‘So how’s your first week? Excited to start?’ Jeonghan turned to look at a soft-looking male omega who took a sit beside him. The man wore a simple sweater with a cardigan, looking comfortable instead of fashionable. Somehow, it made him stand out amongst the other freshman omegas who wore the best outfit they own as the start of their new adult life on campus. Jeonghan gave him a quick smile, noticing the other looking at him while he was evaluating his outfit. The man had a gentle look on his face.

‘Owh, I know that look.’ With no definite answer, the gentle male commented to which Jeonghan tried to ignore, hoping he would get the hint and leave him alone. He just wanted to be alone with his mind, judging people.

After almost a week of socializing, the literature student decided he had enough and ignored the rest of the orientation activity. It wouldn’t actually affect his studies anyway so he need not pretend to enjoy it. Trying to act happy when he wasn’t was exhausting.

Though fully aware of the fact that he needed to make friends, he really didn’t feel like talking with the overly excited bunch. It uses too much social battery and he only had a few to begin with. Well, at least the guy sitting beside him didn’t look like the giddy, cheerful type so he might be left alone after a while. In fact, the man sounded really soft, and somehow sounded as if he was just asking out of concern instead of trying to force a conversation.

It felt weird. As if the man was a parent asking his child about his first day of school. So to speak. He wouldn’t know exactly how it supposed to be though, since he barely remembered his own experience when his father was alive and everything was good.  

‘What look?’ He tried to reply. It had been a while since somebody talk like that to him. The principle at the shelter used to use that tone, along with a few ahjummas so it felt really awkward to listen to it being spoken by a young man.

‘That face you’re making.’ Jeonghan didn’t know what to do with his face at that comment. All of a sudden he became fully aware of all the muscles on his face and tried to move them so he wouldn’t make ‘the’ face this other omega was talking about. ‘Haha, I had the same expression when I came here. You’re feeling out of place aren’t you?’

‘Are you a psychology major or something?’ He replied sarcastically. Maybe this guy is a know-it-all guy who was desperate to prove his intellect to every person he met. And god, those people are annoying.

‘Naah… you kinda remind me of someone.’ The other looked at him and Jeonghan just stared back, trying to analyze this person. He was wondering where this conversation was going. ‘Me.’ The man answered without being asked, laughing by himself. His voice was so soothing to hear Jeonghan just felt like listening, even though his joke was lame.

‘I didn’t know anyone here. I didn’t know the culture, didn’t get the jokes… they didn’t get mine…’ he continued before pausing and Jeonghan stared at him curiously. One, because it was interesting how he kept talking about himself without sounding too self-oriented, two because he spoke as if he was a foreigner in his own country. Or, maybe he was one of those weird otaku who speaks otaku language or whatever they speak. ‘I’m… from America in case you’re wondering.’

‘Ahh… Explains the accent.’ Jeonghan finally allowed himself to laugh. Of course the guy was a foreigner! He didn’t look like the weird anime-loving otaku, or whatever otaku is.

‘Yah, I improved a lot. It’s way better than when I first got here.’ Jeonghan smirked, trying to imagine how this pretty male sounded when he first got here. Wait, when DID he got here? Why did he sound like he had been here for a while when he looks young enough to be the same age as him?

‘Joshua Hong, 4th year Social Science by the way. You?’

‘Yoon Jeonghan. 1st year Literature.’ He took the hand that was offered to him, almost shocking himself when he momentarily thought the other could read his mind. He had to admit it, this Joshua guy seemed really different from the typical Korean in every way. From the way he talk, to his choice of words, to how he reacts, it was actually not hard to believe his story about being from America. ‘You’re a senior? You don’t look that old…’

‘I’m actually your age.’ Joshua stated, again with his gentle voice. It was calming. Jeonghan found himself not hating this situation despite his earlier reluctance to make friends. ‘I’m just smart, if you’re wondering.’

‘Heol.’ He replied jokingly, earning him a laugh from the American. Turning his whole body back to look at the group of freshman, and again towards his senior, he finally understood the situation. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be back there helping them out?’

‘Aren’t you supposed to be in there being herded?’

‘Do I have to?’ He asked playfully. He knew the answer but he just wanted to talk. It had been a while since he had a normal conversation with a stranger who didn’t know who he was. Based on Joshua’s lack of reaction at the mention of his name, he would like to think the man had no idea who he was. ‘Not really. It’ll help though.’

‘You’re not convincing me.’

‘I wasn’t planning to...’ Joshua replied nonchalantly, moving his head closer, whispering, ‘I’m just here so I can rest.’

‘Owh…’ Jeonghan nodded his head, turning back to look at the wall he had been staring at since before Joshua kept him company. The other seemed content with the silence which, Jeonghan was also not used to. He felt like he had to start another conversation just for the sake of talking. ‘You don’t know me?’

‘Are you an idol? I don’t watch TV…’ The cat-eyed omega replied apologetically which sounded sincere. Somehow everything that came out of that sweet mouth of him made Jeonghan believe him. Joshua was just, a soft, lovable puppy in his eyes. He never thought of anyone like this, not even his friends let alone a person he just met. ‘I wrote a few books.’

‘Owh… I only read white paper. Sorry… I’ll make sure to read your writing!’

‘No! It’s fine. It’s nothing to be proud of. I prefer you don’t read it.’ He somehow like the idea of making friends like this, the traditional way. Joshua seemed like a cool guy, and it’s been a years since someone asked him personal questions because they want to get to know him instead of confirming what they read about in his books. If he remembered correctly, the last time would be when he first joined the omega school. Since then, everyone were more curious about his dark past rather than who he really was. He wanted to experience that again.

He wondered if college is filled with people like this. Before coming here, his social circle only consists of the omegas from the shelters, the alphas he met at the clubs, and his readers, all of whom knew well about what happened to him. Meeting Joshua, he realized there are actually people like him who never even heard of the Korean boy who made the headlines for exposing his abusers.

Which meant, he might be able to do it, making friends.

, now everything seemed interesting again. He couldn’t wait to officially start his college life.

*****

Let’s stop seeing each other – Lovely Woori

Seungcheol stared at the message from his girlfriend for the umpteenth time, still trying to digest reality. He already tried calling her, he left voice messages, he even sent her private messages on all her social media accounts. There was still no reply and he was left helpless and lost at the situation.

Rubbing his eyes, sighing to release his confusion and frustration, Seungcheol let himself fall on the bed and covered his eyes with his sleeve. He couldn’t think straight. Everything didn’t make sense. Everything felt like a dream. A bad dream he wished he would wake up from. He could hear the ringing in his ears, his cheeks vibrating from the pressure in his eyes... all his nerves were palpitating and yet he felt as if all his energy were drained out of his body.

He couldn’t believe it. He wanted to think that his omega sent the wrong message to him but it would mak