Omegas are a vulnerable class. They always need to be under the care of an alpha. Their only function is procreation, for when they lose their conscience to instinct they go in search of the ideal partner to give them a child. History showed how much the class had already been subjugated by the dominating society, where omegas were always treated as weak and useless.
Although times have changed and society has helped the difference between classes to diminish, it does not mean that it has completely disappeared. Omegas still suffered discrimination and had to medicate themselves to gain the trust of their bosses and colleagues. According to government surveys, a large percentage of omegas preferred to be housewives and financially dependent on their partners, rather than try for a career. Especially if they already had children.
By the way, being an omega already asked for a psychological preparation to the subject. Being omega and having children... They made things very difficult.
These were Theodore's notes from a sociology class. While he read his own words attentively, he couldn't help feeling that cold in his stomach rising higher and higher into his chest.
Despair.
Theodore considered himself a lucky boy to have family members who take good care of him and encourage him to have a good life. Despite the problems he has experienced, the boy never stopped seeing the positive side. There were people he could trust.
This does not mean that everything would be flowers if the result of the test was positive.
The next day the omega got up early to accompany his stepfather and his mother to the hospital where they worked. As much as the couple talked to calming him down about it being a routine exam now that he had a steady partner, Theodore couldn't stop thinking about what his life would be depending on the result.
It was scary.
Walking down the white corridors with people in plain clothes holding clipboards was a torment. The feeling that everyone was watching and judging him, discovering that he was there for a blood test was uncomfortable. Even if they were just looking at whoever passed near them, Theodore thought that his nervous manner already denounced the reason for his presence.
Were they judging him?
― Wait here, hm?
Nodding to his stepfather, Theodore remained in the hospital corridor, leaning against the wall. With his hands in the pockets of his light jeans, the boy watched the patients and doctors walk from one side to the other.
As he waited, he had seen a young girl with a big belly walk past him. She was caressing her belly and moaning in pain, holding the hand of an old lady who was caressing her back.
― Breathe deep my daughter, everything will be alright. Your birth will be peaceful. Trust Grandma, hm?
It was simply impossible to take my eyes off the girl, who by the smell already showed she was an omega. But she was very young, short, almost the size of Lilian. How old was she? What was she feeling? Did it hurt? And why was she accompanied by her grandmother? Had her parents thrown her out of the house?
Turning back to look at his own feet, Theodore didn't stop to peek at his own belly. It had only been a few weeks since he'd started seeing Gabriel, there was no way this could be happening to him. I mean, they took care of themselves!
― Theo, come in.
Stepping away from the wall the omega entered the doctor's office where the mother and the stepfather were already wearing their lab coats and preparing the needle and the vials for the blood collection. That reminded him of when he was thirteen or fourteen when he went to take the exam to find out his class.
Or rather redo it, since a pre-test was done after birth. But things could change as the child grew.
Taking off his coat and sitting down in the chair where he had stretched his right arm, Theodore looked around the office feeling the calmness of that clear space. The sounds from the corridor were muffled, and the smell was typical of hospitals that have only recently been cleaned.
― You're nervous, aren't you? Open and close your hand so that I can find your vein. ― asked the mother delicately as she passed the cotton over her son's skin.
Doing as she was asked, he felt a small needle in his arm and watched the ampoule fill with the dark red liquid. One ampoule had been filled, withdrawn and replaced by an empty one that had been filled quickly.
― Regardless of the result I want you to know, Theo, that we will not abandon you. ― The mother murmured without taking her eyes off the needle that had been removed from his skin. Pressing a piece of cotton to stop the bleeding, she finally looked at her son. ― And that you are not the only one who is worried. I'm very nervous too.
― I know, your hand feels cold even with the glove on.
She laughed, fixing the bandage and going to put the samples away. Theodore got up and went to sit on the bed where he had been asked to remove his shirt. Pete approached examining the omega's belly intently, squeezing the surroundings noticing the reflexive movements of his muscles.
When finished, Pete scratched his head.
― I can't feel anything. We'll depend on the blood test.
― How long will that take?
― About 20 minutes and we'll have the result. Would you like to have coffee with me while we wait?
Wearing his shirt and blouse again, Theodore had agreed to accompany his stepfather to the cafeteria while his mother took the samples to the hospital laboratory.
Again passing through the corridors, Theodore kept looking around. His eyes seemed to search for people with big bellies, wondering if they were pregnant or not. And when he realized that they were, he didn't stop watching them. Were they accompanied? Were they in pain? Did they look happy? Were they young?
Even when he had arrived at the cafeteria and sat down, the omega hadn't stopped his search. Anxiety was stamped on his face along with nervousness, clutching the disposable cup between his fingers.
― There are a lot of omegas around here.
― We're near the obstetric ward, it's common for mothers in labour to come out and walk the corridors. ― Said Pete also looking around ― It helps the dilation process and the baby fits better for birth.
Ah, that made sense.
And then a sweetish smell had been sensed and walking past the coffee shop Theodore saw a pot-bellied man. He looked older than him, but young at the same time. He was accompanied by another man who sat next to him in the coffee shop, opening smiles all the time.
He was an omega.
Definitely.
― We get a lot of people from other cities for emergency examinations here. ― Pete said, smiling at Theodore. ― Man omega may be seen as a minority, but there are still plenty of them in our country. I mean, look at the size of our territory.
― He looks pretty...
The omega man stroked his huge belly and smiled happily, seeming to chat with the baby. His partner returned to the table with two glasses, staying close to the other always touching his head and his back. It was an alpha taking care of his omega, so it seemed.
― The gestation period is short, five months. The baby's development is faster which puts a lot of strain on the parent's body. He looks very healthy indeed.
Turning his attention to his stepfather, Theodore was surprised at his analysis from a distance. Would every doctor have a keen eye like him? It was fascinating!
― I'm home my loves, aaah coffee. ― Smiled the blonde woman as she joined the table and pulled out a cup of coffee taking a sip of it. ― Now my day can begin. What do you two talk about?
Pete had cast a glance in Theodore's direction, having him still glimpse that couple from afar. Curiosity and anxiety. Theodore had not allowed himself to delude himself into happiness should the outcome be positive.
For starters, he wouldn't know what Gabriel's reaction would be. Second, they were underage and surely had zero structure to raise a being as dependent as a baby. The world suddenly seemed to be even more frightening.
― What am I going to do? ― Murmured the omega as he stared at his own hands. ― What will I do if this is real? My life... Is it over?
― My life is not over because I had you. ― Said Aline stroking the omega's hair. ― Although at the time I was already in college, but I continued my studies and you were born right at the time of my holidays.
― But you were already married to my father. And you worked with him. You could support yourself, you didn't depend on your parents.
His mother hadn't argued, it was clear how scared he was. Hugging him tight, she kissed his forehead and tried to calm him down. Even with several thoughts tormenting him between the pros and cons of that situation, Theodore didn't stop glimpsing that couple in the distance.
Maybe he couldn't smile the same way, precisely because he felt incapable.
After waiting half an hour, the three returned to the office since Pete and Aline should start their shifts. But first, the result of the exam had been sought and those next few minutes became a storm for Theodore.
The instant Pete came back with the results, his life could change abruptly.
If it was negative, it would serve as a lesson to take more care of himself. He would talk to Gabriel about the scare, and then they would find a way to deal with the desire they felt for each other. There was no way they would let a situation like that happen again.
If it was positive... Chaos. A lot of chaos.
The door had been opened.
Next to Pete, there was another beta doctor accompanying him.
And so the result came in.