Minjun walked down the morning street a little faster than usual. The sky was clear, the air fresh, and the day carried a rare lightness. Today Hyuk had asked for help at the store: sorting new shipments, checking the stockroom, arranging goods on the shelves. For most, it was routine. For Minjun, it meant something more. For the first time, he felt like someone was waiting for him.
As soon as he stepped inside, the familiar scent of the store - warm bread, paper, and plastic - wrapped around him, and the tension in his shoulders melted away. Behind the counter stood Hyuk, his hands moving with practiced ease as he sorted boxes, as if all that chaos obeyed him.
"You're right on time," Hyuk said when he noticed him. His voice was calm, but there was a faint warmth in it that made Minjun's chest flutter.
Minjun nodded, trying to appear composed. "Where do we start?"
"The stockroom. There's a mountain of boxes. If we don't clear it today, tomorrow will be a disaster."
They went deeper into the store together. The boxes looked almost bigger than Minjun himself. He stretched to lift them with both hands, careful but often losing his balance. More than once, Hyuk caught a box just before it slipped.
"Are you trying to fight it or make friends with it?" Hyuk teased, steadying the load.
Minjun grimaced. "I'm trying to prove I can be useful too."
"Being useful doesn't mean breaking yourself," Hyuk replied. His hand brushed Minjun's shoulder, gently moving him aside so he could lift the box himself.
The touch lasted only a moment, but it was enough to throw Minjun's heartbeat off rhythm.
***
They worked for nearly an hour. Minjun carefully arranged cans, stacked grains, making sure everything lined up neatly. So focused, he didn't notice when one box on the shelf was too heavy. He leaned in, and the box tilted dangerously.
"Got it," Hyuk was there before Minjun could react. His hand caught the edge, his fingers brushing against Minjun's for a second.
Minjun flinched, almost imperceptibly. The warmth and steadiness of that touch lingered like a mark.
"You need to balance the weight," Hyuk said calmly, sliding the box into place with such ease it looked half as heavy.
Minjun swallowed. To hide his fluster, he muttered,
"Seems like everything obeys you."
"Just experience," Hyuk said, a shadow of a smile touching his lips.
The corners of Minjun's own mouth twitched before he realized. And he understood: watching Hyuk handle things really was more reassuring than trying to do everything alone.
***
By evening they stepped out briefly - to deliver a box of packaging to a nearby stall. The city bustled as usual: noisy students leaving class, laughter spilling from a corner, car horns at the intersection.
Minjun carried a small bag of supplies. Everything was fine until a group of three older students blocked their way. They exchanged glances, smirking.
"Look at that, the new kid," one tilted his head. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Minjun's throat went dry. Their scent wasn't as heavy as a grown alpha's, but sharp enough to be challenging. His chest tightened, his feet rooted to the ground.
"Let's just go," he whispered more to himself than to them.
But they stepped closer. One brushed his shoulder on purpose. Minjun clenched his teeth, gripping the bag strap tighter.
Hyuk was beside him in an instant. He didn't lash out - he simply stood straighter, a fraction closer. His scent spread: calm, steady, assured. Not aggressive, but an unmistakable boundary.
The students faltered at once. Their smirks dissolved into unease. One coughed, another muttered something, and they stepped aside.
"Move along," Hyuk said evenly.
Minjun followed, but his heart still pounded. Only around the corner did he manage to breathe again.
"You… you did that on purpose?" he asked quietly.
"Calmness works better than noise," Hyuk replied.
Minjun wanted to answer, but only nodded. He knew: without Hyuk, he might have stayed frozen in place.
***
Back at the store, they unpacked the last of the shipment. Minjun neatly stacked the bags by the register. His hands still shook at first, but gradually the rhythm of work steadied him.
"Today you held yourself stronger than you think," Hyuk said suddenly.
Minjun looked up in surprise. "You really think so?"
"I saw it. Even when you're scared - you keep moving forward. That matters."
The words caught in Minjun's throat. He wanted to argue, to say he had almost been trembling the whole time… but Hyuk's steady gaze warmed him too much to deny.
He only lowered his head and busied himself with the box.
***
When the last items were in place, the store fell into quiet. Outside, neon lights glowed against wet asphalt, while inside, only the soft lamps lit the space.
They sat side by side at the counter, wrapped in the calm that follows a long day.
Minjun thought: it was these moments - simple work, a short walk, even a run-in with strangers - that shaped his new life. In these small things, trust was born. In silent touches, something grew stronger than words.
He glanced at Hyuk, just once. And realized: fear could linger as long as it wanted, but beside this man, it no longer had the same power.