Standing in front of the elegant door on the second floor of the upscale restaurant, Siwoo took a slow, deep breath. After finishing their shopping with buying a gift for Katie, they had departed directly from the department store, but London’s evening traffic was worse than Seoul’s, if not more so, which meant they were running a bit late.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
You’re going to meet your family, so of course you’re fine, but I’m not.
What good are decades of living? I have absolutely no experience with this kind of thing.
Well, even a proper relationship was a first for him.
Siwoo looked down at the bouquet he was holding. It was Siwoo’s final choice after getting exhausted from selecting and selecting again what gift to give his parents. While he agonized over whether to buy this or that, Evan was of absolutely no help whatsoever. Far from recommending something his parents might like, he just kept saying things like “they don’t need anything” and “you can just go empty-handed.”
As Siwoo deliberated, he suddenly remembered receiving a bouquet from Yechan. It seemed like the safest gift with no strong likes or dislikes.
The bouquet full of beautiful roses of various colors held a fragrant scent. Siwoo’s gaze moved from the bouquet to Evan. Evan, who was holding several paper bags full of gifts he had prepared for his niece, shrugged his shoulders.
Since they couldn’t stand in front of the door forever, Siwoo nodded slightly.
Finally, the staff member who had been waiting silently reached for the door, and Siwoo squeezed his eyes shut then opened them.
“Welcome. Did you run into traffic on the way?”
Following Evan, who entered first as the door opened, Siwoo quickly bowed in greeting at his mother’s warm words.
“A little. I tried to leave early, but December is December, you know.”
“Hello.”
He had greeted Evan’s parents first, so that meant the people next to them must be his older brother and sister-in-law. Siwoo, who had quickly assessed the situation, bowed to them as well.
“This is for you, Mother. And this is for our Katie.”
The bouquet that had been in Siwoo’s arms went to his mother, and the paper bags that had been in Evan’s hands were quickly passed to his brother. He exchanged greetings in an instant with Evan’s brother and sister-in-law, whom he was meeting for the first time today.
“Congratulations on receiving the Rookie Award. Oh, Siwoo, are you feeling alright?”
Siwoo smiled awkwardly at his mother, who congratulated him while also checking on his health, and said he was fine. When his mother, who had come closer before he knew it, even hugged him, he awkwardly hugged her back.
She had naturally given him a hug and cheek kiss last time too—this Western-style greeting was truly awkward for Siwoo.
“Ah… Yes. I’m fine.”
“Evan, you and I need to talk separately later. Siwoo, come this way.”
His mother, who had been patting his shoulder, spoke coldly to Evan. Then she immediately smiled brightly at him and guided him by the hand, which Siwoo followed in a dazed state.
“I was going to do this at home, but everyone wanted to eat out comfortably. Is there anything you want to eat? When your body is weak, it’s good to eat whatever you want or something delicious.”
Having ended up sitting next to his mother, Siwoo kept his broadcast smile plastered on, feeling burdened by her continued words while holding his hand. What would I know? This is my first time at a restaurant like this. He couldn’t easily answer his mother’s question about what he wanted to eat.
“I’m taking good care of him, so don’t worry too much. And Father’s company, and hyung too, I heard there’s good news?”
Evan’s hand, which had approached his side before he knew it, naturally extracted Siwoo’s hand that his mother had been holding. It was difficult for Siwoo to butt into the family conversation exchanging updates with each other, so he turned his head toward the cute sound he heard from the side.
The angel he had seen on Evan’s phone screen was wriggling right next to him. She was constantly babbling cute sounds, holding her dad’s hand and shaking it while taking steps, as if she absolutely had to walk.
But it was just walking in place—she couldn’t really move forward. Evan’s brother, who had just as good a physique as Evan, was bent over, fulfilling his doll-like daughter’s request.
“Katie, did you miss your uncle?”
When Evan, who had approached his niece, lightly picked up the child, a clear, delightful sound filled the small space. Her cute little hand like a maple leaf touched Evan’s cheek once, and then she giggled again, seemingly very happy.
Holding Katie securely with one arm, Evan poked Katie’s cheek with his other hand as he headed to the window. Katie reached out her small hand toward the fancy Christmas decorations adorning the window. Watching Evan, who showed no hesitation in dealing with the young child, Siwoo slightly stuck out his lips then quickly pulled them back in.
“Isn’t Evan too self-centered?”
Siwoo, who had been blankly watching Evan and Katie play, quickly straightened up at the words he heard from beside him.
“Pardon?”
“Lewis Alphas are a bit like that. Jealous and can’t hide anything. But if you praise them saying they’re pretty, they follow along well, so use them well.”
Siwoo’s eyes widened. When his mother winked at him after whispering in a voice small enough for only him to hear, Siwoo’s lips parted slightly.
Lewis Alphas are… like what?
And on top of that, he must be a very precious son to his mother, but she’s telling me to use him by praising him?
No matter how oblivious he was, he clearly got a sense of what this situation was.
“Coco, come here for a moment.”
How does she know? Did Evan tell her? His mother clearly seemed to know for certain about his relationship with Evan. It was Evan who rescued Siwoo, who couldn’t affirm or deny and was just slightly raising the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Does Mother know?”
After asking his mother’s permission, Siwoo quickly approached Evan, who was playing with Katie by the window, and murmured softly like a ventriloquist, barely moving his lips.
“Know what?”
When Katie, who had just been reaching toward the star decoration by the window, looked at him, Siwoo extended his hand slightly toward Katie. He wanted to touch those soft, chubby little hands.
“No, never mind.”
Siwoo was about to ask if his mother knew about their relationship, but quickly shook his head slightly. Seeing how his mother had spoken softly to him and even winked, it was clearly a secret conversation between just the two of them that Evan didn’t know about.
But how did she know?
There was a fact that only Siwoo among the people in this space didn’t know. Rather than Siwoo not knowing, it was something he wasn’t yet accustomed to. The world of Alphas and Omegas. Their world where they could express many things through pheromones.
It was also a world difficult to get used to for Siwoo, who could only smell Evan’s pheromones and his own. Evan, who hadn’t left any traces on Siwoo even while wandering around the department store, had marked Siwoo just before entering the room.
Having been covered in Evan’s pheromones for several days, Siwoo noticed that his pheromones surrounding him had become thicker, but being extremely nervous about meeting Evan’s parents, he didn’t notice this at all.
And the family members who were Alphas and Omegas had to forcibly accept a warning message clearer than words the moment Evan and Siwoo entered that space.
‘Siwoo is someone I like, so just know that. Even if you know, pretend you don’t.’
Siwoo, who had reached out wanting to touch Katie’s small hand, blankly stared at the cute child who stretched both arms toward him. And when he came to his senses, the doll that exuded the sweet and soft scent unique to babies was nestled in his arms.
She was small, warm, and soft. Watching Katie, who wasn’t even shy and yawned softly while nestled in his arms, a gentle smile spread across Siwoo’s face.
“Katie, come to Mommy now. Siwoo-ssi must be tired.”
Siwoo, who finally exchanged proper eye greetings with Evan’s sister-in-law, playfully hugged Katie tightly then released his strength. Then he tried to hand Katie over to his sister-in-law. But at that moment, Katie stretched out her short arms around Siwoo’s neck and kissed his cheek.
“Katie, too late. Siwoo is mine.”
Is he crazy? What is he saying right now?
Siwoo quickly glared at Evan and put force into his eyes. Don’t say unnecessary things.
He had clearly emphasized it to Evan several times before coming here. Don’t make it obvious.
Someday the day would come when they would reveal their relationship to his family and formally introduce themselves, but not now.
Perhaps trapped in the gap of regression, they might not even get that chance.
Their relationship, which included the unusual traits of Hidden and Golden, was yet another unknown world.
They seemed to be absolute to each other, but maybe they weren’t.
If another Hidden Omega appeared? Would he still be an absolute person to Evan then?
He wanted to be positive. He wanted to live simply and brightly.
He tried to, but he couldn’t help anticipating the worst-case scenario. Because that’s how his environment had been.
The two had decided not to reveal that Siwoo was an Omega. A secret that many people knew was no secret. There needed to be many people who didn’t know to maintain a secret.
But an Alpha and Beta dating? The moment Evan’s background was added, a class gap greater than Cinderella’s was created.
Evan didn’t bother explaining to Siwoo. Having flown in on a private jet to England, there was no way his parents wouldn’t know. Moreover, when he turned the VIP ward upside down and even controlled access as soon as they arrived, how could they not know?
Although they thought he was a late-manifesting Omega rather than a Hidden Omega, thanks to Evan giving them a heads-up beforehand, his parents wouldn’t be the ones to bring up that topic first.
Following his sister-in-law, even Evan extended his hand to Katie. Both of them indicated for Katie to come to them, but instead Katie nestled even more into Siwoo’s arms.
Dissatisfied about something, babbling burst from Katie’s mouth, who had only been smiling until just now.
As Evan’s hand came closer to him, Katie completely buried her small face in Siwoo’s shoulder. Then she swatted Evan’s approaching hand with her fern-like hand.
“Katie seems to like Siwoo too. What should we do? Our Evan has too many competitors.”
When his mother spoke mischievously, all the family members except Evan laughed quietly.
“I’m fine. I’ll hold her.”
Stroking the back of Katie, who clung tightly to him, Siwoo slightly swayed his body to soothe the child. Sensing the atmosphere that Siwoo would likely keep holding her, Katie peeked out her face that she had been hiding. Thanks to cute Katie, the time with Evan’s family wasn’t too difficult.
While waiting for their ordered food to come out, Siwoo touched the star decorations with Katie by the window and looked at the street. The child, who he initially thought was tiny and light, made his arms ache after holding her for quite a long time. But Siwoo enjoyed the time holding Katie.
Katie’s movements, which had been rustling in his arms, slowed down, but Siwoo didn’t notice.
“Give her here. She fell asleep.”
With the appetizing smell wafting over and the staff bustling about setting up the food, Siwoo looked up at Evan who had approached him. She played and fooled around just now, but fell asleep this quickly?
Siwoo’s lips gently touched the baby’s forehead as he lowered his head to check on Katie. Her big round eyes were beautifully closed, and he could only now hear her soft breathing sounds. Evan’s touch was careful as he took the sleeping Katie.
“…You’re the problem, Kim Siwoo.”
At Evan’s grumbling words as he took the child, Siwoo tilted his head. But he ended up smiling softly at his following words.
“Katie is an Alpha too. Hug me later. Longer than Katie.”
His mother was right. Evan was truly jealous in the strangest places.
