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Jisung hated this house party specifically.
Donghyuck had promised him a break from his day to day office work, but now Jisung was stuck in the furthest corner apartment with the urge to clog his nose with the nearest roll of paper towels. Pheromones floated around everywhere , scents mixing with each other roughly. The moment he’d walked in, he’d seen one of the omegas inject drugs into their arm, immediately exuding heavy pheromones. Jisung had wrinkled his nose, and Donghyuck looked disinterested, despite his alpha status.
Of course, Donghyuck had long disappeared. He was probably flirting with anyone within earshot of him, smiling his flirty little smile. Jisung hoped with petty viciousness that Renjun would see him in the act. They weren’t together right now, and Mark was definitely Donghyuck’s biggest rival in wooing Renjun’s favor. Jisung wasn’t really one to get involved in the omega/alpha business, but honestly, he doubted that Renjun was looking for someone with the same “love the chase” mentality like Donghyuck.
In other words, he was placing his bets on Mark Lee.
The living room was just three steps away from him, meaning he’d endured five conversations with alphas smelling like pre-rut and perfume. Of course, most of them lost interest when they found out he was a beta. Donghyuck once commented that Jisung could pass as any secondary gender if he tried hard enough, if he tilted his head in certain ways and slit his cold eyes or widened his eyes and pouted his mouth.
Without meaning to, he had been roped into conversation with another alpha- her name was Winter. Jisung had quickly conceded his beta status when she slid up to him with two bubbling glasses of poured champagne in hand, but she didn’t mind. In fact, she was still flirting with him, her hand on his arm. Jisung was sure there was a fire burning away the tips of his ears. He could barely meet her eyes.
“You work at KB Financials? What do you do?”
“I’m in the engineering department as an UX specialist,” Jisung replied, speaking quickly enough to blur the stutter in his words. He hoped Winter didn’t notice it. “What do you do?” He wanted to get out of this conversation. He was in over his depths- Jisung thought he was going to combust on the spot soon.
“Oh, I work at-”
“She works at Samsung as a janitor.” a body sat down on the couch to him, the weight of him dipping into the couch cushion. A breath fanned his ear. Jisung knew that voice, that arm wrapping around waist, pulling Jisung into him, fingers gripping imprints into his flesh. Chenle’s voice whispered into his ear, “Jisung-ah, why are you talking to other alphas?” Other alphas? What did he mean by that?
Winter must’ve protested- “I’m literally an executive!” But Jisung was no longer listening. A shiver smoldered down his spine, every nerve lit up. Chenle smelled of cologne, fresh laundry bordered by the musk of a sharp edge. An alarm tinged faintly in the back of his mind, calling forward a rush of adrenaline. His heart sped up.
Jisung turned, Chenle’s nose bumping into his cheek. “She approached me first,” he murmured. There was a light smile on his mouth, but the dull knife of a flame in his eyes didn’t match it.
“Really?” He said, ever so softly, but it wasn’t doubt in his voice. He looked the very inch of the wealthy heir in his tailor suit, vein popping slightly and a stare that could cut diamonds. It looked like he’d just finished berating senior shareholders in an investor’s meeting, so what was he doing at an obscure house party like this? Jisung wanted to ask, but the answer would probably be one of Chenle’s sleazy alpha acquaintances from company partners.
“Don’t glare at me like that, Chenle,” Winter scoffed, leaning back. The weight of her hand disappeared at the same time that Chenle’s glower lightened. “I get it. He’s yours, don’t touch.”
He’s yours . Jisung glanced at Chenle for a displeased reaction, a touch of annoyance or mockery, but found none of it; in its place was just the slightest edge of satisfaction. Jisung had wanted to say that they were just friends, but somehow, friends could not explain the racing adrenaline and Chenle’s arm around him, sharing his body heat.
Chenle didn’t bother to answer her, “We’re leaving.”
“Oh,” Chenle met no resistance from Jisung, “I’ll tell Donghyuck first, he drove me her-”
“He already knows,” Chenle replied, standing up. Jisung could imagine Donghyuck spilling that he’d dragged him here mid-conversation. Not surprising. He was more surprised that Chenle had seemed to specifically look for him after, but he swallowed that question without entertaining it.
“I didn’t know you knew Donghyuck,” Jisung said. It was seven at night, the city still alive and bustling- behind them, the loud music of the house party fading like a background thought. “I thought he didn’t hang out with corporate crowds.” On the street, a familiar, sleek black car was parked, a driver in the driver’s seat waiting for them as Jisung slid into the furthest seat. The back car windows were heavily tinted, but the city was still a view.
“He doesn’t, we’re acquainted by personal family ties. Our cousins are married,” replied Chenle as the car door closed, sitting to Jisung’s right. The driver started the car, pulling into the street.
Jisung scrunched his eyebrows together, “Oh. He’s never mentioned that.”
“Donghyuck doesn’t ever mention anything important,” Chenle said, half-scoffing. He was right, but Jsung made a mental note to tattle to Donghyuck later. “It doesn’t matter. He’s always been like that. Are you hungry?” Chenle’s hand found its way onto Jisung’s thigh as he spoke, thumb rubbing over his inner knee.
Jisung couldn’t help but think of Winter’s words. He’s yours . Chenle’s hands on him, all the time, ever since a few months ago. It started with faint touches, polite business conversations that turned friendlier, the acquaintance of Jisung with all of Chenle’s alpha friends- his only friends. Jisung didn’t even remember when he started letting Chenle get as close as he wanted, even when nervous heat fluttered down his spine every time he could feel Chenle’s voice buzzing gently by his ear.
“Yeah. Where are we going?” Jisung paused, then looked at Chenle. “Please do not tell me you’re bringing me to one of those fancy Michelin star restaurants. I am not going in there looking like I just finished going to karaoke with my friends. Also, you never let me pay for our food.” It was a half-argument that came up many times- from coffee meet ups to fine dining, Chenle hadn’t let Jisung spend a single penny when they were together.
“It’s fine, Jisung.”
Jisung frowned, “I’m not a CEO, but I have money. I feel bad because you always pay for our meals. I don’t even get to pay for coffee, Chenle.”
Chenle laughed faintly, “I know you do. I like paying for you, so just let me do it, okay?” His canines were sharp when he smiled, a juxtaposition to his eyes, sweet and soft in a way that was almost tender. Did Chenle always look at him like that?
“Whatever,” Jisung huffed, hands stretching out into midair in defeat. “But it can’t be a fancy restaurant again. I smell like pheromone drugs and a house party.” The last time Chenle had suddenly taken him out to eat was three weeks ago, the day after a company party when Jisung was most definitely hungover and headache banging against his skull.
He’d worn whatever he would wear to the skatepark with Donghyuck because it was the most presentable thing he would find without thinking too much when Chenle picked him up with a ten minute warning. Imagine his surprise when they pulled up to one of the most high end Japanese cuisine restaurants in the area. To say he felt underdressed was an understatement.
Chenle’s smile was lopsided, “It’s not, I promise.”
Jisung stared, still not convinced, “I can pay for it.” He repeated, like he hadn’t been shut down just a minute ago.
“Jisung,” Chenle’s smile was fond, frosting kind of sweet, but his tone made Jisung’s spine tingle. “I have ‘fancy restaurant’ back up plans if you keep offering to pay, if you must know. When it’s you, I don’t care how much money I spend.”
A beat of silence, then Jisung laughed half-heartedly, heart beating in his neck, in his ears, “Chenle, it’s almost like you’re flirting with me or something-”
“-That’s because I am.”
“...huh?” Jisung was looking at him, looking at Chenle, watching those words form in his mouth. When the implications finally logged in his brain, a wave of red flooded over his face and his ears. “O-oh.” A knot of adrenaline formed pressure on his chest, the same kind of exhilaration from a roller coaster.
Chenle leaned in, the hand resting on Jisung’s knee going to encircle his waist, fingers digging slightly into his flesh, “You know, I have been for the last three months. I was wondering when you would realize it.” They were pressed up, close enough for Jisung to see the details in Chenle skin, close enough to see the faint dip of Chenle’s to his lips, close enough that every gentle brush of Chenle’s hands over his waist, his thigh, seared with sensitivity.
“But I’m a beta,” Jisung whispered, like his words would shake them both, like it would calm the hyperawareness, like it could lessen Chenle’s pinning gaze.
“So?”
“So- so I guess it’s okay if I’m just a whim but-”
“It’s not a whim, and it’s not going to be.” Chenle’s hand reached up to cup Jisung’s cheek, a thumb brushing over the heated plane of his face. Jisung could barely think. “When I see you talking to other people, alphas especially, I get jealous. I don’t care that you’re a beta; that doesn’t matter to me. I just want you, okay?”
Chenle’s words echoed and rang inside his head, running miles. Jisung was used to being quickly ignored in the corporate industry when they mingled for sport or for business. He was part of the 68% of the standard distribution, and he was fine with it.
But Chenle… Chenle made his head spin. Chenle said he got jealous . Jisung always assumed he would get settled one day, have a family with another beta and live his average life, have a few friends and a good career. He did not assume that he would be sitting in a car worth more then his yearly salary, just told that he'd been courted by one of the biggest corporate monsters's sole heir. Who would believe him? Jisung would not have if he weren't sitting in this car.
"Okay," he breathed. Jisung thought he could see Chenle's shoulders dip.
“Good,” he hummed. He smiled then, the one that fell just short of wide, struggling to be restrained, but his eyes curled into half moon slits that betrayed him. “Can I kiss you?”
If this were one of those reaction tests, Jisung would’ve broken the record, “Yes,” he said. Then Chenle Chenle was kissing him in the back of his car, pressing Jisung into the seats, pressing them together. His fingers winded themselves through Jisung’s hair, nipping softly at his bottom lip. They chased after each other between breath, kiss-drunk sweet nothings on their tongues.
Only their arrival at the restaurant forced them to pause. Jisung peeked curiously out the window, lips kiss bruised and pink, “Isn’t that-?” Just in front of them was a restaurant Jisung had been meaning to go to, but couldn’t find the chance- they were always booked up. It wasn’t even because they were obscenely expensive- it was just that popular. He turned back to Chenle. “You’re kidding. How’d you get a spot? How’d you know?”
Chenle smiled a lopsided smile, “I was lucky.” Jisung only half-believed it, but he didn’t care.
“You’re the best,” Jisung breathed.
Chenle opened the door, pressed a kiss to Jisung’s cheek as he stepped out, the corners of his mouth smug, “I know.”
(When Jisung off-handedly mentioned Chenle as his boyfriend, Donghyuck didn’t seem surprised.
“About time,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I was wondering when you would connect the dots.”
Jisung blinked at him with innocence in full mockery mode, “Has Renjun connected the dots that you like him?” Donghyuck sneered half-heartedly, and Jisung knew he’d won this one.)