And then, I met you. || Jeongcheol ||

47

Our child needs to know,” the Omega choked out, his voice breaking under the pain of his emotions. “He needs to know he was born out of love, not out of mistake or obligation.”

His gaze, filled with hurt, locked onto Cheol’s as tears streamed down his cheeks. “But Cheol,” he continued, “I didn’t... I didn’t love him when I got to know about him. I... I wanted to get rid of him. I wanted to... I wanted to dump him on you and leave. I... What kind of human was I?” His sobs grew louder, each one tearing at the question of his self-worth.

Jeonghan clung to Cheol, his body trembling uncontrollably as he buried his face against Cheol’s chest. His breaths came in ragged sobs, and his guilt and regret seemed to press down on him every coming second.

Cheol’s eyes were filled with anguish as he listened to Jeonghan’s self-reproach. His heart ached with each of Jeonghan’s words, but he held him tighter, offering as much comfort as he could. He gently cupped Jeonghan’s face, forcing him to meet his eyes. “Jeonghan,” Cheol said softly but strictly, “you’re not a bad person. You were in pain, and you made a mistake, but that doesn’t make you a bad parent or a bad person.”

“No, Cheol, I’m a bad human,” the Omega cried, his voice filled with despair. “I didn’t even think of having him until... I didn’t have him because of you. I had him because I wanted to inflict harm on myself. I wanted that woman to hate me more. I wanted Shua to notice. I just used you and my baby as a toy. I didn’t even think about him.”

His breath came in ragged gasps as his emotions poured out. “It... it was you, Cheol. I ended up with you. What if it were someone else? What if they had thrown my baby away? What if they never cared for him after I left? How could I do this? How could I do this to my baby?”

Cheol wiped away the tears from Jeonghan’s cheeks with his thumbs, his gaze fixed at him. “You’ve faced so much pain, Jeonghan and it’s understandable to feel this way. But what matters now is that you’re here, loving our baby.”

“Cheol, I’m sorry,” Jeonghan sobbed, his voice breaking with each word. “I’m really sorry. I’m sorry you fell in love with me. I’m sorry that I’m the one carrying your child. You... you deserve a good person, not someone low like me who only thinks of himself, who only cares about...”

Cheol’s heart clenched as he heard Jeonghan’s anguished cries. The weight of Jeonghan’s self-loathing and regret was obvious, and Cheol could hardly bear to see him in such despair.

Jeonghan’s voice faltered as tears streamed down his face. “This is why everything bad happens to me,” he continued, his tone heavy with self-recrimination. “Because I deserve it. Because I’m a low, disgusting person, so I deserve everything low. That’s why this all happened.”

His words trailed off into a hollow laugh, and Jeonghan stared blankly at the wall, as if searching for answers in its cold, unyielding surface. The despair in his eyes was matched only by the depth of his sorrow, making it clear just how much he was suffering.

Cheol’s hands trembled slightly as he held Jeonghan, his own tears mingling with the ones on Jeonghan’s cheeks. “Jeonghan, listen to me,” he said. “You are not disgusting. You are not low. You were in pain, you suffered enough. Nothing make you unworthy of love or forgiveness.

Jeonghan’s didn't reply anything and kept quiet staring at the wall. After awhile he looked at Cheol, eyes red, full of tears, his gaze fixed and voice trembling as he spoke. “You shouldn’t stay with me, Cheol,” he said, his words barely coherent through his tears. “You shouldn’t. You… you deserve someone better. Someone who isn’t so broken and dirty. Someone who isn't me.”