Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 77

I let go of his hand and took off his hat with my other hand. As I pulled his small head closer, Choi Taegyeom buried his face near my chest. I didn’t want to say things like “people are watching.” I gently stroked the back of his head and spoke in a soft voice.

“If it’s too hard, should we just go?”

If I explained the general situation, Minjeong and Park Sungjae would understand. I could promote alone, and for serving, I could just tell them to avoid omega tables. If I had known he would struggle this much, I would have refused from my end earlier.

“No… it’s okay.”

Choi Taegyeom shook his head and let out a steady breath. His pheromones subtly permeated my skin. Unlike before, there was no unpleasant feeling left.

“I just want to stay like this.”

Honestly, I had vaguely thought he would be okay by now. He had never once revealed his trauma while smelling my pheromones every day. He had casually mentioned that my pheromones were different, but in the end, weren’t they still omega pheromones?

“I’ll tell the kids, so if you feel like you can’t do it later, just say so.”

Did I get greedy for nothing? Although I hadn’t demanded it, strictly speaking, it was because of me. I felt like I had only caused this fragile person unnecessary pain.

“…Okay.”

Choi Taegyeom, who answered barely audibly, rubbed his face affectionately. While I gently stroked his head, he repeatedly inhaled my pheromones. It seemed as if he was trying to wash away the omega pheromones from earlier. He seemed to feel better, but it would take a little more time to fully recover.

After that, Choi Taegyeom remained in my arms for a long time. Many eyes were on us due to our unique hats and T-shirts, but they had no effect on him, whose face was hidden. Only I, with my face exposed, swallowed my embarrassment and comforted Choi Taegyeom.

And before long, he emerged from my embrace with a refreshed face. He stood up, holding the picket, looking so nonchalant that for a moment, I wondered if he had just been acting childish.

However, that thought vanished without a trace the moment Choi Taegyeom looked at me and smiled.

“Hold my hand.”

“Hand?”

“Yeah, then I think it’ll be okay.”

Even if it was childish, if it was Choi Taegyeom, I had no choice but to indulge him. If it made him feel better, that was enough. So, without another word, I took Choi Taegyeom’s hand and started walking.

“Let’s go.”

The festival had more to see than I expected. As we looked around the booths on the promenade, it gradually turned from promotion into something closer to a date. Fortunately, people occasionally asked where the Romantic Pub was, so we managed not to completely forget our original purpose.

Choi Taegyeom held my hand tightly throughout our sightseeing, never letting go. Especially when someone spoke to us, his grip on our intertwined hands would tighten, but fortunately, his reaction wasn’t more intense if the person was an omega. At this point, I even wondered if he just disliked our time alone being interrupted.

“Welcome! Come and try our mala tang!”

“This is the Romantic Pub with the God of Business!”

“Plenty of seats inside!”

When we returned to the pub, even before 6 PM, quite a few people had gathered. About half seemed to be Park Sungjae’s acquaintances, but the other half seemed to be genuinely curious visitors. Among them were some who spoke to Kim Dohyun, who was standing outside, which made me realize anew, “He really is handsome.”

“Mala tang, two soju, and one beer, is that right?”

“Do you have fruit soju too?”

“Yes, green grapes and…”

Choi Taegyeom, who was good at everything, was also good at serving. The club members often made mistakes with orders even after writing them down, but he took orders accurately without holding anything. He also efficiently brought out the food, while others were fumbling around.

“What about beer? What kind do you have?”

The problem was that when he went to take an order, it took twice as long as elsewhere. Regardless of age or gender, tables Choi Taegyeom visited strangely had many questions. From what kind of soju it was, to whether the mala tang was spicy, how much gyeran-mari there was, why there was no alcohol on the menu, and even how much it cost (it was written on the menu).

“Then, would you like grapefruit?”

“Ah, I’m torn…”

“Please call me when you’ve decided on your order.”

Of course, he ignored the questions appropriately and left the table. Occasionally, when they persisted, he would intentionally grab another club member and slip away. And when even that didn’t work, Park Sungjae would stride over and change the atmosphere, and I had to suppress the irritation that was about to burst out.

“Hyung, which fruit soju is the most delicious?”

Constantly, every situation was displeasing. Somehow, I ended up cleaning tables more often than taking orders, and whenever that happened, even amidst the noise, I could only hear the sounds from where Choi Taegyeom was.

“Please recommend a side dish.”

We were busy to death, so why keep asking useless questions? What was the point of asking Choi Taegyeom which fruit soju was the most delicious? Even if he recommended a side dish, he’d probably just say something random.

“Oppa, what do you like?”

Thud, the stacked paper cups fell. My hands had unknowingly lost strength at the next question. Phew, I sighed and set the paper cups upright, and someone from the next table peeked out.

“Excuse me, we’d like to order.”

“Ah, yes.”

I quickly snapped back to reality and turned to the next table. This wasn’t the time, but I kept spacing out. I thought I had briefly made eye contact with Choi Taegyeom in the distance, but it must have been my imagination.

“What would you like?”

“We’ll have one green grape and…”

“Lee Yoonwoo.”

But before I could even take the order, Choi Taegyeom approached. Both I and the customer reflexively turned our heads, and he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll take the order. You finish cleaning the table.”

“Huh? Oh…”

A warm hand lightly gripped and then released my shoulder. As I awkwardly stepped aside, he skillfully blocked my front. The customer stared blankly at Choi Taegyeom’s face, mesmerized.

“What would you like?”

“…Ah, what kind of alcohol do you have?”

It was a question whose intention was obvious. Hadn’t they just specified fruit soju a moment ago? Along with the absurd feeling, a forgotten unpleasantness surged up.

“We have soju and beer, and for soju, we also have fruit soju.”

Why did he insist on taking the order? I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard and continued cleaning the table. As I neatly stacked the disposable plates and gathered the chopsticks, a familiar question popped up again from the next table.

“Which fruit soju is the most delicious?”

How could that pattern never change? Since the pub opened, I have heard that question countless times. Choi Taegyeom, also accustomed to it, naturally mentioned the soju that had the most left.

“Many people look for apples.”

Many people look for apples, indeed. We still had a whole box left because it was the least popular. And even that one box was only because Choi Taegyeom sold it that way. This time, even the customer didn’t believe Choi Taegyeom’s words entirely.

“Oh, apples are the worst. You’re recommending it because it’s not selling, aren’t you?”

I heard chuckles. What was so funny, the customer playfully retorted and tapped Choi Taegyeom’s hand. Not only that, but they even smiled coyly and grabbed his arm.

“Don’t be like that, recommend something delicious.”

Wow, what is this feeling?

Something surged up from within. As far as I knew, Choi Taegyeom hated being touched more than anything. Especially such clearly intentional flirtation. So it wouldn’t have been strange if an angry reaction came back quickly.

“…Grapefruit sells the best.”

But contrary to expectations, he pulled away his arm, which had been held, without displeasure. His straight eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t get angry. Encouraged by this, the customer’s lips curved into a slight smirk.

“Then one bottle of that and…”

My stomach churned as if I had swallowed a ball of fire. Even though I tried to tell myself not to pay attention, my nerves were already focused on Choi Taegyeom. The arm the customer had held, the gaze directed at Choi Taegyeom, all of it bothered me like a thorn stuck in my finger.

“One soju, gyeran-mari, and mala tang, is that right?”

“Yes, and…”

I wished Choi Taegyeom would just get angry. This constant bothering, pub or not, was frankly no different from obstructing business. Who was she, and when had she ever seen Choi Taegyeom, to show interest and even grab his arm?

“Excuse me.”

My hands, cleaning the table, kept fumbling. An irritating feeling, to the point of a headache, came over me. Choi Taegyeom formally answered “Yes, yes,” but the customer persistently kept talking.

“Could you please take off your hat just once?”

“…”

Thud, I put down the bottle of soju I was holding. It made quite a loud sound, but it wasn’t noticeable because the surroundings were so noisy. I suppressed my rising anger and turned my head. Enough is enough, Choi Taegyeom didn’t need to listen to such a selfish request.

“Excuse me, right now,”

But before I could stop them, something unbelievable happened. Choi Taegyeom, who had been looking at the customers expressionlessly, grabbed the brim of his hat with one hand. He slowly took off his hat and then ran his other hand through his disheveled hair.

“You’ve finished ordering, right?”

His pretty lips curved into an arc. His eyes weren’t smiling at all, but the customer nodded as if enchanted. I didn’t even want to hear compliments like “He’s even more handsome without his hat.” A sudden pull at the back of my neck, and the blood that had rushed to my head turned cold.

“…”

Clink, clink, I gathered the plates and bottles and pulled off the plastic cover from the table. With the bottle in hand, I pulled my hat low. Choi Taegyeom’s gaze followed me, but I ignored him and quickened my pace. I couldn’t control my expression, and I no longer had the confidence to watch that scene.

“…Yoonwoo Oppa?”

Minjeong and Kim Dohyun were in the makeshift kitchen. They tilted their heads in confusion, looking at me who had suddenly burst in. Minjeong, who was busy boiling the ordered mala tang, blinked awkwardly.

“Why are you coming in so fast?”

“…Just busy.”

I answered in as calm a voice as possible and shoved the paper cups and plastic into the trash can. I handed the empty bottles I had brought to Kim Dohyun, who was organizing the bottles. Since I had organized all the items I brought, I should go back outside, but my feet wouldn’t move easily.

“Ha…”

My lips trembled. The unpleasantness that rose from my stomach unpleasantly touched my heart. I was angry, and my head ached because I couldn’t comprehend the situation. It wasn’t the first or second time someone showed interest in Choi Taegyeom, but for some reason, I felt unusually dirty.

I knew why he took off his hat. He probably thought it was better to grant their wish and end the conversation than to keep being held up. Showing his face was nothing, and this pub was operating with his looks as collateral. But why, why did I keep getting annoyed?

“Senior, what’s wrong?”