By Zephyria 
“So, how’s work these days?”
My mother asked as we ate the food we’d ordered. I kept my gaze fixed on my plate as I answered.
“It’s the same as always. …Nothing much changes.”
Feeling like I was being too cold, I deliberately added to my answer with a smile. But to no avail, an awkward silence settled over the table. It couldn’t be helped. Since I was only here out of obligation, I couldn’t possibly put in any more effort than this.
“It must be hard. Be careful not to ruin your health.”
Even at my mother’s kind words, I only gave a short, “Yes.” For a while, the only sound was the quiet clinking of silverware. My mother brought up a new topic.
“Are you seeing any young ladies?”
It was an expected question, so I gave the same answer as always.
“I’m busy.”
“Still, you should start looking for someone to marry soon.”
At my mother’s worried words, I gave her a gentle smile, as if to reassure her.
“I’ll try.”
That was usually enough to end the topic for my mother. Seeing her turn to talk to my stepfather, I lowered my gaze again. My stepmother, like many Americans, was a devout Christian, and she believed that a Beta man should naturally meet a suitable woman, marry, and have children.
Since they were both Betas, it was perhaps a natural conclusion. The fact that I, her stepson and a Beta, was gay was unimaginable to her. Unless you were an Alpha or an Omega, sleeping with a man was absolutely out of the question.
In the first place, Betas can’t have children, so you shouldn’t do homosexuality, which goes against God’s will.
If I were to bring an Omega as a marriage partner, things might be different. Of course, I wouldn’t receive as enthusiastic a welcome as if I brought a woman. But since I was a complete bottom, that was impossible too.
Unfortunately, she would never see her grandchildren. I had never once been aroused by a woman. I felt truly sorry for her, but it wasn’t entirely my fault. I arbitrarily diagnosed that my childhood experiences had greatly influenced my sexual preferences. But what good was any of that now?
The silence grew longer. I needed to bring up a new topic, but nothing came to mind. I barely managed to notice that she was wearing a different ring than the wedding ring she always wore, and thanks to that, I was able to open my mouth.
“Did you buy a new one?”
Deliberately fixing my gaze on her face, I asked, and she looked down at her hand and smiled slightly.
“Yes, your father gave it to me as a wedding anniversary gift this year. It’s my birthstone, do you like it?”
My stepmother affectionately took my stepfather’s hand and smiled. I didn’t want to see my stepfather’s face, so I kept my gaze fixed on my mother’s profile.
“It suits you well.”
“Thank you.”
It was my stepfather who answered. Involuntarily shifting my gaze, I looked at his face for the first time today. When our eyes met, my stepfather gave me the kindest smile in the world. I smiled back at him, but no one noticed that I had almost stabbed him in the neck with the knife I was holding inside.
***
“Drive carefully, Chrissy.”
After what felt like an endlessly long meal, I barely managed to escape the restaurant. In front of the restaurant, my mother gave me a light hug. I couldn’t ignore the hand my stepfather offered this time.
Wearing gloves, I almost brushed his hand before quickly letting go. But even so, the sensation of touching his hand was etched so clearly onto my skin. It wasn’t to the point where I wanted to cut off the area I had touched, as I had done in the past, but instead, I wanted to wash it like crazy.
Unable to overcome the urge, I quickly became anxious. I had to dull this sensation by wiping it over and over again. Quickly, quickly. I hid my true feelings and smiled as always.
“Then I’ll see you again next month.”
After saying goodbye, I leisurely got into the car. Before grabbing the steering wheel, I hurriedly took off my gloves. The gloves I had thrown away carelessly would go straight into the trash as soon as I got home.
It was already well past 10 o’clock, and there were far fewer cars on the road. I started the car without any sign of haste. My step-parents, reflected in the side mirror, grew further and further away. Eventually, they disappeared from view, but even so, I felt suffocated.
Irritation surged. It had been well over 10 years already. And yet, I was still so shaken just by seeing that man’s face. What was even more infuriating was that the man was completely unaffected. Not at all, as if he had nothing to do with it, as if he were innocent.
Only I suffer.
“Damn it…!”
It was when I slammed my fist hard on the steering wheel.
Suddenly, a black Jaguar cut in. Startled by the attack of the huge object that suddenly thrust its head in, I slammed on the brakes.
But it was already too late. The car was already in a situation where it couldn’t stop.
Bang!
With a loud noise, I crashed straight into the car. A vibration rang through my entire body. For a moment, I sat there blankly, not understanding what had happened.
Only after a few seconds of blankness did I realize that there had been an accident.
“This…!”
With a curse, I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. My chest area felt stiff. Feeling a throbbing pain in the area where the seatbelt had caught, I rubbed my chest with my hand.
The Jaguar was still there. I strode unhesitatingly towards the black car crouching on the road. Ignoring the crumpled rear of the car that had been hit by my old banger, I banged on the tinted driver’s seat window with my fist.
“Get out, you bastard!”
Rubbing my chest with one hand and hitting the window with the other, the reverberation was transmitted directly to me.
Shit, it hurts.
I grimaced involuntarily and waited for a response. The interior of the car was not clearly visible due to the dark glass, but I could tell that the driver was moving. Frustratingly slowly, he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door.
At that moment, an impossible sweet scent wafted through the city air filled with exhaust fumes.
The first thing I saw was pure white silver hair. For a moment, I had the illusion of seeing an unexpected snowfield.
“…Yeah, then do that.”
The noise of the city that had been brushing past my ears faded faintly, and only the man’s low voice entered my ears.
Haa.
With a short sigh, he hung up the phone and looked down at me. I had to raise my chin as much as possible to meet the gaze of the tall man. The moment I met his deep purple eyes beneath his irritated, frowning brow, I unconsciously swallowed hard.
“…Prosecutor Lee Shi-jin.”