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Chapter 128: An Unexpected Confession
by GideonI could finally breathe again.
“I really enjoyed listening to the radio show. But it was a live broadcast, so you must have been stressed trying to keep it all together, right?”
“Yeah, you can’t take anything back once it’s live.”
With a recorded show, you can always ask for edits. But with radio, there’s no such luxury. I can’t even begin to describe how nervous I was.
“You worked hard. Have you eaten dinner yet?”
“Just a quick sandwich.”
“Go wash up and then let’s eat. I made this because I figured you’d be hungry, hyung.”
Overjoyed at the prospect of a home-cooked meal for the first time in a while, Jubin quickly wiped off his makeup, took a shower, and came back out.
He never expected the neatly arranged side dishes, rice, and soup on the table to feel so comforting.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I had kimchi stew with the managers right after we left the airport.”
“You could have just rested instead of spending time cooking for me.”
“I slept the entire flight, so it’s fine.”
“Thanks. I’ll enjoy this.”
As expected, Zion’s cooking was perfectly seasoned—not too bold, just right for his taste. He ate every last bite.
“Is there any dessert you’re craving?”
I need to feed him something sweet before we get into the serious talk, Jubin thought.
“I want shaved ice.”
“Alright, let’s have some.”
After finishing the meal, Jubin rolled up his sleeves to do the dishes.
“Hyung, I’ll do it.”
Zion naturally took his place at the sink.
“No, I’ll do it.”
“Nope.”
I can’t win against Do Zion’s strength or his stubbornness anyway, Jubin thought, deciding to offer a compromise instead.
“Fine, we’ll do it together.”
“I’ll do the pre-wash. Once I’m done, you just have to press the button on the dishwasher.”
His stubbornness was a direct result of his fastidious nature; he never did anything halfway, not even pre-washing the dishes.
“How is that even helping…?”
In the end, Jubin settled for a different kind of help. He gently patted Zion’s wet hands dry with a soft towel and applied hand cream.
“I told you to wear gloves.”
“They’re too small.”
“That’s why I told you to let me do it.”
“No way.”
“So stubborn…”
Jubin cradled his fragrant hand, holding it preciousy before pressing a light kiss to it.
“Thank you.”
“That was actually kind of sexy.” Zion murmured, his gaze hazy and unfocused.
Jubin found Zion’s flushed ears and the way he seemed ready to pounce on him adorable, but he knew he couldn’t let his own excitement get in the way again. He couldn’t miss this moment.
Smiling, Jubin held up a hand to pause him. “Zion, wait a second.”
He rushed to the dressing room, retrieved the small ring box from the bag he’d carried all day, and returned. His hands trembled slightly as he cradled the box before extending it toward Zion.
“I’ve been wanting to give this to you all day,” Jubin said, opening his hands to reveal the ring. “Zion, will you marry me?”
Inside the case lay a sleek, white gold band encrusted with diamonds—a design he’d carefully chosen and kept hidden for a month.
“Give me your hand.”
Jubin expected Zion to reach out, his face lit with joy. Instead, the younger man remained motionless, his eyes wide and unblinking.
Wait, this isn’t how it was supposed to go.
“Zion?” Jubin called his name softly.
“…Hyung, are you sure you won’t regret marrying me?”
“I’m sure. I won’t regret it.”
Zion paused for a moment before continuing. “You’ve… you’ve been thinking about this for a long time, haven’t you?”
He clenched the hand he’d been about to reach out, still unable to believe what was happening.
“You’re right, I have. I’ve been struggling just to keep my own head above water, so I hesitated. I didn’t know how to share the burden of responsibility, so I couldn’t make a hasty decision. But now that my acting career is finally taking off again, I think I can support you.”
A shadow fell over Zion’s eyes. It didn’t seem like he disliked the ring, but they couldn’t just stand here and talk.
“Zion, let’s sit down and talk.”
Jubin took his hand and led him to the sofa.
“Are you feeling pressured because I brought up marriage first?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Then why on earth is he hesitating? Jubin wondered. Wasn’t this what he wanted all along? I’m willing to do anything for you.
“Hmm, is your hesitation related to your contract with CEO Park?”
Zion hesitated to answer.
The ring proposal was too hasty, Jubin realized. Zion isn’t ready to share a ring just yet.
“Sorry, I’ll wait a little longer.”
As Jubin closed the ring box, Zion flinched, his hand darting out to stop him.
“Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”
Jubin gently set the ring on the table, trying to soothe him. “No, I was the one who rushed things. I’ll wait until you’re ready and propose again.”
“That’s not it—”
He let out a deep sigh and ran both hands over his dry face.
“Hyung, I realized it when you went into heat. That a heat really just leaves you with nothing but your Omega instincts.”
Zion took a deep breath and continued.
“It broke my heart to see you, completely consumed by instinct for three whole days, trying to take me in so desperately.”
Just how messy did we get? Zion wondered. The shock must have been even worse for him, since I was perfectly lucid and sane while taking him in.
“When we did it in the States after a long time, you still had enough reason to tell me it hurt. But during your heat…”
The truth was, he couldn’t remember much of the heat. He recalled desperately begging Zion to get him pregnant, but the rest—the specifics of how he’d taken him in—was a blur.
“And…”
Zion’s voice grew heavy as he continued.
“Hyung, you don’t want children, do you?”
I never imagined the issue of children would become such a major point of contention. I’d thought that simply preparing a ring, getting down on one knee, and asking him to marry me would be enough. Why was everything proving to be so difficult?
“I still want to marry you. I’m absolutely determined to marry you, Hyung. But… the issue of children is a separate matter.”
While children weren’t essential for the marriage itself or their happiness, it was a crucial issue if Zion wanted them.
“Do you want a child?”
He couldn’t answer immediately, his gaze drifting away. It was an uncharacteristically uncertain look.
“I did at first, but now… I’m not sure. I think I understand why you hate being so swayed by pheromones. More than anything, I can’t stand seeing you in pain.”
To summarize…
“So, you’re saying that after going through my heat together, you want us to reach a clear agreement on the issue of pregnancy before we get married. Is that what I’m supposed to take away from this?”
Zion nodded his chin slightly, without hesitation. The movement was small, but his unwavering gaze was unmistakable.
“Actually…” he continued, his voice dropping as he made an unexpected confession. “My rut is coming up soon.”
Strangely, his mention of a rut didn’t seem like a major problem to Jubin.
“So, let’s get married after my rut is over.”
There was only one reason for Zion’s concern. While an Alpha could keep their head clear and resist the pheromones during an Omega’s heat, an Alpha’s rut would almost certainly trigger a heat in the Omega.
Moreover, Zion was a Dominant Alpha—the strongest kind. It was obvious Jubin would lose his mind and throw himself at Zion, desperate to get pregnant.
“I heard you’re not scheduling anything after the Iconic Mood awards. What, were you planning to go hide away on some remote island and spend your rut all alone? Without me?”
Zion gave a slow, quiet nod.
Suddenly, Jubin found him absolutely infuriating.
“What about your promise to spend every rut and heat with me for the rest of our lives?”
“Let’s start with the next one,” Zion said.
“And when exactly is your next rut?”
He paused, considering, then replied curtly, “In about a year?”
Jubin’s fury reached new heights.
“You saw me at my absolute worst during my heat, and now you’re telling me I have to wait a whole year to see you in rut? Don’t you think that’s incredibly unfair?”
“Stop making this sound like a trivial matter! This isn’t a simple problem!”
His voice was low, laced with emotions he was fighting to suppress.
“My rut lasts ten days.”
He let out a deep sigh, adding as if pleading for Jubin to understand his frustration. “You heard the doctor. Alpha oral contraceptives won’t work during the next heat or rut. It’s a guaranteed pregnancy.”
Jubin wasn’t unaware of this.
“…Zion.”
He called Zion’s name gently.
“Look at me.”
Thwack!
“…Ah!”
A short, crisp sound echoed through the living room.
Stunned by the unexpected impact, Zion stared blankly, his mouth hanging open as he tried to process what had just happened.
“Hyung…?” he called out, dazed, clutching his forehead.
“Yeah, I hit you.”
Jubin spoke with unwavering confidence.
“So what if I’m in rut? What’s the problem? We can just go through it together.”
Zion rubbed his forehead, his expression one of sheer disbelief.
“…Hyung, what are you talking about? If we go through a rut together, I’ll get pregnant immediately!”
Jubin was no longer afraid—not of ruts, heats, pregnancy, or marriage.
“You know how much of a struggle marriage was for me. You of all people shouldn’t be bottling this up, avoiding it, and making decisions on your own.”
Overwhelmed by Jubin’s intensity, Zion pressed his still-stinging forehead and swallowed hard.
“In the future I’m envisioning, you’re in it. And maybe our child, too.”
The spot where Jubin had struck him was now a bright, angry red.
“That’s why I’m asking you to marry me—with all of that included.”
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