HTTRPIAO Ch 0

If there truly is a God, He couldn’t do this to me. My life is already miserable enough, how much more wretched must I become?

 

Etienne bit his lower lip and curled his body as tightly as possible. His teeth chattered as if he were freezing, and his body trembled. In contrast to his shaking body, his insides were burning hot like boiling water.

 

Please, please, please…

 

Etienne prayed in his head, feeling tears welling up. Whether it was God or the devil, he wished anyone would save him from this crisis.

 

However, no one answered his prayers. As always, no miracle occurred this time either.

 

“Hyung-nim.”¹

 

Along with the rustling sound of stepping on grass, an urgent voice was heard. Etienne, who had been trying to calm his body somehow, froze at the voice in his ears.

 

It was the last voice he wanted to hear right now.

 

“Why did you suddenly…”

 

Rishar, who had finally caught up with Etienne, paused as if catching his breath. He furrowed his brows looking at Etienne, who had hidden his face between his knees. Something was off.

 

“…Are you crying?”

 

Rishar asked in a low voice after hesitating briefly. Etienne didn’t answer.

 

“Hyung-nim.”

 

When Etienne made no response to his question, Rishar called out to him again.

 

“Etienne hyung-nim.”

 

Persistent bastard. Just go away.

 

Etienne cursed inwardly at Rishar who kept calling him. Though he wanted to shout at him to get lost, he couldn’t. If he made a sound now, Rishar would immediately notice something was wrong with him.

 

The moment he made a sound, Rishar would realize something was strange about him.

 

“Hah.”

 

Rishar, who had been looking down at Etienne as he continued to ignore him, let out a small sigh. Etienne gritted his teeth at the small breath sound above his head. Just one breath made his abdomen tingle.

 

I’m fine. I’m… 

 

Etienne tried with all his might to suppress the heat rising in his lower half. He had to somehow contain his raging pheromones before Rishar noticed.

 

“…Leave.”

 

Etienne barely managed to squeeze out one word, straining his throat to keep his voice from trembling. He hoped Rishar would leave without worrying about him. If Rishar found out, everything would be over.

 

But Rishar didn’t move according to Etienne’s wishes. His keen senses detected the slight tremor in Etienne’s voice, which sounded so low as if he were underwater.

 

“I can’t leave you alone.”

 

Behind the stiff voice came the crisp sound of grass being flattened. Right after, a scent like the cold night air drew closer. Rishar had knelt on one knee in front of Etienne.

 

“Hah…!”

 

Etienne caught his breath at the intense pheromones stimulating his nose. His insides grew hot like oil catching fire.

 

It’s dangerous.

 

Etienne curled his toes at the chill running down his spine. His head was dizzy, and his eyes burned.

 

“Hyung-nim?”

 

Sensing something strange, Rishar reached out toward Etienne. Though he didn’t want to do anything Etienne disliked, he had no choice. Right now, Etienne was clearly in an unstable state.

 

“D-don’t touch me!”

 

Slap

 

Rishar’s hand never reached Etienne. A sharp voice rang out along with the sound of skin being hit. Rishar slightly frowned at the obvious rejection.

 

“D-don’t, w-worry, about m-me.”

 

Etienne hissed like a cat with its fur standing on end. However, his words wouldn’t come out properly. His voice trembled terribly.

 

“Get lost.”

 

As Etienne spat out the words through gritted teeth, Rishar hesitated. Meanwhile, Etienne moved his hands like someone drowning in the sea. Grabbing the tree behind him, he forced himself to stand up.

 

“Haah, haah.”

 

I have to escape. I need to get away quickly…

 

Rough breaths escaped between his lips. His heart pounded as if it would jump out of his chest, reacting to Rishar’s pheromones. Etienne forcibly took a step while feeling his vision blur.

 

“Hyung-nim!”

 

When Etienne stumbled heavily before taking even one full step, Rishar quickly moved to support him. The moment those firm arms wrapped around his waist, Etienne felt dizzy as if everything was spinning.

 

“Let go!”

 

Etienne desperately pushed away Rishar who was supporting him. It was an incredibly weak action contrary to his desperate feelings.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Despite Etienne’s rejection, Rishar pressed even closer instead. Usually, he would have backed off by now, but Etienne’s condition was too concerning.

 

Above all, his instincts were screaming. Don’t back away, no matter what.

 

“Let’s head back inside. I’ll call a doctor.”

 

“That isn’t necessary. I’m f-fine, so please…”

 

Let go.

 

Etienne pleaded with a sobbing voice. Goosebumps rose whenever Rishar’s gaze touched his skin.

 

“Don’t be so stubborn. You can barely stand right now.”

 

Rishar leaned his upper body towards Etienne. He intended to carry him by force if necessary.

 

“Mmph.”

 

Etienne swallowed his breath at the scent of his body stimulating his nose. His heart pounded like it was doing jumping jacks, and his stomach churned. Rishar’s face hardened as Etienne covered his mouth with his hand.

 

“Hyung-nim.”

 

A gentle hand, as tender as his voice, touched his cheek. Etienne lowered his head, avoiding Rishar who tried to check his face. He didn’t want to show his tear-stained eyes or his face flushed with excitement.

 

“Please lift your head.”

 

“No…”

 

Etienne shook his head stubbornly. Rishar let out a small sigh while looking at him being obstinate.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Apologizing once more, Rishar grabbed Etienne’s chin and forcefully lifted it.

 

“…!”

 

The moment he met those deep blue eyes like the night sea, Etienne froze like prey caught by the neck.

 

Rishar was equally shocked.

 

Rishar was taken aback by this side of Etienne he had never seen before. Meeting those wavering eyes, which were the same color as water, the strange sense of incongruity he’d been feeling grew stronger.

 

The flushed cheeks, eyes darker than usual, and dazed face wet with sweat were all too stimulating.

 

Above all, what stimulated him most was the scent flowing from Etienne’s body.

 

“This…”

 

Rishar muttered with a perplexed expression as he detected the subtle floral scent. Wrinkles formed on his perfect brows. He moved his body following instinct before thinking.

 

“…!”

 

Etienne’s eyes widened in surprise at Rishar’s sudden embrace.

 

“R-Rishar!”

 

Caught in those firm arms before he could resist, Etienne struggled like a trapped animal. But Rishar had no intention of letting him go.

 

“Just a… just a moment.”

 

Rishar whispered while pulling the violently struggling Etienne closer. Strangely, his mouth felt dry.

 

Rishar tightened his arms around Etienne to prevent his escape, feeling an intense thirst. Then he buried his face in the slender neck.

 

Rishar took a deep breath with his nose against the reddened skin. He felt the body in his arms stiffen.

 

A gentle yet pitiful fragrance, like evening primrose blooming under the moonlight and withering with the morning dew.

 

Rishar instinctively recognized the nature of the scent coming from Etienne’s body. Usually, Rishar’s pheromones were always contained without any problem, but in this moment they burst forth like a broken dam. They raged like waves in a storm.

 

“Mmph!”

 

Etienne shuddered violently at Rishar’s scent enveloping him as if to devour him. He clenched his teeth, trying to hold back the moans trying to escape. He couldn’t gather his thoughts, as if his body was swallowed by a massive wave.

 

“Hah.”

 

Rishar let out a sound close to a gasp as he lifted his face. The pieces in his mind came together one by one, and the scattered puzzle was completed.

 

“Hyung-nim.”

 

Finally understanding everything, Rishar called to Etienne with a forced laugh. He found it ridiculous that he hadn’t noticed this until now.

 

“Etienne de Frederick.”

 

I’ve been found out.

 

Etienne squeezed his eyes shut the moment Rishar called his full name. A deep sense of despair made his mind go blank.

 

Rishar moistened his lower lip with his tongue while looking down at Etienne, who was trembling with his chin still in Rishar’s hand. His dark blue eyes sparkled as if he had just discovered a tasty prey.

 

“You…”

 

Rishar trailed off, his lips moving slightly. As he realized the secret Etienne had been hiding all this time, a sudden uncontrollable hunger rose within him.

 

“Were an omega?”