The doctor was as surprised as Hyeseong to hear that he had gone into heat. The doctor, who always greeted him with a calm face, widened his eyes and asked several times to confirm.

 

“So the heat started yesterday… and how is your condition now?”

 

“I’m okay now. Not much of a fever… Yes, it’s the same as usual.”

 

Symptoms like feeling hot down there or getting crazily aroused had all disappeared when he woke up in the morning. He roughly glossed over that part, feeling a bit embarrassed to say it out loud.

 

“Looking at today’s test results, your pheromone levels have definitely spiked. You must have gone into heat. I’m a bit startled too since it’s so different from last time, but have there been any changes in your lifestyle patterns?”

 

The doctor was asking in a serious and roundabout way, but the intent behind the question must be something else.

 

“Not that, but I was heavily exposed to alpha pheromones a few days before the heat came.”

 

The doctor nodded as if he expected that.

 

“That seems to be the cause. Your unstable pheromone glands were probably affected by that, causing the heat to come a bit early. In any case, you need to be careful since you’re still in an unstable state. We don’t know what problems could arise if you experience a drastic change before your pheromone glands settle.”

 

Hyeseong nodded and openly explained the symptoms he experienced. Including the fact that the suppressants he took home after the first consultation weren’t very effective.

 

“You’re a bit of a unique case, so there’s a high possibility general suppressants didn’t work for you. But one thing I’m curious about is the duration of your heat.”

 

“The duration?”

 

“Usually, the heat of average omegas lasts anywhere from 3 days at the shortest to about a week at the longest. But you said all your symptoms disappeared in a day, and although your pheromone levels are higher than usual, it’s not at heat levels, so this part is a bit puzzling.”

 

His case wasn’t very common to begin with, and research on hybrid transformations was still actively ongoing, so the doctor also seemed unable to give a definitive medical answer.

 

The consultation continued and the conclusion was just to monitor future progress. Fortunately, based on Hyeseong’s pheromone levels and test results, the doctor could directly prescribe suppressants tailored for him.

 

Of course, this might not be very effective either, but it would work much better than the preliminary medicine he received before.

 

“Let’s continue to track when your heat comes.”

 

“Yes.”

 

After hearing there were no major abnormalities with his body, Hyeseong picked up his medicine at the hospital pharmacy and headed to the administration office. Just as he finished paying and was about to leave the hospital, he got a call from Ihyeok. Hyeseong was so startled he almost dropped his phone.

 

Ahem, he cleared his throat once before answering.

 

“Hello.”

 

“Hyeseong-ah.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“How are you feeling?”

 

Hyeseong widened his eyes at the unexpected question.

 

“You said you were very tired yesterday.”

 

Ah, he was talking about that. To somehow dissuade Ihyeok who said he was coming over, Hyeseong had made the excuse that he was tired and would go to bed early.

 

“I’m, I’m okay. Now. But why did you call?”

 

Hyeseong naturally and quickly changed the subject.

 

“Do you have any plans or appointments tonight?”

 

“No.”

 

“Okay. Then let’s have dinner together.”

 

All of a sudden? Hyeseong tilted his head a bit. But unable to find a rational reason to outright refuse, he said okay for now.

 

“I’ll pick you up.”

 

“No, actually I have something to take care of so I’m in Seoul right now.”

 

Then he heard Ihyeok’s small mumbling of “Ah, I see” over the phone.

 

“Okay. Then let’s meet at the end of work hours.”

 

Ihyeok stubbornly said he would pick Hyeseong up wherever he was, but Hyeseong just said he would come to Taesung matching the time and hung up.

 

As he stared at the black screen after the call ended, Hyeseong wondered how to spend the time, but Ihyeok’s voice from the call bothered him a little. It sounded no different from usual, but somehow it was subtly different. A slightly subdued voice.

 

Still, the thought of having a meal with Ihyeok after a long time admittedly made him feel good. Hyeseong headed to a nearby cafe with a slightly lighter step.

 

* * *

 

Matching 6 pm, Hyeseong headed to the Taesung building. Even though he arrived a bit early, a familiar car appeared in front of his eyes just in time. Confirming who it was, Hyeseong got into Ihyeok’s car. 

 

Hyeseong gave a small greeting and casually asked why the sudden meal invitation. But for some reason, Ihyeok only stared intently at him without a word. Unconsciously lowering his gaze, Hyeseong saw the veins bulging on Ihyeok’s hand gripping the gear shift. He was applying force as if holding something back.

 

“…Ahjussi?”

 

“What do you want to eat?”

 

Ihyeok moved the gear and carefully merged onto the road.

 

“No. Nothing in particular.”

 

“Okay. Then I’ll decide.”

 

As he fastened his seatbelt, Hyeseong glanced at Ihyeok. As expected, it wasn’t for nothing that the earlier call felt strange. Ihyeok’s mood had subtly changed. If he had to express it, it was a bit of a cold feeling. Hyeseong unknowingly gripped the seatbelt tightly. 

 

When they left downtown Seoul and the surroundings became a bit sparse, a grand, old-fashioned hanok came into view. It was a high-end Korean restaurant Hyeseong was also very familiar with.

 

He thought they would just grab a bite at some average place. Hyeseong glared at Ihyeok with a sullen face, but Ihyeok went inside first without even a glance.

 

Following the staff’s guidance, they entered a room, and before long, the long table began filling up with so much food the legs might break. Even for two adult men, it seemed a bit excessive. In the first place, Hyeseong wasn’t someone who ate a lot.

 

“Ahjussi.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“What’s the occasion today?”

 

“Why?”

 

“This is too much.”

 

Ihyeok stared intently at Hyeseong who was frowning, then placed all the dishes with ingredients good for the body, including the abalone in front, right before Hyeseong.

 

“To feed you. You look like you lost weight.”

 

“Me?”

 

Did he lose weight? Thanks to Dohyun, he thought he had been eating pretty well. Hyeseong wanted to say more, but couldn’t as Ihyeok picked up his chopsticks.

 

The somewhat uncomfortable meal began. Ihyeok occasionally tried to make conversation, but that was really it. He didn’t smile or chat like usual. With the other person like that, Hyeseong had no choice but to eat while being uncharacteristically mindful.

 

Even when asked if something was wrong, Ihyeok shook his head, effortfully lifting the corners of his mouth. Hyeseong got suddenly scared that something happened at work, but even if that was the case, there was nothing he could do to help.

 

Thanks to Ihyeok immediately refilling whenever the food in front was finished, Hyeseong’s plate had no time to be empty. He wanted to leave a little, but couldn’t with Ihyeok staring intently. By the time he barely finished, his stomach was so full it was momentarily hard to even move when he got up from his seat.

 

Coming out of the restaurant, the darkened night scenery came into view. The hanok building that was plain and elegant on the way in was now lit up, with the lights in the center garden turning on to create a mystical atmosphere. 

 

Hyeseong, who had his eyes there, approached Ihyeok who had just finished paying and came out.

 

“Thanks for the meal.”

 

Ihyeok gently stroked Hyeseong’s hair.

 

“Hyeseong-ah, shall we take a walk?”

 

“Yes, I’d like that.”

 

Going out the side of the restaurant, a quiet walking path caught their eye. The small, cozy path made along a lake had quite a few people who had also finished eating.

 

The night air felt a bit chilly, unlike usual. Thinking the season for that was coming, Hyeseong, lost in sentiment, suddenly glanced at Ihyeok walking beside him.

 

Strangely, his heart pounded. Even though it wasn’t like that, it felt as if they were on a date as lovers. It would be really nice to hold that big hand and walk side by side together. Ihyeok’s hand was warm and also…

 

〈Ugh, it hurts, it’s, it’s deep…〉

 

As he was looking at Ihyeok’s hand like that, a memory flashed through his head like lightning. Hyeseong paused for a moment. 

 

What is this scene? Is it his own? Or a dream? Hyeseong grabbed his head and rapidly moved his eyes.

 

“Hyeseong-ah.”

 

Ihyeok quickly bent down to meet Hyeseong’s eye level.

 

“What’s wrong. Are you hurting somewhere? Hm?”

 

“No, that’s not it…”

 

Hyeseong frowned. Why is that person there? What is this scene of him grabbing his body with those big hands and moaning inside that supposed to mean?

 

Hyeseong’s heart pounded loudly. Suddenly, all his nerves began to tense up.

 

“Ahjussi, look. I think I’m getting a fever again.”

 

Ihyeok began touching Hyeseong’s forehead, cheeks, and everywhere.

 

“Again…?”

 

There was a part of what Ihyeok said that particularly caught his ear. Ihyeok’s hand also abruptly stopped.

 

“Ahjussi, what do you mean by getting a fever again…”

 

Hyeseong bit his lip anxiously. But Ihyeok was the opposite. His eyes were heavily downcast and his expression also looked a bit dark.

 

“Hyeseong-ah. Let me ask you one thing.”

 

“…”

 

For some reason, he had a strong feeling he shouldn’t hear those words.

 

“Do you really not remember yesterday? Or are you lying to me again pretending not to remember?”

 

“Ye-yesterday, what are you suddenly talking about?”

 

Hyeseong’s eyes trembled finely. He really felt like his body was heating up and his sense of reality for this whole situation was evaporating. Each of Ihyeok’s words were becoming like arrows, relentlessly pricking his heart.

 

It was a kind of alarm.

 

“That you spent your first heat together with me.”

 

A siren sound loudly disrupted Hyeseong’s mind, warning that everything he had tightly wrapped up and piled well was all collapsing.