Jaemin watches in amusement how Jeno basically chugs down the cucumber juice happily.

"I'm guessing that's better?" Eyeing the raven haired boy's glossy lips after drinking the beverage, blinking out of his stupor later on.

"Oh definitely." Jeno giggles without realizing, "very refreshing, thank you for this." He mumbles.

Successfully hiding the slight shock on his face, Jaemin smiles in response. "No problem, if you want more, or have any requests for tonight, I can try to make it happen for you."

When Jeno raises a brow at him, he realizes and shakes his hands in front of him. "Oh shit, not like that. Sorry, I meant– if you want–"

"No it's fine, I got it." Jeno stops him with a small nod, "just sounded weird. You know, like your usual shenanigans. Thought you were at it again."

"Fret not, I'm trying not to do anything mischievous to you tonight. So do feel free being around me, yeah?" Jaemin winks at him.

However, oddly enough, Jeno let's that slide; to which he likes to believe it was just something he will do for tonight as well, or returning the gesture.

"You sure?"

"I said trying, sweetheart. So if I actually do something stupid, go ahead and kick m– fuck!" Jaemin yelps at the end.

Jeno bites his lower lip as he watches Jaemin in pain, covering his crotch as he tries not to chant some swear words or scream.

"What was that for?" The pink haired boy moans, still in the process of regaining his composure.

"You touched my inner thigh earlier." Jeno replies in a flat yet serious tone.

"But you didn't push my hand away, I thought it was a green card!" Jaemin defends himself, and Jeno could hear the honesty in his tone.

He then looks away and feels his cheeks heating up once he realizes... Jaemin has a point.

What in the world!

Out of all moments tonight, Jaemin got a good defense that has Jeno leaving in a blank mind. He's so embarrassed.

He couldn't bark back to that, it would make him more foolish. So he remains quiet and taps his fingertips on the empty glass in a random rhythm.

Once Jaemin has finally regained his composure, standing up straight, he then asks. "Want to stay here for a bit more or go back to join the others?"

The raven haired boy ponders in thought before replying, "I'll stay here, I'll go back in there later. When they're passed out."

Jaemin couldn't help but laugh at his response, nodding along in understanding as he could hear their friends laughing and talking loudly from the living room.

"That's a good decision, that way they won't bother you while drunk or high." He says, "but if you also want, I can leave as well and give you space."

He makes a move to leave but surprisingly, Jeno snatches him by the end of his sleeve. "N-uhm... N-no, don't leave me alone here."

"Why? Are you scared or do you feel bad? Because honestly, you don't have to feel bad. I will respect it if you want to be alone." Jaemin said wholeheartedly.

"That's the thing, I don't want to be alone." Jeno remarks.

Slowly turning to face him properly, Jaemin tilts his head to the side. "Sorry?"

"I... I don't want to be... By myself," Jeno mumbles as he fiddles with the empty glass in his hands. "Not again."

Jaemin does nothing but frown, before gently reaching out to take Jeno's wrist, the raven haired boy looking up meeting his eyes.

"Let's go outside for a bit and get some fresh air... If you're comfortable, you can tell me what's on your mind." He offers.

And it gets an immediate nod from Jeno in response. He obviously expected for the latter to push him away like always, but not this time.

Very fortunate for him. He's liking it.

𑁍

Once they got outside, away from their loud friends, they took a seat on the wooden stairs on the porch.

Jaemin waits for Jeno to say something, until eventually, the latter starts ranting about everything unbeknownst to himself.

"Back in grade school, I got bullied for being a slow learner... I wasn't the smartest in our grade, so it obviously felt embarrassing."

"I didn't tell anyone because I thought those people would agree anyway, especially after seeing how low my scores can be at times compared to my classmates."

"Eventually, I asked my mom for private tutors, until 5th grade, she couldn't afford it anymore, understandable."

Jeno looks down to stare at his now refilled glass of cucumber juice, "then I found a solution... Kind of."

"I went to my grandparents' place for the summer since then, spent my two months in summer school."

Chuckling bitterly, he shakes his head. "What a waste, right?" Jaemin didn't nod, but they both know he agrees.

Literally anyone could.

"I thought those decisions were going to help me get smarter, but then I realized, it can't be that easy."

Biting his lower lip, he mutters. "You can't force someone to be smart. No one is dumb, everyone just has different learning capability."

"But you're smart..." Jaemin trails off, trying to uplift Jeno's mood.

However, the raven haired boy just shakes his head in disapproval. "I'm smart by books and force. It's not natural, I'm bookish. Is what they call it nowadays."

"Like... When I answer essays, it's memorized from the book. Not really that interesting." He says in nonchalance.

"I admire those who are living life how they want it to be, with limits of course." Jeno smiles dreamily as he says it out of the blue.

"Unlike me."

"Forgive me for being invasive and brutal. But... You don't eat junk food, drink alcohol, smoke, skip classes, talk back, or literally anything mischievous and shit– you don't even curse!"

Breathlessly laughing at Jaemin's ramble, Jeno shrugs his shoulders. "Whenever I was at my grandparents' place, I'm not just learning education, but being disciplined too much."

"What do you mean?"

"The stuff you said, aren't allowed. If I broke a rule, I would be punished, like not just grounded... I mean harsh punishments sometimes." Jeno replies.

"Dang... They're really strict." Jaemin mutters.

"Yeah, my mom isn't that strict. But my grandparents are." Jeno sighs tiredly, "you know, I haven't eaten junk food since I was 9 years old."

"Are you serious?!" Jaemin gasps.

Giggling, the raven haired boy was too in to the moment to realize how he's acting, "a hundred percent."

"That's why I'm being overly sensitive and a perfectionist, that it's affecting me badly." Jeno drinks his cucumber juice for a moment.

"What about being alone?" Jeno looks up and raises a brow at him. So Jaemin continues to elaborate, "earlier, you said you didn't want to be alone... Again."

Biting his inner cheek, Jeno sighs and swallows hard. "I-I'll tell you another time." He waves off instead.

Luckily for him, Jaemin understands, nodding his head as he stands up. "Ready to head back inside?"

He had reached out a hand for the younger boy to take, but Jeno panicked and stood up by himself with a little struggle.

Thankfully, Jaemin didn't take it to heart and just smiled kindly at him. "I'm sure they're passed out by now," he quips.

And he successfully makes Jeno laugh, eyes crinkling into cute crescent moon shapes as his plump lips curl up.

Then, at this moment, Jaemin was thanking the heavens he decided to not drink with the others tonight and instead accompany Jeno.

Getting to see and spend time with him being sober.

𑁍

Anyone cheering for Jaemin over there??

Our man is finally getting somewhere with Jeno :p

Also, any thoughts you'd like to share??