"Hyung?"

Jimin looked up as Jungkook put a hand over his. "What is it?" He asked, his voice still scratchy from crying. Jungkook squeezed his hand gently, biting his lip.

"Do you think... do you think we could be friends again?"

Jimin stared at their hands, then sank onto the desk, folding his arms and letting out a long sigh. "I'm not comfortable with that, Jungkook-ah."

"Why?" Jungkook said. "Please, what did I do? Is this really just about my mate?"

"I-I just... don't want to see..." Jimin shook his head. "I'm not ready for any of this."

"Are you really Yoongi-hyung's mate?" Jungkook whispered.

Jimin's eyes filled with tears. He stood, wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

"Hyung, wait--"

Jimin was already at the door.

"Hyung!"

The hallways were nearly empty, so Jimin had an easy time dodging around other wolves. He never thought about Taehyung, never considered how powerful the bond between the mates would have grown without Jungkook on the suppressants. Because of this, he plowed right around a corner into an empty corridor and slammed straight into the alpha.

They both went down, Jimin smacking his knees and shoulder on the floor. He lay there, stunned, until he heard Taehyung groaning. Then he scrambled to his feet, moving away, trying to get up.

"Thank the moons," Jungkook cried, drawing even with the two of them. "Hyung, please don't run. I'm not trying to make you see him."

"H-how am I supposed to know that?" Jimin said, watching Taehyung warily. "You just said it out of nowhere."

Jungkook frowned, crouching next to him and resting a hand on his back. "Hyung, Yoongi's not perfect, but he's not a bad person. He would never try to hurt you."

"How do you know that?!" Jimin cried, pressing his hands to his head. "He won't even listen to me--"

"Jimin-ssi," Taehyung said quietly. "He's worried about you. He wants to help."

"Then why is he in my head?!" Jimin demanded, anger rising inside him.

"Because he can't talk to you any other way!"

"Maybe I don't want to talk to him!"

Taehyung groaned, running his hands through his hair. "What is it with all of you?" he demanded. "Every other Omega I've known is at least relieved to know who their mate is. Why are you so upset?"

Jimin got to his feet, crossing his arms and backing away. Taehyung began to follow, then sighed, mirroring him as Jungkook wrapped an arm around his waist.

"You're being ridiculous."

"Actually, I'm probably the only one thinking straight," Jimin snapped, turning to go. "I don't need advice from obsessed brats like you."

"That doesn't mean you should abandon your mate!"

Jimin ignored him, turning the corner.

"Why were you fighting?"

"Go away."

"Why am I not allowed to know these things?!"

Jimin groaned, slumping against a wall and clutching at his head. He hated these headaches. He hated everything. Why did he have to deal with this? Couldn't Yoongi wait until graduation?

"What, so you can skip town and pretend I never existed?"

"I told you to go away!"

"No. You're my mate, there's no way I'm leaving you."

The words tore at a sore spot in Jimin's heart, and he gritted his teeth, growling. How was it that no matter where he looked, there was no solution? Suppressants didn't block mates. Avoiding him only led to being chased around by his friends. Hiding with other Omegas was out of the question. Being alone... that was even worse.

"You're not alone. I'm right here."

Jimin nearly broke down. The tears he'd been suppressing all day welled up, and he shoved down the urge to yell and scream at Yoongi. Yoongi... Yoongi was stupid, but he meant well.

Somehow, admitting that to himself hurt more than anything else he'd ever told himself.

He was worthless.

Forget alphas ever wanting him. Everyone left when they learned the truth. When they knew what had happened to him, to his family.

"Hello?"

"Shut up," Jimin said, his voice soft and shaky. "Just shut up."