[Around ten in the morning]
Taekyun unlocked his phone and opened the CCTV feed connected to the hotel suite.
The screen showed Haneul.
He was moving aimlessly around the room, walking from the window to the couch, then back again.
He stopped, sat down, stood up again.
Bored.
Restless.
Unsettled.
Taekyun's gaze stayed fixed on the screen.
At that moment,
Small footsteps echoed from the stairs.
"Abba."
Taekyun turned.
Haru had just come downstairs, her hair still slightly messy, eyes sleepy but bright.
She walked straight to him without hesitation.
Taekyun bent down and picked her up, holding her tighter than usual.
His mother's words echoed sharply in his mind.
Haru rested her chin on his shoulder, looking around.
Bora entered with a breakfast tray and set it down carefully.
Taekyun placed Haru on the chair.
Haru looked between Taekyun and Bora, then softly said,
"Umma."
Taekyun didn't respond.
It was the second time she had said Umma in front of him.
Usually, she didn't.
He stayed silent, his expression unreadable.
Bora sat beside Haru and picked up the spoon.
"I'll feed you today,"
She said gently.
"Umma will be back in the evening."
Taekyun stood up without another word and went upstairs to his room.
Bora glanced at Haru and spoke quietly,
"Didn't Haneul tell you not to call him umma in front of your dad?
He doesn't like it, right?"
Haru smiled and nodded obediently.
Bora smiled back, lightly tapping her nose.
"You've gotten naughty, little one."
She continued feeding her.
[By afternoon]
Taekyun checked the CCTV again.
Haneul was sitting at the table, eating lunch slowly.
He barely touched the food.
When he finally handed the tray back to the staff,
He shook his head.
Taekyun leaned back, closing his eyes briefly.
"What am I supposed to do with you"
He muttered under his breath.
"It's not like you're from this world."
His jaw tightened.
"And yet why are you so attached to us?"
He stood and went downstairs.
"Bora,"
He said calmly,
"Get Haru ready. I'm taking her out."
Bora smiled and nodded.
She knew.
Not out.
After Haneul.
She went upstairs to Haru's room.
Haru was sitting at her desk, writing.
Bora knocked lightly.
"Haru-ah, come eat lunch.
Then Dad's taking you out."
Haru turned, her eyes lighting up instantly.
She jumped off the chair and ran to Bora, following her downstairs happily.
[Around four in the afternoon]
The sky outside the hotel was heavy with clouds.
Haneul stood near the window, rubbing his arms.
"When is he coming"
He whispered.
The staff reassured him softly,
"Mr Taekyun is coming, sir."
Haneul touched his forehead.
"Is this my heat?"
His breath became uneven.
"It always happens like this"
His thoughts spiraled.
"What if he tells me to stay here?"
"No....I won't "
"Taekyun please come soon."
"If we go home early,
I can take my suppressant."
He paced the room again.
His pheromones began to leak into the air.
For omegas, after injury or shock, it wasn't unusual for heat to arrive early.
And in Eunoia and other worlds it was known that omegas often lost clarity during heat.
(Meanwhile)
Taekyun stopped at a convenience store with Haru.
She picked out snacks happily.
When Taekyun told her they were going to get Haneul, her excitement was obvious.
But the more Taekyun looked at her,
the heavier his heart became.
His mother's words clung to his thoughts, refusing to fade.
After Haru finished buying snacks, she sat in the car.
Taekyun started driving.
"Haru,"
He said calmly,
"Haneul got a bit injured in a small accident. Don't be afraid."
"He hurt his head and hand a little."
Haru nodded, but she became unusually quiet.
Taekyun noticed immediately.
That was why he told her
so she wouldn't panic when she saw Haneul.
When they stopped in front of the hotel, Taekyun unfastened her seatbelt.
"Don't be sad,"
He said softly.
"I told you so you wouldn't be scared."
Haru nodded.
Taekyun leaned down and kissed her forehead.
They got out of the car.
Haru pulled out a chocolate bar from her shopping bag.
Taekyun glanced at it.
"Don't take it inside,"
He said.
"We're leaving after taking Haneul.
Eat it at home."
Haru looked up at him.
"For umma."
Taekyun paused.
Then nodded.
He took her hand and went inside.
The staff bowed respectfully.
Haru bowed back shyly.
They took the elevator up.
At the floor,
Taekyun accepted the key from the staff.
They bowed and left.
Haru hid behind Taekyun.
Taekyun looked back at her.
She put a finger to her lips.
He understood.
A surprise.
He nodded.
Taekyun opened the door.
The apartment was filled with Haneul's pheromones.
Strong and Unstable.
Taekyun stepped inside.
Haru followed quietly behind him.
From the bedroom,
Haneul came out.
His cheeks were flushed red.
He looked at Taekyun.
"Haneul,"
Taekyun called.
Haneul walked toward him, unfocused, desperate.
He grabbed Taekyun by the collar and pressed his lips to Taekyun's.
Taekyun's eyes widened.
Behind him, Haru froze, her mouth falling open.
Instantly,
Taekyun lifted one hand back, covering Haru's eyes,
and wrapped the other arm around Haneul's waist to steady him.
Taekyun didn't respond to the kiss.
All he could think about was Haru.
Haneul pulled back slowly, eyes red.
"Taekyun…...."
He whispered.
Then....
"Umma."
Haru's voice.
Haneul's breath hitched.
Reality snapped back.
"Haru"
Haneul breathed.
Taekyun removed his hand from Haru's eyes.
Tears filled her eyes, spilling over.
Her lips trembled.
Haneul, feverish and unstable, slowly dropped to his knees in front of her.
Haru took a small step back.
"Haru"
Haneul opened his arms.
She hesitated.
Then moved forward.
He hugged her tightly.
"I'm sorry.... I'm sorry."
Taekyun clenched his jaw, his hand gripping his hair.
He had prepared her for the injuries so she wouldn't panic
and yet she was still crying.
Haneul stroked her back, forcing calm into his voice.
"It's okay…..... it's okay"
Haru cupped his face and kissed his cheek.
"Umma"
"Abba kiss no."
Haneul nodded quickly.
"Sorry, sorry, I won't."
"It was a mistake."
Taekyun spoke firmly.
"Haru, umma isn't well. Let's go."
Haru nodded.
Taekyun looked at Haneul.
Haneul looked up at him completely losing control.
Taekyun leaned down and lifted him.
Haneul's legs wrapped around Taekyun's waist, arms around his neck.
Taekyun grabbed a blanket and wrapped Haneul fully in it.
"Stay still,"
He whispered coldly.
Haneul buried his face into Taekyun's neck.
Taekyun released his pheromones, steady and protective.
They exited the room.
Haru followed quietly, still pouting, worried.
Why is Abba carrying umma
At the elevator,
Taekyun extended one hand.
Haru took his finger and stayed close.
Downstairs,
Taekyun's men were waiting.
"Bring the car,"
He ordered.
He looked at them.
"One of you drive.
The other stays here and handles everything
Cameras included."
They nodded.
Taekyun placed Haneul gently in the back seat.
Haru stood there, still holding the chocolate.
Taekyun saw it in her eyes.
Possessiveness.
He picked her up and seated her beside Haneul, placing her on his lap while holding Haneul close with one arm.
He kissed Haru's head.
"When Haneul feels better,"
He said softly,
"you can give it to him."
Haru nodded, watching her father.
Haneul clung to Taekyun's arm, leaning against his chest, wrapped in his pheromones.
He heard everything.
But he was already too far gone to control or care anymore.