* * *
“You’ll be okay. You’ll feel better soon… I’m sorry,” Kangwoo murmured in a low, soothing voice, helping Seunghyun slowly regain his composure.
“Relax your body and breathe in deeply.”
Seunghyun’s uncontrollable Omega pheromones, which had been wreaking havoc on him, began to subside.
The organs that had been paralyzed by the chaotic pheromones gradually started to function normally again.
As Seunghyun’s trembling body calmed, Kangwoo adjusted his grip, holding the limp figure securely.
He checked Seunghyun’s pale face and gently rested his head against his chest.
Even though the seizure had passed, Kangwoo continued to soothe him, patting him softly.
Those familiar, comforting hands…
They were so unlike the Han Kangwoo Seunghyun once knew, yet they brought tears to his eyes.
The hatred he felt for Kangwoo and the longing he had for him were two separate emotions.
He had thought himself utterly alone in this strange, unfamiliar world, but even if it was a version of Kangwoo from three years ago, he was still here.
Seunghyun tightened his grip on Kangwoo’s coat.
His fingers, clutching the hem of Kangwoo’s coat, were white with tension.
Noticing this, Kangwoo gently pried Seunghyun’s stiff fingers from his coat, entwining his own fingers with his to loosen them.
“Are you feeling better?”
Seunghyun nodded weakly. Satisfied that Seunghyun was still conscious, Kangwoo asked, “I’m going to call an ambulance. Is that okay?”
“T-The manager’s number….”
If word got out that he was taken away in an ambulance, it could create a scandal.
Remembering the “Manager Kim” contact at the top of his call history, Seunghyun fumbled weakly for his phone in his jacket pocket.
Kangwoo, quick to notice, retrieved the phone and placed it in Seunghyun’s hand.
But Seunghyun’s weakened fingers couldn’t hold onto it, and it fell to the ground.
“I’ll call. Just unlock it for me.”
That was the last thing Seunghyun remembered.
He vaguely recalled Kangwoo using his fingers to unlock the phone, but he wasn’t sure if Kangwoo managed to find Manager Kim’s number.
As his body relaxed and the tension released, Seunghyun lost consciousness.
Han Kangwoo managed to find Manager Kim’s number and contacted him.
He adjusted Seunghyun’s position in his arms.
The unconscious Omega’s body was now emitting pheromones without restraint.
Strangely, Seunghyun’s pheromones felt eerily familiar to Kangwoo.
“Omega….”
Was it because this was Joo Seunghyun’s house?
Or was it an extraordinary coincidence that the man in his arms shared the same scent?
The overwhelmingly familiar scent washed over Kangwoo, as if he were standing in the middle of a forest after a rainstorm—a fresh yet melancholy aroma.
Lost in thought, Kangwoo noticed Seunghyun’s lips move as if trying to speak.
“Kangwoo….”
Kangwoo froze.
He had said his name.
Did Seunghyun know him?
It wasn’t unusual for a celebrity to know who he was, but they were far from close enough for him to be called so intimately.
“Han Kangwoo….”
Joo Seunghyun called his name again.
Was this all a coincidence?
Kangwoo stared down at Seunghyun’s face.
Tears clung to Seunghyun’s lashes before spilling over and sliding down his pale cheeks.
The sight of this pale-skinned man with dark hair, crying silently in his arms, was heartbreakingly surreal.
Kangwoo wiped the tears from Seunghyun’s cheek with his fingertips.
“Kangwoo….”
No one had called him so tenderly in a very long time—if ever.
Kangwoo held Seunghyun closer.
‘An Omega… Who would have thought?’
Kangwoo murmured to himself again.
That evening, the internet was flooded with photos of Joo Seunghyun, carried on Manager Kim’s back, heading into the emergency room.
[Trending HOT!] This is Joo Seunghyun, isn’t it..? (999+)]
[Photo]
+) Re-uploaded after hiding the username.
Isn’t the person being carried here Joo Seunghyun?
As soon as he arrived at the emergency room, he was transferred straight to the Pheromone Center, and they turned on full ventilation…
Could it be that he didn’t have a terminal illness but instead manifested as an Omega..?
Sometimes, if there’s a rare genetic trait in the family, it causes delayed manifestation, right?
All his members are Alphas, and since Joo Seunghyun doesn’t have any family left, he’s always at the dorms when resting.
Couldn’t the delay be because of the members???
If he was already wearing a hospital gown, that means he had been hospitalized there, to begin with, right?
Anyway, this confirms that he’s been sick and hiding away.
If it’s the Pheromone Center, it must be as others have said, and he’s manifested as an Omega.
Heh, someone go check it out.
Halo’s sasaeng fans were camped out in front of the hospital earlier.
There’s bound to be at least one Alpha-Omega there.
But isn’t that possibility way too low? Honestly, even if all his other members are Alphas, late manifestation like this isn’t that common. 😭 Plus, he might still be an Alpha, right? Let’s hold off on making assumptions until Ditop makes an official announcement, yeah?
└No, no, if he was an Alpha, he’d just need about a month of mandatory pheromone training during the screening period and could continue his activities without a hitch. For him to look this sick, he’s most likely an Omega. Besides, if he were an Alpha, they’d have announced it immediately. 😭 When Kwon Yooju and Cheon Yijeong manifested, Ditop promptly announced it and just let them rest for a month.
LOL, what’s the point of holding back when it’s so obvious? I don’t even get why Ditop is dragging this out. If he really manifested as an Omega, shouldn’t they announce it quickly??? Like, who the hell manifests as an Omega after turning 30?! That’s not manifestation; that’s a medical condition.
└Wow, LOL. Just because you can’t see their face, you think you can say whatever, huh? Watch your mouth. If this is true, it’s literally a life-or-death situation.
[Trending HOT!] That was Joo Seunghyun earlier (more photos) (218)
[Photo]
Doesn’t this look even more like Joo Seunghyun than the previous back-shot photo?
You can’t see much because of the hair, but from his nose to his lips and jawline, it’s clearly him.
What if it’s just a regular person?
Take the photo down for now.
We should avoid unnecessary consumption of public images.
└It’s Joo Seunghyun, you idiot. LOL. Look at you insisting the photo be taken down.
[Trending HOT!] Proof that yesterday’s Joo Seunghyun sighting is real (673)
[Photo]
Joo Seunghyun, three months ago.
[Photo]
Yesterday.
He cut his bangs straight across during this promotion cycle, and if he hasn’t trimmed them since, they’d be this length now.
You can also tell he hasn’t been maintaining it—it’s grown out naturally from the straight cut.
[Photo]
January of this year, Cheon Yijeong’s airport photo in the news.
[Photo]
Yesterday’s Joo Seunghyun.
This is the same padded jacket that CR custom-made for Cheon Yijeong last year as a tribute—it’s one of a kind.
[Cropped and zoomed photo]
CR’s designs are common, but the bottom of the jacket says “CWC” (Cheon Yijeong With CR), and it’s been extended by two levels to fit Cheon Yijeong’s height.
This confirms it’s his jacket.
[Photo] [Photo]
And this part is undeniable.
The person carrying Joo Seunghyun is Ditop’s executive manager.
He used to be Halo’s manager during their debut days and even appeared on broadcasts a few times.
He’s moved up the ranks now, but for him to personally step in and carry Joo Seunghyun… it’s certain.
[Photo collection of all Halo concert slogans since debut]
I’ve been a fan of Halo since their debut and support all the members.
Honestly, I was so annoyed that Seunghyun fans were the only ones eating up this Beta narrative for so long that I didn’t even participate in the latest collective projects.
But this? Even I’m about to eat my words, LOL. 😅
Seriously, how is Ditop so incompetent that they’ve given zero feedback over the past 24 hours?
They’ve never been this bad before. At this point, it’s just frustrating.
Whatever.
Anyway, as someone who’s been a fan since debut—yeah, that’s Joo Seunghyun.
* * *
🫠