By the time they got home, Hyun-So was somewhat conscious but still sluggish.
Do-Jin didn't even hesitate—he went straight upstairs, carrying him into his own bedroom.
Park Hyun-So barely reacted as he was placed on the bed, his limbs still refusing to cooperate.
Kim Do-Jin hovered above him, studying his face. "You still with me?"
Hyun-So blinked, trying to form words. "I… feel like shit."
Do-Jin smiled. "Sounds like you'll live."
Hyun-So scowled weakly. "Asshole."
Kim Do-Jin let out a short laugh but didn't move away. He was still too focused on Park Hyun-So's condition.
His skin was flushed. His breathing uneven.
Kim reached out, pressing the back of his hand lightly against Park's forehead.
And that's when he realized—
Hyun-So wasn't just weak. He was overheating.
Do-Jin frowned. "Your body's reacting to something."
Hyun-So let out a breath, eyelids heavy. "No shit. The pheromones…"
Do-Jin's jaw tightened.
Pheromones shouldn't do this.
Not to an alpha. Not to anyone without a secondary gender.
But then—
Kim Do-Jin leaned in closer.
His own scent, normally controlled, slipped. Just slightly.
Park Hyun-So inhaled—then jolted.
His body, previously sluggish, suddenly felt light. Like an unnatural burst of energy had rushed through him.
His fingers twitched. His vision cleared.
Kim Do-Jin noticed immediately. His eyes narrowed. "...That helped?"
Park Hyun-So exhaled sharply.
"…What the hell?"
A realization settled between them.
Pheromones—just like any chemical—had different effects on Hyun-So.
Some could weaken him.
Some could do nothing.
And some…
Could make him feel like he just had an entire bag of sugar dumped into his bloodstream.
Kim Do-Jin sat back, expression unreadable. "Well. That's new."
Park Hyun-so stared at him. "That's… bad, right?"
Do-Jin hummed, tilting his head. "Depends. If I ever want to poison you, at least I know how."
Hyun-So groaned. "Not funny."
Do-Jin smirked. "A little funny."
Park Hyun-So rolled onto his side, officially done with this day.
Kim Do-Jin watched him for a moment before sighing and pushing himself off the bed. "Sleep."
Hyun-So barely got out a response before exhaustion took over.
Do-Jin hesitated—just briefly—before standing.
His gaze flickered to Hyun-So's now relaxed expression.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Tomorrow, they'd figure it out.
For now, he let the exhaustion settle over him too as he laid next to Hyun-So.