Confined Pheromone

It was hard to gauge how much time Sanho and Siwoo had spent together in the confined car. It felt like a rather long time, yet also quite short. Siwoo sat quietly, taking soft breaths. The fresh and sweet scent filled his lungs. It wasn’t pheromones; it was something much more natural and pure. That scent seemed to caress Siwoo, lifting his spirits.

After finally getting Sanho, who persistently refused, to sit in the car and dropping him off at the house at the end of the alley, Siwoo headed towards his officetel. He repeatedly thanked the designated driver who had waited for him while he walked Sanho home before finally entering his place. He still wore a smile.

The appointment at the Omega club that day had been unpleasant. The dizzying alcohol was also unwelcome. But for some reason, Siwoo felt as giddy as a child anticipating his birthday. There was nothing particularly good happening, so why? Yet, the buoyant feeling didn’t fade quickly. Even after washing up and lying down on his bed, a smile lingered on Siwoo’s lips.

It was perhaps inevitable that this feeling didn’t carry over to the next morning. Siwoo woke up as usual, but suddenly squinted in confusion as he got out of bed.

“…….”

His pheromones were thickly scattered around him. The pheromones, heavy in the air, stirred restlessly.

“…What is this?”

It wasn’t uncommon to lose control of pheromones when unconscious. However, Siwoo had never once failed to control his pheromones. He had drunk the night before, but there was no way he could have released pheromones to that extent while being unaware. Moreover, these pheromones were… a manifestation of desire. Like a pubescent boy dreaming of his crush. Siwoo pressed his fingertips against his forehead and looked around.

As he checked the time on his phone on the side table, Siwoo’s brows furrowed even deeper. A message had arrived, instructing him to attend the shareholders’ meeting that evening.

The JR Group shareholders’ meeting. Siwoo was aware of it. But it wasn’t a place he necessarily needed to attend. Unless it was to flaunt his existence. Of course, that was exactly what his father, Chairman Jin, wanted.

Siwoo slowly got out of bed. The uncontrollable pheromones, the shareholders’ meeting he had to attend, and last night… several conflicting feelings arose simultaneously. Siwoo lightly shook his head and entered the bathroom.

After finishing his shower, Siwoo stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room, staring intently at the suits hanging neatly in the closet. They were all impeccably clean and pressed, without a speck of dust. Each one was so expensive that it was priceless.

“…….”

Even if he randomly picked one without much thought, it would fit Siwoo perfectly. Normally, he would have chosen one without hesitation.

“…….”

But today, for some reason, choosing was difficult. Why was picking out clothes such a dilemma? He took out a dark gray suit and held it up in front of the mirror.

“…Hmm.”

Siwoo frowned slightly, tilting his head. Was there nothing better? He rummaged through the closet a bit roughly and picked out a deep blue suit, holding it up to the mirror again. It looked better than the previous one. This one seemed more suitable. As he slowly pulled the hanger out, Siwoo suddenly chuckled in disbelief. Wasn’t this the kind of behavior one did when going on a date? Adjusting his lips, Siwoo tilted his head again. Did he want to impress someone?

“…Ah.”

The natural flow of his thoughts suddenly jumped to a single point. Siwoo lifted the corners of his mouth and grabbed his phone. A brief ringing sound followed, and a neat, businesslike voice came through as usual.

– Hello, Director.

“Yeah, Manager Jung. I’m sorry to bother you this early.”

– It’s alright. Regarding today’s shareholders’ meeting…

“Ah, that’s for later. The reason I’m calling now is…”

Siwoo tapped his forehead with a somewhat awkward expression. A fleeting thought crossed his mind that his reflection in the mirror looked like an embarrassed teenage boy.

– Yes, go ahead.

“Um… there was the JR university internship, right?”

He hadn’t misread it. The face reflected in the mirror looked somewhat awkward and embarrassed. Siwoo continued to tap his forehead, tilting his head.

– Yes, we are currently conducting the university internship. The recruitment has ended, and we are in the selection process.

Hmm, Siwoo cleared his throat lightly and bit his lip. He realized why he felt awkward. He had never made such a request before. It wasn’t something grand, but it was still a request.

“I was wondering if it would be alright to recommend someone.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, but soon the voice continued smoothly.

– Of course, Director.

A smile crept onto Siwoo’s lips. Hmm, as he cleared his throat again, Manager Jung spoke.

– Who is it?

“Ah, a pretty….”

Siwoo, who had opened his mouth without thinking, quickly closed it. He scrunched his nose, trying to maintain a businesslike tone.

“She’s a junior. A junior from the same department.”

– Alright. Is there anything I should remember about her?

How should he describe her? Siwoo stared intently at his reflection in the mirror. It was a brief moment, but he felt his mind go blank about what to say.

“No, she’s just an ordinary girl.”

Ordinary…? That girl? His expression reflected in the mirror looked a bit strange. Manager Jung replied in a crisp voice.

– Understood. I will take care of it right away.

“I’ll send over her resume shortly. Thank you.”

The call ended. With a blue suit draped over one arm and his phone in the other hand, Siwoo faced his reflection in the mirror once more.

***

He arrived at school early. In fact, quite early.

Today, there was only one class in the late afternoon. However, after parking, Siwoo hurriedly got out of the car.

The sunlit school looked ordinary today as well. Vibrant and peaceful. Siwoo walked with a smile.

“…….”

He didn’t have a specific destination. He had things he wanted, but there were still over two hours until class, and he didn’t have a particular place to stay. Siwoo walked around the college building and along the long corridor of the major lecture hall. He met a few classmates and juniors who greeted him… and that was all. The smile that had been on his lips began to fade a little.

“…….”

Siwoo moved on again. First, he walked near the neatly arranged pond. Then, he went to the empty parking lot behind the college building. After scanning the shaded benches, Siwoo sighed. What am I doing right now? It felt strange, like he had lost something but didn’t know what it was.

Eventually, as class time approached, Siwoo walked back towards the college building. He still had plenty of time, so he took his time walking. He opened his locker and stared blankly at the neatly arranged textbooks inside. Textbooks… The orderly fingers that had been resting on the textbooks suddenly came to mind.

Siwoo tugged at his tie, feeling slightly suffocated. And then, in the next moment, a sweet scent wafted in.

Ah, finally.

Siwoo inhaled lightly and smiled. The faint smile that had faded returned brightly to his face. Siwoo turned around.

Sanho was standing a step behind him, slightly bowing his head. In one hand, he held an iced Americano filled with ice. Sanho, who had been biting his lip, suddenly extended the takeout coffee cup towards Siwoo. Siwoo looked at the dewy takeout cup and Sanho’s slightly flushed earlobe, and his eyes crinkled into a smile.

Sanho seemed to turn his head slightly, as if trying to avoid Siwoo’s gaze. His bitten lips were pouting. It was a familiar pouty expression. However, in contrast, his earlobes were flushed. Holding back a laugh, Siwoo spoke.

“Sanho.”

“…This.”

Sanho stammered. He seemed to be struggling to find the words, squinting his eyes. Siwoo silently gazed at Sanho. After a moment of hesitation, Sanho finally spoke again.

“Here, have some coffee.”

Siwoo bit his lip slightly and smiled.

“Are you giving this to me?”

At Siwoo’s teasing tone, Sanho’s eyes squinted even more. He lowered his head a bit, as if trying to avoid eye contact. Yet, he nodded slightly. Siwoo’s eyes sparkled with delight.

“Why?”

Sanho clearly hadn’t expected Siwoo to ask why. The hand holding the takeout cup trembled slightly. He wanted to accept the coffee cup immediately, but at the same time, a mischievous urge welled up inside him. With a calm smile, Siwoo deliberately took his time accepting the coffee cup. As Siwoo’s fingers brushed against Sanho’s, Sanho looked at him.

“Just… I was thankful for yesterday.”

“Hmm.”

“For taking me home… So…”

“So?”

Sanho bit his lip again. If he kept biting like that, he would hurt himself. Just as Siwoo was about to part his lips, Sanho spoke.

“I didn’t know what you liked… so I thought you might like this.”

His blunt voice sounded somewhat deflated. It was clear how long Sanho must have pondered over the menu to choose such a plain coffee that hardly had any preferences. Siwoo held back a laugh again and moved closer to Sanho.

“Sanho.”

He bent slightly to look into Sanho’s face. The flustered expression on Sanho’s face looked up at Siwoo.

“Do you want to know what I like?”

“……If you tell me…”

“No.”

Sanho stared intently at Siwoo.

“You can find out what I like, Sanho.”

Sanho’s lips quivered, but he didn’t speak. Siwoo straightened up and lightly shook the coffee cup. The ice clinked inside.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“……Huh?”

“When you find out what I like.”

“…….”

“Next time, you might give me that.”

Thanks for the coffee. Just as Siwoo was about to speak, someone approached. Since he had been focused on Sanho, he hadn’t paid attention to his surroundings. However, as the person came closer, seemingly with a purpose, Siwoo turned to look at them. It was Inhye.

“Oh, Inhye.”

Siwoo’s eyes, which had been narrowed for a moment, brightened as he turned to Inhye.

“I came to attend class….”

“Senior.”

Inhye cut off Siwoo’s words, her lips that had been tightly shut now moving. While her mouth called for Siwoo, her gaze alternated between Sanho and the coffee Sanho had handed to Siwoo. Siwoo tilted his head in confusion.

“I have something to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

A determined light appeared in Inhye’s round eyes. Just as she was about to speak, suddenly—

“Ah!”

A student rushing down the narrow hallway bumped roughly into Inhye’s shoulder. The petite Inhye was knocked forward by the force. Ah…! Startled, Siwoo caught Inhye as she stumbled into his arms. The coffee Sanho had given him tilted and spilled everywhere. Brown coffee splattered all over Inhye’s white dress.

“Are you okay?”

Siwoo quickly adjusted his grip on the coffee cup and wrapped his arm around Inhye’s shoulder. Inhye straightened up from Siwoo’s embrace and turned to glare at the student who had pushed past her. The student, seemingly in a hurry, kept bowing and apologizing but didn’t stop walking.

“What the hell….”

Inhye muttered, looking both flustered and annoyed. Siwoo frowned slightly and placed the coffee cup on the open locker before turning back to Inhye. He pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and offered it to her. Inhye, still frowning, accepted the handkerchief with a small thank you.