~thirty two~
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The treasure hunt went by successfully, and throughout the tough task of cleaning it all up, preparing for the upcoming exams and Jeno working hard each day to get paid, the three teens hadn't even realised how much time had passed.
Renjun had invited the other two over to study one day, thinking nothing of it. So it was one major shock to the system when Sicheng opened the front door for them and frowned.
"Hey," Renjun beamed, "They're over to to study."
The oldest glanced at their three faces and looked a little confused. "But I thought you were moving into your new place today.....am I wrong?"
Jeno's eyes widened, quickly pulling Jaemin's phone from his hands and checking the date. "Oh my god, he's right! How did we forget this?!"
Jaemin squealed excitedly, clapping his hands together. Sicheng laughed, "I got a text from Mum this morning telling me to help you lot move in. So, pack your shit and let's go."
Jaemin pouted, tugging Jeno's sleeve and mouthing, 'I need to go home'. The older understood, thinking they both had to go and get what they needed from their respective homes.
Renjun glanced back at them, not wanting to separate. "How about you two hold on fifteen minutes for me to grab my stuff, then Sicheng can drive us to Jaemin's place, then Jeno's, and then to our new home?"
Sicheng gave them a thumbs up behind his brother, so the other two didn't argue.
"I'm so excited!" The Chinese teen cheered, running off upstairs and promising he wouldn't take long.
Sicheng quietly faced his brother's friends, giving them a determined look. "Please look after him, and each other. Our parents, as aloof as they may seem, are really worried about going through with this. He may act like a mature and strong person, but he's still a child. Please don't be dumb, okay?"
"Okay," Jeno promised, "We wouldn't let anything happen to him anyway. He's our friend, after all."
Jaemin glanced up at the older's face and narrowed his eyes. Jeno didn't look like someone speaking about 'a friend'. Though of course, all three knew better than to admit these things aloud.
"Oh, and one more thing," Sicheng added, picking up his car keys from the cabinet at the foot of the stairs, "Don't let him be reckless, kay? He may not be able to get pregnant, but boys are still hella dangerous."
Jaemin almost choked on his saliva, coughing roughly. Jeno was almost the same, though quickly gasped, "What?!"
The oldest chuckled, "He's gay. I'm just saying, don't let him be stupid now that he's out of the house. I don't think he will be though."
Jeno and Jaemin looked at each other with utter shock and surprise. And judging by the looks they were giving each other, they had both worked out that this was Renjun's secret.
"Oh....." Sicheng pursed his lips, "You didn't know that....huh."
"Didn't know what?" Renjun called, bounding down the staircase with a full bag and grinning from ear to ear. "What have I missed?"
"N-nothing," Jeno responded first and a little to enthusiastically. "Ready to go?"
Jaemin now stared at Renjun as they all started to head out to the car. His thoughts were; has he had a boyfriend before? Does he have experience? Is it okay for him to live with us if we can't properly look after him? Should I scare boys away?
"You're glaring," Jeno nudged his shoulder, sliding into the car so that he was in the backseat with Jaemin.
Renjun sat in the passenger seat beside his brother, and they took no time before pulling out and driving down to Jaemin's place.
Minutes later, the car pulled into the lavish driveway and parked. "I'll give you twenty minutes," Sicheng called while Jaemin winked and jumped out.
Renjun twisted around in his seat to smile at the older behind him. "Excited?"
"Yeah....and nervous. Honestly, I'm worried something will happen to one of us, or people will start questioning what we're doing or something," Jeno admitted.
The oldest looked back at him with the rear view mirror, "I wouldn't worry about those things. Remember to cross bridges when they appear but enjoy the straight path as it comes. You've been presented a fun opportunity, so don't waste it by worrying about things that may not happen."
"Exactly," Renjun agreed, "And besides. We all get along really well. Fights are natural, but they won't end everything."
The trio continued to chat for a few minutes longer before Jaemin stepped out of his house, getting a kiss from his mother and ran back to the car.
"Ready?" Jeno enquired.
The younger nodded excitedly, and they were off down the street once again. Jeno felt worried about pulling up outside his house with the ugly state it was in....but Jaemin had seen it, Renjun wasn't judgemental and he was leaving it behind him anyway.
It would all be fine.
"Alright, this is your house...right?" Sicheng wondered, frowning when he realised just how bad the condition of it was. He knew Jeno was in trouble....he didn't know it was this bad.
"I'll be five minutes," Jeno muttered, opening the door.
He jumped out, slamming the door shut behind him and taking a deep breath of air.
This would be the last time he faced this building and called it his home. The dilapidated structure was truly embarrassing.....but it housed him for seventeen years. His mother raised him in there, even if it was the hardest thing in the world to do.
Wandering inside, the teen quickly grabbed all his belongings, which didn't take long considering he didn't own a lot. His coat, his spare uniform which was equally as tatty as his current one, his sports shoes that were far too small and in dire need of replacing.....and his mother's necklace. She left it behind when she died, so he kept it close.
Taking one last look around at the place, he sighed. The details of the house and what he would do with it after he left could be sorted at a later date.
For now, it could crumble without anyone inside.
"Coming!" Jeno called out, smiling to himself and running back out to the car. The three inside were waving at him, and he chuckled while sliding inside. "Let's go."
"Okay," Sicheng smiled, starting to engine back up, "Next stop; the new home."
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