Confined Pheromone

Sanho anxiously scanned the surroundings until Siwoo parked the car upon arriving at school. He seemed particularly concerned about being seen walking to school with Siwoo. This kid must have always been the subject of uncomfortable gazes. Siwoo understood well what it felt like to receive unwanted attention. He didn’t want to make Sanho uncomfortable as much as possible.

On purpose, Siwoo parked far away in the staff parking lot instead of the usual parking lot for his department. As Siwoo got out of the car and opened the passenger door, Sanho’s hand, which was about to grab the door handle, flinched in mid-air. Siwoo smiled gently, tilting his head as if to say hurry up and get out.

In truth, parking far away didn’t change much. As they walked across the campus toward the department, Siwoo could feel the heavy stares lingering on them. Curious glances, friendly looks directed at Siwoo, and, conversely, unpleasant glares poured in one after another. While the corners of Siwoo’s mouth were lightly smiling, his eyes slightly twisted. This was a bit… uncomfortable.

It was only when they arrived at the classroom that Siwoo greeted Sanho with a smile. “Pay attention in class.” When Sanho stiffly lowered his head, someone suddenly grabbed Siwoo’s shoulder.

“Jin Siwoo!”

It was Seunghyun. Seunghyun briefly glanced at Sanho, who had entered the classroom with Siwoo, but soon sat down indifferently next to Siwoo. Once Seunghyun was seated, another classmate sitting in front turned back and spoke to Siwoo.

“Did you get home okay that day?”

They were referring to the day of the department gathering. Siwoo raised his head in confusion and then nodded.

“Yeah. How late did you drink?”

It was a normal, everyday conversation. One oblivious classmate shrugged and began to chatter loudly.

“Hey, that day we went all the way to the fourth round, it was crazy.”

“Yeah, Jo Seunghyun was completely wasted.”

The classmates continued to laugh.

“But Siwoo, why were you with him that day…?”

The classmate who had spoken first directed his gaze across the classroom toward Sanho, who was sitting alone. There was a hint of curiosity and clear mockery in his gaze. Before Siwoo could open his mouth, Seunghyun jumped in.

“Jin Siwoo has been taking drunk people home for a while now, hasn’t he?”

It was a nonchalant tone. Well, that was true. Siwoo had never failed to take someone home. The classmates soon seemed to shift their interest to another topic. “Wow, isn’t this professor really sharp? That day, he stood up exactly 30 minutes after sitting down.”

The classroom was quite noisy, but the voices reaching Sanho’s ears were particularly clear. Even if he didn’t want to hear them, they echoed in his mind. Siwoo had never failed to take someone home. Siwoo’s faint laughter, barely audible, was vivid. Sanho stared blankly ahead with an expressionless face, then suddenly looked down at his book, slightly startled. One page of the book was crumpled messily. It had just been roughly crumpled by his own hand.

***

The day of the appointment with the lawmakers, which Chairman Jin had given a heads-up about, soon arrived. Siwoo declined the suggestion from Manager Jung to be driven to the meeting place and drove himself. The streets of Gangnam, densely packed with entertainment venues.

“Manager, aren’t you drinking anymore?”

It hadn’t even been 30 minutes since they sat down, and drinks had already been passed around several times. The man sitting next to Siwoo seemed to be quite tipsy.

“Yeah, I’m done.”

The man, with a languid demeanor, was an Omega affiliated with the club. He leaned his chin on Siwoo’s shoulder and smiled cutely. Siwoo, looking a bit uncomfortable, gently pushed him away.

“You must be bored, Manager.”

He looked at Siwoo while openly letting out pheromones and smiled sweetly. One of the lawmakers, who appeared to be quite drunk, laughed heartily at the sight of the two and gestured.

“You should make the Manager feel good. Right?”

Laughter erupted as if trying to match the atmosphere. Siwoo only managed a faint smile. He didn’t want to speak or add anything. To be honest, just sitting here made him feel nauseous.

Siwoo didn’t like Omega clubs. Although there were times when he had to visit places like this, like today, he fundamentally detested such environments. Whether it was due to status or power, the act of stepping on others was unpleasant. Chairman Jin had sent him here with some degree of intention. Siwoo was not unaware of that. It was an indirect way of showing that to become a ruler, one sometimes had to ruthlessly step on someone. Siwoo let out a small sigh.

“I think I’ll head back now.”

As he politely spoke and stood up, the slightly tipsy lawmaker grabbed Siwoo’s arm.

“Oh, our young Manager, where are you going?”

After staring down at him for a moment, Siwoo soon smiled gently and pressed down on his shoulder. Most of the people in this room were of status. As Siwoo smiled softly, the pheromones of a dominant Alpha began to faintly spread around him.

“Right? You shouldn’t bring a young one like him to a place like this, Congressman Kim.”

Siwoo was still smiling, but the expression of the man whose shoulder he held began to stiffen. His eyes darted around nervously.

“It was nice to see you after a long time.”

Finally, as he slumped down into his seat with Siwoo still holding his shoulder, Siwoo quietly released his hand. His voice remained polite, but the three or four Omegas in the room were looking at Siwoo with somewhat frightened expressions. Siwoo lightly nodded his head and left the room.

As he walked down the long corridor of the club, he nervously adjusted his clothes.

He shouldn’t be angry.

Out of courtesy, he had accepted a few drinks. He hadn’t drunk much, but it was a very strong liquor from the start. Feeling a bit dizzy, he had lost control of his emotions and had threatened someone. It wasn’t something he would regret, but… Siwoo lightly shook his head and slowly exited the club.

The streets were dazzling. The neon signs, typical of a nightlife district, shone and flickered endlessly. Siwoo walked slowly. He wasn’t stumbling, but he thought it would be nice to get some fresh air.

Siwoo had already called Manager Jung. He had firmly refused the offer to have someone take him home. He planned to sit in the car for a bit before going inside. Since he couldn’t drive, he would have to call a chauffeur, but he didn’t want to call anyone from home. As he approached his black sedan, he caught a familiar scent from somewhere.

“…….”

Siwoo pressed down on his brow and quickly turned around. In the nightlife district, there was usually a lingering chaotic scent of pheromones. It was similar to how the smell of alcohol and cigarettes inevitably mingled in alleys filled with bars. Generally, they were unpleasant scents. However, the scent Siwoo had just caught was nothing of the sort. Instinctively, Siwoo realized.

“……Sanho?”

It was him. The damp, sweet scent. A sweet, melting fragrance. With slightly furrowed brows, he looked around, and at the end of the alley, he spotted a pale-faced man standing as if waiting for someone. He was dressed in a thin white knit and beige pants. So plain and ordinary that he looked like a lost child in this nightlife district. Yet paradoxically, that plain appearance was incredibly eye-catching. Standing here was also a perfect picture. Siwoo took a step toward him, a bit hastily.

“Sanho.”

Sanho, who had sensed the presence keenly, turned around sharply. He lightly bumped his forehead against Siwoo’s shoulder, which had come closer than he expected. Sanho looked up to confirm the identity of the person.

“Senior?”

Upon realizing it was Siwoo, Sanho’s face showed even more surprise than usual. He looked like a child caught in a place he shouldn’t be. His face flushed bright red in an instant.

“What are you doing here?”

“…….”

“Why are you alone in a place like this…?”

“What about you, Senior? What are you doing here?”

Sanho retorted with a slightly sharp voice. It sounded as if he didn’t want to be caught here, and that Siwoo’s presence was unwelcome. He wore an expression that couldn’t hide his disappointment, as if he had discovered the bare face of his idol. Siwoo, who had stared at Sanho with wide eyes for a moment, quickly understood why Sanho was being defensive. Is it because he hates that I’m standing here in a street full of Omega clubs? Siwoo burst into laughter.

“Why? Did you think I’d be doing something here?”

Sanho averted his gaze slightly. He seemed about to say something but then hesitated, his lips twitching, which Siwoo found amusing.

“I’m here to meet someone for work.”

He answered simply. In reality, that was all there was to it. Sanho slowly looked up at Siwoo again after his response. Siwoo raised an eyebrow slightly and asked again.

“And you?”

“…….”

“What are you doing here?”

Once again, Sanho only twitched his lips, not saying anything. Siwoo let out a shallow sigh.

“It’s dangerous here. Especially alone.”

“…It’s not… dangerous.”

Seeing him mumble, Siwoo sighed again. It was dangerous. An Omega, especially a dominant Omega, wandering around a place like this at this hour was incredibly risky. With such a sweet scent wafting off him. Who knows what filthy bastard might be drooling over him? Without realizing it, Siwoo’s expression had twisted. Sanho glanced at Siwoo and mumbled, trailing off.

“I have… an appointment…”

“An appointment? What kind of appointment at this hour?”

What kind of appointment could there be in a place like this… Seeing Sanho biting his lips, Siwoo felt he could guess without hearing more. The words of a low-class Alpha he had heard under the streetlight in the narrow alley came to mind one after another. Contact me. Well, if you run out of money, you’ll figure it out. Siwoo quietly narrowed his eyes at Sanho and then continued speaking.

“You promised to grant my wish.”

“…Huh?”

“Do it now.”

Sanho’s eyes widened in surprise. He looked puzzled. Siwoo couldn’t help but chuckle at his innocent face, wondering why he couldn’t get angry at this kid. Even though it was a very annoying situation.

“What wish… are you talking about?”

“Cancel that appointment.”

Telling him to cancel the appointment so suddenly, Sanho opened his lips in surprise.

“Take me home after you cancel that appointment.”

As Siwoo pulled Sanho along, he asked in a flustered voice, “Huh? I’ve had a lot to drink.”

“Drinks?”

Sanho slightly frowned, but he could smell the faint scent of whiskey coming from Siwoo. Looking at Sanho’s frowning face, Siwoo answered without a hint of disturbance.

“You took me home and helped me sober up when I was drunk.”

“That was…!”

That wasn’t something I asked for. You did it on your own… Ignoring Sanho’s mumbling, Siwoo said.

“So today, you take me home.”

“How can I take you home…?”

“Before I call a chauffeur, I want to rest in the car for a bit.”

By the time they arrived in front of the black sedan, Siwoo gently released Sanho’s wrist.

“Just stay next to me while I rest.”

“……Next to…?”

“Yeah. What if I accidentally fall asleep? I can’t sleep in a place like this.”

Siwoo himself thought the excuse was a bit flimsy. But he couldn’t think of a better way. After all, it was just an excuse. Siwoo quietly opened the back door of the car and gestured for Sanho to get in.

“Just sit for a bit before we go.”

It was a rather firm voice. Sanho looked at the open back door and Siwoo, then seemed to make up his mind and stepped into the car. Siwoo followed him in. As the door clicked shut, the noise from the street quickly faded away.

The spacious interior of the car was comfortable enough for four adults to fit easily. Siwoo leaned back against the seat and slowly closed his eyes. Once he closed his eyes, he felt a bit more dizzy. Although he had impulsively brought Sanho along, he actually intended to spend a little time in the car before leaving. With his eyes lightly closed, he slowly regulated his breathing.

“…….”

The car was quiet. The noise from outside was definitely the sound of a separated space. Right now, this place was entirely Siwoo and Sanho’s space.