"You don't have to walk me home, Jaem." There's a shy smile on Jeno's face as he said that, couldn't help the giddy feeling due to his boyfriend as always.

It has Jaemin smiling as well, inwardly cooing at Jeno as he interlocks their fingers. "I want to, you know I do, baby."

"I also want to make sure you get home safely, especially after last night." It was supposed to be a harmless mention of events.

Jaemin was referring to that asshole who tried (thankfully failed) to approach his boyfriend. His intoxicated boyfriend.

Thinking about it, Jaemin still gets upset at the thought. Despite it being fresh, he's sure he'd still be tensing up at the topic.

He couldn't help but think the negative possibilities if he was not there.

If he was drunk too, if he was one of those shitty boyfriends who leaves their lover alone in a chaotic party or place while knowing fully well they're drunk.

Based from how Jaemin said it calmly, it made Jeno even more embarrassed to know that he misunderstood and cursed his dirty mind.

Jaemin bumps their hips as he teases,  getting Jeno to whine back and huffs out in annoyance. "Stop it, my... Butt... Still kinda hurts."

Jaemin squeezes his hand gently: a contrast to his mischievous snicker. "I think there's ointment or something for that. Do you want me to buy you one?"

"I'm fine." Jeno grits his teeth at Jaemin's smirk right up to his face. "I'll just have to deal with it."

"Oooh~" laughing when he gets a smack on his abdomen, Jaemin shakes his head with a silly smile. "Jokes aside though, if you need anything, you can call me."

"I know. Besides my mom, you're my number one person to reach out for." The smile Jeno flashes him is so sweet, couldn't resist to kiss him on the lips.

"I'm very flattered."

"You're always flattered whenever I thank or compliment you." Jeno rolls his eyes, but his lips were stretched into an amused smile.

"You caught me." Jaemin giggles and lifts their hands up to kiss Jeno's knuckles.

However, their sweet moment came to a stop once they stood in front of Jeno's house. Getting a surprise for both of them.

Jeno knew this day would come, but didn't expect it to be this intimidating.

No matter how confident and rebellious he felt these days, unfortunately there is always that fear lingering in him. Especially now that Jaemin is here.

He didn't need this.

He grips onto Jaemin's hand for dear life as soon as the familiar scream of his grandma greets them not so nicely.

"Lee Jeno!" Storming over to him, she glares so harshly but is yet to notice their interlocked hands. "Where were you?!"

"Do you know how scared I got when you weren't opening the door? And then finding out you weren't even here!"

Jeno feels guilty, he knows it was wrong of him to do that. But he just couldn't take it anymore.

He needed to get out of there instead of doing unnecessary studying and listening to his grandparents' offensive comments.

"Why did you leave? Where did you go?" His grandma is still harsh as she interrogates him. His grandpa walks over to them, adjusting his glasses.

Jeno has time to glance to his left, noticing a certain second car parked there.

Thank fuck.

Before he could reply to his grandmother, the latter's husband gasps and frowns at them. "Who is this?" His tone was visibly rude, looking at Jaemin with such hate in a span of two seconds.

His grandmother follows suit, it has Jeno gulping and subconsciously tightens his grip on Jaemin's hand.

However, despite the treatment he received especially on their first meet, Jaemin smiles kindly and politely introduces himself.

"Hello, I'm Na Jaemin, it's nice to meet you, Jeno's grandparents."

"Who are you to my grandson and why are you holding hands?" Just as either of the two young boys could reply, they were saved by a surprised voice behind the two elderlies.

"What is going on here?"

"Tiffany! Your son escaped last night and now he's with this–"

"Don't finish your sentence, grandma." Jeno gathers up the courage to speak up.

Jaemin bites back a proud smile, rubbing his thumb on Jeno's knuckles to silently support him.

"Excuse me?" His grandpa says, "you don't talk to your elders like that."

"And you shouldn't talk to other people so rudely. Even having the guts to say it in front of them."

"Lee Jeno–"

"Enough!" Tiffany growls at them, "let's settle this inside."

𑁍

Jaemin thanks Jeno's mom for letting him in, getting a pat on the back in return as they head to the living room.

Surprisingly, it was Tiffany who spoke up first. "I know what's been happening, and quite frankly, I don't blame my son to get away from you two."

Her parents gasp, absolutely shocked and upset at her. "You guys are so controlling and– there's so much fucked up shit you two do that I don't even know where to begin."

Jeno was shocked as well, didn't expect his mother to snap like this at all. She must've been bottling it all up like him.

"Tiffany–"

"You guys ruined my son's happiness. You guys have made the same mistake twice now. The mistake you did on me, ruining my own happiness." Tiffany tears up as she spat out words she definitely wouldn't regret.

She's been holding it all in for so long, even after everything they did, she obeyed them like their little puppet.

But now, she isn't letting them do the same on her son. Especially when Jeno realized sooner than her. He has been given a chance.

"I beg of you– just let Jeno be. Stop controlling him, he isn't your son, he isn't me– not weak like me." Tiffany sobs.

Jaemin purses his lips, hands her the box of tissues that were on the coffee table, getting a fond smile from Jeno beside him.

Honestly, neither of them are complaining that Jeno's mother is the one ranting instead of them.

Besides, it seems like she needs it as much as they do.

And Jeno has never seen his mother like this: so fragile as if she's about to give up. But he knows she isn't really. She never does for him.

He also has never heard this story of hers before. He doesn't blame her though, she must've not wanted him to know it yet.

Tiffany wipes her tear-stained cheeks and stares intently at her parents, biting her inner cheek when they look lost.

Either they genuinely don't realize or they don't know how to react to this.

"Jaemin," she suddenly calls out. The pink haired boy hums attentively, "join us for dinner next week."

Next week is Jeno's grandparents' last week of staying. He has an assumption of his mother's plan, but keeps quiet as Jaemin nods happily at Tiffany.

𑁍

Thoughts???

I'm sleepy while writing this– so I apologize for mistakes and anything that didn't make sense lmao.

Also I decided to name Jeno's mom "Tiffany" just now, I apologize for that too lol.

Oh and yes, Tiffany Young :)

Because sometimes I just think they look like mother and son– both have an eyesmile and are alike.