Chapter Text
The first person who noticed it was Taeyoung. Serim was doing his fifth round of deadlifts while facing the gym mirror when Taeyoung walked behind him. There were only two of them in the gym at the moment, because everyone had a clear reason not to join them: dead tired. Only Serim and Taeyoung who still had the spirit to do exercise even after the long day of practice. The leader couldn't force anyone to exercise, because their choreography for the Veni Vidi Vici Road to Kingdom version was indeed quite energy-consuming.
"Hyung, are you wearing perfume?" Taeyoung asked jokingly, slapping Serim's butt as he walked by. He lay on the bench, trying to lift a 15kg weight. "You never wear one before doing exercise.”
And that was the moment Serim realized something was terribly wrong.
So basically nothing changed. That's what Serim wants to believe, but after a week, he has to admit everything changed. Allen, as sweet as he can be, asks him if he wants to have their shared room as his personal room. Woobin, trying to be a caring person, nonchalantly tossed Alpha scented items to him every time they went out for a schedule. Minhee, who was as cuddly as a puppy, tried to look more manly in front of him by opening a jam jar by himself. Taeyoung, who always compliments him by patting his butt after a session of workout, now changed to a simple soft smile. Seongmin, who always has at least a “complaint” a day about his clingy behavior, suddenly became more welcoming.
All the members changed –except Jungmo and Hyeongjun who were Betas and weren't able to smell him or anyone else– but the one who devastated Serim the most was Wonjin. At their rarest occasion when they can spend their free time in the dorm, they usually lie on their backs on the comfy carpet in the living room, playing games or reading comics together. Serim was not the type who likes comic as much as Wonjin, but at those times when they laid side by side, with Wonjin keep rambling some Otaku TMIs on his ear about a story that Serim currently reading on, Serim likes it. He even likes it when Wonjin randomly throws punches at him at the oddest timing when they're both reading, and that little punches can become “deadly” wrestling when Serim thinks Wonjin has hit him enough, but at the end they'll laugh together.
But their precious “comic time” will never be repeated again.
Serim just sat next to Wonjin who already laid his back on the carpet, when the younger suddenly jerked up and stared at him cautiously. Wonjin shifts away from Serim, with eyes full of guilt. He opened his mouth, trying to say something, but then he shut his mouth again. That was quite a sight, seeing Wonjin didn't just let his tongue dance free like he used to be.
“What?”
Wonjin looked at Serim apologetically, “I'm sorry, Hyung. I don't think I can lie next to you again.”
The guilt in Wonjin's eyes made Serim's heart ache. “Why?”
“I–” Wonjin shut his eyes closed, like he was far too guilty to see Serim on the face. “Because everytime you come closer, your scent– my brain always identifies you as… a girl.”
Serim was too stunned to speak, and when Wonjin quickly rose on his feet and fled the scene, Serim already lose his chance to stop him.
They ended up at the last place, and seeing Hyeongjun crying so much in the dorm really breaks Serim's heart. He tried to lift up the younger spirit, giving him more attention and adoration when he was doing his part in choreos. And when the younger decided, with fiery eyes, that he will be the first round ace, Serim couldn't be more proud.
Their fight with one purpose to win made them whole again, and Serim can feel the unity of the team flowing again, like when he was only a Park Serim, a leader and oldest brother in Cravity. Before he was presented as an Omega.
Sugar Rush Ride choreo made everyone drained, and after a day of practically hard training, Serim bought everyone coffee. The members smiled so brightly, making Serim feel whole and happy. He was so relieved that everything will be back to normal. He hoped so.
After finishing his coffee on the other side of the room, Wonjin walked up to Serim who was drinking his coffee beside the door with Hyeongjun. “Serim Hyung.”
“Hm?” Serim looked up and smiled, watching Wonjin who smiled back at him.
“Thank you for the coffee.”
“You're welcome,” Serim said, with a ridiculed smile. You don't need to be so formal with me. Then he remembered something. He hurriedly stood up. “Let's go to the gym–”
“NO.”
The way Wonjin refused him was quite offensive, but Serim tried to keep his cool. Maybe he's just tired. “Oh. You don't want to? But you will need more exercise to do the flip–”
“I'm good.” Wonjin said, quite coldly, and scurry out of the room.
Hyeongjun patted Serim's knee. “Don't take it personally, Serim Hyung.”
Serim scoffed, settling back next to Hyeongjun while sipping his coffee. If he's behaving that way, how can I not be annoyed? But he didn't say anything to Hyeongjun and just offered him a half smile.
“Okay, everyone, practice is over,” the Choreo Director clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention. “Please go home immediately. Be safe, everyone.”
Minhee scoot closer to Serim's side. “Want to share the car with me, Hyung?”
“Minhee Hyung.” Taeyoung snatched Minhees's arm and pulled him away from Serim. “Our car is already full.”
Behind Taeyeong, there were Allen, Wonjin, and Seongmin, eyeing Minhee with an anxious look. So Serim, because he's a leader and he's just overwhelmingly sensitive, totally aware of those eyes' meaning, smiled lightly at Minhee and the others.
“You all can go first. I'll practice for a bit longer and take a run home.”
“I'll accompany you,” Jungmo suggested timidly, and when the others turned to him with skeptical looks, he grinned sheepishly. “Or maybe I'll be too tired to keep up with Serim Hyung and only become a burden.”
Woobin, who was sitting on the long bench in front of the mirror wall, silently watching his members standing “arguing” around the open door, rose on his feet and walked closer. He stood next to Serim, looking at him then the boys, and shrugged casually. “I can run with him.”
While the maknaes were glancing at each other, Wonjin quickly nodded. “Good. Now let's go.”
Allen, Minhee, Taeyoung, and Seongmin happily bid goodbye to Jungmo and Hyeongjun with a hug before waving their hands to Woobin and Serim. Wonjin just gave everyone a simple smile before rushing behind Seongmin. Jungmo and Hyungjun went home a few minutes after them with another car, leaving only Woobin and Serim in the practice room.
Serim was standing around the now closed door, watching Woobin who settled back on the long bench he was perched on earlier. Serim let go a long sigh and immediately caught the other’s attention. Woobin flashes his easy smile, patting the free space on the bench next to him. Woobin didn’t wait for Serim to come and he just casually twisting his body to look at the mirror behind him. He was busy combing his bangs with his fingers when Serim take a seat on his lap.
Despite looking a bit shocked, Woobin immediately turned his body facing Serim, letting the older lean to his chest by his right shoulder. Before Serim have a chance to slipped off his lap, Woobin quickly grabbed his waist, hoisting Serim to sit more comfortably on his lap.
“You're not pushing me away?” Serim asked sadly, peeking between his bangs on Woobin's face. Woobin didn't even look flustered and Serim could feel Woobin's hug on his waist got tighter.
“I'm not gonna do that,” Woobin answered calmly, smiling so sweetly that his eyes just became two curvy lines. Then he looked at Serim with a scared look. “I don't want to feel another powerful finger flick on my forehead.”
Serim smiled. He still hung his head low, but he could notice Woobin smiled at him. “You didn't find me uncomfortable? You're the only one who still acts like you used to be around me.”
“Maybe the boys just need more time to get used to…” Woobin took his time to think, and because of that, Serim got curious and looked at him. Woobin grinned. “To get used to your new scent. Everything will be fine after that. You don't need to worry.”
“Is that so?” Serim looked at Woobin who was still smiling at him. Woobin really had a calming effect on him, before the revelation and right now. Woobin didn't change, but he changed. The feeling made him more scared.
“What are you thinking?” Woobin softly patted Serim's arm, trying to see the older's face that was hidden behind his bangs. “I think you need a haircut. I can't see your face with your hair like this.”
“Ruby-ya.”
“Hm?”
“I can't smell my own scent,” Serim said, matter of factly, and looking back at Woobin with a pleading eyes. “Is my scent so annoying that the others hate being close to me?”
Woobin let out a small giggle, making Serim's eyes widened in fear, then he shook his head. “No. I don't think it's annoying. It's far from that.”
“Far… worse?” Serim eyed Woobin cautiously, trying to slip off Woobin's lap, but the younger quickly wrapped both his arms around his waist and wouldn't let go. That reaction made him curious, so he stopped fidgeting and looking at Woobin's face. “But… have you already gotten used to my scent?”
“I don't really know. To be honest I don't remember what your scent is, because these three days I'm in Reliever Dots and that makes my nose not so sensitive to any scents, Alphas or Omegas.” Woobin calmly answered, trying to decipher Serim's complicated expression. “And I'm still in the Reliever Dots for another four days, so I don't think I can remember your scent correctly.”
“I'm gonna need to purchase some Calming Dots,” Serim said, sulking. “Maybe I should eat the dots everyday so that my scent subsides and won't be disturbing the others and they can act like they used to be around me.”
“You shouldn't take the dots everyday,” Woobin warned, clutching Serim's waist more firmly, “You can only take it for 10 days around your heat cycles.”
“Is that so?” Serim dropped his head again, sighing. “Alright. So you didn't know what my scent is? You didn't even remember what it was like?”
Woobin looked at Serim innocently. “Do you mind if I sniff you?”
Serim looked back at Woobin with an obviously frightened face. “Wh– where?”
“Around your neck?” Woobin answered calmly, poking Serim right on his neck vein. “Here?”
“Al- alright,” Serim wasn't the type who could easily be flustered, but now he was stuttering. And he held his breath when Woobin closed the distance between his nose with the crook of his neck. He could feel Woobin's hot breath on his skin and he shivered. The sensation was so weird yet so thrilling and Serim felt something suffocating bubbling up in his chest. Before he shove Woobin's face away from him out of nervousness, Woobin already moved away from him with a victorious smile.
“You smelled like Pine and Lavender,” Woobin happily declared, smiling from ear to ear. Then he looked at Serim with worry. “Hyung, your face is flushed–”
“Thanks, Woobin- ah,” Serim quickly jumped off Woobin's lap and hung his head low, trying to hide his face from Woobin's eyes. “Let's go for a run now, shall we?”
“Yeah, sure. Let me get my bag– hey, Hyung! Wait!”
Serim didn't even turn his head back when Woobin chased after him while yelling.