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“Does Chilli make my studio look uncool?” Hyunsuk frowns, hands on his hips as he stares at the giant purple plushie sitting innocently on the bench.
Doyoung knocks back a bottle of liquid vitamin, looking scarily like an alcoholic salaryman out on a Friday night at the bar. He makes a face at the bitter taste before rolling his eyes at Hyunsuk.
“It’s literally all over your Instagram, hyung. Everyone knows it exists. Anyway, half the school is scared shitless of you, not like anyone’s gonna come here to disturb you other than me.”
Hyunsuk scoffs. “The only reason why your med student ass is here in the Arts building is so you can stare at Takata Mashiho when you pass the dance studios. I know you’re not here for me.”
Doyoung rarely blushes, shameless as he is, but there’s definitely pink on his cheeks when he chucks the empty plastic bottle at the older.
“Well, I wouldn’t be the only one that does that.”
And Doyoung is right. Hyunsuk has indeed noticed an influx of non-Arts students flooding the building, trying to appear casual but breaking out in giggles when they spot Mashiho through the glass panes. He doesn’t blame them, though, the Japanese transfer student is indeed dashingly handsome and an incredible dancer from the occasional glimpses he gets when walking past.
“When will people stare at me in my studio like that,” he sighs dramatically, flopping onto his chair.
“Maybe if you tone down your aura. Mashiho sunbae is small and cute. You’re small and scary,” Doyoung explains matter-of-factly.
Hyunsuk spins around lazily, pouting. “I’m really not even that scary,” he whines.
“It’s the way you dress and act. And you’re an Alpha. And you’re Bobby sunbae’s favorite child.”
At that, Hyunsuk laughs. Bobby is a bit of a legend, not just in the Music Production department but across campus, and probably globally as well. Even before entering university, he’d already debuted under YG and attracted a truckload of fans to the school, until extra security had to be hired for all the four years he was a student.
For a period in his life, Hyunsuk considered being an idol trainee and was so close to accepting the offer from YG two years back. But he’d seen how Bobby lived with almost no privacy wherever he went, always scrutinized by the public eye, and decided against it. He was happy enough being Bobby’s protégé and a production intern at the company.
Anyway, his best friends always told him he was too soft and sensitive to be an idol, and he couldn’t really dispute that.
Speak of the devil, there’s a series of obnoxiously loud knocks at the door, followed by muffled yelling that he can’t hear because of the soundproofing.
“Hey maybe that’s your fans,” Doyoung teases as the door swings open, revealing the other two members of their friendship group.
“No freshmen allowed,” Hyunsuk says automatically as Haruto stomps in with Yoshi close behind.
“Oi! Doyoung’s here,” Haruto points accusingly at the Beta lounging on the sofa.
“No Alpha freshmen allowed,” Hyunsuk corrects and they dissolve into laughter at the utterly offended look that crosses Haruto’s face.
Yoshi pats Haruto comfortingly on the shoulder before looking around at the studio that Hyunsuk had just finished decorating.
“You’re so lucky you get your own studio, hyung. Me, Asahi and Haruto always have to fight amongst ourselves for slots.” He sighs.
“Maybe I’ll pass this studio to you when I graduate next year.”
“Why is Yoshi your favorite?” Haruto whines, flinging his limbs around in a fake tantrum and Hyunsuk smacks him on the head.
“It’s cos he’s gonna be a senior next year, dummy. Why would a sophomore like you need a studio?”
“For my sick beats!” Haruto protests and his brattiness shouldn’t be so endearing to Hyunsuk but it is, the older knowing that he doesn’t actually mean it.
“Oh yeah, Doyoung,” Yoshi perks up, “Mashi asked me about you.”
For the second time that day, Hyunsuk sees Doyoung flush. “Huh? M–me?”
Hyunsuk knows Yoshi is for the most part a calm and sweet person, an even-tempered Beta, but there’s a slyness in his expression now that Hyunsuk both admires and fears.
“Yeah his exact words were, “ Who’s that cute Beta that’s always with Hyunsuk sunbae? Are they dating? ””
Hyunsuk forgoes the chance to appreciate the crimson shade of Doyoung’s face in favour of retching. “Ew! Me and Doyoung??” He’s horrified at the thought of dating someone he’s always treated like his annoying younger brother.
Strangely enough, Doyoung seems to have deflated, leaning back against the cushions with a slight frown on his face.
“Well, what does it matter? I’m sure there’s tons of Omegas better for him anyway.”
Hyunsuk straightens up, shocked. “Doyoung! Don’t say that, you’re a catch too.”
“Yeah, Dobby,” Yoshi plops down next to him, patting him softly on the head, all traces of teasing gone. “You’d be a great match for Mashi, I know it.”
Doyoung sighs. “I mean, I’m just a Beta. I can’t offer him as much as an Omega could, you know?”
“No!” Haruto bursts out, uncharacteristically fierce, and the three of them look at him in surprise. “What year are we in? You don’t have to fit into a certain stereotype or role anymore. Look at Hyunsuk hyung, he’s an Alpha but he’s not controlling and domineering.”
“Yeah, I’m really not,” Hyunsuk chuckles. “You guys always say I’ll probably end up with someone who’s just like me and we can cry together like losers while watching Finding Nemo.”
At that, Doyoung cracks a small smile.
“Anyway, I told him you’re single and gave him your number.” Yoshi laughs at the strangled noise that escapes Doyoung.
“Hope to hear good news from you soon!” Haruto pumps his fist in the air excitedly.
“You make it sound like we’re getting married,” Doyoung scoffs but to Hyunsuk’s relief, he looks much less troubled.
There’s another knock on the door and the four exchange confused looks.
“Come in!” Hyunsuk calls and the door cracks open, inching slowly inwards until a pair of round eyes peek in, widening at the small crowd in the room.
“Hey, sorry to disturb, but do you guys know how to work the sound system in Studio 5 by any chance? We haven’t used it before and we’re facing some technical difficulties.”
“Oh, sure.” Hyunsuk’s familiar with it, having used the dance studio a couple of times to practice his rap, so he follows the visitor out.
When they’re in the corridor together, Hyunsuk can smell the Alpha emanating from the other, amplified by the sweat drenching his tank top. His scent is heavy, woody, and when Hyunsuk gets a little too close, his heart palpitates strangely and he almost stumbles from the unfamiliar sensation, slowing his pace to put more distance between them.
“You’re Hyunsuk sunbaenim, right?” The boy speaks up, turning to look at him with a smile and Hyunsuk notices the cute mole high on his cheekbone, under his eye.
“Huh? Oh yeah. And you are…? Sorry you know my name but I don’t know yours…” He trails off, ears warming in embarrassment.
The other boys laughs, high and bubbly. “I think everyone knows who you are, sunbae. I’m Park Jihoon, dance major, junior.”
“Nice to meet you, Jihoon,” Hyunsuk fidgets, feeling a sudden shyness overwhelming him. “And you can just call me hyung.”
“Sure, hyung!” Jihoon holds the dance studio door open, gesturing for Hyunsuk to enter first with a boyish grin that makes his stomach flip.
“Hyunsuk hyung!” There’s a screech and Hyunsuk finds himself engulfed in a sweaty hug. The scent is familiar, a sweet, soft baby powder.
“Yah! Junghwan-ah! Let hyung breathe!” Hyunsuk sputters at the tight grip the freshman has on him, attempting to wrestle out of it.
“Hyung I missed you so much! I haven’t seen you at the dance academy in so long, why did you stop coming?” Junghwan pouts, looking so terribly like a kicked puppy that Hyunsuk has to ruffle his hair affectionately.
“Sorry Junghwannie, I’ve been busy with my internship. I’ll drop by sometime soon okay?” He pinches the younger boy’s cheek.
Junghwan lights up and nods eagerly, before bounding off to join the group of students stretching at the side.
Hyunsuk can feel several gazes on him and when he looks over at the dancers, he notices a few Omega students staring at him with clear interest, looking away quickly when he makes eye contact with them.
He internally rolls his eyes. Such moments make him feel a little less glad to be an Alpha, when Omegas, especially the more traditional ones, look at him like they’re planning on how to get his attention.
Truth be told, he doesn’t ever see himself settling down. The Omegas he’s been approached by are mostly the shy, quiet and gentle type, and while he does have a nurturing streak in him, he wants to be taken care of in a relationship too. But it’s just that his reputation has only brought him those that think he wants someone submissive and soft, so they’ve never been a good match.
He’s yanked out of his rumination by a loud, high-pitched noise from the speakers that has everyone wincing.
“Sorry, guys!” Jihoon yells, sheepishly grinning from where he’s standing next to the sound system.
Shaking his head, Hyunsuk saunters over to peer at the console.
“Ah, you’re using the wrong cable,” he points out to Jihoon. “This is the right one, plug it into port 1, and make sure to lock it in with the screws because it gets loose easily and cuts the connection.”
He does as he instructs and soon a familiar beat blasts through the room.
“I swear Studio 3 wasn’t so complicated,” Jihoon grumbles and Hyunsuk giggles at the disgruntled expression on his face.
“This studio is newer so yes, the sound system is a little more fancy.”
“I was beginning to think I would have to acapella our practice song,” Jihoon jokes, “but thank god you’ve got it going! You’re a lifesaver, hyung, thank you so much!”
Hyunsuk fights the blush threatening to rise on his cheeks at Jihoon’s warm smile and instead simply nods. “You guys practice to this song?”
Jihoon turns his focus back to the computer, clicking a few songs to add them to the queue. “Hmm? Oh yeah, I don’t even know where this track came from. I found it on the computer and fell in love with it. It’s a great song to dance to, if I ever find out who made it I’ll send them flowers or something.”
“You’re welcome. My favorites are verbenas and daisies, you know where my studio is,” Hyunsuk chuckles.
Jihoon whips around, eyes comically wide.
“You made this?” He almost shouts.
“Yeah, maybe halfway through my second year? I probably left it on the computer because I practice rap in the studios sometimes.” He tries to sound nonchalant but the undisguised amazement on Jihoon’s face has him squirming a little.
“No wonder half the campus is in love with you!” He exclaims.
There’s a few quiet snickers as the others catch wind of their conversation and Hyunsuk is definitely blushing this time.
Someone clears their throat from behind and Hyunsuk turns around in surprise to see Mashiho and another boy fidgeting beside him. Where Mashiho is shorter and stockier, the boy is tall and leanly muscled, with wolfish eyes that tip up handsomely at the corner. He’s an Alpha, Hyunsuk can smell, but he looks so nervous that Hyunsuk has to bite back a slight urge to giggle.
“Hyunsuk sunbae,” Mashiho bows lowly, offering him a grin that Hyunsuk would swoon at if Mashiho had been more of his type. “Jeongwoo here has something to ask of you.”
“Er.” Jeongwoo scratches his neck awkwardly, teeth bared in a grimace that Hyunsuk’s sure is supposed to pass as a smile. For a brief moment, Hyunsuk worries that Jeongwoo is about to ask him out there and then in front of so many people, but Jeongwoo’s scent doesn’t betray any sort of interest.
“CouldIgetHaruto’snumber?” Jeongwoo blurts out and cringes almost immediately at how the words jumbled together.
“Pardon?” Hyunsuk definitely wasn’t expecting that and he watches as Jeongwoo’s nervousness deepens.
“I...uh have been trying to ask him out but he, like, always runs off before I can ask? I–I mean, if he’s not comfortable, you totally don’t have to give me his number!” He rushes to reassure the other.
It suddenly clicks for Hyunsuk.
“Oh! Are you the cute Alpha in his Design class that bought him a sandwich?”
Jeongwoo is positively red by now and Hyunsuk can see Mashiho politely trying his best to hold back his laughter.
“I–well I wouldn't call myself the ‘cute’ Alpha but yes I did give him a sandwich. He kind of ran away before I could ask for his number, though.”
“Oh my, our Ruto is often very shy,” Hyunsuk laughs softly, “especially in front of boys that he calls cute in private.” Hyunsuk winks.
This time he does allow a laugh to escape at Jeongwoo’s furious sputtering, before pulling out his phone.
“What’s your Kakao ID? I’ll send you his contact.”
When that’s done, he waves off Jeongwoo’s profuse gratitude and watches as the two dancers return to practice, but Mashiho suddenly pauses and turns around.
“Hyunsuk sunbae, I promise I will treat Doyoung well,” he says seriously, a tad too formal that it kind of weirds Hyunsuk out a little.
“Uh, I mean, you don’t have to promise me? I don’t own him or anything.” He tries to joke but Mashiho nods firmly before he rejoins the group.
Jihoon, who had been watching their conversation closely, laughs at the befuddled expression on Hyunsuk’s face.
“It’s a Japanese thing. We don’t have pack leaders in this age anymore, but they still tend to ask the alpha leaders of a friendship group before they court one of the members.”
Hyunsuk grimaces a little. “But they’re their own people, no matter their gender.”
Jihoon’s smile softens. “I totally agree with you, but it’s just a habit from the way their society is structured. It’s not just a stupid Alpha possessiveness thing, though. Asahi came to tell me he was going to court Jaehyuk. Not ask. I don’t think he would have backed off anyway even if I had said no.”
Hyunsuk vaguely remembers Hamada Asahi from the few casual greetings they’d exchanged when they ran into each other while in the company of Haruto or Yoshi. Another transfer student from Japan, Asahi had been gaining popularity around campus for his music and mysterious aura.
An Omega with incredibly cold and striking beauty, he’d received multiple expressions of interest from suitors but always rejected them, maintaining an aloofness that made him unapproachable to most.
The shock that swept through the school when he started dating the Student Council President, Yoon Jaehyuk, was almost nuclear. A charming, highly sociable person and possibly Asahi’s total opposite, nobody would have imagined Jaehyuk to end up with the campus’ Ice Prince.
“You should see Asahi when he’s with Jaehyuk, though,” Haruto had made a disgusted face. “He’s totally soft and acts cute and I don’t ever want to be in the same room as them alone again.”
That’s love, Hyunsuk supposes, a funny little thing.
“I’ll have to get back to practice, Hyunsuk hung.Thank you for your help! I really owe you big time.” Jihoon pats his arm.
His touch is warm but the spark that runs through Hyunsuk makes him shiver. It must be the static in the dry air.
“It’s really no worry at all, Jihoon. My studio is just down the hall so knock if you need me, yeah?” He throws a peace sign and Jihoon reciprocates with a thumbs up.
When he’s finally out of the dance studio, he finds it a little easier to breathe without the scent of wood making him strangely giddy. He supposes it’s just the close proximity with a new, unfamiliar Alpha that’s causing him to feel this way.
As he passes the glass walls, he turns to peek back at the dance team in the room once again. Jihoon is standing right at the front, hands commandingly on his hips and a fierce look in his eyes as he directs the crew through their warm up. He runs a hand through his hair and when he turns and accidentally makes eye contact with Hyunsuk through the glass, Hyunsuk almost jumps from the intense gaze trained on him, whipping his head back to face the corridor and quickening his steps back to his studio.
“Hey Ruto, I gave your number to Jeongwoo,” he says as he slips back inside, shutting the door.
“You WHAT???” Haruto yells so loudly that it’s heard even through the layers of soundproofing, and the rest burst into laughter.
-----
Hyunsuk is not having a good day.
A track he’d been working on corrupted after his MacBook crashed at 4am and he’d been on the verge of a meltdown. The studios wouldn’t open until 8am so he couldn’t go in to re-record it, and there’s no way he could sleep in his frustrated state.
After spending a solid 3 hours pacing around his room and struggling through breathing exercises, he drags himself across the campus at 7.30am.
As luck would have it, a freshman that isn’t looking where he’s going crashes into Hyunsuk, spilling hot coffee down the side of his hoodie and onto his white shoes.
See, Hyunsuk is soft and sensitive, but he still has a fierce Alpha streak that runs through him and rears its head when he’s angry. So when he stares at the brown stain dripping down his designer purple outfit, his tightly wound nerves snap and he lets out an honest to god aggressive growl at the perpetrator.
Hyunsuk should feel bad at the way the freshman’s eyes instantly fill with tears and he starts shaking, but he’s too sleep-deprived to think rationally or sympathetically. The other is an Omega, and that explains why he’s visibly trembling before Hyunsuk’s menacing glare.
The students walking to class stop to stare at the tense scene, exchanging nervous glances at Hyunsuk’s anger that permeates the air almost tangibly, humid and scalding. He’s staring the quaking freshman down, unmoving and unblinking, and the mix of rage and fear in the air is starting to make the crowd uncomfortable.
“Hyunsuk sunbaenim,” a smooth voice intercedes and Asahi steps in to discreetly pull the still-shivering Omega behind him. “I apologize for Taki’s actions, he didn’t mean it.” He bows lowly, politely, and the freshman scrambles to follow.
Some common sense seeps back into Hyunsuk’s conscience and okay, he does feel that he’s been a little too harsh, so he reels his aggression back.
“Be careful where you’re going next time,” he directs curtly to the wide-eyed freshman, who nods frantically, apology spilling profusely from his lips yet again.
When Hyunsuk stalks off to the arts building, a collective breath releases and like a play button has been pressed, the morning rush resumes.
Hyunsuk slams the studio door behind him, irritation still itching at his skin and he pulls off his coffee-stained hoodie, glad that he had the foresight to wear another shirt beneath.
The sight of the familiar equipment, his painstakingly decorated studio, and just the existence of some quiet, personal space is enough to calm him down substantially. Okay, re-record the track, finish it, and get it submitted for evaluation to YG. No time to waste.
He’s glad that final-year brings with it little to no classes, freeing up most of the time for him to work on his personal projects. He just has to submit a portfolio of his music and crap out some essay about how he’s grown and learned a lot as a student, and his degree will be secured.
The lack of sleep catches up to him around noon and so does the eye fatigue. When his vision blurs until he can no longer read the words on the screen properly, he decides it’s time to take a break, since most of the track has been pieced back together again.
To be honest, he’s a little dizzy, running only on three cups of black coffee and absolutely no food at all. A nap sounds tempting, he thinks, as he looks at his sofa, and remembers to save his work before he crawls onto the cushions with a heavy yawn.
The moment his head hits the pillow, he can already feel himself yanked off to dreamland. He cuddles Chilli a little closer, burying his face in the soft plushie before he slips off into a deep sleep.
-----
“Did you hear what happened this morning with Choi Hyunsuk?” Junkyu slides his lunch tray onto the table.
Jihoon pauses halfway through a bite of his chicken. “No?”
“I heard he almost attacked a freshie for spilling coffee on him!” Junkyu exclaims dramatically.
Hyunsuk? Attack? Jihoon is well aware of the older boy’s reputation around school but ever since the other helped him out that day, he realized Hyunsuk had the cutest mannerisms that were nothing like his intimidating appearance.
Mashiho laughs in exasperation. “Junkyu, that’s ridiculous! Hyunsuk sunbaenim wouldn’t actually hurt anyone, he was just having a rough morning because one of his music files corrupted.”
Junkyu halts his theatrics and squints at Mashiho. “How do you know that?”
“Well….” he’s suddenly flustered. “Doyoung told me.”
All gossip of Hyunsuk forgotten, Junkyu slaps the table loudly. “Mashi! You started talking to your crush and you didn’t tell us?” Betrayal is painted across his face and for a moment, Jihoon wonders how one person can be so genuinely dramatic.
“Hey hey let’s all calm down.” Jihoon attempts to reign in the energy, waving his fork threateningly at them.
“Sorry, guys. We only started talking a few days ago and I didn’t want to say anything in case it didn’t work out,” Mashiho apologizes and looks so sorry that Junkyu can’t bring himself to be affronted any longer.
“So is it going well at least?” Jihoon probes.
The pleased expression that creeps onto Mashiho’s face says it all and Junkyu makes a noise of disbelief.
“Oh my god you look like such a lovesick fool. Where’s the charismatic and flirty Mashi that we know?” He sighs.
“You guys will understand when you fall for someone someday,” Mashiho replies seriously.
There’s a buzz and Mashiho’s phone lights up with an incoming message, his smile already betraying the identity of the person on the other end.
“Look at him already choosing Doyoung over us,” Junkyu stage-whispers to Jihoon, earning himself a light kick to the shin from Mashiho.
“Doyoung asked if I could bring some food for Hyunsuk sunbaenim, he hasn’t eaten since dinner last night. Hmm but I have to rush for class after lunch.”
“I can do it,” Jihoon volunteers. “His music studio right?”
“Yeah!” Mashiho taps away on his phone, telling Doyoung that Jihoon would take over that duty instead.
Junkyu is puzzled. “You’re gonna deliver food to the Choi Hyunsuk?”
“We’ve talked before, he helped me with some technical difficulties in the dance studio last week,” Jihoon shrugs.
Junkyu’s eyes grow even wider. “Why do none of you tell me about the juicy things that go on in your lives anymore!”
“Because you’re you,” Jihoon laughs and Mashiho joins in when he sees the utterly offended look on Junkyu’s face.
-----
Carrying a plastic bag heavy with food, Jihoon knocks on the door of Hyunsuk’s studio. When there’s no reply, he tries again, louder and more insistent this time.
No music, no footsteps, no movement from inside at all, so Jihoon knocks a third time, before slowly turning the handle and pushing the door open.
The studio is darker than he expected, but the neon lights are bright enough to illuminate the open spaces of the room, falling gently onto the sofa where the sight makes Jihoon melt a little.
Hyunsuk is clinging tightly to a huge purple plushie, its smile just as cheeky as its owner’s when he’s awake. In sleep, Hyunsuk’s intimidating stare is softened, the crease between his brows and small pout on his lips making him look much younger than he actually is.
Jihoon catches himself staring fondly for a few seconds too long, before he returns to his senses and remembers what he’s here for.
“Hyunsuk hyung,” he whispers, setting the food down on the low coffee table and shaking the older boy gently.
“Mmmm….” Hyunsuk stirs but his eyes don’t open. He scrunches his nose, making a soft snuffling sound, before burying his face back in the plushie.
Jihoon tries not to coo at the adorably disgruntled sounds coming from the other and instead attempts to shake him awake again.
“Hyunsuk hyung, you have to wake up and eat. Aren’t you hungry?” Without thinking, he slowly runs his hand through the other’s hair, scratching at his scalp and swallowing back a gentle laugh when Hyunsuk lets out a barely-conscious whine.
His stomach has a life of its own, though, as it growls impossibly loudly and wakes Hyunsuk properly this time.
He lifts his head up, peering at Jihoon with hazy, sleep-softened eyes and the moment feels so oddly domestic that Jihoon suddenly is hit with a wave of visions—lazy weekend mornings, tugging blankets away from each other, greeting the sunrise, waking up next to the same dopey face that Hyunsuk is currently giving him—
Jihoon steps back, overwhelmed.
Oh shit , he thinks. This swooping feeling of affection, the sweetness that runs through him whenever he looks at Hyunsuk. It feels a lot like falling.
Unaware of the inner turmoil raging deep inside Jihoon, Hyunsuk seems to have sobered as he pulls himself into a proper sitting position, frowning through the remnants of sleep.
“Jihoon? What are you doing here?” He questions through a yawn, stretching his limbs lithely like a cat and Jihoon swears he hears something crack.
“Ah...Doyoung said you’ve been working on music and haven’t had time to eat, so I brought you food.”
At that, Hyunsuk realizes that his studio is a mess, littered with coffee cups and crumpled pieces of paper that have unfinished lyrics scribbled on them.
Suddenly embarrassed, he rubs the back of his neck. “Oops, sorry you have to see my studio in this state.”
Jihoon plops onto a beanbag, laughing as he unpacks the food that he’d brought. “When you train with sweaty dancers every week, this isn’t that bad. And my roommate Junkyu literally lives in a pigsty.”
Hyunsuk brings his hand up to his mouth to stifle a giggle and Jihoon makes the mistake of glancing up, because Hyunsuk looks so small and adorable all wrapped up in his blanket with his ruffled bed hair sticking out that Jihoon’s heart skips a beat.
How this boy earned his reputation of being a scary Alpha is really beyond him.
“You’re really cute like that,” he finds himself saying and Hyunsuk reddens, pulling the blankets up to his nose shyly.
“Stop! I just woke up, I'm sure I look terrible.” His voice is muffled from the fabric covering his face, but the dusty pink smattered across his cheekbones is still visible.
“I mean what I said,” Jihoon smiles and snaps the lids of the containers open, acting as though his pulse wasn’t thudding faster than normal.
He stands up, wiping some sauce from his hands with the cheap napkin that came from the cafeteria.
“I have to go for class now, hyung. Please eat well and take care of yourself!” He says the second part a little more sternly than intended and Hyunsuk peeks up at him from his little cocoon, looking contrite.
Jihoon wants to wrap him up in the blanket forever.
“I promise I will! Thank you so much Jihoonie,” the nickname slips out easily and Jihoon thinks he likes it a little too much, the way Hyunsuk says it with a cute intonation lingering in his mind even for hours after he leaves.
-----
Jihoon catches Doyoung alone during an off-peak lunch slot a couple of days later, something rather rare as the other boy was usually surrounded by his med school friends.
“Hey, Doyoung, right? Do you have a minute to spare?”
Doyoung is younger than Jihoon but as he fixes him with a knowing look, Jihoon feels weirdly like the dongsaeng in this situation, asking his hyung for permission about something.
“Of course, Jihoon sunbaenim. Please take a seat, I’m free the rest of the afternoon.”
Jihoon drags out the chair opposite Doyoung and drops down onto it, fidgeting a little as the other looks expectantly at him.
He doesn’t actually know how to broach the topic, so the awkward silence lingers for a beat too long before Doyoung takes pity on him and speaks first.
“If you wanted to know, yes, Hyunsuk hyung is single.”
Jihoon feels relief that the basic hurdle has been crossed, but there’s still something lingering in his mind that troubles him.
“Do you—would he date another Alpha?” There’s a hint of insecurity lacing his voice and he knows Doyoung notices it because his smile softens into an understanding one.
“I think….many people have expectations of who Hyunsuk hyung is and what he likes, but one thing that I know about him is that he never puts himself in boxes.”
Jihoon wasn’t expecting such a cryptic answer, so he’s definitely confused. “So...is that a yes?”
Doyoung laughs this time, effectively breaking the tension. “Yes, Jihoon sunbaenim. Hyunsuk hyung looks intimidating but he’s really soft. Don’t tell anyone I told you this but he loves being taken care of, pampered, all those cheesy things.”
Hope blossoms within Jihoon, a smile creeping across his face before he can school it into a more toned-down expression.
“Thank you for your advice, Doyoung.” Jihoon hopes his sincerity conveys well, and Doyoung nods.
“I just want Hyunsuk hyung to be happy. It’s about time he found someone good for him.”
-----
There’s knocking at his studio door and Hyunsuk pulls himself out of his production-induced stupor, stretching and stumbling over to open it. When he’s deep in a track, he usually locks the door to prevent anyone from barging in and disrupting his workflow. He’s almost done, anyway, so whoever’s outside has impeccable timing.
He’s expecting one of his friends here to disturb, or some junior asking for help, but what he certainly doesn’t expect is Jihoon with a bouquet of flowers.
“Erm….” he says dumbly, not sure of how to react.
“Remember I said I’d buy whoever composed that track some flowers? Verbena and daisies, your favorites.” Jihoon smiles and holds them out to Hyunsuk.
Hyunsuk’s hands are shaking a little when he receives the flowers, blinking rapidly down at the purple bouquet. When his lips press together and he starts sniffling softly, Jihoon’s grin drops, instantly replaced with concern and slight horror.
“Oh my god are you crying? I’m so sorry—did I do something wrong?”
Hyunsuk’s eyes are big and teary, but he doesn’t smell distressed, so Jihoon calms down a little.
“No it’s just—you remembered my favorites?” Hyunsuk sniffs softly, but this time a small smile spreads across his face, turning his eyes into happy crescents.
“I don’t think I could forget anything about you, hyung.” Jihoon is more confident now that he knows Hyunsuk isn’t actually upset, and can appreciate the flustered reaction of the other.
“I love them so much, thank you Jihoonie.” Hyunsuk beams up at him and contentedness starts to bleed into his scent. It’s intoxicating to Jihoon, a warm and mellow cocoa that wraps the both of them in a pleasant blanket, and he never wants to let it go.
“Hyung, there’s still something else I want to ask,” Jihoon bites out nervously.
Hyunsuk is still cradling the bouquet preciously, stroking the tiny purple petals and smiling fondly at them.
“Can I take you out on a date?”
Hyunsuk stills and for a moment, Jihoon’s afraid that he’s said something wrong and is about to be thrown out of the studio.
But Hyunsuk seems to only be growing steadily redder, moving to hide his face behind the flowers.
“Uh, hyung? Are you okay?”
“Yes!” Hyunsuk squeaks. “Sorry just give me a moment. I’m–I’m shy.” The last part is barely above a whisper and Jihoon really wants to squeeze the other’s cheeks. Instead, he waits patiently until Hyunsuk manages to pull himself together and finally meets Jihoon’s eyes.
“I would love to, Jihoonie.” There’s still a heavy bashfulness clinging to him but Jihoon only finds it endearing beyond measure.
“Give me your number, then we can fix a day when you’re free?” Jihoon pulls out his phone and hands it over.
He notices that Hyunsuk seems more flustered whenever Jihoon takes the initiative first, and he files it away for future reference. Remembering Doyoung’s words about how Hyunsuk wants to be taken care of sometimes, he supposes it makes sense.
Hyunsuk locks his phone screen and passes it back to Jihoon.
“I’ll text you later on after my classes, have a good day, hyung!” He’s on the brink of being late and he feels a little bad that he’s just dropped a bomb on Hyunsuk and then dashing off, but Hyunsuk’s smile is understanding and gentle.
“Enjoy your day!” He waves the younger boy off, still clutching the flowers tightly.
As Jihoon rushes to his Design class, he unlocks his phone to fire off a text to Junkyu to update him.
When he sees that Hyunsuk has saved his contact as Hyunsukie hyung 💜 , the reality of what had just happened hits him and he allows a soft, uncharacteristic giggle to slip out.
-----
It’s a little terrifying how easily they slip into each other’s lives from then, texting endlessly every day from morning to night.
“ Good morning, hyung! Don’t work too hard today!” “ Okayyy! Pay attention in class, Jihoonie~”
“ Jihoonie the cafeteria food today is terrible ㅠㅠ” “Want me to bring you something from Lotteria?” “You are my favorite person ever!!!!!!” “No worries at all hyung ㅋㅋㅋ”
As Hyunsuk is due for evaluation soon at his internship, they haven’t found a day to fix their proper date, but Jihoon comes and goes ever so often from Hyunsuk’s studio that he feels no need to rush it.
Hyunsuk doesn’t think he’s ever gotten so close to someone so quickly, that he sometimes still feels a whiplash of sorts when Jihoon appears at his studio door with a cheeky grin, and his heart skips a beat.
Today is no exception either, Jihoon waltzing in with several stalks of verbena and the same smile that leaves him giddy.
“I saw your current ones were looking a little droopy,” he proclaims as he swaps out the slightly wilted flowers, stepping back to admire how the fresh blooms brighten up the space.
Hyunsuk must look like a fool because Jihoon laughs when he catches Hyunsuk staring at him.
“Careful, hyung. Stare at me any longer and I’d think you’re in love.” He jokes.
“Maybe I am,” Hyunsuk replies seriously and this time it’s Jihoon’s turn to blush, turning away in a rare display of shyness.
They spend the afternoon like they always do, Hyunsuk pressing something out on the keyboard and taking in Jihoon’s surprisingly astute feedback.
Jihoon sings parts of the demo for his halfway-finished track, Jihoon shows him the new choreo they’re going to perform at the upcoming festival, Jihoon grabs his phone to order in delivery for dinner since Hyunsuk has a subscription plan.
The way Jihoon fits so easily into Hyunsuk’s life and the bits of him that he holds so close to himself makes Hyunsuk ache in a way. It’s comfortable, he knows, when he’s wrapped up in his oversized hoodie during a post-dinner food coma, head resting gently on Jihoon’s shoulder.
But the feeling is so new and unfamiliar that he can’t help the apprehension that creeps in at times. Would Jihoon stay? Would he even want an Alpha that’s too soft, needy at times, cries way too easily?
“What’s the matter? You smell worried.” Jihoon murmurs, shifting so he can wrap an arm comfortingly around Hyunsuk’s shoulder and pulling him closer.
Hyunsuk breathes him deep from where his face rests against Jihoon’s collar, the other’s scent steadying and anchoring him. Jihoon is always so attuned to his feelings, a slight shift never going unnoticed, that Hyunsuk feels a security of sorts.
“Just wondering how long you’ll be around for.” Hyunsuk never minces his words or hides his troubles, something which Jihoon admires.
Jihoon smiles and it’s comforting. “For as long as you’ll have me.”
-----
Autumn slips into Winter and then tumbles into Spring. Before Hyunsuk knows it, he’s only left with a couple of months in school, just a little bit until he graduates and joins YG as a full-time producer.
With significantly fewer projects on his plate, he finds himself waiting outside Jamsil Station Exit 4 on a pleasant morning, wrapped up in a thick hoodie and sweatpants. It’s rare that he dresses down, but he wants to be comfortable when they spend the day exploring Lotte World, so he leaves his accessories and flashy clothes at home.
“Hyung! Sorry I’m late!” Jihoon rushes up the staircase, panting a little.
He’s dressed a little more smartly than Hyunsuk is, blazer thrown over a turtleneck. For a moment, Hyunsuk wonders if he’s really too underdressed for their first date and worries if Jihoon will think he’s taking it lightly, but the other simply pulls him in a tight hug.
“You look so cute today, hyung!” He coos, making Hyunsuk blush.
They hurry towards the amusement park, hoping to catch the place before crowds start streaming in. But it is a weekday after all, so the place is not too busy, just a few families and couples scattered around.
Grabbing a map from the information counter, Jihoon scans it quickly, excitedly pointing out the rides that he wants to go on.
“Is there anything you can’t handle, Sukie hyung?” Jihoon purses his lips, flipping through the attractions.
“You know I’m terrible with horror stuff, Hoonie.” Hyunsuk pouts and Jihoon turns his pleading eyes on him.
“But I really wanted to see the Ghost House...You can grab onto me as tightly as you want, I’ll fight all the ghosts for you!” Jihoon puffs up his chest and flexes his muscles, which has Hyunsuk dissolving into giggles.
“Well, if you promise you’ll protect me…” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence before Jihoon is whooping with glee, grabbing his hand to drag him in the direction of the haunted house.
From the moment they step inside, regret doesn’t even accurately summarize what Hyunsuk is feeling.
Despite it being bright and sunny outside, the interior of the haunted house is damp, chilly and almost pitch black, save for the flickering lamps that line the stone walls. What really throws Hyunsuk off is how silent it is, only the sound of dripping water and a faint scratching filling the space.
He already feels his heart rate speeding up and he grabs Jihoon’s arm, pressing tightly to his side.
“Ah hyung, it’s only just the start.” Jihoon’s voice is slightly teasing but he links his fingers with Hyunsuk’s, squeezing comfortingly.
Needless to say, Hyunsuk screams himself almost hoarse throughout and when they emerge from the other side, he’s shaking like a leaf and there’s tear tracks on his face that Jihoon didn’t notice while in the dark.
“Oh, hyung.” Jihoon feels terrible now, not realizing that Hyunsuk would be so badly affected. The other’s bottom lip is still quivering dangerously and when he looks at Jihoon with huge, watery eyes, Jihoon can’t help but feel a surge of shame and protectiveness.
“I’m so sorry, I should have known how much you hate haunted houses, hyung.” Jihoon holds his arms out to invite Hyunsuk into a hug, conscious that he might want some space, and is relieved when Hyunsuk dives into his embrace, sniffling softly.
“It’s okay, it–it was fun for you, right?” Hyunsuk doesn’t smell as distressed as he did inside, now that the sunlight surrounds them, but the tremble in his voice still stabs at Jihoon.
“Today’s not just about me, we should have fun together, hyung. Do you want to choose the next ride?” Jihoon pats his hair gently.
“Can we go on Atlantis?” Hyunsuk pulls back from the hug with a begging in his eyes and Jihoon is quick to agree, anything to put the smile back on his face again.
The rest of the afternoon passes by like a blur, filled with happy laughter and thrilled shouting, all trauma from the haunted house seemingly erased from Hyunsuk’s mind.
Through every ride, Jihoon finds himself unable to tear his gaze away from Hyunsuk. When the wind whips his hair into a tousled mess, when his eyes squeeze into crescents and the little lines appear at the corners from how hard he’s smiling, Jihoon sees it all and can’t stop looking.
It’s a feeling that has his heart swooping a thousand times more than even the scariest ride that tosses them up so close to the sky he can almost touch the clouds.
Hyunsuk catches him staring, of course, but doesn’t say anything because he knows he’s guilty of doing the same. When Jihoon tugs his hand to lead him places, when he places orders for them at the food carts, when he places his hand on Hyunsuk’s back to steady him while they walk through crowds.
All these are new, to have someone else lead and care for him, but he can’t put into words the security and comfort he gets when he’s around Jihoon, knowing the younger wouldn’t hesitate to do anything for him.
It’s amidst these feelings that they find themselves in the ferris wheel, right at the peak as the sunset paints the endless skies around them a show-stopping pink. The ride crawls at an immensely slow pace, allowing everyone on board to admire the panoramic view and the evening creeping in from the far distance.
There has to be something peculiarly romantic about the way the fading sunlight glitters off the river and reflects in ripples across the glass cabin. Jihoon rests his chin on Hyunsuk’s shoulder, hugging him from behind as they gaze out and across the land.
Hyunsuk turns, looping his arms around Jihoon’s neck, their faces little more than a breath away. In this light, Hyunsuk thinks Jihoon has never looked more beautiful, the golden hour kissing his skin and setting his hazel eyes alight.
“Thank you for today, Jihoonie. I had the best day with you,” he whispers, afraid to break the sentimental air that has settled around them.
Jihoon is quiet but his gaze is deep, hands resting on Hyunsuk’s waist. In this proximity, his eyes flicker down to Hyunsuk’s lips and then back up, once, twice, a third time. Hyunsuk can see the emotions that run through him, and the question that’s on the tip of his tongue.
“Can I kiss you, hyung?” Jihoon’s voice is low, sending a shiver through Hyunsuk and his eyes flutter of their own accord.
“Please,” he breathes out, and Jihoon closes the gap between them.
For all the boldness that Jihoon carries around, he kisses softer than Hyunsuk expects, gentle like the start of a drizzle and warm like the fireplace in winter. Jihoon kisses so tenderly that Hyunsuk feels tears spring to his eyes at how overwhelmingly safe and loved he feels, how precious the feeling of Jihoon’s lips on his is.
Jihoon’s hands move up to cradle Hyunsuk’s jaw, holding him as the kiss deepens. The intensity spreads in Hyunsuk’s veins like fire and his legs weaken, causing him to stumble before Jihoon’s arms are around his waist again, supporting him.
The moment is over but not broken, and Hyunsuk tucks his face into Jihoon’s neck, feeling slightly dazed.
“Hyung, why are you hiding after our first kiss?” Jihoon laughs softly and Hyunsuk makes an embarrassed noise, hitting him gently on the chest before pulling back.
“You make me shy.” His cheeks are dusted a pink that rivals the sky, lips still slightly swollen.
Jihoon can’t take his eyes off him, can’t get his contented scent out of his head, and he’s almost giddy from the profoundness of the moment that had just passed.
“Will you let me make you shy forever, then?” He presses a soft kiss again to Hyunsuk’s nose, smiling when their noses bump and he feels Hyunsuk’s cheeks lifting in a smile of his own.
“For as long as you’ll have me.”
-----
Four years later
A deafening alarm blares through the house and Hyunsuk instantly is yanked awake, but the man next to him is still dead to the world.
Reaching over to switch the alarm off, he yawns and stretches, ironing out the kinks in his neck and shoulders from the particularly deep sleep.
“Baby,” he shakes the still-sleeping Jihoon gently, then firmly when there’s no response.
“Baby, wake up, we have to go to work,” he says loudly, stifling the yawn that forces its way out anyway.
At the insistence in Hyunsuk’s tone, Jihoon stirs and groans so loudly that Hyunsuk thinks he could rival the alarm clock.
“I told you not to stay up watching soccer with me last night, hm?” Hyunsuk cards his hand through Jihoon’s hair fondly, laughing when the other grabs it and presses a kiss to his knuckles.
“Mmm I wanted to spend time with you.” Jihoon’s words are muffled from where he’s shoved his head back under the pillow, but Hyunsuk hears it and his heart skips a beat. Even after all these years, Jihoon still makes him blush like they’re college students again.
“If you get up now, I’ll give you extra kisses after breakfast—” Hyunsuk giggles at the way Jihoon jumps up exaggeratedly from the bed, almost tripping over the blanket in the process, and speeds off to the bathroom.
After throwing on their clothes, eating cereal from their matching bowls (and Jihoon stealing the extra kisses he was promised), they back the car out of the driveway and head to work.
Funnily enough, they both ended up at YG after graduation, Hyunsuk as a producer and Jihoon as a choreographer. Jihoon hadn’t intended to work there, actually planning to help at his friend’s dance studio, but when the offer from YG came in, he decided it was really too good to pass up. He wanted to open his own studio someday, and this would definitely be a great experience and financial boost.
They can’t complain about the convenience of driving to the same workplace every morning either. Being able to wake up at the same time, get ready, and leave together is something that the both of them look forward to, and Hyunsuk can’t wait for the day this routine leads to their own little studio space instead of YG.
The only downside of them working at the same place comes in the form of a coffee-carrying gentleman named Park Jeongwoo, who spots them from across the lobby and doesn’t hesitate to yell “GOOD MORNING LOVEBIRDS!” and causing a few eyes to turn towards them.
“Shut up, Jeongwoo!” Jihoon pinches the other boy mischievously in the side, causing him to yelp. “Can’t you go disturb Ruto instead?”
“I actually cannot. He’s been stuck in a meeting since 7am and I miss him, that’s why I’m here to annoy you guys instead because I’m jealous.” He smiles, handing over an iced americano to Hyunsuk.
From the day a nervous Jeongwoo asked Hyunsuk for Haruto’s number in the dance studio, nobody had expected the pair to grow into scary parallels of Jihoon and Hyunsuk, a dancer-producer couple at YG.
Hyunsuk is glad that Jaehyuk was nowhere near to becoming a dancer too in the same company, or he might have genuinely questioned the recurrence of this pattern within his friendship circles, since Asahi was also on the same producing team.
Sipping his coffee as the lift ascends, Hyunsuk checks his phone for any new messages and notices the reminders list.
“Oh yeah, Jeongwoo, have you booked your tickets for Doyoung and Mashiho’s wedding?”
The look of intense horror on Jeongwoo’s face tells it all.
“Oh fuck! I forgot. Thanks for reminding me, hyung. I hope there’s still tickets left,” he bangs his head against the lift wall.
“Mashi would personally murder you if you missed his wedding ceremony,” Jihoon supplies cheerfully and Jeongwoo groans, a little too loud for the small elevator.
“I know, hyung. Ugh, okay I’ll ask Ruto which airport we’re supposed to land at.”
“It’s Kansai, I just booked our tickets a few days back.” Hyunsuk offers and Jeongwoo looks relieved that he wouldn’t have to ask Haruto and get chewed out for totally forgetting about it.
The lift dings and the doors open to the floor of the dance studios.
“Bye Seokie,” Jihoon kisses Hyunsuk before he steps out, ignoring Jeongwoo’s noise of disgust.
“Bye baby, have a good day, alright?” Hyunsuk waves, face scrunched up in an adorable smile and Jihoon marvels at how even after all these years, the sight never fails to endear him.
“Text me when you’re done for today?”
“I might end a little late, we have a producers’ meeting at 6.” Hyunsuk frowns. “Can you wait for me?”
Jihoon smiles, the same one that Hyunsuk falls in love with all over again every day.
“For as long as you’ll have me.”