NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: NO-WIN SITUATION
A few days ago…
"ANTI-ALPHA Pen?" Garam wondered out loud while looking at the fountain pen that Gong Hanseo had handed to him earlier. "This is supposed to kill an Alpha?"
He got the 'goods' from his trusted hyung after their practice.
The other kids had already gone home.
Since Garam and Gong Hanseo were the oldest members, they volunteered to tidy up the studio after their practice.
After they were done cleaning, that was when his hyung gave him what he wanted.
"Silly kid. That Anti-Alpha pen can't kill Alphas," Gong Hanseo said sternly. "It's just sedative strong enough to knock out even a Dominant Alpha."
Oh.
Well, that's good enough.
"How much is this, Hyung?"
"1 million won."
Garam almost dropped the Anti-Alpha Pen.
He could tell that Gong Hanseo was serious, and that made him gulp nervously.
"Hyung, I'm sorry I wasted your time and effort," Garam said while putting the 'fountain back' in the case as carefully as possible. "I can't afford this pen."
"Did I ask you to pay?"
"Hyung, we're both broke…"
"Yah. You're hurting my pride as a hyung."
It was true, though.
Garam used to be rich, but Gong Hanseo was born poor.
But, unlike me, Hanseo Hyung has a supportive and loving family. Everyone in their family works hard to provide for their needs— they help each other. That's why, despite their financial problems, his parents and siblings still urged him to continue his dream of becoming an idol.
"Don't worry about the prince of that pen, Garam-ah," Gong Hanseo said, patting Garam on the back. "A hyung-nim I know gave me that for free."
"You're not just saying that to make me feel better, right?"
"Of course not. Remember Daeho Hyung? My sunbae from the university?"
Right.
Gong Hanseo was the oldest member of the team.
He's twenty-four years old already, and he's attending a local college.
Yep, Gong Hanseo was already considered 'too old' to be an idol trainee. That was why most agencies rejected him.
And that's how Hanseo Hyung ended up in a crappy company even though he's talented.
Gong Hanseo's visual didn't work much since he was a Beta.
Those big agencies prefer Omega visuals.
"Hey, you're spacing out again."
Oh.
"I remember him, Hyung," Garam said, finally answering Gong Hanseo's question after spacing out a bit. "Daeho Hyung is the pretty Omega who has a crush on you, right?"
And I know Hanseo Hyung likes him back.
Gong Hanseo just waved his hand dismissively. "Not anymore. He's dating an Alpha now."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that, Hyung."
"It's alright. I'm one of those people who believe that an Alpha and an Omega belong to each other," Gong Hanseo said while shrugging. "Anyway, Daeho Hyung is planning to get imprinted with his Alpha. So, he said he has no use for the Anti-Alpha Pen. He only bought it as a form of self-defense anyway."
Whew.
That was a relief then.
"Are you really going to give this to me for free, Hyung?" Garam asked carefully. "You can sell this if you want…"
"Just accept it before I change my mind, brat."
"Yes, Hyung. Thank you so much."
Gong Hanseo fell silent for a moment before he asked in a concerned voice: "Garam-ah, do you need help?"
Aww.
Gong Hanseo knew that Seo Minwoo was a bad stepbrother to Garam.
But Hanseo Hyung doesn't know that I owe money to the loan sharks because of my stepmother and stepbrother.
"Garam-ah, if your stupid brother doesn't stop bringing Alphas to your house, then you can stay with me in the meantime."
Right.
That was the story that Garam told Gong Hanseo.
I told Hyung that the Alphas visiting us are making me uncomfortable, so I need something to protect myself.
Hence, the Anti-Alpha Pen.
"Our house is small and I don't have my own room, but we'll do our best to make your stay comfortable," Gong Hanseo said. "Just say the word, Garam-ah."
"I'm fine, Hyung," Garam lied with a smile on his face. "I'll put this Anti-Alpha Pen to good use."
"Yah— it's better if you don't end up using it, brat."
***
HANSEO HYUNG, I put the Anti-Alpha Pen to good use.
Garam smirked bitterly when Lee Taeho— the victim of the Anti-Alpha Pen— grabbed his throat as if he couldn't breathe.
And then he fell to the floor, unmoving.
"What did you do, you Beta bastard?!"
"That damned kid stabbed Taeho-ssi with an Anti-Alpha Pen!"
Heh.
The Alphas in the room panicked when Lee Taeho passed out.
Garam was about to get up when the last Alpha suddenly grabbed him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly.
Tsk.
Alphas really do have superhuman strength, huh?
Anyway, Garam recognized the Alpha who grabbed him while yelling in his face.
"Do you know what you just did?!" Jang Sangjun— the Alpha that Seo Minwoo introduced to him before, the one whose family owned a big game company— asked hysterically. "Lee Taeho-ssi is allergic to anesthesia!"
Ah, no wonder the Alphas were panicking.
But…
"So what?" Garam asked indifferently. "Do I look like I care even if that bastard dies?"
And Garam's insolence was met with violence.
***
"YOUNG MASTER, we've found Lee Taeho-nim."
Song Sihyuk was having a smoke on the balcony when Jung Han returned with some good news. "So, where is that bastard right now?"
"Lee Taeho-nim booked the hotel suite below the penthouse suite," Jung Han answered politely. "We have also verified that Seo Minwoo-ssi and Lim Garam-ssi were two of Lee Taeho-nim's guests."
"I see. Let's go then."
"Young Master, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"I know I'm stepping out of line, but please reconsider your decision, Young Master," Jung Han said, bowing his head. "Please remember that, although an illegitimate child, Lee Taeho-nim is still a chaebol like you, sir."
Oh.
That was a valid concern that got Song Sihyuk thinking.
Is Lim Garam worth saving?
***
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