Biting his lower lip, Mitch reached out. He then thoroughly messed up Douglass's neatly combed-back hair."Ah, why are you doing this? I fixed my hair."Douglass frowned as his bangs immediately fell forward from Mitch's touch.He always maintained his pomade when going out. Ever since college, when Mitch said he looked younger and cute with his bangs down, he had consistently kept his hair swept back."Now I have to fix it again because of you.""...Because you're cute."Yes. Even in this moment, Douglass, who always wanted to look manly to him, was cute. The more cute he found him, the deeper his hatred grew."This is annoying.""Douglass. I want to go to the café."Mitch changed the subject as he pulled his foot away from Douglass's hands."Next time.""When is that?""When your ankle is completely healed.""...""And your heat is coming soon anyway. We'll think about it after it's over."So that means I'm stuck at home until then. It seemed Douglass had no intention of letting Mit
Then he brought whiskey and poured it into glasses. Was it too much to ask someone to drink whiskey neat without ice? He hesitated briefly.There was no time to worry about such details right now. Having reached that conclusion, Mitch took out the sleeping pills he had prepared from his pocket."Going to drink?"When Douglass suddenly appeared behind him, Mitch reflexively stuffed the sleeping pills back into his pocket."Huh? Yeah."Mitch quickly grabbed one of the two glasses of whiskey and took a sip, hoping to appear natural."...I'll just have a little."Noticing that Douglass was about to object, Mitch smiled with crinkled eyes and pleaded."Okay? Just one glass.""Just that one glass.""Okay. Dry my hair for me."Mitch sat on the sofa with his drink in hand. Douglass went to the bedroom to get a hair dryer.After confirming that Douglass had disappeared into the room, Mitch took out the sleeping pills again and put them into the glass. Then he swirled the glass, hoping they woul
Douglass bit Mitch's ear lightly and moved his finger inside.Mitch's body stiffened at the familiar intrusion. The entrance was still dry, making even a finger uncomfortable."Just a bit, slowly...""So fucking tight. Hah."Despite his words, Douglass carefully moved his finger to widen the inner walls."You... like it tight."Mitch lowered his hand to rub Douglass's already enlarged dick. He could feel it getting harder through touch.He wondered if he was provoking Douglass more than necessary, but Mitch soon dismissed such concerns. After all, Douglass would soon fall asleep because of the sleeping pills. So this much should be fine."Why are you being so pretty today?"Douglass stared intensely at Mitch, who was selectively saying things he wanted to hear, his voice husky. Perhaps the alcohol was gradually taking effect, making it increasingly difficult to control his desires. His lower abdomen felt heavy, stimulated by Mitch's omega pheromones."Because I need to get that buildi
Pushing all the way in at once like he had done initially, Mitch's head tilted back sharply. This time, Douglass didn't dawdle and immediately began thrusting his hips.The movements were so rough that the sound of flesh slapping against flesh could be heard."Hnngh. Ah!""Feel good?"Douglass asked, stroking Mitch's dick up and down. There was a faint trace of fluid at the tip of his dick."Ngh, yes... aah.""You're out of your mind."Douglass blocked the tip with his thumb to prevent Mitch from climaxing alone and began to thrust in earnest. His thick thighs rubbed against the inside of Mitch's pale groin, pressing down forcefully.Each time the swollen dick pounded against his inner walls, Mitch's insteps trembled and curled. When this happened, Douglass would bite his calf to prevent him from tensing his ankles."Ahk...! But it's too... just a little gentler...""You asked me to thrust hard."Douglass pushed his hips down insistently, burying himself to the base inside Mitch. At t
He stopped running before putting too much strain on his ankle.Since he didn't plan to use his card for a while, Mitch first withdrew cash from a convenience store near home. Then he entered the subway station.Despite the early dawn, he bought a new hat and outer garment from an underground shopping center that was already open, and changed into them.Then he took the subway to quickly leave the neighborhood.Though he had fled impulsively, Mitch felt quite unjustified. He wasn't someone who should have to run away. He had committed no crime, yet here he was, in this situation because he had to avoid his ex-boyfriend.Arriving in a busy area, Mitch looked up at the sky where the sun was gradually rising, then pulled his hat down deeply and walked quickly.Soon, gaudy lodging signs appeared throughout the alleys. Motels, inns, long-term accommodations, and so on.He needed to find a place to stay for the time being. Hotels requiring ID were excluded first, as they could become targets
After having lunch outside, Mitch went around looking for a better place to stay than his current accommodation. However, places with decent facilities strictly required ID, so it wasn't easy.Despite putting in a lot of effort walking around, Mitch returned to his lodging with nothing to show for it, pressing on his stiff shoulders. The mattress was too sunken, making his body ache.As he entered the building, the manager who had been watching TV at the counter greeted him."Hey, come over here for a second.""Yes? Is something wrong?""What's your name?""Why do you suddenly need my name...?"Mitch slightly checked the manager's expression. The manager scratched his neck nonchalantly."No. I heard there was a thief at the Palawan Pawnshop in the next neighborhood today.""Ah.""Just asking to be safe. You know we're supposed to check all this at check-in, right? Show me your ID if you have it.""I left my ID at work."Mitch swallowed dryly as he made up a lie."You had a workplace?"
The words swirled in his throat."Douglass Brady."But what came out of Mitch's mouth was a different subject."...I'm sorry for forcing you to take sleeping pills."In truth, this was what he wanted to say first from the moment he answered the call. Perhaps that's why he had been responding to Douglass's stubborn words all this time."Were you..."He was about to ask if there had been any side effects, if he'd gone to the hospital."Got you."A hand suddenly emerged from behind and grabbed Mitch's arm. The grip strength was familiar.Mitch turned his head in shock to see Douglass, breathing heavily."You..."Before he could even open his mouth properly, Douglass fell into Mitch's arms. Rather than embracing him, it would be more accurate to say he nestled into his arms.Douglass squeezed into Mitch's arms, despite being larger than him, pressing their bodies together without any gap.Mitch, too shocked to react, took several seconds just to comprehend the situation."Such things shou
In the end, instead of getting back in the car, Mitch checked into a nearby hotel and cleaned himself up.Having vomited until only clear gastric fluid remained, he was completely exhausted and had no energy to go anywhere else.After washing in the hotel bathroom, Mitch felt somewhat relieved as the foul smell left his body. At the same time, he was still concerned about his physical condition.Why had his body trembled so severely? Was it because he was afraid of returning to the apartment?Moreover, feeling such aversion toward Douglass was a first for him today. This reaction surprised even himself.Was it because he was anxious about being confined again? Or was it motion sickness while being captured? ...He wasn't sure.Somehow, he had ended up following Douglass's stubborn suggestion that if he was going to sleep outside, he should at least stay at a hotel."Clothes..."Coming out of the bathroom wearing a robe, Mitch belatedly realized he had no clothes to wear. His underwear
"..."It was a bit embarrassing, but since Mitch had already agreed to do whatever Douglass wanted, it wasn't surprising that he would make such a request. It wasn't an unreasonable demand either.If anything, since pregnancy had prevented him from properly fulfilling their contract, Mitch had no right to complain even if Douglass got angry."I think that should be fine... I'll do it."And though somewhat pathetic, Mitch desperately needed Douglass's goodwill right now. As long as there was hope that he might accept the child as his own, Mitch didn't want to go against his wishes."Good. Well, we need to go for a checkup soon anyway, so we can confirm it again then."Pleased with Mitch's answer, Douglass wrapped his hand around Mitch's thin, long nape and rubbed it subtly."Ah. And change your phone number."Just as Mitch thought he might kiss him again, Douglass spoke as if something had suddenly occurred to him. Mitch looked up."Why?""Cut off contact with all those other alphas. I
And the questions about who Mitch Forbes was began to fit together like puzzle pieces."So he was supposed to receive various things from my mother. Simply in exchange for breaking up with me."Then coincidentally, he lost his memories in an accident and there was even a child whose father was unknown. All the promised compensation must have vanished, and it would've been too much to let go.It seems Mitch judged that claiming the child was Douglass Brady's would yield more benefits."So this is what he wants."With a cigarette in his mouth, Douglass's lips curved into a distinct arc.It was so obvious that it was actually fortunate. This was something he could easily provide, except for arranging an alpha.Tossing his now-shortened cigarette out the window, Douglass gestured for his secretary to leave.As he crumpled the documents in his hand, the image of Mitch at the funeral lingered in his mind.His swollen eyes from crying and his frighteningly thin appearance. The shock he felt
"No, I meant you don't need to eat this too. Just eat your regular food.""How can I eat something nice in front of someone who can't even smell? Forget it."Douglass snapped as if he'd heard something absurd. Then he turned his attention to the food set in front of Mitch.A thick soup was served alongside freshly toasted, warm rye bread. There was also an appetizing cold noodle dish in a medium-sized bowl."Please try it," the housekeeper said.Mitch picked up his spoon. At least there was almost no smell, which seemed fine, but he was nervous about how it would taste."..."He already felt pressured, worried that spitting out food that had been specially prepared would be impolite.The potato soup he carefully tasted under the watchful eyes of Douglass and the housekeeper was just the right lukewarm temperature. It had no strong spice flavors and was mild. Though ordinary people might find it bland, it suited Mitch's current palate."How is it, sir?""It's delicious."Mitch smiled a
What was his intention in asking? He probably wanted Mitch to terminate the pregnancy, right?Mitch stared at Douglass with fear in his eyes. Contrary to his expectations of a cold, sharp expression, Douglass's face was surprisingly calm. It might be a crazy thought, but it seemed as if he was waiting for Mitch to say he wanted to keep the baby.After a moment of silence, Mitch carefully nodded."Yes.""Good."Douglass accepted calmly. Unlike before, he wasn't ignoring what Mitch said."And you? Did you get tested?"Mitch asked about the vasectomy test."I will. Soon.""...""Are you still certain I'm the father?"Despite having already argued about this question once, Mitch wasn't flustered. Perhaps because he had experienced even more miserable situations, he felt no particular agitation."I'm certain."Douglass silently stared at Mitch for a moment. His lips opened slowly."Alright. We'll find out with a paternity test later."Mitch swallowed dryly while gauging Douglass's mood. Th
I didn't want to become a stranger to Mitch. Even though I had foolishly offered to pay off his debt because I liked his body, now that I couldn't embrace him, I still didn't want to leave him.Despite knowing that Mitch had tried to deceive me, all I wanted right now was to make him comfortable."Come here."As I entered the funeral hall, Mitch was placing new incense before the old ones burned out. I put the envelope down on the table and called to him."You're here? I'm not really hungry right now.""Just pretend to eat something. You can't keep starving yourself."Mitch didn't argue further and did as I said.My gaze followed Mitch as he approached with somewhat sluggish steps, then shifted to his right foot. That leg seemed to have less strength, causing a subtle imbalance in his gait."What's wrong with your foot?""Just twisted it a bit.""When?""...Why did you buy so much? I won't be able to eat it all anyway."Mitch changed the subject. Though I noticed and was about to poin
"When does the funeral procession start?""Later at 6 PM."As much as he wanted to tell him to lie down and rest, it would be difficult for Mitch to leave his position as chief mourner for long."If you don't eat this, I'm throwing it away."Douglass began clearing the food in front of Mitch. He knew keeping it there would only make Mitch feel worse."No, I'll do it.""Just sit down, I've got this."He seated Mitch in a chair and quickly cleaned up the table. But Mitch seemed quite uncomfortable with Douglass's actions."You must be busy, you can go back now."In the end, without properly sitting to rest even for a minute, Mitch got up and approached him. He threw away some trash that had fallen on the floor and then handed Douglass his jacket that he had taken off. It was practically asking him to leave.You're in this state and you're telling me to go?Though Mitch probably said it out of consideration, Douglass felt fiery anger rise within him. At the same time, he was greatly dist
Mitch briefly stared at his profile before awkwardly approaching. He hadn't expected to come this far, so he wasn't sure how to interact with him. Feelings of gratitude, embarrassment, and the desire to avoid the situation were all tangled together."Where's your mom?""She said she felt stuffy and went out for some fresh air.""I see."Mitch nodded. Douglass surveyed the modest and inadequate funeral hall. The whole facility was disorderly. The memorial portrait of Mitch's father was poor quality, somehow blurry and faint. And in the midst of it all stood Mitch."You should have told me about this."Douglass spoke with a surge of emotion that he didn't bother to hide. Mitch lowered his head."It was chaotic. I had to leave right after I got the call..."Thick fatigue had seeped into Mitch's voice. Hearing this excuse made Douglass's anger rise even more, though he knew this wasn't the time or place."Even so, does it make sense to be absent for more than three days without saying any
How many times had he come here? More than one hundred and fifty visits. Douglass found his past self pathetic. It was also ridiculous that he had accumulated coupons without using them.What a fool he'd been. No wonder someone would take advantage of him and make up absurd lies about being pregnant with his child. Douglass clicked his tongue in disapproval."I'll just pay."Despite saying this, he simply handed over his card. It wasn't like he was trying to squeeze every last penny out of someone. Remembering how the other had scurried around the kitchen so diligently, he didn't particularly want to get free coffee."Yes. I'll prepare it right away."Douglass watched the part-timer head to the kitchen, then leaned forward slightly to peek inside. But Mitch didn't appear until his coffee was ready."One iced Americano."Douglass immediately picked up the coffee from the pickup counter."Excuse me, customer. Is there anything else you need?"The part-timer cautiously addressed Douglass
"Ugh... What about your father? What are we going to do...?" Mother's crying grew louder as she also noticed what was inside the envelope.Mitch touched the faded old banknotes with his hand and stared at his father lying covered with a white cloth.Why did he still keep this?Even while gambling, cutting off contact with family, being chased by loan sharks, and accumulating countless debts—why did he still have this?It was frustrating that he couldn't ask anymore. Mitch put the money back into the tattered envelope.'Look, Mitch. " Mitch" means to help. Your name means to help people.''That's difficult.''I'll teach you every day until you memorize it.'He resented his father. He was angry at him for dying so absurdly in the end.Why was he selfish until his dying moment? It would have been better if he could just feel nothing, only a sense of liberation. He torments people to the very end."What's the procedure for the funeral?"Only after a long while was Mitch able to clear his