The soft knock at the door broke the silence.
"Come in,"
Taekyun said quietly, eyes still fixed on his desk.
The door opened again Bora entered, followed by Haneul.
The boy looked smaller than Taekyun remembered.
Dressed in an oversized blue shirt and loose white trousers, his fragile body almost disappeared inside the fabric.
His face was flushed from fever, eyes glossy, lips trembling slightly.
He held the sleeves of his shirt tightly, like they were the only thing keeping him together.
Taekyun's jaw clenched the second their eyes met.
Bora bowed lightly. Taekyun glanced toward her and said, flatly,
"You can go."
"Yes, sir."
Bora bowed again and left, closing the door behind her.
The room went silent again only the faint ticking of the clock.
"Sit down,"
Taekyun said finally. His voice wasn't harsh, but it carried weight.
Haneul hesitated, his small hands still gripping the sleeves tightly.
He sat slowly on the chair across the desk, his shoulders shivering even though he was wearing warm clothes Bora had given him.
His head remained lowered.
Taekyun looked at him for a moment before speaking again.
"Are you feeling better now?"
The question came out almost unwillingly quiet, rough.
Haneul's eyes lifted, surprised by the warmth hidden in that tone.
He nodded quickly, his lips curving into the smallest, most innocent smile.
Taekyun's throat tightened.
He looked away for a moment, trying to calm the strange warmth spreading in his chest.
Then, quietly
"Who was that man?"
Haneul blinked, confused by how slowly Taekyun spoke.
"I…"
He started softly, voice trembling.
"When you didn't help me that day, a café owner helped me.
At first, she was really kind. She gave me food and a place to stay. But then she changed.
She started shouting at me, even when I did everything she asked. I don't know why she started to dislike me… just like you.and now she give me to him."
His last words fell too innocently and it hit Taekyun like a sting.
He swallowed hard, his hands tightening around the edge of the desk.
"What kind of work did she make you do?" he asked, voice lower now.
Haneul's cheeks turned red..... too red, like small cherries under the light.
That sweet, faint scent filled the room a mix of strawberry and something warm, something Taekyun had never smelled before.
His whole body stiffened, trying not to breathe too deeply.
"She made me clean floors,"
Haneul said softly.
"I had to earn money every day. If I didn't meet her target, she cut my dinner. Sometimes I had to sleep hungry. And…"
He paused, covering his mouth quickly.
"She made me serve guests. They were all old… um, elder people.
I shouldn't say rude… that's bad."
Taekyun's expression darkened.
"Serve?"
"Yes," Haneul nodded innocently.
"To guests. But they they looked at me weird."
The air between them went heavy.
Taekyun exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
He didn't know if Haneul was acting or if he was genuinely this pure, but the thought that someone might've used him it made his stomach twist.
He leaned back slightly.
"You met someone from PharmAgen, right?" he asked finally mentioning the neutral company that wasn't an enemy but not an ally either.
"The first day you appeared here… you were with them."
Haneul looked startled, then nodded. His expression dimmed.
"They hurt me," he whispered.
"They injected something in my back and took my pheromones. I ran away after that."
Taekyun's jaw tightened.
"You disappeared for a while after coming here. Was it then?"
Haneul's voice broke as he interrupted, "They kidnapped me. I was there for a week. After they took my pheromones, I escaped. While running, I saw your car… I hid inside it. But I got scared when I saw the driver."
"Lihan," Taekyun said under his breath.
Haneul nodded slowly.
"Yes… I saw him there. He was one of them during that experiment."
Taekyun froze.
His mind started connecting the dots Lihan had visited PharmAgen a few days ago for a supposed partnership talk.
The company had claimed they were on a research break.
Then what were they hiding?
Before he could ask more, a knock interrupted again.
Bora entered, holding a small medicine tray.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, sir," she said softly. "It's your medicine time."
Taekyun nodded quietly, taking the pills from her hand.
Then he turned slightly, his tone steady again. "Take him back."
Haneul stood up slowly, his eyes still lingering on Taekyun.
There was something in that gaze curious, soft, unaware of the storm brewing behind the Alpha's calm face.
He turned toward the door… then stopped.
His eyes fell on the study desk on a small box of chocolates beside the laptop.
He turned back a little, voice quiet, hesitant.
"Can I… have this?" he asked, pointing at it.
Bora's eyes widened.
she spoke first,
"I'll give you some later, let's go Haneul "
She said quietly.
But Haneul didn't move. He kept looking at Taekyun eyes wide, too innocent, waiting.
And before Taekyun realized it, his own hand moved.
He picked up the chocolate and placed it gently into Haneul's hand.
For a moment, everything around him went still.
Bora froze completely. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her hand covering her mouth.
That chocolate it was Haru's birthday gift to him last month.
Taekyun never shared anything Haru gave him. Not food, not even a small item.
Yet now.
Haneul smiled, eyes lighting up,
He walked out quietly, holding the chocolate like something precious.
Bora followed, still bowing before leaving, her mind spinning.
Why did sir…?
she thought, confused.
Why did he give that chocolate?
Inside the study, Taekyun stayed frozen for a long time.
His hand still hovered above the desk, the empty spot where the chocolate was.
His thoughts wouldn't stop echoing .
Why did I give it to him?
Why… did I even want to?