Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Jimin sat at the breakfast table, throwing confused looks at his friend sitting directly across from him, who was holding up a plane ticket with a wide smile.

Jungkook had been acting strange ever since he called early this morning to say he would stop by for breakfast. Jimin knew well enough that Jungkook wasn’t someone who would wake up this early, so it was clear that he was up to something.

Still, he had waited until the last minute. Normally, he would have just grabbed a coffee and a sandwich before heading to the office, but he had quickly set up a breakfast table for Jungkook.

All just so his friend could show up in his pajamas and flash a random ticket at him.

“What’s this?”

Jungkook’s smile widened, as if shoving the ticket with the word “Jeju” written on it closer to Jimin would somehow make him react. Not a single expression crossed Jimin’s face.

Maybe that’s why Jungkook’s shoulders slumped, and his once bright smile faded to a faint one, almost like a child who had lost their excitement. His eyebrows were nearly furrowed.

“Can’t you get a little excited? I’m trying to surprise you here.”

“It’s kind of hard to get excited when I don’t even know what this is, Kook.” Jimin simply shrugged and gestured to the ticket before popping his jam-covered toast into his mouth. “Are we going to Jeju?”

“Not we, just you,” Jungkook said, sliding the ticket across the table to his friend. “I rented a house there for you for a week.”

For the first time, Jimin actually showed signs of surprise. He paused mid-movement and pulled the ticket closer, as if trying to convince himself that it really was for one person. Finally, he asked, “Why? When you said it was a surprise, I thought it was for both of us.”

“That’s what I thought at first, but then I changed my mind,” Jungkook said, now almost pouting. “Actually, it was supposed to be for the three of us, but Taehyung gave me a better idea.”

Jimin leaned forward, suddenly more interested. He looked completely confused, still trying to figure out what was going on.

“This is our Valentine’s Day gift to you,” Jungkook explained. “I mean… I hope you’ll use it.”

Jimin quickly brushed off his surprise at that. Instead, he chuckled softly, placing the ticket back on the table and sliding it toward Jungkook. “You’re messing with me,” he said. “Do I really seem that pitiful being single?”

“It’s not like that!” Jungkook protested, taking an aggressive bite of his cucumber, as if frustrated by how poorly he was handling the situation. “Yes, you’re single, and that’s why we got you this gift, but also because we don’t want you to be alone anymore.” He tried to smile innocently. “You spend so much time at the office that we’re seriously worried you’re going to die a virgin.”

“You know I’m not a virgin.”

“Okay, let’s say you’re losing your omega charms…”

“Jungkook!”

“What?” Jungkook frowned. “When was the last time you blew off steam with someone? Or forget that—when was the last time you even flirted with someone?”

Jimin fell into a deep silence. It was obvious he didn’t want to answer those questions. He fiddled with the knife in the jam jar, shrugged, and kept his eyes fixed on the table.

“For God’s sake, Jimin, there’s a life outside of that company. You can flirt with people and even accept some alphas’ courting gifts.”

“Sometimes you forget who I am, Jungkook. I can’t just go out and accept courting gifts from anyone I come across. This damn last name I carry is a huge obstacle for me.”

“I know—”

“No, you don’t,” Jimin cut him off. “Because you and Taehyung are a perfect match. It was great that you were childhood friends, your families literally run businesses together, and there was no problem with you two bonding.” Jimin let out a bitter laugh. “But if I fall in love with someone, the first thing my family will wonder is which family they come from. So… just let it go. I’m happy living alone.”

Just as Jimin was about to leave the table, Jungkook let out a deep sigh and said, “I think you’re being too prejudiced. Even if you hate this world, you never consider the possibility that you could fall in love with someone who shares the same circle as you.”

Jimin laughed. “I’m not going to bother explaining to you how much of assholes the alpha sons of rich families are. You’ve never dealt with any alpha other than Taehyung.”

He glanced at his friend. Jungkook had never been interested in working. Besides, he was perfectly content embracing all the omega standards society had imposed on him, especially knowing that his alpha older brother would take over after their father.

In that sense, Jimin and Jungkook were complete opposites.

Jimin was the only child in his family. He had rolled up his sleeves without caring that he was an omega and worked hard to prove who he was in a world ruled by alphas. His family had been completely against it at first, convinced that he would never succeed.

But now, whenever Jimin walked into that meeting room and effortlessly commanded the attention of a room full of alphas, everyone knew he had made it.

He was also well aware that, as a chaebol in Korea, he could never bond with someone from an ordinary family. What’s more, after stepping into the business world and dealing with the spoiled heirs of other companies, he had grown to despise them all.

That’s why he would rather stay alone than let those rich, stupid assholes into his life just because they were alphas.

Eventually, Jimin returned to the table, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He picked up the ticket and placed a small kiss on Jungkook’s cheek. “Thank you anyway,” he said. “Even if I’m not planning to meet anyone, going on vacation for Valentine’s Day sounds nice. Spending time with myself is always good.”

Then, he left the kitchen and headed to his dressing room to get ready for the day.

Before placing the ticket on the nightstand, he checked the date. February 7 to 15.

Nice, Jimin thought.

A week of peace wouldn’t hurt anyone.

- - -

Jimin had never been to Jeju during the winter before, so he had no idea what an incredible view awaited him. The boutique villa Jungkook and Taehyung had rented for him was right by the sea. Snow was falling, and the endless blue looked perfect when mixed with that sweet white.

There was also a modern fireplace right near the villa’s sea-facing window. He had no trouble lighting it on his own. The inside was warm enough, and Jimin was already certain he would spend a lot of time in the chair by that window.

Of course, he had brought his work with him, but now that he didn’t have to go to the office, he could finally do the things he had put on the back burner, like reading and watching shows. After all, he had a whole week.

Besides, it had been so long since he had taken time for himself that even his family got excited when they found out he was going to Jeju. Although his mother, who noticed the dates afterward, had asked a few questions, his family had long given up hope of Jimin ever being in a relationship with an alpha.

Even those so-called blind dates his mother had tried to arrange at the start of last year—always with well-known, respectable families’ alphas somehow—had come to an end at some point. His mother had completely given up.

Jimin sighed. After finishing unpacking his suitcase, lighting the fireplace, and setting a cozy atmosphere in the house, he finally grabbed his jacket and headed to the chair he had been eyeing. It was still early evening, and as the daylight slowly faded, the gently falling snow looked truly perfect—

The door opened.

Jimin turned away from the window, where he had been smiling softly, with a sudden burst of fear. The sound was so unexpected and abrupt that his heart was pounding hard enough to jump out of his chest. This was a private residence, and he had entered that door with the key given to him, so—

“Shit!” The person who entered also flinched and cursed upon seeing him, leading to a brief moment of silence.

Jimin recognized that face.

Of course, Jimin recognized that face. It was none other than Yoongi, the alpha son of the Min family. They often had to meet and talk at business meetings. Since their families worked closely together, staying in contact was a necessity.

And now he was standing there with a suitcase by his side, still holding a key as he stared at Jimin in shock.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. As the snowflakes on Yoongi’s hair melted, Jimin, still clutching his chest, kept staring at him.

“What are you doing here?”

Yoongi was the first to speak, and Jimin raised his eyebrows even more at the absurdity of the question, pointing at him sharply as he replied, “I should be asking you that!”

“This place was rented under my name for seven days,” Yoongi stated as if everything was crystal clear. His face held a smug expression, as if—

Jimin paused and narrowed his eyes at him. He knew that look. The alpha was giving him a look that said he had orchestrated this entire plan. As if Jimin had set this all up and trapped him here on purpose.

Jimin let out an irritated breath and took a few steps toward him. “It was rented under my name.”

“That’s impossible. I checked in at the main lobby with my ID and got the key.”

“I also checked in at the main lobby with my ID and—” Jimin stopped. Instead of repeating this ridiculousness, he took a moment to pause and think logically. Because he was well aware they wouldn’t just hand the key to anyone. “Jungkook made my reservation, so—” he said, narrowing his eyes. “This place is my gift.”

Yoongi stepped inside. As if trying to block the cold air from outside, he pushed the door closed, not looking dressed warmly enough for the weather.

“Actually, it’s my Valentine’s gift because Taehyung is sick of me.”

Another silence followed. As the pieces slowly fell into place, they exchanged strange glances. The situation was quite clear now. So…

“This is so cliché,” Jimin whispered. “If they think I’m going to put up with this stupidity, I’m going to kill them.”

“I told Taehyung very clearly that I didn’t want to meet anyone. So if they got your hopes up, I’m sorry. I really had no idea.”

Jimin froze for a moment before turning around to search for his phone, looking at Yoongi like he was trying to figure out what nonsense he was spouting. While making a face, he muttered, “Shut up,” as he added, “If I had known I’d be spending seven days in the same house with an alpha, I would never have gotten on that plane.”

Then he turned back around. Trying to remember where he had left his phone, he ignored what was happening behind him. Yoongi took off his shoes and dragged his suitcase across the floor, but Jimin didn’t care. Instead, he grabbed his phone and called Jungkook.

It wasn’t even turned on.

Without wasting time, he dialed Taehyung’s number, but nothing in his life changed.

“I’m going to kill these bastards—” he muttered through gritted teeth as he opened the messaging app, already switching to all caps and preparing to write them an epic rant.

“Leave it,” came a voice from behind him, making Jimin flinch and turn around once more. This time, Yoongi had shed his coat and outer layers, still looking underdressed, now only in a pair of sweatpants and a short-sleeved black T-shirt.

Jimin inhaled the faint woody scent he emitted, mixed with a breeze of the ocean. Since scent blockers were mandatory in the office, this was technically the first time Jimin had smelled his scent. It was hard to imagine Yoongi smelling this soft and light.

“They already set up this shitty plan,” Yoongi tried to explain. “It’s obvious they’re trying to get us together. Yelling at them while we’re hours away isn’t going to change anything.”

“But—”

Yoongi shook his head from side to side, cutting him off. “I came here with enough stuff for seven days, and I’m sure you did too. I was really looking forward to getting some rest. So I’m not planning to leave.” He walked past Jimin to the kitchen counter and poured himself a glass of water, looking utterly indifferent. “I don’t mind sharing this place with you. If you’re uncomfortable, instead of trying to reach them, just buy a ticket and fly back to Korea. It’ll be easier.”

Jimin tried to understand him as he looked at Yoongi, who just shrugged. After taking a sip of his water, Yoongi turned around and gestured inside. “I guess you took the first room, so I’ll take the one upstairs,” he explained. “The flight was a bit rough, so I’ll be sleeping until dinner.”

He left Jimin behind, standing there with his lips slightly parted, not knowing what to say. It was as if there was no need for him to say or even think anything.

For a moment, Jimin let go of everything. The happiness of finally getting some rest, the perfect atmosphere created by the falling snow—he let it all go. He just wanted to pack up all his clothes, return to Seoul, and tear Jungkook’s house down.

As he stood there for minutes, he thought it would feel good.

But then, as he calmed down, his thoughts settled as well.

Whether it made sense or not, Yoongi was right about one thing: since he had come all the way here, he might as well enjoy it.

He would enjoy it, and when it was time to return, he would go back to Seoul and deal with tearing down Jungkook’s house then.

Yes, perfect.

- - -

Jimin smiled softly as he returned to the house from outside, bundled up in ultra-thick clothes to keep from freezing.

When he first went out, he had asked around to see if there were any other places available to rent, but it seemed that everything was already fully booked for Valentine’s Day. There were no other options.

Even though he was annoyed at first, his mood changed as he explored, tasted street food, and stopped by a few winter festivals. The weather was cold, and he felt it with every breath, but somehow life here hadn’t paused for the winter. People were still making the most of it.

Also, it had been so long since Jimin had been stuck with fancy restaurants that tasting warm homemade food felt like an explosion of flavor on his palate.

The contrast between the warm food and the cold weather was just as delightful.

So, when he opened the door to the house with a full stomach and a satisfied smile after his first day out, he didn’t even bother to hide it. When he left, Yoongi had still been asleep, so he assumed he wouldn’t see him again just yet.

But the lights in the house were on. Soft music was playing, and there was a faint sizzling sound. As Jimin stepped fully inside, he easily realized that the sizzling was coming from the kitchen. Something was cooking in a pan. The house smelled delicious.

Pulling off his thick gloves, he stopped at the kitchen door, where Yoongi, standing at the stove, glanced over his shoulder at him. With a faint smile, he greeted, “Welcome back. You weren’t here when I woke up, so I thought you had already gone back to Seoul.”

Jimin, trying to figure out what he was doing, simply shrugged and leaned against the doorframe. “You were right. It’s pointless to bother. Instead, I’ve decided I’ll dig Jungkook’s grave when I get back.”

“Good. We’re already getting along well. I’ll be Taehyung’s nightmare while you do that.”

Yoongi murmured in a friendly tone, taking a moment to grind some black pepper into whatever he was cooking in the pan.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, fully focused on what he was doing. “I got some chicken.”

“I ate something outside,” Jimin murmured politely. Before turning around to take off his coat, he lingered on Yoongi’s back a little longer. “It’s funny how… omega of you this is. I thought you’d order takeout.”

Yoongi chuckled. Turning off the stove, he faced him, crossing his arms and giving him a challenging look.

“Let me guess. You hate alphas and believe they’re all jerks.”

“Oh, I’m absolutely right about that.”

“I can see that,” Yoongi nodded in agreement. “Luckily, cooking doesn’t feel very omega-like to me. Or let me put it this way: I don’t see anything as omega-like.”

Jimin pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek as he studied him, as if trying to catch any hint of mockery. But Yoongi looked quite serious.

More than that, Yoongi was different too.

As a rule, Jimin didn’t really scrutinize the alphas he worked with. As long as they got the job done, he didn’t care much about how they looked. He was more interested in their approaches and ideas.

Maybe that’s why seeing Min Yoongi like this felt different. He was so used to seeing him in suits. Now, he was standing there in a pair of shorts that completely contrasted with the weather, paired with a matching shirt. His long black hair, something Jimin rarely saw in men around him, was tucked behind his ears. His skin looked smooth and flawless. He was cooking for himself at the stove, and somehow, it felt so... domestic.

The moment Jimin felt his own lily of the valley scent subtly intensify, he panicked. “Anyway,” he said quickly, turning around and heading for the hallway. “I’ll be in my room. Goodnight.”

Then he entered his room and shut the door behind him.

I mean… the plan was simple. As long as they stayed in different spaces until the holiday was over, there would be no problem.

Yes. Absolutely simple.

Just stay away from him.

- - -

“Good morning, I left some breakfast for you on the table.”

When you think about it, Jimin had spent so long lying in bed staring at the ceiling, making plans… that when he woke up in the morning, he stayed in his room for a while just to avoid running into Yoongi. When the sounds died down and not a single step could be heard in the house, he opened his door.

Only to run into Yoongi, who was comfortably sitting in the armchair he had his eyes on.

The alpha was sitting sideways in the armchair, his legs dangling over the armrest, holding the book Jimin had taken out to read yesterday. Jimin’s own book.

The book Jimin had patiently waited for months to read, thinking this week would be the perfect time.

Trying to suppress his irritation, Jimin turned toward the open kitchen area. There was a covered plate on the counter. He didn’t know what was inside, but from the smell in the air, it was clear it would be something delicious.

For a moment, he felt genuinely annoyed. He couldn’t figure out if it was because his omega perceived this as a form of personal care or because Yoongi seemed more comfortable than he expected. After all, they had come here with some sort of plan in mind. Even if they wanted to make the most of it, Jimin clearly wasn’t able to adapt right away.

He gave Yoongi a fleeting glance before heading back to his room. After grabbing the coat and gloves he wore yesterday, he left the house without saying a word. No matter how curious his inner wolf was about the meal Yoongi had prepared and set aside for him, he didn’t care. He stopped at the first restaurant he found and went inside, ordering the first thing that caught his eye on the menu.

While eating, he kept himself busy watching people come and go to avoid giving himself time to think. He focused on a small child playing with a toy, finishing his meal as quickly as possible.

But that was it. Jimin knew very well that he couldn’t stay outside all day. And even though it was still morning, it was colder than it had been last night. It didn’t take long to realize that taking the beach route he had veered onto was a bad idea.

Because the closer he got to the water, the colder the wind became.

Even though Jimin didn’t want to give up, the universe didn’t seem to agree with him. He had no choice but to change direction, telling himself it wasn’t a big deal as he made his way back to the house. As long as he didn’t have to face Yoongi, sharing the same space wouldn’t be a problem.

He put the key in the lock, pushed the door open, and immediately locked eyes with Yoongi, who was standing right there.

So yes, the universe definitely didn’t seem like it wanted to cooperate with him.

Yoongi blinked at him, raising his eyebrows. Just as he seemed about to take a step closer, he said, “You’re red.” Then his raised eyebrows quickly furrowed. “You’re really red—get inside!”

As Yoongi opened the door wider as if it was necessary, Jimin rolled his eyes and pulled out his key. While taking off his snowy shoes, he muttered, “Of course I’m red! Do you have any idea how cold it is outside?”

“That’s why I’m inside,” Yoongi explained with a neutral expression, which somehow made Jimin even more annoyed. “Besides, there was everything we needed to make food here. So going out was stupid.”

“You didn’t need to prepare anything for me.”

“Making a little extra while cooking for myself isn’t going to kill me.”

“It still wasn’t necessary!” Jimin frowned. “Just because we’re staying in the same house doesn’t mean we have to communicate or think about each other.”

Yoongi paused for a moment before silently stepping behind Jimin. The omega couldn’t process what was happening before Yoongi reached out to take off his coat. Jimin looked like he was about to protest, but the alpha didn’t care. After hanging his coat in the closet, Yoongi placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder and guided him toward the armchairs in front of the window.

Jimin was too surprised to resist. In the end, he found himself sitting in the cozy spot he had eyed yesterday, watching Yoongi as if trying to understand his intentions.

Yet, Yoongi didn’t stop. After seating Jimin, he went to the kitchen and returned almost a minute later with two mugs in hand. Handing one to Jimin, he explained, “I made coffee for myself. You’ll warm up faster, so don’t refuse it.”

“But—”

“Almond milk and a little sugar, yes,” Yoongi rolled his eyes as he settled into the matching armchair by the window.

Hearing Yoongi say how he liked his coffee made Jimin frown even more deeply. Still not fully settled in his seat, he studied the alpha as if trying to understand him. Yoongi looked relaxed. He smiled as he took a sip, unfazed by the warmth.

“You always order it like that in meetings, so yes, I know how you take your coffee.”

That was true. Jimin often asked his assistant for coffee during meetings. And since very few assistants could tolerate him, they changed frequently. Which meant he had to repeat the same request over and over again.

For a moment, Jimin wanted to scold Yoongi and accuse him of being some kind of creep for paying attention to this. But he also knew that would be an exaggerated reaction. So he just stayed silent. Trying to relax, he leaned back and muttered a barely audible, “Thanks,” between his teeth.

His voice was almost too soft to hear, but judging by the smile lingering on Yoongi’s lips, the alpha had heard him.

“Now,” Yoongi murmured after waiting for Jimin to take his first sip. “I don’t know what kind of nonsense you’ve experienced with alphas, but—Taehyung is your friend, isn’t he?”

Jimin responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “Of course he is!” He was Jungkook’s alpha, after all, and Jimin would obviously be friends with his best friend’s alpha.

“Taehyung is a very close friend of mine,” Yoongi declared as if it were a golden piece of information. “And if you can get along with him even though he’s an alpha, I’m sure you can get along with me too.” He raised a single eyebrow. “I don’t approve of what they did, but if you keep avoiding me just because I’m an alpha, you won’t enjoy your vacation.”

“I’m not avoiding you because you’re an alpha!” Jimin leaned forward carefully with his coffee. “It’s just—” He stopped.

He stopped because he didn’t know what to say himself.

“Just what?”

“Just that we don’t have to see each other, that’s all. You don’t need to cook for me.”

After a short silence, Yoongi murmured understandingly, “Okay. I was just trying to be thoughtful, but if that bothers you, I won’t do it.”

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but there’s no need for that. You weren’t supposed to be here anyway, so I would have found a way to feed myself, right?”

“Yes.”

Jimin looked at him. It was obvious Yoongi was holding himself back from saying something. Perhaps that’s why Jimin encouraged him by saying, “You can say it. I won’t overreact.”

“I just wanted to say I understand why you’re keeping your distance since we don’t know each other.” Yoongi shrugged thoughtfully. “I’m not mad at Taehyung because he was just trying to do something for me.”

“I’m mad at Jungkook because he knows I hate spoiled rich alphas!”

Yoongi chuckled. “You don’t even know if I’m spoiled or not.”

“Oh, trust me, I’ve seen enough.”

“Okay, you have your prejudices, and I don’t think I can change them in seven days. So, I’ll leave you be.” Yoongi tilted his head. “But just so you know, Taehyung did this because I don’t like spoiled rich omegas, and the ones my mother tries to set me up with are usually like that. That’s why I prefer being alone.” He raised an eyebrow. “So don’t be mad at your friend. Clearly, they were just trying to put the pieces together.”

Then, with a pleasant smile, he stood up and walked away with his coffee. As Yoongi headed upstairs, Jimin scrunched his nose at the awkwardness of the situation he found himself in. Taking a big sip of his coffee, he muttered, “I’m going to kill you, Jeon. You’ll regret being born.”

- - -

Jimin read his book.

But he didn’t feel at ease.

From the moment he arrived, he had his eyes set on the couch and was now sitting there comfortably with his book in hand. It was a thin book, and it wouldn’t take long to finish.

But apparently, Yoongi, who had taken it before him, had underlined some sentences while reading. Normally, this would drive Jimin crazy, but somehow, seeing the exact lines he would have underlined made it worse. The thought that he might share the same feelings as Yoongi unsettled him.

Also, Yoongi hadn’t come downstairs since going up. Hours passed, the sky darkened, but Yoongi was nowhere to be seen.

Jimin tried to focus on his book to pass the time, but he couldn’t reach the pace he needed.

When the doorbell rang, he moved to open it but turned instead toward the sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs. Yoongi, holding his wallet, opened the door, paid, and took the bags before closing the door again.

Without even realizing it, Jimin furrowed his brows and asked, “What are you doing?”

Yoongi froze on the first step of the stairs, turning to him in surprise. After glancing at the bags in his hand, he replied, “I’m going to eat? I ordered food because I was hungry.”

“I can see that.” Jimin didn’t even understand why he was getting angrier. But seconds later, he gestured to the kitchen and said, “You know you can use that, right? Because of me, you didn’t have to—”

“Jimin-ssi,” Yoongi interrupted with a smile. “You don’t have to explain yourself, okay? I’m not here to ruin your vacation, so it’s fine if I don’t use the kitchen.”

Without letting Jimin say anything else, he turned and went back upstairs. Seconds later, the sound of the door closing on the upper floor echoed.

When Jimin turned around and saw the lit fireplace, he furrowed his brows even more. He had chosen the bedroom closest to the living area when he arrived so that he wouldn’t have any heating issues at night. He hadn’t even checked the upstairs.

Also, considering that Yoongi, who had been in shorts that morning in the kitchen, had come down now wearing a thick sweatshirt, the upper floor probably wasn’t that warm.

But Yoongi had chosen that room himself. There was another bedroom downstairs—

Jimin shook his head. He was an adult alpha. He was old enough to make his own decisions, and Jimin wasn’t going to mother him by checking if he was warm enough.

But maybe Jimin had influenced his choice of room.

Jimin furrowed his brows even more. “We hadn’t even argued when he chose the room,” he told himself to feel better. “He picked it himself, so I shouldn’t care if he freezes.”

Then he returned to the couch. Picking up his book again in hopes of finishing it, he stared at the words as if reading, but deep down, he kept thinking about the upper floor. Why hadn’t he been curious enough to check upstairs when he first arrived? He didn’t even know if there was a window up there. With a view like this outside, it would be a shame if there wasn’t one.

Maybe there was a fireplace upstairs too, and Jimin was worrying for nothing.

If he had checked as soon as he arrived, he wouldn’t be thinking about any of this now. He would already know what Yoongi’s situation was.

He shook his head. Realizing he couldn’t focus on his book, he tried calling Jungkook again but failed. At this point, he was almost certain Jungkook had blocked him instead of just turning off his phone. Sighing, he tried calling Taehyung even though he knew it wouldn’t work. It didn’t.

Finally, after taking a warm shower and completing his daily routine, he felt a little calmer. His mind was still confused, and everything felt like a joke, but at least he felt more at ease now.

As he dried his hair with a towel and headed toward the kitchen, he heard footsteps. Turning his head, he saw Yoongi, dressed more warmly than when he first arrived. He was wearing a coat and a beanie Jimin didn’t expect him to wear, heading toward the door with the empty food containers from earlier.

When Yoongi noticed him, he smiled but didn’t say anything, quietly leaving the house. Jimin’s shoulders slumped as he heard the door close.

He had no right to wonder where Yoongi was going, so he wouldn’t.

But his eyes drifted to the stairs. For a moment, he waited to see if the door would open again. When no sound came, he hurriedly headed upstairs.

He could check the floor before Yoongi returned and tell the restless wolf inside him that everything was fine.

So, he moved quickly. As soon as he reached the top, the wooden ceiling greeted him. There were two rooms. One had a counter, a washing machine, and a dryer. Directly across from it was a room with a mattress on the floor, a small table, and Yoongi’s open suitcase lying there. On the table were a laptop and a few folders.

Jimin lifted his head, assuming Yoongi had also brought work with him. This place was somewhat like an attic. There was a window overlooking the outside, but it was high up and not very large.

Jimin’s throat tightened. Cursing Jungkook once again, he turned around and hurried down the stairs.

Because, damn it, being the first to arrive here didn’t change the fact that Yoongi had come with the same hopes. The house was perfect. It felt like a warm home. It had a magnificent view and a fireplace. No matter how he looked at it, there was no way Jimin could allow Yoongi to stay in that small space upstairs.

He squeezed his eyes shut and sank down at the end of the staircase.

He thought about his previous conversations with Yoongi and their past interactions. He knew Yoongi was dedicated to his work and successful. When he thought about it, Yoongi had never disrespected him. They had met a few times at Taehyung’s place, but even then, Yoongi was always in a suit, stopping by for half an hour after work.

Other than that, they had no communication. At large events, there were polite smiles and a few nods, but nothing more. He didn’t really know what kind of person Yoongi was.

He had allowed his massive prejudice against alphas to take over his mind.

But at the end of the day, Yoongi was also a chaebol, and there was a chance he wasn’t any different from other alphas.

Jimin sighed as Yoongi’s words echoed in his mind. Of course, there was a chance he wasn’t different, but there was also a chance he could be a good alpha, just like Taehyung.

He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the banister, sighing. This holiday was supposed to be good for him, but he already felt psychologically drained.

He didn’t know how long he sat there, but when the door finally opened and a snow-covered Yoongi appeared, Jimin was still sitting on the stairs with his hands clasped in front of him.

Yoongi took off his shoes and, turning around, froze in surprise when he saw him. As the snow on him started to melt, he pulled off his beanie, shaking back his long hair. “Jimin-ssi,” he said. “What are you doing there?”

“Move to the room downstairs,” Jimin said firmly, his voice clear and authoritative. “You don’t deserve to stay up there.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrows, pausing as if trying to understand what he meant, then chuckled lightly. “I stayed there last night too, but it didn’t seem like you had a problem with it.”

“I didn’t know what the room looked like yesterday. Now I do.”

At that, Yoongi raised his eyebrows even more, if that was possible. “You went into my room?”

Jimin didn’t even bother denying it. Standing up, he said, “Yes.” He almost sounded like he was challenging him. “I’m angry, and I’m still mad at Jungkook for making me share this holiday with someone, but—” He stopped, averting his gaze involuntarily. “But I understand that you came here with the same thoughts I had. It’s unfair for you to be up there while I’m using the rest of the house.”

“It’s really not a big deal. I’m mostly working anyway.”

“The table in the kitchen overlooks the garden and has a beautiful view,” Jimin explained. “Plus, the fireplace heats the whole floor nicely. That room is cold.”

Yoongi gave him an uncertain look. “It’s still wrong that you entered my room without permission.”

“I know, but I’m not going to apologize. Right now, I’m thinking about you.”

“So, when I made dinner thinking about you on the first day—”

Jimin let out a frustrated breath, raising his hand and giving him a sharp look. “Just pack your things and move to the room downstairs, okay? You can use the kitchen table to work. That’s all.”

Then he turned around and disappeared into the bathroom to style his now self-drying hair. When he came back, Yoongi was nowhere to be seen, but Jimin didn’t care. For the first time that day, he picked up his book with a clear mind and started reading.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Yoongi carry his suitcase downstairs and move into the room opposite his. He saw the door close and let out a relieved sigh.

About half an hour later, Yoongi came out of the room with a towel in hand and disappeared into the bathroom. That was what finally got Jimin moving. Realizing he was hungry, he got up and headed to the kitchen to make something for himself.

He took out the suitable ingredients he found in the cupboard and searched for a pan. Finally, he started cooking, humming a little tune to himself.

When he put the ingredients in the pan, Yoongi gave him a glance as he passed behind him with his laptop and a few sheets of paper. He was wearing the same shorts from the first day.

Without saying a word, Yoongi settled at the kitchen table. Jimin continued making his food as if Yoongi wasn’t even there. He wasn’t humming anymore.

When he turned to grab some soy sauce from the cupboard, he noticed Yoongi had his earphones in, which made him feel a bit more at ease. Since he enjoyed humming while cooking, he continued softly. He didn’t even realize he had made enough food for two.

When he finished cooking and plated his food, he looked at the remaining portion in the pan and sighed. Without thinking much, he plated that as well and took out another glass. After placing his plate and drink on the table, he set the other plate and glass in front of Yoongi and sat across from him.

Yoongi pulled out his earphones, raised his eyebrows as he looked at the plate and then at Jimin.

Jimin refused to make eye contact with him, but feeling Yoongi’s gaze, he muttered, “Consider it an apology. You can make breakfast tomorrow morning to make it up to me.”

A small chuckle was heard, but Yoongi didn’t say anything. For a moment, Jimin panicked at the thought of his food being rejected by an alpha, which felt even worse because he realized Yoongi might have felt the same when Jimin rejected the dinner he made.

But soon enough, Yoongi closed his laptop, pushed it aside, moved his papers away from his drink, and started eating.

Jimin didn’t even know why he felt so relieved.

The silence was odd and a bit uncomfortable, but neither of them said anything. Internally, Jimin was glad the food tasted good. Most of the omegas he knew didn’t usually cook. They all had housekeepers at home.

Since Jimin had been living alone for the past three years away from his family home, he had discovered that he actually enjoyed cooking. He also had time to improve his skills.

As Yoongi neared the end of his plate, he mumbled, “This was really good. How did you marinate the meat so well in such a short time?”

Jimin glanced at him for a moment, then shrugged while biting his lower lip. “I added the spices and a bit of yogurt before starting with the vegetables,” he said. Then, he smiled softly. “It tastes better when it sits for a long time.”

Yoongi nodded. “I usually marinate it in the morning, but I never used yogurt.”

Jimin looked at him, seemingly interested for a moment. He looked unsure of what to say, but in the end, he leaned back. There was no point in being shy.

“Do you usually cook your own meals?”

Yoongi simply nodded. “Sometimes it’s hard during busy weeks, so I order takeout, but if I have time, I cook.”

“Unexpected for an alpha.”

“Like I said before, I don’t know what kind of alphas you’ve met.” Yoongi avoided his gaze. “Cooking is enjoyable for me.”

“I thought you were doing it because you had to while you’re here.”

“It wasn’t out of obligation. Besides, I hoped it could be a peace offering,” he admitted honestly. “I hoped we could be allies.”

“I’m sorry I turned down your meal, but I don’t really know you. And I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

Yoongi nodded in understanding and leaned back as he took a sip from his drink. “I get it, but honestly, pairing with someone is the last thing on my mind right now. My mom is already pressuring me enough about it.” He shrugged. “I really came here to clear my head, nothing else.”

“Same.”

As they both fell into another silence, Yoongi sighed. “I’m going to get back to work now, I don’t want to deal with this tomorrow,” he muttered. Right after, he stood up and took his own dishes along with Jimin’s plate and glass. He brought them to the counter, rinsed them quickly, and placed them in the dishwasher. After rinsing his hands and drying them with a towel, he smiled at Jimin and sat back in his spot.

Jimin couldn’t even move from the surprise.

When Yoongi put his headphones back on and opened his laptop, Jimin knew he should get up, but he still couldn’t believe Yoongi’s thoughtfulness. In fact, he couldn’t believe any alpha in the world would do something so considerate.

To him, all alphas were idiots. They didn’t know such gestures.

Barely pulling himself together, he got up and went to his room to grab his own laptop and headphones. When he returned, instead of sitting in the single armchair, he settled onto the wide couch facing the window. Without wasting any time, he started the first movie from his watchlist.

Luckily, the internet connection was good.

The movie was engaging. Since Jimin hadn’t had the chance to watch a movie in a long time, he thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t even realize when it ended. Still caught up in the movie’s effect, he sighed as he opened his email. He found one last bit of motivation to reply to his emails before going to sleep.

Finally, when he got up from the couch with aching eyes, his laptop under his arm, he looked at Yoongi, who was still sitting at the kitchen table. For a brief moment, he debated whether to say goodnight or not, but then gave up and quietly returned to his room.

He was sure he would have a good night’s sleep tonight.

- - -

When Jimin woke up in the morning, he didn’t linger. After taking an early shower, he stepped out of the bathroom and headed to the kitchen, where Yoongi was already preparing breakfast.

Everything already smelled wonderful. Still wearing his shorts and pajama top, Yoongi offered Jimin a small smile. “Good morning,” he said. “Did you sleep well?”

“That’s something I should be asking you. You sentenced yourself to an old bed last night.”

“Actually, the reason was a grumpy omega, but… never mind.” He chuckled as he turned around. Folding the omelet onto a plate, he added, “I slept well. The room was warm.”

“Since the house is small, the fireplace heats this area well.” Jimin murmured to himself, then nodded. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Yoongi chuckled again while placing the fried bacon from the pan onto a plate. “Do you have any connection to the person who’s been here for the past two days?” he asked. “Because you don’t seem like the omega I met when I arrived.”

“If you push me any further, you’ll meet him again,” Jimin warned, grabbing one of the plates and heading to the table. Yoongi followed him shortly after, taking a bottle of orange juice out of the fridge.

As he poured it into a glass, he explained, “It’s freshly squeezed. There’s a small café down the road that makes it. I wanted to try it.”

“You went outside? What time did you wake up?”

“I usually don’t sleep much.” Yoongi shrugged as if it were just a simple fact and sat across from him. “I went for a walk around five in the morning and picked this up on my way back.”

Jimin took a sip of the orange juice. It tasted really good, so he took a moment to appreciate it. Then his eyes caught the clock on the wall. It was showing eight o’clock now.

He hummed softly in understanding and started eating his omelet, only to realize with the first bite that it was much better than he expected. There was a bit of mozzarella cheese inside. It wasn’t something he hadn’t tried before, but the flavor was a delight to his taste buds.

“Thanks, this is really good,” he said.

Yoongi nodded with a satisfied expression. “It’s nothing,” he replied. “You know, I had to do my best in return for last night’s dinner.”

After sharing a soft chuckle, they fell into a quiet breakfast routine again. Even though both wanted to talk, it was like they didn’t know what to say. Eventually, Yoongi broke the silence. “What do you plan to do today?” he asked with a serious look on his face.

“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll work a bit and read a book, like always.” Yoongi nodded thoughtfully but didn’t say anything else. That caught Jimin’s attention, prompting him to ask, “Why? I don’t even know what there is to do here.”

“I talked to a few people in the main lobby yesterday,” Yoongi explained. “Apparently, there are a few activities worth trying. They said I should see Hallasan Mountain covered in snow, so I’m thinking of going there with my camera. There are also hot springs, and tomorrow there’s a snow sculpture festival.”

“You’re interested in all that?” Jimin asked curiously.

“I like spending my free time taking photos. I majored in photography.”

“Excuse me?” Jimin barely avoided choking on his drink as he stared at him in shock. Yoongi seemed surprised by his reaction. “What did you major in?”

“After studying business and joining the company,” Yoongi explained, “I thought it would be fair to study something I loved for myself. So I juggled university and the company at the same time for a while.”

That wasn’t something simple. The business world was so messed up and complicated that at some point, it didn’t allow you to have a personal life. Especially for an alpha, managing all that and starting university again wasn’t normal.

Not at all.

Still in shock, Jimin muttered, “I admire that. Even if I tried to make time for dance, I couldn’t manage it.”

“I’m sure your father would give you time and space for that.”

“Of course he would, because he wants me to stay away from work.” His gaze dropped to the table, accompanied by a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “All alphas do.”

“If you’re doing this for yourself and because you love it, no one has the right to interfere. Screw what they want.” Yoongi met his eyes. “But if you’re only doing this out of stubbornness, then… years from now, you’ll look back and regret it.”

“You don’t understand—”

“If my father had allowed it, I wouldn’t have set foot in that company again, so I do understand. I know we’re pressured by society’s norms, and you’re trying to break that.”

“I’m the only child of the Parks, and growing up, everyone thought I couldn’t handle the inheritance because I’m an omega. Like… I need an alpha to hold on to everything I have.”

Jimin didn’t open up easily. Saying all of this directly to an alpha he barely knew made his stomach twist in surprise. But somehow, sharing things with Yoongi didn’t feel like a problem.

“I love being an omega, but I hate that they see omegas as weak and incapable.”

“They’re just pathetic and believe they need to put someone else down to feel adequate.” Yoongi shrugged simply. “I’m the best data analyst in the company, and many times, my ideas kept it afloat. Yet, wanting to quit and pursue photography seems like a failure to them.” He sighed. “We can’t please everyone. So let it go.”

Jimin looked at him. He spoke so sincerely and genuinely… The omega could feel both the anger and the control in his voice at the same time. It was a new experience.

Yoongi didn’t seem helpless or beaten down. He was just expressing his anger after figuring out the entire system.

And while doing so, he wasn’t using rage or violence but pure emotion.

Jimin wondered why he hadn’t talked to him this much before or why he hadn’t noticed what kind of person Yoongi was until now.

In the end, he tried to smile. “It’s too late anyway,” he said, avoiding the alpha’s gaze and picking up the last pieces on his plate. “Being born into this family already cost us so much.”

Yoongi shrugged. As Jimin stood up with the plates, Yoongi said, “Maybe. But I’m still going to Hallasan Mountain to take that photo. You can come with me if you want.” He raised his hands innocently. “As friends.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “Stop messing with me.”

“You started it.” Jimin rinsed the plates and handed them to Yoongi, who placed them in the dishwasher one by one. Without realizing it, they cleaned up the kitchen in perfect sync. When Yoongi disappeared into his room to get ready, Jimin found himself stuck in a big dilemma.

Not knowing what to do, he paused for a moment before heading to his room. After quickly changing his clothes, he put on his coat and gloves and left the room. Yoongi was standing there, trying to slip the strap of his camera over his neck. He was a bit frustrated because the thickness of his coat made it difficult to do it alone.

Without thinking, Jimin reached out to him. He helped push the strap under Yoongi’s hat. They were very close now, but neither of them seemed to notice.

With a blank expression, Yoongi said, “I hate winter.” Jimin already knew that. While the alpha had often worn shorts when he was downstairs, he was now wearing a sweatshirt that looked quite thick after coming up.

So it was safe to say he liked summer.

When Yoongi pulled back and saw Jimin dressed up, he tested the waters by asking, “Are you coming with me or…?”

Jimin shrugged. “I guess getting some fresh air wouldn’t hurt,” he said.

They ended up walking side by side outside, trudging through the thick snow that had started falling again in the evening. Both of them knew they could rent a car, but the weather was mild today, and walking sounded nice. Besides, according to the map, the place they were heading to wasn’t that far.

Along the way, Yoongi stopped at a few spots to take photos. At first, they were silent, but then Jimin eased the tension by asking him a couple of small questions about work. Later, Yoongi asked which movie he had watched yesterday, and Jimin talked a bit about the plot.

“I wonder why we never communicated before. Taehyung and Jungkook talk about you all the time.”

Jimin gave him a sideways glance. He looked a little guilty but still admitted, “They don’t really talk about you to me.” He added, “Taehyung used to do that a lot, but I always shut him down, so…”

“You’re basically an alpha-hater. My pride is a little hurt.”

“It’s not like that!” Jimin tried to defend himself, but he knew it wasn’t enough. “It’s just, you know… in this world, alphas are kind of… well… you know.”

Yoongi chuckled. “I get it. At least I’ll try to break your prejudice.” Then, looking ahead, his eyes lit up for a moment. “Look over there, the water is frozen.”

When Jimin turned to where he was pointing, he saw a small pond in the middle of the park they were passing through, completely frozen. Two people were playing around near the edge of the ice.

Jimin turned back to Yoongi, trying to understand, but Yoongi, as if everything was obvious, grabbed his wrist without a second thought and pulled him along. “Come on,” he said cheerfully. “There’s no harm in having a little fun.”

“No, Yoongi-ssi, I might fall and—”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was being pulled onto the ice. Yoongi, who was prepared for this, managed to keep his balance, while Jimin stumbled slightly. As he tried to steady himself, he clung tightly to Yoongi’s arms. He had been ice skating before, but this felt different from being on a frozen body of water.

Because now, it felt like the ice would crack and he’d fall into the cold water.

Ignoring the camera squeezed between them, Jimin held on to Yoongi even tighter. The alpha was laughing right by his ear, but he didn’t care. Instead, he tried to hit Yoongi’s shoulder in frustration while making sure not to fall.

“Get me out of here.”

Yoongi kept smiling as he calmly moved further toward the center of the frozen water. “Can you try to live in the moment a little, Jimin-ssi? We’re having a nice moment here.”

Jimin frowned. But Yoongi pressed his finger to the center of Jimin’s forehead, pushing it up. His hand was quite cold now since he had taken off his gloves to take photos earlier.

“Listen. You won’t hear this in Seoul.”

When Yoongi pointed to the sky, Jimin held his breath for a moment and waited. Then the sounds started to fill his ears. Despite the winter cold and all the snow, the sounds of nature continued. The weather was growing milder, creating a pleasant moment.

For a moment, Jimin felt at ease. Forgetting that he was standing on a thin layer of ice, he let himself be in the moment. Even how close he was to Yoongi lost its significance.

Finally, when he blinked and looked at Yoongi, he noticed that the couple on the other side of the ice had left. Now, in the quiet park, they looked alone.

As Jimin’s confidence grew, he slowly moved away from Yoongi. He carefully slid his boots along the ice.

Then, turning to Yoongi, he said, “Let’s try not to fall, then.”

When he slid his gloved hand into Yoongi’s and gave a slight tug, Yoongi seemed more than ready. As they gently glided on the ice, playfully pushing each other and laughing, they had more fun than expected. At one point, when Yoongi fell on his butt, there was a sudden pause. Both of them froze as if waiting for the ice to crack, but fortunately, nothing happened.

In the end, they spent almost half an hour there. When Jimin looked at the snow from the edge of the ice, he smiled at the light snow that had just started to fall and spread his arms wide to make a snow angel.

He had almost forgotten Yoongi’s presence until he heard the sound of a photo being taken.

He quickly turned his head. When his eyes met Yoongi’s behind the camera pointed at him, his lips parted in surprise. Another click confirmed that one more photo had come to life.

“Yah!” he shouted as he tried to get up, but Yoongi didn’t care. As he tried to back away, he kept taking photos of Jimin rushing toward him in annoyance. He giggled and tried to run away quickly.

When he tripped and fell backward, Jimin stumbled too. Landing in different spots, Yoongi laughed even louder.

“You took my photo!”

“What? Am I going to be called a creepy alpha now?” Yoongi shouted, looking up at the sky. “I’m just practicing my art, leave me alone.”

“You can’t take my photo without permission.”

“I’ll give them to you!”

Jimin got up and packed a snowball in his palm, throwing it at him. Yoongi, who was unaware of the snowball about to hit him right in the face, was just getting up, clueless.

Both of them gasped in shock. This time, Jimin was the one who quickly got up and ran away. Yoongi immediately followed, rushing to throw a massive snowball at him.

It took a long time for them to stop chasing each other and trying to cover each other in snow. Even though it felt like they wouldn’t reach Hallasan Mountain on time, neither of them hurried. In the end, they walked side by side with red noses and cheeks, trying to look angry at each other.

Jimin was the first to giggle and ruin everything. Nudging Yoongi’s shoulder with his own, he asked, “Will I really get to see the photos? No one really takes pictures of me except at those fancy events.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes. “Of course you’ll be able to see them. I’m seriously not a pervert, you just looked nice, so I took them.”

Jimin was sure his cheeks were red from the cold, so he was glad his embarrassment wouldn’t be too obvious. Looking away, he said, “Thank you.” Then, hesitating, he lightly pushed the snow with his foot. “I mean… you don’t have to call me Jimin-ssi. Jimin is fine.”

Yoongi nodded. “Same here. You can call me Yoongi or hyung if you want.”

“Okay, hyung.”

That was enough for the two of them to share a small smile. Fortunately, they finally reached the area near the mountain. Yoongi had already said he would photograph the mountain from a bit of a distance, so they didn’t have to walk too much.

Once Yoongi was satisfied, he raised his eyebrows at Jimin. “Do you want to walk back or should we call a taxi?”

Walking had been enjoyable on the way there, but after spending time in the park and the effort of walking through the snow, both of them felt a little sore now. So when Jimin said, “Taxi,” Yoongi didn’t argue.

When they got out of the taxi in front of their building, Yoongi paid despite Jimin’s protests, and as soon as he shut the door, he said, “This has nothing to do with me being an alpha. You came all the way out there for me, so it only makes sense for me to pay.”

Even though it didn’t sit well with Jimin, he still felt a little good about it. “Then I’ll cook dinner, and we’ll be even,” he said.

Still, when they took turns using the bathroom and changed into warm clothes to head into the kitchen, Yoongi was helping him prepare. Soft music playing from Yoongi’s phone blended with the crackling sounds of the fireplace, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Everything felt good, warm, and comfortable.

Even if Jimin didn’t want to admit it to himself, he was enjoying this.

A lot more than he would have expected.

- - -

“You said you were good at data analysis, right?”

The next morning, after breakfast, Jimin sat across from him with his laptop, and Yoongi took off his headphones, nodding at him.

Of course, Jimin knew he shouldn’t share company data with anyone, but Yoongi was going to be at the presentation Jimin would give at the meeting in Seoul anyway. So there wasn’t much harm in asking him a few things.

After a short conversation, Yoongi settled next to him. They focused on the laptop screen together, working on the presentation Jimin would give when he returned to Seoul. When Yoongi showed him a few tips and detailed information, everything became much clearer for Jimin.

Eventually, Jimin went to get freshly squeezed orange juice for both of them. When he came back, Yoongi was busy with something in the kitchen. It turned out to be some kind of cake.

Leaning against the counter and sharing the orange juice, Jimin laughed as he watched him. “I’m starting to think you’re doing this just to mess with me.”

Pouring the mixture into a pan, Yoongi asked, “What? What am I doing?”

“I get you cooking, but baking a cake is a bit much. You’ve got this big plan just to prove my dislike of alphas wrong.”

Yoongi chuckled. “You caught me, I have nothing to deny.” He set the oven temperature, slid the pan in, closed it, and glanced at the time. “Honestly, I don’t usually make stuff like this. I’ve only tried it a few times, but since I’m on vacation, might as well make the most of it.”

“I’ve never baked a cake before.”

“It’s actually easier than cooking,” Yoongi said, giving the oven a quick look. “But I’m not sure if it’ll be as tasty as a proper meal.”

He reached for his orange juice and started drinking it. While waiting for the cake, they sat on the couch by the fireplace and opened the laptop to look at the photos Yoongi had taken yesterday. Most of them were pretty funny. Especially the ones where Jimin was trying to reach for Yoongi in frustration, making Jimin double over with laughter.

At one point, Jimin realized he had leaned his forehead against Yoongi’s shoulder while laughing, turning bright red when he noticed, but Yoongi didn’t say anything about it.

After sending the funny ones to Jimin, Yoongi edited the one he took of Jimin making a snow angel using a professional app. He made a few small adjustments Jimin asked for and created an incredible visual.

Finally, Jimin looked at him and said, “Thank you so much. I’ve never had a photo like this before.”

“You’re welcome. If you’re lucky, maybe I’ll take a few more before you leave.”

Jimin was about to say something, but the alarm they set to not forget about the cake went off. Yoongi left him alone to take it out of the oven.

As Jimin watched him from where he sat, he was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. He was thinking things he shouldn’t be thinking. It wasn’t like he was about to fall in love with Yoongi just because an alpha who broke stereotypes and challenged Jimin’s prejudices showed up in front of him, but…

But Yoongi was definitely something. He was different. There was a warmth to him, something that made Jimin feel comfortable when talking to him. Jimin had talked to many alphas before, forced himself to like someone on the mandatory dates his mother set up, but he couldn’t remember feeling this comfortable with anyone.

“It smells nice, so I’m going to believe it tastes good,” Yoongi called out from the kitchen, looking at him through the open space with a smile. “You’ll have a slice, right?”

Jimin chuckled. “I’m hurt you even asked. I assumed you made it all for me.”

“Oops,” Yoongi scrunched up his face playfully. “I need to improve my camouflage questions. You weren’t supposed to know I made it for you.”

“You weren’t exactly subtle about it, hyung.”

Both of them laughed as Yoongi left the cake to cool down, explaining that he’d serve it in a few minutes. In the meantime, he pulled out some vegetables, washed them, and suggested ideas for dinner to Jimin.

When they finally ate their cake and talked about all sorts of random topics, they shared soft smiles. Yoongi insisted on making dinner alone because he wanted to show Jimin his cooking skills. So Jimin let him. In the meantime, he decided to watch a YouTube video he was curious about.

It was almost terrifying how perfectly everything was fitting together, but it seemed like neither of them wanted to ruin the moment or break the spell, so they stayed quiet. Yoongi spent a long time preparing dinner while Jimin finished watching his videos.

Finally, Yoongi announced that dinner was ready, but neither of them was hungry yet. “How about visiting the ice sculpture exhibit knowing our dinner is ready and just needs heating when we get back?”

It didn’t take Jimin even a second to agree.

Minutes later, they were both fully dressed and outside. But it turned out the exhibit was a bit far away, so taking a taxi was inevitable. When they arrived, this time Jimin paid the fare. Yoongi didn’t seem brave enough to refuse, which made Jimin even more pleased.

They walked toward the area. Since arriving in Jeju, this was the first time Jimin had seen such a crowd. Even though there weren’t too many people, he had never seen this many gathered in one place before.

The ice sculptures were illuminated with beautiful lights. Each artist stood by their piece, answering questions. At first, all the sculptures were small and minimal, but as they moved further, larger ones greeted them. Yoongi seemed to genuinely admire some of them, taking more time to capture photos.

Jimin noticed that Yoongi occasionally took pictures of him too, but he didn’t stop him. After all, he loved that photo of himself in the snow enough to keep it for a lifetime.

The exhibition wasn’t huge, but they spent enough time for it to feel long. They stopped to talk about some pieces.

When they finally saw an ice sculpture of a duck and its ducklings, Yoongi pointed at it and said, “They look like you. Look, even your lips are the same.”

Jimin parted his lips in surprise, which somehow made him look even more like them. “Yah!” he exclaimed, not even caring that people turned to look at them. “At least I don’t look like a grumpy cat like you.”

Yoongi shrugged. “I like cats, so looking like them isn’t a problem.”

“I like chicks too,” Jimin said, rolling his eyes. “But I don’t look like them.”

“Oh, you definitely do.”

Jimin kept walking without paying him any mind. By the time they finished the exhibition and left through the back exit, it was already dark. With nothing else to do, they both knew they would head home, so when Yoongi hailed a taxi, Jimin didn’t object.

This time, Yoongi paid the fare, and Jimin didn’t argue.

When they entered the house again, the smell of the meal still lingered. As Jimin went to light the fireplace, Yoongi moved to heat up the food. Their actions were simple and ordinary, but for some reason, it felt so good.

Once again, they found themselves at the dinner table. By now, it wasn’t even strange. It felt like they had been sharing meals at the same table for years. They talked about some sculptures from the exhibition, which led to a conversation about museums in Seoul. That’s how they discovered they were both friends with Namjoon, who had probably visited every museum.

Namjoon was the kind of friend who liked spending time with whoever he was with at the moment, so they weren’t surprised he hadn’t mentioned each other. He was married to Seokjin, another beta like him, and he valued his friends.

“So, do you know Hoseok too? Like, are you close as friends?”

“Oh, Hobi and I were classmates. We’ve been close since university,” Yoongi said, smiling fondly as he finished his bite. “He’s a really good friend.”

“And talented,” Jimin added. “We used to go to the same dance center when I was taking lessons. I kind of admire him.”

“Dancing is his biggest passion. Sometimes I go watch his performances.”

“We should go together sometime. I’m sure seeing both of us would surprise him.”

Jimin’s words landed like a bomb. It felt like he had just revealed a hidden truth. Sure, they were getting along well here already.

But that didn’t necessarily mean they would keep meeting when they returned to Seoul.

There, in the life waiting for them, the state of their friendship was questionable. Knowing and liking each other’s close friends meant it wouldn’t be weird for them to meet. But Jimin wasn’t sure if Yoongi wanted that too.

Then, as if Yoongi understood his dilemma, he said, “We definitely should. Having someone to drag me there on time would be great. Hobi might cry from happiness.”

“Hyung!” Jimin cried out, sounding disappointed. “Being late to Hoseok hyung’s performances is so disrespectful.”

“Sorry, I keep telling him to schedule them on weekends so I can actually be on time.”

Jimin sighed. He understood because he was often late to plans made during weekdays too.

“Anyway, let’s clean up. I want to watch another movie before bed.”

They cleared the table together and loaded the dishwasher once again. Yoongi scratched the back of his neck, lingering there for a bit. It was so obvious that he was trying to say something that Jimin felt a little sorry for him.

“Did you want to say something, hyung?”

Yoongi licked his lips. At first, he said, “No,” but then muttered “fuck it” under his breath between his tongue and teeth and pointed at the TV. “If you want… we could watch the movie together.”

The TV’s placement was bad. The couches were arranged facing the outside view, and the TV was on the wall behind the large couch. While Jimin was thinking about this, Yoongi must have misunderstood him and quickly added, “You don’t have to. Actually, good night. I’ll go to my room and work a bit more and—”

Before he could leave, Jimin grabbed his wrist. Both of them froze at the sudden touch, but instead of pulling away, Jimin smiled and said, “I was just going to suggest we move the couch. The single chairs aren’t great for sitting for three hours straight. How about we move the big couch in front of the window?”

Yoongi looked around the area, and when everything seemed to click into place, he gave a small nod. In the end, even though Yoongi said he could move the couch on his own, Jimin helped him.

It didn’t take long to switch the single chairs with the large couch. Finally, Jimin let out a satisfied hum and said, “Can you set up the movie? I’ll prepare some snacks.”

Jimin pulled out a few snack packs he bought on the first day from the cupboard. He poured chips into bowls and prepared the coffee Yoongi had brewed before heading back into the room. Yoongi was still adjusting something on the TV. On the couch behind him, there were now pillows and a couple of blankets that weren’t there before.

Feeling a warmth in his chest, Jimin placed the tray on the coffee table. After setting it aside, he took a corner of the couch and snuggled into the blanket without caring that it smelled a bit like Yoongi.

Yoongi sent him a small smile before finally settling into his spot, pulling the other blanket over himself, and starting the movie.

For a brief moment, their feet touched, but Jimin quickly pulled his knees closer to himself. Yoongi adjusted too. Then they both focused on the movie. They shared the chips. Occasionally, Yoongi leaned over to hand Jimin his coffee cup and put it back when he was done.

By the time they were halfway through the movie, the chips and coffee were gone. The warmth from the fireplace, the heat of the blanket, and the comforting scent of Yoongi made Jimin feel even sleepier. He couldn’t even remember the moment he shifted and rested his head against the armrest of the couch.

But eventually, his mind screamed at him for calling Yoongi’s scent “comforting,” and Jimin surrendered himself to sleep.

When he finally opened his eyes, what startled him was seeing a face quite close to his own. Yoongi gently pushed his hair back with a soft smile and said, “Your back’s going to hurt here,” as he gestured. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

Jimin didn’t really feel like he could get up, but he still let Yoongi take his hand and pull him up, holding him by the waist to keep him from falling. Then Yoongi led him to his room and made sure he was tucked into bed.

Before leaving and turning off the light, Yoongi wished him good night.

At one point, Jimin could’ve sworn he heard Yoongi say, “You smell so nice.”

- - -

When Valentine’s Day morning finally arrived, they both seemed a bit nervous, but that faded once they sat down at the breakfast table Yoongi had prepared, like always. They had watched another movie last night, and this time, Jimin made sure he didn’t fall asleep. So it didn’t take long for them to dive into a deep conversation about the film.

They cleaned up the breakfast table together again and settled at the table at the same time to take care of their daily tasks and emails. This meant it was time for silence. Jimin liked working quietly, and Yoongi always wore his headphones.

An hour had passed when Yoongi finally took off his headphones, looked at Jimin, and chuckled. “I heard there are special Valentine’s Day gifts for couples at the best restaurant in Jeju.”

“And?” Jimin lifted his head from the file he was reading and looked at him. “We don’t have a partner.”

Yoongi shrugged. “But they don’t know that. Let’s go get our gift and have some fun.”

Jimin giggled, understanding exactly what he was suggesting. “You’re rich, hyung,” he pointed out. “You can buy whatever you want already.”

“But that’s no fun, and I’m really curious about what kind of gift a place that luxurious would give.”

Jimin paused. He seemed unsure of what to say for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. Even if there’s nothing, at least we’ll have had a nice meal.”

With a victorious smile, Yoongi made a reservation and got back to work. Not long after, they were both packing up their laptops and papers. As they had agreed yesterday, they were heading to the hot springs today. They both got ready without even needing to remind each other. With a small bag containing spare clothes just in case, they set off.

Once again, there was an unspoken agreement about who would pay for the taxi fare.

Things changed a bit when they arrived at the hot springs, and Jimin insisted on paying again, but this time, Yoongi managed to stop him.

“Oh, what a sweet couple,” the woman greeted them with a big smile. “We have a special Valentine’s Day discount, you’re lucky.”

Jimin looked like he was about to object, but Yoongi beat him to it, saying, “Thank you, eomma. It’s really thoughtful of you to give us a discount, my lover and I will have a great time.”

He bowed respectfully and pulled Jimin by the wrist, making Jimin scowl as he got closer. “We’re not even a couple!”

“If you don’t give us away, I believe we can enjoy these discounts everywhere we go today,” Yoongi smiled. “No one needs to know.”

“You’re rich!” Jimin hissed quietly. “I’m sure you have enough money to support that woman’s entire family.”

“And yet, I can still be someone who loves discounts. Having money doesn’t mean I can’t save, right?”

Jimin rolled his eyes.

They finally reached the area they had rented. Compared to other hot springs, this one was larger and more luxurious, with private areas available for rent, which they both preferred.

After getting ready, they came out wrapped in towels and paused for a moment in the area. Jimin narrowed his eyes at him. “If you’re naked under that towel, I’m leaving.”

Yoongi laughed. “I figured you’d say that, so I wore my underwear.”

“Good.” Jimin, looking relieved, left his towel in a corner and rushed to get into the water.

He seemed completely unaware of the scene he had left behind.

Min Yoongi stood there, still holding onto his towel, lips slightly parted as he looked at Jimin with admiration. His eyes traced every inch of the moon tattoos on Jimin’s back, gazing at his well-defined body as if he were looking at a sculpture.

When Jimin noticed, he blushed and splashed water at him. “Who’s the perv now?!” he shouted, sinking into the water up to his neck as if it would hide him completely.

Yoongi flinched, shaking his head gently as he came back to his senses and let go of his towel. “I didn’t know you had tattoos,” he said, stepping into the water himself.

But now the universe was practically laughing in Jimin’s face, offering him a full view of Yoongi’s perfect body.

He was flawless.

Seeing him in shorts was one thing, but seeing him in just underwear was a whole different experience. Contrary to how he appeared on the outside, Yoongi was actually well-built, carrying muscles he never really showed off. It wasn’t bulk, but he was definitely in shape.

“So…” Yoongi cleared his throat as he entered the water. “I don’t want to disappoint you, babe, but you’re the one looking like a perv right now.”

Jimin immediately turned his head away, swallowing. “My mind just wandered,” he muttered, but it didn’t sound convincing at all.

“Sure,” Yoongi chuckled, relaxing as he sank deeper into the water. The space was big enough for both of them.

Jimin closed his eyes and tried to focus on himself. Finally, he fully surrendered to the warmth of the water. He couldn’t help the soft moans that escaped his lips as he felt his muscles slowly relax. Tossing his hair back, he rested his head against the edge and stayed like that for a while.

When he opened his eyes again, he hadn’t realized he had been like that for almost ten minutes. But Yoongi, sitting right across from him, was gazing at him dreamily. His cheeks and nose were slightly flushed from the heat of the water, and his long black hair was slicked back, wet.

Even when Jimin realized he was being watched, Yoongi didn’t flinch. He simply said, “Thanks for coming with me. I know you planned this trip alone, but… it wouldn’t have been as fun by myself.”

Jimin swallowed hard. He definitely hadn’t expected such a sincere confession, but he nodded and said, “Same here. Sorry for being rude at first. It really caught me off guard. But…” he paused, then looked at Yoongi again. “It’s been nice spending time with you. Even if you’re an alpha.”

The last confession made them both laugh. Their giggles echoed through the empty space as they both felt calm and content.

- - -

Both of them were silent.

Because, damn it, neither of them expected this sight from the other.

When they returned home and started getting ready for their dinner reservation that evening, neither of them had anticipated the other would look this breathtaking.

Neither of them had brought elegant suits suitable for the venue, but Jimin had packed a few stylish pieces just in case they went to a bar. Apparently, Yoongi had similar thoughts.

Yoongi’s sporty Valentino suit and Jimin’s outfit made entirely of Dior. Both of them were speechless when they saw each other. As they stepped outside and waited awkwardly for a taxi, Yoongi said, “You look beautiful,” and Jimin could almost swear he turned red.

“You look handsome too,” Jimin murmured, averting his gaze and glancing at the arriving taxi to ease the tension. “I can definitely say you wanted that gift.”

Yoongi smiled softly as he leaned in to open the door for him. “Yeah, I really put effort into that.”

The ride didn’t take long. The restaurant was close enough to walk to, but neither of them seemed to want to walk dressed like this.

Once again, Yoongi was the first to get out and held the door open for Jimin, who stepped out with all his grace. As the taxi drove away, Yoongi offered his arm to him. “You know, we’re a couple for a little while.”

Instead of taking his arm, Jimin held his hand. “I know,” he said. “But we’re still playing by my rules, alpha.”

Yoongi didn’t resist. Accepting Jimin’s gesture, he intertwined their fingers as they gave their names to the beta who greeted them at the entrance. The man then led them to a table by the window. The place looked completely full. Many couples were scattered around, and Yoongi and Jimin were just one of them.

They both settled in. A waiter quickly approached to inform them about the day’s menu, and both seemed fine with it. They only requested extra wine and leaned back in their chairs.

Jimin clasped his hands under his chin as he looked around at the nearby couples. He didn’t seem aware of how elegant he looked from the outside. “Valentine’s Day has always felt kind of silly to me. I mean… when I look at the people around me…”

“They only remember each other on days like this,” Yoongi finished for him with a smile. “My mom always says she had a love marriage, but days like this have to come around for her and my dad to go out for a special dinner.”

Jimin nodded understandingly. “If you really love someone, I think you need to show them the same value every day,” he said with a sigh. He seemed like someone longing for that. Still, Yoongi didn’t press. There was something glowing in his eyes with understanding.

“What’s your ideal relationship?”

“I don’t have one.”

Yoongi chuckled. As the waiter served their wine and another brought their meals, it was faster than expected.

Once the waiters ensured they didn’t need anything else, they left. Yoongi watched Jimin reach for his knife to cut his steak. “I’m sure you have an ideal relationship in your head,” he said, returning to their unfinished conversation. “There’s probably some criterion you think you’ll never find.”

“It’s not an impossible criterion, but as a chaebol, I know I won’t find it,” Jimin shrugged. “I’m not really against my omega genes. I really do want to be a parent.” After chewing his bite, he looked outside. The view was quite beautiful. “I just don’t want my child to grow up in a family like mine. Obsessed with success, suffocated by primitive thoughts, manipulated by the belief that their secondary gender defines who they are.”

Yoongi hummed softly in agreement.

“The alphas my mom tries to set me up with are like that. We usually go out for dinner, and they ask where I want to live. What schools I’m considering for our future child, stuff like that,” he said, waving his knife dismissively. “All they care about is whether I’ll look good standing next to them as an omega. Most of them start the conversation with ‘since you won’t be working once we’re married.’ And that’s when I leave the table.”

Yoongi chuckled. “They’re afraid of losing control at home,” he said with a shrug. “Alphas are such simple, primitive creatures. For some reason, they feel the need to constantly prove they’re the strongest.”

Jimin nodded. “Somehow, you’re not like that.”

“I owe that to my mom,” Yoongi said, taking a sip of his wine. “She didn’t let my dad get into my head. She raised me right.”

“Then I’ll have to visit her sometime and thank her.”

Both of them laughed. The conversation shifted to something softer. They listened to each other’s future plans. Jimin not fully revealing his criteria for a partner didn’t seem to bother anyone. Yoongi already seemed to know the answer.

Before long, live music started in the venue. Even though there was still wine left in the bottle, both of them stopped drinking. It was an unspoken agreement, as if neither wanted to get drunk. The night was going well, and although Jimin couldn’t admit it to himself, he wanted to remember this moment. So, he avoided anything that could cloud his mind.

“Let me choose your dessert, and you choose mine,” Yoongi said as he looked at the menu. It felt like a little game. Guessing each other’s tastes was fun. In the end, Jimin’s favorite blackberry cake arrived, and Yoongi had a milky dessert he enjoyed just as much.

As the night drew to a close, a waiter stepped onto a small platform in the corner of the venue. “Thank you to all the couples who chose us for this special night!”

Everyone applauded, and Yoongi and Jimin joined in with amused smiles. The waiter stood there holding a glass bowl.

“As a Valentine’s Day special, we wanted to give our valued couples a gift, so we’re having a little raffle.”

As the applause grew louder, most couples wore pleasant smiles on their faces, eagerly waiting for the result. After building some suspense, the waiter reached into the bowl, stirred the papers a little, and finally pulled one out. Pausing for dramatic effect, he gave funny looks around the room.

Finally, he announced loudly, “A big round of applause for our couple Min Yoongi and Park Jimin! They’ve won a one-night stay in a suite at a seven-star hotel in Jeju, courtesy of us!”

As everyone continued to applaud loudly, Yoongi and Jimin stared in shock, clearly not expecting this to happen. Jimin, lips parted, looked at Yoongi, who was still staring at the waiter.

I mean… it was obvious that a Valentine’s Day gift from such a luxurious restaurant wouldn’t be something as silly as a giant teddy bear.

They should’ve thought this much through.

Shortly after, waiters politely congratulated them and placed a heart-shaped envelope with the room card on their table before walking away.

Jimin licked his lips as he looked at the envelope. “We don’t deserve this.”

“We definitely don’t deserve this.” Yoongi nodded, lightly pushing the envelope as if it were a barbed wire. “I didn’t know something like this existed.”

As a couple got up to leave and passed by their table, an alpha winked at Yoongi and said, “Congrats, man.” This only made the tension between them worse.

Neither of them knew what to say.

Finally, Yoongi said, “So… I don’t know, maybe we can go and empty the mini bar in the room or something? I have no idea what else to do with this.”

Jimin scrunched up his face, trying not to laugh as he lowered his head, looking torn between being amused and horrified by it all.

“I don’t know what kind of luck this is, but let’s go,” he shrugged. “My flight leaves tomorrow at noon, so having a little more fun won’t hurt.”

After paying the bill, they both stood up laughing. The waiter brought their coats and helped them put them on, then held the door open for their exit. Once they called a taxi, they sat side by side, holding the ridiculous envelope.

There was a long silence, but after glancing at the envelope again, Jimin couldn’t help but laugh, causing Yoongi to laugh as well. They kept giggling quietly throughout the ride. When the taxi stopped in front of a luxurious hotel, they paid the fare and got out.

The woman at the reception welcomed them politely, explained the room’s amenities, congratulated them, and informed them of which floor to go to.

The elevator ride was extremely awkward and silent. It was hard not to laugh at the weird elevator music. When they finally reached one of the top floors, they walked down the corridor to the largest door and used the key card to enter.

It was a disaster. The room was decorated for Valentine’s Day with rose petals and all that nonsense.

“Oh my god, people in relationships have no taste,” Jimin muttered as he stepped in completely and quickly got rid of his coat. The space was almost as big as the house they stayed in. It was tastefully furnished, but the decorations ruined everything.

As Yoongi took off his coat, he said, “I’ll never understand why they have to slaughter roses like this.” Then, heading to the mini bar and opening the door, he muttered, “At least all the drinks look high quality.”

When he returned with a whiskey and champagne, it was clear he knew Jimin would prefer that.

With a decorated bed behind them, they moved to the sitting area and sat side by side on the elegant couch. Even though their fancy outfits matched the setting perfectly, everything still felt funny and out of place.

“This feels like a mistake,” Jimin murmured. He knew he wasn’t drunk because no one gets drunk on half a glass of wine. But amidst all of this, it felt like his head was spinning. “I mean… it’s irrational.”

“You said you wanted to have fun. We can mess around here for a bit, have some drinks, and leave.”

Jimin’s eyes drifted to the jacuzzi. After scanning the room a bit more, he nodded with a mumble.

“I don’t know, I can’t think straight right now.”

Yoongi followed his gaze, tilting his head as if trying to figure out what Jimin meant. Even Jimin didn’t know what he meant at that moment.

They both swallowed hard, and Yoongi finally said, “So…” He paused. “You know, I didn’t come here with this in mind, but— what happens in Jeju stays in Jeju.”

“You made that up.”

“Well. Does it matter?”

Jimin looked at him indecisively. After a moment of hesitation, as if unsure of what to say, he finally blurted out, “Technically, we’re coworkers. So trying something funny would be awkward.”

Yoongi nodded. “Remembering different things when we look at each other during meetings wouldn’t be very healthy.”

“Also, we don’t have any condoms or anything.”

Yoongi nodded again. “Actually, they left some for us here.” He pointed, and when Jimin turned around in surprise, he discovered that even lubricant was placed on the bed. This instantly made him blush even more.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh.”

Another silence filled the room. Jimin felt even warmer for a moment. He wasn’t a virgin, but he couldn’t even remember the last time an alpha touched him. Even though he satisfied himself, it had been a long time since he had sex.

Trying to convince himself, he swallowed and said, “Still weird. All our friends are mutual and—“

“And it’ll be awkward when we run into each other.”

They both knew they were being ridiculous. So, they fell silent and exchanged a sheepish glance.

Finally, when Yoongi started with, “So…” it felt like the final straw for Jimin. He got up and reached for Yoongi without waiting another second. Grabbing the hair at the nape of his neck, he pulled them into a heated kiss.

Yoongi didn’t hesitate even for a second to kiss him back.

It felt like an electric current ran through Jimin’s body. Yoongi was so perfectly fitting to his criteria as an alpha that even after days of living in the same house and falling into that enormous comfort, Jimin didn’t realize how much his omega was drawn to him.

The alpha’s warm, home-like pheromones, the respect he showed to omegas, his approach to work, his values, hobbies, tastes—

Jimin let out a small whimper into the kiss as Yoongi barely managed to stand up from his seat. His hand slid under Jimin’s jacket to his waist. Being almost the same height was an advantage as they brought their bodies together.

They both looked so delicate and gentle that it was almost funny how they kissed like they were starving. Their tongues tangled without care, and the exchange of saliva seemed irrelevant to them. When Jimin whimpered and tried to press closer, Yoongi directed his kisses down to his neck.

Following a wet trail to his scent gland, Yoongi gently sucked on his neck while sliding Jimin’s jacket off his shoulders. Jimin helped him, assisting in removing Yoongi’s jacket as well. When his hands reached for the buttons of Yoongi’s shirt, Yoongi finished his work on Jimin’s neck and returned to his lips.

After a few minutes, they slightly pulled apart to catch their breaths. This caused both of them to blush and share a shy smile.

Then Yoongi dove back in. He pulled Jimin’s sweater off, tossing it aside, and once again admired the omega’s body with genuine appreciation. “Fuck,” he muttered, meaning every word. “You’re so beautiful.”

Jimin giggled, fumbling with Yoongi’s shirt and messing up a bit out of urgency as he tried to undo his belt. But this only made them laugh more and have even more fun.

Finally, Jimin, with a look that accepted no objections, dropped to his knees and looked up at Yoongi while pulling his cock out.

The alpha, as if unable to resist, squeezed his eyes shut tightly. One hand gently tangled in his hair as he whispered, “What am I going to do with you? God is testing me. I swear, I’m being tested.”

“Hm,” Jimin hummed in agreement before taking Yoongi’s cock into his mouth. After a few tries, he picked up the pace by using his hand as well. It had been a long time since he’d done this, and he hadn’t particularly enjoyed it back then.

But now, with Yoongi looking like he couldn’t even bring himself to pull his hair, everything felt more pleasant. The alpha’s unabashed whimpers, the way he made it clear at every moment how much he was enjoying it, and his constant murmurs of pleading for mercy from God in hushed curses were amusing.

When Yoongi realized he was close, he carefully made Jimin pull back. Helping him stand up and leaning in to kiss him again, he didn’t mind the oddity of tasting himself.

His hands moved to unbutton Jimin’s pants. In one swift motion, he pulled down both his pants and underwear, tossing them aside before pulling him towards the bed.

“Can you lie down on your stomach?” he asked with all his gentlemanly charm, and Jimin didn’t have the strength to refuse him. He lay face down on the bed, unsure of what would happen next, but soon felt Yoongi on top of him.

The alpha gave all the necessary attention to the moon tattoos on his back, kissing them gently as he made his way down. Finally, he kissed his lower back dimples, spread his cheeks apart, and revealed his wet, pink hole. There wasn’t even a need for lube. The omega was already completely wet.

Yoongi groaned as he leaned in towards him. Without thinking, he licked the tight hole and slid in gently without warning, making Jimin curl up in response. He pressed his face fully into the bed while instinctively lifting his hips even higher.

Yoongi was gripping his ass cheeks so tightly that the thought of leaving finger-shaped marks was a concern.

He pushed his tongue in further, and as he added a finger, the sweet moans from the omega almost made him come untouched. Still, he continued patiently, not stopping until he was sure Jimin was stretched enough. Before adding a second finger, he licked up the slick that had dripped down and paused for a moment to admire the view.

Jimin gave a needy whimper, wiggling his hips.

When Yoongi twisted his three fingers inside him, it was a complete feast. Jimin, on the verge of tears, whispered, “I’m ready, hyung. Please—”

“Please what, beautiful?” Yoongi asked, looking at where his fingers were buried. “What do you want?”

As Jimin writhed in pleasure, he said, “Please give me your cock? I need you, hyung.”

Who was Yoongi to refuse him when he asked so sweetly?

“Can you turn towards me?”

When Yoongi gently moved to turn him over, Jimin complied without hesitation. Yoongi placed a pillow under his waist, and Jimin felt like crying from happiness. Which alpha he had been with before had ever been this thoughtful?

When Yoongi tore open the condom packet with his teeth, turning it into a show, Jimin laughed despite everything. Yoongi positioned his cock at Jimin’s entrance and waited patiently.

When Yoongi finally slid all the way in, it was the definition of heaven. Not just because it had been a long time since he last had sex, but also because of this perfect compatibility.

Both of them paused for a moment to get used to the feeling. Jimin pulled him down by the nape of his neck and kissed him again without thinking. As Yoongi teased his nipple with his thumb, amplifying his pleasure, Jimin moaned loudly without shame.

When Yoongi started moving, everything turned even more blissful.

“Faster, please,” Jimin begged desperately, and Yoongi gave him exactly what he wanted. He sped up completely. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed through the room as they both neared their limits. When Yoongi groaned louder and started thrusting deeper, he let go of Jimin’s nipple and wrapped his hand around his cock.

Trying to match Yoongi’s pace, Jimin kept stroking himself as the room filled with pure moans and sparks of pleasure.

When Yoongi came into the condom, Jimin followed seconds later, his intense orgasm hitting Yoongi’s chest. Trembling from the pleasure, Yoongi respected his sensitivity and waited a moment before pulling out.

Both sweaty and breathless, they looked at each other until Jimin was the first to break into laughter. Yoongi, seemingly relieved by his reaction, chuckled along and rested his forehead on Jimin’s shoulder.

“We’re idiots,” Jimin said, and without hesitation, Yoongi replied, “We absolutely are.”

When Yoongi finally pulled out slowly, Jimin tensed slightly. It affected them both, but neither said a word. Yoongi disposed of the condom in the bathroom trash and returned with a damp towel. It was clear he had cleaned himself as well since the mess on his chest was gone.

He approached Jimin gently and cleaned him up with care. Then, tossing the towel aside, he settled into bed. Lying on his back with a tired expression, he blinked at the ceiling. Jimin wasn’t any different.

“We need to shower.”

“I know, but we can also shower in the morning.”

They paused for a moment. It was an open invitation to spend the whole night together. Jimin seemed like he might refuse, but then he sighed. He got up and pulled the thick red blanket on the bed. Yoongi shifted to let him do so. After pushing the soiled sheets aside, Jimin lifted the duvet and crawled underneath.

Yoongi chuckled and slid in beside him. They lay side by side in bed, as if there wasn’t much to say, even though there was probably a lot to talk about.

“That… was good,” Jimin mumbled at last. “Thank you.”

Yoongi sighed. “I should be the one thanking you. You didn’t have to blow me.”

“I wanted to.”

“I’m glad. Eating your ass was nice too.”

“Hyung!” Jimin, as if this was the most shocking part of the whole conversation, hit his shoulder. “You can’t be this blunt.”

“I literally ate your ass, how can I say it any more subtly?”

“I don’t know.” Jimin turned to the other side, hiding his face shyly. Pulling the duvet up to his face, he whined, “Ah! We’re idiots!”

“I know, but saying it over and over won’t change much,” Yoongi said, moving a little closer. “Also… happy Valentine’s Day. This is my first time celebrating Valentine’s Day.”

Jimin let out a sound that almost sounded like he was about to cry, but then turned towards Yoongi and cuddled up to him. Now, instead of the duvet, he was hiding his face against Yoongi’s body. “Happy Valentine’s Day to you too. This is my first time celebrating it as well.”

Assuming this closeness was a form of permission, Yoongi wrapped an arm around his waist. Resting his chin on Jimin’s head, he murmured, “So… we make a good couple.”

Silence. Jimin stopped whining and waited for a brief moment. Then, he pulled his head back slightly, trying to meet Yoongi’s gaze. “Are we really like that now?”

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t we?”

The omega averted his eyes. As he unintentionally inhaled the blend of their scents filling the room, he said, “I guess we are.”

The alpha let out a sigh, breaking their eye contact. Pulling Jimin back into his arms, he asked, “When we get back to Seoul, will you at least try going on a real date with me? I’m not forcing you into anything, but I’d really like a small chance.”

Jimin laughed at that. Refusing an alpha like Yoongi was already impossible for him.

“Okay,” he said finally. “I’ll go on a date with you when we get back to Seoul, but on one condition.”

“Hm, what is it?”

Jimin shrugged. “You’re going to crash Jungkook and Taehyung’s place with me.”

Yoongi paused. “Technically, they’re the reason I met you.”

“They deserve everything for putting us through this trauma in the first place,” Jimin countered. “But you’re right. They did bring us together. So after we trash their place, I’ll treat them to a meal.”

That made both of them laugh. They fell asleep in each other’s warmth.

In the morning, they shared a bathroom. Jimin said he wouldn’t agree to any more sexual encounters before their first date. Yoongi stubbornly pointed out that they were already dating. Still, they managed to behave.

Finally, after packing their things and heading to their flights an hour apart, they shared a deep kiss before leaving.

As Jimin waved at Yoongi, he mumbled, “See you in Seoul, hyung. I’ll miss you until then.”

Yoongi, smiling as he waved back, replied, “See you in Seoul, Jimin-ah. I already miss you.”