Jeonghan stared at the ugly sight of the females trying to flirt with his alpha. Although he knew he didn’t need to worry because the man was a fool for him, that didn’t mean he finds the random females trying to get his alpha’s attention pleasing. Especially since Seungcheol trimmed down his hair to reveal his pretty ears, the regular customers of the café started gushing over him.

It was not as if he could mark that alpha to ward off those ladies because, well, most if not some of them were betas, and some of them were old ladies and school children. And they were just admiring him from afar because his boyfriend just had that oppa-next-door vibe so he really had nothing to be jealous about. In fact, even if that one shameless, persistent omega came in, he could pay no mind at all. Because all her interaction with Seungcheol was in front of him, and his alpha lets him check his messages when he gets curious.

Speak of the devil, she just entered.

Owh and look, very predictably, she went straight to his boyfriend.

Rolling his eyes, Jeonghan made sure that the seats beside him were filled with his bag and books, and got back to working on his assignment. He was not curious about what she was telling Seungcheol, he could tell from the previous ones that she was trying to portray herself as a mere friend by talking about random things and gossiping.

The vibration of his phone caught the young omega’s attention, and he looked to see a message coming from Nayoung, the classmate he had been getting close to. She was notifying him about the upcoming dorm fellow meeting where they would be discussing some events to be held for spring of next year, after orientation.

Knowing how active Nayoung was, Jeonghan randomly mentioned about the movie night to her and unsurprisingly, she told him that she was one of the committee members. Jeonghan even remembered thinking that she was going places, and how her extracurricular activities seem to coincide with his interest. And with that, they started talking more and right now, he was trying to see if he was interested in joining it as well.

Because, well, Seungcheol was not wrong when he said Jeonghan had too much free time that his thoughts get to him more frequently. Escaping those thoughts was what made him go to clubs as distraction, and now that he refused to continue doing so, he had to find other things to do.

Suggesting his classmate to come by the café if she had the time to talk about their proposal for a new event, Nayoung agreed and Jeonghan put down his phone. Now excited. He looked over at his alpha who was tending the cash register, and looking at his own empty glass, decided to go buy something else for himself.

‘Another latte?’ Seungcheol teased as soon as he saw Jeonghan coming towards him. Smiling sheepishly, the omega picked one of the roll cakes and a fruit drink instead, just to prove Seungcheol wrong. The alpha pretended his sad face for guessing wrong, satisfying the playful omega.

‘Nayoung’s coming.’ He reported, just because. Seungcheol looked at him curiously, wanting him to continue as he clicked on the register. Despite wanting to talk, he was still on the clock and there were still a few customers waiting so he proceeds with his task. Jeonghan understood that too, having been here every day Seungcheol had his shifts since a few months ago, hence why he ordered a cake as well instead of a simple drink.

‘For the treasure hunt?’ Jeonghan nodded and moved towards the counter along with Seungcheol. ‘Tell me ‘bout it later?’

Jeonghan grinned, already excited about the walk home. Getting his head pat, he took the tray with his cake and drink before turning, not forgetting to roll his eyes at Woo Ri who he knew was watching them.

*****

Jeonghan stood up as soon as he saw Seungcheol coming out from the staff entrance, now ready to return to campus. Making sure all his stuff was in his bag and hand, the omega walked towards the entrance, and waited for the alpha to be done with his greetings as usual. Then he too bowed at the staffs from outside, and welcomed his lover to the outside world.

Now waiting for their bus, Jeonghan was about to explain his discussion today before noticing familiar faces coming to sit with them at the stop. He did not know their names, nor remember them from the clubs or their college but they were often seen here, at the bus stop every time he and Seungcheol were here. Of course, considering this was a public bus and most people taking the bus was doing so routinely so there were other faces as well but these guys caught his attention the most. Because Seungcheol’s shifts differ by weeks and yet, he still saw them. To the point of remembering their faces.

Feeling uncomfortable, Jeonghan shifted closer to his alpha and held his hand tightly. Noticing the change in atmosphere, Seungcheol turned his head to see what was causing it but couldn’t identify it. Concluding it to be the lady at the very end of the line, he looked back at the omega, puzzled.

‘What is it?’ Jeonghan shook his head, not wanting to worry the alpha with his paranoid thoughts. Since having that dream, he couldn’t help but feel like bad people were following him and his alpha for the right time to grab him. He knew he might be wrong, because it had been weeks in which he walked alone to and from the café a few times without any incidents but he still couldn’t be completely sure he was out of the wood just yet.

Because the old man said that his ‘owner’ still wanted him. And Jeonghan was afraid that the person was angry at Seungcheol and wanted to hurt him as well.

‘You sure?’ Jeonghan nodded, pulling Seungcheol towards the bus as soon as it stopped in front of them, taking the empty seats nearest to the exit. He was not ready for a confrontation; he wanted to make sure they could get off as soon as they reach their stop.

Jeonghan turned to stare at the bus, making sure the men were still on the bus when they got off. As usual, the group stay inside, not even bothering to look at them as the bus left the campus bus stop. Despite experiencing this each time, he couldn’t convince himself that this was a mere coincidence.

Satisfied that the bus no longer in sight, Jeonghan finally allowed himself to relax and pulled his alpha slightly to enter the gate. And already used to it, Seungcheol gave the man a reassuring smile, ‘come on.’

*****

‘Are you going to propose it, or is Nayoung?’ Seungcheol asked after hearing about the plan the two made today. Jeonghan already told him that they had only a few slots for activities due to the budget and planning, so minus the annual ones that had been the tradition, new ideas had to be presented and voted on. Jeonghan shook his head as a response, ‘I’m sitting in. Not yet a member.’

‘Really? It’ll be fun to do a themed treasure hunt since you guys have huge lawn.’ Jeonghan nodded in agreement, already imagining what it would be like. He was actually inspired by the games they sometimes play at the shelter, since they have a huge running space for the kids to find the clues and items. And the fact that no one at the dormitory who is not participating would be able to hear the commotion due to the sound-proof structure just like the omega house, Jeonghan figured there should be no problem.

Besides the fact that, children played it back at the shelter and the omegas here are young adults that is. And also, the fact that they are doing the same thing for the orientation week, but it was only exclusively for the new students. Which was why Jeonghan was initially worried about bringing it to the meeting; That was, until Nayoung chimed in with her idea of doing a ‘cops and robbers’ theme, completely turning it into a nostalgic fusion of two games. Now everything was looking good and Jeonghan couldn’t wait to start with planning the details.

Seungcheol smiled sweetly at his excited omega, wanting to capture this moment. And so, while Jeonghan was still talking about the few ideas he had in mind, Seungcheol the camera and snaped a picture, grinning stupidly to himself as he made it his wallpaper. Jeonghan didn’t seem to notice though, still very immersed in his own world.

‘Isn’t he cute?’ The alpha asked suddenly, catching the other’s attention. Jeonghan frowned at the interruption and clicked his tongue, but took a peek at the phone anyway. He could enjoy cute guys too.

Jeonghan’s face turned red as soon as he saw his face on the screen.

Seungcheol grinned at the reaction. Not for long though as Jeonghan took his own phone and started scrolling. Knowing what the omega was trying to do, he only hummed while waiting, excited to see what picture Jeonghan would choose as his wallpaper. When the omega finally showed his silly smile, he asked to see it.

And his smile faded.

It was his confused face the first time they went out drinking together. When the two omegas were attacking him on the drink etiquette by asking stupid questions.

‘YAH! I chose a pretty one!’ Seungcheol whined, trying to grab the phone to no avail because Jeonghan ran further in front of him. ‘Yah!’

‘But this is the cutest picture of you!’ Jeonghan laughed, opening his camera to take another picture. As he predicted, Seungcheol started to frown and pout in discontent.

He snapped a picture, grinning to himself for another addition to his collection of ‘Frowny Cheol’.

Jeonghan walked back to the man though, laughing when the alpha sighed playfully. Grabbing his hand, he swung them forward to show that he was ready for another conversation. Seungcheol understood it to his delight, his alpha was the best like that.

‘Do you have anything to do this Saturday?’ Seungcheol asked, reasonably curious. The past few weeks since he started trying new things to fill in his time, he decided to join some events in the last minute a few times. Hence why instead of planning ahead, the couple started to do things randomly like right now. Seungcheol probably had something in mind. Unfortunately, Jeonghan already had a plan.

‘I’m volunteering in an animal shelter.’ That caught the alpha’s attention. Because sure, lately the omega had been trying volunteer work a lot but most of them were in small omega shelters and even orphanages. This was the first time he moved from helping humans to animals.

Seungcheol stared at the omega, suddenly feeling amazed. He knew the fact the Jeonghan chose to do volunteer work in the first place was admirable enough by itself but it just never occurred to him how noble that was because, well, obviously Jeonghan was from an orphanage and a shelter himself so it only feels like the omega was returning to his root and giving back. But at the animal shelter?

His omega really has a gentle soul.

He was so proud of this man.

‘What?’ Jeonghan looked at him, feeling a bit uncomfortable from the sudden silence. He thought that Seungcheol was disappointed for not being able to do something together on the weekend. Come to think of it, since the movie date, they hadn’t been on any official date again…

‘Can I-’ Seungcheol started but before he could finish,

‘Do you wanna-’ Jeonghan cut him off, but stopped when he noticed that the other was talking. Somehow knowing what the other wanted to say, the omega gave Seungcheol a wide grin to which the latter responded with another soft smile.

‘I wanna join too.’ Seungcheol finished his sentence, delighting the omega. This would be his first vo