"Didn't expect you to actually face time me, doll."

"Don't get too ahead of yourself or I'm ending this call." Jeno threatens as he huffs out aloud when he sees the smirk adorning the person's face.

If this wasn't a face time call, Jeno would've punched that charming– err, irritating face.

And treat it afterwards.

So yes, this person is very lucky right now.

He hears the person chuckling in response as he was arranging some paperwork on his computer desk.

"Got any homework to finish tonight?" Pursing his lips, he shakes his head as a reply, not daring to look at his cellphone screen at the moment.

Knowing well the person is still smirking right now.

"Chores? Projects? Tasks?" He shakes his head once again, quiet as he inserts the current papers he was holding into a yellow portfolio that was neatly labeled.

Just like the others he has kept and prepared.

"I have already finished them earlier." He mumbles at the end.

"Ahh, so I get that you're not busy." The caller lilts.

"I am busy." Jeno mutters his response, low-key flashing a glare at the cellphone screen.

"You literally said you have nothing to do."

Rolling his eyes at the confused tone the person has on, he sighs. "I didn't say I have nothing to do, I just answered your specific questions."

"Then what else do you have to do that you consider as "being busy". " Jeno catches a glimpse of the person air quoting with his fingers at the said words.

"Review my work–"

"Oh fuck that." Jeno was caught off guard from the sudden use of swear words escaping from the elder boy's mouth.

"No offense sweetheart, but literally just don't do any of that crap."

"What?" Raising a brow, Jeno shakes his head. "I have to do it, just to make sure my answers are perfect."

"You're already smart enough, why can't you just lay back and relax? Watch a movie or something." The elder boy suggests.

"I can't."

"And why not?"

"Because I have to do this or else I'll disappoint everyone if I don't get a high or perfect score, Jaem."

"Who said that?"

When Jaemin didn't get an immediate response, he observes Jeno's face. The younger boy looked confused himself, lost at the moment.

"Jen?" For the first time that night, Jeno was showing some part of him he didn't really get to show.

He wasn't barking back at Jaemin that much, although the latter was just trying to help, he's replying with things that Jaemin was worried about.

Unbeknownst to Jeno, Jaemin can see right through him. And he himself is unconsciously opening up to the elder boy.

Showing his struggles and telling him his concerns, on why he has to do this and that.

Does Jaemin dare to mention it? Fuck no.

Jeno is stubborn as hail, and it will be difficult to have him open up like this again. Even if it's just a little bit of information he has blurted out.

"Who said you needed to do things perfectly? You're perfect in your own way." It may be cheesy to say that, but Jaemin was a hundred percent being genuine.

And hopefully, Jeno realizes that; Jaemin isn't fooling around with him right now.

Jeno is speechless for a moment before clearing his throat, "don't be ridiculous." He mutters, trying his hardest to hide the blush growing on his cheeks.

But it doesn't really work no matter what he does, despite the dim light of his lamp, Jaemin can see it very clearly.

Even if he didn't, he just has a slight guess that Jeno is currently blushing. To add to that, he discovered that the raven haired boy is easily embarrassed by almost anything.

So it isn't really that much of a surprise.

Jaemin then sees Jeno's hand reaching out to probably get his notes, but before he could, he hears Jaemin speak up.

"Hey, didn't I say no stressful stuff tonight because it's the weekend tomorrow?"

"But–"

"Jeno, it's literally a Friday. You said you've finished every homework that was given earlier. And you didn't mention any upcoming tests next week. Why study?"

The raven haired boy was about to answer him, but Jaemin already knows he's going to repeat his excuse. Like almost all the time.

"To make it perfect."

"So I won't disappoint anybody."

It's usually along the lines of that, and Jaemin is low-key getting tired of hearing that.

"You know what? Don't answer, I already know." Jeno makes a face showing how he was a little offended by that.

"Sorry, but just... Don't do anything stressful."

"Like?" Jeno raises a brow, "please give me specific reasons." Mumbling at the end.

"Study more? For what else? You're already smart enough. And again, it's a little useless..." Jaemin mutters.

"How?"

"What is life if you're a know it all or a perfect person?" He says.

And after a beat, Jeno was left silent. He doesn't know whether to be offended or take that as an advice.

"Jen, you need to relax and enjoy your own things. That you want to do, not what you need to do." Jaemin gently says.

The younger boy plays with his fingers, scratching his fingernails as he doesn't look at his phone screen; unable to see Jaemin's facial expression.

If Jeno was vocally honest with you, he's afraid.

Not just his confidential problem. But the way how Jaemin's treating him, and being... Close to him.

If he looks up at his phone screen right now, he's sure there's a high chance he will spill everything he's been bottling up and break down in front of the elder boy.

That would be embarrassing for him. To back down to Jaemin in a way that he has to show this side of him.

For heaven's sake, his friends barely know this side of him.

It's not like they don't care, because they do. And they don't really bother him by asking very personal questions.

Because they feel like they're invading way too much, or afraid they'll make things worse if they don't do things right.

If Yangyang was here, he would've said he isn't too confident of how he can help.

So their best option they could think of is to try put Jeno's problem to the side and distract the raven haired boy as much as they can when they're together.

But right now, Jaemin is the first ever person to be this close to Jeno. To know him like this. As if they've known each other for many years.

However, they don't.

Jeno snaps out of his thoughts when Jaemin starts speaking up again. "Are you tired?"

Shaking his head quietly, Jeno doesn't know why, but he couldn't help but listen and follow Jaemin's words when he suggested they should talk about something else.

Later on that night, Jeno was very much surprised when he saw the time.

11:56 pm.

He didn't realize how long they've been talking on the phone, he didn't realize the time and how they've already passed his usual bed time.

But what really shocked him is how he didn't realized he was enjoying his time with Jaemin, even if it's on the phone.

"I have to go, it's late." He frantically excuses himself to the tattoo artist.

Jaemin ruffles his own pink hair and smiles tiredly yet still remains charming in return. "Alright, sleep well, darling."

Jeno didn't have time to react, the call was then ended and he was rushing off to his bed.