Chapter Text
When Jungkook was ten, his parents threw a huge celebration for his brother’s thirteenth birthday.
All the kids from the neighborhood were invited, there was music, plenty of food, drinks for the adults and a huge cake.
Jungkook vividly remembers the table in the middle of their yard, stacked with gifts big and small, wrapped in the prettiest colors and adorned with big bows that his hyung ripped off without much thought as he opened his gifts.
He could only watch from a distance as his brother opened the neverending presents, a baseball bat, a basketball, a skateboard, action figures, etc. all the things an alpha boy could want.
The older kids were gathered around aweing and cheering with every gift they saw open.
Jungkook’s eyes were wide and shining with amazement as his brother held up the toy, examined it with an unimpressed look before setting it to the side to open the next one, just wanting to get to the biggest one, the one he had saved for last.
When Jungseo got to the last one, he ripped the purple wrapping paper with expert hands and immediately the smile fell from his face, nose wrinkled as he examined the box. He dropped it on the floor without a second glance and instead turned to his friends, inviting them to play with his new soccer ball.
The crowd of kids dispersed, leaving Jungkook behind. He didn’t bother following them, he knew he wouldn’t be allowed to join the game anyways for being small and an omega but curiosity was pulling him towards the discarded box on the floor.
Inching closer with his hands twisting on his shirt he peaked at the box, he’d never seen so many colors before in his life, the picture of an endless rainbow of neatly organized crayons, coloring pencils and markers inside a black case, an art set for kids, it was the most beautiful thing Jungkook had ever seen in his short life.
His hyung didn't share his toy, he never did but seemed uninterested in this, surely he wouldn’t care if Jungkook had a closer look.
“There you are Jungkook-ah, eomma has been looking for you” his mother calls from behind, he takes a few steps back surprised, caught red handed but she only sighs “you know better than to touch your hyung’s toys”
“I was just looking” he mutters wringing his hands and looking down at his shoes as she picks up the discarded wrapping papers in her arms
“You’ve looked enough, these toys aren't for omegas like you, come help eomma in the kitchen” she says, extending her hand towards him
“But…eomma-”
“No whining- come now, you’ll get your own birthday party soon” she explains with a smile “you’ll get even more gifts, I promise”
“Really?” he asks, beaning up at her as he takes her hand
“Of course, you just have to be good- can you do that?” she hums, leading him towards the house
“Yes!” Jungkook nods excitedly, he glances back at the box longingly.
Truth be told, he didn’t really want a birthday party of his own, there were too many people he didn’t know, the music was too loud and posing for pictures was annoying and he didn’t even have friends to begin with but he wanted the gifts, he wanted that gift.
So maybe if he had his own birthday party, someone would give him just that.
Until then, he behaved his best.
He kept the room he shared with his brother neat and tidy, he ate his greens and helped his mother in the kitchen, behaving his best and then September came.
Nothing.
He got nothing.
The morning of his birthday he came downstairs and everything seemed normal, like any other day.
His brother was shoving rice into his mouth, his father was looking at the newspaper with a cup of coffee in his hand, still dressed in his pajamas and his mother was in the kitchen as usual.
He stood by the doorframe blinking up at them for a couple of minutes, waiting to be acknowledged.
“Sit down and eat your breakfast, already” his father ordered without even looking at him “the car’s still in the shop so you’re walking to school again”
“Yes, sir” he mumbles, rushing to pull out his chair
“Hurry up, we’re gonna be late” his Jungseo snaps at him, stealing his fried egg with his chopsticks, when he pauses to look down at his breakfast.
Just eggs and butter rice, no seaweed soup.
“You two better leave now, it looks like it will rain soon” his mother comments a few minutes later, she looks from the window to them, hands busy with the dishes in the sink “the umbrella is by the door, don’t forget to bring it back, you hear me?”
“Yeah, okay” Jungseo rolls his eyes as he wipes his face with his shirt sleeve
“Yes, eomma” Jungkook replies,too used to this behavior to be grossed out by his brother
“Yeobo,,maybe you should go with them today” his mother tells her husband as the rain begins to pick up in intensity but the man only sighs out in annoyance at her concern
“I have to wait by the phone in case someone calls”
“But the storm-”
“It’s just water Yuna, they’ll be fine” the man grits out but it’s not enough to deter her
“But Jungkookie might catch a cold if he-”
“Then Jungkook needs to be careful and not get wet” his father says, throwing a stern looks his way
“Yes abeoji” Jungkook replies, sinking into his seat.
As a kid, he’d always feared his father. The alpha wasn’t exactly violent towards them but he had a quick temper, raising his voice and snapping at them wasn’t a rare occurrence and it had only gotten worse since he lost his job. Now, Jungkook was constantly walking on eggshells and unable to relax in his own home since the man was always there and perpetually in a lousy mood.
Jungkook braces himself, expecting to get scolded or mocked but the man simply rolls his eyes at him “Go on now” he tells them with a wave of his hand, focusing back on his newspaper.
Jungkook and his brother rushed towards the door, his brother grabbed the umbrella and his backpack and slipped on his shoes. He envied his brother’s brand new velcro sneakers because it took him a long time to tie his own passed down sneakers and Jungseo had never been patient with him, as soon as the elder had his shoes on, he was out of the house, running down the street and calling “Hurry up, slowpoke!”
“Hyung- wait for me!” Jungkook panics, moving to the second shoe
“You snooze you loose, see you at school!” Jungseo calls from down the block, getting further and further away as the younger struggles to tie a knot, by the time he’s done, his brother is a few blocks away and not slowing down.
Jungkook chases after him as fast as he can but his shoes are uncomfortable and his backpack is too big and heavy, he comes to a stop by the convenience store, panting and catching his breath when he feels the first raindrop fall on his head, the gray skies rumbling above him and he gasps.
A few drops turn into a downpour and thunder booms loudly as he debates whether to seek shelter inside the store or to buck it to school.
It’s not far away but his short legs can only run so fast and the streets will be slippery so I might be better to just walk, which will take some time, so with a little whine he steps into the rain and heads to his school.
He’s soaking wet by the time he gets there and the worst part it’s that he’s late, thunders scare him enough to freeze him in his spot a few times along the way and now he has ruined his perfect attendance record with a tardiness.
It’s shaping up to be the worst day- birthday ever and it’s not even 9am.
He gets made fun of in class for his appearance, his wet clothes and mudded shoes, his classmates call him a wet dog and the teacher scolds him for dripping on the floor.
During the break, he sits on the hallway floor underneath a heating vent wanting to stay warm but he can already feel a cold coming as he sneezes three times in a row.
“Bless you and happy birthday Koo” he looks up to find his cousin Jimin smiling down at him, holding a little pink frosted cupcake in hands, his eyes water and his lip wobbles but he bites down on it.
After the morning he had, he had started to believe or at least tried to convince himself that he had made a mistake, that today really wasn’t his birthday because his parents wouldn’t forget about his birthday, okay- maybe his father would and his brother didn’t care but his mother, at least she would remember.
And maybe it was a coping mechanism, choosing to think that he was wrong instead of accepting that no one cared about him, not at school or at home and as sweet as this gesture is, Jimin made it real.
It was his birthday and no one else cared, his mother had lied. Again.
Like she lied when she told him she and his father loved him and his brother equally.
There would be no party, no cake, no table full of gifts for him to open.
It was just another day when no one cared about him, another thing that Jungseo could have and he couldn’t.
But he refuses to cry, not here, not now.
Everyone at home and at school already thinks he’s weak and worthless for being an omega and he probably is but he won’t give them more reason to think so, not ever again.
In that moment he decides that he will never again expect anything from people, it hurts less that way.
But it’s not all bad, for example, he didn’t expect this from Jimin so he was pleasantly surprised and that’s the only way he wants to be surprised from now on.
“Thanks hyung” he murmurs as Jimin sits next to him and hands him the cupcake
“Here” the elder says, producing a small towel from his backpack, Jimin had everything in there, inside his pink backpack he even had a bottle of milk for Jungkook and tissues for his runny nose.
Jimin, despite being two years older than him, was just as small as Jungkook. He was delicate, pretty and graceful, the perfect omega.
But Jungkook couldn’t resent him for it when he'd always been sweet and kind to everyone, to his younger cousin specially.
Jimin was an only child, so his cousins were the closest things he had to siblings but he, unlike everyone else in the family, he didn’t care much for Jungseo and Jungkook was grateful for all the attention the 12 year old poured on him since moving back to Busan with his mother a few months ago.
Still, he knows that his cousin might grow bored of him soon, he’s already popular at school and soon he might prefer hanging out with other popular kids and then Jungkook will be alone once again.
Alone, like every afternoon when he walks home from school.
His brother usually stays behind to play with his friends and Jungkook, who rather not stay a second longer than necessary at school, just heads back home and waits, as his brother ordered, by the convenience store for his Jungseo to show up so they can walk the rest of the way home together and the elder won’t get in trouble for leaving his younger brother alone.
Jungkook doesn’t really see the point though, it’s not like his parents scold Jungseo much or if at all.
His father thinks they should let the young alpha be an alpha, even if that means disobeying his own omega mother.
His father was yelling to someone on the phone, still dressed in his pajamas and his mothers was washing clothes outside, so no one paid him any mind as he walked into the house, he simply went straight to his room and laid down on his bed.
He had finished his homework already, while he waited outside the convenience store, so he can spend the rest of the afternoon hiding under his blanket, ignoring his brother when the elder throws paper balls at him while he procrastinates doing his own work as the rain continues to pour outside.
His mother calls them down for dinner around seven.
He goes down and sits at the table, moving his rice around in his bowl and taking only a couple of bites, waiting until everyone else is done so he can go back to bed.
The only thing he wanted to eat right now was his mother’s seaweed soup, a steaming bowl of it would soothe his aching heart, would comfort him enough to forgive his family but maybe that was too much to ask because all he got were eggs, again and some spam because they’re Jungseo’s favorite.
He understands that they all had their own lives, their own problems, much bigger than Jungkook’s insignificant existence.
His father had lost his job, his brother was failing school and his mother was always tired from washing clothes for other people to make extra money to support the family.
But he was still a part of this family, even if he was the youngest omega son of the family that no one asked for.
As he’s leaving his mostly full plate by the sink his mother walks up to him, hands on her hips as she says : “You barely ate anything- you can’t waste food like that, we’re on a tight budget Jungkook-ah” she tells him with a tired look on her face
“Sorry… I’m just not hungry” he murmurs under his breath, no one had asked if he wanted to eat they just served him ration but he didn't say it, he simply waits for his mother to continue
“You’ll have this same thing for breakfast-” she tells him, putting his bowl away and turning to the dirty dishes in the sink “did you finish your homework?”
“Yes, eomma”
“Cleaned your room?” the woman asks reaching for the sponge and the detergent
“It was hyung’s turn to-”
“I don’t care who’s turn it is” she snaps at him “I clean the whole house everyday, I expect you to do just one thing and that is to keep your bedroom clean-”
“I’ll do it now-” his voice cutting off mid sentence into a coughing fit, his mother sighs tiredly closing the tap and drying her hands
“Come here” she beckons him with her hand and he cowers away
“I’m fine-” he says, taking a few steps back only to collide with his father’s legs. The alfa glares at him before going to the fridge, presumably to grab a beer, his mother takes the opportunity to pull him closer and press the back of her hand to his forehead
“You’re burning up” she tells him, letting out yet another sigh “you played in the rain, didn’t you?”
“No-”
“Don’t lie to your mother” his father says and he closes his mouth, knowing it’s better to keep quiet in front of him “Goddammit- we told you told you to stay dry, that’s what the umbrella was for kid”
“Sorry abeoji” he grumbles wringing his hands and looking down at the floor
“Whatever, drink your medicine and go straight to bed” the alpha huffs taking a sip of his beer
“We don’t have any medicine for fever” his mother says crossing his arms in from of her chest
“Then you better go to the pharmacy before it closes” his father tells his wife
“I don’t have any money” she tells him
“I gave you some money this morning” the man frown, Jungkook shifting on his feet nervously, the last thing he wanted was to start a fight between his parents
“I don’t really need it”
“I bought groceries this morning and paid mr. Han what I owed him” his mother says, talking over him
“I’m fine, I’ll just go to bed-” he insists, backing away, until his father grabs him by the shoulder when another coughing fit shakes his body
“He needs cough medicine too-” the woman frowns
“Yeah, I can see that- I’ll see if I can borrow some money” her husband snaps heading towards the door “I need to get out of this house anyways, where’s that damn umbrella?”
“Jungkook-ah where’s the umbrella?” his mother turns to him with pinched brows
“I didn’t-”
“Goddammit kid!” his father yells slamming his fist against the wall
“Just go to your room, go” the woman pushes him towards the stairs as his father continues cursing him out and yelling at his mother.
He pretends to be asleep when his mother comes into his room later that night, she presses her cold fingers against his warm forehead and sighs “Jungkook-ah?”
He simply hums, refusing to open his eyes, they’re red and tired after so much crying.
“How do you feel?” his mother coaxed
“Fine” he murmurs back, pulling the blanket tightly around his body
“Jungkook-ah…” his mother begins but then she sighs and pauses for a moment “we didn’t notice what date it was- we’re sorry- I’m sorry, do you want me to make you some seaweed soup?”
He listens as her voice breaks and she sniffles, another reason to not open his eyes, to not see his mother crying because then he’ll forgive her right away “No, thanks”
“Jungkookie… we love you very much but-”
“I know” is all he says.
Not that they love him, he doesn’t remember the last time he felt loved by any of them but he knows what she’s trying to say.
The past few months have been rough, they didn’t have much money but he thought that maybe, somehow they would make an effort for him, he didn’t even want a party or all those gifts, he just wanted to feel loved and maybe, just maybe some art supplies but he should’ve known better than to hope.
He feels hot angry tears streaming down his cheek and his mother is so quiet that he thinks she might’ve left already but then he hears the closet door open and close.
“We- we can’t throw you a party right now but I want you to have this” the bed sinks as she sits next to him and she places her hand on his head “I know how you liked it and it’s not like your brother uses it anyway”
He cracks open one eye and on her lap he sees the art set, the box crumpled and dusty but he smiles nonetheless “Really?”
“I’ll buy you a better one some day, I promise”
Jungkook says nothing, he just gives her a small smile as he takes the box, he has learned to not believe those empty promises anymore.
Luckily that little art set had been enough.
Enough to change his whole life.
From that moment on, art was his whole life.
He drew and painted and colored, every hour of the day, on every surface he could find.
He got better with time and at school he was known as the weird omega that never talked but that could draw like none else.
When he was ten he got paid for a drawing for the first time, a kid in his class needed one for a project and then the voice got around and Jungkook would sell his drawing, birthday cards and even custom love letters for desperate alphas trying to woo someone in highschool.
He wanted more of that, to get paid for being creative, to get money in exchange for something he had created so when the time came to choose his path in life, he didn’t hesitate.
Jungkook knew he didn’t exactly choose the most practical career, especially for an omega from a lower middle class family from a small town but art has always been what he loved the most, the one way he could express himself.
He didn’t really like studying but did his best at school, he worked hard and got himself a full scholarship to a prestigious art school in Seoul but far from proud, his parents were furious.
Jungkook was supposed to stay home near his family like a good omega, at least until he found an alpha to take care of him.
But Jungkook couldn’t resign himself to the life of community college and helping his mother with the house chores, while his alpha younger brother and father lounged around waiting to be served.
To this day, Jungkook doesn’t know where he got the bravery to do what he did.
To run from home with just one back and get on the last train to Seoul, leaving Busan and his family behind as soon as he turned 20.
The only person he knew there was Jimin. The older omega had moved to the city a couple of years ago for college and welcomed him with open arms, the two managed to survive in Seoul.
Jungkook lived in constant fear of being snatched in the middle of the night and being taken back home by his father but after many threatening calls the man seemed to have completely forgotten about his omega son, at least until he needed him to help him find his brother a place to live.
Jungkook’s brother had just graduated from community college and insisted on moving to Seoul, without any contacts or job offers or experience but of course his father was giving into his brother’s ridiculous whims.
His parents now owned a small restaurant, they made barely enough to get by so Jungkook had no idea how they could afford his brother’s move but something tells him part of the reason his brother moved was to keep an eye on him.
His family still thought this was just a phase, that eventually Jungkook would give up and go back home to live the life they wanted him to.
At least he got a place to live, since his parents paid for his brother’s rent, Jungkook only had to worry about having enough for food and transportation and he finally could stop leaching off Jimin.
He managed to graduate a year later with the highest honors but finding a job wasn’t easy, no one was interested in hiring an omega art major with zero work experience besides washing dishes at his parents restaurant, mostly because he was an omega.
Alphas half as talented were getting jobs he couldn't even dream about, their mediocrity being applauded as they gatekept him from getting from opportunities, he even had his art stolen by alpha professors a couple of times as if to teach him a lesson, as if to put him in his place.
The truth is that in this world, omegas weren’t born to be creative, they were expected to take more traditional omega jobs, like teachers, nurses, nannies or maids.
Omegas were born to serve and to care, the only creation they could do was create life by carrying their alpha’s pups.
And that’s exactly what they would tell him whenever he went to job interviews.
Go home omega, this place is not for you
You’re just going to quit when you get pregnant
Your alpha gave you permission to work?
Jungkook had been living off commissions he did online anonymously when after months he finally found a job at an art gallery, earning the minimum wage and working long hours while wearing uncomfortable clothes and being gawked at by alphas and to make things worst, he could only watch as artist after artist, mostly alphas of course, got their turn to exhibit their works
While he barely earned enough to buy food working as a glorified maid/receptionist.
And on top of his work, he had to maintain the house he still shared with his brother as the alpha wasted his life away, working dead end jobs and getting mixed with bad company.
but Jungkook couldn’t complain because at least his parents were still paying rent, at least Jungkook didn’t have to go back to Busan with his tail between his legs, at least not yet.
Jungkook sighs as he looks at himself in the mirror.
Wearing the tight pants and low cut blouse he’s wearing, his so called ‘uniform’ was uncomfortable and degrading but it was the only thing he was allowed to wear at work because he had to ‘give a good impression’, he finished doing his hair and makeup and headed out, pulling on his uncomfortable boots and grabbing his coat, mentally preparing himself for another day.
The worst part about his uniform was that he had to do all sort of things while wearing it, it’s not like he stayed seated behind his desk all day, a lot of times, he had go run errands in the city, clean the gallery, move things to and from the basement and he had to do it all in heels.
Today, an artist, someone he’s never heard of before, more ego than talent in Jungkook’s opinion, came to drop off a few paintings and he insisted on them being hand right at that moment despite his exhibition being days away.
But his boss always told him to keep the talent happy, to do whatever it took to make sure they wanted to keep working with them.
So Jungkook went and got the ladder from the basement, removed the painting in display to replace it with a new one and all the while, the alpha watched in a little too closely.
“So what’s your name pretty?” the man asks, standing a little too close to his liking
“Jungkook” he replies robotically as he checks that the painting is straight
“Jungkook, do you like art?” the alpha smiles up at him, before he can even reply, he continues “You know, painting is such a freeing experience- when you get in the zone, you get lost in it and you become one with the painting-” Jungkook sighs turning away from him to rolls his eyes as the alpha blabbers on It’s kinda like- when you’re in the throes of passion, you know- when you’re fucking- in your case, getting fucked and you don’t know where you end and the other person begins” Jungkook freezes when he feels the man’s hand creeping up his leg, to settle on his hip “Ever had that feeling before? I could give it to you-”
“Get your hand off of me” he says softly at first
“You’re such a pretty thing-” the man chuckles
“Get your hand off of me” Jungkook repeats, much louder this time
“A beauty like you shouldn’t have to work” the alpha removes his hand but gets closer to him, blocking the bottom of the ladder “you’re like a piece of art, I want to display you in my bed- ah fuck” the man curses and stumbles away when Jungkook kicks him on the chest “What the fuck?”
“I told you get your hand off of me” he glares as he gets down from the ladder and away from the pissed off alpha
“You little bitch, I was just being nice to you-”
“Get away from me!” Jungkook yells as the man corners him against the wall
“What is going on?” his boss shows up and the alpha takes a step back, allowing him to get away
“Mr. Shin, help-”
“All I did was pay him a compliment and he attacked me” the man talks over him and the owner of the gallery sighs
“I apologize for his behavior- you know omegas can be quite irrational and emotional, he must be close to his heat” the older alpha says and that, that was the last straw.
All his life he has been demeaned and ridiculed for being an omega and he’s had enough.
“This man groped me and made inappropriate comments-” he fumes pointing at the alpha scumbag
“Sweetheart, I’m sure you’re overreacting-” his boss dismisses him “just apologize to him and get back to work, okay?”
“No and don’t call me sweetheart” he snaps at the old alpha, who simply raises an eyebrow at him
“Jungkook-ssi, if you don’t apologize-”
“I won’t apologize to that creep” he challenges and his boss simply sighs
“This is why you shouldn’t hire omegas” the man murmurs to himself before leveling Jungkook with a stern look “Do you want to get fired, is that what you want? Apologize, now!”
“Fuck off”
Later, when Jungkook was walking back home with a tiny box filled with his things, he would think of more and better things that he could’ve said, he was going to get fired anyways, he might as well had gotten some things off his chest but it was done now, there was no turning back.
He was once again unemployed, his future uncertain and his little savings at risk of running dry if he didn’t find something else soon but he could think about that later, right now he just wanted to take his shoes off and take a nice long shower, wanting to wash off that creep’s touch off of his body.
When he got home, he felt even dirtier.
As always, the subway had been crowded with people, the strong smell of alpha was repulsive to him, such strong scents minging and lingering in the air, in the small confined space, people would press up against you, sneaky hands would take the chance to cup up a feel, his back always burning with the feeling of being watched, more like gawked at.
After making sure no one was following him, he headed home, taking the long way just in case.
When he first moved to the city, the first thing Jimin had done was give him a self defense keychain and taught him how be safe walking alone at night, though Seoul was known as one of the safest cities in the world, this world is still quite dangerous for unaccompanied omegas, specially the are he lives in.
Drunk college students and foreigners are something he encounters on the daily but after what happened today, he’s specially on edge.
After getting home and finally taking off those damn shoes, he starts to remove his clothes right away, his brother is still away in Busan visiting their parents anyways, so he doesn’t have to worry about anyone seeing him.
He drops his belongings on the kitchen counter and heads to the bathroom but not without playing some music first.
His stomach is rumbling with hunger but he’s determined to unwind after his stressful day, besides he has a kimbap and some tteok he picked up on the way here waiting for him in the kitchen anyways, later that night he’s supposed to meet Jimin and Hoseok for drinks and he would rather not do it on an empty stomach.
When he comes out of the shower, he starts to feel better about himself.
He did the right thing, he stood up for himself and got himself out of a dangerous situation.
If it happened once, it could happen again and clearly, his boss wasn’t going to do anything about it, so he convinces himself that right but maybe, just in case, he’ll call Jimin after dinner, just so that the older omega can reassure him.
He exits the bathroom in his silk robe after doing his skincare routine, humming to the music playing and wearing only his tiny pink towel as he comes out of the bathroom shimming around and rolling his hips.
“Jungkook-ah”
“Ah!” he squeaks out in surprise when he sees his brother standing outside the bathroom door “Hyung! What the fuck?” he says pulling his robe tight around his body “What are you doing here?”
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet” his brother says, ignoring his question
“Can’t it wait until I’m dressed?” he snaps at the alpha “you could’ve called to tell me you were coming home”
“Why? Were you planning on having someone over tonight?” his brother arches an eyebrow at him
“Shut up” he seethes out, ready to walk away
“relax, It’s just a joke” the elder says grabbing his arm and leading him to the kitchen “Jungkook-ah, this is Jiyoon”
By the counter a short beta girl with shoulder length hair and straight across bangs stands, she has her mouth full as she greets him with a bow “hello”
“That’s mine” is all Jungkook says in response, fuming when he realizes she is eating her food “That’s my food”
“Oh alpha said I could eat it” she smiles offering the half eaten gimbap to him “I’m sorry, oppa but there’s still some left”
“You don’t know me- don’t call me oppa” he glares with his arms folded over his chest before turning to his brother for an explanation
“She’s basically family now or she will be” his brother tells him “We’re getting mated soon and-”
“We’re having a baby” the girl adds with a excited squeal
“Are you stupid?” he asks his brother before shaking his head “No- yeah of course you are but” he then turns to the beta “Are you? look, I don’t know you but you’re a kid!”
“Jungkook-ah, that’s enough! you can’t talk to my mate like that” his brother glares at him “I’m here to pack our stuff- we’re moving to Busan, we’re not renewing the lease, we have one week to move out”
“what?”
Jungkook feels like the floor has been pulled from under him, like he’s falling into and there’s nothing to hold on to, the day he always feared had come.
“And you’re coming with us” the elder says easily, as if he isn’t sentencing his brother’s hopes and dreams to death “It’s not like you have anything going for you here anyways, you can go back to working at the restaurant and help out with the baby”
“We want you around when he’s born, I hear omegas are great with babies” Jiyoon smiles, either too dumb or naive to feel the tension in the room as she walks up to link her arm to Jungseo’s.
And Jungkook sees it, the small belly he cradles on her hand, it’s real and it’s happening soon. If he goes with them he will be relegated to a nanny and his only way out will be finding a mate.
“It will be good practice for when you finally get yourself an alpha” his brother smirks triumphantly.
If his brother was smarter he would think that he came up with this plan to ruin his life on his own but he has no doubt that his father is the mastermind behind all this. The alpha had always wanted his omega son back home and married off but even if it wasn’t his plan, Jungseo, still relished in Jungkook’s misery, he always had.
“You- you’re a piece of shit!” Jungkook yells, shocking everyone, including himself. He might’ve rebelled against his father and brother at times growing up but he has never raised his voice at an alpha before today but everyone has a breaking point “You’re the worst brother ever, you’ve made my life miserable from day one and I hate you, I want nothing to do with you!”
His brother is either too shocked or too embarrassed to be yelled at by an omega in front of his mate to respond so he doesn’t say anything when Jungkook goes to his room to change and quickly leaves the apartment, slamming the door shut as he leaves.
“Jimin hyung?” he says into the phone as he walks down the stairs, he can feel the tears welling up in his eyes once his hyung speaks “Can I come over?” he asks, voice breaking
"hyung and I were having dinner at our usual spot right but I can be home in 20 minutes, are you okay?”
“I’ll meet you there" it's all he says before hanging up. After all that happened his appetite is gone but he wouldn't mind having a drink or two and Jimin's usual spot means cheap beer.
“Those fuckin knotheads!" Jimin bangs his small fist on the table a little too loud, some people stare but the elder's mate is there to glare back at them
“I hate alphas, I hate them so bad” Jungkook mumbles into his glass of beer, the cake his friends had prepared all but forgotten in its box “No offense hyung”
"non taken, I actually agree" Hoseok grimaced before he sighs “I’m really sorry a that happened to you, Jungkook-ah”
Jungkook blinks away the tears, Jung Hoseok is the first alpha that has ever apologized to him, might be the only decent alpha he's ever met and he's so happy that he's with Jimin.
No other alpha would tolerate their mate's younger cousin ruining their date night.
He then thinks that if his father succeeds he might end up with a knothead alpha as mate and his stomach churns.
“What am I going to do?” he groans after emptying his glass, his second one on an empty stomach and it isn't helping the nauseated feeling he gets.
“You could live with us- it’s a little cramped but we could make it work” Jimin offers readily, Hoseok takes his hand and nods along
“You’re more than welcome to stay”
“Thanks but I can’t do that to you guys” Jungkook sighs
Hoseok and Jimin met in college, they were both studying to become teachers.
Hoseok now works teaching literature to elementary school kids while Jimin teaches preschool.
They’d been together for 7 years and mated for 2 even if they weren’t married.
Jungkook’s parents thought Jimin had thrown his life to waste, moving in and mating an alpha without getting married first.
But luckily Jimin’s parents were more supportive and why wouldn’t they be?
The two made eachother so happy
The pair adored children and it was their dream to have a pup of their own one day but parenthood was expensive, they were very aware of the fact, they had even chosen to mate without having a wedding in order to save some money.
He knows that the couple not only live in a tiny studio apartment to save up for their future together but they also work double shifts and have very little time alone.
He couldn't impose on them like that, especially when he's unemployed for who knows how long it will be until he finds a job or an apartment he can actually afford.
“I have to find a place a cheap one- I have some savings but I have to find a new job as soon as possible or I'll be out on the streets on my own- either that or going back to Busan" Jungkook frowns pouring himself a shot of soju
“We’ll help you out" Hoseok reassures him
"you're not going back" Jimin chimes in “not if I can help it”
"thanks" Jungkook says before downing the shot, he then sighs and reaches for the bottle "I'm so stupid- if I had apologized to that guy, I would still have a job"
“working there wasn't safe, who knows what could've happened if you stayed" the eldest says shaking his head
“You did the right thing by telling those guys to fuck off” Jimin frowns and takes the liquor away once he's poured himself another round "Jungkookie, have you eaten anything today?"
"no, why?" he asks, trying to focus his gaze on his hyung. The couple exchange worried looks and order some food for him but Jungkook is more interested in the drinks.
Later when Jimin cuts him off and tells him it is time to go home, he reluctantly agrees, stumbling to the bathroom before they leave, buying himself another moment away from the nightmare that awaits him.
“Ah excuse me” Jungkook giggles as he bumps into someone on his way to the bathroom “I'm sorry…"
"it's alright" the stranger says, voice low as he attempts to walk past him on the opposite direction, Jungkook can't help but to sniff the air, intrigued by the man's scent
“Huh” he blinks up at the man and blocking his path on the narrow hallway
“Uh what are you doing?” the taller man asks, as Jungkook brings his face closer to sniff him
Jungkook’s intoxicated mind can only think about the delicious scent of this man, surely he isn’t an omega, with his wide shoulders and height he can’t be, clearly not a beta or he wouldn’t have a noticeable scent but his scent is too subtle to be an alpha, it’s not overpowering or overbearing as alpha’s scents tend to be.
Instead the man smells warm and clean, like fresh laundry straight from the dryer on a cold day, hints of something floral and citrusy as well, like the world’s best fabric softener. Jungkook, who’s always been sensitive to scent has finally found an alpha scent he doesn’t hate, he wants to get closer smell, to register it in his brain and never forget about it “Alpha… you smell so good” he words slurred as he inhales
At the time, Jungkook doesn’t see how the alpha’s ears turn bright red, he only feels the man’s hand delicately placed on his shoulder as he tried to keep some distance between them “Ah, thank you but I think you’re mistaking me for someone else-”
“No… you- your scent is so… you smell like home” Jungkook frowns, eyes welling up with tears as he thinks of the ‘home’ he no longer has and how much of a mess his life is right now
“oh - are you alright?” the man frowns as begins to tear up, he seems concerned and panicked as he looks around for help
“No, I’m not okay” Jungkook sobs and instead of pushing him away the alpha awkwardly pats his shoulder with his hand
“Kook-ah!” Hoseok calls from the end of the hall, tensing up and standing taller when spots the other alpha “Excuse me- do you know him?”
“No- he came onto me I swear, is he your friend?” the taller alpha explains, stepping back, Hoseok nods as Jimin rushes towards them “would you mind?”
“I’m sorry sir- he’s not usually like this” Jimin quickly steps in between Jungkook and the man
“It’s alright- no harm done” the alpha nods stepping away
“Alpha!” Jungkook calls as he watches him walk away but he’s not done yet, he hasn’t perfectly memorized the scent
“Hush now, you’re making a scene” the older omega shushes him “Sorry again-”
“No! Don’t go-” Jungkook pleads, pushing past the shorter man to get to the stranger.
And listen, in all honesty, he went to scent the man’s neck. That's all but the man had turned at the wrong moment and their lips had collided together.
Jungkook was mortified, even with all the alcohol in him he knew he had messed up. With wide eyes he stepped away from the shocked alpha before running away.
His hyung caught up with him about a block away and he stopped in the middle of the deserted street, if he wasn’t so drunk right now he probably would’ve run all the way back to Busan right now.
“What the hell was that?!” Jimin pants slapping his shoulder
“I’ve never kissed anyone before” Jungkook pants touching his lips, still in shock, and whispers to himself “that was my first kiss”
“Are you trying to go to jail?” his cousin huffs with his hands on his hips
“He didn’t seem to mind that much Jimin-ah, he liked it- I could smell on him” Hoseok chuckles shaking his head
“It doesn’t matter, it’s wrong- you can’t go around kissing strangers without their consent, you’re not any better than that alpha at the gallery” the shorter omega rants as he walks back and forth.
“Good job, honey” Hoseok sighs as Jungkook breaks down in tears and begins to fall down on his knees, feeling like a disgusting creep.
His two friends, as always, are there to catch him and take him home, Jungkook passes out on his hyung’s couch after crying his eyes out but at least the worst day, worst birthday of his life is over now.
The next day, Jungkook spends the morning sulking in Jimin and Hoseok apartment, the alpha goes out to run some errands early in the morning and Jungkook dozes on and off until Jimin throws the day’s newspaper on his face and pushes him into a sitting position to hand him a cup of coffee.
“I found a few promising listings, I called to schedule visits tomorrow morning but we need to go over your finances first” the omega says as he fetches his laptop from his tiny desk “You’re going to have to cut back on your expenses quite a lot at least for a while”
The elder means business, he has his glasses on as he creates a spreadsheet with his name and begins to type away. Not much has changed about Jimin in all these years, he still pretty and petite and he still does ballet and smell like vanilla and jasmine, he’s still sweet and kind but now he’s even more responsible and overprotective of those he loves, he has his life together and everything figured out in a way Jungkook could only dream of.
“So I either starve or become homeless?” Jungkook hums as he takes a sip of his coffee, Jimin sighs as he takes a hold of his hand
“You can just stay here until you find a job, you know?”
“I know but I can’t- you’ve done so much for me, I could never repay you” the younger omega mumbles shyly “Even when I had no one to turn to you-”
“We’re family Jungkook-ah and friends, you’re not alone as long as I’m around” Jimin tells him with a reassuring smile “We’re going to get you back on your feet, you’re going to be okay”
It wasn’t okay.
Nothing was okay, apartment hunting was a total bust.
All the places were either too expensive or… questionable looking to say the least.
He was pretty sure one of the rooms he checked was inside an actual brothel, another one smelled a little too much like bleach and there were suspicious stains on the floor.
In the interest of not getting trafficked or murdered, Jungkook passed up on the places despite the low price.
On the bus back to the apartment he ignores another call from his mother as he refreshes the apartment listings yet again and cringing at the high prices. When he steps out on the bus on his stop his phone rings once again, he rolls his eyes knowing that the woman is probably calling to convince him to go back home before he incites another one of his father’s temper tantrums.
“Yes, eomma?”
“Why aren’t you answering my calls?” she asks on the other end
“Sorry, I’ve been busy trying to avoid homelessness” he replies as he walks towards the apartment building
“Jungkook-ah”
“It’s fine eomma, I’ll manage on my own- I always do” Jungkook huffs as he crosses the street
“Yeah, you do” the woman sighs “I’m sorry you had to, if you had a different mother-”
“It’s not like I can get a new one, can I?” he laughs bitterly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk “I have to accept that this is my reality”
“You always tried to make the best out of it” his mother comments
“Unsuccessfully, might I ad” Jungkook mumbles as he rolls his eyes, his mother is quiet long enough for him to think she hung up
“Jungkook-ah, eomma is sorry she couldn’t take care of you before, I’ll try to do a better job from now on” she says after a while, voice breaking and he frowns “I’ve been saving for years for emergency behind your father’s back, the money should’ve arrived by now- find yourself a place to live- don’t come back here”
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that his mother is even more trapped than he is.
At her age, she has never worked outside her home. At the restaurant the only decision she is able to make it’s what to cook and at her home she is expected to show total submission and obedience to her husband.
Because of that, she had rarely defended Jungkook from his mistreatment, she had instead chosen to teach Jungkook how to avoid his wrath.
Having her omega son clean and help around the house and never defying the alphas in any way.
Jungkook grew to resent her a bit, for many reasons but especially because she seemed set on him repeating her life, on getting him into the same trap.
She had married young, going from obeying her father to obeying her husband at the age of 20, she never even finished school, being a mother and a wife since then and never having to step out in the real world on her own.
Even despite the mistreatment she had to endure, divorce was never an option, you can’t divorce someone you completely rely on.
“Thank you eomma” he murmurs as his eyes start to water “I will put it to good use”
He rushes home, to find the envelope before his brother can and locks himself inside his room to open it.
This and my love is all I can give you.
From eomma.
A small note says, he smiles as he takes out the cash.
His smile completely drops as he counts out.
200000 won.
That is all his mother had been able to save throughout the years, to her it probably seemed like a large sum because he never had access to much, he can’t even be mad at her because she probably doesn’t even know how much average rent costs, his poor mother never had to step out into the real world and it shows.
At the very least he has her support and that’s more than his family had ever given him before, it was all his mother had to give and she had gladly handed it to him but love won’t be enough to find him a home.