Chapter Text
“I think I’m pregnant.” Taehyung mumbles on their way back home from their little restaurant, clutching his sling bag between his palms.
Jimin halts, making the omega halt in his steps too. “Babe… oh my god!” The beta’s eyes widen, before it dawns upon him that the other doesn’t look too enthusiastic— not even having that little pleasant smile he has often. “Wait, do you not want it?” Concern flashes his eyes.
Taehyung sighs, kicking a pebble resting between their standing bodies, not so sure what he feels at the moment.
Waking up with swollen feet and missing his heat was… not a daily occurrence. It meant something, should mean something.
He’s scared, doesn’t know if his boyfriend would accept it, doesn’t know if they’re fully ready for it even.
“We have never had any conversation about it.” Shitty is what he feels, the need to just cut the world out, with sleep overpowering the necessity to talk this out with his best friend and outweighing his conscience. “What if he doesn’t want it…?”
“Listen, Tae.” Jimin’s voice takes a serious turn. “If he loves you enough— which is more than anything else— he would wholeheartedly agree. If he doesn’t, then it’s the right moment to throw him out of your life.”
Taken aback, the omega looks at his best friend with a mixture of amusement and underlying fear. “You can be really scary at times.” He shakes his head.
“I’m serious. I won’t even care that he’s a fucking alpha if he hurts you. I am taking him down. Try me.” The threat was as clear as the summer sky— making him giggle at the protectiveness.
“Okay, okay. I got it.” Taehyung starts walking again, Jimin in tow. “But… Please come with me to get the pregnancy test.”
“Of course, let’s go.” The beta intertwined their hands together before pulling him to the closest convenience store he knew.
—
“Call me when you’re ready to tell whatever the result is, okay?”
Taehyung nodded, their hug doing little to calm him down. “I will, good night.”
“Good night, baby.”
“I told you Junyoung would skin you alive if he heard you calling me that.”
“And I don’t fucking care, he can try me!” Jimin exclaimed, turning back on his way towards his own house— sassy and resilient like always.
The omega giggled, momentarily forgetting the exhaustion his body was beat up with. Staring at the pregnancy test-kit in his hands for a few seconds, he makes his way inside the apartment complex, getting inside the elevator after pushing the button.
Just before the door was about to close on its own— a backpack was shoved between to stop it in the process. Startled, Taehyung looked up from the floor number buttons and spotted the person.
Jeongguk, panting like he ran until here.
The omega doesn’t want to assume, but he’s pretty sure he saw a relieved smile taking its place over the younger’s lips. “Hey, hyung.”
“Hi…” Taehyung tries to smile without looking constipated, and averts his gaze to the front, leaving the elevator quiet except for their breaths.
‘Say something, say something, fuck— SAY SOMETHING—‘
The elevator dings, flinching Jeongguk out of his thoughts. He sighs, passing another smile before they both make their ways to their house— just adjacent to each other.
“Fuck!” The alpha screams right when he slams the door and presses himself against it. “Why can I never say something more than ‘hey’?!” His backpack is flanged to the nearest couch, before he angrily strides towards the kitchen and opens the fridge, slamming it hard after fetching a water bottle.
Either the universe hates him, or his own mind does— or both are the case here.
He cannot freely talk with Taehyung because of his stuck-up boyfriend, cannot talk even when they’re alone because of his nerves around the omega, and cannot talk because: what does he even have to talk?
They’re no long-lost best friends to catch up on years old gossip, nor are they any good friends.
Taehyung is just a neighbor.
The neighbor he’s absolutely, hopelessly smitten in love with.
He doesn’t know when it exactly happened, but he’s sure it didn’t happen overnight. Days of liking the calming energy and the floral scent of the omega, he realised he had gotten addicted.
But when your addictions aren’t fulfilled, you get frustrated. And literally, Jeon Jeongguk is done.
He's resigning, not like he could carry out anything until now. His mind has thought until their wedding— but the real life progress?
Fucking zero. Okay maybe, one or two since he can at least say a ‘hi’ and smile at the elder.
What hurts more is Park Junyoung.
“A crazy bastard who only likes control. He doesn’t even love Taehyung. All I see is a possessive asshole liking that an omega is his.”
Jeongguk quotes the same sentence over and over again to Min Yoongi, the only cousin he gets along with, who listens to it all with an understanding smile over his face and an empathetic pat over his shoulder.
Until and unless Park fucking Junyoung isn’t out of the picture, there’s no hope to try, no use of it.
A part of him wants to believe he can let go, but that one little bitchy, possessive, territorial and very alpha side of his? Nah. It won’t rest until Taehyung is the one he wakes up to every morning, the one he cooks for— saving a little more from his allowance.
He doesn’t earn yet, but nothing would stop him from being the perfect alpha once the elder is his. That is, if that day ever comes.
He’s completely at the sidelines now.
“Fuck my life, man.” He grumbles, and his stomach grumbles harder, indicating that he hasn’t eaten after breakfast— an apple (half-rotten) and an omelette (he managed to burn it just in time). He couldn’t even stop at Taehyung’s restaurant because of how busy the day was.
Jeongguk’s life was great, he could bet!
—
Two red lines stared back at him. Sitting gracefully on the basin countertop was the positive pregnancy test, and he gazed at it with an ambiguous expression.
Shock? Disbelief? Relief? Joy? He didn’t really know, but it left him blank.
Junyoung had returned from his company an hour ago, the job of a CEO taking a toll on him as he snored away after the dinner cooked by Taehyung.
He was really not in the mood to cook right after he had spent a whole day at the restaurant, but he couldn’t expect Junyoung to cook now, right?
His job was anyway more demanding than the omega’s. Or that’s what the alpha made him believe.
The night was jittery, his stomach growling because of the anticipation of what the morning might bring him.
“Jun, I’m pregnant.”
After pacing for almost half an hour as his boyfriend typed on his laptop— he blurts it out, regretting it the next moment.
His palms are sweaty, fear clawing at his chest as the other stops typing, pausing to just blankly stare at the screen in front of him. “Hmm. Are you sure?”
Junyoung’s voice was eerily calm, and it scared Taehyung more than necessary.
Was this the end? The end of their relationship which they had navigated through with so much dedication and love?
“Y-Yeah, I just took a test.” He bit his lips, the nerves making him want to throw up.
“I thought you were taking pills?”
“Y-Yes. But it just happened… I don’t know.” The omega’s lips trembled with anxiety, the distance between him and the alpha was just too nerve wracking for him. It made him feel lonely even when they were both together.
Junyoung exhales a sigh which sounds nothing sort of pleasant. “Okay, let’s get you to the doctor tomorrow.”
Taehyung nods. “Okay, a-alright.” His voice is still shaky.
Truth to be told, he expected a bit more warmth from the other, but instead— all he got were distant replies and reluctant agreements. But the fact that the developing life in him got accepted by his significant other made him slightly happy.
Enough to make him heave a heavy breath after long, not enough to crack a proper smile over his lips.
Later into the evening, he called Jimin to inform about everything, the beta was relieved— but still on his toes to fight off Junyoung if he slipped the slightest and dared to hurt Taehyung.
The omega wished that wouldn’t happen too.
He’s proven wrong not too long later though, when it has already been a week and he hasn’t been taken to the doctor by his boyfriend.
It’s not like Taehyung can’t go alone, but he’s too nervous to. Junyoung should’ve taken him there, isn’t it what every alpha does for their omega? Or has he just been asking for too much?
The insecurities and uncertainties lying within make him want to shut everything down, even the restaurant. But he needs money, needs to be independent or else the baby inside would have nothing he could provide for.
And that’s what he does not want. So he cooks with a newfound motivation, two orders in line at the moment. His restaurant is a common place for college students, famous for its affordability.
He is thankful most of them have patience and understand the lack of staff, or else he’d be even more stressed than he already is right now.
“Here you go, enjoy!” Just when the omega was about to turn, left with no orders in his hands until another customer came in— the bell rings.
Jeongguk enters, alone as always, but with an undeniable charm. If Taehyung was to be honest, he would never deny that the young alpha looks like he could have anyone he’d like. He has caught so many omegas and betas, alphas alike checking him out.
But the alpha doesn’t really pay them any attention, not that he has seen him doing it.
By nature, which the omega is great at judging, Jeongguk is a shy bean. It’s kinda cute, the baby alpha has always been respectful, even when he has listened a lot from Junyoung.
Though he had seen anger flashing through his eyes at times his boyfriend had stepped out of line with Jeongguk— the youngest glanced at Taehyung and just smiled before going his way.
It made him guilty, had him apologising to Jeongguk a lot of times, but the latter had just shrugged it off.
“Your regular, Jeongguk?”
“Oh.” It seemed that the alpha wasn’t expecting to be noticed so soon, but he manages a smile and nods. “Yes. Thanks, hyung.”
Jeongguk loved coming to Taehyung’s restaurant, one of the only times he could follow the elder’s trail of walk and not get noticed. His heart was weak, needy, and it never listened to him.
So even when he was short on bills to pay for the needed books, the alpha still stopped by, ate his regular Samgyeopsal and left.
He took his time, even when he is usually a fast eater. The alpha couldn’t fumble the only time he got to enjoy Taehyung’s presence.
Noticing the glow on the elder’s face, it made him feel all the more lovesick. But the prominent pout and dazing out as if he was in a deep thought, messing up an order or two, that was new.
“You look a little tired.” He merely whispers when the elder reaches out to clear his plates, replacing it with the not-so fancy bill folder.
“Yeah, kinda missing on a good night’s sleep.” Taehyung shrugs it off, not wanting to go deep and cry about his miseries to the younger who already becomes the prey of his boyfriend’s weird and insufferable possessiveness oftentimes. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry, Jeongguk-ah.”
The alpha’s breath hitched, not just because of the way his name rolled off the other’s tongue, but the light ruffle that his hair received from Taehyung.
The omega is gone in a flash, but the sensation stays, like a reminder. His heart feels like it could jump out of his chest. Gulping, he fetches his wallet and tucks the money mindlessly, making his way out, still in a daze.
A stupid smile makes its way to his lips, the passer-by’s giving him weird looks when a giggle makes it out of his lips before he thinks about it.
He could overthink about his broke, short-on-money self later. Right now, all he has in his mind are the soft palms resting for a moment longer than his heart could handle — the long, pretty, dainty fingers ruffling through his locks to assure him that Taehyung will be fine.
“Jeongguk-ah.” He repeats over and over again like a sacred mantra and blushes while making his way back to his college campus. He’s probably late for his History and Culture class that was scheduled after the lunch break— but he could care less about Mrs. Joo’s fuming face when his mind is quite preoccupied with Taehyung.
—
Later that night, Taehyung waited. Waited for his boyfriend to get back home. The omega was on his limit and he needed to talk this out with Junyoung.
Ever since the alpha has known about his pregnancy, he’s been as distant as he could be. It just fed his insecurities more and more.
The door creaked open, and he gathered his courage. He couldn’t keep pushing it away. Could the other really not see he needed someone to support him in this sensitive period of time?
He was enraged. If this night ended in the worst way he could imagine— he didn’t care.
Taehyung needed answers.
When the alpha entered the apartment, the air had another smell clinging to it. A scent he wasn’t familiar with. And it made his guts clench as he stood up from his place on the couch.
“Where were you?” His voice cracked, he wasn’t ready for the answer.
But of course, he wasn’t hit with the truth just yet.
“Late office hours.”
“Really?” Junyoung nodded, not yet looking up properly. “I called your secretary, she said you left at seven. It’s eleven already.” Taehyung wasn’t naive now, he had already observed everything for a week.
“Can we do this later?”
“It’s been a week, Junyoung.” Jaw tight to not surrender to his emotions, he noticed how the alpha tensed. “A week since I told you I’m carrying your— our child. You still haven’t taken me to the doctor like you promised you would.”
“I-I was busy… I forgot.” Taehyung chuckled at his stutter of an answer, far from humorous.
“We-We can go tomorrow, I pro—“
“How many more promises are you gonna break, alpha?” There was a bitter undertone to his voice, his eyes stung with the effort to keep his tears in. “I’m tired now.”
“Now you’re being too much, Taehyung.”
The omega’s mouth opened in disbelief, before a scoff resonated through the room. The tension could be cut with a knife, and it was triggering for the baby inside— but he caressed a little over his belly which was yet to show. “I asked for the bare minimum. I’ve only ever asked for that. You can’t even give me that now?”
“Oh come on, can’t you be a little understanding?” The alcohol was starting to show and Taehyung was shaking with anger.
“That’s what I’ve always tried to be, you fucking asshole!” He bursted, his voice booming through the room and bouncing off in an echo, but he didn’t care. Not anymore. “Give me one damn instance where I haven’t understood your work, your schedule and your needs! I bet you can’t!!”
Junyoung indeed couldn’t. That’s why he stayed silent.
“I come back home after cooking the whole day just to cook another time.” He wasn’t shouting anymore, but his voice was firm enough to sting. “Ever thought of lending me a hand? No.”
The alpha was red on the neck, the humiliation and shame finally catching up to him.
“You’ve never even done things a boyfriend does! All you like to do is claim me in front of everyone. You don’t like my friends, you don’t like anybody I have in my life! You’re just an insecure fucking bastard!”
Taehyung breathed hard after unloading all of that. Junyoung was fuming too, but didn’t have anything to shoot back with.
“I got pregnant just because you didn’t want to use condoms. Why was I only responsible for taking the pills?” The omega nears him, instinctively scrunching his nose at the scent that still reeked from the other.
“And now… now you’ve fucking come home smelling like someone else.” He finally mutters. “Would you want to justify that with a sensible reason now?”
“I… I was drunk and uhm–” Junyoung’s stance was stiff, but even he knew his excuses were useless.
“You sound so stupid right now, Park Junyoung.” Taehyung lets the first drop of tear slip, not caring to bother about it. “You were drunk, not out of your mind. This is not an excuse!”
A sob threatens, but he gulps it down. “I want you out of the house right now. Don’t come back ever again.”
Just when he was about to turn and leave for the bedroom, the alpha gains his chain of thoughts and acts on instinct. “Taehyung! wait, please let’s talk—“ he grasps the omega’s wrist, trying to turn him back.
The other does turn back, with a harsh force, but he doesn’t think twice before freeing himself off harshly, slapping his other palm over Junyoung’s face.
The alpha gasps loudly, holding the reddened cheek and turning to the fuming omega who looks the least bit regretful. “That’s for being an unfaithful fuck. Now leave.”
Only god knows how strong Taehyung is holding himself up.
“Is this all because of the doctor appointment? I said I’ll take you there tomorrow!” The alpha screamed, growled even, momentarily feeling he could dominate Taehyung like that.
That was far from the case right now.
“No, Junyoung.” Just how oblivious could someone be. “I don’t want you anymore because you dared to cheat on me. I am fucking pregnant, and instead of getting more sensible, you proved it to me that you just don’t care!”
“I’m sorry, baby, please.” His body language changes quick to pleading, feeling— knowing this was the end.
“Your sorry won’t fix it, we’re over.” Taehyung states, trying to move away again.
“Taehyung, you’re doing too much—“
The flower vase resting on the table beside the door shatters, the omega seething with another fit of rage after causing the destruction. “If you stay here for a minute more, I’ll show what crossing the line means.”
“Fine!” Junyoung stomps like a child before barging out of the door, leaving it wide open.
Taehyung looks forward, still standing firm on his feet but broken from within. Eyes red from holding his tears back for too long, he spots Jeongguk staring from across the hallway— looking concerned with a frown over his face.
The omega slams the door shut, not thinking of how rude that was.
Not when his heart was already constricting inside his chest.
The young alpha is jittery when he enters through the restaurant’s door, his mind still going back to last night.
He had just returned back from his late-night basketball practice when he heard the noise of something shattering. Ceramic. It was Taehyung’s house, and that made him stand in place— concerned and on alert.
But only seconds later, Junyoung barged through, looking like he’d hit anybody who came his way.
And then… then he saw something that made him feel miserable. Taehyung, with tears in his eyes, barely holding on to his sanity. What he heard back at home wasn’t too delightful either.
The omega was crying in his bedroom. Their apartment walls weren’t too thick, and he got to hear the elder sobbing his throat out while trying to sleep yesterday.
“What would you like to order?”
The voice snaps him out of his reverie, and he sees the other man beside Taehyung he has never interacted with before. He knows his name, though.
Jimin. Jeongguk thinks to himself before frowning. “W-Where’s Taehyung hyung?”
“Uhm, do you know him?” The other asks, sceptical.
“Ahh, yeah. We’re neighbors.” He gulped, anxiety clawing at him as he kept gazing back to the door that separated the kitchen and dining area, wishing the omega would come through and show him his pretty face so he could breath out in relief.
“I’m sorry, he’s not feeling too well today.” Jimin mutters with an apologetic smile over his face, watching as the other’s face falls. “He’s resting.”
“I see.” Jeongguk mumbles, before getting up and bowing. “I’m sorry… I’ll, uhm, I’ve got some work to do.”
He knows it’s rude. He knows it’s embarrassing. And he also knows it’s so unlikely for him to leave just like that, but his mood has just rendered down. What’s he gonna do when Taehyung isn’t there?
The alpha knows he can’t just ask what happened last night to the other. It would be very invasive. But for once, he just wanted to know if the elder was doing fine, better than the last night.
While slowly getting back to his college campus, an invisible bulb lights up above his head, before he runs back to the restaurant— bumping into at least three people on the sidewalk.
It’s now or never.
In the course of a year, he has never been able to gather the courage and ask for Taehyung’s number. His boyfriend was too possessive. Jeongguk didn’t want the omega to have problems just because Junyoung saw their texts or heard them talking with each other on the phone.
Now, he doesn’t care. It has come to seeing his love all sad and low. If he doesn’t do something about it— he might just go ahead and label himself the worst alpha ever.
Even if it isn’t his responsibility.
Jeongguk barges through the door, panting, and it turns heads. Of course it does, you eager ass. He bows and moves forward to the counter decorated with desserts. He has never really tried those, always tight on money.
He wonders which of them were made by Taehyung.
“Oh, you’re back?” Jimin has quite an annoyed look over his face, not too impressed by his shenanigans. “Make it quick, kid, I don’t have the whole day just for you.”
The alpha swiftly ignores that one address he really hates, barely rolling his eyes as the ‘kid’. “I want a favour.”
“And what would that be?” The beta crosses his arms over his chest, trying to intimidate the other.
“Uh, could I get Taehyung hyung’s number, please?” Jeongguk pats himself mentally for not stuttering through the sentence and conjures the best puppy eyes he could, hoping the other would melt.
“Why can’t you ask him for his number yourself?”
“Please, please, please.” The alpha rambles like a pathetic kid desperate for his favourite candy that his mother refused to buy. “I couldn’t ask him because of his boyfriend… you must know!” He hears a few snickers when he stomps his foot over the floor. “Now I’m worried because I heard him crying last night. Please, Jimin-ssi.”
The beta sighs. “What guarantees me that you wouldn’t trouble him? He’s already going through something.”
“Give me your number too.” Jeongguk blurts out before even thinking, watching Jimin’s face contorting in disgust. He rushes to clear. “Shit— no! I'm not a player or anything.”
“You better not be.” The beta rolls his eyes.
“You can give me your number so I can know how he’s doing and when is the right time to text or call him… I promise I’ll behave, won’t disturb him or anything—“
“Okay, okay, loverboy.” There’s a knowing smile over the beta’s face. “Give me your phone.”
And the alpha almost jumps on his feet before handing him his phone— hands clammy and nerves flaring with a new sense of excitement.
“You never told me you had a cute neighbor.” Jimin mumbles over the sizzling of meat, watching as Taehyung padded around in his pyjamas, munching on choco-chip cookies with a prominent pout while scrolling through his phone.
“Huh?”
“Jeongguk… his name. He was asking for you.” The beta doesn’t outright tell him that he has shared their numbers with him, it’s not the right time to do so.
“Oh.” The omega scratches his head in realisation. “I kind of ghosted him, didn’t I…”
“It’s okay, babe. You aren’t feeling the best right now, anyway.” The beta plates the rice, taking the meat along with him to set them at the couch— turning on the TV for some distraction.
Taehyung crashed at his place early in the morning, crying and mumbling that he broke up with Junyoung— and Jimin was quick to provide him with everything he needed.
Cuddles? Done. Nest with all the used clothes of Jimin? Granted! Massage for his aching and sore feet? The beta had promised him he’d gladly do so before they slept.
“He looked kind of, no— very desperate to see you.” He mumbled, watching as Taehyung’s attention diverted to him for a moment.
“He saw us fighting.” The omega mumbled, switching off his phone before grabbing his plate and digging in. “He’s a sweet boy, so bad Junyoung had hated him ever since we shifted there.”
“Oh, fuck that asshole!” Jimin grumbles. “Jeongguk looked like he had a big crush on you, not gonna lie.” He murmured teasingly over a bite of salted rice mixed with instant soup.
“What bullshit.” Taehyung mumbles, bewildered. “Stop looking into things too much, he’s just sweet.”
“You yourself told me he doesn’t like to talk to people that much.” The beta shrugs his shoulder and purses his lips, proving his point.
“S-So what?”
“Nothing really, but if someone like that makes a move like this— asking so desperately to know how you’re doing— it mostly means something.” Jimin looks so sure of himself, Taehyung really considers his analogy for a second, but then shakes his head.
“No. Shut up.” His mood is sour once again, making his rose scent grow withered. “Put your psychologist ass somewhere else, please.”
The beta had once been really excited to become a psychologist, even going as far as almost pursuing it as his career. He has a graduate and post-graduate degree, but Jimin randomly decided to just help a very-struggling Taehyung with his restaurant instead.
It’s easy for someone like him, who comes from a wealthy family, rich enough to feed five generations ahead of them. It was never easy for the omega, so he feels grateful his best friend stuck around.
“Okay, love, I’m sorry.” Jimin giggled, ruffling the sulking omega’s hair once before they both focused on their share of food, the television playing a pop song in the background.
The dinner was done, and so was Taehyung, with his fatigue just crossing its limit. All he’s done today was sleep, eat, watch TV and scroll through his mobile phone— then repeat. Just when he was about to take his phone from the coffee table for the nth time, Jimin flicked his forehead.
“Enough. You’re gonna make your baby a phone addict this way.”
“Hey! I don’t know what to do, okay?”
“It’s time to sleep.” The beta mumbled with a sarcastic smile over his face.
“All I’ve been doing today is sleep, Jimin. I don’t have a wink of sleep in my eyes anymore.” Taehyung whined.
“Whatever. You’re not going on your phone again, I’m confiscating it until tomorrow.” Jimin states firmly, pocketing the phone he himself bought for the omega.
“Fuck you, I’m not a child.” The pout was adorable as fuck, but it was not working today!
“Language!”
And Taehyung only whined before kicking his feet, mood swings getting the best of him as he twisted and twirled on the spacious and comfortable couch.
He looked into nothing for a whole hour before he drifted to sleep slowly, limbs relaxing and arms instinctively wrapping around his belly, thanks to Jimin who kept massaging his feet while checking on his own texts from the day.
Days pass by like the wind, and Taehyung has already visited the doctor once. Jimin was more than willing to accompany him, though he urged that he wait for the omega outside the doctor’s cabin.
“That’s for your partner to do. I will be out here, waiting.” Was his answer when Taehyung was hesitant to go in all alone.
He came out with the results, stating that he was one month into the pregnancy already. It made him feel emotional, a whole month with the little bean forming inside him and he only got to know two weeks ago?
All those emotions were conflicting, but the excitement overpowered everything the best.
Taehyung loved kids, after all. And his own? He would make sure to give them the best in the world. Even if he himself got the last piece of it.
Back home, he had felt lonely. The withdrawals were horrible. Junyoung had treated him the worst anyone ever could— but it’s not always the person. The memories haunt more.
Park Junyoung was his first love, but it ended too drastically for him to not hurt. He was but a human, after all.
And still— he tried. He tried distracting himself. Jimin’s house was too big, and it had everything he couldn’t wish to afford. So he enjoyed himself until he could, until he started feeling guilty of being a burden over his best friend’s shoulder.
Now, he’s packing his clothes in the duffel bag that was the beta’s. He needs to go back.
“You could stay here for a few more days, you know?” He knew the beta was pouting.
“No, Minnie. I can’t.” Taehyung spoke softly, his voice low because of napping the whole day.
“Will you come to the restaurant?” Jimin didn’t want the omega to exert himself, but he knew his best friend was one stubborn creature.
“Yes. I feel like a slack-off now.”
“Babe… you’re literally pregnant. Don’t you wanna use it for being unproductive?”
“Babe, it’s like— the first month. I can manage!” Taehyung returned the tone, smiling at the overprotective tone.
“Fine, but please don’t come if you don’t feel like it. I can manage it myself, too!”
“Okay, now drop me home.”
It’s been a week.
A whole week since Jeongguk has seen Taehyung. And he feels deprived.
Sure, the alpha has every single feature of the elder memorised— but it doesn’t compare to seeing him every day, in flesh and bones, looking like a star that didn’t belong among them.
But he would never trade the omega’s presence for anything.
Every night, he ponders whether he should call Taehyung— at least message him. But he couldn’t gather the courage to, he wished he wasn’t such a mess. He wished he was as confident as that arrogant boyfriend of the omega.
Maybe he’d have the chance to be someone to him then.
He’s a hopeless case.
Tired and hungry, he made his way to the kitchen only to realise his groceries were finished.
“It’s too late for that!” He cried to himself, dramatically rubbing his face, but he still made his way to the convenience store— only to stop right on his tracks.
Because, the reason for his sleepless nights and uneasy heart was standing right there, pressing the passcode to his apartment room. He quickly turns to his left, heart beating out of nervousness, yet there was a layer of relief tugging at his heart.
Seeing the love of his life in front of him after a week of torture— it was amazing. If it was possible, he would take a picture, to admire it whenever he felt like it.
“Hyung.” Jeongguk was speaking before he realised, eyes full and evident of all his emotions. “How’ve you been?”
Taehyung was surprised, it showed on his face. “Hi, Jeongguk.” He sighed, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and it hurt the alpha more than it should. “I’m doing better, I promise. You don’t need to worry.”
“I don’t want to sound too nosy, but,” the younger scratched his head, softening Taehyung’s eyes. “I-Is everything okay between you and your boyfriend?”
The omega stiffened. Right. He had almost forgotten that Jeongguk had seen Junyoung barging out after their fight. And he had slammed the door on the alpha’s face. “We broke up.”
“Huh?!” The alpha was conflicted. His wolf inside was one shameless creature. It prowled around and howled in happiness— making his insides tickly. But what could he do? He has been waiting to hear that one sentence for so long.
Selfish, he knows. But that was love. Possession just came in like a free token, anyway.
“Yeah.” The omega put the duffel bag inside the house through the opened door on the floor. “Were you heading somewhere out?” He changed the topic too swiftly, probably trying to conceal the traumatic incident.
Jeongguk snaps out of it, mentally facepalming at the embarrassment he felt at his wolf. Even though there were no witnesses, it was fucking shameful of him— to go all funny over something that probably hurt Taehyung. More than he could ever swear he understood.
He wished for the omega to move on, and heal. With him— he didn’t dare to speak that to himself even, scared of wishing for too much.
“Yeah, to get some groceries.”
“This late?” The elder giggled, and if he didn’t control himself better, he would be kissing him right now.
Just who looks this beautiful?
“Alright, I’ll come with you. Let’s talk there.”
Jeon Jeongguk has never in his life malfunctioned so badly.
Because, what do you mean Taehyung would like to accompany him in grocery shopping? And that too— willingly.
He didn’t know what to say. But he knew he wanted to punch a wall out of excitement.
‘Calm down.’ He gulped, ‘Calm down!!’
“S-Sure, hyung!” That’s all he managed to say, voice cracking.
What they were doing… felt too domestic. Because why was Jeongguk pushing the cart and letting Taehyung select whatever. It was his own groceries, but he felt as if the omega would know better.
Yeah, that was not his wolf speaking, not at all.
“Do you need meat?”
The younger hesitated. Who was gonna tell the pretty love of his life he survived on instant noodles and tteokbokki? But he still gulped and nodded— not wanting to open a secret he’d probably take to his grave.
“H-Hyung, this is enough.” He scratched his nape, feeling like his budget was exceeding.
“You didn’t get any eggs yet, though!” The omega spoke.
Jeongguk widened his eyes. He didn’t get them cause they were too fucking expensive! He ate them like a luxury item.
“I-I have it at home, hyung, don’t worry!” The alpha swiftly lied through his teeth, sighing in relief when Taehyung didn’t press further.
After billing, they were walking back to their apartments, the air wasn’t too awkward— something the younger was thankful about. He had the talent to make everything with a certain omega so tense, he could barely look at himself in the mirror later on.
“So… are you okay, hyung?” He asked, patting himself mentally for not fucking it up for once at least!
“Hmm.” Taehyung seemed to go into thoughts, before he looked back at him. “How would you feel if you went through a breakup but the person left back something too big to ignore?”
“Uhm.” Jeongguk was taken aback, the question seemed too silly for the first time, but the omega looked so serious for that. “I don’t know… throw it away?”
The other chuckled, eyes unwavering but only he knew what turmoil his heart was going through.
“What if it was a whole human, a whole commitment of lifetime, Jeongguk?”
The alpha stilled, “wait,” his face went through a series of emotions. “Y-You’re—“
“I’m pregnant, yeah.” His tone was too casual for someone who had a whole life slowly forming inside. “That bastard left me pregnant, or more like— I caught him cheating and threw his ass away.”
Jeongguk didn’t know what to say to that, It was too much information for him, His brain was caught in a web of consolations to give. Yet, only one got out. “I’m so sorry.”
Taehyung dismissed that. “Not your fault, it’s just how life is, I guess.” He shrugged.
The younger could only nod, walking behind the omega who looked like he just wanted to get back home.
Sure, he felt light telling somebody a piece of his heart. That somebody being the sweetest alpha he has ever met. But now, he also felt like crying his eyes out. All the frustration, pain and unease unravelling itself.
When Jeongguk finally caught up to the other, he could see a tinge of sadness in Taehyung’s eyes. And his eyes, without meaning to, travelled down to the omega’s belly. It was yet to show, but there was no doubt that his alpha withered inside him.
There was a moment where he felt like he had a chance, he could ask the elder out and show him that he was the better one between him and the ex-boyfriend, but now… he subtly sighed, averting his gaze away.