Happy April fools, I guess?? Idk how to welcome April fools without being annoyed with it lmao.

Happy first day of April :p

Don't worry, I won't pull a prank on you guys, I don't even like those.

I hope your day is/will be good, rant about it if you want :D

I also hope your April fools wasn't/will not be bad, or at least hurt you so much :(

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Needless to say, Jeno was not bored. Which totally surprised him and Jaemin, both of them were silently so sure that Jeno would whine and soon take his leave once he felt like coming here was incredibly useless.

But it wasn't like that.

Throughout Jaemin's shift this afternoon, Jeno stuck by his side. Like, literally.

Jaehyun had greeted him kindly once they entered the studio, didn't dare to question as to why Jeno is with Jaemin. An odd sight for a lot of people whom might know the other.

Jaemin joked about bringing Jeno here like a child clinging to their parent on work day. Which got a shove on his shoulder from the ravenette boy.

A little while later, Jaehyun had generously offered Jeno a plastic stool to take a seat on while Jaemin does his job on entertaining his early bird of a client.

Out of pure curiosity, Jeno peeked over Jaemin's broad shoulder to see the slow and painful process of getting a tattoo.

Sure he has already been here before, one of them being an actual appointment.

But that time with Yangyang, Jeno could barely look at his friend's skin being abused with some tools as a trail of black ink decorates his once clean skin.

His three friends have already told him about what it is like to get a tattoo.

"It's painful, yes that's the most obvious. But it's mostly worth it if you get a meaningful one or have actually thought about it well enough." Mark has stated.

"Unlike Yangyang and Hyuck, make sure you really know what you want. Getting it removed is more painful than getting it in the first place."

Yangyang had scoffed bitterly at that, rolling his eyes as he spits out, "says the one with a watermelon tattoo."

"It has a special meaning! Fuck off!"

"It depends though on your pain tolerance," Donghyuck had interjected into the conversation. "And the spot where you got it done."

Jeno remembers it all well enough for the sake of him being curious and to be aware of this "rebellious" side his overly strict grandparents rant about whenever they pay a visit.

He couldn't properly watch Yangyang getting his tattoo done that day, despite already being told on how it is like, he still has some questions wandering around in his mind.

When Jaemin's second client arrives and takes her seat, it is then he notices Jeno's prying eyes over his broad shoulder.

Like a cat peeking over the kitchen table once its nose is greeted with freshly cooked fish.

His gaze full of pure curiosity and genuine interest has Jaemin's lips curling up into a sweet smile. "Come closer."

His voice startles the ravenette boy, eyes growing more wider than a second ago as he was confused as to what Jaemin meant.

Not saying a word and temporarily ignoring his client for a brief moment, Jaemin gently tugs Jeno's arm closer while dragging the plastic stool with him.

Flashing him another smile, Jaemin quickly turns around to focus on his client who then began to ramble about her day.

Jeno was shocked when the client had chose to get her tattoo done on her inner lip, a loud gasp escaping his lips as he couldn't take his eyes off despite being slightly uncomfortable.

It has the girl giggling at his reaction, he guesses his purity of this rebellious side is blatantly obvious for anyone.

"Ryujin, stop moving please." Jaemin scolds in a mutter as his eyebrows furrow when he leans closer, focusing on his job.

Jeno beside him was surprisingly more interested and had watched Jaemin throughout the whole process.

Occasionally meeting the client, Ryujin's eyes, the girl flashes him some silly looks as if she knew he wasn't really exposed to this yet until today.

A distraction, perhaps.

After Ryujin's appointment, Jeno thought he would politely take his leave, but he didn't. He was really intrigued about this simple thing.

Curse his overly strict grandparents and even himself for letting them take control over him. This looks nothing bad!

Not even close to how they described it as.

It actually interests him, oddly enough.

Sure he has seen his friends' tattoos, but majority of the ones he has seen were completely ridiculous and regrettable for them.

Besides that, he doesn't actually pay attention to them, even if his friends have their shirts off or just outright expose their skin to show their new tattoo off.

He doesn't look at it for more than three seconds.

But this one, today, he feels like he's in a trance as he couldn't take his eyes off.

He swears, if his grandparents ever heard about any of this or saw him in a place like a tattoo studio, he's sure they'd be livid.

Jeno sat there the whole time, until Jaemin's shift was finally done, the tattoo artist stretches himself moaning from the cramps and muscles he has pulled.

Turning to acknowledge the ravenette boy who stayed by his side the whole few hours, Jaemin grins at him.

"So?"

"So..." Jeno parrots him in a soft voice, had been quiet the entire time except when he had to use the loo twice, not forgetting to excuse himself.

"What do you think?" Jaemin elaborates a bit.

Pursing his lips, Jeno wouldn't have thought this time would come, that he'd actually admit this out loud straight into Jaemin's face.

"It was... Interesting.... Really interesting."

Chuckling at his speechless state, Jaemin hums before raising a brow as he teasingly asks, "you don't think it's mediocre or shall I say, disgusting?"

Scrunching his nose cutely, Jeno huffs. "That was the old me." Not thinking straight, he spat out words he wasn't even sure he would dare to say.

"Oh?" Jaemin lilts, "what's the difference between old Jeno and present Jeno?"

The ravenette boy gnaws on his lower lip, his gaze not missing the way Jaemin's dark orbs instantly stare at the action.

The look in his eyes somehow makes Jeno squirm, heart beating loudly with the butterflies in his stomach being awoken once again.

Old Jeno would have scolded him for being such a pervert.

But right now, Jeno strangely feels something else other than being uncomfortable.

Present Jeno feels shy of Jaemin's gaze on him, whether it was meeting his eyes or on his lips, regardless of where Jaemin sets his eyes on his body, Jeno feels this fluttering feeling.

He wants to hide away from it but at the same time, craves for more.

Wanting Jaemin's attention.

With blush blooming on his pale cheeks, he mumbles, "old Jeno didn't want to explore this rebellious side...."

Slowly meeting Jaemin's eyes, he gulps as he concedes. "Present Jeno wants to know more."

"Is this an invitation? Last time I checked, this was a challenge you oddly started." Jaemin reminds him.

Scoffing, Jeno diverts his eyes, but a moment later snaps his head back in shock when he felt a hand on his thigh.

"Would Present Jeno accept me now?" For a minute, Jeno wasn't exactly sure on what Jaemin was referring to.

His mind is too full of haze to even focus, this weird feeling he's been getting recently is affecting him in a way he isn't sure of if it's good or bad.

Regardless, when Jaemin speaks again, "would you let me get to know you? Would you give me a chance?"

Jeno couldn't hold back a nod that leaves Jaemin grinning in joy.

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More process?? :D

Sorry for the slow-burn 😔

Ngl this is one of those rare moments where I actually knew what I was trying to do.

I didn't hesitate as much and low-key felt proud to use such words and narration lmao.

I FEEL SO SMART LET ME HAVE THIS MOMENT 🤩