Chapter 161: REMORSE
GARAM actually felt better after drinking the tea that Mija had brewed for him.
However, that feeling didn’t last long.
My stomach feels funny.
No, it was actually starting to feel painful.
Moreover, his throat was itchy.
I can’t see myself right now, but I won’t be surprised if I look as pale as a ghost.
"Junho Hyung, can you bring the kids outside?" Garam asked weakly. "There’s a playroom on this floor that the kids can use. Geon Hyung, please help Junho Hyung look after the children in the meantime."
Shin Junho, who probably saw how pale Garam was, immediately understood without asking questions.
Fortunately, that was the same case for Shin Geon and Mija.
"But I don’t want to play in the playroom," Gunwoo complained when Shin Geon suddenly grabbed him. "I want to stay here with Dad."
"Jina wants to play in the playroom," Shin Junho said, smiling while carrying Jina in his arms. "You promised to do whatever she wants, right?"
"Jinna wants to go to the playroom, Oppa-ya," Jina said, still talking cutely. "Let’s go, Oppa-ya."
Luckily, that was enough for Gunwoo to get distracted. "Okay, this Oppa will play with you, Jinna-ya!"
After that, Gunwoo waved to Garam.
Ah, I’m glad my son is fond of Jinna.
"Bye-bye, Gunwoo-ya," Garam said while waving at his son. "See you later."
Just like that, Shin Geon and Shin Junho had left with the children.
One kid remained by Garam’s side, though.
"I’m calling Uncle Wonjae," Mija said, already holding the phone in her hand. "You look really sick, Oppa."
I know, right?
Garam tried to joke, but then he tasted it.
Blood...?
He suddenly coughed up a huge chunk of blood, scaring Mija who suddenly shrieked.
"Oppa!"
Oh.
Garam was then hit by the realization— the realization that not even Mija, the kid shaman, knew what was happening to him.
That was his last thought before everything turned black.
I wonder if I’ll still wake up after this?
***
"APPA, ABEOJI, you don’t have to be here for me," Song Sihyuk complaind. "Why did you leave my wife and my son on their own? At least one of you should have stayed with them. It’s not like I’m severely hurt."
It was pretty embarrassing that his parents were still taking care of him at his big age.
But it wasn’t the reason that he was complaining about their presence.
Of course, I’m glad that Appa and Abeoji are here for me.
However, like he said earlier, at least one of his parents should have stayed with Lim Garam and Gunwoo.
"Shin Geon and Shin Junho are there to keep an eye on Garam and the children," his Omega father assured Song Sihyuk, crossing his arms over his chest. "Is it wrong to want to see how my one and only son is doing?"
"Now you’ve seen me, Appa," Song Sihyuk said, sighing. "Please go and stay by my wife’s side. Lim Garam’s condition is worse than mine."
He wanted to see Lim Garam, of course.
But Song Sihyuk was holding back because Gunwoo was there, too. He didn’t want his son to see that he was hurt.
I’ll ask the doctor later if they can remove the bandage on my head.
"What did Seong Jungho need to talk to you about earlier?" his Alpha father asked curiously. "It looked pretty serious."
It was serious, alright.
After all, Seong Jungho gave Song Sihyuk two options— to let Lim Garam return to being a Beta, or let Lim Garam stay an Omega.
If it’s the latter, then my wife has to deal with Hailey Syndrome forever.
But, like what Seong Jungho said, it wasn’t up to Song Sihyuk to decide.
Uncle Jungho wants me to tell Lim Garam the truth about his condition, but I’m not yet ready.
Anyway, Song Sihyuk kept his mouth shut because he didn’t want his parents to know.
Not yet, at least.
"Wha’s wrong, son?" his Alpha father asked worriedly. "It’s unlike you to stay quiet like this. Something must have happened?"
"Just spill it, son," his Omega father said, obviously frustrated. "You know it’s not right to keep more secrets, especially from Lim Garam. Do you want him to hate you more than he already does..."
His Omega father suddenly trailed off, and then he pulled his phone out from the pockets of his trousers.
"Ah, it’s Mija."
Both Song Sihyuk and his Alpha father listened closely when his Omega father picked up the call from the kid shaman.
After all, it’s rare for Mija to reach out first.
"What?! Lim Garam coughed up blood and fainted?!"
After hearing that, Song Sihyuk immediately tore off the IV drip attached to his arm.
Of course, he got hurt and bled right away.
"Sihyuk-ah!" his Alpha father, shocked by what Song Sihyuk did, scolded him. "What are you doing— hey, where are you going, son?!"
Of course, Song Sihyuk didn’t respond to his parents, who called him desperately.
To be honest, he was feeling a little weaker than usual earlier.
However, he miraculously recovered after hearing that his wife had coughed up blood and fainted.
Wait for me, Garam-ah.
Song Sihyuk immediately ran to his wife’s room.
He knew what room Lim Garam was in.
But he was surprised when he arrived there and saw that the doctors where already bringing Lim Garam out of the room...
... while his wife kept coughing up blood, barely conscious.
"Garam-ah!" Song Sihyuk ran along the doctors, grabbing the railing of the bed. "Can you hear me, Garam-ah?"
"Sihyuk Hyung..." Lim Garam said weakly, his eyes barely open. "Take care of our son..."
No, why did it sound like it was Lim Garam’s final wish?
For the first time in Song Sihyuk’s life, he felt genuine fear.
I can’t lose my wife!
***
"SIHYUK-ah, Lim Garam is stable for now."
’For now.’
Song Sihyuk lifted his head and faced Seong Jungho.
Lim Garam was still in the ICU, and he wasn’t allowed there.
After all, I can’t control my pheromones yet. It might affect Lim Garam’s pheromones, so I didn’t insist on going there.
Hence, he was feeling miserable while sitting right outside the ICU.
Only Seong Jungho was there to keep him company.
"What happened to my wife, Uncle Jungho?" Song Sihyuk asked in a cold, slightly trembling voice. Seeing Lim Garam cough up blood before fainting was the scariest thing that he had seen in his life yet. "Why did he cough up blood?"
"Lim Garam-ssi’s insiders are a mess right now, Sihyuk-ah," Seong Jungho said bluntly. "Moreover, we discovered that his womb is shrinking."
"What? His womb is shrinking? Is that possible?"
"It’s normal for women and female Omegas for their womb to shrink and return to its pre-pregnancy state after childbirth. However, Lim Garam is a male Omega. And, as you already know, things are more complicated and dangerous for male Omegas like Lim Garam."
Song Sihyuk could only clench his jaw tight.
He never thought that turning Lim Garam into an Omega was a big deal.
After all, his wife’s transition allowed the two of them to have a child.
However, right now...
I regret it— I regret turning Lim Garam into an Omega.
"Once Lim Garam wakes up, I suggest talking to him about his condition, Sihyuk-ah," Seong Jungho said in a serious tone. "He has to decide whether he wants to return into being a Beta or stay as an Omega."
"Can’t I decide for my wife?" Song Sihyuk asked out loud. He wasn’t really talking to the doctor, so he didn’t wait for him to respond before opening his mouth again. "I want the safest choice— and that’s for him to return to being an Omega."
***
WHEN GARAM woke up, he fully expected to wake up feeling like he had been run over by a truck.
It already happened a few times, after all.
However, thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time.
He actually felt refreshed, and he knew the reason.
This refreshing scent...
"Sihyuk Hyung...?"
"I’m here," Song Sihyuk said in a soft voice while holding Garam’s hand. "How are you feeling, Garam-ah?"
Garam slowly opened his eyes.
As expected, the first thing that greeted him was Song Sihyuk’s handsome and worried face,
Plus, the Alpha’s eyes were slightly red.
Did Hyung cry?
"I’m feeling better now, Hyung," Garam said weakly. "Your pheromones smell good."
Song Sihyuk then increased his pheromones without saying a word.
That amount of pheromones coming from a strong Alpha like Song Sihyuk would make ordinary Omegas sick.
However, for Garam, it was just the right amount.
"Hyung, our son..."
"My parents are taking care of Gunwoo."
"I want to see my baby."
After all, Garam felt like he had just come back from the dead.
He didn’t know how long he was out, but he missed his son so much.
I really should write my last will as soon as I get better.
"You can see our son later, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said in a serious tone. "I have something important to discuss with you."
"Is it more important than our son?"
"My memories have returned, Garam-ah— all of them."
Oh.
Garam’s eyes widened in shock, a chill running down his spine.
That’s important, alright.
"They’ve already found out the reason why you’re very sick," Song Sihyuk said, dropping another bomb on Garam. "Apparently, your body is reverting to its original state— in short, you’re turning back into a Beta, Garam-ah."
"What?!"
***
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