The phone buzzed.
Cherry flinched, still pacing the large room with trembling hands and teeth gnawing at his thumbnail. His heart hadn't slowed since Akira left.
He stared at the unknown number flashing on the screen. The buzzing continued. His eyes darted around the room, scanning for any cameras or people. The Reaper's mansion was under heavy surveillance, and he knew too well how closely he was being watched.
Hesitantly, Cherry picked up the call.
"…Hello?" he whispered, voice barely audible.
A loud, desperate voice exploded from the other end.
"Where are you?! Tell me your address right now—I'm coming there, Cherry!"
Cherry nearly dropped the phone. His hands fumbled, catching it just in time. His voice trembled as he stepped closer to the window, glancing out at the layers of guards outside.
"No! Don't come here," he whispered.
"What? Why!?" the caller shouted back, frustration and confusion filling his tone.
Cherry looked around again, swallowing hard. "There's too much security… too many people. Meet me at XXX Café. I'll be there."
Afternoon – XXX Café
The café was quiet and sunlit, tucked away in the corner of the city.
A man sat in one of the booths, legs tapping anxiously against the tiled floor. He had soft brown hair falling in bangs that covered his eyes, his skin fair and his expression clouded in barely-contained frustration.
The bell above the door chimed.
Cherry stepped inside—wearing a round, light blue hat pulled low and a matching mask covering half his face. A light handbag hung from his arm. He scanned the café quickly before walking toward the man waiting.
He sat down across from him and slowly removed his mask and hat, placing them on the seat beside him. His expression was gentle, apologetic.
"Uhh… Did I make you wait long?" he asked, avoiding eye contact.
The man exhaled, clearly holding back his temper. "Not really."
Cherry sighed in quiet relief.
But the peace didn't last long.
"So…" the man said, voice laced with a bitterness he could no longer hide, "how was the night with your so-called husband, huh?"
Cherry clicked his tongue. "Tsk… Really?" He leaned forward slightly, tone sharp. "Didn't you tell me you needed space? Now that I found someone, you're back to lecture me?"
"Do you even know how much risk I took just to get here!?" he added, eyes burning with frustration and fear.
The man slammed a hand on the table and pointed a shaking finger at him. "I said I needed space! That doesn't mean you go and marry someone else!"
Cherry's voice dropped to a mumble. "…I told you to ask for my hand in front of my father. But you didn't come."
His words were soft—broken.
The man clenched his fists.
"Speak louder, Cherry," he said, voice rough. "And as for your father—do you think I didn't want to? Do you think I didn't try?"
His voice cracked. "I didn't have the money back then… Your father's a millionaire. Would he ever agree to marry off his precious son to someone like me—someone from below middle class?"
He looked away, voice trembling with emotion. "But now I'm stable… I'm ready. I came back for you but—"
Cherry rested his hand on his head and sighed deeply. His voice was soft—almost tired.
"Fine… I get it. We were both in a bad place back then. But…" his eyes lifted slowly to the man sitting across from him, "you could've at least tried."
Silence.
The man—Jiyu—turned his head to look out the window, expression unreadable.
Cherry leaned back against the cushioned seat with a small, nostalgic smile. "You always do that when you're confused… Still the same."
Jiyu finally turned to face him. His face held a storm of anger—but his eyes, undeniably, still overflowed with love.
He reached out and gently held Cherry's hand across the table, just as he opened his mouth to speak—
"Here are your drinks!" the waiter announced suddenly, breaking the moment.
In a flash, the two pulled their hands apart, quickly hiding them under the table in an awkward panic.
"Thank you for your patience. Please enjoy." The waiter smiled and left.
Cherry's eyes sparkled at the tall pink shake in front of him. "Mmhmm~ You still remember I like strawberry-flavored shakes…"
Jiyu chuckled, cheeks tinted pink. "You never gave me the chance to forget anything." He pushed his own shake toward Cherry. "Here. Take mine too. I know one's never enough for you."
Cherry smiled shyly, picking up his spoon to scoop the cream—only to pause midway.
His gaze lingered on Jiyu, then he softly clutched the fabric of his own shirt.
"…You still love me?"
Jiyu let out a breath. "Is that even a question now?"
Cherry looked down, setting his spoon on the plate beside the drink. His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Do you… remember the last night before our fight?"
Jiyu tensed. "Yeah. I wish I didn't." His tone was low, hurt. "That night ruined everything."
Cherry bit his lip. "It ruined something inside me too…"
Jiyu's eyes widened in surprise. "Cherry… are you…?"
Tears spilled down Cherry's cheeks before he could answer.
Jiyu immediately slid around the booth to pull him into a gentle hug, whispering soft words as he wiped the tears away. Then, his fingers brushed the back of Cherry's neck—pausing suddenly.
His eyes widened, a mix of surprise and relief flashing through them.
"…You're… Oh god, Cherry…"
Cherry nodded, sniffling and blowing his nose into a tissue.
Jiyu looked confused. "So he knows… and he still married you? Why?"
Cherry shook his head. "I don't know…"
Jiyu furrowed his brows in deep thought. "He's rich. A dominating Alpha. Maybe… maybe he wasn't good-looking and couldn't find a soulmate?"
Cherry gave him a deadpan side-eye, still sniffling.
Jiyu blinked. "Wait—he is handsome?! So you married him because he's hotter than me?!"
Cherry's lip quivered.
Tears again.
"Agh! Cherry! Stop crying!" Jiyu panicked, waving his hands. "Okay okay! I get it—he's handsome! Geez, but something still doesn't sit right with me…"
Cherry wiped his eyes again. "His mother is my father's friend. That's why we got married… But the worst part…"
He paused.
"…he's in the mafia."
Jiyu stood up from his seat so fast, the table almost shook.
"WHAT?! You're telling me you married into the mafia?!"
Cherry looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
"Why? Are you scared, Jiyu? Don't you love me?"
Jiyu froze, then slowly sat back down beside him. "Of course I love you… But how am I supposed to even meet you now? You think you can just get a divorce?"
His voice dropped. "Besides… I already marked you. And I'm pretty sure no Alpha would accept an Omega that's been marked by another."
Cherry nodded, his tone low. "Yeah… And if I divorce him too fast, my dad might actually kill me. I don't know how he feels, but… we still have to wait a few months. Maybe."
*Jiyu's (the man) expression turned sharp—scheming.
" Hmm...I have a plan till we cannot get you divorced, how about we use that Alpha... He is a billionaire you know . "
Cherry blinked. "…Excuse me?"