“Jaekyung,” he said at last, rising to his feet. “We need to talk.”
Jiheon fully expected him to ignore it, but thankfully, Jaekyung stopped and turned around.
“Talk about what?”
His voice was so gruff that Jiheon instantly regretted mustering the courage to come. But Jiheon had brought that on himself. Maybe Jaekyung’s reaction was only natural.
“I need to talk to you about yesterday,” Jiheon said, summoning what little courage he had left. “If you aren’t too busy, could you spare a moment?”
Jaekyung watched Jiheon silently for a moment, then walked over. He dropped the enormous duffel bag hanging from his shoulder into the chair across from Jiheon and sat down.
“Let me apologize first,” Jiheon said quickly. He knew that the longer he waited, the harder this would get. “I’m sorry about yesterday. You were probably just worried about me, but I took it the wrong way. I know this sounds like a lame excuse, but this is completely new to me, and I really wasn’t in the right headspace to think straight.”
Just an excuse. Jiheon gave an awkward smile.
Jaekyung didn’t say a word. In fact, he wasn’t even looking at Jiheon. The towel over his head covered part of his face, making it hard to tell what expression he was wearing.
Jiheon was in no position to complain about the lack of eye contact, though. Jiheon was grateful he was listening at all, given what he was like.
They had never been close enough to make small talk, anyway. Jiheon forced himself to go on.
“You... were right. I went to see a doctor, just in case, and apparently the chip had been malfunctioning for the past few days. I don’t really know any alphas, so no one noticed. And as for me... well, I obviously can’t tell what I smell like. I probably wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t said anything. It could have gotten pretty bad. But thanks to you, I caught it early. Thank you.”
Jiheon intertwined his fingers on the table and kept going.
“And about not believing you and getting angry at you... Let me apologize for that one more time.”
He lowered his head, remembering the things he’d said to Jaekyung the day before.
“I know you must have really been worried. Sorry I misunderstood and lashed out at you. I understand if this doesn’t make you feel any better, but I really do feel remorseful...”
I hope you’ll recognize that, at least, he meant to say, but he faltered. Jaekyung, whom he thought had been looking away, now had his arms folded and was staring straight at him.
“I hope... you won’t be too upset,” Jiheon said, dropping his gaze in confusion. He had felt somewhat hurt at the thought that Jaekyung wouldn’t even look at him when he spoke, but now that the opposite was true, he wasn’t sure what to think.
“That’s what I came here to say.”
He gave a small nod. Making it abundantly clear from his gestures that he was done, he looked down at his hands and calmly waited for Jaekyung to respond.
No matter how long Jiheon waited, however, there was no response. And the longer the silence dragged on, the more stifled Jiheon felt.
You know, it would be great if you at least said you understood. Or just walk away. Then I can leave, too.
How long is this going to take?
He’s not planning to sit here all night, is he?
Jiheon gulped silently.
“Hyung,” Jaekyung said suddenly, making Jiheon jump.
The word made him nervous at the same time. Jiheon dreaded it whenever Jaekyung called him Hyung, because he could never tell what would come next.
“So, did you get your chip replaced?”
Here was another question he hadn’t seen coming. Jiheon looked up with a puzzled grunt. Jaekyung asked again, this time more bluntly.
“Did you have your chip replaced?”
“Yes. I have a new one now.”
“So it won’t affect me anymore?”
Is that what you want to know?
Jiheon wasn’t sure how to respond. He’d half-expected Jaekyung to demand whether he really was an omega, and if so, why he’d pretended to be a beta. But instead, he was asking about the chip.
Jiheon soon understood, however.
Jaekyung had never shown much interest in other people. What really mattered to him, Jiheon supposed, was whether the omega in front of him would affect him.
“Well... I doubt it, unless the chip malfunctions again. Actually, you’d know better than I would, right? Do you still smell anything?”
Jiheon asked, tense. Even with the new chip, the increased dosage, and two cigarettes, he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
“No,” Jaekyung said. Jiheon finally exhaled.
“Right. As long as the chip works properly, there’s usually no issue.”
“Problem solved, then.”
“Yes.”
“I want a contract with your agency.”
“Wh-what?”
Did he just...?
Before Jiheon could ask again, Jaekyung pulled the towel off his head.
“I’ll sign with ProEdge.”
Jiheon stared at him.
Then, slowly, he unclasped his hands.
“Excuse me, Mr. Gwon?”
“What’s with that tone, all of a sudden?” Jaekyung said, frowning.
“Well, we are talking about business now, aren’t we?”
Jiheon tapped on the table before continuing.
“Anyway... my agency has no reason to refuse. But, this is far too... sudden. It’s hard to believe, honestly. May I ask why you chose us?”
“Well, judging by how the CEO treats his staff, he doesn’t seem like a bully, at least.”
That much is true, Jiheon thought in silent agreement. He couldn’t argue with it. The CEO being a decent man was probably the agency’s only real selling point—part of its identity, even.