Confined Pheromone

It happened in an instant. While Inhye was wiping the stain off her dress with a handkerchief, Siwoo lifted his head to look at Sanho. Sanho, who had been standing still, quickly turned away when Siwoo looked at him. Ah, wait…! Siwoo opened his mouth, but Sanho walked towards the classroom with his back turned. Siwoo silently closed his mouth, watching Sanho’s retreating figure. A faint sigh escaped him. He turned back to Inhye with an awkward expression.

“Inhye, I need to change my clothes.”

“Uh… okay.”

“What did you want to talk about?”

Inhye’s hands, which had been continuously wiping the stain off her dress, paused for a moment. She glanced up at Siwoo and then turned her head to look at Sanho’s distant figure. Inhye shook her head slightly.

“It’s a bit… of a long story.”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s talk about it next time, senior. I’ll tell you then.”

Siwoo slowly nodded and raised his gaze. Sanho had just entered the classroom. His small face was once again devoid of any emotion, wearing a blank expression. Siwoo took out the coffee from the cabinet. The coffee that Sanho had given him was barely half full. Siwoo bit his lip.

***

As the class ended, Manager Jung appeared right on time. Siwoo, who disliked having people come to the school, especially to the front of the classroom, didn’t say much since today’s shareholders’ meeting was quite important. He silently followed Manager Jung, who was guiding him to the car. Before leaving the classroom, he glanced at Sanho’s empty seat.

“……”

About ten minutes before the class ended, Sanho quietly stood up and left the classroom. Siwoo watched him leave without finishing the class, puzzled, but Sanho didn’t spare a glance in Siwoo’s direction. It seemed he was trying to avoid him.

“Director.”

Siwoo, lost in thought, lifted his gaze at Manager Jung’s voice.

“Would you like a drink?”

It was a somewhat unexpected question. When Siwoo tilted his head slightly, Manager Jung’s gaze shifted to Siwoo’s fingertips. More precisely, it was directed at the coffee cup in Siwoo’s hand. The coffee, which was barely left, was lukewarm and watery.

“Ah.”

“I’ll prepare what you were drinking.”

Manager Jung politely reached out to Siwoo, as if to throw away the useless drink in his hand. Siwoo instinctively frowned.

“No, it’s fine.”

Manager Jung looked at Siwoo again.

“Don’t you drink coffee?”

Siwoo looked down at the lukewarm coffee cup in his hand. It was clearly something that Sanho had chosen with great care, but to others, it seemed pitiful. Siwoo slowly opened his mouth.

“No, I’m going to drink this.”

Manager Jung quietly closed his mouth and then briefly bowed his head. It was a typical action of his, rarely asking for reasons. Siwoo slowly walked towards where his car was parked.

As Siwoo handed over the car keys, Manager Jung opened the back seat door for him. Slowly getting into the car, Siwoo placed the coffee in the holder and sank deeply into the seat. As Manager Jung climbed into the driver’s seat, Siwoo rolled down the window.

“Manager Jung.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Is time tight?”

“No, we still have some time.”

Looking out the window at the campus street, Siwoo spoke slowly.

“Please drive slowly.”

The car started smoothly. Siwoo continued to watch the campus street intently, as if searching for someone.

As he forced down a few sips of coffee, the car quickly arrived at the bustling area in front of the school. When the car stopped at a red light, Siwoo let out a faint breath and looked at the street. His mind was in turmoil. He didn’t know why, but an instinctive unease washed over him.

“……”

And that instinct was sending a sharp signal to Siwoo. He raised his hand slightly.

“Wait a moment.”

“Excuse me?”

“Please stop for a moment.”

It was a street lined with bars near the university. Next to a familiar underground bar, he spotted two vague figures in a small alley. Siwoo frowned and looked into the alley. An unknown unease was growing stronger.

“Stay here for a moment.”

Without giving Manager Jung a chance to respond, Siwoo opened the back seat door and got out of the car. He didn’t know why, but he felt he couldn’t just pass by. Sometimes, the alpha’s instincts, sharp as a beast, sensed danger. Siwoo slowly walked deeper into the alley.

In the meantime, the darkness settled in the alley, and the neon signs flickered, creating patches of light. Inside the alley, there was a large man, and although he was obscured by the man’s shadow, there was someone else as well. He could see someone being pushed against the wall.

The pushed person seemed to say something. It sounded like a plea for help. At that moment, a wave of pheromones hit him. They were shapeshifters. And this was definitely the aggressive alpha’s pheromones. The omega’s pheromones, seemingly resisting, scattered like smoke against the wall.

There wasn’t much time. Siwoo glanced at his watch on his wrist. However, he couldn’t just ignore the situation. He stepped further into the alley. He saw the large man hastily burying his face into the neck of the person he had pushed against the wall. Siwoo’s eyes narrowed.

Why is it that I keep seeing such filthy sights these days…

“What are you doing there…!”

Siwoo furrowed his brow and released his pheromones. In an explosive burst, the dominant alpha’s pheromones engulfed the large man like a tsunami.

The dominant alpha’s pheromones were threatening. They were overwhelming enough that a lowly alpha, who engaged in despicable acts, could hardly endure them. The large man recoiled as if pushed back by the pheromones that suddenly enveloped him. His back bent sharply, and he coughed violently.

He turned to look at Siwoo with a flushed face. The man’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Damn it, it’s you again?”

Again? For a moment, Siwoo thought the man’s face looked familiar. No, it was a face he knew. It was definitely a familiar face… but perhaps it was because his face was twisted in anger that he couldn’t immediately recall who he was. But it didn’t really matter who he was. Regardless of who it was, he was still a despicable and vile human being.

“Get lost.”

Siwoo took another threatening step forward. The large man struggled against Siwoo’s pheromones, which were tightening around him like a noose, gasping for breath. Gulp, gulp. Even while drooling and suffering, his glare at Siwoo was fierce.

“You bastards….”

“Get lost, now.”

The man, who had been glaring at Siwoo with his back hunched, staggered as he moved away. He glared at Siwoo with bloodshot eyes as he passed by.

“Do you think I’ll just let you guys go?”

It was as if he spoke as if he knew Siwoo. But that didn’t matter either. A person who is only strong against the weak is not frightening at all. Siwoo coldly watched the man’s retreating figure before urgently turning to the person who had been pushed against the wall. He bent slightly to examine him, looking worriedly into his face.

“Are you okay?”

As he took a step closer, the face of the person hidden in the darkness began to come into focus.

“……Sanho….”

Sanho’s eyes were swollen with tears.

“Sanho, what are you doing here…?”

Somehow, the reason he couldn’t take a step forward… the reason he felt anxious… Siwoo’s pheromones surged with anger. Feeling the pheromones, Sanho let out a faint whimper. His eyes began to slowly fill with tears. Siwoo bit his lip and hurriedly tried to rein in his pheromones. But the anger that surged up was endless.

Again, again.

Why does this kid keep getting into such situations?

Siwoo’s fist trembled as he looked at Sanho’s terrified face.

“……”

Sanho silently avoided Siwoo’s gaze. His hands, gripping the hem of his disheveled shirt, were trembling as well.

Ah.

Siwoo let out a small gasp. He remembered who the man was—the one who had harassed Sanho under the streetlight in the narrow alley near Sanho’s house.

“……”

Why that man… But it was obvious why Sanho had encountered him again. Siwoo furrowed his brow and clenched his jaw tightly. He wouldn’t let that bastard go easily. He wouldn’t let him go without a fight. Siwoo roughly grabbed Sanho’s wrist.

“Come with me.”

Sanho twisted his wrist as if trying to break free, but Siwoo didn’t let go easily. The anger swelling in his chest was too strong. As he looked at Sanho with eyes filled with rage, Sanho, who had been avoiding his gaze, slowly raised his tearful eyes to meet Siwoo’s.

“…senior.”

“Come with me.”

He repeated the same words. Siwoo’s tone was cold and forceful, unlike him. Anger boiled within him. He didn’t even understand why he was so angry. He only recognized that an illogical rage was surging within him. Pulling Sanho closer with a bit of force, Sanho was drawn near Siwoo, struggling against the strong grip on his wrist. His eyes squinted in pain.

Siwoo sighed and slowly released Sanho’s wrist. Seeing the red marks he had left on his trembling wrist, something twisted uncomfortably in his heart. Siwoo bit his lip.

“Don’t do this.”

“……senior.”

“I told you not to do this.”

“…….”

“Didn’t we promise not to do this?”

Ah, it wasn’t a promise but rather my one-sided wish, so is that why you’re ignoring it? Sanho didn’t respond. Siwoo stared intently at the silent Sanho. His heart was pounding. After a moment, Sanho, rubbing his wrist that had been caught, slowly parted his lips.

“Are you angry?”

Sanho murmured softly. His voice was filled with dejection. But it was also strangely heated. As Siwoo lowered his gaze, suppressing the anger that wouldn’t settle, Sanho flinched and shivered.

“Are you perhaps with another alpha…?”

Sanho, who had been mumbling in a small voice, looked up at Siwoo.

“…senior. Can’t you be angry?”

Sanho quietly bit his lip and slowly reached out. As if touching a precious artifact, he cautiously extended his hand towards Siwoo’s cheek. Sanho’s fingertips touched Siwoo’s cheek.

Years ago, the child he met the day before he manifested as an alpha had done something similar. You’re so pretty. Did I feel this strange back then? A strange sensation spread from where Sanho’s fingertips touched Siwoo’s cheek. Siwoo’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Does this kid really not know how much…

“Siwoo, senior?”

At that moment, a small shadow flickered at the entrance of the alley. When Siwoo turned his head towards the alley, a small girl tilted her head, peering into the alley.

“Could it be Siwoo, senior?”

It was Inhye. He suppressed the complex emotions that were bubbling up inside him. Forcing a smile, he opened his mouth.

“Oh, Inhye.”

Seeing her holding a laptop in her arms, it seemed she was on her way home. Inhye slowly looked back and forth between Siwoo and Sanho, who was reaching out towards him.

“I just… thought something was going on… so, the pheromones….”

Inhye’s face, which had been wide-eyed in surprise, quickly hardened. It seemed she was picturing the current situation in her mind.

“Why is the senior with Sanho here…?”

A deep sense of disgust began to emerge on Inhye’s face. And it was clearly directed not at Siwoo, but at someone else.

“Baek Sanho, really, to the senior….”

It was still an incomprehensible statement. Siwoo frowned.

***

Siwoo’s hands gripping the steering wheel trembled slightly. His heart continued to race. Siwoo was not someone who was easily swayed by emotions. He had always found it easy to control his feelings and desires. But ever since he met that kid, everything felt strangely twisted. An inexplicable anger surged within him, coexisting with an unexplainable fluttering in his heart.