The Claimed Omega

The older of the two pats the sofa and looks back at the brochures and documents in his bag, making sure everything is perfect. Minwoo is preparing their drinks - hot chocolate for the omega and cafe latte for himself.

This has been their ritual before any of their 'talk' to discuss important issues that may cause an argument. There had been some in the last few years they were together, and each time, someone would do something and the other would react negatively. So they started adding rules, to make sure they can manage through the talk calmly. And after lots of talking, the couple realizes that holding hands throughout the discussion is the one thing that work. If one of them is triggered or felt strongly about something, they will naturally twitch their fists or squeeze it slightly which will alert their partner. It took a lot of practice, which was not as hard as the years go by since they hold hands very often compared to when they first started going out, but they managed to perfect their hand-holding technique.

'What do we have here?' Minwoo places their drinks on the coffee table and sits on the floor, right beside Wonho, leaning against the sofa. The latter holds out his hand and clamps Minwoo's tightly in his, bringing his forehead up front to bunt with the other. He likes to do it, preferring their headbutts over kisses which Minwoo likes.

After a few minutes of preparing the talk to be brought to their main topic, Wonho finally asks, 'What do you think about France?'

Minwoo smiles at the question. It has been a while since he last thought about that country, or any European countries for that matter, minus his hometown that is. His priority changed, and so did his dreams for the future. Now that the omega mentioned it, he always loved going to Alsace, a village in France.

'You wanna go to France?' For some reason, the omega jerks at that question, Minwoo can feel his hand pulsating momentarily in his. Maybe he is disappointed because they have no time? He always feels bad about that but they are both still students so there is still a lot of time for them. 'We can go if you want… I have summer holiday-'

'No, Minwoo it's not…I, got an offer.' The alpha's face lights up. He feels over the moon. Wonho reporting the offer like this only means he is ready to take the job, unlike those few others he rejected.

So, Wonho wants to celebrate? Is that why he mentioned France? They can always go there right after graduation, Minwoo has a week off before starting his residency. Hugging the smaller man beside him, telling him words of encouragement and congratulations, he releases it and looks back at Wonho's face. 

The latter is not showing any signs of being happy. 

'Is it far?' Wonho nods and Minwoo's face falls. It seems, his mate decided to take the ones in the suburbs after all. Forcing himself a smile, he caresses the omega's face. 'It'll be fine. I can try to apply the hospital nearby. Where is it?' 

There is another squeeze in his hand.

'Really far. I dunno if you can go there.'

Minwoo almost makes a fist before noticing the hand in his. He sighs. Though he doesn't like the situation, he understands. 'It's only for two years. I can open a clinic then-'

'It's in France.' Wonho cuts him off. 

Minwoo eyes widens. He must have misheard. It must be some unknown place in Korea. He is still not familiar with the names.

'France?' He reconfirms, half jokingly. Wonho does not seem bemused, and instead nods his head. Feeling his mouth dry at the action, Minwoo looks at the ceiling, trying to find a word to say. 

'How? Did you just randomly applied for a job in another country? For fun?? Why France?!' Minwoo breathes heavily, trying to control his anger. He still cannot accept this. If this is a joke, it is too much.

On the other side, Wonho pushes his bag behind him, no longer having the enthusiasm to show the pamphlets he received after seeing the agitated reaction. Unfortunately, his action caught Minwoo's attention who lets go of his hand. Swiftly, the alpha gets hold of those papers. And as expected, he isn't pleased. 

'Yah, Wonie, this is a prank right? Tell me it is.' He looks back at the paper, noting that some of it is written in Korean. 'You went to an agent? You can't trust an agent. This can be a scam!'

'No. It's-' He doesn't know if he should expose Joseph but Minwoo doesn't know him personally, and if mentioning him would ease the worry, he thought he should. 'It's Joseph-hyung. He knows the CEO.'

'Goddamit!' Minwoo mutters to himself. He whispers it, but he doesn't care if omega heard him either. In his anger, he accidentally crumples the brochure. Seeing that, Wonho rushes to grab them from him but before he returns to his place, he gives a sharp look at the alpha. Minwoo, realizing his reaction, takes a deep breath. 'I need some air.'

'I need to be alone.' Wonho responds.

#####

Sangcheol looks over at his mate who looks back at him with the same expression. Minwoo's sudden visit is weird enough as it is. Now, sitting at their dining table, facing them both, he just asked the hardest question both of them have no answer to.

It is not a simple question with right and wrong answer. They can understand where both males came from. They know really well how important architecture is for Wonho, it was the one thing that helped him gain his confident after the attack, and after Heiran. But at the same time, they can also empathize with the alpha in front of them. Minwoo has been trying his best to be Wonho's support, despite his own problems.

They saw how much Minwoo suffered, they saw how much Wonho opened up to Minwoo and allow himself to depend on his alpha, and they saw how, after a lot of obstacles, the two males finally become accustomed and comfortable with each other. If the same option is given to them, both Sangcheol and Haneul would choose each other.

But this is not about them. This is about Minwoo and Wonho.

Haneul breaks the silence first by patting the younger alpha, thinking that if Minwoo wants to blame someone, it should be him. Because, despite his intention, he was the one who introduced Joseph to Wonho, in hope to bring architecture back into his life. Wonho gave up on his dreams and talent based on the mere fact that he is an omega, and Haneul didn't agree with that. And since Joseph knows a lot of omegas working in alpha/beta monopolized field, he hoped his friend would inspire Wonho to change his mind. Which he did.

This wouldn't have happened had Wonho stayed in literature. He wouldn't be pushed this far, and became desperate enough that working overseas becomes his only option.

So yes, Haneul feels that he is the one at fault.

But at the same time, that does not mean he regrets his decision. 'I think… Wonho needs to be free.'