"Jeno hyung!" Jisung runs up to the raven haired boy as the latter turns around to the direction of where the familiar voice was coming from.

Stopping on his tracks so Jisung can catch up to him, smiling softly at the younger boy who's now regaining his proper breathing.

"Are you on a rush to somewhere?" Jisung asks first just to make sure he isn't bothering or holding Jeno up when he has somewhere to go to.

Jeno shakes his head briefly, "oh no worries, I was just going to give these papers to the teachers' lounge." He says.

"So, what did you nee–" they both almost instantly frown when the school bell rings, signaling for the students to head to their respective classes or errands.

Jeno sighs in annoyance, especially when he couldn't finish his sentence and now he has to actually rush to send these papers so he wouldn't get scolded.

Jeno then pouts at Jisung, "sorry Sungie," he apologizes wholeheartedly although it was never his fault in the first place.

Jisung flashes him a small smile, "no it's okay. I'll see you later then?" Getting a happy nod from the elder boy before they parted ways.

❈

"Ugh, have you guys seen Jaemin?" Mark groans in frustration whilst holding a few decorations.

His friends shake theirs heads as Renjun and Chenle vocally answered with a 'nah', only making Mark more annoyed.

"He's supposed to help me set these up for Mr. Lee's mini farewell party, he's literally ten minutes late." He rants to them as he drops the decorations he was holding onto the table.

"Mr. Lee is leaving today?!" Donghyuck screeches, eyes blown wide as he gets several nods from the others. "I thought it was next week!"

"It's today, you marked your calendar wrong..." Jisung pats him on the shoulder, already knowing what's coming next.

However, no one can blame him as the very old teacher is now resigning from his job after twenty-five years.

Donghyuck then moans in sadness, sliding off his seat and becoming one with the dirty floor. "Not Mr. Lee! He's the only one who lets me eat in class!" He whines.

Ignoring him, Chenle then asks, "are you sure you've told him?" raising a brow at the eldest boy amongst them in suspicion, doubting Mark's actions.

"Of course I did, sent a message and placed two sticky notes on his locker this morning, even reminded him every time we cross paths." Mark replies.

"Then why isn't he here?"

"I don't fucking know! That's why I'm asking you guys too, Sherlock Holmes bitchass."

"Calm down, he'll be here. Maybe he just had a holdup or something," Jeno joins in the argument, shrugging his shoulders as so.

His friends sneak a knowing glance at each other after hearing Jeno defending Jaemin's wrong doings as always.

The same as when Jaemin hurt him in a way no one ever deserves. Jeno is still by Jaemin's side throughout, thick and thin, he doesn't even plan on slapping Jaemin right across that handsome face of his.

Even if he deserves it.

Sighing, Mark plops down on the empty chair behind him and crosses his arms like a child, checking the clock on the wall impatiently waiting for Jaemin's presence– if he actually shows up.

"I swear, if that kid isn't here by the next three minutes–"

"Hey everyone!"

Chenle snickers nearby at Mark's scrunched up face. "Should've went for seconds," he comments, getting a grunt from the elder boy.

"Na Jaemin, why in the fuck were you late?"

"Sorry, hyung. I had to finish some stuff first, I swear I didn't know it would take that long." Jaemin reasons as he drops his bag on the floor.

"See? I told you guys," Jeno couldn't contain the proud smile on his face, flashing it to Mark who rolls his eyes with a silly smile of his own.

While the others were busy with their own stuff, Jisung manages to whisper to Jeno without attracting any attention towards themselves.

"Hey, hyung... Uhmm..." He hesitates to mention, feeling like this is a bad timing after all and he should just wait.

But Jeno has already turned to him, it clicks in him on what Jisung was on about and smiles kindly at him. "Oh yeah, shall we go to a more private place?" He politely asks.

Jisung nods briefly, sighing in relief but also still nervous about what he has to tell Jeno, what his intentions are, what he has to confess.

Standing up, Jeno excuses the both of them and heads out the door first. Jisung catches Renjun staring at him from the corner of his eye.

And when he looks at him, he gets a reassuring nod whilst ignoring a loud Chenle beside him whining about their club's activities.

Jisung nods back, thanking him quietly and walks out of the room next.

❈

Jisung's panicking, he didn't expect it to be like this.

Jeno's crying in front of him, fresh and hot tears streaming down his now flushed cheeks as he coughs here and there.

"J-jisung."

"Hyung, before you say anything, I know it's so sudden and it's weird to think about." Jisung mindlessly rambles whilst Jeno's trying to calm himself down.

"But I swear, I just want you to be aware of my feelings, hence why I confessed. But then again, I'm not demanding or expecting for us to work out."

"I don't want you to date or accept me because of my feelings, but because of your own."

"And I know you're not over Jaemin hyung yet, so I really don't want to stress you out by choosing who you want to be with."

"Why conf-fess no-now?" Jeno hiccups, wiping his red eyes with his sleeve.

Jisung sighs, sheepishly scratching his nape. "I didn't want to ruin our friendship and what you and Jaemin hyung have."

"I'm not scared of you rejecting me, hyung. Because honestly, I don't really mind and I would understand. That isn't my main priority."

"All I care about is how you feel, if you don't like me back, then that's okay. We can move on." He says, but then he frowns and continues in a mumble.

"But hyung, I want to ask." Jeno sniffles and nods for him to continue.

"Can we still be friends and not act awkward or treat each other like a stranger just because of how the other person feels?"

At that, Jeno giggles, although a hiccup was mixed within. He wipes his cheek one more time before launching himself in Jisung's arms.

He hugs the younger boy tight, smiling softly when Jisung hugs him back the next second. Arms around Jeno's frame as he rests his chin on Jeno's crown.

"Of course S-sungie... I'm not g-going... To e-end our friendship just because you d-developed romantic feelings for me." Jeno answers.

And it's all what Jisung needed.

Not Jeno's agreement to be his boyfriend, but for Jeno to continue being with him as someone he cares about.

Even if the type of feelings aren't the same, as long as they're in good terms.

Jisung squeezes the elder boy and rubs his back to help him regain his composure, "sorry I cried, I just felt overwhelmed and also guilty."

Raising a brow at him, Jisung asks. "Why?"

Jeno sighs and looks down. "Because I felt like I led you on... Just like... Jaemin did... To me... And I didn't want to be a hypocrite and a jerk."

Jisung shakes his head, "hyung, I knew by then you had feelings for Jaemin hyung. Before you even told us."

"Still...."

"Enough of that, let's both cool off for the meantime before we head back in. Yeah?" Jeno nods in agreement, then hiding his face against Jisung's chest.

It's not as broad as Jaemin's, and definitely feels a little different including the type of 'feelings' he gets.

But it's still good, comfortable, making Jeno feel at ease. Letting Jisung take care of him for the meantime.

Since Jaemin isn't here. Jisung is.

❈

What did you think of Jisung's way of his confession?

Was it the right thing to do?

How about Jeno? Do you think he was being a good friend and he did the right thing?

And lastly....

Why do you think Jaemin was late?