The Omega’s Patient

I hid in a closet with a vape pressed to my lips. Jaehyun stood across from me. He smirked. “He’s like actually crying, you have to go out there. And he doesn’t smell good. He hasn’t showered in like.. a week. And he’s skipping everything.” I shrugged, the scent of strawberries and blueberries strong. It filtered throughout the darkened, tiny room hosting cleaning supplies and bed sheets. I was supposed to change a bed in 578 on the emergency floor; but Jaehyun grabbed me by my shirt and tugged me in here.

I gurgled in the toxic, stress-sexy smoke. It clung to the walls like a baby of faith and fire. The entire building basked in the scent, but this room dreamed it. Clean enough to smell like Downy, Dawn and professionalism. Yet, lazy bastards like Jaehyun and I made it seem vile. “No. Like, he’s like, not my responsibility.”

“But he loves you.”

“He’s crushing on you,” Mina cut in. I glanced at her, my stomach curled. Vicious and wrong despite speaking proudly; I could hit her. Disgust plagued her mind like salt on stick. My eyes narrowed. Like a castaway she was, as soon as she saw us, she had to jump in and ruin the fun. Not like smoking on the job is fun, but it was better than nothing. I scoffed, shaking my head before my eyes touched my skull as they rolled. “You’re disgusting.”

“You’re delusional. Pretty much all teens that come here crush on you. You’re like a.. bad boy.” I looked at her. She twisted in the room. Her scrubs scratched the wooden floors groggily; the sound almost muted. “That’s a lie.”

“Why do you even have tattoos? Aren’t you old enough to know that’s such a hoodlum thing?” The words made me think. I used my absent hand, brushing it against the trail tatted to my skin. “It’s the 21st century, Mina. Nothing is considered ‘hoodlum’ anymore.” I cursed. Her words almost an insulting fantasy, I faked a gag. Scandalized I left them. Then; I stood from where i crouched, towering over without meaning. She shrugged, two hands up in defense. “You look like you’re the mafia.”

“And you need to get your roots done.” I countered. I ushered the vape into Jaehyun’s calloused hands before stepping to the door. The lighting in the room was dark, but Mina’s awful lashes were more than obvious. “I have work to do. Unlike you two. Goodbye.” I grabbed the linens and swallowed. Pushing the door open with my side, I heard a scoff. “Find something better to criticize, baby. You’re incredibly wrong.” I mumbled. I clutched the fabric like it was my calling; my control. Sterling like fake silk and tasty because it smelled like chocolate.

The hallway was decently lit. It was unused and the time was past a quarter to six. Unused because it was plagued by small, intermission closets and one single IV stand. I don’t expect many patients up and moving. Especially not in this hallway. Maybe three loners, however nothing more. My legs were tired already. My shift started fifteen minutes ago and I’d been gone for two weeks. A funeral in Daegu, unfortunately. And I wanted a break from the harsh life of night shifts.

The squeaky floors under my ugly clogs, the scent of antiseptic stronger than omega heats, the taste of medicine on my tongue no matter what. It was all just perfect yet tiring. The hallway so dark I could only see the corridor. It was a bright, white room with yellow walls and blue floors for vibes. I loved the green room, though. It was the children’s unit. And I’m not a creep—just, it’s adorable. Toddlers get wrongly admitted, teenagers are mean, and middle-aged kids are brutally honest. One told me I smelled like cigarettes and it was nice.

I got a warning that day. He unintentionally outed me; that is fine because I got a laugh out of it.

They’re chill. The red room for adults was fine as well. I wasn’t up there nearly as much. But, I didn’t mind when I had to. Eating lunch with the kids was more fun. It was thrilling. Sometimes they asked nonstop questions. Sometimes they screamed. Sometimes they cried. And most times, they ate quietly and chatted amongst themselves like HR. That was it. The kids ward was easier and softer from my experience.

I hurried my way to the elevator. It sat across from the common room—also known as the green room. The walls were soft. The floors were carpet in case something fell. Chairs colored blue sat against glass walls, in the safety of the hospital. A toy kitchen on one side of the room and three regular tables on the other. It was empty, dark. But, I heard a small gasp.

“Hyung?” It was gentle, repressed and warm. Holding back liquids and curses. It sounded like the bridge that broke the dam. I placed my feet around and round before I spotted him. Sitting at one of the windows in the far way back. His face elicited by an iPad, his hands clutched it. He still wore inpatient scrubs because he had bad issues. His pants too large and too thin, his shirt oversized and purple. Nothing fit him. It was because of him.

His lack of eating and self esteem. I smiled softly, walking forward. He stared me up and down like I was a murderous subject. “What.. what are you doing back?” His name was Levi. Or maybe Hobin. He never told anyone. I was one of those people. Regardless of his dissociation, my heart softened at the betrayal of his call. His face was valuable. Eyes characterized by pearls and freckles of depression, he glared through his lashes. “Hey..” I muttered. I sighed. Stepping forward with toes careful enough not to startle him, I set the sheets on an unoccupied table and moved to him.

I sat by him. “Hi. How was your week?” My tone gradual and tender. I breathed loosely under my breath, leaning into the brown chair. He closed the machine, swiping the case ontop of it before putting it down. “How.. are you okay? You were gone for really long. I was worried.” My smile widened at his genuine tone, but I clicked my tongue. “You can’t worry about me, Lev-ah. You have to worry and care for yourself, you know?” I leaned in subtly. An unconscious urge of mine to hold and protect him. He declined, surprisingly. Pulling away as if it wouldn’t hurt my unprofessional feelings.

“Well… I usually took care of my mom when he was hungover.. so, it’s..I don’t have anyone to take care of now.” Oh. I nodded, my throat dry at the release. “I’m.. not your mom, kid.”

“You’re like my dad..”

“How?”

“I don’t know.. it doesn’t matter. You just look familiar.”

“I do?” I muttered. I corked a brow. He shook his head. Tugging at his finger nails, leg jerked to his chest. “I mean.. if I like, had a dad. I’d want it to be you.” He looked at me. Star-stricken eyes gazing. His lashes brown and cheeks pink. “Where’s your glasses?” He shrugged. “I’ve seen everything. What do I need them for?” Good point.

“It’ll help your vision. You don’t want to wear them forever, do you?”

“I’ve been wearing them for five years; does it matter? Anyways. Why were you out?” I didn’t like how sharp his tone was. “Did you eat?”

“You can’t answer a question with a question. It’s a bitch move.” I swallowed. The silence overtook. Brief whispers of the AC, the sound of lights flickering below. I stared. He stared back. I couldn’t answer that. It’s a violation of my job and my pride. I just shrugged. “I don’t want to be fired.”

“You won’t.”

“There’s cameras, kid. Come on. Let’s eat.” I stood. The chair scratched beneath me and I paused, holding a hand out to him. He flicked his eyes back, lips pursed. He grabbed the tablet again; my hand left cold and shaky from nicotine. I tugged it back. “Are you mad at me?” I bit my lip. His lashes wet, cheeks dark. He scrolled through the brightly-lit screen. “Pissed.” Clipped and broken.

“Did you eat?” I repeated. My tone a salient whisper. Pressed through my wheel of thoughts and barrel of lips, slightly aggressive. He looked up. His lip curled. “No. It’s none of your business.” He practically snapped. Had I done something wrong? I shifted. My heart and throat feeling unusually stuffy. I gestured behind me towards the elevator like that would speak for me. “It is. Let’s get something to eat. Now.” I demanded. I couldn’t let him waste away because I was gone. It was not going to work like that in any circumstance.

It was on the way, anyhow. He liked going to the foodcourt instead of the cafeteria here. It was gross and I fell victim to his cries for McDonald’s. But, I won’t fall victim for this bull. “You can’t force me to do anything.” His voice cracked. I sighed softly, running a hand over my platinum buzz. “I won’t. I know you’re hungry.”

“I’m not fat.”

“You’re alive. You need food, kid. You do. We all do. Let’s go get it, and then you can get washed.” He looked away. “I hate you people.” He sniffled. It was made of porcelain. Smashed and cracked to hang of pieces, he sounded. He says that a lot. But he doesn’t mean it.

I dropped my hands to my sides and walked up. Gently, I pushed the chair out from under the table and he stared. Hard and long. “Why did you leave me?” His lip quivered. I shook my head at his woeful words. “I didn’t leave YOU, kid. I had to go.” I told him. I placed two large hands on the sides of his waist. I swear I could feel bone. There wasn’t nearly enough of fat on there; but I wouldn’t mention it. I pulled him close. He cried. His whimpers similar to a kicked kitten. It wasn’t because of me. He’s a problem. Was my only logical conclusion. It was what half of staff said. He remained undiagnosed and confusing. A confusing suture no one could name.

“You didn’t even tell me.” Okay? It sounded sort of like a threat. I shrugged. “I didn’t know.” I confessed. I didn’t know my uncle would just die one day. “We’re going to eat, okay? Then, I’ll apologize.” I lied. I pressed him to my chest like a toddler. He acted like one. At times. But, I know he was just hurting. Like everyone else in this economy. He was thin and frail, fit against me like some bizarre print-out character. His legs wrapped around my hips, his head buried in my neck.

I ran my hand through his hair. A gentle, repetitive touch as he sobbed into my neck. His tears wet through the paper-like fabric of my scrubs coldly. I shivered. “You guys are so mean. They.. they’re always yelling at me.”

“They don’t yell, kiddo.” I corrected. He’s scarred and operates on a tail no one could climb. His words often deceptive or aggressive. Yet, his tears still sparkled no matter what. He couldn’t talk about himself and faced with any touch of criticism—he cries. I never judged him for it. I could only see a lonely little boy needing attention. Ever since his father—I think—dropped him off all those months ago. He was there, standing next to him. But he didn’t look like he knew he was there. He didn’t look like he wanted to exist.

It was more than heartbreaking. What made it worse was his father clearing; ‘I think he’s depressed—it doesn’t matter. He’s getting annoying and almost got pregnant. I think something is genuinely wrong with him and this is the better thing for him.’ It was disgusting watching a parent disgrace their own that way. It wasn’t the first time I saw that, though.

I trudged forward with him on me, one arm holding his head and the other on his waist. I’m going to get fired because of this. Did it matter? I wasn’t exactly sure. He needed someone positive and Mina wasn’t. She was a ho. Jaehyun was cool. But too invested. “They aren’t you, hyung. They’re so mean. They treat me like I’m some stupid kid with a crush. I don’t even like you-like not to be mean-but I would never date someone like you—“ okay? He finally responded but I wasn’t sure how much I’d like hearing that. How do I even respond? Is that a good thing? I mean, certainly, it is. He is a child and knows what’s good for him. But, does that mean I’m bad? As in a bad person?

Come to think of it.. I’ve never had dates that went to a second. Okay. Well, clearly, I’m undeserving of love. I scoffed. “That’s okay. I don’t think you like me, kiddo.” I think that was the best thing to say. I could only grab the white linens before I reached the elevator. It opened quickly with one tap. I stepped in, Lev still against me. He sniffled louder, brushing his finger under his nose like a snipers pole. “Fuck them.”

“I.. you can’t say that.”

“Fuck them. I’m so fucking—I hate this place.”

—

Authors note ; All Omegas and Alphas are referred to mom and dad despite male or female. Eomma(엄마) is Korean for mom. Appa(아빠) is Korean for dad. I dont write beta characters. Hyung(형) means older brother/friend. All omegas can get pregnant because they have that gene and alphas get them pregnant because they have 🐓

Male omegas = eomma/mom

Female omegas = eomma/mom

Female alphas = appa/dad

Male alphas = appa/dad