Chapter 37: The Alpha at the Dinner Table

In fact, telling his parents all the secrets felt overwhelming.

He knew they would be surprised. What mattered most was explaining his situation without hesitation. But even though he knew they would be shocked, staying calm was not easy.

Then someone arrived, and Tae-seo felt relieved. If it had been a stranger, he might have been thankful. But it was Kang Se-heon.

With his parents there, Tae-seo could not openly show his happiness. Still, he covered his lips with one hand to hide a smile. He fought the urge to speak to Kang Se-heon and kept an eye on his parents.

Just as Tae-seo tried to keep his composure, Yoon Seok-hoon stepped forward instead of Kim Mi-kyung, who had gone quiet.

“We meet again.”

“I’m sorry for coming without contacting you first.”

Kang Se-heon bowed politely at Yoon Seok-hoon’s greeting.

When Yoon Seok-hoon heard it was Kang Se-heon, the man who had insisted on meeting despite being told to come another time, he spoke honestly.

“I was surprised, but it’s fine. But what brings you here?”

“To eat.”

At Kang Se-heon’s short answer, Yoon Seok-hoon only furrowed his brows and said nothing more. Even though he seemed to doubt his ears, Kang Se-heon calmly added more.

“I came because I wanted to eat together. Did I come late?”

Tae-seo’s fingers twitched. The reason was more absurd than the unannounced visit.

Surely Kang Se-heon did not act like this at work. He had shown up out of nowhere, offered a half-hearted apology, and now said only this.

Tae-seo had to reveal that Kang Se-heon was the baby’s father soon. At this rate, his attitude was not helping.

“Se-heon hyung.”

At that moment, Tae-seo knew he had to step in.

“Come on in.”

Kim Mi-kyung hushed Tae-seo’s voice and ushered Kang Se-heon inside. Both Yoon Seok-hoon and Tae-seo looked at Kim Mi-kyung in surprise at her sudden acceptance.

“Mother?”

It was so unexpected that Tae-seo gently grabbed Kim Mi-kyung’s arm. Only Tae-seo knew why Kang Se-heon had come.

Yoon Seok-hoon could not hide his shock either. Kim Mi-kyung calmly led Kang Se-heon inside anyway.

“It’s not polite to leave a guest standing at the entrance.”

“Well, yes, but…”

“This way.”

Kim Mi-kyung guided him to the dining room herself, and Kang Se-heon willingly followed. Passing by, Tae-seo grabbed Kang Se-heon’s arm and made him look into his eyes.

“What are you doing, coming without calling?”

“Was the food good?”

“Huh? That’s…”

Tae-seo hesitated at the unexpected question. When he let go of Kang Se-heon’s arm, Kang Se-heon lightly brushed Tae-seo’s head and gently pulled his hand away.

“Let’s go in.”

In an instant, Kang Se-heon’s attitude changed, as if he owned the house. Tae-seo did not even have time to hold him back. Before he could react, Yoon Seok-hoon had already entered, leaving Tae-seo alone at the entrance.

Tae-seo ran a hand through his hair and muttered as he processed the lingering feeling of Kang Se-heon passing by.

“What the hell is this?”

‘This wasn’t part of my plan.’

The meal was served quickly, even the cold soup. Soon the table was set just as before.

The menu was the same, but to Tae-seo it felt new. The only difference was that Kang Se-heon sat next to him.

“If I had known you’d come early, I would have prepared better…”

“It’s perfect as it is now.”

Kang Se-heon casually scanned the table, as if it did not matter to him. Tae-seo followed his gaze and glanced at the table too.

It had been a long time since they had all gathered for a meal. Tae-seo could feel the effort his mother had put into making sure there was enough for guests. The conversation between his mother and Se-heon was just pleasantries.

“Eat well, hyung.”

Tae-seo was already content that Kang Se-heon was with him. He offered food to Kang Se-heon, then raised his spoon to eat.

“This smells good.”

Just as Tae-seo was about to eat, Kang Se-heon’s chopsticks came near his lips. The nutty sesame oil fragrance from the side dish reached Tae-seo’s nose.

Tae-seo briefly looked up at Kang Se-heon’s face, then extended his spoon. The green vegetable was placed gently on his white rice.

“What was it called again? I think I heard it was some kind of salad, but I forgot.”

Tae-seo spoke absentmindedly, having momentarily forgotten his parents while focusing on Kang Se-heon.

“…I’ll eat it on my own.”

Tae-seo rejected the offer and glanced at his parents, who were watching them intently. He was not sure if he should say something, so he quietly twirled his spoon.

“This is how it was when we were living together, hyung. You always took care of me.”

Tae-seo deliberately showed that he was eating and moved his spoon to his mouth. He pointed at his mouth as if this were normal. Suddenly his eyes widened and he turned to Kang Se-heon.

“It’s delicious.”

The vegetable dish Tae-seo had been unsure about was exactly what his taste buds needed. Why had he not known this sooner?

“The flavor isn’t too strong, so I thought you’d like it. Let’s eat some meat too.”

Kang Se-heon naturally added more food to Tae-seo’s plate and gestured for him to scoop some rice. This time, Tae-seo hesitated. He had eaten what was given to him earlier, but he could not show his parents that he was relying on Kang Se-heon too much.

Kang Se-heon still held the meat, waiting. He stared at Tae-seo as if expecting him to eat. The atmosphere grew awkward.

“I’ll eat this much. I can handle the rest on my own.”

Tae-seo hurriedly scooped up the rice, deciding to just finish it. He filled his spoon quickly, with no room to take less.

“Are you hungry?”

“I think my appetite is coming back…”

Kang Se-heon noticed Tae-seo’s half-hearted response and smiled lightly. He added more meat to Tae-seo’s plate. As Tae-seo carefully brought the meat to his mouth, he caught eyes with his mother, Kim Mi-kyung, who was staring at him intently.

“He’s very thoughtful and considerate. He likes to share good food with those around him.”

Tae-seo explained, trying to cover for Kang Se-heon. He felt embarrassed about needing to make an excuse. Inside, he thought, ‘Why do I have to make up excuses for him?’

“Let’s think positively. It’s better to establish a good image for now.”

Tae-seo continued eating, deciding it would be good to praise Kang Se-heon more today. As he gathered rice, he kept adding more words about Kang Se-heon.

“I didn’t know you were this kind of person at first, but the more I get to know you, the more I realize how incredibly kind you are. That’s why I got closer to you faster.”

‘Kang Se-heon being kind? Well, he always speaks without much warmth, but he does take care of things. And these days, he’s been paying more attention to me, so there’s no denying that he’s kind.’

“He always calls or comes to check in, and he’s good at taking jokes. After meals, he’s always the one to buy dessert… that kind of person…”

“I’ve never done that for anyone else.”

While Tae-seo was listing Kang Se-heon’s good traits, Kang Se-heon interrupted. Even though he knew Tae-seo was praising him, he denied it openly.

Kang Se-heon handed Tae-seo a glass of water. As Tae-seo drank, Kang Se-heon spoke casually.

“Tae-seo, I’m not free enough to take care of other people.”

At Kang Se-heon’s bombshell, Tae-seo set the empty glass down without responding. He had just finished the water, but he still felt thirsty.

‘He’s clearly doing this on purpose.’

It was as if he were bluntly announcing that he was the father of the baby.

Tae-seo could sense that no excuse could cover this anymore. He knew Kang Se-heon had no intention of hiding it.

“Hyung, let’s talk about that later.”

Tae-seo felt anxious about what Kang Se-heon would say next. He wanted to push it all back, but things did not go as he planned.

“Kang Se-heon.”

Kim Mi-kyung, who had only been observing, finally spoke. She no longer saw Kang Se-heon as just a guest.

“How should I interpret what you just said?”

Kim Mi-kyung asked. Ever since Kang Se-heon arrived, her eyes had been fixed on him.

“I guess I’ll have to ask again. What exactly are you here for? If it’s for a meal, you’ve only been taking care of Tae-seo and not really touching the food.”

“I came to take care of Tae-seo from the start. If it’s not me, he won’t eat properly.”

Kang Se-heon answered as though he had no intention of hiding it.

“Why is that?”

“Because Tae-seo needs Alpha pheromones to eat better and rest well.”

Tae-seo covered his eyes with his palm. He had been glad when Kang Se-heon first arrived, but now he wanted to disappear into the air. He hid his eyes out of discomfort, then felt a hand approach.

A warm hand enveloped his. Tae-seo looked up and saw Kang Se-heon. Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Kang Se-heon was smiling. When their eyes met, Tae-seo could read his thoughts.

“I’ll introduce myself again. I’m Tae-seo’s Alpha, Kang Se-heon.”

When Tae-seo was about to confess his pregnancy to his parents, Kang Se-heon was planning to reveal their relationship.

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