The Fated Pair

Rei's eyes darted to Yuu's lips and remembered what he witnessed earlier. An alpha falling for a beta? That's interesting. He has known an omega and beta couple, Yuu's parents, and it is possible. An omega and beta male may have the possibility to produce a child. But never an alpha and beta male. His thoughts stopped as he saw Yuu staring outside the window in front of them. He did not know how to face Yuu but after remembering Takahashi's irritating face.

"Hey..." Yuu uttered which caught Rei's attention. "Do you believe in Fated Pair?"

Rei raised a brow. "Fated what?"

"Pair. You know… The thing they said is that when you meet your fated pair, you can sense each other immediately by the scent of their pheromones."

"That's just a legend. I can't imagine myself trying to find someone in 7.9 billion people around the world." Rei scoffed but Yuu just chuckled, still looking outside the window with his eyes in a daze.

"But imagine accidentally meeting yours. How nice… Being an omega and alpha."

'Lucky? Yeah right. Imagine being in my place.' How Rei wanted to say that to Yuu, but he thought that Yuu was just being innocently curious about it. Honestly, Rei was jealous of Yuu. He was lucky enough to be a beta. Though, it is considered as a middle class. He was safe from all of the cruelties he might face if he is in Rei's shoes. He can have a stable job and provide for his family, but not Rei. Society thinks that the purpose of his and other omegas' existence is for reproduction. And 'only' for reproduction.

"Why? Don't tell me you want to be an omega like me?"

Yuu sighed, resting his chin on his fist while still staring outside. "Yeah…"

"Hmm…"

Rei nodded but found Yuu's reaction unusual. He was never sentimental. Though he may look cool and distant at times, Yuu was open to Rei. Aside from Rei being a month older than him and they grew up together since his father died because of a car accident, they are best friends. He moved to their house when he was 7 years old and now they are both 19. Time sure does fly by fast.

"So? What's your plan for Saturday?" Yuu asked, glancing at Rei.

"About that, I---"

Rei was cut off by someone wrapping their arm around his shoulders. "It's nice seeing you two together!"

They both looked at the guy beside Rei and were shocked to see Haruo who was leaning down, grinning at the two of them. Rei can't help but bite the inside of his mouth to stop himself from blushing and failed terribly because Haruo already noticed Rei's face turning red. Out of all people, why is he here? They both bowed their head.

"Mr. Katsuragi..."

"Hey, Yuu~ You've grown big since I last saw you!" Haruo smirked, reaching out to Yuu and messing his hair which made the latter groan in annoyance.

"Mr. Katsuragi! Will you stop it?! We just saw each other earlier! You're our literature professor, aren't you?!"

"Ehh? But that was like 5 hours ago already~" Haruo grinned mischievously. "And Mr. Katsuragi? You can call me Haru-nii as usual~"

"No way." Yuu looked at him straight in the eye, solemnly and firm in his voice. "You are our professor here."

Haruo slumped his back, sighing dramatically. "But the two of you used to run around and keep calling me 'Haru-nii' all the time. It's so cute!"

"Who are you calling cute?" Yuu groaned, the side of his lips twitching in annoyance.

Rei smirked, shaking his head as he watched the two bicker in front of him. He and Yuu have known Haruo since when they are still a child. He was their neighbor. Both of them have grown up and look at him like he is their older brother. While both of them are in elementary, Haruo is already in Junior High. That's why when Haruo decided to move houses because of his apprenticeship, Rei didn't think twice and confessed to him. Rei felt his fist tighten at the memory.

"What did you like about me?"

Haruo once asked him after he confessed, looking outside his bedroom window as he puffs on his cigarette. All of his stuff is already in a box, ready to be moved. Rei knows that Haruo will be back. It is his dream to teach at Satoyo Academy. But he can't wait anymore. He was so used to having Haruo around.

Rei starts fidgetting with his fingers. "You're gentle and kind. You treated me well even when people turned their backs on me. Always teasing me which is irritating in some way but I like that about you."

"Do you want to try?" Haruo asked, turning around to look at Rei and leaning on his window frame.

"Try what?"

"Getting to know each other?"

Are they still in a "getting to know" stage? After all those years they went through and all the sacrifices Rei has given just to be with him? He honestly didn't know. But he is sure about one thing, it's that he didn't want to give him up--- His thoughts were cut off when he felt a hand brushing against one of his palms. Rei's right hand is hidden between them when Haruo lets his hand drop beside him. He was careful not to get noticed by everyone including Yuu. The red-haired looked at the person beside him, his face immediately softened.

"How about mocha cake? Doesn't your father love mocha?" Haruo smiled as he felt Rei's hand also wrapped around his, clasped together tightly.

Even if both, Haruo and Rei are not sure what their status was. At least, Rei is sure that he wanted nothing from Haruo but to love him back. The same way Rei loves him. Rei hates to admit it but he understood how much Kyou is holding back from confessing and letting the world know how much he loves Yuu. Maybe that is what also irritated him earlier. Damn. Unrequited Love 'is' painful.