Watching Over You • Nomin

fifteen

Jiya chuckled. “You are kidding. I know you are. Jeno-ya… all these months we've been together… We studied together, hung out, looked out for each other… I don't believe that you are in a relationship with someone else… you're hiding something…”

Jeno took a deep breath and said, “You and I remember our time together differently.”

Jiya seemed like she wasn't listening to him anymore. “Is there something I lack? I can change…”

Jeno was feeling sorry for her now. “Jiya… you don't have to change for me.”

“Then what is it, Jeno? Didn't we already establish that we belong to each other?” she said, walking towards him. She cupped his face mumbling, “I'm yours and you're mine…”

Jeno took her hands off his face. He was taken back. “No…” he said softly. “I don't think loving someone works this way… we don't belong to each other… love isn't getting a toy from a store and calling it mine, Jiya.” he exhaled. “I'm sorry again,” he breathed out. “We are ending here...I hope you take care of yourself…” 

With that, Jeno didn't look back and left the park. It seemed like a weight had been lifted off his head. Something he had kept inside him for so long. It hurt but he didn't have a choice. If life gives you poison, you are supposed to stay away from it even if it tries to be an elixir. Only if he realized it before.

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The next few days Jeno forced himself to get to his work.

“I'll see you later,” Jaemin said, giving him a warm hug.

Jeno hummed, giving him a warm smile. “Now I'm getting a hug in public, huh?”

Jaemin shrugged, adjusting his bangs. Jeno frowned with a smile.

“I don't know… you seem so attractive today. I wanna squish you into a hug all day.”

“Save it,” Jeno said with a laugh.

It was a whole different Universe whenever Jaemin was out of sight.

He had been avoiding Jiya as much as he could, trying to make as little conversation as possible. Avoiding her at the University was easier than at work. When their eyes would meet, he would look away before she could say anything.

He was done giving false signs to her or letting her do anything to him. Jeno felt helpless looking at her so lifeless. Her gaze didn't shine, those eyes seemed distant and plastic.

“So Jaemin it is, huh?”

Jeno heard Jiya say. Jeno just shrugged.

“You can tell me…”

“I thought it was always obvious,” he said.

“I don't know… it was always getting lost in your eyes for me…” she said.

Jeno looked at her as she was wiping her tears. The moment never seemed to end.

“There is always a chance with me, Jeno-ya…”

“Jiya…”

“Why is it always him? I- I promise I can be better than him…” she muttered.

That's the problem, isn't it? Jeno thought.

“This isn't about who is better than the other, is it?” he asked.

“Why is it that he's always there? I've never been given any chance… it was always him you called whenever you were sick, whenever you were happy. I was ignored when I wanted to take care of you… you never bothered to text me when I asked if you reached home safely… it was never a competition, you always made it seem like it was and I'm always the bad guy…” she cried. Jeno was dumbfounded. He didn't have any argument about it.