ATGRA 16

I am now a fisherman catching people. Peter, do you need me to walk on water to believe? Of course, I’m not talking about actual fishing; I was in the middle of persuading Jung Pureum.

“Oh no, that’s not how it should be…”

When I dragged Jung Pureum, who had visited the clinic after a long time, into the director’s office, Ms. Kim Miyoung, sitting at the reception desk, muttered a cryptic lament.

“Listen, Pureum.”

“…”

“To better understand things like secondary gender, we need a larger sample group. For example… right, remember why the herbal medicine that suppresses the hit cycle, the best secret weapon of our clinic, didn’t pass the KFDA?”

“…Because the test sample was only you, hyung.”

“Exactly! That’s it.”

Jung Pureum didn’t even pretend to listen when I said I’d personally introduce him to Lee Seolwoo. This guy, who’d believe me even if I said I made fermented soybean paste with red beans, kept acting like, “Haha, this hyung is spouting nonsense again!” so I was flustered.

If it were any other omega, fine, but Lee Seolwoo, a regular at our clinic and a fellow alpha-hater, was reasonably trustworthy. Although Lee Seolwoo is older, their ages are close enough.

If Jung Pureum, a recessive omega like me, met Lee Seolwoo, a dominant omega, his perspective would broaden. His family is full of betas or alphas, and as far as I know, he’s been on an elite athletic track his whole life, so the only omega he knows is probably me, despite knowing plenty of alphas.

That’s why, after becoming an alpha, he clung to me with a contract in hand. He was clingy before, but it got worse after he became an alpha. Why else would I care about his traits?

This must be some kind of imprinting effect. Like a duckling recognizing the first living thing it sees as its mother, he’s latching onto me because I’m the only omega he knew before and after becoming an alpha.

If that’s not the case, it’s hard to explain why Jung Pureum is sticking to me so much that it’s getting on my nerves. It’s not like he’s thinking of me as some rational being, like Nam Jungyoon’s nonsense suggested. I’m just the friendly hyung next door.

“After much thought, I’ve concluded that to broaden your world, you need to meet more omegas…”

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re using that as an excuse to train me or set me up on dates, aren’t you?”

Busted. This is why sharp-witted younger neighbors are a problem.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and averted my gaze. I tried bluffing, “What, me? Would I do that?” but Jung Pureum was already staring at me with a face full of distrust.

Deep down, I hoped Lee Seolwoo would take over my role. Sure, Jung Pureum is cute, adorable, cheeky, and kind enough to feel like a real younger brother, but the clinic has been too busy lately.

And being around him too long makes my body feel off. As a mere recessive omega, frequent exposure to a dominant alpha’s pheromones pulls my hit cycle forward.

If even an ordinary recessive omega feels this way, imagine me, who’s been suppressing my hit cycle with herbal medicine. It’s obviously not good. Unless I’m planning to get physically involved with him, my health is headed straight for ruin.

I don’t need to experience being carted off in an ambulance multiple times. No matter how good Korea’s healthcare system is, emergency room visits cost a fortune. And as an omega, renewing insurance later will be a hassle.

“Hyung, do you dislike me?”

“No way, why would you say that? Baek Wonhee is right across at the other clinic, glaring daggers, so why would I dislike you instead of him?”

“I’d rather you just disliked me like you do Baek Wonhee or whatever his name is…”

…Is training that tough?

Seeing Jung Pureum suddenly look so worn out, I cursed the coach I’d never even met. How hard must he be pushing the kid to make him look this miserable?

“You’re always trying to pawn me off on someone else…”

“I absolutely don’t think that.”

“I only have you, hyung, but you’re telling me to go meet other omegas…”

“Hey, that’s… it’s all for your own good, you know? You’ve got to step out of the well to realize, ‘Oh, I was a frog-in-the-well alpha,’ right?”

“I don’t need anyone else.”

I do!

Our clinic needs Lee Seolwoo. As a customer and as a dominant omega around Jung Pureum’s age who could get along with him.

Judging by Jung Pureum’s reaction, meeting Lee Seolwoo wouldn’t spark some new romance. So, their relationship wouldn’t interfere with Jung Pureum’s athletic career either.

While I was lost in thought, Jung Pureum reached out to me. I instinctively tried to dodge, but unfortunately, the chair in the director’s office didn’t have wheels.

A large hand I couldn’t avoid grabbed me firmly.

“I like you, hyung.”

Jung Pureum looked at me with a face so dejected it seemed like he’d cry if poked. Oh man, this is crazy. He’s getting so close, it’s like he’s about to crash into my lips. Why is he leaning in?

…And at that moment, a literal lip crash happened.

“…?”

I was so shocked my eyes widened.

Is he insane? I considered biting his lip, but seeing a faint scar still there, I couldn’t resist recklessly.

It wasn’t a kiss—it was literally a “lip crash.” Jung Pureum’s lips slammed into mine. It was like a pedestrian crossing the street getting hit by a car with no brakes.

“When I say I like you, hyung, this is what I mean.”

My head was more stunned than my lips. What does that mean? I thought, but saying it out loud felt like it would cause real trouble.

“You…”

“I really hate you.”

With those final words, Jung Pureum bolted out of the clinic again.

The word “hate” hit harder than “worst.” How could Jung Pureum hate me? Even if he were struck by Eros’s lead arrow, he’d still say, “Hyung is the best!”

Everything felt surreal and absurd. It hit so hard my front teeth ached.

As the shock faded, another thought hit me. Is he flirting with me, a recessive omega, now that he’s an alpha? That kind of thought.

The next day, Nam Jungyoon, who was only pretending to listen to my worries, looked at me with an expression similar to Ms. Kim Miyoung’s. His gaze held pity, lament, and a touch of disdain for me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason, just thinking you’re really hopeless, sunbae.”

Nam Jungyoon, clicking his tongue sharply, shook his head when I mentioned Lee Seolwoo. When he asked if Lee Seolwoo didn’t hate alphas, I had no response.

You’re right, you hate them, but Jung Pureum said it’s fine because he’s good-looking. How could I say that to his face?

“Jungyoon.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t feel down.”

“Huh?”

“You’re good enough!”

Without explaining, I patted Nam Jungyoon’s shoulder. He looked at me, unable to hide his bewilderment at being comforted for no reason.

“So, are you really going to introduce them?”

“With Jung Pureum storming out and protesting like that, it might be tough.”

“Protesting?”

“Yeah. He’s been avoiding me lately.”

It was earth-shattering. Jung Pureum, avoiding me? The sky would split in two, and I’d study Western medicine before that happened.

It wasn’t the first time Jung Pureum got upset with me. Since I’ve known him since he was little, I often treated him like a kid.

When he was in his third year of middle school, I once celebrated Children’s Day for him. Not to tease him, but on the way back from a family trip, I stopped at a souvenir shop where a children’s LEGO set was 40% off.

So I bought it and gave it to Jung Pureum. Children’s Day gift! Surprise!

The problem was, the recipient wasn’t happy at all. Jung Pureum cried tears like chicken droppings and called me the worst back then too.

Hearing “worst” from Jung Pureum for the first time was a real shock. I spent hard-earned tutoring money on that gift, and that’s what I got. That’s why raising the kid next door is pointless.

Anyway, I soothed the sobbing Jung Pureum and promised never to celebrate Children’s Day again.

Jung Pureum hated being treated like a kid. Kids generally don’t like that, not realizing how advantageous it is to be even a year younger in this harsh world.

It’s not much different now. I’ve diligently avoided celebrating Children’s Day, so I’m not sure why he’s upset, but this one-sided cold war will continue until his hurt feelings fully fade.

But the more I thought about it, the more absurd it felt. What have I ever done wrong to him?

As I started fuming, Nam Jungyoon began looking at me with pity.

“Sunbae, you’re only smart in the head.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks.”

While I was having a pointless conversation with Nam Jungyoon, Ms. Kim Miyoung called us to prepare for work since lunch break was over.

I brushed off the uneasy feeling and headed to the director’s office. Jung Pureum will probably crawl back to the clinic in a few days anyway.