Chapter Text
Thursday. A happy, very happy, wonderful Thursday, where birds sang joyfully in harmonious chorus, toast tasted like glory, and the world greeted you like a king.
He'd had a wonderful early morning talking to his crush, and he'd even done his homework...
And Kim Woonhak would love to say all of that without anyone doubting his words. But the deep dark circles hanging under his eyes gave him away, ridiculing his attempt to sound positive.
So, what's the reason for his dead-eyed appearance?
Well, being the genius he is, the survival tactic he'd implemented in his inventory was to ignore Dongmin. That man was not good for his heart. Not good at all.
Ever since that first and last message sent to Woonhak, his mind had gone blank, without a single idea on how to navigate straight to the heart of the alpha who had bewitched him – because there was no other explanation for why he'd become dumber than usual.
Oh god. And now how was he supposed to look him in the face? He had to avoid him, but if he avoided him, Dongmin would notice and his heart would be exposed – and that was not an option. So he jotted down several options for this horrible situation:
1. Skip school – discarded because his mom wouldn't let him.
2. Suddenly get sick – discarded, that wouldn't save him anymore.
3. Hide (would only prove how much of a coward he is).
4. Hide, but in a cool way, so that not only would Dongmin not notice, but he'd fall in love with how awesome he is and tell him he'd never in his life seen such a cool and wonderful omega and...
The young man was so absorbed in his fantasies that he noticed the presence behind him.
"Woonhak, what are you writing?" Sanghyeok's soft voice yanked him back down and planted his feet on the ground.
"NOTHING!" Woonhak shouted, a little louder than he intended, before ripping the paper into tiny pieces and gobbling them all up, earning bewildered stares from his classmates.
Sanghyeok just looked at him, already getting used to his companion's peculiar way of being. He just smiled goofily. "Woonhak, I uh... I wanted to ask if you'd like to go see a movie with me... After school... I mean only if you want to, no problem, sorry if I'm bothering you, it's not neces–"
"Okay, let's go. What's it about?"
Woonhak's cheerful voice pierced his ears, as he gave him – only him – a soft, carefree crooked smile. Leaning on the desk, with a piece of paper still hanging from his pink lips.
And Sanghyeok dreamed, for the first time since he was a child, of having the power to stop time, to admire and have Woonhak only for himself like now. Just, just a little longer.
"Mh? Do I have something on my face?"
"You have a..." And Sanghyeok wanted to dare. He tried. He raised his hand slowly, as if touching something precious – because it was – before closing it into a fist and hiding it behind his back. Daring to touch where his dirty hands shouldn't... wasn't an option. He sighed. "A piece of paper on your lip."
Woonhak just laughed and quickly wiped it off with his thumb. Such a common action that caused so many things in his poor stomach.
Before the conversation could drag on, the teacher arrived and restored order, everyone going back to their seats for class.
The boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He'd woken up with a horrible pain in his lower abdomen, and some dizziness which he blamed on not having dinner yesterday from nerves.
He could only pray to whoever might be listening, that it wasn't what he thought it was. Because he'd run out of pills. And he hated needing them. And on top of that, they were gone. "God, just remember that I'm also your son!"
"Mmm... It smells a little like grapefruit. Who put on perfume?" was Leehan's vague thought as he woke from his nap.
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The sun's evening act was already saying goodbye to make way for the moon by the time classes ended. It had been an especially long day.
Not only was he tired from today's intensive classes, but the pain had only gotten worse with each passing second. He'd even noticed his own horrible omega scent starting to leak through. Just thinking about it made him gag.
He just prayed that at this distance, as they walked to the cinema, Sanghyeok wouldn't be able to smell it.
He couldn't cancel on Sanghyeok. He was a man of his word! He could hold on a little longer for his friend. Kim Woonhak was NOT weak!
But the small alpha didn't share that opinion, noticing his very different behavior – different from usual (which was already strange to begin with).
"Woonhak, are you really okay? You seem a little... out of it..." Sanghyeok's soft voice was painted with concern, palpable in his eyes. "If you want, we can do it another day, no problem."
But there was a problem. These words cost him, because his father didn't usually let him go out beyond attending school or church. But he couldn't put his selfish desires before the omega.
"Aaah Sanghyeok, don't take me for weak," the taller one chattered. "It's just that school annihilated me. You wouldn't get it because you have a big brain, unlike me." He bumped his fingers against his friend's forehead.
And for a second, Sanghyeok could inhale the scent of sweet, ripe grapefruit hitting his nose.
"But.."
"No buts. Anyway, I haven't hung out with friends in a long time. Let's just go before it gets late."
And without another word, Woonhak quickened his pace, leaving a dumbfounded boy behind.
"W-wait!" Sanghyeok ran, trying to catch up. Hopefully it's just a mild cold...
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Once at the cinema and inside the theater, the pain only got worse – if that was even possible – shaking him with the addition of an imminent heat radiating from his body with each passing second.
The shy boy didn't know what to do. Having Woonhak next to him in this state, he couldn't help but worry. But something else was being born in his chest, blooming like weeds. Something strange.
The big screen was still playing the scenes from the chosen action movie, but neither could concentrate on it. Different reasons, but one common factor.
Panic was sowing itself inside Woonhak and growing with terrifying speed, overwhelming him, shaking his mind. But he still refused to give in.
Until a particular wave of heat made him get up shakily and run with clumsy, disordered steps to the bathroom, bumping into several people.
His own smell was making him nauseous now.
He had always hated this body he was born in.
"Since they gave me those stupid tests... I never even wanted to be an alpha. Why couldn't I have been a beta? Life would have been simpler. Maybe I'd be as happy as Jaehyun hyung. I wouldn't be so disgustingly... vulnerable and needy." His mind worked at maximum speed with no room for clarity. Panic left his knees weak, but he couldn't stay here. He needed to run.
Sanghyeok couldn't read minds, but he could feel the scent the omega had left imprinted in the air. Confused, before connecting the dots.
Ping grapefruit and cotton candy.
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"Why that face, Dongmin? Do you hate hanging out with your best friend that much? You're hurting me deeply!" Jaehyun's pouts tried to turn around the alpha's very grumpy expression.
Well, you see. Just moments ago, Dongmin was getting ready to produce music under his pseudonym "Taesan."
Until the young man arrived, distilling his characteristic energy, interrupting his whole plan of spending the next 3 hours producing happily and alone in his room.
But he couldn't say no to his mother. He hated that Jaehyun got along so well with her.
Jaehyun was eternally grateful to always be loved by everyone's mothers.
A long sigh escaped his lips. "I hope at least the movie is good."
"You doubt my taste? You offend me, Dongmin! Don't worry, I have excel– ah! Isn't that Woonhak?"
The raven-haired boy raised an eyebrow, interested. "If that omega is here, that means... he must also be..."
His thoughts were silenced as he saw Sanghyeok going after him, and a scent filtered into the air.
Jaehyun wasn't stupid. Despite not being able to perceive smells like the others, he could read the atmosphere in an instant. His own instinct told him that something not very good was happening.
"Dongmin, stay here. I'll be right back."
Without warning, the beta ran out of the cinema, leaving a confused alpha behind.
"What's going on here?"