Chapter 104 - The Trauma Remains 3

After what happened this morning, Minwoo didn't expect Mr. Seo to actually invite him to their hiking trip as planned. Though they already told him about it, he just assumed it was canceled because of their bad introduction. Or at least, that the father and son duo would ditch him.

And with that thought, he had been in the kitchen since after dinner, trying to make peace with the lady of the house by helping her cook. At least there is something he can do to get one of the parent's approval.

Everything was going well with the woman teaching him her recipe, until his eyes caught on the old man walking slowly towards the door. As soon as their eyes met, Mr. Seo looks at him with a look of disbelief and gestures him to sneak out.

He didn't know that unlike normal people who goes through the front door after telling their family, the father-son duo prefers to sneak out in the middle of the night just for the thrill. Being pressured, only now able to understand the whole situation, Minwoo makes an excuse to stop cutting the chicken. And as he makes his way towards the toilet, he maneuvers out to find Wonho already has his belongings ready.

He can swear Mrs. Seo knows about it and curses himself. After all that effort….

'Why are you guys sneaking out? I thought she knew?' He whispers to Wonho as they drive towards the mountain. He is really puzzled about what is going on, but he is sure he just got a minus point from Mrs. Seo.

'My sister's coming back tonight. It'll be chaotic. She won't let us leave then.'

'You're running away??'

'What's wrong with running away?' Mr. Seo comments and Minwoo shoves himself to the backrest in disbelief, pitying his situation right now. Apparently, Wonho and his father does this every year despite his mother's warnings; they are the only ones capable of doing so because they aren't affected by his mother's pheromones when she gets angry. They used to do it with Byeongho but since he presented, he got too nervous to join them.

As he expected, Wonho's whole family is able to do it - expressing their strong emotions through their scents. Well, right now it is just a working hypothesis, but it would make more sense to him if all Wonho's siblings are able to do so instead of just his mother and him.

After a two-hour break at a nearby rest-stop, the trio finally head towards the mountain area. Minwoo realizes he needs an energy booster because unlike the two who slept before the trip, he wasn't aware of the silly plan and chose to work in the kitchen instead. And now, he is starting to get tired, yet they still haven't started to climb.

In fact, he is so dazed he already spilled some drinks and called a 'pabo' by Wonho a few times while Mr. Seo laughed at him. How embarrassing.

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It is interesting, how there are actually a few more people with them also ready to hike. Even now, he still cannot grasp the idea of hiking in the middle of the winter, at night. It is weird.

Fortunately, the place is well lit, not so much so that the stars are barely seen, only enough that they would know where to go without getting lost. Clearly people do this all the time. And also, the route is not hard, the only challenge is not to slip and fall on their bums and embarrass themselves. That being said, Minwoo still cannot help but worry over his skinny omega. He knows Wonho is stronger than he looks but he look so, so weak. As if he can be blown by the wind any second, or tumble down and get lost in the woods. Though, there are not many trees to be called a wood to begin with, but still…

'Half an hour left. Alright!' Wonho exclaims as they reach the peak and high-fives his father before signaling Minwoo to sit beside him. Bringing out a few cans of beer from his bag, Mr. Seo hands it to the alpha. All three men then cheer among themselves and sip, trying to relax.

How long has it been, since he feels so relaxed? This serene? Since he got back to Korea, nothing really worked the way he wanted. After what happened, he can never truly feel like himself. But then he made up with Wonho, and with his omega constantly by his side, no omegas actually bother him, and he himself never feels the need to hunt for a mate. Everything feels so much better he no longer feel suffocated.

And with his mate this carefree, enveloping him in his wondrous scent, Minwoo finds himself letting loose.

Everything feels wonderful.

'Wono, Minwoo, it's starting.' The old man points out towards the horizon. Looking at the position he is pointing, Minwoo's jaw drops open. Now he knows why they are doing this.

'The first sunrise of the year. Brings good luck.' Wonho explains.

'Wonie, this is beautiful.' First sunrise. Such a Korean thing to do, believing in this kind of stuff. Minwoo never cared about these things. He grew up in a country where the people do not celebrate his own tradition, and he doesn't celebrate theirs, like most immigrants. Besides the short video calls during Korean holidays, his parents would bring him out to eat in a Korean restaurant, and that was it. So for Minwoo, traditions are nothing but a waste of time.

He still thinks some are but this, this is worth it. Even if he doesn't believe in good lucks, going all the way here just to see this scenery in front of him makes him feel something inside. The sort of calm that came from a feeling of accomplishment rather than belief.

He can get used to this.

'Wonie?' He hears Mr. Seo asks, and looks at his mate, just because. He then noticed that the old man is not looking at Wonho, but at him. And he does not look please. Minwoo glances back towards his mate who is now slightly blushing.

That is when it hits him - he just called Wonho with his pet name, in front of his father. Owh shit.

'The name stuck,' Wonho replies, trying to brush it off but before Minwoo can avoid it, his eyes happen to meet with Mr. Seo's who narrows his eyes, discontented.

Minwoo gulps.

'Appa, let's just watch the sunrise.' Wonho pushes his father lightly with his body, easing the tension.

Minwoo swears the Seos are the scariest bunch he has ever met.