Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jongin is shoving his practice clothes into his duffel bag when he hears someone knock thrice. 

“Jongin?” a voice calls. He immediately recognises the cutely adenoidal tone as Sooyoung’s.

Zipping the bag shut, he answers, “Yeah? You can come in, I’m the only one here.”

The door cracks open and Sooyoung sticks her head inside the guys’ locker room with her eyes covered by her hand. “Are you decent? I’m not going to be scarred or anything, right?”

Jongin can’t help but crack a smile. “You can see for yourself…What’s up?”

Sooyoung pulls her hand away and grins when her gaze lands on a fully-dressed Jongin. She pushes the door wide open. “Well, you took your sweet time changing…I just came to tell you that Sehun’s here.” There’s a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “He’s in the practice room.”

“Oh, thanks for telling me,” Jongin replies. He slings the duffel bag’s strap over his shoulder and follows Sooyoung out the door. “How long has he been waiting?”

“Fifteen minutes, top.” Clasping Jongin’s upper arm, she leans close to him as they walk side-by-side. “He’s so sweet…When will you introduce me?”

“Why? Are you interested?”

Sooyoung nods, tucking a short strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s good-looking and devoted; seems like a complete package to me. I want to find out for sure.”

Jongin hums, not necessarily agreeing. “I should warn you though, he isn’t looking for a relationship.”

Sooyoung shakes her head, grinning. “I’m not asking for me.”

Jongin glances at her curiously. “Then who?”

“You.” Sooyoung giggles into her hand. 

Jongin suddenly stops, convinced he misheard. “What?”

“I’m asking for you, silly,” she repeats. “I think he’s interested in you.”

Jongin recovers from the initial shook and shakes his head. “No, no, I don’t think he likes me that way. He’s my best friend.” 

“But you like him, right? It’s worth the try.”

“Maybe,” Jongin mutters, turning his head to stare at the empty hallway. He’s surprised at himself for not denying his feelings.

“Listen,” Sooyoung says, “I was on my way to talk to Taemin. I’ll let him know you’re leaving.”

“You’d do that? Thanks…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

“Yeah! See you later. Take care.”

Jongin waves his hand, bidding her farewell, before turning on his heel to head to the practice room.

Through the windows that see into the spacious room, Jongin catches the sight of his best friend seated at the back, straddling a chair with his arms crossed on top of the backrest. He’s watching the rehearsal taking place in front of him. It isn’t uncommon for him to spectate Jongin’s practices or classes whenever he’s free. And Jongin would appreciate it, however—

The alpha doesn’t even notice him walk in, he’s too busy eying an omega across the room. From the way the girl giggles lightly into her hand at the attention, sneaking looks through the mirror, she doesn’t mind at all. Jongin is pretty sure Sehun only accompanies him to the dance studio so he can ogle at pretty omegas in tights.

“Hey,” he greets when he gets close enough, eager to gain his best friend’s attention. “Is this why you insist on coming over?” He raises an eyebrow. He’s only half-joking.

Sehun’s head snaps in Jongin’s direction, and the way his eyes light up washes away any irritation Jongin initially harboured.   

Clearly unabashed, Sehun doesn’t even bother to deny his actions. "Nah, who needs them when I have you to look at," he counters instead with a flirtatious smile. 

“Right.” Jongin rolls his eyes, used to Sehun’s playful coquetry. “I’m here now, so let’s go.”

Sehun gets up and immediately reaches for the duffel bag. Usually Jongin puts up a protest because he doesn’t like people carrying things for him when he can easily do it himself, but this time he easily gives in due to the ache all over his body, and allows Sehun to slide the strap off his shoulder.

Outside, the sun is slowly setting and the sky is a hue of pink and orange blotching a deep blue canvas. There’s a light breeze and Jongin tugs the sleeves of his shirt over his hands. He really likes this time of the day when everything is peaceful and quiet. The streets are not busy and he doesn’t mind having to walk back to the apartment with Sehun despite his protesting muscles. His stomach grumbles, dutifully reminding him that they should probably pick up something on their way back. He isn’t in the mood to cook and Chanyeol’s probably still at practice, so he decides to ask Sehun.

“You met up with your study group, right? Did you stop by the apartment after?”

Sehun glances at him. “Yeah, shortly…Why?” 

“Was Chanyeol home?”

“Ah, straight away about Chanyeol; you didn’t even ask how my day went.” Sehun sulks. And Jongin finds it cute. Smiling, he wraps an arm around his best friend’s shoulders and pulls him close. 

“You have the rest of the night to tell me about your day,” Jongin responds with a small chuckle. “But right now we have to decide about takeout.”

Sehun takes a few seconds to mull over the options. “Let’s just order pizza,” he decides.

“Or you could make something tonight,” Jongin suggests teasingly, already knowing what the answer is going to be.

Sehun huffs out a laugh, eyes forming crescents. “Do you want burnt noodles for dinner?!”

“Only if they’re made by you.”

The alpha decides to play along. “I’m not going to make you eat burnt food, so for your sake, we’ll get pizza,” he says. His concern is totally unconvincing.

Jongin shoves him away lightly. “Ha ha, what a joke, we all know you just don’t want to cook anything.”

They both continue ambling quietly, allowing the crunch of gravel under their feet, the distant sounds of light chatter, and dogs barking to fill in the silence. Sehun fishes out his phone and dials the number of the pizza place. They agree on the usual. Jongin’s gaze keeps drifting over to Sehun as he makes the call, confirming the delivery to be made to their apartment. Jongin has heard numerous comments from others who say that Sehun looks taller than him, even when they’re walking alongside. Is it that noticeable? He can’t help but wonder. It can’t be—there’s barely a centimetre difference in height between the two of them. He blames the way Sehun walks with the posture of a rigid pole. Maybe it’s the shoulders. Or it could be both, he considers. There used to be a time when they were both just teenagers and Jongin was taller. Chanyeol is tall, too, but he has always been a tower as long as Jongin can remember. 

Shoving his phone back into the pocket of his sweats, Sehun gives Jongin a side look and catches his gaze. “By the way, did you set up an appointment at the clinic?” Sehun asks.

Jongin groans internally, lips tugging into a grimace. He has been putting it off for so long that it completely escaped his mind. “I forgot, okay?” he admits. “I was busy. I’ll do it another time.”

“You need to take this more seriously,” Sehun reprimands.

“Ah, why do you keep pushing me about this?!” Jongin complains, stopping to face him. “You know I’m not ready yet.”

“We talked about this, Jongin. It’s been two years, how much more time do you need? The quicker we do this, the better…Maybe we can find out the reason why you haven’t presented. There could be something inhibiting the process. What if there’s a health risk?!”

Jongin crosses his arms, staring down at the ground stubbornly. “Junmyeon already checked me and he said I'm perfectly healthy.”

Sehun scoffs in distaste. “My brother doesn’t know everything. He runs a pharmacy—he’s hardly an expert.”

“Well, I trust him,” Jongin retorts, even though he knows that Sehun is right. “I don’t want to talk about this right now. Can we please go home first?" He puts on a pitiful face so Sehun is acquiescent.

The alpha observes him for a few seconds, then nods. “Fine,” he says briskly; his tone makes it clear that the discussion is definitely not over. 

Rest of the way, the atmosphere is very tense, however Jongin manages to bring Sehun back to his less intimidating, affable self by blabbering and answering his own trifling questions until the alpha gives in and inputs his own opinion. 

When they enter the apartment, Sehun immediately dumps the duffle bag on the hardwood floor a foot from the entrance.

Jongin frowns at his back, and criticises, “It’s blocking the path."

Sehun waves him off. “Leave it, I’ll bring it to your room later.” He disappears around the corner into the living room before Jongin can tell him off. Jongin clicks his tongue in annoyance. He thinks about doing it himself, but then decides against it. It’s better if Sehun does it. If not, then he’ll get a chance to yell at him in the morning.

He walks in to find Sehun sitting on the couch beside their other roommate, Chanyeol, who has his notes spread out in front of him on the coffee table.

A smile adorns his lips when he greets the other alpha. “Oh, Chanyeol! You’re home…We ordered pizza, if that’s alright with you.”

“That’s fine,” Chanyeol replies distractedly as he squints at his laptop screen.

Sehun lazily stretches his arms overhead and smiles lopsidedly when Jongin makes eye contact with him from across the room.

“Chanyeol?” he calls, not moving his gaze from Jongin.

 The older alpha hums to indicate he’s listening.

“Will you tell Jongin he needs to go see a specialist because he won’t listen to me.”

Jongin’s jaw unhinges in disbelief. His upper lip curls upwards as he sends Sehun a glare from where he’s standing at the entrance to the living room. He really doesn’t want to talk about this. It’s been easy so far to convince Sehun to let the topic go, but not Chanyeol. Ugh, Chanyeol will personally escort him to the clinic himself. All of his efforts to make sure Chanyeol wouldn't remember have been ruined thanks to Sehun.

Chanyeol finally lifts his head to look at Jongin. “Why? Didn’t you say you were going to set an appointment today...? Did you get shy?”

Jongin shakes his head and mumbles out a small, “No.”

“Then why didn’t you?” When Jongin doesn’t answer, Chanyeol beckons him over. “Come over here.” His voice is soft.

Jongin reluctantly pulls away from where he’s leaning against the frame of the archway and walks over to the alpha with heavy steps.

Chanyeol gently grabs Jongin’s hand when he comes to a stop in front of him. Chanyeol’s hand is warm and Jongin can’t fight against the mild shiver that goes through him. 

“You know you have to do this. Right, Jongin?” Chanyeol peers up at him expectantly. Jongin keeps his gaze downcast and slowly nods his head.

“Then what’s wrong?” Chanyeol strokes his thumb along Jongin’s knuckles. 

A burst of emotions hit Jongin and this time they can’t be held in. A sob escapes past his lips, and he admits, “I don’t want to.” He feels so childish, and embarrassment immediately washes over him. He throws himself into Chanyeol’s arms, hiding his face in the crook of the alpha’s neck. “It’s scary.” Chanyeol rubs his back soothingly and says, “Hey, there’s no need to stress yourself over this! Why are you stressing?”

“Yeah! Why are you getting so upset? You haven’t even been tested yet,” Sehun comments from the side. 

Sehun still doesn’t get it. Jongin really wants to hit him; however, he knows that if he faces the younger alpha, he’ll just end up crying harder, so he just clutches the sides of Chanyeol’s clothes tighter and harshly breathes in the alpha’s calming scent. 

Chanyeol gives Sehun a warning look. “There’s nothing scary about it,” he says to Jongin. “You need to see things positively and hope for the best. If there’s no change, then that’s alright too because you’ll still be our Jongin.” 

That’s the problem, he’ll be the same Jongin.

When Sehun heads to the door to retrieve their pizza delivery, Chanyeol coaxes Jongin to go wash up before they eat. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Jongin stares at his own reflection. His eyes are slightly puffy and red-rimmed from crying. He sniffs and smoothens out his bangs. 

His classmates used to tell him that he’s so lucky he doesn’t have to suffer through ruts and heats. He can’t fathom how anyone can envy someone in his position—especially when betas exist, if that’s their argument. He suffers through an identity crisis, instead. He can’t even love responsibly because what if he’s wasting someone’s time, or his own? He doesn’t have nature to guide him so he can only depend on his preferences, which could be considered a plus-point because he doesn't have to limit himself to a specific status. However, there is still the possibility of him presenting. And if it’s not to his significant other’s liking, he’ll immediately get tossed aside.

He looks straight at himself in the mirror. There are many times he imagines what it would be like to present, with different scenarios as an alpha, beta, or an omega visualised in his head.

What is he? Honestly, he’s scared to find out. Usually the average present around their sixteenth birthday. However, in Jongin’s case, months passed by after he hit eighteen, and other than a growth spurt, there was nothing different about him. His mother decided to consult a doctor. When the test results came back, Jongin overheard the doctor tell her that only time could tell. If he doesn’t present in the next few years, the chances of him presenting at all are slim-to-none, that his case can’t be helped.

He is tired of people leading him on and experimenting with him until they’re ready to settle down, then dumping him for someone with a status. Out of all of them, Gunho really left a scar and made him feel like a worthless freak...He still feels worthless. 

He needs to present. It’s important. However, two years have already passed and the odds are against him. 

He returns to the living room where they finish off two boxes of pizza together while watching a creepy, gore horror film. Chanyeol excuses himself in the middle of the movie to go study in his room before he sleeps. When he leaves, Jongin sticks to Sehun on the couch. The alpha slings his arm over Jongin’s shoulders and pulls him closer. 

Jongin finds it hard to concentrate on what’s happening on the television screen when Sehun’s fingertips keep lightly grazing his chest. The proximity is incredibly distracting. He can feel Sehun’s gaze on him so he keeps his eyes fixated ahead and pretends to be engrossed in the movie. 

Sehun moves his hand to the back of Jongin’s head and gently strokes the soft strands of hair there. “Why didn’t you tell me it upset you that much?” Sehun asks in a low voice.

The tips of Jongin’s ears turn red. Honestly, it was partly because he thought Sehun would find it silly, and, also, because he didn’t want to confront the issue; even now he’d rather avoid it. He decides to give a lighter response, though. “Why? So you can call me a crybaby again. The last time I came to you all emotional, you laughed. You’re so mean.”

“You’re going to make me laugh again. You literally came crying because you forgot to feed Mrs. Kang’s goldfish. How does that situation compare, Jongin?” 

Jongin feels his flush spread. “It’s not funny! I was given a responsibility. It could have starved to death!”

“Then you should have taken it more seriously,” the alpha retorts, chuckling when Jongin hits him.

“You know I only tease you because you look so cute when you cry.” To make his point, Sehun pinches Jongin’s cheek.

Swatting Sehun away, Jongin covers his cheeks with hands. His heart is beating faster and his face feels so hot compared to the rest of him. 

Sehun’s tone is suddenly serious, “Tell me what bothers you the most about the whole thing. I want to know.”

Jongin nibbles on his bottom lip. “Can we talk about this another time? I’m tired.”

Sehun stares at him for a few seconds, then says, “Fine…Do you want to sleep in my room tonight?”

“If this is your way of making up for being insensitive then it’s not working. I’m sleeping on my own tonight.”

Sehun raises his eyebrows. “Then don’t come crying to me in the middle of the night because you had a nightmare.”

Jongin’s eyes widen. Watching horror movies always gives him bad dreams, though he really enjoys them. “Oh! You’re right, take me with you.”

—

“Jongin?"

Sehun throws his arm over Jongin and lightly presses his lips against the back of Jongin’s head, taking a whiff of his hair. Their legs are tangled under the blanket.

“Hmm?”

“You can always come to me for anything, you know that right?” Sehun’s voice heavy with sleep. “I don’t want you to keep anything from me because you feel like I might judge you or won’t take you seriously. You need to come to me even if you think it’s stupid. It’s not good to bottle your emotions…Okay?” 

Jongin turns over to face his best friend with a smile adorning his face. His lower arms are tucked against the alpha’s chest. “Okay,” he whispers, meeting Sehun’s warm gaze.  

—

The following afternoon, Jongin is heading over to the kitchen to make himself tea when he sees Sehun in the living room, pulling on his pea coat. “Hey, are you going out?” he asks, curiosity peaked.

Sehun nods, adjusting the collar of his coat. 

“Can I come along? I could really use an outing. I just need to change.” Jongin glances down at his hoodie and jeans. “I guess this’ll do—”

Sehun stops him amidst his excited blabbering. “Sorry, babe, I’d love to take you with me but I’ve got a date and I’m already kind of running late.”  

“Oh, a date,” Jongin repeats, mood visibly deflating. “That’s alright.”

“We can go tomorrow,” Sehun offers.

Jongin shakes his head, waving his hand. “No, no, that’s totally fine.”

“Do you want me get you something on the way back?” 

“It’s no big deal. I’ll just go with Baekhyun later,” Jongin assures him. “Are you—are you going out with Luhan?” The question leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Yeah, I am.” Sehun walks over and lands a short kiss to the side of Jongin’s head before pulling away. “I’ll see you later.”

“Have fun on your date,” Jongin says, forcing on a smile.

“Thanks.”

Jongin watches as the alpha heads out the door. When the door clicks shut, he falls down on the couch with a soft thud. It’s obviously not the missed opportunity of going out that’s making him feel dejected. He could really use someone to talk to. Supporting his feet on the armrest, he lifts his hips to pull out his phone from the pocket of his jeans. He calls Baekhyun, and the omega picks up after three rings.

“Hey, Jonginnie,” Baekhyun greets, cheerily.

“Hey, do you feel like going out?” Jongin asks.

“Yeah, sure. Where do you want to meet? A new sushi place opened up around the corner.”

“No, I’m thinking something more simple.”

“You’re sulking,” Baekhyun comments. They’re sitting underneath an umbrella at one of the folding tables outside the small restaurant that serves one of the best chicken fried-rice. And usually Jongin devours two whole plates. But today, Baekhyun eyes the way Jongin glances at his half-eaten plate before pushing it away. 

“Yeah, I guess I kind of am,” Jongin admits, his eyes flickering over to the omega. He subconsciously taps his fingers against the plastic table.

“What happened?”

Jongin licks his lips, looking away. Baekhyun lets out an exasperated noise. “Please don’t tell me you’re moping over Sehun again.”

“It’s nothing. I just -” Jongin inhales through his nose, rubbing the nape of his neck. “Recently, Sehun’s been hanging out a lot with this Luhan-guy; I thought I’d be okay with it, but I’m not.” He is used to his best friend’s constant hook-ups. That isn’t hard since he can just remind himself that Sehun doesn’t really care about the people he messes around with. However, recently Sehun has been going out a lot with this omega introduced through his friends, and it just feels different this time.

Baekhyun thoughtfully leans back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest. “Wah, I thought we were making progress,” he states with remorse.

“I know I said I wasn’t going to let any of this get to me, but I can’t help it. I can’t just switch off my emotions…It hurts seeing him with someone else.” Obviously Jongin wants Sehun to be happy, but the thought of Sehun settling down before he even gets a chance to confess leaves him in distress.

“I still think you should tell him how you feel, Jongin. Otherwise, you’ll regret it one day.”

Jongin’s forehead creases as his eyebrows pinch together. “You know it’s not that simple...I want to! More than anything. But I can’t…I can’t think about a relationship until I figure myself out first.”

“I don’t think Sehun will care about that,” Baekhyun mentions.

Jongin wets his lips. “I can’t risk it.”

“Look, you have to think positively. I have full faith that Sehun won’t turn you down for anyone, and especially not for those omegas he’s anything but serious about. He makes you priority. He always has.”

“I’ll think about,” Jongin says after a beat of silence.

Baekhyun reaches over to touch his arm comfortingly. “But, Jongin, if you aren’t going to confess then I think you should try to move on because, all of this, it can’t be healthy.” 

“I would have already if it were that easy.”

“At least promise me that you’ll try.”

“Alright, I promise.”

Baekhyun gives him a small smile.

Jongin jerks awake from a state of deep sleep when his bedroom door creaks open and the mattress dips. He lifts his head groggily before letting it fall back against his pillow with a relieved sigh, allowing his heavy eyelids to fall shut again.

“Sorry,” Sehun whispers near Jongin’s ear as he settles down behind him.

Jongin accepts his apology with a small nod and allows Sehun to pull him closer so his head is resting on Sehun’s arm and his back is against the alpha’s chest. Normally, Jongin would ask him how his day went but today he’s too tired so he forces himself to fall back asleep, ignoring someone else's scent lingering on Sehun’s skin. He can’t help but replay his conversation with Baekhyun in his mind over and over again.

It takes a whole night of tossing and turning for Jongin to conclude that he should unveil his feelings to Sehun. He sighs, staring up at the ceiling. He barely got any sleep, and though he would like nothing more than to simply roll over and go back to sleep, he can’t because the anxiety and anticipation of his possible revelation keeps him awake. Baekhyun is right—he should take a chance before it’s too late. After freshening up, he shuffles barefoot into the kitchen where Sehun and Chanyeol are already up preparing breakfast. He sits down at the table.

Chanyeol places a plate of eggs and sausages in front of Jongin and settles in the seat next to him after ruffling his unkempt hair. Sehun keeps himself busy at the counter brewing coffee for himself and Chanyeol.

Jongin isn’t really sure he wants to hear the answer, but he has to fulfil his best friend duties so he decides to ask, “How was your date?” 

Chanyeol snorts at the word ‘date’. 

Sehun turns around, rolling his eyes, and Jongin knows it’s directed toward Chanyeol who’s wolfing down his food, pretending not to notice. Sehun pulls a chair and sits down opposite to them, setting the two mugs of coffee on the table. 

“It was interesting,” he tells Jongin. “Nothing really happened: we just talked until he had to leave.”

“That’s a first for you,” Chanyeol inputs, bringing the mug to his lips and taking a sip. It’s surprising how he doesn’t burn his tongue.

Jongin watches with narrow eyes as a soft smile plasters on Sehun’s face—one he has only seen reserved for him through love earned from the many years of friendship. “Yeah, he’s different and stubborn in his own right—kind of like you, Jongin.” Jongin forces a half-smile in return. 

“He refuses to go further without a proper courtship, and I’m not looking for anything serious so we’re just hanging out for now. Surprisingly, we both have a lot in common. It’s fun spending time with him.” 

The conversation dies down and Jongin can’t help but hang on to what Sehun said because commitment is all he wants, but that’s the last thing on Sehun’s mind. Maybe this isn’t the right time to confess. Jongin is not willing to gamble away their friendship for a hook-up at the very most. Ugh, he really needs to learn to heed his own warnings. While he's been struggling to form a decision, he totally forgot about Sehun’s non-committal attitude. 

“Hey, do you want my coffee?” Chanyeol offers, interrupting his musing. “I don’t feel like drinking more.”

Sehun releases a protesting noise from the back of his throat. “Yours is too bitter for him.” 

Wanting to down something, Jongin doesn't listen and readily takes the mug from Chanyeol. He takes a large gulp but immediately pulls away when the bitter taste hits his tongue (just like Sehun’s words had), making a face.

Sehun gets up, dragging his chair backwards, and walks over to stand beside him. “You can drink mine,” he says, bringing the mug's rim near Jongin’s mouth.

Jongin leans away, shaking his head. “Ehm, no more.”

“Try it. It’s sweet,” Sehun coaxes, gently pushing the back of Jongin’s head forward toward the mug. 

Jongin succumbs to his persuasion (like always), squinting his eyes as he takes a small sip. He licks his lips, pleasantly surprised, but he still isn’t a fan. “It’s better,” he says, looking up at Sehun who has a pleased smile on his face. The younger alpha’s eyes flicker over to Chanyeol. Feeling the tension rise, Jongin glances between the two of them, confused. He feels like he’s missing something.

—

On Monday, Jongin laments the start of another insufferable week as he saunters across the main ground on campus. Grass crunches under his shoes as he makes his way to where Baekhyun, Jongdae, and Kyungsoo are already settled at one of the tables outside. They immediately greet him when he sits down on the bench, dumping his bag on top of the table.   

“I could hear you from all the way over there,” Jongin informs Baekhyun who’s seated beside him.

“Shut up.” Baekhyun shoves him in return, almost causing him to fall off.

“We should have told you that,” Kyungsoo says, and Baekhyun makes a face at him in response.

“Anyway.” Jongin re-adjusts himself on his seat. “I need some advice.”

“Sounds serious,” Jongdae says, leaning forward. “What’s up?”

Jongin rubs the spot behind his ear. “Well, I thought about telling Sehun.”

“And?” Baekhyun asks in impatient anticipation.

“It didn’t happen, obviously, otherwise I would be telling a different story right now,” Jongin responds.  

“Are you still going to do it?” Kyungsoo asks, cutting off Baekhyun before he can even open his mouth. “You were so obstinate about not saying anything. What made you change your mind?”

“Good question, Soo,” Baekhyun commends. Kyungsoo rolls his eyes at him, turning his attention back to Jongin. 

“I just don’t want to lose my chance,” Jongin admits. “We were talking yesterday about his date and everything, and you guys should have seen the look on his face when he spoke about this new omega he recently befriended—I feel like the 'friend' part is about to change very soon.” 

“Ouch,” Baekhyun winces. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m not sure,” Jongin exclaims, feeling frustrated at his own situation. “Sehun also admitted that he wasn’t looking for a real relationship and that almost made me change my mind, but I feel like if I wait any longer, it might be too late. But what do I do now?”

Baekhyun sends him a sympathetic look. “I still think you should just tell him.”

Kyungsoo nods. “For once, I agree with Baekhyun.” Jongin groans because Kyungsoo is usually right, but he is never going to admit that out loud to the alpha.

“First I need to figure out how serious Sehun is about Luhan. I mean, what if Sehun really likes him and I come in barging without a chance in the first place and make everything awkward?”

“But if you keep waiting for the right moment, that’s exactly what’s going to happen,” Jongdae says. “You shouldn’t let your insecurities hold you back.”

“Jongdae is right,” Kyungsoo says. “Are you going to wait around until Sehun actually falls in love and bonds with Luhan to confess?”

Jongin drops his gaze and mumbles, “no.”

“Then it’s settled.”

—

Jongin keeps avoiding confronting his problem, that is until an opportunity arises three days later which could help him figure out what course of action he’s going to take.

"Chanyeol, aren't you going to answer that?" he asks while trying to fend off Sehun's attempts to manhandle him into cuddling on the living room couch. The alpha is a lot stronger than him so Jongin elbows him in the stomach to escape his grasp. "Your phone keeps beeping." 

Chanyeol, who's sitting on the love-seat next to them, continues fiddling with his guitar. "Hmm? Oh, it's just Soo."

"Yeah, so aren't you going to answer?" Jongin repeats, slightly out of breath thanks to Sehun, who settles for his lap instead, resting his head there.

"I ended things with her so, no, I'm not going to answer that.”  

“What? Seriously?” Jongin exclaims in surprise. “I thought you two were doing so well. What happened?”

“She was getting too invested.”

“Isn’t that the point? I really thought you were going to ask her out.”

“Well, you thought wrong.” Chanyeol sends him a pointed look. “She was going to end up getting hurt so I broke things off before she got in too deep. I warned her before we started the whole no-strings-attached thing that nothing serious was ever going to happen. If I was planning to go out with her, I would have done that in the first place.” 

“But feelings can change! Seriously though, what’s up with you both and commitment? Is it an alpha-thing?” He knows it’s not an alpha-thing because Kyungsoo is definitely not like this, neither are the other alphas he knows.  

"I'll date when the right person comes."

"Yeah, he's waiting on someone," Sehun adds with a knowing smirk, sitting up. 

Chanyeol is interested in someone? Jongin frowns, crossing his arms across his chest. 

“Who?” he asks. He feels hurt that no one mentioned anything to him. He knows that Chanyeol and Sehun often keep things from each other, especially when it's something that might make the other mad, but they always tell him everything. Since when have they started to keep things from him?

Chanyeol sends Sehun a warning glare before answering, "It's no one you know."

"Come on, tell me, I want to know who it is," he protests.

Sehun wraps an arm around his shoulder and shakes him. "Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."

Jongin glances at Chanyeol to receive the same affirmation, however the alpha averts his gaze for the first time ever which makes Jongin's frown even deeper.

"I'm going to bed," Chanyeol says gruffly, and Jongin watches as he gets up and leaves. Jongin idly grabs his feet clad in socks and thinks about following Chanyeol before deciding against it. He turns his attention back to Sehun who asks if he wants to watch a movie together, and he agrees. He can’t concentrate at all, though; he keeps thinking about who could've managed to capture Chanyeol's interest without his knowledge. 

Later that night, Jongin opens the door hesitantly and is relieved to see that Chanyeol is still awake.

"Hey," he says, holding onto the door when the alpha's eyes flicker over to where he's standing. Chanyeol gives Jongin a slight nod before he goes back to scrolling through his text messages. 

Jongin shuts the door behind him and walks over to the bed. He dumps himself on top of Chanyeol's legs and rests his head on the alpha's midriff. He glances up at Chanyeol and asks, “Are you really not going to tell me who it is?"

“Yes,” Chanyeol replies resolutely, not paying him any attention.

“Please,” Jongin pleads. “Why not? Why does Sehun get to know and I don’t?!”

“I didn’t tell Sehun anything. He—stumbled onto the truth. Now, enough.”

“Still, this is so unfair. Come on just tell me!”

“Just give it a rest.”

“Why can’t you just tell me?”

“You’ll understand later.”

“I promise I won’t judge. Just tell me! Please!”

"Drop it," Chanyeol growls sharply, his eyes flash red in warning, and Jongin flinches.

The alpha softens at his reaction, reeling in his aggression. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“No, I should be the one to apologise,” Jongin mutters, gaze drifting to his hands which lie on top of Chanyeol’s stomach. “I shouldn’t have pried.”

“It’s fine. I understand why you’re upset. I haven’t told you because I’m not ready yet. Like Sehun said, you’ll find out soon...In fact, you’ll be the first to know when I do.” 

Jongin’s eyes light up. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Jongin contemplates before asking: “I wanted to know what’s holding you back, though? It’s okay if you don’t want to answer.”

“Uh-well,” Chanyeol coughs to cover-up his stammering while he thinks about how to answer. “He’s still indecisive about himself…and I want him to be sure of what he wants before I tell him how I feel,” he answers honestly. “I don’t care how long I have to wait; I’d do anything for him.”

A smile spreads across Jongin’s face. “Wow, you sound like you really like him.”

Chanyeol hums, staring right back at him. His hand twitches to touch Jongin’s face but he clenches his fist, controlling his urge. “I do.”   

Jongin rests his chin on his arms crossed on top of Chanyeol’s waist, breathing in the alpha’s scent—it’s warm and comforting. His eyes flicker up to meet Chanyeol’s. “Hmm, can I ask you another question?”

“Yeah. What is it?”

“If you were someone who’s stubborn about commitment, what would make you change your mind?”

Chanyeol takes a moment to think about it, mouthing the question. “Well, if it were me, the thought of losing the person I love would sway me otherwise…Why do you ask?”

“Just curious,” Jongin replies as he begins thinking.

Sehun is concentrating on quickly typing out his assignment to meet the midnight deadline. He really shouldn’t have waited until the last hour. He looks up briefly when Jongin enters the room and lays down beside him on the bed, glancing at the laptop screen to see what he’s working on.

“You went to pester Chanyeol about who he likes, didn’t you?” Sehun says. “You’re oddly interested. Maybe a little too much.”

Jongin turns onto his side, staring up at the alpha. “I deserve to know, too.”

Sehun smirks, looking at Jongin from the corner of his eye. “He didn’t tell you who, though.” 

Jongin scowls. “He did.”

“I know you’re lying; you can’t hide it from me,” Sehun comments. “If Chanyeol truthfully told you who, then this wouldn’t be your reaction.” To be honest, Sehun doesn’t understand why Chanyeol doesn’t just tell Jongin already so they can both stop going in circles. At least then he’d know Jongin likes him back.

Sehun leans away with a cackle when Jongin slaps him on the arm with a frown, saying, “I hate you so much.”

Afterwards, companionable silence falls as Jongin prefers to quietly watch Sehun work. Eventually, he gets up to leave. “I’ll let you finish your assignment,” he says, before pausing by the door. “You really shouldn’t leave these things until the end. I know your future is basically figured out and all, but that doesn’t mean you should slack off.”

Sehun snorts. “I get enough of it from Junmyeon, I don’t need to hear it from you.”

“Why are you so stubborn?” Jongin rebukes before leaving.

—

Jongin agrees to a night out with Sehun and his friends during the weekend. Until now, he’s been coming up with lame excuses to avoid clubbing because his social anxiety makes it draining to keep up with all the interactions. He likes control and being able to know exactly how things will work out, but that can’t happen in an environment he’s unfamiliar with; save for Sehun, Jongin isn’t familiar with the rest of his company.

He agrees to it nonetheless because it’s the perfect opportunity to get to know Sehun’s friends—to get to know Luhan. He dresses up in his tightest pair of leather pants and a deep maroon, form-fitting turtleneck. He rolls up the sleeves and musses his hair to give them a messy look.

Sehun is seated on the couch’s armrest, waiting, when he comes out of bedroom. Jongin shyly approaches the alpha, appreciating how good he looks in a dark, wool bomber-jacket, and skinny jeans which makes his legs seem longer.

Sehun releases a noise of approval, raking his eyes up and down Jongin’s body. “You look good,” he says, standing up. There’s an intense glint to his eyes as he circles around Jongin to observe him from behind. Jongin’s heart thumps wildly under the alpha's assessing gaze, feeling diffident. “Almost makes me want to keep you here,” Sehun whispers from behind him, hot breath tickling his ear which sends shivers through his body.  

Sehun smacks Jongin on the ass, startling him. “Let’s go,” the alpha says genially, seeming like an entirely different person from who he was a few seconds ago as he leaves Jongin behind to walk toward the front door. “The guys are waiting.”

Jongin silently follows him out the door. This is the first time he is going to be properly introduced to Sehun’s friends who the alpha never brings over to their apartment. It makes him feel incredibly nervous, and the jittering in his stomach increases with every step he takes down the stairs. At the end of the driveway, there's a black mustang parked with two figures leaning back against it. One of them is smoking. 

Here we go, Jongin thinks as they come closer and closer to the vehicle.

The one holding the cigarette is noticeably shorter than the other who’s rather tall and lean. When he sees Jongin and Sehun approach, he drops the stub on the floor, crushing it under the sole of his boot. His hair is dyed a light shade of pink.

Jongin is sure that he hasn’t seen him before, and maintains a short distance as Sehun greets them. The pink-haired guy immediately slides over to Sehun, leaning against his shoulder. On closer inspection, Jongin notices that he has large, doe-like, brown eyes that give him an innocent look—which, Jongin feels, he’s anything but. His looks immediately give away his omega status, but since appearances can be deceiving, Jongin confirms it by the sweet pheromones he is wafting. Jongin believes it’s all for Sehun’s benefit.

Said alpha turns and gestures toward him, and Jongin stands a little straighter at the sudden attention. “This is Jongin.” The doe-like eyes flicker over to him, seemingly taking notice for the first time. A friendly smile spreads across the omega’s face in recognition. “Oh, so this is him.” He stares at Jongin in wonder, and Jongin finds that a bit odd.

“I’m Luhan,” he introduces himself. 

Jongin acknowledges with a polite smile which evokes a chuckle from the omega. “Shy, isn’t he? Cute,” Luhan comments to Sehun. And Jongin can’t help but blush at being called that.

Sehun tilts his head in the direction of the tall and lean beta. Jongin is familiar with him, having seen him around campus with Sehun. “This is Zitao.”

Zitao gives him a nod in greeting. “We’ve met before. You can call me Tao.”

Jongin simply returns his smile. He's sure the beta is just being nice because he would have remembered if they had met previously.

“So, this is where you live,” Luhan says to Sehun, absorbing the view of the premises. “I’d like to see the inside.”

Sehun doesn’t respond, instead asks: “Where’s Yoona?”

“She said she would join us later,” Zitao answers. “Something about her girl friends.”

Sehun nods. “Alright, let’s go before Minseok starts getting impatient.” He gently untangles himself from Luhan to stride over to the car. He opens the door and motions for Jongin to get in first. And so Jongin does. Zitao joins them in the backseat from the other side so Jongin is seated between him and Sehun, while Luhan sits shotgun.

When Sehun shuts the door after himself, a head turns around from the driver’s seat and Jongin is met with a kind face with mischievous eyes and a gummy smile. Another alpha. “Hello,” he greets, and the way his eyes flicker to examine Jongin resemble uncannily of a dummy. 

Before Jongin can introduce himself, Luhan excitedly does it for him, “Minseok, this is Jongin.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jongin adds shyly, and the alpha flashes him another smile.

—

Jongin doesn’t know what he was expecting, but it is most certainly not this. He remains seated at the bar and being a few months short of twenty-one, he sticks with ordering a Cola. He doesn’t mind, though; he isn’t too fond of alcohol anyway, but he needs the liquid courage. Guess he’ll have to make do with caffeine. 

He glances over his shoulder and surreptitiously watches Sehun with keen eyes. Sehun is standing a few feet away with his back to Jongin, facing his friends who are all seated on a semi-circular couch. Jongin can tell he’s laughing by the way his broad shoulders are shaking. Even from the distance, Jongin sees the way Zitao’s lips curve upwards in a half-smirk as he comments on something which causes the rest of them to dissolve into a fit of laughter, falling over one another. They are all at least a little tipsy judging by the assortment of drinks placed on the table in front of them. It pays to have status and connections because Sehun is allowed his share of alcohol despite being younger than Jongin.

Maybe Jongin should have stayed and gotten a hold of a drink or two himself. But he doesn’t really like breaking unnecessary rules so he immediately dismisses the thought. He remembers sitting awkwardly between the group as they shared constant inside jokes that he couldn’t possibly understand, just like during the car ride, and he comes to a conclusion that he doesn’t regret his decision of ditching them for the bar even though it denies him the company of his best friend.

But he hasn’t considered how pathetic he looks sitting here all by himself. Obviously, he doesn’t expect a reverse-haram lining up after him, but nobody has approached him yet and it’s a real blow to his self-esteem. He moves to rest his chin in his hand and twirls the straw around. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s sitting around drinking Cola like a teenager; nobody comes to a club to do that because it totally spells out loser. If only he had the confidence to initiate something himself, then he wouldn’t be sitting around here like this.

He takes another peak at Sehun and an involuntary frown forms on his face when Sehun sits down on the armrest beside Luhan even though there is plenty of space for him next to Minseok. He watches the alpha wrap his right arm around Luhan’s shoulders, pulling him closer to whisper in his ear. Luhan’s eyes light up and a smile adorns his face. Giggles escape past his lips as he smacks his hand against Sehun’s chest, pushing him away playfully.

Jongin should have looked away sooner because Sehun turns around and their gazes meet across the room as Sehun gets up from the armrest. 

Jongin averts his attention back to the drink resting on the counter in front of him like he wasn’t just caught staring. His cheeks tinge pink and he doesn’t understand why he’s so embarrassed about it. He stares intently at the condensed water droplets forming on the metal body of the can, trying to will his chagrin away. He pushes down the temptation to sneak another look behind. Sehun had a hint of smile playing at the corner of his lips, but Jongin can’t be too sure because he’d twisted around in his seat so quickly. He has the urge to hide his face in hands, but he can’t show that he’s embarrassed in case Sehun is still watching, so he presses his palms against the cool counter in an attempt to suppress it.

His breath hitches when a body presses against his back and a warm scent floods his senses, immediately giving away who it is. Soft, wet lips brush against his ear, while rough hands cover his, lacing their fingers together.

“I saw you looking over,” Sehun says in a playful tone. He’s dallying. “You seemed bored…I think I know what you might be interested in,” he practically purrs in Jongin’s ear, and the innuendo has Jongin flushing.

Jongin swallows the lump in his throat. “And what might that be?” he asks when he finally finds his voice, tilting his head to look back at Sehun who's smiling that smile which makes his cheekbones more prominent, clearly happy that Jongin is playing along. 

“Follow me and you’ll find out.”

He tugs Jongin by the arm until he’s out of his seat and then leads him to the crowded dance floor by his hand. The alpha easily manoeuvres his way to the middle without needing to push anyone since they move out of the way on their own. Jongin is envious of the power and influence purebred alphas have; they are extremely desirable and their intense aura makes everyone hyperaware of their presence. However, anyone of a 'lower' status would prefer to stay out of their path rather than mess with them in fear of incurring their wrath. It’s true that purebred alphas are insanely ruthless. While Chanyeol’s strength comes from being a direct descent of generations of powerful alphas, Sehun’s strength comes from what most people consider unnatural: a product of an alpha-alpha relationship which results in aggressive and destructive behaviour in children due to unbalanced hormones. It takes them longer to control their urges. Though, Jongin trusts Sehun—obviously, they grew up together—but he cannot deny that sometimes even he feels more at ease around Chanyeol.

They both stand facing each other. Jongin realises that Sehun hasn’t let go of his hand yet when the alpha gently squeezes his fingers. 

“You could have joined us if you were feeling bored,” Sehun says seriously. “My friends won’t mind…They like you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Jongin pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, contemplating whether he should just come out and say it even though it might sound silly. “It’s not that,” he mutters, eyes cast down.

Sehun taps his chin with the length of his index finger, encouraging him to look up. “Then what is it? You can tell me.”

Jongin inhales. “Your friends are intimidating,” he admits honestly with a small nose scrunch as he anticipates Sehun’s reaction.

Sehun lets out a surprised laugh, eyes forming crescents. “You’re adorable,” he says, before leaning forward to press a kiss to Jongin’s cheek, causing Jongin’s lips to part in surprise.  

“If you don’t want to sit with my friends, we can have fun too,” he continues, eyes gleaming. “I want you to have fun…Turn around.”

Jongin’s mind is too muddled to form a coherent response so he simply follows his best friend’s lead. Sehun lifts Jongin’s hand above their heads and twirls him around until his back is flush against Sehun’s chest. Jongin sucks on his lower lip at the feel of their hips lined together. For the first time, he notices the song playing; the beat is slow but has a strong rhythm to it.

It’s sexy.

When Sehun rolls his pelvis, setting the pace, a gasp is forced out of Jongin. He tries to keep up but feels awkward, which is silly because he’s a dancer; the flow should come to him naturally, but there are too many thoughts occupying his head. He’s too conscious of Sehun’s presence enveloping him as well as the thought of the alpha’s friends tracking their every move, especially Luhan in particular. He knows that the omega is undoubtedly interested in Sehun. The scent he was releasing when they met was an immediate giveaway to Jongin. Nature never lies.

Jongin's eyes scan the room until his gaze lands on the group. Though it’s difficult to tell due to the dim lighting of the club, he tries to decipher their expressions the best he can. Luhan is masking his emotions well as he perceives the two of them. He seems coolly indifferent, but his slight head tilt reveals his curiosity. Zitao looks only mildly interested with his head resting on his fist, while Minseok is too preoccupied with jamming to the song to care about anything else. But before Jongin can think too much of everything, he releases a surprised noise when Sehun reaches around to grab his chin, gently turning his head to the side. 

Resting his forehead against the side of Jongin’s face, the alpha whispers, “Focus on me.”  His nose trails down to press against the warm skin of Jongin’s neck. He breathes in, sliding his hands down Jongin’s sides. His fingers dig into Jongin’s waist as he makes sure that the only thing the older male can pay attention to, is him.

It works. Everything else becomes a blur to Jongin as he drowns in the sensation. He feels hot; his neck is a soft spot and he feels tingles every time Sehun brushes his lips against the sensitive skin there. The intensity is so real that he starts to lose himself. Time seems to pass by so slow and seconds start to feel like minutes. He feels the alpha’s hand travel to his stomach, and Jongin sucks in a breath, his eyes fluttering shut as the touch slowly slips down his navel—

“Thanks for keeping him company, Jongin.”

Jongin’s eyes snap open at the sound of Luhan’s voice. The omega is standing in front of them with his arms crossed, maintaining that same neutral expression. Jongin flushes all the way down to his neck out of embarrassment, understanding that he’s being asked to leave. He tries to pull away but Sehun makes him stay put by roughly grabbing onto his bicep. Jongin wants to protest that Sehun’s grip is too strong, but he doesn’t. He does look back questioningly, though.

Sehun’s eyes flicker a tiny fraction in contemplation before he loosens his grips and glides his fingertips down Jongin’s arm. He lifts Jongin's hand to his lips, pressing a fleeting kiss there on the knuckles.

Jongin stares at him with wide eyes, then nervously shifts his gaze to Luhan whose sight remains steady on Sehun, waiting patiently. 

Sehun tenderly nudges Jongin in the direction of the bar. “Wait for me there.”

Not really understanding the situation, Jongin heeds the request and heads over to one of the empty stools at the bar without another word. When he sits down, he mentally curses at himself for being a lovesick puppy that follows Sehun’s every whim diligently. Rubbing a hand over his face, he lets out a long suffering sigh. He doesn’t know how long Sehun is going to make him wait and he’s unsure of what to do meanwhile. 

Facing the dance floor, he leans back with his elbows resting on the counter and easily spots the top of Sehun’s head—towering over half the people in the club, the alpha is easily distinguishable. However, it’s really difficult for Jongin to track what the pair are up to due to the crowd and semi-darkness of the room. He sees Luhan’s arms around Sehun’s neck and tries to get a better look by craning his neck to the side. He comes to regret his decision when he gets a view of Sehun heavily lip-locking with Luhan. He immediately recoils, feeling his heart sink to his stomach at the sight. His lips part in a silent gasp and his eyebrows knit together as hurt washes over him. Suddenly, he finds it hard to swallow. Didn’t Sehun say that he and Luhan were only friends?

He doesn’t understand why he feels so betrayed when he has no right over Sehun. He’s a mess right now and he’s pretty sure he’s going through stages of grief when he finds himself angry at his best friend for leading him on. But that’s not right either. It’s his fault for being such a gullible fool. He tricked himself into thinking that he had a chance when he had none, knowing well about Sehun’s interest in Luhan. This was all probably Sehun’s way of making Luhan jealous. And by the looks of it, his plan worked.

Jongin is so frustrated that he can’t have Sehun, but he can’t move on either. His situation makes him feel like he’s in an open relationship where he’s not allowed to see anyone else while Sehun gets to have him and anyone else he feels like. 

Jongin needs to leave because the truth is a difficult pill to swallow and he just can’t stomach seeing Sehun and Luhan together; he refuses to throw up when it has nothing to do with a hangover. He thinks about calling Chanyeol to pick him up, but that seems like a hassle. He is contemplating when a soft but firm voice attracts his attention. “Hey.”

“Yixing,” Jongin greets the gentle alpha from his dance academy bashfully. “What are you doing here?” He realises how stupid his question is. “Never mind,” he mumbles after a beat, cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

Sitting down next to him, Yixing smiles politely with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “I think I should be asking you that.” He humours Jongin with an answer anyway, “I came with my friends.” He nods in the direction of a table at the far corner of the room. Jongin can’t make out their faces from afar under the terrible lighting, but he's sure he isn’t familiar with any of them.

“I’ve been watching you—”

 Jongin’s gaze shifts back to Yixing, his heart filling with anticipation. “You have? Why?”

“You seemed out of your element—uncomfortable.”

“Oh,” Jongin deflates. Of course, the only reason anyone would approach him would be out of concern. He wets his lips, pressing them together, avoiding eye contact with Yixing. “Just not my night,” he mumbles, “but I’m fine.”

Yixing brushes his fingers against Jongin's arm to grab his attention. “Well, I was just about to leave and was wondering if you needed a lift.”

Even with disappointment prickling at him, Jongin can’t help but feel his heart flutter. If it were anybody else, he’d question their motives. But never Yixing. The alpha is so damn genuine about everything. 

Jongin takes another glimpse of the pair invested too deeply in each other and makes his decision. He meets Yixing’s warm gaze and confirms, “I could use a ride.”

The corners of Yixing’s lips turn upwards into a soft smile, and Jongin can see a slight trace of a dimple in his cheek. For some reason, it reminds him of Chanyeol.

Jongin knows he should inform Sehun before leaving, otherwise his best friend will be pissed, there’s no doubt about it. However, there’s a part of him that wants to get a rise out of Sehun, maybe because he's desperate for attention.

“Let’s go.” Yixing is the first to get up but he courteously waits for Jongin, encouraging him forward with a light touch when he stands. Jongin is conscious of the press of the alpha’s fingers against the small of his back as he's guided toward the front entrance.

When they step outside onto the sidewalk, it is most definitely quieter with only the subtle thumping of the bass infiltrating past the walls. It’s nice to escape from the noise. Jongin can finally hear his thoughts a little more clearer. Even though it’s late, almost midnight, there are still many queued on the sidewalk, waiting to go through the security check process to enter the club so they can get their night started. Sehun and his friends never have to wait in a line to enter since Minseok knows one of the workers and thus they are always let in through the back. The echoes of chatter and laughter follow Jongin as Yixing leads him to a silver Honda parked just around the corner. 

Yixing tugs open the door for Jongin to settle in the passenger’s seat and then saunters over to the other side. The car is drenched in his scent, Jongin notes. It’s sweet and spicy at the same time. If healing had a smell, Yixing’s would be it. It’s pleasant—Jongin can get used to it. 

He observes Yixing pull on the seatbelt before turning on the ignition. “Where to?” Yixing asks, grabbing ahold of the steering wheel. 

Jongin lets a sigh escape past his lips. “Home,” he says with a slight nod of his head. “Even though I don’t really feel like it.”

Yixing presses his lips together thoughtfully, before turning his head to look at Jongin. “You could spend the night at mine, if you want…We could watch a movie—Dirty Dancing, if you’re still into it.”

Jongin cracks a smile, ducking his head. Dirty Dancing. Wow. It takes him back to his high school years, not that it was a very long time ago.

“Ah, I’d love to, but I’ll have to take a rain check, if that’s alright with you?” He doesn’t really have a proper reason, but it feels like he would somehow be exploiting Yixing if he agreed to it right now.

Yixing nods his head good-naturedly. “Of course.”

“I don’t live too far from here.” Jongin tells him the address. 

It takes almost fifteen minutes to get to the apartment and the ride is filled with talks of the upcoming choreography they need to plan. Taemin wants the two of them to come up with the simplest routine that even their third-grade students can follow easily. It’s not exactly a hard task and it will take them less than fifteen-minutes to conjure up something.

“It needs to be at least five-minutes long,” Yixing says as he pulls up near the curb.

“This is it,” Jongin says, taking off his seat belt. He pauses to glance at Yixing. “Thank you for the ride,” he says sincerely, reaching over to pat Yixing’s knee in acknowledgement. Yixing’s gaze sharpens in intensity for the first time in the night as it drops to where Jongin’s hand is pressed against his knee. His stare softens when it shifts back to Jongin’s face. “No problem.” 

“We’ll discuss the details on Monday,” Jongin makes the okay sign with his fingers. "See you later!"

Yixing bobs his head. “Okay. See you.”

Jongin gets out of the car and steps onto the pavement. Following up the driveway, he doesn’t look back until he reaches the main entrance. When he’s about to enter, hand pushing the door open, the Honda thrums as Yixing shifts gear and starts to a slow drive.

Jongin raises his left hand to bid farewell before entering the apartment building—a simple red-brick construction without a proper lobby or reception. Instead, it has a small waiting room with two brown couches, lighted by constantly flickering lights. He treads up the stairs with swift steps and proceeds onto the landing on the second-floor. He fishes out his keys from his back pocket and unlocks the front door to their shared apartment. The neighbouring tenants are always so quiet at night that it's almost eerie out in the hallway. He shrugs off his shoes by the door, leaning back against the hard wood. The floor is cold underneath his feet, and he mourns not having worn socks. He can’t even remember where he last placed his slippers. Crossing the living room, he contemplates calling Baekhyun. Or, maybe it would be better if he calls Kyungsoo. Either way, he decides to do it tomorrow.

He can’t believe all he did at the club was drink a can of Cola. How exciting, he thinks sardonically as he makes his way to his bedroom. He notices light peeking out from underneath Chanyeol’s bedroom door, illuminating the small patch of floor in front of it. Chanyeol is still awake, Jongin's glad to know. He wants company and hopes Chanyeol is in the mood for some, as well. 

Not wanting to disturb his best friend, Jongin knocks on the door first before cracking it open. He relaxes when he sees Chanyeol wide awake with his head propped by a pillow against the headboard, going through the notebook in his hand, with various textbooks related to anatomy spread out beside him on the bed. 

“Hey,” Chanyeol says, surprise written all over his face. He doesn’t look disturbed so Jongin enters the room. It’s considerably warmer here compared to the rest of the apartment.

“Hey,” he parrots as he shuts the door closed, leaning backwards against it with his arms behind him, palms pressing against the solid wood.

Chanyeol shoves his belongings aside to make more room on the bed—an open invitation for Jongin to join him. “I was just about to wrap up.”

Jongin walks over slowly to the bed and climbs on top of it. He crawls over and drapes himself over Chanyeol’s body, resting his head on the alpha’s ribcage. He feels comfort in doing that. He nuzzles his face against Chanyeol’s chest, feeling the soft fabric of the alpha’s clothes rub against the side of his face.

Chanyeol shifts a little and clears his throat. “Where’s Sehun?” he asks, placing his hand on the top of Jongin’s head.

Jongin’s eyes flutter to a close when Chanyeol runs his fingers through his hair soothingly. “He’s at the club,” he mumbles, fingers clutching at Chanyeol’s black, long-sleeved shirt from the sides as he tries to snuggle closer.

However, Chanyeol’s body goes rigid under him. “What?” 

A whine is stuck in Jongin’s throat when Chanyeol stops stroking his hair. He was just starting to feel relaxed.

“Did you come here all by yourself?” Chanyeol demands, voice suddenly heavy. “Did he at least drop you off?”

Lifting up his chin, Jongin glances at Chanyeol’s face, amused by his concern. “Sehun was busy, and I wanted to leave so I came back…Don’t worry: a friend of mine dropped me off.” 

“Oh, okay.” Chanyeol’s tense muscles slowly start to relax, and Jongin lets out a pleased sound when Chanyeol lightly scratches his scalp. Then, the alpha slides his hand down the side of Jongin’s face to stroke his cheek. 

“Did you have fun?” he asks. Cupping Jongin’s face in his hands, he eyes Jongin’s plump lips and feels the urge to drag his thumb across the pink surface like he has done many times under the pretence of wiping something off from his mouth. He brings his hand down to Jongin’s smooth neck, rubbing circles over the Adam’s apple with his thumb. He likes the trust Jongin places in him; the neck is a vulnerable place and he could just crush it. It would be so easy. He feels his fingers twitch around his hold and a certain desire to dominate fills him. 

He pushes it down.

A small pout forms on Jongin’s lips as he admits, “No, I spent majority of the time by myself.”

“That bad, huh?”

“You know it’s hard for me to be comfortable around new people...I’m going to die alone,” Jongin whines theatrically.

Chanyeol smiles at him. “You don’t need anyone else: you have me.”

“Nah, you’re too perfect, you’ll make someone very happy one day and then leave me.”

Chanyeol feels his heart flutter at Jongin’s confession. He flips them over until Jongin is underneath him, trapped between his arms. “Why can’t that someone be you?” he asks; his deep voice sends shivers running down Jongin’s spine. Their faces are only a few centimetres apart, and Jongin subconsciously licks his lips when the alpha’s gaze runs down his face to his lips before returning to his eyes.

"Now you're just messing with me," he says, staring directly into Chanyeol's eyes. His heart is thundering against his ribcage and he wonders whether Chanyeol can feel it too. "I already get enough of it from Sehun; I can't handle it if you start too."

Chanyeol simply hums, resting his weight on his elbows as he combs back Jongin's hair with his fingers. "You're cute.” He’s grinning again.

"Be serious," Jongin says, frustrated, cheeks flushing.

"I'm being serious," Chanyeol replies. "I can make you happy."

"I don't want pity.” Why is this conversation taking such a solemn turn? Jongin thinks. Chanyeol lightly massages Jongin's scalp and he has to stop himself from leaning into the touch.

"I'm not showing you pity," the alpha says. "I just want you to know that you'll always have me."

Jongin traces his finger along Chanyeol's earlobe. "Thanks," he murmurs with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. Though he’s grateful for what Chanyeol said, he fears that it won’t be this simple once his friend finds the right person. “You’re a good friend.”

Chanyeol looks like he wants to say something but is holding back. 

“What?” Jongin asks.

Chanyeol shakes his head. “Nothing.” He goes back to brushing Jongin’s hair back, but then after a moment of silence he bites down on his lips and decides to just say it. “You’re perfect too, you know…If you were mine, I’d never let go.”

Jongin’s smile is feeble. "You're just saying that because I’m your best friend and you’re nice."

Chanyeol lips press together. "I'm not. Do I look like the type who goes around telling everyone that?"

Jongin scrunches his nose. "Nah, you're right, you're kind of a jerk," he teases light-heartedly, lifting his hand to pat Chanyeol’s arm, even though his friend is anything but. That gets a smile out of the alpha.

“Why are you only in your shirt in the middle of December?” Jongin asks, ready to change the topic. “Aren’t you cold?”

Chanyeol shakes his head. “I was wearing my sweatshirt, but it got too hot with the heater on so I took it off…If I feel cold now, I have you to cuddle with.” He gives Jongin a mischievous smile.   

Jongin doesn’t know if it’s Chanyeol’s charm or the weight of the alpha’s body on top of him that’s making him feel warm. “That’s probably been your plan all along. Shove off,” he tells Chanyeol, pushing him away with his forearm. “You’re so heavy and it’s starting to feel suffocating.”

Chanyeol chuckles and pulls away, only to lay on his side beside Jongin. “Sleep with me tonight?” he asks, cushioning his head on his arm.

Jongin turns his head to look at him and can’t help but think about how much Chanyeol resembles a puppy. He can never say no to a puppy. “Sure.” He doesn’t tell Chanyeol that he could definitely use a night of cuddling. “But, I need to get out of these pants first so my legs can breathe again.”

He scoots over to the edge of the bed and gets up. He hesitates when he’s about unbutton his pants and glances back at Chanyeol. The alpha is staring right at him with a stoic expression, and it makes him nervous. He inhales and reminds himself not to get intimidated because it’s just Chanyeol—they’ve seen each other naked so many times, it happens when you’ve been friends for so long—and it’s not like he went commando. It’s a struggle but he takes his leather pants off as quickly as possible, leaving his lower half in simple boxer-briefs. He pulls off his sweater too, throwing his clothes in the hamper beside the dresser.

He doesn’t understand how Chanyeol can survive with minimum covering because the cold immediately hits him despite the heating in the room—which is medium at best. He grabs Chanyeol’s discarded sweatshirt off the bed and pulls it on before he slips under the blankets. He turns around to face Chanyeol and is surprised to see a pair of red eyes staring right back at him.

He scrunches his eyebrows. “Chanyeol, your—is something wrong?”

“Shh, go to sleep,” the alpha says—more like orders—and lifts himself up momentarily to switch off the lamp placed on the side-table. 

As darkness takes over the room, Jongin decides to let it go and shuts his eyes. He opens them a few minutes later and decides to edge closer to Chanyeol who’s sleeping with an arm shoved under his pillow, facing Jongin. Jongin hopes it wasn't like those other times. He doesn’t know why but whenever Chanyeol’s eyes change colour, the alpha prefers to maintain a distance from him. Is it for safety, or what? Like Sehun, whose eyes rarely shift from their earthy-brown irises, but when they do, the crimson red is an indication that he’s having difficulty maintaining control. Jongin frowns when Chanyeol turns over onto his back when Jongin presses against him. But this time, he urges his right arm under Jongin’s neck, tugging him close. Warmth pools in Jongin’s stomach and he contently snuggles against Chanyeol’s side, falling asleep as he inhales the alpha's homey scent.

Chapter Text

Jongin is awoken by the sound of a phone ringing. He is still drowsy with sleep and it takes him a while to grasp what’s going on. He feels Chanyeol’s fingers thread through his hair. “Go back to sleep,” the alpha says softly before answering his phone, “Hello.”

Tired, Jongin can hardly keep his eyes open and his head lolls back against Chanyeol’s upper arm which he has been using as a pillow.

“Calm down…He’s here with me,” he hears Chanyeol say in a low voice before he drifts back to sleep.

He jerks upright a few hours later when he hears a door slam. Light is filtering in through the gap between the curtains. Jongin glances at the alarm clock—it’s seven in the morning. Sehun is already home and, by the sound of it, he’s pissed off.

Jongin feels Chanyeol stir beside him.

“Hey,” Chanyeol says; his voice is gruff and laced with sleep. “What’s wrong?” He wraps an arm around Jongin’s waist and rubs circles around the side of his hip.

“Nothing.” Jongin shakes his head. “I’m going to go get a glass of water.” He pulls away from Chanyeol’s touch, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. He doesn’t look back as he gets up and walks out of the alpha’s room.

Sehun is seated on the kitchen stool at the island, facing away from him, chin in hand. Jongin swallows and walks over to stand beside the alpha. The whole apartment sounds too quiet. He licks his lips nervously, tapping his fingers lightly against the marble top. “Hey,” he says when Sehun doesn’t acknowledge his presence.

Lips pressed together, Sehun’s eyes flicker over. The cold look has Jongin recoiling.

“I-I was going to text you,” Jongin stumbles over his words. Even though he has the height advantage with Sehun sitting down, but somehow the alpha has him feeling small like he’s the one being looked down upon. “But I left my phone.” It’s true, he changed his mind and was going to inform Sehun—albeit a while later out of his lame pettiness—until he realised he had somehow misplaced his phone. 

Sehun sits up straighter and Jongin has the urge to back away. Hostility is radiating off the alpha in waves; it’s disconcerting. “I thought something had happened to you! I spent over an hour looking for you until the bartender told me you left with some alpha and forgot your phone on the counter. Why didn’t you come tell me straight away before you left?!” He’s practically shouting now.

“I wanted to leave—you were preoccupied,” Jongin bites back even though he knows he shouldn’t; Sehun is clearly not thinking rationally right now. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think you’d mind,” he adds more softly. 

“Of course I would. You left me in a panic thinking something terrible happened to you just because you were in a hurry to spread your legs.” The alpha’s face forms a sneer, his eyes blazing red. “Did you at least put out after wasting my time?” 

Jongin gasps and his response is automatic: he slaps Sehun right across the cheek, and the force of it turns the alpha’s head to the side. He immediately feels remorse when he realises what he just did, and then he’s filled with horror when he sees Sehun shaking with anger, jaw clenched so tightly. Jongin clasps his hands close to his chest, feeling his heart thrum loudly in adrenaline and fear. Backing away with a whimper when the alpha makes a move forward toward him, Jongin collides into something solid and is surprised to see it’s Chanyeol. Chanyeol grabs him by the wrist and pulls him behind him. 

“What the fuck, Sehun?!” Chanyeol booms out.

“Get out of my way,” Sehun growls, trying to shove past the older male. “I’m not going to hurt Jongin.”

Chanyeol blocks Sehun with his arm, holding him back. “Until you calm down, you’re not going anywhere near him—Jongin, go to your room.”

“Go now!” he yells when Jongin remains frozen in his spot.

“Jongin, I’m sorry,” Sehun says, and tries to grab Jongin to stop him from leaving, but Jongin moves out of his reach. 

“Don’t touch me! You’re such a jerk!” Jongin says, feeling tears well up. He retreats to his room and only realises after that his whole body is trembling. Shutting the door behind him, he slides down to the floor.

It isn’t the mean words that hurt him the most but the way Sehun regarded him. He’s used to the playful taunts made by his two best friends in the past, Sehun being particularly harsh at times. However, it felt different this time with the way Sehun deemed him lowly with such animosity. Until now, he has never been a direct target of the alpha’s anger and, honestly, it really scared him. He doesn’t ever want to do something to make his best friend furious at him.  

Sehun struggles against Chanyeol’s grip on his shirt. “Let me go after him,” he forces out.

Chanyeol doesn’t release his hold. “Calm down,” he says in a composed manner. “You can’t just corner him. Give him some time. If you go after him like this, you’ll only upset him further.”

“Fine,” Sehun succumbs and roughly pulls away when the older male loosens his grip. He makes his way to his room, and Chanyeol follows behind him.

“You should have been more careful,” Chanyeol tells him. “You haven’t slept the whole night and you know you always have a hard time controlling your aggression when you're nearing your rut.”

Sehun sits down on the edge of his bed. “I would never hurt Jongin.”

“Intentionally, I don’t doubt it,” Chanyeol agrees, standing in front of Sehun. “But your situation is getting worse.” He crosses his arms across his chest. “It’s better if you spend your rut alone this time—you’re tetchy right now and you could end up hurting someone again.”

Sehun grunts in reply and reaches down to take off his shoes and socks.

“Give Jongin some time, then apologise. Your words were unwarranted.”

“I know,” Sehun grits through his teeth. He’s mad at himself for acting the way he did.

“I’ll go talk to him and see if he’s alright.”

Sehun hums in acknowledgment and fishes out Jongin’s phone. “Here,” he throws it at Chanyeol. “Give it back to him.”

Catching the tossed phone, Chanyeol stares at Sehun for a few seconds and then asks, “Do you like him?”

The younger alpha’s head snaps up to stare at Chanyeol. “What?”

“Do you like him?” he repeats. He already knows the answer, but he wants Sehun to say it.

Sehun avoids eye contact with Chanyeol. “I’m not interested in getting in your way.”

“That’s not what I’m asking,” Chanyeol responds. Sehun continues to stare at the wall, jaw clamped shut stubbornly.

“You get defensive: to hide your vulnerability. You shouldn’t deny your feelings. If you need to, you can always come talk to me.”

Sehun’s fingers clench around his knees. “And what do you want me to say: that I like Jongin?”

“You’re not going to get any better if you keep ignoring the root of your problem. It’s okay to admit that you got jealous and lashed out.”

Sehun remains obstinate. “There is nothing to talk about.”

“If you say so.” Chanyeol makes to leave, pausing at the doorway briefly to ask, “You haven’t had anything to eat, do you want me to make you anything?”

Sehun shakes his head. “I’m going to shower first.”

“Alright.”

Chanyeol goes to stand in front of Jongin’s room and knocks. When he doesn’t get an answer, he nudges the door open and finds Jongin under the covers. Not wanting to disturb him, he decides to leave the phone on the bedside table.

He is surprised when Jongin pulls the covers off himself. “Hey,” Jongin says faintly.

Chanyeol observes his face and is relieved to find that he hasn’t been crying. “I brought your phone.”

“Oh, thanks.” Jongin takes it from him.

“Are you alright?” Chanyeol feels the need to ask, so he does.

“I am. It wasn’t a big deal…Is he-is he mad at me?”

Chanyeol’s eyebrows pinch together. “Why would you think that? If anything, he’s mad at himself.”

Jongin sits up, throwing his legs over the side. “But it’s my fault, I should apologise.”

Chanyeol holds out his arm to stop him. “He doesn’t want you to apologise, you did nothing wrong...He’s in the shower right now, you can make up with him after you’ve had breakfast. It’ll give the both of you time to reflect.”

Jongin breathes out through his nose. “Okay.” 

He helps Chanyeol make breakfast; he sets the water to boil to make tea and puts bread in the toaster while Chanyeol makes the eggs. While waiting, he settles on the stool at the island and picks up his phone. When the screen lights up, he is immediately bombarded with thirty unread messages and ten missed call notifications from last night—all from Sehun. Nibbling on his thumb nail, he goes through the texts and feels Sehun’s panic and urgency; it gives him a sense of what he put his best friend through just because he was imprudent last night. He feels apologetic and finds Sehun’s concern very touching.

After finishing breakfast, Chanyeol sets up a plate for Jongin to bring to Sehun’s room. Jongin steadies the tray carrying the plate of food and cup of tea on one hand and raps on the door with the other. He waits, and then hears Sehun’s reply, “Come in.”

Sehun stares at Jongin with wide expectant eyes when he enters the room. Unsure of how Jongin will react, his whole body is tense with caution, getting prepared for any possible reaction.

Jongin swallows seeing Sehun only dressed in sweats with a towel hanging around his neck. “Your breakfast. Where do you want me to place it?” he asks, trying his best to sound cordial.

“Thanks. You can leave it on top of the dresser,” Sehun answers monotonously.

“But it’ll get cold, you should eat it right now,” Jongin protests, but complies nonetheless. 

Sehun pushes himself to sit upright on the bed and beckons Jongin over. “I will. But first, come here.” He gently tugs Jongin by the wrists until Jongin is on the bed, straddling his lap.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lashed out at you,” Sehun apologises, looking up at him. This is the first time Jongin has seen his red-tinted irises full of sincerity rather than anger.

Jongin hugs Sehun, feeling wet hair at the nape of the alpha’s neck tickle his arm. “It’s my fault. I should have acted more sensibly.”

“I still didn’t have the right to say what I said,” Sehun says.

Jongin leans back to meet his gaze. “You really scared me,” he admits in a mumble.

Sehun squeezes his sides in comfort. “I’m sorry.” After a moment, he adds, “You really scared me too.”

The corner of Jongin’s lips curve down. “I’m sorry for making you worry.” He touches Sehun’s face—the alpha’s cheek is warm under his touch. “Your eyes haven’t changed back yet,” he notes out loud.

“My rut’s close,” Sehun says. He presses his face against Jongin’s collarbone and breathes in his scent, there’s just something about it. He absentmindedly mouths at Jongin’s sweatshirt. 

“Ew,” Jongin giggles, grabbing fistful of Sehun’s hair to pull his head back. “What are you doing?” When he attempts to sit down on Sehun’s lap, the younger male grabs him by the back of his thighs to stop him. “Don’t do that.” 

Jongin casts him a confused look, then it dawns on him. “Oh! Sorry,” he squeaks out, feeling flustered.

Resting his forehead against Jongin’s chest, Sehun takes a deep breath to maintain his composure. Though Jongin’s scent soothes him, it is also irresistible to him and clouds his thoughts.

Noticing the alpha’s sudden serious demeanour, Jongin lets out a nervous laugh. “Sehun?”

The alpha suddenly lifts his head and presses a kiss to the side of Jongin’s neck right over his pulse; the hands gripping his hair do the opposite of discouraging him.

Patting Jongin on the butt, he says, “I should eat my breakfast now.” He shifts so Jongin is forced to move off of him. Jongin’s presence is easing the process of his rut but bringing it more rapidly. He’s fully hard now. Usually he’s confident about his control around Jongin, but now he isn’t so sure anymore. He doesn’t want to hurt Jongin.

“Oh!” Jongin says, recognising that he is being asked to leave. “I’ll-uh-see you later.” He walks out of the room feeling confused which is becoming a constant when it comes to Sehun.   

The day passes by slowly and Jongin doesn’t see Sehun at all. He stays in bed, aware of the alpha’s presence in the room adjacent to his own. Blood rushes to his cheeks when he thinks of all the things Sehun might be doing in his bedroom as he rides out his rut. Feeling like he’s invading privacy, Jongin shakes away the thoughts. He tries to distract himself by going through his phone, but he has nothing to do and nobody to call; Kyungsoo is with his girlfriend at her parents’ home, while Baekhyun and Jongdae are at the movies watching the latest action film. He stares at his phone with a pout. Maybe he should have agreed to go out with them. If only he wasn’t such a homebody.

He takes such a long nap that he feels light-headed when he wakes up. It takes Chanyeol to come in and force him out of bed to eat dinner. Chanyeol can probably tell that Jongin is feeling incredibly bored because he keeps him company in the living room even though he needs to study. That makes Jongin feel guilty because it’s already getting very late and Chanyeol barely gets enough sleep, so he decides to help his best friend study. He lifts himself off the carpeted floor at the coffee table and goes to sit down cross-legged next to the alpha on the couch. He picks up one of the text books beside Chanyeol and flips through it. “Channie, read me the latest chapter you need to study. It’s been a while, I don’t know what you guys have covered.”

“Are you sure?” Chanyeol asks. “The recent topics are kind of heavy and they’ll bore you.”

“I’m tired but I can’t sleep, maybe this will help,” he responds with a grin.

The smile Chanyeol returns is even bigger. “Okay.” The alpha picks a textbook from the pile on the coffee table, and they start. 

Jongin helps Chanyeol memorise important diagrams, terms and definitions by getting him to repeat them many times and then quizzing him. It reminds him of middle school. He tries to keep it as enjoyable as possible for the both of them, and they end up laughing too much. Who knew learning advanced stuff about the Nervous System would be so much fun.  

Holding back laughter, Jongin glances at the clock hanging on the wall. “Whoa, it’s about to be one,” he points out. They both were so absorbed, they didn’t even realise how late it is. “We both have classes in the morning.”

“Ah, I guess we can call it a night.” Chanyeol starts gathering his things. “This was fun.” 

Jongin helps him. “Honestly I missed this. I miss studying sciences.”

Chanyeol hums. “You’d make a good doctor. Too bad you didn’t choose that route.”

“Thought you wanted me to become a dancer,” Jongin jokes, but then adds seriously, “Yeah, but I don’t want to deal with all the mental breakdowns that come with it. I don’t know how you manage to balance everything.”

“You get used to it,” Chanyeol answers, reaching forward to place everything in a pile on top of the coffee table.

A playful smile forms on Jongin’s lips as he faces Chanyeol, supporting his cheek on his fist with his elbow against the couch’s backrest. “If I were to be a doctor, what specialisation would suit me?”

Chanyeol doesn’t even give it a few seconds of thought and answers straightaway, “Paediatrics—you’re amazing with children.”

Jongin giggles. “If that’s the reason, then you should give up your dream of becoming a Cardiologist and become a Paediatrician instead. If it weren’t for your allergies, I’d add vet too.”

Lolling his head to the side, the alpha smiles. “So you admit, I’d make a good dad.”

Amused, Jongin teases, “Is that what you got out of it? You really do hear whatever you want, huh.”

Tilting his head back against the backrest, Chanyeol stares up at the ceiling wistfully. “I really want kids of my own.”  

“You’re way behind in your steps, buddy.” Jongin pats him on the knee as he gets up. “You need to confess to the love of your life first,” he says playfully. His ‘goodnight’ is interrupted when the alpha takes a hold of his hand, stopping him in his tracks as he’s about to head back to his bedroom.

Chanyeol stares at him with ardent eyes, and Jongin’s smile slips seeing his solemn expression.

“I love you,” Chanyeol confesses, spurned on by Jongin’s comment. His own voice sounds loud to his ears. He awaits Jongin’s response with bated breath, and the younger male takes it exactly how he expected: as a friend, or a brother.

Jongin’s face breaks out into a wide smile, eyes crinkling in the corners. And fuck, Chanyeol thinks he’s gorgeous.

“I love you, too.” Jongin squeezes the alpha’s hand before slipping his fingers out of the loosened grip. “Good night.”

Chanyeol watches him leave. The words flutter in his stomach and the honey-like voice in which Jongin said them resonates within him. He imagines Jongin answering this way the day he truly confesses his feelings. But the thought of Jongin rejecting him also plagues his mind in a thousand different scenarios. He rubs his face with his hands.

—

Jongin arrives at campus for class the next morning only to find out that it has been cancelled, so he hangs out with Baekhyun and Kyungsoo at the marble steps outside the building, soaking in the minimum sunlight.

Kyungsoo pulls his jacket tighter around his body, hunching forward against the cold. “It’s freezing,” he complains. “We should just go to my house.”

He is sitting a few steps higher than the other two, and Jongin has to strain his neck to catch a glimpse of him. “Let me enjoy this, the sun barely comes out these days…We’ll leave in a few minutes.”

“Ugh, someone call and wake Jongdae, the bastard’s asleep when he should be out here with us suffering early in the morning,” Baekhyun says, shivering. He rubs his hands together to keep them warm.

“You’re real selfish, you know that,” Kyungsoo comments.

“Life made me this way,” Baekhyun says, and Jongin rolls his eyes amusedly.

“I finally met Luhan,” he reveals before the two start bickering. 

There’s a pregnant pause as the two friends stare at him, and finally Kyungsoo breaks the silence, “Really? When?”

Baekhyun sits up straighter and makes a face at Jongin. “Why didn’t you say so right away?! What was he like?”

Jongin pushes his hair back. “Pretty. Like really pretty. I met him on Saturday—Sehun invited me to go out with his friends, and I agreed.”

“Saturday?! You should have called!”

“I wanted to, but you guys were busy and so much happened, I felt that it would be better to tell you guys face-to-face.”

Forgetting the cold, Baekhyun stands up. “So, what happened?”

Jongin takes a deep breath, unsure where to start. “Um, well, Luhan was actually enthusiastic to meet me, that kind of surprised me. He looks incredibly bitchy but he’s…nice—all of Sehun’s friends are, at least to my face.

“Luhan definitely likes Sehun, that I’m sure of…I think Sehun likes him back. And he might have used me to make Luhan jealous, I don’t know. He asked me to dance with him and we did, until Luhan intervened and Sehun told me to wait for him by the bar. By the end of it, they both basically said fuck it to being friends and made out in the middle of the dance floor.” 

Baekhyun frowns. “Wow, that’s a dick move. He uses you and then expects you to sit pretty and wait for him while he makes out with someone else.”

Jongin grimaces. “That’s a little too harsh.”

“No, it isn’t,” Kyungsoo steps in. “Baek’s right. He can’t expect you to wait around for him.”

“Um, it wasn’t like that. You guys are being way too protective of me. It’s okay.”

“What’d you do then?” Baekhyun asks.

“I wanted to leave”—at that, his friends nod approvingly—“and luckily Yixing was also there with his friends, he offered me a ride.”

Baekhyun squeals in delight, clapping his hands together. “Yixing, that sly dog! I’m telling you he wants to go out with you.”

Jongin raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Because he offered me a ride?”

“Never mind that, he dropped you off and that’s it? What did he say?”

“Well, he invited me to his apartment—and before you get too excited, he offered because I said I didn’t feel like going back home.” 

“See, this is exactly what I’m talking about; nobody is that nice and accommodating! Did you say yes?”

“No. And this is Yixing we’re talking about: he’s nice to everyone,” Jongin points out.

“We’ll see then. You’re not going to confess to Sehun so might as well get together with Yixing is all I’m saying.”

Jongin smiles but it comes out sad. “I just-I don’t think I can. Not right now.” 

Later that evening, Jongin stays behind in the dance studio with Yixing after class to work on the choreography they were assigned. As soon as they’re done, he is about to head out the practice room when the alpha stops him. “Hey,” Yixing breathes out.

Jongin thinks he has one of the sweetest smiles ever. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Uh, I was going out to eat and I was wondering if you’d like to join me.” The alpha rubs the base of his neck.

“Oh,” Jongin says. He recalls what his friends said and feels excitement course through him. “Yeah, I’d love to.”

Yixing’s smile gets brighter, and he holds the door open for Jongin.

Expecting a burger joint, Jongin is surprised when Yixing pulls up in the parking lot of a very nice restaurant. He glances down at his attire, feeling incredibly inadequate. “Um, we’re still in our practice clothes. Is this fine?"  

“Oh, it’s totally fine,” Yixing assures, taking off his seat belt. His dimple makes an appearance, which is comforting. “A friend of mine runs this place so don’t worry.”

“Okay...”

They walk inside and are immediately shown to a table for two. The place is nearly full and everyone is dressed formally. They both get some looks as they pass by, making Jongin cling closer to Yixing. He’s glad that their table is at a quiet spot in the corner. He can’t deal with all the attention.

But, when they take their seats, it also makes him realise how intimate it is. A huff of nervous laughter escapes him. Yixing can sense he’s on the edge because he eases Jongin into small talk to make him feel more relaxed. Going through the menu, Jongin can’t decide what to pick so he orders a chicken fillet steak just like Yixing. Yixing even pays for the meal at the end; his gentlemanly behaviour has Jongin swooning. When they’re finishing up, he doesn’t know why he rambles, “It’s nice to have company. I really thought I was going to have to walk home by myself tonight. Usually I go home with Sehun, but he couldn’t make it today.”

“Sehun…” Yixing pauses in his movement to gaze at Jongin curiously. “Are you two…together?”

Jongin waves his hand. “No, no.”

“It’s just that you smell so much like him, I thought maybe you’re together.”

“It’s probably because we’re roommates. He’s my best friend.”

“Ah, so you two live together.”

“Yes, we share an apartment with our friend. Maybe you know him. His name is Park Chanyeol.” 

Yixing’s dark eyes light up in recognition and he nods. “My friend goes to med school with him. They’re in the basketball team together.”

“Oh, really, wow.”

“Yeah, he’s very outgoing. Everyone knows Chanyeol.”

Jongin giggles. “That’s him.”

“That explains the other scent: I thought it was familiar,” the alpha voices out loud thoughtfully. “Your friends, they are rather-um-territorial.”

Jongin doesn’t understand. Seeing his confused expression, Yixing smiles. “You must not understand alphas very well.” Jongin waits for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. Instead, he takes a sip of his drink before moving on, “but that doesn’t matter. So you’re not together with anyone right now?”

“I’m not.” Jongin's heart thumps faster in anticipation.

Yixing's lips quirk like he can tell. He probably can. “I’m glad,” Yixing starts shyly. “Because I really like you and I’d like to take you out on a date.” 

Mind going absolutely haywire, Jongin jokes to get more time to process, “Isn’t this a date?” The alpha lets out a small chuckle for the sake of it and Jongin is grateful. He can’t believe what Baekhyun said is true. He feels happy. Yixing is a great guy—a great guy is interested in him. But then he thinks about Sehun. Why is he thinking about Sehun? There are too many thoughts cluttering his mind.

“So would you like to go out with me?” Yixing urges.

The word ‘yes’ is on the tip of Jongin’s tongue, but the realistic part of him is holding him back. He knows that it will never work out between the two of them. Not when he has feelings for Sehun. And, right now, Jongin can’t imagine loving anyone other than him.

“Do you need more time?” Yixing asks when Jongin hesitates to respond.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Jongin inhales deeply and releases. “It’s just—I’m in love with someone else, I don’t think I can forget him, and that wouldn’t be fair to you.”

Yixing swallows. “It’s okay,” he says, but Jongin can feel the tension.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’ve made things awkward. You’re amazing and I just—I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to be,” Yixing replies, his voice gentle. The way he’s still being kind has Jongin feeling worse. “I guess we can call it a night.”

“Yeah,” Jongin says in a small voice. On the inside, he’s ready to bolt.

Leaving a tip, the alpha gets up and Jongin follows after him. When they are outside, Yixing says, “Come on, I’ll drop you off.” He sounds more cool and serious than when they’d first arrived at the restaurant.

Jongin pushes back his hair, messy underneath his fingers from the wind. “Thank you, but you’ve already done so much. I think it’s better if I go by myself.”

There’s a slight crease between Yixing’s brows. “I don’t feel comfortable letting you go on your own. It wouldn’t be right.”

“It’s fine, I don’t live that far. I wasted enough of your time, I don’t want to trouble you anymore.”

“Like you said, you don’t live that far so it won’t be any trouble.” Yixing shrugs off his jacket and puts it around Jongin’s shoulders. “I invited you and I’m not going to leave you at the side of the road. Don’t feel like you have to owe me anything.”

Jongin grips the jacket closer and returns the alpha’s smile. Yixing’s gaze falls down to Jongin’s lips before returning back to his eyes. “It’s okay to say no,” he says in a low tone.

Jongin realises that he’s slowly leaning forward towards the alpha so he clears his throat, backing away. “Okay,” he yields, smile remaining intact, and allows Yixing to guide him to where the car is parked.

Stopping in front of the apartment, Yixing turns to face Jongin. “I had fun.”

A shy smile adorns Jongin’s lips. “I had fun, too. Thank you.”

He waves off Yixing, and it isn’t until the alpha drives around the corner that he realises he forgot to return the jacket. He goes and sits down on the steps in front of the apartment’s entrance. It’s really cold and he can see puffs of his own breath. Suddenly, he feels grateful for the alpha’s jacket. His hands shake as he fishes out his phone and group-dials his friends. He could go and sit inside his warm apartment but he doesn’t want either Chanyeol or Sehun accidentally listening in on his conversation.  

His friends all respond, however Jongdae only answers the call to say that he’s busy and will call back later. When Baekhyun protests, the beta retorts, “I can’t exactly listen to gossip in the middle of a family dinner, Baekhyun.”

Jongin briefs everything that happened to the remaining two. Neither of them interrupt as he speaks, though he doesn’t miss Baekhyun’s muffled noises as his friend refrains himself from cutting in.

When he finishes, Baekhyun immediately protests, “You said no without giving him a chance, what’s wrong with you?!”

Jongin licks his lips in annoyance. “It wouldn’t have worked out, Baek.”

“How can you be so sure? You didn’t even give it a chance.”

“I just know, okay?!” Jongin exhales through his nose in frustration. He is tired of hearing the same thing again and again.

“I would be wasting his time. He’s older than me and probably looking for a serious relationship which I can’t give because I’m already in love with someone else. There is no guarantee I’ll get over Sehun that fast, or get over him at all...Yixing deserves better. I’ve got this whole other baggage with me that I have to consider, and I can’t just jump headfirst into any relationship, so stop pushing, okay?!” By the end of it, he’s breathing heavily and angry tears are threatening to spill, which he wipes away with the back of his hand.

The line on the other end is silent.

Eventually, Baekhyun whispers, “I’m sorry.”

“I know.” Jongin feels bad for ranting out on them. He shouldn’t get angry at his friends for caring. “I’m sorry, too.”

“We’re only saying this because we want you to be happy.”

“I know.”

“We want you to be selfish for once. You hold back from confessing to Sehun but don’t allow yourself anyone else either. Forget what anyone else deserves, what about you?”

Jongin chuckles softly, playing with his sneaker's shoelace. His friend’s words are making him smile. He could have reminded Baekhyun that if he doesn’t turn out to be what his partner wants, he’ll be the one to end up with his heartbroken. Instead, he says, “I love you, Baek.”  

Baekhyun responds with twice the enthusiasm.

“I love you, Soo,” Jongin adds, and waits for a response he’s half not expecting.

“I love you too, Jongin,” Kyungsoo speaks up for the first time in the night, his deep voice enriched with amusement. “You too, Baek.” Jongin can’t say he’s not surprised, but he guesses his friend knows when’s the right time to say it back. 

“I guess I’ll have to call Jongdae later just to tell him I love him,” Jongin jokes, “otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.” That gets Baekhyun cackling.

Jongin finds Chanyeol watching some animated movie in the living room. “Hey,” he greets, and pauses near the couch, turning his head toward the screen. “What are you watching?”

Chanyeol smacks his lips together and pulls Jongin by the arm until he is sitting down on the couch next to him. “Madagascar. Where are you coming from? Doesn’t your dance class end at seven?”

Jongin hadn’t even realised it has gotten so late. He considers telling the alpha everything, but then settles for a simpler explanation: “I was having dinner with a friend.” 

Chanyeol suddenly leans close, his breath hot on Jongin’s neck. He pulls away with his lip curled up, eyeing the jacket with disrelish. “Does this belong to him? Take it off. I told you not to bring other alphas’ scents into the apartment.” There's something in the way Chanyeol says it that sends a shiver through Jongin.

“You don’t mind when I bring Kyungsoo over,” he comments even though he knows Chanyeol doesn’t care because he doesn’t see Kyungsoo as a threat.

Chanyeol smirks. “That midget?”

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Jongin mutters. The alpha snorts in reply.

“Is trying to court you?” Chanyeol questions, and he’s certainly not asking about Kyungsoo. “I can smell his attraction. It’s reeking up the place.”

Jongin hopes he isn't blushing. “I’ll leave the jacket out in the hallway,” he says, hoping he doesn't reveal anything.

“Do it now,” Chanyeol orders. Jongin rolls his eyes but complies nonetheless.

When he comes back, settling on the couch once again, he notices how worn out Chanyeol looks. More than the bedraggled hair and clothes, the alpha’s eyes are what give away his exhaustion the most. He also doesn’t miss the tub of ice cream on the table beside Chanyeol. “Are you eating ice cream? It’s winter.”

The alpha smiles as he grabs the container. “I’m stress eating,” he mumbles around a spoonful of vanilla ice cream. 

Jongin’s nose twitches in amusement. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

Chanyeol hums, scooping out more. “I don’t know, there’s just something about having ice cream during winter that makes it even more fun—here.” He steadies the spoon in front of Jongin’s mouth. Jongin smiles and accepts the bite, using his teeth to drag the ice cream from the spoon. It melts on his tongue and tastes so nice. Chanyeol grins at him—he really has the most perfect smile.

Jongin smiles back the way he knows Chanyeol likes: with his eyebrows raised, eyes squinted, and nose scrunched. Chanyeol’s jaw sets in a certain way and his tongue pokes the inside of his cheek as he stares at the younger male in a mischievous manner. He takes Jongin by surprise again by throwing his arm around his neck and pulling him close. Jongin’s eyes widen as the alpha’s moist lips touch his cheek.

Giggling, he pushes Chanyeol away with his elbow. During their playful scuffle, the alpha’s papers slip down from his lap and scatter across the floor. Jongin helps gather them.

“I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard again,” he comments as he hands them back to Chanyeol.

“It’s fine. I just have this really important quiz tomorrow. After that, I can relax a bit.” Remembering his work load, the lively fire in Chanyeol’s eyes extinguishes and they go back to looking dull.

“Do you want me to help you study?” Jongin asks.

Chanyeol shakes his head. He takes a hold of the ice cream container again and holds out the spoon for Jongin. Jongin opens his mouth and allows the alpha to feed him once more. He doesn’t think about how intensely the alpha is staring at him.

“You’re free tomorrow, right?” Chanyeol asks.

“I am.”

“Come to my basketball practice.”

“Why should I?” Jongin counters jokingly. "What's in it for me?"

“I’ll treat you,” the alpha bribes.

“Aah, you’re so easy to take advantage of. Okay, I’ll come, but you have to score lots of points for me because I’m going especially for you."

“Done. And If I score twenty, I’ll need something from you in return.”

“What?”

“A kiss.”

Jongin bursts out in laughter and slaps Chanyeol on the arm. “Go kiss your teammates.”

The alpha scoffs, swaying sideways when Jongin shoves him.

“It’ll be fun. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you play,” Jongin says with a thoughtful expression etched on his face.

“Anyway, I’m going to bed.” He claps Chanyeol on the bicep as he gets up to leave. “Don’t stay up too late, okay?”

“I won’t,” the alpha replies, eyes tracking Jongin. “Good night.”

Jongin wakes up in the middle of the night to the sounds of arguing and things crashing, and then his bedroom door slams open, scaring the life out of him.

“Sehun—what?” he croaks out when the younger alpha strides in, followed by Chanyeol. Jongin almost believes he’s dreaming.

There’s a snarl emitting from Sehun, and he looks menacing with his red eyes glowing in the dark. Unsure about what’s going on, Jongin’s heart thunders in his ribcage. He is reminded of the last time the alpha snapped at him. He would be scared, but Chanyeol’s here. Chanyeol would never let anything bad happen to him.

“Making me spend my rut alone was your worst decision,” Sehun hisses as he crosses the room. “How else am I supposed to relieve my frustration?”

“Look at yourself. You would only end up hurting them,” Chanyeol retorts.

Jongin remains frozen as the younger alpha rips the blanket off him and climbs on top of him on the bed. Sehun nuzzles against Jongin and his growl dies down to contented purrs.

“A few bruises aren’t that big of a deal. It happens. I don’t do vanilla and neither do the people I fuck.” Sehun is subconsciously releasing an angry, defensive pheromone which is overwhelming compared to Chanyeol’s calm one.

Chanyeol doesn’t back down and keeps his gaze locked on Sehun. “And what about the last time you got rough? Are broken bones normal too?”

The younger alpha’s gaze wavers. “It was a lapse in judgement. I didn’t realise how much strength I was using.”

“That’s exactly the problem. You don’t have control over your urges and you push until something breaks.” And you like it, the words are unsaid. 

Sehun clamps his jaw shut and hides his face against Jongin, his chest rumbling in anger. Jongin threads his fingers through the alpha’s hair to calm him down, and honestly the feeling is similar to petting a wild tiger.

Chanyeol comes over to crouch next to Jongin. He grabs Jongin by the face gently, stroking his cheeks. “Sorry for waking you up like this. Sehun is craving companionship; it’s necessary otherwise his aggression keeps resurfacing. Your presence calms him down, so can he stay with you for the night?”

Jongin nods and his gaze flickers over to Sehun, who is staring back at him with sharp eyes. His best friend looks dangerously ethereal with his intense gaze, pale skin, and mussed up black-hair.

Rising up to his feet, Chanyeol says, “Maybe I should stay just in case something happens.”

“Go, everything will be fine,” Jongin reassures him. “You need proper rest; you have your quiz in the morning.”

“Yeah, go, your presence is messing with my senses.” Sehun reaches to kick Chanyeol’s backside. 

The older alpha grabs Sehun’s leg before he can even touch him. “Do you want me to break your leg?” Chanyeol threatens without any real heat to his words and squeezes Sehun’s ankle with enough power to make a point, causing the younger alpha to yelp loudly in pain. It’s their typical playful roughhousing. They would never really hurt each other. 

Sehun immediately pulls his leg back when Chanyeol releases him from his grip, curling into himself like a scolded puppy. He suddenly looks less threatening.

This would have ended up violently if it were anyone other than Chanyeol. Even playfully, Sehun doesn’t submit to anyone else. It’s different with Chanyeol because the younger alpha has a cute man-crush on him and holds him in high esteem. Junmyeon also said once: it’s because Sehun is still a rowdy pup in a way and Chanyeol is the leader in his mind, the one who has been taking care of them. Sehun never really had a good relationship with his own father so he projects on Chanyeol instead.

Without realising, Chanyeol does a good job at maintaining his status even if it means using force—the only way to make sure Sehun stays in line. 

“I’m trusting you,” Chanyeol states, and it sounds more like a warning. “If you hurt Jongin…”

“I won’t.”

“Goodnight.”

When Chanyeol leaves, Sehun uncurls himself and is back to his more intimidating self. His crimson eyes focus back on Jongin.

Jongin’s heart continues thumping loudly. Sehun smiles at him, and it’s surprisingly soft. He runs his thumb along the alpha’s cheek down to his pink lips. He presses lightly until Sehun’s lips part a little from the side and his thumb touches the alpha’s elongated canine. Alphas have sharper canines—makes it easier to give mating bites.  

“You know you look like a vampire,” Jongin comments, “with your pale skin and ‘fangs’. It’s kind of ironic.” 

Sehun scoffs.

“So what now?” Jongin asks.

“Go back to sleep,” Sehun says, taking Jongin’s hand into his own and pressing a kiss above his knuckle. 

Jongin rises an hour later to find Sehun missing from the bed. He glances around the room and assumes that his best friend probably went back to his own room. Closing his eyes, he turns over to his side and hugs his pillow; he goes back to sleep missing the warmth of Sehun’s body next to him.

His eyes flutter open when he feels the mattress dip and Sehun’s arm around him. He falls asleep again listening to the steady breathing of the alpha. 

When he wakes up around four a.m., he feels the space beside him on the bed and finds it empty again. He lifts his head groggily and sees Sehun sitting at the foot of the bed with his back to him. Sehun’s broad shoulders quiver and his head is thrown back slightly. With furrowed eyebrows, Jongin is about to ask him what’s wrong but then the alpha lets out a muffled moan. 

Jongin face turns beat red when he realises what his friend is doing. He can’t help but stare slack-jawed at the way Sehun’s back muscles flex, evident even through his shirt. He feels dumb for not realising why the alpha kept disappearing—riding out his rut, of course Sehun will need to take care of himself.

Heat of arousal pools in the pit of Jongin’s stomach. He tries to go back to sleep to keep his own desire under control and to give Sehun some privacy, but even shutting his eyes doesn't let him forget; the scene is engraved in his mind. Fuck, he thinks, biting his bottom lip.

—

Sitting on the floor against the wall outside of class, wasting away the minutes until the first morning lecture begins, Jongin brings up something Yixing said the last time they spoke that has been puzzling him.

“That’s because Chanyeol and Sehun have been mildly scent-marking you,” Kyungsoo explains.

“What?”

“You didn’t know?” Jongin’s expression gives away that he didn't.

“Your scent is present but it’s weak because you haven’t presented; theirs is overpowering. You know alphas tend to be very possessive. They might be doing it without even realising since you live with them and are practically under their care, so it’s in their instinct.” 

Jongin side-eyes Kyungsoo. “You don’t do that, do you?”

The alpha laughs. “I don’t think Chanyeol and Sehun will take it lightly if I do that to you. It means I would be staking a claim and challenging their authority over your wellbeing.” For some reason, Jongin thinks of how Chanyeol had reacted when he brought home Yixing’s jacket. It is now lying at the back of his closet where it’s out of sight.

Kyungsoo glimpses at his wrist watch. “Hey, we should head inside before the professor arrives.”

“Yeah,” Jongin agrees, grabbing his backpack. His phone vibrates just as he’s picking himself up from the ground. He pulls it out and sees that it’s a message from Baekhyun. The omega sent him a plethora of emojis, agreeing to accompany him to Chanyeol’s university.

Jongin turns his phone’s screen toward Kyungsoo. “I’m surprised Baekhyun is awake this early. I thought he’d still be dead asleep since he spent the whole night playing Overwatch.”

“I still haven’t read the hundred messages he sent to the group chat last night. I was sleeping so well until I woke up to my phone pinging like crazy with notifications. I didn’t hesitate to mute him. His broken texts drive me crazy,” Kyungsoo says as they walk into class. And Jongin smiles at him, not missing the fondness of his tone.

“I’m glad you invited me to come along,” Baekhyun says, eyeing all the hot players as he and Jongin seat themselves in the middle row of the bleachers inside the massive indoor court. Before they entered, they were given special tags labelled ‘visitors’ which they have to wear around their necks the entire time.

“Don’t be so grateful, I brought you here for selfish reasons,” Jongin jokes. It's true that he invited his friend because he doesn’t know anyone other than Chanyeol and the thought of sitting by himself isn't very appealing.

“I don’t mind as long as I reap the benefits.” Baekhyun grins, his stare fixed on the court. “Plus, I know you love my commentary.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Jongin mumbles in agreement, trying to track down his best friend. They arrived a little late and the practice game has already started. It doesn’t take him long to spot Chanyeol wearing the number sixty-one. He looks so good in the black team jersey with strips of gold.

Jongin doesn’t really understand basketball the fullest because he has always been more of a soccer fan, though he does watch NBA games with Chanyeol sometimes. Still he knows that Chanyeol plays really well and has gotten even better since the last time Jongin has seen him play—which to be fair has been quite some time ago because their schedules often conflict.

“What position does Chanyeol play again?” Baekhyun asks as the alpha scores his second three-pointer of the game. Chanyeol is great at creating space and generating more offensive-plays. He already has four-points since Jongin and Baekhyun joined.

“He’s a shooting guard.”

“Gosh, he’s so hot,” the omega comments with a dreamy look on his face.

Jongin agrees: his best friend is incredibly attractive. He stretches his arms between his knees, worrying his lower-lip as he stares at Chanyeol. The alpha is oozing sex-appeal with sweat sheening his neck and toned arms. It makes sense that he’s incredibly popular too. Every time he has the ball, light cheers erupt from the gaggle of giggling girls on the bleachers opposite to Jongin and Baekhyun. 

Chanyeol intercepts a pass from the opponent and tips the ball to the point-guard who immediately goes for net, scoring the team’s forty-fifth point.

“Whoa, he’s an omega, right?” Baekhyun asks.

Jongin nods. He notes that the team is full of alphas and betas except for the point-guard.

“They are all so tall. You should see some of the players at our uni, two of them are my height,” Baekhyun says, amused by his own words. Suddenly, he points at the overall team captain playing centre for the opposing team. “Wow, so handsome. He looks cold-hearted, I wouldn’t mind getting my heart broken by him.”

Jongin huffs. He wonders which one of them knows Yixing. He should have asked, but alas he was too swept up in the moment to bother. Maybe he should the next time they meet, not that he’s looking forward to it, fearing that it might be too awkward.

In the last few seconds of the game, Chanyeol attempts another three-pointer from the centre of the court, but the ball bounces off the metal-ring just as the whistle blows. After clapping his teammates on the shoulder as the players slowly disperse, Chanyeol’s eyes search the bleachers and lock with Jongin’s.

Jongin stands up and claps as Chanyeol makes his way over to him with a huge grin on his face.

“Sorry, baby, I was two-points short,” the alpha says.

“I came all this way for nothing. What a disappointment,” Jongin responds.

“Let me make it up to you. I’ll take you out for a meal, just let me hit the shower first.”

“Jokes aside, you were really amazing,” Jongin states.

“Now you’re just saying that because I’m buying.”

“No, no. I mean it. You were really good. I’ll try to come watch more often.”

Chanyeol beams. “I’m taking your word for it.”

Jongin realises that the alpha hasn’t noticed his friend. “Chan, this is my friend Baekhyun,” he introduces.

With an ungainly bearing, Baekhyun stands up to greet the alpha when he regards him. “Hello.” 

Chanyeol sends him a warm smile, “Hello.” He cocks his head to the side as he’s reminded of something. “You look very familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”

Baekhyun smile is stiff. “Ha, yes, we’ve met before.” 

“He came over to the apartment a month ago,” Jongin reminds the alpha.

“Ah, really? I’m sorry, I’m usually good with faces.”

“It’s okay,” Baekhyun assures.

“You can come with us. I’ll treat you both,” Chanyeol says. Jongin’s lips curve upwards at his friend’s generosity which is a major part of his personality.

“There’s really no need for that,” Baekhyun replies.

“It’s no trouble.” Chanyeol shifts his attention to Jongin. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, wait right here.”

“Okay,” Jongin responds. 

When the alpha is out of hearing range, Baekhyun holds his hand to his chest. “He’s so friendly, but why do I feel so intimidated?”

Jongin stares at Chanyeol’s retreating back with a fond smile, and Baekhyun’s eyes dart between the two. “Is there something going on between you two?” he asks.

Jongin gives him a strange look. “What?”

The omega shakes his head. “Nothing.”

“No, tell me.”

“It was stupid. Forget it.”

Baekhyun squeaks when Jongin subtly pinches his butt in retaliation. 

At the restaurant, they settle into one of the booths. Sitting across from Jongin and Baekhyun, Chanyeol stretches, bumping his long legs into Jongin’s. As Baekhyun starts to feel more comfortable around Chanyeol, he gets more talkative and eagerly answers the alpha’s questions, eventually even asking some back.

“What was your major again?” Chanyeol asks as their order arrives. The waiter places the plates of rice and sweet-and-sour chicken on the table.

“Political Science,” Baekhyun answers.

“Wow, what do you plan on doing after you graduate?”

“I plan on becoming a legislative aide. After I graduate, I’ll probably have to pursue internships and try to gain experience in administrative support. I’m considering PR work, too.”

“It suits you, in a way. From what I’ve observed, you’re good with people and you speak well.”

Baekhyun smiles brightly, leaning forward on his elbows. “You’re good with people, too.” Jongin stares at his friend in amusement, not oblivious of his low-key flirting.

Chanyeol serves the dishes to Baekhyun and Jongin first before taking some for himself. “Jongin here has his mind made up about marketing, but I believe he should pursue dancing. He really has the passion for it,” the alpha converses.

“I agree,” Baekhyun says.

Chanyeol beams at Jongin. “He’s a beautiful dancer. I love watching him perform. Whenever I see him on stage, I think wow he’s making me fall for him.” 

Jongin smiles at the compliment, rubbing his earlobe shyly. 

With a hand on Jongin's shoulder, Baekhyun shakes him. “Our Jongin is amazing.”

“You want to become a Cardiologist, right?” the omega asks, filling the lull in their conversation. Chanyeol nods. He looks surprised that Baekhyun knows.

“Jongin told me. He talks about you a lot.” Jongin discreetly jabs his fingers into Baekhyun’s side in a playful manner to get him to stop, causing the omega to jump in his seat a bit. “So, you’ve got the looks and the brains, that’s very attractive,” Baekhyun continues brazenly, switching over. 

Chanyeol tries to hold back a smile, but he fails. Jongin can tell he’s pleased.

Baekhyun motions at Jongin with one hand, gaze locked on the alpha. “Jongin agrees you’d make a sexy doctor. Don’t you, Jongin?”

Said male almost chokes on his food, looking at his friend like he’s crazy. Jongin swallows and glimpses at Chanyeol, hoping his glance isn’t as panicked as he feels. Chanyeol is staring at him expectantly so, embarrassed, he drops his gaze and answers demurely with a non-committal shrug, “Sure.”

His eyes flicker up shortly in time to see the alpha’s smirk. That makes his cheeks tinge a pretty shade of red. He thinks about how good Chanyeol looks with his cap on backwards.

“Do I come up in conversations a lot?” The question is directed toward Baekhyun, but Chanyeol’s gaze continues to pierce Jongin.

“Oh, yeah. Jongin probably won’t admit it but he’s proud of you. He brags about you all the time,” the omega states, clearly enjoying himself. 

Jongin’s eyes remain fixed on his plate. He wants to disappear out of embarrassment. He refrains from burying his face in his arms. He regrets bringing Baekhyun along with him.

Under the table, Chanyeol affectionately hooks his foot around Jongin’s ankle, pulling a smile out of him.

Ever popular, Chanyeol excuses himself to attend a call. As soon as he’s out of sight, Jongin turns toward Baekhyun. “Baek, what are you doing?”

“I’m pretty sure Chanyeol likes you, and I’m trying to encourage things along.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Baek. He’s already in love with someone else, so stop whatever you’re doing.” 

“Who?”

“Does it matter?”

“So you don’t know.”

When Jongin doesn’t answer, Baekhyun continues, “Even if he does like someone else, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s been flirting with you the whole night and you didn’t even notice. While we were talking, his gaze constantly drifted to you. When he cracked jokes, he immediately sought out your reaction, and was pleased whenever he’d make you laugh. He wanted to eat the last pieces of chicken but he gave them to you instead…He’s very considerate of you.”

“He always takes care of me. But that’s only because he’s my best friend.”

“Best friends don’t eye-fuck and flirt with each other unless there are feelings involved, I’m just saying.”

Avoiding response, Jongin busies his mouth with a spoonful of cake, and is thankful when Chanyeol returns shortly after.

—

Sitting next to Sehun on the floor in front of the television, Jongin watches the younger male play GTA. He feels restless; his appointment with a specialist is on Monday. He thought he had time—when Chanyeol called ahead last week, they said Dr. Junho was booked till next month. But apparently, Sehun pulled some strings and had his appointment moved up. There are perks being the heir to a multinational pharmaceutical company. 

On Thursday, Junmyeon already took Jongin to the clinic for blood-tests. He is supposed to bring the results with him to his appointment. He leans back against the coffee table and continues the discussion. “If I were to present, what do you think I’d be?” he asks.

“Omega,” Sehun says like there is no doubt about it.

“Really? Why?”

The alpha pauses the game and surprises Jongin by grabbing him firmly by the jaw, forcing eye-contact. Holding Sehun’s gaze, Jongin’s pulse quickens and he shifts in his place, feeling flustered. Sehun’s irises turn a glaring red, his gaze remaining steady while Jongin’s starts to quiver. To ease the tension, his face adopts a nervous smile, but Sehun’s expression remains impassive—in fact he looks more imposing than before the more Jongin stares. Unnerved, Jongin instinctively makes himself smaller as the alpha stares him down, practically looming over him. 

While facing his friends, Jongin has always won the game of who can stay the longest without blinking. But right now, with Sehun, it’s different. He’s being completely thrown off balance. He doesn’t like this serious look on his best friend; it makes him feel like he’s done something wrong which he needs to make up for. A small mewl escapes him as Sehun’s fingers tighten around his jaw, and he drops his gaze in submission just to end the torture.

“That's why,” Sehun states, letting go. Jongin finally releases the breath he's been holding. Those few seconds were enough to leave him disorientated. 

“Even though you haven’t presented, your instinct is to submit…You’d make a terrible alpha.” That makes Jongin blush, and he doesn’t know how to respond.

“What do you want to present as, Jongin?” Chanyeol asks from the couch.

Jongin glances back at him. “I don’t know.” After a beat, he adds, "Maybe I’m not expecting anything to change.” He needs to be prepared for that possibility, too. “What if they tell me I’m…I don’t know…broken? And I remain like this?”

“Being broken implies something needs fixing, which, Jongin, you do not,” Chanyeol retorts. “It doesn’t matter whether you’ve presented or not because you’re perfect nonetheless.” Jongin knows he’s just saying that to appease him, but he still finds it sweet.

Sehun snorts in mock-amusement. “That’s some hallmark bullshit.”

Jongin reaches over and twists his ear in response. “You need a heart to feel, Sehun.” The alpha winces and rubs the reddened skin of his ear lobe when Jongin lets go.  

—

After finishing up his last class of the day, Jongin is going up to Taemin’s office when he bumps into Yixing. He’s momentarily stunned into silence.

“Hey, are you going to see Taemin?” Yixing asks. “I just came from there.”

Jongin’s eyebrow raises. He doesn’t understand why Yixing is greeting him like he hadn't just disappeared for almost a whole week without an explanation.

“I am—well, I was. I don’t think I need to go now.” Because Yixing is exactly what Jongin was going to talk to Taemin about. Taemin had signed them up for a competition and Jongin was surprised to find out that Yixing was not his partner for the first time, it was someone else. At first he thought that maybe the alpha had asked to be reassigned because he disliked him or was avoiding him now, but then Yixing didn’t show up for the next few days, and Jongin knew it couldn’t be because of him—Yixing has never been laid-back about dancing and his work. “Where have you been?” he asks, almost cautiously.

“I’ve been really busy. I was just here to collect some documents,” the alpha says, dropping a bomb on Jongin, “and to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?!”

“You’re really moving back to China, huh?” They end up seated on the polished hardwood floor of one of the vacant practice rooms. “How long have you known?” Jongin inquires.

“It’s been almost two months, but it wasn’t confirmed until two days ago.”

“When’s your flight again?”

“I’ll be leaving in January. Around the second.”

“Oh, there’s barely a month left.” 

Yixing hums, and it’s a bit remorseful.

After a moment of companionable silence, the alpha turns to look at Jongin and admits, “if I didn’t have to move back to my hometown, I would have worked harder to win you over.”   

Jongin’s heart swells with affection. He links his fingers with Yixing and leans sideways with his head turned to peck the corner of the alpha’s mouth. If Yixing was staying, Jongin thinks maybe he could have been the one to make him forget about Sehun. 

Yixing’s nose brushes along his cheek, and he feels an arm wrap around his waist as the alpha pulls him into a kiss which quickly becomes heated. 

“Do you want to come back to my place?” Yixing asks, and Jongin nods.

Sprawled on the bed, a nervous feeling fills Jongin as Yixing lifts up his shirt and leaves a trail of kisses down his stomach, pausing to nip at the skin just below his navel. It’s been over a year since he allowed himself to be vulnerable like this. Until now, he has kept his walls up since Gunho stomped all over his heart. Jongin had been a fool to think that the beta would never intentionally harm him. He can never forget the way Gunho laughed in his face in front of everyone, including his friends, at the restaurant when he asked if he was ever going to meet his parents.

“You?! I can’t bring something like you home?”

Jongin had just sat there, stunned. It cut deep. Sehun was also there with his girlfriend of the time. That crunch and all that blood after Sehun had tackled Gunho to the ground and punched his face.

It was that time around when Jongin realised his feelings for Sehun.

Sehun…

Jongin can’t really be thinking about him right now when he’s got Yixing’s mouth on him.

He sucks in a breath when said alpha hooks his fingers around the waistband of his briefs, tugging at the elastic material.

“Is this alright?” Yixing asks.

“Yeah,” Jongin responds and it comes out shaky. 

He lifts his hips, allowing Yixing to tug down his briefs just enough to free his erection. His breath hitches when Yixing blows lightly over the sensitive head of his cock, causing his thighs to quiver under the alpha’s hands.

“Yixing, please,” he pleads.

Yixing complies and grabs Jongin's cock in a tight hold, pumping it a few times before engulfing the head into his wet mouth. He teases Jongin with licks before sucking him all the way down. Jongin mewls and tries hard not to buck into Yixing’s mouth.

Yixing drags his tongue along the hypersensitive underside of Jongin’s cock as he draws back, causing Jongin to become a babbling mess underneath him. Jongin’s toes curl when the alpha swallows him again with hollowed cheeks. He feels his balls tighten embarrassingly fast and pushes weakly at Yixing’s head as he warns, “I’m going to come.”

Yixing’s fingers grip the base of Jongin’s cock tightly as he bobs his head a few more times before pulling away with a pop, his pink lips glistening with spit and precum. Jongin meets his gaze and whimpers loudly when the alpha licks his lips.

“You’re gorgeous,” Yixing says at the sight of Jongin’s heaving chest and flushed face. “I want to finger you…Is that okay?”

The slight hesitation before Jongin nods has the alpha asking, “Have you ever tried it before?”

Jongin shakes his head. “No.”

“So this will be your first time? I’ll make it good for you.”

Jongin lets him completely pull off his briefs. Yixing’s pupils dilate when Jongin spreads his thighs wider, exposing himself more to the alpha. 

Yixing grabs the small bottle he had tossed beside them on the bed. He lightly chuckles to himself as he covers his finger with lube. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had to use this.” He leans back over Jongin, kissing the top of his knee and then the inside of his thigh. “Are you ready?” the alpha asks, lifting his sharp eyes to meet Jongin’s.

Jongin nods, teeth clamping on his lower lip. The coldness of the lube makes him tense up when Yixing presses the tip of his finger against his rim, wetting it. 

“Relax…” The alpha slowly pushes at the fluttering entrance until it swallows his finger. 

Jongin lifts himself on his elbows and exhales, trying to will himself to stay relaxed. It feels uncomfortable. Yixing continues to slowly slide in and out, giving Jongin time to adjust.

“I’m going to add another one,” he informs after a while, and pushes in two fingers, careful not to hurt Jongin. 

“Uff,” Jongin hisses. The stretch of two fingers slightly burns.

Yixing pauses. “Do you want me to stop?”

Jongin shakes his head.  

Yixing starts moving again and studies Jongin’s face for any more signs of discomfort or pain. “You’re doing so good,” he encourages.

“Oh my god,” Jongin moans, falling back against the mattress with his back arched when Yixing crocks his fingers, hitting a spot inside him that has him seeing stars behind his closed eyelids. 

“Fuck, you’re sensitive,” the alpha says, watching intently as Jongin’s cock continues to dribble with each light press of his fingers against his prostrate.

Jongin’s legs jerk slightly and he tries to pull away, feeling overstimulated, but Yixing stops him by wrapping a hand around his weeping cock, frantically stroking to the pace of his fingers.

Jongin’s breath comes out ragged and his mouth slacks open in pleasure as he claws helplessly at the sheets. The relentless tugging of his swollen cock and thrust of fingers brushing against his prostrate has him coming hard in spurts against his stomach. He twitches, curling in on himself as Yixing’s movements slowly come to a stop, allowing him to ride out his orgasm.

He twists his upper body, mouthing, “fuck,” against the pillow when the alpha removes his fingers gently.

“Cute, I’ve never heard you curse before,” Yixing says as he climbs over Jongin and cups his warm cheeks in his hands, making the younger male meet his gaze. “Was that good? It wasn’t too much, was it?” 

“No, I liked it,” Jongin responds shyly, running his fingers through Yixing’s hair.

“Fuck, I want to—can we do that again?” Yixing asks.

Jongin nods.

“You’re amazing,” Yixing whispers against Jongin's lips before capturing them into a kiss. Tears prick Jongin’s eyes as he kisses Yixing back sweetly with shy flicks of his tongue across the alpha’s bottom lip. 

Chapter Text

Yixing drives Jongin back home the following morning. Unbuckling the seatbelt, Jongin asks, “Do you want to come inside for a moment?” Just a few minutes ago, Chanyeol texted that he's at the supermarket with Sehun, so Jongin has the place to himself. “I could make you coffee.” They barely finished breakfast back at Yixing’s before the alpha pushed Jongin against the counter with one hand shoved down his pants, and dry humped his backside until they both came hard.

“Maybe another time,” Yixing responds, smiling at him warmly.

Jongin leans over the centre console and kisses the alpha's cheek. “I’ll see you around.” But just as he’s about to grab the door handle, he remembers. “Oh, I almost forgot, I still have your jacket; it’s in my closet,” he says, twisting around in his seat to face Yixing again.

“You don’t have to give it back; you can keep it if you want to.”

Jongin grins at him. “Only if you won’t miss it too much.”

“I won’t.” Yixing reaches over to play with Jongin’s hand. “I’ll miss you though.” And Jongin laces their fingers together. Yixing brings Jongin’s fingers up to his lips and leaves a soft kiss on the back of his hand. “I hope to see you again soon.”

When Jongin enters the apartment, he finds himself alone as expected. He decides to take a shower to get rid of all the traces of sex lingering on him. When he comes out, dressed in comfortable clothing, he goes to tidy the living room. He pulls the curtains open, places the controllers Sehun left strewn across the floor back in front of the television, and picks up the mug of half-drunk black coffee to bring with him to the kitchen. He leaves Chanyeol’s laptop and books the way they were on the coffee table.

After washing the dishes, he places a saucepan filled with water on the stove and waits for it to start boiling before adding the teabag and milk. He settles back down on the stool and listens to the slight hiss coming from the pan. He lifts his head up from his arms when he hears the front door open.

“I’ll have to go back again tomorrow and get the eggs. I told you to make a list,” Chanyeol’s chiding voice can be heard from the living room.

“I did make a list. I just forgot to put them on it,” Sehun responds, and then cackles when Chanyeol thumps him. He walks into the kitchen with a bag full of groceries and ditches them on the counter to go to Jongin. “Hey,” he greets, wrapping his arms around Jongin from behind.

Giggles erupt from Jongin’s throat and he draws up his shoulders, head tilting to one side as Sehun presses loud kisses to the side of his face. The arms snaked around his waist prevent escape. “Where have you been?” the alpha asks in playful yet probing manner. 

“I was with a friend.”

Sehun goes silent and traces his fingertips along the side of Jongin’s jaw and neck. Jongin tenses in Sehun's arms, afraid he can tell; it’s hard concealing anything from him.

“Are you sure? Because it seems more than that,” the alpha says, staring intently at the faint hickey on the nape of Jongin’s neck.

“He’s just a friend.”

“So you fuck your friends now?” It comes out somewhat harsh. Jongin winces at his best friend’s bluntness. 

“Like you’re the one to talk,” Jongin retorts, and then mumbles softly with a pout playing at his lips, “What about Luhan?”

Sehun goes still for a moment and then moves around to face Jongin. “It’s different for me. You’re caring and sensitive and you trust too easily,” he says, grabbing Jongin’s hand. “I don’t want you to get persuaded into something only to be led on; you’re way too precious for that.” Sehun looks at him earnestly, reaching over to brush back his hair. “So be careful, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Jongin stares up Sehun speechless with his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He wants to tell Sehun how cruel his words are. How can he say things like that and not expect Jongin to fall for him? But before Jongin can put his thoughts to words, Chanyeol steps into the kitchen. “Sehun, did you leave these for me to put away?” the older alpha comments, eyeing the way the grocery bag is spilling its contents across the counter top. “Put them away.” 

Sehun lets out a reluctant groan, and as he pulls away, he subtly drags his wrist across the base of Jongin’s throat, covering the light foreign scent there with his own.

Chanyeol presses a calloused hand to Jongin’s cheek and kisses the top of his head as he passes by. “You’re back. Did you eat something?” he asks, grabbing juice out of the fridge.

Jongin remembers to go turn off the stove where his tea is bubbling away. “I already ate.”      

Chanyeol watches Jongin pour tea into a mug. “Don’t forget about your appointment tomorrow,” he reminds Jongin. “If you’re thinking of making any more plans, do so accordingly.” This time, Jongin wants to groan out of frustration. A frown touches his lips when he glances back and sees that Sehun has already disappeared off to his room.

—

Sitting in the waiting room, Jongin’s leg jitters up and down in apprehension. He is overwhelmed by the prospect of being informed that nothing can be done about his case. He wants to hold onto the little amount of hope he has of ever presenting. Despite the bright lights, the clinic has adopted an ever present gloomy atmosphere and it’s not making anything better. The quicker Jongin gets out of here, the better.

Next to him on the blue chair, Chanyeol wraps an arm around Jongin and rubs his shoulder. “Are you nervous?”

Jongin slumps in his seat and whines, “I really don’t want to do this.”

“Hopefully, it will be over before you know it.” The alpha lightly squeezes the back of his neck in a comforting manner. 

“Yeah, hopefully…” Jongin shoves his hands under his thighs to keep them warm. He is ready to get things done and over with. Just the other day, Junmyeon reminded him it’s not healthy to keep avoiding his problems. Which is true; by doing that, he would only be prolonging his misery. He has been running away from this for the past two years, it’s finally time for him to face his fears. He’s been so nervous about this appointment that he barely enjoyed the beginning of winter break. Maybe after this is over, he can finally relish the holidays.

“Thank you guys for being here with me,” he says. Across from him, Sehun looks up from the magazine he has been skimming through. “Where else would we be?”

Jongin eyes the way Sehun has his leg propped up on the chair. “Are you sitting in your living room?” he teases.

Shrugging his shoulders, Sehun returns his attention to the article open in front of him. “Who’s going to judge? There’s barely anyone here today.” 

Jongin is about to respond when the nurse calls his name. The nervousness reappears, causing his stomach to coil into knots. He takes a deep breath as he gets up, forcing a smile when Chanyeol squeezes his hand.

“It'll be okay. We’ll be right outside,” Sehun says from his seat.

Jongin is led to an office right at the beginning of the hallway. Dr. Junho is incredibly friendly and greets him enthusiastically before asking him to sit down. The doctor briefly goes through his file, and then looks up at him with a solemn expression. “I have examined your case, and looking at your test results, the main problem is that your glands aren’t producing the efficient amount of hormones required to trigger your presentation. Otherwise, you are perfectly healthy.”

A frown touches Jongin’s lips. He was told the same thing two years ago. “So what does that mean? Can I still present? Do I need to take something like hormone medication, or…?”

“It’s important that your body produces the hormones on its own. There is a new medicinal drug, but its actual use is to elevate the intensity of heats and ruts; in your case, it might help trigger the glands to produce the required level of hormones. It can be considered as an experimental trial. The side effects aren’t harmful. There is a high possibility you won’t even experience any change. In simpler words, it’s an easy process without any downside. If we have your consent, I can administer the shot today."

Jongin runs his fingers along the side of his neck—a nervous habit. “Yeah, I guess I have no problem with that.”

“Shall we get started?”

“Okay.”

“It will be injected into your thigh muscle so you’ll need to roll up one leg of your pants. If you prefer to remove them, that will be fine too. Whatever you are comfortable with.”

Jongin moves to sit down on the examination table and feels relieved he came in sweats which are easy to bunch up. He exposes his leg to the cold air and a small patch of skin on the front area of his thigh is cleaned with an alcohol prep pad. 

“Hold that there for a few seconds…Okay, here we go.” Even though it’s not really painful, Jongin can’t help but grimace as he watches the needle sink into his skin. 

And then it’s already over.

“You might feel some slight soreness for a day or two. Call me if there’s any problem.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” He hops off the table and readjusts the leg of his sweat pants.

Chanyeol immediately gets up when Jongin comes out of the office and walks over to him. 

“Where’s Sehun?” Jongin asks.

“He’s getting coffee.” Jongin’s gaze follows the motion of Chanyeol’s head to the junction at the end of the hallway where Sehun is trying to work a vending machine placed against the wall.

Jongin looks back up at Chanyeol with a small pout. “I received an injection.”

Chanyeol pulls him into a one-armed hug. “Did it hurt?”

Jongin slings his arm around the alpha’s waist. “I’m fine.”

Chanyeol glimpses back. “Sehun, let’s go.”

Sehun catches up to them. “That was quick. What happened?”

“Not much, really—I just got a shot, that’s it.”

“What for?”

“Dr. Junho said it might help trick my body into presenting,” Jongin answers.

“So, how quick is the process?”

“Honestly, I don’t know…We’ll just have to wait and see, I guess.”

—

“Dammit,” Jongdae curses as he stubs his toe against the bed frame on his return from the bathroom. “Why did you guys turn off the lights?”

“For a better movie experience,” Baekhyun responds as the beta climbs next to him on the bed. Jongin and Kyungsoo are seated on beanbags positioned against the end of the bed, facing the television.

“What did you all do during the weekend?” Jongdae asks, passing around a bag of chips as the host.

“Mina made me do volunteer work,” Kyungsoo says, fixated on the TV screen in front of him. “I spent the whole weekend picking up trash.” He receives sympathetic looks from the other three. Baekhyun pats the top of Kyungsoo's head from behind. “You’re a better person than us.”

Kyungsoo snorts in amusement. “You can be a better person too because I’m taking you all with me this weekend.” He tears his gaze away from the movie playing to look at Jongin. “How was your appointment?”

“I completely forgot you had another one,” Jongdae exclaims. “How was it?”

“It was nothing, really,” Jongin answers, glancing back. “I got injected again, but nothing has happened so far—I don’t think anything will.” 

“You need to think positive so positive things can happen,” the beta says, making him smile.

Baekhyun offers the bag down to Jongin. “How’s Yixing? Did you two meet again?”

“I haven’t really had the chance to see him; he’s been very busy lately.” Jongin snacks on a few chips before passing the rest to Kyungsoo.

“Would you consider introducing him to Chanyeol and Sehun?” Baekhyun asks.

Would they even want to meet Yixing? Jongin is afraid to even bring him up. Sehun was lowkey ticked off the last time they had that conversation in the kitchen. He shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe. I mean, he’s leaving and it’s not like we’re dating so I don’t really see the point.”

“You should try making Sehun jealous,” Baekhyun suggests.

Jongin rolls his eyes. “I have bigger worries right now. And I’m not going to use Yixing like that, I actually care about him.”

—

Jongin lifts his head from the pillow momentarily when Chanyeol walks into the room.

“You’ve both taken over the entire space on my bed,” Chanyeol complains. He nudges their legs to make some space for himself at the end. He plops down heavily on the mattress and goes through the unread messages on his phone. Sehun uses the opportunity to prop his feet against Chanyeol’s back. Next to him, Jongin sits with his knees drawn up. He reaches over and combs his fingers through Sehun’s hair, pushing them away from his forehead. “You’d look good with your sides shaved.” In his mind, Jongin compares how attractive Yixing looks with his undercut and lightly gelled back hair.

“Hmm, really? I like my hair the way it is,” Sehun replies, focused on the open text book balanced on top of his chest. 

Jongin stares at the way Sehun keeps rapping the end of his pencil against the pages. “Do you need help?”

Instead of answering, the alpha closes his text book and knocks the wind out of Jongin by suddenly dropping himself on top him, crushing him under his weight. 

“You know you weight a lot, right?” Jongin breathes out.

Sehun ignores him and mumbles against his collarbone, “You smell really nice.” Sehun has been doing that a lot lately, getting clingy—more so than usual.

Jongin giggles. “You need to get off me. It’s getting hard to breathe.”

Chanyeol twists around to pat Sehun on the butt. “Come on, don’t kill him.”

The younger alpha moves onto his next victim, slinging his arm around Chanyeol’s neck. Chanyeol doesn’t pay him much attention, too busy thumbing his phone’s screen. Sehun peers over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

Chanyeol tilts the phone so he can see. “I’m playing a game…Did you finish your assignment?”

Sehun shakes his head even though he knows Chanyeol isn’t looking, too fixated on the game. "I've completed half of it. I'll get help from Minseok tomorrow, he's good at calculus," he answers as he slides off the bed and heads for his own room. "Goodnight.”

“Goodnight—aah!” Chanyeol yells when his character dies. He pauses, and then looks back over his shoulder at Jongin. “Do you want to play?”

“Yeah, sure.” Jongin perks up, scooting closer. 

After spending more than an hour taking turns with Chanyeol to overcome a particularly difficult level in the nuisance of a game, Jongin is in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, when he feels a gab of pain in his stomach which makes him momentarily pause until it disappears. He felt it during dinner last night, too. After spitting into the sink and rinsing his mouth, he drops the toothbrush into the holder and is just about to turn around when his stomach cramps again terribly. He squeezes his eyes shut as the pain makes him hunch forward against the marble counter. Beads of sweat start to form on his skin and he feels dizzy. 

It’s a drawn-out, slowly unfolding kind of pain that has him sinking down to the mat, clutching his stomach. It spreads to his thighs and has his whole body shivering. He lets out a loud groan, feeling extremely perturbed. He is oddly aroused and his erection strains against his boxers. His trembling fingers clutch at his thighs, leaving fingernail marks on his skin. He whimpers as tears prick his eyes. He doesn’t understand what’s wrong with him. He tries to get up but his head spins and it feels like his legs can’t hold him up anymore, so he drops back down again. It’s starting to really terrify him.

“Chanyeol,” he cries out, but he isn’t sure whether his voice carries past the closed door. Blood pounds in his ears and he can’t tell how loud he's being.

Suddenly, he feels wetness soaking his boxers and under all that haze he can’t tell if he pissed himself or what. He goes into full panic-mode and tears start to stream down his face. He feels utterly helpless. 

“Jongin?” he hears Chanyeol’s concerned voice behind the door.

“Chanyeol!” he cries again. There is pure desperation in his voice which causes the alpha to barge inside in alarm.

“What’s wrong?” Chanyeol asks with worry etched on his face as he takes in the sight of Jongin on the floor. There is an enticingly sweet smell permeating the air and Chanyeol breathes it in. It’s so addictive and makes his control slip. Chanyeol’s grip tightens on the door-handle when he realises it’s coming from Jongin. His chest reverberates as a growl threatens to rise past his lips.

Jongin whimpers, baring his neck as he stares at Chanyeol whose eyes have turned a violent shade of red.

“Chanyeol,” he calls again, which causes the alpha to snap out of his trance.

“It’s okay, Nini,” Chanyeol breathes out but doesn’t come closer to comfort Jongin even when Jongin reaches his arms out. “I’ll call Junmyeon,” the alpha tells Jongin like it physically hurts him to talk. And then, he disappears out of the door.

Jongin slumps back against the counter-cabinet and closes his eyes. He takes deep breaths, hoping it will help calm himself down. He doesn’t know how long he waits until he hears Junmyeon’s gentle voice laced with concern, “Where is he?”

Someone pats Jongin’s cheek gently. “I’m here, Jongin.” He opens his eyes despite how heavy his eyelids feel and sees Junmyeon crouching in front of him. “Everything’s alright,” the beta assures. He pushes Jongin’s hair back and presses his palm against his forehead. Jongin leans into the touch. Junmyeon’s hand feels so cool and relieving against his skin.”You’re in heat. You’re an omega, Jongin.”

He barely comprehends Junmyeon’s words when Sehun’s voice reaches his ears. “What’s wrong? Why is Junmyeon here?” the younger alpha demands in irritation, probably awoken by the ruckus, and now creating one himself.

“Sehun, stop!” Chanyeol shouts, causing Jongin to flinch. But despite the warning, Sehun walks in. He halts against the door frame, eyes wide, when he sees Jongin—or more so, smells him. His eyes shift from brown to the same colour as Chanyeol’s.

Jongin watches in alarm as Sehun’s red eyes follow to where Junmyeon’s hand is touching his forehead. The alpha's jaw clenches and the veins in his arm become prominent with the amount of force he holds onto the wooden frame with; it looks as though it will crush under his fingers. 

But before Sehun can lose control and snap due to dulled senses by the pheromones being released by Jongin, Chanyeol appears from behind him and grabs him by the back of his neck.

“Get a hold of yourself!” Chanyeol roughly drags Sehun back out of the bathroom.

Junmyeon waits until the two disappear before turning back to Jongin. “Come on, I’ll get you to your room,” he says softly. 

Jongin throws an arm around Junmyeon’s neck and lets himself be guided across the hall to his bedroom. Lying down on the bed, Jongin groans. His emotions are in overdrive and it’s more than he can handle. Honestly, he wants Chanyeol and Sehun to come back.

“It hurts so much,” he says.

“Shh, I know,” Junmyeon replies softly, sitting on the bed with one leg dangling over the side. He pulls Jongin so the omega can rest his head on his lap. He strokes Jongin’s hair as the younger male curls closer to him, making himself smaller. The contact really helps.

“It feels weird,” Jongin hiccups, fingers fisting into Junmyeon’s shirt. “I need to-I feel restless. It’s so…” 

Junmyeon understands what he’s trying to say. “You need release.” His eyes scan the room before falling back on Jongin. “I don’t think you have anything that might aid you so you’ll need to use your fingers.”

Jongin whines, hiding his face. “I can’t.”

Junmyeon knows he’s embarrassed. “Yes, you can. You need to; your heat hasn’t fully hit yet and it will only get worse if you don’t….I’ll give you some privacy.” He leans down to press a chaste kiss to Jongin’s warm forehead. “I’ll be right out in the living room if you need me.”

Jongin moves so Junmyeon can get up. He pouts as he watches the beta head to the door. He doesn’t want Junmyeon to leave, but he can’t exactly have him stay either. He falls back against the mattress as soon as the door clicks shut.

He shifts uncomfortably when slick leaks from his throbbing hole. He lifts his hips to shimmy out of his soaked boxers. He chooses to leave his shirt on. His painfully hard cock curves against his stomach, already dripping beads of precum. It only takes a few tugs to get himself to come with a moan. However, it’s still not enough, and soon he’s hard again. His hole clenches and he continues to feel the constant urge to fill himself up with something. He reaches down and teases his slick hole with his middle finger. Having done this to himself only once before, he hesitates to just stick it in because it had been an uncomfortable stretch. He reminds himself of how good it felt to have Yixing’s fingers inside him, and the way the alpha worked him open. 

With bated breath, Jongin pushes and gasps as his finger buries knuckle-deep without any resistance. It’s easier since he’s self-lubricating. He slips it in further and crocks his finger, feeling toe-curling pleasure. His back arches off the mattress as he fucks himself repeatedly on the same spot. He chokes on his breath as white streaks of cum coat his stomach. Twitching a little from overstimulation, he pulls his finger out. He is filled with a surge of frustration when it’s still not enough. His nipples feel extremely sensitive as they rub against his bunched up shirt, so he takes it off. He pinches his right nipple and jerks from the sensation. It’s almost too much. He sticks two fingers in his swollen hole and mewls at the feeling. There’s an obscene squelching sound as he moves his fingers in and out. He clenches around his fingers thinking about how satisfying Sehun’s fingers would feel in him instead, those long digits reaching spots he can’t. He imagines the alpha shoving him down and fucking him hard and fast. It’s enough to send him over the edge and has him coming untouched. He swallows his moans, aware of Junmyeon’s presence near his bedroom and the silence that has taken over the apartment. 

He doesn’t know how long he goes on until he finally works himself to exhaustion.

When he wakes up, everything is still eerily quiet and serene with no sound of movement around the apartment. He groggily lifts himself off the bed. He is in a dire need of a shower; there is dried cum on his stomach and the back of his thighs are slick. His stomach grumbles, making him realise how hungry he is. Forget the shower, he wants food first.

He’s pulling on his clothes when it fully hits him that he’s an omega. He was expecting extraordinary things to happen, but now that he has presented, he doesn’t really know how to feel. He’s an omega…just like Sehun said.

When he was younger, his parents always expected him to present as a beta just like his sisters, or even an alpha because of his stature. He doesn’t look like the average omega; he’s not short or petite, so no one really expected him to become one. But, to be honest, he doesn’t think physical traits necessarily matter in determining status. Kyungsoo is a good example: he’s an alpha despite being short, with lips that form a heart shape whenever he grins—and Jongin kind of really wants to put him in his pocket—but he also has the temper to match his status and he never tolerates anyone’s shit. However, Jongin doesn’t really consider himself to be docile despite what Sehun says. It’s not like he’s going to listen to just anybody.

When he walks out into the living room after dressing up, he’s pleasantly surprised to find Junmyeon on the couch, reading a book. He thought the beta would have left last night.

Junmyeon shuts the book and places it on the table beside him when he sees Jongin. “Good to see you up. How are you feeling?” He flashes Jongin a kind smile.

Jongin’s cheeks heat up under the scrutiny and he fidgets with his fingers. With Junmyeon looking so good in a neat button-down with his sleeves rolled up, he feels inadequate standing there in his dirty clothes and covered in his own cum.

“I’m better,” he answers. The heat is just thrumming under his skin but for the most part he feels fine.

Junmyeon hums. “So your heat has mostly disappeared for the moment?”

“It has.” The beta nods thoughtfully at that, and Jongin feels like he’s being interrogated by a parent.

“I anticipated this,” Junmyeon tells him. “Heats usually last around three to four days without the involvement of an alpha, but yours is erratic. It’s because you presented so late and now your body is trying to adjust, which is hard because you have already matured…It will probably return in a few hours.”

“I really don’t want to go through that again,” Jongin whines.

Junmyeon gives him a funny look before smiling as though he finds Jongin precious—which he probably does. “It’s alright. I’ll discuss some things with you later. It’s past noon and I’m sure you’re hungry so I’ll fix you something to eat while you shower.”

Jongin smiles sheepishly when his stomach grumbles again at the mention of food. “Thanks. You don’t have to, though.”

“I’m more than happy to take care of you,” Junmyeon replies. “Now, hurry.”

Jongin thanks Junmyeon again before he turns around and heads to the bathroom. On his way over, he notices Sehun’s bedroom door is ajar and he knows that Chanyeol has his internship around this time so neither of them are home. He’s anxious to see them and worried how they’ll react. He doesn’t want his newly formed status to affect their friendship. He can’t help but think back to how Sehun had reacted.

He takes his time in the shower, enjoying the feeling of cool water against his skin. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he returns to his bedroom and notices that his sheets have been changed to fresh ones and the curtains have been pulled apart to let the sunshine in.

Junmyeon…

Jongin can’t help but feel affection for the beta.

He picks out a graphic T-shirt and a pair of jeans to wear along with his hoodie. After pulling them on, he saunters into the kitchen where Junmyeon appears to be fixing him a sandwich.

“Chicken?” he asks, delighted, as he takes a seat.

“Yes, it's a chicken sandwich,” Junmyeon replies with an amused smile adorning his face. He sits down opposite to Jongin who quickly wolfs down the sandwich.

Jongin swallows before asking, “Where’s Chanyeol and Sehun? It’s almost two, and Chanyeol usually returns by now.” He isn’t sure about Sehun because it depends on the alpha’s mood: sometimes he’ll come home early and other times he’ll prefer to hangout with his friends. But he always leaves a text saying he’ll be staying out and, this time, there isn’t one.

“They will be back soon,” Junmyeon replies. “I thought it would be better if they gave you some space to get used to all of this.”

“Oh.”

“I already spoke to your doctor on the phone and he says that things are going as expected. Are you still experiencing any pain in your abdomen?”

Jongin shakes his head. 

“That’s good. You need to call Dr. Junho immediately if you experience bleeding or any more pain. You have another appointment in two days. They need to take more tests.”

More tests, okay. This isn’t how he imagined presenting would be like. It’s exhausting.

“There are some more important things that I want to discuss,” Junmyeon continues. “Your heat will be sporadic while your body adjusts. It will be preferable if you have an alpha help you out during, and you might already be aware that alphas cannot use a condom because of their knot, so you’ll need to go on the pill.”

Jongin turns beet red in embarrassment. This whole thing is mortifying, especially since it’s coming from Junmyeon. “You don’t need to say more. I understand.”

“No, Jongin, I want you to be fully aware; if you aren’t, you might end up getting yourself into something you might regret,” Junmyeon emphasises. “Also, consent is very important. I don’t want you ever being pressured into anything, not even by Sehun or Chanyeol. Remember: you don’t owe anyone anything.”

Jongin wants to interrupt and say he’s not a virgin; he’s already aware of all of this, but he’s too embarrassed to do it. 

It’s like Junmyeon can tell what he’s thinking. “This is different from all your past experiences. While you’re in heat, it’s difficult to control your impulses and you can easily fall victim to persuasion. You’re as much as a little brother to me as Sehun, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. If anyone tries to take advantage, you need to tell me, Chanyeol, or Sehun about it immediately.”

Jongin feels immensely grateful that Junmyeon is looking out for him. “Thank you for taking care of me. You’re always so kind.”

The beta’s gaze softens. “I promised I’d always take care of you, and I am.”

“I can’t thank you enough for it. You stayed all night to take care of me when you didn’t have to. I feel bad for keeping you from your home.”

“You shouldn’t—it was my choice. You guys need someone to look after you.” Junmyeon reaches across the table to take Jongin’s hand in his, reviving old feelings of his childhood crush on the beta. “Almost an year ago, you and Sehun were just teenagers. No matter how old you both are, you will always be little to me.” Jongin can always trust Junmyeon to take care of him. The beta always understands what he needs, like he knows Jongin’s heart inside out. Maybe it’s because they have experienced the same feeling: being a disappointment.

“Now, try to get some more rest, okay?”

Jongin is coaxed out of his nap by the sound of Chanyeol’s deep voice coming from the living room along with Sehun’s. Nervousness fills him when he realises he’ll have to face them. He forces himself out of the safety of his bedroom to find Chanyeol and Sehun seated on the couch, conversing with Junmyeon. Their conversation falls short when he walks in.

Junmyeon is the first one to break the silence. “Ah, Jongin, I’m glad to catch you. I was just about to leave.”

Jongin goes over to hug him. “Thank you for everything.”

Junmyeon smiles, ruffling Jongin's hair. “You’re more than welcome. Don’t hesitate to come to me for anything, no matter the time.” He turns his attention to the two alphas expectantly. “Normally, I wouldn’t leave an omega alone with two alphas in a situation like this, but I trust you, Chanyeol. And I expect you to take care of him.”

Chanyeol nods, taking on the responsibility. “You don’t need to worry.”

“I hope not.” The beta looks at Sehun with a quick raise of his thick eyebrows. “Little brother, take care of yourself at least.”

Sehun scoffs, rolling his eyes.

“Goodnight.”

Feeling unfamiliar in his own skin, Jongin plays with the hem of his shirt as he watches Chanyeol walk Junmyeon to the front door. He feels a hand on his arm and turns his head only to meet Sehun’s gaze. Seated on the couch, the alpha wraps a hand around Jongin’s elbow to pull him onto his lap.

On his return, Chanyeol sits down next to them and strokes the hair at the nape of Jongin’s neck. Jongin expected the two to tip-toe around him, however, things still feel the same which allows him to bring his guard down. He leans back against Sehun’s chest when the alpha snakes his arms around his waist to pull him closer. 

“How are you feeling?” Chanyeol asks. 

Jongin draws his knees up. “Fine, I guess.”

Sehun hooks his chin on Jongin’s shoulder. “Do you feel different?”

“Not really. Honestly, I don’t really feel any different other than the obvious.”

“I was right—being an omega suits you.”

“It really does.” Chanyeol prods Jongin’s cheek, lightening the mood. “You’re moody as shit and a total pushover, it's quite fitting.”

“I am not!” Jongin smacks the alpha on the arm, causing him to laugh. Sehun traps Jongin’s arms in an embrace to prevent him from retaliating, and the omega writhes with a high-pitched chortle when Chanyeol pokes his sides. The moment is interrupted when Sehun’s phone rings and their laughter slowly dies down. Sehun picks his phone up from the table beside him, and answers the call. While he listens to the voice on the other end, he nudges Jongin to move from his lap so he can stand up.

“Yeah, Luhan, I’ll be there,” he says. And Jongin feels his heart squeeze. He watches wordlessly as Sehun strides across the room, phone still pressed to his ear, and picks up the keys from the bowl. “I’m taking the jeep,” he finally addresses Chanyeol and Jongin, and leaves without sparing a glance. 

Jongin is jolted out of his trance when Chanyeol touches his arm, making him realise he has been staring at the archway in deep thought. “Hmph?” When he turns to Chanyeol, the alpha is looking back at him with an unexpected hardness set in his gaze.  

“I’m going to make dinner,” Chanyeol says, and gets up. Jongin doesn’t understand the sudden tension that has claimed the ambience. He goes after the alpha to help him with the cooking, but it’s like his mind isn’t there because for the next thirty minutes or so he keeps making mistakes and Chanyeol’s seemingly unlimited patience suddenly runs thin.

“I’m sorry,” Jongin apologises for the fifth time as he bumps into Chanyeol causing the alpha to drop the bell pepper he was holding. Chanyeol exhales deeply through his nose in frustration, trying not to snap, before he bends over to pick the fallen bell pepper up from the floor. “It’s okay,” he says, going over to the sink to wash it again. “Just go add the onions to the skillet.”

Jongin grabs the plate of chopped onions and adds them along with the beef that he cooking away at the stove. He adds the tomato, too, along with a dash of pepper. He crouches and reduces the heat slightly, before releasing a huff of breath. He wipes at his forehead, feeling restless. 

Chanyeol ganders back at Jongin from where he’s chopping the peppers at the island. “Are the rice done?”

Jongin clutches the counter, dropping his head between his arms with his eyes squeezed shut. He mentally groans; he totally forgot about the rice. He slowly turns around to face Chanyeol with a panicked look. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”

“Did you at least put the water to boil?” Chanyeol asks, on the brink of castigating him.

Jongin barely shakes his head when the alpha slams the knife down on the cutting board, making him jump, and faces him. “Jongin, I told you to do that ten minutes ago. What’s wrong with you today, huh?” Strong pheromones emanate from him in waves. 

This sends a rush of heat down Jongin’s spine and unexpectedly slick slowly trickles out of him, causing his cheeks to flush in shame. Did he just get turned on by Chanyeol’s rebuke? He doesn’t dare look up at the alpha; he’s too mortified to move.

Chanyeol inhales sharply and it immediately hits him. He comes closer, crowding Jongin against the counter. “Did you just—” get wet for me? The words are left unsaid. His chest rumbles as he stares down at the softness of Jongin’s lips as they part slightly in shock.

Jongin clutches at Chanyeol’s shirt and his glassy eyes flutter to a close nervously as the alpha leans toward him. Chanyeol’s scent is overbearing, permeating throughout the kitchen, making his head spin. Wallowing in his own embarrassment, he doesn’t even notice that Chanyeol is as aroused as him. 

The alpha presses his palm against Jongin’s face, stroking the pad of his thumb along the prominent cheekbone. Jongin glances up at Chanyeol, shyly meeting the alpha’s red eyes, and his tongue peaks out teasingly to wet his lips. Chanyeol’s chest rises and falls sharply under his hand, and a small gasp escapes him as Chanyeol grips his hips, pulling him closer. And when the alpha’s lips lightly brush alongside his neck with a feather touch, a pitiful whimper escapes him. He is so painfully hard and the wetness between his legs is spreading. He bites back a protest when Chanyeol suddenly pulls back, leaving him feeling incredibly frustrated.

“Your heat’s back…It’s still mild,” Chanyeol’s voice is steady, not revealing how wrecked he feels. “I’ll finish making dinner.” When Chanyeol steps away, Jongin notices the huge bulge in the alpha's pants and the way his fingers tremble as he picks up the knife again. The thought of Chanyeol being attracted to him sends heat stirring in his stomach. And fuck, he slips away back to his bedroom before he starts something he might regret.

Chapter Text

“Baekhyun is here to see you,” Chanyeol informs Jongin, holding the door open.

“Thank you,” the bubbly omega says as he enters the bedroom with a wide grin, and Chanyeol disappears with a soft click of the door. “I brought you goodies.” Baekhyun waggles a white paper bag in the air for Jongin’s benefit.

“Oh!” Jongin exclaims in pleasant surprise. He sits up cross-legged and pushes the blanket aside to make space for his friend. Baekhyun settles in front of him and hands it over. 

“You didn’t have to go through the trouble,” Jongin says, peering into the bag.

“It was nothing: most of the stuff was lying around the house.” Right at the top is a box of candies and a few bars of chocolate. “I always crave sweets during my heat,” Baekhyun explains as Jongin takes them out and puts them aside.

Next, Jongin pulls out packets of different flavoured condoms, lube, and a box of pregnancy tests, and gives Baekhyun a weird look. “Was all of this necessary?”  

Baekhyun shrugs, lips curling up at the corner. “You never know—it’ll save you an awkward trip to the drugstore.”

“Cliché. I’m judging you,” Jongin says, eyeing a pair of fluffy handcuffs.

Baekhyun giggles. “Wait till you see what’s next.”

Jongin hesitates to take out the black box that’s at the bottom of the bag. He opens the lid and carefully unwraps the coloured tissue paper, releasing a distressed noise when he sees what’s inside. “Uh, why would you bring this here?! Please don’t tell me it used to be yours.”

Baekhyun rolls his eyes. “You’ll be glad to know it’s newly bought…It’s a prostate massager. I made the rookie mistake of trying to survive my heat using just my fingers and ended up with a sprained wrist.”

Jongin continues to stare wordlessly at the toy trying to fathom how that’s supposed to fit inside him. “It’s flexible,” Baekhyun comments, understanding his dilemma. “Trust me, you’ll need it…Unless you’re planning on asking an alpha for help.” He scrutinises Jongin’s thoughtful expression as he continues to stare down at the box, and asks, “Are you?”

A nervous smile appears on Jongin’s face when he lifts his head. 

“Are you going to ask Yixing?”

Jongin shakes his head and admits, “I want to tell Sehun. I think I’ll finally confess.”

“Really?” Baekhyun lets out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “I thought you were going to continue being a stubborn January kid who waits for their love to confess first.”

“Am I doing the right thing though?” Jongin asks when he already knows Baekhyun’s stance.

Baekhyun can tell he wants conviction. He can see it in Jongin's limpid eyes: the perturbation and unease. “Well of course you are,” he responds. “That’s my opinion.”

Jongin releases a shaky breath and there’s a distant look in his eyes as he runs his fingers through his dark hair in deep thought. When he meets Baekhyun’s gaze again, his face reveals a very sincere expression. “Whenever I look at him, it scares me how much I love him. And I’m afraid, what if I cross the line and ruin our friendship? We’ve been best friends since forever and I can’t imagine losing him…That’s what scares me the most,” he divulges.

Baekhyun’s face twists in empathy. “But Jongin, what if you regret not telling him? And if it gets too hard for you to see him with someone else, that will end your friendship too. Consider it. There’s a high chance he wants you, too.”

“I know, I already feel like I’m losing him.” When Sehun returned to the apartment yesterday, he told Jongin that his friends had messed around with alcohol and got involved in a car accident. Even though it wasn't anything serious and they managed to avoid getting into too much trouble, Sehun was gone for the whole night and returned the next day smelling distinctly like Luhan. He disappeared again for a few hours without saying anything later that afternoon. Jongin barely knows what he’s up to these days. “I don’t want to wait until it’s too late, that’s why I’ve decided to tell him.” 

“Come here,” Baekhyun says, enveloping his arms around Jongin.

Jongin moves the bag and all its contents to the bedside table so that Baekhyun can sit comfortably beside him.  

“When did Jongdae say he was coming?”

“He already stopped by in the morning,” Jongin responds, and a laugh climbs up his throat at the thought. “He was so nervous since it was his first time coming over and he kept stumbling over his words when Sehun answered the door.”

“Ah, he should have told me. I wanted to come together,” Baekhyun says, disappointment apparent in his voice. “What about Soo?”

“He facetimed me just before you came. I asked him if he wanted to hang out since you were coming over too, but he said it was better if he didn’t. I understand what he’s worried about so I told him Mina could come too, but he still replied 'maybe another time’.”

“He’s so traditional about this. He always maintains a ‘respectable’ distance whenever I’m in heat too,” Baekhyun says, and they both erupt into giggles.

“Speaking of, is your heat over?” Baekhyun asks when they finally calm down.

Jongin shakes his head. “It hasn’t fully hit me yet, I guess. The symptoms appear shortly and I get feverish, but they disappear within a day.” His heat is acting like an old, rusty engine trying to stutter to life but failing. “It’s so annoying." 

—

Junmyeon gives Jongin a supportive smile when he takes a seat next to him. “Hopefully this is the last time,” he reassures.

“I really hope so,” Jongin replies. He is so done with the needles and other probing examinations. He doesn’t want to see the inside of a clinic or a hospital again, at least not for a very long time.

Shortly after, Dr. Jisung appears and sits down at the head of the desk, flipping through the reports. He goes over everything one by one and concludes, “Everything seems to be going well, however”—he pauses to adjust his glasses as he scrutinises the results of the scan—“it looks like your uterus is severely underdeveloped, which is expected.”

Junmyeon sends Jongin a worried glance before asking, “So what does that mean, doctor?”

“To put it strictly, because Mr. Kim presented so late, his ovaries are inactive and his uterus size is too small to hold a baby—"

Jongin gazes vacantly at the doctor’s face, and rest of the words barely reach through to him like meaningless mumbling heard from the bottom of a pool. So he can’t get pregnant…

“Jongin?” Junmyeon says softly and touches his arm, dragging him out of the waters. “Are you alright?”

“Oh,” Jongin responds flatly, snapping out of his musing, “I’m fine. I understand.”

“I’ll be in contact with you soon, doctor,” the beta says, and stands up. “We’ll head out now.”

“I’ll do my best.” Dr. Jisung responds. Junmyeon acknowledges with a respectful nod of his head, and Jongin mumbles out a ‘thank you’ as he slips out of his chair. He drives them back to his place and Junmyeon keeps sending him concerned looks from the passenger seat.

The beta finally breaks silence when they enter the apartment. “Do you want to talk about it?” Junmyeon asks, choosing his words carefully.

Jongin shakes his head, benumbed. “I just want to go back to sleep right now.” He leaves Junmyeon in the living room and heads down the hall to his bedroom. He is relieved when he doesn’t bump into either of his best friends. He quietly shuts the door and slips underneath the covers. In the darkness, the emptiness inside of him feels so sudden and so deeply profound that it seems unreachable yet it takes over him.

It’s okay, he tries to convince himself, clutching his pillow tightly. But it’s not—

Curled up on his side, Jongin rouses briefly when he senses Sehun’s presence in the room. He keeps his eyes closed and pretends to sleep, keeping his breathing steady when Sehun moves closer to stand beside the bed, facing his back. He feels the soft touch of Sehun’s hand when the alpha lightly grazes his cheek with the back of his fingers.

“Don’t disturb him,” he hears Junmyeon whisper from the doorway.

Sehun pulls back. “He needs to have lunch.”

“Leave him be, I’m sure he isn’t in the mood to eat anything…Come on, I’ll make sure he has a large dinner. He needs time to himself.”

Sehun reluctantly moves away. Jongin’s heart pangs at the loss of a comforting presence, but at the same time he just wants to be left alone. He waits for them to leave and then turns onto his back, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought. He listens to the strong gusts of wind blowing outside which rattle the windows. Dark clouds have taken over the sky and the air is chilly. The cold weather seems befitting.

While waiting for it to rain, he dozes off dreamlessly.

A gentle hand on his shoulder coaxes him out of sleep, and he distinguishes the warm scent that’s filling his senses before he even lifts his eyelids. Scrunching his face, he rubs at his eyes groggily and slowly blinks away the disorientation. “Chanyeol,” he says with a small frown, voice breaking as he sits up and reaches for the alpha who is sitting beside him at the edge of the bed. 

Chanyeol lifts his legs onto the bed and pulls Jongin into a hug. “Cute,” he comments when Jongin tucks his chin into the base of his neck, fingers digging into his back. “You need to eat something,” Chanyeol tries to persuade, tilting his head back, chin tucked in, to look at Jongin. But Jongin tightens his grip on the alpha and sticks closer. Chanyeol rubs his back comfortingly. 

Something gets stuck inside Jongin’s throat and he realises that he has been holding back his tears, and the emotions come crashing down on him when Chanyeol continues to stroke the space between his shoulders up to the hair at the nape of his neck. “Let it out,” Chanyeol encourages, and Jongin is forced to release the sob he’s been repressing. He never realised how much having children of his own played a part in his dreams of a happy future. He has enough worries as it is so he never really thought about it.

“A family means so much to me,” he cries into Chanyeol’s shoulder.

“It will be okay, it will be okay,” the alpha assures. “There are other ways…”

“It’s not the same.”

“No matter how difficult it is, we’ll get through it. We’re here for you.”

“You know very well most alphas don’t want to adopt someone else’s bloodline because of their pride. It’s going to affect any relationship I have. What if they leave me as soon as they know?” His fear of rejection and abandonment still plagues him.

Chanyeol inhales deeply before answering, “If they love you and you’re their everything, it won't matter.”

“You’re not the one who has to accept it, so it’s easy for you to say.” Jongin sniffles and leans back to look right back at Chanyeol with tears streaking his flushed cheeks. The vulnerability in Chanyeol’s face surprises him; he looks…scared.

“It’s not,” Chanyeol breathes out. “I won’t ever walk out on you.”

Jongin swallows heavily, releasing a small whimper. When he blinks, fresh tears slip down his cheeks. “W-what are you-what are you saying?” he asks, perplexed. His heart races and his breath comes out short.

Chanyeol licks his lips nervously, and gently wipes away Jongin’s tears. “I’m saying I have feelings for you.”

Jongin stares back at him wide-eyed and speechless, the only sound that can be heard is the thundering of his own heart inside his ribcage. 

“You’re the one I want,” the alpha continues, and his eyebrows lift in the middle, forming an earnest expression. His words are heartfelt and it’s conveyed in the way he says them. “But I don’t want you to feel pressured; you don’t have to give me an answer right now,” he says in a low rough voice before leaning toward Jongin slowly until their lips are an inch apart. “Is this okay?”

“I feel nervous,” Jongin finally whispers back as his gaze flicks down to Chanyeol’s lips. If they do this, if they kiss, they will be crossing a line that will be hard—almost impossible—to go back from.

“Don’t be,” Chanyeol replies, tracking Jongin’s expression before he closes the distance between them and softly brushes his lips against Jongin’s, testing out the waters before pushing more firmly. It starts slow and sweet, and when they set a rhythm, Jongin’s mouth opens with a small gasp as the kiss deepens, spreading warmth throughout his body. 

Growing confident, Chanyeol presses harder, and kisses Jongin with more determination. It makes Jongin flail back slightly on the alpha's lap, body going tense without his permission. Strong arms wrap around Jongin’s torso to pull him closer, and the kiss quickly becomes hot and heavy. He arches his back and slides his hands up Chanyeol's shoulders, leaning into the kiss as Chanyeol slips his tongue between his lips. 

They both can’t seem to get enough, and Chanyeol’s groan comes out half as a growl as he tightens his arms around Jongin, bunching up the omega's sweater from the back. Every nerve ending comes alive underneath Jongin’s skin as Chanyeol traces the tips of his fingers along his exposed lower back, making him shiver. 

Chanyeol sucks on Jongin’s lower lip before breaking the kiss. He pushes Jongin down against the mattress with his nose up against the length of the omega’s throat. He sucks at skin right above the collarbone through his teeth where he hopes to leave the bond mark in the future. His cock throbs at the sounds Jongin is making—the sharp whimpers and moans—and that sweet scent entices him to go further. But he can’t, not like this, so instead he steals a kiss from Jongin before pulling back. 

Jongin touches Chanyeol’s face, staring right into his eyes. “You have to promise me, when I give you my answer, no matter what it is, you won’t pull away from me.” 

“I promise,” Chanyeol responds. “I meant it when I said I’d never walk away from you.” Jongin feels his heart stir and lifts his head to peck the alpha on the lips sweetly. And Chanyeol kisses him back. He would do anything to have Jongin as his.

“Will you eat something for me?” he asks as he lifts himself off of Jongin.

Jongin nods his head, and the sight of him on his back with his pink swollen lips makes Chanyeol want to go climb back on top of him. Clearing his throat, Chanyeol says, “I’ll-uh-bring you dinner,” and gets up from the bed to leave.

Sehun is unable to tear his gaze away from the sight of Jongin on Chanyeol’s lap, the two of them making out heatedly. He jerks himself away from the doorway and strides out of the apartment. He thunders down the stairs with chagrin coursing through him and halts at the first floor landing. He breathes deeply, trying to calm himself down, but it doesn’t make a difference. He punches the wall in front of him and cries out in pain at the impact. He holds his injured hand and stares at the abrasions on his knuckles. He feels around and it doesn’t seem like he broke anything. He shakes it off. It will quickly heal on its own. 

Punching the wall helped take the edge off, but now he’s thrumming with adrenaline. He sets off into a jog as soon as he’s out on the street. He doesn’t even have a particular destination in mind; he just allows the street lights to guide him in the overcast night, his shoes scraping against the asphalt. Fuck, no matter how much he runs, he just can’t get that scene out of his mind. He has finally lost his chance, huh? Not that he had one in the first place. Or that it mattered, not when his parents are adamant on setting him up with the daughter of the CEO of a major corporation. He hasn’t divulged about his parents’ effort to anyone, not even to Jongin or Chanyeol. Junmyeon should have been the heir, not him. He considers his brother lucky, having escaped the clutches of their parents when he presented as a beta. Sehun would rather be ignored by them than have every aspect of his life dictated by them.

He wants Jongin more than anything but he knows he can’t have him; his parents won’t allow it. His mother might agree, but not his father—no, his father would make their life a living hell because he wants Sehun to continue the pure alpha lineage, thus only a marriage with an alpha female of equal status is acceptable. Sehun would never put Jongin through that. After all he's been through, Jongin deserves peace and happiness in his life. He deserves stability. All of which he won’t get by being with a capricious and volatile alpha who has no self-command. Compared to Chanyeol, who is so powerful and composed, Sehun must seem immature and reckless.

Sehun passes the rows of houses and slows down to a stop in front of the wrought-iron gates of the park. Walking past them, he goes and flops down on one of the benches dejectedly. Maybe it’s good Jongin finally returned Chanyeol’s feelings. It gives him even more of a reason to stay away. Chanyeol took an interest in Jongin first and has been inconspicuously courting him since then; it would be disrespectful for Sehun to try and stake a claim now. He doesn’t want to fight with Chanyeol. But still, he can’t help but subtly challenge that he can be a better alpha—to Jongin. 

He feels like calling Luhan and getting wasted, but he knows he should go back because he needs to be there for Jongin while he’s hurting. With a heavy sigh, he hauls himself up and retraces his route back. Entering the apartment, he finds Chanyeol in the kitchen placing food in the microwave. Chanyeol doesn’t notice Sehun standing there at the doorway, observing him.

“How’s Jongin?” Sehun asks, catching him off-guard.

“Oh, you surprised me.” Chanyeol veers around to face Sehun, straightening his posture. “He’s feeling better. I made sure he ate something.”

“Did you-did you tell him?” Sehun asks after a pause.

Chanyeol regards him. “About how I feel? I did,” he answers, maybe too blissed out to question how out of the blue the question is.

“What did he say?” Sehun’s voice comes out strained and he’s sure his expression is too.

A soft smile appears on Chanyeol’s face and his gaze becomes distant as his mind replays the moment in his head. “I told him he doesn’t have to give me his answer right now.” He meets Sehun’s eyes before adding, “We didn’t really do much talking after that.”

Before Sehun can stop himself, he clenches his fingers and winces when his right hand throbs painfully. Chanyeol zeros in on the cuts and makes a noise of disapproval. “What happened? Did you get into a fight?” he asks, more concerned than chastising, as he takes out the first-aid kit from the cupboard and brings it over to Sehun. “Did you wash your hand? Come here.” He encourages Sehun toward the sink and turns on the faucet. Sehun complies and holds his breath as he puts his hand under the cold water. Afterwards, Chanyeol gently grabs his hand and applies an antibiotic ointment over the scrapes. Sehun observes him closely as he wraps an adhesive bandage around his knuckles. 

Chanyeol gives him a pointed look. “Don’t get into trouble, okay? I don’t need two people to worry about.” Chanyeol keeps talking despite not getting a response back and it makes the corners of Sehun’s mouth twitch upwards as he fights back a fond smile.

“I won’t.”

Chanyeol pats him on the arm. “I cut some fruit. Go eat with Jongin and keep him company.”

“What about you?” Sehun asks.

Chanyeol places the items back in the container before putting the kit away. “I’ll eat later. I have some work to complete.”

Sehun stares at his retreating back. Because of the admission, Chanyeol and Jongin are in a way devoted to one another, and eventually Jongin will say yes. Sehun wants to get his own feelings off his chest, however the unrequitedness of his confession will only make things awkward and he doesn’t want to create a rift between the three of them, so it doesn’t matter if his feelings are sacrificed; it’s more important to keep the three of them together.

Chanyeol’s confession and promise mean everything to Jongin. His heart still hasn’t calmed down and his mind keeps racing with thoughts of the kiss. Chanyeol is interested in him; he never would have thought, not even when Baekhyun had pointed out the “obvious” signs. He tries to recall all the moments which revealed how Chanyeol felt, and two in particular stand out to him: when Chanyeol told him he could be the one to make him happy and he hadn’t taken him seriously.

“If you were mine, I’d never let go.” 

And when he had asked for a kiss:

“If I score twenty points, I’ll need something from you in return.”

“What?”

“A kiss.”

Jongin bites his lip, going warm all over as he mulls over the memories carefully. Other than them, Chanyeol has never been straightforward with him much to his knowledge. They have always been comfortable, maybe too much, and lenient with teasing and flirting, all of which Jongin took as lighthearted jest, convinced it was part of being such close friends. And in the end, Baekhyun was right, there were feelings involved. How could he have been so oblivious?

His bedroom door opens and he lifts his gaze expecting Chanyeol, but he’s surprised to see Sehun standing there instead, holding a plate full of cut up fruit. “May I come in?” 

Jongin gives him a teasing look. “You’ve never asked permission before.” 

Sehun simply shrugs and walks in. Jongin glimpses past him at the dark hallway. “Where’s Chanyeol? He said he was coming back.”

An indiscernible look flashes across Sehun’s face briefly. “He’s busy so I’m here instead.” He sits down on the bed in front of Jongin, placing the plate between them. The reserved look masking his face now reveals no emotion, not giving away what he’s thinking as he stares almost studiously. “What?” Jongin asks, feeling self-conscious.

A frown touches Sehun’s lips. “You’ve been crying…”

“Oh...” Jongin wipes at his flushed cheeks, probably stained with tears, with the back of his hand as if that’ll erase any trace of how he’d cried. He should have washed his face. “I’m fine now.”

“Wait,” Sehun says calmly, and disappears out of the room only to return with a wet washcloth. Pushing the plate aside, he takes its place on the mattress and leans in close to softly dab at the omega’s face.

Jongin sucks in a breath at the cool press of the wet cloth again his skin. With Sehun’s face close to his, he’s unable to look away from the dark eyes shadowed by plentiful eyelashes as they flicker, shifting in focus over every inch of his face. When Sehun touches his forehead, Jongin's eyes flicker to a close. When he opens them again, he notices the bandage and immediately reaches for Sehun’s hand, pulling it down from his face. 

“You hurt yourself,” he mutters, staring down at the hand cradled on his lap with concern painted on his features. 

“It’s nothing. Just a scrape.” Sehun’s smile is faint. “You worry about others too much.” Slipping his hand out of Jongin’s, he places the cloth beside him and it forms a wet patch on the mattress. He strokes Jongin’s cheek with his injured hand, and Jongin leans into the warmth of his palm. The surreptitious look they share, in that moment Jongin can’t help but think his feelings might just be reciprocated. Sehun pulls away, but their gazes remain fixed on one another. “Let’s go out for dinner together soon, just the two of us.”

Jongin blinks. “Like a date?” he says it as a joke but it comes out as hopeful and somewhat eager, and he wants to kick himself for it.

Sehun chuckles, quirking his eyebrow. “It can be. Would you like that?” He is most definitely teasing and it makes Jongin blush. Yes, he screams in his head, and then panics when he thinks his best friend might actually be expecting an answer. To his relief, Sehun simply repositions himself to sit cross-legged and lifts the plate back over between them. He picks out a slice of orange and holds it up for Jongin to eat. 

Jongin is filled with a sudden burst of shyness and allows Sehun to place it in his mouth. He’s used to being fed by Chanyeol who loves to coddle him, but with Sehun it’s usually the other way around. Compared to the reserved look a while ago, there is warmth in Sehun’s gaze, eyes taking the slight shape of charming crescents. He is emanating comfort which makes Jongin feel relaxed.

—

Jongin and Baekhyun chuckle lowly to themselves at the way Jongdae and Kyungsoo are wrapped around each other as they sleep on the other side of the bed. Baekhyun quickly pulls out his phone and leans over them to snap a picture. Turning his head toward Jongin, he grins with an impish look about him. “I’m going to post it on Snapchat,” he says, and almost falls backwards off the bed, startled, when Jongdae rolls over onto his back with a comical snore.

Jongin stifles his laughter behind his hand as he and Baekhyun slide off the bed and onto the floor. With an affectionate gleam in his eyes, Baekhyun pokes Jongin’s dimple on his left cheek. “It’s nice to see you laughing.”

“I’m doing better and it’s because of you guys,” Jongin says, and his smile grows when Baekhyun interlaces their fingers together. He pauses thoughtfully, licking his lips, and twists to face the older omega. “You were right, Baek. The day I got the news, I was-um-I was upset and crying, and suddenly Chanyeol opened up about how he feels about me”—Baekhyun’s eyes widen as he listens and his mouth slowly parts—“and then we kissed,” Jongin says with a shy smile, playing with his ear lobe.

“What—seriously?” Baekhyun exclaims pleasantly, and then lowers his voice, “Why didn’t you mention this sooner? What did you say to him?”

“Well, he told me that I didn’t have to decide anything right then, and we haven’t talked about it since.” It’s as if their conversation never happened.

Baekhyun stares at him quizzically. “So have you decided?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know,” it comes out as a whine. “I genuinely have feelings for him, that’s why everything is so hard.”

“But your heart is clearly still with Sehun.” He doesn’t deny it, and Baekhyun continues, “It wouldn’t be right to lead Chanyeol on. I think you should tell him about your feelings even if you aren’t rejecting him, because he will eventually find out.”

“You’re right.” Jongin covers his face with his hands. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

Later at night, Jongin dresses up impeccably like Sehun had asked in a costly black sweater and jeans. After tugging on his camel overcoat, he meets Sehun in the living room. Clad in a tailored grey jacket and trousers with the top-few buttons of his black dress-shirt undone, revealing a smooth expanse of pale skin, Sehun stands next to the archway, keys in hand. He smiles when he sees Jongin and it looks like he’s about to say something, but it’s Chanyeol, seated on the armrest of the couch, who steals Jongin’s attention. Chanyeol pulls on Jongin’s hand until the omega is standing between his outstretched legs. 

Chanyeol surveys Jongin’s form appreciatively and makes his attraction known for the first time since they last shared a kiss. Jongin wouldn’t have expected him to do it with Sehun watching. “You look incredible,” Chanyeol compliments. Smiling back at him daintily, Jongin mumbles a 'thank you'. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us?” he asks Chanyeol, and the alpha shakes his head. “I already promised my friends and it wouldn’t be right to back out last minute.”

“Come on, Jongin. Let’s go,” Sehun says, eyebrows crossed with irrational impatience.

Jongin steps away when Chanyeol stands up, and his breath hitches in his throat, finding the alpha unpredictable as he leans in close. But Chanyeol simply lays a kiss on the corner of his forehead before nudging him in Sehun’s direction. “Go on, have fun.”

Jongin smiles at him one last time before making his way over to Sehun. “What’s wrong? We have plenty of time,” he says. But Sehun doesn’t answer, instead he wraps an arm around Jongin’s waist and urges him toward the door.  

Walking up to the tall oak doors, held open by the doorman, Jongin hesitates as he glances up at the large glowing sign of the restaurant. It’s the same one Yixing had brought him to when he asked him out. Sehun’s hand grazes across his lower back. “Is there something wrong?"

Jongin shakes his head in response and steps forward, feeling a sense of déjà vu; Sehun exchanges a few words with the receptionist and they are led to a table in a secluded corner as per Sehun’s request. Walking past the rest of the tables, Jongin keeps sneaking glances expecting to see Yixing seated at one of them. The alpha did say he stopped by here often.

It’s fairly warm enough inside so Sehun pulls off his jacket and drapes it over the back of his chair before settling down; Jongin follows suit. When the waiter leaves after handing them their menus, Sehun follows Jongin’s gaze and searches across the room. “Are you expecting to see someone here?” he asks inquisitively, raising his eyebrow. “You keep glancing over your shoulder.” 

“It’s nothing.” Jongin brings his attention back to the menu in front of him and idly flips through it. He already knows what he wants. He decides to change the topic. “Have you been here before?” 

“I haven’t. Chanyeol recommended this place; his teammate’s family owns the restaurant.” Yixing also mentioned that it’s his friend’s place, so this is the same person, Jongin thinks.

“What about you? You clearly know about this place,” Sehun continues, rolling up the sleeves of his dress-shirt to his elbow. 

“I came here with a friend once,” Jongin answers, and swallows thickly, eyeing the thick rings adorning Sehun’s fingers when he picks up the menu and goes through it. The length of the table is short to increase proximity, and there are lit candles in curved-glass holders in the middle to set the mood. Few couples are seated at the neighbouring tables. The restaurant will become packed soon as the night moves along.

“This place has a romantic atmosphere,” Jongin comments idly as he stretches his arm across the table to take a hold of Sehun’s hand. “It’s nice.”

Sehun doesn’t say anything, instead he lowers the menu and watches with mild curiosity as Jongin softly traces his thumb over his knuckles. 

“It healed fast,” Jongin observes. The wounds have stitched themselves closed and the area around them is a pinkish contrast compared to the rest of the pale skin. He lifts his gaze up to Sehun's face. “You never told me how it happened.”

Sehun squeezes Jongin’s fingers gently before pulling back his hand to take hold of the menu. “We should order now,” he says, easily switching the subject.

“I had one of their steaks last time I was here; it was really delicious. Do you want to try it?” Jongin asks.

“Mhmm.” The alpha nods as he skims over the page. 

“I think I’m going to skip dessert.”

“You don’t have to eat the whole thing; we can just share,” Sehun suggests.

“It’s fine. We can decide after you finish,” Jongin responds. He’s taking a sip of his drink when his ears pick up a familiar voice followed by a kiddish laugh, making his heart jump in his chest. He turns his head and spots Yixing with two other alphas heading toward him and Sehun. Yixing is dressed in all black with a trench coat draped over his shoulders, and his silver helix piercings glint from the distance. Jongin holds his breath as the alpha’s gaze stumbles on him. When Yixing beams, a smile automatically takes over his own face.

Yixing says something to his friends and they head over to a table nearby without him. “Umm,” Jongin glances at Sehun who stares back at him questioningly. “I’ll be back in a moment,” he says and slips out of his chair to get to Yixing.  

“Hi,” he greets, coming up to the alpha. “It’s been awhile.” 

Yixing stares at him with dilated pupils like he’s looking at a whole new person. “Hi—wow!” he exclaims with a grin.

“I finally presented,” Jongin states the obvious, smiling back hard as he slightly sways on his feet. 

Yixing’s gaze cuts across the room to Sehun and his grin slowly fades. “You’re here with Sehun…”

Jongin presses his lips together and slowly nods. He came to the place Yixing asked him out with another alpha; that makes him feel terrible. 

“He’s the one, isn’t he? I had a feeling.” Yixing regains his dimpled smile, though it is a bit woeful. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“I haven’t told him yet…about how I feel,” Jongin admits.

“When you do, I hope you’re happy with him.” Yixing sounds so sincere and it plays with Jongin’s heart. “Can I kiss you one last time?” Yixing surprises him by asking, fingers grazing his waist. Thinking of it as a parting act, he gives his consent with a nod. It hurts him that this might be the last time they see each other.

Yixing’s hand caresses along his neck up to the sharp outline of his jaw. Jongin glimpses at Sehun from the corner of his eye and finds his best friend watching them intensely with a cold look on his face and a drink in his hand. If only Jongin could tell what is going through Sehun’s mind. Probably impatience, but Jongin doesn’t let that intimidate him and closes his eyes as Yixing’s soft lips meet his, allowing the kiss to carry him away. He feels Yixing’s fingers dig into his hip, tugging him closer. The kiss is sweet and full of a meaningful goodbye, however it doesn’t last long: the sharp crunch of glass shattering jolts them out of it. Jongin’s head snaps in the direction of the source and he gasps, stupefied, when he sees a waiter rush toward Sehun whose hand is bleeding, shards of broken glass cluttering the table and the floor along with the spilled drink.

“Now you know he feels the same way,” Yixing breathes out, gaze transfixed at the scene unfolding in front of him.

“I should go see if he’s alright.” Jongin casts the alpha an apologetic look and gets a small smile in return.

“I understand…We’ll see each other again.” It's almost a promise.  

Feeling grateful, Jongin gives Yixing a smile before returning to his best friend.

Sehun stands up, sequentially pushing his chair backwards. He’s polite yet terse as he refuses assistance from the waitress. His eyes are a blazing deep red, not unlike the blood dripping down from his fingers. His expression reveals he is irked as if accidentally hurting himself is a mere inconvenience.

Jongin grabs a napkin from the table and presses it against Sehun’s open palm before latching onto his arm, urging him in the direction of the washroom. “Come on, you need to get your cuts washed…Why are you so adamant on hurting yourself?” he chastises the alpha.

With a sideway glance, Sehun observes Jongin, who’s beside him with his back pressed against the countertop, as he washes his hands. “Your friend—you were hoping to see him again here…He’s the one you slept with.” He put things together faster than Jongin would’ve liked.

“It’s not what you think,” Jongin responds, crossing his arms defensively.

Sehun shakes his hands dry, raining water droplets into the basin, before stepping back to face Jongin directly. “It’s none of my business…Just don’t get yourself involved into something complicated,” he says and grabs a paper towel to dry his hands before discarding it in the bin. 

With Chanyeol courting him and his own feelings for Sehun, even without Yixing, things are already complicated enough. But Jongin doesn’t say. “Enough about me. Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?” he asks instead, inclining his head to the side. “You’re getting aggressive again.”

“It’s nothing,” Sehun dismisses. Jongin stops him from walking away by gently touching his bicep. 

“Please don’t, you promised you’d be honest with me.”

Sehun’s throat moves as he gulps, lips twitching nervously as he considers. He pauses like he’s calculating the weight of his answer and its consequence. His usual confident charisma has dissolved, and that unsettles Jongin. “You can tell me,” Jongin says. “Don’t hold back for my sake.”

That seems to persuade Sehun. He takes a deep breath and his steely gaze reappears as if he has detached himself from his emotions. “It’s you…” he admits. “You make my control slip.”

“Oh.” Hurt ripples across Jongin’s face before he can stop himself. From Sehun’s hesitance, he expected something like this and he needs to brave it. “Does my presence…agitate you?"

Sehun shakes his head. “The opposite actually.”

“Then what?” Jongin’s tone is soft and encouraging.

“I was jealous—both times I hurt myself, I was jealous.” Jongin stares at the alpha with lips parted in surprise, finding himself unable to respond. His stomach turns in unexpected anticipation. No matter how composed and impassive Sehun tries to appear, his eyes give him away. A shade of maroon takes over as the red slowly bleeds over the brown, revealing he’s thrumming with emotion and anxiety.

“I was jealous the night you left the club with that friend of yours.” Jongin can hardly breathe; his lungs completely forget how to function.

As if at the thought of Yixing, Sehun’s eyes flare red. “And seeing you kiss him—” Jongin doesn’t wait for Sehun to finish before he tips forward on his toes and kisses his best friend.

Sehun falters in surprise when Jongin’s plump lips brush firmly against his. Recovering his wits, he takes control and seizes Jongin’s face, weaving his fingers through the short dark hair at the nape of the omega's neck, thumb at his warm cheek. He tilts his head to deepen the kiss, groaning when Jongin’s warm mouth opens effortlessly against his.

Jongin weakly clutches at Sehun’s waist and mewls when the alpha’s hips jut against his desperately, grazing his crotch. Their kisses grow more fervent, neither of them wanting to stop. However, Sehun remembers where they are and reluctantly releases Jongin’s swollen lips, watching them tremble with a shaky exhale. “Sehun…” Jongin whines, peeling his eyelids back, revealing the swirling brown of his irises. Under the warm lighting, his skin seems to glow, and Sehun slowly rubs the pad of his thumb back and forth over his ruddy cheeks.

“We should go,” Sehun says, and the low rumble of his voice resonates through Jongin. However, they just can't get themselves to move.

Sehun reaches for Jongin’s hand at his waist and pulls it up to his lips, planting a kiss on the soft skin between his thumb and index finger. He breathes in the omega’s scent perfuming the air and feels a possessive urge build. He leans in to kiss Jongin again, a rumble rising up in his chest contently at the drag of Jongin’s hand from his shoulder down to his chest. After pulling back, he laces their fingers together.  

Back in the apartment, Sehun tugs Jongin to the omega’s bedroom, and pushes him down on the bed, crawling on top of him. Jongin giggles, wrapping his arms around Sehun’s neck as the alpha trails hot kisses along his. “You’re going to get your suit wrinkled. At least change into something else.”

“Can’t wait,” Sehun says full of impatience, and hastily claims Jongin’s mouth. Both of them are supporting matching tents in their pants. When Jongin tries to grind up against Sehun, the alpha pins him down with a firm hand on his hip. He lets out a pitiful whine against Sehun’s mouth, nipping gently at his top lip in retaliation. “Please…” he pleads.

Sehun sits his thumb at the hollow of Jongin’s throat and applies soft pressure in warning before drawing his hand down to the omega’s chest. Jongin gasps as Sehun’s nails purposely scrape over his nipple through his sweater. He feels sensitive all over, unable to keep up with the alpha’s continuous assault on his senses. Sehun touches him like he’s doing it for the first time—with want but mindful care, not wanting to cross any lines. They have been intimate before but never like this. His breath hitches as Sehun plays with the waistband of his jeans before pulling out his sweater from where it is tucked in. Sehun’s fingers are soft and cool against the heated skin of his torso, smoothly tracing the ridges of his abs. 

He tries to focus on Sehun’s lips moving against his instead of the fingers playing with the button of his jeans. He breaks the kiss and begs once more, “Please…” He lays pleading kisses along the alpha’s well-defined jaw. He wants Sehun to shove his hand down his underwear and stroke him, to prod at his slowly soaking hole, to do something to make the ache go away. His heart picks up in anticipation when Sehun hooks two fingers around his waistband and tugs. But frustration washes away his relief when a teasing smirk takes over Sehun’s face, making it clear that he has no intention of taking it further.

Jongin narrows his eyes at him, “You’re just teasing me…” He looks ethereal with moonlight painting his milk-white skin, and Jongin wants to capture the moment Sehun smiles mischievously in response before leaning down to kiss him slowly. 

—

The sound of his phone buzzing pulls Sehun out of his sleep. A smile tugs on his lips at the sight of Jongin asleep next to him. He tucks the messy strand of the omega’s brown hair behind his ear, tracing his thumb lightly over the lobe. Even Jongin’s ears are cute, he thinks. 

His phone buzzes again. He shifts onto his back and picks it up from the night stand. There are a few missed calls from his mother which makes him frown. He opens a text message from her and sees that his presence is required for lunch. Apparently, he has avoided his parents long enough and has been summoned. Exasperation bubbles in his chest. Of all the days, she decided on this one. With a sigh, he slips out of the bed and glimpses back at Jongin. He readjusts the duvet over the omega before he leaves.

He takes his time washing the dishes and wiping the kitchen counters clean before he goes to take a shower and dresses himself in an outfit his mother would approve. He tucks in his white button-up in his trousers and puts on a belt before he walks out.

Chanyeol appears out of his bedroom just as Sehun is about to reach the archway to the foyer. “You’re already going somewhere?” Chanyeol asks, brow raised.  

Seeing Chanyeol fills Sehun with guilt, and he’s reminded of last night. He has broken the unspoken rule of etiquette by pursuing Jongin while he is still being courted by Chanyeol. It feels like a betrayal to his best friend. “My attendance is required for lunch at my parents’,” he answers with a roll of his eyes, trying to put on a show that nothing is out of the norm. 

Chanyeol’s dimple appears as he presses his lips together and nods thoughtfully. “When will you be back?”

Sehun wonders if this amiability will remain when Chanyeol finds out. He doesn’t want Chanyeol to think he’s challenging him. It just happened. Call him selfish but he doesn’t regret anything. He knows he isn’t right for Jongin, and that his best friend deserves better, but the selfish, possessive part of him doesn’t care—as long as Jongin is his.

“I’ll probably be back in an hour or two.”

He drives over to his parents’ house and parks the jeep behind his father’s silver Bentley in the huge driveway. He follows the winding stone path, curving around the marble fountain which fills the quiet air with the soft sound of running water, up to the imposing front doors. He doesn’t bother knocking and invites himself inside. A thud resonates across the antechamber as he shuts the door behind him. He makes his way to the adjacent room and glances inside. And there in the living room, he finds his mother on the antique couch, sorting through a pile of papers with reading glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. Various bite-sized food plated on fine china are displayed on the coffee table in front of her.  

She lifts her head with a smile when he walks in. “I’m so happy you came. How have you been, sweetheart?” she asks when he greets her with a kiss on her cheek.

He settles down on the love-seat across from her and answers, “Fine…What were you doing?” He gestures toward the papers she is holding. 

“Nothing, I was just going through the mail and sorting out the bills.”

“Where’s dad? I saw his car parked in the driveway.”

“Oh, he was just here. He’s up in his office, probably on the phone…He has really been on the edge lately. They haven’t been getting the shipments right. It might be a while before he comes down, but I can go get him if you’d like.”

Sehun shakes his head. “It’s alright. I’m happy to spend time with you.”

This pleases his mother. “This reminds me, your father is hosting a dinner next week, and all his business partners and important clients will be intending. He wants to introduce you to all of them so it’s crucial that you come. The girl I was telling you about, she’ll also be there with her father so please leave a good impression.”

Sehun holds himself back from rolling his eyes. His mother surely wouldn’t appreciate the attitude. “Mom, I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in being in a relationship.” 

“Sehun,” she admonishes disapprovingly. “What will it take for you to become more serious? This is important.”

He thinks about Jongin. “There's someone else I want. Someone who I could be serious about.”

“Who is it? Do I know her?” his mother asks, curiosity piqued.

“Jongin.”

Mrs. Oh looks baffled. “Your childhood friend Jongin? Please, sweetie, don’t be ridiculous. He’s a lovely boy and I understand why you’ve fallen for his charm, but he’s a late-presenting omega with no social status. You can play with him all you want until your marriage, I can allow that, but you can’t mate with him.”

Sehun bristles at his mother’s words. “Enough, don’t talk about him like that. He’s not some toy to use and discard.”

“Don’t be mad, sweetheart. I just want the best for you.”

He looks away in anger. “I shouldn’t have expected anything better.’

“Please, don’t be like this. Here, have something to eat,” his mother tries to reconcile with him. “Lunch will be prepared in a few.”

“No need, I’ve lost my appetite,” he responds curtly.

“I made an effort—you’re here after weeks and the first thing you do is fight with me. What kind of mother am I when my own son doesn’t respect me?”

Emotional blackmail, Sehun thinks and bites his tongue to hold himself back from saying anything he’ll regret. “Here. Happy?” He grudgingly picks up a sandwich and takes a bite. 

—

Jongin wakes up feeling warm and content, encompassed in Sehun’s scent which gives him a sense of security and almost lulls him back to sleep. He blinks away the sleep and stretches his arms over his head. Sehun is not here next to him. By now he has gotten used to waking up only to find his best friend gone. A pleasant smile appears on his lips as he thinks about everything that took place. Last night, while Sehun dozed beside him, he couldn't get himself to sleep until way later as his mind kept going over the alpha’s words again and again until they were carved into his memory, just to constantly remind himself all of that actually happened.

He hasn’t even changed out of his attire from last night. He decides to take a shower and get into more comfortable clothing. When he walks out of his room, he hears the television and finds Chanyeol on the couch watching the news. His heart thuds in hope of coming across Sehun but he feels a tinge of disappointment when he sees the alpha’s bedroom door open and finds the bathroom empty. He strolls into the living room, “Hey.”

Chanyeol tears his gaze away from the screen and his face lights up when he sees Jongin. “You’re finally up.”

Jongin’s eyes sweep the room for clues before he asks, “Where’s Sehun?” 

“At his parents' home. He was invited for lunch.”

“Oh,” Jongin responds lamely, and lingers.

“Quickly take a shower,” Chanyeol says. “I’ll make you something to eat."

Jongin takes a spot on the kitchen stool and pushes back his wet hair. Chanyeol glimpses over his shoulder before turning off the stove. “Good, you’re right on time,” he says and brings over the sizzling frying pan and scrapes the omelet onto Jongin’s plate. “Do you want anything else?”

“No, thank you.” Jongin gives him with a polite smile. “This is more than enough.”  

His eyes follow as Chanyeol takes the pan over to the sink and turns on the faucet. “Since you cooked, I’ll do the dishes,” he offers. But the alpha shakes his head and grabs the scrub. “It’s fine. I just need to wash this. Sehun already did the rest of them before he left.”

Jongin picks up his fork and takes a bite of the omelet. He silently watches his best friend work. There’s something he has been wanting to ask and just the thought of it makes his heart drum loudly in his chest. “The person,” he finally speaks up, “you talked about being…in..love with…” He falters on seeing the strong muscles on Chanyeol’s back tense up as he goes still, but takes the alpha’s silence as a go ahead and sums up the courage to continue. “Is it…me?” He waits, letting the question settle. Neither of them move an inch and the silence between them is deafeningly loud.

It feels like eternity when Chanyeol turns off the water and places the pan on the rack to dry. He nods, veering around to face the omega.

“Oh.” Jongin’s eyes widen.

“I wasn’t ready then,” Chanyeol adds, coming over. “…and I don’t think you were either.” He drags out a stool and sits down, relenting to the conversation. Jongin can tell talking about this particular topic isn’t easy for Chanyeol but he's still accepting towards it. That’s something Jongin admires and envies about Chanyeol: he isn’t afraid to open up. While Sehun, just like Jongin, is reticent and doesn’t reveal his feelings readily. 

“How long have you known…about how you felt?” Jongin asks in an attempt to be empathetic and understand his best friend’s situation better.

“Aah"—With his head tilted fondly, he observes as Chanyeol drops his gaze, staring down at his lap instead with the tips of his ears turning pink—“truthfully, I can’t remember…it’s been too long. It’s like my feelings for you have always been there.”

Jongin can relate; it’s how he feels about Sehun. There’s a probing ache in his heart. He doesn’t know where exactly he and Sehun stand in terms of their relationship, but he’s sure he wants to take things further. He simply can’t keep leading Chanyeol on; it would be selfish of him not to end things right now.

“I think I’m ready to give you my answer now,” he states softly.

Chanyeol sits up straighter in response, eyebrows pinching together. “Okay.”

With the alpha’s eyes boring into him, Jongin almost backs out, too afraid of the consequences. He doesn’t want to be in a position to break his best friend’s heart. He wets his lips nervously before he starts, “I want to be yours but—” before he can say more,  Chanyeol grabs his face and kisses him hard as if he doesn’t want Jongin to add any more words that would negate what he just admitted. A small noise escapes the back of Jongin’s throat as he spreads his thighs, allowing the alpha space between them. He grants Chanyeol this kiss—or at least that’s what he tells himself. He knows, just near the surface, there’s a part of him that wants this just as much. He wishes he could be selfish and have both Chanyeol and Sehun, but he can’t.

He places a hand on Chanyeol’s chest and puts some space between them. He can see a little bit of acceptance of what he’s about to say in Chanyeol’s eyes. His own gaze wavers, but he decides to say it straight away like ripping off a bandaid. “If only I wasn’t in love with someone else.”

Chanyeol’s face breaks out into a pained expression and he shakes his head in disbelief. “It’s that alpha Yixing, isn’t it?” Bitterness seeps through his tone. Jongin can’t predict how Chanyeol will react if he knows it’s Sehun so he doesn’t try to correct him. Let this sink in first and then he’ll eventually reveal everything. He panics when Chanyeol clenches his fist and turns away.

“You promised,” he says, and gets up to hug Chanyeol from behind. He presses his cheek against the soft hair at the back of the alpha’s head. “I love you.”

Chanyeol’s shoulders quiver as he lets out a bitter laugh. “But not the way I want.”

Tears well up in Jongin’s eyes as he leans back. “I’m sorry, you have every reason to be angry at me,” his voice cracks at the end.

Chanyeol twists his neck to look at Jongin and his angry features soften. There’s sadness in his gaze. “Now this is unfair. You know it hurts me to see you cry.” 

Jongin’s nose twitches as he holds back a sniffle. He looks away and wipes at his eye before any tears roll down. Chanyeol gets up on his feet and wraps his arms around Jongin. “Shh, I’m not going to go back on any of my promises made to you. I’m happy as long as you’re happy.” He presses his lips against the top of Jongin’s head before pulling back to look into his eyes. “Even if it will take me time to accept, I respect your decision. But I want you to know, you have my heart until your final day unbonded. I’ll wait no matter how long it takes.” 

Jongin’s eyebrows scrunch up in the middle. “Chanyeol…” His heart thuds in his chest. He would be lying to himself if he denied how much deeper he’s falling for the alpha and that scares him. Chanyeol is slowly proving himself to be exactly what he wants. “You’re making this very difficult for me.”

“Maybe that’s exactly what I want. I’m not going to give up.” Jongin doesn’t miss the way Chanyeol’s attention flickers down to his lips. He can’t stop thinking about the kiss they just shared either, feeling an ill-advised desire to do it again. 

“I’m back,” he hears, followed by the clink of keys, and holds back a gasp when he sees Sehun standing there at the kitchen's entrance. He didn’t even hear the front door open.

Sehun takes in their close proximity, and the sudden tension crackling in the air doesn’t go amiss by him. His steely gaze drifts onto Jongin pointedly. The omega’s lips part, wanting to say something to clear the air, but nothing comes out. He makes a move toward Sehun, but Chanyeol grabs him by the arm. “You can save the chitchat for later, first finish your omelet. You can’t go around on an empty stomach.”

A protest starts in his throat but a stern look from Chanyeol makes him sit back down on the stool with a pout. 

“I’m going to change,” he hears Sehun say, and glances over his shoulder as the alpha turns on his heels and leaves. Sehun obviously knows how Chanyeol feels about him and the kiss they shared when Chanyeol had confessed. He hopes that Sehun doesn't misunderstand.

Chapter Text

Jongin sits down beside Sehun on the concrete bench at the park near their apartment, and rubs his hands over his upper arms in an attempt to keep himself warm in the cold, damp weather. It drizzled a while ago, and the grass is dewy underneath the soles of his sneakers.

Chanyeol shrugs off his Adidas jacket, revealing a long-sleeved grey shirt underneath, and hands it over to the omega. “I told you to cover yourself properly before we left,” he chides.

“And I did. You’re the one wearing shorts,” Jongin ribs, eyebrow raised pointedly at Chanyeol’s exposed bowed-legs as he accepts the jacket, placing it on his lap.

Chanyeol glimpses down. “What? I’m used to it…Besides, I’m wearing thermal underclothes.”

“Oh, really?” Jongin perks up, clutching the edge of his seat as he leans forward, briefly pulling his lower lip between his teeth as he gives the length of the alpha’s body a quick scan. He enjoys the way Chanyeol turns red and looks away as he mumbles, “Shut up.” Jongin can tell Chanyeol is pleased albeit embarrassed, and grins. His fear of Chanyeol distancing himself from him has long been put out; to his relief, turning Chanyeol down hasn’t affected their bond and closeness at all.

Sehun stokes the nape of Jongin’s neck as he hooks his arm around the omega, gently drawing him closer. “You’re really warm,” he comments, lifting his hand dangled from Jongin’s shoulder to caress Jongin's cheek with the outside of his fingers.

Jongin nestles against Sehun's side, seeking the warmth radiating from his body. “I know. I felt incredibly hot back at home. Now I’m cold and it’s all Chanyeol’s fault,” Jongin declares with a mock-glare directed at said alpha.

Chanyeol rolls his eyes. “Come on, when winter break ends, you know it’ll be hard for us to hang out like this; our schedules always clash.”

“You just want us to entertain you until your friends show up.”

“That’s not true.” Chanyeol picks up the basketball from the bench and twists it with his fingertips. “It’ll be fun. We can go two-on-one if you want.”

“You’re underestimating us if you think we can’t take you on one-on-one.” Jongin turns to Sehun and pats him on the back. “You go first. I want to strategize.” His statement leaves both of the alphas amused.

Sehun gets up and stretches his arms above his head. He undoes the scarf around his neck and wraps it around Jongin before following Chanyeol to the court in front of them.

“We’re playing half-court,” Chanyeol announces. “Whoever scores ten-points first is the winner. To make it fair, you can be on offense.” He tosses the ball to Sehun.

Grabbing it, Sehun dribbles the ball twice before taking position. Chanyeol adopts a defensive stance, “On three…One…Two…Three!”

Sehun shifts the ball to his left-hand and deceives Chanyeol into thinking he’s going to shove past his right. Chanyeol takes a step back, ready to intercept, unknowingly allowing Sehun the space to make his move. Sehun takes the ball into both hands and tosses a three-pointer through the hoop.

“Whoa!” Jongin claps, and Sehun feels his chest swell with pride.

“Playing to your advantages—clever.” Chanyeol nods, impressed. “I’ll be more careful.” Unfazed, he walks over and grabs the ball, handing it back over to Sehun.

This time, Sehun tries to manoeuvre the ball past Chanyeol, but the older alpha immediately steals it away with one hand just as it ricochets off the ground. Chanyeol turns on his heels to face the hoop and throws his own three-pointer. “Now we’re equal,” he says as the ball swishes through the net, bouncing on the ground with loud thuds.

Sehun takes the ball to hand it over, but Chanyeol stops him. “You can be on the offense again.”

His pride won’t let him so he says no. “I’ll be on defence.”

Chanyeol raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

But Sehun realises too late how hard it is. Just as he thinks he can tap the ball away, Chanyeol suddenly shifts hand and bounces the ball between his legs, shoving past Sehun causing him to lose his footing and fall flat on his ass. Jongin’s laugh is high-pitched and boisterous. “He really had you there,” the omega says, enjoying this maybe a little too much.

Chanyeol walks back with the ball tucked under his arm, towering over Sehun. “Still want to defend?” he asks haughtily. And Sehun stares at the offered hand for a second before reluctantly accepting. “Yes,” he grits out.

It frustrates him when Chanyeol is able to hold him back and score another two-pointer. Just as they’re about to go again, they hear a voice shout, “Chanyeol!” And see two tall figures approach.

Chanyeol breaks out into a smile at the sight of his friends and goes over to greet them. “Aye!”

“Hey, man…Chaeyoung is going to arrive later with our ride,” the one with dark roots and swept back grey hair tied into a short ponytail says as they part from the embrace. Jongin immediately recognises him as the captain of Chanyeol’s basketball team—the cold looking one. But he’s sure he hasn’t seen the other one before.

“It’s okay, we can wait here,” Chanyeol says. “You’ve already met Sehun.” He then jerks his head in the direction of the bench where Jongin is seated, and introduces, “This is Jongin.”

The team captain’s eyes light up as some sort of recognition clicks in his mind. “Ah, Jongin,” he says, and faces the omega. “I’m Kris Wu. I’m also a friend of Yixing Zhang.”

Jongin connects the dots and realises that Kris is the mutual friend whose family owns the restaurant.

Kris motions toward Chanyeol's other friend, “This is Sungyu Kim.” Jongin gives them both a polite nod, “Nice to meet you.”

“Will you be seeing Yixing off on Friday?” Kris asks conversationally.

“Friday?” Jongin is taken aback. “Isn’t his flight in January?”

“It’s on Friday. You didn’t know? He said he postponed for someone but now he doesn’t need to anymore so there’s no point in staying.”

“Oh…” Jongin feels his heart pang. He can’t help but wonder whether Yixing had delayed because of him. “Yixing’s been so busy, I haven’t been able to get in touch with him recently. When is his flight exactly? Maybe I can come say goodbye.”

Kris pulls out his phone. “Give me your number; I’ll send you the details.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you,” the alpha says after saving the contact number.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Jongin’s gaze drifts toward Chanyeol and finds himself under his best friend’s scrutiny. “Come on,” Chanyeol speaks, “you still have to go up against me.” His voice is deep, and there’s a command underlying his tone. Jongin realises there is no room for saying no. He swallows and follows Chanyeol to the court.

When they stand facing each other, Chanyeol comes up close until only the ball separates them. Jongin eyes remain transfixed on Chanyeol’s face, trying to read him, as he takes the ball.

“You didn’t tell me Yixing’s leaving,” Chanyeol says, and there’s a hint of hurt on his features. Jongin sucks in a small breath. Chanyeol is probably wondering why he rejected him for a guy he doesn’t even have a chance with. But before he can give an answer, Chanyeol backs away with a smile like nothing is wrong. “So, did you think of a strategy?” he asks, changing the subject.

Jongin recovers, hiding his own apprehension behind a smile. “Yeah, the strategy is that you’ll have to go easy on me.”

A short laugh escapes the alpha.

Chanyeol absolutely does not go easy on him, and Jongin is bent down huffing with his hands on his knees. “Not fair,” he whines.

“I never said I’d hold back,” Chanyeol retorts with mirth as he lightly dribbles the ball.

Jongin releases a puff of air. “Fine, be that way.” Standing up straight, he holds up his hands to receive the ball. “Alright, I’m ready.”

As soon as Chanyeol tosses it to him, he immediately goes for the attack which he knows the alpha will intercept easily. So, he pauses, balancing the ball in one hand as he reaches down for his ankle.

Chanyeol immediately stops and stares down at him in concern. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” Jongin responds as he quickly gets back up. He takes advantage of Chanyeol’s confusion, and dashes for the net, scoring two-points before the alpha can reach him.

“Ha, ha,” he turns around gleefully to face Chanyeol who stands with his hands on his hips, shaking his head in disbelief.

“You tricked me,” Chanyeol admonishes. “That’s cheating.”

“Well, you didn’t lay down any rules.”

“No rules? Okay…so I’m allowed to do this then—” Jongin is surprised when Chanyeol manages to wrap his arms around him from behind, lifting him off the ground.

“Put me down,” he squeaks. “Referee, I call foul! This play is too hands-on!”

“There is no referee.” They both are laughing.

Chanyeol lets Jongin down but doesn’t release him from his firm grip. Jongin falls into giggles, trying to struggle out of the hold around his waist as Chanyeol runs nimble fingers up and down his sides. “Stop!” he wheezes out between laughs, but the tickles are relentless. Jongin feels hot all over, his body edged on by the alpha’s close proximity, and a weird feeling consumes him. He tries to bend away out of reach but Chanyeol follows, and he becomes super aware of the hips stuttering against his own as the alpha tries to maintain his grip on him.

Chanyeol abruptly pauses and presses his nose along the curve of Jongin’s neck, inhaling sharply. Jongin stops struggling, going lax in Chanyeol’s arms. He feels his stomach twist uncomfortably. Steadily, the air fills with Jongin’s redolent scent. And in that moment, both of them realise Jongin is showing symptoms of heat. Chanyeol hugs Jongin from behind, and whispers, “It’s okay,” before he slowly lets him go and takes a step back. “I’ll ask Sehun to take you home.”

Intermittently, Sehun keeps glimpsing in their direction as he converses with Chanyeol’s friends. Once Chanyeol catches Sehun’s eye, he beckons him over. Sehun excuses himself from the conversation and walks over. Once he reaches them, Chanyeol pulls him close by the joint of his arm and whispers something in his ear. Sehun’s eyes meet Jongin’s sharply as he listens.

“…I can’t guarantee when I’ll return,” Chanyeol says as he pulls back. He sends Sehun a pointed look brimming with a warning before turning to Jongin. “Call me if you need anything and I’ll be right there, alright?”

Feeling embarrassed, Jongin simply nods in response. Sehun holds out his hand and Jongin takes it. Heading away from the basketball court, he looks back over his shoulder to see Chanyeol sit down with his friends. They seem to be teasing him, and Chanyeol responds while nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

Sehun gives Jongin’s hand a light squeeze, gaining the omega’s attention. Jongin looks at him expectantly but gets no response. Sehun just keeps his gaze fixed ahead as he walks. He lets go of Jongin and shoves his hands inside the pockets of his varsity jacket. Jongin watches as the light breeze ruffles the alpha's short black hair. The six-minute walk back to their apartment is pregnant with silence. Sehun seems to be deep in thought so Jongin doesn’t bother starting a conversation. Instead, he feels bubbles of nervousness gather in his stomach at the thought of asking his best friend to help him out with his heat.

He feels cold, though he’s incredibly warm to touch. It feels akin to a fever steadily taking over. Sehun doesn’t notice him shivering so he decides to be the one to make the first move. He latches onto Sehun’s arm, and the alpha stares at him startled for a second. But then he curls his arm around Jongin, allowing him to snuggle against his side. 

When they get back to the apartment, Jongin feels incredibly drowsy. Sehun shuts the door and helps him take off his jacket. “Come on, get some sleep, you’ll feel better then.”

“Stay with me,” Jongin says, and it comes out more of a question than a statement.

“I shouldn’t…”

“Please.” Jongin’s eyes are pleading.

“Okay.” But Sehun looks nervous and indecisive about whether it’s a good idea or not, so Jongin leads him to the bedroom before he can change his mind. 

Moaning in pleasure, Jongin grinds his hips. He jerks awake when he feels a hand grip his waist tightly. His chest heaves with the realisation that he's on top of Sehun, rubbing his erection against his best friend’s thigh. He turns red in mortification, gasping at his own scandalous behaviour.

“You should have woken me up,” he says in distress. 

Throwing a strong arm around Jongin's waist, Sehun stops him from pulling away. “It’s okay,” the alpha says; there’s a sleep-laced roughness to his voice, and his eyes are a vivid red. The way his eyebrows are pinched in the middle, he seems angry and conflicted. Jongin doesn’t like how troubled he looks.

“But are you okay?” he asks.

Sehun faces away from him. “I am–I just–I should go…before…” He trails off. But he doesn’t make a move to leave. In fact, Jongin would say he seems reluctant to. Maybe he wants this— them—just as much as Jongin does.

“Don’t…It’s your room…”

“You know I can’t stay.”

Jongin shifts upright, straddling Sehun’s hips. He presses his lips together and swallows his nervousness. They haven’t really discussed their relationship status—Sehun seems opposed to it—so he doesn’t know where exactly they stand. Still, he takes a chance and slants forward to kiss Sehun, taking the alpha completely by surprise. “Help me,” he mumbles against Sehun’s soft lips.

“Fuck,” Sehun curses before hungrily capturing Jongin’s lips in a deep, heated kiss. “What about Chanyeol?” he asks, pulling away.

Jongin trembles as Sehun drags his fingernails across the back of his thighs. “What about him,” Jongin easily dismisses, staring into the alpha’s eyes. Sehun suddenly pushes himself up by his elbows, forcing Jongin backwards as he roughly kisses him. Jongin moans, trying to keep up with Sehun’s pace. It’s obvious who has more experience. Every move comes readily to Sehun, and his scent becomes stronger—full of attraction. It makes Jongin receptive. Intoxicated by the scent, Jongin feels himself get hot, burning with desire. And slick starts to trickle from his hole. It always embarrasses him how easily it gives away his attraction, and he has yet to come to terms with how exposed it makes him feel.

Sehun groans, sliding his hands down to cup Jongin’s ass before tugging the hem of the omega’s shirt up to trail kisses along his naked chest. Jongin gasps, curling his hand around the back of Sehun’s head as the alpha takes his nipple into his mouth, sucking on it before pulling the sensitive bud between his teeth, making him squirm. Sehun’s hands travel everywhere, exploring the warm skin of Jongin’s body. His every touch brings Jongin relief.

Suddenly, Jongin finds himself pushed backwards on the bed, and an inaudible gasp leaves his lips. Sehun situates himself between Jongin’s legs and tugs off his own shirt, revealing a broad expanse of smooth, pale skin. He grips the waistband of his sweats, ready to take them off, but then he pauses, nervously wetting his lips. “Are you sure?” he asks.

Jongin stares at the alpha, surprised that he’s even asking. “Yes, I’m sure.”

“Aren’t you afraid?” (Of me, he doesn’t say.) “What If I lose control?”

“You won’t hurt me,” Jongin responds, touching Sehun’s hand resting on top of his bent knee. “I trust you.”

“Okay.” Sehun leans over to give Jongin a chaste kiss.                                                                                                                                               

Jongin feels so vulnerable and exposed lying completely naked on his back, especially since Sehun is still dressed in briefs, holding his legs apart. Feeling insecure, Jongin curls his fingers in an attempt to hold back the urge to escape the scrutiny by covering himself up.

It doesn’t take more than a minute for him to succumb to his embarrassment, and he hides his face behind his hands. “This is so embarrassing!” he exclaims, trying to tug his knees back together.

But Sehun stops him from doing so. “It’s okay if you’re embarrassed but you have to know you don’t need to be—you’re gorgeous,” the alpha states, running his hands along the inside of Jongin’s soft thighs. His stare is intense as he tugs at Jongin’s cheek with his thumb to get a better look at his glistening hole. “Fuck, you’re already so wet,” he adds, dipping his pinky into the hole till the first knuckle, watching Jongin clench against the intrusion. “And so tight…I can’t wait to be inside you.”

It makes Jongin flush a deep red. “Stop, you can’t say things like that,” he squeaks out, pulling his hands away from his face. “Now you’re just getting me embarrassed on purpose!”

Sehun’s chest rumbles with a chuckle. “Why wouldn’t I? I like it when you’re embarrassed. You get so pretty when you’re flushed. And the way your little cock is leaking, you clearly don’t mind it.” He reaches over and gives Jongin’s erection a tug, causing the omega to jerk into his grip desperately.

“You’re a jerk.” Jongin makes to playfully kick his best friend with his foot, but Sehun grabs him by the ankle, pulling his legs back open to kiss the inside of his thigh.

Jongin gasps at the feathery touches of soft lips against his skin, and yelps when he feels Sehun bite down and suck, leaving a mark there; the location of it feels very intimate and it stirs something inside him. “You could have warned me.”

Sehun sits back down with his legs tucked underneath him. “I’m going to prep you now,” he tells Jongin, meeting his eyes.

Jongin nods, granting him permission.

Expecting some resistance, Sehun carefully inserts his middle-finger, and stares transfixed as it slides in smoothly. Jongin lets out a small “oh!” when the finger is fully inside of him with Sehun's hand pressed against his ass.

“This feels weird,” he comments when Sehun twists his wrist, and the finger moves inside him, making him clench.

“Have you done this before?”

“Once, myself”—with a sharp intake of breath, his hips jerk as Sehun’s finger brushes against his prostrate—“and once…once with Yixing.” He says it knowing it'll rile Sehun up, and it works because the alpha pauses, lifting his eyes up to stare at Jongin. It’s telling the way his jaw clenches and his tongue pokes at his cheek before a sarcastic smile takes over his face. “Of course, how could I have forgotten,” he comments dryly before dropping his gaze again. “I’m going to insert another finger, okay?”

Jongin’s hole tenses and then relaxes, yielding to the second finger. Sehun curls his fingers, pressing against Jongin’s prostrate. Jongin spreads his legs, opening himself to the alpha. He grows aroused, and the wetness starts to spread, coating Sehun’s fingers. He gasps and whimpers pathetically when Sehun inserts a third finger.

“I know it’s hard but try to relax. You’re too tight,” Sehun says when Jongin’s hole clamps around his fingers, fighting the intrusion.

A noise is forced out of Jongin when Sehun’s fingers find his prostrate once again. His cock, resting against his stomach, starts to drip more precum. Sehun makes sure to aim for the omega’s prostrate with each thrust of his fingers, gabbing precisely against the gland.

Jongin throws an arm over his face, trying to hold back the embarrassing sounds that keep leaving his lips. His body jerks backwards trying to escape the intense sensation of Sehun’s constant prodding. His stomach muscles clench as release builds up, but the constant stimulation gets too much to handle. He reaches to grab Sehun’s arm, making him pause.

“Too much?” Sehun asks, and Jongin nods in response. “Can you handle a little more?”

“No-I think I’m ready.”

There’s a pause as the alpha stares at Jongin. “Okay, you can always stop me,” Sehun says, pulling his fingers out so he can take off his own boxer briefs. Jongin tries not to stare, avoiding a good look at Sehun’s cock before he gets intimidated.

After tossing his briefs to the side, Sehun sits back, legs spread. “Come on, get on my lap,” he says, and Jongin squawks, eyes snapping up to glance at the alpha incredulously.

“Don’t you trust me?” And Jongin thinks that’s an unfair question. He worries his bottom lip before giving up. Of course, he trusts Sehun. “Alright,” he says, and gingerly gets up. He feels shy all of a sudden so he keeps his gaze fixed on the childish, pink floral sheets—which any other time would make him snort but then he remembers he was the one who bought them months back when he had wanted to piss Sehun off because he kept holding off from cleaning his room. But he guesses it backfired on him because he did all the work and Sehun never batted an eyelash at the sheets and still makes use of them.

Sehun grabs Jongin by the wrist and coaxes him forward. When he's about to straddle the alpha's thighs, Jongin takes notice of his erection with wide eyes; it’s flushed an angry red and dripping precum. Jongin swallows thickly at the girth because he can't believe that's going inside of him.

The corner of Sehun's mouth turns up into a soft smile when Jongin wraps his arms around his neck. "What?" he asks at the look on Jongin's face.

"You're hard," Jongin blurts, and then wants to hit himself.

Sehun's expression morphs into amusement. "I am."

Jongin gasps when Sehun’s erection bumps against his ass as the alpha adjusts himself. “You’re nervous,” Sehun says. “Don’t be. We’ll go at your pace…Are you ready?”

The omega nods, swallowing his fear. “This might hurt,” Sehun whispers against his ear, placing a hand on Jongin’s hip. Jongin feels something blunt press against his entrance, and he wets his lips nervously. Sehun peppers the side of Jongin's neck with kisses as he guides him down onto his cock, forcing the engorged head to breach past the rim causing Jongin to hiss in pain.

"Breathe, breathe," Sehun reminds him as he slowly pushes further, inch-by-inch. "Try to relax." He winces when Jongin digs his nails into his shoulders. “Are you okay?” he asks.

Jongin grinds his teeth, doing his best to swallow the pain and not clench around the alpha.

“Take your time.”

Jongin does as he’s told, and after a minute he nods his head, telling Sehun to move. But as soon as the alpha does, he can’t help but clamp down which causes Sehun to involuntarily thrust up into him. Jongin yelps, and Sehun apologies, “Sorry. Fuck, are you alright?”

Jongin’s thighs quiver slightly as he stays absolutely still, trying to concentrate on not clenching. “O-okay, keep going,” he says once he deems himself ready.

"Shit, you're tight," Sehun groans. Halfway through, he gives Jongin time to adjust again. He runs a hand through the omega's chestnut-brown locks, massaging his scalp. "You okay?" he asks, voice strained as he tries not to move his hips.

Jongin gives a short nod in reply. This is definitely not how he imagined getting help through his heat would be like. He's burning up and starting to sweat.

"I'm going to move now," Sehun warns. Strong fingers grab Jongin's chin. "What?" he's about to ask but gets cut off as Sehun pulls him into a deep kiss. He doesn't realise it's a distraction until the alpha steadily bottoms out all in one go. He hisses against Sehun's lips. Sehun is way larger than three fingers and it feels like he’s being torn apart. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to hold back any sounds of pain.

"Sorry," Sehun says and it comes out breathy. He lays an apologetic kiss on Jongin's shoulder before leaning back a little against the pillows propped up against the headboard.

Surprisingly enough, Jongin is still painstakingly hard. He doesn't know how long they stay still with only the sound of their erratic breathing in the air. Sehun has a tight grasp on Jongin’s hips, and Jongin has a clear view of the veins running along those pale arms. From the way his muscles are tense, Jongin can tell that Sehun is having a really difficult time controlling his urges. His best friend is usually very impatient, and Jongin can't help but acknowledge Sehun's effort at holding himself back. 

Jongin places his hand over Sehun’s, getting the alpha to ease his grip on his sides. "I’m ready.”

As Jongin hovers over him, Sehun pulls out until only the tip remains inside the omega. “Come on, move down slowly.”

Jongin sucks in a breath and steadies himself, gripping Sehun’s shoulders as he eases down, taking the alpha’s cock once more. But the pressure makes him tense up again and he tries to lift up, but Sehun stops him, holding him in place. “You’re doing amazing. Trust me, it will feel really good,” Sehun coaxes.

“I can’t. You do it,” Jongin whines, and that makes Sehun chuckle. “I’ll help you.” He kisses Jongin’s cheek before pulling the omega down further, forcing him to take more of his cock. Both of them moan at the feeling.

“It isn’t that bad now, is it?”

Jongin shakes his head.

“You have to take over. I want you to set your own pace.”

Jongin bites his lip and tries once more, starting off slow. He only takes in half of Sehun’s cock before he pulls off. He repeats it a few more times until he feels that he’s ready to take more. With a shaky breath, he lowers himself down once more, and whimpers when the mushroom head hits his prostrate as he sinks down further on Sehun’s cock. He feels so full, and the press of Sehun’s cock against his sensitive walls has him gasping. He pauses for a few seconds before lifting himself up again, steadily increasing the pace as he bounces up and down on Sehun’s cock. “Ah!” punched out moans escape him as the alpha’s cock brushes against his prostrate with each slide. It gets too much and his cock starts to leak profusely, tapping against Sehun’s stomach.

“Fuck, that’s really hot,” Sehun comments as he watches Jongin’s cock drip. He wraps his hand around the length, rubbing at the flushed head with his thumb. Jongin whines, hips stuttering as Sehun teases circles around the tip. He pushes the alpha’s hand away, shaking his head as he catches his breath.

“Too sensitive?”

Jongin nods his head in response, chest heaving.

Sehun rubs his hands along the soft skin at Jongin’s hipbones, before he locks his fingers onto Jongin’s waist and pulls him down in time to meet his thrusts. The feeling is so intense that Jongin's thighs start to tremble with a particularly rough glide over his prostrate, and high-pitched moans spill from his mouth.

"Ngh," he groans as Sehun repeatedly aims for the spot. It feels too much and this prickling sensation starts to spread until it’s almost painful.

"I'm close," Sehun forces out the words in huffs. He slides his hands right below the curve of Jongin’s ass and thrusts harder into the omega. There's the distinct sound of skin slapping against skin and lewd squelching that'd have Jongin turning beet-red if he wasn't so focused on getting his release. He lets out a noise of protest when Sehun suddenly stops and lifts him up easily, only to shove him back against the mattress. Sehun pushes Jongin’s legs up to his chest and enters him without a warning.

Instinctively, Sehun mouths the small patch of skin where Jongin's neck meets his shoulder. Jongin shudders; it's where the claiming bite is usually taken. When Sehun teases the sensitive spot with licks and nibbles, Jongin can't help but cry out as he comes hard at the thought of Sehun claiming him as his mate. He convulses around Sehun causing the alpha to let out a guttural moan as he nears his own orgasm.

After recovering through the aftershocks, Jongin realises that Sehun feels bigger around him with every thrust and it gets difficult to pull in and out until it's almost impossible. A nervous whimper escapes him when Sehun pushes harder, trying to force his knot past the tight ring of muscle already stretched to its limit.

"Shh, it's okay."

"It's not going to fit," Jongin whines, panicking. He wants to move away but he really doesn't have any way to go.

"It will, it will," Sehun coaxes gently. Jongin holds breath as if it will help ease the pain, and squeezes his eyes shut in anticipation. Sehun slowly pushes further until the knot slips inside with a particularly ruthless thrust. Jongin winces at the painful stretch and finally exhales when the thickest part goes inside him, bringing relief to his swollen rim. A sob bubbles in his throat and his back arches at the constant pressure against his sensitive prostrate. Tears prick his eyes from the intense stimulation, and his cock starts to tingle, lying soft against his stomach. Sehun loosens Jongin's strong grip on the sheets and interlaces their fingers together, holding the omega’s hands on either side of his head. He kisses Jongin sweetly before grinding against him with measured thrusts, pulling in and out as much as the knot allows.

Jongin lets out a broken noise as each tug pulls at his sore, swollen rim. There’s a mixture of pain and pleasure. And when the pleasure burgeons, Jongin squirms at the weird sensation that starts to build along with it. “I feel like I need to pee,” he whines, anxious of the feeling.

“You need to let go,” Sehun says with a roll of his hips, shifting to apply more pressure against Jongin’s prostrate which causes Jongin to ejaculate hard with toe curling pleasure, expelling strings of thin fluid all over his stomach as white spots edge his vision.

Sehun grunts, eyes closed, head dipping between his shoulders as Jongin contracts around him, milking his knot. Jongin’s body twitches, oversensitive from his orgasm. He can feel the alpha’s cock pulse as seed spills inside of him. Both pant with exertion.

Jongin is wet and aching, and he feels vulnerable as he trembles from his orgasm. He wants to curl into himself and sleep; his eyelids droop with exhaustion, but the steady throb keeps him aware.

Sehun’s arms burn from holding himself up so he shifts onto his elbows, using his forearms to keep himself up. He stays still until his knot slowly deflates. He caresses Jongin’s hair back and presses his lips against Jongin's temple. “You’re perfect,” he whispers, moving on to kiss Jongin’s eyelid as the omega slowly succumbs to sleep. When he pulls out, his thick shaft is slick with copious amounts of his cum and Jongin’s arousal. He watches as Jongin’s pink puffy hole flutters as cum seeps out.

Fuck, he curses mentally as his cock twitches. “I’ll clean you up,” he says, and gets up to go to the bathroom.

—

Jongin wakes up to light streaming across his face. He blinks away the disorientation and lifts himself up. He winces, clutching the blanket tightly as he waits for the shooting pain across his lower back to fade.

“Sehun?” He stares at the shirtless back of the alpha who’s seated at the end of the bed, facing away from him.

Sehun looks back over his shoulder and slowly twists his body toward Jongin. “Hey, you’re awake...” His tone is soft and sweet. “How are you feeling?”

Jongin pouts. “I’m sore.”

Sehun crawls over and kisses him apologetically. “It’s early, you should go back to sleep and get some rest.”

“How long have you been up?”

“A while…uh-I couldn’t sleep…I just have a lot of things on my mind.”

Jongin gives him an encouraging smile. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Settling beside Jongin’s legs, Sehun intertwines their fingers together. “Um, I was just thinking…my family is hosting a dinner and I want you there…as my date.” He finds it endearing the way Jongin’s entire face lights up.

“Really?! I-I would love to. So, does that mean we're officially going out?”

“We are. You know how I have a tendency to run away from commitment…but it’s different with you, and I’m not afraid to try and take a step further,” Sehun admits in earnest. “You mean a lot to me and I want you there by my side.” Jongin is taken aback because it’s such a big step; Sehun hides all his relationships from his parents, and never brings any of his partners over to the apartment much less his parents’ home. And for him to be willing to introduce Jongin as his boyfriend to his parents…

I love you, Jongin wants to say, and it feels like the right moment. But something holds him back. He doesn’t want to scare Sehun away just when they’ve made progress. He fears he would be asking too much by saying those three words; he doesn’t want to turn this into a given an inch, taken a mile kind of situation. It’s difficult to take a risk when your friendship is also on the line—every step needs to be careful and calculated.

So, he smiles instead and says, “You mean a lot to me, too.”

Sehun kisses him, and he giggles into it when the alpha sticks his tongue into his mouth. Sehun gently pushes Jongin back against the bed, and straddles him. Jongin can feel Sehun against his thigh, half-hard underneath the sweats from last night. Sehun steals his attention by recapturing his lips into a bruising kiss. A moan gets stuck in his throat when Sehun lightly sucks on his tongue. Sehun positions his knee between Jongin’s legs, and rubs his forming erection down against the omega’s thigh. No matter how turned on he is, Jongin doesn’t think his body is ready to withstand a second round, so he breaks the kiss and stops Sehun, pressing a hand to the alpha's collarbone.

Sehun understands that they are going too fast and stops. “Get some rest, okay?” he says and leans over to kiss Jongin just above the brow before manoeuvring himself off the bed. “I should, uh, take care of myself and maybe go out for a run. I’ll get us breakfast on the way back,” he adds, moving to pick up his discarded shirt from foot of the bed. “I’d cook but that’s probably not a good idea.” He smiles sheepishly at Jongin.

Jongin grins back. “You’re right.”

“I’ll be back soon,” Sehun says before he leaves, shutting the door behind him. And Jongin misses him already. He knows he should go back to sleep because he does feel exhausted, but he is left with an empty feeling that doesn’t grant him any motivation to move. It’s comforting to hear Sehun move about in the apartment as he prepares to leave. A smile creeps on Jongin’s face when a sharp clunk sounds across the apartment; Sehun probably dropped his keys. But that smile fades when Jongin hears the front door close, and he’s left utterly alone.

Awoken, Jongin sits upright despite the protest from his body when the doorknob shakes. His heart skips a beat anticipating Sehun’s return. “I’m coming in.” He momentarily forgets how to breathe when the door opens and it’s not Sehun who walks in but Chanyeol.

He remembers his state and immediately reaches for the comforter, making sure his lower half is covered properly. Does Chanyeol know? Because if not, it's not like any of that is going to help because Chanyeol is going to figure it all out. And, oh, God, how is he going to react?

Surprised to see Jongin, Chanyeol comes to a stop near the bed, and his smile falters. His eyebrows knit together as his nostrils flare. Jongin grimaces because he is pretty sure the room reeks of sex and his sudden emotional distress. He can see everything click in Chanyeol's mind as the alpha distinguishes Sehun’s heavy scent in the air. Jongin nervously fiddles with the duvet, clenching and unclenching the material in his fists as he awaits Chanyeol’s response.

Chanyeol’s eyes turn a sharp shade of red, ablaze with anger. “Jongin, what were you thinking?! He could have lost control!”

“But he didn’t,” Jongin immediately defends. “I’m not hurt, I’m fine!”

Chanyeol scoffs, “Fine? Your body is covered in marks.” The alpha stalks over to Jongin and tugs the comforter down enough to expose the side of Jongin’s hip where there are clear dark bruises from when Sehun had gripped him tightly last night. “Look at this! Can you even walk?” Chanyeol’s lip curls at the corner as his chest rumbles with a snarl.

"Don't growl, it's scary," Jongin says, causing the alpha to stop. “I’m telling you it’s not as bad as it seems. He was careful.”

That doesn't seem to placate Chanyeol a bit. "How could you have let Sehun help you through your heat?" he demands again angrily, voice booming. "You know very well how reckless he is. It was your first heat with an alpha and you clearly needed someone who’s gentle with you. He wasn't the right choice; he still doesn't have full control and he could have seriously hurt you. You know better, so what were you thinking?!"  

“I-I’m in love with him,” Jongin admits in a small voice.

Chanyeol reels back sharply, looking momentarily stunned. “W-what?”

Wary of the consequences, Jongin is almost afraid to say it again. “I’m in love with Sehun, that-that’s why I chose him.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to! And I was going to, but I–I don’t want to create a rift between you two. Please understand.”

Chanyeol’s brows are furrowed with a look of hurt and betrayal, and he remains silent for a moment. “But did you consider how I’d feel being kept out of the loop by both of my best friends?! I feel like an idiot. I should have seen it coming.”

“Chanyeol, I’m sorry…”

“You know what, I don’t have the time and mind to deal with this right now—I have work to do.”

“But Chanyeol…” The alpha ignores him and storms out of the room.

Jongin thinks about going after him, but realizes that Chanyeol is too mad and hurt to listen to him so anything he’ll say will fall on deaf ears. He decides it’s better to give his best friend some time and space before he tries to make it up to him. With a deep sigh, he falls back against the bed wondering what he has gotten himself into.

Chanyeol can hear the shower running; Jongin has been in there for a while. He tosses his pen onto the coffee table, and leans back against the sofa, combing his hair back with his fingers. He can’t focus like this when he's being overrun by emotions. He is just so full of anger and he’s not even sure who it’s directed at. In growing frustration, he stands up and paces the living room. He’s mostly angry at himself for not taking action, for holding back. If he hadn’t been so blinded by his feelings, he would have noticed the obvious signs.

The front door opens, and Chanyeol stands still in high alert. Vary of the other alpha, Sehun pauses as he steps into the living room. Suddenly, all the hurt and betrayal comes rushing back to Chanyeol, and he is so mad, it leaves him calm.

“Oh, Yeol, you’re back.” Sehun fidgets with the plastic bag in his hand, clearly cautious as he approaches him.

Chanyeol clenches his jaw. The nerve of Sehun to pretend like everything is normal. And that is what makes him snap—

“Jongin chose you, and there’s nothing I can do about it except be supportive; I fully respect his decision. But all this time I kept asking if you had any feelings for him and you kept denying, only to go behind my fucking back!” He roughly shoves Sehun back, and his voice gets louder and full of emotion with each spoken word.

Sehun refuses to retaliate, gently taking a hold of Chanyeol’s hand gripping his shirt tightly. “I wasn’t going to act on my feelings, I swear. I didn’t even know how Jongin felt; it just happened! I would never purposely hurt you, you know that.”

Chanyeol lets out a bitter scoff. “But you did. You had plenty of opportunities to tell me but you didn’t…You kept lying to me and you broke my trust.”

“Chanyeol, Sehun?” They turn around to face Jongin who appears from the hallway, dressed in a sweater and shorts. He looks so pretty with wet hair and face flushed from the hot shower. He can sense the tension choking the air around them.

Sehun glimpses at Chanyeol and receives a mean look in return. Chanyeol roughly lets him go, shoving past him to go to the kitchen. With an upset frown, Sehun watches Chanyeol leave the room. Jongin appears next to him, touching his arm. “Give him some time, he’ll come around.”

Sehun simply sighs. “I hope so.”

“You know, he loves you too, that’s why he’s so hurt.”

Sehun hums in thought for a moment, before he snaps out of it and apologises, “Hey, I’m sorry it took so long. You must be really hungry.”

“It’s okay, I’ve kind of lost my appetite,” Jongin responds, glancing toward the kitchen.

“You have to eat something. How about after I take a quick shower, we can eat together?”

“Okay.” Jongin smiles sweetly. He leans up slightly on the tips of his toes to wrap his arms around Sehun, pecking him on the lips. Sehun kisses him back before parting to head off to his bedroom. Jongin stands there awkwardly, thumping his fists together slowly in nervousness. He decides it’s better to take a seat on the couch.

He waits, scanning Chanyeol’s books open on the table in front of him—genetics, he notes. Chanyeol returns shortly afterward, holding a steaming cup of tea. He notices Jongin rubbing his bare legs and comments, "Are you cold?" He keeps his eyes fixed on his notes as he takes a seat beside the omega, pretending not to care.

Jongin can’t stop the small, fond smile that appears briefly on his face. He isn’t cold, just anxious so he answers, “Kind of…”

“Here.” Chanyeol slides the mug sideways so it's closer to Jongin. The gesture warms Jongin’s heart. “I’m sorry for hurting you, Chanyeol”—Jongin shifts around in his seat with a leg tucked underneath him, while his other foot remains firm against the cold wooden floor. He places his hands on Chanyeol’s forearm, a plead for the alpha to listen. Chanyeol freezes, not daring to look back at Jongin—“If there’s anyone to blame, it’s me.”

Chanyeol releases a deep exhale through his nose. “I’m not mad at you; I told you I will respect your decision, and I do. I just—I wish you had enough faith in me to tell me.”

“I do! I knew you'd support me when it came to it because you’re wonderful and I’m absolutely grateful...But are you telling me that it doesn’t hurt you at all that I’m with Sehun even though you respect my decision?”

The alpha clenches his jaw, refusing to answer. His facial expressions seem to be warring as he struggles with his resolute.

Jongin grazes his fingers along Chanyeol’s arm before taking a hold of the alpha’s hand, slipping their fingers together. “I didn’t want to hurt you, and neither did Sehun; you have to consider he might have been afraid to tell you just like I was. He wasn’t lying when he said he wasn’t going to act on his feelings. He cares about you so much, and he hid how he felt just because he didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I understand.” Chanyeol stares down at their joined hands resting on his leg just above his knee. “It will take me time to get over it.”

“And that’s okay!” Jongin leans over to hug Chanyeol. Chanyeol tilts his head back to press a kiss to Jongin’s cheek, wrapping an arm around his waist. The alpha's nose wrinkles at Sehun’s overbearing scent on Jongin’s skin, and his gaze drifts over to the hickey lying just below the curve of Jongin’s jaw.

“What’s wrong?” Jongin asks.

“Nothing..."

“Come on, you have to tell me.”

“It’s really nothing…You just…you smell different, that’s all.”

“Different how?”

“You smell like Sehun.”

Jongin recalls what Kyungsoo had told him about alphas and scents. “…Does that bother you?” he asks.

“It’s overwhelming.”

“If it bothers you, you can scent-mark me too if that’ll help. I know it’s an abrupt change.”

Chanyeol’s eyes widen. "You'll really let me scent-mark you?" he breathes out.

Jongin nods, innocently clueless. "If it helps.” Chanyeol pushes him down on the sofa, and Jongin titters when the alpha rubs his face against the length of his neck. He's pretty sure Chanyeol's tail would be wagging excitedly if he had one.

Chanyeol lays friendly kisses along the side of Jongin's face and neck. "Is this okay?" he murmurs against Jongin's skin.

Jongin nods hastily, running his fingers through the alpha's hair. He squirms as a pool of burning desire stirs in his abdomen. He blames his arousal on all the strong pheromones Chanyeol is giving off. He grips his best friend’s waist to prevent him from accidentally coming in contact with the embarrassing erection forming in his shorts. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea, he thinks, and continues to shift uncomfortably. His breathing is heavier by the time Chanyeol is done.

Chanyeol sits back, appearing somewhat smug at Jongin’s slightly dazed expression.

“Jongin,” a voice calls.

Jongin pushes himself up, glancing over Chanyeol's shoulder at Sehun standing a few feet away. He slips off the couch, and hobbles toward the alpha. He swallows thickly at the sight of Sehun standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Water drips from Sehun’s wet hair and runs down his chest in rivulets. There’s a persistent ache in Jongin's backside with each step he takes that reminds him of last night.

He looks back at Chanyeol and finds the alpha focused on his notebook. He wants to propose that they eat together, but he knows it will be too awkward so he quietly follows Sehun back to his room. As soon as they walk in, Sehun shuts the door and grabs Jongin’s face, pulling him into a rough kiss. Jongin moans, hands frozen at the alpha’s waist, fingers barely grazing skin.

Sehun breaks the kiss with a wet noise, and diverts his attention to Jongin’s neck, dragging his tongue along the skin gently latched between his teeth. He pulls back with a solemn expression. “Don’t do that again,” he warns before turning around to head over to his dresser, leaving Jongin dumbfounded.

—

“How could you let Chanyeol scent-mark you?!"

“What? Why not?”

“Scent-marking is between mates and potential mates,” Jongdae explains.

“But Soo said—”

“Forget about that and think about the situation you’re in! Have you forgotten that Chanyeol was courting you before you got together with Sehun? By leaving traces of their scent, alphas basically show their interest. And when you accept their scent, you are also accepting their courtship.”

“Oh,” Jongin responds dumbly. Yixing was right, he doesn’t understand alphas very well.

“You basically gave him false hope and pissed your boyfriend off.”

“This is what happens when you refuse to pay attention during sex-ed out of pettiness,” Baekhyun quips.

Jongin frowns. “Is this a Jongin-roasting session? You guys suck, I’m leaving.” He gets up from his seat, but Baekhyun tugs him back down by the arm.

“Okay, we’ll stop now. But you have to tell us, how was the sex?!” Jongin wrinkles his nose at Baekhyun, hoping the whole café didn’t hear him.

Jongdae and Kyungsoo roll their eyes. “Time for us to leave.” Jongdae grabs his bag and pretends to leave.

“Ignore Baek. Jongin, what did you want to tell us?” Kyungsoo asks.

“Oh, yesterday Sehun invited me to meet his parents at this big dinner they’re hosting at their place.”

“Wow,” Baekhyun exclaims.

“Yeah, but I’m really nervous. Meeting his parents is always intimidating as it is, but at this huge event, it's a whole lot of pressure. I have to dress up, act, and speak properly, you know? I don’t want to disappoint Sehun in anyway.”

“You won’t. Sehun will be the centre of attention anyway, so you can always try to lay low and stay in his shadow,” Jongdae suggests.

“I’ll do that…But how do I impress Sehun’s parents? It’s been two years since I’ve last seen them. I guess they like me, but I don’t know how they’ll feel about me as Sehun’s boyfriend. I hope they're not going to be like one of those ‘no one is worthy of my son’ kind of parents.”

“Just be yourself,” Kyungsoo says. “Parents always love you.”

Baekhyun chortles. “Jongin, that’s high praise coming from the nation’s son-in-law. If he deems you worthy, so will every parent.”

“Shut up,” Kyungsoo responds, embarrassed. His ears turn pink.  

“Cute,” Jongdae coos at the alpha.

“Don’t worry, Nini, I’m sure it will all go well,” Baekhyun assures.

“I hope so…I almost told Sehun I’m in love with him, but I hesitated. If things work out perfectly at the event, I'll finally tell him.”

Chapter Text

Leaning dejectedly against the kitchen’s wooden door jamb, Jongin rereads the message from Kris for the twentieth time over the past two days. A small flame of hope dies when it reveals the exact same thing: Yixing’s flight is at the same time as Sehun’s family dinner. A subtle frustrated sigh escapes him that doesn’t go unnoticed.

“What’s wrong? You’ve been like this the whole morning.” Jongin lifts his gaze up from his phone to see Chanyeol watching him from where he’s sprawled on the couch with his head propped against the armrest.

Jongin puts his phone away with a quick shake of his head. “It’s nothing,” he dismisses. Though he wants to confide in his best friend, it might be inappropriate all things considering.

Chanyeol realises Jongin’s deliberation and pushes himself into an upright position. “You can tell me anything,” then after a pause, he adds, “even if it’s about Sehun.” 

When Jongin still seems hesitant, he urges with an encouraging smile, “It’s okay, tell me if you want to let it out of your chest. I’m still your best friend, aren’t I?”

That makes Jongin grin in agreement. “Yeah, you are.” 

Jongin presses his lips together in contemplation and looks over his shoulder to make sure that Sehun is preoccupied with washing dishes. To his luck, he finds Sehun busy scrubbing away with his cheap headphones around his neck and music turned on loud enough that Jongin can hear it almost faintly amongst the trickling of running water and the clatter of dishes. He turns his attention back to Chanyeol and admits, “It’s about Yixing, actually.”

“Yixing?” Surprise floats across Chanyeol’s face before it clicks. “Oh, I forgot he was leaving. When’s his flight?” He slides his legs off the couch to make space for Jongin when he comes over.

Jongin removes his slippers and settles down on the couch, facing Chanyeol with his legs tucked up to chest. “That’s the problem: it’s tomorrow, at the same time as Sehun’s family dinner and you know how important that is and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. But Yixing’s leaving, and this is my last chance to say goodbye.” He places his elbow on top of the backrest, supporting the side of his head with his hand.

“Have you tried contacting Yixing?”

“I’ve been trying! It says the number isn't available. I can’t believe he didn’t tell me he was leaving sooner. I don’t get it—the last time we saw each other, he promised we’d see each other again.”

“Maybe he felt it would be hard to say goodbye, that’s why he didn’t tell you. Sometimes it’s easier to just try to forget and move on—start fresh.”

“I know but still…” Jongin’s lips form a subtle pout. “He’s my friend.”

“What’s important is that he knows that you care about him. And who knows, maybe you two will meet again.”

Before Jongin can answer, Sehun appears from the kitchen with a bowl of leftover pasta in his hand. “What are you two talking about?” he asks, unaware, sitting down next to Jongin.

Jongin gives him a small smile. “Tomorrow night, actually.”

Sehun nods, chewing on a mouthful of pasta. He swallows and then looks at Chanyeol, “You’re coming, right?”

“Of course. I’ll be there to support you.”

“It would mean a lot,” Sehun says. After a beat, he asks, “What are we watching?”

“Some tacky reality show. It went to commercial before I could catch the name but it’s definitely worse than the last one we saw,” Chanyeol answers. “They keep screaming at each other after every five minutes, then we go to commercial and the process repeats itself.”

“Wait, is it the one where all these women get together for Christmas and one of them hurls every variation of the word slut at her friend?”

“Haven’t reached that part yet but yeah that’s probably the one.”

Sehun leans back thoughtfully. “I saw it last night. It’s terrible but you can’t help but keep watching.”

Their conversation makes Jongin smile fondly. He has a lot to add himself but he keeps it to himself and lets the two of them talk because, for a moment, it seems like nothing has changed.

Later that day, Jongin sits cross-legged on Sehun’s bed, observing the alpha as he rummages through the closet. 

“What should I wear for tomorrow?” Sehun stands with his hands on his hips contemplatively. 

“How about the suit your mom selected?” Jongin suggests.

Sehun’s brow rises a bit. “Which one? There are three.”

Jongin slips out from the bed and walks over to shift through the clothing rack. “You have too many clothes,” he complains. “I’ve never seen you wear some of them”—he tugs on the sleeve of a red-wine hooded bomber jacket—“Like this one.”

“Because it’s not mine, it’s yours.”

“Really? I don’t remember buying it.”

“Because you didn’t—you chose it and Chanyeol bought it for you. You need to stop keeping your clothes here if you’re going to forget about them.”

“I keep them here because you have more closet space.” In the far end of the closet, he finally finds the suit he’s looking for and takes it out by the coat hanger. It’s neatly incased in a clear vinyl garment bag. He places it on the bed and unzips it. 

“This one? I don’t know, I tried it on once and felt very pompous wearing it,” Sehun admits.

“Why? It’s a very good suit.”

“I know but it’s also kind of expensive.”

Jongin takes a peak at the price tag still attached to it and his eyes nearly bulge out at the number of zeros. ‘Kind of’ is an understatement. “Okay...maybe this would be a little too much. Let’s select another one.”

Sehun stares at the options before pulling out a Tom Ford grey sharkskin suit. “Do you remember this one?”

“Yeah,” Jongin says. He’s the one who picked it. There’s a curious tilt to his eyebrows. “Why?”

“I want to wear this one; it’s my favourite.”

Beaming from the statement, Jongin radiates unbridled happiness and his eyes form crescents. Sehun adores that smile, and he’s rewarded with a kiss for it.

—

Sehun’s family home is a resplendent mansion which seems more palace-like in the night, irradiated by bright yellow lights. When they arrive, they are immediately shown inside to the living room. As soon as the massive double doors open, the small-talk dies down and the guests appear to be enthralled by Sehun’s arrival, wanting to see how much the scion son has matured. And shortly after, the whispering starts as comments are shared.

Expecting something of a smaller-scale, Jongin is overwhelmed by the number of people present. He tries to avoid scrutiny by staying in Sehun and Chanyeol’s shadow, but that doesn’t last very long.

Chanyeol spots a professor he admires. “Is that Dr. Shin Yuqi? I’m going to go introduce myself.”

“I thought we were sticking together,” Jongin says, and a frown touches the corners of his mouth.

“We are but I just need to talk to a few people first. I’ll find you two again,” Chanyeol promises. “See you guys later.” His dimple appears as he gives them a close-lipped smile, waving before he turns on his heel to head over across the room. 

Sehun wraps an arm around Jongin’s waist, coaxing him to his side. “There’s Junmyeon, we should go say hello,” the alpha says, cocking his head in his brother’s direction. Jongin nods, more than ready to be around a familiar, friendly face. 

Junmyeon smiles warmly when they come over. “I’m so glad you brought Jongin,” he says. “Is Chanyeol here as well?”

Sehun nods. “He just wandered off.”

A beautiful woman in a blue dress comes over and takes a hold of Junmyeon’s arm. “Sehun! I’m so happy to see you. And you brought Jongin as well.” Her expression matches her husband’s—full of love and warmth.

“Yoona, you’re looking stunning as always,” Sehun compliments with a grin.

“It’s lovely to see you,” Jongin adds. 

Yoona’s smile widens, lighting her entire face. “I missed you both so much,” she says and pulls them both into a brief hug. “You both should stop by our place—it’s been so long.”

“I agree,” Junmyeon says. “Chanyeol comes over often after his internship. You both should too.” 

“It’s your winter break so you have no excuse,” Yoona reprimands playfully, tilting her chin up.

“We would love to,” Sehun promises.

“How about we all spend Christmas Eve together?” Junmyeon suggests.

Yoona claps her hands together. “That’s a wonderful idea. What do you say, Sehunnie?”

“That would be great.”

“Sehun, darling!” Mrs. Oh exclaims as she comes over. She looks elegant with her long hair tied back in a neat bun, dressed in a beige dress with pear-drop diamond earrings.

Sehun turns around to greet his mother. She places her hands on her son’s shoulder caps and kisses his cheek. “I’m so glad you came,” she says as she pulls back, and then acknowledges Jongin with a quick look. “And you brought your friends.” Jongin returns her ostensible smile with a polite one of his own.

“Sehun, I want you to meet Mr. Choi Hyunsuk.” A corpulent man in his fifties steps forward to give Sehun’s hand a firm shake. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Sehun greets.

Mr. Choi chuckles. “How marvellous! I was wondering when we were going to meet the future of Oh Pharma. It’s a pleasure, son. You’re a handsome man just like your father.” 

“You are not too bad yourself, sir,” Sehun responds with a lopsided grin.

That makes Mr. Choi laugh. “You’re cheeky.”

Smiling, Mrs. Oh intervenes, “Mr. Choi, I understand your lovely daughter came with you.”

“Oh, yes, she just went to powder room.”

“When she comes back, maybe Sehun can keep her company so they can know each other better.”

“I’m sure she’ll be delighted!”

Mrs. Oh faces her son. “Won’t you, dear?”

Keeping his hands clasped behind him, Sehun gives them a well-mannered smile but the mischievous glint in his eyes reveals his true intentions. “Jongin and I would love to.”

At Mr. Choi’s inquisitive look, Mrs. Oh quickly tries to salvage the moment, answering, “Jongin is Sehun’s close friend.”

“Boyfriend,” Sehun corrects, snaking his arm around Jongin’s waist.

Mrs. Oh forces an awkward laugh. “Sehun sweetie, tell him you are simply playing around.”

“I’m not,” Sehun responds firmly, expression serious. “Why would I joke about it?”

“Sehun?” Jongin whispers nervously. Sehun gently squeezes his side in reassurance. 

Mr. Choi visibly fumes. Mrs. Oh quickly tries to make amends, “Mr. Choi, I apologise, there’s seems to be a misunderstanding. I have a few more introductions to make. I’m sure you will find them to your pleasing.”

“That’s a dangerous game you’re playing,” Junmyeon comments in concern, coming to stand beside his younger brother. “You should have played along and settled this privately. Father will be livid.”

Sehun shakes his head, gaze focused ahead at the retreating backs of Mr. Choi and his mother. “They only learn the hard way.”

Jongin detaches himself from the alpha’s side to face him. “I don’t understand. Sehun, what just happened?” he asks, eyebrows furrowed in concern. He doesn’t want to be in the middle of a dispute between Sehun and his parents.

“Like my mom said, it was just a misunderstanding. Nothing for you to worry about,” Sehun reassures, taking a hold of Jongin’s hand. “Come on, let’s go find Chanyeol.”

That doesn’t settle things with Jongin but since it's a personal matter, he doesn’t want to press for answers and hopes Sehun will come to him on his own.

Before they can find Chanyeol, they are intercepted by a gaggle of giggling girls amongst whom Jongin immediately recognises Sehun’s cousin, Seulgi. She links her arm through Jongin’s, leaning into him. She’s an alpha too just like Yoona; besides Junmyeon, all blood-relatives of the Oh’s are alphas, and walking into their household can be overwhelming.

“Jongin, it’s been months since I’ve last seen you!” Seulgi exclaims. “I’ve been asking Sehun to bring you over but he hardly ever visits himself."

Jongin glances at Sehun to find the alpha standing with his hands in his pockets, coolly observing him. He wonders why he’s the only one being ganged up on by Seulgi and her friends. But, honestly, he’s glad to see them. “That seems to be the recurring statement today,” he answers.

Park Sooyoung appears at his other side and takes a subtle whiff of his scent. “An omega”—her eyes widen in surprise—“You presented!”

“That’s not going to stop Seulgi though,” Yerim comments, eyes crinkling as she holds her hand up to her mouth to repress a giggle.

Seulgi turns red in embarrassment but refuses to give the ridiculous claim any sort of acknowledgment. “Why wasn’t I able to tell?” she says, feeling betrayed by her own senses.

“His scent is masked by Sehun’s,” Sooyoung says, growing suspicious. She confronts Sehun. “Are you two together? Or is this some way of protecting Jongin’s virtue, or something?”

“It’s rude to scent people without their permission and make remarks,” Sehun reprimands like an older brother, meeting Jongin’s eyes briefly in amusement. “But yes, we’re together.”

Sooyoung and Yerim exchange looks before deliriously squealing. “We’d love to have you as part of our family,” Seulgi says. And Jongin is touched by her words.

“Have Mr. and Mrs. Oh given their blessings yet?” Yerim asks.

Sehun’s gaze sharpens in warning and he immediately puts an end to the conversation. “Not that I don’t appreciate all the sentiment but Jongin and I have guests to unfortunately entertain so we’ll have to take our leave,” he says.

Jongin wants to stay with them and catch up but he’s trying to be supportive so he'll just have to endure the boring small-talk with business associates and major investors.   

“I really need food in my stomach if I’m going survive all of this,” Jongin whines, leaning into Sehun when the alpha winds his arm around his shoulders. He’s drained from all the social interactions they've had. Each time it feels like he's being put to the test. He’s done his best to maintain eye contact and give intelligent answers whenever required.

“You’ve been amazing,” Sehun says, kissing the side of Jongin’s head. “If you don’t want to do this, you can go find Chanyeol or stay with Junmyeon and Yoona.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll stay with you.”

“There’s this last group of investors I need to introduce myself to and then we can sit down someplace quiet. I’m sure they will be serving dinner soon.”

“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that. I’ve been so desperate that I’ve been eyeing the glasses of champagne being offered. But I’m sure your parents won’t appreciate underage drinking at their dinner party.”

Sehun chuckles. “You don’t even like alcohol.”

“Exactly!”

“Come on, let’s get this over with quickly. I’m tired, too.”

Unfortunately for them, Mr. Lee Jinyoung drones on about the increasing expenditure and how difficult it will be to maintain profit with price reductions from competitors, basically bringing the morale down amongst the rest of the investors.

“Exactly what we talked about,” Jongin whispers to Sehun. “You should put an end to it.”

Sehun lips turn up at the corner. “I want you to do it.”

Jongin’s head snaps to the side to give the alpha an incredulous look. “What? No, I can’t,” he protests lowly, panic evident in his voice.

“Tell them what you told me,” Sehun responds calmly. “You were right.”

“I can’t…”

“Try for me? I’ll take over if you can’t. I’d do it myself but I want to see their reaction. It’s important.”

After a contemplative pause, Jongin admits defeat, “Fine.” 

He takes a deep breath to calm his nerves and makes his way to the middle of the circle. “If I may counter,” he cuts in, but then hesitates when all the attention falls on him. He knows that Sehun has his back if he messes up or stumbles so he continues with as much confidence he can muster, “I was informed earlier about the latest Oh Pharma development that will introduced. The unique molecules will allow them to charge a premium price to keep up with the rising costs without having to worry about competitors.”

“That maybe so, young man, but if we’re looking in terms of the long-run, generic versions always pop up after patent expiration,” Mr. Lee retorts.

“But if Oh Pharma continues to focus on quality manufacturing, they can successfully market the downside of cheap drugs where quality cannot be guaranteed. Your investment will surely be fruitful.”

Mr. Lee smiles, and it appears Jongin has gotten his approval. “You’re a bright, young man. Please introduce yourself. I didn’t quite catch your name.”

“It’s Kim Jongin, sir.”

“And may I ask what your relation to the company is?”

“He’s a part of the family,” Sehun speaks up. Murmurs circulate as heads turn to stare at him.

A petite young woman with thick rimmed glasses and a binder scurries forward to whisper in Mr. Lee’s ear. His assistant, Jongin guesses correctly. He can hear the faint words quickly leave her lips; “the youngest son: Oh Sehun.” 

Mr. Lee’s interest suddenly piques. “Oh Sehun, it’s good to meet you. Why are you standing back there? You should have come forward.”

“I like to observe. From back here, I can see the bigger picture,” Sehun answers, stalking forward. “And some things have certainly been made clear.” There’s a daunting implication behind his words. Unlike Jongin, he doesn’t have to manoeuvre his way through to the front, people step aside for him. His aura is different.

“You are sagacious like your father,” Mr. Lee comments as Sehun approaches, coming to a stand beside Jongin. He notes the way Sehun’s hand lingers on Jongin’s lower back, and adds, “I see traditions in your family are changing which gives me confidence that the future of the company is in good hands. It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you.”

Eventually, Jongin starts to feel comfortable and the tension in his shoulder fades as he mindfully listens to Sehun discuss the company’s goals for next year with the interested investors. A hint of a proud smile plays at his lips. He remembers when they were just kids always messing around, and now Sehun seems all grown up and mature like he’s ready to run a company. Jongin doesn’t know why he worried so much because from the looks of it, Sehun has his life figured out and is excellent at the role his parents want him to adopt.

However, an unpleasant feeling rushes through him when Junmyeon approaches wearing a grave expression. 

“Father is calling you to his study,” Junmyeon informs Sehun like a messenger announcing an ill-fate.

“Please, excuse me,” Sehun tells the investors before he draws Jongin aside. “You were amazing, I’m so proud of you," he says, seemingly undisturbed by the summon. “I’ll be back so we can celebrate with some food. Stay with Chanyeol until then.”

“Is something wrong?” Jongin asks, still.

“I’ll be right back,” Sehun repeats, taking a hold of Jongin’s face to kiss him.

Jongin watches Sehun leave with Junmyeon before darting his eyes around nervously in search of Yoona or Chanyeol, but he can’t spot either of them. He feels feeble being left alone in a room full of powerful strangers.

Junmyeon halts at the end of the staircase, hand placed loosely on top of the bannister. “I have to stay here to attend the guests,” he tells Sehun, who pauses a few steps ahead of him. “Father wants to see you alone. Mom will be there, too.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Sehun says, and then makes his way upstairs. He knows Junmyeon is apprehensive about letting him face their father’s fury alone.

Standing outside the dark oak doors leading to his father’s study, Sehun takes a minute to mentally prepare himself for what’s about to come before grabbing the doorknob. His parents’ quarrel immediately stops when they hear the door open. He doesn’t need to hear to know what the main argument is about when he has heard it his entire childhood—both parents blaming the other for how he turned out.

The air is heavy with tension as all three of them stand in silence, staring with a stillness like they're waiting for a spark to inevitably land on a barrel of fine gun powder. Sehun prepares himself while his father seethes behind the desk—a ticking time bomb—and his mother peers at him from the other end with disappointment and shame etched on her face in wrinkles.

Sehun is surprised when his mother speaks first: “Mr. Choi was given the impression that it was a scheme to humiliate him and his daughter.”

“Then I’ll tell him that it was all a misunderstanding,” he responds. “I’ll explain everything.”

“You better pray that Choi Hyunsuk accepts that this was all a misunderstanding,” his father says. “You will convince him to let you go out with his daughter and then we will discuss your engagement.”

“I can’t do,” Sehun responds firmly, accepting of the consequences, though his heart hammers away rapidly in his chest like a trapped, frightened bird. “I’m in love with Jongin.”

Mr. Oh takes a deep breath like he’s inhaling all the anger in the world, preparing to unleash it all at once as he strides over to Sehun with long, purposeful steps.

“Don’t hurt him,” Mrs. Oh begs, but that doesn’t stop her husband from drawing his hand back and then punching Sehun with all the force he can muster.

Mrs. Oh lets out a horrified gasp and immediately rushes to her son’s aid as he reels back from the hit. Sehun unhinges his aching jaw and swipes his thumb along the edge of his mouth where his father’s ring caught his lip. He’s trembling from the anger-driven adrenaline and fear that surges through him.  

“You never learn,” Mr. Oh spits out, wide-eyed with irises a murderous crimson. “Do you realise the damage you have done to the company and to our family name?! The first thing that little rat did was scurry off to the press, demeaning our reputation! It hasn’t even been half-an-hour and it has already made headlines news. Our stocks are plummeting. Your tantrum cost us a forty-billion dollar deal!” As his father looms over him, Sehun envisions an older version of himself. 

Mr. Oh continues on with his tirade, “When will you stop acting selfish, huh?! You’re going to be the reason for making that boy’s life a living hell. We’re surrounded by vultures and a day doesn’t go by when our names aren’t mentioned in the press. You want to bring a late-presenting, infertile omega with no social status into our family. He won’t last.”

Sehun jaw clenches as he swallows thickly, not accepting anything his father says. His parents can read him like an open book, and they are using his trepidation to their advantage to manipulate him. His father could care less what happens to Jongin. “I’ll protect him,” he retorts stubbornly.

“You can’t. The only thing that will happen is he’ll wither away in misery, always feeling like he’s lacking. He’ll never be enough.”

“Enough with your childish stubbornness,” Mrs. Oh adds. “If you won’t come to your senses then I will have no choice but to go to Jongin and tell him why he is not a suitable choice for you. He can’t even give you an heir. If he’s a smart boy like I think he is, he will end it.”

Sehun’s chest heaves in indignation. “You want to humiliate him. How can you use that—something he has no control over—against him?!”

“You’ve let us no choice, Sehun,” his mother responds in a quiet voice.

“Don’t, I won’t let you,” he exclaims, shaking his head. 

“Then you know what to do,” Mr. Oh says, unsympathetic. “Break it up, or I will.”

It hasn’t even been a few minutes since he’s been alone when Jongin finds himself cornered by a group of curious older women who covertly attempt to pry information regarding his family status and background to figure out whether theirs measure up. But Jongin doesn’t know what to say because his family isn’t influential in any sort of way and he can’t predict how his answer might impact Sehun. The last thing he wants is to be the consequence of a scandal.

Startled, he inhales sharply when he’s grabbed by the upper arms from behind. His eyes lift up over his shoulder to see Chanyeol, bringing him relief. 

“He’s going to be an Oh, that’s all that matters. If you’ll excuse us,” Chanyeol answers for Jongin before herding him away.

As soon as they escape to the entrance hall, away from all the guests, Jongin leverages himself on the tips of his feet and hugs Chanyeol. “Thank you, I can’t tell you how good it is to see you.” He allows himself to close his eyes, digging his fingers into the back of the alpha’s suit. 

Chanyeol flushes and pets Jongin’s back as the omega breathes into his neck, tickling the sensitive skin with small puffs of hot air. He can’t resist pressing his cheek against the side of Jongin’s face. He trails his hands over the sides of Jongin’s waistcoat underneath his open suit jacket before folding his arms tightly around the lower half of the omega’s torso, drawing him closer. With each soft inhale, Chanyeol’s senses are flooded with Jongin’s distinctive sweet scent and he starts to lose himself to it. He doesn’t realise his hold is getting tighter until a soft sound is pulled out of Jongin. He gives the top of Jongin’s ear a quick, affectionate kiss before releasing him. 

“I really don’t want to go back,” Jongin whines.

“Being with Sehun means this will become a regular thing, so you need to get used to it.”

Jongin looks away with a dramatic expression. “Don’t remind me.”

“Where is Sehun, by the way?”

“Junmyeon called him to the study so I’m sure he’s there.”

“Oh, he’s upstairs? We can hide in his room, then. I’ll text him so he can join us as soon as he’s done.”

Proportional to the rest of the house, Sehun’s bedroom is also spacious (Jongin has seen smaller apartments.) It has been more than a year since the room was last occupied, and Sehun’s things have been left the way they were save for the essentials he took with him when he moved out. Sehun doesn’t have any immediate plans of coming back to live with his parents, but his parents do wish he would once he gets married—and thought of it is too much for Jongin so he shoves it out of his mind. 

Though faint, Sehun’s scent still lingers, embedded in his every belonging. Jongin is filled with nostalgia as he’s reminded of their childhood. They used to prefer staying over at Sehun’s house because the numerous rooms and winding hallways provided an excellent setting for their games.

Unlike Jongin, Chanyeol isn’t interested in scouring the room for memories, and immediately flops down backwards on the bed, with his shoe-clad feet planted firmly on the floor.

“You’re going to get creases on your suit,” Jongin points out to him.

“I don’t care, I just want to take a nap.” Chanyeol closes his eyes and stretches out his arms to get comfortable, making Jongin snort amusedly.

“I might join you.”

Across the door, at the other end, the room extends semi-cylindrically from the middle, and the walls of that section are window panes—even the arched roof. That is Jongin’s favourite part of the whole house, and he makes his way over to it. Many nights they would find themselves on the window seat, gazing at the different faces of the sky when they were teenagers. They would talk for hours. He used to settle there and bask in the sunlight whenever the sun lay warmly in the afternoon. If only he knew then how much he’d come to miss those casual moments. 

Jongin stares out into the garden below, though he can barely see anything clearly because of the dark. Some metres away there’s a large beech tree where they used to get numerous items stuck all the time, including Sehun’s costly dress shoes once or twice.

“What are you looking at?” Chanyeol asks, glancing at the omega with one eye cracked open.

Jongin turns around with a wistful smile and curls his fingers into a loose fist, tilting his index finger back toward the window. “Do you remember when we got a soccer ball stuck between the branches?”

The recollection brings back old feelings as well, and it spreads across Chanyeol’s face as his lips immediately tug into a lopsided grin in spite of himself. “Oh, how can I forget? We didn’t want to get in trouble again for ruining the foliage so we taped together a wiper and a hockey stick to get it out. And maybe a pipe was involved. Remind me again why we didn’t just climb it?”   

Jongin chuckles. “We were kids. The branches were too high. Sehun even tried getting on a folding chair to reach them.” 

Chanyeol steers his head back to stare up at the ceiling in contemplation. “We always dreamed of building a tree house there.”

“Yeah, but Sehun’s mom said it’d be too unsightly. We used the old dog house at your place as a replacement. How did we all even fit inside?” 

“I don’t know. Childhood is always filled with unexplained things.”

“Seems like the kind of idea you’d initiate, though,” Jongin teases with a smile, prepared for his best friend’s retort as he wanders over to the bedside-table.

“It wasn’t…Or, was it?” Chanyeol’s face scrunches as tries to recall but then gives up, finding it futile. “I can’t defend myself because I don’t even remember.” He cranes his neck, tilting his chin up, to stare at Jongin.

Jongin picks up a frame and stares at the old photo of the three of them from a trip he isn’t able to recall much about. They're around the ages of six and seven in the picture, dressed similarly in overalls—blue for Chanyeol and Sehun, and a yellow one for him. They are all smiling, though in Sehun’s case it’s a forced one because he had been crying minutes before Jongin’s mom took the picture. It pulls a sudden laugh out of Jongin as he remembers. “Ah, I love this picture,” he says out loud, mostly to himself.

Without having to see it, Chanyeol already knows which one he’s talking about. “While Sehun hates it. He left it here on purpose and hid his intention behind some sentimental bullshit.”

“Still—not to add on to that, but I think it’s fitting that it stays here.” Jongin stares at the picture closely one more time with a gleam in his eye, and then puts the frame back the way he found it: angled so it faces the bed somewhat. 

“So, how did your introduction to Dr. Shin Yuqi go?” He manoeuvres around to the foot of the bed, and sits down, patting the alpha’s thigh to gain his attention. His breath gets caught in his throat, heart racing when Chanyeol captures his hand to keep it in place, interlocking their fingers together. Jongin can’t fathom how a simple gesture can cause him to lose his head. He hooks his chin over his shoulder to look back at Chanyeol. 

Chanyeol has his arm folded underneath his head, and the dark intensity in his gaze is masked by half-lidded eyes. There is something almost intentional about his languorous manner, like he wants to catch Jongin off-guard. The corner of his lips curl up into an equally lazy smile. “It went great. I talked about—wait…I talked a lot, and I can’t remember exactly what came out of my mouth but it worked because she said she would love to have me as her apprentice,” he drawls with a trace of amusement coating his words. There’s that slight pride, too, in his expression that comes with every accomplishment he achieves on his own. No matter how much he tries to hide it, Jongin always notices that small twitch of muscles in his cheek.

“Yeah? You’re amazing,” he breathes out in response as Chanyeol thumb strokes the stretch of skin over his hand. The alpha’s finger-pads are rough and calloused, hard-earned from the consistent use of the guitar without a pick and playing basketball. A faint shiver skitters down Jongin’s spine as a fleeting thought of those rough fingers traveling over his bare skin passes through his mind. “…You manage to get everything you want—it’s inspiring, really.”

“Not everything,” Chanyeol responds after a beat, words heavy with implication; his eyes flicker over Jongin’s face pointedly. 

Jongin stares at him for a moment, blood pounding in his ears. “Um, maybe I should head back,” he says, and is quick to be on his feet, putting some distance between the two of them. He doesn’t want to go down this road again. It’s too easy to be swept from under your feet when it comes to Chanyeol, and Jongin has to remind himself who he’s with. Sehun—that’s who he should be with right now.

Chanyeol pushes himself up to stand in Jongin's way before he can leave. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to burden you, but I’m not going to pretend like my feelings have just disappeared. It’s frustrating. I’m not over you and, at the moment, it feels like I’ll never be. But you don’t have to worry about me trying to come between you and Sehun. Before anything else, you’re my best friend, my closest friend”—he brushes his fingers along the length of Jongin’s arm and lightly clings onto the omega’s fingers in an almost child-like manner—“And I want you—both of you—to be happy…Even if it means I’m not entirely happy for the time being.”

Through parted lips, Jongin sucks in a subtle breath and almost forgets to exhale as he stares into Chanyeol’s eyes, tongue tied. Deep down, a selfish part of him doesn’t want Chanyeol to give up so easily, to move on. But that brief thought brings him an immense amount of shame. How could he think something like that?

Chanyeol takes his silence for something else. “I don’t want you to pity me.”

“I could never,” Jongin insists firmly.

The tight expression on Chanyeol’s face finally morphs into something more relaxed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dump this all on you.”

Jongin gives him a soft smile in return. “I’m glad you told me, though.”

Red colours Sehun’s vision as he stumbles out of his father’s study feeling truly beaten. He steadies himself against the wall, pressing a hand to his forehead. His phone vibrates, and he reluctantly takes it out. Tao’s calling him, probably wanting to know how it’s going. He ends it.

There’s a message from Chanyeol: meet us at your room :P

He’s about to lock his phone when a message pops up from Tao. You should read this, it says. Sehun’s eyebrows furrow as he opens the link shared. It opens up an article—

Real or Faux

Oh Sehun’s date getting cozy with another man rumoured to be no other than Oh Sehun’s best friend. Is this a relationship a cover up for something bigger? 

Jongin startles when the door opens. He is about to ask Sehun if he’s finally free to hang out and have some fun but the words die in his throat when he sees the younger alpha’s deathly expression and red eyes brimming with rage.

“What happened?” he asks with a slight hesitance, lifting his hand to reach out but then thinks better of it.

Sehun’s eyes flick over to meet Chanyeol’s knowing gaze. “I’ll bring something for your bruise,” Chanyeol excuses himself to give the two of them privacy.

Jongin approaches Sehun under watchful eyes, and gently touches the edge of the alpha’s jaw just below the bruise. “Who did this to you?”

Sehun swallows, jaw clenching underneath Jongin’s fingers. He pulls Jongin’s hand away from his face, but it’s just an excuse to hold onto Jongin’s hand. He wets his lips, the tip of his tongue feeling the busted skin. “My parents want me to marry Choi Hyunsuk’s daughter.”

“W-what?” Jongin’s voice breaks.

“They want Oh Pharma to be the number one company, and to make sure that happens, they want to set me up with Choi Hyunsuk’s daughter. I thought maybe they would stop insisting if I made a point but…” He trails off, and his bottom lip trembles—revealing only a split-second of weakness before he immediately regains his impassive composure and a satirical smile takes over his face—“My father is furious.” 

Jongin’s expression morphs from bewilderment to consternation as realisation dawns on him where Sehun’s bruise came from, and he’s at loss for words.

“I want you to go home with Chanyeol,” Sehun simply says with a steely face.

“I’m not leaving if you’re not. I want to stay here with you.”

“There’s nothing you can do. I don’t want you here.”

“But there has to be something?!”

“Stop making things difficult. I’m asking Chanyeol to take you home right now.” Sehun turns away, making it clear that his words are final.

“I love you. I want to help,” Jongin pleads, hoping that it would take away some of the harshness from the alpha’s demeanour.

Sehun whirls around to look at him, the words having struck a nerve, reigniting the fury in his eyes. “No, you don’t,” he dismisses sharply.

“What do y—”

“You’re not in love with me, Jongin,” he snaps. 

“How can you say that?!”

“Because you aren’t! Not recently. You don’t know what you want so you latched onto the feelings you had for me a long time ago—a safe bet—and you never questioned their validity because it’s what you felt the longest. All this because you’re too afraid to accept your feelings might have changed. But I’m not the one you’re in love with—it’s Chanyeol. Even your body knows it.”

Jongin opens his mouth to protest but no words come out at first. “You-you’re not making any sense! I’m in love with you.”

“Are you convincing me or yourself?” Sehun pauses for a moment, holding off the final blow until the tension is palpitating. “But that’s okay because I. don’t. love. you.” He’s relentless and cruel, and his stone-cold mood is chilling.

As those words ring in Jongin’s ears, it feels like his chest has caved in and he can hardly breathe. And suddenly, he’s no longer looking at his best friend but a stranger. His throat constricts as angry, embarrassed tears escape, sliding down his cheeks. He finds it difficult to utter even a single word with the lump in his throat.

“You don’t mean that,” he says weakly, hoping Sehun would just take his words back. 

But Sehun remains hard-hearted and unrelenting. 

Sehun clenches his fist, and it takes everything in him not go after Jongin. A moment later, Chanyeol barges into the room, expression full of bewilderment and concern. “What happened? Why is Jongin so upset?”

Sehun is straight-forward about it: “I broke up with him.” He watches as a series of emotions pass over Chanyeol’s face. “What? Why would—Sehun, what the fuck?”

“What if I tell you I broke up with him because I don’t feel anything? That makes me an asshole, right?”

Chanyeol levels him with a hard stare. “I know you; you’re not fooling anyone. Tell me what really happened. You’re protecting him, aren’t you? Your bruise—I’m guessing your father didn’t approve.”

The angry twitch in Sehun’s jaw answers his question. “Sehun, you can’t keep letting your parents dictate your life.”

“You think I don’t know that?! That I haven’t thought about every possibility! What, you think if I just defy my parents, they’ll be mad for a while and then eventually accept everything? It’s not that simple,” Sehun exclaims. But then he immediately feels terrible for raising his voice at Chanyeol who’s always willing to put his own feelings aside to help him get whatever the fuck he wants. He feels like a selfish prick. “I can’t let Jongin be any part of this family. I’m unfortunately cursed to mine by blood, but he doesn’t have to be. They—when I told them I wanted to be with Jongin, my mom was ready to march over to him and point out every single flaw until he realised how he’s an unfit choice.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget how devastated Jongin was when he found out he couldn't conceive, and my parents want to use that against him. He is finally starting to feel confident in himself again, and I can’t let them ruin that. I can’t let Jongin live his life constantly being made to feel like he’s not enough.”

“Did you tell him all of this?” Chanyeol asks. “Because otherwise he’s going to think you rejected him and that isn’t exactly going to help his self-esteem either. He’s in love with you. And he is going to keep wondering why he wasn’t enough.”

Sehun barks out an unexpected laugh. And it’s painful. “He’s not in love with me.”

Chanyeol stares at him, probably convinced that he has lost it.

“He’s in love with you, not me. I think deep down you know it too,” Sehun states, and he surprises himself at the lack of bitterness in his tone.

Chanyeol is speechless, mouth hanging open momentarily as no words come out, and he stares back at Sehun like he’s crazy. But then an angry look takes over him as he shakes his head. “I don’t know what’s going on in your head right now, but someone has to go after Jongin, so tell me is it going to be me or you?”

“Take him home—you’re the only one he’ll listen to right now.”

Chanyeol looks like he’s holding back from saying whatever is on his mind—probably something mean, and Sehun is glad he doesn’t say it, not right now. Chanyeol turns on his heel and makes to leave. But then he pauses by the door and glances back over his shoulder at Sehun. “Whatever you’re doing, I hope you’ve thought through it well, otherwise you’re going to end up regretting it. Because once I have Jongin, unlike you I don’t plan on letting go.”

Jongin is not conscious of where he’s going, and allows the hallways to guide him. He turns a corner and leans against the wall, willing himself to stop trembling. After a few moments, he hears someone approach and holds his breath. A part of wishes Sehun would come after him and another doesn’t want anything to do with the alpha. From the resounding footsteps, he can tell two people are heading his way. 

“If he wanted an omega, I would not have disapproved if it were someone like Luhan. I want a grandchild, that’s all I ask.” Jongin inhales sharply as he immediately recognises the voice belonging to Sehun’s mom. After a pause, she adds: “You were too harsh on him.”

Another voice grunts, “You have made him too soft. He needs to learn that disobedience will cost him.”

Jongin squeezes his eyes shut, wanting to disappear, and hopes that Sehun’s parents don’t turn his way. He remains frozen in fear until he’s sure they have passed him. 

Unlike the rest of the house where guests are being entertained, the upper portion is relatively dull. He sits down on the carpet, not caring that he’s ruining his suit. He feels a lot like a kid with his arms wrapped around his bent legs as he stares out the towering window across from him. As though he’s been granted a comforting gesture, he sees bright lights in the distance steadily make their way across the starry night sky. He wonders if it’s farfetched to imagine that Yixing’s on that flight merrily making its way to his home country. With the way everything has progressed, it makes him feel like he has lost everything. Maybe that’s what he gets for being selfish.

He’s busy staring out the window, deep in thought, and doesn’t notice Chanyeol walk up to him. “Hey,” the alpha greets softly to grab his attention, crouching down beside him. There’s something tentative about his movement.

Jongin looks up at him with a small smile. “Hey.”

“Let’s go home.” Chanyeol offers his hand, and Jongin takes it.

“Okay.”

The drive back to their apartment is silent. Jongin stares at Chanyeol from his peripheral vision, and finds the alpha lost in thought, his grip on the steering wheel tight. Jongin’s gaze drifts from Chanyeol’s exposed forearms from his folded sleeves up to his clenched jaw, and wonders if Sehun told Chanyeol why he broke up with him—about his feelings, and that makes Chanyeol angry. As if sensing the gaze on him, Chanyeol turns his head to glimpse at Jongin. Jongin stiffens, ready to respond (or defend himself, if necessary), but Chanyeol’s expression turns momentarily soft before his attention is back on the road in front.

That is when Jongin realises that this is not the normal route they usually take. In fact, he catches a glimpse of one of the signs as they speed by and realises they are actually moving further away from their apartment.

“Aren’t we going back home?” he asks.

“Ah, I was wondering when you’d notice. We are actually going to a food festival,” Chanyeol replies, wearing an alluring smile.

“This late in the night?”

“We both didn’t get the chance to eat so I don’t see why not.”

“What if I tell you I don’t feel like eating?”

“Then”—Chanyeol gives it a thoughtful second—“I’ll say I don’t either in solidarity. But I gotta be honest with you, I’m quite hungry.” 

Jongin releases an exaggerated sigh, lips curling up at the corners by the end of it. “Fine. I guess you win.” To be honest, he could do with a distraction.

“You won’t regret it. We’ll keep it simple, maybe a skewer or two.”

After circling around the parking lot a bit, Chanyeol finally finds a spot close enough. It’s more crowded than Jongin expected.

“Wait, wait,” Chanyeol says. He switches off the engine and quickly gets out after removing his seatbelt. Jongin watches curiously as the alpha goes around the jeep to the other side and then opens the door for him. 

“A gentleman,” Jongin giggles. “I thought we agreed I’d open the door for you next time.”

“You’ll have your opportunities soon, but not today. Now come on.” Chanyeol reaches for Jongin as he steps out of the jeep and adds with a teasing grin, “Though, I have to appreciate that you waited without even questioning why when I told you to.” 

“Shut up.” Jongin groans and hits Chanyeol’s upper arm. “I know what you’re alluding to so I’m going to have to stop you right there.”

Once they get to walking, Jongin realises that Chanyeol didn’t bring his suit jacket with him.

“You didn’t bring your jacket? You’re going to get cold,” he says.

“I won’t need it, you’ll see,” Chanyeol responds.  

“What if I’m cold and need your jacket?” Jongin jokingly asks.

“On top of your jacket you want my jacket?”

“Well, yeah,” he says, meeting Chanyeol’s eyes with a smile.

Chanyeol stares back for a few seconds and then answers, “Then I’ll go run back and get it especially for you.”

“Oh, I like that.”

“Then does that mean you’re satisfied? Shall we get going then, your highness, or do you have anymore requests you want to make?”

“For that comment, I’m going to make you come back all the way here for nothing.”

“I was lying. I would never do that for you.”

“You would. Admit it.”

Chanyeol pushes Jongin away by the shoulder when he laughs. 

Jongin stares in awe at the sight before him. Overhead the path, there are bright yellow fairy lights that form a partial ceiling. White stone fire pits are lit up after every few stalls which keep the whole place warm. There’s this mix of aromas wafting through that has Jongin’s stomach immediately rumbling. If he wasn’t all that hungry before, he definitely is now.

“Smells incredible, doesn’t it?” Chanyeol says.

“Yeah. Incredible,” he murmurs back, mesmerised. 

Chanyeol allows him to roam around and just observe the entire setup. There’s so much variety that it becomes hard to choose from.

“Is that squid?” He stares as the little tentacles get chopped up on a wooden board.

“You want to try?”

“Not really. It’s hard to swallow, and I’m not in the mood right now for something slimy stuck down my throat.”

Chanyeol grins at him. “But later though, right?”

Jongin stares back, confused. “What?”

“What?” The alpha plays innocent.

“I’m judging you so hard right now,” Jongin responds as they move onto the next stall, navigating through a throng of people.

They end up getting chicken tortilla wraps which Chanyeol buys for the both of them. They settle at one of the wooden tables near the riverbed which gives them a kickass view of the night sky and wide stretch of the twinkling city far away on the other side of the river. Because of the festival, it’s crowded and the tables are jam-packed together to accommodate as many customers as possible. They adjust their seats so they’re sitting closer, almost next to each other, so it’s easier to hear each other talk. Jongin glances around, taking in the surrounding as he sits down. There is something so romantic about the whole setting.

“If it wasn’t so crowded and noisy, this is a good place for a date,” he comments.

“Yeah?” Chanyeol says as he takes out their food from the paper bag.

Jongin hums, “The sight’s gorgeous.”

They don’t waste anytime digging in. “Oh, these tortilla wraps are so, so good,” Jongin moans around a bite. “I would love to take five of these to-go. Why haven’t we come here before?”

“Because they started it last year in May when we were all tied up, and the festival’s only for a week,” Chanyeol answers.

“Oh, yeah, I remember you mentioned it.”

Afterward, they stand against the railing, leaning forward with their forearms against cool metal. The breeze carries the scent of the woods and river, and Jongin likes the way it feels against his face. He turns his head and stares as it ruffles Chanyeol’s hair and dress shirt. The alpha’s tie is loose around his neck, and the top few buttons are undone. Casual is a good look on him, Jongin thinks. 

“Thanks for this, I, um, I needed the distraction,” he tells Chanyeol.

“Me too,” the alpha mumbles, oddly distrait and pensive as he continues to stare up at the sky.

Jongin gaze lingers on him for a few seconds longer, taking in the brush of Chanyeol’s lashes against his cheek when he blinks. Jongin likes the thoughtful silence between them and turns his attention back to the river below, gazing into the depts of it. All the feelings he has been trying to repress start to resurface and his heart feels heavy. He feels guilty not being by Sehun’s side. Even though they broke up, had a fight or whatever, Sehun is still his best friend. And he’s going through a hard time, so Jongin should have been there for him.  

He clutches the metal bar tighter with a shaky exhale. Chanyeol places a hand over his, and Jongin’s eyes flicker over to the alpha.  

“Let’s head back,” Chanyeol says. 

When he makes to pull away, Jongin twists in his grip and holds onto his hand. They walk back to the parking lot holding hands, and it’s more of a comforting gesture than anything. At least that’s what Jongin tells himself.

Walking up the steps to their apartment, Jongin is surprised to find a teddy bear seated on top of the welcome mat right in front of their door. On the teddy bear’s lap, there’s a piece of paper with something scrawled on it. He picks up the teddy bear, tucking it under his arm as he opens up the paper. He immediately recognises the messy handwriting, and his breath stutters as his eyes hurriedly devour the words.

I tried calling but you weren’t picking up—Jongin thinks about where his phone is on silent, lying on top of his dresser, plugged to the charger—I’d like to think you were busy and not just ignoring my calls because you didn’t want to talk to me. I asked your neighbours but they didn’t know when you were coming back so I waited. But I have to leave soon. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you just because I thought it’d be hard to say goodbye, but I realise now that leaving without saying goodbye is harder. So here I am, writing this to you. I just wanted you to know that I’m thinking about you and I look forward to the day we meet again under better circumstances.

With Love,

Yixing

P.S. Your neighbours are really nice: they lent me a pen and paper so I could write to you because they thought it’d be more personal. The teddy bear is from me though.

Jongin hands tremble and the paper crumples under his grip. The whole thing is so very Yixing.

Chanyeol stands at the side, eyebrows furrowed. “Who’s it from?”

“Yixing,” Jongin forces out, unable to tear his gaze away from the messily scrawled handwriting. “You were right…” He scans the page once more and lets out a wry chuckle. “It would’ve been funny if I had gone to the airport after him while he was right here looking for me. Maybe I should have. I think it would have ended up better for me,” he says self-mockingly, looking up at Chanyeol. “At least it could’ve made an interesting story.”

Chanyeol meets his gaze with an empathetic smile and a knowing glint in his eyes. “You don’t.” And Jongin knows he’s right, he would have regretted it.

Jongin goes to his room and puts the teddy bear down on his bed next to the pillows before sitting down himself. He unplugs his phone from the charger and sees the missed call by an unknown local number that is surely Yixing’s. He wants to call it back, however he knows that it’s too late and it’ll probably just be unavailable.  

With a sigh, he tosses his phone aside and it lands on top of the comforter. He gets ready for bed and changes into his pyjamas. Coming back from the bathroom, he is just about to pass by Chanyeol’s room when he hears the alpha ask, “But you’re alright, though?” It makes him pause. The door is ajar and he sees Chanyeol on the phone, facing away from him. He lingers, pushing the door open wider.

“No, Sehun. I just—I want to know if everything’s fine,” Chanyeol says, still unaware of Jongin’s presence. As he listens to the call, he lifts his hand from his hip and tugs at his dress shirt before shrugging it off his shoulders. “Because I can come over.”

Jongin hadn’t noticed the alpha was in the middle of changing clothes, and he inhales sharply, blushing furiously at the sight. He would be lying if he said he doesn’t find the way Chanyeol’s shirt is bunched up around his arms, exposing his toned back muscles, very attractive.

Chanyeol turns around in that moment and doesn’t seem that fazed to see Jongin standing by the door. He beckons the omega inside with his fingers. Jongin quietly slips inside the room and settles on the bed until Chanyeol is finished with the conversation.

“You know when you’ll be back?” Chanyeol tucks the phone between his ear and shoulder while he slips his shirt off from his arms and discards it in the hamper.

“That’s okay. Just call me when you do.” After ending the call, he leaves the phone on top of the dresser and opens the top drawer to pick out a sweatshirt, tugging on the first one he finds. 

Jongin stares at him expectantly. “What did he say?”

“He’s with his friends. He’s not sure when he’ll be back.”

“Oh.” 

His face must say it all because Chanyeol comes over and sits down next to him. “I know what you’re feeling, I want to be there for him, too. But it’s a family matter and we have to respect that so we can’t be involved if he doesn’t want us to be there.”

Jongin wants to snort, instead he stares down at his feet glumly. “I’m the one he doesn’t want there. You don’t have to sugarcoat it.”

“You know he really cares about you.” Chanyeol combs his fingers through the hair at the nape of Jongin’s neck, and it lowkey sends a shiver through the omega. “He’s just doing what he thinks is best right now so don’t let him get to you, alright? He’s hurting so he’s trying to hurt everyone else…Give it some time; he’ll come around,” Chanyeol says gently, and wraps his arm around Jongin, pulling him close to place a kiss on the crown of his head. “Get some sleep. Things will be different tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Jongin mutters, tilting his head back against Chanyeol’s chest as he glances up at him. “‘M tired anyway.”

Chanyeol lifts his face from the top of Jongin’s head to stare down at him. “Do you want to stay with me?”

Jongin would love that but it would feel weird—like he’s taking advantage of the fact that Sehun is not here. Considering all that took place, he doesn’t want to give away a wrong impression incase Sehun does come back tonight. So he shakes his head, “I think I just want to be alone right now.”

Jongin can’t fall asleep. He lays wide-awake on his bed, and every few minutes or so, his heart jumps in anticipation whenever he hears a noise from the apartment. A part of him can’t help but wait for Sehun, hoping he’ll return anytime soon. The thought of leaving things the way they went makes him restless. Light trickles from the small space underneath the door, followed by small dancing shadows. The door cracks open and Chanyeol peeks inside. He enters with a slight displeased quirk to his lips when he sees Jongin awake. “You’re still up.”

“Yeah, I was just about to go to sleep,” Jongin says, and even makes a show of pulling the covers over himself to sell it.

That makes Chanyeol snort amusedly despite himself. “You said that three hours ago.” His fingers brush over the doorknob. “He’s not going to be back today so you should get some rest. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”

“Yeah…Goodnight.”

He doesn’t get a wink of sleep the entire night.

Chapter Text

Jongin has been feeling under the weather since morning. He can feel the heat prickling just underneath his skin, and it’s suffocating as usual. He is grateful that it has been a relatively slow day at the studio so he is allowed to go home early.

“I’m heading out now,” he tells Sooyoung, who has been assigned his new partner since Yixing left.

“Are you leaving with Chanyeol?” she asks. 

“Unfortunately, no. He has basketball practice so I’m heading back on my own today.”

“He’s been coming around more often.” 

“Yeah,” Jongin agrees, not missing the implication; he’s pretty sure he has a dopey smile on his face. But it it slips off quick enough when Sooyoung continues, “How’s Sehun though? I don’t think I’ve seen him around lately.”

“He’s been busy,” Jongin shrugs, not that he’d know when he hasn’t spoken to the alpha in almost a month. Thankfully, Sooyoung doesn’t probe for details and moves on from the subject, “Oh, and don’t forget to send Taemin the signup list. Thought I’d remind you.” 

Jongin smiles, adjusting the duffle’s strap over his shoulder. “Thanks. I’ll never hear the end of it if I don’t email it to him by tonight.”

When Jongin finally gets back to the apartment, he takes out his keys from his pocket as he nears the front door, only to discover it unlocked. He pauses in suspicion before pushing the door open, cautious not to make a sound. He is half expecting to walk in on them being robbed as he stealthily makes his way to the living room, phone clutched tightly in his fist. His heart lodges up in his throat when he almost crashes into a looming figure blocking his path at the archway.

“Tao? You scared me,” he breathes out in relief, clutching his chest. 

“Hey, Jongin,” Zitao greets, adjusting his hold on the box in his arms. 

Jongin gaze drifts to Minseok who arrives behind the lanky beta with a box of his own, wearing a similar guilty expression. It’s been a while since Jongin has last seen Sehun’s friends. He grows nervous because if they’re here, Sehun is too.

“Sehun’s inside,” Zitao confirms as if he can tell what Jongin is thinking. “Me and Minnie were just about to head out.”

“Oh, you guys aren’t staying?” Jongin asks as he steps aside to let them pass. 

“Maybe next time!” Zitao says; it doesn’t sound like a promise but an excuse. 

Minseok frees a hand to cutely wave at Jongin, and then scurries out the front door after his friend. They were practically tripping over themselves to get out. Jongin stares at them oddly before entering the living room. He hears something that makes him pause—

“I can’t believe you never bring anyone over.”

“Don’t make too much out of it. You tagged along and I didn’t stop you.” Jongin can recognise that warning tone anywhere, and it makes his heart beat a little faster. He follows the voices to the first door in the hallway.

“You still haven’t given me your answer.”

An annoyed, soft snarl. “Go ask someone else. I don’t have time for this.”

“Sehun,” Jongin gasps out from the doorway. All the anger that he’d initially harboured at his best friend dissipates the moment he lays his eyes on him.

Sehun straightens his posture to stand at his full height. He looks taller, and stronger too, muscles filling out those broad shoulders. It’s his eyes that take Jongin aback; they’re red and not the soft brown he’s used to. That violent shade is jarring to the alpha’s nonchalant demeanour. If he is surprised to see Jongin, he doesn’t show it.

Luhan shifts his gaze between the two, and then declares, “I need a smoke.” He slides off the desk he is perched on. “I’ll be downstairs,” he informs Sehun, flicking his delicate wrist in a farewell as he makes his exit to give them privacy. He is blonde now, with faded turquoise coating the tips of his hair, and still pretty as ever. He pauses briefly to address Jongin as he passes him by, “Nice to see you again.” He doesn’t wait for an answer and is already crossing the living room before Jongin can even finish forming a decent response in his mind.

Jongin faces Sehun. The silence between them is tense and he can’t stand a second more of it so he forces himself to ask, “How’ve you been?” 

“Fine,” Sehun’s reply is curt with his body language screaming that he could care any less. But if Jongin had blinked, he would’ve missed the way Sehun gives him a quick once-over before returning to the task of putting away things in the closet…Back to not paying Jongin any attention.

“You weren’t gonna call or come say hello?” It comes out a bit snarky.

Sehun snorts with a hint of an amused smirk. “I’m not here for a reunion.”

Jongin surveys the room which feels emptier than usual as he invites himself inside. There are a lot of things missing from their respective places which brings a frown to his face.

“So you’re not coming back?” The question leaves his mouth without his permission—before he can prepare himself for the answer. “You just returned for your things?”

Sehun slams the closet shut, making him flinch. There’s that slight rage. “I’m not.” Yet again no elaboration, just another brisk response.

“Your parents have been asking you to move back for months, and you’ve always said no. What’s different now?” Jongin questions. Is it because of me?

Sehun refuses to answer, expression schooled with impassivity but there’s a storm brewing in those red eyes that’s threatening to rain down all his secrets. 

Tight-lipped, Jongin exhales through his nose in exasperation at the hard-bitten stubbornness. “I’m trying here, Sehun.”

“Well, nobody asked you to,” Sehun finally snaps; the colour of his eyes bursts into a sharp shade of crimson. Finally, a proper reaction which Jongin takes as more or less progress. 

“I’m not going to stop trying, Sehun. I love you, and I still want to be with you. I know you care, so stop,” Jongin gently implores, moving closer to touch Sehun’s cheek. And in a moment of weakness, the alpha leans into it, vibrant irises altering from currant to mahogany as brown slowly bleeds in with the red, tuned to his emotions and mood. Sehun’s nostrils flare with a twitch of his lips as he takes a whiff of the intoxicatingly potent scent on the inside of Jongin’s wrist— sweeter, more attractive now that his heat is close. “We made a promise, Sehun—you promised—that the three of us would all stay together at least till graduation.”

Sehun flinches at the reminder and removes Jongin’s hand from his face, solid strength easily felt through his grip on the omega’s wrist. “Don’t be naïve, that was years ago. Circumstances change.”

“Please don’t do this,” Jongin says weakly. He’s afraid if Sehun moves from their apartment permanently, it will slowly kill their friendship. “Don’t leave.”

Jongin’s pleading look washes away all the harshness from Sehun for a moment, easing his glare. “I have to, Jongin. And you need to stop, I’m not the right choice for you.”

“A choice your parents made, not you,” Jongin retorts harshly, tugging his arm free from Sehun’s hold. “I know we broke up but don’t shut me out. I wanna be there for you.” 

Sehun’s broad chest expands with a shuddering inhale and then he releases a huff of sardonic laughter. Any vulnerability that persisted disappears from the alpha’s face entirely as his stare turns as steely as his voice. “Broke up? We were barely together for it to be anything meaningful, Jongin.” Sehun shoulders past him to make for the door. “I’ve moved on, and so should you.” 

The words pierce through Jongin and his chest constricts painfully as tears burn his eyes in frustration. For weeks, he has kept trying to assure himself that Sehun will come back and everything will go back to normal—that they will be together again. His best friend is going through a lot and just needs some space. Jongin has clung onto that hope; it is what got him through the last month. But now…

Throat clamped, he hates the way his voice breaks as he forces himself to call after Sehun, “So, what, you’re going to stop being my friend too just because we didn’t work out? You’re just going to leave?” 

Sehun stops abruptly just before he’s about to step out into the hallway, but he doesn’t turn around as he says after a contemplative beat, “You asked me what’s different now: the difference is that there’s nothing worth staying here for—nothing to hold me back. And I’ve made my choice.” His cruel response says everything. Like Luhan, he leaves without giving Jongin a chance to respond, making sure he has the final word.

Jongin holds his breath until he hears the front door slam, the terrifying sound rattling his insides along with Sehun’s words. 

Jongin is a mess by the time Chanyeol returns home from practice. He's on the floor, leaning back against his bedroom wall whilst failing terribly at holding back his emotions. Along with his heartache, he is burning up as his heat edges closer, nearly at its tipping point. He feels so terrible.

"Jongin?" he hears Chanyeol call out. The alpha can probably smell his misery. 

The heavy musk belonging to Chanyeol reaches Jongin first, followed by the sound of his footsteps and his rough voice which has a concerned tone to it. "Jonginnie," Chanyeol says again when he walks into the room, tutting at the sight before him. 

Jongin can only whimper in response as another cramp hits him. He squeezes his eyes shut and feels the tears trickle down his cheeks. He hugs his knees closer to his chest in an attempt to ease the pain. He hears a clunk as Chanyeol places his keys on the desk and moves to crouch in front of him.

Chanyeol gently but firmly takes a hold of Jongin’s chin before grabbing the tissues from the box he placed beside the omega. Jongin lets out a small whine as Chanyeol carefully wipes his face with the tissues.

"Shh," Chanyeol says when another sob begins to bubble from the back of his throat. Jongin feels ashamed and so vulnerable. He shudders slightly as more wetness seeps from his hole and trickles down. He knows Chanyeol can probably smell it and he shifts uncomfortably. 

He feels worse when Chanyeol presses a tissue to his nose. He swats at the alpha's hands. “You don’t have to. I can do it myself,” he whines meekly. 

A sound rumbles from deep within Chanyeol’s chest. "It's alright." His hand feels large and rough as he cradles Jongin's cheek with one hand and presses the tissue against his nose with the other.

"Come on," Chanyeol encourages. He pinches the end of Jongin's nose slightly. "Come on come on," he says softly until Jongin reluctantly complies and blows his nose into the tissue.

"Let's get you up from here," he says, tugging at Jongin's waist. 

Jongin allows himself to be helped up to the bed. He wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s neck when the alpha lifts him. He squirms again uncomfortably remembering the wet spot that has probably formed on his pants when he feels Chanyeol's hands on his ass as the alpha shifts to adjust his weight. Chanyeol lets out a low growl when Jongin doesn't stop squirming, which does the trick. He doesn't say anything, just silently sits down with Jongin on top of him, allowing the omega to bury his face into his neck.

Jongin feels Chanyeol's fingers run through his hair and a hand rubbing soothingly at his back. Deep rumbles reverberate from Chanyeol's chest as his hand stops at the small of Jongin’s back; it's almost a possessive gesture. Jongin clutches onto the Chanyeol’s shirt and closes his eyes. It doesn't take very long for him to calm down and realise how tired he is. Chanyeol presses a chaste kiss to his forehead just as he drifts off to sleep.

Jongin wakes up an hour later to the rhythm of Chanyeol's heartbeat and the clock's ticking. Chanyeol has moved them to a more comfortable position so they both are lying down with Jongin still clinging to him.

“Hey,” Chanyeol says softly. “How are you feeling?”

Jongin slowly moves to sit upright, meeting those dark brown eyes which are full of care. But it’s all too much so he looks away, choosing to play with the strings of the alpha’s hoodie instead. “I’m fine," he croaks; his voice is hoarse after all the crying.

Chanyeol moves to grasp Jongin’s hand, stopping his fiddling. "Are you sure?" he presses.

Jongin swallows when he notices that Chanyeol's eyes have turned red. He can only nod in reply, transfixed by Chanyeol's steady gaze. Blood rushes to his cheeks and he wonders if he looks as flustered as he feels. His head swims from all the pheromones Chanyeol is emanating, no doubt a reaction to his heat. 

Chanyeol’s grip tightens almost painfully before he eases immediately upon realisation, kissing Jongin’s fingers in a silent apology. The press of soft lips against his skin sends a tiny shiver through Jongin.

“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Chanyeol asks.

“Sehun was being downright mean,” Jongin says. “We both know how he gets when he feels cornered—he’s ruthless and knows all the right buttons to push.…You have to talk some sense into him. I tried but he refuses to listen to me. Maybe you can do it.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Chanyeol assures. “I’ll call him tomorrow.” He rubs Jongin’s side comfortingly, and the action proves highly distracting. The scrape of fingers has Jongin’s lashes fluttering and his sensitive back arching to escape the touch with a whimper. He steadies himself with a hand to Chanyeol’s hard lined stomach, making the alpha grunt. A thought immediately crosses Jongin's mind about the firm hand that stills on his hip, holding him down, making heat pool between his legs. He looks up to find himself a target of Chanyeol’s wolfish stare and feels the tips of his ears along with the nape of his neck get hot. He is suddenly very aware of how close his fingers are splayed near Chanyeol’s bulging crotch so he pulls away to helplessly clutch at the sheets—anything to keep his hands busy.

Chanyeol doesn’t bother to hide his interest, tilting his head to the side as he takes in the way Jongin is sitting with his legs tucked underneath himself, palms flat against the mattress between his knees, expression meek and sheepish. A cocky lopsided smile creeps on Chanyeol’s face, and Jongin thinks about how attractive the alpha looks lying on his bed with an arm tucked behind his head, chest rising steadily with every breath drawn. The attention makes Jongin nervous. Biting his lip, he clenches in an attempt to stop himself leaking like a damn tap. It’s hardly effective. He finds it unfair how surprisingly calm and composed Chanyeol is, unlike him.

Sticking his tongue out to wet his bottom lip, Jongin says sincerely, “Thank you for being here for me. I don’t say this enough but, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Haven’t I promised? We’re in this for the long haul, you and me.” Chanyeol lifts his fist to bump his knuckles against Jongin’s jaw affectionately, bringing a smile out of the omega. 

“You can understand why I’m not too big on promises right now.”

“Yeah well, you’re stuck with me.” Chanyeol shifts his weight onto his elbows before pushing himself up. He pulls Jongin close by the head to kiss the side of his face. “I’m gonna go, okay?”

“Okay…”

With the way Jongin’s entire body is burning up like a fever, he almost considers asking Chanyeol to help him ride out his heat. He knows Chanyeol wouldn’t deny him. And yet, he lets the alpha walk out, door closed firmly behind him. “You’re in love with Chanyeol, not me,” Sehun’s accusation still rings in Jongin’s mind. But no matter his conflicted feelings, he can’t use Chanyeol like that. And he can’t betray Sehun.

He falls back against the mattress, and nearly groans at the relief it brings to his aching lower back. It’s like his heat is draining all of his energy because he barely summons the willpower to lift his hips and push down his pants to the mid of his thighs, just enough to access his ass. Keeping his bent knees spread, he reaches back to press his middle finger against his swollen hole. It aches as he rubs circles around his taint, and yet his arousal tempts him to dip his finger past the tight ring of muscles. He sinks his teeth into his lower lip as he steadily forces his finger inside and the friction of it against his sensitive walls has his stomach tightening with a shudder.  

The crease of his ass and the inside of his thighs are all wet. He can’t believe a couple of touches from Chanyeol had him dripping so much. He rolls over to his side for a better angle, twisting his arm behind to press his wrist against the swell of his ass as he slowly thrusts two fingers in and out. A pained whimper escapes him when they brush his prostrate. It’s not just Sehun he’s thinking about when he clenches around his fingers.

—

Chanyeol ambles past the wrought iron gates of the park near the apartment, and ditches the track to cut across the grass—a shortcut to reach the agreed destination on time. He isn’t surprised that Sehun chose to meet here at the park considering the younger alpha loves to come here especially when he needs to think. 

He spots Sehun seated on the lip of the tiered fountain’s stone basin located in the middle of the park. Chanyeol frowns disapprovingly when he sees his best friend deep in thought with a lit up cigarette dangling between two fingers. Sehun brings the cigarette to his lips and takes a puff, unaware of Chanyeol approaching.

“Picking up bad habits from Luhan?” Chanyeol comments as he watches Sehun blow smoke out of this mouth.

Sehun keeps his gaze on the dispersing smoke as he responds in a toneless voice, “I’m going through a heartbreak.”

That makes Chanyeol snort. “One that you brought upon yourself.” He thumps Sehun on the back of his head reproachfully before plucking the cancer stick out of his hand and onto the cobblestone pavement, snuffing it underneath the heel of his boot. 

A low, vicious snarl erupts from the back of Sehun’s throat either in response to the loss of his cigarette, or Chanyeol’s words—or maybe both. He manages to alarm the hell out of two girls sitting on the grass some feet away from them.

“You know why I had to do it.”

“Honestly, I don’t. I still think you’re making a mistake. If you do this then your parents win, Sehun.”

“Shouldn’t you be happy about this? Now’s your chance to win him back,” Sehun practically sneers up at him. “Be the knight in shining armour.”

Chanyeol bites his tongue, not falling for the bait. “So does this mean you’re going to make Jongin cry every time you talk to him?”

Sehun scoffs. “That’s the only way to get him to back off. It’s not like I want to hurt him, but he keeps pushing and that leaves me no choice.”

“Why wouldn’t he? He loves you; he’s not going to stop trying.”

“I want him to forget about me—move on. And if hating me will help him get over me quicker, then so be it…” Sehun’s voice drops to a murmur as he adds after a beat, “It’ll be easier for the both of us.”

“You know that will never happen. You may scare everyone else off with your brash facade but Jongin has you figured out. He knows you care; he just doesn’t understand why you’re pretending not to, yet.”

“Then you understand why I have to keep my distance…I’m trying to make things right again.” Sehun stares down at his fidgeting hands, suddenly looking very guilty. “I took him from you,” he says without a hint of provocation in his admission. He lifts his head, earnest red eyes staring back at Chanyeol—a silent plead for forgiveness.

Chanyeol clenches his fists, bitterness seeping into his heart for a split second before he can check himself. And then with a sigh, all that anger dissipates. “Look, I’m not going to stand in the way of his happiness or yours. But I just wish you hadn’t gotten together behind my back. You may not believe it but he really is in love with you. He chose you”—over me, goes unsaid—“Still would.” That is as much of an olive branch Chanyeol is willing to extend on this subject for now.

“I’m not so sure anymore,” Sehun admits with a wry smile; his entire posture is awkward and tense like he’s expecting a fight. “I always knew Jongin had some sort of feelings for you. And when you were courting him, he was falling for you hard. That night on the basketball court, you triggered his heat—and not for the first time…When I took him home, we—he moaned out your name in his sleep, not mine. I don’t think he knows what he did. But still, it made me jealous. I guess it all makes sense…”

Chanyeol is taken aback, feeling like his entire perspective is shifting on its axis. 

Sehun drops his defensive posture a bit but his features are anything but relaxed. In a way, he seems more tense than a few seconds ago as if he’s bracing himself. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now…I’m—I’m getting engaged.”

Chanyeol’s eyes widen, snapping out of his shock. “Oh, shit,” he exclaims.

“Yeah,” Sehun whispers in agreement.

“Shit.” Chanyeol repeats, slumping down beside Sehun with a dazed expression. Ahead of them, a couple of metres away, is the basketball court. He thinks about that day when the three of them were together, just messing around; the last day before everything changed. “Has it been confirmed?”

“No, but you know my father, he will see it through. At first I wasn’t going to do it, but the loss of a billion dollar contract is a lot of weight to carry on your shoulders, you know?” Sehun twists his head to stare at Chanyeol with a wild gleam in his eyes. “A billion dollars.  When you say it out loud, it sounds surreal and ridiculous.”

Straight out from the shower, Jongin combs back his wet hair as he heads back to his bedroom, towel clutched tightly around his waist. When he opens his closet, he is greeted by the sight of his red bomber jacket that used to inhabit Sehun’s closet, and it knocks the air out of his lungs. His eyes dart around to account for all the items in his closet and notes the assortment of clothing he used to store in Sehun’s closet now neatly hanging on his rack. But it’s the red jacket that taunts him the most, sitting smack in the middle, telling him to move on. He chooses to ignore the implication of why his clothes are back in his own closet and picks out the ones he wants to wear from the folded pile.

It’s the third day and all traces of his heat have almost faded, leaving behind a slight soreness in his muscles and a head full of cotton. This easily calls for him to take a nap but he’s kind of sick of his room after being holed up in there the whole time so he decides to shift to the living room. However, lying on the couch for fifteen minutes does a real number on his already aching back. He eventually ends up in Chanyeol’s bed and finds that the alpha’s scent really helps soothe his headache. He hasn’t ever given it much thought but somewhere along the way he has made Chanyeol’s room his safe place. Whenever he’s upset, he always ends up here.

It barely takes him a minute to fall asleep, and he is out cold for over an hour longer than he means to. He wakes up to fingers threading through his hair, lightly massaging his scalp, and he practically purrs at the feeling. He careens into the touch, making Chanyeol chuckle. 

“What time is it?” Jongin asks, voice muffled by the pillow. 

“It’s nearly three.”

He feels a finger poke his cheek. “Is that drool?” Chanyeol teases. Jongin shies away from the touch, hiding his smile between his folded arms. Yeah, he might have slobbered a bit on the covers during his nap. In his defence, he hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in over a week.

Chanyeol’s large hand strokes Jongin’s back which has always been a sensitive area, sending tingling chills through his body. Usually, he doesn’t like it when people touch him there, especially when he’s lying down because it makes him feel too vulnerable. But right now, it feels kind of nice, and he can get used to the feeling of rush that comes with every caress along his spine. It gets him thinking, maybe it has nothing to do with the room but everything to do with Chanyeol instead… 

Jongin’s content smile dims when the stroking falters. He pillows his cheek against his arm to stare at the alpha seated beside him on the edge of the bed. Chanyeol looks like he’s miles away.  

“Hey,” Jongin says, getting up on his knees behind Chanyeol. “What’s up?” He clutches onto Chanyeol’s shoulders and digs his thumbs into the knots in the alpha’s back between his shoulder blades. Chanyeol lets out a pleased grunt and his posture straightens momentarily in surprise before he arches back into the pressure. But after that, he stays stiff under Jongin’s fingers instead of relaxing. Jongin wants him to enjoy this but it seems like his mind is preoccupied with something else.

“You don’t have to do this,” Chanyeol says after a minute, glancing back at Jongin.

“I want to. You gave me one when I complained about my back yesterday so it’s only fair that I return the favour,” Jongin responds enthusiastically, and to his surprise, Chanyeol relents without a fuss. But then Jongin thinks he is probably just being indulged because shortly after Chanyeol pats the fingers on his shoulder in appreciation and says, “Thank you, I’m good.” 

“But I can—”

“No, that’s enough.” 

Jongin squirms at that firm dismissal.

Chanyeol twists around in his seat, lifting one leg onto the bed to face Jongin. “There’s something you should know.”

“What is it?” Jongin asks, brows furrowed at Chanyeol’s solemn expression.

“I met with Sehun today…”

With the slightest part of lips, Jongin sucks in a breath as cold, nervous anticipation fills him. He becomes too aware of the faint thud of his own heartbeat.

Chanyeol’s gaze doesn’t falter from Jongin as he continues, “I tried to convince him to move back here, but he can’t…he’s—Sehun is getting engaged so he’s going to stay at his penthouse.”

“Oh.” Jongin recoils back, suddenly finding it hard to breathe as reality comes crashing down on him. Sehun has actually moved on. It’s like his unrelenting nightmare has come true. Sehun’s parents deemed him unworthy of their son, despite having partially raised him, all because he can’t have children. He feels like he has lost a family. And Sehun…he won’t even talk to him anymore… 

“Are you okay?” Chanyeol asks, interrupting the panic building up inside Jongin.

Jongin gives the alpha a shaky nod, and he’s pretty sure his hands are trembling. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just—I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” He excuses himself and tries his utter best to appear calm and collected as he heads out of the room. As soon as he is out of Chanyeol’s sight, he rushes to the bathroom, knees hitting the tiles as he hurls out his breakfast into the toilet.

Chanyeol watches from the door as Jongin retches into the toilet for a final time and then sinks to the floor when he’s done, leaning back on his hands as his chest heaves with light perspiration gleaming on his skin. Chanyeol chooses that moment to enter, and sits down next to Jongin, pulling the omega into a hug. He manoeuvres them a bit so his back is pressed against the wall, and Jongin is seated between his legs, head nestled back against his shoulder.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s not your fault,” Chanyeol repeats to the omega trembling in his arms.

“It hurts so much…” Jongin starts sobbing with harsh gasps like he’s having difficulty breathing, and it goes on for terrifyingly long enough. Chanyeol rocks Jongin back and forth until he calms down.

Eventually, Jongin’s ratcheting sobs turn to quiet whimpers as he turns to his side, ear pressed against Chanyeol’s chest, listening to the steady heartbeat. Despite his swollen eyelids and tear-stained cheeks flushed a rosey red, he still manages to look gorgeous. Chanyeol brushes back the soft, brown hair sticking to Jongin’s forehead.

“What am I going to do without Sehun? He won’t talk to me,” Jongin says, tears clinging to his lashes. “I should have never told him about how I felt—at least then I’d still have my best friend.”

“How can you say that, huh?” Chanyeol chastises in a firm yet soft tone he usually reserves for babies and puppies— and Jongin too, apparently. “It sucks what happened, but it’s better than living the rest of your life wondering what if.”

Jongin lifts his head up from Chanyeol’s chest to face him. “Is that how you feel?”

Chanyeol swallows roughly and wipes away a lonely tear from Jongin’s cheek with his thumb. “I do. And I won’t ever regret letting you know how much I care about you. Even if it breaks my heart in the end.”

Jongin stares back at him in a long, decisive moment and then says, “If it wasn’t for Sehun, it was always going to be you”—he holds up his hand, covering half of his face—“God, even when I was with him, there were moments when you’d make me doubt if I was with the right person—that I had made a mistake…”

Chanyeol opens and closes his mouth, wanting to say something, but he’s speechless with a million thoughts running through his mind. And while he’s having a mental breakdown, Jongin just shrugs off the entire conversation like it’s something as simple as an ice cream flavour he can’t decide about, “Maybe I had…I don’t know.” Jongin shakes his head to clear his mind, brows pinched together at his own indecisiveness, before he gets up on his feet to head over to the sink. He stares back at Chanyeol from the mirror as he turns on the faucet.

“Now you know,” he adds like one would say ‘I’m glad we had this talk’ to end a conversation after getting something off their chest. Jongin stares at himself in the mirror, letting out an awkward laugh that sounds more pitiful than he probably meant to. Chanyeol can tell he’s nervous and jittery since he keeps tapping a rhythm on the countertop with his fingers. “I guess I need another shower. That sucks.” Jongin is already taking off his shirt, revealing his smooth back with a prominent back line where Chanyeol just wants to dip his finger in and trace down.

However, he can take a hint; this is Jongin’s polite way of asking him to leave. He understands that Jongin needs some time to himself to lick his wounds, so he pushes himself off the floor and makes to leave, but not before sparing a last glance at the omega.

Chapter Text

A light knock wakes Jongin up from his slumber, and he twists under the blanket to stare blearily in the direction of the door. “Hmph?” 

Out of habit, he still expects Sehun until his sleep-addled mind finally catches up when the door cracks open and Chanyeol walks in. Jongin immediately grins all lazy and knowing, stretching his arms over his head. “Nerves get you?” he teases. And the alpha’s conspiratorial toothy-grin in response immediately soothes the tight ache in his chest.

“I thought I’d be nervous but I’m totally pumped up,” Chanyeol says as he climbs onto the bed and drops down on top of Jongin like a starfish, forcing a sigh out of the omega. “It’s like I drank three red bulls and now I’m practically buzzing with energy.” 

“I can see that,” Jongin says with a giggle, petting Chanyeol’s raven hair. “You couldn’t fall asleep so you decided to wake me up as well?” His breath hitches in his throat when he feels wet lips brush his skin as Chanyeol nuzzles against his collarbone. Caught between Chanyeol’s arms, it feels intimate with the alpha on top of him despite the blanket between them. Jongin doesn’t understand alphas and their constant need to throw their weight around—quite literally. But it’s sort of comfortable being squished under a warm body so he doesn’t complain.

“I was hoping you could help me with that.” Chanyeol repositions himself, resting his chin in a loose fist curled on top of Jongin’s chest as he leers with a more than suggestive smile. “There’s one nightly routine that always helps me sleep.”

Propping his head up against the headboard with his arm as a cushion, Jongin peers back at Chanyeol a bit scandalously, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. “Like what? And don’t you dare suggest sex.”

“I was talking about our late night talks, but now that you mention it—” Chanyeol cuts off with a humouring ‘ow’ after receiving a harsh slap on his bare arm. Then, he continues undeterred, “That’s not going to help me sleep—but for the sex though…” He trails off with a heavy implication.

“Chanyeol!” Jongin reproaches in amused disbelief, breaking off into a chuckle. “You sound like—” 

Sehun. 

“—um, never mind.” Jongin awkwardly laughs, hoping to pass it off as casual. Before he can fall prey to old memories and nostalgia, he decides to change the topic, asking, “So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Anything…Your voice will help me fall asleep.”

Jongin blinks in mock offence and accuses good-naturedly, “Are you implying I’m going to bore you to sleep like some of your professors?” He feels the huff of warm breath through his thin shirt as Chanyeol chuckles against his chest. 

“Never! You know what I mean,” Chanyeol says, smiling.

Jongin smiles back and tugs on the alpha’s earlobe before suggesting, “How about this? I’ll ask you a few questions and you have to answer them. You’re the superstar right now and I’m interviewing you, okay?”

Amusement dances in Chanyeol’s eyes. “Okay.”

Jongin takes a moment to think of a couple of questions, and then asks in a deep, professional voice, bringing his fist up to his mouth like a microphone, “So, Mr. Park, how do you feel about making it to the final?”

“Can’t describe it.”

“Oh, please spare me the details,” Jongin responds sarcastically, breaking character, and Chanyeol barks out in laughter. “This is not rapid fire, I need details.”

“Okay, ask me the next question then,” Chanyeol says, remnants of laughter still in his voice. “I’ll give you the exclusive.”

“Wait, let me bring out the whiteboard. You wanted to tell me about the key plays.”

He pulls out the small whiteboard that he usually reserves for studying, and has Chanyeol explain the diagrams to him. He adores the way Chanyeol’s entire face lights up as he talks about basketball until their eyelids become heavy with sleep and their sentences keep breaking off to make way for yawns.
 

Jongin stirs with a small groan. There is something digging into his spine. He arches his back with a grimace and reaches underneath to pull out the—board marker he was sleeping on...His poor back.

He sees no point in going back to sleep so he sits up and rubs at his eyes with the back of his hand. A glimpse at the clock reveals that it’s nearly two in the afternoon. Chanyeol needs to be at the stadium by five for the state final. He stares at the alpha in question who’s asleep beside him, and tries not to let his gaze linger on the way Chanyeol’s rumpled tank-top and low riding shorts reveal the V-cut of his abdomen. Not to mention, the shorts do nothing to hide the morning wood Chanyeol is supporting.

Jongin quickly escapes for a cold shower, and after doing his morning routine, he is back in the kitchen making their breakfast-slash-lunch. Thankfully, he remembered yesterday to prepare the beef roast and the grilled onions beforehand, so now he just has to pop the meat back in the oven. Just as he is about to finish prepping the sandwiches, Chanyeol enters the kitchen, slinging the hand towel he was rubbing his hair dry with over his bare shoulder.

“Hey,” Jongin smiles as Chanyeol comes up behind him. “How’d you sleep?”

“Great, all thanks to you,” Chanyeol answers. 

It doesn’t dawn on Jongin how domestic it all feels until he is subconsciously tilting his head toward Chanyeol as the alpha leans in to kiss his cheek—more so now that it’s just the two of them in the apartment. Chanyeol pads over to the fridge and takes out a jug full of freshly squeezed juice before pulling out the chair across from where Jongin is stationed at the island. It’s distracting the way his muscles bunch and shift as he moves about, and Jongin is almost tempted to tell him to put on a shirt. But it’s even more tempting to just let him be.

Chanyeol grabs the plate from Jongin and immediately digs into his sandwich, moaning appreciatively around a mouthful. “Holy shit—wow, I forgot how good this tastes.” He wolfs down the entire thing in quick successive bites, finishing before Jongin is even halfway through his own sandwich.

“You know how I’ve always said that nothing compares to my mom’s cooking?” Chanyeol says, dusting off the crumbs from his fingers.

“Yeah…?”

“Don’t tell her but your beef roast might just be my favourite. If you weren’t so busy these past few weeks, I would’ve made these sandwiches my pre-game meal for the entire playoffs.”

“You should have told me. I would’ve made them for you.”

“You barely had time to breathe since your mids, I didn’t want to overwhelm you. Rest assured, if I get named MVP tonight, I will declare all my success to your cooking.”

Jongin grins back at him. “Speaking of pregame rituals—do you remember back in middle school when we all played for the soccer team, and you and Sehun made it a tradition to drink coke before every game?”

“Yeah, it was fine and all until we decided to chug a litre each. Until half-time, I had a desperate need to pee—and also terrible stomach cramps.”

“I don’t know why you two thought it was a good idea. Sehun especially—he was so dehydrated because he thought coke was an appropriate replacement for water.” 

Chanyeol clears his throat, staring down at the empty plate. “Speaking of—so, um, Sehun is coming to the game today. Are you okay with that?”

Well, it’s not like Jongin hasn't thought of that possibility. “Yeah, yeah. I mean, he’s your best friend, too.”

“He might bring Lisa.” Chanyeol’s lips are pulled back in a small grimace.

“Oh.” Jongin’s throat wobbles before he adds, “It’s about time we met her. It’s been over three months since—and I’ve…gotten over it….I wish Sehun knew that so he could stop avoiding me.”

The chair scrapes back as Chanyeol abruptly gets up to place his plate in the sink. “Maybe the distance isn’t for you,” he comments as he passes by Jongin to leave the kitchen.

Jongin stares at the alpha’s retreating back wishing he’d elaborate. There’s this awkward air that seems to take up all the space every time Sehun is brought up. Just weeks ago, they both nearly bit each other’s head off in a petty argument that was a result of wound up tension. All because they both are too afraid to admit how much they miss him. Neither of them is ready to open that door yet and the reality check that comes with it.

—

From his seat at the centre of the court-side, Jongin takes in the vast stadium packed with boisterous supporters, with even more steadily streaming in. He is surrounded by a sea of gold and black—the official colours of the SW Emperors. Across from him, on the other side, there are just as many fans proudly donning the blue and red of the opposing team. He hadn’t realised how popular college basketball exactly is until now. Feeling anxious and jittery, he fidgets with his hands to keep himself preoccupied. He wishes his friends could’ve attended with him; it would’ve made being midst such a big crowd a lot less uncomfortable. It’s not like he’s the one playing yet a nervous chill goes through him in Chanyeol’s behalf. He can’t imagine how stressful and pressuring it must be to have so many eyes fixated on you, tracking your every move. 

It’s almost six p.m. so Jongin's friends must be wrapping up their class by now. Chanyeol has no idea that Jongin decided to skip a quiz to watch him play, and Jongin doesn’t plan on letting him know. He glances around at the rest of the crowd in the tiered seating, drifting his gaze over the unfamiliar faces in hopes of finding Sehun amongst them. However, there are too many people, making it too hard to distinguish. He diverts his attention back to the court just as the players start to line up, and stands up with the rest of the crowd, cheering loudly in support. His chest puffs up with pride as Chanyeol walks up to stand next to his teammates midst clamorous name chants at his introduction.

Chanyeol’s dark eyes flicker to rake through the audience in search as the rest of the players are being introduced, and Jongin’s smile grows into a wild grin when the alpha’s gaze finally lands on him. Chanyeol beams, unclasping his hands from behind his back to pinch the front of his jersey, giving it a purposeful tug. He pats his chest over his heart and then points at Jongin, making the omega giggle softly to himself.

Jongin knew Chanyeol would appreciate it if he wore an Emperors’ jersey to the game so last minute he changed into one of Chanyeol’s practice jerseys with the alpha’s name and number embroidered in the back. It smells strongly of Chanyeol and their laundry detergent, and Jongin might have taken a good whiff before he’d pulled it on.

Chanyeol shakes hands with the opposing team before he gets into position and does quick skips to get rid of some of the adrenaline rush. It makes Jongin smile seeing Chanyeol’s mismatched black compression sleeve on one arm and a wrist band on the other; it’s become more of a signature style than anything. Chanyeol sends Jongin another quick glance before the whistle blows.

The first two quarters pass by leaving Jongin chewing his nails anxiously. Chanyeol has managed a season best of forty-three points in their previous game so the opposing side’s defense makes sure to keep him in check. Even their usually lethal point-guard Mashiho is out of sync and misses four of his attempts in the first twelve-minutes of the game, setting a terrible rhythm for the rest of the period.

Jongin can tell Chanyeol is trying to remain positive and not let frustration get to him, and his patience eventually pays off. He barely managed to scrape points in the second-quarter along with a couple of disappointing turnovers. However, he settles into an unrelenting rhythm in the third, getting seventeen-points off his opponents and forcing three rebounds. Kris also reemerges as a threat, both offensively and defensively, to put the Emperors on a winning course. Still, the nail biting suspense remains as the Robins steadily chip away the lead, closing the fifteen-point gap with equally scary resilience.

The last quarter is especially brutal; Jongin can hardly breathe during the last fifteen seconds of the game. There’s a two-point differential, however, he has watched enough games with Chanyeol to know that such a small lead means nothing in basketball even if there are only few seconds left on the clock. The Emperors look worn-out trying to hold back all the offensive attacks. The Robins’ leading scorer smells blood and immediately takes advantage of a lazy turnover, corralling the ball into the capable hands of their shooting guard. The crowd collectively holds back a breath as he positions to shoot. Jongin digs his fingers into his knees, practically out of his seat as the play is made.

The crowd practically erupts as the phenomenal play that could have taken the game into overtime is stopped by Chanyeol’s outstretched fingers grazing the ball as it’s tossed into the air. The slight deflection to its course causes the ball to swing off the rim of the hoop. With three seconds left, the whistles blows and that just about does it. Chanyeol leaps, pumping his fist with a celebratory roar as his teammates rush over to give him pats of gratitude.    

A final attempt at a three-pointer is made with a high arch from the Robins’ own half just as the final whistles blows, and Jongin finally exhales as it misses the net by a mere inch—and the Emperors are the champions! Streamers float down after a loud burst as the players celebrate. Chanyeol drops down to his knees, fully exhausted after giving his hundred-percent. Kris and few other of his teammates jump on top of him. Jongin feels a tight tug in his heart as he watches it all unfold in front of him. 

Ushered to the court upon instruction, Jongin is shy approaching Chanyeol as the celebration continues. There are too many people flanking the alpha with large video cameras and tape recorders shoved in his face to capture his reaction to the title win. As Jongin takes in the sight of Chanyeol—the centre of attention of not only the people surrounding him but the ones in the stands also—he thinks maybe all those times people stopped to greet Chanyeol on the streets weren’t all just ‘friends’ from uni’ but fans. Of course, every time he would ask Chanyeol who they were, Chanyeol would always give him an amused look and say they were a friend.  

Just last month, Sehun’s press conference announcing his engagement to the public was broadcasted nationwide, and now with Chanyeol’s title win… Although it has always been clear that they are both meant for great things, it’s weird for Jongin to see his friends as anything but normal—ordinary.

Chanyeol laughs as Kris says something, and throws his arm around the captain. He looks gorgeous as he threads the taped fingers of his other hand through his dark hair, revealing his shaved sides. Jongin falters as he comes closer, unsure whether Chanyeol will notice him at the back of the group. But just as he pauses, Chanyeol’s sharp eyes stop on him too quickly to be a coincidence. It’s almost as if the alpha has been looking out for him all along. Chanyeol’s lips quirk up in his signature lazy grin as he excuses himself from the group, pushing forward toward Jongin. 

“Hey, MVP,” Jongin greets; he means to say it casually but chokes up as he tightly hugs Chanyeol’s sweat-drenched body. He pulls back to meet Chanyeol’s gaze, eyes quivering with emotion as he grips onto the alpha’s upper arms.

“Are you going to cry?” Chanyeol attempts to tease but his touched expression betrays him. He keeps Jongin close with a tight hold around the waist as he stares down at him.

“No…”—which is a total lie—“But I’m so proud of you, you kn—” Before Jongin can complete his sentence, he feels those taped fingers on each side of his face, tipping his chin up as soft lips press against his firmly. He barely reacts at first, frozen in surprise. But with a little coaxing from Chanyeol’s tongue, he sighs into the kiss. Smiling, Chanyeol licks his way into Jongin's soft warm mouth.  

Jongin whimpers in surprise, instinctively wrapping his legs around Chanyeol’s waist when the alpha puts his hands on his ass and hoists him up, but doesn’t break the kiss. He fists his hand into Chanyeol’s hair, the other desperately clutching onto the alpha’s jersey at his shoulder. 

But then the flash of cameras going off remind them where they are. Chanyeol lets out a low groan, kissing Jongin hard one more time as if he might not get another chance, before letting Jongin slide back down onto his feet. “Sorry,” he whispers, leaning his forehead against Jongin’s. It’s unclear whether he’s apologising for the kiss or the photographers. Jongin feels flustered by all the attention on them and keeps his eyes on Chanyeol, too embarrassed to look at anyone else. He hopes those pictures don’t make it online.

“What was that for?” he asks the alpha, but nonetheless finds himself smiling because of the kiss. But before Chanyeol can respond—

“Great game. Congrats.”

Jongin pales at the voice, and twists around to see Sehun standing behind him. Unperturbed, Chanyeol reaches over to clasp the younger alpha’s hand with both his own. “Hey! Thanks, Sehunnie. I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it.”

Sehun smirks. “How could I miss seeing you become a state champion? That circus shot you did in the last quarter—that was crazy.”

Chanyeol chuckles. “Even I couldn’t believe that went in.”

Sehun clears his throat and twists around to reach for someone’s hand. “So, um…I wanted to introduce you guys to my fiancée.” He tugs on the hand, and Jongin, still slack-jawed by the word fiancée, stares as this petite, long-haired brunette with bangs shyly steps forward next to Sehun. Lisa, the adoptive daughter of Choi Hyunsuk from his second marriage. She has such a doll-face with big eyes and pretty lips. Jongin thought she looked gorgeous when he watched the press conference after their engagement, but she is way more attractive in person.

“Lisa, this is Chanyeol and Jongin,” Sehun introduces.

Her smile is genuine as she greets them, “It’s great to meet you both.” Jongin stiffens, taken aback when she gives him a quick hug like she has already accepted them as part of her family. Sharp perfume fills his nostrils as she backs away.

“Hey, MVP!” someone yells in the back, “It’s time for the team photo!”

“I’ll be right there,” Chanyeol calls over his shoulder to his teammate. He scratches the back of his head bashfully and apologies, “Forgive me, I wish I could stay and talk longer but duty calls. Lisa, it was great meeting you.”  

“You, too,” Lisa responds cheerfully. “Please go enjoy yourself. This is your moment.”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll see you guys later,” Chanyeol responds with a polite nod, smiling. He turns arounds and pauses in afterthought, his shoulder blade brushing against Jongin’s. 

Jongin twists his head to look up at Chanyeol when the alpha holds onto his wrist in loose grip to get his attention. “I’ll be finished in around twenty minutes. Do you want me to take you home? I don’t want to you to get bored waiting for me.”

“You have to stay here with your teammates. Don’t worry about me, I’ll catch an Uber,” Jongin says, putting on an assuring smile at Chanyeol’s skeptical expression.

“I’ll drop him off,” Sehun cuts in.

Chanyeol looks back at Jongin to confirm if he’s okay with this. Jongin nods, agreeing for Chanyeol’s sake when the last thing he wants to do right now is get into a car with a fickle Sehun. “I’ll be fine. Go have fun,” he encourages.

“Don’t get into trouble, okay?” Chanyeol says, knocking his curled finger under Jongin’s chin with affection.

Jongin frowns good-naturedly. “I should be the one telling you that.”

“I’ll be a good boy.” Though Chanyeol’s toothy grin as he walks away doesn’t exactly instil confidence.

Jongin feels uneasy and ruffled being left alone with Sehun and his fiancée. He wills Chanyeol to come back as he watches the alpha join his rapturous teammates as they clump together in the middle of the court in various poses. He looks back when Sehun’s phone suddenly rings.

“Sorry, I have to attend this,” Sehun says and moves to a spot where it’s quieter to answer the call. Great, Jongin thinks sarcastically. He shakes off the petulant thoughts that cross his mind and reluctantly faces Lisa. She gives him a friendly smile in return, and Jongin can tell she wants to engage him in a conversation. He doesn’t want to be rude but he doesn’t feel prepared enough for any of this.

“You know, I get the impression that Sehun wants to keep you and Chanyeol to himself,” Lisa finally says, benign smile intact. “I understand—you both are his closest friends. I’ve met Luhan, Zitao and Minseok already, but he was really nervous about introducing me to you two. Your opinion must mean a lot to him.” Jongin doesn’t really know how to respond to that. 

“My father told me you and Sehun dated for a while but in the end decided to stay as friends. I admire that.” So that’s the story they’re going with. Jongin searches for any malice in her words but finds none. He realises by her earnest expression that this is her attempt to bond with him. She doesn’t really know him so she’s working with whatever information she has been privy to. He can appreciate the effort. “I could never be friends with my exes. It’s not like I haven’t tried but it always became awkward. I’m glad dating didn’t affect your friendship. Honestly, I’m a little envious,” she adds kindly. “I hope we can be good friends too.”

“…Yeah, me too,” Jongin says in weak voice. Despite his hesitant answer, she cheers up considerably. She’s very easy to like, and Jongin wishes they could have met under different circumstances. 

Sehun returns in that moment. “Who was it?” Lisa asks. 

“From the office,” Sehun dismisses, pocketing his phone. “It’s perfect timing—your driver is here to pick you up. I’ll walk you to your car.” Jongin stares as Sehun immediately reaches over to hold Lisa’s hand as if it's second nature to him. 

“Let’s go, Jongin,” Sehun calls over his shoulder to get him moving.

Jongin follows Sehun through the congested parking lot of the stadium after seeing Lisa off. The image of Lisa kissing the corner of Sehun’s mouth before she got into the back seat of the car lingers in his mind. 

Sehun steps up to a white Range Rover, and the jeep unlocks automatically as he approaches. Jongin climbs into the passenger seat as Sehun holds the door open for him, and feels the alpha’s hand press briefly against his back. 

“Is this yours?” Jongin asks.

A faint smile touches Sehun’s lips and his eyes light up playfully. “Yeah, spent my entire pay check on it,” he answers before shutting the door. 

Jongin snorts in amusement. Of course he did.

When they’re on the way back to the apartment, Jongin decides to strike up a conversation, not wanting to spend their short journey in silence. “Lisa is very sweet. I like her,” he says honestly.

Sehun hums in agreement, concentrating on the road. 

“So, who’s gonna be the best man?” Jongin asks, going for light-hearted humour.

“Why, do you want the position?” Sehun practically sneers.

Jongin lets out a tired sigh. Here they go again. “If you want me to then yes, Sehun, I’ll be the best man. Look, I’m just glad you’re happy with her. You both seem comfortable around each other. I wanted you to know that I don’t blame you for ending things between us. You were already under a lot of pressure and I just added to it. I’m sorry.”

Sehun’s gaze hardens along with his grip on the steering wheel. That is clearly not what he wanted to hear. “Yeah, I’m glad we both moved on,” he says with biting sarcasm.

It’s clearly a jab about the kiss. “So what, you’re only gonna be mad at me but not at Chanyeol? I’m not the one who ended things, Sehun!" 

Sehun scoffs contemptuously, aggressively turning the steering wheel as they take a corner. “Whatever, Jongin, I don’t have time for your high school drama.” 

But I’m not the one who started this, Jongin thinks indignantly. He stares out the window at the rolling scenery to calm himself down. He is tired of fighting Sehun. He doesn’t want to end up in another argument—he has had too many of those already. He just wants his best friend back.

Sehun observes Jongin from the corner of his eye when they are two streets away from the apartment, catching the glint of necklace tucked in under the omega’s jersey. He smiles to himself.

Jongin notices. “What?” He forgets how to breathe for second at the sheepish smile that takes over Sehun’s face as he glances at Jongin and answers, “Nothing. I was just surprised you’re wearing the necklace.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised; you know how much it means to me...Though, I still think you shouldn’t have spent so much on me. I would have been as happy with something simple as long as it's from you.”

“I wanted to. You deserve that and more. Don’t ever forget that you’re part of the family no matter what.” 

Touched, Jongin blinks before any tears can well up. “Sehun—” Before he can utter the next word, the alpha’s phone starts ringing again as they pull up outside the apartment building. 

“Sorry, I have to take this,” Sehun apologises. “They’re expecting me back at the office.”

“Oh.” Jongin’s shoulder slump in dejection. Just as they were making progress. “It’s okay, I should head up anyway. But thanks a lot for the ride—and everything,” he says before stepping out of the vehicle. It hurts him a lot watching Sehun leave and not climb up the stairs to their apartment with him like he used to.

Sehun steps on the accelerator, speeding around the corner in a fit of emotions. God, he didn’t think it’d hurt so much seeing Jongin move on even though he knows it’s for the best. It feels a lot like the first time he had stumbled upon Chanyeol and Jongin kissing—like something is clawing his chest from the inside. 

He has never been more grateful to receive that call because he doesn’t know what he would have done with Jongin staring at him with so much love brimming in his eyes. For a second there, it felt like they were back in December—full of blissful naivety. He would do anything for Jongin to look at him like that again.

He stares at the engagement ring on his finger. He wants to just chuck it out the window. Lisa is such a sweet girl, and she deserves far better than to be stuck with a guy who's in love with someone else. She expects a fairytale ending for the two of them despite their arrangement, but he can't give her that. 

Jongin plays with the necklace, twisting the pendant between his fingers as he stares out the kitchen window. It’s custom made with a large round-cut diamond center, flanked by smaller diamonds, snared between white-gold double bands that are held together by swirling stripes on each side, identical to the heirloom Sehun’s mother wears. The design is a symbol of the Oh family name and patented so only members of the family can don it. Jongin doesn’t understand how Sehun can act hostile one minute and then go all out for him like this. He had taken Sehun’s surprise appearance on his birthday as a peace offering that things could go back to normal between them, but Sehun has been acting hot and cold ever since. It makes Jongin feel like a fish that continuously gets caught in the line only to be thrown back out into the sea.

“Hey.”

“Chanyeol?” Jongin whirls around, surprised to see the alpha looming in the kitchen’s entrance still clad in his team’s uniform. “I didn’t hear you come in…Shouldn’t you be out partying with your teammates or something?”

Chanyeol chuckles. “Don’t worry, I just came back to change and get some of my stuff. I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”

“Good, because I was looking forward to having the place to myself,” Jongin kids right back. He watches as Chanyeol slowly prowl closer, fingers tracing along the island’s marble top, and suddenly feels a good kind of nervousness stir in his stomach.

“You’re still wearing the jersey,” Chanyeol says, not taking his eyes off of Jongin as he stops in front of him. He gives the fabric at Jongin’s shoulder a firm tug, stretching the collar to expose a span of the omega’s smooth skin.

When Chanyeol lets go, Jongin readjusts the strap under the alpha’s watchful gaze keeping track of his every movement as it threatens to slip off his shoulder. “Yeah, it’s really comfortable. You might not get it back.”

“Keep it,” Chanyeol says with a tilt to his head. “I can always get a new one." His gaze keeps flickering down to Jongin’s mouth like he can’t stop thinking about their kiss either.

“You know, you were really unreal out there,” Jongin says. “The first two periods had me a little worried. But you—you really came through for your team.”

“Well, I told you: ‘I'm like Dennis Rodman with the rebound when it comes to bouncing back’,” Chanyeol raps with a wide, playful grin, gesturing his hand to follow the rhythm of the words. 

Jongin starts giggling. He falters when he notices Chanyeol staring at him all intense and focused again, smile completely driven off his face. 

“What?” Jongin questions with a small, nervous laugh. “Why are you so serious all of a sudden? You’re making me nervous.”

“I want to kiss you again,” Chanyeol answers bluntly.

“Oh.” When the back of Jongin’s forearms graze the edge of the cold, marble counter-top, he realises he put himself in a corner while he was enraptured by Chanyeol’s gaze on him, full of intent. “So why don’t you?” They are standing so near—his breath hitches in his throat as Chanyeol leans in ever so slightly. He thinks about closing the gap between them, just a light brush of his lips against Chanyeol’s. And he finds himself inching closer and closer…

Chanyeol twists his head away in the last second. “I can't do this.”

Jongin’s expression falls. “Why not?”

“Because—I love you so much, Jongin, but I don’t think I can start something that will get my hopes up only to get shot down later. There’s only so many times a guy can get rejected…Look, you met Sehun’s fiancée today and no matter how much you insist you’ve moved on, it must have hurt. So I don’t want you making any hasty decisions you’ll regret later on.” 

“Chanyeol—” 

“Just hear me out, okay? I’m asking you one last time to give me a chance. A month. You can have month to decide if you still feel the same way. And if not, I’ll move on.”

“What if I want to give you my answer right now?”

“One month, okay? This time we’ll wait together.”

Jongin stares at Chanyeol for a second, then holds out his pinky. “Okay.” It's the least he can do after putting the alpha through so much, giving all kinds of mixed signals.

“Okay.” Chanyeol hooks their pinkies together. “I’m going to go change now,” Chanyeol says, stepping backwards. He tugs his jersey over his head, revealing his toned body.

Jongin squeaks, feeling flustered. “Chanyeol!”

“What?” The alpha smiles as he balls up the jersey. “It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Never mind. Give it to me, I’ll wash it.” 

Chanyeol tosses the balled up jersey to Jongin. “Thanks. I love you.”

The words make Jongin pause. “Love you, too,” he answers earnestly and receives another broad smile before Chanyeol leaves the kitchen.

—

“Chanyeol kissed me on court after his team won the series,” Jongin confesses to Baekhyun when they get together for a bowl of fried chicken rice. Jongin thinks back to the last time they were seated here at the table outside when he wasn’t sure about confessing to Sehun. Look where they ended up now. He could have never imagined. 

“Oh, trust me, I’ve seen the pictures,” Baekhyun responds with a teasing smirk.

Jongin covers his face in embarrassment. “Oh, crap, I forgot about the pictures.”

“They’re saved on my phone. It was pretty hot.”

Jongin gives Baekhyun an unimpressed tight-lipped look with a judgmental tilt of his head. “Shut up, Baek. If you already knew, why didn’t you say anything?!” His voice rises a pitch by the end of the sentence.

Baekhyun chuckles. “I was wondering how long it’d take for you to tell me on your own. Now that you have, tell me why you haven’t still gotten together with Chanyeol? He likes you, you like him, what’s holding you back?”

“I’m supposed to give Chanyeol my answer at the end of the month. I’ve been confused and indecisive a lot these past few months, I want to be sure this time.”

“I think it will be different with Chanyeol. He’s so good to you. You broke his heart but he still stuck around.”

“I certainly don’t plan on doing that again. I want to be sure if I choose Chanyeol, it won’t be because I can’t be with Sehun anymore. You know, why is that whenever we come here, I’m having some kind of relationship dilemma?” 

Baekhyun leans back in his chair thoughtfully. “Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

“How am I still in the same situation I was four months ago?” Jongin sulks, dropping his head onto his folded arms.

“There, there. Give yourself some credit, you’ve been through a lot.” Baekhyun reaches over to pat Jongin on the head. “I’ll order. Food always makes you feel better.”

“Keep stroking my hair, that feels nice,” Jongin mumbles against the fabric of his sleeve. 

“I don’t mind. Your hair is very soft.” Baekhyun chuckles. “I’ll pull my chair closer.”

“Thanks.”

“Also, when you see Chanyeol, tell him congrats on the title win for me. That’s pretty awesome.”

“You can tell him yourself when you come over.”

“Don’t make me, I’ll say something embarrassing. For real. Jongin, how did you become best friends with such cool, good looking people.”

Jongin turns his head in his arms to face Baekhyun. “Yeah, how did I become friends with you?”

Baekhyun snorts. “Please.”

—

Sehun notices Lisa impatiently tap her fingers against the table with a frown pulling at her red-painted lips, the same colour as her nails—a great contrast to her strapless, cream-coloured dress. Of course she’s bored; the way her stepfather keeps droning on and on about business, it’s become more of a business meeting than what was supposed to be a nice father-daughter dinner with the promised son-in-law.

Mr. Choi Hyunsuk is finally interrupted by a phone call which he leaves the table to attend. 

“Oh, thank God, I thought he would never stop,” Lisa says when her stepfather is out of earshot. It makes Sehun’s mouth turn up at the corner. This is why he likes her.

“Hey”—Sehun tenses involuntarily when Lisa places her hand on top of his. It is always the small gestures that take him aback—“You’re really quiet today. In fact, you haven’t really been yourself since we went to your friend’s basketball game. Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

Lisa’s touch is warm, still Sehun slides away from it. “It’s nothing.” He can tell she doesn’t believe him but lets him get away with it. Or so he thinks.

“We didn’t really get the chance to talk that day but I’m really glad that I met your friends. They’re very sweet.”

Sehun hums to show he’s listening as his gaze drops to the menu in front of him. He doesn’t really want to talk about this. 

“Especially Jongin. He’s very pretty…You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”

Sehun looks up at her sharply in surprise, heart lurching in his chest. “I—” He starts but can’t think of a way to deny her with a million, jumbled up thoughts rushing through his head.

Lisa continues without waiting for an answer, “Is he the reason you agreed to the engagement? Did you break up because he didn’t feel the same way?”

Sehun swallows thickly, feeling his throat close up. 

“Or, don’t tell me…” She covers her mouth in shock. She looks hurt by the truth she has unfurled. “I mean, my father told me you both decided it was better to stay as friends. I should have known better than to have believed that.”  

“I’ll get over him,” Sehun says roughly, keeping his expression detached from his emotions. It’s an empty promise, one he knows he can’t keep. He’ll say anything at this point not to jeopardise the deal.

Lisa’s eyes glimmer with empathy. “You shouldn’t have to,” she mutters solemnly, reaching for Sehun’s hand once again. This time Sehun lets her hold onto him. 

Chapter Text

Jongin balances his phone horizontally on the desk, setting it against his marketing textbook so his friends can see him as he moves about the room to grab the last of his belongings that need to be packed.

“Okay, good, Chanyeol is still out for a run. I can see him jogging from here,” Jongin says, getting distracted as he glances down at the street from his bedroom window.

“Jongin, stop ogling your best friend,” Baekhyun’s voice filters out from his phone, followed by Jongdae’s sweet laugh.

“I am not! I’m just making sure he isn’t going to be back too soon.” 

“Well, I’m done having a conversation with your crotch, take a few steps back so I can see your pretty face.”

Jongin rolls his eyes and does as Baekhyun says, grabbing a couple of t-shirts from the closet. “This is it.” He stacks them neatly in his suitcase which is laid out open on the bed. “Next week, the month will be over and I’ll finally give Chanyeol my answer. I’m kind of nervous.”  

“Are you certain about how you feel now?” Kyungsoo asks.

Jongin faces him, and says, “I am. My answer is still the same. Though I’m hoping after this trip I’ll be a hundred-percent sure I’ve made the right decision.”

Jongdae voices his concern, “But what if you change your mind?”

“Baek and I talked about this, and I’ve given it a lot of thought. If I’m unsure about my decision, I’ll turn Chanyeol down once and for all, no matter how I feel. I can’t keep stringing him along because of my own indecisiveness. He deserves to move on.”

Jongdae blinks. “That’s…very mature of you, Jongin.”

“Why do you sound so surprised?” Jongin complains.  

“My opinion stays the same: you should give Chanyeol a chance,” Baekhyun says. “You’ve always felt something for him. And you finally opened up to those feelings when he was courting you, until Sehun suddenly entered the picture. You were so happy that Sehun liked you back that you pushed aside everything else before you even properly explored all your feelings. That’s why you kept having doubts about your relationship.”

“I agree with Baekhyun,” Kyungsoo adds. “If it was clear in your heart that Sehun was the one, you wouldn’t have thought about Chanyeol.”

“But guys, what if it was exactly like Baek said, but the reason Jongin kept going back to Chanyeol was—you know how it’s like when you want something only when you can’t have it anymore?”

“Ugh, stop guys,” Jongin intervenes. “You’re going to make me overthink everything.”

“Okay, okay, we’ll stop,” Baekhyun says. “Don’t need you doubting everything right before you’re off for your trip.”

“But please try to keep those things in mind when you make your final decision,” Kyungsoo advises.

“I’ve already taken them into consideration. Well, kind of. I’ll think more about it when I’m there.”

“Also, while we’re doing this, let’s make sure you’ve packed everything.”

Jongin smiles at Kyungsoo’s mother hen nature coming out. He appreciates it whenever his friends fuss over him. “Okay, mom.”

“You’re welcome,” Kyungsoo deadpans, making Jongin chuckle.

“Agreed. Jongin, I can see that your charger is still lying on the table.”

“I’ll have you know, Baek, I still need to charge my phone.”

“He’s going to forget them both,” Baekhyun stage-whispers to Kyungsoo and Jongdae when Jongin turns around. Jongin fights back a smile, choosing to ignore the comment.

“Nini, when do you leave?” Baekhyun asks.

“Mhm? Oh, we’ll be leaving in an hour.”

“I’ll call you so you don’t forget your phone.”

“Okay ~ Baek, thank you.”

“Are you excited?” Jongdae asks. “About the trip, I mean.”

“It’s going to be fun. I’ll get to spend some time with Chanyeol’s family and then I get to go home to my parents. I really miss them and my sisters. They’ve been asking me to come visit and I keep holding it off...I think they want to celebrate my status as an omega, and at first, I was gonna go home during winter break, but then everything happened. I kind of feel embarrassed. I haven’t even told my parents I can’t have children, only my sisters. My mom keeps talking about more grandkids whenever I call. She sounds so happy and I don’t want to take that away from her.” His friends stare back at him silently with heartfelt expressions full of understanding. “Um, anyway, I didn’t mean to get all emotional.”

“I want to come over and give you a hug,” Baekhyun exclaims. “I’m gonna miss you!”

“I’ll miss you guys so much, too,” Jongin says.

“It’s just two weeks; we’ll see each other soon,” Jongdae consoles. “Keep us updated.”

“I will, I will,” he promises.

“As if Jongin can go a day without hearing my voice,” Baekhyun replies, trying to lighten up the mood.

“I would deny it, but it’s true.”

“See!” Baekhyun grins, pleased.

In the quiet of the morning, the sound of the front door shutting travels through the apartment, causing a lull in their conversation. “Chanyeol’s here. I should go back to packing,” Jongin says. “I’ll talk to you guys soon.” He ends the video call after bidding them goodbye.  

After a short rap on the door, Chanyeol enters, dressed in an all-black tracksuit and trainers. “Hey, have you packed everything?”

“Almost,” Jongin answers.

“We’re leaving at exactly nine, so make sure you have everything.” Jongin hums in acknowledgement, and the alpha continues, “and remember to turn everything off.”

Jongin bobs his head as he folds his over-shirt. Chanyeol makes an irritated noise in the back of his throat. “Answer me, Jongin,” he reprimands with a soft growl creeping in, making Jongin stiffen. “This is important. We’ll be gone for two weeks.”    

“I’m sorry, I’m paying attention. I promise not to be careless,” Jongin reassures him.

“Good. I’m going to take a shower now.”

“Okay.”

Before they’re set to leave, Jongin pats the teddy bear Yixing gifted him on the head. “Look after the apartment while we’re gone, won’t you?”

—

The Park’s home is rather humble compared to the Oh family mansion, with four bedrooms that are all rarely occupied and five baths. It’s a walk down memory lane staying with Chanyeol’s family during the start of spring break. Circumstances have him doing that a lot lately, Jongin thinks. He helps Chanyeol get their suitcases out of the cab’s trunk and up the steps to the front door. Chanyeol’s mom opens the door just as Chanyeol goes back to pay the fare and it’s just Jongin standing there on the porch.

“Hi, sweetheart! How are you?” she greets, enveloping him in a hug. Jongin absolutely melts into it.

“I’m great now,” he responds, and that makes her chuckle fondly.

“I wasn’t expecting you boys so early,” she admits.

“Yeah, we got lucky with traffic.”

Mrs. Park’s eyes fall on the two suitcases. “Will that enough for your stay? Chanyeol still has some of his things here, you’re always welcome to them.”

“Thank you.” He smiles. “I think I’ll manage though. I’m only here for three days.”

“Only three days? I was hoping to have you over for at least the entire week.”

Chanyeol comes over and presses a kiss to his mom’s cheek in greeting which has her beaming. “Jongin is going to spend the rest of the break with his parents,” he tells her. “I’m going to take him to the station on Thursday.”

“Good boy.” She smiles praisingly at her son, reaching up to squeeze his chin affectionately. It amuses Jongin that Chanyeol has to duck down a little because he’s too tall.

Mrs. Park looks around expectantly. “Where’s my third son?”

“Oh, um, Sehun’s still at his parents’,” Chanyeol says.

Mrs. Park’s gaze flickers to Jongin for a second before she responds, “Oh, that’s lovely. They’re so busy and hardly get to spend anytime together as a family. Tell Sehun I’ll miss him though; he always comes over…Maybe I should give him a call tonight, I haven’t talked to him in a while.”

“That’ll be great, mamma,” Chanyeol agrees. “He’ll really appreciate it.” 

“Since Sehun’s not here, Jongin can take the other room upstairs,” Mrs. Park suggests as they step inside. “Unless you both still want to share.”

Chanyeol stares at her in surprise. Now that Jongin has presented as an omega, he expected his mom to be strict and veto their rooming privileges. But, he guesses, they already live together so she probably expects them to be old enough to make the right choices under her roof.

Jongin meets Chanyeol’s eyes in search for qualms and when he finds none, he answers with a nod full of childish enthusiasm, “We’ll share, just like old times.”

Whenever Jongin and Sehun would stay over, they’d take turns rooming with Chanyeol while the other would get the guest “VIP” bedroom. More often than not, Jongin would end up sharing with Chanyeol because the alpha used to butt heads with Sehun a lot when they were stuck together as teenagers. Most of their fights were over who was hogging the blanket. Guess they still haven’t learned how to share…

“Alright,” Mrs. Park gives them a nod of her own, “Chanyeol, you will be taking the air mattress then.” 

And there it is, Chanyeol thinks.

Jongin gives him a sheepish look, albeit somewhat amused.

While his mom is not looking, Chanyeol feigns exasperation with a dramatic eye-roll and receives a private smile in return. He gathers their suitcases and lugs them upstairs, his own being the bulkier of the two.

Late in the afternoon, Chanyeol invites Jongin out into the backyard, saying he wants to show him something. Mrs. Park gives Jongin a knowing smile from where she is seated next to him on the couch. Jongin dutifully follows Chanyeol out onto the veranda through the sliding glass doors in the living room. Chanyeol has spent the better part of an hour outside so obviously it’s making Jongin curious. 

With the setting sun, the sky steadily bleeds into tints of pink, purple and blue like a blooming bruise. It looks very pretty. Jongin holds back a gasp when he sees a corner of the backyard decorated in fairy lights that hang like curtains from strings connecting four wooden poles that have been dug into the ground to form a rectangular boundary. The fairy lights at the front are tied back to reveal a low table sitting in the middle of an embroidered carpet with round straw ottomans scattered around.

“Yoora was celebrating her engagement with her friends a couple of days ago so she had this all set up,” Chanyeol explains as they step closer to the structure. “All the stuff was still here in the shed so I thought I’d put up the lights, and maybe we can have dinner outside tonight.”  

“You did this all by yourself? It looks very pretty,” Jongin comments, awestruck as he takes in all the details. “If you did this for my benefit, then you shouldn’t have. This is your time off, you should be enjoying yourself.”

“I know. I am enjoying myself. How can I not when the view is this good?” Chanyeol grins, staring right at Jongin.

“Don’t be cliché,” Jongin says, bumping his fist against Chanyeol’s upper arm with an unbidden smile. He hopes it is dark enough to hide the blush tinting his cheeks.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” The alpha bends over to pick up a small, rusted metallic box from the table. “While they were erecting the poles, they found this buried.” He shakes the box and something rattles inside. 

Jongin immediately recognises it, and exclaims, “Wow, it’s been, what, five years since we put that in the ground!”

“Yeah, I know we all agreed that we’d open it after ten years but it’s already out now and we’ve waited long enough, don’t you think?” Chanyeol says, eager to be reunited with the container’s content.

“You don’t have to convince me, I’m up for it.”

Chanyeol presents the box to Jongin. “Do you want to do the honour of opening it?”

“Sure.” Jongin takes it from him. “I’m trying to recall what I wrote and I kind of have an idea but not exactly. I wonder how many goals I’ve managed to achieve so far.”

“Same.”

Jongin digs his fingers under the lid and cracks the box open. “I kind of feel bad doing this without Sehun,” he admits as he fits the lid to the underside of the container and plucks out the folded paper on top.

“You know he won’t mind. Do you remember what he said when we were making our lists?”

Jongin nods. How could he forget? He remembers what Sehun had said vividly because those words still haunt him. It’s that obstinate outlook which ended their relationship and damaged their friendship—maybe beyond repair. 

“I shouldn’t even bother—my life is already planned out for me. An irrevocable verdict. I know how it will end.”   

But Jongin knows Sehun wouldn’t mind so he carefully unfurls the first paper. It doesn’t take him a second to discern the handwriting. “It’s yours,” he says, eyes flickering up to meet Chanyeol’s. He continues after a pause when Chanyeol shows no hint of stopping him. A delighted chuckle escapes him as he quietly reads the list. “Wow, I’m kind of envious, you actually achieved majority of your goals last year. That’s really amazing…You even won a major sports title. You were so heartbroken when your team didn’t make it to the playoffs last year, but look at you now…Seriously! You managed to complete three-fourths of the list already and you still technically have five years left. 

“Um, I think the only things left to achieve in your ‘ten-year plan’ are…” Jongin squints at the last seven goals, skipping over the less important ones to read out loud the rest, “…Uh, yes, ‘Graduate’, ‘be a resident doctor’…you’ll definitely achieve that, I believe in you…And, oh—” he suddenly chokes, going through the written words again to make sure he hasn’t misread. “I’m not sure I was supposed to read that.”

Chanyeol frowns when he sees the tips of Jongin’s ears turn beet red. “Why? What does it say?”

Jongin presents the paper to him. “It says ‘marry Jongin’.”  

“Really?!” Chanyeol snatches it to see for himself, and then lets out a groan. “Sehun! He’s the one who wrote it.”

“I was wondering why your handwriting looked a little wonky here.”

“A week before we did the whole time capsule thing, Sehun pieced together that I liked you,” Chanyeol explains, crumpling the paper in his fist. “He used to tease me a lot about it when you weren’t around. So I was surprised when he told me he was rooting for me. He was convinced that we’d end up together so on the day we were making our lists, he kept pestering me to write it down. ‘You’ll thank me when the time comes. You’ll look back and realise I was right,’ he said. Obviously, I didn’t write it down even though that’s how I felt—how I still feel. He probably wrote it there while I wasn’t looking.”

“I remember he snuck off with the entire box after claiming he wanted to add something in private,” Jongin recalls fondly, nostalgia tugging at his heart strings. “I just thought he wanted to read what we wrote.”

“I guess he thought it’d be funny thing to look back on ten years later.”

“I think it’s sweet he had that much faith we’d end up together back then.”

“That is exactly what hurt me the most. He had always been supportive of the idea of me and you, and when I was actually courting you, he—” Chanyeol stops himself, looking away, lips pressed together in anger as he exhales sharply through his nose to calm himself down. “I felt like he stabbed me in the back, then. But—when I get angry about it, I feel like I’m the one being selfish. He liked you for so long and he always held himself back for my sake. You liked him back and you’d already turned me down so didn’t he deserve a chance?” 

“Chanyeol,” Jongin starts, gently grabbing the alpha’s hand to interlink their fingers together. “You’re the least selfish person I know. You’re right up there with Junmyeon and that’s saying a lot. You have the right to feel angry. We both should have been straight forward with you from the very start.” 

Chanyeol squeezes Jongin’s hand, and Jongin gives him a soft smile in return.  

“I promised myself I wouldn’t try to influence your decision,” Chanyeol says, “and this is all embarrassing for me to admit but I can’t go without letting you know how I really feel so I’m going to be honest with you...Five years ago I already knew you were the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. And I didn’t think it would be possible for me to fall for you any harder, but I did. On the day my team won the title and you came to congratulate me, it hit me all at once—I don’t know, you’ve supported me through everything, been there with me for every milestone. You gave me strength every time I felt like giving up, so I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

With a pout playing at his lips, eyes glimmering, Jongin tugs Chanyeol’s hand close to his chest to show that he appreciates what the alpha is saying without interrupting him. 

“You really loved Sehun, didn’t you?”

Jongin blinks at the abruptness of the question. Afraid of saying the wrong thing, he nods after some hesitation. It’s not like he hasn’t noticed that Chanyeol is choosing his own words very carefully.

There’s a serious set to Chanyeol’s face as he gazes down at Jongin. Even his hair seems ruffled with some kind of determination. “The way I feel about you, you probably felt that way about him. What I’m trying to say is that I understand what it’s like. If you still love him as much, then you should turn me down. You shouldn’t have to settle for me...Trust me, I tried settling—chasing anything remotely as close to what I feel for you. In the end it made me feel hollow. So I think you should keep looking until you feel that way about someone else again.”

Jongin stares, aware of the strong beat of his heart keeping his mind humming. They are standing a feet apart and he still has Chanyeol’s hand cradled to his chest. He lets go, watching the alpha’s arm fall back to his side. He is surprised by the shimmering anger that warms the blood flowing in his veins.

“I’m not giving you my answer right now but how can you say all that and then suggest I find someone else?” he demands, shoving Chanyeol back. Chanyeol barely jerks in his position as Jongin’s hands make contact with his chest. A thrill goes through Jongin as Chanyeol gently grabs his wrists in concern, pooling a different kind of heat in the pit of his stomach.

Before Chanyeol can react, Jongin pushes forward, easily escaping the grip on his wrists to wrap his arms around the alpha’s neck in a tight embrace. He closes his eyes, pressing his face against the crock of Chanyeol’s shoulder. “I love you so much. Do you think I could go on living my life without you? Sometimes I feel like I need you more than you need me. And it scares me that you’ll realise that one day...You’re the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, whether we’re together or not. That doesn’t matter because you’ll always be my soulmate.”

For a stunned eternity, there’s no movement, only the soft, subtle sound of their breathing. But then Chanyeol snakes his arms around Jongin’s waist, pulling him in closer until their fronts are crushed together, scents overlapping. It makes Jongin feel a sense of calm that he has rarely experienced before.

“I guess we both need each other then,” Chanyeol says, tilting his head against Jongin’s. He reaches up to squeeze the nape of Jongin’s neck, feeling the soft skin under his palm, sending a light shiver through the omega.

Jongin thinks maybe he should tell Chanyeol but something holds him back, telling him to wait so he remains silent.

—

Sehun sits up on the bed, sliding out of the covers when there’s a knock on his door. “Come in.”

One of the housemaids enters and announces, “Sir, Miss Lisa is here to see you.”

“Thank you, please let her in.” 

Shortly after, Lisa is escorted to his room. She is dressed casually with a cheery air about her. Sehun smiles when she walks in with a light bounce to her steps. 

“Hey, I’ve got some good news. Here.” She hands over a stack of official looking documents. 

Sehun thumbs through them. “What are these?”

“Take your time to go through them. I’ve thought it through and even discussed it with my friend who’s a lawyer. If I’m the one who ends the engagement, my family cannot sue for restitution, and since we would be the ones backing off from the agreement, the deal will remain in tact as compensation as stated in the contract. All you have to do is sign these documents. I’ve already signed my name.”

Sehun looks up her, letting the documents fall onto his lap. “Are you sure? Won’t your father be livid when he finds out?”

“Initially, but he’ll come to understand.”

“So what’s our reason for ending the engagement?”

“I’ll tell them we don’t have much chemistry and disagree on too many subjects. My mom is a strong believer of soulmates so she’ll immediately support me. She made my father promise I could back out of the engagement anytime if I’m unhappy. My father was very confident that I wouldn’t which is why there is no clause in the contract. And we get to exploit it.”

Sehun drops his gaze to the documents, flipping through the pages and scanning them carefully. 

“You have a week to go over them, discuss them with your lawyers if you have to,” Lisa adds.

Sehun shakes his head. “I’ll sign them now.” He grabs a pen from the nightstand, scribbling his signature in the appropriate spaces. “Thank you for doing this.”

“Don’t look so guilty. I’m not only doing this for you—it’s for me as well. We both want freedom.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you what you’ve been looking for.”

Lisa flops down next to him on the bed. “Yeah, well, maybe what I want is improbable.”

“You have to keep trying. You’ll eventually find a hopeless romantic who’ll treat you like the centre of their world.” 

“Do you regret it? Breaking up?”

Sehun lifts his head, setting aside the documents between them. “I don’t know. But I’m sure I will.”

“It’s not too late for you either,” Lisa says. “Have you told him you’re in love with him?”

Sehun lets out a hateful snort—in contempt at himself. “I did the opposite actually.” His mind replays the look of pure disbelief then devastation on Jongin’s face as tears welled in his eyes. The image has been carved permanently behind Sehun’s eyelids. He can’t un-see it, no matter how much he wills.

“Then you need to tell him how you really feel. For closure, at the very least. You’ve convinced yourself you can stomach the thought of him with someone else, but you’ve been on the edge ever since your friend’s basketball game. And that was just one kiss you saw. Try to imagine someone else having him for the rest of their life while you stand by and watch from a distance...Of course you’ll come to regret breaking up with him, but you’ll regret letting your last opportunity of winning him back slip by you even more. In fact, you’ll hate yourself for it.”

Sehun clenches his jaw, digging his nails into his trousers. He goes still when Lisa slips her fingers between his to get him loosen his grip. Jongin used to do the same. It does the trick but, unlike with Jongin, Sehun feels strained, like a compressed spring ready to unload. 

Lisa retracts her hand, patting him on the forearm as she gets up. “At least tell him you’re in love with him. He deserves to know.”

Picking up the signed documents, she makes for the door, not sparing a glance as she says, “Hopefully this is the last time we see each other if what’s done is good for us. It was nice knowing you, Oh Sehun. I’m glad we met, no matter the circumstance.” And then she’s gone with a flurry of long, dark hair. Sehun can’t even get himself to feel remorseful about it.

When he is alone, sounds of receding footsteps fading in his ears, his heart hangs heavy and dull inside his ribcage. He stares at the picture of the three of them sitting on his nightstand until his vision bleeds red. He tips the frames over so it lays face down.

—

Jongin wakes up to Chanyeol draped over his back, a leg thrown over between his. He blinks awake at the hard press of something against his thigh. He tries to squirm out from underneath Chanyeol but the alpha refuses to budge. Chanyeol moans out something under his breath, subconsciously grinding his erection into the back of Jongin’s thigh. His scent is stronger, almost suffocating. Arousal settles into the pit of Jongin’s stomach, and now he’s turned on as well. Flustered, he shoves at Chanyeol and manages to untangle himself from the alpha’s embrace. He slips out of bed and onto his feet.

Chanyeol grumbles half-asleep, disgruntled at being woken, rolling onto his back. Jongin’s heart leaps when the alpha opens his eyes and red irises glare at him. Chanyeol is either super soft when he’s roused, or super scary. And right now it appears to be the latter. Jongin grimaces and prepares himself to be berated.

Chanyeol just lets out a drowsy grunt of acknowledgement and what sounds like an apology as he pushes himself to sit upright. “Look away, Jongin,” he adds, voice rough with sleep. 

Jongin turns away a moment too late to see Chanyeol’s vein etched hand reach down between his legs to give himself a hard squeeze through his sweatpants, a momentary relief. It’s not like this is the first time Jongin has experienced a situation like this, not uncommon whenever Chanyeol or Sehun’s ruts were due, and yet he’s blushing so profusely he feels like he’ll burst into flames.

“Are you going down?” Chanyeol’s deep voice shakes Jongin out of his thoughts.

“Yes,” he answers, brown eyes darting back to Chanyeol. The alpha is now seated at the edge of the bed with his back to Jongin, hands planted firmly beside him on the mattress.

“Don’t enter without knocking,” Chanyeol says. 

“O-okay.”

Jongin walks out of the room stiffly, closing the door behind him. He digs his nails into his palms. It takes every ounce of will to keep his arousal at bay. It would be embarrassing to explain the sudden need to do laundry to Chanyeol’s mom if he starts leaking in his sweats. He scurries of to the adjacent room’s bathroom where all of his paraphernalia have been set up. Maybe it would’ve been a good idea making Chanyeol sleep on the spare mattress instead.

Later, Chanyeol walks into the kitchen bleary-eyed to find Jongin helping his mom make breakfast—to be fair, it’s less helping, more doing all the work while his mom flips through a magazine as she enjoys her morning coffee. Which is good because she also deserves a break. No wonder she adores Jongin so much. He takes the empty stool and sits down at the table where there’s a plate waiting for him. 

“Good morning,” he mumbles groggily. It’s just one of those rare days when he feels tired even though he had his full ten-hours of sleep.

Jongin glances back from where he’s flipping pancakes at the stove, and giggles. “Seems like a bad one to me.”

“Shut up,” Chanyeol grumbles. Though Jongin’s airy presence has already lightened his mood. 

“Good morning, sweetie.” His mom gets up and kisses his temple.

Jongin scrapes a freshly cooked pancake onto his plate even though there is a whole batch stacked right in front of him. He stares up at Jongin, unable to tear his gaze away from him. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Jongin responds. He looks like a fucking angel standing there, smile on his face, cheeks rosy from the heat and skin glowing underneath the pale streams of sunlight. Chanyeol can almost imagine a halo sitting just above those light brown hair ruffled from sleep. Something tugs in his chest. He wants to wake up to this every morning.

“You should sit down and eat,” he says, forcing his gaze onto the pancake as he tears a piece with his fork.

“Yeah, I will. Just let me tidy up a bit,” Jongin responds.

Chanyeol rolls his eyes and pushes himself up from his chair. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll do it,” he assures as he takes the frying pan from Jongin, placing it in the sink before ushering Jongin to his seat, making sure he sits down. 

“Are you sure? Because it’s no trouble,” Jongin says.

“Yeah, you should just finish eating before everything gets cold.”

“Just let Chanyeol do it, sweetie,” his mom agrees.

“I don’t mind, he always does most of the chores at the apartment, I thought he could use a break,” Jongin tells her, touching Chanyeol’s hand lingering on his shoulder before the alpha can pull back.

“You’re just saying that to make me look good in front of mom,” Chanyeol responds, resting his forearms on Jongin’s shoulders from behind when the omega pulls on his fingers. His comment makes Jongin and his mom laugh.

“He’s being modest,” Jongin states with a grin.

Chanyeol hugs him tightly in response, pressing a hard kiss just above his ear. “Finish your pancakes,” Chanyeol orders before returning to his own seat, nearly missing the flushed expression on his best friend’s face.

“You know I adore Jongin, right?” Mrs. Park says after Jongin leaves the kitchen to take a shower.

“Yes?” Chanyeol side-eyes his mom questioningly from across the table where he’s leaning against the countertop, before taking a swig from the bottle. 

“And I would love to have him as my son-in-law,” she adds.

Chanyeol nearly chokes on water and holds up his hand to his mouth. He lets out a cough, throat feeling a little rough, and settles the bottle on the counter as he stares at her incredulously, feeling totally blindsided. 

“You never told me how you felt about Jongin; I had to find out from your sister. I don’t understand, did you think I wouldn’t approve?”

“No, mamma, it’s not like that,” he protests. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Nothing? So you’re saying that you don’t feel about him that way?” she probes, not buying it, especially not with the way he has been obvious about it.

“No, it’s just, there’s nothing to tell. I don’t think he’s over Sehun.”

“Oh, sweetie, have you told him how you feel?”

“He knows. It’s been a long while now, but it doesn’t change how he still feels about Sehun.”

“As long as he knows. If it’s meant to be, everything will fall into place. If not, then you’ll just have to accept it…”

Chanyeol swallows. He wants to tell her everything that has happened these past few months but it doesn’t feel like just his to disclose.

“No matter the circumstance, I feel like I should celebrate my son falling in love, don’t you think? Do you remember the type of partners you used to bring home? Complete opposites of you. You would always break up with them soon after...I was hoping you would find someone special like Yoora has, or at least get to experience what it feels like to fall for someone. When you’re in love, you are selfish, and yet at the same time you’re living for someone else. It can be really hard but it’s a wonderful feeling.”

“It hurts, though, seeing him want someone else,” Chanyeol admits. “But I can’t—I just, I want him to be happy.” 

“He’s happy with you, though. The way he looks at you, I think you shouldn’t lose hope just yet.”

After a moment of thoughtful silence, a smile spreads across Chanyeol’s face. “So Jongin’s really got your approval, huh?”

“Of course. I love that boy as it is, and he makes my son happy. He’s already part of the family so we’d only be making it official.”

“I know you dream about being a grandma,” he tries to be light-hearted about it but he can’t really bring himself to match the tone. “But you know Jongin can’t have kids. Are you okay with that?”

“I would love grandchildren, and there’s more than one way to have them. But that’s between you two...Besides, I think seeing my son happy is enough.”

“Thank you, mamma.”

In the afternoon, Chanyeol locates Jongin lounging in the backyard on the wicker swing with a novel balanced on top of his chest as he reads. Chanyeol stares at the exposed skin of Jongin’s perfect waist from where his shirt has ridden up. 

“Hey,” Jongin tilts the book down in his hands, eyes tracking Chanyeol as he comes over. Jongin sits upright to free up space for the alpha, letting his bare feet brush along the cool wooden tiles of the veranda. The swing creaks in protest under their combined weight. 

“Do you feel like going to the beach today?” Chanyeol asks, hands gripping onto the edge of the swing’s seat.

“I guess I shouldn’t spend the whole day sleeping.”

“Wouldn’t recommend it.”

Jongin hums, resting his cheek against Chanyeol’s shoulder. Soft hair tickles the side of Chanyeol’s neck and he can smell the faint scent of his shampoo coming from Jongin. They stay like this for a couple of minutes, swinging back and forth. If only they had more than three days together, then Chanyeol would’ve liked to spend a whole day cuddling in bed with Jongin. But he has to make most of their time together. “I should go tell mom.”

“Ask her if she wants to come,” Jongin says as Chanyeol stands up. 

“Mamma, we’re going to the beach,” Chanyeol announces as he enters the living room where his mom is watching the news. “Do you want to join us?’

“You boys have fun, I was thinking about going shopping this afternoon.”

“Oh, okay. We’ll be going then.” Chanyeol faces Jongin who is standing behind him. “Get changed. We’ll head out soon.”

Chanyeol takes his dad’s Hyundai Sonata to drive them to the beach. It’s a short ride, barely ten minutes without traffic. Jongin stares out at the old neighbourhood, reminiscing the whole way there. These are the streets where they learned how to ride a bike through trial and error, racing each other after they’d reached moderate expertise. Jongin really misses those days.

When they step out onto the beach, Jongin feels all the residual ache of a month’s hard work trying to meet deadlines and finishing projects leave his bones as his feet sink into the cool, white sand. It’s so good to be back out here. In fact, they’ve arrived on a good day; it isn’t even crowded. Distant laughter and the chatter of birds carries, along with the light whoosh of the sea. A gust ruffles Jongin’s hair, sending the strands whipping around his face. He scrunches his nose in annoyance. Chanyeol chuckles and drops his large hand on top of Jongin’s head, mussing the omega’s hair further. 

Chanyeol’s own hair is windswept. And the soft, faded blue button-up he has tucked in his khaki shorts, beats against the wind, outlining his tautly carved torso wherever the fabric sticks. And Jongin can’t stop stealing glances. He’s wearing a similar pink shirt, but unlike Chanyeol’s, his remains untucked over white shorts. And the unbuttoned cuffs of his sleeves fall past his wrists, stopping short of his knuckles, unlike the alpha’s rolled up sleeves.

Chanyeol hands over the tote bag holding their stuff to Jongin. “Pick a spot. I’ll go to the cafe over there and bring us some drinks.”

“Good idea.”

Jongin settles down at a spot he deems close enough to the sea without having to worry about the waves hitting the shore. Neither of them plan on taking a dip. To his left, a group is playing soccer, and he watches them with intrigue. It’s been a while since he played himself so he kind of wants to join them. There’s a girl who’s playing as a forward. Smiling, Jongin has to hold himself back from clapping when she scores a goal for her team entirely on her own. He is reminded of his sisters who would come complain to him that the boys wouldn’t let them play on their team despite how good they were.

He feels a gaze on him and with a quick scan he finds the goalkeeper in the girl’s team, clearly an alpha, staring at him with a rather foxy smile. Jongin returns it with a small, friendly one of his own before shyly avoiding the alpha’s gaze. He looks over his shoulder wondering what’s taking Chanyeol so long.

He is surprised to see two girls chatting up his best friend near the stone barricades outlining the beach. One of them says something, brushing the tips of her fingers along the length of Chanyeol’s bulging bicep with a smirk. Textbook flirting. From the looks of it, Chanyeol doesn’t mind at all and even offers his arm with a grin for her to feel. Jongin feels oddly irritated. He knows it’s irrational to feel jealous, yet he’s left with a bad taste. He wills himself to simmer down as Chanyeol makes his way over to him.

Chanyeol proffers the paper bag containing their drinks, grinning as he flops down next to Jongin. “I brought ice cream, too.”

“Oh, thanks! What flavour?” Jongin asks, peering into the bag.

“Vanilla for the both of us.”

“We’ve been eating buckets of vanilla since winter.” 

“If you want me to bring you another flavour, I’ll go right now.” There’s a glint of determination to please in Chanyeol’s eyes.

Jongin pats the top of the alpha’s bare knee in appreciation. “No need, I was just saying. I’m happy with vanilla.” 

Jongin is too preoccupied trying to unwrap his ice cream when a voice makes his head jerk up. “Hey.” It’s the attractive goalkeeper standing before him. “We’re short on a player so I was wondering if you’d like to join us.”

Jongin is suddenly made aware of the entire group’s eyes on him, waiting for his answer. “Um…” He gives Chanyeol a frantic glance and receives an encouraging nod in return. “Yeah, I’d love to. But my ice cream is going to melt so maybe afterwards?” The words come out of Jongin's mouth before he can stop himself.

The guy’s laugh is very light and airy. “Cute. My name is Myungsoo. And you are?”

Pink spreads across Jongin’s cheekbones as he introduces himself, “Jongin.”

“Well, nice to meet you, Jongin. Be sure to join us after you’re done with your ice cream.” Amusement gleams in Myungsoo’s eyes as he flicks his hand in a wave and turns around to return to his friends.

Jongin lets his still-packaged ice cream drop into his lap after the alpha is gone, slouching over to hide his face in his hands in embarrassment. Chanyeol bursts out in laughter, clapping Jongin on the back. “I left you alone for five minutes and you already have a new boyfriend.”

Jongin frees one hand to shove his best friend without lifting up his face. “You hypocrite. As if you weren’t just flirting before you came over,” he says with a glare when Chanyeol continues to laugh.

“Go finish your ice cream,” Chanyeol ribs, and Jongin threatens to elbow him.

Jongin is so glad he decided to join the group to play soccer as it turns out to be so much fun. He’s a little rusty, even loses his footing once or twice, but he gets a hang of it pretty quickly and even manages to sneak one past the goalie. He grins, receiving high-fives from his teammates. It is Chanyeol’s turn to be the spectator and he hollers out his support, clapping his hands in approval. 

When the match is over, Jongin’s skin gleams with light perspiration. He lightly dabs at his forehead with heel of his hand. His team lost by a goal difference, but that doesn’t bother him at all; he’s just happy to have played. He laughs as the other team good-naturedly teases them on their defeat before they all start to slowly disperse. Myungsoo stops Jongin before he goes off on his own. “Good game,” the alpha says.

“Thanks for inviting me to play. I had fun.”

“My pleasure.” Myungsoo clasped his hands behind his back, maintaining a nonthreatening posture. Jongin can’t help but internally fawn over how cute the alpha is. His eyes are so pretty. And clearly Jongin has a thing for guys with dimples. 

“I wanted to ask—you’re spoken for, right?” Myungsoo cocks his head. 

Jongin follows his gaze to where Chanyeol is sitting. “You could say that,” he responds, wearing a fond look.

Myungsoo smiles. “Too bad. Again, it was nice meeting you, Jongin.” 

Jongin is blushing so hard. He clears his throat. “Um, you, too." Thankfully, he can blame his flush on exertion.

“You didn’t get his number?” Chanyeol asks Jongin with a shit-eating grin. 

“Shut up, as if you’d want me to.”

Chanyeol tugs on Jongin’s arm, just below his elbow, pulling him down to sit between his legs. Jongin’s stomach flutters as he leans back against Chanyeol’s chest and the alpha loosely circles his arms around Jongin's middle.

Chanyeol’s chest rumbles as he says in a serious tone, “Yeah, you’re right. I’d get jealous.” A giggle escapes Jongin when Chanyeol tightens his hold, nuzzling the side of his face in a possessive gesture. Jongin suddenly yelps in pain, cupping his ear. Chanyeol bit his helix. He pulls his head back to stare up at Chanyeol’s unapologetic, grinning face in shock.

This is revenge for all the times he did that to Chanyeol. Amusement slowly spreads across Jongin’s face. He holds Chanyeol’s gaze, feeling as though his overstuffed heart is going to erupt with all the packed emotions. This entire trip has felt like a casual romantic getaway, and Jongin feels happy and content. Residing here at the Park household with Chanyeol and his mom has been a step up from their domestic conduct back at the apartment. It’s a taste of what Jongin's life would be like as Chanyeol’s mate, and maybe he has gotten too comfortable playing a role that isn’t his yet. 

He craves it more than anything. 

He gets an intense urge to bite Chanyeol back, somewhere that’ll leave a mark, and he has to clench his jaw to hold himself back. A breath away from a kiss he can’t steal yet, not until he gives Chanyeol his final answer. But there is still a week left. Looking back, whenever it came to Sehun, he has always been more than willing to wait, to love from the sidelines. But not with Chanyeol. Jongin wants him now, and it feels unbearable to wait any longer. What if he just says it? He really wants to. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, his mind infinitely screams at him. He can feel the words hurtling up his throat and his lips part to say them. “Chanyeol, I—” 

Jongin nearly jumps in his skin when a group of five chortling children playing tag suddenly scamper past him from behind. Chanyeol turns his head with a smile to watch them dash off in different directions. Three of them purposely make their way to the sea and then run away screeching when waves of cold water splashes against their ankles and feet. Chanyeol’s face lights up as he laughs under his breath.

Jongin’s heart constricts with shortening breath as self-doubt starts to gnaw at him. He bites his lip. It’s like the universe is throwing him a sign that this is a bad idea. Chanyeol really wants children, and though he says it doesn’t matter to him, his mind could easily change over the course of time—just like Sehun’s had. 

Jongin is pretty sure he is on the brink of having some kind of an anxiety attack and starts to shrink away from Chanyeol which draws the alpha’s attention back to him. “You were saying, Jongin?”

But Jongin can’t get himself to speak. His lower lip trembles and Chanyeol doesn’t miss the panicked look in his eyes. A concerned crease forms between Chanyeol’s eyebrows. Jongin needs to say something. Anything. Before realisation can dawn on Chanyeol, Jongin disentangles himself from the alpha. “It’s not anything important.” His voice comes out shaky.

He is relieved when Chanyeol doesn’t stop him as he quickly gets up and heads over to stand by the shore, taking in deep gulps of air. The smell of fresh sea breeze soothes him, and he takes comfort in the way the vast sea seems as anxious and restless as him. He’s shivering; he hadn’t noticed, there are goosebumps all over his skin. He wraps his arms around himself and tries to focus on the warmth brought by the sun. He slowly closes his eyes and lets all of his worries drift along with the tides. 

After some time passes, Chanyeol appears next to him peering ahead at the horizon. Jongin knew Chanyeol would connect the dots quickly, but he is grateful that his best friend let him have a few minutes to himself to calm down. 

“My mom totally caught me off guard today,” Chanyeol says after a few moments of silence. Jongin thinks he's trying to distract him by telling him an anecdote. “She said she would love to have you as her son-in-law. Even that’s an understatement, I guess.” Jongin sucks in a subtle breath, feeling a surge of love course through him, making his heart race with it. He understands that this is Chanyeol’s implicit way of comforting him—a reassurance. He feels some weight lift off his shoulders. Since what happened between him and Sehun’s parents, he has been living with a growing fear that Chanyeol’s parents might react in the same manner if he chose to be with their son. 

Jongin hides his surprise behind a smile, showing off the dimple in his cheek. “Oh? I mean how could she not,” he jokes. 

Chanyeol huffs out a laugh, glancing up at the sky where grey clouds are slowly gathering to cover the sun. It’s going to start drizzling in a few hours.

“So, she’s rooting for me and you to happen, huh?” Jongin asks.

“You could say that. Though, she considers Sehun as her son too so you were always on the right track….She loves you a lot, I thought maybe a reminder wouldn’t hurt.”

Jongin is quiet for a minute, eliciting a glance from the alpha. Chanyeol confided in him with what his mother told him, so it’s only fair that Jongin shares a private thought of his own. “I thought about it this morning…when we were having breakfast—what it’d be like to be part of the family. For real.”

“Yeah? And what did you make of it?”

“It would be really nice.”

“I’m glad.” Still staring ahead, Chanyeol hooks his pinky around Jongin’s, offering to hold hands. He has managed to close some distance between them without Jongin noticing. Jongin affectionately bumps his shoulder against Chanyeol’s and laces their fingers together.

“Chanyeol?” Jongin suddenly calls.

Chanyeol faces him. “Yeah?” 

Something builds up inside Jongin that gives him the courage to kiss Chanyeol in that moment. The alpha groans at the sudden press of soft lips against his own. The kiss only lasts for a few seconds before Chanyeol cups Jongin’s jaw gently and pushes him back. A playful growl rises up his throat in warning when Jongin tries to lean in again.

“That wasn’t very nice of you,” Chanyeol says in a teasing tone. 

“I guess it wasn’t.” But Jongin’s mind is already preoccupied with the thought of kissing him again.

“Why’d you do it?”

“Because I wanted to.”

“Careful.” Chanyeol’s gaze lingers on Jongin’s pink lips with rapt attention. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” and the way he says it, deep voice dropping to a low, sends a shiver up Jongin’s spine.

“Do you know why Sehun broke up with me?” Jongin asks in a rush, and it comes out breathy.

Chanyeol’s tenses. His silence says everything. 

“He said I’m in love with you…and I think he might be right,” Jongin admits, blood rushing in his ears.

Chanyeol stares shellshocked for a split second with strong emotions swirling behind those brown eyes, before he lurches forward to pull Jongin into a passionate, bruising kiss. Jongin pushes himself onto the tips of his toes, holding onto Chanyeol’s broad shoulders.

Chanyeol slips a hand inside Jongin’s unbuttoned shirt, fingers tracing along the line of Jongin’s back, leaving goosebumps in their wake, stopping short of Jongin’s ass. Jongin shudders at the touch, pulling away with a blush. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this here.”

Chanyeol reaches to give Jongin another hard kiss before offering his hand. “Let’s go back home, then.”

—

“You’re telling me this now?!” Luhan exclaims, sitting down next to Sehun in a flurry. “You and Lisa really put an end to the engagement?”  

Sehun hums in acknowledgement as he tips his head back against the couch, watching all the blurry figures in the club dance before him. 

“So the deal is secure, then? This is your chance, you have to get Jongin back.”

Sehun clicks his tongue in annoyance. “I came here to have a good time, not so you could badger me.”

“Just to feel like trash in the morning; you’re wasted as fuck. You need to stop pretending you’re okay because you’re not...Get your shit together and talk to Jongin, I don’t know what you’re waiting for.”

“Funny,” Sehun responds, but there is not a single trace of humour in his voice, “Lisa said the same thing.” His throat rolls as he downs another glassful of liquid that momentarily stains his teeth blood red. Then he giggles to himself, elaborating, “The second part, not the first one.” And in that moment as he grins, Luhan thinks he looks a little manic.

“See, everyone thinks you’re being a dumbass. Talk. To. Jongin.”

“Why bother? My parents are just gonna set me up with someone else.”

“You don’t need to listen to them. I don’t know why you feel like you owe everything to them. They’ve been terrible to you and Junmyeon. Continue being a filial son but don’t go beyond what’s appropriate. Get together with Jongin, everyone and everything else can go to hell.”

“It’s not that easy.” Sehun is back to being dead-serious, any signs of inebriation ebbing away.

“You can pursue a normal life. You don’t need to take over after your father. It’s not your responsibility to bear if you don’t want it...What’s the worse he can do? Write you out of his will?”

“You forget my father is a petty and vengeful man with unimaginable connections. He will take his wrath out on Jongin and certainly attempt to make Jongin and his family's life a living hell in anyway possible.”

“Then we need to take him down, rid him of his power. It won’t be easy by any means but I know you’ve been plotting. You can keep your relationship with Jongin on the low until then. There has to be a way. You can figure it out together, worry about the future when it comes.”

“My father took away everything important from me, the way he and mom treated Junmyeon all these years. I want my father to watch me take everything he loves and burn it to the ground. It will take me a decade at the very least to pull it off, but I can’t have Jongin caught up in this war. I don’t want that life for him.”

Luhan raises his eyebrows. “A life with the person he loves?”

Sehun scoffs. “If you want to pull that card, there’s another problem you’ve conveniently ignored. His feelings will fade; he hasn’t realised it yet but he loves Chanyeol.”

“You made that assumption entirely on your own. And even if he does, it’s a fact he loves you too. He confessed, told you he’s in love with you.”

“That’s because he doesn’t know what he wants.”

“That doesn’t matter! He chose you. He is the love of your life, and in that moment, you were his. You should’ve convinced him why you’re the one he should be with instead of running away the first chance you got. You pushed him right into Chanyeol’s arms. That’s on you.”

Sehun clenched his teeth, holding himself back from lashing out.

Luhan continues, “You keep making excuses because you refuse to admit to yourself that you regret breaking it off with Jongin. You were scared. You’re still scared you’re going to find out he has moved on, for real this time.”

Like a trapped, wounded animal, Sehun is more than willing to attack. Pettiness gives way, and he taunts, “Why are you suddenly so adamant on me and Jongin getting together? What, you don’t want to suck my dick anymore?”

“Asshole.” Luhan gets up, face contorted in hurt and anger. “You forget I’m your friend, too. Not everyone gets to be lucky enough to have their feelings reciprocated. I can’t understand how you’d want to throw that away.” With that, Luhan stalks off.

Sehun immediately feels guilty and wants to go after Luhan to apologise. But he thinks it’s better to let his friend blow off some steam first, and maybe sober up himself before he delivers any kind of apology. He rubs his hands over his face. Fuck. Luhan is right. He really is such an asshole.

Chapter Text

When they return, Jongin decides to take a shower to wash away all the sand and sweat from playing soccer. After sharing another kiss, he leaves Chanyeol standing in the middle of the bedroom while he retreats to the bathroom. He wanted Chanyeol to join him, but Chanyeol told him he’d prefer to wash up in the other bathroom to give Jongin some space and privacy to collect his thoughts without feeling pressured. Which is appreciated, really. Still, Jongin leaves the door ajar incase Chanyeol decides to change his mind. And Jongin is counting on that because he’s too shy to insist on it himself. 

As he steps inside the acrylic panels, he lets himself imagine Chanyeol picking up on the unspoken invitation and joining him underneath the shower head, crowding him back against the cool marble tiles as water cascades down on them. A sudden rush goes through him at the thought. He stretches himself on two fingers, preparing for what’s about to come, and his legs quiver as a gush of slick slips past his fingers. The running water swallows up all the soft and high noises that escape him, and his orgasm hits him not more than a few minutes later. 

He takes his time to clean up.

Chanyeol is already seated on the bed when Jongin steps into the bedroom, dressed only in his white briefs—the material fairly translucent enough to reveal his cock sitting heavily across his thigh, already filling up against his hip. His hair is towelled dry, just like Jongin’s, but there are remnants of water droplets on his shoulders and chest. 

Jongin swallows thickly, appreciating Chanyeol’s powerful physique and his presence that takes up the entire space in the room. Strong thighs splayed, back straight, Chanyeol watches Jongin approach with a scary amount of calm like he’s in his element and in total control, which makes Jongin feel jittery with nerves at his own vulnerability.

He comes over with just a towel wrapped around his waist, to stand between Chanyeol’s legs. The only thing that gives away the alpha’s crumbling composure is the strong grip on his knees. Jongin wraps his arms around Chanyeol’s shoulders to hide the way his own hands are shaking; there are butterflies in his stomach, and the adrenaline rush makes him feel weak. 

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” Jongin says, biting his lip. “Even for a second.”

Chanyeol tilts his head, staring up at Jongin. He licks his lips and hums. “What if I tell you it’s the same for me when it comes to you?”  

“You should’ve joined me.”

“I’m trying to be patient”—Chanyeol’s fingers tease at the towel around Jongin’s waist—“but you’re making it very hard.” Jongin sucks in a breath when Chanyeol runs his hands up his sides, holding onto his waist. 

“Are you ready?” Chanyeol asks, staring up into Jongin’s eyes.

Jongin takes a deep breath and smiles. “I am.” He untucks the towel, letting it drop to the floor. Chanyeol’s gaze doesn’t waver from his, and Jongin has to give him some credit.

“Sure?” Chanyeol confirms again, reaching up to cup Jongin’s cheek.

“Yes,” Jongin whispers, covering Chanyeol’s hand with his own.

Pretty, Chanyeol thinks, and after that all coherent thoughts leave him as Jongin’s hands bury in his hair and soft, plump lips catch his into a slow kiss. He moans around Jongin’s tongue. “You’re eager,” he pulls back just enough to say with a chuckle when Jongin leans closer, practically climbing his lap.

Jongin doesn’t respond, only kisses the alpha harder. And it’s his turn to moan when Chanyeol grabs his bare ass, pulling him onto his lap. Their movement is kind of clumsy, both reluctant to break the kiss, but they make it work. It’s all impulse from there. Chanyeol’s hands subtly roam over every inch of Jongin’s skin he can reach, planning, tracing, cataloguing every possible way he can wreck Jongin. And when they finally pause to chase their breath, Chanyeol gives Jongin this heated look and Jongin can see him picturing it all. A huff of air escapes Jongin as Chanyeol disposes him on the bed, leaning over him. 

Chanyeol nips at Jongin’s bottom lip, tugging the swollen flesh between his teeth, before pulling away to sit back on his haunches, strong thighs trapping the omega. The form-fitting briefs Chanyeol is wearing does absolutely nothing to hide the outline of his large bulge straining against the fabric. Jongin watches with half-lidded eyes as Chanyeol tugs his briefs down just enough and his enlarged cock slips out, proudly curving up against the taut ridges of his stomach. There’s a bulbous knob forming at the base of the alpha’s cock, and seeing it makes Jongin gulp at the thought of taking it. It’s been months since the last time he took a knot—he’s been making do with his fingers and the prostrate massager Baekhyun got him since then—and, well, Chanyeol looks thicker even without his knot fully-formed yet. 

Chanyeol wraps a hand around his hard cock, sliding his fist up with a small, satisfied groan ripping out of his throat as he brushes his thumb over the sensitive head wet with precum. His kiss-bitten mouth is red, just like the flush riding all the way up from his chest to his neck.

Jongin just lies there, arms splayed helplessly on either side of his head as Chanyeol towers over him, holding his gaze. Chanyeol slowly pumps his cock, and Jongin flinches, releasing a small whimper as precum drips onto his navel. His own cock is hard and weeping against his stomach but he doesn’t dare to touch it. He doesn’t want to touch himself without Chanyeol’s explicit permission.

Chanyeol lets go of his cock and dismounts Jongin. “On your stomach,” he orders.

“O-okay.” Jongin adjusts himself onto his hands and knees, feeling too self-conscious and exposed like that. He stays still, his arms barely holding him up. He hears Chanyeol move about behind him and it makes him feel impatient. He nearly jumps when Chanyeol presses down on the small of his back, forcing him to lay down flat against the mattress. A desperate mewl escapes him as his cock rubs against the sheets, and more slick drips down the back of his thighs.

The bed dips as Chanyeol straddles Jongin’s back, leaning over to press a hard kiss to the top of the omega’s head. Jongin stretches his head back and lifts himself up a little onto his forearms with a sound of appreciation as Chanyeol trails soft bites up along the side of his neck. Soft, wet lips drag against the skin just behind Jongin’s ear, making him shiver in anticipation. 

“Can’t wait to have you trembling under me,” Chanyeol whispers huskily against the side of Jongin’s face, pressing a kiss there before tugging at the tip of Jongin’s ear with his teeth.

He moves down Jongin’s body to kiss the back of the omega’s thighs, taking his time to bite and suck at the soft skin, tracing the agitated area with his tongue. He wants to leave his mark—multiple ones. He can hear all the small gasps and hitches in Jongin’s breathing and it makes his cock throb with want—the need to pull more sounds from Jongin.

Jongin feels Chanyeol’s hands slide up his thighs to settle on his ass, thumbs digging in to pull his cheeks apart. A whine starts in his throat as the time ticks by but Chanyeol keeps still. 

Chanyeol stares at Jongin’s pretty, pink hole with streaks of slick running down his cheeks. “Of course everything about you is pretty,” he says, fingers grazing the puckered skin. He could have kept the comment to himself but he knows it’ll fluster Jongin.

“Shut up,” Jongin grumbles, ears turning red. And it’s like hearing a kitten hiss—cute.

“What, you don’t like being called pretty?”

“I do, but you’re just teasing me.”

“You’re right.”

Chanyeol blows air on Jongin’s hole, watching it quiver and his own cock twitches as precum drips. More than tempted—desperate even—to have a taste, he bends down to swipe his tongue up Jongin’s crease, making the omega jolt. There’s a sweet, addictive tinge to Jongin just like in his scent. And Chanyeol craves more. He presses his lips against Jongin’s hole once more and sucks.

“Chanyeol!” Jongin cries out at the feeling and presses himself harder against the mattress. 

Lips smacking, Chanyeol pulls away with a smug grin. He traces his tongue over his lips shiny with Jongin’s slick, humming. “I would take my time but I’m a little impatient for something else,” he says, and Jongin’s breath fastens in anticipation as Chanyeol’s fingers rub the wrinkled skin, teasing over the entrance, threatening to sink in.

A tight asshole feels nice around his cock and all, but Chanyeol wants Jongin’s puffy and leaking. He puts pressure and Jongin’s hole immediately gives way, swallowing his fingers. He grunts in approval. Jongin groans, head twisting and turning on the pillow, fingers restlessly clutching at the sheets. 

“I knew you could take two in one go.”

“I already prepped myself in the shower—thinking about you,” Jongin gasps out.

“I should make them three, then. You can handle it,” Chanyeol says, and watches with a wolfish grin as Jongin clenches around his fingers. “Oh, you like that? You want more, baby?” 

Jongin whimpers, too embarrassed to utter more than a small, desperate, “Please…”

Chanyeol pulls his fingers out and they come out coated in grool. He’s tempted to put them in his mouth, have another taste, instead he slides them back inside Jongin, three this time like he said, twisting to make sure they graze Jongin’s prostrate. Jongin makes the cutest noise—a mix between a surprised oomph and a whine, and Chanyeol relishes the sound of it. He drags his fingers out before slamming them back in, adding a little more force each time. 

A noise starts at the back of Jongin’s throat and doesn’t stop as Chanyeol finger-fucks him hard and fast, making his toes curl and the muscles in his thighs clench as his legs shift against the soft sheets. Chanyeol doesn’t stop until Jongin’s gasping to catch his breath, clawing to pull himself up the bed to escape the onslaught of pleasure. 

“Too much? Want me to slow down?” Chanyeol asks as he slowly withdraws his fingers. He purposely pauses each time Jongin is about to cum and it is torturous. But at the same time, it’s all so intense, Jongin doesn’t think he can handle more without breaks in between. It’s killing him either way.

Leaning on his forearms, Jongin drops his head between his shoulders and takes a moment to breathe, give his lungs a chance to catch up. Sex with Chanyeol is demanding and they’ve barely started—just twenty minutes in, he can’t imagine an hour later.

“I think I’m way in over my head,” he admits, lifting his head to glance over his shoulder at the alpha, “if I still think I can keep up with you.”

Amused, Chanyeol chuckles. “I’ll go easy on you. But I can stop if you want.”

Jongin shakes his head. “No—I want to go on. It—it feels really good.”

“Do you think you’re ready to take me?” 

“Yeah, I think I am.”

Jongin’s breath hitches with the dip of the mattress as Chanyeol moves to straddle him once again in one smooth motion; the weight of the alpha on top of him is daunting and yet so thrilling. Chanyeol peppers the back of Jongin’s neck and shoulders with kisses as he rolls his hips, letting his cock slide between Jongin’s cheeks. “Comfortable?” he asks, and Jongin shivers at the caress of warm breath against his skin and the faintest brush of Chanyeol’s nose along his nape where the shoulder starts.   

“Yes,” he breathes out, lashes fluttering as he gets lost in Chanyeol’s touches. That’s until Chanyeol adjusts his position and Jongin feels the press of something blunt against his entrance and his eyes fly open in nervous anticipation.

“I’m going to push, okay?” Chanyeol speaks against his shoulder. Jongin can only nod his head.

The tight ring of muscles strain against the breach and a sharp pain threatens to shoot up Jongin’s spine when Chanyeol tries to push further, making Jongin gasp despite himself. “Give me a minute,” he says through clenched teeth, feeling grateful when the alpha’s hips immediately become dead still. It feels weird to have just the head of Chanyeol’s cock pressed into him.

“Take all the time you need,” Chanyeol says gently. He shifts his weight onto one arm, trying not to move his hips too much as he buries his free hand into Jongin’s hair, massaging the omega’s scalp before moving his hand down over Jongin’s ear to the warm skin at Jongin’s neck and shoulder where he can see the faintest of marks he left.

Jongin keeps clenching around the sensitive head of Chanyeol’s cock and it takes everything in the alpha to not just snap his hips into the constricting, wet heat. He breathes in Jongin’s sweet pheromones—the tinge of sweat, arousal, and fear. “Are you okay?” he confirms, “I don’t want to hurt you.” 

Those words trigger a flashback and suddenly Jongin is traveling back a few months and it’s Sehun saying them instead. Jongin squeezes his eyes shut and lets his forehead hit the pillow, willing himself to stop seeing Sehun’s face. Of all the times… 

“Jongin?” 

Oh. He still hasn’t answered Chanyeol. “I’m good now,” he musters, “you can move.” And if it hurts, well…it’ll keep his mind from wandering.

“Okay, but stop me if it’s still too much.”

Chin pressed into the back Jongin’s head and brows knit in concentration, Chanyeol drives his hips forward, sinking steadily until Jongin’s stubborn muscles give way to the intrusion. They both groan, taking deep gulps of air by the time Chanyeol is wholly inside Jongin.

“You feel so—oh, fuck,” Chanyeol’s voice is gruff and strained. But Jongin can’t hear him over the blood pounding in his ears and the throbbing in his ass. Chanyeol’s hips are heavy against his backside, pressing him into the mattress. He feels so full—too conscious of how his rim is stretched thin around the alpha’s cock. He’s pretty sure his body is producing slick in overdrive.

A helpless noise is pulled out of him when Chanyeol tugs his cock out an inch before pushing back with a roll of his hips. Each small movement causes the thick cock to rub over Jongin’s prostrate, sending jolts of pleasure up Jongin’s spine. Jongin is so turned on despite the uncomfortable fullness. His cock, trapped against the mattress, is painfully red, threatening to spill with a couple more brushes against the sheets.

“Is this alright?” Chanyeol asks. Jongin can feel the way the alpha’s body is tense above him, fighting to keep from rushing everything.

Jongin swallows thickly. “Yeah, it—it’s overwhelming but…it feels good,” he reassures. 

Chanyeol nips at the back of Jongin’s neck as he withdraws again halfway, and Jongin whimpers through his nose. Chanyeol puts his full weight into his hips as he surges forward, stealing the breath out of Jongin’s lungs. Punched out “ahs” are forced out of the omega with repeated thrusts that get stronger each passing moment, pressing Chanyeol’s cock deeper inside of him.

Soon, Chanyeol is full-on pounding him into the mattress with deep grunts. The sturdy bed creaks along with all the punctuated wet, squelching noises and laboured breathing as Chanyeol slams his hips into Jongin. Jongin’s shoulders draw back, body curving like a bow as every nerve tingles with a mix of pain and pleasure. He tries closing his legs and spreading his thighs, anything to adjust the angle, hoping it’ll lessen the intensity, but nothing helps; Chanyeol is way too thick, filling every inch of him. There’s so much heat pooling inside of Jongin and his skin gleams with a thin layer of sweat. Tears prickle his eyes as his whole body feels overstimulated, but he’s so desperate for Chanyeol to keep going. He’s so close, he can feel it.

Chanyeol suddenly draws back, pulling out of Jongin completely. Jongin flushes in embarrassment when he clenches at the empty feeling but his hole doesn’t close all the way, and instead pre-cum and slick spurt out of him. 

“Fuck, you’re killing me,” he hears Chanyeol say, and keens at the rough drag of two fingers pushing into him. “A heads up would’ve been nice,” he protests but his words end with a moan as the alpha probes his prostrate with curled fingers.

Chanyeol withdraws his fingers, leaving Jongin empty again. “Get up Jongin, we need to change positions.”

Jongin complies, feeling like a baby deer as he pushes himself up on trembling limbs. His breath gets caught up in his chest when he finally faces the alpha. Chanyeol’s hair has fallen over his forehead, strands stopping short of eyes that are now a deep shade of red, and his chest heaves with exertion. He looks so handsome, and he’s staring back like he’s thinking the same thing about Jongin. The thought of it makes Jongin’s insides turn to mush. 

“Come here, Jongin,” Chanyeol coaxes softly. “Are you nervous?”

Jongin shakes his head and allows the alpha to pull him over to his lap. “It’ll be easier this way when I knot you.” The statement makes Jongin shiver. He surprises Chanyeol by pressing a quick kiss to his mouth. 

Chanyeol smiles widely at him. “You’re sweet.” He reaches over and tucks a soft strand of hair behind Jongin’s ear.

“Now I’m getting impatient, you still haven’t let me come,” Jongin whines, gripping onto Chanyeol’s shoulders as he cants his hips forward to grind his aching cock against the alpha’s abs for any reprieve. “I change my mind, I don’t want you to go easy on me.”

“You want me to be rough?”

Jongin nods.

“I’ll grant your wish,” Chanyeol growls, and Jongin’s heart rate spikes when Chanyeol drags a rough hand over his entrance. He whimpers as Chanyeol slaps his fingers against his hole.

Satisfied with how wet and loose Jongin is, Chanyeol aligns his cock and pushes deep inside without any refrain. “Ah!” Jongin slumps forward against Chanyeol, trembling with the force of the alpha’s thrusts. It takes tremendous effort to muffle all the noises being coaxed out of him as he’s tugged down by the hips onto Chanyeol’s hard cock. He pulls back, unable to keep still as the pleasure mounts.  

“You’re kind of a slut, aren’t you?” Chanyeol grabs Jongin by the jaw, kissing him sharply. Jongin clenches around the alpha, eyes rolling back behind closed lids. Chanyeol is so thick and heavy inside of him, scraping his insides raw with pleasure. “You’re taking me so well.” 

Jongin scrunches his eyebrows, mouth falling open with a cry as his entire body seizes with the force of his orgasm. 

“Chanyeol!” He moans, jolting with the aftershocks as the alpha doesn’t slow down the pounding as he chases his own orgasm. Chanyeol’s growing knot slaps against Jongin’s swollen rim that’s already stretched to its limit. In his orgasm-hazed mind, Jongin thinks he can handle it, but as the knot is being pushed halfway through, he feels pinpricks of pain start to grow that send him into a panic.

“Jongin, Jongin, calm down,” Chanyeol cups his face in both hands as he tries to pull back from the pressure. “Look at me.” And Jongin does, staring into the alpha’s assuring eyes. They’re brown. For a split second, Jongin forgets about the painful stretch, amazed by the restraint and control Chanyeol is showing despite trying to ride out his rut. It gives him the courage to practice his own resilience.

“Trust me, you can do it, okay? Relax…Breathe with me.”

Jongin slowly relaxes, following the rhythm of Chanyeol’s breathing, and his shoulders slump from their tense position as the pain dissipates into a plain-old uncomfortable stretch. 

“Come on, just a little more. Try for me,” Chanyeol says it like it’s an option. It would be painful for them both if they try to separate now before his knot deflates. Jongin bears down, teeth grinding as he fights to keep himself relaxed. “That’s it, come on, you can do it,” Chanyeol encourages. 

Jongin can finally release a breath of air when the widest part of the knot pops inside of him, relieving the pressure from his rim. A noise is punched out of him. He forgot how intense it is having the knot jammed against his prostate, especially when he’s still sensitive post-orgasm. His thighs tremble with any slight movement that causes the alpha’s knot to shift against the sensitive wall over his prostrate. His cock starts to fill out again and he wants to protest; he’s already wrung out. Resting his forehead against Chanyeol’s shoulder blade, he tries not to fidget. It helps when Chanyeol keeps running a soothing hand along his back, giving him something else to focus on.

“I’m tired,” he mumbles against Chanyeol’s skin. He’s starting to feel drowsy as he breathes in the alpha’s comforting scent.

“I’ll make it quick then.” Chanyeol rotates his hips, trying to stuff his cock deeper inside the omega. 

Jongin leans back with a yelp, the dried tear-tracks at the corner of his eyes tracing over with fresh ones as the pleasure builds up once again in his pelvis. Chanyeol mouths at the skin along Jongin’s collarbone with small movements of his hips that prolong Jongin’s orgasm. 

“O-oh,” Jongin digs his fingers into the alpha’s shoulders, arching his back as waves of pleasure continue to ripple through him long after his orgasm. He feels so overwhelmed by all the sensations—surrounded by the alpha’s body heat, the scrape of teeth along his skin, fingers clutching at his hips. 

Chanyeol lets out a deep groan, chest rumbling with it as he bounces Jongin on his cock. He continues to mouth at Jongin’s chest, huffing air as his orgasm nears, knot inflating inside the omega. His teeth ache with the need to clamp down onto something,

Jongin barely has time to react before his back hits the mattress. He stares up with wide eyes at the alpha looming over him with a hand to his throat holding him down. He swallows sharply under the loose grip, staring into Chanyeol’s red eyes. Shit, he’s so turned on. He clenches around Chanyeol’s knot helplessly, milking every drop of cum. Chanyeol squeezes Jongin’s neck just enough to restrict his oxygen supply momentarily before he lets go to lay his palm flat on Jongin’s chest, flicking the omega’s nipple with his thumb just as he tilts forward to capture Jongin’s lips into a bruising kiss. He sucks on Jongin’s bottom lip and pinches the nub between his fingers, pulling a hiss out of the omega.

Tiny moans slip past Jongin’s lips as Chanyeol pulls his hips back a little so his knot tugs at Jongin’s rim, threatening to pull out before slamming forward. Chanyeol continues those short, hard thrusts until he’s coming long and hard inside Jongin, pressing his face along the column of the omega’s neck. Jongin yelps out in a flash of blinding pain when Chanyeol sinks his teeth into muscles above his clavicle. Chanyeol doesn’t let go until he rides out his orgasm, leaving Jongin trembling underneath him.

Jongin gets drowsy, failing to stay awake as the exhaustion hits him all at once. He doesn’t remember much from when his eyelids started to droop as sleep overcomes him shortly afterward. 

—

Jongin wakes up first, awareness practically body checking him out of his slumber. He stares blearily at the streaks of sunlight coming through the small gap in the haphazardly closed curtains as it all comes back to him. He’s in Chanyeol’s bed. At Chanyeol’s family home. He’d confessed and they had sex last night. 

Jongin turns to his side to stare at Chanyeol who’s asleep on his stomach, facing away. He presses his lips together, holding back a smile. There’s a crushingly heady, dominant scent coming from Chanyeol that makes Jongin want to press his nose against the alpha’s bare arm to drown himself in it. Faint smell of soap reaches his nostrils when he shuffles closer, which tells him that Chanyeol took a shower just a while ago. He lifts his hands to stroke the alpha’s hair gently, which is barely damp at the tips.

That’s when he feels it—the weight of it like a tether wrapped around his heart, stretched out in the airwaves. It makes him sit up so fast his head spins. This was a bad idea; his body hasn’t recovered from last night and he has terrible aches like he’s pulled a muscle all over, especially his backside. There is one part that stings as if the wounds are still fresh and he covers it with his hand: the curve of his neck where Chanyeol bit him. He probes at the skin but it feels healed despite the lingering sharp pain. Why? 

He doesn’t understand. No…

No, it can’t be…

His heart beats rapidly in his chest as he moves to nudge the alpha’s shoulder, whispering in a trembling voice, “Chanyeol, wake up…Chanyeol…”

Chanyeol slowly stirs, turning his head in his folded arms. A soft, groggy smile blooms on his face at the the sight of Jongin until he factors in the frantic expression, and then concern takes over. Eyebrows furled, he pushes himself up to press a warm hand against Jongin’s cheek. “Hey, are you okay? What’s wrong?” 

Jongin gets flustered when he realises he’s naked under the sheets still covered in yesterday’s filth while Chanyeol is dressed up in grey sweats looking a whole lot fresher than him. But right now, that’s not what’s important. “I’m not sure but something feels different. Do you feel it, too?” He touches the mark, hoping Chanyeol will understand.

Chanyeol’s gaze falls on the bite mark and after a moment of confusion it dawns on him. From the surprised look on his face, Jongin can tell he’s experiencing it all too. Jongin doesn’t know whether to feel relieved or concerned that it isn’t just one-sided.

“You feel it, right? That’s not normal.”

“We bonded? This is a bond,” Chanyeol voices in disbelief. “I thought it was just me…” He presses a hand to his chest over his heart where he feels the coiled grip. “How…?”

Jongin shakes his head. “It’s not a bond. It can’t be, that’s not how it works.” For an alpha and omega to bond, both need to be willing for their cycles to match eventually over the course of the relationship. But in their case— 

“I wasn’t in heat. It’s not even due until two weeks.”

“I don’t know…” Chanyeol combs his hair back, racking his brain for every piece of knowledge they’ve been taught on bonds. Then it clicks. The rarest possibility. “Fuck. Soulmates. That’s the only other known way.”

“Soulmates?” Jongin crumbles, voice breaking. He wants to let himself believe it’s true. “So t-this really is a bond?”

“Yes, Jongin. You keep asking me but don’t you feel it? The connection?”

“I do!” Jongin can feel the love echo through, the warm presence of the alpha settled in his heart. “It’s just - this happened way sooner than I would’ve ever imagined.” He doesn’t admit it out loud but he never thought any of his relationships would survive long enough for a bond. “Are you okay with all of this?”

“Of course I am. Jongin, I think I’ve made it more than clear that I want this.” Then doubt takes over Chanyeol. “But you don’t seem to be too happy about it.”

Tears sting Jongin’s eyes and a sob erupts from his throat as he throws his arms around Chanyeol, clinging to the alpha. Chanyeol’s right hand trails up the back of Jongin’s shoulders and neck before finally burying in his hair while the other rests against the omega’s back, bringing him closer. 

“I’m happy. More than you can imagine,” Jongin croaks, unable to hold back the floodgates. “I’m so glad it’s you,” he whispers.

Chanyeol presses his lips against the side of Jongin’s head, clutching him tighter. He lets out a huff of disbelieving laugh against Jongin’s hair. “Soulmates, huh? If only we knew how right you were.” A beat. “You’re really okay with this? Because I hadn’t exactly asked your permission before I bit you.” 

Jongin pulls back arms length to stare at Chanyeol with a mock-glare. “We wouldn’t have bonded if I weren’t, dumbass.”

“Ouch, that was harsh. Now say that without crying,” Chanyeol ribs with a sharp grin, booping Jongin’s nose. 

Jongin gasps in a show of indignation. “And whose fault w-” Interrupted, Jongin releases a half-hearted sound of protest against Chanyeol’s lips as he’s pushed down against the mattress. But then he gives in and returns the kiss with equal enthusiasm, folding his arms around the alpha’s neck to pull him closer.  

“I love you,” Chanyeol murmurs, staring down at Jongin.

Jongin sucks in a tiny breath. This would be the perfect moment yet he’s hesitating to say it back. He wants to but everything is happening so sudden that it doesn’t feel right like reality will come crashing down all too soon. 

“You don’t have to say it back right now. I just want you to keep hearing it from me.”

Jongin stares back a bit sheepishly. “I know, it seems silly that we’ve bonded yet I’m not ready to say it back.”

“It’s not silly, though. We might be bonded and everything, but it’s perfectly alright to not feel ready. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but in less than twenty-four hours we kind of skipped all the steps and went straight down to commitment.”

Jongin smiles, scrunching his nose. “Yeah, we kind of did rush into it.”

“So, it’s not a bad idea to take things slow,” Chanyeol says, his thumbs rubbing back and forth over Jongin’s ruddy, tear-stained cheeks.

“Thank you.” Jongin lifts his head to peck Chanyeol on the lips. Wanting to prolong the kiss, Chanyeol slides his lips against Jongin’s, balancing his weight on three limbs as he uses his free hand to keep Jongin’s head propped up. He gently lets Jongin’s head down before tracing his hand down Jongin’s firm torso. Jongin’s eyes crinkle, pushing away Chanyeol amusedly when the alpha grips his thigh. “No! I know where this is going but I can’t handle another round so soon.”

Chanyeol lets his head drop between his shoulders with a pout before he lifts himself up onto his knees with a sigh. “Hmm, you’re right, I should be heading downstairs anyway. Mom’s probably wondering why we didn’t show up for dinner last night…I’ll even fix you something to eat. What’re you in the mood for?”

Jongin’s stomach grumbles at the mention of food, making both of them giggle in surprise. “I guess my stomach answered for me. I’ll eat anything right now, so surprise me.”

“Done.” Chanyeol drops a quick kiss on Jongin’s brow before sliding off the bed. 

Jongin sits up, leaning back on his hands. “Ugh, what I need most right now is a hot shower.”

Chanyeol pauses at the foot of the bed, his gaze running over Jongin’s body. “Do you, uh, need any help?”

Jongin sets his feet firmly on the ground, testing to make sure he won’t topple right over as soon as he stands before gingerly pushing himself off the bed. He is slightly unsteady on his feet, with a slight ache followed by each step, but overall he’s fine. More than fine, actually. In fact, he’s good. “I’m managing. I’ll be fine. Though, concern is not the only reason why you’re asking.” 

Chanyeol sticks his tongue out between his teeth, rubbing the back of his head. “You’re right.”

“I’m not going anywhere, but if you really want to make your case, you’ll bring me breakfast.”

“I’ll be right back,” Chanyeol says, grabbing a shirt on the way before he’s out of the door. 

Jongin smiles as the door shuts after the alpha. He wipes at his cheeks with the back of his hand. He has cried so many times these past few months, for many different reasons—some he can’t even remember and others that are ingrained vividly in his memory. These past few hours, days, with Chanyeol are moments he’ll never forget. The giddiness hasn’t worn off yet, and neither has the disbelief. He’s really bonded to Chanyeol. A part of him still feels like he doesn’t deserve Chanyeol and it scares him that it’ll weigh down on their relationship. But it’s not just a relationship now—it’s a mutual bond. And Chanyeol thinks for some reason that Jongin is more than what he deserves. So Jongin will have to be exactly that.

He scrubs himself good in the shower and after he comes out, he dresses himself in the most comfortable clothes he could find: cotton shorts and a grey t-shirt. He even changes the sheets, dumping everything in the hamper, before he settles down on the bed, dialling his friends. 

Only Baekhyun and Jongdae pick up.

“Where’s Soo?”

“He should be out with Mina,” Jongdae says. “It’s their anniversary today so they’re going to spend the entire day together, starting with breakfast.”

“Oh…” It’s unreal to think that Kyungsoo and Mina have been going out for two years now and they both don’t have any plans to bond in the near future. Then there’s him and Chanyeol, bonded in less than a day into their relationship.   

“How did Chanyeol take it after you told him?” Baekhyun asks, curiosity getting the better of him. “You can’t just send such an important text and then leave us hanging with no updates.”

“Uh,” Jongin tugs at his earlobe, “well, to sum it up: we bonded.”

“Bonded?!” He can just hear the calculation running in Baekhyun’s mind. “How? Didn’t you just go through your heat over a week ago?”

At the same time, Jongdae gasps. “Wait, are you two soulmates?”

“It’s the only explanation that makes sense,” Jongin answers. “So, yeah, I guess we are.”

“Wow, soulmates? That’s a ten in a million probability,” Baekhyun’s voice is full of awe.

Jongdae practically squeals. “Wah! That’s actually so cute. People dream about being lucky enough to find ‘the one’ and yours has been here all along.” 

“Way to live your life like a teen drama, Jongin.” Jongin laughs at how exasperated Baekhyun sounds. “For real, I’m having trouble keeping up.”

Jongin shrugs, eyes twinkling. “I can’t help it.” 

“Are you happy?” Jongdae asks. It’s a recurring question Jongin keeps being asked and the sincerity of the answer varies each time. But not this time.

“These past few months have been tough, you guys already know. I’ve had periods of ups and down recently as well. But being here with Chanyeol and his family, I’ve never been more happier. It’s like—there’s this weight that’s been lifted off of my shoulders.”

“I’m glad you gave Chanyeol a chance like you said you would,” Baekhyun says. “I was almost afraid you’d change your mind last minute.”

“I almost did. Things are so different with Chanyeol. I’m so attracted to him and it doesn’t help that he’s such an amazing person. Whatever he does, it just keeps reminding me of how in love I am with him, no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise.”

“You didn’t stand a chance…” Baekhyun adds in an understanding whisper.

“I didn’t…But I’ve always felt like I could never measure up to him. So, yeah, I got cold feet last minute and I decided I wasn’t going to tell him…I convinced myself that I could live with my decision, let him be happy with someone else, but these last few days showed me that I can’t live without him; I need him in my life. I need him with me. The next thing I knew, I kissed him.”

“And now you’ve bonded…We’re happy for you, Jongin.”

“Yeah!”

“I want to hear everything in detail next week,” Baekhyun adds.

Jongin smiles. “Okay.”

“Speaking of chances—does Sehun know?”

“No, Baek. I don’t want to tell him this way. He deserves to know face-to-face. I’ll think about it when I’m back.”

“Have you...gotten over him?” Jongdae asks a bit tentatively. 

There’s silence on the line for a couple of seconds before Jongin speaks, a sad smile on his face. “No, Dae, I don’t know—I don’t think I’ll ever get over him. There was a lot of pain for the both of us when we were together but it’s like they say, you don’t ever forget your first love.”

“How do you think he’ll take the news?”

“I can never tell when it comes to him. He gets so angry at me sometimes like I’m the one who ended our relationship, but most of the time it’s like he wants me to move on.”

“Sounds like he’s confused,” Baekhyun says.

“Maybe. I just want him to be happy and I think he’s happy with Lisa. I don’t want to ruin that for him. This is a chance for the both of us to move on.”

“What’s a bond like?” Jongdae asks. “Is it like we’ve been told?”

“It’s different from what I expected. Um - it’s difficult to explain but I don’t exactly feel emotions but rather Chanyeol’s presence itself. It’s like right now, when you’re on the phone with someone and you can just tell they’re smiling even though you can’t see them, or rolling their eyes when you say something ridiculous. It’s like that—like instinct. I know he’s there, and he’s okay, even when he’s not in the room but downstairs. It’s comforting, reassuring, and…I don’t feel lonely.”

“Wow, this entire conversation is like a hard reminder that I’m the only single person we know,” Baekhyun says. “Even Jongdae has a girlfriend now.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jongdae exclaims in offence. “Are you trying to imply something?”

Amused, Jongin interrupts them, “I’m sorry, guys, but I have to take a rain check so please continue to fight amongst yourselves.” 

Chanyeol is immediately hit by a delicious scent wafting from the kitchen that makes his own stomach grumble. One of the things he always looks forward to most is his mom’s cooking. She’s at the stove handling three sizzling frying pans with so much ease.

“Hey, good morning, sweetheart!” She beams when she notices him enter. “I didn’t know if you and Jongin had dinner last night or not, so I thought I’d prepare a big breakfast.”

“Thank you, mamma, I’m starved,” Chanyeol says, taking a seat at the table.

His mom turns around to keep an eye on the eggs. “How was your date at the beach? I didn’t want to come upstairs and interrupt you two in case you were having a moment.” She gives him a quick sly look over her shoulder. He clears his throat, feeling grateful his mom didn’t come upstairs last night all things considering. Though, it’s very cute that she’s trying to aid his mission of wooing Jongin. He wants to correct her that it wasn’t a date but, thinking about it, it did turn into one.

“Mamma, guess what?”

“What?”

“Jongin and I bonded last night.”

The clatter of the spatula against the frying pan is loud, almost making Chanyeol jolt in his seat. His mom doesn’t even bat an eyelash at the splattering oil as she whirls around to face him. 

“Really?! Jongin is going to be my son-in-law?!” She sounds so utterly delighted that it makes Chanyeol grin. 

“I know my boy’s cycle was coming up; I hope you went easy on him.”

Chanyeol feels his cheeks flame up. “Mom, please stop, I’m not going to answer that.”

She comes over to his side, touching his wrist. “Tell me, what changed? How did you win him over?”

“You did, actually.”

“Me?”

“Yes, mamma. We were talking and I could tell he was scared of getting into a new relationship. Family is…really important to him, and spending the break here at home made him realise how much he wants to be a part of it. I just told him what you told me yesterday, and it gave him the courage to take the first step.”

“Oh, I’m glad I was able to help.”

Chanyeol meets her gaze. “Jongin is my soulmate, mom; I think part of me always knew that. And last night I couldn’t stop thinking that I almost lost him to Sehun.”

“Sweetheart, one thing I know about soulmates is that they have a habit of finding their way back to one another. Like I told you before, everything falls into place when it’s meant to be, so you shouldn’t worry about the past but be grateful it led Jongin to you.”

Chanyeol’s lips curve up into a lopsided-smile, dimple forming in his cheek. “Thank you for being the best mom.” 

She ruffles Chanyeol’s hair, returning his toothy grin. “I appreciate it, kiddo. I’m always here for you. And Jongin, too.”

“Also, the eggs and toast are burning.”

“Whoops!” She rushes over to the stove. “The eggs are fine—slightly overcooked but fine. Can’t say the same for the toast though. I’ll prepare a tray for you to take up to Jongin.”

“I was already planning to.”

His mom grins back at him. “I’ve trained you well.” Chanyeol snorts.

“When Jongin comes downstairs, please don’t fuss over him too much. He’s probably overwhelmed and needs some space.”

“I’m not the one you need to worry about; Yoora called, she’ll be here by two.”

Yoora makes her way inside through the front door with Chanyeol at her heels holding her suitcase. “I can’t believe dad’s flight got delayed again. This is just ridiculous,” she complains loudly. “I really wanted him here before I got back…Hey, mom! It’s so good to see you!” Yoora drops the shopping bags to go hug her, kissing her on the cheek.

Chanyeol snorts in amusement at his sister’s capricious conversation tone, picking up her forgotten shopping bags along with her luggage.  

“Go greet your brother-in-law,” their mom tells Yoora.

“Oh, Jongin is here?”

“He’s in the kitchen preparing lunch.”

Yoora disappears into the living room, and Chanyeol can hear muffled voices that amplify as Yoora comes marching back. “Mom, you weren’t joking?! I thought we were just teasing Chanyeol!”

She smiles at Yoora. “They’re bonded.”

“Oh, my God!” Yoora is practically hopping on her feet as she covers her mouth with her hand, squealing. Her eyes crinkle with joy. “What took you so long?” She smacks Chanyeol on the arm, and Chanyeol thinks it’s unfair that he can’t shield himself from the hit when he’s holding all her stuff. 

“Are you trying to steal my thunder? I just got engaged this month,” Yoora continues to tease.

Chanyeol rolls his eyes, smiling. “I would never dare. Don’t worry, we’re taking it slow.”

Yoora takes him by surprise as she throws her arm around his neck, hugging him tightly. “I’m so happy for you.” Chanyeol does his best to manoeuvre his arm with the shopping bags around his sister to hug her back.

“You know, I should have been able to tell right away considering Jongin is covered in your scent but I was a little thrown off because you two spend all your time together anyway. But then I saw all the marks on his neck—bro, he’s not your chew toy.” 

Chanyeol sends her a disapproving look.

“You should have seen those two together,” their mom says. “They haven’t been able to keep their hands off each other the entire time they’ve been here.” 

“Mom…”

“Okay, okay, sweetheart, I’ll stop. Take Yoora’s bag upstairs, and we’ll go see if Jongin needs any help.”

After they all have lunch together, Chanyeol leaves Jongin alone with his mom and sister to take a nap. He is exhausted after barely getting any sleep last night. It takes him less than a minute to fall asleep when his head hits the pillow. He wakes up two hours later at six, and is surprised by the sight that greets him when he comes downstairs, making him pause underneath the archway that leads to the living room.

The lights are dimmed and there’s a drama playing on the flatscreen. Changed into her more comfortable blue pyjamas, Yoora is sitting on the carpet with her laptop set in front of her on the coffee table. Chanyeol almost misses Jongin curled up on his side next to his mom on the couch behind Yoora. He comes up to them and notices that Jongin is dozing with his head tucked against his mom’s side while she absentmindedly pets Jongin’s hair as she watches the drama. 

Yoora sees Chanyeol walk in first, and offers him a soft, “Hey, you’re up.” His mom smiles up at him when he brushes his hand along her shoulder.

Chanyeol stares down at Jongin’s sleeping form; he looks so vulnerable and soft like that, with his mussed up hair falling over his forehead. Chanyeol affectionately taps Jongin’s chin with his fingers. Jongin barely reacts to the touch—subtly smacking his lips in his sleep, a small, pink tongue peaking out to wet them. 

I love you so much, Chanyeol thinks, heart swelling. 

“Do you want to take over?” his mom asks, and Chanyeol nods.   

“Jongin, sweetheart, I need to get up,” she whispers, gently lifting his head so she can slip out from under him.

Mostly undisturbed, Jongin lets out the most smallest of noises as he sits up a little, which makes Chanyeol’s heart jump in his chest. Chanyeol takes his mom’s place, managing to squeeze a leg in the space between Jongin and the backrest as he sits with his back against the armrest. He hooks his hands under Jongin’s arms to tug the omega up, scooting down until they both fit on the couch with Jongin draped over him. 

It’s amazing how Jongin can sleep through almost anything. He groggily adjusts himself until he’s comfortable, turning his head on Chanyeol’s chest so he’s facing away from the TV, before he closes his eyes again. Chanyeol watches his mom turn down the TV’s volume before she leaves the room. He turns his attention back to Jongin, wrapping his arms around him. Jongin releases a small, content sigh and Chanyeol can’t help but gently kiss Jongin’s warm head. 

He hears a camera go off and stares at Yoora who sheepishly sticks her tongue out. “Oops, I should’ve kept the sound off,” she says, putting her phone down.

“He is so cute,” she mouths after a pause, and Chanyeol smiles back at her. Oh, does he know it.

Yoora changes the channel, stopping on a rom-com being played. Chanyeol watches it with her, sporadically stroking Jongin’s back. Under his palm, Jongin’s breathing evens out as he finally drifts off to sleep. Midway through the movie, he notices that Yoora is paying more attention to them than the TV screen. She keeps looking back like she wants to say something.

“Yoora, what’s on your mind?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t feel like nothing.”

“I was just thinking—about Jongin’s situation, and I know it’s too soon but I…I could be the gestational carrier if you both ever decide you want to have kids in the future.”

“Yoora, that’s—thank you so much for offering; it means a lot to me. But this is a big decision…”

“I know.”

“Don’t feel like you owe us anything. ‘No’ is always on the table, okay?” He extends his hand out to Yoora and she takes it in her own with a soft smile.

Half-an-hour later, Jongin wakes up to just the two of them in the living room with the sound of credits playing in the background. He sits up suddenly on Chanyeol’s midriff and rubs away the sleep from his eyes.

Chanyeol runs his hands along Jongin’s sides soothingly. “If you were sleepy, why didn’t you just take a nap with me?” he asks.

Jongin hums but doesn’t bother responding. Chanyeol finds it very endearing how ruffled up and cranky he looks. Jongin gets fussy with himself, looking mildly irritated as he rolls his hips once against Chanyeol’s stomach like he can’t help it, drawing the alpha’s attention to his tented shorts.

Chanyeol gives him an amused smirk. “Did you have a wet dream?” 

Jongin’s ears turn red and he squirms, placing his hands on Chanyeol’s ribcage. 

Chanyeol tightens his grip on Jongin’s waist. “Want me to help you take care of that?”

Jongin nods demurely. He is the epitome of soft but the only thing Chanyeol can think about right now is sinking his cock back inside Jongin and fucking him until tears well up in his eyes.

“Bedroom,” Jongin says breathily, moving off of the alpha. 

Chanyeol follows Jongin upstairs, pleased by the slight limp still present in Jongin’s gait. Once they’re inside, Chanyeol locks the bedroom door and turns to face Jongin. Curling an index finger around Jongin’s chin, he digs his thumb into Jongin’s pink, plump bottom lip and watches them part. Jongin stares up at the alpha, feeling lightheaded with arousal. Chanyeol has him counting the seconds before he finally lets go. Jongin leans up for a kiss which Chanyeol grants him before roughly turning him around until he’s bent over on the bed. Jongin goes still with the shock of his face making contact with the mattress. The rush goes straight to his cock.

He inhales sharply when Chanyeol roughly grabs his sides, aligning their hips together. Only the thin material of Chanyeol’s sweats and Jongin’s shorts separates the two of them, and Jongin can feel every glide of the alpha’s cock between his crease.

“W-wait.” Jongin pushes himself up, twisting around to face Chanyeol. “I’m still sore.”

“Okay. Tell me what you want me to do.”

Jongin bites his lip. “Just your fingers.”

Chanyeol grins. He goes into the bathroom and brings out a towel.

“What’s that for?” Jongin asks, confused.

Chanyeol sits down on the bed, spreading the towel across his lap. “You make a mess,” he answers with a smirk. “I can’t keep changing the sheets.” 

“Oh…” Jongin blushes, stroking the skin behind his ear with his finger.

“Are you embarrassed? Don’t be—it’s hot….Now, take off your shorts and come here.”

Jongin does as Chanyeol says and strips out of his shorts under the alpha’s devouring gaze. He straddles Chanyeol’s lap, knees digging into the mattress. His cock is fully-hard now, bumping against his t-shirt. He should have probably taken that off, too. 

He braces his arms on Chanyeol’s shoulders as the alpha palms his ass, kneading the supple flesh. Spreading one cheek, Chanyeol drags his fingertips down over Jongin’s hole, feeling how wet and swollen it is.

“Lift your ass up for me a little—just like that,” Chanyeol purrs with an approving grin, looking straight into Jongin’s dilated eyes. Jongin closes his eyes with a whimper, arching forward as the alpha coaxes two fingers into his throbbing hole.

There’s hardly any resistance as Chanyeol wiggles his fingers past the first knuckle, and then pulls them out again. He does this repeatedly, teasing Jongin by barely grazing his prostrate and then taking his fingers out before Jongin can get any real satisfaction.

Jongin makes an annoyed noise, furling and unfurling his fingers on the alpha’s shoulders in frustration. He has to bite his lip to stop himself from protesting. His cock is red and sensitive with beads of precum dripping out of the slit. He holds himself still when Chanyeol taps his hole, mouth falling open at the drag of fingers, deeper this time, soothing the ache inside of him. But then Chanyeol doesn’t move his fingers at all, and Jongin rocks back, wanting them to be pushed in further. His relief turns to a frustrated whine at the empty feeling when Chanyeol takes out his fingers all together.

Chanyeol clicks his tongue in disapproval. “You want to come that bad, huh? This must be driving you crazy.” 

“Why are you teasing? You’re supposed to be helping me,” Jongin whines, tugging at Chanyeol’s hair at the nape of his neck.

Chanyeol lets out a playful growl. “You can pull at my hair all you want but you’re not going to get to come unless you behave,” he says with a nip to Jongin’s jaw, caging the omega with an arm around his back. “If you push back, I’ll stop.”

Jongin considers his options, and then admits defeat, “Fine, I’ll be good.”

Chanyeol kisses the pout away, reaching between Jongin’s thighs to push his fingers back inside the omega’s wet, clenching hole. The underside of his wrist and palm keeps brushing against Jongin’s balls with steady thrusts of his fingers. Jongin releases small, stuttering gasps at the sparks of pleasure building inside his pelvis as Chanyeol milks his prostrate. His thighs tremble with the effort to keep still and not close them on the alpha’s arm.

Chanyeol stares at Jongin’s face with unbridled lust. He mouths at Jongin’s chest over his t-shirt, biting at his areolar. Slick leaks out of Jongin’s hole, dribbling down past Chanyeol’s fingers as the alpha massages his prostrate. This time Chanyeol keeps up the pace, never slowing down to let Jongin catch a break. His hole pulsates around the alpha’s fingers like they’re a knot.  

“Are you close? I want to see you come on my fingers,” Chanyeol says, so serious. And the low, deep rumble of his voice makes Jongin shudder, head tipping back in bliss, as his muscles contract with an orgasm.

“Chanyeol,” Jongin gasps out, clenching tightly around the alpha with waves of pleasure rippling through him continuously.

“That’s it…” Chanyeol eases Jongin through it, keeping his fingers there to give the omega something to clench on. He presses a lingering kiss just under Jongin’s ear, before he nibbles at the soft skin, sucking to leave a possessive mark. He finally removes his fingers from Jongin’s fluttering hole as the shivers subside.  

Cleaned up and redressed, they lay down in bed with Jongin’s head resting on Chanyeol’s shoulder and his leg thrown in between the alpha’s. Chanyeol has his arm wrapped around Jongin’s shoulder to keep him close. Chanyeol’s scent is so addictive, and Jongin just wants to tuck his face in the crock of the alpha’s neck and breathe it in. It is great and all to cuddle in blissful ignorance but it can’t last very long when Jongin has to leave the next day. 

“Are we going to talk about tomorrow?” he asks.

“No, I’m hoping if I avoid the conversation long enough, you’ll be inclined to stay,” Chanyeol says, bringing Jongin’s hand up to his lips.

“You’ve gotten too attached, I think,” Jongin teases. 

“I have, haven’t I?”

“You know I hate to leave, myself. But it’s been too long and I’ve been looking forward to seeing my family. I have to do this.”

Chanyeol stays quiet for a good minute, thrumming his fingers thoughtfully on Jongin’s shoulder cap. “What if I went with you?”

This makes Jongin sit up in surprise. “Really? I would love that. But your sister’s here, and your dad is gonna be back in three days. You won’t get to spend time with them…I understand if you want to stay.”

“No, this trip is important for you and I want to be there to support you. Plus, I haven’t seen your parents in so long. I felt so bad when your mom called to congratulate me on the championship. She asked me to visit sometime and bring you with me.”

Jongin starts to feel so excited at the prospect of going home with Chanyeol that he can hardly hold back a grin. “Okay, but only if you’re sure.”

“I am. I’ll tell mom at dinner that I’m going with you.” 

—

No matter how good the break has been, Jongin is more than happy to revert back to his original routine. He even started to miss uni, the lectures, even some of his boring professors, and—most of all—his friends during his time away. For the first time, his life feels like it’s in order—like he’s starting afresh despite it being the middle of the semester. It was tough telling his parents about his infertility, seeing his mom’s heart break through her expression before she hid it, but they were both so understanding about it. His mom cried afterwards and told him she was so proud of him, how he managed to stay positive despite everything, and that she was so sorry that she wasn’t able to protect him. Jongin always felt like such a disappointment to his parents, but on that day he realised he’s been wrong the entire time. It gave him closure. 

He will also never forget the moment he told his parents that he and Chanyeol had bonded. His dad shook hands with Chanyeol like they were meeting for the first time, and turned to Jongin to say, “You’ve got yourself a good man.” To be honest, his parents’ approval of Chanyeol shouldn’t have come up as much of a surprise considering Chanyeol has all the qualities that would deem him the perfect son-in-law, and then some. But everything went so smoothly that Jongin kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It obviously didn’t. And he’s happy. Most of his problems have been resolved over one memorable break. 

However, there’s still one last task that’s weighing him down: Sehun.

Jongin’s mind has already been made. Last night, he decided to hold off from telling Sehun about him and Chanyeol with a flimsy excuse that he needs to get his other affairs in order first. Chanyeol gave him three days because he believes it’ll hurt Sehun more to know that they kept something so huge from him. But Jongin thinks he can coax a few more days of postponement out of Chanyeol.

He is already thinking of excuses as he comes out of the locker-room and smacks into the last person he’d ever expect to see at the dance studio. Especially now. 

“Luhan…? What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you…Can we talk?”

“Um, sure. You’re welcome for coffee at the apartment.”

Luhan looks nervous—fidgety. It tells Jongin he is doing something he’s not supposed to. “I would prefer if we just do this here. I’ll make it quick.”

There’s a reason Luhan showed up here rather than the apartment. Jongin stares at him appraisingly before nodding. “Okay…there should be an empty practice room at this time. Follow me.” 

“Thank you,” Luhan breathes out in relief, like he is surprised that Jongin is even giving him the time of the day. Which is…weird. Sure, Luhan has blatantly shown interest in Sehun, even when he was Jongin’s boyfriend, but he didn’t make any advances at least while they were still together—and was supportive even—so Jongin can’t say there has ever been any real bad-blood between the two of them. Or, maybe Luhan believes he has been repudiated and shunned by association considering he is one of Sehun’s closest friends and the breakup had been bad.

Jongin leads him into a practice room, switching on the lights. He’s about to ask what Luhan wants to talk to him about but the other omega beats him to it.

“Sehun made a huge mistake breaking up with you.”

Jongin whirls around, thinking he must have misheard. “Excuse me?”

“I said, Sehun made a huge mistake—probably the biggest he’s ever made. He shouldn’t have broken up with you. Especially like that…He regrets it, you know?”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“In case you missed it, Sehun ended his engagement with Lisa. It’s been over a week.”

“What?”

“There was press conference a few hours ago. It should be all over the news by now.” That comes as a complete shock to Jongin. His mouth opens and closes with nothing to say. “I wanted to talk to you sooner but I heard you were away,” Luhan continues.

“I don’t understand…”

“Sehun’s at your apartment right now; he went there right after the press con ended. You should talk to him, let him explain. And maybe consider giving him another chance.”

“Sehun’s here…?” Jongin’s heartbeat quickens at the thought of seeing him again. 

“He is.”

Jongin doesn’t need the bright fluorescent lights to see the brown roots of Luhan’s badly-dyed blonde hair. He looks tired like this is the last place he wants to be at. Clearly, if he’s here to beg Jongin to take Sehun back. “I know you’ve always liked Sehun so if he’s single now, I don’t get why you’re coming to me.”

Luhan huffs out an amused, yet sardonic laugh. “You want to know what’s in it for me. I understand. Well, I’m trying to make it work with Minseok now. He asked me out many times before but I always said no because I was—I was in love…with Sehun,” he states with a remorseful smile. “But Sehun has never returned those feelings. There was a time when I thought maybe he did but I received a harsh reality check not soon after…He’s in love with you—he has always been in love with you. 

“You were good to him, and he was getting better. But now, he’s spiralling out of control again. He thought by breaking up with you, he was protecting you—from himself and from his family. I know he regrets it and misses you more than I could possibly relay. But he’s acting stubborn and keeps denying what he’s feeling. He’s insecure and believes you deserve better than him so he keeps trying to push you away, but believe me that’s not what he actually wants. It’ll be different if you take the first step and go to him, I guarantee you he won’t say no. So, if you still love him please consider giving him another chance.”

“Wow, I don’t…know what to say. It—it’s too late now.”

“I understand why you might feel that—“

“—No, you don’t understand,” Jongin interrupts. “I love Sehun—and a part of me will always love him—but it really is too late. I’m bonded now.” He tugs at the collar of his shirt to show Luhan the bite mark sitting just above his clavicle. 

Luhan is stunned into silence. He swallows thickly and asks, “H-how long?”

“It’s been almost a week now.”

Luhan turns pale, looking like he’ll collapse any moment. “Shit, so if I had contacted you sooner, would you have…?”

“Nothing would’ve changed, Luhan, so please don’t blame yourself. I’m bonded to my soulmate.”

“Oh…” Luhan looks like he can’t decide if he should be devastated or relieved by the information. “May I ask who?”

“It’s Chanyeol.”

“Shit,” Luhan curses again, sounding a bit hysterical as he mumbles to himself, “Sehun was right.”

Jongin’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. “About what?”

“Nothing. You should still talk to Sehun. He needs closure and only you can provide him that. He’s thinking about getting into a corporate war with his father. I don’t think he’ll be able to handle it; he’s too unstable right now…He won’t listen to me, but I’m hoping you’ll be able convince him.”

“I can try but you know how he is; I can’t guarantee anything.”

“That’s all I’m asking…He needs you. I hope you can mend your relationship with him,” Luhan says. “Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say so I should head out now.”

Before Luhan can leave out the door, Jongin calls out, “Thank you, Luhan. I appreciate you doing this for him. You’re a good friend.”

Luhan gives him an acknowledging nod. 

“I hope it works out between you and Minseok,” Jongin adds.

Luhan pauses with a hand on the door jamb, wearing a genuine grin as he looks back over his shoulder. “So far so good. I’ve been foolish long enough, but not anymore. I’m glad I finally decided to love myself enough to choose the person who loves me back…Take care, Jongin.” He lifts his hand to bid farewell before he leaves.

With a shuddering intake of breath, Jongin enters the apartment. Restless to see Sehun, he deposits his duffel bag at the entrance and doesn’t even bother to change into his slippers. Passing through the archway, he realises he hasn’t mentally prepared himself for this but it’s too late—Sehun is right there, staring out the window with his hands shoved into the pockets of his tailored trousers and suit jacket draped over the couch’s armrest. Luhan did say he came straight after the press conference announcing the end of his engagement and hence any personal relationship between the Ohs and the Chois.

In one graceful motion, Sehun turns around in his shiny, leather dress-shoes. “Jongin.” 

He’s so handsome. Jongin feels like he has been taken back in time when he was just a young, silly kid with a massive crush.

“Hey,” Jongin greets back. “You’ve kept the key...I thought maybe you returned it.” It’s weird how Sehun’s presence in the apartment used to be a norm for over two years, and now it’s been months since he has even stepped foot in this place. Jongin wishes they could go back to the way things were before.

“I kept it—for emergencies.”

“Does this visit count as an emergency?”

Sehun glances away with a smile. “It depends.”

“Then tell me,” Jongin says, inching closer to Sehun, “what brings you here?”

“You…I don’t know if you’ve seen the news yet but I wanted to tell you in person that my engagement with Lisa is over. It was her idea, actually…Um, recently I’ve been told that I’m being stupid by pushing you away and hiding my actual feelings so…I’m here to say that I’m sorry. I hurt you a lot these past few months and I regret it.”

Jongin tilts his head, staring up at the alpha. “Sehun, I understand why you broke up with me. You thought you were protecting me in the long run by pushing me away. And you were protecting yourself, too—your father hit you that night for going against his wishes. I could never fault you for that. But, you really hurt me when you told me you didn’t love me. And then you refused to talk to me at all. That was cruel. I thought maybe you weren’t as invested in our relationship, and I came to accept that. But what I couldn’t understand was how easy it was for you throw our friendship away. You’re supposed to be my best friend.”

“It killed me, Jongin.” Sehun’s eyes flash, crease forming between his eyebrows. “Do you really believe it was easy for me to break your heart? See you cry? I thought I was doing both of us a favour by staying away….I wanted you to move on out of some kind of misguided guilt. But, I knew if I saw you with someone else, it’d make me regret my decision. So, I stayed away, though it was the coward’s way out.”

“There would’ve been no need for that if you had just come clean,” Jongin says softly. “…But that wasn’t the only reason you broke up with me.” 

“I’m sorry, I just—I shouldn’t have done that. You’re the best thing that happened to me and I let you go…Even if you had any feelings for Chanyeol, I should’ve worked hard to make you remember why you chose me in the first place, instead of shutting you out.”

“I really did love you…” The words hold so much nostalgia.

Sehun swallows hard, pressing his lips together as he averts Jongin’s gaze with a nod. “I hope you can forgive me.”

“I already did,” Jongin says gently, and reaches out to touch the alpha’s arm, tracing down to his hand. He clings onto Sehun’s fingers, hoping it’ll break down his walls. “So, can we just move on from this and go back to being friends…? I’ve missed you a lot.”

Sehun’s lips twitch at the corners as his resolve breaks and he cups the back of Jongin’s head to tug him into a hug, wrapping his other arm around Jongin’s waist. Jongin presses his face into Sehun’s shoulder, breathing in his scent. 

Sehun leans back a little, sliding his hand down to Jongin’s cheek as he stares down at him with half-lidded eyes. “I missed you, too.”

Jongin smiles. He is about to say, “I need to tell you something,” but the words get caught up in his throat when Sehun leans in to kiss him. He makes a noise, putting a hand on the alpha’s chest to stop him. “Sehun—” he starts, but is interrupted by a loud, rumbling growl. 

He whips his head in the direction of the sound and sees Chanyeol standing under the arch. Chanyeol’s eyes are practically ablaze—irises the colour of swirling lava. He’s not even looking at Jongin, his wrathful gaze is fixed on Sehun. Sehun looks flummoxed yet he is carefully posturing for a fight, inching to move Jongin behind him. That seems to piss off Chanyeol even more, and his lips curl up in distaste with a glint of teeth. 

Before a fight actually breaks out between the two alphas, Jongin gets between them, holding out his hand to keep Chanyeol back. “He doesn’t know yet. It’s my fault,” Jongin says in a hurry to diffuse the situation. “I was just about to tell him.”

“Tell me what?” Sehun questions. But from his expression, it’s clear he has already pieced it together.

“Chanyeol’s my soulmate,” Jongin answers. “We bonded a few days ago.”

Sehun’s expression breaks into devastation for a split second before he recovers. “Ah, so the universe has finally corrected itself.” He reverts to self-deprecating humour as he picks up his suit jacket, tossing it over his shoulder. “Guess I deserve that.”  

“Sehun, where are you going?” Jongin demands, crestfallen.

“I could use some time alone. Plus, I don’t think I’m wanted right now,” he answers, side eyeing Chanyeol. Chanyeol folds his arms, sizing up Sehun as the younger alpha passes him into the foyer.

“Sehun…” Jongin tries to go after him, but Chanyeol grabs him by the elbow. 

“Leave him be,” Chanyeol grunts out, voice rough around the edges. “He needs time to lick his wounds.”

He’s your friend, too, Jongin wants to protest. He covers the alpha’s hand gripping his arm with his own, wanting to tug himself free, but then he decides against it. He doesn’t want Chanyeol to think that he’s putting Sehun above him. Besides, he is pretty sure Sehun doesn’t want to talk to him right now either.

He wants to scream in frustration. It took seconds for everything to go up in flames just when they made some progress. 

—

The forty-billion-dollar deal pulled through a few days ago, making headlines everywhere around the world. After a gruesome round of negativity, an additional clause was added to the original contract which states that Sehun will be the one to take charge of one of their biggest projects set in a couple of years—one last courtesy from Lisa. His father had grudgingly agreed as long as it got him the money. So, in short, Sehun is free from his parents’ clutches and he plans to take full advantage of that. First, he is going to move out of the house. He has spent weeks making arrangements and he’s not staying another fucking minute. 

He bursts into the antechamber, the sound resonates through the hallways. He marches into the living room where he knows he’ll find his mother seated in her favourite Victorian chair. She doesn’t look surprised when he enters, determination etched on his face. 

“I’ll speak to you later,” she says into the phone, ending the call without hearing the response. She sets her phone aside and primly folds her hands on her lap, ready to bestow her son her full attention like some parental figure of the year.

“I’m moving out,” Sehun states firmly. 

A pause. “Where are you going to stay?”

“Junmyeon found a place for me.”

His mother smiles pleasantly, unbothered by his curt response. At least she knows not to bother asking him for details. “I was worried where you’d been. You disappeared without saying anything for weeks. Luhan stopped by yesterday and he told me Jongin is mated to Chanyeol.” 

Sehun wants to roll his eyes. Of course, she’d rub salt in his recovering wounds. He doesn’t blame Luhan for letting the detail slip though because he knows his mother has a way of prying relevant information.

“Since Lisa ended the engagement, you’ve been painted in a very positive light by the media,” she continues. “Everyone is rooting for you to have your happy ending…I was wrong about Jongin—apparently, he’s quite the catch. People keep asking me about him, the investors especially…They were quite worried why it hadn’t worked out between the two of you, and whether there’s still a chance now that your engagement with Lisa has ended. Too bad Jongin is infertile, you would’ve made quite the couple when there was still a chance.” 

This is as much as a loss his mother will ever admit. For a second, it fills Sehun with so much rage that it leaves him numb. But then, he thinks it’s not worth it, and the flames turn to embers. His parents aren’t entirely to blame for his breakup with Jongin, but they were the ones who lit the match that set the fire. He’s done rising to their bait. That’s his first path to redemption. He sucks air through his teeth, lips curved upwards into a cruel smile. “It’s a little too late for your approval, don’t you think? From the sound of it, fertile or not, Jongin really dodged a bullet…I’m glad, because he deserves better than being used as a puppet to please the audience on your behalf just to raise our family’s social rating.” 

His mother finally looks uncertain, an unbidden frown hinting at her lips. She was clearly expecting a different reaction. Anger, maybe. Anything other than calm indifference.

“I’ll be going then, if that was all.” He spins on his heel and leaves, unable to stand looking at her for a second longer. Once the large door shuts behind him, he sinks to the floor as the dam bursts, devastation and rage flooding in. That was undeniably cruel of his mother to give her approval now, when it was too late. And just to rub it in his face. Guess his parents are still mad about him going behind their back.

Sehun thinks about Jongin’s smiling face, and how happy he looks around Chanyeol. As long as he’s happy…It’s the only thing that keeps Sehun from screaming out his rage until voice goes hoarse right now, and he calms down even though the pain of losing Jongin slowly eats away at his heart. He hasn’t returned any of Jongin’s calls. They say distance brings peace but he’s not so sure about that anymore. It’s been over a month, but the pain hasn’t dwindled; it only intensifies with the loneliness. 

Despite all the signs, a part of him had convinced himself that Jongin was his soulmate like an ignorant fool. Maybe in some twisted way, he should be grateful to his parents. They saved him from suffering before he got in too deep, like a diver running out of oxygen before he could escape from the darkest, deepest pits of the ocean he put himself in. Jongin was becoming that oxygen tank for him—his only means of survival. But Jongin is not his soulmate—he’s Chanyeol’s. They were bound to end up together eventually. At least, his parents have given him something to blame. He picks himself off the floor and heads out the front door. He’ll come for the rest of his stuff later.

—

It takes two weeks after Sehun left for everything to start falling apart. Nothing seems to be going right for Jongin and he experiences the most terrible month-and-a-half. He barely manages to keep up with all the workload ranging from projects, presentations, and finals to handling most of the dance classes all by himself when Sooyoung goes off for vacation. To top it all off, Chanyeol has an even busier schedule than him and rarely stays long enough in the apartment to spend more than an hour with him every week. Jongin starts to get sick a lot from the stress; he feels nauseous all the time and has constant headaches which make it even harder to just get through the day. 

Or at least he thinks it’s the stress. 

After hurling in the toilet for the fourth consecutive day, he stares at himself in the mirror, perspiration gleaming on his skin. It’s not like he’s pregnant or anything. Impossible, he chuckles to himself. But then the gears in his brain start turning along with his racing heart as he considers the impossible. His heat is more than a month late; he’s throwing up; he has weird cravings. And worst of all, he hasn’t been on the pill for so long that he didn’t even think about it when he and Chanyeol had sex during the break, which was almost two months ago. It all adds up, he thinks, turning pale. 

But he has to know for sure. With trembling fingers, he takes out the box of pregnancy tests from the medicine cabinet. Baekhyun had given these to him when he presented as an omega. “It’ll save an awkward trip to the drug store,” Baekhyun had said. And Jongin couldn’t be more grateful to him. Next time he sees Baekhyun, he’s going to treat him to the biggest, most expensive meal he can afford.

He rips open the packaging, quickly goes through the instructions before following the procedure. His heart leaps to his throat as he waits for the verdict. He stares and stares at the test in his hand, taking deep breaths through his nose. 

Positive, it says in a deep red colour. 

Jongin feels like throwing up again. His hands are trembling so much he can barely hold the test. What is he going to do? How are they going to take care of a baby? Babies are expensive, they need constant care. Oh, God, how is he supposed to tell Chanyeol he basically ruined their lives?! No, no, no, this can’t be happening. Something’s not right. The doctors told him he can’t get pregnant. He’s not fertile. But this test says otherwise. But these tests can be wrong, he reminds himself. Ugh, he feels like Sméagol right now arguing with himself.

The test probably made a mistake, he reassures. He shouldn’t get too ahead of himself. He waits and decides to do another one. Negative, it says in green. He closes his eyes and breathes out a sigh of relief. One-out-of-two. Okay, he can do this. But then doubt starts playing on his mind. What if the negative one is wrong? On one hand, he’s been told he can’t conceive. But he’s also showing all the symptoms. And miracles do happen. But what if there is a perfectly plausible explanation for all of this? 

He has already spent way too much time in the bathroom. Chanyeol will be home by six. It’s already two. And Jongin can’t hide this from him. But he also has to be a hundred-percent sure before he tells Chanyeol anything. What should he do? He pulls at his hair as he contemplates. Wait…he could go to the clinic. Get a blood test. Right, he can do this. All by himself. But he needs to hurry. 

“Sir, are you okay?” his Uber driver asks half-way to the clinic, glancing at him from the rearview mirror. 

No, I am not okay! Jongin wants to yell. He didn’t even notice his breathing go fray. He’s probably having a panic attack in the middle of his Goddamn Uber ride. He can’t do this alone. He needs support before he breaks down in the middle of the clinic—or right now for that matter. He thinks about calling Baekhyun but it’ll take him too long to reach. 

A road sign catches Jongin’s eye as he lifts his head from the window, and it gives him an idea—a way to patch things up. “Um, I’m okay,” he answers, unlocking his phone to open his chat. “But there’s been a change of destination. I need you to drop me off here instead, please. It’s right nearby.”

The car comes to a stop in front of a fancy looking loft. This is the new address Luhan sent him a week ago. There’s a Range Rover parked in front and from the license plate, Jongin can tell it is Sehun’s. So, he came to the right place. He steps out onto the concrete path after paying, and takes the stairs to the front door. Biting his lip, he rings the doorbell. He feels nervous standing there. What if Sehun doesn’t answer? Or, if he turns him away? More and more questions and doubt keep popping up in his brain as he waits.

He sucks in a breath when the door cracks open. “Jongin?” Sehun asks, looking very confused as if Jongin is the last person he expected on his doorstep.  

Tears well up in Jongin’s eyes as he stares at his best friend. He is so happy to see just a glimpse of him—to know he’s okay. Jongin opens his mouth to say something but no words come out. He doesn’t really know where to start.

“What’s the matter?” Sehun asks gently, reaching out to touch the side of Jongin’s face in concern. “Did something happen? Why do you look like you’re going to cry?”

“I’m sorry…” Jongin wipes away at his eyes with his sleeve. “Do you have second?”

“I always have time for you, Jongin,” the alpha says, stepping back to let him inside. “Does Chanyeol know you’re here?”

Jongin shakes his head. “No, I haven’t told him yet. I can’t tell him anything until I’m sure.”

“What’s going on, Jongin?” Sehun asks, shutting the door behind him. “You’re making me worry.”

“I…I think I’m pregnant.”

Sehun looks like he’s been punched in the gut, a plethora of emotions flickering across his face. “W-what? How?”

“I mean, I’m not sure. I’m showing all the symptoms. And I took a test—it came out positive. The next one said negative. I was about to do another one but then I got too scared,” Jongin rambles, hands moving restlessly.

“Weren’t you on the pill?”

“I stopped taking those a few months after I found out I couldn’t conceive,” Jongin answers with a guilty grimace.

“Jongin…” Sehun gives him a disapproving look—the one you’d give a misbehaving child who doesn’t know any better. “Haven’t you heard the saying: it’s better to be safe than sorry? How can you be that reckless? I’m assuming Chanyeol doesn’t know about this either.”

Jongin looks back at him, defeated. “He doesn’t…He’s going to be so mad at me, isn’t he? I made a huge mistake.” 

Sehun forces a small smile for Jongin. “Chanyeol won’t be mad at you, trust me. But you have to tell him.”

“First, I need to confirm if there’s anything to even tell. I need to get tested at the clinic and I want you to go with me. Please?” Jongin stares at the alpha with hopeful eyes.

Placing his hands on his hips, Sehun lets out an exasperated but fond sigh. He smiles at Jongin, lifting his eyebrow. “Do you even have to ask? I’ll go get my keys.” He pauses to ruffle Jongin’s hair. “Getting into trouble, huh? You still need someone to look after you after all these years…It’ll be fine. We’ll figure this out together, okay?” That moment right there is when Jongin knows he made the right decision coming to Sehun. Even as kids, Sehun used to fix a lot of his messes before he could get in trouble, and vice versa. That still hasn’t changed.

On the way to the clinic, Sehun breaks their companionable silence, “If it turns out to be true…wouldn’t that be good news? Isn’t this what you both want in the long-run?”

“Well, yes - I don’t know. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, though. We’re not prepared at all. Chanyeol is going to be in his fourth year next semester; how is he going to balance his studies and activities while taking care of a baby? I mean, I could take the year off…” He trails off in consideration, but then stops himself before he gets carried away with planning without anything confirmed. “But that’s not the point.” Sehun smiles at him in amusement. “We’re both students, and taking care of a baby is so expensive. How are we going to afford it?”

“Chanyeol drives a Mercedes jeep, he’s not as poor as you think he is. Though, I get why you’d think that way when I’m around,” Sehun jests with a grin, stroking his chin.

Jongin scoffs amusedly. “Are you seriously bragging right now?”

“No, but pick a number between one and ten for me.”

“Why?”

“You’ll know after you pick.”

“Okay…Four?”

“Four, is that your final answer?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, if you make me godfather, your kid is going to get a four-figure check on their first birthday. I’ll keep adding a zero every year until they turn four. But after that, you’re only going to get gift cards out of me.”

Jongin twists in his seat to stare at Sehun incredulously. “You’re so ridiculous, I’m not even sure you’re kidding.”

“What? When the kid is gonna be four, I’ll be pushing thirty. I’ll probably get stingy. But that’s okay, Chanyeol will start making six-figures by then. He can pick up the slack.”

“What are you even saying…? You know what, never mind,” Jongin flicks his hand in dismissal. “I don’t need to make you godfather. I’ll just rob you.”

The corner of Sehun’s eyes crinkle as he chuckles, “That’s probably a better idea.” Jongin smiles as he looks away to stare out the window. It’s nice to hear Sehun joke around. He does a good job of keeping Jongin distracted enough to not get nervous.

“We’re here,” Sehun says after a few minutes, and the mood shifts into something more solemn when the clinic comes into view. Jongin swallows hard, rubbing his upper arm anxiously. He can feel the phantom prick of needles. God, he hates coming to this place so much.

Sehun glances at him from the corner of his eye. “Don’t worry. Like I told you, we’ll figure everything out. I promise.” And Jongin believes him. The alpha’s presence makes him feel a lot better, like they can get through anything together.

Sehun parks the jeep and pulls on a cap and sunglasses he always keeps in the glove compartment before they get out. “I don’t want anyone to recognise me and spread speculation,” he explains when Jongin looks at him quizzically.

“That’s…probably smart.”

“Yeah, I know. They’ll have a field day if they think I knocked up my ex-boyfriend…Don’t they get tired of seeing my face all over the news? They need to give someone else the spotlight now.” Listening to him complain makes Jongin smile fondly.

“I know, I know—these are my first-world problems,” Sehun says as he cracks the door open. “So, I’ll stop now.” He helps Jongin step out, and doesn’t let go of his hand even as they enter the building, heading straight for the reception counter. 

Jongin gives Sehun a nervous but conspiratorial smile before he is escorted away by a nurse. There are not a lot of patients, so Sehun gets to sit here in the waiting room in peace. It reminds him of Jongin’s first appointment. Jongin has been here a lot since then and it’s cute that most of the nurses here recognise him. Some even give him preferential treatment. Guess the whole world’s just as in love with him as he is.

“Are you seeing that?” the sonographer, Yeonjung, smiles sweetly as she stares at the screen, dragging the transducer probe across Jongin’s stomach. She has done many ultrasounds for Jongin before, and he feels comfortable around her. “You’re not pregnant. The foetus is expected to be approximately seven to eight-weeks-old, and if you were pregnant, we would have seen the baby already…I’m sure it will be confirmed when you get your blood-test results back.”

“But, what about my symptoms?” Jongin asks.

“You and your partner are recently bonded soulmates, right? Two-months?” Jongin nods to confirm. 

“When is your alpha’s rut due?”

“In a week-and-a-half, I think.”

“You should expect your heat around then. For soulmates, cycles adjust themselves after the bond. So, you won’t be going into heat after every month but will match your partner’s rut cycle. You both should take some time off together. It will help to deal with the stress and the nausea, otherwise it only gets worse when you’re experiencing detachment from your bond mate. Dr. Jisung will tell you the same thing.”

Jongin’s heart sinks despite himself. “Oh, that’s a….relief. I wasn’t sure I was ready to be a parent yet.” 

“Oh, don’t look so down, I’ve got some good news for you. All your organs are in excellent condition. Your Fallopian tubes are functioning. Even your uterus has developed…It’s still on the small side, but it’s suitable. You’re one of our positive cases.”

Jongin stares at her. “What does that mean?”

“It might take you and your partner many tries over the years, but you can conceive if you’re lucky. And from the looks of it, you are.”

“Really?”

“Obviously, the probability is not as good as the typical cases, but it is still very high. It would be better for you if you start trying as early as possible—you know, when the body is young and healthy.”

Jongin turns his attention to the monitor screen in front of him with tears prickling his eyes. Yeonjung squeezes him arm comfortingly. “You’re done so I’m going to wipe you off now, is that alright?”

Jongin walks out of Dr. Jisung’s office with the biggest grin on his face, excited to share the news with Sehun. He chuckles under his breath when he sees Sehun nearly dozed off in his seat. He waits until he’s standing in front of the alpha to call out, “Sehun!”

“What happened?” Sehun jolts, sitting upright as he tips the cap up from his face. He even takes off his sunglasses. 

“I’m sorry you had to wait for two hours,” Jongin apologises.

Sehun massages his eyelids with his thumb and middle finger. “No, it’s fine,” he says, sounding tired. “What did the doctor say?”

“I’m not pregnant, but they examined my uterus and told me that it might take a lot of tries but I can get pregnant.”

Sehun braces his hands on the chair’s armrests, and his eyes go as wide as his smile. “For real?”

Jongin interlaces his fingers together, bringing his hands up to chest as he nods softly in response. Sehun shoots out of his chair and hugs Jongin so hard he lifts him off his feet. 

“You dropped your thousand-dollar shades on the floor,” Jongin giggles but then gets shy when he notices all the onlookers staring at them in amusement.

“They only cost five-hundred, okay? I got them on discount,” Sehun says defensively, grin intact as he lets Jongin back down. “Are you free to go home now?”

“Yes. But first, I need to go to the washroom. I need to pee very, very badly,” Jongin whispers with a wince.

“Why didn’t you ever return any of my calls?” Jongin asks on the drive back, hoping he doesn’t sound confrontational. “Were you angry?”

Being put on the spot, Sehun strokes the skin below his ear with his fingers nervously. “I was going to return them eventually. It’s-I’ve been trying to get over you…” After a pause, he glances at Jongin. “Is that too mean?”

“No, you’re being honest…Did it help?”

Sehun wants to say yes, but all the distance in the world hasn’t faded the pain of losing Jongin. He feels so envious of Chanyeol having Jongin as his soulmate even though Chanyeol is more deserving than him. It’s been long enough yet his heart hasn’t accepted that Jongin is never going to be his. “If I’m being honest—no, not even a little bit…Are you okay with that?”

“Sehun, it’s not going make me see you any differently, or pity you. You’re still my best friend, and I don’t want you to be awkward around me.”

Sehun doesn’t answer. He keeps his gaze fixed on the road. After a beat of silence, he asks, “How’s Chanyeol doing?”

“He’s really busy right now,” Jongin answers. “He usually comes home after nine, has a late dinner and immediately goes to bed. We’re not spending as much time together as I hoped so I kind of get lonely. That’s why you should come over.”

Sehun snorts, smiling. “And here I thought you missed me, but you’re just bored.”

“I do but I’m trying to kill two birds with one stone.” Jongin grins, but then it disappears. “…He misses you too, you know? Don’t tell him I told you but he spends a lot of time in your room.”

“Maybe he wants to convert it into a gym,” Sehun quips. 

Jongin slaps him on the arm. “Don’t be a doofus.”

“I’m driving, hello? Don’t be a road hazard, Jongin.”

“You’re a road hazard,” Jongin retorts petulantly. Sehun makes a judgemental face like he is reevaluating Jongin’s maturity level, but then he breaks out in laughter and that sets off Jongin as well.

“But seriously, though,” Jongin continues when their laughter dies down. “The reason he spends so much time in your room is because it still smells like you. He misses you a lot…How long are you going to avoid him?”

“I’m not avoiding him. He’s mad at me.”

“How can you be so sure when you haven’t even talked to him? You know he never stays mad for too long.”

“It's different this time.”

“But that doesn’t change how much he loves you, still. He won’t ever stop caring about you; you’re like his little brother.”

“Yeah, and what about you? Do you see me as a brother now, too?” Sehun spits out, finally letting the hurt show. 

“Sehun, I know you’re hurting…you feel that way now but you’ll find someone—”

“Don’t say that,” Sehun interrupts with a disgusted face. “No one can ever replace you. There won’t ever be anyone who’s been there with me from the start; who understands because they were there like you’ve been. I doubt even Chanyeol understands how lucky he is to have you.”

You didn’t either when you broke up with me, Jongin holds his tongue from saying because that would be petty and wrong—Sehun might have hid it but he cared a lot. “But no one is going to replace me, Sehun,” he insists because he understands that Sehun is the one who’s feeling replaced, not him. “I’m not going anywhere. And neither is Chanyeol. You have two people who share your past.”

“Doesn’t feel like it…” Sehun mumbles.

“Just stay for dinner tonight. Please do it for me,” Jongin insists.

“It’s already late. Chanyeol left you two missed calls which you didn’t bother to answer. He’s not going to be happy you were hanging out with me.”

“Let me handle him. If only you two would just talk…” Jongin shakes his head in frustration.

Jongin thought he’d have to fight to convince Sehun to stay over for dinner but he is surprised that the alpha follows him up the stairs to the apartment without making a single fuss. But Sehun is still acting unsure and cautious, preferring to linger behind Jongin as they quietly enter through the front door. The apartment is so eerily silent that Jongin wonders if Chanyeol went out for a jog. But then he takes one step into the living room and abruptly halts, causing Sehun to bump into him. 

Chanyeol sits back on the couch from his initial position with his elbows resting on his knees when he sees them come in. He meets Jongin’s gaze with narrowed eyes and lips pressed thin in displeasure. Jongin stares back sheepishly, opening his mouth to say something but then his gaze lands on his pregnancy test sitting on the coffee table and his eyes widen in horror. Did he forget to throw that away? He tossed the rest of them in the bin, and it just had to be the one that says positive he’d left conveniently lying on the countertop. Obviously, he wasn’t paying too much attention because he was sure he’d be back home before Chanyeol. And look where that’s got him.

“What is this, Jongin?” Chanyeol demands, gesturing at the test. He sounds angry like he expects Jongin to come out and say it’s all a joke, or that the test doesn’t belong to him. The rumble in the his voice makes Jongin fidget. “You didn’t even pick up when I called,” Chanyeol says; his accusing gaze pins the blame on Sehun. From his peripheral vision, Jongin can see how Sehun goes tense looking like he just wants to blend into the shadows of the hallway.  

Jongin makes a judgement call and walks across the room to wrap Chanyeol in a loose hug, nuzzling a little against the alpha’s profile to get him to soften up a bit. And it works—Chanyeol leans into him. “Please let me explain,” he says, and tugs on Chanyeol’s arm to make him get up. “Let’s go to my room for a minute and I’ll tell you everything.”

“Fine.” Chanyeol lets himself be dragged to Jongin’s room.

They stand facing each other. Eyebrow raised expectantly, Chanyeol crosses his arms and waits for Jongin to speak.

Jongin takes a deep breath, feeling nervous about how Chanyeol will react, and says, “The pregnancy test is mine but I’m not pregnant, I just want to clarify that. You know how I’ve been getting nauseous a lot so I decided to take the test just to cross out all the possibilities, and it came out positive. But it was just a false alarm.”

Chanyeol uncrosses his arm, relaxing a bit. “Okay…So, why didn’t you tell me?”

“You’re already so stressed out and I didn’t want to add to that—or give you false hope. I decided to go to the clinic to confirm it, but I didn’t want to go alone…so I kind of asked Sehun to come with me,” Jongin answers demurely, lowering his head a bit as he meets Chanyeol’s gaze.

Chanyeol sighs, oddly sounding just like Sehun had back a few hours ago. He closes the distance between them and takes Jongin’s hand into his own, tapping Jongin’s chin up with the other. 

“Jongin, we’re in this together. I’m never going to be too busy or stressed out if you ever need me…This was such a huge thing, and you tried to carry all the burden yourself. I’m actually glad that you asked Sehun to come with you at least. But you should have told me too, and we could have dealt with it together.”

“I know, but there’s one more thing I need to tell you. Do you remember the first time you told me you were in love with me?”

Chanyeol looks confused. “On spring break?”

“No, it was a few months before that, during winter when I was helping you memorise your chapters, and you said I’d make a good doctor…You also said that you’d make a good dad, and I told you needed to confess first. But I didn’t know back then.”

Chanyeol beams. “Oh, you remember that.”

“How could I not?” Jongin says. “Well, you’ve confessed already, and you can be a good dad to our kid, too, because the doctors told me that it might take many tries but I can get pregnant.”

“Oh my, God,” Chanyeol says with a breathless laugh, running his hands through his hair in disbelief. “This is so amazing. Fuck—I love you so much.” He grabs Jongin’s face and kisses him so hard. When he finally pulls back, staring down at Jongin with their lips just inches apart, his eyes are shiny with tears.

“I love you, too,” Jongin says, getting teary-eyed himself as he puts his arms around Chanyeol’s neck.

Jongin finally said it back. Chanyeol stares shellshocked for a moment but then he leans down to kiss Jongin again, snaking his arm around the omega’s waist. 

“Say it again,” he says, his lips hovering just above Jongin’s. 

“I love you,” Jongin repeats breathlessly, and Chanyeol roughly presses his lips against the corner of Jongin’s mouth, before pulling him into a tight hug.

“I’m going to make dinner,” Jongin says into the crock of Chanyeol’s neck after a moment. “And I told Sehun he could stay…You should made amends with him. You both miss each other, so stop being stubborn.” That makes Chanyeol snort in amusement. At least he agrees.

When they come out of Jongin’s room, Sehun is still standing by the archway like he’s prepared to be told to leave anytime. It makes Jongin so sad to see him look so unsure in a place that used to be his home, too.

“Sehun…” Chanyeol says, walking ahead of Jongin. 

Sehun straightens up, looking even more unsure as Chanyeol approaches. His gaze darts over Chanyeol’s shoulder to look at Jongin for a cue. Smiling, Jongin gives him a small nod.

“Come here, Sehun,” Chanyeol beckons him over again, inviting him for a hug. And Sehun practically crumbles into Chanyeol’s arms with a broken noise. 

“Shh,” Chanyeol comforts him, rubbing his back. He kisses Sehun on the neck. “It’s okay…” Jongin smiles at them.

“Jongin,” Chanyeol calls softly, offering his other arm. Jongin makes his way over to them, and Chanyeol pulls Jongin against his side. Sehun doesn’t look up from Chanyeol’s shoulder when Jongin strokes his hair, too embarrassed that he’s crying. Jongin is definitely going to tease him about that later. 

They’re going to be alright, he thinks.