"How about you Jeno? Would you get angry at Jaemin if he did that?"

Jeno gulps slowly yet it was too loud for his ears, he glances at Jaemin but then immediately shifts his gaze to his cousin who was glaring at Hoshi strongly.

"I– uh..." He stammers and licks his lips before trying to form words that could atleast satisfy Hoshi and move on to another topic. His ice cream sundae was melting.

"N-no..." Clearing his throat when he realized his voice was too quiet. But for him it wasn't.

"No, I-I wouldn't get mad... He's just trying to show that he... Loves me. Right, hubby?" He turns to Jaemin who blinks out of his own stupor when he heard that name again.

He looks into Jeno's eyes, they were slightly shaking as the boy in front of him tried to play it off cool and show off a smile.

He curls his own lips into a slightly forced grin, "of course, sweetheart. Didn't I say I'd show you every second of how much I love you?" He said while leaning in to peck Jeno's forehead.

Pursing his lips, Jeno nodded as Hoshi sighed loudly in front of them. Jeno felt a bit relieved by Woozi's husband interrupting their "moment".

"why can't you be like your cousin, baby? He let's Jaemin love him every day. Jaemin, you're such a lucky guy." Hoshi tries to joke especially at the last part.

But it seems like Woozi took offense in that because he scoffed harshly and grabbed his glass of wine, taking a gulp from it.

"If you want to be with someone like my cousin, go and find one then." He muttered and places the glass down on the table loudly.

Jeno flinches and coughs awkwardly, he stares at his ice cream sundae that was melting and scrunched his nose. Jaemin looks around and taps his fingers on the table in a rhythm.

"Baby, I didn't mean it like that..." Hoshi reaches a hand onto Woozi's shoulder but got sadly smacked away.

"Whatever asshole, keep talking shit about me when we're supposed to be having a great time with my cousin and his future husband." The younger boy hisses.

Woozi knows he should be concerned about Jeno right now, yet he can't help but get mad at Hoshi and his behavior tonight.

"Uhm anyways, we're going ring and suit shopping soon. Are you going to join us, Woozi?" Jaemin spoke up to low-key change the topic.

Perking up, Woozi shrugs at him and munches on the fries he ordered. "I'll try to find some time, but if I can't, I'm really sorry." He said looking at the two boys across the table.

They nodded with a small smile as Jaemin glances at Jeno's melting dessert. "Are you not going to eat that anymore?" He asks.

Jeno hums and looks at his food, he hesitated to shake his head but Jaemin spoke up again. "You can have mine, or do you want to order something else?" He asks as if he was planning on spoiling him.

The younger boy could hear Hoshi say something while Woozi only rolled his eyes in return. "Uh... No it's okay, I–I'm full anyways." He mumbles out.

Pursing his lips, Jaemin looks at him one more time before turning back to the arguing couple across the table. "I think Jeno and I have to go now, it's getting late and Jisung's probably waiting for us." He said kindly.

Jeno perks up at the mention of "Jisung" and "have to go", looking up at his cousin and Hoshi with a tight smile. "Ah yes, we should get going hyungs. Sorry to cut this dinner short, but we had a great time." He hastily said.

Jaemin nodded and stood up, the others following suit. "It was really nice spending some time with you guys, thank you for your time and inviting us." He smiles.

Woozi nodded curtly, arms crossed and not linking it with his husband beside him. "Drive safe and don't hurt my cousin." He said lowly at the end.

Giving a thumbs up, they all exchanged hugs before Jaemin leads Jeno outside the restaurant, hand on his lower back as they headed back to the car.

𖡗

"I meant what I said." Jaemin cuts off the uncomfortable silence between them. They had just left 3 minutes ago, but it was already suffocating in there.

"Mmm." Jeno hums quietly, eyes looking out the window while he plays with the fabric of his jeans.

Jaemin wasn't sure if Jeno had actually heard him or didn't get what he said, so tries again.

"About the loving you every second thing."

"Sure." Jeno mindlessly replies, obviously not wanting to keep the conversation going.

But Jaemin was feeling persistent tonight, he glances at the younger boy beside him and huffs aloud. Driving to the side of the road and parks there for a moment.

He successfully gained Jeno's full on attention when the boy realized they had stopped and looks back at the elder glaring at him.

"Why did we stop? Jisung's–"

"Jisung's fine. Karina is with him." Jaemin's tone was foreign, it was more low and scary than usual.

Not the low tone Jeno felt himself get butterflies, but the low tone that made him gulp nervously.

"Did you hear what I said, Jeno?" Jaemin calls out. "That I'd show you how much I love you every second?"

Jeno blinks and doesn't reply. And Jaemin scoffs at that.

"...I heard you." The younger boy said after a long pause. His voice was quieter compared to Jaemin's loud and clear one.

"Then what the fuck is this?" Jeno flinches when Jaemin suddenly exploded.

"What do you mean?" He tries to fight back at the elder boy. But it seems like he was more on fighting back against himself at this point.

To not fall for it. For him.

"For fucks sakes, Jeno. I've been trying to show you that I love you, that I've changed, and so much more. But you keep pushing me away? Why is that huh?" Jaemin started raising his voice.

He sarcastically chuckles and shakes his head, "is it because I'm Jisung's dad? You barely even let me go near him. He's my son too!"

Jeno bit his lip, his eyes starting to water while he felt dizzy from his vision shaking. Not knowing where to look anymore.

"Not only do you push me away from you, but away from our son too. Do you know how tiring it is getting for me? All I want is for you to realize that I'm not Jaemin from before, and I'm not here to hurt you anymore!"

Jaemin halts his rant and sighs deeply. "I've been trying to be as patient as possible with this forced marriage process, but honestly Jeno, it's hurting me too."

The said boy gulps down his sob, "I'm sorry..." He whispers.

The elder boy snaps again and yells, "oh for crying out loud. If you're so sorry, why the hell do you keep pushing me away?"

"Because I'm scared! Okay?! I'm fucking scared!" Jeno exploded too, not able to hold his feelings up anymore and just bawls his eyes out.

Jaemin softens and looks at him, he takes a moment to calm himself down. He then looks at the crying boy in front of him.

"I-I'm scared! T-that you'd leave me again at some point. That you'd get s-sick of me, of Jisung. And– all of those things! It's– terrify–ying." Jeno hiccups.

Jaemin pursed his lips, pondering in thought on what he could say or do to calm the boy down while the headlights from the cars passing by them makes Jeno's tears shine in front of him.

So without a second thought, he cups Jeno's face and connects their lips.