Chapter 3: The Scent That Changed Everything

The morning classes passed in a blur.

Jungkook sat in the back of the lecture hall, pretending to take notes while his thoughts wandered.

His second life had barely begun, yet everything already felt different.

Not because the campus had changed.

Because he had.

Every now and then, he caught Taehyung glancing at him from across the room. Whenever their eyes met, Taehyung would simply smile before returning his attention to the professor.

It was the same gentle smile Jungkook had seen countless times in their first life.

How had he never noticed the affection hidden behind it?

The lecture finally ended.

As students filed out into the hallway, Jungkook gathered his books.

"Kook."

Taehyung was waiting by the classroom door.

"Want to grab lunch?"

Before Jungkook could answer, a sweet floral scent drifted through the hallway.

Several alphas immediately turned their heads.

"The omega in heat support clinic is open today."

"I almost forgot."

"You can smell the suppressants."

Jungkook frowned.

The scent wasn't coming from the clinic.

It was coming from...

Him.

His eyes widened.

"No..."

A dominant omega's pheromones were usually stable.

Unless...

Taehyung's expression changed instantly.

Without saying a word, he stepped closer, shielding Jungkook from the curious stares of the surrounding alphas.

"Everyone, back up," Taehyung said calmly.

His alpha pheromones spread just enough to discourage anyone from approaching, but not enough to intimidate them.

The students quickly looked away and continued walking.

Jungkook lowered his voice.

"This never happened before."

"I know."

Taehyung gently took Jungkook's wrist.

"Come with me."

They hurried toward an unused music practice room on the far side of campus.

As soon as the door closed, Jungkook leaned against the wall, trying to steady his breathing.

His scent was becoming stronger.

"What is this?"

Taehyung remained surprisingly calm.

"Your body is reacting to the rebirth."

"You know that?"

"I don't."

Jungkook looked at him.

"I'm guessing."

Despite everything, Jungkook laughed.

"You really haven't changed."

"I've become slightly more handsome."

"You've become more shameless."

"I'll accept that compliment."

The tension in the room eased.

After a few minutes, Jungkook's pheromones gradually settled.

He let out a relieved sigh.

"Better?"

"Much."

Taehyung handed him a bottle of water.

"You should probably visit the campus doctor later."

"I will."

Jungkook hesitated before speaking again.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For protecting me."

Taehyung looked genuinely confused.

"Kook."

He took a step closer.

"I've always protected you."

The words were simple.

Matter-of-fact.

As though they were the most natural thing in the world.

Jungkook's heartbeat skipped.

Before he could respond, Taehyung's phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen, and the warmth in his expression disappeared.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked.

Taehyung slowly lowered the phone.

"My father wants me home."

"Is something wrong?"

"Our family received an invitation."

"An invitation?"

Taehyung nodded.

"A banquet hosted by the Choi family."

Jungkook's smile faded.

The Choi family.

The same family whose business alliance had changed the course of his previous life.

Taehyung looked directly into Jungkook's eyes.

"In our first life, this banquet was where everything started."

Jungkook remembered.

It was there that influential families had begun discussing his future engagement.

A chill ran down his spine.

"So fate is trying again," he murmured.

Taehyung's gaze hardened.

"Maybe."

He stepped forward until only a small distance separated them.

"But this time..."

His voice was quiet.

"...you won't face it alone."

For the first time since returning to the past, Jungkook truly believed the future could be rewritten.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing outside the practice room.

A pair of cold eyes watched through the narrow window in the door.

The stranger smiled.

"So..."

"They both remember."

The game had already begun.

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