PC | Chapter 1.6

“I already contacted Dr. Kim, so get treated properly and bring me a diagnosis certificate.”

“Uh, huh…”

The sounds of tissues being pulled from a box and his zipper being pulled up reached my ears. Suddenly something cold touched my face. He wiped around my eyes with a wet tissue and tapped my cheek.

“Shinjae, why are you crying so pitifully? That wasn’t even half of what you usually do.”

Jung Inhyuk laughed and finished straightening his clothes.

✿ • ✿ • ✿

The taxi reached the front of the house. I got out of the cab, exhausted. Pushing open the gate and stepping inside, a familiar scene came into view.

I sat for a moment on the bench by the entrance and caught my breath. For the past few weeks, Jung Inhyuk had made me stay at the main house, so it had been a long time since I had come home.

At the time I thought it was just one of his whims, but now that I thought about it, he probably noticed the signs of my mutation first and kept me close. A hollow laugh slipped out.

I still could not believe I had become an omega. Yesterday I had still been a beta, and now I was an omega. What kind of lightning bolt from the blue was this? I ground my teeth at Jung Inhyuk’s meticulousness. A sharp winter wind raked my cheek. I exhaled a long breath and stood up.

As soon as I opened the front door, Today came running out as if it had been waiting for me. The little one whined and tried to leap into my arms, so I bent down and opened my arms to it. It rushed over and licked my face.

“Today…”

A metal scrape slipped out of my mouth. My throat burned, like I had acid reflux, and my esophagus felt as if it were being scorched. I coughed a few times and thumped my chest. Even so, the burning would not go away. There was no way my throat would be fine after having that club-like thing shoved through it.

Today whimpered in my arms and licked the back of my hand, looking at me with pitiful eyes. Seeing those black eyes fixed wholly on me, a soft laugh escaped. The comfort this little animal gave me was so warm I felt like crying.

In this hopeless life, I was glad at least I had Today. I stroked Today, who was licking the back of my hand, and met its eyes.

Today had been a stray dog. During the endless rainy season, I watched it wandering around in a filthy state for several days before I picked it up. The reason was simple. Seeing it roam around in the rain, looking so miserable, had stirred up fellow feeling and pity in me.

I made flyers in case it had an owner and registered it with a stray animal center, but no one contacted me. In the end, I decided to become Today’s guardian.

I named it Today with the hope that it would forget its miserable yesterdays, not think about its anxious tomorrows, and simply make today the happiest day.

Of course, when Jung Inhyuk returned from his seven-night, eight-day business trip, he had plenty to say, but nothing bad happened like Today being sent back to the streets.

– No matter where you pick them up, you had to pick up something just like you.

– …I want to raise it myself. Please allow it.

– Why does the name have to be like that? Is this supposed to mean it should only live for today?

– No. It means I hope it lives well, even just today.

Jung Inhyuk glanced at Today and then turned his head away, as if annoyed. Instead, he called the secretary and ordered them to prepare the dog food, bowls, snacks, toys, carrier, and everything else needed.

He had a severe cleanliness obsession, so the fact that he did not kick Today out was already something I was grateful for, and the fact that he even had supplies prepared for it put me at ease.

I held Today in my arms and turned on the lights in the dark house. While I was away, Today had stayed at a pet hotel. Maybe because it had come home after a long time away from the hotel, it was energetically rummaging around the house.

I absentmindedly picked up a snack, then glanced at the camera installed beside the TV and looked up at the ceiling and walls in turn. Cameras to monitor me were installed throughout the house with no blind spots. Even the bathroom was not exempt. My already low mood sank even lower. I did not want to be home.

“Today, do you want to go for a walk after so long?”

At the word walk, Today wagged its tail wildly and ran to the front door. I took a hat from the dressing room and pulled it low, then threw on a long padded coat. I put waste bags and a portable poop-scooping tool in my bag, then picked up Today, who was scratching at the door, eager to go out, and fastened the leash.

Thrilled at being on a walk with its owner after so long, Today tugged on the leash and urged me onward. I snorted softly and opened the front door.

There was a large park not far from the house. With the temperature having plunged below freezing, the park was fairly empty. As I walked along the path, I kept rubbing my neck. It still felt like that hideous thing was scraping around in my throat.

How had Jung Inhyuk and I ended up in a relationship like this?

My life split into before I turned twenty and after I turned twenty. Before I was twenty, I had a clear and unwavering goal in life. To become Jung Inhyuk’s executive secretary. I had grown up hearing since I was little that I was supposed to become Jung Inhyuk’s executive secretary, so I thought that was simply what I had to do. It was like a duty.

But once I fell for Jung Inhyuk, it became not a duty but something I truly wanted to do. The human heart was so cunning and sly.

Spending every hour by Jung Inhyuk’s side and supporting him so he could rise to a higher position. Just thinking about it made my chest swell, and a crooked smile slipped out.

I had even applied to the Business Administration Department at Korea University on purpose. I wanted to help him even a little. But before I could even enter university, my dream was shattered.

The day I turned twenty, Jung Inhyuk revealed his true nature, and I drifted aimlessly, my life turned completely around. And the boy who had studied like hell from elementary school through high school ended up walking the path of an actor, not a secretary for Jung Inhyuk. When Chairman Jung found out, he was furious, but Jung Inhyuk remained perfectly calm.

– I gave him to you. So however I use Lee Shinjae is my business.

To him, I was nothing but an object. An object that would be discarded one day after its use was over, nothing more and nothing less.

Suddenly Today barked softly at me. The surrounding sounds I had drifted away from in thought became clear again. Only then did I realize my phone was ringing in my pocket. Startled, I hurriedly checked the caller. It was my manager, Changseok. I cleared my throat and answered.

“Hello?”

[Uh… Hyung, do you have a cold?]

“No, I’m fine. I’m just a bit off.”

[Oh, I see. Anyway, the representative told me he set up a meeting with Director Yoon Pansu, so I called about that.]

“…Ah, I thought the meeting was the day after tomorrow. Isn’t it?”

Had the schedule changed? I tilted my head and mulled over Jung Inhyuk’s words. He had definitely said the day after tomorrow.

[The meeting is the day after tomorrow, but I think you need to get some management done before then. Is 11 a.m. tomorrow for the spa, 2 p.m. for the dermatologist, and 4 p.m. for the hair salon okay?]

“Yes, please go ahead with that.”

[Then I’ll come by your place by 10.]

Changseok sounded cheerful, happy about the long-awaited schedule, and hung up after saying goodbye. Holding the phone, I blew warm breath onto my chilled hand. Just as I was about to put the phone back in my pocket, I suddenly realized that the hospital appointment and the spa reservation overlapped.

I called Changseok right away, but he did not pick up, probably still on the line. Had he already made the reservation? I stood there looking troubled for a moment, then called him again. Changseok answered quickly.

“Changseok.”

[Yes, hyung.]

“Did you already book the spa?”

[Yes, just now.]

“Ah… could we push that time back a little?”

[The owner there’s a bit strict. But if it’s urgent, I’ll try pleading with them.]

At the words pleading, I felt uneasy. It seemed better to change tomorrow morning’s hospital appointment instead, but the problem was that it had been arranged by Jung Inhyuk, so I would have to ask his permission.

A small sigh slipped out. Neither side was easy to deal with. Still, it would be better for me to humble myself than to make Changseok grovel and suffer for it. I’d just get cussed out for it, that was all.

“No, just leave it as it is.”

I ended the call with Changseok and brought up Jung Inhyuk’s number on my screen.

Brrr. The boring ringtone droned on for a long while. Just as I was about to hang up the unanswered call, Jung Inhyuk’s voice came through.

[What is it?]

“Ah… cough, I wanted to move or push back Dr. Kim’s appointment.”

[Haa, your voice is nice to listen to.]

His voice was lazy. I pressed the phone close to my ear and focused on the surroundings. I wanted to hear even a faint bit of singing or voices, but what reached me was only the fluttering sound of papers turning. He still seemed to be at the company. The tension in my shoulders drained away. Maybe Jung Inhyuk, who had been working late, could also be heading home.

[Why?]

“Because it overlaps with my schedule.”

[Schedule? Well, there’s no way you’d have that kind of flexibility. So you’re mutating into an omega and getting bold. This is actually kind of fresh, but keep it in moderation.]

“….”