DASH

Chapter 42

"Ah? Why are you here?" - leaving the smoking room, Jihong bumped into his colleague.

"I have a lot of work to do today

"What about Kwon Jaekyung?"

"Mine with him

Assistant Manager Nam opened his eyes wide when Jihong mentioned the youngest member of the management team to join the company this year.

"Alone?" Isn't he an intern?

Jihong shrugged, showing that there weren't many options given the lack of staff.

"Well, I guess it's okay, he's just driving Kwon Jaekyung

The man nodded, as if he was quickly convinced.

"But Mr. Jeong, it's a waste of time that you're here now

Jihon preferred to smile instead of answering.

"Come on, come on in

When he opened the door, Mr. Nam walked inside after exchanging pleasantries.

"Oh, let's have lunch together later

— Of course

Back at the office, Jihong checked his cell phone first. A message from Minwoo was waiting for him.

[Mr. Jeong, Kwon Jaekyung has finished his morning workout and is about to have lunch.]

"Probably McDonald's again," he thought, smiling slightly, and began typing: [At McDonald's? Offer him ice cream or a smoothie. Since it's hot enough, let him take both.] However, after a moment's thought, he deleted and typed the following: [Good job. Keep up the good work.]

And before Minu could answer, he hid the cell phone in a drawer. Previously, he had already done this, constantly typing, then canceling:

[How is Kwon Jaekyung?]

[Did the training go smoothly?]

[Did Kwon Jaekyung mention anything else?]

At first glance, it seemed that he was just worried about the athlete's condition, but Jihon did not like it. After all, he saw well that the reason was completely different.

"Let's not, please," Jihon sighed, rubbing his face with his palm, and turned to himself

"Kwon Jaekyung is just another athlete in our agency, and I'm part of an exclusive management team. What is the difference between him and Song Youngho? I can pretend not to notice when drawing the line, but it worked with Song Young-ho. It's not complicated, right?" He said this to himself at work, at home, and even before bed. Otherwise, he won't be able to meet Jaekyung. However, eventually, as soon as he showed up at the office, Jihong called Ming and handed him the car keys. His explanation for being overwhelmed with work is a common excuse, because his thought control wasn't working properly. He doesn't have the determination to face Kwon Jaekyung again. Perhaps Jaekyung foresaw this. Because yesterday, as he got out of the car, he said, "See you tomorrow, hyung."

First of all, he never said goodbye. He always silently got in and out of the car. But yesterday, it was as if he had some arrogance, as if Jaekyung had challenged him.

"What was he thinking?" Did he really believe that he would not be able to see me if he did not utter these uncharacteristically polite words? Or is he on purpose?

Perhaps he knows Jihon too well, or is simply mistaken. Jihong grinned, closing his eyes. Jaekyung acts like he has it in the palm of his hand.

But Jaekyung was wrong.

"No, no, no. It's not like that. Absolutely," Jihon whispered quietly. During lunch, he left the office with a friend. For lunch, they stopped at fried fish. As they entered the restaurant, news of the Pan-Pacific Swimming Championships in Incheon flooded the hall.@@@@

"Oh, it seems that the athletes have arrived," Mr. Nam commented, deliberately choosing a table with a good view. The report showed the participants of the upcoming games.

"Almost everyone made it. Our national team has also settled in a training camp today.

"They are already on drugs. But even tiny traces are easily caught

Involuntarily, a sigh escaped from Jihon.

"Well, there are times when pheromones are still released in tiny amounts, even with a chip.

— Yes, but the amount is scanty, but the effect is still there

"God," Assistant Manager Nam muttered with a hint of regret, but quickly changed his tone to playful.

"Well, then there's not much they can change. Let the "irritant" then take responsibility.

"Hmm... But the omega didn't know either...

"I was joking.

"Both of them were unlucky, but there is nothing left but to put up with it or take responsibility. Hahahahaha, I'm kidding, I'm kidding

"Oh, that's how

Jihon really believed that it was a joke, or wanted to believe it.

Something inside me still clenched: "Why can't I just ignore this?"

Thinking that he shouldn't be so obsessed with it, Jihong calmly continued, "Either way, both of them were out of luck. They probably communicated unaware of their secondary sex, which led to this result."

— Probably

Jihong continued to explain, "The omega has increased the dosage, so there is little to no secretion."

"Ah, they both did their best.

Instead of answering, Jihon pulled out a large bone from his tail, which he deftly removed from the fish the thorns on both sides. And then he added: "There was a little misunderstanding between them."

"What is it?"

"In fact, this is a normal reaction of the body, but the alpha interprets what happened as something emotional.

"Oh, you mean love?"

"I can't say for sure if it's love

"yes, anyway, the alpha mistook it for sympathy?"

"Yes

Jihong nodded, and Assistant Manager Nam did the same before taking a bite of the peeled mackerel.

"But you can't be sure that this is just a misunderstanding, and not sincere feelings?"

— Well, at first glance everything becomes clear

"What makes you think so?" Only those who are directly involved know.

"Well...

"By the way. Mr. Nam, putting down his chopsticks, asked, "Is your friend an alpha or an omega?"

— Omega

After watching Jihon for a while, he lowered his voice.

"I'm sorry, of course, but is that you?"