Cozy Obsession

Maybe this was a consequence of thinking about him while practicing self-comfort. Despite fearing and being horrified by alphas, Seo Heemin liked Cha Yiheon. Heemin tried to convince himself that his strange feelings were due to Seo Heemin’s body, which viewed the man in front of him as a romantic interest.“It’s probably because it’s dark. I’m perfectly fine, so let’s go inside quickly. I’m hungry. So hungry,” Heemin said hastily, pushing Yiheon’s hand away and pulling his hat down to cover his reddened face, worried that the bright lights might reveal his flush.“If you feel unwell, let me know. Don’t be stubborn.”“…I will.”Despite having his hand pushed away abruptly, Yiheon didn’t seem bothered at all. In fact, he seemed more concerned.Feeling Yiheon’s gaze still on him, Heemin kept his head down and headed toward the entrance of the building.What should I do about tomorrow?He didn’t want to deceive Yiheon the same way again. He didn’t want to break his promise of not going out without permission.Aside from having the same name and appearance, he was a different person using Seo Heemin’s body, which could be considered a deception. However, his desire for a happy ending remained unchanged. No matter what, he had to go to the company tomorrow and steal Kwak Yoonseong’s ledger.It was usually Yiheon’s role to hide his thoughts and emotions and act according to his own whims. Now, it felt like their roles had completely reversed. It was as if the novel <Silence> was no longer <Silence.>“Let’s eat first and calmly think about it. Maybe there’s another way besides sneaking out.”When he was hungry, he couldn’t think straight. Since they had come to such a nice place, he should at least enjoy the meal to make it worthwhile. Clenching his fists, Heemin crossed the garden blooming with lilac flowers and entered the restaurant.“Hello. May I have the name under the reservation?”Yiheon gave his name, and the staff led them to a private room with a view of the Seoul skyline.Perhaps it was because of his unresolved worries or his body’s reaction to Yiheon, but despite the breathtaking view outside, Heemin could only focus on Yiheon, who was sitting across from him.“Take a photo,” Yiheon said, turning the menu towards Heemin.“Ah.”Yiheon probably thought Heemin wanted to take a photo. He hadn’t even considered it, but now he felt like someone obsessed with taking pictures.Heimin was the one who used to scold Yiheon, demanding that they start eating without taking photos of the food first. The role reversal was so absurd it made Heemin chuckle.Nonetheless, Heemin took out his phone and started snapping photos of the interior, the menu, and the view outside like a pro food blogger. He also secretly took a picture of Yiheon staring at the menu with his arms crossed.“Have you decided what to order?” Yiheon asked as Heemin closed the camera app.“You can choose. I don’t mind,” Yiheon replied.Heimin wanted to ask why Yiheon had been staring at him if he didn’t care, but it seemed weird to start listing his preferred dishes enthusiastically. So, Heemin put his phone down and looked at the menu seriously.“Can I order three main dishes and a salad? If there’s too much, we can take it to go.”“Do whatever you want.”He knew it might be a lot, but he wanted Yiheon to try some new foods he wouldn’t usually eat.“Let’s get shrimp cream pasta for the pasta, a combination pizza, and… steak…”Heimin’s heavy heart lightened at the thought of having a nice dinner with Yiheon, despite the heavy burden of what he had to do tomorrow.What’s going on with me today? He thought as he smiled behind the menu, feeling giddy about having a cozy dinner with Yiheon.“Put it down if you’ve decided.”“I haven’t picked a salad yet.”“I said put it down.”Yiheon took the menu from Heemin and placed it on the table. Despite the suddenness of Yiheon’s actions, Heemin felt reassured rather than annoyed.Yeah, that’s Cha Yiheon for you.“I couldn’t read everything properly because the print is so small.”“Get the salmon salad.”“Didn’t you say you didn’t care what we got? Did you want the salmon salad?”“Not for me, for you.”He had been thinking about getting the salmon salad, so it felt like Yiheon had read his mind. Feeling slightly exposed but not showing it, Heemin reached for the call button.Didn’t someone say to worry about tomorrow when it comes?There was still time. By thinking it over tonight, he hoped to find a solution that would hurt no one. Heemin ordered the highly anticipated Italian dishes and fruit ade for them to share.“Earlier today, I took out the bottle of whiskey you usually drink to draw it, and the housekeeper thought I was going to drink it and was really surprised…”Not wanting to ruin the mood with the unspoken words, Heemin started chatting about trivial things.He wanted to enjoy this moment without thinking too much, especially since Yiheon had brought him here as a reward for behaving well.Outside, the city’s lights reflected off the dark river, sparkling like the stars in the night sky.“Sir, the doctor is here.”Heemin, who had been walking on the treadmill for a while, pressed the red stop button upon hearing Minseok’s notification. 3, 2, 1. As the numbers on the screen decreased, the belt gradually slowed down and eventually came to a complete stop.Catching his breath, he reached for the towel draped over the treadmill’s handle. Although he had only done about ten minutes of cardio after strength training, his entire body was drenched in sweat. It certainly seemed hotter than before.He was about to wipe his forehead and head out to the living room when Dr. Hwang couldn’t wait and barged into the room to see him.“Exercising so diligently in the morning? How industrious.”“Hello, Doctor. I’m sorry I fell asleep the other day without greeting you.”Heemin hurriedly got off the treadmill and bowed to Dr. Hwang. Starting with what had been bothering him, Dr. Hwang responded lightly as if it was nothing.“No need to apologize. It happens when you’re sick.”“My sisters always told me to greet adults properly, no matter what.”“Really?”With a pleased smile, Dr. Hwang examined Heemin’s face and spoke in a relieved tone.“You seem to have recovered a lot in just two days. Your complexion looks much better.”“I think I feel much better after having delicious meals and sleeping well. I feel full of energy.”He had his first meal out and took a leisurely drive along the mountain, enjoying the spring night. Yesterday was the most enjoyable night since he arrived here. He didn’t even feel the occasional longing for reality.Moreover, the seemingly impregnable fortress had opened a tiny crack for him, making him feel exhilarated. Although the gap was only about one centimeter wide, making it impossible to squeeze through, it was enough to make Heemin happy.Finally, the keyword-changing project was starting to proceed smoothly.“Yesterday, President Cha left suddenly, saying there was an urgent matter, and I was worried that Heemin might have collapsed again. Seeing you so well, it must have been about the new company he acquired.”“Ah, yes. He seems to be constantly busy.”Though he didn’t know the details, it seemed that Dr. Hwang and Yiheon were having a significant meeting at the chairman’s house yesterday. Unable to admit that he had been out late with Yiheon, Heemin pretended not to know.Chairman Yun was a ruthless figure, much like the ferocious beast his name “Daeho” implied. He selected executives based on strict meritocracy and did not hesitate to eliminate anyone who made even a slight mistake or posed a threat to the organization.Given that Chairman Yun prioritized the safety of the organization over individual lives, Heemin couldn’t let him know about yesterday’s incident. There was a long way to go until the end, and it seemed best to eliminate any potentially threatening factors.“But, Heemin.”Fortunately, Dr. Hwang changed the subject without suspicion. Unlike his previous cheerful demeanor, he approached Heemin with a somewhat uneasy expression and suddenly buried his nose in Heemin’s shoulder, sniffing. Minseok’s eyes widened in shock as he watched.“Stop, stop! That’s too close, Doctor! Please keep your distance.”“I was just trying to check his condition.”“The boss is watching from above. Please be more careful.”Minseok forcibly pulled Dr. Hwang away and pointed to the surveillance camera on the ceiling with his finger. The red light from the round lens seemed to resemble Yiheon’s gaze, causing Dr. Hwang to clear his throat awkwardly.“Ahem, ahem. Being watched from above like a ghost. You guys are too much.”“Why don’t you keep a one-meter distance while examining him? Whether he’s an alpha, beta, or omega, no one is allowed to get too close. Even as a doctor, if you stay too close, the boss will scold you.”“What harm can an old doctor like me do? Really, President Cha has gathered quite the loyal dogs,” Dr. Hwang grumbled, glancing at Minseok, but then stepped back with large strides, acknowledging his defeat.“That’s perfect. Now, let’s continue the conversation,” Minseok said with a satisfied smile.Clicking his tongue, Dr. Hwang took out a small, thin rectangular box from his bag. It was the heat cycle suppressant Heemin had requested.“Here you go.”Dr. Hwang handed over the box, carefully holding its edge to avoid touching Heemin’s fingers. Conscious of the surveillance camera, Heemin barely held back his laughter and thanked him.“Thank you, Doctor. I’m sorry to trouble you so early in the morning.”“Who else would take care of you if not me, your primary physician? Your pheromones are leaking more than before, so take one after you eat.”“My pheromones are leaking more?”Startled, Heemin brought his arm to his nose and sniffed. All he could smell was the faint scent of sweat.His body reacted so sensitively to alpha pheromones, especially Yiheon’s, yet it was ironically dull at times like this. While it would be annoying to constantly sense his own pheromones 24/7, it was still puzzling.“You said your due date was the 15th, right?”“Yes, the 15th, Teacher’s Day.”“That’s strange. You seem to be right before a heat cycle.”Contrary to Dr. Hwang’s concerns, Heemin had no symptoms or signs. He felt light and energetic, confident he could handle even intense skinship with Yiheon without any issues.“Could it be mixed with sweat?”Sweating usually intensified one’s natural scent. It might be that the pheromones, not properly contained, were mixing with his body odor and felt particularly strong today. He was sure that a thorough wash would solve the problem.“Is your cycle usually very regular?”“Not really… but I’m sure it’s on the 15th.”“Are you sure…?”“Yes. I’m sure. Trust me.”You could tell by looking at Kwak Yoon-sung, who was using every method possible to kick Yiheon out of the company, and Do Junyoung, who still couldn’t let go of Heemin. No matter how the story progressed, the settings assigned to each character remained unchanged.Therefore, to maximize the genre characteristics of the bleak work, <Silence>, it was clear that the hit cycle would occur on May 15th, Teacher’s Day, the same day Seo Heemin was tormented in the original work.There were mountains of tasks to be done. It was already overwhelming to think about how to steal Kwak Yoon-sung’s ledger, and I didn’t want to waste unnecessary energy worrying about a hit that would come in ten days.Knowing the future is quite convenient.There was no need to anxiously wait for symptoms that could appear at any time, which was a relief. As Heemin spoke with a tone full of certainty, Dr. Hwang hesitantly opened his mouth.“If Heemin says so, then I suppose… But if you feel even the slightest bit strange, make sure to take your medicine. After all, you’re living under the same roof as President Cha, an Alpha.”To overcome trauma, mutual trust, that is, a trust relationship, is the most important thing, he had said. If Yiheon lost control due to the heat and they ended up sleeping together unwillingly, all the effort and hard work so far could be in vain. He seemed to be warning Heemin to be especially careful.“Yes, I will.”Heemin nodded slowly, as if fully understanding the concerns, and Dr. Hwang finally seemed relieved.“I have work to do, so I’ll be going now. Stay more than a meter away, so just stay here.”Dr. Hwang threw a pointed joke while turning his back, seemingly displeased with Minseok’s vigilant monitoring. He had come all this way with suppressants for Heemin, only to be treated as a potential danger, which clearly irked him.Understanding Minseok’s caution since he revered Yiheon, Heemin still felt a bit sorry and called out loudly to Dr. Hwang.“Thank you, Doctor. See you again!”“What do you mean, see you again? It’s better if I don’t have to come here, so stay healthy.”Dr. Hwang waved his hand dismissively as he spoke with a stern tone, but the genuine concern in his voice was touching.“Goodbye.”“Alright.”Minseok, signaling that he would escort Dr. Hwang to the entrance, gave Heemin a look. Nodding quietly in agreement, Heemin watched as Minseok playfully stuck his tongue out, mimicking Dr. Hwang’s stern demeanor.It was surprising how well they got along, despite the significant age difference and their respective positions. They couldn’t easily build a friendship, unfortunately.Sitting on the bench, Heemin took off his sneakers and checked the surveillance camera. Having followed his usual routine of waking up early to see Yiheon off and exercising, there should be no suspicion.Now, he needed to clean his sweaty body and either draw or read a book as usual. But today, he planned to do something different.To persuade Yiheon to go to the company.He had spent the whole night seriously contemplating how to meet Kwak Yoon-sung without breaking Yiheon’s trust. Unlike last time when he sneaked out secretly, this time he needed to leave openly in front of everyone.Technically, this plan also involved deceiving Yiheon. But since he intended to ask for permission first, neither Ms. Ahn, Minseok, nor Heemin himself would need to take responsibility for the outing. It was up to Yiheon to grant permission.There was a chance he might get angry upon learning the purpose of the visit, but if Heemin handed over the decisive evidence, the ledger, Yiheon might even praise him.Running multiple simulations in his head, Heemin left his room and headed to the kitchen. Natural behavior was crucial to avoid suspicion and get permission to go out, just like now.“Auntie.”At his quiet call, Ms. Ahn stopped mopping and looked up.“I want to eat kimbap. Just regular kimbap, spicy anchovy kimbap, avocado pollack roe kimbap, thick-cut pork belly kimbap, and keto kimbap.”Ms. Ahn stared blankly at Heemin, as if not understanding what he was saying. It was a reaction similar to when he first mentioned a Domino’s pizza menu.However, unlike the time he genuinely wanted to eat that strange-named pizza, this time he chose each kimbap with a clear intention. Relieved by Ms. Ahn’s expected reaction, Heemin continued innocently.“There are a lot of different kinds, so it will be time-consuming. Let’s make them together. I’m really good at rolling kimbap.”Sometimes, when they were too lazy to cook new side dishes, they made kimbap with ingredients from the fridge. But the ingredients Heemin mentioned weren’t as simple as those they usually used.Since the ingredients like avocado and thick-cut pork belly were unusual, it would be more cost-effective and time-saving to buy them from a kimbap shop.But that wouldn’t serve any purpose. Ms. Ahn making them alone wouldn’t either.To go to the company and get permission to go out, Heemin had to roll each kimbap himself.“Do you know how to make them? I don’t, really.”“If we follow the recipes online, it should be fine. I suddenly craved kimbap so much that I looked it up earlier.”Heemin took out the phone Yiheon gave him and showed her a cooking blog page he had bookmarked before his workout. The title was ‘Exotic and Healthy Avocado Pollack Roe Kimbap Recipe,’ accompanied by a photo of delicious-looking kimbap.“Oh, you have a phone now, sir?”Minseok, returning to the kitchen after seeing off Dr. Hwang, spoke up, noticing the phone in Heemin’s hand. He blinked, as if seeing something unbelievable.“President gave it to me yesterday. He told me to use this from now on.”“President himself?”“Yes.”“Looks like you two made up. That’s good.”Having advised him to try talking over drinks, Minseok must have been curious about the outcome. He seemed pleased that his suggestion had helped, his smile broadening.“Please give me your number too, sir.”Though Yiheon had told him not to store other people’s contacts, he hadn’t said not to share his own number. This much should be fine, Heemin thought, and began entering the numbers on the screen without hesitation.0, 1, 0, 7, 9, X, X, 0, 9, 0…As he habitually pressed the numbers on the keypad just like he used to in reality, his index finger suddenly stopped. Since his birthday in this world was different from “Seo Heemin’s” by just one day, it didn’t seem right to enter 4 as the last digit.After a brief hesitation, Heemin pressed 3 instead of 4. Then he stared at the completed eleven-digit number with a bit of tension. His finger, hovering over the call button, trembled slightly.Riiing—Heemin’s phone rang with an irritable tone, dispelling his worry that he might be calling the wrong person. As expected, the last digits were 0903, “Seo Heemin’s” birthday.Of course.It was as if he could see the past, present, and future as clearly as looking at the palm of his hand, even though he wasn’t a fortune teller. Knowing everything about <Silence>, the saying that the world isn’t so simple didn’t apply to Heemin.“Give me your phone too, Auntie. I’ll share it with you.”After giving Ms. Ahn the same number, he listed the kimbap ingredients from the recipe and sent them to her in a text message. He wanted to go shopping with her but couldn’t be greedy enough to ask for that as well. One outing per day was enough.“Please prepare the ingredients according to this list. I’ll go in and take a shower.”Heemin smiled at Ms. Ahn as she nodded. Everything was set up, and now he just had to play his part. He felt like a happy cat, jingling the bell on the collar Yiheon had put on him.“Oh, I’m so hungry. I can’t wait to eat.”He muttered to himself deliberately as he headed towards the bathroom. Hearing Minseok offering to help prepare the ingredients from behind, Heemin felt quite satisfied with his performance.“A good start.”A sense of ease spread through Heemin’s chest, incomparable to when he first tried to escape. There was no fear of being caught. He just wanted to thoroughly outsmart Kwak Yoon-sung and enjoy carefree days with Yiheon.He hoped the special atmosphere of yesterday would continue today, tomorrow, and all the way to the end.