CHAPTER 11

HAN JIHAN

       A breeze blew down my face from where I lay on the meadow a hill down my home. A vast land of grass with flowers on its ends opens to enormous trees. Spring announced its arrival early this year, with faint breezes that smelled like forest and jasmine. Wiping the snow clean off the surface. 

       I shift my head and look over at Joah, laying beside me with his eyes closed. A cool breeze kisses my cheeks as it tugs my lips into a smile. 

       Yesterday, Jungho called in home's telephone. Dad was the one to take. They talked to each other for some time and I heard dad saying stuff about my wellness. I stood in the living room with my ears perched up. 

       "Oh, yes. He's very well now and he's beside me, I can give him the phone." Dad said, making my heart drop down to the pit of my stomach and start to pound from there. 

       All of a sudden I found myself standing in the corner of the living room with a telephone in my sweaty hands and a pounding heart against my chest.

       It is not the first time he's called here, but it's the first time I'm talking. He had called when I was sick and I was not strong enough to climb down the stairs to talk to him, so it's always dad or mom who talked to him. 

       Dad waved his hand at the phone and told me to talk, a smile on his lips. I feel my mouth go dry as I press the phone to my ear. 

        "Hello?" His voice is thick and hollow, it hits my eardrums in a way that I feel like floating through the air. 

       "Hello." I greet back after taking all my courage to not squeak it out. 

       "Hey, how are you doing?" He asks.

       "I'm good, alpha. How are you?"

       "I'm okay, the schedules are crammed, you know, that's why I haven't been able to visit you yet," he says and I could make out the tiredness in his deep voice.

        "Oh, it's fine actually. I can imagine and you don't have to come, I'm completely fine now." 

       "Driving up there is no big deal if it wasn't for the tight schedule. Still, I will be able to visit soon."

       "But. . .you don't have to, alpha. . ." I trailed off twirling the cord in my hands.

       "What if I want to?" Jungho implores and all the blood in my veins decides to rush to my cheeks and down to my neck. I felt my stomach tightens in anticipation.

        Does that mean he wants to see me?    

        Does he wish to see me like I wish to see him all the time?

       "I won't come if you don't want me to." He added and that's when I realized I never replied to him. That I've been standing here with this stupid smile plastered onto my mouth and mute.

       "Oh, no! I'm more than happy to see you, alpha." I'm quick to object because I do like to see that gorgeous face of his again. I can't afford to lose this chance. 

       "You sure?" He sounds dubious. 

       "I am." A wicked smile stubbornly kept my lips wide.

       "Then, I'll be there soon!" 

       "—han!" I blink my eyes once then squint at the hand waving before my face. My eyes travel down the length of the pale, slender hand and collide with Joah's wide one. He propped his weight on his left elbow as he sticks his neck out to look at me closely. "Earth to Jihan!" A teasing smile bloomed on his pink lips. 

       I lift my hands and shove him across the chest making him fall on his back with a cracked laugh. I huff out a breath as a blush creeps up to my cheeks.

       "Is it about that alpha boy from the city, again?" Joah's eyebrows dance at me as he props himself up on his elbows. I stay on my back, closing my eyes with a hum.

        I hear him sigh and ruffle while sitting up. Then soon I feel a tug on my pants. "Yes?" I open my eyes and look over at him. 

       "What were you thinking of?" 

       "It's nothing." I lift my hands and place them both on my face. This breeze here is really tempting me to take a nap. 

       "Really?! You maroon should have stayed at your home if you were to be mute here!" He pushes my hands off my face. 

        "Oh, Joah! What do you want me to say now?" I blow out a breath and sit up balancing my weight on my hands and glance at him. The grass tickly under my palms.

        "Forget it! Can we go to the lake? I feel like swimming today." He asks already on his feet and patting at the tiny grasses that stick to his pants.  

       "No. . . my dad told me not to go there." I duck my head down at his wince. 

       "He won't see, man." He said ruffling the long hair at the nape of his neck. 

       "No, Joah. You go, bring Hanel maybe? I'm not gonna go with you. I'm barely out of my bed. I can't risk it." I argue even though it's not about being sick. The reason dad said no to the lake is something else. But I'm scared of dad, he can be too much when he's mad. And I can't make him upset with me. 

       "Don't be a pussy, Jih. It's more fun to do shits behind your parents' back, Nah?" Mischievousness swam his blue eyes.

       "C'mooonn!" He crouches down and pulls me to my feet. Patting the grass sticks on my butt for me.

       Being an omega he sure is a puckish one. Unlike so many omegas here— unlike me. He is strong but got these beautiful curves and all. His pale skin and crystal blue eyes accompanied by his dark locks that fall down to his face in swoops are more than alluring to my eyes— to anyone's. And he's lean for an omega, he's got so many bullying him for that. But it's my favorite thing about him. That makes him look powerful and elegant.

       All the alphas swoon for him, but he waved all of them away. Yet sometimes he can be the wildest and go fool around with any alpha he feels the pull with— again, very unlike me. 

       I never had an alpha put his hands on me. Not like my parents would keep me in their house after that, but then again, it's not like his parents are aware. They're not at all aware of their son's doings. 

       Sometimes I wonder how come he and I became so close like this. Like I can get depressed by the thought of leaving him here and going to the city to live with Jungho. I never loved anyone like I did Joah, he's a brother to me. The one I never had.

       So it is very hard for me to say no to him. Even though he got me in trouble countless times.

       And I'm sure as hell I'm going to regret this but I let the word fall out of my mouth. 

        "Okay."