Behind the school, tucked away from the bustling hallways and crowded courtyards, there lay a secluded patch of lush green grass, shimmering under the brilliance of the afternoon sun. The sky above was a crisp blue, unblemished by clouds, while the light seemed to dance upon the blades of grass, casting a golden sheen over the forgotten corner of the campus. In the trees overhead, birds flitted about, their melodious chirping filling the air with a sense of serenity, as if nature itself was orchestrating a delicate symphony.
With his head buried in his hands, the Ryan was slumped over on an old wooden bench. He was so exhausted—not from physical exertion, but from the mental pressure of running from someone whose unrelenting pursuit he could no longer outrun—that his shoulders buckled. As if he had been running for too long, his breath came out unevenly and shallowly.
The bench, which had been outside for years and been worn down by the weather, creaked under him. It was the only sound that could be heard coming from this quiet, ignored part of the school grounds. A soft breeze blew through, rustling the leaves that were still on the trees and sending some of them gracefully to the ground.
His hair flapped in the wind, causing the wind to play with it and give him a brief break from the oppressive weight of his thoughts. The leaves spiraled languidly to the earth as the wind whispered through the trees, giving the impression that time had stopped in this secret haven.
Ryan's thoughts were dominated by what had happened the night before as he sat by himself on the worn bench, cut off from the outside world. He had been so overcome by the gravity of what he had done that he had been unable to fall asleep at all. The shame pushed upon him like a smothering weight, an overwhelming sensation of having committed some unpardonable sin.
Ryan had been purposefully avoiding Jihoon since the crack of dawn. It's not like Jihoon was going to talk to him; in fact, he might not even notice him. However, the guilt and shame were intolerable. A wave of mortification crashed over him at the mere sight of Jihoon from a distance. Ryan's heart raced like he was being pursued relentlessly every time he felt the air change in response to Jihoon's approach.
It was now, after he had been avoiding and swerving all morning, that he found himself in this position: psychologically and physically spent. The burden of it all had forced him to this secluded, unnoticed area of the campus, where time seemed to have passed more slowly and cruelly. Despite this, he was still unable to shake the guilt that followed him around like a shadow.
Ryan leaned back on the bench, letting out a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes, his face tilted toward the sky. He looked almost majestic, his hair swaying gently in the breeze. "Is this how it's going to be until the end of the semester?" he murmured, feeling the weight of anxiety making his head spin.
Lost in his thoughts, Ryan failed to notice that someone had been watching him all along. It wasn't until he felt a presence disturbingly close to his face that he became aware of it. The familiar, overpowering scent of hyacinth filled his senses.
He opened his eyes, only to be met with the piercing blue irises of a blonde. For a moment, it was as if he were gazing into the ocean, completely captivated by their beauty. But reality snapped back when he caught sight of the smirk playing on the blonde's lips. Startled, Ryan jolted, pushing Jihoon away. No one had ever come this close to him before, and the unexpected closeness left him rattled.
"What are you doing?" Ryan shouted, clearly shaken. Yet the smirk never left the blonde's face. Without uttering a word, Jihoon moved even closer, causing Ryan's breath to hitch at the proximity. He visibly trembled. "W-what are y—"
His words were cut off as he felt Jihoon's breath graze his skin, their faces mere centimeters apart, almost touching. Ryan's heart pounded wildly in his chest, and just as he was about to react, he felt Jihoon's lips brush softly against the corner of his face. Startled, Ryan pulled away quickly, overwhelmed by what had just happened. His mind raced, and his face flushed a deep red as he touched his lips in disbelief, utterly flustered.
"H-have you lost your mind?" Ryan shouted, his voice faltering as he stuttered, clearly flustered. His face was burning with embarrassment, and he felt like he might explode from the tension. But what frustrated him even more was Jihoon's indifferent expression, as if he couldn't care less about what had just happened. It was as though nearly kissing Ryan meant nothing to him. "This isn't even something worth getting startled over," Jihoon remarked, rolling his eyes, utterly unfazed by his own actions.
Ryan's eyes widened at Jihoon's remarks. "Do you even comprehend the magnitude of what you've just done?" Ryan's fury intensified with each passing second. How could someone be so indifferent and fail to recognize the consequences of their actions?
"Why are you so upset? It wasn't even a kiss," Jihoon retorted, irritation lacing his tone in response to Ryan's inquiry. Jihoon sat on the bench, seemingly indifferent to the fact that someone was seething with rage over his actions.
"What does this mean? You kissed me without my consent! It's practically sexual harassment!" Ryan exclaimed, struggling to contain his frustration. He clenched his fists tightly, trying to remain composed. The angry pheromones emanating from him filled the air, and he knew he needed to control himself; otherwise, it might start to affect the omega seated before him.
Jihoon's eyes widened in shock at the sudden accusation of harassment. He scoffed, unable to comprehend how an alpha of a bastard, one fortunate enough to receive even a modicum of attention from him, something that many other alphas coveted, could turn him into a criminal over something so trivial.
"Seriously, you're really starting to irritate me," Jihoon retorted, exasperated by the alpha's persistence. "Fine, believe whatever you want. But it's not as if anyone would take your word over mine. Who would believe that an innocent omega, incapable of causing harm, could possibly harass a dominant alpha like you?" Jihoon said innocently, blinking his eyes in feigned naivety, deliberately provoking Ryan. Deep down, Ryan knew he couldn't act on his anger; after all, it was true that no one would believe him, especially given his reputation.
"You—" Ryan was on the verge of exploding with rage. He ran a hand through his hair, desperately attempting to control his breathing. He was on the verge of letting go all the anger he had been holding inside from dealing with this omega. " I can't deal with you anymore."
Ryan was on the verge of leaving when Jihoon's words made him pause. "Why are you making such a big deal out of this, dude? It's not like it was your first kiss. You're acting as if you're a virgin who just had his first kiss stolen," Jihoon retorted, fed up with Ryan's behavior.
Ryan drew back, feeling exposed all of a sudden. Embarrassment colored his face, and he shuddered visibly. He tried to cover up his uneasiness and deny Jihoon's charge, but all he could manage was a series of stammers. "W-what are you discussing? It isn't like that. I-It just-" He couldn't complete his sentence.
Seeing Ryan's suspicious behavior and flushed face, Jihoon felt as though he had struck a nerve. His eyes widened in disbelief, and his mouth fell open. Covering his mouth with his hand in shock, he stammered, "D-don't tell me, you're actually—" Before he could finish his sentence, Ryan bolted, running as if his life depended on it. Jihoon watched as Ryan disappeared behind the university walls, still frozen in disbelief.
How can an alpha, a grown adult, be a virgin? Jihoon couldn't wrap his mind around the situation. Exhaling heavily, he burst into uncontrollable laughter. "W-wow! Is this for real? I'm even more intrigued by him now."
A smirk spread across Jihoon's face as unsettling thoughts began to form in his mind. Oh, Ryan, how unfortunate for you to have gotten tangled up with me.
To be continued...