No Alphas Allowed - C109

#109

11. 11. Resolution

Now that he knew where Suho was, there was no need to delay further. Taeyun sat in the driver’s seat, resting one arm on the window frame while gripping the steering wheel with his other hand.

“You can date all you want, but how far will Suho accept you?”

This was Jeong Sehun’s parting remark as he got up after concluding their conversation. He seemed indifferent about Taeyun continuing to see Suho. Rather, if Taeyun were to marry his second son, it would only be beneficial for Jeong Sehun, not a loss.

Of course, telling Taeyun where Suho was stemmed from this thinking, but on the other hand, seeing Taeyun’s attitude change in an instant from being like an impenetrable ice fortress also made him feel spiteful. If it hadn’t been related to Suho, he would never have won this business deal, right? So Jeong Sehun had shaken Taeyun by dropping that meaningful comment.

Taeyun’s fingers on the steering wheel tapped heavily, then gripped it tightly enough for veins to stand out on the back of his hand, repeating this pattern. Reflecting his frustrated mood, Taeyun, unable to keep the steering wheel still, rubbed his index finger against his lips.

“What could it be?”

Even for Taeyun, it felt uncomfortably like something was stuck in his throat. There had been many suspicious behaviors for days before, too much to say he hadn’t been in contact because he met Jeong Sehun. Coming to the headquarters to see him like a surprise gift, and having something to say but not being able to spit it out easily.

Maybe it was more puzzling because Suho had always said everything he needed to say. Even when Taeyun said he was a dominant alpha, Suho had avoided him like trash but hadn’t found it difficult. Because he was a senior who always said what he needed to in a low voice, it left an uneasy feeling to vaguely connect him with Jeong Sehun.

As he stepped on the brake at a red light, Taeyun took in the familiar street. It was a road he had crossed with Suho, and though they hadn’t gone often, it was quite memorable. If you followed that road up, there was the hospital Suho frequently went to…

‘Hospital?’

A strange light flickered in Taeyun’s eyes. Come to think of it, the only time Suho moved without telling him was to go to the hospital. When they slept in the same room, when he presented as an omega. Recalling that Suho had gone to the hospital with Secretary Lee Jinhyuk before coming to the headquarters, Taeyun stepped on the accelerator as soon as the light turned green. And he completely turned the steering wheel, deviating from his original route.

***

After leaving the hotel, Suho turned on his phone to check the accumulated messages. Most were from Taeyun, with occasional ones from Secretary Lee Jinhyuk. After confirming a series of unfamiliar numbers that had come up, he put the phone back in his pocket.

Since Jeong Sehun hadn’t forcibly confined him, Suho could now return to where Taeyun was. There were many ways to go, whether calling a taxi or finding a terminal to take a bus. However, Suho wandered along the beach like a lost child who had forgotten all those methods.

The beach they had briefly visited together welcomed Suho with a familiar scent. Was the wind stronger then than now? Or did the waves crash bigger? Suho walked for a long time, comparing the sea he had seen before with the sea now. As if ruminating on those memories shared with Taeyun.

By the time his feet felt heavy from trudging through the sand, Suho’s face was tinged red. Only when everything around was dyed in orange and red as the sun set did Suho take out his phone again.

“I should go now.”

It was time to leave the memories behind and go meet Taeyun. He must have worried him enough by now. Maybe he’d be angry as soon as they met. Suho planned to receive his anger, and when it subsided, explain his situation. And he should ask what happened with his alpha father too.

As his omega father’s face naturally came to mind, Suho let out a deep sigh. Although meeting his alpha father again had been nerve-wracking, meeting his omega father had been a good opportunity for Suho. Learning that his omega father didn’t dislike him made Suho’s heart feel indescribably warm.

While before meeting his father he had worried about how Taeyun would react when he told him the truth, now his focus was entirely on himself. Suho placed his hand on his stomach. Though it was a flat stomach with nothing to feel, it somehow felt warmer.

A child who would be completely on his side had come to him, who had always been consumed by loneliness. An anxious feeling always existed in one corner, but as he thought it was okay to love this child, the child’s presence felt even greater.

I’ll give only love from the moment this child is born.

I’ll embrace this child so they don’t feel lonely.

I’ll let this child feel the warm affection I wanted to receive.

Even if Taeyun drifts away, I’ll be able to find the strength to endure the world while holding this child. As he thought this far, Suho suddenly smiled weakly. He was having all sorts of thoughts before even telling Taeyun.

“I must really be a coward.”

Even though it would be good to think positively, Suho was imagining the worst first. He felt pathetic for thinking he could prepare his heart by doing so.

“Taeyun hasn’t given any answer yet…”

“Senior Suho.”

“…”

When Taeyun’s voice, which he had only been thinking about, rang out, Suho froze in place as if all his functions had stopped. Only one place, his heart, seemed to be pounding so hard it might burst, making his whole body feel like it was shaking.

Suho squeezed his eyes shut at the sound of footsteps approaching steadily. The thought of suddenly meeting Taeyun made him terrified. Whether knowing Suho’s feelings or not, Taeyun didn’t slow his pace.

Suho guessed Taeyun had come in front of him by how the darkness before his closed eyes seemed to deepen. What kind of face would he be making now as he looked at him? Would he be looking down coldly because Suho hadn’t contacted him and had gone off the grid? Or would he be glaring fiercely?

As his fear grew to an unbearable level the longer he couldn’t see, Suho felt a strong force that almost made him stagger. Surprised by Taeyun’s action of embracing him as if falling into his arms, Suho’s eyes flew open.

“Found you.”

Taeyun’s voice, filled with relief, sweetly moistened Suho’s ears and seeped in. Taken aback by Taeyun’s warm reaction that was completely different from what he had imagined, Suho awkwardly put his arms around Taeyun’s back.

“It’s just a day, only a day, but why does it feel so long?”

Is that so?

Come to think of it, after agreeing to meet Taeyun and then encountering Jeong Sehun, Suho had come to the hotel, fallen asleep without realizing when, and when he woke up, he met his omega father. It was nearly two days, but strictly speaking, only one night had passed, so the time they were apart was just one day.

“Because I didn’t answer your calls…”

Finally, is Taeyun going to mention his hurt feelings? Suho couldn’t look Taeyun directly in the eyes, afraid he might hear words of resentment. So he gripped Taeyun’s back more tightly, not wanting him to pull away.

“You were scared, right?”

“What?”

Then, at Taeyun’s playful words, Suho’s hands loosened in bewilderment. Taeyun, now exactly one arm’s length away from Suho, met his eyes.

“You must have worried I’d be upset…”

Taeyun spoke with narrowed eyes, as if he knew without having to see, and it was true. Moreover, with his alpha father involved, it had been difficult for Suho to go to him easily.

“You met my… uh, that is, my alpha father, right?”

“He came to see me.”

“And what did he say? Did he make unreasonable demands of you?”

“Not unreasonable, but he did make demands.”

Unlike Suho, who was speaking with difficulty, Taeyun answered easily. Yes to the question of whether he met Jeong Sehun. Yes also to the question of whether he made unreasonable demands.

“He used me as leverage, right? Because I’m dating you…”

“That’s right too. He’s good at business, isn’t he? When did he cast you aside, now it’s all second son this, second son that. He even thrust a family register at me.”

At Taeyun’s muttering about how thorough Jeong Sehun was, Suho’s face began to darken. He shouldn’t bring up his pregnancy right away. What demands did his alpha father make? If Taeyun was harmed because of him, he wouldn’t have the face to keep seeing him.

“Taeyun. If it’s because of me, don’t give in to those demands.”

“Senior?”

“Or should I go and talk to him? It’s wrong to use you, who’s still a college student and doesn’t know anything.”

Suho turned away from Taeyun as if he might go to the hotel right away. He should have said something before leaving earlier. If his omega father hadn’t stopped him, he would have said at least one thing.

“Senior.”

Taeyun blocked Suho’s path. Then, similar to how Hyun Yusoo had done, he pulled Suho towards himself.

“Don’t go.”

“But I can’t cause you trouble. Just because of me…”

“It’s not because of you, Senior.”

Taeyun rubbed his forehead a bit awkwardly.

“Strictly speaking, I created this situation. I approached you first because I hated how he cast you aside like that.”

Contrary to his determination to go to Jeong Sehun and say something no matter what, Suho slowly turned towards Taeyun.

“So, I set the trap first.”

If Taeyun hadn’t made the first move, Jeong Sehun would never have known about Suho and his relationship. Taeyun honestly revealed that he was the cause of this situation.

“I tried to get revenge on your behalf and got caught instead. So it’s true that I made the first move.”

Taeyun’s smile as he said he got caught was so bright that Suho wondered if he had heard wrong.