CHAPTER 100: SEASON 1 FINALE

GARAM knew that he had to move, but his body suddenly froze in fear when he realized that the ’water’ that was about to be splashed on him may not actually be ’water.’

What if it’s some sort of chemical?

Like acid?

No, I have to move...

But Garam’s body didn’t listen to him.

In fact, he didn’t only freeze— his chest suddenly tightened so painfully until he couldn’t breathe anymore.

"Garam-ssi!"

Everything actually happened so fast even though it felt like eternity to Garam.

As soon as the female ’fan’ opened a bottle water with a suspicious liquid inside and acted like she was about to splash it on Garam, Shin Junho immediately pulled Garam up from his seat— and then the team manager hugged him, using his body as a shield.

Junho Hyung...!

Garam then heard a loud crash.

When he looked over Shin Junho’s shoulder, he saw Shin Geon already pinning the female ’fan’ on the floor.

At that point, the other bodyguards had already come up to the stage to help.

But it was already a mess.

The other fans were screaming while screaming Garam’s name in panic.

Everyone was worried about him.

But he could only focus on the attacker, whose cheek was pressed against the floor tightly while Shin Geon was twisting her arms behind her back.

The bottle was rolling on the floor, the liquid inside it almost gone.

Ah, it seems like it’s just water?

Thank goodness.

"I was just playing a prank on you, Oppa," the female fan said cheerfully, not an ounce of remorse on her face. "The only person who’s a danger to you is that man you call your husband— argh!"

The female fan wasn’t able to finish her taunting when Shin Geon knocked her out with a "karate chop" to the neck.

What was she trying to say...?

"Junho-ya, please escort Lim Garam-nim out of here!"

Shin Geon raised his voice for the first time.

But even though Shin Geon yelled at Shin Junho to move and take care of Garam first, it was obvious that Shin Geon was also worried about Shin Junho.

They are married, after all.

"Garam-ssi, let’s go," Shin Junho said, gently grabbing Garam by the arm. "

Garam noticed that Shin Junho’s shoulder was wet from whatever the female ’fan’ had splashed.

That got him scared for the team manager, especially when he noticed that he looked pale.

He was about to ask if Shin Junho wasn’t hurt, but...

What is that?

Garam scrunched his nose when an awful smell hit his nose— and that seemed to be the case for Shin Junho.

Oh, Junho Hyung can smell it, too.

Garam and Shin Junho looked at each other as if they were asking if "you could smell it, too,"...

... and then they both fainted.

***

SONG SIHYUK had this nagging feeling in his chest that wouldn’t disappear.

He should be concentrating because he was in an important meeting with the executives of Ilsung Electronics Co. Plus, as the president of SG Telecom Co. (South Korea’s leading mobile carrier), he shouldn’t be getting distracted.

This is an important partnership for both SG and Ilsung Group, after all.

Earlier that year, SG Telecom and Ilsung had signed a partnership for the research of advanced 5G solutions and 6G technology development.

And, now, that partnership was finally going somewhere.

SG Telecom had developed a next-generation cloud native core network system with Ilsung that could provide better 5G services.

But it wasn’t their first collaboration.

Two years ago, SG Telecom had co-developed a network system with Ilsung that was based on cloud native format, whose network functions were modularized for highly flexible scaling. Moreover, it used service communication proxy technology— allowing the carrier to provide low latency, ultra-high speed, and enhanced connectivity in 5G services at superb quality.

The success of that previous collaboration was the reason SG Telecom renewed its partnership with Ilsung.

I’m in charge of this project now, and I have to do well.

After all, Song Sihyuk was going to be SG Group’s Vice Chairman next year.

Just when he had finally gotten his concentration back, his phone rang.

It wasn’t like he was being unprofessional.

His phone was actually in a ’Do Not Disturb’ setting, only allowing notifications from his ’Favorite Contacts.’

Only a few people were there— people whose calls he couldn’t afford to miss.

’Shin Geon’ was the name flashed on Song Sihyuk’s phone screen.

Yes, that bodyguard was included in his ’Favorite Contacts.’

Only because he’s my wife’s bodyguard, and I asked Shin Geon to report directly to me if it concerns Lim Garam.

Hence, Song Sihyuk didn’t hesitate to grab his phone and stand up— even though an executive from Ilsung was making an important presentation. "Excuse me. I need to pick up an urgent call."

He left the conference room without waiting for a response.

Of course, Jung Han followed him quietly.

But Lee Chan stayed in the conference room as his representative.

This is why I have two secretaries.

Song Sihyuk picked up the call while headed to the quiet and empty emergency staircase. "What happened to my wife, Shin Geon?"

He asked immediately because it was the only reason Shin Geon would call him directly.

And he was right.

"Sir, Lim Garam-nim was attacked by a crazy fan..."

***

SONG SIHYUK almost cracked the phone in his hand while watching the viral video where Lim Garam was attacked by a crazy woman.

Fortunately, the married couple who served as his wife’s managers were quick to act.

Shin Junho hugged Lim Garam and used his body to protect Lim Garam from the liquid that the crazy woman splashed, and then Shin Geon immediately jumped the ’fan.’

That was when the video became unstable.

Screams were heard, and whoever was taking the video cried Lim Garam’s name again and again.

Song Sihyuk didn’t like how the woman who took the video was acting like she was personally close to Lim Garam.

Tsk.

Anyway, the video captured Lim Garam and Shin Junho fainting at the same time.

That was when the video ended.

"Jung Han, step on it," Song Sihyuk said coldly, lifting his head to meet Jung Han’s eyes in the rearview mirror. "I need to get to my wife as quickly as possible."

"Yes, sir."

It was frustrating how far the hotel was from the hospital where Lim Garam was taken.

Since it was an important meeting between SG Telecom and Ilsung Electronics, they had chosen an off-site venue for the conference.

Tsk.

Song Sihyuk was just about to call Shin Geon and ask about Lim Garam’s condition, but he got a call from Seong Kyungmin.

Of course, he picked it up immediately.

"Seong Kyungmin, my wife—"

"Yes, Lim Garam is admitted to our hospital. I’ve already checked on your wife. I hate to rush you, but you need to be here as fast as possible."

That statement from Seong Kyungmin made Song Sihyuk nervous.

But he tried to stay as calm as possible.

"Is my wife in grave danger?"

"Shin Geon-ssi brought the chemical that Lim Garam’s attacker tried to splash on him. After conducting the necessary tests, we’ve determined that the chemical has heat-inducing properties. Needless to say, it’s harmful to Omegas as it forces them to go into heat."

Ah, so that was why both Lim Garam and Shin Junho had fainted.

They’re both Omegas.

Song Sihyuk’s jaw clenched. "So, is my wife in heat now?"

"Yes, but Lim Garam’s heat is the same as the heat of a newly manifested Omega. It means he doesn’t feel aroused— he’s in extreme pain."

Oh, right.

An Omega’s first heat is said to be very painful— even Alphas know that much.

Probably even more so for Lim Garam who was forced to go into heat.

"I already gave Lim Garam medicine to relieve his pain, but that won’t be enough. Lim Garam is strongly attached to you, so your pheromones might help more than the medicine he took. So, please come here as soon as possible."

"I’m already on the way," Song Sihyuk assured the doctor. "Take care of my wife until I get there, Seong Kyungmin."

After that, he ended the call.

Fuck.

"Jung Han, is the person who attacked my wife already in our custody?"

"Yes, sir," Jung Han answered immediately. "Before we left the hotel earlier, I sent our people to the police station. They’ll take care of everything and make sure the assailant won’t get away with it."

"That bitch knows Lim Garam is an Omega."

"Huh? But how..." Jung Han trailed off when he probably realized he was about to ask a stupid question. "I’ll tell the team sent there to interrogate the assailant, sir."

"According to Seong Kyungmin, that person threw a heat-inducing chemical at my wife," Song Sihyuk said, looking outside the window. "Tell our people to make sure that bitch doesn’t open her mouth and say unnecessary things about Lim Garam."

***

"IS IT DONE YET?" Song Sihyuk asked impatiently while watching Seong Kyungmin inject him with a rut suppressant medicine. "Hurry up, Seong Kyungmin."

When he arrived at the hospital, Seong Kyungmin brought him to his office first to administer some rut suppressant.

It was for Song Sihyuk to avoid losing his mind from Lim Garam’s pheromones.

My wife’s pheromones might trigger my rut, so we have to do this.

"Done," Seong Kyungmin said after injecting the medicine into Song Sihyuk’s veins. "Sihyuk-ah, be careful. This is Lim Garam’s first heat as a new Omega— his libido is down, and the only thing he can feel is pain."

"I know that," Song Sihyuk said, scoffing. "Can I see my wife now?"

"Go ahead."

Song Sihyuk just patted Seong Kyungmin’s shoulder before leaving the doctor’s office.

He went straight to the VIP Room where Lim Garam was admitted.

Yeah, he was alone because he had sent Jung Han to the police station to take care of the bitch who attacked his wife.

"Sir, you’re here."

Shin Geon was standing guard outside Lim Garam’s room.

The Alpha bodyguard looked uncomfortable, probably because he could smell Lim Garam’s strong pheromones. But Shin Geon didn’t lose his mind from the scent.

After all, Shin Geon was already imprinted with Shin Junho.

And that’s why I chose him as Lim Garam’s bodyguard.

"You may leave now, Shin Geon," Song Sihyuk said. "Shin Junho is also admitted here, right? Go and take care of your wife."

Shin Geon looked surprised, and then hesitant.

But, in the end, the manager-slash-bodyguard bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you, sir."

Song Sihyuk just nodded, and then he finally entered the VIP Room.

Ah.

He already expected Lim Garam’s pheromones to be strong since he could smell them in the hallway, but it was stronger than expected inside the room.

My wife is really in heat.

"Garam-ah."

Lim Garam opened his eyes— tears rolling down his cheeks. "Hyung, it hurts..."

Aigooya.

Song Sihyuk’s heart broke after hearing the pain in Lim Garam’s voice while crying.

Plus, his wife looked so pale.

"My stomach hurts," Lim Garam said in a cracked voice. "And everyone smells bad except for you, Hyung."

Song Sihyuk sat on the bed, and then he gathered Lim Garam in his arms. "I’m here now, babe. Seong Kyungmin said my pheromones will help you feel better."

Lim Garam hugged Song Sihyuk tightly and buried his face in his chest.

My poor wife.

To be honest, Lim Garam’s pheromones were crazy strong at the moment that they were almost triggering Song Sihyuk’s rut.

However, seeing how sick his wife was made him forget about his libido.

Even without the rut suppressant, he still would have ignored his urges

How could I even think about sex when Lim Garam is suffering like this?

"Hyung, it still hurts. And it’s hot," Lim Garam cried, hugging Song Sihyuk tighter. "Dr. Seong said I’m in heat. But why does it feel like I’m dying?"

"Don’t say things like that, Lim Garam," Song Sihyuk scolded Lim Garam, pulling him closer to him. "You’ll be fine."

"How about Junho Hyung? Is he alright?"

"Garam-ah, how could you worry about other people when you’re this sick?"

"Junho Hyung protected me, Hyung."

Song Sihyuk sighed while rubbing Lim Garam’s back. "I sent Shin Geon to his wife. Shin Junho is going to be fine."

"What happened to us, Hyung?"

"I’ll explain later. You need to rest for now."

"But Hyung..."

"I’ll take care of everything," Song Sihyuk said, kissing Lim Garam on the top of his head. "Just sleep for now, babe. Please. You won’t feel the pain if you’re asleep."

"Okay, Hyung," Lim Garam said, finally relaxing into Song Sihyuk’s embrace. "Just stay with me..."

***

GARAM felt better after being ’sick’ for three days.

I’m not in pain anymore, but I’m still in the hospital.

To be honest, he couldn’t remember anything but being in pain during that time.

He remembered Song Sihyuk taking good care of him, though.

Hyung even helped me bathe.

In fact, his husband almost never left the room.

Hyung turned the mini living room here into his private office.

Song Sihyuk would only leave the room if he had to take a call because he didn’t want to disturb Garam’s rest.

Just like now.

It had been half an hour since his husband had left the room to make a call.

I’m bored.

And, so, Garam grabbed his phone to check how his fans were.

Hyung said my schedules were cancelled and that the company has already released a statement saying that I wasn’t hurt badly. Even so, I still want to check on my fans...

He trailed off when he saw that he got another weird message from an unknown number.

I just changed my number, and I already got a spam message?

Well, he thought it was a spam text.

Until the text message addressed his full name.

Lim Garam-nim, please check all the opportunities that you missed because of Song Sihyuk. Please click the link below this time. If you don’t, then good luck living in a bubble forever.

That message made his heart thump hard and fast against his chest.

Whoever sent this message definitely knows me and Hyung.

Against Garam’s better judgment, he ended up clicking the link that the anonymous messenger had attached to the text.

And what greeted him was...

Are these real?

"You’re up, babe?"

Garam lifted his head and saw Song Sihyuk enter the room with a paper bag that probably contained food.

To be honest, he didn’t know what to feel at the moment.

He thought all the body pain that he had experienced over the last three days had already disappeared. However, he suddenly felt sick to the stomach.

I shouldn’t believe a random text that I got from an unknown number, but...

"Why are you looking at me like that, Garam-ah?" Song Sihyuk asked, looking confused. "Do you have something to say?"

Garam clenched his hands tightly before asking: "Hyung, do you hate that I’m an idol?"

---SEASON 1 END---

Author’s Note: See you next volume! The second volume is also the last one. Haha! Yeah, we’ve reached, like, 50% of the story already. What to expect next volume? Here are the keywords: ’Googoogaga (if you know, you know),’ Running Away, Chasing Arc.

Is it too much of a big spoiler? Hehe. Sorry!

Anyway, thank you for reading! 3

---sola_cola

***

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