Since they had settled in Jeju, time seemed to have softened. Mundane things - the noise of the market, the smell of fresh fish at the port, the cheerful voices of their neighbors - no longer felt alien and gradually became their everyday life.
A few months later, Hyuk finally did what he had long dreamed of: he bought a small store from an elderly man who decided to retire. The store was on a quiet street near their house. A white sign, neat wooden shutters, and a door with a bell - everything looked modest but felt like home.
In the first few days, Hyuk barely put down his ledgers, checking deliveries and talking to new customers. But as soon as Minjun appeared in the doorway, he would get distracted - he'd take his hand, sit him down on a stool, and bring him tea himself.
"You shouldn't work too much," he would say every time. "It's your ninth month, Minjun. You need to take care of yourself and the baby."
Minjun smiled shyly, stroking his rounded belly.
"I'm just helping with little things," he would argue. "Counting items, arranging them on the shelves. Nothing heavy."
Hyuk would shake his head but still allowed it, though he made sure Minjun didn't overexert himself. His every movement was accompanied by an attentive gaze, and a hand was always ready behind his back to support him.
Soon, the store was filled with regular customers. People came not only for goods but also to see Hyuk's smile and Minjun's greeting. The small business began to bring in a steady profit, and they both felt that they were taking a step toward a real future - together.
In the evenings, when work was done, they would return home tired but content. Sometimes they would have dinner right in the store - at a small table behind the counter. Minjun would laugh that it felt like a secret meeting, and every time Hyuk looked at him with tenderness, the omega's heart would flutter with happiness.
That evening, they went up to the roof of their house. The sky was dark and deep, scattered with stars. The soft sea wind played with their hair, carrying a salty scent.
Minjun sat, wrapped in a blanket, and Hyuk settled beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Their breaths mingled in the cold air, and two mugs of hot tea sat on a small table beside them.
"Look," Minjun said, lifting his head. "That star... it seems to be the brightest of all."
Hyuk followed his gaze and smiled.
"No. The brightest one is right beside me."
Minjun blushed, nudging his shoulder, but then immediately buried his face in his chest, hiding his smile.
They sat in silence, enjoying the quiet. Sometimes Hyuk would press his lips to his hair, sometimes he would stroke his back. And each time, Minjun felt a sense of calm being born inside him, as if the whole world had shrunk to this rooftop, to the stars above them, and to the warmth of the alpha's hands.
At some point, Hyuk leaned in carefully and kissed him - first lightly, gently, then a little longer, a little deeper. Minjun responded, wrapping his arms around his neck. Their kisses were interspersed with quiet whispers, laughter, and long gazes.
The night enveloped them in tenderness. And in that moment, Minjun understood: no matter how many difficulties lay behind them, here, under these stars, next to Hyuk, he was truly happy.