Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 86 Side Story

Side Story 1. Pregnancy

As soon as the cherry blossoms fell, news of rain arrived. The weather forecast, predicting the start of the rainy season soon, felt like a signal announcing the beginning of summer. The weather would soon turn hot; perhaps it was time to bring out the electric fan. Just as that thought crossed my mind, the nurse called my name.

“Mr. Lee Yoonwoo.”

Following the nurse, I entered the examination room to find a doctor with an unfamiliar face. Unlike the previous, business-like person, this one was unnecessarily gentle and kind.

“First, your test results aren’t significantly different from last time, and your pheromones are steadily increasing. Your heat cycle has also returned to normal, hasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, I glanced at the chart the doctor was scribbling on. Squiggly lines were quickly drawn over the pheromone test results.

“According to the chart, there are no major issues. While not common, pheromones occasionally increase due to the influence of dominant traits. That’s because your partner is so dominant, and it’s actually a positive effect, so you don’t need to worry.”

I swallowed a chuckle inwardly at the mention of “partner.” If Choi Taegyeom heard that, he would have been grinning from ear to ear, showing off how pleased he was. A faint smile touched my lips as I thought of him probably dying at work right now.

“Yes, thank you.”

My visit to the hospital was purely due to Choi Taegyeom’s concern. Since my pheromones first began to increase during my university days, their quantity had periodically grown each year. As my initial trait was recessive, the process was also recessive, but now, five years later, my pheromones had increased to the level of an average Omega.

‘It would be a big problem if I got sick like before.’

Anyway, he worried too much when it came to me. Even then, it was just a raging heat cycle; it wasn’t particularly painful.

“Is there anything you’re curious about?”

“Um, that…”

A small question suddenly came to mind. Something that had fleetingly occurred to me whenever I felt my heightened pheromones.

“Will I be able to get pregnant easily too?”

Since my constitution had changed, perhaps pregnancy would also come easily. I didn’t necessarily want a child, but I was curious nonetheless.

“Ah, that…”

The doctor smiled awkwardly and averted his gaze from me. His answer somehow seemed predictable.

It had already been five years since I started living with Choi Taegyeom.

On my twenty-fifth birthday, we promised to live together, but we couldn’t find a suitable studio apartment until our fourth year of university. My studio’s lease term was an issue, and various financial matters were also problematic. Time drifted by aimlessly until we turned twenty-six and he submitted his employment certificate.

Of course, that didn’t mean we lived separately. Choi Taegyeom consistently stayed at my studio, to the point where my aunt later remarked, “Shouldn’t he be paying Yoonwoo rent?”

We truly began living together right after his internship ended. Choi Taegyeom as an office worker, and I as a freelance translator. He became a manager at his company, and I graduated from graduate school, translating a couple of English books. Our cohabitation, which began when we were fresh out of college, had continued until we both established ourselves.

Beep beep beep—

While I was busy washing rice for dinner, I heard the sound of the door lock outside. Wiping my hands, I went to the entrance to find Choi Taegyeom taking off his shoes.

“You’re home early?”

Choi Taegyeom held his jacket in one hand and loosely untied his tie. The ring on his left ring finger sparkled, reflecting the light.

“I came straight back after an external meeting.”

Having recently taken on an important project, his face clearly showed signs of exhaustion. His once smooth face was rough, his eyes were heavy with fatigue, yet the way he melted into a gentle smile when he saw me made my heart ache.

“You must be tired.”

As soon as I reached out my hand, he immediately pulled me into his arms. I meant for him to give me his jacket, not to hug me. Instead of pointing it out, I hugged him back. A rich scent of soft pheromones poured out.

“Dinner not ready yet?”

“No, I’m hungry.”

“It’ll take a bit for the rice to be done, so go wash up and rest. I’ll make you dinner.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

He was clearly nodding, but he showed no intention of loosening his arms around me. He rubbed his head against my neck, like a puppy trying to rub its scent on me. I gently stroked his back and spoke with a hint of laughter in my voice.

“I need to let go to make dinner.”

“Just a little longer…”

His voice was utterly sweet. Choi Taegyeom rubbed his nose against my neck and lightly pressed his lips to my collarbone. His hand slyly tracing my waist, I carefully ran my fingers through his hair. At the same time, pleasant pheromones flowed from him.

And then, his face drew closer. He gently took my lower lip, pecking at my mouth like a bird pecking at feed. A soft tongue pushed through the deeply interlocked lips.

“…”

Tongues intertwined with familiar ease. He held the back of my head and my waist, continuing the kiss slowly. As my shoulders trembled from the tingling sensation, he gently explored the inside of my mouth. Every time our breaths mixed with pheromones, my mind felt deliciously hazy.

Surprisingly, Choi Taegyeom didn’t prolong it and pulled his lips away. I, feeling more restless, looked up, but he merely smiled languidly. His disheveled hair and languid gaze left a lingering regret.

“I’ll go wash up.”

He kissed me once more before pulling away from my embrace. A slight hint of regret was visible as he pressed his eyes.

“If I do more, I don’t think I can stop.”

The meaning of his words was obvious, so I didn’t hold Choi Taegyeom back any longer. He had come home early for once; we couldn’t waste time at the entrance. I should feed him well and let him rest properly.

“Kimchi jjigae?”

Choi Taegyeom, having finished showering, returned to the kitchen with a towel on his head. As I scooped a spoonful of the simmering stew, he leaned his face over my shoulder. Wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin, he let out a pleased groan.

“You cook it well now.”

“Thanks to someone.”

When we first started living together, Choi Taegyeom handled most of the meals. He’d make breakfast before work and dinner after returning, so I, unable to bear the guilt, eventually decided to learn to cook.

However, cooking seemed to be somewhat influenced by genetics, as I was terribly bad at it. Even Choi Taegyeom, who had willingly taught me at first, eventually threw up his hands and gave up.

He’d declare that I could never live alone, and there was even a hint of laughter in his confident expression. Just as his father, a chef, had cooking in his blood, I clearly inherited the inability to cook from my parents.

“Kimchi jjigae took three years, so I should aim for two years for doenjang jjigae.”

“Right, and then let’s aim for one year for seaweed soup.”

Choi Taegyeom smiled kindly and rubbed his lips against my cheek. Along with the subtle scent of shampoo, Choi Taegyeom’s unique pheromones wafted strongly. This must be why, even using the same shampoo, he always smelled different.

“What did the hospital say?”

Choi Taegyeom placed the spoon and side dishes (my uncle made them) and only after I served the rice did our meal begin. He poured a glass of water for me and pushed my favorite side dishes closer.

“They said everything’s normal. That it’s because you’re dominant, and it’s actually a positive effect, so not to worry.”

The doctor’s words came back to me. Among them were things that would make Choi Taegyeom smile happily if I told him.

“The doctor called you ‘partner.'”

“Partner?”

As expected, Choi Taegyeom’s eyes curved like crescent moons, delighted. The smile on his lips clearly showed his excited mood. We weren’t even at the stage to be called “partners” yet, but he seemed so happy to hear it.

“Lee Yoonwoo, you’re mine now.”

A while ago, when we went to the hospital together, Choi Taegyeom slyly called me “honey.” It was merely a joke, but the next time I went for a check-up, he was already my husband. Not only that, but with my question today, it felt like we had even earned the title of “young couple unable to conceive.”

“Was there anything else besides that?”

“Hmm…”

I hesitated for a moment. I had asked the question lightly, but Choi Taegyeom might be sensitive about it. But then again, it wasn’t really a secret to hide.

“I asked if I could get pregnant.”

At my brief introduction, Choi Taegyeom stared at me intently. Fortunately, there was no expectant light in his pale eyes. I forced my tightening throat to loosen and uttered the rest of my sentence.

“They said it would be difficult.”

I wasn’t even nervous, but my throat felt choked. As soon as I spoke, my pheromones sank low. Choi Taegyeom must have felt the heavy atmosphere, but he calmly lowered his gaze.

“Is that so?”

That was the end of it.

“…Are you okay?”

The question popped out reflexively. Seeing me, Choi Taegyeom winked one eye.

“What?”

His short retort left me speechless. If he asked “what,” I had nothing specific to answer. Asking if he was okay with me not being able to have children felt wrong, as he had never expected such a thing.

Seeing me, Choi Taegyeom spoke in a calm voice.

“If you’re okay, I’m okay. I never really wanted a child, and even if I did, it would have been fine.”

‘Pregnancy isn’t an obligation, after all.’

Choi Taegyeom only checked my expression after finishing his sentence. He put down his chopsticks and furrowed his brows, looking more serious than when he listened to my story. Soon, he asked with a voice full of concern.

“Are you perhaps upset about not being able to get pregnant?”

“No… not that.”

It was a strange feeling. I expected him to be okay, but hearing him actually say it left me bewildered. A strange sense of relief accompanied it, as if I had been subtly nervous.

“Then it’s fine.”

He resumed eating as if nothing had happened. He ate the kimchi jjigae, not sparing any compliments about how delicious it was. But even so, when I remained dazed, he gently released his pheromones.

“Looks like my honey wanted a baby.”

At his sly voice, I couldn’t help but laugh as usual.

A child resembling Choi Taegyeom would surely be beautiful and lovable. A little late, a sense of regret crept in.

After clearing the table, we sat side by side on the sofa and watched a movie. It was the final installment of a movie we had watched at Choi Taegyeom’s house years ago. While I was still confused about which character was which, some random guy got shot and died, and Choi Taegyeom laughed at my bewildered expression.

“I don’t know how you managed to be a TA.”

“Kids tell me their student ID and name first if they have a request.”

During my two and a half years as an administrative TA in graduate school, the only thing I learned was how to distinguish students by intuition. Whether they were freshmen, current students, or returning students. Their appearance generally gave it away. Just classifying them that much made dealing with students no problem at all.

As we watched the movie for a while, Choi Taegyeom, who was leaning on my shoulder, looked up at me intently. His gaze, impossible to ignore, persistently swept over my profile. I pretended not to notice and looked straight ahead, but I couldn’t ignore the pheromones, which were clearly intentional.

“…”

Sparks flew at the end of his gaze. Without either of us making the first move, we reached out our hands, and when I came to my senses, I was clinging to Choi Taegyeom. He lifted me easily and strode towards the bedroom.

“Mmm-hmm…”

He kissed me while his hands hurriedly stripped off my clothes. He ran his hands over my exposed skin and gently pinched my chest. He let me cling to his neck as he pulled off my pants and underwear in one go.

My exposed lower body felt excessively empty. It had been a long time since we had proper intimacy, due to being busy and lacking time lately. Even though it had only been a few days, it was definitely different compared to before, when we mingled bodies every day.

“Lift your leg.”

His growling voice whispered in my ear. As I offered one leg as he led, his familiar fingers probed below. His handsome, straight middle finger, contrary to its appearance, had surprisingly thick knuckles.

“Ugh… faster…”

“Why are you so impatient, hmm?”

My body had been restless since the kiss in the living room. No, even before that, I had been aroused once he got home from work. For him to ask why I was so impatient after setting me ablaze was truly audacious.

“Ah, there…”