You're Mine - Nomin

3

The big night was finally here. Jeno was backstage getting ready before the runway. He brought his entire staff with him; everything needed to be perfect, any other mistake would be the end of him. While Donghyuck did his hair one of his friends entered his dressing room.

"Hello mister booked and busy. It's almost impossible to contact you these days."

"Hi, Jisung. I'm so sorry I haven't answered any of your 20 messages. I've been busy dealing with crises." Jeno knew who was talking to him without having to look.

"Are you sure you weren't the crisis that had to be dealt with?" Jisung sat on the couch close to his friend. Jeno and him met at the first auditions they ever attended. The ambitions they shared made them great partners, later on turning into best friends.

"I just don't understand why everyone speaks so lowly of me. I'm a simple person." The sarcasm in Jeno's voice made Donghyuck's eyes roll. Everyone in the industry knew he was a headache in the human form.

"Anyways, what's new? Who quit this time?" Jisung had experienced the amount of resignation letters Mark received during big events.

"My stylist, can you believe it? The man who was in charge of my image for this damn runway."

"Well, I don't blame him... Did you at least get a replacement?"

"Don't even get me started on that." Donghyuck finished with his hair, so Jeno went to get changed while still talking to his friend. "Mark found this practitioner that just graduated from Ten's academy."

"Ten? THE designer Ten? In that case you bagged a good one. I've heard nothing but good things about his alumni."

"Well, not this one. The first thing he does during my fitting is butcher my suit. I don't know what got into him, but he ruined it."

"No freaking way! Did you fire him?" Jisung loved gossip in the model industry; everything spread so fast.

"You bet I did!" Jeno said, proud of himself.

"No, you didn't. In fact, today you're wearing the outfit he made for you." Donghyuck ratted his boss out and felt no remorse about it.

"The Lee Jeno wearing other local people's designs? This is interesting." Jisung exchanged winks with Donghyuck; they loved teasing him.

"I didn't have a choice! Stop bringing that up."

"At least give the man some credit, he worked against the clock."

"Anyways his style is so tasteless, look at this." Jeno stepped out wearing Jaemin's design. His pale skin complimented the suit perfectly. Donghyuck completed the look with a black smokey eye to highlight Jeno's sharp factions. His hair was pushed back to reveal his face.

Jisung was in awe. Jeno had worn many designer outfits but none of them projected his personality like this one. "I thought you said the guy was a practitioner. This outfit looks so elaborate, I'm surprised." He said, walking around his outfit to take in every detail.

"It does the job, it's not all that. I just need to make a good impression as soon as I open the event. You should probably get changed." Jeno walked his friend to the exit right when Mark arrived.

"Everyone outside is ready, the place is packed. Some of your acquaintances came, we can do a photo session afterwards to make some content."

"I'll get changed into my Versace outfit, I'm not posing with this. I'll meet you outside."

Just as Mark had said, the place was filled with people from the industry. Jeno had the opportunity to model with many of them, some were still on his goal list. The master of ceremonies opened the event thanking all the designers who participated, as well as the models who accepted to attend. After a round of applause, Jeno got his queue to enter the catwalk. He could tell people were expecting his presence, for the crowd went wild as soon as he stepped foot on that stage. The audience's commotion was the gasoline that got him going through his career. As he reached the end of the stage, he stood there for a few seconds to allow people to admire his look. In his mind, people were only praising his beauty, but he saw as reporters approached to take detailed pictures of his dress.

During his final waves someone in the crowd caught his attention. There was a blonde, young and very familiar person among the guests. He was just sitting there, clapping as he stared at Jeno. He couldn't believe Jaemin refused to stay away from him. Yes, he was wearing his dress but he wouldn't give him any credit; that subpar design is the least he could do after the mess he made. Jeno turned around and left, leaving the crowd satisfied. Backstage, Donghyuck awaited him with a tight hug. Once again, their teamwork gave outstanding results. Jeno asked him for help to get ready for his content pictures, so they left to their dressing room again.

Jeno was drinking some sparkling water when Mark joined them. He went to congratulate his boyfriend first with a soft kiss. "You outdid yourself as always, I'm proud of you, love." Donghyuck hugged him and continued putting together Jeno's new makeup idea.

"How's the crowd? Any feedback?" Jeno had very high hopes for this event.

"Yeah, about that..." Mark wasn't sure if Jeno would like what he was about to hear.

"What is it? Spill it Mark!"

"People aren't talking about you. They're talking about your dress." Mark scratched the back of his head. Jeno would take this the worst way possible.
"I knew it! I can already see my name being used as a joke in the headlines."

"People want to know who designed your dress, it was a sensation." When Mark revealed what was really going on, Jeno choked on his sparkling water. "Don't make fun of me like that."

"I'm not. They want to meet the designer." Mark knew it was impossible, but he needed Jeno to introduce Jaemin to the press; it was good publicity for him as well.

"There's no way I'm introducing that guy as my designer. I would rather end my career this very moment."

"Well, people are already expecting you outside. Jaemin was around so he's just a phone call away."

Jeno kept walking from side to side. He was in a tough position; if he rejected those interviews he would lose that spotlight, and if he accepted them he would let Jaemin win. Nobody won against him.

"Just... Send him in. And leave us alone." Jeno was left alone in his room. He needed to think straight before Jaemin came in. He had to clarify that he was doing this just because he wanted the spotlight, not for him.

He heard a door opening behind him, making him turn around. There he was, the perpetrator of his chaos.

"Oh, how the tables turn. I see my rookie design wasn't that useless after all."

Jeno walked so fast to him, next thing Jaemin knew he was pinned against the wall. Jeno's gaze could almost kill someone by how mad he was.

"Listen to me, you little shit. You're here because of my trajectory and the name I've built for myself. Once you're outside of these four walls you're no one. If you dare say anything, you will be sorry you ever came to my studio."

"And why would I listen to anything you say?" Jaemin walked forward, now making Jeno step back a little.

"Because I gave you these five minutes of fame you're about to have. You're mine now." Jeno stared at Jaemin one last time. They both refused to break eye contact, which generated even more tension than before.

Jaemin walked a little bit further, making Jeno stumble with the couch, where he accidentally sat down.

"We'll see about that." The blonde guy said, a little too close to Jeno's mouth. Their breaths were mixing and so were Jeno's thoughts on the inside.