Chapter Thirteen: "The Breaking Point"
"Just go slowly," Jaemin urged softly. "Jaem! Stop, I can't! It's too much!" Renjun whined, his voice trembling.
"It's okay, you can do it. I believe in you, Renjunnie," Jaemin reassured.
Renjun whimpered as he struggled to fit into the bathtub. His growing belly made it almost impossible, and despite Jaemin's help, he felt increasingly disheartened. "I'm too fat, Jaem..."
"You're not fat. You're beautiful," Jeno said, walking into the bathroom.
"I literally look like I'm about to pop!" Renjun complained.
Unbeknownst to Renjun, he was indeed on the verge of giving birth.
"Jaem—ah!" Renjun gasped, the pain intensifying.
Both Jaemin and Jeno rushed to help him out of the tub, lifting him gently while he clung to their arms.
"It hurts... it hurts..." he cried out.
"Jaem, get the car keys. We have to get Renjun to the hospital ASAP!" Jeno ordered urgently.
Jaemin and Jeno carefully helped Renjun into the car, with Jeno in the driver's seat and Jaemin in the back with Renjun.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Jaemin, breathless, approached the counter. "My fiancé is in labor!"
"Okay, sir. Is he coming in?" the receptionist asked.
As if on cue, Jeno arrived with Renjun, trying to get him to the counter.
"Stay here, sir. We'll get him on this stretcher," a nurse said, bringing over a bed. She and Jeno helped Renjun lie down, wincing in pain.
"Can we please get this over with? It hurts so much!" Renjun pleaded.
The doctors nodded. "Please wait in the waiting room. We'll call you once the baby is born," they said, wheeling Renjun away.
Jaemin and Jeno watched, anxiety etched on their faces as Renjun was taken to deliver their child.
"Jeno..." Jaemin's voice wavered. "I feel awful. We—You—got Renjun pregnant, and now he's in so much pain. What if he doesn't make it?"
"Hey, don't say that. Our Renjunnie is strong. He'll make it through this," Jeno reassured.
Jaemin bowed his head, feeling guilty. He wished he could take Renjun's place. Maybe they should have waited until after the wedding to have children.
"Do you want something to eat? Maybe some ramen?" Jeno suggested.
"Yeah, I'd like that," Jaemin agreed, sighing.
Jeno stood, adjusting his shirt before grabbing his car keys and offering Jaemin his hand.
"But what about Renjun?" Jaemin asked, gripping Jeno's hand.
"We'll be quick," Jeno promised.
At the ramen shop, Jeno slurped his noodles with gusto. "It's been ages since I had ramen."
"Slow down, or you'll choke," Jaemin scolded. "Eat properly or you'll be hungry again."
Jaemin barely touched his food, his thoughts consumed by Renjun's well-being. "Here, you can have mine," he said, handing his ramen to Jeno.
"Don't you like it?" Jeno asked.
"It's not that. I just miss Renjunnie," Jaemin admitted.
Jeno frowned. "I miss him too. We'll get him back soon. Don't worry." He gave Jaemin his reassuring smile.
"Jeno, you're adorable."
"I know," Jeno replied with a smirk.
Returning to the hospital, Jaemin and Jeno found themselves even more anxious after seven hours of labor.
"There you two are!" the doctor said, approaching them. "Would you like to see the twins?"
"Twins?!" Jaemin and Jeno exclaimed in unison.
"Right this way," the doctor led them to Renjun's room.
Inside, Renjun looked exhausted but still radiant. Beside him were two tiny bundles, their features hinting at Jeno's and Jaemin's traits.
"Wait... is that me?" Jaemin joked, pointing at the twins.
"Duh, you idiot. Here, take them," Renjun said, handing the babies to Jaemin. "I'm done. Never doing anything else with you two again," he complained.
"Go away. I don't want to see you guys for another 83 years."
"But you know you love us," Jeno said, holding Renjun's frail arm. "Come on, Renjunnie."
"Fine, just give me a minute," Renjun relented.
"By the way, have you named them yet?" Jaemin asked, looking up.
"No, I wasn't sure what to name them," Renjun said.
"Okay, let me think. Hmm... I got nothing," Jaemin said, pouting.
"Let me," Jeno said, scratching his head. "How about Jikyu and Juyeo?"
"Wow, Jeno, those are perfect!" Jaemin said, smiling. "Thanks, Haechan recommended them."
"And who is Haechan?" Renjun asked, sitting up. Jeno and Jaemin exchanged a glance.
"He's just a friend," Jeno said.
"Yeah, a friend," Jaemin agreed.
"Are you seriously hiding something from me?" Renjun demanded, folding his arms. "No secrets, remember? We're supposed to get married."
"I know, but it's just a friend," Jeno said.
"Just Renjun now? So you're hiding something from me?" Renjun said, turning away, his hurt evident.
"No! It's not like that! We... we..."
"We cheated on you," Jeno admitted, his voice filled with regret.
"What?! You did what?" Renjun's face flushed with anger.
"I know... We didn't mean to," Jeno said, his voice trembling.
"I changed everything for you two! I had your babies, and this is how you repay me? By cheating?" Renjun shouted, tears streaming down his face.
Jaemin and Jeno could see how deeply upset Renjun was. He was red-faced, in pain, and heartbroken.
"You know what... get out. I never want to see you two again," Renjun said, his voice breaking.
"But Renjunnie—"
"I said get out! Now!"
Jaemin looked down at the babies, feeling torn. He kissed each one on the forehead before handing them to Jeno.
"Say goodbye to them, Jeno."
"Goodbye, little ones. Daddy loves you," Jeno said, kissing the babies.
With heavy hearts, Jaemin and Jeno left the hospital, leaving behind the love they had once shared with Renjun.
YOU ARE READING
𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 ; 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐧
Fiksi Penggemar"Marriage isn't always a fairy tale, especially when it's orchestrated by others. Renjun's parents pressured Jeno and Jaemin into his life, weaving their fates together in a way that wasn't always joyful."
