Kiss Me if You Can-Chapter 28Vol. 2

Sigh.

He lay on his bed, exhaling a long sigh. It still didn’t feel real. That he had become an Omega. In his bag was the doctor’s diagnosis and the suppressant medication. The doctor had strongly urged him to keep taking the pills for a while to regulate the cycle.

Sniff.

Josh raised his arm and sniffed himself. He sniffed different parts of his body, but the only faint scent he could smell was the soap from his morning shower. To think that he was leaving a scent he couldn't even detect.

“What about the team?”

He muttered while staring at the ceiling. The coach must have already heard the news. His mother must have told the school the reason for his absence.

Once the onset happens, it’s impossible to continue playing as a player. This goes for both Alphas and Omegas. It’s because of the heat cycle. Even if he took the medication to coincide with the game schedule, humans are prone to mistakes, and if they catch each other's scent and something happens during the game, that would be problematic too. It’s better to prevent such risks beforehand, and Josh agreed with that.

But that was his country.

There was a match with a rival school next month. If Josh misses it now, it will be a huge problem. He couldn’t hide it either. Everyone would know, and even if by some luck he did manage to play, once it was revealed, both the coach and the school would face punishment.

There was no solution after thinking it through.

After wasting a few hours like that, Josh finally got out of bed after darkness fully enveloped the world. He could hear his mother bustling around downstairs, possibly preparing dinner. He got up, turned on the light in his room, and started organizing his bag. He had to go to school tomorrow.

After checking the day of the week, he packed what he needed for class, making sure not to forget the diagnosis to submit to the school, slipping it between the pages of his books. He split the suppressant in half—leaving half on the bathroom shelf and the other half in his bag. Since he had taken some at the hospital today, there was no need to take more.

“This is going to be a hassle for a while.”

Josh muttered to himself, feeling drained, then quickly turned his head. After finishing his preparations in about ten minutes, his mother shouted from downstairs.

“Josh! Hurry down here.”

“I’m coming!”

Josh immediately left his room and shouted toward downstairs.

“What’s for dinner?”

As expected from California, where the sun shines all year round, that morning was brilliantly sunny. Sometimes it would be nice if it rained, but it hadn't rained a drop for years. Ed squinted at the sunlight pouring through the car window, blinking repeatedly.

“Put on your sunglasses.”

His mother, sitting in the driver's seat, pointed toward the console box, but he pretended not to hear. Right now, Ed was deep in thought. Sunglasses were the least of his concerns.

The night before, he had received a message from Josh. It was a short message saying that he would be attending school from that day, but it was enough to keep him up all night.

The news that Josh had become an Omega had shaken the whole school. Cases of onset were rare—only three or four a year, and no more than ten in total. Even with the whole grade combined, there weren’t a hundred students. So, when someone went through the onset, even if they were a minor figure, they would attract some attention.

But this time, it was Josh.

Ed furrowed his brows, thinking. What would happen when Josh shows up at school? Even normally, Josh was the center of everyone’s attention. The principal seemed to acknowledge this, always putting Josh at the forefront for school representative events or photos. The strongest quarterback, team captain, and an object of admiration.

And now, he’s an Omega?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. Josh as an Omega—he never imagined it. If he went through the onset, he would be an Alpha, right? Maybe the test was wrong? The doctor could’ve made a mistake, right? They say you need to see a few hospitals to be sure.

Lost in thought, the car arrived at the school.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get out.”

His mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and Ed quickly grabbed his bag and got out of the car. The usual school scenery came into view, unchanged.

Josh had most subjects in the honors class, while Ed only had a few subjects there, so their overlapping classes were limited to two. Today, as luck would have it, one of their overlapping subjects was one of Josh’s. He couldn’t decide whether it was lucky or unlucky.

He did want to see Josh, but…

He had no idea how others would treat him or how they’d look at him. Josh was unlike any other person who had gone through the onset before. He would definitely attract attention, but what form would that attention take?

Out of curiosity, Ed asked his girlfriend, Miki, about the atmosphere.

“Well, everyone looks shocked.”

Miki, having checked around, spoke with a worried expression.

“Not being an Alpha, but an Omega… I’m not sure, it doesn’t seem to fit Josh’s image. Rita seems really shocked too. Overall, the mood isn’t great.”

She tried to soften the words, but the meaning came through clearly. Ed couldn't bear the thought of Josh being ostracized.

He couldn’t let that happen.

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If Josh got into trouble, he would protect him with everything he had. Whether Omega or not, Josh was Josh. His best friend.

With determination, Ed nodded and quickly headed toward the building where the class was. It was almost time for it to start. Josh must’ve already arrived at school.

Walking down the corridor, Ed steeled himself. “Josh, don’t worry. I’m here for you! Your forever center!”

Just as he clenched his fist with resolve, a scream came from inside the classroom.

“Stop! What the hell are you doing? Let Josh go right now!”

Already?

Startled by the commotion, Ed rushed into the classroom, his face drained.

“These bastards, if you mess with Josh, I’ll…”

He was cut off, his words vanishing the next moment. He had rushed in, shouting, but when he saw the scene in front of him, he froze.

Everyone in the classroom was staring at Ed in shock, as if asking what was going on. Among them, Ed saw Josh sitting calmly in his seat, surrounded by a group of girls, who were gathered around him like flowers.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, what’s happening?”

“Is someone bullying Josh? Who?”

The girls’ reactions, confused and surprised, were far from what Ed had expected. But that wasn’t all. The entire atmosphere in the classroom was lively. The cause, of course, was Josh.

“Hey, Ed. Long time no see.”

Josh smiled nonchalantly and waved his hand, and Ed, even more dumbfounded, couldn't speak. What was going on here?

Stumbling, Ed continued to walk toward him, but everyone quickly lost interest and returned to the previous situation.

“Ruth, get away. Don’t hug Josh like that!”

“You look a bit thin, Josh. Want to have lunch together later?”

“How was it when you went through the onset? Are you feeling okay?”

“Josh, did you take your medication? Can I smell your pheromone?”

The noise was chaotic as everyone tried to say something to Josh. They stroked his arm when they thought he wasn’t paying attention, got upset when someone else tried to smell his scent, and even fought over who could sit closest to him.

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Was it worse than before?

Ed, confused, sat down and watched them. Josh was always popular, but this was the first time Ed had seen him surrounded by so many girls all trying to get his attention.

Did Omega have this much popularity among girls?

And this atmosphere was the complete opposite of what Miki had said. He thought everyone would avoid Josh and isolate him, but instead, it was the complete opposite.

A sultan’s harem.

With Josh smiling generously and surrounded by the girls, there was no other way to describe it.

Who would dare ostracize Josh like that?

Ed couldn’t believe he had even thought such a thing. He had spent almost the whole night worrying about Josh, but now he couldn’t even speak, stunned by the scene in front of him.

What was I thinking? What was I doing?

Just as he was about to feel the sting of self-loathing, hurried footsteps approached the classroom, and someone rushed in.

“Josh, you bad!”

The person who screamed rushed across the classroom toward Josh.

“Rita.”

Josh greeted his girlfriend with a smile, but Rita didn’t hesitate to slap his cheek. A loud slap rang out, and everyone went silent. After the silence, Rita glared at him and spat out angrily.

“You should’ve contacted me first! Do you know how worried I was? Ten days without a word!”

Josh didn’t say anything. He simply rubbed his cheek, still in disbelief. Rita, having made her dramatic point, immediately teared up and threw herself into his arms.

“I love you, Josh. I’m so glad you’re back.”

Josh looked bewildered, but he didn’t push her away. Everyone watched, envious. The trophy had been claimed by Rita.