Minjun couldn't sleep that night. He told myself it was just the caffeine, three americanos over five hours wasn't the best decision or maybe it was just the project deadline. He always got like this before submissions. But deep down, he knew better. He knows. It was because of him. It was because of that moment when his scent hit Minjun, so faint that it should have passed for nothing. If he hadn't been raised to always listen, he might have missed it. Kangdae was definitely an Alpha. Minjun's mind was drifting off again, because if he had been even slightly off his schedule–

He sat up too fast in bed, the sheets tangled around him. His skin felt too warm, too tight.

'What would he have done? Would he have done anything?.. What would I have done?'

His mind kept going back to the memories of Kangdae sitting there, typing and still calm. As if nothing had happened. As if Minjun hadn't just stumbled over something so fundamental that it should have changed everything. But it hadn't. It was barley anything. It should have made him feel better. But it didn't. It just made him feel exposed. Because now he couldn't stop thinking about all the possible what-ifs.. Playing back every look, every word they had exchanged up till now. That one time his fingers brushed Minjun's while passing papers. The way he leaned forward during meetings, voice low and even. Minjun had never even looked at him twice or even thought about him in any way, except that he was less annoying than most other people. But he was still annoying nonetheless.

What bothered Minjun was that he didn't know why he was hiding it.

Over the next few days, Minjun tried to act normal. Which, in his case, meant being mildly irritable, too focused on studies and deliberately unbothered by everything. And trying to disappear into his hoodie, more than usual. It worked. For the most part. Except when Kangdae walked into the room. It was like his body knew before his brain could even catch up. Every damn time.

Heart rate? Elevated. Pheromone regulation? A mess. Not enough to expose anything, but enough for Minjun to know it.

He would snap at Jiyoon a little too quickly. Shift away from Kangdae if he sat too close. Glance at the windows too often, needing a distraction. Minjun caught his eyes once. He was already glancing, the way he always did. But for once, it was starting to effect Minjun. Like forgetting to take his scent blockers.

He was so wrapped up in thought, so caught in the mental spiral that he walked right past the little container on his desk that morning without a second glance. He didn't even notice until hours later, during another late library session.

A feeling of being exposed. A sudden feeling of restlessness.

The group had thinned again, Minjun didn't even realize or recall when or why. Just Jiyoon muttering something like "Don't wait up" and he was left at the table, again. With Kangdae, again. Just the two of them. Again.

He wasn't sitting beside Minjun this time. But on the opposite side of the table, like he knew Minjun needed the space. Which somehow made it worse. Kangdae was keeping his eyes on Minjun. Not the way other Alphas did, sizing up, waiting for cues. No, he was frowning, just slightly. In that exact moment, something in Minjun's scent had shifted. Not obvious to anyone else, not yet or maybe he did and–

"Minjun."

His head snapped up as he froze.

"Is everything okay?" His voice was quiet. Careful. Too careful.

"Fine." But it wasn't. He hated how his body reacted just hearing Kangdae's voice. That slight curl in his stomach. His pulse betraying him. 'It's because I forgot to take the blockers. Right.' He looked down on his papers, searching for a distraction.

"You've been acting different." he said gently. "Since last week. Less grumpy, more.. jumpy."

"That's not a thing." He snapped. "Don't make up new personality traits for me."

Kangdae gave a soft laugh. "Sorry. You're right." He paused for a second. "But something is bothering you."

"You're not a Beta." He said flatly, he looked up, folding his arms across his chest like armor.

The words dropped like stones between them. But Kangdae didn't flinch. He didn't deny it. Just nodded.

Once.

"I'm not."

"So?", voice low, trying to keep it even. "Why hide it?"

His gaze didn't waver. "I'm not hiding it. People just assume."

"But your pheromones are so faint."

"Because I don't like it. The stronger they are the more likely that they will get out of control." He was clutching his hands tightly. "And because I didn't want you to look at me the way you're looking at me right now."

Minjun stiffened. "I'm looking at you like–"

"Like I'm dangerous." His tone wasn't accusing. Just honest. "I'm not." He said gently. "Not to you. Not ever."

Minjun held it together for the rest of the night. Or at least he thought he had. Because suprisingly, Kangdae gave him space after that, literally and metaphorically. He didn't press. No sly comments. No smug smiles. Just quiet presence. But now Minjun was left wondering why Kangdae was always trying to be less. Less imposing. Less loud. Less Alpha. 'Maybe that's just how he is?' He didn't know. He hated not knowing.

The week that followed was a blur.

It was still Minjun on the surface, showing up to class, scribbling in his notebooks, snapping at Hwan when he made fun at the "perpetual storm cloud energy" surrounding him, whatever that means.

But underneath? He was unraveling. Quietly. He didn't even notice until hours later.

Minjun's scent was never particularly strong. It was always faint, always beneath the layers of generic blocker residue that clung to most students like a second skin.

But that day in the library? There was something. But even the Alpha in him couldn't quite be sure if it really was something. It stuck to Kangdae's thoughts on the entire walk across campus.

Minjun didn't say anything, of course. And Kangdae wanted to ask, he really did. But he didn't.

'Was it because of me? Maybe I shouldn't have done that.' But they were alone that day and he wanted Minjun to know. It felt like a secret, a lie he wasn't trying to keep, so he let his scent slip through, just a little.

Minjun was even quieter than usual, fidgeting more.

Whatever the reason was, he clearly didn't want Kangdae to know. So he kept his distance. Stepped a little further away when they crossed path's. Kept his voice soft. Didn't let his scent slip through again, even though something in him wanted to, like maybe if he did, Minjun would relax. Or maybe he would run. 

"Yeah.", laughing softly to himself and remembering how Minjun usually gets all grumpy and devensive at once. 'He would definitely run..'