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Sunghoon’s head snaps up, eyes fixating curiously on the person in front of him. He has to clench his nails in his palms to stop himself from grabbing the boy and burying his face into his neck. He wants to roll in it. He wants to bathe in it. Bundle it up and keep it inside, hidden from the greedy paws of the outside world.
It’s so fresh. Lavender and lemon– no, lime – slightly more sour than sweet. It’s perfect. It’s his omega.
𓇢𓆸
“Hey Sunoo hyung, can I borrow your hoodie again? Mine’s in the wash,” Sunoo shouts an acceptance back to his roommate, neck stretched to the side as he applies a fresh layer of scent-blocking cream.
Sunoo’s proud of who he is. He knows he’s smart, he knows he’s pretty but the one thing he hates? It’s that he’s an omega. He knows it’s not something he can control, nature fucked with him and led to this predicament.
He thinks if life were fairer for omegas in society, he would have been able to accept it more easily when he presented at the tender age of 14. He was an early bloomer– everyone around him was severely underprepared for what it would entail. He came from a long line of betas. No one expected this but with his family’s support, he was ready to embrace it.
And then he saw how cruel the world was to omegas.
He’s got vague memories as a child of his cousin, more specifically that his cousin was an omega. He remembers faint whispers at dinner parties, hushed conversations and pitying glances thrown at her. He remembers her huddling in a corner, hiding with him behind doors under the pretence of playing hide and seek.
He was too young to understand what any of it truly meant and felt a detached sense of sadness when he was told she had run away.
After he presented, he realised why she ran.
Sometimes he wishes she took him with her, even though back then he hadn’t presented and there was no way a teenager could look after a child. Other times he wishes she was still here so she could help him. He knows all of his demands are selfish but it’s a little fantasy he indulges himself in when it gets too unbearable. However, the worst part about his daydreams is that he can’t even remember her name.
High school was hard so he took the first opportunity to leave his small town when university started. His parents encouraged him, hoping that things would be better for their omega son if he went to a big city with even bigger opportunities.
Sunoo didn’t want to risk it. So he hides it.
He may be listed as an omega on official records but to everyone else, he’s a normal unscented beta.
“Sunoo hyung, you’re my favourite roommate,” the beta cuddles up to him and buries his face in Sunoo’s shoulder.
Sunoo slaps away the offending face. “Don’t be ridiculous Jungwon, I’m your only roommate.”
“Don’t leave me when you find your mate,” Jungwon pouts at him. Sunoo huffs. This is a conversation they’ve had countless times. Jungwon whines that as an omega, Sunoo is going to find his “true mate” perfect match alpha and leave him. Sunoo thinks the notion is ridiculous. Who would want an omega who doesn’t even seem like an omega? Sunoo always waves him off and tries his best to move the conversation along.
“What about when you find your perfect match?” Sunoo teases him.
Jungwon blushes. He knows exactly who Sunoo is hinting at. “He’s an alpha. Why would he date a beta like me?”
“Shut up. You’re perfect. Now let’s go to class we’re going to be late.”
𓇢𓆸
Sunghoon chases after the omega after class, flagging him down before he successfully leaves the room.
“Hi, sorry, do you mind if I get your number?” Sunghoon expects to see the same expression of thrill on the omega’s face that he had when he realised they were true mates.
Instead, he gets a scrunched nose and a disdainful look up and down. “I’m not interested.”
Sunghoon’s heart drops. He’s heard of rejection between mates but it’s normally very rare. “Oh, are you dating somebody?”
“That’s none of your business,” is the curt reply.
“Can I at least get your name?” Sunghoon asks weakly. He needs to know what the name of his true mate is before he processes the rejection. Just to imagine what could have been.
The omega gives him a pitying look and acquiesces. “I’m Jungwon.”
“Hi Jungwon, I’m Sunghoon.”
“I know, we’ve been in the same class all semester.”
Sunghoon flushes with embarrassment. Is this why he’s getting rejected? His omega has felt ignored by him all semester? It makes sense in a convoluted way.
𓇢𓆸
Sunghoon watches his omega walk with a beta boy into the cafeteria. Jungwon is pretty but he has to admit that the other boy is very pretty too. Where Jungwon has wide cat-like features, the other boy has sharp, angular features. They make a striking pair.
He watches the other boy laugh, leaning on Jungwon for support. His nose scrunches and whiskers dimples appear. He looks quite like a charming fox.
Perhaps beautiful people always stick together.
Sunghoon sees the boys whisper together and an idea pops into his head.
𓇢𓆸
Sunoo has his head bowed in the library, determined to finish his essay before going home to watch a movie with Jungwon.
He’s so absorbed in his screen that he doesn’t notice someone settling on the seat across from him. But what does get his attention is the sudden whiff of coffee and dark chocolate. It’s a delightful combination, rich and heady making Sunoo close his eyes in pleasure.
It also smells eerily like his true mate.
Sunoo jerks his head up, making eye contact with the alpha seated in front of him.
He’s beautiful, to say the least– thick eyebrows framing his eyes, pretty moles decorating his face. If Sunoo had an ideal type, this man would fit it to a tee. It’s better than anything he’d ever hoped to dream when thinking about finding his true mate.
Sunoo beams at him, beyond happy that the alpha found him.
“I’m Sunoo,” he takes the initiative to start the conversation.
“Hi Sunoo,” the man smiles back at him. The cadence of his voice is the most perfect pitch Sunoo has ever heard and the fox inside him chirps with joy. “I’m Sunghoon.”
The bright extrovert Sunoo tries to keep the conversation with Sunghoon going, asking him about his classes and the weather.
When Sunghoon starts scratching at the back of his neck, Sunoo giggles. He thinks he knows what’s coming next.
“So Sunoo, what I actually came here to ask is-” Sunoo holds his breath in anticipation, “are you friends with Jungwon?”
His shoulders immediately deflate, the air whooshing out of him. “Oh yeah, we’re roommates.”
“Oh cool. Um, I wanted to ask if you’ll help me win Jungwon over?”
“Win over? Like for a club president type of thing?” Sunoo’s not trying to be deliberately obtuse, he’s just genuinely confused about why Sunghoon is bringing Jungwon up.
“I like him,” Sunghoon hurriedly says.
Oh.
Oh.
That’s why Sunghoon is talking about Jungwon.
Sunoo looks at the alpha sadly. He was right, no one would ever want him.
“You’ll have to ask Jungwon for that,” he whispers. The alpha’s pleading eyes bore into him.
“Just a tiny bit of help, please?”
Sunoo knows it’s not going to be a good outcome for Sunghoon. Or it could be. But right now, Jungwon likes someone else and he doesn’t know how he’ll react if someone else starts pursuing him. On the one hand, it’s his best friend. On the other hand, it’s his true mate. In what kind of situation would he have to choose happiness for one or the other?
So he comes to a compromise. He promises Sunghoon that he can tell him about Jungwon’s likes and dislikes but he won’t help him win Jungwon’s favour beyond that. This way, Jungwon has a fair chance to choose his partner without Sunoo’s influence.
There’s a dark whisper in the back of his head that he’s actually doing it like this for himself. He knows he has the power to persuade Jungwon to accept Sunghoon but he’s selfish and thinks maybe he can win Sunghoon over.
He brushes those voices away.
𓇢𓆸
“Hey Sunoo, thanks for your clothes again. I don’t know where mine keep disappearing to. I swear to god someone is stealing them from the laundry room.”
Sunoo just gives him a pat on the head and reminds him that he can take whatever he wants.
“Oh also, do you remember me telling you about that alpha I had to reject a bit ago?” Sunoo nods to show he’s listening. “We’re friends now.”
“Are you sure Wonie?” Sunoo lets out a sceptical sound, still petting Jungwon’s head. “You know you can never trust alphas.”
“Yeah, he seems pretty nice and I’ve only heard good things about him from other people. As long as he doesn’t ask me out, I think we’ll be good friends.”
“And can I get the name of this mystery alpha so I know who to beat up when things go wrong?” Jungwon gives him a glare making Sunoo giggle. “I’m just concerned.”
“Fine,” he sighs out. “It’s Sunghoon.”
Sunoo’s heart drops.
𓇢𓆸
Sunoo is happy, he swears. He and Jungwon still have frequent movie nights and he’s even getting closer to Sunghoon.
Okay, maybe he’s only getting closer to Sunghoon because he’s spending time with him talking about Jungwon.
Okay, maybe he’s not happy.
But he’s fine with his alpha not wanting him as a partner. He’s just content that the alpha still wants him in his life as a friend at least. Albeit a friend he gets information from. Whatever.
He just refuses to be really fucking sad.
He’s currently spending time with Sunghoon, studying in the library. They’re not really talking but they did enough of that at lunch that Sunoo isn’t too bothered by it. He told Sunghoon Jungwon’s favourite foods and how he loves strawberries with chocolate and that it is a surefire way to bribe Jungwon.
At least in the quiet, he gets to admire Sunghoon without any guilt plaguing him. He knows he should probably move on but he needs time to absorb how it could have been them. Just a bit more time and then he’ll find someone else.
“Hey Sunoo, ready to go?”
Sunoo blinks from awake from his monologue and looks at the new person in question.
“We’ve got that assignment to work on, remember?” the guy reminds him.
Understanding dawns in Sunoo’s eyes and he apologetically looks at Sunghoon who’s staring at him a bit weirdly.
“I’ll see you later Sunghoon hyung.” Sunoo’s hand pulls the other person’s sleeve along as he starts walking. “Let’s go Heeseung hyung! I want to finish this quickly.”
Sunoo doesn’t look back. If he did, he would have noticed a pair of eyes glaring at the two of them.
𓇢𓆸
“And this is my humble abode,” Jungwon gestures around the room. Sunghoon lets out a little laugh. Jungwon is so cute. A little baby cat.
“Isn’t Sunoo your roommate?”
“Yeah, I’m guessing he told you? I’m so glad all of us are friends now.”
“I was hoping to see him,” Sunghoon ignores Jungwon’s pointed look. “Is he around?”
“He’s out with Heeseung hyung.”
Sunghoon feels something ugly claw at his chest. Before he can stop himself, he lets out a question he’s been burning to ask. “Are they dating?”
Sunghoon was expecting a quick answer, a simple yes or no but Jungwon’s thinking now which is making Sunghoon’s heart beat in even more anticipation.
“Now that you mention it, I actually don’t know. But I think Heeseung hyung might like him? And maybe Sunoo hyung likes him back? They’ve been spending a lot of time together and Sunoo’s smile is starting to come back so they could be,” Jungwon answers.
His wolf is threatening to rip through his skin and challenge Heeseung. He can’t quite figure out why that is. He didn’t feel this way when Jungwon mentioned he liked another alpha and Jungwon is meant to be his true mate.
Sunghoon aims to hastily change the conversation lest his wolf actually show itself. “Have I ever mentioned I like how you smell?”
Jungwon smiles in appreciation. “Thanks hyung! I use a rose-scented perfume. It’s really nice, I can show you the brand later.”
Sunghoon’s forehead crinkles in confusion. Rose? Isn’t Jungwon’s natural scent lavender and lime? But there have been times he hasn’t smelt him at all. He assumed it was because Jungwon sometimes used a scent blocker as some people find constant scents overwhelming. But he’s never smelled rose on him before.
He lets the thought pass to the back of his mind.
𓇢𓆸
Sunoo and Heeseung sit across from each other in a cozy coffee shop, their textbooks open but largely ignored. Heeseung is explaining a complex chemistry concept, his hands animatedly drawing diagrams in the air. Sunoo watches him, a small smile playing on his lips.
"You're good at this," Sunoo’s admiration evident.
Heeseung shrugs, a bashful grin spreading across his face. "Thanks, Sunoo. I just enjoy helping you out."
Sunoo feels a warmth spread through his chest. He finds himself looking forward to their study sessions more than he'd like to admit.
𓇢𓆸
“He’s so sweet,” Jungwon gushes about his crush.
“Yeah?” Sunghoon can’t take his eyes off the other two sitting in the cafeteria together. It seems like Heeseung told a funny joke because Sunoo is hitting his arm and laughing.
Why is he with him? He narrows his eyes at them. Why isn’t he with me?
“Ugh, hyung you’re not even listening. I’m going to go talk to Ni-ki instead,” Jungwon complains.
𓇢𓆸
“And if I were to get a tattoo, it would definitely be of lavender,” Sunoo regales to Heeseung.
Heeseung smiles at him. “You’re so cute Sunoo.”
“Hyung,” he whines. “It’s your turn to answer.”
“Unlike you, I’m not sentimental about scents,” Heeseung flicks his forehead. “Mine would probably be a stamp or some butterflies.”
“You’re so basic,” Sunoo mutters in disgust.
“Says you?” Heeseung exclaims indignantly.
Sunoo and Heeseung are sitting on Sunoo’s couch. It’s a bonding experience. It’s a way to get Sunghoon off his mind.
Heeseung’s fun. He’s spontaneous. He’ll randomly call Sunoo in the middle of the night and take him for a drive. He buys him food and gives him random compliments. Sunoo likes Heeseung.
Maybe not to the same extent he’ll ever like Sunghoon but there’s something there that he’s sure he can develop from a spark into a fire.
“Okay, let’s keep playing. It’s my turn to ask a question,” Sunoo barely takes a moment to think. “Do you believe in true mates?”
Heeseung’s eyes widen and Sunoo is scared for a moment Heeseung isn’t going to answer. “I do,” he divulges softly. “I think everyone has their true mate out there, even if you’re a beta. Just because you can’t smell doesn’t mean you won’t find them.”
Sunoo blinks and feels his eyes get teary. “You’re so sweet hyung, why couldn’t you have been my true mate?”
Heeseung’s hands reach out to grab his face and Sunoo lets him. “Just because we’re not mates doesn’t mean I don’t like you.”
“I’ve already found my true mate,” Sunoo confesses. “But he doesn’t want me.”
“Let me have you then, Sunoo. Just for a little bit if that’s all you can bear.”
Heeseung’s leaning closer and Sunoo finds he is too. His eyes are already closed and he can feel Heeseung’s cinnamon scent surrounding him. Hot breath ghosts across his lips and Sunoo shivers.
Just a little bit closer–
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Sunghoon’s voice is an unwelcome interruption. It serves its purpose in making Heeseung and Sunoo jump apart.
“What’s going on, hyung?” Jungwon pushes his way past Sunghoon and peers into the room. Sunoo can feel how hot his ears are and he has no doubt that he is as pink as his dyed hair used to be.
“Oh, I see,” Jungwon aims knowingly at Sunoo. “We’ll get going, please continue,” and with that, he herds Sunghoon out of the room.
“Sunoo, I’m so sorry. You can forget that ever happened,” Heeseung says to a nervous Sunoo.
Sunoo’s glad that Heeseung can read him so well.
“I’m sorry, hyung. It’s just that–”
“It’s Sunghoon isn’t it? Your true mate?”
Sunoo gapes at Heeseung. “How did you know?”
“Your lime scent soured when he came in,” Sunoo explains how he’s wearing a scent blocker and that it doesn’t make any sense. “Sunoo, my face was practically in your neck. I was close enough to smell it through the blockers because your emotions were strong enough. But does he know you’re his mate?”
“He already rejected me, hyung,” Sunoo shakes his head dejectedly.
“In words?” Heeseung clarifies.
“He didn’t have to do it in words. But it was obvious.”
“I’m sorry, Sunoo.”
𓇢𓆸
Sunghoon’s heart is still beating at an inhumane speed. He can’t believe he just walked in on Heeseung and Sunoo kissing.
“Hyung, why are you crying?” Jungwon stops his pacing.
Sunghoon lifts a hand towards his cheeks and finds them wet.
“I don’t know,” he sobs. “Jungwon, please tell me some happy news. I don’t want to keep crying.”
Jungwon starts talking without hesitation. “I was going to tell you soon anyway but Jay hyung asked me out.”
“Your mystery alpha?”
“My mystery alpha,” Jungwon confirms. “He said he loved my rose perfume and asked me to buy some with him. And then he said it was a date.”
“You’re happy?” Sunghoon hiccups.
“I’m incredibly happy. I didn’t think an alpha could actually be interested in a beta like me.”
Sunghoon mind comes to an abrupt stop. Carefully, he peels his fingers away from where they’re rubbing at his eyes and then he desperately grabs onto Jungwon’s wrist.
“Jungwon, you’re a beta? But what about that omega smell that’s always on you?”
“Do you mean the lavender and lime smell?” Sunghoon rapidly nods. “Oh, that’s Sunoo hyung’s scent. He wears scent blockers in public but I borrow his clothes a lot which is why I probably smell like him.”
Fuck. Sunghoon needs to talk to Sunoo. Now.
𓇢𓆸
“Sunghoon, you’re back,” Sunoo hears Heeseung’s voice come from the living room. He’s in the bathroom washing his face.
“Is Sunoo here?” Sunoo can detect an urgency in Sunghoon’s tone.
He hears Heeseung hem and haw, appreciating his hesitation. He walks out regardless, ready to face his fate.
“Yeah, what’s up Sunghoon hyung?” he says with a deceptively cheery voice. His mouth drops in shock at Sunghoon’s rubbed-red eyes and clenched fists. It seems like Jungwon broke the news.
“Heeseung hyung, I’ll call you later,” Heeseung glances over to make sure he’s actually fine being left alone with Sunghoon before he leaves, locking the door behind him.
“Did Jungwon tell you about him and Jay?” Sunoo cuts right to the chase.
Sunghoon ignores him and tugs him into his chest. Sunoo thinks he just wants comfort so he lets Sunghoon hug him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sunghoon whispers into his hair.
“I wasn’t sure how to break the news. I thought it would be better coming from Jungwon himself.”
“No,” Sunghoon clarifies. “Why didn’t you tell me we’re true mates?”
Sunoo gasps and pulls away from Sunghoon. “What do you mean?”
“You know that we’re mates.” Sunghoon waits for Sunoo’s approval to continue. “How come you didn’t tell me?”
“Because you already know. And you don’t want me,” Sunoo explains like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“No,” Sunghoon denies. “I do want you and I’ve been so confused. Every time I saw you, I felt this pull, this connection. I tried to deny it but it was you all along. And now I’m too late because you’re with Heeseung hyung.”
Sunoo’s baffled. If there’s been one constant lately it’s that Sunghoon doesn’t want him. Why is he varying it now?
And then Sunghoon explains. He explains how he smelt Sunoo’s scent on Jungwon and thought Jungwon was his true mate. He explains how he was still drawn to Sunoo since the very first moment he saw him in the cafeteria but he felt so guilty because he was meant to be loyal to Jungwon. He explains how he never felt anything when Jungwon would tell him about Jay but he felt like destroying something every time he heard Heeseung and Sunoo’s name in the same sentence, how he didn’t know why he cried whenever Sunoo showed affection to Heeseung.
By the end of it, they’re both crying again but this time, they’re together.
“You’re so stupid, hyung. How could I want anybody but you?” Sunoo slaps Sunghoon’s chest, tears and snot covering his face but it’s okay because Sunghoon looks the same.
“I’m so sorry,” Sunghoon keeps repeating. “I’m so sorry.”
𓇢𓆸
“I don’t like being an omega,” Sunoo later admits, holding Sunghoon close. If they’re going to be together, Sunoo decides Sunghoon deserves to know. “It’s why I wear scent blockers.”
They’re on Sunoo’s bed now, cuddled beneath the blankets. Sunghoon buries his face into Sunoo’s hair.
“It’s okay. I love everything about you. I don’t care if you’re an omega or not.”
“But is your alpha okay with it? With not always smelling my scent?”
Sunghoon pushes him away to hold him firmly by the shoulders. “Sunoo, I was in love with you before I knew you even had a scent. Jungwon telling me he’s with Jay just confirmed I was using him as an excuse to keep talking to you. It’s not your scent I like, it’s you.”
“Okay,” Sunoo nods and rests his cheek against Sunghoon’s chest. “I love you too.”
Sunoo’s blockers aren’t strong enough to hold back the force of his happiness and the room fills with a combination of dark chocolate and lime, coffee and lavender seeping into every crevice.
With Sunghoon by his side, Sunoo feels ready to face the world.