Golden ◂ NCT Jaemin

40 ◂ Really

◂ 40 ▸

At the end of a very short game, barely to be called a match, Chenle stepped forward and hugged Jie. 

"You suck at billard, sweetheart," he whispered into her ear. 

Hugging him back, wrapping her arms around tightly, Jie said,
"So do you, dear." 

They stood on their side of the table, too far away from the others for them to hear their whispers. 

While Jisung's idea to go and have a fun night out was rejected the day prior, neither of the boys nor Jie were particularly busy today. So, to enjoy a day off, they decided to go and play billard as the youngest had suggested. 

And now, after having suffered a defeat too embarrassing to even mention, Jie and Chenle were comforting each other. 

From further away, the scene looked kind of cute, actually. Anyone who looked a little closer, however, could easily spot the bitter smiles and discouraged pats on the backs of each other.

This right there wasn't a cute hug.

It was despair. 

"What are they doing?" Jisung asked quietly but Jeno shook his head.

"I don't know either."

Meanwhile, Chenle exhaled deeply.
"I hate it here," he mumbled. 

"Same," Jie said. "I want to go home." 

The boy hummed in agreement. As he let his eyes travel over the ground, head resting on Jie's shoulder, they suddenly stopped when he spotted the boy's shoes.

Jaemin's shoes.

Wandering up his legs, torso, neck, the two's eyes soon locked and Chenle was met with a burning glare. It wasn't quite anger nor irritation. 

It was...

Smirking smugly, Chenle raised a brow, ready to annoy Jaemin just a little more. So he wrapped his arms around Jie even more tightly, readjusted his head on her shoulder, pulled her in closer.

Jie didn't mind. She was comfortable around Chenle. But Jaemin? He bit his tongue trying to maintain his composure at the obvious mockery.

"Are you okay?" Jie asked in surprise. 

Chenle grinned, knowing she couldn't see either of their expressions.
"I am," he assured. "But someone else isn't."

"What do you mean?" Jie asked confused.

Taking a last deep breath, he pushed himself away from her as he exhaled.
"Nothing," he said with a smile, then shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and walked over to the others that stood on the other side of the table, closely followed by Jie. 

As they came to a halt, Jaemin stared at Chenle and Chenle stared right back, both too stubborn to look away. He mouthed a soundless 'jealous?' at which Jaemin merely rolled his eyes. 

Renjun laughed, pushed his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
"You two look discouraged." 

"How can we not be?" Chenle bit back. Jie nodded slowly. 

Both pouted, looked at each other briefly before mentally zoning out and preparing for another defeat. 

The other boys were visibly amused by their reaction. Stepping forward, Haechan slung his arms around them. 

"Okay, okay, you two don't sulk. I'll buy you something to eat." 

To no surprise, food was all the bribery needed to paint a smile on their lips.