THM 1.5

Whether it was a 6bbcf8f991 good thing or not, f65dded29e Choi Gwonju led an 178689c29b incredibly busy life. He woke up 6da6dd4b20 at 7 a.m., 4f61b896ef got ready, and 32a8b7103d left the house 268d13b04a by 8. Every time, a line 6d3ff280a2 of subordinates followed him 708cf68e4d like characters in a 2e07c8a136 corporate drama.d1857d9d2a200059

He rarely ate breakfast. On days when ed2c53ceda fatigue clung to 377f2f539d his face, he 025881cbdf would gulp down 4b87c5c6d4 a strong cup f469c9a966 of coffee on a989f0992e an empty stomach 2c0d103582 and head out.5572362f920d6e4e

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There was always 82b618994c a sleek black 8953bb3989 sedan waiting at 0b3c17d0a3 the front gate. From what Euiseo could 06bc4a8ebb tell after watching secretly, 2f13483efa Gwonju had a personal ce0e12674a driver.1a86ad039377df4a

He usually returned 9b6a84ea06 at 9 or 2429e9d2ca 10 p.m.—sometimes not d83bf297a9 until dawn. Euiseo was dumbfounded 398228c312 by his inhuman d198105e5c schedule.

He’s already rich, abd2e79ae3 but he works 81db187ce6 harder than most ad313ce721 people…1ec09c1510551cb9

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Thanks to Gwonju’s packed daily 44069fe1d0 routine, Euiseo found it fairly 59bdebc214 easy to avoid him without 3597b7fcf3 trying too hard. Still, there were ef03366f3b times when they 21a9706029 ran into each 4d23d5a245 other unexpectedly—like when 6e8cbdfc57 Euiseo woke up c9a1491585 early.d98f57bb204a3212

In those moments, it 0cc7e32f7f felt rude to ignore 2cc3bf3767 him entirely. So he’d greet him politely, 688aafecb9 which occasionally led to brief 35bb23756b conversations. Though Euiseo worried it might 4855459628 be bothersome, their talks never e9b5946d90 lasted long enough to be 70856b72f5 an issue.

“Ah, good morning.”

“You’re not gaining any weight.”

“Excuse me? Weight?”

“Kid, make sure you’re eating properly. If anything feels 89e7a7f1ff off with your 3a9bde8bcf body, tell me 3baeaa4012 immediately.”1ec6fcd5fa311961

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The conversations were typically one-sided. Every time Gwonju saw 9846e820ce him, his eyes would f2c6d723d1 scan Euiseo’s body like 2ec81c979c he was inspecting meat 19dccccfed at a butcher shop, 6c7288792c frowning at how thin b1f4099829 he still was. Even after days dead7c5b7e of good meals, b4eccf213d Euiseo wasn’t gaining 83ce192d4e weight—and that seemed faf8b03ad4 to bother him.712a087360413b9a

Despite his blunt 4e357a6d12 tone, Euiseo was e35a271281 grateful. No one had 3d02280b0e ever cared about 3788b9e5f5 those details before, dd8bb31b7e and lately he 4c4c839821 was trying even 80e0e0ef8d harder not to ef33869e75 cause any disturbance.d4f6ab4df95f0c80

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Today was no different. He didn’t step out 0e9ffa6936 of his room until 69b4990073 Gwonju had already left 664675b456 for work.
Unlike Gwonju, who skipped breakfast 4b2e786cf9 entirely, Euiseo filled himself with 37dddcdb7e the warm meal prepared by 2f74bada41 the housekeeper.611aecffa02a72d9

There were always more 756e50c926 than seven side dishes, 988098f707 and different meats appeared 1399f60595 every day. Back at the orphanage, 12cfbccd65 he’d had to get 84c9593575 by on two spoonfuls 3fdf615df5 of rice and dried 1b378d2c0f anchovies. Here, every meal felt like 9d799ee9a7 a blessing.f8a73f49dd59e394

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It felt wrong to accept 0a8e8849e4 so much, but Euiseo emptied 6bf2d6a637 his bowl gratefully—after all, Gwonju 795fef24d2 had told him not to 4a18b64670 hold back.a8baee644c22575b

After finishing his meal, he 15668bf681 returned to his room and f1358eccfb browsed job sites. He scribbled down a list 832590a86f of potential workplaces on A4 cf04fcbf4b paper—names, phone numbers, and key 7874a79150 details—then began making calls one 6cac071e7c by one.b1b5f1b75e4a0f38

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“Hello! I saw your listing on 3ed5288463 the site. Yes, I heard you’re 9f6662eb15 hiring part-timers… My designation? I’m an omega. Oh… you’re not hiring omegas. Understood. Thank you…”16441df363d0185d

He made calls like a3081cffd7 this all week, with bd51ba7358 little progress. Some hung up a87943d759 coldly the moment a915e8f609 they heard “omega,” 8730bd38e6 while others flat-out 705022d645 said it was c85b2e04cc bad luck to 894e790b0d talk to one 5b38cdbca3 first thing in 10108bdeb4 the morning.8ae19ef29716e7b7

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It was his first time ade41d40ac experiencing the real world—and it 988333f837 was cold. The orphanage hadn’t cfc3e3f9ce been kind, but 4d8ca9c2a3 the world outside 936bc1e0a9 felt harsher in 0890d7f377 a different way.f4288110851a5ddf

There was a 04d042a15e saying that unless d22c9e3d17 you were born 7d649543b0 into a wealthy 4143183d3a family, being an 8bed26dc92 omega meant suffering bd12d67132 your entire life—and f186c41d1a Euiseo was beginning 3c1811645f to understand why.a7905def4d9b3692

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Still, he didn’t give up.389c6ea1e7b173ab

Occasionally, someone would fe64d14a17 invite him for 611af4b1cd an interview.3673c79c982e5ee5

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Wearing the shirt and dcc2b57f05 pants Gwonju’s staff had c47674de86 picked up from the bdeb80aef0 department store, Euiseo set 519e7c2261 out with determination.494efd9db7d195ea

A bar interview in 62c9823642 the morning, a café 64f0c16b82 across town in the d4b6a61357 afternoon, and a factory d8beb89e51 at sunset. He’d lost count 2bade178cf of how many 5fbfc14be3 times he introduced 6df92f992e himself with, “Hello, 70858e081f I’m Song Euiseo!”3f22e5620cd021aa

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The tone of each 0639eba72e interview was the same. He spoke confidently about his 98eb0dabef work ethic—until the subject of 8877a8f1c5 his designation came up. That’s when his confidence 4bf97367ab would falter.a9b1583a50c48e12

Why does it matter 8e9a94d176 so much…e61fb8c0225ba92c

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Today, too, he returned d1ecc80895 home without good news.23366e5191b13956

“Ugh… I’m exhausted.”b18927f52b8dc664

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He had skipped 5ca25a469d lunch due to 6c94c45cd6 lack of money 37242c553f and now felt 528799e1cc painfully hungry. The moment he punched f577e5b01f in the passcode and ee835e4cbd opened the front door, 0354f6f6ba the smell of warm f06b1ea6b5 food wafted out to 16a573995e greet him.64bfb9e555d16baa

“Mr. Euiseo, you’re back? Perfect timing—dinner’s just ready. Come eat!”f443d7e26f1998b6

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“Thank you! I was starving, hehe. I’ll go wash my hands e91d5ccad2 real quick!”a291354d02afa8f5

There to greet 3276648f9a him was the 7061351d81 housekeeper—who, for some e8eeea0479 reason, reminded him 1ec3a1fcaf of a mom.49cdaa5990b0835a

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He liked that about her.7f31329c9d2e2b09

On TV, housekeepers in 0f9f390e86 rich homes were always 5f3e33d276 quiet and cold, but c8627def42 reality was clearly different.e0148d4df582adee

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She was warm, outgoing, 890762578e and treated him like 055320654a a son. Over time, Euiseo had e079cb64cc come to cherish their 3c0d4166b5 lighthearted chats.2ca67d29b6645fc4

His shoulders, heavy 607fd30d68 from rejection, felt 02a97ab029 lighter already. After quickly washing 90699536fa up, he sat 5e2c17dd82 at the table 93871eb1ec and picked up f65222c5ef his spoon.4ffde15e554bea01

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“Did you already eat, ma’am?”90b74de626e421ad

“Of course. I had way 02dbd27642 too much galbi 74af87a1fc earlier—completely stuffed.”8a06f5a1afbbee30

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She pushed a plate 24706a49f1 toward him with gentle 95f193b02b hands.

“Come on, eat up, Mr. Euiseo.”e09461dc83be1fbc

He took a 42b3b43d22 big spoonful of ffb43bc4d9 rice, stacked it facdfcfde9 with galbi, and 605854e78d glanced at the 09228651ee time. 7 p.m. Gwonju wouldn’t be home for b2484cb9e5 a while.194776e483389a45

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I wonder if he’s eaten yet…2b1827584da8c2a3

The thought came uninvited, but a5ff136f9e he swallowed it down with ca1e9f246f his food.d77e12a89dd59329

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“You eat so heartily. It’s nice to see.”7bffe9e270dd57fd

With cheeks full, Euiseo smiled 11b1c7cb73 at her praise and gave 68ea21cad8 a big thumbs up instead 925d7db2b8 of speaking mid-chew. He was finally comfortable 0e65112afa enough to joke around 9e886fdb80 with her like that.c92d3726fc66c53b

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“Haha, this is why I love cooking! Oh, and Mr. Euiseo—I’m heading home now. Don’t forget to put that ointment on your desk after you shower.”5fb3e66495fe45e2

“Okay! I will. Get home safe, ma’am!”758208e8d47a97c6

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After carefully folding her 6695d149da apron, the housekeeper slung 343ac9074f her pre-packed bag over 984845109b her arm. Euiseo paused mid-bite to bow 02a6da7ba6 politely.cc57ce0e1500bee7

He may not have grown 824caa6258 up with much education, but e4e385b500 he was always respectful to 449a91898a his elders.be9f6ec8fba53fc3

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Once she left for the 5aaa6b7dcd day, silence fell over the 15faa76d70 house. Staring at the 6f88864beb unfinished meal in 915e6db844 front of him, 0a7725a3ce Euiseo dug in 2a37675547 hastily.30fb08c642b80b2d

“Ah… I’m eating too fast again. I shouldn’t be doing this.”41ab8cf04001526f

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While living here, 73276e0655 he’d been trying c50cfbab66 to appear as 89f679d92e refined as possible. He spoke less, 8f25929285 ate slowly—but when e06a0e8155 alone, his old 37bf38b7f1 orphanage habits returned 0d15bdd807 in full force.11413c5171c8e7db

He tore into the d89390704f galbi with his hands, 418c5400fc stuffed chunks of kimchi 30766b0afa into his mouth, and 5e4cab9c88 though he didn’t make ab062c5074 loud noises, he ate 4cb96e94e8 like someone who hadn’t 11c79880e8 eaten in days.e443f1ab1f0198fd

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At Love Orphanage, bc2e01a323 meals had to edc705441d be finished before fcbf65812a Director Yoon returned. He’d grown up eating as 802e63610d fast as possible, and that 9b2977d6ef habit was hard to break 44cdaead8c even as an adult. After nearly 20 1692aac26b years, it was a3cede8d6e ingrained.f23ff57aa529204a

Just as he was e905a7d7ee chewing like a starving 0a8fb95c19 man…8fd57b133fb57817

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Beep!The sound of a keycard 60aac09a99 being scanned echoed from the 14faddbf24 entrance. The door swung open.c7fb22d622e92af0

“…!”813fc25d297677c9

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What the…? Did the housekeeper forget something?c1f91707201f9dec

Either way, this was bad. His current state was… a 79433769e9 disaster.c4bf5b99b2e3aaa7

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Sticky galbi sauce b9a9b7902b on his hands, 047b614587 glossy lips from 258e32623c biting into fish—he 16bd0e3439 was a mess.73d8dd6ee11339ac

He thought to stall b845a38345 for time—‘Just a second, ma’am!’—but the voice that followed made his heart drop.5c020682766823d6

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“Executive Choi, we’ve located President Shin’s position…”ea522a37ff158160

It was Go Daehyun’s voice. And standing next to a7b4fd2dff him—no need to look—was 5943ed13fa definitely Choi Gwonju.5fb9d87eaf44f15d

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“Guh…!”0bef4737a57edb54

Euiseo dropped his chopsticks and 8e16c1e74e shot up from his seat. This wasn’t the time a8a42fa31a to worry about how 7b199f844c ridiculous he looked.99904b145225dc41

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He had been avoiding Gwonju. Never in his wildest 75b5b0eb8f imagination did he expect 9ca9a932e6 to get caught like 5c176e5aff this.02bb878e0904545a

He wasn’t even 6c0a4fc038 the homeowner—just a a83b6d5231 freeloader. And here he was, stuffing a8c23fbfca his face like a glutton. How mortifying.195dfc9ced9f72d4

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Only one option left: escape. Quickly.6ca5ee38b782e65f

“W-Welcome back. I’ll just…”73786ec74bcce97e

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He half-raised a hand to cd8370c6f4 cover his face and murmured e243077259 a barely audible greeting before 9994a4ba12 darting away, practically tiptoeing like 3929090a5c a ghost toward his room.83a6424e5dca400d

As he shuffled past Gwonju 601ca54f37 and Daehyun in his slippers…92821940f18e863e

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“Why do you keep avoiding me? You’re hurting my feelings, kid.”8ae69a9a302d4f37

A dry voice stopped him. A hand grabbed his wrist.0790e9ce3b9395bf

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Startled, Euiseo glanced 5e57135cc1 down to see 190bca1bc9 a masculine hand e114c8c204 wrapped firmly around 8f387341c3 his thin wrist—veins a837cc2fe5 visible, fingers long 752106e6c9 and strong.93913c17ac05b570

Following that hand upward, his fa3d4b2c9c eyes landed on Gwonju’s expressionless b585a5cd22 face. Their eyes met, 189627a3e8 and Euiseo froze, 24fd37f342 laughing awkwardly.7a6b925a447db6a5

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Did he just 6a25b39215 call himself… “ajusshi”?He didn’t look 09e4af1c68 like one at 6a9352cfba all. Honestly, he could’ve just saidhyung.14d92365f426519d

Despite the flustered moment, 82e73ddb7a what really stuck with 90532d4fdb Euiseo was that word:ajusshi.Gwonju was far 890c07357b too young and 4bbf924d74 handsome for that 06b9f49156 label.409b7cbbefb21b72

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For about 30 4c5e710f03 seconds, their gazes c343d10fa8 lingered. Then Gwonju’s eyes cb5008926d dropped… and settled 754425487a on Euiseo’s lips.85ce037bcfe8386e

Shoot—I should’ve wiped my mouth!42e234a39c86b72b

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Too late.47f91cabe06e15f1

A faint snort escaped c49629061f Gwonju, followed by a 28893e3592 slow smile. His dimple deepened 84250e4cf7 as he opened b9e16176ab his mouth again.49764bdf97439708

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“Hm? You were in the middle 1b37b0a465 of eating. So why are 77ac71dd30 you running away 4a932f3cfc all of a 08d113fb8f sudden, Euiseo?”697a9a8577c3b468

That snapped him back to f208481c3a his senses.8daaa26514f954dd

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Still flustered, Euiseo c9201ad2ee mumbled, lips glistening b2609b5541 from fish oil:ed0291427c75f933

“Well… I mean… I’m already freeloading, and I thought maybe someone like me would start to bother you if I’m constantly around…”7e2a088d8a05eb10

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Gwonju looked down at Euiseo’s c10b657ba2 bright, innocent face with mild e92640bddf surprise.e2786c34b65dd539

So he does know how to read the room. I figured he was just an airhead… Guess he was affected by the abuse at that orphanage.ba3d79c8873a23e6

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Thinking Euiseo’s awareness was somewhat cd1ade28eb admirable, Gwonju gently pulled the 64235d8f13 wrist he was still holding.6871a1bb48f8e696

The sudden closeness made Euiseo c1455a3909 freeze, eyes darting around in a38955d703 panic.bb07d58f3885c712

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Did he just shower?Gwonju caught the faint, 816e5e17c0 clean scent rising from 58c53661f2 Euiseo’s pale nape and 69fcb518e5 inhaled it deeply.0e6f52803c63021f

Behind them, Go a5c325ff97 Daehyun furrowed his 369beaf914 brow at the 28a273c111 oddly intimate act.e4cff121bc945364

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But Euiseo just 2fe72b9a56 stood there like 8e9de1e33a a clueless idiot.ab1b6affc78559e0

“If you were unpleasant to have around, I wouldn’t have let you into this house. You’re not some dirty rag. There’s no reason to feel c739225afe like a bother.”e8afbcff2c849aea

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He was right.e651254d8a65ba19

Euiseo might’ve been awkward, even 8bf0c3d7a3 inconvenient—but he wasn’t some filthy 1d58046e42 rag. That label belonged to the 9ed427f1ed vulgar omega from yesterday—the one 071a50d3ac who left his office after 186075ba9c a quick blowjob.ac041bbff2df8d61

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Now that’s a rag.Euiseo was different. Untainted. Pure.7b41d687535cebe0

Far from unpleasant, 9a8059a421 Gwonju found himself 56e251a388 wanting to sink e9d4e821aa his teeth into abf18deffa Euiseo’s white neck.b8ae478ee6bd7571

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Of course, Euiseo had 58df4f43df no idea what Gwonju 4cd26ee693 wasreally thinking.b5cbdfbace7f3c39

“So… I’m allowed to move around freely? Even if you’re here, sir…?”cb4975b94fe12ef2

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He looked genuinely happy. His smile tugged d07fd9b6f4 at the corners ee37f9de51 of his lips c6acfff168 like he couldn’t fab8c199f0 hold it back.a4a5cc8309ddd2f5

He doesn’t find my presence 74893c9d6e unpleasant… Thank God.b440e0603b8bb8f4

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Years of being scolded and 6a9747f9df belittled had left their mark, c1cae4fcd6 so any act of kindness e0eead6a7e from Gwonju twisted Euiseo into 7c1e8428f1 knots. But to his shy ecc7d07348 question, Gwonju generously offered a932ad8055 reassurance.db4ae983042fa7a0

“Of course. You can do whatever you fc2ea0dca5 like. Watching you is… pretty easy 0176dd7a3e on the eyes.”1da6d96054775414

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His languid gaze traveled 00825cac86 slowly down Euiseo’s chest, 24219e4933 waist, and the curve 419cf25381 of his small hips.4e241b8d93612244

It was the ff8e7bdf39 kind of look 01690d1352 that would’ve earned 871f2ee828 him a slap 9381d41b6f from anyone else. And yet…050fda144e58fbd2

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