GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 1.18

"So we are going to have to share a bed?" Jeno raised a brow to which the girl nodded as she carried on cleaning up. Pursing his lips, Jeno awkwardly faced down.

In all honesty, he didn't mind but he wasn't entirely sure if this Jisung guy would be pleased to know that Jeno has been using his room and clothes.

Ga-eun spun around and noticed the uncomfortable expression on the boy's face. Sighing, she placed the dishes back into the shelves. "Jisung won't mind," she said, bringing him out of his trance. He stared at her astonished and listened as the girl carried on. "He wouldn't mind sharing a bed with you; however, clothes are another story. We can deal with that later" she finished off but Jeno did not avail his sight of her.

"How do you do that?" he questioned, confusing the girl. "Do what?" She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. "You always seem to know what I'm thinking about without me even saying a word"

"It's a talent of mine" she immediately responded, boasting herself up. Scoffing lightly Jeno chuckled "Speak honestly" All she could do was click her tongue at the fact that he didn't fall for it. "I'm not entirely lying. I think I'm quite good at reading people's thoughts. I don't know what it is about you but, I can just . . see through you" she tried to word it in a way that is understandable.

This was quite difficult to believe. Whenever Jeno's in front of cameras he's able to fool them all by placing on the plastic smile that he learnt from many conferences. An act that he displays pretending to be a perfect person who has no problems and is eternally happy. It baffled him how he wasn't able to do the same in front of her. 

Maybe it's because he is more free around the girl like he is around his friends. Or maybe it's because their aren't any cameras and he knows for a fact that she isn't a fan. "So you're saying that I'm bad at hiding my emotions?" he raised a brow.

"No but I can just tell what you're thinking about depending on the situation. You always are in deep thoughts, quiet and silent. I kind of guess what's bothering you and it turns out that I'm right"

He was impressed to say the least by how observant she is. Not saying another word the boy carried on washing the dishes while Ga-eun dried them. However, the tranquility came to an end as a curious question popped into her head. "Do you remember anyone that you know?" she suddenly asked. The way she worded it confused him. "What do you mean?"

Humming, she thought of a simpler way to ask. "Like family or friends" the boy raised a brow to see her eager eyes face him. He was slightly amused by the fact that she is finding an interest in his family.

"Well . . . " he stared off. "I have an older sister, 3 years older than me. I'm quite close to her. I have a brother who is a year older. And then I have a mum and dad. Nothing much intriguing" he shrugged his shoulders lazily. 

She didn't actually expect him to be able to answer that question. Furrowing her brows she bit her tongue hard, finding something off. "Friends?" she questioned wanting him to probe further, staring at the boy.

"Hmm, well I have a few friends. But I'm really close to Renjun." Ga-eun didn't interrupt and listened carefully to him. "We both have known one another from the age of 5." he sighed as some thoughts invaded his mind.

He hadn't thought about how the others would be feeling. He disappeared out of nowhere and only concentrated on his surroundings that he didn't even take into account what was happening to them.

Did Renjun report to the police?

Does Mark know?

Are they searching for me?

He began to internally panic. Renjun was the last person who he spoke to. What if the police blame him and suspect him for Jeno's sudden disappearance. And then there is Mark. He was already questioning Renjun why he hadn't reached home. Now he has evaporated with no trace it's probably driving him insane.

Shutting his eyes tight he attempted to calm down the flooding of problematic thoughts. He wanted to set his mind straight and not fall into a sea of negativity. It wouldn't help one bit.

No Jeno . . you're just exaggerating

"Where are they now?" Ga-eun folded her arms. Snapping his attention over to her he raked his dark pupils over her smaller figure briefly before answering. "Seoul" he breathed out but then he instantly regretted thinking that she would yet again judge him. She probably never heard of the place from what he had experienced during their conversations so far.

To his shock, her expression was far from what he expected. Staring at him hard fuelled with intensity she did not even blinking. It looked like she was trying to decipher. Eventually, Ga-eun pursed her lips exhaling heavily.

"You're not lying about Seoul are you?" she hesitantly questioned. Jeno felt his heart stop beating, astonished that she actually believed him. "No I'm not lying. It's really a place" he spoke in a hopeful tone. 

However, Ga-eun's facial features crumbled causing his moment of glee to disperse. "Jeno, this place, Seoul that you keep mentioning of isn't in Ezio. Maybe you aren't even from here, from Narva. Maybe . . . " she stepped closer to him, scanning his eyes back and forth with dejection . "Maybe your from a really far place"

Yeah I know that - he sighed

Biting her lip her hand reached upwards to dishevel her hair aggressively out of frustration. "What's wrong?" he asked at her stressed out stance. "I'm just worried. I don't know how to help you get back." deep down he felt his heart warm up as a ray of butterflies dancing inside of him.

He wasn't too sure why she was so dedicated to wanting to help him out. She did once mention that it was because she found him interesting and she wanted to study him. However, now it seems like she is doing it because they are more like friends.

"Don't stress yourself. I will find a way" he spoke in a positive attitude which he somehow picked up from her without even realising. Lifting his arm up, Jeno gently patted her head. Casting one last glance over to him, Ga-eun bit her bottom lip before putting out a thought that raised in her. "You definitely haven't lost your memory" she concluded. She knew straight after Jeno spoke about Renjun being his childhood friend.

Hearing that he was getting somewhere in changing her mind about him not ill his dark pupils beamed in bliss and he nodded vigorously. However, the small flickering flame was put of immediately by her next words.

"But you still speak weird" she ended, making his face scrunch up and groan in annoyance.

Heyy!!!

How are you finding it so far? 

I feel like it might be going to slow

Nonetheless, thank you for giving this book a chance. It may be a little boring now but I am hoping that you will enjoy it when the real story starts ;)