Kaoru wakes up to the soft hum of the festival around him, the distant laughter of children mingling with the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze. His head rests against something warm and firm.
As he slowly raises his head, he realises it's Jae-Hwa's shoulder.
A blush spreads across Kaoru's cheeks like wildfire, and he quickly sits up, feeling a rush of embarrassment at having fallen asleep so vulnerably. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he scans his surroundings. The ferris wheel looms in the distance, slowly rotating against the twilight sky, its colourful lights twinkling like stars.
Panic sets in like a vice tightening around his chest.
The ferris wheel is moving.
"Where's Kai?" He urgently asks, his voice tinged with rising anxiety. His eyes, wide with worry, dart around the bustling festival grounds, searching for any sign of his twin.
Jae-Hwa offers a reassuring smile. "He took off with those friends of his."
Kaoru's panic sharpens, slicing through the reassurance like a blade. He stands up abruptly, his movements jerky with alarm. "What? No, I need to go find him!"
Sensing the storm brewing within Kaoru, Jae-Hwa places a calming hand on his arm, his touch warm and grounding.
"It's okay. I got both of their contact info." He explains, referring to Haneul and Daewon.
But Kaoru's fear transforms into anger, a fiery dragon waking from its slumber. He shakes off Jae-Hwa's hand and stands, his posture rigid with tension.
"I don't know who those alphas were! They could be creeps! Where did they go? I have to find him!"
Jae-Hwa rises to his feet and follows Kaoru as he weaves through the festival crowd, the colourful stalls and bright lights blurring into a chaotic swirl.
"Kaoru, please, calm down." Jae-Hwa says, his voice steady despite the concern etched on his face. "Kai will be fine. He's not a child anymore."
Kaoru doesn't want to listen, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. Memories of the past flash before his eyes, the weight of his protectiveness over Kai threatening to crush him. He pushes past groups of festival-goers, his eyes scanning frantically for any sign of his brother.
"Kaoru, listen to me. Kai will be fine." Jae-Hwa tries to reassure him, his hand lightly touching Kaoru's arm.
Kaoru shrugs off the touch, his red eyes flashing with frustration. "You don't understand. Kai is reckless! Those alphas could be anyone. They could hurt him!"
They reach the edge of the festival grounds, where the noise begins to fade into the background, replaced by the gentle rustle of trees and the distant chirping of crickets.
Kaoru stops abruptly, turning to face Jae-Hwa. "You don't know them, Jae-Hwa! You didn't see the way they looked at him. I need to find him. I can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"And what about you, Kaoru? Do you ever think that maybe Kai resents being smothered? That maybe he wants to live his own life without you hovering over him?" The words are sharp, but Jae-Hwa's voice is soft.
Kaoru stops, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He turns to Jae-Hwa, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I can't lose him. He's all I have left."
Jae-Hwa steps closer, his presence a calming beam of sun amidst Kaoru's storm. The gentle scent of cedarwood and pine needles envelops Kaoru, soothing his frazzled nerves.
"You won't lose him." Jae-Hwa says softly, his voice a warm, reassuring whisper. He gently grasps Kaoru's hand, his touch tender and grounding. "Kai needs to live his own life. He's strong, just like you. He'll be alright."
Kaoru's face scrunches up as he absorbs Jae-Hwa's words. The initial panic that had seized him begins to ebb away, replaced by a reluctant acceptance. He sighs.
"Fine. I'm going home."
Behind him, Jae-Hwa's expression falters, a flicker of hurt and dejection crossing his features. He had hoped for a more peaceful end to their evening, not an argument that left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Kaoru, however, is lost in his thoughts. He thinks about how kind Jae-Hwa had been to him that evening, how he had sat patiently on that bench, letting Kaoru sleep on his shoulder without complaint– how long were they sitting there for?
The warmth of Jae-Hwa's presence, the comfort of his scent, and the gentle steadiness of his touch; all these things begin to chip away at Kaoru's defences.
He pauses for a moment, then shyly looks over at Jae-Hwa. "Can you... take me home?"
Haneul, Daewon, and Kai step into the apartment, the air thick with tension and desire. The door barely clicks shut before Haneul's strong arms pin Kai against the wall, his lips claiming Kai's in a passionate kiss. Daewon moves in swiftly beside them, fingers already finding the edges of Kai's shirt, his lips trailing fire along Kai's neck.
"Wait, hold on!" Kai gasps between kisses, his attempts to push them away met with unyielding persistence. But the alphas are undeterred, their longing palpable and consuming.
"Fuck off!" Kai shouts, frustration boiling over in his voice. His swift kicks land solidly on both Haneul and Daewon's shins, causing them to wince and double over in pain.
"What's gotten into you two?" Kai yells, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and confusion. "I thought you sorted this shit out!"
Haneul straightens up, his hand gently massaging his shin where Kai's swift kick landed. His eyes flicker to Daewon before he responds.
"Yeah, we sorted things out." Haneul affirms, his voice steady despite the lingering ache. His gaze shifts to Kai, his expression earnest yet tinged with longing. "But that doesn't change how we feel about you."
Daewon nods in agreement, a hint of admiration in his eyes despite the discomfort from Kai's powerful kick. "Kai, we both care deeply for you."
Kai stares at them, stunned into silence.
Then, he points at Daewon. "You're fine."
Then turns his finger to Haneul, his expression hardening. "But you– from what I understood from that ferris wheel nightmare, you only started going after me because of Daewon! Well, the jig is up!"
Haneul's gaze falters, a shadow of guilt crossing his face. He glances away briefly before meeting Kai's eyes again.
"I hate to admit it, but that's how it started." He confesses, his voice tinged with regret. "But I really do like you. You're funny, and strong, and cute–"
Kai cuts him off, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he blurts out, "I'm only with you two for the money!"
Daewon chuckles softly, a fond smile touching his lips. "And he's honest too."
Before Kai can retort, Haneul leans in, his lips brushing against Kai's neck in a tender, tantalising caress.
"But maybe not honest with himself." Haneul murmurs, his voice low and teasing, a hint of warmth beneath the playful tone. "Perhaps the truth is within him?"
"We'll help him uncover it." Daewon tenderly says, his gaze lingering suggestively on Kai, a silent promise of what's to come.