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· ✧.     · chap. 31 · .         ♬

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for what could easily be a couple hours, jaemin had walked the streets of his neighborhood, relying on the partially functioning streetlights because clouds covered the moon. the midnight air was chilling on his skin, and he was wearing a hoodie but he probably should've layered on a jacket too.

he continued wandering aimlessly around until he wound up at the train station on the edge of the community. it was an interestingly shaped building, the roof slanted at an approximate 20 degree angle to the ground. the kiosks to get tickets were on the first floor, then travelers were to take the escalator or elevator underground, to where the platform for boarding trains was.

after opening the door to the building, jaemin ran down the escalator to the platform. few trains ran at this hour, so the station was empty save for someone sitting dangerously — and probably illegally — on the yellow section of the platform. people are to stay behind it at all times except when the train comes to a full stop to board passengers.

illuminated by the fluorescent lights hung from the ceiling, the daredevil's legs were dangling over the edge, head hung low. jaemin walked up to the stranger and nudged the side of his body with his leg. "you're gonna die."

"nah," the other spoke, and jaemin gasped when he recognized who it was. "trains are loud and i can just move. actually, i should leave now, you don't want me talking to you, remember?"

clad in jeans, a hoodie, and a bomber jacket, jeno had a much more wise outfit choice for the cold of the summer night. he stood up and dusted himself off.

"were you seriously living here for the past week?" jaemin asked.

still not making eye contact, jeno grinned. "i just come at night sometimes. gotta get pics for ig."

jaemin chose not to mention that the older had no one with him, and though possible, it was impractical to take a candid picture using a selfie stick while a train whizzed by in the background. and jeno hadn't even been using instagram.

"uhuh, and i'm a bottom," jaemin scoffed.

"you are though," the older raised his eyebrows quizzically. "anyway, i broke my phone, but the sim's fine and i have apple ID so it's g."

"how the hell did you break it? and aren't you gonna get a new one?"

jeno shrugged. "threw it out my window. and i might, but my parents got busy lately and renjun has a boyfriend. there's no one to use it for."

nodding, jaemin stood in silence with jeno, observing a train as it slowed to a stop. they were now behind the platform's yellow section, and after a couple minutes, the doors to the train closed shut, the large vehicle rumbling and zooming off, both boys' eyes trailing it.

sighing, jeno broke that silence. "i'd get a new phone to talk to you, but you hate me so there's no use."

"i don't hate you," softly, jaemin confessed. "i never did. i care about you. a lot." he looked down to the ground as he muttered under his breath, "more than you could ever know."

"i'm sorry," jeno responded turned to look at the younger, "for getting sexually involved with you. and, uhm, you won't believe me, but... i-- i love you."