The Omega Is Pregnant-Chapter 111

"I need pheromones."

Having heard the situation, Jin Gyu-min started off without any prior explanation.

"Come this way."

Jin Gyu-min gestured for Kang Se-heon to follow him, then opened a door and waited inside. When Kang Se-heon entered, he found himself in a small space with nothing but a single chair.

"Tae-seo is next door."

Jin Gyu-min adjusted the cap on his head. He took off his sweat-soaked cap, planning to put on a fresh one, and managed to keep his voice cheerful for his friend.

"Tae-seo is holding on well. The amniotic fluid has ruptured, but luckily, we got into the OR before it could affect Blessing. Blessing is now in an incubator, but Tae-seo needs Alpha pheromones. Your pheromones will reach both Tae-seo and Blessing."

Before Jin Gyu-min could explain further, Kang Se-heon sat on the chair.

Jin Gyu-min approached as Kang Se-heon looked up, questioning if it was time to release the pheromones. Jin Gyu-min shook his head and brought over a few tubes that looked like cannulas. He attached them to Kang Se-heon's pheromone glands and then stepped back.

"You can release the pheromones now. Go ahead."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pheromones burst out strongly, forcing Jin Gyu-min to step back. Despite having set up a barrier in the tubes, the overwhelming scent of pheromones was palpable.

Jin Gyu-min quickly covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve, and glanced momentarily at Kang Se-heon as if he were a monster, then rushed out to check if the pheromones were properly reaching Tae-seo.

Left alone, Kang Se-heon looked at the tubes attached to his body. If the pheromones flowing through them could save Tae-seo from danger, he was willing to release as much as needed, regardless of any harm to himself.

"Yoon Tae-seo."

Hoping for the safety of both Tae-seo and Blessing, Kang Se-heon closed his eyes and focused on his pheromones.

****

'Is he safe?'

Although he had not yet opened his eyes, his thoughts surfaced as if awakening from a long sleep.

The pain of tumbling down the stairs during an argument with Seo Da-rae was ingrained in his body, unforgettable.

The fear from that time caused his body to still feel heavy, barely able to twitch a finger, let alone move his arms and legs to shield his stomach.

The moment his thoughts reached Blessing, Tae-seo's eyes snapped open.

"Blessing!"

He tried to sit up as he called out, looking at the ceiling, but his limbs felt crushed by boulders, just as immobile as when he had closed his eyes. The weight felt different, especially around his stomach.

His fidgeting hand grasped the blanket, and he strained his neck to sit up, when a shadow loomed beside him. A large hand touched his forehead, and a familiar scent brought tears to Tae-seo's eyes.

"Don't get up."

Relaxing his neck, Tae-seo's head sank back into the soft pillow. As he moved his eyes to see Kang Se-heon, tears began to flow.

The tears tickled his face as they rolled down to his ears, but soon a warm hand wiped them away.

"Blessing is safe."

"...That's a relief."

Tae-seo's eyes began to close. The tension he had been holding seemed to dissolve into relief, draining the strength to keep his eyes open.

"Blessing will be out of the incubator soon."

"Did he come out too early? Is it really okay?"

"A lot of babies are born at this gestational age. Besides, Blessing was...."

Pausing, perhaps recalling Blessing, Kang Se-heon fell silent.

"He was 3.8 kilos. Not small at all."

The doctor's words that Blessing could have reached 4 kilos if full-term brought a smile of relief to Tae-seo.

"That's good."

The previously heavy atmosphere seemed to be swept away by a light breeze. Perhaps he had been worried about what Kang Se-heon might ask when he woke up.

"How long was I out?"

"Half a day."

"Is that so?"

He was relieved it wasn't longer. Having been unconscious for less time than before, he hoped it would lessen others' worries.

"Then help me up... ugh."

A pain surged from his stomach, making Tae-seo groan.

"You shouldn't get up yet."

"Why?"

After gasping a few breaths, Tae-seo looked up at Kang Se-heon, who then glanced at his stomach and turned to look at the IV.

"The place where Blessing was is hurting. There's pain medication mixed in there, but if it hurts, tell me. They can give you an injection."

"So my stomach is like this because..."

"It's not just your stomach that was stitched up. Your arms and legs also have several stitches each, so don't think about getting up."

Kang Se-heon's matter-of-fact explanation made Tae-seo grimace. He really must have been badly hurt from tumbling down the stairs.

"And..."

Kang Se-heon's hand reached out and took his. The gentle movement seemed to soothe the lingering pain in Tae-seo's fingers.

"The nails are broken, and blood has seeped into the cracks, turning them dark."

Only then did Tae-seo truly see into his heart. The worry for himself must have been tormenting him, as the shadows under his eyes darkened. It was only natural for him to feel this way, yet Tae-seo found it almost humorous.

"Every time you collapse, I'm tormented by guilt for not being there."

Kang Se-heon muttered as he fiddled with Tae-seo's hand.

"I should never have left your side. I shouldn't have dismissed it when you said you felt uneasy."

Moved by Kang Se-heon's heartfelt regret, Tae-seo turned his hand around and grasped his.

"The broken nails are a sign that I fought to protect Blessing. I tried not to lose consciousness, and I held on. I'm stronger than you think."

Tae-seo closed his eyes and breathed in Kang Se-heon's pheromones, murmuring,

"Trust in me and protect Blessing."

Even as his voice slowed as if he were drifting to sleep, Tae-seo made sure to finish his sentence clearly, causing Kang Se-heon to sigh. Knowing that sigh was his response, Tae-seo felt a wave of relief.

There had been a serious incident, but both he and Blessing were safe. There were still challenges to face, but he chose to focus on the present.

"Hyung."

What more was he trying to say beyond asking for trust? As Kang Se-heon stared intently, Tae-seo opened his eyes again.

"Please ask for an injection."

His body had been aching so much that he couldn't believe the painkillers were already working inside him.

****

It was a full day of lying down before he could finally get ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) up. The saying that moving would hasten recovery rang in his ears as he let his feet down from the bed, nearly collapsing from weakness.

Supported by Kang Se-heon, Tae-seo managed to take a lap around the hospital room and then declared,

"Let's go see Blessing."

"Tell me if it gets too hard in the middle. I'll bring a wheelchair right away."

Tae-seo nodded as if he understood, but he was determined to endure the trembling of his whole body when he saw Blessing. It was their first meeting, and he wanted to stand on his own strength as much as possible.

With his hands wrapped tightly in bandages, Tae-seo gripped Kang Se-heon's hand and looked solemnly towards the hospital room door.

"Blessing! Daddy's coming."

At Tae-seo's shout, Kang Se-heon's body shook with laughter.

Fortunately, the nursery was on the same floor, so it wasn't too far. Each step Tae-seo took felt dangerously unstable, but they made it before Kang Se-heon could tell him not to overdo it.

Standing in front of the large glass, Tae-seo looked at the blinds that obscured the view and tried to calm his anxious heart, but it was not easy.

"I thought a lot about who he would look like while he was in the stomach. I hoped he would look like me, but what if he resembled you, Se-heon hyung?"

Tae-seo spoke up, seemingly unable to wait any longer. Kang Se-heon's eyebrows rose at that comment. He had never been called ugly in his life; was there something wrong if the baby looked like him?

"Why shouldn't he look like me?"

"What if the baby is too stern?"

Tae-seo looked up at Kang Se-heon, imagining a baby resembling him.

"It would be strange if he's all stern and overflowing with charisma."

"Ha."

Despite Kang Se-heon's flabbergasted reaction, Tae-seo continued nonchalantly.

"He should look like me to be adorable, obviously..."

"Then judge for yourself who he resembles."

Kang Se-heon shrugged and gestured with his eyes. Suddenly the blinds were drawn up, and a nurse stood close to the glass, holding the newborn. Tae-seo inadvertently made eye contact with Blessing before he could brace himself.

"Wow."

Amazement escaped him instantly.

"He looks like Kang Se-heon."

Kang Se-heon was beside him, and yet there he was again, beyond the glass.

"Kang Se-heon's genes are no joke."

Speaking openly in front of Kang Se-heon, Tae-seo kept saying how much the baby resembled him. It couldn't be helped; the similarity was uncanny.

"But why does Blessing look cute, pretty, and adorable even though he resembles you?"

It seemed that Blessing was hoarding all the prettiness and charm.

"Because he looks like me."

"You’re saying he's adorable because he looks like you?"

"Yes, Blessing proves it."

"It's unbelievable, but Blessing is proving it right now."

"So, what do you want to say to Blessing?"

Tae-seo turned back to Blessing and waved, greeting him.

"Peekaboo, it's Daddy."