Chapter Text
Despite religiously using scent blocker and heat suppressant to hide his scent, anyone can tell Hong Jisoo is an omega solely from his appearance.
Breathtaking is an overstatement yet beautiful is an understatement.
He’s gorgeous, not in a way that take people’s breath away when he simply came into view. People would take a glance, would go on their ways, and unexpectedly took another glance, and another. Before realizing it, they are staring, falling at the charms he exudes.
Hong Jisoo, with his ethereal features. His playful cat-like eyes, honey brown irises oozing warmth and tenderness, his fluffy and slightly tousled dark brown hair, the adorable curl of the edge of his pink lips, his naturally slender limbs and body, the sensual shape of his hips and back, the prominent lines of his neck and shoulder.
When he laughs, his eyes follow suit adorably, his voice is as sweet as his scent, intoxicating those around him. When he pouts, it emphasizes the plump of his lips, oozing both sexy and cute charm at the same time. When he smirks, his eyes sharpen in a playful manner, like an adorable cat initiating playtime. When he’s just staring right there with no expression, he was a sculpture of the gods, an art exhibit presented to everyone passing by for free.
People can’t even get started on how he smells.
His scent is as potent as a field of flowers in springtime. A mix of soft floral notes as jasmine and violet, a hint of freshness from strawberry, a tint of vanilla, a dash of orange blossom, another citrus tone, and finally, most dominantly—soft, sweet, and abundance of honey.
He is the omega every alpha wants to indulge in. Scratch that, even any beta wants him.
Though, to their dismay, the most sought-after Hong Jisoo is always guarded by his three closest alpha friends.
First, there is Choi Seungcheol, the most alpha of all alpha, the charismatic, natural born leader of the pack. He is Hong Jisoo’s default guardian, growing up together as cousin. Seungcheol naturally fell into the role of Jisoo’s security dog (or wolf) since they’re young. He had witness too many alphas approaching the younger, barely hiding their ulterior motives.
Second, there is Lee Jihoon, one of the most dominating alphas, in contrast of his shorter appearance. He takes no shit from everyone and does the same in behalf of Jisoo. Seemingly to know and find company in each other from high school, the blunt and straightforward alpha had a soft spot for the omega. Someone might underestimate him on sight, but his dominant nature and vicious tongue alone can render anyone speechless.
Third and last, there's Yoon Jeonghan, an alpha beautiful enough to be mistaken as an omega. However, make no mistake, for he’s the most ferocious out of the three when it comes to Jisoo. If Seungcheol and Jihoon is someone to avoid on sight, you need to watch your back when it comes to Jeonghan. He’s ruthless and savage, the exact opposite when he’s with Jisoo himself.
In junior and senior high school, Seungcheol was intimidating enough to fend off any idiotic alphas or betas coming in Jisoo’s vicinity, and with the addition of Jihoon, they managed to keep the most-sought omega safe for so long.
University is a completely different terrain.
Now they’re older, most people know enough how exquisite and addicting Hong Jisoo is, enough for them to know better than letting go at mere empty threats. The alphas here are much daring. They didn’t care on how much Seungcheol growls and Jihoon is a second away from punching them.
Jisoo is fair game. He isn’t mated yet and everyone had the chance to have him.
Oh, if only they knew, Jeonghan personally will rip their heads off.
"Hi, Shua."
Jisoo usually didn’t bat an eyelid at this kind of resentful approach. However, at the mention of his American, childhood name, he perked up. How did this unknown and halfwit alpha find out his old nickname?
The reaction seems to be satisfying the alpha. “Shua, when are you free?”
“Get lost,” was Minghao’s immediate reply, the beta gripping Jisoo’s arm tight and escorting him out of their class in prompto.
Obviously, this wasn’t enough. The halfwit alpha and his herd of friends follow them.
“Just spare me one time, for a date.”
“I swear it’ll be good.”
“Someone needs to take a good omega like you on a date.”
The omega has passed the age of turning someone down politely when the opposite party is behaving without manners. Ignoring or turning them down stoically is effective only for half of the population. The other half? With the presence of his alpha friend. If there’s no alpha friend around him? With force.
Truth is, without any of his alpha friends, Jisoo has enough to defend himself. Seungcheol practically forces him to join all those martial arts and self-defense technique.
“I can’t be there all the time, so you need to protect yourself until I arrive, you hear me?” the older cousin stated.
But it was too hassling to start a fight in the middle of nowhere, so of course Jisoo would stick to the first option as long as he can.
Glancing over, Jisoo gave a small sympathetic smile, while Minghao is retaining a façade of calmness despite endless cursing inside. The hours of meditating do work wonders at the Chinese classmate’s self-restraint.
However, his string of patience snapped the moment the halfwit alpha reached out for Jisoo’s shoulder.
"Hey—"
Jisoo was alarmed when the alpha’s shadow loomed before him, but immediately relax at the tone of a familiar lavender scent. In a flash, the said person stands between them, fingers wrapped around the offender’s wrist tightly.
Jeonghan’s anger flares, the scent of lavender and cedarwood burning spicier and sourer. “Don’t touch him.”
The two alphas contested each other by their glare, the halfwit eventually falling back thanks to the conscience of his equally half-witted friends.
His aggression was still on edge until Jisoo held his arm gently. The tension visibly disappears and when their eyes met, Jeonghan’s gaze was steady with concern.
“Han.”
“Jisoo.”
The omega tilted his head. “You don’t need to be that tense. He can’t do anything, you know?”
Jeonghan knows. They’re in the middle of the campus, in an open wide area crowded with students, the bright afternoon sun above them. More importantly, Jisoo has proven himself enough in defending himself. But all of those doesn’t matter. If there’s the slight chance, any slight chance of them touching Jisoo, even a single graze, Jeonghan would never let it happen.
“Yeah, Soo, you can proof yourself from time to time, just to put on a show,” Seungcheol appeared.
His large, calloused hand ruffled Jisoo’s head gently. The omega relishes on his brotherly gesture, closing his eyes adorably, lips curling into a small smile. That simple show alone earned a few stares from the people nearby.
Oblivious of that fact, Jisoo beamed brightly at his friends.
“Let’s go! I’m hungry.”
“No, no, I told you, it was the egg first.”
“How was the egg supposed to hatch if there’s no chicken warming it?”
“An egg doesn’t need to be warmed! Look at those pigeons, those crows, they didn’t warm their egg!”
“They did!”
“They didn’t!”
“Guys, the food I order isn’t here yet!”
“Seok, you haven’t even ordered!”
Soonyoung, Seokmin, and Seungkwan. The trio are at it again.
Vernon watched in amusement as the omega was losing his mind in dealing with the two clowns.
Seungkwan noticed the incoming group. “Jeonghan-hyung! Just the science major I need. Hyung, please explain to these two. Birds like pigeon, crow, chicken, they need to warm their egg for it to hatch, right?” The omega leaned forward, eyes with such intensity. “Right?”
The answer was quite obvious, but Jeonghan loves messing with someone in the verge of breaking down. “What are you talking about Seungkwan? Of course, they didn’t need it.”
As expected, Seungkwan loses it, whining and accusing Jeonghan of lies while coping with Soonyoung and Seokmin’s teasing.
“I told you!”
“No, no, Jeonghan-hyung is lying!”
Mingyu had to take his usual role of putting Seungkwan back into his chair.
The canteen table was long enough to accommodate their large number. As the newcomer group took their seat, it was as natural as ever for Jisoo and Jeonghan to be seated next to each other.
On one side, Jun peered over and questioned his boyfriend. “Hao? You look kinda mad?”
“Yeah, an idiot came at Jisoo-hyung just now.”
The table showed blatant displease. Though the incident was quite often, the degree of their severity varies from alpha to alpha. There are those who immediately cower under the ministration of the trio alpha guardian of Jisoo, whereas there are those who are plain stubborn and thick-headed. They could never get used to it.
Apparently, the omega himself wasn’t that unfazed.
“He didn’t do anything, just annoying. Jeonghan came, so, no harm done,” Jisoo responded casually at the group.
A reminder of the incident is enough to tense Jeonghan again.
Jeonghan’s fingers settled on Jisoo’s waist, pulling him closer, and leaned towards Jisoo’s neck. Jisoo shivered at Jeonghan’s breath, hovering above his scent glands. The scent of lavender and cedarwood infiltrated his senses, making Jisoo feels light-headed.
“Hannie,” he tried to maintain the stability of his voice.
“Ssh,” came Jeonghan’s reprimand. “Let me scent you first.”
“You just did last Friday!”
The alpha’s grip on him tightened. “If that is enough to repel such a pathetic alpha, I wouldn’t be doing this right now.”
Seungcheol and Jihoon eyed each other with a knowing look. If the two of them is protective enough to frustrate Jisoo at times, Jeonghan is on an entirely different level.
Half the group watch as Jisoo squirmed half-heartedly, not entirely persistent on leaving his grip, as Jeonghan continue to nuzzle into the crook of his neck.
Seungkwan muttered. "So much PDA..."
"This is still tame," Seungcheol mumbles, returning his attention back to his food. “Come over to my apartment and you’ll see.”
"Jisoo, your scent is stronger today,” the alpha pointed out.
"Is it?"
Now, this is something Seungcheol took attention to. "Are you taking your meds well? If you’re not feeling good, you shouldn't go to your shift today."
"I'm fine, Hannie, Cheollie,” the use of nickname and his sweet smile effectively convincing them. “Jihoon will be there too, don't worry."
A silent understanding pass between the two alphas. Today, they’ll be hanging out at the café as well.
It’s been two years since Jisoo and Jihoon started working part-time at Seungcheol’s older brother café, Heaven’s Cloud. The location nearby the campus is convenient for the students to work part-time. Seokmin joined last year and Chan joined in the last three months as part-timer.
Jeonghan watches as Jisoo worked behind the counter for a customer’s order. His movements are eloquent and smooth, navigating between the machines and pumps at the back of his hand. When Jisoo is focused, his gaze is as earnest and sincere as it gets, completely immersed in doing the task at hand. In this way, he is sometimes too oblivious to his surrounding to notice that it wasn’t just Jeonghan who was staring.
As much as Jeonghan like the sight of him engrossed in his shift, he hated how vulnerable Jisoo looked right now. After casting warning glances at one or two daring suitors across the room, Jeonghan turned back to Seungcheol.
“You know, he’ll be fine, they won’t do anything,” Seungcheol says.
Seungcheol used to be so protective of Jisoo in their first year of university, and so is Jihoon. No one can casually enter their circle without passing through the two alphas first. Now in their third year, it was too visible on how the two has laxed, limiting their direct interference and more about watching from a safe distance.
Jeonghan hated it.
Despite knowing how most situation is under Jisoo’s control and nothing bad will happen to him. They’re all adults and capable of navigating themselves properly. Still, this is the only thing Jeonghan would never let his guard down for.
After all, it’s him, himself, who understands firsthand the charm of Hong Jisoo.
Oh, how deep has he fallen. How deep he has been intoxicated.
On day one of entering university, every alpha knew the existence of Hong Jisoo. Beautiful and gentle, his presence leaving a long-lasting impression that leaves people curious for more. His scent, without any intention to, is alluring everyone high and low.
Yes, his appearance is the epitome of a perfect omega, but Jeonghan knows better than that.
Jisoo is cute and playful. He’s more into pranks and jokes than people give him credit for. He’s feisty when it comes to his own opinion, sassy when he wants to be, and pouty when he’s complaining. The younger ones especially had a soft spot for him, as Jisoo is playing and reacting along well to them, showing how outgoing and approachable the older is.
Jisoo is smart, he reads a lot and is excited in telling his newly found knowledge. From computers and machines, to plants and animals, to human and society, to recipes and ingredients, to arts and music, and much more. He’s a curious soul who dives firsthand to know more. He would explain to them about a certain topic in an animated way, eyes glittering with excitement.
Jisoo is determined and stubborn in his own ways. The calm and submissive appearance was the surface of the water. Seungcheol might’ve initiated him to take self-defense classes, but it was Jisoo who maintained his discipline up until now. He won’t give any reaction to someone’s dubious approach, but if anyone did the same to his friend, he wouldn’t let it pass easily.
Jisoo is caring and understanding. He’s observant towards the mood of his friends. Whenever Seungkwan is really upset, he would know when not to joke around and console the omega properly. Whenever Mingyu feels too ashamed of his clumsiness, Jisoo was there to help him clean up. He would stare at his friends with affections, fingers stroking their head gently when they’re being adorable.
Jisoo, everything of him, inside and outside, had Jeonghan falling deeper and deeper.
On his first year, perhaps since their first meeting, Jeonghan knew he had it bad for Jisoo, yet he was also aware of the existence of Choi Seungcheol and Lee Jihoon. This doesn’t mean there are two alphas he needs to contest. This simply means Hong Jisoo is more than what meets the eyes. He’s more than just his appearance and scent.
Perhaps, this is what makes Jeonghan different from any other alpha. Without intention and purpose, he naturally befriended Seungcheol on his soccer club and befriended Jihoon as fellow band player. Naturally, he’s connected to Jisoo.
For the first time in his life, Jeonghan took a swore and intended to hold it. He is determined to be Jisoo’s friend. Only friend, to know him better and to fall in love more, before anything else.
"When are you going to confess to Jisoo?"
Jeonghan wasn’t surprised by Seungcheol’s question.
It was obvious from the very beginning, but Seungcheol applauded Jeonghan’s patience and self-control. These last two years of getting to know Yoon Jeonghan has proven itself.
This alpha is a saint, Seungcheol thought. Both a saint and a heathen. The angel and the devil.
At this point, the omega’s older cousin has given half of his permission. The other half must come from Jisoo himself.
With a downcast gaze, Jeonghan fiddled with the straw of his americano, his other free hand tucked on his jacket, as he slouched over the comfortable chair.
Finally, his answer came. "Jisoo is kind. If he knows of my feelings, he'll definitely choose me."
Jeonghan and Jisoo, a pair of alpha and omega, far closer and intimate than the term ‘friend’ allows them to.
After two years of knowing Jisoo personally, Jeonghan wasn’t sure. When Jisoo allows someone to enter his inner circle and become his friend, he would devote all he has for that individual. Jisoo can give up anything for his most important people. Jeonghan know he was special, more special than the blood-related Seungcheol and high school friend Jihoon.
What if…
What if Jeonghan confesses and Jisoo accepted it out of courtesy for their current relationship? Jisoo treasured their friendship and so does Jeonghan. It is completely possible for Jisoo to cast away his platonic feeling and persuade himself to manifest a romantic feeling towards Jeonghan.
"I don't want his kindness nor his pity."
Jeonghan didn’t want that.
"I want his love."
A genuine feeling, born out of choice because Jisoo wanted to, not out of Jeonghan’s confession.
Seungcheol stares with his eyebrows scrunched, perhaps wondering how Jeonghan’s brain cells vanished when it comes down to Jisoo. The two of them, Jeonghan and Jisoo, is Seungcheol’s closest friend. He knew enough not to interfere more than necessary.
So, he relented. "Fine, Han, it’s all up to you."
His lips tingled, his throat aching on saying just one single warning.
"Don't regret this later, though."