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"She shouldn't have punched you so hard."
Joshua felt his lips quirk, chest tightening. For a moment he stared in silence at the omega in front of him.
The wide eyed beauty who looked like he had walked out of a glossy magazine. So perfectly omega.
Yoon Jeonghan.
The jewel of their school.
The omega who could make any alpha turn their heads in awe.
(And even some omegas).
"This is going to bruise so badly." Jeonghan's lips were pursed, his eyes full of concern. "It's going to swell. There's even a cut! How could an alpha hurt an omega like this?" His voice turned fierce. His pheromones spilling out, filling every crevice of the small bathroom. It made Joshua flinch, the anger in the scent palatable.
It was pure instinct to push out his own scent, soothing the ruffled Jeonghan. Slowly Jeonghan's features softened and he sighed, leaning in to dab the cotton over the small cut.
"At least she has a bruise too," Joshua mumbled, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're just an omega, she should have held back. We're not as sturdy or stong as alphas," Jeonghan spoke with a matter of factly tone, with no room for any arguments.
It made the heaviness in Joshua's chest grow more dense. His head a swirl of words, of things to say to dismantle the conviction, but Joshua was not eloquent enough. Instead he chose to continue make light of the situation. "I've always wanted to buff up. Maybe this was the sign I needed." A half hearted joke, a small smile.
Jeonghan blinked. "Being fit is good, but alphas don't like too much muscles on omegas, so be careful to not overdo it."
Joshua's smile faltered, fingers curling into his palms. Nails digging into skin. Withheld all he wanted to say. Barreled through with more jokes. "So you think I'd look ugly if I got buff?"
Jeonghan furrowed his forehead and stepped back, quietly assessing Joshua's body. It made Joshua sit straighter, puffing out his chest unintentionally. His heart hammering loud in his ears.
"I think you'd look good no matter what, Shua," Jeonghan said sincerely.
Shua. Joshua's breathing shortened ever so slightly. He had only transferred to this school three weeks ago, but Jeonghan had already started to affectionally call him by a nickname.
"But what I think won't matter. It's important you get a good alpha mate in the future."
Joshua's heart stilled.
"Hmm, I think we can cover the bruise with make up," Jeonghan said lightly. "I should have some make up in my school bag."
"Nah," Joshua mumbled. "No need."
Jeonghan nodded. "Okay. I'll have to put the medkit back to the nurse station before our next class, but-" He hesitated. Looked almost nervous, fiddling with the sleeves of his dress.
His appropriate omegan dress hiding neck and wrists. Barely showing a sliver of skin. Opposite to Joshua who only botherd to use wristbands and comfortable collars to cover the glands. It was getting hot outside and Joshua refused to wear long sleeved stuff or else he would melt during class.
"Do you want to scent me? You smell a little upset," Jeonghan asked quietly.
A huge part of Joshua itched to say yes. Wanted to bury his face in the pretty neck and inhale the scent he had yet to smell properly. Whenever the scent spilled out strong enough to be smelled, it was due to strong emotions. Strong pheromones warning the others around about this person's state of being. It hid the actual scent, the sweetness he yearned to smell intimately.
But.
Joshua didn't want to risk exposing himself. Had a weakness for pretty omegas and their lovely scents. Who knows how he would react, with his nose buried in the neck of the prettiest omega he had ever seen?
"No thank you."
A flash of disappointment. "Okay. Come on, let's drop the medkit off and go to class." He hesitated. "You sure you don't want to report this?"
Joshua scoffed, getting up from the toilet seat. "They'd just give her a slap on the wrist and tell her to treat omegas gently." No actual repercussions. If anything, Joshua might face bigger consequences. He was the one who had thrown the first punch.
Jeonghan's lips curled into displeasure. "True." He pulled the varsity jacket hanging from the booth door, putting it on with practiced ease. A hint of alpha musk wafted off of it, reaching Joshua.
Joshua ignored the jealousy in his veins. The envy.
(Sometimes he wondered how much easier it would be, if he had been born an alpha. He could chase omegas without anyone questioning it. Could even be with alphas. Because this society was hypocritical at its core and though alphas could mate each other, omegas having desires for one another was treated with ridicule).
"Ready?" Jeonghan tilted his head, looking small and vulnerable in the big varsity jacket.
"Yeah."
-
("Cheollie, could you do me a favour?"
"Anything, Hannie."
"You know my new friend?"
"Ah, the little omega?"
"Yeah. Could you look out for him? I have you and Mingyu, but he has no one. The alphas keep provoking him and touching him. I'm worried he will get really hurt one day or maybe even expelled, especially if he keeps trying to solve things physically."
"... You want me to befriend him and protect him? People might think I'm pursuing him..."
"That's okay. Then they might leave him alone."
A short moment of quiet. The thick scent of possessive alpha rising.
"And what if those alphas think that's the go ahead to court you? What if they think you're not mine!?"
"Cheol... love. Calm down." A gentle kiss to a warm cheek. Perfectly appropriate. "I'm yours. I'll always be yours. I'll still wear your scented jacket every day. They'll just think you're pursuing two omegas at once, nothing weird about that."
"You... I don't want the rumours to upset you. They might mock you."
"I trust you, Cheollie. I know what's real. The rumours won't hurt me."
"Oh.. Okay. I'll befriend your little omega friend then. For your sake."
"Thank you, Cheollie. I love you."
"I love you too.")