Chapter Text
Jeno had a relatively decent grip on his life.
He woke up early, washed up, made a start on breakfast, and finally went to wake Ahyeon up.
Of course, Ahyeon rarely cooperated, far too fond of her bed and the fort of plushies around her to truly get up on her own accord. But Jeno was used to it by now, hauling his daughter up since in the end she didn’t weigh enough to put up a proper fight (even if she flailed around and kicked her feet). After that, Jeno made sure Ahyeon looked presentable - washing her face, brushing her hair, and dressing her up for the day ahead.
Later, he’d sit Ahyeon down to have her breakfast calmly before it was finally time to leave. Jeno grabbed his bag - packed with his lunch and enough snacks to keep him sane and energized in front of his office computer screen - and also Ahyeon’s bag which weighed basically nothing when compared to his own.
The walk to her school was a relatively pleasant one; a twenty minute journey, cutting through quiet neighbourhoods and a small park consisting of a few patches of grass, a handful of trees and two benches on opposite sides. Even now in autumn it wasn't that bad, sun or rain were manageable. He wasn't sure about the snow though. Jeno didn't have any experience with that yet.
Ahyeon started elementary school only a few months ago, welcoming spring with a change she was more than enthusiastic about. After all, with a new school came more friends to make, ever the social butterfly at the impressive age of six. She definitely didn't get that from Jeno, that much was for certain.
But Jeno was relieved that Ahyeon took the change well. She had already befriended basically everyone in her class, gossiping to Jeno after school about everything and anything she heard or saw. It was honestly shocking how much she knew.
Other than being a frequent visitor at the gossip mill, Ahyeon was also beloved by her teachers. The only time Jeno had to be called in was back when she bit another kid during recess. She thought it was a way to say you liked someone so her heart was in the right place at least.
Having a saint as a child definitely made life easier for Jeno. Though he wasn't entirely sure if Ahyeon really was that easy to deal with or if he had simply gotten used to anything she and the world could throw his way. It was probably the latter if he had to be honest. Even with the support of his parents (especially during the first two years since Ahyeon was born), Jeno still took care of his daughter alone.
Jeno did everything to ensure she grew up happy and healthy no matter how much it killed him to get through just one day. In and out, a never ending cycle. He had countless breakdowns, especially tender when Ahyeon's father decided that being a parent before he even turned twenty-one simply wasn't for him, leaving his family behind when Ahyeon was six months old.
Jeno was inconsolable.
He was probably better off without him though. Of course, he was able to get his ex to pay child support. In fact, he even gave him the option to visit Ahyeon! The money came in, but he never showed his face again. It was for the best.
Jeno took a break in his studies to take care of his newborn, although he did get his degree in the end out of sheer spite and immovable pride. His parents looked after Ahyeon when he had classes, happy to take care of their granddaughter. In that regard, Jeno was lucky; his parents didn't disown him for being a fool in love, too blind to realise his sweet relationship wouldn't last long. They were sympathetic and supportive. It could have been much worse.
Still, they couldn't be there at his beck and call twenty-four-seven, and so Jeno had to pick up the pieces and put his all into being a good father.
Easier said than done.
But he was trying and doing his best, one day at a time.
Ahyeon tugged at his hand, wanting Jeno to hurry up now that she saw one of her friends across the road. Jeno tightened his hold, wary that Ahyeon would step out onto the road. She knew better than that, but Jeno preferred to err on the side of caution.
They made it to the school soon enough, finding themselves amidst other parents dropping their children off. There were two teachers waiting around the entrance, greeting the kids and the adults accompanying them. The teachers switched around frequently, and this time around Jeno actually recognised one of them as Ahyeon's homeroom teacher.
Mr. Na was a relatively young looking man. Lean build, large doe eyes, and a radiant smile. Ahyeon liked him - her feelings made ten times stronger by the fact Mr. Na apparently loved bunnies and rabbits and whatnot, his classroom scattered with them. Ahyeon loved bunnies.
But Mr. Na wasn't popular amongst the other parents for the sole reason that he was an alpha. In the grand scheme of things, it was a rather stupid thing to hold against the teacher; from what Ahyeon said and from what Jeno saw first hand, the man wasn’t anyone to worry about. Still, Jeno understood where the sentiment came from; after all, it was strange to see alphas as teachers to kids below the age of twelve and thirteen. Omegas were the typical caregivers during the most formative years whereas alphas took on the role of leaders and firm authoritative figures once it was time for kids to start pulling themselves together.
To see an alpha where he didn’t belong drew suspicions and questions. Jeno thought it was honestly stupid, but he didn’t interact enough with the other parents to really have a say in what type of rumours and gossip was spread around the alpha.
As they passed through the gate, Jeno put Ahyeon’s backpack over her shoulders, kneeling down by the young girl. He tidied up her hair - somehow already messed up - and buttoned up her cardigan since one of the buttons came undone. “How’d you manage to do all this already?” Jeno muttered as Ahyeon stood around and allowed him to fix her up. She wore a bashful smile, not sure of the answer. “People will think I don’t take care of you.”
They probably already did.
“Alright,” Jeno said, leaning back to take a good look at Ahyeon. She looked presentable. “You’re good to go. Don’t cause any trouble, okay? No biting.”
“No biting,” Ahyeon echoed, raising her pinkie finger to make a promise. Jeno chuckled, locking pinkies with her as if he was also making a vow to not go around biting people.
His eyes instantly looked up as he sensed the presence of another person, a very faint and fresh scent wafting up to his nose. It was once Jeno more or less recognised now, his initial shock dying out as his eyes fell onto Mr. Na, the young teacher’s bright smile thawing some of the early morning chill shrouding Jeno.
“Looks like the troublemaker has arrived,” the teacher said, glancing down at Ahyeon. “Is that right, Ahyeon?”
The girl shook her head. “I’m not a troublemaker,” she protested, her words tinged with laughter.
“No? Are you sure about that?”
Ahyeon nodded.
“Hmm… If you say so.”
Unprompted, Ahyeon pointed to Jeno and said “daddy’s the troublemaker.”
What was he supposed to say to that?
Mr. Na chuckled, looking between the young girl and her father. “Do you have any evidence for that? No?” When Ahyeon shrugged, the teacher shook his head, quite amused by the girl’s willingness to toss her own dad under the bus. “Looks like the charges were dropped, Mr. Lee.”
Jeno sighed, looking back at Ahyeon, lightly ruffling her hair so as to not mess it up again. “What am I supposed to do with you?”
Innocent as could be, she beamed, showing off all her teeth.
“Leave her with me; I’ll whip her into shape, isn’t that right, Ahyeon?” Mr. Na leaned down, hands resting just above his knees. “Just like they did to me in the marines.”
“You were in the marines?” Jeno didn’t expect that.
The teacher scoffed, shaking his head. “No: too scary,” he replied, putting on a full body shiver the likes of which made Ahyeon laugh, copying the loose limbed action, echoing a “too scary”.
Honestly, Jeno had an idea why she liked Mr. Na as much as she did (bunnies aside) and that was because he was the very expressive type - from the way he spoke to the way he carried himself, he was vibrant and lively, though not in a way which came across as overwhelming or totally disingenuous. And of course, he just had that natural instinct to know how to behave around kids, able to make them comfortable with just one silly joke.
He was the opposite of Jeno.
“Well, how about you say bye-bye to daddy and go to your friends?” Mr. Na continued.
Ahyeon turned to look back at Jeno, ready to bid her farewells for the day. At the start, when she first started school, she would wait around Jeno for as long as she could. Despite being sociable, Ahyeon still was nervous to part ways. With a new environment, it took her some time to adjust. But now, she was ready to run off and meet up with the other kids in the playground before they had to go in.
Jeno opened his arms, waiting for Ahyeon to come in and hug him as usual. She had quite the grip, squeezing Jeno with all her might before pulling away. “Bye-bye,” she said, waving at Jeno. She looked over her shoulder, finding a familiar face, ready to move.
“Bye-bye,” Jeno uttered. That was all Ahyeon needed to hear before she made her move, running over to a friend.
At least she was happy.
As for Jeno, he had to drag himself to work.
“Quite the personality,” Mr. Na mused. He stood upright, offering Jeno a kind smile.
“She sure is,” Jeno replied. “Anyway I- I’ll be off.”
The other man nodded. “Of course. Have a nice day, Mr. Lee.”
As nice as a corporate job could be. “Thank you. You too.”
And with that, Jeno’s day continued.
He made his usual walk to the bus stop, got off after five stops, and then switched to the subway packed to the brim with other miserable commuters heading to work. Whilst he complained, Jeno had it pretty good - well, better than some.
His job was fairly accommodating and even provided free childcare up to the age four, so Jeno made use of that as soon as he landed his position. The office was trying to fill their diversity quotas and needed an incentive for more omegas to join, so a comprehensive parental package was introduced to do the trick.
And it worked.
Was the pay good? Not really, but it was enough for what Jeno needed. The hours were also good, giving Jeno the chance to actually finish and be able to pick Ahyeon up from school. Maybe once she got older and started extracurricular activities or cram school, Jeno could look around for something that paid better.
For now, his wage and the child support payments offered sustainable coverage for his and Ahyeon’s needs. It could be more though. But for now, Jeno took what he could get.
Soon enough, Jeno made it to the office. Dressed in a suit which would never become comfortable, he blended in with everyone else. Greys, whites, blacks and dark blues moved around the work space, all dressed properly just to sit in front of a desk and go into an occasional meeting. It was truthfully pointless. Though to an extent it did give off that air of professionalism that corporate were striving for.
Appearance wise, there wasn’t much to make anyone think Jeno was anything other than a beta or maybe even an alpha. He was of a larger build than the average omega and his cool, almost aloof outwards persona gave most people the impression he was too stern and cold to be an omega, lacking that natural warmth and softness expected from him. He obviously had a child, but nobody really knew the details - not that anyone really needed to know. Besides, it wasn’t important. Jeno still could do his job just fine even if he was hired to make the company’s diversity statistics look better.
Jeno learned rather early that dealing with alphas was more hassle than it was worth. And so, it was simply easier to obfuscate certain details about himself.
And Jeno had quite an array of encounters with alphas. After his tragedy of a relationship came to an end - a relationship of five years by that point (high school sweethearts) - Jeno thought that he could still put himself out there. It came in phases, at first searching for a way to numb the pain, dealing with heartache and the knowledge that he was left alone with a child he honestly wasn’t fully ready for. He would let anyone in just to feel like he was still worthy of affection. But that rarely left him feeling as anything more than disposable, tossed aside after his heats and after helping out with ruts, his sole purpose being his body.
So he pulled himself together and tried to be serious. Dates and all that fun stuff.
Yet those never went far; some alphas aborted the ship as soon as they found out Jeno had a child or when they caught sight of the scar on his nape - faint and faded, but always present. To them, he was used goods, allowing another alpha to completely claim him. And some acted like they were fine with it, however, as soon as anything serious started, Jeno was the one to feel like he had to end things.
Jeno couldn’t stand the way his partners treated Ahyeon. Although not hostile, there was a distance between them. Intentional or not, Jeno wasn’t going to settle with anyone that didn’t care about his daughter just because she wasn’t theirs.
Alphas and their stupid possessiveness. Even betas, surprisingly.
However, not all were bad. But none were really good either. In the end, Jeno decided that trying to find a partner that didn’t completely suck was too much effort. He got by just fine by himself. Heat suppressants did their job and Jeno didn’t feel the need to go around and bump shoes with whoever would have him. He could live without that.
His co-workers knew better by now to not pry too much into Jeno’s private life, so most of the cooler talk and aimless gossip was provided by others. Jeno didn’t say much as a whole, maybe really only feeling amicable towards being the relatively new hire by the name of Chenle. Only he was able to get past Jeno’s walls enough to strike actual conversations with him. Probably still not enough to be really considered friends, but it was the closest thing Jeno had.
With Jeno’s life altering breakup, not only did he lose his boyfriend - and mate - but also his friends. They were never truly his friends, only ever offering condolences before disappearing from Jeno’s life all together. Good riddance.
And so, Jeno was left with a list of contacts he could count on one hand.
He should probably try getting closer to some of the other parents at Ahyeon’s school. Maybe they could arrange playdates with her friends - things like that. It would be a good idea.
Jeno felt too awkward to even try. But if it was for Ahyeon… He could still try.
He should try.
Jeno sighed. That was a thought for another time. As for now, he had to work aka make himself look busy for half the day before he actually had to do something. One of his favourite pastimes was online sudoku and wordsearches. It’s not like anyone was constantly keeping tabs on him as long as he did what was needed to be done by the end of the day.
Unfortunately, today seemed to be the day everything fell apart. Issues left, right and centre, constant emails back and forth that amounted to nothing, and an increasing sense of dread and stress filling the office. Utter pandemonium.
Overtime.
But Jeno didn’t have the time to stay late.
“Nobody’s leaving until we have this sorted. This is a key client!”
Jeno didn’t have a say.
Ten minutes was fine - he could always just run to make up the time. Twenty minutes was cutting it. And half an hour was definitely too much. By that time, Jeno tried to reach out to his parents to see if they could pick Ahyeon up this time around. It was a long shot but it was all Jeno could think of in his current state of disorientation and panic.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Jeno’s mum said over the line. “We’re at least an hour away and stuck in traffic. We can definitely go pick her up if you’re still held up by then.”
“Ah- Alright. Yeah. Thanks.” Jeno felt sick.
“Do you have anyone else that could help?”
“I- I’ll see. Bye.”
“I can always try calling Seulgi,” his mum suggested. Seulgi was Jeno’s cousin; they didn’t interact much these days but they were close as kids. They only saw each other during family gatherings now. Still, she was family and Ahyeon knew her. “I’m not sure if she’s in but it’s worth a try, right?”
“Ah- yes. That’s- that’s a good idea. I have to go.”
There was a worried pause over the line. “Right. Bye, sweetheart.”
By that point, all Jeno could really do was beg his supervisor which honestly felt beyond humiliating. Jeno was certain that Park Hoseok had it out for him. Then again, he seemed to have it for everyone around him, so maybe Jeno wasn’t special in this regard. Either way, Jeno’s supervisor treated his job like it was the only thing that mattered in the world. Again, Jeno wasn’t one to really gossip, but the conversations around the cooler indicated that Park Hoseok was a bitter divorcee blaming everyone and the world instead of himself for his failed marriage. He took it all out on his subordinates and allowed work to consume him.
All in all, he wasn’t a pleasant man to be around.
Jeno approached him, awkward and honestly fearful for his life. The man reeked of cigarette ash and a deep, natural earthy scent which he refused to suppress with the excuse that he keeps forgetting there are omegas working at the company now as if he was somehow stuck in the middle ages. An all around unpleasant character.
Jeno didn’t want to ask him for anything, preferring to stay as far as possible from his supervisor, but alas, he had to talk to him now to basically get on his knees and plead to be let out early. The instant Hoseok saw him, he sneered before ignoring him, typing away at his computer instead.
When Jeno didn’t leave, Hoseok groaned. “Why aren’t you at your desk?”
Jeno swallowed, keeping close to the wall, feeling small in the man’s presence. “I- I came to ask to leave.”
The sheer audacity of the request caused Hoseok to scoff, finally looking up at Jeno, his eyes sharp and scrutinising. “Leave? I didn’t realise we were all done. Are we?”
“N-no,” Jeno replied. “But I need to pick my daughter up. I don’t-”
“I don’t need your little sob story,” Hoseok interrupted. “Do you think you’re special? That I can let you go before the rest of the team because you have a kid? Make everyone pick up your slack? That’s unfair, Jenho.”
“It’s Jeno.”
Hoseok rolled his eyes.
“I’ll make up the time. Start earlier, cut my breaks, I just need to go.”
Hoseok wasn’t having it though. He wanted to make a point.
By some miracle, however, Jeno was saved by another person coming into the office to announce that they had finished up and just needed Hoseok to look over. That other person was Chenle, surprised to see Jeno standing in the office, body tense and expression tight, eyes holding back tears. He seemed concerned, asking Jeno a simple yet caring “are you alright?”
“He’s leaving, aren’t you?” Hoseok asked, looking at Jeno, annoyed that he couldn’t have his way.
Jeno nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“And don’t forget about your early start tomorrow,” Hoseok added. “Half an hour should do it.”
As if he wasted that much time standing around in the office.
“Yes, sir.” Jeno had no energy nor time to argue. He’d just have to drop Ahyeon off earlier in the morning. At least the school had a breakfast club for kids coming in earlier than the rest. That was fine. With that, he excused himself and hurried over to his desk, grabbing everything he needed before rushing out.
Jeno was out of the building as soon as possible, running to the subway station like his life depended on it. Only when he reached the platform did his mind clear enough to realise he should reach out to the school in case they were wondering where on earth Ahyeon’s guardian was. Hands shaking, Jeno just about clicked through his contacts and found the school’s number, putting the phone up to his ear, hearing it ring once then twice until finally he got through.
He stuttered out what he needed to say, eyes flickering up to the arrival board. He had a minute.
“Good afternoon. Yes, I- I’m Lee Jeno. Lee Ahyeon’s dad. I’m running late and-” he kept tripping over his own words, still struggling to catch his breath from an intense sprint. He probably looked like a right mess, chest heaving as he attempted to regain his breath. “I’m sorry. I- I should be there in maybe half an hour.”
“That’s alright,” the woman over the line assured, her voice soft and soothing, picking up on Jeno’s stress on the other side. “Her homeroom teacher is currently watching over her. I’ll let him know of your delay.”
Jeno exhaled, feeling the weight come off his shoulder only to be replaced with another. Now, instead of stress, he just felt an immense sense of guilt. Guilt towards Ahyeon and guilt towards the poor teacher who had to stay overtime because Jeno couldn’t get out on time. However, before he could fully wallow in his misery, the next train came into the station. Just like every other poor soul waiting around, Jeno piled himself inside, counting down the minutes until he could get out and get closer to Ahyeon’s school.
Just a few stops, and then the bus.
And then, just a walk. A very fast walk considering Jeno picked up the pace, operating at full capacity until he made it to the front gates. He walked through them and towards the main entrance to the building since nobody was waiting around now after so much time.
Jeno stepped into the reception, awkwardly shuffling forward. The receptionist saw him when she turned around in her spiny chair, eyes going wide behind round glasses. She looked young, hair tied up in a neat braid, lips stained with vibrant pink, the colour fading from a long day.
“Mr. Lee?” She asked. Jeno responded with a nod, taking a step closer to the reception desk. “Wonderful. I’ll let Mr. Na know.”
The reception desk was walled off with an opening in the glass that revealed the main office. Off to the side and along the wall was a set of heavy doors, locked for safety concerns. There were full length windows on either side, giving a glimpse to the area on the other side which contained a few seats, mirroring the reception waiting area.
Jeno looked through the window, finding that Ahyeon was sitting in one of the large chairs. In the seat next to her was a man, his legs folded, a workbook in his lap with a pen hooked to the edge of the page as his attention was on the girl next to him. In the space between them there was tissue paper with orange peels on top - quite a pile of them, actually. The man’s hands were busy with another orange, small droplets of juice bursting from the torn skin. He worked cleanly to get rid of the excess whites and peels, handing a half over to Ahyeon, her own hands cupped and ready.
As Ahyeon bit into one of the pieces she tore off, the receptionist stepped out and pointed out towards the door. Only then did the pair notice Jeno standing outside. As soon as she noticed her dad, Ahyeon grinned and got up. She rushed towards the door all whilst Mr. Na got up and carefully laid his things down, glancing down at the mess of orange peels. He pulled out a clean tissue out of his pocket and wiped his hands before calling Ahyeon over. The girl stopped by the door, turning around to her teacher only to be called back.
The man pulled out another tissue and knelt down, wiping down as much of the mess left by orange juice on her skin. Doing the best he could, he got up and opened the door for Ahyeon, allowing the girl to run out and greet her dad.
Jeno got down, arms open to greet his daughter in a tight hug. She jumped into his arms and Jeno lifted her up, groaning at how fast Ahyeon ran into him.
“Daddy!”
“Hey, princess,” Jeno said, placing a kiss on Ahyeon’s cheek, relieved to have finally gotten back to her after a long and tedious day. “I’m sorry I took so long,” he continued, squeezing Ahyeon in his arms before he started to feel the extra weight in his back. After the day he had, he really didn’t have the energy to hold the girl up for long. And so, he carefully put Ahyeon back down on the ground. “Daddy got caught up at work.”
Ahyeon frowned. “Was the bad man mean to you?” Honestly, yes. Jeno did complain about his supervisor a lot, and Ahyeon was smart enough to pick up on the times Jeno looked beyond shattered after work to realise that there was a ‘bad man’ (as she called him) making Jeno’s life ten times worse. “I’ll tell him off!” She added with such conviction it could only make Jeno smile, the momentary flash of joy reminding him exactly why he put up with everything.
“Alright, next time,” Jeno assured. His eyes caught sight of the fruit in Aheyon’s grasp before he finally realised that they weren’t alone. Quickly, Jeno looked back up to Mr. Na standing behind Ahyeon, his arms crossed over his chest, lips curved in a casual smile. “I’m sorry about this,” Jeno said.
The teacher shook his head, his smile permanently etched into his face. “It’s all good. It happens.”
“Still, I held you up. I’m sorry.”
Mr. Na waved his hand in dismissal. “I would’ve been working anyway. At least Ahyeon kept me some company,” he explained. “She has a lot to share. Lots of wisdom. Like: what if we could have ice cream for breakfast?”
Ahyeon looked around, nodding as if to say that that was a great question. Jeno has heard it enough times already - especially during summer. Not as much in the winter. It was definitely a seasonal thought.
“Also loved the one that went: why do adults need to work when they can play instead? Much to think about,” Mr. Na continued, pursing his lips in thought.
Jeno chuckled, finally getting up, at last eye level with the other man. It was a relief that Ahyeon’s homeroom teacher was as kind and understanding as he was. “Thank you,” he said. “For taking care of Ahyeon.”
“Always a pleasure,” the other man assured.
“And for the oranges,” Jeno added, glancing down at Ahyeon, the girl munching on another piece of the citrus. “She likes them, don’t you, Ahyeon?”
The girl nodded, chewing the flesh.
“Her hands might be a bit sticky,” Mr. Na stated. “I don’t have any wet wipes with me. I can grab some if you want?”
“That’s fine. She has some in her backpack,” Jeno said. Speaking of, “where’s your bag, Ahyeon?”
Mr. Na responded by raising his index finger and quickly disappearing. He was gone for about a minute before he returned with the bag in hand. “Left it in the classroom,” he explained. “But all good now.” He handed it over to Jeno, offering the father a bright smile, some of his teeth peeking behind his lips.
“Thank you.” Jeno put the bag on Ahyeon, slipping her arms through the straps. It was empty now that her snacks were gone. Light enough for her to wear on the short walk back home. “We should head out now,” he mused, stopping himself before he could even move. Jeno looked back up at the teacher, a question on his lips.
“Yes?”
“How early does the breakfast club start?” Jeno asked.
“The early bird club? An hour and a half before the start of the day,” Mr. Na confirmed. “Though we can always make arrangements if earlier drop offs are required. Why? Is Ahyeon being dropped off earlier anytime soon?”
Jeno swallowed, once more feeling uncomfortable and riddled with guilt. This was last minute - just like everything. “I need to drop her off earlier tomorrow. Maybe an hour earlier.”
“Tomorrow?”
Jeno nodded, meek and embarrassed. He already dropped Ahyeon off early as it was.
“That’s fine then,” Mr. Na said.
“Really?”
“Really. I tend to come in early anyway so I can always set it up earlier. It’s no problem. Really. Will pick-up be as usual?”
“Hopefully,” Jeno replied. “If not then I- I’ll call earlier.”
Mr. Na hummed. “Don’t stress over it. Sometimes things happen. And I promise that we will take care of Ahyeon for you,” he continued, his eyes soft and words spoken with a warm sincerity. “Have a safe journey, Mr. Lee. You too, Ahyeon.”
“Bye-bye,” the girl said, waving at her teacher with her free hand.
“Bye-bye.”
***
Thankfully, the rest of the week wasn’t as much of a shitshow as Jeno anticipated given all that had transpired so early on. Jeno dropped off Ahyeon earlier than usual the next day without any issues, handing her over to Mr. Na who - just as he assured - got the early bird club organised earlier that day to accommodate Jeno’s needs. It was impressive how he managed to pull that off at the last minute, but Jeno was grateful nevertheless.
On the walk back home that day, Jeno took a small detour with Ahyeon to do some light shopping, needing to stock up their fridge mid month. Nothing grand, but enough to cook up some nice dinners and breakfasts for the pair.
Usually, Jeno would skip over the confectionary aisle, however this time around he made sure to stop by and have a look. Of course, Ahyeon was eager to get a sweet treat for herself as well, irritating Jeno with her constant pleas. In the end, they were able to settle on something - a pack of jellies that Jeno was rather fond of too. Ahyeon grinned and thanked Jeno for them, making the pain of having to deal with her whining subside.
Sometimes, Jeno wondered if he was a terrible dad - if a good parent wouldn’t get so easily annoyed and irritated. Maybe there was something wrong with him. Maybe he wasn’t meant to be a parent. But then everything returned to normal and Jeno was reminded that the bad moments didn’t last long.
When Ahyeon was younger - three years old and a complete menace to deal with all alone - Jeno broke down in front of his mum, sobbing in her embrace. “It’s alright,” she said. “No parent is a saint. God knows how many times I wanted to yell and walk out with you,” she continued, making Jeno laugh amidst his sniffles. “What matters is that you stay and try your best. I know you love her, sweetheart. That’s what matters.”
Jeno could deal with the occasional tempter tantrum by now. Besides, Ahyeon wasn’t that bad; even if she really wanted something, Jeno could find a way to sternly tell her no. And then on some occasions, he would also cave in. It was a constant give and take. Sometimes he won, sometimes he lost, but mostly they came to an agreeable middleground.
Jeno would be splitting those sweets fifty-fifty. Maybe more. Ahyeon probably wouldn’t realise anyway.
Though the jellies weren’t what he came here for in the first place. Instead, he wanted to find a gift for Ahyeon’s homeroom teacher to thank him for not only staying late, but also starting even earlier to help Jeno out in a crunch. And of course for being Ahyeon’s favourite teacher.
Jeno scoured the shelves, looking for something appropriate.
Ahyeon was the one that found the perfect gift in the end.
“Bunnies!” Excited, she pointed over at a small box of chocolates. The small see-through plastic window in the box revealed that the treats were shaped to resemble a myriad of animals, bunnies included. Jeno chuckled, picking the box up, checking what else there was inside.
Apparently the full fairy-tale forest.
“Do you think Mr. Na would like these?”
“Yeah! Mr. Na likes bunnies,” Ahyeon said. “He has a new one on his desk. It’s this big and it’s pink,” she continued, making a show of the size, spreading her arms right out. Definitely exaggerating, but who was Jeno to argue otherwise? He hasn’t seen the bunny, so maybe it was the entire arm spread of a six year old.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Jeno hummed. “Then he should like these then. Think you can give these to Mr. Na at school? Say it’s a gift from the both of us?”
“Can I have some chocolates too?”
“These are for Mr. Na,” Jeno pointed out, putting the box into his basket. “You have your jellies, okay?”
“But they’re worms and that’s a bunny.”
Jeno chuckled, taking Ahyeon’s hand to walk her towards the check out. “Those are snakes. Snakes are cool too.”
“But they’re cold and slippery. And they eat bunnies so I don’t like them.”
“Fair,” Jeno uttered. He couldn’t really argue with that logic. “So eat them instead. Show them who’s boss, alright?”
“Yeah! I’ll show them!”
***
Jeno packed the chocolates in Ahyeon’s backpack, not thinking much of them after that. He knew it wasn’t necessary; after all, Mr. Na really was just doing his job, but Jeno still felt bad for taking up so much of his time just because Jeno’s boss was a right old prick with a stick up his ass. A box of chocolate was simply a means of showing his gratitude. Besides, Ahyeon was fond of her homeroom teacher and he made her first few months in a new environment pleasant, so that was worth something too.
He looked at the box in the bag, feeling a bit stupid about just having that and nothing else. He did ask Ahyeon to say it was from both of them but Jeno wasn’t entirely convinced his daughter wouldn’t forget. And so, Jeno searched for a piece of paper, grabbing a pen and writing a brief message, sticking the note on with a small strip of tape.
Thank you for your help!
- Lee Jeno & Lee Ahyeon
The thought that what he was doing could be seen as inappropriate to some degree didn’t hit him until he was sitting by his desk, his emails open in front of him.
Would Mr. Na think it was weird? A single omega giving him gifts for something as menial as doing his job. Did that come across as weird? Maybe. But Jeno didn’t mean it in a weird way! Honestly, the last thing he wanted right now was to humiliate himself and beg for some alpha’s attention. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Jeno didn’t have the time nor energy to put himself through a humiliation ritual right now. Especially not for an alpha.
“Do you want some coffee?” Chenle asked, materialising by Jeno’s desk. He hovered by the edge, his youthful face dulled by the early morning slog. He was rather cute if Jeno had to be honest - cute in that innocent, naive way that in part made Jeno want to squeeze his cheeks and in part shield him from the horrors of the world. Though Jeno would never do that because he wasn’t a weirdo and Chenle was old enough to actually take care of himself.
Still, he was a sight for sore eyes amongst a sea of haggard corporate slaves like Jeno. Chenle hasn’t lost the spark of life in his eyes just yet.
“What do you say?”
Jeno glanced down at the time. Ten in the morning. A decent time for a pick-me-up.
“Sure.”
The two men made their way down to the break room and the small kitchenette there. Chenle grabbed clean mugs for them, making a start on the instant coffee. It wasn’t as good as the one from the coffee machine two floors up, but clearly neither of them wanted to make the journey up today. As such, instant coffee it was.
They were the only people in the break room at the time, offering them some respite from the dull buzz of the office and everyone present.
“Can I ask something?”
Jeno raised his eyebrows, not sure what he was expecting honestly. “Sure. What is it?”
Chenle exhaled, stirring the drinks in the mugs. “Why was Park such an ass to you earlier?”
Jeno scoffed. “He’s always an ass.”
“True. But more than usual,” Chanel pointed out, glancing over at Jeno. “You seemed upset. It’s fine if you don’t want to say but- you know… Comradoire and all that.”
“It’s… I had to go pick up my daughter,” Jeno explained. He didn’t say much, not feeling like sharing all the details of his life to Chenle just because he was the nicest to him in the office. “I needed to leave early but he’s umm… strict.”
“Ah…” Chenle mused. “Nobody else to pick her up?” He then asked, looking at Jeno. The question could have very easily come across as judgmental - a silent understanding that Jeno had nobody, a single father probably out of his own stupidity and recklessness. Yet this time around, it was a gentle curiosity, wanting nothing more than to understand Jeno a little better.
“Yeah. Nobody to pick her up.”
The younger man hummed. “Well, if he ever gives you shit again and you need to leave early, I don’t mind staying behind to cover for you if needed.”
“That’s not necessary-”
“I don’t mind,” Chenle assured. “You know… My sister is a single mother too. I’d do the same for her.”
Jeno sucked in his bottom lip, chewing on the tender inside flesh. That was… sweet. It came from a place of genuine care, and Jeno was honestly touched. To think a kid younger than him and most people in the office was more compassionate than everyone else here combined.
“Thank you,” Jeno said. “I- Hopefully it won’t happen again, but if it does, I promise to pay you back.”
“No need. Unless you’re offering coffee better than this?”
Jeno chuckled. “I can.”
“Nice. That’s a deal then.”
***
As was more or less tradition by this point, at the end of the week when Jeno came to pick Ahyeon up he took her out to play in the park on their way home. There were a few other kids from her school there so she had company on the slides and swings, not needing Jeno to keep her company. As such, Jeno took his rightful spot on the bench, keeping a watchful eye on the girl running around and laughing.
His eyes hurt too much from the screen of his office computer and the white lights hanging above him the whole day, so staring even more at his phone wasn’t an option. Not that he really needed a distraction, content in watching his daughter unwind, carefree and happy. The sight brought a warm flutter in his chest, fond and soft, making the gruelling week behind him feel like it wasn’t all that bad in the end.
Jeno wasn’t the only adult around as other parents kept to the side or played with their own children, the image idyllic. It was easy enough to pretend everything was perfect by just sitting and observing, seemingly no worries to be had.
With a soft exhale, Jeno looked over to the side where he kept his and Ahyeon’s bags. Curious, he grabbed his daughter’s one first, seeing if she brought anything back from school this week. Usually he would find a few drawings here and there, his collection growing and the picture displayed on the fridge constantly changing. After all, Ahyeon was quite the artist. Maybe she got that from Jeno.
Unlike some things.
Jeno scratched his nape, an unpleasant itch bothering him. The skin there was scarred - and although faded, the distinct bite mark was still noticeable. It was both a source of shame, regret, but also happiness for him for the sole reason it gave him Ahyeon. Even if he was bitter, mourning the loss of the man he thought would stay by his side forever, the promise engraved into his own flesh, he wouldn’t trade Ahyeon for anything. No matter how at times he felt drained and hopeless.
It wasn’t hard to think about Ahyeon’s other parent whenever Jeno looked at her. Kim Seokmin haunted Jeno every day, from the way Ahyeon furrowed her nose, to the shape of her face. Jeno saw more of Seokmin than he saw of himself in Ahyeon, and at times it truly stung. To think Ahyeon bore such resemblance to the man that abandoned her and Jeno before she could even recognise his face.
And Jeno also carried a permanent mark of Seokmin. He was stupid back then. Naive. So smitten and enamoured to believe that his sweetheart would stick with him through thick and thin - that he found himself a good man. Naive enough to let Seokmin lay his claim on Jeno, sharp canines piercing his nape, mating him in a promise of forever that he never kept. Even now, years after Seokmin left him and broke their bond, the mark remained. So territorial and possessive, and for what?
Jeno was willing to give Seokmin his entire life at nineteen, and where did that leave him? With a daughter he loved, but one which always reminded him of what he could have had.
From across the playground, Ahyeon looked over at Jeno, eyes wide with excitement. She held contact briefly before returning to her friends, rushing to the rope net pyramid to race the other kids who could reach the top first.
It wasn’t all that bad.
Jeno unzipped the girl’s bag, taking a look inside. Her lunch box was empty and her water bottle was light, maybe a few sips left. When he looked deeper in, he saw a tangerine. Jeno was sure he didn’t pack one for her, so she must have gotten it from school. Other than that she had her books - thin notebooks and workbooks - for her weekly homework. Some reading, questions to answer - the usual.
He pulled out her notebook, checking in advance what needed to be done for the week ahead whilst also checking the comments left by her teacher for her other work. Mr. Na. He had neat handwriting, easy to read. His comments were also joined with stickers or doodles.
Stuck to the page for her latest homework was a sticky note.
Thank you for the chocolates! The kids loved them too.
Have a lovely weekend.
- Mr. Na (Jaemin)
Jeno found himself smiling at the note. There was a sticker there too: a white, fluffy dog with its tongue out. Cute.
Jaemin. So that was his name.
Jeno unstuck the note from the book, folding it neatly before putting it into his pocket. Now he wished he could have added more to his own message. Hopefully Jaemin had a pleasant weekend too.
But enough of that. Jeno ended up grabbing the tangerine from Ahyeon’s bag, easily peeling the skin. “Ahyeon,” he called out, waving the girl over. She hesitated, however after a few seconds she ran over, coming to a dramatic halt in front of Jeno. He flipped his hand over, palm up, silently asking Ahyeon to do the same. And when she did, Jeno placed the larger half of a peeled tangerine in her hand. He had a few pieces as well. “Did you get it from school?”
Ahyeon nodded. “Mr. Na has a fruit basket in class.”
Jeno hummed. “That’s nice. Alright. You can go back to your friends now.”
Ahyeon grinned, ready to run off before she stopped, remembering that she forgot something. She turned back to Jeno. “Thank you,” she said, finally making her way back to the playground.
Jeno watched her as she split the orange again in two, offering the piece out to one of the other kids.