Chapter 7

    Joseph thought that, after being friends with Tithnuea for so many years, he understood his personality well enough.

    They had done plenty together: studied, had lunch, and even shared a room during their university years. They were so close that they could communicate with just a glance.

    Yet, apart from work, Joseph had never seen Tithnuea so driven—especially about tracking down someone, as he had after Joseph sent him additional information the night before.

    At the crack of dawn, Joseph wasn’t fully awake when he groggily walked to his front door. Squinting at the sight of a parked car, he muttered, “Oh,” upon recognizing his friend sitting behind the wheel.

    Joseph stood there, hands on his hips, staring in confusion.

    Tithnuea, noticing his friend’s disheveled state, frowned and waved him off impatiently. His tone was brusque. “Why aren’t you ready yet? We’re going to be late.”

    Joseph’s jaw dropped. His friend had shown up uninvited, yet had the audacity to rush him.

    Massaging his temples in frustration, Joseph felt like someone had smacked him upside the head with a basin.

    He shrugged nonchalantly. When he was chased away by the guest, he trudged back inside, scratching his head. Grabbing a small towel, he slung it over his shoulder and headed for the bathroom.

    The ticking of the clock echoed.

    Inside the bathroom, Joseph muttered, his voice bouncing off the walls, “Five in the morning—how is this late…?”

    The morning air was chilly, so Joseph quickly freshened up as if sprinting through water. Emerging from the house, he looked energetic and ready for the day.

    Sliding into the car, he buckled his seatbelt noisily, his forehead now visible after styling his hair neatly. He flashed a toothy grin. “I’m so lucky to have Khun Nuea as my chauffeur today.”

    While waiting, Tithnuea focused on mapping the route, so when Joseph got into the car, he turned to scold him a little, saying, “Shut your mouth. We’ve wasted enough time already.”

    The blunt comment hit Joseph squarely.

    “Damn Nuea. You jerk.” His finger trembled as he pointed dramatically. “Choosing your wife over your friend, huh?!”

    Tithnuea, unaffected by Joseph’s theatrics, simply checked the rearview mirror and reversed the car carefully.

    Realizing he wouldn’t get a response, Joseph sighed, giving up on the melodrama. “You don’t need to rush, my dear friend. He’s not going anywhere.”

    Talking to Tithnuea was like talking to a wall. He added sarcastically, “What, do you only use your mouth to eat?”

    Ching!

    “Alright, alright, I’m sorry...” Joseph relented.

    They drove into the city before sunrise, passing a seemingly endless stretch of coastline before buildings began appearing along the roadside.

    Joseph’s blue eyes glanced at the scenery outside as he hummed a tune to himself before remembering something.

    “You know, I came to this area just a few days ago,” he began. “Kids these days, not only skipping school but causing all kinds of trouble too. If I had a kid like that, I’d disown him.”

    Tithnuea, ever the attentive driver, kept his eyes on the road, occasionally responding to Joseph’s chatter with half-hearted acknowledgments.

    When they hit a red light, Joseph turned his attention to the file in his hands. “Judging by his age, he should be of legal age now. No record of his mother, and his father reportedly passed away two years ago,” he said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Honestly, he’s clearly at a disadvantage. You can’t help but feel sorry for him. In a world where Omegas still face inequality, it’s no wonder they resort to illegal activities to survive.”

    Flipping through the file, Joseph’s eyes lingered on a section as he asked, “So, when you meet him, what are you going to do?”

    Tithnuea didn’t seem to have a clear answer. After a moment, he muttered, “I don’t know.” and “I guess I’ll apologize first.” His expression was hard to read, even for someone as observant as Joseph.

    “Apologize?” Joseph’s lips twitched, half-amused, half-annoyed. “Damn. You practically turned the world upside down to apologize? Really?”

    Joseph wasn’t wrong.

    Even Tithnuea himself wasn’t sure if his explanation was just an excuse for his desire to see the Omega again.

    Running his long fingers lightly over the steering wheel, Tithnuea gazed at the road ahead, his thoughts wandering. He mumbled, “We’re both crazy.”

    He remembered it vividly.

    “You said that he’s the one who suffered, which is right. And I hate owing anyone anything. So, apart from an apology, if I can take responsibility, I’ll do it.”

    In his twenty seven years of life, Tithnuea had never had a girlfriend or been in a romantic relationship. His family’s traditional values took such matters very seriously: no false hope, no improper relationships, and certainly no engagement with strangers who weren’t a girlfriend or wife. Everything had to adhere to proper decorum, and inappropriate behavior was strictly off the table.

    Yet, here he was, having unwittingly crossed a boundary with an innocent person…

    To make matters worse, he had to admit that the pleasure he had never experienced before was now unforgettable. If his grandfather ever found out, it would surely cause a huge uproar.

    Grandfather...

    At the thought of him, Tithnuea’s face turned stoic.

    “Come to think of it, your Omega’s pretty tough, huh? Lasted two whole days and nights,” Joseph’s voice broke the silence. His blonde hair caught the light from outside.

    He folded his arms and chuckled.

    “If they’re not crippled, they’re probably paralyzed on one side. Yet they still had the strength to run away from you when you were unconscious. Impressive—this must be the mother of your child,” Joseph laughed heartily.

    He continued, “Someone like you, Mr. Heir to the Entire Family Fortune, could probably support plenty more people, no problem. Want to take me in too? Haha.”

    Joseph’s playful tone grated on Tithnuea, who was serious about everything.

    Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Tithnuea gradually released his hold with a measured calm.

    He wasn’t the type to indulge in keeping someone dependent on him, nor was he one to collect pretty things for his own pleasure…Most importantly, he wasn’t one to joke about someone else’s personal life.

    It wasn’t funny—not even a little.

    Too exhausted to even glance at Joseph, Tithnuea exhaled sharply and turned up the car’s music to its maximum volume, drowning out the irritating chatter.

    Joseph, who were laughing, immediately shut his mouth, clamped his hands over his ears and yelled, “You bastard! Are you deaf, or what? Why is it so loud?!”

    At that moment, the red light turned green. Tithnuea pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The car surged forward, and Joseph, unprepared and unable to take hold in time, was thrown back into his seat, flailing comically. He shouted in protest.

    Their destination was an urban district of a relatively developed province, not too different from the province they lived in. After following the map’s directions, they arrived in under an hour, pulling up in front of a rundown building.

    An elderly landlord was leisurely snacking on peanuts outside. When he noticed them, the old man straightened up cautiously.

    He asked carefully, “What are you here for? You’re not debt collectors, are you?”

    He had a super wary expression.

    The two well-dressed young men exchanged glances. The area resembled a slum overshadowed by the nearby city, quiet and rarely frequented by others.

    Joseph was the first to speak. “We’re looking for someone.” He rummaged through his bag for some documents, then handed them over. “Do you recognize this person? Does he live here?”

    The old man took the papers, put on his glasses, and scrutinized the contents. His gaze fell on a one-inch photo attached to the A4 sheet, and his expression shifted with faint recognition.

    “That guy again...” he muttered, shaking his head before returning the papers.

    He asked further, “And who are you? Another debt-collecting gang? A different group this time?”

    The two Alphas exchanged another glance, noting how the term debt-collecting gang had come up twice already.

    “I’d like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind sparing some time,”

    Tithnuea stepped forward and placed a wad of cash on the counter. He quietly observed the change in the old man’s demeanor.

    The landlord’s gnarled fingers stroked his chin, and he nodded slowly. His stiff attitude softened. “Well, truth is, I’ve got all day,” he said with a grin. “We ought to help each other out, especially when it’s about finding someone who’s missing, right?”

    At that, the two young men exchanged another glance, silently thinking that their task might now be easier.

    But not really…

    “Well, let me tell you, she came courting me first. I’m just a farmer’s son, see? When a city girl came sniffing around, I didn’t know what to do! Ha, haha.”

    The elderly man laughed heartily, revealing his false teeth as he continued munching on the snacks piled before him. Without children or family, he seemed to relish having someone to chat with, prattling on endlessly about his life.

    In contrast, the two young men looked increasingly drained, their broad shoulders slumping in defeat. They had been sitting at the counter since morning, sharing drinks and snacks with the old man while waiting for the person they wanted to meet. But despite their patience, there was no sign of him.

    For what felt like the hundredth time, Joseph asked, “Is he coming, Uncle?”

    And for the hundredth time, the old man replied, “He’ll be here soon. Where was I again? Oh yeah, so after that, she and I...”

    It felt as though they were being tricked. Yet Tithnuea, ever determined, willingly let the silver-haired man string them along for hours with empty promises of soon.

    Joseph began to complain. “Nuea, it’s already past working hours. Why isn’t he here yet? He should’ve shown up by now.”

    Tithnuea glanced at his wristwatch. They had arrived in the morning, and now it was 7 PM, but there was still no sign of the person they were waiting for. Joseph, who wasn’t naturally patient, started to fidget and slid lower on the worn-out couch, which was so torn that its yellow stuffing was visible.

    “If we don’t see him tonight, let’s just go eat at our usual spot.”

    Tithnuea sighed, “I told you I don’t drink.”

    “Well, in case we find him there by chance~”

    The two were nearly the same height, having grown up eating the same things since childhood, but Tithnuea carried himself with a slightly more composed demeanor. While Joseph sprawled out on the couch, Tithnuea stood and paced to stretch his legs.

    Tithnuea replied calmly, “Let’s wait a bit longer. He’s probably on his way back.”

    Joseph ruffled his hair in frustration, incredulous at his friend’s sudden, unusual determination, despite never been this eager for a wife. He said in annoyance.

    “Fine, whatever. Do whatever you want. We’re already here.” Then, he rolled over to lie on his back, idly scrolling on his phone to pass the time.

    As the sun set, dim streetlights flickered on, struggling to stay lit.

    Crickets chirped loudly, their song filling the quiet and secluded surroundings. Few people came here, most of them were no one else but regular tenants.

    The buildings in this area were run-down, and the one they were in was no exception.

    Having grown up in a wealthy family, Tithnuea wasn’t used to seeing places like this. Even the workers in his family’s employ lived in more comfortable and well-maintained housing than this.

    Experiencing the reality of life for some people firsthand, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The air here was stifling, and not far off, piles of trash mixed with the carcasses of birds and rats. The structures looked like they were on the verge of collapse.

    The more Tithnuea observed, the more he was at a loss for words. How could this place, situated within the city, exist in such neglected conditions? Was it really separated from government care by just one wall? Even the streetlights flickered inconsistently, and the roads were so eroded that they posed a hazard to anyone traveling through.

    Scanning his surroundings, Tithnuea turned to Joseph. Joseph, who had been sitting upright for some time, just shook his head silently, as if they both shared the same thought:

    At this point, Tithnuea and Joseph thought that they had come to the wrong place, or they missed him entirely. They started to doubt the old man who, motivated by money, had spoken so freely. Perhaps nothing he’d said was true.

    Tithnuea’s frustration grew. He had been fully committed to this visit, and now that everything outside seemed empty, he turned back inside and resolved to wait a little longer. If nothing happened, they would return and reassess.

    But everything seemed to go a little off track; just as Tithnuea turned his back, the very person they sought was arriving at that precise moment…

    Yes, Seecha returned to the building at 7 PM, but he froze the moment he saw an unfamiliar luxury car parked nearby. After his recent harrowing encounter with debt collectors, his first instinct was to turn around and leave.

    “What? Why are they here today...?”

    Without overthinking, Seecha twisted the throttle and drove off, hiding at a nearby gas station. His face was etched with anxiety as he replayed the situation in his mind. They had agreed on the end of the month—so why had they come back today?

    His hands trembled at the thought of being hoisted off the ground, his neck nearly crushed in their grip.

    If he went back now, he’d surely be beaten. Worse, his child would be put in danger too. This month’s paycheck had already fallen short of his expenses, and he barely had forty baht left in his pocket. Even buying a meal required careful consideration. What could he offer them besides his battered face?

    Unwilling to risk it, Seecha stayed curled up on a long bench in front of the public restrooms at the gas station. He placed a freshly cleaned baby bottle beside him, tore open a milk packet with his teeth, and poured it into the bottle. Even though it was ready-to-drink milk, he shook it vigorously, unsure why he bothered.

    Little Shark, who had been hungry for several minutes, grabbed the bottle eagerly and drank with contentment.

    “Let’s stay here for tonight. We’ll wait until it’s safe before heading back to shower, alright, little one?”

    The baby lay on his lap, free to kick and stretch now that he wasn’t confined to the kangaroo baby carrier.

    Seecha glanced at the red marks between his son’s legs with guilt. His child had been stuck in the same position all day, something Seecha had been unable to prevent. He couldn’t afford a babysitter, and at the same time, Seecha couldn’t trust anyone else to care for his child but himself.

    “Be patient, little one. Just hold on a bit longer.”

    His eyes suddenly burned with an unexplainable heat.

    Was there really no way out for him? No job that could pay him more?

    “Daddy’s sorry.”

    “...”

    “What should I do next? Sob…”

    In the end, he couldn’t hold back the exhaustion that had been building up inside him. The weariness and fear overwhelmed him all at once. A flood of questions poured into his mind: Why? Why was he such a terrible father?

    Seecha hadn’t cried in years. The last time he felt this weak was at his father’s funeral two years ago.

    For a brief moment, Seecha wondered if he had made the wrong decision. His shallow thinking, combined with his overconfidence, had led him here. He had claimed he could raise a child, insisted he was ready, but in truth, he wasn’t ready for any of this. He wasn’t even worthy of being called a father…

    That thought froze him mid-sob.

    He shut his eyes tightly, mumbling, “No,” repeatedly, like a man on the verge of a breakdown. He tried to steady his mind, but the memory of that night and the face of a certain someone kept resurfacing.

    Shaking his head furiously, he gritted his teeth and reassured himself, “It’s fine. I can take care of him. I really can…”

    His only possession, his only treasure, was his child. And the only person responsible for that life was him.

    As the night deepened, the traffic on the roads thinned. Thankfully, the area was along a main thoroughfare, and bright lights illuminated the path leading to where Seecha sat.

    And yes, Seecha was too scared to go back now. He didn’t know how long he’d been dozing there, his eyes shutting while his hand fanned his baby. Eventually, he moved to the public restroom, seeking shelter. Hunger gnawed at him, but he had to save every penny. Even though his milk flow was low, he gritted his teeth and nursed his child until the baby was full.

    Slurp. Slurp. Slurp…

    Seecha yawned widely. The cramped restroom offered little space, so he leaned his head against the wall while sitting on the toilet lid.

    Large round eyes peeked over Seecha’s chest, pudgy cheeks moving in rhythm with the sucking motions. Tiny toes wriggled playfully as soft laughter bubbled out.

    Seecha, on the verge of sleep, chuckled along with his baby, pulling the small body that grew heavier everyday closer to his chest. He wiped away the drool dripping from the chubby cheeks. “What’s so funny, huh?”

    Just as exhaustion began to overtake him, Seecha thought he heard voices outside. They faded in and out, followed by the sound of footsteps.

    There was the rustle of clothing, a sharp exhale—almost like someone was irritated.

    Seecha sat motionless.

    He thought he heard someone said, “I’m going to smoke,” and “...the restroom,” which came from a distinctly different tone from the first.

    There were probably two of them.

    The footsteps drew closer. Seecha’s feet instinctively pulled together, and his arms wrapped protectively around his child. Even though his chest ached, he concealed his discomfort expertly.

    And then, just as sleep was about to claim him, the door he thought he had shut tightly swung open.

    It happened so quickly that Seecha had no time to react. Yet, in his mind, everything moved in slow motion, as though the seconds were counting down.

    A man’s silhouette appeared in the doorway, illuminated by the harsh overhead light, casting a long shadow into the restroom.

    The unintentional intruder froze.

    “You...”

    “...”

    Seecha, half-asleep, jolted fully awake.

    The fatigue in his eyes was replaced by the stark image of an Alpha standing before him. The lighting obscured the man’s face.

    But on the contrary, in Tithnuea’s view, how could he forget the Omega he had spent two entire days and nights with?

    And now, this Omega was...

    Tithnuea’s sharp gaze dropped gradually until it locked onto a small, sleepy pair of eyes staring back at him. The pudgy little baby continued to happily suckle at the Omega’s chest, completely content. Tithnuea’s jaw dropped. His trembling finger pointed at the child.

    That baby, that baby was feeding from the Omega he had been searching for all this time!

    “What the hell is this?! Who’s that child?!”

    Chaos erupted.

    The mysterious man’s demeanor shifted abruptly, his presence radiating a dangerous, almost feral energy. Instincts flared within Seecha, prompting him to clutch his child tightly. He kicked the door shut in the stranger’s face with all his strength and braced it with his foot. As soon as his nipple fell out of the baby’s mouth, Seecha lunged to lock the door, yelling,

    “Get out, you pervert!”

    Shouting erupted from the restroom, prompting Joseph, who had just finished smoking, to sprint toward the commotion as fast as he could.

    “What’s going on?!”

    Panting heavily, Joseph arrived at the scene, where the first thing he saw was his tall, well-built friend standing stiff as a board, eyes fixed on the tightly closed restroom door.

    He approached and asked, “Nuea, what happened?”

    Tithnuea didn’t respond. His lips moved wordlessly, muttering the same phrase over and over: “Found them.”

    Joseph furrowed his brow, glancing between his friend and the door in confusion. “What? Found what?”

    “Found them, Joe…” Tithnuea’s dazed eyes slowly met Joseph’s.

    “Found them. There are two of them in there.”