DOTH Volume 1 Chapter 3.9

A cool sensation pressed against his forehead. Instinctively, Jung Heeyeon nuzzled into the cool touch, seeking its comforting chill.

“Heeyeon.”

Half-asleep, he vaguely recognized a familiar voice. Forcing his heavy eyelids to open, he saw Director Yeon sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Director…?”

His vision was blurry, and his mind felt foggy.

“You seem to have a fever.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Jung Heeyeon realize how his body felt. As soon as Director Yeon mentioned the fever, Jung Heeyeon felt the heat rising to his cheeks. It was a sensation he was somewhat familiar with.

“I’m alright. This has happened before.”

“You don’t look fine at all.”

When Jung Heeyeon shook his head to insist he was okay, the sensation of his hair brushing against the sheets felt oddly cold. He was prone to getting sick and didn’t think this was severe enough to make a fuss about.

Director Yeon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the omega lying on the white sheets. Despite claiming he wasn’t sick, Jung Heeyeon’s pale cheeks were flushed red. Given how cold it had been yesterday, he had likely caught a cold. Though Director Yeon had tried to be mindful, seeing Jung Heeyeon unwell left him with an uneasy feeling that crept in slowly.

“I guess you won’t be able to come to work with me today.”

At Director Yeon’s words, Jung Heeyeon barely managed to lift his heavy eyelids.

“Ah…”

The soft sound held a hint of disappointment, almost like a whimper. Director Yeon savored the rare moment of petulance Jung Heeyeon showed only to him as he brushed the slightly damp bangs from the forehead.

“Heeyeon, do you want to come with me?”

“I like going together with you, Director…”

“But it doesn’t look like you can come with me today.”

Sliding a hand behind Jung Heeyeon’s back, Director Yeon easily lifted the small frame and helped him sit up on the bed. Jung Heeyeon, eyes closed, perched on the bed. His expression was unclear—between drowsiness and pain—but to Director Yeon, it was clear that the other was in pain.

“Don’t fall asleep yet, wait a moment.”

Jung Hee-yeon nodded off, his head drooping so low it almost touched his thighs. A large hand cupped his face and lifted it. His cheek, caught in the man’s large hand, squished slightly under the pressure. Looking at the slightly puffed cheek, like the way he chewed on food during mealtime, Director Yeon chuckled.

“Heeyeon.”

“Yes…”

Though he usually responded softly, his voice was even quieter today.

“You need to take medicine first and rest.”

Jung Heeyeon habitually rubbed his eyes and opened them. When Director Yeon brought a cup to his lips, he instinctively drank the water in small gulps. He hadn’t realized how thirsty he was, the water almost tasted sweet.

“Should I feed you the medicine?”

“No, I can take it myself.”

Owing to the water, Jung Heeyeon felt slightly more awake. He reached out to take the medicine and water, swallowing the pills with practiced ease. He wrinkled his nose slightly at the taste, and a low chuckle reached his ears.

“I’ll call Kim Jiwon here, so just sleep.”

Director Yeon gently pushed Jung Heeyeon back onto the bed. Enveloped in the soft and fluffy blanket, Jung Heeyeon blinked slowly.

“Director.”

“Yeah, Heeyeon?”

“Could you… stay with me until I fall asleep?”

He hesitated before cautiously asking. It was the first time he had ever made such a request of anyone. Even when he was sick, he had always been alone. But for some reason, he thought Director Yeon might stay with him.

“You’re really a baby.”

“I’m not a baby….”

“Oh, you’re not?”

“I’m not….”

His soft voice began to trail off into murmurs. Director Yeon, with an expression difficult to decipher, gently touched Jung Heeyeon’s cheek.

“I’ll send Kim Jiwon around lunchtime, so open the door for him when he arrives.”

“Yes…”

Even as sleep overtook him, Jung Heeyeon nodded. The light-colored strands of his hair scattered across the white sheets bathed in sunlight.

“Sleep well.”

With that tender farewell, Jung Heeyeon soon drifted into a deep sleep.

–

The warm sensation tickling his face stirred him awake. Sunlight poured through the window, brushing against his wrist sticking out from the sheets. Blinking to shake off his drowsiness, Jung Heeyeon noticed the snow globe on the windowsill. Still lying down, he gazed at the glass dome before slowly sitting up.

Walking to the window, he looked down and saw the snow-covered scenery outside. Despite the thick blanket of cold snow, the sunlight was warm and pleasant.

After shaking the snow globe once, Jung Heeyeon left the bedroom at a slow pace, as usual wearing one of Director Yeon’s clothes.

As he drank water to quench his thirst, the doorbell rang.

“Ah…”

He suddenly remembered being told to open the door. Heading to the entrance, Jung Heeyeon opened it. Although it was his first time unlocking the door, he managed it by recalling Director Yeon’s actions, and the door opened more easily than he expected.

Just as he anticipated, Kim Jiwon was standing outside.

“Doctor Kim Jiwon, hello.”

“Heeyeon-ssi, I heard you were sick? Come on, let’s go inside.”

Kim Jiwon was holding a paper bag with the word ‘porridge’ printed in large letters on it. Noticing Jung Heeyeon’s lingering gaze, Kim Jiwon lifted the bag slightly and spoke cheerfully.

“Director Yeon asked me to bring you some lunch.”

“I have just woken up, so I’m not hungry right now… I’m sorry.”

“That’s alright, just have it later. Sick patients should eat whenever they feel like it.”

After stepping inside, Kim Jiwon sat Jung Heeyeon on the sofa and took his temperature.

“Your temperature is a bit high. You’re still taking pheromone suppressants, right?”

“Yes.”

Kim Jiwon let out a small hum, scratching his neck, before rummaging through the bag and pulling out a pheromone test kit. Following the doctor’s instructions, Jung Heeyeon obediently completed the test.

“You said you don’t know your heat cycle. Is it about time for your next injection?”

It was a standard question for the check-up, and Jung Heeyeon thought back on his past carefully.

“No, I usually get it every two months… I got the last one right before coming here.”

“Then you’ve got about a month left. Hmm… Why aren’t the suppressants working all of a sudden? Is it because you’re with Director Yeon? This is strange.”

Scratching his chin, Kim Jiwon muttered to himself. His expression didn’t look good, making Jung Heeyeon wonder if something was wrong. He nervously fidgeted with his fingers.

“Well, it’s about time you learned how to manage your pheromones, Heeyeon-ssi. You can’t rely on medication forever.”

“Can’t I… just keep taking the medicine?”

“It’s not that you can’t, but taking too much isn’t great either. Suppressants are just temporary solutions.”

“I see.”

Kim Jiwon stood up, pulling out his phone to jot something down.

“Don’t worry too much. Director Yeon knows an Omega who’s great at managing pheromones. You can learn from that person.”

“Director Yeon… knows another Omega well?”

“Of course.”

An omega that the Director knew well. Something in Jung Heeyeon’s chest throbbed faintly. He instinctively pressed his lips together and wriggled his toes. Sensing the movement, Kim Jiwon’s gaze dropped to Jung Heeyeon’s feet, wrapped in the sleep socks Kim Jiwon himself had gifted him. Because of that, Kim Jiwon didn’t notice the gloom that had settled over Jung Heeyeon’s face.

“You’re wearing the socks I gave you?”

“Oh, yes. They’re warm. Thank you.”

“I’ll have to brag about this at the office.”

As Kim Jiwon prepared to leave, he explained the reason for Jung Heeyeon’s sudden fever.

“The fever is because of your pheromones. It’s not a sign of an impending heat, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll send the medication through Director Yeon, so you can have it starting from this evening. It’s a stronger suppressant, so it might make you feel achy like you’re coming down with the flu.”

Though he felt as if his condition had become worse, Jung Heeyeon followed Kim Jiwon to the door to see him off.

“Doctor.”

“Yes, Heeyeon-ssi?”

“If I can’t control my pheromones… will it cause trouble for the Director?”

“Hmm.”

Kim Jiwon rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment.

“Honestly, if you were a recessive Omega, it wouldn’t be much of an issue. Recessive pheromones usually don’t affect dominant alphas. But you’re a dominant omega. Even though Director Yeon claims to be unaffected by omega pheromones, since you’re dominant, it could be a bit challenging for him.”

“Yes…”

“Even if you get through your heat without problems, the Director could enter a rut. Alphas tend to lose control during a rut more easily than omegas do during a heat… So really, the one who’d face trouble isn’t the Director, but you, Heeyeon-ssi.”

“Oh…”

“It wouldn’t be an issue if you lived separately, though.”

This straightforward answer made Jung Heeyeon feel even more glum. He didn’t want to live apart from Director Yeon.

“Learning how to manage your pheromones isn’t that hard, so don’t worry too much about it.”

Jung Heeyeon hesitated instead of replying immediately. After a lifetime of being called a mutt, he wasn’t sure he could do it well.

“And like I said earlier, Director Yeon knows an omega who’s really good at this. That omega has taught many others, so you’ll be fine.”

“Yes… Thank you for telling me.”

Kim Jiwon opened the front door but glanced back briefly.

“I brought porridge, so make sure to eat it. Just heat it in the microwave. It’s not plain porridge, so it should taste good.”

“Yes. I’ll eat it. Thank you.”

“No problem. You should get some rest. Oh, and don’t open the door for anyone else, no matter who rings the bell, alright?”

“Yes. Goodbye, Doctor Kim Jiwon.”

Unaware that the doctor was treating him like a child, Jung Heeyeon bowed his head.

“See you tomorrow.”

The door closed.

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