The Truth Hidden in Pheromones

“A first love being a Beta? Hahaha. What a creepy thing to say, Senior.”

“What’s wrong with being a Beta?”

“They don’t even have pheromones! In a world where everyone gets bonded and lives happily ever after, how are you supposed to date a Beta who has zero pheromones?”

Yun Dae-eon, a Beta himself, began to disparage Betas with tears in his eyes. Inwardly, he was kneeling and offering a sincere apology to his parents, who had always taught him that Betas were the most evolved form of human beings.

“They’re basically… humans who haven’t fully evolved yet, those Betas.”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“Pardon?”

Dae-eon, who had grown up in a world where Betas were often looked down upon and had faced his share of subtle discrimination, blinked in surprise. Seon Ji-ha lowered his long eyelashes beneath his horn-rimmed glasses and muttered softly.

“Better to be a Beta who can always live like a human, rather than a Dominant who can’t even control themselves when they go into heat like a beast.”

“…….”

Dae-eon had met countless people with secondary genders in his life, but he had never heard anyone say something like that. Most Alphas and Omegas dismissed Betas as “uncivilized” humans who couldn’t even sense pheromones.

If the person was a Dominant, the contempt was usually even worse. Born with superior physical and mental genes, Dominant types often looked down on Recessives and felt outright disgust toward Betas. That was exactly why Dae-eon’s parents had gone to the lengths of registering him as a Recessive Omega—to protect their child from being ignored or mistreated by society.

Dae-eon, touched by the unexpected sentiment, spoke with genuine emotion for the first time.

“…You’re the first person I’ve met who says that, especially since you’re a Dominant.”

“Ah, actually, I’m not a Dominant. I’m a Super-Dominant….”

“What?! A Super-Dominant?!”

Dae-eon was aghast. A Super-Dominant? The type that makes up only 0.0003% of the global population? The kind where, if one is born in Korea, it actually makes the national news?

“It’s your… first time… seeing one, right…?”

Now Ji-ha’s life-threatening state during his heat made sense. A normal Rut shouldn’t make a person look like they were literally at death’s door.

“Ah, so that’s why….”

“Yes?”

“No, nothing! I just meant… I realized you must be really good at controlling your pheromones!”

“My pheromones?”

Dae-eon’s big mouth had gotten ahead of him again. Trying to sound natural, he had babbled whatever came to mind, only to run straight into another crisis. As a Beta, there was no way he could actually know if Ji-ha was “controlling” them well or not.

But Ji-ha was already staring at him with a curious expression. Cold sweat trickled down Dae-eon’s back as he scrambled for an explanation.

“I-I meant, I can’t feel even a… a fingernail’s worth of pheromones. I figured since you’re a Dominant, you must have perfect control. Hahaha, or am I just too insensitive because I’m a Recessive?”

Dae-eon swallowed hard.

Wait, is he actually releasing pheromones right now and I just can’t tell?

From what Dae-eon knew, the higher the rank, the better they were at locking and unlocking their pheromones. Unless it was a special occasion, they wouldn’t release them around others to avoid accidentally seducing someone.

However, this was the man’s private home. Dae-eon’s heart began to thud anxiously.

Ji-ha’s cool gaze pierced through him. He spoke with a calm face.

“…No, it’s just that I don’t like releasing my pheromones….”

I guessed right!

Dae-eon cheered inwardly. It made sense; a Super-Dominant would be even more meticulous about managing their scent, even at home.

Relaxing slightly, Dae-eon turned his head. At that moment, Ji-ha’s eyes narrowed slightly, but Dae-eon didn’t notice.

“Should we grab some lunch soon?”

“…Is there anything you want to eat, Dae-eon? I’ll contact the management office….”

“The management office?! They cook for you if you call them?!”

“It’s not exactly that they have a private chef… they just… get it from the nearby hotel….”

Crazy. This is just crazy. Dae-eon clapped like a seal in genuine awe. Luxury living really was on another level. Finding himself about to eat a meal prepared by a high-end hotel chef, Dae-eon put serious thought into the menu.

Then he shouted:

“Hamburgers! With freshly fried fries! Can I get a beef patty too?!”

“Of course….”

Ji-ha looked at Dae-eon as if he were adorable. His eyes crinkled into a soft smile.

After stuffing themselves with a lunch that was humble in name but extravagant in ingredients, Dae-eon and Ji-ha spent several more hours sifting through the “First Love Candidates.” It wasn’t until the sun had completely set that Dae-eon finally prepared to leave.

They hadn’t just looked at the list all day. Dae-eon had been given a tour of Ji-ha’s room and was horrified to see a whole list of “comfort items” that Ji-ha had used for years.

Overall, it had been a pretty fun time.

“You could stay the night….”

“Hey, I have to go home.”

“Should I call a driver…?”

“My place is just a short walk away! Really!”

Ji-ha watched Dae-eon leave with an incredibly lingering, regretful gaze. Every time Dae-eon had mentioned going home throughout the day, Ji-ha had lured him back with various delicious temptations. Even Dae-eon, who felt like he’d been kidnapped at first, had ended up thoroughly enjoying the hospitality.

But staying over or calling a private driver felt like a bit too much for someone he’d only recently met. Like a polite “Confucian Boy” who knew his manners, Dae-eon declined the offers.

“Come back again….”

“Really? I can come back?! Honestly, I wanted to eat that hamburger again at least once before I die!”

“Was the food not enough?”

“No, I ate until I was about to burst. I’m just sad I couldn’t eat more.”

Recalling the taste of the burger, Dae-eon licked his lips. Ji-ha’s eyes followed the movement obsessively.

“Then when are you coming back…?”

“Uh… I don’t know. I’ll probably be busy studying for midterms. Maybe when I have time?”

The “Let’s do lunch sometime” level of empty promises was Dae-eon’s specialty. He looked at Ji-ha with a bright grin.

However, there was one thing Dae-eon didn’t know: Seon Ji-ha was incredibly persistent about the strangest things.

“When you have time… exactly when…?”

“M-maybe after midterms?”

“When after midterms…?”

“Uh, well, I promised to grab a drink with my classmates after they’re over, so maybe right after that…?”

There was about a week left until midterms. Since their department usually had a 7-to-10-day exam period, it meant at least two weeks would pass before Dae-eon could return.

Ji-ha, calculating with lightning speed, spoke in a voice dripping with disappointment.

“That’s too far away….”

“Hahaha, I guess you had fun hanging out with me, Senior!”

“…….”

Ji-ha pouted and didn’t answer. People who knew Ji-ha well would have said, “That guy’s bull-headed stubbornness is acting up again.” It was a habit that surfaced whenever something didn’t go his way.

Of course, Dae-eon, knowing nothing of Ji-ha’s stubborn streak, looked at him awkwardly. With his slumped shoulders, Ji-ha looked truly upset.

So, Dae-eon found himself making a suggestion without thinking.

“W-well, do you want to study for midterms together?”

“Yes.”

Ji-ha’s slumped shoulders instantly straightened. Sensing that Ji-ha’s mood had improved, Dae-eon smiled awkwardly and started backing toward the door.

“See you next time, Senior!”

“When are we studying for midterms…?”

“Uh… I’ll have to check my schedule and….”

“…We can check the schedule right now….”

This is never going to end.

Realizing this, Dae-eon hit the button on the door and yanked it open. He quickly slipped outside and shouted:

“I’ll message you! Is that okay?! I’m going now!”

“Dae….”

…eon.

With a final thud, the door closed and the lock engaged. Dae-eon was gone.

Ji-ha lingered in front of the door for a long time after he left. Eventually, he tilted his head and looked up at the ceiling. The elegant mini-chandelier illuminated the hallway.

Ji-ha tilted his head to the side.

“He doesn’t know… pheromones.”

The pheromones of a Super-Dominant Alpha surged and swirled around Ji-ha, completely filling the room.

Earlier, the moment Dae-eon told him he “couldn’t feel even a fingernail’s worth of pheromones,” Ji-ha had instantly unlocked his scent. It had been an instinct.

“I told you, Dae-eon… once I like something, I like it until the day I die.”

The corners of his mouth curled into a distinct, satisfied smile. It was the look of a predator who had found its prey.