Chapter Text
It was a story straight out of a simple, but cliche book you find abandoned at the back of a dusty bookstore.
My life was.
Our moms were close friends, so close they wanted to spend the rest of their lives next to each other. As if being neighbors wasn't enough to deepen their bond, the lovely ladies even conceived us around the same time... Their pregnancy photoshoot was something.
We were born 88 days apart. We went to the same kindergarten, elementary school, middle school... You get the gist. We were together all our lives, pretty much like our mothers.
On a hot, summer day, we received our secondary gender. He was an alpha, and I turned out to be an omega, no surprise there. I had always known. I had also known that he was my fated mate. Since the very beginning. There was a kind of bond shared between us, one too intimate that even our moms' relationship couldn't compare to. At least, for me.
We were childhood friends, we were neighbors, we were desk buddies, we were fated mates.
At the tender age of sixteen, my life ended.
I was rejected by my fated alpha. What-- no, how? How is that possible? Has it ever occurred in the history of mankind?! Nobody could warn me about the pain that ransacked my body and mind. No one could tell me how painful it was to be rejected by your own mate. A destined one at that!
Immediately after the confrontation, I fell ill to the point of hospitalization. My brain was fried apparently, according to my mom. I could vaguely remember anything from that incident, but one thing for sure, it was stupid. To be on the brink of death because of this measly shit called destiny.
--
He was curled up on his bed, seeking comfort from his teddy when he felt a bang against the wall he was leaning against. Sehun jolted, it was loud, but not loud enough to shake his apartment. But Sehun was not forgiving, he was already irritated from the discomfort, so he reciprocated by lifting his leg and then, he drove his heel down onto the wall.
The loud bang reverberated through the apartment and to his horror, his foot broke through, becoming one with the wall. He didn't know being in heat amplifies his strength...
"Oh Sehun!"
He heard his mom's yell and he felt his color draining.
"Nothing mom! Just a minor accident!" He winced at the crumbling paint as he wrenched his foot out of the hole.
"This is not minor at all, Oh Sehun," The wall retorted.
Sehun gasped and saw Kim fucking Kai through the hole, staring at him with the ever-judging eyes.
"Y-you started it," Sehun started weakly.
Kai looked disgusted as he continued to hold his nose and mouth covered. "I was telling you to tone down with the scent, it was permeating through the wall. And now you made it all worse." He gestured at the broken wall with his free hand.
Sehun's face flushed, if it wasn't already. He felt so angry, so wronged, so distraught, so needy, and so so so furious! "What do you want me to do? What can I do!" Before he knew it, angry tears were spilling down his cheeks.
"Again with those tears." Kai rolled his eyes. "I don't know, take some pills or something, it had never gotten this bad before." He left and shuffled around his own bedroom, before coming back again.
Sehun wanted to ridicule him, but his erratic sobs were making it difficult.
Kai then pulled down a poster over the hole in the wall.
A pair of naked boobs stared back at him.
It was a poster of a blonde westerner flaunting her voluptuous body in only a piece of swimsuit.
Sehun turned and fully covered himself under the blanket. "Bitch, bastard, fucker..." And the list continued.
Eventually, Sehun dozed off for a little bit until he heard knocks on his door.
"Sehun, I'm heading to work. Don't just lock yourself in there and get out to have some food." His mom said before leaving their tiny home.
The boy forced himself to get up and dragged himself to the kitchen, with a blanket hanging onto one shoulder. Sehun felt hot and cold at the same time and he didn't know what to do to help satiate this discomfort. His stomach growled.
He wanted to have his hair washed as he was soaking in a warm, bubbly bath prepared by his mate. He wanted to cuddle with his mate in front of the tv, while drowning in blankets, fast food, sweets and smooches. He wanted to be pampered and loved.
But.
What's the point of a fated mate when he couldn't even do shit while Sehun's in heat? Then, Sehun set his heart to find a new person, a new mate. Fuck Kim Kai.
He ignored the dinner at the table and opened the fridge. He almost cried after realizing that they had run out of ice cream!! With a sniffle, he went to get ready and grabbed the keys.
Upon stepping out of the comfort of his home, a waft of musk, forest, and tobacco assaulted his nose. There he was, the Kim Kai, leaning against the railing of the open-air corridor, smoking his lungs out.
Their eyes met.
Kai gave the other a once-over and snorted. He quickly covered his mouth, whether to hide his mockery or to block Sehun's scent.
Sehun betted the latter. He was sporting long, fuzzy socks with sandals. And since he couldn't decide whether he was hot or cold, he had a soft pair of pajama pants that he could easily roll up or down, which was why the left leg is fully covered while the right leg was exposed up to his thigh. It didn't end there, he had a trench coat to pair up with his sleeveless. To top it all off, he had a scarf wrapped around his head. A hoodie would be too thick and suffocating for his neck.
Sehun huffed and walked away.
"Where do you think you're going? In that condition." Kai's footsteps fell behind him.
"None of your business," The younger stepped into the elevator and spammed the close button, but Kai beat him to it.
"You're practically asking to be raped."
"Get lost, stalker," Sehun raised his middle fingers and stormed out of the metal box. He entered the nearest convenience store and thankfully, Kai didn't follow in. Quickly, he picked two pints of ice cream and went straight to the cashier.
"Hello," The man greeted as he scanned the items. "I know this might seem weird, but you smell good."
Sehun was alarmed, but he hesitantly offered a small smile and a nod.
The cashier froze. The young boy might be a walking fashion disaster, but the smile, oh god, was he beautiful. The healthy blush on his cheeks and the glow when he smiled... It was alluring. Not to mention, the sickly sweet fragrance was further making him look... delectable?..?
"Hey, are we done here?"
A sudden gruff voice snapped the cashier out of his reverie. "Oh sorry, here you go." He didn't pay any mind to the blond newcomer and handed the plastic bag to the pretty boy. He made sure to keep the bag held up so maybe, maybe the pretty boy could grant him a brush of his touch. But his daydream was crushed when the same blond boy snatched the bag away from his grip. Rude brat.
Sehun grumpily followed after Kai, having no idea what had just occurred. His eyes darted to a familiar shop he frequented. Bubble tea. He left Kai on his own device and walked to the shop, determined to spend the last of his pocket money on the boba.
"Wait," came Kai again. "There's too many people inside, I'll get it for you." Before Sehun could snap at him, Kai added, "My treat."
This effectively silenced the boy. "Well, if you insist."
After a few steps, Kai paused and turned around.
Sehun merely looked back with a raised brow. He was all unguarded and lax standing there out on the street at 8 pm.
The city lights and cars behind the young boy were a large blur. It made him look so small, Kai noted. He opened his mouth, but the spoken words were swallowed with the vibration in his pocket. With a frown, he picked up the call, "Hey, babe."
Sehun pursed his lips at the endearment. His eyebrows pulled downwards, noticing the change in Kai's expression. It looked grave.
"Stay there, okay?! I'll be there in five minutes, please, don't go anywhere." He rushed towards Sehun and shoved the convenience bag to him. "I'll stay on the line."
The younger stood there, stupefied, as he clutched the bag to his check. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, listening to Kai's footsteps that were gradually getting further away. When he opened his eyes, he was alone again, left staring at the bubble tea shop which was brimming with life.
A small smile played on his lips as he averted his eyes from the scene, probably in defeat.