Limitless (NCT one shots)

Friend Pt 2 Jaemin's story (Nomin)

When Renjun left him in the cafe Jaemin stayed and cried. He always knew in his heart that Renjun was meant to be Mark's but he still had hoped that they might work. It took him months to finally ask him on a date and they never even got to finish it.
"If you are going to cry and secrete nasty fluids, maybe you should leave." He hears behind him. He turns to look only to be faced with a grumpy Jeno.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just had my heart mildly broken." He says with sarcasm. Jeno sighs.
"Fine, but don't get it on the furniture." Jaemin makes a face and mocks him as he walks away.
"He may be hot but he's grumpy." He says to himself.
"Excuse me? I may be what now?" Jaemin turns pink as he now knows he said that out loud.
"Go away, I don't want to deal with you right now." He says and goes back into his depressive state. Jeno chuckles and  goes back to work but keeps an eye on him the whole time.
After he sat there for another hour just staring out the window Jeno went to put a stop to it.
"I'm closing now." He says walking up behind and startling him.
"Ok. I'm done now anyway." He gives Jeno a blinding smile and gathers his things.
"Wait, that's it? You're over it, just like that?" He asks in disbelief as Jaemin just nods with a smile.
"So you didn't like them that much then? You were crying." Jaemin sighs.
"Look if you want to be my therapist you should at least know my name. I'm Jaemin, I'm in the same morning class for philosophy." He holds his hand out to shake and Jeno slowly accepts.
"You must be hungry, come with me. I'm having Chinese tonight." Jeno says as he lets go of his hand. Jaemin smiles softly.
"Sounds good." He walks out and waits for the other to lock up and they walk down the street to the restaurant in silence.
"He is a friend. I knew before I asked him out that he liked someone else but I thought maybe he could change his mind. But he didn't and they are together doing who knows what right now." Jeno chuckles.
"What did you like about him?" He asks softly.
"Oh, I don't know. He's cute and funny and savage when he needs to be." Jeno bites his lip.
"I guess I don't stand a chance?" He says.
"Huh?" Jaemin looks up with pink cheeks.
"I would ask you on a date but I'm not funny." Jaemin giggles.
"I don't know, that was kind of funny." He says with a shy smile. Jeno nods with a small grin.
"So when did you get to the cafe? I never saw you before." Jeno chuckles.
"We had a shift change midway through your crying spell." Jaemin looks down slightly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry. I should have left." Jeno shakes his head no.
"I'm glad you didn't, I have someone to eat with now." Jaemin smiles again as they make small talk. The whole meal is spent talking as if they've known each other forever. Neither one of them could have predicted just how well they would click. They walk toward campus together slowly, talking the whole time. When they get to the dorms Jaemin pouts.
"I'm not ready yet. I've had so much fun tonight." Jeno smiles wider than he has all night and Jaemin can't take his eyes off of his beautiful face. He reaches up and touches his cheek, much to the other's surprise.
"You have the most beautiful smile I've ever seen." Jeno chuckles and takes his hand.
"Thank you. Do you want to come to my room? My roommate was going to be out all night, we could talk some more?" Jaemin looks unsure so Jeno quickly tries to reassure him.
"I just thought we could talk, that's it. If you are more comfortable we can sit out here?" He says gesturing to a bench. Jaemin smiles sweetly.
"We can go to your room, I trust you." Jeno smiles softly and leads the way, still holding his hand.
"So when are you going to ask me on this date?" Jaemin asks making him laugh.
"Maybe in a couple weeks? I want you to be over him completely." Jaemin frowns then smiles softly.
"That sounds great." He speaks quietly.
They spend until 3 Am talking and laughing. Jaemin couldn't have known just from seeing him in his class that he would be the one, but things are already looking up.

The following day they meet up in the afternoon for coffee. They are both quiet since they still feel tired from the night before but that's ok, just being here together is enough. Of course nothing could have prepared Jaemin for what he hears as Haechan, Mark and Renjun walk into the same coffee shop.
"Ok but we have to have ground rules, I don't want to walk in post sex again." He hears Haechan say, and to say it hurt that Renjun left their date and immediately gave himself to Mark would be an understatement. He doesn't even know the feeling yet but it's gutting him. Jeno of course heard this too and even though he doesn't know Jaemin's friends yet he can tell this is the group just by the look of pure betrayal on his face. He reaches over the table and softly takes his hand and smiles comfortingly when he looks up at him. Jeno will never know just how much this means to him. He smiles and squeezes Jeno's fingers.
"Thank you." He says softly. Jeno only nods as he watches the trio walk their way.
"Oh hi, Jaemin. Uh." Renjun says awkwardly as his hand is being held by Mark's.
"Hi." He says simply. Mark being oblivious to the tension invites Jaemin and his new friend to sit with them.
"No thanks." He looks at Jeno and asks him softly to walk with him and he agrees right away.