Predator Alert chapter 52

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“Are you coming, Mom?”

Startled by Jeongseo’s call, Seohyun hurried out of the car, just as Soganghyun emerged from the house.

“Kiddo!”

“Hey, hyung!”

Having seen Soganghyun often, Jeongseo greeted him with a cheerful wave, and the three of them, along with Seobok, entered the cozy home.

Jeongseo led Seobok to his room, which, despite being vacant for months, was tidy and well-organized.

Wagging his tail, Seobok sniffed around the room.

“We’ll be staying here for a few days, Seobok,” Jeongseo said as the dog continued exploring.

Watching him, Jeongseo chuckled before collapsing onto the large bed.

“Ah, so soft.”

Though he was used to sleeping on a mat on the floor, the bed was undoubtedly more comfortable.

He rolled around on the plush mattress before suddenly sitting up.

It occurred to him that since the brief call to Pyo Yoontae two days ago, he hadn’t reached out again.

Fidgeting with his phone, Jeongseo called Seobok over.

The dog, lying by the bookcase, immediately came to sit at his feet.

“Say kimchi, Seobok.”

Switching to selfie mode, Jeongseo snapped a picture with Seobok and sent it to Pyo Yoontae.

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[I’m in Seoul.] 8:35 PM

Not long after, his phone rang.

“Hello!”

• Why are you in Seoul?

“I’m at my Seoul house!”

There was a hum on the other end before Pyo Yoontae asked, “Are you staying there for the entire break?”

“No! I’ll head back to Dangang next week. What about you? Going anywhere?”

• No, I’m staying here.

The answer pleased Jeongseo, knowing he had someone to hang out with if he got bored.

Yet, thinking about how Yoontae still mistook someone else for his first love soured his mood.

It should’ve been easy to clear up the misunderstanding, but people’s hearts rarely align with simple logic.

Hurt by Yoontae’s mistaken assumptions and his secrecy, Jeongseo grew less inclined to confess the truth.

• Why aren’t you saying anything, Jeongseo?

Pouting, Jeongseo opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

After all, they weren’t in any special relationship—he was the only one who had fallen for Yoontae.

Liking someone wasn’t always a happy affair.

Feelings like these were hard to share and often left him stewing alone.

How did people ever manage to start dating?

It was still a mystery to him.

“No, I just thought… maybe we could hang out if we’re bored during the break?”

• Sure. How about I visit your place?

Jeongseo’s eyes widened.

“My place? In Dangang?”

• Yeah.

Imagining Yoontae in his house, Jeongseo pictured the space feeling smaller due to his broad frame.

If he came, they could play with Seobok, and maybe Yoontae would notice the note Jeongseo had hidden earlier.

Lately, he’d wanted to reveal that he was Yoontae’s first love, even though he’d previously decided to keep it a secret.

Why was his heart so indecisive?

• Do you not want me to come, Jeongseo?

“Oh!”

Realizing he’d been lost in thought, Jeongseo quickly replied, “No, it’s not that! I was just thinking. You should totally come! You can even stay the night—there’s no one else at my house but me.”

• “..Really?

Having stayed at Yoontae’s place before, it was only fair to return the favor.

Jeongseo started brainstorming meals he could prepare for the visit.

• Can I come on my birthday, then?

“Your birthday? When is it?”

• “August 2nd. I’ll come the day before, and we can celebrate together.”

“A party? Should we invite anyone else, like Hayan?”

• …No, just the two of us.

Hearing that, Jeongseo’s heart fluttered.

A birthday party!

He never thought he’d celebrate someone else’s birthday at his house, and the idea thrilled him.

“Sure! I’ll make sure to be the first to wish you a happy birthday!”

• Really?

“Of course! That’s what friends are for!”

Yoontae’s soft laugh came through the phone, making Jeongseo smile even wider.

“Kiddo! Dinner’s ready!”

His brother’s voice echoed from outside the room.

Feeling hungry, Jeongseo sprang to his feet.

“Ah, I gotta eat! Let’s talk when I’m back in Dangang. Goodnight!”

• Goodnight, Jeongseo. Eat well.

Ending the call, Jeongseo left the room with Seobok, his steps light with excitement.

In the living room, Seobok’s food and water bowls were already filled.

The delicious smell from the dining table made Jeongseo’s mouth water.

His mother and brother were already seated, and when Jeongseo joined them, the spacious table somehow felt warm and full.

“When’s Dad coming home?”

At his brother’s question, their mom replied, “He’s busy this time, so he won’t be back until winter.”

Hearing this, Jeongseo realized he wouldn’t see his father this break either.

His mother motioned for him to eat, and the meal tasted even better for being shared together after so long.

°❀•°❀°•❀°

The next morning, Jeongseo woke up early and headed to the general hospital he had been visiting with his mother since childhood.

Although he wasn’t currently experiencing any discomfort, they wanted to check for any anomalies in his phenotype after a severe heat episode during the school term.

Upon arriving at the endocrinology department, they quickly proceeded to the blood draw station thanks to a pre-booked appointment.

After a blood draw and a brief wait, it was Jeongseo’s turn.

When he entered the consultation room, a doctor in a white coat was focused on the monitor.

“Hello!”

“How have you been?”

Since Jeongseo was a regular visitor, he was somewhat familiar with the doctor.

He nodded, saying he’d been doing well, while his mother took a seat next to him.

Clicking the mouse a few times, the doctor asked casually, “Are you dating these days?”

Jeongseo’s gaze wavered.

What kind of question was that?

Glancing sideways without thinking, he met his mother’s startled eyes, which were also fixed on him.

“N-No! I’m not!”

He wasn’t lying—he wasn’t in a relationship.

Yet, the rapid pounding of his heart made it feel as if he were trying to cover something up.

He couldn’t fathom why such a question arose during a visit for a pheromone test.

“W-Why are you asking that?”

“Your pheromone levels have increased significantly since your last visit. Growth periods typically bring some fluctuation, but your levels have almost doubled. Considering your baseline was unusually low, I thought there might have been an environmental change.”

There had been only one change in his environment—Pyo Yoontae.

When Jeongseo remained silent, the doctor elaborated further.

“During growth spurts, it’s common for pheromones to fluctuate more intensely if you’re dating or spending time with an Alpha. As an Omega, proximity to an Alpha can strongly influence your levels. By any chance, is there a dominant Alpha around you lately?”

“Uh… Yes. A new transfer student in my class is a dominant Alpha.”

The doctor nodded slightly.

“Then it’s likely you’ve been influenced by that friend. Even the unexpected heat you experienced, which wasn’t part of your regular cycle, might have been triggered by pheromone stimulation from the Alpha.”

Jeongseo mulled over the explanation.

Was being around Pyo Yoontae a good thing or a bad thing?

If his pheromone levels kept rising, would that mean more frequent heat episodes?

But how long had Yoontae even been around?

His mother voiced what seemed to be a similar concern.

“Should he keep some distance from this Alpha friend, then?”

“Oh, no, not necessarily. Pheromone levels increasing isn’t inherently a medical issue.”

Jeongseo exhaled in relief.

The idea of distancing himself from Yoontae felt absurd.

“That said, as Jeongseo is still in his growth phase, spending prolonged time with a dominant Alpha could lead to a permanent increase in his pheromone levels. Up until now, he hasn’t really needed any pheromone regulation, correct?”

“Yes…”

His pheromone levels had always been so negligible that most people couldn’t even tell he was an Omega.

“This friend—are you close?”

“Yes!”

“In that case, his levels may continue to rise. I’ll prescribe regulation and suppressant medications. If you feel heavy, feverish, itchy, or experience shortness of breath, take the suppressant immediately.”

Although Jeongseo brushed it off as not a big deal, his mother’s face reflected worry.

“Just being near a dominant Alpha can raise levels like this?”

Being a Beta, and having mostly Betas around her, she found these phenomena both fascinating and concerning, especially when it involved her child.

“This might sound a bit awkward in front of the student,” the doctor hesitated, “but theoretically, yes. It aligns with the hypothesis that dominant phenotypes evolved for more effective reproduction.”

Reproduction…

“You should just go make babies already.”

Yoontae’s cheeky voice flitted through Jeongseo’s mind.

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