My Summer

Oak

In America...

Oak's POV

knock knock knock

"Come in."
The door to my room opened, and Mom entered. She was wearing a white blazer and a skirt below the knee. She accessorized with pearls. It seems like she and Dad have plans today.

"How are you, sweetheart?" she asked, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"I'm fine, Mom. By the way, are you and Dad going out? Where are you going?" I asked, setting down the book I was reading earlier.

"Papa's friend invited us to a get-together. Do you want to come?" She brushed my hair and fixed it with her hands. She has been doing this to me since I was a child.

"No, Mom. I'll just stay at home. I'm still a bit tired from the trip," I replied, smiling at her. She smiled back at me, revealing her dimples. Mom's smile always enhances her beauty, even though she's getting older.

"Okay, sweetie. Your dad and I are leaving. Don't forget to eat and drink plenty of water, okay? If you need anything, just tell Manang Agnes." Mom stood up and kissed me on the forehead.

"Yes, Mom. Take care," I said. She smiled at me and closed the door.

As the room fell silent, memories of what happened last week came flooding back.

Flashback...

"There's really something wrong with your mattress, Oak. We need to perform a procedure as soon as possible because the lump is growing, and it could lead to more serious complications for you," the doctor said.

We were inside Doc Swarchzen's office, our family doctor. He is an expert in checking complications, especially in omegas like me.

Mom held onto me from behind, tears starting to well up in her eyes. Dad remained silent.

"But why? How did he get this illness? He always eats healthy and has a balanced diet. We also don't have a history of this in our family," Mom asked.

"These cases, especially in omegas, are not uncommon. It could have suddenly appeared without you realizing it, and it may have been in his body for a while before you noticed it," the doctor explained.

"The question here is, is the patient willing to undergo the operation as soon as possible," he continued.

"Is there still a chance for him to conceive?" Dad asked. I didn't expect him to ask that. I was in a critical condition, and yet he was still thinking about our lineage.

"We need to observe Oak after the procedure, but I must remind you that because the lump is in his mattress, he may have difficulty conceiving," the doctor said, facing me.

I saw disappointment and sadness in Dad's face. Mom couldn't hold back her tears in front of me, while I just kept my head down.

I held the bracelet Vegas gave me. It's always been my way of calming myself. When I hold it, it feels like he's right beside me. I remember every smile he gave me and how he calmed me down whenever I threw tantrums at him. He never let me be sad and always made me happy. That's why, for him, I will make this decision. To live a long life with him.

I looked at Doc Swarchzen. My decision was clear.

"I'll do the procedure," I said. Doc smiled at me, while Mom and Dad looked at me with pity and hope.

End of flashback...

Pete POV

"You might be my fated pair, Pete," Vegas said. I froze. My throat felt dry, as if all the blood had drained from my body.

I couldn't believe what Vegas was saying. The emotions swirling inside me had no place to go. Happy? Sad? I didn't know. All I could do was laugh. I laughed and laughed, loud and hard. It was ridiculous to think about. Vegas Theerapanyakul, never having a rut? Who was he kidding?

"Just let me go, Vegas, rather than tell me these lies. I can't be your fated pair, Vegas. It's impossible for both Oak and I to be with you," I said. I looked him in the eye, trying to hide the sadness in my words.

I remembered the first time Oak confessed to me. He had a mark on his nape, a sign that Vegas accepted him as a fated pair, someone to be with for life.

"But Pete-" He didn't finish his sentence when his phone rang.

"What?" he asked the person on the other line, his voice lacking enthusiasm. I saw the change in his expression, from calm to a clenched jaw and flushed face. His aura was now angry, as if he was ready to kill anyone.

"Fuck!" he growled. He changed clothes and left. He also took the key to my handcuffs. He left me in that position, like a meal left behind after getting tired of it.

I sat up straight and let all my tears flow. I didn't care about the coldness of the room, even though I was naked. After what Vegas said, I suddenly thought, what if we were the fated pair? What if I had told him the truth from the beginning? Would anything change?

I was in that state when the door slammed open. I saw a tall, masculine figure, wearing a black mask. He was wearing a t-shirt, black pants, and holding a long gun. I didn't know what to do because I was still tied to the bed.

He entered the room and saw me in that position.

"Shit! Pete!" he said. He removed his mask. It was Porsche.

He approached me and examined my whole body. Even though I was embarrassed, I was happy that someone was going to help me get out of here.

"Just a moment." he said. He took something from the backpack he was carrying, a hammer. He hit my handcuffs hard, and they broke immediately.

"How did you find me? Does Vegas know? How did you get in here?" I asked, one after another. My fear suddenly crept in, thinking that Vegas might find out about us. We knew Vegas, he was ruthless and enjoyed torturing those who defied him.

"I'll explain later, Pete. We need to get out of here first." he said. He rummaged through Vegas's drawer for something I could wear. I immediately put it on and followed Porsche as he left Vegas's condo.

Once again, I witnessed the outside world and the fresh air. Unlike inside Vegas's condo, which was suffocating because of the memories they shared.