Read 'em and Weep! {NA JAEMIN}

THREE

You, Swan, and Hendery sat awkwardly in the small tattoo parlor, looking encouragingly Ireh's way as the artist applied the stencil to her upper back.

"God it was so awkward when he came over yesterday," you forced a smile as you spoke to Hendery and Swan, not wanting Ireh to see your frown and further panic about her permanent ink.

"I can't believe he think it's me," Hendery's teeth looked more gritted than a forced smile.

"Hendery you better smile with your eyes," Swan's smile seemed incredibly forced, but when Ireh glanced your way for encouragement, everyone shot a thumbs up. "Honestly, with how much you guys have been speaking I would think he'd catch on that it's you."

"We haven't spoken that much," you denied, staring down at your shoes.

"What school project requires him to be at our place everyday for nearly a month?" Swan pointed, her eyebrows furrowing. Hendery nodded in agreement, affirming Swan's point.

"You know how I am about school projects," you muttered.

"Yeah, if you could do everything on your own and not talk to someone, you would," Hendery scoffed, this time earning an affirming nod from Swan.

"I think you're hurt," Swan then smiled, causing you and your cousin to smile back at Ireh who was turning to you in a panicked state as the artist began the work on her tattoo.

"Why would I be hurt? He's just doing his job," you grumbled, crossing your arms.

"I think you want him to see you," Swan's voice rose in pitch, as if hoping you would understand what she was saying.

"He sees me almost everyday- that's what you just complained about," your response earned a groan from Hendery and Swan.

"Eeeep is something wrong?" Ireh cried, her eyes widening.

"Everything is great! Your tattoo looks great!" You rushed, shooting her a double thumbs up to help calm her down. She nodded and turned her head, the three of you sighing in relief.

"You want him to see you," Hendery repeated Swan's words, shooting you a knowing glance. You rolled your eyes, and listened to Hendery and Swan bicker over the lighting choice in the tattoo parlor as you all waited on Ireh's tattoo artist to finish up.

"Does it look good?" Ireh asked as the three of you gawked at how incredible your drawing came out on her back, and an immense sense of pride overwhelmed you.

"It looks awesome," Swan was taking a photo of it, the three of you now watching as the artist covered the tattoo in a clear bandage. It was one thing to know that people loved reading your work, it was a different feeling to see one of your closest friends get something specially made that you've done, forever on her flesh.

"This reminds me of that comic," the tattoo artist snapped his fingers, trying to think.

"Flight of the Wolves?" Hendery asked, earning a quick nod from the artist.

"Yep! At least the art style, it's awesome," he affirmed. After Ireh paid and you all said goodbye to the artist, you stepped out from the parlor and into the somewhat busy city center on a Saturday evening.

---

"You said you were going to invite people," Jaemin sighed, carrying two boxes of pizza. Yangyang and Sungchan dragged Jaemin with them to pick up dinner for tonight, having previously said that they'd be having friends over.

"Yangyang, you know you can always just ask to hang out with us like normal people," Sungchan chastised, shaking the sodas in his hands.

"Renjun and Chenle really said they couldn't make it!" Yangyang countered, helping push back the throngs of people to clear the way for his two roommates until he suddenly stopped on the edge of the street.