Despite several storms passing through, Suhwan’s surroundings were remarkably calm. This was because, on the surface, these matters had nothing to do with him. All sorts of events transpired and then settled down while Suhwan was on leave from the company.
Around the time HS’s new drug was treating the epidemic in Europe, Suhwan was preparing to be discharged from the hospital. Only after receiving all the tests conducted at the hospital and hearing the precautions about side effects to the point of memorization was he finally able to be discharged.
And Seunghyun refused to leave Suhwan’s side for even a moment. He was able to do this because his name was not officially registered on the list of researchers for the new drug made by HS. Jaehyun had tried to include Seunghyun’s name, but Seunghyun refused because it was unclear what repercussions might follow if a freshman college student was revealed to have participated as a researcher in developing a new drug. Jaehyun was disappointed but respected Seunghyun’s opinion.
Like being in the eye of a storm, while the surroundings were swept by gales, the two spent quite peaceful days. It all seemed distant—Hansung suffering from owner risk, Hwamyeong and HS joining hands.
Still, according to occasional direct news from Hwalyeon and Jaehyun, HS was scheduled to merge with Hwamyeong soon and become a bio-industry affiliate. HS’s eldest son, Jaehyun, like his father, had a researcher’s disposition without an owner’s talent. Since Seunghyun was the same, he seemed to have no complaints about it.
***
As winter passed and spring approached, Suhwan went out for the first time in a long while, heading somewhere. It was the café where he had first met Seunghyun.
[D.Clare]
“……”
Glancing at the now-familiar sign, Suhwan opened the door. Ding-dong, the familiar bell sound rang, and he entered the café with its warm atmosphere.
“Welcome.”
“Hello.”
Suhwan smiled with crescent eyes as he met the employee’s gaze. The employee no longer looked surprised or trembled at the sight of Suhwan. Like Suhwan, the employee watched him approach the counter with a bright smile.
“Are you alone today?”
“Today… I’m here to meet a friend.”
“I see. Oh, would you like to try our new menu item?”
“New menu?”
“Yes, it’s citrus-based, so I thought you might like it and wanted to recommend it.”
The employee added that it was highly recommended while shrugging their shoulders. Suhwan smiled and ordered the new menu item. He also handed over a credit card and a coupon card densely stamped.
“I’ll make it right away.”
“Thank you.”
Suhwan slightly bowed his head as he received his card and coupon back. While the employee was making the drink, he quickly looked around the small café. Someone was sitting alone in a corner seat, quietly drinking coffee.
After receiving his drink, Suhwan approached. The person sitting there stood up abruptly upon seeing Suhwan.
“…Suhwan.”
Heeyoung looked at Suhwan with wide eyes. Suhwan, too, saw her and smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes… it has been a while.”
Heeyoung nodded glumly and sat down facing Suhwan. In front of her was a mug containing black Americano. Suhwan sat down across from her and placed his drink, elaborately topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips, on the table.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes. …And you?”
“I’ve been well too.”
“Really?”
Heeyoung had an anxious expression. Moreover, she looked pale and gaunt. Under the excuse of being busy, Suhwan hadn’t reported anything to Heeyoung, the original author, and he only now remembered. Suhwan finally felt a bit sorry. I should have contacted her at least.
“Really. I imprinted with Seunghyun.”
“Ah, imprinting.”
So that method existed. Heeyoung’s eyes widened. Since she hadn’t thought Seunghyun and Suhwan would end up together in the omegaverse novel, she hadn’t imagined it, but the two, being an omega and an alpha, could imprint if the timing was right. And by doing so, there was a high chance that Seunghyun would return to his senses. But… Heeyoung asked, still not completely relieved of her worries.
“Was it really resolved that way? Seeing you out like this, it seems to have worked out.”
“Yes, really. You don’t need to worry anymore.”
The real problem lay elsewhere. Suhwan took a sip of his drink and lowered his eyes. Heeyoung, looking at the hesitant Suhwan with puzzled eyes, asked again.
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
“Well, you see.”
Suhwan raised his head and shared the problem he was currently facing. The hospital had already made a definitive diagnosis. Suhwan, while being an alpha, had become capable of getting pregnant. If this were officially announced, it would be enough to turn the academic field studying gender traits upside down, so Hwalyeon was thoroughly silencing all those involved.
But Suhwan had also been diagnosed with no other abnormalities in his body. Suhwan simply wanted to know if this had anything to do with Heeyoung, the original author.
And hearing this, Heeyoung’s eyes rounded. Inarticulate sounds flowed from her open mouth. It meant that even Heeyoung, the original author, hadn’t anticipated this.
“What is this…?”
“Ah, so you didn’t know either.”
“Is it true? Really… you…?”
“Yes.”
“……”
Heeyoung stared at Suhwan, at a loss for words. Her hand holding the mug trembled slightly. It was a look of great surprise, as even Heeyoung hadn’t anticipated such a development.
“Well… that was your original position, but to think something like this would actually happen.”
“What?”
Suhwan asked in surprise at Heeyoung’s soft mumbling.
I was stunned. Even in the original world, Suhwan was taller and bigger than Seunghyun. Due to stress, Seunghyun rarely ate and was skinny, making the difference even more pronounced. So why, from the beginning, was his position the bottom? Suhwan felt wronged belatedly.
“Why on earth? I’m bigger than Seunghyun, and even my appearance…”
Though his current alpha-manifested body was larger, Suhwan in the original world was also big compared to his peers. Though his face was gentler back then, his overall appearance wasn’t that different from now. He simply couldn’t understand why Heeyoung had set it up that way.
Heeyoung, noticing Suhwan’s thoughts, smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry. I like the beautiful-top, handsome-bottom combination.”
“…?”
What’s that? Since Suhwan didn’t know any knowledge that wasn’t mentioned in the novel or wasn’t retained in his memory, he couldn’t fully understand what Heeyoung meant.
“Anyway, I’m glad everything worked out well in the end.”
“…That’s true.”
Suhwan nodded at Heeyoung’s obvious attempt to change the subject.
Although some problems had occurred, he had successfully imprinted with Seunghyun and brought him back to normal. The villain Hansung had fallen, and Hwamyeong and HS were thriving. Despite various incidents, it was close to a happy ending.
“Even though I didn’t have my previous memories, I think I managed well because the novel’s content was in my head.”
“Maybe it was like a cheat key?”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Heeyoung seemed surprised that Suhwan knew the novel’s content. Perhaps this omegaverse world had left the original novel’s content as a cheat key when manifesting Suhwan. Thanks to that, his inexperienced self was able to navigate through difficult paths. Suhwan sighed and smiled emptily, recalling past events.
“By the way, don’t you need to go back?”
After talking about various things and almost finishing their drinks, Suhwan carefully asked.
He had chosen not to return because he couldn’t abandon the current Seunghyun, but that wasn’t the case for Heeyoung. If anything, she probably wanted to return to her original world, and he worried that she might have stayed because of him. But when he cautiously asked, Heeyoung answered nonchalantly.
“No, it wasn’t a very good life anyway.”
“Ah… I see.”
Was it okay to ask about her circumstances? Suhwan wasn’t sure. As he quietly stirred the whipped cream with his straw, Heeyoung gave a faint smile.
“After you graduate, have Seunghyun make a spot for me in his research lab. That would be enough compensation, I think.”
Kwon Heeyoung was an extra whose name had barely appeared a few times, but she was a character with a sweet deal. She became younger, and was at a prestigious university’s pharmacy department. It felt like winning the lottery. Of course, if Suhwan had wanted to go back, she would have had to return too.
“Got it. Trust me.”
“Hehe, okay.”
When Suhwan answered with visible joy, Heeyoung finally smiled brightly.
“And, I’m fine with everything as long as you’re happy.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
“Sorry. I like the beautiful-top, handsome-bottom combination.” Same.