𝟕 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬 ﾟ ˡᵉᵉ 제노

𝟒𝟎

It wasn't quite clear to Donghee how the thick atmosphere she endured through their dinner, along with the unwelcome, conversation about being careful with their bond and the whole birds and the bees talk now shifted to Jeno seated beside her mom who excitedly hands him a thick photo album, and her dad making sure to put out a dad joke that surprisingly made the said boy laugh.

"Oh and this, this was the first time I get to tie her hair, oh my baby", Dongjin hushed, pointing to the picture of four-year-old Donghee wearing red overalls, and her hair tied in a single bunch that gathered onto the center of her head, "She looked so adorable doesn't she?", Dongjin trailed on, sighing while she shot a reminiscing look towards the much-grown girl who proudly smiled in return, well confident of her young self.

"Come on Dong two, that's your cutest picture..Like ever", Donghyuck teasingly butts while slouched to the couch, just a distance from Jeno.

"You look...familiar"

Jeno's words instantly made Donghee straighten her posture, brows already furrowed at the statement.

"How?"

"I don't know..It just you know, reminded me of someone"

"His ex", Daehyun jokingly comments with a feigned conflicted voice, receiving a quick slap on the back of the head from Donghee.

Seeing this, Dongjin squinted her eyes towards the latter,"Someone?Who?", she asks, turning to Jeno with a calmer expression.

"A childhood friend ma'am..", Jeno politely answers, rubbing his nape nervously.

"Oh?What's her name then?"

Donghee just sat across them, a brow now raised unknowingly as she wait for his answer, intrigued paints her expression, and maybe a hint of something else.

"I didn't get to know her name.. We.. uh.. Moved", he replies, a glint of disappointment in his smile.

"That sounds like a perfect drama hyung", Daehyun remarks, whilst nodding, staring off onto nothing.

"Oh it's alright!Our Donghee once cried for days because her friend just disappeared when she was young", Dongjin tells him comfortingly, earning an agreeing yes from both her husband and Donghyuck.

"I remember that one!We thought it's just some imaginary friend cause Dong two would just call her friend..What was it?Smile?", the latter clamors upon recalling, being unable to help himself from snorting at the odd name.

Heaving another sigh, Donghee clicked her tongue at this, "Smiley.And I was 5, dumbhyuck.", she fires back, couldn't also help but feel irritated by the unfortunate event.

"She would wait for him by that playground, for a week until she realized he disappeared", Donggeun joins in, being the one the young Donghee cried onto every time the young boy smiley, didn't show up.

Jeno remained silent, which didn't seem to be easily noticed by the elders who continued retelling those days, as his eyes still continue to stare onto Donghee's picture as a 4-year-old.

"I'm adorable ever since, wasn't I, Blue?", hearing the distinct nickname, Jeno looked at her again, seeing the usual cocky smile Donghee would show.

"Oh please, I disagree"

"Shut up, nobody asked Dong one"

Jeno could only chuckle at their childish argument, his eyes finding it's way back to the picture before looking back to Donghee.

Could it be?, he asks himself, forcing to remember a picture he saw merely twice the past years from his childhood friend who he, unfortunately, don't know the name of.

But I'm sure she's from Jeju, wasn't she?, Jeno couldn't help but wonder if it's really a possibility, his curiosity rising as he mentally notes to ask Mark more about it.

"Blue"

"Yes?"

"You good?", Donghee queries worriedly, assuming something was bothering him based on the look on his face.

Shaking his thoughts away for the meantime, Jeno's triple smile made it's appearance, "Yeah shorty", he answers reassuringly.

"Aww, look at you being so considerate!Told you having your soul's mate changes you", Dongjin lovingly tells them, hands clasped together as she looks at the young mates dreamily.

am i doing this right