* * *
For a few days, things seemed fine between them.
At least, on the surface.
They exchanged polite words over meals, shared the same car to work, and offered each other brief goodnights before bed.
But that was all.
The silence between them grew louder than any words, and instead of affectionate eye contact, they only shared awkward, evasive glances.
The air in the house felt like glass with invisible cracks—on the verge of shattering.
Yoonwoo was clearly not the same.
The smile had vanished from his face.
His eyes were dim with sorrow and exhaustion.
His conversations with coworkers had noticeably dwindled.
He looked like someone who had built a thick wall between himself and the world.
But Joowon, now completely taken by the new omega, Han Jiwoon, didn’t notice the change in Yoonwoo at all.
Every evening, he’d lie with a casual “I’ve got work tonight” and send Yoonwoo home alone, only to go out and meet Jiwoon.
Eventually, a strange new scent started clinging faintly to Joowon’s clothes.
Each time Yoonwoo caught a whiff of it, his heart twisted with icy pain.
But he gritted his teeth and pretended not to notice.
He had the terrifying sense that the moment he said something, whatever fragile thread still connected them would snap completely.
He wasn’t ready to let go.
Not yet.
One day, while passing by the break room, Yoonwoo overheard a group of coworkers chatting loudly.
They were gossiping about a hot topic: a top alpha celebrity rumored to be dating a beta actor.
“Wow, can you believe that? That alpha is huge, and he’s dating a beta?”
“I know, right? I heard his family was totally against it. Must be the power of love?”
“Still, an alpha should be with an omega—it just makes sense. Do you think it’ll last? Betas… they just don’t seem to measure up.”
“Exactly. They can’t even bond through pheromones. It’ll hit a wall eventually and fall apart.”
Yoonwoo instinctively tried to leave before another exhausting discussion about secondary genders began.
But just then, he heard Joowon’s voice—he had been quietly sipping coffee nearby.
Yoonwoo froze mid-step.
Thankfully, it seemed no one had noticed he was there.
But still—he was afraid.
Afraid of what Joowon might say.
“…Well…”
Joowon spoke in a low, pensive voice.
“…Do you really think that’s true? That an alpha is meant to be with an omega?”
A cold hush fell over the break room.
Everyone had expected Joowon to argue the opposite.
Instead, they were caught off guard by his hesitation.
His voice wasn’t confident—it sounded conflicted, uncertain, like someone sincerely questioning something for the first time.
In the past, he would’ve said, ‘What are you talking about? Alphas can be perfectly happy with betas—look at me and Yoonwoo.’
But not today.
Today, he sounded like a man murmuring to himself, unsure of what he believed anymore.
From behind, Yoonwoo listened.
And he felt his blood run cold.
That moment confirmed it—Joowon’s heart had changed.
And there was no going back.
Without a word, Yoonwoo turned and walked away.
His face was completely expressionless.
It wasn’t long before rumors started swirling within the company.
“Didn’t they break up? Something seems off between them lately.”
“No way. They’ve been together for eight years.”
“Still… I heard someone in the other department saw the CEO with a young, pretty omega after work.”
The gossip spread like wildfire.
Some looked at Yoonwoo with pity, others with curiosity.
And a few, with contempt— ‘as if they’d always known it would end this way.’
Through it all, Yoonwoo said nothing.
He simply kept doing his work, burying himself deeper inside a tougher shell, pretending everything was fine.
And so the days dragged on—delicate, fragile, as if held together by nothing more than a breath.
Then one day, while glancing at the calendar, Yoonwoo found himself holding his breath.
A week from now—it would be their 8th anniversary.
Eight years ago, on that day, Joowon had clumsily but earnestly confessed:
“You’re the only one in this world for me.”
Yoonwoo let himself remember—just for a moment—the happiness they once shared.
But now, those memories felt like faded photographs.
And then, a thought occurred to him.
Maybe… this was his last chance.
Before everything ended completely, shouldn’t he try—just once more?
‘Maybe… just maybe… if he changed himself… he could bring Joowon’s heart back.’
He still didn’t know what he had done wrong, or why Joowon had changed.
But somewhere in his heart, an uneasy thought always lingered — maybe the reason Joowon had been drawn to another omega was because of their physical relationship.
He was a beta, and unlike the omega from that night at the hotel, he couldn’t respond as passionately to Joowon’s touch.
Maybe that was why Joowon hadn’t been satisfied with him.
With trembling hands, he searched the internet.
“Anniversary gifts for your partner,” “How to satisfy an alpha,” “What boyfriends like on anniversaries”
Among the endless suggestions, one line caught his eye:
“Sometimes, it’s good to offer a bold new stimulus with a sexy costume.”
Yoonwoo’s face flushed hot. He had always been too shy — he’d never even looked at things like that.
Joowon had never asked for anything of the sort, so the idea had never even crossed his mind.
But now, he was desperate, grasping at straws.
If Joowon’s heart had drifted away because of their intimacy — then he had to change.
Just once more, Yoonwoo wanted to try everything he could to bring him back.
His pride didn’t matter right now.
And so, with a deep breath and trembling fingers, he ordered a daring, sheer black silk slip.
The day of the anniversary.
For the first time in a while, Yoonwoo messaged Joowon first.
“Hyung, do you have time this evening? I’d really like it if you came home early today.”
Not long after, he got a short reply:
“Alright. I’ll head home right after work.”
He didn’t even ask why — which probably meant he didn’t remember today was their anniversary.
A wave of unease surged in Yoonwoo’s chest, but he forced it down.
He took a half-day off and came home earlier than usual.
As if preparing a final supper, he meticulously planned their 8th anniversary.
He went to Joowon’s favorite bakery and picked up the chocolate cake Joowon once praised.
He also bought an expensive bottle of wine they used to drink in celebration whenever a project was successful.
After that, he stopped by a store to get candles to set the mood, and headed home.
Once home, Yoonwoo began decorating the apartment in earnest.
He lit the softly scented candles, dimmed the lights, and played gentle background music.
On the table, he set the wine, finger foods, and the chocolate cake.
Everything looked perfect.
No — it had to be perfect.
This was his last hope.
With a mix of reverence and desperation, he carefully filled the space like someone performing a ritual.
Once everything was ready, Yoonwoo opened the box he’d hidden deep in the closet.
Inside was the sheer black silk slip that clung to the body’s shape — the one he had ordered.
He couldn’t bring himself to wear it right away.
He stood before the mirror, staring down at his slim frame.
‘Looking like this… Can I really win him back?’
But soon he bit his lip and walked into the bathroom.
Embarrassment churned in his chest, but the fear that this might be his final chance pushed him past hesitation.
He showered, then put on the slip with trembling hands.
The reflection in the mirror felt unfamiliar, awkward.
Even so, he prayed.
‘Please, let him see me. Let this reach him somehow.’
Time passed.
The clock crept closer to the end of the workday.
Finally, he heard the front door lock beep.
Yoonwoo’s heart pounded wildly.
His legs shaking, he walked out to the living room to greet Joowon.
Joowon stepped through the door, and froze at the sight of the changed atmosphere — the candlelight, the mood… and Yoonwoo standing there in revealing lingerie.
His eyes widened in shock. Yoonwoo’s heart raced at his reaction — maybe, just maybe, would there be a hint of excitement?
A flicker of interest?
But what appeared on Joowon’s face wasn’t excitement or longing.
It was unmistakable discomfort… and a faint trace of rejection.
His brows furrowed, like he was seeing something incomprehensible.
Instead of looking at Yoonwoo’s body, his eyes shifted awkwardly to the floor.
“…Yoonwoo, this… what is…?”
And at that cruel moment, Joowon’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, then his expression twisted into something complex — part apology, part relief.
Without meeting Yoonwoo’s eyes, he muttered:
“Sorry, Yoonwoo. Something urgent came up at work… I need to step out. I’m really sorry.”
He didn’t even wait for a reply.
Grabbing his coat, he hurried out the door — like he was escaping this uncomfortable scene.
Bang!
The sound of the front door slamming shut shattered Yoonwoo’s final hope.
He stood there, frozen, staring at the door in a daze.
The carefully prepared wine and cake, the revealing slip he had worked up the courage to wear, his last thread of hope — everything had been trampled.
His body lost all strength, and he collapsed where he stood. Not even tears came.
All he could do was stare blankly at the flickering candlelight, swaying precariously in the still air.
* * *
If you are still standing after all this, that is stupidity. If someone once faltered and made this choice, they will make the same choice when they falter again.