By Zephyria 
“As you say, I would like to give you time, but I don’t know if your father thinks the same. He’s a man who believes an Omega must decide on a marriage partner quickly before it’s too late.”
“He certainly has a discriminatory way of thinking. My second Hyung is over thirty and still not married.”
“That is how it is for an Omega.”
The father murmured in a self-mocking voice and let out a faint smile. It felt bittersweet to see a face where various emotions—lament, regret, enlightenment, and resignation—were all mixed together.
It was difficult to guess what could make Father wear such an expression. It was likely the result of a combination of things I knew and dozens of reasons I didn’t. The prejudice and discrimination against Omegas that I had felt for two months, that man must have endured for forty years.
“So, has your curiosity been satisfied?”
“Well, mostly. Since Father doesn’t know for sure either, it seems I’ll have to go through someone else one more time.”
“And who would that be?”
“Chief Bae.”
“You’ve chosen a difficult target.”
Did that mean he was a formidable opponent? Since both Choi Jae-kyung and Father said so, I felt a bit nervous.
“I’m thinking of digging up the family’s dirty laundry; would an Alpha father be easier, or would Chief Bae be easier?”
Father pondered for quite a while, as if facing a great dilemma.
“Chief Bae would likely be better. Your father is a resolute man when it comes to family matters.”
“He still won’t be an easy push, right?”
“He won’t. But what of it? Just crush him. With your current personality, I think you’re capable of holding your own in an argument.”
I simply smiled at Father as he asked, Right?
Of course. With my current personality, what is there that I couldn’t do?
∞ ∞ ∞
It was the long-awaited weekend.
Even though no one had specifically told me the schedule, not a single person spoke to me as I came downstairs after getting ready.
That was a relief. If they had told me to stay home or not to follow, I would have had to make a scene right from the start. Thanks to that, I didn’t waste any unnecessary energy.
Just like a month ago, I boarded the car last in a line like a string of sausages. Lee Kyung-jin, sitting in the driver’s seat, looked even more nervous than I was.
“Mr. Lee, are you sick? Why the face?”
“…I was just worried that something unpleasant might happen to you again today.”
“Anyway, Mr. Lee, you worry about me too much. I’m already grateful that you just drive. Are all chauffeurs this kind? Or is my driver specially kinder?”
At my praise, the tips of Lee Kyung-jin’s ears turned slightly red.
“No, not at all. As someone serving the young master, it is only natural to worry.”
“Still, it’s a job you get paid for. You could just do the driving and guarding, but since you even worry… it’s just too nice.”
I chuckled like a sly middle-aged man, but Lee Kyung-jin didn’t laugh along.
“The young master needs to be a bit more careful with his body.”
“I do play a bit too rough for an Omega, don’t I?”
I should act weak, fragile, like I can’t do anything, or like I don’t know anything, but my mouth is bold and my actions are rough. Even if not, am I acting rougher than an average person?
A rich young master should play more elegantly, but I meddle everywhere and have been beaten quite a lot. It’s no wonder Lee Kyung-jin looks at me strangely.
“I agree. I don’t want to get hit anymore.”
Perhaps I can’t break the habit, as the tendency to settle things physically still remains. I definitely need to fix this. There’s no reason for me to be hit by others anymore.
I’m not the old Min Jae-hee, who had no power, no money, no parents, no home—who was so full of nothing that it was only natural to be beaten for no reason.
“I’ll be careful not to get hit today. If they strike, I’ll dodge. Swish, swish. Like this.”
As I mimicked dodging by moving my body left and right, Lee Kyung-jin’s expression finally softened a bit.
“When we arrive, please help me with the luggage. I’m going to work Mr. Lee hard today.”
“It’s fine. It’s not heavy.”
“What do you mean not heavy? It was incredibly heavy.”
“That much is fine. Don’t worry, and please look after your own body first, young master.”
“Yes, I will.”
While we exchanged a few words and I organized my thoughts, the car arrived in front of Grandfather’s house. Since it was within Seoul, it didn’t take very long.
I got out of the car carrying the shopping bag I had left in the back seat. Lee Kyung-jin, who followed me out, pulled out the large chair from the trunk and stayed close behind me.
“Be quiet today and don’t irritate Grandfather.”
My eldest brother spoke like he was giving an order, looking down at me with an arrogant face. You can’t even utter a peep when you’re actually in front of him, so who are you ordering around?
I glanced at my eldest brother as if wondering where a dog was barking, then looked away. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear dog noise. My complete disregard made my eldest brother’s face contort.
“Cha Soo-kyung.”
“Aren’t you going in? Grandfather is probably dying of hunger. Eldest Hyung, are you making Grandfather wait right now?”
Why are they huddled in front of the door like this? Like gangsters. As I stepped forward and pressed the intercom, I heard a clicking sound of a tongue behind me.
“Keep the eldest’s words in mind. Be careful not to let any shouting break out this time.”
“Father. Our family needs an attitude of treating the other person as a human being, as a person, before they are family. Because we are family, if we see someone acting inhumanly, we should tell them and help them fix it. If we just leave it, isn’t it a disgrace to the family?”
“You’re being insolent.”
At my question, Isn’t that so?, the Alpha father’s face hardened. Please, just live like a human being. I’m not asking you to live like Jesus or Buddha. Just live like a human. Don’t harm others, don’t hurt others.
The main gate opened, and the fathers walked in one after another. I slipped back and whispered to Lee Kyung-jin.
“Once we’re inside, just put the chair down and leave immediately.”
“Young master.”
“It’s not a very pleasant sight. Go eat with the other drivers. We’ll be eating and drinking tea anyway.”
I stealthily slipped a credit card into Lee Kyung-jin’s pocket.
“If there’s a delicious place nearby, eat there. Take good care of the other brothers’ drivers too. How hard must it be to be stuck with people like that? At least they should eat something delicious.”
“It’s fine. Chief Bae will give us instructions.”
“Instructions for what? When, where, and what to eat? Forget it. I’ve never met that man, but somehow he seems obnoxious. I really don’t like him. Take the card and swipe it a lot. Eat something very expensive. If they look for you, I’ll tell my brothers. I’ll tell them I’ll be angry if you don’t eat something expensive, so make sure you do. And bring the receipts later. I’m going to check them.”
Since there are four drivers, swipe over a million won. If you don’t, you’ll be in trouble with me. At my threat, Lee Kyung-jin only laughed.
“Welcome.”
The lady who had greeted us last time bowed and welcomed us.
“Hello. Wow, it smells delicious.”
When I spoke loudly with high energy, Grandfather, who was in the dining room, came out and looked at me with a displeased face.
“Why did you bring that beast-like brat?”
“I came to eat? Grandfather happened to be awake. Just a moment. Mr. Lee.”
“Yes.”
I signaled Lee Kyung-jin and hurried into the dining room. I pushed the chair at Grandfather’s spot aside and placed the chair Lee Kyung-jin had brought in its place. My family, who had followed me, watched me silently as if wondering what on earth I was doing.
“I wanted to buy a chair, but it would be weird if only one was different. So I bought one for Grandfather. Looks totally badass, right? It has armrests, so you don’t have to worry about Grandfather falling over while eating. It’s a chair that considers Grandfather’s safety.”
What are you doing? Hurry up and sit. At my gesture, Lee Kyung-jin glanced around cautiously and slipped out of the dining room silently. The family, who had been standing still, glanced at Grandfather.
“Grandfather, aren’t you eating? Why is everyone standing? Are they waiting for Grandfather to sit? Seeing this, they really are children of a learned house. Their home education is just too good.”
As if to show off, I flopped down into the chair that had originally been Grandfather’s, right next to the new chair.
“Why are you sitting there, you brat!”
“Grandfather, you can’t use chopsticks. So I’m going to help you. Oh, the lady made the side dishes like this again. I told her to give Grandfather liquid food.”
Hurry up and come. Aren’t you eating? At my urging, Grandfather strode toward me. Why? Are you going to hit me? I wonder if he’ll grab me by the collar and drag me out this time. As I stared up at him, Grandfather stood still and pointed to the end of the table.
“Go over there. You must know your place. You don’t even realize that being allowed to eat at the same table is beyond your station, yet you run wild without knowing where you are.”
“No, do I have to know my place just to eat a single meal? You’re being so rigid. Just sit down already. Because Grandfather isn’t sitting, everyone is just rolling their eyes like they’re broken.”
I grabbed Grandfather’s arm and flopped him down into the chair. The family, who had been watching the situation, only tentatively filled the chairs after confirming that no roar of anger erupted from Grandfather. The Omega father looked at me with an awkward face and quietly sat next to the Alpha father.
“Let’s eat. Grandfather, hurry and scoop some rice. I’ll put a side dish on for Grandfather, and then I’ll eat too.”
“Can’t you shut that mouth?”
“It naturally shuts once the meal starts. I’m babbling like this because Grandfather isn’t eating.”
This is all your fault. I said it with that meaning fully implied. Still, it was a relief that I wasn’t thrown out along with the chair. Grandfather’s temper has died down a lot in a month. Or perhaps he has some other intention.