Author's Note:

*Sighs* school is starting again soon...

✮

Jaemin couldn't believe it.

He was running late– well, later than he usually goes to school, and had forgotten his ID due to being in a rush.

He better not be there.

Looking straight ahead, the school's main gate comes into sight; he speeds up with his backpack flopping on his back, he ignores the slight pain it gave.

But before he could take another step closer, an annoying low groggy voice yells at him. "Stop it right there," he sighs and shuts his eyes for a second, "where's your ID?"

"I left it at home."

A scoff was heard, "right, and I assume you left your other school stuff there too? Like your homework?"

Jaemin fights the urge to talk back, knowing it will just escalate from there. He opens his eyes to meet one of the strict school guards, the elder man was glaring at him as if he had done something wrong.

"Go get your ID."

"What?! But I'm going to be late if I do! I just walked to school." Jaemin couldn't help but complain, to be fair he was being reasonable this time.

Unlike last year with Donghyuck.

"Should've double checked if you had your school ID with you," the elder man replies, not letting him get away with this that easily.

Jaemin was a bit speechless; he wasn't wrong.

Jaemin should've made sure he had everything he needed for today, especially when he knows running this late before their flag ceremony starts will have a higher chance of coming face to face with the strict school guard.

"Go back home and get it. No ID, no entry. Sorry, kid." He bites his inner cheek hearing the elder man's words, mentioning the school policy.

He turns on his heel, shoulders slouched in defeat. He tries to think of another solution; going around the school campus and going through the other two gates can work, however, Jaemin is already tired from running late. Plus, there's so many people in a rush now, going through the other two gates as well.

You see, Jaemin had forgotten to charge his phone last night, meaning his alarm didn't go off. He also should've double checked on that as well.

Before he could think of just running past the guard, he looks up to see someone familiar.

A certain blond boy leisurely walks his way closer to the main gate, holding on his brown backpack that has two stars stitched on it, his hair neatly combed, he was alone, and it's the first time Jaemin has seen him all by himself walking to school.

To be fair, Jaemin does go to school pretty early.

He doesn't notice Jaemin standing there and almost walks past him to enter the school grounds. Almost.

"Hey!" Jaemin rushes towards him, slightly taking the boy by surprise. "Jeno, right?" He gets a nod, and before Jeno could even ask what he needed, Jaemin grabs him by the arm and pulls him to the side.

"Please help me enter the school!" Jeno raises a brow, looking at him as if he was crazy.

Or perhaps he's just too tired for all this energy bombarding him out of nowhere.

"Sorry, what?"

"I forgot my school ID and you know the school policy. Sir Edgar is assigned this morning," his eyes shift to the elder man by the gate, Jeno just listens quietly for Jaemin to finish.

"And I can't just go home to grab my ID, I'm going to be really late and I have my major for the first period!" He hisses, then he sees Jeno hesitating.

He pulls the blond boy closer by the arm, "please, man! Please as much as I want to just doze off in class, I can't today!"

Jeno couldn't help but roll his eyes at him, he thinks Jaemin is being ridiculous at the end or perhaps attempting to crack a joke just to persuade him.

He thinks about it before sighing deeply, Jaemin won't let him go... Quite literally. He's grabbing onto Jeno's arm and pulling him closer to the point some students are looking at them, wondering what's going on.

Not wanting more of the unnecessary attention and being late for the flag ceremony, he clicks his tongue. "Fine."

Jaemin's eyes glimmer hearing him give in, "but you owe me twice now." Jeno says and turns around, back facing the oblivious boy as he walks up to the guard.

Jaemin was unable to see Jeno smirking a little, he follows the blond boy and realizes what he meant.

"That's no problem then!" He smiles behind him, feeling confident in whatever Jeno needs in the future, he can do it for him as promised.

Besides, Jeno is Renjun's friend, he can't just back down on him and be ungrateful. Renjun seems a bit protective over Jeno like he is to Ryo anyway, so he doesn't want to start a fight.

"Good morning, sir Edgar." Jeno greets the elder man with a small smile.

Sir Edgar nods at him in response before eyeing Jaemin, before he could say anything, Jeno beats him to it.

"He's with me, sir."

"Sorry kiddo, he doesn't have his school ID, it's school policy." He shakes his head afterwards.

Jeno purses his lips together, "but sir, he merely forgot it, I'm sure he wears it all the time. Besides, at least he's wearing his complete school uniform, has his hair freshly cut to a decent length, and he's not late." He lists down, gesturing towards Jaemin's figure.

Jeno wasn't wrong, he gave out a pretty reasonable excuse in behalf of Jaemin's defense. Although, as much as he wants to mention Jaemin's last mistake by not wearing his school polo that time, he didn't want to embarrass Jaemin like that.

Besides, Jaemin basically doubled the amount of how much he owes Jeno.

Jaemin awkwardly stands there as the elder man scans him carefully, soon he nods slowly at Jeno's words. "Hmm, alright, I'll let him off this time."

"He won't do this again, right, Jaemin?" The mentioned boy nods frantically, lips curling up into a grin.

"I'll double check next time, sir!" He salutes the elder man, Jeno rolls his eyes at that.

He's too tired for this.

The elder man only waves him off, letting the two boys in the school. "You better." Was all they heard before hastily walking away.

Jaemin rushes up to Jeno with a wide grin plastered on his face, "thanks, dude! See you around!" He gives one last salute before running off to head towards their building.

Jeno could only shake his head at him, "I hope this won't happen again," clicking his tongue, he briefly checks the time. "I think I have time to get some coffee." He mumbles to himself, making a quick turn to where the nearest canteen is located.

✮

Author's Note:

Okay ngl, this happened to me as well lmao

I saved my classmates multiple times for wearing my complete uniform and school ID whenever they couldn't get in, and I was pretty reasonable towards the guards–

They owed me a lot of food afterwards :D