Seoha’s POV

"I don’t want to go" Sooin sobs and I feel my heartstrings tug while Minjae gives her a flat and unimpressed look.

"Young lady, you’re going to school, whether you like it or not" he says and I step away to avoid letting her convince me.

I’m a sucker for this little girl.

"Daddy!" she calls for me and I sigh, going to kneel on one knee in front of her.

"Hi pup"

"I don’t want to go to school, I want to stay with you" she says and I give her a smile, "I know, I want to stay with you too"

"Then let’s stay, me, you and Susu unnie" she says and I laugh softly

"How about this, let’s have a sleep over at your house" I offer and her frown blooms into a smile.

"Really?" she asks, bouncing on her feet.

"Absolutely not!" Minjae says and I grin at Sooin whose happy smile has changed into a pout again.

"Uncle Minnie is so mean!" she says.

"See you at sleepover, Innah" I say and she gives me a kiss before letting Jisu take her away to school.

"You’re going to that man’s house?" Minjae asks and I shrug, "Sooin wants me"

"Tch, stop using the kid as an excuse, come let’s talk" he gestures to the couch, and we sit next to each other.

"Are you sure you’re ready for it...I mean...the past few weeks have been hell" my best friend says and I look down at my finger.

Am I ready for it? No, I don’t think I am, but do I want to be with Taesan? Yes, I know I am.

I can’t fight, I don’t know how to kill, my heart is too soft...

"I don’t know..." I confess.

"I can’t keep you from the man you love, but Seoha...I don’t want to see you hurt, you’re my brother" Minjae says.

"You’re my brother too..." I say and he takes my hands, holding them gently against his baby bump.

"I’m scared for you, truly Seoha, I am very scared, but I don’t hate Taesan, and I want to trust him to take care of you"

"I’m scared too Minnie-ya, but I trust him and I don’t plan to rush this time" I whisper, reminding him of the courting promise.

"Good" he sighs.

"Oh gosh, I feel like a real parent" he says with a loud giggle that reminds me of the playful man he is.

"You are a parent, Minjae" I coo at him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Ah, that’s right, I have a...visitation with Junho"

Visitation? What does that mean?

"Eh?" I ask and he gives me a smug look, "tell me everything!" I demand happily.

"You’re a baby"

"I am older than you" I remind him and he hiss at me like a cat.

"Buy me doughnuts and I’ll tell you" he says, wriggling his brows like the mischievous man he is.

"Wow, Minjae-ssi" I gasp playfully.

"If you buy it, I’ll tell you, I swear" he grins at me, raising his hand solemnly and I shake my head.

A knock distracts us and he gives me a flat look.

"You’ve turned my apartment to a mafia meeting ground; you owe me two doughnuts" he points at me before going to open it.

This time, instead of waiting for his reaction to tell me who it is, I sit up to look over the couch.

It’s Seungmin.

Instinctively, my omega starts to growl at the man, forgetting that we used to be a circle of tight friends.

I rush to the door, pulling Minjae away and hiding him behind me, even though he is taller than I am.

"Can I come in?" Seungmin asks calmly and Minjae holds on to my elbow; I can feel his fingers trembling.

"No" I say firmly.

"Yes" Minjae says, tugging on my elbow to pull me out of the way, and I whine at him.

I don’t want him to get hurt by that man right now, not when he is happier these days.

"I can handle it" he says quietly to me, but I refuse to let go still, standing next to him like a bodyguard.

Minjae never shows his feelings to me.

He never bears his heart to anyone, so it’s hard to know how much he’s enduring, that’s why I would do my best to protect him as much as I can.

"Seoha" Seungmin says my name and I move slightly out of the way, letting him in.

"I guess today is clear the air day" Minjae jokes while I stand by stiffly.

Seungmin sits on the couch I slept with Taesan on overnight.

He rubs his palm on his pants, and I can see the trail of sweat he leaves with the act, he sweats when he gets nervous.

"Minjae, I want to apologize for walking out on you" he starts and Minjae nods slowly.

"Look, I get that you want a baby but..."

"You came to tell me that you still don’t want the baby, right?" Minjae asks without wasting more time and Seungmin sighs.

"You have your whole life ahead of you, I have my goals and-" Seungmin starts to explain.

"Okay" Minjae says.

"Okay?" Seungmin asks in surprise.

"Okay, would you move in so I can move out, or will you wait for me to leave first?" Minjae asks and Seungmin gets up quickly.

"Wait...you’re misunderstanding me" he says and Minjae shrugs.

"Isn’t that what you wanted? You don’t want the baby, I want the baby, isn’t it better that we split up, end it?" my omega friend says and I feel my heart clenching.

"Minnie" I whisper Minjae’s name when I feel his shaking getting worse.

"It was nice being with you, Seungmin, I don’t regret loving you...but I guess it ends here" he continues to talk.

"Damn it, Minjae, you’re taking it too far, fine have the kid and we’ll consider adoption, huh?" the alpha says like it’s a bright suggestion.

"Bye Seungmin" Minjae says with a smile and Seungmin curses harshly.

"You’re throwing us away for nothing" Seungmin says, shaking his head.

"Bye Seungmin" Minjae says in a voice that’s stronger than how he feels in my arms right now.

Seungmin doesn’t fight for them, he just shakes his head once and leaves for the door.

The way he’s walking out is something that even a proud man like Taesan can never do.

"Oh, and I’ll be leaving the house today, you can come back to your apartment" Minjae adds just before his ex-boyfriend slams the door.

Once Seungmin is gone, he relaxes against me, breathing shakily as he whines softly.

"I’m sorry, I can’t hold up any longer" he confesses and I whimper for him.

"It hurts" he says with laughter before pulling himself away, wrapping his arms around himself and giving me a smile.

"I guess we are both having a sleepover at big bad wolf’s house" he says.

I don’t laugh at the joke, I’m too busy hurting for him.