel the cold air.

He meticulously wiped away the dust that had settled overnight. He neatly organized the newly arrived luxury snack set on the table in the break room. He was organizing the visually appealing traditional sweets and high-end candy wrappers when…

Beep-.

The sound of someone entering the passcode suddenly rang out from beyond the door.

Heewoo looked at the clock on the wall with surprised eyes. It was still morning. Surely the CEO hadn’t come to work already?

But the impossible happened. It was Jang Seungyung and Secretary Hwang who entered after opening the door.