YOU'RE IN YOUR...

WHEN Haneul sat down in their car's passenger seat, he suddenly felt lightheaded. He wondered if sitting down too quickly had caused it. Was it just him, or did it feel unusually hot inside the car?

And what was that smell? It was difficult to put into words, but if he tried, it was like a warm, slightly sweet aroma, a blend of honey and rich, earthy wood, with just a subtle hint of spice.

Before he could dwell on any of those things further, he heard his mother asked, "So, do you have a good opinion of that young man, Jung Taeyang?"

Haneul turned to his mother and almost said, 'How did Mom know I'm his fan?'. Good thing his brain worked faster and replied, "I think he's okay."

His mother likely asked that because of the story he told her about the incident with Jung Taeyang's cousin in the COEX Mall restroom. Knowing they would be on the same idol survival program, she probably found it a remarkable coincidence and was curious about what he thought of Jung Taeyang, wondering if their previous encounter would affect their interactions.

He was about to answer when he noticed his mother's expression suddenly fill with worry. He couldn't understand why she looked so concerned. Before he could ask, she touched his cheek, her eyes widening and her brow furrowing even more deeply.

"Haneul-ah, you're burning up!" his mother exclaimed, her voice filled with panic. "Do you feel any discomfort? Where does it hurt?"

'I'm burning up...?'

As if in response to her question, his lightheadedness intensified. His mind went blank, and his vision faded to darkness.

The last thing he saw was his mother frantically calling his name.

----------

When Haneul opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a white ceiling. It felt like déjà vu, reminding him of when he first woke up in this world and saw his family. Did that mean he had fainted again?

The last thing he remembered was his mother looking at him with worry, telling him he had a high temperature. After that... what had happened? He remembered feeling lightheaded. Had he fainted at that moment?

But the question here was, why?

Before he could ponder the answer, his mother suddenly appeared in his line of sight, looking very worried. "Haneul-ah, do you feel any discomfort anywhere?"

"I feel fine, Mom," Haneul said, trying to sit up. "What happened to me?"

His mother stared at his face, as if assessing whether he was being truthful or simply trying to ease her worries. After seemingly confirming that he was indeed fine, she answered his question, "You're in your heat cycle."

Haneul blinked. Heat... cycle? It took him a moment to grasp what his mother meant. Right. He was an Omega. It was natural for him to undergo a heat cycle once a month. Given that he had manifested as an Omega a month ago, it made sense for his heat to occur around this time.

Once his brain accepted this, he realized there was a problem. He had been taking suppressant pills for the past three days. According to the heat cycle app recommended by the doctor who looked after him when he manifested, his heat cycle was indeed due around this time. That's why he had started taking suppressants in advance. From what he had learned, it was crucial to take suppressants three, four days before the cycle to avoid any painful symptoms.

So why did he faint?

"Mom, what did the doctor say?" he asked tentatively. "Is something wrong with me? I've been drinking suppressant pills for the past three days. Surely, I shouldn't have fainted like that. Or at least, I think I shouldn't have."

"The doctor agreed. You shouldn't have fainted like that," his mother said, her voice a mix of relief and concern. "Thankfully, he said it's not serious. According to him, it's likely just an isolated incident since you're a newly manifested Omega."

Haneul felt a wave of relief wash over him. If his body had some kind of problem, he honestly didn't know what he would do, especially with shooting for Boys Odyssey starting in two weeks. It was reassuring to know that this was an isolated incident and not something serious.

"But the doctor also mentioned that something else could have caused it," his mother added cautiously, her voice tinged with concern.

Haneul quickly turned to his mother. "Mom, what does that mean?"

"The doctor said an Alpha's pheromones might have affected you," his mother explained, her tone serious. "That's why you fainted."

For the second time that day, Haneul blinked in confusion, not quite grasping what he had just heard.