Confined Pheromone

Siwoo’s hand, which was about to press the call button on his phone, hesitated. It was because he felt uneasy about calling someone for this kind of thing. After a moment of hesitation, Siwoo downloaded a delivery app for the first time. Sanho sat quietly, watching Siwoo awkwardly navigate the app.

“Delivery doesn’t come here often.”

“Hmm?”

When Siwoo turned to look at Sanho, Sanho fidgeted with his slightly reddened earlobe, mumbling as if feeling a bit shy. It’s just that it’s inconvenient to get deliveries here… Anyway, there probably won’t be much available. After scrolling through the phone screen for a moment, Siwoo seemed to make a decision and stood up.

“Let’s go out to eat.”

“Pardon?”

The weather was nice, so it seemed okay to walk a bit. Siwoo took Sanho’s hand and pulled him along. With an exaggerated sound, he lifted Sanho from his seat. Sanho, caught off guard, stood up and hurriedly put on his shoes as Siwoo led the way.

The weather was indeed very nice. The alley that had felt so dreary at night looked quite serene and pleasant under the sunlight. As they walked down the low stairs, Siwoo chatted about various things.

“I think you need to change the lock on your front door.”

Sanho looked at Siwoo as if to say what nonsense that was, and Siwoo narrowed his eyes, meeting Sanho’s gaze with a reproachful look.

“That’s too dangerous.”

Following Siwoo’s brisk pace, Sanho tilted his head in confusion. Siwoo glanced back at Sanho, chuckling, and then spoke.

“Don’t they sell those kinds of things at the hardware store? Like locks.”

Sanho stared intently at Siwoo’s broad shoulders as he walked a half-step ahead.

It took a little while to reach the main road where the restaurant was located. Siwoo looked around and asked Sanho what he wanted to eat. When Sanho remained silent, keeping his mouth shut, Siwoo quickly grabbed Sanho’s hand. Then I’ll choose what I want to eat. He said this while walking ahead. However, after asking Sanho several times what he wanted to eat, Siwoo finally chose a restaurant and went inside.

It was an ordinary rice bowl restaurant. Siwoo frowned several times while looking at the worn menu. He was flustered, not knowing what to choose. More precisely, he was troubled about what Sanho might want to eat. Eventually, after Sanho ordered two servings of kimchi stew, Siwoo put the menu down. He awkwardly smiled, and Sanho stared at him intently.

After finishing their meal, they bought two of the same ice cream at a convenience store. Sanho shook his head, saying he didn’t want any, but Siwoo was insistent. I want it. You know I don’t like eating alone. He forcibly handed Sanho a chocolate-flavored popsicle, watching as Sanho’s eyes widened in surprise. Sanho’s face, chewing the ice cream while looking flustered, shone brightly in the sunlight. Siwoo smiled happily. For some reason, he felt genuinely cheerful.

The place they arrived at while walking side by side, eating ice cream, was the hardware store. In fact, they had wandered a bit. Sanho said he had never been to a hardware store by himself, and Siwoo also had no idea where the hardware store in this unfamiliar neighborhood was. After fiddling with the map app and walking quite a bit, they finally found a narrow hardware store.

The hardware store was narrow and long. Siwoo’s eyes brightened as he looked around the store, like a traveler entering a mysterious shop. Sanho stood awkwardly, gazing blankly at Siwoo as he chatted amiably with the store owner and compared half a dozen locks before finally choosing one.

“Is this safe?”

“Of course. Even if an elephant comes and crashes into it, it won’t open.”

As the store owner boasted, Siwoo nodded with a smile. When they left the hardware store, Siwoo was holding a power drill and other tools.

The way back home along the alley felt even shorter than the way down. After crossing the blue gate and stepping into the narrow cement-floored yard, Siwoo laid the lock he had bought on the ground.

“I think I need to take off the doorknob.”

As Siwoo examined the shabby doorknob, asking for permission, Sanho looked at him with a doubtful expression. It seemed he thought this rich young man, who had made a pot full of strange food, couldn’t possibly do such a rough job.

“Why?”

Noticing Sanho’s skeptical gaze, Siwoo frowned slightly and looked at him. Sanho quietly shook his head.

“Why, do you think I can’t do this?”

Sanho’s expression clearly suggested a quick “yes.” Siwoo found Sanho’s tightly pursed lips a bit cute and chuckled. I’m good at this kind of stuff. He then put on a confident expression.

“If I change this for you, you have to grant me one wish.”

“…A wish?”

“Yeah.”

Siwoo rolled up his sleeves, revealing his solid arm muscles.

“What… kind of wish?”

Hmm, Siwoo blinked as if thinking for a moment, then smiled broadly.

“I have one, like that.”

As Siwoo applied force to turn the doorknob, it fell off with a surprising sound, as if it had been too easy. Siwoo frowned in disbelief at the broken doorknob.

“Look at this. It breaks so easily with just a little force.”

“Well, that’s because you’re an Alpha!”

It was true that Alphas had greater physical strength than others. Siwoo shook his head slightly as he placed the fallen doorknob on the ground with a hint of annoyance.

“Not really.”

Siwoo skillfully began to attach the lock to the door. The power drill whirred, and the sturdy lock was quickly secured to the door. Why is he good at this when he can’t even cook? Watching Siwoo’s back muscles move, Sanho quietly kept his mouth shut. The expression on Sanho’s face looked quite complicated.

“All done.”

As Siwoo lowered the power drill and turned to look at Sanho, he smiled brightly while bending down to pack the tools into the case.

“Now grant me my wish.”

As he closed the case with a snap, Siwoo raised the corners of his mouth even more mischievously.

“No, I’ll save it for next time.”

As Sanho gazed at Siwoo’s solid muscles, rolled up to his elbows, he subtly bit his lip.

***

By the time they finished installing the lock, quite a bit of time had passed. Siwoo had shared a late breakfast with Sanho, and now it was almost time for a late lunch. He wanted to treat Sanho to lunch… Siwoo glanced at his watch on his wrist, smiling regretfully. It was already getting late.

After parting ways with Sanho and heading towards his family home instead of his officetel, Siwoo looked at his watch again. No matter how late it was, he couldn’t meet his father dressed like this. The sleeves of his blazer, which he had rolled up while installing the lock, were wrinkled. Looking down at it, Siwoo chuckled.

Arriving in front of the large study door, Siwoo tidied up the cuffs of his freshly changed shirt. After lightly knocking, a deep voice came from inside. “Come in.” Siwoo bowed his head and stepped inside.

“Father.”

A middle-aged man, sitting at a large desk and writing something, glanced up at Siwoo and gestured toward the antique leather sofa.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

As Siwoo sat on the spacious sofa, his father, Chairman Jin, slowly rose and approached. He wore a warm smile, but his gaze was quite sharp.

“You canceled our long-awaited breakfast together. You must have been very busy.”

“I’m sorry. Work…”

“Right, I heard from Professor Lee.”

When the professor who organized the department meeting came up in conversation, Siwoo fell silent.

“At your age, it’s not a flaw to hang out with your peers.”

“I’m sorry.”

Chairman Jin waved his hand. His gaze toward Siwoo was kind.

“It’s okay. Once you graduate, you’ll be too busy to think.”

“…Yes.”

“You asked for a favor from Congressman Kim, right?”

Siwoo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected that something so trivial would have reached his father’s ears. However, Siwoo soon relaxed his expression and looked at his father, Chairman Jin.

“Yes, I thought the area near my junior’s house looked too dangerous.”

Chairman Jin, who had slowly settled into the sofa, lightly tapped his fingers on his knee as he replied.

“Right. There are many redevelopment areas in Congressman Kim’s district, so that makes sense.”

Siwoo smiled and nodded briefly.

“There’s a gathering with re-elected congressmen in a few days.”

“…Yes.”

“Congressman Kim said he wanted to see your face after a long time. After hearing your request, he thought this was the right time.”

Siwoo was still smiling gently, but a hint of annoyance bubbled up. It was obvious what greedy old men were up to. Siwoo lifted his chin slightly and looked at Chairman Jin.

“Yes, it wouldn’t be bad to see him after a long time.”

“Right. Good thinking.”

After a brief pause, Chairman Jin continued.

“The day after tomorrow, it’s at the C Club. I’ve already told Manager Jung.”

The C Club was the largest Omega club in the country. It was of a different quality than the malicious bottom-tier Omega clubs, but the very nature of Omega clubs was inherently flawed. This time, Siwoo couldn’t hold back and frowned. Noticing Siwoo’s expression, Chairman Jin chuckled reproachfully.

“I know you don’t like those kinds of places.”

“……”

“Still, just sit there for a while and then leave.”

“…Yes, I will, Father.”

Siwoo stood up. Chairman Jin also nodded slowly, gesturing for him to leave. Siwoo exited the study. Even after Siwoo left, Chairman Jin remained seated on the sofa, tapping his fingers on his knee. When Chairman Jin’s head lifted slightly, the study door opened again, and a neatly dressed man in his thirties quietly entered. Chairman Jin gestured lightly toward the spot where Siwoo had been sitting, gazing at it.

“Manager Jung.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“Find out about the kids around Director Jin.”

“Yes.”

“…Especially that one, investigate more thoroughly.”

Chairman Jin slowly stroked his lips, which bore a peculiar smile.

***

The weather was still nice. Heading to school after the weekend felt quite pleasant. Siwoo stood in front of the blue gate, tapping his toes on the ground. His high-quality leather loafers made a soft thud against the rough dirt ground. He tried putting his hands in his slacks, crossing his arms, and stretching his arms out in front of him. Why isn’t he out yet? When he glanced at his watch for the fifth time, he heard the click of the lock he had installed being released. Siwoo lifted his head sharply.

“Sanho.”

Sanho, who had just stepped out of the door with a bag slung over his shoulder, turned his head. Upon seeing Siwoo standing neatly beyond the slightly open blue gate, Sanho’s face began to flush with surprise.

“…Siwoo sunbae?”

Siwoo tilted his head slightly and smiled.

“Why are you here…?”

“I’m going to school.”

Sanho looked at Siwoo, who was stepping through the gate with a bewildered expression, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

“So… if I have to go to school, why are you here?”

Siwoo gestured toward the lock on the door that Sanho had just secured.

“I came to check if my work is okay.”

Work…? Sanho looked at the lock he had just secured. Is this what you call work? Seeing Sanho’s incredulous expression, Siwoo chuckled.

“I didn’t come to see you. I really came to check if this is okay.”

Siwoo’s smile, bright under the sunlight, was as radiant as a boy’s. Sanho quietly bit his lip. Why does he keep smiling like that?

“Now that I’ve seen it, it’s fine. Let’s go to school.”

Siwoo’s gaze lingered on the lock for barely a second. He grabbed Sanho’s wrist and turned away, walking briskly. The gentle smell of earth filled the air. The warm scent of dry earth under the bright sun. And the sweet smell of fruit, as if large fruits were ripening on the trees that grew in that warm earth, mixed with the warm scent of the soil. Siwoo walked on, smiling happily.