Chapter 269: EUNJI ARRIVING
EUNJI hurried toward the entrance of Jeju Halla Hospital, her duffel bag bouncing against her side with each step. She hadn’t bothered checking into a hotel first. The moment she landed, she grabbed a taxi and headed straight here. The evening sun was just beginning to dip lower in the sky, and she was grateful she’d made it before six. Every minute she wasn’t by her son’s side felt like a minute too long.
As soon as she stepped through the hospital doors, she made her way to the front desk. A woman in a white uniform looked up as she approached.
"Excuse me, I’m looking for my son," Eunji said, her voice tight with urgency. "His name is Kang Haneul. He was brought in earlier today. I’m his mother."
The receptionist typed something into her computer, then paused as she read the screen. Her eyes widened slightly, and she glanced up at Eunji. "Ah, I see," she said, her voice gentler now. "Your son is in Room 502. It’s on the fifth floor, where the special Omega ward is located." She hesitated before continuing. "Just so you know, if you’re an Alpha, you’ll need to wear a protective suit before entering the ward. It’s to prevent any pheromone interference. The suits are available at the nurses’ station on that floor."
"I’m a Beta," Eunji said quickly. "Can I just go straight up now?"
The receptionist nodded. "Yes, you can go straight up. The elevators are to your left. On the fifth floor, head to the right wing where the Special Omega Ward is. Room 502 will be on that side."
Eunji quickly thanked the receptionist and turned, nearly breaking into a run as she headed for the elevators.
She jabbed the button for the fifth floor, her finger pressing harder than necessary. The doors slid shut, and the elevator hummed as it began to climb. Eunji’s foot tapped against the floor, the rhythm quick and uneven. Her eyes stayed locked on the numbers above the door as they ticked up slowly. One. Two. Three. She held her breath, waiting. When the elevator slowed to a stop at three, she was already pressing forward before the doors had fully opened.
Eunji stepped out of the elevator and broke into a quick walk, then a run, as she turned toward the right wing. The hallway stretched ahead, quiet and sterile, with soft lighting and polished floors. Straight ahead, she spotted the double doors with a sign mounted on the wall beside them reading Special Omega Ward in bold letters. She pushed through without slowing down, the doors swinging open easily.
The hallway was mostly empty, which was why she spotted PD Song right away. He was pacing back and forth in front of a door, and she could only guess that was where her son was. She picked up her pace as he noticed her approaching.
Kyungho was caught off guard when he saw the woman rushing toward him. It took him a moment to place her face, then he realized it was Haneul’s mother. He hadn’t expected her to get here this fast. She must have taken the first flight out.
"Haneul’s mother, I’m really sorry—"
"Let’s save the apologies for later," Eunji cut him off. "I need to see my son."
"Please, I just need a moment to explain—"
"Can this wait?" she cut in again, her voice carrying a clear edge of irritation.
She was already reaching for the door handle when his words made her stop.
"It’s about how Kang Haneul-ssi could stay in the competition."
Eunji froze. She pulled her hand back from the door and turned to face him. "What do you mean?"
Kyungho took a breath and explained. He told her that a contestant named Jung Taeyang had just been tested for compatibility with Haneul. If the results came back with a high match rate, Taeyang was willing to give Haneul a temporary mark. That way, Haneul could recover faster and stay in the competition.
"If the test results show high compatibility, would you be open to considering it?" he asked at the end.
Eunji stayed silent for a moment, thinking. She remembered Jung Taeyang from the episodes she’d watched. The show made it seem like he and Haneul were close, but she wasn’t sure if that was real or just editing. Still, from what she’d seen, he didn’t seem like a bad kid. Then her mind went back to the day Haneul had his first heat. It had happened right after they’d signed the contract for Boys Odyssey, and right after Jung Taeyang had stopped them to thank Haneul. She hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now the memory felt different. Especially after what the PD said about the possibility of Jung Taeyang and her son having a high match rate.
Even so, she still couldn’t shake her resistance to the idea. Letting someone mark her son, even if it was temporary, felt wrong. Haneul was barely an adult. He had only stopped being a minor a few months ago. But then she thought back to what her husband had said. To let their son decide for himself.
She ground her teeth together, then finally spoke. "I’ll leave the decision to Haneul."
***
The first thing Haneul became aware of was the heat. It was still there, a steady warmth under his skin that wouldn’t fade. His body felt heavy and worn out, like he’d run for hours without stopping. His throat was dry, and his limbs felt weak. He tried to piece together what had happened, but his memory was hazy. Bits and pieces came through, faces and sounds that didn’t form a clear picture.
A dull ache permeated his muscles, and his mind felt sluggish. Slowly, the haze began to dissipate. He blinked, and the white ceiling above him came into focus.
The air was sharp and clean, a blend of antiseptic and chemicals. His gaze drifted to his arm, where a thin tube was taped to his skin, connecting to a clear bag hanging beside the bed—an IV drip. It was then he realized he was in a hospital.
As if on cue, everything that happened came rushing back.
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