By Zephyria 
On the day the engagement was officially announced, it was the incessant vibration of a phone that forced Jeong-min, who had collapsed onto his bed from exhaustion, to sit up.
The phone inside his jacket was ringing loudly. For some reason, he felt he knew who it was without even looking, and the feeling was unpleasant enough that he tried not to answer. However, sensing the caller wouldn’t give up, he reluctantly pulled out the phone and looked at the screen.
“Ha, fuck.”
This is why one should never ignore their intuition. Jeong-min rubbed his face with his hand and looked at the screen again. Staring at the name ‘Kim Ju-hwan,’ he cursed his past self, wondering why he hadn’t blocked this bastard’s number sooner.
He couldn’t turn off the phone because he might get a call from the hospital, but he had a feeling that if he didn’t answer, the call—which had been going on for several minutes—would continue until he did. With a deep sigh, he pressed the call button. He figured he’d just listen to some bullshit for a moment. Woof woof.
“Hello.”
─ Ha.
Now who is the one who wants to sigh?
“If you have nothing to say, I’m hanging up.”
─ Sunbae.
“Yeah.”
─ I saw the article about your engagement today….
“And? What does that have to do with you?”
─ Is it true?
“I told you when we met that I would do it. That my family intended to send me away.”
─ Ah, I believe I heard that. So? …I heard the engagement ceremony is in six months. Why didn’t you do it immediately?
“Why? You planning to send flowers?”
─ Do you think I would send something as meager as flowers to your engagement ceremony? I could provide the full set myself.
“…Forget it. I’m not getting engaged because I’m terrified of that.”
Laughter leaked from the other end of the line. Then, as if by magic, a heavy silence fell. However, Ju-hwan’s breathing remained vividly audible, making it impossible to think the call had ended.
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to say he’d hang up if there was nothing more to say this time. It was just that kind of atmosphere.
“Kim Ju-hwan.”
─ Yes.
“Did you call at this hour just to say that? You must be pretty bored.”
─ Hardly. I’m likely busier than you are.
“Hey.”
─ Sunbae.
Whenever this bastard lowered his voice, he always started spouting nonsense.
“Yeah.”
─ …I think Alphas seek out Omegas.
Right, this kind of nonsense.
“…Sure. I guess that’s right. That’s the way of the world. You should settle down soon, too. The rumors about you flying around are no joke.”
─ I’ll handle that myself.
Despite how he pushed his way into Jeong-min’s private life and subtly interfered, Ju-hwan drew a clear line around his own. It was as if he wouldn’t allow any intrusion beyond that, telling Jeong-min to only allow his own intrusion and stay put. But Jeong-min liked that. Because he truly had no interest in Kim Ju-hwan’s private life.
─ Set a date and introduce me to your fiancée.
“Why should I?”
─ You’re too heartless. Is our relationship only at that level? I’m starting to feel sad.
He diverted the topic and ended it with nonsense, as expected. I can’t listen to this anymore. I feel like I’m going to throw up.
“Let’s hang up. I just got a call from the hospital.”
Using a plausible excuse, he ended the call. Still, Jeong-min smiled, thinking that today had been unexpectedly dull.
“What do I mean by dull?”
Did he expect Kim Ju-hwan to say something even more absurd? But what could be more absurd than what he had just said?
‘I think Alphas seek out Omegas.’
That was probably a pointed remark. Considering the circumstances, it was the kind of nonsense Kim Ju-hwan would say. Yes, today it was more of a sensible statement than a dull one. Jeong-min thought for a moment that Kim Ju-hwan had become quite human. Just for a moment.
Jeong-min put down the phone and stretched. Today, he had to exercise for the first time in a while and prepare for the secret operation starting tomorrow.
✽✽✽
After the engagement announcement, Ji Su-eun entered the hospital where Jeong-min and Su-han worked as an intern. From then on, Jeong-min stayed close to Su-eun as if to show off, and Su-han followed them like a shadow. Before long, the two were dubbed the hospital’s lovebirds, and a joke among the nurses was that Ji Su-han was a ‘couple mom’ for hovering over them so much.
Ji Su-eun also did his best in his role so that no one would suspect anything. Then, at night, while pretending to be on a date with Jeong-min, he would meet his partner at a certain location for a secret rendezvous. They coordinated their stories to ensure the families wouldn’t grow suspicious.
Whenever Jeong-min parted with Su-eun, he would have a drink or a meal with Ji Su-han, or sometimes watch a movie. Ji Su-han tried his best in his own way, feeling sorry for Jeong-min. While Jeong-min felt burdened, he also found it pleasant to think he had made a friend, and decided to comfortably enjoy Su-han’s kindness for Su-han’s sake as well.
Two months passed as they spent their days normally.
While Su-eun was away at a regional academic conference, Jeong-min had to act the part of a lonely ‘migratory goose.’ Su-han watched this from afar and smiled.
“Want to get off work together today? How about it?”
Su-han approached, pretending to rescue Jeong-min, and suggested drinks. There was no reason to refuse.
“Ah, Su-han hyung. Thanks. I was actually craving a drink today.”
“I figured. I can tell just by looking at your eyes now.”
“Haha.”
Starting a month ago, Su-han had begun speaking informally and comfortably with Jeong-min.
“Then could you wait a moment? I’ll just change my clothes and—”
“Shin Jeong-min!”
An intruder suddenly appeared. Young-min, holding the older child in one arm and the younger in the other, strode into the hospital. Judging by the grumpy look on his face, he had likely fought with his husband again. It would be problematic if Jeong-min didn’t listen to him at times like this. Above all, the nephews would suffer the most, so Jeong-min gave Su-han a bitter smile.
“It looks like today won’t work. A guest has arrived.”
“Seems so. Besides, I’m a guest who isn’t much help. Sorry.”
Having spent the last few months with Jeong-min, Su-han was completely fed up with his twin brother, Young-min. Though he was an Omega with decent looks, he had zero cuteness, and after seeing how much he mentally tormented Jeong-min, Su-han was appalled. Yet, seeing Jeong-min accept, soothe, and embrace everything just because they were twins, Su-han had recently wondered if Jeong-min was a bodhisattva.
Su-han gave Young-min a minimal greeting and disappeared. Young-min, barely acknowledging Su-han, huffed and approached Jeong-min. Jeong-min greeted his lovely nephews.
“I want a divorce!”
Jeong-min was startled while greeting the children. Young-min’s booming voice echoed through the hallway. Feeling the gazes of passing doctors and nurses, Jeong-min quickly grabbed Young-min’s arm and led him into the currently empty doctors’ lounge.
“What are you saying with the kids right there?”
“I can’t live with that man anymore! I really can’t! He leaves all the childcare to me! I’m exhausted to death!”
“I believe Mother sent someone to help recently.”
“I fired them because I didn’t like how they worked.”
No, they probably quit because you nagged them too much. Jeong-min sighed, unable to say that out loud.
“Don’t you know Jeong-min is a good person? I really can’t raise them. I must have been crazy to have another one and go through this hell. That man said he’d help if I had one more, but my foot~ there’s no such thing. It’s so annoying.”
You jumped at the chance because your in-laws said they’d give you a building if you had another one. You did.
Engraving the character for ‘patience’ in his heart, Jeong-min repeatedly stroked the hair of the nephew who was staring blankly and clinging to him.
“I’m telling you, the kids can hear. Stop it.”
Jeong-min quickly sat the two nephews on the opposite bed and handed them some snacks he had bought. That way, they would focus on eating and wouldn’t hear what their mother was saying.
“Really, why was I born an Omega? I should have manifested as an Alpha. I hate ruts and everything. I hate kids, too. If I had manifested as an Alpha, I wouldn’t be living like this. What is this, seriously?”
“Young-min. This is the path you chose. Why are you so dissatisfied?”
“You don’t know! You’re an Alpha, so you don’t know! The world revolves around Alphas! Omegas have no life, nothing. After I got married, no one treats me like a person. I feel like Mother ignores me lately, too. Is that all? You’re ignoring me lately, too!”
“I’ve never done that. And neither has Mother.”
“Don’t lie! You’ve been more like that since your engagement. What is it? I really hate it. It’s annoying. I hate everything. I hate the kids, too. I want to live alone. I will live alone. I’m getting a divorce.”
“Young-min….”
Jeong-min now had to soothe Young-min, who had collapsed onto the floor and started wailing. Since the children soon followed suit when their mother cried, the trouble doubled.
Feeling it was hopeless, Jeong-min called his mother, and she persuaded Young-min over the phone to come home for now. Only after seeing Young-min, tearfully holding the nephews, finally climb into a taxi following his mother’s words could Jeong-min finally rest.