“Great. Anyone else?”
Picking two people wasn’t enough. She pleaded with her eyes if she could be allowed to stop choosing, but the doctor beckoned her to continue choosing. There was no chance of her getting out of this.
However, no matter how hard she looked at them, she couldn’t find anyone who truly drew her in. The insufficient information not given made her keep hesitating to make a decision based on a single image. Then the doctor changed the contents on the screen by clicking the mouse. Three more images appeared on the screen and pointed to one particular one.
“This is a candidate who had a mate in the past, but doesn’t have one now.”
“Had a mate…”
“The imprint was undone, and he became free.”
“Ah.”
There are times when imprinting ends. Well, love also has an expiration date, so would pheromones be any different? Perhaps that’s why he said Alpha and Omega imprinting had nothing to do with fate.
Anyway, she didn’t feel any more interested in him than the people she had seen earlier. Perhaps, it was because she had been told he had a mate before. In other words, it was like having a girlfriend he had been dating for several years. She gave up choosing and stared blankly at the screen. The doctor smiled bitterly as if he had read her thoughts.
“Let us begin with two people you already chose. After your first heat, your preferred type will be more specific. Then you’ll be able to choose another Alpha to your liking.”
She had almost no dating experience in her 27 years of life, but she could now choose and change men with ease. Seyeon felt perplexed again because she had never intended to have more than two people with her. She realized she should have looked at her fortune for today. What if there was misfortune in all of this?
“Okay, let’s connect with them now. I hope to get a positive answer from both of them.”
The doctor instructed her on how to use the smart pad. He explained something and then excused himself because he needed to get something done. She saw an application named ABO KOREA as soon as she turned on the power button. He said the hospital would synchronize her information to the device once she signed up.
Seyeon subtly felt the similarity in a way to how she felt when she signed up for a regular site. She was concerned about becoming an Omega, but she reasoned that it wouldn’t be all that different. Except, for the heat, of course.
The nurse took over the pad after signing up and proceeded to synchronize information. Seyeon looked at her member information page which completed her authentication. It said [CLASS: OMEGA]. she wondered if she would ever be able to adjust to this.
“You can open a new smartphone and use it along with your current phone, but it would be convenient to change the device to the same brand as the devices given to you. Please note that currently only models from this manufacturer can be used.”
“I’ll just change the phone.”
Seyeon decided to dispose of her current cell phone. She understood the relationship between ABO and electronic device manufacturers. She had no regrets because it had been over two years since she changed hers anyway, and she thought it would be too inconvenient to use two devices at the same time.
“Whenever possible, please get information from manuals or textbooks. The OMEGA-only community here will also be of much help. On the regular internet, there is too much fake information.”
“Oh, yes.”
Seyeon only skimmed through titles like ‘Alpha Blacklist (updated)’, ‘3 Things to Avoid During Heat‘, and ‘New Sex Toys Unboxing‘ as the nurse mentioned the useful tips about the community that were frequently posted. Even though she had no idea what else to do, she decided to look at the blacklist articles. The doctor came back into the room and asked her a question.
“Ah, Miss Im. Are you an office worker?”
“Yes.”
She had a moment of clarity regarding reality about the company that she had forgotten about. She had to return to the company now. It didn’t matter whether she was an Omega or in heat. This turn of events would cause the team members to be sweating on their feet by now.
When she checked her watch, she saw it had been an hour since she entered the treatment room. She seemed to have lost track of time because of a series of shocks she underwent.
“First of all, ABO will send an official letter to your company. Omegas need to get welfare leave for their heat cycles. The average heat duration is one to two days.”
Seyeon realized this wasn’t just a simple physical change when she heard when they would notify the company. Everything in her life changes. How will people around her accept that she has become an Omega? The doctor continued to speak as he examined Seyeon’s unexpected serious expression.
“An Omega’s welfare leave is guaranteed by law. When you put on the smartwatch that you paid for earlier, it’ll automatically measure your body pheromone index. That information will be sent in a transcript to the company when the pheromone index corresponds to detecting an upcoming heat. It’s easy because you don’t have to prove anything or apply for it.”
It seemed convenient that the transcript was issued automatically, but the problem was that it was a day off. The exact date of the heat period is uncertain, and it can’t be notified in advance. How many days of vacation does she take each month? The company would not consider it a good thing. No matter how legally guaranteed it was.
“Still, it was submitted on the same day… It’s difficult.”
Seyeon sighed as she learned that she would have to take a day or two off work once a month. Unless she got lucky and it fell on a weekend. She was not inconvenienced in the least. She knew this, but she wondered how the team members would feel considering the large load of work they already had to handle.
As her expression hardened, the doctor continued speaking as if he had guessed what was going on at that moment. He had a knack for picking up on her thoughts and feelings.
“This is a different case for Miss Im. Omegas usually find their first job after apparitions, so most of them work for omega-friendly companies or are freelancers.”
“Ah…”
“The ABO also provides employment support, so it might be a good idea to think about changing jobs.”
Seyeon nodded as she thought it was right to prepare for a job change. It was the right thing to do if there was a company that looked at Omegas with judgement or discrimination. However, she felt nervous because she wouldn’t have the job she had hoped for, and she didn’t know if she would be able to find another job because of this situation.
“If I have to change jobs, would I find another job right away?”
“Yes. Since the management number has been issued, it is possible starting from today. However, I recommend you take your time because it’s important to get used to these new changes. That’s why we provide emergency living support.”
“That’s right.”
Seyeon nodded her head in agreement. The doctor smiled bitterly, asking if she had already decided to change the job. It was a famous fact that Omegas don’t do good in Beta’s society.
There was also discrimination and hatred against minorities among Betas. Such as the disabled, homosexuals, and Omegas too because they were no different. The Class Discrimination Act existed, but it was practically useless. So Omegas hid their class and pretended to be Betas.
Seyeon was only concerned that it would interfere with her work, but she knew that if she was revealed to be an Omega that she would be bombarded with attention. The doctor didn’t want Seyeon to take such a response for granted or undervalue herself as a result of it. Although he could be called a bit of a stranger, he offered his heartfelt advice to her.
“Miss Im. Since you’ve been living in the world of Betas your whole life, you’re probably aware of the prejudice and preconceived notions about Omegas. However, the majority of them are based on distorted perspectives. In today’s society, Omegas play a critical role. It is the only class that is responsible for maintaining this society.”
Her first impression of him was tough. He was a doctor who was playful when he spoke, but he now appeared to be very serious. When his sincere voice flowed into her ears, Seyeon seemed to calm her cluttered mind for some reason. His pleasant minty scent seemed to help calm her mind.
“The ABO, a global organization, was launched to protect Omegas. Anyone who harms Omegas, regardless of class, is severely punished according to international law.”
Alphas could only have children with Omegas. The small number of omegas made many Alphas connect with Betas, but no children were seen in those cases. Naturally, Betas could only give birth to Betas, and Omegas could give birth to all surname classes.
There will be no Alphas without Omegas. Omegas are an essential being for preserving the two classes.
Only Betas had nothing to do with it, and did not recognize Omega’s astronomical value. They found it ridiculous. They accused Omegas of being indecent and obscene rather than realize it was about sexual specificity for reproduction.
“So you shouldn’t be ashamed of your class no matter what others say. You’ve become more valuable and precious than anyone else.”
If Seyeon had been legitimately born with Omega parents, rather than a special case revealed in a Beta couple, the high-ranking people at ABO would have treated her harshly instead of being educated properly at a general cooperative hospital.
The pheromones were so weak that it couldn’t be detected for another 10 years, so it was judged that there was a high chance of giving birth to a beta. It meant Seyeon was out of ABO’s reach.
That did not imply that Seyeon’s worth decreased. She will make her own contribution to society as an Omega. Therefore, the doctor hoped Seyeon would not judge herself from a Beta’s perspective.
“Don’t let anyone ignore you.”
Above all, Seyeon clenched her fists unconsciously in response to his heartfelt advice. He was quite burdened with revealing that she had become an Omega, and every word he said seemed to give her courage. Even though she didn’t show it.
Don’t be ashamed of yourself just because you became an Omega.
Don’t take it for granted that others ignore you.
It had settled in her heart like a milestone at a time when everything was still unfamiliar and had not reached reality.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
The doctor’s expression softened as if it seemed he liked the answer. An alarm on the computer went off at that point, and the conversation naturally shifted.
“The match came back fast.”
When she heard that she was matched, she was nervous again and listened to the doctor.
“The second person you chose gave me their answer first. First of all, we need to proceed with the pheromone compatibility test. What time is it? The Alpha contacted me saying that he is available at 7 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. tomorrow.”
“I may have to go to work tomorrow, so I’ll do it today at 7 o’clock tonight.”
“Good.”
The doctor sent a message to the new cell phone so that Seyeon could easily see it. Seyeon checked the location and time and then looked at him confused.
“Are we not supposed to do it here?”
“This is a general collaboration hospital. There is a separate test room at the ABO Korea headquarters. They will guide you when you arrive.”
How many hours did I have to rely on the doctor in front of me to listen to my questions and concerns? Seyeon was a little apprehensive about meeting Alpha in a strange place without him, but she remembered the doctor saying it in enthuastic terms that it wouldn’t hurt her and settled down.
Even though he is fond of me.