Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 2 Reunion

“…An Omega, huh.”

Hoo, a deep sigh escaped me. The freshman sitting next to me gave me a puzzled look, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain. Fragments of memories filling my mind pressed heavily on my chest. Meanwhile, Park Sungjae, oblivious, pushed his large body towards me, grinning foolishly.

“Come on, hyung! Let’s toast, toast!”

It had been three hours since the drinking party, masquerading as a freshman welcome party, began. Why would a senior like me be at a freshman welcome party? Leave me out, you guys have fun among yourselves. I tried hard to appeal, but in the end, I was dragged to the drinking party.

The reason was simple. My classmates who hadn’t graduated while I was in the military were happy to see me and dragged me along. Those guys who didn’t even know I went to the military, how happy they seemed to see me after a long time. In the end, I had no choice but to go to the pub where the department students gathered, led by them.

“Drink in moderation, man. You’re drunk.”

“Aw, hyung, you just got discharged, is getting drunk important?”

Anyone would think he was the one who got discharged, not me. I shook my head and moved my butt sideways, and the freshman sitting next to me subtly asked.

“Sunbae, did you go to the military?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. I got discharged and came back to school.”

“Ah, I see, that’s why you’re wearing a hat.”

The freshman’s finger pointed to my deeply pulled-down hat. I reflexively fiddled with the brim of my black hat and nodded vaguely. In fact, it had been a few months since I was discharged, and I wasn’t wearing the hat for that reason, but there was too much to explain if I were to add anything more. The freshman looked at me with a subtle gaze.

“But Sunbae…”

“Let’s toast, toast!”

The freshman’s next words were cut off by Park Sungjae’s boisterous demand. He staggered over, filled my glass to the brim with alcohol, and urged a toast. Splash, the soju, filled to the point of overflowing, was utterly repugnant.

“You guys drink among yourselves.”

It wasn’t a drinking situation. The bustling interior, my completely drunk classmates, everything was chaotic. Moreover, every time the pub door opened and closed, an ominous feeling filled my throat. The anxiety that the department entering now might be Business Administration.

“What should we say for the toast?”

“Just do it roughly, roughly.”

I waved my hand and muttered, but my classmates clearly had no intention of doing it roughly. They even urged the freshmen, who were having fun among themselves, to come up with a good toast. Those bastards, they’ll definitely become old farts when they get jobs later. As I clicked my tongue, the freshman next to me smiled playfully and raised his glass.

“‘To Yoonwoo Sunbae’s discharge,’ how about that?”

“No, why was my discharge at a freshman welcome party…”

“Oh, good! Let’s do that!”

Conclusion and execution came together. Park Sungjae, who had poured the alcohol to the point of overflowing, raised his glass high and shouted loudly.

“To Yoonwoo hyung’s discharge!”

“To that!”

The clear soju glasses clinked with a cheerful sound. Even though I, the person concerned, hadn’t even raised my glass, the already drunk guys were pouring and drinking soju again.

“Oppa, congratulations on your discharge!”

“He’s served! He’s served!”

“Wow! The returning student!”

I shook my head and sighed, looking at them each saying something. That ‘congratulations’ had already been said a dozen times. Even my family hadn’t welcomed me so grandly… Of course, the act of drinking seemed more important than congratulating me for my discharge.

Ding-a-ling,

The pub door opened and closed again. I reflexively flinched, then straightened my posture, realizing the person who entered was a stranger. Ah, this is why I didn’t want to come to a drinking party.

Actually, I knew it was a baseless worry. This wasn’t the only pub, and there was no reason for the large Business Administration department to specifically choose this pub. Besides, given his personality, he wouldn’t participate in a departmental gathering like this.

Just in case, I slightly lifted my hat, but as expected, no familiar face appeared. Since I couldn’t feel any pheromones, he wouldn’t be in here, at least.

“Um, Sunbae.”

The moment I thought of that fact, I started to feel a little relieved. My tightly tensed shoulders also relaxed.

“Huh, why?”

So I answered in a relaxed mood, but I flinched the moment my eyes met the freshmen. The freshman was scrutinizing my face with an insistent gaze. From my eyes to my nose, from my nose to my mouth. Despite being five years younger, he impudently scanned me, then tilted his head as if extremely curious.

“Why did you go to the military?”

It was an unexpected question. As a Korean, and a man at that, what would one answer if asked why they went to the military? I frowned to gauge the intention of the question, and the freshman opened his mouth with a smile.

“No, Sunbae is…”

Ding-a-ling,

I couldn’t hear the words that followed. My whole body stiffened as the pub door opened. Thump, my heart sank. Before I could turn my head to check, a student from another department stood up and shouted.

“Choi Taegyeom’s here!”

I’m screwed. That thought came to mind. I reflexively pulled my hat down, and the freshman gave me a puzzled look. I knew my face must have turned pale without even needing to check.

“Yoonwoo Sunbae?”

“Don’t call my name right now.”

“…Huh?”

My heart pounded. The pheromones, palpable even from a distance, felt like they were filling my entire body. As expected of a dominant Alpha, his presence was no joke from the moment he entered.

“…What? An Alpha?”

“His pheromones are amazing.”

It seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling it. The students, who had been bustling and drinking, murmured and looked at Choi Taegyeom. Even though most of them were Betas, the atmosphere changed the moment he entered. This was partly because the few Alphas and Omegas turned to look at him, and also because he was naturally someone who drew attention.

“Wow, that senior must be a dominant Alpha.”

The freshman next to me seemed to be either an Alpha or an Omega. No, judging by his calm voice, he was likely an Alpha. If he were an Omega, he would already be chasing Choi Taegyeom with a flushed face like the student from another department sitting in front.

Thump, thump, thump. My heartbeat quickened. I didn’t look back, but I knew Choi Taegyeom was passing near me. The guy I hadn’t seen in years had even more attractive pheromones than before.

“Sunbae? Are you okay?”

The freshman, noticing my strange behavior, asked worriedly. He placed a hand on my shoulder and tried to look at my face under my hat. I appreciated his concern, but speaking at this distance was dangerous.

“I’m fine, so…”

I pulled the freshman’s collar, keeping my voice as low as possible. Choi Taegyeom would know who I was with just a single word. How many years had it been since we had this gap? I didn’t want to encounter him like this.

“Third year!”

But as expected, things didn’t go my way. Park Sungjae, who had been quietly (not quietly) drinking until now, suddenly stood up and came towards me. Please, please don’t do that. My desperate plea didn’t reach him. Park Sungjae, a wide smile plastered on his face, pointed directly at me.

“Yoonwoo hyung is a third-year student because he took a year off!”

Fuck. A curse word almost escaped me. At that very moment, Choi Taegyeom’s pheromones intensified. I clutched the freshman’s collar and lowered my head, but Choi Taegyeom didn’t retract his pheromones. In fact, they seemed to be increasing.

My stomach tightened with tension. By this point, the freshman seemed to have noticed something strange. He slowly glanced at me and then looked up. The only one who seemed unaffected was Park Sungjae, a Beta who couldn’t feel pheromones.

“…Lee Yoonwoo?”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My heart pounded absurdly at the three syllables of the name he called. As if the uncontained remnants of emotion would just burst out if I didn’t calm down.

“You…”

Choi Taegyeom was approaching with long strides. His pheromones also drew closer. With the surging pheromones, the freshman looked back and forth between me and him with an unreadable gaze. I whispered to Park Sungjae, who was oblivious to the situation, keeping my voice as low as possible.

“You’re dead meat later.”

“…Huh? Me?”

Park Sungjae didn’t have time to retort. Choi Taegyeom approached faster than that. Before I could even escape, my arm was suddenly grabbed.

“Lee Yoonwoo.”

What he grabbed was precisely the hand that was holding the freshman’s collar. It wasn’t a strong grip, but the moment he grabbed me, my hand lost strength. The pheromones I hadn’t felt for five years,a full five years, flooded me.

I swallowed hard and tried to calm my pounding heart. A surge of inexplicable emotion welled up, but I couldn’t show it. I just slowly, slowly took a deep breath and lifted my head.

“…Ah, Taegyeom.”

Choi Taegyeom hadn’t changed much from five years ago. No, he seemed even more handsome. Unnecessarily handsome, unnecessarily tall, and unnecessarily dominant. In his now sharper features, I could vaguely see his pretty childhood face.

“Long time no see. You’ve been well?”

I answered as naturally as possible, but the table fell silent as if dead. It was because of the terrifying pheromones and intimidation Choi Taegyeom was emitting. They were so heavy and cold that they overwhelmed not only Alphas and Omegas but even Betas.

“You…”

I felt like I would suffocate and die from his pheromones. I might lose consciousness right there, suffocating at any moment. I looked at a few Omegas who were reeling almost as if drunk, then sighed and stood up. I saw the freshman, who had been staring blankly, widen his eyes.

“…Let’s talk outside.”

The place wasn’t good. There were too many Omegas and Alphas to untangle the long-tangled thread. I also thought that if I continued to be exposed to the pheromones, even I wouldn’t be able to keep my wits about me.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Uh… go ahead, hyung.”

Fortunately, Choi Taegyeom followed me without a word. As if he wouldn’t let me go, he tightened his grip on my arm. It hurts, man. Words I would have uttered before didn’t easily come out.

A heavy silence descended. It was a silence that had never existed between him and me since we were born. Feeling the uneasily fluctuating pheromones, I took out a cigarette pack from my pocket and asked for permission.

“Can I smoke?”

Choi Taegyeom watched me light the cigarette with a somewhat wavering gaze. Since we hadn’t met since high school graduation, it must be the first time he’s seen me smoke. Sure enough, he asked a mundane question that didn’t fit the situation.

“When did you start smoking?”

“I started as soon as I turned twenty.”

His gaze went to the white cigarette pack. It was a product that gave off a slight pheromone scent for Betas who couldn’t feel pheromones. As expected, Choi Taegyeom, sensitive to smells, didn’t seem to like the cigarette smoke.

“Why smoke that kind of…”

“I’m an adult.”

Choi Taegyeom’s lips pressed together. Of course, I wasn’t a minor, and if I wanted to do as I pleased, he wouldn’t have anything to say.

Come to think of it, Choi Taegyeom disliked not only pheromones but also cigarettes. I could tell just by the way he was sending me a look full of displeasure. I didn’t want to smoke in front of someone who disliked it, but to endure those pheromones, pheromone cigarettes were absolutely necessary.

And for a long time, silence once again lingered between him and me. He didn’t seem to intend to speak until I opened my mouth, and I didn’t intend to say anything until I finished my cigarette. The fortunate thing was that Choi Taegyeom’s pheromones became increasingly stable with each puff of cigarette smoke.

“Um, so…”

I flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray and ran my hand through my hair, choosing my words. What should I say? No good ideas came to mind no matter how much I thought. In the end, Choi Taegyeom, unable to contain his impatience, spoke first.

“Did you come back to school?”

Okay, let’s start with what’s new. I nodded casually, my hands in my pockets.

“Yeah. Third year after military service. You know, right? I got sick, retook the exam, and entered school while you were in the military.”

“…I know.”

Perhaps recalling old memories, Choi Taegyeom gnashed his teeth. It was a terrifying sight, enough to make even me, who had known him since birth, feel threatened. Haha, I let out an awkward laugh, and he strode towards me.

“Lee Yoonwoo.”

The three syllables he uttered were like a death sentence. Goosebumps ran down my spine, and my hair stood on end. To make matters worse, Choi Taegyeom relentlessly scrutinized me, emitting a terrifying amount of pheromones.

“Should I ask, or will you tell me?”

His voice was strained, as if holding back. His expression, his pheromones,everything clearly showed that he was angry. But instead of pressing me, Choi Taegyeom waited for my lips to open. Even though he was furious, he seemed willing to hear my side first. This is why I hadn’t been able to meet him all this time.

“I’m sorry.”

First, I offered the apology I had to make. It was only three syllables, but it was enough to make Choi Taegyeom’s eyebrows twitch upwards. He crossed his arms and nodded, as if telling me to continue.

“I was very sick on Suneung day.”

“I know.”

A cold voice replied. He must have heard from my parents beforehand that I couldn’t take the Suneung because I was sick. To be precise, I wasn’t sick, but I had to tell him I was.

“Naturally, I couldn’t meet the minimum requirements, so I couldn’t go to university, and I couldn’t contact you because I got rid of my phone and entered a cram school for retaking the exam.”

Choi Taegyeom and my connection ended at high school graduation. He entered university, and I went into a cram school. We could have met if we had tried, but neither Choi Taegyeom nor I made an effort to contact each other.

“After I got into university, well, you went to the military, so there was nothing I could do.”

After that, it was a continuous series of missed connections. As soon as Choi Taegyeom enlisted, I entered university, and by the time he was discharged and returned to school, I had enlisted.

One year for retaking the exam, and four years for our respective military services. After a total of five years of absence, he and I reunited at the freshman welcoming party. This was also a coincidence.

“I didn’t avoid you on purpose. It just happened to be…”

Yes, a simple coincidence. I didn’t try to avoid him, nor did I dislike him. The circumstances, the environment, weren’t conducive, so I just distanced myself from someone who felt like family.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, but you didn’t contact me either, so what are you complaining about?”

I knew it was cowardly. Turning the consequences of my actions back on Choi Taegyeom was excessively cruel to him, given the betrayed look on his face.

But this was the best defense I had. Choi Taegyeom also didn’t contact me. If he had wanted to find me, he could have, but he didn’t want to meet, so we didn’t. In such a situation, one-sided resentment felt strange.

“It’s fine since we’ve met again, isn’t it?”

But Choi Taegyeom didn’t seem to think so. His barely stabilized pheromones were raging wildly. As I debated whether to light another cigarette, Choi Taegyeom spoke in a stiff voice.

“I didn’t contact you so you could study.”

My breath hitched. His expression was calm, but the pheromones pouring out of him became excessively dense. The highly concentrated pheromones enveloped me as if angry. He didn’t seem to be aiming for it; it was simply pheromones naturally emanating from his anger and unfairness.

“You said you entered a cram school, so I was afraid I’d disturb you if I contacted you, that’s why I couldn’t.”

“…”

“Military? Yes, since you’re a man, you’d understand. People around me said it’s better to go early, so I enlisted.”

I had to maintain the most nonchalant expression possible. No, it should have been a face that showed both apology and awkwardness.

But the moment my eyes met Choi Taegyeom’s, my mind went blank. It was because the usually composed Choi Taegyeom said that, gritting his teeth.

“You weren’t home every time I came out on leave.”

“…”

“At first, I thought it was a coincidence. Your room light was clearly on, but your mom said you weren’t home, so I thought I had done something wrong.”

He looked wronged. No, more than wronged, he looked heartbroken. The fact that I, who had never been apart from him since birth, suddenly distanced myself, seemed very awkward to him.

“Still, I thought two years would be enough. I endured two years thinking I’d talk to you after discharge, but then…”

This time, I couldn’t see his gaze. It was my turn to be called out for the one action I felt was unnatural. Choi Taegyeom also seemed to find this strange, unable to hold back his surging emotions, he grabbed my shoulder.

“You went to the military right after I got discharged, didn’t you?”

Everything was a coincidence. The way it seemed like I was avoiding him, the fact that we hadn’t seen each other’s faces for years. And even our reunion here and now.

“Did you… did you even come out on leave? Did you come out and intend to see my face?”

It was a prank created by coincidence, a result born of carelessness. No, at least it had to seem that way to Choi Taegyeom.

“Am I just that to you?”

“…”

“Are we even friends?”

The constraining power of the single word ‘friend’ was immense. My heart, which was about to crumble helplessly under Choi Taegyeom’s pheromones, solidified at that one word.