IN A HEARTBEAT ⋮ nomin

𝟮𝟮: the smell

Jokes or not Jaemin has been smelling differently lately.

He hasn't changed his body wash, it's not his cologne. Jeno is sure that it doesn't have anything to do with shampoos and lotions either.

Because the smell is different from other usual smells. And Jeno knows why.

Jaemin has the smell of lust around him.

It appears whenever they're alone and Jaemin just lays in his bed and stares at Jeno. Their eyes meet for a bit and Jaemin giggles, burying his head into his pillow afterward.

It also happens when they cuddle. The two can talk about various topics or just rest and that smell comes out all of sudden. It smells spicy and sweet at the same time. Jeno has no idea if it's a mixture of fruits or something else. But one thing's for sure, it's the representative smell of human craving for sexual desires.

Jeno doesn't know what to do. The smell of lust surely affects him. It's aimed right at him, it has to make an impact. But the person is Jaemin, his asexual boyfriend. Jeno doesn't want to do anything to ruin their relationship therefore he ignores the smell.

After all, Jaemin doesn't know that Jeno can feel his lust. He hasn't said anything about the desire either. Maybe he doesn't know what is happening to him. Maybe he does, but he's not ready. If that's the case, Jeno doesn't stick his nose into Jaemin's personal business and stays the same. He wants Jaemin to speak about it himself.

He shares these matters with Renjun as the matchmaker is like a free psychologist. According to Renjun, Jeno does things right. He has to wait for Jaemin's further signals.

➷

"Do you want to live with me?"

Jeno looks away from his laptop to face his boyfriend.

"I'm practically living with you already," he laughs as he looks around the room. "There's more of my stuff than yours and it's supposed to be your room."

Jeno starts pointing things out, for example, his clothes on Jaemin's chair. Then his toothbrush, books, and notebooks.

Jaemin is already aware of that and it's not surprising. He's the one who lets Jeno mark his territory.

"I'm speaking about you living with me for real. Right now, you're still sharing the room with Renjun. You have two rooms now and I want you to have only one."

"But it goes against our university rules. Two people can't be in a room for one."

"Let's change rooms with Renjun."

Jeno pauses. The idea is tempting.

"Of course, if he agrees," Jaemin added, perhaps noticing how selfish it sounds.

"He will," Jeno smiles.

Renjun is their matchmaker. He will do anything to make them see each other more.

➷

Renjun agrees with the idea, but he's sad that, from now on, it will be hard for him to consult Jeno.

"That's not the problem. I'll summon you once in a while."

Jeno is joking, of course. Though, Renjun seems to find something in his joke.

"Do you plan to tell Jaemin who you really are?" he asks as he narrows his eyes.

He even stops organizing his stuff just so that he could see Jeno's reaction.

"I don't know," the half-demon can only shrug. "Is it even necessary to tell him? When you found out who I am, it was easy, right? Because you're also mixed. But unlike you, he's a pure human. I don't think he'll understand."

"He has seen a demon once," Renjun points out. "He might understand you."

"But is it necessary?"

Renjun stares at Jeno's eyes, then sighs.

"I don't think you care about necessity. You care what will he think of you more, don't you? It frightens you that you'll scare him."

"That's right," Jeno smiles. "We're doing great right now. I don't want him to disown me."

"Disown? What is he for you, your daddy?"

"Sometimes it feels like he is," Jeno says but instantly regrets. "I-I mean he acts like a dad, taking care of me and stuff."

"Of course. Is there any other meaning?" Renjun raises his eyebrow.

The matchmaker is too innocent. At least, he pretends to be like that. Or more like, he believes that he's innocent.

"So you're keeping it a secret?" Renjun asks for confirmation.

"Yes. I want to be a human for him, not a monster."

"Understandable."

"Renjun?"

"Mhm."

"That means you also have to keep your mouth shut."