oneshots • nctdream x aespa

a double proposal 🐶💙

Jeno has always been active, almost to a fault.

Ever since Jimin met him, Jeno has liked to keep himself busy—from student council to after-school clubs to college organisations and juggling two part-time jobs. Rest didn't seem to be part of Jeno's vocabulary at all. Even now, when he's at his home office designing buildings, Jeno takes on at least two projects at a time. When work's done, he somehow still finds time to hop on call and play sound rounds on the computer with Donghyuck at ass o'clock.

The only way Jeno gets to rest is when his body forces him to.

It happens one morning in late November. Jimin finds him slumped against his desk, riddled with a nasty flu. Jimin thought Jeno was just up early for work, but when she checked up on him, his skin was on fire.

"No work for you today, mister," Jimin clicks her tongue, tucking Jeno back into their bed. She places a glass of water and some medicine on the bedside table, instructing Jeno on when he should take them.

Jeno waves her off, saying she'll be late for work if she stays any longer—which is true, but even when Jimin got to the office, she couldn't focus anyway. She would always check the time and check up on Jeno; it's something she can't help.

After work, she stops by the grocery store to get some stuff to make some chicken soup for Jeno. Jeno's feeling significantly better when he gets home. He pouts at Jimin's constant coddling at dinner and as they clean up for bed.

"You should really learn to relax a bit more," Jimin sighs, slipping beside Jeno and throwing the covers over the both of them. "Shall we plan a date out or something?"

Jeno frowns."But you're busy, too."

"We'll figure out a schedule that works for us. But for now, I need to make you promise that you'll have some time off for yourself from now on."

"After this project, I'm working on a..."

Jimin pinches his cheek lovingly. "Jeno, this is for your own good."

"Yeah, yeah." Jeno sighs in defeat, knocking his head against Jimin's shoulder. "Say, love, what do you think about gardens?"

"Hm?" Jimin blinks."They're nice, I guess. Why?"

"I know we move a lot and all, but do you think we'll settle down in a nice house someday?"

"Is this what you've been thinking about while I was at work?" She smiles.

"Mmm, think about it—a two-story house in a quiet but friendly neighborhood, a nice, spacious garden in the front, and maybe we can even grow some produce in the backyard. We can finally have pets without the landlord threatening to kick us out of the building."

"Something just out of the city would be nice," Jimin adds. She can admit that she's daydreamed about this as well, just some fleeting thoughts of her and Jeno living a more comfortable life in the near future and not having to grind as much as they're doing right now. "Maybe have some guest rooms for a bed and breakfast."

"Really?" Jeno sits up, sneaking his hand around Jimin's waist. "You really want to do that with me? But what about your job?"

"Hm, I'd assume at that age I'd probably be a stay-at-home mom to five cats," Jimin cups Jeno's face, grinning as Jeno glares at her when she starts scratching under his chin. "Sorry, I meant five cats and a puppy."