Chapter 103: Market vs Sword
Taesan’s POV
’I think I’m in love with him...but I’m not good enough for him’ Seoha’s words replays in my head and my alpha retreats further into me.
My omega thinks less of himself...I’m really failing at this...affection thing.
"Move your feet, stone" his grandmother’s voice cuts through my thoughts and I push everything aside.
’Not now’ I say to myself.
And like I have done with a hundred of feelings, I shove it down like I never heard him, like I never felt the pain in his voice.
The sun is warm, the air is clean and the sky is clear, but I fucking want to get out of here as soon as possible...
My hands are holding two bags of things I have never touched in my life before.
Tofu, mushrooms, onions, and I can smell some kind of vegetable in the bag too.
"Ah I knew I forgot something, Seoha eats meat well, we better buy enough" the old woman who brought me unwilling to this place says.
She sounds casual, like I’m someone she’s used to.
She sounds too happy, like I willingly offered to be here, but I remain dead silent, hoping she would get tired to pulling me around the damn market.
"Hello! Are these fresh?" the over energetic old woman asks as she picks out one pack of pork belly.
"Of course! You know I only offer the best" the woman selling it says, and they start to converse like they have all day.
Why the hell am I here?
I check my wrist for the time and huff, I should be making out a new list of targets, or making a hit on one of my old ones.
Fuck, I could be sharpening my sword...
"Who is that tall man?" one of the elderly vegetable sellers asks loudly.
Her voice breaks me out of my thoughts and I scowl at her immediately.
They better get this over with, my omega is in an unfamiliar home alone with a dog that stole his attention from me.
"This one? This is Taesanie" Seoha’s grandmother introduces me and my scowl deepens.
Taesanie?
"Ah, his name suits him, he’s as tall as a mountain!" the vegetable seller exclaims with her hand over her mouth.
"He’s my Seoha’s boyfriend" the grandmother says with pride and jabs me in the fucking ribs with her elbow.
"Greet" she says and I bow my head, muttering a greeting to the woman and her smile brightens.
"Aigoo! Seoha hit a jackpot, tell him to drop by my store before he leaves" she says and Seoha’s Grandma drags me away.
Why is this old woman like this?
We don’t talk again till we return to her home, but her looks and actions tell me that she’s comfortable with me, and that small detail makes me feel good in a strange way.
"My Seoha used to sleep anywhere, he’s such a tiny boy" she says as she opens the door of her home
And true to her words, Seoha is asleep on the floor.
I can’t help the small laugh that leaves me, he looks peaceful as he lays there with the dog sleeping next to him.
"He is the cutest" his grandmother says while I get lost looking at him.
It’s a biased thought, but the omega looks more beautiful than I’ve ever seen him.
His skin is glowing, his legs are pressed together and his mouth open, just the way he leaves it when he sleeps.
The omega doesn’t move or wake when we get in, and his grandma leads me to the kitchen, telling me where to set down the groceries.
I drop them and once I am about to leave, she calls me back, wearing a smile on her face.
"Where are you going?" she asks.
"Out of here" I growl at her and she suddenly takes off her slipper, holding it above her head.
"Do you want to die?" she asks calmly.
"Shit" I curse quietly, moving back into the kitchen and she hits me with the slippers.
"Don’t curse in my kitchen, don’t growl at me and don’t be an ignorant prick" she says to me and starts to cook, passing vegetables for me to wash.
I don’t complain, I just do what she wants...just as I used to do with my mom, a fond memory of spending time with her in the kitchen.
The smell of food, the sound of boiling broth, and the heat of the cooking meal, fuck...it’s like going back in time.
"Are you here?" the woman asks and I blink back to the present, here in the kitchen.
"Yes?" I ask and clear my throat to shove down the unwanted feelings.
In my world, there is no room for emotions or sadness, only vengeance.
"My Seoha...what do you plan for him?" The old woman asks, and I look out of the kitchen at my omega.
He’s still asleep on the floor, still comfortably snoring away...maybe I should have let him rest some more at the hotel before bringing him on this trip.
"What do you mean plan?" I ask his grandmother, keeping my voice low as the meal she’s making boils in the pot.
"You know what I mean, this grandson of mine deserves truth...are you stringing him along?" she asks bluntly and I shove my hands into my pocket.
What do I really want with Seoha?
I want him to stay by my side, I want him to keep loving Sooin like he already does, and I want him to...be ours forever.
"I’m not stringing him along" I say quietly and the old woman nods, it’s a single head movement but it is rich with meaning.
Approval.
"My boy looks more relaxed with you than he did with that...Daerin boy" she says.
"Daeshin" I correct and she glares at me.
"Do you think I care about his name?" she asks with a tsk like she has a personal offense with him.
Good. Just perfect, we have a mutual enemy.
"I like Seoha" I confess to the woman, "a lot, ma’am" I add and she hums, passing the cooking spoon to me.
I hold the wooden spoon in confusion, what the hell am I supposed to do with it?
"Taste it and give me back my spoon, goddess, what sort of people are being created these days?" she asks and snatches the spoon out of my hand.
I let out a sigh.
Too bad I can’t deal with her, she’s Seoha’s grandmother...and I might like her a tiny bit.
"Hurry and make him yours, my grandson is a rare find" she says and focuses on the meal she’s making.
"Take" she says roughly and hands a spoonful of broth to me.
"Thank you" I grumble but take it, and my eyes widen at the taste of the delicious dwaejang jjigae.
"This is nice" I mutter and she smirks playfully, a look I have seen on an older person before.
"Are you leaving anytime soon?" she asks and I shake my head, still in awe of the broth.
"Good then, take Seoha to the riverside tonight, it’s quiet and it’s his favorite place" she says and just then, we hear a yawn.
"Did someone say my name?" Seoha asks sleepily from where he was laying.
"Get up my love, your favorite food is ready" his grandmother says and he sits up with red eyes.
Hmm...the riverside...I’ll show him he’s more than enough.