TL | Chapter 26 | Just Haven’t Done It

“…Keep this quiet… Don’t let the Boss hear about it… I’ll be going to work tomorrow. No need to pick me up; I’ll make my way there myself.”

Iden finished his call with Min, then turned to look toward the bedroom. What had started between him and Seowon in the living room had eventually moved to the bedroom, where it continued endlessly. After coming back from the grocery store, they hadn’t left the bed for nearly two days straight.

Not even when they’d bonded had they spent this long together. Back then, Iden had held back to avoid putting too much strain on Seowon’s body.

But this time, he showed no such restraint. It seemed that Seowon, in the midst of his heat cycle, had started calling him “Iden hyung” again. Ever since he began distinguishing between Iden and “Iden hyung,” Seowon had stopped using that term. Yet, now he clung to Iden, addressing him in that familiar way without even realizing it.

Once Seowon’s firm walls of reason shattered, he seemed unable to differentiate between him and “Iden hyung.” Even though he appeared to be accepting Iden, he wasn’t. The one Seowon was calling out to, the one he clung to, was “Iden hyung.”

So there was no way Iden could indulge Seowon in the gentle way he wanted. If he did, Seowon would only think of him even more.

It was deeply unsettling, even though he knew in his head that it was natural. It was as if something that was once rightfully his had been stolen. And it didn’t help that his object of jealousy was, well, himself—the version of him that was now dead. He couldn’t exactly confront that.

What if “Iden” were still alive in the world Seowon had come from? If that were the case, Seowon would surely try to return to his original world. The thought made Iden chuckle. Regardless of Seowon’s wishes, he wouldn’t have let him go. If another “Iden” had awaited Seowon in that world, Iden would have found a way to get rid of him to keep Seowon for himself.

Seowon would probably be horrified and try to run if he ever knew what was going on in Iden’s mind.

Good thing that “Iden” in Seowon’s world was already dead.

“Do you see yourself as a substitute?” Min had asked cautiously, trying to gauge his thoughts when he had first brought Seowon in.

“No. No one could ever be a substitute.”

How could someone else ever be a replacement for a marked partner? No matter how alike they were, or if they were an Omega, no one could ever take Seowon’s place.

The person resting in that bedroom was “Ha Seowon” himself. Even if he wasn’t the same Seowon who had once died, it made no difference to Iden. He wasn’t a ghost returning from the afterlife, but he was Ha Seowon nonetheless. The thought that Seowon harbored feelings for the other “Iden” was annoying, but since that other self was also him, Seowon would eventually have to accept him.

Iden opened the bedroom door and went to the bed where Seowon lay, fast asleep. He brushed Seowon’s loose hair off his face, leaning down to press a soft kiss on his forehead and then on his cheek. The lingering sweet scent subtly ignited his desire, but any more, and he’d never make it to work tomorrow.

Now that Seowon’s heat cycle was subsiding, he no longer called him “Iden hyung.” The contrast was amusing yet oddly endearing. By the end, Seowon had clearly come to understand which “Iden” was holding him.

He wondered what Seowon would call him when he awoke. “Iden hyung”? “Director”? He was curious to see how Seowon would define him.

The alarm was obnoxiously loud. It wasn’t his own, which made Seowon frown and reach out, groping for the source. His phone wasn’t where he usually left it, so he sat up groggily, blinking around the room. A small alarm clock was ringing on the pillow beside him. He turned it off, taking a deep breath.

He couldn’t feel anything below his waist. He had no idea how much they had done. He vaguely recalled glimpses of darkness outside the window, followed by bright sunlight pouring in. At least a day or two must have passed.

Though he’d expected the sheets to be a mess, they were surprisingly clean and fresh, which meant Iden must have changed them. Seowon couldn’t believe he hadn’t woken up for any of it. Even in a heat cycle, he prided himself on his stamina…

Do mafia guys go through some kind of endurance training? Iden’s stamina was on another level. The thought of his chiseled abs made Seowon groan. That kind of physique didn’t come easy; it took years of effort and discipline.

“Engrave it on your body. Remember who’s holding you.”

There was no need to engrave it. There was no mistaking it. The person he once trusted as the most familiar was now holding him in a completely different way.

“After all that, he’s not even here.” The empty space beside him made Seowon feel oddly wistful. It was probably for the best that he wasn’t there, yet waking up to an empty bed felt somewhat lonely.

He picked up the alarm clock, checking the time and the date displayed on the small screen. Tuesday. He sighed. After starting his heat cycle on Sunday and spending the next two days doing nothing but… well, that, he was completely drained.

Had Iden gone to work? It was still just before 8 a.m., but since he had missed work the day before, maybe he’d decided to go in early today. If that was the case, he could have at least left a note. Seowon looked around the bedroom but saw no sign of one. Maybe he’d left a message on his phone? Except, Seowon couldn’t find his phone either. They’d started in the living room after coming back from the grocery store, so it was probably still lying around somewhere out there.

First things first, he had to get out of bed. He managed to stand on wobbly legs and checked his body. He debated showering but realized he was surprisingly clean. There was no uncomfortable feeling of anything running down his thighs either.

Had Iden cleaned him up and even taken care of the mess inside him? If so, then Seowon hadn’t just been asleep; he’d been out cold. The thought that Iden might have cleaned him while he was unconscious made Seowon shake his head in disbelief. He found some clothes and got dressed.

As he walked out into the living room, a savory aroma caught his attention. He wasn’t alone, then. Following the scent to the kitchen, he found Iden setting the table. The sight of him in an apron over his suit was so unexpected that Seowon froze.

“Take a seat. I was just about to wake you up anyway,” Iden said, gesturing to the chair opposite him. In a daze, Seowon pulled out the chair and sat down, blinking at the bowl of egg porridge in front of him.

“I figured your throat might be sore, so I made porridge. Is that okay?”

The man who’d once fumbled with salad was now offering him homemade egg porridge.

“Did you…buy this somewhere?”

It was served beautifully in a porcelain bowl, but he couldn’t shake off his suspicion. Iden chuckled and picked up his own spoon.

“I told you, just because I haven’t done it doesn’t mean I can’t.”

So he really had made it himself. It looked decent enough, but Seowon still eyed it warily as he picked up his spoon and scooped up a bit of the porridge. It was steaming hot, and as he blew on it, Iden rested his chin on his hand, watching him.

“It’s a bit much, you staring at me like this in the morning.”

He almost commented on how it felt like Iden was about to devour him with his eyes, but after two days of being literally devoured by him, he held back.

“Well? How is it?”

Seowon hadn’t even taken a bite yet, but Iden was already asking. He could guess what kind of answer Iden was hoping for, but he had no intention of lying. Finally, he put the spoonful in his mouth, and his eyes widened.

Why was it… good? He said he couldn’t cook.

“Seems like you like it,” Iden noted with a satisfied smile, picking up on Seowon’s subtle change in expression.

“How did you…?”

The difference between this and his last attempt was huge.

“If you’ve got a recipe, there’s nothing you can’t do,” Iden replied easily. But simply following a recipe didn’t guarantee good results. Seowon himself had tried cooking several times, only to fail every time. “Iden” had always reassured him, saying he didn’t need to push himself and that he’d take care of it.

“This feels… a little unfair.”

Iden could make it look so easy, while Seowon had struggled despite his efforts. What was he doing wrong?

“If there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me.”

“You sound like you could make anything.”

“We’ll see, won’t we?” Iden replied, exuding confidence.

Seowon looked up at Iden with just his eyes, noticing the unshakable self-assurance radiating from him.

“If there’s something you like, just let me know.”

It was as if he was willing to make anything Seowon desired.

“Is there something you want to eat? Tell me, and I’ll make it for you.”

The memory of his voice echoed in Seowon’s ears. He looked back at Iden, who, noticing the gaze, gave him a look that seemed to say, “What’s wrong?” Seowon shook his head, dismissing it, and took another spoonful of porridge.

It was strange. When he recalled “Iden’s” voice, it no longer ached. The porridge slipping down his throat felt warm, just like before.