Chapter 103
Ye Jun
I didn’t sleep. Not even for five minutes. My eyes felt like someone had rubbed sandpaper on them all night and then poured lemon juice in, and every single bite and bruise Si Woo left on me was throbbing like a reminder I didn’t ask for.
I sat on the edge of my bed in the dark, staring at the wall like it owed me, then finally dragged my ass up around four in the morning because if I stayed there any longer I was either going to scream or start crying again and I was done with both. Done. That was the word I kept repeating in my head like a chant while I pulled out the old duffel bag I’d hidden under my bed for months. Essentials only, I told myself. Underwear, a couple shirts, the jeans that didn’t have his scent all over them yet, my phone charger, the stack of cash I’d been skimming from my allowance for the last year because yeah, even I knew this day might come. My ID. That was it. No photos, no stupid souvenirs, nothing that would make me look back.
Every time I folded something and shoved it in the bag my hands shook, not like I was scared exactly but like my body was arguing with my brain. Freedom felt weird and light in my chest one second and then heavy as a truck the next because what the hell was I going to do out there, huh? New city, new life, sure, but right now it just felt like I was running away from the only two idiots who’d ever made me feel anything, even if most of it was rage and that stupid flutter I hated admitting existed. I zipped the bag halfway, then stopped and laughed under my breath, a short ugly sound that echoed in the quiet room. "Pathetic, Ye Jun. Real winner move. Packing like you’re going on vacation instead of escaping your stepbrother who tied you up and your dad who basically pimped you out for a business deal." I said it out loud just to hear how stupid it sounded, then kept packing because laughing at myself was better than the other option.
By the time the sky outside started turning that gross gray color I was done. Bag stashed in the back of my closet where no one would look unless they were actually searching, and I slipped downstairs because my stomach was growling like it hadn’t gotten the memo that we were having an emotional crisis. The house was still dead quiet, dad probably snoring away, and I figured I could grab something quick, maybe coffee, and get back to pretending I was normal before anyone woke up. Big mistake. Huge.
I was halfway through pouring cereal when I heard the footsteps. Heavy ones. Si Woo’s. Of course. He always showed up at the worst times like his alpha radar was specifically tuned to ruin my life. I didn’t even turn around. Just kept my eyes on the bowl like it was the most interesting thing in the world while he walked into the kitchen and stopped right behind me, close enough that I could feel the heat coming off him. He smelled like sleep and that same thick alpha scent that always messed with my head, mixed with whatever guilt he was carrying from last night.
"Morning," he grunted, voice still rough from sleep, and reached past me for the coffee pot like this was any other day. His arm brushed mine and I felt the bruises on my wrists flare up but I didn’t flinch. Didn’t snap at him either. Just stayed quiet, which was apparently the wrong move because he paused, mug halfway to his mouth, and stared at me. "You look like shit."
I shrugged, spooning cereal into my mouth even though it tasted like cardboard. "Thanks. You look like you always do. Like someone who just rolled out of bed after acting like a complete asshole last night." My voice came out flat, no bite, no sarcasm dripping off every word like usual. It felt weird even to me, like I was hearing someone else talk.
Si Woo set the mug down hard enough that coffee sloshed over the side. "Ye Jun." He said my name like a warning, stepping around so he was leaning against the counter right in front of me, arms crossed, blocking the way out of the kitchen. His eyes were still that normal brown but I could see the red flickering at the edges like he was trying not to lose it already. "Last night was fucked up. I know that. I shouldn’t have... the ties, the way I went off about Ohm, all of it. But you can’t keep pushing me like that and then act surprised when I snap. And you’re not seeing that rich prick again, got it? Not after the way he was looking at you."
I took another bite of cereal, chewing slowly, and finally looked up at him. No fire in my eyes, no comeback ready to slice him open. Just... nothing. "Sure. Whatever you say."
He blinked. Actually blinked like I’d slapped him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? ’Sure, whatever’? Since when do you not fight back? You always fight back. You live for it, you little shit." His hand came up like he was going to grab my chin or something but he stopped halfway, fingers curling into a fist instead. I could see the panic starting to creep in behind the gruff act, the way his jaw tightened and his shoulders hunched like he didn’t know what to do with a version of me that wasn’t yelling or laughing in his face.
I set the bowl down and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "I’m tired, Si Woo. That’s it. Tired of the back and forth, tired of you tying me up one minute and cuddling the next like it fixes anything, tired of dad treating me like the family discount hooker. So yeah. Sure. I won’t see Ohm again if that’s what you want. Happy now?" My voice cracked a little on the last part but I swallowed it down fast. No tears here. Not in front of him.
He stared at me for a long second, breathing hard through his nose, and then he laughed, but it sounded all wrong, forced and nervous. "You’re messing with me. This is some new game, right? Acting all dead inside so I’ll feel bad? Newsflash, it’s not working. You’re mine, remember? You said it yourself last night before you started crying like a... "
"Don’t," I cut him off, sharper than I meant to but still not the full Ye Jun explosion he was used to. "Just don’t. I’m not playing any game. I’m just... done reacting to you. You want me to stay away from Ohm? Fine. I’ll stay away. You want me to keep my mouth shut about how you agreed with dad that I’m only good for whoring myself out? Cool. Mouth shut. See how easy that is?"
Si Woo’s face went through about five different shades of pissed off and confused. He stepped closer, crowding me against the counter, one hand slamming down on either side of me so I was trapped. "Stop it. Stop talking like that. You’re freaking me out. Where’s the guy who calls me a clingy asshole and tries to knee me in the balls? This quiet shit isn’t you." His voice dropped lower, almost pleading under the growl. "Look, I was an idiot yesterday. The jealousy thing... it hits different when it’s him. But I didn’t mean it the way it sounded with dad. I was just trying to shut him up so he’d leave us alone. You know I don’t actually think you’re useless, right? You’re the only one who keeps me from losing my mind in this house."
I tilted my head back to look at him, eyes flat. "Yeah? Because it sure sounded like you meant it. ’What else is he good for, apart from taking others’ hard work?’ Your words, not mine. And then you let me walk out crying and didn’t even come after me. Real hero move, Si Woo. Real alpha protector." I laughed then, because the pain slipped out even when I was trying to stay numb. "But hey, it’s fine. I get it. Property doesn’t talk back this much. I’ll be the good little omega from now on. Whatever helps the family, right?"
He opened his mouth to snap something back but before he could, dad’s voice boomed from the hallway. "Boys? You up already?" Footsteps coming closer, and Si Woo jumped back like he’d been burned, grabbing his coffee again and trying to look normal. I just turned back to the sink, rinsing my bowl like nothing was happening.
Dad walked in, still in his robe, hair sticking up everywhere, looking way too cheerful for someone who’d basically sold me off last night. "Good, good. Both here. Listen, Ohm called late last night. He’s coming over for dinner tonight. Big one. I need you two on your best behavior. Especially you, Ye Jun. Smile, chat him up, make him feel like this is the best decision he’ll ever make. You’re good at that when you put your mind to it."