Arthur blinked slowly with his widened eyes. He thought authors either used their real names or concocted something completely unrelated, but this...
"Seriously?"
"Well, you can only see it in my passport, but...yeah," Eugene chuckled.
He had never used 'Gabriel' outside because it was the name his father and brothers used to call him at home, so he only used Eugene Kim after running away from home. Most people probably wouldn't connect the spelling of Yujin to Eugene, too.
"That's pretty straightforward," after getting over his bewilderment, Arthur laughed at how simple it actually was.
Just like how simple it would be if he immediately connected the scent he smelled on Eugene to 'Gin'.
"I never planned to be an author, anyway. I had to think of something on the fly because I don't want to make it too obvious," Eugene told him.
The only reason that manuscript ever got out of the draft was Sophie's mischievous streak, anyway.
"What? That's such a waste!" Arthur lamented. "I really like your writing."
Maybe it turned out well because he used his own experience back then--Eugene grimaced. He had no idea if he could write like that again.
Still, seeing the sullen expression on the alpha who stuffed brownies after brownies into his mouth to cope with his disappointment, Eugene couldn't help the desire to console his 'fan'.
"Well, you never know what will happen in the future," Eugene muttered softly. "Maybe I'll get struck by a whim again."
Arthur looked up as if something was lighting up inside him; the sparkling eyes and mouth stuffed with chocolate cakes only made him look even more like Hannah.
Eugene sighed and added quickly. "Don't get your hopes up."
"Nope," Arthur shook his head in defiance while swallowing the brownies. "I'll hang my hope in the cloud."
"Hey!"
Arthur grinned and continued devouring the brownies, slower this time. He suddenly recalled something as he chewed. "Oh, but I heard from Ashley that the story would be officially published if the reception isn't too bad?"
"...yeah, that's the plan," Eugene replied with a slight frown.
He was still on the fence about this one. People wouldn't necessarily know the movie came from a competition manuscript, but once a book was published, the fact would be out in the open.
Of course, Ashley had already convinced him that the severity of criticism would be inculcated in the consideration, but he still couldn't help but worry.
Once again, the sway came from the possibility of royalty, which would provide a nice passive income for Eugene in the future. Definitely would help the increasing expenditure for Hannah's education.
"Hehe," Arthur, however, was already excited at the prospect of having a proper book. "I'll brag about having the original manuscript--oh, you should sign it! It'll become a collector's item!"
Eugene--who was in the middle of constructing a sandwich of strawberries in the middle of two brownies--shook his head in exasperation at the alpha's antics.
"You're ridiculous," he sighed before eating the dessert sandwich he had just constructed, turning away from the excited alpha.
That was when his gaze fell on a pack of cigarettes and an ashtray with a lid sitting on the small side table. A very familiar brand of cigarettes.
"What's ridiculous about--what?" Arthur paused when he realized Eugene was focusing on something else. When he followed the omega's line of sight, he froze.
"That brand..."
"Uh..." Arthur stammered and, before he knew it, stood up to grab the pack and store it inside a drawer as if he was trying to hide contraband. "I--I was thinking about stopping."
Eugene arched his brow. Why is this guy acting like his grandma found out he was smoking while being underage? He's an adult already.
He was about to ask 'why' Arthur suddenly declared he would stop smoking, but...he could guess the reason already.
Seeing that the alpha started to smoke after their meeting six years ago, even taking the same brand, it wasn't hard to see that he decided to stop because Eugene--or rather 'Gin'--no longer smoked.
Eugene felt rather narcissistic thinking about it, but that flustered reaction was basically a confirmation.
But then again, who cared why Arthur wanted to stop? It was generally better for people not to smoke, anyway. Rather...
"...can you?" Eugene asked dubiously.
"Well, I should try," Arthur laughed awkwardly while returning to his armchair.
"I see," Eugene nodded, giving the alpha an encouraging smile. He was rather grateful that he did not smoke before giving Eugene his seed--otherwise, who knew what would happen to the fetus with two nicotine-stained parents. "Well, good luck."
Arthur watched Eugene construct another brownie sandwich while biting the inside of his cheek. He wanted to ask if Eugene stopped because he got pregnant, but wondered if it was considered a question about his daughter, so Arthur stopped himself by stuffing strawberries in his mouth.
"Have any tips?" Arthur decided to change his question.
Eugene leaned back with a glass of lemonade in hand to refresh his palate again. Tips to help someone stop smoking? He didn't really stop out of his own consideration, though. He was stopped by the staff at the Omega Center, and then he couldn't bring himself to smoke when he was responsible for a baby.
But, Arthur didn't really have a 'force' to stop him from reaching out to that pack inside the drawer, did he?
What did Eugene do again when he craved nicotine back in the day?
"You can try using patches at the start, I guess?" Eugene said. "Let's see...I ate a lot of chocolate from Sophie at that time."
Perhaps that was when he developed a taste for sweets. Hannah probably inherited the love for chocolate from licking Eugene's stash.
"Honestly, I wasn't really sure..."
The whole sequence during that time was actually pretty blurry for him, perhaps because he was actively trying to forget the unpleasant experience as a coping mechanism. It helped him, to some point, accept Hannah's existence in his life.
"I see," Arthur nodded seriously. "I have to start carrying sweets."
"I thought you always carried sweets everywhere?" Eugene arched his brow. "Every time I saw you, there were always some desserts lying around."
Arthur coughed and tapped his chest as if he was choking on the strawberries. "I mean, something more practical--like candies."
"That might work," Eugene nodded. "Try lollipops."
"Roger that," Arthur saluted playfully. "Ah, are you going to attend the crank-in?"
"Hmm...I'm not sure," Eugene pursed his lips, recalling his discussion with Ashley a few days ago. "It wasn't necessary before, but I did miss half of the script-reading."
Arthur nodded, putting on a nonchalant expression outside while grinning on the inside. "I can...be a driver--you know, if you need to go there."
Eugene only replied tersely since he hadn't made any decision yet. He knew he had to at least check the filming site of that manor once, however, and he did want to see what the cabin would look like after the amendment. He just wasn't sure when he should do it.
With that, the conversation tapered out as the brownies and the strawberries disappeared from the plate and the container. Eugene did not linger and stood up after digesting his big breakfast.
"I need to go," he said.
"Right," Arthur nodded and stood up as well, staring at Eugene while contemplating hard.
Without waiting for the host to escort him, Eugene took the lemonade container and walked to the door. It took Arthur a few seconds to react and dashed to the door to open it for Eugene instead.
"If I offer you a ride..." Arthur said, observing Eugene's expression by the door, and laughed at the sharp look in those green eyes. "You're going to reject, aren't you?"
Eugene stared at the alpha and spoke honestly. "I don't want you to know where I live."
Ouch--Arthur grimaced at the clear rejection, but nodded with a smile nonetheless. "Understandable."
Eugene tapped his foot against the floor to fix his shoes before walking away. He stopped after three steps and looked back at the alpha, who was still standing by the door, watching him leave. "Don't attempt to find out through Sophie or Allen, either--or the company," he warned the man.
"Got it," Arthur nodded and raised his hands in a solemn pledge. "Umm..."
"What?"
Arthur fidgeted on his feet. "How are you going home?"
"Bus," Eugene replied briefly.
"Can I at least walk you to the bus station?"
Eugene tilted his head. "Why? I won't get lost."
"Just because..." Arthur cast his gaze downward, pouting slightly.
Dealing with Eugene was just a series of hot and cold situations. He kept wondering when the omega would turn cold and distant, even while the atmosphere had turned warmer before. And, well...it was annoying sometimes.
Eugene saw those pouting lips and sullen expression, and all he could think of was Hannah sulking because he didn't let the girl sleep past nine.
He couldn't help but sigh. "Fine," he said while turning around, trying to ignore the way Arthur revived and following him with a wide grin.
Oh, well...Eugene did feel that he was a bit harsh before. A lot, actually. He could have just rejected the offer politely, but he was too scared about Arthur finding out where he lived and accidentally recognizing Hannah, so he unconsciously used a harsh tone.
Phew...
Carrying a heavy secret is hard--Eugene sighed inwardly. Out of guilt, he tried to make some light conversation during the walk. Thanks to that, Arthur was positively cheery while waving to him from the bus stop.
Watching the bus drive away, Arthur was filled with mixed emotions. He was happy that he finally found 'Gin' after six long years, but on the other hand...
It pained him to see that Eugene had no feelings toward him whatsoever.
It was clear that the omega only saw him as an acquaintance, nothing else. They might slept together once in the past, but it was nothing more than a random one-night stand for the man. Arthur could even feel Eugene's rejection in the way the omega drew sharp boundaries between them.
Arthur could only sigh as he walked back to his apartment. If there was any silver lining...
The alpha took a deep breath as he laid in the sofa, inhaling the scent left behind on the fabric and the cushion.
Haa...he managed to get that scent again. He raised his head and looked at the pile of clothes he had worn last night. It had a lingering alcohol and tobacco smell on it, but entwined between the threads was also Eugene's scent, infused sufficiently after a whole night of contact.
Above everything else...
Arthur took out his phone and pressed his grandmother's contact with a wide grin. Grandma, I'm not a homewrecker, after all!