#95

 

My body felt heavy. My body felt as heavy as if I had a thousand pounds hanging. It was difficult to apply strength to my fingers, and it was not easy to breathe.

 

‘…..Did I faint?’

 

I heard a certain sound of words in my dim consciousness. It was the voice of familiar people. Mom and dad, my family, and… the sounds of machines in the hospital that I don’t want to hear.

 

“…Like I said. At this rate, he’s going to…..”

 

“Then doctor…..”

 

“You’d better prepare your mind. We don’t know when he’s going to….”

 

“That can’t be…”

 

My consciousness was getting clearer. This was a dream. However, it was different from the nightmare of black hands that bothered me. Even the respirator that wrapped around my mouth was real.

 

‘Has this ever happened before I left the hospital?’

 

My eyelids were heavy; I could barely see. My body was like a dead body. Had I ever suffered so badly? I couldn’t remember. Even without the black hands, this was a terrible nightmare.

 

“What should we do….”

 

“It’ll be all right, honey. It’s all right………”

 

Sobs flowed through the family. Someone was crying. I wanted to wipe away their tears and tell them not to cry, but my body still didn’t move.

 

‘Why am I not moving?’

 

I was struggling, trying very hard to move even an eyelid or a finger. Even if it was just a dream, it was the family I missed. I wish we could at least have a conversation. It was such a small wish.

 

‘I’m fine. Mom and Dad. I’m going to be fine.’

 

I wanted to tell them that.

 

It was then.

 

“……If Yeowoon gets sick again, what will happen to our house?”

 

There was sharp anger mixed in my brother’s crying voice. As if my brother’s words were a catalyst, the desperate cry was cut off and the angry voices of my family filled my ears.

 

“How much does it cost to pay for the hospital if he…?”

 

“If Yeo-woon gets better, we can live doing what we want to do.”

 

“Mom and Dad, you haven’t forgotten your promise, have you? We can’t sacrifice because of him anymore.”

 

‘…Huh.’

 

The feeling of joy slowly receded. I could feel it even with my eyes closed. The resentment towards me in the hospital room, unable to open my eyes due to pain.

 

Did I do something wrong? Why were my brothers and sisters so angry?

 

I felt very frustrated, as I did not understand the situation. I thought that my parents would be able to get rid of my brothers and sisters’ unexpected anger.

 

But it was my mistake.

 

“……doctor.”

 

“Yes, guardian.”

 

“I want to quit the..…”

 

“I don’t think we can do it anymore. It’s too much for the other kids.”

 

What does it mean? Why can’t I hear what my parents and doctors say as if there was noise bocking them?

 

“If that’s the guardian’s decision…..”

 

The doctor’s confusing words made me want to jump up, grab my parents’ shoulders, and ask them.

 

What did you tell him? What is going to happen to me? Please tell me too. It’s scary.

 

‘It’s scary not knowing.’

 

Don’t leave me alone.

 

But my body still couldn’t move, as if it was being crushed by a rock. All it took was a very slight twitch of one thumb.

 

“Uh….”

 

They saw it. Someone saw me move my finger. I was able to catch a small but startled voice amidst the fierce flow of anger.

 

‘I’m awake. I’m listening.’

 

“Wait, he just….”

 

It was the voice of my sister who used to read to me. She was the only one who didn’t complain. I wanted my sister to convey my condition to my parents.

 

“No, it’s not.”

 

“…….Oppa?”

 

“You’re mistaken. Whatever it is.”

 

‘Hyung?’

 

It was the voice of my eldest brother. Was he right next to my sister? My eldest brother stopped my sister from saying anything.

 

“But… …Yeo-woon.”

 

“Our parents have already made up their minds. It’s something Yeo Woon agreed on in advance.”

 

“…….”

 

“You want to stop taking care of him too, don’t you?”

 

There was no sound of my sister’s voice following. The crying disappeared, and the unique smell of the hospital room rushed into my nostrils, making me suffer.

 

‘What does that mean?’

 

For the first time in my life, I sensed deep, quiet malice from my eldest brother. Other brothers and sisters also sympathized with him. Even my parents.

 

“What happened?”

 

“It’s nothing. Yeo-ri used to take good care of Yeo-woon. That’s why she thought he moved.”

 

My parents were silent for a moment when he said this.

 

“……No way.”

 

“You’ve heard that Yeowoon is….. We….we don’t want to hang ourselves in hopeless hope, do we?”

 

What are you talking about?

 

There were no black hands, which was strange. Even though my eyes were closed and I couldn’t see anything, it felt like black hands were grabbing my neck.

 

“Die.”

 

While hoping for my death.

 

I just wanted to run away from the fear of the unknown.

 

‘I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared.’

 

Please, I need someone to wake me up from this nightmare.

 

⚝ ⚝ ⚝

 

Although the employees were taken aback by the instructions that Chan-young barely gave through gritted teeth, they went down to the rice fields where the alphas were working to carry out the employer’s orders.

 

“Oh, there are employees coming up.”

 

Chae Yoon-chan was the first to see them. Chae Yoon-chan, who had to periodically apply sunscreen to prevent his fair skin from burning, noticed oncoming employees while squeezing cream and applying it to his face.

 

“Are they here to bring snacks? What about Seong Chan-young?”

 

Joo Tae-kang was secretly expressing his expectations. Chae Yoon-chan looked at the group with his eyes squinted under the shining sunlight, but Seong Chan-young was not visible among them.

 

“He isn’t there.”

 

“What? Why didn’t someone who was serious about food come? I thought he was going to bring ssam again…..”

 

Baek Do-joon, Yoo Yi-seo, and Seo Eun-soo pricked up their ears as Joo Tae-kang expressed his regret.

 

“Chan-young didn’t come? That’s too bad…”

 

“But the look on the employees’ faces over there is so grim. As if something had happened. There is no basket too.”

 

“Yoo Yi-seo, what are you trying to imply? No, wait. They don’t look so good. Did anything happen to you?”

 

A cold wind passed through those who held onto the farm equipment and sweated hard. They felt an indescribable ominity.

 

Soon, employees, led by Mr. Kim, faced the alphas with their luggage.

 

“I have something to tell you. It is an order.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Yoo Yi-seo asked, shaking off the dirt on his hands. Mr. Kim offered him simple luggage, including accommodation fees and car keys, that were given by Chan-young. To Seo Eun-soo, who did not have a car, Mr. Kim said he would take him there himself.

 

“From today to tomorrow, the young master told me to stay outside.”

 

“…… What?”

 

“Right now, pick up this luggage and enjoy your vacation. You have put in enough money for your stay.”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

“You just have to go out for one day.”

 

Alpha members’ expressions disappeared from their faces when Kim repeatedly asked them to leave with a stiff face.

 

‘If you had any complaints with us, tell us directly, don’t order others to do it…’

 

‘Why do I feel sorrowful about this?’

 

Until now, Chan-young had never kicked him out, even if he would nag and exploit labor. But this was a clear celebration order for only one day.

 

Other alphas were given the same luggage. Seo Eun-soo was shocked when he received the same luggage.

 

“Chan, Chan-young wants to kick me out too…?”

 

The hand holding the luggage was shaking. Seo Eun-soo’s gentle black eyes shone like the eyes of a beast. The pheromone, which had been well controlled, attempted to run wild.

 

“A pheromone that won’t even work for Beta. Why don’t you leave him alone?”

 

Yoo Yi-seo quickly noticed Seo Eun-soo’s abnormal condition and blocked it.

 

“…..you.”

 

“If you respond like that, would he like it? That’s why you’re so feisty.”

 

“Shut up.”

 

“I want to tell you to shut up now, but I can’t do that because of Seong Chan-young, so I’m holding back. Let’s hear the whole story.”

 

Even though they are both extreme dominant alphas, they had the intuition that they should follow Yoo Yi-seo’s words this time.

 

“……I got it.”

 

“I see.”

 

They asked when they saw the employees who didn’t return even after Yoo Yi-seo unloaded his luggage.

 

“Did he really say that? Does he want to give us a vacation?”

 

“That can’t be true. Seong Chan-young is a ghost who draws out labor.”

 

“Chae Yoon-chan, stay still with Seo Eun-soo.”

 

“Why! It wasn’t something he wouldn’t say! It’s weird! I don’t believe that Seong Chan-young said that all of a sudden.”

 

Chae Yoon-chan grumbled and stared at the employees. His blue eyes glared and he stared at Mr. Kim. 

 

Mr. Kim bluntly repeated the same thing like a parrot.

 

“……this is all we can tell you. You can stay outside by tomorrow and come back. That’s what the young master really said.”

 

“It’s very suspicious that you look impatient.”

 

The eyes of the five alphas narrowed simultaneously. The employees were all betas and had no pheromone, so they couldn’t know how they were feeling or how they were feeling at the moment, but it was clear that things were strange.

 

“…is that so?”

 

“Yes, you must have had a hard time lately, so he told me to take this opportunity to rest…”

 

Mr. Kim seemed to be the type of person who couldn’t lie. Even if it wasn’t his reaction, if Seoung Chan-young was the person who would say something like that, they wouldn’t have had to work just a moment ago. Isn’t it polite to at least ask them to leave in the morning?

 

“I don’t like it.”

 

Baek Do-joon, who was fiddling with the car’s key, suddenly threw it into the rice paddies. The car’s key fell into the water filled in the rice paddies with the sound of popping.

 

“What…!”

 

“I don’t like it. I thought he was finally opening his heart, but why would we leave if he’s going to throw us away like this?”

 

Baek Do-joon, who was the most calm, snarled revealing his teeth. Other luggage was trampled under the muddy rubber boots.

 

“Answer me. Is something wrong with Seong Chan-young enough to separate us all?”