OMEGA? WHAT WAS THAT?

HANEUL felt like his whole body was on fire. He could feel the burning sensation from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. His brain felt so hot that he could no longer think properly. He just kept on saying the same words over and over again.

"Don't leave... please, don't leave..."

He was still crying uncontrollably. Clinging to his mother like a newborn baby. But he didn't care. Even if he suddenly turned stupid because of how his brain felt like it's melting, it's fine. All that mattered to him right now was to make sure that they wouldn't leave.

"Haneul-ah, what's wrong?"

Haneul felt a large cool hand gently touching his forehead. "Honey, he's burning up."

Another hand touched his cheek. "His temperature is too high. Honey, go and ready the car. Haneul-ah, everything is going to be okay. We're going to take you to the hospital."

Haneul could hear the voices of his parents but he couldn't understand what they're saying. So, he could only continue to say, 'Don't leave' like some broken record.

"Mom, I think I can smell pheromones on Oppa."

His sister's voice was the last thing Haneul heard before he completely succumbed to oblivion.

***

When Haneul opened his eyes once again, the first thing he saw was a white ceiling. Then the next thing he noticed was the smell of antiseptic. He could already tell where he was just by these two factors.

He was in a hospital.

After realizing that, the slightly drowsy feeling he had completely vanished. He abruptly sat and only then noticed the IV drip attached to his arm. He once again fell into confusion.

Why was he here?

And then, as if answering his question, his brain started to recount the events that led to this.

He was back 10 years ago and when he realized this was the day of the accident, he immediately went down to stop his family from leaving the house. For some reason, he suddenly felt like his body was aflame, and then he fainted.

Was it because he was overstimulated? Or was it because he just arrived in this world? No, the reason really didn't matter. It's more important to know if he succeeded in stopping his family from going to the airport.

The day of the accident was still etched in Haneul's mind.

Haeun was supposed to leave that day for her two-day, one-night fencing training camp. It was just a simple training camp that would be held in another school. But their parents were still worried and decided to send Haeun there themselves instead of letting his sister used public transportation.

He slept in until noon that day. Not because he was playing games like his mother thought, but because he was watching some idol performances. He was so engrossed in it that he didn't even notice that it was already late into the night. While he was eating lunch, he received that terrible news.

His family was involved in a traffic accident. An exhausted driver temporarily lost control of the truck he's driving and crashed into his family's car at an intersection. His parents died on the spot while his sister was still struggling to stay alive. In the end, that 'struggle' only ended up with her in a coma.

That was the most devastating day of Haneul's life. He lost his parents in one go and also almost lost his sister. The pain and sadness he felt that day was so indescribable that even now, he couldn't think of the right words to fully describe it.

But he was given a second chance to change that. He just hoped that it wasn't too late.

This was all Yeomra's fault. Why did he have to send him on the exact same day as the accident? If it was a month before, no, even a week before would be fine. Heck, even a day before would be much better than this.

As he was silently fuming over that, the door to the room where he was suddenly opened. When he saw his mother walking in, he felt like all the tension in his body had just dissipated.

His mother was here. They didn't experience that accident. This meant only one thing in his mind - his family, they were alive.

Tears started to well up in his eyes once again. He did it. He was able to prevent that tragedy.

Park Eunji worriedly approached her son when she saw the other about to cry again. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt? Should I call the doctor?"

Haneul shook his head and just hugged his mother.

He felt his mother gently tapping his back. "If you're not feeling well, you should have immediately told us. What if Haeun didn't smell your pheromones? We wouldn't even know you manifested as an Omega."

Haneul opened his eyes when he heard that.

Omega?

What was that?

***

Additional info:

In Korean culture:

- Oppa: A term used by females to address an older brother or older male friend.

- Hyung: A term used by males to address an older brother or older male friend.

- Unni: A term used by females to address an older sister or older female friend.

- Noona: A term used by males to address an older sister or older female friend.