(It was noon)
Inside his office, Taewon leaned back in his chair and called Hana.
"Yes, sir?"
"Jihyun is awake?"
"Yes, sir. He woke around nine and left. Said he was going to meet his friends."
Taewon hummed.
"When he comes back, make sure he eats. And tell him that in the evening, we'll be dining outside."
"Yes, sir."
Cutting the call, Taewon stood up and stepped out of his office.
"Sir, are you going somewhere?"
Jisso asked as he approached.
"Yes, outside. Why?"
"Actually, Mina's manager just called. They're coming."
"Alright. And the contract?"
Taewon asked.
"The contract is ready, as you said,if needed so" Jisso replied.
"Good. I'll be back in an hour."
(Meanwhile)
Jihyun was sitting in a café with Wonyoung, Liya, and Jungwon.
"Are you sure Mina isn't lying?"
Jungwon frowned.
"She could be making things up."
Liya and Wonyoung both nodded.
"Yes, exactly."
Wonyoung turned to Jihyun.
"Why don't you just ask Taewon straight? Clear it up."
Jihyun scoffed.
"No. I don't think so. I know he's playing double. A hypocrite."
Just then, Soobin walked in.
"Finally, man. We thought you were dead," Jungwon said.
"Right," Wonyoung added.
"You're acting strange these days."
Soobin sighed. "I was a bit busy."
"Oh? Busy where?" Liya asked.
"Nothing. Leave it,"
he said quickly, then turned to Jihyun.
But Jihyun wasn't looking at him, purposely ignoring him.
"Jihyun, it's enough. Stop sulking,"
Soobin said.
The other three glanced at each other.
"What's going on between you two?" Wonyoung asked.
"Wonyoung, tell him. I don't want to talk to him," Jihyun muttered.
Soobin frowned.
"But I want to talk to you. You're being overly dramatic. I just advised you a little, and you cut me off completely."
"Wait, guys, explain," Wonyoung said.
Soobin sighed.
"It's nothing. I just told him not to trust Mina so easily and to stop bringing her up in every topic. He's part of Taewon's life now, but he overreacted."
Liya leaned forward.
"Jihyun, Soobin's right."
"You guys think I'm a child. I know better what I'm doing."
"Okay, calm down. We'll think about Mina and Taewon later. For now, you two make up," Wonyoung said suddenly.
"Yes," Jungwon added.
"Hurry and make up, because I have good news."
"What news?" Liya asked immediately.
"Not yet. First, let them make up."
Soobin looked at Jihyun again.
"Please. I'm sorry. Let's stop this."
Jihyun finally sighed.
"Fine. But from now on, you better take my side."
Soobin exhaled in relief.
"Sure, sure. I will. Finally, I can breathe again. This man even blocked me."
The others laughed at his frustration.
"Now," Wonyoung said, turning to Jungwon, "what's your news?"
Jungwon grinned.
"Guys, I'm in a relationship now."
"What? Who?" Liya nearly jumped.
"Who's the fool this time?" Wonyoung teased.
Jungwon puffed his chest.
"It's a girl. From Thailand. The prettiest omega girl I've ever seen. She's a famous content creator. And everyone knows her."
"Who? Name?" they all asked together.
"Nana." Jungwon replied with confidence.
They exchanged confused looks.
"you mean phi39 Nana?" Liya repeated.
"yes,She's so pretty, right " Jungwon said proudly.
The others burst out laughing.
"Jungwon-ah, you're lying, right?" Wonyoung said.
"No. Why?" Jungwon blinked.
"Do you even know Nana is a male omega?" Liya said.
"Second, he's already in a relationship with a celebrity," Wonyoung added.
"No, are you kidding me? Nana messaged me. I've been following her for so long online. Yesterday, she confessed. I accepted. She even said I'm her type
Because I helped her when she was in financial trouble."
"What?" Wonyoung nearly spit her drink. "You helped her financially?"
"Yes, I did. Even last night, I sent her 10,000 KRW."
They burst out laughing so hard that people turned to look at their table.
"Dude, I think you've been scammed," Liya laughed.
"Wait, what?" Jungwon frowned and quickly pulled out his phone.
"Wait, I can prove it. See, I can message her right now."
He opened the chat. The account was gone.
"Wait, what?" He tapped again, searching, refreshing, until realization hit him.
"Ahhhhh!"
The others laughed harder, clutching their stomachs. But Jihyun only smiled.
(After a while)
As they were eating, Jungwon
still stuck in his breakup era
kept sighing.
Soobin glanced at Jihyun, who was staring at his phone, glaring at a family picture again and again.
Wonyoung and Liya kept teasing Jungwon until Jungwon looked at Jihyun.
"Huh? You're crying?" Jungwon blinked. "Ohh, I knew it, you're my bestie, you're crying for me."
"What?" Wonyoung and Liya turned, shocked. "Jihyun, you're really crying!"
Jihyun kept eating, but tears slipped down his cheeks.
Soobin immediately leaned closer, grabbed his chin, and forced him to look up.
"Why are you crying?" Soobin's voice was tense.
He stood up, pushed his chair back, and kneeled in front of Jihyun.
"Hey, what's going on? You never react like this. Tell me."
Wonyoung said,
"You were fine just now."
"My mom" Jihyun's voice broke mid-sentence. "She's sick."
Liya froze. "Auntie is sick?"
Jihyun nodded, tears streaming.
"She got admitted today. They said it's a liver problem. Hyung and Taewon told me it's small, but I know it's more serious. Otherwise Mom wouldn't take treatment abroad."
Soobin's hands trembled as he wiped Jihyun's tears, then hugged him tightly.
"Okay, okay, stop crying. If they said it's small, then trust them. Why would they lie? Don't think the worst."
He hugged him tighter.
"Don't cry like this. I know your pain, but look
your mom is still here. She'll get better. But me? I lost both parents. Jungwon lost his dad. Wonyoung lost her mom. We still pray for them. So you, pray for your mom's health. We're with you."
Liya nodded.
"Yes. Auntie is strong. She can do it."
Soobin cleared the tears off Jihyun's face.
"Enough. Stop crying. We'll go home now, visit again next time."
The waiter came, placing cups on the table. "Hot chocolate, free from our café."
"Ohh," Soobin smiled faintly, handing it to Jihyun.
"You love hot chocolate, right? Drink this first. Then we'll leave."
Jihyun took it silently.
Jungwon leaned back, groaning.
"God, how unlucky. I thought he was crying for me."
(Kang Group)
Taewon entered as Jisso said,
"Sir, Mina is in your office."
"Alright."
"But sir, her manager didn't come?"
"Why?"
"Sir, Mina said her manager will come later."
Taewon nodded and pushed the door open.
As he stepped inside, Mina stood up with a bright smile.
"Oh, Taewon. It's been a long time. Nice to meet you." She reached out her hand, expecting him to shake it.
But Taewon didn't. He walked past her and sat on his chair, calm but cold.
"Sit," he said flatly.
Mina tucked her hair behind her ear and sat across from him, still smiling.
"Your manager?" he asked.
"I came separately," she replied quickly. "He'll be here in half an hour. I just thought maybe you'd want to talk."
Taewon leaned back, staring straight into her eyes.
"Yes. I want to."
She smiled softly. "Then go on."
His gaze sharpened, voice like ice.
"Did you meet Jihyun?"
"Yes, I did," she said, almost proudly.
"Jihyun is an old mate."
"Old mate?" Taewon repeated coldly.
"So did you tell him about me and you?"
Mina smiled shyly, lowering her head for a second before nodding.
Taewon's jaw clenched.
"Do you know Jihyun liked you
and still does, crazily?"
"Yes. I know," she said without shame.
"But I told him already. I love you more."
In a second, Taewon was on his feet. His chair scraped against the floor as he glared down at her.
"How dare you."
Mina froze, startled.
"W...what? What do you"
He stepped closer, his presence suffocating.
"How dare you bring the past to break Jihyun's heart. How dare you scare him with this."
"I... I just wanted"
"In the past, I let you go,"
Taewon cut her off, his voice sharp.
"Because I didn't want your career to end before it even started. I respected you as a business partner, as an ambassador. That's why I kept my mouth shut."
Her lips trembled.
"Taewon, I really love you. I did all of this for you. Since that night I spent with you my love for you never changed."
"Enough," he snapped, eyes burning.
"If you want your career to survive, if you want your present and future to stay clean, then stay away from Jihyun. Stay away from me. Completely."
"But Taewon"
"I said what I wanted." His pheromones exploded, filling the room with a crushing weight.
Mina's body stiffened instantly, her head pounding, trembling under the suffocating pressure.
His voice dropped, deadly calm.
"If you don't, I'll leak everything. About you. About your agency. Everything will end within twenty-four hours."
Her knees almost gave out, tears welling in her eyes.
"I won't… I won't. Please, I'm sorry. I won't do anything."
A knock broke the silence. Jisso stepped in as Mina's manager entered.
"Let's go," Mina said quickly, grabbing her manager's arm.
"What? Where?" the manager asked, confused.
"Let's go. I said I don't want any more contact." Her voice shook as she dragged him out.
The door shut. Jisso looked at Taewon, who was loosening his tie, his face still cold.
"Send someone after her. Keep eyes on her and her agency."
"Yes, sir," Jisso replied and left.
Taewon leaned back in his chair, pressing his temples, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"Jihyun, you won't suffer anymore "