Chapter 156: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
"GARAM-SSI, you haven’t had a full check-up after giving birth, have you?"
Garam flinched after hearing the doctor’s question. "No, not yet, sir..."
The doctor took a deep breath.
Okay, that’s not a good sign.
"What is it?" Song Sihyuk asked the doctor coldly. "Is there something wrong with my wife’s condition?"
Aigooya.
Hyung called me his wife again.
But Garam couldn’t focus on that because the doctor looked serious.
Fortunately, Lee Wonjae and Gunwoo weren’t there because his Omega father-in-law checked on his son, who was still napping in the playroom.
I would cry if Appa and Gunwoo cry, so I’m glad only Sihyuk Hyung is here with me.
"This is just my early diagnosis, but I believe Garam-ssi is suffering from Hailey Syndrome."
Garam knitted his eyebrows. "What is that, Doc?"
"It’s a disease that male Omegas suffer from after giving birth to their child."
"But I gave birth to my baby four years ago, Doc."
"Hailey Syndrome is a type of disease that slowly weakens a male Omega’s immune system after they gave birth," the doctor explained in a serious tone. "You’ve had it the moment you gave birth, but you only noticed it now that your health is deteriorating."
"My health is deteriorating...?"
"Yes, your body is failing you now, Garam-ssi. And it’s just the beginning," the doctor explained in a gloomy voice. "Since we discovered your illness late, I’m afraid it has already reached the worst stage. But we still need a proper check-up for Garam-ssi before we can be sure. This is just my early diagnosis."
At this point, Garam couldn’t breathe anymore.
It was bad enough to find out that he had a disease he had never heard of in his life before. But the doctor was saying the disease was already in its last stage?
What does it mean?
"Am I d-dying, Doc?"
"Yah. Don’t talk like that, Lim Garam," Song Sihyuk scolded Garam before facing the doctor, obviously annoyed by the news. "What is the last stage of this illness? This is the first time I’ve heard of Hailey Syndrome."
Oh.
It’s also Hyung’s first time hearing about this disease.
"Ah, yes. Male Omegas are rare, and male Omegas who actually give birth successfully are rarer. And only a small number of male Omegas who have given birth contract this disease. Hence, Hailey Syndrome isn’t widely known. Especially here in our country," the doctor explained. "Unfortunately, the last stage of Hailey Syndrome is the weakening of the immune system and the heart. Most male Omegas who died from Hailey Syndrome actually died from heart failure."
Oh, god.
Hearing that scared the hell out of Garam.
So, it’s a deadly disease.
And he could die from heart failure?
No, I don’t want to die young and leave my baby boy alone in this world.
Well, not really alone.
But if Sihyuk Hyung raises my son...
"I didn’t ask about the mortality rate of that fucking disease. Stop scaring my wife," Song Sihyuk warned the doctor coldly. "How can we treat my wife’s disease?"
"I’m sorry, sir. But there’s no known cure for Hailey Syndrome yet."
"What the fuck?"
Aigooya.
Garam scrunched his nose when Song Sihyuk released stinky pheromones.
The doctor, who was an Alpha, almost fell to his knees. Fortunately, the doctor was able to grab the edge of the bedside table.
"Hyung, your stinky pheromones are making me feel sicker."
That line worked.
Song Sihyuk immediately toned down his pheromones. "I’m sorry, Garam-ah. Is it better now?"
Garam just nodded.
To be honest, even speaking was making him tired now.
Song Sihyuk seemed to have noticed that because he immediately turned to the doctor. "My wife is tired, so let’s end this conversation quickly. If there’s no cure to Hailey Syndrome yet, then what can we do to manage it?"
"I suggest going to the hospital first to confirm whether my initial diagnosis is correct or not, sir," the doctor said while standing up straight. It seemed like the doctor was still recovering from almost getting crushed by Song Sihyuk’s pheromones earlier. "Managing Hailey Syndrome is complicated, and it requires a specific medication that you can’t even buy without a prescription."
Oh.
Garam could already tell that dealing with his potential illness wouldn’t be easy.
I know money won’t be an issue, but I’m still scared.
***
"WHAT? YOU’VE already booked an appointment for me, Hyung?" Garam asked, surprised. "That fast?"
"We’ve already discovered your illness late, Garam-ah. I don’t want to start your treatment late, too," Song Sihyuk said sternly. "I actually want you to go to the hospital tonight. But I know you wouldn’t want to be separated from Gunwoo again. That’s why I set your appointment for tomorrow morning."
Aigooya.
But Garam couldn’t complain since he agreed with Song Sihyuk’s decision.
I don’t want to get separated from Gunwoo again, but I also want to confirm whether I have the Hailey Syndrome or not.
"Hyung..."
"Don’t be afraid, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said calmly. "If there’s no known cure for your disease yet, then we’ll make one. I don’t care how much money it will cost. But I’ll make sure you’ll get better. Just don’t give up, okay? Even if your physical health is deteriorating, you have to keep a keen mind. I know it won’t be easy, but I don’t want you to lose hope."
"I don’t want to feel discouraged either, Hyung. But the doctor said my disease is already in the last stage..."
"We don’t know that yet. That bastard only gave his initial diagnosis."
"Don’t talk about your family doctor that way, Hyung."
"I don’t like him."
"It’s not his fault that I’m sick."
"And it’s not your fault either, Garam-ah."
Oh.
Garam fidgeted with his fingers when he started feeling nervous. "I should have taken better care of myself. But no. I didn’t go to the hospital even during the time I had frequent fainting spells."
Yes, it was because he wanted to avoid Song Sihyuk.
But, now, I realize how stupid I was back then.
"Let’s not focus on the past, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said, gently patting Garam’s head. "We’ll do everything to cure your disease. I’ll take care of everything, so just focus on getting better."
"You don’t have to do this for me, Hyung. I’m no longer your husband."
"You’re still the mother of my child."
Oh.
Garam didn’t want to get swayed.
Song Sihyuk had hurt him so much in the past.
However, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for the Alpha’s presence.
Which was ironic, honestly.
After all, Sihyuk Hyung is the cause of all of this. If he didn’t turn me into an Omega, and if he didn’t get me pregnant when I said I didn’t want a child, then I wouldn’t get this illness.
And, yet, Garam was too numb to get angry at this point.
What’s the point of getting angry at the man who doesn’t remember anything?
"Garam-ah, I won’t let you die."
Pfft.
Garam couldn’t help but smile faintly after hearing that line from Song Sihyuk.
`Sounds like a threat to me.
"What do you want to do?" Song Sihyuk asked gently, getting down on one knee and looking up at Garam with a worried look on his face. "Should we keep this a secret from Gunwoo and our family?"
Ah, why are you acting this way now, Hyung?
Garam felt conflicted.
Deep in his heart, he still hated Song Sihyuk with a passion.
Yes, he had been cordial to the Alpha all this time.
And it was because Garam decided to treat Song Sihyuk with indifference— which he believed was the opposite of love.
However, he was starting to get angry now.
I know Sihyuk Hyung is acting like nothing happened in the past because he doesn’t remember anything. And that’s why I suddenly feel this urge to make him remember everything. I want Hyung to regret turning me into an Omega.
"Garam-ah?"
Whew.
Garam took a deep breath, reminding himself that getting angry now wouldn’t help him.
Let’s just use Sihyuk Hyung to get better— it’s his fault why I’m like this, anyway.
"I don’t want Gunwoo to know, Hyung. But I want to tell Appa and Abeoji. After all, if I get too sick, I want to entrust my son to them."
Of course, Garam would also entrust Gunwoo to Mija, Shin Geon, and Shin Junho.
Even to his former group members, yes.
It takes a village to raise a child, after all.
"Yeah, good thinking."
"Are you not upset, Hyung?" Garam asked curiously. "You’re the one I should be entrusting our son to and not your parents."
"I’ll take care of Gunwoo because he’s our son, but now that I know you’re sick, I’d rather focus on you. Didn’t I already tell you? I’m not going to be a good father without you, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said in a serious tone. "I can’t do both. So, I’d rather be a good husband than a good father."
"That’s such a scummy thing to say, Hyung."
"I know? But that’s my honest feelings. I’ll stick to you, Garam-ah," Song Sihyuk said gently. "In sickness and in health."
Haaah.
Was that supposed to be romantic?
As a parent, I don’t find that romantic at all.
Garam could only shake his head, annoyed that despite everything, he still felt a bit giddy that Song Sihyuk was this devoted to him, even in his amnesiac state. "You’re still a bad adult after all this time, Hyung."
***
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