"Jeno, I'm walking home with you today but I'm not staying for dinner. I just have to buy some groceries nearby and it's the same way to your place." Mark informs the second they met up at his locker.

Nodding, Jeno grips onto the books against his chest and asks. "You guys don't have basketball practice today?" Watching his friend fix the things in his locker.

Struggling to get his jersey out, Mark grunts. "It was cancelled, coach has an important errand and is moved for tomorrow instead," he answered.

Finally getting his jersey that was stuck between some books, he continues. "It's good though, I can atleast take some rest," he shrugged.

"We have a test tomorrow and four homeworks to pass."

"Goddammit."

Rolling his eyes, he waits for his friend to finish, "where's Haechan?" Jeno asked.

"Someone called me, did this idiot bother you sweetie?" A honey-like voice speaks up, the mentioned boy approaching them coolly.

"I'm your boyfriend."

"Yet I top," Haechan deadpans back. Smirking triumphantly at his lover, "I'm the boss between us, baby."

Groaning, Mark grumbles as he shuts his locker close. "Markue hyung is just upset because he thought he could get some rest today but we have a test and four homeworks to pass tomorrow." Jeno shared as they began to head out.

"Ha! That sucks, you loser." The tanned male snickered, draping an arm around his boyfriend to annoy the elder much more.

"It really sucks, Channie." Mark sighed along, "I'm busy even without basketball practice." Emphasizing his genuine (not so) emotions.

"That's what happens when you join a club or sports team at school to either be cool or get extra credits." Haechan sneered.

"You were in a club too last year," Mark retorts. Recalling vividly that his boyfriend was indeed in a school club before.

"Shut up, I did it to impress you." Haechan scoffs.

"And yet here we are, how the tables have turned." The raven haired boy smiles mockingly.

Rolling his eyes, the tanned male turns to look at Jeno, who was at the right side of Mark. "Moral of the story, don't join anything for school. Even for a dollar or something, that's a big no."

"What if it's saving animals or like–"

"There's an animal rescue team, an adoption center, and pet store for a reason, you can apply there if you want." Haechan immediately shrugs.

"But for real, don't join a school club or team." He snorts off as Mark rolled his eyes at him.

Humming, Jeno looks ahead of them and smiles when they're approaching by someone. "Jaemin hyung!" He calls once they're near enough.

Halting to meet Jeno's soulmate, Mark literally almost tripping from Haechan's foot, the two scans the mysterious boy the next second.

Said boy raised a brow at them. Before Jeno could even say anything to him first as a greeting, which is all the time, Haechan beats him to it.

"Oh wow, you're not behind the school building and isn't sipping off on those raspberry juices you keep getting. Shocking." He said boldly.

Mark jabs his elbow on the younger's ribs, earning a loud yelp of pain with the victim crouching as he hugs his torso.

"Sorry about him," he says on behalf of his boyfriend's usual behavior, which is increasing a lot when it comes to Jaemin.

"Uh-huh..."

"Are you going somewhere, hyung?" Jeno asks, interrupting them with his eyes full on wide and round. Staring at Jaemin with so much focus, the elder wanted to tell him off.

Glancing at the brunet's two friends, one crouching in pain from his ribs, the other calm and also looking at him, he discreetly licks the back of his teeth with his mouth closed.

"I was," he answered briefly. Earning a small scoff from Mark.

Jeno seems to be grateful enough with his answer, like always. "Will you come home with us? Please?" He asks, almost pleadingly.

"No."

"Whyyy?" Jeno drawls a whine, jutting out a pout as Haechan was slowly recovering from his pain.

"You have your friends with you." The elder answered, once again straightforward and briefly.

"You can tag along! Markue hyung isn't staying for dinner, Haechan is probably joining him on studying–"

"Yeah, I have to help this idiot study for our test tomorrow. How fun."

"I didn't know! We had basketball practice a lot and nobody told me!"

"Jeno literally mentioned it at lunch." Haechan deadpanned, Mark just pushes him slightly away and crosses his arms, back facing his boyfriend.

The tanned male shook his head while Jeno began to speak up again, "please? Markue hyung is just stopping by at the grocery store nearby, and I'll be all alone." He emphasized his words.

Waiting for Jaemin's long awaited answer, after a few seconds of nothing, Mark sighed. "It's okay, Jen, you can wait for me and Haechan and I will walk you home first."

Nodding in agreement, Haechan eyes at the mysterious boy knowingly, like he's aiming his next words at him. "Yeah, Jaemin is probably too busy for you right now. We'll walk you–"

"I'll go." Jaemin speaks up, stern and his poker face on. Jeno smiles.

"What?" Mark asked, flabbergasted as he stares at Jaemin like he just did something cool. Sort of.

"I thought you said you were going somewhere?" Haechan points out, sassily with his arms crossed and resting his weight on his right leg.

Unbothered, Jaemin sighs. "I said I was." He highlights his exact words, "but something came up."

"Oh my God, make up your damn mind." Haechan grumbled. "This kid, I swear, will make me lose braincells than Mark already has." He thought to himself.

"Eh, it's for Jeno. Who the hell cares except for those bitchass teachers."

Grinning, Jeno abruptly pulls Jaemin's bicep, linking their arms together with the elder not protesting audibly, maybe silently? I don't know.

The action and response made Mark shriek before Haechan pulls him along to catch up with the already walking pair ahead of them, Jeno bouncing on his feet as he talks about his day to Jaemin who hums at his words.

Turning to his shoulder, Jaemin eyes Haechan confidently. "Mind your manners. I'm older than you, from what you've expected, kid." He said before turning to face the front again, Jeno staring at the two back and forth before shrugging to himself.

Mark gave a funny yet confused look to his boyfriend, "what the hell was that?" He asked, baffled.

"I don't know, but I feel like I'm in a competition on who's the better bitch." The tanned male replied in a mutter.

"My dear soulmate, sorry about my friends."

"Pup, your friends, Haechan especially, are probably better companies than I am."