my first and last || renmin

F o u r t e e n - Best Night Ever

Renjun and Jaemin rode the crowded tram through the city. (We are at the tramstop, are you the tram that stops? -Mark Lee)

Trees lined the canal, their pale petals blowing into the wind like a spring snowstorm.

An old couple stood up to give up their seats.

Renjun tried to protest once again and it failed.

Renjun and Jaemin sat as they looked out the window and onto the city.

They were excited, the night had just begun.

At the edge of the canal, near an ancient bridge, Renjun and Jaemin were showed a seat right next to the water.

"Your table, Mr. Huang and Mr. Na." Jaemin pulled out Renjun's chair for him.

A waiter brought over a bottle of champagne as they sat.

"The champagne is our gift." Renjun and Jaemin looked at eachother.

Is this a dream?

The champagne was poured and Jaemin raised his glass.

"Okay." Renjun raised his.

"Okay." They clinked glasses and sipped.

"Wow.. This is amazing." Renjun sipped again.

"Welcome to Oranjee. Would you like a menu or will you have the chef's choice?" Jaemin looked at Renjun, Renjun shrugs.

"The chef's choice sounds lovely." The waiter nodded before leaving.

Renjun and Jaemin looked at eachother.

"Thank you for coming to Amsterdam." Jaemin smiled.

"Thank you for letting me hijack your wish."

"Thank you for wearing that outfit which is like, woah." Renjun shook his head, trying not to smile but unable not to.

The waiter brought over two more cups of the champagne and a plate.

"Belgium white asparagus with a lavender infusion." Renjun took a bite.

"Oh.. my god.."

"Yeah?" Jaemin then took a bite.

"I mean-"

"This is just... amazing."

Renjun and Jaemin were now enjoying their second courses.

"I like your suit." Renjun complimented.

"Thanks, first time wearing it."

"This isn't the suit you wear to funerals?" Renjun asked.

"Oh no. That one isn't nearly as nice. When I first found out I was sick- I mean, they told me I had a 85% chance to be cancer free but that meant a year of torture, the loss of my leg and still a 15% chance it might fail... so right before the surgery I asked my parents if I could buy a suit, just in case I died." Jaemin explained.

"So it's your death suit."

"I guess that's what it's called." Jaemin carried on eating.

"I have one of those. Bought it for my 15th birthday. Don't think I'd wear it on a date though." Renjun drank some of the delicious wine.

"Are we on a date?" Jaemin asked, a flirty smile stuck on his face.

"Watch it." Jaemin winked.

Dessert was now on the table, they spoke as they euphoriacally ate.

"God?" Jaemin asked, eating the dessert on his spoon.

"Maybe."

"Angels?"

"Undecided."

"Afterlife?"

"No. Well.. maybe I wouldn't go as far as to say no. I just.. want some evidence." Renjun explained, digging his spoon into the dessert.

"What do you think?" Jaemin nodded.

"Absolutely."

"Really?" Renjun was captivated to hear Jaemin's case.

"Not like a heaven where you ride unicorns, play harps and live in a mansion made of cotton candy but, yeah. There has to be something. Something has to become of us. Otherwise.. what's the point?" Renjun was surprised.

"Maybe there is no point."

"No. I refuse to accept that. I will not accept that." Renjun thought about it.

He appreciated Jaemin's conviction but is still not sure if he agreed.

Renjun looked out to the water.

"I hope you're right."

"I'm in love with you." Jaemin deadpanned, it caught Renjun off guard.

"Jaemin-"

"I'm in love with you. I know love is just a shout to the void, that oblivion is inevitable.. that we're all doomed, that there will be a day when all our labor has returned to dust... I know that the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have and I am in fact, in love with you." Jaemin shrugged matter-of-factly.

Renjun was too speechless to respond, his eyes fixated on Jaemin.

"Can we please have the check?" Jaemin asked the waiter who walked past them.

"No sir, your meal has been paid for by Mr. Jung." Jaemin raised his eyebrows at Renjun.

This Jaehyun guy was something else.

***

Renjun and Jaemin sat on a park bench, Jaemin's arm around him, looking out over the water.

Seeds blew from the trees and the reflections from the city ripple in the water below them.

Renjun leaned into Jaemin's body just a little.

They stayed like that, savoring the best night of both their lives.