39. Facing The Truth

"I'm glad both of you came, I must admit I was skeptical if either of you would show up, especially you Yeon. Dr. Robin informed me you haven't visited his practice yet."

"He had just moved in with my parents so he needed more time to adapt to the new environment." Stan responded in Yeon's stead.

"Actually, I'd already payed a number of visits to the doctor post my marking. I only came in today since we were informed you specialize on patients with my case."

"Indeed I do and I've looked into your file from the other doctor you saw before. So far everything seems normal for a person of your case, however, I was informed you've been only let out one scent...until two days ago I presume?"

"I honestly can't tell..."

"Can't tell?" The doctor's face showed concern. "Then how are you able to perceive your fated's scent?"

"Is that a problem uncle?" Stan asked.

"It's Doctor Jiwon to you Stannie..."

"If you call me that I'll keep calling you uncle, uncle."

Yeon smiled at at their stubbornness. If anything, this guy was the exact replica of Stan. He was the elder brother to Dad Joss. Yeon had learned at this point most of Stan's family members were doctors...which didn't explain why Stan had chosen to deviate from that field.

Sighing, Dr. Jiwon shifted his attention back to Yeon and continued. "I believe there is no need for more tests since I've already checked your file. The issue of not being able to perceive your scent is a problem indeed since you won't be able to know whether you're letting out scent, either too much or too little. Your eyes tell me a lot without having to thoroughly check it as well. Have you perhaps considered wearing contact lenses...they are quite distracting, though I must admit they are good to look at..."

"He doesn't need them and stop flirting with him uncle..."

"Stannie...I'll be coming to your tests soon so stay quiet for a moment. If you keep jumping in, I'll have to hand over my white coat and a stethoscope to you. Didn't you despise joining the medical field?"

"Just be a doctor and stop making pointless suggestions to Yeon. He has already visited enough doctors as it is not to mention the police station. Summarize, please!"

"Stan, maybe you should step out for a bit." Yeon said. The tension between them two was making him uncomfortable.

"Don't worry yourself Yeon. We are always like this. This is a normal day for us. Even so, Stannie has to be here since what I have to say concerns you two."

Stan's uncle perused through both Yeon and Stan's files and after a few seconds, he finally spoke up. Both Yeon and Stan had been anxious since they were unable to read his face.

"In the event that you don't complete the marking, you are aware of the consequences correct?" Both Yeon and Stan nodded. "Well, there's more. You may experience frequent longer heats unlike before. Your incomplete marking is basically calling out for help, to put it simply. This imbalance inside your body has created a great turmoil with your hormones since your womb is also growing...a lot of changers are happening in your body. It might explain why you may not be able to perceive your own scent or know how to control it. Additionally, my brother, Dr. Joss informed me you were only manipulating one scent and that is obviously due to your incomplete marking.

In the coming days, prepare yourself for these and you're very lucky to have your fated with you. If it wasn't for him, you would have been mentally unstable by now and I'm sorry to say this to you my dear Yeon, those bastards had every intention to use you as a sex slave. I have dealt with hundreds of cases such as yours, many of my patients unable to get their normal lives back. A few paired to complete their marking and almost none being able to find their fated. Others were first rejected before being accepted in the case of fated mates. We all know we can't fight the power of fated and spiritual essence but your case, well... All I can conclude at the moment is Stan did come just in time to stop your imprint from continuing as well as slow down the marking. Not much damage has been done when it comes to that so you'll still be able to redeem your marking to completion. It is your right as a human being, your chastity, only given to your pair consensually, or your fated mate in similar fashion.

With regards to your eyes, if you continue to delay the marking completion until last minute, your eyes may not return to normal. If you wait until it's too late, as you know you'll loose your eyesight. Your pupils and iris will loose colour and become translucent...it may be worse than having a cataract."

"How much time does he have uncle?"

"Dr. Jiwon when I'm at work! How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Retuning his gaze to Yeon he responded, "I'm assuming it's now five and a half months since the incident so that means, in three and a half months, your womb will have fully developed...so basically, you have three months. My advice would be the sooner you complete the marking the better. This transition mode you're in will end as soon as your womb matures. Afterwards, the state you're in will become permanent, except worse with frequent longer heats and the loss of your eyesight."

"That's terrible..." Stan said.

"Indeed." Stan's uncle nodded.

"What if I start using suppressants now, or heat inhibitors?" Yeon asked, hoping for a ray of hope in all this.

"Overtime, your body will either reject them or become dependent on them to the point of addiction. Either of the scenarios is not good. Besides, for someone with the strength of your scent, if Stan wasn't unconsciously releasing his scent to hide yours, I doubt I'll be in the same room with you two now, let alone at work. I'd have probably called my wife and made her pregnant again..."

"Uncle!"

"Dr. Jowon! Jiwon! I'm working!"

Yeon started laughing at them and they were both puzzled, as if Yeon wasn't aware of his predicament...or maybe he had already started going crazy.

"You two remind me of my parents. They argue whenever each of them uses the other's pet name at the private gym they both run." Looking down, Yeon added in a sombre tone, "It never seems to end yet somehow...being away from them for sometime makes me not hate their petty arguments as much as I used to before."

Lifting his head, Yeon asked Dr. Jiwon while pointing at Stan, "What about him?"

"His case is quite simple. Since you're both fated, he'll continue to crave comforting you, often becoming exhausted from using too much scent. Normally, for the marker, they'd become used to scenting on their partner but right now Yeon, you are like a walking target to him and he is like a hunter, waiting for a time when you show your weakness before he can strike you down..."

Stan's face grew grim and he asked his uncle to use another example. He didn't want Yeon thinking he was going to pounce on him at any moment...despite that being his constant thought.

"Think of the fire triangle. For a fire to be sustained, it needs oxygen, heat and fuel. If one of the fire components is removed, the triangle begins to collapse. Without oxygen, the fire is smothered, without fuel, the fire is starved and without heat, it cools down. Yeon in this case is like fire and the components are you Stannie. To sustain your fated, you release scent depending on whatever mood he is in. If he becomes too agitated, you reduce one of the elements, in this case you release a specific scent to calm him down. If he becomes too sad, you do the same. However, what would happen if all the elements were to become too much to handle, meaning, if Yeon were to release his scents at their strongest since he can't control them now or if both of you don't complete the marking before the womb is fully developed? Boom! He will overpower you. You'll first go into shock then acute coma and Yeon will soon follow you afterwards since you will be no longer conscious to balance his scent out."

A long silence was followed after between Stan and Yeon as they stared at each other, each of them remembering the incident when Yeon had provoked him. If it hadn't been for Stan's dads coming just in time, they wouldn't be here.

"Now that you're both aware of your predicaments, I'd like you two out of my office. Both your scents, especially Yeon's is really making me miss my wife."

Afterwards, Stan was driving Yeon to the city. They had decided to pay a visit to collage and follow up on Yeon's graduation formalities and Stan's. Yeon though had been quiet most of the ride despite Stan trying to cheer him up. After a while, he broke the silence and asked Stan, "this new scent everyone keeps talking about, is it as strong as the one before?"

"Maybe even more stronger I guess. The first one was soft and soothing almost sweet. The one you have on now is...quite seductive...more persuasive but do not fret. I'll give you my jacket to balance it out. I'll also be walking beside you."

"Stan...I'm scared...I could end up ending both of us..."

Stan pulled over on the side of the road and reached for one of his fated's hands, gently squeezing it to reassure him. Yeon's expression neither showed worry or fear even though a few seconds ago, he'd admitted his fears to Stan for the first time.

"I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't come to that."

"But aren't we just sex partners. Shouldn't we take care of it before the inevitable happens? You already like me..."

"But you don't Yeon."

"So what? I can't force myself to feel something I don't!"

Choosing to be the calm one of the two, Stan decided it was best to not press on his feelings to Yeon. His fated may not like him now though he had planned to win him over overtime and he had less than three months to do it, the earlier the better. Still, seeing Yeon anxious made his heart sore.

"Tell me what to do then and I'll do it."

"Let's end everything. As long as we are close to each other, I will..."

"No Yeon. I can't do that. If you run away, both of us will only hurt and soon enough, the power of fated mates will overpower me and I'll start looking for you..."

"So we are both screwed then..."

"Yea, let's screw each other..."

Yeon smiled replying as he looked at his fated, "Stan, it's such a terrible time to tell a joke..."

"Even so, at least you smiled, and that makes me very happy."