∆∆

"Jisung, you have a ride home right?" Jaemin asks, not looking up from his phone. Mark and Chenle said they would pick him up from dance, but Jaemin was still waiting.

"Yeah. Taeyong hyung is taking me home." Jisung slings his gym bag over his shoulder. "What about you?"

"My friends are picking me up. They should be here in three....two.....-" Before Jaemin could finish, a dolphin came screeching into the dance studio. Followed by a very tired looking boy.

Mark whacks Chenle on the back of his head. "Dude, shut up. I swear you have zero manners."

"Ouch, hyung~~"

Jisung turns to Jaemin. "They're your friends."

"Somehow." The boy sighs and walks over to the bickering teenagers. "Guys, let's go. My dad is out on a business trip, so y'all are spending the night. And you can't say no." He grabs both his friends by their ears and drags them out of the studio, calling a final goodbye to Jisung.

The 16-year-old just stands there. "That dolphin guy is cute."

∆∆

Mark looks up from his phone to see his two friends playing video games on Jaemin's PC. "Hey, guys..."

"Hold on." Jaemin pauses his game, and he and Chenle turn to Mark. "Alright, what's up?"

"Uh...My boyfriend wants to meet you guys. Could he maybe come over?"

"YoU hAvE a BoYfRieNd?"

Mark raises an eyebrow at Chenle's strange pronunciation. "Yes?"

"I fucking knew it. You lied to me, Mark Lee."

"Oh shut up Na Jaemin."

"What's his name?"

"Lee Donghyuk."

"Ooooh, he sounds nice."

"God Chenle." Jaemin whacks his friend's head. "You're so weird." Chenle holds his head and glares but says nothing.

"So...can he come?"

Jaemin shrugs. "I don't see why not."

"Awesome! Oh and Uhm, his clothing might be weird to you guys...but please don't attack him for it." Mark says nervously. Jaemin and Chenle only smile and nod.

∆∆

A knock at the door alarms Jaemin (who is making dinner) of Lee Donghyuk's arrival. "Mark!"

"What?"

"Your boyfriend is here!"

"Oh shit."

Jaemin sighs and walks to the front door. He opens it to find a tanned male in a knotted crop top, shorts, and thigh-high socks. "Lee Donghyuk?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Jemin shares a warm smile in hopes that it would calm the tan boy down. "Come on in."

"Where's Mark?"

"Uhm...." Jaemin pauses, trying to listen for his friend. "He was upstairs last time I called him-"

"He's in the bathroom trying to look presentable." Chenle enters the front hall smiling. "Hi, I'm Zhong Chenle..." He takes a moment to look at Donghyuk's attire, his smile only growing wider. "You look so cute!! I wish I had the confidence to wear stuff like that."

Jaemin rolls his eyes. "I literally bought you a ton of cute clothes for your birthday, don't let it go to waste."

Donghyuk smiles, grateful that these two boys accepted his fashion style. Honestly, he was scared of what Mark's friends would think of him, but they both seemed very kind.

"Anyways." Jaemin turns back to Donghyuk after his mini-argument with the short Chinese boy. "I'm Na Jaemin, the mother of this friend group."

"And I'm-"

"Hyukie!" Mark brings his boyfriend into a tight embrace. "They didn't scare you did they?"

"Geez Mark, have some faith in us." Jaemin turns around and walks back into the kitchen. "I'm going to finish dinner, Donghyuk do you wanna help?"

"Nuh-uh Jaemin, you aren't stealing my boyfriend from me. Go invite your own."

Jaemin turns to face Mark in confusion. "I'm single." He deadpans.

Mark smirks. "Then who's Jeno?"

"HuH?"

"I said, then who's Lee Jeno?"

"I'm sorry- wh-what? How do you know about Jeno??" Jaemin's eyes widen in surprise.

Chenle smiles evilly. "Ooooo drama~~"

"You went through my phone, so I went through yours." Mark shrugs as if it was obvious. "Isn't Jeno your boyfriend?"

Jaemin gags. "Ew him? No no no-no-no. First off: He isn't my boyfriend, ew. Second: I don't even like him like that. Third: Dude what the fuck?"

Mark laughs. "Give it time Jaemin. Give it time."

"God, you're so weird, Mork Lee." Jaemin mocks his name, making Donghyuk snort.

∆∆

"You sure you aren't stalking me?"

"Oh my god, you literally asked me to come to the park with you Jaemin." Jeno rolls his eyes.

"I know."

Jeno laughs. "You're so weird."

"Indeed I am," Jaemin says coldly. Jeno raises a brow, he knew Jaemin was a generally serious person, but he just seemed off today.

"Are...you ok?"

Jaemin sighs. "Yeah, just stressed."

"What happened?"

"I have to work more hours at the bakery, I'm tutoring my friend but it's a bit difficult, and dance is getting kinda tough. Tournaments are soon which means we have more practices." Life was beginning to take a toll on Jaemin. He was getting less sleep, had less time for himself, and was so busy that he never got any rest. "On top of all of that, I still have to take care of the house. Do the laundry, grocery shopping, cook the meals and clean. God, I'm so tired." Jaemin sighs out. "My dad is out on a business trip, leaving me with everything."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"I don't know...I wish I could help more." Jeno sighs. He really did want to take some of the weight off Jaemin's shoulders, but he didn't want the boy to think he was pitying him.

Jaemin hums in response. "It's alright, I can manage."

"You're really strong, you know."

"I am?"

"Yeah..." Jeno lifts his head, admiring the sky. "The stars are really pretty."

Jaemin lifts his head as well. "They really are. They're why I like coming out here at night. In the park, you get a perfect view of the stars." Jaemin smiles softly. Jeno hums in agreement, turning to his friend. The moonlight shining across his face, his gentle smile. "Aren't they beautiful Jeno?"

"Yeah..." But Jeno wasn't looking at the sky. "Beautiful."

∆∆ ∆∆

∆Hey guys, here's another chapter. It's kinda bad but meh- I really don't wanna crazy rush this but I just might lmao idk. Also thank you guys so much for getting this book to over 180 reads. Frickin amazing. I love you all so much, see you soon∆