Therapy

Chapter 11

It has been months since Do-yoon lived in the Lee residence.

Peaceful and cheerful. 

But Joon-Ho started to sense the phantom movement in his leg muscles. Some nights, his leg nerves would twitch, and some days, they felt grounded. 

After―he was exposed to Do-yoon’s pheromone. 

Since he wanted to make sure that it had something to do with his pheromone, he told Yu-Na to let Do-yoon serve him food from now on. 

By then, Do-yoon started serving him breakfast in his office. He brought snacks and juice every afternoon. He wasn’t aware that he had been releasing his pheromone often. His lavender-chamomile scent would stay in Joon-Ho's office for a day. 

And Joon-Ho didn’t feel uncomfortable. He felt more relaxed and comforted. He likes his scent. He wanted Do-yoon to be always within his sight. Yet he wondered if Do-yoon even knew about his pheromone.

When Do-yoon was about to leave, Joon-Ho called his name. He turned around with a calm expression. “Ah, ah, y-you n-need any-thing e-else?” Do-yoon stuttered, holding the food tray. He nervously swallowed from his throat. He gazed and waited for him to say something.

Joon-Ho rested his right hand with the pen on the table. He asked out of the blue. “Do you know anything about omega and alpha pheromones and rut by any chance, Do-yoon ssi?”

Do-yoon tilted his head to the left, looking dense. He didn’t know what it was, or what it was meant for. He took out his pen and pad. He wrote something down and showed it to Joon-Ho.

“Is it something that I need to bring or do?”

Joon-Ho couldn’t help but laugh.

He’s laughing? Is what I asked funny? Do-yoon's eyes looked timid. He pouted his lips, a little bit.

“You really don’t know anything about it, do you?” Joon-Ho said. He cleared his throat. He added, “I’ll tell you about it later. Someone is coming today, so leave for now.” He expressed his sincerity toward Do-yoon.

“Ah, ah, okay.” Do-yoon felt bewildered by it and left the office in a hurry. His cheeks blushed like a peach. What was that about? I have no clue what he was asking. Should I ask Uncle Song?

Park Beom arrived and went straight to Joon-Ho’s office. Joon-ho was again looking far ahead in the backyard garden. Reminiscing about the fleeting memory he had with Han Na-ri.

“I am surprised…you called me first this time, Sir.” Park Beom said, holding a brown folder in his right hand.

“Did you bring what I asked for?” Joon-Ho asked in a low tone. He turned his wheelchair around and moved toward his desk.

“Yes,” Park Beom handed the envelope to him. He opened the folder and read. Park Beom added, “There’s not much information about him. He had seven foster parents. But the last one was the foster father who sold him to Lee Tae-sung as collateral payment for his debts. He still has to pay the interest.”

“Hmmm,” Joon-Ho murmured. Yet Park Beom wondered. “Is there a reason you asked me to look into his profile?” He added, “Besides, he’s an impaired recessive omega, Sir. So I’m not sure what you’re planning to do.”

“He’s the guy that Tae-sung was looking for.”

“Pardon?” His eyes grew wide. “So he came here to see you?” His tone was polite, standing in front of his desk.

“Yes,” Joon-Ho flipped the last page of the information. “And he also came here to convince me to go back to Gangnam,” and placed the folder on his table. “That’s what father asked him to do.”

“He was with Secretary Choi when he came to see Chairman Lee,” Park Beom fixed his eyeglasses. 

As the soft wind rustled the silk curtain from his right. Joon-Ho said, “I want you to schedule Dr. Shin to see me sometime tomorrow morning if that’s possible.”

“Are you finally deciding to do the therapy?” Park Beom asked politely.

“Yes,” he said and averted his glance to his right. “But it has nothing to do with going back to Gangnam,” Joon-Ho added, “I just...want to walk again and move around with ease. Can you do that?”

“Of course, Sir," said Park Beom. "I’ll arrange that for you.” He shifted his gaze to the left side garden and saw Song and Do-yoon weeding the plants. Joon-Ho noticed him looking at Do-yoon. He broke the silence and said, “I would suggest you keep this matter a secret from my father, including Dr. Shin, when he comes.”

“Yes, Sir,” Park Beom agreed.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, they were having their healthy lunch. Do-yoon seemed to be absent-minded, eating his rice in the bowl with steamed fish and side dishes. Song noticed his quietness, and even Yu-Na wondered what was wrong with him.

“Do-yoon,” Song took his attention.

His brow twitched, and he said, “Ah, ah, s-sorry.” He chewed his food.

“Are you alright? You seemed lost in thought,” Yu-Na asked. She took a spoonful of rice before feeding herself.

Do-yoon looked at them with hesitation. He took his time to gather his courage. Then he wrote something on the pad and showed it to them.

“What’s omegas and alphas' pheromone and rut?”

Song and Yu-Na’s eyes were in disbelief. They exchanged glances.

“You didn’t know anything about it?” Yu-Na looked baffled and added, “But who asked you that?”

Do-yoon wrote again and showed them.

“Sir Joon-Ho asked me. But no one told me about it. Not even in school. Because I didn’t finish school.”

“Oh dear,” Yu-Na sighed and looked at Song. She said, “You should explain that to him, Song-nim.”

“Uhm, how do I explain it?” Song scratched his right cheek. He glanced to his right. Yet Do-yoon looked so determined to know what it means.

“Omegas and Alphas have a peculiar scent that they release from their bodies. Their friends and partners could smell them if they released it to their liking. Both women and men." Song said.  "It could sometimes trigger or leak in certain situations. And it's called Pheromones.” Song sounded like a teacher. He added, “Rut is instinct-driven, like having a sensual urge of heat from a person’s body. To shorten it, an omega in heat and an alpha in a rut need to release their urges through sexual intercourse.”

Yu-Na was bobbing her head as she interrupted the conversation. She said, “And people like us, who couldn’t smell their pheromones, are Betas.” She continued enthusiastically, “That’s why working in a Dominant Alpha house like Mr. Lee should be all Betas or Alphas.”

Do-yoon was confused. He didn’t know what he was. And he didn’t know why, of all people, Joon-Ho asked him about its meaning. He pondered, Does Sir Joon-Ho know what scents I have? Or am I a beta like Uncle Song and Yu-Na?.

“But that’s weird…don’t you think?” Yu-Na spoke while her mouth was full. She swallowed her food gently and said, “If you’re a beta, Sir Lee shouldn’t be asking that bizarre question,” Yu-Na said. But she felt something was off. “But, if you turned out to be a recessive omega, only Dominant alphas can smell your scent.”

Do-yoon’s chest pounded as it tightened. He looked at them and gulped. I heard it once from Tae-sung-nim before. Was it when Father brought me to him? then? His heart was racing. He was unsure.

“Don’t you know that Omegas, either female or male, could get pregnant?” Yu-Na added. But Song interrupted, “But it’s hard for recessive omega to get pregnant, Yu-Na ssi. Unless a Dominant Alpha’s rut triggers the recessive omega’s heat.” He said. He didn’t want Do-yoon to feel distressed.

Song swallowed his food and added, “Also, we are all aware of Sir Lee’s current condition. It would be hard for him to tolerate if he were to smell them.”

“You’re right,” Yu-Na said in a gentle tone. “Sir Lee’s rut is unpredictable due to the unbreakable bond he made with his dead partner.” She felt sorry for Joon-Ho. “He's suffering so bad because of it.” She ate another spoonful of rice with kimchi. Chewing.

“Be careful with your words, Yu-Na ssi,” Song warned her.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s drop it now and eat.” Yu-Na said and chewed her food. While Song was a bit worried about Do-yoon’s sullen countenance.

The next day, Dr. Shin came to visit Joon-Ho. They were in the living room after Yu-Na served them coffee. It was quiet as Joon-Ho sipped his black coffee.

“So, have you finally decided to go with the physical therapy?” Dr. Shin smiled.

“Yes,” Joon-Ho said as he placed the white coffee cup on the table. He added, “But I would like to do the therapy in my house and an in-house physical therapist that can stay here for a month.”

“A month?” Dr. Shin wondered.

“Yes, that will do,” he added, “I’ve been feeling the sensation on my legs whenever I drop a glass of water. And once…I tried to get up on my own.”

Dr. Shin's eyes widened in disbelief, and he asked, “Were you able to stand on your own?”

“Yes,” he said in a soft tone.

“But how did it happen?” Dr. Shin was bewildered. He added, “You haven’t been with Omegas. Since their pheromones give you a phantom of pain.” He held his chin. “That’s strange…unless your sense of smell to pheromones had partly changed.”

“It’s pure luck, Dr. Shin,” Joon-Ho's lips curved into a soft grin. He didn’t want to share that Do-yoon’s scent had changed his condition lately.

Did he just… smile? Dr. Shin's eyes looked baffled. “Anyway, pure luck or not, we’ll have to watch the progress of your condition.” Then he asked, “Are you planning to go back to Gangnam once you’ve recovered?”

“No,” Joon-Ho said in a casual tone. “I have some personal matters to settle first.” He added, “Please keep this a secret from my father. Especially my progress. I don’t want any intervention while I am recuperating in this house.”

Dr. Shin sighed and said, “Fair enough.” He continued, “I’ll find a good physical therapist. You’re fine with male alphas working in your house, right?”

“Yes,” Joon-Ho said as he sipped his coffee again. “Park Beom will bring some equipment for the therapist.”

“Well, that’s good to hear,” Dr. Shin said as he wrote on his tablet on Lee Joon-Ho’s patient’s profile of important notes. He curled his lips into a grin. “I’ll come and check your progress in 15 days. And from there, we’ll see how your pheromones improve.” Yet, he sensed something unfamiliar. Until…he saw Do-yoon walking with Yu-Na as they came down the stairs carrying laundry baskets together.