The morning started almost normally, but inside, everything was different. Minjun hurried to the library, burying his face in his scarf against the cool wind. The memory of the night was still alive in his chest: the warmth of Hyuk's hands, the quiet words, the breathing mixed with his own. Even his steps felt lighter, as if the city had suddenly stopped being a stranger.
The library smelled of paper and light dust. The shelves met him in neat rows, and the familiar silence was calming. Today, he was working with returns: sifting through stacks of books and checking the cards. A senior colleague, passing by, remarked:
"Minjun-ssi, your face looks a bit... brighter. Did you find what you were looking for, perhaps?"
Minjun became flustered, quickly looking down at the pages. "Found?" He couldn't answer, but his heart quickened its pace traitorously.
Work went easily. Even when interacting with patrons, he suddenly felt that the words came more easily. When an elderly woman asked him to find her something "not too sad, but warm," he smiled and handed her a novel, surprising himself at how confident his voice sounded.
The hours flew by. But there was another item on the day's agenda - a planned visit to the doctor. Minjun left the library and headed to the clinic.
***
He didn't want to go, but after the recent events, he knew he couldn't put it off any longer.
The clinic corridors were sterile and quiet, and each of his steps echoed. Minjun felt his heart pounding too loudly, as if everyone around him could hear it. When the nurse called his name, his legs carried him forward on their own.
The office was cool, the air filled with the scent of medicine. The middle-aged omega doctor met him with a calm gaze, flipping through a folder of his results.
"Have a seat, Minjun-ssi," he said in a level voice.
Minjun sat down, placing his backpack on his knees, his fingers involuntarily gripping the straps.
"According to the test results," the doctor looked up, "we're seeing a clear spike in pheromone activity."
The words landed like a heavy stone. Minjun flinched almost imperceptibly.
"This usually happens with close contact with an alpha. Have you... started a close relationship?"
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Memories flashed through his mind: warm fingers on his waist, kisses that made him lose his breath, a soft scent that made his head spin. His cheeks flushed, his breath hitched.
"I..." he looked away. "I'm just... getting to know someone."
The doctor didn't press, but his gaze was too attentive.
"I have to warn you. According to your calendar and readings, your heat is coming soon. It might be earlier than your usual cycle. This is natural for your age, especially when you're around an alpha who is affecting your hormone levels."
The words pierced him like an icy needle. Heat soon. Just the thought of it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Think ahead about how you'll get through it," the doctor said calmly but gently. "Make sure you have a safe environment. And..." he softened his voice slightly, "if there's an alpha you trust nearby, their presence can greatly ease the process."
Minjun nodded quickly, afraid his voice would tremble, and mumbled, "Thank you, doctor."
When the office door closed behind him, he exhaled sharply, as if he had been holding his breath the whole time. His heart was pounding in his throat, and the doctor's words were still ringing in his head.
***
After the clinic, he went back to the library. The silence of the halls greeted him with the scent of paper and old books. The work seemed simple: putting volumes back on the shelves, checking return records. But today, every little thing was a distraction. He caught himself glancing out the window over and over again, where clouds were drifting, and his thoughts stubbornly returned to the doctor.
"Pheromone spike... heat soon... if there's an alpha nearby..."
Minjun clenched his fingers on the spine of the book so tightly that his knuckles turned white. A sticky anxiety lingered inside, but with it - a strange, sweet warmth. He remembered Hyuk, the way his scent easily enveloped the space, the way his gaze seemed to hold him in place, not letting him fall.
Several students approached him for help, and Minjun automatically led them to the right shelves. But his thoughts kept pulling him back, to where the doctor was looking him straight in the eyes, as if he already knew the answer.
When his shift was over, he slowly packed his backpack and left. The evening air was damp after the rain, and the streetlights glowed softly. He took out his phone without even thinking about what he was doing.
The screen lit up - a new message.
"Minjun, I made dinner. If you're not too tired - come over."
Hyuk.
His heart gave a sharp leap. Minjun pressed the phone to his chest, feeling everything inside him fill with warmth, and for the first time all day, the anxiety receded. The doctor's words still echoed, but now there was something else next to them: a simple invitation that made the whole world feel softer.