"I’M SORRY, Euntak-ah. I have to take a rain check on our date this weekend."

Cho Euntak didn’t have to ask why Baek Jeho suddenly wanted to cancel their date— the reason was obvious.

Baek Jeho was pale, and it looked like he was going to faint at any moment.

Hence, he gently grabbed his boyfriend’s arm and dragged him back to his bedroom.

Basically, he tucked Baek Jeho into bed.

"You’re sick," Cho Euntak said worriedly. "Have you taken meds? Have you eaten? Want me to make porridge for you?"

"I’m not really sick," Baek Jeho said weakly. "I’m only like this because I’m about to have my rut."

Oh, rut.

As an Alpha, of course, Cho Euntak knew what ’rut’ was.

Even Betas do.

However...

"I’m not sure because I’ve only been an Alpha for a few years, but do Alphas get sick during their rut?" Cho Euntak asked curiously. "When my body starts getting warmer than usual, I take my rut suppressants. After that, I already feel better. Is it not like that for you, Jeho-ya? Am I fine during my rut because I’m just a Recessive Alpha? Or is it worse for you because you’re a Dominant Alpha?"

"It varies," Baek Jeho explained. "I usually don’t get this sick during my rut, especially if I have a partner to help me—" He abruptly stopped talking, his pupils shaking. "Sorry, Euntak-ah. Let’s stop talking about this."

"Does spending your rut with your partner help?"

"Uh, yeah. That’s how most Alphas spend their rut. Omegas, too, when they get their heat cycle..." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Then should I stay with you during your rut?"

"I appreciate your offer, but I also have to take a rain check on that."

"I’m sorry for not being an Omega..."

"No, it’s not like that, Euntak-ah!" Baek Jeho denied strongly, obviously in a panic, as he got up. "I’d love to sleep with you, of course. But I want to do it with you when I’m in my right mind. I tend to lose my rationality when I’m in my rut, and I become aggressive."

"I’m okay even if you’re a little rough..."

"Sure, we can do that later. But I can’t treat you roughly when it’s your first time, Euntak-ah. When we do it, I want to be ’sober.’ I want to treat you gently— to know how I can make you feel good. I’m going to be selfish and only care about myself if we do it while I’m having my rut. And I don’t want that."

Ah, Cho Euntak finally understood why Baek Jeho was against them spending their first night while he was in his rut.

And, honestly, it was touching.

Jeho wants me to have a memorable first time since he knows I’m a virgin.

"Plus, if I’m in my rut, I don’t think you can convince me to bottom for you since I can be a scumbag when I’m not in my right mind."

Hmm?

Cho Euntak blinked, confused by what Baek Jeho had just said.

And then he remembered...

Oh, right— I haven’t cleared the misunderstanding yet.

"Jeho-ya, in what world do you think I’m capable of topping you?"

"Huh?"

"Sure, I can try. But I don’t think I’m built to be a top."

"Then why...?"

"I was just messing with you back then," Cho Euntak confessed guiltily. "I didn’t know you’d take it seriously. I’m sorry."

Baek Jeho blinked as if he was confused, and then he let out a chuckle— a soft laugh out of relief. "Oh, I see. You were never serious about it. Thank you, Euntakie."

"Are you that relieved that you weren’t going to be the bottom?"

Baek Jeho smiled as if he were both sorry and guilty. "I didn’t lie when I said I would bottom for you if you wanted. But, of course, the bigger part of me still wanted to rail you, Euntak-ah."

Oh.

That was a bit crass, so Cho Euntak blushed a little.

It didn’t mean he hated it, of course.

I love it when Baek Jeho drops his guard. I mean, I like that he’s treating me well. But he doesn’t have to treat me like I’m a fragile glass.

"You can r-rail me after your rut, Jeho-ya."

Baek Jeho blinked again, and then he chuckled. "No takebacks, Euntak-ah."

"No takebacks," Cho Eunho promised, and then he gently flicked Baek Jeho’s forehead with his fingers. "Get better soon, Jeho-ya."

***

CHO EUNTAK woke up with a heavy body.

Am I sick because I miss my boyfriend so much?

It had been three days since he last saw Baek Jeho, and it had been two days since the last time they talked to each other on the phone.

No, his boyfriend didn’t ghost him.

"Euntak-ah, my doctor increased the dosage of my rut suppressants. The side effects make me lethargic and sleepy. Please forgive me if I miss your texts and calls. If I’m not replying or calling you back, then I’m probably asleep. Promise— I won’t be leaving my apartment."

The apartment that Baek Jeho had mentioned was his penthouse, not the apartment that he rented next to Cho Euntak’s apartment.

Anyways, his boyfriend had gone radio silent on him since last night.

He’s probably asleep.

Cho Euntak left a short message for Baek Jeho before leaving his apartment: <Jeho-ya, don’t just sleep— you should eat on time, too.>

***

CHO EUNTAK went to the hospital to pick up his new rut suppressants.

He went to meet his doctor first because it was not normal for him to have a light fever during his rut.

Thankfully, nothing was wrong with him.

Apparently, his pheromones just increased a little. Hence, the doctor also adjusted the dosage of his rut suppressants. Aside from his new suppressants, the doctor also prescribed a pheromone stabilizer for him.

The doctor said I need to take two pills— morning and night— for thirty days. The sudden increase in my pheromones might affect my mood, so I need those stabilizers to calm my pheromones down.

And that was how he ended up waiting in the hospital pharmacy.

"Cho Euntak-ssi?"

Oh.

Cho Euntak was surprised to see Kim Minjae behind the counter.

And then he remembered what the older man said before.

"I’m a clinical pharmacist, so I make my own money."

Oh, right.

"So, this is where you work, sir?"

Kim Minjae smiled and nodded. "You’re here to pick up your rut suppressants and pheromone stabilizer, right? We’re kind of swamped at the moment, so I’m afraid you’ll need to wait a bit more."

"It’s alright, sir," Cho Euntak said. "I’m good at waiting."

***

"THANK YOU for waiting, Cho Euntak-ssi. Here are your medicines."

Oh.

Cho Euntak was surprised that it was Kim Minjae who personally handed him the paper bag that contained his suppressants and stabilizers. "Thank you, sir."

He thought that their encounter was already over.

But then...

"Euntak-ssi, are you okay with it?"

"Okay with what, sir?"

"The fact that you’re an Alpha who can’t give your Alpha a child," Kim Minjae said, smiling sadly. "We’re in the same boat, you know?"

Ah, right.

Kim Minjae is also an Alpha, who’s in a relationship with my Alpha father-in-law.

"Are you not scared that Baek Jeho might want a child in the future?"

"I believe that’s none of your business, sir."

"Yes, I know. But I’m curious about your thoughts since, as I said earlier, we’re on the same boat," Kim Minjae said solemnly. "I’m an Alpha, so I can’t give Jiedong-ssi a child, even if I want to. And that makes me really sad. So, how about you, Euntak-ssi? Do you feel the same?"

Cho Euntak didn’t feel obliged to answer Kim Minjae, so he just bowed his head and left the older Alpha.

However, Kim Minjae’s question was stuck in his mind.

But it’s not like I want a child...

How about Baek Jeho, though?

***

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