บท 46: (DON'T WANT) TO WORRY ABOUT HIM
Although he admired Jung Taeyang's music like countless others, a part of him couldn't help but envy the other's life. It was hard not to, especially when his own life was filled with nothing but misery and loneliness.
So, looking at Jung Taeyang's life through the reflection of his own, the other's life just seemed perfect. He should have known that others could also have problems, hidden behind the surface. No one's life was without its struggles, and it was unfair to assume otherwise. He realized that beneath Jung Taeyang's success, there could be challenges and pains that were not visible to the outside world.
If the trajectory of this world was the same as his original world, then the trauma or incident that had caused Jung Taeyang's Pheromone Blindness would have happened in the original world as well. Since there were no Alphas or Omegas in his original world, of course it wouldn't manifest as a condition. But it did in this world.
This realization made Haneul wonder what could have happened to Jung Taeyang to develop such a condition. Maybe it's because he's such a big fan that this thought kept circling in his mind. It was the only reason he could think of for why he was so bothered by it.
"I've heard of some cases, but I've never known anyone personally," Robin said in response. "It's not really that big of a problem in today's society, but there can still be some issues, especially in situations involving pheromones. An Alpha with this condition might have trouble forming a bond with an Omega. Since they can't identify an Omega's heat cycle, they could also have problems with marking them. Alphas with Pheromone Blindness might develop low self-esteem because, as Alphas, not being able to smell pheromones can feel like a significant shortcoming. Different people cope in different ways, though. Some might be completely fine with it, while others might really struggle."
Haneul fell into contemplation after hearing that. He thought back to his short interaction with Jung Taeyang a few days ago. From what he had observed, Taeyang seemed completely unaffected by his Pheromone Blindness. The way he mentioned his inability to smell pheromones was as casual as announcing the weather. It was the attitude of someone who couldn't be bothered, as if it were completely unrelated to him.
This nonchalance confused Haneul even more. He wondered if Jung Taeyang's indifference was genuine or just a well-practiced facade. Was he truly at peace with his condition, or had he simply learned to mask any insecurities or problems it might be causing him?
He sighed. Either way, it wasn't like he could do anything about it. Being a fan didn't give him the right to interfere with the other's life. Still, he hoped that the condition wasn't affecting him too much. It would be such a shame if Jung Taeyang couldn't create and produce wonderful music because of it.
"Anyway, like I said, it's not really a problem in today's society," Robin added. "The only ones who would react negatively are those purist Alpha families."
Haneul nodded. He hadn't thought of that. Despite modern society, there were still families that adhered to traditional beliefs and rigid hierarchies. These purist Alpha families would likely see Pheromone Blindness as a significant flaw, an unacceptable deviation from their ideal.
If Jung Taeyang was truly from a chaebol family, it wouldn't be surprising if he belonged to one of those purist Alpha families.
Haneul's brows furrowed. He had already told himself that he shouldn't concern himself with that. And yet, here he was, worrying again. Really, if he had to worry about someone, it should be himself. He couldn't even dance properly right now. At this point, his focus should be solely on learning how to dance.
Their break ended, and it was time to start another dance lesson.
***
Haneul and Robin walked straight to the lockers after their lesson ended. Haneul wiped the sweat from his brow before he opened his locker. The first thing he did was to take out his phone. He wanted to check if his dad was already outside.
Even though he told his parents there was no need to pick him up every day, they insisted. They argued that since he finished his dance lessons quite late, it would be much safer for them to pick him up rather than let him ride public transportation.
He could understand where their worry was coming from, so he didn't have the heart to say 'no'.
Haneul picked up his phone. He was about to check his KakaoTalk message when he noticed an e-mail notification. He clicked on that first.
Subject: Congratulations! You Have Passed the Public Audition for Our Idol Survival Program
Dear Kang Haneul,
We are thrilled to inform you that you have successfully passed the public audition for our upcoming idol survival program! Congratulations on your outstanding performance and dedication.
As a next step, we invite you to come to the Jeil ENM Center building to sign your contract. Please ensure you bring valid identification with you. If you are 18 years old or younger, your parent/guardian must accompany you for the contract signing.
Details:
- Date: May 12, 2024
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Location: Jeil ENM Center, 66 Sangamsan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Please confirm your attendance by replying to this email at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team.
Once again, congratulations on your achievement! We look forward to seeing you soon and embarking on this exciting journey together.
Best regards,
The Vnet Team
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