Sebastian’s head tilted to the side as confusion was displayed in his face. The woman in front of him was no better—having bewilderment plastered on her face. Two individuals froze on their spots, eyeing each other as if a staring contest. Sebastian used the opportunity to study the woman.

She was significantly shorter than him. By the wrinkles on her eyes, Sebastian decided that she was also significantly older than him. She had chestnut wavy hair fell to the length of her shoulder, with eyes of matching color. It didn’t take long for him to notice the similarity between the woman’s features and Chester’s features and realize she was Chester’s relative of some sort.

Though, the puzzled woman couldn’t quite connect the relation between the young man in front of him and the occupant of this flat.

“Who are you?” the woman asked first, frowning quizzically.

Expecting the question yet still caught off guard, Sebastian gesticulated awkwardly. “I’m... Chester’s acquaintance,” he decided to say, although a little uncertain.

The woman’s frown grew deeper in suspicion. Yet, she let it slide. “Where is Chester?”

“He’s sleeping right now. Do you want me to wake him up?” Sebastian offered, moving out of the doorway to let the woman in.

The woman welcomed herself as though her own house, treading her way inside. “Tell him his mom comes to visit.”

Immediately realizing the woman was Chester’s mother, Sebastian couldn’t help feeling disrespectful.

Sebastian closed the door behind them, dashing inside past the woman to Chester’s bedroom. He knocked the door, calling, “Chester,” a few times. As there was no answer, he decided to excuse himself in, finding the man was still snuggled under his blanket.

Pulling his mask over his nose, he carefully minced towards the man’s bed and crouched next to him. Softly, he shook the man’s shoulder, trying to wake him up. “Chester, wake up,” he whispered. “Chester.”

The man growled, slapping his hand everywhere as he refused to wake up.

“Chester, come on,” Sebastian shook Chester again. “Your mother is here.”

As he heard the sentence, Chester shot his eyes open and sat straight immediately. With puffy eyes, he darted his sleepy-yet-alerted gaze to the Alpha. “... What?”

“Your mother,” Sebastian repeated, though his voice sounded uncertain.

“Fuck,” Chester slouched, scratching the back of his head and closing his eyes. He sighed. “Why is she here?”

That wasn’t the reaction Sebastian expected—it got him dumbfounded. Chester—oblivious to Sebastian’s puzzlement—searched for his phone around the bed. He found it at the edge of his bed—again—and turned on the screen. Several texts and miscalls from his mother were notified on the display.

Throwing his phone onto his bed, Chester clicked his tongue. He rubbed his face profusely to sober himself up, then turned around to the younger man who had been loyal to him. Noticing the mask on the younger man’s face made him felt guilty—he blamed the abundance of pheromone he emitted. But, that was not the problem. “You’re not an Alpha,” Chester whispered in determination. “You hear me? You’re a Beta.”

Sebastian cocked his head to the side; eyes projecting innocent puzzlement.

Inching closer, Chester hissed threateningly, “If my mom ever asks what are you, tell her you’re a Beta. Don’t ever say that you’re an Alpha, get it?”

Although still puzzled, Sebastian nodded obediently. “Uh... okay?”

Chester stretched his arms upward as it was one of the best ways to wake him up. “Now, leave first,” he shooed the younger man away. “I need to take more suppressant and get dressed. Entertain her demanding ass, will you?”

As much as he was unsure, Sebastian obediently left the Omega alone. He sauntered to the living room, where the woman was already waiting patiently. “He’ll be here in a second,” he announced. “I’ll get something to drink.”

“Thank you,” the woman smiled faintly.

Sebastian gave another simple nod before leaving the woman alone to prepare a drink. He was already making a warm tea for Chester, anyway, so he made a new one for Chester’s mother.

Placing the tea in front of Chester’s mother, Sebastian proceeded to sit down on a couch on the left side. Chester’s mother muttered a thank you, taking the cup and sipping the liquid in it. After taking a sip, she placed the cup down on the table, scrutinizing the young man sitting near him. “May I ask who are you?”

Startled with the question, Sebastian straightened his back. “Oh, I’m... Sebastian,” he stuttered his introduction, unsure what he should say.

Stares still piercing through, her eyes were judging the young man. “An Alpha?”

“N-No,” Sebastian gesticulated awkwardly. “I’m... a Beta.”

Frowning as though not believing him, she leaned closer. “Then why are you wearing a mask?”

“Oh, I’m feeling unwell myself,” Sebastian tucked on his mask. “Chester said he wasn’t feeling good, so I came to nurse him. I don’t want his condition to become worse, so I wear a mask.”

She kept her eyes on the young man for a little longer, until she finally leaned and relaxed himself. “You’re a nice guy, I suppose,” she admitted. “I’m Kayla.”

Sebastian nodded, not knowing what other reaction he should give.

Once again, the woman sipped on her tea. “You’re too nice. Too bad you’re a Beta,” she stated. “If you’re an Alpha, you can be Chester’s mate immediately. He’s too old to be an unmarked Omega.”

Sebastian lifted his gaze, looking at the woman. Her expression was calm and a little of pity—which made Sebastian realized that she wasn’t necessarily being rude. She was concerned of her son’s wellbeing—in a wrong way. Although Sebastian himself would love to pair with Chester—and as they were fated pairs—he wouldn’t want Chester to be forced into it. He wanted Chester to consent into the relationship, not because he was some Omega in his late 20’s.

No wonder Chester didn’t want Sebastian to say he was an Alpha. He dropped his gaze to the floor, looking at the carpet beneath the table. “I think... you’re not giving Chester enough credits,” Sebastian decided to speak up against the better. “He knows the cons of not being marked, he knows how painful to live like that. He decides this, because he values himself more than anything. I think it’s unfair for we, Betas, to say something about a matter we don’t know about. I believe Chester knows how to take care of himself.”

Only after he finished saying what he wanted that Sebastian felt like a fool. He pried too much into the matter. Yet, he couldn’t stand to listen to someone saying bad things about Chester’s choice. He was drawn to Chester—drawn to his capability, his tough attitude, his stubbornness.

Only when he flickered his gaze up again that he found the woman froze. She was staring at him with a set of conflicted emotion. Now, Sebastian felt a little guilty.

Fortunately, Chester came in to break the awkward silence. He staggered a little, as he was still a little feverish. Both the woman and the young man’s attentions were finally directed to him.

“He’s right, mom,” was the first sentence Chester managed. “I can manage myself.”