Chapter 57

What Gyeol chose was the fourth pheromone.

The refreshing scent that had been revealed today to be not merely soap, but something closer to an aquatic fragrance. A scent that wrapped around him in warmth and comfort, soothing his heart at ease.

“G-Gyeol... are you alright?”

“I think you’re the one who doesn’t look alright, Sun.”

“I’m perfectly fine! I’m not nervous at all.”

“You seem extremely nervous, though...”

“I truly am not.”

There was no denying it. Once again, the pheromone that had most strongly stimulated Gyeol’s instincts and sexual impulses had been Yo Han Sung’s.

Yo Han’s pheromones were also the ones that had paralyzed his reason and judgment enough to make him nearly do something reckless.

And yet, the reason Gyeol chose the fourth pheromone was not simply because he wanted to avoid Yo Han’s.

Being born an Omega meant fearing the way Alpha pheromones could sweep him away. It meant fearing the unconscious confrontation with emotions he either had not realized or had desperately tried to ignore. The suspicion that instinct and emotion might actually be deeply connected—that was what terrified him.

So this choice was an escape, yet not truly an escape. Avoidance, yet not avoidance.

Gyeol chose the option that put his heart more at ease. Rather than the overwhelming urge that threatened to consume him, he chose the stability that allowed him to breathe.

And hadn’t there been positive change, too?

A pheromone that once meant nothing to him had begun to feel entirely different.

He was curious who it belonged to.

And so, the result of choosing the fourth pheromone was—

“Well then, Sun... shall we go in?”

It was Sun Choi.

“Yes, Gyeol.”

With this, Gyeol had identified every Alpha’s pheromone.

Tommy’s sweet bread scent. Woo Seok Jung’s forest scent. Sun Choi’s soap-like fragrance tinged with water. Jun Shin’s citrus scent. And finally, Yo Han Sung’s musk blended with animalistic spice.

Seeing Sun move with stiff, awkward steps, Gyeol smiled faintly and entered the Time Booth beside him.

“......”

“Wow. This is intense.”

Sun lost the ability to speak, while Gyeol burst into laughter out of sheer disbelief.

The setup inside the Time Booth was shamelessly blatant. The room was not large. Against the wall stood a double bed, while a low table and a loveseat just big enough for two people occupied the center.

The production staff’s intentions were painfully obvious. We’ve prepared the stage, so go ahead and do something.

“Uh... ah... where...”

Apparently reaching the limits of what his brain could process, Sun stammered and paced around the room in circles.

Seriously, what was he supposed to do with this man? Who on earth looked at him and saw a three-time Olympic gold medalist Swimming Emperor?

The room itself was absurd, but considering his partner was Sun, Gyeol doubted anything particularly outrageous would happen. He pointed toward the sofa.

“We can’t spend an hour standing around. Should we sit over there?”

“Yes.”

The moment Gyeol suggested it, Sun strode over and sat perfectly upright on the sofa. His back was straight, chest broad and rigid with tension.

“Wow, your posture’s amazing.”

Genuinely impressed, Gyeol sat beside him. The loveseat was narrow enough that his bare knee, exposed beneath his shorts, brushed lightly against Sun’s thigh. Sun visibly flinched and immediately folded himself away toward the opposite side.

“...Please sit comfortably, Gyeol.”

“If I tell you that you look uncomfortable, you’ll probably get even more uncomfortable, won’t you?”

“......N-no. Not at all.”

At that moment, a heavy click echoed from outside as the door locked.

Both of them instantly turned toward it.

“Wait, did they seriously lock the door?”

“I... think they did.”

“Wow. R-Connect really doesn’t mess around. They’ve literally imprisoned us so we can’t leave for an hour?”

Rather than feeling nervous, Gyeol found it funny enough to laugh under his breath. Being here with Sun genuinely made the enclosed room feel comfortable.

“...This is seriously driving me insane.”

Sun, on the other hand, appeared to be having a very different experience. Letting out a weak groan, he buried his face in both hands.

“Don’t worry so much. It’s not like you think I’m going to do something to you, right?”

Gyeol teased him lightly, trying to comfort him.

“That’s not it...”

Sun rubbed his face harshly, his ears burning red.

And just as he was about to continue—

— Sun Choi and Go Gyeol’s ‘Pheromone Time’ will now begin.

— For the next hour, the two of you will continuously release your pheromones. ℯ

The narration echoed through the room.

Couples successfully matched during pheromone matching were granted access to the Time Booth. Starting from Season 10, participants randomly drew one of three different Time categories.

The category Sun and Gyeol had drawn was ‘Pheromone Time.’

Woo Seok Jung and Jaekyung Park had apparently received ‘Skinship Time.’ Gyeol tried not to think too much about it, but unlike Woo Seok, who had looked thrilled, Jaekyung’s expression had been visibly awful. Somehow, that lingered unpleasantly in Gyeol’s mind.

He honestly didn’t know which would be harder—Skinship Time or Pheromone Time.

Still, vaguely, Gyeol felt that if he was with Sun, neither one would be impossible.

“What were you trying to say earlier?”

Following the instructions, Gyeol slowly began releasing his Omega pheromones. His scent carried notes of lilies blended with vanilla. Clean floral sweetness softened gently at the edges.

Sun lowered his hands and took a deep breath. Then, as if making up his mind, he looked up.

His honest gaze settled on Gyeol. Carefully, he placed his hand atop the bandaged back of Gyeol’s hand and released his pheromones.

“...I’m not worried about you, Gyeol. I’m worried about myself.”

Warmth seeped through the back of Gyeol’s hand alongside the cool, gentle scent.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold back and might end up doing something to you.”

Gyeol could not bring himself to pull away.

“...But I already have.”

Lowering his chin slightly, Sun smiled faintly.

A dull ache spread through Gyeol’s chest.

“Would it be alright if I kept holding your hand?”

“......Yes.”

Unable to pull away, unable to think of any proper response, Gyeol merely bit down softly on his lip before giving a small nod.

They were hardly even holding hands—Sun’s hand merely rested over his—yet he looked visibly happy.

Their pheromones slowly blended together in the air. The scent was strangely harmonious, like lilies floating atop water.

This was the first time Gyeol had ever mixed pheromones with an Alpha since Jun Shin.

To think a moment like this would ever come again.

“Your pheromones really smell wonderful, Gyeol.”

“Yours too.”

He had chosen Sun because he felt comfortable with him. Because he believed there would be no discomfort between them.

But he had been wrong.

Very wrong.

Even though their pheromones blended together this perfectly, Gyeol became increasingly uncomfortable sitting there.

“I chose your pheromones last time too.”

“...Really?”

“Yes. I was genuinely happy to learn the pheromones I was most drawn to belonged to you.”

Gyeol had never even considered that possibility.

He could not tell whether the heat climbing up his neck came from Sun’s words or the pheromones surrounding them.

But he was undeniably growing hotter.

“You always say such kind things to me... I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to repay you.”

“You don’t need to repay me. I’m not doing these things because I expect something in return.”

“Still...”

“Even if you do nothing, I think I’ll choose you again during the next pheromone matching.”

Gyeol’s eyes widened.

The earlier awkward embarrassment had vanished completely. Under the soft amber lighting, Sun’s gentle smile was painfully attractive.

How could someone look at him with eyes so full of acceptance? Eyes that seemed willing to embrace him exactly as he was?

What if there’s something ugly hidden inside me?

You don’t even know why I came on this show.

“Your face is red.”

“...It’s because you keep saying embarrassing things like that.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose I’m doing well.”

The tingling sensation slowly transformed into throbbing pain.

Gyeol felt guilty.

Sun was too good of a person.

Someone like Gyeol—who had come onto this show with the selfish ambition of becoming the ‘main character’—was not someone Sun should carefully weigh his feelings against. He was not someone who deserved to be treated this way.

No one among the cast deserved to be treated carelessly, of course...

But even so, Gyeol had never imagined he would encounter sincerity like this on R-Connect, of all places. Especially not on a celebrity special season filled with entertainers and public figures.

“...I think I’m getting hot too.”

Sun whispered quietly.

Silence followed.

Only the ticking of the clock echoed softly through the room.

Their pheromones completely filled the space now. Every time Gyeol breathed in and out, Sun’s scent seeped into his body in heavy waves, like swallowing water.

“Gyeol.”

“......Yes?”

“May I hold you?”

There was no way Gyeol could answer immediately.

Even while feeling his body grow hotter, he could not shake the awareness that he was doing something cruel to a genuinely good person.

Harden your heart, Go Gyeol.

Think about your past, nothing but failure.

Think about Kisoo hyung running himself ragged for you.

Think about Hyesung taking care of the baby for you.

Yuli.

My only baby.

Think about Yuli.

Just as he resolved to refuse, Sun gently pulled Gyeol by the shoulder.

Without resistance, Gyeol was drawn into his arms.

Sun’s embrace was broad like the sea itself.

It felt like he could sink into it and breathe comfortably forever.

“...Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

Sun whispered softly beside his ear, so quietly the audio probably wouldn’t even catch it.

He was right.

Gyeol really did feel like crying.

“If you want to cry, then cry. I’ll hide you.”

Sun was so kind.

And Gyeol felt so sorry toward him that he wanted to cry.