chapter twenty one;
bus buddies
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"Okay, have you guys got everything?" Jaemin called over his shoulder as he started to close the baggage hold on the side of the bus. "There's no turning back once we've hit the road."

The remaining six all lazily responded with certainty that they were fine and boarded the vehicle, dispersing as usual into their typical seats. It was so unbearably hot on this contraption, and the sun was magnified by the windows to heat up the plastic present.

"Do you not have air conditioning?" Donghyuck yawned, stretching out over two seats and leaning his head back against the hot glass. "How long are we gonna be driving, anyway?"

"No air-con," Jaemin responded as he distractedly pressed a few buttons. "At least...I'm not sure if there is."

"It's usually an ice symbol," Jeno pointed out.

"Thank you, Sir. I've been living under a rock, and you've opened my eyes to this big world and its wonders," the driver scoffed. "I know it's a snowflake."

"Then why can't you find it?" Jisung called.

"Because it isn't here!"

"Are you even qualified?" Renjun tutted, brushing past the two men at the front and having a look as well. There it was, staring at him in plain sight. "Ugh, it's this one," the Chinese male gushed. "Sometimes it feels like you've never driven this thing before."

The blonde pursed his lips and giggled, "I'm n—"

"—New. Yeah, so you've said."

The second oldest jammed his index finger down on the button and cringed when dust flew out of the vents and something started to rattle to life. "Ew, oh my fucking God."

"Smells like asscrack," Mark whined. "Turn it off. I'll open the windows."

"How do you know what ass smells like?" Hyuck wriggled his eyebrows. "Unless of course, you've been studying for me?"

"We all have one, Dumbass."

"Mine smells of roses. Wanna see?"

"Can we cut this short?" Chenle suddenly gagged and kicked the back of Mark's seat. "Nobody needs to witness whatever form of sexual tension this is."

"So yes, you can open the windows," Jaemin raised his voice to gain everyone's attention again, "Lord knows we need the fresh air. But no, air-con stays. Why? The button broke."

"Sorry," Renjun mumbled. "It was sticky so I thought I'd push it a little harder."

"Just...say that again," the blonde smirked. "Slower."

"I hope you choke, Dickhead. How were you so personable last night? The energy gauge has been recharged, I see."

"What did y'all do last night?" Hyuck blinked expectantly. "No way. Is someone getting some around here and it isn't me?"

"We didn't do anything," Renjun groaned. "Can we just go now?"

Jeno shuffled along to sit near the front and tapped beside him for the shortest to join. The brunette did so with a long sigh, dropping down and folding his arms.

Everyone reluctantly dropped the conversation there, even though it was extremely interesting. Once the seven boys were all safely seated and out of harm's way, the third youngest cleared his throat and started up the engine. He'd been getting used to this lately, and was coming to enjoy the long journeys on the road they could spend together.

Once they were pulling out of the hotel's car park, Donghyuck repeated his question from the beginning, "How long is this drive?"

"About an hour and twenty," Jaemin replied happily, joining the pulse of the traffic and relaxing into the position.

"Ugh, I'll sweat to death before we get there."

Conversation broke out and continued around the bus, and Jeno chose this opportunity to speak to his new friend while nobody would interrupt or tease. "Um...are you okay?" Why did I ask that?

"Mhm, I'm fine," the male uttered and unfolded his arms to seem more open. "Sorry, they just irritate me with their idiotic questions and lack of filters."

"I get that. But what did you mean earlier? About Jaemin being personable?"

"You too, huh?" He chuckled softly and shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, he has a behavioural pattern, don't you think? Last night neither of us could sleep, so we went for a walk and talked. He wasn't weird or anything, and I actually enjoyed his company."

"You and I are they only ones who give him that chance," the ravenette smiled cutely, sitting back and staring off ahead. His t-shirt was already getting sweaty, and his shoulder barely brushed Renjun's. These alone were making the smaller malfunction. "I know there's more to him than what meets the eye. I'm waiting for him to show me."

"H-He showed me last night. I could've sworn he'd been pretending to be this loopy for the sake of hiding his personality."

"You think?"

"I don't know. It's a guess, and a farfetched one at that."

They both tilted their heads to view their oblivious driver humming along to music in his head and tapping his index fingers off the wheel. He was definitely a strange one, that much was apparent.

"So..." Jeno lowered his voice, "That was it? You two chatted?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Why?"

"Hoka ni nanika ga okotta baai, boku wa shitto surudou." (I would be jealous if something else happened).

"I don't know Japanese," Renjun blushed. "What did that mean?"

"Don't mind it," he winked with that eye-smile following. "Although I'm a little sad that I get left behind. I feel like you've all paired up somehow in the three days we've been together, and I'm out here."

"That is definitely not true," the brunette scoffed and shook his head to confirm it. "I really like your presence in the group. It's a little quiet, but yours is a reasonable voice amidst our chaotic ones. I know Jaemin said last night he loved to tease you because you have the best sense of humour. You can take a joke."

"I can take a joke because I don't fight anyone on it. I'm boring, aren't I?"

"You're not, Jeno," Jaemin suddenly cut in from his place diagonal to them. It was then that the pair's cheeks flared up at the realisation that he could hear everything and was definitely listening. "If you were boring, I'd have scared you off long ago."

"Really?"

"Really really. The natural pairs don't exist. You're just noticing particular chemistry between a few of us."

"Then why haven't I clicked yet? You two get along way better than I can manage."

"You're way more boyish than me," Jaemin giggled. "I crumble at your masculinity, that's it."

"I don't even want to know what he means, yet somehow I also relate," the oldest sighed. "I think I get it."

Jeno titled his head like a puppy, "Get what? Do I look like a gangster or something?"

"No...you're just," they muttered simultaneously to answer his valid question. Instead of continuing, the driver allowed Renjun to finish their thoughts.

"You're just really appealing." Why am I admitting this? The fuck? "I think you're really good-looking."

I hate my honesty sometimes.

"Thank you," the younger couldn't help but smile innocently. "I think you guys are handsome too."

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