No Alphas Allowed - C116

#116

Suho came to the cafe after a long time. Inhaling the subtle coffee aroma wafting through the air, Suho picked up the lemon tea in front of him. As he sipped and swallowed, the fragrant lemon flavor flowed down his throat. Enjoying that scent, Suho drank the lemon tea several more times before looking up to gaze out the window.

With the start of vacation, the number of college students had noticeably decreased, but some still passed by for summer classes or other reasons. Though Suho was also a college student, sitting in the cafe like this and watching them often made him feel as if he was in a different world from them. The window felt like a boundary line separating him from their world.

That’s how it had been before meeting Taeyun.

Suho tapped his cheek with the hand propping up his chin. He still felt unable to mix in, but the accompanying emotions had changed. Feeling lonely for not fitting in? Wondering why he couldn’t live normally? Unlike the past when he had such thoughts, now…

“It seems it’s time to research tea more than coffee now.”

Secretary Lee Jinhyuk, who had moved the empty lemon tea glass to a tray, brought over cold water and tangerine tea. He brought water in case Suho’s mouth felt dry, and tangerine tea to match Suho’s preference for citrus teas.

“Thank you.”

“Take your time. It’s nice for me too, not being lonely after a while.”

At Secretary Lee Jinhyuk’s words, Suho gave an awkward smile as if feeling guilty. He had come to the cafe after a long time because he had been spending time with Taeyun. Thinking about how Secretary Lee Jinhyuk must have been alone in this place with no other customers, Suho felt apologetic.

“You don’t have to look at me like that. I wasn’t that bored. I worked and made a new friend too.”

Secretary Lee Jinhyuk read Suho’s expression and waved his hand, telling him not to feel burdened.

“A new friend?”

“I think they’ll come today too.”

Secretary Lee Jinhyuk checked his wristwatch but didn’t say anything else, as if telling Suho to see for himself when they arrive. Watching Secretary Lee Jinhyuk go into the kitchen, Suho turned his body back around.

Since whoever it was would be coming soon, he felt lightly that he would find out soon enough. Instead, he wanted to fully enjoy this leisurely moment now.

“Hyung Jinhyuk.”

At the voice calling Secretary Lee Jinhyuk familiarly while opening the door, Suho turned his head. His eyes met with the person coming in, and Yoo Jinhan also stopped in his tracks when he spotted Suho.

“Senior Suho.”

After a moment of surprise, Yoo Jinhan called out to Suho in a glad voice and walked straight to his table. He hadn’t even thought to put down the backpack on his shoulders, pulling out a chair and sitting down with energetic movements that caught Suho’s attention. As Suho just quietly stared, Yoo Jinhan waved his hand in front of Suho’s eyes, joking, “Are you really there? It’s me, Yoo Jinhan.”

“I know you’re Yoo Jinhan.”

“How have you been? Why does it feel like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you?”

Though it was natural not to see each other during vacation, it hadn’t actually been that long since they last met. Still, Yoo Jinhan’s fuss felt cute.

“You’re right. How have you been?”

“I signed up for summer classes this time. I felt like I should get some credits while I have a bit of free time.”

Yoo Jinhan belatedly put his bag down next to him and draped his arm over the chair. Then he peeked towards the kitchen. Remembering how he had called out “Hyung Jinhyuk” when entering earlier, Suho realized that the friend Secretary Lee Jinhyuk mentioned must be Yoo Jinhan.

“When did you two become close?”

“Around the time before vacation started? When it comes to sociability, it’s me, right?”

Yoo Jinhan’s connections were already proven through PC rooms and cafes. Well, he had approached Suho without burden too.

“How did you become close?”

“It’s not difficult to explain. First, if someone is even a year older than me, I treat them respectfully.”

Yoo Jinhan lowered his voice as if sharing his secret technique.

“Instead of trying to act like peers with someone one or two years older, if you show respect, their heart follows.”

And knowing that later when they become close, they really become like friendly older brothers, Suho looked at him with amusement. It was fascinating since he didn’t have that kind of personality himself, and it was fun to watch. As if reading Suho’s mind, Yoo Jinhan raised his chin and pointed to himself.

“I’m the only close friend Senior Suho has anyway.”

He seemed to be saying it was a method that worked on everyone, but unfortunately it didn’t work on Suho.

“There’s Taeyun though?”

At the shock of ‘Sorry, I’m closest with Taeyun’, Yoo Jinhan sent a look of betrayal.

“I became close with you first though.”

“Taeyun is closer now though.”

“You could have glossed over it nicely, did you have to point that out?”

“Taeyun likes that kind of thing.”

At Suho’s words that it was his own personality but Taeyun also liked clear statements, Yoo Jinhan just surrendered. It’s not like he didn’t know that senior’s personality. Meanwhile, Secretary Lee Jinhyuk, who had brewed coffee, set it down in front of Yoo Jinhan.

“Since you’re not a customer the young master has allowed, I won’t charge you.”

“Ah, if you do that, I’m grateful of course.”

Yoo Jinhan accepted the coffee right away without any signs of refusal, grinning broadly. It seemed this wasn’t the first time he had gotten free drinks like this.

“Oh right, Hyung Jinhyuk. How were those side dishes from last time?”

“They were delicious. Please tell them I enjoyed them.”

“As expected, my mom’s cooking skills are no joke. She sent a lot this time too and it was hard to eat alone, so I’ll bring some tomorrow.”

Suho just nodded quietly at the conversation between Yoo Jinhan and Secretary Lee Jinhyuk. He thought it was very like Yoo Jinhan to show his own sincerity, not just getting free coffee.

“Drinking delicious coffee and meeting Senior Suho unexpectedly. Ah, this is so nice.”

Watching Yoo Jinhan’s aegyo as he gave good lip service, Suho suddenly thought that aside from Taeyun, he was the only person Suho could call a friend.

“Taeyun’s not giving you trouble, right? If he ever meets another omega saying you’re a beta, tell me. I’ll scold him for you.”

“For the time being, I’ll be the only omega Taeyun meets.”

It might not be just for the time being, but for life.

“Of course. In my eyes, Senior Suho is much more precious, so it should just be you… Huh?”

Yoo Jinhan, who was about to argue that he would definitely be on Senior Suho’s side between him and Taeyun, suddenly realized something strange and widened his eyes.

“Omega? Omega? But Senior, you’re a beta.”

“Um… I somehow presented as an omega.”

He should have told Yoo Jinhan even if no one else. Though it was a bit late, Suho spoke honestly. While Yoo Jinhan gulped down coffee several times trying to calm his shocked mind, Suho drank his tangerine tea and waited.

“When?”

“Not long ago.”

“Was it when you were absent for a week? Before you said you were dating Taeyun.”

“That’s right. I told you too late.”

Yoo Jinhan drank more coffee to soothe himself, but also waved his hand.

“I’m grateful you told me even now.”

Instead of feeling hurt about why Suho hadn’t told him about his personal situation earlier, Yoo Jinhan thanked him for telling him now. Seeing Yoo Jinhan’s kind heart, Suho thought he had done well to tell him.

“I see. So Senior became an omega. Still, you’re too good for Kwon Taeyun.”

Amused by Yoo Jinhan’s mutterings, Suho, who had been enjoying the tea’s aroma, felt a bit mischievous. Since Yoo Jinhan’s reactions were fun in a different way from Taeyun’s, he wanted to surprise him twice since they met today.

“Even if I’m too good, there’s nothing we can do. Taeyun is completely smitten with me. He says he’ll take responsibility for both me and the baby, and he’s been reading books every day lately, busy preparing to become a father. It’s admirable to see.”

“So Kwon Taeyun is doing such admirable things.”

Yoo Jinhan, who had been nodding his head like a doll while robotically repeating Suho’s words, stopped all reactions.

“Ugh…”

Yoo Jinhan jumped up from his seat and hurriedly covered his mouth as he was about to scream. His eyes rolled as he looked at Suho and then at Secretary Lee Jinhyuk, who had been watching for some time. Only when he was out of breath did he lower his hand.

“I didn’t know you’d tell Jinhan.”

“As you can see, he’s a friend who likes me a lot.”

“That he is.”

While Suho and Secretary Lee Jinhyuk conversed lightly, only Yoo Jinhan clutched his head trying to suppress his confusion. As his complicated mind gradually sorted itself out, Yoo Jinhan’s expression slowly calmed. He set upright the chair that had fallen back when he jumped up, sat down, and first examined Suho’s complexion to see if he had been startled.

“You weren’t surprised, were you?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. And congratulations.”

“Are you done being surprised? You can be more surprised if you want.”

“I’m still very surprised… But I should show a quickly accepting attitude as an uncle for the baby’s sake, right?”

At Yoo Jinhan’s response, shamelessly calling himself an uncle, Suho burst out laughing as if admitting defeat.

“If I hadn’t met Senior today… I’m glad I did.”

“I enjoyed it thanks to you too.”

“Then I’m glad. The baby, what’s its prenatal name?”

As if feeling awkward just saying “baby”, Yoo Jinhan tilted his head and suddenly asked about the prenatal name.

“Prenatal name?”

“The name you call it while it’s in the belly.”

“We don’t have one yet.”

He hadn’t thought about it at all. When Suho awkwardly shook his head, Yoo Jinhan stiffened even more.

“You can think about that slowly. I have to go now because it’s class time.”

“Okay. See you again.”

“I’ll contact you. Make sure to answer.”

Yoo Jinhan waved his phone at Suho as he picked up his bag and coffee. Only after he left, waving his hand telling Suho to definitely keep in touch, did the lively atmosphere calm down.

Suho looked down at the tangerine tea that had now cooled and lost its aroma, then stretched. He thought about going home now, having gotten enough fresh air from this brief outing.

Just then, the vibration of the phone left on the table rang through the cafe. Suho picked up the buzzing phone to silence the vibration. Thinking it would naturally be Taeyun, Suho flipped over the phone but couldn’t take his eyes off the unexpected contact.