"Dein suddenly felt the urge to smoke. As he thought back to that day, the bitter taste always lingered in his mouth, just like it always did.
You might be right.
Dein thought.
But was it really necessary for you to hurt me so much?
Instead of lighting a cigarette, he placed one hand on his mouth and jaw and slowly rubbed them. Suddenly, it felt like his eyes were burning.
Every time, I realize that she doesn’t love me.
Back when he lived with his mother, he was in constant agony. To a child, parents are everything. Who would understand the feeling of being rejected by the world?
But he, too, had forgotten his mother. After waking up from drinking, she would kiss him, saying, as usual, that she loved him, and Dein would watch her, confused. The same mother who had spoken such hurtful words to him the day before now whispered in the sweetest tone, calling him her only treasure. Which side of her was the real one?
The one who was drunk must be the real one.
He thought that, but deep down, he wanted to believe it wasn’t true. Instead of confirming his mother’s true feelings, he chose to follow her and say that he loved her, hugging her. Even though his heart was tangled with anxiety and distrust.
"I couldn’t help it because I was just a kid. If I had run away without a plan, I would’ve ended up as a criminal or a homeless person."
He said, sighing, as he regretted not smoking a cigarette.
"So I had to stay with her, wondering what her true feelings were."
Grayson didn’t say anything and simply waited for him to speak next. He was barely able to suppress the urge to pull him into an embrace, to shout, "I love you more than anyone else in this world!"
Around the time his 13th birthday was approaching, Dein Striker was making somewhat mature plans. He had decided that right after graduating high school, he would get married to the girl he had been dating and become independent. She was the first girlfriend he had ever had, and they had shared their first kiss a few years ago.
Over the years, he had worked part-time every summer to save up a bit of money. It wasn’t nearly enough to live on independently, but if he kept saving until graduation, it would add up.
Going to the military wasn’t such a bad idea, either...
For someone in Dein’s situation, it would be the perfect place. The treatment was good, and he could earn a decent salary. If he set up house in the military housing, it would be possible to manage. Of course, it depended on his girlfriend’s opinion, so they would need to talk about that too.
But first, money.
With that thought in mind, he headed to a fast-food place located far from his neighborhood as soon as his class ended. Given his age, it was almost impossible to get a job like this. However, since he had already given up on studying, the only thing he had in abundance was time. So, he found a place where he could work after school. The manager seemed to like his work ethic and even mentioned that they would hire him as a full-time employee after graduation. Of course, Dein just smiled and thanked him.
"Hey, Dein. Welcome."
The manager greeted him warmly and immediately began assigning tasks once Dein put on his uniform.
"Move those buns over here, organize the patties... Oh, and the trash bin in the back is full. Empty that too."
The flood of requests was quickly carried out by him. The manager watched, pleased with how quickly the work was done. However, one of the employees raised an eyebrow and scolded him.
"Don’t you think you’re working the kid too hard? He looks sick."
"Is he sick? Dein?"
The manager asked, surprised. She looked at him seriously and said,
"Look, his face is redder than usual. He seems to have a fever."
"Really? Well, that’s not good! He might spread a virus!"
The manager rushed toward him in a panic. The employee stared at her in disbelief.
"She’s really going all out for him..."
Shaking her head, just as a customer walked in, she quickly plastered a professional smile on her face and rushed to the counter.
"Welcome, what can I get for you?"
As she hurriedly took the order, the manager searched for Dein, finally spotting him outside the back door.
"Dein! Dein!"
The manager urgently called, and Dein, who had been emptying the trash, turned around, puzzled. The manager, looking pale, quickly walked over to him, inspecting his face and body before mumbling to herself.
"Yeah, his face is so red..."
"Huh?"
Dein furrowed his brow, not understanding, and the manager suddenly reached out. Startled, he flinched, but she placed her hand on his forehead and quickly pulled it away, her eyes wide with shock.
"What, what?! You have a fever! You’re burning up, are you okay?"
"A fever?"
Dein blinked, about to touch his forehead himself, but then he remembered he had just emptied the trash and hesitated. The manager waved her hand in a panic and said with a contorted face,
"Forget ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) it, just go home. Don’t come back until the fever’s down, okay?"
"Huh? But..."
He was about to say he wasn’t sick, but the manager stopped him.
"What if you spread a virus? You could get sued! Go home right now! Hurry!"
She repeatedly urged him, and with no choice, Dein reluctantly left the store. Annoyed, he looked back at the shop, but they shut the door right in front of him, leaving him no way to get back in.
"What the hell...?"
He grumbled, feeling his forehead but finding nothing unusual except for a slight fever. As he pedaled his bike home, the cool breeze brushed his cheek, and he felt his body becoming increasingly sluggish.
Did I catch a cold...?
He vaguely thought, his body feeling heavier. He just wanted to get home and rest.
Struggling to pedal, he finally reached the apartment he lived in and let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it.
Phew.
Unlike usual, he didn’t shower and just lay down on the couch in the clothes he had been wearing. For some reason, he didn’t feel like lifting a finger. Just a quick nap would be enough. Just a short one...
His thoughts trailed off there, and without realizing it, he fell into a deep sleep.
Hours later, Dein woke up, feeling a choking sensation around his neck.
"Cough, cough, hack."
He gasped, barely opening his eyes. In the dark, he saw someone sitting on top of him. Dein blinked rapidly, but it was hard to tell who it was since only a faint silhouette was visible in the darkness.
But honestly, he didn’t need to see to know. If someone had come into his cheap apartment to strangle him, there was only one person it could be.
...It couldn’t be.
Still, Dein denied it.
It couldn’t be my mother.
Tears welled up in his eyes reflexively. He tried to remove the hands choking him, but his body wouldn’t respond. His hands slipped away from his mother’s arms multiple times.
Meanwhile, the strength choking him was tremendous. His whole body was being used to squeeze the life out of him, and with her incredible grip, Dein couldn’t escape.
Gasping for air, his mother, still pressing on his throat, spoke.
"How... how could you do this to me..."
She was sobbing. Her voice trembled, and warm tears fell onto Dein’s face.
"How could you awaken as an omega, how could you too..."
She gasped for breath, and with even harsher sobs, she cried out.
"Dein, my baby. You’d be better off dead."
A shrill whistle-like sound escaped as she leaned down and whispered into his ear, just as he was on the verge of losing consciousness.
"Let’s die together."
That was the last thing Dein heard from his mother.
When he regained consciousness, the manifestation was over. And his mother’s life had also ended.
He was sitting on the very couch where he had been lying just moments before, staring blankly at the body of his mother hanging by her neck from the window frame."
