To The Dazzling You

Chapter 13

Sunoo took a big gulp out of his water bottle. It was almost empty due to the intense practice Heeseung had just led them through. Only two more weeks and they had to perform at the university's Christmas celebrations. The performance was on Christmas eve, which meant that Sunoo could only go back home the next day. However, he wasn't sure whether he would go home at all.

His mother had called just yesterday, asking whether he was joining them for the holidays, but he had told her that he might only come home on the 25th.

He loved his parents and his younger sisters, but the household had always felt so suffocating - his father was a picture book alpha with his police career, his mother the perfect omega - motherly and caring. And yet, Sunoo had always felt suffocated by his ideal family.

Male omegas weren't very rare, but when he had presented as such, he had clearly seen the disappointment in his father's eyes. Moreover, Sunoo had never been a typical omega, he had always been interested in anything but childcare - arts, sports, music, you name it.

The only problem had been that it was nothing that an omega was supposed to indulge in. Only his grandmother had allowed him to do what he wanted - play soccer in her garden, dance along to the boybands on TV, or join her on a visit to the local art gallery. When his parents had argued that he wasn't supposed to get interested in those things, she had answered that this brought her joy and they shouldn't destroy it for her.

Sunoo knew that she really loved seeing him have a good time, but he also knew that she did all that to give him every opportunity he could get to live the life he wanted. She was an omega herself and she had always lived by the rules. However, she had also told Sunoo that she would have loved to own a bakery when she had been younger, but that she had to limit her baking to her household and let her husband bring the money home.

When Sunoo had one day decided that he wanted to become a professional dancer, naturally he had told her about it first.

She had been beyond excited for him, but she had also warned him about his parents' beliefs. That night they had made up a plan to disguise him as a beta and lie to his parents about his studies.

Only Jungwon and Niki, who had been by Sunoo's side since their earliest childhood-days, had been included in the secret. Besides, Sunoo's grandma had only agreed to the plan because Jungwon and Niki had promised her to take care of Sunoo and keep him safe.
"Is everything alright?"

It was Heeseung who pulled him out of his thoughts. He had stepped next to him, standing impossibly close to the omega. So close that Sunoo got a whiff of his scent - lemon and sandalwood - which Sunoo remembered to give him energy during practices, but now it somehow smelled wrong and repellent.

The omega drew back slightly, but gave him a small smile nonetheless. He was feeling weird, but he didn't know why and he didn't want to hurt the older's feelings.

"Yes, I'm just exhausted! I need a shower and my bed."

'And Sunghoon,' suddenly popped up in his head, but Sunoo didn't tell Heeseung.

The alpha nodded and reached out, patting his hair softly.

"You did well, Sunoo. Go back to your room and get that shower you deserve."

It took a lot for Sunoo to not draw back or pull a face, the touch didn't make him feel good at all. Sunoo knew that Heeseung wasn't overstepping any boundaries, that they were friends and touches like these were fine, but somehow it still felt wrong.

Niki stepped next to them and Heeseung pulled his hand back. Sunoo breathed in relief.

"Hyung, do we have to practice again tomorrow?? It's the weekend! And I feel like we all need a break."