The Rules | JAEMIN

Chapter 20

"You doing alright?" Jaehyun asked as Zhilan entered the back room, the usual room where she packed the drugs with Jaehyun. She adjusted her leather jacket before taking a pair of rubber gloves, the two of them beginnning to work on tonight's orders.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Zhilan asked back.

"I don't know, the last time I saw Jaemin, he was pretty worried." Jaehyun said, feeding the pill press with powder.

"Jaemin?" Jaehyun nodded.

"Yeah, he's like a younger brother to me." Jaehyun told her. "When he first joined, he often cried when Jeno got injured, not knowing what to do. I helped him out a lot and thought he would be a fighter like the rest of us but I guess he liked medicine more. We're not together very often because of that but when we are, he tells me a lot."

"I see." Zhilan said, nodding her head as she took Jaehyun's words in.

"I kind of worry about him sometimes. Ever since Seolhee died, he's been keeping a lot on his chest instead of letting it out. Probably because he still thinks it's his fault."

Zhilan felt uneasy at the sound of the name. She knew that Seolhee was Jeno's ex but she seemed to have a lasting effect on all of them, especially Jaemin.

"Eh, whatever. As long as you're alright now." Jaehyun said, continuing to pack the drugs but Zhilan had last her focus.

I spent so much time with him but why does it feel like I don't know Jaemin at all?

...

When Renjun came home after the deal, Jaemin followed the male into his room.

Renjun stopped by his drawer as Jaemin closed the door behind him, slowly turning around. "You need something?"

"Let's talk." Jaemin said, getting straight to the point.

Renjun didn't seem to notice that there was something bothing Jaemin, nodding his head and taking a seat on his bed. "Sure, come here."

Jaemin didn't though, remaining standing. That's when it was clear to Renjun that something was off.

Renjun let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You noticed."

"Of course I noticed." Jaemin answered instantly. "How could I not?"

"She's not just a girl to me, Jaemin." Renjun said, looking up to meet Jaemin's eyes. He was talking about Zhilan. "She's been through so much, she needs someone there to support her. Someone that can support her well."

"And you don't think I will?" Jaemin asked. Renjun looked away.

"I don't know, Jaemin but if I were to be brutally honest, from what I've seen, no."

Jaemin bit his lip, letting his fists clench. It was unbelievable to him that out of everyone, Renjun would be the one that wouldn't be supportive of Jaemin going for Zhilan. Especially since this was the same person that had been so encouraging of Jeno and Haechan's relationships.

"Are you serious right now?" Jaemin asked, doing his best to keep his voice calm. He wasn't sure if it worked, but he still had yet to raise his voice.

"Listen, let's be real here. Zhilan is already someone that keeps everything bottled up. You might not know but I know, okay? You have yet to even skim the surface of knowing what she's experienced. You might be kind and caring and all that, but you're exactly the same, Jaemin. No one ever knows what you're thinking about, not even me. How on earth are you supposed to support one of my best childhood friend's that already blocks everyone away from her when you do the exact same thing?"