DELUSIVE HAPPINESS ⋮ markhyuck

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧: Red House

Donghyuck was 21 when he was put on display with a promise that this day might be lucky for him.

"You're the proper age," said Lady Brixil, fixing the boy's hair herself. "Many alphas want 21 years olds as their mates."

The omega's heart pounded. He was nervous but was optimistic that he wanted it. He wanted someone to buy him so he could finally live with them, create a family and write everyone letters!

No one looked at him when it came to the morning type of customers. He was at the very end of the room, maybe that's why. The alphas got carried away by pretty omegas at the front and never reached the end. Donghyuck was positive, though. He still needed time.

Lunchtime approached, and Donghyuck patiently waited, truly believing in his luck. He saw many alphas entering Aquamarine House and darted his eyes on a book, smiling shyly as he was sure one of them had to be his. They were just how he wanted his alpha to be! With suits, tall and seemingly rich!

But the alphas stopped by, read his plate, and walked away. Donghyuck was upset. He looked at the staff, making eye contact with one of the betas, who came to him after a few minutes.

"If you want to the bathroom, it's not the right time, Donghyuck," she whispered.

"No... I'm fine, it's just... why is no one coming to me?"

The beta softly smiled as she leaned closer to the boy, "Maybe you don't really match the image they created in their heads! But don't be sad. Sometimes they approach someone but aren't willing to buy them either."

Around 2 PM, one alpha roamed around the room, glancing at Donghyuck from time to time and making the boy happy. He needed to make eye contact with that alpha once more, and the latter came to him just in a few minutes. He looked young and appeared quite shy as he asked the omega, "Do you like animals?"

Excited that someone finally started showing interest in him, Donghyuck vigorously nodded his head, "Yes, I do."

"Which domestic animal do you like the most?"

"Uh..." Donghyuck thought for a bit. "Dogs!"

"What about cats? Do you like cats?"

"Excuse me," Lady Brixil came to the alpha, smiling politely, but Donghyuck could tell that something was wrong. "You look really young. How old are you?" she asked.

"I'm twenty-two," the alpha replied, then quickly added, "B-but I'm familiar with your policy, and I-I know that I'm too young to buy, so I'm just here taking a look."

"Then do that quickly," Lady Brixil smiled apologetically. "There are alphas who come here to buy, not to take a look."

Donghyuck watched how the alpha retreated in disappointment. The whole day turned out to be a disappointment. The only time he got an admirer was when a young alpha approached him, the one who, according to Aquamarine House and all other Houses, couldn't buy himself a mate as an alpha should be at least 23 years old. Only alphas at this age were considered to have stable jobs and feel enough responsibility to take care of an omega.

The hours passed, but Donghyuck never got anyone interested in him as much to the point they would want to buy him. He tried to be cute and polite to the alphas, but they just didn't like him. They went to other omegas, who were older than Donghyuck but had their plates changed to make them younger...

Nothing happened as the evening approached. Donghyuck was sitting there in defeat, already aware he wouldn't have anything good to share with his roommates. Not until the last alpha of the day entered the shop. He was tall and looked quite intimidating even though he smiled at the omegas. One by one, he checked on them, asking them a few questions, making Donghyuck even sadder. It was always like this. Alphas asked questions to those at the front, but when they reached the end of the room, they ran out of questions and became bored.