***

Minjae stared at the “Welcome” basket. It was filled with various lubes and condoms, and he couldn’t help his frown. They all matched the purple and pink theme of the room, which was just making Minjae’s jet lagged headache worse. When Yejun said they would be sharing a room, he hadn’t expected this. 

Minjae had realized something was wrong as soon as they all disembarked from the plane and Yejun was not with them. Finding Yejun vomiting on the airway had surprised him, but some people simply didn’t fly well. Now…

Now he was getting concerned. 

Minjae carefully lifted the basket, politely putting it out in the hallway as he considered what to do. If he had realized they were going to be sharing a pairing suite, he would have gotten his own hotel until the 5th, But now, all things considered, Yejun might take offense if Minjae suddenly changed his mind and it would raise even more questions with the others. The beta was impossible to read at the moment, and that concerned Minjae more. 

In the past seven years he had known Yejun, he had never seen the man this undone, this upset. But what Yejun needed right now was not an interrogation. He needed space. Space Minjae would give, like always. 

Minjae closed the door gently, waiting for the lock to click. Pairing suites in America didn’t have keys but rather biometric keypads that only responded to the two people sharing the room. That meant room service would only come in if asked, and Minjae knew he could take care of the room himself. He’d just have to be careful.

“<Now what to do?>” Minjae sighed, glancing at the obscenely large bed. There was no way he was going to share a bed with Yejun, especially when Yejun had a fiance. But he also knew Yejun would not allow him to sleep on the floor or the couch without an argument, since this was already a fiasco waiting to happen. He knew Chairman Lim would likely accept the arrangement while quietly firing everyone involved with the booking, but Minjae still had to be careful.

Yejun was engaged and if anyone found out the room they shared was a pairing suite, well… the headlines wrote themselves. Minjae just needed to lie to the others and change the room so no scandalous pictures could arise, accidentally or otherwise. Yejun had headed straight to the shower after they both registered for the room, so he likely barely paid attention to the layout. Minjae had five minutes at most to make any changes to the room. 

He glanced at the “lounge” area, taking in the size of the couch. It was meant for cuddling and other activities and Minjae hummed low in his chest as he considered it. A full second bed would be questioned in a suite made for new mates, but turning the couch into a pullout made sense, right? Minjae decided it did, and he heard the water in the bathroom finally stop. 

Taking a deep breath, Minjae placed his hands on the couch, closing his eyes as he pulled up his magic. He felt a slight breeze as the privacy screen manifested behind him, and the fabric of the couch rippled under his hands as he reshaped it to hide a bed in the cushions. He saw his form solidifying as he opened his eyes, releasing his magic and glancing at the screen he had made.

Well, at least it somewhat matched the theme of the room.

“Shower’s free.” Yejun’s voice finally filled the room and Minjae stepped from behind the screen. Yejun was wearing the provided robe and pants, and Minjae merely nodded. 

“Thank you Lim-nim.”

“Lim is fine.” Yejun corrected, finally glancing around the room. “Is there only the one bed?”

“The couch becomes a second bed. I will sleep there, behind the screen.” Minjae did his best to suppress his yawn, glad he had drawn the blackout curtains as soon as they entered. “You should sleep, Lim. The flight took a lot out of all of us.”

“...Right.” Was all Yejun offered and Minjae nodded, walking into the bathroom. At least it had a frosted glass door, and Minjae closed it before taking another deep breath. 

Yejun had been so happy before they left Korea. Ten hours seemed like such a short amount of time to so completely erase Yejun’s good mood, especially when he had still seemed alright on the flight. Minjae wanted to ask what was wrong, but it was clear Yejun didn’t want to talk. 

Minjae started the water, noticing the rain shower. Of course it had a rain shower. He shook his head, glancing over at the provided robe and pajamas. There were enough for a full two weeks and the alpha exhaled slowly.

It was only five days. 

***

Yejun listened as Minjae walked behind the screen, pulling out the bed hidden in the couch. He was so relieved that the room had a second bed, despite it being such a simple concession, it made him want to cry again. 

Yejun hadn’t cried that much in years. He had sat on the floor of the shower, wishing the water could wash away his shame. Every time he had allowed Jieun to touch him. Every time he had allowed her inside him. Every time he had broken the rules, the expectations, just for her.

Yejun is no different.

It was only once the water started to get cold that Yejun finally convinced himself to get out. He felt bad for using up all the warm water, but if it bothered Minjae, the alpha didn’t complain. He had simply taken his shower and got to bed behind the screen, not even seemingly bothered that Yejun had turned off all the light already. 

Yejun could still hear his phone vibrating in his bag, and he considered getting up to put it on silent. However, even the thought of moving made his legs feel heavier, and so he stayed in his bed. His mother would forgive him if he claimed to be exhausted, and as far as Jieun…

He didn’t know what to do. 

He couldn’t call her a liar. Couldn’t reveal that he was far from a “typical beta”, that he had done more for her than anyone in his position would ever dare. They weren’t even supposed to be having sex yet, and while that part might be overlooked, the rest would not. He had gotten on his knees for her, had allowed her to climax before him. 

He would be disowned at best. At worst, he’d be the subject of every whispered conversation back home. Jieun knew that, and if she had been talking to anyone other than Woojin, he could have pretended that was why she lied. But Woojin was Yejun’s friend and even his tone implied he didn’t fully believe what she was saying. But his response, “So you always say,” implied Jieun always talked about Yejun that way. Enough that it didn’t even surprise the omega anymore. 

Who else had she said that too? How many times had she casually risked his reputation just to earn sympathy from her lie? And what did “Same place” mean? What were Jieun and Woojin planning while Yejun was gone? Was Woojin starting to believe Jieun after constantly hearing how “poorly” Yejun treated her? 

Yejun buried his face into the pillow, wishing he could push all the thoughts from his head. He just wanted to sleep. But his thoughts kept returning to the recording, and how easily Jieun lied about him. How she praised him in private, but apparently tore him to pieces in public.

The pillow muffled Yejun’s shallow breaths, but it did nothing to quiet the echo of her voice looping in his ears.

Yejun is no different and I hate the waiting.

He lost the fight with his tears, letting them soak into the silk fabric.