Pig Government Official

-42-

Junjae had to clear his entire day for the 5G forum in Jeju Island. Although he was clearly aware of this schedule in his mind, he had lost focus somewhere, and only when Secretary Oh mentioned preparing a car in front of his house at 6 AM did he snap back to attention as it was almost time to leave work. Amusingly, his first thought was, “Then I won’t be able to see him tomorrow.” He laughed at himself, realizing how distracted he had been all day.

“……”

When Kim Jeonggwan leaned his forehead against his chest with a upset face, it could have been a serious problem. Maybe because of the sudden rush of intense pheromones, he felt an extreme strain on his body for a moment. His head was dizzy and something felt like it dropped. He had felt a similar sensation only once in his life… He didn’t expect Kim Jeonggwan to give him that feeling again. And even the word for that feeling was taught to him by Kim Jeonggwan.

[Heart-fluttering ㅎㅎ]

Heart-fluttering: To be surprised or excited to the point where one’s heart beats strongly when seeing something or someone.

Not knowing what the text meant, he looked it up, and it perfectly described what he had felt. Heart-fluttering. To be surprised to the point where one’s heart beats strongly or…

“…What excitement.”

What excitement. As Secretary Oh said, his interest in Kim Jeonggwan was solely due to the pheromones, and his sensitive reaction was because he didn’t want to share those pheromones with anyone else. It was definitely not excitement or anything like that. They say pheromone addiction naturally makes people misunderstand. Many alphas mistakenly think they’ve fallen in love and end up marrying that omega, when they’re actually just attracted to the pheromones, not the person.

Even though he kept denying it, he couldn’t help being attracted to the pheromones, thinking about Kim Jeonggwan all day. It’s frustrating when a person can’t control their own will. There’s really no answer when the brain is sick. But he couldn’t cut off the pheromones either. After seeing Kim Jeonggwan, he felt good all day, intoxicated by those pheromones. But it must be showing on the outside, as his mother and Park Jihoon were all trying to test him. It’s dangerous. These pheromones. He resolved even more strongly not to be deceived again.

“…Do you have any evening plans?”

“No, sir. There are none.”

“…Then let’s stop by Nowon-gu for a moment.”

However, since he might not be able to see Kim Jeonggwan all day tomorrow as he’d be in Jeju Island from early on, it wasn’t bad to prepare in advance. There could be a pheromone shock. That was all. It was absolutely not because he wanted to see Kim Jeonggwan’s happy face when receiving the chocolates.

* * *

He couldn’t meet Kim Jeonggwan. Although he waited patiently for about an hour since accumulating pheromones would be good, there was no contact from Kim Jeonggwan. Is he not at home? He thought about calling, but somehow making the first call… wasn’t easy. After staring at Kim Jeonggwan’s front gate for a long time, he was finally able to turn the car towards home only after Secretary Oh confirmed through Kim Jeongwon that Kim Jeonggwan was sleeping at home.

He heard Kim Jeongwon asking through Secretary Oh’s phone if he should wake him up, but somehow he felt half wanting to and half not wanting to. Thinking that he must have been very shocked and upset because of the Aekyung incident, it seemed better to just let him sleep. He would contact him when he wakes up.

Even after coming home like that, Junjae kept checking his phone intermittently, but for some reason, Jeonggwan read the message but didn’t reply. Did he make some mistake? When he gave him the chocolates, he said “heart-fluttering”… Should he have stopped just there?

“Secretary Oh.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Send me a KakaoTalk message.”

“Pardon?”

He wondered if perhaps his phone was malfunctioning and not receiving signals. But fortunately, it wasn’t broken, being a carefully made new product. Then what could be the problem? …Was it burdensome that he visited his house?

In the end, he couldn’t sleep well and could only think about Kim Jeonggwan until the next day. While heading to catch the plane to Jeju Island, on the plane, and on the way to the hotel where the forum was being held. He was annoyed at himself for constantly fiddling with his phone, but he couldn’t put it down. Had he ever been so obsessed with something before? Junjae sighed softly and thought he should try contacting him first as soon as the forum ends, as he entered the hotel’s grand ballroom.

“You’ve come.”

“…Father.”

“From next time, come about 3 minutes early. Don’t arrive right on time.”

“…Yes, sir.”

“You need to be mindful of the reporters’ eyes. As an executive director.”

However, there was an unexpected figure inside. Although he hadn’t received any report of his attendance, as if to show that he was always above Junjae, he was a figure who could snap Junjae, who was completely dominated by other thoughts, back to his senses. Won Youngjae, Junjae’s father and the CEO, quietly scolded Junjae with a gentle smile, which to reporters not hearing from afar, looked like a father and son exchanging affectionate words.

“These days, it’s a world where everything is visible.”

“……”

“Even when you’re alone at home, people know. What you eat, what you wear.”

“……”

“Even who you meet.”

Junjae’s head, which had been lowered quietly, was raised a bit hastily. Won Youngjae’s eyes, which had been looking far away while speaking, also briefly brushed past Junjae. As if even that small action of Junjae’s was irritating.

“So eat good things, wear good clothes.”

“……”

“As a person of the Won family. Hm?”

Junjae’s Adam’s apple moved greatly. Father knows. How much? Junjae’s eyes trembled slightly, and fear clouded his eyes.

“The more flaws you have. They all become my flaws.”

“……”

“You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

“…No, sir.”

That’s right. Won Youngjae patted Junjae’s shoulder without losing his smile from start to finish. But his eyes were different. Eyes so cold that it wouldn’t be out of place if he got angry right now scanned Junjae from head to toe. Junjae’s body visibly stiffened. But when the hand on his shoulder applied a little pressure as if to say manage your expression, Junjae reflexively smiled despite his stiff body. Like a dog long trained to do so.

* * *

Even after leaving the grand ballroom and getting on the elevator, Junjae couldn’t take a deep breath. As soon as he entered the hotel room alone, he leaned against the wall and breathed heavily and roughly. His hand urgently pulled at his tie. Although no one had told him to hold his breath, at some point, he had developed a compulsion to forget to breathe whenever he was with his father, Won Youngjae. This symptom had started a very long time ago, and although his mother Heejin had tried all sorts of methods to cure this illness, just when it seemed to be improving, it would severely relapse as if it had never gotten better whenever Won Youngjae raised his voice once.

“…Ha. Haah.”

Junjae, still catching his breath while leaning against the wall, ran his hand through his hair. His hair, fixed with spray, became disheveled, but he didn’t have the luxury to care about that now. Father knows about Kim Jeonggwan. Originally, he had a lunch appointment with his father at the family home tomorrow, but this sudden appearance without warning was to give a warning. A warning that now is not the time for this.

Until now, his father had never interfered no matter what omega he met. Rather, he had even said that releasing pheromones like that was better than suddenly causing trouble. So why is he giving a separate warning about Kim Jeonggwan now?

Is it because Kim Jeonggwan’s family background, education, or any other aspect doesn’t meet father’s standards, to the point that even a momentary interest is unacceptable? But that doesn’t seem right, as there were clearly omegas among those he had met who were just famous celebrities and didn’t meet father’s conditions. However, he had never given any indication about them until now, so what exactly about Kim Jeonggwan warrants a direct warning? Is it because others might notice that there’s a problem with his pheromones and he only reacts to Kim Jeonggwan? No. That’s not it… He’s noticed that I’m different. Different from usual.

“What… Ha…”

What’s different? He hasn’t even held hands with Kim Jeonggwan, let alone had sex. Junjae’s eyes were full of confusion. Even trying to calm his breathing didn’t work. Certainly, going down to see Kim Jeonggwan every day would have seemed strange to anyone watching. But he had deliberately not given him attention or mixed words much. Yet still…

Ring ring-. Ring ring-.

With his rough breathing still coming out, Junjae covered his mouth with his hand and took out the phone from his inside pocket. It was probably a call from Secretary Oh saying that the dinner with the forum organizers would start soon. When he couldn’t stop his breathing well like today, he would send a call rejection message saying he couldn’t take the call right now, so his hand naturally moved towards that.

[Jeonggwan]

However, the name on the screen was the one he had been waiting for all day yesterday and today. And as if by magic, cool air rushed into his lungs.

“……”

His rough breathing stopped instantly. He felt all his heightened nerves calming down. Just the thought cleared his head, and the lump in his chest that wouldn’t go away no matter how much he loosened his tie and took deep breaths seemed to dissipate. You… What are you. Resentment and relief came at the same time.

What are you?

“…Hello.”

What are you that makes me expect, makes me breathe…

[I heard you met Jung Taegeon yesterday. How about trying to make things work with him again? He asked for another chance, didn’t he?]

And makes me so angry?