"What is wrong?"
Yena's lips trembled, eyes darting around wildly. "Please... He.." her grip tightened on his arm till it hurt.
Jihoon's frown deepened, unable to make sense of what the girl was saying. He grabbed her shaky form by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"I don't understand what you are saying, Yena. Speak clearly so I can help you, okay?" The omega offered her a small reassuring smile.
The girl swallowed, hesitating.
"Sir... he..."
The door to the restroom opened and both of them flinched at the unexpected intrusion.
Seojun walked in. "Are you going to sleep in—" He cut himself off, eyeing the situation warily.
"What is going on here?" he questioned, looking at Jihoon.
"She was just—" The omega tried to explain.
Seojun's gaze turned to Yena. "What are you doing in the male's restroom?!" he barked, causing the girl to flinch.
"Sorry, I'm sorry," she bowed repeatedly and fled from the restroom.
"Wait—" Jihoon ran after her but she had hurriedly disappeared among the crowd of students.
Seojun came to stand beside him. "What happened? Why was she in there?"
"She wanted to tell me something," Jihoon stated, eyes filled with worry.
"In the male restroom?" The other shook his head in disbelief. "These students are always up to something, I swear."
"I don't know—"
"It must be about a boyfriend or a lover."
"Maybe."
"There's a basketball match going on today..." Seojun started. "... do you want to come?" He offered and the omega shook his head.
"I'm leaving early today. I already have plans," He mumbled regretfully. "I'm sorry, Senior."
Seojun's smile faltered for a bit before he nodded in understanding. "It's alright, then."
He snapped his fingers. "Are you busy on Friday night?"
Jihoon pursed his lips in thought and Seojun nudged his shoulder playfully.
"Don't say no... the others will be there. That way you can get to know them moe and you can unwind."
Feeling guilty for refusing the senior's earlier request, he nodded.
"I'll come."
The other gave him a bright smile. "Nice! I'll send you the location."
Jihoon watched as Seojun walked away, Yena's pleading eyes haunting him.
"Good job! I'll check this over the weekend and get back to you on Monday, okay?" The omega said as he collected the reviews.
He ignored the knowing smirk Junghoon threw his way as he collected his own.
"Okay, Sir." The students chorused and Jihoon nodded.
"You can go now."
"Have a great weekend, Sir!" Aera chirped, waving at him as she walked out and he waved back.
Jihoon leaned against the desk and watched as the students walk out. "Yena, please stay back."
The girl visibly tensed and obediently waited, her long hair obscuring her facial expressions.
He waited till it was just the two of them before looking at her. "What did you want to say that day, Yena?"
Yena raised her head, her gaze blank. "It was nothing, Sir."
"You were crying, Yena. You can talk to me," Jihoon's eyes softened but she firmly shook her head, a small smile on her lips.
"It was all a misunderstanding, Sir. I am alright," she mumbled, playing with the hem of her sweater.
Jihoon was speechless.
Had he overanalyzed the whole thing?
"Can I go now?"
The omega nodded hesitantly. "Yeah. You can go."
As Yena made to leave, Jihoon's observant eyes caught the red marks around her left wrist.
He pointed at it. "What is that?"
Yena's eyes widened in panic and she hurriedly pulled her sleeve, covering the marks.
"Just... a few bruises."
"Is someone hurting you?" Jihoon probed.
The girl shook her head. "I just fell down, Sir."
The marks didn't look like that.
"I'm a bit clumsy these days," she added with a hollow laugh when Jihoon's frown only deepened. "Can I leave?"
"Yeah."
* * *
"Chug! Chug!! Chug!!!"
Jihoon bit his lip as he eyed the bowl of mixed alcohol, the chants of his work colleagues ringing in his ears.
Grabbing it, he tipped it against his lips and drowned it in one go. The rest erupting into cheers.
Seojun patted his back in approval, a goofy grin on his face. "That's how you get indoctrinated into the group, Jihoon!"
"Welcome!" The rest clinked their glasses.
The omega nodded as he licked his lips, throat burning from the alcohol.
A staff thrust a beer bottle in his hand. "Have this!" he laughed, clearly drunk.
Jihoon dipped his head. "Thank you."
The omega was secretly regretting accepting Seojun's invitation to come here.
The bar was on the shady side of Seoul with dim neon lights that flickered over sticky floors.
The smell of cheap cologne and the loud music made Jihoon's head swirl and he rubbed his temple to quell the dizziness.
"Why are you still wearing your scent patch?" One of them pointed out and Jihoon's hands instinctively went to his neck.
"Oh.. I..."
"The school rules don't allow staff members and students to go around without scent patches, so... we made it a norm to be free of them whenever we are together," Seojun informed.
"I'm a beta if you didn't notice," he continued.
"Is that so?" Jihoon lowered his eyes to the table. "I didn't know... "
One of his female colleagues patted his shoulder. "It's alright, Kid. You are allowed this one time."
The omega smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you."
"Kid? Come on, Yura." Seojun chuckled. "You are not that older than him."
Yura glared at him. "Yah! Seojun! I am nearly his mother's age!" she declared.
The man to her right rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. You are even his grandma," he commented dryly.
She smacked him on the shoulder. "Shut it, Seungmin."
"Ouch!" Seungmin pouted, rubbing the sore spot. The rest of the group burst into laughter.
"How old are you by the way?" Seojun asked and Jihoon shrugged.
"Twenty-seven."
Yura cooed, reaching over poke a finger at his cheek. "But he looks so young and cute."
Jihoon's ears flushed as heat crept up his neck. He ducked his head, eyes on the table.
"Thank you."
Seojun pushed her hand away playfully. "You are going to make him burst. Look at how red his face is!" He pointed out and the rest of the group cooed at the omega.
Yura's eyes twinkled in excitement. "From now on you'll be my younger brother!" she raised her glass and clinked it with his.
"That's definitely your alpha speaking," one of the staff said and she pouted.
"He is just so... I want to hide him!"
Seungmin coughed loudly, eyes filled with mirth while Yura gave him a stink eye.
"I didn't say anything!"
"You better not."
Jihoon smiled.
"What was I thinking?" Jihoon complained as he walked slowly, hands stretched to maintain balance.
He had overdid it tonight with the alcohol and he felt woozy.
The quiet, dimly lit streets spooked him so he quickly started to pull out his car key from his pockets.
Bang!
Something hit the side of his car, causing the omega to scream in fright, jumping a few steps away from the vehicle.
"What is that?!" he strained his eyes to see that it was person laying limply on the floor, groaning.
Jihoon could barely make out their face in the shadows.
"Excuse me?"
He hurriedly fumbled for his phone and hurriedly turned on the flashlight, a gasp escaping his lips.
"Jeon Junghoon?!"