The shining bright lights of the hall seemed too cheerful, the mingling noises filled with the somber music as people conversed, dressed in glittering dresses and wealthy suits.

This was a party for the wealthy, a place where business connections were made, new relationships forged over the sharing of laughter and information, champagne and expensive food.

It all seemed too grand, too much.

Jungkook didn't belong here.

In this world where everything was about status and money. On the surface it seemed like everyone was happy with their lives, if only that were the truth.

People pretend to like you to get a good deal, for business but underneath the surface, many of them loathed each other.

Yeah. Jungkook really didn't belong here.

Dressed in a two piece suit, hair perfectly gelled back, his piercings nowhere in sight, Jungkook felt so uncomfortable and so out of place.

This wasn't what he was used to.

He was used to wearing old sweatpants and torn up shirts, leather jackets and comfy sweaters. This, all the show of wealth by their clothes, this wasn't where Jungkook belonged.

It wasn't who he is.

But alas, as a member of the Jeon family, and the son in law of the Kim's, he had an obligation to attend, an obligation  to pretend.

Pretend to be happy to be here, smile and greet everyone.  Pretend to be content.

Pretend

That's all he has been doing for the last 4 years anyway.

This pretense has now become a part of his routine.

A part of his life.

The happily married and mated Kim Jeon Jungkook, the omega who had been blessed to get such a mate, an Alpha who was wanted by so many.

Jungkook scoffed, his thoughts running as he smiled at some people,  a practiced smile, one that was as fake as everything around him.

His in-laws saw him, beckoning him to go to them.  Jungkook hesitated. He saw how Taehyung went stiff as soon as he saw him.

If Jungkook could, he wouldn't have come at all, but his mother in law had called him 4 times, reminding him to attend the party.

He walked over, a small smile on his face as he avoided looking at Taehyung.

"Eomma, Appa, you both are looking fabulous as ever"

Jungkook hugged his in laws, heart warming because out of all the fake people in this hall, these were the only ones he genuinely liked.

'Jungkookie, my, you look so handsome. I see you took off your piercings?", Taehyung's mother greeted him.

Jungkook bit his lips before replying," Yes Eomma, I figured it wouldn't look suitable with this outfit. How are you both? I talked to Eomma on the phone but I haven't seen you in weeks Appa"

Taehyung's father was an intimidating man, one who many feared. But with Jungkook, that man was soft as ever.

"Son, I'm very well. I was meaning to visit you when I came back from the trip but I just couldn't find the time. My son is treating you well I hope?"

Jungkook smiled," ofcourse Appa. He is the best. Treats me like a prince"

Lies. It was all lies. Lies to make Taehyung's parents happy. Lie to make them not worry.

Jungkook knew Taehyung was listening on to their conversation, but as always, he wouldn't say anything.

"That's good. You didn't come together so I got a little worried. You guys aren't fighting or anything?", Taehyung's mother probed, worried because she had noticed how her son and his mate hadn't really spoken to each other yet.

"Oh no Eomma, I had a late meeting with my publisher so I told Taehyung to come without me. I knew I would be a tad bit late", Jungkook smiled again, hoping they buy his little lie.

Over the past 4 years, Jungkook had mastered the art of lying, or so he thinks.

"Taehyungie, you haven't said a word to Jungkook. Are you alright?", Taehyung's father asked his son, frowning a little.

Taehyung gave them his big boxy grin, also pretending just like Jungkook.

"Yes Appa, he just looks so good that I couldn't help but admire. I'm one lucky man"

Jungkook scoffed in his mind.

Lucky man, his ass.

Taehyung was such a good actor, even better than Jungkook apparently, because the elder had made his way towards Jungkook and hugged him, lips close to Jungkook's ears.

"Why the fuck are you here? I thought I told you not to show your face here"

There it was. The real Kim Taehyung. The one who hated Jungkook.

The words were so low, a whisper so inaudible that it was meant only for Jungkook's ears.

Taehyung pulled back, smiling as he placed his lips on Jungkook's cheeks, just lightly brushing on the skin there.

"Oh, they look so in love, don't they darling?", Taehyung's mother exclaimed happily.

Yes. To others they seemed so in love, but if you looked closely, you'll see how Taehyung was holding Jungkook's hand so tightly, that it would leave a bruise. A clear indication of his disdain of having Jungkook here.

"Eomma. Appa. I think I'll go look for my parents now. They said they'll come. I'll see you later ", Jungkook bowed politely, wincing a little when the pressure on his hand increased.

Taehyung left his hand, smiling as he replied, "Ofcourse Jungkook. I think I saw them near the windows."

Jungkook thanked him and quietly made his way away from them, his hand throbbing where Taehyung had grabbed it.

He made his way to the washroom, getting into one of the stalls and locking it, as he examined his hand.

It bruised no doubt. The skin reddish, a little swollen.

The strength of an Alpha was no joke, even more so when Jungkook bruised easily.

Taehyung wasn't abusive per say. He hasn't risen his hand on Jungkook, ever, but there were moments like this when the Alpha lost his temper a little, which resulted in incidents like this.

Jungkook knows that Taehyung doesn't even realize that the amount of force he had used would leave a bruise, but then, Taehyung didn't know anything about Jungkook, had never even tried to get to know him.

Someone entered the washrooms as chatter filled the air, and Jungkook made himself as quiet as possible.

"Did you see the Kim's son?", a voice said, one that jungkook didn't recognize.

"Yes. He is so handsome no? Too bad he has a mate", another voice replied, this one shriller.

"Yes. His mate looks so.. well, muscular. To think he is an omega. I wonder how Kim Taehyung could accept him."

"Yes. But well, I heard they are fated mates, so maybe he didn't have a choice. I saw him with that dancer just the other day. They looked like they were on a date. "

The voices laughed. "Oh well, who can blame him? Imagine having a muscular omega as your mate, even I would go look for someone else"

Jungkook held back a sob, eyes watering as those words registered in his brain.

Yes. He knew he wasn't an average omega. He wasn't like that. His body wasn't like that.

He didn't have curvy hips and soft tender skin, he didn't have soft feminine features.

He was a fraud for an omega.

He had piercings and tattoos, he worked out and thus he had abs and muscles.

He wasn't what the society wanted in omegas.

Maybe that's why, even after 4 years of marriage, Taehyung still didn't want him.

A date.

Jungkook knew who the dancer was. It was so obvious.

Park Jimin.

The omega of everyone's dreams.

Especially Taehyung's.

Taehyung had been in love with Jimin for so long, and yet it had all been ruined when Jungkook came in the picture.

A date.

Jungkook knew Jimin wasn't bad. The Omega was kind, always so kind to Jungkook.

And yet, those words, a date, kept ringing in his ears as his heart burned with the feeling of betrayal.

His omega was writhing in pain, the image of his alpha being with another omega too painful.

Jungkook heaved his guts out, the thought too nauseating, but he was too preoccupied with his pain to notice the tinge of blood that he had just puked out.

Jungkook waited for a few minutes before getting out of the stall, washing his mouth and face, before making his way to the hall, putting back the mask of a happy omega.

But fate isn't on his side. Jungkook should have known that by now.

For there should his husband, with his arms around Jimin's shoulder, laughing without a care in the world.

Jungkook watched helplessly as Taehyung fed Jimin a piece of cake, wiping away the scraps from his lips, eyes twinkling with adoration.

It suddenly got too much and Jungkook couldn't help but want to escape.

He walked swiftly towards the exit, not even retrieving his coat, walking straight into the darkness of Seoul, tears running down his face.

He didn't know where he was going, didn't even care.

Shaky hands found his cellphone, taking it out of his pants as he dialed a number he had mesmerized.

The call was picked on the 2nd ring, a soft voice saying "hello"

"It hurts hyung. It hurts so bad", was all that Jungkook could say.

In this whole world, if anyone knew the truth behind his broken relationship with Taehyung, it was this person.

The person who was his anchor, his bestfriend, Min Yoongi.

For now, Jungkook would just cry his heart out, before he has to head back home and face the wrath of his mate, who for sure will not notice his absence until after the party was over.

This was the broken life of Jungkook, an omega who was so strong willed, but helpless in front of his soulmate.

An omega who was just a fool in love.

-
Thoughts?