Taewon's lips crashed against Jihyun's, rough and suffocating.
Jihyun's eyes widened in shock, his fists pounding against Taewon's chest as he struggled to breathe.
His wrists twisted, trying to free himself, but Taewon's grip was unyielding.
Then like a snap inside his head
Taewon froze. His mind cleared, horror flooding in.
He staggered back, releasing Jihyun's hands.
Jihyun shoved him hard, chest heaving.
"Are you crazy?!"
"Why did you kiss me?"
Taewon couldn't answer. His breath trembled, his eyes lowered, ashamed of himself.
He hadn't planned it
He didn't even know when he lost control.
"How dare you?"
Jihyun's face burned crimson, fury and humiliation mixing.
"Who even are you to me, to do that?!"
"I…"
Taewon swallowed hard, words dying in his throat.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."
"Didn't mean to?"
Jihyun stepped closer, glaring. His whole body shook.
"What do you want from me, Kang Taewon? Why do you treat me like this
as if we're lovers "
Taewon stood frozen, silent.
Jihyun's pheromones spiked, thick and sharp, the room filling with the raw heat of his emotions.
His eyes glimmered unnaturally red, his breathing ragged.
"Jihyun, stop," Taewon's voice wavered, fear creeping in. He could see it
The doctor's warning coming true.
But Jihyun couldn't stop. His body trembled as the surge grew overwhelming, his mind spinning out of control.
Taewon had no choice.
He released his own pheromones, strong and commanding, wrapping over Jihyun like an invisible force.
The clash lasted seconds
until Jihyun's knees buckled.
"Jihyun!"
His body collapsed forward, straight into Taewon's arms.
Taewon carried him swiftly to the bedroom, laying him on the bed with trembling hands.
He pulled the blanket over Jihyun's fragile frame, staring at the face that still burned with exhaustion.
"I'm sorry,"
Taewon whispered, voice breaking.
"I didn't have another choice. You're forcing me to stop you like this."
He brushed a stray strand of hair from Jihyun's forehead, eyes dark with despair.
"I want you to live free. I don't want you to feel trapped. But the way you're reacting
it's pulling you farther from me."
His hand lingered near Jihyun's.
"I don't want to lose you. Not now, not ever. I don't know why, but
I want to keep you. Only mine."
He turned off the light, forcing himself leave.
In his own room, Taewon sat on the edge of the bed, gripping a shirt he had hidden away for weeks.
Jihyun's.
He pressed it to his face, the familiar scent flooding him, breaking him.
"I can't let you go,"
he whispered into the darkness.
"Why don't you understand? You're the only reason I can fight back. The only reason I still hope. I'm standing against my father because of you, Jihyun...only you "
(In Morning )
Taewon walked in kitchen, hair damp, a towel draped around his neck.
He wordlessly set water to boil and started making coffee.
Jihyun came downstairs, still heavy with unspoken anger. Without a glance at Taewon,
He poured himself a glass of water, then pulled out eggs and bread.
"I'll make" Taewon started.
"I can do it myself,"
Jihyun cut him off, tone sharp.
Taewon pressed his lips together and simply nodded, turning away.
He carried his mug outside the kitchen, but his chest tightened with worry.
What if Jihyun burned himself again?
A moment later,
He returned. Without a word, he set more eggs and sausages on the counter and started cooking beside him.
"I told you I don't need your help!"
Jihyun snapped, voice rising.
Taewon didn't even look at him.
"I'm making it for myself."
That answer stung more than it should have. Jihyun's cheeks burned with embarrassment,
But he refused to show it. He cracked another egg angrily into the pan, flame on high. The oil hissed, smoke rising. The egg burned.
He cursed, shoved it aside, and tried again.
For the fourth time, he failed. His jaw clenched.
"Keep the flame low,"
Taewon said softly, finally lowering the knob for him.
But Jihyun jerked the knob back up,
"You're done, right? Get out. I said I can do it myself!"
Taewon didn't argue.
He turned away, his own breakfast nearly ready, and set it untouched on the dining table.
He sipped his coffee silently, glancing once toward Jihyun.
Jihyun finally carried his half-burned eggs and toast to the table, slamming the plate down.
He sat across from Taewon, glaring, waiting for him to say something
anything
so he could unleash his anger.
But Taewon stayed silent. Just one quiet glance.
In Jihyun's mind, frustration built like a storm.
Say something, you fool. Just one word. Give me a reason to scream at you
Say it, say it…
But Taewon remained silent.
His stomach betrayed him with a loud growl. Flustered, Jihyun yanked Taewon's untouched plate toward himself and began eating it instead, stabbing the eggs with unnecessary force.
Taewon stood, picked up his keys and laptop. And went outside,
"I'll drive myself today, Jin,"
He said as the jin hurried forward outside.
"Yes, sir."
Jihyun shot up,
But by the time he stepped outside, Taewon's car had already disappeared down the road.
"Sir, do you want me to take you anywhere?" Jin asked politely.
"No, Jin. I'll tell you if I do."
He returned inside, muttering curses under his breath, and shoved more food into his mouth as if punishing himself.
Then his phone buzzed. A new notification.
₩10,000,000,000 deposited.
Sender: Kang Taewon.
Message: Your monthly pocket money.
Jihyun nearly choked on his bread. Eyes wide, he stared at the screen.
"Pocket money?!"
He shouted to no one. His fingers flew across the keyboard.
You're not my dad to be giving me pocket money. It's our contract. This is my salary.
Jihyun's phone buzzed again.
Mina,
Let's meet for lunch, Jihyun. If you're free
In RL's fan restaurant
For a moment, he just stared at the screen. His chest tightened with something he couldn't name
sadness, nervousness, maybe even a faint trace of longing. He wasn't sure if he wanted to see her, yet his fingers typed on their own.
" Okay. I'll come"
(At noon)
Jihyun stepped out of the car.
He turned to Jin. "Wait here."
"Yes, sir."
Inside the restaurant, the table was already set. Mina stood the moment she saw him, her smile bright and familiar.
"I knew you'd come, Jihyun," she said warmly.
He gave a small nod and sat.
The food between them smelled untouched, too carefully prepared, too staged
"Let's eat" mina said with smile,
He started eating quietly, keeping his gaze low.
Halfway through the meal, Mina leaned in, her voice lowering.
"Thank you for talking to Taewon."
Jihyun froze, chopsticks still in hand. "What?"
She laughed softly, almost sheepishly.
"His secretary called my manager yesterday. They want me back as an ambassador.
Honestly, my manager has been strict about brand deals lately,
So I figured this must be Taewon's excuse. A way to help me."
Jihyun's chest hollowed out. Taewon did this?
His throat tightened.
Mina went on, her eyes soft.
"It's all thanks to you. Because of you, I could finally reach him again. Since my last contract ended, he cut me off. No calls, no replies. Nothing."
Her words blurred in Jihyun's ears,
His heart thudded painfully as if it might collapse inside his ribs.
"Oh so he did,"
He managed to whisper.
Mina smiled, grateful and unaware of the storm unraveling inside him.
"You're welcome,"
Jihyun said stiffly, setting down his chopsticks. He pushed his chair back.
"I should go."
"So soon? Are you in a hurry?" Mina frowned.
"You could've told me. We could've met another time"
"No, it's not that. Something just came up. I forgot,"
Jihyun interrupted quickly.
Her lips parted, but she nodded gently. "Alright Let's meet again soon."
She picked up a small bag from beside her chair and handed it over.
"Here. A thank-you gift. It's my upcoming album. Special edition
for you."
Jihyun forced a smile, accepted it with both hands. "Thank you."
(Back in the car,)
Jin glanced in the mirror. "Where to, sir?"
"Minjoon hyung office "
"Yes, sir."
The car pulled away. Jihyun leaned back, clutching the album in his lap.
His reflection in the window blurred as his thoughts spun out of control.
Kang Taewon,
I never thought you'd be this hypocritical. The way you acted with me, the way you refused to explain
I was such a fool to think maybe you valued me, even just a little.
His chest ached as he shut his eyes,