"HOW ARE you, son?"

Baek Jeho shot his Alpha father a cold look.

He asked to meet his father in a private lounge of their favorite traditional Korean restaurant.

But his father didn’t come alone.

"Why is that person here, Abeoji?"

"Don’t be rude to your Uncle Minjae," his Alpha father scolded him coldly. "I brought him here because I wanted to introduce you to each other formally."

Baek Jeho smirked bitterly. "Fine. Then I assume it’s okay for "Uncle Minjae" to hear what I wanted to tell you, Abeoji."

"Baek Jeho—"

"You’re a disgusting piece of shit, Abeoji," Baek Jeho said sternly. "I don’t care if you made a pledge with Eomma. I don’t care if you’ve always seen your marriage with her as strictly business. I don’t care if it was Eomma’s fault that she fell for you. But you still have respected your marriage— you should have divorced her first before you dated your side piece."

"Baek Jeho!"

"Stop yelling at me when I’m right, Abeoji!"

As soon as he yelled at his Alpha father, his pheromones exploded in the room.

Both his father and his mistress were Alphas as well.

Hence, the two older Alphas also released their pheromones to protect themselves.

But Baek Jeho’s pheromones were stronger.

As a result, both his Alpha father and his mistress almost suffocated.

Haaah.

Baek Jeho forced himself to calm down, and only then did his pheromones also calm down.

Thanks to that, his Alpha father and his mistress could breathe again.

"At first, I was thinking of convincing Eomma to divorce you already, Abeoji. But I’ve changed my mind," Baek Jeho said sternly, and then he looked at Kim Minjae, his father’s side piece, with a disgusted look on his face. "It’s not that I’m disgusted that you’re an Alpha— I’m disgusted that you got into a relationship with a married man with a grown son."

"Baek Jeho—"

"I’m sorry," Kim Minjae said, bowing his head as if he were ashamed. "I thought your father and mother were only married on paper."

To be fair, that was the case.

However...

"I don’t care about you. You can date my father all you want," Baek Jeho said bluntly. "But as long as my mother is miserable, I’ll make sure you’ll stay a homewrecker forever." He then looked at his Alpha father, who looked like he was about to punch him. "Abeoji, I hate you. And I’ll continue doing so until you’re crying and begging for Eomma’s forgiveness."

***

BAEK JEHO knew that he had overreacted.

That he was extra mean and harsh to his Alpha father and his lover.

And he knew why.

It’s because I see myself in Abeoji.

The anger that Baek Jeho expressed earlier was self-hate.

And meeting his Alpha father, like what happened earlier, was awful.

However, that experience enlightened him.

Thanks to that, he finally knew what to do.

"Hyerin-ah, let’s break up."

Baek Jeho didn’t want to waste time.

Hence, as soon as Jeong Hyerin finished her dessert, he said what he had to say.

Jeong Hyerin let out a sigh. "So, you brought me to this fancy restaurant, fed me a delicious meal, and now you’re breaking up with me? Wow. Should I be grateful that you broke up with me after I finished my meal, so I wouldn’t get indigestion?"

Baek Jeho didn’t miss Jeong Hyerin’s sarcasm, but it wasn’t like he had room to get offended. "I’m sorry, Hyerin-ah."

"Take it back, Baek Jeho."

"Hyerin-ah, I can’t—"

"I’m the one who should be breaking up with you and not the other way around," Jeong Hyerin said firmly, cutting off Baek Jeho quite rudely. "So, take it back. You are not breaking up with me, Baek Jeho— I’m the one dumping you."

Oh.

If that was the case, then...

"Forget what I said earlier— let’s do it again."

Jeong Hyerin nodded, and then she grabbed the glass and splashed the wine on Baek Jeho’s face.

What the hell?

Of course, Baek Jeho was shocked.

Even the other guests of the restaurant turned in their direction, startled by the drama.

But Baek Jeho knew that he deserved that, so he just kept his mouth shut and accepted Jeong Hyerin’s petty revenge.

No, I’m the one who’s being petty with these useless thoughts.

"Baek Jeho, you’re a jerk," Jeong Hyerin said. Her voice was calm, but it was (understandably) full of bitterness. Although she wasn’t yelling, the anger in her eyes was clear. "Not only were you a bad boyfriend to me, but you were also a bad best friend to Cho Euntak."

"Why are you bringing him up? Cho Euntak isn’t the reason I’m breaking up with you." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Are you still going to lie to yourself until the end?"

That was something that Baek Jeho couldn’t refute.

Hence, he shut his mouth again.

"I don’t know why you can’t just admit that you like Cho Euntak," Jeong Hyerin said, obviously frustrated. "It’s not like I’m going to fight with your best friend. I’m not that narrow-minded. Although I’m hurting right now, I won’t condemn you for falling out of love with me. Or maybe you were never in love with me since Cho Euntak is there. I just wish you had been honest with yourself from the start."

"Hyerin-ah, it’s not that I’m not being honest with myself," Baek Jeho said carefully. "I love Cho Euntak, but I don’t know if my love for him is strong enough for it to qualify as romantic love."

"I know I shouldn’t assume your feelings, but let me do it: you like Cho Euntak more than as a friend, Baek Jeho. If you’re not sure yet, then why not try dating him?"

And what?

His Alpha father married his Omega mother, hoping that he’d develop romantic feelings for her along the way.

But twenty-one years later, his Alpha father found someone else.

I don’t want Euntak to end up miserable like Eomma because of me.

"No, I will never date Cho Euntak just to see if my feelings for him are strong enough to be called romantic love."

Jeong Hyerin let out a frustrated sigh, then she grabbed her purse and stood up. "Suit yourself— I’m not staying here to listen to your woes. I’m going to head home and cry myself to sleep tonight."

"I’m sorry, Hyerin-ah," Baek Jeho said, his heart heavy with guilt. "I really didn’t mean to hurt you..."

***

IT FINALLY arrived.

Cho Euntak grabbed the letter with shaking hands.

It wasn’t just a mere letter, though— it was his draft notice.

Yes, I’m going to enlist.

And, yes, Cho Euntak was running to the army to avoid Baek Jeho.

***

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