We ate the cake. I suggested feeding some to Aage and almost got smacked because he is only six months and apparently can’t eat it yet. We played Mario Karts on the switch and Uno. We had some gossip : me from school and him within his family and step-family – there was endless drama. I entertained Aage until he got tired and Hollis brought him to his dad. Finally, which was the initial reason I came - I helped him with school work.

« You need to do that » I write down the formula of productivity. Hollis was doing the same degree I was - business economics, but he was 2 years below me because he is one year younger and took a year during the pregnancy. Coming back to school after giving birth and with a newborn wasn’t easy. His husband is also busy studying medicine in our college. He initially was at Nash’s but got shunned after his marriage.

« How do you know that? He never mentioned it and I am convinced it is not in the book »

« I ask tons of questions with this one, he never is really precise but drop diabolical exams »

« You’re always so curious about everything, I should try too. » He let his pencil go and closed the notebook. Putting his hand back and closing his eyes.

« This is just to get good grades » I too let my stuff go, we had already covered much of the material.

« Lol » He said sarcastically « I remembered how much you asked questions about being an omega – I think that’s why Elson is so freaked out. He thinks you want to get down on me or something » He said nonchalently and I couldn’t help but distort my  face.

« Don’t do this face…I thought it was strange too at first but sometimes you have these obsessions. But don’t worry I know you wouldn’t touch an omega »

« I wouldn’t because we are friends, » I tried, but as hurtful as it was there was some truth to it.

His alarm rang. It was 6 and I knew his next moves by heart, it was his medicine signal.

He went to take his pills. There were two main things : his pill in the blue box taken daily during his reproductive time and the syringes in the black pochette. Each pochette contained two : one was a hormone inhibitor and the other, the activator.

The first one, the inhibitor, was used in an emergency, if you didn’t have pillsor they weren’t efficient enough but with their extreme dosages, they needed to be careful to use it as little as possible. The second one could be used to help having a baby or declench artificially a reproductive time. In high doses some used them to abuse omegas, that’s why it was hardly accessible.

It was the specific medicine, but you could take tons of other ones to deal with the different unease and side effects possible.

Considering all the medicine and the doctor’s visits, this was extremely expensive - especially for high quality - but they were loaded so no problem.

I decided to take my leave soon after. I took my car to the train station and then took the train.  I bought a round trip ticket. It was the last bit of my  monthly allowance and we weren’t even the 20th.

I put my hood and a mask on and went to my usual shop. I looked around me one last time and rang the bell on the counter of the second-hand bookseller. The usual storekeeper approached and he recognised me 

« I am here for my packages»  I showed him the number of the order

He barely looked at my phone, looked through his register behind the counter and went to retrieve it. He set a wooden box on the counter and went back to his occupations.

« I have two packages » I ordered two items that always came in two différents boxes.

« I only have this one for you »

« But I ordered two»

« It might be late –»

« Then don’t send me a message, do you think I can come here daily?» I bursted,

« Calm down, I have nothing to do with this. I’ll call them tomorrow and tell you »

I gripped my hair below my hood but took the first box firmly with more strength than I needed.

“What is it?” The middle-aged man asked

I ignored him and walked away from the counter

« I can’t help but be curious especially when you react this way »

I tightened the package against my costs, and tightened my free fist « None of your business. I pay enough to avoid these questions »

I put the package in the backpack I had in the car and went away. I took the train back reminiscing about how I might need to come back soon, or order it once again. Both involved money which wasn’t optimal. I couldn’t just ask more from my parents. Hollis or my brother would be my solution but with a good excuse.

I went back home, just as planned around 8 PM. I salute everyone. They were about to have dinner. I quickly went to my room and put my order upstairs.

I went to dinner with everyone and explained how I managed to study in the library all afternoon. My brother wanted to watch tv downstairs but I explained how tired I was. They seem to understand, they knew I didn’t have much endurance which often worried them.

I did sleep a little but then woke up at 3 am. I had set a vibrating alarm to not wake up anyone. There were things that could be only done when everyone else was asleep.

I took the box out of my backpack and opened it with a cutter. My headache didn’t help with my annoyment but this would do for now. I opened the wooden box, then one of the blue container it contained. I took a sip of water.

I gulped down.

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