I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 170
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 170
Seo I-Kyung, standing in the studio, looked up at the painting hanging on the wall. The painting with deep colors had no definite form. As such, what people see and think while looking at it differs depending on their emotions. It’s dreamlike and makes even Seo I-Kyung, who isn’t well-versed in art, stare at it endlessly.
Click, the sound of the studio door opening broke Seo I-Kyung’s reverie, and he turned his head. Refined features, a dark-colored suit seemed to further accentuate Han Seung-jae’s coldness.
He glanced at the painting on the wall once, then approached Seo I-Kyung standing in front of it. The platinum pin inserted in his long tie gleamed.
“Were you looking at this painting?”
“Yes.”
There was no need to lie. In fact, Seo I-Kyung had been alone in the studio looking at the painting even after Jin Seon-yoo left.
Han Seung-jae turned his gaze from Seo I-Kyung to the painting on the wall. On the way back in the car, he had heard detailed information about this painting from Secretary Park. The artist’s name and reputation. However, what captivated Han Seung-jae was Min Ra-hyun’s words.
But it wasn’t a painting that would make one laugh at all. The painting was ambiguous and unclear. Perhaps because of the dull colors, it was even profound. Han Seung-jae spoke while looking at the painting.
“Is it a good painting?”
To Han Seung-jae, who had some expectations, it looked just like any other painting. He preferred things to be clear. He turned his gaze indifferently.
On the easel placed next to the work table was a canvas that seemed half-painted. And Han Seung-jae’s gaze moved unhindered from the back of Seo I-Kyung’s neck, who was looking up at the painting, to his white fingers. Seo I-Kyung’s small hands were clean.
Above all, Han Seung-jae’s gaze lingered on Seo I-Kyung’s profile as he looked up at the painting. The long eyelashes that blinked without taking his eyes off the painting created a faint shadow under Seo I-Kyung’s eyes.
“It’s just that I don’t know much about paintings, so understand that.”
Anyway, unlike Han Seung-jae who felt no emotion, Seo I-Kyung’s eyes as he looked at the painting were almost affectionate. Even that was different from what Han Seung-jae had expected. He thought Seo I-Kyung would smile while looking at this painting. Because of this, his disappointment only grew.
“It’s different from what I heard. If you like this painting so much, should I hang it in your room?”
Seo I-Kyung shook his head at Han Seung-jae’s words.
“It’s better to keep it here.”
Just then, there was a knock and the studio door opened. Min Ra-hyun, who had entered unexpectedly, announced that dinner preparations were complete.
“Alright. Let’s hang the painting here.”
Han Seung-jae answered Seo I-Kyung’s words like that and turned around. Seo I-Kyung watched his back and took a step.
“You said you were going to drink, so I was going to have a drink with you. I told them to prepare mine too.”
As soon as Han Seung-jae came out, Min Ra-hyun approached from the side and spoke. Following that, Seo I-Kyung left the studio and slowly closed the door while grasping the doorknob.
“Today I’ll just drink a little. The alcohol you drank last time was really strong. I thought I was going to die from a stomachache the next day.”
“Seung-jae.”
At the small voice calling him, Han Seung-jae suddenly stopped and turned around.
Min Ra-hyun also turned his head and witnessed Seo I-Kyung grabbing Han Seung-jae’s hand. It was nothing more than lightly holding the tips of Han Seung-jae’s fingers. But soon Seo I-Kyung let go of Han Seung-jae’s hand.
“I’ll go up first.”
Seo I-Kyung still felt burdened by eating anything. In the past, it was because his stomach was small, but now it was a separate issue. After eating, his chest area ached as if he had indigestion.
“What did you eat during the day?”
As Han Seung-jae asked this, Seo I-Kyung was about to open his mouth to answer. Min Ra-hyun made a pitiful expression.
“I-Kyung, if you’re tired, go up first. I’ll tell Butler Do to send some porridge upstairs.”
Seo I-Kyung looked at Min Ra-hyun once, then said to Han Seung-jae:
“I painted all day, so I’m very tired. I’ll pass on the porridge too.”
Seo I-Kyung finished speaking to both of them alternately and took a step. He pressed the button of the elevator stopped on the first floor and entered. As the doors closed, Han Seung-jae’s figure watching him suddenly disappeared from view.
***
In the dining room.
Han Seung-jae’s long fingertips moved subtly. The half-filled whiskey tilted back and forth. His cold eyes turned to the side. The dish prepared for Seo I-Kyung to eat was just soup in a concave plate. And the number of dishes in front of him and Min Ra-hyun sitting across from him was different.
Thud, Han Seung-jae put down the glass he was holding on the table. Butler Do, who was passing by, approached him.
“Shall I pour you more alcohol?”
“Is this all?”
“Pardon?”
Butler Do lifted the whiskey bottle and hesitated.
“If there’s anything lacking, please let me know. What else can I bring you?”
Butler Do put down the whiskey bottle he had lifted and examined the plate in front of Han Seung-jae. There were no signs that anything had been touched. Han Seung-jae pointed to the soup beside him.
“Did he eat something like this during the day too?”
As if finally understanding Han Seung-jae’s words, Butler Do looked at the same place. Han Seung-jae was asking what Seo I-Kyung had eaten for lunch.
Meanwhile, the chef came out carrying a bowl of porridge. Then, he stood beside Han Seung-jae in a reverent posture and recited in detail the contents inside the soup.
“…These are all things the doctor mentioned. Since he seems to eat so little. I chopped or ground everything finely.”
Seo I-Kyung’s soup was close to health food. Above all, more time and effort were put into making it easy on his stomach even after eating. That much care had gone into it.
Min Ra-hyun, who was also drinking, chimed in:
“I-Kyung can’t eat much these days. You know that too. It’s even more so after getting pregnant. He comes out really late, eats a little, and goes back in right away. And then he stays in the studio all day painting.”
Min Ra-hyun’s words ended there. Because Han Seung-jae stood up.
“Where are you going? Aren’t you drinking?”
Han Seung-jae hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. Butler Do followed behind him, carrying a tray.
Han Seung-jae got on the elevator. Butler Do, who took his place beside him, felt his fingertips curl involuntarily and his whole body shrink. It was because of Han Seung-jae’s fierce gaze reflected in the elevator.
Ding, a clear sound rang out and the doors opened. Han Seung-jae stepped out first. For Butler Do following behind, the ride up to the second floor felt like an extremely long time. Since it wasn’t common to be alone in the elevator with Han Seung-jae, his tense body became even more rigid.
Han Seung-jae opened the bedroom door without hesitation. His voice resonated lowly.
“You weren’t sleeping.”
Seo I-Kyung, leaning against the bed headboard, had changed into pajamas.
Seo I-Kyung stared at the bowl being placed on the bedside table.
“It’s abalone porridge, Young Master. Please be careful as it’s hot.”
Butler Do finished saying these cautionary words to Seo I-Kyung, then bowed deeply to Han Seung-jae before withdrawing. Han Seung-jae opened the lid of the bowl and picked up the tray. He placed the tray on Seo I-Kyung’s thighs.
“Eat while it’s warm.”
“……”
Seo I-Kyung stared blankly at the porridge in the bowl. Han Seung-jae added:
“Don’t you eat like this during the day too?”
Han Seung-jae took off the suit jacket he was wearing and placed it on a chair. Then he removed the cufflinks from his sleeves and put them on the table. Meanwhile, Seo I-Kyung picked up the spoon and brought a little porridge to his lips.
Han Seung-jae, who had entered the room, first released his pheromones. His white wood scent lingered faintly around the bed. Seo I-Kyung felt his aversion to the food smell disappear.
Han Seung-jae sat down on the chair at the table. He loosened his tie while watching Seo I-Kyung eat the porridge.
As if pushed by the oncoming gaze, Seo I-Kyung met his eyes and asked:
“Weren’t you going to drink?”
“Ah.”
Han Seung-jae drawled his words, then placed the loosened tie on the table.
“I don’t have a habit of drinking alone.”
The taste of alcohol is diminished too. After finishing his words like that, Han Seung-jae stood up. As he did so, he unbuttoned the dress shirt near his neck. He approached the side of the bed and lowered his upper body. Seo I-Kyung thought Han Seung-jae was getting closer and closer. The distance narrowed until Han Seung-jae’s lips could almost touch Seo I-Kyung’s forehead.
“Is this enough?”
Seo I-Kyung blinked. Han Seung-jae’s breath brushing against his forehead tickled. And from Han Seung-jae who had approached, a stronger white wood scent washed over him. Soon, Seo I-Kyung nodded.
“I’ll take a shower, finish eating.”
Han Seung-jae entered the bathroom. Seo I-Kyung couldn’t take his eyes off his back. As he did so, he gently touched his forehead. Moreover, he had clearly thought Han Seung-jae was going to drink with Min Ra-hyun.
Just thinking that made his mood sink even further, and Seo I-Kyung didn’t feel like lying down comfortably to rest. However, Han Seung-jae’s words just now didn’t mean that, did they?
‘Why does he say he’s alone when Min Ra-hyun is with him?’
Seo I-Kyung moved his hand slowly. But somehow, unlike before, the porridge wouldn’t go down. Incomprehensible questions floated endlessly in his mind. Eventually, Seo I-Kyung concluded that he might be misunderstanding. It was because he was too conscious of Han Seung-jae’s pheromones.