Ye Jun

We realized we were already running late and coming back together... Well our parents won’t think it’s weird but we were already acting weird enough already we weren’t sure. Si Woo gripping the wheel tight and me slouched in the passenger seat trying not to puke from the car smell mixing with everything else. My stomach was still rolling from the clinic and that stupid little heartbeat kept replaying in my head, making everything feel ten times heavier. Si Woo kept glancing over every couple of minutes, his jaw clenched like he was thinking the same thing I was. We had less than two hours before Mom and Dad expected us at the table acting like normal stepbrothers and not two guys who just saw their mistake blinking on an ultrasound screen.

Halfway there he suddenly pulled off into this quiet side road behind some empty buildings and killed the engine. I turned to him ready to ask what the hell he was doing when he leaned across the console fast, one hand grabbing the back of my neck and the other already sliding under my shirt. His mouth crashed into mine rough and desperate like he had been holding it in since the doctor showed us the picture. I kissed him back for a second, my fingers digging into his shoulder because yeah the pull was still there even after everything and his palm was hot against the small bump like he needed to feel it was real.

Then I remembered. I shoved him back hard my breathing all messed up and my lips tingling. "We said we’d stop Si Woo. We said that exact thing like twenty minutes ago in this same damn car. What part of bigger problems do you not get?"

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at me with that stubborn stare. "I know what we said. But that heartbeat . It made it click. It’s not just some abstract fuck up anymore. And sitting here knowing we have to go pretend nothing happened is driving me insane."

"Yeah well your insanity is going to get us caught if you keep mauling me every time we’re alone for five seconds." I fixed my shirt and tried to ignore how my body still wanted to lean back in. "Drive. We need to get home and figure out how to look sick and normal at the same time before Mom starts asking questions."

Si Woo started the car again but he didn’t say anything for a while. His hand drifted over to my thigh once but I slapped it away without even looking. When we finally pulled into the driveway I jumped out fast and headed straight inside the house feeling my scent already messing up again that sweeter edge creeping in stronger than before. I could practically hear Dad’s voice in my head already sniffing the air and asking why the hell his stepson smelled off. The thought made my chest tight with panic because if he noticed anything mixed with Si Woo’s alpha smell we were done. Game over. Family dinner would turn into world war three right there at the table.

Upstairs I went straight to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror trying to practice my sick face. I made my eyes look droopy and my mouth slack like I was one wrong bite away from throwing up. Si Woo came in behind me and leaned against the doorframe watching with his arms crossed. He pulled the ultrasound picture out of his pocket again and stared at it for way too long before tucking it back in like it was some kind of lucky charm he couldn’t let go of.

"You look like you’re about to shit yourself not puke," he said finally his voice low but with that edge of he always used when he was trying to lighten shit up. "Try looking more green around the gills. And slump your shoulders. You’re supposed to be dying of a stomach pain, remember?"

"Shut up and stop staring at that picture like a creep. Put it away before someone sees." I turned back to the mirror and adjusted my face again trying to make it more believable. Inside my head the panic was building because my scent was definitely getting stronger now and I had no idea how long the blockers would even last with this mixed blood crap. What if Dad caught it the second we sat down? What if Mom noticed how Si Woo kept looking at me? The thoughts kept piling up and I felt my hands shake a little as I gripped the sink. "This is such bullshit. I smell like a pregnant omega now and you’re walking around like nothing’s changed. If Dad’s nose picks up on it we’re screwed. He’s got that strong alpha sense thing and he always brags about it like it’s a superpower. One whiff and he’ll know something’s off. Then what? We tell them hey surprise it’s your grandsons baby and oh yeah your stepsons so bonus points?"

Si Woo stepped closer but didn’t touch me this time. He just watched me in the mirror. "We stick to the plan. You’re sick. I drove you to the hospital. End of story. And I’ll keep my hands to myself at the table. Mostly."

"Mostly? That’s not fucking reassuring." I sighed and turned around to face him. "You better. Because if you start with the leg brushing or the looks I’m kicking you under the table hard enough to break something."

He gave a short laugh but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Fine. Behave yourself too then. Don’t puke on the table."

"Ha ha. You’re hilarious." I pushed past him and we both went downstairs just as Mom’s car pulled in. She came in carrying groceries looking all cheerful and clueless which made the guilt twist in my gut even harder. Dad showed up not long after loosening his tie and talking about how the office had been crazy. We helped set the table without saying much, Si Woo shooting me quick glances every time our parents weren’t looking and me trying to act like my stomach wasn’t doing cartwheels.

Dinner started out normal enough which was almost worse because it felt like we were in some fake bubble that was about to pop. Mom passed the rice and Dad served the meat talking about work stuff while I pushed food around my plate barely eating anything. Every bite looked like it might come right back up. Si Woo sat across from me and kept glancing over like he was checking I was okay. Under the table his leg brushed mine once and I kicked him lightly glaring when he looked up.

"Behave," he muttered under his breath so only I could hear his tone half warning half amused.

"You behave asshole," I whispered back snapping my chopsticks a little too hard. Mom looked up at us with that mom radar face.

"Everything okay boys? Ye Jun you’ve hardly touched your food. Is your stomach still bothering you?"

"Yeah it’s just that bug I told you about earlier," I said trying to sound weak and sick instead of panicked. "Si Woo drove me to the clinic and they said it might last a few days. Nothing serious." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Dad nodded but his eyes lingered on me a second longer than I liked. "You do look a bit off. Make sure you rest. Family needs to stay healthy especially with the news I have tonight."

Si Woo raised an eyebrow across the table. "News? What news?"