Chapter Text
"V-day sale get 69% off in house-baked goods, t-shirts, and plushies just for today at the university gift sho-"
"Catch the modern retelling of a classic Shakespeare romance in theatre today, a world where Romeo is-"
"Would you like a fortune cookie? Maybe this day of love brings with it new romance in its abundance? Rekindling of an old love? Or maybe the start of something always meant to be?"
Jimin snorted, not wanting to be rude, but unable to hide his disdain. The whole campus had been decked out in reds and pinks, Valentine-themed snacks, and knick-knacks were being handed out in droves. And the play hosted by the theatre club- that damned play, Jimin could only do so much to not crumple the invite in his hands. No, that would just start stupid rumors around the campus.
So, much to his chagrin, the only thing Jimin can do is politely (as polite as he can manage) give SuYoon a tight-lipped smile and accept the misshapen homemade cookie she offers him. The junior handing out freebies is not the cause of his problems but that doesn't stop his childish mind from blaming her.
Fortune his ass, love, and fated shit could also throw themselves off a cliff.
Jimin knew it was all fake, because if any of it was true, if any of it was oh so magical, then how come it hurts so much? How come an experience supposed to bring joy and comfort and peace to one was nothing but the bane of his existence?
How come love never did anything other than tear his heart to shreds?
Jimin shakes his head, the sky had started to drizzle a little. He breaks the cookie apart, dusting crumbs off the oil-stained piece of paper inside. He can't help but let out a disbelieving chuckle. One word, a single word, and yet so impossibly unattainable that all Jimin can do is laugh at the fates probably mocking him.
And like salt being sprinkled on his wounds here comes the melodic chant of his name. His head whips towards the holder of his affection, the very center of his universe as the taller man darts towards him.
A hand over his head using a thin cue book as his only protection from the slow onset of rain, he looked like an angel running through a field of pearls, everything he did was divine in Jimins eyes, he may have been more than a bit biased but who was gonna disagree, God had definitely taken his time when he had created Kim Seokjin, anyone with eyes could see that.
Seokjin comes to a halt in front of him, panting a little, the book doing nothing to help him from the rain.
"Jimin!"
No, it was absolutely not fair, it had been years, years of this silent torture, and yet his stubborn heart fluttered with just a smile
"Jimin! I have been looking for you all over campus! Did you get the invite I sent?! It's front row seating, you have to show up! Please, please pleaseeee! I put so much effort into it this time, you won't ditch it again, will you? I know you hate all of this romantic stuff but I swear we made it more of a comedy, and also it's gay! Please Jimin I-"
God, from the cute little pout he accentuated his rant with, to his hair slowly curling up as they get wet, he truly had been somehow flawlessly perfect. Jimin wanted nothing more than to shut him up, preferably with his lips. But alas, not everything we yearn for can be ours.
Jimin instead takes a deep breath shaking Seokjins dainty hands off of his shoulders and proceeded to cup his cheeks, mischievously squeezing them, "Jinnie! Calm down! I said I will try to make time didn't I ?"
Seokjin pouts, tries to with his lips already squished together "but you said that last time too, and then you ditched!"
Jimin chuckled looking at the omegas cute attempt at being intimidating, somewhere his wolf begged him to correct Seokjin, let him know the truth, but Jimin knew better.
"Aigo, my baby hyungie, did I make you sad? I promise I'll try my best to attend your show ok? How can I not, when my best friend is playing the lead role?" Seokjins eyes lit up, a shy smile gracing his face.
Jimin smiled back a little bittersweet, this was why he had happily suffered these four years, the smiles, the laughter, it had been the thing that got him into this whole mess in the first place. The alpha would do anything for Seokjins happiness. Anything.
~~~•~~~
It had been 3 months since Jimins arrival in Seoul, 3 months of being in a strange new city, with people he didn't know. It wasn't as if he was miserable, a little, but he had been able to take his place in the dance major crowds easily, after all, he was a charismatic unmated alpha.
He had heard about the omega before he met him, a freshman like him but just as popular if not more, rising star of the acting department, a few people had even commented how they would look good together, Jimin had scoffed, he was here to secure his professional future not chase omegas, no matter how pretty people claimed they were.
He had heard him before he saw him.
The gentle giggles that reached his ears threw him off for a second, being a dancer Jimin had a profound respect for melodies and rhythms, this sound though. It rang in his ears like no other.
It was like the ringing of wind chimes before a soft breeze.
He craned his neck trying to find the source, the university gardens weren't crowded yet there were quite a few people lounging about.
There was another gaggle of laughter this time a little different, it sounded carefree, it sounded refreshing to the alphas ears.
Just in time, he catches sight of the origin of these lovely sounds and everything slows down.
Now Jimin had never been a firm believer in soulmates, but with his wolf howling in the back of his head, he knows that he had just found his.
A delicate hand over his mouth to stifle yet another bout of melodic giggles, losing breath over something evidently hilarious. His face had turned a deep shade of red, even his ears taking on a pink tint and Jimin thought he would never see a sight more adorable as the omega threw his head back gasping between peals of laughter.
He recovered for a second, pushing one of the dark raven locks off his forehead, eyes sweeping his surroundings in a bid to calm down. Their eyes meet and Jimins wolf howls louder than the alpha thought it possible and he is reminded rather embarrassingly that he had been caught staring. The omega instead of looking weirded out gives him a dazzling smile that Jimin is sure is one of the most beautiful things he has witnessed in his short life. He knows the smile is just a polite response to his unabashed staring but Jimin promises himself to do anything to keep that precious smile on his omegas face forever.
His. Jimins wolf chants.
That day he is introduced to Kim Seokjin, a year older than him, shy, incredibly talented and drop-dead gorgeous. He thinks back to the people who had mentioned they would look good and agrees. He also finds out that the omega has a heart of gold, inviting the practically unknown alpha to their little lunch with two other friends of his. A senior classmate of his, an alpha named Hoseok is the one to do the introduction after he had been caught staring, and Hoseoks omega mate, a tall literature major named Namjoon, neither of whom look happy at the prospect of him being invited. Hoseok probably due to the proximity to his mate while Namjoon glared daggers at him every time he looked at Seokjin. Not like he could blame him though, he would do the same a few months down the lane.
Seokjin either doesn't notice his friends aversion to the alpha or ignores them knowing their antics as he tries enticing the alpha with fresh homemade sandwiches. For Jimin, who had been living off of ramen for the last three months, this was heaven. He hesitates yet due to the other two but Seokjin snorts, swatting at both of them, reciting some quote about strangers and friendships from some old author that Jimin isn't too familiar with earning groans from the other two while the omega throws his head back cracking up like he had made the joke of the century, and Jimin, oh boy Jimin would swear on his life he felt the whole world stop and stare.
Mine. Jimin repeats to himself, his wolf howling in victory.
~~~•~~~
Mine. Jimin shook his head, what a lie, a lie he kept telling himself, the omega in his arms had gone into a whole rant about some other topic that would randomly pop up in their conversations, Jimin holding his bag above Seokjins head to protect him from the drizzle.
"- and then he had the audacity to tell me that I should change and- Minnie! Are you listening?! "
Jimin had already made three different plans to deal with the asshole annoying Seokjin before he turns to the omega and rolls his eyes "when do I ever? You do nothing but bore me Jinnie"
Seokjin gasps mock offended before smacking him across the head "remind me why I am best friends with you again?! "
"Because you loove me! And also because you would be lonely if it weren't for me now that Joon and Hobi have graduated" He croons teasingly ruffling the omegas hair, Seokjin gearing up to rant his ears off smacking his chest continuously.
"How can my baby be lonely when I'm right here? " Comes a voice interrupting their play fight.
"Onggu-ah!! " Seokjin screeches before flinging himself into the other Alphas arms "did you finish last checkups? Did they alter your outfit to fit better, I thought it would take more time to finish up" He pouted at the alpha, who just smiled dazed back at him. Jimin could relate.
"How could I possibly miss spending valentines with the love of my life just for some outfits? Speaking of, happy valentines my love! " He pulls out a rose from his bag handing it to the omega who squeals and hugs him tighter.
His. Not mine. Never mine.
And therein lies the biggest problem of Alpha Park Jimins life, he was in love with someone he could never have.
~~~•~~~
Arguably Jimin could never blame Jungkook for loving Seokjin, the omega was made to be loved. And neither could he ever truly despise the other alpha, after all, he had known Jeon Jungkook for almost his whole existence, the younger boy being an important figure in his life that he absolutely adored.
Jimin had been all of 6 years old when he had noticed the big moving trucks roll onto the house next door. In his excitement at seeing the huge (everything had been huge for him back then) vehicles lumbering about he had almost missed the little brown-headed rugrat that snuck into his backyard and had made a home snugly in his sandpit. Needless to say, it had been quite the shock for the young boy when he had returned and found a bunny-toothed smile being extended his way along with his own toys and an invitation to join the strange kid in his own backyard.
Instead of freaking out he accepts, Jimin is 6 after all and very happy to have a playmate, that is where the panicking Jeons find their pup 2 hours later, and that is also when Jimin is extended another invite, this time to Jungkooks 5th birthday party the following week.
Both the boys would go on to be best of friends, getting into mischief together, making loads of memories together. And when they do present, again they do it together, both healthy alphas, both their families' pride.
And when Jimin leaves for Seoul after getting into University Jungkook sheds more than a few tears, no matter how many times he denies it.
That is also why when a year later Jimin finds out that his best friend will be joining him, he is overjoyed. He imagines all the shenanigans they can get up to now, especially with new friends. He imagines getting to introduce Seokjin and getting teased in return, no doubt the younger alpha would when he found out about his crush.
But Jimin never gets to introduce them, fate working overtime to screw him.
The day that Jungkook is supposed to attend his first day of university, the day Jimin is supposed to introduce him to the most important person in his life is the day Jimins rut hits.
Usually, he knows the schedule of his rut cycle by heart but this time he must have gotten too distracted by the arrival of his best friend to notice. No worries, he would shrug, he could always introduce them later.
He comes out of a 5-day grueling rut to the news of Seokjin and Jungkook being the talk of the college. Apparently, they had bumped into each other on the younger alphas first day, found a common ground in being mutual friends with him, and hit it off immediately. Jimin would have been ecstatic about his past and future going well together if it wasn't for all the whispers he heard of how cute of a couple they had been, and how long do you think before they get mated? and did you see the way Jungkook looks at him?!
And when he does end up reuniting with them in the cafeteria he can't help but agree that yes, they do look good together, and yes, Jungkook certainly looks at Seokjin like he hung up the moon and stars, which Jimin wouldn't deny he probably did.
But it could also be a fluke, they probably had just become really good friends and were basking in the glow of a new friendship.
His wolf howls somewhere deep, calling him an idiot, a coward. Jimin shrugs, he isn't ready to confess to Seokjin yet. After all, he has got time, the omega is going nowhere.
The omega does indeed go nowhere, but his relationship with the younger alpha certainly does.
Jimin can only watch as days go by that turn into months, Seokjin and Jungkook officially announce they are dating. Jimin makes more excuses to stay away, excuses to Seokjin, excuses to Jungkook, excuses to his wolf, and excuses to himself.
Somedays he catches Namjoon giving him pitying sympathetic looks like he knows his inner turmoil. The omega probably not the fondest of Jimins presence near his best friend, still intelligent enough to gouge out Jimins true feelings.
Not that it mattered anyway as the months turn into years and at the beginning of Jimin and Jins final year the happy couple walks around with matching mating marks on their necks.
Jimin doesn't attend classes for a week, not eating or drinking anything if not totally necessary. At the end of the weekend, his dorm leader is the one who finds him passed out face first on the carpet when he comes in with Seokjin trying to find the missing alpha.
The doctor tells them what is obvious, malnourished, dehydrated, and probably depressed. Jimin gives some made-up excuse of workload and pressure promises to keep better track of his health before Seokjin bursts into tears, his sobs breaking his heart.
He makes another promise that day. To never make Seokjin cry again, at least never because of him.
~~~•~~~
That exact promise is why he stands today, in the furthest isle of their university theatre, watching Seokjin and Jungkook prance around the stage calling out "Romeo!" "Julian" tragically, making the audience cackle and applaud.
The play is hilarious he admits, the production amazing as always, there aren't many people that usually attend off-season plays at their university but there is a pretty sizable crowd in the auditorium. His little section as usual is empty apart from the janitor cleaning between the seats.
He huffs out a chuckle as the end approaches and on stage 'Romeo' chases after 'Julians' cousin with a broom, something about being a brainless ape in a human suit is thrown around. Jimin wouldn't know, he hasn't been paying attention. Seokjin looks downright ethereal in his medieval outfit, the ridiculous blonde wig on his head in no way making him any less beautiful.
"You know, you should tell them. I heard him asking you to attend at least one of his shows. He doesn't know, does he? " The janitor prods gently.
Jimin sighs pulling his phone out to click pictures of Seokjin now dangling off of what looks to be a balcony admonishing Jungkook for stepping on his well-maintained grass. He adds the pics to his ever-growing folder of Seokjins performances.
Jungkook climbs the structure pulling Seokjin towards him and Jimin loses his breath. "You're mine darling! " He announces to the wide audience erupting in cheers.
That was a dialogue, this is a play, they are characters. And yet, Jimin knows what he said is the very truth he can't hide from any longer. The truth that can't be changed. Not since the marks or the ring that Seokjin keeps hidden in his purse. No, Seokjin is Jungkooks, not his.
Jungkook pulls the omega in for a kiss and Jimin sprints. He can't do this he just can't, for the first time, he leaves one of Seokjins shows before it ends.
The bouquet he had bought along to surprise Seokjin backstage lays on the ground, along with the crumpled up piece of paper from the fortune cookie, it reads one word, Yours.