Hello!

I would like to apologize for publishing this chapter so late! Life has. really been hectic lately...

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AKD

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It took a good few months for Jaemin to recover somewhat from his guilt and self-loathing and start functioning normally again. Him and ajeno had both turned 21.

Jaemin still avoided guns completely for some time but diligently attended the physical training sessions that included sparring with Jeno.

Before long they both began undertaking missions once again. It was largely delivery missions and the occasional client escorting, but no killing.

Assassinations weren't all that frequent after all.

Jeno's new curiosity about feelings and emotions now prompted him to pay much closer attention to whatever Jaemin did.

He began noticing tiny, but significant details about the other boy that he had failed to see earlier.

Jaemin seemed to enjoy Japanese food a lot, as he realized. Every time their hideout cook made ramen or yakisoba for dinner, Jaemin's eyes would have this gleam that would brighten up his whole self and he would savor each bite carefully, like he was documenting the way each morsel tasted.

Jeno noted the way the corners of his eyebrows crinkled when he was pleased or that his lower lip jutted out in the slightest pout when he was upset or annoyed.

Jeno realized he could even differentiate between Jaemin's fake smiles and real smiles.

Jaemin to Jeno was a living educational documentary. He learnt the subtle differences between moods and emotions through that single boy's expressions and reactions alone.

But nevertheless, Jeno thought he still had a long way to go. Most emotions still confused him a great deal.

As days passed Jeno began realizing just how much more comfortable he was becoming by staying with Jaemin. His father remained the root of his miseries and dark moods and Jeno began seeking out Jaemin like a traveler for the oasis.

It was perhaps after a month had passed from their last mission, and Jeno caught his father bringing in two new nervous looking women in their house wing for a "celebration". That night, Jeno found himself pressed in the furthest corner of his room, vehemently gritting his teeth and trying to shut out the noises as much as possible. His father's room was exactly opposite to his own and he could hear every scream and moan as clear as day.

Shuddering with the disgust that settled deep in his gut, he grabbed his blanket to wrap around himself and walked out of his room still plugging his ears. The screams were much more magnified outside and he hurried through the corridor, down the stairs and past their kitchen and living room. He opened the door that led to the corridor connecting the house to the hideout and exhaled once he could no longer hear the sounds.

He wandered aimlessly in the dark, the horrible petrified screams of the women still ringing in his ears and his head conjuring up unwanted images of times when he had been forced to watch his father in action.

He shook his head, wanting to rip out the images and stuff them deep down somewhere he could never reach.

Jeno paused midtep. He found that he had reached a familiar door. He had subconsciously walked to Jaemin's room.

Before he could think twice, he pulled down the handle and tut-tutted in displeasure when the door swung open easily. Making a mental note to tell Jaemin off for not locking his door during the night time, Jeno entered.

Jaemin was curled up in his bed, well covered in the blanket, but still stirred and raised a drowsy head to look when the door creaked.

"Jeno?" his voice was a little slurred. "What are you doing here so late?"

"Let me sleep here for tonight," Jeno found himself saying as he walked fully into the room, pulling the door shut behind him as he did so. "I'll go back in the morning."

"But why?" Jaemin had propped himself up by the elbow now and looked fully awake. "What happened?"

"I don't want to stay in my room," Jeno said simply, as he began settling down on the floor and pulled the blanket over himself.

"You're sleeping on the floor?" Jaemin sounded a little incredulous. "But, Jeno, that's so uncomfortable! You're gonna be sore in the morning."

"I don't care," Jeno shrugged and squeezed his eyes shut. He heard Jaemin sigh and settle back down on his bed with a creak before he fell asleep.

When he woke up the next morning, he was sore and stiff all over as Jaemin had predicted, but had a better sleep than he would have ever had in his own room.

Then he realized that there was a pillow below his head and looked over to see Jaemin sleeping without one.

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Another full year had passed with Jaemin as a full member of their gang.

This was the time that Jaimin had started receiving his pay as well as more freedom to wander around. So he went on shopping trips. It was the most normal way for him to get out without being suspected of something b Jeno's father.

It was during these peaceful shopping outings that Jeno discovered several more things about Jaemin.

For a fact, Jeno came to know that Jaemin loved Korean street food, especially tteokbokki and odeng, but that he couldn't handle too much spice.

Jaemin would stare at every tteokbokki stall they passed whenever they searched around for a good store to buy clothes from. Eventually, Jeno would cave in and buy the both of them plates of tteokbokki and rice cakes the next time they went shopping.

Jaemin also loved animals. He wanted to pet every street cat or dog they passed and sometimes left bread crumbs or tiny dishes of milk that he purchased from any convenience store that he passed.

Animals also seemed to be drawn to him because more often than not, whenever they rested somewhere, a cat would appear out of nowhere, mewling and purring as well as rubbing their faces against his calves. Jaemin would only be too pleased to reciprocate gleefully.

Jeno didn't hate animals, but he definitely was more or less indifferent towards them, so he never got why Jaemin was always so excited whenever an animal of any sort was willing to be petted. Until, one day while they sat enjoying plates of dumplings, a cat appeared and rubbed itself against Jeno for the first time. Jaemin immediately cooed when he saw that.

"Look, Jeno!" He exclaimed in delight. "He likes you! Pet him!"

Jeno could only stare on in amazement as the cat continued to purr against him and stare up at him with its bright shockingly blue eyes. He couldn't for the world think why the cat had decided to like him of all people but at Jaemin's insistence, hesitantly held out his hand for the feline animal to sniff at.

The cat nosed his fingers for a bit before licking them and then pushing its face in, asking to be petted. Jeno complied and was shocked to realize he actually liked the feeling of the cat leaning into his touch and purring contentedly all the while.

He went on petting for a long time, dumplings forgotten for a bit before he looked up and saw Jaemin looking at him with an expression on his face that Jeno could almost call fond.

Suddenly embarrassed of being looked at that way, Jeno pulled away and cleared his throat gruffly. "We should finish this shopping business and head back to the base soon."

Not Edited

Friday, June 19, 2020

Do you think Jeno's falling in love?

Song Recommendation:

"Slow Dance" by AJ Mitchell and Ava Max