Chapter 5: CHAPTER 3
HAN JIHAN
The morning sun shines on my skin through the paper-thin curtain. I can feel the breeze cold on my skin, guess I left the window open last night.
"Jihan! Wake up, honey." I squint my eyes open, to a blurry world.
"Jihan! They'll be here in no time, open the door." Now the sound of my bedroom door getting banged is loud and clear to my ears. I flail my hands in the air, spreading out in the bed.
"Jihaaan! Are you awake yet?!" I run my hands through the mess of my bed hair, dragging them down to my face.
"I am!" I yell back for her to hear as I haul and sit on the bed. With one hand on my knee and the other on my neck, I twist to the left to see the time on the nightstand. The slightly big black letters state right back at me.
Half past eight.
Goodness! I'm late.
"Come out quickly." Mom's voice is still loud as I hear her move around the other side of the door. I climb out of the bed just as fast. My legs take me to the small attached bathroom in my room.
The tap water is cold on my skin.
Like the blood running cold in my veins of the dread I feel.
They're coming, today, to see me, this is the day. I don't know what to feel. All I feel is fear.
Fear?
Fear of what exactly?
I don't know.
I can't help but let my stubborn mind wander around the thoughts and doubts I push further into the deep corner of my head. They come back to haunt me as I look into the mirror with a toothbrush in my mouth.
Is he going to like me?
What if he found me unworthy to have as his mate?
What if he doesn't want me?
I think I'm too young for this. To worry about the absurdity.
I don't care and never will, I repeat this in my head until I place the toothbrush back on the counter after finishing.
I climb down the twisty rusty stairs and walk to the kitchen. Mom whirls to see me standing at the entrance in my downy pajamas. A sigh leaves her rosy lips.
"You didn't eat anything, last night." She retraces from the counter and walks toward me, as on cue, my stomach grumbles, signaling my undeniable hunger. Mom laughs walking back to the counter where she takes freshly baked waffles, pouring honey on them— the honey grandma brings from her bee farm.— I waddle to her, to the waffles, exactly.
I pull out the chair and sit on it. Already taking a bite while sitting. Mom rumbles a laugh.
"They're gonna come by ten." Mom declares, I stare over at her with a face that won't let anything I feel slip away. I hold the gaze for a minute, then go back to eating again.
"How do you feel?" Mom tries once more.
"Honestly speaking, I don't know mom. Do you think Aleria's ruler and his family would like to spend their valuable time on us, moreover, in this hut-like house?" I see something flash through her eyes before she lets me know that the last phrase I used is barely a pinch away from striking her nerves by the yell of my name accompanied by her wide eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to come out like that." I desperately want to bury myself. I feel like I'm acting like an ungrateful spoilt brat, really. I know how hard they worked just to give me a decent life. And we are leading a decent life away from poverty and misery.
"Watch your mouth or you'll have a hand on your face," Mom says in a low warning tone. I gulp as I look down at the plate.
"I'm going to set up the clothes for you in your room, finish your food first, then find me there." With a poker face, mom leaves, not even waiting for a reply. My jaw tightens.
I walk toward the sink, throwing the empty plate in it. I am about to walk away when I remember I wasn't supposed to do that as my father do. Unlike alphas, omegas are bound to do the chores and cleaning. I take back the plate and wash it clean before making my way to my room.
I watch as mom navigates into my room with ease as she takes the white sheer shirt from the bed and put her hand out for me to take. I walk closer and grab it and dash off to the bathroom.
With one look in the mirror, I feel exposed. Really?
Do they want me to wear this shirt?
For real?
"Mom!" I don't waste any more time as I call out for her. She yells back a yes. I tell her to come in here and soon enough, I look into her eyes as she stands before me with scrunched brows and a skeptical expression. I'm sure I'm fuming.
I stalk toward her, fists clenching tight.
"Really, mom?!" She looks at me with disbelief, opening her mouth to talk but words are failing her as she closes it back, seeing me irritated.
"What happened now?" Mom asks, her eyes never leaving mine.
"You really want me to wear this?" I spit out, I can feel my eyes rounding as I grasp the shirt—a very sheer one at that— my torso is very evident through it, well, for me at least. I never wore something like this in my entire life. And could never imagine wearing this in front of my future mate— only if I could call him that. Only if he accepts me.—and family.
"Yes," Mom utters face or tone void of any kind of emotions. Unaffected by my outburst. I can't believe her, and I let her know that.
"Well, for your information, mom. I won't ever wear this in front of them! That's it. You heard me." I say, trying to get back into the bathroom to rip this pathetic excuse of a shirt off from my body, but, a hand stops me from doing any of that, my mother's.
"You will." She says.
"You will wear this, You. Heard. Me." Mom adds, emphasizing the last words as she yanks me toward her.
"Mom really? This is no better than being half naked!"
"Don't act stubborn, you know exactly how this works. This is how male omegas dress up for this event." Mom states.
"But—"
"No buts, we're already late." She cuts me off hurriedly with the finality in her voice.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone