Work Text:
Cameras rolling...
"Why did Jaehyun and Renjun broke up?"
Kim Doyoung
Age: 25
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun; friends with the both of them, but is closer with Jaehyun.
"I honestly expected it to happen. They were too young. Or maybe Renjun was too young to handle a serious relationship with Jaehyun. I still vividly remember when Jaehyun told me he likes Renjun - the new trainee from China, the same age as Jeno. I was so against it. I told him how I treat Jeno as my son, and he's liking someone just as young as him? Nonetheless, they pushed through, Jaehyun pursued Renjun, and waited for him until Renjun was at the right age to know the difference between infatuation and love. It eventually happened, they got together when Renjun was 18, and Jaehyun was 21. That's right, they only have a three year gap, but it was enough to create some sort of difference between preferences, opinions, and ideals. I think they broke up because of that. The difference must've been too much for them, so they decided to call their relationship off."
Lee Taeyong
Age: 26
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun; close friends with Jaehyun.
"I've known Jaehyun for so long, and know him better than he knows himself. That's why I immediately noticed that Jaehyun was liking the new kid. He was looking at him differently, especially when Renjun was singing. He helped him practice too, and I think that's what really made it obvious, because he would spend most of his individual practice time helping Renjun, dancing beside him, listening to him sing, guiding him in any way possible as if he's not a trainee himself. I was so happy when Jaehyun told me they're finally dating, after years of pursuing him, and I could see that Jaehyun was too. Everything about them is genuine, especially Jaehyun's feelings towards Renjun, that's why when he told me they broke up, I was so shocked. He never told me the reason why, and I never dared to ask. But it must've been the fact that we became busy, too busy to even take a break. We were in a different unit as Renjun, and it's really rare for us to meet, even personally. We went from places to places, and I think that's when everything started to fall apart. I saw Jaehyun's efforts to reach out for Renjun whenever we had a break, but even that isn't enough I guess. It's still a shame that they're no longer together, and I wish they would have the chance to fix it up. Sooner, or later."
Na Jaemin
Age: 21
Relationship: in the same unit as Renjun; friends with the both of them, but treats Renjun as his best friend.
"Renjun tells me everything. We have this activity that we do since trainee days, where we talk, just the two of us, sometimes in my room, but most of the time in his. We talk under the darkness, with just a few scented candles lighting up the whole room. We talk about everything - his family, his life before, and his feelings. That's when he told me about Jaehyun hyung. It was cute, really. Renjun was so confused because Jaehyun hyung would always follow him around and he didn't know if Jaehyun hyung really likes him or just sees him as a little brother. And Renjun has no idea what he's feeling for him as well. That's why when Hyung confessed, he told him to wait. I think that was a nice decision too, letting himself know what he feels first before getting into a relationship, and I saw how Renjun struggled to figure it all out - until he did. I was so proud of him, of my best friend, when he finally told me one night that he's ready, that he's going to let Jaehyun hyung claim him as his. I never knew about Jaehyun hyung, but I could tell that Renjun loved him dearly. I could see it from the way he smiles when he talks to him, may it be in person or on the phone. I could see it from the way Renjun gets flustered whenever his name is being mentioned - others may not notice it, but I can, because I know him that much. I could see and feel it when he told me stories of him, of them, while we're wrapped in his warm blankets. But I could also see how it's slowly fading, their relationship. How all the phone calls turned into missed calls, how the usual flustered face when Jaehyun hyung's name is mentioned turned into indifference, how the stories get lesser and lesser every single night, until Renjun has nothing to tell me about them. We talked about everything, except for the reason why their relationship faded. But even though Renjun never told me, I could see it. I could see how they slowly fell out of love with each other, or maybe on Renjun's part only. I never knew about Jaehyun hyung, but I think I know about Renjun's - I think he simply fell out of love."
Zhong Chenle
Age: 20
Relationship: in the same unit as Renjun; close friends with Renjun.
"Renjun-ge is like a brother to me. Ever since I entered the company and became a trainee, he's a constant part of my life. When we were trainees, I always had to learn how to speak and communicate in Korean, and thankfully, Renjun-ge is there to talk to me in Chinese in every way possible. He tells me stories, asks me questions about my life, and even cracks some jokes for me whenever the day gets tiring. I realised then that Renjun-ge has no one to talk to in his native language except for Sicheng-ge and maybe Kun-ge, but we were all busy to even talk to them after we debuted. I think that's why I understood how much Renjun-ge likes Jaehyun hyung the most, because he was gushing about it to me in his native language. He told me everything, from the way he was so sweet to him, and that he was so dependable, and helped Renjun-ge a lot in any way possible. When they started dating, I was always there for Renjun-ge, ready to listen to his stories, and even rants, when he gets too tired to think and speak in his foreign language. One thing that really resonated with me was when he told me he wished he could've met Jaehyun hyung in a different situation, in a different life, far different from what we are right now. Renjun-ge may never say it, but he's a guy who needs constant validation and assurance. And I think when things got busier for Jaehyun hyung, he lacked to give it to him. I think that's the reason why they broke up, because Jaehyun hyung failed to give Renjun-ge the assurance he badly needs, he badly wants."
Lee Donghyuck (Haechan)
Age: 21
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun and Renjun; close friends with the both of them.
"Renjun and Jaehyun hyung? God, they were really amusing to watch. When I first heard from Hyung that they're dating, I teased the both of them a lot. Like, a lot. Whenever I see them, together or not, I would always manage to throw in a joke or tease them about each other, and they always received it pretty well. You know the reason why I got close to Renjun in the first place was because he was pretty chill no matter how much I joke around him, no matter how much I make fun of him. But one day, Renjun just snapped. I teased him about Jaehyun, just like what I usually do. He suddenly told me to shut up, to get away from him and never talk to him again. We fought about it for days, until he said he's sorry, that he was just stressed that one time. Weeks after that, I just heard from Jaemin that they broke up, and I honestly still don't have any idea why. I guess they were never meant for each other."
Mark Lee
Age: 22
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun and Renjun; close friends with the both of them.
"Not gonna lie, I'm the most oblivious person in the world, and I had no idea they were dating until I caught them making out in Jaehyun hyung's room. Donghyuck even laughed at me about it, but ever since then I've been extra observant of them two. I even helped them set up dates for just the two of them, willingly going with them as third wheel or even just a look out, and thankfully we were never caught. I was so used of Jaehyun hyung asking me for help, or Renjun telling me that they have plans every end of the month or even week, that I immediately noticed something was wrong when they both didn't told me anything about their upcoming plans and dates even though it's been months since they've last went into one. I tried to ask them, but they both dismissed it. I figured I shouldn't interfere, and let them fix whatever they have to fix by themselves, but then months went by and I just heard they broke up already. I think I even heard Jaehyun hyung cry at Johnny hyung's room one day, but I never asked them why because I know they both would not want that, so I waited until they told me the reason why. But until now, they still haven't. And I respect that. It must've been a reason so grave, so hard to talk about that's why they never told anyone. And I wish all of us could respect that too."
Johnny Suh
Age: 26
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun; Jaehyun's best friend.
"I was there for Jaehyun, when he started liking Renjun, when he started pursuing him, when they started dating, and even when they were struggling to get their relationship straight. Jaehyun constantly asked for my advice, for my help, but honestly, I couldn't care less about their relationship. Because I liked him. And I wanted him to be with me. But I was never the reason why they broke up. God, I wish it was me though. I wish Jaehyun liked me back that's why he fell out of love with Renjun. But no, it's not. I'm not. It just happened you know? One day Jaehyun was happily bringing up their planned date to me, then the next he's crying, telling me that it's over. Did I ever get the chance to be with Jae after that? No, unfortunately. Jaehyun still loves Renjun. He never tells it, to me or to anyone, but I can see it. I can feel it. I'm still confused as to why they broke up, but even though I like Jaehyun, I want him to get back with Renjun. Only Renjun could ever bring the old Jaehyun. Only Renjun could ever make Jaehyun genuinely happy. Trust me, I tried."
Lee Jeno
Age: 21
Relationship: in the same unit as Renjun; Renjun's close friend.
"Most of our members thought it was me. The reason why Jaehyun hyung and Renjun broke up, they thought it was me. I don't really blame them, I get why they came to that conclusion. Renjun and I got really close, closer than we ever did before, right when things started to get blurry between him and Jaehyun hyung. We were always doing things together, always having something to talk about, always beside each other, and sometimes, even sleeping on the same bed. It was so easy to get along with Renjun, and maybe that's why I fell in love with him. I think the other members caught on that too, and I'm guilty for that. But no, Renjun never cheated. He would never do that to Jaehyun hyung, or to anyone. Even though it was obvious that I had feelings for him, Renjun never took advantage of that. And never reciprocated it as well, because his heart belongs to Jaehyun hyung only. To be honest, a part of me was happy when they broke up, because I thought I finally had the chance to be with Renjun, and to explicitly tell how I feel for him. We almost kissed one night, after they broke up, when he was crying and in need of someone to cry onto. It was a spur of the moment, I believe. We were leaning towards each other, but before our lips could meet, he broke down again, and said he's sorry. He told me he still loves Jaehyun hyung, and that he could never move on from him. I understood that, and told him it was fine. That's why I believe Renjun could never love anyone else, except for him. And that he can never unlove him, because Renjun isn't like that. I know, it's me who's going to be heart broken when that happens, when they finally get together again, but Renjun's happiness is what matters the most to me. And I know I could never make him happy, not as much as Jaehyun hyung."
Dong Sicheng (Winwin)
Age: 24
Relationship: in the same unit as Jaehyun; Jaehyun's only same aged friend and Renjun's father figure.
"Renjun and Jaehyun are both very important people to me. You could say that I'm the person responsible for them getting together. I helped Jaehyun pursue Renjun, and I helped Renjun get his feelings clear for him. I was so happy to see them together, finally having the chance to tell how they love each other. That's why when they broke up, I was so affected by it. You could even assume it was me who got his heart broken instead of them because of how affected I was by it. It's just that, they were both special to me, and all I ever wanted for them was to be happy. And seeing Renjun cry, and hearing Jaehyun suffer, really broke me. I don't think they fell out of love, or that they found someone else. I think it's because of the world we're living in right now, the job that we have right now. It's really hard to be with someone in this industry, especially for them, since gay relationships isn't exactly acceptable, just as much as dating in general. I think they were both pressured by that, and that pressure drove them to doubt their feelings, and to slowly drift away from each other. If you're going to ask me, I think they both deserve a chance; a chance to start over again, a chance to rekindle the love that they have with each other, a chance to be happy in the arms of the other without the fear of being caught and criticized by people. I hope that one day, they'll get that chance I badly want them to have."
End of the Interview