IBS - Chapter 27

Lee Geumyeong, who had started walking ahead of me, explained in a surprisingly gentle tone, quite unlike herself. 

The relaxed demeanor showed she was confident she could suppress me however she wanted with these men. She already believed she had the upper hand.

"On the day we spoke on the phone, I thought about it for a long time afterward. The way you were so stubbornly insisting you’d become an Omega was strangely odd. I’d always thought it was strange how you’d avoid the subject or shut down whenever Omega came up, but what you said that day was so bizarre it made the back of my head ache.”

Fuck. I cursed internally. I shouldn’t have said that. I had spoken too thoughtlessly, thinking she was drunk. A belated regret burned in my gut, but thinking about it, I was merely the catalyst. From the sounds of it, the original Han Sol had been acting suspiciously all along.

“Sol-ie, you know, don’t you? What your mother learned not to be outdone by others. Your mother doesn’t miss a single word anyone says. And because of that, I immediately remembered what I heard from the Shinil son. That you smelled like an Alpha.”

“……”

“If you think about it, the conclusion is simple. A complete Beta can’t carry a scent like that. Not unless you’re an Omega, or a child who has yet to manifest. What’s more, your doctor has been fighting tooth and nail not to show me your results. Citing medical confidentiality, that it’s absolutely forbidden. As if anything is forbidden to me.”

“……”

“If they won’t show it, shouldn’t I just see the results myself? Let’s get you re-tested while we’re at it. If the test shows you’re a Beta or an Omega, you’ll leave this hospital. If you’re unmanifested, you’ll stay here and manifest.”

“You’re talking nonsense. Manifesting? How could a Beta manifest…? I, I want to go home. This is truly wrong. Don’t you think you’re being utterly unreasonable?”

I couldn't let myself be swayed by Lee Geumyeong as she sharply exposed Han Sol’s secret. I couldn’t tremble pathetically. Stuttering was one thing, but to overcome this situation, I had to at least pretend to be unfazed.

"You’ve been unreasonable all your life, so why can’t I be? Besides, if you have nothing to hide, you should be willing to get tested. Why are you acting so anxious? You’re showing all your cards, my son.”

“I’m not being anxious… It’s just that it’s unpleasant to be dragged to an unknown place and then told to get a trait test. You didn’t ask me to get tested, you used people to bring me here…”

Don’t be swayed. Don’t lose. But Lee Geumyeong was already on top, and I was at the bottom. She gave me a contemptuous look, flicked her hair back, and pointed to a chair in front of the examination room. The men forced me down onto it.

“Let me say it again. If you are unmanifested, I plan to have you admitted here. Whether it’s with drugs or by using an Alpha, we can decide on the method of manifestation then. Mom won’t concern herself with that. It’s also a condition of your admission that I won’t interfere in the actions of the medical staff here.”

“I don’t want to. Do you th-think it’s right to do this without my consent? Are you really going to do this?”

“It’s better than you shaming your mother by staying in your current state. Han Sol, if it turns out now that you’re an Omega, or unmanifested, I feel so utterly deceived by you that I think my head might explode.”

“……”

"But if you can be of help to your father and the company, mother can forgive you for anything. Look, your mother managed to snag the position of HANQ’s mistress. Why can’t you? Hankyo Daily, Shinil Foods? You can snag something even greater than that.”

“……”

“Just think about that, and don’t worry about anything else. For the sake of my son’s dignity, I’ll keep it a secret even if you’re admitted here. This place is quite famous among those in the know. The rooms are private, with their own bathrooms, so your privacy will be maintained.”

She went on, mentioning that even people I didn’t know had manifested here. She had brought men along because she knew I wouldn’t come willingly, but she insisted that since other prominent people had been through this, I had no reason to be so repulsed.

How could I not be repulsed? In the world I came from, hospitals like this didn’t even exist!

"Mom’s already thrilled. Whether you’re unmanifested or an Omega… at the thought that you’ll finally save my face.”

Every time her gaze, wrapped in a pretty eye-smile, landed on me, it felt like her beautifully manicured nails were digging into my guts, suffocating me. It was a feeling of complete, pitch-black darkness.

When I first saw Lee Geumyeong, I never imagined she could be this terrifying. I had thought she was, to put it bluntly, a typical rich lady who was a bit greedy for money and had a headache from her troublemaking son. 

A madam with a thorough disposition who was generous when giving money but expected to be paid back in kind.

While it was disappointing that she didn’t believe Han Sol’s words, I could have accepted it as karma for all the bad deeds this body had committed. 

But to act this way the moment she sensed unmanifestation? This was worse than treating her own child like a stranger.

Was she always like this? Was she always like this with Han Sol? Or did she change after Han Sol became HANQ’s troublemaker?

The door to the blood collection room, where we had been waiting, opened. The men told me it was just a blood test, forced me into a chair, and placed my arm on the desk. 

A clinical pathologist appeared out of nowhere, quickly found a vein, and inserted the needle. I held my breath, stiffened, and stared at the ceiling. Only after three vials were filled with my blood was my arm freed.

My physical freedom was returned as well. The men no longer held me, and Lee Geumyeong gave no further orders. 

I squatted in a corner, my body trembling, chewing on my lip, until I pulled myself together at the words that the test results would be out soon. I then remembered the bathroom and approached Lee Geumyeong.

What’s done is done. I had to call Han Jinheon now. Han Jinheon was the only one I could trust.

“I was so nervous, I really have to go… Can I use the restroom…?”

"Go with those two.”

Lee Geumyeong gestured with her chin toward two of the large men. Afraid she might change her mind, I quickly agreed and scurried away. 

The two men followed behind me. The restroom had no escape routes. There was only one entrance, and the only window was too small for an adult to pass through.

I boldly demanded of the men.

“It’s really urgent… It’s embarrassing, so please wait right outside the restroom. Not inside.”

You can see I can’t escape anyway. I’m telling you it’s embarrassing, okay? Please?

It didn't matter if it worked or not. I reluctantly deployed my ultimate aegyo, which I had only shown to Han Jinheon once. 

I put my hands together and widened my eyes, pleading, and the men, who had been standing there just watching me, looked at each other hesitantly, then, in unspoken agreement, retreated outside the restroom.

It really didn't matter if it worked or not, but it worked, and I was completely dumbfounded. Maybe my face is more amazing than I thought…

This was no time to be dazed. I entered the farthest stall and immediately took out my phone. A call would be overheard, so I sent a quick text to Han Jinheon explaining my situation.

[Hyunghyng]

[Momdrggd me to sm trait hospital I dunno where]

[Mom says shes gonna admit me if Im unprsentd]

[Scard hyung whatdoIdo Im so scared] 11:47 PM

There was no time to correct the typos. As long as the urgent situation was conveyed, that was enough. I sent it quickly. 

Finally, I sent one last message saying it would be hard to text again and begging him to please, please save me, then clutched the phone and squeezed my eyes shut.

Please. Please let a reply come before I have to leave.

I mentally mapped out the path from the hospital entrance to the collection room and the restroom. There was some distance from the restroom to the main door. The collection room was in the middle. 

Couldn’t I go back to Lee Geumyeong, stall for a bit, and then run when I saw an opening? Couldn’t I get outside? All I had to do was buy time until Han Jinheon saw the message and came. Success wasn’t the goal.

From outside, I heard someone clearing their throat. It was obviously a signal to hurry up. Startled, my eyes flew open. I had to leave now to avoid suspicion. 

The reality I had been briefly avoiding felt like a heavy weight at my feet, but I quickly steeled myself. 

You can do this. Before I left, I checked my phone. Unfortunately, there was no reply. He hadn’t even read it.

Pretending to be sheepish, I exited the bathroom and was guided back to Lee Geumyeong. I had expected her to be in front of the collection room, but she had moved on to what appeared to be a doctor’s office, and I was made to enter as well. 

The doctor wasn't there yet. Only Lee Geumyeong sat on the sofa, as if she were the owner of the room.

I looked around the room and sat opposite her. To seize an opportunity, I needed to relax, so I attempted conversation.

“It’s a hospital, but there are no people…”

"Given the location, it’s not a place that would have many people, but it also operates by reservation only. I told you, they protect your privacy.”

“What will you do if I’m a Beta… Aren’t you afraid of the resentment you’ll receive from me, your son?”

“Am I afraid of your resentment? I’m more afraid of being cast out by your father because of you, son.”

“Mom… is it Father over your son? Is Father more important?”

Her gaze, which had been fixed on empty space, slid over and locked onto me. After looking at me silently for a moment, Lee Geumyeong gave a cold sneer.

“No. To Mom, Mom is the most important. This position I’ve created for myself.”

“…If you’re the most important, does that mean Father and I are just props?”

“……”

“And I, in particular, have to become an Omega just to protect that position of yours? Can’t you be satisfied with your son being a Beta?”

“Would you be satisfied? Isn’t it ridiculous to be satisfied with a mere Beta?”

She scoffed. Her face, showing she couldn't understand me, struck me more harshly than any reprimand.​