Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

Gwisin

귀신

<Ghost>

Something that no longer belongs in this world. By definition, a ghost is an apparition of the dead, the soul of someone who died, who is believed to be an inhabitant of some unseen world, occasionally appearing to the living in bodily facsimile.

But there could be more to the word/term "ghost" than merely a wandering soul.

Even the living can feel like a ghost.

It is when feelings and emotions pass through you and you feel nothing at all; you go silent, lose empathy, your conscience— your soul.

It's when you feel like you've died but you're in fact, still alive.

.

.

.

The dead have nothing.

The dead commits everything to the ground.

Earth to earth, 

Ashes to ashes, 

Dust to dust. 

To be a living ghost is to live without having anything to your name— it is when you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

🃏

[you can play this as you read:] 

Fake love (inst.)

<10 YEARS AGO— Autumn, 2012>

Taehyung's class ended a few hours ago, but as usual, he didn't go straight home. He's in their school's indoor swimming pool alone; it's dark with only the faint light of the silver moon reflecting through the gym's awning windows. 

With his eyes shut, Taehyung clutches his knees closer to his chest, holding his breath as the ice-cold water engulf him completely.

Something about being under water compels Taehyung to dive headfirst—all the way to the bottom, and stay there for as long as possible.

Here, Taehyung feels like he's in his own little world where nothing else matters; not his appearance, his scent— his rank.

Here, where all he can think about is not depleting the air in his lungs, Taehyung forgets about those sneering faces that often ringed around him as he lay bloodied and bruised on the ground.

Here, Taehyung is free to feel numb.

*Gasp!* 

After nearly two minutes of staying at the bottom of the pool, Taehyung finally felt the need to breathe; bringing his head out of the water; he immediately felt that dreadful sting when the cold air hit the fresh cuts and bruises all over his face and body.

From there, Taehyung treads in the water, keeping himself afloat, acting unfazed despite the presence of an unexpected guest—a stranger standing at the edge of the pool. 

Taehyung spent the majority of his life at this school, so he's certain that this is the first time he's seen the alpha in front of him, brazenly emitting his pheromones that smell of oud, spice, and wood. Then again, Taehyung, isn't one to care, especially after seeing the expensive-looking watch on the guy's wrist, so instead of inquiring, he just calmly swam towards the edge, getting out of the pool, casually picking his discarded uniform from the floor, and walking past the doe-eyed alpha who's clearly following his every move.

"Name—tell me your name," the stranger firmly said, leading Taehyung to pause and straighten up—that, without looking back.

"Do I have to? I don't think so," Taehyung replies as he walks away.

***

"You're late. Did you eat out with your friends again? I told you to call or at least text me if you're not having dinner here; I even cooked; now what am I going to do with all this food?" Kim Taesoo, Taehyung's father, nags Taehyung as soon as he walks through the front door.

"Who says I'm not eating?" Taehyung rolls his eyes, dropping his bag as he sits on the floor by the table, keeping his head down as usual.

"So—" Taesoo pauses, noticing the fresh bruises on his son's face. "Did you stumble down the stairs again? Basketball? Football? Dodgeball? How did your face end up like that again?" Taesoo asks, causing Taehyung to freeze halfway through eating.

"A-ah... Well, I—" 

"You're allowed to talk, you know?—at least to me—here at home, you're also allowed to tell the truth," Taesoo says, his tone as calm and casual as usual. He's always like this anyway, Taehyung's old man; he asks him questions, but he never demands to hear more than what Taehyung's willing to share.

At this point, Taehyung knows that his father is already aware of what's been going on with him at school—maybe not exactly, but he must've had an idea at least. Even within their neighborhood, Taehyung presenting as an alpha despite having both pure beta parents has been an anomaly of some sort; nobody can understand how it happened, nobody— not even Taesoo and Taehyung themselves. 

Taehyung had trouble connecting with his peers ever since he presented as an alpha. Betas thought he was strange, omegas became terrified of him, and alphas refused to accept him since, unlike the majority of them, Taehyung did not come from an affluent family. He lives in Guryong, which is basically the slums of Seoul, thus even for a beta, his family still belongs to the lowest of the low, which is why Taehyung felt that he grew up alone, even while he was with his father.

Still, maybe because he is an alpha that Taehyung's refusing to let any of his weaknesses show. 

"What are you even saying, dad? We played soccer, I tripped and busted my face. It's not a big deal, really, it'll heal in 2-3 days probably." Taehyung says, a rehearsed smile on his face as he puts a spoonful of rice in his mouth. 

"Yeah sure, probably. *Sigh* Eat— eat a lot and then go to bed. Growing kids like you need a lot of rest," Taesoo says as he sets his chopsticks down and heads out the door to smoke a cigarette.

"Dad," Taehyung says before his father reaches the exit.

"Why?"

"Don't worry about me too much. You know I can defend myself." Taehyung replies,

"Tch, who's worried about who, really?" Taesoo clicks his tongue, feigning annoyance as he marches out.

"If you're going to deny it, then at least don't make it too obvious," Taehyung muttered under his breath, looking down and scratching the back of his neck, embarrassed for troubling his father yet again.

***

"Ah, shit, it stings." Taehyung hisses after brushing his teeth and washing his face before going to bed. Here, he stares at his reflection on the bathroom mirror, seeing the new cuts on the side of his lips, on his cheek and on his forehead. "All this after I told them not to touch my face," Taehyung groans as he opens the medicine cabinet.

. 

. 

. 

After washing up, Taehyung is now in bed; his father has just left for work; he'll be on the night shift again at the textile mill a few blocks away, which means Taehyung will once again be spending the night alone in this cramped, box-like space they call home.

It sucks— everything, that is. Even sleeping at night is nearly impossible, especially since he could clearly hear the bunch of good for nothing blokes next door laughing, discussing how many shots of soju each of them should be taking so their drinks would last until morning; Mrs. Do, their neighbor's newborn baby keeps on wailing, and the couple next door has been arguing for around an hour already, Taehyung thinks that probably in a few minutes more, they'd once again start fucking. 

The noise has been the same since he was a child, and it never ceases.

Truth be told, Taehyung is already used to it, sometimes, even he and his father joins in; it's as if it's their way of screaming their pain—their misery—so that everyone around them can hear and know that they're suffering—it doesn't matter whether they're laughing, fighting, or grieving, at least to Taehyung, every sound they're making means the same thing.

They all want to escape this damn hell they're living in.

And Taehyung feels the same. He might never admit it out loud, but he too, wants to be saved.

"Me? Saved? Who am I kidding? As if that'll ever happen." Taehyung closes his eyes as he laughs bitterly to himself.

'Name—tell me your name.' 

Taehyung doesn’t know why, but for some reason, he remembered the stranger at the pool earlier— that doe-eyed alpha with a fancy watch on his wrist, asking for his name, oddly looking like he's desperate for it. 

"Hah... Did he ask so he could pick on me too? Damn rich bastards, they're all the same... Pathetic." Taehyung chuckles, thinking he'll likely never see the alpha again in the future.

. 

. 

. 

Well, Taehyung couldn't have been more wrong. 

"Jeon Jeongguk, alpha— 18. That's all." The new transfer student says, looking bored after being told to introduce himself in front of the class. 

"A-ah... That's fine, Jeongguk-ssi." Mr. Ha, their beta homeroom teacher says, obviously flustered at meeting a Jeon in the flesh, probably for the first time in his life. 

Sure, Jeon is a fairly common last name, but based on how the alpha is dressed and how he presents himself, it's clear that the man in front of them now belongs to 'that' kind of family; in fact, Taehyung has already heard the name before, Jeon Jeongguk, first son of Jeon Jungho, chairman of Ennead E&C, the largest construction company in Seoul, if not the entire country.

Maybe that's why, despite the fact that Taehyung usually doesn't give a shit about anyone's business, he's now finding himself unable to look away from the alpha, wondering what the hell he's doing here, transferring to their school at such an odd timing— no, not just that, because surely he cannot be mistaken, this guy— Jeon Jeongguk, was definitely the alpha Taehyung saw at the pool last night.

Jeongguk is merely standing there, hands tucked inside the pockets of his trousers, staring blankly at the wall, waiting for their teacher's instructions. He doesn't appear to be aware that Taehyung is in the same class as him, causing Taehyung to wonder if Jeongguk has already forgotten about their strange first encounter yesterday evening.

. 

. 

. 

No, he didn't.

Taehyung confirmed that when Jeongguk turned in his way, his eyes shot wide and his face lit up, rushing towards Taehyung with a bright smile.

"What— what do you want?" Taehyung asks, keeping a straight face, refusing to appear fazed in front of the other alpha who's standing in front of his seat, staring at him as if he's gotten an early Christmas gift.

"So, we meet again. Will you tell me your name now? I guess you have to, turns out we're in the same class after all," Jeongguk says, leaning forward, palms flat on Taehyung's desk, prompting Taehyung to back up a bit as he really doesn't like having someone so close to his face.

"Fuck off," Taehyung says as he leans back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. Taehyung has no idea what this alpha wants, but whatever it is, he would rather not be dragged into his pace. 

"Kim Taehyung, where are your manners?!!" Mr. Ha exclaims in panic, and Taehyung is certain that if they weren't in class, the older beta would be cursing at him by now, because of course, 'how dare he' act insolent to a Jeon, and that thought alone just made Taehyung snicker. "I guess I don't need to introduce myself at all now, do I?" Taehyung says, his gaze turning sharper, his smirk fading, noticing how Jeongguk hasn't even blinked since approaching him, he's just staring at him with that idiotic smile on his face.

"Get the fuck out of my face— why? Do you want to fight? If so, you'd best wait until lunch break," Taehyung adds, gritting his teeth and confronting the other alpha head on, refusing to have his day spoiled so early in the morning. 

"Kim Tae—"

"Hey, Jeon Jeongguk! You're here! Ah, it's been awhile, hasn't it?" Jang Minho, one of their class's alphas, exclaims, arriving late as usual.

Ignoring their teacher, Minho walked towards Jeongguk, swinging his arm around the latter's shoulders. 'Of course they know each other,' Taehyung thinks as he shifts his gaze away from both Jeongguk and Jang Minho.

It's not surprising that the two are acquainted; after all, their parents are business partners, as are the families of the other dominant alphas in their class, Shin Hae-in, Park Joo-hyuk, and Ahn Seung-hoon—basically the shitty elite alphas who have been making Taehyung's life feel like hell for years now.

"Oh? What's this? Do you and 'our' Taehyungie know each other? Well, that's interesting," Minho quips, raising a brow at Taehyung before turning back to Jeongguk.

"Who are you again?" Jeongguk asks, his tone cold and flat, his eyes still locked on Taehyung.

"H-hah... You're still as cold as usual. Anyway, c'mon, take a seat, we don't want to cause a scene here, I'm sure Mr. Ha wouldn't appreciate it— isn't that right, teacher?" Minho says, winking at their homeroom teacher who's just standing behind them with a dumb panicked look on his face. 

"*cough* Right, right. Thank you Minho-ssi... A-and uhm... Jeongguk-ssi, you can take the vacant seat over there—"

"No thank you. I’d like to sit here. You're fine trading places with me, right?" Jeongguk smiles, asking the beta who's occupying the seat next to Taehyung by the window as he shakes Minho's arm off his shoulders. 

"O-oh, sure. No problem." Lee Jihyo, the beta beside Taehyung says with his head hanging low, grabbing her bag before heading towards the vacant seat at the other side of their row. 

"Thanks." Jeongguk grins, pushing a tongue on his cheek as he takes his seat beside Taehyung who's now resting his cheek on his palm, blankly staring out the window. "You can go now. I'm already seated." Jeongguk tells Minho, not even addressing the latter by name. 

"Hah...Guess the rumor's true. You really have a few loose screws." Minho says, balling his fists tightly on his side, walking away with a sour look on his face. 

"Shitheads," Taehyung murmurs, glancing at Jeongguk next to him and coughing out an obviously fake laugh when he notices the latter has gone back to staring at him.

***

"So? Mind telling us what that was about? How did someone like you get to know Jeon Jeongguk?" Minho asks, roughly shoving Taehyung down the ground after he brought the latter here at the back of the school building as soon as the first bell rang.

"Pfft... Why, could it be that you're jealous? Is that guy your bitch, or is it the other way around?" Taehyung sneers, brushing the dust off his clothes as he stands up.

"What did you say?!" Minho seethes, grabbing Taehyung by the collar. 

"Hah... Well, it's not really that shocking... Unlike you— I'm not one to discriminate. Be a bitch or whatever, just leave me out of it, alright?" Taehyung says as he wraps his hand tightly around Minho's wrist. "Besides, isn't it about time you grow tired of picking fights with me? Or is it that you still don't get it? Need I say it again?— I'll never be your dog Jang Minho," Taehyung adds, ripping Minho's hold off him, causing the other three alphas, Park Joo-hyuk, Ahn Seung-hoon and Shin Hae-in, Minho's lackeys to step in, taking both of Taehyung's arms and preventing him from moving.

"We can ask you the same thing, Taehyung-ah. Pfft... Aren't you tired talking back? Just fucking break already, you damn trash." Ahn Seung-hoon says, whispering in Taehyung's ear, nodding at Minho who's now lighting a cigarette, pacing back and forth in front of Taehyung. 

"Let me be clear, Kim. I never needed your approval. A disgrace of an alpha like you never stood a chance from the start. Since our paths crossed— you've already been 'my' dog, do you understand?" Minho says, grabbing a fistful of Taehyung's hair and breathing smoke directly into the latter's face.

"Wow... Minho-ssi, it's been years but you're still insecure, I see... I've always been curious— whether or not you're still upset because of what happened before... You know, when that omega you've been crushing on once begged me to let her bear my mark once she comes of age?" Taehyung asks, spitefully grinning at Minho. "Pfft... If so, then you really don't have to do all this. Haven't you heard? I rejected her even before she could propose... I mean, no offense, but it's not like it's my fault you can't buy a face like mine, right? You can try surgery though?— That, I guess, you can afford." Taehyung continues to taunt Minho; he's been in this position way too many times before, so he already knows how to push Minho's buttons and make them pop off.

"Oh, you said it now... I'd brace myself if I were you. You really angered our Minho— for real this time," Joo-hyuk says, tightening his grip on Taehyung's arm when the latter tried to break free from their hold.

"Oh really? Why, though? All I'm trying to say here is that if this is about that Jeon kid, then he doesn't really need to feel threatened— unlike you guys, another alpha will never be of my taste... So you damn dogs better tell your leader to rest assured, he can keep the new guy all to himself," Taehyung says, staring Minho down despite the fact that he is clearly at a disadvantage.

"You really know how to run your mouth, fucker," Minho growls as he pulls Taehyung's hair harder. "But I guess you're not entirely wrong... I never really liked that fucking face of yours," Minho adds, hovering the burning end of his cigarette over Taehyung's cheek. 

[you can play this as you read:] 

Smoke Sprite

"You wouldn't want to touch his face, Jang Minho-ssi," Jeongguk remarks, suddenly he's there, peering out the window, his face calm and smiling, but he's releasing an absurd amount of his pheromones, causing his scent to reek all over the place.

"Oi, Jeon, aren't you being too much? You just came here and you're already trying to mess with me? D'you really have a thing for this little shit? You? Ennead's Jeon Jeongguk?" Minho balks, turning to face Jeongguk, who is leaning out the window, biting the tip of his strawberry flavored, power cap ice tube.

"Pfft.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Taehyung laughs out loud, causing Minho to clench his jaw, the veins on his neck looking like it's about to burst.

"You little sh—" 

"So it's true? You're really this guy's bitch, aren't you?" Taehyung questions Minho before shifting his gaze to Jeongguk. "Yeah, why don't you answer him? As far as I'm concerned, Jeon, we don't know each other. Do you have any business with me? If you're looking for a lackey, I'm telling you now, I might not be a good fit— my plate's already full with these bastards, as you can see," Taehyung adds, while Jeongguk simply shrugs.

"Hey, is that it? Do you really want to take this guy under your wing? If so, you could've just asked me nicely," Minho says, releasing Taehyung's hair and taking him by the collar instead. "I'll be generous just this once for old time's sake and since I look up to your dad, Jeongguk-ah... You said you don't want me touching his face right? So— there shouldn't be any problem if I do this," Minho laughs, his eyes on Jeongguk as he presses the burning end of his cigarette on Taehyung's skin, just below his collarbone, causing Taehyung to shut his eyes, clenching his jaw and gritting his teeth, holding back a pained scream, knowing full well that's what Minho wanted to hear from him. 

"Say, Jeongguk-ah... This guy is actually my current—favorite plaything, so unfortunately, I can't let you have him... We can share if you like— that, I don't mind," Minho says as he lets go of Taehyung, while the other three alphas push Taehyung down on the ground, following Minho's lead.

"Fuck," Taehyung hisses as he sits up, resting his back against the wall just above the window where Jeongguk is. ".. 'the hell are you still standing there for? Show's over, can't you see?" Taehyung asks, tipping his head back, meeting Jeongguk's gaze, flinching when he feels something cold right on top of the burn wound Minho left on his skin. 

"You should go see the nurse... That looks painful," Jeongguk says as he drops a crumpled unopened pack of power cap soda ice cream on Taehyung's lap.

"What do you care? Don't tell me you really have thing for me? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not interested-.."

"Ah, that's right," Jeongguk replies, with a certain kind of glint in his eyes.

"Are you perhaps blind? Do your senses not work right? I'm obviously an alpha, just like you—"

"So? Is that supposed to be a big deal?"

"Hey, are you out of your mind?" Taehyung scoffs in bewilderment.

"Probably? Why? Do I scare you—alpha?" Jeongguk asks, leaning closer to Taehyung's face.

"You wish," Taehyung says, ignoring the strange chill that suddenly crept up his spine.

"Excellent... Because I'm coming for you, Taehyung-ssi— you better not run away, okay?" Jeongguk says as he walks away, winking at Taehyung with that devil-may-care smirk on his face.

🃏🃏🃏

Now alone, Taehyung let out a pained groan, feeling the sting of the cigarette burn Jang Minho left on his skin. Here, he begins to wonder whether he really did something so heinous in his past life that caused him to suffer such madness in this one.

He's already accepted that, given his circumstances, his origin, and what he became, he's inevitably going to have a tough life—and that's fine; he's become so used to every little shitty thing that's thrown his way that he's even learned how to fight.

However right now, Taehyung is beginning to question, just when damn fate will start to draw the line, and decide that enough is enough. 

It's not that he's threatened or scared, but dealing with the likes of Jang Minho and his gang of loyal dogs is one thing, adding another lunatic like Jeon Jeongguk is a whole different story; and at this point, Taehyung is almost considering the idea that it'll be better for him if he could just drop dead and end his misery.

His pride, however, will not allow him to simply give in.

Sure, he’s furious and has had enough of everything, but still he just couldn't fathom the idea of letting Jang Minho and his atrocious acts win.

He'll be graduating soon, and by then, Taehyung intends to persuade his father to move to a different town, a different city where he can start anew. In a few months, he wouldn't have to deal with Jang Minho anymore; he'd get more part-time jobs, buy himself a few nice clothes so others wouldn’t look down on him— maybe they’d even try to get to know him; and then, hopefully, he'd get into Hanyang university, finish his studies, and build a new life for himself and his father—his remaining family.

All he has to do is put up with it a little longer. There are still a lot of things he wants to do and accomplish, so it would be a shame if his life ended here, and that thought—that somewhat fanciful dream—is what keeps Taehyung going.

Screw those elite alphas and their money. Taehyung knows that once he finally gets out of this shitty high school, his life will finally—properly—begin.

***

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. 

. 

"Tae, don't you think it's about time we tell our teachers about this? You're an alpha, so taking a few punches might not be a big deal to you, but this one?" Jimin, a beta and one of Taehyung's few real friends, says, referring to the burn wound on Taehyung's chest, caused by Jang Minho's blasted cigarette. "This is different. This will leave a scar— scars don't just fade, Tae... And even if they do, it'll take awhile for it to happen. I'm sick of those guys doing you dirty like this, so can't we just try to put a stop to it? I'll help— I'll back you up, me and Hobi both." Jimin adds, still trying to convince Taehyung to expose what Jang Minho has been doing to him all this time. 

"Don't be silly. Did you forget that we've already done that? Did anything happen? Did anything change? Those geezers just brushed it off as nothing but child's play." Taehyung says, taking a big bite of bread. He's here in the cafeteria, seated in between his two beta friends, Jimin and Hobi. 

Jimin and Hobi are actually Taehyung's only friends; despite being from middle-class families, the two betas never made Taehyung feel bad or treated him differently, even though Taehyung grew up in and still lives in the slums.

They grew up together, and back then, they thought that they would all turn out as betas like their parents, but alas, much to everyone's surprise, Taehyung presented as an alpha.

Still, even if Taehyung ended up as he is today—an alpha—Jimin and Hobi remained on his side, defending him from those who saw him as nothing but his family's social status— his rank.

It's a pity that now that they're in their senior year of high school, Jimin and Hobi happen to be in a different class than Taehyung, so they can only hang out like this during lunch breaks or whenever the two have free time as student council members.

"Well, I hate to say this, but Tae is right. We did everything we could using whatever privilege we have as members of the student council; we already raised multiple complaints regarding Tae being bullied by Jang Minho and his friends, but we have gotten nowhere," Hobi says as he carefully applies some ointment over Taehyung's new wound while the latter is still busy eating his bread. "Minho is literally the school director's nephew, while the families of his little alpha ducklings have made several huge donations to this school... I mean, don't get me wrong, I hate seeing Tae like this, but those guys are the worst of the worst, and if we make a racket by complaining again, we might even put Tae in a more difficult situation," Hobi says, while Taehyung nods calmly in agreement.

"So you're saying Tae should just suck it up till we graduate? How could you Hobs? This guy-" Jimin pauses as he throws his arm around Taehyung's shoulder, drawing him closer. "He might be an alpha, taller and bigger than us, but he's still our friend! Should we still do nothing even if they end up doing far worse than what they've already done to Tae? They literally just burned him—."

"Calm down, Jimin-ah... I am disgusted as well, and of course, I want them to just leave Taehyung alone. However, we must think more realistically here... The last time we spoke out about this, Jang Minho and his gang kept Taehyung in the men's restroom for an entire weekend; Tae's dad even reported him missing— all that, after submitting their written apology." Hobi sighs, recalling what happened years back when they initially complained to the school board about Jang Minho. "They're a tough bunch to beat. Unfortunately, we won't get anywhere against alphas with both influence and money. Harsh, but that's our reality," Hobi continues, speaking from their previous experience.

"Exactly," Taehyung says as he rises up, his arm draping over Jimin and Hobi's shoulders. "Besides, it's not like this is the first time this has happened; we'll be out of here soon, so what's a few more months of dealing with those spoiled rotten puppies, right?" Taehyung says, subtly squeezing Hobi's shoulder, his silent way of thanking him for understanding that he doesn't want to complicate things any further.

"Ugh! I fucking hate this, Tae! I'm telling you, the next time I see that damn Jang Minho, I'm going to stab him in the neck with a fucking pencil!" Jimin exclaims, feeling so mad and frustrated, his cheeks flushed red.

<you can play this as you read.>

Shivers (inst.)

"Pfft... Alright, alright, my little John Wick, you can do whatever you want, okay? But please, stop worrying too much about me. I'm fine, really," Taehyung says, now playfully resting his chin on top of Jimin's head—that is, until someone suddenly pulls him up, causing his back to crash against the person's chest. "What the fuck—" 

"Did you go to the infirmary?— Well, it looks like you did..." Jeongguk pauses, leaning closer to Taehyung's ear. "Good boy," Jeongguk whispers this time, his gaze drawn to the already-treated burn under Taehyung's collarbone.

"Fucking hell?! Can't you just mind your own business?" Taehyung snaps, quickly covering his ear, annoyed that he's just been caught off guard by another alpha.

"Hmm... Don't wanna," Jeongguk teases, his arm looped around Taehyung's waist, keeping him still and not moving while Taehyung tries to wiggle free from his hold. "Oh, are they your friends?" Jeongguk inquires, his gaze shifting to Hobi and Jimin, both of whom are perplexed while watching their sudden interaction.

An awkward silence then followed, and within those few seconds, Taehyung noticed how Jeongguk's smile abruptly faded, his eyes turning sharp while peering at Hobi and Jimin as if studying them, and then his lips curled up to a cheerful smile again, letting go of Taehyung's waist, only to place his arm around the latter's shoulders as if they're really close friends. "Hello, my name is Jeon Jeongguk, and I just transferred here this morning," Jeongguk introduces himself to the two betas.

"U-uh, okay?" Jimin is at a loss for words because this is basically their first time seeing Taehyung interacting with anyone other than them—let alone another alpha.

"*cough* I'm Jung Hoseok, and this one is Park Jimin; we're both from class A, just next to yours. Nice to meet you." Hobi says, awkwardly offering Jeongguk a handshake, which the latter immediately accepted, while Jimin remained motionless, still trying to process his thoughts, especially after realizing where he first heard the other alpha's name; Jeon Jeongguk, basically the heir of that massive construction company, Ennead E&C.

"Likewise," Jeongguk responds, his hand now sliding down from Taehyung's shoulder, back to the latter's waist, something Taehyung didn't let to happen as he caught Jeongguk by the wrist, pushing the latter just slightly to create the much-needed space between them. "Keep your fucking hands to yourself," Taehyung growls, glaring sharply at the other alpha, who is merely grinning all dazzling at him.

"You don't like being touched?" Jeongguk asks, his tone perhaps too innocent; Taehyung almost believed he truly cared.

"What's your deal, man? Do you have a bone to pick with me?" Taehyung asks, prompting Jimin and Hobi to stand up, getting in between the two alphas.

"Tae, is there a problem? Is this guy bothering you as well?" Jimin asks, pulling Taehyung away from Jeongguk, which the latter quickly noticed, his grin then faded, his gaze locked on where the beta is touching Taehyung.

For some reason, the tension between the alphas appears to intensify; Taehyung is just staring at Jeongguk while Jeongguk shifts his attention back to Taehyung. "I see," Jeongguk says, breaking the silence with a sigh, then back with a smile as he backs off, putting both his hands up, feigning surrender. "See you later, Taehyung... Oh, and nice to meet you again, Hoseok— Jimin," Jeongguk says as he calmly exits the scene, his smile quickly disappearing from his face.

"What was that about? Who even 's that guy, Tae? Are you really friends with him or something?" Jimin asks, intrigued by the new student who just acted suspiciously close to his best friend. The thing is, Jimin sees Taehyung as a younger brother whom he needs to protect; it may seem absurd given that Jimin is a beta and Taehyung is an alpha, but Jimin had seen the worst of what others had done to Taehyung throughout the years they had been friends, from simply looking at Taehyung with prejudice to physically assaulting him, and Jimin had had enough of it.

Hobi, on the other hand, is the more sensible of the three, the mediator who keeps them at bay. It's not that Hobi isn't protective of Taehyung; in fact, Hobi worries a lot about their well-being; it's just that he has a different way of handling matters and would prefer to settle things amicably, minimizing any unnecessary confrontations and damages as much as possible.

"Tch, beats me. The guy was just introduced to our class this morning— I honestly have no idea what his problem is," Taehyung says, slightly covering his nose with his hand, because the more he inhales Jeongguk's scent that's still lingering in the air, the more his face strangely heats up.

"Why is your face so red, Tae? Do you have a fever?" Hobi asks, placing his palm over Taehyung's forehead. "Me? Fever? No, I don't—Ugh..." Taehyung groans, "Anyway, I need to go to the library, see you later, yeah?" Taehyung continues, patting both of his friends on the back as he walks past them.

"Tae—" Hobi says, causing Taehyung to stop walking.

"Yeah?"

"You'll let us know if you need anything, right? If you'd like to do whatever, tell us okay?" Hobi continues, his eyes filled with concern, knowing full well how Taehyung will respond, but he still wants to let the latter know he's not alone.

"Of course. Then, later." Taehyung says, tipping his head to the side and glancing back at his friends with a brief salute before continuing on his way.

"Tch, if you're that concerned, you should've dragged him straight to the principal's office and informed them that those nasty alphas are harassing him again," Jimin says, noticing the look on Hobi's face.

"At this point, we'll be better off seeking help from the police— as if Tae would ever go that far." Hobi sighs in defeat.

***

<you can play this as you read.>

BIBI Vengeance 

**'Because I'm coming for you, Taehyung-ssi— you better not run away, okay?'**

'Coming for me— whatever that supposed to mean? Is this guy seriously crazy?’ Taehyung thinks, surreptitiously peeking at Jeongguk, who’s sitting beside him, currently dozing in class with his chin resting on his palm.

No matter how Taehyung looks at the other alpha, it's clear that Jeongguk is born with a golden spoon in his mouth. 'Patek Philippe', Taehyung reads the brand on the face of Jeongguk's wristwatch. 'What the fuck is he thinking, bringing that kind watch to class? Taehyung laments, clicking his tongue in annoyance, his eyes widening, pupils dilating, when Jeongguk's lids slowly fluttered open, meeting his gaze, immediately grinning cheekily at him without saying anything, prompting Taehyung to quickly look away, turning towards the window, watching the rain. 

. 

. 

. 

The rest of today's lecture flew by, much to Taehyung's relief; Jeongguk, the new alpha in class, basically just slept through it; the school bell just rang, and Taehyung is now packing his things into his bag.

*clank...*

Taehyung had to turn towards Jeongguk when he noticed what the latter had casually placed on his desk—his damn Patek Philippe wristwatch.

"Oi, what do you think you're doing?" Taehyung asks, his eyes wide.

"Getting rid of something I don't need— hoping I can trade it for something more fascinating." Jeongguk says, still with that cheeky grin of his.

"Are you shitting me? If you're trying to set me up, you'd better stop right now; as if I'd accept that—"

"If you don't want it, then you're free to throw it away..." Jeongguk says, flicking his watch, causing it to slide right into Taehyung's bag; then he stood up and walked away before Taehyung could even respond.

"Oi, Jeon! Want to play soccer? You're a forward, right?— Coach said he wanted to meet you." Minho exclaims, calling out to Jeongguk and draping his arm over the latter's shoulder as if nothing had happened between them earlier.

"Mhm, yeah, sure," Jeongguk says, reverting his gaze to the still befuddled Taehyung and winking at him before exiting the classroom with Jang Minho and his group.

"W-what the fuck?" Taehyung muttered under his breath, staring at the damn expensive watch that's now inside his ₩11,000 schoolbag.

***

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. 

. 

< A few hours later... >

"*cough...cough...* Hey, aren't you taking it a bit too far? W-what the fuck is your problem?" Jang Minho exclaims, sprawled on the ground, coughing up blood with his face beaten up, from being run over by Jeongguk one too many times throughout their supposedly friendly soccer match.

"Pfft... What do you mean, Minho-ah? We're just playing soccer, aren't we?" Jeongguk says, his tone condescending as he stares down on Minho and the other alphas who have come to check on him. "So, are my skills good enough to join the team?" Jeongguk asks, turning to face the soccer team's coach, who appears to be chipping away with fear.

"A-ah... Yes— of course. You're in," the coach replies, cold sweat streaming from his forehead as Jeongguk smiles and turns away. "Too bad, I actually have no intention of joining," Jeongguk declares, leaving everyone stunned with their mouths agape.

🃏🃏🃏

Taehyung works part-time at a coffee shop near Hanyang University three days a week: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; out of those days, for some reason, Taehyung looks forward to Fridays the most.

Today is Friday, but Taehyung doesn't feel the same; he's not even happy to go to work; his bag is heavier than usual, with that couple of millions worth of watch inside, and it's making Taehyung extremely uncomfortable.

It's as if he's touched something he shouldn't have, like he's turned into a thief, and it's making him restless just thinking about what if someone comes by and decides it's a good idea to steal his school bag from him. What would happen then? What if Jeongguk suddenly demands that he return the watch and he doesn't have it? Is he going to be arrested? Expelled? Taehyung really had no idea that something as insignificant as a wristwatch would weigh so heavily on him.

"Why did he even give me that stuff when we literally had just met? Really, what was he thinking? What does he want from me?" Taehyung murmured, staring blankly into space. He's now at his part-time job, standing behind the register, thinking about his bag and the damn watch, which is probably worth more than his annual wage and which he had no choice but to leave unattended in his locker.

"Iced americano— you're talking about my order, right?" Taehyung then snapped out of his daze and noticed the man in front of him, smiling at him as always. 

"O-oh... Uhm, okay. Iced americano, I got it... Is that all?" Taehyung asks, his cheeks immediately warming up , averting the other alpha's friendly gaze.

"Mhm, why so formal?" The man pauses, then shifts his gaze down, scratching the back of his neck, a sheepish smirk curling up on his lips. "Sorry— I mean, I've been coming here for a while now, and you've already taken my orders a few times, so I kinda assumed we were somewhat friends already... Uhm... Did I make you uncomfortable? Again, I'm sorry," the other alpha rambled nervously, prompting Taehyung to raise both his hands in panic. "O-oh, no, no— please don't apologize. It's not that I intentionally ignored you; it's just that I've been zoning out, so— well, it's my fault... You usually get iced americano and club a sandwich, right?" Taehyung inquires, despite already knowing he's right—of course, he's right, because this alpha here is the entire reason he looks forward to his Fridays shift at this coffee shop.

Lee Soo-hyuk, a first-year student at Hanyang College of Medicine, also—probably the only alpha Taehyung doesn't dislike, the one alpha Taehyung looks up to; kind, gentle, and not to mention he smells so nice; a good mix of Aldehydes, Myrrh and Gardenia. 

Even after knowing that Taehyung is an alpha who works part-time for a few pennies in a coffee shop, Soo-hyuk never looked down on him or mistreated him, unlike the other alphas who regard him as nothing more than crap.

Soo-hyuk always greets Taehyung with a smile. 

"You really remember?" Soo-hyuk smiles again, his eyes sparkling bright. "Then, I'm relieved," he adds, making Taehyung act a bit nervous, dropping his gaze, biting his lips, suppressing a wide grin.

"W-well, you always come around this time and order the same thing so of course, I'll remember. It'll be weirder if I don't." Taehyung replies, biting his lower lip harder as he realizes he may have said too much, and that Soo-hyuk may interpret it as him being rude, which is the last thing Taehyung wants—but Soo-hyuk simply chuckled, and with that smile on his face, Taehyung confirmed that the other alpha is indeed more pleasant than the others.

"Pfft... Well, I do believe that being predictable makes one easier to remember." Soo-hyuk said with a soft giggle, which made Taehyung blush even redder. "A-anyway, that would be 9,170 won." Taehyung says, still refusing to look at Soo-hyuk.

"All right—." Soo-hyuk pauses before handing Taehyung his card, and when the latter reaches for it, Soo-hyuk snatched it right back, causing Taehyung to finally lift his gaze towards him. "What happened to that?" Soo-hyuk inquires, referring to the visible burn wound just below Taehyung's collarbone.

"O-oh, this? It's nothing... I'll prepare your order, please have a seat," Taehyung says, clasping his shirt collar and hiding his injury before turning away from Soo-hyuk.

***

As Soo-hyuk left, the rest of Taehyung's shift flew by, and it was pretty uneventful. Now he's at home, laying on his bed, staring at Jeongguk's Patek Philippe watch, trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

"It's really heavy, this watch," Taehyung muttered under his breath, "I wonder what he's expecting I'd do with this..." Taehyung asks, worried that a single wristwatch will turn his life around, and if it does, he thinks that he better prepare for the worst possible outcome.

Taehyung likes to learn, but he's never enjoyed coming to school, and that feeling has just doubled—right now, he wishes this weekend would never end, for even if he doesn't admit it out loud, he can't deny that he actually wants to keep this watch, because with it in his hands, he feels somewhat closer to that alpha with a warm and bright smile, he sees every Friday at the coffeeshop. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Don't

"Good morning, Taehyung," Jeongguk says, grinning widely as he walks into their classroom. It's now Monday, and Taehyung has decided what to do with the watch— well, he doesn't have much of a choice; it's only sensible that he return it to its rightful owner.

"Take this back. Don't worry, I haven't made a single scratch," Taehyung says, setting the watch on Jeongguk's desk as the latter takes his seat beside him.

"*Sigh* I've been thinking about you all weekend, and the first time we see each other again, you do this?" Jeongguk complains, glancing at his watch briefly before turning to face Taehyung. "I already gave it to you—as a gift; don't you think it's quite disrespectful to return a gift?" he adds.

"I have no need to keep it, nor do I want it," Taehyung merely shrugs, his eyes widening as Jeongguk abruptly leaned in closer to him.

"I beg to differ... I think you very much— like it... It's the first thing you saw when we first met, am I right? You've been staring at it, I know, and that's why I gave it to you... I want you more than that useless thing, Taehyung. Is that really so hard to grasp?" Jeongguk asserts boldly in front of Taehyung's face.

"Dude, we literally just met last Friday-.."

"In the gym, Thursday night, 7:23 p.m., August 30th, a few hours and a day before my birthday," Jeongguk says without batting an eye, causing Taehyung to sigh.

"It doesn't matter; the point is, you have no reason to give me something this expensive, and I have no reason to accept it... So just take it back, before the whole school labels me a thief," Taehyung insists, choosing to stand his ground and not move, even though Jeongguk's face is literally just two inches away from him.

"A gift is a gift. I'm afraid taking something I've already given away would hurt my pride more than just a bit— that's why I think it'd be best if you just take it," Jeongguk says, tipping his face slightly to the side while his gaze locked on Taehyung's lips.

"You're really shameless, aren't you? We're in class— everybody now is looking at you. Doesn't that bother you?" Taehyung asks, mimicking Jeongguk's actions, tilting his head to the side as well, dropping his attention down on Jeongguk's lips and then back up again. "If you want to intimidate me, then you better ask Jang Minho for tips. You won't be able to break me like this." Taehyung adds as he lightly pushes Jeongguk by the chest, only for the latter to catch his wrist, keeping him still. 

"Just how can I convince you that I have no ulterior motive here?" Jeongguk asks, and now Taehyung is finding it difficult to pretend that they haven't grabbed the entire class' attention. Everybody's staring at them, trying to figure out what they're saying, probably mentally debating whether they're about to fight or make out, judging from the current proximity of their faces.

"No ulterior motive? You must be kidding me—"

"From the start, I've made my intentions clear: I want you, Taehyung... There's really nothing more to it, and I seriously can't be more transparent than this," Jeongguk confesses, as Taehyung scoffs in disbelief.

"You're fucking out of your mind—" 

"Test me, then. Tell me what you want... Whatever it is, I'll give it to you— right here, right now," Jeongguk whispers close to Taehyung's ear, and Taehyung can't tell if he's actually serious or just telling a joke; it's just so absurd that it triggered an equally absurd thought in Taehyung.

"Then... Can you kill Jang Minho for me?" Taehyung asks, glancing through the door as Jang Minho walks in, face oddly covered in bruises and plasters.

"Deal," Jeongguk smiles, pulling his retractable pen from his pocket, clicking the cap, revealing the pen's pointed tip as he advances casually towards Minho, who has halted his steps for some reason, looking at Jeongguk with a horror-filled expression on his face.

"W-why? What do you want this time?" Minho asks, stepping back until he's almost at the door again, his eyes flashing when Jeongguk grabs him by the nape.

Suddenly, the world seems to have turned slow motion for Taehyung, the horrified gasps and whispers from their classmates began to sound warped and distorted, everything is fading to gray in his eyes, and all he can see is Jeongguk gripping his pen tightly, swinging his arm back to create a better aim of Minho's neck— and that's when Taehyung found himself jolting up, rushing towards Jeongguk and grabbing him by the arm, thanking his practically non-existent luck for allowing him to reach Jeongguk in time, the tip of the pen almost grazing Minho's neck. 

"Hold it right there, you crazy dog," Taehyung whispers into Jeongguk's ear, ignoring how it instantly flushed pink, as did the latter's cheeks, while Minho's face turned pale, as if all his blood had gone down to his feet.

With everyone, including the other students in the hallways, staring at them, Taehyung deduced that they couldn't just stay here after the stunt Jeon Jeongguk pulled; he literally just tried to kill Jang Minho before first period, all because Taehyung thoughtlessly told him to, and knowing Minho, once the latter regained his senses and composure, he would certainly not be silent about the matter.

 "Come with me," Taehyung simply states, seizing Jeongguk by the wrist, causing the latter to drop the pen as he gets dragged out of the classroom.

. 

. 

. 

Taehyung then led Jeongguk to the empty staircase at the end of the corridor; to be honest, he has no idea what to say or do with the other alpha here with him, standing with his back against the wall, hands nonchalantly tucked into the pockets of his trousers.

A few seconds have passed and neither of them has said anything; their eyes are glued on each other, and they have even ignored the schoolbell that has just rang; it's as if time has stopped.

"Pfft... HAHAHA!" Taehyung burst out laughing, breaking the awkward silence. He actually has no idea why he's laughing; the new student, Jeon Jeongguk, had just attempted to stab Jang Minho in the neck, and somehow, Taehyung found it so hilarious. "Y-you... Pfft... You're nuts; you're really going to do it—"

"If you haven't stopped me, then yes... So— why?" Jeongguk asks, now with one hand softly caressing Taehyung's cheek while the other resting on the latter's waist, causing Taehyung's laughter to fade and him to stare at him square in the face. "I thought that's what you wanted? Why did you stop me?" Jeongguk asks once more.

"You're really serious?" Taehyung mumbled, gulping nervously, his senses being overwhelmed yet again by Jeongguk's scent; and then here—with Jeongguk's amber eyes focused on him—Taehyung realized the severity of what had just happened in their classroom.

He's mad serious—Jeon Jeongguk truly meant it when he said he'd give him anything.

But why? 

Why him, of all people? 

Why is this stranger looking at him as if he's his owner? 

"Why me? I know you said you want me, but what exactly do you want from me?" Taehyung asks, averting Jeongguk's eyes for a split second, only to swallow whatever tension there is between them as he lifts his gaze back to the other alpha, thinking that the last thing he would want to do right now is to appear like he's frightened. "It just doesn't make sense to me—"

"That night at the pool, when you got out of the water, with your damp skin reflecting the moon— you were so beautiful, it felt like I just witnessed a miracle," Jeongguk fesses up like it's nothing, and while Taehyung knows he'd be a fool to believe it, he couldn't deny that the other alpha's words just made his heart skip a beat.

"S-shut up... Don't make it sound more intimate than it is; I am a man—"

"And you're an alpha, blah, blah, blah, I know that already... Believe me, what I have in mind is probably more intimate than what you think," Jeongguk says, silently inhaling a lungful of air, his lids appearing heavier as he turns his attention onto the crook of Taehyung's neck, which Taehyung noticed, causing a shiver to crawl up his spine and his mouth to run dry.

<you can play this as you read.>

Burning desire

"W-what are you doing?" Taehyung asks, unable to stop himself from stuttering as he watches Jeongguk come in closer, nuzzling his face against the crook of his neck. The act alone is already startling since Jeongguk is behaving again without warning, but what baffled Taehyung the most was the fact that he knew he could've avoided it; he could've stepped back and pushed Jeongguk away— but he didn't.

Taehyung isn't stupid; he can tell what Jeon Jeongguk is doing to him right now by the way the alpha is feeling him, rubbing his nose against his skin— he's scenting him, and strangely enough, Taehyung doesn't find it that offensive.

"You can put me to the test, like I said... You can do whatever you want with me, so why did you pull back before I could even begin? You really want to kill him, don't you? — That guy, Jang Minho, I mean." Jeongguk says, while softly raking his fingers through Taehyung's hair, his nose still latched onto the crook of the latter's neck, ensuring that Taehyung will be reeking of his scent once he's finished.

"Don't change the subject; I asked you a question, and I'm still not pleased with your answer... Are you really expecting me to believe your ridiculous 'love at first sight' story—."

"Pfft... Love— oh, how I love the sound of it from your mouth..." Jeongguk chuckles against Taehyung's skin, leading the latter to shiver involuntarily. "However," Jeongguk pauses as he pulls back, that devil-may-care smirk on his lips as he once again caresses Taehyung's cheek. "If I'm being too straightforward, I apologize; I'm just not a fan of wasting time... Then again, I already decided that you'd be the exception, so how about we start over?" Jeongguk proposes, his smile softer this time. 

"What do you mean start over?" Taehyung asks, still trying to digest everything he's just heard from Jeongguk’s brazen mouth.

"It appears to me that you're the type who requires a valid excuse to let yourself have something good— say, want to be friends with me?" Jeongguk asks, looking Taehyung straight in the eyes.

"A-as if-.."

"C'mon... There'll be no harm in trying; it's not like you have something to lose, right? Just say yes... Let's be friends, Taehyung." Jeongguk continues, with his eyes looking like those of an actual puppy, Taehyung thinks that it'll make him the bad guy if he even tries to reject him.

Again, it makes no sense, but somehow, right now, Taehyung isn't feeling the need to defend himself.

"Friends, you say?" Taehyung asks, taking a step back but keeping his eyes on Jeongguk.

"Mhm-hm,"

"Well... If you're so bored, I suppose I can humor you this much..."

"Oh, how generous of you," Jeongguk responds with an inexplicable glint in his eyes—something about those eyes irritates Taehyung, but still he finds himself getting pulled in, unable to actually—truly resist.

Where exactly will it take him? Taehyung doesn’t know, but for now, he's choosing to just go with the flow; after all, Jeongguk has a point, someone like him who has nothing, also has nothing to lose. 

'You? An Alpha? What a joke! '

'I heard you're from Guryeong, right? What's it like to live there? Do you spend the night on the streets? With stray dogs maybe? '

'Well, didn't your mother die because of you?—Your father must really hate you... He must be sick of you.'

As Taehyung stares into Jeongguk's eyes, he suddenly recalls every damn bitter word—every beating, every wound, every scar he received from Jang Minho and his group of other moneyed alphas; suddenly, he can see them looking down on him, laughing at his face, spitting at him, taunting his entire existence.

Then there's Jeon Jeongguk, with his golden eyes, towering higher than Jang Minho and his gang, reaching out a hand to him, as if he's a deity capable of putting an end to all of his misery.

'I must've gone crazy...' Taehyung thinks as he mentally takes Jeongguk's hand and lets him pull him out of the dark abyss he's in. 'When did I become so utterly pathetic? Nevertheless, like this madman said, there's no harm in trying,' Taehyung muses, his lips twitching up to a sneer.

"Yeah? Well, it's clear that you're not planning on giving up anytime soon, so let's just cut to the chase and be friends, like you suggested, Jeon Jeongguk… But just so you know, if you ever fuck me over, you're dead. I'll kill you with my bare hands if you give me any reason to." Taehyung says, sighing in defeat as Jeongguk once again pulls him closer by the waist, burying his face against the crook of his neck.

"Roger that," Jeongguk breathes, carelessly releasing more pheromones into the air.

"Oi, do you usually scent your friends like this?" Taehyung asks, having run out of energy to tell Jeongguk to stop, so just for now, he's allowing him to do whatever he wants.

"Mhm, I guess so," Jeongguk responds; he's the one scenting Taehyung, but he's the one sounding more dizzy and drunk.

"Really, huh?" Taehyung replies sarcastically, rolling his eyes and pushing his tongue against his cheek, when he feels Jeongguk squeezing his waist and clinging onto him tightly.

"Why? Does it bother you?" Jeongguk asks, staring up at Taehyung.

"Having another alpha cover me with his scent does bother me a lot, but since it seems like you're so into it, just this once, I won't mind doing a little charity." Taehyung says, meeting Jeongguk's gaze, immediately regretting what he had just said when Jeongguk's eyes flashed golden at him, flattening his tongue on his skin before opening his mouth, as if he's aiming to bite him, which made Taehyung grab a fistful of Jeongguk's hair, roughly pulling the latter's head away from his neck. "Don't push your luck, alright?" Taehyung warns.

"Ahh, you're seriously driving me crazy... Pfft... Fine, I'm sorry," Jeongguk slurs, baring his sharp fangs as his lips curl up into a smug grin.

🃏🃏🃏

Friends? 

Taehyung honestly has no idea what he was thinking agreeing to be friends with the likes of Jeon Jeongguk, but now he's in the cafeteria with the alpha, along with Hobi, Jimin, and three others from the class next door, Namjoon, Jin, and Yoongi, who are apparently also friends with Jeongguk.

"Tch, you're mean, Jeonggukkie, you've been here since last week and you didn't even come to see us; we haven't seen each other in what, 3 years? Bet if my mom hadn't told me about you moving here, I'd probably have no idea we'll be graduating from the same highschool," Jin whines as he bites into his sandwich. 

Jin, Namjoon, and Yoongi are all alphas and classmates of Jimin and Hobi; they also attended the same private middle school as Jeongguk until the latter moved to Busan for high school, while the other three decided on going here to Apgujeong.

"Pfft, don't get too worked up, hyung... I mean, you guys are the reason I decided to transfer here, so how can I not show myself to you? It's just that I had some work to do last Friday, but everything has gone well, hasn't it? We're all having lunch together now." Jeongguk says, going all bunny smiles at his friends as he opens a can of soda and places it in front of Taehyung as if it's the most natural thing for him to do.

"Well, we couldn't blame him for not seeing us last Friday, Jin; you and I were also busy, with the student council organizing the upcoming school festival, while Yoongi here had his hands full with his club activities," Namjoon says, sipping his iced tea and glancing at Taehyung, who is sitting between Jeongguk and Jimin. "Well, you've made a new friend, I see," Namjoon remarks, shifting his attention to Jeongguk. The truth is, Namjoon and probably everyone else at school knows who Taehyung is—the infamous alpha from Guryeong; he's also aware that he's friends with two of their other student council members, the two betas: Hobi and Jimin, but he's never really interacted with Taehyung until today. Don't get him wrong: Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin have never joined the bandwagon of hate for Taehyung; it's just that they don't care, and they had no reason to care until Jeongguk brought Taehyung to their lunch table today. "Kim Taehyung, right?" Namjoon asks, turning back towards Taehyung. 

"Yes hyung! He's my best friend, my Taehyungie—"

"Best friend? What the fuck are you saying? Excuse me, I'm Tae's 'only' best friend!" Jimin says, scoffing and tugging Taehyung closer to his side.

"Oh? Is that so?" Jeongguk asks; he's smiling, but Taehyung still notices how Jeongguk's voice dropped a few octaves lower, his eyes turning a little darker.

"Jimin-ah, don't," Taehyung whispers, gently removing Jimin's grip on him. "It's hot," Taehyung adds, noting Jimin's lips protrude into a dejected pout.

"Pfft—" 

"What the hell are you laughing at?" Jimin snaps again when Jeongguk snorts a giggle after seeing what Taehyung just did, but Jeongguk just ignores him and proceeds unwrapping Taehyung's sandwich.

Taehyung finds this scene to be absolutely ridiculous. It hasn't even been a day since he agreed to be friends with Jeon Jeongguk, yet he's now seated with three of the most elite and sought after alphas in their school—and again, there's Jeongguk, so of course, they'll be attracting pretty much everyone's attention.

And Taehyung hates it—he hates everything about this. Taehyung doesn't even need to hear what the others are saying behind his back right now, because just by looking at them, he knows that they all think he doesn't deserve to be sitting here. He doesn’t belong here.

He said he'd be friends with Jeongguk to get him off his back and get him to shut up—yes, he agreed on being friends—but instead of a friend, it appears that Taehyung got himself a pet—a damn pet who's treating him like ‘he's’ the pet; pulling chairs for him, opening his soda can, unwrapping his sandwich, watching him eat with that stupid smile on his face, and Taehyung feels he's going to have indigestion if he keeps staying next to Jeongguk like this; not to mention Jimin and Hobi, who are visibly uncomfortable having Jeongguk here after making quite an impression on them last week. Then there's Namjoon, Jin, and Yoongi, who are all not-so-discreetly studying Taehyung as he tries to eat.

Ah, Taehyung has had enough of this.

"I'm going," Taehyung says as he quickly rises up and walks out of the cafeteria to get some air.

<you can play this as you read.>

Yes to heaven

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. 

. 

Taehyung eventually ended up here, laying on the grass under the tree near the field. The skies are rather gloomy today, and it appears that it may rain, but for Taehyung, it's just perfect; the sun is hidden behind the clouds, the air feels cool, and as he lays here, everything around him is fading to nothing but white noise. "I guess I'll take a nap," Taehyung muttered, closing his eyes to relax.

"Nap? Great! My thighs are perfect for that!"

'Nap, my ass...' Taehyung thinks, hissing as soon as he hears Jeongguk and feels him take a seat next to him. "What are you doing here?" Taehyung asks, without even bothering to open his eyes, knowing that the sight of Jeongguk's face will just annoy him yet again.

"Why did you leave? You haven't even finished your sandwich," Jeongguk asks him back.

"I don't feel like eating—"

"With my hyungs, I suppose? Sorry, I didn't expect to run into them this soon; I was actually looking forward to having lunch with you— just the two of us, I mean." Jeongguk says, laying his palms on the grass and leaning back, his gaze set on the gray skies above.

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not very popular here at this school—or maybe everywhere else. Staying close to me will only cause you problems... You just got lucky Jang Minho didn't tell our teachers about what you did to him this morning." Taehyung says, furrowing his brows, still with his eyes closed when he felt Jeongguk gently lifting his head and resting it onto something else— something hard and huge and warm— his thighs, yup, without a word and without even consulting Taehyung first, Jeongguk has already decided that his thighs will be Taehyung's pillow. 

Nevertheless, having to sit for lunch with a handful of people he doesn't know was exhausting for Taehyung, so again, just this once—just for today—he'll let things go Jeongguk's way.

"See, it's comfortable, isn't it?" Jeongguk says, acting oblivious to what Taehyung has just said.

"Touch my hair and you're dead," Taehyung warns, sensing that the other alpha is about to stroke his hair.

"Stingy... But okay, fine... I won't," Jeongguk stops, only to nonchalantly slide his hand under the collar of Taehyung's shirt. "—touch your hair..." He continues, now gently caressing Taehyung's shoulder and neck, sending shivers up Taehyung's spine causing him to immediately grab Jeongguk by the wrist, stopping him from what he's doing. "I offer you one thing, and you take ten times more than you should; do you even know what personal space is?" Taehyung snaps, pushing Jeongguk's hand to the side as he tries to get up, only to be pulled back down again by the other alpha.

"Hey, c'mon. I'm not going to touch you anymore, so just lie down and get comfy, okay?" Jeongguk grins, raising his hands in submission as Taehyung glares up at him.

"Tch, no more funny business, okay?" Taehyung sighs, closing his eyes again because really, he feels extra tired today. "For once, just try to keep your hands to yourself." He says.

"Mhm... Alright, alright, whatever you want," Jeongguk says, humming happily and smiling rather sweetly.

Feeling Jeongguk's warmth at the back of his head, and the slight cold breeze, Taehyung then slowly felt like he could finally breathe; it's strange, but right now, Taehyung is not really in the mood to complain.

"You're pretty strange, you know?" Taehyung murmurs, his eyes still closed.

"So I was told," Jeongguk says, his gaze now fixed on the sky.

"Bet I'd never understand why someone like you chose to stay close to me, so I was actually thinking of making the most of it... I'm planning on using you, Jeon Jeongguk, is that okay with you?" Taehyung says, feeling no need to conceal his intentions; after all, Jeongguk to him, is still just a stranger.

"Okay— do that then... That's exactly what I've been trying to get you to do from the start," Jeongguk replies, shifting his gaze down on Taehyung, scrunching his nose and smiling when he sees Taehyung is already staring back at him.

"I won't try to get to know you. I won't even try to understand you or figure out what your true intentions are... I'll just take, take, and take whatever you can give me, and I'll give nothing back—including that damn watch... So don't you bitch about it later on, always remember, you asked for this— you— started this." Taehyung says, looking Jeongguk straight in the eyes, waiting to see a crack on the latter's seemingly unreadable and unpredictable demeanor. 

"Perfect— that's pretty much exactly what I want." Jeongguk says, again with that cheeky smile on his face.

"Are you sure? You really want nothing from me?"

"I don't want anything from you— instead, I want you. You by my side, you— all the time. That wouldn't be too much, right?" Jeongguk responds, his tone dropping once more.

"Pfft... What's this? I thought you were like a wild dog, turns out you're more like a cat choosing its owner... So— was it true when you said you picked me because for some goddamn reason, you thought an alpha like me was pretty?" Taehyung asks, snorting a soft laugh, still thinking about how ridiculous Jeongguk's reasoning was.

"Still is pretty... Especially right now... Very—very— very pretty." Jeongguk says, his words coming out as if he's saying it absentmindedly as he continues to stare at Taehyung, keeping his eyes on the latter while Taehyung lifts his arm, slightly waving his palm in front of Jeongguk's face. "It's either you're just bullshitting me or you're actually blind.; I'm sure everyone will agree, nothing's pretty about a damaged alpha like me," Taehyung says, catching Jeongguk's gaze between his fingers as the latter hovers over his face.

"You keep saying I'm strange, that I'm basically insane, but between us two, you're the strange one, Taehyung." Jeongguk sighs, gently touching just the tip of Taehyung's index finger.

"Well, everybody already knows that—"

"I've noticed it from the start, you seem to worry so much about what people think... Do you really need to do that? Bet, you'd be better off if you stopped giving a shit," Jeongguk says, causing Taehyung to choke out a bitter laugh, getting up from Jeongguk's lap.

"That's easy for you to say," Taehyung says, running his fingers through his hair as he stands up. 

"Why? Because you're poor and I'm not?" Jeongguk asks, and Taehyung cannot help but laugh out loud. He already knew that—everyone does; he's an alpha living in the slums, but for some reason, it irritated him much more upon hearing it from Jeongguk's mouth; after all, the latter was the one who came at him, basically begged to be friends with him— bullshit. 

"We only met last week, what the fuck do you know about me?— Exactly, that's what I thought... Nothing," Taehyung says, smirking tauntingly at Jeongguk as he walks away.

"Ahh... So he hates hearing that, huh? Got it..." Jeongguk mumbled under his breath, laying down on the grass—there in the space that Taehyung just left.

. 

. 

. 

Taehyung was on his way back to their classroom when he noticed Jang Minho and his gang glaring at him in the hallway; he was about to walk past them when Minho suddenly grabbed the back of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.

"What the fuck did you feed that guy, huh? What the fuck did you do to win Jeon Jeongguk's favor?" Minho asks, gritting his teeth and pressing his arm firmly into Taehyung's chest to keep him still.

"Mhm... Boy, what's this here? Is the great Jang Minho really scared of little Jeonggukkie? C'mon, don't take it too seriously, he's probably just messing around... Who in their right mind would stab someone in broad daylight?" Taehyung asks, unfazed, because he's actually already expecting this to happen. Jang Minho has never had the nerve to confront anyone clearly higher in status than him, so it makes sense that he'd vent his rage on Taehyung after what Jeongguk did to him this morning.

"Just fucking spill, you fuckwit... Did he really take you under his wing? — Or did you go under him? Words travel fast, Taehyung-ah... This morning, I heard you were set to suck faces with the new alpha… So? Did you get a good dicking from him? Is that why he's been acting like you're his bitch or something? " Minho asks, sneering at Taehyung while his three lackeys behind him started cackling.

Taehyung is used to this; besides, he shouldn't be surprised; in his head, this is exactly what he's going to get after returning to class reeking of the scent of another alpha; but now that Jang Minho has said it out loud in front of everyone, his rage has suddenly begun to boil from the pit of his stomach.

"What the fuck did you just say?!" Taehyung growls, roughly clutching Minho's shoulder, trying to push him off him, only to be restrained by Park Joo-hyuk and Ahn Seung-hun.

"Judging by your reaction, it has to be true... Pfft—HAHAHA! Wow, this is hilarious! You sure act fast, Taehyung-ah! Going from trash to slut in just a few days?! What's next? You going to bear the dudes' pups? You're not an omega, though? Isn't that a bit sad—"

"Shut up..." Taehyung says, his ears ringing, his face flushed, his jaw clenched so tightly that the veins in his neck came to look like they'd burst at any moment.

"Why? Aren't I just stating facts? Or are you really upset over not being an omega? Hah! Bet you'd have a better life if you were one, I mean with a face like that, if you're an omega, I might even consider fucking your ass just once—"

Taehyung has basically blacked out; he has no idea how he managed to escape Joo-hyuk and Seung-hoon's hold, but now he's tackling Jang Minho to the ground, punching the other alpha square in the face, doing it again and again before Minho's lackeys were able to pull him back and hold him down, giving Minho the opportunity to return the favor, growling and screaming as he continued to punch Taehyung's face, not stopping even when Taehyung's already bleeding. 

It hurts. 

Everything just hurts. 

Taehyung swore he was having a rather good day earlier. 

Now his head is throbbing, every inch of his face stings so much that it's starting to itch. At this point, Taehyung has already given up fighting. He's not weak per se, and he's confident he'll win over Minho if the fight is just between them, but there's no way in hell he'll be able to take on four alphas, so he just stayed put and took every beating. He's sure Minho is screaming something at him, but Taehyung has ceased hearing anything—and then it all stops.

<you can play this as you read.>

I wanna be yours

When Taehyung opened his eyes, he saw Jeon Jeongguk looming above him and Minho on the ground, seizing the latter's wrist. "I take my eyes away from you for one second, and this happens... My, my... What am I going to do with you, really?" Jeongguk laments, his gaze fixed on Taehyung.

"Oi, Jeon, you better let go—" 

"You better shut up Minho-ssi... I'm not talking to you right now." Jeongguk says, his voice low and threatening, glancing at Minho once before turning towards Taehyung again. "What now? It's your call... All you have to do is say the word." Jeongguk adds, and even without him explaining, Taehyung somehow understood what he meant. 

He'll do it.

Based on the look on his face, whatever Taehyung says right now, Jeongguk will certainly deliver it.

If he tells him to break Minho's wrist, then he will.

If he tells him to smash Minho's face to the ground, Jeongguk will do it—hell! If Taehyung says he wants him to, Jeongguk might actually kill Minho right here.

Albeit, right now, Taehyung would rather take a hundred more punches from Jang Minho than have Jeon Jeongguk save him.

Why? 

It may sound petty, but Taehyung thinks that if that happens, he will feel even more pathetic than he already is.

"Fuck off," Taehyung says, spitting blood from his mouth, pushing Minho off him so he could stand, limping away, disregarding the calls of the teachers who had just entered the scene.

"What happened here?! Oh my god, Minho-ssi, you're bleeding!" one of the teachers exclaims, "Who did this to you?—Ah, it's Kim Taehyung again, isn't it? Oi, get back here, Kim!"

"I did it," Jeongguk declares, ensuring that his voice is loud enough for Taehyung to hear.

"W-what? J-Jeongguk-ssi, why? I mean, aren't you two friends?"

"We're just fooling around, isn't that right, Minho-ah?" Jeongguk replies, and that's when Taehyung turns around, watching as Jeongguk swings his arm over Minho's shoulder, whispering something into the latter's ear while his gaze is fixated on him.

"R-right... We're just playing, sir... I'm sorry, it won't happen again," Minho says, his head low and his fists clenched on his sides.

"Well, I suppose it's all good now?" Jeongguk smiles, releasing Minho and raising both his hands up. "If not, you can call my father, teach'— you have his number, right?" Jeongguk added, bowing graciously to the instructor before he started casually walking towards Taehyung. 

"W-why?" Taehyung asks, still tasting blood in his mouth, now with Jeongguk standing in front of him.

"See? I'm not always so barbaric," Jeongguk says, slightly spreading his arms to his sides. "Sleep, I'll take care of everything," he adds as Taehyung's lids flutter shut, the latter collapsing against his chest.

"D-did I ask you to?" Taehyung murmured half asleep, feeling Jeongguk's arms wrap around him, one on his back, one on the back of his knees, picking him up as if he weighed nothing.

"No? But this is me taking the initiative... Sweet, isn't it? Me, I mean." Jeongguk grins as he begins walking away with Taehyung in his arms, holding the latter as a man would carry his bride on their wedding night.

— At least, that's how Jeongguk sees it; he's not sure if Taehyung will agree; nevertheless, it doesn't matter because he's already asleep.

🃏🃏🃏

<inaudible chatter...>

. 

. 

. 

"You realize that courting only succeeds between an alpha and an omega, right? This guy here is definitely an alpha through and through, so everything you're doing right now would never work on him, Guk."

'Min Yoongi?' Taehyung thinks, recognizing the man's voice; he thinks he's also heard Jeongguk, but he's not sure. He's just woken up, but he's not quite certain if it's okay for him to open his eyes yet; his head is pounding and every inch of his body hurts so bad that even breathing feels like a challenge.

"Trust me, everything's working just fine hyung. We've actually just spent a lovely time chatting under a tree over lunch— he even rested his head on my lap. I've never seen him do that with anyone," Jeongguk proudly says, and if Taehyung could move, he'd be rolling his eyes and yelling at Jeongguk to shut up by now.

"Hey, aren't you being too delusional? You've only been here Friday, last week, so how can you talk as if you know everything about this guy? *sigh* Listen, Jin and Joon basically treat you as their kid, so they think everything you do is fine, but I don't— I've seen things, Jeongguk... I know you, and you know that too."

'What are they on about? What exactly does he mean? Who's courting who here?' Taehyung mulls, intrigued by whatever Min Yoongi is saying to Jeongguk.

"I've always done good, hyung."

"Stop fooling around; I heard you've taken responsibility for whatever this guy did to Jang Minho—."

"He has a name, hyung—Taehyung—Kim Taehyung, not 'this guy,' 'this dude,' or whatever," Jeongguk argues, leading Taehyung to clench his fists under the blanket, hoping that Jeongguk would stop doing needless things to defend him, because he doesn't need it—or so he tells himself.

"Fine, Taehyung it is... My point is, what are you going to do if the school informs your father about this? Yes, you haven't done much wrong in the past, but you've certainly paid a hefty price for the few things you've done, you know what I'm saying? Jeon Jungho will never-.."

"Hyung, you worry too much. I'm fine. Besides, even if the school calls 'the chairman', I'm sure I'd still be alright, so relax, yeah?" Jeongguk says, and Taehyung wants nothing more than to leave this place—wherever the fuck he is at the moment.

"Tch, do what you want, but don't make me say I told you so when you come to regret it later," Yoongi says as he rises from his seat and heads out the door.

"Ahh... But hyung— I actually haven't regretted a single thing in my life; so again, there's no need for you to worry" Jeongguk remarks, and the next thing Taehyung heard was the door swinging shut.

. 

. 

. 

"Don't think too much about it... I know you're already awake," Jeongguk says, sitting beside Taehyung on the bed, smiling warmly as soon as the latter opens his eyes. 

 "So, how are you feeling?" Jeongguk asks, gently brushing some of Taehyung's stray hair away from his face.

"W-where am I?" sighs Taehyung as he sits up, clasping his sore stomach.

"The infirmary? I don't know where you live, that's why I was waiting for you to wake up so I could bring you home," Jeongguk replies, handing Taehyung a glass of water. "The nurse said you'd be alright, no broken bones or anything, it's just that you'd probably feel sore for the next few days, so she said it'd be best if you take painkillers," Jeongguk adds, taking the glass back after Taehyung has taken a few sips of water.

"What about class?" Taehyung asks, noticing from the windows that it is already dark outside.

"Done like two hours ago. I took notes for you so don't worry about homework," Jeongguk answers, putting his notes on Taehyung's bag.

"Two hours ago? Fuck, I missed my part-time job," Taehyung groans, massaging his aching head. "Could you please hand me my phone? I need to call—"

"Oh, don't worry, they've already called, and I told them you won't be able to make it to work today... By the way, I didn't know you worked at a coffee shop, that's so cool!" Jeongguk beams, still handing Taehyung his phone and watching him frantically check his call logs.

"Shit, what were you thinking? I can just come in late—"

"Nuh-uh, no can do," Jeongguk says, ruffling Taehyung's hair, prompting the latter to hiss and scowl at him once again. "Fuck off," Taehyung swats Jeongguk's hand away, while the latter simply chuckles.

"Pfft... Okay, okay— but no, seriously, if it's about your pay then I can double your daily wage, just go home and rest for today-.."

"That would be unnecessary... Besides, why the hell would you even pay me?" Taehyung interjects, rolling his eyes at Jeongguk as he gets out of bed, jaws clenched, nostrils flaring when Jeongguk helps him up without him asking.

"Because I can, and I want you to rest—"

"Listen here you, I don't take orders from anyone, especially from you. I know I said I'm good being friends with you, but whatever you're doing? This ain't it. Friends don't do shit like this," Taehyung says as he grabs his bag and walks out the door, Jeongguk trailing behind him like a damn duckling.

"But I do. I love doing things for you, Tae," Jeongguk says as he skips merrily alongside Taehyung.

"That's 'just Taehyung' for you... You really don't know how to listen, do you?" Taehyung sighs in defeat.

"But I am listening? Aren't we talking right now?" Jeongguk asks, tilting his head to the side, acting cute again like a puppy who's keenly listening, and Taehyung's in too much pain to tolerate it, he's really close to punching Jeongguk in the face, but when he turned towards him— he knew right away that won't be able to do it. 

'This guy... He looks so much like a baby.' Taehyung thinks, scolding himself for being weak for cute things and Jeongguk's face just happens to be one; Taehyung couldn't get himself to actually hurt him, so he pinched his cheeks instead while looking ahead with a straight face. 

"Ow—ouch! Pfft, hey! It hurts!" Jeongguk laughs as he is dragged by Taehyung by the cheek, and then Taehyung suddenly lets go, halting his steps as well.

"So, did you really take responsibility for what happened earlier?" Taehyung asks, his eyes now set on the floor.

"Well, that'll be nothing I can't handle— wait.... What's this? Mhm... Are you worried about me? Oh, give a guy a warning—"

"Ugh, shut up!" Taehyung groans, pinching Jeongguk's cheeks again as the latter chuckles, playfully clasping his chest as if shot by a bullet; then they resume walking.

.

. 

. 

Taehyung is on his way home; he took the bus and is now heading to their neighborhood; everything is normal—except that Jeon fucking Jeongguk is still following him from behind, whistling an insufferable tune and looking around like a blasted tourist with his hands tucked inside the pockets of his pants.

"You—" Taehyung stops before turning to face Jeongguk, who quickly raises his hands in submission. "Oh hey, why?" Jeongguk asks, foolishly grinning again.

"What the hell are you doing? Why the fuck are you still following me?" Taehyung demands, hands on his waist, his eyebrows raised.

"To see where you live? I've always been curious, since everyone seems to be fussing over you being from Guryeong village— yup—that's why I'm here," Jeongguk replies matter-of-factly, even nodding his head, which just annoyed Taehyung even more.

"Just go home, okay? This isn't the place for you to go sightseeing—" Taehyung pauses, noticing that some of their neighbors outside are now staring at them, probably eyeing the way Jeongguk is dressed, because even though the latter is wearing their uniform, his bag, shoes, and other accessories all scream that he doesn't belong here. "Ugh! Come—follow me and don't say anything," Taehyung growls, glaring hard at the group of guys drinking by the street, staring suspiciously at Jeongguk.

. 

. 

. 

Taking anyone home, let alone Jeon Jeongguk, is the last thing Taehyung wanted to do, yet he had no choice; he couldn't just leave Jeongguk out in the streets alone, knowing how dangerous it is at night in their neighborhood. So now Jeongguk is here, looking completely out of place, the top of his head almost touching the ceiling, standing in the middle of Taehyung's box like home.

"You live alone?" Jeongguk asks as Taehyung scrambles to pick up some of his dirty laundry off the floor. 

"No, my father's at work. He'll probably not be home until tomorrow afternoon." Taehyung says, shoving his and his dad's dirty clothes in the closet, thinking he'll just clean it up once Jeongguk leaves. "Just sit wherever you want, all I have to offer is water, so deal with it." Taehyung says as he opens their busted fridge and pours Jeongguk a glass of water while the latter slumps down on the floor.

. 

. 

. 

"*Sigh* Why did you even come here? This is so embarrassing," Taehyung murmurs as he sits beside Jeongguk, nervous because this is actually the first time he's had anyone over.

"Why? This place has walls, a roof, a sink, toilet, fridge, and you even have two rooms; it's quite functional even though it's small... Actually it's cute, like a dollhouse or something?" Jeongguk shrugs as he empties the glass.

"It's called a shanty, you fucking prince— tch, anyway, do you have a driver or something? You should call them, this area's quite dangerous if you're not from here." Taehyung says, leaning his back against the fridge— yes, that's how cramped this place is. 

"I do, but I'm not going to call—"

"You gotta be fucking kidding me! C'mon, why are you acting like this?!!" Taehyung couldn't help but lash out at Jeongguk's antics.

"My father isn't really fond of me— he doesn't trust me, so if I ask our family driver to come and get me here, he'll surely get suspicious, he'll probably think I'm now on drugs or whatever," Jeongguk says as he casually rests his head on Taehyung's lap, which startles the latter, immediately pushing Jeongguk off him but he refuses to budge. "Hey! Get off!" exclaims Taehyung, shoving his palm into Jeongguk's face.

"Mhm... I'm tired, let me rest a bit," Jeongguk says, giggling till his laughter fades into silence and Taehyung finds himself succumbing to Jeongguk's pace yet again.

"You're such a pain in the ass," Taehyung gives up, leaning back, exhaling a lungful of air.

"I know," Jeongguk agrees.

<you can play this as you read.>

Money Power Glory

"Won't you get in more trouble if you don't go home?" Taehyung asks, peering with one eye at Jeongguk, who is getting cozy, snuggling on his lap.

"Nobody really checks on me there, and my father's practically never home; I'll get in more trouble if I deliberately grab their attention, but if I don't go home, everyone there will assume that I'm just playing video games in my room," Jeongguk says, now staring at the ceiling.

"Is this you trying to gain my sympathy? I won't give it to you." Taehyung says, setting his gaze up as well. 

"Pfft... Nope, didn't ask for it, and I probably never will." Jeongguk responds with a soft chuckle, and Taehyung really wasn't planning on asking anything about the other alpha's life—he shouldn't—he said he wouldn't, but his damn thoughts are now at their peak, after noting how sad Jeongguk's tone was when he spilled.

"S-so... What is it like? Living your life, I mean." Taehyung asks, mentally chastising himself for allowing his curiosity to get the best of him.

"Mhm?" Jeongguk said, catching Taehyung's gaze when the latter turned to face him again. "Well, I'd be a hypocrite if I said it's not nice, but even if you think I'm ungrateful, I'd be lying if I denied that it's still suffocating sometimes."

"Really? How so?" Taehyung asks again, wondering why he's even bothering this peculiar stranger with such inquiries.

"Just because... How about you? What's it like to be you?" Jeongguk asks him back instead of giving him a straight answer.

"Same as yours, sans anything that's nice. Mine has been smothering me all this time," Taehyung admits, and to be honest, he's quite shocked he said it himself, probably because no one has ever asked him how he felt. 

Sure, Jimin and Hobi do care about him, as does his father, but most of the time, Taehyung feels like they're scared—that they're terrified to know what sort of demons are hiding inside his closet, so they never asked him about anything, they just assume that he's not okay.

And yet, right now for some reason, Taehyung feels like it's safe to be honest with Jeongguk; it's as if he's opening up to a stranger who has no authority to judge him because he doesn't really know him. For Taehyung, this is quite refreshing.

"Oh, we're not so different after all," Jeongguk remarks as he closes his eyes once more.

"There are things I want to do, Jeon— places I want to see, thrills I want to feel... I want the life that life itself has denied me because I lack both power and money," Taehyung laments, strangely feeling as if the doors of his damn closet of hell is about to burst and make a complete mess out of him, but who cares? He and Jeongguk are the only ones here.

"Well, that's interesting... Y'see, my father often lectures me about how power and money aren't everything— that there's more to life than being a king on a throne, wearing a crown of gold... Those were his words, not mine, by the way... It's funny because he doesn't even act that way," Jeongguk snorts, ignoring the bitter aftertaste his own words left in his mouth. 

"Hah... So your father likes to conceal his pretentious personality behind false humility, huh? I see... Guess, apples really doesn't fall far from the tree—especially rotten ones, I believe," Taehyung taunts Jeongguk, whereas the latter just laughs it off.

"Hey, I said those were his words, not mine... He likes to act humble in public—I don't. I'm not a fan of living by such hypocritical principles," Jeongguk replies.

"At least you're honest, I'll give you that."

"To you... You've earned your spot, Taehyung— and the reward is me being honest only to you."

"Tch, we literally just met, so quit your nonsense," Taehyung scoffs, scowling again at Jeongguk. "So, you like being rich? I bet you do—I'm sure you like living as a prince just waiting to be king," Taehyung adds.

"Oh yes, I do... I love being rich— I love money and power too—but unfortunately, I'm not there yet. There are still things I can't do, places I can't see, thrills I'm not allowed to feel, and I still want more of everything that money and power have taken away from me," Jeongguk states, basically paraphrasing Taehyung's previous statement and applying it to himself.

"I guess that's the thing about money— whether you have it or not, it still makes you greedy. When you have it, you want more of it; when you don't, you go desperate for it. We fall into two separate classes, Jeon, like two parallel worlds that are never meant to have an encounter," Taehyung says, letting out a pained chuckle, because again, this is the first time he's said this much to anyone. 

"I think we're not that different though?"

"How so?" Taehyung inquires.

"We may come from different worlds, but we both want the same things, and we might even have the same amount of greed... Come to think of it, maybe our paths were really destined to meet... Isn't it quite romantic?" Jeongguk says, his gaze on Taehyung as he tilts his head slightly to the side, playfully kissing Taehyung's thigh.

"Just because you want it, doesn't mean you can call it destiny—"

"I can... Once I set my eyes on something, I will do absolutely anything to make it mine— I can bend every rule written in every book, go to the moon, the heavens, hell, and back... So just imagine what I could and what I would do for you... I want you, Taehyung," Jeongguk says, once again having that inexplicable kind of glint in his eyes.

"You're only doing all this because you're bored, right?" Taehyung asks, acting as if he's truly unfazed after hearing Jeongguk's brazen confession again. 

"You can say that, yes... Why?" Jeongguk responds, a smirk curling up on his lips. 

"Then, will you leave once I've entertained you enough and you're no longer bored with your life?" Taehyung asks, now eyeing Jeongguk's fluffy raven hair, tempting him to touch, just to know how soft it would feel against his skin— and so he did, raking his fingers through Jeongguk's hair as he stares up at the ceiling again, heaving out a sigh because he's also done arguing with himself.

"Ahh... Nope, I don't think I will," Jeongguk says, humming contentedly upon feeling Taehyung gently touch him for the first time.

"How can you be so confident?" Taehyung asks, their eyes on each other once more.

"It's not every day that I get to meet someone who has the same wounds as mine, and unlike me, despite all the cuts and bruises—all of those scars you try so hard to hide, you still have that fire in your eyes," Jeongguk says, hooking his index finger on the neckline of Taehyung's shirt and popping the first button, his gaze falling on the still visible burn wound under Taehyung's collarbone.

"Pfft, you're so fucking weird..." Taehyung chose to just laugh off Jeongguk's words, but his mirth fades as Jeongguk pulls himself up, his palm flat on the floor, supporting his weight as he leans in closer to Taehyung.

"Tell me something I don't know..." Jeongguk says softly, his warm breath brushing against Taehyung's lips.

"H-huh?"

"C'mon, just indulge me for once..." Jeongguk whines, his lids fluttering heavily again, shifting his gaze from Taehyung's eyes to his lips and back up, and it has caught Taehyung off guard once more— there's just something about Jeongguk that keeps making him feel drunk even though he hasn't ever had a taste of alcohol.

"E-earlier... Thank you for catching me— and for taking the blame for what I did," Taehyung says, his cheeks strangely flushing all the way up to his ears.

"Pat my head then... Tell me I did well," Jeongguk whispers, his eyes set on Taehyung, his lips twitching to a smirk again as he ignores his phone, that’s currently vibrating inside the pocket of his trousers.

"Good— good job?" Taehyung stammered, awkwardly patting Jeongguk's head as the latter requested. For some reason, the tension between them seemed to have risen, and Taehyung watched as Jeongguk's eyes suddenly flashed golden, pupils dilating along with his own— and then Jeongguk groaned. "Holy fuck." Jeongguk grunts, flattening his tongue directly on the burn wound on Taehyung's collarbone, running it up to the latter's neck, kissing and licking him there, his hands clutching Taehyung's waist, and Taehyung's just letting him, breathing heavily against his ear. 

'Shit. Shit. Shit... What am I doing? Why am I letting this guy do pretty much anything?' Taehyung then began to doubt his sanity, but—but it feels so good—Jeon Jeongguk on him, on his skin, all over him feels so damn good, and Taehyung has never felt anything like this—no one has ever touched him like this before.

It feels nice, but fuck, does it also feel so incredibly dangerous.

Then Jeongguk pulled back, leaving Taehyung's neck slicked with his spit, biting his lips so hard as if desperately trying to stop himself from saying something, his amber eyes staring at Taehyung, who's still dazed from what he just did.

"You should rest; I'll leave now," Jeongguk says, getting up, walking right out the door, leaving Taehyung perplexed and sprawled on the floor.

"W-what... What the fuck?" Taehyung mumbled, staring blankly into the wall.

. 

. 

. 

*ring...ring...*

"What do you want?" Jeongguk ruffled his hair as he finally answered his phone.

—'The chairman wants to meet you, sir. I'm guessing it has something to do with what happened to you earlier at school.'

Jeongguk then clenched jaw, his eyes turning dark upon hearing what their butler had just told him on the phone.

—'You're not in your room sir.'

"Obviously? Well, go and ask someone to get me quickly. I'll send you the address," Jeongguk says, hanging up the phone as he returns his gaze to Taehyung's front door. "I guess I'll be alright... Somehow, I feel like I can make it through tonight," he says, smiling to himself.

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

Fucked my way up to the top

🃏🃏🃏

There are only a few things Taehyung is afraid of: horror movies, bugs, being forced to eat anything too spicy for his taste—but now, as he stares at his own reflection in the mirror, seeing the red-purplish bruise on his neck, Taehyung feels like he's beginning to also be terrified of himself.

Taehyung's past bruises were solely from fighting other men's vicious fists, so this is the first time he's had a bruise from someone's lips, and the oddest thing about it is that Taehyung didn't even resist.

Why?

How could a stranger he'd just met and had just been with for roughly less than 48 hours have such an impact on him?

Was it because of their first encounter, when Jeongguk saw him in his most vulnerable state at the gym's indoor pool—half-naked and drenched, with all of his scars and wounds on full display?

Was it because of the watch Taehyung never really imagined he'd be able to touch?

Was it his scent that's still here, lingering on him even after he'd taken a bath?

Jeon Jeongguk is an enigma to Taehyung, an odd riddle he can't seem to solve. He came into him like a hurricane, wreaking even more destruction in Taehyung's already crumbling world.

He never listens, and he always does what he wants, yet in the days, within those less-than-48-hours, since he entered Taehyung's life, Jeongguk made sure he was there when Taehyung expected no one to be on his side.

Jeon Jeongguk— the man who threatened to end Taehyung's misery with just a fucking pen in his hand.

"You'll give me anything, you say?" Taehyung murmured absentmindedly, as if his reflection in the mirror had been replaced by Jeongguk's visage. "Would you then burn this world and have it blow to fucking smithereens for me? I'm really—really sick of it." Taehyung wonders as he touches the bruise Jeongguk left on his skin.

Ah, this is probably why he thinks he is more afraid of himself than Jeongguk.

With somebody like Jeongguk offering to give him whatever he wants and needs, Taehyung feels like he's been given a gun with endless rounds to bring in a sword fight.

**'I don't want anything from you— instead, I want you. You by my side, you— all the time. That wouldn't be too much, right?'**

How convenient it is for him that Jeongguk happens to desire the one thing he has to give.

For the first time in his life, Taehyung felt that luck was on his side.

***

.

.

.

It's been three days since Jeongguk last showed up at school after leaving Taehyung's house on Monday. Their teacher informed them that Jeongguk had called in sick, something Taehyung couldn't possibly believe.

Alphas hardly ever get sick, and even 'ruts' at their age only last a day, so Taehyung, as much as he hates to admit it, is intrigued about what happened to Jeongguk.

Besides that, Jang Minho also hasn't shown himself to school for some reason, and his three lackeys appear to have ceased harassing Taehyung—which is unusual, but Taehyung doesn't really care about them; in fact, he's rather pleased that they're not here to bother him. 

Jeongguk, on the other hand, has made quite an impression since his arrival, thus Taehyung quickly felt his absence when he stopped showing up.

It's as if his world has suddenly gone silent.

Taehyung had held it for three days, but now that it's Friday again and Jeongguk still hasn't gone to class, his patience has worn thin, and now he's here, pacing back and forth outside Jimin and Hobi's classroom, thinking of ways to talk to Jin, Namjoon, or Yoongi and ask them regarding Jeongguk's whereabouts.

Yes, it's out of character for Taehyung, but he doesn't really have a choice, he doesn't have Jeongguk's phone number and he doesn't know where he lives, so he couldn't think of any other means to contact him but through his buddies.

"Uhm... Can I help you?" one omega from class A inquires, noticing Taehyung standing outside their classroom for some time now.

"A-ah, yes..." Taehyung awkwardly scratches the back of his neck, taking a step back from the omega who's nice enough to approach him despite her obvious discomfort. "Well, uhm... Is Kim Seokjin here? Or Namjoon? Maybe Min Yoongi? Either of those three will do, I just need to ask them about something," Taehyung replies, evading the omega's and basically everyone else in the hallway's curious gaze.

"Oh, the members of the student council are having a meeting, and Yoongi-ssi—"

"What about me?" Yoongi then says, walking casually; he's on his way to their classroom when he heard his name being mentioned.

"H-here he is, then—" The omega bows politely to Taehyung before scrambling out of the scene, leaving Taehyung facing Min Yoongi.

"You're looking for me? Why? Can I help you with anything?" Yoongi asks, his hands tucked inside his pants’ pockets, his head held high, and the longer Taehyung looks at him, the more he realizes how condescending the other alpha's aura alone is; it's almost menacing.

But, Taehyung has seen worse, so he isn't really too concerned.

"Yeah... Do you know what happened to Jeon? He hasn't been coming to school; Mr. Ha said he called in sick, but he seemed perfectly healthy the last time I saw him," Taehyung says, his ears warming up, feeling slightly embarrassed for even asking about Jeongguk when Yoongi smirks rather mockingly at him.

"Oh? So you're worried about him? That's interesting; I didn't think you were the type to worry about anyone, especially since, as far as I've heard, you're already pretty busy looking after yourself," Yoongi says, looking as if he's studying Taehyung.

"No? I mean, it's actually because of his notes— I have it, so I want to return it to him," Taehyung says, turning away from Yoongi, who still appears to be thoroughly reading him.

"Is that so?" Yoongi replies, clearly unimpressed by Taehyung's response, and Taehyung couldn't stand it any longer, thinking he shouldn't have gone this far, asking someone he'd never even interacted with before, just to find out more about Jeongguk.

"Never mind, I'll just leave his notes on his desk," Taehyung says, about to walk past Yoongi when the latter grabs his arm.

"You have a phone, don't you?" Yoongi asks, waving his own phone at Taehyung and showing him Jeongguk's number. "What? You don't want it?" Yoongi continues, noting that Taehyung is still quiet, just staring at him—at his phone screen, to be exact.

"No, I no longer need it," Taehyung says, walking ahead, having memorized Jeongguk's number after only a few seconds of looking at it.

***

. 

. 

. 

'Shit! That was embarrassing! Embarrassing!' Taehyung screams in his thoughts, his face flushed, his heart hammering inside his chest as he stares at Jeongguk's phone number, which he had just typed on his phone after locking himself in one of the men's restroom's empty cubicles.

*Sigh* "I must've really lost it..." Taehyung muttered under his breath, leaning against the closed door, debating what he should do now that he has Jeon Jeongguk's phone number.

Will he call? Send a text perhaps? What kind of message will he even send?

Then, what will he do if Jeongguk picks up? What will his excuse be? Should he just say he's calling to return Jeongguk's notes, like what he told Min Yoongi? Will that even work?

"Tch, whatever, let's just get it over with," Taehyung tells himself, taking a deep breath before dialing Jeongguk's number, thinking that it's better for him to call because sending a text message will surely leave more solid evidence of this embarrassing moment.

**phone ringing...**

. 

. 

. 

***

*ring... ring...*

"You have a phone call, sir," the Jeon family's butler, Lee Jun-yeol, says as he stands in front of Jeongguk's bed.

Jeongguk then groans, hearing his phone ringing just when he's about to fall asleep— for the first time in three days, actually. He's lying on his stomach, half-naked, struggling to even move a muscle because of a secret that everyone in their dreadful household knows but will never tell— and that includes Jeongguk himself.

"Who is it?" Jeongguk asks, running his fingers through his hair as he pulls himself up, visibly irritated.

"It's from an unknown number, sir... Should I reject it?" Jun-yeol asks as he takes Jeongguk's phone off the bedside table and hands him a damp white towel to clean his face.

<You can play this as you read.>

Work : Charlotte Day Wilson

"No, just give it to me." Jeongguk says, taking his phone from Jun-yeol. "Leave," he orders to the butler, his gaze locked on his phone screen, ignoring Jun-yeol's polite bow before exiting his room, and it's only after he's alone that Jeongguk answers the phone.

***

"Hello?" Taehyung says, his brow furrowed, checking his phone to see whether Jeongguk has really answered, since it has been a few seconds already and the latter has still not said anything.

—'Yes, I'm here... Why?'

Finally, Jeongguk speaks, his voice deep but still playful, while his chuckle sounded rather lazy.

"It's me, Taehyung," Taehyung says, wondering why he's suddenly feeling so nervous that his palms are even sweating.

—'Mhm... I know,'

Jeongguk pauses, and Taehyung hates how Jeongguk's tone sounds as if he finds this hilarious, but he couldn't think of anything to say to save face since he's the one who initiated the call in the first place; so he just kept silent, listening to Jeongguk's steady takes of breath.

 —'So, what kind of miracle could have caused you to go out of your way to ask Yoongi hyung for my phone number? Is Jang Minho bothering you again—or—could it be that you miss me? Ahh... That couldn't possibly be the case, could it? But if it is, I'll be so happy.'

Jeongguk continues to tease Taehyung; he initially sounded like his usual self, but somehow, Taehyung has an inkling that something is off.

"Tch, how did you even know I got your number from Min Yoongi? Did he tell you that?" Taehyung asks, his back sliding against the cubicle's door as he crouches down on the floor. 

—'No, but he's probably the only one who'll give you my phone number without asking me first— he knows I like you, y'know?'

Jeongguk says, being shameless yet again.

"Should I not have called you then? I can just hang up, delete your number, and pretend that none of this ever happened," Taehyung says, his phone next to his ear, as he lowers his head, hiding his face behind his arms, as if Jeongguk can even see how flustered he is right now. 

'How can he still say he likes me after knowing how and where I live? When he didn't show up to class, I thought he'd changed his mind about me and fled.' Taehyung muses, his cheeks flushing pink, for it's clear now that this wasn't the case.

But wait—if it's not because Jeongguk was turned off after seeing Taehyung's home in Guryong village, then what is the reason for his absence?

"Hey, are you really sick? Was it the water from my place? Is your stomach that sensitive?" Taehyung flounders, suddenly feeling guilty.

—'Pfft... HAHAHAHA! Nngh...'

"W-why? Why? What happened?" Taehyung asks again when he hears Jeongguk suddenly groan as if he's in pain after merely laughing. 

—'H-hah... Nothing. That's just the sound of me getting horny after hearing you're worried about me.'

"Quit messing around! So, was it really the water? I've never gotten sick from it though?-.."

—'Relax, I didn’t get poisoned or anything... The water in your place was actually the sweetest I've ever tasted.'

Jeongguk chuckles again.

"Water is tasteless, you fuckwit... *Sigh* Just answer me, will you? You haven't gone to school in three days; are you really sick?" Taehyung inquires again, getting up and ruffling his hair in frustration.

—'Why? Will you nurse me back to health? If that's the case, then yes...'

Jeongguk pauses, taking a deep breath.

—'I-I'm hurt, Taehyung,'

Jeongguk says, and even though it's clearly a joke, Taehyung finds himself wanting to buy into it— but he shouldn't, right? That would be foolish of him, right?

"How bad is it?" Taehyung asks, biting his bottom lip hard, as if punishing himself for being swayed by Jeongguk again.

—'Really, really bad... Ahh... What should I do? I'm suddenly dying to see you... Should I just come to you after class? '

Jeongguk asks as if he actually means it, causing Taehyung to wonder what kind of face Jeongguk has right now.

'He's probably smirking all cocky again-..' Taehyung's thoughts were cut short as he realized he's now smiling— he's really smiling—all because Jeon Jeongguk said he's dying to see him and that he'd come to him. 

Suddenly, Taehyung felt as if a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped over his head, causing him to wake up and realize how strange he'd been acting lately.

He shouldn't be doing this. 

He doesn't have enough time for this.

"Don't be silly, I don't even want to see you... In fact—"

—'Quit lying. That doesn't sit well with me.'

"Who says I'm lying?"

—'So you really don't want to see me? Do you not miss me?'

Jeongguk asks, and Taehyung hates how Jeongguk's somewhat gloomy tone just made him feel bad again.

"S-shut up... I have to work after class... Shit," Taehyung hissed, realizing that by stating his excuse, he had just failed to rebuff Jeongguk. "I'm hanging up. Don't save my number. Bye," Taehyung says as he hastily ends the call before Jeongguk can respond.

"Fucking hell... What the fuck did I just do?" Taehyung laments as he leans against the door, his knees failing, forcing him to crouch down on the floor once more.

***

Thankfully, the lecture was able to distract Taehyung's mind away from his brief phone call with Jeongguk earlier. He's more at ease now that he knows Jeongguk is still alive and not lying unconscious in some hospital. 

Taehyung is now at work, standing behind the register. The coffee shop isn't particularly busy today, but there are still a few people coming here and there. "Here's your order, enjoy," Taehyung says after serving a customer.

*Door chiming...*

"Hi," Lee Soo-hyuk says as he walks in, greeting Taehyung with his usual cheeky grin.

"O-oh... Hi— uhm, Iced Americano and a club sandwich to go, right?" Taehyung inquires, assuring Soo-hyuk that he hasn't forgotten his typical order.

"Pfft... Exactly," Soo-hyuk responds, scratching the back of his neck, now with a sheepish smile.

"Okay, I'll go prepare it then—"

"Actually... Can you spare me roughly five minutes of your time?" Soo-hyuk asks, and Taehyung doesn't really want to assume anything, but the way Soo-hyuk is acting right now is definitely making him blush.

"I-I'm sorry?" Taehyung mumbled, his eyes wide as he watched Soo-hyuk pull something from his pocket—a small tube of ointment.

"I figured that even though it's probably healed by now, an injury like that would still scar... One of my professors swore this can help fade scars fast," Soo-hyuk says, pertaining to the burn on Taehyung's chest; but Taehyung is still too stunned to speak; he didn't expect anyone—let alone Soo-hyuk—to do this for him.

"Ah—" Soo-hyuk laughs nervously as he opens the tube, squeezing a tiny dab of the ointment onto his finger. "Y-you can just apply this much to it once a day like this," Soo-hyuk pauses, awkwardly reaching his index finger with the ointment towards Taehyung. "May I?" he asks, seeking permission to apply the cream over Taehyung's burn, which is visible due to his loose work uniform.

*Door chiming...*

"Uhm— please, you don't have to— I mean I can just do it myself, I-..."

"O-oh, of course! Hah! Why did I even... S-sorry..." Soo-hyuk fumbles, about to wipe the ointment onto his own shirt but Taehyung snatches his hand in panic, refusing to let Soo-hyuk soil his clothes. "No, don't! That might stain, so just—just put it on me... It's okay," Taehyung says, averting Soo-hyuk's gaze as he quickly lets go of the latter's hand after realizing he'd been holding it too tight.

"Alright... Erm... Don't worry, this won't hurt," Soo-hyuk says, ignoring the fading bruise on Taehyung's neck as he leans in closer, carefully applying the ointment to the burn— and as he does, Taehyung's eyes widen, finally noticing the person who appears to have been standing for awhile now behind Soo-hyuk.

"Mhm… If we weren't in a coffee shop and I didn't know you were just fussing over that cheap cream, I'd think you two were talking about something dirty... So—can you take my order now, Taehyung-ssi?" Jeongguk says with a rather sinister grin on his face.

🃏🃏🃏

He's here. There's no doubt that the person Taehyung is looking at right now is Jeon Jeongguk—but why? How? "Y-you... How did you find out I was working here?" Taehyung asks as Soo-hyuk turns to face Jeongguk.

"Do you know him, Taehyung-ssi?" Soo-hyuk inquires, staring at the other alpha who's currently eyeing him up and down.

"Taehyung-ssi? Mhm... I see, so you two aren't even that close. That's a relief." Jeongguk says, taking a step closer towards Taehyung.

"Didn't you just speak formally with him as well?" Soo-hyuk replies, visibly offended by the other alpha's tone.

"Oh, it appears like you misunderstood. I'm just messing around— I love to tease him, that's why... Y'see, Taehyung and I are actually really—really close, isn't that right, Tae?" Jeongguk asks, casually propping himself in the counter, smiling mischievously as he inched closer to Taehyung; and Taehyung should be mad— mad at how Jeongguk is behaving shamelessly in his workplace and in front of Soo-hyuk, of all people—but it's been three days since he last saw Jeongguk, and perhaps that's why he's not at all bothered by the alpha's condescending demeanor.

"Please allow me to apologize for this guy's lack of manners, Soo-hyuk-ssi— I do know him, he's actually a classmate of mine," Taehyung sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose, unhappy about this awkward situation.

"I see... Then I'm sorry too, I thought he was bothering you," Soo-hyuk says before turning to face Jeongguk again, slightly bowing his head politely. "I'm Lee Soo-hyuk, a friend— I mean, a regular customer here," Soo-hyuk adds, hesitant to call Taehyung his friend because they haven't really established that yet.

"A customer, huh? I'm Tae's 'close' friend, Jeon Jeongguk. Nice to meet you Soo-hyuk-ssi— ah—ouch! Hey!" Jeongguk laughs as he whines, after Taehyung suddenly pulls his ear. "Just fucking stop it already, you're embarrassing me." Taehyung whispers, clearly annoyed at him, but Jeongguk obviously isn't much bothered by it, in fact he even looks like he's enjoying it. 

"I'm really sorry, this guy just likes to play a lot, so please don't mind him." Taehyung says, apologizing to Soo-hyuk once more.

"No, no— it's okay... Then, I'll take my leave now," Soo-hyuk says, bowing nicely to Jeongguk and gazing warmly at Taehyung before heading towards the exit.

"W-wait— your coffee!" Taehyung exclaims, having yet to prepare Soo-hyuk's order. 

"Mhm... Next time... I actually have to meet with someone shortly, so I'll just get my order next time," Soo-hyuk says without looking back, his hand hovering over the door handle, taking a silent deep breath before leaving.

"H-hey, as much as I love it when you touch me, my ear is starting to feel like it's about to fall off, pfft... Baby, can you let me go?" Jeongguk says, his voice dipping towards the end and his eyes looking so dreamy that it rendered Taehyung motionless once again, taking a few seconds to compose himself before finally letting go of Jeongguk's ear, quickly averting the latter's stare.

"D-don't call me that," Taehyung says, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck, oblivious to the fact that he has just drawn Jeongguk's attention to the mark he left him there.

"Mhm... Soo-hyuk-ssi brought a cream for your burn, right—he even applied it on you? Well, it looks like he missed a spot," Jeongguk pauses as he takes up the tube of ointment left on the counter by Soo-hyuk. "Bet this'll help heal whatever kind of mark quickly... I should've thanked him for not touching this one." Jeongguk says, touching the hickey he gave Taehyung, "I actually want this to stay for a very long time—so, let's not make this fade just yet, Tae." He adds, prompting Taehyung to swiftly cover the part Jeongguk just touched.

"What the fuck do you even mean by that? You shouldn't have put this on me in the first place! I may have let a lot of things slide, but you've taken it too far this time," Taehyung exclaims, gritting his teeth as he speaks, grabbing Jeongguk by the collar, which instantly backfires as he notices Jeongguk is now staring at his lips, smirking coyly at him.

"Hmm... I haven't even started yet, actually," Jeongguk replies, meeting Taehyung's gaze once more, causing Taehyung to loosen his grip on him, allowing Jeongguk to hold his hand, placing a delicate peck at the back of his palm. "There are still a lot of things I can do—things I think could really seduce you," Jeongguk adds as he hops off the counter while still holding Taehyung's hand.

Taehyung knows he should be telling Jeongguk to leave and stop pestering him by now, but for some strange reason, he finds Jeongguk's proposition quite enticing; it makes him wonder how far this alpha would go for someone like him; what would he give him? "What kind of things?" Taehyung asks, not pulling his hand away from Jeongguk this time, causing the latter's lips to curl up into a cheeky sneer, bringing Taehyung's hand closer to his lips, kissing the tip of his index finger, then playfully biting it.

"What time do you get off work?" Jeongguk asks, leading Taehyung to look past him and check the wall clock.

"In about 20 minutes, why?" Taehyung inquires, his gaze drawn to the way Jeongguk is now intertwining their fingers and pressing their palms together.

"Good, I'll wait for you then," Jeongguk says, squeezing Taehyung's hand before releasing it. "For now, can I have an iced americano please?" he adds, 

"Well, you can— but why would you even do that? Don’t you have anything better to do?" Taehyung asks again. 

"Oh, god, you're so dense..." Jeongguk fakes a groan: "This is me starting—to seduce you, I mean." Jeongguk winks at Taehyung as he walks towards one of the empty tables, propping his chin on his palm while staring at the baffled alpha standing behind the register.

***

Taehyung is now changing out of his work clothes in the employees locker room; he has no idea how he got through his shift with Jeongguk constantly staring at him while sipping his coffee, but he did, and Taehyung feels like he's never really doubted his sanity until Jeongguk came along and made him question everything.

To be honest, Taehyung would be more rational in thinking that Jeongguk is just the same as Jang Minho, a typical elite alpha who likes to prove their dominance by picking on people of lower status and rank—however, no matter how ridiculous it sounds, given that they had only recently met, Taehyung still doesn't believe that Jeongguk is at all like that. 

Jeon Jeongguk is unlike any other alpha Taehyung has encountered before.

Taehyung has said it before and will say it again— this makes no sense; but Jeongguk seems different every time he looks at him—and only when he looks at him.

It was subtle, but Taehyung had seen it right off the bat in the way Jeongguk looked at their classmates when he was introduced to everyone; he's also seen the way Jeongguk eyed Jimin and Hobi when he first met the two betas, and even when he's interacting with his own friends: Namjoon, Jin, and Yoongi— Jeongguk looks at them as if he's a completely different person than when he's with Taehyung.

There's something about the way Jeongguk's gaze goes from bright to dull, and how he forces a smile; it's as if he's trying his hardest to appear flawless, a bit funny, but still polite, but with Taehyung, Jeongguk doesn't seem to care. 

With Taehyung, Jeongguk acts a bit more shameless and bold, he speaks to him more freely, like he has no need to hide who he is.

And, strangely, Taehyung likes it—he likes that Jeongguk puts his walls down when he's with him; he likes that even after seeing all of his scars and wounds on their first meeting, Jeongguk still appears to be crazy about him; that even after having a glimpse of his hell, Jeongguk didn't flee; instead, he's charging straight into the flames, extending his hand to him, making him feel like it's okay to hope that he can still be saved.

"H-hah... I must really be out of my mind." Taehyung mumbled under his breath, laughing bitterly to himself. 

. 

. 

. 

"Done changing?" Jeongguk asks, finishing the remaining coffee in his cup as soon as he sees Taehyung walking towards him. 

"Obviously? Look, I don't really know why you're here— and why you're still here, also how did you know where my workplace is?" Taehyung asks, his hands tucked inside the pockets of his pants while staring Jeongguk down. 

"Pfft, you're too young to be forgetful, y'know? Remember when you passed out and said you missed your part-time job? Well, your manager called you that day and I happened to answer the phone; I got the address from them because I was curious about where you work," Jeongguk says, rising from his seat and taking a step closer to Taehyung. "Now, as for me being here... Didn't you call me earlier because you missed me? You sounded so cute, I had no other choice but to come right away," Jeongguk teases Taehyung once again.

"I never said that. Stop being delusional—"

"But I'm telling the truth, and you know it too: you called because you miss me, and I bet you've been thinking about me day and night for the three days I haven't gone to class, wondering when I'll be back or if I'm gone for good," Jeongguk says as he circles around Taehyung, settling behind him and leaning close to his ear. "It made you restless—so restless that you felt you had no recourse but to ask for my contact information from someone with whom you had obviously never interacted before… So tell me, how can I not run here when you've gone out of your way just to reach me?" Jeongguk whispers this time, boldly placing a hand over Taehyung's hip, pressing his chest against the latter's back as he rests his chin on his shoulder. "I appreciate it, Tae... It made me so happy that right now, I want to take you on a date," Jeongguk adds, sending chills up Taehyung's spine.

A date?

Jeongguk wants to go on a date with him—him—an alpha? Ridiculous.

"W-what are you saying? A date? You and me? Don't be silly, that's never going to happen—ever—"

"Well, we're going— right about now, actually... Why? Are you even sure you don't want to? Aren't you curious what it'll be like to go on a date with someone like me? I bet you'd like it," Jeongguk teases, now taking a step back from Taehyung and extending his hand to the latter. "It will be fun, I promise." Jeongguk adds, and based on the look on his face, Taehyung is certain that he's not planning on giving up until he hears the answer that he wants. 

"Tch, whatever. You're buying dinner, I'm starving," Taehyung replies, ignoring Jeongguk's hand and averting the latter's gaze, going ahead while Jeongguk grins and follows him from behind.

***

<You can play this as you read.>

Million dollar man

Even in his wildest dreams, Taehyung never imagined he'd be shopping in Cheongdamdong, but here he is, trying on clothes straight from the mannequins; shirts, trousers, shoes, coats, and bags with no price tags on them, then piled up on the counter as Jeongguk sits like a king in front of the fitting room, smiling all pleased at the sight of Taehyung in the clothes he asked him to try on.

"Nice, I like it— ah, you said you also have it in red? Then we'll be taking that too." Jeongguk says, handing a black card to the client advisor. 

"Hey... If you're buying this much, why don't you try them on yourself? What if they don't fit? We don't even have the same measurements," Taehyung says, assuming that Jeongguk is pushing him to try on the clothes to check how they look and he's just too lazy to put it on himself.

"Well, they don't really need to fit me, since I'm clearly not the one who's going to wear them," Jeongguk sighs, rising from his seat and walking towards Taehyung, straightening the collar of the latter's shirt.

"Then, who are you buying all these for?" Taehyung asks, although he already has an idea of how Jeongguk will answer. 

"Pfft, they're for you, silly," Jeongguk says, taking a step back to appreciate Taehyung's new look, which consists of an oversized silk white shirt tucked into semi-fitted black pants and accessorized with a leather belt and matching shoes. "There— ahh... Isn't he fine?" Jeongguk asks the consultant who is assisting them.

"Y-yes, the clothes definitely suit him well, sir." The blushing consultant says, also admiring Taehyung. 

"What did you say?! This—and all those clothes too? I—" 

"You look absolutely stunning," Jeongguk pauses as he leans in close to Taehyung's ear again. "Right now, I'm doing my best to hold back, so please tone down on being so adorable... If you don't, I might really gobble you up right here, and I doubt any of these people are ready to watch it," Jeongguk says, causing Taehyung's cheeks to instantly flush pink.

"F-fuck off!" Taehyung snaps, his heart beating rapidly as he slightly pushes Jeongguk away from him, while the latter merely chuckles, heading straight to the counter. 

"Sir, what about your companions' old clothes—" 

"Just pack it up, he'll be wearing what he's wearing right now." Jeongguk tells the client advisor. 

"Oi! Don't just decide on your own! Do you honestly think I have the money to pay for these?-.."

"Do you honestly think I'd let you pay for anything?" Jeongguk asks, echoing Taehyung's tone as he walks back to the couch, taking something from Taehyung's school bag. "Just as I thought. You refuse to wear it, yet it's always with you," Jeongguk says, now holding the Patek Philippe watch he gave Taehyung. "I think it's cute, but for now, you should wear this as it complements your outfit," Jeongguk adds as he gently lifts Taehyung's wrist and puts the watch on him.

"H-hey..."

"Hmm... There's still something missing, I wonder what it is?" Jeongguk muses, clearly not paying attention to whatever Taehyung is saying. "Oh! I know! It's still too plain, you need accessories— sadly, we don't have much time to shop more since we'll be late for our dinner reservation... So," Jeongguk pauses as he removes his plain white gold chain necklace, which he then places on Taehyung. "Wear this— it's yours now, okay? Now, it's perfect." Jeongguk smiles, finally satisfied, while Taehyung's frozen in his place, still wondering how he should react in this situation. 

"You're not even listening to me." Taehyung sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose again, already feeling nauseated just by thinking about the amount of money Jeongguk has spent on him in this store alone.

"Pfft... I am— you said you were hungry, right? C'mon, let's eat something nice," Jeongguk says, grabbing the paper bags, his card, and Taehyung's wrist and dragging him out of the establishment.

. 

. 

. 

"It would be nice if I had a car-- well, I have, but unfortunately, I haven't gotten a license yet, so bear with me, we're almost there," Jeongguk says as they walk through the busy shopping district.

Everything is bright, loud and sparkly, and it keeps on making Taehyung feel dizzy, so when Jeongguk spoke, he finally snapped out of his trance, halting his steps and snatching his hand back from Jeongguk’s hold. 

"Hold on— why the hell are you doing this to me? I thought we'd just have dinner, so I went along with it, but this?" Taehyung exclaims, glancing at all the paper bags in Jeongguk's hand. "All that can probably buy a house already, why'd you even get me that stuff? I never asked for it! I never asked for any of this!" Taehyung yells, but Jeongguk appears to be unfazed. 

"I don't need you to ask for anything— what I need you to do is to just accept it... Didn't I tell you earlier? I'm seducing you, Taehyung... This is me, doing that— this is me, courting the person that I like." Jeongguk says, smirking all unbothered by the bystanders that are now staring at them. 

"W-what? Courting? Who? Me? You're— wow..." Taehyung chokes out an offended scoff, before he grabs the collar of Jeongguk's shirt, pulling the latter towards the nearby dark alley. "I know you're crazy, you've made that clear already—but there must be a limit to it." Taehyung says, gritting his teeth as he speaks, shoving Jeongguk's back against the wall, looking sternly at him.

"I know no limits, unfortunately." Jeongguk groans as if it actually hurts, before his face contorts to a smirk, looking Taehyung straight in the eye once more. "I want you— and I told you, I'm going to make you believe it, so why are you acting all surprised here?" Jeongguk adds, letting go of the shopping bags as he places his hands on Taehyung's waist, causing the latter to drop his gaze on where their bodies are touching, aiming to pull away, but Jeongguk didn't budge, instead, he pulled him even closer to him.

"If you're gonna pull the 'I'm a man and an alpha' excuse again, then I'm telling you now, I don't really care about any of that. When I said I want you, I mean it." Jeongguk says, now gliding his palms down from Taehyung's waist to his hips, holding him still. "These clothes are nothing compared to all the other things I can give you... I can change your life, Taehyung— you know that too, don't you?" Jeongguk continues, now looping his arm around Taehyung's waist, clasping his hands on the dip of Taehyung's back when he feels that the latter has already stopped resisting his advances. "With me on your side, you wouldn't have to worry about Jang Minho and his dogs... With me, you'll finally be seen— heard... And nobody will dare make you feel like you don't matter anymore. Doesn’t that sound appealing to you? Not even one bit?" Jeongguk asks, and each of his words sounded like sweet honey to Taehyung, hitting all the things he loathes about his life spot on, as if he's heard his prayers all along. 

"Then what's the catch? What would I have to give in return? What are you expecting me to do? Tell me, what's your actual bargain, Jeon Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks, clearly tempted, biting onto Jeongguk's offer like how Eve foolishly took a bite of that poison apple. 

"You... I already told you, all I want in return is you..." Jeongguk says without batting an eye. 

"What, you want to fuck me? Pfft..." Taehyung snorted out a taunting laugh, "You wanna make me your whore? Is that it? If so, then you better stop thinking about it... I know my life seems miserable compared to yours, but guess what? Even I wouldn't deign that low for anyone." Taehyung says, mentally laughing at himself for even thinking that Jeongguk's offer would be worth considering. 

"Well, isn't that insulting?" Jeongguk chuckles bitterly, "I never said that I want you to be mine like that... I never said that I wanted an omega to fuck, I said I want you— you by my side, where I can see you all the time. Aside from that, I don't need you to do anything for me Taehyung... And if by any chance I'd want more from you, I'll make sure to let you know... I'll never take anything you're not willing to give me... Think of me as nothing but a dog waiting for you to throw a bone at me... Once you do, I'll gnaw on it happily." Jeongguk says, now nuzzling his face against the crook of Taehyung's neck. 

"Why?" Taehyung asks, and just as the previous times he had found himself in this position, Taehyung is once again letting Jeongguk do whatever he wants. 

It's that feeling again— greed.

'Just as I thought... This doesn't feel so bad at all.' Taehyung muses, questioning his sanity once more. "Why?" He asks again,

"You keep on asking me why... Why am I doing this? Why you? Why? Why? Why?— Not everything needs a reason. Not everything has a valid excuse... If I knew the answer, I should have told you what it is from the get go. If you're confused, then I am too... I have no idea what you did and what you're still doing to me... Tae, I'm going crazy here, can't you see? I never really wanted anyone or anything so bad like this, and as much as I want to, I cannot really describe it to you nor to myself. It's as if I woke up one day and realized I already belonged to someone else... So, why don't you just take me? Please... At least— try me. I'll be good, I promise." Jeongguk pleads, and although it's stupid Taehyung thinks that he'll be even more stupid to pass on an opportunity like this. 

And so, he decided to yield. Jesus, take the fucking wheel from him.

"If you piss me off, it's over," Taehyung says, taking a deep breath as he hesitantly rests his palm at the back of Jeongguk's head, before grabbing a grip of the latter's hair and tugging him back to meet his gaze. "If you cross the line—" 

"It's over, I know..." Jeongguk says, again, with that drunken gaze and devil-may-care smirk on his face. "Can we go have dinner now? I'm really hungry," Jeongguk adds, while Taehyung sighs, mentally reminding himself that whatever happens will be on him—he brought to himself by taking the hand of this devil.

"Fine, let's go." Taehyung says as he lets go of Jeongguk, letting the latter take him wherever. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"Do we really have to have dinner here? I mean, they didn't even give me chopsticks, how am I supposed to eat this?" Taehyung asks, looking at the huge slab of steak in front of him; it looks really good, but he's never had anything like this before, and unfortunately, no one has ever taught him how to eat with just a knife and a fork. 

"You don't want it? Should we just order something else?" Jeongguk asks, slicing his steak. 

"No— it's just that..."

"Stop worrying too much. You need not to follow any rules even in a place like this, so long as you're with me. You can just eat however you want." Jeongguk says, putting his knife and fork down, using his hand to pick up the steak he just sliced, ignoring the sauce and grease that's now dirtying his fingers and the table cloth as he brings it in front of Taehyung's mouth. 

"Open up," he says, and Taehyung finds himself doing just that, parting his lips and watching Jeongguk place the thin slice on top of his tongue. "Eat." Jeongguk adds, staring back at Taehyung, looking somewhat amused— and Taehyung didn’t like that look—he didn't like the way Jeongguk was lecturing him, so he did something about it; closing his mouth on Jeongguk's fingers, swirling his tongue as he playfully sucks on it with a blank expression on his face, noting how Jeongguk's eyes instantly widen, his face flushing red all the way up to his ears.

"Fucking hell..." Jeongguk hisses as Taehyung releases his fingers from his mouth with an audible pop. 

"Mhm... It's good. Thanks." Taehyung says, shrugging nonchalantly, as if he's not straining to hold back a snicker after watching the way Jeon Jeongguk reacted to him.

"Don't even think that I'd do it again..." Taehyung rolls his eyes, noticing that Jeongguk is eagerly slicing his steak again. "I've already seen how you do it, so I can now eat by myself." He adds, subtly biting his lower lip, suppressing a smile, when he saw how dejected Jeongguk looked the moment he stopped him. 

"Are you sure? I don't really mind feeding you—" 

"Just eat your fucking meat, Jeongguk." Taehyung says, now completely failing to stop himself from chuckling when Jeongguk pouted all cutely at him. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"I can take it from here." Taehyung says as he and Jeongguk arrive here at the bus stop. 

"Why? I want to walk you home—" 

"I already told you, my place isn't the safest at night. Didn’t you fall sick right after stepping foot in there just once?" Taehyung says, eyeing the bus that's approaching them from a distance. 

"I didn’t—" Jeongguk was about to protest when he felt his phone vibrating again in his pocket. "*Sigh* Well, I guess it’s fine. I'll let you go for now.... Here." He says, handing Taehyung the shopping bags, tipping his head to the side when Taehyung just looked at it as if he's still contemplating whether or not he'll accept it. 

"Hey, didn't we already talk about this? Why? Do you still not want it?" Jeongguk asks, raising a brow when Taehyung groans, grabbing the bags from him, and then emptying it, stuffing all of its contents inside his school bag, except for the few pairs of shoes and coats due to the fact that it wouldn't really fit no matter how hard he'll try to squeeze it in. 

"It'll be troublesome for me to be seen carrying all of these bags, so—" Taehyung pauses as he puts his school uniform and shoes he was wearing earlier in the paper bags and then hands them back to Jeongguk. "I have an extra pair of uniform at home, but still, don't forget to bring these on Monday, okay?" Taehyung says before he rushed into the bus, leaving Jeongguk staring at him, standing there alone at the bus stop. 

. 

. 

. 

<you can play this as you read.>

Cars outside

With Jeongguk's figure getting smaller and smaller as the bus drove further, Taehyung found himself holding his phone, dialing Jeongguk's number. 

*ring... ring...*

"Why? Miss me already?" Jeongguk asks, and based on where Taehyung's looking at him through the bus's windows, he can tell that Jeongguk is still staring at him. 

"No— but I forgot to tell you something." Taehyung says, finding it easier to swallow his pride while he's not facing Jeongguk's dark doe eyes. 

"Mhm... What is it?" Jeongguk asks. 

"I— I had fun... So thank you... That's it. See you on Monday, Jeongguk. " Taehyung says as he ends the call, his heart racing and his cheeks warming up. A few seconds after, his phone beeped, 

(1) new message received 

from: <number>

: I had fun too, See you on Monday, Taehyung. ❤️

--

. 

. 

. 

"Hah... I really should've brought him home." Jeongguk says, clasping the shopping bags in his hand as he leaned his head back, smiling at the night skies above. 

(1) new message received 

from: Angel ❤️

: I told you not to save my number, you never listen. 🙄

I still need my clothes back on Monday, so get home safe, ig. 

--

***

"Are you really testing my patience? Where have you been? Didn’t I tell you not to leave your room?" Jeon Jungho asks as soon as Jeongguk steps through the front door. 

"I— I'm sorry, chairman... I just went out to buy something." Jeongguk replies, his voice almost inaudible as closes his fists tightly on the paper bags he's holding. 

"Drop those in your room and meet me in the study." Jeon Jungho says, getting up from the couch, grabbing one of his golf clubs on his way to his office. 

"Sir..." Jun-yeol, their butler says, looking at Jeongguk with a worried expression on his face. 

"Pfft... I won't die, don't worry." Jeongguk says, passing the shopping bags to Jun-yeol. "Keep these in my room and don't touch anything." He says, before heading straight to his father's study room. 

. 

. 

. 

After nearly an hour, Jeongguk then stepped inside his own room without bothering to turn the lights on, leaving crimson drops on the floor, his body aching all over as he grabbed one of the paper bags, pulling out Taehyung's uniform.

"Ahh... I hope it's already Monday when I wake up... I can't wait—I can't fucking wait to see you again. My damned guardian angel." Jeongguk whispers to himself, holding Taehyung's clothes, staining the white fabric red as he hugs it tight to his chest.

🃏🃏🃏

Now that he's alone, walking the dark streets of Guryong on his own, Taehyung is feeling the same way he had when Jeongguk first gave him his watch. He's heading home in clothes he thinks he shouldn't be wearing, a necklace that feels too heavy around his neck, the same watch on his wrist, shoes too pristine to be worn by his feet; with prying eyes following his every step, staring at him as if he's a spectacle on display.

Ah, Taehyung feels like a thief right now, a criminal on the run, and he's wearing everything that will confirm what he's done.

'Isn't that, Kim Taesoo's son?' 

'Look at his clothes! Is that <xx brand>?' 

'His shoes! Wow!' 

'Where did he get those?' 

'Isn't he an alpha? Maybe he got a job?' 

'He's still in highschool, right?' 

'Pfft... Kid probably stole 'em' 

The not-so-quiet whispers of their neighbors began to ring in Taehyung's ears, leading him to walk faster and clutch his school bag tighter, unaware that he was already emitting a huge amount of his pheromones into the air due to him feeling anxious.

He can feel them on him. 

Taehyung can feel those spiteful strangers' eyes on him right now, sharp and full of judgment, as if they're telling him he doesn't belong here in this place as he's different; he's not a human, not a beta or an omega—he's an alpha, so how dare he live as though he's one of them?

But if Taehyung isn't supposed to be here, then where should he go? With the upper crust? — They don't want him either— nobody does.

Ah, maybe except one person.

That strange alpha with dark doe eyes and bunny-like smiles.

He was just with him earlier. 

... 

"I'm home," Taehyung says, breathing heavily as he gets into the house; his father is waiting for him by the table, so they can have dinner together.

"You're late. Where have you been at this hour? — Wait, your clothes..." Kim Taesoo then scrambles out of his seat, rushing towards his son, completely shocked to see Taehyung dressed in visibly expensive clothing. 

"W-where did you get these? Why are you wearing these?-.."

"Calm down, dad." Taehyung tries to compose himself. He knew this was going to happen, so he had an excuse prepared in his head, but he couldn't help but feel bad when he saw his father's weathered, calloused hands touching the delicate silk shirt he's wearing; the disparity is just too much; it made him feel so guilty that he's about to throw up.

But no. 

He shouldn't worry his father anymore. 

He has to pull himself together. 

"Y-you know my boss at the coffee shop? He gave me a lot of stuff since he's updating his wardrobe. He even had me wear this, since he's excited to see how I'd look in his clothes, he said it reminds him of when he was younger," Taehyung says, lying to his father yet again; he slumps down on the floor, his hands quivering as he shows Taesoo pretty much everything he's received from Jeongguk. "L-look... There's even shoes! We're the same size, right? Why don't you put these on dad? I—I want to see how it looks on you," Taehyung says, swallowing the knot in his throat as he lays one of the new pairs of shoes in front of his father's feet.

"Your boss? W-wow... He gave you all these? It looks new though?" Taesoo asks, hesitant to try on the shoes. 

"Y-yeah... There's a lot of new stuff here since—well, my boss really loves to hoard. C'mon dad, just try these on," Taehyung says, raising his father's foot, feeling his chest constrict as he noticed how fatigued it looked, his veins visible, nails unkempt, some of it are even chipped— broken, and given their proximity, Taehyung caught a whiff of his father's scent—that calming scent of pine, mixed with sweat and sun, which made Taehyung realize the huge difference between now and when he was in Cheongdamdong earlier, where everything smells wonderful.

That was a dream, and this— this is his reality.

"Stop it, just keep them and wear them on your graduation—"

"What are you saying, dad? There's a lot here, y'see? I've already decided that this one and this coat will be yours," Taehyung pauses, forcing his father's feet into the shoes, before pulling out the nicest winter coat he's gotten from Jeongguk. "Just in time for winter, right? You can wear this to work, and I bet those geezers with you will say you're the coolest," Taehyung adds as he puts the coat on his father. "See? Wow! I mean, it's obvious now where I got my good looks from; I look just like you dad, don't I?" Taehyung gets up and pulls his father in front of the mirror, where they both stare at their reflections.

No— they don't look the same at all. 

It might be because of the difference in their ranks, but since Taesoo is a beta, he's much smaller than Taehyung. Sure, some of their facial features are similar, such as their noses and maybe the shape of their faces, but aside from those—especially now that Taehyung is dressed nicely—there's maybe nothing else that they have in common.

Taesoo's eyes have lost their sparkle, the kind of gleam that still hopes for a better life; now his eyes are just tired; he has wrinkles, his skin is damaged and burnt from being in the sun all the time, his lips are chapped and dark from smoking too much, and seeing him like this hurts Taehyung a lot.

Still he smiled.

His father has turned to this in order for them to survive.

"Silly boy, we look nothing alike; you got everything from your mother." Taesoo sighs, carefully slipping off the coat and stepping out of the shoes, grabbing his dusty old jacket before heading towards the door.

"If you're not going to eat, keep the food in the fridge and reheat it in the morning. I'll be going now... I'm already late for work. Don't stay up too late, alright?" Taesoo adds, glancing back at Taehyung with a rather sad smile on his face before he leaves, closing the door behind him.

<you can play this as you read.>

Strange

Once left alone, Taehyung found himself biting his trembling lips, holding back his tears, for he doesn't want his father to hear him— nor does he want to see himself crying. 

With a deep breath, Taehyung swallows everything as he lifts his gaze back onto the mirror, there he sees himself, still in the clothes he never once imagined he'll be able to wear.

He looks so different, that it made him laugh, finding it funny how a set of clothes can bring this much change in his appearance.

So he stripped them off, dropping each garment on the floor, until nothing's left but his own scarred skin and faded black underwear on.

"He said he likes me, while I look like this? Wow, he must be some special kind of lunatic," Taehyung said to himself, staring at his reflection until his gaze wandered to the fading bruise left on his neck by Jeongguk. "If you would rather it not fade, then you should have sucked on it again; bite it until it bleeds—until you break my skin... Only then will this mark remain—just like the rest of what I have here," Taehyung states, referring to the keloid scars all over his body, from him being cut, burned, and beaten over and over again.

***

(1) new message received 

from: <number>

: Good morning, Tae! 😍

--

(1) new message received 

from: <number>

: Don't skip your meals. 🥺

--

(1) new message received 

from: <number>

: I just took a bath. It was nice. ☺️

---

(1) new message received 

from: annoying

: I stopped by the coffee shop. You're not there? 😑

---

(1) new message received 

from: annoying

: Why aren't you texting me back? 😤

---

(1) new message received 

from: do not block him he's rich

: text me back 😩

--

(1) new message received 

from: do not block him he's rich

: You're not answering my calls. Why? 😱

--

(1) new message received 

from: do not block him he's rich

: Isn't it Monday yet? What are you doing? 

--

(1) new message received 

from: do not block him he's rich

: I miss you 😭💔

--

(1) new message received 

from: do not block him he's rich

: I just finished jacking off. I was thinking of you 🙈😚🤫💗

--

(1) new message received 

from: perv

: I probably shouldn't have said that. 😱

--

(1) new message received 

from: perv

: Good night. See you later. I miss you. 🥺💗

... 

*ring... ring*

"Oh my god, just give me a break! Ugh!" Taehyung groans as he rejects Jeongguk's nth phone call, covering his face with a pillow.

It's already Monday—two a.m., to be exact—and now Taehyung is convinced that calling Jeongguk and giving him his phone number was a huge mistake on his end.

Jeongguk had kept his phone busy all weekend, calling and texting him, telling him things he has no interest in knowing, and within those two days, Taehyung has probably changed Jeongguk's name on his phone around twelve times already, using it to vent his frustrations, refusing to answer Jeongguk's calls and texts, knowing that doing so will only encourage the latter.

(1) new message received 

from: perv

: I can't sleep. It's cold here. I wish you're here. 

---

*sigh* "Why is he being so dramatic?" Taehyung says, finding himself reading Jeongguk's message again. Don't get him wrong, it's not like he didn't try to reply on Jeongguk's messages, he did, it's just that he really doesn't know what to say or how to react without embarrassing himself, so he ended up ignoring everything— but for some reason after he's read Jeongguk's most recent message, Taehyung kinda felt bad, remembering how well Jeongguk had treated him last Friday. 

And so he decided to call him. 

*ring... ring...*

—"Ah, finally you called; I thought you had blocked me already,"

Jeongguk says, his tone expressing relief.

"I thought you just finished jacking off? Wasn't that supposed to help you fall asleep faster?" Taehyung asks, staring at the ceiling and listening to Jeongguk's lazy chuckle on the other line.

—"Pfft, that's what I thought too; I guess my hands aren't cutting it anymore... I might need more to fall asleep quicker."

"If you're expecting me to have phone sex with you, you better stop daydreaming; I only called to tell you to stop texting me, it's past 2 a.m. already..." Taehyung says, but his tone is not really dismissive; in fact, he strangely feels more at ease now that he can hear Jeongguk's voice.

—"I was about to test my luck, but thanks for stopping me on time... So, what are you doing right now, Tae?"

Jeongguk asks, as Taehyung hears some shuffling in the background.

"Lying in bed-.."

—"Wow, that's sexy..."

"Should I just hang up?" Taehyung says, rolling his eyes, cringing at Jeongguk's shamelessness. 

—"No, please talk to me more... What did you have for dinner?"

Jeongguk inquires. 

"Soondaeguk, you?" Taehyung says, referring to the blood sausage and soup his father bought for their dinner.

—"Soondaeguk? What's that?"

"Pfft... Figured you hadn't had that before. It's good, you should try it sometimes... Eh, forget it, it might not suit you since you've got a sensitive stomach," Taehyung remarks, recalling how Jeongguk got sick and missed classes after drinking a single glass of water from his house.

—"No, I don't? Bring some for me tomorrow, Soondae, I mean... I just searched it up, and it looks good,"

Jeongguk says.

"And why would I do that? It's troublesome; just buy it yourself," Taehyung says, but there he is, headed towards the kitchen, checking to see if there is still some soondae in the fridge. There aren't any.

—"Stingy... Then how about we go get some tomorrow after class?"

"Stop making everything sound so dirty," Taehyung sighs, his cheeks oddly warming up as he recalls Jeongguk's earlier message, in which he said he'd been thinking about him while touching himself.

—"Pfft, hey! That's not what I mean! Soondae! Soondae— let's go get sundae after class! Hahaha! Oh, wow, it also looks good with tteokbokki, and what's this? Eomuk? I like that too! Ahh... How about we just skip class? I wanna try them all! C'mon, let's do it yeah? What d'you say?"

Jeongguk asks, sounding so excited that it made Taehyung silently laugh. 

"You wish... As if I'd ever skip class," Taehyung says as he goes back to bed, alone because his father is working the night shifts once more.

—"Even if I say please? Please? I want to try new things with you, Tae,"

Jeongguk pleads, and Taehyung hates how he can picture the latter's face, pouting cutely at him.

"I never missed a class— maybe except that time when I passed out," Taehyung says, ignoring the fact that he's smiling right now while listening to Jeongguk whining like a child on the other line.

—"Then do it with me. I wanna be the first person you skip class with."

"I said I won't." Taehyung replies and from there, Jeongguk whined again for a couple of minutes more, trying to convince Taehyung to skip class with him, and then when Taehyung continued to refuse, they proceeded to talk about another topic—and another, and another, going on about the things they did over the weekend; like how Taehyung helped his father a bit at the textile mill, and how Jeongguk spent hours in his room playing video games; next thing they knew, it's already 5 a.m.

"*yawns...* I'm sleepy," Taehyung murmurs, his eyes closed, breathing slowly, his whole body growing heavy.

—"Mhm... Can't we talk a bit more? I love hearing your voice,"

Jeongguk says, sounding drowsy as well.

"Just go to sleep,"

—"Are you asleep already, hmm? Wait... Talk to me more..."

Jeongguk says, his voice getting softer—it's almost inaudible.

"Good night, Jeongguk," Taehyung whispered as he fell asleep, dropping his phone beside him on the bed.

***

"Good night, angel... See you later." Jeongguk says, also falling asleep while listening to Taehyung softly breathing in his ear. 

Taehyung probably wouldn't know this, but right now in Jeongguk's head, he's lying beside him in bed, imagining that it's Taehyung's arms around him as he hugs himself. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Do I wanna know

Mr. Ha, their homeroom teacher, has just finished checking their attendance, and Jeongguk is sitting on his desk, biting his nails, staring at the door, wondering why Taehyung is late. He's been texting and calling him nonstop since he got up this morning, but Taehyung hasn't responded.

"Kim Taehyung is still not here, teacher," Jeongguk says, raising his hand and calling out the attention of their instructor.

"Ah, Kim? He's in the infirmary, resting. He came to my office this morning, saying he's got a headache or something—" Mr. Ha couldn't even finish what he was saying as Jeongguk bolted out of the room, running straight to the infirmary on the other end of the hallway.

There was no one inside, or so Jeongguk thought, for just as he was about to leave, a gust of wind blew the white curtains surrounding the bed, revealing Taehyung, sitting like damn beautiful daydream by the window frame, throwing a set of casual clothes on Jeongguk's face.

"Go on, change. That soondae place opens at ten," Taehyung says before he hops off the windows, a playful smirk curling up on his lips as he hears Jeongguk scrambling, rushing after him from behind like a lost puppy.

🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

About you

🃏🃏🃏

'What exactly am I doing? '

Taehyung couldn't believe he's asking that question again, and this time, he can really only blame himself.

Was it guilt?

Pity?

No, Taehyung doesn't care enough about Jeongguk to feel any guilt towards him, and everyone will probably laugh if he—of all people—says he pities him; so what might have been the reason he's now here: skipping classes with Jeongguk, strolling down Gwanghui just to stuff their faces with street food?

Ah, Taehyung doesn't know anything anymore, and he's also not in the mood to come up with a better justification for his actions. 

"Hmm... Where do we start, where do we start?" Jeongguk hums, skipping like a kid on his first visit to an amusement park.

"W-what would you like to try first?" Taehyung asks, his hands tucked into the pockets of his pants, his cheeks flushed, refusing to look at Jeongguk.

"Soondae," Jeongguk says, tugging the sleeve of Taehyung's shirt and pointing to one of the roadside stalls selling tteok soon <soondae and tteokbokki>. "That's it, right— tteokbokki too?" he asks again, his puppy eyes on Taehyung.

"Alright, soondae it is," Taehyung sighs, letting Jeongguk drag him to the tteok soon stall; there, Taehyung got Jeongguk a serving, watching as the other alpha's eyes widen the instant he took his first bite, going for it again and again until he gobbled up everything in less than two minutes.

"O-oh my god! It's so good!" Jeongguk exclaims, his words muffled by his chewing, while Taehyung looks away, his smile veiled as he takes a bite of soondae as well. "May I have—uhm... one hundred more servings of this?" Jeongguk asks the vendor, prompting Taehyung to swiftly turn towards him again.

"What the fuck are you saying?— Ajhussi, I'm sorry, please don't mind him, he'll only have one more," Taehyung says, apologizing to the vendor for Jeongguk's ludicrous request as he grabs another stick of tteok soon and hands it to Jeongguk.

"But, it's so good—" 

"It doesn't matter; just get what you can eat; if you can't finish it, you're just wasting it," Taehyung says, his gaze drawn to the smudge of sauce on the side of Jeongguk's lips as the latter chews his tteokbokki.

"Alright, alright... But if I get hungry later, we'll go back here okay?" Jeongguk pouts and Taehyung finds himself melting all over again. 

"W-wipe your face. You eat like a baby. Tch, so messy," Taehyung says, turning away from Jeongguk once more, but Jeongguk stops him, leaning in closer to him.

"Do it for me. I can't see." Jeongguk grins, red sauce all over his mouth, and although Taehyung will probably never admit it out loud, he thinks that Jeongguk looks adorable like this.

"What? Are you really a kid?" Taehyung protests, but he nonetheless takes a piece of tissue from the stall and cleans Jeongguk's face with it. "You're such a handful," Taehyung adds, frowning with his cheeks flushed red.

"I think there's more of it left—here—here..." Jeonghuk puckers his lips, sneakily getting closer to Taehyung's face, as if aiming to give him a kiss, only to have Taehyung shove his palm over his lips.

"C-cut it out..." Taehyung glances away again, his hand still covering the lower half of Jeongguk's face, noting that a bunch of people are now staring at them. "Quit messing around, you already stand out too much," Taehyung says as he lets go of Jeongguk.

"Me?" Jeongguk asks, his head cocked to the side.

"Yes, you," Taehyung replies, and that's true; it must be something in the manner in which he carries himself, for even if Jeongguk is currently wearing Taehyung's cheap clothes, the alpha still stands out a lot compared to others, and that might be the reason they've been getting so much unwanted attention.

"Look, people are already staring at you, so stop acting dumb, it's embarrassing." Taehyung murmurs, his eyes widening as Jeongguk wraps his hand around his wrist and pulls him closer to him.

<you can play this as you read.>

Cardigan

"They're not just staring at me—they're staring at you too, and I'm not sure if I'm alright with that," Jeongguk says, looking Taehyung in the eyes.

"*Sigh* Are you two going to buy more? You're kinda blocking my store," the vendor remarks, rubbing the back of his neck, looking somewhat disturbed, which caused Taehyung to snap out of his stupor and yank his hand back from Jeongguk's hold.

"No, we're leaving—sorry." Taehyung says, his eyes still on Jeongguk, watching the latter pull out his black card, also still staring at him as he passes it to the vendor, causing Taehyung to immediately groan in frustration. 

"Oh my god! Take that back, you dimwit!" Taehyung exclaims, seizing Jeongguk's hand with the card as he quickly grabs his phone, paying the vendor with his own account, before dragging Jeongguk away from the stand.

"I can't believe you just tried to use your black card here! Are you insane?" Taehyung scolds Jeongguk as they walk down the street.

"Well, haven't we established that already?" Jeongguk merely shrugs, grinning widely, staring at the way Taehyung's holding his hand.

"I know, but isn't that common sense? Does being rich come with being stupid?" Taehyung says, his face so red it's beginning to look purple from embarrassment.

"Ehh? I was just trying to pay? What's wrong with that?" Jeongguk replies, leading Taehyung to stop and turn to face him again.

"Listen here, using your damn black card to pay for a ₩5000 worth of snack is preposterous, I mean, think about it—" Taehyung pauses, seeing the apparent confusion written all over Jeongguk's face, as if he really had no idea what he did wrong, and Taehyung finds it utterly hilarious. "Pfft... Never mind, you're hopeless," he laughs as he grabs Jeongguk's wrist again before they resume walking. "What do you want to try next?" he asks, oblivious to the fact that he has just made Jeongguk smile, once again staring at their hands and following him from behind. 

"Can I still eat? I mean, I don't really carry cash with me and all I have is my card, so if I can't use it to pay then—" 

"Think of this as your lucky day," Taehyung says, sending a warm beaming smile to Jeongguk. "I don't do this often, but since you bought dinner the last time, your snacks are on me today," Taehyung goes on to say, winking at Jeongguk before turning away, unaware of the way the latter's free hand immediately swings up, clasping his chest, his smile fading to that of shock, blushing while staring at Taehyung's back.

Kimbap, hotteok, bungeoppang, bindaetteok, pajeon, corn dogs and a lot more, Jeongguk and Taehyung went from stall to stall, munching on snacks Jeongguk had never had before, until they couldn't eat any more.

It's strange, but this is probably the most fun Taehyung has had in years, having someone willingly explore his world with him, eagerly trying to get to know him: the things he enjoys doing, snacks he enjoys eating, places he enjoys visiting, even trying cheap clothes and silly costumes just to see how they'll look with them on. Taehyung laughs at Jeongguk's silly antics, while Jeongguk continues to enjoy his time, getting close to Taehyung at any given opportunity, from swinging his arms over his shoulders to holding his hand; they even went to the arcade and played a few games, and much to Taehyung's dismay, Jeongguk beats him every time.

It wasn't a lie when Taehyung said he rarely does this because he doesn't really squander his and his father's hard earned money just to have a good time, but here he is, laughing his lungs out at Jeongguk's cringey jokes, sitting by the han river, their faces lit up by the orange skies; he's nearly depleted his account, but as he stares at Jeongguk's bright doe eyes and bunny goofy smiles, he realizes it's probably worth it—that if this is how skipping class feels like, he might not mind doing it again for a few more times.

"Pfft... Shut up, I told you it was hot, it's not my fault you burned your tongue," Taehyung chuckles as he leans back on the grass, listening to Jeongguk whine about being burned after stuffing a freshly cooked bungeoppang into his mouth earlier. 

"Well, the lady said I could eat it right away, and you didn't really say anything to stop me either—ugh, my whole mouth feels numb," Jeongguk keeps complaining as he lies beside Taehyung on the grass, watching the orange sunset skies above.

<you can play this as you read.>

Yes to heaven

Once their giggles waned, they laid there calmly, closing their eyes, breathing in the crisp autumn breeze, their fingertips lightly brushing against each other, as they listened to the couple of strangers chatting in the background.

"Do you know someone who can freeze time? I really don't want this day to end, Tae..." Jeongguk murmurs, turning to look at Taehyung from the side.

"Don't be ridiculous; you know that's not possible," Taehyung says, his eyes still closed, but he can sense Jeongguk shifting and squirming closer to his side.

"That’s a shame then… But you had fun too, right? It's fun being with me, right?" Jeongguk asks like a kid eager to be praised, going all puppy eyes again as Taehyung slightly tips his head to the side, peeking to look at Jeongguk with only one eye open.

"Well, it's not so bad," Taehyung replies as he closes his eyes once more.

"I had so much fun... So— so much fun." Jeongguk says, unable to take his eyes away from Taehyung's face, admiring the latter's long lashes and counting the beauty marks he has on his face, one on his nose, one on his cheek, one on his lower lash line, and one on his lips.

"As you should. You surely ate a lot for someone who claimed to never have had streetfood before." Taehyung says, his lids fluttering open, meeting Jeongguk's gaze, his pupils dilating upon noticing the proximity between their faces. 

"I want to kiss." Jeongguk absentmindedly remarks.

"Who?" Taehyung asks; a silly question indeed, but he's in no position to overthink, given that he's now far too drawn to the way Jeongguk is staring at him.

"You. Right now. On the lips," Jeongguk speaks as he always does, without even batting an eye.

"Why?" Taehyung asks, his gaze falling to Jeongguk's lips, noticing the latter's tiny beauty mark on his chin.

"That question again? Well... Just because." 

"You can't. There's a lot of people here." Taehyung says, dismissing the possibility of him regretting this later once the thrill expires and once he gets a hold of himself.

"And if there aren't any, will you let me do it?" Jeongguk asks again, his breathing becoming somewhat more labored than usual.

"Maybe? I wouldn't mind it that much, I guess," Taehyung answers, his heart beating faster as he feels Jeongguk's warm breath brush against his lips.

"You haven't kissed anyone before?" Jeongguk asks, his gaze shifting from Taehyung's eyes and lips, then back up again, as if he's having a hard time focusing on just one thing when Taehyung is lying so close to him like this.

"Do you honestly believe anyone would want to kiss someone like me?" Taehyung asks, his breath caught in his throat as Jeongguk covers both his eyes with one hand.

"I don't really care what others think, but as for me... I'm dying to kiss you right now, Taehyung," Jeongguk says, pulling Taehyung closer to him and pressing the latter's face against the crook of his neck. "If you're still not sure of what you want, you better stop looking at me with those eyes... You're quite dense, so if it's still not obvious to you, then I'm letting you know now, I currently have no idea what to do with myself anymore... I feel like if I try anything, I might really scare you away and that's the last thing I want to happen." Jeongguk says, nuzzling his face on top of Taehyung's hair and inhaling a lungful of the latter's scent.

It's crazy. 

It's well established now that the way Taehyung has been acting lately whenever Jeongguk is involved is completely out of his character; it's as if Jeongguk keeps thinning out his walls, approaching him like a storm, swift and powerful, with no brakes at all, and for some strange reason, Taehyung is just allowing it all. He lets Jeongguk come at him with his shameless honesty, flying right on time like a hero in a story, giving him a name to call, a hand to hold, a knight appearing in front of him when he's in trouble—and it hasn't even been that long.

Taehyung never thought of himself as someone easy, but the thing is, he's never had someone like Jeon Jeongguk pursue him with this kind of tenacity. 

He's both hot and cold, bold but still guarded, and everytime he pulls back with that desperate look on his face, he has Taehyung questioning his resolve, wondering why he's even feeling the need for Jeongguk to do more.

Ah, Taehyung really doesn't want to think about it anymore. 

With a hiss, Taehyung then pulled back from Jeongguk’s hold, looming over him as he pinned the other alpha down on the ground, caging him between his arms. 

"You've always done what you want, and now that I'm giving you a free pass, you're holding back? Fuck off, get real…” Taehyung laughs bitterly to himself, "You're the one who came up with the idea— now take responsibility," Taehyung says as he leans in and closes the gap between their lips, causing Jeongguk's eyes to widen and his cheeks to flush all the way up to his ears.

It's soft. 

Jeongguk's lips against his feels extremely soft—and sweet, and Taehyung has never felt anything like it, nor has he ever done this with anyone before. 

His first kiss. 

Kiss. 

He really did it—no—he's still at it. None of them are doing anything, but Taehyung's lips are still on Jeongguk; given their proximity, he can even hear how fast Jeongguk's heartbeat is, he can feel his warmth seeping through his clothes, electrifying—frying him from within, but he couldn't move, he couldn't stop, it's as if the world suddenly came to a halt. 

Why is he here again?

Isn't he supposed to be in class?

His father's birthday is in two months, but he's nearly emptied his bank account by buying Jeongguk's snacks.

What about homework?

Aren't they supposed to have a test today?

He's already missed it; does this mean he's risked his scholarship?

What about college?

Hanyang? Running onto Lee Soo-hyuk by chance around the campus grounds. 

All these damn ruined plans, just because he allowed himself to get swayed by Jeongguk and skip today's class. 

But Jeongguk's lips are moving now, his fingers raking through the back of his hair, and he can feel his tongue trying to get into his mouth, which caused Taehyung to make a sound that none of them expected to hear at this time.

Suddenly, it's time to wake up. 

With both their eyes still fixed onto each other, Taehyung pulled back, scrambling to stand up, panting as though out of breath, his face red and dripping with sweat; he then ruffled his hair, biting his lip as if tasting the evidence of what they just did.

"Hmm… Why?" Jeongguk smirks as he sits up, leaning back and resting his weight on his palms.

"I—I'm late for work; I need to go... Yeah, I need to go," Taehyung says as he grabs his bag and runs away without looking back.

... 

*click...click...*

"My, my... I didn’t expect to see this on my way home, but—well— isn't this interesting?" Ahn Seung-hoon, one of the alphas under Jang Minho says, grinning wickedly, zooming in on the photo he just took of Taehyung and Jeongguk. 

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

"What are you up to, Guk?" Yoongi asks as he hits the break shot on the pool table in his 'dungeon,' the playroom where he frequently hangs out with Jin, Namjoon, and now with Jeongguk.

"Mhm? What do you mean, hyung?" Jeongguk says, munching on the tteok soon he brought on his way here after hanging out with Taehyung earlier, while Jin is busy playfully pinning butterfly clips in Jeongguk’s hair just to see whether it will look cute.

"Yeah, what do you mean, Yoongi-ah—.."

"Stop babying him, Jin. He's not ten anymore... If he goes out with those clips on his hair, he might actually be Jang Minho's next target," Yoongi sighs, rolling his eyes at Jin, who is still adding more clips on Jeongguk's hair.

"Why? Are you scared of that Jang kid, Min? That's so unlike you, y'know?" Namjoon comments as he joins Yoongi on the pool table.

"Who's scared of who, really? My point is, Guk just got back here, and he's getting so much attention already; we all know how Jeon Jungho is, so if Jang Minho opens his mouth, do you really think chairman Jeon would just sit quietly?" Yoongi replies as he turns his attention to Jeongguk. "He did it again, didn't he? That's why you weren't around for three days last week," Yoongi adds, causing everyone to freeze, except Jeongguk, who is still nonchalantly chewing his tteokbokki.

"I'm fine though?" Jeongguk merely shrugs, failing to see how his three friends exchanged worried glances.

"I already warned you. Associating yourself with someone like Kim Taehyung is like asking for trouble. A guy like that won't do you any good." Yoongi says, clutching his fists tightly when Jeongguk's eyes suddenly flash red at him.

"Why? Because he's poor?" Jeongguk asks, getting up from his seat, breaking the stick of soondae he just finished eating.

"No— it's because no matter what you do, your father will never approve of someone like him being close to you, can't you see? If you continue whatever the fuck you're planning to do with him— you'll break him. Aren't you feeling at least a tad bit bad for the guy at all?" Yoongi asserts, ignoring the sudden rise in tension in the air while Namjoon gets in between him and Jeongguk.

"Why does that even matter to you? Oh... Don't tell me— are you also interested in him, hyung?" Jeongguk asks, pushing his tongue against his cheek as a taunting smirk curls up on his lips.

"Don't fuck with me— you know why I'm saying all this," Yoongi responds, his eyes also flashing red at Jeongguk.

"Hey, hey, take it easy you two," Joon says, concerned about what might happen if Jeongguk and Yoongi continue their conversation.

The thing is, Yoongi is Jeongguk's best friend; in fact, Yoongi was the only person who was able to contact Jeongguk after the latter temporarily moved to Busan three years ago. They're all good friends, no doubt about that, but perhaps it's because Jeongguk and Yoongi are the only dominant alphas in their group that the two have always been closer; they almost have the same personality, which also means they frequently clash with one another.

And now that Jeongguk has returned, Yoongi is back to keeping the group's youngest alpha in check, as he always does before.

"*Sigh* Can you guys tone it down? It stinks here now," Jin complains, rolling his eyes as he opens the windows to let the noxious pheromones of the two dominant alphas out of the room.

"You haven't changed, hyung. You still worry too much," Jeongguk says, breaking the tension-filled silence, feeling his phone vibrate inside his pocket—an unknown number had just sent him a message.

"I'm just saying—" 

"Did anyone ask you guys for my number other than Kim Taehyung?" Jeongguk asks, his expression darkening, as he stares at his phone screen, reading the message he just got.

"Not that I know of—" 

"Ah!" Jin exclaims, interrupting Namjoon. "Your class president asked me about it earlier since apparently you just left during first period," he says, watching Jeongguk take a deep breath as though composing himself.

"I see..." Jeongguk says, slipping his phone back to his pants' pocket as he walks past Joon and Yoongi. 

"Why? Did anything happen?" Joon asks, 

"Nothing much hyung; it's just that I now need to meet a few idiots trying to ruin my fun," Jeongguk says, halting his steps as Yoongi clutches his arm.

"I’m telling you, your father will give you hell if you don't stop now." Yoongi says quietly, making sure only Jeongguk heard what he just said.

"Have you ever had a taste of heaven, hyung?" Jeongguk asks, tipping his head to the side, smirking while touching his lips as he turns his gaze to Yoongi. "I have... Just a few hours ago to be exact— so how can I possibly stop?" Jeongguk says, removing Yoongi's hand on him and walking away, his pupils completely turning black.

"Ah, Gukkie! Your hair!— Never mind, he looks cute with those clips anyway," Jin sighs, skipping towards Yoongi with his packet of butterfly clips.

"Don't even think about it," Yoongi warns before Jin can even try to clip his hair.

***

"Yes, thank you. Have a nice day." Taehyung says, here at the coffee shop, serving another customer but his mind is elsewhere. 

He's not sure how he's managed to not screw up the orders he's received today; perhaps it's muscle memory, but in actuality, he's basically now functioning in pure autopilot, staring blankly into space, wearing a blank expression on his face—and occasionally licking his lips as if relishing someone's taste.

Fuck. 

He really did kiss Jeon Jeongguk today. 

*BAM! * Taehyung then slammed his head hard on the counter, startling both his coworkers and the coffee shop's customers.

"T-Taehyung-ssi... Uhm— are you okay?" a colleague asks, noticing the now-reddening bruise on Taehyung's forehead.

"H-huh? Yes, of course... Everything's fine— totally fine," Taehyung responds, feigning a laugh before heading to the stockroom as if to check their inventory, but the truth is, he just needs time to breathe and think, for otherwise, he'll probably combust— self-destruct at any minute. 

. 

. 

. 

"Oh my god... What the fuck have I done?" Taehyung asks, covering his own mouth, his face warming up again, as if he's about to erupt.

The scene replays inside his head like a bad film in slow motion, reminding him of every nuance, sensation, and conversation he shared with Jeongguk earlier.

He did it. 

He pinned Jeongguk to the ground, uttered some bullshit, and then kissed him—on the lips—on his own—without anyone telling him to do so.

He has no excuse, and now he's debating whether or not he should start digging his own grave because he really has no idea how he'll face Jeongguk again tomorrow.

"Hahaha... Have I lost my mind? Really? Seriously? Me? Have I always been this easy? I— I didn't know.... Oh my god, what was I thinking?" Taehyung panics, pacing back and forth, anxiously biting his fingernails as if the realization of what he did had just hit him.

"T-that guy... That guy will never let me hear the end of it... Shit. Shit—" Taehyung then repeatedly knocks his head on the wall, but not as forcefully as earlier because—well, it hurts and he isn't really interested in going home with a cracked skull later. 

"Wait... Why the fuck did I do that? Wasn't he the lunatic between the two of us? Was his condition contagious?" Taehyung continued to ask himself one dumb question after another, but he still couldn't come up with an answer.

"So you have one person telling you he likes you and you kiss him like you're a dog in heat? That easy? W-wow... Kim Taehyung, wow! You're unbelievable! Un-fucking-believable!" Taehyung exclaims, pointing to his own reflection in the fridge's glass doors, cursing himself once more for succumbing to whatever voodoo shit spell Jeongguk may have placed upon him and made him act so recklessly.

Then… Another horrible realization struck him.

"W-wait... I kissed him... Yes, he said he wanted to do it first, but I was the one who acted on it... Why? Could it be— d-do I— that guy? That mad dog.... Do I like— HAHAHAHA! No." Taehyung then laughs at the thought, his face turning beet red again, his laughter fading into silence. "Wow... Maybe I really am, easy." Taehyung muttered under his breath, absentmindedly checking his phone to see if there's any new messages from Jeongguk. 

There was none. "Fuck him." he muses. 

"H-hah... Get a fucking grip, you..." Taehyung tells himself as he slips his phone back into his jacket and slaps both his palms firmly against his cheeks, willing himself to wake up from whatever ludicrous dream—or nightmare this is.

***

"Why do you keep staring at your phone? Did something happen? Did you get in trouble?" Taesoo asks his son, noticing that Taehyung's eyes have been fixed on his phone throughout dinner.

"Huh? A-ah, no, nothing happened dad... I was just— well, I was waiting to receive the part of my classmates' research for our homework, that's all," Taehyung lies as he quickly turns his phone face down on the table, clearing away the plates now that they've finished eating dinner.

"You know, I will not mind if you tell me you're dating someone. I mean, of course, I'd be shocked because you never really tell me anything, but once I get over that shock, I'll probably be happy," Taesoo says, hiding his smile, noticing how his son's face immediately flushed red after hearing what he just said.

"Dad! C'mon, do you really believe I have time to date?—" 

"Why not? You're young, tall, and attractive; I don't see any reason for you not to date anyone, especially at your age." Taesoo shrugs, his smile fading as he notices the shift Taehyung's mood; he's forcing a smile, but his eyes can't conceal what he's truly feeling at the moment.

"Of course, dad... There's no reason for me not to date—but right now, I'm really not interested in that sort of thing," Taehyung says as he places the dirty dishes in the sink.

"You know, even if we're like this... We're still allowed to be happy-.."

"Are we, really?" Taehyung said before he could think, causing him to freeze as he realized how his father would feel—but then he felt his father's warm hand on top of his head, gently ruffling his hair, as if telling him it's okay without actually saying anything.

"You must be thinking—'ah, my old man is a hypocrite,' but y'know, when your mother's still alive, she often tells me this: happiness is subjective, it doesn't always come from being rich," Taesoo says, patting Taehyung on the back before grabbing his work jacket, getting ready to leave; oblivious to how Taehyung bites his lower lip hard and clenches his fists, thinking of how great it would be, if his father's words applied to him. 

"Until when are you working the night shift? Even on weekends, you rarely come by here in the morning... Do you even sleep?" Taehyung asks, swallowing the lump he's feeling in his throat, wishing that his father would stop overworking himself even for just a bit. 

"Eh? I can sleep a bit at work, don't worry." Taesoo says, checking the new message he just received from his phone, containing the details regarding Hanyang university's accommodation. "I'm going now. Don't stay up too late, alright?" He adds, smiling at his son before he walks out the door. 

***

Now lying in bed, Taehyung found himself staring at his phone, trying to compose a message for Jeongguk, only to delete it before pressing the send button. 

**'What happened earlier was a mistake'**

"No, it wasn't. At least, I don't think it was, and I'm sure he won't believe me if I tell him this," Taehyung says, erasing what he had just put on his phone again.

**'Are you sleeping already?'**

"No—absolutely not! Why the hell would I even want to know if he's already sleeping? That sounds way too clingy," Taehyung laments, discarding his message yet again. He was about to type another when his phone rang, almost falling on his face.

"Fuck!—" Taehyung then accidentally pressed the answer button before realizing it was Jeongguk who was calling. "H-hello," He says,

—"Yo, how's my little kissing monster? Sleepy already?"

Jeongguk asks, causing Taehyung to instantly blush.

"Kissing monster, my ass. What do you want?" Taehyung asks, shifting to his side, clutching his pillow tight. 

—"Ahh... You're still asking me that?"

Jeongguk laughs, and Taehyung hates how the mere sound of him laughing makes him remember how much fun they had earlier.

"I mean why are you calling me at this hour?" Taehyung says, his tone sounding less annoyed, puffing his cheeks, stopping himself from smiling. 

—"Because I want to hear your voice? Why? Is it a bad time for me to call? Pfft... Sorry, were you jacking off-.."

"S-shut up! As if I'd ever do something like that!" Taehyung blushes even more.

—"Oh my... You haven't tried it yet? Not even once? Why? Is your imagination not that good? I can help-.."

"I'm seriously seconds away from hanging up. *sigh* So can’t you just tell me why you called?" Taehyung asks again, exhaling slowly while tapping his chest, trying to calm his heart that's oddly beating more rapidly than normal. 

—"Told you, I just wanted to hear your voice... Now that I've heard it, I guess I'm good."

Jeongguk replies, and for some reason, Taehyung feels a slight amount of panic, thinking Jeongguk will end the call.

"Wait!—Uhm... Don't hang up yet." Taehyung says. 

—"Mhm... Why?"

Jeongguk asks, sounding amused, and although it's uncomfortable for Taehyung to admit it, he kinda wants to talk more with Jeongguk.

"Aren't you going to ask me about what happened earlier? The kiss?" Taehyung says, shutting his eyes tight and swallowing the last of his pride.

—"Oh, that…Well, you did catch me off guard back there, but I loved it nonetheless... Ah! I wish it lasted longer though-.."

"E-enough..." Taehyung says, cutting Jeongguk off, unable to hear more of what the latter is about to say even though he's the one who initiated the conversation. "That's enough... You can hang up now," Taehyung adds, pressing his lips to a thin line, realizing he's just made matters worse for himself by asking Jeongguk about something they're both supposed to forget.

—"Oh, don't be shy now... If I knew you were cool with it, I would've kissed you so hard till we're both out of breath... I could've sucked your tongue, have your lips all swollen and red..."

Jeongguk then takes an audible deep breath.

—"Would love to kiss your neck... Lick you everywhere, make you squirm while you call my name... Ahh... If only you knew even just half of the things I want to do to you... You'll probably run away— but— it won't matter... I'm still going to chase after you... I don't think you'll ever be able to escape me, Taehyung,"

Jeongguk grunts softly, causing Taehyung to spring up, sitting on the bed, covering his lower half with a pillow. 

"W-what are you doing?" Taehyung asks, finding himself squeezing his thighs together.

—"Have a guess..."

Jeongguk sighs, his breathing becoming a little heavier—slower—louder—naughtier... Igniting something in Taehyung.

"A-are you..." Taehyung pauses, unsure whether he's prepared to hear Jeongguk's answer.

—"Pfft... I'm kidding, I'm kidding... I'm not doing 'that' right now,"

Jeongguk laughs, causing Taehyung to sigh, relieved that at least he didn't have to deal with Jeongguk charging at him at full speed again without notice.

"A-anyway, do you have anything else to say? I kinda want to rest now," Taehyung asks, laying back in bed, staring at the ceiling with his hand on his chest. "So?" Taehyung asks again, because it's been a few seconds and Jeongguk has not said anything yet.

—"Hey..."

Jeongguk starts.

"Hey," Taehyung echoes Jeongguk, sensing the sudden shift in the latter's mood,

—"Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

—"Do you... Do you trust me, Taehyung?"

Jeongguk inquires, his tone more somber this time.

"Huh? All of a sudden? Why?"

—"Just tell me... Do you?"

Jeongguk asks once again.

"*Sigh* Do you think I'm stupid? How can I possibly trust someone I just met?" Taehyung says, trying to sound as rational as possible.

—"Knew you'd say that... Though, I really wish you'd trust me a little more... When I said you caught my eye... I mean it. All I can see now is you, Tae. Remember that alright?"

Jeongguk states as he takes another deep breath. "Then... Good night," he adds, ending the call before Taehyung can reply.

"What the fuck did he even say that for?" Taehyung wonders, his thoughts keeping awake for a few more hours.

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Pretty when you cry

The next day, 

Taehyung is now standing outside their classroom, breathing in a lungful of air before he steps in. He has no idea if Jeongguk's already here, since the latter hasn't sent him any message yet— which is strange, because ever since Jeongguk got his phone number, he never failed to text him good morning. 

Nevertheless, Taehyung didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking they'd be sitting next to each other in class anyway— that is, until he entered the classroom and saw that Jeongguk’s still not here, and that there's someone else occupying the latter's seat.

"Excuse me, but isn't your seat over there?" Taehyung asks Jihye: the beta who was his seatmate before Jeongguk came and took her place.

"O-oh... That—" 

"Taehyung-ssi, aren't you being a bit too rude? She can sit anywhere she wants. Why? Does it bother you that she's there instead of Jeon Jeongguk?" Ahn Seung-hoon snickers with his two friends at the back.

"Will you shut up? I was just asking-.."

"Yeah, that's right. Actually, we can all sit anywhere we like... Isn't that right, Jeonggukkie?" Taehyung couldn't even finish what he was about to say when Jang Minho suddenly walked in—with Jeongguk behind him.

The entire class then turned towards the door, watching as Minho pulled out a chair for Jeongguk, seating him on the other side of the room before taking his seat behind Jihye and Taehyung.

"What?" Minho grins, his gaze locked on Taehyung, "I'm back now... Aren't you going to say hi?" Minho continues to tease, but Taehyung couldn't care less about him, especially since he's distracted with another alpha at the moment.

"Oi, Jeon Jeongguk," Taehyung says, but Jeongguk merely gives him a glance before turning away again.

'Hah...What the hell is going on here?' Taehyung thinks, his gaze fixed on Jeongguk, perplexed as to why the latter is just sitting there, acting as if they've never met—as if they weren't together just yesterday.

🃏🃏🃏

The stench of chlorine, paint, and other chemicals fills up Taesoo's lungs as he continues to mop the floor since he's in charge of cleaning this week; he wipes his sweat away with the sleeve of his shirt, going from corner to corner, making sure he'll be leaving the floors spotless as he goes.

"Taesoo-ssi, are you working over time again? Do you even go home? If you keep doing this, Taehyung-ssi will scold you again." Mrs. Ha, one of the seamstresses assigned to cut out canvases here in the factory, teases as she inspects the bolts of bright red fabric next to her station.

"Pfft... He nags me every time he sees me, so it doesn't really matter how often I go home," Taesoo jokes as he rinses his mop in the bucket of cloudy gray water.

"You're always working so hard, you should also rest from time to time, what will happen if you fall sick? Taehyung-ssi's just about to go to college, right?" Mrs. Ha sighs while Taesoo only grins at her, despite the exhaustion written all over his face.

"Even more reason why I can't afford to rest. That son of mine, he works really hard too, you know? That's why I feel like I should at least match his pace," Taesoo says, his gaze drawn to the fabric Mrs. Ha is currently working with. "That's a pretty shade," he says.

"Mhm... It is. Some claim that red wards off negative energy—bad spirits even. A temple actually ordered this cloth, I heard they're doing some sort of ritual for a company next month," Mrs. Ha responds, excitedly showing Taesoo the red fabric and letting him feel its silky texture.

"It's nice... It wards off bad energy, you say? Does it also help with—y'know—nightmares?" Taesoo wonders, recalling the times he's gone home and heard Taehyung whimpering in his sleep, sweaty face pallid as if he's terrified of something.

"Maybe? I'm not sure... Why? Have you been having bad dreams lately, Taesoo-ssi?" Mrs. Ha asks.

"Ah... Something like that, yes... If—uhm— if there's any excess of that fabric, could you make me a blanket or a robe to wear at night? I can pay-."

"Don't be silly! As if I'd let you pay for something that'll be thrown away regardless! Of course, I'll see what I can make, so come back here later, alright?" Mrs. Ha replies, patting Taesoo's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Thank you very much."

"It's for Taehyung-ssi isn't it? Mhm... You really love your son, don't you?"

"I do... He's the only one I have..." Taesoo smiles, his eyes reflecting the sorrow in his heart as he remembers his late wife, who died shortly after giving birth to their son.

"And you're the only one he's got, so you should take better care of yourself, Taesoo-ssi," Mrs. Ha says, shaking her head as she scolds Taesoo for overworking himself again. "Well, don't worry, I'll make it so pretty that Taehyung-ssi won't want to sleep without it," she adds, smiling at Taesoo once more.

"Thank you again, I really appreciate it," Taesoo replies, lowering his head humbly to his friend.

***

<you can play this aa you read.>

Still don't know my name 

"Hey, stop it! Haven't you guys done enough?!!" Jimin shouts, his cheeks flushed and eyes welling up with tears as he and Hobi try to wiggle free from Joo-hyuk and Hae-in's grip, while Seung-hoon and Minho continue to mess with Taehyung's meal.

They were just having lunch at the cafeteria when the four alphas invited themselves to their table, only to spew some nonsense to Taehyung, even going as far as to pour juice on the latter's tray of food, causing Jimin and Hobi to go ballistic, trying to defend Taehyung, who is just sitting there—doing nothing—which is strange.

It's been two days. It's been two days since Jang Minho came back to school, picking on Taehyung again, but this time he's even twice as nasty as before, as if he's maliciously putting on a show. Taehyung normally fights back—no, he's always fought back—but for some reason he's not doing that right now. It's as if something cracked inside of him, as if he's in a different headspace or something; he's just letting Minho do whatever he wants, saying nothing regardless of the fact that he's being humiliated in front of everyone.

"Why aren't you eating? Ahh... You shouldn't waste food like that, Taehyung-ssi. It's just juice... It's not like I intentionally spilled it, you know it was an accident, right?" Minho says, smirking tauntingly as he lies through his teeth; everyone here has seen him nudge Taehyung's glass, causing the orange juice to spill all over Taehyung's plate of rice.

"Jang, Stop this please! Just let us go; this isn't funny—"

"To you, but it's fun to me... I'm curious what orange-flavored rice tastes like, so I want Taehyung-ssi here to tell me all about it," Minho says, interrupting Hobi's protests, as the other students continue eating as if they're seeing nothing.

"Tae, get up! Just get up! You don't need to—" Jimin pauses, biting his lips hard as he silently cries, seeing Taehyung take up his spoon, scooping a mouthful of rice drowning in orange juice and swallowing it with a frigid expression on his face as though nothing’s wrong with it.

Truth be told, the past two days have gone by in a haze for Taehyung. He doesn’t really remember much after that day when he thoughtlessly skipped classes with Jeongguk.

He can see him—from where he is, Taehyung can see Jeon Jeongguk casually having a meal with his buddies Namjoon, Jin, and Yoongi at the other table. Jeongguk's eyes are fixed on him while he eats, but Taehyung has no idea what he's actually thinking.

No, right now, Taehyung feels like he knows absolutely nothing at all.

What happened?

Why is Jeon Jeongguk suddenly acting this way?

Jeongguk has always been to his aid since the first day he arrived at their school; he's always told Minho off, warning him not to cross the line, basically letting everyone know that he's got Taehyung's back. So what exactly is going on here now?

Taehyung is pissed—livid that Jang Minho's tormenting him again for no reason—but the reason he's doing nothing to stop him isn't because he can't or because he's lost his will to fight—no, it's far from that.

The truth is, Taehyung is letting Minho do whatever he wants because he's curious—curious to see how long Jeon Jeongguk can continue to just watch.

He's given him a day, allowing Jang Minho to knock his things down the floor, take his notes, corner him in the lockers, and toss his school bag out the window from the second floor. Well, it's nothing he hasn't done to Taehyung before, so Taehyung is simply letting it all go while keeping his eyes on Jeongguk.

It's odd.

How can someone who was all over him the day before pretend they don't know each other the day after?

Was this something Jeongguk planned all along?

Did he connive with Jang Minho from the get-go?

Was it all a lie?

Was every conversation, every touch, and every word meaningless to Jeongguk?

Taehyung doesn't know, so as ridiculous as it may sound, he's waiting for Jeongguk's explanation.

Taehyung has tried calling Jeongguk, even as soon as their class ended yesterday, but has received no response; he's sent him a few messages, asking if something happened or if he did anything wrong, but he has not gotten a reply from Jeongguk, as if the latter doesn't give a shit about him anymore.

But nevertheless, every time Taehyung turns to look at Jeongguk, Jeongguk is already staring at him, only to look away a few seconds after.

He cannot read him at all. No matter how hard Taehyung tries to decipher whatever's behind Jeongguk's expressions, he still can't understand what's going on in the latter's head or why he's suddenly acting this way.

Sometimes, he's smirking, sometimes he looks mad, and sometimes Jeongguk's just looking at him as if he’s staring blankly into space; and although it's stupid, considering the situation that he's in, Taehyung finds it rather fascinating. 

He could be just overthinking things and making excuses for Jeongguk in his head, but as Taehyung chews on the rice that tastes like utter shit while meeting Jeongguk's gaze, he can't help but think that Jeongguk wants them to play a game, for he appears to be having fun seeing him like this.

'Is he testing me?' Taehyung thinks, taking a mouthful of rice again. He can hear Jimin and Hobi cursing at Minho and his group; he can hear the bystanders' not-so-quiet gasps and whispers— he can hear Minho growling all mad because Taehyung isn't really paying attention to him, then he felt the lukewarm miso soup being poured over his head, waking him up from his trance and finally looking at Minho for the first time today.

"You should pay attention when someone is talking to you, Taehyung-ssi... Look at what you've made me do... You're really hurting my feelings here, y'know?" Minho sneers, propping his chin on his palm and watching as Taehyung stands up.

"You really have nothing better to do, huh? I had no idea your inferiority complex towards me was this terrible... Maybe you should go to therapy, seek help or something." Taehyung says, ruffling his soaked hair and laughing bitterly, before grabbing his tray and smashing it square on Minho's face, not even giving him a chance to retaliate. Seung-hoon, who was sitting next to Minho, rose up and grabbed the back of Taehyung's shirt as he was about to walk away, only for Taehyung to push him back so violently that he crashed on his ass on the floor; Hae-in and Joo-hyuk then joins in, releasing Jimin and Hobi as soon as they saw blood gushing out of Minho's nose after being hit by Taehyung's lunch tray, but Taehyung was quick to grab one of the empty chairs, aiming to hurl it towards the other alphas who were shouting and swearing at him as they confronted him. "Try it... I'll bash your fucking heads open," Taehyung warns, forcing the alphas to take a step back, their eyes flashing red with obvious hostility, but Taehyung is done with them.

"Fucking hell..." Taehyung chuckles, tossing the chair in front of Minho and his group; everyone is staring at them right now, and it makes Taehyung realize how foolish he was to even give anyone the benefit of the doubt. He's never considered himself to be gullible, but somehow he unconsciously let his guard down for someone he'd just met, merely because that person seemed a little nicer to him than others. He's feeling so dumb that he had to laugh at himself; it took him a day just to get over the fact that Jeon Jeongguk dumped him like a hot potato as soon as he started playing along with his game.

He kissed him—and perhaps that was all Jeongguk wanted from him, so now that he's got it, he acts as if he doesn't know him.

The answer was plain and simple from the start; it's only Taehyung who is having a tough time believing, expecting more from Jeongguk, who has offered to give him anything.

"Every single one of you is just the same. Fucking rotten apples," Taehyung slurs as he walks towards Jeongguk's table, feeling a slight pang in his chest as he sees Jeongguk smirking, holding back a laugh after watching what he's done.

"Was it funny?" Taehyung asks, ignoring Jin, Namjoon, and Yoongi's puzzled looks as he takes up one of the bowls of miso soup on the table and casually dumps it over Jeongguk's head. "I hope you enjoyed the show," Taehyung continues, leaving everyone's mouths agape, except for Jeongguk, who is now laughing out loud with soup dripping all over his face.

***

'This is good,' Taehyung thinks as he sinks all the way to the bottom of their gym's indoor swimming pool. He's pretty sure their class ended a while ago; after cleaning himself when he left the cafeteria earlier, he spent the rest of the day sleeping on their building's rooftop, trying to forget all that had occurred. Of course, he failed. It's certainly not easy to forget something that has happened only recently, and maybe that's why he found himself here in the indoor gym, submerging in the cold water as soon as he heard the school bell ring. 

He didn't even bother taking his uniform off, for he has no energy left in him to do so. He's done it, alright? He completely made a fool out of himself by believing Jeongguk's warm smiles and shallow promises. 

'This is what I get for blindly believing a stranger, I guess' Taehyung thinks, as he closes his eyes and allows himself to be entirely engulfed by the cold and darkness.

It's clear from the way Jeongguk laughed when he saw him make a scene with Minho at the cafeteria earlier that everything was all fun and games to him.

All those damn elite alphas are just the same.

It's funny— but it hurts as well. Taehyung feels so embarrassed of himself; ashamed of ever believing that he may still be saved—that someone had finally come to help, but in fact, it was nothing more than another anchor pulling him deeper into his torment.

Or was it?

Was everything really a lie?

Was there no truth in the tenderness he had seen in Jeon Jeongguk's eyes?

It didn't feel like that at all.

Never mind his words and empty promises, but the way he looked at him—the way he touched him—it didn't feel like he was lying to Taehyung, so if he is, then Jeongguk must've been one hell of a good actor.

'Of course, my first kiss was with a scumbag... Fucking liar,' Taehyung laughs to himself as he swims up to the surface, finally taking a breath after being under water for a solid two minutes.

Brushing his wet hair back and wiping some of the water off his face, Taehyung then opened his eyes—and he was there.

It’s like damn déjà vu.

Jeon Jeongguk is standing at the edge of the pool, blocking the silver moonlight reflecting through the gym's awning windows, looking at him as he did the first night they've seen each other.

"I figured you'd be here— aren't you supposed to be at the coffee shop? I went there right after class and they told me you called in sick—"

"Excuse me," Taehyung says, interrupting whatever nonsense Jeongguk was about to say as he climbs out of the pool, standing barely an inch away from the latter's face, already expecting Jeongguk to remain frozen in place. "Do I know you?" Taehyung continues to ask, sneering at the other alpha before walking past him, only to have Jeongguk block his path with his arm, his hand on Taehyung's shoulder.

"Don't go," Jeongguk murmurs, lightly squeezing Taehyung's shoulder.

"Haven't you had enough?" Taehyung says, gritting his teeth as he speaks, while his eyes on the floor, his hands clenched into tight fists. 

"It's not what you think." Jeongguk quietly says, whispering into Taehyung's ear. 

"You laughed. I was being mocked, made to look like a fool in front of everyone— and you had the audacity to laugh? How dare you be here, Jeongguk? How fucking dare you?" Taehyung says, his scent exposing all the damn emotions he's been suppressing these past few days.

"I wasn't laughing at you. You got it all wrong, I—" 

"We kiss, and you treat me like a goddamn fucking ghost the day after— what exactly do you expect me to think?" Taehyung argues, his eyes now burning red at Jeongguk as he turns to face him again. 

"Something happened, but I'm working on it now... I just need more time, please..." Jeongguk begs, leading Taehyung to scoff in disbelief. "You're a fucking joke, Jeon."

"I told you, it's not what you think it is," Jeongguk says, his tone becoming more strained as he pulls Taehyung back in front of him, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Ten seconds... That's all you have— so you better start explaining yourself now." Taehyung says, his lips quivering due to the cold and his body being wet. 

"I've never gone back on my words... Unfortunately, I promised someone that I wouldn't divulge the matter... But that doesn't mean I'll leave it unresolved. Please— please, just trust me on this," Jeongguk says, cupping Taehyung's face, their piercing gazes never leaving one another.

"But what about me? The words you've said to me... Doesn't that mean anything? I thought you were on my side, Jeon. Turns out you're just like them all along... So just fuck off would you? Leave me alone," Taehyung retorts, trying to break free from Jeongguk's hold. 

"I can't do that," Jeongguk laments, and Taehyung can't help but laugh.

"Do you honestly believe I have no idea what you've been up to?" Taehyung asks, lifting his face and speaking just a hair away from Jeongguk's lips. "I want you. I'll give you anything. Think of me as a dog waiting for you to toss a bone at me—once you do, I'll gnaw on it happily... Bullshit." Taehyung lets out a pained giggle, repeating whatever he remembers hearing from Jeongguk's mouth.

"I meant every word." Jeongguk says, 

"Do you? Well, it seems to me that you lied. It was you who kept on throwing random treats at me that you knew I'd never had before; giving and buying me things I've never even asked for; you tempted me— lured me, just so you could make fun of me..." Taehyung says, stepping forward until he's cornered Jeongguk's back against the wall, the sides of their lips almost touching as he smirks. "It was you who wanted me as your dog, but jokes on you— I'll never be anyone's dog," Taehyung whispers, his pupils turning completely black, sending shivers down Jeongguk's spine. "You'll never have me... The kiss I gave you? Consider it my first and last time doing heedless charity," Taehyung adds, clenching his jaw tight when Jeongguk lets out a growl, cupping his cheeks in his palms rather violently.

"Take that back... You're mine, Taehyung... Mine," Jeongguk asserts, his eyes blazing red and his pheromones wafting everywhere.

"Says who?" Taehyung responds, amused by Jeongguk's desperation—the fear he now sees in his eyes.

"I told you... You won't ever be able to escape me—"

"So? Who cares what you say? The world doesn't revolve around you, Jeon. I already warned you... Piss me off, and it's over. Cross the line, and it's over... I call the shots, not you— never you," Taehyung says, swatting Jeongguk's hands away from him, then pushing him hard against the wall, pressing on both his shoulders to keep him still, and Jeongguk’s just staring at him.

"Time's up..." Taehyung says, holding Jeongguk's gaze for a few more seconds. "It was fun while it lasted—bye now, Jeongguk," he said as he started walking away, hissing angrily when Jeongguk grabbed his arm and stopped him again.

"Whatever my excuse is... I think it's best that you don't know anything about it... But if it means I'll lose you, then I won't care anymore, I'll tell you everything you want to know-.."

"Your 10 seconds were up; I'm no longer interested in whatever you have to say." Taehyung cuts Jeongguk off, choosing not to be played again by the same person.

"Just until Friday... Give me at least until Friday... I'll fix it— everything that has been troubling you; everything that you loathe and that hurts you, I'll make them all disappear, Taehyung," Jeongguk says, releasing Taehyung's arm so he can softly caress his face and gaze tenderly into his eyes. "So for now... Please don't break just yet. All my cards have been set, I'm just waiting for the damn dice to be casted," Jeongguk adds, dropping his hand and letting Taehyung walk away, hearing nothing from him, but the quiet sound of his footsteps.

🃏🃏🃏

Betrayal

: the act of betraying someone.

: violation of a person's trust.

It sucks that even though Taehyung clearly feels betrayed by Jeongguk, his pride cannot bear the thought of ever admitting that he naively trusted a mere stranger.

But he did. 

Even if Taehyung would never acknowledge it, he knows in his heart that he trusted Jeongguk; he allowed him to get close enough to inflict this much pain on him as Jeongguk revealed his true colors.

It hurts so much that Taehyung feels as if his chest is about to burst; he's so upset he doesn't know what to do with himself anymore.

He wants—no, he's now aching to get even.

But what was the deal with Jeongguk's statement earlier?

'Give me at least until Friday... I'll fix it— everything that has been troubling you; everything that you loathe and that hurts you, I'll make them all disappear, Taehyung,' 

What exactly does he mean by that? He'll make them all disappear? Who? Minho and his pals? Their skewed instructors? Those thoughtless bystanders? If Jeongguk really wants to get rid of everything Taehyung hates, he might as well just blow up their entire school—maybe with the exception of Hobi and Jimin, whom Taehyung adores—but as for the rest? Taehyung doesn’t really give a fuck if they all burn to ashes.

"Fuck!" Taehyung growls, his wrath boiling up from his core; he grabs the trash bin he happened to come across on his way home, bashing it down hard on the ground, kicking it till it cracks, scattering rubbish all around. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" Taehyung screams, ignoring the few people around him, who are all horrified as they watch him have a meltdown.

"What the fuck are you all staring at?!" Taehyung seethes, snarling at the group of middle schoolers on the other side of the road, causing the poor guys to scramble out of his sight, since even if they haven't seen his state, everyone here knows better than to get close to an alpha in a fit of rage.

"Shit." Taehyung continues to swear, ruffling his hair in frustration as he walks once more.

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Possibility 

"Jun-yeol-ah... I think I'm about to do something reckless again," Jeongguk says, spinning on his swivel chair in his room beside Jun-yeol, their family butler who's also in charge of keeping him in check.

"I suppose that's not a good idea, sir. Your father is still here," Jun-yeol responds, his eyes fixed on the floor, unable to look at the young master of their household, quivering from the animosity he detects from Jeongguk's pheromones.

"When is he leaving?" Jeongguk asks, leaning his head back on the chair, staring at the ceiling as he continues to slowly spin.

"On Friday, I believe; the chairman has some business to attend overseas."

"For how long?" Jeongguk inquires once more.

"According to his schedule, the chairman is to stay in New York for a month, and then return here a week before the opening of Ennead's new building next month," Jun-yeol says, taking a silent deep breath before glancing up at Jeongguk, a chill running up his spine after seeing the kind of look on the young alpha that he's serving right now.

"Good... That's good." Jeongguk asserts, a menacing smirk curling up on his lips.

"Are you up to anything, sir?— If you don't mind my asking..." Jun-yeol asks.

"If my father isn't here... Who do you serve, Jun-yeol?" Jeongguk asks the older beta instead of answering him.

"You, sir," Jun-yeol responds promptly.

"So that means you'll clean up for me if I screw up, right?" Jeongguk asks again, his eyes now locked on Jun-yeol.

"Indeed, sir."

"Hah... Then that's all I need to know; you can leave now, I want to rest," Jeongguk says, moving from his chair then collapsing onto his king-sized bed.

"Very well, sir." Jun-yeol says, stepping out of Jeongguk's room, wearing a blank expression on his face.

***

Taehyung is now standing outside their house, noticing that the lights are on, meaning that his father is already home, most likely waiting for him to eat dinner; he then takes a deep breath, clasping his still damp shirt, unable to think of an excuse in case his father questions him about why he's all soaked.

Then again, who cares?

Everyone's blind to his pain anyway.

. 

. 

. 

"You're late again, the food's gone cold already," Taesoo remarks as Taehyung comes through the front door.

"Yeah... I'm sorry," Taehyung says, taking off his shoes and walking straight towards his room, his gaze set on the floor.

"Hey, what happened? Why do you look like that? Did it rain? Don't you have an umbrella?" Taesoo asks, standing up and snatching Taehyung's arm.

"Ah, yes... Sorry, I forgot to bring one," Taehyung answers, biting his bottom lip hard and then releasing it before meeting his father's gaze with an obviously forced smile on his face. "I'm sorry, dad. I ate a lot of snacks on my way home with my friends... I'm really tired, so I don't think I'll be able to join you for dinner tonight," Taehyung adds as his father reluctantly releases his arm.

"T-take a shower before going to bed so you don't catch a cold," Taesoo says, a somewhat pained expression on his face, but he still smiled back at Taehyung, patting the latter's back as if silently assuring him that it's okay.

"Don't worry, dad. I'm an alpha—alphas almost never get sick anyway," Taehyung says before he went ahead and shut himself inside his room.

. 

. 

. 

With his back pressed against the door, Taehyung then clasped his chest, falling on his knees and covering his mouth as he tried to steady his breathing. There's no one here, and he's now alone, so he's wondering why it still feels so suffocating. He feels defeated and helpless; his muscles are all tense, his legs feel weak, and he can't even breathe properly.

He then falls on all fours, his hand still on his mouth; he hasn't eaten anything since lunch, yet he feels as if everything inside him is about to come out.

Right now, Taehyung really wishes that he could cry, but for some reason, his tears just won't come out. There's just that tightness in his stomach, going up to his chest as he crawls towards the old full-body mirror he has beside his drawers, and from there, Taehyung stares at his face. 

His complexion looks pale, his lips are chapped, his hair frizzy, and the more he stares at himself, the more he realizes how miserable he really is.

It's no secret that their species' eye colors change from time to time. Betas and omegas do this as well, but their eyes can only shift to gold regardless of their emotional state.

Alphas, on the other hand, have two eye colors; studies show that it's in their genes to lead a pack; they have a more complex DNA, and the color of their eyes even served a range of functions in the olden days.

Their eyes flash golden at will, mainly when they want to show others that they're serious or that they like what they're seeing; it turns red when they're feeling too excited, enraged, or whenever they want to assert their dominance; the color red is also often used to warn others that alphas, if they are threatened, will undoubtedly—certainly—retaliate.

Both gold and red eyes are pretty common, and every alpha does it consciously, but there's another eye color that not all alphas have, for it only applies to dominant ones— and whenever it appears, the person confronting it should best run as fast as they can.

It is when the pupils of a dominant alpha dilate and turn completely black, resembling the abyss devouring everything; when this occurs, it means that the alpha is about to—or has already—lost control of their emotions, and that if provoked, they will also lose all control of their actions; it is that predatory—almost rabid kind of stare that can shake anyone to their core, their flight instinct will immediately go off, and Taehyung, with such eyes, just looked at his father.

'Disgusting,' Taehyung thinks to himself as he turns away from the mirror, covering his face, unable to continue seeing himself in such a deplorable state.

. 

. 

. 

"Taehyung-ah... Dad is here. Just give it some time, okay? Everything will be better soon... You will feel better soon," Taesoo muttered under his breath as he stood outside Taehyung's room, clutching the scarlet robe he'd gotten from Mrs. Ha, close to his chest, swearing to himself that he'll do everything he can to make Taehyung's dream of going Hanyang come true, and that by then, all his son's silent nightmares would have come to an end.

***

Another day at school, and Taehyung is here, sitting on his desk, thinking about how much he didn't want to leave his room. It's a normal day, same old story, same old routine; he comes to class and discovers another nasty word carved on his desk, chewed-up gum stuck to the side of his chair, all kinds of junk in his locker, and since Jimin and Hobi are busy with their student council activities, Taehyung did not bother to eat lunch, he's just here in their classroom, staring out the window, watching the other kids play soccer. 

"Ah, Taehyung-ssi," Mr. Shin, one of their instructors says, peering through the door with a stack of papers in his hand. "Are you done with your lunch?" he asks.

"Why?" Taehyung dryly responds.

"Well, if you are, then pass these on to Mr. Lee; I believe he’s at the gym. I'm really needed at the student council office right now, so I'm in a bit of a hurry. It's fine, right? I'll leave it here, okay?" he says, placing the papers on the desk and racing out before Taehyung could say anything.

"What's the point in asking me if I can't decline anyway?" Taehyung sighs as he stands up, taking the stack of papers on the teacher's desk on his way out.

***

. 

. 

. 

"Hahaha! I can't believe you got Jeon Jeongguk to try out for the soccer team again! Have you seen his face? Serves him right after the stunt he pulled on us last time!"

Taehyung was on his way back to their classroom when he heard Ahn Seung-hoon laughing with Minho and the rest of their group in the soccer team's locker room.

"Oh, it's all thanks to you, man! I've been itching to get back at that fucker for talking back to me in front of the whole class on his first day here... But look at him now, acting like one obedient dog just because of a single photo," Minho laughs as Taehyung silently listens outside the door.

"Pfft! Yeah, hilarious, right? I mean, I was shocked too! Who would've guessed that a Jeon would go after another alpha— Kim Taehyung of all people?! Ugh! I honestly feel sick everytime I remember what I saw them doing," Seung-hoon exclaims, looking disgusted.

"You mean this?" Hae-in asks, compelling Taehyung to peer through the door's glass panel, curious to see what kind of picture Minho and the others are talking about; and there—even though he couldn't see it clearly from where he's standing—he was still able to recognize the photo that's currently on Shin Hae-in's phone screen. 

It's him—and Jeongguk— kissing. 

"Imagine what would Jeon Jungho do once he gets to know that his son's getting pinned down by an alpha from the slums? I heard from my dad that the older Jeon's got quite a temper... Pfft— say, what if we upload this on sns? You think that will make Jeon Jeongguk cry? Hah! What if the great chairman Jeon actually ordered someone to go after Kim Taehyung? That'll be more fun, right?" Joo-hyuk says, cackling with his friends as they pass the phone around— and Taehyung sees red; he's about to barge in, his hand already hovering over the doorknob, when he feels someone touch his shoulder.

"Shh..." Jeongguk says, slightly shaking his head and holding his index finger to his lips.

"I'm going to kill them," Taehyung says quietly, his jaw clenched, his eyes blazing red at Jeongguk as the latter slowly takes his hand away from the door handle.

"You can't... Let me take care of this; I asked you to wait, right?" Jeongguk whispered back, nuzzling his face against the side of Taehyung's head.

But Taehyung's no longer listening. He cannot even put into words the exact feelings that are now boiling inside of him, recalling all he had done to Jeongguk yesterday and the bitter words he had thrown at him last night, whereas Jeongguk was actually protecting him the entire time. It's easy to think that Taehyung is grateful now, but he isn't. If anything, it made him feel more pathetic, ashamed, and angry at himself, not only because he's being played behind his back by the likes of Jang Minho and his gang, but also because he knew he was expecting Jeon Jeongguk—another elite alpha—to come to his aid, and just thinking about it makes him feel inferior, striking both his pride and his ego at the same time.

Why?

When exactly did he start expecting someone to come and rescue him?

How absurd.

"I need no saving." Taehyung firmly says, taking his phone out of his pocket, setting the camera on and then roughly handing it to Jeongguk before storming into the soccer team's locker room.

. 

. 

. 

"O-oh? Can we help you with anything, Taehyung-ssi?" Seung-hoon stutters, the others reflexively backing away from Minho as Taehyung approaches the other.

"Yes, actually... Minho-ah," Taehyung says, now standing in front of Jang Minho, his eyes shifting from blood red to pitch black, prompting Minho to be on guard.

"W-what are you doing here? What do you want?" Minho asks, his crimson eyes wide, still trying to act tough, despite the fact that they're all clearly shocked, only discovering now that Taehyung is actually a dominant alpha.

"Your father's vying for a seat in the national assembly, right?" Taehyung smirks, watching Minho back up as he gets closer to the latter.

"So, what is it to you—"

"Your mother is known to attend church quite religiously, your older sister is a celebrity, and your uncle is our school director... Wow— you really have quite a family," Taehyung says, talking a little slower and with a much deeper voice than usual.

"H-hah... Yeah, right? What about it?" Minho responds, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"It's clear that you're the type of guy who was born with just about everything... And yet, you still dare to take something from the likes of me? That's a bit bizarre, don't you think?" Taehyung continues, releasing much of his pheromones through the air as he grabs Minho by the collar and then places a hand on the dip of the latter's back, pulling him close even before Minho could react. "W-what are you doing?" Minho asks, crimson eyes now reflecting the utter fear that he's feeling. 

"I've always been curious as to why you hate me so much... Was it because I'm an alpha and poor? Was it because of that wench you liked who confessed to me once before you had her move schools? Hah... Maybe? But you know what, looking at you right now makes me think otherwise… You don't hate me because you hate me. You hate me either because you want to be like me—a dominant—or because you actually want me." Taehyung says, looking Minho straight in the eyes, sneering as he watches the latter waver under his gaze. "Wanna find out which one is it? I'll help," Taehyung adds, and before Minho knows it, Taehyung's lips are already on him, kissing him, shoving his tongue inside his mouth, going deep and rough— and Minho couldn't do anything to resist it. 

*Snap!*

The clicking sound of the phone's camera then woke everyone back from their trance as Taehyung left Minho falling on his knees, still dazed and stunned while covering his mouth.

"You were asking why I'm here?" Taehyung says, snatching his phone from Jeongguk and showing Minho the photo of them kissing that Jeongguk had just captured.

"Ah... Look at you blushing—" Taehyung scowls, glancing at the photo. "Imagine what everyone in your family will do once this gets out. You understand what I mean, right?—I'm taking my lost puppy back." Taehyung asserts, and before he can grab Jeongguk's hand, the latter has beaten him to it, dragging him out of the room, clutching his wrist so tightly that Taehyung feels it's about to snap into two.

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

Watercolor eyes

🃏

'It hurts,' Taehyung thinks as Jeongguk tightens his grip on his wrist even more; he can feel Jeongguk's nails piercing his skin, and it stings— it burns all the way down to his flesh and bones. Taehyung's eyes are fixed on the floor; he has no idea where they're going, but his head is all fogged, so he's just following Jeongguk wherever he goes.

Taehyung can hear the damn faceless bystanders' not-so-quiet gasps and whispers, and he can tell by the collection of their scents that they're all curious about what's going on, nevertheless Taehyung couldn't care less about any of them, when Jeongguk's scent alone is enough to drown out all of his other senses.

'He's mad... Why? Aren't I the one who should be more upset here?' Taehyung thinks as Jeongguk tugs on his wrist, forcing him to walk faster, until they reach the 'almost' always empty restroom here at the third level of their school building.

"Out," Taehyung hears Jeongguk say, startling the only person inside the restroom, a freshman washing his hands on the sink, leading the kid to flee, slamming the door shut behind him.

*click...*

Taehyung is pretty sure Jeongguk just locked the door; none of them are saying anything, and the longer this silence drags on, the more Taehyung's stomach churns.

"Why… Why? WHY?!!!" Jeongguk suddenly explodes, pushing Taehyung so hard that his back slams against the wall—it hurts—but Taehyung couldn't find the right words he could say to Jeongguk.

"I told you—I already told you that I have it under control! I told you to wait—for fucks sake, was it that hard to wait for another day?! Why? Why can't you just listen? WHY THE FUCK DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO WHAT I'VE SAID?" Jeongguk snarls, his eyes are all black and his face is flushed as he grabs a fistful of Taehyung's hair and drags him to the sink, pushing him down, letting the water run as he vehemently washes Taehyung's mouth.

It's rough— and Jeongguk isn't even as remotely gentle with him as he is usually; he kept on rubbing his palm hard on his lips that Taehyung started tasting his own blood coming from his teeth; still—Taehyung couldn't get himself to stop Jeongguk from what he'a doing, because the truth is, this is exactly what he wants to do to himself at the moment.

Taehyung feels so disgusting right now that if he could wash his mouth with bleach he would probably do it in a heartbeat. The friction from Jeongguk's hand is beginning to scrape the first layer of skin on Taehyung's lips, causing it to bleed, his blood dripping and fading with the water as it runs down the drain, but it does nothing to help Taehyung feel clean again.

"FUCK! FUCK—TAEHYUNG! FUCK!" Jeongguk screams, pushing Taehyung's face further down the sink, thoughtlessly splashing more water onto his face, to the point where some of it got up to his nostrils, making him cough and his shirt to get wet; and maybe the pain from it got into Taehyung, dragging him back from whatever headspace he's in.

Jeongguk's grasp on his hair remains firm, while his other hand is still over Taehyung's mouth; he's seething mad and he's making sure that Taehyung is aware of it. 

"*Cough!* F-fuck off!" Taehyung finally resisted, throwing his arm back and catching Jeongguk by the wrist, pulling the latter's hand away from him, and once he was released he pushed Jeongguk so hard the latter almost stumbled if it hadn't been for his quick reflexes. 

Taehyung continued to cough, huffing out of breath with his palms resting on his knees, and before he knew it, Jeongguk was on him again, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him until his back crashed against the cold tiled walls of the restroom they're in.

"You... You're not supposed to do that, Taehyung... Not with me watching, and not ever..." Jeongguk grits his teeth as he speaks; the pupils of his eyes have gone completely black as he presses Taehyung on the wall even harder. 

"H-hah... Did you hit your head or something? Don't fuck with me Jeongguk— you were the one who wasn't supposed to do what you did! You straight up ignored me after making me feel like you'll always be there for me, and then you laughed while I was being humiliated in front of everybody—"

"YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY I DID IT! YOU JUST HEARD IT STRAIGHT OUT OF THAT FUCKER'S MOUTH— AND YET YOU HAD THAT SAME MOUTH ON YOURS IN FRONT OF ME! I TOLD YOU—" Jeongguk pauses, breathing heavily, "I told you, you're mine— you're fucking mine!" Jeongguk let out another loud growl, and by the sound of it, if anyone other than another dominant alpha heard him, they would probably wet their pants on the spot— but Taehyung wasn't shaken at all, in fact, it fueled his rage even more. 

"I am not a fucking toy that can be owned." Taehyung says while looking Jeongguk straight in the eyes, "There are a ton of ways to not hurt a person—and you chose to go for the most stupid—most hurtful option. You made me feel like fucking trash, siding with Jang Minho right after I've shown the slightest indication that you've earned my trust... So how dare you get mad at me now?!" Taehyung responds, now holding Jeongguk by the wrist, trying to remove the latter's grip on him, but Jeongguk persists, refusing to let Taehyung leave. 

"Why? Why am I getting this kind of treatment right now? They were the ones who fucked us up! We were doing just fine—" 

"Then explain why you didn't tell me about the photo. Why didn't you tell me you were being harassed by Jang Minho because of me? You could have done a lot in two days, but you can't even return a single phone call from me? Do you even have any idea of how I felt when you ignored me? Of course you don't— elite alphas like you are the same after all," Taehyung says, finally successfully removing Jeongguk's grip from his shirt, pushing the latter back, heading towards the door, only for Jeongguk to grab the back of his hair, pulling him closer again. 

"Yeah right... I should've told you everything— and then what, get the gears inside your pretty head working overtime? What would've you done if I told you what's going on? Ahh... I know," Jeongguk lets out a bitter chuckle. "You're going to blame yourself, you're going to distance yourself from me, and you're going to regret ever kissing me... That's what you could have done, since that's what you are… You're the type who will use whatever excuse you can come up with of to get rid of the one good thing you have, because your fucked-up head thinks you don't deserve it... You'd drop me like a hot stone while convincing yourself that it was for the better—all while pretending to be a fucking good person." Jeongguk continues, tugging Taehyung's hair back again with such force that the latter nearly fell as they locked gazes with each other. "It would've been better if you killed him in front of me... I guess that wouldn’t make me feel this shitty." Jeongguk adds, watching as Taehyung's expression slowly softens, his eyes turning from pitch black to blood red again. 

"Then, what could've you done? I just solved the problem... Did you think you could've done a better job—" 

"Oh yes... If you had just waited until tomorrow, I could've gotten the files exposing at least one of the Jang's dirty businesses, I could've exposed his sister's messy dating history, could've revealed to the world that his mother goes to church while being a stuck up junkie... All I needed was a day more... Just one fucking day more and I could've done it all without having to risk my own safe—" Jeongguk pauses for some reason, his hand covering his own face as he turns away from Taehyung, retreating until his back hit the wall. "I hate it... I fucking hate seeing you kissing someone else like that, when all you've given was a mere peck on the lips, like I'm just some snotty little kid—" 

<you can play this as you read.>

Don't blame me

"So... That's what this is all about? You're throwing a big tantrum because you think I gave Jang Minho a better kiss?" Taehyung scoffs, approaching Jeongguk again, seizing his wrist and pulling his hand away from his face, leading Jeongguk to look at him. 

"Then give it back... The kiss I gave you— give it back... And while you're at it, try to do a damn better job." Taehyung quietly says as he wraps his hand on Jeongguk's neck, tightening it not exactly enough to cause him pain, but just enough to let Jeongguk feel that he's here. 

He's here— in front of him, and he's once again caving in. 

"Fuck..." Jeongguk grunts, removing Taehyung's hold on his neck as he shifts their position, pushing Taehyung's back against the wall, smashing their lips together, both of them groaning as they finally—once again—taste each other. 

They kiss in a way that's nothing short of unforgiving; biting and tugging on each other's lips, tasting both their blood as their tongues dive deep, wrapping around the other, ignoring all the spit dripping down to their chins, their teeth keeps on clashing, both of them moaning— and with Jeongguk kissing him like this, Taehyung finally felt like he's starting to get cleaned. 

"S-shit... Nngh... Fucking hell..." Jeongguk swears as he breaks the kiss, lowering his head over Taehyung's shoulder, gripping the latter's sides tightly and breathing heavily against the crook of Taehyung's neck. "W-we should stop... I guess I'm fine now-" 

"Shut up, you fucking hypocrite," Taehyung rasps as he tugs Jeongguk's hair back, kissing him again, this time taking the lead, ignoring the dull ache he's feeling from how tightly Jeongguk is now holding his waist, pulling him closer, slotting his knee between his legs, and before Taehyung could even realize what exactly is Jeongguk doing, he felt the latter rutting his crotch on his thigh, moaning and grunting against his lips, breathing in a way that it appears he may collapse any minute. 

"You have no idea... You have no fucking idea what you're doing to me right now, Taehyung... Nngh... Fuck... Fuck..." Jeongguk moans between kisses as his palms slip down from Taehyung's sides to his behind, firmly squeezing Taehyung's ass, causing Taehyung to let out an audible gasp.

"W-what the hell are you doing?" Taehyung asks in heavy takes of breath, tilting his head back as Jeongguk's mouth travels down to his neck.

"P-please... I tried... I really tried— but it's becoming too much for me now..." Jeongguk pleads, pressing his hard-on further onto Taehyung's thigh, sweat trickling down his neck, soaking his shirt as he squeezes Taehyung's behind once more. "J-just... Just stay still... Please... Ahh..." Jeongguk sighs as Taehyung pulls his hair again, "If you're not going to stop, then at least distract me with something else so I can't think about how disgusting this makes me feel about myself." Taehyung whispers before he presses their lips together again.

"Taehyung... Nngh... Taehyung..." Jeongguk continues to moan Taehyung's name every time he pulls back a bit to take in some air; and with Jeongguk’s lips and his hands on him, Taehyung found himself unable to think of anything else. 

Gone were the bitter and nasty aftertaste that Minho left inside his mouth, as was that disgusting feeling of kissing someone he loathes to death— right now, Taehyung's thoughts are all occupied by Jeongguk and the way he's kissing and touching him like his life depends on it.

'Yes... Yes... Show me more—give me more, you greedy little thing... Drown me more in your brutal kisses that keep on making me lose my sanity.' Taehyung thinks as he returns Jeongguk's kisses with the same intensity, his nails digging into the latter's back, making him feel that sweet sting going past the thin fabric of his shirt, and Taehyung wishes that it hurts— that it'll leave a scar so deep Jeongguk will continue to remember this even long after it's over.

Taehyung continues to scratch Jeongguk's back as they kiss, and Jeongguk responds by roughly kneading his ass, spreading both cheeks apart over his trousers, rolling his hips up and down onto Taehyung's thigh, and pressing his hip between Taehyung's leg, sighing all satisfied when he felt that Taehyung's hot and hard as well. 

Although Taehyung has never been with anyone before, he still isn't clueless to what they're doing; he can feel it— the warmth and the thickness of the pheromones they're both releasing, he's long lost the feeling on lips, and as they grind more onto each other, the more Taehyung's knees grow weak. 

What exactly is he thinking, letting Jeongguk do him like this? 

Ah... Even now, Taehyung can't seem to answer the questions that keep popping into his head; it's as if, when it comes to Jeongguk, he has no other option but to lose his senses altogether. 

"God, Taehyung... P-please..." Jeongguk murmured as he began to move his hips more erratically, slapping both his palms hard over Taehyung's ass, their bodies flushed tightly together. 

"Y-yeah? What do you want?" Taehyung asks, exhaling deeply, now playing with Jeongguk's hair, twisting his raven locks around his fingers, teasing the latter more, enjoying the desperate look he's seeing on Jeongguk's face: his pupils are still pitch black, his cheeks are flushed up to his ears and down to his neck, he's sweating so much that his hair is all damp, his lips are swollen and red— and Taehyung never really expected that it would feel this good to see someone make a mess of themselves, especially if that someone is an elite alpha like Jeon Jeongguk.

'Mhm... That's right... I made him like this.' Taehyung smirks against Jeongguk's lips as the latter pants desperately because of him. 

"I—" 

"You're a liar, you know? You said you don't want me like this... You said you never intended to make me your whore, and yet here you are, rubbing that filthy thing on me like a damn animal in heat," Taehyung says, glancing at Jeongguk's parted lips. "If you're going to beg me this much, you should at least be honest about what you really want," he adds, naughtily flicking his tongue over Jeongguk's lips, sneering as he felt Jeongguk gripping his ass cheeks with such strength that he'll definitely suffer later when he sits. 

"T-there's not a single thing about you that I do not like... Every little thing you do makes me lose my mind. I want you—all of you... I want you to be mine... Just—just mine... So please... Please give me another chance... I won't mess up this time." Jeongguk says as he straightens up, pressing his hard-on directly onto Taehyung's crotch, making them both feel each other's heat through the damn fabrics of their pants. 

"You fucking greedy bastard..." Taehyung chuckles, leaning his head back, unable to contain his laughter when Jeongguk began lapping onto his chin and neck, while rubbing himself on him, moving faster— rougher... 

"Aahhh.... S-shit... Nnghh..." Jeongguk's voice then cracks, his eyes rolling back, trembling as he comes undone, while Taehyung stares him down, watching the color of his eyes gradually transition from black, red, gold, and back to their normal shade of dusky brown. 

"Mhm... Feeling better now?" Taehyung asks, catching Jeongguk as the latter collapses in his arms. 

"Y-yeah... I guess," Jeongguk says, taking Taehyung with him as his knees give out, leading them both to fall on their behind on the dirty floorboards of the restroom. 

"You back?" Taehyung asks, closing his eyes, leaning his back against the wall, while Jeongguk's sitting in between his parted legs, forehead resting over his shoulder. "With me, I mean..." Taehyung adds, feeling Jeongguk chuckle against his skin. 

"As if I really left... But yes— thanks for taking this lost puppy back..." Jeongguk whispers, placing a soft peck on Taehyung's neck, catching Taehyung off guard yet again, his lips instinctively curling up to a smile, wondering how another person's warmth can make him feel this satisfied.

"By the way... Do you have any extra pants? I might've messed up mine," Jeongguk asks as he pulls back, looking at Taehyung with his usual bright doe eyes and bunny smiles. 

'Yeah right... I know—this isn't a love story—but still...' Taehyung muses, breaking into a laugh as he lightly nudges Jeongguk, who is just staring at him curiously.

🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

Dark paradise

🃏🃏🃏

"Thank goodness it finally stopped bleeding," Jeongguk coos as he carefully dabs his damp handkerchief over the small cut he made on Taehyung's lips, while Taehyung remains still, staring at him.

Lunch break is almost over, but they're still inside the restroom, opening the small window to air out the space before they step out, because if not, the blended scent of their pheromones will most certainly expose what they did while they're cooped up in here.

"Tch, that's enough. I told you I'm fine," Taehyung says, slapping Jeongguk's hand away from his face, leading the latter to sigh and place his hands on Taehyung's waist while resting his forehead on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to control myself." Jeongguk laments, wrapping his arms around Taehyung this time, only for Taehyung to immediately step back.

"Let me make this clear," Taehyung states, his eyes turning red as he glares strongly at Jeongguk in front of him. "The only reason I didn't break your nose earlier was because I literally wanted to rip my mouth off my face—but try doing that again—just try treating me violently like that again, and I'll crack your skull open," Taehyung warns as he teasingly brushes his fingers through Jeongguk's hair.

"Alright... I promise, I won't do it again... But just so you know, I don't really mind you—"

"I don't care if it works for you or not; if you're not scared of having your head split open, then I'll take whatever you want most—whatever it is—and I'll destroy it while you watch," Taehyung states again, lifting a brow when Jeongguk's brown eyes turn red.

"You can't do that... You're the only one I want." Jeongguk says, tenderly cupping Taehyung's face.

"Then that makes it easier for me," Taehyung responds, wrapping his arm around Jeongguk's waist and pulling him towards him as he leaned his face closer to his ear. "I have an extra pair of pants in my locker, go change," Taehyung whispers, his lips brushing against Jeongguk's ear as he speaks.

"F-fuck... Can we just skip class?" Jeongguk groans, the 'thing' between his legs reacting immediately to Taehyung's deep and sultry voice.

"You wish; now go," Taehyung says, stepping back from Jeongguk. "I'll just stay here until the bell rings... It'll be more suspicious if we both leave at the same time," he adds, lightly pushing the other alpha towards the door.

"Tsk, who cares—"

"I do. Now, need I repeat myself?" Taehyung asks, rolling his eyes when Jeongguk stubbornly stomps his feet, pouting all pissed as he unlocks the door.

"The thing we did just now... There'll be a next time right?" Jeongguk asks, his hand already hovering over the door handle.

"Dream on..." Taehyung pauses when he realizes how Jeongguk's face immediately drops after hearing his response. "Then again, they say that all good boys get a reward— so who knows, if you behave well, maybe you'll get one..." Taehyung says, rubbing his tongue against his cheek and suppressing a smile as he sees Jeongguk's face instantly light up.

"Fine, I guess that works for me," Jeongguk says, grinning excitedly and winking at Taehyung as he walks away.

.

.

.

*Sigh* 

Taehyung went ahead and locked the restroom's door again the moment he was left alone, rushing inside one of the vacant cubicles, scrambling to unbuckle his belt, then letting his pants fall on the floor. 

"Fuck..." Taehyung muttered under his breath, his back pressed against the wall as he stretched the waistband of his boxers, staring at the damn mess he made between his legs. 

That's right, apparently Jeongguk wasn't the only one who messed up badly; Taehyung, despite his best efforts to play it cool, also lost himself today because of Jeongguk.

"Oh god... This is so fucked up." Taehyung sighs, leaning his head back, staring at the ceiling as he runs his fingers through his hair. 

<Flashback: a few minutes ago>

'No, seriously... Why didn't you at least text me back? You have your phone with you right?' Taehyung asks, still sitting on the restroom floor beside Jeongguk who's resting his head on his shoulder.

'If I did... Then I wouldn't be able to hold back. If I answered your calls, your messages— if I got the slightest sense that you miss me or that you're upset because we aren't talking, then I would've ran to you in a heartbeat. I'd be standing in front of your house, telling you everything, begging you on my knees to take me back... After that, who knows what you could have done...' Jeongguk says, looking down, watching his own pinky finger reaching for Taehyung's hand. 'Well, it doesn't matter, you've already done the last thing I wanted you to do, so I guess there's no use for me to complain now.' Jeongguk adds, his eyes shifting to Taehyung's face, falling onto the latter's lips and back up again as Taehyung meets his gaze. 

'Pfft, why? Were you really jealous?' Taehyung snorts an awkward laugh as he glances away from Jeongguk, only for Jeongguk to gently hold him by the chin, tilting his face back to his. 

'Yeah... I've never felt anything like this before... So I'm really at a loss for words— felt like I could kill someone,' Jeongguk confesses, but Taehyung merely chuckles.

'Hah... What? Turns out, you're just a spoiled brat who throws a fit when things don't go your way... So—who were you going to kill? Me?'Taehyung asks, tauntingly raising his brow at Jeongguk. 

'No, never you.' Jeongguk promptly replies. 'You're not allowed to die, Taehyung... You have to stay alive and be with me for a very—very long time.'

<End of flashback>

. 

. 

. 

"Next time, huh?" Taehyung says to himself as he slides his back against the wall, sitting on the floor, still inside the cramped cubicle. 

As the silence continued to ring in his ears, Taehyung found himself thinking about Jeongguk and the things they just did.

No, that wasn't just a kiss. 

Jeongguk's face then appears in Taehyung's head: the beads of sweat on his flushed fair skin, his pink parted lips, his pitch black eyes, and that tiny beauty mark on his chin.

Sure, they didn't do much; they didn't even remove at least one of their clothes; they just kissed and rubbed their bodies together till they both spilled—really, that's all there is to it—so why can't Taehyung get away from the idea that he liked it? 

Yes, he probably did. 

He liked how desperate Jeongguk looked under his gaze; he liked how he kissed him with such passion that he was close to passing out; he liked how Jeongguk's voice cracked and broke as he chanted his name like a cursed prayer, and when Jeongguk stared at him as he came undone, his eyes shifting from color to color, Taehyung felt like he'd found his new addiction. 

"Well... He's pretty, alright... If next time really comes and if he begs me enough... I guess I wouldn't mind, fucking him once." Taehyung muttered, leaning his head back, covering his face, blushing all ashamed after hearing what he, himself, just said. 

***

"That fucking trash... Ugh! FUCK!" Minho snarls, scrubbing his still-flushed face in the soccer team's shower room. 

"Pfft... So— how was it? Kissing Kim Taehyung, I mean... HAHAHAHA!" Ahn Seung-hoon laughs, while the other two alongside him do the same. 

"Seung-hoon-ah... Do you want to die?" Minho warns, throwing a burning red glare to his friends. 

"Oi, relax, Min, we're just kidding—" 

<you can play this as you read.>

Mount everest 

"Was it funny to you? Well, it wasn't for me... I'm going to fucking kill that bastard if it's the last thing I'd do." Minho seethes, throwing his used towel at Seung-hoon—and that's when they all turned towards the door, noticing the other alpha who had apparently been listening in on their conversation since around two minutes ago.

"Pfft... Oi, don't tell me you still don't get it?" Jeongguk says as he walks past Hae-in, Seung-hoon, and Joo-hyuk on his way to Minho. "Then let me spell it out for you... Listen carefully, okay?" Jeongguk adds as he takes a small pocket knife from his back, waving it around as if it were nothing, before grabbing Minho by the nape and pushing the knife's sharp edge on the latter's neck.

"H-hey Jeon... Aren't you taking this a bit too far? L-let's not do this, alright? We-.."

"Hahahahaha!" —Hae-in's poor defense was suddenly broken by Jeongguk's laughter, sending shivers up their spines, reflexively backing away from Jeongguk and Minho, watching the latter's face turn pale, sweat streaming down his forehead, incapable of moving with a knife next to his neck.

"Nah... You three should listen to me as well... The last thing you want to do is lay another hand on Kim Taehyung, d'you hear me? Touch him again, and you're dead," Jeongguk pauses, dragging the knife gently across Minho's neck, drawing blood and breaking the first layer of his skin. "Talk to him again and you're dead... Don't even try to look at him, because if I catch you—yeah, that's right— you're dead." Jeongguk sneers, feeling Minho quivering in fear. 

"W-why? Why him? You two just met right? Why are you going this far for a guy like that? I know you... I know the kind of family you have... D-do you really believe they will ever accept someone like Kim Taehyung? Bet once your dad hears about him, he's gonna die first before you can even get to me..." Minho mutters, forcing a laugh, trying to keep whatever's left of his pride.

"My, my... You're so clueless—" Jeongguk chuckles, leaning his face closer to Minho's ear. 'Why him, you ask? *****' Jeongguk whispers, which made Minho's eyes shoot wide, before he burst into a laugh. 

 "P-pfft... Oi, oi... D'you even know what that means? Hahahaha! Fucking hell, I don't even have to do anything! You two are already fucked up!" Minho cackles, ignoring the rough way Jeongguk is grabbing his neck. "Still, since you and I belong in the same circle, let me warn you, Jeonggukkie—Kim Taehyung, that guy— he's a walking bad luck, which means if you don't run now, you're doomed, Jeon...You're fucking doomed!" Minho continues, choking on his own laugh and shutting his eyes tight when Jeongguk abruptly grabs the back of his hair, pulls his head back, and presses the knife harder into his flesh, drawing more blood from his neck. 

"That will be up to me to decide... For now, you better watch your back... I'm not done with you yet, Jang." Jeongguk says, a rather menacing laugh escaping his lips as he pulls back from Minho, folding his knife and keeping it back in his pocket before he heads out the door as if nothing happened. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Restless

. 

. 

. 

Minho did not return to class after what happened during lunch break; according to Mr. Ha, Minho said he wasn't feeling well and asked to be sent home, whereas Seung-hoon, Hae-in, and Joo-hyuk all returned to their seats quietly, acting as if they were invisible. 

"You look calmer now— are you that happy? Did you really miss me?" Jeongguk whispers, biting on the tip of his pen, closing his eyes while his cheek's resting flat on the desk, now back in his seat beside Taehyung. 

"Shut up, we're still in class." Taehyung replies, subtly throwing Jeongguk a side eye. 

"Just admit it... It's not like you're going to die if you—" Jeongguk wasn't able to finish what he was about to say when Taehyung casually lowered his head down the desk, his face just a few inches away from him. 

'Now he's back to his usual self... No—is this even the real him? But he looks so innocent like this... Seriously— which one is it?' Taehyung thinks, unaware that he's already forgotten about everything around them, he stopped hearing Mr. Ha's lecture upfront, his surroundings completely fading to black and white, and the only colors he's seeing are in Jeongguk's face, his fair skin, dusky brown eyes and flushed cheeks. 'He's like a puppy–no, a bunny? Maybe both... How can an alpha be this pretty?' Taehyung muses, his gaze transfixed on Jeongguk's face. 

"Tae?" Jeongguk says, but Taehyung couldn't move, he couldn't even speak, it's as if Jeongguk has put a spell on him. 

'He said he's mine... Can this alpha really be mine?' Taehyung thinks, his eyes refusing to look away from Jeongguk. 

"Ahh... I'm glad— you seem to at least like my face..." Jeongguk smirks, causing Taehyung to finally blink but still unable to lift his face from the desk. "But for your sake, I suggest you quit staring at me with those eyes... It's making it harder for me to stop myself," Jeongguk says as he sits up and opens one of his books, hiding Taehyung's and his face behind pages 12 and 13.

"One..." Jeongguk mouths, as if he's waiting for Taehyung to get up— but he doesn't— he's still sitting there, staring back at him. 

"Two..."

'Why is this fucker suddenly counting?' Taehyung thinks, his gaze instinctively flicking from Jeongguk's eyes to his lips. 

"Three," Jeongguk hisses before swiftly leaning down, grabbing Taehyung's cheeks with his free hand, and kissing him on the lips as if they're the only ones here, prompting Taehyung's eyes to widen; sitting up straight when Jeongguk pulled back and released him. 

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!?" Taehyung exclaims, jumping from his seat and startling the whole class. 

"Taehyung-ssi? Is there a problem? Do you have anything you want to share with our class?" Mr. Ha asks, visibly irritated at being interrupted mid-lecture. 

"N-no... Nothing—sorry." Taehyung replies, sinking back into his seat, his face beet red, thinking it would be better if he were swallowed by the ground than have everyone stare at him like he's a complete nutjob. 

"*Sigh* So I was saying—" Mr. Ha then continued reading what was projected on the board while Taehyung hurled daggers at Jeongguk with his eyes. 

"Pfft... You're so adorable," Jeongguk whispers as he tries to pinch Taehyung's cheek, but Taehyung just slaps his hand away from him. 

"What the hell were you thinking? We're in class—" Jeongguk cuts off Taehyung by pressing his index finger over the latter's lips. 

"Don't worry... Nobody saw, " Jeongguk says, glancing at the guys behind their seats who clearly saw what he just did. "Right?" Jeongguk says again, his eyes flashing red at the beta and the omega behind them, causing Taehyung to do the same. 

"I-I didn't—we didn't see anything... Right?" one of the guys says, aggressively nudging his seatmate's side, causing the other to eagerly nod his head; unable to even meet both of the alphas sharp gazes. 

"You're crazy." Taehyung quietly tells Jeongguk as he sits upright again. 

"Yeah, yeah... We both know that already." Jeongguk chuckles, playfully licking his lips, pressing his tongue onto his cheek, glancing at Taehyung before turning his attention back to the board.

***

. 

. 

. 

"You don't have to work today, right?" Jeongguk asks as he and Taehyung walk through the hallways after class. 

"No thanks, I can walk home by myself," Taehyung responds, looking ahead and walking faster towards the exit of the building. 

"Are you still upset about what I did?" Jeongguk asks, leaning forward and grinning cheekily at Taehyung. 

"Which one? Because if I remember it correctly, I have more than a handful of reasons to be mad at you, Jeon." Taehyung says, rolling his eyes at Jeongguk, both of them halting in front of the building since it's raining. 

"If it's about what happened in the restroom or when I kissed you during lecture— I'm not sorry about it." Jeongguk says, his hands now tucked inside his pants' pockets, watching the rain pour down the ground as Taehyung does the same. 

"And how about when you abandoned me—" 

"That's called a 'plan', not abandonment... Still, if you're mad about that, then fine, I'm sorry." Jeongguk interjects before Taehyung could even finish what he was about to say. 

"You're really shameless aren't you? Is that how you say sorry?" Taehyung scoffs, "How odd, I didn't even hear an ounce of sincerity from your mouth."

"Really? I actually find it fitting..." Jeongguk remarks as Taehyung turns to face him. "Be honest, you actually stopped being mad at me the moment you kissed me during lunch break, am I right?" Jeongguk asks. 

"So? Does that mean you no longer owe me an apology?" Taehyung asks, his brow furrowed at Jeongguk. 

"I don't know, you tell me... Do you want me to try harder?" 

"You know what—forget it... Why aren't you leaving by the way? I'm not gonna let you walk me home, so don't sweat it," Taehyung replies, knowing full well that the debate would just fizzle due to Jeongguk's obstinacy. 

"Aside from the fact that I still want to try my luck, I don't always carry an umbrella with me, so I'm waiting for the rain to stop," Jeongguk says, putting his hand out and past the roofed area of the entrance, catching raindrops in his palms. 

From there, Taehyung found himself staring at Jeongguk again; the blank expression on his face, that deep—almost sad-like eyes he has as he watches the rain, Jeon Jeongguk is like a box filled with mystery to Taehyung, and the more he looks at him now, the more he feels the urge to just walk up to him and unravel everything. 

However—Jeon Jeongguk is still the man who left him hanging. 

Sure, he had a good reason, he had an excuse, but Taehyung couldn't help but still feel salty about it. 

Next thing Taehyung knew, he already had his hand over his chest, feeling his own heart, beating in a rather funny way again. 

 'What is this guy doing to me, really?' He thinks as Jeongguk turns to face him. 

"You're probably not interested in hearing this, but I've actually apologized for almost everything my entire life... I've said sorry more times than I can count for reasons I'm not even sure if I'm really at fault and I've never been forgiven for any of those; so things like a proper apology or one with sincerity are something that I have no idea how to give... But if you're still mad at me and want me to apologize more, I can do that... It's not really that hard for me." Jeongguk says, spilling the raindrops he had collected in his palm. 

"Why are you telling me this stuff all of a sudden?" Taehyung asks, perplexed as to why Jeongguk is suddenly revealing more details about himself.

"I-I'm not really sure why," Jeongguk responds, appearing as though he, too, felt shocked that he spoke such words to Taehyung.

"Just say sorry if you want or don't if you don't. Forgiveness isn't something you should expect— you earn that shit, and it won't always be guaranteed just because we kissed and you said sorry," Taehyung states as he pulls an umbrella from his backpack and hands it to Jeongguk.

"Next time you fuck up, try not to make your apology sound so cheap, maybe you'll hear a better response from me." Taehyung adds, 

"Got it... But here's a tip: the next time you get angry, try to make your rage be worth something and your kisses even more expensive, so only I can afford it… You might get me to behave better that way." Jeongguk answers cheekily, grabbing the umbrella and pulling Taehyung closer to him. "Also, I don't need an umbrella for such a small amount of rain." Jeongguk smirks. 

"Oh really? I think you do. Just take it... See you tomorrow, Jeongguk," Taehyung says, letting go of the umbrella and walking away, refusing to spend another minute with Jeongguk, which could lead to him doing something he might regret later again.

"Ahh... Look at him go," Jeongguk chuckles, scratching the back of his neck, staring at Taehyung's back as he clutches the umbrella the latter left him with. 

***

. 

. 

. 

Standing outside their house's front door, Jeongguk takes a deep breath before going in, folding the umbrella Taehyung lent him; immediately spotting his father, who is about to leave, and another man, whom Jeongguk thought had already disappeared.

"You're leaving already, chairman? I thought your flight wasn't until tomorrow?" Jeongguk inquires, dismissing the other person as he bows formally to his father. 

"When is your mother coming back, Sehun-ah?" Jeon Jungho asks the other man, ignoring Jeongguk. 

"Oh, I'm not sure yet, chairman... It seems that she's still having fun shopping in Paris. Do you want me to call her—" 

"No need, I'm leaving," Jeon Jungho says, allowing Sehun to help him put on his coat and lead him to the front door, where Jeongguk is still standing with his head hanging low. 

"I'll be gone for a month. You better lay low... Don't even dare cause trouble while I'm not around." Jungho says as he walks by Jeongguk, slamming the door shut, leaving Jeongguk with possibly the last person the latter wants to live with right now. 

"Hello hyung... It's been awhile, hasn't it? Did you miss your pretty brother?" Sehun says, smiling innocently at Jeongguk, who simply bypasses him, standing up straight and leaving his shoes and umbrella in the doorway. 

"Hyung, wait! I—" 

"Don't fucking talk to me like we're close; you disgust me," Jeongguk says as he walks towards his room without even looking at Sehun. 

"*Sigh*Is that how you greet your brother who's been gone for almost half a year?Tch, you never change hyung... And that makes me like you even more," Sehun muttered under his breath, waiting for Jeongguk to go up the stairs before picking up the cheap-looking umbrella with someone's name written on the handle.

"Kim Taehyung, huh... Is this the one who's been keeping you busy lately? How interesting..." Sehun smirked as he dropped the umbrella into the nearby trash bin.

🃏🃏🃏

*knock! knock!*

"Hyung! Come on out! Dinner's ready!—Hyung? Jeonggukkie hyung, are you sleeping already?" 

Jeongguk sighs as he lies on the bed, holding his phone up to his face, waiting for Taehyung to respond to his messages, but he hasn't gotten anything yet. 

Well, he is somewhat expecting this to happen, given that Taehyung seems to be someone who holds a grudge; that's why Jeongguk knew that even though they appeared to already be on good terms earlier, Taehyung would not simply forget that he messed up, and he would most likely make him work extremely hard to earn back his trust. 

And that's not the only problem Jeongguk has right now. 

"Hyung! You're really not going to join me for dinner? Why? Hyung! Jeonggukkie hyung...."

Hwang Sehun; the omega son of the woman Jeongguk's father married just a few months after he and Jeongguk's biological mother got divorced three years ago. 

For some reason, ever since Sehun and his mother entered their household, the male omega has done nothing but anger Jeongguk, using his omega pheromones and charm in order to win his father's favor, acting all delicate and naive— but Jeongguk knows better.

Whether it is for money or some other reasons, Jeongguk knows that Sehun and his mother will always be up to no good. 

"Just shut up already, you fucking bitch," Jeongguk snapped under his breath, getting up and heading to the shower room he had in his bedroom, refusing to hear any more of Sehun, who kept hammering on his door. 

<you can play this as you read.>

Slow dive

. 

. 

. 

Standing under the steam shower, Jeongguk found himself thinking about Taehyung once more. A lot has happened in the last few days, but what he and Taehyung did in the restroom during lunch break was the best he had thus far. 

Sure, he was mad—really, really mad—after Taehyung kissed another man while he stood there watching. He was so blinded with rage he actually blacked out for a moment—which is odd, because Jeongguk really hasn't felt anything like it before. 

What was even more odd was Taehyung's ability to soothe him down; he kissed him and made everything else including his boiling anger disappear into the background. 

Yes. He kissed him. 

Tongue, teeth and spit, Taehyung kissed him like he wanted him— and that alone is enough to push Jeongguk to his limits. 

Taehyung didn't even touch him. 

He didn't touch him and yet Jeongguk still got so high that he even embarrassingly messed up his pants. 

Taehyung's scent alone was enough to put Jeongguk in a daze, drawing him into what felt like a psychedelic whirlpool, filling his senses with his warm scent of musk, and a heady concoction of iris and violets, wood and fire, luring Jeongguk to just walk straight into the flames, not caring if he burned down to ashes. 

"Fucking hell... Seriously? Again?" Jeongguk smirks to himself, his palms flat on the marble walls of his bathroom as the warm water from the shower continues to cascade over his head, down to his other 'head,' which is now standing tall and proud between his legs. 

"Just once... Alright... Just once," Jeongguk sighs, wrapping his hand around his cock, stroking himself as he turns his face down, pushing his nose over his bicep, seeking to inhale whatever is left of Taehyung's scent on his skin. 

'Hmm... Would that be enough? I don’t think so...' 

Jeongguk knows that the voice he's hearing from Taehyung now only exists in his head, but that knowledge does not really do anything to help him stop himself. 

Jeongguk then opened his eyes, turning to his side, and saw an image of Taehyung floating towards him, the latter's delicate fingertips tracing his shoulders, going down to his arms, and then disappearing only to reappear right in front of him, seducing Jeongguk even more with that sinfully beautiful face of his. 

"Nngh... Fuck..." Jeongguk moans, smacking his free hand against the wall, picturing Taehyung completely naked in his head, raven hair dripping wet, lightly tanned skin glistening like hot honey in the shower, red lips resembling that of a rose blossoming in winter: his long lashes, his perfect nose, his sharp eyes turning crimson, Kim Taehyung is really one hell of a beautiful person, it's unbelievable— he doesn't appear real or human at all, as though he's a deity who got lost and plummeted to bless the Earth. 

"I-I want you... God... Please..." Jeongguk breathes deeply, gripping his cock tighter, stroking himself faster—harder as the image of Taehyung in his head gets down on his knees, sneering tauntingly at him, looking so devastatingly alluring. 

'Tch... You're a hopeless case, really.' 

Jeongguk then quietly laughs at himself, seeing the Taehyung in his thoughts parting his mouth and taking in much of his hard length while sharply gazing back at him, as if telling him there's no need to hold back because he already knows all of his weaknesses. 

"Yes, yes... you're mine Taehyung, you're mine..." Jeongguk groans, pumping his cock even more, biting his lips hard as he comes undone, picturing his thick cum spilling over Taehyung's tongue. 

. 

. 

. 

"Fuck... I really am a hopeless case, I guess." Jeongguk says, breathing heavily, letting the warm water get rid of the traces of what he just did as Taehyung's image once again disappears.

***

21, 22, 23....

Taehyung counts while doing sit-ups on his bed, trying to distract himself from thinking about Jeongguk and what they did in the restroom earlier. 

It's strange how he feels like he's going through the beginning of his puberty again, back when he experienced his first rut, feeling so hot and high he didn't know what to do with himself. 

Taehyung rarely cries, but he cried so hard that day that he shut himself in his room, feeling so weak he was unable to even touch himself. 

And now, Taehyung feels as if he's going through the entire thing all over again. 

The moment he got home, drenched from being out in the rain, Taehyung immediately thought of Jeongguk, his kisses, the warmth from his touch and the way he whispered his name. 

Everything just kept ringing in Taehyung's ears, scenes flashing through his mind like a broken film, and it continued to haunt him even after he had a shower; didn't leave as he laid down in bed forcing himself to sleep. 

In fact, he's actually still thinking about it right now.

But the shame of having to go home with soiled underwear kept Taehyung from doing anything with himself.

He won't do it; he'd rather run a mile at midnight than accept the fact that his body is craving for Jeongguk right at this moment. 

"F-fucking pervert... Nngh... J-just settle down already!" Taehyung pants, now doing a few sets of jumping jacks on the floor before he collapses back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as he catches his breath. 

"I'm so not letting that guy anywhere near me... He keeps on making me feel weird." Taehyung muttered to himself, swearing that he'll never—ever, let Jeongguk touch him again. 

. 

. 

. 

Nope. As if that will ever happen. (It's Jeon Jeongguk we're talking about 🙂) 

"Good morning." Jeongguk beams as he pulls Taehyung under the dark staircase the moment Taehyung walks into their school building. 

"G-get off—mmph..." Taehyung couldn't even object when Jeongguk claimed his lips and kissed him passionately first thing in the morning. 

"I've been waiting for you... You didn't answer any of my calls... I missed you." Jeongguk whispers against Taehyung's lips, their bodies flushed while his hands are gripping Taehyung tightly on the waist. 

"Don't push me away, alright?" Jeongguk says—no—pleads, tenderly nuzzling his face against the crook of Taehyung's neck. 

And from there, Taehyung felt like he'll be betraying himself all over again. 

"You can let go now. We'll be late." Taehyung says as he gently cups Jeongguk's face, lifting it up a bit so he could press a soft kiss on the latters lips, suppressing a smile when Jeongguk grins brightly at him again, showing off his cute little bunny teeth. 

"Okay, let's go." Jeongguk says, as he pulls Taehyung out, holding him by the wrist. 

***

. 

. 

. 

Everything is going well, so well that Taehyung is becoming uneasy. He's not sure whether it's just him, but whenever he's having a good time, he feels anxious thinking about how much worse things will be for him once the wheel of life turns about and brings him back to the ground. 

It's a basic rule that follows the same logic as the law of gravity: what goes up must come down.

It's been two weeks since he and Jeongguk came to terms, and since then, Minho has requested to be transferred to class A, where Jimin and Hobi are, so Taehyung doesn't run into him as much; also, Seung-hoon, Hae-in, and Joo-hyuk have all stopped bothering him, causing Taehyung to barely feel their presence around him; it's as if they've all disappeared.

Now if that isn’t strange enough, their classmates have all been treating him rather nicely; they started greeting him hi, hello, good morning and some of them have even asked him to sit with them during lunch, which Taehyung isn't exactly ready for yet, so he had always declined.

Jeongguk on the other hand has always stayed by his side.

As soon as Jang Minho was out of the picture, the tension in their classroom seemed to dissipate; no one was making fun of Taehyung anymore, and Jeongguk began acting like a normal person, chatting with him during class, making him laugh during breaks, helping him with his homework, and teaching him how to get along with others without scaring the bejeezus out of them due to his pheromones, which used to always be on high defensive mode.

It didn't happen overnight, but Taehyung also has no idea when it started.

Since a few days ago, Taehyung has been sitting at the same lunch table with Jeongguk, Namjoon, Seokjin, Yoongi, Hoseok and Jimin, chatting and laughing together as if they've all been friends since the beginning. 

Sure, it was awkward as hell at first, but Jeongguk who's constantly been bickering with Jimin and Yoongi made the mood bearable until it became comfortable, and now Taehyung started looking forward to lunch unlike before.

After they've finished eating, Jeongguk will drag him to the library, where they'll both read their lessons ahead of time, take naps whenever their eyes get tired—and sometimes, when there aren't many students around, Jeongguk will pull him in between shelves, where they'll make out until the school bell rings again—and it's nice—really, really, really nice.

Everything is going so seamlessly that Taehyung feels comfortable enough to let his guard down, especially around Jeongguk.

. 

. 

. 

It's Tuesday today, so Taehyung didn't have to go to work, that's why he's here again with Jeongguk, going along with whatever the latter wanted to do, since—well—it benefits him too. 

Earlier, Jeongguk noticed Taehyung's phone had a cracked screen and insisted on getting him a new one, as well as some new shoes and clothes. Taehyung declined it at first, but Jeongguk isn't really a good sport and won't take no for an answer; he'll sulk and whine until Taehyung can't take it anymore and just caves in to whatever he's suggesting them to do. 

It happens so frequently that Taehyung has learned to no longer resist and just enjoy everything. 

For days now, he's been going home with more than a dozen shopping bags full of clothes, shoes, gadgets, games, and even food to share with his father; and whenever his father asks where the stuff came from, Taehyung would simply say that his boss at the coffee shop has been fond of him lately because he's been doing a good job, and thankfully his father believes him enough not to press the matter any further. 

Taehyung doesn’t really feel comfortable lying to his father, but then again, he also doesn't know how to explain to him that one of his elite alpha classmates has been acting like his sugar daddy lately, showering him with lavish gifts here and there. No, it sounds weird— looks weird and his father will probably never approve of it, so Taehyung decided to just keep it in. 

It's fine. After all, they don't always get to experience having nice things. 

"This is good; they said it's the latest model; what color do you want?" Jeongguk says, referring to the most expensive phone on display in the store they’re in. 

"Just pick anything, it's fine," Taehyung replies. He's never been particularly tech-savvy, so he couldn't really understand much of what the salesperson described while selling them the device; if it can make and answer calls and messages, Taehyung couldn't care less about its other features.

"Mhm, okay... We'll take the mint green and the purple." Jeongguk shrugs as he hands the clerk his black card. 

"Two? I don't need two phones?" Taehyung says, his brows furrowed at Jeongguk. 

"Pfft... The purple one is for me. We'd look cute with matching phones, don't you think?" Jeongguk giggles excitedly, as he picks out two matching cases to go along with their new phones. 

"*Fine, do whatever you want." Taehyung sighs, looking away from Jeongguk, hiding the sheepish smile he has on his face. 

. 

. 

. 

"So, uhm... Thanks for these, I guess," Taehyung says, referring to the shopping bags he'll be taking home with him today. They just had dinner at a nearby restaurant and are now waiting for Taehyung's bus to arrive. 

"Anytime... So, did you have fun?" Jeongguk says, blithely brushing his free hand against Taehyung as they stand side by side. 

"I did... Pfft— our phone cases look silly though." Taehyung says, taking his phone out of his pocket, showing Jeongguk the case the latter picked which has a tubby pink bear on it while Jeongguk got the matching white and pink bunny. 

"Really? I think it's really cute. Look, you're even biting my cheeks here." Jeongguk giggles, taking his phone and placing it next to Taehyung's where they'll be able to see the whole picture of the pink bear biting the bunny's cheeks. 

"Wow, so you're aware that you look like a bunny?" Taehyung scoffs out a chuckle. 

"Well, you've been doodling a lot of bunnies at the back of your notes lately, and one of them has my initials on him— J.K, so I kinda assumed it was me... Why? Am I wrong?" Jeongguk teases as he and Taehyung slide their phones back into their own pockets. 

"D-doodling bunnies my ass... W-when did I—" Taehyung couldn't complete his sentence when Jeongguk seized his hand, casually holding and tucking it inside his coat's pocket before squeezing it tight. 

"You know, you don't really need to act cute... I'm already so—so into you." Jeongguk says, leaning his head back, smiling while staring at the night skies above, causing Taehyung's cheeks to immediately warm up, flushing red all the way up to his ears and down to his neck. 

"Hey... Don't be so full of yourself. When did I ever act cute? Wow— just thinking about it makes me want to vomit." Taehyung says, awkwardly pouting as he spits out his excuses. 

"See? You're doing it again. Do you really want me to kiss you?— I can do that." Jeongguk says, turning to face Taehyung with their hands still inside his coat's pocket. 

"Oh shut up. My bus is here... B-bye now." Taehyung stutters, pulling his hand from Jeongguk as the bus he'll be taking comes to a stop. 

"Alright... Get home safe then." Jeongguk replies, standing behind Taehyung, watching the latter shift his weight from his heels and toes, waiting for the bus to open its doors. 

"Tae," Jeongguk says as the bus door slides open.

"What?" Taehyung asks, glancing back at Jeongguk before stepping into the bus. 

"Will you answer if I call?" Jeongguk asks, both his hands tucked in his pockets, standing under the light of the lamp post, looking like an absolute dream while staring at Taehyung. 

"Y-yeah sure... Why not?" Taehyung absentmindedly replies, his eyes fixed on Jeongguk as the bus door' slides closed. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Dies Irae

Jeongguk can already hear the damn familiar classical music playing from the inside of their house before he could even approach the front door. Whenever Hwang Sehun is here, the house is never silent, never out of pretentious music playing non-stop and it's only been two weeks, but Jeongguk is already sick of it. 

When he stepped inside he found Sehun dressed in all sheer white pajamas, barefoot, dancing silly in the living room, spinning slowly and gracefully, turning to welcome him with a smile. 

"Hello, hyung... Wanna dance with me?" Sehun asks, slightly swaying his hips as he approaches Jeongguk, causing the latter to immediately ball his fists tightly. 

"Ahh... I really missed your scent, hyung... Especially when you're angry," Sehun teases, stretching out his hand to touch Jeongguk, only to have his face collide with Jeongguk's palm, smacking him so hard he crashes onto the couch. 

"Get the fuck away from me." Jeongguk snarls, gritting his teeth as he speaks. 

"Oh hyung... You touched me—pfft... I'm so happy..." Sehun grinned like a lunatic, his wide eyes flashing gold, pale skin turning pink as he carelessly releases his pheromones: that obnoxious sweet scent of flowers and citrus that others might go crazy for but smells so putrid to Jeongguk. 

"Crazy fucker." Jeongguk says, his face contorting to a frown, covering his nose as he walks away, leaving Sehun laughing like a madman in the living room. 

. 

. 

. 

"Do you want me to prepare your bath, sir?" Jun-yeol asks as he passes Jeongguk on his way to the latter's room. 

"Jun-yeol-ah... How long will that outsider be here?" Jeongguk asks, his jaw tensed, his fists clenched, his eyes blazing red. 

"The chairman said Mr. Hwang has decided to stay here again— I'm afraid it'll be for good this time, sir," Jun-yeol replies. 

"I see... My father isn't coming back until the end of this month, right?" Jeongguk inquires once more. 

"That's right sir."

"Then, let me ask you again... While my father's not here, who do you owe your loyalty, Jun-yeol?" 

"You sir. I live to serve the alphas of the Jeon household." Jun-yeol answers. 

"Great." Jeongguk pauses, his hand now hovering over the door handle of his room. "Then pack me a bag with some clothes and a few other necessities. I'll leave through the back door. I'd rather die than stay another night here where that bitch's disgusting scent is reeking all over." Jeongguk says, entering his room, heading straight towards the shower to wash off whatever's left of Sehun's scent on him when they had a brief contact earlier. 

"If Mr. Hwang asks about your whereabouts, what would you want me to say, sir?" Jun-yeol asks, handing Jeongguk a fresh set of bath towels. 

"At school— in my room, sleeping, playing games, or whatever— bottom line is, I don't ever want to be disturbed. Keep my door locked at all costs until I return and keep this a secret from my father." Jeongguk firmly says as he slides the shower door shut, leaving Jun-yeol outside. 

"Understood sir." Jun-yeol says, bowing his head politely as if Jeongguk is still in front of him. 

***

"Hasn't your boss been spoiling you a little too much? I mean, I don't know a lot about mobile devices these days, but I'm aware this is one of those expensive brands," Taesoo says, sitting next to Taehyung on the floor, watching the latter set up his new phone. 

"Ah, yes— I guess so? He told me he bought the wrong unit and he's too lazy to return it to the store so he just gave it to me, saying it's my early christmas gift or something." Taehyung replies, refusing to look at his father, feeling his chest constrict after telling another lie yet again. 

"Christmas? Oh my… Just how many Christmas presents does he intend to give you? You can't fit any more clothes in your closet, and now he's given you even more. Does he not have a child, perhaps a son?" Taesoo inquires again; don't get him wrong, he's happy that someone is treating his son well, but because he doesn't know much about Taehyung's boss at work, he couldn't help but be concerned. 

"O-oh, not that I'm aware of... Maybe that's why he's been giving me all this free stuff... Anyway, it's nice right? I've been needing to replace my phone and I was actually saving for it, but now I don't have to worry about any of that. We can just use my savings to pay a bit of our loan-.."

"No. That's my problem, not yours alright? Just save your money to buy things that you like." Taesoo says before Taehyung could even finish what he was about to say. 

"C'mon, dad. My boss has been giving me a ton of free stuff lately: clothes, shoes, bags, a laptop, and now a new phone... I literally have nothing else to buy, so let me just help you a bit, okay?" Taehyung says, persuading his father to let him help pay off a portion of the loan they took for living expenses last year when Taesoo got sick and was unable to work for months. 

"I said no, Taehyung. It's almost paid off anyway, so just keep your money. It's yours—you earned it," Taesoo states, ruffling Taehyung's hair; Taehyung was about to respond when they heard a knock on the door. 

"Huh? Isn't it a little late, I don't think we're expecting anyone?" Taesoo asks as he and Taehyung walk towards the door to see who is knocking at this hour. 

"Who's—" 

"You?!" Taehyung exclaims, his eyes wide open as he sees Jeongguk standing outside their door with a huge suitcase. 

"You know this kid, Tae?" Taesoo asks his son. 

"Good evening, my name is Jeongguk, and I'm Taehyung's...-"

"FRIEND! He's my friend, dad!" Taehyung shouts, afraid that Jeongguk may say something stupid to his dad. 

"I-I see... Then, how can we help you young man?" Taesoo says, shocked but also pleased because this is his first meeting with any of his son's pals. 

"Oh, something actually happened at home, so I was wondering if it's okay for me to stay here with Tae for a few days?" Jeongguk says, scratching the back of his neck and looking sheepishly at Taehyung, who appears like he's about to explode. 

"Are you fucking kidding me? Why the hell—" 

"Come in, kid. It's fine... Our place is rather small, will that be okay with you?" Taesoo invites Jeongguk in before Taehyung can protest. 

"Thank you, Mr. Kim... I'll be fine as long as Taehyung is here. He's actually my only friend, you know?" Jeongguk replies as Taesoo pulls his suitcase inside, leaving Jeongguk standing alongside Taehyung.

"My sanctuary... Please take good care of me," Jeongguk whispers to Taehyung, who is still perplexed, trying to figure out what is going on and why Jeongguk has invited himself to his home. 

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

This is crazy—well, Taehyung knows that already, but this? This is a different kind of crazy.

"Did you bring your own towels? If not, just let me know. The bathroom's over there if you want to take a shower. Make yourself at home, okay? I'll just head out for a bit." Taesoo says, smiling as he walks towards the door, bringing a cigarette and his rusty old lighter.

"Thank you, Mr. Kim," Jeongguk replies, bowing slightly to Taehyung's father.

"Heh... Surprise?" Jeongguk then turns to Taehyung, beaming widely as soon as they're alone, only for Taehyung to grab him by the collar of his shirt and drag him into his room.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks, his teeth gritted.

"Having a sleepover?" Jeongguk shrugs, which just irritates Taehyung even more.

"You can't be here, okay? What the hell?! Have you seen this place—this room—my room? How will you even sleep here, let alone stay for a few days? It's impossible!" Taehyung states quietly, so his father will not overhear them.

"Well, you have a bed, a blanket, four pillows—I can live with two, thank you; I don't see why I can't stay here, Tae. If anything, your room looks cozier than mine—plus you're here, which makes it a hundred times better than where I used to sleep." Jeongguk says, going through his silly excuses, counting them with his fingers as Taehyung slowly huffs out a deep breath, trying to control his temper since his father could come back inside at any second.

"Oh god, I can't deal with this right now." Taehyung pauses, pacing back and forth before settling once again in front of Jeongguk. "So, tell me what happened? Did you really get into any trouble at home, or is this just one of your stupid ways to piss me off?" Taehyung asks, his eyes flashing red at the other alpha in his room.

"Have I ever piss you off—"

"You piss me off all the damn time, Jeongguk, and you're doing it again right now; so can you just tell me what happened? If you're really planning on staying here, then you better give me a good reason why I should take you in," Taehyung says, hands on his waist, standing up straight, demanding a reasonable answer from Jeongguk.

"Well..." Jeongguk pauses, looking away from Taehyung while rubbing the back of his neck. "There's a stranger in the place where I stay... H-he..." Jeongguk stops again, silently taking a deep breath, and this may be the first time Taehyung has seen Jeongguk run out of clever words to say, which piqued his interest, but he doesn't really want to pry too much as well.

"That stranger, is he a bad person?" Taehyung asks, his eyes fixed on Jeongguk.

"Yeah... He is." Jeongguk replies, meeting Taehyung's gaze this time.

"You don't like him?"

"I don't. I hate him... Being in the same house as him makes me feel uncomfortable."

"More uncomfortable than being here? We have no AC, the heater barely works, our fridge's older than I am, and if you're going to stay here, you might have to sleep on the floor because I won't be giving up my bed for you. Will you be okay with all that?" Taehyung asks, feeling his heart skip a beat as Jeongguk's face instantly lights up.

"H-hah..." Jeongguk's breath rattles, and his lips twisting up into his usual bright smile. "This place seems a lot warmer than what I'm used to anyways, so yeah...That's fine— I'll be fine," Jeongguk adds as he sits on the floor, and as Taehyung looks down on him from this angle, he cannot help but picture Jeongguk as an actual cute little puppy, wagging its tail to its owner. "So this is where I'll sleep?" Jeongguk asks. 

"Pfft..."

"Why?" Jeongguk asks once more, innocently tipping his head to the side.

"Oh god, stop that!" Taehyung laughs, as he pulls Jeongguk back up again.

"Stop what?" Jeongguk cracks another smile as he gets up.

"That! Pfft... It's impossible that you have no idea what you're doing—acting like a cute puppy-.."

"So you think I'm cute?" Jeongguk teases, grinning coyly at Taehyung, causing the latter's laughter to slowly fade, his cheeks flushing red as he meets Jeongguk's keen gaze. "Should I bark? I can bark..." Jeongguk asks, playfully resting his hands on Taehyung's waist, causing the other alpha to cough nervously.

"W-what the hell?! Get away, you're being weird again," Taehyung asserts, lightly pushing Jeongguk's chest to create a safe distance between them.

"I'm being weird? How so?—"

"*cough*"

Taehyung and Jeongguk both froze when they noticed Taesoo awkwardly standing outside Taehyung's bedroom door. "So, uhm... Jeongguk, right?" Taesoo asks.

"Yes sir?"

"Nah, just call me uncle, that'll be fine... Anyway, here's a spare blanket you can use... I'm actually already late for work, so if you need anything else, have Taehyung take care of it, alright?" Taesoo says, handing Jeongguk a neatly folded fresh sheet of blanket.

"Thank you—uhm... U-uncle." Jeongguk stutters, as if puzzled, which Taehyung finds strange yet amusing.

"Okay, dad. Take care on your way and don't overwork yourself," Taehyung says, taking the blanket from Jeongguk to put up later.

"Mhm... Then, I'll be going now... You boys better not stay up too late, alright?" Taesoo adds, patting Taehyung and Jeongguk on the shoulder before taking his jacket and walking out the door, leaving the two alphas on their own.

"Well then, since you're already here, would you like to take a shower first? Our heater's a bit ancient so don't be too surprised if the water suddenly turns cold." Taehyung says as he lays down the blanket on the floor, just beside his bed before pulling out a bath towel from his drawer for Jeongguk to use.

"I-I already took a shower before coming here, so I'll just wash my face. Thanks." Jeongguk says, taking the towel with a blank expression on his face, still not blinking since Taesoo handed him the blanket.

"Are you okay? Why? Changed your mind already?" Taehyung teases, noticing the sudden change of expression on Jeongguk's face. 

"H-huh?" Jeongguk finally blinked, shaking his head slightly before he smiled again. "Nope, not at all... Anyway, the bathroom's over there right?" Jeongguk says, walking out of Taehyung's room as the latter follows him from behind. 

"No, that's dad's room," Taehyung replies, unlocking the door adjacent to the one Jeongguk went to first. "Here you go... Ah, toothbrush— please tell me you brought your own," Taehyung adds, looking a bit concerned since they don't have the luxury of keeping spare toothbrushes at home. 

"Well— can't I just use yours?" Jeongguk asks, now grinning cheekily again at Taehyung. 

"What the hell? That's so gross," Taehyung winces while staring at Jeongguk, groaning when he doesn't hear the latter telling him it's just a joke. "That's it, where's your damn bag?" Taehyung hisses, marching towards Jeongguk's suitcase, opening it and grabbing one of the pouches inside labeled as toiletries. "Don't you dare touch my toothbrush." Taehyung says as he shoves the pouch against Jeongguk's chest. 

"No promises." Jeongguk says, naughtily winking at Taehyung as he steps inside the bathroom. 

"Ugh! This fucker!" Taehyung groans, kicking the bathroom door before he marches back to his room. 

***

The lights are now out, and Taehyung and Jeongguk are lying on their backs, Taehyung on the bed, Jeongguk on the floor, staring at the ceiling, which is dimly lit by the moonlight reflecting through the windows. 

"Let me guess... You're already regretting your decision to sleep here now aren't you?" Taehyung asks, slightly glancing at Jeongguk whose arms are both up, resting the back of his head on his palms. 

"No... Though, this may be the first time I'll be sleeping with someone, and I must say, it's quite different from what I imagined... I mean, we still have our clothes on," Jeongguk says as he turns his head to the side and catches Taehyung's eyes. 

"The hell? Do you always have to make everything sound sexual?" Taehyung scoffs, baffled as to how Jeongguk can say such things with a straight face. 

"Well, I'm taking my chances," Jeongguk replies. 

"That won't happen—ever." Taehyung pauses, laying back again and looking away. 

"You're not sure about that—" 

"Anyway, that's not what I'm talking about... What I mean to ask you is--.." Taehyung pauses when he hears Jeongguk taking a deep breath. 

"I've always slept in a spacious room with just the right temperature, 18.3°C; I've been lying comfortably in a bed that can probably fit five people; I also have that little remote that controls the lights, so I can turn it on or off without getting up, soundproof walls, black out curtains, scented candles..."

"Wow, that must feel nice." Taehyung couldn't help but react, wondering how wonderful it would be if he could experience that kind of comfort at least for one night. 

"Yeah? But isn't it funny? I have all that, but I would trade it off anytime just to be here on this floor—in your room—with you." Jeongguk says, his eyes still on Taehyung as the latter turned towards him once more. 

"You can't possibly be serious. There's no way you're comfortable laying down there where Jaq and Gus play, at around three to four a.m." Taehyung says, silently admiring how the moonlight reflects on Jeongguk's eyes. 

"Pfft... Jaq and Gus?" 

"Rats. There are probably more of them, but so far I've only seen two, so I named them after Cinderella's rat friends; Jaq and Gus. They used to munch on everything, but I guess they started feeling bad because we have nothing, so lately they've only been stopping by to play," Taehyung says, still staring at Jeongguk, somewhat expecting the latter to freak out and jump out, but Jeongguk just laughs.

"Is that your way of saying you want me to jump on the bed with you? I mean, I haven't seen a single house rat in my life, but I can pretend to be scared if you needed to have that excuse." Jeongguk says, swiftly sitting up and aiming to hop on the bed, causing Taehyung to jolt up and stop him, pushing him away. 

"H-hey get off! No—stop it— stop it..." Taehyung warns, wrestling with Jeongguk who's just laughing while still trying to get on the bed, squeezing Taehyung between himself and the wall. 

"Pfft! C'mon, don't be stingy—" 

"Are you kidding me? I barely fit in here myself and you want to join in? Get real!" Taehyung complains but Jeongguk is already beside him, pulling him close, his head resting on one of Jeongguk's arm while the latter's other arm is draped over him, hugging him, which somehow made Taehyung stop resisting, hearing Jeongguk's heartbeat against his ear. 

<you can play this as you read.>

Give me love

"Relax... See? We fit." Jeongguk says, his laughter fading to a sigh as he rests his chin on top of Taehyung's head. 

"I-it's hot... Let go—" 

"Don't lie... The heater in your room isn't working, you can't possibly be hot right now... So just stay still— perhaps use the cold autumn breeze as an excuse for us to huddle up," Jeongguk says, closing his eyes as he holds Taehyung firmly, feeling the latter slowly relax in his arms. 

"If my bed collapses, you're going to buy me a new one." Taehyung pouts, lowering his head, as if Jeongguk could see his now flushed face. 

"Haha... We need to do more than just laying down for this bed to give out... If you're up for it, I can order a new and bigger bed for you right now." Jeongguk chuckles, not-so-subtly sniffing Taehyung's hair. 

"S-shut up... You also need to tone down on buying me new stuff. I don't want to worry my dad." Taehyung says, deciding to just lay still, knowing full well that Jeongguk is unlikely to let go of him now that he got him. 

"You're getting nicer things, why would that worry your father?" Jeongguk inquires. 

"He worries about everything; I'm sure he thinks I'm doing something bad behind his back, like—I don't know? Selling drugs or my body to some older dude or woman," Taehyung replies, exhaling heavily as he thinks of his father. 

"But you're not doing any of that... Why? Didn't you tell him I'm buying you all that stuff?" Jeongguk questions, moving back slightly from Taehyung so he can see his face. 

"Listen, you may not understand it, but for people like me, my father, and probably everyone else in this neighborhood, getting pricey gifts so suddenly may appear extremely suspicious; unlike you, we're not used to having such things," Taehyung explains, meeting Jeongguk's puzzled gaze. 

"But it makes you happy, right? Every time we go shopping, your eyes get a little bit brighter, and you also smile a lot. You like wearing good quality shoes and clothes, you were excited when you held your new phone and you eat a lot whenever we're in a nice restaurant... Those were all fun for you as it was for me... I like spoiling you, Tae... And I don't see anything wrong with that." Jeongguk says, now softly caressing Taehyung's face. 

"Tch, do you really have to point it all out? Gosh... Do you like embarrassing me so much? Well, you've succeeded, you can stop now." Taehyung says, trying to push Jeongguk away but the latter didn't budge, so Taehyung just turned around, his back pressed against Jeongguk's chest as Jeongguk hugged him from behind. 

"I'm just telling the truth... Or am I really wrong? Did I read you wrong?" Jeongguk asks, his eyes fixed on Taehyung's nape, and even with the poor lighting, he could still tell how red the latter's skin is as he holds him. 

"I like it... Looking good— smelling good, that feeling you get when nobody's looking down on you... I want it, and if it's just up to me, I won't care if people see me like I'm a gold digger or something... But— I can still let all of those go if it means that I wouldn't worry my dad anymore." Taehyung exhales deeply. "Y'see, we might not have much, but he always made sure that I have enough with what little comfort we have." Taehyung adds, 

"You— you really love your dad, huh?" Jeongguk replies, unaware that he's already tightening his grip on Taehyung. 

"Of course I do... Why? You don't— love your dad, I mean?" Taehyung says, glancing down when he notices that Jeongguk is now clutching his shirt tight. 

"Love? Pfft... Whatever that shit means." Jeongguk replies, nuzzling his face against the back of Taehyung's nape.

"Hmm... I might not know much about you or your family but at least on t.v, I've seen that rich families like yours tend to act mean towards each other... Was that same for you too? Is your family mean to you?" Taehyung asks, shifting on the bed, turning to face Jeongguk again. 

"Mean? Mean, wouldn't even cut it to describe those people." Jeongguk chuckled with his eyes closed, only to open them again when he felt Taehyung tenderly touching his face. 

"Do they hurt you? Like what Jang Minho and his group does with me?" Taehyung asks, feeling a slight pang in his chest upon once again meeting Jeongguk's wide gaze. 

"Will you comfort me if I say yes?" Jeongguk whispers, sounding a bit breathless. 

"Maybe? I'm not very good at it though," Taehyung responds, wondering what kind of pain Jeongguk is possibly harboring inside of him. Still, even if Jeongguk doesn't say anything, for some reason, Taehyung could see it—feel it, as he continues to stare at him like this. 

"Really? Well, I think you're doing just fine..." Jeongguk replies, touching Taehyung's face as well. "What are you, Kim Taehyung? Tell me— you're not actually human, aren't you?" Jeongguk asks, making Taehyung furrow his brows. 

"What do you mean not human?" Taehyung asks, 

"I'm not sure... All I know is that the longer I look at you, the less human you appear... Could you be a god? An angel perhaps?" Jeongguk wonders as he nestles his cheek against Taehyung's palm. 

"D-don't be silly..." 

"I wish I could just live here with you and never leave... I really like how warm it is here." Jeongguk says, looking at Taehyung again. 

"You're only saying that now because it's your first night here, but once you've experienced actually living here, you'll be eager to leave as soon as you get an opportunity." 

"Is that how you feel? Do you not want to be here?" Jeongguk asks once more. 

"Only a lunatic would want to stay in a place like this. We're basically living in Seoul's largest trash bin." Taehyung says, averting Jeongguk's gaze only to look at him again after a few seconds. "Once we graduate, I'll go to Hanyang, get a degree, a job, eat all the snacks I want, live in a place high enough that I’d feel like I’m closer to god... Then my dad won't have to work anymore; I'll bring him all his favorite kinds of food, he'll wear nicer shoes and clothes, and he'll do nothing but watch television all day long as he waits for me to come home," Taehyung adds. 

"Your father must be a really good person for you to love him that much," Jeongguk says, his expression somewhat gloomy. 

"He is a good person—unlike me... As you can tell, I'm a little too greedy," Taehyung replies, his heart strangely skipping a beat once more as Jeongguk pulls him closer. 

"There's nothing wrong with being greedy. I, myself, have a lot of greed. Even if I'm already holding what I want the most right now, I'm still anxious that it'll be taken away from me." Jeongguk says as he holds Taehyung even tighter, gently grabbing a fistful of the latter's hair. "Say, Tae... If I give you everything that you want... If I make all your dreams come true, will you continue to stay by my side?" Jeongguk asks, 

"And how will you do that? Sure you're rich, but you're still no genie, Jeongguk. The money you're spending on me is your family's— your father's, and I bet he wouldn't like it once he knew that you're spending your riches on a broke alpha like me... Sooner or later, they will ask you to stay away from me." Taehyung says, unaware that he's already clutching Jeongguk's shirt in his fist. 

"You're probably right... I might not be able to do anything on my own right now— but one day I will... Someday, everything will be owned by me... Then, I swear I’ll give you everything you both want and need," Jeongguk says as Taehyung pulls back to look at him. 

"Why are you so fixated on me? I know I said I'd stop asking you about it, but I still don't get it... I don't understand—why me? Do you really just want to be friends with me? Do friends even do this? I don't know... It's just so crazy to me," Taehyung says, watching Jeongguk's lips curl up into a somewhat lazy grin. 

<you can play this as you read.>

Airplanes

"Mhm... Beats me..." Jeongguk chuckled before claiming Taehyung's lips, kissing him softly—slowly—gently... "Maybe because your lips taste so sweet... It's addicting," Jeongguk smiles, trying to kiss Taehyung again when he is stopped by the latter pushing his index finger to his lips. 

"We should sleep. Good night, Jeon." Taehyung says, turning around, facing the wall, deciding to stop now because his heart just began beating like crazy once more. 

But then he shuddered as he felt Jeongguk wrap his arms around him, lapping his tongue against the side of his neck, licking his ears and kissing his nape, leading Taehyung to grab him by the hair. 

"Stop. I said we should sleep," Taehyung says firmly, his cheeks burning as Jeongguk chuckles, his lips still pressed against his skin. 

"Mhm... Fine— good night, Tae." Jeongguk replies, stopping what he's doing, smirking as Taehyung slowly lets go of his hair. 

***

*knock! knock!* 

"I know you're still awake, hyung... Are you still mad at me? You didn't even come down for dinner! C'mon! Just open up, alright—.."

"Mr. Hwang." Jun-yeol says as he approaches Sehun, who had been knocking on Jeongguk's door for about ten minutes now. 

"Ah, Jun-yeol! Perfect timing, go grab the keys for Jeonggukkie hyung's room. He's not responding, so I'm starting to worry," Sehun says, his face contorting into a frown when he realizes Jun-yeol has no plans of doing what he just demanded. 

"Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what I just said—" 

"My apologies, Mr. Hwang, but the young master doesn't want to be disturbed right now... So I suggest you go back to your room,"—*slap!* Jun-yeol then remained, expressionless, even after Sehun just smacked him hard on the face. 

"Who the fuck do you think you are, old man? I said get the keys—" 

"I only serve the alphas of the Jeon household, Mr. Hwang; since the chairman isn't here, the young master Jeon's words are the only ones I could hear," Jun-yeol states, catching Sehun's wrist as the young omega aimed to slap him again. "Please return to your room, Mr. Hwang." Jun-yeol adds. 

"H-hah... And what if I call the chairman?—" 

"The chairman brings a private phone whenever he's working overseas. The only person who can contact him in case of an emergency is me. I suggest you step back from the young master's bedroom now Mr. Hwang... Even your mother has been given no rights to order me around." Jun-yeol says, letting go of Sehun and slightly bowing his head as if to be polite after the sharp words he just said. 

"Then, have a pleasant evening Mr. Hwang." Jun-yeol continues, extending his hand, asking Sehun to scram. 

"Just so you wait... I'm going to ask the chairman to get rid of you soon, old man." Sehun spits out, before he finally goes on his way. 

. 

. 

. 

"I hope you're sleeping a bit better tonight, sir... Don't worry, I won't let anyone open this door," Jun-yeol whispered under his breath, staring at Jeongguk's door with a relieved smile on his face. 

🃏🃏🃏

"Hmm... Did anything good happen? You look happy today, Taesoo-ssi." Mrs. Ha says, noticing how Taesoo keeps on smiling to himself while sorting out the bolts of fabric in his station. 

"Oh well, Taehyung— y'know my boy?" Taesoo beams, "He brought a friend home— well, not exactly, but a friend of his had a bit of trouble at home so he came by last night and asked if he could stay at our place for a few days, and I'm really happy..." Taesoo pauses, his voice breaking as he tears up. 

"Pfft... You're glad because your son's friend ran away from home? Wow— was that really something to be happy about?" Mrs. Ha jokes as she playfully pats Taesoo on the back. 

"No, no— I'm not talking about that... It's just that all this time, I thought my son didn't have any friends—don't get me wrong, he's a really good kid but..." Taesoo suddenly panicked for some reason, leading Mrs. Ha to giggle and smack him on the back again. "Ah, I know, I know. Don't worry... So, you were saying? Taehyung-ssi has a friend staying in your house right now?" she says, assuring Taesoo that it's all okay since she's already aware of Taesoo and his son's circumstances. 

"Y-yes... I'm just so relieved— and guilty." Taesoo admits. 

"Guilty? For what?" Mrs. Ha responds, as Taesoo simply grins. "As far as I know, all you did was work hard to raise your child on your own, which is certainly not an easy thing to do, Taesoo-ah. You did nothing wrong." 

"Y'know, that kid—my son... He never cries. Even when he has every reason to complain or blame the heavens for giving him an unfair kind of life, he never cries... He always lies," Taesoo said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Every day, he goes home with a new bruise, a new cut on his face— there was even a time he came to me with a shaved head..."

"Oh dear, don't tell me?— Ugh! What are those kids up to these days?! That's horrible! You should've gone to the school to complain!" Mrs. Ha exclaims, feeling sorry for Taehyung and her old friend Taesoo as well. 

"I did. Many times—but none of them, not even the police, took me seriously; even Tae despised it, saying I was only making a big deal out of nothing... But I know... Even if I don't ask him, I know everything—even if he never tells me anything. Others are still mistreating him. I've seen it with my own two eyes far too many times before when he was younger. Due to our poor living conditions, most omegas and betas feels more free to vent their hate towards alphas on him, while alphas considers it an insult that he's one of them. He's always alone... He's never had anyone to play with—But last night, a boy—a young alpha came to see him." Taesoo smiles again, his eyes glossy with tears. "It's my first time seeing him with his kind—" 

"His kind? You talk as if Taehyung-ssi isn't your son, Taesoo-ah. What do you mean 'his kind'?" Mrs. Ha interjects, lightly hitting Taesoo's shoulder as he scolds the latter. 

"He's an alpha, Mari-ah. Betas like us aren't fit to raise an alpha— let alone a dominant one... E-even Eunhee--.." Taesoo leans back, still fighting back tears as he remembers his late wife, Kim Eunhee. 

"Taesoo-ah..." Mrs. Ha then started crying as well since he's also friends with Taehyung's mother when she's still alive. 

"D-dominant alphas can only be carried by a female alpha or a dominant omega... My son— he probably grew up feeling that he didn't even belong in his own family; I'm a beta, and so was Eun-hee; but even if her body wasn't meant to bear a kid with such strong genes, she still did her best— she held on for nine long months and gave birth to our angel... If only she's still here, she would've done a better job than me." Taesoo says, once again wiping his tears.  

"But enough of that— ah, what was I saying again? Oh, yes! A young alpha came by last night and he and Tae seem to be really good friends. They looked so good together! They're both so tall and so handsome that for a second, it felt like I was looking at two young celebrities... Finally— finally there's an alpha who isn't looking down on my boy, Mari-ah... An alpha just Taehyung—likes him." Taesoo once again failed to hold back his tears as he burst out crying. "Ah! What's wrong with these eyes! Wow, these tears just won't stop... I'm sorry Mari-ah." Taesoo says, wiping his tears with the sleeves of his shirt as Mrs. Ha Mari, consoles him by rubbing circles on his back. 

"Tch, you old man! You're making me cry too!" Mrs. Ha laughs as she wipes away her tears as well. "This is a happy day, why did we end up crying!" She adds as she takes a few thousand won from her pocket and hands it to Taesoo. 

"Mari-ah, what is this-" 

"Just take it and go buy something good for those young alphas later, okay? Oh dear, my eyes are probably puffy now... I'll get going, just make sure they eat a lot later, alright?" Mrs. Ha states as she goes back to her station before Taesoo tries to return the money again. 

***

Jeongguk opened his eyes and was immediately blinded by the sun due to the sheer curtains of the window; once his eyes adjusted to the bright light, he then realized that he's not his room, and there's that familiar scent of musk, iris, camp-fire and violets filling up his senses, a weight pressing on his stomach, another over his legs, a mop of hair under his chin, and there's someone breathing against his chest. 

'Oh,' Jeongguk muses as he looks down and sees Taehyung hugging him in his sleep, like a koala clinging to a tree. He cracked a grin and leaned back, thinking that this may be the first time he hasn't woken up screaming in cold sweat. 

"As much as I love it, I think I'm about to have a hard time if you keep holding me this way— so, if you're awake, you better let go now, babe..." Jeongguk says lazily, his gaze shifting down, eyeing Taehyung's leg that is resting over his stomach, the latter's shorts riding up, exposing more of his thigh— and Jeongguk just woke up, not to mention that he's not really good at controlling himself in the first place, so before he knew it his palm is already resting on Taehyung's thigh, rubbing on it up and down before he grabs the back of Taehyung's knee, pulling it further up, revealing more of the latter's skin. 

"Ah shit... Just punch me once you're up, alright?" Jeongguk muttered under his breath, smirking defeatedly at himself. 

. 

. 

. 

Taehyung woke up feeling something soft and wet against his neck, a heavy weight pressing on his stomach and between his legs, a hand on his thigh and another on his waist. 

"Tch, you really have no self control do you?" Taehyung groans, roughly grabbing a fistful of Jeongguk's hair, pulling the latter away from his neck. 

"You were hugging me tight and you smell so good... How could I even stop myself?" Jeongguk says, grinning coyly at Taehyung as he squeezes the latter's thigh. 

"*Sigh* You better stop what you're doing and stop releasing your pheromones— you know that won't ever work on me." Taehyung says, as he's hit by the strong scent of Jeongguk's pheromones reeking all over his room.

"So what? Your dad's beta, right? He won't even be able to sense anything... And right now, it's just the two of us here—both dominant alphas, a few years past the peak of our puberty." Jeongguk says, sliding his palm higher up on Taehyung's thigh, going underneath the latter's shorts, prompting Taehyung to immediately grab him by the wrist and push him so hard he landed on his ass on the floor. 

"Pfft... That was harsh—" 

"Do that again and you'll be sleeping with Jaq and Gus for the rest of your stay here." Taehyung says as he casually gets off the bed. 

"Does that mean if I say I won't do it, you'd let me sleep beside you again?— Okay, deal. I'm in." Jeongguk says, standing up as well, while Taehyung simply rolls his eyes at him. 

"Whatever. I just don't want to get sued by your family when you come home with a broken back from sleeping on the floor," Taehyung says, lightly shoving his palm on Jeongguk's face. "Come on, we have to get moving or we'll be late," Taehyung adds as he walks out of the room, followed by Jeongguk. 

***

'So it's true? Look— they're together.'

'Shut up... Who knows? Maybe they just ran into each other at the gates.'

'No I'm telling you, something's really weird about those two.'

'Aren't they both alphas?' 

'I heard Jang Minho switched classes because of Jeon Jeongguk.'

'Are you sure? Wasn't it because of Kim?' 

"What the hell are these guys babbling about?" Taehyung muttered under his breath as he and Jeongguk walked side by side to their classroom, hearing some of their classmates' not-so-quiet whispers. 

"Huh? Did you say something?" Jeongguk asks, glancing at Taehyung. 

"Tch, never mind. Let's just go." Taehyung replies, walking ahead and seeing Jimin and Hobi approaching from the opposite direction. "Oi," Taehyung then waves at them, while the two betas suddenly froze, looking as if they've seen a ghost. 

"H-hi, Tae! S-so uhm... You're with Jeongguk again, huh?" Hobi says in a low voice it's almost inaudible, while awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. 

"Yeah? Why? Is there something wrong?" Taehyung asks, noticing his two friends' somewhat strange demeanor. 

"No— no, none at all.. I--.."

"Tae, can we talk later?" Jimin says, shifting his gaze to Jeongguk before turning back to Taehyung. "Lunch time, just the two of us." He adds, 

"Why? I don’t like that—" 

"Oh shut up." Taehyung shushed Jeongguk, stopping the latter from swinging his arm over his shoulder. "Sure Jimin-ah... I'll meet you at lunch." Taehyung continues. 

"Alright, let's meet at the library. Then..." Jimin says, smiling weakly at Taehyung before dragging Hobi inside their classroom. 

"What was that about? Are you really going to meet up with him?— Without me?" Jeongguk scoffs as if in disbelief. 

"He looks serious, so it must be something important." Taehyung sighs, walking towards their classroom as well, ignoring Jeongguk who keeps on whining while following him from behind. 

***

Okay. 

Taehyung is now certain that something weird is going on again. 

Since he and Jeongguk arrived at school together, everybody keeps on staring at them as if studying their every move, they'll whisper something to each other and then their eyes are back on them again. 

Even now, when everyone's attention should be on what their teacher is discussing in front of them, some of their classmates are still staring at him and Jeongguk. 

"Do I have something on my face?" Taehyung whispers to Jeongguk who's—well, also busy staring at his face. 

"Huh?— Well yeah... Very pretty features, I must say." Jeongguk replies with a smile as he playfully pokes the tip of Taehyung's nose.

"How about on my back?" Taehyung asks again, hearing someone gasping as if in shock, right after Jeongguk's gesture. 

"Mhm..." Jeongguk hums as he moves to check Taehyung's back. 

"What?" 

"Oh, there's nothing but a very sexy back... Why?" Jeongguk asks, tipping his head to the side, looking like an innocent puppy once again. 

"Ugh... Whatever." Taehyung groans, rolling his eyes at Jeongguk, deciding to just ignore the eyes that are still clearly following their every move. 

***

The school bell then rings, and Taehyung is now getting up from his desk to meet Jimin. 

"Hey, you're really going? How about lunch? I'm hungry..." Jeongguk asks, clinging onto Taehyung's arm—and there goes the crowd, whispering to each other strangely again. 

"Then eat. Go to the cafeteria and have your lunch with the others. I'll be there after I see Jimin." Taehyung says, removing Jeongguk's hold on him. 

"Nope, I'll wait for you here. So if you don't want me to starve to death then you better be back quickly." Jeongguk pouts, crossing his arms to his chest as he sits back on his chair. 

"Fine, suit yourself." Taehyung sighs, casually ruffling the top of Jeongguk's hair before exiting the classroom, casting a stern glare on the group of female omegas next to the door, watching their interaction. 

***

"Yo," Taehyung says, greeting Jimin, who appears to have been waiting for him by the library's entrance. 

"Come, let's talk over there," Jimin says quietly, grabbing Taehyung's wrist and leading him in between the shelves where no other students are present. 

"You're acting a bit weird, Jimin-ah, is there something wrong?" Taehyung asks, his brows furrowed. 

"I'll go straight to the point, Tae... I'm only asking because I'm your friend and I'm worried about you... Are you really going out with Jeon Jeongguk?" Jimin asks, which somewhat catches Taehyung off guard. 

"What? Me going out with who?—Jeon Jeongguk? No, of course not, why would you even ask me that?" Taehyung asks, genuinely baffled at Jimin's question. 

"I— I always felt that there's something weird going on between you two since that guy transferred here... He's always clinging on you, touching you—" 

"Don't we do that too? Hobi's even more clingy to you, is he not? Pfft... Does that mean you two are going out too?" Taehyung quips, expecting Jimin to just drop the subject and laugh it off— but he didn't. 

<you can play this as you read.>

All for us

"Please, don't get me wrong, although it's unusual to see two alphas dating, you know I won't ever judge you for it... But isn't it a bit too soon? It hasn't even been two months since you met him, and others have—.."

"What? Others have what, Jimin?" Taehyung says, clenching his fists on his side, remembering how their classmates were staring at him and Jeongguk since they came to school together this morning; their weird glances and shameless gossiping, as if they're all blatantly judging him. 

"It's been going around for a while now, but me and Hobs ignored it because we know you wouldn't keep any secrets from us— or would you?" Jimin pauses, taking a deep breath. "Someone from our class said she saw you two making out here in the library a few days ago, another one said he saw you both under the staircase, and— and you came in with him earlier too so— *sigh* All I want to know is; were those true?" Jimin asks, a stern expression on his face. 

"What? Me, making out with Jeongguk? So what if it's true? It's not like we're the only ones messing around in high school— doesn’t mean we're dating though." Taehyung says, unclenching his fists, trying to calm his breathing. 

"Are you kidding me Tae? You don't just kiss anyone—" 

"H-hah... Why not? We're young, bored and have nothing else better to do. Besides, even if it's true, was it really worth gossiping about?" Taehyung scoffs, now feeling a bit more uneasy, he starts pacing back and forth, then standing up straight once more. "Why are you even asking me this, Jimin-ah?" 

"B-because... Because you're not telling us anything— and Jeongguk... T-that guy came from an affluent family, Tae... Just like Jang Minho--.."

"So you think it's impossible for a rich elite alpha to go after a poor one like me? You think he'll also hurt me? If yes, then you don't have to worry... We're not dating, and Jeongguk— he's not that kind of guy. He might be a bit strange, but he's not a bad person, and he could also be innocent sometimes--.."

"I hate it, Tae... You, with that kind of guy." Jimin blurts out. 

"W-what?" Taehyung laughs bitterly. 

"Me and Hobs have seen you get bullied by those rich trashy alphas, and now you're being so friendly towards one— it doesn’t make sense to me, Tae... Alphas are assholes and basically just a bunch of losers--.."

"I am an alpha, Jimin... Wow, don't tell me you forgot... Or maybe you've never really seen me as one?" Taehyung scoffs. 

"N-no... That's not it, you’re different." Jimin replies, averting Taehyung gaze, looking a bit guilty. "It's just that people keep on going on about how you're only friendly with him because you want his money... They've been calling you a gold digger, an opportunistic—elite wannabe, and I want to shut them up... I want to defend you and yell at them that what they're saying isn't true... B-but how can I do that, when you keep on acting weird around that dude?" Jimin says, still not looking at Taehyung. 

And Taehyung has had enough of it. 

Suddenly it hits him— this— this is what those weird glances and gossips were about. 

Apparently, everyone thinks that he doesn’t deserve to even stand next to someone like Jeon Jeongguk. Bullshit.

"You don't have to look after me. I never asked you to— never needed you to... Then again, thank you for your concern... I'll get going now— see you, Jimin." Taehyung says, his jaws clench, feeling a heavy weight pressing on his chest as he walks away. 

"Tae, wait!" 

"Shhh... Keep quiet." The librarian warns, as Jimin watches Taehyung leave. 

... 

. 

. 

. 

'Unbelievable... So all of those worthless talking heads think I'm dating Jeon Jeongguk? Wow... Ridiculous.' Taehyung thinks as he walks through the hallway going back to their classroom. 

But then— he sensed those eyes on him again, causing him to halt his steps. 

'What do you think? Is he really going out with Jeon Jeongguk?' 

'I knew it... He's really shameless.'

'Talk about climbing up the social ladder real quick, pfft...'

'I mean, why him? Isn't Kim an alpha? Can't he just find a rich omega?' 

'Bet Jeongguk's just playing with him.'

'Two alphas going out? Disgusting...'

**'Shut up...'** Taehyung thinks as he clenches his fists, suddenly feeling like he's hit rock bottom again, recalling all the hateful insults and rumors hurled at him even before all of this happened. 

Suddenly, Taehyung's finding it hard to breathe. 

Suddenly— the world was spinning way too fast he couldn't see anything. 

Suddenly— he could hear everything. 

'Look at his hair. You think he washes it?' 

'Does he even take a bath?' 

'He's cute—but come to think of it... He does stink sometimes, right?' 

'Hahahahaha' 

'Hahahahaha' 

'Hahahahaha' 

'Hahahahaha' 

'Hahahahaha' 

<you can play this as you read.>

Vigilante shit

"Jeongguk-ssi... Uhm..."

"What?"

Taehyung then woke up from his trance when he heard Jeongguk's voice; he lifted his gaze and saw him standing at the side of the hallway, his back pressed against the wall, hands tucked inside his pants pockets, and in front of him is a girl— an omega.

If Taehyung remembers it correctly, the omega is from their class, and she's the one who started that baseless rumor about him only showering once a month, assuming that there's no water supply in the slums— all that, without actually knowing anything about his life. 

"H-here..." The omega says, showing Jeongguk her name tag, a gesture of confessing to someone you like. 

"And what am I gonna do with that?" Jeongguk asks, looking somewhat bored as he eyes the blushing omega up and down. 

"I— I like--..."

"Jeon..." Taehyung says before he could even think; he's not even sure of what to say, all he knows is that he's extremely annoyed, and that he doesn't want anyone to be near Jeongguk. 

"Tae! Are you done?" Jeongguk asks, turning towards Taehyung with a bright smile on his face, which causes Taehyung's lips to twist up into a smug grin, staring condescendingly at the omega who is still standing idly in front of Jeongguk. 

"Mhm... Did you wait long?" Taehyung says, approaching Jeongguk's side and draping an arm over the latter's shoulder, chuckling as Jeongguk's arm immediately hooks around his back, clutching his waist tight. 

"Yeah… What took you so long? I told you I'm hungry." Jeongguk says, already forgetting about everything else around them, cheeks flushing pink when Taehyung leaned his face closer to his ear. 

"I don't think you're really hungry, Gukkie..." Taehyung whispers to Jeongguk, purposely making his voice sound a little lower than usual, while his eyes are fixed on the omega that's still holding out her name tag in front of Jeongguk. 

"You think?" Jeongguk smirks, gripping Taehyung's waist even tighter, pulling the latter closer to him. 

"Yeah... Oh," Taehyung says sarcastically, leaning his head on Jeongguk's shoulder as he turns towards the omega, watching her nervously close her palm, keeping her ignored confession and name tag. "You're still here? Why? Do you have anything else to say to Gukkie?" Taehyung asks, lifting a taunting brow at the omega, seeing her face turn more red with embarrassment.  

"N-no... It's nothing... S-sorry-.."

"Tae c'mon... I can't wait." Jeongguk whines impatiently, his full attention on Taehyung. 

"All right... Let's go," Taehyung replies, allowing Jeongguk to lead the way as the latter continues to hold onto his waist. 

'I may not be sure about dating... Nevertheless, this psycho is still mine— and I am not letting any of you have what's mine...' Taehyung thinks as he glances back, glaring sharply at the omega. 

🃏🃏🃏

Taehyung felt as if he blacked out for a moment, and when he regained his senses, he realized he and Jeongguk had somehow ended up in the restroom on the third floor of their school building again: he's sitting on the sink, staring blankly into the wall, while Jeongguk stands in between his legs, his mouth on his neck.

"Mhm... I'm not sure what you and that beta talked about, but whatever it is, if it always leads to this, I guess I might not mind it too much." Jeongguk chuckles as he continues to lap his tongue on Taehyung's neck, his hands on the latter's waist.

"*Sigh* Do you really have a thing for my neck? I swear to God, there's not a day that goes by that I don't come home smelling like your spit." Taehyung says, clicking his tongue and feigning annoyance as he lightly pushes Jeongguk away from him, his eyes blood red as he meets the other alpha's gaze. "Look at you slobbering like a baby," Taehyung adds, pulling a piece of tissue near the sink and wiping Jeongguk's mouth with it.

"You just smell so good, Tae... So good," Jeongguk sighs as he dives in again and kisses Taehyung's neck, while Taehyung takes another deep inhale, leaning his head back, staring at the ceiling.

"Really? Funny— there was once a rumor about me going around here that I stank worse than the sewers," Taehyung says, laughing bitterly to himself as Jeongguk stilled, tightening his grip on Taehyung's waist before pulling back to stare sternly at his face.

"They're lying. They're probably smelling their own mouths when they dare say that," Jeongguk says, his eyes turning red. 

"Haha... Good one. Though they could be saying the truth— after all, you're the only one who thinks I smell good." Taehyung responds, shifting his gaze back to Jeongguk.

"You have no idea what you really smell like, do you?" 

"Mhm... Well, it's not like we can smell ourselves, and no one has ever been interested in me enough to tell me all about it," Taehyung says, watching Jeongguk gently hold his hand, taking a deep breath against his wrist.

"Fire—camp fire, iris and violets. Fire light on my face... Indigo blue night skies. Whenever you're with me, your scent makes me feel like there's no one else but us. You fill up my senses completely—owning it—owning me, while making me feel as free as the desert wind."

Jeongguk says, softly pressing his lips on Taehyung's wrist while his eyes stay fixed on him.

"You're such a smooth talker— so poetic... No wonder everyone thinks we're together. Pfft... Can you believe it? They believe we're actually dating." Taehyung smirks, opening his hand, allowing Jeongguk to nuzzle his cheek against his palm.

"Oh, do they, now?" Jeongguk asks, his lips twisting up into a lazy grin.

"It was all because you couldn't keep your hands to yourself; we were seen making out, and apparently those prying eyes also have such big talking mouths," Taehyung responds, staring as Jeongguk kisses his hand lightly, lips creeping up from his palm to his fingertips.

"I don't really care what they think; they don't mean anything to me," Jeongguk says, his eyes closed and speaking in a drunken tone.

"We're not really dating, but what if the news reaches your family?" Taehyung wonders, his gaze fixated on Jeongguk, unmoved even when the latter's eyes flash bright red at him once more.

"Pfft... I'll probably die, but who cares?" Jeongguk chuckles and Taehyung has no idea if he means it or if he's just being his usual unserious self.

**'What do you think? Is he really going out with Jeon Jeongguk?' 

'I knew it... He's really shameless.'

'Talk about climbing up the social ladder real quick, pfft...'

'I mean, why him? Isn't Kim an alpha? Can't he just find a rich omega?' 

'Bet Jeongguk's just playing with him.'**

Suddenly, Taehyung's hearing voices in his head again, mocking him— deciding what he deserves and what he doesn’t.  

"You said that I'm yours, right? Although I never approved of such a thing, if you're going to continue saying it, then I guess it's only fair that I take you for myself as well." Taehyung says as he hops off the sink, grabbing Jeongguk by the collar of his shirt and dragging him inside one of the empty cubicles.

"Why?" Jeongguk smirks, looking at Taehyung as if he's so amused by the latter's actions.

"Life never allowed me to own anything for myself, and as I lived, I learned that it's not advisable for someone like me to have a lot of greed... But I hate that," Taehyung says, pushing Jeongguk onto the toilet seat, standing between the latter's parted knees, hovering over his face.

"Oh really?" Jeongguk grins, pushing a tongue on his cheek.

"Yes, I loathe it. That idea of living righteously—being kind, understanding, and forgiving all the time... Pfft... I think it's all rubbish; a moral pretense that disguises one's true nature—the vile and bitter. Those who believe we should live that way are all hypocrites," Taehyung states, pushing his palm on the middle of Jeongguk's chest, keeping him still as he straddles his thighs. "Tell me, how can I be kind, understanding, and forgiving when I've been treated like a piece of trash my entire life? A mistake, a nuisance, an anomaly? It doesn't really make sense to me," Taehyung says, his eyes still burning crimson as Jeongguk places both of his hands on his waist, rubbing his palm up and down onto Taehyung's hips.

"Exactly." Jeongguk says; that devil-may-care smirk is still on his lips.

"That's why I've decided to take it... Everything you've been offering to me, dress me up however you like—but in exchange, you, Jeon Jeongguk, and everything that comes with your name has to be mine as well; which means, without my permission, you're also not allowed to die." Taehyung says, cupping Jeongguk's face, a certain kind of greed sparking inside of him.

Fuck whatever they want to say about him; call him a gold digger, an opportunistic—elite alpha wannabe, Taehyung has already decided not care.

Owning Jeon Jeongguk will be his sweetest revenge against all of those people who looked down on him and made his life a living hell. 

Next thing Taehyung knew, his mouth was already on the crook of Jeongguk's neck, sucking a bruise that blooms purplish-red as Jeongguk rakes his fingers through the back of his hair.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Taehyung continues as he pulls back, once again meeting Jeongguk's gaze. 

"I do... You're basically saying that you want me as much as I want you." Jeongguk replies. 

"Wrong. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not going to let you have me for free. Everything you want to get from me, I'm gonna take it back... You came to me, Jeongguk. You started this, and I'm simply returning the favor—for real now. I won't care whether your family hates you or disowns you; even if you eventually find your mate and marry, or even if you change your mind—You. Will. Still. Belong. To. Me... I'll keep using you to get whatever life hasn't given me... Are you sure you're cool with that?" Taehyung asks as he eyes the bruise he left on Jeongguk's neck, pressing his thumb on the mark. 

"Pfft... You're really asking me that?" Jeongguk giggles, seizing Taehyung's arm and bringing his wrist close to his mouth. "Didn't you know? You already had me the moment you first showed yourself to me, Taehyung... I've been yours from the beginning. Our eyes met, and that's it— our genesis," Jeongguk continues, his still gaze fixed on Taehyung as he bites the latter's wrist, not hard enough to leave a mark, but hard enough to make his intentions clear.

Taehyung found himself grinning as he felt the heat from Jeongguk's mouth on his skin, tearing the latter's shirt open, and then sinking his teeth into Jeongguk's shoulder, drawing blood that trickled down to his chin as he pulled back. 

"I told you, I'll take whatever you take from me, and I'll do whatever shit you do to me... If you continue to want me, you better accept the fact that you'll never get ahead of me— it's either we stand on equal footing, or you kneel before me," Taehyung says as he rubs the crook of Jeongguk's neck.

"The next time you try to bite me, I'll sink my teeth here— where the mark I'll be leaving on your skin will never fade— until you die and sink to your grave..." Taehyung giggles while Jeongguk wipes the blood on his lips. "You messed with the wrong alpha, Jeon..." he adds as he takes Jeongguk's thumb in his mouth and sucks on it as the latter beams and stares at him. 

"Really? Mhm... I think got myself the perfect one right here," Jeongguk responds, as both their eyes turn pitch black, gazing at each other with their own abyss ready to devour everything.

***

"That fucking bastard!" Jang Minho exclaims, crushing the can of beer in his hand. He's currently here with his pals at Blazing Moon, one of Gangnam's exclusive bars where the elites can hang out and do anything they want, regardless of their age, as long as their names are associated with money and influence.

"*Sigh* Don't you think it's about time you get over it, man? Jeon even had you transferred to a different class, and who knows what that lunatic will do to you—or to us next?" Seung-hoon says, taking a sip of his beer with the two omegas beside him. 

"So you're saying I should just leave it and accept defeat?" Minho laughs. "Who do you think I am? I am Jang fucking Minho, Seung-hoon-ah... Nobody messes with me."   

"Well, Jeon Jeongguk just did. Pfft..." Hae-in chuckles, leading Minho to shoot him a threatening glare. 

"Yeah... And he'll pay a hefty price for it," Minho goes on, opening another can of beer and drinking nearly half of it. 

"I still don't get it... Really, what's the deal with those two? Did they know each other before Jeongguk came to our school? If not, then why him? Why go after Kim Taehyung?" Joo-hyuk questions, pulling back from the omega who's clinging to his arm. 

"Exactly! It makes no sense to me! I'd understand if Kim had been an omega, but the guy is a freaking alpha—they both are—so I'm not sure why Jeon is hanging to that garbage as if he's smitten by him or something," Seung-hoon pauses as they all catch a whiff of an overwhelmingly sweet scent coming from a dominant omega heading their way; luscious lips, smaller frame, thin gold chain around his neck. 

The omega is well-known around here. Hwang Sehun, the infamous son of the retired actress Hwang Shin-hye; also one of the most sought after young omegas in their circle. 

"You can't possibly be talking about Jeon Jeongguk now, right?" Sehun speaks from behind Minho, leaning over the alpha who is obviously charmed by his face. 

"H-Hwang Sehun?" Minho asks, not really expecting to see Jeongguk's infamous step-brother in a place like this.

"Need I repeat myself?" Sehun asks, his eyes sharp, raising a brow tauntingly at the group of alphas. "Who's smitten by who, again?" 

"H-hah... So you didn't know?" Minho responds, laughing awkwardly as he composes himself. "Your step brother's going absolutely nuts for a dirt-poor alpha who goes to our school," Minho says, smirking as he watches Sehun's eyes widen and turn golden in color.

"Y-yeah... There are even rumors that they're already dating, and I doubt your father will like it once he finds out," Seung-hoon adds. 

"And who is that other alpha you're talking about?" Sehun asks, his fists clenched on his sides. 

"Kim. Tae. Hyung. You might want to remember that name, princess... But you didn't hear it from me, alright? Apparently, your brother said he would kill me if I dare mention his bitch's name." Minho says, his lips twisting up to a coy grin once again. 

"Ah... Did he? Interesting," Sehun says as he pulls a pen from his jacket and grabs Minho's wrist, writing his phone number on the latter's palm. "Call me... I think we'll be really good friends," Sehun whispers as he walks away. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"Aren't you done yet? I'm hungry, can't you just clock out early so we can have dinner somewhere?" Jeongguk says, sitting next to the register, waiting for Taehyung to finish his shift here at the coffee shop. 

"If you're bored, just leave; you know how to get home, don't you?" Taehyung asks as he prepares one of the customers' orders.

"I do— but," 

"You've already scared off two of our customers with your pheromones, Jeongguk; I know you can afford to pay my daily wage, but I'd very much like to keep my job here; please, just leave... I'll see you at home in a bit, okay?" Taehyung says, tired of hearing Jeongguk's seemingly never-ending complaints. 

"Can't I just wait for you—" 

"Nope. You're done. If you don't do what I say now, I'll have to kick you out myself, and have you sleep on the floor tonight. You decide," Taehyung says, looking around at the other customers in the back who are all covering their noses, clearly displeased about breathing in Jeongguk's pheromones that have been reeking all over the store. 

"Tch, fine... But you can't eat dinner without me, alright?" Jeongguk pouts as he finally stands up. 

"Okay, okay... You can get us something to go. Let's just eat together at home." Taehyung says, playfully ruffling Jeongguk's hair to soothe the alpha who's obviously upset. 

"..'mm-kay. See you at home then," Jeongguk says, feeling more calm now that Taehyung had touched him again. He waited for Taehyung to finish petting his hair before walking out with a wide grin on his face.

. 

. 

. 

***

Jeongguk is on his way to Guryeong, carrying the packed sushi platter he's been craving from his favorite restaurant, when he hears a familiar voice coming from the small chicken store on the side of the road, leading him to stop. 

"Ah, yes, yes! For my kids... You said you got a new flavor, right? Then I'll take that as well," Taesoo says as he pays for the two boxes of chicken he just ordered. 

"Wow, Taesoo-ssi, is it pay day already? You've never bought this much before!" exclaims the owner of the fried chicken place. 

"O-oh no... It's just that I have two growing boys at home that I have to feed... You think they'd like this— uhm... Soy garlic and honey? This isn't spicy, right? My Taehyunggie has the palate of a three-year-old kid," Taesoo chuckles as he takes the boxes of chicken on the counter. 

"Pfft, yes, I know—but did you say two? When did you have another kid?" 

"Oh, no. Taehyung's friend is actually staying with us for a few days... And any friend of my son is a son to me as well... Then— thank you! I'll come back here soon, okay? Thanks again..." Taesoo says, bowing at the owner yet again as he heads towards the exit, while Jeongguk finds himself hiding behind a post, staring at Taesoo's back as the latter walks away. 

Jeongguk's gaze shifts to the packed sushi he bought, letting the plastic bag drop on the floor—his feet moving on their own, running after Kim Taesoo. 

"U-uncle!" Jeongguk exclaims, having no idea why, but his heart is suddenly pounding, like it's about to burst out of his chest when Taesoo turns towards him with a smile on his face. 

"Ah! Jeongguk, you're here already? Is Taehyung still at work?" Taesoo asks, gently patting Jeongguk's back as the young alpha stands beside him. 

"Y-yeah... Is that fried chicken?" Jeongguk inquires as if he didn't see Taesoo buy it just now.

"Uh, yes. Is chicken okay with you? We can get something else—" 

"N-no, no... I like fried chicken. T-thank you uncle." Jeongguk replies as he and Taesoo start walking again. 

"Nah, it's fine. Let's just eat a lot later once Taehyung gets home, okay?" Taesoo replies, handing Jeongguk one of the two boxes of chicken. "Ah, how did you sleep last night? The floor was uncomfortable, wasn't it?" 

"N-no, uncle... Taehyung let me sleep on the bed."

"Really? That's great! Do you need more pillows? How about an extra blanket? It's getting a little colder now, so you should bundle up, okay? I'll repair the heater on my day off..."

.

.

.

Home. Jeongguk had never felt he had one before— but now it appears that he's on his way there; he no longer has to have dinner by himself. 

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

'I'll keep using you to get whatever life hasn't given me...'

"Why the hell did I even say that?" Taehyung laments, grabbing the edge of the counter as he falls to his knees, thinking about Jeongguk again now that the latter isn't with him.

It's been a few hours since Jeongguk left the coffee shop, and it's almost closing time, so there aren't any more people inside. Taehyung should be cleaning up by now, but he's lost in his own thoughts, thinking about the things he said to Jeongguk earlier.

'Was that alright?'

'Who the fuck would even agree to that kind of deal?'

'Should I just take it back?'

'I should... Knowing that guy, he'll probably take it seriously.'

'It's not like he's one of those who have done me wrong.'

'But he belongs to a completely different world than I am.'

'No, what am I thinking? What do I even want to do with that guy?'

'Use him? For what? As a human credit card?'

'It's not like he can buy us a new house— oh, maybe he can... Should I ask him? No, what the fuck?'

<you can play this as you read.>

Nevertheless

"Oh, there you are... Pfft, I almost thought nobody was here."

Taehyung came out from his stupor when he heard Lee Soo-hyuk's voice; he then turned his gaze up, catching sight of the man's face looming over him, peering from the other side of the counter.

"H-hah... S-Soo-hyuk-ssi... It's been awhile, hi." Taehyung says as he awkwardly rises up, brushing the non-existent dust off his lap. "What— I mean, should I get you your usual?" Taehyung inquires.

"Ah, yes please..." Soo-hyuk says with a small smile on his face, rubbing the back of his neck, while Taehyung smiles back at him before proceeding to make his coffee.

.

.

.

"S-so uhm... Taehyung-ssi..." Soo-hyuk speaks up again, handing Taehyung his card as the latter sets his coffee and sandwich on the counter.

"Yes?" Taehyung replies, processing Soo-hyuk's payment.

"Are you okay now?" Soo-hyuk asks.

"Huh? Of course I am... Pfft... Do I look sick, Soo-hyuk-ssi?" Taehyung chuckles, finding Soo-hyuk's question a little unusual.

"No— not at all... It's just that, you had that nasty burn the last time I saw you, so I was wondering if— y'know, you're fine now?" Soo-hyuk asks as Taehyung gives him his card back.

"Oh, that... It was almost healed when you gave me an ointment, so yes, I'm completely okay now," Taehyung responds, puzzled as to why Soo-hyuk appears more nervous than usual.

"T-that's good to know... Uhm... Thanks for this, by the way." Soo-hyuk pauses, collecting the cup of coffee and sandwich from the counter, appearing as if he's about to leave, but instead he just stares at Taehyung again.

"Do you have any additional order—"

"That guy— the alpha from last time, are you going out with him, Taehyung-ssi?" Soo-hyuk suddenly asks, which catches Taehyung off guard.

"A-ah—.."

"Oh god—I'm sorry, you don't really have to answer that... It's just that I've been curious about it ever since that day... I'm sorry if my question made you feel uncomfortable," Soo-hyuk adds before Taehyung can even respond.

"I see... No, it's okay, you don't really need to apologize for that." Taehyung replies, sheepishly scratching the back of his ear, thinking about Jeongguk and how everyone at school, including Soo-hyuk, who has only met Jeongguk once, thinks they're dating.

'Do we really look like we're together?—Well, it's understandable for those who have seen us making out at school, but now even Soo-hyuk-ssi thinks that I'm dating that puppy too?' Taehyung thinks, zoning out for a moment; Soo-hyuk seems to be saying something, but Taehyung is too absorbed in his own thoughts to hear him.

"T-then... I'll be going now, Taehyung-ssi... Thanks again," Soo-hyuk says, bowing his head politely to Taehyung before heading towards the door as Taehyung snaps out of his thoughts. 

"Soo-hyuk-ssi!" Taehyung exclaims, leading Soo-hyuk to pause. 

"Yes?" Soo-hyuk replies, looking back at Taehyung, surprised to find that Taehyung is now behind him, holding his arm, only to let go as he turns around.  

"S-sorry," Taehyung says, averting Soo-hyuk's gaze just for a brief second. "Uhm... Jeongguk, that guy— I mean... I'm not dating anyone... Things like that aren't even on my mind right now. He's just a classmate— a friend, but that's it." Taehyung continues, telling Soo-hyuk what he believes to be the truth, because even though he and Jeongguk often mess around, they have never officially agreed to go out with each other. 

Nonetheless, Taehyung isn't really sure as to why he's explaining himself to Soo-hyuk; it's just that, compared to those close-minded, judgmental nitwits at school, Soo-hyuk appears to be somebody who will listen to his explanation. 

"O-oh, really?" Soo-hyuk says, his expression lighting up. 

"Yeah... Besides, that guy is also an alpha, so him and I together wouldn't really make any sense." Taehyung says, once again scratching the back of his ear, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. 

"I see..." Soo-hyuk sighs, his gaze drawn to the wall clock just behind Taehyung. 

"Taehyung-ssi, isn't it about time to close the store?" Soo-hyuk asks, causing Taehyung to also check the time. 

"Ah, yes... Sorry— you can leave now-.."

"I actually have nothing to do after this and I still don't feel like going home, so if it's okay with you, how about I help you clean up? Maybe we can grab a bite somewhere after," Soo-hyuk offers, placing his coffee and packed sandwich back on the counter and beaming brightly at Taehyung once more. 

From there, Taehyung found himself staring at Soo-hyuk and that sweet gorgeous smile the taller alpha has on his face. It's strange, because this might be the longest conversation he shared with Soo-hyuk, and now the latter's basically asking him out to dinner. 

Taehyung is actually at a loss for words, but then again, he knows that Soo-hyuk is a good person and he had always wondered what it would be like to be friends with someone like Soo-hyuk— an admirable alpha who appears to have never looked down on anyone regardless of their rank or their social status. 

"T-that sounds good— but uhm... You don't really need to help out, just sit over there-.."

"Nah, c'mon. It'll be much faster if we work together, don't you think?" Soo-hyuk said as he went ahead and flipped the welcome sign on the door. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Old money

"There we go... Now we just have to wait for Taehyung to get home." Taesoo sighs, sitting on the floor next to their short-legged dining table. 

"Y-yeah... He should be on his way by now." Jeongguk replies, his eyes fixed on the ground, standing awkwardly beside the old refrigerator. 

"Pfft... Why are you just standing there? Just take a seat, grab a piece of chicken while we're waiting." Taesoo says, tapping the space beside him, urging Jeongguk to sit. 

"No— I'm not really that hungry so let's just wait for Tae." Jeongguk says, cautiously sitting beside Taesoo, but still with a safe distance between them. 

The truth is that Jeongguk isn't really a big fan of fried chicken. Well, he can eat it, but given a choice, he'd rather have something else, yet for some reason, the fried chicken he helped Taesoo set up on the table looks extra delicious and he's now really looking forward to sharing it with both Taesoo and Taehyung later. 

"Mhm, alright... Ah— we weren't able to talk much last night, were we? If you don't mind me asking, Jeongguk-ssi, can you tell me more about yourself?" Taesoo smiles, looking warmly at Jeongguk. "Y'know, you're the first friend of Taehyung I've ever met... And as much as our house is really embarrassing, I’d be lying if I say that I'm not glad that you're here... You being friends with my boy brings me relief." Taesoo adds, grabbing a piece of fried chicken leg and handing it to Jeongguk, which the latter reluctantly accepted. 

"I-I'm not really that interesting, so uhm—" 

"Is Tae-Tae treating you well?" Taesoo asks, pouring himself and Jeongguk a glass of water. "He's a bit hot headed sometimes, but once he's comfortable around you, you'll see that he also has a gentle side." 

"Yeah... He's feisty but also sweet at times," Jeongguk says as he stares absentmindedly at the chicken leg in his hand. 

"Hah! Exactly. When he was younger, he used to stand up for the other kids around here, acting like an actual pack leader..." Taesoo stops, his smile fading. "It didn't last very long, though..." he continues as he takes a drink. 

"Why?" Jeongguk asks, taking a deep breath before biting into the chicken Taesoo had given him.

"He began manifesting signs of his rank a bit earlier than the other kids— and you know, there isn't really any alpha in this area. We're all just betas and recessive omegas, then all of a sudden, Taehyung turned out to be an alpha, so the kids he used to play with, as well as their parents all became wary of him. They found him strange, and soon after, they began avoiding him like he has some incurable disease." Taesoo says, now with a sad look on his face, and suddenly, Jeongguk felt like couldn't taste the chicken. 

"Did they hurt him?" Jeongguk asks, putting the fried chicken down on his plate. 

"Most of them did... Although they never won a physical fight against him, the fact that they left him alone and treated him like an outsider hurts Taehyung even more," Taesoo says, leaning back with his palms resting on the floor. "That's why I'm thrilled that he's made friends with another alpha... At the very least, he has someone of his rank who is able to better understand him... I desperately want to be that person for my son, but as you can see, I'm just like the other people here... As much as I love him and care for him, there are certain things I cannot help him with, such as dealing with his ruts, managing his pheromones, controlling his strength, and so on... I've never experienced those things," Taesoo admits, while Jeongguk kept his gaze down the entire time the elder beta was speaking. 

"How— how did he end up being an alpha, when you're a beta? Was it his mom—" 

"No, Eunhee, my late wife was a beta as well... To be honest, I'm still not sure why my son ended up being an alpha. The doctors we met before said that we may have had an alpha in the family in the past, possibly a distant relative, and that either me or Eunhee had their recessive genes, which only emerged in our kid. My parents are both gone and Eunhee was an orphan, so we have no way of learning more... Besides, it's not like knowing the reason would do any help... Taehyung is who he is, and whether we like it or not, we must accept it... But, you know, it's not always easy, especially for him... That's why I feel sorry that he has a clueless beta like me as a father." Taesoo says, smiling when Jeongguk finally lifted his gaze and looked at him. 

"I-I think you're doing a pretty good job, uncle... Some fathers may not be as clueless as you, but that doesn't mean they're any better... At least those I know are much worse." Jeongguk states, finding it strange that he's comfortable enough around Taesoo to even divulge such things. 

"Hmm... You really think so?— Ah, you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I'm curious... Did you fight with your family? Your father perhaps?" Taesoo asks, intrigued about his son's friend. 

"S-something like that, yes..." Jeongguk says, looking away from Taesoo again. 

"I see— since you're an alpha, I guess you came from a family of alphas as well... Of course, Tae and I could never compete, but any time you need a place to stay, we— or at least I will always welcome you here... You can think of us as your second family," Taesoo says, gently patting Jeongguk's back.

"Being in a family with mostly dominant alphas isn't as nice and convenient as most people think... My father is very different from you, uncle." Jeongguk murmurs, his fists clenched in his sides. 

"Oh? Pfft... Of course, if he's a dominant alpha, as you say, there's no way we'd be similar. I'm just a beta—"

"My father— he sees me as an enemy—a rival, more than his son," Jeongguk continues as he stands, tasting the bitterness of his truth stinging through the corners of his mouth. "Excuse me... I'll just wash up for a bit, uncle," Jeongguk says as he heads to the bathroom, leaving Taesoo sitting on the floor. 

***

"Tteokbokki? Well, I like tteokbokki, but are you sure you're okay with just this? We can have a proper dinner somewhere else, I know a barbecue place that's just a couple of blocks away," Soo-hyuk says, fondly watching Taehyung eat the snack they bought right here on the sidewalk near the bus stop. 

"Nah, it's okay, I'm fine with just this... My dad— he always waits for me so we can have dinner together at home, that's why I can't be too full," Taehyung says, smiling and scrunching his nose cutely at Soo-hyuk.

"I see..." Soo-hyuk smiles, his eyes drawn to the smudge of sauce on the side of Taehyung's lips. 

"Uhm... I must say, I'm a little surprised that you asked me out—" Taehyung pauses, realizing how wrong his sentence just sounded. "T-to dinner, or snacks, whatever you want to call this, I mean... You're actually the first customer to ever do so, since most of the others just see me as this weird alpha working in a coffee shop," Taehyung says, popping another piece of tteokbokki into his mouth. 

"Weird? Why? You look totally fine to me." Soo-hyuk shrugs, eating as well. 

"You don't find me strange at all?" Taehyung responds. "I-I mean, I'm an alpha and clearly not an elite... I work part-time in a coffee shop and my colleagues are all betas." 

"So? Having a job doesn't make one weird; in fact, I find what you're doing admirable, Taehyung-ssi... Besides, you actually make the best coffee, which is why I keep coming back whenever my schedule allows it," Soo-hyuk says, pointing to the side of Taehyung's mouth to let him know of the smudge of sauce near the latter's lips.  

"Oh, do I have something on my face?" Taehyung asks, wiping the wrong spot. 

<You can play this as you read.>

Butterfly

"H-here... Can I?" Soo-hyuk stutters as he nervously smiles, pulling out his handkerchief from his pocket, asking permission from Taehyung to wipe the smudge, to which the latter just nods. 

"You think I make the best coffee? Pfft... That's interesting, I don't actually like coffee... It's too bitter for me." Taehyung adds as Soo-hyuk carefully cleans his face up.

"Exactly, that's why whenever it's from you, the coffee is always blended a little sweeter than when the other baristas make it... I really like it," Soo-hyuk says, moving his gaze from Taehyung's mouth to the latter's eyes, noticing his now flushed cheeks. 

"R-really?" Taehyung asks, his face warming up after receiving a compliment from an alpha like Soo-hyuk. 

"Really..." Soo-hyuk says, his focus dropping again to Taehyung's lips. "Y-you... You're really—" 

"Oh, my bus is here. Thanks for helping me out and for the tteokbokki... I—I really appreciate it," Taehyung says, his stomach feeling a little funny—a little ticklish—so when he sees the bus approaching, he decides to leave right away before he does or says anything embarrassing again. 

"Ah, you're welcome... Let's uhm... Let's eat somewhere nicer next time— if you're cool with it," Soo-hyuk says as Taehyung boards the bus. 

"Sure... Then, thanks again, Soo-hyuk—," 

"Hyung... I'm pretty sure I already told you it's okay to call me hyung." Soo-hyuk smiles. 

"O-okay... See you again soon, Soo-hyuk hyung..." Taehyung says smiling back at Soo-hyuk as the bus door closes. 

***

Taehyung was almost home when he noticed Jeongguk pacing in front of their front door. 

"Hey! What are you doing out here?" Taehyung asks, prompting Jeongguk to immediately turn towards him with a bright smile on his face. 

"Ugh, finally! You're late, where have you been?" Jeongguk asks as he rushes to welcome Taehyung home. 

"Are you my father? Pfft... You know I'm returning from work, silly," Taehyung laughs, slightly pushing Jeongguk away from him when the latter goes for a tight hug. 

"I know, but you're supposed to get off—" Jeongguk suddenly pauses, his brows furrowed as he silently inhales deeply. 

"Why?" Taehyung asks, noticing the shift of expression on Jeongguk's face, pulling back a bit when the other alpha leaned his face way too close to his. 

"Who were you with?" Jeongguk says, his tone deeper and ominous than normal, holding Taehyung's chin, lifting his face, taking in that familiar scent that's lingering on the latter's skin. 

"W-what do you mean by who? Are you seeing anyone else here? I don't," Taehyung muttered, his hands on Jeongguk's shoulders, staring back at the latter, watching as Jeongguk's gaze shifted to the side, looking past him all of a sudden.

"Never mind. Let's just go," Jeongguk says as he pulls Taehyung's hood up, draping an arm over the latter's shoulders, his palm protectively placed flat on the back of Taehyung's head, pulling him closer to his chest. 

"Why?" Taehyung whines, taken aback by Jeongguk's rather unusual behavior. 

"Come on. Uncle's waiting." Jeongguk asserts as he leads Taehyung inside, his eyes burning red, subtly following the shadow of a man he spotted hiding behind the lamp post, only a few steps away from them. 

🃏🃏🃏

It has been said that a family dinner can be defined by having at least two family members eating together, experiencing connection, and enjoying the presence of one another.

Jeongguk had never had one before.

Back at the Jeon estate, there's a mile-long table in the dining hall where he may be served whatever meal he wants at any time of the day or night. On that table, Jeongguk sits alone, and on the rare occasions when he isn't and when his father is at home, he still feels like he's on his own.

Now he's here, sitting beside Taesoo and Taehyung, in a house where the top of his head almost touches the ceiling whenever he stands up; no pink ivory chairs, candles, salmon, steak, and asparagus, sparkling water or freshly squeezed fruit juice, just store-bought fried chicken, rice, kimchi, and radish, served on a table that's not even half the size of what Jeongguk usually has for dinner in their mansion.

But strangely enough— Jeongguk feels more comfortable.

In this small table where three grown men have to sit on the floor, their knees touching and their elbows knocking against each other, Jeongguk doesn’t feel alone.

"How's the chicken? Is it good?— Go on, go on, eat more, both of you," Taesoo says, placing another piece of chicken in Taehyung and Jeongguk's bowls. "How about the kimchi? Do you like more kimchi?" Taesoo adds, pushing the kimchi closer to Jeongguk before turning to face Taehyung. "You, do you like more kimchi? Should I wash more for you?" Taesoo asks. 

"Wash? The kimchi? Why?" Jeongguk asks, taken aback that Taesoo had just asked Taehyung whether he wants him to wash the kimchi for him. 

"Oh— this kid, I'm telling you, cannot tolerate anything spicy; he even has to wash the kimchi and radish with water before he can eat it," Taesoo giggles, making Taehyung's face warm up. 

"Dad! T-that— you don't have to let him know that," Taehyung whines, while Taesoo continues to chuckle while playfully patting his back. "I'm not a kid anymore..." Taehyung pouts. 

"Why? That's fine! Hahaha!" Taesoo pauses, placing his arms on Taehyung and Jeongguk's shoulders since he's seated between the two. "Y'know, kids like you two grow up so fast... My Taehyungie here used to be so little, and now he's way taller than me, and so are you," Taesoo smiles at Jeongguk. "I may have only known you recently, but I know for a fact that not so long ago, you were just a small kid... Ahh, I'm feeling older just by sitting in between both of you..." Taesoo sighs, a smile on his face. 

"W-what are you even saying, dad? You're not that old," Taehyung replies, a bit embarrassed to be having this talk with both his father and Jeongguk at the same table. 

"Hey, listen to your old man, alright? I'm just telling the truth... The bodies of betas like me age far faster compared to both of you alphas, but that's beside the point... What I mean is that you don't have to rush through growing up; there's nothing wrong with being young. If you still don't like to eat spicy food, then that's fine, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Even if others think it's childish, who cares? That's who you are." Taesoo says while ruffling Taehyung's hair. "And you, Jeongguk... Ahh, I might be crossing the line because I still don't know much about you, but you seem like the type to keep a lot of things to yourself... That's fine too, but it doesn't have to be that way all the time. You have my boy right here, your friend... I'm certain that I raised this kid well, so if you need someone to talk to, I'm sure he can be that person for you... And me, too," Taesoo continues, ruffling Jeongguk's hair as well. "Once you feel comfortable enough around me, you can talk to me too, alright?" Taesoo says, noticing the way Jeongguk and Taehyung subtly exchange glances. 

"*Sigh* Dad, why are you acting so weird right now? We were just talking about kimchi, weren't we?" Taehyung asserts, trying to break away from his father's arms, only for Taesoo to hug him even closer. 

"Eh? What's wrong? I'm just happy that you finally brought a friend home—" 

"Correction, I didn't bring him home, he brought himself here without even consulting me first," Taehyung says, rolling his eyes at Jeongguk, leading Taesoo to softly hit the back of his head, displeased with his son's tone towards his friend. "Tch, it doesn't matter. Our Jeongguk is here, and I'm so happy you found someone like him... An alpha— just like you, so be a good friend to him, okay?" Taesoo tells Taehyung before he turns and smiles at Jeongguk. 

"Dad—" 

"Oh my, it looks like I've said a lot... Anyway, I have to go to work now; take care of the dishes, and don't stay up too late, okay?" Taesoo says as he stands up and takes his jacket. 

"You're leaving already?" "You haven't even slept yet—" 

"Hey, don't worry—I get a lot of breaks at work, so I can sleep there whenever... Besides, if I sleep here, I might get too comfortable and wake up late, and I don't want to miss the attendance bonus," Taesoo says as he puts on his shoes. "Bye now, you two!" Taesoo adds, looking back with a smile at Taehyung and Jeongguk before he walks out the door. 

. 

.

.

"D-don't mind what my dad said. He's just being over dramatic because he's happy thinking I found myself a friend. *Sigh* We're hardly even friends and it's not like I never had friends. I still have Jimin and Hobi... It's just that dad hasn't had the chance to meet them yet." Taehyung says, massaging the bridge of his nose, while Jeongguk is still staring at the door. 

"He said he's glad you found me— an alpha..." Jeongguk absentmindedly replies. 

"I found you? Wasn't it the other way around? You came to me— it was you who found me... Although, I'm still not sure if that's a good thing." Taehyung says, his eyes at Jeongguk as the latter meets his gaze. 

"I guess that's what we have to find out..." Jeongguk replies, his eyes straying to Taehyung's lips. "Go ahead, wash up. I'll just head outside to get some fresh air, and then I'll clear the dishes," Jeongguk says as he stands up and walks out. 

. 

. 

. 

***

<You can play this as you read.>

Haegeum

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. 

. 

"Tch, why is this bitch taking so long to answer?" A beta in an all black outfit says, standing under the lamp post near the house of the alpha he was ordered to follow. 

*ring... ring...* 

"Fuck... He didn't tell me whether I should print the photos or just send them to his phone... Just fucking answer—" 

"I can tell you what you should do with those photos you just mentioned," Jeongguk says, pressing the pointed tip of his pocket knife up against beta's neck. 

"Y-you..." Beads of sweat started appearing on the beta's forehead, turning so pale as if all his blood were drained off his face. 

"This 'bitch' you're trying to call," Jeongguk pauses as he uses his free hand to take the man's phone, canceling the call. "Is it Hwang Sehun?" Jeongguk continues. 

"I-I have nothing to say to you except that I'm just doing my job... If you want me to switch sides, all you have to do is bid higher than my first client." The beta tries to smirk, only to flinch as the sharp tip of the knife tears the first layer of skin on his neck, his own blood trickling down his chest and soaking his jacket.  

"Or I could just kill you right here... Bet no one will bat an eye even if a nameless beta drops dead in a place like this," Jeongguk says, releasing his dominant alpha pheromones, which are odorless to betas but enough to make the receiver feel a certain kind of chill—feeling his intent to actually kill. 

"C-calm down... I told you I was just doing my job... Yes, it's Hwang Sehun... He told me to keep an eye on you—Jeon Jeongguk and that other alpha named Kim Taehyung," the beta eventually admits, leading Jeongguk to snicker at him. 

"Pfft... I knew it... Very well then. You can keep doing that." Jeongguk says, 

"W-what?" 

"Yeah, just keep doing your job— or at least pretend to do your job... If he told you my name, I'm sure you already know who I am. Name the price he paid, and I'll triple it... If he pays higher, I'll double it... Whatever amount he offers you, keep in mind that I am more than capable of offering you a better bargain. What do you say?" Jeongguk says, retracting the knife from the beta's neck, folding it and tucking it back in his pocket. 

"R-really?" The beta asks in disbelief as he presses on the shallow wound Jeongguk left on his neck. 

"Really... I can make my initial payment right here— with a bonus for your future services... Assuming you haven't sent anything to Sehun yet," Jeongguk continues, bringing out his knife once more. 

"No— no, he wasn't answering my calls, so I had no idea what to do with the photos I took," the beta says, raising both hands in surrender. 

"Great," Jeongguk says, revealing the blade of his knife and aiming it straight down the beta's neck. "Now give me those photos," Jeongguk says. 

"You already have it... It's all there in my phone—" 

"I said give it to me." Jeongguk says, dropping the beta's phone that was still in his hands and then stepping on it, crushing it with the heel of his shoes, while the beta sighs, pulling out a digital camera from his jacket and then handing it to Jeongguk, watching the alpha drop it on the ground, destroying it in the same he did with his phone. 

"Good... Now strip." Jeongguk says, eyeing the beta up and down. 

"W-what for? Why? I've already given you everything—" 

"You know people like you can't be trusted... Just do what I say: strip and clear out each of your pockets... I'll give you your money after, alright?" Jeongguk says, seizing the beta by the neck and pushing him towards a nearby dark alley. 

"*cough... cough...* Fine! Fuck! Aren't you way too young to be this intuitive?" The beta relents, taking off his jacket, shirt, and jeans, shaking them upside down one by one, his wallet and a single SD card falling to the ground. 

"See?" Jeongguk smirks, his gaze fixated on the beta as he takes the sd card and snaps it in half, watching the beta fumble, picking up his clothes once more. 

"That's seriously everything," the beta sighs as he puts on his clothes. 

"Good... Now, your name— your real name." Jeongguk asks, keeping the knife in his pocket again. 

"Choi Woo-shik, at your service," the beta says, his lips curled into a sneer, finally feeling more at ease now that Jeongguk has ceased releasing his pheromones. 

"Okay then... I'm guessing you know your account number by heart," Jeongguk says as he takes his phone and logs into his bank account. "Feel free to name your price." Jeongguk adds as he passes Wooshik his phone.

"How about a billion—" 

"I doubt Hwang Sehun even has that kind of money... Get real, alright?" Jeongguk calmly replies.

"Fine, fine... Is this good? I don't really give discounts," Wooshik says as he types three million won into Jeongguk's phone. 

"Mhm... Well, that's fine... You can add another half a million won if you like." Jeongguk replies, lightly nodding his head, giving Woosik the green light to transfer the funds himself. 

"Sweet," Wooshik grins all satisfied. "Done... Here you go— sir," he says as he hands back Jeongguk's phone, rolling his eyes as he watches the alpha pick up his wallet from the floor, taking one of his i.d.s and a photo of him and his younger sister. 

"I'll keep this for now... Come find me again when you get a new phone," Jeongguk says, turning his back on the beta. "See you, Woo-shik hyung," he smirks before heading to Taehyung's home. 

***

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. 

. 

"You're really shameless, aren't you?" Taehyung sighs, drying his hair with a towel, finding Jeongguk lying down on his bed after he comes out of the shower. 

"I already washed up before dinner, and I even changed my clothes again, so—" 

"Tsk, whatever. Move your ass, I want to sleep next to the wall." Taehyung says, patting Jeongguk's thigh as he moves up on the bed, squeezing himself in between Jeongguk and the wall. 

"Mhm... Why? Because it's colder?" Jeongguk asks, throwing his arms around Taehyung and rubbing his face against the latter's neck. 

"If you already know the reason then let go. It's hot—" 

"You still haven't answered my question from earlier... Who were you with, Taehyung?" Jeongguk says, gripping Taehyung's waist and pulling him over, making the other alpha lie down on his stomach on top of him. 

"Hey!" 

"Just answer me, please... I smelled another alpha on you and I didn’t like it." Jeongguk says, his burning red eyes on Taehyung as the latter sits up, straddling his waist. 

"It was just Soo-hyuk hyung, okay? He came by, helped me close the shop, and then we ate tteokbokki until my bus arrived," Taehyung replies, his eyes getting wider and flashing amber as Jeongguk takes him by the waist again and sits up as well. 

"That alpha again? I knew it." Jeongguk says, dropping his head on Taehyung's shoulder. 

"Knew what exactly?" Taehyung asks,

"That you were with him... That Soo-hyuk. Who is that guy to you, Tae?" Jeongguk asks— well, more like whines, embracing Taehyung tighter in his arms. 

"Huh? What do you mean? You're making it sound like he and I are a thing." 

"He likes you. I know." Jeongguk whispers as he clutches the back of Taehyung's shirt. 

"Pfft... That's ridiculous. He's just a regular at the coffee shop." Taehyung chuckles, struggling to deny that he's finding Jeongguk rather cute right now. 

"You're so clueless—" 

"Not everyone is as strange as you, Jeon. Soo-hyuk hyung is an alpha; I already told you this, but in case you forgot, you're the only alpha who's weird enough to be interested in someone like me, so stop whining like a kid already," Taehyung says, gently patting Jeongguk's back, sensing the latter's distress from the scent he's been emitting. 

"Still—" Jeongguk just sighs in defeat. 

"What do you want?" Taehyung asks, pulling back from the hug, looking Jeongguk straight in the eyes. "I kinda want you to drop it and shut up now, so can't you just tell me what you want?" Taehyung asks again, his eyes shifting from amber to red. 

"I want to scent you. Can I?" Jeongguk replies without even batting an eye. 

"Straight to the point, huh?" Taehyung scoffs; they continue to stare at each other for a few more seconds before Taehyung gives up, tipping his head to the side, exposing his neck to the desperate alpha in front of him. "Go ahead, before I change my mind." Taehyung says, thinking that it's okay for him to carry Jeongguk's scent since it's the weekend and they don't need to go to class tomorrow morning. 

"So generous as usual..." Jeongguk smirks, leaning in closer and pressing his nose against the crook of Taehyung's neck. "Y'know, I was wondering... Were you always this easy to persuade?" Jeongguk asks as he begins sensually rubbing his nose and cheeks all over Taehyung's neck. 

"Do you have a death wish?" Taehyung warns, allowing Jeongguk to tilt his head to the other side, placing chaste wet kisses on his neck, leaving his scent on his skin. 

Truth is, Taehyung still doesn't really know how to answer Jeongguk's question, so he just evaded it. He has no idea why he's even allowing Jeongguk to get this dangerously close to him and as to why he allowed him to stay here in his home and meet his father. It's as though, since the first time they met, Jeongguk has had the ability to melt down the walls Taehyung has built to protect himself from other people.

Why? How? 

Well— Taehyung doubts he'll ever come up with the correct answer. 

"No, I don't... But do you want to hear my thoughts on it?" Jeongguk asks as he casually slips his hands under the hem of Taehyung's shirt, caressing the latter's bare skin and gliding his palms across his waist to his back and hips.

"Don't ask if you're going to say it anyway," Taehyung replies, feeling something hard pressing right against his groin as he breathes in the heavy scent of Jeongguk's pheromones that's reeking all over his room. 

"Mhm... Well— I think that you're just like me. You are me in a different body; that maybe our demons are twins, and that's the reason why you're not avoiding me— why you're not pushing me away, like you usually do to everyone else," Jeongguk whispers, his lips creeping up to Taehyung's ear. "We're different, but also the same. You see yourself in me, as I see myself in you. You crave for the things I have, while I ache for the things you own. You look at me like you're staring into a mirrorball... And I believe that is what makes this so comfortable." Jeongguk continues, now speaking with his lips pressed against Taehyung's mouth, kissing him briefly, as if teasing—enticing him to ask for more than what he's giving.

"I barely know anything about you, so I honestly have no idea what you're talking about," Taehyung says, smirking as he grabs a fistful of Jeongguk's hair, pulling his head back while feeling the latter's hands, sliding down to his ass. 

"Don't lie... I know you can feel it too." Jeongguk chuckles as Taehyung stares at his own reflection through his crimson eyes. 

"What do you even know about me, Jeon?" Taehyung asks, holding back a gasp when Jeongguk suddenly grabs his behind and pushes his lower half to his crotch. 

"Oh I know a lot about you now, Tae... I know that just like me, you've set a lot of rules— built up walls to shut others away from you... I know that you have these things you're so afraid of you want them to remain unknown to the world. You have a lot of dreams—a lot of greed, a lot of repressed wrath and wickedness within yourself... And if given a chance, you'll certainly go for the kill," Jeongguk says, his eyes falling to Taehyung's lips as he continues lifting Taehyung up and down, slowly rubbing their lower halves together. 

"Heh..." Taehyung grinned all amused. "You sound so sure... What if you're wrong?" Taehyung teases, masking the intense tension between them by acting unfazed. 

"I don't know— you tell me... Am I really just imagining things? Or are you just scared to admit it?" Jeongguk asks, taking Taehyung's hand that was grabbing his hair, pressing his cheeks against the latter's wrist, softly kissing his arm, going up, before nuzzling his face back onto Taehyung's neck again. 

"Admit to what exactly?" Taehyung replies, closing his eyes as Jeongguk starts kissing his neck more aggressively, biting and sucking against his skin till his kiss traces up to his lips. 

"That, despite all of your rules and all the walls you've built around yourself, I am your exception, just as you are mine... You never needed an excuse. You never needed a reason. You keep on denying it, but you were already aware that not everything had to make sense... And maybe that's why you're now willing to wear my scent," Jeongguk says confidently, grinning coyly at Taehyung as they stare at each other, their eyes burning crimson. 

"You're too chatty... Just shut the fuck up and kiss me already." Taehyung grunts, grabbing Jeongguk by his neck and claiming his lips in a heated kiss. 

'Yeah right... You are my exception—but can you also be my salvation?' Taehyung muses, tasting the silent sweet promises from Jeongguk's lips. 

🃏

<You can play this as you read.>

Sex money feelings d¡e

🃏🃏🃏

It has been said that a human touch could be explosive— tempestuous, and given at the right moment, by the right person, a single touch has the power to impair anything, even one's a state of mind. 

And Taehyung feels that is exactly what Jeongguk's touch is doing to him right now. 

Jeongguk's hands are under his shirt, caressing him all over; the sweat from his palms mixes with that of Taehyung's back as their lips continue to clash, kissing like ravenous beasts, fighting to devour each other. 

The pressure on his groin keeps increasing, and Taehyung now feels as though his body is no longer his own; he's basically sitting on Jeongguk's lap while the latter moves him up and down, wrapping him tightly in his arms. 

"F-fuck... Let's just take these off... Nngh... These damn clothes are starting to annoy the shit out of me," Jeongguk hissed as he tries to tear Taehyung's shirt off, letting out a frustrated growl when Taehyung stops him. 

"No. Leave it, okay?" Taehyung says, seizing Jeongguk's wrist and meeting the latter's crimson gaze. 

"But why? It's hot..." Jeongguk whines, his words coming out breathlessly. "I want to touch you, Tae... Let me..." Jeongguk continues, his voice strained and his expression dark. 

'He's at it again... He's tempting me again...' Taehyung thinks, still staring at Jeongguk's eyes, mentally resisting the urge to give in because he knows that if he does, Jeongguk will ultimately be able to take everything away from him— and the scariest part of it is that Taehyung might actually willingly give him anything. 

No, Taehyung knows that, between the two of them, he's the one who cannot afford to lose the upper hand. 

By letting another alpha be on his bed, Taehyung is aware that every night is bound to be another fight for dominance. The one who gives in first, loses it all.

Push and pull. 

Taehyung wants Jeongguk, and Jeongguk wants him back; the only difference is that Jeongguk appears to want him too much—so much so that his desire has caused him to offer to give Taehyung whatever he wants, even promising to change his life. 

But the question is, how long will that desire remain? How long will Jeongguk keep wanting him back?

Humans are fickle beings; they say one thing and do another; they can change their minds in an instant; and they often move on once they've decided that they're done.

According to Robert Greene's The Art of Seduction: 'your greatest power in seduction is your ability to turn away, to make others come after you, delaying their satisfaction.'

He must retain a little bit of mystery, to keep the thrill—the challenge, so that every time Jeongguk thinks he's got him, he slips right out of his clutches. 

However, Taehyung knows that he cannot always be indifferent; he must also give something in return in order to keep the chase going. 

Treats, like taming a puppy, should be offered on occasion to ensure that the little beast remains docile. 

"You can touch... But the clothes stay on— take it or leave it." Taehyung says again as he runs his fingertips from Jeongguk's neck down to his chest, watching as Jeongguk silently takes in a deep breath— and from there, Taehyung began acting on his own, pressing their lower halves together, slowly moving his hips up and down, sitting on top of Jeongguk.

"You're seriously driving me crazy..." Jeongguk scoffs, biting his lower lip as Taehyung slips his hand inside the waistband of his sweatpants, then doing the same for himself, taking both of their hard shafts out and lightly rubbing them together in his hand. 

"Eyes up here," Taehyung says when he finds that Jeongguk's eyes are about to drop down to what he's doing right now. He then took Jeongguk's wrist with his free hand and led it to their shafts, letting out a hushed grunt when Jeongguk linked both of their hands, squeezing their lengths together even tighter.

"This is as far as we can go tonight," Taehyung says, his eyes never leaving Jeongguk as he tucks their cocks and hands under the hem of Jeongguk's shirt, blocking the two of them from seeing anything. 

"F-fucking hell," Jeongguk sighs defeatedly as he rests his head on Taehyung's shoulder. "I can't tell if you're being stingy or generous," he adds. 

"Could be both... But instead of complaining, shouldn't you just be thankful right now?" Taehyung says, taking slow deep breaths as he moves his hand, fuelling the fire he ignited himself this time. 

He can feel Jeongguk's shaft pulsating against his own, it's hot, and even without seeing it, he can tell it's huge and thick—and long, perhaps not longer than his but definitely thicker in girth. 

Ah, Jeon Jeongguk is an alpha indeed. 

"Pfft..." 

"Mhm... Why?" Jeongguk asks, wondering why Taehyung's suddenly giggling right now. 

"I was thinking about whether I should be happy for your future mate or be sorry... Pfft... I mean, your size is quite impressive," Taehyung remarks, rubbing his hand over Jeongguk's cock and feeling it twitch against his palm. "The length is so-so, but the thickness is really something else... If you knot someone, it'll certainly be a nightmare for them," Taehyung continues, hissing and biting his lower lip as Jeongguk moves his hand as well, pressing their shafts more tightly together, brushing his thumb over the slightly wet tips of their heads. 

"You think?" Jeongguk replies, smirking all amused as he takes the lead, guiding Taehyung's hand up and down their shafts, making sure the latter keeps holding them firmly enough. "I suppose it'll be quite an experience... Having 'em stretched out by my cock as I pound into them, hard and deep... Over—and—over—again..." Jeongguk whispers straight into Taehyung's ear, flicking his wrist faster, squeezing their cocks even harder. 

"Nngh... Shit... Fuck you..." Taehyung couldn't hold back a whine, his gaze slipping lower, watching as their hands moved under Jeongguk's loose shirt. 

"Hmm... Why?" Jeongguk asks as he starts kissing Taehyung's neck again. 

"You're really thinking about your future mate right now?" Taehyung asks, feeling somewhat offended. 

"Pfft... You're the one who brought it up, I'm just playing along, so why are you the one getting upset now?" Jeongguk chuckles, lifting his gaze up, sneering with his lips pressed against Taehyung's.

"Who says I'm upset? I'm not— nngh, fuck! W-wait... Ahhh..." Taehyung's voice breaks into a moan when Jeongguk suddenly begins moving his hand quicker, tightly holding their lengths together. 

"Why? Just admit it, don't be shy... Say it— you're upset by the mere thought of me having a mate in the future aren't you?" Jeongguk continues, breathing heavily onto Taehyung's mouth, feeling each other throb against their palms. 

"Heh..." Taehyung smirks, refusing to submit, so he also tightened his grip on their shafts, flicking his wrist even faster, their hands soaked from each other's precum. "Why would that even upset me?" Taehyung groans, throwing his head back, feeling his impending release, and by the way Jeongguk's cock continues to pulsate, he knows that the other alpha is also reaching his limit.

"F-fuck... Nngh... Don't lie..."

"Don't be so full of yourself... H-hah... I told you, you can have a mate, marry and build a happy little family, and it wouldn't change a thing." Taehyung says, using his free hand to touch Jeongguk's face, pressing their foreheads together, unaware that his eyes just turned completely black, and that he's now releasing a dangerous amount of his pheromones; by dangerous, it means that if Jeongguk isn't a dominant alpha his body will immediately go into shock and pass out. "It wouldn't change a thing... I warned you that you were messing with the wrong alpha, Jeon... I will continue to hold on to your promises like a leech—a parasite, a disease trapped in your bloodstream... If you betray me, I'll do anything and everything to make sure that you perish. That is the reason why they often warn people never to mess with someone who's desperate. We've got nothing to lose— just everything to gain." Taehyung managed to say before his breath hitched, followed by the overwhelming high that came with their surging release, coming undone on their hands, panting while laughing silently against each other's mouths. 

"Ahh... I know. A promise is a promise, so just keep holding onto it," Jeongguk says, gliding his palm over their shafts' wet tips as if purposefully mixing their cum together, then letting go, bringing his hand up to his mouth, his gaze locked on Taehyung. "I still don't know how I'll do it, but someday I certainly will... That's why you should also do your best to keep your end of the bargain, darling... In exchange for your dreams— you are to be mine. Just. Fucking. Mine... Understand?" Jeongguk says before flattening his tongue against his palm, licking the cum off his hand. 

"Sure... Take it—me—once you've actually managed to fulfill everything you promised me... For now, just keep on working hard, Jeonggukkie." Taehyung says, with a defeated smile on his face, his post nut clarity hitting him hard as he stands up, almost staggering on his way to the bathroom to wash up. 

. 

. 

. 

"Fuck..." Taehyung finally exhales after locking himself in the bathroom, his back against the door, staring at his palm, which is still dripping with his and Jeongguk's cum. 

"P-pfft... What a mess..." Taehyung murmurs, referring to himself; his throat is dry, and his heart feels like it's on the verge of leaping out of his chest. 

Then, Taehyung started laughing, feeling both lucky and pathetic. He has no idea if Jeongguk will actually keep his promises— but still, he found himself believing each one of them. 

It might not be right now, but someday— one day, he will definitely get out of this hell.

***

*SLAP!*

"What do you mean you didn't get anything?! No address, no picture?! Are you fucking kidding me?" Sehun screams, slapping Woo-shik across the face. 

They're in one of the club's VIP rooms, where he first met Jang Minho a few days ago. The same club where Sehun first learnt about Kim Taehyung's existence and the alpha's relationship to his stepbrother, Jeongguk. 

"Tch, I already told you— the kid is hard to find," Woo-shik responds, spitting blood as he covertly examines Sehun's bodyguards standing behind the omega. 

"I don't believe you. Uncle said you're the best in this field— how much do you need? You just want more money, don't you?" Sehun says, pulling out a couple stacks of cash from his bag. 

"It's tempting, but I'm afraid I'd have to decline. I have another gig lined up for tonight... Don't get me wrong: it's not like I didn't try; I even squandered my whole day and still came up empty-handed. So perhaps I'm just not the right guy. I know a few people—" Woo-shik was then interrupted when Sehun's bodyguards suddenly seized both of his arms, pushing him down on his knees and restraining him completely after receiving a mere nod from the omega. 

"Do you really think you can get out of here unscathed? Hyung caught you, didn't he? How much did he pay you?" Sehun demands, hovering over Woo-shik with his sharp amber eyes. 

"Woah... Just because I failed, doesn't mean I got caught. I know my limits and I know when to take my hands off." Woo-shik responds, 

"Are you expecting me to believe that?!" 

"I'd let me go if I were you. My boss and my buddies are waiting for me outside, and I told them I'd be out in five minutes." Woo-shik smirks, eyeing the stacks of money that are now on the floor, thinking he made the right decision, given that the amount he's seeing isn't even half of what he now has in his bank account, thanks to Jeon Jeongguk. 

"I know you. I know you work alone— and I know I can kill you right here and get away with it," Sehun growls, grabbing a fistful of Woo-shik's hair, taking one of his bodyguards' handguns, and aiming it against Woo-shik's head. 

"Am I supposed to beg for my life now?" 

"You better." Sehun replies, ready to pull the trigger. 

Woo-shik began to waver with that. He hates this kind of situation; his sister is waiting for him at home, and he can't afford to stay caught up in this any further. 

'Just keep doing your job—or at least pretend to do your job...' A chill raced up Woo-shik's spine as he remembered his encounter with Jeon Jeongguk earlier. Interestingly enough, he finds the young alpha's eyes more frightening than Hwang Sehun placing a gun to his head with his five bodyguards. 

Nevertheless, he knows that he cannot just die here right now. 

"I—I heard that Kim Taehyung's father works in a textile mill near Guryong village... That's all the information I have for now... I'll try to find out more, so just give me time," Woo-shik says, thinking that it's safer for him if he gives Sehun something, so that he can get away and then tell Jeon Jeongguk—his chosen client, all about the situation they're in. 

"Now we're talking," Sehun quips as he orders his guards to release Woo-shik. "Did you get the father's name? I’m sure you did." Sehun adds, waving his gun in front of Woo-shik’s face. 

"Kim... Kim Taesoo," Woo-shik says as he stands up, scooping up the heaps of cash on the floor. "Can I go now?" he says, sighing in relief when Sehun simply smirks and nods his head in response. 

***

<You can play this as you read.>

Always remember us this way

It's four o'clock in the morning and Taehyung is still awake while Jeongguk is sleeping soundly beside him; the latter is holding his hand while lying on his back and Taehyung is staring at the ceiling when he suddenly felt Jeongguk tightening his grip on his hand. 

"Nngh...."

Taehyung then furrowed his brows, hearing Jeongguk whimpering silently beside him, he shifted on the bed and turned towards the other alpha, noticing the beads of sweat on Jeongguk's forehead. 

"*Sigh* Is it hot? Well, it’s not like I can do anything about it, I told you we got no AC." Taehyung muttered under his breath, finding his hand moving on its own, gently wiping the sweat from Jeongguk's face. 

When he realized what he's doing, Taehyung immediately pulled his hand back, taking a deep breath— but Jeongguk looked like he's in so much distress, and for some reason, Taehyung couldn't stop himself from feeling something. 

"What's wrong, mhm?" Taehyung asks, lying on his side, staring at Jeongguk's face. 

"D-don't leave... I— I won't cry anymore, I promise... Please mom, don't just leave me here... I'm scared mom... P-please... Please don't go..." Jeongguk mumbled in his sleep, a single tear falling from his eye as he continued to hold Taehyung's hand tight. 

Everything then seemed to have moved at a glacial pace for Taehyung; his breath hitched, his heart skipped a beat as he caught Jeongguk's tears with his fingertips. He's never seen Jeongguk display much of his emotions, maybe except from the anger and frustration he showed when he saw Taehyung kiss Jang Minho, but aside from that everything about Jeongguk is like an abstract picture that's impossible to decipher for Taehyung. 

Now, even with his eyes closed, Taehyung could see the pain in Jeongguk's face clearly, and it makes him wonder what kind of nightmare he's currently having, and if he could feel that Taehyung is just here. 

With another deep breath, Taehyung pulled Jeongguk closer to his chest, hugging him tightly in his arms, pressing the latter's face against the crook of his neck as he protectively put his hand on the back of Jeongguk's head. 

"Shh... It's okay... It's okay..." Taehyung whispers, even though he's not sure if his voice could actually reach Jeongguk who is still breathing heavily, shedding more tears as he continues to whimper in his sleep. 

"I came to want you because I need you... Now you're making me curious, do you happen to need me too?" Taehyung asks as he softly rubs soothing circles on Jeongguk's back. 

"M-mom... It's warm... I— I like it so much..." Jeongguk whispers, tenderly nuzzling his face onto Taehyung's chest, hands grabbing the latter's shirt as if desperately clinging onto him so he wouldn't go. 

"Mhm... Sleep... It's okay— everything is going to be okay, little puppy," Taehyung says, and once again, he has no clue why he's saying this or why he's starting to care—and yet, right now, he doesn't feel like mulling over it. 

With Jeongguk clinging onto him in his sleep, Taehyung feels like the void in him has strangely gotten filled. 

"I still don't know who you are or what you're hiding... But I'm kinda getting used to your warmth now, so please don't betray me... Just always— always stay beside me." Taehyung says, placing a soft kiss on top of Jeongguk's head. 

***

"Aaah!!!!!" Mrs. Ha shrieks, huddled with the rest of their colleagues, when a bunch of mobsters suddenly barge inside their workplace, seizing Kim Taesoo who's now curled up on the ground. 

"Did you think we wouldn't find you, old man? How dare you stop paying when you owe us so much?" sneers the alpha who appears to be the ring leader as he ruthlessly steps on Taesoo's face. 

"P-please... I-I'm really going to pay up *cough* j-just please give me until next month... P-please..." Taesoo begs; he knows he's at fault, because, contrary to what he told Taehyung a few days ago, their debt still hasn't been paid off— but he has no choice, he's been saving for Taehyung's college admission, so if he repays their loan, then he'll have nothing left, and he and his son will starve to death. 

"I've been so kind— so, so lenient towards you, Kim Taesoo-ssi... But I've run out of patience already. Are you looking down on me? You're thinking I'm just a pushover, aren't you?" the alpha adds, crouching down and grabbing Taesoo by the hair. 

"I'll give you until next week, and if you still fail to pony up by then... It won't be just you who will bear the consequences," the alpha says, glancing at Taesoo's manager, who is cowering in dread with the other textile mill workers. 

"Then, you better start working hard... See you, Taesoo-ssi," the alpha remarks as he and his men leave the factory. 

. 

. 

. 

"P-please... You've seen what happened, sir. You know I can't lose my job right now," Taesoo begs; his face bloodied and bruised as he drops down on his knees in their manager's office. 

"I'm sorry, Taesoo-ssi. I have no choice; the incident has reached Chairman Hwang... We can't let those mobsters terrorize us again... Think about your colleagues; they, too, have families to feed," the manager adds, turning away from Taesoo, who has been his employee for years. 

"B-but sir... This is the only job I have... I have a son who's about to go to college, I can't—" 

"I'm really sorry, Taesoo-ssi. We'll just call you once your last pay check is ready," the manager says, hands clenched on his lap as Taesoo sobs in front of him. "Please escort Taesoo-ssi out," he orders the security guards on standby, turning a blind eye as the guards pull the screaming and crying Taesoo out of his office. 

. 

. 

. 

...

*ring... ring...*

—'It's done, sir.' 

"Good job. I'll call you later." Hwang Daeshik says as he hangs up the phone, rolling his eyes at his nephew who came to pester him first thing in the morning. 

"Do you know how much work you've put me through? I haven't even had my coffee yet, you brat," Hwang Daeshik says, as his nephew, Hwang Sehun, serves him his coffee. 

"I know uncle... But what can I say? It's just too much of a coincidence... I mean, who would've imagined that— that man is working at your factory? I got too excited, I wasn't able to wait." Sehun sneers, now massaging his uncle's shoulders. 

"So, what did Kim Taesoo ever do to you? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Daeshik asks, raising a brow at Sehun. 

"Oh... It's personal— but it's okay now... You've taken care of it as always... You're really the best, uncle, that's why you're my favorite," Sehun says, his piercing eyes glowing amber as he playfully hugs his uncle. 

—

Chapter Text

🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

Roslyn

🃏🃏🃏

It's now a few minutes past five o'clock in the morning, and Taehyung is still up, unable to sleep for some reason. He's resting against the small window right next to the kitchen, facing nothing but their neighbor's dreadful wall. 

The night skies are beginning to get light, but the stars are still visible outside. "Mood indigo," Taehyung whispered under his breath, the words spilling out of his mouth before he could even think of why he said it— ah, maybe he simply felt like it. 

It's cold— and maybe too quiet for his liking. He keeps on thinking about Jeongguk, who had cried in his arms all night while sleeping.

Taehyung isn't the type of guy who is easily moved by someone else's tears; he can't even remember the last time he wept, despite the fact that he has plenty of reasons to be depressed, and yet he is strangely feeling gloomy right at this moment. He's feeling things he shouldn't be feeling, and he's starting to care about someone he claimed he was only tolerating for his own benefit. 

'Why the hell did he cry?' Taehyung laments, resting his chin on his palm, shifting his gaze to the still dim blue skies, taking a silent deep breath as he hears some shuffling sounds coming from his room, followed by a series of light footsteps heading his direction.

"I woke up and you're not beside me... Why are you up so early, mhm?" Jeongguk asks with his lazy bedroom voice, wrapping his arms around Taehyung, hugging him from behind with his chin resting on Taehyung's shoulder.

"Just because." Taehyung replies, his gaze still locked onto the skies.

"Do we have anything planned for today?" Jeongguk asks, his eyes closed, leaning almost his full weight on Taehyung.

"I don't think so... Just go back to bed if you're still sleepy." Taehyung sighs, swinging his arm up, playfully ruffling Jeongguk's messy hair.

"Come with me... Let's sleep in more." Jeongguk murmurs, placing chaste wet kisses on Taehyung's neck before faltering backwards, slackly leading Taehyung back to the latter's room, where they both collapse heavily on the bed.

"Why are you so clingy?" Taehyung says as if he's complaining, but his tone doesn't sound like it at all, if anything, he sounded more endeared than annoyed.

"Mhm... Am I?" Jeongguk chuckles, his lips on Taehyung's face as he puts his arm around the latter's waist. "You're so warm, Tae... Let's sleep like this, okay?" he adds, breathing steadily again. 

Taehyung exhales deeply as he lifts his gaze to the ceiling, his body moving on its own once again, also throwing his arms around Jeongguk. 

"Are you cold?" Taehyung asks. 

"Not anymore."

"I told you I'm not good at comforting people..." Taehyung mumbled, feeling Jeongguk's lips move down to his neck. 

"Hmm... Do I look like someone who needs comfort?" Jeongguk asks, his tone lower and sterner than earlier. 

"Maybe... Or perhaps it's just all in my head," Taehyung responds, noticing Jeongguk's now tight grip on his shirt. 

"Did I do something weird last night?" Jeongguk asks. 

"Everything about last night was weird—" Taehyung pauses, suddenly remembering what they did here in his bed last night. 

"Thought you'd say that." Jeongguk idly replies. 

But then, Taehyung once again remembered the way Jeongguk cried and the desperate pleas he uttered in his sleep. 

"Where's your mom, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks, noting Jeongguk's sudden stiffness beside him. 

"I— I'm really sleepy right now, Tae..." 

"Mine has been dead since the day I was born... Those who knew about it kept blaming her death on me, because a beta's body technically isn't fit to carry a dominant alpha baby. How about your mom? She's still alive, right?" Taehyung interjects, asking Jeongguk again. 

"Why do you want to know?" 

"Because I'm curious? Why? Am I not allowed to know more about you?" Taehyung asks, his eyes widening as Jeongguk pulls himself up, pinning both of his arms close to his head and hovers over him with a rather enigmatic expression on his face. 

"Why?" Taehyung says, seeing that Jeongguk is still staring at him and tightening his grip on his wrist. 

"Drop it, Tae... Please," Jeongguk pleads, which piques Taehyung's curiosity even more. 

"I told you I'm not good at comforting others," Taehyung says, meeting Jeongguk's gaze with his usual blank expression. 

"I know— and you also told me that you wouldn't care, that you wouldn't try to get to know me... So why are you asking me these things now?" Jeongguk says, his eyes burning red. 

"Because you keep on making it impossible for me not to care... You're always up in my business, while you couldn't even tell me a few details about yourself; all I know is your name and that you're filthy rich... You're Jeon Jeongguk, Jeon Jungho's heir, the future chairman of Ennead—"

"Jeon Jeongguk— an alpha that nobody wants— not even his own mother... That's why she left, she abandoned me so she could get her life back while I rot in hell. Does that answer your question?" Jeongguk says, gritting his teeth and clutching Taehyung's wrist even tighter, likely leaving a bruise on his skin. 

"You say no one wants you? Well, it turns out that I do... I want you," Taehyung says, lifting his head and lightly bumping his forehead against Jeongguk. 

It's happening again, Taehyung is feeling that pressure weighing on his chest again as Jeongguk's eyes shift to amber, loosening his grip on his wrist. 

"Because of money? That's just it, right? That's our deal—" 

"Yeah... I honestly believe that being involved with you is a damn good investment..." Taehyung pauses as he releases himself from Jeongguk's grip, cupping the latter's face and kissing him softly on the lips. "You are Jeon Jeongguk... I am just a nobody—and yet why do I feel like you need me more than I need you?" 

"What if I do... Will that bother you?" Jeongguk sighs as he sits up, looking away from Taehyung. 

"I don't think so." Taehyung says, pulling himself up as well before he tenderly cups Jeongguk's cheek again, tilting the latter's face towards him again. "I've never been needed by anyone before... So I didn't know that being needed by someone would feel this good..." Taehyung continues, his gaze falling on Jeongguk's lips. "Tell me— what exactly do you need from me, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks, wondering whether Jeongguk will respond this time. 

"Your misery..."

Jeongguk states as Taehyung furrows his brow. 

"What?" 

"That's it," Jeongguk says, his face dour before he conceals it with his typical cocky sneer. "Get dressed. Let's go get something good to eat, I'm hungry," Jeongguk says, getting out of bed and leaving Taehyung's room, making it obvious that he's had enough of the conversation. 

'My misery? What in the world does that even mean? Fine... If you don't want to talk about it, then don't.' Taehyung sighs in defeat, knowing that Jeongguk's evasive response will undoubtedly disturb him all day. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Soap

Push and pull. 

The type of relationship whenever one person pushes for more while the other pulls away; Taehyung was initially intending to be the latter, but now he feels like he's the one chasing Jeongguk as the latter slips further away. 

They're now in Gangnam, carrying a dozen shopping bags full of clothing, shoes, and take-out, just as they always do when they go shopping, but for some reason, Taehyung feels like something is off about Jeongguk. 

Taehyung isn't sure if it's all in his head or if Jeongguk is really acting like a completely different person; he hasn't even looked at him, hasn't said anything—they're together right now, but as Taehyung follows Jeongguk from behind and as he stares at the latter's back, Taehyung feels like he's suddenly become a ghost. Invisible. 

Why? 

Taehyung abruptly came to a halt, everything began to spin, the crowd faded into the background, and all that remained was the image of Jeongguk walking further and further away from him. 

'Is this it? Is he tired of me now?' 

'Was it because I asked about his mom?' 

'I knew it.. I shouldn't have said anything.'

'I should've pretended that nothing happened.'

'Hah... What is this feeling? It hurts... I don't like it... Is this because of him? Is it him who is making me feel this way? Why?' Taehyung laments, dropping the shopping bags on the pavement, absentmindedly clasping his chest while looking aimlessly into space. 

'He's rejecting me... No, maybe not yet, but I'm certain that he will. He's probably realized that there's nothing special about me... Then he'd leave me and hurt me like everyone else...'  Taehyung thinks, unaware that his face has turned pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, thinking of Jeongguk's dark doe eyes turning sharp, cold, and distant, joining the other pairs of hostile eyes that keeps on looking down on him— surrounding him as he sinks deeper into the abyss.  

'Don't— don't look at me... Stop... Stop it... Stop-..'

"... Taehyung! Kim Taehyung! Hey, look at me... Look at me... W-what's going on? TAE!" Taehyung then snaps out of his stupor when he hears Jeongguk's voice calling out his name, his warm hands cupping his face, releasing his calming pheromones in the air— but it does nothing to help, Taehyung still feels like he's being smothered to death.

"Tae, are you with me now? C'mon, say something..." Jeongguk pleads, slightly shaking Taehyung's head, urging the latter to meet his gaze. "A-are you— fuck!" Jeongguk groans, noticing Taehyung's face going practically purple as he continues to hold his breath. "Come here," Jeongguk asserts, his pulse racing as he picks up the shopping bags that Taehyung had dropped before yanking him into a nearby empty alley. 

. 

. 

. 

As Taehyung's eyesight begins to blur, he finds himself surrounded by the cold blue water of their gym's indoor pool. He's holding his breath, feeling the air in his lungs deplete by the second. It's strange, the last thing he remembers is strolling through the streets of Gangnam— then he stopped, people continued passing by him, sharp sets of eyes spinning around him. 

It won't stop, and Taehyung keeps on sinking down no matter how hard he tries to swim back up.

. 

.

.

"Taehyung! Breathe! Why the fuck are you doing this?! Breathe! Breathe!" yells Jeongguk, pressing Taehyung's back against the wall and squeezing his cheeks to force his mouth open. "Fuck!" Jeongguk has absolutely no idea what to do at this point; Taehyung's lips are turning blue, and if he holds his breath for any longer, he'll likely pass out cold. 

"B-breathe... Just open your fucking mouth, please..." Jeongguk rasps as he attempts to push two of his fingers inside Taehyung's mouth, but Taehyung refuses to respond. "Fuck it!" Jeongguk shouts as he leans in, pressing his mouth onto Taehyung's now blue lips, blowing air into the latter's mouth, glaring red at the few spectators who were standing outside the alley they're in. 'Scram,' Jeongguk muses, releasing his rage and frustration through his pheromones, scaring away the curious onlookers. 

*Gasp!* *cough! cough!* 

Taehyung finally cracks after a few seconds, gasping for air, spit trickling down his chin, seeing Jeongguk's terrified visage as the latter looks at him. 

"W-why? Are you a fucking child? Why did you hold your breath all of a sudden?! Was that a temper tantrum? At your age?! Be for real, fuck it!" Jeongguk asks, seething, pinning Taehyung against the wall, holding both of the latter's shoulders.

'Oh... He looks mad.' Taehyung thinks, still dazed as he stares at Jeongguk's face; his cheeks are flushed, his eyes blood red, he's also sweating so much it looks like his hair is all drenched. 

"Now— you're finally looking at me." Taehyung whispers absentmindedly, feeling as if he's drunk; he then tenderly cradles Jeongguk's face, leaning in, softly kissing him on the lips as the latter's eyes widen in disbelief. 

"J-just what were you thinking? I don't—" 

"Shut up. Just be quiet for a while." Taehyung says, wrapping his arms around Jeongguk's frame, pressing his ear against the latter's chest, listening to his heartbeat as he breathes in steadily again. 

After a few moments, Jeongguk eventually relents and breathes out a sigh, placing his hand behind Taehyung's head, his free arm looping around the back of the latter's waist. 

"You scared the shit out of me. Don't ever do that again." Jeongguk says, wondering why he can't keep his body from quivering as he continues to hold Taehyung close to him. 

... 

<you can play this as you read.>

Halley's comet

. 

. 

. 

Now back at home, Jeongguk is sitting on the living room floor while Taehyung's lying on his back with his head resting in Jeongguk's lap. It's past ten in the evening, the food they bought has gone cold and they're still waiting for Taesoo to get home. 

"You're dad's a bit late tonight isn't he?" Jeongguk asks, gently raking his fingers through Taehyung's hair. 

"Is he? This is quite normal to me... There were even times when he didn't come home for days... He's probably working over time again." Taehyung says with his eyes closed both his palms resting over his chest. 

"Really? Isn't that exhausting, especially considering his age? Where does he even sleep? If he's this diligent, he's probably got a lot in his savings already," Jeongguk inquires, stumped to hear that someone is slaving himself with work for days and still lives in the kind of place Taehyung and Taesoo are staying in. 

"Unfortunately, dad's pay is only somewhat more than what I make working part-time at the coffee shop. That's why he's been working extra hours to make sure we have enough money to pay for our bills, food, our debt—and, while he's keeping it a secret, I know he's saving some to send me to college. I told him to take it easy since I also have my own savings... Dad— he just never listens." Taehyung says, his lids fluttering open, meeting Jeongguk's gaze. 

"I can help... If you're cool with it, I don't mind paying for your college expenses." Jeongguk says, making Taehyung snort out a laugh.

"You're really set on acting as my sugar daddy huh? Should I start calling you daddy for real now?" Taehyung quips, lightly pinching Jeongguk's arm as his lips twists up to a sneer. 

"Hah... My daddy issues might never let me find that word kinky enough for me to get a boner, so no thanks." Jeongguk chuckles. 

"I get that you don't get along well with your father... Will you ignore me again if I ask you why?" Taehyung inquired, clenching his jaw when Jeongguk almost immediately averted his eyes. 

"Do you really want to know?" Jeongguk sighs, shifting his gaze back to Taehyung. 

"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't." Taehyung replies, noticing how Jeongguk gradually loses all emotion in his eyes, making them look empty—as if he is empty inside. 

"My parents separated three years ago. My mother requested a divorce because she could no longer live with my father... She didn't take me because she hates me as well—she said I look a lot like my father and that if she keeps seeing me, she'll just feel that she's still with him... My father took me to Busan just to spite my mum in case she changed her mind... She didn't, though—I haven't seen or heard from her since she left the house," Jeongguk says, his eyes widening as Taehyung holds his hand and intertwines their fingers together. 

"I see... But wasn't that just between your parents? Now I'm curious about your relationship with your dad," Taehyung asks, his gaze still set on Jeongguk, watching as the latter licks his lips as it curls up to a smirk.

"Relationship? With that man? Pfft... We don't have anything like that. People, even my own mother, have said that I look a lot like my father, which may be why he never liked me. He sees me as a threat—a rival. He's always going on about how I probably couldn't wait for him to die so I could take over his household... He loathes me just as much as I detest him." Jeongguk pauses as he tightens his grip on Taehyung's hand. "The sole reason why he's keeping me alive is because I'm his only child— although, he did marry another bitch, a recessive omega who has a dominant omega son who isn't my father's... So yeah, I am his only son, both by name and blood... But take those away, and we're basically just strangers... Maybe that's why I find it odd whenever I see you and uncle— I've never seen a father have such affection for his kid. I've never felt such thing from my own kin." Jeongguk says, biting his lower lip as if to stop it from trembling before he forces a smile as he glances down at Taehyung again. 

"Why? Are you starting to feel sorry for me? Don't be." Jeongguk chuckles as Taehyung continues to stare at him without saying anything. 

"Was it hard? Your life, I mean." Taehyung asks as he sits up. 

"That depends on how you define 'hard'... Everybody has their own kind of hell— that feels like hell only to them. I see your hell as my sanctuary, while my hell could be your paradise— once I get rid of the devil who's ruling it now, that is... When that day comes, I'll take you with me, and I'll make sure that your hell would cease to exist. We could have everything: power, money, glory... Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Jeongguk says, lightly caressing Taehyung's face as the latter blinks slowly, leaning his cheek against his touch.

"You're quite a dreamer aren't you?" Taehyung says, his eyes turning amber as he looks at Jeongguk. 

"Well, what can I say? I finally have a reason to dream... You said I found you— but, I guess, uncle was right, it was you who found me, Tae... I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." 

"What do you mean?" Taehyung asks. 

"Let's just say that I had a gun, and you pulled the trigger... Let's talk about it again once you figure it out." Jeongguk smiles— a bit brighter this time as he stands up, extending his hand towards Taehyung. "It's getting late, should we go to bed?" He says as Taehyung takes his hand. 

"Okay." Taehyung replies. 

***

"I already told you sir, the young master wants to be alone," Jun-yeol says as he stands outside Jeongguk's room after catching Sehun trying to open the door once again. 

"I haven't seen him in days. I've been waiting every morning—every damn night—and I still haven't even seen his shadow yet... Where the fuck is he, Jun-yeol?" Sehun exclaims, gritting his teeth as he speaks, his face flushed with rage and fury. 

"In his room. Probably sleeping or playing games. The young master said he doesn't want to be disturbed—" 

"Quit fucking lying, old man!" Sehun explodes, pushing Jun-yeol on the shoulders so hard that his back collides with the door. "Ugh! I'm done with this, I'm going to call mom and she'll be the one to tell the chairman all about this," Sehun adds as he marches away, pulling out his phone to contact his mother. 

*ring... ring...*

—'Hello darling,' 

"Mom, I need you." Sehun says, on the phone with his mother as he halted his steps in front of their huge family portrait hanging on the wall, his gaze locked on Jeongguk's picture. 

. 

. 

. 

"Whatever you do— sir, you can never have the young master. I may not know much, but I'm sure he's already bound to someone— and that someone isn't you... Never will be you." Jun-yeol whispers to himself, staring at Sehun's back as the omega walks away.  

🃏🃏🃏

Taehyung and Jeongguk were alone for the weekend since Taesoo hadn't gone back home. Jeongguk found it strange, but since Taehyung explained that Taesoo working for days was normal, he didn't question it any further.

It's now Monday, and they're in the library, successfully avoiding all of their classmates' not-so-subtle looks and murmurs since they came to school together again this morning.

*Sigh*

"Why?" Taehyung says, keeping his eyes fixed on the book he's reading as he hears Jeongguk sigh yet again while staring at his phone screen. 

"Yoongi hyung kept texting me about that midget friend of yours... Apparently, Park Jimin has been pestering him since this morning, asking him to make me ask you if you're still mad at him... So— are you?" Jeongguk asks, unaware that Jimin and Taehyung had a confrontation when they met in the library last week.

"It has nothing to do with you," Taehyung says, massaging the bridge of his nose, refusing to take his eyes away from his book. 

"Look, don't get me wrong... I'm rather pleased that the midget's not getting in my way with you, however, I still couldn't help but be curious... You seem to be really good friends with the guy— what did you two even fight about?" Jeongguk inquires, casually snatching Taehyung's book and placing it face down on the table. 

"I said it's none of your business, Jeon. We have a test later, so do you mind giving me my book back?" Taehyung says, rolling his eyes as he reaches for his book, only to have it pulled away by Jeongguk. 

"Whatever your business is my business, Tae... Just so you know, I won't stop bothering you until you tell me what happened." Jeongguk replies, looking Taehyung straight in the eyes; and from there, Taehyung breathes out a defeated sigh, knowing that Jeongguk has no plans of ever dropping the subject until he gets what he wants. 

"Fine..." Taehyung replies, taking another deep breath. "Jimin... He was way out of line. He offended me, saying crap about alphas being assholes and such... Bet he forgot that I am one too— I got pissed and that's it," Taehyung says, instinctively averting Jeongguk's gaze, because the more the latter looks at him, the more he feels he can read him. 

"Oh? Are you sure?" Jeongguk says, his brow furrowed at Taehyung's response. 

"Tch, if you're not going to believe me, then just stop asking—" 

"Are you sure it's not because of me? Y'know— I've heard the rumors about us dating," Jeongguk asserts, his hand sneaking under the desk, crawling up on Taehyung's thigh, chuckling as Taehyung grabbed his wrist, eyes glaring red at him. 

"Drop it," Taehyung warns, but Jeongguk remains persistent, resting his palm over his thigh. 

"Tell me the truth, then..." Jeongguk responds, his eyes also turning scarlet, leaving Taehyung with no choice but to back down. 

"Fine. Jimin didn't like the fact that we're friends, but that wasn't the reason I got mad at him, so don't even try to delude yourself into thinking that I snapped at him in your stead," Taehyung says, taking his book back from Jeongguk and softly tapping it on the latter's forehead. "I just hate it when other people tell me what to do," he adds as he goes back to reading, flipping the pages of the book. 

"We—friends? Pfft... I don't think so, but what if he's right?" Jeongguk remarks, leaning closer to Taehyung's face and lifting the book in front of them to hide the proximity between their faces. "What if associating yourself with me would really bring you no good?" he says, speaking barely an inch away from Taehyung's lips, unaware that he has just caused the latter's breath to hitch. 

"Then that would be my problem... Not yours, his, or anyone else's," Taehyung replies, attempting to sound unbothered but his own eyes continue to betray him as he lowers his gaze on Jeongguk's lips, seeing them curl up to a sly grin, pressing a tongue on his cheek. 

"Why are you so adorable? You're making it harder for me to hold back," Jeongguk whispers as he shifts his palm up to Taehyung's inner thigh, causing the latter to freeze and his cheeks to flush pink. 

"S-stop it. We're in the library—" 

"When did that ever stop me?" Jeongguk sneers as he stands up, dragging the other alpha in between the shelves at the back of the library, where he devours Taehyung's lips, kissing him like a starving beast. 

'Yes, that's right... I really don't care if you end up alone as long as I can keep you as my own,' Jeongguk muses as he savors Taehyung's taste on his lips.

***

"Did he say anything?" Jimin asks, here at their usual lunch table with Hobi, Yoongi, Joon and Jin. To be honest, both Jimin and Hobi never expected that they'd get along with one of the most elite groups of alphas in their school, but to their surprise, Joon, Jin and Yoongi are actually good people. 

"I already told you, Guk almost never answers his phone, so if you want to get in touch with Kim Taehyung, you might as well do it yourself," Yoongi sighs as he shows Jimin his phone screen, proving that Jeongguk hasn't responded to any of his messages yet. 

"I-it's my fault... I shouldn't have said anything," Jimin laments, regretting ever voicing his thoughts about Taehyung and Jeongguk's rather strange relationship. 

"What did you even say to Tae for him to ignore you— us, like this, Chim?" Hobi wonders, anxiously scratching his head, since Jimin never informed him about the root of his and Taehyung's dispute last week. 

"I— well, I kinda warned him about Jeon Jeongguk..." Jimin says, noticing Joon, Jin, and Yoongi exchanging worried glances. 

"And then?" Hobi asks again, knowing full well that Taehyung wouldn't dismiss them for something as petty as a mere friendly warning. 

"A-and... I kinda told him that alphas—I mean, rich ones like Jeongguk and Jang Minho—are nothing but a bunch of assholes-.."

"K&N Constructions is owned by our family," Joon says.

"Mine owns the largest law firm in Seoul," Jin states.

"My parents own half of the hotels and high-rise apartments in Gangnam," Yoongi continues, their eyes fixed on Jimin, who looks like he'd rather be swallowed by the ground right now.

"I-I know... I know I was wrong... I was out of line, which is why I want to apologize," Jimin says, his voice cracking as if he's about to cry. 

"Tsk. Let me guess... You told Kim Taehyung that all alphas are the same, but he's different; and that's why he got mad, right?" Yoongi asks, guessing what happened based on his impression of what kind of alpha Taehyung is. 

"S-something like that, yes..." Jimin lowers his head. "But I don't get it. What's so wrong about saying that he's different when it's the truth. He's not an asshole like Jang Minho and his group, and he's not— well— he's not a chaebol like you guys. He is different, but I didn't mean it as an insult." Jimin says, still clearly upset that Taehyung has been avoiding him, even ignoring all the calls and messages he sent him through the weekend. 

"To you," Yoongi says as he places his chopsticks down on the table. "Have you ever considered that maybe, he's already aware of how different he is compared to alphas like us— and that maybe the last thing he needs is to hear it from his own friend's mouth?" Yoongi says, subtly glancing at Joon and Jin beside and in front of him. "Listen here, I understand why you're wary of Guk, but I've known that guy since we were kids... He might be a bit eccentric, but he's certainly not a bad person... So if you don't want to lose any more friends, maybe it's about time you stopped judging people based on their secondary genders," he says as he and the other two alphas stand up, leaving Jimin and Hobi on the table. 

"*Sigh* It's okay, Jimin-ah... I guess he's right. Not every alpha is the same; Tae may be different from them, but he's still an alpha as well... Let's just give him more time, he's not really one to hold grudges," Hobi says, patting Jimin's back to calm the obviously distressed beta. 

***

"C'mon... Can't I really just stay with you? I'll order a drink and few pastries—"

"No. How many times do I have to tell you that your pheromones scare off our customers? Just wait for me at home, Jeongguk." Taehyung says, waiting for the bus to arrive so he could push Jeongguk in before he goes to work. 

"But what if that alpha shows up? I don't want him getting close to you, Tae," Jeongguk whined, stomping his feet like a child as he noticed the bus approaching from a distance. 

"Who? Soo-hyuk hyung? I already told you, he's nothing but one of our regulars. He's an alpha and I'm 100% certain he's not interested in me— besides, today is Monday and he only comes every Fridays." Taehyung explains as the bus arrives at the stop that they're in. "Just go. Buy something to eat on your way, dad must be waiting for us at home by now." Taehyung says, shoving Jeongguk inside the bus. 

"Fine, fine. But in case that dude comes, don't let me catch his scent on you later— that is if you don't want to lose one of your regular customers." Jeongguk says, grabbing Taehyung's wrist, staring sternly at him. 

"Is that a threat?" Taehyung asks, clearly displeased with Jeongguk's tone. 

"No, it's a warning," Jeongguk states, his eyes flashing red again as he lets go of Taehyung, still staring at him as the bus door slides closed.

***

<you can play this as you read.>

No time to die

.

. 

. 

Jeongguk's walking through the streets of Guryong village when he felt a tiny stone lightly hit his back, prompting him to stop and check his behind. 

"Took you long enough." Jeongguk sighs, seeing Woo-shik, the guy whom he caught lurking outside Taehyung's house last week. 

"Ah... Well, what can I say? I'm a busy man." Woo-shik replies, nodding towards the nearby empty alley, leading the way as Jeongguk trails behind him. 

"So what's up? Came to tell me what that bitch is planning now?" Jeongguk asks, leaning his back against the wall. 

"There's that...*sigh* Though I'm afraid we have a little problem." Woo-shik says as he lights up a cigarette. 

"What do you mean?" Jeongguk asks, releasing a dangerous amount of his pheromones into the air, causing Woo-shik to stiffen up and scratch the back of his neck, feeling an unpleasant chill crawling up his spine. 

"I came to meet him after you caught me a few days ago... I'm not sure, but it seems like he's suspecting that you already know what he's doing... I mean, he's not wrong, but I still tried to cover it up since you paid me better... However, that omega might be more dangerous than you think... Dude had a gun, and I had no plans of dying that night so I—"

"What did you do?—You didn't tell him anything about Taehyung, right?" Jeongguk asks, his furious eyes glowing red at the beta as he pulls out his pocket knife. 

"No— I didn't... At least not about your alpha friend exactly..." Woo-shik replies, raising both his hands, regretting having gone to see the young alpha, when Jeongguk lunges at him, the pointed tip of his knife aimed at his throat. 

"Elaborate." Jeongguk warns, shoving Woo-shik's back against the wall. 

"C-calm down, boss... I had no choice... That omega threatened me with a gun, so I had to give him something if I wanted to get out of there alive... I didn't tell him anything about Kim Taehyung—except for his father's information—but that should be fine, right? It's not like he'll do anything bad to an old beta—"

"You— you have no idea what you've done." Jeongguk seethes, an unsettling shudder quickly overtaking him, though he has no idea what it means or why he's even feeling it... All he knows is that he has to find Kim Taesoo quickly. 

"What did you tell that bitch about Kim Taesoo?" Jeongguk asks, grabbing Woo-shik by the collar of his shirt. 

"Nothing much, just h-his name— and where he's currently working... That's all, I swear I didn't tell him anything else--.."

"Come with me," Jeongguk snaps, dragging Woo-shik to the Kim's residence. then instructing Woo-shik to wait for him nearby while he hurriedly checks to see if Taesoo is inside. 

He isn't. 

. 

. 

. 

"W-why? Did anything happen?" Woo-shik asks, noticing how pale Jeongguk's face has gotten. 

"Take me there... Kim Taesoo's workplace." Jeongguk sternly says, his heart racing inside his chest. 

***

*CRASH!* 

Taehyung has no idea how this happened, but he's now standing in front of an older omega woman who just poured her cold coffee over his head before hurling the glass past him, crashing and scattering into tiny little pieces on the wall behind him. 

"Didn't I tell you not to add sugar?" the woman asks, her red lips curling into a snarky sneer as she picks up her designer purse, her high heels clacking against the floor as she approaches Taehyung. 

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am... I'll just replace your drink... It'll be on the house--.."

"Do I look like I want anything to do with this nasty little coffee shop of yours?" the woman asks, interrupting Taehyung's manager, who had just hurried behind Taehyung when he noticed the customer's sudden outburst. 

"I'm sorry; I'll just refund you—" 

"Shut your fucking mouth, you disgusting alpha!" yells the woman, slapping her leather handbag at Taehyung's face, startling not just Taehyung but everyone else in the coffee shop. 

Taehyung has dealt with his fair share of unpleasant customers, but this may be the first time he's encountered someone as violent as the omega in front of him right now. 

Everything happened so fast, he was just doing his job as usual, serving their customers, when the omega came by, ordered an iced americano, took a single sip, and then immediately called Taehyung over, nagging him about the coffee, which she apparently didn't like. 

The issue could have been easily dealt with, but the omega refuses to accept Taehyung's apology, even ignoring all his attempts to de-escalate the situation. 

And Taehyung isn't exactly a patient person. 

He loathes being humiliated in public, which is precisely what this old omega woman is doing to him right now. 

Still— Taehyung knows that he has to remain calm. He can ill afford to lose his job, especially at this time. 

"Is this the type of service you provide to the customers here? I told you exactly how to prepare my coffee, but you were clearly too high up on your horse to listen. Why? Because I'm an omega and you're an alpha? Tell me, what exactly does an alpha like you intend to do by working in a coffee shop? Can't you see? You're making us all uncomfortable— you can't even control your pheromones," the omega continues to yell out, pointing her finger at Taehyung. "You're still young, but you're already causing trouble for other people--."

"I already said I'm sorry..." Taehyung muttered under his breath, balling his fists hard on his sides, trying to keep his rage from exploding. "I offered to just make you a new one—even said I'd give you a refund—but do you really have to react this way over a single cup of coffee, ma'am— *SLAP!*" 

Taehyung's ears began to ring when he felt the omega's sharp nails clawing his cheek as she slapped him hard on the face. 

"How dare you talk back to me?! Are you implying that I'm being unreasonable here? You—you're the manager, right?" the omega shouts, turning to Taehyung's omega manager, who appears to be on the verge of crying. 

"Y-yes ma'am... I really apologize—" 

"Ugh! I can't take this... My chest is burning... Oh, god..." she groans, as if about to pass out. "This won't do.... Not only did you waste my time and money, but you're also making me sick! My blood pressure! Oh my God!" 

"M-ma'am... Please take a seat first. S-should we call you an ambulance—" 

"The owner. I need to speak with the owner... How can you hire a kid who is blatantly unpleasant and rude to your customers? Not to mention that he's an alpha! Can't you see that he's putting all of us in danger? He can't even control his pheromones, see? See? He keeps releasing his wicked scent! Oh, I'm having trouble breathing! If I wind up in the hospital, I'm going to sue all of you and have this trash of a shop shut down for good!" She says, her piercing eyes turning amber as she continues to glare at Taehyung. 

"B-but ma'am..."

"Do you really want me to die?! I SAID I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE OWNER!" the woman screams, flinging his handbag onto Taehyung's face, one of its buckles scratching Taehyung's cheeks, blood immediately spilling out of his skin. 

Ah, Taehyung has had enough of this. 

Today might not really be his day, and maybe it's about time he leaves this place. 

With a deep sigh, Taehyung then grabs his name tag, yanking it off of his shirt as he lowers his head in front of the crazy omega and his manager. 

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience..." Taehyung states as he straightens up and hands his name tag to his manager. "Please call me as soon as the owner makes a decision," he adds as he marches back to the locker room, throwing his apron on the floor. 

Yeah right, Taehyung may have no idea what exactly happened, but it turns out that just like that, he's been thrown down to the bottom once again. 

***

"We're here— oh... Isn't that Kim Taesoo?" Woo-shik says as he and Jeongguk arrive at the textile mill where Taesoo is supposed to be working, immediately spotting Kim Taesoo, kneeling in front of the factory's gates, holding up a poorly made poster stating how he was unfairly fired from his job, demanding an explanation from the company's higher ups. 

"O-oh my... I-is this— is this my fault?" Woo-shik turns to face Jeongguk, noticing the latter's stunned and terrified expression, as if he's seen a ghost. 

"Help me." Jeongguk absentmindedly says, his feet moving on their own, rushing towards Taesoo. 

"U-uncle." Jeongguk stutters as he stands beside Taesoo, his mouth agape at the old man's pitiful state; Taesoo looks so unkempt, there are bruises and untreated cuts on his face, and judging by how dry and chapped his lips are, Jeongguk doubts Taesoo has eaten anything in days. 

"J-Jeongguk-ah... What— what are you doing here? T-this... Oh— this isn't what you think... I was just--..."

"Please get up, uncle," Jeongguk asks, unable to blink owing to the strange sensation of a huge weight crushing upon his chest, blocking his throat as his eyes flash red. Woo-shik then helped Jeongguk pull Taesoo from the ground, hearing the beta's silent sniffles as he got up. 

"Jeongguk-ah... I know what this looks like, but don't worry, okay? I just need to stay here for a little longer— my colleague informed me that Mr. Hwang, the factory's owner, will be dropping by here later tonight, and I'm sure he'll take me back once I tell him about my situation, so please don't tell Taehyung about this—"

"Uncle, let's just go home." Jeongguk says firmly, unable to control his pheromones, leaving the two betas, Woo-shik and Taesoo, with no other choice but to heed his orders. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"There— it's all done; just rest for now, uncle," Jeongguk says, setting Taesoo into bed after tending to the old beta's cuts and bruises. 

"T-thank you son... Uhm— about what you saw--.."

"I know... I won't tell Taehyung about it, so don't worry... Just sleep... Later, I'll bring you something to eat," Jeongguk replies, perplexed as to why his hands keep on trembling. 

"Alright... Thank you son..." Taesoo says, feeling a little more at ease now that he's back at home, lying in his own bed. 

"Sleep well, uncle," Jeongguk says, forcing a smile as he walks out of Taesoo's room, leaning against the door, taking a deep breath to settle his nerves—only to be startled again when Taehyung storms in after just a few seconds. 

"Fuck!" Taehyung slams the front door shut and throws his schoolbag on the floor, clearly upset, he didn't even notice Jeongguk.

"T-Tae? Why? What happened?" Jeongguk asks, his ears strangely ringing loudly once more as his vision begins to swirl. 

"I just lost my job, goddammit!" Taehyung cries out, his eyes flashing red, his emotions all over the place, hitting the wall hard, prompting Taesoo to run out of his room to see what's up. 

"Taehyung! What are you doing? What's happening—" 

"D-dad?" Taehyung pauses when he sees Taesoo and the evident scrapes and bruises on his father's swollen face. "What the hell happened to you?!" Taehyung exclaims, rushing towards Taesoo to inspect his face closely as the latter anxiously averts his gaze. 

"I-it's nothing..."

"No! What the hell dad?! Are you still gonna say that you're fine? Clearly you're not! Who the fuck did this to you--.."

Taehyung and Taesoo continued talking, holding each other with pain and dread written all over their faces, but Jeongguk can't hear anything; everything just keeps whirling, ringing, and it's becoming harder and harder for him to keep on breathing.

He did this.

"I—I need to leave," Jeongguk says, breathlessly coughing out his words as he hurries out the door before Taehyung and Taesoo can even say anything. 

. 

. 

. 

*Ring... Ring...*

"Jun-yeol-ah... Where the fuck is that bitch? I'm going to fucking kill him," Jeongguk says over the phone as he sits in a cab on his way back to Jeon's mansion. 

🃏🃏🃏

"Was it Max Euwe who said that strategy requires thought while tactics requires observation? Mhm... I guess I'm rather lucky that I'm good at both." Sehun says, taking one of the pawns off the chessboard, devouring it with his queen. He's here at Jeon Jungho's study; a room that's usually off limits, but then again, Jeon Jungho isn't here, so Sehun feels free to do as he pleases.

"The money is already in your account, and you've done a good job, so I'll make sure to put a good word in for you to my mother," Sehun tells the older omega woman in front of him, Seo Ji-won, one of the Jeon's household helpers vying for promotion as one of Sehun's mother's attendants. 

"Thank you for the opportunity, sir. I really appreciate it." Ji-won— also the same woman who just caused Kim Taehyung to get fired from his part-time job at the coffee shop says, bowing politely at Sehun before she leaves the study room. 

. 

. 

. 

"Ahh... Finally, I can put a face to the name... Dear brother, you can try, but you won't be able to beat me at this game," Sehun sneers, staring at Taehyung's profile and a few of his photos, which he just obtained after hiring a different investigator, thanks to his useful new 'friend' and his mother's connections. 

*Ring...ring...*

"What?" Sehun says as he picks up his phone. 

—"So, were you actually able to do it?" Jang Minho on the other line asks. 

"Who do you think you're talking to? I'm Hwang Sehun, and I can do anything— and everything I want," Sehun replies, placing the pawn he just booted off the chessboard on top of Taehyung's profile folder. 

—"Pfft... Good— oh! How about that bastard's dad? Did your uncle take care of it?"

Minho inquires, knowing Sehun's plans since— well, because the latter arranged it with him in the first place.

"Mhm... That, too, is done." Sehun hums as he rises up and walks towards the windows, watching a cab pull over in front of the mansion. 

—"HAHAHAHA! That's great! I wonder if Kim Taehyung will ever recover from this... By the way, how did you even know about Kim Taesoo's debt, and the loan sharks he took money from?" 

"Let's just say that I have my ways... All I needed was a tiny bit of luck— and a name... Anyway, I'll call you back later, darling. I can sense a mad dog approaching." Sehun says, cutting the call with Minho just as Jeongguk storms inside the study room, charging at him immediately, wrapping his hand around Sehun's neck, slamming his back against the glass windows so hard it appears to break. 

"Nngh... Hyung... Finally— you're here." Sehun sneers, grunting as Jeongguk tightens his grip on his neck. 

"What. Did. You. Do?" Jeongguk demands, his teeth clenched, his eyes going from crimson to black like an endless abyss as Sehun releases much of his pheromones into the air, causing Jeongguk to quiver momentarily due to Sehun's heavy omega scent. 

"I-I'm not sure what you're t-talking about, hyung—" Sehun pauses as his gaze follows Jeongguk's, dropping towards the now crumpled photo of Taehyung that he's holding. Jeongguk then snatched the photo, his eyes widening in dread and wrath as he clutched Sehun's neck even more tightly. 

"What else do you want from me? Haven't you— haven't you and your mother had enough? Those two people... Kim Taesoo, Kim Taehyung, they've got nothing to do with this wretched family!" Jeongguk yells, letting out a threatening growl as he reveals his sharp nails, allowing it to pierce through Sehun's skin, staining his hands with the omega's blood which just intensified the latter's scent. 

"It's your fault hyung... I-I already told you— you're mine... You and I, we're destined to be together... From the first time I saw you three years ago— I already knew, you're the one for me, hyung... My alpha--.."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU CRAZY BITCH!" Jeongguk snaps, lifting Sehun by the neck and shoving the omega's back into the glass pane again, his free hand gripping Taehyung's picture. "If it's my father's money that you're after, then go ask your whore of a mother for it... Omegas like you both disgust me," Jeongguk says, his eyes darkening even more as Sehun's lips curl up into a strained taunting smirk, his fingertips creeping over Jeongguk's shoulders, down to his chest, and then clasping his shirt, pulling him closer. 

"Quit lying... I know—I know you want me too... You're a dominant alpha in need of an omega who can match you... That's me, hyung... No one else but me— not that filthy rat... K-Kim Taehyung, was it? P-pfft... He would never be able to satisfy you hyung... You know that," Sehun says, grabbing Jeongguk by the neck as well, drawing the latter's face closer to his as he breathes right against Jeongguk's lips. 

"Stay out of my fucking business, unless you really want to wind up dead—" 

*SLAM!*

"Oh my... What a mess." Jeongguk came to a halt as he heard the voice of the woman who had just entered the room, her scent quickly overtaking Sehun's despite the fact that she is a mere recessive omega compared to Sehun, who is dominant. 

Hwang Shin-hye—or, more accurately, Jeon Shin-hye. 

The woman who took over as Jeongguk's mother. 

"You can stop this now, Jeonggukkie... You know what I mean, right?" Shin-hye says calmly as she locks the door and walks straight to the desk, pouring herself a glass of wine before easing into the swivel chair. 

***

"He's late." Taehyung says, pacing back and forth in the living/dining area, waiting for Jeongguk to return home. It's been hours since Jeongguk left and it's now a quarter after eleven p.m., yet Jeongguk is still not back yet. 

"Did he tell you where he's going? I-I think it's my fault. He must've been shocked after seeing me in such a mess... I'm sorry, son. If you want, I can call him, or maybe I can go to his house and talk to him—"

"There's no need dad. H-he'll come back. It's not really like him to leave just like that." Taehyung says, yet he's anxiously biting his fingernails, checking his phone to see whether Jeongguk has replied to his messages— he hasn't. 

"Wait— I'll go look for him. Stay here okay—" 

*knock... knock...*

As soon as they heard a knock on the door, Taehyung found himself rushing out, slamming the door open, finding Jeongguk standing with his head down by the entrance. 

"Where— where have you been?" Taehyung sighs, impulsively throwing his arms around Jeongguk's frame, holding onto him tightly as if they're the only ones here. 

"I—" 

"Jeongguk-ah! You're here! Come on in! Oh my god, it's cold. Are you okay? You're not sick are you?" Taesoo says, pulling both Taehyung and Jeongguk inside the house, then leading Jeongguk to sit down. 

Well, Taehyung is indeed relieved that Jeongguk has returned, but he still finds it strange that Jeongguk isn't saying anything and is simply staring at him and his father, as if he isn't aware of what's going on. 

"Have you eaten? I can warm up something if you like," Taesoo replies, digging through the fridge for any leftover food they had, only to be stopped when Jeongguk grabs him by the wrist. 

"Uncle... Tae... I— I'm sorry," Jeongguk says, his head still hanging low, further confusing Taehyung with his odd behavior. 

"What are you even apologizing for, son?" Taesoo asks, gently ruffling Jeongguk's hair, despite the fact that he has no idea why the young alpha is apologizing to them right now, because if anything Taesoo believes he should be the one on his knees, begging for forgiveness after troubling both kids. 

Though as much as he wants to, Taesoo couldn't really do that right now, since he hasn't told Taehyung anything about his unpaid debt and the current situation he has regarding his job. 

Taesoo isn't really a good liar, but the last thing he would want to happen is to cause trouble for his own son, so instead of telling Taehyung the truth, he opted to lie by saying that had a fight with a colleague and that everything's sorted out now. 

"You must've been shocked, right? I'm sorry... Me and Tae weren't fighting earlier. We're just—" 

"It's my fault. I got heated up since I just got fired from my job... B-but I'm fine now—calm and all. It's not like it's my first time getting fired anyway, so I got over it pretty quickly... And dad— well, apparently he had a fight with his co-worker a few days ago, but they've already settled the matter, so there's really nothing to be worried about." Taehyung says, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. He doesn’t even know why he's explaining all this to Jeongguk, but still he's feeling a bit embarrassed about the fact that the latter has witnessed such an unpleasant sight earlier. 

"T-that's right... That's basically it, so everything is fine now." Taesoo says, feeling his own guilt consume him as he looks at both the young alphas he should be responsible with. "Oh, will you look at the time... I'm late— f-for work, I mean... Tae, heat something up for Jeongguk to eat. I'll get going now, okay?" Taesoo says, scrambling towards the door, taking his house keys and dusty old jacket with him. 

"Dad, wait! Are you really leaving again?—Already? You haven't even rested yet!" Taehyung exclaims. 

"Pfft... It's fine. I have rested long enough." Taesoo says, smiling at Taehyung before he leaves, assuring the latter that he's okay— a lie he's been repeating to himself these past few days. 

"And here I was thinking he'd stay the night this time, but I guess not... He even forgot his sandwich," Taehyung remarks, as Jeongguk stands still, staring at the door as it closes. 

"I— I'll bring it to him— is this it?" Jeongguk replies, opening the fridge and taking the already-made egg sandwich.

"Yeah, but it's fine, I'll do it—" 

"No... I'll go, he shouldn't have gotten that far yet." Jeongguk says as he heads out the door. 

. 

. 

. 

"Uncle!" Jeongguk exclaims, catching his breath as he grabs Taesoo by the arm. 

"O-oh... Jeongguk-ah. Why?" Taesoo says, his gaze lowering to where Jeongguk is touching him, feeling uncomfortable at how disheveled and unclean he is in comparison to Jeongguk's fair skin and clean hands, so he gently drew his arm back, looking away from the younger alpha. 

"Here." Jeongguk says, taking Taesoo's hand again, giving him the packed sandwich, feeling a certain kind of tightness and pressure inside his chest as he stares at the state of Taesoo's hands; dry, calloused and wrinkled.

"Uncle... I'm sorry." Jeongguk says, still not letting go of the old beta's hand. 

"Huh? W-why? Why do you keep on apologizing? Pfft... Like Taehyung has said, it's not like it's your fault that I lost my job... You don't need to worry, okay? If I can't speak to Mr. Hwang tonight, then I'll just look for another job by tomorrow. It's no big deal... E-everything will work out fine in the end." Taesoo says, once again lying to himself, knowing full well how hard it will be for him to find another job considering his age, and the upcoming deadline for him to pay off his debt. 

"No— you don't understand uncle... I—I'll fix this..."

"What are you even saying, Jeongguk-ah? You shouldn't be worrying about these things." Taesoo says, reaching up to once again ruffle Jeongguk's hair. 

"Tonight will be my last night staying here... I— I have to go back home by tomorrow." Jeongguk says, finding himself letting go of Taesoo's hand, feeling the weight that has been pressing on his chest get heavier by the second. 

"Oh... Is that so? That's a shame... I mean, it wasn't because of me, right? Did I make you feel uncomfortable in any way? I'm really sorry... I hope it doesn't affect your friendship with my son... He still doesn't know about the situation with my job and all, but—"

"No uncle... It's not because of you, or Tae... So— uhm... Don't worry about it. Also, if you fail to talk with the factory's owner tonight, just leave that place and go back home... It will be as you said. Everything will work out in the end." Jeongguk says, forcing a smile as Taesoo pats the top of his head once more.

"You're such a good kid, Jeongguk-ah... By the way, I might not be able to come home for another couple of days because of what happened with my job, and I know you're leaving tomorrow, but could you please look after my Taehyungie for me? Just at school, or you can visit him from time to time... That would be fine, right?" Taesoo says as he sets the sandwich in his bag. 

"O-of course... Take care uncle... And uhm... Thank you— for everything." Jeongguk says, while Taesoo simply nods at him with a smile on his face, lightly patting his shoulder before he resumes walking again. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"That's it. What's your problem?" Taehyung finally cracks after enduring another hour of Jeongguk's unusual silence. They're now in his room, the lights are off, and Taehyung's sitting on the bed while Jeongguk's taking off his shirt to change into his sleepwear. 

"What do you mean?" Jeongguk says as he turns towards Taehyung, still holding the shirt he was about to put on. 

"You've been acting strange since you came back. Why? Was it really your first time seeing a guy argue with his parent? Me and dad are fine, we do fight sometimes, but that's just normal." Taehyung says, his gaze trailing up to Jeongguk's face as the latter stands in front of him, settling in between his parted legs. 

<you can play this as you read.>

Summertime sadness

"You think both of you losing your jobs at the same time is normal?— That having a shitty life is normal?" Jeongguk scoffs, making Taehyung wonder why he looks mad for some reason. 

"Yeah, that's right... As you can see, that 'shitty' life as you call it, was all I've ever known, so it’s not really that big of a deal for me... But what's up with you? You look even more troubled than me and dad earlier." Taehyung says, his breath hitching as Jeongguk softly caresses his cheek, grazing his thumb over the scratch that crazy omega at the coffeeshop gave him earlier this evening. 

"You're hurt." Jeongguk says. 

"You're only noticing it now? Tsk." Taehyung says, swatting Jeongguk's hand off his face as he stands up. "What the hell is your problem Jeongguk? First, you leave without saying a word, then you come back acting as if you're carrying all the sins of the world over your shoulders. I don't get it— mmph..." Taehyung was interrupted when Jeongguk suddenly claimed his lips in a chaste kiss, pressing their foreheads together, breathing heavily against his skin. 

"I'm leaving... I'm going back home tomorrow morning." Jeongguk says, and suddenly, Taehyung feels like a bucket of ice-cold water has been dumped over his head. 

"W-what? Why?" Taehyung asks, finding himself clutching Jeongguk's wrist tightly as the latter cups his face tenderly. 

"I don't really want to... But I have to..." Jeongguk says, staring at Taehyung's eyes for a few idle seconds, before he lets out an impatient hiss, kissing Taehyung's lips once again. "Say— why don't you just come with me? Let's run away... I have kept a bit of money, we could rent out a small apartment, we both can work part-time— of course, uncle can come with us too--.."

"W-wait, what the hell are you talking about? First you tell me that you're leaving and now 'we're' leaving?" Taehyung scoffs as he pulls Jeongguk closer to him. "What in the world is happening? What's gotten into you, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asks, watching as Jeongguk's mouth gapes like a dumb fish as if he's holding himself back from saying something, then the latter takes a deep breath, sighing in defeat as he drops his forehead over Taehyung’s shoulder. 

"H-hah... That must've sounded crazy... Yeah— I know... I must really be crazy." Jeongguk says, placing both his hands on Taehyung's waist. "Something happened at home, so I need to go as soon as possible. You'll be fine on your own, right?" he adds, gripping Taehyung's shirt tightly in his fists, a gesture that Taehyung didn't fail to notice, though he still has no idea why Jeongguk is suddenly acting like this.

"O-of course I am... But why? Isn't it a bit too sudden? If you're worried that we won't be able to feed you here because I lost my job, you don't have to worry about anything; I'll be looking for another gig by tomorrow, and dad is still employed, so—"

"Shh... It's not because of that. I just need to take care of a few things at home. It won't be long... I'll be back soon, I promise." Jeongguk muttered under his breath as he pulled Taehyung down into the bed, wrapping him in his arms and drawing Taehyung's face closer to his chest. 

"How about school?" Taehyung asks, feeling a knot form in his throat just by the thought of Jeongguk leaving tomorrow. 

"I might skip it for a few days... So please save your notes for me, alright? Call me too... If— if ever you miss me." Jeongguk says, his palm on the back of Taehyung's head, lightly grabbing a fistful of the latter's hair as he cages him in a tighter embrace. 

"Why would I even miss you? You said it yourself... You won't be gone for too long—right?" Taehyung says, feeling Jeongguk's warmth as he listens to the latter's heartbeat through his bare chest. 

"Mhm... That's right— it won't be long... It won't be long." Jeongguk says, though unbeknown to Taehyung, this might be the first time in a while that Jeongguk is doubting his own words. 

Nevertheless he held Taehyung even tighter.

. 

. 

. 

Morning came, and Taehyung woke up with Jeongguk no longer in his bed. 

***

. 

. 

. 

It won't be long, he said. 

He can call him, he said. 

But it's been three days since Jeongguk left their house, leaving his belongings as if to remind Taehyung that he really would be back, still— he hasn't answered any of Taehyung's calls and still— he hasn't come back. 

It would have been easier to bear Jeongguk's absence at home if Taehyung could see him at school, but he hasn't gone to class as well as he said the night before he left. 

It's as if Jeon Jeongguk just vanished into thin air, cruelly leaving traces of him around so he wouldn't be easily forgotten. 

... 

Class has ended and Taehyung is walking towards the bus stop, on his way home where he would be spending the rest of the day—well— alone. 

"Mhm... Isn't this a familiar sight..." Taehyung came to a stop as he heard Jang Minho and his friends snickering behind him. "Looks like your guard dog has finally abandoned his post, huh?" Minho laughs as he approaches Taehyung, who has his fists clenched hard on his sides. 

Then, Taehyung laughs. 

"Pfft... Have you forgotten about our rather intimate photo, Minho-ah? I still have it here in my phone." Taehyung says, turning to face Minho and his gang. 

"Oh believe me, I haven't... I do think about it— a lot— so much, after all, I feel like I've gotten closer to you since that happened," Minho says, eyes flashing red, grabbing Taehyung's collar and pushing him into a nearby alley. 

"You're pathetic, y'know? What now? Just because Jeon isn't here, you think you can have your way with me again? Go ahead. Suit yourself..." Taehyung smirks to himself, finding it somewhat amusing that he's in this predicament again. "But just so you know, he'll be back soon— I bet he wouldn't like it if he knew you'd laid your hands on me again... I'm telling you this now in case it slipped your mind— that puppy of mine has quite a temper, and I'm not really one to keep my mouth shut," Taehyung adds. 

"Pfft... HAHAHA!!! Good one, Kim... I'm actually starting to feel bad for you, since it's clear that you have no idea of what exactly is happening... That little puppy of yours? I'm sorry, but he won't be coming back any time soon," Minho says as he and his pals surround Taehyung. 

"W-what do you mean?" Taehyung asks, strangely feeling a chill crawl up his spine. 

"Did you honestly believe that an alpha like that was serious about you— a fellow alpha? Oh, you poor thing... He is a Jeon, the only dominant alpha in their family second to his father. You will never belong in their world." Minho says, taking advantage of Taehyung's shock, now softly caressing the latter's face. 

"He already went to his omega; his proper match— his potential mate... He's done with you Tae... I'm telling you this since I've started to care about you— y'know after our 'rather intimate' kiss..." Minho sneers as he leans in closer to Taehyung's ear. "I can take his place... We can have so much fun together, Taehyung-ssi... All I need you to do is to spread your legs for me as you did with him." Minho continues to taunt Taehyung, but the latter couldn't hear anything else. Minho's words keep on repeating inside his head, like a broken record stuck on replay. 

Jeongguk has an omega. A potential mate. He's had enough of fooling around with him, which is why he left. 

"Y-you're lying... He wouldn't— Jeongguk isn't that kind of person... He said— he said--..."

"Oh my... He's the one who lied to you Tae... Look—" Minho pauses as he takes out his phone, showing Taehyung a photo of Jeongguk dressed to the nines with someone clinging onto his arm—a rather pretty and delicate looking man.

An omega.

 "That's Hwang Sehun, isn't he pretty? See? I'm telling the truth... That guy is his omega, Taehyung... Not you—never will be you," Minho adds, as Taehyung's ears start to ring louder, and he sees nothing but red around him. He let out a loud growl, snatching Minho's phone and smashing it down to the ground. 

He lied. Jeon Jeongguk— he lied. 

It was all a lie. 

Suddenly, Taehyung's surroundings started spinning so fast; his anger boiling up from the pit of his stomach, causing him to lose control over his own body. Next thing he knew, he had thrown the first punch, tackling Jang Minho to the ground; Minho's pals then joined the brawl, pulling Taehyung away from Minho, hitting him, punching and kicking him down, only to be overwhelmed by Taehyung as well. 

Blood splattered everywhere, on the pavement, on their clothes, on their fists, and on their faces. 

As other people began screaming in fear, they continued to take each other's hits. 

Still, Taehyung couldn't see nor hear anything. 

His eyes have gone completely black, baring his fangs against the other three alphas who are ganging up on him. 

It hurts. 

Everything hurts, but Taehyng has already gone beyond his ability to restrain himself. 

Then police sirens began to sound; a bunch of men running, yelling, pulling Taehyung away from Jang Minho who's bleeding underneath him. 

His wrists were then cuffed behind his back, and everyone 's staring at him as if they knew everything.

. 

. 

. 

In a snap, Taehyung has triggered his own apocalypse. 

Worse, this might only be the beginning.

🃏

<you can play this as you read.>

I'm tired 

🃏🃏🃏

Taehyung screwed up, and he knows it.

He's now at the police station, beaten black and blue, sitting in front of a cop, with Minho, Seung-hoon, Joo-hyuk, and Hae-in, all of whom are in the same—if not worse—condition than him.

The officer kept asking them what happened, but Taehyung already knows how this would end even if none of them say anything.

He threw the first punch, so whatever reason Taehyung comes up with now will be meaningless. 

Jang Minho and his cohorts have already called their own families and attorneys to help them get out of this situation, while Taehyung is still here, keeping his mouth shut, refusing to even call his father.

Taehyung doesn’t really know what has gotten into him; it's as if he blacked out the instant he saw the photo of Jeongguk with someone else—an omega—and when he heard Minho mention that the said omega was Jeongguk's potential mate, Taehyung lost it. He got so mad that he felt like breaking apart.

He lied. 

Jeon Jeongguk lied. 

He said he wanted him, he made Taehyung believe he's mad crazy about him, he held him, touched him, kissed him as if he meant the world to him, and then he left, rushing to be with an omega who's a better fit for him. 

That guy— clearly an omega, pretty and delicate, was touching Jeongguk as if he already owned him. 

They look good together. 

An alpha and omega. 

A perfect match. 

Nobody would have batted an eye while they were together. They're probably thinking just how well they complement one another. 

Based on how the two were dressed in the photo, the other guy probably came from an affluent family as well. 

Hwang Sehun was it? 

'Ahh... 'I want to kill him,' Taehyung thinks as he smirks, remembering the photo that Jang Minho showed him, which precipitated all of this. 

'He made me feel as if I was enough... And he's now nowhere to be found... When did I become so dumb?' Taehyung muses, a pained grin twisting up to his lips, ignoring all the lies Minho has been saying, telling the officer that Taehyung was the one who started the fight. 

It’s absurd. 

From the start— it already made no sense, but somehow even in this desperate situation, Taehyung keeps on thinking about Jeongguk. 

His face. 

His sweet words and empty promises. 

His warmth. 

Taehyung remembers it all— and it makes him hate himself so much more. 

'What a shitty life.' Taehyung thinks— and then it suddenly hits him, his last conversation with Jeongguk flashing through his mind. 

'You think both of you losing your jobs at the same time is normal?— That having a shitty life is normal?'

'Wait... What is this— did my dad really lose his job too? How could I have missed it? Is there something he knows that I don't? Why did he sound so distressed and guilty that night? That guy... The lights were off—I should have turned them on... It was so dark that I couldn't even see his face... What on earth was he thinking? I want to know... I want to see him.' Taehyung laments, doubting his own sanity, making excuses for Jeongguk in his head—which is crazy—so darn crazy, given that he's the one who's now in a deep mess. 

"Hey kid, you're really not gonna say anything? I said we need you to call your father—" 

"Excuse me. Is Kim Taehyung-ssi here?" The officer got cut off when an older man dressed in a crisp, expensive looking suit, suddenly spoke, approaching the desk where Taehyung is, together with a goofy looking man— probably a beta, bowing politely at the officer. 

"A-ah, yes... Are you this kid's guardian?" the officer asks, pointing to Taehyung. 

"Yes I am—"

"Excuse me, old man, but I think you're mistaking me for someone else; I don't know you," Taehyung states, his brow furrowed at the older man. 

"My name is Lee Jun-yeol--.."

"And I'm Choi Woo-shik. Nice to finally meet you Taehyung-ssi!" The beta beams, while the older man who clearly looks like an alpha rolls his eyes at him. 

"I'll tell you the details later, but for now, let's take care of this mess, okay?" Jun-yeol says, settling Taehyung's case with the officer. 

. 

. 

. 

"So that's it? We're just going to settle? No way— can you even see my face? That shithead--.."

"It's not like you're completely innocent, Jang Minho-ssi. Based on how this looks as well your collective statements, You, Park Joo-hyuk, Ahn Seung-hoon and Shin Hae-in are all friends, while Taehyung-ssi here was all alone when the fight occurred. It was four against one, which plainly does not bode well for you... However, if you continue to object, we would not mind taking this to court, which would allow us to gather some of your fellow students' statements. Would you really be willing to go through all that trouble?" Jun-yeol says, glancing at Jang Minho's lawyer who's now also here at the station. 

Minho's lawyer then shakes his head, silently warning Minho and the others to just stay quiet. 

"This is unbelievable! You're really just gonna let this guy go? Are you for real? No! Absolutely not—" 

"We're going—sir. You need to be checked at the hospital as soon as possible," Minho's lawyer says, before ordering Minho's bodyguards to drag their young master away before Minho digs his own grave, while the other three alphas follow their lawyers and attendants out of the police station dispassionately. 

"It's settled now, Kim Taehyung-ssi. You can go home," Jun-yeol says as he leads Taehyung out of the station, Wooshik following close behind. 

"Well thanks— however, I still have no idea who you are. How did you even know that I'm here? Are you a lawyer? You sounded smart enough to be one but you also didn't say that you are." Taehyung says, wiping some of the blood off his face with the damp towel Woo-shik handed to him earlier. 

"Here's my card, please keep it in case of emergencies like this, Kim Taehyung-ssi," Jun-yeol says as he passes Taehyung his business card, noting that he is the Jeon estate's the head butler. 

"Jeon Jeongguk sent you? Hah..." Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle bitterly, "So, he's stalking me now, huh? Why? What for? I thought he was done with me now that he's gotten himself a pretty omega--.."

"The young master has been taught never to back down from his words; if you can, please do trust him— even just a little," Jun-yeol continues, bowing courteously to Taehyung as if he's ready to leave now that he's finished cleaning up the mess Taehyung was in. 

"You said you'd fill me in on the details, and now you're just going to leave? Where the fuck is that guy? I want to talk to him. I want— I w-want to see him," Taehyung mumbled, scratching the back of his neck, feeling stupid again as he glanced away from Jun-yeol. 

"Unfortunately, the young master has some affairs he needs to attend to right now; if you need anything, please feel free to contact me at the number on the card I gave you—" 

"Fuck off, old man! I said, I want to talk to him! He's not even answering my calls, and now he's sending two strange men to play the role of the hero? So what now? Don't tell me he expects me to say thank you? If he really wanted to help me, he should do it himself!--"

"Woah, woah, calm down tiger." Woo-shik intervenes when he sees that Taehyung was about to grab Jun-yeol by the collar. 

"Jun-yeol-ssi, right? You're probably busy, I can take it from here. Heh," Woo-shik laughs awkwardly as he leads Jun-yeol to the latter's car. "Take care, Jun-yeol-ssi— or sir... Ah, whatever. Send my regards to the 'prince', wherever he is, and tell him I'll be expecting a bonus for this," Woo-shik says quietly as he taps the car's door shut for Jun-yeol, watching the car as it drives away.

"Hey! We're not done talking yet!" 

"Oh, relax, he’s gone now. Let's take a walk, okay? Do you want anything to drink—or eat perhaps? Tough day was it?" Woo-shik says, draping his arm over Taehyung's shoulder.

"Get off me!" 

"Cold." Woo-shik pouts, hoping it'll help Taehyung put his guard down even for just a short while. 

"So— are you going to answer my questions, or are you going to dodge them like what that old man did just now?" Taehyung says, now walking beside Woo-shik. 

"He's not even that old... But nah, I won’t do that... You're looking for Jeon Jeongguk, right? As far as I know, he can't be contacted as of the moment... Unfortunately I don't really know much, but it seems to me that he's in a really tricky situation with his family." Woo-shik says, draping his arm over Taehyung's shoulder again, taking pity on the young alpha who obviously had a rough day, and thankfully this time, Taehyung didn't push him away. 

"I-is he okay?" Taehyung says, playing dumb yet again, worried about Jeongguk despite the fact that he's clearly not doing well himself. 

"I think so—yes? Honestly, I'm not sure... By the way, I was the one who informed him about your situation; I kinda saw what happened, so I sent him a text— and judging by how quickly he sent his butler to help you out, I guess he can at least read his text messages," Woo-shik says as they walk. 

"Are you friends with him? Jeongguk I mean..." Taehyung asks, glancing back at Woo-shik. 

"S-something like that, yes..."

"I doubt you saw what happened between me, Jang Minho, and his dogs by chance... Did Jeongguk send you to spy on me or something?" Taehyung says, and knowing Jeongguk, Taehyung is certain that he is totally capable of doing just that. 

"Ah... Well— no, I was simply passing through the area, and I only recognized you because Jeongguk often talks about you," Woo-shik says, which isn't entirely a lie because Jeongguk never really ordered him to keep an eye on Taehyung; it's more like his own decision to follow the young alpha because he hasn't heard from Jeongguk since assisting the latter in bringing Kim Taesoo home a few days ago; he figured that if he pursued Taehyung, he'd eventually catch Jeongguk. 

Then, he saw Taehyung getting beaten up— or rather beating up a bunch of alphas, he tried calling Jeongguk, but the latter didn't answer so he just sent him a text and alas, a few moments after, Lee Jun-yeol came, saying he came instead of the young master he's serving, but refused to go over the rest of the details. 

To be honest, Woo-shik isn't sure why he's going out of his way to please his new young and rich client, other than the fact that he has taken a liking to Jeongguk's keen wit and tenacity as the only person who has caught him on the job thus far. He found Jeongguk's character intriguing, so he figured that working for the young alpha wouldn't be that boring. 

And now he's here, wondering what he'll get in return for keeping an eye on Kim Taehyung, whom his rather interesting client appears to be keen about safeguarding. 

"Did he?" Taehyung inquires, his cheeks flushing as he turns away from the beta. 

"Y-yeah... Haha— wait, how's your father by the way? Is he okay..." Woo-shik pauses, covering his own mouth, only now remembering that maybe he shouldn't have asked Taehyung about his father, because he's certain he heard Kim Taesoo beg Jeongguk not to say anything to Taehyung when they found him basically protesting in front of the textile mill a few days ago. 

"What? How did you even find out about my dad?" Taehyung says, halting his steps and leading Woo-shik to do the same. 

"Oh, that—" 

"Did Jeongguk tell you anything about my family—my father? D-did you perhaps know that my dad lost— lost his job?" Taehyung inquires hesitantly; the truth is, he's not even sure if he heard Jeongguk correctly that time, but having this beta ask him how his father is, Taehyung's now certain that Jeongguk definitely knows something that he doesn't. 

"I— well... I mean, I'm really, really close with Jeonggukkie--.." Woo-shik stiffened as Taehyung threw a sharp glare, his eyes burning red, which caused Woo-shik to take a step back away from him reflexively. "Oh, not like that... I mean, h-he's like a little brother! Right! A little brother! Hahaha!" 

"So? Did he tell you anything? Do you know what happened to my dad? Answer me," Taehyung asks again, his tone more threatening this time, sending shivers up Woo-shik's spine, reminding him of the horror he felt when he first encountered Jeongguk. 

"Y-yeah... Though I don't know much about the details, I heard from Jeongguk a few days ago that your dad had a problem with his job and that— that he's no longer working at the textile mill now," Woo-shik says, averting Taehyung's gaze, questioning his life choices, thinking that he might've gotten involved with the wrong people out of his own greed, nosiness and boredom. 

"Since when?" Taehyung asks, balling his fists tightly on his sides. 

"Just... Just a few days ago. It hasn't been that long, so uhm... I don't know? Don't worry too much, I guess?" Woo-shik says, anxiously scratching the back of his ear, realizing that his own loose tongue probably just worsened the situation. 

***

"Oh, you live here? Uhm... Will you be okay? Is there anyone home with you? It doesn't seem like it..." Woo-shik inquires as he and Taehyung stand in front of the latter's house, acting as if this is his first time knowing where Taehyung resides. 

"It's none of your business; you can leave now," Taehyung replies, sending Woo-shik away since he doesn't even know why the beta followed him all the way here. 

"But—" 

"Listen here. I appreciate your help and all, but I don't know you, so please don't act like we're close. Even if you're friends with Jeon Jeongguk, whatever I do is still none of your concern." Taehyung says, his eyes once again flashing red at Woo-shik as he heads inside, leaving Woo-shik staring at his back, standing outside his house. 

"What a terrifying pair of young alphas... Are all kids like that these days?" Woo-shik chuckled under his breath, waiting for Taehyung to enter the house before he left. 

... 

<you can play this as you read.>

Don't ever say love me

Taehyung then entered their empty house, his head hanging low. He takes off his shoes, switches on the light, and falls on his back on the floor. 

'Ah... When did this place start getting this cold?' Taehyung thinks as he stares at the ceiling, hearing nothing but his own breathing. 

The silence is deafening. 

The stillness is unnerving. 

His entire body is aching, and while Taehyung has always found solace in being alone, right now, he's wishing for someone to ask him how he's doing. 

But there are none. 

His father is still not home, and he hasn't heard anything from Jeongguk. 

"Well, he did get me out of trouble... Still— he should've at least given me a call." Taehyung mumbled under his breath, hating the fact that he's starting to worry about Jeongguk being with that omega again. 

He asked Woo-shik about Hwang Sehun, the omega with Jeongguk in the photo that Minho showed him earlier, but Woo-shik said he knows nothing about the guy— which is unfortunate, so now Taehyung's left with no other choice but to drown in his own pool of thoughts once more.

'They were dressed nicely; did they attend a party?' 

'What were they doing?' 

'Why was that omega touching him?' 

'They look close.'

'He's pretty... That omega is really pretty...'

'If what Jang Minho said was true, then what am I supposed to do?' 

These are just a few of the thoughts racing through Taehyung's mind as he continues to feel that terrible tightness building up inside his chest. 

—"I want to kiss." 

"Who?" 

—"You. Right now. On the lips," 

"Why?" 

—"That question again? Well... Just because." 

"You can't. There's a lot of people here." 

—"And if there aren't any, will you let me do it?" 

"Maybe? I wouldn't mind it that much, I guess," 

—"You haven't kissed anyone before?" 

"Do you honestly believe anyone would want to kiss someone like me?" 

—"I don't really care what others think, but as for me... I'm dying to kiss you right now, Taehyung..." 

Even though Taehyung knew he should be worrying about himself and his father right now, for some reason, his first kiss with Jeongguk still flashed through his mind. Everything was so bright back then, as the sun was about to set, burning like the red-orange skies. 

Taehyung then touched his lips as he turned to his side, curling his knees up to his chest, remembering how warm Jeongguk's lips felt against his; his dark doe eyes locked on him, it was as if Jeongguk could see nothing but him. 

'Say— why don't you just come with me? Let's run away... I have kept a bit of money, we could rent out a small apartment, we both can work part-time— of course, uncle can come with us too...' 

"Maybe I should've said yes... Maybe if we did run away, I wouldn't be alone, feeling miserable in this place... Where are you now? I— I miss you..." Taehyung whispers to himself, feeling a searing ache in his chest upon hearing what he just said. 

His own admission of defeat

Jeon Jeongguk has successfully seduced him, indeed.

***

*knock... knock...*

"Sir—" 

"What now?" Jeongguk sighs, sprawled on his back on the bed, still wearing the dreadful suit the Hwangs made him wear when they dragged him to another pretentious high-society gathering.

"Madam is already in bed, and Hwang Sehun hasn't arrived yet; do you want me to prepare your bath, sir?" Jun-yeol asks. 

"Did I get any messages or calls? Perhaps from Kim Taehyung?" Jeongguk wonders as he sits up. The truth is, Jeongguk hasn't touched his phone since his return to the mansion; he left it with Jun-yeol for safekeeping, knowing that as long as the Hwangs are here, all his actions will be closely monitored, and the last thing he wants is for any of the omegas to think he and Taehyung are still in contact.  "What? Did he call or not?" Jeongguk asks again, raising a brow at Jun-yeol, who appeared to be taken aback for a few seconds. 

"No, sir... Mr. Kim hasn't contacted you yet," Jun-yeol lies, his face blank. 

"I can't stand  this... Get the car ready. I'm leaving," Jeongguk says as he walks towards the door, only to be stopped by Jun-yeol. 

"Need I remind you—you've made a deal with madam, sir... Your father will be home soon, so let's not make things any worse— for you and that other kid both." Jun-yeol remarks, leading Jeongguk to stop, unable to make a move.

—

Chapter Text

🃏🃏🃏

Words are bonds. 

The Lee family has served the Jeons for generations after generations, and now it is Lee Jun-yeol's turn to carry the oath that was made by their forefathers. 

His loyalty is to the present leader of the Jeon household—or so it was supposed to be; however, things changed along the way, and now Jun-yeol is betting everything on a young alpha who isn't quite ready to take over the family just yet. 

Love, friendship, a promise, and a sin: all of these appear to have outweighed Jun-yeol's ostensibly unrivaled loyalty. 

"Sir, the young master is already sleeping in his room... Yes, he did accompany the madam to the charity gala, and she appeared to have no complaints after. You have nothing to be concerned about, sir... After all, the young master is a good kid." Jun-yeol says over the phone to Jeon Jungho before the latter hangs up—and a few seconds later, Jun-yeol felt a different phone vibrating from his coat pocket, and when he checked, he saw another text message from Kim Taehyung. 

<From: Kim Taehyung>

I want to see you. 

—

Jun-yeol deletes it once more, leaving no record of Taehyung ever contacting Jeongguk. 

"Not yet... It isn't the right time for the phoenix to rise from the ashes... Young man, I hope you can be a little more patient," Jun-yeol says as he slips Jeongguk's phone back in his pocket. 

***

"Oh? It's you? Why? Is the 'prince' too busy to face a mere commoner?" Woo-shik inquires, meeting Jun-yeol discretely at the back of Jeon's residence. 

"Indeed he is," Jun-yeol responds, pulling out a cash envelope and presenting it to the beta, whom he assumed works for Jeongguk. 

"Wow... Isn't this quite a lot?" Woo-shik grins as he swiftly tallies the money. "What now? Did he say anything about my next task?" Woo-shik asks. 

"That is for you to keep your mouth shut. I'd rather keep the young master in the dark about what happened to Kim Taehyung-ssi earlier today. In this place, all the walls have both eyes and ears, and I'm worried that if Jeon Jungho learns about the unfortunate child and his bond with his son, things will spiral out of hand." Jun-yeol says as he gives Woo-shik his business card. "From now on, until the young master contacts you again, you are to tell me anything concerning Kim Taehyung, whom my young master appears to fancy enough to risk his everything," Jun-yeol continues, prompting Woo-shik to stop and look at him suspiciously. 

"Mhm... I don't know much about the family you're serving, 'good sir,' but I do know that as the chief butler, you're supposed to report to Jeon Jungho, the current head of the household... So why do I get the impression that this isn't the case for you? Whose side are you really on—" Woo-shik pauses, cheekily glancing at the business card in his hand. "Lee Jun-yeol-ssi?" Woo-shik continues, watching as Jun-yeol's lips twist up to a smirk. 

"My loyalty belongs to the alpha who will bring true glory to this messed up family... I will be contacting you soon, so keep your mouth shut and your lines open. See you soon, beta," Jun-yeol says, nodding properly to Woo-shik before returning to the mansion. 

"Looks like I got myself a regular—good paying job this time, huh? Not bad... Definitely not bad," Woo-shik sneers as he walks away, counting the money in his hands all over again. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

In your time

https://youtu.be/NRykBIpRPTE

. 

. 

. 

How did this happen? 

Taehyung has been asking himself that question since he was pulled out of class and summoned to the principal's office. 

Taehyung is aware that he should have expected this to happen after his brutal fight with Jang Minho yesterday, but he was so worn out and confused that it slipped his mind. He thought Lee Jun-yeol at the police station had taken care of everything, but it appears that his horror is far from done.

Jang Minho, his group, and their parents had filed a complaint against Taehyung, demanding that he be expelled from school, which prompted the principal to contact Taehyung's father, and so they're here, with Taehyung staring in dread as his father gets down on his knees in front of the parents of the very same alpha that has long been harassing him. 

"Please... Please, ma'am— sir, can't we just settle this another way? My Taehyungie— my Taehyungie is about to graduate soon... If you kick him out now, he'll be ruined... Please— I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..." Taesoo sobs, rubbing his palms desperately as he pleads, almost as if groveling beneath Jang Minho's mother's feet. 

"Hah, settle? Do you really expect us to listen to this?! Have you seen my son's face? The doctor even said that he needed to have a nose surgery after what your son did! And Seung-hoon, Hae-in, Joo-hyuk— do all these kids look fine to you?! I guess poverty evidently not only drives a person insane, but it also makes you blind!— Get off me!" Jang Minho's mother exclaims, kicking Taesoo's hands when the latter tried to touch her feet. 

"Exactly! My Hae-in had to have seven— seven fucking stitches on his left eye! What if it permanently damaged his eyesight?!— No! I will not allow that violent kid to graduate alongside my baby! Absolutely not!" Hae-in's mother adds, and it continues to go on, with each of the elites' parents screaming and cursing at Taehyung and his father. 

Taehyung cannot move.

He doesn’t even know what to say. Surely, he didn't expect that the first time he'll be seeing his father again in days will turn out this way. 

Taehyung never cries—at least, he can't remember the last time he did—but right now, when he can't even blink, he feels tears streaming down his cheeks, seeing his father cry and plead pathetically in front of such people who clearly don't deserve any of it. 

"No, please, please... We'll pay for everything! The hospital bills, surgery— everything! Just please forgive us... Please do not expel my son... He's a good student... He's even topped his class... He's been working really, really hard, so please— please don't take this away from him... I'm begging you--."

"I said no! We want that rotten kid out of this school for good! You're already lucky we're too busy to press charges!" Jang Minho's father yells this time as he turns towards the principal, who also happens to be his younger brother. "Do you have any idea how much money I spent in this school? I put you there in that position so you can look after my kid, and you let this happen to him? Should I talk to our father, Mr. principal? I bet he wouldn't like it once he sees what happened to the face of his favorite grandchild." Mr. Jang says, causing the principal's face to immediately turn pale. 

"H-hyung, there's no need for that..."

Yadda yadda, the scene goes on like a typical cinderella drama. It's quite obvious what the results will be, and at this point, Taehyung couldn't care any less about graduating, all he's wanting now is for his father to stand up and stop crying. 

"D-dad..." Taehyung finally managed to speak. 

"T-Taehyung-ah, Taehyung-ah, what are you doing? You get on your knees too... Say something... Just apologize alright? I'm sure these good people will change their minds--.."

"Ah... That's right. Listen to your dad, Taehyung-ah... I mean, I am indeed in pain— but you know me, I'm not really that heartless... We've been 'friends' for so long, and although I am quite disappointed that you took whatever the cause of your anger on us, if you apologize properly, you might get at least a bit of leniency... Suspension—perhaps?" Minho says, smirking all coy despite his totally busted face, and Taehyung's seeing red again. 

He is seeing those eyes again. 

Sharp, cruel and unforgiving, staring at him as if God has already forsaken him. 

"Tae, did you hear that? T-that's better than expulsion, right? Right? C'mon... Just say sorry... Just—" 

"Fuck off." Taehyung whispered under his breath, his pitch black eyes locked on the floor as he released an extremely dangerous amount of his pheromones, alarming everyone, even his father. 

"W-what did you say?!" Mr. Jang scoffs, covering his nose and backing away reflexively. 

"I SAID— FUCK OFF! H-hah... Hahahahahahaha!" Taehyung is losing it again, feeling as if the entire universe is conspiring to make his life so miserable that he wouldn't dare to stand up. 

But he's done. 

Whatever's left in his patience and his faith in humanity has all crumbled down.

Why? 

Why does he have to go through this? 

Why should he have to deal with these vile individuals who are all mere slaves to money and power? 

Why? 

Why? 

Why does it have to be him? 

Why does he have to suffer? 

"Me? Apologize? To whom? You— all of you? Why would I even do that?! Oi, Jang Minho, have you really lost your mind? You—" *SLAP!*

Taehyung's breath suddenly hitched, leading him to silently choke on the words he was going to utter when he felt his father's palm, delivering a heavy smack straight to his face. 

"KIM TAEHYUNG!" Taesoo, exclaims, his hands trembling, his face all swollen and messed up from too much crying. "Y-you... T-Taehyung-ah... I—" 

"Hah... R-really dad?" Taehyung says, his tears free falling from his eyes, his lips quivering as he speaks, laughing bitterly as he touches his cheek, feeling the sting— that unforgiving pain of having his father hit him for the first time in his life. 

"T-Taehyung... I'm sorry.. I didn't— I didn't mean it... I—" 

"See? See? Even the father is a brute! Now we know where that child got his violent personality from!" adds Seung-hoon's mother, pointing to both Taehyung and Taesoo. 

"J-just... Listen to me son..." Taesoo whispers as he rushes to cup Taehyung's face tenderly. "Everything—everything will be okay... Listen to dad just this once, okay? Y-you wanted to go to Hanyang right? You..." Taesoo's voice cracks as he sobs again, only to swallow it the next second, looking Taehyung straight in the eyes. "Y-you've been working so hard... Don't waste it... It's okay, let's just take it... Just this once... Let's swallow our pride just this once, alright?" Taesoo begs, unwilling to accept the possibility that his son's future may be ruined. 

Nonetheless, Taehyung has already disintegrated into a hundred small bits at this moment. 

"Dad..." Taehyung whispers quietly, his voice nearly inaudible. "Didn't you know? I've been doing exactly that my entire life— but not this time... I'm really tired. I'm sorry, but I'm done," he adds, meeting his father's gaze for a few seconds, taking in the disappointed expression on his father's face before turning away, leaving the principal's office and the wild circus inside of it. 

. 

. 

. 

"Tae..."

Taehyung hears Jimin remark as he walks quietly down the corridor, and when he lifts his gaze, he finds everyone staring at him, clearly aware of what's happening. 

Jimin, Hobi, Namjoon, Yoongi, Jin, and the other faceless and voiceless beings Taehyung once thought he could be fine coexisting with are all here. 

Taehyung wants to throw up, but he can't— at least not here— not now. 

He brushed his tears away, allowing his gaze to meet each of those eyes that had always done nothing but stare and watch all of his suffering. 

"Tae... I'm sorry... I—" 

"Save it, Chim... Still—thank you for everything." Taehyung muttered under his breath with a pained smile on his face, lightly placing his palms over both Jimin and Hobi's shoulders, ignoring their sobs as he walked away. 

***

. 

. 

. 

"So what now? He gets expelled and that's it? I wasn't even able to throw a punch, that fucker almost broke two of my teeth!" Seung-hoon says, now here in the usual club with Minho and the others. 

"I don't know man, to be honest, I'm not quite satisfied with this... I mean, now that he's out of school, getting even with him might be closer to impossible." Hae-in says, taking an ice cube, hissing in discomfort as he carefully rubs it on his busted lips. 

"Relax... I bet it's not over yet... Surely, our Minho wouldn't let Kim get away with just this... I mean, not only did he beat us up, but he also stole this guy's first kiss—with an alpha male, I mean. Hahaha!" Joo-hyuk laughs as he nudges Minho beside him. 

"Fuck off." Minho says, carefully taking a sip of his beer, clicking his tongue in annoyance when the glass still grazed his injured lip. "Though you're right... It's not over yet... I won't stop until I see that bastard grovel on his knees; what I want to hear is him beg that he'd rather we kill him instead," Minho says, his lips curving into a sneer as he notices the omega who has just entered the club and is headed towards them. 

"Tsk. Wow— look at you... What a mess— did you guys fight a bear or something?" Sehun says, grinning all cheeky as he throws his arm over Minho's shoulders, already aware of what happened because Minho did fill him in on the details earlier. "So, Kim Taehyung-ssi just got expelled, huh? Poor thing..." Sehun continues as he leans in closer to Minho's ear. 

"Yeah— but that wasn't good enough... You said you had a plan, right?" Minho replies, sliding his arm around Sehun's waist and bringing the omega into his lap. 

"Oh I do... And this time, I might need your help again Minho-ah..." Sehun replies as he playfully flicks Minho's chin. "Y'see, I happen to have this certain loanshark's contact information... And I heard they're currently hunting someone who failed to pay off their debt on time as we speak... Fortunately, I also have their prey's home address from my uncle's company's list of employees," Sehun grins, handing Minho a piece of paper containing a phone number as well as Kim Taesoo's home address in Guryong village. "So, what do you think we should do with this?" he says, nuzzling his face against Minho's neck and smirking as Minho pulls his phone from his pocket and grabs the piece of paper from him. 

"Ahh... People should really learn to pay what they owe... I mean, isn't that just how business works?" Minho grins as he makes a phone call. 

"Of course..." Sehun replies as he gets off Minho's lap, his eyes sparkling amber as he listens to Minho spill Kim Taesoo's information over the phone. 

"Hey— wait, I know we want to get back at Kim for beating us up, but involving loan sharks? Isn't that a bit overkill?— Not to mention risky..." Hae-in remarks. 

"Well—" 

"Oh, are you perhaps scared, Hae-in-ah? Cute..." Sehun giggles, as he calls the bartender to order a drink. 

"No, of course not!" Hae-in responds. "Though I'm curious, why are you even helping us? Do you have scores to settle with Kim as well? Or is it because of Jeon? Pfft... Do you hate your step brother that much?" 

"No, quite the opposite..." Sehun winks, raising his glass of wine to the group of alphas as he walks away. 

"Anyone who dares to stand in our way should just die and rot in hell— if not, they should wish they'd never been born instead," Sehun whispers to himself. 

***

It's crazy how quickly life would turn its course, and all it took was for Taehyung to lose one person, for everything else to crumble. First he lost his job, now he got kicked out of school and even had a fight with his father. 

Everything appeared to happen so fast and it's all too much— too much that Taehyung wishes he could just disappear right now. However, as tragic as it sounds, this isn't a movie or a fairytale in which the protagonist of the story can simply leave the country and everything else behind to start a new life; the harsh reality is that Taehyung has nowhere else to go— either he jumps off a bridge and kills himself, or he returns home to Guryong. Taehyung’s pride made him opt for the latter. 

Death for Taehyung is a swift escape for those who are feeling extreme loneliness and helplessness, but he is indeed feeling none of those. 

Helpless, maybe, but lonely? No. 

Rather than sad, Taehyung feels mad— extremely mad. 

"Fuck!" Taehyung cries out as he thrash whatever little furniture they have here in their house, smashing their plastic plates to the floor, flipping over their small dining table and then punching the wall. 

Everything is gone. 

All of the years he spent studying, hoping to graduate from high school and gain admission to a reputable college on scholarship, had now been wasted, along with the rest of his ambitions, which had been reduced to ashes. 

"I'm going to kill them... H-hah... That's right— it doesn’t matter... I've got nothing to lose now anyway... I should— I should just--.."

"Taehyung." Taehyung was pacing back and forth in the living room when Taesoo walked through the door, looking more exhausted than earlier. "W-why? Why did you do that? Why? Why didn't you just apologize?! Was it really that hard to own up to your mistakes? I— I saw those kids, and without a doubt they were hurt too... Just admit it— you lost control of your strength and... A-and... Taehyung— son... What are we going to do now?" Taesoo then breaks into a sob, dropping on his knees on the floor, staring at Taehyung with his dejected and disappointed eyes once more. 

"A-are you still not done blaming me dad?" Taehyung chokes out a laugh, wiping the stubborn tears that won't stop falling from his eyes. "I know... I know that we're poor— so poor that we're basically living like rats, but do we really have to go that low? You— out of all people asked me to apologize to those guys? D-dad..." Taehyung's voice then cracks, meeting his father's gaze with his pitch black eyes. "Dad... I thought you were on my side..." Taehyung says, looking down at Taesoo who's already quivering involuntarily due to the amount of pheromones Taehyung has been emitting. 

"I— I am... When I know that you're in the right, you know that I'll always be on your side; that I'd always have your back... You are my son... B-but you hurt them too, Tae... Those kids are someone else's sons as well, it's only natural that their parents get angry at you— because you hurt their precious sons... A-and I... I know I didn't raise you like that... I didn't raise you to be so violent, prideful and hateful... All you had to do was apologize, say sorry a-and they could've changed their minds..." Taesoo says, tasting the bitterness of his own words because god knows he really doesn't want to blame Taehyung, but then again, he had no other choice. 

He cannot accept even the idea of Taehyung not being able to finish highschool. 

He knows all of Taehyung dreams, all the damn things his son wanted to achieve, and in his head, if all they had to do was swallow their pride for Taehyung's life not to be ruined then Taesoo will do it in a heartbeat. 

But Taehyung didn't. 

He didn't even try, and that's maybe what Taesoo is most disappointed about. 

"You don't know those people dad... You don't have any idea—" 

"Yes! Yes, I may not know them, but I know you! I thought I knew you... I thought that you were smart enough to know when to lower your foolish pride for the better! D-do you think that living like this is easy for me? Do you honestly believe I wanted this— that I'm fine getting down on my knees, pleading for those peoples forgiveness? Begging— always begging to have another chance?! I don't... It felt like death having to appear so pathetic in front of others... B-but you know— you know that people like us— we don't always have a choice—"

"Of course… We never had a choice, dad..." Taehyung says, taking a step forward towards his father. "I lost my job, and I know that you've also lost yours... I know that our lives are already doomed. I know that god had already fucking forsaken us! I know— I know that it's hard... That you were having a hard time, raising a stubborn alpha like me on your own... I know everything... A-and maybe that's why I've been keeping it all in— maybe that's the reason why I've been holding back on telling you anything." Taehyung says, his eyes already swollen and red from too much crying, and yet he still remained standing, unzipping his jacket, and taking off his shirt; now finally showing his father all the traces that were left on him by those demons. 

<you can play this as you read.>

In the stars

Countless scars, covering almost every inch of his torso; stab, cut and burn marks, scattered all over the parts of him that can be covered whenever he wears his uniform; some were shallow, some were deep, but all of them will surely remain forever engraved on his skin. 

And they also might never completely heal.

"Y-you were asking why it was so hard for me to apologize? Does this answer your question, dad?" Taehyung asks, his lips twisting up to a quivering broken smile. "You asked— you asked why I refused to swallow my pride? Dad... I have none of that... I have nothing else to give. For years, I have been living with absolutely nothing... So— so why can't I fight back? Haven't I suffered enough?" Taehyung says, watching Taesoo cover his gaping mouth with both his trembling hands. 

Then, everything turned silent. 

It's as if the world had stopped. 

And as Taesoo continues to look at Taehyung, he feels as if he's been taken back in time, reliving the first moment he held his own son in his arms.  

Back then, instead of being happy to have a healthy child, Taesoo was sobbing uncontrollably following the death of his wife, the love of his life. He couldn't even deny that a part of him had hated it was Taehyung who survived, but then as Taesoo grieved, Taehyung with his tiny hands reached out for him, grabbing onto his little finger, making Taesoo look at Taehyung's face for the first time. 

From there, Taesoo felt his wife, Kim Eunhee; he felt her love that runs so deep it transcends life and death, heaven and hell, that even in her weakened body, she made sure to leave Taesoo with a gift—a living proof of the love they had and the warmth of her heart she left him with. 

And from then on, Taesoo vowed to love his son wholeheartedly, to work hard to provide him with all he needs and to make Taehyung so happy that he would never feel—even for a moment—that he is lacking anything. 

He promised to look after him, to protect him, and to never allow anybody to hurt him for as long as he lives.

And yet, looking at his son right now, Taesoo realizes how much of a failure of a father he has become. 

Taehyung is just standing there, staring back at him, vulnerable and betrayed—but Taesoo is seeing something else instead. 

He sees that kid—the beautiful and innocent newborn child who held him in his tiny hands while he cried. 

With his trembling knees, Taesoo then picks himself up from the floor, walking straight to his room to get that red robe he had almost forgotten to give Taehyung. 

"I— I'm sorry..." Taesoo sobs as he delicately wraps the silky cloth over Taehyung's frame, knowing full well that not even the tale behind this red robe will be able to dispel all of his son's nightmares. "I'm sorry... D-dad... Dad is so sorry..." Taesoo says, unable to think of anything more to say other than his weak apologies, so he simply hugs Taehyung firmly. 

"I— It hurts... A-all this time... I was hurting too, dad..." Taehyung cried again, allowing himself to collapse in his father's arms, letting go of all the dreadful weight he'd been carrying alone for so long.

Bringing all of his hidden demons to the surface.

***

Taehyung has finally calmed down after a few hours, and Taesoo is now staring at him while Taehyung sleeps peacefully in his arms. 

It's been years since Taesoo had held Taehyung like this, and despite their circumstances, Taesoo couldn't help but smile, remembering how Taehyung was when the latter was still a baby. 

"Eun-hee-ah... I know you might never forgive me... I've failed as a father... Our son— he's been through so much and I didn’t even know half of it... Still, can I ask for another chance? Can you let me make things right? I want... I want to see our son smile again... I want him to be happy again... Can I still do that? Hmm?" Taesoo says quietly as he gently caresses Taehyung's face, tearing up again upon seeing how Taehyung grew up looking so much like Eun-hee; he got her sharp nose and her lips, even the shapes of their faces are the same, and as Taesoo continues to look at Taehyung, he began to wonder what could've Taehyung gotten from him. 'Well, I guess it's for the better that you look so similar to your mom... You're both so beautiful... I wonder what good I did in my past life to deserve both of you...' Taesoo muses, biting his lower lip to muffle his cries when he felt Taehyung lightly holding his little finger in his sleep, just like what he did when he was still a baby. 

"You..." Taesoo whispers as he leans his head back. "Dad loves you so much, son... Please do not ever forget that..." Taesoo says as he holds his son's hand. 

.

.

.

It's only natural that Taesoo finds it difficult to sleep with everything that has transpired today, so after another thirty minutes of staying with Taehyung in the latter's room, Taesoo stepped out to get himself something to drink. 

The truth is, he had been kicked out of the factory by the owner's guards before he even received the call from Taehyung's school this morning, and after that, it became clear to Taesoo that he might really never be able to get his old job back— meaning, he needs to find a new one as soon as possible, if he wants to help Taehyung fight back against the families of those kids who have been making him suffer— apparently all these years. 

*Ring...ring...*

Taesoo was about to pour himself a glass of water when his phone rang again. Seeing that it was from the loan shark's office, he decided to ignore it, knowing that even if they flip him upside down right now, he wouldn't be able to pay off his debt since he doesn't have a single penny left in his pockets.

"Oh, Lord, help us," Taesoo sighs as he declines the call—and then, after merely a second, their front door suddenly slams open, revealing the last guy Taesoo wanted to see at the moment.

. 

. 

. 

"Y-you... What are you doing here? H-how did you--.."

"Tsk, tsk... You really should've answered that, y'know? I was about to warn you that we're here— and we're going to ask you to pay back what you owed," Baek Byunghun, Taesoo's usurer, says. 

"Dad?! What was that sound? Are you okay—" Taehyung, who had just run out of his room after hearing the loud crash coming from their front door, freezes as he notices the group of men casually entering their house. "W-who are these people, dad?" Taehyung says, catching Baek Byunghun's crimson gaze before turning to Taesoo, who immediately ran in front of Taehyung as if to shield him from the other men. 

"P-please... Not here... Tomorrow... T-tomorrow, I promise--.."

"Ahh... I’ve been way too patient with you, Taesoo-ssi." Byunghun grins, his one gold tooth sparkling. "Now, I'm done waiting."

♟️♟️♟️

<you can play this as you read.>

Bruises

♟️♟️♟️

Do you believe in god? 

It has been stated that god knows everything we are going through as well as everything that will happen in the future; that he knows all the answers to every scenario— each hurdle, and that we should believe in him, have faith in him, and trust him enough to know that he knows best, because he does. 

The bible says in Psalm 103 verse eight, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." 

Taehyung is wondering where that said 'love' has gone. Where is his mercy, kindness, and empathy? Taehyung, for one, isn't feeling any of it right now. 

They took everything. 

They turned their house upside down, demanding money they didn't even have, and when they learned that what they have wasn't enough, they made them pay with their blood. 

It was too brutal, violent, and painful, yet the worst part was that Taehyung couldn't do anything to help his father. 

He couldn't do anything, no matter how physically strong or capable he is, since they were vastly outnumbered. 

Taehyung tried calling for help. He screamed and pleaded to anybody who might hear; their neighborhood's walls were all thin, and yet no one dared to come and aid them. 

Why? 

Is this God's plan? 

If that's the case, where is he now? Is he watching? 

Probably, just like everyone else who had pretended to be blind and deaf to their suffering. 

God did nothing. 

. 

. 

. 

"D-dad... Hang in there, stay awake for me, okay? We— we're almost there... Just don't fall asleep... Please don't fall asleep," Taehyung cries out, running to the hospital while carrying his father on his back. 

He has no idea how they got to this point. He cannot even remember how he was able to stand and pick his father up from the floor as soon as those men left their home; all Taehyung knew was that he had to move, as quickly as he could. 

Maybe it was due to his age, build and his natural resilience to pain given that he is still a dominant alpha, Taehyung didn't lose consciousness despite all the beating he had gotten, unlike Taesoo, who was unable to withstand at least five minutes of taking in those men's heavy fists.

"D-dad... Dad, why? You have been working so hard, and as far as I know it was only recently when you lost your job... Why didn't you pay them? Where's did all the money go? Just tell me... Tell me please... We can't let this happen again." Taehyung says, running almost blind from the sweat and the blood trickling down both of his eyes, feeling Taesoo softly grip the red silk fabric of the robe Taehyung is still wearing, causing him to hear a light crumpling sound coming from the inside pocket of the robe, which he did not even realize he had up until this point.

"N-no matter what happens... You must go to Hanyang, Taehyung-ah... Dad— dad took care of everything... Be anything you want to be... Live— live the life of your dreams... I— I know, I failed you countless times... I know I wasn't able to be the best father for you... But can you promise me one thing?" Taesoo asks, stuttering and coughing more blood as he and Taehyung finally reach the hospital. 

"D-dad..." Taehyung doesn't know how to react; he's just so puzzled and panicked that words won't come out of his mouth. 

"A-always be happy... Always smile brightly, a-and from time to time, glance up to the sky, so that— so that your mother will not worry too much..." Taesoo adds, lifting his broken and bleeding arm to gently touch Taehyung's face, then pressing a soft kiss on the side of his head. "I hope you can forgive me... For everything—even this... I love you so much, son..." Taesoo says as his arm falls slack and he slowly loses consciousness. 

"Dad... D-dad no, please... We're almost there... Dad!" Taehyung screams, his heart hammering in his chest as he notices Taesoo's weight getting heavier and his scent becoming weaker by the second. 

Taehyung rushed towards the hospital with whatever strength he had left, getting blinded more by the white bright lights. 

"A-anyone! Please! Help! Help— my dad... My dad needs help... PLEASE! HELP US!" Taehyung screams, and just as he's about to be assisted, the emergency room door slides open, followed by a girl who is around his age, pushing a man in a wheelchair, accompanied by more than a dozen men in black suit and tie. 

"Someone please help us! Doctor!" the girl exclaims, and the entire hospital appears to have turned upside down. 

"Oh my gosh! Director Kang!" one of the doctors on duty exclaims, rushing past Taehyung and Taesoo to reach the guy in the wheelchair. 

"Doctor... My father... My father needs help," Taehyung continues, hating how his voice suddenly sounded so weak, as if he's shrinking—as if he's slowly ceasing to exist. 

"Ms. Kang, what happened to the director this time? Did he have another headache?" The doctor inquires of the young lady as he examines the elderly man who is being moved to a bed. 

"H-hey... You're kidding me, right?" Taehyung murmured under his breath, seeing the last available bed in the emergency room taken by an elderly guy who appears to be in good enough condition to stay awake. 

"Oh my— wait, I'll fix up a space, just wait for a bit, okay?" Taehyung hears one of the nurses tell him, however at this point Taehyung cannot see anything else other than the man on the bed his father should've been on right now. 

—"Oi, Kang So-hee... You're making a fuss out of nothing. I told you I just got dizzy."

—"Still, we still have to have you checked! I'm worried about you, y'know?" 

—"Aigoo... Our So-hee really loves her dad, huh? You're really lucky to have such a sweet daughter, director Kang." 

"Excuse me, young man... Over here," the nurse exclaims, knocking Taehyung out of his trance and racing to place his father in one of the spare beds. 

"What happened to him?" The nurse inquires as he checks on Taesoo, but even though they are receiving assistance, Taehyung believes that it is insufficient. 

Taesoo clearly needs help—immediate help—but there's only one nurse on their side, and he's moving slow—too slow and too lax in Taehyung's eyes. 

"P-please help him... He got hit on the head with something... M-many times... He's been bleeding so much... I tried to stop it, but it won't— it won't stop." Taehyung says, his head pounding so much, feeling as if he too is going to faint, but no— he needs to stay awake. 

"C-can't we get a doctor, please? Hurry... I can barely sense my father's scent... H-he—" 

"Just wait here for a moment," the nurse says anxiously after feeling Taesoo's pulse, causing him to dash over to the same doctor who is still with the girl and the old man who arrived only seconds after Taehyung and Taesoo. 

"Dr. Lee!" Taehyung's gaze followed the nurse, seeing him whisper something to the doctor; the doctor then just gave Taesoo a brief glance, slightly shaking his head, before returning his attention to the girl and the elderly man with a smile on his face. 

—"Why?" the girl asks, "Is there a problem, doctor?" 

—"Ah, no, Miss... don't worry... I'll take care of that later; for now, how are you feeling, director?"

the doctor says, pressing the bell of his stethoscope on the elderly man's chest. 

...

"D-dad... W-what should I do? Dad..." Taehyung whispers, his vision still spinning in wild circles as he holds his father's hand, shifting his gaze to Taesoo and seeing his face gradually lose its color. "We're invisible... They can't see us... I—I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Taehyung says, dropping to his knees, noticing the small amount of blood streaming from Taesoo's ears. 

"Help us... Please... We're here. We're still— we're still alive..." Taehyung began to sob hysterically, eventually gaining some attention; medics raced to their side, checking Taesoo, who was no longer responsive. 

They're finally doing something. Nonetheless, Taehyung is too dizzy to be aware of anything. He just moved away, clasping his chest as well as his injured forehead. 

"Oh my God, young man! You need to be treated, too! Come here--..." Blah, blah, blah... As his ears continue to ring, everything is becoming too loud for Taehyung. The next thing he knew, he was being guided up by someone, who sat him down on a nearby chair, treating his wounds as his gaze remained fixed on Taesoo. 

Some nurses began yelling in panic, a hundred various scents of pheromones reeking in the air, combined with the dizzying smell of antiseptic. 

It's just too much—everything is just too much, and Taehyung's body is giving up. 

"D-dad... Don't leave me..." Taehyung muttered under his breath as his eyelids fell shut and he collapsed onto the nurse in front of him. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Writings on the wall

"Young master, are you okay?" Jun-yeol asks as Jeongguk clasps his chest and makes a faint coughing sound. 

"Y-yeah... I guess..." Jeongguk says, confused as to why he suddenly felt a severe ache in his chest and he began to sweat. It's been days, but he hasn't heard from Taehyung yet. He's tried to call and text him a few times, but every time he's ready to retrieve his phone from Jun-yeol, either Shin-hye or Sehun comes waltzing towards him; he's never even alone, except for the short hours at night when he's too exhausted to do anything. 

Hwang— or Jeon Shin-hye, really is trouble. At least Sehun is manageable, but Jeongguk already knows that if there's anybody in this house that he shouldn't cross—at least not right now—it's his step mother, since he knows what she's capable of. 

'I heard from Sehun that you've been having fun with a certain alpha at your school... I'm assuming that since he's still alive, your father probably has no idea of his existence yet... Do you want to keep it that way or not?— Ah, yeah... Of course you do, Jeonggukkie, which is why I need you to behave... My dearest son... You get what I mean, don't you?'

Jeongguk can still remember what Shin-hye has told him the moment she returned from wasting his father's money abroad; he watched her instruct every attendant of their household to add more security cameras, including in Jeongguk's room— which isn't surprising at all, since she had done this before. 

Whenever there's news of Jeongguk getting involved with anyone, whether it's a fling or a friend, other than Jin, Namjoon, and Yoongi, whose families have been friends with his father's for years, Shin-hye makes a big deal out of it, informing Jeongguk's father about what he's been up to, prompting Jeon Junho to take action. It's as if she's deliberately trying to isolate Jeongguk so that he can get along with her omega son, Sehun, and to be honest, Jeongguk would rather be alone than let that happen, so he's been doing just that. 

That— until Kim Taehyung came and changed everything. 

Still, some things are still unclear— like whatever the fuck it is that Jeongguk is feeling whenever he thinks about Taehyung. 

'It's unpleasant.' Jeongguk thinks as he stands up straight, trying to steady his breathing. 

"Do you want me to prepare your bath?— Dinner is almost ready, though if you want I can also get you a drink or some snacks--.."

"Did Kim Taehyung call today or not?" Jeongguk asks, still feeling that 'unpleasant' weight in his chest, as if his lungs are about to be crushed every time he attempts to take breath. 

"No sir, He did not—" 

"Give me my phone. I will call him instead." Jeongguk says, demanding to get his phone back from Jun-yeol. 

"May I remind you of the cameras, sir? I can only disable the listening devices for a few minutes— but the Hwangs are always watching your every move... Are you sure you want to call him right now? Here?" Jun-yeol inquires, glancing up to the security camera installed on one of the corners of Jeongguk's room. 

"I am not allowed to leave, and I can’t even make a single phone call... Just to let you know, I am very close to burning this blasted house down, Jun-yeol." Jeongguk says with a rather threatening tone. 

"I'd rather you not do that, sir... Especially since your father said that he will be coming home." 

"When?" Jeongguk asks. 

"He didn't say when, but he's already back in the country—attending some other business in Daegu and Jeju, so I assume he'll be back here if not tonight, then sometime this week, most likely," Jun-yeol says, noticing Jeongguk's distress no matter how hard he tries to conceal it. "Once the chairman returns, the Hwangs will be busy— not to mention that they will lose control of the house. I can quietly lessen the surveillance by then. I suggest you wait for your father to return before making a move, sir; because, ironically, I believe that'll be the safest route," Jun-yeol adds, hoping to ease Jeongguk's mood just a little. 

"How can a person not contact someone they've been spending their days with just recently? Is that even normal?" Jeongguk sighs, turning away from Jun-yeol and clasping his chest once again because the strange pain is just unbearable. "Please leave, Jun-yeol; I want to rest." 

"Are you alright, sir? You look pale-—" 

"I SAID LEAVE," Jeongguk yells firmly as he casts a stern glare at Jun-yeol, leading the latter to take a step back, bowing courteously at him before exiting the room. 

"Hah... What the fuck is wrong with me now?" Jeongguk says, clutching his chest and leaning his free hand on the tabletop. 

***

"Let go of me! Stop! Stop this, please!" 

 

"Oh? And why would I? Everything in this world has a price— even someone's patience. You're still young— and by the looks of it, you're a dominant... So how about this? You work for me to pay off your father's debt—" 

 

"NO! NO HE WILL NOT! LEAVE MY SON ALONE BYUNGHUN! I-I will pay you. One way or another, I will… So please leave him out of this..."

 

"One way or another, huh? But, Taesoo-ah, how will you even do that when you've lost your job? Unless you're a sorcerer of some sort who can make money appear out of thin air, then I might consider... However— we both know that you're not. So let me just borrow your son, alright? I'll return him once you pay me back."

 

"No... No... Don't touch him!" 

 

Even though his eyesight is cloudy, Taehyung knows precisely what occurred. Taehyung was about to be hauled out of their house when his father grabbed an old kitchen knife, lifted himself up, and lunged directly at Baek Byunghun, slashing him in the arm. 

 

Then there's the blood, coming from Baek Byunghun as well as Taesoo, who was hit in the head many times with a metal pipe right after going in to attack. 

 

'You're lucky, I have no use for a dead man... However, if you die— I now know who to find.' That's what Baek Byunghun said, glancing at Taehyung before he and his men left. 

... 

*Gasp!*

"Oh you're up... How are you feeling, young man?" 

Taehyung was greeted by the bright white hospital lights as soon as he opened his eyes, sitting up and catching his head, which is still throbbing in pain as he tries to remember why he's now in this place. 

A threat stained in red. 

His father's weak scent. 

"Dad!— Where is he? Kim Taesoo— the man I was with... H-he's okay right? Please tell me that he is... No, no— I need to see him... Dad! Dad!" Taehyung leapt out of bed, clutching the shoulders of the nurse he was with. 

"C-calm down, please sir."

When Taehyung realized he wasn't going to get the answer he needed from the nurse, he instantly let him go, running all around the emergency room, looking behind each curtain, until he eventually sees Taesoo lying unconscious on the bed, being checked by a doctor and a number of nurses. 

"Oh, are you this man's relative?" The same doctor from earlier asks Taehyung. 

"Yes, yes— I'm his son.... H-how is he? He's gonna be okay, right? I—" 

"His head injury caused bleeding in the brain; he needs surgery as soon as possible..." the doctor pauses as he eyes Taehyung up and down. "Boy, I hate to ask this, but you do have insurance right? The surgery he needs will cost a lot, and I'll be honest with you— there's still a possibility that your father will not survive. Technically, we cannot refuse a patient if it is an emergency, however--.."

"Just do it... Whatever you need to do— just do it. I can pay... S-so please save him." Taehyung says, knowing full well what he should do next. 

He needs help. 

And at this desperate moment, there's only one person in Taehyung's head. 

.

. 

. 

***

*ring... ring...*

"Jun-yeol-ssi, is that your phone ringing?" Jeon Shin-hye asks as Jun-yeol serves her tea, here in Jeon Jungho's study. 

"It is, madam. Excuse me—" 

"Answer it... Here," Sehun, who is also in the room, says, sneering at Jun-yeol, realizing that if there is anybody in this house who isn't on their side and they need to keep an eye on, it would undoubtedly be the Jeon's chief butler. 

*Ring... Ring...*

Jun-yeol then calmly takes his phone out of his pocket to check who's calling him at this hour. An unknown number.

"So? Are you gonna answer or not? You're not hiding anything from us are you, Jun-yeol?" Shin-hye asks. 

"Of course not, madam." Jun-yeol stops as he glances at Sehun, sensing that the omega must be plotting something again, based on the cheeky expression on his face. "However, I believe you have no control over my private life... Please excuse me, I need to take this," Jun-yeol says as he walks out of the study room to answer the call. 

. 

. 

. 

—"Hello? Lee Jun-yeol, speaking."

"I still can't reach Jeongguk; you said to call you in case of an emergency, right? I need money—right now, I need money," Taehyung says, phoning from the hospital's landline after Baek Byunghun's men had seized his and his father's phones earlier. 

—"Kim Taehyung-ssi?" 

"Yes, it's me... I'm in xx hospital right now. Something happened and my dad needs surgery... I still don't know how much it will cost, but I need— I need money, or else, these people wouldn't take us seriously." Taehyung says, his voice shaking as he speaks. 

—"Then shall I transfer it to your account?" 

"Y-you can't... I no longer have access to my bank account... Can you just come here and give it to me in cash? I'll pay you back... I— I will pay you back, so please..." Taehyung begs, knowing that both his and his father's accounts have most likely already been accessed by Baek Byunghun, and any money he receives will go straight into that man's pockets. 

—"I understand... However, I cannot leave right now, Taehyung-ssi, if you can wait then I can--" 

"I'll go there. I have your address from the card you gave me, so just get the money ready... I'll be there in 20 minutes." Taehyung says, hanging up the phone and running out, unable to think clearly owing to his desperation.

***

"Wait, no! Taehyung-ssi— Taehyung-ssi? Hello?" 

"So the reason he isn't calling me is because he's calling you? What the fuck is happening, Lee Jun-yeol?" Jeongguk says, overhearing Jun-yeol talking to Taehyung on the phone when he stepped out of his room to get a glass of water from the kitchen. 

"Young master..." Jun-yeol froze, massaging the bridge of his nose, thinking that tonight may really go horribly wrong. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Can't pretend

With whatever strength he has, Taehyung ran— and ran, until he's finally standing in front of Jeon's residence,immediately spotting Jun-yeol waiting for him at the gates. 

"Where is it... T-the money?" Taehyung asks, still catching his breath as he speaks. 

"Please follow me, Taehyung-ssi," Jun-yeol says, taking Taehyung to the back of the residence and through the hidden passageway that the servants use, which leads to the only room in the house without any surveillance cameras. 

The only room the Hwangs are unaware of; where only two individuals are allowed—of whom Jun-yeol is one. 

Jeon Jungho's private quarters. 

. 

. 

. 

"Where are we going? I'm really in a hurry right now, so I won't be able to stay long; I'll just take the money and—" Taehyung pauses as the door in front of them crashes open, a hand grasping the neckline of his shirt and yanking him in, leaving Jun-yeol standing outside the now-closed door. 

"You're here," Jeongguk sighs, wrapping his arms around Taehyung's frame, his hand on the back of the latter's head. 

"J-Jeon..." Taehyung mumbled, an odd sense of relief washing over him as he felt Jeongguk's warmth against his skin. 

It's strange—really strange, considering that the last thing he should be feeling right now is relief, given his circumstances. However, Taehyung still couldn't help but melt in Jeongguk's embrace, breathing in steadily while his body was still quivering, feeling as if each of his bones were about to snap and finally relax. 

And Taehyung feels like it's okay— Jeon Jeongguk is here now even if he breaks apart. 

"Help me... Please... I need you..." Taehyung admits as the events from earlier flashes through his mind, tears falling from his eyes. 

"W-what happened?" Jeongguk asks, pulling back from Taehyung's hold and quickly cupping his cheeks, now noticing the fresh cuts and bruises all over his face, as well as the blood seeping through the bandage wrapped around his forehead. "Who did this to you? Tell me... Was it Jang Minho? Jun-yeol said you recently had a fight with him... Did he do this to you?" Jeongguk asks, his eyes shifting from amber to red, his anger boiling up from the pit of his stomach, ready to explode at any moment. 

"H-he did... But that doesn't matter now. My dad, he's— he's in the hospital, undergoing surgery right now, a-and I--.." Taehyung pauses, as if he's about to choke on hisnown breath. "I'm scared... Jeongguk— Jeongguk, I'm scared... Those people, they couldn't see us... We were there and they couldn't see us... Dad is dying a-and they don't care... None of them care, since we both look like we cannot afford to pay... I need them to do their best to save him s-so I need money— lots and lots of it... You can give me some, right? You will help me right? Right?" Taehyung asks, clutching Jeongguk's arms tightly, ignoring the fact that he is now pathetically crying in front of this man. 

"W-what happened to uncle?" Jeongguk asks, getting that ugly feeling in his chest again. 

'Why? Whatever happened to his father shouldn't bother me in the least— but...' Jeongguk doesn't know what to think; he's feeling something he's never felt before— and it's repulsive, at least to him, because he is unable to determine the source of it. 

But Taehyung is crying— for the first time since they've met, Jeongguk is finally seeing Taehyung be in tears, and the fact that he isn't the cause of it feels even more repulsive to him. 

"It was something about our unpaid debt... I thought it was almost done by now, but it turns out that he hasn't been paying... A-and so those strange men got into our house and they... T-they..." Taehyung broke down again, his knees giving up and he was about to fall if Jeongguk hadn't held him up, caging him in his arms once more. 

"Calm down... I still can't leave this house, so I won't be able to be with you... That's why please, calm down," Jeongguk says as he steps back and collects the bag full of cash Jun-yeol had prepared for him to give Taehyung. "Jun-yeol said you're still not sure of the exact amount that you need, but for now, this should be enough. No matter what happens, I will come and find you tomorrow... So I need you to make it by then, alright?" Jeongguk adds, unzipping the bag slightly so he can show Taehyung the bundles of cash inside; then he closes it once more and hands it to the latter before stepping in front of him again, wiping the tears from Taehyung's face with the back of his palm. "And stop crying... I don't like it." Jeongguk says, looking Taehyung straight in the eyes. 

'Has it always been this easy? No, it's this guy— he's making everything look easy... I want him. I want him— and I don't care if he continues to lie to me. I don't care if he's already found an omega who's a better match for him. I want him.' Taehyung muses before he drops the bag of money on the floor to grab the collar of Jeongguk's shirt, pulling him closer and claiming his lips. 

'Mine.' Taehyung thinks as he kisses Jeongguk, parting his mouth, and letting his tongue dive deep. 

He has no time for this, Taehyung knows that he shouldn't be doing this— at least not right now and not here, but he couldn't help it. 

Jeon Jeongguk did it again, getting rid of all of Taehyung's nightmares with his mere existence. 

"Fuck..." Jeongguk hisses as Taehyung breaks the kiss to catch his breath, grabbing Jeongguk by the nape and kissing him once more; and as soon as their lips clashed again, Taehyung pushed Jeongguk down on the nearby desk, getting on top of him, still devouring his lips like a starved beast who has just awoken from his deep sleep. 

This is mad. 

Taehyung knows that he'd better be leaving with the money he came here for by now, but still, he couldn't stop— the tension and the pull that's been drawing him to Jeongguk is just too much. 

"I thought... No, I almost believed that you betrayed me. I'm sorry..." Taehyung says in between kisses, his palm sliding up from Jeongguk's chest, to his neck, cupping his jaw as he pulls back from his lips, pressing their foreheads together. 

"I would never. I am on your side, Taehyung... Just trust me— I am Always— always on your side." Jeongguk says, finding himself tenderly brushing Taehyung's hair back as he kisses him again. 

***

<Footsteps approaching...>

Jun-yeol's massaging the bridge of his nose, his back leaning against the door, waiting for Taehyung to step out of the room when he flinched; hearing that familiar sound of someone's footsteps approaching. 

A shiver ran up his spine, making Jun-yeol sweat as he stood upright, turning to face the man who was now standing in front of him, with his same cold and emotionless eyes. 

Jeon Jungho— the current head alpha of the Jeon household. 

"M-master." Jun-yeol stutters as he lifts his head, meeting the man's frigid gaze. 

"I must admit, I was surprised when you weren't there to greet me by the door when I arrived... Have you been waiting for me here this whole time?" Jeon Jungho asks, hooking his fingertips under Jun-yeol's chin and raising the latter's face closer to his. 

"I— I was... I was waiting for you here, yes..." Jun-yeol replies, unable to move since, even as an alpha, he is still no match for Jeon Jungho's presence. 

"Then why are we still standing here? Open the door— I have been aching to hold you, my beautiful and obedient little puppy." Jeon Jungho says, gripping Jun-yeol's face in his hand, leaning in closer to the latter's lips, only to grimace in distaste when Jun-yeol turns his face away from him. 

"L-later, sir. I have something to discuss with you first... I'm wondering if we could talk in your study," Jun-yeol says, gulping down his own spit anxiously before turning back to face Jungho. 

"Why go all the way up there when we're already here? The whole house reeks... Y'know this is the only place we both could breathe." Jungho states, softly touching Jun-yeol's cheek. 

'We both? Ridiculous... I'm hardly breathing now that you're here. I hope you can just drop dead already.' Jun-yeol thinks as he tries to suppress his pheromones from escaping, knowing full well that once he fails, then the monster in front of him will immediately know how he's feeling. 

And then, he'll gobble him all up, throwing him down to that dark pit in hell he calls paradise. 

"There are some files that I need to show you, master— and I left them in there. Let's talk first, and then you can have it your way with me all you want after." Jun-yeol says as he slightly steps back as if by mistake just to knock the heel of his leather shoes against the door, hoping the subtle sound it made would be enough to let the two young alphas inside the room know that they are no longer alone. 

"Alright then, let's go." Jungho says, his eyes flashing red at Jun-yeol; a silent warning for the latter to better make it quick, or he wouldn't like the consequences after. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Skyfall

*Thud!*

Jeongguk then pulled back from the kiss when they heard the subtle sound coming from the door. It was strange because Jun-yeol, who is supposed to keep watch, isn't someone who would fumble and make a noise to disturb; and if someone is coming— no, according to Jun-yeol, nobody knows of this room, located deep in the residence's basement floor— not even Jeongguk, who only found out about its existence today when he caught Jun-yeol talking to Taehyung. 

Jun-yeol said that the only people who have access to this room are Jun-yeol himself and the head of the household, Jeon Jungho. 

"Why?" Taehyung asks, a bit annoyed that Jeongguk appears distracted all of a sudden. 

"N-nothing... Just wait okay. I heard something." Jeongguk says, slightly pushing Taehyung away, but not completely off him. 

"Do you honestly believe you have the time to think about anything else right now? I'm right here. I came to you... I am here, and soon I must leave... So look at me—focus on me," Taehyung continues, aware that he is probably no longer thinking clearly.

He is in an unfamiliar place. 

He came here demanding money from people who are practically strangers to him. 

His father's alone in the hospital, getting his head split open, fighting for his life. 

And yet, something inside Taehyung's calling—screaming to have this man— Jeon Jeongguk, right now. 

"I am looking at you... But you have no idea what kind of place this is— the kinds of monsters that dwell in here. They're worse than me— worse than anything you've ever imagined. You and I wouldn't stand a chance. That's why I suggest you leave for now. I will come to you— soon. So--."

"Are you looking down on me?" Taehyung asks, unable to understand the extent of the longing he's experiencing right now. 

All he wanted is to have Jeongguk, even for just a short while: to feel him against his skin, his warmth and his touch, his lips all over him. 

He hasn't seen or heard from him in days. 

He's gone to hell and back—and back again—and he's sure that the last thread holding his sanity together is ready to snap. 

So, was it really too much to ask for someone to hold him for a few minutes, just so he could feel safe? Just so he could feel that he's still okay? 

"No, Tae. What are you even saying? Look, you don't understand how desperate I am to just lock you up in my room, now that you've taken the first step towards me... But I can't. This place isn't mine— at least not yet. It's killing me... Yet I am holding myself back, even though every fiber in me is burning to have you right here, right now— but we both have things to do. You get what I mean, right?" Jeongguk says, reaching up to cup Taehyung's face, only to have his hand be swatted away rather violently, it knocked off one of the ceramic displays on the desk they're in. 

*Crash!*

"No I don't. I don't understand. You've always done what you want and every time— every damn fucking time, I let you have your way with me, and yet the one time I ask you to be with me, you push me away? You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Taehyung laughs bitterly, pressing his palm flat on Jeongguk's chest, pinning him down on the desk. "It's because of that omega, right? Hwang Sehun was it? Jang Minho showed me a photo of you both together... Who was that? Your mate? You found him, is that the reason why you're now simply tossing me away?" Taehyung asks, his eyes shifting to pitch black again. 

"W-what? No! You've got it all wrong okay? Listen—" Jeongguk pauses, glancing at the shattered display on the floor, and then when he breathed, he got a whiff of a certain someone's pheromones. "We have to hide—now... Move Tae... Please, you need to hide—mmph..." Jeongguk was then shushed when Taehyung once again claimed his lips. 

"I told you, I am not some cheap toy you can just toss aside once you're done playing," Taehyung says, going for Jeongguk's lips once again when the latter suddenly shoved him so hard that he tumbled off the desk, his back crashing against a nearby wooden shelf. 

*CRASH!*

Books and other wooden and glass displays then fell on Taehyung's head, ripping apart the sutures from his previous injuries and causing him to bleed once again.

It hurts— there's no doubt about it. 

But what stings the most is that Jeongguk—the man who was set to be his only hope—did this to him, and Taehyung couldn’t believe it.

"T-Taehyung... I—" Jeongguk stares at Taehyung with wide eyes, watching as the bandage wrapped around Taehyung's head becomes completely soaked in red, blood dripping on one side of his face— while Taehyung does the same, looking even more stunned than Jeongguk, mentally hearing a loud wake-up call from the universe, reminding him that no—he can never escape this hell. 

***

*CRASH!* 

Jun-yeol flinched as he heard the noises coming from Jeon Jungho's private quarters, leading him and the head alpha to come to a halt. 

"Ahh..." Jungho smirks, slowly turning back to Jun-yeol. "I'm sure you heard that, Jun-yeol," he adds, pushing Jun-yeol to the side, heading back in front of the room's huge wooden door.

"M-master, wait! I'm sure there's no one in there--.."

"Are you sure— that you're sure, Lee Jun-yeol?" Jeon Jungho asks, looking down at Jun-yeol when the latter stands in front of the door. "Move."

***

"T-Taehyung..." Jeongguk mutters, unable to move as if he's been frozen in place, the ache in his chest worsening by the second. His gaze then shifts from Taehyung to his hands, which are still trembling. 

And then—

*SLAM!*

"Hah... There's an intruder, I see..." Jungho says, quickly releasing his pheromones into the air to display his authority upon seeing that someone has ventured to enter his private territory. "Oh, and there are two of them. How interesting..." Jungho adds, turning to face Taehyung, who has just caught his gaze. 

"Surely you didn't know anything about this, Jun-yeol?" Jungho says again, breaking the deafening silence in the room.

 1...2...3... Jun-yeol is still not saying anything. 

"LEE JUN-YEOL!" Jungho growls, causing the other three alphas to flinch, bodies trembling from their heads down to their feet. 

"I— my apologies, sir. I didn't know." Jun-yeol says, his head hanging low, unable to even look at Jeongguk.

"I see... So what brings you here— kid?" Jungho asks, taking up one of his golf clubs from its stand near the entrance and walking towards Taehyung, with his eyes fixed on Jeongguk. "Also, mind telling me—WHO THE FUCK IS THIS?!" Jungho yells, swinging his golf club and smashing the section of the wooden shelf only an inch away from the top of Taehyung's head. 

Taehyung's eyes have returned to Jeongguk, waiting to hear the latter's answer, despite the pain of betrayal that has already been clamping his chest, weighing on him as if to crush his lungs, squeezing out every last drop of blood in his heart. 

'Tell him... Say something. Anything— I wouldn't even care if you tell him that I'm just your friend.' Taehyung thinks, watching as Jeongguk's mouth gape like dumb fish.

"C-chairman... I—" 

"Speak. Properly."

Jeongguk then glances at Taehyung, feeling his guts be tied into tight knots as he brings his eyes back to his father. 

"I do not know him, chairman... I caught him sneaking in from the back and so I— I followed him, and then we ended up here... I'm sorry... I tried to stop him," Jeongguk says, lying through his teeth, for the first time, in front of Taehyung. 

Jungho's gaze then moved across the room, eventually settling on the bag that Jun-yeol is currently unzipping, revealing a few bundles of cash inside. 

"I-it appears that the young master is telling the truth, chairman... I didn't notice them because I only got here minutes before your arrival.... Please allow me to take care of the intruder, so we can clean up," Jun-yeol says, rushing to grab Taehyung by the collar, pulling him up from the ground so harshly that the latter lost one of his shoes, but Jun-yeol knows better than to get it back. 

He needs to immediately take Kim Taehyung out. 

Taehyung's now-empty gaze never left Jeongguk as he was dragged away by Jun-yeol. 

He can't believe it, yet he knows it's true—that this is actually happening. 

And as Jeongguk disappeared from his sight, Taehyung felt as if something inside him had been snapped and shattered to pieces, leaving him with absolutely nothing.

It killed him. 

. 

. 

. 

"L-leave... I will pay for your father's medical bills, but for now, do not let yourself be seen by anyone. Leave— and live as if you do not exist, do you hear me? Kim Taehyung-ssi? Kim Taehyung-ssi!" Jun-yeol exclaims, grabbing both of Taehyung's shoulders and shaking him awake from whatever trance the young alpha is in. 

Nonetheless, Taehyung couldn't find the strength to even open his mouth and say anything. 

He's now back here at the back of Jeon's residence, seeing nothing but pitch black, and as if the whole heavens is conspiring to mock him even more, the night skies above begin to weep, pouring all over him.

"I'm sorry... But don't worry. This surely isn't the end yet, Taehyung-ssi... Take care of yourself." Jun-yeol says, turning Taehyung around and pushing him hard, keeping his eyes on him as the broken young alpha walks away— slowly, painfully, as if he's walking on glass shards that's stabbing and piercing the bottom of his feet within each step that he makes. 

"What is meant to be, will be."

***

<you can play this as you read.>

No time to die

Death

/deTH/

noun 

 

: a permanent cessation of all vital functions 

: the end of life

: a cause of ruin

: the state of being no longer alive

***

Taehyung returned to the hospital around daybreak, clutching a few soiled and damp heaps of crumpled cash. 

Where did he get the money? 

Taehyung would rather drop dead right now than remember any of it. 

Taehyung knew he couldn't return to his father empty-handed after being booted out of the Jeon's residence, so he went in search of another ‘devil’ who had previously offered to give him what he needed. 

Taehyung's mouth began to rot from there, and it is still rotting in filth. Taehyung's lips are swollen, and the sides of his mouth feel ripped; despite this, he endured everything. 

Only to find out later on that it was all for nothing. 

. 

. 

. 

"We're really sorry, young man. Your father has lost a lot of blood. He only held on for a few minutes after you left, and passed before we could even set up the operating table. Now regarding the bill--.." The nurse at the reception then pauses when Taehyung quietly places the stacks of cash in front of her. 

"Where is he? I want to see him." Taehyung says, his voice frigid and his face expressionless; following the other nurse who offered to take him to his father. 

. 

. 

. 

As the nurse carefully pulled down the white sheet that was covering Taesoo's face, Taehyung stood there in silence. 

The nurse left, leaving Taehyung alone with his father, and yet he still couldn't find the right words to say, nor did he know what he should feel at this moment. 

He cannot even cry— he has no tears left to cry. 

Taehyung just stared at Taesoo for a few silent minutes, hearing nothing except his own heavy takes of breath, and then he felt his hands moving on their own, eventually taking the crumpled and damp envelope that had been sitting in the hidden pocket of his red robe. 

A cheque for one million won and a letter from Hanyang University verifying payment for Taehyung's dorm room. 

Taehyung began to tremble, crumpling the now useless sheets on paper in his hand, his eyes never leaving his father. 

He took another deep breath, then leaned down and kissed Taesoo on the cheek before exiting the room, wandering aimlessly with whatever life in him he had left. 

***

"Y-young master." Jun-yeol then catches Jeongguk in his arms as soon as the latter steps outside of the chairman's study. Thankfully, the chairman ordered the Hwangs not to step out of their rooms, so for now, they are the only ones who knew what occurred. 

"T-tell me everything you know," Jeongguk says, watching as Jun-yeol's gaze shifts from his face to his own blood-stained palm after touching Jeongguk's back. 

"I will, but first let's get you treated, sir," Jun-yeol replies as he leads Jeongguk to his room. 

Understanding the gravity of the situation and what it means to Jeongguk, Jun-yeol decided to tell the young alpha all he knew, including the facts he had just acquired about the Kim's debt, the usurer who had caused them to suffer, and what he had heard after sending Taehyung out from the mansion. 

Jeongguk sat and listened without saying anything. 

He listened as Jun-yeol narrated how Kim Taehyung's world fell apart. 

"Get the car ready. We are leaving." Jeongguk says after hearing the whole story. 

"Young master, you need to rest... Also, the chairman is still here, leaving now will be extremely risky." Jun-yeol responds, clearly concerned about Jeongguk's current condition. 

"If you say another word, I will end you and then myself, so if you don't want that to happen... Get. The. Fucking. Car. Ready," Jeongguk growls, his knees shaking in pain as he gets out of bed. 

"I understand sir," Jun-yeol says knowing that nothing can stop Jeongguk at this point, so he simply bowed his head and exited the room. 

Now alone, Jeongguk stared blankly into space, unsure of what to feel after hearing what happened to Taehyung only days after his return to the mansion.

His whole body is throbbing, his back is still bleeding, but nothing compares to the ache in his chest, as though his heart is being torn apart over and over again within each passing second. 

Then, when the thought of Kim Taesoo crossed his mind, another inexplicable thing happened: a tear fell from Jeongguk's eye. 

He caught the tear in his palm and stared at it while another one fell, and another, and another—and it didn't stop. 

"AAARGH!!!" Jeongguk screams, thrashing whatever is on the bedside table, turning his room upside down, beating the walls, kicking the bed, smashing his fists on the full-length mirror, his own blood dripping to his feet as he stares at his broken reflection. 

There, Jeongguk swore that he would never forget, and that he would never forgive everyone who had contributed to Taehyung's suffering— everyone, including himself. 

***

<you can play this as you read.>

Dynasty

Taehyung has no idea how or why he ended up in their empty classroom. The sun hasn't fully risen yet, and it hasn't stopped raining either. 

Taehyung approached his old desk, touching it as he gazed out the window, seeing the same view he used to see whenever his thoughts wandered during their lectures.

He stayed there a bit more, and then he left. 

The classrooms and corridors were all empty, and as Taehyung continued to walk, he reflected on everything he had experienced during his time here. 

Those vicious glances with loose tongues; everyone who seemed to be both blind and deaf, yet never failed to run their mouths. 

And as Taehyung steps out of the building, he swears that one day—someday—he will blow this school up and down to the ground. 

Then Taehyung found himself in the indoor pool of the school gym, his sanctuary after each hellish day at school. 

Every time he comes here, diving deep into the freezing water, he wants to never come up to the surface, but he always does—swimming up, gasping for air after one to two minutes. 

Taehyung now wonders if he can go any further. He wonders how long his lungs can last until all the air in him runs out. 

Taehyung then goes into the pool, discarding his soiled and damp red silk robe and allowing himself to sink to the bottom. 

Everything is gone. 

His pride, his dignity, as well as his father. 

He's got nothing to do and has nowhere to go. 

No one will be waiting for him at home. 

He had been striving for years to achieve his dreams, only to have his progress snuffed out in a single evening. 

Ah. 

Taehyung right now just wants to end all of it. 

'A-always be happy... Always smile brightly, a-and from time to time, glance up to the sky, so that— so that your mother will not worry too much... I hope you can forgive me... For everything— even for this... I love you so much, son...'

Taehyung suddenly heard his father's voice reverberating within his head a few seconds after his typical two minute mark under water; he doesn't really want to come out, knowing that the life he'll have after this would probably be pointless. 

And yet, within the freezing cold water, Taehyung felt an odd sense of warmth, embracing and unraveling him whole, his body losing its strength, allowing him to float up to the surface.

Lying in the water, Taehyung gasped for air, staring blankly at the ceiling for a while, before he broke out laughing—and crying— sobbing. 

What a damn horrible evening, indeed. 

. 

. 

. 

As the faint light of the burning orange sun begins to reflect through the gym's awning windows, Taehyung gets up, swimming to the edge and exiting the pool, instantly spotting the man who had just stormed in, huffing out of breath—now standing in the exact spot where they first met. 

They stood completely motionless, their eyes fixed on each other, hearing nothing except their own breathing and the slight trickling sound of the water. 

Taehyung then picked up his red robe from the ground and walked calmly past the man. 

"Jang Minho," Jeongguk states suddenly, prompting Taehyung to pause. 

"Jang Minho, Ahn Seung-hoon, Park Joo-hyuk, Shin Hae-in, Baek Byunghun, Hwang Shin-hye, Hwang Sehun, Jeon Jungho—Jeon Jeongguk," Jeongguk cries, tasting his own tears as they stream down his face. 

"One, ten, or a hundred years... It doesn't matter when, but I promise you, I will make them all pay—for each of the tears and blood you shed the night before today," Jeongguk says, his fists clenched firmly on his sides, his head hanging low, his tears staining the concrete ground.

"Bullshit." Taehyung says, laughing bitterly to himself before continuing to walk away. 

"KIM TAEHYUNG!" Jeongguk exclaims, "T-this isn't the end, so you—you cannot die just yet."

"Ah... I know. Don't worry, I won't die— until I get to kill you myself," Taehyung says without looking back, walking straight out of his shattered hell.

——

A/N: 

Here's a short teaser video I made for the next part of this story. ☺️

Teaser Video Link: