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@☼┊wen jennie ᵃ After spending the day making his usual rounds on campus, Soohyuk finally returned to his office, looking forward to a brief afternoon nap. Settling onto the couch, he leaned back, closing his eyes to collect himself. Then he remembered the letterbox outside his office. A grin tugged at his lips as he sat up. “Let’s see if we’ve got letters.” he murmured, feeling a spark of excitement. He stepped outside and retrieved the box, noting with satisfaction that the letter he’d left earlier for his favorite anonymous student was gone. Back at his desk, he opened the box and tipped its contents onto his desk like a child spilling out a treasure chest. There were a few letters inside, which brought a warm smile to his face. It seemed the idea was working.

As he sifted through the letters, his eyes landed on one envelope with its name crossed out. A knowing smile crossed his face, it had to be her. He opened it first, curiosity piqued, and couldn’t help the amused chuckle that escaped him as he read the playful response. With a soft smile lingering, Soohyuk set the letter down, shaking his head at her wit. She always managed to brighten his day. Humming a random tune, he reached for a blank sheet of paper and began composing his reply.

Dear student who is hopefully not in a food coma anymore,

You truly are a hero saving brainpower, one counselor at a time. And yes, my age definitely isn’t helping with that. I’d send you a cookie, but it might not survive the delivery, so here’s a candy instead. Maybe when you reveal yourself, I can properly treat you. Deal? Also, lucky for me, I don’t wear ties. Wouldn’t want to risk being labeled boring, you know?

And you asked a great question. Let me tell you a little secret: I might be good (or maybe not) at giving advice, but I rarely follow it myself. You’ve given me something to think about, though. Maybe it’s time I found an outlet of my own. Look at you, turning the tables on me. Well played!

As for the letterbox, I couldn’t resist the glitter and stickers. Who doesn’t love a little sparkle? It makes everything better, don’t you think? And while calling your counselor an idiot and a goofball might not be polite, I’ll take it as a term of endearment this time :p

Here’s hoping your food coma has passed, and if you ever see me, do say Hi even if I wouldn't know its you.

Your now doubting counselor (wondering if I should give you my job),
Wen Soohyuk

Satisfied with the playful yet thoughtful tone, Soohyuk folded the letter and reused the envelope she’d provided, figuring it was a good opportunity to recycle. Scribbling on the back of it, just below the scratched-out words, he wrote “To the student recycler. Let’s save the trees.” With a playful flourish, he sealed it with a leftover sticker and tucked in the promised candy, one of his favorite caramel flavored candy melts. With that done, he moved on to the rest of the letters, penning responses tailored to each sender. By the end of the day, he placed the replies in a small cardboard box beside the letterbox, labeling each one cleverly to ensure it reached the right recipient. For his favorite anonymous confidant, however, her reply was taped to his office door as always, a little tradition he couldn’t resist keeping alive.

@☼┊wen soohyuk ᵇ jennie bounced down the hallway, her stomach pleasantly full after a huge meal in the cafeteria. passing the counselor's office, she noticed something familiar: a letter sticking to the door, just like last time but this time, a quite eccentric pen name was written on the envelope. it suited the counsellor so well. blinking in surprise, something new stood beside it – a decent-looking letterbox. a chuckle escaped her lips. 'not bad, sir. not bad,' she mused, amusement bubbling within her.

she hadn't expected the counselor to actually take her suggestion seriously. a smile touched her lips as she glanced around the mostly empty hallway. no one lingered nearby, so she easily retrieved the letter. curiosity piqued, she sauntered towards the nearest lounge room, eager to discover what the counselor had written. reading the reply, a mischievous glint entered her eyes. she grabbed her pen and tore a piece of paper from her notebook. it was time to respond.

to our quirky counselor,

aha. i guess it's safe to say i'm a hero! saved a person from losing their brainpower, yes? you owe me a cookie! we need your creativity to help us solve our problems. i agree, although, ties can be boring too. no offense to those who like wearing ties.

yup, i agree to that. you have your somewhat playful way to lessen the serious atmosphere and encourage us, the students, to talk to you. but how about you? we talked our problems to you, then who are you going to talk to when you have problems of your own? sometimes i wonder that too. do you get a counselor for staffs too? or do you just bottle it all up and explode?

it's a nice looking letterbox, i must say. who are you? a counselor slash a secret diy master? suspicious! i'm keeping an eye on you.. and my pleasure to make you smile like an idiot. i mean, a happy goofball! :) be prepared for the next random fact next time! but not now, because i'm in a food coma. have a great day ahead, mr. wen!

with a touch of playfulness, 
a student who is in a food coma.

jennie didn't even notice the grin that spread across her face as she wrote the letter. it seemed the lighthearted situation temporarily distracted her from the realities of her life. writing an anonymous letter to the counselor was strangely liberating. searching for an empty envelope in her bag, she found none. settling for a used white envelope with her name on it, she quickly crossed out her name with a pen, determined to maintain her secret identity. jennie wasn't quite ready to fully expose herself. after gathering her belongings, she returned to the counselor's office and finally, she deposited the letter into the newly installed box before continuing her next schedule.

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ taeyong’s face was calm, but his heart was racing a marathon. the professor was sitting very closely, and he had to fight the sudden urge to lean against the former. he tried to take a peek at the mentioned book, only to raise a brow in curiosity when the other hid it. still, he did not pry. instead, he returned his attention to the taller alpha and tilted his head, nodding for him to continue.

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ the male sat down next to the student and hummed. from a side, it looked like a professor studying with his student, but jaehyun was leaning close to the open notebook. as soon as he saw what he wrote, he hummed. ‘ i am here to get a book. ‘ he hid the title of the book and placed under his thigh. ‘ can i show you something ? ‘ he suddenly asked out of nowhere.

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ distantly, taeyong picked up a familiar scent. however, caught up in his studies, he didn’t check the identity of the owner—until he was right in front of him and talking to him. the smaller alpha jolted with surprise, looking at jaehyun with wide eyes like a deer caught in headlights. he only managed to regain his senses a minute later, when he realised he had been asked a question. picking up the resource textbook, he held it up for the professor to see—written in big fonts was the title, ‘the british sign language’. when he put the book down, he picked up his notebook and opened a clean page, quickly scribbling and showing it to jaehyun. ‘how about you?’

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ he entered the library, greeting the librarian. as he leaned against the counter, looking at the book on it, he suddenly noticed a familiar scent. taking a whip of it, his eyes landed on the prettiest person in the room, already knowing who it is. the library was deserted, not a familiar person around. so he walked closer to him, clad in his white dress shirt, black pants and glasses, leaning his palms on the table and towered over it. ' what are you studying?' the laptop was right below his head, so it was impossible to actually see, but he still bend head down to read it upwards.

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ taeyong always visited the library when he wanted to study, whether that was for his classes or his interests. today, he had a laptop in front of him, a resource textbook on his left and his notebook opened to his right. he was honing his knowledge in english sign language, checking between the textbook and his laptop for information before writing down some pointers in his notebook. his brows were slightly furrowed with concentration, having tuned out his surroundings at some point.

@☼┊wen dilraba ᵃ After ticking off the last item on the medical checklist his sister had asked him to collect from the hospital, Soohyuk loaded the boxes of medications into his car. Closing the trunk, he pulled out his phone and quickly sent her a message: "Got everything. Should I drop them off at the medical office?" With that, he hit send and began the drive back to the academy with a soft smile, just glad to be doing things for his younger sister.

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ not long after taeyong sent his contact number, a little 'seen' appeared. he saw that jaehyun was typing, and snorted when the messages were sent. there was an endeared smile on his face as the professor's words played in his head on loop, heart inexplicably beating faster at the thought of the latter doing something at the drop of a hat if asked of him and his cheeks flushing at the naughty image the texts conjured.

waving his hand above his head like it would chase away the indecent pictures floating to his psyche, taeyong was about to reply when he received a text from his personal number. his heart skipped a beat and he opened the message, quickly skimming its content before saving the unknown number under 'hottie'. with a firm and happy nod, the alpha returned to the messages and read them a second time, slower and more carefully.

seeing jaehyun's enthusiasm in getting to know him more had taeyong smiling like a fool in love. when he pressed his palm to his chest, he could feel the erratic thumping of his heart. he chuckled at how excited he was becoming just from the simple interaction between him and the other alpha.

'woah, slow down there, tiger. one question at a time!' he put a joy emoji here, showing the light-heartedness of his teasing remark. 'i like the colour pink. a lot of people hate it because they think it's girly, but i think it's a really versatile colour. light pink exudes a peaceful and loving aura, while dark pink has a confident and unapologetic personality. pink is a good colour and i appreciate it a lot.'

'as for my favourite flower, it's the columbine, especially red ones. it reminds me of my mother.' he distantly remembered her scent washing over him when he was a kid, cooing him to sleep and promising protection. he shook the thought away, pushing down on the sadness that threatened to creep up on him. 'i don't have a favourite food, but i do like making my own meals. you can add and extract ingredients as you cook, and you'll end up with a dish that you enjoy more this way.' for the final question, he replied, 'i have the scent of roses, though i think it can get overwhelming for some people.'

'i can't be the only one sharing information about myself now! tell me about yourself too. is there a reason you became a professor? what do you like to do during your off-time?'

after sending the message, taeyong waited. however, half an hour passed by without the texts even being seen. he looked at the time and hummed—jaehyun must've fallen asleep.

smiling softly, taeyong wrote, 'i guess you fell asleep. i hope your dreams are sweet and your sleep restful.'

with that, he placed his phone on the bedside table and turned off the night lamp, lying in bed and staring at the dark ceiling. his heart was still beating with excitement, yearning to converse with the other alpha some more. however, his body demanded rest, and eventually, the shadows in the corners of his room also engulfed him, pulling him into a land of dreams.

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ The silence between them wasn't awkward , if anything it was nice to have a few moments of comfortable silence. His mind was still racing a little but he was trying to push the thoughts out of his mind and instead jsut focus up on the sky above them. His gaze dropped back down to Taeyong when he heard the phone again, eyes widening slightly at the mention of Eunbi. They had just left without a word to her, he was right.

After staring at his friends face for a moment to get a read if he was really okay staying by himself and once he confirmed it was so he nodded his head once in agreement, patting the Alphas hand, "Okay I'll go back first and you be safe, alright?" With that he rose and headed back into the school, although there was a wonder in the back of his mind if he'd see Taeyong again that night or not...

- END.

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ () naw it's finee hahaha

Taeyong laughed at the omega's antics; although the action was silent, the expression carried amusement. A slight huff of air escaped him as he was hugged, returning the embrace as he nodded his head gently. His chest felt a lot lighter now, shoulders not as tensed and mind much freer than before—the stress from the situation in the ballroom finally dwindling to a mere dot.

He smiled at Taehyung's words, signing a 'Thank you' before adding 'You too'. He patted his chest, silently showing Taehyung that he could trust the alpha in turn too, flashing an assuring smile to boot.

A moment of silence passed between them. Taeyong felt like there was nothing more that could be said. Everything that was on their mind had been conveyed, it was time to go back.

Although he felt like staying outside for a bit longer.

So, he typed on his phone. 'The others are probably wondering where we went.' He remembered Eunbi and winced. 'Eunbi must be worried with how we left so suddenly. How about you go back first? I want to get a bit more fresh air, but I'll follow closely behind.' He made an 'OK' sign to Taehyung to show that he would be alright.

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ Taehyung shadow boxed the air playfully as if he was showing off a right hook to Taeyong before moving in to wrap his arms around his friend in a tight squeeze, patting his back gently with a soft 'you're welcome'. Once he was satisfied he finally sat back again - offering Taeyong a reassuring smile.

"I know you can do it. And if your move turns out bad I'll be here to support you through that as well, okay? anything you need just say the word," He was sincere in his words, it had been a long time since he'd had a real true friend and he would do anything for Taeyong at this point.

[]sorry for the ty lenght..

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ as soon as she sent her number, jaehyun saved it under the name 'cutie '. it was a simple choice, but meaningful - she was the only cutie in his contacts, making it impossible to mistake her for anyone else. when her playful comment about unsolicited pictures came through, he chuckled softly to himself. ' well, if you wanted me to, I’d send it,' he replied with a smirk, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. ' just say the word, beautiful. ' it was a joke, of course, but the teasing edge in his tone was unmistakable.

switching over to his messages, he found her freshly saved name and opened a new chat. the words came easily to him, almost instinctual. 'guess who, pretty,' he typed, the message accompanied by a winking emoji. before waiting for her response, he added another text. ' what’s your favorite color? flowers? food? scent? tell me all of it,' he wrote, the curiosity behind his questions genuine.

jaehyun laid down on his stomach, his phone still clutched in one hand while his other propped up his chin. he couldn’t help the small, goofy smile that tugged at his lips as he pictured her reaction. the idea of getting to know her better, learning all the little details that made her unique, filled him with a quiet excitement.

but as the minutes ticked by and the warmth of the pillow beneath his head began to lull him, he didn’t notice how his eyelids grew heavier. the steady rhythm of his own breathing mixed with the faint glow of the phone screen still resting in his hand. before he realized it, sleep claimed him. his head sank into the pillow, one arm dangling off the side of the bed. a faint line of drool began to form at the corner of his mouth, evidence of just how deeply he’d drifted off. the phone buzzed softly with her reply, but jaehyun didn’t stir, the screen illuminating the words he was so eager to read, now waiting for him in the quiet stillness of the room.

@☼┊wen jennie ᵃ Soohyuk strolled down the hall, the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows as he lazily munched on a bag of chips he’d picked up during his snack run to the canteen. Crinkling the half empty bag in one hand, he let out a small sigh of contentment. Morning snacks always hit differently. As he approached his office, his gaze fell on a familiar envelope resting in its usual spot under the door. Raising a curious brow, he bent down to pick it up, brushing a stray chip crumb off the front. “Back at it again, huh?” he murmured, a grin tugging at his lips.

Plopping into his chair, he set the chips aside and carefully opened the letter and as he read, his grin widened, the playful tone and quirky random fact bringing a soft chuckle out of him. The student’s humor had a way of breaking through the monotony of his day. He leaned back in his chair, tapping the letter against his chin as he considered his reply. This was what he loved most about his job, finding ways to connect, no matter how unconventional. With a smirk, he reached for a fresh sheet of stationery, brushed the chip crumbs off his desk, and began to write.

To the Random Fact Generator Sixth-Year Student,

First off, I must say, your random fact of the day has officially convinced me to avoid ties for the foreseeable future. Losing 7.5% of my brainpower is already risky enough, I can’t afford to lose more! And hey, who knows? Maybe ties are better suited for dramatic rescues than professional attire.

On a more serious note, I’m glad you found my words helpful. I’m not the guidance counselor for nothing, after all. Handling difficult situations with a lighthearted touch is my specialty. Life’s challenges can feel heavy enough on their own so no need for me to add more weight to the mix, right?

As for your suggestion about the letterbox, I have to admit, It’s a brilliant idea. Some students might not be as bold or witty as you are when it comes to reaching out, so why not make it easier for them? I’ll be sure to set up a box outside my office. And don’t worry, I promise to check it regularly and respond as thoughtfully as I can.

Thanks for the idea and for brightening my day with your letter. You’ve got a knack for making people smile, even through paper.

Sincerely (or not-so-sincerely),
The Tie Free Counselor Extraordinaire

Folding the letter neatly, Soohyuk slipped it into an envelope, sealed it with a quick swipe of his tongue, and scribbled his quirky pen name across the front. He pinned it to the usual spot on his office door with a little extra flair, giving it a playful tap before stepping back. He then glanced at the empty space next to his office door and rubbed the back of his neck. “Guess I should get started on that letterbox..” he muttered, heading to the supply closet.

Despite a rocky start with his initial attempts looking like something a kindergartner might craft, Soohyuk managed to cobble together a somewhat decent box. It wasn’t pretty, but it was functional. He affixed it outside his office with a triumphant smile. “Not bad,” he said, brushing his hands together. “Let’s see what kind of letters this thing attracts.”With that, he grabbed his chips and went on with his day, already wondering what kind of random fact or even witty remark his new favorite anonymous student might send next.

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong could not help the snort and subsequent laugh that escaped him at taehyung's words, voice raspy from disuse and a damaged throat. the latter was right—he could use some of his own advice, look after himself and exact caution. the mirth fizzled away as he calmed down, thoughtfulness imbuing his unseeing eyes.

then, he lifted his gaze to taehyung. a huff of air left through his nose in a chuckle as he smiled, nodding his head in agreement and understanding to the omega's words. although, the 'maybe' on his claim of throwing hands with the other alpha had taeyong grinning ear-to-ear, patting taehyung's head with affection.

'you're silly.' he wrote when he brought his hand away. 'but you're right. i shouldn't overthink these things, it'll just keep me static. i have to make a move, wherever that may lead me.' he looked at taehyung, gave him a smile, and then typed some more. 'thank you, both for your advice and your offer to kick his . i'm sure you can throw a good right hook.' his smile was teasing, but not the least bit doubtful.

after a moment, taeyong wrote on his phone. 'thank you for hearing me out. it really means a lot to me.'

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ The comments about the issues arising from Taeyong and Jaehyuns relationship were all very real and relevant - that much he was sure of. Not only was teacher and student relationships strictly forbidden, even if the two waited until Taeyong was finished with his studied there was the follow up issue of it being an Alpha couple. An issue Taehyung hadn't even considered until it was brought up.

He could definitely see that Taeyong was getting a liiiiiiittle ahead of himself thinking of these situations, but he also fully understood when you feel so strongly about another person sometimes you think a little crazy right? "Sometimes you just know your person even after one night.." He commented softly, letting his hand rub over Taeyongs back in slow circles.

His eyes saddened when he listened to Taey's final thoughts - clearly he did feel very strongly about the other Alpha. But, as his friend, he probably was feeling the same was as Taeyong has been feeling about Jungkook. There was a nagging icky feeling deep in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Maybe it was because of the display he'd seen between Jaehyun and the Omega earlier?

"Maybe... I don't even know how to say this without sounding like a .. But, the advice you've given me... Being careful, and taking care of yourself.. You should listen to that as well. However. If you feel so strongly about him then don't give up yet, okay? I bet you there's other Alpha couples out there who have figured out how to make it work, right? I support whatever decision you make, and I'm always going to be here if you need anything. Anything, okay? But I'll kick his - maybe - if he hurts you.."

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong offered a smile, small and tired. it was the only gesture he could offer taehyung at this very moment, on his very unique situation.

at the question, the alpha thought deeply. what else was there to say about his relations with the professor? or, more like, what could he tell the omega without laying bare his whole soul?

after some contemplation, taeyong typed his response, an airy and short-lived chuckle leaving his lips as the words appeared on his screen. 'i'm not even sure where to begin. all i can think about right now is how incompatible we are.' there was a laugh, but it was mirthless and soft against the talking phone. 'alpha couples are rare. what's more, we're both men. at least an alpha man and an alpha woman can reproduce. i doubt he'd want to settle with someone who can't give him children.'

once the last sentence was spoken, taeyong brought his phone back. he typed some more, seemingly pouring his nonsensical thoughts into the device. 'heck, i don't know why i'm even thinking about settling down with him. we're just starting to know each other; i'm just starting to know him. we're not even dating and all the connection we had was one night.'

taeyong inhaled shakily. he retracted his phone again, staring at the words before erasing them. his fingers were slow when they typed his next thoughts, tapping on the speaker for the device to convey his words out loud. 'and yet, he haunts my dreams and waking world. i'm drawn to him, and i can see it in his eyes that he feels the same. but we can't be together, i realised that when i saw him with the omega professor. even without acknowledging the reproducing aspect, i'm a student and he's a professor. there'll inherently be a power dynamic between us. everything about us just screams incompatible. it's ridiculous.'

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ The comfort was nice but it also felt too sympathetic, and he didn't really want that. He didn't really deserve it since he'd put himself into that situation in the first place. He was patient as he waited for Taeyong to finish typing, listening to Taeyongs thoughts with an open mind. He was appreciative that there was no attempts made to scold him or convince him to drop it.

His head nodded once, he trusted Taeyong by now so he would be careful and if he needed anything he would go to his friend. That much was true. But, he wasn't in a place where he would take himself out of the situation he'd put himself into. He was still too deep. "Thank you, Taeyong." He said softly, moving his hand to the Alphas back to rub it slowly.

"For now though.. Is there anything else I can do for you? Do you wanna talk about it, or even just sit here in silence?"

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ 【 tw : heavy ahead, student x professor 】

a smile immediately adorned taeyong's features at the forehead kiss, feeling warmth spreading through his chest at the affectionate gesture. although, after two minutes passed without the other talking, he grew a bit self-conscious. perhaps he should take out his phone—

right then, jaehyun mouthed two words. reading lips became a passive habit of his after picking up sign, so it didn't take him long to understand the words. he looked at the taller alpha with wide eyes, unconsciously gulping at the prospect. still, he found himself nodding his head, curling his fingers against jaehyun's chest as his own heart beat in excitement.

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong watched the omega’s reaction carefully, frowning with worry when it appeared like he was in physical pain. he extended his hand and rubbed taehyung’s back, waiting patiently for the latter’s reply. when he finally gave his answer, the alpha was not surprised by it in one bit—in fact, he had expected it, and it just made his heart shatter even more.

in a way, taehyung reminded him of his own mother. she did not love his father, but she loved taeyong dearly. and, because of the advice of unhelpful relatives, she stayed with an abusive man instead of running away with her child. the rational solution was to leave, but what can you do when everyone around you advised you the opposite?

taehyung was right: when you’re raised a certain way, it’s hard to break out of it. when you’re used to certain treatments and words by the people close to you, around you, it’s hard to break out of the mindset.

taeyong breathed deeply. he pulled his hand back, as if extracting himself from his own past. it had been years since the incident. he thought he had moved on. but, seeing the people around him allowing themselves to be hurt because of love, he couldn’t help but to be reminded. he wondered—was there really no way out of a toxic cycle?

taeyong turned to his phone. it took him a while to type his reply, backspacing and rewriting a few times. when he was done, the reply came out as a long paragraph.

‘i won’t tell you what to do. i’m sure whatever advice i give, you already know them deep down in your heart. so, i won’t waste our time by reminding you the basic. however, i’ll say this much: the decisions you make in the end around jungkook, i hope it won’t lead to your own destruction. i cannot force you to confide in me, but i would be sad if anything happens to you and i wasn’t there to stop it, especially when i have the capacity to stop it.’

he looks at taehyung. his gaze was firm—stern and concerned. then, his eyes softened, and he wrote again, ‘you probably heard this a million times from the people around you, but please be careful.’ after a moment, he also typed, ‘and i wish you the best of luck.’

it was suicide, taeyong was sure—taehyung willingly throwing himself into the fire that was jungkook, like a moth. however, what more could he do if the person didn’t want help? the best he could do was to wish him the best. if ever he finds taehyung in a pinch, then being left alone be damned; he was going to step in no matter how the omega protests, because he would not let injustice slide in front of his very eyes.

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ Of course he didn't expect Taeyong to understand, he didn't expect anyone to understand. Without going into detail it was hard to make it clear exact what there was. Even to himself it was still unclear, honestly. He was right though, Jungkook treated him like absolute dirt, no lower than dirt, he treated him like he was nothing. Taehyung did nothing to deserve the way he is treated. And yet still, he also didn't blame Jungkook in return.

He was drawn to the Alpha. Drawn by some kind of invisible force. "I know.. I didn't deserve it. It's just.. it's complicated, yknow? When you're raised a certain way.."

The next question caused a pain through his chest, so painful he even lifted a hand to press against it as he swallowed slowly. It took him a moment but he finally cleared his throat and moved his gaze from the stars back down to Taeyong again. This was the first time he'd been asked that. The first time he'd been asked but he knew his answer without even thinking. "I love him. I love him so much it's honestly stupid. I think I'll love him for the rest of my life and that kind of right now.."

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong returned the hug, rubbing the omega’s back comfortingly. when they pulled away, he watched as taehyung leaned back and looked up at the sky. he listened to the other’s words carefully, taking in his side of the story without judgement.

when taehyung was done speaking, there was a moment of silence as the alpha mulled over his words. he turned to his phone and typed, ‘even before your recent mistakes, he didn’t seem to treat you well. no matter his trauma, he didn’t have the right to take it out on you.’ he would know—having his mother dead and his voice chords damaged because army screwed his own father. the thought brought a bitter frown to his face.

even so, it wasn’t like taeyong knew jungkook that deeply. whatever taehyung saw in the wen alpha, he must’ve believed that there was still hope in the latter’s former person returning. he studied taehyung’s face for a bit, then wrote, ‘do you love him?’

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ A small smile broke out after the shoulder bump and he did indeed feel some sort of comfort from the other - sometimes it was nice to have somebody relate to how you were feeling, and he hoped to be that kind of support for Taeyong as best he could.

After he read the males next words he nodded his head with a heavy sigh, first taking the opportunity to hug the other, as tight as he could. He held him for a few moments before pulling back, leaning on his hands as he tilted his gaze up to the sky, staring at the stars - this time he spoke out loud. "It's complicated.. Jungkook and I.. he wasn't always like this. I know it's hard to believe but he used to be my best friend, he used to be somebody I would of spent the rest of my life with as a companion.." He hadn't really said out loud to anyone about the situation between them and he didn't say too much, "Army screwed him up and then I made some pretty huge mistakes recently so.. I deserve everything he's giving me right now."

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ he allowed the omega to take his phone, watching as he carefully typed his thoughts. once the device was back in his hands, he read the lines carefully. there was an anguished expression on his face, clearly sorry that taehyung had to go through the same pain, perhaps more so than taeyong had to right now. he looked at the other, bumping their shoulders together, hoping the light contact would show his support and comfort.

after some thought, he replied on his phone. ‘just having you here with me and ready to listen is good enough. thank you for hearing me out.’ his smile was genuine, and then he sighed. ‘i’m sorry about jungkook. i don’t know what happened, but it seemed like nothing good came out of that either.’ it was a struggle to weite jungkook’s name, but he still managed. ‘can i offer you a hug?’

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ He patiently waited for the response, he already knew it was a no but he waited even still. His eyes read along with the words as they appeared - the situation was all too familiar and his heart ached for his friend. Gently, he took the phone from Taeyongs hand, he had too much to say and he didn't know how to sign it all.

'It's okay to not be okay. I understand how you feel, unfortunately. And I don't have any solid advice, just know that you're not alone. You're allowed to be not okay. Is there anything I can do for you right now?'

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong exhaled softly, nodding his head in understanding to taehyung's sincere response. at the worried question though, he chewed his bottom lip. he lowered his head, fiddling with the hem of his shirt as he thought.

finally, he took out his phone and typed, 'if i'm honest, i'm not okay. but, i have to be.' his shoulders drooped in defeat, adding another line. 'it's not like we're going out or anything. i don't have the right to feel this way.'

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ Honestly, Taeyongs need to leave gave himself more of a reason to get out of there as well - he'd thought it would be a good idea. Friends, food, drinks, fun times all around but Jungkooks presence wore him down too easily. Through everything he still missed him, he still loved him, and the way he spoke to him just cut through his heart. He needed space, he needed air.

Already being outside he felt better. The air was cool but it filled his lungs and dispersed the icky feelings he'd been holding onto. He felt less suffocated. His eyes were on Taeyong again soon though - the scene that had just played out.. Was a similar one to something he'd had to face many times before, he knew how much it could hurt.

"I didn't have to, but I wanted to." He responded sincerely. He smiled, but there was worry behind his eyes. "Are you okay? That was... rough."

@☼┊wen taehyung ᵒ taeyong had planned to excuse himself—he didn't want to bother his friends and interrupt their festive mood. however, he did not expect taehyung to take his hand and lead him out of the ballroom instead, the shock causing him to stumble briefly as he followed the omega out.

a few turns in the hallway later, they found themselves outside in the company of the chilly night air. as if the confined space of the academy had been suffocating him, a sudden inhale rushed through his mouth and into his lungs. he blinked as he regained his composure, their steps also slowing, like taehyung noticed he was finally breathing a bit more properly.

taeyong looked at taehyung, a grateful smile on his face as he nodded. scanning their surroundings, taeyong pointed at a nearby bench. gently, he pulled taehyung to sit on it, slipping his hand from the other's warm palm to sign, 'thank you. you didn't have to.' he was referring to the omega bringing him away and missing out on the ball.

@☘︎┊nie jaehyun ᵃ his phone did not buzz for the longest time. it felt like hours had passed with him just lying on his side in utter silence as he waited for jaehyun's reply. perhaps his perception of time was warped from idleness, and that only mere minutes went by since he sent his texts.

his eyes slipped shut a few times, drowsiness threatening to pull him under. however, he stubbornly stayed awake, widening his eyes every time they tried to close. he had a feeling the other alpha would reply soon enough, he just didn't know how soon that would be.

a heavy quiet settled over the room, so much so that taeyong could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall. suddenly reminded of its existence, he glanced at the time, surprised to find that it was ten o'clock at night already. how had the day passed by so fast without him realising it?

taeyong shifted on his bed, sitting upright. maybe jaehyun had gone to sleep? perhaps it was time for him to go to bed too.

sighing, he got up, walking to the switches and turning the lights off. the only illumination left in the room was the night lamp on his bedside table.

just as he returned to his bed, the phone lit up with a new notification. taeyong instantly snatched it, opening the application as he tossed his pillow back against the headboard, settling snugly against it. he began reading the new text sent by the other alpha.

relief washed over taeyong when jaehyun assured that the nickname did not bother him, even finding it cute. that brought an endeared smile to his face, storing the information in his mind for future usage. as he read the next line, he instinctively switched off his phone and his side, curling into a ball as he screamed in his head. the words 'you're very beautiful' and 'i didn't want to miss my chance' ran laps around his head, making his heart beat excitedly in his chest. even though rationality reminded him that jaehyun was referring to the picture he used for his tinder identity, he still could not help but to feel as if the latter was talking about him instead.

his phone vibrated in his hand then, indicating a new message. curiously, taeyong read it. it was a text full of questions, one after another. they asked about his ambitions and goals, about his choice of career and the motivation behind it. he was thinking deeply about the inquiries when his phone rang with a new message again, an intrigued smile tugging his lips at jaehyun's talkativeness. he found it adorable, how inquisitive the other was to know more about him. the other alpha definitely reminded him of a puppy.

knowing that jaehyun wanted to be a swordsmith came as a surprise to taeyong. he would not have imagined the professor to choose a job where he would get himself grimy and sooty. although, imagining the other alpha in a tank top soaked through with sweat, hugging his figure and defining his torso as he worked away at a bench—

he switched off his phone again, turning around to bury his face in his pillow. focus, taeyong!

after a deep inhale, he continued the message. somehow, the part about jaehyun being formerly from the army did not surprise taeyong as much. it fit the other's noble character, the type of man to emphasise honour and dignity. he smiled at the thought as he read the next bit of information about the other alpha. a flash of excitement coursed through him when he found out the professor had a garden, as someone who enjoyed the outdoors and nature greatly.

and of course he was good with the piano too. no wonder he's good with his fin-

taeyong inhaled deeply. his brain was being awfully imaginative tonight. he blamed it on the fact that it was nearing midnight. something about a human's desire being the strongest during the witching hours.

once the naughty thoughts were repelled, he started replying to the texts.

'it's a bit embarrassing to admit, but i wouldn't say i have a solid dream. if i must pick, i'd say to live a peaceful life. that'll be good enough for me.'

he paused for a bit, contemplating whether to write the next part. in the end, he relented, 'i had quite the bumpy childhood. it's a long story- maybe i'll share it with you one day. anyway, it's the reason i became a support worker. i want to help people who had been in my situation, and i want to let them know that they're not alone in their battles.'

there was some hesitation on whether to share his contact with jaehyun. after weighing the pros and cons, he decided it would not bring any harm to do that. 'i'd love to hear you play the piano, and see the peonies in your garden. i'm quite a nature person myself.'

after that, he attached his phone number. then, he added, 'don't go sending pics now.' it was playful, a teasing jab at jaehyun. he did not need pictures of the other's private parts, he already knew how it looked like anyway.

@☘︎┊nie taeyong ᵃ as soon as she rejected his offer, jaehyun felt a pang of regret, realizing he had moved too quickly. it was too early to ask her out, and he cursed his impulsiveness. but just as disappointment started to set in, another message from her lit up his screen, and he couldn’t help but smile. she hadn’t completely shut him down; she was giving him a chance. that was more than enough for now - a glimmer of hope.

jaehyun leaned back, his thoughts swirling. was he being too straightforward? too pushy? maybe his eagerness had made her wary. they’d only been talking for one evening, yet he’d already blurred the lines, diving in without considering boundaries. it wasn’t intentional - he was just drawn to her, captivated by her energy.

he let out a quiet sigh, staring at the ceiling. was he coming off as desperate? did she feel trapped, like a bird caught in his cage? the very idea made his chest tighten. that was the last thing he wanted - to make her feel uncomfortable or pressured. picking up his phone again, he switched the song playing in the background to something softer, something that matched the gentler tone he wanted to convey.

after a moment of hesitation, he typed out a message. ' I don’t mind. sweetie is cute, ' he wrote, his lips curling into a small smile. then, after a pause, he added, ' I’m sorry if I was too sudden. it’s just… you’re very beautiful, and I didn’t want to miss my chance.'

as he hit send, a soft blush crept across his cheeks. it had been years since jaehyun had flirted with anyone and truly meant it. most of the time, it had been casual - fleeting connections with no real depth. but this was different. she was different.

he hesitated before typing again, determined to shift the conversation to something meaningful. he wanted her to know that he was genuinely interested in her, beyond just her beauty. ' what about your dreams? your aspirations? why did you choose your path? what inspired you? ' he asked, his thumb hovering over the keyboard as he mulled over what to say next.

he decided to open up, to share a piece of himself, hoping it would make her feel more at ease. ' as for me…' he began, the words coming slowly but honestly. ' my dreams? I’ve always wanted to own a sword shop. you know, work as a blacksmith and sell swords. I used to be in the army, so it’s kind of my thing. '

a small chuckle escaped him as he added, ' I also love white peonies. I’ve got a garden I look after - it’s my little sanctuary. and I can play the piano. maybe I could send you a video sometime… if you’re willing to share your number.' he hit send, the final message laced with a playful yet sincere charm. jaehyun leaned back, his heart racing slightly. it wasn’t just about getting her number or taking things further - it was about letting her see who he truly was and hoping she’d want to know more.