Correction Chapter 18

“Hmm….”

The doctor examined Jungmin thoroughly. Two days after the onset of the awakening fever, the doctor diagnosed Jungmin as being in the midst of his awakening.

He said rest at home would be sufficient, and Jungmin’s parents were genuinely overjoyed. Their son, who had worried them by not awakening until almost adulthood, was finally going to fully mature. What parent wouldn’t be happy?

However, the joy was short-lived. Jungmin’s awakening fever was more severe than Youngmin’s. At first, thinking it would only be slightly worse, his parents simply stayed by his side, encouraging him to endure and be strong. However, realizing Jungmin’s condition was worsening, they called the doctor.

“Doctor, how is Jungmin?”

“Awakening late can sometimes be this painful. But…”

Jungmin, already unconscious, only breathed heavily. During the awakening fever, neither injections nor medicine are effective, so no treatment could be administered. Just like the prohibition of sex as a precautionary measure to avoid potential problems with the awakening process, they could only wait.

However, the doctor recognized that Jungmin’s fever and condition were different from any awakening fever he had seen before. After finishing his pulse-taking and examination, he looked at Jungmin’s parents.

“We need to take Jungmin to the hospital.”

“What? Is something wrong…? Is it very bad? What if it’s not the awakening fever?”

“No, it is the awakening fever… but I think it’s best he be at the hospital, just in case.”

Although unlikely, if something were to happen, the hospital could provide swift treatment, and perhaps even alleviate some of Jungmin’s pain, the doctor explained. His parents nodded in agreement.

Even after arriving at the hospital, Jungmin remained unconscious. Yet, he tightly clutched the ring Shinwoo had given him, as if it were the only painkiller easing his terrible suffering.

The awakening fever typically lasts a week, followed by the gradual release of pheromones. However, Jungmin suffered intensely for over a week, and it wasn’t until the tenth day that he finally regained consciousness. But the awakening fever was still ongoing, and his condition remained poor.

It was fortunate that he could blink his eyes and hold simple conversations upon regaining consciousness.

“Jungmin… are you alright?”

His mother asked worriedly, holding his hand tightly. Jungmin nodded and tried to offer a smile.

“Yes… I’m alright, Mother.”

Each word was agonizing due to his parched throat, but Jungmin strived to reassure his parents.

“You’re going through so much…”

“It must be hard on your body, awakening so late.”

It’s alright. I can endure this. Even if it hurts more than this, it’s okay. As long as I become an Omega… an Omega….

“Huh?”

Youngmin, standing behind his mother, was looking at his watch when he suddenly made a strange sound, as if he’d noticed something.

“What is it?”

His mother asked, but Youngmin looked around, as if trying to confirm something. Then, furrowing his brow, he muttered softly, “Did I smell wrong…?” Feeling suffocated, he left the room. Jungmin was disgusted by Youngmin, who seemed to have completely shaken off Shinwoo.

He didn’t know what Shinwoo was doing… he was worried, but in his current state, he couldn’t see him. Contact with anyone outside the family was prohibited during the awakening fever. Jungmin managed to send his worried family home and closed his eyes, soothing his exhausted body.

He wanted to text Shinwoo, but he refrained, not wanting to cause him unnecessary worry. Instead, he fiddled with the ring on his finger. A smile formed on his lips. I need to awaken quickly. And then, I’ll run to Shinwoo, smiling, and tell him I’ve come to meet my soulmate. I’ll embrace him, Jungmin thought.

However, the next day, his fever spiked again. His condition deteriorated to the point of delirium, and doctors gathered around to examine him. After another full day of suffering, Jungmin woke up, and the doctor sighed.

“Are you feeling a little better now?”

“…Yes….”

No, actually, he wasn’t. He felt continuously dazed. His entire body ached; his muscles and bones throbbed. His head was foggy, and his heart pounded loudly.

He was so exhausted that he felt indifferent to everything, wanting to close his eyes and disappear.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone suffer so much from the awakening fever.”

“I’m sorry…”

Jungmin apologized sincerely, knowing the doctors were struggling because of him. The doctor wrote something on his chart and then smiled faintly.

“But your suffering hasn’t been in vain.”

“Yes…?”

“The initial test results show a 70% probability of you becoming an Alpha, Jungmin.”

His heart, his mind… he heard something snap. Jungmin’s time stopped. He couldn’t comprehend what he had just heard.

His hazy consciousness sharpened. Jungmin grabbed the doctor’s coat as he was about to leave.

“What… what did you just… say? An… an Alpha…?”

“Ah, yes. If you continue to endure like this, you’ll likely be an Alpha. We’ll do our best.”

This can’t be. An Alpha? Why would he be an Alpha? Why?

He wanted to be an Omega more than anything. It was his dream, his life’s goal. But to become an Alpha… he had never once considered it.

No, he had refused to consider it. He believed it would never happen, that heaven wouldn’t abandon him after all his devotion. But…

No….

The ring on his finger felt like it was piercing his chest.

No…. If this continues… if I become an Alpha like this, Shinwoo might leave me. An Alpha can’t love another Alpha. It’s impossible.

If it were the other way around… if it were Shinwoo, Jungmin could love him even if he were an Alpha. But he couldn’t expect that from Shinwoo. It was too much to ask. He didn’t want to burden someone who was already struggling.

“Is there… no chance at all that I’ll be an Omega?”

“What?”

The doctor seemed taken aback by Jungmin’s question and answered with a troubled expression.

“Yes… I’m afraid it’s unlikely. We estimate it’s less than 5%.”

A 5% chance of becoming an Omega… then the rest is Beta, then? That probability was too cruel. It felt like a confirmation of impossibility had been driven deep into his heart.

After the doctor left, Jungmin sat alone in his room, staring blankly at the clock. If time just passed like this, he would become an Alpha, just as the doctor said.

But with anything less than 100% certainty, he had to do something. Jungmin forced himself to sit up. His entire body was drenched in sweat. Every movement made him dizzy and nauseous, and his eyes felt like they were burning.

He hadn’t eaten properly for a while, so his bones creaked, and his muscles were weak, making even standing a torment. But he had to move. If not now, there would be no other chance.

“I have to go.”

A single word, told to him by another man, filled Jungmin’s mind.

Correction.

He knew it was absurd. He knew it was absolutely impossible. But what if… what if… even a 0.000001% chance existed, Jungmin wanted to cling to it.

Jungmin stood up, supporting himself against the wall. He stumbled several times before finally managing to stand. He put on his shoes, threw a cardigan over his hospital gown, and left the room. He barely managed to get into a taxi waiting in front of the hospital.

“Welcome. Where to?”

He got into the taxi, but he didn’t know his destination. The taxi driver asked him where he wanted to go, but Jungmin couldn’t answer.

“Where would you like to go?”

Where should he go? Where was Kim Joohwan right now? Ah, right. He was still a student. He had turned 20, but he hadn’t graduated yet. And according to rumors, he was a student council member, so he would be busy preparing for graduation.

Jungmin gave the driver the school address. After confirming the taxi was moving, he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

“We’ve arrived!”

A voice woke him up shortly after, and a familiar scene unfolded before his eyes.

Have I arrived at school…?

Jungmin paid with his card and got out of the taxi. The security guard, who had been sitting, saw Jungmin and came out of the security office.

He recognized Jungmin’s face but wasn’t sure who he was and was about to ask when Jungmin started to collapse. The security guard quickly rushed to support him.

“Hey! Are you okay?”

“Ah, Mister… Kim Joohwan… Please… call Kim Joohwan. Quickly… please…. He’ll know me if you say Shin Jungmin. I’m not a suspicious person. I’m an alumnus.”

“Ah, I remember your face!”

Jungmin clutched the security guard’s arm as if it were a lifeline and pleaded desperately. Another security guard, who had come out of the office, overheard the conversation and made an urgent call.

Meanwhile, Jungmin sat on the bench in front of the security office, supported by the guard.

The world spun, and nausea welled up, but he didn’t care. He was anxious. He felt that with every passing moment, the probability of becoming an Alpha increased.