Chapter Text
Hyunjin was looking in his mirror, unable to decide which of the tops he was holding would go best with his outfit, and it didn't help to ease the frown on his face.
"And so, you said what after?" Jisung asked, behind him.
Hyunjin turned around and sighed. "And you want me to tell him what?" He rolled his eyes. "I can't even count the number of times where they ask me about my daddy issues—as if it were a normal thing to do!" he said, dropping the two tops he was holding onto the pile of clothes he had tried on just before and that were now on the floor, before letting himself fall into the armchair beside him.
"But are they wrong?" Felix asked. "You always have hookups or go out with men twice your age—it's a fact."
"And?" Hyunjin said, sitting up. "It's not because I like older alphas that I have problems with my own dad!" he said, offended.
"It's not what we're saying… and I'm sure this Changbin didn't mean it like this," Felix said before popping a popcorn into his mouth.
"Isn't your father friends with him by the way?" Jisung asked.
Hyunjin nodded, "Yes, they're friends, and coworkers too." He took a sip of the coffee they brought him. "He was a nice guy, until this dumb question."
"It wouldn't have been serious with him anyway," Felix said, shrugging. "I'm only being honest; you never had a serious relationship, and it wouldn't have changed with this one."
Hyunjin frowned; sometimes he doesn't know if he likes or not that his best friends are this honest with him. But also, he knows that they're friends because they can tell everything to each other. "I don't know, I quite liked him…"
"Did you really?" Jisung interrupted.
"Or was it because he looked like Chan?" Felix added.
"No—" Hyunjin tried to argue, but words didn't come out of his mouth. "H-How—How could you say that!"
"Because he's twice your age," Jisung started to list, counting on his fingers.
"But that's only 46!" Hyunjin argued back.
"He's shorter than you," Felix added, and Jisung lifted a finger.
"And? I can like shorter alphas, no?"
"He's close to Chan," Jisung added.
"And he's hot, like really damn hot," Felix said.
Jisung nodded, "Just like Chan."
"My dad isn't—" Hyunjin tried to argue but was as soon cut short.
"No. You can be delusional all you want," Felix started to say, "but you can't say your dad isn't hot."
Hyunjin closed his mouth, looking annoyed. Felix and Jisung did keep going, and the three of them knew they could have listed at least ten other reasons. "You two should be the evil twins, not the sunshine twins…" Hyunjin said after taking a sip of his cold coffee.
Jisung smiled widely, "But it's why you like us!"
Hyunjin rolled his eyes, "And then, what if I like alphas like my dad? It doesn't mean I have issues with him."
The two omegas looked at each other, "The issues aren't you having a bad relationship with your dad, we all know it's not the case," Jisung said.
"The issue is that you love your dad, and as you can't have him, you go for alphas like him," Felix resumed. "And it wouldn't be so much of a problem…"
"… If it wasn't so obvious," Jisung said.
Hyunjin looked at them, the omega still frowning. "What do you mean by obvious…?"
Jisung started to list again all the reasons, but Hyunjin cut him off before he could start. "And for fuck's sake, don't do a list."
"Hyunie listen," Felix said, "More the time pass, more the alphas you choose are close from your dad. You went to complete strangers to one of your dad best friends and co-worker…" Hyunjin listened but said nothing. "One day it will cause you problems, it's why it's important to do something about your daddy issues."
Hyunjin tried not to roll his eyes again. "And what should I do for my 'issue'?" he asked, putting down his now almost empty cup.
"You can always try with us," Jisung said, smiling wide.
Hyunjin chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, but you know I'm not into omegas," he replied playfully to his friend.
All laughed, Hyunjin amused by Jisung's new desperate attempt to take him to their bed.
Felix was the first one to bring back the subject, "More seriously, you should come clean with yourself. If you truly believe you can't have your dad, then move on and stop whatever you're doing, and if…"
"If?" Hyunjin's voice carried a hint of vulnerability, something they'd never heard before. Felix probably put his nail on the sorest spot of Hyunjin's whole life, and he had the choice at this moment to tear it open or leave it alone.
"If you think you can't, then you should act on it," he said softly, choosing his words carefully. Jisung nodded beside him, not daring to say anything. "I don't know your dad as well as you do, but you are determined, strong, and you love even more strongly, and with how he treats you, I don't think you have zero chances…"
"You're not as different as you might think," Jisung said. "You took a lot after him, and he put his whole being into making you the person you are now."
Hyunjin threw his head back and groaned. "Couldn't the two of you wait for the new year?"
Jisung and Felix chuckled, "We couldn't let you end this year without making a good resolution for the next one."
Hyunjin threw a glance at his friends. "I hate the two of you," he said, fighting not to smile.
"Yeah, we love you so much too," and they laughed even more, ending on a lighthearted note.
New Year's Eve came soon after. Hyunjin's dad was holding a party in their house; all of their close friends, some of Chan's coworkers, and people important enough to them were invited. Hyunjin personally invited Felix and Jisung of course, and the three omegas came to the party as pretty as ever. Hyunjin chose a long black dress; the fluid fabric was hugging his body perfectly, showing every part he wanted to.
When Chan saw him, he smiled one of his brightest smiles. He ended the conversation he was having quickly before coming toward Hyunjin. "You're beautiful tonight," he said, kissing his cheek softly like he was used to.
Hyunjin blushed a little, more than he usually does, but he played it off. "You're handsome too!" he said, looking up and down at his dad in his elegant tuxedo.
"Don't flatter me too much, I'm just an old man," Chan said, always too humble.
"You're not; you're probably the handsomest alpha here," Hyunjin said, not letting this go. His dad was hot, smart, and rich, and he took pride in it; he couldn't say it like that, but he wasn't going to let Chan believe he wasn't at least handsome.
Hyunjin looked at how the tip of Chan's ear became red, and he smiled as he took a sip of the champagne glass he took when entering the reception. "Everything went as planned?" he asked, giving grace to his father by changing the subject.
"Yes, everything is going smoothly as it always does," Chan said, smiling proudly as he always did when he was proud of something he did. Cute, thought Hyunjin. "Didn't Jisung and Felix come too?"
Hyunjin nodded, "They already found something to put their claws on," Hyunjin said, as his eyes went to his two friends, surrounding a Changbin who looked a little confused.
Chan followed his gaze and saw his best friend with the two omegas. The alpha looked a bit hesitant, "You're sure it's okay…"
"Don't worry, he'll survive," Hyunjin joked, "I promise they'll leave him at least alive," he said, smiling.
It amused Chan, always laughing at any joke his son could come up with. "I believe you then," he said, his attention going back to his son briefly, then to the rest of the party. "I still have guests to welcome, we talk later?"
Hyunjin nodded and watched his dad go. Hyunjin let go of his empty glass, just noticing that he kept taking small sips all the time he talked with his dad. He was probably more nervous than he thought. He put down the empty glass and took another one, but this time not drinking yet.
He wandered around alone, saying hello to a few people he passed by and exchanging a few words with others. Then he wondered if he should get something to eat and walked toward the buffet, but before he could reach it, his eyes stopped on someone else.
Minho, one of Hyunjin's many exes, as old as his dad, a guy who sometimes worked with Chan on some projects; it's how he met him too. The alpha smiled as he approached. Minho was a nice guy, and Hyunjin wouldn't have minded if he was the him before the talk; now it felt off to see him again.
They weren't wrong when they said he was getting too close to his dad with the ones he dated.
He sighed softly and smiled as the alpha approached.
"You look as beautiful as ever tonight," Minho said.
Hyunjin smiled, "Thanks, you seem so too," he said with a smile, "You're not bad yourself."
The alpha smiled, "Thanks, it's a compliment coming from you." Hyunjin wanted to roll his eyes. Of course, the alpha was a sweet talker. But he mentally shook his head; Minho wasn't a bad guy, and probably one of the best with whom he had a thing. It was maybe why he felt so uneasy, as if he was doing something wrong
"How is work going?" Hyunjin asked, changing the subject, softly drawing a distance.
"Good, your dad and I will have a new project to work on for a new group that will debut soon. You know how he and I love to make sure that what we create goes well together."
Hyunjin nodded. "I'm sure you two will do well, as always."
"And you?" Minho said. "I saw you the other day. You seem to be gaining a name in the modeling world, but did you really let go of your dance career?"
Hyunjin shrugged, but didn't miss how the alpha moved closer. "I still like dancing, but for now I want to work on other things, like modeling or painting."
Minho nodded, "You've always been good at art, no wonder you're your father's son," the alpha said. "A beautiful and talented omega like you," the alpha started to say, "I hope you will find someone who will see your true worth." His scent drifted a little toward the omega. Hyunjin could read his intention clearly, and his scent just confirmed it. His nose scrunched slightly; suddenly his whole being seemed to find the alpha's mint scent unpleasant.
"And you're here to make sure of it?"
Minho smiled, amused. "I could, probably."
Hyunjin diverted his eyes, and they met Chan's looking toward him as he was talking to another guest. Hyunjin drew his attention back to Minho and smiled, "Don't worry, I already have a dad for that," he said, before moving closer and whispering to the alpha. "He's already watching over me, I don't need another alpha to take care of me," he said, smiling as he drew back.
Minho followed the omega's gaze and blushed a little, "You're right," he nodded, smiling, "but if you change your mind, you know where to find me," he said, before walking away.
Hyunjin sighed softly, but his omega, who started to get really uneasy, finally settled back to normal. He walked to the buffet, and as he got an appetizer, Chan came to him, his hand gently holding his waist.
"Everything going well?" His dad asked.
Hyunjin smiled, endeared by his dad's protective instinct acting up. "Of course, Dad, don't worry," he said, not hiding his smile.
"I wasn't… Just needed to make sure," Chan blushed a little.
Hyunjin smiled even more, "I know, but I assure you that I will let no alpha eat me for his dinner," he joked lightly.
Chan laughed, blushing a little more. "I know, but you will always be my baby," he said, his hand squeezing Hyunjin's waist a little.
Hyunjin's smile faded a little. Fortunately, something caught Chan's attention and they both parted.
The omega spent the rest of the night discussing with other friends he had invited to the party. He laughed lightly, drank more champagne, but didn't eat much as he didn't feel like it anymore. Then they all did the countdown to midnight, celebrated the new year and the party kept going for a little more, until people started to leave.
It had been a moment since he saw Jisung and Felix leave, each omega having a strong hold on one of Changbin's arms. Not many people were still there, and he looked at the empty glass he was holding. He lost count, but he probably drank his worth of champagne. He put it down somewhere, and on slightly unsteady feet, he got out on the patio to breathe some fresh air.
But unfortunately for him, Minho was here too. He could walk back inside, but Hyunjin had some pride, maybe too much, and didn't like showing himself vulnerable in front of alphas.
"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Minho asked; the alpha looked at him before looking back at the clear sky.
"Yes…" Hyunjin said, holding his arms, feeling a little cold on this first night of January.
"You're cold…" The alpha was about to give him his jacket, which he was holding, but the omega shook his head.
"I like being cold," he said.
The alpha smiled, but took his vest back, saying nothing. A moment passed before Minho looked back at the omega, "You're sure you don't want to come with me tonight?"
Hyunjin smiled; he looked down and for a small second his mind started to consider the proposition. But the idea of the alpha touching him made his skin crawl. "No, sorry…" the omega said, looking at the alpha. "I liked you, Minho, genuinely; I think you're one of the few ones I could fall in love with," he said. "You're nice, charming, polite, but also amusing, playful, a great teaser…" He gulped as he looked briefly back at the stars shining bright in the cold night sky. "But I can't bring myself to…"
Minho was suspended to his lips, waiting for the final words.
"To love someone else, and you also deserve to be loved by someone who deserves you," he said, his eyes meeting Minho's.
The alpha sighed, smiling softly. He didn't seem sad, nor hurt, maybe a little regretful. "I hope you'll be happy with whoever you choose to pursue, Hyunjin. They'll be the luckiest to have you," Minho said, before leaving.
Hyunjin felt a pang in his heart. Will they, really?
He walked back inside; everyone had left, and it was only him and his dad.
Chan, his tuxedo jacket thrown somewhere on the couch, his bow tie long gone and the first two buttons of his shirt open. The alpha looked at him surprised at first, and then it morphed into his usual softness.
"Are you good, pup?" he asked, as Hyunjin stopped in his tracks. His dad smiled softly, looking happy just to see him.
Hyunjin blushed, feeling his cheeks redden. He closed the door behind him, shivering a little. "Yeah, needed to take a breath outside… probably drank a little too much."
Chan approached, his warm hands coming onto Hyunjin's cold arms. "Had too much fun?"
Hyunjin smiled, "Yes…" he said before his hands came around his dad's neck. "I love you, Dad," he says, letting the words roll on his tongue. He doesn't miss the way his dad's face illuminates, how his smile grew. If he had more alcohol in his system, he would have kissed it, to keep it forever for himself.
But he didn't, so he just hugged him closer, pushing his face into the crook of his neck as he did when he was a small pup.
"I love you too, pup," Chan said, but Hyunjin's heart knew they weren't beating at the same rhythm.
Hyunjin closed his eyes and hummed.
Would Chan really be the luckiest if Hyunjin pursued him? Would he be the luckiest if Hyunjin brought the both of them to their doom? Wouldn't it make him selfish?
"I'm so lucky to have you, pup. Each year I wish to have another year with you," Chan says softly, his large hands petting Hyunjin's back.
And in the warm embrace of his father, Hyunjin came to terms with his feelings. He was selfish—maybe the most selfish person he had ever met. He loved his dad; his dad was his and no one else's, and he didn't want to hide it anymore.