Jungkook had dialed Abby's number and looked around as he began his walk of shame toward his house. The weather was a bit chilly as he held his palm over his bicep. "I am sorry, I couldn't get up. I am on my way now. I am sorry again-"

"No, no," Abby stopped Jungkook from talking. "You don't have to come. Mr. Park was here this morning and he has implemented three days of heat leaves for all the omega employees, two days for betas, and one day for the alphas, you know... For their ruts." If Jungkook knew, he wouldn't have run with such urgency, but perhaps he still would have, not wanting to get caught by Jimin. 

Jungkook pouted.

"I called you to ask you about your health. How are you feeling now? You shouldn't have overdosed on those pills."

"I am... Better."

"Yeah?"

Jungkook nodded, inhaling the nip in the air. "Positive."

"Good, rest well. We will swing by later. Kyla is also back. If you feel like it, we can go for hot cocoa or something later."

"Sounds good." Jungkook smiled before tapping the red icon on his phone's screen and putting the device back in his pocket.

❣

Later in the afternoon, Jungkook's door was knocked and he willed himself to answer it. When it opened, it revealed Taehyung standing in front of him. "Hey," Jungkook said briefly and turned around, wanting the older omega to follow him inside. 

"How are you doing now? I brought some cloud cakes."

Jungkook's neck whipped around to spot the boxes in Taehyung's hand. "Who made these?" He asked, brows curving, hands pulling the boxes near his eyes to read. The cakes were exclusively and only made inside Les Amis. And he knew that the chef baked these on special occasions. 

"I did," the omega replied proudly. 

"How? Why?"

Taehyung now stared down at Jungkook. "What do you mean by how and why? I can. That's how. And you are in heat, that's why."

"No," Jungkook shook his head. "How did you manage to work in the kitchen? The chef doesn't let anyone enter the kitchen."

"Tell them to tell that to Mr. Park, who hired me as an assistant chef," Taehyung grinned mockingly and when Jungkook heard the alpha's name, his lashes fluttered and his heartbeat raced. The best friend understood. He moved closer to the omega and put an arm over his shoulder. "Give him a chance."

"I don't know anything about him, Tae. Last night was a mistake."

Taehyung pressed his lips together and retreated his palm from Jungkook's shoulder. He formed the words carefully. "He was there for you last night."

"To get in my pants, which he did."

"Hey!" Taehhyung intoned. "It wasn't like that. He's doing all he can. Jin Hyung told me everything about him. He is really a kind person."

"That's what he has shown. How can I trust him that he is really that person off-camera? He knew I was in heat and I would beg him to fuck me. If he was decent, he would have stayed away from me."

"He mustn't have wanted you to end up with any other alpha," Taehyung was now a little cocky. "He didn't know how you dealt with your cycles. Maybe he thought you have been with the alphas before in heat."

Jungkook felt anger as his best friend defended Jimin instead of him. He put the cake down on the table and slumped on the couch, unable to stand for long. "Why are you so in favor of him? How can you be sure that he's a saint?"

"It's not that," Taehyung sighed and placed himself beside Jungkook. "I am sorry. I guess... It's just - he's a real nice person even if he comes from money. He gave me a high-paying job because he had studied my debt. I was asked for my student loan documents a week ago and I didn't even know who was asking for them. He sent a few people who claimed that they were from the bank. He helped me because I had no money and also because I am your friend." 

"See," Jungkook pointed. "He also did it because he knew you were my friend. Why doesn't he give promotions to everyone? A lot of us are struggling. Why just you? Why not someone who has no relation with me?"

 "He's doing what he can," Taehyung laughed out, seeing Jungkook's adamance. He could tell that the omega was trying to find only excuses. Deep inside, the younger has been feeling something or the other, which was visible in his pink eyes. The 23-year-old pouted indignantly. "Okay, fine... Don't be fussy and tell me if you want to go out for coffee tonight?"

"Abby asked me too. Aren't you all working tonight?" Jungkook asked, now unwrapping the cake box.

"We are off early. Mr. Park's courtesy."

Jungkook stopped momentarily to shoot a threatening glare before he resumed picking the cake with the cutlery and eating it. He moaned after putting his head back on the sofa. 

"I will use the loo," Taehyung stood up and left the living room. 

Jungkook spotted Jimin in front of the door when he opened his eyes. He panicked, suddenly standing up and almost choking on the cake. "May I come in?" The alpha asked and Jungkook nodded quickly while gobbling down the cake. 

Jimin's feet trudged him inside and he stood in front of the omega, who was pulling his gaze away from him. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better."

"Hm," Jimin smiled softly. "I left food in the kitchen and a note on the table. Why didn't you eat?"

"I didn't see the note," Jungkook said slowly, looking at the ground.

"Jungkook," Jimin tried to hold his palm, but the omega flinched and stepped away, making the alpha's heart screech, but he understood. Jungkook was supposed to feel the way he was feeling after last night. "I know it's very sudden, but please give me a chance."

The omega gulped as Jimin noticed, so he lowered his voice, even more, releasing his pheromones to see the younger close his eyes to sniff. "Let's start with coffee and forget for a moment what happened. That could have been just anyone else too. I am a nice person. You are gonna have to start trusting me. I will take it slow, I promise."

Jungkook remained silent, only trying to breathe slowly and hide the fact that he was feeling anything for the alpha. Jimin nodded, taking in the omega's silence. "Here's my number, personal one," he said, taking out a card and putting it on the table. "Please call me if you don't feel well or if you need anything."

Jungkook nodded timidly and his eyes widened when Jimin suddenly turned and started walking away. He wanted him to stop him, but he couldn't. Taehyung, who was watching them from behind the door, now stepped out in clear. "What was that about?" He asked. 

"I can't, Tae... I can't," Jungkook suddenly burst down, falling back on the sofa and wiping away the tears as quickly as they fell with his sleeves. 

The color got lost from Taehyung's face as he lurked and immediately opened his arms to hug the younger one. "Why not? I can tell how much he affects you. I am not blind. And neither is he."

"I have done things that - Tae... I don't know when will they come to bite me in the ass. But I don't think Jimin will like me all that much if he knew."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Taehyung asked carefully, unable to understand what was so gruesome that it was enough to make the younger cry. He and Jungkook met in college, and even though they gelled up quickly, this was the first time he was hearing about Jungkook's past which was evidently weighing on him too much.

"No," Jungkook shook his head while sniffling on Taehyung's arm.

Hours passed in silence. Taehyung ultimately left for his evening shift and Jungkook decided to cancel all his plans and mope under his duvet with his eyes on Jimin's card that he put on his bedside table.

After hours of staring at it, he sat up and grabbed his phone. He knew it wasn't a good idea and he needed to steer clear of Jimin's life. But it was difficult when every nerve in his body pushed him towards the man. He put the number in his phone and saved it.

Once again, he stumbled on google to see more about Jimin, who seemed perfect in every sense, unlike himself. He found Jimin's Instagram and something about the recent picture caught his eye.

Jimin had clicked the restaurant and the lampost in this snapshot, and the space was empty where he usually sang, by the lake. The time stamp on the picture reminded him that he wasn't there that night when Jimin told him that he'd wait for him. He clicked on it and read the caption. It's absurd how simple walls could bring meaning and romance to it. Paris is said to be the most romantic place, but when your heart feels it, you can make your own Paris anywhere. 

The omega smiled and blushed, the delicious tingling in his heart in the night gripped his resilience and beguiled him. He didn't know for how long he could keep up with restraint, but the downfall was inevitable. It scared him, but more than that, it excited him. 

❣

First Voter: Ana204858