Chapter 157: OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS
"DAD, are you sick?"
"No, I’m not," Garam lied to his son after tucking him in bed. "I just need to visit the hospital for a normal check-up."
"It means you are sick, Dad," Gunwoo said, frowning. "You only go to the hospital when you’re sick."
Aigooya.
My son is really smart.
"Dad is just feeling tired, that’s all."
"It’s because I’m heavy now, isn’t it?" Gunwoo asked worriedly. "Dad gets tired because you keep carrying me when I’m heavy."
Pfft.
Garam wasn’t sick just because he kept carrying his son, but it was true that Gunwoo was heavy for his age.
Gunwoo is 122cm tall and a bit heavy.
In fact, his son was often mistaken for an elementary school student.
"It’s not because of that, baby," Garam assured his son. "Dad is just going to get some vitamins to be stronger."
"Really, Dad?"
"Yes, baby," Garam said, and then he changed the topic. "After my visit to the hospital, your daddy and I will take you on a school tour. We’ll choose which kindergarten you like best."
Gunwoo’s face instantly beamed. "I wanna choose my new school!"
***
"APPA, I’m sorry to ask you to look after my baby again," Garam said. He was already feeling bad that he had to leave Gunwoo to his Omega father-in-law again. "I’ll ask Geon Hyung and Junho Hyung to help you..."
"No need for that, dear. Mija is here anyway," Lee Wonjae said while shaking his head. "Shin Geon and Shin Junho have a daughter to take care of, too. Let them spend time as a family."
To be honest, it had been a while since Garam had seen Shin Geon and Shin Junho.
Geon Hyung is supposed to be my bodyguard, but Sihyuk Hyung would always dismiss Geon Hyung when we’re together.
"Dear, I like taking care of my grandson."
"Appa..."
"But I also like taking care of you," Lee Wonjae said, cupping Garam’s face between his hands. "Go to the hospital and get a proper diagnosis, dear. Don’t be afraid. This family has enough money to help you get better. We can even create a medicine that doesn’t exist yet if we have to."
"Thank you, Appa," Garam said in a cracked voice. He was really touched that his Omega father-in-law cared about him genuinely. "I don’t know what I’ll do without you."
***
"DADDY, is Dad very sick?"
"No, your dad isn’t very sick," Song Sihyuk assured his son while arranging the new children’s books that he bought for the boy. "I’m just bringing him to the hospital to pick up his vitamins."
Lim Garam informed Song Sihyuk of the lie he told their son.
Hence, he went along with it.
It’s for the best anyway.
Anyway, Song Sihyuk was with Gunwoo in the playroom.
His parents immediately created a playroom for his son, which wasn’t surprising because his parents’ house had several vacant rooms.
That’s why it’s easy for them to prepare a room for Garam, too.
"Daddy, take care of Dad, okay?" Gunwoo said while opening one of the picture books. "Dad was very sick when I was a baby."
Pfft.
"You’re still a baby."
Song Sihyuk was contradicting himself, yes.
I often tell my wife that our son isn’t a baby anymore, but here I am now.
He couldn’t help it, though.
It’s funny to hear Gunwoo talk as if he’s already an adult.
"Dad was always asleep then, Daddy," Gunwoo said in a sad voice. "I don’t want Dad to be a sleepyhead again."
"I won’t let that happen, son," Song Sihyuk said. It kinda broke his heart seeing his son sad, so he quickly changed the topic. "Your dad already mentioned that we’re going to visit your future school, didn’t he?"
Fortunately, mentioning that made the child beam in excitement.
"Yes, Daddy. I love going to school," Gunwoo said, finally smiling again. "And I want to meet new friends. I hope they don’t bully me, though."
Tsk.
Song Sihyuk was reminded that Gunwoo was bullied in daycare.
How dare those commoners pick on my son?
"Don’t worry, Gunwoo-ya," Song Sihyuk said, gently patting his son’s head. "No one will ever bully you again."
***
"BYE-BYE, DAD, Daddy. Come home soon."
Aw.
Garam felt like his heart was being torn to pieces while waving back to Gunwoo.
He watched his son in the mirror until the car took a turn and he could no longer see his baby.
I’m getting emotional.
"It’s alright, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk comforted him. "We’ll see Gunwoo later."
"What if I get confined to the hospital after they confirm that I’m sick, Hyung?"
"Then I’ll bring our son to you."
"I don’t want Gunwoo to see me sick."
Yes, Garam knew he was being difficult.
He couldn’t help it, though.
I’m scared.
"Garam-ah, you will only be sick for a while," Song Sihyuk said calmly. "I promise you that you’ll not be sick for long. I’ll do anything and everything in my power to help you get better. I will not lose you, and my son won’t lose his mother."
Surprisingly, hearing those words from Song Sihyuk helped Garam calm down.
No, actually, it wasn’t just the Alpha’s words.
It was Song Sihyuk’s pheromones.
The Alpha’s scent smelled nice and comforting.
This is embarrassing, but...
"Hyung, can I borrow your jacket?"
Song Sihyuk looked at Garam, confused.
To be honest, Garam dreaded the moment the Alpha would ask him why.
Fortunately, it didn’t happen.
Song Sihyuk quietly took off his jacket, and then he draped it over Garam’s shoulders. "Should I release my pheromones?"
"Yes, please," Garam said while holding onto the lapel of the jacket to keep it closer to his body. "Your scent has a calming effect on me, Hyung."
***
DR. SEONG Jungho.
He was the doctor who checked on Garam this time.
Not only was Dr. Seong Jungho the director of that hospital, but he was also the father of Dr. Seong Kyungmin.
A big shot in the medical field.
Anyway, Dr. Seong Jungho looked as stoic as Dr. Seong Kyungmin.
They’re really father and son.
"I’m sorry to be the bearer of the bad news, but yes, Lim Garam-ssi is suffering from the Hailey Syndrome."
Oh.
Garam clenched his hands tight, his heart beating hard and fast against his chest.
I’m really sick, then.
"Uncle Jungho, I heard from our family doctor that there’s no cure to this illness. And that’s also what I found out from my own research," Song Sihyuk said calmly while holding Garam’s hands, probably an attempt to soothe him. "How do we manage my wife’s condition, then? Our family doctor said it seems like Lim Garam’s illness is already on its last stage."
"I don’t know if it’s any consolation, but recent studies show that Hailey Syndrome doesn’t really have ’stages.’ It just so happens that the male Omegas who contracted his disease have shown different symptoms and their severity. Hence, the misconception that the illness has several stages."
Garam wasn’t sure if it was good or not, so he just kept his mouth shut.
Plus, he was afraid to open his mouth because he might just sob.
Yes, he was that scared.
I don’t want to make Gunwoo and my loved ones worry about me, after all.
"Lim Garam-ssi’s Hailey Syndrome is pretty severe."
Oh.
Now Garam found it hard to believe.
Yes, he was probably panicking.
"Wait, Uncle," Song Sihyuk said in a hurry, and then he turned to Garam. "Garam-ah, breathe."
"I can’t," Garam said with difficulty while thumping his chest with his fist. "My chest hurts."
The Alpha immediately stood up and scooped up Garam, bridal style.
To be honest, he wanted to complain because it was embarrassing to do that in front of the doctor.
However, being that close to Song Sihyuk actually helped Garam breathe.
Hyung’s pheromones...
Garam buried his face against the nook of Song Sihyuk’s neck, taking in as much of the Alpha’s scent as he could.
Only then could he finally breathe properly again.
"Do you feel better now, Garam-ah?"
"Yes, Hyung," Garam said, closing his eyes. "I feel sleepy, though."
"Alright, go ahead and sleep first," Song Sihyuk whispered gently while kissing the top of Garam’s head. "I’ll book a room for you."
***
SONG SIHYUK only left Lim Garam’s side when Shin Geon arrived to keep an eye on his wife.
He didn’t call his Omega father.
Not yet, at least.
Appa is taking care of Gunwoo, so I don’t want to distract him.
Hence, Song Sihyuk decided to call Shin Geon via Jung Han.
After that, he returned to Seong Jungho’s office.
"Uncle, how do we manage my wife’s condition?"
"Now that Lim Garam-ssi’s immune system is weak, we should expect that he’ll get sick more often. But we should watch his heart closely because most male Omegas who had suffered from Hailey Syndrome had succumbed to heart failure," Seong Jungho explained. "We should also work to make Lim Garam-ssi’s lifestyle healthier."
"My wife already has a healthy lifestyle, so it shouldn’t be a problem," Song Sihyuk said. "But is there really no medication specifically for Hailey Syndrome, Uncle?"
Seong Jungho paused for a moment before finally opening his mouth. "A few years ago, I heard a rumor that Hanmi Chem started developing a possible cure for Hailey Syndrome. But when I tried to verify the news back then, everyone I talked to denied the rumor. However, I don’t think a rumor like that would spread in the first place if there wasn’t an ounce of truth in it."
Right?
When there’s smoke, there’s fire.
"Moreover, Hanmi Chem is known for creating medicines for rare diseases that involve Omegas. But they usually keep it a secret from the public and only sell the medicines to whoever can afford their ridiculous prices."
Song Sihyuk had to nod in agreement.
Hanmi Chem was known as a greedy bastard, even among chaebols who were the same.
Moreover...
"Uncle, when you say Hanmi Chem..."
"Yeah, I’m talking about the Cho Triplets," Seong Jungho confirmed while nodding. "But you’re on bad terms with those siblings, aren’t you?"
That was true.
However...
"It shouldn’t matter," Song Sihyuk said, clenching his hands tight. "I’ll do anything and everything to help my wife get better."
Even if it means rebuilding the bridge that I burned a long time ago.
***
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