Dolls Chapter 2.12

“But Dad…”

Joy muttered, confused, and Noah sighed, spitting out Jace’ name as if chewing it, then gently pulled the trembling Joy into his arms.

“Later… when you meet someone truly precious, someone who genuinely cares for you, that’s when you use that word. It’s not something you just throw around because it feels good.”

“Someone precious…”

“Your lifelong mate.”

Mate…

“Like Master?”

At Joy’s words, Noah froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“It’s still… a difficult concept for you, isn’t it?”

Looking at Noah’s warm eyes as he stroked his hair, Joy tilted his head. Noah’s words were still too complex for him to understand, but a gentle Noah wasn’t scary, and that felt nice. As Joy burrowed into his embrace, Noah rubbed his erect penis against Joy’s wet entrance.

“Sob… ah…”

As Joy lifted his hips, Noah slowly and gently entered him. The osmanthus scent enveloped Noah’s weary body, comforting him.

*

Noah looked at the peacefully sleeping Joy before heading to the living room. Joy Green’s omega innocently believed the misguided notions Jace had taught him without a shred of doubt. Where to even begin correcting him… Noah sighed softly and picked up a wine glass from the home bar.

As he poured wine and was about to take a sip, Noah noticed AE70 across from him, about to drink water. For a moment, it felt like looking in a mirror, and Noah held his breath. The only difference was the wine glass in his hand versus the water glass in AE70’s, but their frozen postures were eerily identical, like a decalcomania.

“Mas…ter?”

His breath caught. Feeling his own mannerisms reflected in every unconscious action of AE70, Noah grew increasingly afraid of this “fake.” The same went for OE70. With a face like his, they would slowly infiltrate his life. He could no longer tolerate these “fakes.” To prevent them from eroding him under the shadow of being fakes, Noah decided he needed to instill a sense of “self” in them. The first thing they needed was a “name.”

*

As the days of being separated from his alpha continued, OE70 grew visibly anxious. Watching OE70 pace restlessly around the room, Joy asked with concern.

“OE70 hyung… are you okay?”

OE70 stopped and turned his gaze to Joy. For a moment, his eyes clouded as he stared at Joy, then he slowly walked toward him. Feeling pity for OE70, Joy opened his arms and hugged him.

Though both omegas, OE70 was much smaller and more delicate than Joy. Afraid he might break him, Joy gently held OE70’s shoulders and patted him. After a long embrace, OE70 looked up at Joy.

Blue eyes, identical to Noah’s, took in Joy’s face before slowly closing. Joy brushed back OE70’s golden hair covering his forehead. Seeming to enjoy Joy’s touch, OE70 smiled faintly with his eyes closed.

Relieved that OE70 seemed to feel a bit better, Joy’s thoughts were interrupted as OE70 tightened his grip around him.

“Hyung…? Mmph!”

Puzzled by OE70’s actions, Joy was forced to swallow his words as OE70’s lips crashed against his. OE70’s soft lips fiercely sucked on Joy’s, soon slipping a tender tongue inside, entangling persistently.

“Ugh… hyung…”

Unable to call out, Joy’s saliva dripped down his chin, but OE70 didn’t release his lips. As Joy, panting heavily, pushed OE70 away with all his strength, OE70 caressed Joy’s cheeks with a dazed expression.

“Haa… haa… hyung… why are you doing this, it’s me… OE01…”

“Ah… OE01…”

As Joy shook his head to stop OE70 from kissing him again, OE70, still with a feverish gaze, muttered toward him.

“OE01… you smell like AE70…”

“Hyung… hyung…”

“Haa…”

Ignoring Joy’s protests, OE70 pulled him into a tight embrace and buried his lips in Joy’s neck.

“Ah… my alpha’s scent… it’s driving me crazy… sob…”

Feeling their lower parts growing wet, Joy steeled himself and slapped OE70’s cheek hard. The sharp pain, a first in his life, made OE70’s eyes clear before they wavered and filled with tears.

“Sob… ugh…”

Looking at the crying OE70 collapsed on the floor, Joy headed to Noah’s study. The sound of OE70’s sobs grew louder as they faded behind him.

—Knock, knock.

Knocking on the study’s tightly closed door, Noah’s voice called out to enter. Joy cautiously stepped inside. Noah, who had been diligently writing, looked up at Joy, crossed his arms, and curled one corner of his mouth.

“What brings you here?”

Swallowing hard, Joy answered Noah’s question.

“Master… could you let OE70 and AE70 meet?”

Noah silently looked at Joy, who spoke hesitantly.

“Why?”

“OE70 hyung is really struggling.”

“Struggling?”

“You… you may not understand, Master, but they’re mates. Born on the same day, walking the same path of fate.”

“Mates…”

“Please, I’m begging you, Master.”

Noah stared at the pleading Joy for a while before chuckling and standing up from his chair.

“Alright.”

“What?”

Joy, not expecting such an easy agreement, asked with a stunned expression. Noah patted his head and called for Lionel.

“Yes, Mr. Seifried.”

“Tell the fakes to come to the parlor.”

“Yes.”

“AE70!”

Seeing AE70 already in the parlor, OE70 ran to him with tears streaming down his face and hugged him. AE70 silently held OE70 and stroked his hair. Watching them, Noah gestured for everyone to sit.

Swallowing his sobs, OE70 sat close to AE70. Joy, sitting across from them, smiled softly at the sight of the two, finally reunited and visibly happy.

“I’ve decided to let you two stay together from now on.”

At Noah’s words, OE70 looked at AE70 with a tearful, overjoyed expression. Unlike OE70’s reaction, AE70 listened to Noah calmly.

“But first.”

Noah continued, looking at AE70 and OE70 with his hands clasped.

“You’re people too, so you should have names.”

“Names?”

“Names?”

AE70 and OE70 echoed.

“We already have names.”

AE70 said, and Noah smirked.

“As I said before, those aren’t names; they’re serial numbers. You can’t call that a name.”

“Master… does that mean we’ll get names like you or the others here?”

OE70’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, while AE70’s expression darkened. Unnoticing, OE70 looked at Noah with boundless trust.

“Yes. Alpha, from today, your name is Haon. Omega, you’re Noel.”

At the names, AE70 frowned. Haon and Noel were both variations of Noah’s name. Even with names, it was clear they were bound to their master, Noah, making AE70’s chest tighten.

“Haon…”

Oblivious to AE70’s feelings, OE70, now Noel, rubbed his face against Haon’s chest, murmuring his alpha’s name repeatedly.

*

“Mr. Seifried has requested permission not to dispose of the alpha and omega even after they’ve served their purpose.”

At Kim’s words, Adrian chuckled, nodding as if he expected it, and looked at Kim.

“What do you think, Seo-woo?”

“Huh? About what…”

“Is it admirable to treat test subjects as living beings?”

“Oh…”

“Well?”

“…I don’t think it’s a bad thing.”

“Not a bad thing…”

Adrian repeated Kim’s response, staring at him intently. Kim, anxious that his racing heart might be heard, met Adrian’s gaze as if nothing was wrong. His reflection in Adrian’s unfathomable purple eyes felt so foreign.

Ivory skin unlike anyone else in this world. Black eyes, a small nose, red lips.

Adrian looked at Kim with love, but the reflection in his eyes ironically made Kim aware of reality.

“Why have you lost so much weight?”

“……”

Adrian, now close, placed a hand on Kim’s waist, and Kim lowered his head, avoiding his gaze, to answer.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been preoccupied with various things lately…”

“Are there things bothering my secretary that I don’t know about?”

At Adrian’s words, Kim’s eyes wavered for a moment. The thought that Adrian might have noticed the pregnancy serum trial made Kim tremble involuntarily.

“Are you really unwell?”

“Oh… I’m sorry. I just felt dizzy for a moment.”

“Seo-woo, don’t push yourself too hard. If you collapse, I’ll collapse too.”

“……”

“Go rest for today.”

“…Yes.”

Kim bowed and turned, his face pale, but Adrian only looked at him with concern.

*

—Jay…

At the voice calling him, Jace slowly opened his eyes.

“You’re such a sleepyhead, Jace Miller.”

Standing with hands on hips and a wide grin, the person looking at the lying Jace was Joy Green. This was the Joy Green from before the mutation experiment, the one who shared everything with him.

Fine brown hair cascaded around his waist, red lips curved in a lively arc, and light auburn eyes that held only Jace.

“Joy!”

Jace sprang up and wrapped his arms around Joy’s waist. The sweet floral scent unique to Joy brushed past Jace’ nose.

“It’s really… you, Joy.”

“What’s with you?”

Joy laughed, lightly tapping Jace’ forehead, and Jace grinned back.

“I had a dream, Joy.”

“What kind of dream?”

“A dream where you left me.”

“……”

“One day, you suddenly said you’d undergo the mutation. It was theoretically possible, but it wasn’t an easy experiment. I opposed it… maybe that’s why. You said you’d become someone else’s omega… and in the end, you died during the experiment.”

“……”

“It was horrific. A world without you was far worse than I imagined.”

“……”

“So, in the dream, I created an omega with your genes. I named it Joy, an omega that looked only at me. Watching that omega grow and resemble you more each day made me feel like you’d come back, and I was happy.”

“I see.”

Joy Green stroked Jace’ hair as he spoke, and Jace continued.

“But… it was taken from me again. Just like I lost you.”

“……”

“To Noah Seifried.”

“…Jace.”

Joy Green lifted Jace’ lowered face, meeting his gaze.

“Why do you think it was taken?”

“Huh?”

Joy Green asked with a smile.

“It’s true, isn’t it? I was never yours, so why do you think I was taken?”

“……?”

Though Joy Green was smiling, something about his expression sent chills down Jace’ spine, making his gaze waver.

“Jace Miller, I’ve always belonged to Noah Seifried.”

Joy Green had somehow become Joy, OE01.

“Joy is Mr. Seifried’s omega.”

“…Jo…y?”

“My alpha is Mr. Seifried, not you, Dad.”

“Joy!”

“With a real alpha, I don’t need a fake one. I don’t need you anymore, Dad.”

“No! I’m your alpha!”

As Jace wailed, Noah appeared, standing over him with a crooked smile and cold eyes.

“Stop being so stubborn, Jace Miller.”

“Noah Seifried!”

“Don’t covet what’s mine anymore.”

“No! Joy is my omega!”

As Jace shouted, Noah kissed Joy as if to make a point. The sound of their tongues sucking and swallowing saliva made Jace close his eyes and cover his ears.

“No! No!”

Noah’s voice seeped into Jace’ ears as he shook his head.

“Keep sleeping like that. Forever.”

With a chilling sensation, Jace opened his eyes to find the room empty.

“No! No!”

Jace’ desperate cries filled the hollow room.

—Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

As the brainwave detector in Jace’ capsule registered intense fluctuations, the researchers’ movements grew frantic. Eric checked the monitor and injected medication through the tube connected to Jace’ arm.

“Are you back, Director?”

Eric spoke calmly but with a voice full of trust. Jace’ body was trembling slightly.

“Vitals are returning to normal. We’ll stabilize his body temperature.”

“Yes.”

As Liz spoke and Eric responded, a faint signal appeared on the pheromone detector in the room.

“What’s that?”

Eric stared at the detector in disbelief, then looked at Jace, who had opened his eyes and was staring back, unable to hide his shock.

“What in the world…”

The starting point of the waveform on the pheromone detector, the source of the pheromones, was Jace Miller.