“……”
[In my opinion, it’s highly likely a sudden occurrence that arose as the exchange of your pheromones increased after marriage. It means the bond between you two has become that much closer.]
“You think so?”
[You said you felt like something had happened to Yeehyeon even though you were in different places. Yeehyeon’s heat was probably stimulated by you in some way, and when Yeehyeon’s heat began, your pheromones must have reacted to his. You said you weren’t that far from each other.]
“It’s only a few meters from the house to the atelier. But is it possible for me to be affected by his pheromones when we’re separated in different spaces?”
[That’s how attuned your pheromones have become to him.]
Attunement.
A strange phenomenon that appeared in Alphas who had continuously and sufficiently exchanged pheromones with a single Omega. They would react only to their Omega’s pheromones, and their protective instincts would also strengthen to increase the probability of reproduction. That was how it was known, for the time being.
However, in the modern era where both Alphas and Omegas took suppressants, attunement was, much like the existence of ‘Ghosts,’ nothing more than a legend.
[I think it’s because you two are a Diamond Dust and a Ghost that the connection and subordination of your pheromones are that much stronger. It will probably get even stronger later on if Yeehyeon has a baby.]
“I don’t mind being attuned to him. In fact, I welcome it. What I’m worried about is just….”
[You don’t have to worry so much that something similar will happen to Yeehyeon when you’re not there. A Diamond Dust is stable as long as they’re not with a Ghost. It’s been that way until now, hasn’t it? Just be careful and keep an eye on things for at least a week or two.]
“Yes, I suppose I’ll have to do that.”
[Besides, once you go to Bali, you’ll hardly have any time apart, right?]
At Marcus’s joke, Liu was finally able to relax to some degree. Hoo, letting out a long sigh of relief, he took a few more sips of his beer.
[Liu Wiekun.]
“Yes.”
[Congratulations on getting through your first rut with the one you love.]
Marcus was someone who knew as well as Liu’s own parents just how painfully Liu had struggled with his pheromones since his boyhood, with the fact that he was a Ghost and an Alpha. Coming from him, the congratulations carried a different weight and depth.
The rut he had so despised and tried to avoid.
The reason he was able to get through it safely was because the other person had been Seo Yeehyeon.
Liu smiled faintly as he gazed at Yeehyeon’s work, ‘Colorful Ghost,’ which was directly in his line of sight from where he sat.
“It’s all thanks to Yeehyeon.”
[Let’s see each other at Yeehyeon’s solo exhibition. Neither Helen nor I have ever been to Bali, so we’re really looking forward to it. We want to see Yeehyeon, too.]
Liu’s parents, Marcus, and Helen were planning to visit in person for Yeehyeon’s solo exhibition, which was two months away. The Phantom Seoul family had also decided to close the gallery for a week and come here. It was to see Yeehyeon’s first solo exhibition in Bali and also to look around the couple’s newlywed home. It would be their first time seeing each other in the several months since the wedding.
“Yeehyeon is looking forward to it a lot, too. Please be sure to come.”
[Let’s stay healthy and see each other then.]
Yeehyeon’s safety and health. That was what Liu wished for more than anything.
■ ■ ■
Liu, a large Boston bag in hand, left the bedroom. He walked down the hallway and placed the bag on top of the suitcase he had set by the front door.
A couple of suits, a couple of more comfortable casual outfits, three or four pairs of shoes, loungewear to use as pajamas, and other basic belongings—it all added up to a considerable volume. It was his luggage for a six-day, five-night business trip to Hong Kong.
Yeehyeon, who had roughly finished cleaning up after breakfast in the kitchen, approached Liu.
“Is that everything now?”
“Mm, I think so.”
“You timed it perfectly, too. Oh, right, you packed your suppressants, didn’t you?”
Yeehyeon, who had been glancing up at the wall clock, asked as if he had just remembered, his eyes meeting Liu’s again.
“I put them in various places, just in case.”
“Good job.”
A month ago, after Yeehyeon’s heat had occurred so suddenly, the two had been paying even more attention to their pheromones. As a Golden Alpha, Liu basically had no need for suppressants for any Omega other than Yeehyeon. But to prepare for any unexpected situation that might arise, he had packed plenty of suppressants for this trip.
Liu had been pouring his efforts into preparing for this business trip for the past few months.
As the first international-scale art fair he was participating in under the name of Phantom Bali, it was, of course, an important event business-wise. But what had captured Liu’s focus was a more fundamental and psychological reason.
Since coming to Bali, Liu had discovered several local artists, the majority of whom were completely unknown. Some artists had even refused to debut, leading Liu to spend months painstakingly persuading them. And his passion and sincerity had gotten through.
The art fair was a chance to finally present the works of those he had discovered with his own hands to the world. That excitement was what had made Liu immerse himself in this fair.
And, one more thing. It was also the first official fair Liu Wiekun would attend as the gallerist for the artist Seo Yeehyeon. That excitement was what had made Liu immerse himself in his work even more.
Liu was clearly enjoying this event.
If only he didn’t have to leave Yeehyeon alone to go on a business trip.
“Should I… not go?”
He asked Yeehyeon, unable to leave the entryway and lingering with a reluctant expression, wrinkling his nose. It was, in fact, a question he had been repeating for the past week. It was even the same question he had asked while looking at Yeehyeon’s face on the bed as soon as he woke up this morning.
“Why are you being like this again?”
“Yuni can handle it on her own, can’t she? She knows the gallery’s practical affairs better than I do.”
“Then it would be too hard on Noona.”
“It’ll be hard on me if I go on the business trip. Are you okay with me having a hard time?”
Liu cupped Yeehyeon’s cheeks with both hands and met his eyes. His expression, full of disappointment and regret, was directed at Yeehyeon. It was a gaze that seemed to be waiting for him to issue the order to stay by his side and not go.
Yeehyeon held his wrists and said in a placating tone.
“It’s a fair you prepared for with such anticipation. You have to endure a little hardship.”
“That’s not it, I’m saying it’s hard for me to be away from you.”
Liu squeezed the hands covering his face once more. It was just enough force to press Yeehyeon’s cheeks and lips into a funny shape. Despite Liu’s serious expression, Yeehyeon couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“Why are you laughing? I’m being serious.”
“That’s not why I laughed.”
“Then?”
Gently stroking Liu’s arms up and down, Yeehyeon spoke in a gentle voice, his gaze lowered to somewhere around Liu’s chin.
“It’s just… it made me think we really seem like newlyweds.”
At Yeehyeon’s effort to convey his sincere feelings despite his shyness, Liu grew quiet. He gazed at Yeehyeon silently with eyes full of affection, then slowly pulled him into a tight embrace. Chest to chest, cheek to cheek, ear to ear, warmth to warmth, breath to breath—he never tired of this embrace, no matter how many times they repeated it.
Yeehyeon, too, rested his chin on Liu’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around his back.
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you.”
“Preparing for your solo exhibition is more important. I’m the one who’s sorry for not being able to be with you.”
“It’s for work. I’m not upset, so….”
“Yeah, I know.”
“And my paintings, you have to take care of them, Kun.”
“That’s something I can’t give up as a gallerist.”
Originally, Yeehyeon had been scheduled to accompany him on this business trip. But his trip was canceled because the preparations for his solo exhibition next month were not progressing as planned. The work itself was going smoothly, but it was a matter of speed.
Perhaps because of the stress from that, Yeehyeon’s condition hadn’t been good recently. He often tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep soundly. Just last night, he had woken up twice in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. At times like that, Liu would hold Yeehyeon and pat his back until he fell asleep.
He wasn’t the type to complain outwardly, but Liu could tell that Yeehyeon had become quite sensitive. That was why Liu couldn’t bring himself to insist he come along.
“Noona’s going to nag us. Let’s get going.”
Yeehyeon, who had glanced at the wall clock, smiled and pressed his lips firmly against Liu’s cheek. Only then did Liu reluctantly release his mate from his arms.
The two of them picked up the suitcase and Boston bag and went out the front door.
Light gray clouds drifted across the sky of Bali, where the rainy season had just begun. It was a transitional period, so to speak, as the dry season gave way to the rainy season. It wasn’t the full-blown rainy season yet, so it rarely poured all day long, but it was certain that the rain had become more frequent lately.
“Director! Let’s get going before it starts to rain!”
Outside the main gate, Yuni shouted toward them.
A black van was waiting in the open lot in front of the gate, next to the gallery. It was the reserved vehicle that would take Liu, Yuni, Michelle, and two other employees to the airport.
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