Nattawut's pov:
On a Friday evening, I sat cross-legged on the living room floor, balancing a plate of rice and curry in one hand while Mali babbled about her day. Mae sat across from me, quietly eating and nodding along to Mali's story about school, her laughter filling the room.
As I took another bite, my phone buzzed on the low table next to me. I glanced at the screen, noticing a text from Dr. Han. My stomach tightened a little, the memory of the screening still fresh in my mind. I wiped my hand on a napkin and opened the message.
Dr. Han:
"Good evening, Nattawut. I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to thank you again for your participation in the screening. There's been a significant development, and I'd like to discuss it with you. Please let me know if you're available for a call."
I frowned, re-reading the message. Significant development? That didn't sound good.
Mae noticed my pause. "What's wrong, Nattawut?" she asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
I shook my head quickly, not wanting to alarm her. "It's nothing serious, Mae. Just a follow-up from the research thing I did earlier this week."
Mae gave me a skeptical look but didn't push further. Mali, however, was less subtle. "P'Nat, is it about the money? Did they pay you yet? Can we go get ice cream?"
I chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Yes, Mali, they paid me. But this isn't about the money."
I typed a quick response to Dr. Han.
Me:
"Hi, Dr. Han. I'm free to talk now if it's urgent."
Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. Mae and Mali exchanged glances as I stood and moved to the balcony for privacy, answering the call.
"Hello, Dr. Han," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Good evening, Nattawut. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly," she replied, her tone professional yet warm. "I'll get straight to the point. Niran's recovery has been slow but steady. However, I need to discuss your role in this situation."
"My role?" I repeated, confused.
"Yes," she confirmed. "Your pheromones triggered his first heat—a reaction we hadn't anticipated. Given this unique bond, if Niran experiences another heat, he may require your assistance as his designated alpha."
I froze, the words not quite registering. "Wait, what? Designated alpha? I thought this was just a one-time thing."
"I understand this is unexpected," Dr. Han said gently. "But it's not uncommon in cases like Niran's. You wouldn't be obligated to anything beyond helping him through his heats, and we'd provide guidance every step of the way."
I ran a hand through my hair, glancing back at the living room where Mae and Mali were laughing over something. This wasn't what I'd signed up for. "Dr. Han, I— I don't know if I can do this. I barely know him."
"I understand," she said again, her voice patient. "I'm not asking for an answer now. I just wanted you to be aware of the situation. Take some time to think about it. If you're willing, we can schedule a meeting with Niran to discuss this further."
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Alright. I'll think about it."
"Thank you, Nattawut," she said, her tone sincere. "I'll follow up with you in a few days."
As the call ended, I leaned against the balcony railing, staring out into the darkening sky. This wasn't what I'd expected when I signed up for that screening.
But now, I was tangled in something much bigger than I'd anticipated—and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.
—————————
A few days passed without any word from Dr. Han, and I started convincing myself that the whole situation had blown over. Maybe they didn't need me after all. It was a relief, really—I wasn't sure I could handle the responsibility they were hinting at.
But I spoke too soon.
It was a regular Sunday evening, and I had just clocked out from my part-time job. My back ached from the long shift, and all I wanted was to head home, shower, and spend some time with Mali before she went to bed.
As I stepped out into the cool night air, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting it to be Mae checking if I was on my way home. Instead, it was a text from Dr. Han.
Dr. Han:
"Good evening, Nattawut. I hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on our previous conversation. Are you available to meet tomorrow to discuss Niran's condition?"
Me:
"Hi, Dr. Han. I'm free tomorrow evening. Where should we meet?"
Her response was immediate.
Dr. Han:
"Thank you, Nattawut. Please come to the hospital around 5 PM. I'll explain everything in detail then."
I sighed, pocketing my phone and starting the walk home. My thoughts were spinning. Why now? Had something happened with Niran again?
When I got home, Mali ran up to greet me, tugging on my arm to show me the drawing she'd made in school. Mae raised an eyebrow as I walked in, noticing my distracted expression.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her tone sharp in that way only Mae could manage.
"Nothing," I said, forcing a smile as I ruffled Mali's hair. "Just work stuff."
Mae didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further.
Later that night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my chest.
The next day, I found myself heading to the hospital after finishing my afternoon shift. The nerves I had tried to suppress were back, stronger than ever. As I approached the familiar building, I couldn't help but wonder what Dr. Han had to say—and how it involved Niran.
I checked in at the front desk and was directed to her office. The sterile white walls and faint scent of disinfectant made the whole place feel even colder than it already was. I knocked on the door lightly, and her voice called out, "Come in."
Dr. Han was seated behind her desk, her usual clipboard in hand. Surprisingly there was two more people in the office with here, if I had to guess they were Niran's parents.
I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Dr. Han gestured for me to take a seat, her expression calm yet professional. The couple seated across from her glanced at me curiously, their eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Nattawut, thank you for coming," Dr. Han said, her tone measured. "I'd like to introduce you to Niran's parents, Mrs. and Mr. Tharaporn
"Nattawut, thank you for coming," Dr. Han said, her tone measured. "I'd like to introduce you to Niran's parents, Mrs. and Mr. Tharaporn."
I gave them a polite nod, bowing slightly in greeting. "It's nice to meet you."
Mrs. Tharaporn, a petite woman with tired eyes but a warm demeanor, offered me a small smile. "Thank you for being here, Nattawut. Dr. Han has told us a little about you."
Mr. Tharaporn, on the other hand, remained stoic, his sharp gaze appraising me as though he were trying to read my intentions. He inclined his head slightly but said nothing.
Dr. Han cleared her throat, redirecting the conversation. "I wanted to bring everyone together to discuss Niran's recent health developments and what our next steps might look like. As I mentioned to you before, Nattawut, your pheromones had an unexpected but significant effect on Niran."
I nodded, glancing at the Tharaporns to gauge their reactions. Mrs. Tharaporn looked concerned but attentive, while Mr. Tharaporn's expression remained unreadable.
"Because of this," Dr. Han continued, "I believe that Niran's recovery and future stability may require some level of interaction between the two of you. This doesn't have to be anything extensive, but creating a controlled environment where Niran can gradually acclimate to your presence could help his body regulate itself better."
Mrs. Tharaporn frowned slightly. "And what exactly does that mean? What kind of interaction are we talking about?"
Dr. Han leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. "It could be as simple as spending a few hours together in a neutral space, allowing Niran's body to adjust to the pheromone levels without the shock he experienced during the screening. Over time, this could help him avoid future complications and even stabilize his omega instincts."
Mr. Tharaporn finally spoke, his voice low and measured. "Anything to make my son better."
He looked up at me his gaze colder than before, "can we get another recessive Alpha, I wouldn't like to bother this young man he looks like he got a lot on his plate."
"That would be impossible sir, first finding a recessive Alpha is impossible second we wouldn't want to mix pheromones and make Niran's sensibility worse." Dr. Han explained.
Mr. Tharaporn's expression hardened, but he didn't respond immediately. He seemed to weigh the words carefully, his gaze flicking between Dr. Han and me, as though contemplating the situation. After a moment, he let out a sigh and nodded, though his eyes still held an air of reluctance.
"I understand," he said, his voice strained but accepting. "But I still don't like the idea of forcing this on my son. He's been through enough."
Mrs. Tharaporn, who had remained quiet until now, placed a hand on her husband's arm, offering a small, supportive smile. "I understand your concerns, but Niran's health comes first. If this will help him, we need to give it a chance."
Dr. Han nodded in agreement, her voice calm but assertive. "I completely understand your hesitation, Mr. Tharaporn. This is not an easy decision. But the reality is that, given Niran's unique situation, having the presence of the same Alpha who triggered his heat is the safest approach. His body already recognizes Nattawut's pheromones, and it could help Niran regulate his omega instincts."
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, not used to being the focal point of such a serious conversation. I didn't want to be a burden to Niran or his family, but it seemed like I didn't have much of a choice in this matter.
"I'm still willing to help," I said, trying to reassure them. "But we'll need to take things slowly, step by step. I'll do whatever Niran is comfortable with."
Mr. Tharaporn's gaze softened slightly, but he remained cautious. "I'll leave it to Niran to decide, then. But if he's not comfortable, we won't push him. We've seen what he's been through, and I won't have him endure more pain for the sake of an experiment."
Dr. Han gave a nod of understanding. "Of course. We'll proceed with Niran's well-being in mind. I'll make sure he's involved in every decision."
As I left the office, the weight of the situation settled on my shoulders. I understood their concerns, but this wasn't just about them—it was about Niran. I hoped that whatever decision he made, he wouldn't feel pressured into something he wasn't ready for. I could only wait and see what would happen next.
TBC