Mate(Under Editing)

Chapter 8: Boy Friend

Chapter 8: Boy Friend

Taehyung stood awkwardly before Jungkook, fidgeting with the strap of his bag. He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck before finally speaking.

"Well, I found out that the suit you gave me was a couples' suit. And I think you might have gotten the wrong one," Taehyung began, his voice hesitant. He felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him; this wasn't how he'd envisioned this conversation going.

Jungkook, leaning back in his chair, arms casually crossed over his chest, responded with a single, nonchalant word: "So?"

Taehyung felt the need to elaborate, to justify his apprehension. "I think you should give this suit to your partner, not your employee. That's why I'm here to return it." He placed the shopping bag on Jungkook's desk, his movements stiff and unsure.

Jungkook's expression remained unchanged, his tone flat and dismissive. "Hyung, I don't understand your problem. I gave you that suit as a gift. It doesn't matter what the design implies. You'll wear it anyway." His words were simple, yet his tone conveyed a subtle undercurrent of impatience.

Taehyung sighed, his voice laced with a hint of frustration. "I know, but the rumors…" He trailed off, his gaze drifting to the floor, the weight of the office gossip pressing down on him. The fear of being associated with a scandal involving the CEO was a heavy burden for a new employee.

Jungkook's irritation was palpable. "Rumors again, hyung?  Honestly, hearing you mention them constantly is starting to annoy me," he grumbled, his voice sharper now. The casual amusement he'd displayed earlier had vanished, replaced by a hint of exasperation.

Taehyung, sensing Jungkook's displeasure, quickly tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Ahm, I'm sorry. I'm still a newbie, so I tend to overthink these things. But if you're annoyed by that topic, let's change it instead," he said, attempting to smooth over the tension.

Jungkook, seemingly accepting the change of subject, smoothly shifted gears. "Good. Anyway, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. I've already made an appointment with the landlord of the apartment I found for you. I hope you're free." The unexpected announcement took Taehyung aback.

Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, sure, thank you for the help. I'll make sure to pay you back once I get my salary," he said, feeling a surge of gratitude and a touch of awkwardness. The thought of accepting such a generous offer from his boss felt both overwhelming and slightly uncomfortable.

Jungkook waved his hand dismissively. "You don't have to. Just think of it as a friend helping a friend. And also to help you start a better life," he said, his tone softer now, the earlier irritation seemingly gone.

Taehyung, however, remained firm in his resolve. "But I'll feel burdened if you let me do that. I don't want you to think I'm just using you as my personal bank," he insisted, his voice carrying a note of determination. He wasn't comfortable accepting such a significant act of generosity without reciprocating in some way.

Jungkook grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "I don't mind, though." His nonchalant response only served to increase Taehyung's unease.

Taehyung pressed his point further, his voice carrying a hint of pleading.  "Seriously, Jungkook, that's too much. You're being incredibly kind, and I'm uncomfortable using my friend for my own personal needs. Just treat me as a normal friend, please. At least let me pay for the rent?" He felt a growing sense of discomfort at the imbalance in their relationship, the vast difference in their financial situations.

He was both perplexed and slightly jealous of Jungkook's casual display of wealth. He couldn't believe how easily the Alpha spent his money, and at the same time, he was both surprised and slightly apprehensive about the Alpha's kindness towards him. He wasn't used to this level of generosity, and it made him feel slightly uneasy.

Jungkook sighed, finally relenting.  "Fine. I'll tell you what you'll do tomorrow. For now, it's better if you take a rest. I'm sure you're tired, hyung," he said, his tone softening further. The earlier tension seemed to have dissipated, replaced by a more relaxed and amicable atmosphere.

"Yeah, sure. Thank you again, Jungkook," Taehyung said, a genuine smile finally gracing his lips. The weight of the misunderstanding and the awkwardness seemed to have lifted, leaving him feeling lighter and more at ease.

Jungkook's tone was now entirely gentle. "Hm, are you going now? Do you want me to take you to your friend's house?" he asked, his voice carrying a warmth.

"No, it's okay. You're still busy, and I have to go somewhere else before heading to my friend's place," Taehyung replied, feeling a surge of gratitude for Jungkook's consideration.

"Alright, then. See you tomorrow, hyung," Jungkook said, a genuine smile replacing the earlier irritation. The subtle release of pheromones that had earlier made Taehyung uncomfortable was completely absent.

Taehyung hummed in response and left the office, breathing a sigh of relief once he was out of Jungkook's immediate presence and the lingering scent of his pheromones. At least, he thought, he hadn't shown any submissive behavior in front of Jungkook, even under the pressure of the situation.

Later that evening, at a lavish poolside party exclusively for Jungkook and his close circle of Alpha friends. Jimin and Jungkook were lounging separately on poolside benches, both shirtless, the relaxed atmosphere befitting their status.

"I heard what you did, Jungkook," Jimin began, his voice carrying a hint of playful accusation.

Jungkook chuckled, taking a leisurely sip of his tequila. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone nonchalant.

"You bought a cabin, didn't you?" Jimin pressed, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Jungkook grinned, confirming the news with a casual shrug. "Ah, yeah, I did. Why?"

"For what reason? Aren't you satisfied with this mansion?" Jimin inquired, gesturing towards the opulent surroundings.

Jungkook smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I'm satisfied with this mansion, but I didn't buy the cabin for myself. It's for someone else," he said, his voice carrying a subtle note of pride.

"Don't tell me that cabin is for that omega?" Jimin asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

Jungkook looked at Jimin with a smug expression, his silence speaking volumes.

Jin, emerging from the pool, joined the conversation, his voice dripping with curiosity. "For real? Who's the lucky omega?"

Jimin, shaking his head in a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "That new recruit in my department," he said.

Jin expressed his astonishment. "Not gonna lie, that omega is good-looking. But I can't believe you wasted that much money on him. A $500,000 cabin?!" 

Namjoon, grabbing a drink from the nearby bar, joined the conversation, his voice echoing the general sentiment of surprise. "Seriously, an omega?"

Hoseok, lounging comfortably in the pool, added his own comment, biting into a lime wedge. "And a poor one, at that," he said, highlighting the unexpected nature of Jungkook's choice.

Yoongi, sitting beside Jimin, chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "Since when did you get interested in omegas?As far as I know, you only use them during your rut. And a male omega?That's unbelievable,"

Namjoon commented, "That's too much for me to hear," he said, expressing his astonishment at Jungkook's actions.

Jungkook, however, remained unfazed by his friends' reactions. He defended his actions with a casual shrug and a confident smile. "What's wrong with that? I'm just helping my Boy Friend find a place to live so he won't have to stay with those…other people," he said, using the term "boy friend" with a nonchalance.

Yoongi commented dryly, "Befriended with a poor male omega, yeah, that sounds like you."

Jin chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "Should we ignore the fact that he called him 'boyfriend'?"

Hoseok, ever the blunt one, added his own playful jab. "Boyfriend or someone you'll fuck and then leave?" His words were lighthearted, but the underlying question about Jungkook's intentions was clear.

Namjoon offered a suggestion. "Why don't you just go to a strip club and find someone else? You could lure plenty of omegas with your looks," he said. His comment, however, was more of a lighthearted observation than a serious suggestion.

"Besides, it's not your concern where he lives," Jimin said.

"Let me do what I want. It's my money, not yours. And it is my concern where he lives because, like I said, he's my boy friend. Since when did I say I just fuck around?" Jungkook uttered, a clear declaration of his intentions and a subtle challenge to his friends' assumptions. 

The unspoken challenge hung in the air as his friends exchanged amused glances.