Locket ⟨Nomin⟩ ||Completed

Chapter 22

Renjun rushed into the living room, one arm sticking out of his shirt because of how much he moves in his sleep.

"Jaem!" He ran to the younger who was breaking down for the nth time this week and engulfed him into his arms, Jaemin slowly falling to the ground as Renjun followed his actions.

Sitting on their knees, Jaemin's face was buried into Renjun's chest.

"D-did you know?" Jaemin hiccuped and Renjun already knew what he was referring to.

The older nodded his head reluctantly and hummed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jaemin pulled away from the older, eyes leaking.

"I didn't think it was my place to tell," Renjun answered honestly.

"S-so instead you let me live my life like a fool while everybody stared at me weirdly? Y-you let them see how much of a joke I am?"

Renjun panicked, he didn't think the younger would react this way.

"All this fucking time, I've been chasing my own tail! You were hiding this from me! Why didn't you let me see it before?!" Jaemin started to raise his voice, talking about the old news report.

He wasn't speaking out of anger, only sadness. He isn't mad at his best friend, he's just disappointed in himself for living like such a clown.

"Jaemin, please calm down. I didn't want to hide this from you purposely. This is what I was afraid of. I didn't want to see you so broken," Renjun explained.

He was trying to defuse the situation before he says something extremely out of context and uncalled for.

When Renjun gets annoyed, panicked, or mad he speaks whatever words roll from his tongue.

"Don't you think I already am," Jaemin chuckled painfully.

"Please, I really didn't want you to find out like this, Jeno was supposed t-"

"If I had never seen Jeno again in my life and never saw this video, would you have told me?"

Renjun stayed quiet. Would he have told the younger? Would he have told the younger and break the news that his parents never loved him and abused him to the point where he was almost killed?

Would he rather Jaemin not know about it and continue to live a happy life?

He can't do that, he's also not in the place to do that either, but he can't watch his best friend suffer.

"I've been living my whole life in a lie, thinking it was 'perfect.' And you let me believe it too," Jaemin muttered.

He knows nobody's life is perfect, he just thought he was living a normal life.

A life where he was loved for who he is and appreciated by the people around him.

"You were barely alive throughout your whole damn life!" Renjun retorted in anger, and immediately regretted his choice of words as soon as he saw Jaemin's face drop.

"Jaemin, I didn't mean that. I'm sor-"

"No, you're right. What life did I live, really?" Jaemin chuckled in sadness and Renjun's heart broke to pieces.

Tears were once again spilling from Jaemin's eyes as he stared at the older.

"Junnie, am I really pathetic and useless?" Jaemin uttered softly as his lips quivered and Renjun's shook his head rapidly.

"No, no, no, Jaem! You aren't pathetic or useless. You're strong and capable of doing a lot of things. You always seek the good in others and you always help those in need. Jaemin, you're such a beautiful person and if only there were more people like you, the world would be so much better," Renjun answered truthfully, pulling Jaemin into a hug as the younger broke down again.

"They won't hurt you anymore, Jaemin. I promise, I'm here. Jeno's here. Jihoon's here. Everybody who loves you are here. Your parents, they're away for good," Renjun softly spoke.

"I love you," Jaemin trembled as his face was in the crook of the older's neck.

"I love you too. And I'm so sorry for not saying anything. Please don't cry, okay?" Renjun shushed him while playing with his hair, gently swaying side to side.

"It's not your fault. I know you had good intentions," Jaemin sniffled.

After Jaemin had calmed down, the two decided to go back to sleep since it was way too early for their liking, two in the morning. They had to be up by nine, ten at the latest in order to start getting ready for their graduation ceremony.

They want to make the best out of their last day in college.

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