Ruthless | Nomin

Chapter 26

"So...you're telling me you guys, Jaemin and Jeno, are true soul mates?" Mr. Na asks his son. The boys had called their parents as soon as they arrived home that evening. They were excited about it but they still figured they'd consult their parents just in case they had misinterpreted the situation.

"Yeah. I swear Renjun only pinched Jaemin but I was feeling the same pain, in the same spot, at the same time. My skin even turned red momentarily as of someone invisible was pressing down on it. It was weird." Jeno explains.

"Interesting. There's one test that I'll suggest that only soulmates can pass." Mrs. Lee states from her seat beside Mr. Na.

"Is it dangerous?" Mrs. Na asked. She was very concerned about her own child. She knew that soulmates could be great weaknesses, just as much as they could be blessings.

"For their feelings, yes. Physically, no. Jeno and Jaemin should be separated for 48 hours. If Jaemin begins to cry uncontrollably and Jeno bursts into random fits of rage then they are truly soulmates. Soulmates cannot stay away from each other involuntarily for more than 24 hours. They begin to lose control of themselves and act on instinct. Jaemin, if he was Jeno's true soulmate, would become very fragile minded and miserable. Jeno would become very frustrated and angry. Once they reunite, however, it would be like none of that ever happened. They'll be back to normal in a matter of minutes." Mrs. Lee explains. She studied this matter in law school several years ago and so she was a qualified expert.

"But-" Jaemin began to protest.

"No buts, Jaemin-ah. You want to know don't you?" Mrs. Na prompts.

"Well yes but-" Jaemin starts again.

"It'll be alright, Jaemin. It's only 48 hours. You can do it!" Jeno encourages. He, himself, did not want to do this but his urge to know overrode his opposition.

"Okay." Jaemin agreed begrudgingly.

"I'll call Yukhei." Mrs. Na said, excusing herself.

"I'll call Mark." Mr. Lee followed. The two parents left behind sighed but smiled. It looked as if Jaemin wouldn't even last 24 hours. He already looked so hopeless. Jeno tried to cheer him up quietly. He managed to get a small smile and a few cute giggles before the other two parents came back.

"Alright. Mark is going to stay in the house with you Jeno." Mr. Lee explained.

"Renjun is on his way to get you, Jaemin. Both boys have been informed of the situation and instructed to report all odd behaviors back to us." Mrs. Na concluded. In that instant, Jaemin's smile dropped and he began to sniffle.

"Hey..." Jeno called softly. Jaemin looked over at him.

"What happens if they can't make it 24 hours? Jaemin's already about to cry!" Mr. Na exclaimed.

"That's because he's being forcefully removed from Jeno. If anything that just proves the point but you still have to go through with the test. There's no way to tell if it's just a strong bond or not, otherwise." Mrs. Lee explains again. She felt bad for doing this to the boys but they had to know because not knowing that can be dangerous.

"Alright then. We'll hang up now boys. Please stay safe!" Mrs. Na says unable to listen to her child's wailing and not be able to do anything about it.

"Don't worry. We will. See you on Friday!" Jeno responds, cradling a crying Jaemin who also mumbles a watery goodbye. The parents hang up and Jeno places the phone face down so Jaemin can't see his reflection in the black screen.

"Yah! This is stupid! We should just trust that we are, y'know? It feels so weird to cry over something so trivial and I feel pathetic but I can't help it! You don't want me to cry, do you?" Jaemin rambles, shakily, between hiccups. Jeno almost gives in. Almost.

"I would serve you the world on a golden platter if I could but you know we have to go through with this. We have to be 100% sure that it's not just a deep bond. It's okay to cry. My mom says it normal for soulmates but it's also normal for deep bonds so we have to go through with it, okay?" Jeno explains gently, running his fingers through Jaemin's silky hair.

"Okay, but after 48 hours, even if we aren't soulmates, you won't ever be separated from me again. This shit sucks." Jaemin mumbles cutely, referring to the uncontrollable tears that keep falling even when he isn't as sad anymore. Jeno just chuckles and nods.

There's a knock on the door and Jeno goes to open it, picking Jaemin up and bringing him along. They share a glance before Jeno reaches out and grasps the door knob. They mentally count to three before swinging the door open.

"Woah. Jaemin, what happened?" Mark says as he steps into the house. Hurriedly going for Jaemin but quickly stopping when he hears Jeno's warning growls. Mark then understood the situation. He was just as interested in this as Mrs. Lee and knew almost as much as she did on the subject.

"Sorry. I forgot the situation." Mark mutters, quickly taking a step back as to not be attacked by Jeno. Jeno merely huffs.

"Nah. I'm sorry in advance dude. I'm sure you know but purebreds and anger are an ugly mix and you're going to be here for who knows how many outbursts." Jeno says apologetically.

"It's fine. I'm excited to know the results. If that actually happens, I'll know someone who actually met their soulmate and at such a young age too." Mark explains and just then another knock is placed upon the front door of  Jeno's abode. Mark goes to get it this time.

"Don't bite my head off but I need to revoke Jaemin from your presence." Renjun jokes, quickly grabbing Jaemin before making a run for it. He half expected Jeno say something or do something when he grabbed his precious Jaemin. Jaemin merely wailed louder and Renjun and Mark both felt bad but it was for the wellbeing of their friends and they would do anything to keep their friends happy and healthy.