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The next time Jimin opens his eyes and looks up at a familiar blanket, he is surrounded by warmth. His head throbs and part of his limbs aches as he tries to sit up in bed - on his own he has to admit in wonder. How did he get here? The last thing he remembers is Jungkook being in the hut and then slumping down.

"Jimin, you're awake! Thank God!" A worried voice sounds from the corner of his room. The scent of aloe vera fills the room, making Jimin audibly breathe a sigh of relief and relax. The brown-haired man lies his head back, Jinho's scent is anything but comforting. "I was so worried about you when I found you on the floor. I searched for you for what felt like hours before I found you there and then carried you here."

"Why-why were you looking for me?" The headache he feels with each word overwhelms him and he hisses as he tries to sit upright. Fatigue and dizziness increase, and with a sigh, he drops back onto his back of his bed. Warm fingertips run over his head, brushing strands of brown hair from his face.

"I haven't seen you for days, that's why I came here, but your grandparents told me you wanted to get out for a bit but were still sick. I looked in the forest but couldn't find you anywhere and ended up walking to the healer hut. In retrospect, it was stupid not to look there first, because I know how you feel about being a healer. I thought something bad had happened to you, and then I saw you lying on the floor. Min- please don't do that to me again. You're sick, for fuck's sake, how did you even get the stupid idea to go out and go to the healer's hut when you're not well yet?" Jinho asks incredulously, running his hand over his face and letting his gaze wander around the room without settling on any object for too long. The moment his gaze falls on Jimin's tired and pale face his expression falters and he gives Jimin a small smile.

Jimin wonders what he has done in the past, what he has done to deserve such a fondly alpha. He often worries about what Jinho would do if they weren't friends. If he had already found a partner and Jimin was the person holding him back.

He doesn't like to admit that he thinks about such things. At one point, it even occurred to him to ask if the alpha hadn't developed feelings for him. Jinho assured him that this wasn't the case, and Jimin has never felt so relieved as he did at that moment. It would have made them uncomfortable if he had known that he had feelings for him. He doesn't have them today either. 

But he's the only Alpha he lets get close to him, and that's not going to change anytime soon. He has been with him through thick and thin. Jinho is his best friend and that won't change.

"I can make you something to drink or eat if you want, because it's already night and your grandparents have already gone to sleep after I assured them that I will take care of you."

Only now does Jimin notice, as he says his words, that it is still dark outside and it is as good as quiet in the house. Has he made his grandparents start worrying again? He's giving them nothing but worry lately.

"Thank you," Jimin replies with a raspy throat and looks at him with sleepy eyes.

He doesn't notice when his eyes flutter and he is yanked back to sleep. Jimin only knows that he is falling asleep with Jinho's fingers in his hair and the smell of aloe vera and the sea in his nose until he is jolted awake by a gentle jostling of his shoulders. The soothing scent of Jinho lets Jimin know that it is his best friend who is waking him up and no one else.

With Jinho's help, he sits up in his bed and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. The sound of his growling stomach echoes through the room and Jinho smiles happily when he sees Jimin sulking and trying to swat at him.

The alpha just barely dodges him, sits down on the edge of the bed with an amused smirk and takes the bowl of food into his lap. His eyes slide over the face of the omega in worry. Jimin still looks so exhausted and Jinho is a little at a loss as to how to help him, other than bringing him food and drink.

"Shall I help you with eating, or-"

"I'm fine." Jimin smiles a grateful smile and clasps one of Jinho's hands. Tentatively, he squeezes it and wrinkles his nose, feeling his friend's gaze on him. He then takes the bowl from Jinho's hand and begins to eat. Silence spreads. However, it doesn't bother Jimin as he is busy eating with relish.

"I've been thinking that we should do something exciting for the next few days as soon as you're fit again. I can't stand to see you holed up in the hut all day, shuffling around. You deserve some time off and you'll get it."

"Jinho, I can't just-"

"Min, I know you have a big heart and that you want to convince others of what they say about you. But you're also alive and you need a break. I'm sure your grandparents told you that too." Jinho exhales and hands his best friend water to drink as he clammy hands out for it. "Which reminds me, you really should tell the head alpha about the rumours. You'll only hurt yourself."

"What's the point?" Jimin speaks in a whisper. Jinho doesn't know Jimin confronted Jungkook about this problem. "He wouldn't believe me. I have nothing to prove it. Besides, Seoyeon is practically the one spreading all the rumours about me. Who would he believe more? Someone random or his son's mate?"

"You're not just someone random! You used to be friends with Jungkook even if it wasn't for long. The head alpha should know your personality. And- Seoyeon?" Jinho's eyes radiate confusion and Jimin can't blame him. "How do you know she's the one spreading lies about you?"

"Yeah, I used to be friends with him. As kids, he's the perfect example of how people can change over time, or how you can make him believe something else." Jimin stops and takes a spoonful of the soup. He couldn't bring himself to tell the head alpha any of it at that point either. He is not someone who gives up quickly, quite the opposite. Jimin is brave and sincere, but if not even Jungkook believes him? Then what hope can he have that others will believe him without proof?

"I overheard Seoyeon saying things about me in the forest the other day that aren’t even true. It sounded like she made them up, along with her friends. I can imagine though." Jimin shrugs, looking ahead with a mixture of disappointment and sadness. Jinho doesn't know what to say.

He had never had much to do with Seoyeon before. Is she really the kind of person Jimin describes, and a future head omega at that? He does not doubt that Jimin says something without reason, he has given him no reason to believe any different. Hearing that Seoyeon might be not as innocent as she seems to appear raises a lot of questions in his mind.

"I'm sorry about that. I guess if what you say is true, I can understand what you're afraid of. Whatever your decision, I will do my best to protect you and be by your side, hm? We can try to find any clues or evidence. I would have already run to the head alpha, but if it's really like you say, such a quick action wouldn't be the best either. Let's do this together and carefully, okay? You know you can tell me anything."

"Did I ever tell you that I was glad to have been chased by swans at the lake?" Jimin suddenly giggles, holding his hand in front of his mouth. The alpha joins in. "You mean where you almost fell into my arms and we became friends because of that?"

Jimin starts laughing, throwing his head back, which makes the other smile as his best friend seems to be doing better. "Right, because little Jimin wouldn't listen to his grandparents when they told him not to go near the swans. I am so grateful that you have become my best friend and believe in me or know me like no one else."

"Believe it or not. From that moment on, I knew that I absolutely had to be friends with you."

"Yeah? Was I that pretty?" Jimin brings out with a teasing undertone, fluttering his eyelashes teasingly. It makes Jinho laugh heartily, brown hair strands falling into his face and eyes shut, while embracing the new atmosphere.

"You're always pretty. It's just a pity that we don't feel more than friendship for each other," Jinho admits and winks at Jimin who just looks at him perplexedly. "We would make a wonderful and good-looking couple."

"God, I'm going to feel sorry for your future mate already. Are you going to flirt with them as much?" Whining, Jimin buries his head in his hands and pouts when their eyes meet.

"Hey! That's one of my good traits," the alpha humorously complains, nudging Jimin's shoulder, which makes him snort. “Anyways, to take your mind off things, we'll do something together in the next few days and I won't take no for an answer. It's the least you deserve."

Jimin lifts his gaze slowly and peers at his friend, seeing the determination flash in his eyes mixed with something else he can’t decipher. He can feel his heart beat faster and his mouth dries. After a long time, he’s confronted with pride and yielding. He has shown how confident he is when it comes to working, always being there and trying to make others see that it’s the truth to what they hear and convince others of what a hard-working person he is. He did his best never to drop his facade in their presence.

Second thoughts take over in his mind. Will they think he slacks off? Are his grandparents really fine with this? Deep inside, Jimin is aware that it's only the insecurity that's speaking inside him and that Jimho's right. In the end, he should give a fuck about what others think. Perhaps he should really do that for once. What's this going to do if they talk shit about him nonetheless.

"Okay, surprise me. I'm excited to see what you've planned."