∆∆ ∆∆

"Jaemin! There's a guy named Hyunjin waiting for you." Sicheng pokes his head into the kitchen, throwing his thumb over his shoulder in indication. Jaemin raises an eyebrow but stops what he's doing and heads to the front of the bakery. Standing by the entrance is a tall boy with styled, jet-black hair. Plump lips, round nose, and wearing a loosely tucked-in button-up. It was indeed Hwang Hyunjin.

"Hyunjin? What brings you here?"

The older boy looks up from his phone and smiles softly at the boy before him. "Coach wasn't able to get a hold of you, so he sent me out here."

"To tell me what?"

"Practice is canceled today. Coach still needs to decide about the final line up for the tournament." Hyunjin shrugs.

"Oh...Ok, thanks for telling me. Guess I'll see you next week then." He smiles and waves as Hyunjin leaves the bakery. Jaemin turns around and heads back into the kitchen, eyes widening at the sight.

"Yuta hyung, explain this to me." he gestures to the batter on the walls and ceiling.

"Look-" The Japanese man raises his hand in defense. "In my defense, Taeil hyung asked me to stir the-"

"Yeah, stir. Not fricken-" Jaemin waves his hands dramatically. "Throw the batter." He sighs and waves the older boy out of the kitchen area. "Just...go back to serving cakes hyung." He covers his eyes and puts a hand on his hip. Yuta smiles and happily skips back out to the front of the bakery. Jaemin shakes his head. "I swear..."

∆∆

"Yah! Not so much salt!" Jaemin rushes over to the boy who kept pouring in the salt. "Stop it, you idiot! Not that much!" He takes a wooden spoon and walks his friend over the head. "God Donghyuk, I thought you said you wanted to learn how to cook."

Donghyuk only laughs in response. "B-but your face...It was so funny!" He puts the salt down and quickly apologizes when Jaemin threatens to hit him again. "Ok ok, I'm sorry. I'll restart it." He covers his mouth to hide the laugh that escaped.

"God, between you and Mark, you'll be having takeout every night." Jaemin sighs and dumbs the salty bowl into the sink. "Now, restart and do it right this time. I need to finish the noodles." He eyes his friend before turning back to the stove.

"Don't bully my boyfriend Jaemin!" Mark calls from the living room. The sound of Yukhei laughing soon follows. The 5 boys were at Chenle and Yukhei's house because Yukhei had just bought a puppy and they all wanted to see it.

A yapping sound comes from the living room, followed by the squeals of Chenle. Jaemin glares down and continues to stir the noodles. "Now I want a dog."

"Why not get one?" Donghyuk holds the bowl over to Jaemin. "It's all done."

"Just add it into the rice over there." The honey-haired boy points to a saucepan that was on the back burner. "Well, it's not like I can afford a dog." He sighs. "Plus, my dad would hate it anyways."

"You never see him, would he even know?" Donghyuk covers the pan with a lid and begins to wash the bowl in the sink.

"I guess...I don't know, maybe I'll just buy one when I move onto college."

"Do colleges allow dogs in dorms?"

"Only service animals. I plan on living in an apartment anyways." Jaemin smiles proudly. "I've been saving up, plus I requested more hours at the bakery for summer break so I could definitely afford one when the time comes."

"Daebak..." Donghyuk smiles widely. "You're honestly so amazing Jaeminnie."

The younger boy shrugs. "I try." He smiles to himself. Jeno said something like that himself.

'You're so strong...'

"So are the noodles ready?" Donghyuk's question snaps Jaemin out of his daze. He looks down at the pot in front of him.

"Y-yeah, can you get the colander out?"

"Yup!" Donghyuk smiles, popping the 'p'. Jaemin nods and turns the heat off. Donghyuk puts the colander in the sink and Jaemin pours the noodles in, watching the water drain through the holes.

"Ok, let's serve it up." The two boys finish plating the food before calling their friends into the living room.

"Dang, maybe I should just get you to cook for me every night Jaemin." Yukhei smiles happily, eating his food quickly.

"Well, Hyuk helped too." Jaemin gestures to his friend but the boy just shakes his head.

"Either way, you're an amazing cook."

"Aha...thank you hyung." Jaemin smiles, happy that people enjoy his food.

∆∆

"Alright, well, I'll be going. I need to study for an upcoming test." Jaemin steps outside, waving to his friends. Mark and Donghyuk had already left to go home.

Chenle pouts. "But hyung, it's Friday~"

"A good student never sleeps Zhong Chenle!" And with that, Jaemin pedals off.

He knocks his (new) bike by the 7/11 two weeks ago and enters the establishment. Immediately, he's hit with the smell of:

"Donuts..." Jaemin smiles and follows his nose, leading himself to the back of the store where a display of donuts sit. Fresh and glazed. "Beautiful." He takes a napkin and opens up the display case, taking out a couple of donuts and putting them into a bag the store so graciously put beside the case. Humming a soft tune, Jaemin pays for his donuts and heads back to his bike. He makes his way down to the park, figuring it wouldn't be horrible if he skipped studying for the night.

He climbs to the top of the playset, legs dangling between the safety bars. He opens his bag of goodies and takes out a glazed donut, smiling happily when he bites into it. It tasted just as good as it looked.

The pounding of feet and the gentle shouts of "fuck fuck fuck" draw Jaemin's attention to the sidewalk, where a familiar body shape was running. The person skids to a stop when they see Jaemin and they immediately run to the playset.

"Hide me Jaemin, fucking hide me." The boy crouches behind Jaemin, who was very confused about the situation.

"Jeno what the fuck are you doing out here?"

"Running from them." The older boy pants out.

"From who?" But Jeno just covers the boy's mouth with his hand and quickly points to the road where two young men come running.

"Jeno for god's sake!" The slighter shorter man says before turning to the other guy. "Maybe he kept going, but honestly, I don't feel like chasing him anymore."

"Well, we can't just leave him out here at this time of night." The other man says, resting a hand on his hip.

The first man shrugs. "I don't know...I mean, I can't really blame him though." He laughs and the two guys turn around and walk back in the direction they came from. "I remember your reaction to the suggestion. You were pissed."

"Oh shut up Doyoung!"

"That's hyung to you!" And the voices trail off till Jeno and Jaemin can't hear them anymore.

Jaemin rips Jeno's hand off his mouth. "The fuck?"

"I was running from my brothers."

"Why?" Jaemin lightly glares at his friend.

Jeno sighs and sits next to the boy, also letting his legs dangle from the safety bars. "Mom and dad want me to spend a month abroad at their U.S. branch of the company. To see how things are run."

"Ok? Why is that so bad."

Jeno shrugs. "I just, don't want to be involved with the family business. I don't want to work under my brothers like my parents planned. I already rejected their lawyer idea so this was their next best bet. But I want to make a name for myself, and not use my parent's name. I want to be my own Lee Jeno, not their Lee Jeno. You know?"

Jaemin nods along, sort of understanding. "....Want a donut?" He holds his second donut to his friend, who gladly takes it.

"Oh shit, this is good."

"I know right?"

"Did you make this?"

Jaemin laughs. "No, don't be stupid. I bought them at 7/11."

"Damn, they're good though," Jeno says, staring at his donut in wonder. Jaemin hums in agreement.

"I'm assuming you aren't going home tonight...So you can stay at my place if you want. We have a spare room." Jaemin offers.

Jeno raises a brow. "Would your dad mind?"

"He wouldn't notice, much less care. It's fine, the house is lonely at night anyways." Jaemin smiles. "Plus its payback for letting me crash at your place a couple of weeks ago." Jaemin stands and helps his friend up.

Jeno shrugs. "Alright, lead the way, Nana."

The two boys make their way towards Jaemin's house, laughing and talking. And occasionally getting yelled at by neighbors that they woke up.

∆∆ ∆∆

∆Hey, sorry it took me so long to update :/ I hope this chapter makes up for it though lol. Anyways, I start online classes Monday and I'm not ready for it :(( I was really hoping to have a longer spring break but alas, COVID disagrees. Anyways, I hope you're all staying safe during this pandemic, and I wish you all the best. See you soon∆