jeno has seen a lot of things and been a lot of places. he's met a lot of new people and walked a lot of new territory.

but the cemetery in the upper part of the country was definitely not one of them.

having jaemin give him directions to where his parents were buried had sent him on an adventure. since he was never informed of where his parents had been laid to rest.

paju was a peaceful city. not too much was going on, but the scenery was beautiful and jeno had to stop himself from turning to look at jaemin every time his eyes would light up in awe at the flowers (though were slightly wilting because of the cold weather) that decorated the sides of the street along with the trees whose leaves were transitioning from the different shades of green to the beautiful variations of red, yellow, orange, and brown.

it took jeno a half an hour of driving to finally reach their destination. which wasn't as long as it took for them to reach namiseom when they had went about a week ago.

when jaemin had finally pointed out the cemetery, jeno had made sure to find a suitable parking spot before he twisted his keys and pulled it out of its socket, placing it in the front pocket of the suit he was wearing.

after all, he wasn't able to attend their funeral. jeno wanted to dress his best to present himself to the people he had called his future parents in law for years.

he remembers joking with them about it, but mr. and mrs. na just sent him sweet smiles follower by, "we'll make sure to take care of you the way you take care of jaemin." followed by a lighthearted, "we'll make sure to dress our best for your wedding!"

in the deepest parts of jeno's mind, the memory still lingers and makes its way into the train of thought every now and then which not to mention, he has running around almost all the time.

this time though, the train had came to a halt at the station once jaemin had told the conductor to stop overthinking things. the conductor being jeno himself.

"jeno? are you okay?" jaemin had inquired. jeno had finally looked up from the steering wheel he didn't even notice he was staring at and turned to look at jaemin with a small smile. "of course. i just got a little lost in thought, that's all."

"are you sure?" jaemin asked just to be sure.

jeno nodded, "completely. don't worry too much about me, nana." he reassured before unbuckling his seatbelt and opening his door. jaemin on the other hand had took a second to process jeno's facial expression and tone of voice before shaking it off and too doing what jeno had did.

the walk to the graves was silent.

leaves that have fallen off trees crinkling under their footsteps and the soft whistling of the wind were the only sounds that could be heard.

maybe the occasional dog barking, too.

jeno wasn't exactly familiar with grave etiquette, so he brought everything he had seen doyoung bring to their grandparents graves when they would visit.

soju, fruit, and of course, a bouquet of white roses for mrs. na and a cactus for mr. na because back when mrs. na was cleaning her garden up from weeds, jeno had curiously asked what her and her husbands favorite plants were.

she said hers were white roses because of the meaning behind them. purity, innocence, sympathy, and spirituality. the symbol of true love, she said.

as for mr. na, he liked cacti because jaemin had gotten him a miniature one for his birthday and he says he watered it for a year not wanting it to die because it was his absolute favorite until jaemin caught him one day and with a confused expression on his face asking him why he was watering a fake plant.

because he was embarrassed and low key upset at his son for not telling him is was faux, he went to a flower shop called, 'gardener's wife' and bought him a real one.

jeno wonders if the cacti was still alive at jaemin's house. after all, his house was never cleaned out when his parents had died. and it was theirs anyways.

plus, authorities never got any confirmation to do so from jaemin since the boy never stated anything about the two story house in seongnam.

the house still stands, abandoned, but not haunted. not empty, but instead filled with the late na's belongings, along with their son's own.

jeno decides to visit the house later that month. since it was only the 21st of october, he'd probably end up going on the 27th. so saturday.

it was when jaemin had stopped walking that jeno had looked up from his feet to shoot the younger a glance and was about to ask a question until he uttered a small; "we're here." under his breath.

jeno looks at the gravestones before his feet, a small frown making its way onto his face. he definitely knew he'd see mr. and mrs. na again one day, but definitely not like this.

NA SOBIN
OCTOBER 9, 1972 - JUNE 14, 2016
𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈

NA JAEMI
FEBRUARY 4, 1975 - JUNE 14, 2016
𝑔𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝑜𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓃

the older of the two took a deep breath as he read the engravings on the stones. the chills that ran down his spine after seeing the date of death was too much for him to handle, and he almost ended up dropping his items.

jaemin noticed this and frowned taking the basket he had brought with him into his own hands before hastily speaking, "jeno, are you sure you're okay? it's like you're having some sort of flashback..."

"i'm- i'm fine." he mumbled before he took the backpack that jaemin was carrying off of his back and opening to grab the blanket he had brought with.

the younger simply watched as his friend spread it across the grass, making it so he stepped back a little and finally sat down with jeno's basket once he was given the go to do so.

as jaemin made himself comfortable on the blanket, jeno took his basket in hand gently pulling it towards him and opening it when he had brought ut close enough to himself.

taking the elements out, he put the soju and glasses to his left, the apple he brought for mrs. na beside it and the peach he bought for mr. na next to that.

the flowers and cactus were on his right and jaemin felt a little dumb for forgetting to buy anything at all.

instead, he took the bandana he had brought along and used it to clean the pictures on top of the stones along with the stones themselves.

"so," jeno began. "how long has it been since you visited your parents?" he asked and jaemin let out a long exhale seemingly counting in his head.

"a month? i usually stop by here every fourteenth, but we were busy the day before, and i was tired the next day." jaemin finally finished what he was doing and sat back down properly. "then i just became busy afterwards. that's why i'm glad you took up on my offer to come with me."

jeno hummed as he put his basket off to the side and began placing the fruits respectively on the graves of the people he bought then for along with the plants. "you've been coming here since last year, right?"

the honey haired boy shook his head, "i didn't know where they were buried until probably the end of the year last year. november i think it was? so i missed their first death anniversary... i felt a little guilty if i have to be honest."

jaemin looked over at jeno who was now pouring in cups of soju and too placing them on the gravestones before turning to glance over at jaemin. "i was listening, don't worry."

"did my parents like to drink?"

"huh?" jeno was confused.

the curious boy pointed to the cups on his parents markers and jeno made an 'o' with his mouth. "oh, uh, your mom didn't drink much. your dad did, but he wasn't a heavy drinker. but i don't think this has to do with that, it's just kind of an offering i guess."

jeno's words soon turned into incoherent mumbles as he then put the bouquet of white roses in front of mrs. na's stone and the pot with the cacti in front of mr. na's.

after those words were exchanged, there was a moment of silence shared between the two. jeno staring down at the graves and jaemin picking at the grass beside the blanket.

"jeno, i'm gonna go buy some flowers for mom and dad... i kinda forgot to before he came here, so i'll be right back. there's a flower shop over there." jaemin soon spoke breaking the quiet atmosphere causing jeno's head to snap up.

"jaemin-"

"don't worry about me!" jaemin giggled softly. "i'll be fine. i promise."

with that, jaemin stood up and began to walk through the graveyard slowly not wanting to seem like he was disrespecting any of the other people who were laid to rest.

jeno simply looked at his first love walk away before turning back to what was in front of him.

mr. na sobin and mrs. na jaemi.

"hey there future in laws." jeno began awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "its been a while... i'm sorry i never got to visit. i didn't have the guts to ask anyone i knew where you guys were buried."

jeno ran his fingers across the letters on the stones as he continued to speak. "its been almost three years since the accident happen and since you were taken away from jaemin... i honestly still can't believe you guys are gone." he paused to shiver from the cool breeze that had made its way across his face.

"you know, i just started talking to jaemin again. we lost contact two years ago because of what happened to him. i'm sure you guys already know, but he got amnesia." jeno explained as if he was talking to an actual human being. "i think it's reversible though... i certainly hope it is. his condition has taken a toll not only on me, but on the people he knew before, too. oh! and i also hope you like the things i brought you. i remember how much you guys liked to eat apples and peaches so i made sure i got those. and the plants should be self explanatory."

"ah my future in laws, i made sure to wear my best suit. make it seem like i'm bringing the wedding i promised to you guys since you wanted to see jaemin at the altar so badly. with me of course." he chuckled before sighing. "speaking of jaemin again, i missed him. i missed talking to him, i missed hearing his voice, i missed his everything." the raven's voice got smaller with every word he spoke as his finger finished tracing all of the letters. "and of course i miss you guys too. you treated me like actual family, and i was so happy you supported and loved what jaemin and i had."

"though," bringing his hands up to his face, jeno's back leaned forward as he buried his face into his palms. "i remember making you guys a promise, and that was to protect and be there for jaemin no matter what. and i- i broke it. i wasn't there for him in his darkest hours and instead, please excuse my language, was fucking around in la. i'm so sorry. i'm so so sorry that i wasn't there for him like i promised i'd be. i still feel so horrible. i was the worst boyfriend i-"

jeno took a minute to breathe with it coming out shaky and ragged as he sniffled, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"i said i'd watch over him and love him always. care for him and make sure he knows he's loved not only by me, but by his friends and the people around him. and i let you guys down... words can't explain how humiliated i feel." the young boy had sat up from his criss cross position on the blanket and sat up on his knees, hands removing themselves from his face and moving down to his thighs.

"this time though, i'll try to be better. i know i'll probably not be around him for very long anymore, but i want you guys to know i'll try my best to keep him safe and happy for all the times he's with me." jeno spoke of determination, but with a lot of evident pain at the same time. "i- i'll love him as much as i did before even if it hurts me more in the process."

"i promise... i promise to make him happy." jeno's voice got quiet. "i'll make sure to run by his side whenever he calls me, and to keep him out of any potential harm. i can promise you your son will always be loved and cared for as long as i'm around. whether it be today or tomorrow."

quickly wiping the tears that had trickled down his cheeks, jeno bent down with arms slightly bent to bow, head touching the ground. "i'm not perfect, but i'm lee jeno who loves your son more than anything in this world. please forgive me of the horrible mistake i have made."

"though, thank you for the love you've shown me. you made me feel the love of a full family i never got to experience. i treasure every moment i've spent with you guys and will always keep the memories close to my heart."

with that, jeno finally sat back up right drying his face once again as he sniffled. "also, did you know jaemin's memories come back in the form of dreams? weird, isn't it? it's weird how he'll wake up to a new memory every day almost." he informed.

"jeno-ah!" a voice that was sweet as honey, much like the ball of fluff on his head, called out.

jeno smiled hearing his voice. "there he is. your son, and my first love. still as cute as ever, isn't he? god i just wanna pinch his cheeks and-"

"who're you talking to?" jaemin asked interrupting jeno's speech. the raven simply rolled his eyes, "your parents, duh. have you ever talked to them like this?"

jaemin pondered on it for a moment before shaking his head. "i haven't. i wouldn't know what to talk about since i don't remember much about them other than; they were my parents, and they died in a car accident."

sitting on his knees, jaemin placed the bouquet of red tulips on his mother's grave while setting the one of sunflowers on his father's. "but just because my brain doesn't recognize them doesn't mean my heart doesn't. i still love them with my whole heart even if i'm clueless to how they treated me or how they were as people."

"they treated you like a prince, jaem." jeno cut in. "they treated you as if you were the only boy in the world since you were their only child. loved you to the worlds end." much like i do now.

and that was just how jeno and jaemin ended up talking about the younger's parents. though it was more of jeno just spurting random things he could remember and jaemin listening with an open mind and wide open eyes asking questions every now and then.

lee jeno has added a new photo with na jaemin
38 minutes ago

i'm sorry it took me so long, but i've finally seen you again, mr. and mrs. na. i even brought your airhead of a son with. will always love and miss you☹️ let's meet again soon one day♥️

kim doyoung, jung yoonoh, and 1.1k others like this.

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kim doyoung: weren't mr. and mrs. na buried underground though??????

lee jeno: they were, but i found it a little disrespectful to shoot pictures of their graves, so i just took a full pic of the above ground ones kim doyoung

lee minhyung: you guys really went to see the ceos of the bomb dot com without us?? rude.

huang renjun: mrs. na didn't like you too much mark. lee minhyung

lee minhyung: excuse you, but she LOVED me. definitely more than you. huang renjun

park jisung: no whores. according to science and well PROVEN FACTS, mr. and mrs. na loved ME the most. you guys can go home now and continue sipping your apple. juice.

na jaemin: i think mom and dad loved you all equally. so maybe we could all go next time? lee minhyung huang renjun park jisung

lee minhyung: you don't have to tell me TWICE OMG na jaemin

dong sicheng: tag urself, i'm the cat.

qian kun: this is a serious post and you're here talking about the stupid cat in the shot? dong sicheng

dong sicheng: you're just jealous. and you hate cats so🙄 qian kun

lee jeno: could y'all oh idk, maybe fucking FIGHT IN THE PMS. dong sicheng qian kun

na jaemin has updated his status
28 minutes ago

i didn't realize how much i missed you until i decided to bring jeno along to tell me more about you. i love and miss you guys so much. i pray we'll all be reunited one day soon. i'll see you again next month, mom and dad!! this time i'll bring more than just jeno♥️♥️♥️

lee jeno, choi soobin, and 429 others like this.

commenting has been disabled for this post

hey hohoho i'm so tired, but i wanted to finish this update.

gotta edit a couple dates before i got to bed though lol. i realized it'd make more sense if the accident happened in 2016 instead of 2017.

i also disabled comments on jaemin's post just because i'm THAT tired. i apologize for any grammar errors btw too.

i love y'all. good night🏹💌