Omega Complex Novel (Completed) - Chapter 85 (End)

Choi Taegyeom held me tight all night and didn’t let go. He didn’t do anything else, just gently released pheromones and stroked my back with tender hands. When I slowly closed my eyes, intoxicated by that warm embrace, all the deep-seated loneliness had vanished.

“Wake up, Yoonwoo.”

As soon as morning came, he gently shook me awake. I could somewhat ignore his words to wake up, but I couldn’t avoid his lips pressing down everywhere. Finally, I surrendered and opened my eyes, and Choi Taegyeom rubbed my cheek with a satisfied expression.

“Uncle came home early in the morning and left again.”

Just as he said my dad had come, two banknotes were on the desk. Fumbling, I checked my phone and saw a message from my mom saying she would be a little late too.

“They must be really busy. He left right after washing up.”

“Mmm…”

“I tried to wake you up, but he said to just let you sleep and that they’d be home in the evening.”

I sat blankly on the bed, rubbing my eyes. Having just woken up, I was still half-asleep and couldn’t quite collect myself. So, in the end, both of them would only be home around evening, right? As I quietly nodded, Choi Taegyeom spoke in a gentle voice.

“Come out, let’s eat.”

As I stepped out of the room, an inexplicably delicious smell wafted through the air. Our house was so far from cooking that it shouldn’t smell so homey. With that question in mind, I entered the kitchen to find a breakfast spread that made my eyes widen.

“…What is all this?”

I scanned the food on the table with sleepy eyes. The simple side dishes were clearly from home, but the seaweed soup and braised short ribs were definitely not. And they didn’t look like instant food, the glossy sheen was different.

“Who made all this?”

“I did.”

Choi Taegyeom answered casually and handed me a glass of water. I stopped short, halfway to taking the glass, in an awkward posture.

“…You did?”

It was an incredibly hard thing to believe. The Choi Taegyeom I knew had never cooked a meal with his own hands. Not because he was lazy, but because there was no reason for him to cook. Even when I stayed at his studio apartment, most meals were takeout.

“All the ingredients were at home. I asked Aunt if I could use some, and she said to use as much as I wanted.”

Choi Taegyeom replied casually and sat opposite me. A bowl of rice, soup, and chopsticks were also set in front of him.

“You… knew how to cook?”

He looked at me as if to say, “What are you talking about?” A light, hollow laugh showed how bewildered he was.

“Didn’t I say I’d cook for you sometimes?”

Indeed, I remembered him saying a few times that he’d make me something delicious. I just brushed it off because no specific menu came to mind, and somehow we always ended up eating out. I thought he was just joking, but it seemed he was quite serious.

“My dad took a break from work a few years ago. I learned most things then. Now, I’m probably better at home cooking than Dad.”

I picked up my spoon in a daze. As I first reached for the seaweed soup, Choi Taegyeom looked at me with expectant eyes.

“Is it edible?”

“…I just thought I wanted to marry you.”

It wasn’t just edible; it was more delicious than anything sold in stores. The seasoning was perfect, and the saltiness was just right. If even I, with my picky palate, found it delicious, then his confidence was entirely understandable.

“Just for this?”

Hehe, a playful voice sounded. When I glanced at him, Choi Taegyeom also had a very proud expression. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placed it in front of me, letting out a soft chuckle.

“I learned to cook for you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, Dad said he charmed Mom with his cooking.”

I glanced at Choi Taegyeom. He playfully wiggled his chopsticks with a bright face. His flushed lips parted in a pleasant smile.

“Finally, I get to do this.”

His smiling face seemed to sparkle. For anyone else, it might be the rose-tinted glasses effect, but since it was Choi Taegyeom, it probably wasn’t. How could such a person be by my side? My heart beat pleasantly, and pheromones began to subtly emanate.

“Thank you… for everything.”

Even with such a dry greeting, Choi Taegyeom’s eyes curved in satisfaction. He didn’t bother to reply, probably sensing something from me as I bowed my head. Even though I was undeniably happy, for some reason, I felt like crying.

After the meal, he immediately started washing the dishes. I had intended to clean up since he cooked, but I gave up due to his strong insistence, “Why would the birthday person do dishes?” No matter how much I insisted, he would never let me wash the dishes.

“I’m full… If Mom had made it, I wouldn’t have eaten half of it.”

“Aunt would be sad if she heard that.”

“Mom would admit it too.”

“…I’ll make it often, so let’s go grocery shopping together later. There’s nothing to eat at your studio apartment.”

Choi Taegyeom, unable to deny my words, slyly changed the subject. He was turned away, washing dishes, but I could almost see his expression. I stealthily approached Choi Taegyeom and wrapped my arms around his waist.

“…Lee Yoonwoo?”

As I rested my cheek against his broad back, he flinched and stiffened. Despite having hugged him and done more than that, his reaction was surprisingly like that of a virgin. That fact was a little cute, so I let out a faint laugh and called Choi Taegyeom’s name.

“Taegyeom.”

Even to me, my voice sounded a bit syrupy. He turned off the water and turned to face me instead of answering.

“Just, casually asking…”

Our gazes met over his shoulder, sending an inexplicable thrill through me. Along with it came the urge to live in the same house as Choi Taegyeom, just as I had felt a few days ago when we woke up together. So, without realizing it, the thought in my head popped out.

“Want to live together?”

He looked at me with wide, surprised eyes. His pheromone cut off, as if showing how shocked he was.

“Of course, there are many things to consider, like my parents’ permission and all…”

“…”

“Anyway, we’re practically living together already.”

Wouldn’t it be like a roommate situation?

I tried to package it as lightly as possible, but in the end, it was a proposal filled with ulterior motives. To fall asleep together, wake up together, eat together, and spend time together. I knew it was greedy, but I wanted to be even greedier with Choi Taegyeom. I just felt like it.

“I’m not trying to pressure you…”

Feeling embarrassed, I buried my face in Choi Taegyeom’s back. Only after adding the lame excuse that cooking wasn’t the purpose did I get a response from him. And it was just a very small murmur.

“…I was going to give it to you later.”

Before I could ask what he meant, he took off his rubber gloves and unwrapped my arms. Then he looked directly at me, frowning. The emotion on his pretty face was clearly a similar embarrassment to mine.

“Lee Yoonwoo.”

Our gazes intertwined in the air. The slowly flowing pheromone did the same. While I stared up at him blankly, Choi Taegyeom intertwined his fingers with my left hand and parted his lips.

“I wasn’t going to give it to you like this.”

Something cold touched my finger. It was hard and round, a different sensation from Choi Taegyeom’s finger. As I widened my eyes in surprise, he slowly lifted my hand.

“I bought it with the money I saved during my break from school.”

A slender ring was placed on my previously bare ring finger. The simple gold design suited me perfectly, as if it were custom-made. As I stood speechless, he held out another ring.

“This one’s mine.”

“…”

“Will you put it on me?”

As if possessed, I put the ring on Choi Taegyeom’s left hand. My fingertips trembled, and my stomach felt strangely tense. Choi Taegyeom took my left hand, kissed the back of it, and smiled as if melting.

“It suits you well.”

My stiff shoulders loosened. The tension that had been a lump in my chest had now turned into a heart-aching emotion. He quietly looked at me, then gently pulled me into an embrace.

“Why are you crying?”

“…I’m not crying.”

A tremor was in my voice. It was completely unbelievable, but he kindly pretended not to notice. As he gently stroked the back of my head, the tears I had held back poured out.

“Good boy…”

I cried in Choi Taegyeom’s arms for a long time. Why I was crying, what made me so tearful—I couldn’t answer any of it, but one thing was certain.

“I like you, Lee Yoonwoo.”

I like Choi Taegyeom.

“I love you.”

I love this gentle voice, this warm pheromone, and Choi Taegyeom himself.

“…Me too.”

The emotion I had realized at some point had now grown to an irreversible size. Loving and being loved, it felt as if a part of me was now filled with Choi Taegyeom.

“Then, want to live together?”

Tears threatened to fall again. Even though I had already cried once, emotions poured out like an open faucet. Choi Taegyeom hugged me tightly and whispered gently.

“I’ll do all the persuading, getting permission, and all that.”

“…”

“Let’s sleep together, wake up together, eat together. Let’s live like that, us.”

Looking back, every memorable moment was filled with Choi Taegyeom. Every beginning, and every end, was always Choi Taegyeom to me.

“…Okay.”

And now, I’m about to start another beginning with him.

“Let’s live together, Taegyeom.”

-End-