Jimin kept his promise. Looking at himself in the mirror, Taehyung can’t help but notice how attractive he is: not that he isn’t usually handsome, but now he’s… different. The crop top shows off his amber stomach, and the scar is actually intriguing, barely peeking out from under the fabric, not scary or impressive at all. The low-rise jeans fall perfectly over his hips, accentuating his shape and making him appear taller and slimmer than he actually is; the shoes, with their elevated soles, further enhance the illusion. His makeup is all glitter and smudged makeup — he almost looks like he stepped out of the cast of Euphoria. All in all, he looks like someone Taehyung would hit on himself.

“So, are we going?” Jimin asks, applying a layer of lip balm to his full lips. Jimin is simply gorgeous. He’s wearing a glittery tank top, practically see-through, with two shocking pink heart-shaped stickers covering his nipples. The white, tight, long pants are embellished with sparkling fringes that hang from the waist. On his head, he wears a white cowboy-style hat studded with rhinestones. “Jay just texted me. He’s downstairs. Can we go? You ready?”

Taehyung adjusts his last ring on his finger, then spritzes some cologne. “Yeah, let’s go,” he says, grabbing a leather jacket. Heading out of the apartment with Jimin makes the whole process much less traumatic — he realizes how easy it was only when they’re out of the building, the air hitting his face. No panic attack.

Jay is waiting for them in the car, as expected. Taehyung sits in the backseat and extends his arm to introduce himself. “I’m Taehyung.”

“Jay,” the guy replies. He’s half Thai, with dark, slightly long, wavy hair, and eyes so distinct they almost look Western. He’s definitely handsome and gives off a pleasant, sweet scent, nothing like the intoxicating smell of Jungkook that makes your head spin.

“Jimin can’t stop talking about you,” Jay says, chuckling. Jimin sits in the passenger seat and buckles his seatbelt.

“Really, what does he say?”

“That you’re gorgeous. And it’s true.”

“Hey, watch out, I’m getting jealous,” Jimin says, poking Jay with his finger. All three burst into light laughter. Jay starts the car, and then they all get lost in casual chatter. Jay works as a model for a cosmetics brand; he’s the face of a relatively unknown brand, but it seems to be gaining traction. “Soon his face will be on every billboard in the city,” Jimin says proudly.

The car ride lasts at least twenty minutes. Taehyung looks out the window, wondering if Jungkook will bring Yuta to the party. The thought, of course, makes him feel anything but comfortable; but he tries to push it out of his mind, deciding that for tonight, he doesn’t want to think about anything or anyone but himself and his own fun. He needs to unwind, to feel alive. He really doesn’t have the time or energy to worry about Jungkook.

Jay’s car slows down near one of Seoul’s most famous nightlife districts. Finding parking in this area is harder than winning the lottery, so Jay without hesitation pulls into a paid underground garage. Sitting in the backseat, it’s impossible for Taehyung not to notice how well-matched Jimin and Jay are — the way they talk, joke, and tease each other is... beautiful. Sweet. As happy as he is for him, it’s hard not to feel a little envious.

“I booked an entire area of the club for tonight,” Jimin announces as they near the nightclub. The line to get in is long, winding around the building, but they don’t head toward the main entrance; instead, they reach a back door, guarded by a bouncer. “We need to go in through here,” Jimin explains before approaching the man.

The two exchange a few words. Jimin gives his name and reservation number, and then the bouncer pulls out a heart-shaped stamp and presses the ink against their hands. Taehyung absentmindedly watches as his new stamp appears while they finally enter the club.

Indeed, the back door leads to a secluded area, separate from the rest of the nightclub — and it's already full of people. Taehyung wonders how many real friends Jimin has, but then again, it’s not so strange that so many people care about him and want him in their lives, considering he has such an adorable and selfless personality. Jimin is someone people would want in their life; Taehyung himself is grateful that fate brought him together with him.

“Let’s grab a drink!” Jimin exclaims, but as soon as he says those words, a couple of his friends approach him and start talking. Jay places his hand on Taehyung’s shoulder and leans close to his ear, speaking clearly to be heard over the noise: “One of them just broke up, so it’ll take a while. Follow me. I’ll introduce you to my friends.”

Taehyung nods. Jay moves ahead of him, and as he makes his way through the crowd, Taehyung can’t help but notice how his alpha aura stands out sharply from everyone else in the club. The music, the chatter, the vibration of the speakers that make his chest resonate — it all makes Taehyung feel like he’s outside his own head, as if he’s living in some sort of illusion or dream. Like he’s already drunk, even though he hasn’t had a sip of alcohol.

They reach the bar. Seated on stools are three guys just as handsome as Jay, if not even more. Taehyung is immediately captivated by one of them: an alpha, he can tell by the scent of hot chocolate and burning wood in a fireplace. “I’m Sunwoo,” he says, offering his hand. Taehyung shakes it and feels a shiver run up his forearm. He blinks slightly, and when he looks into Sunwoo’s eyes, he notices that they are shaken by the same surprise.

He immediately pulls his hand back. “Taehyung,” he says, his voice a little cracked.

“What?” Sunwoo asks, raising his voice. The music is so loud it has swallowed up Taehyung’s words.

“Taehyung!” he repeats, raising his tone a bit.

“Nice to meet you!” Sunwoo says, smiling at him. Taehyung tries not to stare too much at his dark eyes, his captivating features, his sharp jawline. Fortunately, the other two friends step forward to introduce themselves, distracting him at least for a moment. They say their names, but Taehyung immediately forgets them.

I need a drink, he thinks.

“A mojito!” he says to the bartender. The guy nods, and then he and Jay take empty stools next to the others.

“He’s a friend of Jimin’s,” Jay explains, “while these are my college friends,” he adds, turning to Taehyung. “Before starting my modeling career, I studied robotic engineering.”

“Sounds like a brainiac thing,” Taehyung says, surprised.

“Don’t say that too loud, or they’ll get cocky,” Jay winks at him, making him laugh.

The bartender serves Taehyung his mojito, and hands Jay the beer he ordered.

“So what do you do?” one of Jay’s friends asks. Taehyung realizes they must be human, because they don’t have any distinct scent, unlike Sunwoo.

“I work…” Taehyung pauses, “…I worked for a company as an employee, but I left recently?”

“Looking for new opportunities? Good move, being ambitious is a good thing,” the guy says, then calls the bartender to order another beer for himself.

It’s at that moment that Jimin joins them. “Sorry, they kept me — have you all introduced yourselves? Treat Taehyung well or I’ll make you regret being born!” Jimin says, in an adorably threatening way. He hugs Taehyung while his shiny bangs catch the light.

“Don’t worry, no one’s gonna eat me here!” Taehyung laughs, playfully pinching his waist.

“Don’t count on it. These three are dangerous types,” Jimin jokes.

Taehyung grabs his mojito and takes a sip. He shouldn’t think about it. If he does, his hormones will kick in, and he’s sure he’s not ready for anything... intense. Not yet.

It's strange, being an omega. Most of the time, you almost forget you are one — it's an instinct that quietly surfaces only in the presence of an alpha, like a wild animal lurking beneath the surface of the water. You don’t see it coming when it takes over you. Then you feel it in every cell of your body, almost like an irresistible call. Something that bends you to its will, making you a victim of your own instinct. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the moon, at the supermarket, or in a crowded place full of people chatting, dancing, and drinking, surrounded by all kinds of scents, because when an alpha is present, you will know. Every single cell in you will know.

That’s how Taehyung senses Jungkook’s arrival without even turning around. It’s like all his cells suddenly tighten, like that smell among all others becomes intense, so intense it fills his lungs, it goes to his head like a drug. He tightens his grip around the glass. An omega always knows when they're in the presence of an alpha — but this is different, abnormal, insane. He feels his mouth dry, needing a sip of alcohol, his head spinning slightly. That smell… That smell is making him feel like he’s truly become something.

“Tae?” Jimin’s hand tightens on his friend’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”

He must have paled, he realizes immediately when he notices the worried looks from the people around him. He didn’t even notice, didn’t realize how much time had passed. He shakes his head, trying to smile. “I’m fine, I just need some air.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jimin says, serious.

“Don’t even think about it, it’s your party.”

“I’m not letting you go alone, you’re as white as a ghost.”

“I’ll take him out,” says Sunwoo then, standing up from his stool. He’s tall, with broad shoulders, an athletic build. He’s even more attractive than Taehyung imagined. “I need to smoke a cigarette — I know, I should quit, but it’s hard to stop.”

“Are you sure?” Jimin says, feeling guilty.

Taehyung turns to his friend and gets off the stool. “Jimin, relax. I’m just a bit hot. I’m going out with Sunwoo for five minutes, the world isn’t ending.”

“If you’re not feeling well…”

“I’ll let you know,” Taehyung promises. He tries to breathe slowly, just enough. Jungkook’s scent is choking him, and in this crowded club, he can’t even see him. Yet, if he wanted to find him, he knows he could do so in less than a second.

“Let’s step outside,” he says to Sunwoo, with urgency. Sunwoo nods, and together they make their way through the crowd.

To keep from losing him and to not fall behind, Sunwoo reaches out, his fingers closing around Taehyung’s wrist.

A shiver runs through Taehyung.

That guy’s hand is… warm.

That touch makes his heart race.

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