Chapter Text
Layering more scent blockers onto his neck, Seonghwa looks at his reflection in the mirror. Seonghwa is an alpha. A pretty alpha. Contrasting to what a typical alpha’s appearance would be like, Seonghwa is soft in all of the places that alpha wouldn’t usually be. He loves to style himself in a soft way; wearing soft sweaters, hair covering his forehead, silver accessories here and there that adorns him so prettily, makeups that enhance his features oh so sweetly, you get the point. He also have a rather neutral scent, jasmine and vanilla musk, that could pass off as an omega’s scent if not for the sharp woody turn it gets when he’s agitated. Sure, he’s still built quite tall and have toned muscles, but he likes covering himself in soft fabrics and clothes that fit him like he’s an omega model.
Seonghwa is comfortable with how he is. He’s been through the time where he desperately hides his subgender, and also where he tried so hard to be the typical overbearing alpha character. He’s been at peace with who he is ever since college started, where he befriended Wooyoung, Yeosang, and San. The triple trouble that he adores so much. He had been on his own for a whole month since college started until Wooyoung started to chat him up. Then the rest was history. Now, all four of them co-own a coffee shop where they also sell pastries and other baked goods together. They take turn for shift with each other, most often Seonghwa as the opening shift where he bakes the goodies with Wooyoung.
To be honest, he doesn’t need to cover his smell. All three of his friends know his subgender, and none of them have a judgemental opinion about his habits of nesting. Being friends with one omega and two betas doesn’t really help too. Seonghwa gets clingy when he’s near his rut, and his omega friend, Wooyoung, also get very clingy and cuddly when he nears his heat. San and Yeosang loves to contribute to their nest too, leaving couple of their sweatshirts and blankets, that gives off their nice subtle scent typical with betas. It’s all cotton, linen, fresh laundry, jasmine, and vanilla between them four. They’re often mistaken for a group of four omegas too with how gentle they act around strangers. Showing their rambunctious nature only with their closest friends, well, excluding Wooyoung. Wooyoung often goes out of their friend group to chat with other people like the social butterfly he is.
Checking his appearance for today, Seonghwa makes way to the bakery to start the day. He already has plans sorted for today, he’s going to handle the baking while Wooyoung does the finishing touches, and then he’s going to clean around the store and prepare the register while waiting for Wooyoung to finish, then they’re going to open the cafe. After finishing the morning rush, he’s going to take inventory while Wooyoung takes a break, switch with Wooyoung and get his early lunch on the Chinese food store down the street. Seonghwa is meticulous with his planning, and he’s gotten into a sort of routine after operating the store for two years since their graduation.
Their store had gotten quite the kick start right after their graduation. The four of them managed to save up enough, from working in their student days and some help from their parents, to open a small bakery/coffee shop on the nook of a busy street. You only need to go inside a clean (they worked hard on cleaning it up) alleyway from a busy street down town to find their humble shop. It’s gotten quite popular too, thanks to Wooyoung’s connection and some streak of luck of a social media post that garners traction and attention. They had a bit of rough time figuring what works in the beginning, but they soon had gotten the hang of it fairly quick. So, they had quite the languid days managing their coffee shop with comfortable and substantial earnings too, compared to their fellow university friends who works hard to their bone to climb up the corporate ladder.
Alright, back to Seonghwa. With how nice and warm the shop smells/feels, everyone coming to their shop would think that it’s a place managed by omegas only. Seonghwa never corrects their assumption, comfortable enough in his own skin. He’s just, a bit particular about himself. You see, it’s not like Seonghwa wants to be biologically omega. He loves the sweet and fluffiness feeling that he gets surrounded by his fellow friends, but he also still like being an alpha that loves “those sort of things”.
He loves being himself, but not with the judging and sneering eyes of others when they found out that he’s NOT an omega. With how lovely his friends are, you would think that everyone would be a bit like them too, but no. He’s been on the other end when he was in middle school. Wearing soft white fluffy jumper just to be bullied and had his newly bought jumper ruined and dirtied by some other alphas that doesn’t like how Seonghwa presents himself. It was also not nice being on the other end of his father’s ire when he came back home with several plushies he bought from saving up his allowances just to have it chucked down the trash. It wasn’t only a few times he got ridiculed for being “like that”. So he learned it the hard way and pretended to be what he’s not around prying eyes, be it pretending to be a “proper alpha” or an omega. It’s easier to be perceived as an unusually tall omega than a soft alpha that loves to nest.
He loves welcoming their customers. They range from college students to elders that stop by for their pastries. It’s mostly betas or omegas that come into their store, rarely alphas. Sometimes a group of alphas come into the store just to leer at them, but promptly chased away by Yeosang and San that postures themselves as capable of fighting (they aren’t) with their icy glare and cold expressions. That’s why when the chime that indicates their first customer of the day rings, Seonghwa was surprised to smell a citrusy and smoky wood of an alpha coming in with the rush of morning air.
Not showing his surprise on his face, he put on his most charming smile. “Good morning, how are you? Do you have anything in mind for your order today?” He said silkily.
His customer was silent for a bit too long. Sharp eyes that seem to see through him that made him shift his weight on his legs. Seonghwa blinks and it was like whatever clouded the customer’s head was cleared and never there to begin with.
“Oh, uh. Hi. Morning. Um, I need. C-coffee. Iced. Americano?” His customer stuttered and winced at his own speech lacking its eloquence.
Seonghwa’s lips twitched up, he tries to push down the giggle bubbling out of him and replied. That’s adorable, he thought. “Hello,” he smiled brightly, “alright iced americano. Do you want sugar or cream in it? Takeout or eat in? We also have some freshly baked salt bread, or blueberry muffins if you want something sweet and light to go with!”
His customer’s eyes widened and it looked like he’s gawking if he didn’t snap out of it so soon. He blinks rapidly and scanned the display of pastries on the side. “Oh! Uh, black coffee is fine. T-to go. And um, s-salt bread please. One… oh sorry, two would be great…!” His voice cracked at the end as he rapidly stammered.
Seonghwa can’t help but chuckle at the adorable, wide eyed customer that looks to be an alpha, albeit shorter than himself. Seonghwa has never interacted with an alpha like this before. All alphas in his life has been about big presence and suffocating attitude. It’s refreshing to see someone like this, not seemingly bound to the norm. That’s one of the reasons he loves taking up the register here. He gets to see different kinds of people, be it good or not.
His customer blushes wildly like he was smeared with strawberry all over his face. For someone that has light streaks of highlight in his hair, cropped fitted jacket paired with leather pants that hugs his thighs and chunky boots, his customer seems to have such a bright and bubbly personality. He looks rather intimidating but Seonghwa knew it best not to judge the book by the cover. Contrary to his appearance, he feels like a warm person. And like a cat chasing sunlight streaming through the window, Seonghwa loves warmth.
Quickly taking the orders, Seonghwa beamingly asked again, “Coming up! Cash or card? And for who?”
“Ah, c-card please. And for H-Hongjoong.” His customer avoided eye contact, busying himself by looking for his card.
“Thank you Hongjoong. Please wait on the counter to your right.” Seonghwa replied. Finally having a name to match the face with, Seonghwa founds himself smiling. He felt like sea breeze just hit his face in the summer, it feels so refreshing first thing in the morning to encounter a customer like this.
He’d love to chat up Hongjoong more, but the chime rings again and it’s his elderly regular that dotes on him like he’s her grandson. “Seonghwa! Good morning!” she says with so much vigour.
“Ahjumma, good morning! We have your usual ready to go! Do you want anything else?” Seonghwa was quickly distracted with his regulars gradually coming in, not noticing Hongjoong glancing at him every once in a while like he’s trying to hide that. He was suddenly snapped out of it when he heard his name called out.
“For Hongjoong! Here’s your coffee and goods. Would the paper bag be enough?” Wooyoung said with his signature cadence. He seems to be smirking at Hongjoong and Hongjoong felt cold sweat trickling at his forehead.
While Hongjoong tried to stammer out a reply, Wooyoung bested him first. With a devilish expression Wooyoung said, “So I saw that.” He smirked. “What’s up, Hongjoong?”
Hongjoong was so ready to bolt out but his order was still in Wooyoung’s hands. He contemplated on going about the day without his morning caffeine but decided it would be too unbearable. So he gathered his nervousness into a ball and mentally chucked it into the corner. “P-paper bag’s fine. W-what’s w-what uh,” he glanced at the name tag, “Wooyoung?”
“Oh! He replied!” Wooyoung teased, “Hmm, you look like you’re just struck by a shooting star and had a conversation with an angel just a few seconds ago.”
Hongjoong is so sure the tip of his ears are so red. He feels like he’s nine all over again and just caught cheating on his exam. Thankfully he’s saved from having to reply by Seonghwa’s good timing.
“Wooyoung! Orders coming up!” Seonghwa’s voice echoed from the register where he looks between Wooyoung and Hongjoong and then narrowing his eyes at Wooyoung. Wooyoung snorted and grinned,
“Well, looks like you’re saved Hongjoong. For now.” He said menacingly. “Come back again!” He said with the a smile so bright it rivalled Seonghwa’s. Hongjoong hurriedly took his (melting) coffee and paper bag with red ears and cheeks, rushing out of the coffee shop. Not without another glance towards Seonghwa that’s now preoccupied with wrapping the baked goods. He almost went out with a red nose too but saved by a customer that opened the door just in time for Hongjoong to scuttle away.
★
Hongjoong dropped his paper bag on the table and groans with his hands on his face, recalling the foolish character he painted with all the stuttering stammering and blushing in the earlier interaction.
“What’s up hyung? You sound like you just had the most mortifying situation happened to you.”
Hongjoong raised his head and looks to his right. “Shut up Yunho-yah. It’s too early for this.” He grumbled and reached out for the paper bag. He took out the mouth watering bread and butter smell, raised an eyebrow at Yunho and offering it to him.
“Hyung!!! Thank you! I’ll eat it well!” Yunho exclaimed, his fluffy golden brown hair bounced like the golden retriever that he is. They were working on a song together pulling all nighter, stopping only because Yunho said that he was at his limits, prompting Hongjoong to take a break. Hongjoong obliged, but only because he wanted some coffee and to stretch his legs. They recently moved into this building a few months ago. Hongjoong works in freelance with his own team in music production. He’s made a name ever since interning at some big entertainment company on his university days. Hongjoong was always the hard worker and with some good mentor, he got properly credited for a song that got popular. After two steady years of producing hit music, he managed to gather his own team to build his own music production team. He’s got a stream of clients wanting to work with him, but because of that they were so busy he hadn’t got the chance to look around the town.
He had just finished devouring the breakfast treat within a minute, when Yunho started again. “So… good morning?”
Hongjoong sighed back into his chair, looking around the studio. He doesn’t have a window there but the collection of lamps he has offered enough lighting to the room. “…Yunho-yah, I think I just saw an angel.”
The boisterous laugh coming out of the tall man beside him was definitely too early for the quiet morning he’s supposed to have.
★