Chapter 113 - A Step Forward 3

As expected, Wonho walks quickly. He is pissed. Normally he would walk beside Minwoo and holds his arm when they are inside the building since other residences are barely seen. Right now, not even sparing him a glance, Wonho unlocks the door and enters their apartment, heading straight to the bathroom. 

'Wonie,' he calls at the omega when the man gets out with a new change of clothes. The latter answers him but still refuses to look at him, playing with the remote instead. 'Are you mad? Cus I threw it?'

'It's just piece of paper. Whatever.' Putting down the knife, Minwoo washes his hand and turns the tap off, 'Yeah. It is.' He continues to cut the carrots before stopping again, not feeling good about it. 'You know why I did it right? I have a mate.'

'Mated alphas don't have omegas flocking around.' Wonho mumbles so softly it is almost inaudible but Minwoo managed to catch it. That stirred something inside him. Trying to light up the tension, he replies, 'That's cus I'm too hot.'

'Good for you. Lots of options.' Wonho gets up and moves towards the television, taking his earphone. 'I'm not hungry.'

'Wonie, I told you I'm not interested in them.' He tries to speak before the omega could cancel all the noise through his earphone and completely ignore him. This is always a sensitive issue between them because it is related to the bond. For some reason Wonho is convinced Minwoo may someday leave him for another because he is free, and truthfully, though he is sure that wouldn't happen, he doesn't know how to convince the man otherwise because, he really doesn't know if he would. There is also the fact that he is only made aware about the older man's feeling through Sangcheol, who was informed by Haneul. Wonho never talk about his feelings. Just sensing his stronger emotions is useless if he has no clue what caused it.

'Wonie, yah!' Minwoo doesn't like being ignored like this. This is a serious issue they need to work out. They have been ignoring it for way too long, he wants a solution. He is tired too. Tired of the other suitors. Tired of Wonho being cold towards him. It is not his fault.

'Hey, I'm talking to you.' He snaps and pulls the man's earphones out, shocking him. Wonho is finally angered and glares back at him, trying to take the earphones back without success.

'What the hell you wanna talk about? The other omegas around you? You're hot? I get it! Just leave it!'

'I told you I don't like them! I have you.'

'We're not even mates. Do whatever you want.' Minwoo twitches at that statement. He knows they aren't mates because it wasn't done right but that is something he had hoped the other would never say. Never. He hates to be reminded of it - his mess, his failure to claim someone completely.

'What did you say?'

'You're a free alpha aren't you? Isn't that why they're all over you?'

'Does it matter?? You're mine and I like you! I'm fucking taking care of you right now! You know how annoying you can be to other people??' Minwoo throws the earphones on the floor and stands up. Noticing the shocked look on the omega, he rubs his temple, taking a deep breath to relax.

'What I'm trying to say is, I hate the omegas too. More than you do.'

'That's cus of your trauma.' Wonho mumbles, avoiding looking at the alpha. He is not prepared for a confrontation. He know this is not Minwoo's fault. He is aware that this is another type of anxiety which is why he had hoped for the alpha to leave him alone so he can calm himself down, like always. But it has come to this and he feels cornered. And he knows he gets defensive when he is trapped. This is really stressing him out.

'Fine!' Wonho winces at the loud voice. Minwoo is angry.

'Let's say I'm not bound to you! But I don't like other omegas.' Minwoo clenches his fists, sensing the insecurity from his omega. Trying really hard to calm himself, he continues, 'Wonie, I like you. I hate other omegas but I love you. That's something right?'

Wonho shakes his head, 'That's the bond! You don't like me!'

'Fucking hell Wonho! Are you even listening to yourself? You're not making sense! First you said I'm a free alpha and now you're telling me my feelings for you is not real. What the fuck do you want? Make up your mind for god's sake!' Minwoo bangs the kitchen counter, hurting his hand in the process. Wonho's eyes widen in shock and he is left speechless. Sensing the fear from the omega, Minwoo curses at the situation and goes to the sink to cool himself. Drenching his face in cold water, he stays there, trying not to do anything stupid.

He knows the older is stressed out because of the flirting from others and finally had enough, anyone would. And with his own disorder, Minwoo is aware that something like this is bound to happen. He knows he needs to be patient, but he cannot. Unlike Sangcheol, he cannot keep collected. He has unresolved anger issues. He cannot help Wonho at all. He only managed to make it worse.

He is useless. He failed his one and only job as an alpha. He failed to make Wonho feel safe.

After a few minutes in the kitchen, not even looking at the other in the living room, Minwoo finally comes up with a solution. As he walks back towards Wonho, he notices the man's arm already red from scratching.

It hurts him.

'Let's redo the bond.' Minwoo suggests sternly. He heard about Sangcheol doing it with Haneul because of the same concern the omega had and thought this is the best idea for their situation. There is nothing bad about it at all - he gets to be bonded, Wonho gets reassurance. It will be a win-win situation. 

…or so he thought. Though Minwoo is excited over that plan, the frown on Wonho suggests the man is thinking otherwise. Minwoo tries to stay calm, holding Wonho's hand to comfort him, to convince him. 'If that's what's bothering you, let's do it again.'

'I don't think I-' Wonho places his hand over the scar on his right neck. 'Why?'

'I just don't feel like it.'

'Don't feel like it?? Is this a simple problem we can solve by 'feeling like it'? You're paranoid Wonho! You're acting out. We need to do something!'

'Something don't have to be THAT, right?' Wonho looks at him, begging to be spared. Minwoo truly cannot comprehend the rejection. Why is he so adamant about not wanting it? 'It won't hurt.'

'It's not that…' the man tries to get away from his grips, trying to run away but Minwoo holds him in place. Still pushing him to accept the suggestion, Minwoo gets more agitated as Wonho starts to show discomfort. 'You can close your eyes.'

'No, I can't do it.' He is struggling to break free. 'Stop it. Minwoo, please.'

'What do you wanna do then?? We can't keep doing this! Are you gonna ignore me every time someone show interest in me? I'm a noble, Wonho! They won't stop!' Wonho doesn't stay anything else, he just keeps trying to free himself from Minwoo. The alpha isn't actually exerting any force, this is clearly a difference in strength. Seeing the watery eyes, Minwoo decides to be an alpha in the relationship and get with it. Wonho is too unstable to make a decision right now. 'I know you're scared. It'll be over quickly.' 

Slap!