"oh, shit. is it already that time?" a book fell from the towering stacks of them jimin had been holding painstakingly throughout the school corridors. he was physically stronger than he looked and usually he wouldn't mind a bit of working out here and there. he was just pissed his newly best friend he just recently clicked had suddenly ditched him without so much as a text.

jimin was the new teacher who just started two months ago. together with taehyung, who was even newer than him, kinda had to run more errands than their senior teachers. much to be expected, wherever place you worked at, there would be this unspoken training stage one'd gotta pass before they could be fully accepted by the coworkers. even if jimin's partner, yoongi, already worked here for a few years, he was as useless as a goldfish. either he would sleep in the music room or bother jimin even more, having no sympathetic bone in his grandpa-like body. honestly, jimin always asked himself the reasons why he married yoongi if not for his okay face.

and so, jimin and taehyung had to do all sorts of unnecessary stuff together that took most of their times. they only had each other and it brought the two close that jimin could safely call taehyung his new best friend. somehow they were just compatible, even the silent breaks they had together were filled with comfortable silence.

taehyung was a sweet soul with the sweetest smile jimin'd ever seen. even if he was an omega and was inherently weaker than him, he worked twice harder and even offered to help jimin whenever he could. and jimin really appreciated taehyung's efforts that slowly they just became inseparable. it was actually funny, since they were so busy they didn't talk a lot so the bonds came from physical closeness, not from a hearty one-on-one talk that indulged closeness. it was like having a platonic soulmate where you just became comfortable with each other's presence like second nature without having to talk anything.

that was why jimin realised that he still didn't know much about taehyung and vice versa. hell, he hadn't even told taehyung that yoongi was his own mate. he promised himself that when this shitty probation stage had finished, he would invite taehyung for dinner and they would spend all night just talking and bonding like old friends.

they occasionally texted, too, despite being very short because of how tired they were everyday (being a young fresh graduate teachers was no joke!) and mostly consisted of one of them asking what tasks were they given and jokingly guessed which time they could go home tomorrow. taehyung never forgot to inform the beta about anything because jimin had correctly guessed that inconveniencing others would be the last thing taehyung wanted. thus, this snapped jimin from his moody state of being ditched by taehyung at work to his suspicion. there were only two options taehyung could be let off from work: one, he was sick; and two, the very reason that all beta's in the world couldn't have the privilege of--heat period.

if that was the reason why taehyung couldn't come to work, then he must be in great pain right now. especially if taehyung didn't have anyone he could rely to, because as long as jimin could remember, the omega never talked about significant other. jimin really must help him, then, because he really wanted to get along and hopefully turned taehyung as his official best friend in the near future.

and that was how jimin found himself at ten pm (he got overworked again) in front of taehyung's apartment with different medicines for omega's heat period and cold. cursing his natural caring personalities, jimin disregarded the fact that he hadn't confirmed taehyung's supposedly single status or how he could have bothered the omega this late at night because he was just that focused in taking care of taehyung's well being.

sending a quick message that he probably wouldn't be back tonight to yoongi, jimin rang the bell to notify his arrival. a few seconds later, a waft of flowery omegan scent could be smelled and not long after jimin was met with a very exhausted taehyung. jimin knew from his omega sister, that heat was a very taxing experience so he could in a way empathize with taehyung. taehyung himself had eyebags under his eyes, he was sweating and trembling all over, and his pupils were dilated which meant that he was still kinda lost in the head.

he probably still couldn't register jimin, so without further ado, jimin excused himself inside and helped taehyung back to his bed. the omega, who was so out of it, leaned heavily on jimin's side that jimin had to maneuver their movements as to not bump to anything. too focused on his task, jimin had missed the pictures on the walls that consisted of taehyung and someone he had yet to know of.

taehyung still had fever that jimin had to nurse back to normal temperature. he gave the omega patches, got him to drink a few glasses of water, and made him gulp down heat pills. jimin noticed how taehyung weakly called out 'alpha' in the midst of his daze, so he thought taehyung must be so lonely being a single omega. 

it was around five in the morning that jimin woke up from his nap that he noticed he'd got some missed calls from his abandoned phone, all from yoongi. jimin felt guilty for not coming home but he hated to see omegas suffering alone in heat and couldn't be ignored to it coming from his sister's experience. yoongi also surprisingly left him some messages so he opted to read them first before calling back because yoongi very rarely spammed him with texts.

hey u rlly sure wanna spend the night there?

can't sleep

oi, want me to pick u up?

and the rest of the messages were similar to those, until the most recent ones finally caught jimin's attention. his eyes widened in worry when read them.

ugh, stomach hurts..

I think its gastritis..

jimin immediately bolted out of the apartment after making sure of placing a glass of water and pills on taehyung's bed side table and changed his patch. all the way to his own house, he cursed yoongi for being so careless with his health. the alpha tended to do that whenever he was drown in his work and inspiration, he just stopped sleeping and eating.

much to his surprise, jimin was met with a very healthy yoongi who greeted him with furrowed brows and sour, angry alpha scents wafting from his figure. turned out, yoongi was lying about his gastritis because he was mad at jimin helping taehyung.

"y-you!" jimin had difficulties with his words because of his shock. "don't lie easily about your health! don't you know how worried I was?! I drove like crazy, you dummy!" shockingly, yoongi only got madder from being scolded.

"you're the idiot here! has it never crossed to you that helping unmated omegas is dangerous?! he could've taken advantages of you! your caring personalities will truly bring you to the worst someday!"

"what the--" jimin was flabbergasted with the spill of words from yoongi. "of course taehyung won't do that! he's my good friend! he was vulnerable without anyone helping his heat, he could've died from dehydration! I won't forgive myself if I stay ignorant to that! that poor omega didn't even have the energy to eat because work has been tiring us so much!"

"then you should've told me that they're overworking you too much! I could've helped taehyung, too so you don't have to bother tiring yourself even more!" yoongi's tone had gone lower in anger.

jimin scoffed. "so it's my fault for not telling you? you should've noticed how much errands they give us daily! I know you have your works, too, but I will not accept you saying that to me. and for taehyung, of course I can't bring an alpha to help his heats, you crazy! you'll just make it worse!"

"but you just know him for a few months!" yoongi's usual pale skin had turned redder by now because of anger. "you depend on him more than me, and you even helped his heats, how the hell can't I not be angry?!"

"so what?!" jimin shouted back. "we're good friends who rely with each other! I know him better than you that he's one of the kindest souls out there, so you have no right to be angry and accuse him of taking advantage of me!"

"well, who knew he could've thought differently about you!"

"damn it, hyung, I swear he was totally out of it! he probably didn't even realise I came! you're being very weird and overreacting today, what on earth is up with you?!"

a growl escaped from yoongi and his face turned even redder. "what the hell is so weird about getting jealous, you dense idiot?!" thus, the silence enveloped them. a blush bloomed prettily on jimin's chubby cheeks, he was so taken by yoongi's sudden confession of finally behaving like proper idiotic couple rather than an old grandpa. to be exposed by his alpha's hidden feelings were rare moments, especially with someone as constipated as yoongi, so it made his heart racing like teenagers again.

it was also the first time jimin had seen yoongi so worked up with something. they had known each other since they were kids. everything happening about them, being sunbae-hoobae, getting into relationship, marriage and living together had happened so smoothly like they just made to be with each other. there had never been hard feelings, jealousy, nor prolonged fights aside from petty, small bickering like old married couple because they were just simply so compatible and comfortable with their dynamics and relationship. so, it was a new experience for them both to feel this way. but it was not unwelcoming, as jimin felt like taking advantage of this situation. yoongi must've thought the same with the dangerous glint he gave jimin before they soon took off the matters to the bedroom.

today they had fought and made up in the most erotic way they could've thought. today was the first time jimin had seen yoongi so energetic and passionate. eventually, yoongi came to accept the fact that jimin was just helping taehyung in need, even if it only lessened a bit of yoongi's suspiciousness towards taehyung. but jimin was sure, as soon as his training stage completed, yoongi and taehyung would properly get to know each other and became close friends too.

---

taehyung woke up feeling fresh and rejuvenated. he found himself alone, though he swore there was someone attending him last night with a pill and a glass of water on his bedside table as the proof. the heat had fortunately passed, much to taehyung's relief that his mind had cleared into normal. all the memories of last night had passed in a daze, only silhouettes and blurs could taehyung painstakingly try to remember. it was much to be expected when his mate wasn't here to help him. on the first day of heat, they had video called each other but for the following days taehyung was so out of it that calling had become such difficulties he couldn't afford to do.

after freshening up in a long, comfortable bubble bath and cleaning up his room, taehyung found his phone fully charged in the living room. there, he saw some texts from a worried jeongguk and texted back that his heat had passed unpainfully. he could imagine how sad jeongguk for not being able to be with him during his heat, but it was inevitable. some senior teachers, namjoon and seokjin also texted him, which he immediately replied, feeling happy with the others' care.

taehyung suddenly thought of his friend, jimin, and felt guilty for not telling him about his heat situation and left all the works to the beta. he was about to call jimin when a text went through his phone. well speak of the devil, it was jimin who texted him.

hey, tae, sorry I left w/o notice. it was emergency ^^

hope you're feeling better now! I left some pills to ease the headache and heat ache, make sure to drink them ok?

since I helped u n all, u better come to work all healthy and kickin' >:D lets work hard tgt!!

taehyung almost teared up because of how sweet jimin was. it was the first time a friend had done so much for taehyung, so it meant very much to him. so the one who had been taking care of him all night was jimin... how could he repay jimin's kindness? taehyung felt something different with jimin, he was so happy that his feelings were reciprocated by jimin. hope of finally scoring a best friend for life bloomed in his chest, and taehyung swore he would do everything jimin asked him for favour in the future.

the news brought him to realisation. if jimin had gone to his house, then he must've already known taehyung had a mate because there would be too many pictures in the living room's walls to be missed. they had been too busy with works that this kind of topics about significant partners had long been forgotten. since he and jimin were the only art and PE teacher, the workloads had also doubled. truth to be told, taehyung felt unbelievably shy to be the one to start talking about mates and stuff, so he felt fortunate that jimin had already known about this. perhaps the talk would come soon after they passed the unspoken training  stage, and finally they could catch up and become best friends officially taehyung so hoped for.

---

really. taehyung really, really, genuinely thought jimin knew. so when he arrived to school feeling happy for becoming a step closer to jimin, his mood turned 180 as he noticed how yoongi had glared at him nonstop. did it mean that beside a best friend, taehyung also acquired a new enemy?? they never even talked to each other, but the scary alpha had made him scared shitless so he didn't dare to say anything.

jimin had been fine and friendly as usual, much to taehyung's happiness. though the new addition in their routines was the lingering possessive glare that came from a certain pale-skinned alpha whenever jimin became particularly clingier with taehyung. the omega soon figured out that yoongi probably didn't like him enough to befriend jimin, but taehyung treasured his blooming friendship with the beta too much to give up. thus, he tried to endure the scary glares.

as days passed, yoongi luckily had slowly warmed up to him. since namjoon was also busy doing his work as the headmaster, taehyung spent more time with jimin and surprisingly yoongi. the alpha had continuously helped easing jimin's tasks during their training period, which also subconsciously helped taehyung, too. when the alpha wasn't busy, he tagged along jimin and taehyung to eat lunch. and in these kind of moments, without words spoken between them, had taehyung finally realised that it wasn't the usual friendship between coworkers what jimin and yoongi had. his suspicion was corrected, then, when after the period ended, jimin invited taehyung to have dinner with him, the beta introduced yoongi as his mate to taehyung.

turned out, the day was also jimin and yoongi's marriage anniversary so they celebrated it with lots of delicious food and alcohol. still thinking that jimin knew about his partner, taehyung tried to bring up jeongguk to fill in some gap, but was cut off when coincidentally, some of yoongi's friends found them in the restaurant they were in and joined them. then they became too drunk that taehyung was forgotten about the topic. it was kinda sad that he missed his chance, but taehyung was so happy he could finally have someone close enough to be called best friend after all years.

---

taehyung could've sworn he thought that jimin knew all along, but once again, he was flabbergasted to find out not only jimin was so kind, he was also carefreely dense as fuck.

they were in their usual lunch spot, taking a break from the stress of an exam week. their favourite spot was a place behind the old oak tree on the school's former outworn yard which hadn't been used anymore, wild grass thrived and had a nostalgic and peaceful atmosphere. as they childishly fought for the most comfortable place to sit which was won over by jimin, taehyung then messaged his best friend's tired shoulders. he used to do this whenever jeongguk felt tired ever since they were still dating. like the little shit he was, jimin moaned dirtily.

"yah! stop it, dumbass! if yoongi were to be nearby he would have had nosebleeds by now."

"as if he has blood flowing inside his pale ghostly body," jimin pouted then snickered. "well, this makes me turned on to imagine he gets nosebleed because of me."

"ew, disgusting," taehyung pushed jimin roughly forward. "I took back everything I said."

"you seriously needed to get yourself a boyfriend."

taehyung stiffened in surprise. wait, what--

hadn't jimin already known he had a mate? didn't he come to his house and see jeongguk's pictures? hadn't he heard his conversation with jeongguk whenever he interrupted taehyung's calls with his mate? so all this time he had been oblivious? it became so clear then, why yoongi had been so hostile and unfriendly towards him at the beginning, of course yoongi had thought he was a single omega thirdwheeling him and jimin all this time, taehyung paled in fear.

snapping out of his shock, taehyung playfully tickled his best friend to fake his nervousness. he hadn't told anybody in the school about his marriage because he had been so focused with his training period that he forgot about it. but he also thought jimin already knew! so he could at least be spared until jeongguk went back from japan so he could introduce jimin first to him. another reason he didn't jump to the opportunity of telling everyone about his marriage, was because of the situation he had in college when he received harassments from jealous people that hated his relationship with jeongguk and also his dreadful high school trauma. this time, taehyung  would've liked to access the situation first. he felt fortunate jeongguk wouldn't be in the same environment with him, so when the time came to tell everyone, no one would be as sentimental as the ones who already knew jeongguk beforehand. that wishful thinking was different now, though...

another round of surprise came to him, when jimin told him the news of the arrival of the new PE teacher that sounded painfully so close to someone he knew.

"what's the dude's name? why haven't I heard this? and to top it's finals week!" taehyung dared to ask his best friend.

"it's because there were already many schools wanting to scout him in, even universities, but fortunately for us the headmaster somehow has close relationships with him so he chose us!"

"okay, okay..." the more jimin spoke, the more taehyung dreaded the truth. there was only one person in the world namjoon was very close to aside jin hyung and him. "you haven't told me his name."

"ah, right! his name is jeon jeongguk, 23 years old, and handsome as hell!"

oh hell no. taehyung's sweats dropped. soon, a message popped out from his phone and taehyung scrambled to open it. his jaw dropped as he read it.

from: gukkie hubby ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ ♥

miss u sm. can't wait to see you this noon, babe

oh, shit. taehyung thought.

---

back to the present, jimin laughed heartily when he remembered that time. how he had missed the very obvious fact, how yoongi had scared taehyung off before finally warming up and being so overprotective of taehyung from his own mate. guess he and yoongi were truly mates made in heaven because of this. it was embarrassing yet funny for everyone.

now the seven of them were enjoying delicious dinner yoongi and hoseok bought. the two alphas had come before jimin, due to namjoon and jeongguk's invitation of helping them taking care of their kids. jin and taehyung had just got back from meeting a publisher and were currently putting soyoung and jeonghoon to sleep. jimin arrived not long ago, immediately wolfing down wendy's cooking hoseok brought like a mad man. wendy herself was not present because she was attending her high school reunion tonight.

occasionally, the four families would have dinner and movie night together, just like today. jimin felt happy with how close they all had become, because when it only used to be he and yoongi, now his family had grown so big to deservedly receive all the care and love he had.

when jeongguk had told jimin how yoongi had managed to calm down soyoung with his infamous piano skill, jimin was surprised. yoongi was awkward with people, so it was a news for him that his partner had been so good with kids. vigorously, he fisted yoongi's shirt and gave him a menacing expression. inwardly he was amused to see yoongi's innocent, surprised face. "since you're so good at it, we better get a brat by tomorrow," he threatened. it had been years they had been married, it was about time they had another addition.

yoongi tsk-ed, but jimin could see how he tried to hide his smile. everyone laughed aloud with the couple's antics. the playful atmosphere was lightened even more when jin and taehyung appeared from the bedrooms, and soon joined them to sit next to their respective partners.

now looking back from the first time jimin had known taehyung, the youngest couple had looked way brighter than before. their happiness was contagious, as it radiated to everyone in the room. as he comfortably slumped onto yoongi's warm side and soon a familiar hand had circled him in response, one thing he knew for sure: there was nothing jimin could ask for more than his family's happiness.

The End :D