with a genuine smile on his face, renjun waited by the bench under the shade with a sandwich in hand. he had his eyes scanning the crowd that's passing by him, hoping to see someone familiar he is supposed to be meeting for at this time.

just when disappointment was filling him up, a pair of warm hands went to cover his eyes and excitement was what he felt at that moment.

❝jen—❞

❝hey renjunnie!❞ that voice, renjun forced out a smile instead of always showing a frown. ❝why are you alone?❞

renjun watched that person take a seat beside him, ❝jaemin.❞ he hid the disappointment. he actually thought it was jeno.

jaemin took seconds before realizing why renjun looked sad upon seeing him. ❝oh, you're waiting for jeno?❞

❝yeah.❞

renjun had already told jaemin not to judge jeno so quickly but he just can't help but get mad at jeno for treating his friend like this. especially if this friend of his has feelings for him.

❝how was your day?❞ jaemin then decided to entertain the short male while the person he is waiting for hasn't arrived yet.

❝fine, i guess.❞ the chinese answered. a smile then went to form on his lips, ❝i was craving for ice cream and jeno promised to treat me ice cream after class.❞

the younger nudged him with a teasing smile, ❝what is that look i see?❞ he then leaned closer to the already blushing male. ❝is that the look of falling in love?❞

rolling his eyes, renjun placed a hand on the taller's cheek before pushing his head away. ❝you're just seeing things.❞

❝hm, sure.❞

❝i'm just excited to eat ice cream.❞ renjun defended himself, not wanting to be obvious for jaemin.

but renjun isn't a type of book that's hard to read. ❝with jeno.❞

playing with his fingers, renjun nodded his head while looking down to cover his flushed face. ❝i'm excited to eat ice cream with jeno.❞

letting out a sigh, jaemin leaned his back by the bench and showed a pout. ❝damn, you people be falling in love.❞ the younger's eyes then scanned the group of students for a specific no one. ❝when will i meet mine?❞

❝hey,❞

❝hm?❞

renjun raised his head and turned to jaemin who suddenly widened his eyes upon seeing renjun looking like a shy baby. ❝do you think there's a chance for me and jeno to be together?❞

clutching his chest, jaemin looked away from the older who's head is tilted in question to his action. ❝y-yeah. of course there is a big chance!❞

❝really?❞ renjun didn't bother to question why jaemin was acting like that, he smiled at the thought of him and jeno being together. ❝then, could i finally be the one for jeno?❞

❝i will slice him with a spoon if he plays with you.❞ the younger threatened, regaining his senses back, and made the chinese laugh at his statement.

❝i do think he changed.❞ renjun was finally convinced after being with jeno with every step he takes for the day, and every second of the hour. he'd also see the male's genuine actions towards him and how he had stopped bringing girls over. as selfish as it sounds, he was happy that jeno was giving him all hid attention.

it also gives renjun hope that maybe, just maybe, jeno feels the same way as him.

❝i'm pretty much sure that you're the one who changed him for the good.❞ jaemin said with a smile, happy for what has come to renjun.

renjun deserved that. he deserved to be happy.

❝and i'm pretty much sure that i don't remember giving you permission to be with my boyfriend.❞

the two widened their eyes in surprise and turned around to see a male with eyes filled with jealousy and arms crossed as if he was demanding an explanation from the short male sitting right next to jaemin. renjun couldn't help but feel shy at how jeno claimed him as his boyfriend even though jaemin clearly knows that they still are not, yet.

❝oh, claiming what's not yet yours.❞ jaemin chuckled, patting renjun's back who's blushing like crazy.

❝i'll get going then, jaemin.❞ renjun stood up and excused himself from the smiling cotton candy before approaching jeno who looked like he was killing jaemin with his glare.

jaemin raised a brow at jeno, ❝i was just accompanying him. you let him wait for too long.❞ he said, trying to not get in trouble with jeno.

❝renjun?❞ jeno wanted to hear from renjun.

the short male nodded his head. ❝he's just a friend, jeno.❞

❝i'm just a friend, jeno.❞ jaemin repeated, purposely getting into jeno's nerves. he smirked and waited for what jeno was about to do next.

holding himself back, jeno clicked his tongue. ❝you can't blame me for acting like this. you find jaemin attractive so how can i be sure that he's just a friend to you?❞

jaemin then faked a gasp, ❝i'm attractive to you renjun?❞

not letting renjun speak, jeno pulled the short male behind him and went to face jaemin. ❝don't get your hopes up, cotton candy. i'm still the top in renjun's list.❞

jaemin let out a laugh, finding jeno getting jealous over nothing very amusing. ❝of course you are.❞

renjun took a step in between them to stop them, heaving a sigh at jeno who's acting immature. ❝we'll get going jaemin, thank you for today.❞

jeno widened his eyes at what renjun said, but he was already dragged by the short male before he starts to argue with jaemin once again. that didn't stop him from bombarding renjun with questions though.

❝why did you thank him? did you two do more than talking? hey!❞

the chinese just continued to drag him away until they were finally out of the school campus, and out of jaemin's sight. the male chuckled at the two as he waved a hand at them while he was left there alone. moments later, that smile was replaced with a frown. unfortunately for him, he can't show what he is feeling right now. he didn't want to be a hindrance to the soon-to-be-a-couple. he wanted them to live happily, and he didn't want to ruin that happiness.

❝just a friend huh, jaemin?❞

an arm was placed around the taller's shoulders and he can't help but roll his eyes at who came to greet him. ❝shut up, donghyuck.❞

the tanned male laughed as he successfully annoyed his friend. ❝how come you're still okay after seeing that?❞

even though he was a living devil in jaemin's life, donghyuck was still worried of his friend's state. he didn't want to see him sad and even though jaemin oftentimes doesn't show it, donghyuck can feel him.

having his eyes by the school gates, he smiled. ❝if he's happy then i'm happy too.❞

🍑

renjun hummed in content as he licked his lips to taste the vanilla flavored ice cream once more. ❝it has been a while since i last ate ice cream.❞

licking the chocolate flavored ice cream on the cone he is holding, jeno snorted at the short male. ❝but you just ate ice cream yesterday.❞

❝when i say it has been a while, it has been a while.❞

jeno laughed at him, ❝what floats your boat then.❞

❝next time we go there, i'll make sure to taste that matcha ice cream.❞ renjun said with determination visible in his eyes.

jeno found it cute at how the short male's eyes sparkled. ❝but you finished almost every flavor a while ago.❞

❝but not the matcha one.❞

❝do you love ice cream that much?❞ jeno asked, starting to bite the cone.

the two were now walking down the silent streets with enough street lights to light up the way there were taking. the cold breeze bothering neither of them as they were wearing coats but renjun's hands were cold. jeno noticed it when he had his hand touch renjun's by accident and by the next minute, they were already holding hands while finding each other's company very comfortable.

renjun nodded his head, cutely if you ask for jeno's perspective. ❝what about you?❞

❝not as much as i love you.❞ jeno suddenly said, making renjun stop his tracks.

the short male wasn't expecting to hear that but he felt like he should be, it's lee jeno we are talking about. he wondered how many girls jeno had swoon with that line. the chinese then nudged the now laughing male with his cheeks turning to bright pink. ❝you shouldn't say things you don't mean.❞

finishing his ice cream cone, jeno lets go of the chinese's hand and placed both his hands inside his pocket. he stared at the short male and gave him no hints of joking. ❝and what if i meant it?❞

that was enough to make renjun think of scenarios that made his heart beat so fast as if he just joined a marathon. ❝what flavor is your favorite?❞ he then decided to change the topic thinking that it might calm his heart down.

also thinking that jeno would stop being such a flirt. ❝you, you are my favorite.❞

a tomato, renjun is as red as a tomato right now. ❝jeno!❞

the tall male didn't break into fits of laughter, he was serious. he was serious of all his gestures towards the chinese, he was serious to all his words he had just said to him, he wad serious towards him.

noticing the other walking towards him, renjun took a step back until he felt his back hit one of the stone pillars of the gate. that didn't stop jeno from walking towards him, and it panicked renjun more. the smaller's hands were on the younger's chest to stop him from going further but it was no use since jeno was still leaning towards him as if there were no hands stopping him.

jeno trapped the small figure with his hands on both his sides as he towered him.

❝renjun..❞

clutching on the younger's uniform, the chinese gathered all the courage to look up at jeno and answered him with his voice getting silent as he was speechless at what the male is acting right now. ❝w-what?❞

❝if i told you, i love you,❞ jeno leaned down to match the older's height, his warm breath touching the other's quivering lips. ❝would you believe me?❞

the chinese even had the crazy idea of laughing at that second, ❝are you drunk?❞ he then looked away, not wanting to fall for jeno's eyes. ❝the last time you told me that, you were drunk.❞

❝but i'm not.❞

renjun faced the younger with a shocked pikachu face, startled when he saw that their lips were dangerously close. pouting would caused for them to touch and it would be renjun's dream come true.

but he was afraid.

afraid of what will happen to them after.

❝j-jeno..❞

❝hm..❞ the taller male closed his eyes, his hands going down to intertwine his fingers with renjun's.

renjun then gave in the moment jeno reassured him by holding his hand. he slowly closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. time felt so slow at that moment, they loved it. they loved how everything felt like a fairytale, they loved how they were comfortable at each other's presence, they loved how their hearts were beating for each other, and they loved how their hands fit like puzzle pieces.

❝oh dear!❞

the two were suddenly snapped out of their own world as soon as they heard a voice that came to stop what they were about to do.

❝what are you two doing outside? it's cold.❞

renjun took a deep breathe upon finding out who came to ruin their moment. he was collecting himself from all the emotions he was feeling at that time, having the urge to scream in frustration. jeno rubbed his neck in embarrassment as he pulled himself away from renjun. he could clearly see that renjun was as disappointed as him but he took a bow politely at the woman who greeted them and showed her his smile.

❝good evening mrs. huang.❞

❝thank you for bringing my son home, jeno.❞ she said, eyeing at renjun who was composing himself.

the short male, who still had his back on the pillar, pushed himself off and couldn't help himself but groan. ❝mom!❞

she stared at them, clueless. ❝did i disturb something?❞ neither of the two spoke but renjun's face was enough for her to know that she did. she then let out an awkward chuckle, hoping that inviting jeno over would make it up to her son. ❝how about you join us for dinner, jeno? here, come inside.❞

renjun turned to look at the smiling angel and heard him rejecting the offer, making him pout. ❝thank you but i still have a lot to do inside my apartment. i just came to bring renjun home. have a nice evening mrs. huang.❞

❝are you sure?❞

jeno nodded his head, honestly not knowing how to face renjun after he just confessed his feelings for the older male. ❝i'll get going now.❞

renjun frowned when jeno turned his back at him after excusing himself. turning to his mother who was making a gesture to shoo him off, more like letting him say his goodbyes to jeno, renjun rolled his eyes and went running to the male who was surprise to see renjun catching up to him.

❝ren—❞

the short male didn't let him continue and tip toed so he could reach jeno's cheeks, placing a short peck before sending him off. ❝get home safely.❞

with that, renjun went running back to his mother while jeno was left there being a blushing mess after processing it inside his head that renjun just kissed him on the cheeks.

⚊ t b c ⚊