"Dad, I'm gonna be like you!"
"Sure, Leon."
Leon grew up in a normal family. His dad was an alpha, his mom a beta. Since he was a kid, he wanted to be like his dad. He was loud, confident, always running around with other kids. He would tell them, "I'm gonna be an alpha!" and really believe it.
"Me too!"
"I want to be a beta!" His playmates shouted.
But everything changed in high school. The test results came out. Omega.
"Omega?!"
"Nooooo!" he shouted.
His parents immediately lectured him. They explained how omegas have heat cycles and gave him suppressants.
"These will help you during your heat cycles, or find a mate. Lei~" his mother teased.
"I'll handle it alone!"
Leon hated it. He hated being an omega. He hated the pills. He hated how weak it made him feel.
So he decided to hide it. He acted like an alpha. He acted tough. He got into fights, hung out with the wrong crowd, built a different reputation. Anyone who looked at him would think he was just another strong alpha.
"What're you staring at?!"
After graduation, he moved to the city for college, far from his parents. During his heat, he always took extra suppressants and dealt with it alone. No one could see him weak.
Now, he's a junior in college. On campus, everyone believes Park Leon is an alpha. And he's worked hard to make sure no one ever finds out he's not, because he loved being known as an alpha.
***
"Omggg, Eunho is outside!!" a girl sitting beside Leon shouted when she saw Eunho standing outside the window, talking with some teachers.
Leon, who had been napping in his seat, jolted awake. "Hey! You're so loud."
Some girls ran to the window, screaming when they saw the campus heartthrob.
"Accckkk, so handsome!" the girls giggled. One of them accidentally stepped on Leon's foot.
"Ow!" Leon shot up and looked out the window too. "Tch, seriously? What's so special about him?" He crossed his arms.
"Shut up, Leon. Don't you know he's perfect?" his classmate said, flicking his forehead.
Leon rolled his eyes and sank back into his seat. "Perfect? He's just… tall and annoying."
A few girls near the window swooned louder. Leon pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did everyone make such a fuss over one guy?
"Leon, are you jealous or something?" one of his friends teased, nudging him.
"I'm not jealous!" he snapped, though his cheeks heated a little. Okay, maybe he didn't like the attention Eunho got… but jealous? No way.
From the window, Eunho laughed softly at something one of the teachers said. His smile was calm, effortless. Leon's stomach twisted. Why did seeing him laugh make him… uneasy?
"Ugh, whatever. He's just a guy," Leon muttered, pretending not to care. But he couldn't stop staring. That easy confidence, that look that made everyone melt… it was infuriating.
One of the girls poked him. "You're staring!"
"Am not!" Leon growled, turning sharply, but his eyes flicked back to the window anyway.
Eunho waved at someone near the entrance and started walking toward the building. The closer he got, the louder the girls screamed. Leon gritted his teeth.
"Seriously… why is everyone losing their minds over him?" he muttered under his breath, crossing his arms again.
His friend beside him flicked his finger, "I also heard he's an alpha but refuses to get closer to Omega's."
Leon grinned. "Ohhh?? An alpha. Good. Good."
"Don't tell me Leon…"
Leon answered with a nod.
***
During break time. Leon scowled, watching Eunho laugh and wave at everyone like he was a celebrity.
"What's perfect about him?" Leon muttered under his breath, clenching his fists.
"Leon, you're fuming," his friend whispered, nudging him.
"I'm not fuming!" Leon snapped. But his teeth were grinding.
"Fine," Leon muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "If he thinks he's untouchable… I'll show him."
He stood up abruptly, knocking his chair back. "I'm gonna teach that guy a lesson."
"What?!" his friend nearly choked.
Leon ignored him. He stormed out of the classroom, weaving past the screaming girls, eyes locked on Eunho as he made his way across campus.
He muttered under his breath, fists tightening. "Calm, composed, and an Alpha? Perfect… we'll see how calm you are when I beat your ass."
By the time Eunho reached the entrance, Leon had made up his mind. He would challenge him. One-on-one. No excuses.
And he wasn't backing down.
"Shin Eunho!" He shouted.
The noise around the hallway died down. Everyone turned to look at him.
Eunho stopped mid-step and looked over. His expression was calm, almost bored.
Leon walked up to him, hands in his pockets, chin lifted. "You think you're something special, huh?"
Whispers spread instantly.
"Is Leon picking a fight again?"
"Waittt with Eunho?"
"Bruh, not with our Eunho!"
The girls murmured in the background.
Eunho glanced at Leon from head to toe. "Do I know you?"
"Tch." Leon clicked his tongue. "Don't act dumb. What do you mean 'do I know you.' I know you've heard about me too, don't pretend."
Eunho sighed. "If that's all, I'm busy."
Leon's brow twitched. "Scared?"
A few people gasped.
Eunho paused, then turned back slowly. "No."
Leon stepped closer. "Then fight me. One-on-one. Outside the campus."
Silence fell.
Eunho stared at him for a moment, eyes unreadable. Then he shook his head. "I'm not interested."
Leon clenched his fists. "What?"
"I don't fight for stupid reasons," Eunho said calmly. "And I don't fight juniors."
He turned away.
"That's it?" Leon snapped. "You're just gonna walk away?"
Eunho didn't stop. He didn't even look back.
"No," he said. "I'm saying no. I said I'm not interested. Go pick a fight with someone else."
And with that, he left… leaving Leon standing there. "Tch, I won't stop."
Suddenly someone hit his head with an empty juice bottle. "Ow!" Leon looked back rubbing his head.
"Leon! Leave Eunho alone!" Kana shouted, Eunho's number one fan. She approached Leon, hands on her hips, eyes narrow.
Leon stepped back. "Oh no, she's here. Run!!!"