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When Jeno enters the frat house, the first thing he notices is Jaehyun sitting on the couch halfway passed out staring up at the ceiling as Doyoung rubs his stomach under his shirt. “What’s going on? Are you okay?” Jeno questions. “You know what, I’m not even gonna ask.”
Jaehyun lets out a weak but nonetheless happy laugh as he lazily gives a thumbs up to the younger boy. “I’m cool as a cucumber.” He jokes before groaning, regretting speaking.
Doyoung sucks in his teeth with impatience as he continues to rub Jaehyun’s stomach in hopes to lessen his uncomfortable, unsettling stomach. “You just had to have a hot dog eating contest.” He scolds with no venom in his tone as Jaehyun chuckles again. Doyoung isn’t part of the frat but rather an honorary member of this household. He’s connected with Jaehyun the hip anyways so he’s practically here twenty-four/seven.
“And lost ,” Johnny walks out of the kitchen behind Jeno with three water bottles. He looks fine compared to the puddle of a mess that is Jaehyun. He tosses one bottle towards Doyoung who never had the right ability to catch things flying towards him so Doyoung flinches and the bottle flies off of Jaehyun’s stomach, causing the man to groan in pain. “Whoops.”
“Babe!” Doyoung cries, rubbing Jaehyun’s stomach again. “Sorry, are you okay?”
Jaehyun whines. “Doie, if I die here, just know that I love you.”
“Don’t say that with your breath literally reeking of hot dog juice.” Doyoung reprimands.
Jeno feels Johnny press a water bottle against his arm and he looks up at the tallest man in the room. “What?” He asks and Johnny cocks his head towards behind the couch.
“Give Mark a bottle too.”
Jeno blinks. Mark? He takes the bottle and walks over to behind the couch where a Mark Lee is down laid on his stomach, face planted on the floor as Lee Donghyuck rubs his back. “Don’t ask.” Donghyuck says, not that Jeno even considered. He just gives Donghyuck the cold bottle so Mark can gulp it down in one shot.
“How are you feeling okay?” Jeno asks Johnny who has planted himself on the couch as he watches victoriously at the losers. Johnny gives him a smug smile and smacks the abs under his white tank top.
“It’s all in the guts, baby.”
“He’s lying. He threw up right after he won.” Taeyong walks into the room with a bag of medicine he had just purchased from the drugstore. He hands Doyoung and Donghyuck a pack each so they can feed their bedridden boyfriends. He flicks Johnny’s forehead. “All over my brand new bathroom mat.”
Johnny lets out an apologetic and nervous laugh. “Baby, I’m sorry.” He says, pulling Taeyong in by his waist and resting his chin right on Taeyong’s belly button so he can stare with the cutest kitten eyes he could muster at him. Taeyong only rolls his eyes but he finds his hands brushing through Johnny’s dark locks anyways.
Jeno almost wants to gag with the amount of PDA going on in just this room alone but he has several other concerns going through his mind right now like his very first thought wondering how he’d propose a university promposal for a certain Na Jaemin to be his date to the upcoming university gala.
It’s both fortunate and unfortunate that Jaemin is not part of their frat. Fortune because Jeno doesn’t have to be on guard so his feelings for the other boy does not explode in a mere second whenever he is a foot near Jaemin, and unfortunate because the presence of Na Jaemin is pretty much his energy source that he would like to feed every breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Like Doyoung, Jaemin is also considered an honorary member in the frat. He comes by often but not too often, especially when there is an upcoming party because Na Jaemin is not good with big crowds. Despite that, he still enjoys his time with everyone whenever he is here. Sometimes he swings by randomly, other times he drops by to hand Donghyuck notes from class, and then other chances he flashes Jeno a quick hello before leaving for class. He’s cool like that, one of the “bros,” Mark would say. Jaemin would come over to play computer games with Donghyuck and Johnny despite not having the slightest competitive streak.
Jeno finds it strange because for years now, he had no such feelings for Jaemin, but he figures it was the day they were all hanging around in the lounge when Jeno was showing Jaemin some funny dog videos on his phone and Jaemin being Jaemin scooted close, too close that Jeno smelled the sweet vanilla scent on the boy then the next moment he was thinking wow , were Jaemin’s eyelashes always that pretty up close?
And then to finally seal the moment, Jaemin asked some random question that Jeno does not remember because all he thought was how pretty Jaemin’s smile was and that was all it took for Jeno’s cheek to heat up like a tomato.
Now that he has recognized his harboring feelings for Na Jaemin, Jeno has done his best to keep it on the down low. Hell, Jaemin probably doesn’t even share the same feelings back, he can’t go messing up their friendship. But it’s so difficult because Na Jaemin is so cute and charming and hot and sweet and funny– sugar, spice and everything nice.
No one in the frat knows and Jeno would be damned if anyone (especially Donghyuck and Jaehyun) would know. Donghyuck because he and Jaemin go way back since high school and Jaehyun because Jeno thinks isn’t it a taboo to have feelings let alone wanting to date your frat brother’s younger brother? Jaehyun is his Big after all, the guy who initiated him into the fraternity, what would he think if he were to ever find out his Little is after his baby brother?
But Jeno wants to be Jaemin’s gala date so badly . He wants to hold hands with Jaemin, wear matching outfits, share a drink, and perhaps even slow dance with Jaemin. He’s been thinking about this ever since these feelings developed, fuck , of all the people in the frat he just had to fall for perfect little Na Jaemin. Why couldn’t he develop feelings for someone like Renjun instead who’s not in the frat at all so he wouldn’t go through all this trouble?
(Renjun is great and he’s an awesome friend but Jeno knows his frat brother Yangyang would most likely kill him if he were to ever make a move on his potential future boyfriend that he’s been courting for the past few weeks).
But Na Jaemin– god , Na Jaemin!
“What about Na Jaemin?” Donghyuck’s voice breaks through Jeno’s trance, realizing that he had just been lost in his thoughts and shouting the name of his crush for Donghyuck to hear. The boy raises a questioning eyebrow as he’s expecting an answer from Jeno. “Dude, you okay? You're really spacing out.”
“I’m fine.” Jeno replies through his teeth. “I just remembered Jaemin said he could be coming over later or something,” Which is completely a lie, if Jaemin were to tell anyone he’d be coming to the frat house, Jaehyun would know first, then Donghyuck, then Doyoung, then Taeyong, then Jeno. This further proves that Jeno is most likely not high up on Jaemin’s favorite list.
Donghyuck looks confused. “He did? Oh, weird, I didn’t hear anything from him.”
Jeno rolls his eyes.
❣❣❣
His first ever confession to his crush was in second grade. He was on the soccer team despite not even liking the sport but his mother encouraged him to join and somehow made it as the top player. His first crush always came to his games, cheering him on from the guidelines that he would hear when running with the ball.
Thinking back, Jeno finds how endearingly innocent he had been upon finding out that when he had the courage to confess, it turned out they had feelings for someone else on the team. First crushes were one thing, first rejections were another thing. Despite keeping his cool, Jeno felt the embarrassment and disappointment run through his body (he still thinks about it sometimes).
Crushes are dumb, Jeno thinks. He’d much rather hide it away and live his life single than to experience rejection ever again. Yes, it was only the second grade but his feelings were still valid, he gets embarrassed at the thought of ever getting rejected again.
Then in comes Na Jaemin walking into his life, the sole human to break Jeno’s no-crushing streak in years and frankly Jeno isn’t that quite upset about it.
The first time Jeno met Jaemin was when he had first been initiated into the fraternity. Fresh out of high school and just discovering his newly found freedom as a university student, the first thing on his list was to make friends and joining a frat just seemed like a great idea at that time.
Jaehyun was a big help as his Big. He introduced him to everyone and through Jaehyun, he got close with Mark and Donghyuck, and later unofficially adopted by Doyoung. And as their friendship circle grew, he met everyone else outside the frat like Renjun and Shotaro.
He stumbled upon meeting Jaemin one day when stepping into the frat house after soccer practice. Though it was brief and Jaemin never introduced himself when he left so Jeno resorted to asking Jaehyun. “Oh, that was my little brother,” Jaehyun answers, “ Biological little brother. He’s not part of our frat, but came over just now to give me lunch!”
Jaemin is close to Donghyuck and Renjun, therefore he came around to get close with Jeno too. Not realizing his feelings at the time yet, Jeno enjoyed spending time with Jaemin. The younger boy was fun to hang with and easy to talk to despite some moments of Jaemin’s weird antics. They became close and soon it became Jeno and Jaemin and Jaemin and Jeno; not one without the other and Jeno’s heart flutters at the thought. He’s often heard people say his sharper looks compliments Jaemin’s softer face.
He looks at himself in the mirror, examining his face by the turns and angles of his head and wondering what part of him Jaemin would appreciate. To be frank, he thinks he’s pretty handsome on a confident level. He’s got that sharp face, jawline, handsome eyes, and a rocking set of abs down but he doesn’t think Jaemin would be that shallow to care about looks that much.
“You’re going to give yourself a neck cramp if you keep looking at yourself like that.” Jeno can see someone walk into the dance room through the mirrors. Hyunjin is drenched in sweat after their routine a moment ago and he struggles with tired bones to pick up his baseball cap to neatly place it on his head.
Sometime around high school, Jeno picked up a passion for dance and choreography, though he kept it on the low considering everyone had expected him to pursue soccer. It’s strange that he’d continue that sport for everyone else’s expectations when really he loves the thrill of performing on a stage.
“What’s with the look?” Hyunjin asks, looking at his fellow dancer’s reflection.
“Would you date me?” Jeno asks without thinking and Hyunjin dramatically reacts with several giant steps backwards.
“Whoa man, sorry, I have a boyfriend.”
Jeno rolls his eyes. Everyone has a boyfriend these days. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Good because Seungmin is cute but he will cut your balls off if you’re after me.” He meant it as a joke but Jeno has met Seungmin once and honestly he’s only hoping it’s a joke. “So, what’s with this whole dating question thing?” Hyunjin asks as he takes a seat on the floor.
Jeno sits down across from him and grabs an empty water bottle to play around his hands. The other two empty bottles are Yangyang and Shotaro’s; Jeno should remind them to clean up after themselves. “Just wondering if I would look good enough to be someone’s boyfriend.”
Hyunjin giggles. “What? Dude, you? You’re totally hot!” He says, dramatically swinging his arm around to get his point across. “If I weren’t so in love with Seungmin, you’d totally be my type. You’re handsome, hot, cool, nice, funny– well, I don’t know about the last part. But you’re a whole package, my man. What’s this about? Are you trying to court someone?”
“What? No! Just…you know, thinking…”
Hyunjin hums. “Okay then. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to but hey if you ever need relationship advice, I’m your guy!”
Jeno gives him his famous eye smile and daps his hand. “Thanks, dude. I can always count on you.”
❣❣❣
“Hey, are you mad at Mark?” Instant regret when the words left Jeno’s lips. He should really know how to keep his mouth shut from minding other people’s businesses. Donghyuck denies his questions but the slam of his locker proves otherwise, scaring some of the freshmen walking by. Jeno also jumps at the shock of how loud the slam was. “Geez, don’t blame the locker.”
“I’m not mad at Mark.” Donghyuck reiterates his answer. “How could I be mad at Mark when’s such a perfect boyfriend who hasn’t bought me any of my favorite flowers or put on any special shows to ask me out for the upcoming gala? No, of course I’m not mad at Mark Lee.”
Phew, so Jeno isn’t the only one worrying about a date to the gala. But the only difference is, Mark and Donghyuck are together, they pretty much have their dates settled; Donghyuck is just being dramatic with the whole asking-me-out-to-prom-show fiasco. Meanwhile Jeno has no boyfriend nor any idea how to ask out Jaemin.
“Okay, let’s see when Mark does ask you,” Jeno thinks about his words, “how…would you like to be asked out?”
Donghyuck clears his throat like he already has everything planned out in his head. “In the morning I want a bouquet of sunflowers sent to my locker with a corny joke written in a note. Then during my music theory class someone comes in to give me a soft chocolate cake. It has to be music theory because I’m trying to show off to Renjun for being single, and then finally Mark Lee is waiting in front of the university with his guitar to serenade me before asking me out to the gala–...wait why are you asking this? Did Mark set you up for this?!”
“No, no, he didn’t.” Jeno replies. But even if he did, it’s not like he’d remember anything Donghyuck just said. “Just curious, because you know, I don’t know how to propose to someone to be my date.”
“Propose to someone…Lee Jeno!” Donghyuck squeals in a high pitch tone, his anger from just a few seconds ago immediately diminishing. “Lee Jeno! Are you perhaps planning to ask someone out for the gala?! Tell me, tell me! Who is it? Is it Yeji? No, Chowon? Wait, don’t tell me it’s Hwang Hyunjin!”
“No! It’s not any of them! I’m not planning to ask anyone out!”
“You just said you were!”
“No, I didn’t!”
“Didn’t what?” A sweet voice comes from down the hall and Jeno could recognize that voice anywhere from campus or in his dreams. He turns to see Na Jaemin walking towards him with Renjun by his side, both of them giving Donghyuck and him curious looks. “What’s with the shouting? I could pretty much hear you in the art wing.” Jaemin asks the two of them.
Donghyuck jumps up and down excitedly. “Lee Jeno is planning on asking someone out to the gala!” He bursts and Jeno exasperates under his breath. Lee Donghyuck really has the biggest mouth when it comes to gossip.
Jaemin blinks for a couple of seconds and wow his eyelashes are so pretty. He looks at Jeno. “You’re planning to ask someone to the gala?” He questions and Jeno internally panics but plays it cool by nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders and rubbing the back of his neck with a sweaty hand.
Jeno bites his bottom lip. “No, Donghyuck is just spitting nonsense.” The great thing about having good acting skills is that Jeno can easily lie without any suspicion. The bad thing about having good acting skills is that he hates lying to anyone, especially to Na Jaemin. “What about you? Are you asking someone to the gala?’ Something in the question tugs at Jeno’s heart at the thought of Jaemin asking or waiting for someone else to bring to the gala but he needed to ask.
Jaemin shakes his head. “Not at the moment,” he answers as Jeno hums but internally sighs with a huge relief. But as it turned out, he actually had sighed out loud and it perked Jaemin’s eyebrows in question. “Are you satisfied that I’m not?”
“Huh?” Jeno looks up to see the other three staring at him. “Oh, uh, no it’s just, you know, I haven’t either.”
“So you are planning to ask someone?” Jaemin questions further.
“I– no! No, I’m not!”
Jaemin stares at him for a couple of seconds and Jeno almost breaks down wanting to confess all his love right here that he has been holding in for months. But then Jaemin smiles, nudging Jeno’s shoulder with his own. “Chill, you look like I’m going to bite your head off. You can ask whoever you want to the gala.”
Jeno pouts because he only wants to ask Jaemin but he’s a coward and Jaemin shouldn’t get together with cowards. “ANYWAYS–” Donghyuck’s high pitched voice breaks their looks as he throws himself onto Jeno’s shoulders. “Let’s hit the cafe now! I want to stuff myself with strawberry shortcakes until I’m done being mad at Mark.”
“You’re always mad at Mark.” Renjun comments with a gentle eye roll. “But yeah let’s go to the cafe. Yangyang and Shotaro are already there.”
Donghyuck smirks and there’s something sly the way his lips curled. “Speaking of Yangyang, has he done anything yet?” He asks as they start making their way down the hall.
Renjun looks confused. “Done what?” He asks genuinely and Donghyuck groans dramatically as Jeno rolls his eyes. “Stop being weird and tell me. What has he not done?”
“You’re going to ask him yourself.” Donghyuck shrugs with a giggle. “Off to the cafe we go!”
Jeno knows Jaemin’s coffee order. It’s horrendous but he knows it. That’s why Jaemin always sits down first as Jeno stands in line with Renjun and Donghyuck. They’re whining about something in music theory and Jeno waits for his turn to finally be next. Iced Americano, no water, 4 extra espresso shots. He doesn’t blame the surprised look on the worker’s face; Jeno has tried it once and once was already enough.
“It amazes me that you always memorize that.” Renjun says. It was meant to be casual but something stirs in Jeno’s chest.
“Of course Jeno does. You know how very attentive he is with Jaemin.” Donghyuck replies just as casually and Jeno almost wants to combust. Is he too obvious?
Jeno chuckles to hide his nerves. “It’s because Jaemin orders the same thing every time when you guys literally order everything off the menu.” He says, grabbing the drinks right when his name was called and sees the way Renjun and Donghyuck’s head bounce in nods.
“Oh, I love this song,” Donghyuck says, changing the subject when he hears the music playing through the cafe speakers and he can’t help but sing. “Do you mind~if I~ steal a kiss?~”
At the table, Jaemin is softly chatting away with Yangyang and Shotaro when he hands him his coffee. “Thank you,” Jaemin smiles at Jeno, which of course he immediately returns back. He sits across from him, watching Jaemin happily sip his drink as the others converse about whatever the topic is today. And then when Jeno finds himself playing footsies with Jaemin under the table, he feels the string in his heart tug just a little harder.
❣❣❣
One thing Jeno likes about Jaemin is that the boy could be the least competitive guy to walk on earth and yet still win at the games he plays. The frat guys love having Jaemin play on their team because Jaemin has impeccable sniping skills and amazing reflexes despite being a stickler for not playing video games. But despite how good he is at it, he has Jeno to thank.
“Can you teach me how to play?”
It was during their sophomore year when Jaemin asked him. He specifically remembers Jaemin had walked into his dorm room with the intention of hanging out only to find Jeno in the middle of a game with his friends. He remembers the way Jaemin had frowned when Jeno first declined his request but eventually gave in to the Jout (the Jaemin pout).
Of course at that time, Jeno had no feelings towards Jaemin other than a blossoming platonic friendship but when he thinks back on it, he can still see himself hovering over Jaemin sitting in his chair with his hand over Jaemin’s smaller hands on the mouse and keyboard.
“I want to be on Jeno’s team.” Jaemin wraps his hands around Jeno’s forearm as if to prove a point. He hugs it to his body, smiling at the way Johnny and Mark groans in the middle of the internet cafe after trying to convince him to be on their team for once but Jaemin never accepts. It’s funny because the first time Jaemin ever tried to play with them, Johnny and Mark refused because gaming never fit Jaemin’s personality until they played one game and lost within a second, and now it’s become “Jaemin is one of us gamers,” “Yeah, Jaemin is cool,” and “is Jaemin coming over to play a round?”
“I’m always on Jeno’s team.” Jaemin says, smiling into Jeno’s shoulder and Jeno bites his bottom lip to hold back a scream. On the side, Jaehyun cheers because he and Jeno are also always a team as each other’s Big and Little so therefore he also has Jaemin as a bonus.
“No fair, you always get the matching set!” Johnny points a finger at the two and Jaehyun only shrugs with a smug smile. “Share for once!”
“Hey, you just said they're a matching set. You can’t have one without the other, right guys?” Jaehyun turns to smile at Jeno and Jaemin, and only if his Big knew how heavy those words are to Jeno.
On the days when Jaemin plays with them, they always win. Jeno knows how competitive Jaehyun can get with anything despite the fact that he’s always the first dead, Jaemin always comes in with a clutch to save the game. “It’s because I’ve been taught by a great teacher,” Jaemin says, smiling at Jeno as Mark huffs from across the room.
“Jeno’s always the second one dead after Jaehyun, some teacher he is.” Mark comments.
Jaemin leaves after a couple of more rounds, proving that he’s the saving grace when Jeno and Jaehyun lose every game after his absence. Johnny and Mark clap in victory as Jaehyun sighs into his palms. “How could my baby brother be so good at games?”
“He’s amazing,” Jeno replies without thinking as he stares at the giant YOU LOST on his screen. “He picks up techniques real fast and knows his way around places and is quick with his hot keys. He’s a great gamer.” He turns to look at Jaehyun who blinks at him and Jeno panics. “W–Well that’s what I taught him! He’s just great at gaming in the first place, I think.”
Jaehyun hums. “You’re right, my brother is one of a kind. That’s why if he ever starts dating someone, they better be perfect ,” he smacks his right fist into his left palm, “or else they’ll have to answer to me.” Jeno gulps, turning back to look at his screen because he’s terrified at Jaehyun whenever the man is riled; and yeah Jaemin’s future partner better be good to him otherwise they’ll have to answer to Lee Jeno as well.
“Baby, you can’t scare anyone.” Doyoung’s voice chimes as he and Taeyong walks into the room with snacks and drinks from the food court. He feeds his boyfriend a cookie. “It’s up to Jaemin to date whoever he wants.”
Jaehyun frowns but chews on the cookie. “But babe, you love Jaemin too. He deserves someone perfect to take care of him.”
“Yeah, someone like Jeno.” Mark says and the boy in question freezes in the middle of his chocolate bar but Mark doesn’t see it. “Jeno takes care of Jaemin well. He knows his coffee order, things that Jaemin likes and doesn’t like, looks out for him, walks him to class, he’s a great friend.” Ouch at the last one.
Taeyong scoffs as he stops playing with Johnny’s hair. “You mean things you should consider for Donghyuck?” He redirects the attention to him, much to Jeno’s luck. “When was the last time you ever bought Donghyuck flowers?” He pauses for a moment, and then looks down at Johnny in his seat, “Wait, when is the last time you ever bought me flowers?”
“Oh, uh…” Johnny panics and looks at Mark who is also panicking. “W-Well, Donghyuck is upset because Mark still has not asked him to the gala yet!”
“ What ?” Both Taeyong and Doyoung immediately turn to look at Mark. “ LEE MINHYUNG .”
Mark startles and cries at Johnny. “Dude!”
“Sorry, I panicked!”
Taeyong grabs Mark by his cheeks, jutting them out like a fish so he’s forced to look into Taeyong’s sharp eyes. “Mark Lee, what do you mean you haven’t asked Donghyuck to the gala yet? It’s only two weeks away!”
Jeno gulps. Two weeks.
“I’m trying!” Mark says despite having his cheeks squished. “But Donghyuck is mad at me, he won’t even look at me!”
Doyoung facepalms. “So you do something about it!”
“I don’t know what to do!”
“ Think !”
“I know what you can do.” Jeno finally speaks up. “He told me what he wants in a promposal so you just have to do that.” It’ll be risky because Donghyuck is smart, he’ll know that Jeno told Mark what to do but if the Canadian boy plays his cards and songs right, he’ll get Donghyuck kissing his face all night long.
“What?!” Mark jumps out of his seat and runs to Jeno’s side. “Dude please, my bro, my best friend, you have to tell me what he wants me to do.”
Jeno pauses. “Okay, but chores for two months.”
“Deal!”
❣❣❣
Lunchtime the next day, Jeno sees the way Donghyuck walks into the lounge room with the brightest smile on his face and the biggest bouquet of sunflowers in his arms. “Oh~” Shotaro starts the cheers first as Donghyuck sits down on the couch next to him. “Someone finally made up with his boyfriend.”
Donghyuck is too happy and giddy for any snarky comments so he just sits there giggling into his sunflowers. Jeno almost wants to scoff at the scene but still chooses to ask, “So, what did he do?” He regrets asking because Donghyuck pulls a note out of the bouquet and reads the cheesiest pickup line ever.
“ Are you a sunflower? Because you are my sunshine ~” Donghyuck squeals as the rest of their same aged friends squeals along, especially Jaemin who is a sucker for these kinds of romantic gestures. “I’m so happy right now, I’m not even mad at Jeno for telling Mark everything.”
“I didn’t tell Mark anything.” Jeno lies. He’s been lying a lot these days. “Swear on my grave and computer.”
Yangyang gasps. “He swears on his computer.”
Donghyuck narrows his eyes at him but takes the lie anyway, smiling when he reads the note over and over. Jaemin giggles each time Donghyuck reads it out loud, his feet kicking in the air and his body falling into Jeno’s side. “Mark Lee is so romantic!” Jaemin says, giggling with Donghyuck.
Jeno scoffs at the side but watches with an endearing smile at the way Jaemin keeps making Donghyuck read the note over and over. “I hope someone asks me out like this too.” Jaemin says with a cute pout. “I want to be swept off my feet.”
Jeno turns to Jaemin. “Swept off your feet?” He asks because well, mental notes.
Jaemin nods, flashing Jeno a smile. “Something not as dramatic as Donghyuck though. But you know, just someone who knows what I like, but that’ll be difficult for anyone to know.”
“Well to be fair, you like the weirdest coffee order.” Renjun points his spicy sauce covered fork towards Jaemin. “Unless you’re Jeno.”
“Speaking of Jeno,” Donghyuck grins at the boy. “Have you asked out your date yet?”
And there it is, the panic through Jeno’s body with five pairs of eyes staring right at him. “This again? I’m telling you, I’m not asking anyone out.”
“Why not?” Shotaro asks with a mouthful of rice cake. “You’re so handsome, Jeno. I’m sure people are lined up to ask you out.”
Yangyang chuckles next to him. “Yeah! I sat next to Eric in economics and he said you’re totally his type.”
“Same with Felix and Karina,” Renjun adds, “You can ask anyone, Jeno, I’m sure they’ll say yes.”
Jeno frowns. He doesn’t just want anyone , he wants the boy sitting next to him chewing on gummy bears but leaves out the strawberry flavored ones. “Doesn’t mean I’ll say yes just to anyone.” He says and finally the others nod, understanding his meaning but when they all turn back to their own conversations like how Yangyang still hasn’t asked one either and Donghyuck is nudging him to ask Renjun, Jaemin leans into Jeno’s space for a soft whisper.
“I’m sure they’re joking,” Jaemin says softly with a gentle smile. “You don’t have to ask anyone if you don’t want to, but it’s true that you can ask anyone. A lot of people find you attractive, Jeno.”
Hearing that from Jaemin has a totally different vibe that hearing that from Renjun. He smiles. “Thanks, Nana.” Jeno says and pauses for a moment. “What about you? Are you expecting someone to ask you to the gala?”
Jaemin hums. “Not really. I’m probably not even going to go. You know how big parties aren’t my thing.” Jeno nods because it’s true. Jaemin is rarely at the frat parties the brothers hold considering a lot of people in one room makes him feel anxious. But Jeno also knows that Jaemin likes beautiful nights like dressing up in a tuxedo with everyone else just as dressed up, going to pretty places, eating tons of fancy food, and taking pretty pictures.
“Well,” Jeno looks deep into Jaemin’s pretty eyes. “For all I think, you shouldn’t miss a perfect night to dress up and anybody would be lucky to take you to it.”
❣❣❣
One week later and Jeno still has not developed the courage to ask Jaemin to the gala. It’s frustrating, he knows, because he’s been trying his best to build up enough confidence to say “ Hey, you and me, gala, let’s go,” but he chokes on the words every time he meets eyes with Jaemin. Just the other day when he thought he was strong enough to ask, suddenly he was talking about how the weather affects bird migrations.
“You still haven’t asked someone yet?” Doyoung questions as he measures a handsome tuxedo in front of Jeno’s build. He and Jaehyun are roaming around the shopping mall to look for nice outfits for the gala and Doyoung being Doyoung dragged Jeno along too because he loves dressing his boyfriend’s Little in nice outfits. “Jeno, the gala is a week away.”
Jeno shrugs, stuffing his hands into his pockets as Doyoung switches outfits back and forth in front of him. “I’m probably not going.” He admits, causing Doyoung to frown at his words. “I don’t have a date.”
“You don’t have to have a date to attend the gala. It’s not mandatory.”
“Yeah but it’s sad.”
Doyoung chuckles lightly. “Okay, so ask someone? I’m sure they’ll say yes.”
“What if I’m scared to ask them?”
Doyoung raises a brow at him. “Oh? Do you have someone in mind?” He asks and Jeno shrugs again.
“Kinda…but I’m just scared to ask. Every time I think I would be able to, I choke.”
“You sound like Jaehyun when we first started dating.” Doyoung grins. “Take your time but don’t be scared. The worst they can say is no and then you just go on with your life.” Doyoung is both right and wrong. Jaemin has every right to say no and yeah Jeno respects that, but then he thinks he won’t be able to live knowing it might have caused damage to their friendship.
“Babe!” Jaehyun’s little whine comes from the fitting room. “The top is a little small.” He comes out of the booth with a pout from the two buttons barely hanging on around his chest.
Doyoung rolls his eyes but smiles. “Seems like you’ve been working out your chest a lot. Let’s get you a bigger size.”
Jeno follows his Big and his Big’s boyfriend back to the racks where Doyoung searches for a better top for Jaehyun’s tux. They’re conversing with themselves and Doyoung would give little teases about how Jaehyun can’t do anything without him and Jaehyun would just laugh in response. Jeno wonders what they were like before they started dating; if perhaps they were close friends who slowly developed feelings for each other.
“Are you hungry?” Jaehyun asks Jeno when they finished their shopping and gets into his car. Jeno settles himself in the backseat and nods. Shopping can really take up a lot of his energy. “Alright, let’s get something to eat.”
Car rides with Jaehyun and Doyoung always reminds Jeno of how he used to drive around with his family. Doyoung would occasionally point random things out on the streets and Jaehyun would turn up the music when it’s his favorite song on the radio. Something in Jeno feels grateful he had met Jaehyun because through him he met Doyoung and Jaemin.
They arrive in front of a sushi bar and Jeno sees a familiar figure waiting outside the restaurant. “Jaemin!” Jaehyun calls, waving an arm at his younger brother.
Jaemin frowns. “What took you so long?” He says and Jaehyun chuckles apologetically about how it took longer to find a tux that finally fit him. Jaemin pouts but everyone knows he’s never upset, especially by the smile he sends Jeno’s way. “Did you find an outfit too?”
Jeno startles at the sudden question. “Uh, yeah. It’s in the car. Doyoung hyung picked it out for me.” He says and Jaemin hums, reaching so he can wrap his hand around Jeno’s bicep so they could walk into the restaurant together. Jeno thinks it’s a habit by now because Jaemin just likes to hold onto something while he walks and Jeno would always offer his arm.
“Can I see you try it on later?” Jaemin asks as they trail behind Jaehyun and Doyoung. “I bet you’ll look handsome.”
“Oh, yeah sure.” Jeno replies cooly, his arm getting warm from Jaemin’s touch.
The four of them sit at the table and Jaehyun takes the honor of ordering their dishes as Jeno sets the soy sauce and wasabi mix for Doyoung and Jaemin, giving the younger boy less wasabi because he can’t handle the instant hit of spice that well.
“So Jaemin,” Doyoung begins, dipping an avocado roll into the sauce, “Has anyone asked you to the gala yet?”
Jaemin shakes his head, mouth full of shrimp tempura. “No, no one asked me. I don’t think I’m going at this point.”
“Are you waiting for someone to ask?” Jaehyun questions next and Jaemin stays quiet for a second before Jaehyun speaks again, “if not, then why don’t you and Jeno go together?”
Jeno chokes on his salmon roll and both Doyoung and Jaemin reach to give him water which he takes from Doyoung. “Sorry, the rice was really dry.” He lies as Jaemin frowns and rubs his back gently for comfort. “But, uh, I don’t think I’m going to the gala either.”
Doyoung frowns this time. “Not even with Jaemin? You can go as friends.” That’s the thing, Jeno doesn’t want to go as just friends .
Jaemin turns to look at Jeno with a small smile. “I don’t mind going with you. We’re a matching set, aren’t we?”Jeno stares into Jaemin’s pretty eyes and wonders if the little spark in those orbs also feels the same way Jeno has been feeling for the past few months.
“I…I’ll think about it…” Jeno pathetically replies.
After dinner, Jeno walks Jaemin back to the dorms when they separate with Jaehyun and Doyoung. Jaemin is still holding Jeno’s arm and he rests his pretty head on his shoulder because he’s tired from having a long day.
“I want to see you in the tuxedo.” Jaemin eyes the shopping bag in Jeno’s hands. “Let’s go to your dorm.”
Jeno chuckles. “No, I’m bringing you back to your room. I promised Jaehyun hyung I would.”
Jaemin pouts. “You can still walk me back to my room after we hang out at yours. It’s not like my brother gave me a curfew. Come on, I want to see you in the tuxedo~” Jeno sighs because he knows he’d never win against Jaemin so eventually they do end up in his room; thankfully Mark and Yangyang are out so they have the whole space to themselves.
“Wait here.” Jeno says as Jaemin sits down on his bed with the brightest smile on his lips. He brings the bag and himself to the bathroom and closes the door, feeling his heart race faster than ever. It’s not like it’s the first time Jaemin has ever been in his room, but each time he’s here (especially when they’re alone) Jeno can feel the rise of butterflies flying around inside his belly.
He changes into the tuxedo and looks at himself through the mirror. The tux is a nice shade of navy that Doyoung had specifically picked out for him and he has to admit that he does look quite nice in it. He comes out of the bathroom to see Jaemin looking up from some rando magazine Jeno had laying around and he sees a flash of spark in Jaemin’s eyes.
“Wow,” Jaemin says, standing up slowly without a single blink and he makes Jeno feel nervous. The boy does a circle around him, looking up and down and nodding as if he’s approving everything. “As I expected, you look very handsome.”
Jeno scoffs. “That’s all you have to say?”
Jaemin hums and picks up the watching tie set on the bed. “That’s all I need to say.” He says as he starts to wrap the tie around Jeno’s neck and he’s so close that Jeno could practically bump his nose against Jaemin’s (which he really wants to). Jaemin’s hands are delicate as he ties the knot and loosens it just enough for it to be comfortable. “There, so handsome.” Jaemin whispers against Jeno’s lips and the boy gulps.
He’s only ever been this close spaced with Jaemin one other time when the younger boy had fallen asleep on him during one of their movie nights, but right now, Jaemin isn’t asleep and is fully awake to give Jeno his charming smile.
“Do you know how to ballroom dance?” Jaemin asks genuinely but Jeno only shakes his head. Jaemin pouts. “All you know is hard choreography dances. You should know how to ballroom dance too.” He insists and without parting with Jeno, takes out his phone to connect with the speaker in order to play some random music. “Put your hands here,” Jaemin says without giving Jeno any time to process when he takes the older boy’s hands to place on his thin waist. Jeno gulps again. Jaemin giggles. “Don’t be so nervous.”
Jaemin moves even closer when he puts his own hands on Jeno’s broad shoulders, leaning in so their lips are just barely apart. “Now, follow my lead.” He says and if Jeno passes out right here at how wonderful Jaemin smells, he’d still be happy.
❣❣❣
“Give this to Jaemin.” Jeno hands Donghyuck a pack of medicine. He rolls his eyes when Donghyuck doesn’t take it but instead raises a brow in question as to why he should be giving this medicine bag to his roommate. “I saw Jaemin drinking orange juice this morning.”
Donghyuck’s eyes dart around everywhere in confusion. “Okay???”
Jeno rolls his eyes again. “Jaemin only drinks orange juice when he isn’t feeling well, so I bought medicine for him. Get it?”
“What do you mean Jaemin isn’t feeling–,” Donghyuck pauses and thinks for a moment, something Jeno wonders if this was the first time the boy had ever had a smart thought. “Oh, that would explain his coughs last night.”
“So give this to him.”
“Why don’t you give it to him?”
“He doesn’t like to see me when he’s sick.” Jeno explains bitterly because he very much wants to see Jaemin everyday. “You’re fine though, he doesn’t mind if you get sick.”
Donghyuck’s mouth drops, offended by the comment but still grabs the medicine from Jeno’s hands. “Y’all will be the end of me, I swear.”
Jeno meets Jaemin in front of his dorm room anyways at the end of the class after Donghyuck had forced him to take the medicine. He has bed head from waking up from his nap and Jeno finds it the cutest view he’s ever seen. “I brought snacks.” Jeno says, smiling as he shakes a bag of Jaemin’s favorite goodies that he knows Jaemin would never refuse.
“I’m sick.” Jaemin says.
“And I’m bored so we both have our struggles.” Jaemin rolls his eyes before he leads Jeno inside and plops down on his bed tiredly. Jeno joins him after kicking off his shoes and the younger boy rolls over to give him some room under the covers. “What movie should we watch tonight?” Jeno asks, grabbing Jaemin’s laptop.
“Anything,” Jaemin mumbles, burying himself into Jeno’s side. “Just cuddle me.”
Jeno does just that, letting Jaemin throw an arm around him as Jeno lets Jaemin rest his pretty little head on his shoulder. His fingers run through Jaemin’s brown locks and he hears him hum at the touch.
“You’re so warm,” Jaemin says and Jeno chuckles.
“I’m your human furnace.”
Movie nights are always Jeno’s favorites; he’s never into the movies they’re watching when Jaemin is huddled up next to him like this.
Donghyuck walks into the room just when Jaemin has started to fall asleep and Jeno immediately brings his finger to his lips in hopes to keep Donghyuck quiet, which he does but not without a questionable raise of his eyebrow as if he’s never seen the two close friends in this position many times before.
The next day when Jaemin recovers from his cold, he gets asked out to the gala; not by Jeno but by Choi Soobin from the theaters department in the middle of the front gate for everyone to see. Jeno isn’t surprised, because prior to today, Soobin had asked him if it was okay to ask Jaemin as if it was up to Jeno’s permission to decide who gets to take Jaemin to the gala.
“Why are you asking me?” Jeno questioned Soobin’s intentions.
“It feels right to ask you, considering how close you two are.” Soobin answered.
Jeno doesn’t wait to hear Jaemin’s answer. He knows Jaemin will say yes even if he might not want to, Soobin was smart enough to gather a crowd since Jaemin wouldn’t have the manners to reject him in front of so many people.
So Jeno is sitting alone in the cafeteria munching on rice balls as his friends begin to arrive one by one until everyone except Jaemin is here. “That was some promposal.” Donghyuck says, poking the straw through his carton of chocolate milk. “Did you see what happened, Jeno?”
“Yeah,” Jeno deadpans with a lie but Donghyuck doesn’t need to know that.
“Soobin is really handsome.” Shotaro adds, “He’s taller than I expected.”
“Renjun and I were in class so we missed it, what did Jaemin say?” Yangyang asks.
Renjun laughs and nudges Yangyang’s shoulder with his arm. “Is that even a question? Of course, Jaemin would say yes. It’s Choi Soobin we’re talking about.”
Jeno almost wants to just get up and leave because the little irritation forming in the pool of his stomach feels like it’s about to explode at any second. But then Jaemin arrives just when Jeno is about to stand up and he sits back down for the other boy to sit next to him. Jeno doesn’t greet him.
Renjun smiles. “So, Jaemin, I heard Soobin asked you to the gala. You’re definitely going with him right?”
Jaemin chuckles lightly. “Um, about that…”
“Here I thought you and Jeno would be going to the gala together.” Shotaro cuts Jaemin off, smiling as he eats his potato chips. Jeno shoots Shotaro a look that unintentionally startles him.
“Why would I go to the gala with Jaemin?” Jeno immediately feels the atmosphere change when he asks the question. He feels Jaemin stiffen next to him, but chooses to ignore it. “I wouldn’t go to the gala with Jaemin.”
Yangyang blinks in confusion. “I think Shotaro means that considering how close you two are, you would be each other’s dates to the gala.” He says, turning to Shotaro for confirmation who quickly nods his head.
Jeno scoffs. “Just because we’re close doesn’t mean I’m taking him to the gala. If we’re using that logic, then are you taking Renjun as your date?” Low blow because the look in Yangyang’s eyes looks completely betrayed since he entrusted Jeno with the secret.
Yangyang looks at Renjun. “I…”
“Jeno, are you okay?” Donghyuck asks. “It was a little thought, you’re doing too much right now.”
“Too much?” Jeno wants to laugh. “You guys are always the ones pairing the two of us together all of the time. You’re making me feel like I’m stuck with him. What if Jaemin is the reason why I can’t ask anyone else to the gala?” Jeno continues to question and while that’s true, he hadn’t meant it that way. Finally, he turns to look at Jaemin next to him and Jeno’s heart breaks. Jaemin is staring at him with such a broken look that Jeno couldn’t be mad at anyone else but himself for causing the love of his life to look like that. So all he does is groan and aggressively gets up from his seat to leave the cafeteria without a single look back.
❣❣❣
He’s fucked. Oh, Jeno realized he’s so fucked. Not only did he hurt Jaemin’s feelings, but now he’s pretty sure his Big is out to get him.
“Is there anything going on with Jaemin?” Jaehyun asks in the middle of the cafe he had told Jeno to meet up in. “He’s been out of it lately and when I went to his dorm room to check on him, he completely shut me out.”
Jeno gulps. It seems like no one had told Jaehyun about what happened, much to his luck and demise at the same time. “Uh…I’m not sure.” Jeno lies once again. “I’ve been busy lately with classes and practice so I haven’t been able to meet with him.” It’s not like he could anyways because one, he is scared and two, Jaemin is avoiding him (not that Jeno would blame him).
He thinks back to the day after he said all those things, standing in front of Jaemin's classroom after dismissal so he can see him. But when Jaemin came out, it took him just one look at Jeno with the saddest look in his eyes before Renjun pulled him to turn the other away.
Jaehyun frowns. “Okay,” he replies convincingly enough. “I’m just worried about him. You of all people would know how he never talks about his troubles. Please check in on him for me. I know he trusts you more than anyone else in the world, even though I’m his brother. I’m trusting you too, Jeno.”
Jeno clenches his fists under the table. Jaehyun is right but he can’t bring himself to say that he’s the reason why Jaemin is upset, that he hurt Jaemin, that Jaemin does not want to see him at all. Jaemin has been nothing but a friend to him, and Jeno was dumb enough to ruin that without considering his feelings.
“I know, hyung.” Jeno says quietly. “I’ll talk to him…”
Except Jeno doesn’t because he’s a coward which is why he is sitting in the lounge room getting an earful from Donghyuck and Renjun. “I’m still so mad at you.” Renjun says to Jeno after two days of not speaking to him. “What the hell was with you? That was too much for no reason!”
“What’s gotten into you, Lee Jeno?” Donghyuck adds. “You were a real asshole for that to Jaemin. I thought you were friends?”
Jeno frowns. “I know…I just wasn’t thinking…”
“Thinking? Thinking about what?” Renjun throws his hands in the air. At this point, they are drawing eyes from the whole room. “What made you even think to be like that?” Yangyang and Shotaro are at the side sitting quietly as they wait for Jeno to answer. “Jeno…seriously, what’s going on?”
Jeno can’t bring himself to say anything. “I’m sorry…”
“Jaemin is really hurt, you know,” Shotaro says cautiously. “I know he’s avoiding you but…it seems like he really misses you too.”
Jeno looked at the boy when he said those words. “Jaemin misses me?”
Donghyuck sighs as if Jeno literally has no sense in his mind. “Of course he misses you. You guys are like best friends. Every day, he’s just staring at his phone with your chat open and I can practically hear him think about texting you.”
Renjun folds his arms. “He’s also asking me whether you’re still eating your meals properly or studying well or some other things about you I have no idea of and he gets upset at me when I don’t know.”
“He does this a lot you know,” Yangyang adds with a nod. “You think you’re taking care of Jaemin, but he’s also constantly considerate of you. Like the time you fell asleep in the library and he decided to pack a homemade lunch for you.”
Jeno’s eyes widened. He remembers that moment; he knocked out in the library studying for an exam and Jaemin had given him an hour long lecture about how bad it is to skip lunch and decided it was his duty to cook Jeno lunch for the whole exam studying period.
“He doesn’t do all that for anyone you know,” Renjun points his finger to Jeno’s forehead. “Of all of us, he told me you’re the most special to him.”
Jeno slowly blinks. “He…said that?”
Renjun sighs. “Yes, and I was supposed to keep it a secret but I had no idea what he meant by that. Most special? What does that make the rest of us?” He asks but Jeno doesn’t have the time to answer as he immediately jumps to his feet so he can run to the one person who’s been on his mind the past long months.
Jaemin has always been there for him whether it was waiting for his practice to finish so they can walk home together, or their coffee dates when they want to relax, or listening to Jeno rant over nothing just to release his stress. It’s always been Jaemin there for him. It’s always just been Jaemin.
Jaemin’s dorm room is on the other side of campus but he doesn’t mind; he’s walked down this road millions of times already and he’ll walk it again another million times if it means to see Jaemin. He runs until he arrives out of breath, knocking on Jaemin’s door. No one answers. “Jaemin! Jaemin, it’s me!”
Choi Jongho from the room next door peeks out from hearing all the banging. “Jaemin isn’t here.” He says. “I saw him leave the dorms when I came back.”
“Did he tell you where he went?” Jeno asks. Jongho shakes his head and Jeno takes off running again. He’s calling Jaemin’s phone over and over without any of them picked up as Jeno searches around campus. He bumps into Jaehyun and Doyoung on the way to the computer science department and Doyoung immediately looks worried.
“Jeno? Jeno, what’s wrong, are you okay?” Doyoung asks with worry in his tone as he wipes the running sweat off Jeno’s forehead.
“Do you know where Jaemin is?” Jeno quickly questions.
Jaehyun nods. “Uh, yeah. We just left him in the photo department. Is everything okay?”
“Photo department,” Jeno repeats in a whisper. “Yeah, everything is okay. I just need to see Jaemin right now. Thanks, bye!”
The photo department is Jaemin’s favorite spot on campus. He’s there all the time doing projects, hanging with friends, or when he feels lonely. Jeno knows that Jaemin thinks maybe burying himself with work and photos can distract himself from his problems. But Jeno knows better. He knows that Jaemin likes to be alone with the presence of someone with him. He likes the comfortable silence when he can talk randomly to himself and yet still have a conversation with someone. He knows Jaemin likes it when Jeno is with him. But Jaemin isn’t just anywhere in the photo department; only Jeno knows where he is when he wants to be alone.
“Jaemin,” Jeno breathes, walking out to the balcony of the photo building. He meets eyes with a pair of surprised doe eyes, the kind that sparkle under the light and shine when they smile. “Jaemin…”
“Jeno…” Jaemin calls for him but when Jeno sees him take a cautious step back, his heart breaks. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry.” Jeno cuts right to the point. Jaemin stiffens at the words. “I’m sorry about what I said that day. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean any of it and I wasn’t thinking at all. I was stupid and…and I was scared. I’ve been scared these past few months and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.” Jaemin stays silent but his eyes are full of questions that Jeno believes he needs to answer right now. “I like you.” Jeno finally says it. “I like you and not in the friendship-platonic way. I have deeper feelings for you and I’ve been having them for months now. I like everything about you. I think you’re pretty, I think you’re smart, you’re funny, you’re amazing, and I can’t help but to like you. I wanted to confess many times! But every time I tried, I chickened out and I was scared to tell you…so I said all those to protect myself from anyone finding out but in the process I hurt you and I’m so sorry. I’d do anything for you to forgive me. Jaemin, I like you a lot and…and…I do want to go to the gala with you! I want to hold your hand, see you dressed up, pick you up from your dorm, and take nice photos for you and–and dance with you in the middle of the ballroom, but I know you’re going with Soobin but, but– ”
“I’m not going with Soobin.” Jaemin cuts him off and Jeno just realizes how close Jaemin had walked up to him during the process of pouring out his heart. “Jeno, I like you too.”
Jeno’s mind goes blank because it almost sounded like Jaemin had said he liked him back. He could be hallucinating since Jaemin’s eyes are so pretty and his eyelashes are so long and his smiling teeth are so beautiful and– “Wait…what?” Is all Jeno replies because he’s dumb but Jaemin likes him a little dumb.
“I like you too.” Jaemin repeats. “I’ve liked you for a while now. Why do you think I do all those things for you? I thought maybe you had the same feelings for me too considering how much you care and know about me because you know, who else would memorize my atrocious coffee order? But then…you said all those things and I thought oh maybe I was wrong and you actually don’t like the way I like you. I was heartbroken because I thought you’d see me as someone who’s stuck with you so I wanted to back off and keep my feelings away…”
Jeno wraps his words around Jaemin’s confession. Jaemin likes him back. Jaemin has the same feelings for him. “You like me back…” Jeno whispers and Jaemin nods shyly. “Oh my god, you like me back…”
Jaemin laughs and Jeno has missed hearing that laugh so much. “Yes, Lee Jeno, I like you back very much. And also I am not going to the gala with Choi Soobin. He asked but I rejected because I was waiting for you.” He smiles into Jeno’s space, hands reaching so his fingers could wrap around Jeno’s fingers just nicely. Seeing the way Jaemin smiles brings a smile to Jeno’s own lips as he finally comprehends Jaemin’s words.
Jeno stares into Jaemin’s pretty eyes. “I’m going to kiss you now.” He says and receives permission from Jaemin’s nod, so Jeno leans in slowly, just watching the way Jaemin’s pretty eyelashes fold in until their lips touch and Jeno hears the fireworks go off in his head. He holds Jaemin’s close with arms around his waist like he never wants to let Jaemin go. And when Jaemin slightly opens his mouth for Jeno to slip his tongue in, he can feel the burning sensation in his chest that has not diminished since the day his feelings for Jaemin had flourished.
Jeno parts from the kiss with a nonstop smile as Jaemin giggles in his arms. “Na Jaemin, will you go to the gala with me?” He asks much confidently this time. He sees the way Jaemin grins and listens to the hum from the boy.
“No.”
Jeno’s smile drops. “Wait, why?”
Jaemin huffs. “I deserve a big promposal, Jeno.” He says. “Where are my flowers? Chocolate? Big dance performance? Come on, Jeno, I deserve all that after what happened two days ago.”
Jeno smiles. “Okay, okay, then I shall ask again later. For now…can I kiss you again?”
Jaemin grins. “You may.” He replies and fuck it, Jeno’s heart just jumped out of his chest.
❣❣❣
Hyunjin was so giddy the next day to hear about Jeno’s dance performance for Jaemin. He’s going off about how finally Jeno got his shit together to confess and that he had an obvious feeling that there was something going on between the two of them.
And so the dance team prepared a small dance for Jaemin led by Jeno in the middle of the campus entrance where a crowd is beginning to form, and when Jeno sees Donghyuck and Renjun leading Jaemin with the confused look in his eyes to the center of the show, the music begins.
As Jeno danced for his new boyfriend, he recalls the times his heart fluttered for him. Each step came with moments of thinking about how pretty Jaemin’s eyelashes are, and how sweet he smells during movie nights, and how his smile reminds him of the sun. He remembers the first time he developed feelings for Jaemin when all it took was nothing yet everything for Jeno to fall for him. And he remembers Jaemin reassuring him that he returns the same feelings for him.
Jeno gets down on one knee, out of breath as he hands a single rose to Jaemin. “Na Jaemin, will you be my date to the gala?” Jeno asks ever so confidently and Jaemin finally nods with a happy yes that could throw Jeno out of this world with joy. He stands up and hugs Jaemin, the sound of the crowd cheering for him as Jeno twirls themselves around. And when he stops, he feels Jaemin press his kiss to his cheek followed by a series of giggles.
Jeno makes eye contact with Jaehyun at the side who’s staring wide eyed at them but next to him, Doyoung is cheering with tears in his eyes. “Oh no,” Jeno says as Jaehyun starts walking towards them with an unreadable look on his face. “Hyung, I can explain–” He immediately says to his Big.
“What, that you like my baby brother?” Jaehyun questions and Jaemin rolls his eyes.
“I’m not a baby–”
“Quiet, Jaemin. I have something to say.” Jaehyun says, glaring back at Jeno. “How long have you been having feelings for him?”
“A couple of months now…”
“A couple months?” Jaehyun scoffs. “And you only confessed now?!” He grabs Jeno out of Jaemin’s hold to hug him instead, smacking endearing (yet strong) pats on Jeno’s back. “I’m glad it’s you!” Jaehyun beams happily. “If I can trust anyone with my brother, it’s you Jeno. I’m so happy for you two!”
“You’re not mad?” Jeno asks.
Jaehyun shakes his head. “Why would I be mad? This is great!” He pulls Jeno into another hug and whispers, “ But if you do anything to hurt Jaemin, you’ll be hearing from me. ” He lets go of the hug, the smile on his face never fading as Jeno laughs nervously. Thankfully, Doyoung takes the opportunity to change the subject by stating how excited that the four of them will go to the gala together and probably on future double dates.
“I’m so excited for tomorrow,” Jaemin says with a happy smile as he hugs Jeno’s arm. “I literally didn’t want to go with anyone else but you.” That puts a warm smile on Jeno’s lips. It would’ve been the end of the world if he had to watch Jaemin dance with someone else at the gala.
“And I only want you.” Jeno replies.
❣❣❣
“Dude, where the heck is the lint roller?” Mark asks as he’s practically turning their frat dorm upside searching for the tool. “Johnny, do you not own a lint roller!”
“In the cabinet, on the second shelf!” Johnny’s voice booms from upstairs and Jeno watches as Mark dashes to the area where miraculously the lint roller is sitting there patiently to be found. He jumps and grabs the roller, quickly ripping a new sheet to clean the dust and hair off his tuxedo.
“How do I look?” Mark turns to Jeno.
Jeno shrugs. “Nice.” He replies, his answer satisfying enough for the older boy. He sees Jaehyun walking down the steps dressed in the tuxedo Doyoung had picked out the other day and Jeno whistles. If anyone is the epitome of handsome, it would be Jaehyun himself. The man checks himself out through the wall mirror and from the smirk on his lips, he’s quite satisfied at the way he looks.
“I’m going to get the limo ready and pick up Doyoung.” Jaehyun states, “Remember to meet at the front gate in fifteen minutes.” Jeno nods even though he’s been ready for the past half hour with a bouquet of flowers resting in his sweaty hands unlike Mark who now can’t find the corsage for Donghyuck. Jaehyun looks at Jeno. “Are you not going to do your tie?” He asks and Jeno blinks.
“Um, I don’t know how. Do you?”
Jaehyun blinks. “Uh, not really. Doyoung is going to help me later.” He smiles. “Ask Jaemin.” He says and leaves out the door.
Jeno gulps. It’s not that he’s scared to ask Jaemin, he’s actually quite nervous to meet him tonight. It only hit him last night that he is now Na Jaemin’s boyfriend. That he’s the one who gets to hold Jaemin’s hand and kiss his lips and go own cute little dates with.
“Ayo, Daddy’s home!” Suh Johnny literally jumps six steps off the stairs to show off his look for the night and wow , a silky tux held by three buttons, and black hair slicked back every so attractively, he looked like he was ready for the Met Gala and now the University gala. “Take a picture, boys. It’ll last longer.”
“Okay, calm down there, hotshot.” Taeyong comes down the stairs with a crimson red tuxedo that absolutely matches his aura. He laughs at Johnny’s little flirty growl at him and turns to look at Mark and Jeno. “We’re going to head out first. Go pick up your boyfriends and meet us at the meeting spot.”
It takes Mark about two minutes to finally find his missing corsage that he thankfully does not get lecture from Donghyuck when they finally leave the dorm.
“So…you and Jaemin, huh.” Mark casually brings it up as they walk to the other side of campus. “I would say I expected it, but I didn’t know when.”
Jeno kicks a rock off the path. “Yeah, it just kinda happened.” He says and hears Mark’s smile before feeling a pat on his back and then his arm on his shoulder.
“You guys are cute together,” Mark says, “You already take great care of Jaemin. Who else knows his weird coffee order? That’s real dedication, Lee Jeno.”
“You’re the one to talk,” Jeno replies. “Don’t act like you don’t know Donghyuck’s favorite ice cream.” Mark chuckles because he does know Donghyuck’s favorite ice cream is Baskin Robbins’ famous ‘ My Mom is an Alien.’ “You act like you don’t know anything about him but you do.”
“Hey, what can I say? I think he’s adorable when he’s pouting.”
Jeno’s heart pounds with his flowers against his chest as they stand in front of Jaemin and Donghyuck’s dorm room. He lets Mark knock on the door and he hears the little “coming! ” from inside the room. Donghyuck opens the door to reveal a nice cream colored tuxedo. He smiles at Mark who’s been staring with his mouth agape at him for thirty seconds.
“Dude,” Jeno whispers, nudging Mark’s shoulder, “say something.”
“You…you look amazing.” Mark answers slowly and it causes Donghyuck to actually blush. Donghyuck always looks nice everyday, but he goes all out when it comes to events like today. His usual bangs are slicked back on one side, showing off his forehead and Mark loves it when Donghyuck shows his forehead.
“Thanks, Minhyung,” Donghyuck says and lets Mark take his hand so he can slip on the corsage that had little time sunflowers on it. Donghyuck covers his blush. “Don’t look at me!”
Jeno walks past the couple and into the room, waiting for his special someone. And when Jaemin comes out of the bathroom dressed in a beautiful white tuxedo matching Jeno’s navy one, he almost drops the bouquet out of his hands when he sees him. “You– I– flowers, um, yes!”
Jaemin giggles and it’s music to Jeno’s ears. “So articulate, Lee Jeno.” He says as he slowly takes the flowers from Jeno’s hands and breathes in their scent. “They’re beautiful. Thank you, Jeno.”
“You’re beautiful…” Jeno replies without thinking and great now both he and Jaemin are blushing. Jeno shakes it off. “I have a corsage for you too!” He exclaims, slipping the blossom decorated corsage onto Jaemin’s wrist like it belongs there.
Jaemin cannot stop smiling. “Blossoms, my favorite flowers,” he says, receiving Jeno’s smile and then reaches to fix the tie around his neck. His fingers are gentle and diligent, fastening the tie just tight enough so it doesn’t bother his comfortability. “There, all done.” Jaemin pats his chest and a hand glides over the matching small blossoms resting in Jeno’s shirt pocket. They meet eye contact and don’t have to ask when they lean in for a gentle kiss.
“Hey, Ken and Barbie! Sorry to ruin your romantic time but we have to get going!” Donghyuck says at the door with giggles. “I’ve always wanted to call them Ken and Barbie.”
The two couples met with everyone else in front of campus. They see their friends waiting, smiling wider as they approach. Renjun is standing with Yangyang who apparently finally asked him out during the day Jeno had his outburst (which he respectfully had apologized sincerely for).
“It took him long enough.” Renjun says. “I was waiting for him to confess.”
Yangyang chuckles. “Nothing could go pass you, Huang baobao.”
At the side, Doyoung already almost cried at how great Jeno and Jaemin look. “I’m so glad it’s you two.” Doyoung says, leaning into Jaehyun’s side who’s giving the two a proud thumbs up. “Now let’s get going. The gala isn’t going to be here forever!”
Jeno smiles. True, the gala isn’t going to be here forever. But when he’s holding Jaemin’s hand as they walk into the gala, feeding each other various kinds of foods and sweets, taking beautiful photos together throughout the night, and dancing with him in the middle of the ballroom, Jeno knows that even though the gala isn’t going to go on forever, this is only the first day of many days to be with the one and only Na Jaemin.
“Have I told you how much I like you?” Jeno asks as he dances with Jaemin, their steps syncing with each other.
Jaemin smiles. “Yes, you have Lee Jeno, many times already.”
“And I will continue to say it over and over.” Jeno grins, bumping his forehead with Jaemin’s. He gathers enough courage to steal a kiss off Jaemin’s lips and the younger boy widens his eyes in surprise. “Do you mind if I steal a kiss?” Jeno asks, grinning and Jaemin beams.
“Oh, you’re getting bold, Lee Jeno.” Jaemin says, stealing a kiss back. “Let’s see who can steal more kisses from each other.” It sounds like a challenge that Jeno gladly accepts and so he does so with many other kisses after that.
❣ bonus ❣
Jeno groans as his head smacks down onto the living room coffee table from the throbbing pain in his stomach. Next to him, Jaehyun and Mark are also passed out on the couch and floor respectively.
“I…” Johnny whines in pain, “I win again…” Though he’s not sure what he won when he falls down on the other side of the couch holding his stomach dangerously.
Doyoung sighs at the side as he begins to rub Jaehyun’s stomach up and down. “Taeyong, go buy medicine again.”
“I’m already on it.” Taeyong’s out the door already.
“Again? Didn’t you learn your lessons from last time?” Doyoung questions Jaehyun’s weak laugh followed by the gross hot dog juice breath. He grimaces. “And you lost again .”
“Johnny hyung is just too good.” Donghyuck says while he pats Mark’s back. “Even Jeno couldn’t keep up with him.”
“I feel like death.” Jeno says but regrets speaking when he feels the nauseous sensation in his stomach about to crawl back up his throat. “Oh my god, this was not a good idea.”
“No, it really wasn’t.” Jeno hears a pretty voice come into the room and he barely has enough strength to look up at Jaemin walking into the room with cold bottles of water that he hands to everyone.
“Babe~” Jeno calls deliriously when Jaemin sits down next to him. Jaemin only chuckles, opening the bottle and lifting Jeno’s chin just slightly so he could assist him drinking.
“You just had to have a hot dog eating contest.” Jeno hears the familiar words coming through Jaemin’s lips. “And lost .” He shakes his head when Jeno only gives him his famous puppy smile that he knows Jaemin could never resist as he helps make him take another sip of water.
“Nana~ even though I feel like death, would you still steal kisses from me?” Jeno asks.
Jaemin scoffs unbelievably but he leans in to press his lips against Jeno’s cheek. “I’m not kissing you with hot dog juice breath.”
Jeno smiles, still feeling the warmth of Jaemin’s lips lingering on his cheeks. “Fair enough.”