ALPHA UNIVERSE #2: HEAVEN

CHAPTER 33

Everything ended in a blur. The huge news that blared in the early morning left a huge space in every student's mind. Some definitely left heartbroken just because the alpha was officially taken, while others praised the goddess of love.

Yet it was like a heavily passing wind for someone who receives greater effects, strongly slapping them from front to back continuously.

It was like that for Jisung. Painfully ending his unsaid yet obvious unrequited love for the only omega he only has his eyes on.

It was like that for Hyerim, too. She's the most affected by it.

But the pair's awkward interactions suddenly snapped when they came home with loud chats and a delicious aroma of food.

It was 5:30 PM when they reached home—Haechan was purposely waiting for Hyerim's afternoon dismissal.

And it was 7:30 when the surprise family reunion started.

As usual, the conversation starts with the parents asking the pair how they were. Opening some problems, if they ever encountered one, but both of them rejected and said nothing.

Mark is surprisingly quiet. He's always goofy and a laughing machine whenever gatherings like this happen.

In the middle of the dinner, the parents started to feel an uncomfortable atmosphere between the three.

It was Sooyoung who nudged her husband first, secretly pointing in their kids' direction, which is just across them with Hyerim in between. Then Dowoo passed the message to Hyunsu, who dwelled on it more after properly seeing his daughter's tired and tight expression.

"Is everything okay, Rim?"

"Hm, yeah?" Hyerim surprisingly replied as her eyes flickered in the adults' direction with obvious uneasiness. "Yeah?"

"Is there any problem at school? Are teachers pressuring you or anything?" Sooyoung asked with a warm smile, spreading welcoming pheromones in an attempt to ease the young omega's discomfort.

"No, we're just approaching midterms, and... everything's at a slower pace for now." She forced a chuckle and flickered her eyes on her left, accidentally meeting Haechan's gaze.

The two held in it for a moment before Hyerim looked away, flashed a small beaming smile to her father, and continued eating.

Ever since then, the adults have shared an unsaid but obvious decision just by looking at each other. 40 years of friendship really did well for them.

After dinner, which is a very uncomfortable one, the three young adults immediately spread to their own comfort spaces.

As Sooyoung welcomed herself to Hyerim's room, she frowned at the sight of her crying. She was curled up on her bed, her shoulders shaking, which made the elder rush.

The pheromones swarming around her room are too heavy, mirroring her full emotions, which Sooyoung finds hard to replace with her comforting ones.

"Hyerim-ah, we're sorry we never checked up on you. We should've been there for you."

Hearing the mother's voice, Hyerim slowly calmed herself down and rushed to wipe her flowing tears. She then took a deep sigh, rolling over to face the elder, who's already sitting up beside her with a small worried smile.

"I never knew this would be hard," she mumbled. "I thought it would go smoothly now that we cleared everything."