The operating room doors closed.
And the waiting began.
For Taekyun....
Every second felt like torture.
Time moved differently.
Every minute felt endless.
Every passing second seemed heavier than the last.
The bright hospital corridor remained painfully quiet.
The kind of silence that only made anxiety worse.
Lin sat on one of the benches nearby.
Haru had fallen asleep in her lap sometime earlier.
Her small face was still stained with dried tears.
One tiny hand remained tightly wrapped around her teddy bear even in sleep.
Exhausted from crying.
Exhausted from worrying in the only way a child could.
Lin carefully adjusted the blanket around her shoulders.
Making sure she stayed warm.
Trying not to wake her.
A few seats away, Taekyun couldn't sit still.
Not even for a minute.
He sat down.
Then stood up again.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Walked a few steps.
Turned around.
Then sat down once more.
Only to stand again moments later.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
His eyes never left the operating room doors.
As if staring hard enough would somehow force them to open.
As if he could reach Haneul through sheer determination alone.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
The bright screen illuminated in his hand.
Nayeon.
Taekyun answered.
"Taekyun!"
Nayeon's voice came through at once.
Filled with worry.
"How is Haneul?"
Since early that morning, she had been calling repeatedly for updates.
Unable to be there herself.
Yet just as anxious as everyone else.
Taekyun looked toward the operating room doors.
His throat felt dry.
"The surgery is still going."
A brief silence followed.
Then Nayeon asked quietly,
"Is he okay?"
Taekyun lowered his head.
His grip around the phone tightened.
"I don't know yet."
The answer came out painfully honest.
Because he truly didn't know.
And that uncertainty was slowly tearing him apart.
Nayeon's voice softened.
"Don't panic."
Another silence.
Then she let out a small sigh.
"I know that's impossible right now."
"But trust the doctors."
Taekyun closed his eyes briefly.
Trying.
He was really trying.
But every time he remembered Haneul's frightened eyes before entering the operating room.
The way his hand had trembled.
The way he had looked back one last time.
His chest tightened all over again.
"I just want him safe."
His voice came out lower than intended.
Almost broken.
There was silence on the other end.
Then Nayeon spoke gently.
"He'll come back."
"He is stronger than you think."
"Don't lose faith yet."
Taekyun looked toward Haru sleeping peacefully in Lin's lap.
A painful smile appeared.
"Yes...."
He swallowed.
"I'll try."
"Call me the moment there's any news."
"I will."
The call ended shortly afterward.
And once again.....
The waiting continued.
Twenty more minutes passed.
Each one somehow longer than the last.
Then suddenly,
The operating room doors opened.
Taekyun was already standing before he realized it.
Lin immediately looked up as well.
Her expression turning anxious.
A doctor stepped out.
Still dressed in surgical scrubs.
The moment Taekyun saw him, his heart nearly stopped.
His feet moved before his mind could.
He reached the doctor almost instantly.
"How is Haneul?"
The question came out immediately.
No greeting, hesitation.
Only fear.
Raw and terrified.
The doctor blinked once.
Then smiled.
And immediately, some of the crushing weight on Taekyun's chest eased.
"He's stable."
The doctor answered first.
Knowing exactly what Taekyun wanted to hear.
"The surgery was successful."
"The bleeding is under control."
"His condition remains weak, but stable."
The doctor smiled reassuringly.
"Trust me, Mr. Taekyun."
"He really gave all of his strength."
The tightness around Taekyun's chest loosened.
Just slightly.
Stable...
The word echoed inside his head.
Stable meant alive.
Stable meant Haneul was still here.
Only then did Taekyun finally manage another question.
"The..... baby?"
The doctor's smile widened.
Then he extended his hand.
"Right ..... Congratulations."
"You have a healthy baby boy."
For a second, Taekyun simply stared.
A boy.
His son.
The doctor handed him a small medical report.
"We've completed the initial secondary gender screening as well."
Taekyun looked down.
Confused.
The doctor smiled again.
"There is absolutely no doubt."
"Your son is a Golden Alpha."
Even Lin's eyes widened.
A Golden Alpha.
(One of the rarest classifications within the Omegaverse.
Unlike ordinary secondary genders, which generally began revealing themselves during childhood or adolescence, Golden Alphas possessed unique biological markers that could be identified from birth.
They were known for extraordinary physical potential.
Powerful pheromone development.
Exceptional resistance levels.
And dominant alpha characteristics far beyond average.
Entire bloodlines could pass through generations without producing one.)
The doctor chuckled softly.
"You have a very remarkable child Mr Taekyun."
Genuine emotion crossed Taekyun's face.
Shock.
Complete disbelief.
Then wonder.
Something almost overwhelming.
His son.
A healthy son.
A Golden Alpha.
Yet despite all of that...
The next question that left his mouth was still.....
"When can I see Haneul?"
The doctor's expression softened immediately.
"He hasn't regained consciousness yet."
Taekyun visibly tensed.
The doctor quickly continued.
"That's completely normal."
"He's still under the effects of anesthesia."
"We'll be moving him to his room shortly."
"But he is extremely weak."
"He needs rest."
"So unfortunately, no visitors for now."
Taekyun's shoulders stiffened.
"How long?"
"Until he wakes up."
The doctor answered calmly.
"Once he regains consciousness and we complete another assessment, we'll allow visitors."
Then he placed a reassuring hand on Taekyun's shoulder.
"He's stable."
"I know you're worried."
"But right now, the best thing you can do is let him rest."
The doctor offered a small smile.
"He's really tired."
Taekyun slowly nodded.
But his eyes had already drifted back toward the operating room doors.
Waiting.
Still waiting.
The baby was safe.
The surgery was over.
Everything had gone well.
Yet somehow...
Nothing felt complete.
Not the relief.
Not the happiness.
Because the person he wanted to share it with...
Hadn't opened his eyes yet.
And until Haneul did.
Taekyun knew he wouldn't truly be able to breathe.
().....
Darkness.
For a long time, there was only darkness.
No pain.
No sounds.
Nothing.
Then slowly...
A familiar voice reached Haneul.
"How are you feeling, son?"
Haneul's eyelids fluttered.
Heavy.
Far too heavy.
It felt as though something was pulling him back into sleep every time he tried to open them.
Yet eventually, he managed.
And froze.
He wasn't in the hospital.
Instead.....
He was lying on a familiar sofa.
Inside a familiar house.
His house.
The house from his world.
For several moments, Haneul simply stared at the ceiling.
Unable to understand.
Unable to think.
Then he felt it.
A gentle hand moving through his hair.
Slowly.
Patiently and lovingly.
His breathing caught.
Haneul turned his head.
"Umma?"
His voice cracked instantly.
His mother smiled down at him.
The same warm smile he had missed for years.
But the same smile hunting him from past few months.
His head was resting in her lap.
Just like when he was little.
Tears immediately filled his eyes.
"Umma....."
Instinctively, he tried to sit up.
A sharp pain shot through his abdomen.
"Ah..."
His mother immediately placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Lay down."
Her voice was gentle.
"Don't get up yet."
"It will hurt."
Haneul froze.
Only then did he notice it.
The dull ache beneath his ribs.
The soreness in his body.
His hand slowly moved downward.
Toward his stomach.
Toward the place where his baby had been.
His fingers touched empty fabric.
No roundness.
No movement.
Nothing.
His eyes widened.
"My....."
His voice trembled.
"My baby..."
His mother gently held his face.
"It's okay."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"The baby is already born."
"He is healthy."
For a moment, relief washed through him.
A shaky breath escaped his lips.
Healthy.
His baby was healthy.
Yet somehow...
That only made his heart ache more.
"Umma....."
Again he tried to sit up.
Again she stopped him.
This time her smile changed.
Something inside it felt wrong.
Sad..... painful.
Almost desperate.
"Haneul."
Her fingers brushed against his cheek.
"Son....."
His heart suddenly began pounding.
"Umma....?"
"It's time."
The smile on her face trembled.
"We should go back."
Silence.
Haneul stared at her.
Unable to understand.
Then slowly.....m
The meaning behind her words began sinking in.
His face turned pale.
"No."
His mother looked away.
"The baby is already born, right?"
She continued quietly.
"And you promised me."
Her voice broke.
"You promised you would come with me."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I even let Haru return."
The words shattered something inside him.
Haneul immediately grabbed her hand.
Tightly.
"Umma....."
Tears spilled down his face.
One after another.
Uncontrollably.
"Umma..."
His shoulders trembled.
"I didn't even see him."
His voice cracked completely.
"I didn't even see my baby."
More tears fell.
"Please..."
"Don't do this to me."
He shook his head desperately.
"Let me see him."
"Just once."
"Please."
His mother closed her eyes.
Pain flashed across her face.
When she opened them again, tears were already falling.
"My son....."
Slowly, she shook her head.
"No."
Haneul felt his chest cave in.
"No....."
"Don't do this."
She cupped his face.
"It's the rules of our universe."
Her voice trembled.
"Just because of you....."
"Your father."
"Your brothers."
"And me....."
She struggled to continue.
"Our souls were pulled away."
"We cannot stay."
Every word felt heavier than the last.
"Every day....."
She broke down crying.
"We go through pain."
"Every single day."
"But for you..."
Her voice shattered.
"For you, my son....."
"I endured it."
"I held on this long."
"Because I love you.
"I really do."
She pressed her forehead against his.
Crying openly now.
"I love you so much."
Haneul couldn't speak.
His throat felt completely blocked.
His tears wouldn't stop.
But his mother continued.
"But your brother."
A sob escaped her.
"His whole life was tragic."
"And even after death....."
"He is suffering."
"Why won't you listen to your mother?"
She held his face tighter.
"You're my child too."
"I love that baby."
"The same way you do."
"And I know your heart hurts."
"It hurts mine too."
Her voice became smaller.
More fragile.
"But I can't keep watching you stay in a universe that was never meant for you."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"A universe that only keeps hurting you."
Haneul's lips parted.
But no words came out.
Nothing.
Only tears.
Then his mother slowly wiped his face.
Trying to smile.
"Let's go back before morning."
The room became silent.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then she looked behind him.
Toward something he couldn't yet see.
A bittersweet smile appeared on her face.
"He's here."
Haneul froze.
His heartbeat stopped.
His mother gently pushed against his shoulder.
"For the sake of his pure love towards you."
"I'm giving you some time."
Her voice trembled.
"Tell him it's time now."
"It's the last time."
Fresh tears filled her eyes.
"Go."
"Before it's too late."
And slowly...
Haneul turned around.
"Umma, wait!"
Haneul immediately reached for her.
"Please listen to me."
"I know you're suffering."
"I know all of you are."
His voice broke completely.
"But I can't leave them."
"I haven't seen my son."
"I haven't held him."
"I haven't even told Taekyun that I love him and i don't want to leave him."
Tears streamed down his face.
"Please....."
"Just give me a little more time."