Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“You’re a fraud!” The tone, the disgust, the attitude.

He didn’t think life would be like this, in all honesty. He expected to conform. Everyone conforms, in one way or another. The basis of being is conformity; you conform to later stand out within the realms of said conformity. Except for him. He conformed in the realms of differences, not as what was deemed normal. He was rare, he was odd, some may say he was an error. He conformed in normalcy until he presented at the little age of five. Until it took two healers to confirm he was an omega, two healers to confirm he has no scent and will never have one. Why? That’s the big unfair mystery of the universe: there’s no ‘why’.

If he had grown up in a pack, raised on the legends and myths of the moon goddess, he’d curse her and wish hell upon her. Then again, if he had been raised in a pack, his life wouldn’t be half as precious as it is now. Regardless, he would beg her to erase his soul and remake it into something normal instead of this taboo existence. How dare she disgrace him like this? Not only him, but his whole family, his entire species! That’s what alphas and omegas would say at school. Betas were kinder spirited, it didn’t mean they didn’t have a judgmental gaze to spare his way from time to time. He let that masquerade go on until he was ten and was practically forced by his parents to not submit to prejudice. He came home from school with a whole week of detention from the teacher because he tried to defend himself and it backfired.

“Darling, you don’t have to live in such pain. You don’t have to suffer like this. Grandpa, your mother and I, we’ll help you. But don’t bury yourself in their words. Don’t trust them.”

“But, dad, what good am I if I don’t have a scent? They’re right. All of them. I’m just…a mistake.”

“Honey, don’t you ever think that. You are not a mistake and you’ll never be one. You’re so precious, Jimin. Your scent doesn’t measure your worth. Your heart does.”

“Then why does everybody hate me?” He’d asked on the brink of tears.

“They don’t hate you. They hate what they don’t know, what they don’t understand. It’s unfair, it’s cruel. But it is our world. And I’ll go to hell if I let you live in their hatred. So, Jimin, I promise you we’ll find a solution.”

He knew his parents were right, he knew it then, when he was just a kid, and he knows it now, at twenty-seven. It didn’t mean it wasn’t hard to believe. For most of his teenage years, he put all his efforts into reconciling his soul to his inner omega, a wounded and lonely wolf he neglected in favor of a dream. It goes without saying that it was hard. Hard and painful. The heats were excruciating, thanks to his sad, angry and resentful omega trying to make him pay for the neglect and shame and disgust Jimin held toward it. It took over ten years to manage to have bearable heats. But heats spent alone are never really bearable are they?

Well, he wouldn’t know it any other way anyway. His life was synonymous with “alone”. The moon goddess, would she be real, didn’t stop at a lack of scent. When he was ten, a few months after his dad and grandfather had figured out a way to make his life easier, his parents left town to visit a nearby island to harvest new flowers for their respective businesses. They never made it back. The sea took them away from him. The moon goddess so many believe in and worship took them away. What did they ever do to her? What did he do to her? Why does she hate him?

So, here he is: Park Jimin, standing in front of his mirror. A twenty-seven year old omega with no scent, living in his late parents’ house—a pink house mind you—on top of a hill overviewing the entire little town of Sunseong. He’s the owner of his dad’s flower shop named The Ordinary Flower Shop, grandson of Park Hoon who’s the owner of the Park Crafts Labs, where he makes essential oils and perfumes which are sold at the flower shop and local health shops. His artificial scent is made of a concentrated grapefruit essence, honey water and jasmine essential oil. He has one friend with whom he works with, Kim Namjoon. His entire family is summed up by one important person in his life, his grandfather.

Every day, he wakes up at six in the morning, showers with soaps made by his grandfather that match his fake scent to enhance every little detail of his lie. He then rides his bike down the hill and goes to his grandfather’s house to have breakfast with him. Around seven, Hoon leaves for the lab while Jimin heads to the flower shop. Every morning without exception he’s greeted by Namjoon and a cup of coffee.

“I’m not late am I?” Jimin asked, looking at the time on his watch.

“Not today! And even if you were, it’s okay because today is spring which means I’m happy again!”

He rolls his eyes. “As if you’re ever not happy.”

“I have my moments, like everyone.”

“You’re an optimist. Your moments are always tainted by positivity.”

Jimin has never met someone as bright as Namjoon before. He used to be Hoon’s apprentice at the factory. When Jimin took over the flower shop business after graduating high school, Hoon sent Namjoon his way to work with him. Namjoon is a smart man. He was also silly, clumsy, funny and inherently kind for an alpha—though Jimin is pretty sure that was forged by his heartbreak. In fact, he may have been one of the only alphas who didn’t look down on Jimin for his…condition. He also was no fool, unlike most people in this town who don’t know him beyond the flower shop. Namjoon is a blunt person, and never beats around the bush. On his first day at the shop, he came to Jimin and very gently said, “Your scent is too superficial, you should be careful, some people aren’t very kind around here.” Normally, Jimin would have been defensive, maybe even offended, about such a comment, however Namjoon had a good heart. Instead, he found himself to be thankful to have someone like Namjoon to tell him that with such care. Later that day, along with Hoon, they worked on crafting a more natural scent. They had spent the entire night at the lab laughing, working and eating cupcakes. Namjoon became Jimin’s best friend and part of the family, and he never looked back.

“I have to admit, I love spring, Joon! It’s refreshing. It’s like we can breathe again,” Jimin said, opening the curtains of the shop, letting the sunlight in.

“See, my optimism is contagious. After all those years of moody omega energy, I'm finally getting some bright spirited moments out of you.”

“What are you talking about? I’m a happy omega. We laugh all the time. I’m like…the epitome of fun.”

“Tell that to an actual clown.” Namjoon pointed his finger at him, “No, but seriously, you seem happier these days.”

Jimin shrugged. He was so used to this lonely sorrow that he was just numb to it at this point, “It’s just spring, spring does that to people.”

Jimin wasn’t happier, sunlight and photosynthesis were just doing their thing.

They proceeded to their morning tasks: displaying flowers outside, watering the plants that need to be watered, receptioning the deliveries and preparing some orders and flower arrangements that need to be delivered to local restaurants and coffee shops before opening hours.

Jimin was picking some flowers for a flower crown order when he heard a cascade of pots breaking on the floor.

“Oh my– oh, oh. Oh dear!” Namjoon scrambled around, startled yet again by his own clumsiness.

Jimin burst out laughing, endlessly fond and entertained by Namjoon.

“Gravity…still on bad terms?”

“The day barely started!”

Jimin walked towards the mess Namjoon made. “Hey, you broke just three pots today. That’s progress!”

“I swear I’m careful! I don’t get it,” Namjoon defended with a sigh, making his way to his other best friend: the broom.

“Let’s switch, you take care of the flower crowns and I’ll deal with the deliveries okay?”

“Ugh, okay. I put your grandfather’s order on the side so you can add whatever flowers he needs before we deliver them this afternoon.”

A few years ago, Jimin took it upon himself to order flowers for his grandfather. Hoon becoming old, Jimin wanted to take some workload off of his shoulders. Not that he wasn’t capable. Hoon was as healthy as one could be. However, he was seventy-five and he was getting tired, having worked so hard all these years. So, Jimin was more than happy to make his life easier in every little way possible.

He proceeded to unpack vases of all sorts, placed the new flowers inside and displayed them nicely on the shelves. He helped Namjoon water some plants and finally turned the sign on the door to ‘open’.

It always took a little time for the clients to come in, but once they did, it didn’t stop. Jimin found himself lucky to have a successful shop with a unique selection of flowers as it allowed a majority of their customers to ignore or completely disregard his fake scent. If they didn’t ignore, they’re entitlement as a customer was more important than a fake scent—most of the time. 

Of course, there was always this one person who pointed it out, or a little pup who didn’t know better yet but to point out everything and anything they recognize, or don’t. There was also the occasional visitor, the one who didn’t live in town, or just moved. Those would usually never really dare to say anything to Jimin as they would never see him again, and if they did, they settled for a questioning look, as if to say, “I am smelling an artificial scent, aren’t I?”.

Jimin was finishing to wrap a bouquet after the usual rush of customers when a new voice caught his attention.

“Hum…Hello?” Jimin had his back turned but he could recognize a young voice, his age maybe. He could also smell the sea. It was surrounding him slowly, enveloping his every cell smoothly, warmly. If he basked into it too much, he could feel his omega slip into a haze.

Then, he turned around.

The calm sea became a hurricane in a matter of seconds as every atom in his body was engulfed and drowned in the salty bliss of the water, accompanied with a hint of roses. How odd. How sweet. How wonderful.

His heart went from a calm melody to a rush of notes tumbling over one another, in a rush to slow down again but it was out of his control.

No way. His omega did not just melt at the smell of an alpha.

“Hi,” the alpha greeted brightly. “I’m looking for…” he took out a crumpled paper out of his pocket, “Ah, the ink leaked…” The alpha promptly blushed a bright red when he met Jimin’s eyes. “I–I'm sorry. May I call my boss? I’m new at all of this,” he chuckled nervously, his hand on his forehead. He was flushed all over, even his scent held a saccharine blush to it.

Jimin didn’t try very hard to suppress his smile. “Sure, take your time.” He watched the alpha exhale shakily as he reached for his phone, which he held with two hands close to his face, as if he never used a phone before. It was cute.

“Sir, I’m so sorry but I can’t seem to remember what you asked me to buy.” He nibbled on his bottom lip while listening to what his boss was telling him on the other end, and then he handed the phone to Jimin.

Jimin looked at it curiously before taking it. “Hello, this is Park Jimin, I’m the owner of The Ordinary Flower Shop . How may I help you?”

“Jiminie! It’s grandpa!”

“Oh? You have a new assistant? I thought you were done with assistants. You said they were bothersome and useless.” Jimin spared a glance at the alpha in front of him.

“Yes. His name is Jeon Jungkook. Be nice to him, yeah?”

“Grandpa–”

“Shush. I needed some help and he was qualified enough.”

“But, grandpa, why didn’t you ask me?”

“You’re busy enough and help me plenty already. Now be nice and help the kid. Give him ten packs of frankincense and two rhipsalidopsis gaertneri cacti. Did my orders arrive?”

“They did, I was gonna drop them off later.”

“Give ‘em to him, it’ll train him better. Find another reason to see me.”

“How about cupcakes and a hug?”

“I much prefer that.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “Later, grandpa.”

“Bye, kiddo.”

Jimin gave back the phone to the alpha—Jungkook—and smiled. Somehow it wasn’t hard to smile at this alpha.

“Frankincense and rhipsalidopsis gaertneri cacti .” Jungkook’s face brightened instantly.

“That’s it. Oh I feel so stupid. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It took me years to memorize all the complicated names. There’s some I still don’t know.” Jimin walked to the other side of the shop to retrieve the plants for Jungkook, Jungkook followed him. “To make it easier for yourself, you can make up some names.” They stood in front of the cactus section, “ See, the flat cactus for example is a opuntia microdasys but I like to call it bunny ears cactus because it resembles a bunny most of the time. This one is the rhipsalidopsis gaertneri but I call it Easter cactus because it grows in the spring.”

“That’s clever. I’ll try to remember that.”

Jimin began to wrap everything next to Namjoon who was on the phone taking orders. Namjoon spared him a glance which on the surface was void but Jimin knew what it meant: Are you okay? Want me to take over?

It was no secret that Jimin was more than cautious around alphas. He knew all alphas weren’t bad, but all alphas he met with the exception of Namjoon, his parents and his grandfather, were all despicable.

Though he would never admit it, Jimin kind of, possibly, most certainly hates alphas. Simply because they are the root of all the hatred he’s had to face and all the hatred he has towards his omega. Jungkook, however…Jungkook seems different. For one, he looks kind. He also seems shy which was a rare feature for an alpha, usually sickeningly cocky and whatnot. Lastly, he didn’t act weird around Jimin, there was no sign of discomfort or disgust. Jimin was just a florist who happened to be an omega. It didn’t go beyond that, at least on the surface.

Jimin just smiled discreetly at Namjoon with a slight nod. Everything’s okay. Thanks. Now mind your business.

“Your shop is really nice,” Jungkook said.

“Thank you. It belonged to my parents, and then I took over when I was eighteen with Namjoon.”

“Woah.” Jungkook seemed genuinely impressed. “Some of these flowers are rare aren’t they?”

“Indeed. My parents had an affinity for rare flowers, the beautiful ones nobody knows about, I just kept the tradition going. As for the plants, Namjoon-ssi right here takes care of our selection.”

Jimin could feel Jungkook’s eyes on him while he finished wrapping everything. He spared him a glance from time to time. He was tall, but not intimidatingly so. His entire being seemed soft, not aggressive in any way. He was obviously shy, and gentle. Beautiful too. His dark hair had an auburn shade in the sun, his eyes were brown. Wide and warm. When Jungkook smiled at Jimin, catching him staring, the first thing that came to mind was a bunny. Jungkook resembled a bunny. It made his omega want to explore him.

“I’ve never seen you before. Are you visiting or…?”

“Oh, I moved here a few months ago. Your grandfather kindly offered me a job which I wasn't really in a position to refuse so…here I am!”

“Where are you from?”

Jungkook dropped his gaze, fiddling with the ring on his pointer finger. “Lunar Mountain.”

The name sent shivers down Jimin’s spine. “Oh. My grandfather is from there. He left when my father was young though.”

“Right. He mentioned that.”

“Are you here alone?”

Jungkook kept his eyes on his hand. “Yes. It’s just me.” The sea became salty, roses became wilted seaweed.

“Right…well, welcome to our little town,” Jimin said cheerfully, disliking everything about this putrid scent. It quickly brightened, thankfully.

“I have to say, it’s quite lovely here. There’s this pink house on top of the hill. I wonder who lives there. The window of my bedroom faces that hill so during the sunrise I always watch how the light reflects on it. It’s like a lighthouse in the dawn. Like the skies are exploding in shades of pink and orange. It’s beautiful. I’d love to meet whoever designed it.”

“That would be my house actually. And my parents built it and designed everything.” Jimin smiled, pleased.

“Oh, I just made it weird didn’t I? I swear I’m not spying or anything, just admiring. I’m…huh…I draw!” Jungkook exclaimed, visibly relieved to have an alibi. “I draw and I wanted to draw your house. I just love how it stands out in the sun. I’m not creepy or anything. I just…draw. I’m a drawing person…artist. Yeah.”

“Sorry,” Jimin started clearing his throat, unusually entertained by the flustered alpha standing in front of him, “I didn’t quite catch that. You draw?”

Jungkook laughed then, aware of being teased. “Just a little bit and only the beautiful things I want to remember.”

Jimin didn’t know why those words made him blush. Two can play this game, noted.

Why are his cheeks all warm? Why is his heart rate speeding up? Why is his omega restless yet calm? Is his heat approaching? No, it just ended last week. In those moments, he was beyond thankful to not have a scent to betray his inner turmoils.

“Here you go.” Jimin handed Jungkook a cardboard box filled with the plants and frankincense as well as his grandfather’s flowers. He also made sure to not look into his eyes for too long, at the risk of losing his composure, which is already about to snap. “Are you gonna be alright to carry that? It’s a little heavy.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” Jungkook took the box in his arms and almost stumbled on his way out. “All good. I’m good. Thank you, see you around, Park Jimin.”

“Just Jimin is fine.”

Jungkook nodded with a small smile, “Jimin.”

“Goodbye, Jungkook.”

Before stepping out the door, Jungkook turned toward him and smiled brightly, in a way nobody had ever smiled at him before. A smile that held kindness and respect. It undid him completely. What happened? He wanted Jungkook to come back and be kind to him again. Again and again and again. He wanted to hear him laugh. He wanted to talk about flowers to him to see if it would bore him or interest him. If it was the latter, he wants to get to know Jungkook. What he likes and dislikes, he wants to know about his memories, his dreams. Frankly, he just wants to hear his voice again. Just like that. It took one hello, some clumsiness and a whole lot of charming timidity for Jimin’s omega—Jimin himself, really—to be all flustered by an alpha. And what a silly, cute alpha that is…

Shaking his head, Jimin went to the back of the store to escape Namjoon’s incoming questioning.

“Oh no!” he gasped. “Joon?”

Namjoon rushed through the doorway. “What? What?”

“I forgot to give the box of essential oil bottles. Grandpa needs them today.”

Namjoon smiles, or smirks. So much for escaping the questions. “Distracted, were we?” He leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms.

“No,” Jimin said firmly.

“Now, now. Lying is not good, Jimin.”

“Will you stop?” Jimin tried hard to not laugh at the absurdity of this nonsense.

“You totally crushed on him. Just now. I saw it happen.”

“Wrong. I didn’t. You didn’t see anything happen because nothing happened.”

“Oh you didn’t. So your omega did?” Namjoon wiggles his eyebrows very proudly.

Jimin scoffs nervously, blushes uncontrollably and wants the ground to swallow him whole. “Isn’t there a customer to take care of?” he scowls at Namjoon playfully.

“You called me back here.”

Distracted indeed. “Right. Hum…I’ll deliver these, yeah?”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“Why now?”

“My grandpa needs them.”

Namjoon holds his gaze, while Jimin just wants to leave because his omega is whiny and it’s not pleasant. If it would just stop being so moody all of the sudden, he’d appreciate it. The solution is to see Jungkook again. He just didn’t say goodbye properly. That’s all. It’s just human decency, nothing else.

“Out of my way. I’ll be back in half an hour, you’ll be okay on your own?”

“Half an hour to deliver a box at the lab that is literally one street away?”

“Yes.”

“You’re smitten. I’ve never seen you smitten for anyone before. This is new. This is exciting.”

“I’m ignoring you from now on! Later!”

“This conversation is not over!” Namjoon shouted as Jimin left through the back door.

Jimin and smitten are not made to be in one sentence. Not now or ever. Not over some stranger he barely talked to. Just no.

And yet here he is, walking fast, with determination, toward the lab with a box in hand because he wanted to say goodbye again or just catch a glimpse. That doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t.

“Hello?” he called upon entering the main labs.

“Jimin?” Hoon appeared on the other end of the room, a tray of aloe in hand.

“Grandpa. I forgot to give these to Jungkook earlier.”

“You didn’t have to bring them, Jimin, you know I have two boxes left. It could have waited until tomorrow.”

“I know. But I didn’t mind. Besides, I need space with all the new arrivals.”

“Well, now that you’re here, come with me to the filtering room. Jungkook just came back and I want to keep an eye on him. Tell me about your day.”

“Same as usual.”

“Everything okay?”

“ Yes, grandpa,” Jimin sighed in mildly fond annoyance. “I’m an adult now. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

“You’re twenty-seven years old, Jimin, not sixty. Besides, you’ll always be a kid to me.”

Jimin shook his head with a smile, choosing to ignore his grandfather. Hoon was always protective like this, ever since Jimin was a small child. Jimin didn’t mind, he found it comforting to know that his grandfather didn’t have the same corrupt vision of him as the rest of the inhabitants here, and he never would.

“Jungkook!” Hoon called, and Jungkook appeared next to them within seconds. “You’re going to transfer the essential oil extracts into these little bottles.” He took out some tiny glass containers out of one of the boxes Jimin brought. “Label them and put them on a tray. We’ll filter them tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.”

Jimin observed how Jungkook got to work. He was slightly clumsy in his movements, but confident nonetheless. Jimin could tell he wanted to learn. He was eager to know all about the job, the process of creating such products.

Jungkook had a book in front of him. Jimin figured it was about all the plants and flowers possibly known to mankind. Every time Jungkook took a new essential oil extract, he read the corresponding paragraph. He then took a closer look at the liquid, took some notes and proceeded to transfer the product, label it and then place it on a designated tray.

“Is he a good worker?” Jimin asked his grandpa.

“He’s learning fast. I have faith in him.”

“Mmh. You’re not one to be so patient usually with your assistants. The last one could barely tell the difference between all the aloes and you didn’t think twice before firing him. What sparked such leniency?”

“You make me seem like a tyrant of a boss.”

“Well…”

“Jimin!”

Jimin burst out laughing, enjoying the little jokes with his grandfather, who enjoyed them just the same.

“Did you find him or did he come to you?”

“He came to me,” Hoon said. Jimin sensed something was different about Jungkook. ”He’s very kind. I think you guys could be very good friends.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. Hoon would always say such things every time a stranger addressed him. “You only say that because he’s the only one that could be my friend here since he doesn’t know about me. And that won’t last.”

“I’m saying it because I mean it.”

“I’ll bring your muffins tonight,” Jimin changed the subject.

“The cinnamon and nutmeg ones with the apple extract I made?”

“Yeah. I tried a new recipe so you’ll have to let me know what you think. I was thinking it could be a good idea for the little cafe corner I want to set up in the store. We could sell some pastries and drinks.”

“I bet Namjoon is already working on all the details.”

“Of course. I barely had time to pitch the idea and he was already making plans for the few renovations it would require.”

Hoon chuckled, always fond of Namjoon’s outgoing personality. “Keep an eye on him, I’ll go check on the soaps. They should be ready any second now.”

“Sure.”

Jimin looked at Jungkook from afar. He seemed confused. Jimin approached him and peaked at his work from behind him.

He knew essential oils by heart. First, the smell was so strong it was almost impossible to mistake them. Especially when they’re in concentrated extracts like that. Second, the color varied for each flower or plant it was extracted from. It was subtle but visible nonetheless. Pair the two together and it was the easiest thing in the world.

“That’s not peach blossoms,” Jimin told him in a hushed voice.

“Oh.” Jungkook looked even more confused. He took the label off and tried to figure out what it was but he was just looking at it.

Jimin thought he was cute. Weird and cute.

“You know, if you smell it, you’ll find it easier.” Jimin chuckled cutely which made Jungkook blush.

“Right.” Jungkook took a sniff of the content in his hands. “Ah of course, that’s…the uhm…”

“Eucalyptus.”

“Yes, that’s it, exactly. Eucalyptus.”

Jimin noticed Jungkook’s scent was slightly clouded with a soft bitter undertone.

“Don’t worry, you’re doing great,” Jimin encouraged. “Some scents are similar so it’s sometimes hard to distinguish them. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. You’ll notice eucalyptus is softer than mint, and peach is sultrier than apricot, and eucalyptus is more elegant than peach.”

Jungkook’s scent softened again and Jimin couldn’t help but feel happy about the little effect his words had.

“Sultrier?” Jungkook asked, turning his head to the side to meet his eyes. Jimin shrugged cheekily.

“Okay, Jimin, you should stop distracting him now.” His grandfather interrupted as he entered the lab again.

“I’ll see you around I guess,” Jimin told Jungkook.

“Oh yeah. I think you’ll see me at your shop often.”

“Good. Good luck with those! Don’t forget to smell, it’ll save you plenty of time.”

“Right. I’ll make sure to do so.”

“Bye, Jungkook,” Jimin waved goodbye.

“Goodbye, Jimin.”

Jimin walked back to the store with a sea scented mind which lingered the entire evening, until he went to bed. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what he liked so much about it. It was just so…just so. It left him speechless. It made him purr inexplicably.

He never purred before.

—

What is it like to wake up genuinely excited for the day ahead? Jimin would have a long, detailed answer to that question as he has crafted said experience since he was ten years old. No matter what went on in the world, in his life, Jimin has woken up with a smile on his face for the past seventeen years.

So to actually feel that smile, in his heart, it was rather destabilizing.

Why the shift? To that, Jimin had no other answer than the fact that spring had settled, the sun was shining, the light wind was fresh but not cold and the scents of blooming flowers were engulfing the air in a soft cushion of a new season.

Jimin didn’t dwell on it too much. He got ready for the day, sprayed heaps of citrus essence and honey water and jasmine essential oil. Did he overdo it? Maybe. He wouldn’t know really, but today he couldn’t care. He felt too giddy.

His omega was too restless as well, his heart hammering in his rib cage, too eager to ride his bike down the hill, passing by his grandfather’s house to say hello, then to the flower shop.

Not a single second was wasted. Jimin ran out of his house as soon as he was dressed. He didn’t care about his hair that was still wet from the shower or the fact he was biking with a slice of bread in his mouth, not wanting to waste this beautiful day by sitting at his dining table to have a proper breakfast.

Riding his bike on a sunny morning may be Jimin’s favorite activity. It was so freeing. Nothing was quite as nice as this to him. For that small moment, every morning, he could just exist and enjoy said existence without prejudice of any kind from anyone, including himself.

It didn’t take too long for him to arrive at his grandfather’s house. However, it took a few knocks before the door opened.

“You’re here earlier than usual, kiddo.”

“Morning, grandpa!” Jimin exclaimed as he let himself in with a big smile on his face.

“Someone’s in a good mood.”

“It’s a beautiful day, what’s not to be in a good mood about?”

Hoon chuckled. “You’re right. Coffee?”

“Yes please.” Jimin sat down at the table, finishing his slice of bread.

“Pass me the apple crumble from the fridge would you?”

Jimin did without a word, proceeding to heat it up and serve it for both of them.

“What are your plans today?” Jimin asked once they were both seated at the table with their coffee and apple crumble.

“Today we filter all the extracts. I have to check everything is properly labeled first, so that’ll take some time.”

“Jungkook did that the other day, didn't he? You don’t trust he did a good job?” An amused smirk appeared on Jimin’s lips, always happy to know he was right about something.

“He’s new, I’d do that for any new assistant of mine.”

Jimin knew it wasn’t true because Hoon was a perfectionist and if something wasn’t done right the first time, he didn’t beat around the bush. Some considered it rude, Jimin always admired his grandfather’s determined personality.

So, this indulgence toward Jungkook was new and odd.

“You know he made some mistakes already, right?” Jimin asked carefully, hoping it wouldn't get Jungkook in trouble.

“You noticed? He’s rather silly for an alpha isn’t he?”

That’s an understatement.

“It doesn’t bother you.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact. Hoon's cotton scent was as neutral as it could be.

“Why would it?” Hoon looked up from his now empty plate, meeting Jimin’s eyes filled with incredulity.

“Grandpa. Are you bewitched?”

“Oh, Jimin,” Hoon laughed. “Jungkook is a good kid, he deserves a chance.”

Jimin looked at Hoon in the eyes, searching for a hint of why Jungkook was so special.

“What did he tell you when he came to you?”

Hoon sighed, getting up. “Jimin…some of us aren’t as lucky as we are. Jungkook wasn’t lucky. I’m just helping a kind young alpha who needed someone to hold his hand for a little while. I’m just helping him get back on his feet.”

And that Jimin could recognize. Hoon may be the kindest person in this entire world, according to Jimin.

“I’m happy he found you then. If anyone would understand what it’s like to lose their footing in life, it’s you.”

Hoon didn’t have an easy life. Jimin didn’t know a lot aside from the main events of his life like the fact he grew up in a pack, the fact his wife was killed because she went feral, the fact he escaped said pack with his son and never looked back. Jimin never pried beyond what Hoon was willing to share, respecting the boundary of such a devastating experience.

Jimin didn’t grow up in a pack, neither did his mother. What he knows, he knows from stories he hears in the store or the bits and pieces his parents and grandfather told him over the years.

Packs were cruel before the majority of them were dismantled. A few remained but they could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Packs were synonyms of a cruel loyalty, a loyalty bound in a collective understanding that nothing and no one should come first other than the pack as a whole. Individuality has no place, no right and no freedom.

Jimin didn’t know if that was entirely true, however, he was glad he didn’t have to find out for himself, grateful to have grown up in this town, no matter how hard it had been at times.

Jungkook was not as lucky.

Jungkook grew up in a pack.

If he put two and two together…he didn’t even want to think about it.

That thought alone sent shivers down Jimin’s spine. A chilling dread he couldn’t handle as he pictured the cute, wide-eyed alpha he met just a few days ago.

“I know alphas haven’t been kind to you, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But I speak with all the honesty in me when I say that Jungkook is worth taking a chance on. He’s shy, he has a big heart and he went through too much for someone so young. Being indulgent with him is the least anyone can do.”

“Message received.” Jimin’s features softened. “I’ll gladly be his friend. He’s honestly really sweet, I can’t deny that nor can I resist.”

Hoon chuckled but didn’t comment on Jimin’s fondness for Jungkook.

Soon enough, Jimin and Hoon were riding their bikes to their respective workplaces. As usual, Namjoon was waiting in front of the closed flower shop for Jimin with a coffee in hand.

“Good morning.” Namjoon smiled, dimples and all.

“Are you as happy as I am about today?” Jimin took the coffee, way too excited already and it wasn’t even nine in the morning.

“No. I’m exhausted. But your excitement is more than enough for the both of us,” Namjoon laughed.

They opened the store without much of a rush. Namjoon tended to the plants that needed tending, Jimin prepared some deliveries, some bouquets to display outside. They received the new flowers they ordered from the surrounding local farms. There were three farms around their town. One of them specialized in rare flowers. Jimin didn’t quite know how they managed to have the most beautiful vibrant flowers all year round but he sure was happy about it.

This week, they had plenty of lilies of all kinds, lotus and hibiscus. Along with them, there were tulips which were coming in bulks as it was their season to bloom, plenty of gardenias, peonies, freesia, and daffodils, as well as the roses which were present all year.

Jimin placed the different buckets filled with different bouquets and flowers outside and stood there for a second to look at the cherry blossom trees. Some petals were flying in the air. It was not too long ago that those petals were snowflakes. He still remembered standing in that exact same spot, in front of the shop display which was empty at the time, and looking at the snowflakes. Petals feel so much softer, so much more comfortable. They’re an inhale of oxygen after breathing too much dioxide. A breath of fresh air, literally.

Jimin watched the town wake up little by little as he was waiting to turn the sign from ‘closed’ to ‘open’.

There was a kid walking a dog with their mother. There were multiple people going to work. Some others are having a morning stroll. Jungkook was running towards Hoon’s laboratory.

Wait, Jungkook?

“Jungkook!” Jimin called, running to him.

Oh. Why did he do that?

Jungkook stopped abruptly as he looked in Jimin's direction, then he was running towards him. Which also caused him to trip and almost fall head first on the pavement.

“Oh!” Jimin gasped, “careful.”

“Hi, Jimin. You surprised me.”

“Sorry.” Jungkook smiled at him sheepishly. It’s cute. Jungkook’s cute. Yeah, he’s never getting over it. “Hi,” Jimin said.

Now, Jungkook giggled. He giggled and Jimin’s omega was a puddle. “Hi,” he replied. 

“That’s all I wanted to say, really.” Jimin could feel his cheeks turn red. Well, that’s embarrassing.

“Well, I’m glad you did. I am, however, running late so I'm afraid I have to put our exchange of hellos on hold.”

“Oh, yeah, sure. Sorry. I– yeah. Totally.”

Jungkook properly laughed at Jimin’s misery. “I’ll probably stop by your shop some time during the day.”

“Good.”

“Indeed.” That smile…Jimin has never seen such a gentle smile. “I should go now.”

“Yes.”

“Later, Jimin-ssi.”

Jimin waved and watched Jungkook walk away along with his lovely scent. This morning, it was like roses dipped in sea water. Frankly, Jimin couldn’t function around this scent.

The morning went on happily. Namjoon broke a total of two pots, a new record which Jimin made sure to celebrate along with some regular clients that enjoyed Namjoon’s clumsiness and Jimin’s humor.

It’s not until late in the afternoon that Jimin got to see Jungkook again. This time he had a little paper in his hands of what Jimin assumed were the things he needed to get.

Jimin smiled the brightest he had all day when Jungkook approached the counter, with a smile just as bright.

“Hi!”

“Hi again!” Jungkook greeted sweetly, his scent capturing the attention of Jimin’s omega.

“How may I help you?” Jimin asked very professionally with a teasing smile.

Jungkook handed him the paper. Jimin could recognize his grandfather’s handwriting.

5 aloe vera. If you have a little time, please help him differentiate aloe from the cactus. I trust you to be patient.

Jimin shook his head at the paper. Does his grandfather not know him at all? Jimin is the most patient person ever. Besides, being patient for Jungkook seemed like the easiest thing to do in this world.

“Come with me.” Jimin held the curtain open for Jungkook to walk through. Namjoon was in the back handling some paperwork. “Joonie, can you take the counter for a little while?”

“Sure.” Namjoon looked between Jimin and Jungkook. “Jungkook, was it?”

“Yes, Jeon Jungkook. I work with Mr. Park.”

“Right. Last time you came here, I didn’t get to introduce myself. I was looking forward to seeing you again.” Jimin could tell Namjoon’s mind was replaying the night they spent in Namjoon’s living room with a few bottles of soju and some unfortunate rambling on Jimin’s part.

“Joonie. I never thought an alpha was handsome, cute or kind. Ever. I’ve fallen weak to the power of an alpha. Save me!” He had dramatically complained.

“Park Jimin losing all sense of sanity because an alpha was kind to him. I didn’t know you to be so desperately easy to lure.” Namjoon had teased back.

“Desperate? I’m not desperate. Or easy. My omega is weird and traumatized. And Jungkook is too kind. And cute. Have you ever seen a cute alpha? Cute, Namjoon! Cute!” He was appalled.

Jimin cleared his throat loudly, hoping Namjoon would not allude to anything. That didn’t stop him from wiggling his eyebrows at Jimin who in turn squinted his eyes at him. He quickly rushed Namjoon away.

He grabbed an aloe vera and a cactus and put them both on the table. He grabbed a stool for Jungkook and they sat facing each other, the plants between them.

“Do you know what this is for?” Jimin asked.

“For the healing balms, for minor injuries.”

“Right. So I’ll tell you the basics. As you know, their scents are very similar—”

“Could you tell me about that?” Jungkook asked without looking at Jimin, a slight blush to his cheeks. “Please,” he added quietly.

“Of course,” Jimin responded lively. “Here.” Jimin cut a piece of the aloe and a piece of the cactus and gave them to Jungkook. “What does aloe smell like to you?”

Jungkook looked at the aloe, the same way he had looked at the extracts in the laboratory, searching for an answer. He then shook his head and leaned down toward the piece of the plant in his hand, took a whiff and leaned back. His face stayed emotionless.

“It smells…hum…it smells…soft?”

“Soft. Yes. That’s one way to put it.” Jimin smiled gently, wanting to encourage Jungkook to believe his judgment which seemed good. “What about the cactus?”

Jimin watched Jungkook repeat the process of staring, smelling and staring, looking for an answer elsewhere than in the scent.

“It’s…it’s more…like citrus? Or maybe mint?”

“Citrus or mint?” Jimin took the piece of the cactus and smelled it. It smelled nothing like citrus. If anything, it smells like a weird mix of cucumber and grass. But not citrus, nor mint. Which, by the way, those two scents are also very different.

Jimin suddenly smelled an unpleasant sea scent, something resembling wet seaweeds and wilted roses. One look at Jungkook and he saw the dejection on his face. Dejection, fear, disappointment.

His instincts told him to do one thing. The one thing omegas do when they want to comfort someone they care about. Jimin, oddly enough, finds himself to care about Jungkook. He cares that his scent stays bright and fresh rather than this unpleasant shade. He cares that Jungkook feels comfortable and encouraged in his job. He cares that Jungkook smiles the way he does, bunny smile and sparkly doe eyes. He cares because—he decided, right now— he is his friend and Jimin would do anything for the ones close to him.

So, he lets his instincts act and releases calming pheromones. The thing is, his condition forbids him to comfort the way omegas usually would. Because scentless pheromones are just…air.

As Jimin keeps his eyes on Jungkook, he has no choice but to feel angry with himself because the dejection, the fear and the disappointment remain. No matter how hard Jimin tries, his pheromones do nothing, to no one.

In those moments, Jimin asks himself the same question he was asked at ten years old: how can you live with yourself if your omega can’t even comfort? Jimin’s conclusion is always the same. A worthless omega who doesn’t like who he is.

All of the sudden, Jimin found himself flooded in the most relaxing sea, the sound of gentle waves crashing around him, a soft rose scent in the wind. He exhaled his worries away all at once.

An alpha’s pheromones. A lot of it…

He looked up at Jungkook and found him to be already staring gently, his wide doe eyes filled with nothing but sweet concern, the kind nobody ever showed to Jimin. He found himself unable to say anything but to bask in this pleasing atmosphere Jungkook created for him , to comfort him.

Jimin cleared his throat, prompting Jungkook to finally blink and sit up straight, the pheromones subsiding in the air.

“Could you tell me about their scents, please?” Jungkook asked gently, a small smile appearing on his lips.

“Cactus is actually more of an earthy smell. Like cucumber, celery, grass, bamboo. Those kinds of things.” Jimin spoke softly. “In that sense, it’s a little more aggressive than the aloe. That’s why, when using cactus extract, it’s important to mix it with something sweet, like a flower or coconut oil. It’ll make it more pleasant.”

Jungkook nodded, back to never taking his eyes off the pieces of each plant in Jimin’s hands

“What about their healing properties?”

“The cactus is good for the immune system. It’s also used as an anti-inflammatory. It’s good to use in winter. A lot of wolves hunt in the winter, and cactus helps to stay healthy and also stay warm.”

“And the aloe?”

“The aloe vera is very effective in treating superficial wounds. It’s also an antiseptic. It’s what’s most commonly used I think. As you smelled, the scent is quite soft and relaxing. So, when it’s applied on wounds, it doesn’t hurt. It’s very soothing.”

“Have you…have you ever had to use it? To heal, I mean,” Jungkook asked, finally meeting Jimin’s eyes.

“Yes, actually. I was cutting flower stems at this very same table. At the time, my father was the owner. I was ten years old. I was using a big knife, my dad taught me how to use one as soon as I showed interest in flowers. Unfortunately, I got distracted by something and cut the top of my hand.” Jimin lifted his hand to show Jungkook the scar stretching from the knuckle of his pinky finger to the knuckle of his thumb.

Suddenly, Jungkook took his hand and pulled it closer to him to examine it.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?” he asked.

“It doesn’t. The aloe took the pain away fairly quickly.”

“Good.” Jungkook grazed his thumb on the scar, completely unaware of the way it made Jimin feel so warm .

They stayed like this for a moment. Jimin stared at Jungkook who’s staring at his hand with so much protection.

Protection was foreign to Jimin. He made his own, he was never given it outside of his household. So this, paired with the lovely scent surrounding him, was more than simple satisfaction or comfort. Jimin couldn’t name it. He could only feel it.

That feeling was quickly interrupted by the phone ringing, startling both of them, causing Jimin to pull his hand away from Jungkook’s hold.

“Excuse me.” Jimin went to pick up the phone as Namjoon was busy with a client. “The Ordinary Flower shop, this is Park Jimin. How may I help you?”

While Jimin took the order the customer called for, he watched Jungkook from a little distance. He was sniffing the aloe, turning it around in his hand, touching, spreading the gel inside of the plant on his hand.

There was no denying that Jungkook was beautiful. But Jimin believed it was no regular beauty. No. Jungkook’s beauty was the odd kind. Odd in the sense that his features were soft, gentle, but his alpha nature seeped through them, giving his aura a certain grandiosity. He was ethereal, in all senses.

And Jimin was helpless to it. He didn’t like alphas, they wronged him more than once, for years. Yet, if Jungkook is the one alpha he can’t help but falter for, Jimin—or his omega—was rather eager to get on his knees for him.

So, friends are what they shall be.

“Hey, Jungkook?” Jimin was back by Jungkook’s side. “I get off work at seven, what time do you finish at the lab?”

“Eight I think.”

“Would you like to go out for a drink with Namjoon and I? We could show you around town, have a nice time.”

“I’d love that.”

“Yeah? Cool. I’ll pick you up at the lab then.”

“Okay. Thank you.” Jungkook nibbled on his lower lip again. “I think I should go. There’s quite a bit of work waiting for me still.”

“Did you walk here?”

“I took my bike.”

“If you want, I can drive you with our truck. It’ll be easier, especially with the orders. It’s quite heavy.”

“Oh yeah. I’d like that.”

“Great. Let’s go.”

Jimin let Jungkook go ahead with the box to the truck in front of the store.

“Joon, I’m quickly going to the lab, I’ll be back in about ten minutes.”

“No problem. It’s pretty calm here. You good?”

“Of course. Why?”

Namjoon raised his eyebrows at him. “For a few minutes, the whole entire shop reeked of alpha pheromones. I had to keep the door open to let the sea water scent leave.”

“Oh. Was it that strong?” Jimin hushed. Namjoon nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m good though, don’t worry.”

“Yeah?”

Jimin rolled his eyes and smiled widely, as per usual. “I’m good. Later!”

He quickly made his way to the front of the truck after putting Jungkook’s bike in the back.

“So, Jungkook, tell me a little about you,” Jimin said as he started driving.

“Mmmh, I’m not a very interesting person, Jimin.”

“I find you interesting.”

Jungkook chuckled, a sweet smile appearing on his lips. Jimin couldn’t help but see sunshine when he looked at him. “What do you want to know?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with me knowing.”

Jungkook hummed and looked out the window for a while. His scent was soft. Peaceful. It made Jimin’s omega feel so calm, and…happy. “Well, as I mentioned to you once, I draw. I hope you take no offense, but working at the laboratory with Mr. Park, though it’s actually quite interesting and I’m beyond grateful for his help, it’s not one of my ambitions.”

Jimin chuckled at that. “It wasn’t one of mine either, so I totally understand.”

“I’d like to open a sort of art school. But I’d make it more interesting than just a lesson, you know?”

“How would you achieve that?”

“I want it to be fulfilling so I thought the art made in class could be hung and sold. So it would be partly an art school, partly an art gallery. Every student would be an artist. I also want to explore different kinds of art and materials. Like paint, drawing, sculpture and pottery for example. So everyone could find something to their taste. I’d have to master all those techniques first. I’m already familiar with drawing and painting, and did a bit of pottery in my pack.”

“I love that idea a lot. That’s a lot of work though.”

“It is. Thankfully hard work doesn’t scare me.”

“I like that,” Jimin confessed before he could stop himself. He blushed and let it slide, knowing now that Jungkook wasn’t the type to make him uncomfortable just for the sake of it. “Do you have any hobbies, aside from art?”

“Unfortunately, not really. I like photography, but that’s still art. I’m quite boring in that sense.”

“Would you show me any of your art one day?” Jimin asked, sparing a quick glance at Jungkook as he stopped at a red light.

“Maybe.” Jungkook smirked.

Gosh, he is so pretty…Jimin could really stare at Jungkook all day and inhale his scent until there’s nothing but the sea in his system. Get lost in his eyes and fall asleep in his smile. Jungkook's entire being and presence was so comforting to him.

“Jimin?”

“Hm?”

“The light is green.” Jungkook nodded towards the traffic lights.

“Oh.”

“Tell me about you, Jimin.”

“Me? Let’s see…I have a pink house on top of a hill, my grandfather is my only family, Namjoon is the only friend I have. I like baking and I like flowers. That’s all there is to me really.” Jimin laughed it off.

“I don’t mean to pry, Jimin, but…where are your parents?”

“Oh. They passed away when I was eleven.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Jungkook then gasped, “I said I wanted to meet them someday the other day. Oh, I’m so sorry.” Jungkook buried his head in his hands.

“No. Don’t worry, Jungkook. It’s okay. Really, you didn’t know.” Jimin would never admit it but sometimes he’d pretend his parents were still around, he was just waiting for them to come home. Having Jungkook say he’d love to meet them made Jimin feel his parents’ presence again, in some weird way. It’s like they were waiting for him at home, waiting for him to tell them about his day at work, about his friends, about his wishes and complaints. He’s not delusional, he knows this will never happen. He likes to entertain the illusion once in a while. It heals his heart. “I suppose if you’re here alone, you didn’t have anyone to stay back for?”

“I used to–” Jungkook took a deep breath then. “I come from the pack of the Lunar Mountain.”

“I remember. My grandfather is from there.”

“Right. Well, then you know packs aren’t…kind.” Jungkook paused and took another deep breath. Jimin had half a mind to try to release pheromones again but he stopped himself. It was useless. “The pack leaders killed my family.”

Jimin’s heart dropped. “D-Did they spare you?”

“No. Not really. I–" Jungkook stopped talking abruptly, as if to not reveal a secret. After a beat, he carried on. “They wanted to use me but I refused so they made me a prisoner. A slave. I didn’t want to cooperate with them, so for months I elaborated a plan to escape. I failed twice. The third time brought me here.”

Jimin parked the truck in the laboratory’s parking lot. Not sure how to respond to the horror Jungkook went through, Jimin grabbed Jungkook’s hand and held it for a moment, hoping it conveyed as much comfort as he wished, as pheromones would have.

“You’re safe now.”

“I am.”

“What you went through, Jungkook…that’s…I have no words. It’s just horrible.”

“I’m healing slowly, learning to make my peace with everything and building a life of my own here. I’m quite happy, considering everything.”

“That’s good. I know we only talked a handful of times, but I can tell you deserve nothing but happiness. I hope you find it here.”

“I think I’ll find it here. I already found glimpses of it.” Jungkook smiled and looked him straight in the eyes as he said this. “Should we go in? I don’t want to keep your grandfather waiting.”

“Oh, yes, yes. Let’s go.”

Jimin carried the box full of flowers and aloe while Jungkook went to put his bike in its designated place.

“Grandpa!”

“Jimin? What are you doing here?”

“I drove Jungkook back, I thought it’d be easier since this is quite heavy.” He put the box down.

“Ah, you’re a good kid.”

“How’s it going?”

“Good. All the essential oils are ready to go.”

“You’ll be done by eight?”

Hoon squinted his eyes, knowing Jimin a little too well. “Why?”

“Jungkook, Namjoon and I have plans.”

“Ah. Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Hoon chuckled. “Very well, I’ll let him go early. We’re mostly done anyway. He worked hard today.”

“Hard work doesn’t scare him.” Jimin repeated the words Jungkook told him earlier. He admired him so much for everything.

“Sure doesn’t.”

“Did he tell you about his plans?”

“He didn’t,” Hoon said, quite pleased, surprisingly.

“He’s an artist, grandpa.”

“That doesn’t surprise me one bit.”

“No?”

Hoon shook his head. “His mother was an artist.”

“Oh.” Jungkook’s ambitions seemed all the more lovely as they were linked with his mother. And Jimin couldn’t help the speed at which he grew fond of him… “I gotta go, I left Namjoon alone. Don’t work too much, grandpa,” Jimin said, leaving an affectionate kiss on Hoon’s cheek, a habit he picked up when his parents died. A sort of reassurance he wasn’t going to leave him too. He didn’t get to kiss or hug his parents before they passed away. He swore he wouldn’t live to go through such regret ever again.

“Don’t you worry about me, kiddo.” Hoon ruffled his hair.

Jimin was walking towards the door when he crossed paths with Jungkook who was coming in.

“Leaving already?” Jungkook asked.

“Yeah, I can’t leave Namjoon alone for too long. I’ll see you tonight, yeah?”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Me too.” Jimin smiled helplessly, once again getting lost in those beautiful brown eyes until Hoon cleared his throat in an obnoxiously loud manner, prompting Jungkook to go back to work and Jimin to scramble away, the both of them blushing vibrantly.

Turns out, looking forward to something isn’t fun. The afternoon dragged on, lasting too long, with little to no customers.

Jimin was leaning on the counter, bored out of his mind, waiting for the clock to reach seven o’clock so he could go home, take a quick shower, wait for eight and get on with the fun evening ahead of them.

“Staring at it won’t make it go faster.”

“Namjoon,” he deadpanned dramatically.

“Jimin,” Namjoon mirrored.

“Entertain me. I beg you.”

“Come on, surely it’s not that much of a torture. There’s only two hours left before we’re off.”

Jimin sighed loudly, slumping on the counter.

“Where do we meet tonight by the way?” Namjoon asked.

“The usual bar. Then I thought we could walk around town to show Jungkook the main spots. So the square with the gazebo, the little orchard by the old lady’s coffee shop. There we could grab a slice of cake to share and then it’s the highlight! Drumroll please.” Namjoon mimicked a drumroll on the counter. “Karaoke!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“But, Jimin—”

“It’ll be fun, I promise.”

Namjoon groaned, now the one slumped on the counter. “Fine. You’re lucky you’re my friend.”

“I’m your what?”

“ Best friend.”

“That’s more like it.”

Jimin glanced at the clock again. Only five minutes passed.

In fact, it took so long that Jimin was starting to fall asleep on the counter while Namjoon was starting to clean up.

Images of the sea flooded his mind. He still remembered the times when he went to the beach with his parents each summer. They’d walk there, sit down and listen to the waves. Sometimes, they’d shift and race each other.

Only now, the sea had a new meaning to Jimin. It had dark hair, dimples, doe eyes holding stars in them and a bunny smile that made his omega swoon. Why did it swoon? Jimin couldn’t tell. Was it reciprocated? Again, Jimin couldn’t tell.

All he knew is that he was growing fond of Jungkook. Maybe too fond. So fond that his heart ached when he heard his story. So fond that he couldn’t help but blush at a mere look. So fond he couldn’t look away from him.

That never happened before. Usually, alphas are mean to him. Mean, arrogant, degrading. His entire life, Jimin was looked at with repel by alphas. He was deemed worthless and useless, an error.

Yet, after all the caution Jimin guarded himself with, it took one smile from a certain sea-scented alpha to render him completely helpless to, well, everything about him, even the things he didn’t know yet. Everything.

“Hey,” Namjoon nudged him gently by the shoulder, taking him out of his deep slumber. “If you want, you can go home and rest for a bit, I can clean up and close here on my own.”

“No. No, I’m sorry. I’ll take care of the back and the garbage. You can take care of the cash.”

It didn’t take too long to clean up everything, as Namjoon did most of the work, and suddenly, it was past seven and Jimin was home.

He took a quick shower, mostly to freshen up and reapply all the necessary oils for his scent to seem as present and real as possible.

It took longer to choose an outfit for a reason Jimin didn’t know—or chose to not know. After a long debate between classy and casual, he went for a little bit of both with skinny jeans, an oversized t-shirt tucked inside said jeans, chelsea boots and a blazer.

He added a few sprays of honey water and left. Surprisingly, he was a few minutes early. He chose to go inside instead of waiting outside.

As he walked in, there was no one in sight. The different labs were empty. He went into the kitchen and heard laughter.

Instead of entering, he discreetly looked through the door. Jungkook was smiling softly while looking down at the roses he was holding. His eyes looked shiny, filled with unshed tears of frustration. He could hear a little bit of their conversation though faintly.

“–don’t worry about the smells. I’ll teach you how to tell them apart. But don’t you dare sulk in a corner and think any less of yourself. After what you went through, and even regardless of that, it’s natural to struggle. It doesn’t make you any less capable. Don’t doubt your potential, whether it’s in here, or in life.”

“You’re right, I know you are. I just get so frustrated sometimes. All I have is ideas, nothing concrete. It’s almost like the world around me is unreal. I’m not real.”

“You’re very real, Jungkook. I’m going to tell you the same thing I told my Jiminie when he was just a little kid: your worth is not measured by what you can or cannot do, by what you have or what you don’t. Your worth is what you make it. The fact you’re breathing and standing here right now makes you worthy. Start there.”

“You’re a wise man, Mr. Park.”

“I’m no wise man, Jungkook. Just like you, I know the tragedies of life. Your parents…they would’ve been so proud of you, I’m sure of it.”

“I miss them.”

“Me too. So much.”

“I told Jimin what happened to my family. Well not in detail but still. I felt sorry because he didn’t really know what to say so I was scared to have made him uncomfortable or spooked him away. But he was really comforting. People often shy away from such an awkward interaction, but Jimin didn’t.”

“Jimin has a big heart like that.”

“I think we’re friends now.”

“Yeah? I hear you have an evening full of fun ahead of you.”

At that Jungkook laughed brightly. “I do. In fact, I should probably finish with those roses and go.”

“Leave it. I’ll do it. You go.”

“But—”

“Go. You’ve worked hard. You can be proud of yourself.” Hoon then caught Jimin’s presence by the doorway. “Besides, I think you’re expected.”

Jungkook looked at him then, his entire face brightening. “Oh, hi.” Jimin only waved before Jungkook turned back toward Hoon. “Thank you, Mr. Park. For everything.”

“Don’t mention it.” Hoon patted him on the shoulder as he walked away.

“I’ll get my stuff and I guess we can go,” Jungkook told Jimin as he passed by him.

“Take your time.”

Jimin joined his grandfather in the kitchen. He suddenly felt an immense gratitude toward him. He didn’t have to take him in the way he did, he didn’t have to become his parent yet he did. Everyday, he gives him so much love and Jimin honestly couldn’t imagine his life without him.

So with no warning, he hugged him tightly, the kind of hug he rarely gives despite being a hugger.

“I second that. I’m so grateful for you, grandpa.”

“Oh, Jimin.” Hoon hugged him back, patting his head. “How was your day?”

“Long. It was good overall. I'm glad it’s over though, I’m tired.”

Hoon laughed at that, clearly agreeing. “You have fun for the both of us, yeah?”

“Do you want to come with us?”

“You’re sweet but I’m too old for this. I’ll be very happy to just go to bed tonight.”

“Do you want us to spend the evening with you? We could have a movie night.”

“Another time, okay? Tonight, you have fun with your friends.”

“Alright.” Jimin hugged Hoon again. “I love you, grandpa.”

“I love you too, Jimin.” Hoon leaned back, examined Jimin. Only he could tell his true feelings. He was the only one to truly know him. After all, he watched Jimin grow up, go through puberty and the trials and tribulations it comes with. He stood powerless while Jimin suffered days of lonely heats each month ever since he presented as an omega. Then he witnessed him suffer the loss of his parents at such a young age every year, through every good and bad time of a growing child. They did have a common ground that was tragic yet stronger than anything. Jimin lost a father but Hoon lost a son. They were each other’s life jackets. “You’ll be alright?”

“Yeah. Promise.”

Jimin was indeed more than alright.

It turns out that Jungkook was not only cute and shy but, with a few drinks in, he was also bold, confident and insanely attractive. Not that it wasn’t the case while sober, it was very much so. But there’s something about alcohol lifting all inhibitions and freeing someone’s wilder side. Or maybe that’s just Jimin and his omega being absolutely smitten with Jungkook. In a friendly way, naturally.

They were at the bar, finishing their third drink before leaving for the karaoke.

Namjoon and Jungkook instantly became good friends, entertaining conversations in all topics alike. Jungkook always had something interesting to say, and whether it was something smart or goofy, he said it with such beauty that Jimin could really only stare very stupidly while sipping on his cocktail.

“Yah!” Namjoon snapped his fingers in front of Jimin’s face.

“What?”

“Smitten much?” Namjoon smiled knowingly as Jimin had eyes on Jungkook who went to the bar to get a glass of water.

“Pff, ‘m not smitten.” Jimin giggled against his will. Oh, he’s tipsy.

It was Namjoon’s turn to laugh now.

“What are we laughing about?” Jungkook asked, all smiles.

“Nothing.” Jimin stood up a little too fast, threatening to lose his balance but Jungkook was there to hold him. He had a hand on his elbow. When Jimin looked him in the eyes, he couldn’t help but chuckle, blush and cling to Jungkook to keep his balance. “We should begin our tour.”

“A tour?”

“Jimin organized a whole tour for you, Jungkook. Brace yourself.”

Jimin led the way, rather clumsily but still. 

During the tour of the town, Jimin prepared a whole speech for each stop. He made sure to put in all the theatrics of the world. Namjoon joined him, and together they gave the performance of the century to Jungkook who was laughing so hard he clutched at his stomach and had to catch his breath.

The karaoke bar wasn’t very far. As the world was swaying a little around Jimin, he found that to be the best news of the day.

The fun continued there, even for Namjoon who despised karaoke.

The first song they chose was a horrible rendition of My Heart Will Go On, in which Namjoon poured his heart and soul into. It resulted in Jungkook and Jimin dying of laughter. Namjoon got a standing ovation from the audience, the audience consisting of Jimin and Jungkook, the bartenders and a few older couples who laughed along. It was the passion that made it a success.

While Namjoon took a break outside after the intensity of his performance, Jungkook chose the second song to sing with Jimin.

While Jimin expected something…well frankly, he didn’t know what he was expecting but certainly not Enchanted by Taylor Swift.

As the guitar started, Jungkook faced Jimin and sang the first words.

There I was again tonight

Forcing laughter, faking smiles

Same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy

Vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is, it was enchanting to meet you

Jimin can't tame the smile or the giggle that escapes him as Jungkook sings to him, a smile of his own growing bigger and more splendid by the second.

He took the mic from Jungkook’s hand and sang the second verse to him.

Your eyes whispered, "Have we met?"

'Cross the room your silhouette

Starts to make its way to me

The playful conversation starts

Counter all your quick remarks

Like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you

All I can say is, I was enchanted to meet you

The music kept playing as they stood there looking at each other, the lyrics of the song unfolding on the screen next to them. Jimin looked down with the broadest of smiles he ever adorned.

When he looked back up at Jungkook, his eyes were shining with the reflection of the fairy lights decorating the bar. It looked like stars in his eyes. A billion stars.

He looked at the screen, reading the words “I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you.”

At that very moment, he didn’t know what it was yet. But as he looked back at Jungkook, their smiles never faltering, Jungkook nodded enthusiastically. Jimin was sure happiness never looked so good on anyone ever before and it would never look as good on anyone ever again. Jimin also knew that the reaction of his omega, the way it warmed him on the inside, the way it was so happy it could cry, the way it was calm and at peace yet so happy it was restless, so restless his heart was vibrating in his chest, such reaction wasn’t meaningless. Was it? The last thing he knew was that he was inhaling the most wonderful scent to exist and it made him want to bathe in that sea for the rest of time.

“Taylor Swift?” Namjoon exclaimed as he came back. “That score though…”

They all looked at the screen which showed a very, almost embarrassingly low score making Jungkook and Jimin burst into laughter.

“Seriously, even I had more than 50 points.” Namjoon laughed.

“We didn’t sing the whole song, it doesn’t reflect our talent. Actually, Jungkook has a really nice voice,” Jimin defended.

“Yeah? Let’s choose another then.”

They kept singing for hours, until the bar was completely empty and the clock was approaching 2am.

They weren’t singing anymore, just sitting on their chairs, and listening to the instrumental of each song. Jimin had his head laid on Jungkook’s shoulder and Namjoon was slumped on the table, falling asleep.

“This was really fun,” Jungkook said quietly. “Thank you for including me.”

“You’re our friend. And Jimin likes you,” Namjoon mumbled, his cheek squished against the table.

“Huh?” Jimin was suddenly very awake.

“You don’t like me, Jimin?” Jungkook asked as he propped his chin in his hand, leaning against the table now, a smirk on his lips.

“I–I do. I thought you knew, Jungkook.”

“Mmh yes. Enchanted, was it? However, your hesitation might blur the lines.”

“Blur the– what lines?”

Namjoon and Jungkook laughed together, obviously loving to tease him.

“Don’t worry, Jimin, I like you too.”

“Good. It would be weird if you didn’t like me since we’re friends.” Jimin laughed, not really knowing what to do, kind of hoping the ground would split in two right under his feet.

“Exactly.”

“I think it’s time for us to go and get some sleep otherwise tomorrow will be just hell,” Namjoon said, always the responsible one.

They paid and bid their goodbye to Namjoon who left with his bike while Jimin walked Jungkook home.

It was a rather warm night, the sky was clear which reflected the stars quite brightly. Another reason why Jimin absolutely adored spring.

“Where do you live?” Jimin asked.

“Just around the corner.”

“Did you have fun tonight?”

“I did. It’s been a while since I had so much fun.”

“I’m glad.”

Around the corner was closer than Jimin thought and before he had the time to comprehend the night was over, he had to say goodnight.

“May I say something? It might come off as…weird. But I feel like it’s something I would like to hear sometimes. I guess it’s always nice to hear.”

“Of course. What is it?”

“You…your scent, it’s…You have a lovely scent, Jungkook.”

“Oh.” Jungkook was visibly taken aback. “You think so?”

“Yeah. It’s really nice to be around you.”

“It’s my turn to ask something odd then.” Jungkook took a deep breath. “What does it smell like?”

“Are you asking me what your scent smells like?”

“I mean, you know…everyone interprets smells differently, as senses are subjective to all. So what does my scent smell like, to you specifically?”

“Hum…” Jimin thought for a second. “Close your eyes with me.” Jungkook did. “Picture a walk on the beach, soft waves crashing on the shore, you feel like you’re floating in peace. There’s a scent of roses in the air, slightly sweet, but mostly elegant. It mixes with the saltiness of the sea with so much harmony, I have no choice but to want to drown in that sea.”

“That’s…nice. A good scent then?”

Jimin laughed. “Yes, Jungkook.”

“Thank you.”

“You keep thanking me. There’s nothing to thank me for, you know?”

“Let me. I– I rarely express my gratitude, always assuming people know it but, truth is, they don’t. I never got to express how grateful and happy I was to have the family I had. I don’t want to make that mistake again. So thank you, Jimin. For your kindness and your patience and your friendship. It means a lot to me.”

“I never met an alpha like you before.”

“An alpha like me?”

“A kind, gentle, shy, cute but also very handsome, confident, polite, respectful and elegant alpha.”

“You shower me with compliments tonight. I might get ideas,” Jungkook jokes, wiggling his eyebrows at him.

“And…what if you do?” Jimin widened his eyes immediately at the realization of what he just said. He was about to correct himself but Jungkook was faster to reply.

“Well, a part of me wouldn’t mind too much.”

“And the other part?”

“It wouldn’t either, I think, but caution and fear will destroy the ideas before they even form.”

“That’s quite a shame.”

“Maybe it’s for the best.”

“I don’t see how. Flaws, no matter what they are, aren’t meant to be rejected.”

“And yet…”

“And yet.”

There was a mutual understanding here. The one that they both had something that shouldn’t be there, though neither knew what. The one that they were both wronged for. That understanding alone was enough for Jimin to fall in the arms of those ideas.

Or maybe it’s all the alcohol.

Yeah, he’s drunk.

“Should I walk you home?” Jungkook asked.

“I have my bike. It’s not too far.” Jimin turned toward the hill with his house on top. “See, it’s actually somewhat of a straight line from here.”

“Is it safe at night in this town?”

“It usually is, yeah.”

“Okay.” Jungkook then took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to him. “Here, put in your phone number.” Jimin did so and gave it back. After a moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket. “I sent you a text. Now you have my phone number and you can text me when you get home.”

“You…You want me to let you know when I make it home?”

“Yes. Only if that’s okay. I just want to know you’re safe. I–” Jungkook sighed, seeming to be annoyed by his own request. “In my pack, safety wasn’t a thing, at least not for me. So, I…I just want to make sure…I'm sorry, it’s stupid. I’m probably making you super uncomfortable right now.”

“No. Please don’t apologize. It’s not stupid, it’s actually quite…noble of you.”

“Noble?”

“Yes, noble. Nobody ever worried if I made it back home safely before beside my family. So, to worry and care for others, those are noble qualities to me only a few bother to keep.”

“So…will you?”

“Gladly.”

“Thank you.”

“I had fun tonight. I’m happy you joined us.”

“Me too.”

“Goodnight, Jungkook.”

“Goodnight, Jimin.”

Jimin stood there, watching Jungkook get inside his house before walking to his bike on the other side of the street.

The entire way, with the breeze in his hair, the cherry blossoms’ petals in the air, and his mind clouded by a sea-scented bliss, he had the broadest of smiles.

He made it home soon enough and as soon as he closed the door behind him, before he even took his shoes off or turned the light on, he took his phone out and opened the text Jungkook sent him.

It’s Jungkook.

The simplicity of the message made it all the more sweet to Jimin. He couldn’t tell why. It made him giddy inside.

He proceeded to type quickly.

Jungkook, I made it home.

Once that was done, he took his shoes off, turned the light on and immediately headed to the bathroom to take a shower. The citrus scent was entirely replaced by the alcohol and that was just horrible.

His phone buzzed beside him.

Thank you for telling me. Sweet dreams Jimin. See you tomorrow.

After replying to Jungkook, a shower and comfortable clothes, Jimin slipped in bed.

For the second time, he fell asleep purring while his mind swam in a blissful sea.

—

Good days kept coming, one after the other. Good days, sea-scented ones, citrus scented ones. 

Good days, without any rude comments. Good days, with a lot of customers at the shop. Good days with lots of laughter, cupcakes and happiness.

Good days with Namjooon, Jungkook and his grandfather.

Good days piled up, one after the other like a stack of rocks on the sand, waiting for the sea to wash them away.

Inevitably, the rocks fell.

It was inevitable, in all honesty. Bad days are bound to happen.

Jimin never had too many good days in a row. One every week, three to four at best.

But a whole week? Unheard of. Ten days? Two weeks? A folklore tale.

So, really, it was no surprise when the bad day showed up and clung on to him, making him want to hide away in his nest and stay there until the storm passes, however long that may take.

It started as soon as he woke up with a very painful stiff neck. He couldn’t turn his head to the left and barely to the right. Well, that’s just great.

The hot shower didn’t help, neither did the essential oil massage he quickly did in front of the mirror.

Then he realized he forgot to pick up his “scent” at his grandfather’s house. No scent today then, he didn’t have time. Frankly, it was fitting. He couldn’t bother to be fake on top of having to handle a bad mood.

Then, he burned himself while pouring his coffee in a mug which resulted in dropping said mug, which was halfway full, to the floor. His clothes were now stained and it already took him way too long to find one decent outfit.

Jimin got to take a breather from the coincidental gathering of mishaps on his way to the shop. He was already late, it was past 10. Namjoon was already inside.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“Good morning and no problem. It’s Tuesday morning, there’s never anyone on Tuesday mornings.” Namjoon handed him a coffee, like he always does.

“I’m having quite a day, and it’s barely starting.”

“No scent?”

“Don’t ask.'' Jimin sighed. He knew Namjoon knew. Namjoon was smart and respectful. He wasn’t going to pry and he certainly wasn’t going to demand Jimin to fake a scent if he didn’t want to. “I’ll be in the back preparing some of the seasonal baskets. You’re good on your own here for a while?”

“Yeah of course.” Namjoon smiled at him.

The calm and quiet—aside from the background music of the store which was some peaceful piano melody, and a few clients coming in and out from time to time—was very welcome and helped Jimin ease his mood. He was focused on planning his flower arrangements for the annual spring festival which was starting in a few weeks.

The spring festival was perhaps the only time of the year where every single inhabitant of this town was happy. And by happy, Jimin means respectful and minding their own business.

Jimin enjoyed the spring festival every year. Not once had it been a bad moment. He first used to go with his parents. Hoon then kept bringing him and as soon as Jimin was responsible enough to go out on his own, he went with Namjoon upon his grandfather’s constant insistence that he socializes with other people than his family, though it didn’t stop Jimin from bringing Hoon along, and Namjoon was like a brother by now.

This year…this year Jimin had a little hope he could bring Jungkook. Spring is a very important season for all of them, and Jimin has no doubts Jungkook may have his own rituals from his family and his upbringing in the pack, but…well, now he’s here, alone. He’s also his friend.

After an hour of gift basket making, Jimin went to the front of the store with Namjoon to help with the few customers.

An old man approached the counter with a small plant.

“Hello, sir,” Jimin greeted brightly. “Did you find everything you were looking for?”

The man wasn’t looking at Jimin, he kept his eyes cast down and didn’t reply to his question.

“Hum…do you need this to be wrapped?”

The man then looked up, his eyes were dark, his features firm and hard, his jaw clenched.

“Have you no shame?” he grumbled.

“Excuse me?”

“A scentless omega. That’s what you are isn’t it?”

Jimin snapped his mouth shut. He learned over the years that not engaging and just taking it makes it end quicker.

“Can’t even defend yourself?” the man scoffed. “Those like you should be burned alive,” he said, pointing a finger to Jimin.

Jimin cleared his throat. “Sir, I’m going to ask you to leave.”

“I have every right to buy whatever item I please. Besides, I’m only stating facts. The thing you are is a disgrace. You’re a fraud. Omegas are meant to have a scent. But you’re just a ghost. You’re disgusting. You scare our pups too. They’re scared to catch what you have, did you know that?”

From the side of his eye, Jimin saw Jungkook enter the store, his eyes on him and the old man. Namjoon was busy with clients on the other side of the store, oblivious to what’s happening. And Jimin…Jimin was called all sorts of names, he was insulted and degraded but he was never called a ghost. He called himself that. No one ever confirmed it.

“Sir—”

“Are you so worthless you can’t even embrace it? Or at least apologize?”

When Jimin reached for the plant, the man grabbed his wrist harshly. The next second, Jungkook was between them, facing the man of whom he was now grabbing the wrist the same way he had grabbed Jimin’s.

“I think you should leave right now if you want to keep your fingers,” Jungkook said, towering over him as he was quite taller. “I believe the omega serving you was nothing but kind and respectful to you.”

“How can you defend someone like him?”

“I understand where you would lack the understanding. Now, I don’t like to repeat myself.” Jungkook twisted the man’s fingers a little further.

“Freaks. All of you! His scent—”

“His scent is none of your fucking business. If you can’t appreciate nice scents, why the hell are you in a flower shop? Get out!”

The man scrambled away to Jimin’s relief. Namjoon had joined him once the customer he was with left.

Jungkook turned around to face him and suddenly widened his eyes. “Oh. Oh I’m so sorry. That was so out of line. I swear I didn’t mean to—”

“No. Thank you, Jungkook.”

“What’s his problem anyway? How dare he go around and judge scents? His scent stinks, does he ever think about that?” Jungkook was getting worked up on his own and Jimin couldn’t find it to be anything but the most adorable thing in the world. “You have a very lovely scent, Jimin, I hope you don’t believe any of the stupid things he said.”

Jimin and Namjoon stared at each other then, confused by the obvious, but neither corrected him.

“Anyway,” Jungkook then smiled brightly, “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, yes. Don’t worry about it,” Jimin assured to both Jungkook and Namjoon, who looked at him, waiting for him to confirm again. “I really am good. It’s not the first time this happened, and definitely not the last.”

“It doesn’t mean you have to be okay about it,” Jungkook said. “Our scent…they make us who we are. They’re our soul. Nobody should ever have anything to say about them aside from a compliment, and even then, they can just keep it to themselves as far as I’m concerned. Except that man, he deserves no compliment whatsoever.”

“Do you like your scent, Jungkook-ah?” Jimin asked.

“Of course I do,” Jungkook answered with a hint of nonchalance, as if he was eager to dismiss it.

“Your scent is really, really nice.”

“That’s the second time you tell me this.”

“Sorry.” Jimin blushed.

“Don’t apologize. Coming from you, I can only trust your honesty. You’re the only one I allow to compliment my scent, you know? You’re my exception. Do you like yours?”

Jimin stared at Jungkook then, who was waiting for a reply. There was no mockery or hint of any judgment. His curiosity was real.

However, Jimin couldn’t really lie. The idea of lying to Jungkook made his omega whine and curl up on itself. So he just nodded and looked down at his hands that were resting on the counter.

“Well, how can I help you today, Jungkook?”

“Actually, I only came by to say hello.”

“Y-You did? You don’t need anything?”

“No. I just wanted to say hi. I’m heading to the farmer’s market for all kinds of oranges, lemons and grapefruits. Mostly grapefruits actually, and honey.”

Jimin knew what they were for. Hoon probably felt bad about Jimin not having his essential oils so now he’s gonna make up for it by giving him double the amount.

“I’m happy to see you. We should hang out again some time.”

“I’d love to. Namjoon, would you like to hang out with us?” Jungkook asked Namjoon who was rearranging the plant display on the wall.

“Absolutely!”

Jungkook turned back to face Jimin with a satisfied grin. “The spring festival is starting soon, right?”

“Yes. I actually wanted to ask you if you’d like to come with us. It’ll be Namjoon, my grandpa, and me. Namjoon and I are in charge of the town decorations and we’ll work all day but we’ll be there in the evening.”

“That’d be great. Would your grandfather be okay with me being there?”

“He’s very fond of you, he’ll be more than happy about it.”

“Great. I’ll look forward to it then. I should go now.”

“See you, Jungkook.”

“Later, Jimin!”

Thankfully the rest of the day was uneventful. Jimin went back home early upon Namjoon’s insistence.

In all honesty, Jimin was happy to be home and alone for a while, away from any judgment.

The first thing he did as soon as he locked the door behind him was take a shower. He wanted to feel clean, stripped of all this negativity.

Secondly, he went to his parents’ bedroom, to the closet. He opened it and turned the lamp on. He rearranged the pillows, the blankets. He placed one of his father’s sweaters on one side, and one of his mother’s cardigans on the other side. He grabbed a blanket his mother had made when he was a baby and put it in front of him.

At last, he shifted into the light brown wolf that he is and laid in his nest, closed his eyes and pretended everything was alright.

Jimin took the habit of nesting in his wolf form. He wanted to be closer to his omega and, without a scent and that direct link, this was the next best thing. Or maybe the best one. A necessity, actually, for his health.

In his wolf form, he found it easier to feel, to connect to himself and to his environment.

He also hoped it could connect it to his parents. At the thought of them, a whine escapes him, making him bury himself deeper in the blankets.

Mom? Can you see me? Wherever you and dad are…I wonder if you’re proud or ashamed of who I’ve become. I try to make you proud, but…I’m not sure where I stand. Aren’t I a coward for not fighting back? What would you do?

He sighed loudly, whined, feeling suddenly restless and anxious. He turned around and changed positions.

I miss you, and dad. Are you happy at least? You and I…we weren’t raised on the Moon Goddess’s myths but, I do hope she treats you well. Dad and Grandpa are more in tune with all that stuff so I’m sure dad arranged something for you to be happy.

I just…I just wish I was normal, mom. I’m so tired of this. It’s getting old and I don’t know how to stop it. I try. I try to not let it get to me, and some days I’m left unbothered. But other days, inexplicably, I’m just…tired.

Mom. Can you hug me? In your soul. Hug me, let me know you and dad are watching over me.

Jimin fell asleep with the fading memory of what a hug from a parent feels like. It was a powerful memory, as he slowly started purring and found deep comfort in his nest, surrounded by what his parents left behind.

When he woke up again, the sun was almost entirely set and the outside world eased down into a peaceful evening.

Which means it’s the perfect time to bake.

Hoon loved his cupcakes and Jimin loved to experiment with new recipes and flavors. So that’s exactly what he did. Today, he chose to venture in a pistachio and rosewater cupcake. Behind all those recipes, the real purpose was the coffee shop area of the flower shop. So far, he had three recipes approved by both Namjoon and Hoon. The apple cinnamon and nutmeg one. A lavender one. And a grapefruit and vanilla one. If this new recipe is a success, Jimin believes that would make a good selection for their little project.

Jimin proceeded with the baking after putting some music in the background to fill the silence and keep him company.

There was no use in denying his loneliness. However, with the arrival of Jungkook in town, and in his life, Jimin felt this loneliness a little stronger than before, and it was a little less pleasant than before. Suddenly, he wasn’t so indifferent to it. Neither was his omega.

If he was honest with himself, Jimin would face the fact his omega was practically howling at the emptiness of this house right now.

Jimin was pouring the batter in the mold when he couldn’t take it anymore.

Impulsively, he grabbed his phone and texted Jungkook.

Hey you. Wanna hang out?

He practically threw his phone on the couch, slightly scared of the response and went back to filling the mold, forcing himself to not think about what he just did. He set a timer and put it in the oven. So far, the smell of these cupcakes was heavenly. The rosewater Hoon made was exquisite so Jimin was very confident. He proceeded to prepare the pistachio frosting.

His phone rang then. As one would in such a situation, he ran to it. Yes, he’s a little embarrassed.

Hello, Jimin. I’d love to.

His omega was so giddy, Jimin was almost jumping out of excitement.

Would you like to come over? I’m making cupcakes.

Once again, Jimin threw his phone on the couch. But this time he stared at the black screen, anxious about the reply he was going to get. The notification came a few minutes later.

Good thing I love cupcakes then. I’ll head over as soon as I finish closing up the lab with Mr. Park.

Jimin found himself exhaling in relief only to look around his apartment with a newfound nervousness.

In a speed that surprised him, he tidied the living room of the few clothes that were drying, he rearranged the pillows on the couch, opened the window to let some fresh air in and sprayed some air freshener his grandpa made from grapefruit and cotton flowers.

As soon as he was done, the timer for the cupcakes rang at the same time as his doorbell.

Jimin ran to the oven and quickly turned it off before running to the door.

“Hi,” he greeted with the widest smile he’s ever adorned.

“I brought some lemonade.” Jungkook held up the glass bottle he had filled with the beverage.

“Lovely.” Jimin stepped to the side to let Jungkook in.

He watched Jungkook take his shoes off as he was looking around, assessing the interior of Jimin’s house.

“It’s so nice here,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“I like the decoration, it’s very…you.”

“Very me?”

“Yeah. The green couch, the peach colored walls, the soft pillows, the pretty rug, the few candles. It’s all so cozy.”

“You think I’m cozy then?”

“Quite, yes. Like a warm blanket on a winter morning, you know?”

Jimin blushed and ducked his head down to hide it and made his way back to the kitchen, “Want to bake cupcakes with me? I just finished one batch. They need to cool down while the frosting settles. So, I’ll make another batch in the meantime.”

“I never made cupcakes before.”

Jimin was absolutely overjoyed. “It’s gonna be so fun, Jungkook! I’ll guide you through it.”

“Alright, chef!” Jungkook joked.

Jimin rolled his eyes as they laughed together. He gave instructions to Jungkook and watched him pour the ingredients in the bowl.

He learned a little more about him. Jungkook was delicate in his movements. He didn’t rush, he was careful to not do things wrong. He was playful and blew a bit of flour in Jimin's direction, making him giggle and scrunch his nose which reminded Jimin of a bunny. He was strong too and didn’t struggle as much as Jimin does to mix the batter and make it as fluffy as possible.

“Do you use flowers in pastry often? Jungkook asked.

“I actually do, now that I think about it. I mostly use herbs like rosemary or mint, sometimes basil. As for the flowers, my favorites are lavender, camomile, and hibiscus. It’s the first time I’m using rosewater. My grandpa made it. Doesn’t it smell amazing?”

Jungkook carefully brought the little bottle to his nose and sniffed it lightly. But there was no reaction.

“May I try it?”

“Oh it’s a little strong as it is, but–” Jimin looked at the baked cupcakes he had already made earlier. “Here. I guess we can try a cupcake now.”

He grabbed a knife and gave half to Jungkook. He waited for him to take a bite.

Immediately, his eyes widened and brightened. “This is delicious. The rosewater is really fragrant and flowery. It’s so light too.”

“Yeah?” Jimin then took a bite and had a similar reaction to Jungkook’s. “Wow.”

Jungkook smiled fondly at Jimin while he had his mouth full. “You’re officially my favorite baker.”

Jimin stopped chewing for a second, feeling his cheeks heat up with a poorly contained grin.

They went back to mixing the batter.

“I have some deep questions for you, Jimin. Are you ready?” Jungkook spoke into the whisk as if it was a mic and then pointed it at Jimin for him to speak into it too.

“Yes.”

“Favorite color?”

Jimin burst out laughing. “That’s some deep stuff, you weren’t kidding.”

“Of course. It’s important. So?”

“I like a light pastel green, a sage-green if you will. I also like a blue that’s bordering on light green. Turquoise?”

“Kind of like the sea and all its varieties?” Jungkook asked with a knowing smirk.

“I guess you could say that,” Jimin said, not looking at Jungkook, but his subtle flirty smile betrayed his heart’s intentions. “What’s yours?”

“I love warm tones, like terracotta red, beige, lemon yellow, orange.”

“Orange?”

“Pastel. Like the sunset. But also like tangerines. It’s different than the bright unpleasant orange. It’s a warm color, I find it soothing.”

“Oh, the pretty kind of orange.”

Jungkook chuckled and used the whisk as a mic again. “Next question. Favorite song?”

“Oh, that’s a hard one.”

“Be careful. Someone’s favorite song tells a lot about their personality.”

“Hmm, does it?” Jimin squinted his eyes at Jungkook while he walked to his record player and looked for the album containing the song he had in mind.

“Absolutely,” Jungkook said from the kitchen. “A song carries words or feelings we usually have a hard time expressing or feel so deep in our heart that it moves us.”

“Ready?” Jimin asked. He placed the album on the record player and waited a few seconds for the music to start. “This album belonged to my mom. It’s from an Italian composer I think. I once caught my parents dancing to this song in the living room. I remember sneaking out of my bed, and just sitting on the stairs and watching them.”

A dreamy melody starts, and just like every single time Jimin listens to it, he’s transported back to that moment. He’s six years old, sitting in the middle of the staircase with his head pressed against the balusters while he watched his parents dancing and giggling in silence to not wake him up.

When Jimin looked up from the record player, Jungkook was leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, watching him with his arms crossed and a soft smile, his eyes just as soft and his scent the loveliest it’s ever been.

“Would you like to dance with me, Jimin?”

“You want to dance?”

Jungkook shrugged as if it was nothing but his scent betrayed the slight nervousness he felt. It made Jimin all the more…smitten. Namjoon was right, wasn’t he? “Yeah, why not?” Jungkook walked over to Jimin and extended his hand to him.

With barely a hint of hesitation, Jimin took it and let himself be guided to the middle of the living room, in the exact same spot his parents were at the time. He let Jungkook put his hand on his waist and Jimin put his on Jungkook’s shoulder. He let Jungkook lead the dance as they swayed somewhat lazily to the sound of the romantic music playing for them.

Just like that, Jimin’s dream of filling this house with affection was fulfilled as Jungkook was nothing but sweet towards him. For what reason? Jimin couldn’t tell but he also didn’t want to question it. There wasn’t much to question. Jungkook may be a mystery for Jimin in some aspects, but for the most part, he was the most beautiful alpha he’s ever met, inside and out. That fact alone was worth anything and everything to Jimin.

“You’re a good dancer,” Jimin told Jungkook, his fingertips grazing the seam of his shirt on his shoulder.

“Aren’t we just swaying? I don’t know if that counts as dancing.”

“Do you ever accept a compliment, Jungkook?”

“Rarely,” Jungkook chuckled cutely and if Jimin were to take a guess, he’s pretty sure his cheeks were flushed too.

“Mmh, well, you should make an exception for me.”

“Why would I?” Now he was being cheeky. Oh Jimin’s omega was all wobbly…

“Simply because you’re the only person I compliment.”

“Why?”

“Because, nobody is worth complimenting.”

“And I am?”

“Yes, you are.”

Jungkook looked him in the eyes then. They reflected a lot. A lot of it, Jimin couldn’t quite decipher. He knew they held a lot of pain, but also a lot of tenderness.

“Next question,” Jungkook hushed, as if to not disrupt the atmosphere they created for themselves. “Favorite flower?”

“Peonies.”

“I read in one of your grandfather’s books about flowers that peonies are most commonly associated with romance, prosperity, and bashfulness. Some even believe they're a good luck charm of sorts, bringing good fortune to whoever receives them. Peonies also have some roots in Greek mythology. One myth states that Apollo used to turn beautiful nymphs into peonies if Aphrodite knew he was flirting with them.”

“I like that,” Jimin said. “What’s yours?”

“I’m not sure of their names…does matthiola incana ring a bell?”

“Oh yes. We sell them at the shop. Do you know that they symbolize beauty?”

“I didn’t. I guess it makes sense, considering how pretty they are.”

“I find that very fitting.”

“Are you saying I’m beautiful, Jimin?”

“Would it be bad if I was?”

“Quite the contrary. Although—” Jimin didn’t let Jungkook finish his sentence as he put his finger on his lips.

Jimin shook his head lightly. “You are beautiful.”

Jungkook didn’t answer, only smiled. As the song was coming to an end, Jungkook took a step back and bowed to Jimin. "You make a lovely dance partner.”

“Now, don’t lie,” Jimin laughed, tilting his head back.

“I’m not!”

“We barely swayed, you said so yourself.”

“Well, you’re good at swaying, what can I say?”

Jimin laughed more, shoving Jungkook playfully as they both went back into the kitchen to put the cupcakes in the oven and started piping the frosting on the first batch.

He let Jungkook try, which resulted in an utter mess of both frosting and laughter. 

There was something innocent about their interactions. It was pure fun, pure loveliness, genuine curiosity and sincere hearts wanting to know more about the other.

Jimin found it hard to keep any kind of secrecy around Jungkook. In turn, he could feel it was hard for Jungkook too. After all, he did tell him about his past. That surely isn’t easy to do, let alone to a stranger. Jimin was less of a stranger now though.

Jungkook, however, was quite the mystery to Jimin. Not that he didn’t acknowledge the few confessions he got from him or the little details about his preferences or the multiple conversations they’ve had which told him a lot about Jungkook’s personality. No, it was none of that. It was more about his alpha side. 

Jimin never met an alpha quite like him. And by that, he means an alpha so sweet he could be mistaken for anything else but an alpha. Perhaps, Jimin's perception of alphas is tainted by years of bad experiences, but even regardless of that, alphas tend to be…rough around the edges.

Not Jungkook. Jungkook was soft in more ways than none. He was kind, in fact Jimin believed Jungkook was kindness personified. 

Most of all, and perhaps the most intriguing part of Jungkook, is how Jimin’s scent—or lack of one—was never brought up or acknowledged. In fact, Jungkook alluded to his scent being sweet today, while Jimin didn’t wear one. He also had a hard time differentiating scents, though that could be due to many different factors.

All in all, Jungkook was odd, in a cute way and Jimin’s omega was already gone for him, very much against his will. Jimin was still cautious, still on the fence. Perhaps, the fence was already long gone, no matter how many times Jimin will try to deny it.

—

Feelings are a slippery slope, Jimin knows that much. Not having a scent, the perception of his feelings is that much sharper. That being said, he would’ve never thought that growing fond of someone was so…scary. Like, fear of heights type of scary.

It hit him all of a sudden one afternoon.

It was his only day off in the week. He was biking around town, appreciating the fresh air when he spotted Jungkook sitting under the gazebo, reading a book.

Jimin’s first reaction was to get off his bike and hide behind a tree. Once behind the tree, he realized how ridiculous he was being yet he couldn’t help it. His heart was suddenly hammering in his chest, his palms were sweaty, his heart tingly, his stomach in shambles, his cheeks warmer than the rest of his body, and to top it all off, his omega was a mixture of excited, whiny and nervous. Oh, he’s going to be sick. He’s going to be sick and make a fool of himself.

He took a careful peek toward the gazebo. Jungkook was deeply immersed in his book, completely oblivious to the world around him.

Good.

“Jimin?”

Jimin startled at the sound of his grandfather’s voice, dropping his bike to the ground loudly.

“Gosh, grandpa, you scared me,” Jimin gasped, a hand on his chest.

“What are you doing?” Hoon laughed, looking in the direction Jimin was looking at and immediately spotting Jungkook.

Frankly, Jungkook was hard to miss with his yellow jumper, his white bucket hat and wide jeans.

“Are you spying on Jungkook?”

“Pff…no. I’m just looking at the…the thing over there.”

“Oh dear. Come with me.”

“Grandpa—”

“Tsk, don’t you question it, come on. Stop creeping behind a tree, you’re a person not a squirrel.”

Jimin couldn’t be more embarrassed. He picked up his bike and followed his grandpa who made his way toward the gazebo.

“Grandpa!” Jimin called urgently as quietly as possible. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Saying hello, like a civilized person.” Hoon was looking at Jimin with all the incredulity in the world. If anything, he found this hilarious while Jimin was absolutely mortified. “Jungkook!”

“Oh, Mr. Park.” Jungkook immediately stood up from the bench and bowed at Hoon. “Jimin.” His face instantly brightened when he laid eyes on him.

“Hi,” Jimin greeted shyly.

“What are you up to on this lovely day? I hope you’re making the most of your day off,” Hoon said.

“I am, sir. I’m reading about spring flowers.” Jungkook waved the book he was referring to.

“Make sure to do something that doesn’t involve work too.”

“Ah I’ll try, sir.”

Jimin, for some reason, found himself completely paralyzed, brain dead and unable to utter a word, completely enchanted by Jungkook's mere presence.

“What about you?” Jungkook asked shyly, sparing a glance at Jimin. “Are you having a fun day too?”

“We were just walking around. Would you like to join us?” Hoon asked.

“Oh, no. I'd hate to interrupt. Besides, I have to go back home soon to walk my dog.”

“You have a dog?” Jimin asked. He loved puppies, he couldn’t help it.

“Yeah, a little puppy. She’s about three months old.”

“Oh, how sweet. We’ll have to meet her someday,” Hoon said.

“Absolutely.” Jungkook smiled.

And Jimin just got lost in everything that was Jungkook. His slightly tanned skin, his curly hair, his deep brown eyes, his cute nose, his lovely smile, the mole under his lips, the fabric of his sweater, the few bracelets on his wrist, the way his fingers held the book, the—

“Jimin!”

“Huh? Yes?”

“Good to go?” Hoon asked, already a few steps away from him.

“Oh yeah, yeah. Absolutely. It was nice seeing you, Jungkook.”

“Nice seeing you too, Jimin.”

Ugh, and the way he says his name…

Jimin started walking away with his bike by his side and almost tripped on the pedal, causing Hoon to laugh and Jimin wanting the ground to swallow him up.

He heard Jungkook chuckle behind him as he looked ahead of him, with Hoon shaking his head. Once they were further away from the gazebo, Jimin could breathe a little easier.

“He’s got you all tangled up inside, doesn’t he?” Hoon kept laughing, digging the keys to his house out of his pocket.

“No.”

“Come on, Jimin. Be honest with yourself at least.”

“Grandpa. I don’t– I’m not…there’s no tangling of anything happening.”

Hoon unlocked the door while Jimin put his bike in the garden.

“Jimin,” Hoon started, both of them making their way to the dining table, “you know it’s okay to feel things like that, don’t you?”

“Like what?”

“Like care and affection and attraction for someone. For an alpha.”

Jimin sighed, “Grandpa…I– I don’t know why I feel so weird. It’s so stupid. I made a fool out of myself. I’m twenty-seven for god’s sake.”

“Being twenty-seven doesn’t prevent anyone from making a fool out of themselves in front of their crush.”

Jimin squinted at him. It’s not the first time he’s heard this speech. “Did you talk to Namjoon?”

“Isn’t it a crush?”

“What is a crush anyway? It’s nothing! I’ve known him for a few weeks only, this is nonsense. I don’t want to feel this way.” Jimin prepared two mugs for their tea before Hoon shooed him away.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s…it’s too fast, too scary.”

“How can it be too fast if nothing even started? You’re friends aren’t you?”

“Well yeah, but…grandpa, he doesn’t even know I have no scent. I don’t even know if he’s open to…anything. No matter how much he opens up, he’s also quite closed off. He obviously has a heavy past and I don’t want to overwhelm him or scare him away or anything like that.”

Hoon put a mug of hot tea in front of Jimin. “You know he’s from Lunar Mountain, right?”

“I do. Like you.”

The steam danced in the air above their mugs. Jimin always found it pretty, especially in the sunlight. He distracted himself with it for a while, it was better than thinking about his confusing emotions.

“I knew his parents,” Hoon confessed after a while. “They were very good friends with your father actually. They were inseparable in school.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. I would always invite them over and bake them some cake while they’d play for hours in the garden until the curfew. Jungkook’s mother, Dahlia, was fierce, fearless, and very daring. She also had a very big heart. His father, Hajun, was the quiet type. I guess Jungkook got that from him. He was very smart, very mature. I always saw the soft spot he held for Dahlia, even at a young age. I guess they were soulmates.”

“What was dad like, as a kid?” Jimin inquired. He heard the story before but he always erased it from his mind, forced himself to forget it so he could hear it for the first time whenever he asked Hoon to tell it to him. Hoon knew all about his tactics, he never said a word about it and always happily indulged him. Every time, he tells Jimin about his father as if it was the first time.

“Hyeon was very sweet, much like you. But also quite the troublemaker.” Hoon chuckled, visibly emotional as he recalled those bittersweet moments of his life. “He would sneak out a lot to spend time at the lake with Hajun and Dahlia. I think it was his favorite place, he spent hours there.”

“Didn’t he get in trouble for it?”

“He did. Once. He came back a little too late, after the curfew. The border patrol arrested him and were ready to punish him had I and your grandmother, and Hajun’s and Dahlia’s parents not stepped in. I took the whipping in his place. My Heejin went feral from anger and fear. They killed her. One week later, your father and I ran away and found this little town.”

Jimin didn’t realize he was crying until he felt a teardrop fall on his hand. He wiped them quickly and Hoon carried on.

No matter how many times he heard stories of his parents, whether it was the first time or the hundredth, it never failed to break and mend his heart all at once. Break it because it was horrible and mend it because his father was alive, in their hearts.

“Your dad never quite forgave himself for this, no matter how many times I assured him he didn’t do anything wrong. Because there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be free. Heejin never blamed him either. But, he would never quite hear it. Your mother was the first and only one who had him start considering that the cruelty of his life had nothing to do with him.”

The idea of his father being tortured by his regrets made Jimin’s stomach turn.

“How did he meet mom again?”

“He was seventeen at the time. He went into the woods to pick some dahlias by the lake. And your mother was watering some wildflowers and taking care of some trees that were in bad shape. They had an argument. Your mother accused your father of destroying the flora of the town and your dad was very stubborn, so he defended himself very fiercely. He came home and told me he met the most wonderful person in the entire world. A month later, he found out they were going to the same school and he started bringing her flowers every day, trying to prove to her he meant no harm. Eventually he won her heart and they became inseparable. Wherever Hyeon was, you can be sure Areum was there too. She never left Hyeon’s side.”

“Did you ever see them dance? I remember catching them dancing in the living room late at night once.”

“Oh yes. They were quite the romantics. Their mating ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Hyeon invited Dahlia and Hajun, but they never showed up. He always hoped to reconnect with them, in person. They always kept in touch through letters but that’s about it. They never saw each other grow up, happily mated or become parents.”

Jimin found that to be absolutely devastating.

“Did you ever find those letters?”

“I did. But I never read them because they weren’t mine. Your dad would recount some of them to me. Actually, a few months before Jungkook arrived, I received a letter from them.”

“You did? What did it say?”

“Dahlia had plans to escape with her little daughter, while Hajun and Jungkook would stay a little longer to avoid putting them in danger until they found shelter. She wanted to go south, the furthest away from the pack. She asked me to save Hajun, Jungkook and Hwa if things didn’t go as planned, to do whatever it takes. I gave her my word.”

“What happened?”

“Dahlia never made it out of the pack. Her little girl, Hwa, was scared and started panicking. The head alpha caught them and executed Dahlia. Hajun went feral and they shot him on the spot. Then Hwa.”

“Jungkook was there? He saw everything?” A whine escaped Jimin at the pain Jungkook went through.

“He did. I didn’t have news from anyone for months, until Jungkook showed up a little over three months ago at my door.”

“Oh, was that why you were so secretive for a while?”

“Yeah. He was in really bad shape as you can imagine and I didn’t want to spook him so I took care of him. I didn’t mean to push you away, Jiminie. I do regret that, you probably needed me on some days and I was barely there for you.”

“No, you didn’t push me away. You were still present for me, regardless. I was just worried about you, I thought something was wrong with you but then things went back to normal after a month or so.”

“Jungkook arrived here exhausted, bruised up, dehydrated and traumatized. He didn’t trust anything and anyone, he didn’t trust me until I proved to him that I knew his parents. Ever since, I’ve been honoring my promise to Dahlia to take care of Jungkook. I found him a house and gave him a job.”

Jimin was speechless for a while, digesting all those new pieces of information.

“I really want to give Jungkook a hug. I hope he feels safe here, and happy. He told me he was healing and that he found glimpses of happiness with us.” Jimin didn’t know where this need to reassure Jungkook and show him safety and affection came from, but it was very strong.

“He told me that too. Jungkook is a good kid, and you, my dear Jimin, are as worthy and deserving as he is of love.” Jimin made a face at the word. “Affection,” Hoon corrected, amused by Jimin’s wariness around the big word.

“I could never…I could never care for him the way he deserves to be cared for, grandpa. I can’t scent him, I can’t soothe him, I can’t—”

“Jimin. Our scent, no matter how big a part of us it is, it’s not all of us. You don’t have a scent, but you compensate for that with other things. You’re very affectionate, very compassionate, you always have a hug ready or sweet words of comfort for those who need them.”

“But…but he’s an alpha. How could he even desire me, in any way, if my scent is not here to guide him or peak his interest?”

Hoon chuckled then. “Oh, Jimin. You’re as oblivious as your dad sometimes.”

“Tsk. You’re not helping, grandpa.” Jimin scowled, though, he was pleased by the similarities he shared with his dad.

“Here’s my advice. Ask him on a date.”

Jimin’s eyes widened comically, his mouth agape. “Are you crazy? I can’t do that. No way.”

“Why not?” Hoon laughed.

“Clearly neither of us is ready.”

“Jimin, you practically drooled in front of him earlier. And once he had his eyes on you, there was no way to have him pay attention to anything else if it wasn’t you.”

Ah…so…could Jungkook be attracted to him?

“Really?”

“He talks about you, you know?” Hoon said casually and how could he say this casually? Jimin felt like he was going to implode.

“He does?”

“Absolutely. He asked me how you were as a child, he asked me about your life here, about how to be a good friend to you. He likes you I think.”

“He likes me?” Jimin asked, way too hopeful. He shook his head, “No.”

“Don’t deny yourself happiness because you’re scared, Jimin. I promise you it’s not worth it. Your father went to the lake every evening before curfew because it made him happy and neither me or my Heejin ever denied him that, even if we were scared. Because the smile he had on his face every time he came back was worth all the little bits of anxiety we felt. Because it was the right thing to do. We weren’t going to imprison him out of fear. And we didn’t. So, be happy, Jimin. Do what makes you happy. And if that means asking a sweet alpha on a date, then do it. Don’t fear what might happen. You’re a wonderful person, Jimin. Allow yourself to feel. Because, to choose to feel nothing, to avoid feeling anything, to spare yourself pain…what a waste that is. What a waste! We only have one life and I learned that lesson one too many times. There’s beauty in pain. Nurse it. Embrace it. Don’t shy away from it. And I’m repeating myself, but don’t deny yourself happiness because of what you can or can’t do. Being scentless doesn’t make you any less of an omega, or any less of a person. It makes you you, and you’re a beautiful person.”

Jimin burst into tears right then and there, repressed feelings flowing out uncontrollably. Various feelings that had nothing to do with one another. It was loneliness, the longing for his parents, the failed dinner he made last night, the smile Jungkook gave him, the fear of opening up, the worry of being belittled, the actual belittling he experienced at work, at school or in the street, the tragedy of his grandfather’s life or Jungkook’s life and Jungkook’s parents, the luck of his own life, the gratitude and the pain of it all.

He felt. He felt it all and as painful as it was, it was needed sometimes. To just…let go.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a long week.” He wiped his tears dry with his t-shirt.

“Don’t you apologize for feeling, dear.”

Jimin pulled himself together after some time. Hoon was his ever so patient self, comforting Jimin through his sorrow.

“Why don’t we invite Jungkook over? Namjoon can come too. We can have one of our movie nights. One tiny step at a time, what do you think?”

“That’s a good idea. Jungkook likes Namjoon and he has a lot of respect and admiration for you too.”

“Perfect. It’s okay to take things slow, you know. So don’t pressure yourself, because it is scary. Just be his friend for now. We all need friends.”

“It is scary, isn’t it?”

“That’s all the fun of it.” Hoon ruffled Jimin’s hair and washed their empty mugs.

The sun was already gone and the night had settled. Jimin didn’t even realize he'd been here for hours.

“Why don’t you spend the night here, mmh?” Hoon suggested.

“You don’t mind? I don’t want to bother you.”

“Come help me make your bed in the guest room instead of asking stupid questions,” Hoon laughed wholeheartedly, which always made Jimin smile.

Jimin liked to sleep at his grandfather’s sometimes. The scents of the house reminded him of home. Home with his parents around. His parents’ scents were still vivid in his mind. His father was an alpha and his mother, an omega, but they had quite similar scents. His dad’s scent was petrichor and eucalyptus and his mother’s was peppermint mixed with cottonflower. They completed each other in more ways than none.

Despite his overflow of emotions, Jimin didn’t feel tired.

Instead, he found himself thinking he bordered on hypocrisy.

Because, if he thought about it, he wasn’t any less of a mystery to Jungkook like Jungkook was to him.

He didn’t tell him how his parents died, or when. He didn’t open up about any hardships, or very little and if so, he dismissed them.

So, how dare he want to uncover Jungkook’s heart when his own is buried under hundreds of blankets?

Oh, but he wants to strip his heart to Jungkook and for Jungkook to do the same. He wants to know him and be there for him. Hug him and hold his hand. He wants Jungkook to smile at him or just stand within his perimeter just so he could bask in his scent.

Attraction is odd like that isn’t it? After all, Jungkook was a stranger just weeks ago. And now they’re friends and, perhaps, even flirting with each other.

Jimin entangled himself in the ball of yarn that was his mind at the moment until late at night, way too late.

There was no sleep to find anytime soon, so he picked up his phone and found a text message from Jungkook.

Jimin. I was thinking of you and tried making a pie this afternoon. Turns out, not everyone is gifted with cooking skills like yours.

Jimin found himself giggling inexplicably at his phone as he read over the text a few times.

Jungkook, don’t sell yourself short, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.

It was past three in the morning, Jimin was about to put his phone away when it vibrated again. Jungkook is awake.

Can I call you?

Can he? Can he? Can he? Jimin pondered on the question for way too long despite knowing the answer. It took him twice as long to reply.

Yes.

Not even a few seconds later, Jimin picked up the phone.

“Hey, you.” Jimin hushed. “You’re awake really late.”

“I have insomnia sometimes. And my puppy is snoring next to me.” Jimin guessed Jungkook approached the phone to his puppy as the snoring became louder. “She’s tiny yet she could be mistaken for a tractor.”

Jimin tried his best to laugh silently to not wake up his grandfather.

“Why aren’t you asleep, Jimin?”

“Oh I...I have a lot on my mind tonight.”

“Oh? Do you want to talk about it?”

“First, I want you to tell me about your allegedly failed pie.”

Jungkook laughed on the other end, which eased some of Jimin’s tension instantly. “I swear it’s really bad. ”

“What kind of pie was it?”

“A grapefruit pie.”

Oddly, Jimin felt himself squirm. Grapefruit? No. No, no, no. It’s just a coincidence. It means nothing. Grapefruit isn’t even his scent. He has no scent.

“Grapefruit pie is a safe choice. What happened?”

“Well, first the dough. I followed the recipe yet the texture was very weird, it was sticky and weirdly slippery.”

“Slippery?”

“Yeah! I let it set but it just never set. So I cooked it as the recipe said, and it became really hard in a matter of just a few minutes. Then I added the almond flour cookie type filling thing but the taste is off.”

Jimin could hear the genuine confusion in Jungkook’s voice.

“Then the whipped cream. I thought I could make whipped cream from scratch, can you believe that?”

“Whipped cream is easy.”

“No, Jimin. Because, you see, my ingredients weren’t cold enough. So my whipped cream wasn’t whipped, it stayed liquid.”

“Oh no.” Jimin started laughing, totally endeared and entertained.

“And don’t get me started on the grapefruit. It took me two hours, Jimin. Two!”

“That’s very long. But, in my opinion, it’s good that you took your time.”

“It didn’t help in the success of my pie. Here’s the funniest part, the assembling of it all.”

“I assume it didn’t go well?”

“Of course not, Jimin. First I tried to spread my wannabe whipped cream on the pie crust. It was so messy. Beyond messy. It was utter chaos. And the grapefruit…I wanted to make it look pretty, you know, but of course with a whipped cream that’s too liquid, nothing’s gonna stay in place.”

“Did you manage it in the end?”

“Funnily enough, I did! It looks ugly, the taste is off and my kitchen went through hell.”

“I’m very proud of your efforts and your perseverance. You failed from the very first step yet you made that pie to the very end.”

“Hey, don’t tease.”

“I’m genuinely admirative though.”

“Of a failed pie?”

“Of you. You and the pie, which I do want to try so please save a piece for me.”

“I can’t let you eat that, Jimin.”

“I’m sure all together, it’s not as bad as you think. If it smells good, there’s a good chance it tastes good, regardless of textures and presentation.”

“Well, see, I can’t be sure about that either so…I’m afraid it’s at your own risk.” Jungkook laughed. “Now, tell me about your day. You seemed a little flushed earlier, are you alright?”

“Oh yes. I was happy to see you. My day was unexpectedly emotional. My grandpa told me stuff about his time in Lunar Mountain.”

“So,” Jungkook cleared his throat, “I suppose he told you about my parents and your father’s friendship?”

“Yeah, he did. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Oh no. I kinda asked him to tell you about it. I didn’t feel up to it. So I’m glad he did. Besides, I trust you.”

“Y-you do?”

“Of course.”

Jimin could cry all over again.

“Your parents seemed like amazing people,” he said instead.

“They really were.”

“I’m so sorry about what you went through. The first thing I wanted to do after hearing what happened was run to you and give you a hug.”

“You wanted to hug me?”

“Yeah, to comfort you, and be here for you. To help you smile again.”

“You make me smile plenty, Jimin.”

“I do?”

“Yeah.” Frankly, Jimin could hear Jungkook’s smile in his voice alone.

“I should let you sleep,” Jimin said after glancing at the digital clock next to his bed.

“Jimin?”

“Yes, Jungkook?”

“Today I had a good day. And I’ve had good days pretty much ever since I met you. I grew up in a pack and, I don’t know if it’s the same in this town or anywhere outside of packs, but…in my pack, we used to celebrate the joys we encountered and there was a whole ritual for the moon goddess and such. Despite the cruelty of the pack I was in, I always found that ritual to be pure and beautiful. We would light lanterns and let them float down the river and then we’d all gather around a fire and dedicate one joy of our choice to the pack and to the moon goddess. I hated the pack, so despite my appreciation for the ritual, I never dedicated my most treasured joys to them and always kept them to myself because I didn’t want the reason for my smile to be tainted and ruined. However, tonight, I…I lit up a candle, walked to my window and looked up at the sky. I addressed the moon goddess and dedicated my most treasured joy to her for the first time. Then I blew out the candle so she would preserve it and protect it.”

“Am I allowed to ask what your most treasured joy is?”

“You are,” Jungkook chuckled. “It’s your kindness. You’ve shown me kindness before you even knew my name. Before coming here, the only kindness I knew was to have a cup of water and a single piece of bread to keep me alive back in my pack. Then I came here and your grandfather…he saved me. He showed me kindness but,” Jungkook sighed, as if he was frustrated by his choice of words. “I don’t mean to doubt his sincerity, and I’m not, I swear! Your grandfather…I owe him my life. What I mean is that he promised this kindness whereas you…you’re just kind and gentle. I probably sound stupid right now but…ah I don’t know.”

“I could return the compliment, Jungkook. Before meeting you, in all honesty, I detested alphas. But you showed me that being an alpha has nothing to do with the person one is. I really–” Jimin took a deep breath. He’s jumping, hoping to land on his feet. “I really like you. I admire you, I’m fascinated by you. I love your presence around me, around…around my omega. So…I think what I’m saying is that you’re my joy too.”

“We’re each other’s joy.”

“I like that.” There was a pause, the both of them just breathing and appreciating the other’s—remote—presence. “Talking about joys…would you like to come over to my grandfather’s tomorrow evening with Namjoon and me for a movie night?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be. At all. Truly. I think my grandfather considers you part of our little family, if you will. I would also really like to have you there with us.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Well in that case, I can’t refuse, can I?”

“I don’t think so. My omega would be offended.”

“Oh would it?”

“Absolutely. My omega is sensitive like that.”

“Maybe that’s why we get along then. My alpha is also the sensitive type.”

“Goodnight, Jungkook.”

“Goodnight, Jimin.”