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Join the Server“Huh?”
“A birthday present?”
Yoon Heesu’s eyes widened in surprise at words he had never anticipated.
Han Suyeon held the shopping bag in his hand a little closer toward Yoon Heesu.
“Yeah.”
“I’m not sure if you’ll like it, though.”
What he held was a shopping bag from a famous niche perfume brand.
It was common practice for an Alpha to gift perfume to an Omega, or an Omega to an Alpha.
Because they innately possessed natural body scents and typically enjoyed wearing perfumes that complemented those scents.
But Yoon Heesu rarely used any.
He hardly knew much about it, and he had always felt it was a world that didn’t suit him well.
Not that he had no interest in it at all.
While outwardly saying he didn’t really know, the truth was that he had been secretly curious whenever he watched his peers chat about new perfume releases or which brands were trendy these days.
“I bought it because I thought it would suit you, but exchange it if you don’t like it.”
“There’s a scent strip inside.”
“…Thank you.”
“I’ll use it well.”
In that moment, his heart swelled and countless words hovered in his mouth, but only that managed to come out.
Having handed over the gift, Han Suyeon left as if that were his only business.
Yoon Heesu returned home holding the shopping bag preciously to his chest, as though someone might snatch it away.
His adoptive parents were nowhere to be seen, likely out, and Kwon Seungjae was there instead.
“You’re back?”
“Yeah.”
“You…”
Kwon Seungjae’s gaze drifted over and lingered on the shopping bag.
Not wanting to invite trouble, Heesu hurried into his room, but Kwon Seungjae strode after him and flung the door open without a word.
“What is that?”
Since he asked so directly, there was no helping it.
Yoon Heesu confessed honestly.
“…A birthday present.”
“Ha, a birthday present?”
Stepping forward swiftly, Kwon Seungjae snatched the shopping bag and pulled out a luxurious box from inside.
“Who gives a million-won perfume as a birthday gift?”
“Is it that expensive?”
“It doesn’t even suit you.”
A million won—it was a price tag he hadn’t even fathomed.
Right in front of Yoon Heesu, Kwon Seungjae tore open the packaging without a care and took out the contents.
The packaging was gorgeous, fitting its price, and the elegant silhouette of what looked like a 100ml bottle naturally drew the eye.
“Wow, this must have been hard to get.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“…”
He could just say Han Suyeon gave it to him.
If he said Suyeon gave it, his adoptive parents would be delighted.
He wished they had been home today instead.
Because Kwon Seungjae had been on bad terms with Han Suyeon lately, there was no telling what fault he would find.
“Hey.”
“I asked who gave it to you.”
“…”
“…Ah.”
Gripping the perfume bottle tightly in his hand, Kwon Seungjae smirked.
An uneasy feeling crept over Heesu.
“That bastard gave it to you, didn’t he?”
He couldn’t say no.
As Heesu remained silent, Kwon Seungjae sneered and shoved his chest roughly.
“Acting all haughty.”
“W-what is it to you?”
“Give it back.”
“‘W-what is it to you? Give it back.'”
“Haha, give it back?”
Mockingly mimicking Yoon Heesu’s words, he twitched his brow.
That look of his was somehow unnerving.
And that foreboding proved right on the mark.
Shoving Yoon Heesu onto the bed, Kwon Seungjae opened the window right then and hurled the perfume bottle outside.
With a sharp crack, the sound of thick glass shattering echoed loudly.
The scent of the perfume seemed to rise all the way up to the second floor.
“Oops.”
“My hand slipped.”
“…”
He had nothing to say.
If he had wrestled it away before it broke, perhaps, but there was nothing to gain by picking a fight with Kwon Seungjae over something already shattered.
No, if Kwon Seungjae had set his mind to it from the start, even if Heesu had stopped him right then, it would have met the same fate eventually.
Yoon Heesu slumped his shoulders.
“…It can’t be helped.”
“Right?”
“It can’t be helped, can it?”
Snickering, Kwon Seungjae jabbed Yoon Heesu’s chest as he sat on the bed and spoke.
“‘It can’t be helped,’ that’s your motto, isn’t it?”
“…”
“How cute.”
Planting a loud peck on Yoon Heesu’s cheek, Kwon Seungjae sauntered out.
He could hear Seungjae telling the housekeeper to clean up something broken in the garden.
Yoon Heesu wiped the spot where Kwon Seungjae’s lips had touched with frantic irritation.
The next day, Yoon Heesu went to a department store.
He had memorized the brand name, and while finding the exact perfume was the problem, fortunately, every fragrance had a distinct bottle shape.
Because the bottle design was unique, he was able to find it immediately.
Testing the scent confirmed it was indeed the right perfume.
The problem was the inventory.
The item Han Suyeon had gifted him was a limited edition, meaning there was practically none left in stock.
Only after scouring seven different department stores was Yoon Heesu able to obtain that perfume.
Upon returning home clutching the shopping bag, his adoptive mother interrogated him after seeing the text alert for the brand name and the one-million-won charge, but he answered honestly.
That he had received it as a gift from Han Suyeon, but Kwon Seungjae broke it, so he had no choice but to buy a replacement.
Hearing that, his adoptive mother placed a hand on her cheek, thoroughly pleased.
As for Kwon Seungjae’s actions, she brushed it off with, “Goodness, that boy should be more careful.”
Relieved that the matter was settled, his mind was at ease.
The next time he saw Han Suyeon was at a gathering where several Alphas and Omegas whose parents were close acquaintances mingled.
Normally he disliked such gatherings, but upon hearing that Han Suyeon would attend and Kwon Seungjae wouldn’t due to work, he decided to go.
Naturally, he went wearing that perfume.
As Yoon Heesu entered, people acknowledged him here and there out of polite formality.
Mingling casually, he searched for Han Suyeon.
Suyeon was likewise conversing with several people.
Lingering near him, Heesu waited until Han Suyeon was alone and quickly approached.
Just as he hesitated over how to bring up that he was using the perfume well, Han Suyeon dipped his head slightly, caught Yoon Heesu’s scent, and smiled.
“It suits you well, the perfume.”
“Yeah…”
“Thanks.”
“I’m using it well.”
His heart hammered wildly in his chest.
Just as he tried to say more.
The entrance grew noisy, and an unwelcome face appeared.
It was Kwon Seungjae.
Even though he had distinctly said he wouldn’t come.
What’s more, he…
Seeing the shopping bag he was carrying, Yoon Heesu shut his mouth.
Spotting the two of them, Kwon Seungjae strode over.
When he drew near, Heesu had no choice but to freeze entirely.
Kwon Seungjae was wearing the exact same perfume as him.
Even with the same perfume, they were an Alpha and an Omega with different natural scents, so it might register differently, but there was no way Han Suyeon wouldn’t notice.
Suyeon’s expression hardened subtly.
“You said you weren’t coming…”
“Yeah.”
“I just stopped by to give you this and leave.”
Kwon Seungjae held out a familiar shopping bag.
Heesu felt his stomach drop even further.
“Han Suyeon, I broke that perfume you gave him.”
“I kept feeling guilty since he never even got to use it once.”
“While picking up a new one, I tried some on at the boutique too, how is it?”
“They said it’s unisex regardless of secondary gender… does it suit me?”
“…”
Even though neither responded, Kwon Seungjae prattled on a bit more by himself, shoved the shopping bag forcefully into Yoon Heesu’s hand, and left.
As if sensing the bizarre tension between the three, an awkward silence filled the room.
After a long silence, Han Suyeon spoke.
“You didn’t need to lie about something like that.”
“…I didn’t do it on purpose.”
The words tumbled out inadvertently, but even after saying them, it felt ridiculous.
If this wasn’t on purpose, then what was it?
At that, Han Suyeon gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t mind, so it’s fine.”
***
“Heesu?”
“Yes?”
“How was your day today?”
“…Um.”
It was the second time the question was asked.
Because after hearing the same question first, old memories had suddenly flashed through his mind.
Yoon Heesu gave a vague nod.
It was unclear whether he meant it was good or bad.
Since he didn’t really know himself, it was an appropriate answer.
“All right.”
“Shall we meet again tomorrow, then?”
“Yes.”
Seo Jongyeon stood up and held the exit door open.
Giving a small bow as he walked out, Yoon Heesu glanced around the corridor.
Aside from the receptionist nurse, there was no sign of anyone.
Nor was there any sign of another patient entering the counseling room after him.
After counseling came exercise time.
For Yoon Heesu, this was the most grueling hour.
What the physical therapist had him do was merely walking on the treadmill and simple stretching, but even that was burdensome for a body in such wrecked shape.
Whenever exercise time rolled around, he honestly felt like running away somewhere.
Regardless, having struggled through the workout, it was time for a walk.
The walk consisted of an orderly escorting him around the facility grounds at a leisurely pace.
They had promised that once he got used to it, he would be allowed to walk alone.
Yoon Heesu understood ‘getting used to it’ to mean ‘once you become obedient.’
Perhaps because of the cold weather, there was no one on the walking path.
Back during exercise in the training room, he had been entirely alone as well.
“…”
Yoon Heesu tilted his head curiously.
The treatment curriculum here was simple.
Medication, counseling, exercise, walks, small group sessions.
Throughout that process, the people he encountered were extraordinarily few.
Aside from Seo Jongyeon, the doctor, and the nurses, the only faces he saw daily were three or four people from the small group session.
Was this center even being run properly?
Or were they admitting very few patients from the beginning since they were engaging in illegal matters after all?
Yoon Heesu glanced sidelong at the burly orderly, then turned his gaze toward the ocean.
Following Yoon Heesu’s escape attempt last time, a heavy chain had been wrapped around the gate leading to the beach.
The main gate was similarly impossible to pass through freely.
Every side door was secured with chains and padlocks, and a guard stood watch at every entrance.
Inability to do drugs, meals served three times a day at set hours, counseling as instructed, exercising, walking under surveillance…
Prison…
‘How is this any different from a prison?’
While other actions were unrestricted, he couldn’t see how this differed from prison in that he was ultimately unable to leave.
“It is time to head back inside.”
The orderly checked his wristwatch and said.
Nodding, Yoon Heesu looked once toward the distant sea and thought.
‘…I have to get out of here.’
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