Chapter Text
At first, it was just Yunho and him. His dear Yunho. He was all that Seonghwa had left. Perhaps also a bittersweet memory of what he once had.
Positive as well as negative.
When Seonghwa started a new job in Seoul, he felt bad for a moment about throwing his son into a new environment. But the two-year-old would surely remember nothing of what had come before. It was better for him and also better for the omega, as he would no longer have to be confronted with everything.
Of course, Sacheon would never fade from his memory; the man knew that very well. After all, Seonghwa still had family there. His sister, with whom he wrote constantly and spoke on the phone regularly.
It had been a big step, but Seonghwa would never have forgiven himself if he had never saved his son. Because at that moment, Yunho was the most important person in the world to him.
Seonghwa was nervous. He couldn't really concentrate on his work. The children around him were great. They weren't the reason he was so nervous. It was more the fact that he hadn't had a job in almost four years. His alpha—his ex-alpha—had forbidden the omega from working. Omegas shouldn't have the right to work. An omega's only job should be to serve their alpha by looking pretty, giving them puppies, and spreading their legs.
But what was also upsetting him were his thoughts of Yunho. The little boy had been going to daycare for a week, not far from the elementary school where the omega worked. He had specifically chosen this elementary school because there was a daycare center nearby.
It wasn't that Yunho had trouble making new friends. The two-year-old was incredibly friendly and considerate toward others. Seonghwa was incredibly grateful for this ray of sunshine. He gave him the strength to keep fighting. To keep fighting for him. But Seonghwa knew how children could be. And that scared him.
When his shift finally ended, he was more than happy to enter the small annex and take his son into his arms.
“Yunho painted a lot and ate a lot today. He also took his nap without any problems and made more friends with the other children,” explained the beta in front of him, Ms. Jeon, a young woman who was perhaps two years older than himself. Ms. Jeon had dyed blonde hair, which was slowly growing out at the roots. It resembled pudding, the omega decided.
Her scent, which reminded him of a flower meadow, radiated something warm. Probably a positive effect for working here as a caregiver.
Meanwhile, little Yunho lay in his Eomma's arms and cuddled up to him. It had been a really long day for him, and if the Omega had a better system, maybe even a pack, he would try to spend more time with his son. But who wants a single omega?
No less than three times a week, Seonghwa thought about cutting back. Reducing his hours and working less so he could be there for his son.
It feels like it would be the best decision, but then money would be tight, and I wouldn't be able to feed Yunho properly. These were thoughts that assailed him every time and made him feel insecure. Thoughts that kept him awake at night.
What if he couldn't feed his child anymore? What if he wasn't a good omega? His omega fought him at first when Seonghwa left the alpha, and now that it had been a few weeks, his omega was acting very calm. He seemed satisfied with his behavior, but was his pup?
The omega smiled. “I was worried that it might all be too much for him,” Seonghwa said calmly and a little more quietly, as he wasn't sure if his little boy would fall asleep soon. The caregiver had a calming effect on him. Her scent enveloped them both. “Don't worry about that, Mr. Park. Yunho is a good boy. I'd be more surprised if he didn't make friends,” the omega said with a smile.
After saying goodbye, the black-haired man checked the little pup's jacket. It was October now, and the temperatures were getting cooler. He didn't want to risk his little puppy getting sick under any circumstances. You could call him a mother hen, but Hwa loved his boy with all his heart. And he would do anything in the world to protect this ray of sunshine.
He had already done a lot. Seonghwa had given up his life, and if he could, he would do even more.
Just as he had imagined, Yunho had fallen asleep. Seonghwa cursed himself inwardly for working too long. He would have liked to spend time with his son today. Their time together was already limited, so Seonghwa wanted to spend the time they had left wisely. But he didn't want to wake him up either. The phenomenon would probably occur that he would wake up again in the parking lot in front of their apartment.
I could watch you sleep for hours, thought the omega, gently stroking his little child's hair. Yunho always looked so peaceful when he slept.
As if he hadn't experienced great suffering just a few weeks ago.
Seonghwa sighed softly, and after making sure they had everything, he left the annex with Yunho in his arms and the boy's bag on his shoulder.
Although he walked quickly, the elementary school teacher soon slowed down. There were several other cars parked next to his in the parking lot, which was nothing unusual. After all, this parking lot was also used by the employees of a fashion store. What immediately caught his eye, however, was a man standing next to a black car, pacing back and forth. He therefore stopped a short distance away from his own white car to assess the situation.
Seonghwa watched the whole thing for a moment. The man seemed to be on the phone and appeared rather tense due to his posture. Although he didn't really want to prejudge, Seonghwa assumed that the man was an alpha.
Of course, that was always possible. As in other companies in this industry, many alphas and betas work at NO1. Although this fashion brand was known for its diversity, hiring and modeling omegas, the number of omegas was still small. Therefore, he assumed, not very unlikely.
Seonghwa decided to walk faster to his car. He didn't want to be approached by this strange alpha. He talked to his colleagues and the parents of some of the children, but based on his experiences, he otherwise tried to avoid this type of person.
“I understand you, Eden, that you want to finish the collection quickly and get it into this magazine, but I'm still not satisfied. I just need a little more time, and I'll tell you this collection will be wonderful.” The Alpha's voice was a little edgy and sounded rather rough but still had something warm about it.
He quickly fumbled for the key in his jacket pocket. At first he couldn't find it and cursed quietly to himself. Then he carefully lifted Yunho to the other side and found his car key in there. Satisfied to have found it, the omega unlocked the car. The man's gaze turned from the car to Seonghwa, who was walking to his car. The omega opened the rear passenger door and put Yunho in his child seat. Yunho whimpered briefly at the loss of physical closeness to his eomma but quickly calmed down and fell back asleep.
The omega breathed a quiet sigh of satisfaction and kissed him on the forehead. He couldn't deal with an awake, crying Yunho right now. As soon as he had buckled Yunho in, he quietly closed the car door and walked around his car. The man was now staring directly at him. He was wearing a dark jacket, which was open, and a dark shirt underneath. He also wore black pants and seemed to be slightly shorter than the Omega. Maybe another Omega after all?
The man still held his smartphone to his ear but said nothing more. Since his display was still lit up, Seonghwa assumed he was still on the phone. His gaze was focused on the other man's every move.
Seonghwa felt uncomfortable and immediately looked away from the man. As soon as he reached the driver's side, he opened the car door and quickly closed it behind him. The bang was a little loud, but Yunho just kept sleeping. Relieved, he buckled his seatbelt. As he started the engine, he glanced outside. The man was still standing outside, just as he had been before. His gaze still fixed on the car.
Only when the car drove off did the Omega's tension ease. What a creep...
If Seonghwa had had more freedom to name his son as he wished, Yunho would probably be called Yeosang or Wooyoung today. Two names that the omega had liked very much at the time, but which his alpha had found ridiculous.
In the last trimester of his pregnancy, Seonghwa had considered secretly writing one of the two names on the birth certificate. He wanted to show his Alpha that he was also allowed to make decisions.
Unfortunately, his plan didn't work out when the other man snatched the birth certificate at a moment when Seonghwa was at his weakest.
With tears in his eyes, he had to watch as his Alpha filled out the document. He felt so powerless, and his Alpha seemed so superior. From then on, his wonderful boy was not called what he would have liked. Not Yeosang or Wooyoung. But Yunho. Even though he had come to terms with this name, not a day went by when he did not regret this decision. Even though he really loved Yunho and was so grateful that he hardly resembled his father, he would have liked to have called his son something else.
Deep down, Seonghwa also hoped that he would never remember this man. Yunho deserved a carefree life. Far away from the constant fear that his eomma had to feel every day.
“Maybe next time,” Seonghwa had told himself. But realistically, he didn't want another child with this man. Even after their escape, it had been clear to the omega that Yunho would remain his only child.
That was his punishment, and it was fair. No omega had the right to break his bond with his alpha.
Park Seonghwa truly hated himself with a passion.
The apartment they lived in was tiny, but it was fine for the two of them. It was all they had in Sacheon. His sister had helped him find something, and this apartment was perfect. Especially because of the rent.
The building in which the apartment was located was quite inconspicuous. The landlords were an elderly couple who supplemented their pension by renting out the apartment. They were both betas. While the woman seemed to be very fond of Yunho, the man appeared rather cold and annoyed.
Whenever Seonghwa saw him, he would complain about Yunho's “noise” and make mean remarks about his living situation.
And yet the omega never complained. He didn't complain about the elevator, which hadn't worked since he moved in, or about his neighbors, who were renovating the apartment above him. Although he couldn't really complain about his neighbors, since they were the landlord's son. And when the hot water stopped working after 8 p.m., he didn't say anything either.
Even though he sounded very arrogant and was overly confident, I would describe Seonghwa as an easygoing and uncomplicated tenant. But even that wasn't good enough for the old curmudgeon.
If Seonghwa had the choice, he would like to move out, but he doesn't have enough money, and besides, he has only been living in this house for almost two weeks. Maybe things will get better soon, he tells himself every day.
As already mentioned, the apartment is tiny. It consists of a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and a living room. The sleeping situation is not the best. While Yunho has his own room, Seonghwa sleeps on the pull-out couch.
At least Yunho should have the right to his own room, even if the puppy often slept on the couch with his Eomma.
“Eomma!” Yunho giggles as he follows his Eomma through the small kitchen in his pajamas. No sooner had they arrived at the apartment than the little darling was awake again. However, his sleep seems to have been only a short, not very restful nap. Because Yunho is still a little tired.
The omega smiles down at his puppy and lifts him up.
Dinner is simple and therefore doesn't take very long. The meal, however, takes all the longer.
“Yunho. You have a spoon you can use. You don't need your fingers,” Seonghwa tries again and again, but the boy just laughs and stuffs another portion into his mouth. The omega is tired but happy that his son can behave like a normal child. He deserves that after everything he's been through.
Smiling, he takes a napkin and cleans the child's hands before washing his mouth.
It's just the two of them. Mother and son. Omega and puppy. Normality. A new beginning.