“Tae-yi… why did we come to a university hospital?”
Haram, who had never been to one before, was visibly overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the building.
“Let’s get you properly checked out. It’s okay, come on out.”
“I don’t want to…”
Even before entering, he could already see so many people milling around. He didn’t even want to imagine how crowded it must be inside. Tae-yi got out of the driver’s seat and opened the passenger door. As Haram let out a heavy sigh, Tae-yi held out his hand.
“Let’s go together. You’ll be fine.”
Haram stared at Tae-yi’s large hand, then finally reached out and took it as he stepped out of the car.
***
The sun had already set. After being dragged around all day, Haram felt like he’d gone through every test imaginable. With no time to worry about people staring, he underwent unfamiliar procedures for the first time in his life. Fortunately, he’d been spared from anything invasive like an endoscopy, which would’ve needed more mental preparation.
Tae-yi had stayed by his side the entire time, reassuring him throughout. But as the tests dragged on, Haram’s mind filled with all sorts of terrifying possibilities. After the last test, he followed Tae-yi into the consultation room and looked around the surprisingly spacious space.
So this is what a university hospital consultation room looks like… there’s even a couch.
“You must be exhausted.”
Tae-yi guided him to the large sofa in the middle of the room and asked in a concerned tone. Haram was tired, but Tae-yi must’ve been just as drained, having followed him around all day—and yet, his only concern was Haram.
“I’m okay. But when’s the doctor coming?”
“He’ll be here soon. Still feel any pain in your stomach?”
It still ached a little, but it had become familiar enough to be bearable. Haram replied that he was fine. Just then, the doctor walked in wearing a white coat, and Haram tensed up as he stared nervously at him. The middle-aged man took a small bow toward Tae-yi before looking at Haram and speaking.
“Well… I’m not sure how to put this…”
His hesitant tone made Haram hold his breath in confusion.
Don’t tell me… Is it something incurable? Am I… terminal?
“Please, it’s okay. Just tell us.”
As Haram trembled slightly, Tae-yi tapped the back of his hand and encouraged the doctor. Urged on, the doctor glanced back at Haram and finally said,
“I don’t know how this could’ve happened, but… it seems you’ve manifested as an Omega.”
Omega…? Manifested…?
Haram blinked rapidly, his wide eyes darting around the room as he tried to grasp what that meant.
He was told he was a Beta. Tae-yi too. So then…
“Wait, you mean… you’re an Omega?”
Tae-yi barely held back a laugh at Haram’s completely off-the-mark question, while the doctor stammered, flustered.
“What? N-no… that’s not what I meant…”
Unable to keep looking into those wide, innocent eyes, the doctor turned to Tae-yi instead.
“The patient, Da Haram, has manifested as an Omega.”
Tae-yi had already suspected it. It wasn’t a surprise—but he still had to stifle a grin, pressing his hand against his lips to hide it.
Da Haram… patient… Omega… manifested…?
“…What?”
Haram’s mind went completely blank.
I’m an Omega? But I’m a Beastfolk. I even have a tail!
He looked to Tae-yi, hoping he was just as shocked, only to find him hiding his mouth like he was suppressing laughter. Suddenly regaining his senses, Haram lifted his soft grey tail toward the doctor.
“But I’m a Beastfolk…”
The doctor looked at his tail and answered in a gentle voice, clearly sympathetic.
“Ah… This is a first for me too. But I’ve reviewed the results several times… and you…”
–are definitely an Omega.
The doctor’s voice echoed like a bell.
Omega…? Me?
Staring in disbelief, Haram slowly shook his head. And then—he shifted.
“Chrp, chrp…!”
‘ told you, I’m a Beastfolk!
Tae-yi calmly picked up Haram’s discarded clothes and underwear from the floor. Smiling as he watched the sky squirrel chittering atop the sofa’s armrest at the stunned doctor, he thought,
Da Haram, an Omega. Perfect.
“Chrp! Chrp!”
Look at this!
Haram climbed onto the sofa backrest and launched himself into the air. He spread his patagium wide and landed precisely on the small table in front of the couch. His eyes bore into the doctor, willing him to admit it was a mistake.
“…I’m very sorry.”
There was nothing to apologize for, but seeing the squirrel Beastfolk so clearly in shock, the doctor couldn’t bring himself to repeat the result again. Instead, he simply bowed his head in apology.
“Chrp, chrp…”
Tears welled up in Haram’s large eyes. The doctor hadn’t said what he wanted to hear. The absurdity of the situation overwhelmed him, and tears began to fall. Sniffling, Haram turned and climbed onto Tae-yi’s thigh.
“Chrp! Chrp!”
Let’s go to a different hospital!
“Calm down.”
“Chrp! Chrp!”
A different university hospital!
He was sorry to say it, but this doctor clearly got it wrong. How could he call someone who could fully shift into a Sky Squirrel an Omega? It was ridiculous. What did that make him—the world’s first Omega Beastfolk? That didn’t make any sense.
As Haram pulled and tugged insistently on Tae-yi’s shirt with his tiny paws, Tae-yi finally picked up both the squirrel and his clothes.
“Chrp! Chriik!”
Let’s go already!
Tugging repeatedly at his shirt, Haram looked utterly desperate.
“Okay, I got it. Calm down.”
Tae-yi spoke gently to Haram, who was stamping his tiny feet in a panic on his palm, then stepped out of the consultation room.
***
They went to every university hospital in Seoul that could perform Designation Tests. Four hospitals gave the same result. But Haram didn’t give up. He arrived at the fifth.
This was his identity—his very existence—at stake. Others might not understand why he was being so stubborn, but to Haram, whose sense of self as a Beastfolk was rock-solid, there was no quitting until the mistake was corrected.
Even though regular hours had long ended, with Tae-yi’s behind-the-scenes help, they were still able to get the test done just before dawn. Rather than return home, Haram was admitted into a VIP room at the hospital. But he had no time to admire the luxurious suite—he collapsed onto the patient bed, completely drained.
“They’ll have the results in the morning. Try to get some sleep.”
Tae-yi sat on the edge of the bed and gently patted Haram’s thin back as he cried into the pillow. At his kind touch, Haram lifted his head and looked up at him.
“Mm… thanks…”
Today, Tae-yi had stuck by him the entire time, comforted him, paid all the bills, and never once complained. He had treated this as if it were his own problem, even though it had nothing to do with him.
As drowsiness threatened to overtake him, Haram hurried to say one last thing before he forgot.
“The hospital bills… I’ll pay you back when I go back home…”
“Don’t worry about it. Just sleep. Don’t think about anything else.”
Even now, he’s worried about paying for the hospital? His little head must’ve been overflowing with stress. Once Tae-yi saw Haram’s eyes flutter closed and his breathing steady, he stopped patting and quietly left the room.
***
Outside the VIP room, Chief Yoon immediately approached Tae-yi.
“Postpone your dinner with Kang Tae-jin.”
He planned to spend the next few days comforting the emotionally devastated squirrel, helping him come to terms with being an Omega. Looking back, he was glad he’d lied about being a Beta. If Haram had known he was a Dominant Alpha, he would’ve freaked out and bolted. Not that Tae-yi would’ve let him get far.
As he observed Tae-yi’s small, amused smile, Chief Yoon cautiously asked,
“If Chairman Kang Tae-jin hears about this, won’t he try to use it somehow?”
Use it?
If Yoon was right, Tae-jin probably already knew. They hadn’t exactly kept a low profile—Tae-yi had taken Haram to multiple hospitals, completely out in the open. It was like announcing his weakness for the world to see.
“He’s probably already scheming.”
“…May I ask what you plan to do?”
“First, tighten security around the estate.”
With that brief command, Tae-yi casually fingered the cigarette pack in his pocket and asked,
“Professor Yoon’s still at this hospital, right?”
Yoon Ji-seok and Yoon Min-ho’s father—Professor Yoon Ji-hyuk—was an Epsilon Alpha Tae-yi had known since childhood.
“Yes, I already contacted him. He said he’ll come by in the morning.”
“No, I’ll go to him myself. Tell him I’ll be there to get the results.”
“Yes, understood.”
Once Chief Yoon left, Tae-yi walked the quiet halls where VIP rooms were spaced far apart. Out of nowhere, he let out a soft chuckle.
Omega Da Haram.
That face, that sinful body—and he was an Omega. It wasn’t that it was strange he was one. What was strange was that anyone had ever thought he wasn’t.
Tae-yi chuckled under his breath like a lunatic for a while before collecting himself and returning to Haram’s room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gently stroked the sleeping boy’s hair as he listened to his quiet breathing.
There was only so much he could do to comfort a shocked Da Haram. Just not congratulating him was already showing restraint.
As someone born a Dominant Alpha, Tae-yi had no reference point for this. He’d never experienced it and never would. It wasn’t something he could truly empathize with. He knew he’d have to spend the night figuring out what to say in the morning when the test results came back.
Still, the thought of Da Haram—now an Omega—seeking only him, crying only in his arms, needing only him…
That made it impossible to stop smiling.
Not just for the promised week—but for the rest of their lives.
