Chapter 136 - Life-Changing Decision 1

<A year later>

'Are you really gonna accept that job?' Jinyoung asks him the moment their orders arrived. 

'I dunno.' Wonho sighs, staring at the ramen in front of him. After a year of trying to find a job, he was finally offered one, but he doesn't feel the least bit happy about it.

He should be. In fact, rejection isn't even supposed to be an option for him. While other people found theirs around June, the latest September, Wonho had no luck despite having the best resume in comparison to his classmates. He even got excellent letters of recommendation from his professors, plural, and from Junghoon who offered to write him one at the beginning of his job hunt. But no matter how impressive he was, most of the time, he was rejected due to the omega status written on the piece of paper. Now, with only two months left before graduation, he was desperate.

He didn't want to believe it at first. He thought there was something lacking in his resume, because the firm he interned at was very welcoming to him. But the discrimination became really clear to him when he sent his resume to a company, together with his classmates who were barely able to pass every semester, only to find out most of them were called in, yet he wasn't.

In fact, not to make comparison but among the companies who finally called him for interviews, they ended up hiring one of his classmates.

They did the interview together. The man was really nervous he stuttered terribly, unable to answer most of the questions unlike Wonho. And yet, he got the job and again, Wonho didn't.

Even then, Wonho refused to give up. Though he wanted to stay in Seoul, he tried applying to companies all over Korea, big and small. If not for his alpha paying all his travel expenses, he would've been broke just going across the country for interviews. In small companies own privately, he was welcomed so his therapist wasn't lying. Omegas can be architects; only in small villages, taking small housing projects with no career growth. The only place he was welcomed are where ambitions die. 

So, how he managed to get this one job at a good company in Seoul? He hid his scent. There were no box for second gender in the application form, and he was desperate so he did it as his last resort. Lo and behold, he was treated really differently compared to when he came in as an omega. They loved him. Which made it even harder for him to stop doing so. Until the final interview, he kept pretending to be a beta.

He thought about revealing his real self so he tried asking about omega architects. But he was laughed at. Though not straight to his face, they looked bemused. And he knew right then that he would have to live his life in fear of being found out if he accepts the job.

But this is his only choice.

He couldn't find it in himself to apply to the firm where he interned where chances of him getting hired an omega is comparatively higher. Because he heard from someone there that the whole company is aware about the incident between him and Juwon. Someone spread the rumour. And he can only guess who.

His two choices are either pretending to be a beta, or mentally and emotionally torture himself everyday. The latter cannot even be considered a possible choice.

So yes, pretending to be a beta his whole life is his only choice.

'Wono, I know how you feel but what if you have an emergency? What bout heat? Pregnancy? You can't lie to them forever. It'll be stressful for you.'

'Can't I just take the job for experience? 4 years at least?'

'You know hiding your identity is a crime…' Wonho puts his chopstick down and rests his face in his palms. Sighing, rubbing his face roughly to relief his stress, he is about to pour the soda into his cup but changes his mind. He needs alcohol. He wants to forget his problems. 'Hosh, Imma chug this straight.' He shows the soju bottle to his friend who is still stuffing his face with ramen. 'Tae's gonna send me back right?'

'Yah, he's not your driver.' Jinyoung complains but is completely ignored as Wonho starts to drink anyway. He doesn't mind it given the situation Wonho is in, he needs a break. Jeongmin wouldn't mind too, his mate knows about his friend's situation. But his mate is doing his rotation and is as busy as Minwoo.

Guess he will have to call Junjie instead. 

#####

As usual, the apartment is still dark when Wonho comes back. It is already so late but Minwoo has yet to come back from his hospital duty. Washing his face and brushing his teeth, ready to sleep, Wonho takes the pillow on Minwoo's side of the bed and holds it close as he tries to rest, enjoying the scent of his alpha which lullabies him to sleep.

Minwoo returns home a few hours later, unintentionally waking him up by his pecks on the head before cleaning up. Wonho wants so badly to cry to the man but holds it in. his mate is already physically tired from his day at the hospital. He needs sleep.

They both need sleep.

#####

Wonho looks at the message from Joseph. It has been a while since he last saw the pretty man. Around two years? The man has been all over the place for his journal. Every time he updates his Instagram, he would be somewhere in the Western countries. Sometimes Wonho wonders if the guy is really doing his research or is just travelling.

'Seo Wonho!' He hears the gentle voice and waves at the owner who is sitting outside, looking like a model. Grabbing his place opposite the guy, Wonho eyes quickly catches on the few pieces of paper, like a flyer of some sort, and a few documents in Korean. 

'Still not done?' He asks the doctorate student. Joseph shakes his head, 'This is for you.'

Wonho keeps staring at the documents held out to him, trying to process what is being explained. Right now, Joseph is talking about this renowned omega architect respected in his field whom he interviewed for his journal. The Korean documents in his hands were translated by the older, explaining the architect's biography and achievements. It took Wonho a while to realize that he knows this man - Enzo Pisano, he is a fan of the man's work. He never knew the man is an omega. There is no information about it so, he just assumed Mr. Pisano is a beta. 'It was irrelevant.'

Still reading the other papers on the table, Wonho stops halfway. 'Wait, is there a reason you called me?'

Joseph gives him a really sweet smile before passing him another piece of paper. Wonho looks at it, puzzled. 'You said you haven't found a job?' 

Wonho nods. Technically, he still hasn't accepted the offer yet, so he is still jobless. 'He wants to train you.'