Both of Gama's parents stormed into the office.

Without a second thought, his mother grabbed his ear and twisted it until it turned bright red.

The Kay family and the Cui family had all been summoned to the principal's office.

The contrast between the two families couldn't have been more obvious.

Gama's mother looked terrifying.

She had no problem scolding—and even hitting—her own son in front of everyone.

Meanwhile...

Tera's parents were busy hugging their child protectively.

"Ow, Mom! Okay, okay! I'm sorry!"

Gama yelped as his ear was mercilessly twisted.

His father stood nearby holding a wooden ruler.

Every time Gama tried to argue back, the ruler slammed loudly against the desk.

Bang!

"What were you thinking?"

"Breaking into an Omega dorm?"

"You little troublemaker."

"I knew letting a flirt like you grow up unsupervised was a terrible idea."

"Well... I'm young."

Another painful ear twist.

"Owww!"

"Tera."

Mrs. Kay gently turned toward her son.

"Tell us the truth."

"No."

Tera answered honestly before burying himself in his mother's arms again.

"Nothing happened."

"You heard him."

Mrs. Kay looked toward the principal.

"He said nothing happened."

Mrs. Cui scoffed.

"And you're seriously believing him just because he said so?"

"You didn't even scold your son!"

"If you let this slide, he'll do it again!"

She jabbed a finger toward Tera's mother.

"Ask him what happened."

"Properly."

Still holding her cigarette, she marched straight toward Tera.

Tera instinctively took a step back.

His fingers twitched.

He was this close to spraying her with deodorant.

"Mrs. Cui..."

"I..."

Tera couldn't even focus his eyes anymore.

He was nervous.

And extremely uncomfortable.

"Simple."

"They should get married."

Mrs. Cui folded her arms.

"That's the solution."

"No more excuses."

"Just get married."

"It doesn't work like that, Auntie!"

Tera stomped his foot.

"At least let me explain!"

"Marriage."

Mrs. Cui answered without missing a beat.

"B-but—"

"Marriage."

"Problem solved."

Tera took a deep breath.

Talking to Gama's mother was impossible.

"Would you PLEASE listen to me?!"

He shouted so loudly that everyone in the office instinctively covered their ears.

"Can you at least let my son finish speaking?"

Mrs. Kay frowned.

"No wonder your son turned out like this."

"Looks like manners were never invented in your family."

She shot Gama a glance.

"You're raising Dora the Explorer over there."

Gama's jaw dropped.

"...What?"

"Listen."

Gama finally spoke up.

"I invited him on a date."

"I rented out an entire café."

"But he never showed up."

"So I went looking for him."

"I climbed through the window."

"He came out of the bathroom."

"He looked like he couldn't breathe."

"So I carried him to the bed."

"Then someone screamed."

"That's literally all that happened."

Mrs. Cui narrowed her eyes.

"You were angry, weren't you?"

"...Yeah."

"Of course I was."

"He stood me up."

"I had every right to be mad."

Mrs. Cui nearly smacked him.

"You idiot!"

"You released your pheromones while you were angry!"

"How am I supposed to believe nothing happened between the two of you?!"

Luckily, Mr. Cui caught her before she actually punched him.

Mrs. Cui suddenly looked at Tera.

"What's wrong with your neck?"

"My eczema."

"The soap didn't suit my skin."

"It got irritated."

Mrs. Kay nodded.

"He's telling the truth."

"Of course you'd defend your own son!"

Mrs. Cui snapped.

Nearby, Gama awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"If you don't want to believe me, then don't."

Tera muttered before quickly covering his own mouth.

"...What did you just say?"

Mrs. Cui slowly grinned.

She stepped closer.

Instead of backing away—

Tera straightened his posture and stood his ground.

"You're."

"Being."

"A."

"Nuisance."

He pronounced every word one by one.

Mrs. Cui burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

Then...

Her expression suddenly turned cold.

Tera instinctively stepped back.

The moment he inhaled—

His knees nearly buckled.

Her scent.

Patchouli.

Warm like cinnamon...

Yet strangely spicy.

"Ugh..."

"You never told me your mom was an Alpha..."

Tera hurriedly covered his nose.

"Fine."

"I believe you."

Mrs. Cui shrugged.

"But don't fall for my son."

"He doesn't even have a job."

"An Omega deserves someone who can actually support them."

"And if you somehow end up pregnant..."

She took another drag from her cigarette.

"...Get an abortion."

She leaned in—

Then deliberately blew the smoke directly into Tera's face.

"I'll protect myself."

"I promise."

Tera answered without hesitation.

Gama immediately pulled his mother away.

"Mom!"

Before he could say another word—

Smack!

Mrs. Kay slapped Mrs. Cui across the face.

"If you're going to smoke..."

"Do it somewhere else."

"Trash."

...

"...I'm exhausted."

Tera dragged himself back to his dorm room.

The argument between both families had ultimately ended with a slap.

Too mentally drained to care anymore...

He collapsed onto the floor.

And fell asleep almost instantly.

...

"Yan."

"Where's your little sheep today?"

His classmates couldn't resist teasing him.

Yan ignored them.

Today, the cafeteria was offering unlimited free ramen—

Courtesy of Gama's wallet.

Naturally...

Yan wasn't about to miss it.

"Seriously."

"The short one isn't glued to your side for once?"

"The angry little muscle hamster."

"He isn't here."

"I'm off shepherd duty today."

Yan waved them away.

Not far away...

Sky peeked at him from behind a mop.

Pretending to clean up the water he'd "accidentally" spilled.

'Yan's alone...'

Sky cleared his throat.

"Ahem."

Then casually walked over.

"I—"

Before he could finish—

"No."

Yan immediately cut him off.

"I'm not in the mood for rabbits today."

Sky glanced around.

None of their classmates were nearby.

Perfect.

That meant he didn't have to maintain his cool image.

Especially around his favorite Omega.

"Kaing~ Kaing~"

Sky suddenly rubbed his head against Yan's chest like an oversized puppy.

"U-Uh..."

"Sky..."

"You're trying way too hard."

Yan looked genuinely horrified.

Sky's aegyo had traumatized him years ago—

Back when Sky still pretended to be an Omega.

The memories involving hotel rooms were more than enough.

"Make me your little sheep."

"Baa~ Baa~"

Sky puffed out his cheeks before raising both hands beside his head like floppy bunny ears.

"That's so creepy!"

Yan immediately scooted away.

"You started out acting all cool."

"So don't suddenly switch to aegyo just because nobody's watching!"

"I'm warning you!"

"Skyii wants that~"

Sky deliberately exaggerated every syllable, pouting as he leaned closer.

His lips were only inches away from Yan's cheek—

Splash!

Yan dumped a cup of ice water straight over Sky's head.

"...Seriously?"

Sky stood there, dripping wet.

Some things...

Really never changed.