Chapter 51

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Hyunjin and Jungkook left in the former’s car. It soon turned a corner at an intersection and vanished from Jimin’s sight.

The instant there was no one left on the street save for himself, Jimin felt abruptly colder, so he intended to cross the street quickly and return to the Kims’ dinner party.

The hilly residential area had narrow streets, all being two-way single lane roads. Jimin was just stepping off the sidewalk and onto the road when he suddenly spotted a car turning a corner and heading his way.

The car had left their headlights off, and by the illumination of the streetlights, Jimin could only make out an outline of a black, slightly shabby car.

Confident that the driver could see him under the lights, Jimin hastened his pace, eager to get to the other side of the road.

Who would’ve guessed that, not only did the car not slow down, it sped up instead.

Heart in his throat, Jimin bolted to the other side. The second he walked onto the footpath, the car that was virtually on his heels drove straight by him—Jimin could even feel the car’s side-view mirror grazing the back of his shirt.

He came to a halt and peered apprehensively at the car that hadn’t slowed down for even a second, but the car had no intention of stopping even then as it sped away from his field of view. He couldn’t convince himself that he was just being paranoid and that someone didn’t actually want to run him over.

Jimin inhaled deeply. The cold air streamed into his nasal cavity and down into his lungs, gradually cooling his head.

Dongwan’s birthday dinner was well underway. The lights and space heaters in the garden dispelled the chill in Jimin’s body.

He came to a halt, looked around, and noticed that, while the alpha pianist continued to play the piano, Seokjin was no longer by his side. The alpha pianist was playing a gentle tune fit for a waltz, and the guests had partnered up, slow-dancing to the music.

Jimin caught sight of Seungmin dancing with an alpha who was most likely one of the Kim family’s guests in the middle of the dance floor. As it was a bad time for Jimin to interrupt, he could only stand on the outskirts while keeping an eye on them.

“What are you staring at?” A familiar voice sounded from behind him.

When Jimin turned around, he saw Taehyung.

Standing ramrod straight, Taehyung’s gaze was also trained on the dance floor. “You’ve been staring at Seungmin for a minute now,” he told Jimin.

“Is that accurate?” Jimin made to fish out his phone to check the time.

Taehyung held out his hand. “Want to dance?”

Jimin lifted his own hand and slapped Taehyung’s palm, saying, “I can’t dance, bro.”

Taehyung’s face slightly fell. He splayed his palm wide and gradually curled his hand into a fist.

This round of dancing came to an end.

The alpha with Seungmin appeared to want to continue, but Jimin swiftly cut in just as he was going to ask Seungmin for one more dance. “I think it’s my turn now, no?” Jimin told the alpha with a smile. “I’d also like to ask Seungmin to dance.”

The alpha didn’t know Jimin, but when he saw that a beta had appeared out of nowhere and was competing with him for the same omega, he immediately displayed a laid-back smile, and replied, “How about we let Seungmin himself decide?”

“Fine by me!” said Jimin. He then held out his hand towards Seungmin.

Seungmin, who had kept silent until now, smiled and took hold of Jimin’s hand, telling the alpha, “Then, I choose him.”

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