One Step Closer - PART 1

One Step Closer - 178💕

286.

Jusang was growing desperate now two weeks had passed since he started trying his friend's advice. Grueling two weeks if he may add. He has approached almost all of them and tried his best to convince them.

As a regular wolf himself, he didn't have trouble convincing his peers for favors. But fuck his stars. Jungkook had one hell of loyal and stubborn friends. No one would budge even after he doubled up the offer.

As he sat in a roadside café with his trusted notebook in hand, he carefully scratched every name with a resigned sigh.

Cho was an omega born into a family of five. Two of his siblings were married and the third one was engaged. His family was in a bit of a financial crunch due to some pregnancy related complications faced by his second sibling who was also a male omega.

As for Chul, her family was being evicted due to a redevelopment project. The female omega chased him away with a screech that would have alerted an entire town. He had bowed multiple times to convince her to stay quiet before running away from there.

Eui had told him that God had given her two arms and two functioning legs that she'd rather sweep roads and clean toilets before accepting his offer.

Everyone of them had a different issue and they've been juggling multiple jobs. However, he found out that Jungkook had stopped working. Also that the omega rarely stayed at his dorm anymore. Because after dropping Kwan at his place, the car doesn't go to Jungkook's dorm. Instead, it went straight to Jimin's apartment complex.

In the following mornings from what he observed, the car left Jimin's complex, went straight to pick Kwan and then headed to the college. But when Kwan exited, Jungkook was always there with him. On some days, Jungkook went alone.

Now only one left.The last name he had scratched earlier but now circled it because of the text he received earlier today. The cafe door opened and he glanced up to see the omega entering the cafe. Her shoulders were stiff and eyes hesitant as she let her gaze sweep the cafe.

He lifted a hand to wave at her and she began to walk toward his table. Jusang grinned ear to ear. "Gyeong-ssi!" He stood to greet her properly and pulled a seat for her to sit.

"Reporter-nim, I have to be at work in an hour," she said instead of returning his greetings. "What did you want to know?"

Jusang grinned. "You really changed your mind." He sat and flagged the waiter. "How do you like your coffee?"

"Dark and cold," she replied in a flat tone. Her eyes narrowed at him. "With a lot of ice that could give me a brain freeze."

Jusang laughed awkwardly with a nod. "That's... very specific." The waiter arrived and he quickly placed their orders. He ordered them each a muffin to go with. Gyeong didn't object but didn't look pleased either.

"What information do you want and how much money are we talking about?" she asked him as soon as the waiter left.

"Well, what made you rethink your decision? You were very rude earlier," he inquired curiously.

Gyeong shrugged. "You said you're doing it for your wife. My mother needs this money for her treatment. Sounds good enough?"

Jusang nodded. "Sounds fair."

"So what is it that you want?" she asked him again.

He wordlessly grabbed his bag and pulled out an envelope full of bills before sliding it toward her. "It's all yours and this is only the advance."

Gyeong took the money, her eyes widening more as she took note of what was inside. A soft gasp escaped her. "This... this is the advance?"

Jusang grinned. "Yes."