Correction Chapter 59

In the end, he couldn’t leave the country. The only silver lining was that Ms. Ji Sooeun had departed safely as planned, and he received an email confirming she had arrived safely at her destination.

『Mr. Jungmin, thank you for everything. Thanks to you, she and I arrived safely. It would have been great if we could have come together, and it’s a shame we couldn’t, but I also thought it might be a relief. There’s no need for you and my brother to become fugitives because of me, right?』

Ah, now that I think about it, she probably doesn’t know what happened between me and Soohan. To think that the only person who knows that fact is Kim Joohwan.

『Thank you so much, and I’m sorry for all the trouble you went through. It’s shameless of me, but please take good care of my brother. For some reason, it’s been bothering me that he looked like death warmed over the whole time at the airport. He wouldn’t answer even when I asked if something was wrong…. He kept saying he needed to talk to you, Mr. Jungmin. He didn’t say anything even when I asked if you two had fought. If you did fight, I hope you’ll understand since he’s a foolish older brother. Ah, of course, if he did something really wrong, it’s okay not to forgive him until he gets on his knees and begs. You can even hit him once. Considering all that you’ve done for us siblings, Mr. Jungmin…. I’m on your side rather than my brother’s. So. Please take good care of my brother. Treat him harshly. And I hope that you, Mr. Jungmin, will find happiness soon, just like my brother. Just like me. I’m sincerely wishing for it. I’ll email you again once we’re settled. Once again, thank you so much. Stay healthy.』

After reading the whole email, Jungmin turned off his phone and lay down on the bed. Even though he tried not to cry, the tears kept coming. What can I do? He was the only person he had given his heart to after Shinwoo hyung.

The fact that it was over before anything could even begin with that person… felt so unfair, and he felt sorry for himself. Why am I only capable of this kind of love?

He cried himself to sleep like that, and the next day, when he turned on his phone, there was still nothing. He hadn’t sent even a single short text.

Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t be able to make excuses, so he was probably just digging himself into a hole, feeling sorry towards him. Sighing, Jungmin threw on some clothes and left the house to get some fresh air. He walked for a long time without any thought.

And then he was standing in front of that crosswalk, the one where he had once held onto a devastated Yoo Shinwoo who had been dumped by Youngmin.

“Hyung…”

In the end, what goes around comes around. It was bound to happen this way. Jungmin looked at the sunset-streaked sky and smiled bitterly.

‘An Alpha is for an omega, and an omega is for an Alpha. That’s the way of the world.’

The words Kim Joohwan had said were painfully sharp.

“Son of a bitch.”

I know. There was no need to remind me of that fact I already know, as if you were a messenger from God, was there?

Jungmin took his phone out of his pocket. As expected, there were no new messages. Jungmin, having made up his mind, found Ji Soohan in his chat list and quietly sent a message.

Soohan hyung.

He had only sent that one line, but the read receipt appeared in a second. But there was no reply from him. He must be thinking. He’s probably simulating what to send over and over, worrying and worrying.

Let’s meet.

Worrying like this right now is a luxury. The read receipt appeared again, but there was no reply. Jungmin sighed and sent the location and time. As soon as the read receipt appeared again, Jungmin put his phone in his pocket and slowly walked toward the meeting place. It was time to sort things out.

When he arrived at the cafe, he could see Soohan, who had arrived first, sitting by the window. Seeing him tearing at his hair in distress made his stomach churn. So he loitered outside for about 5 more minutes before going in, pretending not to have seen anything, with a leisurely smile on his face.

“Soohan hyung.”

At Jungmin’s voice, Soohan shot up from his seat. Seeing him not knowing what to do, Jungmin smiled and sat down opposite him.

“You’ve lost more weight. Are you eating?”

“…Jungmin…. Look……”

“Yeah. You did something you should be sorry for, right?”

“Yeah…. I’m sorry…. I can’t even make excuses……. I’m sorry….”

“I know it’s not your fault, hyung. I have no intention of blaming you. It was just something that couldn’t be helped. All of it.”

“Jungmin.”

“So I thought about it…. I don’t think I can go with you, hyung.”

Soohan’s hands, which were on the table, trembled. Soohan quickly hid his hands under the table, but Jungmin knew. He just pretended not to.

“I’ll explain everything. I’ll tell you everything that happened. I’m not in that kind of relationship with that omega. I haven’t even contacted him since that day! Please believe me. You have to believe me. Jungmin. Dammit, please, just give me a chance to talk.”

“It’s not about whether I believe you or not. It’s not about whether you slept with the omega or not. Those aren’t the issue right now. It’s just a much more fundamental problem. And that problem lies with me.”

“Jungmin.”

“I’ll probably be anxious for the rest of my life. Wondering if you’re sleeping with an omega or not…. I’ll probably have a fit and suspect you just for an omega passing by. I’m sure I’ll drive myself crazy with anxiety.”

“No. Jungmin, I’ll be careful about that. I’ll be careful, so. Please…”

“It’s not something that can be solved by being careful. Hyung. You were careful that day too. But it still happened. I can’t win against an omega because I’m an Alpha. When I think about it that way, Ms. Sooeun is amazing. It’s truly a love that transcends everything. But even for those two, there must be an anxiety they can’t erase. We just don’t know about it.”

“Jungmin.”

“Hyung, you protect Ms. Sooeun. If they become happy, my anxiety will probably disappear someday too.”

“Jungmin!!”

“Thank you, hyung…. I was happy thanks to you. I really was. And I’m sorry…. for not being able to repay you.”

“Is it really impossible? Is it really not going to work? You have no intention of facing this with me? What if I say I’ll get rid of that anxiety…”

“Hyung… I know it’s not your fault. I know, but… the image of you and the omega in bed won’t leave my mind. As long as this memory doesn’t disappear, we won’t be able to go back to how we were.”

It’s cruel, but it’s necessary to cut ties. He has to let Soohan go. This place must be hell for Soohan, and for Sooeun too. At Jungmin’s words, the strength drained out of Soohan’s body. He let out a hollow laugh. Jungmin stood up, said his final goodbye, and left the cafe.

I did the right thing, right? It was the right thing to do.

“Yes, Shin Jungmin…. you did well.”

An omega suits Soohan hyung better than an Alpha like me, anyway. A pretty and cute omega. It would be nice if he had a lot of aegyo, too. He should meet an omega like that, have children, and live a happy life. That day will come.

If he’s with an Alpha like me, he has to hide that we’re dating for the rest of our lives, can’t get married, can’t have children. That’s better than this, isn’t it. Better than an Alpha like me. It will be a better path.

So, God…. please blame me for all the sins and hatred, and just let that person be happy.

After that, Soohan contacted him several times, but he ignored it. About a month later, an email arrived from him.

『Jungmin. Are you doing well? What do you think, seeing me unable to give up and sending this email. No, I hope you don’t think anything. Just… read it without any thought, as if you’re reading a pointless internet post. Sooeun has been very anxious, so I’m with her now. Like you said, I thought I should do what I have to do…. This place is really nice. It’s quiet, the sunlight is strong… it feels like everything will work out. I didn’t know, but they say they allow marriage between people of the same secondary gender here. I regretted not having brought you with me no matter what, if only I had known that fact. Though it’s all too late now. I won’t make any excuses to you. What happened is a fact, and it’s true that I betrayed your trust. Still, there was one thing I wanted to tell you. Be careful of Kim Joohwan. I have a feeling that… he might kill you someday. So, if possible, don’t go near him. I’m begging you. I really wanted to say this. I miss you. I should have loved you more. I should have told you I love you more…. I was so foolish, so foolish that I have nothing to say. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. Jungmin. I hope you’ll always be healthy and happy. More than anything, I like seeing you smile, so I hope your days are filled with things that make you smile. Jungmin….』

The word ‘Jungmin’ was written several more times at the end. He probably knew that this email would be the last goodbye he could send. Jungmin, too, read the email once and sent it to the trash. In case he might memorize the email address, he didn’t even look at the address field. Since it was over, he shouldn’t remember anything about Soohan. That would be better for his new start as well.

“Be well. Hyung.”

Jungmin quietly bid him farewell. A very short romance had come to an end.