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What are the odds for a last year semester student to take another introductory class while wrapping up his college life? A lot actually. It doesn’t happen only to one person. Many students had their own experience with this. No one told them how fucked up college life is, it won’t be fun as what the seniors said, just let the newbies came and let’s throw them to the wolves!
Choi Hyunjoon sucks at English. It’s not his first language. He did understand some of it through playing games, but the whole structured grammar? Nuh uh. Pass, it’s not important, he thinks. But, boy, was he wrong about that. Apparently to get his dream degree around a STEM major, he needs to get that A or B+ for introductory English lessons.
Did Hyunjoon originally know about this? He is. He just doesn’t want to admit it, which was stupid. Hyunjoon had gone through a lot of STEM books, including English, to study and passed his entrance exam. Getting another English lesson in his first semester was not that bad, but he just didn’t want to do it.
Upon hearing that, Geonwoo and Dohyeon were cackling. Geonwoo even had to lay down on his room’s floor because of how ridiculous it sounded. Hyunjoon deadpanned and Dohyeon showed a blank expression toward his best friend. They will have a semester left before their graduation and hearing to know their bestfriend still had to take an introductory language class in his last time of college was funny as fuck.
“You know that you’re stupid, right?” Dohyeon made sure and Hyunjoon groaned, “Shut up. I was already in hell trying to juggle different kinds of Physics-Chemistry fusion classes and their labs too.” Dohyeon’s face got even more facepalm, “That was your favorite class, as far as I know.” Geonwoo held his stomach for dear life, tears streaming down his face from the corner of his eyes, “Oh my God. I didn’t expect out of all languages classes, you still need to take English. I thought you passed all the two Japanese classes already.” Hyunjoon sighed, sinking deeper on Geonwoo’s bed, “I did pass both of Japanese classes, introductory and STEM-focused ones. It’s just that I didn't want to do English and planned to do it at the end of my college semester. I didn’t expect it would sound so ridiculous from you two.”
Everyone agreed that it was a bad plan. Hyunjoon didn’t consider if the class will be filled with a lot of his juniors or not. It’s a big class, as far as he knows. A lot of other students from different majors will join, the same as the Japanese classes he took for the first two semesters and finished flawlessly (thank you, Doraemon).
Thus, Hyunjoon finds himself standing in front of the main building of the Literature major. The big class will be held in this building for a whole semester. Hyunjoon is going to have around two classes, this one and his undergraduate research program. The progress is improving, he didn’t come home on holiday and had been stuck in the library alongside the lab with Dohyeon.
Hyunjoon remembered the words Dohyeon said last night when they had another session in the main lab for their research. “Did you see the class students sheet? Their second genders and all of that?” Dohyeon pressed. Hyunjoon is busy pouring another drop of chemical liquid into another erlenmeyer flask on the table. “Couple of omegas and betas. There are alphas too,” Dohyeon sneered and Hyunjoon frowned, “Shut up. It’s not the first time I’ve been in a mixed class, we’re adults, Dohyeon-ah. I’m a beta who literally spent years in the same class as an alpha like you.”
“Yeah, but not all of them are like me and Geonwoo, you know.”
“I know. Besides, I’m a beta. No one will like me either way.”
“Bullshit.”
It’s not a complete truth, Dohyeon knew that; Hyunjoon knows that. He’s not a virgin, he’s an experienced beta who had alphas and omegas boyfriends. Not that much, but at least Hyunjoon is not clueless. Hyunjoon’s recent ex was the campus junior, he’s an alpha, their relationship just drifted away in the middle and remained good friends since then.
As Hyunjoon stated before, it’s not the first time for him to share a big cramped space with the other sub genders. Besides, he literally has the upper hand on this condition. Being a beta gives him more opportunity as himself, without any other biological needs that could mess up his daily life. It’s not like he acts without having any empathy towards the other sub genders, but his environment shaped him.
The birds chirping from the trees as Hyunjoon steps into the hallway. On the right side, there’s a common park for the literature major students. A lot of people are already camping to take their spots. Skimming through the thick books on their laps or just having a quick light chat towards each other.
Hyunjoon holds his breath, a different kind of scent lingers in the air. His eyes scan through each of the students who are already present in the big class. Hyunjoon bowed to each one of them when their gazes met. They are much younger than him, probably one or two years younger.
He already made sure that no one in his circle of friends took the same class as him, including his ex. Hyunjoon remember how deep Jihoon’s frown at him when he told the younger that he’s taking an introductory English class for his last college semester. Hyunjoon’s circle of friends are really small. He’s not included in his famous friends' group just because they are athletes or on top of their classes every year.
Sitting on his seat, Hyunjoon immediately makes himself comfortable. Putting his bag on the table beside him. It’s a long ass row table that everyone often finds in a big class like this. No one is sitting in the same row as him, so Hyunjoon might take the advantage for the rest of the semester.
Hyunjoon busies himself with preparing all the equipment for him to study. His notebook and pens, unlocking his phone to scroll through each notification showing on the screen. Some texts come from Doheyon and Geonwoo. There are other things sent by his mother back at home, another picture of Choi Morning asking her brother to come home quicker.
His body becomes tense when another person sits beside him. There’s a one chair gap between them. From the corner of his eyes, Hyunjoon tries to find out who the person is. The scent that comes out from the other person is unrecognizable, not someone who he knows deeply unlike his friends.
Hyunjoon’s focus sharpens when the class door opens and the professor comes in. Hyunjoon knows her, she’s one of a few female alphas in the campus; a notable professor. How does Hyunjoon know? Because she was the professor for his STEM English class back in the day. Either Hyunjoon wants to hide from her gaze or just tell her that one of her students is indeed stupid in speaking English.
“Good morning everyone. It is a good day to start with English for this new semester,” she greets the students, giving each one of them a quick nod, “Let me call your name one by one. It’s not that many, I wish to know each one of you.” Hyunjoon’s figure sinks deeper on his seat, clutching around the pen in his grip. She skims through her students list for a while before starting to call them one by one.
Hyunjoon straightens his posture first. It is unethical from a senior like him to act that way in front of a professor. He still doesn’t know the person who sits beside him. It’s not like none of that matters.
“Choi Hyunjoon.”
“Present, professor.”
“Ah, there are the two of you,” she states and Hyunjoon frowns, “Moon Hyeonjun.” Her head snaps upwards, trying to find the person she just called their name. “Moon Hyeonjun-ssi? Oh, oh my, both of you sitting side by side,” Hyunjoon turns to his right and finds his seatmate raising his right hand. It only takes time for the other man to turn his head and face Hyunjoon now, “You’re Hyunjoon too?” He also wears glasses, thick hoodie wraps around his much bigger and wider figure than him.
Moon Hyeonjun offer his hand for Hyunjoon to reach out. He tries to ignore the electricity sizzles when their skins touch. Hyunjoon also ignores the way his body tense when the grip tightens after they shake hands. He immediately pulled his hand and put it on his lap, covering it with his shirt sleeve.
Yeah, he’s definitely an alpha, Hyunjoon thinks to himself, 100% sure, I’m fucked. Sometimes Hyunjoon want to advocate about how the society treat betas like him. Well, someone did it back in the day when he was still in an early semester. Lee Sanghyeok was the most important student who graduated from this campus and he’s a beta.
His influence was enough to create more opportunities for betas like Hyunjoon to thrive more in academic and non-academic fields. Sanghyeok is his idol, Hyunjoon assisted his class once and immediately melted down in front of him. It was funny because he’s close with Hyukkyu, who's literally another important student from the campus and he’s an omega and also Sanghyeok’s rumored boyfriend back then. They are still together, according to what Geonwoo told him the last time he hung out with Hyukkyu.
The rest of the first day of the class went well. Hyunjoon didn’t forget to write everything that has been presented. Opening his iPad to sketch some grammar formulas and checking if there are any lessons he already did back in the other English class. There should be the same ones, because actually it doesn’t have any much differences, it’s still English though.
When the class ended, Hyunjoon immediately put all of his things into his bag. His movement stops when he sees a sight of a hand in front of him. Slowly, Hyunjoon raises his head only for him to see the other Hyeonjun suddenly offering another hand. Confused, Hyunjoon can only raise an eyebrow at him.
“What are you doing?” Hyunjoon asks, coughing in the middle because it sounds too offended to be heard by a mere stranger. Hyeonjun was still offering his hand, the other one slipped inside the front pocket of his hoodie. “Introducing myself,” he states, “I’m Moon Hyeonjun and I’m also planning to sit on this seat for the rest of the semester. The least thing I can do is to be polite with my seatmate.” Hyunjoon’s gaze flickers towards the offering hand and Hyeonjun’s face back and forth.
Oh, he’s bold as hell, his own statement echoes inside. There’s something strange twisting inside his heart and Hyunjoon doesn’t want to know the details. Thus, the last thing he can do to be polite is to accept the offering hand again. This time, there is no electricity, because he feels more confident to know he’s probably older than the other guy.
“Choi Hyunjoon. I’m in my last semester, just to give a heads up.”
“You’re in your last semester? A senior? Why are you still taking an English class?”
“Okay, before you’re trying to get into my business, who the hell are you?”
“Just a semester younger than you,” Hyeonjun pulled his hand from their polite shake hand which he initiated first, “Sorry if I sound too friendly. I won’t bother your space, just want to be casual with whoever my seatmate is.” Hyunjoon’s heart sinks, now he feels bad with whatever is happening right now. “So, I’ll see you next week,” Hyeonjun purses his lips, giving the older man a quick polite nod, “Hyunjoon hyung.” Hyunjoon doesn’t realize when they are the only left in the class, adding Hyeonjun who finally stepped out from the room, he is by his own in the end.
A week passes with a quick blur. Hyunjoon doesn’t realize it, because he’s too busy with everything. Besides taking a class which only happens once a week, Hyunjoon spends his time in the lab. Sometimes alternatively running back and forth between big classrooms because his professor told him so.
Being an AT is not something that Hyunjoon is unfamiliar with. He always got called here and there when any professor needed him the most. It’s either him or Dohyeon. So, when Dohyeon is already busy, they will call him.
“Did Professor Lee already send you the money?” Hyunjoon asks while laying down on the laboratory floor. Don’t worry, there’s a thin mat underneath him. Dohyeon’s head is still resting on the lab’s table, staring blankly at the big ass chemistry periodic table poster on the wall. “He did. All of those months he didn’t pay me while I’m working my ass off as his TA has been paid. Never again,” Dohyeon shivers and shakes his head, “Never again.”
Hyunjoon only has to revise his last few chapters for the research. Just a few more steps and he’s done. He will finish this, apply for the presentation, and everything is done. It will be only the English class that is left for him to solve.
Talking about the English class again, Hyunjoon finds himself sitting on the same seat as last week. His feet dangling from the chair, anticipating what’s going to happen today. Will he embarrass himself in front of other students? Or will the universe finally give him mercy? Hyunjoon doesn’t know for sure. But he knows when a certain someone finally steps into the room, his body becomes undeniable tense again.
Hyeonjun walks into the classroom with headphones on his head. Both of his hands settle comfortably inside the hoodie pocket. The sound of his keychains dangling from the backpack on his back echoes in the room. But somehow the background blurs into nothing for Hyunjoon, watching where the younger man walks on each stairway and reaching where they share the same long table for the rest of the semester.
It takes Hyeonjun a few minutes to realize Hyunjoon is already there. Pushing down his headphones around his neck, Hyeonjun smiles and gives him a quick nod. “Morning, hyung,” he greets, pulling the chair for him to sit. Hyunjoon inhales softly before nodding, “Morning.”
There will be no conversation going on between them until the class starts. It doesn't matter for Hyunjoon though. Hahaha… no, no, it’s not that serious for him. Or is it though? Judging from how hard his heart thumps inside.
It boils him inside, the curiosity he has about the person sitting next to him. Hyunjoon can’t help himself from stealing glances in the middle of the class. Hyeonjun is too focused on the material in front of them. Probably Hyunjoon should have to or else there is another sketch displayed on his iPad screen that is not an English material.
The professor turns off the presentation when the end of the class is slowly reaching. “I won’t give any of you hard times to finish this class. Because I’m the only one that will command this one, there will be a quiz after two weeks of class. So, I hope you do well on this quiz because it can be accumulated for your final result at the end of semester,” she says while curling a small smile, “Especially for Choi Hyunjoon who’s going to do his final presentation next month.” Hyunjoon chokes on himself in the middle of chugging his mineral water. All eyes are suddenly focused on him, including Hyeonjun, “Ah, yes, thank you professor. It’s still in the middle of revisions. I can’t feel so sure yet for now.”
“You passed the English STEM class. I am sure you’re going to pass this one too.”
“Ah, right, thank you.”
Hyunjoon sinks deeper in his seat. There is no reason for her to suddenly give him a spotlight. Hyunjoon is just trying to get a degree and get the fuck out of here as soon as possible. But the buzzing echoes of his insecurities inside his head suddenly disappeared when he heard a chuckle.
Hyeonjun, who sits with one chair standing between them, is chuckling. His eyes are squinting close, brushing his knuckles against his nose. Hyunjoon should be mad, it’s easier for him to be mad at strangers, especially when they are alphas. Because what Dohyeon said was right and he had a lot to prove too, Hyunjoon faced it in real time.
So, what’s the difference with Moon Hyeonjun?
The class finally ends with another smooth process. Hyunjoon has this buzzing sound still coming from inside his gut. He still sits on his chair, waiting for Hyeonjun to move. But the other man still unbothered to stand, which is weird.
“Why are you still sitting?” Hyunjoon asks, crossing his arms on his chest. Hyeonjun turns to look at him, his face still composed with whatever he’s thinking right now. “Is it that bad?” Hyeonjun throws another question, Hyunjoon raises an eyebrow, confused with what he just heard, “My presence. Do you hate it?” then Hyunjoon’s body become tense again. How does he know? Is it the scent? But I’m a beta! Hyunjoon’s mind screams while Hyeonjun was just looking at him unfazed, “If you’re asking about your scent or anything, no, I don’t get your scent at all. Maybe because you’re not an alpha or omega. You’re something else,” the younger suddenly states, “But that doesn’t matter to me. I only focus on how you react whenever I sit beside you. You look tense, I will start moving next week –”
“No!”
“No?”
“No, you don’t have to. It’s my fault.”
Hyunjoon feels stupid right now. He shouldn’t act this way in front of strangers. His parents never taught him this day. Oh, how furious his mother will be to know how her son acts in front of his own juniors.
Hyeonjun’s face softens, the class is already empty. It leaves the two of them with a hollow big ass classroom where they are at. The sun is still shining outside. Probably the sun is slowly reaching the peak of the sky, telling much on how warm the class temperature right now.
“You’re right by the way,” Hyeonjun shifted his gaze to focus on the senior, “I’m not an alpha nor an omega. Specifically, I’m the third evil thing in this society. The normal one.” Hyunjoon shrugs, waiting for a series of cackles or other things every alphas usually throw at a person like him. But no, there is no series of laughter and Hyunjoon opens his eyes again. “There is no third evil thing in this society. Betas are the same with the other sub genders, they take their roles to complete the cycles and everything that is incomplete between the other two. Do you really think alphas and omegas can live harmoniously when there are just the two of us?” Hyeonjun scoffs, “No, we aren’t. That’s where betas come in. To add more things, betas have a lot of roles in each of our lives. I met a lot of them and they are nice, nicer than the alphas who should’ve been the harmonious ones.”
That is the least expected thing Hyunjoon ever thought about coming out from Moon Hyeonjun’s mouth. It’s their second meeting in their second class together. No one expected them to talk about the sub genders equality in this society, but here they are. It’s actually a routine for Hyunjoon whenever he meets someone new, baiting them to talk about their views towards a beta like him; not Lee Sanghyeok, because everyone loves him.
Hyunjoon shifted to his seat again. Prepping his left hand to cup his head, staring intensely at the other man who was still comfortably sitting on his chair. A small smirk tugs on the edge of his lips. There are a lot of things bubbling up inside his gut and he knows it’s not hatred nor annoyance.
This is fun somehow, Hyunjoon admits to himself. “Do I know you from somewhere? Because I totally know what you meant earlier about betas in this society. Did you attend a seminar about focusing on betas potential or other things?” Hyunjoon is curious, he almost wants to combust at the spot. It’s Hyeonjun’s turn to be tense, but he shrugs it off easily, “I have resources. I mean, I told you that I have plenty of betas friends to know what you’ve been through.” That doesn’t sound right for Hyunjoon, he frowns and lets out a disappointed sigh, “And now you just dropped the conversation.”
“Huh? Why –”
“You are not so different from your other alpha friends. Do you think having so much knowledge about how betas live in this society can make them fall in love with you?”
“Who the hell –”
“I need to go,” Hyunjoon takes his bag and throws it past his shoulder, “You can move, if you still want to, starting next week.” He doesn’t give Hyeonjun a chance to utter another word at him. Rushing through the stairways and finally stepping out from the classroom, Hyunjoon let out the longest sigh he had been holding off unconsciously. “So fucking naive, Choi Hyunjoon,” he mutters to himself, “Never change, never change.”
What happened last week was enough for Hyunjoon to disregard Moon Hyeonjun for the rest of the semester. Now, it’s easy for him to get rid of the alpha. To know he’s the same with the other alpha students who think they will always be on the top of the food chain. They are though and Hyunjoon doesn’t like that, thus he always encourages the omegas who advocate their concerns regarding the stupid alphas roaming around the campus.
The thing is, what Hyeonjun did to him strikes Hyunjoon worse than he expected. He becomes angrier, grumpier each day passed. If Dohyeon didn’t stop him at the right time, Hyunjoon would throw another erlenmeyer flask to the nearest window. He has enough money to replace them, it’s easier to vent his unreasonable anger right now.
It’s frustrating because Hyunjoon knows those phrases about how beta lives. Other than his friends who know how he lives as a beta, Hyunjoon just wants to meet someone that understands too. You know, it widens the relation as what his seniors said to him in the early semester. Also, maybe, it can lead to something bigger and more important for his life.
Hyunjoon knows that he is way too naive to a stranger. It’s not like Hyeonjun is the first alpha he ever knew in his life. Hyunjoon has proved himself and lives without any alphas around in his life as a romantic partner. He is fine – he doesn’t have to be any rut or heat temporary partner again and get tossed outside as if he’s just a mere trash.
A few weeks passed, the first month finally changed to a second one. The second month for this stupid English class. After their second meeting, Hyeonjun did what Hyunjoon told him to. He moved to a few seats behind him, further away from where he was sitting.
Hyunjoon did a good job with his quick quizzes that the professor provided along the weeks. He answered it flawlessly, got some wrong answers but it’s still fine. Nothing is perfect either way. Life is fair and cruel at the same time.
He also knows that the universe loves to play with him. Maybe that’s the reason why it sends Moon Hyeonjun sliding back to his regular seat and prevents Hyunjoon from standing up after the class ends.
“What are you –”
“I’m sorry, I apologize for what I said to you. It’s not what you think.”
“That doesn’t matter anymore. You don’t know me and I don’t know you.”
“I don’t want to say his name in front of you,” Hyeonjun’s statement gets Hyunjoon’s ears perked up immediately. His eyes squinted, “Now, who are you talking about in this conversation?” Hyeonjun’s grip around the older’s loosens, he put his hand on his lap like an obedient puppy who’s in the middle of getting scolded, “Lee Sanghyeok.” Hyunjoon’s brows furrow, his frowns get lower and lower each second, demanding for a further explanation. “He’s the head of my pack, a beta, of course you know that. You might know what I meant because he said it all the time in his open seminar as a speaker. But I really meant what I said not just because of him who said it. It’s because I understand and I don’t see you or any betas only from a single view. I meant it that you and the other betas play a vital role in society, life is not all about reproduction for 24 hours,” Hyeonjun continues, chest heaving up and down as he feels breathless of what he just said.
How about Hyunjoon? He’s left speechless. This is one of those things that he can’t expect from any stranger. First of all, he doesn’t know Lee Sanghyeok has a pack. Hyukkyu didn’t tell him anything; hell, even Hyukkyu is also a head of his pack that only consists of omegas and some betas.
Hyunjoon is too speechless to speak, so he decided to sit back on his seat. His eyes scan Hyeonjun’s certainty from the younger’s face. Hyeonjun shifts on his seat, face shows a little bit of fright and nervousness. The first time an alpha shows submission towards a beta like him who’s a stranger.
“So, were you trying to hit on me?” Hyunjoon blurts out, “Because other than the miscommunication we have, that assumption I had was still hanging in the air. You, alphas, have that kind of reputation roaming around in the campus. I know not all of you are like that, because my friends aren’t, but you are still a stranger to me. Being a part of Lee Sanghyeok’s pack doesn’t dismiss the entire fact of what your subgender had done in this society.” Hyeonjun straightens his pose, “I’m trying to make friends. Well, yeah, you caught me hitting on you but it wasn’t entirely that. You seem cool and you didn’t flinch or feel disturbed when I sat next to you. I could have chosen another seat in this class, but I didn’t and you let me. That’s a first.” It is fascinating to see someone suddenly blurt out everything that has been piling up inside them, Hyunjoon quirks a small smile on his lips. “You didn’t deny the hitting on me part,” Hyunjoon presses and Hyeonjun stays unfazed, “Impressive. But still, I’m not that easy for you to get asked out because I’m a beta. Sure, life's not about reproduction, or heats, or ruts for 24 hours. But I spend more time as myself, not just as a beta for this society. I have a name, Hyeonjun-ssi. I’m not just a beta who took the introductory English class in my last semester.”
It’s a cue for him to leave or else everything will start to move slower. Either from himself or the man sitting in front of him. Hyunjoon doesn’t give Hyeonjun a chance to react. It happens too fast, snatching his bag and throwing it past his shoulders, he immediately rushes through the exit door.
Hyunjoon slips his hand through his pocket, intending to fetch his phone. He has another meeting with his professor regarding the last discussion of the research. It’s a few steps left and he will be out of this fuckass college. Of course, after spending a few months with the alpha who has been walking fast behind him – wait.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Hyunjoon’s right arm gets tugged and he spins around to face Moon Hyeonjun who was rushing to get him again even when they’re outside of the class already, “Wait, please, give me a chance to fix this.” Hyunjoon freezes, they are out in the wild, in front of many other students who walk past them; this is not something he expected to happen in his college life, nope. “What the hell are you doing!?” Hyunjoon hisses and Hyeonjun begs, “Please, just, give me a chance, okay? I don’t want to spend the whole semester with you being mad at me. I literally want to be friends with you. No other funny things, you can turn me down if I ever ask you out, but this doesn't count. I just want to apologize and be a good seatmate for you.” Hyunjoon’s brows furrows, glancing at the grip around his wrist that tightens every second, the plea coming from Hyeonjun is inevitable for him to prevent his heart to not flutter hearing it, “Please, Hyunjoon hyung.”
The thing is, Moon Hyeonjun is barely someone close to Hyunjoon. When was the last time he ever encountered someone who really begged to be his friend? None, it never happened in the first place. Throughout his relationship with Jihoon, it was always him who attracted other people. All subgenders, you name it, alphas, omegas, and betas; even the store halmeoni from the streets.
Hyunjoon has never been that famous guy people want him to be. He also doesn’t want to be one, it’s tiring. It’s enough for him to not walk side by side with Dohyeon, because his steps will always be halted by his juniors who want to ask about the major’s organization board. Hyunjoon didn’t join the board for another year while Dohyeon was the head, a whole year was enough for him.
But, Moon Hyeonjun is different. He is different from the other people Hyunjoon has ever met in his life. The way his grip around Hyunjoon’s wrist now loosens a bit. He really looks like a lost puppy who just got scolded by someone for not behaving properly, well, he technically is right now.
Hyunjoon sighs, he opens his palm to Hyeonjun, flickering another confusion from the alpha. “Give me your phone,” he orders, eyes staring directly towards the man in front of him. Hyeonjun complies as he puts his phone on Hyunjoon’s palm. He typed a quick number and hangul on the man’s phone before giving it back to him, “I put my number on your phone. You can text me to tell which one is your number, but other than that, don’t. I don’t give you any of my consent to text outside of class hours, get it?” Hyeonjun nods obediently, “Also, you can sit next to me from next week.”
It can’t be missed from Hyunjoon’s perspective. The light glint from Hyeonjun’s gaze brightens when he says that. Asking him to move back and sit beside him. It’s not a big deal for Hyunjoon, but it is a different kind of deal for Hyeonjun; which is still weird, all of this feels peculiar and wholesome from so many perspectives.
“Okay! Thank you, hyung!”
“Don’t look so happy. I’m just trying to be nice.”
“It is enough! Thank you! See you next week, Hyunjoon hyung!”
With that being said, Moon Hyeonjun finally leaves Choi Hyunjoon alone near the main park of the literature building. Hyunjoon still stands there, staring at how giddy Hyeonjun is while running back to where he should be headed. Even now, he doesn’t know which major that man belongs to. They don’t know about each other enough to exchange phone numbers, but here he is.
Hyunjoon decided to not tell this to anyone, including his best friend. Dohyeon didn’t seem to mind. Both of them were too occupied with their own research project. Hyunjoon has finished another revision and the devil was asking him to change something within; he almost combusted in front of his professor, but Hyunjoon takes it all in, because he needs his degree more than anyone else.
When another week comes, Hyunjoon brings a plastic bag on his right hand. Stepping inside the big classroom and reaching his usual seat without any fuss. Next week is another biweekly test from the professor. From what he had learned with Hyeonjun’s characteristics, Hyunjoon thinks it’s not a bad idea to give the younger a simple chance to study together.
Hyunjoon opens the plastic bag and takes out the small box, showing the brand of the food. His breakfast, all-time favorite cream waffle. It’s big, but not too big. Enough to fill his empty stomach while rushing from the dorm room and forget about a proper breakfast.
He takes a bite, letting the waffles cream smears around his mouth. A soft hum escapes, nodding as he acknowledges a not-too-sweet taste on his tongue. It’s perfect, everything is if he ignores the storm about his research at the back of his mind. Another storm is currently walking up through the stairways in the form of Moon Hyeonjun.
Hyunjoon glances to the side, finding the sight of Hyeonjun who’s still standing beside the long table of the classroom. “Why are you still standing there?” He asks. Hyeonjun startles, immediately walks over to the table and finds his seat beside Hyunjoon. “Do you want one?” Hyunjoon offered the waffle with the remainder of his bite at the edge of it, “It’s waffles.”
“I know what that is, hyung. I bought it once.”
“Okay, no need to rub salt on my kindness.”
Hyeonjun chuckles lightly and Hyunjoon curses mentally on how hot that sounds to his ears. This is probably because of his hopeless romantic ass. Nope, this is not going to be more than being friendly with your seatmate. He will not fall again to another temporary rut or heat partner from the other sub genders while still in college.
Hyunjoon thinks Hyeonjun doesn’t want the waffle, so he pulls it back. But when the alpha reaches out to take a bite without breaking the waffle in his hand. He takes the bite, munching the waffle in his mouth, the cream smears around his mouth. A squeaking hum escapes from him while his eyes widens, acknowledging how delicious the waffle is.
Choi Hyunjoon is left speechless. He did not just witness Hyeonjun take a bite from the waffle from his hand. The person who tried so hard to be friendly with him and didn’t dodge the flirting allegation last week. What a world he lives in.
“You have a cream around your mouth,” Hyunjoon notices. Hyeonjun brings his thumb to the corner of his lips, “Where?” Hyunjoon’s mind buzzes with a lot of scenarios all in one place. He decided to push it, “Here, let me help you.” Before Hyeonjun has any chance to react, the beta’s thumb presses against his lower lips.
It’s just a touch, but the world suddenly blurs into nothing behind them. The electricity comes back again and Hyunjoon pushes it to the furthest. Letting his thumb caress the cream under Hyeonjun’s lips until it cleans. His mind stops for a second, thinking whether he needs to wipe it to the table or choose the wildest option he has in his mind right now.
But on top of that, Hyeonjun is a menace. He licks the cream from Hyunjoon’s finger and wipes it clean by himself. Hyunjoon freezes, eyes wide with what he just witnessed. On the other hand, Hyeonjun can only purse his lips.
“Are you mad at me again?" Hyeonjun asks with a tone filled with concern and uncertainty. Hyunjoon is still looking at him, the waffle on his table has been left for a few minutes. The beta shakes his head, ignoring the loud thumping sound from inside his gut. “No, you’re okay,” he managed to say and turned his body back to face the front of the classroom.
That was enough to tell him he is doomed for the rest of the semester. He thought the devil professor was enough of a challenge to test his sanity, so the universe sent a hot alpha named Moon Hyeonjun for an apology. It’s not even a proper apology. Hyeonjun felt he was thrown to the wolves (no pun intended) by the universe and waited for one of them to eat him alive (no funny intention).
Surprisingly, throughout the class, Hyeonjun is fine. He usually is calm in the middle of the class. It makes Hyunjoon wonder what breed of alpha he is, where he comes from, what major he studies. Blah, blah, blah, backstory and other details.
Hyeonjun obediently did what Hyunjoon told about the texting boundary. He only sent a simple hyunjoon hyung, it’s me :) and dipped. Hyunjoon also left him on read, saved his contact, and continued sketching the results of his lab research. They didn’t text each other until now and Hyunjoon is immensely impressed with that.
Hyunjoon won’t tell anyone about this, even to Dohyeon and Geonwoo. This will only exist between the two of them. As if there is something to explain in the first place. But the ringing sound of Hyeonjun who didn’t dodge the flirting accusation still resides inside Hyunjoon’s heart, it’s difficult to ignore, not when it comes from him.
“There will be another test next week and I hope all of you do well,” the professor closes her class with a statement, “See you next week, kids.” Hyunjoon sighs, gathers his things on the table before putting it back inside the bag. “Hyung,” Hyeonjun calls, he turns sideways to face the older man, “Would you like to study together? With me?” Hyunjoon’s movement stops, his glance slowly averts to meet with the younger’s gaze, “You can say this is my other attempt to ask you out, but seriously, we can just study. Everywhere, you choose the place and time. I can arrange my schedule to match yours. You’re busier than me after all.” Hyunjoon stayed silent, tilting his head slightly to the side, studying Hyeonjun’s face, “Are you really confident that I will accept the offer?”
“That’s why I ask, hyung. It’s better to talk to you rather than through text.”
“And why is that?”
“It’s because I can see your face clearly.”
Hyunjoon stills and curses mentally. Fuck this shit, he shut his eyes for a second. It’s not like he’s mad about the compliment. But the fact it was so corny, it made his heart melt instantly.
It has also been weeks, a month or two, since they met and Hyunjoon still can’t pick up any of the alpha’s scent. Of course, there is sweetness and musky lingers in the air, but the other students are also enhancing their own scents. It mixed with the others and Hyunjoon frowned whenever he failed to catch Hyeonjun’s scent. It’s not like he has to, because according to the introduction of the subgenders book, an individual can pick up someone’s true scent when they are entering pre-rut or heat; no matter which subgenders they belong to, if they are fated, then there’s nothing they can do to go against the universe.
“I can choose the place, right?” Hyeonjun nods, “What if the place makes you bored? I don’t know any places other than the lab, the library, the park, and my own room.” Hyunjoon doesn’t know why he stated that, his brain suddenly stopped working whenever the sharp gaze belongs to Moon Hyeonjun pierces through his skulls. “Yeah, I can go with whatever direction you choose, hyung. It’s not like we’re going on dates,” Hyeonjun stops, fingers fiddling with each other on his lap, “Unless you want to. But, wait, it doesn’t mean I want to go to your room or the other way around. It’s a completely different place, I will always respect your boundaries.” It is still fascinating that Hyunjoon seems to have control of whatever they’re having right now, it’s fun, “Okay. I will text you the place and time. You can also tell me if you’re not unavailable. We can find another time to match, no pressure.”
Another thing Hyunjoon learned about Hyeonjun is that he can be an open book when he wants to. In this case, he wants Hyunjoon to read him. He wants him to know that he is happy and delighted with the acceptance. Sure, their relationship right now is a little bit confusing, Hyunjoon even doesn’t know where they are going to go.
Will he just lead the alpha to the unknownst? Or just leave him right here where he wants to. Hyunjoon is too stressed to think about that right now. He will have another revision session with the devil professor and Dohyeon has been texting him since the class started. Asking to get lunch together with the other peers, because it’s been a long time they had a decent meal together other than the take out fast food dinner both of them ordered in front of the laboratory.
As Hyunjoon throws the bag past his shoulder, he stands for a few seconds. Contemplating if he needs to straighten something and prevent any other miscommunications that will possibly happen between the two of them. On the other hand, Hyeonjun is gathering his things too. Tightening the grip around his backpack straps and fixing the hair strands that almost cover the side of his right eye.
“Hyeonjun-ah,” Hyunjoon calls again, turning to face the younger man. Hyeonjun almost stepped down to the stairways and abruptly stopped only to turn at the beta. His eyes blink in confusion, fluttering at the sudden call of his own name slipped out from Hyunjoon’s tongue. “Yes?” He reacts, “Uh, you can also count this as a date. So, I expect you to dress warmly. I mean, it’s not like I don’t like every time you use your hoodie. Just dress warmly. Don’t catch a cold.”
Damn it, Hyunjoon curses again, this is why I don’t do dates again. He might as well just run away and never face Hyeonjun ever again. Because this is embarrassing, everything is. But despite all that, Hyeonjun just stands there.
There is a small smile curling on his lips. He grins, widely, and something warm creeps inside Hyunjoon’s heart. It’s relaxing, probably the scent lingers in the air that makes him calm. But, is it though? Or is that just Hyeonjun’s pheromones that can be picked up by him at the moment?
“Okay,” he says, “I’ll dress warmly. Same goes to you, hyung. Don’t forget your lunch, okay.” Then, Hyeonjun bids him goodbye before exiting the classroom. Hyunjoon sighs, his knees go weak in a second. “Oh God, this is going to be bad,” Hyunjoon mutters, lips trembling mixed with excitement, anticipation, and fear, “He’s dangerous.”
And I want him.
Hyunjoon has forgotten how it feels to do dates. For these past months and years, it was just lust and desire. Quick sex, it was safe of course, or else he would smack out of his partner. Other than that, it’s just him and his academics.
Having no lover made him come home more often. He didn’t have anything to do, might as well just take Morning on her everyday walk. The routine has already ingrained in his mind. Hence why when the last semester hits, Hyunjoon had difficulty adjusting because all of his schedule has come back to normal (research and classes).
However, dates with Hyeonjun are different. They started from a rough patch. Miscommunication, setting boundaries, and strangers are dangers from Hyunjoom’s perspectives. But then, he lowered his guard down slightly. Opening the door for Hyeonjun to take a step into his world.
Their first date was in the campus library. Lame, right? Hyunjoon knew that. But their intention was to study, thus it should’ve been a problem. It wasn’t even a problem from Hyeonjun’s side too, because they were really studying and sometimes Hyeonjun fell asleep because of how intense their study session was.
Hyunjoon took some pictures and let them marinate in his gallery for a while. Then along the way, their dates change places. From the library to the park, then the new cafe near the Engineering building Hyeonjun often talked about. Oh, right, they finally had a conversation about each other.
“So, you’re an Engineering student,” Hyunjoon presses while taking another bite of the baked pastry in front of him, “A very much typical alpha student who studies a STEM major.” Hyeonjun tilted his head to the side, a cheeky smile spread across his lips. Captivating, charming as usual and it burns through Hyunjoon’s veins. “Yeah, I know. That’s why I prefer to not tell anyone when I’m outside the building,” he accepts the offering bite from Hyunjoon and munches it slowly, “and you’re from Natural Science, right? I’m just guessing. I saw a couple of your books in class sometimes.”
“Hmmm. You’re right. The only major who has a lot of sub genders in one class. People call us the balance of campus society.”
“Yeah, but I’m not completely agree. As far as I know, there are a lot of female alphas in Natural Science.”
“You’re right about that too. Couple of my friends, most of them are female alphas. So, it sometimes got a little bit heated when they had their arguments with the male ones. It was exhausting, I needed to get out of the room for a few hours until it was completely resolved.”
Another challenge for students who take their roles in the organization board is to put the sub genders aside. The discrimination everyone has in this society it’s enough for them to not take any part of the organization, because they are afraid. Hyunjoon’s major has started to advocate each of their own sub genders problems and resolution. It went well, at least for these past few years since he got enrolled, but of course the arguments and long night discussion regarding the natural needs of each person will always happen.
That’s why most of the time Hyunjoon is blessed to be born this way. The least thing he can do is to be sympathetic with his friends who didn’t get to go through his version of life. Hyeonjun hums in agreement, wiping the pastry crumbs around his mouth. He initiates to put all the empty plates in one place and scoots closer to where Hyunjoon is sitting.
“I was also wondering how Sanghyeok hyung and Hyukkyu hyung made it work. They never be seen together,” Hyeonjun states, leaning his back to the sofa. Hyunjoon pursed his lips, “Well, I don’t know from Sanghyeok hyung’s perspective, but he wanted to make Hyukkyu hyung’s life easier. He was the omega of the campus. Everyone wants him and Sanghyeok hyung being a beta also makes it easier. He has no particular scent that will be picked up by the other sensitive noses. Hyukkyu hyung is fine, he’s also fine, everything is going great for them.” Another hum escapes from the younger’s mouth, he scoffs, rolling his eyes as he has another opinion about the topic. “Yeah, but Sanghyeok hyung was going through it. He’s possessive as fuck, but the calm demeanor which he has to maintain everyday as the campus golden boy was exhausting. Glad they made it work until now,” Hyeonjun straightens his posture, “I can’t do that. If I can put my scent on my mate and let it linger through campus, I might as well let it be permanent.”
Hyunjoon is supposed to be immune to that kind of statement. Of course, Hyeonjun want his mate to be solely his. A perfect mate who only belongs to the omega status, both male and female. Beta has never ever been close to being an ideal mate. Sure, Lee Sanghyeok can get his way with Kim Hyukkyu and they become one of the most popular non-traditional couples here.
Choi Hyunjoon is not Lee Sanghyeok and he will never be. He is way too far different than whatever Sanghyeok has been done for the beta community, within the campus and also outside of it. Hyunjoon will never be the perfect and ideal mate to anyone. Might as well close his chapter of life without having a lover by his side.
Thus, Hyunjoon can only chuckle hearing the statement. A small smile creeps on his lips while his heart burns from longing. “Whoever that will be, I’m sure they will be proud to have your scent linger in the air. Even though it sounds annoying,” Hyunjoon mutters, trying to hide his disappointment. Staring at the window in front of them where the Seoul citizens are currently passing by, having no clue that Hyeonjun’s gaze is fixed at him for a while, “Yeah,” Hyeonjun reacts, still looking at Hyunjoon’s right side, “I hope he will.”
They have gone on dates more than what Hyunjoon should. The additional project together before another test is also one of them. It’s easier for the two because they automatically became a partner. Hyeonjun is a fun kid and he’s determined to pass this class together.
Their dates took Hyunjoon to take a step into Hyeonjun’s dorm room. It is located near the Engineering building. Still far away from where Hyunjoon lives, because his building has to walk past the other major buildings and if anyone wants to make it easier, take the campus bus. He initially thought this was a bad idea – like, very bad.
Because what are you doing, as an unmated beta, get into another unmated alpha’s room? Which is a place there that is so private and filled with his scent. Since their third date, Hyunjoon kept its track, he started to pick up a faint smell in the air. Something different than just a wind breeze passing through his face. It’s a smell of a scent and he knows it comes from Hyeonjun, but there is no way Hyunjoon will point that out.
The first time Hyunjoon stepped into the room, he didn’t come near the bed. He just sat on the dining table chair and put out all his books. Even when Hyeonjun asked him to sit on the carpet, he didn’t want to. The clothes that were piled up on the mattress had the alpha’s scent and it made Hyunjoon’s nose immediately go numb.
You can say he was suffering. It’s not because Hyeonjun’s scent is bad. If anything, it’s the opposite. Hyeonjun’s musky scent in his room calm Hyunjoon’s nerves in a way that is dangerous for his sanity.
It pulled him in on the edge of an endless black hole and Hyunjoon doesn’t like that. Not when they are just going on dates and dates and dates. Also, there is no way Hyeonjun wants him the way he wants the other man. He was suffering enough throughout the class because his instinct is already familiar with the scent, going back to Hyeonjun’s room will make everything worse.
The dates were supposed to be, like, a few times things. It escalated quickly for them to do it often. The pull between the two grown men made it comfortable for them to share a space together. It was comfortable enough for Hyeonjun to rest his head on Hyunjoon’s shoulders, when he took the beta after another heated argument with his professor, shared earphones and listened to a calm music while sitting under the tree behind the Engineering students dorm complex.
It is dangerous for Hyunjoon’s sanity. Thus why sometimes he refused when Hyeonjun asked to meet. There were times when they only met in class. Just a light catch up between each other before back their focuses at the board in front of them.
Late at night, Hyunjoon is in the library again. He only needs a month to finish and prepare his presentation. The research has been accepted and he needs to finish all the administration first. It also has been around a week or two since he met Hyeonjun, they texted each other, but Hyunjoon often left him on read because of how busy he is at the moment.
His phone buzzes on the table. The thing that accompanies him right now is the table lamp. All the lamps other than this have already been turned off. A familiar sight is that Hyunjoon has already succumbed since starting this research.
junnie: hyung
junnie: where are you?
junnie: have you eaten yet?
hyunjoon: hi
hyunjoon: im still at the library
hyunjoon: no not yet but i ate samgyeopsal for lunch
junnie: but it was for lunch
junnie: do you want a take out?
hyunjoon: i cant eat at the library
junnie: who said it will be delivered to the library?
junnie: im omw
hyunjoon: no hyeonjun
hyunjoon: hyeonjun
hyunjoon: moon hyeonjun!!!!
Hyunjoon let out a desperate sigh, “Oh God, he’s difficult.” But he can’t ignore the butterflies flying inside his stomach. The flowers that have been blooming for the last few months. Hyunjoon can’t ignore the longing he has towards the younger, it is true that they still had the English class together when there weren’t any dates going on between them in the same week.
The big reason why Hyunjoon minimized the amount of their meetings it’s because he won’t handle it when everything ends. It will end in the future and Hyunjoon will continue his life after graduating. The thought of having any possibilities to make things official between them has never crossed his mind. Because it will never be, not when Hyeonjun needs someone better than a mere beta like him.
Regardless, this is Hyunjoon’s life for now. He might end it after graduation, to make everything more dramatic. He’s not going to lie to himself that he needs Hyeonjun’s comfort in daily life. It stuck with him when it shouldn’t in the first place – and all of it was his fault.
Hyunjoon closes his books and turns off his iPad. Putting it all inside his bag when another notification pops up on the phone screen.
junnie: im outside
There’s a small smile on his lips. Giddiness spread warm through his chest. Hyunjoon is in love and he doesn’t want the other man to know about it. Let him savour all of this alone before ending it when the time comes.
Stepping outside to the front yard of the library, Hyunjoon finds the sight of Hyeonjun wrapped around his thick wide hoodie. The strands of his jet black hair stick out underneath the hoodie cap. There’s a plastic bag filled with food he probably just bought. A warm smile spreads across his lips when Hyunjoon walks closer to him.
“Hi,” Hyeonjun tilted his head to the side, with a cheeky smile on his lips, “I bought us dinner.” Hyunjoon stares at how the younger shows off the plastic bag on his hand, he might combust at any time right now. “Still so generous even after I left you to read for days,” he jokes about it, because it meant nothing too for Hyeonjun. The alpha frowns, eyebrows furrows, “You still have time to apologize about that. But I’m also not going to make a fuss about it. You’re graduating and I want to see you getting your bachelor's later.”
“I don’t know if I can finish my degree or the degree is currently finishing me.”
“You’ll be fine. You have me. So, where are we going to eat?”
“We?” Hyeonjun nods, “I bought the dinner. At least allow me to join you, Your Highness.” He jokingly bow a few degrees lower for Hyunjoon; the man thinks everything is a game, Hyunjoon can’t take the subtle affection like this anymore. Hyunjoon snorts, trying to repress the giggles from his mouth, “You never stopped by my room, right? Let’s eat there. It will be fine, I don’t have any scent to make you go wild or whatever that calls.” Trying to ignore the sting in his heart to remind himself that he’s not going to be the same as the other sub genders, but Hyeonjun states another thing that gets him to turn at the alpha, “You smell nice though. The perfume that you used,” he stands beside Hyunjoon, their knuckles brushing against each other, “I like it.”
Please don’t ask how Hyeonjun knew about his perfume scent. Yes, they spent a lot of time together. Right, they are comfortable with each other to an extent where their clothes had to share scents too. Adding the fact Hyunjoon can also pick up Hyeonjun’s scent whenever he has a mood change but, of course, he won’t say that to him.
Thus, Hyunjoon can only snort after hearing the sudden compliment. Ignoring the burn inside his gut or the urge to throw himself to the nearest pond. The walk to his dorm building was filled with catching up. Hyunjoon listens to the things Hyeonjun has been up to these past weeks, including his classes projects, sport activities, and other things.
When they arrive in front of the room, Hyunjoon inhales deeply. Twisting the knob downwards before pushing it in with his shoulders. Switch the lights on as he passes the small counter of the kitchen. Hyeonjun follows like an obedient dog, standing as he waits for another order from Hyunjoon to start preparing the small table on the floor.
They are eating a take out malatang. The box can heat itself and Hyunjoon is fascinated by the new invention. Hyeonjun grins while preparing their dinner, letting Hyunjoon change to a more casual clothes first. At the end, they both dive into their dinner, letting the environment go empty for a while as they eat.
It’s warm and Hyunjoon likes it. The way Hyeonjun dive into the malatang, some sauce leftover around his lips. Casually, taking Hyunjoon’s reflex to reach out and wipe it clean with his own thumb. Hyeonjun stills, gazes glancing at the owner of the room while Hyunjoon busies himself as he wipes his thumb with the tissue.
After the dinner ends, they sit on the carpet. Both of their backs lean backward against the edge of the bed. Hyunjoon hugged his legs in front of his chest. Silence filling in the air as none of any words come out from both men’s mouths.
“You know,” Hyeonjun suddenly starts, “I can pick up your scent these past months.” Hyunjoon freezes, eyes widened as he slowly turns to face the man sitting on his right side. “What?” he croaks out while Hyeonjun is still keeping it cool, “I know that betas scent is not as strong as the other sub genders. That’s why it makes them lowkey and off the radar when everything gets suddenly sensitive. But you’re a wolf too, that doesn’t mean you can hide from another wolf’s sensitive nose. You do know what that means, right?” the younger glances to Hyunjoon’s side, their eyes meet in between, “The reason why someone can pick up their true scent is one of the signs that they are true mates.” Hyunjoon stays silent, his fingers are still on top of his lap, “You also know that is not going to work.”
“What? Us?”
“Yeah. You don’t want to be with a beta.”
“You have a name,” Hyeonjun pressed, tone firm with determination, “You are not just a beta who took an Introductory English class in your last semester.” What are the odds when finally someone turns your words against you a few months after. Hyunjoon’s hands tremble and Hyeonjun notices. “I –” the words stuck in his throat, “I don’t want something that is temporary. I don’t want just to be your rut partner or, what, true mates? There are a lot of things like being mates. It’s a sacred relationship where you are bound through a lifetime and nothing is going to break it, naturally. But what if it’s not going to work? Yes, we are going to be mates, but how does it work? How does everyone make it work? How can each of those people be the true mates for their partners?” Hyunjoon exhales, “There are a lot of things outside of just being true mates for each other.”
Is this one of his ways to turn Hyeonjun down? Does he know that Hyunjoon can also pick up his scent? That they are checking all the boxes of being each other’s true mates. But Hyunjoon can’t ignore the possibilities of them falling out under the title of true mates. It is a heavy title and they need to make everything work. Not just about their natural desires, the other things that most people ignore in the first place.
Hyunjoon expects Hyeonjun to be mad at him. He is a certified asshole from now on. An ungrateful beta who doesn’t want to be mated with anyone. There is an alpha who has been picking up his scent from these past months but he’s turning him down, going against the universe.
Hyeonjun stare at him in silence. Say something, Hyunjoon begs, let me throw you out of my life. His hand reached out to brush a thumb on Hyunjoon’s cheek. A smile, the softest one Hyunjoon has ever seen throughout their relationship, curls on his lips.
“You don’t mean any of that,” Hyeonjun says, “But I want you to tell me, right now, with your own words that you don’t want me in your life.” Hyunjoon stayed still, it’s the exact sentence he wanted to hear. But his tongue runs cold, nothing comes out from his lips. Hyeonjun’s gaze softens, pulling his thumb from the man’s cheek, “Say it and I leave you alone.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Don’t,” Hyunjoon mutters, barely a whisper, “Don’t leave me.” All the walls that have been built these past few years crumble in a second. One last thing that he has been holding on to; his worth, does Hyeonjun want it? Hyunjoon exhales slowly. “Do you want me?” He asks and Hyeonjun tilts his head to the side, “You are the only person that I want. It doesn’t matter if you are a beta, or an omega, or even an alpha. I like you as you are. Even when we are not the true mates, I don’t care. I care about you, I care about your feelings, and I care about how you feel about me.”
A few months in the same class together is enough for Hyunjoon to understand Hyeonjun’s characteristics. He knows what he wants and he will do anything to get it. Ambitious, determined with everything, and knows how to do it by himself. It’s either his inner beta or his rational mind who screams to rush and hug Hyeonjun right now; to be in his embrace like he hasn’t longed for that feeling for these past few months.
Hyunjoon can’t say anything other than opening his arms. It’s another subtle action and if Hyeonjun doesn’t run to him right now, he will never come out from his room anymore. Curses that Introductory English class. He’s okay if he doesn’t pass that class anymore.
But Hyeonjun will always be the last person to disappoint him. He is the only person who made him happy these past few months when they are together. Hence when he hugs him tight, burying his nose on the crook of the older’s neck, Hyunjoon has to hold back his tears. Because finally – finally, he feels nowhere else closer at home when he’s with Moon Hyeonjun.
“I like you so much, I feel I can’t even breathe when you’re away,” Hyeonjun whispers against his neck, “Hyung, you have no idea what you have been doing to me.” Hyunjoon chuckles, letting the tears fall on his cheeks. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he chants apologetically, “You smell so good. It feels like home.” Hyeonjun sighs, pulling back slightly to nuzzle their noses together, “The feeling’s mutual.”
When their lips finally meet under the shining moonlight entering the window inside his room, Hyunjoon feels at peace. There is no other place he wants to live other than in Hyeonjun’s embrace.
Apparently, kissing Moon Hyeonjun is a blessing. An addiction and Hyunjoon will never ever recover from it. Hyunjoon inhaled the scent which the alpha enhances. It becomes thicker than usual, Hyeonjun is happy, and Hyunjoon feels content with the recognition.
They were laying on the bed together. A few minutes passed since the first kiss and Hyunjoon has been falling deeper since then. Hyeonjun’s white hoodie was discarded on the floor, their glasses resting comfortably on the bedside table. Leaving them with their thin pajama shirts while both hands roaming around each exposed skin that they can reach.
Hyunjoon exhales softly on top of Hyeonjun’s lips. Gazes glancing at the alpha’s lips and eyes. Hyeonjun can only stare at Hyunjoon softly. Bringing his right palm to cradle his boyfriend’s face, rubbing his thumb on the cheek.
“You’re so handsome,” Hyeonjun whispers, “Pretty, gorgeous, and smart. Maybe this is the greed they talk about in the bible.” Hyunjoon immediately snorts while Hyeonjun can only chuckles before stealing another kiss on the mole under the latter’s lower lips. “How do I smell now?” Hyunjoon asked, “I always wonder how I smell.” There is this expression whenever Hyeonjun was focusing on something, for now he’s sharpening his sense of smell, “This is going to be ridiculous, but I hope you understand what I mean about your scent.”
“Is it that bad?”
“Actually, it’s the opposite.”
That doesn’t help Hyunjoon at all. “You smell like peppermint for now. Sometimes even baby powders. Bubblegum, the flowers that you find in the park mixed with ray of sunshine,” Hyeonjun explains, his palm moving to rest on the back of Hyunjoon’s head, “You’re happy right now.” Hyunjoon blinks, his hand reaching to caress Hyeonjun’s collarbones from outside of his shirt, “You know, I also can pick up your scent. Probably around the same time as you picked up mine, but I don’t want to tell you because – well,” Hyunjoon tried to hide but the latter lifted his chin for their eyes to meet halfway, “Well what, baby? I’m here now. You can’t hide from me anymore.” Pink flushes on his cheeks in a quick second, but Hyunjoon still pushes, because that’s what Hyeonjun wants, “I’m not sure if you want me the way I want you. I mean, we don’t know each other that deep. We were strangers. But I guess strangers turning to lovers works for us.”
They are lovers now. It still feels surreal that there is a time where Hyunjoon can be someone’s lover. For him, it’s more important than being someone’s mate. This will last for a lifetime, if they want to work it out.
Hyeonjun grins before sealing their lips again. His hand roams around on Hyunjoon’s back. Swallowing all the soft gasps and whimpers slipping from the older’s mouth. The sensation bursts our warmth and it spreads across their bodies, slotting perfectly against each other like a missing puzzle piece.
Hyunjoon exhales a soft sigh. Head tilted backwards on the pillow below him as Hyeonjun’s kiss moved south. Fingers run through the black strands, tugging it for fun that triggers a low groan coming from inside the other man. He giggles, but it immediately turns into a soft moan when Hyeonjun places his right thigh between his legs.
“Junnie –” his breath hitched, tightening the grip around the alpha’s back. Hyeonjun hums, nudging Hyunjoon’s jaw with his nose. “I’m not going to do more than this,” he whispers, voice low that never has been heard by Hyunjoon himself, “But I want to make you feel good. I want to show you, prove it to you, that I’m going to be your last love.” Hyunjoon’s cheeks are already flushed red, mouth parts slightly open as he tries to control his breathing pace. A smile curls on Hyeonjun’s lips before pecking another kiss on top of the beta’s lips, “You’re so fucking pretty right now. You have no idea how much self control that I have right now. You make me go insane whenever you sit beside me.”
“Was it that bad? My presence?”
“In general, no. But I was battling with my own demon, so, you’re good.”
“How bad is it that you have to control yourself?”
The intention is not to press Hyeonjun’s sanity about his desires. On top of it all, Hyunjoon is leaning more to curiosity. He’s not the ideal omega. He doesn’t have some kind of pheromones to attract alphas whenever he can.
Their position is a little bit awkward. Thus, Hyunjoon patted his stomach, urging Hyeonjun to take the hint. He scrunch his nose and Hyunjoon is so close to kiss the hell out of him again. Having Moon Hyeonjun laying his head on top of his stomach must be one of his unplanned wildest dreams.
“I have, like, an unstable mentality when it comes to controlling myself. It happens when I face the other sub genders, excluding my pack members. Probably because of the anxiety that I have, I can be intense whenever I find someone that I think will dislike my presence. Thus why I asked you if you hated my presence that day. I am not going to lie, your answer makes me feel surprisingly calmer than you ever imagined.” Hyeonjun stills, there is a sound of their heartbeats thumping in sync between the silence filling in the air. “I’ve been holding myself for a while and it’s so frustrating that I don’t want to mess anyone’s life. I wasn’t lying when I told you I really want to be your friend. At least, see how it goes from there,” Hyunjoon pouts, remembering the exact same day when the younger blurted out his intention, “I also want to thank you for showing me how to like someone and put aside all the desires everyone has been chasing in this world. Probably the alpha in me who's always telling me that maybe I’m on the top of the food chain for most of the time. But no, I am far away from that and thanks to you, I can accept that.” Hyeonjun cracks another soft smile before holding on Hyunjoon’s palm, kissing it with full of adoration and affection, “I will follow your pace. We don’t have to rush anything. Even when you graduate later, I don’t have any intention to find someone else. Distance is not something that I’m worried about. As long as you have me in your heart, I will gladly to do the same.”
Choi Hyunjoon probably saved a random castle in the past. Because there is no way he will be perceived by an alpha like Moon Hyeonjun. There is no worth in his life to be treated like this. But maybe Hyeonjun do see something in him that he never get to see by himself.
Hyunjoon tugs Hyeonjun’s arms for their eyes to meet at the same eye level. He raises his head only to leave another peck on Hyeonjun’s lips. Triggering a soft giggle coming from the other man. They kiss again, both hands resting on both sides of Hyunjoon’s head, lacing their fingers together.
“Then how about if I don’t want you to hold back?” Hyunjoon whispers after breaking their kiss, “I mean, I can scent you know. You can scent me too.” There’s something shifting from Hyeonjun’s gaze. Maybe it’s the dim light in his room or the moonlight shines through the window above the bedhead rest. Hyeonjun brings his finger to trace alongside the red flushed right cheek belongs to Hyunjoon, “You don’t want me to.”
“How do you know about that? It’s my own wish.”
“You don’t want to see me lose control, hyung.”
“Why? What will happen then?”
His throat feels dry. The question come out desperately and that is the last thing Hyeonjun want to heat when everything finally feels perfect. Hyunjoon is now his, the feeling’s mutual. They are exclusive, belong to each other.
Hyeonjun rested his head on his boyfriend’s chest. The sudden action gets Hyunjoon to hold his breath. Afraid to ruin whatever they currently have right now. The sound of Hyeonjun trying to control his breathing fills the silence in the room.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Hyeonjun then says, “There will be a lot of things to do if you want me to loosen up a bit. No, it’s not like I don’t want to be intimate with you. I’m lying if the thought of you in all of my wet dreams is not something that I’ve been craving these past months.” The statement sent shivers through Hyunjoon’s spine and this is not the right time for him to feel aroused. “Then tell me what I should do. I want to help you. We want to make us work, right?” Hyunjoon holds the alpha’s hand again, wrapping their palms together, “Then let’s make it work. Slowly, starting from there.” Hyeonjun’s orbs darken, but that won’t make Hyunjoon take a step back from the thing they will start together.
Hyunjoon squeaks when his body is tugged by the other man and ends up sitting on his lap. The moonlight shine behind him gives a perfect view of how pretty he is underneath the night bask. Hyeonjun takes a few seconds to admire. He’s still silent, raising his hand to tuck a few strands of Hyunjoon’s hair and put it at the back of his ear.
“This might be early,” he starts, eyes still focused on the man on his lap, “But I want you to know that I love you.” Hyunjoon feels warm on his cheeks and across his body. The warmth that he hasn’t received for such a long time finally makes its way back to him in the form of Moon Hyeonjun. “It’s not early,” he says, brushing his thumb around Hyeonjun’s puffy cheeks, “I think it’s the right time to say that.”
When their lips meet again, Hyunjoon is far more relaxed. All of the burdens that were laying on his shoulders dissipated in a second when Hyeonjun kissed him. Parting his mouth slightly, Hyunjoon let out a soft chuckle between their kisses. Eyes squinting as he feels the warmth and firm grip around his waist, Hyeonjun grounding him to stay on his lap, there’s no chance to run away this time.
Hyunjoon breaks the kiss only to get rid of his shirt. Throwing it away as it fell on the floor alongside Hyeonjun’s hoodie. They kiss again, more passionate and filled with desire this time. Hyunjoon tilts his head backwards when Hyeonjun’s kiss moves south, glazing his tongue alongside Hyunjoon’s jaw before it finds its way to the crook of his neck.
“Honey.”
“Huh?”
“You smell like honey,” Hyeonjun whispers, grip tightens as he finds his core around Hyunjoon’s waist, “Tell me, do you want me to loosen up a bit? Because I’m so close to losing my mind right now.” Hyunjoon shivers, placing his palm on Hyeonjun’s back. Caressing it softly, trying to calm the latter down. “What do you have in mind? I – uh, I just want you to scent me. You told me you want it permanent and let it linger in the campus hallway, right?” The thought itself gets a low groan coming from Hyeonjun, the alpha nods, dipping his nose deeper in Hyunjoon’s neck, “I’ll hold myself not to leave any bites or else you need a collar for this to hold me back.”
Hyunjoon knows about the existence of a certain collar. No, it’s not that collar which some couples use for BDSM. This collar was invented to prevent any bites for alpha and make it more difficult to mate someone. It covers the partner’s neck, made of leather, and it can be ripped apart when the alpha is strong enough.
The thought itself makes Hyunjoon wonder how bad Hyeonjun has it. But the warmth of Hyeonjun’s breath calms his nerves. The burnt wood and musky scent filling Hyunjoon’s sense of smell are the only thing he needs. If he will be wrecked in the process while getting what he wants, might as well Hyunjoon will let Hyeonjun lose control.
“Just scent me,” it came out needier than expected. Even Hyeonjun has to pull himself and stare at Hyunjoon’s orbs under the dim light in his room. “I – I really want to be yours. It’s okay if there’s no bite yet, we can do it next time. I want your scent lingers on me, just like what you said that day,” Hyunjoon whispers, dragging his thumb alongside Hyeonjun’s lower lips as he maintains their gaze, “Make me permanent.” Hyeonjun’s eyes go soft immediately, grinning lazily as he sucks on Hyunjoon’s finger for fun, “I’ll make us last for a lifetime.”
It happened too fast for Hyunjoon. The way Hyeonjun suddenly parts his mouth open and sucks his fingers. Humming softly, letting it roam around inside his mouth. Hyunjoon’s breath hitched, shifting slightly on the latter’s lap before starting to grind.
The sudden movement gets Hyeonjun to let out a soft moan. It’s something that ticks off a curiosity box on how he sounds when he’s feeling good from Hyunjoon’s perspective. Adding the whole reason is only with his fingers inside Hyeonjun’s mouth makes all of it burn from the deepest place in his gut. Hyunjoon slowly pulls his fingers out, grins sheepishly as Hyeonjun opens his eyes.
“What was that for?” He managed to croak out in a hoarse voice. Hyunjoon giggles, shaking his head to answer, “I didn’t mean that. Thought it was cute. You look like you need that.” Hyeonjun hums, stealing another kiss on Hyunjoon’s lips, “I need you, to be exact.” The statement gets Hyunjoon to feel hot and bothered again, wrapping his arms around the alpha’s shoulders before tugging him closer, “Then show me. Loosen up a bit and wreck me.”
The room suddenly fills with Hyeonjun. Hyunjoon knows because of this particular scent he often picks it up when Hyeonjun was in the mix of anticipation and excitement. When he feels he is on the top of the world. Especially when he won against him for a quick English test they usually have in the library for their study session together.
It smells more potent; aroused, filled with determination and ambition. Hyunjoon feels his sense of smell immediately goes numb. As if the alpha manipulates the environment only for him to smell nothing except himself. A possessive one that sends shivers through Hyunjoon’s spine.
Hyeonjun lay him down on the bed. Hands still roaming around to touch every exposed skin the God allows him to see. Their lips move in sync before he deepens it. Urging Hyunjoon to open his mouth and let him in.
Hyunjoon gasps into the kiss, cradling Hyeonjun’s face as he feels the weight of the alpha’s body against him. Slotting between his legs, the friction of their clothed lower bodies finally meets. Sending electricity through his body. Hyunjoon’s breath hitched again when Hyeonjun slots his clothed cock against his puckered hole.
“Hyeonjun –” he gasps again, feeling the last drops of his sanity finally leaving the body. Hyeonjun pulls himself to get rid of his shirt before kissing Hyunjoon again. Letting the older’s hand roam around his exposed skin, finding its anchor on his back and shoulders. “I’m here,” Hyeonjun whispers, brushing his nose against the older’s chin and jaw, “I’m here, Hyunjoon hyung.”
He’s here, Hyunjoon thinks his life is not real, he’s here and he’s mine. Gasping, lungs punched out from the inside, the same time Hyeonjun grinds against him. The short material between them is frustrating but Hyunjoon can’t help himself to feel good. Hyeonjun’s skin against him feels too much, adding his canine teeth grazing on Hyunjoon’s exposed unbitten neck, there’s no way this is his real life.
Hyeonjun growls deep, dipping his nose in Hyunjoon’s collarbones. It sends shivers and leaves the beta in a breathing mess. Red flushes across his skin. The heat is too much, the friction has never crossed his mind to feel this good.
“God, you’re delicious,” Hyeonjun growls, gasping for his dear life, “Do you think you can cum only from this, princess?” The nickname gets Hyunjoon to arch his back. Rolling his eyes to the back of his head as Hyeonjun starts to thrust again. “I – ah –” Hyunjoon moans again, digging his nails on Hyeonjun’s tanned shoulders, “I don’t know. Ah – Hyeonjun. Junnie, Junnie.” Hyeonjun bites the older’s jaw, a wide grin curls on his lips, “I know you can.”
Hyunjoon screams when Hyeonjun pins him down on the bed. Rutting against his clothed puckered hole down there and using his body as what he likes. Something that Hyunjoon wanted his mate to do to him. To think everything is getting real each second makes him lose his mind.
The fact they are still wearing their shorts is undeniable to ignore at the back of his mind. But Hyeonjun feels so good on him, against him, around him. Hyunjoon wants to keep him close. Wrap his arms around the exposed upper body, whispering praises for the alpha to keep going.
“You feel so good around me,” Hyunjoon gasps, holding his breath to control himself, “An obedient alpha you are, Junnie.” The growl he gets from the younger boost his ego even more. Messing with someone’s head is probably the best thing Hyunjoon ever did. “Are you going to make me cum, hm? Ah – with the shorts on?” Hyunjoon giggles, broken whimpers slips out as Hyeonjun thrusts faster, messy with his own pace.
“You make me like this. Just so you know.”
“Might as well just make it bloom, isn’t it?”
“You’re not real.”
Hyunjoon laughs again, holding Hyeonjun close to him. The laugh and giggles immediately change to moan and whimpers. Hyeonjun’s pace is messy, finding his chore to rut against Hyunjoon’s body. It’s suffocating while they are still wearing their shorts and the heat pooling in the stomach can’t be contained anymore.
It doesn’t take a long time when they hit their orgasms together. Hyunjoon let out a long broken moan. Crying in the middle of the night as he digs his nails deep on Hyeonjun’s back. Remembering clearly how the alpha growls deep, feeling the scratch on his own back.
Chest heaving up and down, trying to get enough oxygen into their lungs. Hyeonjun collapses on the older’s body before rolling to his left side. Both of them were staring at the ceiling, sweat dripping from each of their sides. Hyeonjun’s light chuckle gets Hyunjoon to turn to the side.
“I’m sorry I made a mess,” the younger suddenly says. Hyunjoon stayed silent before curling another soft smile on his lips, “You’re not alone.” He reaches out for Hyeonjun to scoot closer, nuzzling their noses together. “We're together, aren’t we?” Hyunjoon whispers and Hyeonjun can only nod to answer, “We’re together.”
Another soft and affectionate kiss they share together in their private space. Under the moonlight with no one other than them in the room. Hyeonjun’s hand reaches out to cradle Hyunjoon’s face again. Finding his fingers tracing on the puffy cheeks once again, pink tint and flushing red.
They clean up together afterwards. Underneath the shower and hot water steams filling in the air. Hyunjoon can’t stop himself to kiss Hyeonjun whenever he get the chance. Even when Hyeonjun’s hair is still wet.
“I’ll do the laundry tomorrow,” Hyeonjun says while drying his hair. Hyunjoon sits on the bed, staring at the sight of Hyeonjun who’s now wearing his shorts. “You will stay the night?” Hyunjoon asks and the alpha can only stare at him in silence, “Well, you did ask me to not leave, right? Or am I reading things wrong?” Hyeonjun’s puzzled face gets another laugh from the latter. Hyunjoon nods, opening his arms as he shows grabby hands towards his lover, “Come here. I need to hug you.”
It is probably the law of the owner of the room or Hyunjoon is just Hyeonjun’s senior. Because having Hyeonjun bigger and wider figure in his embrace is much better than anything Hyunjoon ever expected in this world. Hyeonjun’s back against him as they slowly drift to the dream world together. Hyunjoon wraps his arms around Hyeonjun’s waist, kissing the back of the alpha’s neck softly.
“I love you too, Hyeonjun-ah.”
“Hmmm. I know.”
“Glad to hear that then.”
For a long while, both of them sleep with a smile on their lips.