The school halls were worse than any battlefield.
Whispers followed me wherever I went, eyes sharp with judgment, laughter cutting deeper than any lash from Father.
"Crying again, little Omega?" sneered one of the bigger Alphas, shoving past me.
"I heard he got beaten by his parents last night. Look at him—still trembling!" another jeered.
I kept my head down, my bag clutched tight. My chest felt tight, my back still burning from the pain of yesterday.
"Pathetic," someone muttered behind me. "Does he even know how to be an Omega?"
Class was no different. Every glance, every giggle, every whispered word was another punch to my chest.
By lunch, I couldn't sit anywhere. Every table was filled with judgment, cruel eyes, sharp tongues. I slipped out, wandering into the garden, seeking silence.
But there was none. The whispers followed. Even alone, I felt their eyes on me, judging me, laughing at me.
I pressed my hands over my ears. "I… I can't…" I whispered, my voice cracking. "I can't take it anymore…"
I wanted to disappear. I wanted to vanish. I wanted the world to stop hurting me.
"A spoiled rich omega."
I can't take this anymore.
I ran home. My pure suffering.
During Dinner.
The dining room smelled of food, polished wood, and cold authority. But it wasn't comforting. Not at all.
I slid into my chair, hands trembling as I picked up my fork. The soup in front of me blurred; I didn't taste it.
Mother sipped her tea, eyes sharp, calculating. "Did school finally break you today, Woo-jin? Or are you still the same weak little Omega?"
I swallowed hard. "I… I just tried to… stay out of trouble," I whispered.
Father slammed his knife onto the plate. "Trouble? You've done nothing but bring shame to this family! Every day, you show your weakness. Every day, you make us look ridiculous."
I flinched. "I… I'm sorry…"
"Sorry?" Mother's voice was smooth but venomous. "Sorry won't fix your failures. You act innocent, delicate… yet everyone sees how pathetic you are. You're weak. Worthless. A disgrace."
I pressed my hands to my face, trying to block the words, but they cut deeper than any lash.
Father leaned forward, voice low and dangerous. "Do you know what? You'd be better off dead. Truly. The world would be cleaner without someone like you… without a trembling little Omega embarrassing this house."
I froze. The words echoed in my head. Better off dead. The sentence hit me harder than any strap, sharper than any insult at school.
Mother's lips curled slightly. "Exactly. You're a liability, Woo-jin. Nothing more. Nothing will ever change that. The world doesn't need Omegas like you… and neither do we."
"I… I… I'm nothing," I whispered, trembling, my fork dropping onto the plate with a clatter. My chest ached, my stomach twisted, and tears blurred my vision.
Father's eyes bored into mine. "Exactly. Accept it. You're worthless. Stop pretending you matter. You don't."
Mother reached out a hand, but not to comfort — to gesture coldly at me. "Eat. Or don't. It doesn't matter. Just remember your place, Woo-jin. Always remember it. You're nothing. A stain. A failure. Better off gone."
I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I just pressed my forehead to the table, sobs shaking my body silently.
"I… I wish I didn't exist," I whispered to the empty room. "I wish… I could just disappear…"
And in that moment, I realized there was no refuge anywhere.
No warmth. No safety.
No one who would ever care.
I was alone. Truly, completely, utterly alone.
The Next day.
The hallway felt like I inhaled gasoline. Every step was heavier than the last.
"Look who it is—the rich little spoiled Omega. Bet he cries at everything."
"They say he's such a weakling, even his own parents think he's worthless. Better off dead, they say."
I didn't answer. I couldn't. Every word stabbed at my chest, every laugh hammered through my head.
By the time I reached the school roof, my legs were trembling, my chest tight, and my hands shaking. The wind whipped around me, but it felt nothing compared to the storm in my heart.
No one cared. Not my classmates, who mocked me every day. Not my parents, who said I was better off dead. Not anyone.
I climbed the edge slowly, eyes fixed on the ground far below. My vision blurred with tears, and my heart pounded in a way that was almost unbearable.
"Maybe… maybe they're right," I whispered. "Maybe I should just… disappear."
I closed my eyes. The edge of the roof was cold beneath my fingers. My stomach twisted. My body trembled.
I thought of school. The cruel laughter. The whispers.
"Pathetic."
"Spoiled brat."
"Better off dead."
I thought of home. The dining table. My parents' words are like knives in my back.
"You're worthless."
"Better off gone."
"A stain on the family."
I felt hollow. Empty. Invisible.
I took a shaky step forward.
And then… a voice.
"Stop."
It was calm. Low. But it cut through the chaos in my mind like fire.
I froze. My heart leapt. My legs stiffened.
I opened my eyes.
He was there. Standing a few feet behind me, arms crossed, eyes sharp but steady. Dae-hyun.
"You don't get to do this," he said quietly, but firmly. "Not like this. Not alone. Not ever."
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. "You won't get it."
He took a step closer, still careful, still controlled. "Then make me understand. Don't throw yourself away before anyone even sees who you really are."
I pressed my forehead to my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm… I'm nothing… worthless… everyone says I'm useless… spoiled… better off dead…"
His voice softened slightly, but remained steady. "I see you. I see everything. And I won't let you do this."
I wanted to speak. I wanted to say something. Anything.
But no words came.
I stayed frozen, silent, trembling, unable to move, unable to respond.
Woah. Someone was here.
Someone saw me.
Someone stopped me.
But I couldn't find my voice.
The wind tore at my uniform, but it barely registered. My chest heaved, my hands trembling on the cold ledge.
"Step back, Woo-jin," Dae-hyun's voice cut through the roaring in my ears.
I shook my head violently, my tears mixing with the wind. "No! I… I'm done! I… I can't—"
I leaned forward slightly, letting the void call to me. The dizzying height felt like freedom, like peace.
"Stop it!" Dae-hyun's arms were suddenly around me, gripping me tightly. I gasped but pushed against him. "Let me go!"
"Never," he said firmly. "Not like this. You're not leaving!"
I struggled, flailing, desperate. "I… I don't care! I… I'm worthless! No one… no one cares!"
I tried to push him away, to shove him off, to jump again—but his grip was iron. He pulled me back from the edge as I thrashed, refusing to listen, refusing to live.
Then I stepped onto his shoes and proceeded to die but again he stopped me.
"Woo-jin! Stop it! Listen to me!" Dae-hyun's voice was sharp, almost desperate. "I won't let you do this! You're staying here!"
I screamed, struggling harder, my body shaking violently. "No! I… I want… I want to go!" I leaned forward again, trying to slip from his arms.
He tightened his hold, muscles straining, his eyes blazing. "I don't care if you try a hundred times! I'll catch you every single time! You hear me? Every single time!"
I sobbed, pounding my fists against his chest, trying again to break free. "I… I'm… nothing! I… I don't… care!"
"You're not nothing!" His voice was harsh but steady. "You're alive. And I won't let you throw your life away. Not now. Not ever."
I struggled again, pushing him with all my strength, leaning toward the void—but it didn't work. His arms didn't budge. His grip didn't weaken.
I gasped, shaking violently, and finally, something broke inside me. My body went limp, trembling uncontrollably. I stayed silent, still trying, still fighting the world—and him—but the strength to leave… wasn't enough.
Dae-hyun held me close, steady, unyielding. "I won't let you die. Not like this. Not alone. Ever."
I buried my face into his chest, silent, sobbing, my body shivering violently. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to jump. But I couldn't.
And still, the darkness inside me whispered: Try again… they don't care… you're worthless…
But he wouldn't let me.
Not this time.