From Divorce to Dusk Chapter 6.6

It felt as if he could finally breathe once Han Taesuk left. Jaekyung let out a long sigh and smiled faintly at the lady, who was looking at him with pity.

「I should reheat the soybean paste stew.」

「I’ll reheat it, so just sit down. Eat a lot. You have to finish every last bit. Understood?」

「Yes, thank you.」

As soon as Jaekyung sat down, the lady pushed the side dishes toward him and served warm rice. Soon, when the heated soybean paste soup was placed before him, the bridge of Jaekyung’s nose tingled. However, he tried his best not to cry. Was it because they had imprinted? He could feel his cold heart even more clearly. Along with the fact that he was currently ‘alone’.

Time flowed normally, as it always does, as if doing its own duty regardless of whether someone was struggling or suffering. As he stopped thinking deeply and let his body follow that flow, his physical condition improved. Of course, every night, Han Taesuk provided pheromones to Jaekyung.

Naturally, the atmosphere was not a good one—not the kind where they affectionately held hands, embraced, looked at each other, conversed, or shared a meal. Han Taesuk did not enter the master bedroom, and Jaekyung did not ask him to come in either.

Sitting on the sofa provided in the living room, Han Taesuk would work while Jaekyung looked at a book; they received pheromones for 30 minutes like that, without a single word of conversation or even drinking anything. And once 30 minutes passed, Han Taesuk would promptly stand up first and go up to the second floor or leave the house again.

Left alone, Jaekyung would only then close the book, of which he hadn’t managed to turn a single page, once he heard those footsteps grow distant or the door close. When the lady, feeling sorry for Jaekyung, would wash fruit beautifully and put it on a plate for him, Jaekyung would thank her, go into his room, and lie face down on the bed to cry.

He thought he would never cry because that would mean losing, but he couldn’t help it. His misery grew larger day by day. On the other hand, he could feel his physical condition gradually improving. Except for a slight headache and the problem of his vision occasionally blurring, his physical strength began to return to almost normal. It was about a month since he had been discharged. Conveniently, the primary doctor also told Jaekyung to come to the hospital for a general checkup, so Jaekyung prepared to go out for the first time in a while.

「Should I not tell Executive Director Han?」

The lady asked as she helped Jaekyung with his jacket. Jaekyung shook his head.

「It will be fine even if we don’t tell him.」

No, he would likely know already even if they didn’t say anything. There’s no way the doctor wouldn’t have told him. Even if the doctor hadn’t said anything, Secretary Oh would have. Despite that, he said nothing. Even last night, while giving pheromones, he had said nothing as usual. He thought that if they lived seeing each other’s faces like that for a month, they would at least become close enough to exchange greetings, but instead, it became harder to approach him than before the imprinting, and harder to strike up a conversation than before receiving the pheromones. Is this really a couple that has been together for 3 years?

「Hm?」

While he was smiling bitterly after finishing dressing in his jacket, the phone on the table vibrated. The caller was Director Ji. For someone who hadn’t sent a single greeting since that day to suddenly call today. That meant Director Ji also knows that he is preparing to go out right now. If so, there’s no way he wouldn’t know. Jaekyung sighed and answered the phone.

「Yes. Hello.」

『Yes. Have you been well?』

「Yes… Executive Director Han has helped me a lot.」

『That’s a relief.』

A brief silence. Should I offer a greeting? I don’t want to, but I suppose I should.

「Have you been well? I’m sorry for not being able to help with the gallery work.」

『That’s enough. The gallery runs fine even without you. You should think about your own body. Isn’t that the most important thing? I am the one who’s sorry. I should have visited you once to see your condition.』

Is she actually capable of saying such things? She was always a cold person… Is she perhaps feeling some sort of apology because of that injection and the business with the professor? Or is she feeling a bit of guilt? I don’t know for sure, but one thing is certain: Director Ji has become a bit softer. It felt uncomfortable that she called today of all days, but there was no need to be on guard with thorns.

「Not at all. I’m actually grateful that you say that.」

『Sigh… I hear you’re going to the hospital?』

「Yes, did you speak with the doctor?」

『Yes. Since the primary doctor changed, isn’t it now Dr. Lee Eun-chan? That family has been a medical family for generations, a house where many famous doctors were born. Especially Dr. Lee; he’s the third son and he’s quite smart, so he’ll help you a lot. I’ve also asked him to look at your condition thoroughly and help you a lot.』

「Thank you.」

『Once you’re done with the treatment, won’t you wait a bit at the hospital?』

「Pardon?」

『I have something to talk to you about. I will go to the hospital.』

「Yes… understood.」

『Right. Then Jaekyung-ah, see you later.』

After the call ended, Jaekyung stared down at his phone for a long time. His eyes were full of disbelief. For her to call his name so affectionately was enough to give him goosebumps. When Jaekyung’s face didn’t look good, the lady became restless.

「Was it a bad phone call?」

「Ah, no. It’s fine. The Director said to meet at the hospital.」

「Ah, the madam.」

「Yes. Ah, I’ll be going now. I might come back after having dinner, so you don’t have to prepare anything.」

Jaekyung politely greeted the lady and left the house. It was his first outing in a long time. Even though he had been walking around the garden lately, an outing beyond the main gate felt distantly long ago. Especially since several memories from when he was hospitalized back then had disappeared.

「It’s been a while.」

As soon as Driver Seo saw Jaekyung, he got out of the driver’s seat and greeted him. Jaekyung greeted him back and sat in the back seat as the door was opened for him. The plush feel of the seat felt unfamiliar, but he smiled while pretending to be natural. Then, the car started smoothly and headed toward the hospital.

Since it wasn’t a time for heavy traffic, they arrived at the hospital in 40 minutes, and people moved busily as soon as they saw Jaekyung. It seemed he had become a celebrity in the meantime, as everyone recognized Jaekyung, and dedicated nurses immediately attached themselves to start caring for him. It was burdensome, but remembering that Director Ji had said he must be able to accept such things naturally, he let himself be led as they guided him. Only after going through several tests such as obstetrics and gynecology, blood work, and X-rays was he able to see Dr. Lee’s face. He welcomed Jaekyung gladly as soon as he saw him.

「Welcome. How is your condition?」

「I’m fine, except for some slight dizziness still remaining.」

「Hmm… it’s not anemia. There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly wrong. How about the headaches?」

Jaekyung explained the areas where he felt pain and how he even felt nauseous sometimes, and Dr. Lee noted it all down.

「It could be a side effect of V-2, but for now, since we haven’t fully grasped those side effects yet, we’ll have to watch a bit longer.」

「I see.」

「Ah, but it seems you’ve received Alpha pheromones well. The function of the Omega pheromone gland has returned to almost normal, and the condition of the uterus is also fine. If all goes well, a heat cycle will likely come within a month or two.」

「Is that so?」

「Yes.」

Why is it that even though he says everything has returned to normal, I’m not particularly happy? Jaekyung had no way of knowing his own heart, so he just nodded.

「For now, if a heat cycle comes this time, you must stay with the Alpha you are imprinted with, and we’ll have to gradually see what symptoms occur afterward. Only then will we be able to decide on a treatment method for the future.」

「Then is there nothing that can be done right now?」

「It’ll just be some painkillers. As of now, since nothing has clearly appeared medically… in your case, Mr. Jaekyung, there are ambiguities that make it difficult for us to hastily prescribe or make a decision. Please understand this point.」

「Yes….」

As a result, painkillers were all that he was prescribed. He was told not to take these painkillers if possible, and to receive as much help from Alpha pheromones as possible. Jaekyung let out a sigh at the doctor’s words that it would be best to be exposed to Alpha pheromones every single day without fail for another month. Will I have to endure that suffocating time again? I suppose I should say something.

「Maybe I should at least do some exercise.」

Ah… I should have asked that. If I exercise, my physical strength will become healthier, so maybe I’ll need less help from pheromones.

「Ah.」

It’s happening again. A migraine throbbed sharply, so Jaekyung stopped walking and closed his eyes. He calmed the dizziness as the world spun slightly.

「Jaekyung-ah?」

Jaekyung opened his eyes at the familiar voice. Only then did he realize he was at the main entrance of the hospital. What. When did I come all the way out here? I was on the second floor just a moment ago.

「Are you alright???」

The voice calling him was Director Ji. She grabbed Jaekyung’s shoulders and asked. Jaekyung blinked a couple of times and then nodded.

「Ah, yes. I’m just a little dizzy. You’ve come.」

「Yes. Is the treatment finished?」

「Yes, as it happens….」