espresso shot ; njm ✔️

41

and new and improved it was.

the park family not only accepted jaemin into their home but also into their family. jisung was initially surprised but had no problem sharing a room with jaemin after aera insisted. her parents already knew jaemin through jisung, so when aera introduced jaemin as her boyfriend, mrs. park was ecstatic to have another "son."

after they ate dinner (which mrs. park had prepared as if it were thanksgiving), aera took jaemin into her room to hang out and relax.

"just so you know, it'll be like this every night," aera chuckled as she laid down on her bed. 

jaemin nodded as he looked around her room. the first thing he noticed was a map of constellations on her ceiling, followed by the solar system lights in one corner. but what caught his eye was the telescope by the window, and aera must have noticed his apparent joy.

"it's the one you got for me," she commented.

he turned back around to face her. "yeah, i think i should come clean. the whole thing donghyuck pulled on your birthday was originally my idea and i was planning to do it with you," he trailed off, looking down at his feet, suddenly feeling guilty for outing his friend.

"we still can," aera said softly.

jaemin looked up at her and smiled widely. "yay!" he exclaimed, waddling over to her bed and joining her. 

aera rested her head on his shoulder, threw her leg over both of his, and wrapped her arms around his torso. jaemin snaked his arm around her waist, the other one soothingly rubbing her arm. they stayed silent, taking in the comfort of each other's presence before aera spoke again.

"the others don't know, do they?"

"about my parents?" he looked down at aera, who was looking up at him. "no they don't, for the same reason i didn't want to tell you."

aera looked back down at their feet, making a mental note to buy jaemin new socks for his birthday. "they deserve to know. about your health, mental and physical."

"i know," he sighed. "i just feel guilty that i didn't tell them before."

aera nodded, being the understanding girl she always was. "i think they would appreciate it if you told them sooner than later. only if you're comfortable of course. go at your pace."

"no, you're right," him said, shaking his head. "i'll tell them tomorrow."

"okay, today was too much anyway," she shrugged, snuggling closer to jaemin. 

jaemin looked back down at the girl he had been yearning for for years. in this moment, he felt like nothing could ruin it because aera was everything to him. 

"i'm too comfy to walk all the way to jisung's room," he groaned, relaxing even more.

"you have to go," aera giggled, although deep down, she didn't want him to. she was also warm and comfy. "my parents are chill, but not that chill. they'll kill you if they found out you slept in my room. besides, jisung's a little brat; he's gonna tattle," she grumbled.

jaemin got up to turn off the lights, then came back to his position in aera's bed. he kissed her cheek and patted her head.

"then at least my last memory would be a night spent with you."