CHERRY BLOSSOMS [nomin fanfic]

Chapter-6

Age- 17 years

*Jeno's birthday*

Lee Jeno was sulking. Today was supposed to be his special day but Jeno wasn't feeling happy at all and it was all because of the boy next door. For the last one year, something between them changed. They started hanging out less than usual, they stopped having sleepovers and even refused to see each other without being forced by their mothers. It took Jeno three hours to convince his mom that everything between him and Jaemin was alright and that they were just stressed teenagers struggling with the workload. Deep down he knew this wasn't the reason but what else can he tell her? That he liked Jaemin and pretended to be his boyfriend in front of his classmates? Tell her that her son has no guts to confess his feelings?

He opened his cupboard and took the two plushies he always kept with him. It was a rabbit and a dog, both given by Jaemin on his sixth and seventh birthday.

Nana and Nono

He remembers the day they were watching some animal videos on YouTube and Jaemin had pointed out how that one particular dog breed looked exactly like Jeno when he was smiling. And it was a fact that Jaemin was a human rabbit. No doubt, that's why he named the rabbit plushie Nana and the dog plushie Nono.

Jeno picked up the rabbit and dog plushie and made them sit together on the bed. Then made them hug each other. Then kiss.
He threw the toys away and cringed at his own stupid act. He was almost an adult yet he was playing such stupid games with toys. How pathetic.

...

Jaemin and Jeno awkwardly sat next to each other. As usual, the Lee and the Na families were having Jeno's birthday dinner. Even after 10 years, their families continued to do this, and to be honest, the boys liked it too.

"We are going out for a while" Jeno and Jaemin walked out to the front lawn and as usual sat down on their old patch of grass. They sat silently, listening to each other's breathing. They missed it, sitting like this but none of them would admit it.

"You didn't get me a gift"

"Sorry. I was too occupied to go out"

Jeno hummed. He understood that Jaemin was now a senior in high school and that he would soon have his College exam but Jeno still hoped to get something from him. Anything.

"I'll get you something. Anything you want" Jaemin picked up a twig and twisted it around in between his fingers mindlessly.

"Anything you say?"

Jaemin nodded.

Jeno doesn't know where he got this courage from, it was something he was stressing about for the past year and today he thought that he should just spill everything.

"How about you be my boyfriend as my gift?" There. He said it. He finally confessed.

On the other hand, Jaemin was left stunned. His thoughts were too clouded to even think straight. He couldn't process what Jeno just said. Boyfriend?

"You don't have to. It's all up to you" Jeno looked away, now feeling stupid for not thinking twice. "I am not forcing you"

Jaemin shook himself slightly as if trying to get himself out of a trance. He stood up and offered his hand to Jeno who raised his eyebrows at him.

"Come with me. I need you to see something"

...

Jaemin opened the door to his room and dragged Jeno inside.

He looked him straight in the eyes and asked Jeno the question he had wanted to ask for so long. "Why did you distance yourself from me?"

Jeno didn't answer. He just tried to avert his eyes.

"Tell me, why did you behave like that? If you want me to be your boyfriend, then why did you act as if you hated me or something?" Jaemin was yelling now. He didn't like being this way with his best friend. He missed Jeno a lot.

"I never hated you. I just thought you would never like me in the way I wanted you to."

Jaemin walked over to his desk and pulled out a folder. He took out a white sheet of paper and showed it to Jeno whose eyes widened in shock. It was the same painting he had given Jaemin back in middle school. Jaemin then opened his wallet and took out a smaller piece of paper that made Jeno cry. It was the first-ever drawing he made for him when he was a little kid. Jeno couldn't believe that Jaemin never threw it away.

"This folder has all the stuff you ever painted for me. I even keep your rough sketches" he handed Jeno a folder that was full of painted paper.

"N-nana" Jeno couldn't speak.

"I like you Jeno. I Iike you a lot"

Rather than saying anything, Jeno cupped Jaemin's face and pressed his lips on his. That was their first kiss. Both of them smiled in the kiss before Jeno pulled away.

"I like you too. Be my boyfriend. For real this time"