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Hyunjoon paced the living room, his lips pressed into a tight line and his arms crossed over his chest. His oversized hoodie swayed with each step, but it wasn’t enough to distract him from the ever-growing spiral in his mind. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Geonwoo was acting weird.
It had started innocently enough: a few missed dinners, some late-night “errands,” and, most damning of all, that secretive little smile he’d been wearing lately. Hyunjoon didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but what else could it mean? Their pup was dating someone. Their pup. Without telling him.
He stopped mid-step and let out an exaggerated sigh, flopping onto the couch beside Dohyeon, who was busy reviewing VODs on his laptop. Dohyeon glanced up, raising an eyebrow but staying silent. It was the fourth time Hyunjoon had interrupted him in the past hour.
“You’re being awfully dramatic today,” Dohyeon said finally, clicking pause on the VOD. His gaze shifted to Hyunjoon, who was now sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest, frowning deeply. “What’s wrong?”
“Dramatic?” Hyunjoon echoed, scandalized. He gestured wildly in the air. “Dohyeon-ah, Geonwoo’s hiding something. I know it.”
Dohyeon blinked. “Hiding what?”
“I don’t know.” Hyunjoon threw his hands up. “But I’m pretty sure he’s seeing someone. And I’m also pretty sure he’s not telling me on purpose.”
That got Dohyeon’s attention. He sat back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest. “You think Geonwoo is dating someone?”
Hyunjoon nodded furiously. “Yes! I’ve seen the signs! He’s always sneaking off lately, he’s distracted during scrims, and—oh! He’s been on his phone constantly.”
“Isn’t he always on his phone?” Dohyeon asked dryly, though there was an amused twinkle in his eye.
“Not like this,” Hyunjoon huffed. He shifted to sit cross-legged, leaning toward Dohyeon like he was sharing top-secret intel. “He keeps smiling at his screen. Like, smiling. You know, that goofy grin people have when they’re texting someone they like.”
Dohyeon fought the urge to smile. He hadn’t really noticed Geonwoo acting strange until now, but as Hyunjoon listed off the signs, a few things started to click. Geonwoo had been disappearing more often, and he did seem happier lately. But it wasn’t the mystery that amused Dohyeon—it was Hyunjoon. The omega was genuinely stressing out, his worry etched into every line of his face.
Dohyeon cleared his throat. “Okay. Let’s say you’re right. What’s the problem?”
Hyunjoon stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “The problem? The problem?! Geonwoo’s our pup! What if this person isn’t good for him? What if they hurt him? Or what if—” His voice dropped to a horrified whisper. “What if they’re not even serious?”
Dohyeon chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re overthinking it.”
“I’m not!” Hyunjoon insisted. “You don’t understand, Dohyeon. He’s still so young. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. He needs someone to guide him—someone to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Dohyeon raised an eyebrow. “And that someone is you?”
“Of course it’s me,” Hyunjoon said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s practically my job now.”
Dohyeon tilted his head, his lips curving into a small smile. “You know he’s not actually a kid, right?”
Hyunjoon glared at him. “He’s our pup.”
Dohyeon didn’t argue. There was no point. Instead, he leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched Hyunjoon spiral. Truthfully, he had a pretty good idea of who Geonwoo’s mysterious “someone” might be, but he wasn’t about to tell Hyunjoon. Watching the omega fret over nothing was far too entertaining.
“So, what are you going to do?” Dohyeon asked, trying (and failing) to hide his amusement.
Hyunjoon sat up straighter, his determination palpable. “I’m going to find out who it is.”
“And how exactly are you going to do that?”
“I’ll figure it out!” Hyunjoon declared. “I’ll watch him. See where he’s going. Maybe I’ll check his phone—”
“Hyunjoon,” Dohyeon interrupted, his tone firm but amused. “Don’t check his phone.”
Hyunjoon pouted. “Fine. But I’m not just going to sit here and do nothing. I have to know. For his sake.”
Dohyeon shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, Joonie. Just don’t drive yourself crazy.”
“Too late,” Hyunjoon muttered, leaning back against the couch with a sigh. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind already racing with theories. Who could it be? Another omega? Someone from another team? His imagination ran wild, and the possibilities only made him more anxious.
Dohyeon glanced at him, his smile softening. Hyunjoon was adorable when he got like this—so wrapped up in his worries, so fiercely protective. It was one of the things Dohyeon loved about him.
“Don’t worry too much,” Dohyeon said quietly, his voice warm. “Geonwoo’s a smart kid. He’ll be okay.”
Hyunjoon glanced at him, his lips pressing into a thin line. “He’d better be,” he muttered. “Because if he’s not, I’m going to have words with whoever’s behind this.”
Dohyeon laughed, shaking his head. “Good luck with that.”
As Hyunjoon returned to his scheming, Dohyeon leaned back, his thoughts drifting to Geonwoo’s “mystery person.” He had a feeling Hyunjoon was about to get the shock of his life—and Dohyeon was more than happy to sit back and watch it all unfold.
This was going to be fun.
Later that evening, Hyunjoon sat perched at the edge of the couch, his eyes narrowing every time Geonwoo so much as picked up his phone. The younger alpha was sprawled out on the carpet, a notebook in front of him as he absentmindedly doodled. His phone sat beside him, lighting up every so often with a soft buzz, and each time, Hyunjoon’s glare sharpened.
Dohyeon leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he watched the scene unfold. It was like a predator stalking its prey—except the “predator” was Hyunjoon, and the “prey” was completely oblivious.
“Hyunjoon-hyung,” Geonwoo said suddenly, glancing up with a curious tilt of his head. “Why are you staring at me?”
Hyunjoon blinked, caught off guard. “I’m not staring,” he said quickly, his tone defensive. “I’m just… observing.”
Geonwoo frowned, looking genuinely puzzled. “Observing what?”
Hyunjoon faltered, scrambling for an excuse. “Your doodles,” he said, nodding toward the notebook. “They’re… nice.”
Geonwoo blinked, then grinned brightly. “Thanks! I’ve been practicing.”
Dohyeon bit back a laugh, shaking his head. Hyunjoon was terrible at this.
The phone buzzed again, and Hyunjoon’s attention snapped back to it like a magnet. Geonwoo picked it up, his expression softening as he read the message. A small, shy smile crept onto his face—a smile that sent Hyunjoon spiraling all over again.
“There it is,” Hyunjoon muttered under his breath, loud enough for Dohyeon to hear. “That smile.”
“What smile?” Dohyeon asked, though he knew exactly what Hyunjoon was talking about.
“The smile,” Hyunjoon hissed, gesturing vaguely at Geonwoo. “That stupid, lovesick smile. He’s texting them right now, isn’t he?”
Dohyeon shrugged, his expression carefully neutral. “Maybe.”
Hyunjoon groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I can’t take this. I need to know who it is.”
“Hyung, are you okay?” Geonwoo asked, looking genuinely concerned as he set his phone aside. “You seem… stressed.”
“I’m fine,” Hyunjoon said quickly, sitting up straighter. “Completely fine.”
Geonwoo didn’t look convinced, but he let it go, turning back to his notebook.
Dohyeon chuckled softly, drawing Hyunjoon’s attention. “You’re not going to get anything out of him like this,” Dohyeon said, his tone teasing.
“I’m not trying to get anything out of him,” Hyunjoon lied, crossing his arms. “I’m just… worried.”
“You’re cute when you’re worried,” Dohyeon said, grinning when Hyunjoon shot him a glare.
“This isn’t funny, Dohyeon-ah,” Hyunjoon said, though his cheeks turned pink. “What if this person isn’t good for him? What if they hurt him?”
“Then we’ll deal with it,” Dohyeon said simply, his voice calm. “But I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
Hyunjoon frowned, his gaze drifting back to Geonwoo, who was now humming softly to himself as he doodled. The younger alpha looked perfectly content, completely at ease in a way that only made Hyunjoon more suspicious.
“I’m going to figure it out,” Hyunjoon muttered, his determination renewed. “Even if it kills me.”
Dohyeon smiled, shaking his head. “Good luck.”
Hyunjoon had barely slept. He’d spent most of the night replaying every interaction he’d seen between Geonwoo and the mysterious “someone,” spiraling further with each overanalyzed detail. By the time the sun rose, he was bleary-eyed, irritable, and clinging to his third cup of coffee like it was his lifeline.
Geonwoo, however, strolled into the kitchen as if he hadn’t a single care in the world. Humming softly, he grabbed a bowl from the cabinet and poured cereal into it with an almost suspicious level of cheerfulness.
Hyunjoon watched him like a hawk, his eyes narrowing the second Geonwoo entered the room.
“Morning, hyung!” Geonwoo said brightly, completely oblivious to the scrutiny. He opened the fridge to grab the milk. “Did you sleep well?”
Hyunjoon’s forced smile was as tight as the grip he had on his mug. “Great. You?”
“Awesome!” Geonwoo replied, plopping down at the table with his cereal. He stirred the spoon in the bowl absentmindedly, glancing at his phone once before continuing. “We’ve got scrims later, but I was thinking of going out before that. Maybe grab a coffee or something.”
Hyunjoon’s eyes narrowed further. “Alone?”
Geonwoo hesitated briefly, then shrugged, his tone casual. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Hyunjoon echoed, his voice sharper now. “What does that mean?”
“It means maybe,” Geonwoo replied, his brow furrowing as he looked up at Hyunjoon. “Why?”
“Just curious,” Hyunjoon said quickly, lifting his coffee to his lips to disguise the deepening frown.
Geonwoo blinked at him, confusion evident in his expression, but he didn’t press further. Instead, he stirred his cereal again, humming the same light tune that had followed him into the kitchen.
The calm only lasted a moment longer before Dohyeon stepped into the room, his timing impeccable. He walked in like he already knew what was happening—his sharp gaze flicking between Hyunjoon and Geonwoo with poorly concealed amusement. He headed straight for the counter, grabbing a piece of toast without a word.
“Still on the case?” Dohyeon asked casually, his voice low enough that only Hyunjoon could hear.
Hyunjoon turned to glare at him, his frown deepening. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Dohyeon smirked, taking a bite of his toast. “Sure you don’t.”
A few days later, Hyunjoon finally reached his breaking point.
It was mid-afternoon, and the dorm was unusually quiet. Wangho was napping, and Hwanjoong was out running errands. The perfect time to corner Geonwoo.
Hyunjoon found him in the living room, lounging on the couch with his laptop perched on his knees. The younger alpha’s face was relaxed, his fingers tapping lazily at the keyboard. Every so often, his phone—sitting next to him on the armrest—buzzed faintly, drawing a faint smile to Geonwoo’s lips.
That smile was Hyunjoon’s final straw.
“Geonwoo,” Hyunjoon said sharply, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. He planted his hands on his hips, his oversized hoodie only adding to the drama.
Geonwoo startled, nearly tipping his laptop off his knees. “Hyung?” he asked, looking up in confusion.
“We need to talk,” Hyunjoon continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Now.”
Geonwoo blinked, his confusion deepening. He carefully set his laptop to the side, sitting up straighter. “What’s wrong?”
Hyunjoon crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing like a hawk zeroing in on its prey. “Who are you seeing?”
“What?” Geonwoo stared at him, bewildered.
“Don’t play dumb,” Hyunjoon pressed, taking a step closer. “I know you’ve been sneaking around. I know you’re texting someone. Just tell me who it is!”
Geonwoo’s face turned crimson, his hand instinctively reaching to close his laptop as if that would shield him from Hyunjoon’s interrogation. “Hyung, it’s not—”
The sound of a chair scraping against the floor interrupted him.
Dohyeon, who had been sitting at the dining table with his own laptop, finally looked up. His headphones rested around his neck, and his sharp gaze flicked between the two. Though silent up until now, the faint smirk on his lips betrayed his amusement.
Geonwoo’s desperate gaze darted to Dohyeon. “Hyung,” he said, his voice bordering on a whine. “Help?”
Dohyeon let out a soft sigh, closing his laptop calmly. He stretched lazily as he stood, as if this were just another ordinary day. “Hyunjoon,” he said evenly, his voice a soothing counter to Hyunjoon’s sharp tone. “Take a breath.”
“I’m breathing,” Hyunjoon snapped, though he did pause, his chest rising and falling a little more deliberately. “I just want answers. Is that too much to ask?”
“It’s not like that,” Geonwoo mumbled, his hands now resting protectively over his closed laptop. “I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you. I just… I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”
“Not ready?” Hyunjoon echoed, incredulous. He threw his hands in the air, pacing a tight circle before spinning back to face Geonwoo. “You’ve been sneaking around, smiling at your phone like it’s your lifeline, and now you’re saying you’re not ready to talk? How do you think that makes me feel? I’m supposed to look out for you!”
Dohyeon finally stepped closer, his movements purposeful. He placed a firm hand on Hyunjoon’s shoulder. “Joonie,” he said softly. “I get why you’re worried. But you need to trust Geonwoo.”
Hyunjoon turned to him, his frustration bubbling just under the surface. “I do trust him,” he said, his voice quieter but no less firm. “That’s not the point. What if…what if this person isn’t good enough for him? What if they hurt him?”
Geonwoo’s expression softened, though he still looked uneasy. “Hyung, they won’t,” he said. “I promise.”
Hyunjoon shook his head. “You don’t know that.”
Dohyeon gave Hyunjoon’s shoulder a light squeeze. “And neither do you,” he countered. “But Geonwoo does. He’s not a kid, Hyunjoon. You have to give him space to figure this out.”
Hyunjoon’s lips parted, but no rebuttal came. His gaze flicked between Dohyeon and Geonwoo, the fight in him visibly deflating.
Finally, he exhaled deeply, his shoulders sagging. “I just… I don’t want him to get hurt,” he murmured, his voice tinged with worry.
Geonwoo offered a small, grateful smile, his grip on his laptop easing. “I know, hyung. And I appreciate it. But I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”
The weight of Geonwoo’s words hung in the air, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. At last, Hyunjoon let out a reluctant sigh, crossing his arms defensively. “Fine,” he muttered. “But if anything goes wrong, I’m stepping in.”
“Fair,” Geonwoo said with a grin, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
Dohyeon smiled, his hand falling away from Hyunjoon’s shoulder. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
Hyunjoon shot him a half-hearted glare. “Don’t start.”
Dohyeon chuckled, stepping back to lean against the wall. “Just saying. You’re cute when you’re worried.”
Hyunjoon’s cheeks flushed pink, and he quickly turned away, muttering under his breath. Geonwoo laughed softly, the sound light and genuine.
Later that evening, after the dorm had settled into its usual nighttime quiet, Dohyeon stepped out onto the balcony. Geonwoo was there, leaning against the railing with his phone in one hand, though he wasn’t looking at it. Instead, his eyes were fixed somewhere off in the neighborhood below, his expression distant. A cool breeze rustled through the stillness, carrying with it the faint hum of the night.
Sliding the door open quietly, Dohyeon leaned against the frame. “You’ve been out here for a while,” he said casually. “Everything okay?”
Geonwoo startled slightly, his grip tightening around his phone before he tucked it into his hoodie pocket. “Yeah,” he replied quickly, though the tension in his voice didn’t escape Dohyeon’s notice. “Just… needed some air.”
Dohyeon stepped forward, joining him at the railing. “You’ve been needing a lot of air lately,” he remarked lightly, a teasing edge in his tone but not enough to feel confrontational.
Geonwoo let out a soft laugh, though it lacked conviction. “I guess I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”
Dohyeon leaned on the railing beside him, letting the moment stretch into a comfortable quiet. The faint sounds of crickets and the occasional hum of a car in the distance filled the silence. Finally, Dohyeon broke it, his voice casual but deliberate. “It’s Seonghoon, isn’t it?”
Geonwoo froze, his hands gripping the railing tighter as his wide eyes snapped to Dohyeon’s. “What?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dohyeon glanced sideways at him, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “I’m not blind, Geonwoo. And it’s not hard to connect the dots when his scent’s been faintly mixed with yours a few times.”
Geonwoo’s face turned crimson, and he looked down, as though the woodgrain of the balcony railing had suddenly become fascinating. “I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. “I just… I didn’t know how to bring it up.”
“I get that,” Dohyeon said, his voice calm and reassuring. “But I thought I’d save you the trouble of having to start. So… how long has this been going on?”
Geonwoo hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie. “It didn’t really start the way you’d think,” he said softly. “When he left the team, I thought that’d be the end of it. But he started checking in on me. At first, it was just casual; asking how I was, how things were going here. It was nice, you know? Comforting.”
Dohyeon nodded, his expression open and patient, silently urging Geonwoo to continue.
“I didn’t think much of it at first,” Geonwoo admitted. “We’ve known each other for a while now, we’re friends. But then we kept talking, and… I started waiting for his messages. Hoping he’d call. It wasn’t just that he made me feel better about the team or myself. I just… wanted to talk to him. About anything.”
A small, shy smile appeared on Geonwoo’s face, and he glanced at Dohyeon for a brief second before looking away again. “It really hit me last month after our last match against DK. We met outside and he hugged me. But it wasn’t just a ‘good job’ kind of hug. It felt… different. And when he told me he was proud of me, like, really proud, it just clicked. I like him.”
Dohyeon listened intently, his sharp gaze soft with understanding. “And how did he take it when you told him?”
Geonwoo laughed quietly, though the sound was shaky. “I didn’t know what to expect. Two alphas? That’s not how it’s supposed to be. I thought he might think it was weird, or… wrong. But he didn’t. He just listened. And then he told me he liked me too.”
Geonwoo hesitated, his hands gripping the railing tighter. “But even now… I’m still scared, hyung. We haven’t told anyone, and I don’t know if we ever will. There’s so much… stigma about two alphas being together. What if people think it’s wrong? What if they think I’m abnormal for feeling this way?”
Dohyeon’s lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes softened with sincerity. “Geonwoo, there’s nothing wrong about being honest with yourself. And there’s nothing wrong with how you feel. People might have their opinions, sure, but at the end of the day, it’s your life. No one else’s.”
Geonwoo bit his lip, his gaze dropping to the ground. “It’s just… hard. I want to be proud of this. Of us. But sometimes I wonder if I should just… keep it to myself. Like it’d be easier that way.”
Dohyeon reached out, placing a firm yet gentle hand on Geonwoo’s shoulder. “The people who care about you, really care about you, won’t think any less of you for this. Hyunjoon, Wangho-hyung, Hwanjoong… they’ll all come around. And if anyone tries to make you feel like this is wrong, you come to me. I’ll handle it.”
Geonwoo blinked, his eyes glistening slightly as he looked up at Dohyeon. “You really think they’ll understand?”
“I know they will,” Dohyeon said confidently. “It might take time, but they’ll see how happy this makes you. And that’s all that matters.”
Geonwoo let out a shaky breath, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. “Thanks, hyung. That… means a lot.”
Dohyeon smirked faintly, ruffling Geonwoo’s hair in a rare show of affection. “Of course. But you know Hyunjoon’s going to corner you about this again. He’s like a bloodhound when it comes to your business.”
Geonwoo groaned, though the sound was lighter this time, almost amused. “Don’t remind me.”
Dohyeon chuckled, stepping back toward the door. “Come on. Let’s head in. You’ll need your energy for when he finally pieces it all together.”
Geonwoo followed him back inside, his steps lighter than they’d been in weeks. Knowing that Dohyeon understood, and supported him, made all the difference.