Chapter 150

* * *

Dane suddenly wanted to smoke. Whenever he recalled that day, a bitter taste would circle in his mouth as always.

You might be right.

Dane thought.

But did you need to hurt me that much?

Instead of smoking, he held his mouth and chin with one hand and slowly rubbed them. He felt like the corners of his eyes were heating up.

In everything, he came to realize that she didn't love him.

During the time he lived with his mother, he was therefore tormented to death every moment. To a child, parents are everything in the world. Who would understand the feeling of being rejected by the world?

But his mother had forgotten even that. After sobering up from drinking, she would say she loved him as always and kiss Dane, and Dane would look at her in confusion. The mother who had spoken such hurtful words to him the night before was now holding Dane more affectionately than anyone in the world, whispering that he was her one and only treasure. Which side was sincere?

The drunk side must be sincere.

Though he thought this, inwardly he wanted to believe otherwise. Because of this, instead of confirming his mother's true feelings, he chose to follow her lead in saying he loved her and embracing her. Even while his heart was completely tangled with anxiety and distrust.

"I was just a child, so I had no choice. Even if I left home recklessly, I would only become a gang member or homeless."

He spoke indifferently, missing his cigarette.

"So I had no choice but to stay in that house, constantly wondering what my mother's true feelings were."

Greyson just waited for his next words without saying anything. Barely restraining himself from wanting to embrace him right now and shout that here was someone who loved him more than anyone in the world.

* * *

Around the time his 13th birthday was approaching, Dane Striker was making quite a precocious plan. It was a plan to marry his girlfriend as soon as they graduated high school and become independent. She was his first girlfriend whom he had started dating a few years ago, and they had shared their first kiss.

During that time, he had worked part-time jobs during every vacation and saved a little money. It was a ridiculously small amount for independence, but if he saved until graduation, it would be quite substantial.

Going to the military wouldn't be bad either...

That place was perfect for someone in Dane's situation. The treatment was good and he could earn decent money, so he could set up housekeeping in base housing. Of course, his girlfriend's opinion was important, so they needed to discuss that part too.

First comes money.

Thinking this, Dane headed to a fast food restaurant quite far from his neighborhood as soon as class ended. Actually, considering his age, getting such a part-time job was almost impossible. At least since he had given up on studying early, he had plenty of time, and so he had found a place where he could work after school like this. The manager seemed to like Dane's work ethic and even said he would hire him as a full-time employee after graduation. Of course, Dane just smiled and thanked him.

"Hi, Dane. Welcome."

The manager who greeted him warmly immediately started giving him work as soon as Dane came out in uniform.

"Move that bread over here, organize the patties... Oh, the trash can in the back is full. Empty that too..."

He quickly performed the flood of requests. The manager watched with satisfaction as the tasks were completed in an instant. An employee frowned and scolded him.

"Take it easy on the kid, he doesn't look well."

"He doesn't look well? Dane?"

The manager asked in surprise. She still looked at Dane with a serious expression and said.

"Look, his face is redder than usual. It seems like he has a fever?"

"Really? That won't do! It would be terrible if he spread a virus!"

The employee was dumbfounded at the manager rushing to Dane, turning pale.

"A person is sick and really..."

She shook her head when a customer happened to arrive. She stood in front of the register with a professional smile.

"Welcome, what can I get you?"

Behind her, the manager looked around for Dane and soon found him outside the back door.

"Dane, Dane!"

At the urgent call, Dane, who had been emptying trash, turned around puzzled. The manager was walking busily toward him with a pale face. Coming close, he examined Dane's face and body here and there, then muttered to himself.

"That's right, his face is so red..."

"Excuse me?"

Not knowing what he was talking about, Dane frowned, when suddenly the manager reached out his hand. The manager, who had touched the forehead of Dane who had flinched and hunched his shoulders in surprise, opened his eyes wide and hurriedly pulled his hand away.

"Wh-what? You have a fever! You're burning up, are you okay?"

"A fever?"

Dane blinked and was about to touch his forehead with his own hand when he realized he had just emptied trash and hesitated. The manager immediately waved one hand with a contorted face and said.

"Never mind, go home now. Don't come to work until your fever breaks, okay?"

"What? But..."

Just as he was about to say he didn't feel sick at all, the manager cut him off.

"What if you spread a virus? We might get sued! Go home right now, hurry! Quick!"

Because of the repeated urging, Dane had no choice but to be practically chased out of the store. He looked back at the store in bewilderment, but they even closed the door in front of him as if to make a point, so there was no other way.

"What...?"

He irritably touched his forehead but only felt a slight fever and couldn't find anything strange. He grumbled as he rode his bicycle home. Cool wind brushed past his cheeks as he rode. His body seemed to be getting gradually languid.

Did I catch a cold...?

Dane vaguely thought. His body kept getting heavier. He wanted to hurry home and rest.

When he finally pedaled with difficulty and the apartment where he lived came into view, he unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

Whew.

Unlike usual, he didn't even shower and just lay down on the sofa in the clothes he was wearing. For some reason, he didn't want to move a finger. He could sleep for a bit and then do it. Just for a moment, yeah...

His thoughts cut off there. He fell into deep sleep without even realizing it.

Dane woke up several hours later because he felt the agony of someone strangling his neck.

"Gak, gak-huk, gak."

He barely opened his eyes while letting out agonized breaths. In the darkness, he could see someone mounted on top of him. Dane desperately blinked his eyes, but it wasn't easy to figure out who it was. In the darkness, only a faint silhouette was visible.

But actually, he didn't need to confirm with his eyes. Because there was only one person who would enter this cheap apartment and strangle the sleeping Dane.

...It can't be.

Nevertheless, Dane denied it.

It can't be Mother.

Tears reflexively formed in his eyes. He wanted to remove the hands strangling his neck, but his body wouldn't gain strength. He slipped his hands several times trying to grab his mother's arms.

Meanwhile, the force strangling his neck was tremendous. Whether she was pouring all her energy into choking her son's throat, Dane couldn't escape the incredible grip strength.

Gak, gak, making choking sounds as he writhed below, his mother spoke to her son.

"How, how could you do this to me..."

She was sobbing. Following the violently shaking voice, cold teardrops fell onto Dane's face.

"How could you manifest as an Omega, how could you too."

Huu-uk, huu-uuk, she burst into tears with rougher breathing than Dane.

"Dane, my baby. You'd be better off dead."

Huu-uuu, a sharp breathing sound like a whistle could be heard. His mother bent down and whispered in the ear of her son who was on the verge of losing consciousness.

Let's die together.

That was the last thing Dane heard from his mother.

When Dane, who had completely lost consciousness, opened his eyes, the manifestation was over. And his mother's life was also over.

He just stared at his mother's corpse, who had hanged herself from the window frame while sitting on the very sofa where he had been sleeping, where his mother had strangled him.