The glow of the monitor washed over Hwang Byeol-jin's face, his long fingers tapping furiously at the keyboard as his avatar swung a gleaming sword at the boss monster.
The sound of magic flares and victory fanfare rang in his headset, followed by a cheerful notification: [Congratulations! You and your spouse have cleared the dungeon together!]
A small smile tugged at his lips. His spouse. His mysterious in-game husband, always steady at his side. No matter how ugly the real world felt, here he was free. Here, he was loved.
He had just typed a quick "Good run, hubby ♡" when a sharp knock rattled the dormitory door.
"Byeol-jin.." came the voice of the dorm master. Stern, as always. "Pack your things. The system has found you a match."
His heart stopped mid-beat. The words he'd been dreading since he turned eighteen last month had finally come.
For a moment, he couldn't move. His cursor blinked against the empty chat box, waiting for him to say something, but his mind spun too fast. His throat felt tight, chest hot with nerves. He closed the game window with trembling hands.
"Coming.." he croaked, though the word barely reached his own ears.
He sat for a while, staring at the tiny dorm room he'd called home for four years. The cracked desk lamp, the unwashed mug of instant ramen on the shelf, the bedsheets printed with little stars his mother had once sent him.
It wasn't much, but it had been safe.
And now he was leaving it all behind.
Byeol-jin shoved his belongings into a worn duffel, trying not to think too much. If he thought, the fear would swallow him whole.
What if his alpha was abusive? The stories of omegas locked up, controlled, treated as property haunted every corner of his imagination.
What if he was old? Cruel? Ugly? What if he was nothing like his online husband, the only alpha Byeol-jin trusted, the one who teased him gently and told him he looked pretty even as a bundle of pixels on a screen?
He bit his lip, shoulders tight. Please don't let him be terrible.
As he zipped the bag, his eyes fell on the monitor once more. The game still glowed on the screen, waiting. His heart clenched.
This was the only place he'd felt free—laughing, fighting, even marrying. Saying goodbye to that felt heavier than packing his things.
Of course. If he worked hard, he could afford his own game setup.
He reached out, touched the screen softly, and whispered, "Goodbye."
The walk to the meeting hall felt endless. The dorm master led the way, boots clicking against the polished floor. Byeol-jin trailed behind, the strap of his bag cutting into his shoulder. Every step felt like the end of one life and the beginning of something unknown.
Finally, the master pushed open a heavy door and stepped aside. "Your alpha is waiting."
Byeol-jin's breath caught. His heart thundered.
Inside, the man stood tall and confident, his broad shoulders relaxed like he owned the air around him.
His dark hair was swept back neatly, the sharp lines of his jaw only making him look more imposing. Hands in his pockets, expensive suit fitting him like it had been tailored to every muscle, he was the very picture of an alpha out of a glossy magazine.
Byeol-jin felt his knees weaken with relief. At least he wasn't ugly. He was… devastatingly handsome.
But then the man's gaze landed on him, sharp, unreadable, with the tiniest flicker of annoyance in the corners of his eyes. Like he'd already decided this arrangement was a hassle.
Byeol-jin's lips twitched. Of course.
Handsome, yes. Friendly? Not a chance.
The man took a step forward, voice deep and steady.
"My name's Yeo Si-woo. And I'm your alpha."
The words rolled through the air like thunder.
And that voice—
Byeol-jin froze. His breath stopped. His eyes widened as every nerve in his body lit up with recognition.
That voice.
Low, rich, steady. A voice that always made his stomach twist and his cheeks warm. A voice that had whispered "good job, wife.." after every victory, teased him in the middle of raids, and once told him softly "You're the best part of logging in.."
It was him.
His in-game husband.
Byeol-jin's heart thudded so hard he thought it might leap out of his chest. Fate—was this really fate? Had he truly been assigned to the very same alpha who had loved him every night behind a glowing screen?
He blinked rapidly, lips parting but no words coming out. He wanted to shout, It's you! It's really you! But the annoyance still flickering in Si-woo's eyes kept him silent.
So instead, he stood there, stunned and trembling, his mind a whirlwind of disbelief and giddy joy.
That's him. That's my husband.
And for the first time since the dorm master knocked on his door, Byeol-jin thought maybe—just maybe—he'd hit the jackpot.
"I'm Hwamg Byeol-jin. Nice the meet you. Are—"
Before Byeol-jin could finish talking, Si-woo had already stood up, walking out of the room.
"Hey! Wait up ya bastard! I wasn't done talking.." Byeol-jin held his wrist as Si-woo slowed down.
"4 years in this place and all your belongings fit inside a duffel bag??"
-_-
Byeol-jin lips twitched, the way he said it made it look like he could fit his entire life here inside a bag.
-_-
It did!
"Why are you annoyed though? Am I not pretty enough? I mean, there isn't an Omega prettier than me? And I smell nice too? So—"
Si-woo finally glanced down at him, eyes unreadable. "Why should I care if you're pretty or not?"
Byeol-jin froze mid-step. His mouth opened, then shut. For once, no clever comeback surfaced. The duffel strap burned against his shoulder, and all he could do was swallow the sting of the words.
The silence stretched until the sound of the dorm master's cough broke it. The older man adjusted his glasses, glancing at Byeol-jin with something softer than his usual sternness.
"Hwang Byeol-jin.." he said, voice formal but carrying a faint crack, "your student file has already been forwarded to the university board. You may receive a letter of acceptance tomorrow… or you may not. That will depend on them."
Byeol-jin blinked, startled by the words.
Tomorrow. So soon? He thought he'd get the chance to play a little.
The dorm master's gaze lingered on him. "You are the worst.." he said bluntly. "But also one of the best students I've ever looked after. Please…" His voice dropped, heavy with something unspoken. "Take your life more seriously now."