jaemin held his phone with a huff as he made his way inside the mall, wondering why jeno would ask for a meet up there. he wouldn't have brought his feet there and actually meet jeno if it weren't for the older saying that it's so important that it had something to do with renjun. he quickly went inside the mall while fumbling with his phone, typing a message for jeno to ask where he is right now.

but his fingers stopped when he had seen someone familiar standing at the middle of the mall. his eyes widened and let out a shriek when his phone suddenly vibrated that caused him to hide behind a pillar to answer the call from jeno.

❝where the heck are you!?❞ he said, still panicking.

a laugh echoed in the line, making jaemin groaned after realizing that jeno had set him up. "be happy that i planned this out."

the younger then showed a pout, ❝i didn't ask you to.❞

"but i want you to." the male from the other line said, making jaemin feel bad that jeno had sacrificed this for him. "you idiot, renjun still believes that you like donghyuck!"

❝let him believe that then!❞ it's where it is going anyways. after spending so much time with donghyuck and his boyfriend, jaemin just can't help but be disappointed at himself as he will be once again suffering from unrequited feelings.

"are you just going to shrug off your feelings for renjun?" jeno said. "even though i got him, i still feel like you have the right to tell him how you feel. after all, you were the one who was there with him while i was out being a trouble."

letting out a whine, jaemin couldn't believe that jeno had done this for him. although, he was grateful to have this chance given to him. the problem is, he wasn't prepared. ❝you could have told me in advance! i didn't prepare a speech for him.❞

jeno, from the other line, laughed at the younger's despair. "you will still slay it, you're na jaemin."

smiling at the encouragement, the younger nodded his head with his hair bobbing. ❝i'm na jaemin!❞

"but!" jeno lowered his voice, more like giving a warning to the innocent young male. "don't overdo it. renjun might fall in love with you and i might not forgive you for it."

chuckling, ❝you already have his heart. i don't stand a chance, i swear.❞ he reassured.

the two said their good byes after a short talk and it was jeno who ended the call first. placing his phone on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, he took a deep breath before nodding to push himself from doing this. he can do it, he shouldn't let this opportunity go to a waste.

after retrieving himself, jaemin pushed himself off the pillar and walked over the short male that's standing out from the crowd. approaching him, he could then feel his heart beating loudly at every step he takes.

when they had locked gazed, jaemin could have sworn that everything stopped at that moment. seeing him smile so sweetly like that made jaemin feel like he was in heaven.

❝jaemin?❞ renjun's soft voice called out as he noticed the younger just standing there as if he was in shock. ❝jeno said he won't be coming today, he's busy with his father.❞

snapping back to his senses, jaemin shook his thoughts off. ❝i guess it'll be just us two.❞

nodding his head, renjun walked over to the younger and wrapped his hands on his arm. ❝then, where do you want to go?❞

good lord, if only jaemin could control his thoughts from putting meaning in everything renjun would do. he was just naturally clingy, he's like that especially when he's close with the person. jaemin reassured himself, renjun is just being friendly to him. ❝i really don't know. is there a place you want to go?❞

❝you looked like you were forced to come here.❞ renjun laughed out, giving jaemin a teasing look after. ❝did jeno disturb your date with mark and donghyuck?❞

actually, he was really just forced. ❝i don't have a date with them.❞

renjun shrugged any questions regarding about jaemin's relationship with the two and decided to drag the younger to somewhere. ❝let's go! i see this store that sells plushies and i've been meaning to buy one.❞ planning to also buy one for jaemin as his thank you.

❝hey, wait!❞ the younger shouted when renjun pulled a little bit harshly that he could feel his arm dislocating from his body.

🍑

❝jaemin, let's go there!❞

❝that looks cute on you nana!❞

❝hey look! it's ryan. isn't that your favorite?❞

❝let's go eat ice cream, my treat.❞

and their day went well together. jaemin genuinely enjoyed being with renjun, he had fun. who knew this chinese could get even more cuter than he already is once he gets inside a store filled with stuff toys. he was like a kid and jaemin couldn't stop but film him as he went to hug almost every human sized bear. due to renjun's irresistible charms, jaemin was dragged to wear cat ears that never in his life did he plan on wearing it. renjun took a lot of pictures of him and savored the moment of jaemin's acting cute. let's say that jaemin's cool reputation that he has been trying to protect was ruined when renjun had made him wear the cat ears but he didn't mind as long as he got to put up a smile on the older's face.

settling down at a bench from the park, renjun licked his ice cream happily as he stared up to the night sky filled with shining stars. ❝the night is beautiful, isn't it?❞

looking the older with a ryan plushie wrapped around his arm, jaemin nodded with a smile. ❝it really is.❞

turning his head back at the younger, renjun was taken aback at jaemin looking at him but laughed it out. he shrugged passed the thought as to why jaemin was looking at him like that. it was different and it reminded him of how jeno would look at him as if he's the only boy ever.

was this the perfect time to confess? it probably is but jaemin was hesitant. ❝thank you for the ryan.❞

renjun nudged him playfully. ❝no problem, really.❞ even though he was broke as hell, he bought the plushie for jaemin because he owed him a lot. ❝thank you for everything.❞

❝hm?❞

❝for being here with me, for listening to my rants, for siding with me, and for understanding me.❞ renjun said, looking down at his shoes as if it's the most interesting thing on earth. ❝i wouldn't know what to do if it weren't for you.❞

jaemin chuckled, ❝i didn't know we were going emotional hours.❞

that made renjun lightly slap him by the arm. ❝way to ruin the mood.❞

the two let out soft laughters before embracing the silence between them. they had stared straight up to the beautiful night sky with renjun almost finishing with his ice cream. in the silence, jaemin was thinking of how he can break it to renjun that he has feelings for him.

he was scared to ruin the friendship they had, he was scared that renjun might not want to talk to him after this, he was scared that renjun might look at him differently.

❝renjun..❞ jaemin called out, his hands playing with the stuff toy he is having on his lap. ❝i have something to say.❞

finishing his ice cream, the chinese had his brows raised curiously as he stared at jaemin who was avoiding eye contact with him. ❝what is it?❞

❝i..❞

he couldn't let the words out. he was afraid to say it but he badly wanted for renjun to know.

❝jaemin?❞ renjun let out a giggle to ease the situation when jaemin looked like he was having a hard time speaking his feelings out.

wait, feelings. renjun widened his eyes as he finally had realize what what jaemin wanted to say ever since, what he has been feeling towards him all these time. he mentally face palmed at how dense he was for not noticing it sooner.

❝i like you.❞

there, he finally had said it. he couldn't be more proud of himself for finally letting it out from his chest.

meanwhile, renjun didn't know what to respond to that confession. he didn't want to hurt him but he couldn't just accept the confession, he already has jeno and it will always be jeno for him. renjun felt to guilty at that moment that he couldn't reciprocate the feelings that the younger had for him.

smiling the pain away, jaemin gathered the courage to look at renjun. ❝you don't have to like me back.❞ he said, holding back his emotional self. ❝i just want you to know that despite of your flaws, you made someone like me fall for you. that someone like me appreciates you for simply being you. i don't want you to like me back, i am pretty aware that you already have jeno.❞

renjun couldn't say a word while jaemin was laying out his feelings for him.

❝i just want you to know that i like you.❞

renjun honestly didn't know what to say. he had never received a confession aside from jeno before. he never expected for someone to like him that way, he had even thought that no one would actually plan on dating him. it still surprised him up to this day that jeno, the all so perfect lee jeno, is dating him.

and now jaemin is here, confessing his feelings for him. all rejection could say was, ❝thank you.❞

it was better than saying nothing, jaemin slowly nodded his head with a genuine smile plastered on his face. ❝did that surprise you?❞

❝so much.❞ renjun leaned his back on the bench as he had his eyes staring straight at the park. ❝was i too dense to notice?❞

the younger shrugged his shoulders, ❝i just kept my feelings for myself, i didn't want to ruin your relationship with jeno.❞ although, they were a lot of times he wanted to take advantage of the situation but he didn't.

because he's that much of an angel. ❝god, what an angel sent from above.❞

jaemim couldn't help but get flushed at that compliment, not knowing what to say whenever they'd call him an angel. well, he also makes mistakes so he doesn't really consider himself as an angel like what they thought he is. ❝nothing will change between us, right?❞

❝it'll take me a while to process this but i'll definitely not forget this day.❞ renjun chuckled as he also wanted to confess to jaemin. ❝i actually found you so hot when we bumped for the first time.❞

❝stop that!❞

the chinese let out a muffled laugh when jaemin had slapped a hand on his mouth to shut him up. renjun was aware to see him getting all flustered, he found him cute honestly.

removing the younger's hand, he held it and caressed it ever so softly. ❝thank you, i appreciate you liking me.❞

wanting to be confident for this situation, the red tint on his cheeks said otherwise. ❝you should be, i am na jaemin!❞

renjun rolled his eyes at jaemin's attempt to regain himself. moments later, he then saw a figure at the corner of his eyes, more like hiding behind the tree, and renjun felt the need to leave and give jaemin some time alone.

❝my mom might be looking for me.❞ renjun said, hoping that jaemin won't take it the wrong way and think that renjun just wanted to leave him after the confession.

but jaemin is not like that. he also knew what renjun was doing, seeing the shadow of someone hiding behind the  tree. ❝and after hearing what your mom did to jeno, i don't want that to happen to me.❞

renjun chuckled once he remembered his mother throwing punches towards jeno. ❝take care, alright?❞

the older male stood up and ruffled the younger's soft locks. jaemin leaned in to the touch and can't hold back the smile on his face. renjun then gave his 'goodbye's and 'thank you's to the younger male as he reassured him for the last time that nothing was going to change between them.

they were still going to be friends and jaemin was more than glad to accept that.

seeing the chinese walk away, jaemin's head spun towards the tree where someone was trying to walk away. he held back the urge to laugh. that person might have thought that he hasn't been caught yet when it was pretty much obvious that he had been following them ever since they were at the mall.

❝are you not going to comfort me at all?❞ jaemin showed a pout.

his voice made the figure pause from his tracks. with a nervous laugh, the person turned around and his beautifully tanned skin showed under the moonlight.

❝i wasn't stalking you guys, i promise!❞ the tanned male felt the need to explain even though jaemin didn't ask for one. ❝it just so happen that i saw you guys at the mall.❞

jaemin didn't speak a word and just motioned his hand for donghyuck go towards him. the tanned male waddled his way in front of jaemin with shy steps. the male was then taken a back when jaemin wrapped his arms around his waist and had his head burried on his tummy.

donghyuck didn't know why jaemin suddenly went for a hug but he did promise himself that he'd be there to comfort jaemin if he needs him. rasing his hand up, he stroked the younger's hair softly as he could feel jaemin's soft breathing.

❝j-jaemin?❞

❝your tummy is very squishy.❞

⚊ t b c ⚊