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“Yeah. It’s a shame since there wasn’t much time left until my discharge, but I’ll have to get medically discharged.”
“Medically discharged?”
Around lunchtime, Ra-on, who had arrived at Hye-sung’s house at the agreed time, tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
Having just finished devouring a bowl of curry Ji-an had made for him, Hye-sung served tea to Ra-on as he explained.
“Yeah, Omegas are practically exempt from military service anyway.”
The military was predominantly composed of Betas and Alphas due to its nature. It wasn’t an appropriate environment for Omegas, whose heat cycles occurred once a month or every two months at most.
Unlike the aggressive shift into hunting mode during an Alpha’s heat cycle, an Omega’s heat was solely for reproduction, making them indiscriminate toward whether their partner was an Alpha or Beta. As such, it was obvious what could happen within a military unit that included Omegas.
That’s why Omegas were viewed negatively.
Desperate beasts driven solely by instinct, eager to be impregnated—that was how society saw Omegas.
“I’m going to the hospital tomorrow for a pheromone test. Once I get the medical report, I’ll submit it to my unit. They’ll contact me in a few days.”
Hye-sung seemed to have already prepared and organized the steps he needed to take next, contrary to Ra-on’s earlier assumption that he might be confused after manifesting as an Omega.
It was only now that Ra-on fully realized he had become an Omega, and she absentmindedly rubbed her fingers together. Then, she asked:
“What about school?”
“I originally planned to return in the second semester, but given the situation, I think I can re-enroll for the first semester. The first application period has already passed, so I’ll apply during the second round in February.”
“…Is that so?”
A flicker of concern crossed Ra-on’s face immediately.
Noticing this, Hye-sung tilted his head curiously.
“Why do you look worried?”
“Ji-an mentioned that a senior is re-enrolling in the business administration department this semester.”
“Really? But why does that matter?”
“He’s an extreme Alpha, so... I thought it might be dangerous for you.”
Understanding the underlying meaning behind Ra-on’s words, Hye-sung chuckled.
“Are you seriously worried about me, Ra-on?”
“Hmm.”
Ra-on awkwardly rubbed her cheek, then began rambling defensively.
“It’s not like I’m looking down on you because you’re an Omega, Hye-sung. It’s just… you’re so pretty…”
Even before manifesting as an Omega, Hye-sung had been quite attractive, popular with both men and women alike.
But now that he had manifested as an Omega, his beauty would only intensify—it wouldn’t diminish. His body would likely undergo changes to attract stronger, more exceptional Alphas, as was typical for Omegas.
Recalling how many of the particularly beautiful individuals in the entertainment industry were often Omegas, Ra-on glanced at Hye-sung.
He simply smiled, seemingly unfazed by any remarks that might come across as belittling toward Omegas.
“How pretty can a man be compared to you, Ra-on?”
“…Are you bringing that up again?”
At Hye-sung’s teasing remark, Ra-on sighed and laughed softly.
She knew well enough—both objectively and subjectively—that her appearance was nothing to scoff at. But she also knew she couldn’t hold a candle to Ji-an or Hye-sung in terms of looks. She understood perfectly that Hye-sung was just joking around as a friend.
He often said such things to her.
If Ji-an had a handsome appearance, Ra-on had a truly charming face. He once confessed that he couldn’t help but keep glancing at her when they first met—it was the kind of face that drew you in and held your gaze.
But what did it matter?
‘You like Ji-an anyway.’
Ra-on covered her lips, curled into a self-deprecating smile, with her palm and lowered her eyes.
It was then that Hye-sung’s voice, tinged with bitterness, broke the silence.
“Ji-an… is leaving in March, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Reluctantly meeting Hye-sung’s gaze, Ra-on nodded.
“You know how Ji-an is. Once he makes up his mind, he doesn’t change it.”
“Yeah, that’s true…”
But despite his words, Hye-sung’s gloomy expression didn’t lift, and Ra-on fell silent. Then, she changed the subject.
“Anyway, you’re going to the hospital tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I can’t go with you. I have an entrance practical exam tomorrow, and I promised to help out.”
“You’re still doing that kind of thing as a senior?”
“I didn’t have to, originally, but the department head kept contacting me, saying they were short-handed—about once every two days. I couldn’t really refuse.”
Hye-sung smiled gently, shaking his head as if to say she was hopeless.
“You’re too soft-hearted, Ra-on. You could afford to be a little harsher sometimes. That’s why the department head keeps contacting you—they know you’ll end up helping in the end.”
“…I don’t want to hear that from you.”
Ra-on leaned back with a wry expression.
“I only help within my limits, but you try to help even when you’re stretched thin.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
As Hye-sung chuckled awkwardly, Ra-on’s expression grew heavy, and she cautiously asked:
“What about your debt?”
“Hmm… Well, I’ve saved up some of my military salary.”
“How much do you think that’ll cover?”
Interrupting him, Ra-on shot him an incredulous look.
“What about the money you’ve saved up until now?”
“…My father—”
“Haa.”
That single sigh was enough of an answer. Ra-on let out a dry laugh, as if she had expected as much.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Hye-sung asked her:
“How’s the pub job?”
“Huh?”
“You said it yourself before—that aside from the night shifts, it pays well and is a pretty decent gig.”
“It’s not bad, but…”
Ra-on frowned, recalling the bar that trait-holders often frequented.
Then, shaking her head, she replied:
“It’s not a place for you.”
Just this morning, an Alpha customer had caused a scene at the pub. No matter how much the pay was—1.5 times higher than other places—it wasn’t the kind of environment she could recommend to Hye-sung.
“Is it because I’m an Omega?”
“…”
At Hye-sung’s question, Ra-on clamped her mouth shut, unable to respond.
Hye-sung, who had just recently become an Omega, gave a bitter smile for the first time in front of her and lowered his gaze.
“But Ra-on, I don’t have the luxury of worrying about that.”
“…”
“The debt my father left behind is more than I expected. It feels like I’m barely scraping by to pay the interest each month.”
Even as he spoke about the debt, Hye-sung refrained from revealing the exact amount, though he continued discussing it.
“Honestly, even the idea of going to school feels like a luxury to me. But… I want to graduate.”
“Hye-sung.”
At Ra-on’s urgent call, Hye-sung shook his head. With a look that said he already knew what she was about to say, he replied:
“I won’t ask for help from you or Ji-an.”
“…”
“It’s my responsibility. I don’t want to burden you guys with it.”
A lie.
Ra-on clenched her teeth tightly, swallowing the words that dangled in her throat.
She didn’t know the full extent of Hye-sung’s debt, but Ji-an might have been able to help, at least partially. Moreover, if Ji-an learned about Hye-sung’s situation, she would willingly offer assistance without hesitation.
But this was simply Hye-sung’s pride. He didn’t want Ji-an to see him in such a pitiful state.
Knowing this, Ra-on found herself unable to say anything further.
“I’m looking into private tutoring jobs for now. Something I can do during class breaks.”
“…And at night, you’d work at the pub if I introduced you?”
“Yeah.”
His brisk reply made Ra-on exhale deeply. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“For now, I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks, Ra-on.”
At those words, which felt like reluctant approval, Hye-sung beamed with genuine happiness.
* * *
It was time to head to the café, so Ra-on stretched her stiff body as she left Hye-sung’s house.
It was just past 5 p.m., and the sun was beginning to set.
As Ra-on gazed up at the sky with a deep sigh, she pulled out a deodorant spray from her bag. With practiced ease, she began spraying it over her body, a routine she had grown accustomed to over the past few days.
[Make sure to use this after meeting with Hye-sung. Even though he’s recessive, he’s still an Omega, and the pheromones of a newly manifested Omega can strongly affect nearby Alphas—even outside of heat.]
[…Does it affect you too?]
[Aren’t I an Alpha?]
With an indifferent expression, Ji-an had bluntly replied before handing over a large supply of deodorant she had ordered online, along with strict instructions to use it.
True to Ji-an’s words, the deodorant had proven its worth even in the early hours of the morning.
Ra-on wasn’t sure whether Do-kyung and the drunk patron had been battling it out with their pheromones, but that day, she had diligently sprayed herself with deodorant. It wasn’t until she felt the distinct alcohol scent of the deodorant clinging to her body that she finally deemed it safe to go home.
As Ra-on tucked the deodorant back into her bag, she turned around and looked up at Hye-sung’s house.
“Is Hye-sung’s pheromone really… that sweet?”
[It varies depending on the Alpha, so I’m not sure how to describe it, but yeah, it’s sweet. Really sweet. Sweet enough to make your nose feel sharp.]
[Sharp enough to make your tongue hurt?]
[Whatever it is, it’s way better than any Omega pheromones I’ve smelled before—enough to make your head spin.]
[...]
[That’s why you absolutely need to keep spraying yourself. Got it?]
Ra-on buried her nose in her sleeve but, as expected, all she could smell was the soft scent of fabric softener and the lingering sharpness of the deodorant’s alcohol.
“…”
Caught in a strange sense of alienation, Ra-on arrived at the café.
“What the…?”
Just as she was about to open the door, she froze at the sight of a figure visible through the glass.
Do-kyung, who had been sitting there with a bored expression as if he’d been waiting for her, suddenly lit up with a wide smile and waved at her from the other side of the glass.
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