"P'Sang, I ran out of paint I need you to take me to the store." I said calling out to my driver, "I'm sorry but I was strictly instructed to not let you leave the house young master." He replied.
"What, am I a prisoner now?!" I scoffed, "no but-"
"Get the car keys and meet me outside."
The drive to the store was short, but it gave me a chance to finally take a breath and enjoy the feeling of being out in the world again, even if it was just for a few minutes. P'Sang kept his eyes on the road, glancing at me occasionally with a look that was somewhere between concern and frustration.
"Are you planning to buy all the paint in the store, young master?" he asked, his tone still a little tense, though I could tell he was trying to keep it light.
I chuckled, staring out the window at the passing scenery. "I doubt they have that much. I just need a few colors for my next piece." The thought of my next painting brought a slight smile to my face. I'd been stuck in a creative slump lately, and I was hoping the new paints would help shake it off.
We arrived at the art store in no time, and I hopped out of the car before P'Sang had a chance to fully park. "Young master please wait up for me!"
I waved him off with a grin, already feeling the excitement bubbling inside me. "I'll be quick, don't worry!" I called over my shoulder as I pushed open the door of the store.
The familiar scent of oil paint and canvas immediately hit me, and I couldn't help but inhale deeply, letting the creative energy of the space wash over me. The store was quiet, and I had the aisles mostly to myself. I made my way down to the paints, scanning the shelves for the colors I was after. Bright reds, deep blues, rich yellows—each one calling to me like a new possibility.
I picked up a few tubes of the basic colors first, then let my fingers trail along the special pigments. Something about the way they glimmered in the light made me pause. I picked up a set of pearlescent whites and a shimmering gold, wondering how they'd look on canvas.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely heard P'Sang enter behind me. "Young master, please don't take off like that again," he said, his voice a little strained from walking quickly to catch up.
"Come on you're acting like I'm going to get kidnapped." I chuckled as I placed a few more tubes of paint in my basket.
"If something happened I'll be to blame and you know that." He said following behind me as i headed towards the brush aisle. "It's a arts and craft store, whose go-" suddenly someone bumped into me causing me to stumble back into P'Sangs arms.
"Are you okay young master?" He asked, I held myself up and nodded.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry, she throwing a little tantrum." The guy infront on me apologized as he carried the little girl in his arms. "Say sorry to the nice guy." He said to her.
"I'm sorry phi." The little girl mumbled her head lowered. "It's okay." I slightly smiled and walked away.
I could feel P'Sang's gaze on me as I straightened myself out, brushing off the moment. "It's fine, really," I assured him as we moved toward the brush aisle. "It's just a little bump."
But P'Sang wasn't as quick to let it go. "You should be more careful. People can be… unpredictable." He trailed off, his tone hinting at concern. He was always a little overprotective, but it didn't bother me—at least not in moments like these.
I reached for a set of brushes, picking up a few soft-haired ones. As I turned back to face the shelves, my attention lingered on the guy with the little girl. He was still there, glancing around as though searching for something or someone. I caught his eye for a brief moment, and he gave me a small, apologetic nod before returning his attention to the child in his arms.
For some reason, I felt a strange pull in my chest, an odd sympathy for him. I didn't know why, but the way he handled the little girl, so calm despite her tantrum.
"Are you really going to stand there all day?" P'Sang teased, snapping me out of my thoughts. He held up a small bundle of brushes, clearly annoyed by my lingering attention.
I chuckled and shook my head. "No, just—thinking."
We moved on through the aisle, and I focused on picking out a few more tools I'd need for the new painting I had in mind. But the image of the man and his little girl stayed with me, like an unresolved sketch that I couldn't quite finish.
As we made our way to the checkout, guy and the little girl were ahead of us. The little girl was crying about wanting something but the guy just ignored her and continued pay.
"P'Nat, I want paint!" She cried as she hugged his leg. "I told you I'll get it for you next time when I have money." He said in a lowered voice.
I couldn't help but Empathize with the guy, so i decided to get some paint for the little girl. "What kind of paint do you want, I'll get it from you." I said softly leaning down to her level.
The little girl looked up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes, still clinging to her brother's leg. She wiped her face with her sleeve, sniffling, and then, as though considering her options, she finally spoke up. "Pink… and sparkly," she said with a small, shy smile, as if unsure I would really follow through.
The guy, who had been silently watching us, finally seemed to register what was happening. He looked down at his little sister, then at me, his brow furrowing as though he wasn't sure what to make of my offer. He opened his mouth to say something, but paused, glancing at his sister's hopeful face and then back to me.
"Thank you, but really, you don't have to," he said, his voice low but filled with a quiet kind of gratitude. He gently patted the girl's head as if trying to calm her down, though she was still holding onto his leg, her eyes glued to the sparkly paint in my hands.
I smiled softly, trying to ease his concerns. "It's no trouble at all," I said. "She deserves it."
There was a beat of silence as the man seemed to weigh the situation. I could see the weariness in his eyes, as though he had been carrying too much for too long. Maybe it was the protective older brother instinct, or maybe it was just the shared understanding of wanting to do something good for the ones we care about, but I couldn't just stand there and watch his sister look so disappointed.
"I can't just let her cry over some paint," I added, my voice a little firmer now. "I've got it covered."
He sighed, finally giving in, and a small, grateful smile flickered on his lips. "Well, thank you. I appreciate it." He shook his head slightly, as though embarrassed by the whole situation. "I guess she really wanted it."
"Every kid needs their pink and sparkles," I said with a grin, crouching down to hand the paint to his sister. Her face lit up as she eagerly took it, her earlier tears forgotten in an instant.
"Thank you, Phi!" she exclaimed, hugging the paint to her chest.
"You're welcome," I said, smiling warmly at her.
The man gave a slight bow of his head, his eyes softening with a mixture of surprise and relief. "I… don't know what to say. You didn't have to do this, but thank you."
I gave a small nod, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable. "It's nothing," I replied. "I just wanted to help."
As we finished up at the counter and I went to pay for my own things, I felt a little lighter than when I had entered the store. It was just a small gesture, but seeing how happy it made the little girl and how relieved her brother looked made it feel worth it.
"Do you have cologne on?" I asked P'Sang as we walked out of the store.
"No, why do you ask?" He said.
"Nothing, you just smell weirdly good."
——————————
1 week later:
"I already said I'm not doing those screenings anymore, it's literally like you guys want me dead!" I exclaimed.
"Dr. Han has figured out the solution to your problem, maybe this screening won't be as bad." Mom stated.
"And what's that solution?" I asked
Mom paused for a moment, her fingers tapping nervously on the armrest of the couch. "She's suggested trying a different approach—maybe less direct exposure to alphas. They want to test if we can introduce you to pheromones from a different source… someone whose scent might be more tolerable."
I frowned, the idea of enduring another screening, even with a different method, already making my skin crawl. "And who exactly would that be?"
Mom's expression softened, her voice taking on a reassuring tone. "It'll be someone we trust, someone who isn't… overwhelming. Dr. Han believes that a gentler exposure might help your system adjust more gradually."
I crossed my arms, already feeling skeptical. "So, what, you want me to sit in a room with someone I don't know and just… breathe their air?"
"It's not like that, Nattawut," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "It's just one step, a small test to see if your body reacts differently. If it works, it'll make the next screening more manageable."
I leaned back into the couch, still unsure, the frustration bubbling in my chest. "I've been through enough tests, Mom. What if this just makes it worse?"
She gently placed her hand on mine. "I know it's hard, but we just want to find something that works. We're doing everything we can, and Dr. Han believes this could be the breakthrough you need."
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of the situation press down on me. "Fine. But I'm not doing any more of those screenings if I feel like I'm going to pass out from the smell again. I can't handle it."
"I promise we'll be careful," she said softly, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and resolve.
———————
The next day I was taken to the hospital, I hated how I was forced into these screenings. I mean Im perfectly fine with being like this,
The sterile scent of the hospital filled my nose as I sat in the waiting room, my fingers tapping impatiently on my leg. I could feel the tension in my shoulders, the tight knot of frustration that had become a constant companion during these screenings. The whole process felt like an endless cycle of discomfort and uncertainty. I didn't need the pheromones. I didn't need anything that these tests were promising.
I didn't get the point of all this. The so-called omega and alpha bond was some fairy tale people lived for, but for me, it was just a concept that felt foreign. I didn't want to be swept away by some wave of pheromonal attraction, and the idea of living my life just to please an alpha… it didn't make sense. I wasn't broken. I wasn't incomplete.
I glanced around at the familiar machines and it just felt suffocating being seated in this lab, a few minutes later Dr. Han walked in her warm smiled brighter then ever.
"Good morning, Niran your excited for this?" She asked, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. I knew she loved her job when it came to testing me.
"Can we just get done with this." I said.
"Great!" She smiled opening a door then a very familiar face walked in. It was the guy from the art store, what the hell was he doing here?
The guy looked stunned as I was, "Niran meet Nattawut, our Alpha for today." Dr. Han introduced him.
"I know you're wondering how his different from the other Alpha's, well his a recessive Alpha not a dominant." She explained.
TBC