Love Born of Pity Chapter 56

“The house… I think I can get a small studio apartment. There—”

“Even if you’re siblings, you’re different genders.”

“Yes? Ah… I can separate the space well…”

“Where’s the space separation in a studio apartment? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think you can live in that cramped space?”

Because he had sent several hundred to his uncle, there was no money to get a bigger place. He felt too ashamed to ask Do Yeonjae for help, so he tried to solve it on his own. Was it really that absurd to warrant this level of anger?

“Don’t you have to continue with rehabilitation? I’ll get you an officetel near the hospital, so stay there. It’s dangerous for a girl to live alone in a studio apartment, after all. The world is dangerous.”

“…”

“It seems like you’ll have a hard time paying monthly rent too. Accept it when I offer help. I won’t put this on your debt.”

“Still, I just…”

“Mr. Kwon Jiho, your debt is already piling up every second; how are you going to handle the rent too?”

Kwon Heeyeon didn’t want to receive any more help from Do Yeonjae. If he heard again that he was being cared for with that money… he wasn’t confident he wouldn’t crumble.

“Don’t be so proud. You don’t have any of that anyway.”

“…Still.”

“Mr. Kwon Jiho, you have to answer.”

“Thank you. Every time… Thank you so much.”

With his head bowed low, Kwon Jiho barely managed to open his mouth and express his gratitude. Do Yeonjae’s gaze swept over his face, which he tried to hide, his earlobes, and his slender neck in turn. The problem was that it was always a sight to behold whenever he blushed with shame. It would be even better if he cried. Since he couldn’t make him cry while feeding him, Do Yeonjae swallowed his harsh words and continued his meal.

Kwon Jiho completely lost his appetite for the meal he was reluctantly eating. He emptied two glasses of cold water by himself and tried to eat a little more, picking up his chopsticks before putting them down again. He felt sick. The grains of rice felt like they were rolling around in his mouth.

As if used to Kwon Jiho not finishing his meals, Do Yeonjae cleanly emptied his own portion. He only clicked his tongue after confirming that the amount of cold rice in the bowl was no different than before.

“You seem to be eating very poorly these days.”

“I don’t have much of an appetite because it’s still hot. I’ll make sure to eat well at lunch. Are you done eating?”

Kwon Jiho got up from his seat with an awkward smile and tried to clear the dishes. However, Do Yeonjae stopped him. It was both pathetic and cute how he always tried to do things himself, even though he wasn’t good at housework.

“Didn’t you break a dish last week?”

“…My hand slipped.”

“It’s not slipping today?”

“Can I… do it?”

Do Yeonjae nodded with a smile. At the blunt words implying there was no need to create more work for himself by doing unnecessary things, Kwon Jiho lowered his hand, embarrassed. After being grabbed and dragged to the living room by Do Yeonjae, he was only released after spending a few sticky hours.

Do Yeonjae carried the exhausted Kwon Jiho, sprawled on the sofa, into the bathroom. After gently cleaning him up, he personally washed his thin body and dried his wet hair. He dressed him in pre-selected clothes and tied a thin scarf around his neck to hide the dense red marks left behind.

“It suits you.”

“…Thank you.”

Kwon Jiho lowered his head with a drowsy expression, as if he would fall asleep the moment he was laid on the bed. Kwon Jiho reached out a trembling hand and grabbed the tie Do Yeonjae had also chosen beforehand. He lifted his face, still flushed with warmth, and met Do Yeonjae’s eyes. Immediately understanding the implied request to lower his upper body a little, Do Yeonjae smiled and lowered himself.

Biting his lip tightly, he slowly began to tie the tie. It never worked on the first try. Tying a tie while facing each other always put Kwon Jiho to the test. Kwon Jiho, fidgeting with his small hands, glanced at Do Yeonjae, who was staring intently at him, as if checking his reaction.

“Why, is this not working either?”

“…I can do it, do it if I’m behind you, but…”

His face was bright red. It was the same color Do Yeonjae had thoroughly enjoyed on the living room sofa. Do Yeonjae laughed. He was particularly prone to laughter today. As Do Yeonjae sat down properly on the vanity chair, Kwon Jiho quietly moved. He started slowly tying the tie from behind Do Yeonjae.

Do Yeonjae lowered his gaze. He focused on the white hands moving around his neck. It was admirable how he skillfully maneuvered the tie, even though he hesitated from time to time. Perhaps thanks to having fully taken Kwon Jiho, he was in an exceptionally good mood and didn’t bother to hide the laughter that escaped him.

“I’m done.”

Kwon Jiho came back to the front, adjusted the knot, and then selected a tie pin and cufflinks from the display case. Neither the tie nor the accessories were to Do Yeonjae’s taste, but he remained silent, letting Kwon Jiho do as he pleased.

Still with flushed cheeks, he carefully fastened the tie and looked up at Do Yeonjae with a proud expression. He seemed to have completely forgotten the insults he had heard during breakfast, his expression innocent and naive.

“Do you like it?”

“…Yes. It suits you well.”

Do Yeonjae reached out. He pulled the warm cheek towards him, gave it a light kiss, and stood up. He gently stroked the soft hair, saying, “Good job,” then grabbed his briefcase and headed for the entrance.

“I won’t be late today. Wait for me at the academy, I’ll pick you up.”

“Yes.”

Kwon Jiho, who was putting his feet into his white sneakers, nodded. Saying thank you for opening the door, Kwon Jiho went out first and waited briefly before moving with Do Yeonjae. His heart raced at the warmth of Do Yeonjae’s hand holding his, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He was always a considerate person, even in his smallest actions. As if telling him to forget all the hurtful things he had said.

♬⋆.˚

After being seen off by Do Yeonjae, Kwon Jiho entered the academy and meticulously cleaned the floor, tables, and cabinets, even though they weren’t dirty.

He seemed to have adapted to his blurry right eye, as it no longer bothered him, but he needed to go get more eye drops. Rubbing his hazy eye as if it had a film over it, Kwon Jiho stood there for a moment, then rubbed his philtrum.

“…Huh?”

Come to think of it, he had received a lot of Do Yeonjae’s pheromones today, but why didn’t he have a nosebleed…? His ears also felt less stuffy. Thinking that he’d rather be deaf than have his hazy vision, he grabbed his phone and wallet. He was planning to go to the hospital now. He set the indoor temperature by turning on the air purifier and air conditioner and carefully locked the door.

He hailed a taxi on the main street and one quickly stopped. He told the driver his destination and leaned back, habitually touching the area around his eyes.

Do Yeonjae still didn’t know his secondary gender had changed, and if he didn’t say anything first… he even felt confident that he might be able to hide it indefinitely.

The weekday streets were clear with no traffic jams. It took less than 10 minutes to go one block.

“Sir, I think you mentioned it was near here, where should I stop?”

“Ah, I’ll just get off here. Thank you.”

Kwon Jiho handed over the cash he’d prepared and took the change, opening the door. He bowed his head at the driver’s “Have a nice day” and headed for Choi Suhyeok’s hospital.

The ophthalmology department was crowded again today. He found solace in the fact that there were so many people with eye problems. As soon as he finished registering and sat in the waiting area, his name was called. He was puzzled that it was already his turn, even though he hadn’t made an appointment.

“Mr. Kwon Jiho, please wait a moment and then come in.”

Kwon Jiho smiled awkwardly. The door soon opened. He scratched his cheek sheepishly and entered the examination room. Choi Suhyeok greeted him with a smile.

“You’re here? Today’s appointment is kind of a ‘friend’s privilege’ thing. It’s convenient to have a doctor you know, you don’t have to wait long, right?”

Choi Suhyeok boasted about an unsolicited favor.

“How’s your eye? Your pheromones are still strong. Haven’t you told him yet?”

“You didn’t have to see me first like this… I think I’ve gotten used to the pheromones.”

“You must have gotten used to the discomfort. How were your eyes? Are they still blurry?”

Choi Suhyeok asked, shining a penlight into his pupils. Kwon Jiho nodded, murmuring that they were. Was he really just getting used to the discomfort, as he said? He couldn’t tell. More than anything, he decided he needed to go to a different ophthalmologist from now on. His inexplicable consideration had become burdensome. The nurse smiled, assisted Choi Suhyeok, and then left the examination room.

“What about the gynecologist? You went, of course? What did they say? I’ve seen people present as alphas sometimes, but it’s my first time seeing someone present as an omega.”

“…Yes?”

“You didn’t go?”

He had completely forgotten. Kwon Jiho turned pale and trembled at the memory that suddenly surfaced. He’d felt like he’d forgotten something, and it was the birth control pills. He should have gone to the gynecologist and gotten a prescription for birth control pills, but like a fool, he had forgotten the most important thing.

He hadn’t used any contraception while sleeping with Do Yeonjae. He’d been told there was a possibility of pregnancy, but without any safety measures… This morning, Do Yeonjae had jokingly said that even if he was a beta, he would get pregnant if they kept doing it like that.