บท 11: World Crumbling 2

'Wono-yah… time to wake up…' he feels a soft pat on his shoulders and opens his eyes slightly, staring at the man in front of him. Haneul has already washed his face it seems, his face looking healthy as ever. 'Breakfast is coming in 15 minutes. You should wash up.'

Standing up is a bit of a struggle, Haneul had to support him up, but the walking of a mere distance to the washroom ruined his whole day. He cannot walk. He had to take small steps while being supported all the way to the sink and back.

It does not hurt but he knows it is because of the pain killer.

And the liquid food that came a few minutes later confirms his suspicion.

He is broken so badly. His body used and trashed.

Wonho eats the food in silence. He would rather eat alone but Haneul refuses to leave his side and he can guess why. Because Haneul had been through something similar. And wants to 'help' him get through this.

Wonho does not need all that. He does not need Haneul there to constantly remind him of his new reality. He already accepted it. He feels fine. Just a bit sick. Because of the bruises left from that night but other than that he is fine. He woke up, he even cried, and now he feels better. No suicidal thoughts or anything. 'Why are you here?'

'Looking out for you.' he looks at Wonho. They are not that close so it is only fair that the younger would wonder why. 'In place of Cheollie. He ordered me to be here and I'll be dead if I got back when you're still hospitalized.' The older male laughs and Wonho smiles bitterly.

Sangcheol. He remembers the man trying to tell him to leave the bar so many times, but he had to be so hardheaded and egoistic enough to ignore him. And this happened because he didn't listen when he should have.

Sangcheol probably hates him now.

After all his efforts and warnings goes to waste. Chansol too… his junior. They can no longer hang out together now that he is an omega. They can no longer hang out like they used to because of what he became. He broke their pack.

Feeling himself getting depressed from the thoughts, Wonho decides not to continue the talk any further. He just wants to get better and go home now. Away from campus. Away from all of this. He looks around for anything fun to do and notices the few books on his bedside table. He takes one - his favourite, and starts to flip through the pages in hope that Haneul will leave him in peace. Which he does.

'Wono-yah, do you notice my scent?' Haneul speaks after a while. He is eyeing Wonho curiously, but gently.

'Yeah. You smell nice.' He answers simply, avoiding the subject. This is about him becoming an omega. He does not want to talk about this.

'What do I smell like?' Haneul continues asking, not really pushing which Wonho appreciates. The older omega uses a citrus type of shampoo but only him and other betas can smell that.

'Like some flower. I don't know flowers.' Wonho replies and Haneul nods, satisfied. His omega scent is indeed lavendar-type. Although he knows Wonho had just became an omega, he really wants to confirm it again hence the question. Because it is still hard to process his transformation at 21 years old. Almost half a decade later than the average person.

They talked to the doctors and it seems, although it is not unusual for someone to present as an omega later than others, even the experts never met someone who gave out so much scent on their first day. And they never actually met a real force-marked victim, in the sense that the omega is not able to handle the marking.

Wonho's body rejected the bonding process because he cannot control his own pheromones yet to exchange them, making him physically an actual victim. And that did a toll on his body, him almost dying if not for the barely fast medical aid.

'Do you wanna try going out the room for a bit?' there is a strain in his voice that Haneul wishes Wonho didn't hear. He realizes it is still too early for him to walk but Haneul just wants Wonho to get used to being an omega. And being stuck in the room with no exposure to other alphas/omegas will only make it harder for him later.

Wonho looks up to Haneul. Thinking if this guy is actually serious in asking him that. He would really love to reject the idea but figures that maybe, just maybe, he actually needs a walk for his muscles; to compensate his time spent lying on the bed. If he can heal faster, maybe he can return home faster. He puts down the book in his hands and is ready to stand up before noticing Haneul bringing a wheelchair in. Fuck that shit.

'I can walk.'

'Okay…' Somehow that simple answer pisses him off. Wonho holds on to the wall and takes bigger step than the last. He already regained some of his energy and can balance himself better than the last time he stood up. He follows Haneul, who is already out the door waiting for him.

He feels nervous.

Scared to be exact.

Because outside the door, there are strangers. Strangers who left him there in the alley, refusing to help him even when he begged them to.

'You sure you wanna do this? We can sto-' Haneul's concerned voice broke him from his thoughts. Shaking his head as a reply, he continues, 'No I can walk.'

He can do this. Fuck them all. He will walk and he will face them. He is not weak.

Haneul calmly holds onto Wonho, leading him towards the common room at the floor. So far, Wonho showed no reaction to his surrounding, his face looks calm and determined. Another few more steps and he feels it - the younger stopping. The look of confusion washing over him. He is about to suggest returning but the man keeps on walking, his face frowning deeply along the way. Wonho finally stands still completely and his body starts to shake, 'I don't feel good.'

'Okay, let's go back.'

Wonho takes bigger and rushed steps back to his room. The air is suffocating him. It is not as overwhelming as that night but there are lots of new and unusual smell surrounding him once he is near the common room. And those smell mixed together does not go well with his nose, making him sick to the gut.

Wonho rushes towards his window once in the room. He hears Haneul saying something but he pays no attention. He needs some fresh air. Unlocking the window, the new omega opens it wide. And the same vicious and thick air, richer, rushes inside the room, enveloping him, making him nauseated.

Wonho hurries towards the toilet and let out his breakfast, his stomach keeps on twisting, sending more liquid up his throat until he finally has nothing more to throw up. Then he stays there, body shaking in shock. 'What just happened…?'

'You're smelling all the other alphas and omegas.' He hears Haneul reply and closes his eyes, trying to process the whole thing. Why is this happening to him? 'They are always there but betas can't sense it…'

'Do you have to go through this every time you walk out the door?'

'No…' the older answers gently, 'we can control it. I only really notice those I'm interested in, mostly to identify them.' There is a pause and he feel Haneul sitting behind him, rubbing circles on his back, 'I'm gonna teach you how to. Once you can do it, I'll let the doctors know and they'll let you check out.'

#####

They are almost home. They already passed the rice field a few minutes ago. That means half an hour more until Wonho will be back in his room. In his house. With his family.

He stares outside, not wanting to talk Beside him, Junjie is driving, also in silence. They usually sing along some songs from Wonho's phone when they drive; Junjie in charge of driving, and Wonho entertainment, including the music and some silly games.

But now, everything is just gone.

He expected that much change but Junjie is not ready for it. He knows things would be awkward, but he never thought Wonho would stay quiet, just staring outside, for the whole six hours back. It would still be better if he had slept but he did not.

He is just sitting there, not making any sound. Wonho even stayed inside the car when they reached a rest area. They usually buy their crab stick every time they stop there but Wonho seemed too reluctant to leave the car, even to go to the toilet. So Junjie bought a few sticks and they ate together in the car. And that is the only time they talked in the whole journey.

Wonho does not mind the silence though. It gives him time to think about a lot of things. Like the time the officers came into his room, bringing a lawyer with him to talk about his case.

About what he would go through if he decides to charge them. And the consequence he is going to face if he fails to identify his 'mate'.

About how Junjie went berserk when he saw the officers. About how his mother is going to notice his change. About how she is going to realize he is claimed. How he will have to tell them. His father…

'We're here.' Junjie's voice disrupts his thoughts. Well they have reached home. 'You wanna go in first?'

Wonho sits still, just staring at his gate. What if, he doesn't tell his parents and pretends nothing changed? Nobody needs to know…

'You know she deserves to know what happened right? Your mother…' he nods. Yes, he can lie to his father, but his omega mother will definitely notice his scent and his new 'mate's'. And she at least deserves an explanation but… 'Don't worry. I got you.' He hears Junjie whisper, his hand on his shoulder. And Wonho replies with a soft thanks.

Some things are just easier said than done. Although he has replayed this in his mind many times before, it is still hard for him to open the gate and get inside. Wonho keeps on standing in front of the gate, hand already on the handle, but he does not have the courage to push it down. He knows Junjie is waiting for him in the car so running away is not an option. And he would really love to do so. Just go anywhere, as long as it is not here. Not his home.

Closing his eyes and taking a long and deep breath, he finally enters his premise, and into his door.

'Our Wono!!! Eomma!! He's back!!!' He sees his father, with his big smile, coming straight at him and hugging him tightly, messing with his hair. He loves this, his father's manly hug every time he meets his son. No, every time he meets Wonho, his only beta child. His once beta child. Guilt quickly overcome him and Wonho lets go of the hug, feeling undeserved. His father keeps his hand on his shoulder as he calls his mother.

And there she is. Eyes wide, shining.

She knows.

His mother quickly replaced her shocked face with a smile, the best she can afford and greets her son. But it is too late, Wonho already seen it. And the hug feels forced. He just wants to get it over with and go to his room.

He does not want to face his mother. He does not want to have to explain to her why he had an alpha scent with him. He does not want to tell his father that the beta son he is proud of is now a filthy and claimed omega. Who cannot protect himself and is gang raped in an alley.

He wants to dig a hole and just… die.

'Jun-ie! You're also here! Come in!' He hears his father called out to his best friend and takes that as a cue to get away. It doesn't matter if he is being rude. He just doesn't want to be there when Junjie breaks the news. Wonho takes his bag and walks quickly to his room, ignoring his father who is calling him to stay. He locks the door and frantically searches for his headphones.

His damned headphones. It is not there!! Where did he put his headphones??!! He needs his headph-

'Yaah!!! What are you talking about?!! Stop joking!!!' Wonho's heart drops when he heard his father raises his voice, and his mother sniffling her cries. He doesn't want this. He doesn't want to hear this. This isn't supposed to happen. He made plans with his father to go hiking. And fishing. And help his mother with her job. This is not supposed to happen.

'Honey stop!!!' His mother is crying now. He did it. He became a bad son who made his parents cry.

Wonho finally found his headphones and blasts his music, muffling all the noise. Lying on his childhood bed, the broken man buries himself in his pillows, blocking everything out. Trying to sleep.

Trying to forget.

/Notes/

Wonho signed the agreement to not pursue his attacker because the defendant told him that his action will lead to something really serious involving the justice system itself. His attackers assaulted him due to their physical reaction to Wonho's condition and because every alphas were affected including his own alpha friends (even Sangcheol who is mated and should be immune under normal circumstances), it can easily be ruled as 'natural phenomena' or something similar to 'mass hysteria'. Korea has a law that lightens someone sentence if they break the law while intoxicated, due to them not being able to make a rational decision. The law the defendant brought up in this story is based on that, but stronger.

On the other hand, they can still punish his mate because other alphas only assaulted him without claiming him so his 'mate' can be trialed separately.