ETP Ch 41

Yoohyun’s examination, like Bokseung’s, consisted of a simple interview and a blood test.

“Mr. Hwang Yoohyun, I thought you said your next appointment would be at our main hospital. Is there an urgent matter?”

“I’d like to check if the suppressant I’m currently taking is alright.”

“Yes? There haven’t been any problems so far, have there? Are you experiencing any side effects…?”

The doctor quickly checked the chart, glancing at Yoohyun. Then, tilting their head, they asked again.

Hwang Yoohyun, sitting in front of them, was famous for being a dominant alpha. Not just any dominant alpha, but one born into a prominent family in the political and business world. Therefore, every single word he uttered was of great importance to the staff at the clinic run by his family’s foundation.

“What exactly is bothering you?”

“I’ve never experienced this before, but I’ve been having an excessive reaction to omega pheromones.”

Yoohyun clenched his fist, thinking of Bokseung’s pheromones. Even though the kid wasn’t next to him, the sweetness seemed to linger in his nose. A heat surged through his body again.

The doctor scanned the chart once more.

“Based on the tests, your levels aren’t such that you should be sensitive to pheromones. Also, as you checked last time, it’s not your rut cycle yet. The effectiveness of the suppressant is also showing consistently.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, have you been in contact with many omegas lately?”

The doctor asked very cautiously. They maintained a professional demeanor as much as possible so as not to give the impression of prying into Yoohyun’s private life.

“I haven’t… met any omegas. The only friend I’ve met recently is one person.”

The doctor was well aware that Yoohyun didn’t generally enjoy socializing with people, whether they were omegas, alphas, or betas.

In particular, he had an almost obsessive aversion to pheromones, and it was rumored that Hevent’s suppressants were officially imported because of this.

I knew that, but I asked just in case, and as expected, it wasn’t the case.

The doctor nodded at Yoohyun’s answer, then paused.

“Oh, one person? Who are you meeting?”

Forgetting their professional demeanor, the doctor’s eyes widened. Their expression was filled with unconcealed curiosity.

Yoohyun’s eyebrows twitched.

Noticing his displeasure, the doctor cleared their throat. They immediately lowered their gaze and flipped through the chart, even though they’d already reviewed its contents, rendering the action meaningless.

“It’s a friend from the same school. And I understand they’re close to being a recessive.”

Nevertheless, Yoohyun spoke about Bokseung. After all, if there was a suspicious exception that could be the cause of this situation, it was only Kim Bokseung.

Pheromones that would immediately leak out if he wasn’t taking suppressants, and pheromones so faint that others couldn’t detect them even when close to his heat cycle. These were the typical characteristics of recessives, which he was familiar with.

And Yoohyun wasn’t an alpha to be swayed by such recessives.

The doctor, seemingly sharing the same thought, only hummed briefly, “Hmm.” A heavy silence fell over the examination room.

Glancing at Yoohyun’s hardened expression, the doctor explained a hypothesis. Before doing so, they repeatedly emphasized that it was just a hypothesis.

“Since you’re sensitives, there’s this unique mediator called pheromones, isn’t there?”

“Yes.”

“Although there isn’t concrete scientific evidence yet, it’s said that there are compatible pairs among these pheromones. There are cases where pheromones have a particularly strong mutual influence, regardless of being recessive or dominant, so they say.”

It sounded like an urban legend. There was no sensitive who hadn’t heard such a story, but no one believed it.

In a world where it was common knowledge that pheromones are regulated by hormones released by the brain, what was this talk about finding a match?

Reading Yoohyun’s incredulous expression, the doctor scratched their forehead.

“Of course, since it hasn’t been scientifically proven, that kind of reaction is completely understandable. Yes.”

The doctor wiped their sweaty palms on their pants. They couldn’t understand why they were being treated like some quack selling pseudoscience.

Then what do you want me to do! There are no abnormalities in the tests, and he says he’s been meeting an omega lately, so I just mentioned it in case!

“Well, I’m glad to hear there are no problems. As scheduled, I will have my next checkup at the main hospital.”

Yoohyun bowed his head slightly and stood up. There was nothing more to hear.

The place wasn’t right for contemplating the romantic word “match.”

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

Sungyeon regained consciousness when the IV drip was almost empty. They didn’t know when they’d fallen asleep, but when they opened their eyes, the sun was setting outside the window.

“School!!!”

Sungyeon shouted as they bolted upright. Their mind was filled with the thought of having skipped class.

This is a disaster! Even if I had to collapse, I should have done it after seeing the professor’s face!

Sungyeon looked around, wanting to have the IV removed immediately.

Yoohyun, who had been watching the whole scene, grabbed Bokseung’s shoulder and laid them back down.

“The IV isn’t finished yet. Stay lying down.”

“Ah, Sunbae-nim! I have to… right now!”

Sungyeon struggled, stuck to the bed because Yoohyun wouldn’t take his hand off their shoulder.

This jerk, he’s really ridiculously strong!

Sungyeon harbored impure thoughts about Sunbae-nim as they tried to get up, but it was no use.

And a moment later.

“Here.”

Sungyeon became quiet as a well-behaved puppy at the sight of the piece of paper Yoohyun held out. It was a ‘Sensitive Medical Examination Confirmation.’

“If you submit this, they’ll give you special consideration, so don’t worry and get everything right.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sungyeon clutched the medical confirmation tightly. Their worries about attendance were resolved, and their physical condition was much better than when they’d arrived at the clinic.

By the way, has that Sunbae-nim been waiting this whole time?

Sungyeon turned their head to look up at Yoohyun. He was simply looking down at his phone screen with an indifferent expression.

“Um, Sunbae-nim.”

“Yeah.”

“Shouldn’t you be going? I’m sorry you missed your lecture because of me.”

Bokseung’s swollen eyes drooped with guilt.

Yoohyun shook his head at the unsightly face.

“I got a confirmation too.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry about useless things.”

At Yoohyun’s words, Sungyeon pouted. On top of that, their stubborn side emerged.

Isn’t a student’s primary and secondary duty diligence? They didn’t understand why that was considered useless. The gratitude they felt towards Hwang Yoohyun decreased by about 10g.

As the two were in this standoff, a short knock sounded.

“Mr. Kim Bokseung, it seems like your IV drip is done. I’ll check and remove it for you.”

“Yes!”

Sungyeon smiled bashfully at the nurse who entered the treatment room. The nurse also gave a small smile to the cute patient before continuing their work.

The only one who watched this unfavorably was Hwang Yoohyun.

That guy always only gives me the stink eye. He’s a gentle lamb to everyone else.

Yoohyun was displeased that Bokseung only looked at him as if he were neighborhood dog poop. However, he couldn’t get angry at a sick kid. Instead of being petty and getting angry, Yoohyun turned Bokseung’s head towards the wall. Of course, without asking for their opinion.

Sungyeon, who was suddenly made to face the wall and reflect, tried to turn their head back with all their might, but when it came to strength, Hwang Yoohyun was the winner. It was futile.

“It seems the patient is afraid of needles.”

The unsuspecting nurse chuckled, looking at Bokseung with amusement.

Sungyeon didn’t like this situation where they were suddenly made out to be a scaredy-cat who couldn’t even look at a needle, but there was nothing they could do. There was nothing they could do right now.

“Is it done?”

“Yes. Thank you for your patience.”

The nurse patted Bokseung’s hand after putting on a band-aid, as if they were dealing with a young child. Bokseung’s face flushed at the way they were treated like a commendable little kid.

After the nurse left, Hwang Yoohyun finally removed his hand from the kid’s face.

Sungyeon bolted upright and shouted.

“Sunbae-nim! Why, why did you do that?!”

“What.”

“You, you forcibly stopped me from turning my head!”

Sungyeon whipped their head around, mimicking Yoohyun’s actions. Still, Yoohyun only let out a deflating sound, “Pfft,” without explaining why he’d done it.

Yoohyun left the treatment room, leaving behind the still-yakking Bokseung. He couldn’t bring himself to say that he’d felt a pang of jealousy at the sight of the kid giving the nurse a slight smile.

Meanwhile, Sungyeon gritted their teeth, looking at the annoying back of Yoohyun’s head.

Why is that jerk so strong, and why is the back of his head so handsome? The list of things they didn’t like about him was endless.

Sungyeon snorted loudly, as if to make sure Yoohyun heard, then picked up their phone to check their messages. As expected, a mountain of texts filled with the beagles’ distress at having lost Bokseung had piled up.

Sungyeon wiggled their pale thumb.

[I suddenly felt really unwell and came to the hospital, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you guys in advance ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

As soon as they sent the message, the screen flashed with incoming replies. However, instead of responding to their friends, Sungyeon quickly got out of bed and opened the door to the room. They then walked briskly to the reception desk to pay the hospital bill.

“Excuse me, I’d like to pay for Kim Bokseung.”

“Yes, one moment.”

While the nurse checked the bill, Sungyeon mentally calculated their bank balance.

Fortunately, they had quite a bit of money left. Even though they hadn’t been able to work many part-time jobs because of exams, they thought they’d be able to manage until next month.

As long as the hospital bill wasn’t over 300,000 won….

Knowing that hospital bills for sensitives were expensive, they handed over their card with slight anxiety.

However, their worry was unfounded, as the nurse spoke with a puzzled tone.

“Oh, Mr. Kim Bokseung? Your hospital bill has already been paid. We also gave the prescription to your guardian.”

“Huh?”

Bokseung’s sharp gaze turned to Hwang Yoohyun, who was standing behind them.