Kiss Me if You Can Novel Completed - Chapter 128

Still, he hadn’t given up hope. He had never particularly disliked Omegas or preferred Alphas. He had just thought it was a distant matter for him, so this sudden presentation felt unreal. And as an Omega, no less. Even before getting examined and hearing the results from the doctor, Josh was still half in doubt.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Huh.”

At the doctor’s blunt declaration, Josh let out a deflated exclamation. He gave an awkward, puzzled smile, then continued with a routine explanation. The things he said weren’t much different from what Josh had already learned in special classes at school. Perhaps the shock was greater than he thought, as the doctor’s words didn’t properly register. The doctor, as if understanding, added one last thing.

“Everyone seems to react similarly right after their presentation.”

The doctor, clearly a Beta, smiled and concluded the consultation by reminding him to take his medication regularly, as the cycle might be unstable right after presentation.

“Welcome home, how was the consultation?”

Emma, who had returned home early, asked curiously when she saw Josh and Mother coming in together. Josh answered perfunctorily.

“Well, you know.”

When Emma turned around, Mother, who had followed them in, shook her head as if telling her to be quiet. Emma, understanding the hint, closed her mouth. Josh said nothing and went back to his room.

Sigh.

He lay on his bed and sighed. It still didn’t feel real. That he had become an Omega. In his bag were the doctor’s diagnosis and suppressants. It was the medication he had been strongly advised to keep taking for a while to regulate his cycle.

Sniff, sniff.

Josh raised his arm and smelled himself. He kept sniffing various parts of his body, but the only faint scent he detected was the soap he had used that morning. He couldn’t smell it himself, but others could.

“What about the team?”

Lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, he muttered. The coach must have already heard. His mother said she told the school the reason for his absence.

If you present, you can no longer play as an athlete. This applies to both Alphas and Omegas. Because of the rut/heat cycle. Even if you take medication according to the game schedule, people make mistakes, and if they smell each other’s scents and make a scene during a game, wouldn’t that be awkward? It’s better to prevent risks beforehand, and Josh agreed with that.

But it’s me.

There was a game against their rival high school next month. It would be very problematic if Josh dropped out now. But he couldn’t hide it either. Everyone who needed to know would already know, and even if he was lucky enough to play, the coach and the school would all be disciplined on the day it was revealed.

There was no solution, no matter how much he thought about it.

After several hours passed listlessly, and darkness completely covered the world, Josh finally got out of bed. Downstairs, he heard bustling sounds, indicating his mother was preparing dinner. He got up, turned on the room light, and began to organize his bag. He had to go to school starting tomorrow.

After checking the day of the week, he packed what he needed for class and also slipped the diagnosis to be submitted to the school between his books so he wouldn’t forget it. He divided the suppressants in half, placing one half on the bathroom cabinet and the other half in his bag. He had taken them at the hospital today, so he didn’t need to take any more.

“It’s going to be annoying for a while.”

Josh muttered to himself weakly, then turned his head away. After about 10 minutes, he had finished all his preparations, and his mother called from downstairs.

“Josh! Come down quickly!”

“Coming!”

Josh immediately left his room, shouting downstairs.

“What’s for dinner?”

True to California’s year-round sunny weather, that morning was also dazzlingly bright. Sometimes he wished it would rain, but it hadn’t rained a single drop here for several years now. Ed squinted at the sun pouring through the car window, blinking repeatedly.

“Wear your sunglasses.”

His mother, in the driver’s seat, pointed to the console box, but he pretended not to hear. Ed was currently deep in serious thought. Sunglasses didn’t matter.

The day before, he had received a message from Josh before going to sleep. It was a short text saying he would be coming to school starting today, but it was enough to make him restless.

The news of Josh presenting as an Omega had turned the school upside down. Only three or four students presented in a year, at most ten. Even combining the entire student body, it wasn’t even a hundred. Therefore, if someone presented, no matter how insignificant their presence, they would momentarily become the center of attention.

But it’s Josh.

Ed frowned, deep in thought. What would happen when he appeared at school? Josh was usually the object of everyone’s fervent attention. The principal also seemed to acknowledge this, always putting Josh forward for school events or photos. The strongest quarterback, the team captain, an object of admiration, yet…

To become an Omega.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. He had never imagined Josh as an Omega. If he were to present, he’d be an Alpha, wouldn’t he? Could the test be wrong? Doctors can misdiagnose, they say you should go to several hospitals.

Lost in thought, the car arrived at school.

“What are you doing? Get out quickly.”

Ed, startled by his mother’s words, hastily grabbed his bag and got out of the car. The school scenery, completely unchanged from usual, came into view.

Josh was in honors classes for most subjects, but Ed was only in a few honors classes, so they only had about two overlapping classes. In such a situation, his first class today happened to be one of the two subjects that overlapped with Josh’s, so he couldn’t decide whether it was good luck or bad luck.

I want to meet Josh soon, though.

He couldn’t even guess how the other guys would treat him or look at him. Josh’s case was completely different from other kids who had presented so far. He would certainly attract attention, but how that would manifest was unknown. From what he had observed of the atmosphere beforehand, most of the guys reacted with simple curiosity or amusement. There were also many who found it interesting, most of them looking full of curiosity.

The problem was with the girls. When he subtly asked his girlfriend, Mickey, about the atmosphere, she made a troubled expression.

<“Well, everyone seems shocked.”>

Mickey, checking her surroundings, continued worriedly.

<“Not an Alpha, but an Omega? It just doesn’t fit Josh’s image, I guess. Rita also seems very shocked. Generally, the atmosphere isn’t very good.”>

She tried her best to phrase it delicately, but the meaning came across clearly. Ed found it unbearable to imagine Josh being ostracized.

I will never let that happen.

If he got into trouble, he planned to protect him with all his might. Omega or not, Josh was still Josh. Ed’s most precious friend.

“Right,” he nodded vigorously, then hurried towards the building where his class was. It was almost time to start. Josh must have already arrived at school.

As he walked down the hallway, he reaffirmed his resolve. Josh, don’t worry about anything. I’m by your side! Your eternal center!

As he clenched his fist with determination, a scream came from inside the classroom.

“Stop it, what are you doing? Let go of Josh right now!”

Already?

Startled by the ensuing uproar, Ed turned pale and rushed into the classroom.

“You bastards, if anyone bullies Josh, I’ll…!”

The words “leave them alone” vanished from his mouth the next moment. He had burst out shouting loudly, but he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him.

Everyone in the classroom looked at Ed with surprised eyes, as if asking what was wrong. Amidst them, Ed saw Josh sitting perfectly fine in his seat, surrounded by a group of female students like flowers.

“What? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, why is he like that?”

“Bullying Josh? Who?”

The girls’ reactions, looking at each other in confusion, were far from what Ed had imagined. Not only that. The entire classroom was buzzing with excitement. The cause, of course, was Josh.

“Hey, Ed. Long time no see.”

Seeing Josh smiling casually and raising one hand, Ed was even more speechless. What on earth was going on?

As he stumbled forward, everyone quickly lost interest and returned to the situation from moments before.

“Ruth, it’s Vicky! Don’t just hug Josh!”

“You seem to have lost weight during your break, Josh. Want to have lunch together later?”

“How was it during your presentation? Is your body okay?”

“Josh, did you take your medicine? Can I smell your pheromones?”

It was a chaotic scene, with everyone trying to say another word to him. Some subtly stroked Josh’s arm in the midst of the commotion and then got angry at each other, others leaned in wanting to smell his scent, and still others were fighting for a seat closer to Josh.

It seems even worse than before.

Ed sat down, bewildered, and watched them. Josh had always been popular, but this was the first time he had seen such a large group of girls flocking to him like this.

Were Omegas popular with girls?

Moreover, this atmosphere was the complete opposite of what Mickey had told him. He had thought everyone would avoid and isolate Josh, but wasn’t this atmosphere exactly the opposite?

The Sultan’s Harem.

There was no other way to describe the sight of Josh smiling magnanimously, surrounded by layers of girls.

Who would dare ostracize such a Josh?

It felt disloyal to even have imagined such a thing. Ed, who had stayed up almost all night worrying about Josh, was so dumbfounded by the situation before him that his mouth wouldn’t close.

Why on earth, and for what purpose, did I…?

Just as self-reproach was about to set in, hurried footsteps were heard in the hallway, and soon someone burst into the classroom.

“Josh, you bad boy!”

She screamed, then immediately walked quickly across the classroom towards Josh.

“Rita.”

Josh greeted his girlfriend warmly. But Rita mercilessly slapped him across the cheek. A loud smack echoed, and everyone fell silent in surprise. In the silence, Rita snapped angrily.

“You should have contacted me first, do you know how worried I was? You disappeared for over ten days!”

Josh said nothing. He just rubbed his slapped cheek, looking dumbfounded. Rita, having created a dramatic scene, then hugged his neck, her eyes welling up with tears.

“I love you, Josh. I’m happy you’re back.”

Josh wore an incredulous expression but didn’t push her away. Everyone just looked at Rita enviously. Rita had claimed the trophy.

“The reason’s obvious. Because it’s Josh.”

Miki chided Ed as if stating the obvious. She even glared at him, as if asking how he could not know. Ed, who had been sitting opposite her on the school lawn, eating lunch and recounting the morning’s events, suddenly felt wronged.

“But you said it, that the atmosphere among the girls wasn’t good.”

“I did. But you saw a completely different side of him right before your eyes, didn’t you? What else could it be but that it was all an act?”

Miki burst into laughter, shaking her head as if to say he was incorrigible. Ed didn’t give up and asked again.

“Then why was it like that? You’re saying everyone lied?”

After taking a sip of her diet drink, Miki offered the answer.

“That’s naturally because they were keeping each other in check. Everyone must have been thrilled that a good opportunity had come their way.”

Miki added to Ed, who was deeply pondering with a serious expression.

“Still, I thought they’d be considerate for a few days, but they must have been in a hurry. Everyone thinks similarly, after all.”

Ed, who had been silently and mechanically chewing his sandwich, raised his head and asked earnestly.

“Are you saying it’s better that Josh is an Omega?”

“No, you idiot. It means that everyone doesn’t care if Josh presents as an Omega or whatever else he becomes.”

Miki, who had burst into laughter, soon narrowed her eyes and whispered conspiratorially.

“Just you wait, even if Josh shows up looking like a beggar, everyone will still treat him like a prince.”

Ed wordlessly gulped down his soda all at once and then coughed violently. Seeing his reaction, Miki smiled ambiguously, a mix of pity and exasperation. After Ed finally calmed down, Miki spoke.

“By the way, is Josh still going to date Rita?”

“I don’t know? I’m not sure?”