Chapter Text
It was a Sunday afternoon and Jeno was lonely. For most people, the Sunday afternoon laziness was opted, more than forced. But not for Jeno. You see, after a seemingly out of blue intervention by his parents, they decide that it was good for Jeno to move out. Move out of his parent’s home, his home.
Despite the humiliation of having this conversation with his parents, Jeno agreed calmly without any protests. His parents were surprised but elated that he agreed so quickly. Meanwhile, Jeno deluded himself into thinking that he needed the change. Which was far from the truth. The truth was that his parents needed him to change.
Jeno knew that they were worried about him. Because despite finishing his academic obligations and being successful in his career as a freelance architect, Jeno was still staying with them. What troubled them the most, was that he didn’t seem to even seek out omegas to settle down with. Undeterred by the fact that he was close to being 27. Most alphas found their omega by 24 or at least had a few relationships, other than one night stands and rut partners by then. But Jeno didn’t. It was as if Jeno simply didn’t care.
They were wrong of course. The truth was that Jeno was a hopeless romantic and yearned for someone. But he was bad at wooing omegas. He was insecure, rightfully so, according to him. After all, most omegas had a certain type they preferred when it comes to Alphas. Tall, broad, dominant, charming, and a whole lot of other traits Jeno didn’t have or didn’t have enough of.
His alpha was truly unhappy with how things were and he had spent most of his teenage and adult life disappointed at not being able to court the omegas he liked simply because he couldn’t gather the courage to ask. He wasn't particularly big or tall and he didn’t have an insanely large cock. He had a pleasant minty scent, but it was not the strong musky scent most alphas had and most omegas liked. To most, he seemed like a beta with his non-confrontational, calm demeanor. He strongly doubted any omega would want an alpha like him.
However, when his parents confronted him about this and tell that the first step to getting an omega was to be independent, he agreed despite being mortified. He didn't see any immediate problems. After all, his job paid him well enough to be able to afford to live alone.
He was wrong.
Jeno concluded that he lacked the art of foreseeing problems. Staying with his parents meant that there was someone around him all the time. And while Jeno wasn’t the most social person, their company and the constant stream of their friends provided him with a sense of comfort, a relief from loneliness.
So here he was, less than a month after moving out, feeling lonely and sad. He was sprawled on his stomach, legs kicked back on the thick carpet in his living room watching the lion king for the nth time because he was desperate for nostalgic happiness. He watched blearily, a familiar scene of Mufasa speaking earnestly about the circle of life to the baby Simba. And Jeno wished he had a son to share his wisdom with. This made him realize that he hadn’t had an adult naptime in a while to make a baby. The last time he had sex was months ago when he was in a rut. And suddenly he was lonely, sad, and horny.
“Aaah what the hell”, he glared at his laptop screen, frustrated at himself for zoning out for the tenth time. He was wallowing in his sadness and he hated it. Happiness shouldn’t be this hard to achieve. So at that moment, he willed himself to get up to grill some meat. After all, it was hard for him to be sad if his tongue was happy.
The alpha set up the grill and played songs from his favorite playlist. He opened his windows to air out the place as he cooked. He cut up some vegetables and thinly sliced some garlic and gets the banchans from last night out the refrigerator. He marinated the grill with some herbed oil and placed the vegetables at the edge of the grill and the thinly sliced pork and beef at the center. He watched the fat and juices from the meat dribble down the sides to coat his vegetables and his mouth waters.
He absently flipped the meat once he felt that it’s done on that side and wondered where Bongsik was. Bongsik, his common domestic cat, which he brought home from the streets years ago, was nowhere to be seen. Possibly angry at the change Jeno brought in her life by moving. He suddenly started worrying if Bongsik was out somewhere stealing. Because despite being fed enough by Jeno, Bongsik couldn’t let go of her bad habit of going out and stealing food from others.
But what worried Jeno these days was that Bongsik had started to steal all sorts of things. Every day he would come home to see a new plushie or a sock or some trinket in his bed. He was waiting for that fateful day, when a neighbor would come knocking at his door, to complain about Bongsik. But he couldn’t discipline Bongsik no matter how hard he tried. And he refused to let her go back to the streets. Though at this point, Bongsik only came home to get her regular meals and at night to steal his warmth.
He removed the meat from the grill and added a few onion slices. Once he is done grilling, The alpha got some dishes out of the china cabinet because, yes, he loved collecting porcelain dishes. Just as he was about to sit to eat, he heard a rattle. He turned the music down and heard a knock.
“Um,” he said, getting up wondering who it can be and made his way to the door. And that’s when he noticed Bongsik, next to the little pet window in his door, wrestling what looked like a hippo plushie almost double his size.
“Hello”, A voice called out from behind the door and followed by another knock. Jeno’s face heated up because the fateful day he was waiting for was finally here. He was finally going to have a confrontation with a neighbor regarding Bongsik. He made his way to the door and looked through the peephole. He couldnt recognize the blurry blob behind the door.
“Uh,” Jeno began but stopped because he doesn’t really know what to say next. “Who is it?” he asked.
“I live two houses next to yours” the voice behind the door replied.
Jeno mentally prepared himself for possible confrontation and slowly opened the door.
Pretty was an understatement because the omega standing at his door was downright unearthly.
He was about the same height as Jeno, hair dyed a pink cotton candy and skin as smooth as his porcelain dishes. All this, along with almond eyes paired with the thickest set of eyelashes Jeno had ever seen.
“Hi” he smiled and Jeno didn’t know if he should be stunned by his gravelly voice or by his smile. The neighbor sniffed the air and his face twisted into a painful expression.
“Damn that smells good”, the omega started, smiling nervously. “Can I have some? My cravings are shooting levels unknown to humankind”.
There was a moment of silence as Jeno gathered his thoughts. He wasn’t expecting this. The omega’s face twisted into an even more awkward expression, thick eyebrows knotting and hands wringing, an apology already spilling out his lips.
“I’m so sorry. God, that was so awkward. You don’t even know me. I don’t know why I even asked you that. But my cravings are insane right now and I don’t have a brain to mouth filter when I crave something. Or anytime honestly. And I’m having really weird cravings too. You know, just the other day I was about to eat up my roommate’s Moomin plushie. It sort of looked like cotton candy. I mean, like not really”, The omega stopped, closing his eyes as if he was willing himself to shut up.
He opened his eyes and continued almost pitifully. “I’m Na Jaemin. Your neighbor from two doors away and this is the reason why I might seem to be on the verge of insanity for you”, he hesitated before abruptly pointing at his stomach.
And it finally clicked.
“Oh”, Jeno exclaimed. “You’re pregnant”
“Right!!” Jaemin supplies back, smiling widely. “I should have started with that”
Jaemin suddenly stepped back and bowed as he said “Hello. I’m your pregnant neighbor Jaemin.”
Jeno burst into a full-blown laugh, physically unable to hide his enthralment.
“It’s okay. I sort of liked the nervous rambling. But how can I help you Jaemin?” Jeno asked
Jaemin rose and smiled brightly before coming to a stop. His forehead creased and he started babbling.
“Wait. I was here for a reason other than food. My roommate’s Moomin plushie.” His eyes widen impossibly before yelling “Your cat!! He took Renjun’s plushie. That’s why I’m here. But I got distracted. With you and your delicious smelling food.”
“Oh my god!! It’s scratching it. Take it away. Give it back to me or else Renjun will kill you” He pointed at Bongsik who was wrestling the said plushie.
Now it was Jeno’s turn to be embarrassed. He stammered an “oh my god I’m so sorry” and tried to separate the plushie from Bongsik. Bongsik ended up scratching Jeno’s hand. Jeno ignored the pain and succeeded at getting the plushie away from Bongsik. He got up, face red, and looked at Jaemin.
Jaemin’s eyes were wide, eyebrows shot up. He looked back at Jeno and laughed. “Wow. You got the plushie but how’s your hand neighbor? Are you going to ask me to come in or tell me your name now or something or should I continue calling you by ‘neighbor’”?
Jeno briefly melted at his laugh, smiling endearingly before snapping out of it. He stepped back and gestured Jaemin to come in.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Yes! You can come in. I’m Jeno. Lee Jeno. I moved in a few weeks ago. Also, Congrats on the pregnancy”. He gave the plushie to Jaemin, who clutched it to his chest. Jeno’s eyes strayed to Jaemin’s round stomach and he felt heat pooling in his stomach.
Huh. I didn’t know this was a thing, Jeno thought briefly before snapping out of it.
“Thank you Jeno”, the omega caressed his stomach and smiled at Jeno, eyes crinkling and bunny teeth on full display. “I’ve never seen you around. I take it you are new here?”
Jeno’s stomach bubbled with a familiar feeling. “Yes. I moved here a month back. Felt like I needed a change in scenery you know”
Jeno lead Jaemin to the dining table desperately praying that there wasn’t any stray underwear that Bongsik had dragged to the living room.
“Oh! Barbeque!! And I was just craving samgyeopsal” Jaemin’s eyes glittered at seeing the meat.
Jeno took out another plate and piled up the best-grilled parts and handed it over to Jaemin. “Yeah. I was missing home and we regularly had grilled meat. So I thought of making some”, he supplied.
Jaemin stared at him for a long moment before taking the plate from him. “Moving out is definitely hard”
Jeno felt his throat tighten. A well-acquainted feeling, a telltale sign he felt every time he wanted to cry. But he shook it off.
Now is not the time, Jeno talked himself through it before looking back at Jaemin. “Tell me how it tastes”
Jaemin continued staring at him. Just when Jeno started feeling awkward, Jaemin took a large bite.
His face twisted into one of pure ecstasy, chopsticks still in his mouth, juices from the meat smearing and spilling out his pretty lips. However, Jaemin didn’t seem to mind, moaning at the taste.
“So...uh, How are you handling the sudden change? Doesn’t seem like you were thrilled to move” Jaemin teased. There was a smudge from the meat at the corner of his lips and Jeno had to physically stop himself from reaching over to swipe it. “Is this your first time away?”
“Ahh... yes” Jeno nodded, biting into his lips, gripping the chopsticks harder. “You must find it weird that someone my age still stayed with their parents until recently”
“Oh? No. Not really?” Jaemin said in between bites. “I stayed with my parents too till about a few months back. So I know how difficult it can be.”
“Yes. But it’s different for an Alpha, you know” Jeno smiled but it felt unnatural on his face, even for himself.
“Yes. Society does have some standards but I don’t think they are right” Jaemin smiled back knowingly and continued to take giant bites of meat.
Jeno was relieved at Jaemin’s words and looked back at the omega. The omega was chewing on a radish now and the alpha couldn’t hold back his laugh at the omega’s adorable chipmunk cheeks.
Jaemin’s face colored in embarrassment and he wiped his mouth. “Anyways, What do you do Jeno?”
“I’m a freelance architect. What about you?”
“Oh!! Freelancing. Must be difficult.” Jaemin bobs his head, chewing on a piece of grilled meat “I’m an app developer in a software firm. But I’m working from home now because of my pregnancy”
“Sometimes. But I mostly just freelance for another architecture firm as an independent contractor.”
“Ohhh! Well, I'm sure you are amazing at your work if you are as good at it as you are at cooking”
And then, out of the blue, Jaemin winked at him. It looked almost exaggerated but it suited him. Of course, it suited him. His face was perfect. Jeno startled a bit and Jaemin guffawed. They continued to speak a little more, about the mundane things like jobs, interests, and everything in between.
By the time Jaemin got up to leave with the Moomin plushie clutched against his chest, Jeno had slowly gathered the courage to ask the omega to join him for dinner or lunch again at any time if he wanted to.
“Please, you have to join me for dinner sometime. I’ll make it up to you” Jaemin’s voice was firm and didn't have any room for argument. He was directly looking into Jeno’s eyes. Jeno marveled at the soft brown shade of his eyes. “Dinner at my house? I’d like to think I cook almost as good as you, if not better.” Jaemin winked again and Jeno knew he would never get used to it.
“Come by around 8:30 tomorrow, its the olive-green house two doors down the lane and I’ll try to repay you for this wonderful meal.”
“It was my pleasure.” Jeno smiled and walked Jaemin to the door.
Bongsik was by the door chewing at Jeno’s socks. Jaemin bent down to caress it.
“I’ve seen her steal my cream puffs so many times. But she is so cute, you know? So it’s okay. But I couldnt let her leave with Renjun’s Moomin plushie. He loves this thing you know” Jaemin declared, brushing Bongsik’s fur.
“Anyways, bye Alpha.” Jaemin smiled back and stepped out the door. Jeno lingered at the porch watching the omega disappear down the lane.
He just got called alpha. His stomach erupted into a swarm of butterflies and he sighed dreamily before retreating back to his house. That night Jeno dreamed about being surrounded by the jasmine scented omega with a soft round belly, bunny smile and gravelly voice calling him alpha.