***

“<Hey Minjae, a moment?>”

Minjae turned as he heard his sister’s voice, pausing in front of the hallway to the pairing suite. It would be the last night, and from what Yejun explained, they would all be upgraded to suites in the morning. Minjae had told the rest of the group and while the other three were excited, Minjae was more concerned that he let on. 

He still hadn’t figured out what ruined Yejun’s mood but whatever it was, it was bad. Yejun had performed his professional duties perfectly, but he merely showered and cried in bed every night. Minjae knew Yejun was trying to cry softly in order to not be heard or disturb him, so he had no reason to ask. But no one cried like that over a minor inconvenience. 

“<Yeah, Seulgi?>”

“<I got this for Lim,>” Seulgi grinned and Minjae shook his head as he took the funnel cake. They both knew Yejun loved desserts and Minjae appreciated that his twin had finally given him an excuse to talk to Yejun. As far as the rest of the team new, he and Yejun were sharing a family suite. As much as he loved and trusted his sister, he didn’t trust her not to push if he told her the truth. “<I hope he feels better.>”

“<Me too. Goodnight sis,>” Minjae turned back down the hallway, carefully pressing his hand on the thumbpad for the door. A click and he turned the handle, stepping into the room that was, to his surprise, still lit up. It was almost midnight, and Minjae had expected Yejun to be packed and asleep already. 

“Lim?” Minjae called out, and that’s when he heard it.

“I mean, you know how beta sex is. Yejun is no different and I hate the waiting. It’s why I need an omega. Something I don’t have to wait for.”

That was Jieun’s voice. 

Minjae set the funnel cake down on a table near the door and stepped further into the room. He spotted Yejun still sitting at the table, three bottles sitting there as he poured from a fourth, his phone laying face up as the recording kept going.

“So you always say.”

“I mean it’s still good, but it's just not the same. As rare as sex is, I want to just go for it sometimes. But I can’t bear the idea of hurting him. It’s difficult, you know?” 

“So, same place?”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know when my eyes change.” 

Minjae stared at the phone, horrified at what he was hearing, what he knew no one should be hearing. Was this what had made Yejun’s attitude change so quickly? He watched as Yejun drank from the glass, downing it in only a couple of gulps before he reached for his phone, fingers fumbling to replay the recording. 

“ –go with him. It’s a two week trip and my rut is soon. It’s not like I can rut in America… I mean, you know how beta sex is…”

Minjae noticed Yejun starting to pour another glass and he stepped forward, taking the bottle from Yejun’s hand. Yejun finally seemed to notice him, and Minjae noticed the tear lines down his face. 

“Lee-ssi, did you have fun? I meant to save a bottle for you…” Yejun’s tone was slurred and Minjae looked at the other three bottles. He had assumed they were full, but standing closer, he could see they were empty and the bottle in his hand was half empty as well. “I’ll get you another one.”

“Lim-nim, what are you doing?”

“Drinking,” Yejun purred, and Minjae frowned even more. Even if Yejun could hold his liquor, three full-sized bottles of wine was enough to make anyone reckless. Minjae set the bottle firmly out of reach, ignoring Yejun’s thin protest as he tried to stretch for it. He crouched beside the chair, careful to keep his tone neutral.

“Lim-nim, you can’t keep drinking. You’ll get sick. We have a meeting tomorrow.”

Yejun’s lips twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “I’m already sick. Sick of her.” 

His voice cracked, the last syllable swallowed by a hiccup. He pressed the back of his hand to his mouth, as if trying to hold everything in; tears, words, whatever was left of his composure. Minjae felt his heart twist, but he swallowed his questions. The recording ended, and he gently reached to remove Yejun’s phone from reach. Listening to it over and over again wasn’t helping and Yejun didn’t even try to stop him. 

“Did you hear her? ‘Yejun is no different’ she tells him,” Yejun scoffed and Minjae heard the tears in the beta’s voice. “We had sex, Lee-ssi. A lot, more than we should. I never made her wait. I always put her first, never made it about me. I even got on my knees for her. And she tells Woojin I’m no different. That she doesn’t want to hurt me.”

“Lim-nim,” Minjae started, frowning. He shouldn’t be hearing this. He didn’t want Yejun to regret telling him all of this, but it was clear Yejun had no intention of stopping as he sobbed, hiccuping again on the words. 

“I did so much for her, Minjae. I want her to see me as different. I think I love her. I think that’s why it hurts so much.” Yejun closed his eyes as he cried, and Minjae took a sharp breath at Yejun dropping formalities. Yejun’s hand twitched, reaching vaguely toward one of the empty bottles on the table. Minjae caught it before he could grasp it. His fingers were cold, the way hands got when someone was too exhausted to keep their own body warm. “Is this what love feels like, Minhae? Does it hurt because I love her?”

“It can be,” Minjae said gently, pulling up a bit of his magic to warm Yejun’s hands. “You should drink some water, Lim-nim.”

“Stop calling me that,” Yejun muttered through his tears and Minjae nodded, his own heart starting to ache. “Don’t call me Lim either.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Call me by my name. I want to hear my name from someone who’s not her,” Yejun whined, fresh tears running down his cheeks as Minjae froze. He wanted to help, but he knew Yejun was in a vulnerable state and this was not the time for boundary crossing. Instead, Minjae slowly stood, releasing Yejun’s hand as he walked over to the mini fridge. 

He chose one of the sports drinks, quietly creating another glass and pouring the drink into it. Yejun didn’t ask where the glass came from, gently accepting it as Minjae pressed it into his hands. 

“What am I going to do Mijae? I can’t end the engagement, not after asking my mother to hurry things,” Yejun whined, and Minjae did his best to encourage the beta to drink. He needed something other than alcohol in his system and from what the alpha could see, Yejun hadn’t ordered any food. Only wine. “I can’t admit I did those things for her.”

“I know.”

“I can’t marry her, I can’t!” Yejun nearly dropped the glass, but Minjae caught it, his anger starting to rise as he watched Yejun sob into his hands. “What am I going to do?”

“Lim-nim, please–”

“Don’t call me that!” Yejun launched himself from the chair, and Minjae barely adjusted in time to catch Yejun before he fell to the floor. It was then Minjae noticed it; the faintest hint of vanilla and almond. 

An omega scent. 

He glanced down at Yejun who was still sobbing as he hung on Minjae’s arm, not caring about the position he was in. There was no way Yejun could be producing an omega’s scent; Minjae would have smelled it before now. But he also knew Yejun had not applied any cologne today; in fact, Minjae had never seen Yejun ever use any kind of scent that betas would usually apply to make up for their lack.

So where was this coming from?

“Mihae,” Yejun slurred, and Minjae quickly shifted his attention. He picked up Yejun carefully, one arm braced behind the beta’s back, the other steadying his knees before he could collapse outright.

“Yejun-ssi,” Minjae tried, speaking quietly as he guided him toward the bed. It hurt to address him so casually, but he couldn’t afford to upset Yejun again, lest he hurt himself. He would apologize later. “You can’t stand like this. Please lay down.”

Yejun made a soft sound that was neither agreement nor refusal. His grip on Minjae’s sleeve slackened, and he let himself be maneuvered. When they reached the bed, he sat heavily on the edge, accepting the glass with the sports drink again. 

“Yejun-ssi,” Minjae repeated, gentler, crouching in front of him again so they were eye to eye. “Look at me for a moment, please.”

It took a few seconds before Yejun’s eyes lifted, red and glassy. Minjae could see how pale he was, how every muscle in his face seemed clenched in defense against fresh grief.

“I know it feels impossible right now,” Minjae said slowly, keeping his voice as neutral as he could manage. He couldn’t risk pity but he also couldn’t lie and say this would pass quickly. “But you don’t have to decide anything tonight. And if you want help, I’ll help you.”

“How could you help me?” Yejun sniffed and Minjae felt his chest tightened. He took a deep breath, gently sitting back on his heels as he smiled. 

“I can tell you, but you have to decide if you want my help first. Right now, you should drink and rest.” Minjae did his best to sound calm and certain, even though every instinct he had was screaming. The recording didn't strike him as worth this pain; sure, Jieun shouldn't be casually revealing they had sex, but it wasn't world ending. But Yejun's words made it clear she was lying about something and that Yejun was collapsing under the weight of it. 

Yejun’s lips parted, but no words came. He just stared down at the glass in his hand, as if he’d forgotten what it was for. The tiny tremor in his wrist grew until Minjae was sure the glass would spill. Without thinking, he reached out, curling his fingers around Yejun’s hand to steady it.

“Drink please, Yejun-ssi,” Minjae repeated, soft but firm. “A few sips. That’s all.”

He watched as Yejun obeyed, each swallow ragged and unsteady. Minjae stayed crouched in front of Yejun, not yet trusting that he wouldn’t try to stand again.

“She never even respected me,” Yejun whispered finally, voice hoarse. Minjae took a deep breath, trying to suppress his own anger. Even if Yejun didn’t ask for his help, he knew he couldn’t remain on the side anymore. Not when Jieun had clearly done something wrong to Yejun. “I… I loved her and she–”

“Yejun-ssi,” Minjae said quietly, “you were good. You are good. Even if she doesn’t see it. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Yejun scoffed, but finished the glass before allowing Minjae to set it on the dresser. After another heavy sigh he laid down, turning away from his fellow team lead. Minjae slowly stood, glancing over at the small table. He started to step away to clean up the mess when Yejun’s voice stopped him. 

“Will you really help me?”

“If you want it, Yejun-ssi,” Minjae confirmed, not turning to look. He knew Yejun didn’t want to be seen, not like this. “Please rest for now.”

He heard fresh tears as Yejun pulled the blanket tighter, and the silence that followed was as heavy as the night pressing at the windows.

***