CHO EUNTAK manifested a month before his high school graduation.

Hence, the school allowed him to stop attending his classes by then.

After all, he had already passed his college entrance exam.

And I passed the exam for Yonhee University— one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

That was why his high school was lenient to him.

I’m gonna miss my high school graduation, though.

Moreover...

"Euntak-ah, Baek Jeho was here earlier," his Omega mother said worriedly. "I told him you were sick, so he didn’t insist on seeing you. But haven’t you told him yet that we’re already moving?"

Yes, Cho Euntak and his family were moving to a different neighborhood.

Well, they were just going to move to Seoul for his Alpha father’s business.

Plus, our new apartment is closer to my university.

"I don’t want to tell Baek Jeho, Eomma."

"Did you fight with your friend?"

"I don’t like how Baek Jeho tolerates his bully friends. Even though he’s not a bully himself, it irks me that he lets people like that surround him," Cho Euntak explained to his mother. "I tried talking to him, but he said it was a part of socializing."

"Did those kids bully you?"

"Yes, Eomma."

His Omega mother’s face darkened.

"It’s okay, Eomma. It only happened once," Cho Euntak explained immediately. "And Baek Jeho made his friends apologize to me."

His Omega mother suddenly became teary-eyed. "I’m sorry, son. I didn’t even know that you got bullied because your father and I were too busy with the expansion of our business."

"Eomma, I’m really fine now."

"We should report this to the school."

"Eomma, those people are on Baek Jeho’s level. They can crush our family if they want to. This is an important time for Appa’s business, so we can’t risk it."

"Don’t worry about that, son. You are more important than our business. I’m sure your appa feels the same way."

Aww.

I’m really lucky to have loving parents.

"Thank you, Eomma. But we can’t starve," Cho Euntak said jokingly to lighten up the mood. "Plus, my university is expensive. I didn’t get a full scholarship, so our family has to work hard."

"Aigoo." His Omega mother sighed, and then she cupped Cho Euntak’s face between her hands. "I’ll make sure that your appa and I will spend more time with you once we’re done moving. We’ll make it up to you, son."

"I’m looking forward to it, Eomma."

"Are you sure you don’t want to make up with Baek Jeho?"

"Eomma, you know that I like Baek Jeho, don’t you?"

"Well, you’re not exactly good at hiding your feelings, son."

"Baek Jeho finds it disgusting that Alphas fall in love with their fellow Alphas."

His Omega mother gasped, realizing what it meant.

"My poor baby," his Omega mother said, hugging Cho Euntak. "It’s alright, son. There’s nothing wrong with an Alpha falling for another Alpha. I know you’re hurting right now, but I assure you— you’ll find the right person someday."

Cho Euntak nodded and hugged his mother. "Thank you, Eomma."

***

CHO EUNTAK’s Alpha father taught him how to drink, plus drinking etiquette.

However, he still didn’t expect how much his sunbaes would make him drink.

The freshman welcome party was happening in a barbecue restaurant near Yonhee University.

I feel like an adult now.

Well, he was an adult already, but it was just starting to sink in for him.

Cho Euntak got accepted in the Department of Webtoon Animation of Yonhee University’s College of Art and Design.

Most people in the restaurant were from his department.

Yes, most— but not all.

Because we’re sharing the restaurant with people from the Business Administration Department.

That actually made him nervous.

After all, Baek Jeho was also attending the same university. If he remembered correctly, Baek Jeho got accepted into the Business Administration Department.

I need to go before we cross paths again.

And that was what he did.

While his sunbaes were busy teasing the popular kids to drink more, Cho Euntak slipped out of the restaurant.

Thankfully, he had such a weak presence that nobody noticed him.

Freedom, at last.

Or so he thought.

"Euntak-ah?"

Hmm?

When Cho Euntak turned around, he was surprised to see a sunbae from his department.

"Jaechan Sunbae-nim..."

"No need to be formal, Euntak-ah," Kim Jaechan said, smiling. "Just call me ’hyung.’"

Oh.

Cho Euntak wasn’t comfortable with the idea, though.

Moreover...

Jaechan Sunbae-nim smells strange.

"Euntak-ah, can you help me?" Kim Jaechan asked, suddenly hugging Cho Euntak’s arm. Moreover, the sunbae even leaned his head against Cho Euntak’s shoulder. "I feel a bit tipsy. Can you take me home?"

Argh!

Cho Euntak almost covered his nose and mouth with his hand, but he didn’t want to be rude.

But, honestly, Kim Jaechan’s scent was starting to make him lightheaded.

I don’t understand what’s going on with me...

"Cho Euntak, come here."

It wasn’t Kim Jaechan.

Cho Euntak was surprised when someone grabbed him by the arm— forcefully peeling him away from Kim Jaechan’s grasp.

When he lifted his head, his eyes widened in shock.

"Baek Jeho?"

***

"LET ME go, Baek Jeho," Cho Euntak complained while Baek Jeho was dragging him to an alleyway. "You’re hurting me."

To be honest, he felt bad for Kim Jaechan.

After all, Baek Jeho just suddenly dragged him away.

"You made me act rudely towards my sunbae!"

Baek Jeho finally stopped dragging Cho Euntak when they arrived in the alleyway, where they were able to escape the noisy streets.

But I’d rather be there than here.

Cho Euntak was startled when Baek Jeho suddenly pushed him gently until he was leaning against the wall.

"Yah, Baek Jeho."

"Yah, Cho Euntak," Baek Jeho said in a firmer and stricter tone. "Do you know that you’re covered with that sunbae’s pheromones?"

"What?"

"That sunbae of yours is an Omega— and he covered you with his pheromones!"

"Huh?"

"Why would an Omega cover a Beta with his pheromones?" Baek Jeho wondered out loud. "Your sunbae has probably lost his mind."

"I’m not a Beta, not anymore, at least."

"What?"

"I’m an Alpha now, Baek Jeho," Cho Euntak confessed. "I manifested late."

Baek Jeho’s eyes widened in shock.

Cat’s out of the bag now.

***

Please ADD <MARRIED FOR NOW> to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :>