Pink Flavor Omega

#29

***

The awkward and quiet atmosphere continued until the car entered the apartment’s underground parking lot. Without any particular discussion, Eunhong silently followed Jaeha to his home as he led the way.

When he was alone, he felt unbearably anxious and scared, but somehow everything felt okay now. It might have been because he had cried so much. In any case, Eunhong felt somewhat refreshed. However, that didn’t mean he wanted to return to the house where Woohyun was. He wasn’t ready for that yet.

The various shocking facts he had heard from the doctor didn’t seem to have much impact now that he had met Jaeha and his mind was at ease. At this point, it almost felt like someone else’s problem. But there was no guarantee it would be the same without Jaeha as a buffer. Eunhong inwardly thought it was fortunate that Jaeha had brought him here.

Cold spoons were the best for swollen eyes. Eunhong exchanged the lukewarm spoons for two cold ones that Jaeha had just taken out of the freezer. He pressed them against both eyes and groaned.

“You know, I’m not usually the type whose eyes swell up like this.”

“Mmm, right.”

“I didn’t even cry that much, really. Why are they so swollen?”

Anyone would think he had cried for two days and nights. Jaeha spat out the tea he was drinking because of Eunhong’s muttering. Fortunately, Eunhong didn’t see it as he was covering his eyes with the spoons.

Eunhong had truly forgotten everything. From the moment he manifested at the Art Hall, going to the hotel with Jaeha, spending 36 hours together, then running out like a madman and collapsing on the street, and even riding in an ambulance – a day and a half of memories had completely vanished.

Jaeha, with his handsome face crumpled, was seriously pondering if this unbelievable current situation was some kind of mystery of the human body. He could only make baseless guesses that it might be some sort of defense mechanism of Eunhong’s.

The memories of Christmas became Jaeha’s alone. As a result, he became a bit troubled. For example…

“My lips are all swollen too. Look.”

Eunhong tossed the spoons aside and fiddled with his lips. He even pushed out his reddish, plump lips to show them. Jaeha deliberately avoided looking. He counted the flower petals floating in his teacup. A small chrysanthemum had fully bloomed on the tea. One million twenty-two, one million twenty-three…

“…They do look a bit swollen.”

“Was it like this for you too when you manifested? Is this some kind of side effect?”

Having forgotten everything so cleanly, Eunhong’s mental recovery was surprisingly fast. The shock he had felt when receiving unbelievable information from the doctor in an unfamiliar hospital quickly stabilized. After returning to Jaeha’s house and having a simple meal, Eunhong truly acted like a patient whose serious illness had been cured overnight.

Thanks to forgetting the ‘first night’, only the ‘wonder of manifestation’ remained for Eunhong.

In fact, manifesting as an omega made Eunhong feel like he was peeking at a secret of an unknown world. The heaviness of his life changing had slightly evaporated while being comforted by Jaeha. And it was Eunhong’s nature to immediately find the good points once his mind stabilized.

So at this moment, the only one suffering was Lee Jaeha.

Although he pretended to focus on the tea leaves, all his attention was on Eunhong. Eunhong pressing the cold spoons against his swollen eyelids reminded him of a strange character, but even that looked cute. He wanted to snatch those spoons away, throw them aside, and suck and nibble on each of those rosy fingers one by one. Damn, it’s severe… Jaeha put down his teacup and stood up abruptly.

“You need to take your medicine, Bunhong.”

“Is it that time already?”

Jaeha picked up the packet of prescribed medicine for Eunhong, read it carefully, and then took out what needed to be taken in the evening with water. Remembering that the hospital had instructed to strictly adhere to the dosage times, Eunhong turned his head to look at the large clock hanging on the living room wall.

“I checked because it seemed like your pheromones were leaking out. The time is about right.”

“Oh, really?”

Eunhong sniffed his body out of habit. Although he had heard that one usually can’t smell their own pheromones, he was curious.

While Eunhong was swallowing the medicine, Jaeha went somewhere into the inner room. He seemed to be taking his time, then came out holding Eunhong’s phone. Eunhong’s face, which had been inwardly upset thinking he had lost it, brightened up.

“Wow, where did you find this? I thought I’d have to buy a new one for sure.”

“…I happened to find it.”

Wondering if he really didn’t remember anything at all, Jaeha discreetly sat down opposite Eunhong while watching his reaction. As Eunhong smiled happily at finding his phone, his pheromones leaked out abundantly. Whether the medicine wasn’t working quickly enough or Eunhong’s pheromones were uncontrolled, it was enough to make Jaeha’s mouth water. Jaeha covered his mouth and rested his chin on his hand.

“…The 26th? Is it the evening of the 26th now?”

As Eunhong asked with his mouth wide open, Jaeha just nodded. Still covering his mouth.

“Hey, did I miss work without notice?”

Come to think of it, there were an enormous number of missed calls and messages piled up on the phone. Eunhong, who had been sitting calmly, suddenly stood up. Ah, he’s lost it. Really. He just now realized that nearly two days had been deleted from his life.

“You can take sick leave for trait-related reasons.”

At Jaeha’s additional words, Eunhong nodded hurriedly. Saying he’d make some calls, he moved somewhere in the house. As Eunhong moved away, Jaeha’s tension eased as well. Jaeha unfolded his arms, sighed, and leaned back in his chair. His lower body was about to get stiff, but it was fortunate if anything. He was really worried about what was to come.

With perfect timing, Professor Choi arrived. Professor Choi didn’t even blink an eye at the large alpha glaring at him with narrowed eyes. However, when he encountered Eunhong’s faint pheromones lingering on the table, he cleared his throat.

“You say Eunhong doesn’t remember?”

“…That’s what he says, and that’s how it looks to me.”

Jaeha had been keenly observing Eunhong throughout the drive from the hospital to home. Unless Eunhong was putting on a method acting performance… Jaeha was certain that he had completely forgotten, so he answered Professor Choi’s question firmly.

“For now, let him rest and we’ll try to arrange for a specialist so he can receive counseling therapy.”

“What if Eunhong…”

“Yes?”

“…What if he’s like this because he doesn’t want to remember due to aversion?”

“It could be that his body was shocked by manifesting in his late 20s. Also, even without treatment, he might suddenly remember. That’s not good, and there are many such cases, so I recommend treatment.”

“So you’re saying treatment is absolutely necessary.”

“It seems you’re hoping Eunhong won’t remember. Are you anxious?”

As one gets older, they tend to worry more. Professor Choi had been trying to read his mind since before. Jaeha didn’t answer that, instead deciding to warn him once more about his grandfather.

“If you tell my grandfather about Eunhong’s condition, I’ll really change my attending physician this time.”

“…I’ve already promised you about that, haven’t I?”

“I need to be able to trust you, Professor Choi. It won’t end with just changing doctors. I’ll sue you.”

As if words weren’t enough, Jaeha even made a throat-slitting gesture. His expression was very grim. Just then, Eunhong, who had finished his call and was walking out, caught him in the act.

“Lee Jaeha, how can you behave like that towards an elder?”

“Oh, Bunhong, are you done with your call?”

“Yeah. I got it processed as sick leave. They said I just need to bring a doctor’s note.”

“That’s good. Professor Choi here came to examine you.”

The predatory extreme alpha immediately hid his expression and changed his stance to pretend to be a gentle lamb. Professor Choi couldn’t help but laugh dejectedly. He knew the ecosystem of alphas and omegas all too well from his lifelong experience. It was all the more amusing because he knew it so well.

“Eunhong, I heard about your manifestation. It must have been shocking to happen so suddenly. Are you feeling alright?”

“Uh… yes. There’s nothing particularly uncomfortable with my body.”

Eunhong recalled Professor Choi telling him about Jaeha’s rut. How he had looked at him with a stiff expression as if not knowing was a crime, and now how he was wearing such a benevolent expression… Although he would have to show his body since Jaeha had specifically called him, Eunhong felt somewhat disgruntled.

“From now on, I’ll take care of any trait-related prescriptions or treatments for you. You must know my skills well since I’ve been taking care of CEO Lee.”

The three moved to a comfortable bedroom. Professor Choi laid out the items he had brought and sat next to Eunhong. Although these were all tests that had been done while Eunhong was out of it at the hospital, Eunhong silently offered his arm as Jaeha stood there with an anxious expression, his eyes blazing.

Drawing a small amount of blood, applying bodily fluids to test strips. Measuring all sorts of things like blood pressure and heart rate. Even scraping the inside of his mouth and taking hair samples. Eunhong watched with wide eyes as Professor Choi worked. Then he suddenly remembered the results sheet he had stuffed in his pocket.

“Oh right, this. It’s my test results.”

Eunhong shifted his hips and pulled out the crumpled results sheet from his pocket. Professor Choi took out his square glasses, put them on his nose, and carefully read the wrinkled paper.

“Hmm…”

Professor Choi’s eyebrows shot up. He exchanged glances with Lee Jaeha several times over his glasses, then with an indecipherable smile on his face, he spoke to Eunhong.