Correction Chapter 73

“Haaa….”

Jungmin pressed his tired eyes, having not slept properly. Even after parting with Kim Joohwan, he had sat alone at a bar and continued to drink. When he got home, he couldn’t sleep and spent a long time lying awake through the night.

His mind was a tangled mess. Did an omega who was a 100% match for Yoo Shinwoo even exist in this world? Alpha-omega couples would sometimes do a matching test before marriage, like checking their compatibility, and getting 100% was nearly impossible.

However, according to Kim Joohwan, if the pheromones didn’t match Shinwoo even slightly, there was a high probability that he would have a hypersensitive reaction. That meant that even if there was a cure, it was almost impossible….

The only hope was to cling to the fact that when sunbae did a matching test with a British-Korean, the imprint was sustained for a slightly longer period, and also to what sunbae had said before about his pheromone rejection being less severe with Asians.

“It’s not easy. It’s not easy….”

“What isn’t?”

The other doctors walking with Jungmin from behind asked.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“You’re being evasive. Anyway, it seems like the number of patients with traits has increased a bit since the research institute opened. At this rate, we’re going to become a hospital specializing in traits.”

“In the country, our hospital is the best for traits… Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Then talk of discrimination will come up. Don’t forget that betas also make up 30% of our society.”

“Ah, right. But I heard that recently, the number of betas who manifest late has been increasing significantly.”

“Ah, I heard that too. Wasn’t there one at our hospital not too long ago? The one who didn’t know they had become an omega and just kept taking cold medicine.”

“Yes, that’s right. But it’s not just increasing in our country; it’s a growing trend worldwide. I don’t know if this is a discriminatory remark or not, but to put it cautiously… the trait academic society was talking about the theory of evolution. It seems the final evolution of humans is having a trait, and betas are also gradually evolving, and as they are unknowingly exposed to trait pheromones, they seem to be manifesting….”

“Like how you unknowingly become a smoker if you’re next to someone who smokes?”

“Yes, that. Nowadays, there’s at least one omega or alpha in every family.”

“That could be, but don’t blindly believe what those grandpas at the academic society say. They’re old folks obsessed with the theory of evolution.”

“Ah, I know. But there wouldn’t be cases of alphas becoming omegas or omegas becoming alphas, right?”

“Why? Are you scared? That you’ll become an omega even though you’re an alpha?”

“No! I don’t care either way, I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

“Wouldn’t it cause chaos if something like that happened? I think a trait-user’s trait changing is a bigger deal than a beta becoming a trait-user… If that happened, forget the theory of evolution, our hospital would be turned upside down right away.”

“True…. Ah, Dr. Shin, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“About betas becoming trait-users.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I hear there are many betas who feel alienated because they don’t have a trait. But it is a bit sad that a component of society is disappearing. I wish it could be maintained if possible… but it’s not something we can control….”

“What about omegas becoming alphas, or alphas becoming omegas?”

“That’s also not something I can control….”

As Jungmin continued to speak, he felt a sense of déjà vu. Kim Joohwan had said that yesterday.

‘Shin Jungmin sunbae. It will hurt you. You might have to bring out something you’ve buried deep in your heart.’

When he said that, Jungmin hadn’t known what he was talking about. He had thought it was just some nonsense like usual….

Jungmin clenched his fists tightly. He was so angry he couldn’t stand it. If he had realized the meaning of those words back then, he probably would have thrown a punch. Jungmin gripped the fabric of his shirt over his chest where Kim Joohwan had pointed. It wouldn’t happen as Kim Joohwan intended. This time is different from back then. So he would never bring it out. This had to be buried even deeper.

✽✽✽

“Welcome, Jungmin.”

Yoo Shinwoo greeted Jungmin with a bright smile. Seeing that smile, it felt as if the fatigue of the day was melting away, but at the same time, his heart was heavy.

“It’s not much, but come on in.”

“Thanks, hyung.”

Jungmin forced a smile and entered Shinwoo’s house. As he was taking off his shoes, he seemed to remember something and quickly rummaged through his bag. Shinwoo tilted his head, watching him.

“I’m just going to spray this.”

Jungmin said with an awkward smile, spraying a spray on his body. It was something Shinwoo knew well. A pheromone deodorant.

“You don’t have to worry that much. I took my medicine. I’ll be fine for a few hours.”

“Still… I should do what I can.”

Just in case, Jungmin, who had even taken an alpha suppressant, diligently sprayed the deodorant and stepped into Shinwoo’s home. After living in a hotel since coming to Korea, he had found a place to live alone. It was an officetel about a 20-minute walk from the hospital. Located on the 20th floor, the officetel, being on the top floor, had high ceilings, making it feel open and spacious on all sides. With a mountain in front and the city behind, both the location and the view were excellent.

“Wow, the sunlight is really great.”

As Jungmin said with a smile, Shinwoo nodded his head.

“Right? The moment I saw it, I thought the sunlight was great and signed the contract right away. I had a bit of a hard time in the US and the UK because there wasn’t much sunlight. So in Korea, I absolutely wanted a place with good light.”

“Right. Those countries are a bit like that. I was surprised at how early the sun set when I went to the UK for a conference once. For the first two days, I was like, ‘this is livable,’ but like clockwork, I started feeling depressed from the third day on. So I thought, it has to be Korea for me.”

“Haha, I know what you mean.”

Chatting naturally about daily life, Shinwoo took Jungmin’s coat and bag and hung them up, handed him a glass of water, and gave him a tour of the house. His officetel was reminiscent of a model home, and the decisive feature was the room on the second floor, filled with gym equipment. A variety of exercise machines were lined up, enough to make any decent gym envious.

“Hyung, you must have spent a lot of money.”

“I figured if I was going to do it, I should do it properly.”

“I guess I can cancel my gym membership now. I can just work out here?”

“Yeah. Come every day and work out with me.”

Actually, Jungmin thought Shinwoo was just inviting him over to hang out, but that wasn’t the case. It seemed Shinwoo genuinely wanted to exercise with him. This wasn’t so bad either. Jungmin smiled and said he would go change, taking his workout clothes out of his bag. Then, he suddenly felt a gaze and looked to the side to see Shinwoo smiling slightly awkwardly.

“Shinwoo hyung. Why?”

“Just because.”

“It’s not ‘just because’.”

“It’s just so like you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. You always take my words seriously. Other people would say, ‘what exercise?’ and suggest we go play, but you even brought all your workout gear, right? It’s proof that you didn’t take my words lightly.”

“What… you’re making me feel awkward. I just did it because you asked me to, hyung.”

Jungmin gripped his workout clothes tightly in his hand. Then Shinwoo came over and patted Jungmin on the shoulder.

“I know. That’s why I said it’s so like you. Go get changed quickly. I’ll get ready too. I was so excited thinking about working out with you.”

“You weren’t thinking of skipping out with me?”

“That would be nice too.”

Watching Shinwoo smile gently as he said that, Jungmin gripped the workout clothes even tighter in his hand. No. I have to bury it. Because that feeling is wrong. Jungmin said he would be right back and went into the bathroom. The large bathroom had no scent at all. Not even the smell of soap.

It suddenly hit him that this was Shinwoo’s life. The life he had to live from now on. How could he have ended up so broken? Wasn’t there another way? The more he thought about it, the only thing that came to him was the regret that he shouldn’t have sent him to America.

“Huu….”

No. Let’s not think like that today. Hyung invited me over for the first time in a while, so I should smile. I should have a fun day.

Jungmin finished changing and came out. In the meantime, Shinwoo had also changed into his workout clothes and was waiting.

“Wow, Shin Jungmin. You’re all grown up, huh?”

Shinwoo said, looking at Jungmin. And it was true; even though he was wearing loose workout clothes, the firm muscles and lines of his body couldn’t be hidden.

“Right? I’m all grown up, but why do I see a beer belly on you, hyung?”

“Ah! Was I caught?”

Shinwoo pretended to rub a non-existent beer belly. The sight was so funny that Jungmin laughed for a while before going up to the second floor with Shinwoo to exercise. And then they did nothing but work out for over two hours. They chatted, checked each other’s form… it was truly a normal day spent with Shinwoo after a long time. Just like a dream….