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Loud music blasted across the room with the smell of alcohol and smoke permeating the air. Boisterous college students were dancing in the middle of a makeshift dance floor, illuminated by bright rays of blues, greens, and reds from the hanging disco lights. A college party was being held in the mansion of Jung Wooyoung, one of the richest sophomores on campus and Yeonjun’s childhood best friend, who wanted to commemorate the beginning of a new school year. He basically invited every student on campus for a night of hard-core partying before the new semester.
If Yeonjun didn’t love him so much, he wouldn’t be at this party in the first place. The last thing the pink-haired omega wanted to do with his Sunday night, and technically the last day of summer, was party with a bunch of strangers who were either drunk or high. But alas, his dear friend begged him to come. So come to the party, he did.
Fortunately, he was able to drag his best friend and fellow omega, Beomgyu, to the said party but now, he can’t seem to find his brunette comrade.
That’s just great , Yeonjun thought as he stood by the side bar, nursing his first and last cup of red liquid. He brought it to his nose to take a quick sniff and noted hints of raspberry, vodka, and something citrusy – maybe lemon? Deciding that it was probably safe to drink, Yeonjun took a long gulp and was surprised by the lack of burn in his throat.
Just as he finished the contents of his cup, he noticed a particular set of eyes follow his every move. As an omega, Yeonjun learned at an early age to detect when something or someone was watching him to help him protect himself in case trouble finds him. Yeonjun quickly scanned the room and his eyes landed on a man with curly dark hair wearing a varsity jacket, staring directly at him with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
Knowing instantly that this guy was nothing but trouble, and most likely an alpha based on his physique, Yeonjun averted his eyes and tried his best to put as much distance as he could from the said alpha. Although Yeonjun is capable of fighting him off, he wasn’t in the mood tonight and would really just want to brush him off.
When he arrived at the kitchen with only a handful of people in sight, Yeonjun turned around and was glad to see the alpha wasn’t behind his tail. But his relief was short-lived because the moment he turned back around, he came face-to-face with the creepy alpha. Up close, Yeonjun can smell the stench of his horrid scent – gasoline - mixed with alcohol. This guy was clearly drunk off his ass. His face contorted from the attack on his sinus.
Yeonjun took several steps back and tried to look dauntless. He was by now means short, but alphas tend to overpower omegas with their intimidation and pheromones. The alpha in front of him was deliberately releasing too much pheromones to get him to submit. God, I really shouldn’t have come to the party , he wanted to scream.
The alpha flashed him a wolfish lopsided grin and Yeonjun wanted to punch him in the throat. “Hey, Yeonjun. Feeling lonely tonight? Saw you had no one by your side tonight. I can help remedy that,” he drawled sinisterly before taking a step forward.
Instinctively, Yeonjun took a step back in defense, his back hitting a hard wall. But it wasn’t a wall at all. Yeonjun heard a slight umph behind him, realizing a beat later that he bumped into a person. Immediately turning around to apologize, the words froze in his lips as his eyes met the gaze of the person behind him.
Yeonjun was greeted by a tall boy wearing a casual white tee and a pair of faded denim jeans with bright round doe-like eyes, a straight button nose, pink luscious lips pulled in an -o, and fluffy blue hair. A clean scent, almost like air freshener, wafted through Yeonjun’s nose and he couldn’t help but feel pleasant despite his current dilemma standing behind him. If Yeonjun were to describe the tall stranger in one word, it would be gorgeous. The omega didn’t find a lot of people attractive, but the boy in front of him certainly ranks at the top of his list.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” the tall stranger quickly apologized instead, his voice deep and silky. Damn, even his voice was attractive.
Yeonjun could only bob his head in response as he was still dazed by the boy’s beauty. He could stare at him all day and Yeonjun was almost certain he would enjoy every second of it. But his thoughts were interrupted when a hand harshly landed on his shoulder, forcing him to look back at the creepy alpha.
“Yah, Yeonjun-ah, I was talking to you,” said the drunk alpha, his eyes boring through Yeonjun with a sheen of anger.
Thinking that he could elicit some help from the tall boy behind him, Yeonjun abruptly shrugged off the hand on his shoulder and linked his arm with the stranger behind him. Yeonjun felt him tense up at the sudden gesture, and the omega hoped he would let him take advantage of him for a few seconds.
Yeonjun peered at him and said sweetly, “Oh my god! Is that you, Minho-yah? Yah, I haven’t seen you since I graduated. I didn’t know you went to this university. How have you been?” Yeonjun acted like he knew the guy and from what he can tell, the tall boy was quick on his feet and realized that Yeonjun was pleading with his eyes to help him out.
“Oh, Yeonjun-sunbaenim! It’s been so long. I’m doing good, how are you?” the tall boy answered promptly, dimples appearing on his cheeks. Yeonjun thought that his dimples were the cutest thing ever. Then, he realized a beat later that the boy called him by his name. Interesting .
“I’m doing great, Minho-yah. Hey, why don’t we catch up with each other, yeah?” Yeonjun flashed him a smile. He gave their linked arms a tiny squeeze, signaling for further help.
The gesture did not go unnoticed by the bluenette. He just nodded eagerly like a trained puppy and Yeonjun wanted to applaud him for his acting skills. The omega then turned to face the drunk alpha who was watching them intensely. “Listen, pal. I’m never lonely and even if I were, I would never spend my evening with the likes of you. As you can see, I just bumped into an old highschool friend of mine whom I would rather spend my time with. So if you’ll excuse me, I have better stuff to do than appease whatever sick fantasies you have of me,” Yeonjun blurted out without missing a beat before he dragged the tall boy towards the living room, hoping to lose the alpha in the thick dancing crowd.
When they reached the end of the room with fewer people, Yeonjun heard the bluenette say, “I think we lost him.” Yeonjun whirled around to see that the boy was assessing their surroundings, his lips pulled up like he was pouting. Yeonjun found him even more adorable and he couldn’t help the lift of his lips. For a tall guy, he was cute.
“Yeah, looks like it,” Yeonjun replied, his eyes scanning around him. When he was certain they weren’t being followed or watched, Yeonjun unlinked his arm from the stranger’s. “I’m sorry for suddenly grabbing you and making it look like you were my friend. I really just wanted to get him off my back without resorting to violence,” he explained quickly. Yeonjun had to tilt his head a bit to meet the boy’s eyes. Towering at 1.82m, Yeonjun was relatively tall for an omega like his best friend, Beomgyu who was at 1.8m. But the guy in front of him was taller than him by a few centimeters. Yeonjun liked that. It was rare to see people taller than him, much less gorgeous people.
Said tall boy just smiled at him warmly with his dimples greeting him once again, causing tiny butterflies to erupt in Yeonjun’s stomach. “That’s alright. I’m glad I could help. He didn’t look at all… friendly,” he replied.
Yeonjun snorted at the boy’s innocent description. “Not friendly is putting it mildly,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “Anyway, thank you for helping me out and being totally chill about it. It’s nice to know there are still kind people like you.” Yeonjun flashed him his signature thousand-watt smile.
At his compliment, the tall boy ducked his head as a shy smile teased his lips. Even though it was dark, Yeonjun could see his cheeks turning slightly red. “No problem. What I did wasn’t anything special, though. I’m sure other people would have done the same,” he remarked shyly, rubbing the back of his head.
Yeonjun rolled his eyes playfully. “Pfft, I doubt it. There aren’t a lot of good boys like you around, trust me.”
The tall boy didn’t know what to say or how to react. He just continued to stare down at his feet and Yeonjun realized that this was the first encounter he has had ever since he entered college where he didn’t get ogled at. It felt nice. Really nice . Yeonjun liked that he didn’t feel the pressure to look good for someone.
He must not be an alpha , Yeonjun concluded. Although Yeonjun thought he was an alpha at first given his physical attributes, no alpha could ever resist his charm. Furthermore, he didn’t smell as strong as an alpha. He also knows an omega when he sees one and the bluenette was definitely not one, leaving only one explanation - the boy was a beta. That made Yeonjun feel safer in his presence.
Feeling the heavy silence between them, the tall stranger broke the silence as he spoke first. “Well, um, I need to go find my friends. They might be looking for me as well. Did you come here with someone? I could help you find them before I leave you alone,” he offered kindly. Could he get any more cuter?
Yeonjun just shook his head, gently declining his offer. “Thanks, but I got it from here. You go ahead and look for your friends,” replied the omega with a warm smile, not wanting to keep him any longer because he might give in to his sudden urges of bringing the boy home with him tonight.
The bluenette just nodded. “Okay, then. I hope you get home safe, Yeonjun-sunbaenim.” He bowed lightly and waved goodbye before turning on his heel and disappearing in the multitude of clashing bodies on the dance floor in search of his friends.
Yeonjun lifted his hand in goodbye, but then stopped. He forgot to ask how the boy knew his name, but what’s even worse is that he completely forgot to ask his savior’s name. Curse him and his weakness for gorgeous people. Before he could call him out, the boy was no longer in sight.
Yeonjun face-palmed himself at his own stupidity. The one time he meets a good-looking guy who treated him with nothing but kindness and he forgets to ask him for his name.
Great, absolutely fucking great.
+x+
“Hyung, seriously, if you tell me this story one more time, I swear to God I’ll rip my ears off,” Beomgyu grumbled, rolling his eyes in annoyance over the older omega who was walking beside him by the university avenue.
Not even bothered by the younger’s complaints, Yeonjun rehashed last night’s event with a certain tall beta for the nth time. “I’m telling you, Gyu. This guy is the real deal. He was such a gentleman and he even offered to help me find you before leaving me alone. Who does that?”
Beomgyu pinched Yeonjun’s mouth between his thumb and forefinger, effectively shutting him up. “Or maybe I should just rip your mouth clean off,” he commented.
Yeonjun slapped his head away. “He’s also tall, kind, cute, and did I mention he was gorgeous?” continued Yeonjun enthusiastically, bouncing on his feet while they walked.
“Only for the gazillionth time,” replied Beomgyu exasperatedly. “Are you sure this guy’s even real? Not a figment of your deranged imagination to keep you warm at night?” he further teased.
Yeonjun punched the young omega in the arm and glared at him. “Of course, he’s real! I’ll search the whole damn university to find my Cinderella if I have to. Mark my words,” he said with determination.
At his remark, Beomgyu raised a brow in surprise. “Your Cinderella?”
The older omega just shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, my Cinderella. I didn’t get his name and he left me when it was nearing midnight. Thus, making him my Cinderella.”
Beomgyu just chuckled deeply and shook his head at his hyung’s logic, but didn’t comment further on it. Yeonjun puckered his lips in a pout, wanting to come up with a witty comment. But suddenly, at the corner of his eyes, he caught a flash of blue hair and Yeonjun whipped his head as fast as the speed of light, startling his best friend.
“Jesus, hyung.” Yeonjun heard his friend mutter beside him with his hand over his heart, but Yeonjun couldn’t care less because walking down the opposite direction, lo and behold, was his Cinderella!
Dressed in a loose brown cardigan over a white shirt and some black jeans, Yeonjun was once again mesmerized by the tall bluenette. He was wearing a pair of thick-rimmed black glasses with his nose buried in a piece of paper, but there’s no mistaking that he was Yeonjun’s savior last night.
“That’s him,” he whispered under his breath, making Beomgyu look at him in disbelief before dragging his eyes to Yeonjun’s line of sight.
“Your Cinderella?” he inquired, his eyes now glued on the same man.
“Yeah.”
Yeonjun didn’t think twice and just started walking towards him, ignoring the scattering of students who acknowledged him while the younger omega trailed behind him. He stopped right in front of the tall boy, causing him to stop in his tracks.
“Hi there, Minho-sshi. How have you been?” Yeonjun asked with a wide smile, the clean scent he smelled from the tall boy last night caressed his nose. Up close, Yeonjun noted that he looked cuter than before.
The tall boy was surprised for a split second before recognition dawned on his features. He greeted Yeonjun with his dimpled smile, his eyes warm and gentle. “Oh! Hi, Yeonjun-sunbaenim. It’s great to see you again,” he answered, putting down the paper he was holding.
“I didn’t quite get your name last night. I wanted to properly thank you for saving me with your real name, and not the fake one I just gave you,” Yeonjun joked, earning him a chuckle from the bluenette.
“My name’s Choi Soobin, and I’m a freshman taking up culinary. And really, you don’t have to keep thanking me, sunbaenim. I’m happy to be of service,” Soobin replied kindly, a slight reddish hue tinting his chubby cheeks.
“It’s nice to meet you, Soobin-sshi. I’m Choi Yeonjun, but you probably know that by now. This guy right here is Choi Beomgyu. We’re both 2nd year dance majors.” He pointed at the omega behind him who waved hello.
“Nice to meet you, Beomgyu-sunbaenim,” Soobin replied with a friendly smile and a light bow.
“By the way, Soobin-sshi, I’m curious to know how you knew my name at the party. Is my reputation that great to reach you first-years already?” Yeonjun teased, a playful grin on his lips.
Yeonjun heard Beomgyu snort behind him, but he paid him no mind. He really was curious to know how Soobin knew his name and what else he knew about him. He watched the beta scratch his hair and cast his eyes down, clearly nervous at the question. “Um, actually, I just heard the other guy call you that, so I’m glad I heard it right,” he answered timidly.
If Beomgyu snorted quietly a second ago, this time he let out a very obvious cackle, clearly pleased with Soobin’s answer. He stepped forward and patted the younger boy’s shoulder. “Thank you for humbling this too-arrogant-for-his-own-good senior of yours, Soobin-sshi.”
Yeonjun slapped him hard on his back and shot him a glare, causing the younger omega to howl in pain as he rubbed the stinging spot. Soobin blinked multiple times as he watched the older boys’ slight banter.
“Oh, I meant no offense, Yeonjun-sunbaenim! I’m sure your reputation is great and intact as it is,” Soobin quickly assured him, his brows shot up in slight dismay.
Yeonjun found him too cute for words. He wanted to pinch his cheeks and feel how squishy they are but thankfully, he held himself back. At least for today. “Don’t mind him, Soobin-sshi. Beomgyu’s just teasing you. Anyway, where’re you heading to?”
“I’m supposed to be at Hybe Hall for the freshman orientation, but I kinda got lost, and now I don’t know where I am,” he admitted bashfully, his ears turning red from embarrassment.
At that moment, a brilliant idea popped into Yeonjun’s head. “Hybe Hall? That’s exactly where we’re going! Why don’t we go together?” Yeonjun offered cheerfully, even though they were going in the opposite direction.
Beomgyu looked at him incredulously. “But we’re not–”
Yeonjun didn’t let Beomgyu finish his sentence as he elbowed the younger omega, effectively shutting him up. Yeonjun kept his smile as he patted a whining omega.
However, Soobin heard the words of the now-silenced omega and thought that they were probably just being nice by offering to go with him. “Thank you for the offer, Yeonjun-sunbaenim, but I’ll be fine. I don’t want to take too much of your time since I think you and Beomgyu-sunbaenim have other places to be.”
His answer had Yeonjun frowning. The older omega wasn’t used to people saying no to him. He was always the one to say it but never receive it. The beta’s rejection pricked his heart a little bit. He even felt his omega whine at his rejection. That was odd , he thought.
Choosing to deal with his omega later, he mentally shoved his thoughts away before he replied. “Nonsense. You won’t be holding us up from anything. And as your sunbaenim, it’s my job to help a hoobae in times of need. Let me help you. Please? Think of it as me repaying my debt from being saved by you last night. What do you say?” Yeonjun tried his best to convince the bluenette who looked ready to bolt any second now. Unfortunately for him, Yeonjun can be very persuasive if he wanted to be.
He may have released a subtle wave of calming pheromones to get the beta to relax and feel more compliant. Since betas don’t have a heightened sense of smell, he doubts Soobin would notice the sudden change of smell in the air around them but he would certainly feel the effects. Beomgyu, on the other hand, detected it almost immediately as he stopped moving. Luckily, he didn’t say anything and quirked his eyebrow in his direction.
Yeonjun waited patiently for Soobin’s reply. After several heartbeats, Soobin lifted his eyes to meet Yeonjun’s and it would be a lie if Yeonjun said he didn’t like the boy’s eyes on him. “Well, okay then. If you insist, Yeonjun-sunbaenim. And only if you really want to,” he quickly added, a shy smile decorating his lips.
Yeonjun’s grin got even wider as he replied, “I really want to.” He felt his omega’s excitement over the beta’s acceptance. Again, odd .
With that, two omegas and a beta walked together towards Hybe Hall, several passersby staring at them in disbelief. After all, who would have ever imagined that Yeonjun, the most popular omega on campus, would take notice of a mere beta?
+x+
The more Yeonjun talked to Soobin, the more he realized he was developing a crush on the said beta. It didn’t take him long to confirm that Soobin really was too sweet, too kind, and too good to be real. Throughout their walk, Yeonjun learned three important things:
- Soobin likes video games and anime. Yeonjun wasn’t a big fan of either, but after learning that this was one of the hobbies of the young beta, he took it upon himself to learn a thing or two about them. Maybe he should ask Soobin for some recommendations for a beginner.
- Soobin loves baking. Lucky for him, Yeonjun just happens to love eating. Hence, if the beta ever offered him some of his baked goods, Yeonjun would be more than willing to pay for them.
- Soobin was single. This was the most important information he gathered. When Soobin told him that he wasn’t in any kind of romantic relationship with someone, Yeonjun couldn't keep the smile off of his face. Even his omega was delighted by this piece of info.
However, Yeonjun wasn’t able to gather the second most important information. Is Soobin into girls or guys?
Yeonjun didn’t want to assume his preferences, but he also didn’t want to appear rude if he asked him directly. Yeonjun tried to look for hints but Soobin gave him none. All of his answers regarding his take on relationships were pretty vague, but no matter. Yeonjun was more than happy to spend time with the tall beta. If he doesn’t like guys like Yeonjun does, then he’ll just need to accept that.
Although, the thought of some girl clinging to Soobin like she owned him did not sit well with Yeonjun. For the reasons why, he doesn’t know. All he knows is that Soobin – adorable, angelic Soobin – should remain single for the rest of his college stay.
Unless he chooses us , his omega whispered in passing.
Yeonjun was taken aback by his omega. He already acknowledges that he has a crush on the guy, but he doesn’t understand why his omega feels strongly attached to Soobin. Sure, Soobin was his savior last night, but that shouldn’t be enough for him to develop a sense of dependence on him. He’s been saved plenty of times by Beomgyu in the past, but he never once felt attached to the younger omega, at least not like that.
Yeonjun shook his thoughts away again and decided to focus his time and attention on getting to know Soobin more. In no time, they finally arrived at their destination.
He saw the bluenette wave his arm widely at a pair of boys standing by the stairs. After seeing Soobin, the two males approached them and Yeonjun noted that one of them was tall, almost as tall as Soobin, with a foreign cherubic face and thick mop of black hair, while the other was shorter by a few inches with sharper facial features and blond hair.
The taller one greeted them with a bright smile, shiny white teeth blinding them. “Hyung, where have you been? Taehyun-ah and I have been waiting for ages. You got lost, didn’t you?” he teased. Soobin turned a pretty shade of pink at getting caught red-handed.
Yeonjun discreetly sniffed and concluded that the tall boy was a beta like Soobin based on his subtle flowery scent - almost like lavender. The other guy, Taehyun as Yeonjun heard him be called, noticed their presence as his eyes landed on him and Beomgyu. Yeonjun quickly noted that the shorter boy was an alpha based on his presence and strong sandalwood scent.
“Soobin-ah, care to introduce us?” Taehyun asked with a kind smile, his eyes lingering a second longer at Beomgyu who was also staring back at him with unfiltered interest. Oh, he is so going to pester Beomgyu about this.
“Oh, right! Kai-yah, Taehyun-ah, these are Yeonjun-sunbaenim and Beomgyu-sunbaenim. They’re both sophomores majoring in dance. They were at the same party we were at last night, and that’s how I met Yeonjun-sunbaenim first. Luckily, they found me today wandering God knows where and led me here,” Soobin stated sweetly as he now stood beside his friends.
The younger boys bowed in greeting, making the older boys boy in return. “Nice to meet you, sunbaenims. My name is Huening Kai. Thank you for helping our Soobin. He tends to get lost easily, this poor guy,” commented Kai with his dazzling smile, throwing an arm around Soobin’s shoulder mockingly to which Soobin responded with a lopsided grin.
It was the first time Yeonjun saw Soobin with such a playful expression and he mentally took a picture of the cute scene in his mind.
“I’m Kang Taehyun. And, thank you for helping our friend out, sunbaenims. The next time you see him, you should just give him a map,” said the blond boy, a teasing smirk on his lips as he looked at Soobin.
Soobin glared at him playfully before schooling his expression and facing Yeonjun again. “Well, there you have it, sunbaenims. Thank you again for accompanying me. You really saved me today,” he remarked with his signature dimpled smile.
Yeonjun couldn’t help but smile in return. “No problem at all, Soobin-sshi. An eye for an eye, as they say.” Sending him a wink. “By the way, you guys can call us hyungs. Sunbaenim sounds a little too formal, anyway. Oh, and we should also exchange numbers. If anyone bothers you, just let us know,” Yeonjun stated and Beomgyu hummed in agreement.
The three young boys nodded and beamed at the older boys like they held the stars in their hands. After they saved each other’s contacts, Soobin replied with a smile, “Thanks again, Yeonjun-hyung and Beomgyu-hyung. It was really nice meeting you both.”
Both Kai and Taehyun nodded their heads, agreeing with Soobin. Just then, Yeonjun noticed Taehyun took a quick sniff and snapped his head in Soobin’s direction, startling all of them. Something was amiss.
“Soobin-ah, are you wearing blockers again?” he asked with a frown. Soobin stayed silent and bit his lip in response.
This had Yeonjun feeling confused and curious at the same time. Before he could think, the words left his mouth faster than he could stop them. “Why would Soobin need blockers? Don’t betas have subtle scents to begin with?” he asked innocently.
The three boys just stared at him for about a minute or two before Soobin broke into a nervous chuckle, Kai let out a loud laugh, and Taehyun just continued to look at him with a blank expression.
Not quite getting what’s going on, Yeonjun turned to Beomgyu for some clarity but even he looked just as bewildered as he was. The younger omega just lifted his shoulders in question.
“I’m sorry for laughing, hyungs, but what made you think Soobin was a beta?” Kai asked, tiny giggles escaping his lips.
Yeonjun furrowed his brows in confusion. “Uh, his scent? He doesn’t smell like an alpha or an omega so the only explanation was that he’s a beta… right?” The last word was said with much uncertainty.
Taehyun ahh-ed in understanding. “Oh, what you’re smelling right now is actually his fake scent. Soobin is actually an alpha but for some reason, he doesn’t like walking around with his real scent,” he explained, though his expression told Yeonjun that he disapproves of their friend’s action.
To say Yeonjun was surprised is an understatement. He was certainly not expecting such news. How could this angelic of a man with the kindest eyes, smiles, and words be an alpha? All the alphas he’d encountered throughout his life were all rugged, rude, and demanding, whereas Soobin is like a bunny compared to those rabid wolves. Yeonjun just couldn’t wrap his head around it.
He waited for Soobin to maybe refute his friend, or that Kai would shout It’s a prank! But when neither of these things happened, Yeonjun finally accepted, albeit reluctantly, that Soobin was indeed an alpha.
He stared at Soobin in disbelief. “Why?” he blurted out suddenly.
Soobin blinked at him once. Twice. When Yeonjun realized that the beta - oh right, alpha – didn’t understand his question, he gave him more context. “I mean, why do you hide your scent? Surely, you don’t smell bad.” Yeonjun tried to lighten the mood.
Soobin let out an embarrassed chuckle but averted his gaze. “I don’t, or at least I don’t think so. It’s just that recently, people told me my scent was too much. Something about it smelling wrong or something,” he answered sheepishly, the tips of his ears burning a deep rouge color now.
Taehyun frowned further at his friend’s words. “What’s wrong with your scent? You smell just fine to me before,” he commented, defending him with creased brows.
Yeonjun also couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He may have only known Soobin for less than a few hours, but he has never met such a sweet alpha like him. He highly doubts that he smells bad or wrong as people told him. If anything, Yeonjun wouldn’t be surprised if he smelled like a bed of roses or cotton candy. That’s how adorable Yeonjun sees Soobin. And he doesn’t like the idea of the tall alpha being shamed for his scent. No one should be made to feel that way about themselves.
Before he could say anything to comfort the flushed alpha, a loud voice bellowed from the hall’s entrance, making them all face forward. “All freshmen, please enter the hall now. The orientation is about to start,” said one of the student prefects through the megaphone in his hand.
Soobin turned back and shot Yeonjun a tiny smile. “I’m sorry, hyungs, but we have to go. We’ll see you around, yeah?” asked the bluenette hopefully, gripping the straps of his bag on his shoulders tighter.
Yeonjun forced a smile despite the dull ache he felt in his chest at the sight of the alpha leaving him. He wasn’t even his, for heaven’s sake! “Of course. You kids go on ahead. Don’t be strangers next time,” replied Yeonjun as he and Beomgyu waved them goodbye.
The three boys waved goodbye before walking up the stairs and unto the hall. When they finally disappeared inside, Yeonjun thought to himself that his college days just got a whole lot more interesting.
+x+
Over the next few weeks, Yeonjun found himself always seeking the bluenette wherever he goes. Given that they attend classes in different buildings since they don’t share the same majors, Yeonjun often takes a detour in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Soobin in the hallways or classrooms.
Every time someone with blue hair or wearing a cardigan walked by, Yeonjun always checks whether or not that person was Soobin. There were times when he’d get lucky and meet the alpha for a quick chat in the corridors. But most of the time, his efforts were all for naught.
Yeonjun couldn’t quite explain the sudden urge to see the said alpha but for some reason, it feels like his day wouldn’t be complete without him seeing Soobin at least once. He thought about texting Soobin every morning and night just to ask him about his day and maybe grab a coffee sometime, but Yeonjun figured that he might come off as too strong and end up driving the alpha away. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
I must be going crazy , Yeonjun muttered to himself one day as he whipped his head around for the nth time when someone that had the same features as Soobin passed him by, only to be disappointed that it wasn’t his alpha.
Wait, his alpha? Where did that come from?
Beomgyu, who was standing beside Yeonjun at the time with his observant and meddlesome nature, decided to confront the older omega who kept looking around like he was a guilty criminal on the run.
“Yeonjun-ah, what’s going on with you these days? You seem more… restless than usual.” Beomgyu treaded lightly with his query, watching out for any sudden movement.
When Yeonjun was addressed by the brunette, he stopped walking and faced him with a serious expression etched on his face. “I haven’t seen Soobin for the past two days,” he whined, unashamedly admitting to himself and his best friend that he was missing the tall alpha something fierce.
Beomgyu just stared at him with a perplexed look. For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything as he waited for further elaboration. When Yeonjun said nothing, Beomgyu replied with, “That’s it? You’re acting like you just escaped from a mental hospital all because you miss Soobin?” An incredulous look replaced his perplexed one.
Yeonjun frowned at his friend’s accusatory tone. “Yah, don’t look at me like that. I know I sound crazy, and yes, maybe I really am going crazy but Gyu, I swear it’s like my omega keeps calling for Soobin ever since I met him. There’s this tight ache in my chest that won’t go away until I see him.” After his admission, he felt even sadder, his lips pulled down in an obvious pout.
Beomgyu noticed the change in his best friend’s expression and scent, which now smells like over-ripened strawberries as opposed to his usual fresh strawberry aroma, and offered him a comforting hug and pat on the back. “Oh Junnie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know your feelings for Soobin were this strong. Tell you what, how about you and I visit his building after we eat lunch? We can just call in sick for our afternoon practice,” he offered as he rubbed circles on Yeonjun’s back, releasing calming pheromones.
At his suggestion, Yeonjun chuckled and returned the hug with a small smile. “I think that’s a good idea. Besides, wherever Soobin is, Taehyun is always right by his side.”
He felt Beomgyu stiffen just a bit before he pulled back with a flushed look on his face. “Shut up. It’s not like I’m missing that stoic alpha,” Beomgyu murmured.
“Who said anything about missing him?” Yeonjung teased, raising his brows playfully at his friend.
Beomgyu just rolled his eyes and linked his arm with him. “Whatever. Let’s just go to the cafeteria. I’m starving.”
As luck would have it, as soon as they entered the cafeteria, Yeonjun’s eyes landed on a mop of blue hair sitting atop the most angelic face he was desperately missing, sitting in the middle of the room and laughing with his two best friends.
Soobin!
The omega almost broke into a run as he headed towards Soobin and their table, Beomgyu right behind him huffing at his behavior.
When the tall alpha noticed him, a wide smile appeared on his face, his dimples greeting Yeonjun. Soobin waved his hand excitedly and Yeonjun swore his heart skipped a beat. Today, he was wearing a baby blue cardigan as Yeonjun noted. How cute.
“Hi, Yeonjun-hyung, Beomgyu-hyung,” Soobin greeted them, Kai and Taehyun following suit.
“Hi, guys. Mind if we join you?” Yeonjun asked, his smile as wide as the ocean.
“No, no, not at all, Yeonjun-hyung. Please,” the tall alpha answered instantly, pointing to the available seats across him.
Yeonjun sat across from Soobin with Beomgyu in between him and Taehyun who was curiously staring at his friend with a watchful eye. Yeonjun sent Beomgyu a knowing smirk to which Beomgyu just responded with another roll of his eyes, but a tiny smile ghosted his lips.
“Yeonjun-hyung, it’s the first time I’m seeing you and Beomgyu-hyung here in the cafeteria. Do you guys eat out?” noted Soobin as the two omegas sat down.
“Yeah, Beomgyu and I usually eat outside of the university. Do you guys eat here often then?” Yeonjun replied, heavily interested to know if Soobin frequented the cafeteria just so he can switch to eating here from now on.
“More like all the time, Yeonjun-hyung,” answered Kai with a grin. “Taehyunnie is a picky eater while Soobinnie has a sensitive tummy, so they can’t afford to be adventurous with their food,” he mocked.
Soobin and Taehyun called him out for being a liar and tried to defend themselves, saying that they were anything but what Kai said. Yeonjun just chuckled at their lively banter. Yeonjun made a mental note to now always eat in the cafeteria just so he can see and chat with Soobin regularly.
However, his cheerful chuckling abruptly halted because all of a sudden, Kai threw his arms around Soobin’s shoulders, rubbing his head on the alpha’s neck as he apologized for something he said.
Yeonjun couldn’t hear what the beta was even apologizing for because all he could focus on was Kai’s arms around Soobin. He was holding on to Soobin way too tight for his liking, but Soobin was doing nothing to push him away.
Right here and then, Yeonjun saw red. Sure, Kai was indeed a cute beta who is quite affectionate with his peers as Yeonjun observed from their limited interactions before. But, the sight of him hugging Soobin in front of him sent an intense wave of jealousy coursing through his veins. He wanted to rip his arms off of Soobin and shout that only he can hug his Soobin like that.
Wait, his Soobin? There’s that thought again, Yeonjun scolded himself. Soobin was not his! And that fact just made him even angrier.
He was beyond irritated at Kai’s public display of affection as his brows wrinkled, his eyes wanting to bore a hole through the beta’s head. His demeanor did not go unnoticed by Beomgyu and Taehyun who were looking at him with worried looks.
As his best friend, Beomgyu decided to intervene before Yeonjun does anything stupid and embarrasses himself any further. “Yeonjun-ah, we should go get some food. Our lunch trays won’t miraculously fill themselves,” he remarked, pulling Yeonjun up from his seat with a tight grip on his arm to get his attention.
Yeonjun snapped his head and stared at his friend with an expression that clearly screamed ‘ Are you serious right now?’
Beomgyu glared back and tightened his hold before he faced the younger boys with a forced smile and said, “We’ll be right back,” before dragging an annoyed Yeonjun towards the line of students getting their lunch trays filled by the servers.
“Wipe that jealous look on your face and for the love of God, please reel in your pheromones before you stink up the place,” Beomgyu hissed near Yeonjun’s ears as they were lining up.
“I can’t help it, Gyu. I missed Soobin and seeing someone cling to him and hog his attention just makes me so… furious,” Yeonjun whined like a petulant child, a deep frown resting on his face.
Beomgyu flicked him hard on the forehead, earning him a death glare from Yeonjun. “Yah, Kai’s one of his best friends. They’re allowed to do that. And may I remind you that Soobin is not yours? Do you seriously want Soobin all for yourself?” Beomgyu commented exasperatedly.
Yes , Yeonjun’s omega growled internally, and Yeonjun agreed with him. He, however, just let out an irritated sigh, having no counter because he knows that his friend was right. It wasn't that Yeonjun had any claim on Soobin to begin with, but it would be a lie to say that he didn’t want to claim Soobin as his and his alone. He’s only met the guy like last month, yet his feelings for him are growing too big and too fast at the same time.
I really am crazy .
Beomgyu didn’t pester Yeonjun further as he remained silent afterward. When they returned to their table, Kai was no longer hugging Soobin and Yeonjun visibly relaxed, his smile now returning.
The moment Yeonjun placed his tray down on the table, Soobin immediately asked, “Yeonjun-hyung, are you okay? You seemed upset when you left.”
Yeonjun flashed him a genuine smile. “Never better, Soobinnie,” he replied.
Soobin just nodded his head and took his answer at face value. With that, throughout the course of their meal, Yeonjun and Beomgyu were certainly the mood makers in the group – the latter taking more charge.
Endless jokes and laughter rang out between the five males and it felt like they’ve known each other for quite a long time. Of course, Yeonjun didn’t pass off the opportunity to throw subtle flirts at Soobin here and there, casually throwing them in their conversations like they were nothing.
Just then, Beomgyu commented with happy tears rolling down the corner of his eyes from laughing too hard, “Oh my god, you guys are hilarious. We should do this more often.”
Taehyun smiled at him sincerely before saying, “You know, hyungs, if you ever want to hang out, you can just message us anytime,” almost as if stating the obvious.
This got Yeonjun and Beomgyu’s attention. They did exchange numbers from their first meeting, but Yeonjun was always hesitant to initiate first contact. He didn’t want to overwhelm any of them because to be honest, he really liked all of them. He feels like a reliable older brother whenever he’s around the three younger boys.
With Taehyun’s suggestion, Yeonjun now felt more confident about establishing first contact with them, specifically Soobin. “Really? I mean, are you guys totally okay with that?” Yeonjun asked, his eyes on Soobin as he tried his best to hide his excitement.
The three boys nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, hyung. We’d be more than happy if you guys message us so we can hang out more,” Soobin replied eagerly.
“Then, it’s settled then,” Yeonjun said merrily, Beomgyu joining him as he immediately created a group chat with all of them.
Throughout the rest of their lunch, the boys just continued to bask in each other’s company, Yeonjun making sure that he gets to talk to Soobin and make him laugh as much as he can. What can he say? He truly was undoubtedly and unregretfully falling hard for the kind alpha.
+x+
In a span of two weeks, Yeonjun has sent over a thousand messages to Soobin, coupled with nightly calls that went on until midnight. It became somewhat of a ritual for Yeonjun to start and end his day by either texting or calling Soobin.
Fortunately, the alpha was always ready to accommodate Yeonjun’s clinginess, no matter how busy he was with his classes or how sleepy he was whenever he got home. Unbeknownst to the omega, the alpha also grew accustomed to always having his phone on hand as he waited for Yeonjun’s texts and calls.
Now, Yeonjun prides himself on being attractive. Heck, almost his entire department wanted him, and even he knows that. So, what completely baffles the omega is that he’s been dropping countless hints for the past weeks to get the alpha to ask him out on a date.
Of course, Yeonjun can always do it himself. Just because Soobin was an alpha doesn’t mean that he has to make the first move. However, Yeonjun wanted Soobin to ask him just so he can assure himself that the alpha really wanted it. Knowing Soobin, if Yeonjun asked him then the alpha will have no choice but to acquiesce because he was just that kind and innocent.
As Yeonjun lay sprawled over the couch in his shared dorm room with Beomgyu who was currently taking a shower, he contemplated on what more he can do to finally let the alpha know his feelings for him. Just then, a brilliant idea popped into his head.
He quickly sat up and pulled up the group chat with the kids.
Yeonjun: Hey, anyone up for some barbecue tomorrow? My treat ;)
Hyuka: Assa! If it’s your treat, hyung, then how can I possibly refuse?
Taehyun: Sure thing, hyung. Our classes end by 5:00PM 🙂
Soobin: … (typing)
Yeonjun bit his lower lip as he waited in anticipation for Soobin’s reply.
Soobin: Of course! Do you need us to bring anything, hyung? 😀
A pleased yip escaped his lips as he read the alpha’s answer.
Yeonjun: Just bring yourselves ;) I’ll send you guys the address.
After hitting send, Yeonjun quickly informed Beomgyu about their plans tomorrow as soon as he got out of the shower. The only response he got from his friend was, “Damn, you’re so whipped.”
Oh, he was indeed whipped. And Yeonjun wouldn’t have it any other way. He quickly rummaged through his closet to look for the perfect outfit to wear tomorrow.
When his eyes landed on a particular set of clothes, he couldn’t help the wide grin that crossed his face. This is it , Yeonjun thought.
Tomorrow couldn’t arrive any sooner.
— The next day at 4:30PM –
Yeonjun stared at himself through the mirror, wearing a pink long-sleeved crop top and a pair of tight-fitting denim jeans that accentuated his great form and thin waist. As for his accessories, he wore hoop earrings on both ears, three on the left and two on the right. He dusted some gold eyeshadow on his eyelids, just a little bit, and applied some gloss on his lips.
He looked at himself from all angles and reckoned that he had never looked better. He smiled at his reflection, satisfied with his overall look.
“Yeonjun-ah, do you happen to know where my…” Beomgyu entered his room, but he wasn’t able to finish his question when his eyes landed on Yeonjun.
Yeonjun whirled around to face his best friend, waiting for him to comment on his outfit.
A proud wide smile spread on Beomgyu’s face as he let out a whistle, approaching the pink-haired omega. “Damn, Junnie. You look amazing,” he commented as he twirled Yeonjun around.
Yeonjun let out a delighted chuckle. “Really?”
Beomgyu nodded fervently. “Really. You look so amazing in this top. And with these low-waist jeans? Mwah! The cherry on top. You look almost ravishing, good enough to eat,” he further added, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Yeonjun laughed hard. “Yah, you could have stopped at the cherry comment. I do not want to hear how ravishing I look from you,” he retorted with a snort.
“Oh? So, you wouldn’t mind then if an alpha, say 6’1 with a dimpled smile, said that to you?” Beomgyu smirked at him even more.
Yeonjun just rolled his eyes and pushed Beomgyu off of him, earning him a round of unstoppable laughter from his friend who was clutching his stomach. “Yah! You didn’t even bother to deny it. Oh man, you have, without a doubt, 100% plus 1 fallen hard for Soobin.”
“Oh, shut up,” Yeonjun mumbled, turning back to the mirror as he fixed his hair for the nth time, completely unfazed by Beomgyu’s incessant teasing because all he could think about was Soobin and how he would react to his outfit.
The thought alone got him feeling giddy all over as he and Beomgyu finished preparing and headed toward the barbecue restaurant.
When the omegas arrived, the three boys were already seated by the corner booth, chatting animatedly with one another. As always, Soobin was wearing yet another cardigan – a deep blue this time.
As soon as Soobin’s eyes landed on Yeonjun, his eyes widened like saucers as his mouth went slack at what he was seeing. Yeonjun and Beomgyu approached them and the boys greeted each other with excited smiles, all except Soobin who stood frozen with a shocked look as he kept staring at Yeonjun, causing Yeonjun to blush under his gaze.
Yeonjun decided to tease the younger male to get a different reaction from him. “Soobin-ah, if you keep staring at me like that, I might just melt.”
When the words left his mouth, Taehyun and Kai whipped their heads in Soobin’s direction, only realizing that their friend hadn't uttered a word since the older boys arrived, or even breathed for that matter.
Taehyun elbowed him lightly by his ribs, causing Soobin to lose his focus and withdraw his stare. Yeonjun couldn’t decipher what the other alpha said to Soobin, but it had him nodding along.
Whatever Taehyun said to Soobin seemed to do the trick as Soobin finally lifted his eyes to meet Yeonjun’s and flashed him his dimpled smile.
“Thanks for the invite, hyung. I hope you’re ready to have your money drained,” Soobin kidded.
Yeonjun pulled out his black card, well technically his dad’s, and replied, “Bring it on.”
After their brief conversation, Soobin cast his eyes down while Beomgyu helped Taehyun and Kai order the first round of meat. Yeonjun thought it was weird to see Soobin keep his eyes down while everyone talked. Yeonjun knows that Soobin was relatively shy, but usually with them, he was just as loud. Nonetheless, he didn’t comment on it. At least, not until later.
Throughout their meal, Soobin did not meet his eyes, not even once. He joined their conversations from time to time, but kept his gaze down. Yeonjun also noticed that whenever it was his turn to talk, Soobin wouldn’t say anything in return.
This confused Yeonjun tremendously as he replayed Soobin’s recent behavior in his head. As he pondered over it, his intrusive thoughts got the better of him.
Did he somehow offend Soobin when he teased him about his staring? Or did he not like what Yeonjun wore? He thought he looked pretty but now, Yeonjun felt like burning the clothes. After all, Soobin didn’t comment on how he looked.
Oh god, what if he suddenly caught my intention for tonight and was disgusted after seeing me today?
The more his thoughts and insecurities spilled out, the more sour his scent turned out. Every one of them noticed the change in the air, even Soobin who picked up the change a beat earlier, but was too timid to act on it.
Beomgyu glanced at him with a very concerned look, seeking his hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. Yeonjun squeezed back and mustered up a tiny smile.
“Excuse me, I’ll just get some fresh air. You guys just keep eating,” Yeonjun said through gritted teeth.
“Hyung, are you okay?” Kai asked worriedly, his eyes filled with concern over the older boy’s condition.
Yeonjun ruffled his hair as he replied, “I’m fine, Hyuka. Just feeling stuffy. I won’t be long, I promise.”
Hyuka just nodded his head, but he nor did the others believed him for a second. They knew something was up but they were all racking their brains trying to figure out if they somehow offended the older omega at any time during their conversations.
Beomgyu gave Yeonjun one final squeeze, but didn’t stop him from leaving. Yeonjun walked towards the exit, completely unaware that Soobin was staring at him the whole way.
As soon as Yeonjun got to the empty lot beside the restaurant, he finally let out a shaky breath before he felt the sting of tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn’t help but let out a frustrated chuckle as he looked up into the sky with his back to the sidewalk, regretting every decision he made for the past twenty-four hours.
If only he kept his infatuation towards Soobin at bay, they wouldn’t be in this situation where the said alpha was clearly avoiding him. All Yeonjun wanted was to get Soobin’s attention. Instead, what he got was something worse – his rejection. The thought of losing what he currently has with the alpha made his heart ache and pound painfully in his chest, making him release depressed pheromones.
As Yeonjun was lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice a group of drunk alphas walking by the street. When they smelled the strong scent coming from the omega, they immediately stopped dead in their tracks and stared at its source – its lonely and defenseless source.
The alphas only had to glance at each other to arrive at the same thought. They didn’t bother to mask their presence as they approached Yeonjun, the gravel crunching beneath their feet.
“Why are you here all by yourself, omega?” drawled the beefy alpha, who was the leader of the bunch.
Yeonjun whipped around, shocked to see that he was surrounded by four rugged alphas, one bigger than the rest who he figured was the one that addressed him. Yeonjun immediately knew their intentions, not that the alphas were planning on hiding at it as they regarded him with disgusting grins and sticky stares.
“Want to join us for a drink? Me and my boys are going for our second round,” the big alpha continued with a devilish grin.
Yeonjun couldn’t miss their intoxicated stench and overbearing pheromones, which were meant to intimidate him and force him into submission. But Yeonjun was having none of that as he held his ground and appeared unaffected by them.
“I would rather drop dead than join you, bozos,” Yeonjun spat as glared back, clenching his fists as if he was preparing to fight.
The alphas noticed and started laughing. Their leader’s grin just got even wider as he said, “Looks like we have ourselves a fighter, boys.” He took a step forward to which Yeonjun countered with a step back, keeping a safe distance from the threat. But the alpha was fast as he quickly stalked toward Yeonjun and grabbed him by the arm in a matter of seconds.
“I like fighters like you,” he hissed in a low voice. “Squirming and fighting beneath us alphas but in the end, you’ll just end up accepting whatever we give you anyway.” His hot breath near Yeonjun’s ear caused his stomach to spasm uncontrollably, despising the fact that this alpha dared to invade his space and tell him he was nothing but a slave to every alpha.
Before Yeonjun could utter a single word, a very strong scent and an even stronger aura assaulted their senses, causing everyone to stiffen. Just then, a deep guttural sound reverberated across the empty lot, making the alphas turn around to see a tall blue-haired boy glaring at them with murder in his eyes.
“Let him go,” Soobin growled deeply, clearly enraged at the scene in front of him, his eyes trained on the alpha who was gripping Yeonjun.
It was the first time that Yeonjun ever saw Soobin mad. An angered alpha was no laughing matter. There were instances when alphas let their instincts take control and end up hurting the people around them, some even murdering them! As an omega, Yeonjun should have been scared out of his wits. But no, he wasn’t scared. Not even the tiniest.
He was in awe of Soobin.
Yeonjun just stared at the tall alpha with admiration in his eyes, his past worries melting away. All he could think about was that his kind, amazing, and shy Soobin can also be this scary, intimidating, and daunting alpha.
His thoughts snapped when he heard the drunk leader reply, “Or what?” as he tightened his grip on Yeonjun’s arm.
The omega couldn’t hide the wince on his face and Soobin got even angrier if that was even possible. He walked towards them and it felt like the ground shook with every step. He was releasing too many pheromones as he got nearer, a rich minty scent surrounding them like a thick cloud. For Yeonjun, it was soothing and quite refreshing but to the alphas, it looks like it had the opposite effect.
Yeonjun watched as the alphas whimpered, staggered, and fell on their knees one by one, including the big alpha who had a vise grip on his forearm.
When Soobin reached them, the drunk alphas were now rendered immobilized at this point. Soobin grabbed the leader by his free arm and twisted it without hesitation, the alpha screaming in pain.
“If you don’t let him go, I swear to god I’ll break every bone in your body and bury you where the sun doesn’t shine,” Soobin threatened him in a deadly tone, seriousness dripping in every word. His eyes glowed gold before he broke two of the alpha’s fingers with his free hand.
The alpha howled and immediately let Yeonjun go to caress his broken digits. He scampered away clutching his injured hand, his lackeys following suit as they tried their best to stay oriented under Soobin’s dominant presence.
“Get out of my sight,” he snapped, standing tall and firm in front of Yeonjun.
The four alphas didn’t hesitate as they ran away, whining like wounded puppies. Yeonjun just stood frozen as he stared at Soobin’s back. He heard the alpha take a few deep breaths before he turned around to face Yeonjun, his enraged demeanor dissipating exponentially.
The worried expression on Soobin’s face right now is the one Yeonjun is more familiar with. Soobin quickly scanned him from head to toe but didn’t attempt to touch him as he asked, “Hyung, are you okay? Did they hurt you anywhere?”
His eyes zeroed in on the reddening patch of skin on Yeonjun’s arm from where he was gripped. “Shit, we should get some ice for that before it bruises,” he said as he ghosted his fingers over it.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Yeonjun grabbed him by the end of his cardigan and turned him back around to face him, effectively stopping him from taking any further steps.
“Soobin-ah, is this your scent?” Yeonjun whispered, his eyes staring straight at the alpha.
Soobin blinked at him numerous times before realization dawned on his face. He looked frightened, almost terrified, as he tried to get away from Yeonjun, but the omega held on tight.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Yeonjun-hyung. Please don’t breathe it in. I removed my blocker patches because I needed to get rid of the alphas as fast as I could. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disgust you. Please, let me get some patches so I can cover it up,” Soobin replied hastily, his voice cracking in nervousness.
In his words, Yeonjun couldn’t help but frown. “Disgust me? Who the fuck told you that?”
Soobin stopped struggling and stared at Yeonjun, not understanding what the omega meant. “Neh?”
Yeonjun brought his hands to Soobin’s cheeks, his warmth seeping to the younger boy. “Bin-ah, you smell amazing. I don’t know who told you that you smell horrible, but you smell damn good to me. Those people can go and fuck themselves,” Yeonjun stated strongly, desperate to get his point across.
Soobin cracked a tiny smile at his words and said, “You really think so?”
“I know so, silly,” Yeonjun replied immediately, squishing Soobin’s now-blushing cheeks.
“But then, why did you leave with a sour scent, hyung?” the alpha asked, his eyes full of concern.
Yeonjun let out a sigh, his intrusive thoughts coming back to haunt him again, but this time, he felt like he needed to rip the band-aid and get it over with. If Soobin agrees to everything it says, Yeonjun knows it’s going to hurt like a bitch, but it was a pain he was willing to take.
“I was sad because you weren’t looking at me throughout dinner. You barely acknowledged me, and I thought that you grew tired of my loud personality and realized that you didn’t like me and how I dress.” Yeonjun closed his eyes as he felt the tears coming back as well.
“What?!” Soobin shouted incredulously. Yeonjun’s eyes popped open at the knee-jerk reaction of the younger boy. “Oh god, no! I just couldn’t look at you because you look so damn pretty. I was afraid that you’ll take one look at me and get creeped out. And if you did, I thought you wouldn’t want to hang out with me anymore and…” Soobin continued to explain and babble on, but Yeonjun could only focus on one thing.
“Wait, you think I’m pretty?” Yeonjun interrupted Soobin’s ramble.
Soobin stopped talking and stared at Yeonjun, almost in disbelief at his sudden question. He took a step forward, his chest a breath away from Soobin.
“The prettiest,” he breathed out as he tucked a stray hair on Yeonjun’s ear.
All of Yeonjun’s thoughts and worries a few minutes ago just melted at the alpha’s gesture and two simple words. He felt the blood rush to his ear to where Soobin’s hand brushed over its shell.
Yeonjun finally smiled genuinely for the first time since they got into the restaurant and took a bold step closer, their chests dangerously brushing each other now.
Soobin blushed furiously as Yeonjun kept his hold on the alpha’s cheeks. “I’m the prettiest, huh? Care to say that one more time, Soobinnie?”
The tall alpha gulped audibly as he felt his mouth go dry. He cleared his throat, averting his gaze. “Let’s get you that ice,” he muttered as he pulled Yeonjun’s hands away from his burning face, distancing himself from Yeonjun.
Yeonjun just chuckled at the adorable panicking alpha who was trying his best to calm down.
Oh, how Yeonjun will enjoy spending the rest of his college life making the alpha blush and fall for his charms.
He was in no rush after all. He had plenty of time to make the boy with the cardigan fall in love with him.
He grabbed Soobin by the hand and pulled him back to the restaurant. “Thank you for saving me yet again. Now, come on. Let’s get that ice. Hold the ice for me?” said Yeonjun cheekily, the accident from mere minutes ago already forgotten.
Soobin just flashed him his dimpled smile and said, “My pleasure, Yeonjun-hyung.”