The Jeon company's employees recently discovered that Jungkook was often lost in thought. Especially after... Taehyun disappeared.
Even, sometimes in the middle of a meeting, he would blankly stare in the direction where Taehyun was sitting before. The speculation that the boss had a crush on Taehyun seemed to be an irrefutable fact when they heard that Jungkook and his partner who he had been entangled for many years had broken up...
They didn't know the specific reason, everyone guessed that the breakup was for Taehyun.
Coupled with the boss' reaction these days, the more they thought about it, the truer it seemed. It was as if the boss would scour through heaven and earth to find Taehyun and propose marriage in the next moment.
However, their whispers were overheard one day by Jungkook who happened to be passing by. The little employees shrank their heads in fear, waiting for the boss' scolding — but after a long silence, they only heard the boss insipidly say, "Don't talk nonsense in the future."
After that, the boss seemed to pull himself together a bit, and they didn't dare say anymore. As for... the rumoured partner of the boss whom he had been with for a decade- who left the scene in disgrace- they didn't even know that person's name and appearance until now.
Jungkook went home every day.
He felt as if a piece of his heart was missing, and he could often feel the cold wind whistling through the hole in his heart... No matter what he did, he couldn't fix the hole. Only when he was lying on the bed where Taehyung had slept before, smelling his faint, looming pheromones, could he slowly fall asleep.
The autopsy report, which he held repeatedly, and the various numerical information on it were imprinted on his mind one by one - the data was cold, that person as if he were there.
Symptoms of major depressive disorder. Conflict and rejection of opposite pheromones, but he kept recalling the bits and pieces of physical symptoms often include auditory hallucinations, damage of the heart and lung functions, a weakened respiratory system, and, eventually, even the surrounding air became one of the reasons for his death.
In terms of psychological symptoms, self-loathing, social dysfunction, and anorexia...
If at that time, someone stepped forward and pulled him from such suffering...
Jungkook lay on that person's bed, blankly staring at the ceiling. Tears inexplicably streamed down his face... in the faint scent of his pheromones that have almost disappeared.
However, no one ever tried to save that person.
The last time he met that person was two months ago. Like before, that person was gloomy, his movements were slow, and even the blinking of his eyes seemed to be a beat slower. He was fed up with that person's changes.
Just as the results came out from the Institute, he directly arranged the operation for him and then coldly informed him of its progress. Seeing that person lowered his eyes as if devoid of sorrow and joy, he felt unhappy and even tried to provoke him with words that would elicit a response.
Particularly, when he remembered Taehyun whom he admired during company meetings, he told him that he still liked pure omegas. That person suddenly reacted and looked up at him in a daze. There was almost no flesh on that person's face. He looked so haggard that he couldn't even bear directly looking at him.
Nevertheless, he couldn't help wanting to see more of that person's reaction, as if he could vaguely find Taehyung of the past, who had all the emotions written on his face. Therefore, he even said that his pheromones smelled like the cheapest wine.
That person flinched and unexpectedly cried. That person also just wept in silence, tears streaming down his small pointed face. He retreated back as if he was afraid of something, also appearing to want to cover his face. It seemed that it was the first time that he saw that person's tears.
He was a little distraught, feeling that his tone was too harsh- but how could that person be willing to undergo surgery otherwise...He didn't want his decision to be swayed by such emotions.
He forced down his hand that was about to appease him and left the house, almost like fleeing....and it turned out to be the last.
It was never just the gland that caused that person to change. Rather, it was depression, his and the world's... indifference. An omega needed the long-term company of their alpha after being marked, otherwise, their pheromones would be unstable and be prone to mental problems.
Of course, he knew that, it was even written in the textbook. However, he constantly forgot that... that person was also his omega. Moreover, that person's unconditional submissiveness was also a symptom of such illness.
It's all over.
He would never meet someone like that again, who poured his everything into loving him until he lost... his life. Even Taehyun, it was him.
As time slowly passed by, the scent seemed to also dissipate little by little like its owner. Jungkook couldn't stop himself from panicking. He sought out the Institute if there was a method to keep a person's scent.
While he was waiting, he called his best friend. Maybe his friend also had many resources that could help him. His best friend was surprised, thinking that he has finally fallen in love with someone, so he couldn't help the urge to inquire.
"I was wondering why after all the talk about you and that person falling apart... Have you finally found someone you like?"
Jungkook closed his eyes. His friend just asked without a serious thought, which made him feel sorrowful. Additionally, "that person," addressed like this for the past ten years, whose name was not even remembered by anyone.
"I want to keep the scent of a person... who's... gone."
He didn't want to explain too much, "Can you help me?"
"Of course, I can help you ask. Is it..."
Jungkook exhaled.
"Taehyung also called Taehyun... my partner."
"Huh? Who?"
If everything could be done all over again. He wasn't sure if he liked that person at the time. Nonetheless, in the entire Imperial High School, that person was the most unforgettable man for him.
A person's life was extremely short. There were only a handful of memorable people who would move one's heart. If everything could be done all over again. He would probably take that person's love letter and let all the isolation and cold violence end before they even start.
Perhaps, he wouldn't have said that he only liked omegas, so that person wouldn't have gone to implant an artificial gland. On the night of the graduation, he might still follow his instinct to mark that person, but he would listen carefully to his explanation afterwards. There would be no episode of the little singer that followed.
After they got together, he would be willing to marry him and work with him face-to-face at home. Despite the virtual images being on, in reality, they would occasionally make eye contact that would make his employees secretly say "what a great relationship."
When that person went to learn his favourite Ancient Earth recipe, he would stay to cook or help that person and would instruct him to be careful with the gas. He would agree to take pictures with that person. While he personally didn't like it, it was okay to have some occasionally- let that person hang the pictures in their room.
He would often accompany him and soothe him until his pheromones were stable. If there was any problem, he would promptly take him to see a doctor. He would seriously ask that person's opinion about the gland removal surgery.
If Taehyung didn't want to do it, he would not insist. He would introduce him to his family and friends. They would get along well with each other until they retire...
If everything could be done all over again.
Jungkook closed his eyes. In the end, he failed to seize the opportunity to rescue that person ashore. That person was crying out in desperation for help, and he was watching the fire from across the river. The pain in his heart felt as if it was being ripped open, yet he knew it was only a millionth of what that person went through...
In the end, that person was gone. That person's life ended just like that.
It burned like a moth to a flame and eventually died in silence, not to be remembered...
Kim Taehyung.
END
The main story ends here but there are still extras.