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The fascination started one quiet morning in the library. Mingyu had been standing in front of the tall book shelf for the past ten minutes. He was a freshman on campus, not yet used to the large assortment of books here.
Stupid, right? He was complaining about how many books there are in a campus library. He probably looked stupid too. He knew it. Mingyu was just happy that he wore a scent patch on the first day of classes.
His scent was especially strong and loved to let everybody know just how he was feeling. At first, Mingyu loved it. He was proud of having such a pretty scent. His omega was especially a proud little thing.
As he grew older, he realized how annoying his scent could be. It attracted unwanted attention from countless alphas, for one. It also made it incredibly hard to hide how he truly felt. His scent easily flowered or spoiled with the slightest change of emotions.
Mingyu snapped from his thoughts when he felt a prickling at his nape. He turned his head to see a man standing at the end of the shelf. The prickling intensified—he was an alpha. His shoulders tensed as the alpha started walking toward Mingyu.
He braced himself for the hands trying to touch, voices pitched low to please his omega, or a scent so strong it stung his nose. The closer the alpha got, the more alert Mingyu became. His scent was subtle—an earthy scent, almost like oakmoss. The scent made Mingyu’s omega shiver.
The alpha walked closer to Mingyu and stopped. He didn’t crowd or push closer toward Mingyu. He merely pointed a finger right next to Mingyu’s head. “Excuse me. I just need this one.”
Mingyu gulped, mouth suddenly dry. He stepped to the side and he felt his neck prickle again. The subtle scent wrapped around the alpha like a protective seal. Mingyu closed his eyes and drew in a subtle breath, inhaling that earthy scent.
The alpha gave a polite nod to Mingyu and walked away. That was it. That was all it took for Mingyu and his omega to grow curious.
“Hyung—” Mingyu hissed under his breath. “I can’t just go up to him.”
Seokmin crossed his arms over his head and leaned back. “You’ve been pining for him for over a year now, Gyu. Just go up to him and say hi. Or, you can do what I’ve been telling you and just court him!”
Mingyu slapped a hand over Seokmin’s mouth and leaned in. A few heads turned their way, but Mingyu paid no mind. “He rejects every advance. I can’t just—embarress myself like that!”
Seokmin grabbed Mingyu’s wrist and pulled his hand down. He rolled his eyes. “That’s because he’s too oblivious to even know that people are trying to court him.”
It was almost a month after Mingyu first encountered him that he put a face to a name. Jeon Wonwoo. He was infamous across campus for not pursuing anyone and not accepting anyone's advances. There were a lot of theories about why, but Mingyu didn’t care. He cared that there was a 99.9% chance of being rejected.
“So you want me to court him still? It doesn’t make sense!” Mingyu groaned as he propped his chin on his hand. “He wouldn’t even want to be with me anyway.”
“If you think about it, you guys are the same.” Mingyu turned his head, narrowing his eyes at Seokmin.
“How?” He pursed his lips. Mingyu was nothing like Wonwoo. He was sought after, mysterious, handsome, and kind. Ugh—he was such a gentle alpha.
“Well for starters—how many people try to court you in a week? A day even.” Mingyu deadpanned.
“That’s because they think I’m an alpha.”
“Okay, but still. You’ve been courted countless times. You know how to court someone and get their attention. So do it.” Mingyu, embarrassingly enough, was getting convinced.
“How would he know that it was me though?”
“That’s the whole point of courting, Gyu. You do it to make them guess. Everyone else who comes up to you, does it wrong.” Mingyu pouted and dropped his head in his hands.
“This… I can’t believe I’m about to take your advice.” Seokmin giggled and clapped a hand on Mingyu’s shoulder.
“Youngie hyung will give me some pointers and I’ll relay them, okay? You can do it, Gyu.” Mingyu sighed and looked down at his lap. Maybe he could do it.
The next day, Seokmin gave Mingyu a measly sticky note with four little tidbits about Wonwoo.
-purple
-romance books
-strawberries
-handmade trinkets
It was not nearly enough, barely a foundation, and Mingyu spent the rest of the night plotting. He would put every little piece of information together and give Wonwoo a total of five courting gifts. Then—Mingyu would reveal himself. He wanted the first courting gift to be subtle but intentional. Mingyu thought of the perfect gift—a book.
He would pick the book out himself, his favorite actually, and he would leave it right where Wonwoo sits every day to study. Mingyu went into the library thirty minutes before Wonwoo showed up. He checked the book out and sat down at his spot, pulling out a little purple paper. First, he put a little paper and wrote Wonwoo’s name on it, leaving it atop the book.
I always see you reading and thought you would enjoy this - it’s one of my favorites. If you like it, you can leave it where you found it with a note of your thoughts
♡ M.G.
Mingyu tucked the note under the cover, sticking it out just a bit so Wonwoo would see. Then—he ducked behind a bookshelf and waited. If his calculations were correct, then Wonwoo should be—
Mingyu’s neck prickled and he bit down on his lip nervously. Wonwoo walked through, all calm and adorable as usual. He watched Wonwoo curiously pick up the book and flip through the pages. The purple note was pinched between his fingers as he set the book back down.
He watched Wonwoo read the note and pocket it with a small smile. Mingyu let out a breath of relief and leaned against the bookshelf. Except he missed. Mingyu fell back with a yelp and looked around with wide eyes.
People’s heads turned toward him and he felt heat rush to his cheeks. He quickly scurried out of the library, keeping his head down as he walked past the table Wonwoo was at.
Later that day, Mingyu bumped into Seokmin’s shoulder with embarrassment still wafting around him. The scent had been too strong for the patch to contain. The older man turned his head and ruffled Mingyu’s hair.
“How’d it go?”
Mingyu shrugged and kept his head down. “Well… he kept the note I wrote. That’s a good sign—right?”
Seokmin chuckled, smiling radiantly as always. “It is. Why are you so embarrassed though?”
Mingyu groaned and found a sudden interest in his chubby fingers. “I uh—I stayed to watch him read the note and I fell. In front of everyone.”
Seokmin laughed. Mingyu punched him in the bicep. “What’s your next courting gift?”
Mingyu shrugged, squinting as they walked outside. It was really sunny, and Mingyu craved something fresh—something sweet. “I think I have an idea.”
Mingyu had it all planned out. Two days before he planned to give Wonwoo the gift, he perfected the recipes. Strawberry white-chocolate cookies. Vanilla, bite-sized cakes with strawberry frosting and lastly, chocolate dipped strawberries.
He bought cute little containers that perfectly fit three cookies, three miniature cakes, and two large chocolate covered strawberries. The day Mingyu planned to gift Wonwoo the treats, he spent an hour figuring out how to put them in without crushing anything.
Then, Mingyu carefully decorated the mini cakes. The pink frosting was spread in an even layer. He dropped some red icing in a piping back and carefully drew hearts all around. Mingyu packed the gifts with the utmost care and tied a cute bow around it.
Mingyu walked out of his apartment, holding the small container to his chest. He walked to the library with a little more pep than usual. When he got there, he pulled out a purple paper and happily started writing.
Last week, I walked outside and thought ‘what would be the perfect sweet treat on a hot day?’ I thought of strawberries and made some desserts. I hope you enjoy them!
P.s. please tell me if you liked them, it’s a new recipe!
♡ M.G.
Mingyu hummed as he taped the little note to the top of the container. He quickly ran behind a shelf—a standing one this time—and peered out to get a glimpse of the table. Five minutes later, Wonwoo was walking into the library.
Almost instantly, Mingyu’s eyes locked onto the book tucked under his arm. His heart flipped in his chest. Did Wonwoo finish it already? Mingyu couldn’t help but smile as he saw Wonwoo sit down and tug the container of treats closer.
Wonwoo plucked the note off and Mingyu watched him read it. He could have sworn he saw a smile on the older man’s lips. Mingyu leaned forward, squinting his eyes when he saw Wonwoo carefully untie the red bow and peer into the package.
Then—Wonwoo lifted his head so suddenly that it startled Mingyu. He jolted so hard that he hit the back of his head against the bookshelf. Mingyu bit down on his lips, muffling his whine as he scratched the bump that started to form.
He took a few moments to breathe and catch his breath before daring to look over again. Wonwoo had opened the container and he was holding the small cake. Mingyu’s cheeks puffed as he locked onto the sight.
Wonwoo took a small bite, eyebrows lifting comically high before he shoved the whole thing in his mouth. Mingyu suppressed a smile, his omega curling with excitement at the sight. He stood there patiently, peering out every few minutes to see Wonwoo flipping through a handbook.
Mingyu couldn’t help but admire the alpha. He looked so calm when he studied. Mingyu noticed that he never moved too quickly. Every movement was slow, careful. He never looked like he was in a rush.
An hour and a half later, Wonwoo was packing his things. He had left the book Mingyu gave, neatly tucking a note under the cover. Wonwoo grabbed the container, holding it with both hands as he walked out of the library.
Mingyu waited a moment, eyeing the book with excitement. He looked around subtly before stepping out of his hiding spot. He padded his way to the book and nearly snatched it from the table with barely contained excitement.
Mingyu sat down and pulled the note out. It was on a lavender colored paper with a little fox hand drawn in the corner. Mingyu nearly melted at the sight. The handwriting was a little sloppy, but he could tell that each letter was written with slow care. It was as if Wonwoo tried to slow his writing to make it look neater, prettier.
Thank you for leaving this book, it was a really good read. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. I understand why it’s your favorite. I would love to talk about it with you sometime.
✿W.W
Mingyu held his breath as he read it, fearing he would squeal like a fanboy if he dared to breathe. He read the note again and again, noticing something different about his writing each time. Mingyu wanted to laminate the note, to keep it safe forever. But that would be weird, wouldn’t it?
When Mingyu walked out of the library, he felt a new sense of accomplishment. Mingyu had another issue now—what would the third gift be?
It took Mingyu three days of such deep thinking that he gave himself a headache. While scrolling through his Pinterest for the nth time that day, an idea came to him. A bracelet. A handmade, perfectly braided, bracelet.
That night, Mingyu searched up countless weaves and designs, wanting it to be absolutely perfect. Once he found the design he couldn’t tear his eyes from, he immediately went to the store.
It was only slightly embarrassing for Mingyu to show up at the store almost at eleven at night. He was even more embarrassed for wearing his little teddy bear pajamas, too excited to even change out of them.
He b-lined toward the craft section and spent another half an hour picking the perfect colors. Purple because—well, it’s obvious. And gold, not just because it was Mingyu’s favorite color, but because by some chance, the little fox in the corner was gold.
Mingyu grabbed everything he thought he would need and headed home. He needed to force himself to sleep before starting the bracelet. He needed to hide the materials on himself just so that he stopped looking at it.
When Mingyu woke up the next morning, he immediately looked up tutorials. He followed them perfectly, skipping breakfast to finish the little piece of jewelry by the end of the day. It took him a little longer than he thought, fingers much too chubby to make it easy.
If Mingyu was anything—he was persistent. He kept going, even when his hand cramped up and his bladder filled. He kept going though his stomach growled and he was sure he almost passed out from hunger.
Four hours later, Mingyu finished the bracelet. It was prettier than he could have ever imagined. Mingyu traced his fingers against the fabric and bit his lip to stifle the giddy. He stared at the jewelry for another few seconds before a thought popped in his mind.
Well—more like his omega decided to push a thought into his mind.
Scent it. Mark your presence. Wear it. Let him know our scent.
Mingyu clenched his eyes shut, heart hammering in his chest.
Scent it. He’ll like us. Show him who we are.
“Fuck—this is crazy.” Mingyu’s fingers trembled as he tied the bracelet around his wrist, admiring the way it looked.
His omega purred at the sight—knowing that this bracelet would be left as a courting gift in two days. Until then—he would wear it.
Mingyu walked around his quaint little apartment, wearing the bracelet, free of any scent patch. While on campus, he would put extra care into hiding the bracelet from being seen by anyone else. His omega was a little possessive, unwilling to let anyone see what his next courting gift would be.
Slowly but surely, his soft scent of daisies and warm sugar seeped into every single thread. Mingyu was pleased—but his omega was even more so.
Soon enough, Mingyu was walking into the library with a little velvet baggie. He sat down where Wonwoo would be in twenty minutes and carefully untied the bracelet. Mingyu gently pushed it into the bag and tied it shut, taking his time to tie a small red ribbon around it. He pulled out a small purple note and smiled as he wrote.
I’m not sure what came over me this week, but I just knew that I needed to make you something. I’m glad you enjoyed the book! I hope that once I am comfortable enough showing myself, you will still be open to talking with me.
♡ M.G.
Mingyu folded the note and neatly placed the velvet bag on top of it. He bit back a smile and stood up, scouring the library for a new hiding spot. Maybe one where he didn’t hurt himself. Well—there wasn’t. At least not one where Mingyu could clearly see the older man.
He sighed and went behind one of the bookshelves, grabbing a chair along the way. He set it down and ensured he was out of sight before he sat down. Mingyu tried to distract himself with anything he could.
He poked at some books behind him, pulled out his phone, picked at his jeans. But he couldn’t settle. This gift—it was undeniably a courting gift. He hoped that Wonwoo would see it as such.
Mingyu sensed Wonwoo before he saw him. There was a faint prickling at his nape—and as Wonwoo walked in, Mingyu swore he could smell the faint scent of oakmoss. Mingyu closed his eyes and breathed in that calming scent before he opened his eyes and watched Wonwoo sit.
He watched Wonwoo slowly pick up the velvet bag, smiling as he pulled at the ribbon. Wonwoo pocketed the ribbon, almost sending Mingyu into a spiral. Mingyu held a hand over his hammering heart and watched Wonwoo pull the velvet bag open.
The bag was tipped upside down over Wonwoo’s palm. He caught the bracelet and flattened it on his palm, tracing the pattern with a finger. Wonwoo picked up the note last, smile widening as he read it.
Mingyu let out a breath of relief and leaned back just for a second. Then—he was straight as a board again. Wonwoo laid the bracelet over his wrist, struggling to figure out how to tie it. Mingyu just wanted to stomp over there, tie it on Wonwoo’s wrist, and walk away like nothing happened.
But then he watched Wonwoo bring his wrist up to his mouth—and paused. Wonwoo lowered his wrist with such an intense slowness that it terrified Mingyu. He gulped, thinking he went too far with his scent. He must’ve.
Oh God… would Wonwoo think that scent belonged to a petite omega? What would he do if he saw Mingyu instead?
Wonwoo raised his wrist up again, but this time, he pressed the bracelet right against his nose. Mingyu flushed at the sight of the alpha inhaling his scent.
It took Wonwoo almost twenty minutes to tie the bracelet around his wrist. He didn’t show even an ounce of anger, not one bit. For some reason, that made Mingyu feel a little more warm than before.
Once he figured it out, he wiggled his wrist and nodded when the bracelet stayed put. Mingyu smiled and leaned back, holding his hands over warm cheeks. Wonwoo didn’t stay as long as he usually did.
He read a few pages of a textbook, did one sheet of homework, and packed everything away. Wonwoo leaned down, rummaging through his backpack until he pulled out the container from last week. He set it down on the table with care, flattening the note on top.
Then, he grabbed a new sheet of paper and clicked a glimmering gold pen. Mingyu watched him lean over the lavender paper and write out every single letter with care. It took him five minutes to write the note and Mingyu wondered just how long it was.
Once he finished, he folded the note and set it under the container with a smile. Mingyu watched the alpha sling his bag over his shoulder and walk out. Mingyu nearly hopped out of his chair with excitement.
He walked to the table and sat down eagerly looking at what was left. The container was filled with something that resembled a cake pop. Mingyu smiled, carefully grabbing the note on top of the container first.
Thank you for the little treats, they were some of the best baked goods I’ve ever had. You need to teach me how to do that, seriously. The container seemed too cute to let it go to waste, so I made a cake-pop. I’m not good at baking though, I can only hope it’s edible.
✿ W.W
Mingyu carefully folded the note and slid it into his pocket before grabbing the second one that Wonwoo left. This one had another cute little drawing in the corner, this time, it had a round pair of glasses.
The bracelet is beautiful. I will take care of this and protect it well. This scent… I hope it’s yours. Don’t feel afraid to show yourself, please, I would love to get to know you a little better.
✿ W.W
Mingyu bit down on his lip as he pocketed that note and grabbed the container. He walked out of the library, excited to try the cake pop. The walk home seemed longer than ever before, he bounced with each step and his palms sweat nervously.
By the time he stepped into his apartment, he was slipping the cover off the container. Mingyu kicked the door shut and went to the kitchen, biting into the cake pop. He grimaced—only for a moment.
The chocolate was burnt and far too thick. The cake part was gritty somehow. He furrowed his brows and took another bite. His omega was thoroughly pleased with the gift. Even if it wasn’t a courting gift, the alpha still thought of him while making it.
The thought alone was what made Mingyu happier than ever. Once he finished the cake pop, he plopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. Two more gifts left. What should he do for the next one?
The idea struck Mingyu as he was grocery shopping. What would be an undeniable courting gift? Mingyu didn’t want it to just be any kind of courting gift, he wanted this one to be special. This one had to give Wonwoo use. Not just something he could wear or would eat. Something that would last.
He wanted it to be gentle, not something that would slap Wonwoo in the face. Mingyu wanted to make it pretty, to decorate something with the utmost care. His feet carried him to the craft section, and that was when he thought of it.
Mingyu stared at the thick paper and various colored pens. He was going to make a handmade book mark. But Mingyu wanted to incorporate something that resembled each of them. He piled his cart up with the thick paper—purple, of course. Then he grabbed some plastic sheets and a roll of twine.
He had four days to make these and he wanted to make a few different variations. He got home, put his groceries away, and flopped in his bed searching up tips to make a bookmark. Mingyu accumulated about twenty screenshots and a flipping heart.
The next morning, Mingyu headed out bright and early to pick some flowers. He brought a little wooden basket with him, humming quietly as he walked along the nature trails. Mingyu plucked small daisies, sniffing each one before laying it in his basket. Finding something that reminded him of Wonwoo was a little difficult.
Oak moss didn’t exist in this region and Mingyu didn’t have time to travel. Mingyu walked along the trial, deeper into the woods. The further in he got, the more disappointed he grew. Mingyu pouted, turning around at the end of the trail.
He moped on the way back, scent shifting into something a little softer, a little more sad. Mingyu took a different route back to his apartment, shuffling his feet through the litter of leaves. Just when he was about to give up, a little plant caught his eye.
Mingyu gasped and knelt down, plucking the small leafy plant from the ground. He held the little fern up to his nose and sniffed. Shivers went down his spine. It wasn’t exactly like Wonwoo’s scent, but it had the exact same subtle, earthy undertones.
He giggled excitedly, plucking at least twenty little ferns. Mingyu walked home with a smile, excited to get started on the gift. Since Mingyu wanted them to be pressed within a day and a half, he needed to use some serious weight.
When Mingyu got home, the very first thing he did was gather all of his textbooks and drop them on the floor beside his desk. He hummed quietly as he laid three little ferns in each plastic, slipping them between the pages of a book.
Mingyu grabbed the daisies and plucked the leaves off, settling them in the plastic. He took great care in laying them down without ruining the petals. When Mingyu finished preparing and placing them, he stacked the ten textbooks on top. Mingyu lay down on his bed and searched up more ideas.
Going to classes was a little more difficult for the next two days. He couldn’t stop thinking about making the bookmark. He hoped that Wonwoo would use it.
The day before Mingyu planned to give the gift away, he hunkered down at his desk. He grabbed the delicate flowers and laid them on the purple paper with care. He made sure to do a few different orientations before doing the same on the plastic.
When Mingyu finished, he cracked his back and stared at the ten different bookmarks. He made five purple and five of the clear plastic. Maybe he should give Wonwoo two or three of them, just in case.
His eyes couldn’t tear away from the two of them and he knew that they were perfect for Wonwoo. Mingyu bit down on his lip as he carefully picked up the two bookmarks and set them off to the side.
Mingyu decided to keep the rest in a safe place, just in case the ones he gifted wore out quickly. He hummed to himself as he punched a hole through the top and tied it off. Mingyu carefully put the bookmarks in an envelope and grabbed a purple paper with his glitter gold pen.
I plucked these flowers from the nature trail on campus and pressed them with all the books I could find. I hope these are useful to you, I have extras that I’ll save, just in case. We’ll meet soon, I hope you will still be willing to get to know me after you see me.
♡ M.G.
Mingyu slid the note inside of the envelope and sealed it shut. He set it on his desk and gnawed on his lip. Was this enough? Should he give Wonwoo something else to really sell the whole courting idea?
His brow furrowed. It was enough—it needed to be. Mingyu lay down in his bed and stared at the dark ceiling. He couldn’t wait.
The next day came and Mingyu kept the small envelope in his hand at all times. During class, he would trace his finger over the sealed edge, ignoring Seokmin’s curious glances. While walking in the hall, he would thumb the outline of the bookmarks.
Nervousness and excitement bubbled in his gut the whole day, unwilling to let him eat. Mingyu ended up buying a candy bar from the vending machine. He walked into the library and carefully set the envelope down.
He nervously dragged a chair behind the shelf and sat down. Mingyu was a little later than usual, Wonwoo should be arriving any minute now. He carefully peeled open the envelope and bit down on the chocolate just as Wonwoo walked in.
Mingyu watched the alpha sit down and push earbuds into his ears. Wonwoo picked up the envelope with a small smile, bringing it up to his nose. He gave it a small sniff and pulled it back with a pout. Mingyu had to stifle a giggle in his hand.
Wonwoo carefully peeled the envelope open and thumbed it open. Mingyu's heart hammered in his chest as Wonwoo slowly pulled the bookmarks out. He turned them over in his hands a few times, running a finger along the edge of the plastic.
He opened the note next, taking his time to read the carefully written words. As soon as he finished reading, he folded the note up and slid it into his pocket. To Mingyu’s surprise, Wonwoo slid the bookmarks back into the envelope and walked out.
Mingyu pouted, craning his neck to see Wonwoo turn down the hall and disappear. He stood up and put the chair back with a happy sigh. Did Wonwoo come just to see what Mingyu brought him? Ugh—his heart couldn’t handle it.
He smiled to himself and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Mingyu already had an idea for the last courting gift. Something authentic, something… him.
Mingyu pressed on Seokmin’s contact and held the phone up to his ear. It rang twice before the alpha picked up. “Hey, hyung? I need your help with something.”
It didn’t take long to convince Seokmin and Soonyoung to help him. It did take a long time to plan everything carefully though. Mingyu had bought all of the supplies, and maybe a little more than he needed to.
Seokmin was almost… a little too eager to help him. Mingyu was thankful though—well, he didn’t really know how to feel at this exact moment. It was just… real now.
Mingyu sat on Soonyoung’s couch, rocking himself back and forth, trying not to talk himself out of it. It was already too late for him to back out. “Gyu, it’s fine. Just relax a little, okay?”
Seokmin taped the red strips behind Mingyu and ruffled his hair. Mingyu’s scent spiraled, filling the living room with rain drenched daisies. Seokmin draped another bright red ribbon over Mingyu’s other shoulder and taped it down.
“What if—what if he doesn’t like me?” Seokmin swatted the back of Mingyu’s head.
“Ow!”
“I can tell you one thing for sure. He’s not going to not like you.” Mingyu cocked his head. That didn’t make sense.
“Just be yourself, Gyu. You’re literally the most thoughtful guy I’ve ever met. If he can’t see that, then it’s his loss.” Seokmin wrapped another ribbon around Mingyu’s chest and ensured it was snug before moving on.
Mingyu let him work, knowing the alpha was exceptional at tying bows. “I’m just nervous.”
“Well, it’s all part of the experience.” Seokmin said softly. His tongue peeked out of the corner of his lips as he carefully tied the bow on Mingyu’s front.
Mingyu drew in a deep breath and nodded. Seokmin stepped back and smiled at Mingyu. “But one thing would make this perfect.”
“Wait—” Mingyu gasped as Seokmin carefully wound a ribbon around Mingyu’s wrists. “Wh-what are you doing!?”
Seokmin smiled as he tied it off with a petite bow. “I know you’ll try and talk yourself out of it. And now—” Seokmin gestured to Mingyu’s wrists. “You can’t back out.”
Mingyu slumped back against the couch, staring at Seokmin with the biggest puppy-dog eyes he could muster. “You’ll thank me later.” The alpha winked and opened the front door. “Good luck!”
The door shut and suddenly, Mingyu was alone. He was alone in Soonyoung’s and Wonwoo’s shared apartment. He was alone, wrapped up giant ribbons like a gift. Because that was what Mingyu was. He was the final courting gift.
Soonyoung had kept Wonwoo away from the apartment all morning. It was only a matter of time before he would come back and find Mingyu like this.
He likes our scent. He kept our gifts.
Mingyu clenched his eyes shut, twisting at his wrists gently. His omega whispered into his brain in an attempt to ease him. Mingyu didn’t think it worked—but his scent lightened into something soft.
He’ll like us.
Mingyu’s neck prickled and he almost felt tears burn his eyes as the door opened. He held his breath as Wonwoo stepped through the door. Mingyu watched silently as Wonwoo turned his nose up and sniffed the air.
He didn’t dare move a muscle as Wonwoo closed his eyes and sniffed again. Mingyu gulped and looked at his sweaty palms as Wonwoo slowly turned his head. His gaze fell on Mingyu and his eyes widened in shock.
“O-oh, I—uh, sorry.” Wonwoo turned toward the door again and Mingyu suddenly found his voice.
“W-wait! It’s uh… me.” Mingyu looked down at himself, willing his fingers to stop trembling. “I’m the one who’s been courting you.”
Wonwoo’s hand froze. His scent spiked and Mingyu curled in on himself. He knew this was a mistake. He knew Wonwoo wouldn’t like him.
“Those… were courting gifts?” Mingyu blinked at Wonwoo.
“You didn’t know?” He asked quietly. He looked down, even his proud omega curled in embarrassment.
“I-I thought that maybe you were just too shy to talk to me.” Wonwoo said, each word calm.
Mingyu looked back up at Wonwoo and felt his eyes well up with tears. All of those gifts… they meant nothing in the end. He was silly to even try.
“I’m happy that they were though. It makes a lot more sense now.” Wonwoo chuckled to himself and Mingyu looked at him. A single tear slipped down his cheek as he talked. Wonwoo approached him carefully.
“But you always get courted… and you’ve never accepted their advances.” Wonwoo sat down on the couch, leaving a foot of space between them.
“Because they never interested my alpha… and the gifts were always superficial.” Wonwoo pointed at Mingyu’s wrists. “May I?”
Mingyu sniffled and slowly held his wrists up, allowing Wonwoo to gently pull the ribbons away. His fingers were cold against Mingyu’s heated skin. He shivered and Wonwoo chuckled under his breath.
“You’re Mingyu.” Wonwoo said matter of fact.
Mingyu nodded. “H-how did you know?” Quite frankly, Mingyu was just happy Wonwoo even knew his name.
“Well, Seokmin is always raving about you—and because of the MG initials. Seokmin adores you, and I can see why.” Wonwoo smiled, looking over Mingyu’s ribboned abdomen. “You’re adorable.”
Mingyu’s cheeks flushed and his scent flowered around them, filling the space between them within seconds. Wonwoo’s scent deepened in contentment as they sat there in an awkward silence.
“Well…” Wonwoo stood up and held his hand out to Mingyu. “How about we get you out of those ribbons so I can take you out.”
Mingyu bit his lip and reached up, watching his fingers settle on Wonwoo’s. His heart hammered in his chest and the smile refused to leave his face. “Okay,” He stood up, barely containing his excitement. “I’d like that.”