He Hates Me, He Loves Me Not

Collin doesn't want to work.

These past few days are tiring for him, having to work more than he ever did in his pampered life. He wants to be idle again, but since he promised his Omega that he'll help, he can't.

He leans back on the car seat and pulls his phone out. They're almost at the airport, but he's bored without Dylan around. Since Damon is asleep, it's fine if he plays a round or two, right?

He's not interested in striking up a conversation with Adam, Damon's secretary, since it's the first time he has downtime in a while.

After all, he's been busy trying to keep the reporters from learning about President Lin's hospitalization. There's also the matter of protecting Dylan's true identity. Not only does he have to watch out for sneaky cameras and loose mouths, but he needs to create news huge enough to redirect the sniffing noses off their trail.

Just as he's planning on causing a huge scandal, his phone buzzes.. A notification pops at the top part of his phone, covering the game loading screen.

Seeing as it's from the entertainment section, Collin clicks on it out of habit.

He smiles upon reading the news; it seems that even fate is helping him.

A new Omega singer is making headlines with his debut performance. With his good looks and chart-topping songs, the silver-haired soloist is all the internet is talking about right now. There are no mentions of Primo or questions about when he plans to return.

Collin wishes for the singer, V, to be more successful so that he can continue to be a diversion. The longer that people are distracted, the more time they'll have until everyone starts wondering—asking where their favorite Omega actor is.

If there's no demand, Primo won't be pressured to return until he's ready to be in the spotlight again. With all the mess yet to be cleaned up, who knows when that will be?

His inner alpha is pleased with the thought of hiding their Omega from the public eye. There's no one who supports Primo in his acting endeavors better than Collin, but knowing that he has Dylan all to himself is a different type of joy altogether.

Collin doesn't feel guilty in taking advantage of Primo's hiatus to stick close now that the Omega has more free time. In fact, he even silently thanks his fortune.

How else can he show off his charms if Dylan is always on set? Sending gifts and food is not enough; he needs to be around his Omega, especially in this time of need.

He's been courting Dylan for years—even before they presented, but only he knows that—and right now, it feels like he's on the last leg of a marathon before reaching the finish line.

If this keeps up—if he keeps doing a good job and sells himself well as an excellent potential mate, it won't take long before he's bonded with Dylan. He'll finally feel whole, achieving his greatest dream after so long.

Motivated by the idea of his fantasy coming to life, Collin makes a call to the airport. He's not in a rush, truly. He's only checking to make sure there's no delay.

Who says he wants to send his friend to an isolated island as quickly as possible? That's a lie. He doesn't want to free himself from this burden—task! This task, he means.

However, there's no denying that the sooner the private jet is ready, the sooner he can take Dylan out on a date.

Collin shifts in his seat. He can't wait.

--

How is it that Damon feels better already?

It's been—what? Five seconds, perhaps?

Sure, he may have not felt any different once they landed on the small island—with his body tired and everything, but the moment he rolls into the hospital grounds, it's as if his heart has started beating again.

He doesn't know if he's mistaken or if it's all the talk he heard from Dr. Medina about how effective their treatment is. Admittedly, he doesn't see what's so special about the place.

Sure, the air is fresher because there's no pollution, but that's natural considering they're on an island with no major cities. There's also a lot more vegetation around, with lines upon lines of trees standing tall on the side of the road.

If not for the big building in the center with its large windows and personnel in gowns and scrubs, Damon won't think this place is a hospital at all—especially because the first thing he sees is groups of people doing different types of activities.

There's a bunch of young adults running around passing a yellow disc to each other and—oh. Are they playing frisbee? Is that an elderly man playing the guitar? Are those patients singing and clapping along with him?

Damon can't believe his eyes. Why is this place more like a college campus than a hospital? Is it really trustworthy?

With a sigh, he lets Adam push his wheelchair, ignoring what suspiciously looks like a garden maze as they pass by. He prefers to walk on his own, but since he doesn't have the energy to, he orders his secretary to move faster.

"We'll be there soon, President," Adam says, sounding way too cheery for someone who is dropping off his boss at a hospital.

Damon closes his eyes, taking deep breaths. He wants to strangle whoever it is that decided to make a curving path instead of a straightforward one.

In his mind, he asks: what's the need for all this extravagance? Why are there lanterns hanging above the path? Why are flowers growing on the sidewalk?

"President," Adam says behind him, interrupting his silent grumbling.

Usually, Damon ignores his secretary when he feels like the Beta has nothing important to say, but since no outsiders are allowed to stay after check-in, he humors him with a hum.

This time, however, it seems that Adam does have something important to say. Damon realizes that when an envelope is placed upon his lap.

Without waiting to be asked what the envelope is for, Adam says, "Mr. Armando told me not to give this to you until we arrived."

Damon doesn't open it yet. He simply holds it in his hands, thinking that there must be a reason why that idiot withheld this from him until now.

"He also said that you'll know what it is and that you should call him once you make a decision."

A decision—it's a simple word that is heavier than it sounds. Three syllables, none of it enough to convey the weight between a conviction and an acquittal.

"Okay," Damon says. Then, after hesitating for a bit, he adds: "Thank you."

--

"Thank you," the words echo in Adam's mind.

He can't believe his boss said those words. More than feeling disbelief, he's anxious. Don't they say that people suddenly change when they're about to die? Is this a sign?

Adam slowly closes the door of Damon's new room, careful not to wake the sleeping Alpha. 

President Lin may not be the most pleasurable to work with—and truthfully, he can be an ass most of the time—but he is still too young to die. What if—?

No, Adam shakes his head, pushing away such thoughts. Damon won't die now that Adam checked him in. After all, helping people recover from drops is this hospital's specialty.

While waiting for the elevator, he tries to only think of good thoughts.

He can't stay at the hospital but that doesn't mean he doesn't work for President Lin anymore. In case the Alpha ever needs anything, it has been decided that it will be best if Adam is nearby.

The elevator opens and he walks in. Alone, he presses the button for the first floor.

Fortunately, there's a hotel on this island, and all of his expenses will be paid for. He has nothing to worry about. If he tries hard enough, Adam can even convince himself that he's on a vacation.

Yes, a vacation sounds nice.

As the elevator descends, he decides to start thinking like that from now on. He doesn't have to work overtime at the company anymore, and he can even visit the beach and live in a tropical paradise. This is better than his role as Damon's Head Secretary.

When he reaches the ground floor, Adam is in a significantly better mood. His footsteps are light as he heads towards the exit.

The automatic doors part for him without a sound. Stepping outside, he welcomes the bright day with a smile.

The sound of children's laughter hails from the open window above, and Adam takes it as a sign that everything will be okay.

He doesn't look back as he heads towards the main road, wondering if it will be better to rent a car or simply call a cab every now and then. Adam thinks of nothing but how to fully enjoy his new life.

Of course, he doesn't notice when a person closes the second-floor window, nor does he see that person's cotton candy pink hair.