Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 84

His parents returned when we had ordered food and were lounging on the sofa. My uncle, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, expressed regret that we had already eaten dinner, but it was too late to do anything about it. I left Choi Taegyeom, who wanted me to stay longer, and returned home. When I came out after showering, a message had arrived from my mother.

Mom: [Mom, I don’t think I can come home today. Sorry. You’re not alone at home, are you?] pm10:17

“I should have just stayed with Choi Taegyeom…”

It wasn’t an unexpected situation. From the moment I heard she went to work this morning, I had vaguely anticipated this. It wasn’t my mom’s fault that she was busy with work, and the one who was most upset wasn’t me, but her. So there was only one answer I could give.

[I was with Taegyeom until now. Work hard.] pm10:33

As soon as I sent the “I’m fine” reply, a call came at a surprising timing. The caller was my dad.

—What should I do, Dad probably won’t be home until dawn either.

My dad couldn’t hide his troubled expression and added various things. He said that work at the law firm had exploded, making it difficult to go home for several days, and that he had last properly talked to my mom a week ago.

“Are you getting enough sleep?”

—Roughly. Mom’s probably having a harder time than Dad. Last time I saw her, she didn’t even rest for a day after one trial ended.

“Dad, please tell Mom. Tell her not to overdo it, even if she doesn’t celebrate my birthday.”

—This kid worries about everything. Dad and Mom are sorry for calling you over and not being able to take care of you.

“I didn’t have any plans anyway.”

With my phone to my ear, I flopped onto the bed. Even though I hadn’t been home for a long time, my room was spotless. My busy parents wouldn’t have cleaned it, so the housekeeper we occasionally hired must have.

—Do you still only have Taegyeom as a friend?

“Dad…”

—No, it’s just that you, Yoonwoo, are so shy…

My dad continued the call, making trivial conversation. He still seemed busy with work, but he seemed unable to hang up due to guilt. I really was fine, though. My parents, Choi Taegyeom, they just wouldn’t believe me.

“I’m really fine, so please go back to work. I can see your face tomorrow when you come home.”

—Alright, then… you sleep well too, and I’ll wish you a happy birthday tomorrow.

“Yes, don’t overdo it.”

—Okay, I’ll hang up.

As soon as I hung up, a quiet stillness settled. Perhaps because the sound of the call disappeared, the room felt unusually quiet. I casually pushed my phone aside and stared blankly at the ceiling.

If I contacted Choi Taegyeom, he would surely rush over to my house immediately. Then he would ask, in his usual gentle voice, “Should I stay over?” Just like he did at my studio apartment, he might talk about various things with a worried expression.

Even when we were young, Choi Taegyeom couldn’t stand to see me alone. Whether I was standing in front of a locked gate or sitting alone in my room on my birthday, Choi Taegyeom was always with me. Knowing that, my parents probably felt a little more comfortable leaving me alone.

‘Why are you alone?’

Even now, just thinking of him made me feel good. His pretty face and low voice greatly uplifted my sinking mood. Indeed, I should have stayed with Choi Taegyeom a little longer. With that thought, I reached for my phone, then simply closed my eyes.

There was no particular reason. It was partly embarrassing to contact him now just because I was alone, and partly because everything suddenly felt bothersome. The slowly rising fatigue pressed down on my eyelids and made my whole body feel lethargic.

Come to think of it, what was my birthday like when I spent it with Choi Taegyeom?

Suddenly, a picture of Choi Taegyeom in a school uniform came to mind. Around his third year of high school, Choi Taegyeom was sitting in my room’s desk chair, dressed in a shirt and tie. His face was a little younger than now, and I couldn’t feel any pheromones from him.

“Here.”

He fiddled with his tie with one hand and abruptly held out a shopping bag. Inside the shopping bag, which had a famous brand logo, was a wrapped box. Even without opening it, I knew the contents were shoes.

“What is this?”

“Birthday present.”

He said it casually and handed me the shopping bag. The tie he had been fiddling with was now loosely undone.

“You said mine were pretty.”

They were shoes of the same design as Choi Taegyeom’s. Although the color was different, he seemed to remember that I had liked them before. As I stared at the shoes in a daze, Choi Taegyeom subtly spoke.

“When I bought those, the employee asked who I was giving them to, saying that if you give shoes as a gift, the person runs away.”

“Did you buy them in your school uniform?”

“No, in my casual clothes.”

A laugh escaped me naturally. That employee, really. To indirectly ask if I had a lover like that.

“They must have thought you were giving them to your lover.”

Run away, my foot. Choi Taegyeom and I weren’t in a relationship where such a saying would apply. We were just friends, so those rumors didn’t concern us, did they?

“Isn’t that something people say when they’re dating?”

At my words, Choi Taegyeom paused and fell silent. Then, seeing me take out the paper from the shoes and put my feet in, he let out a short, hollow laugh.

“…I guess so.”

That was the last birthday present Choi Taegyeom gave me. A few months after that incident, I realized my feelings for him, and naturally, the sneakers were shoved into the shoe cabinet. At some point, I found myself constantly attaching meaning to the gift he had given me without any ulterior motives. Choi Taegyeom subtly showed his disappointment, but he never explicitly mentioned the sneakers to me.

That was already six years ago. And now, after a long hiatus, it was my birthday again. I really should have contacted Choi Taegyeom. As soon as that regret came over me, blink, my eyes snapped open.

“…”

The room was filled with darkness. I thought I had just closed my eyes, but it seemed I had actually dozed off. Had I turned off the light before sleeping? As I struggled to distinguish what was a dream and what wasn’t, I suddenly felt a warm sensation on my fingertips.

“…You startled me.”

Choi Taegyeom was sitting on the floor next to the bed, asleep. What touched my fingertips was Choi Taegyeom’s hand holding mine. As I gently pulled my hand away, he slowly lifted his eyelids.

“Oh… you’re awake?”

Choi Taegyeom smiled gently, as if nothing was wrong. Even through the dim light, his bright, curving eyes were clear. I slowly smoothed Choi Taegyeom’s hair and asked in a hesitant voice.

“…How are you here?”

He rubbed his face against my hand like a happy cat. Despite sitting pitifully by the bed, he didn’t seem to mind his appearance at all.

“Uncle said you’d be alone… No, more than that.”

Choi Taegyeom suddenly pulled his face away and picked up the phone beside him. When he pressed the lock button, the clock appeared on the brightened screen. He let out a sigh of relief with a satisfied expression and held the phone out in front of me.

[AM 12:00]

“Happy birthday.”

I blinked blankly. The changed date on the phone screen showed an unbelievable time. How could I have woken up at such a perfect moment? He seemed to think so too, as a pleasant pheromone surged.

“Uncle called. He asked if I could go check on you since you’d be alone.”

I wondered how he got in, but it seemed my dad had told him the password. Choi Taegyeom must have rushed to my house, turned off my room light, and covered me with a blanket. I could clearly picture him embracing me as I slept, holding my hand.

“You were asleep, so I stayed by your side and fell asleep too.”

Even in the dark surroundings, Choi Taegyeom was as clear as if illuminated by a spotlight. His gently curving eyes, his neat teeth visible through his parted lips. His messy hair and slender eyelashes came into view without wavering.

“Happy birthday, Lee Yoonwoo.”

He put down his phone and took my hand again. He kissed my palm and fingers alternately, then lazily rubbed his cheek against my hand.

“I wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday.”

My feelings were subtle. I felt happy, a little dazed, and somehow a lump in my throat. “Happy birthday.” Those words, which I had heard countless times, buzzed and echoed in my ears.

“…Come here.”

So I grabbed Choi Taegyeom’s arm and pulled him towards me. He climbed onto the bed as I led him. Half-sitting, he leaned his upper body down and gently kissed my cheek.

“Why?”

His slightly folded eyes were lovely. His hand brushing my hair, the faint pheromone surrounding us, and his gaze patiently waiting for an answer—everything tickled my chest.

“Just…”

Actually, I must have been a little upset. No, he worried so much that I must have become assimilated into that emotion myself. Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel like crying so much.

“I guess I missed you.”

Realization always comes about half a beat late. The unnoticed emotion poured out like a waterfall the moment I became aware of it. Hadn’t the reason I felt okay all this time always been because Choi Taegyeom was there?

As if he couldn’t help it, he drew a faint smile.

“I thought so.”