Chapter Text
LEE MINHO'S SCHOOL FOR SOPHISTICATED OMEGAS
Hyunjin had never heard of a worse name for a school before.
He had finished school years ago, graduating and then proceeding off to college to be an archeologist, like he’d always dreamed of. He’d always liked history, been fascinated with the science of it more than the sociology behind it, wanted to work in a museum one day, maybe the one in the city where people took class trips. Maybe he’d move to another city, take his work there. It wasn’t hard to move cities when he knew what he wanted lost in life, to get an education and do something with himself. It wasn’t an unobtainable or unrealistic dream after all.
But dreams often stayed dreams in his experience, and his had died the moment he opened his mouth to take a breath in, to breathe in the thick scent of limoncello, of tear drops that fall like scattered rain on a muddy afternoon, of hopes crumbling under wedding balls much too loud for his own pleas to be heard. There was no freedom in his life, of course, because the moment he had stepped foot into a classroom his mother had decided to finally secure his engagement to the one man Hyunjin has trusted himself to know to never trust him , and Hyunjin saw his world falling apart bit by bit, as they planned a wedding for him to dissociate throughout, for him to loathe and cry over alone in his room, wiping his tears with pages of the textbooks he had once used to nape with his head against. He would wear white, cry clear tears, and hold pink and white flowers that crumpled under his angry fists as he smiled with all of his teeth, his fangs sticking just out of place in every photo they snap of the newlyweds.
Kim Seungmin was a longtime childhood friend. Like any alpha his family knew, a rich alpha from a rich family that owned a rich company that had grown up beside him, for holidays and school events and classes and afternoon tea dates with their mothers, with blinders on to only look ahead at his future. Seungmin knew nothing of the real world, Hyunjin was convinced, knew nothing of hardship and realism, knew nothing about Omegan biology that wasn’t taught in school, knew nothing about why Hyunjin just couldn’t accept his proposal every year for the last six years. He didn’t want to be his friend, his boyfriend, his fiance, his husband or his omega. And Seungmin knew nothing of Hyunjin’s real feelings, of how he kissed other omegas behind the bleachers during assemblies, of how he held their hands willingly, of how he had managed to find out that he was attracted to anyone of any subgender. Seungmin knew nothing, not even that Hyunjin dreaded him, that Hyunjin had dreams, that Hyunjin saw himself alone in his future every night before he closed his eyes for sleep, and how that hasn’t changed even after their engagement.
But, sadly enough, no one could accept that, not even Seungmin.
Which was why, a few days after their short and failed honeymoon, months after their miserable wedding, fancy and grand and as large as Hyunjin’s dreams of college had been, after weeks of arguing and fighting and raised voices and scathing words, Seungmin had dropped him off at the most pretentious little school he had ever heard of.
Lee Minho’s School for Sophisticated Omegas was the worst name he’s ever heard of.
The school was big, pretty, with cream exterior architecture and unlike any building he’s been to before, besides art museums maybe. It gave off such an elegant feeling that it was pretentious and snotty and Hyunjin hated it, refusing to get out of the car until Seungmin rolled his eyes and dragged him out, pulling his luggage from the trunk behind him. He didn’t need much, apparently--the school had uniforms that were required and provided, bedding, food, books, and in Seungmin’s words, he didn’t need things like technology or his phone because it would only ‘distract him’. He was there to focus on his classes, his behavior and himself and his future with Seungmin, he said, and he wasn’t wasting time and money on Hyunjin’s education, or his ‘self destructive process’. Hyunjin had snorted at that. Was this supposed to be Seungmin saving him? Or was this supposed to be a punishment?
The name of the school was punishment enough .
A school hours away from the city, hours away from his home and his life --well, an hour and a half drive, really. It wasn’t too far. It wasn’t isolated at all but it was certainly far from all that he knew and what was familiar to him-- comforting to him-- and even when he told Seungmin that, he just sighed and patted his thigh, telling him that he would be fine, that he would make new friends and gain new life skills and he should be happy to go. Seungmin had told him all about the reviews he had read on the website, and online, about all of the progress omegas could make here and in their future marriages and Hyunjin had just bitterly ignored him.
If he wanted to work on their marriage, therapy was the only thing that came to mind, but even then Hyunjin would refuse it because he didn’t love Seungmin. Something that even if he said out loud, Seungmin wouldn’t believe anyway. And even if he did believe it, even if he did understand it, he’d never accept it.
“You’re being ridiculous, Jinnie,” Seungmin had pulled him by the elbow of the sweater as Hyunjin dug the heels of his sneakers into the dirt outside on the lawn of the school.
“I don’t want to go !”
“Hyunjin, stop it. You’re making a scene and you’re embarrassing both yourself and me.”
Hyunjin had felt his heart strings snip a little at that. Of course he was. Hadn’t he always been nothing more than an embarrassing, disgraceful person? That’s why his parents had just dumped him on Seungmin who, for some reason, claimed to love him with all his heart. Loved him despite his flaws, loved him through his ups and downs, loved him his entire life enough to chase him for years as they grew up together. Loved him enough to lock him down in a marriage, in a house that could never be home. Loved him enough to spend thousands on his education and send him away in order to make him even more lovable, make him able to be loved by everyone else and not just him , and Hyunjin despised that.
Hyunjin had thought about being manipulative for a moment and decided that maybe, it would work the moment he spotted the head teacher, one of the most beautiful omegas he thinks he’s ever seen. Curly brown hair, catlike eyes, pink lips. Natural beauty.
“You can’t just leave me here because you don’t wanna deal with me,” Hyunjin had whispered as the teacher came down the stairs. “You said you loved me no matter what , Seungmin and now you’re just throwing me away ?”
“Wh-honey, no, that’s not what’s happening at all ,” Seungmin held his face in his hands, callused and capable, thumbs smoothing over Hyunjin’s cheeks. “I’m not abandoning you, sweetheart. It’s only a few months and I’ll come to visit every weekend, you know that.”
Hyunjin had faked some tears for better effect, holding onto Seungmin’s hand. “But I don’t want to. I’m gonna miss you and my family and my friends ”--
“Jinnie, relax. This is what’s best for us both and you know that. And you’re gonna have so much fun, baby. You’re going to learn so much, and make so many new friends, all omegas just like you. You don’t have that back home, sweetheart. You know that.”
Hyunjin does know it. He knows it well. Seungmin had always made sure of it, keeping him in his orbit, in his line of focus, and Hyunjin detested him for it.
Hyunjin had let him go then, leaving him with a mumble of fake “I love you”s and some promises he didn’t know if he could keep, sweet kisses exchanged in front of Lee Minho who didn’t interfere with them for a moment, before being led away into the school, tears tracking down his cheeks gently as he was led through the beautiful museum of an institution, Minho carrying his bag and not saying a word as he was led upstairs to the dorms. He didn’t look up or take notice of the way at all, feeling himself going numb from the sudden amount of changes in his life. Numb in the lobby of the place that was sure to echo with shrill laughter and the crack of heels, numb all the way up the staircase that seemed to need a little waxing beneath the railing, marble aging even finer than other stone, numb all the way up to the quiet and sweet smelling hall, carpet thin beneath his feet as he was shown to his room. It had all happened so suddenly, he thinks, and yet so slow. It was as if time wasn’t moving an inch as he was made to shower and change, his sweater and jeans being tossed in the laundry. He simply went to sleep after, curling up on the bottom bunk of the bed staring at the white wall before him.
Sleep finds him better than any husband could.
But sleep, like any husband who could ever want him, is fleeting and Hyunjin wakes up to hushed voices, turning over onto his side before he remembers that he has roommates, is supposed to anyway, and that he is no longer alone in his room. The room is a good size for how many people it’s supposed to hold, the bunk beds wide and sturdy, frames shiny and new. There’s two dressers and two desks on either side of them, he notes, and a nook on the window, padded with cushions and pillows. He opens an eye sleepily, unable to truly focus in the dim light of the room, kept low because of his nap.
“I’m sorry”--
“It’s okay, you can cry.”
Three figures huddle together on the bed on the other side of the room, on the bottom bunk, two wrapping arms around the middle figure. Hyunjin blinks the sleep out of his eyes to see who it is, even though he knows he won’t know them. And even if he did—no familiar face would help ease his anxiety here.
The omegas are all pretty, though vastly different. The one in the middle catches his eye immediately because he’s crying, wiping his eyes with his fists hastily, and the other two sandwich him and hug him as if they know each other and then it dawns on Hyunjin that they probably do .
“What’s going on?” Hyunjin whispers and the two look up, startled. The one on the left looks up at him with wide eyes, black hair pulled back into a tiny ponytail. He’s the smallest out of all of them, he thinks, wearing a t shirt and shorts as he cradles the omega in the middle.
“We didn’t mean to wake you but we couldn’t stay in the bathroom.”
Hyunjin just stares at them. The blonde one, on the right, looks up at him as he rubs the omega’s back. He’s wearing a sweater and jeans, socks mismatched.
“He just misses his alpha, he’s okay. Just go back to sleep, okay?”
Hyunjin stares at him for a moment in pity . The crying omega is pretty; long, curly blonde hair and a freckled nose, cheeks round and chubby and lips the color of sweet berry tea. His eyes are puffy and he hiccups slightly, face wet, but he’s cute even as he does so. He’s wearing pink pajamas and a fluffy white bathrobe, with a cute bunny headband, keeping his bangs out of his eyes. Hyunjin sits up now, propping himself up on an elbow, stomach twisting in knots at the sight of such a pretty omega mourning over some alpha . Especially an alpha who would dump him in a place like this.
“Hey,” he says to the omega in the middle, all of them meeting his eyes regardless. “You shouldn’t cry over him. If he sent you here , he’s not worth it.”
He just cries more.
“ Hey ,” a voice atop his bunk catches him off guard and the omega above him hangs over the side of the bed, startling Hyunjin awake now. “Be nice to him. Just because you’re hurting doesn’t mean you get to take it out on other people.”
Hyunjin stays still as they climb down the ladder, brushing a hand through their brown hair, giving Hyunjin a dirty look. He’s pretty, too, with a pointed nose and pierced ears, wearing a pair of leggings and a hoodie. He walks over to the group of them and whispers something to them, pulling the crying omega up and wrapping an arm around him, fingers going to wipe away his tears as he leads him out of the room. The other two just watch.
How many roommates did he have ?
“That’s Hongjoongie-Hyung,” the one with the dark hair explains.
“I didn’t ask,” Hyunjin replies simply. The blonde one stands up now, walking over to him.
“Stop being a jerk.”
Hyunjin could laugh if he had the energy. A jerk? Out of all the things he’s ever been called, that was the most innocent. He can live with being a jerk.
“Hyung, it’s okay. We’re all new here and it’s scary. He’s just scared, but it’s okay, we’re not mean, we promise. We can be friends. I’m Jeongin.” He says and Hyunjin feels a surge of anger in his chest. Fuck him for assigning him emotions he didn’t even have. For attempting to walk right up to him and be friends as if he had that right. What gave him the right to put him in his shoes, or pretend to, and call him out like that? Hyunjin scowled.
“I’m not scared, and mind your business. I don’t want friends . You don’t even know me.”
“And you don’t know us ,” the blonde says, spitting right back. “And don’t talk to us if you’re gonna have that shit attitude all the time. I’m sorry your alpha dumped you here, but we’re not your punching bags.”
Hyunjin thinks it must be the stress of the last few weeks getting to him because in an instant, he’s out of the bed, and the two of them are tangled up on the carpet of the floor as the younger ponytailed-omega--Jeongin-- panics, trying to pull them apart. Hyunjin will admit that he’s not the best at fighting, and all he can do is scratch at the blonde omega, his nails clipped too short to make a difference, as the other omega pulls on his hair. It seems he’s not a fighter either. But it’s good to finally have something—someone—to hit, to blame for all his problems, to get his anger out on.
The sound of the door banging open doesn’t startle them out of their scuffle, Hyunjin managing to kick the blonde over enough to wrestle his way on top of him. Hyunjin yelps when he’s grabbed around the middle and pulled away, elbowing as he suspects Hongjoong to be the assailant.
“Kim Hyunjin!”
Hyunjin stills in Minho’s hold, barely managing to stammer out that his last name is still Hwang, when Minho spins him around and lands a smack on his butt.
“Don’t hit me!”
“Listen to me very closely, my little prince,” Minho grabs his chin, staring him straight in the eyes, “we don’t fight here. So knock it off. Yunho, you too. Get up and go clean yourself up.”
The blonde on the floor, Yunho, sits up. He sits there for a moment before Jeongin goes to help him up, scared shitless by Minho’s piercing gaze.
“Jeonginnie, Yunho, go downstairs for dinner. You ,” Minho says to Hyunjin, “you’re going to sit down on your bed and have a talk with me.”
The other two look at him for a moment before obeying, Jeongin helping Yunho up before going to leave the room, shoving their feet into slippers. Hyunjin stands there in his bed clothes, Minho concentrating on him for a moment, tapping under his chin with a finger.
“I said sit.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“No, you’re a very disobedient omega. Now sit down.”
Hyunjin plops down on the bed, arms crossed. He should’ve just stayed asleep and not given a shit or been so nosy anyway.
“You do not lay your hands on another student here. Do you understand?”
“You hit me ,” Hyunjin spits.
“I disciplined you, something you clearly lack. Because I am your teacher. Now, unless you want me to do it again, I suggest going downstairs and eating dinner in a calm and respectful manner. And you will apologize to Yunho for fighting with him. Do we understand each other?”
Hyunjin doesnt think they ever will understand each other or see eye to eye, but it’s not the right thing to say. He just bites his tongue, angry at having to apologize to the blonde, going to walk out of the room when Minho grabs him by the arm.
“When I ask you a question, you answer me.”
Hyunjin tugs his arm back. “Fine.”
“Then what do you say, Hyunjinnie?”
Hyunjin thinks for a moment because what the fuck was he supposed to say? “I understand.”
Minho must know that he’s not certain about what he’s talking about because he takes the chance to correct him. “You say ‘Yes, Ms. Lee’ or ‘Yes, sir or ma’am’. To any staff member in this institution. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Ms. Lee.”
Minho nods. “Good. Now go downstairs and eat something.”
Hyunjin nods, walking out of the room slowly, legs shaky now at having to face his new life alone. He doesn’t know why he's so nervous since he’s always been alone, and having Seungmin by his side was no consolation, but he’s there, standing in the hall, remembering suddenly that he has no idea where he’s going.
“What is it?”
“I don’t…know where I’m going.” Hyunjin whispers, having one than more meaning for sure, but Minho just nods and takes him by the arm. Gently this time.
“I’ll show you, come on.”
And how ironic is that: the teacher supposedly guiding his next few months here, to shape him up for his future, carefully walking with him down the staircase as he pretends to take note of where he’s going. There is one thing Hyunjin knows for sure though and it’s rhat he can ever forget where he’s come from and what has led him here .
To Lee Minho’s School for Sophisticated Omegas.
Dinner is rough.
Minho walks him in by the arm and straight up to his roommates, who are all gathered together giggling over something until they approach, immediately quieting down when they come up to the table. The dining area is big, with wooden tables and chairs, like a normal dining hall in any college Hyunjin has been to and then his heart aches, aches for his normal life back, aches to go to university once again, to be able to sit in those halls once again and eat something as small as an apple. It’s bright, with tall windows, and pretty stained glass and he feels desperately out of place as he stares down at the table.
They’re all there: Yunho, Jeongin, Hongjoong from before and even the crying omega who looks a lot less teary now and simply tired. They all look up at him politely, faces neutral, and that’s worse, because he can’t even tell what they’re thinking. But they probably hate him and that’s fine. He’s not there to make friends.
“I believe that Hyunjin has something to say to you, Yunho.” Minho starts. Yunho stands up immediately and bows slightly, eyes cast down to the floor.
“I’m sorry for pulling your hair, Hyunjin-ssi. That wasn’t appropriate of me.”
Hyunjin stares at him for a moment, unsure of what to say in response when Minho clears his throat.
“Well? Mr. Kim?”
Hyunjin freezes at that. Mr. Kim. Is he really Mr. Kim now? He can’t believe that, since no one’s called him that yet, and he stares into space for a moment, catching all of the glimpses of his roommates’ faces. Hyunjin opens his mouth, freezing up in the moment and utters a simple word.
“Hwang.”
“Pardon me?” Minho asks.
“Hwang. Is my last name.”
“I was given the last name Kim, from your alpha. You’re married, are you not?” Minho asks politely and Hyunjin can’t meet his eyes, too embarrassed to do this in front of total strangers, one of whom he beat up only a half hour ago. But, he supposes, this must be the punishment. Humiliations out in the open.
“Yes but . . . his--I didn’t take”--he did take his last name, he hadn’t had a choice, but his last name is the only thing that is still connecting him to his old life, to his identity, to someone who he had been and wanted to continue being more than anything, more than he had ever wanted love . “It’s--It’s Hwang. Hwang Hyunjin.”
“Okay then, I apologize. Mr. Hwang , what do you have to say to Yunho?”
“Sorry,” Hyunjin mumbles. Minho lifts his chin for him, but Hyunjin continues to stare down.
“That’s not an apology, Hyunjin. Let’s try that again. Think of how Yunho apologized to you. He was polite, wasn’t he?”
“Y-Yeah,”
“What was that?”
“I, mean, Yes, Miss Lee.”
“Then what do you think you should do?” Minho asks, as if he’s an incompetent child, and Hyunjin can feel his ears turning pink in rage. He copies Yunho quickly, bowing a little too quickly and trying to spit out the words as best he can, even if he doesn’t mean them.
“I’m sorry I scratched you, and hit you. It wasn’t appropriate.”
Yunho stares at him but says nothing.
“Whatever issue you two have, you can either talk it out on your own, or see a counselor about it,” Minho starts, “but no more fighting and I mean it. If I find out you two have fought again, you’ll both be in trouble. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Miss Lee,” they both echo one another, and Hyunjin is still surprised despite knowing the universal response.
“Good. Hyunjin, go eat.” Minho says now, gesturing over to the line and Hyunjin feels his stomach tense up. He doesn’t have to eat if he doesn’t want to, so he just walks away slowly, waiting a few steps to see if Minho will follow. He doesn’t, instead staying back to talk to Hongjoong, and Hyunjin finds a seat at a table alone, after a few other omegas have left, and stays there, staring down at the white of the table silently, tears finding their way into his eyes for the first time since his wedding. He tries not to wipe at his eyes, otherwise they’ll think he’s crying , and he doesn’t want to look weak. Not like that crying omega from before.
“Excuse me?” A voice interrupts his monologue of self pity and he stares up at an omega with pink hair, smiling down at him. “Is it okay if I sit with you?”
“No,” Hyunjin immediately blurts out and the omega’s smile drops. He doesn’t need any more enemies here, so he quickly just stands up, rushing to speak before the omega can say anything else. “Sorry, I just mean--you can have the table. I’m leaving.”
“But wait, did you eat”--
“Bye.”
Hyunjin rushes to leave the dining area, now knowing the way back up to the dorms, and book sit there, runs before anyone can stop him. He wants to be back in his bed, staring at the wall and ignoring the world around him. He wasn’t made for this, really. He wasn’t made to sit still and look pretty and giggle with the other omegas and cry over alphas. He wasn’t made to learn how to cook or speak politely or wash clothes or fold laundry. He isn’t that omega, and he never had wanted to be.
But he’s here now, courtesy of Kim Seungmin, he’s here now and the only thing he can do is lie in bed and cling to his last name as if it was the only last word to grace his lips before the end of his old life, the chapter of that book closing with a bang as a new one is tore open.
A new beginning at Lee Minho’s School for Sophisticated Omegas.
Hyunjin can’t stop laughing at the name.