[Last week of summer]

The busy streets of the city, the blinding and dazzling lights, the figures in different shapes and heights walking and sauntering on the sidewalks, cars honking and running on the highway, cars stopping by the red light, and the music coming from the huge LCD screen attached on the billboard above a building, was like waves of water for Knox or a distant background excluding him from such a jovial and bright atmosphere.

The noises drowned his heavy panting, the rapid movement of the people hid his panic and shivering, and their chatters and laughter buried his quivering whispers of help.

For an omega like him, none seemed to mind even when he was being chased. In this world where he lives, omegas are treated like breeding horses. If you were chased or assaulted, then it was your fault for releasing your pheromones and attracting lustful alphas. No one will believe you if you say otherwise.

Knox knew very well what an omega like him would end up on, so he tried his best to hide it and assumed another secondary gender. However, after years of successfully wearing his mask, a slight mistake occurred and everything he did was reduced to waste.

The mask he wore was shattered right in his very face, by his own hands.

Knox laughed bitterly as he walked to the edge of the sidewalk. He always said he'd be different. No alpha can make him grovel and beg, yet that night, he was the one who lost control. He was the one who threw all his efforts in vain.

Now, Knox felt like a fugitive, running away from everything, even from himself.

He ran across the streets, clutching his damp clothes on his chest. He waved a taxi.

"To City Airport."

The driver silently steered the wheel and drove ahead, stealing a glance from the fragile-looking man whose shirt was hugging his chest. The old driver shook his head in pity and sighed. Then, he continued driving in silence.

"Young man, the night breeze is cold, wear this at least," the driver handed an old jacket to Knox. It was his jacket, but seeing the pitiful state of his passenger, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night if he let him leave like that.

Knox hesitated accepting the jacket. However, he knew he wasn't in the position to refuse. His shirt was hugging his body and because it was thin and damp, it was almost transparent. He bowed to the old man and mumbled a 'thank you' before he went out and wore the jacket.

Knox waved the taxi goodbye. Then, he entered the airport, holding the ticket and his passport in his pocket.

This will be the last time he'll step foot in that city. He promised himself. Because he knows, that if he ever comes back, then his life will be over. Nothing good will come, meeting that man again...

[Three months ago]

Walking in the middle of a lecture always catches unwanted attention combined with glares from the instructor and some occasional snickering from conceited and self-proclaimed good students of the year. It is a dreadful predicament for any student. So, instead of proceeding, Knox passed the corner where his class was and headed to the stairs.

He might as well go back home, change his clothes, and accept that part-time gig his friend asks him to do.

"Knox! Thank you for coming, dude!"

Knox lazily waved his hand to his friend who went ahead and jumped him by the shoulder. Knox grunted irritably and pushed Franz away.

"Oho! Is that how you treat someone who's helping you?! Where's your conscience?" Franz cupped his chest and acted hurt.

Knox rolled his eyes and replied insincerely, "Alright, alright. I'm sorry. I was late for school because my last part-time job forced me to overtime. I'm pissed."

Franz chuckled, "Geez. Then, I don't think you should serve. You'll scare away the customers."

"What should I do, then? You said you'll give me work," Knox insisted. He already skipped his class for today. He needs to earn so that his day won't be wasted.

"How about giving out flyers in the streets? I'll pay you a minimum hourly rate."

Knox's face brightened. If it's giving flyers, then that's an easy job! And the minimum hourly rate in that city can buy three meals.

"I'll give you extra if you manage to give them away, not just throw them in the bin, understood?!" Franz said sternly.

Knox nodded too quickly. He was seduced by the three-meal salary per hour. Now, he has to endure the heat inside a tiger mascot while giving out flyers. After walking far from the coffee shop and diner, the flyers finally ran out.

Breathing heavily, he took off the headpiece.

'Ah, the air here is so fresh…'

Knox glanced around. The park was clean and quiet. People were walking distance away from where he was. Knox sighed in relief. He doesn't need to be vigilant of his surroundings, since no one is around. And because the area was isolated, he let his pheromones out.

The doctor said that always suppressing the pheromones in the body can be harmful. It will accumulate inside until all the uncirculated pheromones explode and make him unstable. Pheromones need to be released regularly, but doing so might be dangerous, especially to someone who doesn't have a partner like him.

The doctor suggested a more effective method rather than simply releasing them into the surroundings. The method is through sexual intercourse. Even without a partner, he can go and engage in one-night stands. But that would be the last thing Knox would do.

Besides, he's hiding the fact that he's an omega, even to his closest friends. He's been doing that ever since he stepped into college. Omegas are treated like sluts and whores by the majority of the public since many cases of unregistered and sudden pheromone showers that caused mayhem in public involved an omega.

People think that they're always in heat as if nothing of the lectures about the sub-genders in school were instilled in their minds.

A pheromone shower can only be created by an alpha. They do that to claim or attract an omega to them, and the omegas, if unmated, are weak to an alpha's pheromone. They will feel fuzzy and their heads will turn into mush, in the worst-case scenario, they can go into heat.

So, then, whose fault it is? The alphas should be blamed, but since they are at the top of the food chain and the gender hierarchy, they became the victim and the omegas became the sex maniacs instead.

Similar to the concept of the pheromone shower, omegas have something like that as well. They called it 'pheromone bloom'.

It is an omega's way of telling an alpha they want them. The omega's pheromone released in bloom can only be smelled by the alpha they targeted. Mostly, alphas can choose to refuse or accept the invite, but sometimes, an alpha who suffers difficulty from pheromone control can lose their mind to the scent and can turn into a beast starved of meat.

They answer but more aggressively and forcefully. So, it is advised for omegas to know the alpha's condition first before sending them a pheromone bloom.

Knox inhaled more relaxed after releasing all his pent-up pheromones. It wasn't much since he is a recessive omega, but he still needs to clear up his body.

Thud!

Knox's shoulders jump in surprise after hearing that sound. He stood and glanced around. He could swear he heard something. Walking a few steps down the concrete bleachers in the park, he came upon a motionless body.

"Hey!"

Knox hurriedly went and flipped over the unconscious body. The head of the tiger rolled down the stairs because he unconsciously threw them in a hurry. It rolled and smacked the motionless man in the head.

"Pfft."

'It's not right to laugh at someone who fainted, Knox,' he scolded himself but the trace of a goofy grin was still in his face.

The man groaned and stirred, "Ugh…"

Knox slapped the man's face with the tiger's paw since he was still wearing the bodice of the costume. The man slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was a furry chest looming over him.

The scream stuck in his throat and his eyeballs rolled back again.

"Hey, mister! Wake up!"

The tiger's paw was soft, so no matter how many times Knox slapped the man, he didn't budge or wake up again. Panicking, he stood and glanced around.

"Why is this park so unvisited?!"

Judging from the man's clothes, he was running. At this time in the day, when the sun was already ninety degrees in the sky, this man still went for a run? Knox shook his head in disbelief. From the looks of it, the man was still breathing. He sighed in relief.

Although the man's body was hot, and his face was flushed, added to his heavy breathing, Knox could tell he was suffering from a fever. A run in the middle of the day and a fever in summer? The man was utterly unlucky and idiotic.

With his body heavy from the costume, Knox couldn't do anything but drag the man in the shade. He searched for the man's phone and dialed the emergency hotline, then waited beside him until the ambulance arrived.

After sending the ambulance with a look, Knox picked up the tiger's head and went back to the coffee shop. That day was tiring, but a stupid smile was etched on his face.