The Rules | JAEMIN

Chapter 21

"Jaemin?" Zhilan exclaimed, shocked to see that the person that she had almost shoved her knife into was the same person she slept beside every night. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that, you fool." Jaemin mumbled, hugging the girl tighter. He took a deep breath before releasing Zhilan enough so that they could stare at each other. "What were you thinking? Wandering the streets at night without your jacket?!"

Zhilan giggled at his nagging. "Stop it, I can't take you seriously when you do that."

A pout formed on Jaemin's face, making Zhilan's smile widened. "Yah, Jiang Zhilan! If I wasn't here, you would have been in big trouble. You just finished healing from your wound, are you trying to get another one?"

"Well then it's a good thing that you're here." Zhilan said, taking his hand and giving it a light tug. Jaemin froze at the action.

"What are you doing?" Jaemin asked, eyes on their laced fingers. Zhilan smiled, pulling him along as she took a few steps forward.

"I don't want to go home yet so walk with me." Zhilan said as dragged him along. "Please, it's so nice outside."

Jaemin sighed, shaking his head as he began walking beside the girl, their hands still laced together. "Why do you even like walking around alone at night?"

"Hmmm, it's calming." Zhilan told him. "I like how it's only me and my thoughts, nothing else."

"Just a bunch of druggies, creepy men, gross strippers. Mhmm, I know exactly why you like it." Jaemin said, glancing around.

Zhilan stopped walking, shooting Jaemin a look. "What, do you have any better placed to go then?"

Surprisingly a grin formed on Jaemin's face as their eyes met.

"What if I do?"

...

Zhilan was not expecting Jaemin to bring them to a nature park located off in some random corner of the city.

The parking lot was empty, Jaemin carefully parking his bike by the entrance to a hiking trail. They slid off his bike, Zhilan staring at the dark path in front of them.

"Is this even safe?" Zhilan asked, noticing that the gate was closed. "What if there's coyotes or something?"

"So you're telling me that you're not scared of rival gangs with guns but you're scared of coyotes?" Jaemin said as he took her hand, guiding her to the gate.

"Well yeah, they're wild animals, Jaemin. At least you can predict what humans are thinking."

"It's safe." Jaemin said, resting an arm on the gate. "The animals keep to themselves."

Zhilan was still hesitant though, a little creeped out by it all. "Are you sure?"

Jaemin nodded his head. "I used to come here with Jeno all the time when we were in high school. I'm sure if the animals here were a concern, I would know by now."

Zhilan motioned to the locked gate. "Okay but what are we going to do about this?"

Jaemin giggled, making Zhilan turn her head. She watched as he placed a foot onto the wooden piece, swinging his other leg over before settling on top of the gate, extending a hand towards her.

"Are we seriously sneaking into a hiking trail right now?" Zhilan exclaimed in disbelief.

"Come on, Zhilan. You're literally a drug dealer and you're worried about park security?" Jaemin said, shaking his hand. "Also, this position is kind of tiring so hurry up."