𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 ; 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐦𝐢𝐧

Unresolved Feelings

Chapter 3: Unresolved Feelings

Renjun woke up to the familiar feeling of warm sunlight streaming through his bedroom window. As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself nestled between Jeno and Jaemin. The memories of last night came rushing back, and he sighed softly, not quite ready to face the morning.

"Morning," Jeno whispered, already awake and watching him.

"Morning," Renjun replied, carefully extracting himself from the bed. "I need to check on the boys."

Jaemin stirred and opened his eyes, smiling sleepily. "Want some help?"

Renjun shook his head. "No, I've got it. You two just... stay here."

As he left the room, he could hear Jeno and Jaemin murmuring softly to each other. He made his way to the boys' room, where he found them all still sound asleep. Juyeo was clutching his favorite teddy bear, and Jikyu had wrapped himself around Yuto, who was snoring softly. Renjun smiled at the sight and gently closed the door.

In the kitchen, Renjun started making breakfast, the familiar routine bringing him a sense of calm. He was just finishing up when Jaemin walked in, rubbing his eyes and stretching.

"Smells good," Jaemin commented, leaning against the counter.

"Thanks," Renjun replied, plating the food. "Can you wake the boys? Breakfast is ready."

Jaemin nodded and headed to the boys' room, leaving Renjun alone with his thoughts. He didn't have much time to ponder, though, as the sound of tiny feet pattering on the floor soon filled the kitchen.

"Dada! I smell pancakes!" Jikyu shouted, his eyes lighting up as he ran over to the table.

"Good morning, sweetie," Renjun said, ruffling Jikyu's hair. "Did you sleep well?"

"Mhm! Yuto and I had fun," Jikyu replied enthusiastically, climbing into his chair.

Juyeo and Yuto followed shortly after, with Jaemin helping them get settled. Renjun served the pancakes, and the room was filled with the happy chatter of the boys enjoying their breakfast.

Later, as Renjun was cleaning up, Jeno approached him. "Can we talk?"

Renjun hesitated but then nodded. "Alright. Let's go to the living room."

They sat down on the couch, and Jeno took a deep breath. "I know things have been really complicated between us, and I just want to say I'm sorry. For everything."

Renjun looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Why did you do it, Jeno? Why did you and Jaemin cheat on me?"

Jeno ran a hand through his hair, clearly distressed. "We were young and stupid. We thought we were invincible and that we could get away with anything. But we were wrong, and we hurt you. We've regretted it every day since."

Renjun's eyes filled with tears. "I loved you both so much. I gave you everything, and you threw it all away."

"I know," Jeno said, his voice breaking. "And there's nothing I can do to take that back. But please, Renjun, give us another chance. Let us prove that we've changed, that we can be the family you and the boys deserve."

Renjun wiped his tears, his heart aching. "I don't know if I can trust you again. The pain is still there, every single day."

Jaemin walked in, having overheard the conversation. "We know it won't be easy, but we're willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. We love you, Renjun. We never stopped."

Renjun looked between them, his emotions swirling. Part of him wanted to believe them, to give them another chance. But the other part was terrified of getting hurt again.

"I need time," Renjun finally said. "I need to think about this."

Jeno and Jaemin nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need," Jaemin said softly. "We'll be here, waiting."

The day passed by in a blur. Renjun took the boys to the park, trying to keep his mind off the conversation with Jeno and Jaemin. But it was impossible to ignore the gnawing feeling in his chest.

When they returned home, Chenle and Jisung were waiting for them. "Hey, Gege," Chenle greeted with a smile. "How was your day?"

"Busy," Renjun replied, managing a small smile. "The boys had a great time at the park."

"That's good to hear," Jisung said, ruffling Jikyu's hair. "We wanted to check in and see how you're doing."

Renjun sighed. "I'm... okay. Just trying to figure things out."

Chenle gave him a sympathetic look. "If you need to talk, we're here for you."

"Thanks," Renjun said, feeling a bit lighter. "I appreciate it."

That night, after putting the boys to bed, Renjun found himself alone in the living room, lost in thought. The weight of the decision he had to make was heavy on his shoulders. He loved Jeno and Jaemin, but he couldn't deny the pain they had caused him.

As he sat there, the door to the living room opened, and Jeno and Jaemin walked in, looking hesitant. "Can we sit with you?" Jaemin asked.

Renjun nodded, and they joined him on the couch. For a moment, there was silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Renjun spoke. "I want to believe you. I want to believe that things can be different, that we can be happy again. But I'm scared."

"We're scared too," Jeno admitted. "But we're willing to face that fear if it means we can be with you and the boys."

"We love you, Renjun," Jaemin added. "And we're not going to give up on us."

Renjun looked at them, his heart aching. "I love you too. But this is going to take time. Trust isn't something that can be rebuilt overnight."

"We understand," Jeno said softly. "And we're willing to wait."

Jaemin nodded in agreement. "We'll be here, for as long as it takes."

Renjun took a deep breath, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Okay. Let's take this one step at a time."

As they sat there, the future still uncertain, Renjun felt a sense of relief. It wasn't going to be easy, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like there was a chance for healing and happiness. And that was a start.