Terrible Things

Chapter 1 - Then

"To Yoongi!" Everyone cheers, raising their drinks in the air. Sighing, I follow suit, only raising mine a bit. The bar around us was noisy, a million conversations going at once, and our cheer was lost in the sea of sound. I down my drink, slamming my glass on the table as the alcohol burns it's way down my throat.

Namjoon pats my shoulder, his dimpled smile filling my vision as he leans in front of me. "Congrats, Yoongi." He beams at me, no doubt the alcohol was already taking effect. "Only 20 and you've already landed a huge spot in the art gallery."

"It takes most people years to be able to do that!" Hoseok pipes in. He leans back, the alcohol in his system causing him to mellow out a bit. "You're so lucky, Yoongi. You're a successful photographer, you're attractive, and your pheromones are super strong." He groans, rubbing his hands down his face. "It's so unfair!"

"You're a Beta, Hoseok. Why does it even matter to you how strong my pheromones are?" I cross my arms in front of me, pouting as I feel the start of a headache coming on. It always happens when I go to a place with too many other Alphas around, and judging by the amount of pheromones in the air, this bar was full of them.

"Exactly, I'm a Beta!" He slams his fist on the table, frowning at me. "Do you know how hard it is to get noticed when you're a Beta?"

"Super hard!" Jin answers from his spot tucked between Namjoon and Hoseok. He clings to Namjoon's arm, his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. His voice is sleepy when he continues, "Alphas are more focused on being with Omegas, so Betas are mostly left to be with other Betas."

"And why is this a problem, Jin?" Hoseok prompted.

"Because the Beta population has been decreasing for years now," he yawns, snuggling further into Namjoon's side. "So it's really hard for Betas to find another Beta to be with."

"And there you have it ladies and gentlemen!" Hoseok yells, jumping up. He runs his hands through his hair, messing up the blonde locks. I roll my eyes at his theatrics, but let him be. If Hoseok wanted to rant in the middle of a crowded bar, I wouldn't stop him.

I did feel bad for his situation. It was no secret that Betas were usually left to fend for themselves. Sometimes Alphas got into relationships with Betas, but it was rare. It was too bad. None of the Betas chose to be Betas, that's just how they were born. Just like I didn't choose to be an Alpha and Jin didn't choose to be an Omega.

Those were just the cards we were dealt.

"Whatever," Hoseok huffs. He slides back into the booth, the red leather creaking under him. "I've actually accepted that I'll be alone my whole life." He smiles, looking at the three of us. "I'm just going to rely on you guys!"

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, suspicious.

"Well I'm obviously never going to have a wedding or have children. So I'm going to have to live through you guys." He points to the couple beside me, where Namjoon is stroking Jin's hair as he dozes off. "These guys are already well on their way. But you," he points to me, a pout forming on his lips. "You're having a bit of a struggle, aren't you?"

"I'm not," I deny.

"Mhm. Then why are you alone? With how strong of an Alpha you are, there's no way you wouldn't be able to get a Beta. Yet," he makes a show of looking around, "you're all alone."

"Isn't that because he seems cold?" Namjoon asks, his voice quiet as he tries not to wake Jin. I don't see the point, after all if he could sleep in this commotion, then Namjoon's voice won't even register in his brain.

But then again, maybe it would. What did I know about mates anyway?

"Ding ding!" Hoseok chimes, clanking against his glass. "You're correct, Namjoon!" He focuses back on me. "No one will come near you, Yoongi. Because you seem scary. And that my friend, is why you're alone."

"I don't care."

It was a lie. I knew it and they knew it.

I wanted to be loved just like everyone else, craved it even. Seeing how Jin and Namjoon were together, I wanted that for myself.

But on the few occasions that I'd tried to pick someone up, the way I acted always scared them off. I didn't mean to act distant or cold.

But I can't change how I am.

"I need another drink," I sigh. I start to raise my hand, looking around for a waitress.

And that's when I see him.

I freeze, my hand stopping just barely over my head as I catch a glimpse of cotton-candy pink hair and tanned skin.

He sits at the bar, a black sweater swallowing his upper body as he leans forward, his eyes squinting shut as he laughs at something the group around him must've said. He runs a hand through his hair, the pink locks gleaming under the lights of the bar.

My heart races in my chest as he makes eye contact with me, his dark eyes only accentuated by the pink makeup smudged around them.

He flashes me a smile and I gasp in a breath.

He was the most beautiful man I've ever seen.

I drop my hand back into my lap and watch as the stranger crosses his arms on the bar in front of him. He leans forward, resting his cheek on his arms, never breaking eye contact with me.

I'm only faintly aware of my friends speaking around me, their voices faint as I stare at the stranger, and him back at me. There's a whole building between us, but it feels like I can just reach out and touch him, like he's right next to me.

He smirks and then his eyes are gone, his gaze hidden from me as he sits up and pushes his chair back. He hops down, his eyes once again finding mine. My heart thunders in my chest, my lungs forgetting how to work as I realize he's going to come over here.

His hips sway with each step he takes and I can't help the way my eyes follow them. He makes his way over slowly, each movement deliberate as he smirks at me.

The conversation stops as he approaches our table, my friends finally noticing his presence. He doesn't seem to notice them though, or at least he doesn't show that he does as his eyes stay trained on me.

"Hey," he says. His voice was all music, the type of song that I could listen to over and over and never get tired of it. "Can I tell you a wonderful thing?"

I nod, unable to make my voice work.

"I, um, I can't help but notice you're staring at me." I blush, embarrassed for being caught ogling him.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"I know I shouldn't say this." He brushes his hair back, the lighting of the room giving his cheeks a slight red tint to them. "But I really believe, I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me."

"Wha-" I can feel Namjoon and Hoseok's stares burning into me, only working to further embarrass me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay," he beams at me, his smile cutting off my air supply. "If I minded, I wouldn't have stared back." He stretches his arm out, the sleeve of his sweater coming down to cover part of his palm.

"My name's Jimin." He introduces himself, my palm burning where our skin meets. "And I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you too."