Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 13

It had been a week. Seeing his face, feeling his pheromones. Although he had a very displeased expression, only one thought came to my mind at that moment.

I missed him.

It felt different from meeting him at the bar after five years. Back then, the feeling of bewilderment was greater, but this time, the small desire that had bloomed was enormous. I wanted to go closer. I wanted to touch him, to reach out to him. I wanted to whine and cling to him, telling him I was sad because I couldn’t see him.

The primal urge was disconcerting. It had only been a week, so why was I feeling this way? Why was it that after avoiding him for five years, suddenly, after just one week, longing had been overlaid? Or perhaps, it was a feeling that had never faded in the first place.

“…You don’t have to pretend to know me.”

He hurriedly pulled his hat down, but it was already too late. No, perhaps his attempt to avoid eye contact only provoked Choi Taegyeom more. The faint scent of pheromones began to thicken.

“Did you two fight?”

Park Sungjae whispered, lowering his voice. He couldn’t sense the pheromones, but he seemed to have noticed the awkward atmosphere between us. Instead of answering, I fiddled with my hat, and Kim Dohyun added in a casual tone,

“Sunbae is staring at you a lot.”

I know, you brat.

I was in the middle of a cold war, not a cold war, with him, and of all times, I was on my way to drink with Kim Dohyun, the main cause of the fight. Moreover, if Choi Taegyeom found out I’d even joined the same club, he might really give up on me.

“Why did you fight? Aren’t you going to make up?”

“No, it’s not really a fight…”

It was too ambiguous to call it a fight. I had unilaterally made a mistake; Choi Taegyeom hadn’t done anything. So, as I awkwardly trailed off, Park Sungjae’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he grabbed my hand.

“Hyung, I have a great idea.”

Was it just my imagination, or did Choi Taegyeom’s pheromones seem to thicken? Kim Dohyun also seemed to sense it, flinching slightly. Of course, it had no effect on Park Sungjae, who was a Beta.

“It’s a really good idea.”

Park Sungjae’s large build had a knack for making people feel burdened even when he did nothing. On top of that, his eyes were unnecessarily round, and when he stared with those sparkling eyes, the burden doubled.

“What’s the idea?”

I subtly pulled my hand away from Park Sungjae. At the same time, the thick pheromones seemed to thin out a bit. Park Sungjae cautiously glanced towards where Choi Taegyeom was, then whispered, lowering his voice.

“Let’s ask Choi Taegyeom sunbae to come drink with us.”

“…What?”

It was such nonsense that even Minjeong next to me stared. Asking Choi Taegyeom, who wasn’t even from our department, not from our club, and whom no one knew except me, to come drink? And even I, the only one who knew him, was awkward with him right now.

“He won’t come even if you ask.”

“You won’t know until you ask.”

Kim Dohyun answered. Encouraged by Kim Dohyun’s reaction, Park Sungjae also nodded enthusiastically.

“Just trust me. Okay?”

“No… Hey, hey!”

“Choi Taegyeom sunbae!”

Before I could stop him, Park Sungjae ran towards Choi Taegyeom. That shameless guy, I muttered, but it didn’t reach Park Sungjae, who was already far away. Choi Taegyeom was looking at the bear that had suddenly run up to him with a slightly troubled expression.

“This is driving me crazy.”

I couldn’t hear their voices, but I could see Park Sungjae introducing himself and trying to persuade Choi Taegyeom. I also felt Choi Taegyeom looking back and forth between me and Park Sungjae with a bewildered expression.

Choi Taegyeom’s eyes asked, What is he, exactly? My eyes answered, I don’t know either.

“Park Sungjae went to recruit again.”

Minjeong clicked her tongue and muttered. The moment I heard that, I understood why Park Sungjae had run to Choi Taegyeom. The club was short by just one member, the club welcoming party, and my friend, Choi Taegyeom.

…What if Choi Taegyeom sunbae says he’s not doing the club?

He said he wasn’t interested in clubs anyway.

I was amazed by Park Sungjae’s initiative. The audacity to talk to a senior he wasn’t even close with, even if he was my friend. Is that what it takes to be a club president?

“What? Is Taegyeom sunbae coming?”

“I don’t know. Sungjae hyung must have gone to charm him.”

“I don’t think he’ll come…”

The other club members also seemed flustered by the sudden situation. Most thought he wouldn’t come, but occasionally, selfish hopes that he would come popped out. At that, I unconsciously pulled my hat further down.

Choi Taegyeom doesn’t like these kinds of gatherings. So, naturally, Park Sungjae would be rejected quickly. The unapproachable Choi Taegyeom wouldn’t join a place full of strangers. Besides, since I hadn’t apologized, he’d probably still be angry.

“…He’s coming with us?”

But my expectation that he’d be rejected quickly shattered in an instant. Kim Dohyun spoke in a disgruntled voice, and at the same time, a familiar pheromone rushed towards me. When I lifted my head, what I saw was Choi Taegyeom standing behind Park Sungjae.

“…”

“…”

Choi Taegyeom and I looked at each other without a word. The guy I hadn’t seen in a week looked a little gaunt. Was he sick? That thought lasted only a moment. Park Sungjae shouted in an excited voice.

“Alright, let’s go drink!”

The destination was quickly decided. True to his role as club president, Park Sungjae, who had incredible initiative, immediately found a spacious pub that could accommodate about ten people. Park Sungjae led the way, his arm around Kim Dohyun’s shoulder, followed by Minjeong, who was playing a mobile game. Awkwardly avoiding Choi Taegyeom’s gaze, I pretended to watch Minjeong’s game as I brushed past him.

“Is that fun?”

“It’s just okay. Kind of like doing it out of stubbornness?”

Minjeong skillfully manipulated her character. She walked without looking ahead, and there was no hesitation in her steps. As she naturally stood on the side of the road, Minjeong glanced up at me.

“…Want to try?”

“No, I’m bad at those.”

I’m not good at mobile games, let alone computer games. I tried a few times with Choi Taegyeom but couldn’t get into it and quit. Choi Taegyeom is good at those. That thought, flowing naturally, made me conscious of Choi Taegyeom again.

Even with my hat pulled down low, I could feel his gaze. It was incomparable to Kim Dohyun’s occasional glances. Choi Taegyeom’s gaze was thick, persistent, and flickered hot as if it would burn me alive.

“Not playing anymore?”

Minjeong, who had just cleared a stage, put her phone away. As I widened the distance that had narrowed while watching the game, Minjeong lightly shook her head.

“It’s dangerous to play while walking.”

“You’ve been doing fine until now.”

“Anyway.”

Minjeong pulled at my sleeve as she watched a passing motorcycle. She even nagged me to stick closer to her because it was dangerous. At the same time, I felt a strong pheromone along the back of my head.

“But why did you suddenly say you’d join a club? You usually find those things annoying.”

“Just because. Park Sungjae kept nagging me.”

I needlessly touched the back of my head. It was a good thing I wore a hat; otherwise, I would have been exposed to his direct gaze.

“I’m just putting my name on the list. I won’t be active.”

Minjeong nodded as if she understood. She seemed to have grasped the general situation after hearing about Park Sungjae’s nagging and my intention not to be active. She clicked her tongue and spoke in a playful voice.

“Anyway, oppa is surprisingly soft-hearted.”

“Me?”

Park Sungjae said I was cold-hearted. When I added that, Minjeong’s eyes widened. It wasn’t because of what I said. Whoosh, pheromones poured out, and at the same time, Choi Taegyeom cut in between us.

“Is everyone cold-hearted dead?”

Whoosh, my hat was snatched off. Beyond my suddenly brightened vision, I saw Choi Taegyeom, his lips pulled into a smirk. Choi Taegyeom casually put his arm around my neck, dangling the hat he’d taken.

“How long are you going to avoid me?”

Minjeong subtly watched us and quickened her pace. Being quick-witted, she must have decided it was best to give us space. As I awkwardly ran a hand through my hair, Choi Taegyeom gently stroked my head.

“It’s okay. Your hair isn’t messed up.”

His careful touch was the same as before. The faint pheromones, the gentle voice, and even the way he put his arm around my shoulder.

Rustle, rustle, his fingers brushing through my hair tickled.

“…I wasn’t avoiding you.”

“I know.”

I wanted to make excuses. That I hadn’t intentionally avoided him, that the past week was different from the five years I’d run away. That I hadn’t meant to get angry, but I was sorry, and I lacked the courage to apologize, so I hadn’t contacted him.

“You just.”

Choi Taegyeom began indifferently. My hat was already on his head. He smoothly tidied the back of my hair and continued casually.

“Must have been sorry.”