Reasonable Loss - 36

Eunsu wanted to vomit up what he had eaten. But there wasn’t time for that. If he stayed in the bathroom too long, Dokwon, who never skimped on worrying about him, might come rushing in, thinking he had collapsed or even been kidnapped.

So he just washed his hands again and again. He also wiped his warm forehead with cold water. He felt a bit better.

After taking several deep breaths, Eunsu stepped out of the bathroom. But there was a dark shadow standing in front of it. It was Seongheon.

“Executive Director?”

“Eunsu. You okay?”

“Where’s Dokwon……”

“He’s on the phone with Secretary Jeong. He was worried because you hadn’t come back, so I told him to talk and came instead.”

“Ah……”

Eunsu nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. As he did, he unwittingly let out a faint sigh, and Seongheon looked down at him with concern.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Dokwon seems fine except for the memory loss, your relationship looks good, but you don’t seem in great shape.”

“Ah…… Uh…… I think I might have a bit of a cold.”

Eunsu made an excuse. He hadn’t even revealed the pregnancy, so he couldn’t say he was dealing with morning sickness.

“Oh dear……. Then on the way back, want me to get you some macarons or donuts?”

“Yes?”

“You like that stuff.”

“Ah……”

Eunsu, who had been blankly still for a moment, soon wore a faint smile. Right. Before Seongheon left for the US, they had met often and eaten things like that. He had introduced all the tasty spots around the company. Back then, just starting out in society, everything had felt new and a lot had been hard.

It hadn’t been that long, but it felt like ancient history.

“Then that place that sells egg tarts, uh…… What was the name……”

“Tart Garden.”

“Yes! Let’s go there. Their strawberry smoothie is delicious too.”

“I’ll get that for you too.”

Eunsu smiled with sparkling eyes. For some reason, he felt like he could eat the egg tarts and strawberry smoothie without the morning sickness bothering him. As he was about to chatter on about how their chocolate cookies were tasty too, Seongheon lightly straightened Eunsu’s disheveled collar with his finger.

“Now you’re smiling.”

“Ah……”

“I was worried earlier because your face looked so bad. Is Dokwon making things hard for you by any chance?”

“No, no. Not at all.”

Eunsu waved his head and hands at the same time. Seongheon nodded as if relieved.

“If Dokwon ever bothers you, tell me. Okay? Got it?”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

Eunsu answered vigorously, as if promising to remember. Seongheon lightly stroked Eunsu’s hair. Eunsu smiled like a child.

Being with Seongheon…… well…… what was it. It felt like being at his parents’ home. He had been a solid support during a confusing time, so calling him just a close colleague fell far short.

The two locked eyes for a moment. Seongheon turned away first.

“Shall we go now? Dokwon will start looking.”

“Yes!”

Eunsu followed behind Seongheon. As they walked the long corridor toward the lobby, Eunsu stared blankly at Seongheon’s back. He hadn’t meant to look on purpose; the narrow corridor was filled with his figure, so he couldn’t help it.

Then suddenly, he recalled that dawn at the company when they had met. Right before parting, when the first subway was approaching and he said he had to go and stood up. Seongheon had called “Eunsu” with somewhat languid eyes.

“Yes?”

“But…… the omega Dokwon found after all that hardship didn’t have to be you, right?”

“What do you……”

“No, I’m on the side that thinks it’s a waste for you.”

“Come on……. Don’t say that.”

“I’m serious. You shine so brightly. You’re pretty, good at your job, nice personality, considerate of others, pure.”

“……”

“If Dokwon hadn’t made a move first, I would have snatched you up.”

It was a really odd thing to say. It wasn’t harshly criticizing anyone, no vulgar words mixed in, and it was full of praise and goodwill, yet it felt bad. As Eunsu couldn’t hide his twisted expression and stayed silent, Seongheon clapped his hands and laughed.

“I’m kidding. Kidding.”

“Ah…… Kidding……”

“You really fall for it easily, Eunsu.”

At those words, Eunsu tugged ambiguously at the corner of his lips, and Seongheon, with his chin propped obliquely on the sofa armrest, muttered. It seemed like talking to himself, but it came clearly to Eunsu’s ears.

“But Dokwon must be convinced you’re different from the omegas he’s met so far. Seeing how passionately he loves you.”

He had said that. Recalling that moment, Eunsu ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. What did it mean. In Seongheon’s eyes, did he seem no different from all those omegas Dokwon had met before. Or did he think that for some reason, Eunsu would end up abandoning Dokwon and sleeping with another alpha too. Or maybe Eunsu was just overreacting.

Actually, the last one was most likely.

Seongheon was a beta. He had no idea what feelings alphas and omegas shared. Physical relations were very important, they could sway everything, but in the end, they were human too. They talked, interacted, shared, and built love on that foundation.

It meant one heat cycle wouldn’t bring world-shaking changes.

Eunsu shook his head to shake off the thoughts. Forget it. What he needed to focus on now was Bomi in his belly.