DID THAT YOUNG MAN...?
"Did that young man, the one who introduced himself as Jung Taeyang, release his pheromones on you?"
Eunji closely watched her son's expression as she asked the question. Being a Beta, she couldn't detect pheromones herself and wasn't certain if the young man had released any earlier. However, if Haneul had caught even a hint of that young man's pheromones, she would not hesitate to lodge a complaint with the production staff of the idol survival program they were both set to appear in.
How could she stand by when there was a possibility that the young man's pheromones had aggravated Haneul's heat, causing him to faint? And then the two would be together in the same place for three months, completely isolated? No. She couldn't let that happen.
Of course, this was all based on the assumption that the young man had indeed done that. She actually hoped he hadn't. Otherwise, she would start worrying that the other Alpha contestants might do the same.
After much self-convincing, she finally managed to set aside her overwhelming concerns and agreed to let her son join the survival program. She didn't want her constant worries to stand in the way of her son's dream. Not only would it drive her crazy, but it would also make her son resent her. That's the last thing she wanted to happen.
His mother's question quickly calmed Haneul. His cluttered mind cleared, allowing him to think more clearly. He wasn't surprised that his mother immediately suspected Jung Taeyang as the cause of his fainting. After all, Jung Taeyang was the only Alpha he had been in close proximity with, and they had even shaken hands. It was only natural for his mother to draw such a conclusion.
However, there was no way Jung Taeyang was responsible for what happened. First, Haneul hadn't smelled any pheromones when Jung Taeyang came close to him. Then he suddenly remembered smelling something in the car. Some hard to describe scent. But surely, that wouldn't be Jung Taeyang's pheromones, right? Like, he was already in the car when he smelled it. Was it even possible for there to be a delay in smelling other people's pheromones?
Second, and the most important fact of all, Jung Taeyang had Pheromone Blindness.
How could that be reassuring, you might ask? It's because Haneul knew that individuals with Pheromone Blindness were required to use a much stronger medicinal perfume. Even the pheromone patches they were allowed to use had to have a much stronger effect. After all, since they couldn't smell their own pheromones, it was crucial to have them under strict control.
So, there's no way he could have smelled Jung Taeyang's pheromones.
"I didn't smell his pheromones," he honestly told his mother.
He then went on to explain why his fainting couldn't have been caused by Jung Taeyang, mentioning the other's Pheromone Blindness.
His mother looked surprised when she heard that, and then a relieved expression appeared on her face. The possibility of him being affected by an Alpha's pheromones had clearly given her a scare.
Haneul reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "It's fine, Mom. This was probably just an isolated incident. I'll make sure to take more precaution next time."
He wasn't just saying that to his mother, he was also making a promise to himself. He had to be extra careful. Because in his next heat cycle, he would be in the middle of the sea, shooting Boys Odyssey. Today's incident was a glaring alarm bell for him. He had to ensure nothing like this would happen again.
He should probably consult the doctor later for some advice.
As he was thinking that, he suddenly remembered something important. "Mom, what about Robin hyung?"
Haneul told Robin that they would be waiting for him outside while he was signing the contract. But now, they were in the hospital. Since he fainted like that, his mother definitely drove him straight here. There's no way she would have waited for Robin to finish with his contract signing.
"Don't worry," his mother said reassuringly. "I called him earlier to explain what happened. I apologized and told him to head back on his own. I also said I would ask you to message him later. However, he insisted on coming here, so he'll probably arrive soon."
Then, as if on cue, the hospital door suddenly swung open, and Robin entered, breathless and disheveled, his hair tousled and his shirt slightly wrinkled, clearly showing he had rushed to get there. He almost tripped over the threshold but quickly regained his balance, ending up in an awkward, superhero-like pose.
"Haneul, are you alright?" he blurted out, trying to play it cool.
Both Haneul and his mother stared at Robin for a moment, then burst into laughter at the same time. Their laughter came warmly, filled with affection for Robin's clumsy entrance.