Cozy Obsession

With his long strides, Yiheon walked briskly, bypassing his office and pulling Heemin all the way to the end of the hallway.“Just follow me and don’t talk,” he commanded.Previously, he had taken Heemin to a park to avoid having the smell of food linger in the car. Considering they had to sit at their desks for several more hours, it made sense. Heemin finally understood Yiheon’s preference and let himself be led through the door Yiheon opened.Instead of a break room, the place turned out to be a bathroom adorned with luxurious marble tiles and a gold-framed mirror, more in line with Seo Jaehan’s taste than Cha Yiheon’s.“Wash your hands,” Yiheon ordered, turning on the faucet. Despite his evident anger, he showed consideration by turning the temperature dial all the way to the right, allowing Heemin to cool down.Cold water poured over Heemin’s heated hands. Enjoying the refreshing sensation, he briefly glanced at his reflection in the mirror. His cheeks were flushed, lips slightly parted, and his eyes more languid than usual. While he looked like someone who had just come out of a sauna, his appearance could easily be misinterpreted by others. It was the kind of face that might arouse suspicion of inappropriate contact with another Alpha. In reality, his body was merely exhausted from the excessive morning activities.He washed his hands thoroughly with a generous amount of hand wash, taking extra care. Yiheon, standing there with his arms crossed and an expressionless face, no longer seemed intimidating.Now that he understood the reason behind Yiheon’s anger, Heemin knew he just had to calm him down. After rinsing several times to ensure no pheromone residue remained, he turned off the faucet calmly and spoke to Yiheon.“Nothing happened with Do Junyoung.”“Nothing happened? Then what’s with the heat coming from your hand?” Yiheon let out a disbelieving laugh.“It’s because I brushed off his help when he offered to carry my things. You saw it too, when I put the shopping bag on the floor. I really kept my distance because I have you,” Heemin explained.“…”“The heat is from making kimbap too enthusiastically. A fever reducer will fix it,” he added, smiling nonchalantly as he dried his hands with a paper towel. Then, like a student seeking approval, he brought his hands to Yiheon’s nose to show they were clean and smelled fresh.Yiheon’s eyebrow scar briefly twitched upward before settling back down.“I shouldn’t have come out. I should’ve gone home,” Yiheon muttered, causing Heemin to panic internally. He had gone to the trouble of bringing the lunchbox here, and the thought of Yiheon deciding to leave now made his heart sink.As Heemin was momentarily lost in thought, Yiheon grabbed his left wrist again. However, the grip wasn’t as threatening as before. It was more like holding the stem of a wine glass, revealing a mix of emotions.Jealousy, desire, thirst, confusion… and lust.Yiheon slowly licked Heemin’s palm. The sensation of the wet tongue sent shivers down his spine, making him feel as if he were standing before a blazing fire. His entire body heated up.Yiheon let out a short breath and lifted his head. His gaze was heavy with desire. Heemin couldn’t tell if it was Yiheon or himself who was different due to the rising heat. Yiheon’s eyes roved over Heemin’s face as he whispered in a low voice.“Your pheromone scent is particularly strong today. Even though I wrapped myself in my clothes.”“…”“That’s why that bastard offered to help you. He couldn’t resist your scent.”The dominant Omega pheromones that provoked Alpha instincts.Was Do Junyoung’s behavior earlier due to Heemin’s pheromones? He hadn’t realized a slight fever could disrupt his pheromone control. Heemin looked at Yiheon with wavering eyes. Yiheon, with a sly smile, chided softly.“You walk around with this scent and then threaten me with a month-long kiss ban. You’re driving me crazy.”He slid his tongue up Heemin’s finger, just as he had done at the department store, and rolled it around his mouth.It was hot.Heemin’s cheeks, nape, and earlobes turned bright red. Despite not being physically intimate, his lower abdomen ached as if recalling the sensual sensations from his fantasies.“Ah…”Thanks to the pheromone suppressant, Heemin didn’t have a physical rejection to the Alpha. Instead, his body trembled with the desire for Yiheon’s lips to touch his own.An emergency bell rang in his head. If he wasn’t careful, he would be swept away by Yiheon’s flame.Had they been at home, Heemin might have taken the opportunity to advance their relationship. Unlike Seo Heemin, he seemed weak to carnal desires. But now, he had to endure. With the chance to build a happy future, he couldn’t let sexual urges ruin everything. Heemin quickly recalled the lyrics of “One Hundred People Who Shined in Korea” and pushed Yiheon’s hand away.“Why are you being so gross?” he said, clenching his scalded fingers and trying to hide his tremors.Fortunately, Yiheon didn’t seem to notice Heemin’s turmoil. He looked puzzled and asked in a dissatisfied tone.“What’s gross? We just washed our hands.”“The location is inappropriate.”“Does that mean it’s okay elsewhere?”“What are you talking about? Just wash your hands so we can eat,” Heemin retorted, his face reflecting in the mirror like a ripe persimmon. Embarrassed, he stuck his hands back under the cold water to cool down.He watched Yiheon silently wash his hands beside him and handed him a paper towel. As he turned to leave, Yiheon suddenly pulled his arm and pressed his lips to Heemin’s exposed nape.“Hmm…!”A high-pitched whimper escaped through his clenched teeth. Ignoring Heemin’s startled reaction, Yiheon sucked on the soft, white skin just above his collar.In the original story, Cha Yiheon, instead of imprinting on ‘Seo Heemin’, would habitually leave his mark on the spots where Heemin’s pheromones were particularly strong. He did this to cover the potent pheromones of ‘Seo Heemin’, who had stronger pheromones than most Omegas, with those of a dominant Alpha, ensuring no one else would covet what was his. Therefore, he didn’t need to check the mirror to know there was a reddish kiss mark on his neck.Heemin grumbled at Yiheon, who had finally pulled away with a satisfied expression.“Could you at least warn me before you bite? What if it gets infected?”He rubbed his neck, which still stung. Yiheon had done this not just to assert his possessiveness over ‘Seo Heemin’, but also as a sort of emergency measure to help an Omega struggling with pheromone control. However, the sudden action had left Heemin flustered.“If I warn you, you’ll stop me, won’t you?”“No.”“Then why?”“So I can brace myself like before getting a shot. If I get startled, my muscles tense up, so I need to relax first.”Yiheon let out a light laugh, perhaps finding it absurd that Heemin compared a bite to a shot. Letting go of Heemin’s arm, he looked him in the eyes and spoke in a pleading tone.“Please, prepare yourself before causing any trouble.”“Does that mean it’s okay to cause trouble if I’m prepared?”His ears perked up, anticipating that Yiheon might allow some mischief. He had come here fully prepared since yesterday, hoping Yiheon would understand if he explained properly.“I don’t know what I’m doing with a kid who isn’t even mature yet.”Sighing, Yiheon muttered to himself as he opened the door and headed outside.“I’m already mature,” Heemin retorted under his breath.He was being treated like a kid again. Yet, this same man had left a kiss mark on his neck, sucked on his fingers, and even showed jealousy over him. The fact that Yiheon left without properly addressing whether things were okay or not was irritating. Pouting, Heemin left the bathroom and headed back to the CEO’s office.While he was washing his hands, it seemed Secretary Jung had set the table. The lunchboxes, utensils, thermos, and two water cups were neatly arranged on the table. Despite his large frame, Yiheon had a meticulous side.“Enjoy your meal,” Secretary Jung said as he was about to leave the CEO’s office.“Secretary Jung,” Heemin called out as he sat down.“Do you need something?”“Do you have any fever reducers in the office?”Since his clothes were now marked with Yiheon’s scent and he had the dominant Alpha’s mark on his body, it seemed better to take a fever reducer rather than a suppressant. ‘Seo Heemin’ wasn’t immune to suppressants, but the side effects like headaches, fever, and chills made him suffer during each heat. Taking a suppressant now might disrupt his plans due to the side effects, given his mild fever and leaking pheromones.Only Omega Kwak Yunseong and Beta staff worked on this floor. Yiheon, the only Alpha, had already taken a suppressant. Therefore, he just needed to calm his heat and instinctual urges before Kwak Yunseong returned. Taking medicine and resting for a while would help.“We have painkillers but no fever reducers. Should I get some for you?”“That would be great. Please do. And enjoy the kimbap I made.”He had made ten rolls, not only for himself and Yiheon but also for Ms. Ahn, Minseok, and Secretary Jung. Nodding, Secretary Jung responded with a smile, just as Yiheon casually remarked while holding a water cup.“Get the children’s syrup.”Children’s syrup? The ambiguity of his tone made Secretary Jung hesitate momentarily before bowing and leaving the office.“Are you even jealous of Secretary Jung now?”“Jealous? I just told him to get the syrup because you like sweet things.”Feigning nonchalance, Yiheon drank water. He seemed slightly disappointed that the food wasn’t exclusively for him. Heemin suppressed a laugh, picked up a piece of kimbap filled with grilled pork belly and cucumber, and brought it to Yiheon’s mouth.“I made it for everyone to share. It’d be selfish to keep it all to ourselves.”“Have you considered that you might overexert yourself and get sick?”“Secretary Jung is bringing a fever reducer. I’ll be fine after taking it and resting. Now, try this. It’s my masterpiece.”He stubbornly brought the kimbap to Yiheon’s lips. The enticing smell of grilled meat seemed to stir Yiheon’s curiosity, and his eyes wavered slightly, just as they had when Heemin offered him the thick tteokbokki.“Open up,” Heemin coaxed gently, his eyes smiling.Slowly, Yiheon’s lips parted, revealing his red tongue. Heemin’s body trembled, remembering the heat of Yiheon’s lips on his fingers. The heartbeat that pulsed through his chest was loud in his ears.“What are you doing?”“Ah, here.”Snapping back to reality, Heemin moved his hand and slipped the kimbap into Yiheon’s mouth. Watching him chew neatly, Heemin asked the usual question.“How is it? Tasty?”“…Unique.”“That means it’s good, right?”“Yeah.”While the kimbap had been made as a way to get out of the house, Heemin had also wanted to prepare a nutritious and easy meal for Yiheon. Seeing him enjoy the food filled Heemin with satisfaction. A smile spread across his face.“You should eat too.”“Yes.”He put a piece of bright yellow keto kimbap, made with egg instead of rice, into his mouth. The sound of raindrops tapping on the window, the calm atmosphere, and the leisurely passing time created a different kind of charm compared to the visit to the lake park.However, if there was one problem, it wasn’t the delicious lunchbox in front of him but the sensual lips moving softly that caught his attention.Why do I keep feeling this way?He felt strange. He couldn’t calm his heart, which was swaying like a paper boat in rough waves. An unfamiliar sensation, something he had never felt before, was slowly simmering somewhere inside his body. His lower abdomen ached, and his throat was so hot that he couldn’t swallow anything. Heemin had no choice but to put down his chopsticks.“Why did you stop eating?”When he closed the lid of the lunchbox, having eaten less than half, Yiheon looked at him curiously.“I must have filled up while snacking on pieces as I made them.”He couldn’t say that his condition had worsened, so he made a suitable excuse and sank deep into the sofa. The collar of his jacket rose up to his neck, and the scent of Yiheon’s pheromones embedded in his clothes filled his nostrils. The heat, accompanied by a dull pain, wrapped around his entire body.Knock, knock.“Come in.”Just in time, Secretary Jung entered the office with a medicine bag.“Here’s the fever reducer you requested.”“Thank you, Secretary Jung.”He took a small bottle of medicine from the paper bag and handed it to Heemin. It was a strawberry-flavored syrup for children. The label featured a bear with a thermometer in its mouth.Secretary Jung obediently followed orders.Heemin read the dosage instructions on the back. Surprisingly, there were instructions for adults, suggesting many grown-ups also took this medicine. Heemin, reassured, poured the appropriate amount of syrup into his mouth.“Since you’ve taken your medicine, go home.”Yiheon said coldly, closing the lid of his finished lunchbox. Heemin felt a bit annoyed seeing Yiheon in a bad mood despite having enjoyed his meal, but he cautiously asked,“Can’t I stay with you until you get off work? I came here because I didn’t want to be away from you for even a moment.”“No. You look like an Omega just before going into heat. Don’t hang around here unnecessarily; just go home.”He’s never even seen an Omega in heat.Yiheon, who had distanced himself from other Omegas due to his obsession with ‘Seo Heemin’, would witness the heat cycle for the first time on the upcoming May 15th. For now, he didn’t exactly understand the pre-heat symptoms of an Omega.“There are still ten days left until my heat. I’m really fine.”“No means no. I know you’re here because of Kwak Yunseong. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”Heemin looked at Yiheon with a visibly surprised expression. How did he know? Could he have overheard the conversation with Kwak Yunseong?Considering the care he took in preparing lunch, it didn’t seem like Ms. Ahn had reported their conversation to him. Maybe there were eavesdropping devices along with the surveillance cameras. It was something Cha Yiheon could easily do.He had only thought about persuading him, never imagining Yiheon would beat him to it. Instead of getting angry, Yiheon had allowed his visit so readily that Heemin believed his plan had worked. But it was Yiheon who had been in control all along.“I, I was trying to help you…”“For me?”He was more worried about how Yiheon would take this situation than about getting scolded. Heemin swallowed a self-deprecating sigh and met Yiheon’s gaze, who was looking at him with narrowed eyes.Contrary to when he fled to Haesong Psychiatric Clinic, Yiheon didn’t seem shocked or betrayed. He merely signaled with his eyes for Heemin to return home.Heemin found the calm, emotionless look in Yiheon’s eyes curious but decided that explaining himself was more important. Since he hadn’t intended to deceive Yiheon from the beginning, he chose not to lie to get out of this predicament.“They were trying to use me, so I pretended to be used to take advantage of them in return… to bring Kwak Yunseong down.”Yiheon gestured towards the door, and Secretary Jung bowed slightly to both of them before quietly leaving the office.“How exactly do you plan to bring down Kwak Yunseong?”“By finding evidence of embezzlement and sending him abroad, so he can’t cause any more trouble.”Instead of mentioning the ledger, he referred to it as evidence of embezzlement. He didn’t want to raise suspicions by confidently speaking of a ledger he hadn’t seen himself.“Evidence of embezzlement, huh…”“I heard about it when I was kidnapped. Not only did he embezzle company funds, but he also sold out his own family. He’s a despicable person.”Yiheon sneered coldly, perhaps thinking it ironic that human traffickers would criticize Kwak Yunseong.“So you did all this cute stuff to try and come to the company?”Heemin followed his gaze to the fruit lunchbox Ms. Ahn had carefully packed.“The joke about sending him on a deep-sea fishing boat wasn’t just a joke. I came here fully prepared to take revenge on Kwak Yunseong.”There must have been desperation in his voice, as Yiheon looked deep into his eyes. For someone who had lived through a decade of hell with permanent scars, revenge was a destiny and a divine retribution.Yiheon remained silent, seemingly lost in thought, then slowly began to speak, rubbing his lower lip with his thumb.“From the day I took office, I secretly conducted an internal audit and noticed something strange. The accounting documents appeared to be cleverly manipulated.”“I’m sure Kwak Yunseong did it.”In the original story, Cha Yiheon used Kwak Yunseong as a hostage to control the suicidal ‘Seo Heemin’ daily. He had no idea that Kwak Yunseong was the main culprit who ruined his revenge.Fortunately, things had changed due to Heemin’s intervention. Although Yiheon’s intention to expose Kwak Yunseong’s corruption through an internal audit was an unexpected development, their goals aligned, and Heemin felt they could work together. A glimmer of hope rose within him.“Don’t think of doing anything unnecessary. Just go home.”But Yiheon’s voice, sharp as a blade, ruthlessly shattered his hopes. With a firmer look than ever, he stared at Heemin and spoke again.“I’ll find the evidence. I don’t need to rely on a child.”“If we want to avoid suspicion, I need to be the one to step forward, not you.”Was he worried about sending a child alone into the enemy’s territory? When Heemin tried to persuade Yiheon until the end, Yiheon stood up, sighed lightly, and pulled Heemin by the arm. Speaking in a tone as if soothing a child, Yiheon said,“Seo Heemin. You just need to stay at home, drawing or reading books. Go home.”If he had hoped that someone would solve the impending crisis while he stayed quietly at home, he wouldn’t have come here in the first place. Although Heemin wanted more than anyone to live comfortably in this world, he had no intention of becoming a well-behaved dog.“I’m telling you, it’ll be difficult for you alone. They say you need two flints to start a fire.”“No. You only need one lighter.”Yiheon tightened his grip on Heemin’s arm. Even through the layers of fabric covering his skin, the place where Yiheon’s hand touched burned as if it might leave a scalding mark.The heat, which had subsided momentarily, stirred within his body again. That heat brought with it the desire to press his lips on the scar slashed above Yiheon’s eyebrow.He had once thought about soothing Yiheon’s wounded heart by caressing his scars. Given the situation, he couldn’t believe he was thinking such things now. It seemed the fever reducer had no effect at all.“Go home while I’m being nice.”Yiheon forced Heemin to stand up. Heemin, digging in his heels and stubbornly refusing to leave, resisted being pushed out the door.“No. I’m staying here.”“I said no.”“Why is it only you who can’t say no? I can’t say no either.”“Seo Heemin.”His low, gravelly voice was as eerie as a street shrouded in darkness. The overwhelming pheromones of an alpha, undiminished even by suppressants, seeped into Heemin’s skin. The determination in Yiheon’s grip on Heemin’s arm made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any more defiance.A short but heavy silence settled between them. Heemin instinctively realized that it was time to step back, but the opportunity he had barely created was too precious to let go of.“Why… why don’t you understand my feelings? I’m doing this for us… to be happy together…”He wanted to protect Cha Yiheon, just as ‘Seo Heemin’ had wished while dying. He wanted to make Yiheon a man who shone brightly in the dazzling world, to let him fully enjoy the joys of love without any crisis or hardship.The sorrow that had been pooled at the bottom of his heart surged up, spreading like ink. As it spread and spread, it finally soaked his entire heart, and a single tear dropped.The dam that had been precariously piled up finally collapsed with that one drop. The words “I know your future,” which he could never utter, mixed with regret, resentment, and sadness, and poured out as tears.“I can’t put you in danger.”The gaze staring at him flickered with both stubbornness and pity. Black eyes, unwavering yet betraying a hint of turmoil, resolutely held their ground.In the depths of those eyes, was it the twenty-one-year-old Seo Heemin or the thirty-year-old ‘Seo Heemin’?Despite pretending to be a different personality and deceiving everyone in this world, he couldn’t stand that Yiheon didn’t fully trust him. Nothing else came to mind, only the pent-up resentment rising in Heemin’s chest. He felt so overwhelmed by his emotions that he almost didn’t recognize himself.“…In the end, you can’t trust me?”Afraid that he might suddenly lose his memory and reject himself, afraid that the changes he brought about would become his downfall.At Heemin’s words, Yiheon’s expression turned cold. As if struggling to suppress his rising anger, he took a deep breath and looked down at Heemin with a frosty gaze.“Don’t jump to conclusions. You don’t even try to understand how I feel right now.”“What are you feeling?”He retorted, unwilling to back down. But unlike his fierce push earlier, Yiheon didn’t answer.Was his mind too complex to define simply, or did he feel nothing even after reading the dissertation? It was unclear. He just kept his mouth shut and glared at Heemin. In the silent atmosphere, the sound of the dreary rain filled the empty space.“Let go.”“I can’t.”“Let go! I need to wash my face.”Unable to endure the suffocating silence any longer, Heemin shouted angrily. Perhaps thinking he had given up resisting, Yiheon finally loosened his grip.“Don’t follow me. I want to be alone.”Though his mind was hazy from the rising heat, Heemin pushed Yiheon’s arm away with all his strength. He wiped his tear-streaked eyes with the back of his hand and turned away coldly.As he opened the door to the president’s office, Minseok and Secretary Jung, who were guarding the entrance, looked at their superior inside with a puzzled expression. Soon, a low, calm voice echoed from behind him.“Let him go.”Heemin walked forward, deliberately looking straight ahead. Though he heard the footsteps of Yiheon’s loyal subordinates following, they thankfully did not enter the restroom.“Phew…”Leaning against the wall, Heemin checked the time on his phone. Kwak Yoonseong would be back soon. He would leave the restroom to coincide with his return. Anxiously waiting for the right moment, Heemin washed his tear-streaked face with cold water.As much as Yiheon didn’t trust him, he had no intention of trusting Yiheon either. To completely alter the original plot, a powerful move was necessary, and if he missed this chance, it would be difficult to wait for another. He had to handle it alone, even if it meant provoking Yiheon’s anger.“What’s going on? Why are you standing there?”Finally, he heard a familiar voice from the corridor. Heemin quickly dashed out of the restroom, pushing past the two guards, and headed swiftly toward the office.“Heemin?”Kwak Yoonseong was just opening the locked door. Before meeting Yiheon’s eyes, who had come out to the corridor to check the commotion, Heemin stepped over the threshold and entered the office. The situation happened so quickly that neither Secretary Jung, Minseok, nor even Yiheon could stop him.“I’m starting my part-time job.”Speaking to Kwak Yoonseong, who followed him inside, Heemin glanced at Yiheon’s face through the slightly open door. His expression was so neutral that it was hard to read, shadowed under the overhead lights. Heemin turned his eyes away to keep his resolve from weakening.“What’s wrong with your face? Did you fight with President Cha?”Kwak Yoonseong frowned, sensing the tense atmosphere. He stared at Heemin, openly showing his discomfort as if he thought Heemin was more of a hindrance than a help.“Fight? No. I washed my face because it was hot.”“Really?”With a vague response, Kwak Yoonseong tilted his head and walked past Heemin to his desk. Unlocking the drawer with a set of keys, he took out the bag he had brought to Yiheon’s house yesterday and put his wallet inside.The account book was probably in that bag. If he could get his hands on it, there would be no need to fight with Yiheon anymore. Perhaps due to his heightened emotions, Heemin felt an impulsive urge to snatch the bag and run.“Hey. Are you in heat? Your pheromones are too strong.”Kwak Yoonseong pinched his nose with his finger, looking disgusted.“…Heat?”There was still a long way to go before the expected date, so how could he be in heat?Ironically, it was only after Kwak Yoonseong, also an omega, mentioned ‘heat’ that Heemin realized it. The heat cycle had come earlier than the original schedule.Unexplained fever and sudden emotional changes. The unquenchable thirst burning his throat with desire.The symptoms were clear, but his foolish pride and overconfidence from knowing the original work had made him ignore them.Variables always appear at decisive moments. Acknowledging this, for the first time, Heemin felt a surge of fear about this world.How far he had come. He couldn’t shake off the shock. The consequence of underestimating an omega’s life and ignoring the body’s warnings was brutal.“Ugh…!”As soon as he realized it, the pheromones that had been building up in his body burst out explosively. Every cell in his body contracted and expanded repeatedly, causing his nerves to become acutely sensitive.“Medicine… I need to take the medicine.”He frantically searched his pockets. He pulled out the pill he had prepared and immediately tore open the packaging, but his weakened hands couldn’t hold the pill properly, and it fell to the floor.The round pill rolled and disappeared under the bookshelf, as if mocking Heemin for only bringing one.His eyes burned with the heat surging through him. As Kwak Yoonseong’s panic-stricken face blurred and his surroundings darkened, there was a loud sound of someone kicking the door open.“Ah…”Just as he tried to turn around, his knees buckled, and he collapsed, unable to support himself.“I told you to be prepared first.”Strong arms supported his back and legs, lifting his limp body. Through his fading vision, he saw Yiheon’s face, biting his lower lip tightly as if trying not to inhale the pheromones of an omega in heat. Their eyes met, and Yiheon’s thick eyebrows raised sardonically.“Be prepared to be scolded until your heat ends. This is your punishment for acting recklessly.”