Violets

“Yizhuo didn’t come to class this morning,” Minjeong informed them as they were walking out of the school.  

That got Aeri’s full attention, but she didn’t want to show it, so she continued to scroll through her phone. 

Jimin suddenly leaned her entire body on her, trying to go closer to Minjeong. “What? What happened?”

Aeri grimaced, instantly switched positions with Jimin, making her walk in the middle of them. Minjeong took notice and smiled at Aeri. Of course, the omega would want to take any chance she got just to be close with Jimin. 

“I honestly don’t know. She didn’t message me at all,” Minjeong said, eyes darting from Jimin and then to her, a little worry in her eyes.

She raised a brow, thinking. As far as she knew, Yizhuo and Minjeong always updated each other, almost like they were attached to the hip. So, for Minjeong to say that Yizhuo didn’t message at all sounded concerning. 

“Maybe I should check on her,” Jimin offered, looking solely at Minjeong. 

The younger one narrowed her eyes on Jimin. “We have remedial classes, remember? It won’t end until eight.” 

Jimin’s shoulders dropped, nodding her head weakly. “Right. I forgot.” 

“You seriously didn’t have to take those with me.” 

“Yeah, but what if you get lonely?” 

“Why would I get lonely at remedial classes?” 

Aeri cleared her throat, they were at a bus stop, and she wanted to get away from these two already, before someone started spewing out pheromones from their unrequited feelings towards each other. 

“I’m going home, I have things to do as well,” she said, fixing her backpack on her shoulder. “Maybe you two should just visit Yizhuo after your remedial classes?” 

They blinked, and then looked at each other. “That’s actually a good idea. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind,” Minjeong said. “I basically live there.”

Then Jimin swung her arm around Aeri's neck, shaking her a bit. ”Always the smart one, Aeri-chan,” she teased. 

But Aeri grimaced and shoved the alpha away, unamused by Jimin’s actions. She fixed herself and pointed in the other direction. “I’m going ahead, you guys take care.” 

“Bye, we’ll update you about Yizhuo later!” Minjeong said as they started walking away. 

She huffed. “No need to.” 

They probably didn’t hear her. Or they did and didn’t take her seriously. As usual. But what was new? Those two had a world of their own. Well… Jimin would usually be that way whenever the omega was with them. But there was only a slight difference when it was just them because Minjeong’s name was the one thing that graced their usual conversations. 

It was kind of annoying. But her best friend was in love and stupid while Minjeong was… basically the same. 

At least Aeri didn’t have to worry about them for the meantime. 

She turned around, taking a familiar road, walking a little faster than usual, but enough to make sure she was going to make it in time and not tire herself out. 

Since she knew she needed the energy again today. 

But then a thought came to her. 

Snacks. 

Maybe some drinks. 

Sounded good. 

She had a couple of items in mind, and she knew the convenience store had them. So she took a detour, heading inside the closest one she spotted, picking out the things that she recited in her head and then paid for everything. 

When she left, she quickened her pace again, walking towards the apartment building that she could see from where she was. She was close. 

But she stopped when she noticed a small congee stall at the side. That might be a good idea too. Congee was a favorite. So, she stopped again, bought a hefty size, good enough for her and then finally left. 

Aeri tried her best to ignore the other temptations around, wanting to hurry and reach her destination as soon as possible. Since she knew she didn’t really have much time left. 

She entered the apartment building, greeted the guard, the receptionist, flashing her card at them before she used it to call the lift. Before she entered, she noticed that there was a group of omegas that went in first than her, she stopped. 

That wouldn’t be a good idea, so Aeri decided to let them go ahead and she called for another one. Hopefully it was going to be empty this time. 

It wasn’t. But there was another alpha with her. They nodded at each other, entered the lift quietly, choosing their floors and then waited in silence. Aeri tried her best not to release anything just because she was in the presence of another alpha, but with the smell she was catching, it seemed the alpha with her was excited to leave. Maybe a mate was in heat.

That made her smirk, but she kept it to herself.

There was a chime of a bell and Aeri knew it was her floor, so she left and beelined towards the unit. She took the keycard that was in her hand and swiped it over the lock, hearing the sound of the mechanisms turning and then a green light appeared. She pushed the knob down, but before she opened the door, she took a deep breath. Realizing that she needed to be a bit prepared for what was to come when she entered this apartment. 

After a shaky exhale, she entered the room. 

And that was when it hit her. The entire unit was filled with the familiar floral scent. Aeri quickly closed the door and took a moment to compose herself. She honestly was trying her best to mentally prepare herself for this, but this always made her knees weak, each and every time. 

With another breath, she pushed herself off of the door, ignoring the growing boner inside her pants, left her shoes by the entrance and went straight for the kitchen, dropping her purchases on the dining table. She looked around the apartment, slightly impressed that it was still well kept. 

She honestly expected it to be messy, or something close to what a hurricane did when it passed by.

Aeri took off her bag and coat, leaving it on the backrest of the couch and then walked towards the bedroom. She opened the door slowly and the scent of violets engulfed her system, making her lightheaded and inevitably turned on. 

The sight of a familiar lump on the bed made her smile, she approached it, looking down at the omega that was turning in her sleep. Aeri tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear and bent over to place a soft kiss on soft cheeks. 

Yizhuo stirred, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She tried turning but she groaned in pain. As usual. But at least it wasn’t as bad as the first few days. Yizhuo was uncontrollable. She always was. 

The omega stopped moving when she finally opened her eyes and was looking up at Aeri. “What are you doing here?”

The question made her scoff. Aeri came to visit her the day before her heat started. But it could be because there wasn’t much of a label between them and Yizhuo probably didn’t know how to place herself. Nor did Aeri. 

But that wasn’t the point here. 

“Checking on you,” she still answered calmly, then she knelt in front of the bed, caressing Yizhuo’s cheek with her finger. “And I know if I don’t, you’re still going to message and beg me to come here.”

Yizhuo rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Cute. Aeri couldn’t help but smile.