𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚́𝐧 || 𝐉𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥

Chapter 5

Seungcheol had thought returning to the orchard would be time alone to get his head on straight and regroup. Having Junhui and Jeonghan there was more convenient from a practical point of view, since work needed to be done and some of it couldn’t be managed by one person alone. But as the first few days passed, he slowly reconciled to the idea that he didn’t need the solitude. Having people around, whose welfare relied on him, was probably a good thing. It kept him from spiralling or going off track.

Despite getting Jeonghan sturdy footwear, Seungcheol ended up leaving him to work indoors. It made sense to have someone making their living conditions better. Plus, Jeonghan was a far better cook than he was, even if the omega’s breadth of knowledge when it came to food didn’t extend that far. Since it was still getting cold at night, Junhui and Jeonghan stayed in the living room with the fire while Seungcheol slept in the kitchen next to the old stove. The first thing he and Junhui did every morning was chop firewood. Then the three of them ate breakfast together before splitting up to start work. Seungcheol and Junhui had cleared the yard and moved on to the outbuildings, going shed by shed. Jeonghan spent most of the morning indoors, though Seungcheol spotted him out and about sometimes, getting some fresh air.

He and Junhui were on their second attempt to get the generators working.

“We need a smaller wrench to get this bolt off. There’s nothing in the toolbox,” Junhui said, crawling out from under the generator, covered in grime and sweat.

“You know, I was using it on the grate by the side of the house earlier. Probably forgot to put it back in the toolbox. I’ll go get it. You take a break.”

They’d been working flat out since breakfast, and the shed was warm, the air close. They could both do with a breather.

As Seungcheol rounded the side of the house, his eyes peeled for the glint of the metal wrench, he spotted Jeonghan at the edge of the trees, an apple in hand. The omega took a large bite just as Seungcheol called out, “Hey, wait.”

Jeonghan startled at the sound of his voice, jumping and spinning around to face him. Then his hand went to his throat, and he gagged. Or tried to. Seungcheol hurried toward him as the omega’s other hand grabbed at his throat. His mouth was open, but there was no sound coming out. Fuck.
He was choking.

“Hold on, Jeonghan. I’ve got you.”

The omega shied away from his hands, but Seungcheol didn’t have time to deal with his skittishness. He was already turning blue. Moving around behind him, he slid his arms around Jeonghan’s stomach, clenched one hand into a fist and pressed it just above Jeonghan’s navel. He grasped the fist with his other hand and pressed in and up with a sharp jab, almost lifting the omega off his feet. He did it a second time, and a third, before Jeonghan coughed and the piece of apple dislodged, landing in the undergrowth at their feet.

Jeonghan dragged in a long breath of air, a near sob, and then another. Seungcheol patted him on the back, waiting until he was sure the omega was okay before stepping back and giving him some space.

“That was a close one, Snow White.”

Jeonghan didn’t react to his words, still recovering. He bent over at the waist, struggling to catch his breath.

“Just take your time,” Seungcheol told him. When he reached out to pat Jeonghan on the back again, the omega shifted out of reach.

“I’m sorry,” he gasped out. “I wasn’t stealing. It was… it was already on the ground.”

Seungcheol glanced at the bruised apple with the bite mark that Jeonghan had dropped in the dirt.

“You were hungry.”