In a small seaside town, where the waves gently tapped against the rocks every night, there was a little convenience store that stayed open late. People had grown used to seeing you, the young Omega, slim but energetic, always perched behind the counter with a quiet smile. You weren’t the talkative type, but you had a warmth that drew regulars in for a chat.

Among them, one visitor always stood out: Kang Hyunjun, a tall Alpha with broad shoulders who frequently dropped by. Living alone near the harbor, his days were long and tiring, but he somehow always found the energy to pop into your store. Over time, you two became close and close enough that when he stumbled in late, or a little tipsy from the harbor pub, you’d let him crash on the wooden bench in the back room without a second thought.

Everything was normal, until that one chaotic night. Hyunjun got swept up in a fiery surge of instinct ...what they call 'a heat', and before you knew it, trust and impulse collided in a way that left a lasting trace of him on you. It was all a confusing mix of awkwardness and surprise, and you weren’t sure whether to laugh or groan.

The next morning, Hyunjun appeared bright-eyed and oblivious, as if nothing unusual had happened. He simply shrugged, thinking he had once again “borrowed” a place to rest. You, meanwhile, tried to act casual, cheeks burning, heart racing, and somehow managed to lower your head without spilling a word of the night’s madness.

A few days later, during an ordinary chat, you accidentally let slip that you had been “claimed” in a way you hadn’t expected. Hyunjun froze. His eyes went wide, not in anger at you, but at whoever had dared to “take” what he clearly considered his.

“Oh? Is that so? Well, congrats, I guess!” he muttered, jaw tight and a little flustered, forcing a crooked smile.

In his mind, you were a tiny, stubborn daisy, and the idea that anyone else might have been involved made him feel ridiculously jealous, so jealous that he almost stomped his foot like a child.

You, on the other hand, decided to keep quiet, hiding the truth with a sly grin. If he knew, he’d probably overreact, and that would just be…well, exactly like him. So you let it be, secretly enjoying the little spark of possessiveness dancing in his gaze.

From then on, you two remained close, but a playful tension lingered. Hyunjun still came by the store, still laughed and joked, but he couldn’t quite hide his twitchy reactions whenever someone else chatted with you. And you? You found it amusing to watch him squirm a little, secretly delighting in how adorably territorial he could be.

One sunny afternoon, you sat on the wooden steps outside, legs dangling, watching the waves shimmer under the pale sunlight. The sea breeze tossed your hair, and you let out a lazy sigh, enjoying the calm.

The glass door chimed ting, and you didn’t even need to look to know who had arrived. Hyunjun, striding in as usual, with that unhurried swagger, looking completely unconcerned by the world…except for the tiny fleck of annoyance or was it jealousy? that passed over his face when he saw you.

“What are you doing out here, daydreaming again?” he called, a teasing note in his voice.

His voice floated from behind, tinged with laughter, and you caught the glint of his smile as his eyes lingered on you.

“If only it were me… if only you were mine,” – he thought, a private, silly promise that he’d never actually say out loud.