Correction Chapter 19

“Young man, your fever is very high…? Did you come from the hospital? Why did you do that? Should I call an ambulance now?”

The security guard placed his hand on Jungmin’s forehead and asked, his face startled by the burning heat. As the guard suggested calling an ambulance, Jungmin grabbed his hand and stopped him.

“N-no. Don’t. I have to meet Kim Joohwan. I have to meet him…”

Even if he met him, he honestly doubted there was anything Joohwan could do.

It was absurd. Was it even reasonable to come all the way here just because the word “correction” came to mind? But that’s how desperate Jungmin was. If the security guard in front of him, instead of Kim Joohwan, held the answer, he would cling to him just the same.

“Oh my, your face is completely pale!”

“Ugh, p-please call him. Kim Joohwan. Kim Joohwan!”

“I called him. I called him, so calm down. He’ll be here soon. What in the world is going on-.”

“Ugh.”

As Jungmin continued to weaken, the security guard held him up. Just then, Jungmin, leaning against the guard, was suddenly pulled back.

Jungmin, already half-unconscious, was dragged along by the force, but the security guard was different.

Startled, he looked up and saw a young man wearing a student council president badge staring at him with menacing eyes, causing him to gulp.

The young man was young enough to be his son, but his aura was overwhelming. A chill ran down his spine, and he hesitantly stood up.

“Um… Student Kim Joohwan?”

“Yes, he’s someone I know, so I’ll take it from here.”

“A-alright then. Oh, he has a high fever, so please take him to the hospital…”

He wanted to finish his sentence, but Joohwan’s gaze was so sharp that he couldn’t utter another word, and he retreated hesitantly.

As soon as the security guard left, Kim Joohwan glared at Jungmin in his arms and gripped his shoulders tightly.

Jungmin was breathing heavily, his entire body drenched in sweat. His cheeks, flushed with fever, were enough to stir anyone’s heart. Furthermore, the heat emanating from him was the awakening fever… a fever that could make everyone see him differently.

“Senior Shin Jungmin. Come to your senses.”

Kim Joohwan gently patted Jungmin’s cheeks. But Jungmin remained unconscious, leaning further into Joohwan. Joohwan clicked his tongue at the action. He felt sick to his stomach.

“Are you out of your mind? Coming here like this?!”

He didn’t want to, but his voice was filled with anger, each word accusatory towards Jungmin. Joohwan was angry.

That annoying voice… Kim Joohwan’s voice… Kim Joohwan?!

As soon as Jungmin recognized Joohwan’s voice, he embraced him.

“I, I… I…”

It seemed like he wanted to say something, but Jungmin was dazed due to the fever.

“I… I…”

Sensing that Jungmin had recognized him, Kim Joohwan softened slightly. Stroking Jungmin’s hair, he held him tighter and made a phone call.

“Come to the main gate of the school now.”

After making the call and putting his phone back in his pocket, he looked at Jungmin once more. His clothes were clinging to his body, soaked with sweat. Just by looking at his collarbone, one could tell how unwell he was.

“Why did you come all the way here? Why did you look for me? Senior?”

Upon hearing that someone was looking for him, Kim Joohwan instinctively knew. He knew Shin Jungmin was looking for him. So he stopped what he was doing and rushed over without a second thought.

Why was this small flower bud, just about to bloom, so desperate to find him? Shouldn’t the place he should be going to be Yoo Shinwoo’s embrace, not this place? The thought made him run even faster. A strange sense of satisfaction and exhilaration pounded in his heart.

“I… I… I have something to tell you…”

Jungmin continued to mumble. Joohwan stroked Jungmin’s back, trying to soothe his anxiety.

“Shh… it’s alright. Rest. Let’s talk when we get home, Senior.”

Soon, the driver Joohwan had called arrived at the main gate.

After helping Jungmin into the car, Joohwan sat beside him. He briefly instructed the driver to go home and pulled Jungmin, who couldn’t hold himself up, close.

He could feel Jungmin’s body becoming limp. He called his name several times, but there was no response, indicating he had lost consciousness. The profuse sweat and the lack of color in his lips showed how much he was suffering.

Was it not the right time yet?

If Jungmin was closer to awakening, he wouldn’t be struggling this much, even after taking that medicine. The fact that his awakening fever, which should typically last a week, had gone on for over ten days was a cause for concern.

But the people around him weren’t fools, and his doctors weren’t ordinary either. They would have taken good care of him. His presence here meant that the situation wasn’t critical, right? Joohwan smiled and kissed Jungmin’s sweaty forehead.

The fact that he had come here made him strangely happy. It was satisfying. Jungmin always bared his teeth and bristled whenever he saw him, but not now. He had sought him out. The very fact that he was nestled peacefully in his arms brought him joy.

The floral scent emanating from Jungmin’s body… until he realized that the scent was that of an Alpha.

✽✽✽

“Ugh…”

Jungmin learned through this experience that even if his body was burning up, he couldn’t close his eyes. When he closed his eyes, his eyeballs felt hot, as if they would be pulled out. Moreover, feeling something pressing down on him, he lifted his head and realized it was nothing other than a blanket.

But an unfamiliar blanket… an unfamiliar ceiling… a bed… Jungmin barely managed to move his eyes around before he was startled and tried to sit up, only to be pushed back down by a force.

Following the force pressing on his shoulder, his eyes landed on Joohwan, who was looking down at him with an impassive face.

“Kim… Joohwan?”

Why was this man here?

“Why are you…?”

“You shouldn’t get up suddenly.”

He glanced to the side at the clinking sound and saw an IV drip connected to his arm. Jungmin’s mind was a jumble. Why was Kim Joohwan here? Where was he?

“Don’t you remember? Senior, you came all the way to the school looking for me.”

Joohwan provided the answer to the confused Jungmin.

“And then you collapsed. I thought about taking you to the hospital, but it seemed like you left without telling them, so I brought you to my house.”

Joohwan sat down on a chair next to the bed with a relaxed posture. He neatly closed the book he had been reading on the side table, placing a bookmark between the pages. His movements were slow and leisurely, yet somehow heavy.

“I assume you had a reason for looking for me and coming all the way here…”

Jungmin pressed his lips together. Even though he had been out of it, he knew why he had gone looking for Joohwan. But when he tried to speak, the words wouldn’t come.

“Our family doctor examined you…”

He placed the book back on the table, turned around, and spoke leisurely.

“Senior… you’re an Alpha?”

Why did he come here? Why did he try to meet Joohwan? While his mind was clouded by the fever, Joohwan’s words jolted him awake. His eyes widened, staring at Joohwan, who looked down at him with a pitying expression.

“No…”

“…Even if you deny it, the doctor made that diagnosis. Besides, there’s been an unpleasant smell lingering in this room… I was wondering what it was? I think it’s your pheromones, Senior. I’m an Alpha too, so I guess that’s why it feels repulsive.”

Was it now noticeable even to others?

“I don’t know. I can’t smell anything. I don’t know!”

“Senior.”

“No. That can’t be. No-!”

Jungmin couldn’t yell anymore. Joohwan had covered his mouth with his large, thick hand.

“Is this your house? Be quiet.”

Tears flowed from Jungmin’s eyes, wetting the pillow. Seeing this, Joohwan removed his hand. Jungmin’s body went limp. His eyes held no life, as if he had lost all will to live.

“Senior, judging by your reaction, it seems like the hospital told you you’re an Alpha. What was the reason you came looking for me?”

“I… don’t want to become an Alpha…”

“Well, it seems like you’re already on the verge of presenting as an Alpha.”

Joohwan spoke sarcastically, but Jungmin didn’t hear him. He raised his hand and looked at the ring he had put on when he confessed to Shinwoo. Joohwan’s eyes also fell on the ring. A sparkling… brand new-looking ring.

It was a ring he had never seen Jungmin wear before. He wanted to ask what it was. Where he got it from. What it was that made him handle it so preciously.