I GUESS you can say that I'm an Omega in an Alpha-dominated field.
Lee Haneum might be biased against Alphas.
But, as an Omega, he couldn't count how many times he had been harassed by Alphas. So, no one could blame him for seeing Alphas poorly.
Yes, he fit the stereotype for male Omegas: beautiful, petite, delicate-looking.
It didn't help that he had the scent of fresh, fragrant flowers.
Alphas get crazy over my scent, especially when I'm in heat.
But that didn't mean those Alphas had the right to harass him.
Haneum manifested his Secondary Gender at the tender age of 12.
Hence, he had been dealing with shitty and perverted Alphas since then.
Not even counting the shit I had to go through with my dysfunctional family.
That was probably why he was already jaded and bitter when he reached adulthood.
I was only 19 years old when I gave up on life.
Haneum didn't know if it was fortunate or unfortunate, but that was when he met Koo Mujin— his now-husband.
My hubby is a Dominant Alpha.
Koo Mujin was your 'typical' Alpha: tall, handsome, built like a double-door refrigerator, and very rich. But his husband's personality was very different from the 'typical' Alpha in the same position.
Most Alphas, especially the rich and powerful, were jerks who believed that Omegas were their living sex toys.
But Koo Mujin wasn't like that.
My hubby is what people would call the 'golden retriever' type.
Haneum was actually the toxic one between the two of them.
In fact, they only got married because he baby-trapped the Alpha.
And that's why I claimed that I'm an Omega in an Alpha-dominated field. Usually, it's the Alpha who has a breeding kink. Most Alphas would get the Omega they wanted pregnant, so that the Omega would be forced to stay with them.
But, in Haneum's case, it was him who baby-trapped Koo Mujin.
"Haneum-ah?"
Hmm?
"Good morning, honey."
Pfft.
Haneum smiled when Koo Mujin's handsome face greeted him as soon as he opened his eyes.
Yes, him reminiscing about his life was him dreaming about it.
"Happy birthday."
Aww.
Haneum closed his eyes when Koo Mujin gave him a light peck on the lips.
Yes, today was his 33rd birthday.
Ah, so old.
It's probably why I'm being nostalgic.
"I wanted to let you sleep more, but you looked like you were having a bad dream," Koo Mujin said worriedly, lying down next to Haneum. His husband let him use his arm as a pillow. "You were muttering incoherently, and you had a knot on your forehead. Did you have a nightmare?"
Nightmare, huh?
"I wouldn't say it was a bad dream, but it's something that I regret even now," Haneum said softly while looking at Koo Mujin's handsome face. "I dreamed about the time when I baby-trapped you, Mujin-ah."
"Hey, don't talk like that."
"It's true, though. I asked you to help me with my heat. As a kind-hearted schoolmate, you actually wanted to bring me home. But I seduced you. Not only that— I also lied and said I was on birth control."
"Even if you had lied back then, I still should have been more careful," Koo Mujin said, his face suddenly turning red as if he were embarrassed. "I should have brought a condom with me…"
Aigoo.
"Why would a virgin, who was neither committed nor looking for a relationship, carry a condom with him?"
"All Alphas were taught at a young age to carry one, just in case, you know," Koo Mujin said defensively, obviously embarrassed. "Why are you teasing me for being a virgin back then when you were also one? We conceived our Hajin that night because both of us were clueless about knotting."
Pfft.
Right, it wasn't easy for Omegas— especially for male Omegas— to get pregnant.
An Alpha should knot them first.
And for the knotting to happen, the Omega must be in their heat and the Alpha in their rut at the same time.
Yep, we met those conditions— that's why I got pregnant right away.
"Plus, I was stupid for not realizing that I was having my rut back then," Koo Mujin said bluntly. "I just thought I was being extra horny that night because you were my type."
Haneum burst out laughing. "Mujin-ah, why are you trying so hard to justify my evil scheme when I put it out in the open from the very beginning?"
***
[14 years ago…]
Haneum, 19 years old, a freshman at the prestigious Yonhee University (Korean Literature Department), Omega, and now two weeks pregnant.
Yep, a male Omega like him could give birth.
Good job, Lee Haneum— you got knocked up when your second semester in uni had just started.
He wasn't being sarcastic.
I'm seriously proud of myself for getting pregnant with a rich Alpha's baby.
It was supposed to be just a one-night stand.
A little over two weeks ago, the Korean Literature Department had a joint party with the Business Administration Department.
That was how Haneum met Koo Mujin— an Alpha the same age as him.
For some reason, he suddenly got his heat that night.
He sneaked out of the party, only to almost faint on a stranger.
That stranger was none other than Koo Mujin.
There was no way Haneum wouldn't recognize the most popular Alpha in the university— Koo Mujin: handsome, tall, sexy, and most of all, very rich.
That was why he seduced the Alpha on purpose.
It seemed like his heat triggered his rut, and so they ended up in a hotel.
And here I am now— waiting at a café for Koo Mujin.
"Haneum-ah, sorry!"
Oh.
He actually showed up.
Haneum heard Koo Mujin's cheerful voice when the Alpha entered the café, but he pretended not to hear him.
He kept his head hanging low, checking his conscience one last time.
Can I really do this?
Actually, Haneum left the hotel room first after spending a passionate night with Koo Mujin.
For the past two weeks, the two of them never really met because they were from different departments.
Well, I would catch a glimpse of him from time to time, but I avoided him on purpose.
Anyway, when he found out that he was pregnant, only then did he ask his classmates for Koo Mujin's number.
He's such a social butterfly that almost everyone has his number— except for me.
He was trying to be 'different,' after all.
"Sorry, I'm late."
When Haneum looked up, he was momentarily blinded by Koo Mujin's bright smile.
This Alpha is really handsome.
And, even though Koo Mujin wore their university jacket as most students did, the Alpha still stood out.
Who can ignore that face and body?
Koo Mujin was especially sexier without his clothes on…
Okay, that's enough, Lee Haneum.
"It's alright," Haneum said when he regained his composure, and then he politely pointed at the chair across from him. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of ordering a drink for you. Iced coffee is fine, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's fine," Koo Mujin said. "Thank you. How much do I owe you?"
"That depends on whether we decide to keep the baby or not. Abortion is cheaper than raising a kid, after all."
"Excuse me?"
"Mujin-ah, I'm pregnant."
Koo Mujin looked shocked by Haneum's revelation.
"Obviously, I'm telling you about my pregnancy because you're the father of my baby."
Koo Mujin gasped. "Is it… because of that… n-night?"
Haneum nodded. "Yes, we conceived the baby that night. I can show you the pregnancy test kit that I used."
"It's not that I'm doubting you, but have you gone to the hospital for a proper check-up?"
"Health insurance is expensive for male Omegas, so I don't have it. I'm too broke to go to the hospital."
To be fair, for normal people, the health insurance for male Omegas was affordable.
But Haneum was broke as hell.
He managed to get into Yonhee University on a full scholarship. Yes, he also had a monthly stipend from the government.
But that wasn't enough for his living expenses, especially since he was renting a studio apartment. Unfortunately, he confirmed his enrollment late. Hence, the dormitory was already full when he officially enrolled.
I actually almost didn't get to enroll because of my shitty family.
"Let's go to the hospital, Haneum-ah— I'll pay for everything."
"Okay."
Haneum rode Koo Mujin's expensive foreign car on their way to the hospital.
It didn't take long before the doctor confirmed that he was pregnant.
After that, the two of them returned to the Alpha's car.
"I'm sorry, I lied to you when I said I was on birth control," Haneum admitted. Despite his cynical personality, he still had a little bit of conscience left in his icy heart. "I didn't want you to leave to buy condoms because it would have ruined the mood. That's why I lied. I'm sorry."
"No, it's not just your fault," Koo Mujin said while shaking his head. "It should have been my responsibility to prepare condoms. I should have bought them before we went to the hotel. But I was too horny to think straight that night."
Pfft.
This Alpha is ridiculously honest.
"Mujin-ah, whether we decide to abort the child or not, I'll need you to support me financially," Haneum said. He wasn't embarrassed because he had long thrown away his pride. A poor person like him couldn't afford to be proud when his stomach was growling. "I'm broke as hell, so I'll use this opportunity to leech off you. If you want to keep the baby, then I'll risk my life to give birth to the baby. But I want a contract that says you'll give child support. And if you want to get rid of the baby, then please pay for my silence."
Koo Mujin was very rich, according to the rumors that he had heard.
And what kind of freshman drives a foreign luxury car?
"Haneum-ah."
"I know I'm acting like a gold digger, but I'm serious. It's okay if you're disappointed, and I really don't care if you're disgusted with me now. But—"
"I'll take responsibility, Haneum-ah."
Whew.
"Good. Then let's discuss how much—"
"Let's get married, Lee Haneum."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm asking you to marry me and build a family with me, Haneum-ah."
"Are you serious? We're only 19!"
"And the law already considers us as adults, so we can get married even without parental consent."
"C-Can you provide for me and our future child without depending on your parents?"
"I actually have my own money. I invested the inheritance I got from my grandfather, and I'm already earning from those investments," Koo Mujin said casually (and confidently). "Don't worry, Haneum-ah. Once we get married, you'll never experience hardships again. I'll give you the comfortable life that you deserve."
Haneum gasped at the tempting promise. "That's the best marriage proposal I've heard…"
To be honest, he was just planning to use his pregnancy to rip off Koo Mujin for a huge amount of money once.
But marrying the Alpha actually sounded like a better idea.
Baby trapping a rich and naïve Alpha should be easy.
"Alright, let's get married," Haneum said determinedly. "But I want a written contract that states you're giving me alimony if ever we divorce in the future."
Koo Mujin nodded. "Do you want to have a wedding ceremony?"
"I'd prefer it if we just registered our marriage."
"Are you sure? Then what would your family think…?"
"I don't have a family."
"Oh."
"Do you think your family would agree to this marriage?"
"Well, I'm the youngest in the family, so I practically have everyone wrapped around my fingers," Koo Mujin said, grinning like the fool that he was. "They might insist on us having a wedding ceremony, but I can convince them to make it a solemn one where only family members are invited."
Seeing the Alpha smile so brightly made Haneum realize something.
"Mujin-ah, you like your family."
"I do."
Oh.
At that moment, Haneum promised himself that he wouldn't tell Koo Mujin about his shitty family.
I'll lie if I have to.
Anyway, who would have thought their marriage would last 14 years?
***
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Appa!"
Aww.
Haneum smiled widely when Koo Hajin, his beautiful son, greeted him.
Not only did his baby greet him— he did it while holding what seemed like a three-tier birthday cake.
Yes, it looked like a cake, but it wasn't.
"As per our family tradition, Abeoji and I made your favorite steak cake," Koo Hajin said proudly. "We went all out and made a three-tier cake to celebrate your 33rd birthday, Appa."
Aigoo.
Did my baby have to remind me of my age?
To be fair, 33 was still young— especially for someone like him, who already had a teenage son.
Koo Hajin would turn 13 years old in two months.
Well, I gave birth to him when I was only 20.
"We use your favorite steak cuts, Appa," Koo Hajin, who had expressed his love for cooking since he was 5 years old, explained excitedly. "This steak cake is made using layers of ribeye, strip steak, and sirloin as the base. Then, we use smooth, buttery mashed potatoes as frosting in between layers and on the surface. Finally, we decorated the steak cake with bacon, salami roses, sprigs of rosemary, and a sprinkle of green onions."
Aww.
Haneum smiled, almost getting teary-eyed. "It's a beautiful steak cake. Thank you, baby."
Koo Hajin rolled his eyes. "Appa, I'm no longer a baby. I'm almost as tall as you now."
That was true.
Koo Hajin was only 13 years old, but he was already 172 centimeters tall.
And Haneum was 175 centimeters tall at 33.
But he wasn't surprised that his son was already that tall.
After all, Koo Mujin was 193 centimeters tall.
Apparently, Mujin was taller than Koo Hajin when he was around our son's age.
Which wasn't surprising because Koo Mujin's parents and sisters were also very tall.
Well, they're all Alphas.
"Appa, I think I'll grow taller than you on my birthday two months from now."
"Even if you grow taller than me, you're still going to be my baby," Haneum said, gently squeezing Koo Hajin's cheeks. "So, stop acting like a grown man."
"But Abeoji said I'm already a real man when I manifested as an Alpha last year," Koo Hajin complained while pouting. "I'm an Alpha, so I'm more mature than my peers."
"No, you're not."
"Abeoji said so," Koo Hajin insisted, and then his gaze went past Haneum. "Right, Abeoji?"
Haneum looked over his shoulder and saw Koo Mujin entering the dining hall.
The Alpha stopped, and then he looked back and forth between Haneum and Koo Hajin nervously.
Aigoo.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure you're wrong, Hajinnie," Koo Mujin said. "Your appa is always right."
Pfft.
"Ah, seriously, Abeoji…!"
"I'm sorry, son," Koo Mujin said teasingly, hugging Haneum from behind. "But I will always take your appa's side. He's my husband, after all. Once you find your own partner in the future, then you'll have someone who'll stick with you all the time."
Koo Hajin just rolled his eyes, already used to his Alpha father's silly antics and cringey lines.
Then their son excused himself to place the steak cake on the table.
"Honey, my parents and sisters called," Koo Mujin said. "They want us to video call them later. Is that alright with you?"
"Of course."
Haneum liked celebrating his birthday with only Koo Mujin and Koo Hajin.
But that didn't mean he hated it when other people celebrated his birthday.
In fact, we've already set a birthday dinner party with Mujin's family. I simply want to celebrate my special day with my husband and son.
"Let's call them after I give you my birthday gift, honey."
"Your gifts never fail to surprise me all the time, Mujin-ah," Haneum said, smiling because he was really looking forward to his husband's birthday gift this year. "I can't wait to unwrap it."
"You'll love it, honey," Koo Mujin promised. "Hajin and I really looked hard for our present for you."
They 'looked' hard for the gift?
Now that got Haneum excited, his hopes soaring high.
Could it be the limited-edition 'capybara' jacket that I've been looking for?
***
THEY really had to cover my eyes with a blindfold, huh?
Haneum couldn't help but smile while Koo Mujin and Koo Hajin were guiding him to the garden.
After their dinner, his husband and son ushered him outside for a surprise.
"We're here, honey," Koo Mujin said excitedly. "Honey, are you ready?"
Haneum smiled and nodded. "I'm ready, Mujin-ah."
"Then we'll remove your blindfold now," Koo Mujin said. "Son?"
"Yes, Abeoji— I'm on it."
It was probably Koo Hajin who removed Haneum's blindfold.
Now let's see what my husband and son prepared for me.
Haneum slowly opened his eyes, still smiling.
But that smile quickly disappeared when he saw the old woman standing in front of him.
It had been over a decade since he last saw that person, but he couldn't mistake her for someone else.
Kim Youngji.
"Mother…?"
Yes, that old woman was Haneum's biological mother— and the person he hated most in the world.
What is she doing here?
"Haneum-ah…!"
When Kim Youngji smiled and walked towards him, Haneum finally snapped out of his shock.
He was no longer shocked, but he felt like having a panic attack.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME, YOU OLD HAG!"
Haneum yelled at the top of his lungs, shocking both Koo Mujin and Koo Hajin.
Kim Youngji, on the other hand, froze on the spot— the smile on her face disappearing instantly as if her mask had slipped off.
That cold look…
Blergh!
Haneum, who suddenly felt like throwing up, immediately turned his back on Kim Youngji and ran back inside the mansion.
"Honey!"
"Appa!"
Haneum ignored both Koo Mujin and Koo Hajin.
He was angry.
Disgusted.
Extremely disappointed.
How could they do this to me?
***
HANEUM calmed down— as well as his stomach— when he got to their bedroom.
So, instead of running to the bathroom, he just grabbed his wallet and car key.
"Honey, where are you going?" Koo Mujin, who followed him, looked shocked after seeing him grab his wallet and car key. "Can we talk first?"
"Why did you bring that woman here, Koo Mujin?"
"Because she's your mother," Koo Mujin explained, obviously confused by Haneum's reaction. "You told me that you and your mother drifted apart when she remarried."
Ah, right.
Haneum couldn't help but smile bitterly.
That was the tamed version of his life story that he shared with his husband.
"And when I asked you if you missed your mother now that you have a child of your own, you said it would be nice to see her even once."
Hah.
"I only said that because I wanted you to stop talking about my mother," Haneum said sternly, his patience already running out. Admittedly, he knew it was his fault because he never shared what really happened between him and his mother with his husband. Even so… "Plus, I never asked you to look for her. If I really wanted her back in my life, then I would have searched for her a long time ago! Why did you have to do something so unnecessary?"
Koo Mujin still looked confused, but this time, guilt crossed his eyes. "I'm sorry, honey. I thought I was doing something nice for you. After all, I thought that despite everything, she's still your mother…"
Haneum laughed bitterly. "She's still my mother, huh? Of course, someone who grew up with a loving family would say that."
He didn't mean to take a jab at Koo Mujin, but he was too bitter not to.
But the Alpha didn't react negatively.
Sometimes, I hate how Koo Mujin can remain composed at times like this.
"Haneum-ah, tell me," Koo Mujin said calmly. "What did your mother do for you to get this mad at her?"
"If it were that easy to share my story with you, I wouldn't have kept it a secret from you for 14 years, Koo Mujin," Haneum said, his smile turning from bitter to sad. "I do feel guilty that I couldn't tell you the truth, but I don't know how— you'd only understand if you were there with me at the lowest point of my life."
***
HANEUM left the house despite Koo Mujin and Koo Hajin's pleas.
Of course, that didn't mean his husband stayed at home after he left.
In fact, he could see Koo Mujin's car from his rearview mirror.
He wasn't surprised that his husband followed him.
I hope he didn't leave our son with that old hag.
Haneum wanted to call Koo Hajin and warn him not to talk to Kim Youngji, but he couldn't because he was driving. He was already spacing out, so he couldn't afford to get more distracted than he already was.
Just when I thought I was living a good life, that old hag had to show up and ruin me again.
Two years after Haneum gave birth to Koo Hajin, he returned to school and finished his degree.
It was easy to do that because his husband could afford nannies for their son.
Finding a job wasn't hard after he graduated either.
Koo Mujin's family owned Konekt Corporation— the biggest internet conglomerate in South Korea.
Being married to Koo Mujin meant having connections to influential people.
Hence, Haneum didn't have a hard time launching his career as a screenwriter.
But it wasn't just his connections that led to his success, of course.
All the romantic comedy series that he had written became a hit.
It's because I'm talented— I'm a good writer.
During the first three years of his career, his series were only popular domestically. However, for the last five years, his recent series had tasted global success.
He was actually financially stable now, even without his husband's money.
That was how successful Haneum was.
His life was supposed to be perfect now.
But that old hag…
Haneum glanced at the rearview mirror, glaring at Koo Mujin's car that was still following behind him.
The road to hell is really paved with good intentions, huh?
"Mujin-ah, you have a wonderful family. I thought I shouldn't ruin the meaning of family for you, and that's why I didn't tell you my life story," Haneum whispered to himself, forcing himself to smile while tears rolled down his cheeks. "Maybe if we had met in high school, we'd understand each other better…"
He trailed off when a blinding light hit his eyes, causing him to shut them tightly.
Then it was followed by a loud honking.
Shit!
Haneum belatedly realized that a white truck had hit the side of his car.
Ah, what a shitty birthday.
***
TO SAY that Koo Mujin's heart dropped to the floor when he saw Lee Haneum's car being hit by a white truck would be an understatement.
Haneum-ah!
He immediately pulled over and got out of the car.
But when he was about to run to his husband, a blinding light that came out of nowhere suddenly hit his eyes— causing them to shut them tight.
However, despite his eyes closed, he didn't stop walking towards Lee Haneum's car.
"Haneum-ah!"
"Why the hell is this kid yelling?"
What?
That voice…
Koo Mujin immediately opened his eyes.
And, much to his shock, the person who greeted him was Koo Mido— his oldest sister.
But how?
Is this a dream?
"What are you doing here, Koo Mido?"
"What did you just call me?!" Koo Mido yelled, and then she started hitting Koo Mujin's back. "How dare you call me by my name?! Do you need a reminder of who's the boss here, huh? You rude brat!"
"Oh, come on, Noona!" Koo Mujin complained. His oldest sister was an Alpha, hence she was stronger than average women. "Stop calling me 'brat!' I'm already a married man with a kid!"
Finally, Koo Mido stopped beating him…
… and then his oldest sister suddenly laughed out loud.
"Koo Mujin, are you still dreaming?" Koo Mido asked, clutching her stomach while still laughing nonstop. "Who would marry an 18-year-old brat like you, who couldn't even wear his school uniform properly?"
What?
School uniform?
Koo Mujin looked down at his clothes, only to be shocked to see that he was really wearing a school uniform— but it wasn't the high school that he had gone to.
Even so, the logo attached to the uniform was familiar.
Sowoon High School…?
Koo Mujin gasped when he remembered where he had seen that school name before.
It was the high school where Lee Haneum graduated!
Was he dreaming, or…
Did I go back in time?
***
Please ADD