CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79

~Anning~

The nurse came back faster than I expected, holding that little clipboard like it had my destiny on it. She looked at the doctor, then at me, then at Fan Xiao, and I swear her eyes got wider each time.

"Uh," she started, and already I knew. Already. "The compatibility scan... it’s positive. Like, really positive. Her blood markers match the patient’s profile almost perfectly."

Fan Xiao just stared at her. Didn’t blink. Didn’t move. Like his brain had short-circuited and forgotten how to do basic human things.

Yu Jin let out this loud, dramatic gasp. "Wait, what? Hold up. She’s human. You guys literally just said..."

"I know what we said," the doctor cut in, sounding annoyed now, like we were all kids arguing in his classroom. "But the markers don’t lie. She has ABO genetics. Recessive, suppressed, whatever you want to call it, but they’re there. Strong enough for a safe transfusion in this case."

Junho turned to me so fast I thought his neck was gonna snap. "Anning. What the fuck."

Hana’s mouth actually dropped open. Like, full cartoon style. "You’re... ABO? I’m your best friend. What the actual fuck? How did I not know?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool even though my heart was slamming against my ribs so hard I was scared they could hear it. "Surprise?"

Fan Xiao finally found his voice. It came out low, dangerous. "Explain. Now."

I rolled my eyes, because of course that’s what he wanted. An explanation. Like I owed him my whole life story in the middle of this shitty waiting room while his husband....wife....whatever he was to him was bleeding out somewhere behind those doors.

But fine. They wanted the truth? I’d give them the messy version.

"My parents are gay," I said, loud enough that a couple people down the row looked over. "Two dudes. Both ABO. One alpha, one omega, super in love, super dramatic about it. Well technically in the ABO world it’s not called being gay but back then people weren’t as open minded. And boom, here I am. Their little miracle baby."

Yu Jin blinked. "So you’re not... human?"

"Oh no, I am," I said, laughing, but it came out bitter. "I mean, I present as human. No pheromones, no heats, no ruts, no nothing. Doctors always said I was a recessive throwback or some shit but I used drugs to surprised it, it’s a long story with my father so never mind and my....my parents let everyone think I was human. Easier that way."

Hana shook her head slowly. "Why didn’t you ever tell us? Meeee? I’ve known you for years."

"Because I didn’t want to be one of them ," I snapped pointing towards yu Jin and Lee know, and yeah, that came out harsher than I meant, but fuck it. "The ABO world? It’s a circus. Everyone sniffing each other, marking each other, fighting over who smells better, who’s more dominant. And then humans started mixing in and it got even worse....everyone pretending they’re so progressive while still treating humans like second-class citizens half the time. And humans mocking them and stuff, I didn’t want any part of it."

Junho rubbed his face. "So you just... pretended your whole life?" trust me, I’m also wondering why junho is still here when he was practically paid and then...

"JUNHO OR WHOEVER THE FUCK HE IS, why is he still here?..." Park min asked, looking toward Hana.

"I’m not here for your man give me a break, I just love this drama and my new friends of course..." he responded.

"To answer your question Junho, pretty much," I said. "My ADOPTED parents were cool about it, because they have no driving idea about who I am, I faked being an orphan. I got my life, I finally got it. Met this couple who had lost their daughter and I stepped in and we’ve been living together in New York ever since. I met you Fan xiao, few days after I had been adopted I said."

"And what about your real parents?" Woo min asked genuinely concerned.

They moved abroad anyway...some job thing in Europe.

Yu Jin started laughing, this high-pitched, hysterical sound. "This is insane. This is actually insane. You’ve been walking around acting like the token and you’re actually....."

"Shut up, Yu Jin," I said, but there was no heat in it. I was tired. So fucking tired.

Hana stepped closer, her voice soft. "Were you... bullied? Is that why?"

I looked away. "Yeah. Middle school was hell. Kids could smell I was different even if I didn’t have pheromones. They knew I didn’t fit. Called me half-breed, fake human, all that crap. Made my life miserable. So when my adopted parents offered to let me just... be human? I took it. Cut ties with the ABO community completely. Pretended my real parents were dead or something. Told everyone I was born by humans."

Junho made this sad little noise. "Anning..."

"Don’t," I said quickly. "Don’t do that pity thing. I don’t want it."

Fan Xiao hadn’t moved. Just kept staring at me like he was trying to rewrite every memory he had of me in his head. "You fell for me," he said finally. "Back then. You knew I wasn’t ABO."

I laughed again, sharper this time. "Yeah. That was the best part. You were safe. You were human. No pheromones, no instincts, no bullshit. I thought if I could just have you, I’d never have to deal with any of it again."

He flinched. Actually flinched.

Yu Jin whistled low. "Damn. That’s... layered."

"Shut up," Hana and I said at the same time.

The doctor cleared his throat. "If we’re done with the family reunion, we need to move. The patient is stable for now, but we should do the transfusion soon."

I stood up. "Let’s get it over with."

They took me to this little room with a bed and a bunch of tubes. The nurse was nice, kept chatting like this was normal, asking if I’d eaten, if I was scared of needles. I let her talk. It was easier than thinking.

Fan Xiao followed us in, arms crossed, watching every move like he thought I was gonna pull some trick.

"You don’t have to babysit me," I told him as the nurse stuck the needle in my arm.

"I’m not leaving you alone with his blood," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "Wow. Trusting. Real charming."

He didn’t answer. Just watched the blood start flowing through the tube.

It didn’t take long. Maybe twenty minutes. I laid there staring at the ceiling, trying not to think about how my blood was literally going into Lee Know’s body right now. Trying not to think about how fucked up that was.

When it was done, the nurse unhooked me, gave me juice and cookies like I was five. Fan Xiao hadn’t moved the whole time.

"You okay?" he asked finally. Grudgingly.

I sat up slowly. "Peachy. So. About our deal."

He froze. "What deal?"

"You know," I said, swinging my legs off the bed. "The one where if I save your wife’s life....and the baby’s ...you agree to leave him and be with me."

His face went completely blank. Like someone had wiped it clean.

I smiled, sweet as hell. "You promised, remember? Back when you thought I was useless. Said you’d do anything if I could help."

"I didn’t....." he started, then stopped. Because yeah, he kinda had. In that panicked moment when the doctor said there were no donors, he’d grabbed my arm and whispered, "If you can do this, I’ll give you whatever you want."

Close enough.

Yu Jin poked his head in. "Everything good? Lee Know’s awake, by the way. Doctor said the transfusion worked perfectly. Baby’s heartbeat is strong."

Fan Xiao turned and walked out without another word.

I followed, slower. My legs felt weird. Light.

The hallway was quiet. Too quiet. And then I saw him.

Lee Know was sitting up in the bed, pale as hell, hooked up to machines, but awake. His eyes locked on me the second I walked in.

And I knew he’d heard.

Every. Single. Word.

Because his face...it wasn’t angry. Wasn’t even hurt. It was this quiet, devastated kind of understanding that made my stomach drop straight through the floor.

Fan Xiao went straight to his side, grabbing his hand like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

"Lee.....you okay?" he asked Lee Know, voice soft in a way I’d never heard it directed at me as he moved toward him.

Lee Know didn’t look at him. Just kept staring at me.

"You did it for that?" he asked. His voice was hoarse, barely there. "For him to leave me?"

I opened my mouth. Then I closed it.

Because what the hell was I supposed to say?

Yeah. Exactly that.

I’d saved his life for a promise that was never real.

And now everyone knew.

Junho made this choked sound behind me.

Hana whispered, "Anning, tell me he’s wrong."

I couldn’t.

Lee Know’s eyes filled with tears, but he didn’t blink. Didn’t look away.

"You hate me that much?" he asked.

And for the first time all night, I didn’t have a single sarcastic comeback.

Nothing.

Just the sound of the heart monitor beeping steady and strong.

Thanks to my blood.

Fan Xiao finally turned to look at me.

His face was stone.

"Get out," he said.

I laughed. It came out broken. "That’s it? After everything...."

"Get. Out."

Yu Jin grabbed my arm gently. "Come on."

I let him pull me toward the door.

But I couldn’t help it...I looked back one last time.

Lee Know was crying now. Silent tears rolling down his cheeks while Fan Xiao held him like he was something precious.

Like he was everything.

And I’d never be that.