The F-Class Healer Omega is a Villain [BL]
Chapter 27: It was a smile

Chapter 27: It was a smile

"Has anyone else besides me done the same?"

"Bribed him?"

Both of them turned to look at Cheon Areum, who had been quietly listening to their conversation. Licking his lips after finishing another popsicle, he walked over to the dining table.

"Okay, so what’s the problem here?"

"Him!"

Cheon Rian’s index finger was fixed on Yoon Seoyul, who remained unperturbed by it as he glanced up at him. Cheon Areum scratched his cheek.

"Umm..."

He couldn’t say it aloud, but he understood where Rian was coming from. If some stranger or acquaintance suddenly started barging into their home, he would probably have the same reaction as Rian. The thing was, Yoon Seoyul wasn’t a stranger. He knew more about Yoon Seoyul than anyone else—and not just his uncaring facade. He knew the real him. The one who cared about everyone, significant or not. He was the type of person who would sacrifice himself for a world filled with half-rotten souls, just to save the other half that had yet to go bad.

That’s why he was the main character. That’s why Cheon Areum trusted him.

"Come here."

Yoon Seoyul tapped his lap and faintly tugged on his arm. Cheon Areum, without a second thought, sat sideways on his lap, his eyes meeting Yoon Seoyul’s. Then he saw it. Although his expression remained the same as ever, a dim glimmer of a smile crossed his eyes at that moment.

He’s happy?

"Has anyone been bothering you lately? Bribing you?"

Cheon Areum, lost in thought, shook his head slightly. Zoning out into the distance, he pressed his head against Yoon Seoyul’s chest—only then noticing the hand wrapped around his waist.

"Hyung, he’s an alpha...."

Does he like it when I do as he says? Does he want to tame me?

"Hyung...."

Rian whined from the other chair, on the verge of crying.

"It’s okay if it’s him, Rian."

Cheon Areum lifted his head, facing Rian as he spoke.

"Only if it’s him."

"...."

Rian, grasping the meaning, silently sat back on the chair with his arms crossed, sulking and staring daggers at Yoon Seoyul. Unwrapping the hand around his waist, Cheon Areum got up.

"You can leave now. I have plans with Rian."

Yoon Seoyul narrowed his eyes.

"What about our dinner plans?"

"Don’t you have a gate scheduled for tonight?"

"I rescheduled it for tomorrow morning because you said I had to buy you dinner tonight."

Cheon Areum’s eyes shifted between the two people sitting on the chairs, indecisively. Rian kicked the leg of the table gloomily. If he had to think about it, he had asked Yoon Seoyul first—but there was no way he could leave Rian now. That wasn’t even a possibility.

"Rian, would you mind if Yoon Seoyul joined us for dinner tonight?"

*

"Hyung, can I get a sketchbook instead?"

Rian stopped and stared at the sketchbooks hastily.

"Yes, get whatever you want."

"Can we... afford it?"

Rian said in a low voice. Cheon Areum left the cart on the side as he crouched down beside him, patting his head.

"Your brother just got his S+-Class Hunter card. Do you think I won’t be able to afford it?"

Rian’s wavering eyes lit up.

"S+ Class?! Really?"

"Hmm. I had a reawakening recently."

Cheon Areum retrieved the card from his inventory and handed it to him. Rian held the card with both hands, wholly captivated by it.

"It’s pretty!"

"I’m glad to hear you like it."

Cheon Areum smiled as Rian carefully handed it back to him.

"Throw anything you want in the cart. I can afford everything."

Rian nodded vigorously, grabbing each one of the different sketchbooks and art supplies, piling them into the cart that Cheon Areum held. They had come to buy the needed items first before heading to dinner. Despite harboring dislike for Yoon Seoyul, Rian had agreed to go together—but after getting out of the car, they had been alone. Yoon Seoyul had said he needed to call someone urgently, but he still hadn’t returned.

"What’s the cat food for?"

Following after Rian blindly, they had somehow ended up in the pet section. Rian struggled to put a 3 kg chicken-flavored dry cat food packet into the cart, making him question it.

"It’s for the cats that live down the street!"

"Oh, right. Get some treats too."

Belatedly remembering the cats they’d sometimes encounter on their walks to the convenience store, he dumped a bunch of random treats and cans into the cart.

The next section Rian ran to was the toy aisle. He excitedly jumped around, examining each one of the boxes displayed on the lower shelves. Cheon Areum rested his elbows on the cart’s handle. Maybe it was the six hours of sleep he had gotten last night, but he was feeling a bit tired, so he stayed in place as he watched Rian.

"Hey, did you also hear about it? An S+ Class got registered today."

"S+ Class? We have another one now?"

Cheon Areum’s ears perked up as he involuntarily caught the conversation behind him. Two girls were talking to each other—that was all he could tell from their voices.

"Yes! And he’s an omega! Can you believe it?"

"Why haven’t I heard of this? Is he good-looking? Show me his picture right now."

"There are no pictures of his face, but you can see his hair in this. Apparently, Yoon Seoyul is dating him."

"What?!"

The second girl exclaimed loudly. The first girl instantly hushed her.

"Keep your voice down. This is just a rumor for now."

"For now? He better not be! I’ve had my eyes on Yoon Seoyul for the longest time!"

Cheon Areum clicked his tongue and moved the cart closer to Rian as he added another box of Legos to the already overflowing cart.

"Should we go to the checkout, or do you want—"

"No, this is enough."

Rian yawned, nodding in satisfaction as he eyed the full cart.

*

After waiting in line for ten minutes, it was finally his turn. Cheon Areum pushed the cart with one hand to the counter, his other hand resting on Rian’s back—the boy had fallen asleep the moment Cheon Areum picked him up at his request. Shopping around with all his attention must have consumed all his remaining energy.

As the cashier scanned the last few items, Cheon Areum hoisted Rian—who was slipping—one more time as he reached for his phone in his pocket.

"Here."

An arm reached from behind, holding out a black debit card. Cheon Areum, recognizing the voice, craned his neck to look up. It was Yoon Seoyul.

"I was going to pay...."

"Sorry, the call took longer than I anticipated."

Yoon Seoyul spoke casually, taking Rian from him just as casually. Cheon Areum tilted his head curiously. Did he not want to carry the bags?

I mean, there are a lot of them...

Cheon Areum’s eyes darkened as he glanced at the dozen packed bags, imagining their weight—but to his surprise, Yoon Seoyul started grabbing the bags too.

"Let me carry some of the bags, at least."

"It’s fine. Can you carry the car keys instead?"

"Oh, okay..."

Cheon Areum fished out the car keys from his jacket as Yoon Seoyul effortlessly carried all the bags and Rian, already walking away.

The part-time worker who had been about to help carry the bags stared at their retreating silhouettes.

*

"Why didn’t you let me pay for anything?"

Yoon Seoyul continued driving without speaking. Cheon Areum had purposely chosen an expensive family restaurant because he wanted to pay Yoon Seoyul back—but as he was feeding Rian (who kept dozing off, his eyes half-lidded), Yoon Seoyul had gone ahead and settled the bill without him knowing.

"I was supposed to treat you to dinner."

Cheon Areum slumped in the passenger seat before suddenly turning to him again.

"Then why did you pay at the department store?"

"Because I was late."

He didn’t exactly have to go with them to the department store, but as the kind-hearted protagonist, no one could argue with him on that matter.

Cheon Areum sighed, resigning himself to his seat. He was more exhausted than usual—it hadn’t been this bad even when he only took naps—but he didn’t want to fall asleep in the car. Rian was already sleeping in the backseat. It would be rude of him to sleep now too. The least he could do was help carry the bags to the third floor.

Or not...

Cheon Areum tucked Rian into the sheets as Yoon Seoyul dropped the last of the bags in the living room. Yoon Seoyul hadn’t let him touch anything besides the entrance door. Is this pity for the poor omegas or what?

"What time’s the gate scheduled for?"

Standing in the bedroom doorway, Cheon Areum asked as Yoon Seoyul drank water from a cup. Finishing the whole cup, he replied.

"At 5 AM."

It was currently past 10 o’clock. There was still a lot of time.

"Do you want to sleep here tonight?"