[ cнapтer one ➛ ѕтarт ]

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"What the fuck?!"

"Watch your language, young man!"

That brunette 'young man', Jaemin, groaned in response.

Only moments before, he was so joyful. The teenage boy attended a boarding school, and could only ever come home to kick back and relax three times a year — winter, spring, and summer break. Finally, after an exhausting year of tiring assignments, high expectations, and pressuring tests, he had two whole months to enjoy freedom. With the bright sun shining outside, lush greenery all around, and the lively spirit of summer, he was hyped for a perfect break.

Today, he had gone to the gym like he planned to do every day of break, as he actually had time to keep up a workout schedule now. Exhausted but content, he had arrived home, fully prepared to take a long ass bath then cuddle up on his bed and watch Netflix.

Unfortunately, his mother just had to ruin his perfect day.

Jaemin lived with only his mom ever since that day years ago when his father abandoned them. Neither were angry or sad about the ordeal — they moved from South Korea to America, and managed well without him. His mother, Na Gayoung, amassed quite a fortune, using her degree from a prestigious school to become financially successful. She was easily able to support Jaemin, and he loved her so, so much.

But at this very moment, he was not loving her. He wanted to die.

Mrs. Na's friend from her childhood, Eunha, or as Jaemin had to refer to her as when he was little, Mrs. Lee, was moving from Korea to live in North America with them. And that meant her son was to live with them as well.

To any other human, this news would not seem so devastating. After all, the small family was only going to live in the Na household until they found their own place, so it was not like they would provide such an inconvenience. However, Jaemin had a more than rough past with that son, and would rather die by suffocation than have him in his house.

Why did Jaemin hate this boy so much?

It was simple. Some small drama occurred with that boy, back when Jaemin and his mom still lived in Korea, which broke out into a fight and their dubbing each other 'enemies'. Following that was just a chain reaction — Jaemin and the boy hated each other, always pulling pranks that went too far, cursing each other out to no end, wrestling in physical fights. The younger had been so relieved when his mother announced they were moving halfway across the world.

But now this boy would come back to taunt him.

And who was this boy, exactly?

Jeno. Lee fucking Jeno.

"Mom," Jaemin whined, "You know I hate him! Why can't they find a hotel instead? Or Mrs. Lee can stay with us while Jeno lives in a ditch. Or they can just--"

"Enough, Jae," his mother sighed, her tone reflecting her obvious annoyance. "They will be moving in tomorrow and living here whether you like it or not!"

She knew her news wouldn't receive any positive reaction, but Eunha had been her best friend, helping her through thick and thin. Eunha was the one who told her to leave and follow her dreams when her husband left her. Allowing the Lees to stay at their house for as long as they needed was the least she could do.

"But-" Jaemin attempted his protesting again.

"No!" was his mother's angry response. "I understand you dislike Jeno, but his mother was my best friend! We must show good hospitality, and if you tried, you could get over your petty disagreement from the past and be friends again."

"We were barely friends to start with, mom!" The brunette rolled his eyes, disappointed in how his mother really believed he could just 'move on' from their 'petty fight'. "And he's an ass-"

"What have I told you about your language?"

"I should not be fucking swearing," Jaemin recited under his breath.

Before his mother could pick up and register his quiet words with her sharp ears, he whipped his body around to stomp to his room. He knew he was being embarrassingly childish, but he couldn't help it.

On his way to his room, he only became angrier. The bedrooms in the hallway were set up in such a way that the doors to the two guest rooms were either beside Jaemin's or across from his.

He'd either have to see Jeno first thing in the morning or have to hear his enemy's existence next to him all night.

This was going to be a shitty summer.

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"Eunha! You're here!"

"Gayoung! My, you look stunning!"

Chattering excitedly, the two women embraced and began unloading from their taxi, which Jeno slowly stepped out of. Jaemin had walked up, only to be respectful and say his greetings to Mrs. Lee, but that clearly wasn't happening any time soon. So now, he was left to watch Jeno.

The boy's appearance had changed since their younger days. He probably still had his infamous eye-smile, but puberty hit him like a fucking freight train. His jawline was well-defined, and his eyes piercing, covered by the soft black fringe of his hair.

Jaemin glanced over at the mothers, seeing them focused on only each other, so naturally, he shot Jeno his middle finger.

The latter mouthed the words, "Fuck you, too," as he grabbed his things from the trunk. His demeanor changed when he began to act bright and cheery, revealing his iconic eye smile to Jaemin's mom.

But as soon as he turned around, he reverted back to being the same old ass Jaemin remembered, stalking up to the latter and muttering, "You look like shit, but not as much as you used to."

Jaemin scowled and lead the asshole to the front door. "Wish I could say the same for you," he lied, "but I guess you'll have to live with looking like fucking trash."

Jeno clenched the handles of his suitcase and duffel bag, knuckles turning white as he tried desperately hard to not drop his things and leap at Jaemin. "That was a compliment, asshat."

"I could care less, dickhead," Jaemin shot right back, opening the front door.

He wouldn't have helped Jeno bring his things inside, but he knew his mother was watching them by now and would probably throw him in a landfill if he wasn't being a good host. With aggression, he snatched Jeno's things and hauled them into the house — easily, thanks to his frequent gym visits.

The stairs were directly in front of the entrance, so Jaemin threw Jeno's stuff at the foot of them, then went back around to help his mother bring Mrs. Lee's things in. It was a tiring and painful process, carrying everything inside, and not many words were exchanged except for more short greetings.

Mrs. Na ordered Jaemin to help Jeno with unpacking his things in what would be his bedroom for the next while, and that's how they ended up swearing non-stop at each other.

"Your face changed, but you're still the fucking weak, skinny Jae-shit I remember," Jeno laughed as he was transforming the former guest room into what would easily be recognized as his own. Trophies, pictures, posters, his guitars — all of it was being taken out by him and put somewhere in the room, on or against the walls.

"Bitch, I bet you fucking 69,000 V-bucks I could lift more than your ugly ass could," Jaemin retorted. His task was transferring all the clothes into the closet or dresser, and he was doing so in the least orderly fashion. He hung up the boxers and socks, shoved Jeno's leather and bomber jackets into the dresser ensuring wrinkles for days, and kicked the nicest clothes under the bed, creating chaos for his victim.

"I'm better at Fortnite than you. And I take it back, you look shittier than you did before now."

"You probably have -69 solo wins. And at least my dick is bigger than yours."

"You never had one in the first place, dumbass."

Insults continued until the guest room was finally filled with Jeno's belongings. On the outside, its appearance was spotless and organized, but on the inside, specifically in the dresser, closet, and under the bed, it was a total fucking disaster.

"Can't wait to spend a summer that'll suck ass with you."

"I fucking hate you too, hoe."

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[ cнapтer one ➛ end ]