Chapter Text
"Hyuck, I think I made a big mistake," Jaemin said in a small voice.
He bit his lip and snuggled a little closer to his best friend. The omega lowered his head towards him, taking his eyes off the television set, and raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of mistake?"
Jaemin laughed nervously and held on a little tighter to the other omega. He watched as he grabbed the remote and paused the drama they were watching to rest his gaze on him, informing him that he had his full attention. The young teenager then swallowed, smiling slightly.
"The kind of mistake where I sleep with your ex?"
Donghyuck, also nicknamed Hyuck or Haechan, choked. He was laughing. He laughed happily, almost to tears as Jaemin looked at him, feeling the fear growing inside him. The older omega finally calmed down and gave the younger one a mocking look.
"First of all, phrase it differently. Jeno may be my ex, but he's also our best friend. And I hate to refer to him that way. Because our relationship is not what I imagined it to be as a couple. We were literally two bros having sex. Almost all the time, sure, but ...."
"Hyuckie, I didn't want to know that," Jaemin said, hitting his friend on the back while he laughed.
"Sorry! How was it? Was it good? How was it? Tell me!"
"You're completely crazy... I won't tell you anything!"
"Just a few details then!"
"It was last weekend. When I didn't come to school on Friday, he came. My parents weren't there, so he couldn't have known..."
"Know what?"
"That I was in heat."
"Damn! Did you use protection? It's not the time for little you to show up!"
"Yes, yes, don't worry about it," he shouted, his cheeks reddened by the embarrassment, as he tries to calm his heart beating at high speed by small occupations such as pulling his black hair.
"So? Was he sweet? Because I remember that during my heat..."
"Donghyuck no," Jaemin exclaimed softly, in a higher but still low voice, as usual. "I don't want to know."
"Then how about you tell me what I want to know," he replied with a pout.
"He was um... uh..."
"Tomato mode, activated. If you had green hair, you'd be a perfect little tomato!"
"Lee Donghyuck!"
"Yes baby?"
"Stop it," the younger man huffed in embarrassment.
"Okay, okay. If that's what you were worried about, I'm not angry. Quite the opposite actually, I think Jeno would be a perfect boyfriend, because I know that sexfriends are not your thing. First of all, he's a helpful, sweet, kind, caring guy who knows you very well! Second, your parents know him and approve of him. Third, I approve of him too."
"What about my opinion?"
"Oh, I forgot! Fourth, you think he's cute and sexy at the same time! Which is perfect! No but seriously, more than anything, you trust him. And that's the most important thing. You'll tell me if he ever forced you...?"
"No! Of course he didn't. On the opposite... He was," Jaemin cut himself as he felt a flock of butterflies take flight in the pit of his stomach but gained a crimson color as he felt his friend's gaze on him. "Cool. He was nice."
He laughed nervously as he saw Donghyuck look at him all sulky.
"So that's why he told me not to tell you why he's not here," Donghyuck suddenly said.
"So you know why," Jaemin said with an offended look. "You lied to me!"
"Because he asked me to!"
"Tell me."
"Well, what do you think would stop Lee Jeno from coming to see us, knowing that he's the most clingy alpha in the world?"
"I don't know."
"He's in rut, dumbass."
"Oh," Jaemin breathed, becoming quickly all red. "Oh... I... Well, that's..."
"Come on, you can do it, a complete sentence!"
Jaemin pouted, grabbed his pillow and threw it against the brunette who intercepted it with a laugh.
"Don't you think that's not cool of me?"
"Why?"
"He spent my heats with me... I was needy and now he is too and I... That doesn't mean I really want to! I mean, it's not what you think!"
"I get it, I get it," Donghyuck chuckled, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "You just want to return the favor?"
"Yes..."
"That's why Jeno didn't want you to know. Ah... what a gentleman he is. He doesn't want you to feel indebted."
"I can't help it," the omega chirped, coming to snuggle with his friend."
"I know. Anyway, no matter what you say, I know you enjoyed that weekend with Jeno and can probably imagine yourself there now visiting him during his ruts."
"Lee Donghyuck, shut up you vicious man, only you have such fantasies!"
"Hush. Let's resume the drama now, we're in an important moment now. Haru sacrificed himself," the second omega whined.
Jaemin rolled his eyes and grabbed a piece of brownie, placed on the plate near them.
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"Jeno! Over here!"
Jaemin suddenly turned and saw the alpha rushing towards them and in a few large strides he was already in front of them. Donghyuck stood up and threw himself at the alpha who intercepted him without much difficulty.
"Pff you are the worst friend in the whole world! We didn't get to see each other all vacation!"
"Sorry I always had things to do," the alpha said softly with a sincere smile stretching his thin lips.
Jaemin blushed as he caught himself staring at them and lowered his head.
"So, you don't know about the last news, but Nana does!"
"About what? You could have sent me a message."
"No, you should have been there."
"You're such a baby," the taller boy sighed, putting his friend down.
Donghyuck pouted and dropped himself onto the green grass with his arms crossed. Jeno rolled his eyes and came to sit beside Jaemin to whom he gently ruffled his hair making the omega blush.
"Hey, instead of flirting listen to me," Donghyuck said, startling his two friends.
"Flirting," Jeno repeated while Jaemin hid his face in his hands.
"Anyway, I've already talked about it with Jaemin and on the opposite of what I thought, he doesn't mind at all. You know that when I was younger, I lived in Jeju?"
"Yeah...?"
"A family there bought a house next to ours and moved in every summer. I became friends with their youngest son. Of course, then I moved away at the end of high school and met you blah blah blah you know the story but I kept in touch with the boy even though we didn't see each other anymore in the summer. Anyway, turns out that he moved to Seoul and is going to start his senior year in our high school. He is Canadian. He speaks Korean pretty well but he has some gaps. I don't want to leave him alone in this crazy place, so I wanted him to stay with us."
"There's really no problem for me at all," Jeno said before turning to the second omega. "And if you don't have a problem with it either, then it's all good."
Jaemin nodded and Donghyuck smiled as his phone began to ring.
"That must be him! Hello hyung?"
Donghyuck stood up and ran away from his friends leaving them alone. Jaemin looked up at Jeno and caught him staring.
"Can we talk? I mean talk... You don't have to do it literally."
Jaemin nodded slowly and Jeno smiled at him.
"I was just wondering how I was supposed to act with you."
"The same as before," Jaemin breathed, lowering his head.
"I thought so," the alpha smiled. "Don't blame yourself for what happened Friday, I should have told you I was coming and you didn't force me to do anything. I don't want our relationship to change either. I mean... you're a really important friend to me."
Jeno's smile made Jaemin's heart melt. But he didn't know if it was pleasant or painful. It didn't matter at the time, he just let his head rest against his friend's shoulder and let him gently stroke his hair.
"Guys!"
The two turned their heads behind them to see Donghyuck coming along with another boy. Jaemin quickly lowered his head and held on tightly to the alpha beside him. He heard his friend approaching with the other new high schooler before they came to shadow them.
"Jeno, Jaemin, I want you to meet my friend Lee Mark. He is from Canada."
"Nice to meet you," the young boy said shyly in a hesitant voice.
"Nice to meet you too and welcome," Jeno replied warmly, making the boy smile slightly.
"Thank you," he breathed as softly as possible.
"He is very shy," Donghyuck said, making the boy blush. "Don't worry about it Markie, we're used to it with Jaeminie."
"It's more complicated than just shyness," Jeno replied with a sigh.
The alpha fell silent as he felt the omega clinging more firmly to him. He smiled tenderly and took the omega's small hand in his own. Mark glanced at his friend who nodded negatively.
"Nana, do you mind if I tell him," Donghyuck asked, crouching down to the called one's level.
The latter slowly raised his gaze to Donghyuck before turning it to Mark. By his smell and aura, he knew he was a beta. He was not very tall, they had to be about the same height, but the new guy looked much more constituted than him in terms of muscle. Not like Jeno, but that was normal, Jeno was going to gym with his dad and doing all sorts of other sports like tennis, he was even part of the high school team and was very popular.
He looked down again: why did he always have to make everything about Jeno? He suddenly remembered that his friend was still waiting for an answer and finally nodded positively.
"Well, let me explain: you can talk to Jaemin but don't expect an answer. He has selective mutism since he was a child. It took him six months to just say hello to us. But he's very sweet and cute, you'll get attached soon enough and you'll see that even without saying a word, he's adorable."
Mark laughed softly as he saw Jaemin's crimson face as Jeno nodded his head, totally agreeing.
"Alright Jaemin, looking forward to getting to know you," Mark smiled.
"Not too much then," Jeno suddenly looked grim.
"Oh?"
"If you dare to do so much as brush past him I'll send you back to Canada."
Mark's smile faded and he took a few steps back, completely terrified as his heart pounded.
"I'm joking don't worry," the taller boy laughed making the Canadian smile nervously. "Or not," he said again more seriously.
"Come on, stop scaring him," Donghyuck said, jabbing the alpha, who didn't move an inch and just laughed. "You big pile of muscle."
"Ugh, you're just jealous. Seriously, you called him hyung earlier. When were you born?" he asked Mark, who smiled shyly.
"In 1999, in August 1999."
"Hey, but you're older than all of us! We must all call you hyung then. Did I seem disrespectful to you when I joked like that earlier?"
"No, not at all, I was a little scared but it's okay."
"I'm sorry. Welcome hyung. I hope you'll like it here. You already know Hyuck so it's ok, as far as I'm concerned you must have understood what kind of person I am by now and we explained everything about Jaemin. Please take care of him with us."
"Sure!"
The beta and the alpha smiled at each other and Jaemin raised his head slightly to look at the younger one. When he smiled, his eyes took the shape of two crescent moons while his lips stretched adorbally and Jaemin only wanted to pull his cheeks. He then smiled as his cheeks reddened. Mark's gaze caught the younger boy's expression and was surprised to find him adorable.
"Did you had time to see in what class you're," Donghyuck asked, cutting short all those visual exchanges.
"Yes, I'm not in your class this year," Jeno sighed with a pout. "That reminds me, I have to give my registration to the tennis club later, will you go with me?"
"Of course, I also have to register for the music club. Do you want to join too, Mark?"
"Um... I don't know. I've stopped music," the older boy huffed in embarrassment.
"Why? You're really gifted! You have a beautiful voice, you play a lot of instruments, guitar, piano and more. And you produce and write your own lyrics! You're really a genius Mark! Come on, you should really sign up and get back into music."
"I'll see," the foreigner said, lowering his head to avoid his friend's gaze.
"Don't pressure him Hyuck, he must have his own reasons. By the way, is it too intrusive to ask why you moved to Seoul?"
"Oh, my parents got divorced," the high school student simply replied without elaborating.
Jeno then nodded and smiled at him before standing up quickly followed by Jaemin who stubbornly stayed hidden behind him.
"Well, let's get to class we're going to be late!"
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"It's a shame you don't want to join the music club, you and Jaemin are really the same," Donghyuck sighed as the younger boy blushed at the mention of his name.
"Oh really," Mark asked, glancing at Jaemin, who immediately turned his head away.
"Yeah, Jaemin is also a music lover. He plays a lot of instruments, his room is a real music store and he even has a perfect pitch. But he's really too shy and his mutism doesn't help."
"Perfect pitch," Mark repeated, fascinated. "Wow!"
Jaemin grabbed Donghyuck's shirt at his arm and pulled hard on it, looking annoyed.
"All right, all right. We have to stop, he's embarrassed."
"Sorry," the Canadian said, also embarrassed.
"Anyway, let's go see how Jeno is doing with his club."
"How long has he been playing tennis?"
"Um, since he was a kid, I think. He used to play during vacations with his family and he happened to have a talent for it. When he got to high school, he joined the music club because he is also passionate about it. He is a very good guitarist and bass player. That's how he and I met and then Jaemin a little later. But the tennis team needed members at the risk of closing. And like the good Samaritan he is, Jeno jumped in to help and became the idol of the whole school with his incredible talent that brought the club to light."
"What a story, Jeno must be really popular then."
"Way too much," Donghyuck grumbled, rolling his eyes. "It's almost annoying to be approached every time because of him. Ouch!"
Donghyuck looked down at Jaemin who just kicked him.
"Okay, I'll stop talking shit about your super boyfriend the perfect alpha. Ouch! Our friend, our friend."
"Jealousy, jealously," Mark sang making Jaemin smile.
"It's not that at all. I just don't understand why he became so popular. He was just a guy like us when we were in the music club. And it was cool, with Jaemin you know, the three of us were always at peace, we had the same schedule and we were inseparable. But since Jeno joined the tennis club, he rarely has time for us. It's not jealousy. I'm just afraid of losing him."
Mark looked at his best friend surprised, he never saw him looking so vulnerable. He really looked sad. And as he looked at Jaemin, he too seemed to be affected by Donghyuck's words and as pained as he was. The new student did not know what to say or do. Jeno seemed really sweet, he wouldn't take it the wrong way if he talked to him about his friends' feelings, would he? Or would he see him as someone who wasn't meddling enough in his own problems?
"The tennis club is popular now, some students have even joined the high school on purpose to join it. It has several excellent players. Jeno may be popular and have lots of friends, but he also has enemies. Basically, Jeno joined the club to help. So I expected him to come back to the music club this year..."
"I know what you mean. But you know, if you don't tell him, Jeno will never know how you feel. He sure does care about you. When real assholes get popular, they stay with the popular ones and drop all their other friends. But see how he was there with you this morning and on your lunch break. And I'm sure he'll never let you go. I can tell he loves you guys."
"Hm... I don't know. He seems to like it, I don't want to hurt him."
"Jeno sunbae!"
The three friends raised their heads as they reached the tennis court where the club was practicing.
"I'm really happy to join the same club as you! I saw you at the regional competition last year, you were amazing!"
"Thanks, I'm sure you can do better, I lost in the semi-final..."
"No one is better than you here sunbae!"
Jeno laughed embarrassed as the younger player was almost jumping around him. Jaemin smiled gently seeing this. He too understood Donghyuck's feeling. Especially now that he was afraid to start seeing Jeno as anything other than a friend. But Jeno seemed so happy and passionate about the sport now.
"Hey you're the new guy!"
Mark gasped and turned to the origin of the voice also drawing the attention of the other two omegas. Looking at his outfit, the alpha approaching them was a member of the tennis club.
"You're the one who sprawled out on the floor in front of the whole class this morning," he laughed, while Mark blushed with embarrassment. "I see that you're hanging out with those two losers. Strategically speaking, you're not stupid, you're trying to restore your reputation by getting closer to Jeno. But hey, you could've just joined the tennis club instead of hanging out with the losers from the music club."
"Hey, back off," said Donghyuck, stepping in front of Mark.
"Wow, the lion is waking up. I've always liked your little wild side Hyuckie but trust me, it's only good for you in bed."
The alpha laughed as Donghyuck clenched his fists under Mark's startled gaze.
"You just... Did you just make publicly a sexual allusion about Donghyuck? Apologize," the still surprised but angry beta said.
"A beta trying to command an alpha? What the hell..."
"Maybe if it's an alpha who asks you, you'll have the decency to shut your mouth Hyuntae."
"Oh yes, the stallion on his white horse came to save you, of course it's thanks to the two omegas he fucked. You must be really something for him to keep you close like that. Especially you, the ghost. Hey Jeno, what's up?"
Jaemin grabbed onto the closest person to him, and found himself hiding behind Mark. The Canadian looked briefly at the omega surprised before clenching his fists, glaring back at the said Hyuntae. Jeno stood next to them, making the tennis player sigh and shrug his shoulders before going away.
"Is everything okay?" Jeno asked worriedly as he turned to his friends. "I'm sorry, he's always like that and... I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Donghyuck said with a slight smile. "So, happy to be back in the club?"
"Yeah, it's cool. What about you and the music club?"
"Oh... Everything is cool," he whispered in reply.
"Good, this year I'll come back, I promise. I really miss playing."
"Forget it, you won't have time. Just like last year. And even worse. So don't make any empty promises and just give it your all in tennis!"
Jeno laughed and nodded as Mark looked at him surprise, wondering how he couldn't hear the pain in Donghyuck's voice.
"Jaemin, is everything okay," Jeno asked, glancing behind the Canadian where the omega was still hiding.
He hesitated and then nodded negatively.
"Do you want to go back home," Jeno asked, coming closer to him.
Jaemin then immediately released Mark to cling to Jeno's shirt. He kept his head down and provided no response to his elder.
"I'll walk him home," Donghyuck said.
Jaemin winced but accepted the hand Donghyuck held out to him.
"Are you coming Mark?"
"Yeah... Good training Jeno!"
"Thanks," he breathed as he watched his friends walk away.
A pained look stretched his features and his gaze remained fixed on Jaemin who turned to him. And at his expression as sad as his own, Jeno felt his heart tighten.
"Jeno, you lazy bastard, move your ass," the adult in charge of the club shouted.
"Sorry," he said with an embarrassed smile. "I'm coming!"
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"I live here," Mark stammered, pointing to a small house.
Donghyuck and Jaemin looked at him surprised.
"Really?! The house right next door is Jaemin's!"
"That's cool, we'll see each other often then," he said with a soft smile to the younger boy who blushed and looked away.
Mark did not hold it against him. But his gaze caught two silhouettes in front of his house.
"Ah my mother..."
"With Jaemin's," Donghyuck added. "Hm... What a coincidence."
"Oh Minhyung, you're home! Come and say hello."
The three high school students reached to the two adults.
"Hello," the Canadian shyly said.
"Hello, I see you've met Donghyuck and Jaemin."
"Donghyuck it's been a long time," Mark's mother exclaimed, ruffling his hair under his embarrassed look. "And Jaemin is your son Mieun?"
"That's right, my precious little treasure," she said, gently tugging at her son's cheek, who turned all red.
"Oh yes, it's great that you two are friends and all, so we're going to be in Jaemin's room if you look for us bye," Donghyuck said while pulling his friends after him under both mothers' smile. "Oh my God, we would be waiting for a very long time with them always wanting to pamper their cute little boys."
"Hyuck, are you sure it's really okay for me to come with you, you didn't even ask Jaemin's opinion," Mark said with an embarrassed look.
"Jaemin, is it OK," sighed Donghyuck, stopping to look at the boy.
He shyly nodded and turned his head away, far too embarrassed by Mark's gaze.
"Perfect. Are you satisfied? Can we go now?"
"Uh yeah... I guess so. Are you mad Hyuck? Are you still thinking about Jeno?"
"I don't know how I ever dated an asshole like that. Ouch! Nana! Let me curse a little at least!"
"You dated him," Mark shouted in shock.
"Yeah, only for sex though, did you see his handsome face?"
"Jesus, Donghyuck, you really need to read the Bible."
"No thanks, my parents made me read it enough times when I was younger. The story is interesting, but it becomes boring the more you read it."
"Hyuck!"
"Come on, you know how I am. So just don't talk to me about religion in the future. I believe in God, that's clearly enough. He gave me every reason to believe in him after putting all three of you in my path."
Mark smiled as he squeezed Donghyuck's hand tighter in his and noticed the same smile on Jaemin's lips.
He suddenly broke away from Donghyuck to pull out keys from his pocket allowing him to open the door to his house.
"What was this English expression Mark hyung? Home sweet home?"
"Yeah, that's it. You're here that often?"
"Jaemin's room is our headquarters."
This earned him a blow from the owner of the room. He left to go up the stairs, in the middle of the living room, without waiting for them, making his best friend grumble.
"I bet he went to tidy up a bit. It's never messy. But he'll probably hide his sheet music, empty the trash and other crap. I wonder if there are still used condoms in the trash though."
"Donghyuck," Mark exclaimed, again outraged by his friend's words.
"Yeah. I'm shocked too. My sweet little Jaemin lost his virginity."
"I don't want to know! That's none of my business!"
Mark put his hands on his ears turning all red. And he felt even more flushed when he saw Jaemin coming out of his room with a garbage bag in his hands under Donghyuck's proud look.
Jaemin knew immediately that something was wrong and gave a suspicious look to his best friend. But he did not do anything more and only went to the kitchen to take out the garbage can outside as well. There, the two students could hear Jaemin's mother thanking her son and even coming to cover him with a kiss, making them giggle. He then came back and motioned them to follow him to his room.