Q is gasping for air once his eyes are wide open. He feels like having deja vu, over and over again. He is still at the same place; the same bed, in the same hospital.
He glares to his side. Mei is taking a nap on a chair next to him. His forehead crinkles, thinking why she has to go through such a hassle, for the sake of a silly Omega like him.
"Omega Mei..." Q pokes her forearm with his slender finger. Mei opens her eyes, showcasing her deep, dark black iris.
Q scoots back in shock.
"Ah, you're awake! Are you feeling fine?" Mei asks, her voice serenades into Q's mind.
"Better than yesterday. At least, I am not dizzy anymore."
Mei nods. She grabs a cup from the nightstand, pours some plain water, and hands it to Q. "Drink. You must feel thirsty."
Q sips the water, and at the instant, he feels fresh. He thanked the older Omega, before lying on his bed.
"Omega Mei..." Mei hums a bit, before she turns her head to Q. That younger stares at the space in front of him briefly, before he musters all of his courage to ask.
"How am I the Omega for The Sarin's Golden Alpha? And what's Golden Alpha anyway?"
Mei faintly smiles at Q. She sits properly, before scooting closer to him.
"I'm not sure how you were chosen. Actually, I'm here because The Sarin was facing a crisis two weeks ago..." Mei replies. "Our firstborn Golden Alpha is suddenly in ruts."
"Is that normal for Alphas to have ruts?" asks Q. He tries to open his mind, but the reason isn't reasoning enough.
"Yes. But not for our Golden Alpha. Fa usually can control his ruts. At worst, he will sleep with any Omega that we bring to him and that's it. But, it's a rare occasion. Fa hated socializing, he only had a small circle of friends," Mei explains.
"But, two weeks ago, he experienced a rut. A gruesome one. He rejected all the Omega that we brought to him. He was getting violent, so we had to keep him confined until he recovers. But, there's no sign for that."
"Why don't you bring him for medical attention?" Q asks, frowning.
Mei sighs. "We did. Those doctors, told us the same thing; find his Omega. We have no idea who the person is. He didn't even mention anything about meeting an Omega. Or, in a relationship at least!"
"How can you name me as his Omega, then? Am I just another scapegoat?" Q raises his voice a bit. He then smacks his lips, realizing that he has been overboard.
"I'm sorry. It's just... I am afraid. I don't want to trust anyone after what happened to me..." Q hangs his head down.
"Did you get abused?" Mei's question makes Q purse his lips.
"No. I don't want to talk about it. It's silly and stupid, so don't bother. Please continue," says Q. He dismisses the idea of talking about his online husband to someone who perhaps doesn't even understand how it works.
Mei stares deep into Q's eyes. Behind those dark brown; sparkling eyes, Mei senses insecurity. It's normal for Omegas to feel like that around strangers. She had been in Q's shoes before; no family, far from trusted friends, to be sent to an unknown world. Clueless and hopeless.
"Q..." Mei softly places her palm on the young Omega's warm hand. "I can assure you, we're here not to corrupt you. I promise, by my daughter's name."
Q sighs deeply. He bites his lower lip, feeling contented. "Promises are meant to be broken, Omega Mei..." his voice fills with sorrow. It seems like he can't move on from the incident between him and Mr. Sky. An empty promise that was planted in his mind for years, only to be broken in less than a day. His heart stops bleeding, but the scar is there to remember.
"I know how much it hurts you. The one who loves you, only to betray you after you give it all," says Mei. "Yet, I hope you can at least open your heart."
Q blinks his eyes in disbelief. Mei seems to understand him inside and out, as if she can read his mind. He presses his lips, trying to inquire but, come to think about it, what's the use anyway?
"You haven't answered my question yet..." Q diverts the conversation. "Why me, out of so many Omegas?"
Mei takes a while to answer. "I don't know exactly the reason. But, somehow, Cir suggested that we should come to Ou Academy, looking for a suitable Omega for Fa. Since we need to look for a permanent partner, we have to choose from a trusted place that offers an Omega with a good background."
Q tries to connect the dots. He met Cirrus before, so, was that a test? The man who was with him that night, is that the Golden Alpha that they mentioned? But, he seems to be quite plain and looks like an NPC! Q even forgot what he looks like, except for the blue, pink, and purple vibe that lingered around him.
"Are you sure I am the chosen one? I mean, what if you're wrong? What will happen to me after that?"
"I trust Cirrus. He never makes a mistake. He ain't a Cupid Beta for no reason..."
"Cupid Beta... what's that anyway?"
Mei smiles. It seems like Q has put a bit of interest in The Sarin. She can see how the male Omega slowly opens his mind with those questions.
"Usually, people associate Beta with plain and nothing special. They have no scent or power," says Mei. "Cirrus is different than any Beta. He indeed doesn't have a scent, but he has a special power that we call a scent tracker. He can trace any scents of others' mates; and match them, like a Cupid."
Q ponders for a while. "But, how can he track me down? We live in a different country!"
Mei laughs helplessly. "I am wondering about that as well, young Omega. I don't know why he insisted that the Ou Academy could help us. And, once we arrived, he told me that he had already found a match. Even I was confused!"
Q purses his lips, shuts his eyes tight. The memory of how he met Cirrus that night flashes over his mind. That must be the reason why.
I think, I should tell Omega Mei the truth!
As Q opens his mouth, a knock on the door stops him. Mei stands up and leaves him for a while. Q sits in silence, waiting for her to come back so they can talk about it.
"He's fine, see..." Mei walks in with Cirrus. Q, still in fear of the male Beta, shrinks a bit in bed.
"Why are you keeping passing out? Are you that weak?" asks Cirrus, being cold and unfriendly.
"Hey, knock it off! He must be in shock, plus he just recovered from an accident. Don't treat him that way..." Mei sneers, while softly smacking Cirrus's shoulder.
Q stares at Cirrus. Those dark eyes, they almost lost their sparks.
Looking at him feels like facing death instead of Cupid. How can he proclaim himself as a matchmaker anyway? It must be scary to even walk past him! Q whispers silently.
"His travel document is ready," says Cirrus. He hands a white envelope to Mei.
"Let me check it," Mei grabs the document, and leaves Q and Cirrus alone in the room. It's getting more awkward and annoying for Q to be alone with him.
"This is the hardest matchmaking I have ever done in my life..."
"Never ask for your help anyway!" Q replies in annoyance.
Q chuckles cynically, poking his tongue against his cheek. "Your feisty attitude will ignite a ceasefire, no doubt."
"My attitude won't change. I am who I am. If you expect me to be sweet and obey to your precious Golden Alpha, just keep on dreaming!"
Cirrus shakes his head faintly. He steps closer, enough for him to lock his deep gaze with Q.
"No wonder it is so hard to do the extraction. We got a one hell stubborn Omega..." Cirrus sneers. "But, I guess that makes two peas in a pod. I am eager to see how you can put that stubborn face when you submit to Fa."
Q shuts his lips tight. Based on Cirrus's tone, this Golden Alpha Fa is no joke! The fear seeps into him all over.
"Anyways, welcome aboard, new cousin..."
Whether it's a welcoming tone, or a sarcastic one that facade the truth, in any way, it doesn't sound appealing for Q.