FEW HOURS BEFORE THE AUDITION PROGRAMME...
The red car was carefully parked in front of a hospital.
And inside the car, Lee Jaehyuk sat down in the passenger's seat. He had his sunglasses on as he leisurely scrolled through his phone.
His face cap was on, covering the pissed expression he had while going through his phone.
"I can't act? What a joke, why don't you act yourself?" he mumbled, scrolling through some hate comments.
"I did plastic surgery? What a heck?. You're just insecure. I was always this good," he bit his lower lips.
"I'm overrated? Jeez. You don't have the right to speak when you're a no-body," he snapped, angrily scrolling through his phone.
Soon, his manager arrived.
Mr. Hwang was more than his manager. He was like a personal driver, an assistant and secretary who followed him almost everywhere. He reminded him of his schedule while taking him almost everywhere and setting things up.
He worked like his manager, his driver and his close friend.
He was a beta in his early 30s [32 years old] who also served as a father figure to him. One who always advised Jaehyuk. The one up with his tantrums all his years in the industry while surviving the stress chaos involved in being Jaehyuk's manager all these years.
He was the only one who was always pretty much there for him. One who never gave up on him. The only real friend Jaehyuk possibly had.
"I've got it," Mr. Hwang entered the driver's seat while handing Jaehyuk the prescriptions.
Jaehyuk tossed his phone aside and took the medication. "So fast?"
"You know, I still think this is a bad idea." Mr. Hwang stared at him. "You can take permission and not attend the audition. A few days' break or something. You don't have to suppress your rut to be there."
"I can't miss it. I have to be in the first episode. At least for my fans." Jaehyuk knew that even if he didn't appear in the first episode, he'd still make it to the top of the rank.
But he felt obliged to do so.
"Besides," he added, "this week will be busy for me. I have things to shoot as well and some programmes. I can't postpone them else the manager will lecture me again. I don't need that," he said, going through the medications.
Mr. Hwang stared at him. He knew Jaehyuk didn't really care about what the manager had to say or whatsoever. He was one to do what he felt like doing.
But he knew Jaehyuk was strangly a workaholic who believed that he needed to be busy to be relevant.
A trait Mr Hwang found strange for someone like him.
"Taking a break this week won't be too much of anything though," Mr. Hwang was worried. "Besides, you're in your rut. Anyone will understand."
"This week is vital to me. I can't miss it. I can't let anything stop me" His mind was already made. "Not even a rut"
Mr Hwang sighed. He was always used to having him not listen to him. And at the end, he'd have to run around to fix any mess that comes out of it.
"You said that the last time you suppressed your rut in the name of work. And you're also doing the same. Suppressing your rut isn't so healthy for you..."
Jaehyuk had already tossed the pills into his mouth and gulped down a bottle of water.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine," he assured as he looked ahead. "Let's get going. I can't be late."
Mr. Hwang sighed. He was already used Jaehyuk who was the stubborn type.
"Besides... your mum called..." Mr. Hwang brought up as soon as they took off.
The atmosphere between them was quiet for a while.
"She says you should come visit her..."
"You should tell the manager about the haters on my posts. They should handle it. I don't want to see such. It's annoying," Jaehyuk said, clearly cutting him off.
The atmosphere was awkward as Mr. Hwang nodded.
Mr. Hwang didn't continue with the message he wanted to pass on about his mother. He casually replied with an "Mm-hmm."
It was clear Jaehyuk didn't want to talk about it.
---
THE AUDITION.
PRESENT MOMENT.
Lee Jaehyuk stood before the audience, dressed in a black rock star-inspired attire, looking dashing and youthful as always.
"Why do you want to try being an idol?" Luna asked as they stared at Jaehyuk on stage.
"It's my dream to make music. Music that my fans could relate to and appreciate. So I decided to take this path," he replied.
"That's nice then," Luna smiled. "So what will you perform for us today?"
"A dance. It's a choreography I composed myself," he explained.
The other contestants were impressed to know that he could even compose a choreography.
"That's impressive then. I'm curious to see what you have for us," Luna smiled.
"I'm excited," Yul nodded as they all watched to see what Jaehyuk would perform.
The song began playing, and he stood, ready to deliver.
All were anticipating.
Except Yujin, who was rather, worried.
He had perceived it.
Heavy, overflowing pheromones, which he believed could only be possible when an alpha was in rut.
And he had perceived that when he walked past Jaehyuk.
Seo Yujin couldn't help but wonder if Jaehyuk was in rut at the moment but was suppressing it with a pill or something.
He could guess because his sensitive omega nose could easily pick up such. And he knew the logic behind such. Because considering the fact that he was still looking "active" even with such heavy pheromones coming from him could only prove that he possibly was under some drugs.
Blockers or something.
And the drugs were potentially failing him since his smell was getting heavier. And if it continued, it would affect his performance as well.
"Should I even be worried about him?" Yujin muttered as he placed a hand over his nose. Because for some reason, the smell just kept coming.
He didn't want to get affected at all, because it seemed heavy and, for some reason, smelt nice...
Rather alluring, fresh yet harsh and intoxicating in all possible ways....
His performance began. His powerful, self-choreographed dance had everyone impressed at first.
But for Yujin, as he danced, the pheromones got heavier. It was as though every movement he made increased the dose of pheromones being released.
"He really is in his rut..." Yujin confirmed, a hand slightly over his nose. "Why didn't he take a break them?"
Seo Yujin was still wondering about that when Jaehyuk suddenly staggered in-between his dance. His steps now messed up.
"Huh?"
"What's happening?"
"Did he just mess up?"
Everyone was confused and simply shocked.
Lee Jaehyuk couldn't recover from the mess. His dance continued getting worse as he progressed until he stopped dancing.
He knew he had just messed everything up, so he didn't bother continuing. He only stood there while coming to terms with the fact that the pills didn't work and his rut was taking over.
He casually stood there, breathing heavily while trying to calm down the feverish feeling that ran through him.
"Are you okay...?" Luna asked.
The room was now filled with people muttering while trying to guess what was wrong with him.
Some could already tell.
But Jaehyuk didn't even waste any time there. He immediately turned and walked out of the Auditorium. Soon out of sight.
---
And the audition continued.
Other contestants continued performing while gaining their stars.
Three stars, two, one, and even zero. Yujin was at least glad he wasn't the only zero contestant. That would have been crazy embarrassing.
Park Hyunwoo, who delivered an impressive singing performance, effortlessly gained three stars.
Seo Yujin could already tell that his path to debuting was sealed. Because his singing audition performance alone at the episode caught him lots of fans.
But Yujin didn't care.
The programme was soon over and the cameras were off.
While the staff all packed up for the day, Mrs. Choi had passed on some instructions to the contestants while telling them to retire to their hostels.
It was already evening.
"And Seo Yujin..." Mrs. Choi said as she was about leaving. "Meet me at my office shortly after now."
She was gone.
Yujin got up, ignoring the eyes that were on him from other contestants, and made his way out.
They were talking about him.
His face.
His physique.
His omegapresence.
His performance.
They had lots to say. And Seo Yujin guessed he'd just have to learn to put up with that.
While he made his way out of the auditorium, heading to Mrs. Choi's office, a hand grabbed him from behind.
Someone had grabbed him by the hand, stopping him from leaving. Yujin casually turned only to see Hyunwoo's shocked expression on him.