(Note: All the further chapters starting this one are in the past... Please make sure to remember that. I will mark each chapter which is a flashback as 🥀)

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"That's not how you cut those carrots, Jimin. You should be a little careful while using the knife or you're going to cut yourself...", Jimin's mother nagged Jimin for the nth time.

The small table had different types of vegetables scattered in unruly manner. Some vegetables literally looked like they have been murdered brutally. While a bowl which was supposed to be filled by now after 2 hours of Vegeta cutting practice, was still empty as Jimin's skills.

Jimin looked at the old woman tiredly.

"Eomma, I'm telling I can never become a good cook, or at least a cook. And what's the use of all of this? You don't know if I'm going to an Omega or not... Even if I become an Omega, I have Minho hyung. He will gladly marry me despite me not being a cook... After that I will learn from Minho hyung's mother. She makes some really delicious Pajeons.", Jimin talked endlessly.

"Don't out smart me boy.", His mother huffed. "Finish this faster and get ready."

Jimin looked at his mother with confused frown.

"Ready for what?"

"King Jeon is coming in our village for a meet up. He wants to see if everything is in order or not. That's a good chance to get a decent work under any minister or courtier. If you get to be a servant, you'll be out of here before anyone forces you in this Kisaeng chain.", His mother said with a little gruff voice. Till she felt a lump had formed in her throat and she started vigorously coughing to get rid of it.

Jimin quickly stood up from his place and brought a glass of water for her to drink. But she was too out in the coughing fit to get the glass so he himself held the glass to her lips.

This was a often occurence these days. His mother was getting sick day by day. They had called a decent healer from the village who was ready to treat Kisaeng for extra money. However, that didn't help much since he told that his mother had caught 'the kisaeng disease' and there was no cure for it. Because of her disease, she wasn't allowed to work. So his mother was just pushing through each day.

Once she gulped down the water hardly, she looked at Jimin pacing around and keeping all the vegetables away. She held his hand and made sit in front of her.

"Listen pup...", Jimin looked at her in concern. Intently listening to what she has to say.

"You have to learn to work for your stomach. Even if you present as Omega, never settle down for being a Kisaeng. Kisaeng is not something you would like to look up to work as. So better learn other things that might not be gaining you enough as a Kisaeng might but it would earn you a decent amount of dignity. It's not something a Kisaeng can ever have in their whole life...", She said before slipping in another coughing fit.

There were very less things he could understand. But he had decided that he will get a job that will allow him to afford a healer. He would finally bring a proper healer for his mother.

He had seen people sell different things in the market. And that would earn them money. That's what they call it. And it's really important. Is he also sells something, he could earn something too. But, what should he sell? He doesn't have anything to sell.

He sat in the market yard for hours, thinking of some way. Then he suddenly remembered. Apples!! He can sell apples!! He can climb trees really well like a monkey (as Taemin hyung prefers to call him that).

Happily he marched to the field where he knew no one visits frequently. And there were few apple trees too. It would be better to go there rather than other fields if he doesn't want to get caught. Last time he had been caught getting few apples, they punished him by beating him until one of the elders showed enough mercy on him. Later he got to know that the beatings were not only because he tried to steal, it was because he was Kisaeng son too.

That was the reason why he never got along with others or even children in Kisaeng house too as much.

In only few minutes he found himself standing near a vast apple tree. The place was secluded and near the forest so it was better. He can quietly do the work. To gather the apples he had brought a cloth bag of his mother.

He tied his Hanbok with a scarf around his waist and secured the bag in it too so that it was left hanging on the side of his waist.

Just when he was about to climb he heard a voice.

"Who are you?", Surprised Jimin looked up to see a very handsome boy sitting at the base of a thick branch. He must be Minho's age or might even be younger. But undoubtedly he was really handsome. An Alpha at that, as his scent of firewood depicted.

"Well... Why would I tell you? I also don't know your name. Now don't disturb me while I collect few apples.", Jimin sassed back. The other boy seemed to be taken aback when the little wolf decided to tell him off.

No one had spoke to him like that!! Ever!!!

"Well, you can't climb THIS tree. Can't you see I'm sitting on it? Go search for other tree if you want apples that badly...", He retorted back. Jimin narrowed his eyes at the elder.

He saw the expensive robes the alpha boy was wearing. Jimin never had seen clothes this beautiful, must really very expensive. But whatever. The boy was still rude.

"And who are you to order me around? What are you, a prince?", Jimin teased. The boy's eyes widened and then he glared at the small boy who was crossing his boundaries and disrespecting him!! Prince Jeon Jungkook!!!

"Yes I am!! I am a prince. Now... Who are you?", He demanded.

"Doesn't matter. You're not going to talk sweetly even after I tell you... I'm just going to take some apples and take my leave.", He said ignoring the furious prince and started climbing up.

"Hey!! Didn't I tell you to look for another tree... I'm sitting on this one.", He said rather loudly still trying to intimidate the unpresented wolf.

"I'm just taking the apples. You're not sitting on the apples, are you?", Jungkook was left wide eyed as the little wolf huffed at him. Suddenly they heard a talking from a distance. Jungkook immediately ducked down with an intension to hide.

"Help me. Tell them I'm not here...", He said whispering to the boy. Immediately, Jimin smirked.

"You won't let me take the apples.", He said looking at the direction some palace guards were coming.

"Fine I would let you.", Jungkook grumbled.

"You would help me pick too...", Jimin bargained further. If it was anyone else and would have fun of Jungkook's situation, they would've been dead. But since Jungkook himself was need for now. He grumbled.

"Fine.", Jungkook huffed.

Jimin smirked.

"Hey boy, have you seen our Prince. He was in blue robes and a foot taller than you.", One of the guards asked. Clearly they were tensed as they couldn't find their Prince.

"No. This is a remote area. No one comes here. I have been here for hours and I have seen no one, much less someone of your exact description.", He said rolling his eyes upwards, silently hinting them. But the poor guards were too tensed to know the signs. They nodded and went away. Jimin looked up at the hiding Prince and signed him towards the higher branch. Silently telling him to start picking the apples.

Although Jungkook hated his guts, this was fun. Especially when the other was the cutest wolf he had ever seen....

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Borahae 💜