Beautiful time (Noren)

7

On Saturday Renjun slept as long as he possibly could and didn't roll out of bed until almost one in the afternoon. He lays in bed just staring at the ceiling for a long time, not wanting to get up just yet. A week of these long hours have been catching up with him but he doesn't want to lose what he has going on with Jeno. He's already too attached and if this is the only way he can see him, he will endure. He rolls to his side and wills himself out of bed and to the shower. It helps to wake him a little. He throws on some sweats since the party isn't for a few hours yet. He makes some toast and tea and sits and watches tv for a little while. He's soon bored and flipping through his sketches and lands on his last one, his finest yet if you ask him. He picks his favorites that he is willing to show people and sets out to draw again today. He focuses on his tea cup sitting on the table and imagines another next to it. An image he likes very much.
Just as he finished his drawing the doorbell rings. He stretches and slowly walks to it, not really expecting anyone today. He is surprised to see Jaemin standing there waving at him.
"What are you doing here?" Jaemin frowns.
"Hello to you too, friend. I'm here to drive you to Mark's place." Renjun makes on o face and lets him in.
"Hi Jaemin, it's so nice to see you." He says sweetly. Jaemin frowns again.
"I'm feeling a lot of sarcasm in your tone." He says as he pushes Renjun toward his bedroom.
"Change, now. It's time to go." Renjun obeys and goes into his room. Jaemin makes himself comfortable on the couch and picks up his sketch book and starts flipping through it. When he gets to the second to the last page he is shocked. Renjun comes out and sees his face and looks at what he's holding.
"Hey, what the fuck Jaemin that's private?" He sprints over and realizes he's too late, he's already seen it.
"Is this, your husband?" He asks softly staring at a portrait done perfectly.
"Not my husband, my friend." He sighs and sits next to Jaemin as he flips to the most recent one with two half empty tea cups on the very table that's in front of him.
"Wow. These are good." He says simply as he gently sets it down.
"You look nice are you ready?" He asks staring ahead. Renjun nods and goes to get his jacket.
"Are you mad that I looked?" Jaemin asks quietly as they get into his car.
"Not mad, I was keeping him my little secret though, at least until I was ready for the next step if there is one." Jaemin nods.
"I'm sorry, I feel like I invaded your privacy or something." Renjun pretend punches him.
"It's fine Jaemin. So have you met Mark's fiancé yet?" Renjun asks, as Jaemin shakes his head no.

Across town When Jeno woke up, it wasn't peace and tranquillity like Renjun had experienced. He found his little Nal lying around, acting off. She is gagging and drooling, and seems to be having trouble breathing. He immediately calls his vet to get her in right away. He's terrified, he loves them like children and the thought of them being sick in any way scares him.
He packs her up in her carrier, wrapped in a warm blanket. He sighs as he looks at the time and grabs Donghyuck's gift before walking out. He rushes as fast as possible, without speeding too much.
When he gets to the vet they see him immediately which he's thankful for. They run some tests and take an ex ray. All of this is kind of freaking him out and he wants desperately for someone to talk to but he doesn't want to bother anyone. He knows everyone is busy today so he will just wait it out by himself.
"Ok, Mr Lee, Nal is going to be fine. Her vitals are good but her chest ex ray does show a respiratory infection. She will need to take an antibiotic and I want to keep her at least overnight, maybe two." He frowns, but nods. He sighs and rubs his face before standing.
"Ok, but why do you have to keep her?" He asks.
"She really should be isolated from the others. We wouldn't want all of them catching it and I would like to observe her overnight as well." He sighs again.
"Can I see her before I go?" He asks solemnly.
The vet smiles and leads him back to the room where she's lying in a cage. He picks her up and kisses her head and gives her a little hug before he puts her back. He walks out and heads straight for home. He was planning on stopping by Donghyuck's party to drop off his gift but he can't bring himself to do it. He quickly dials his number.
"What's up?" He asks knowing who it is.
"I'm sorry, I can't make it to your party. Nal is sick, like staying over night in the vet clinic sick and I just don't feel like partying. I'm sorry." Donghyuck understanding the situation sympathizes with him.
"It's ok, I understand." Jeno sighs.
"Happy birthday though, I love you and I promise I'll be at the next one." Donghyuck chuckles.
"I'm holding you to that." He says with a laugh. He hangs up as he pulls up in front of his place.

When Renjun and Jaemin get there it's Mark who answers the door. He's excited to see them, genuinely.
"Ooh, ooh, hold on." He runs over and grabs someone, gently pulling them to the door.
"This is my amazing fiancé Donghyuck." He then points to his coworkers.
"These are my friends and colleagues Renjun and Jaemin." They all smile and hold their hands out to shake his in greeting.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Mark talks about you all the time." Renjun says with a smile.
"Thank you for coming, we have a ton of food and drinks ranging from non alcoholic to very alcoholic so enjoy." Donghyuck says politely.
"So Renjun, I hear you are quite the artist." He furrows his brow and looks at Mark.
"I told him about your drawings that hang in your cubicle." Renjun smiles softly.
"Thank you." He says, mostly looking at Mark, feeling his confidence rise even more.
"Yeah, I've always liked art." He smiles and notices Yangyang standing in the corner with Xiaojun and a few others from the office and internally cringes. Previously, under these circumstances he would have loved the opportunity to meet him outside of work but things have changed a lot in his heart and mind. After Donghyuck and Jaemin talk a bit, they head off to the food table. Renjun only had toast today so he's a bit hungry but when Yangyang comes up and starts talking, he forgets all about his hunger. For some strange reason, the urge to get away is strong and he has no idea why. It's not like the other has ever given him reason to fear him or anything, he just doesn't want to be near him. He smiles and nods as a response to most of what was said until he just can't take it anymore and fakes getting an important text so he can step away. He opens his phone and quick texts Jeno for appearances and also because he genuinely cares.

Cutie🦊: how is your party? Mine is ok. My friends fiancé is so nice so I'm glad I got to meet him. Wish you were here though, I would much rather talk to you then a majority of the people here and my friends are busy. 😢

He hits send, hoping it doesn't sound like too much. He wanders around by himself for about a half hour before he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Coach🏀: I didn't go. Nal is sick and staying at the vet overnight and I just didn't feel like partying.

Cutie🦊: do you want me to come over? Do you need anything?

Renjun doesn't know this but Jeno feels a warmth he hasn't in a long time, with how thoughtful Renjun is being.

Coach🏀: enjoy your party, but thank you.

Renjun's lips form a straight line as he thinks it over. He goes up to Mark and Donghyuck and politely takes his leave, telling them he has a friend in need and they completely understand.

When Renjun enters Jeno's building he immediately questions wether he made the right choice and contemplates leaving right away. He makes his way up though hauling the groceries he bought to make dinner for him. He rings the doorbell and instantly feels sick. 'He doesn't want to see me, he's probably sick of my face and my annoying voice and it's too late.' His inner voice is having a full on dialogue that makes him want to turn and run until he hears the lock click. At that moment he decides to just be confident and go with it, after all it's too late to back out now.
"Hi.". He says with a shy smile. Jeno's shocked face unconsciously morphs into a happy one making Renjun relieved.
"Hi, I thought I told you to stay at your party?" Jeno questions, quirking his brow. Renjun let's out a breathy giggle and shrugs.
"Let me in, I brought food so I can make you dinner." He says while waiting on Jeno to get out of his way.
Now that he has finally broken eye contact he looks down, noticing Jeno's low hanging sweat pants and sleeveless shirt. His finely sculpted arms out for anyone to see, Renjun can't help but think of how insanely attractive he is and doesn't know why it hasn't hit him like this before.
'This is going to be a long day.' He thinks, as he sets the stuff on the counter and starts to prepare the food.