once again, this chapter mentions a su!c!de attempt. please do not force yourself to read it for the sake of understanding the story! :(
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After spending three hours of their time at Sacred Grounds, Jaemin decides to bring Renjun back to his home to meet Donghyuck. It was a split second decision—mostly because Renjun told him he would follow him home if he refused—but it was agreed upon nonetheless.
Jaemin knew how uncomfortable the upcoming conversation was going to be and he wasn't prepared for it in the slightest. He could tell Renjun was doing his best to help keep his mind off his anxiousness, and for the most part it was working. Jaemin never knew how much he missed their playful banter until it was his only distraction from the inevitable.
They finally make it to Jaemin's house after what Renjun complained to be hours of Jaemin "dragging his ass around the city." The reality of it was, Jaemin took the scenic route—mainly to piss Renjun off, but also to give him time to work up the nerve to initiate the conversation with Donghyuck.
They arrive just as the sun is setting, Renjun stopping at the entrance to take pictures of the sunset while Jaemin takes pictures of him.
Renjun stops him at the door when he sees Jaemin fumbling with his keys. He places a hand on his shoulder, feeling the muscle beneath his hand tense as Jaemin stiffens. "Don't pass out before we get in there, 'cause I can't carry you."
Jaemin snorts at Renjun's obvious attempt to make him laugh (which works), grateful for the reassuring squeeze to his shoulder before he unlocks the door and lets them inside.
The second the door unlocks, Jaemin hears feet rushing towards them. He braces himself for what he knew was coming, and seconds after the door shuts behind them he's swept off his feet, lifted in Jeno's arms in a bear hug with his face being smothered in kisses.
He laughs at his boyfriend's antics, used to them and not at all ashamed of their romantic display in front of Renjun.
"Okay, okay! Put me down before you break me!" Jaemin wheezes out, lightly tapping Jeno's shoulder until his feet are back on the ground and he's standing face-to-face with Jeno.
"You never complained before." Jeno grins cheekily, narrowly dodging a hit to his arm. "I didn't mean it in a dirty way! Get your mind out of the gutter!"
Jaemin rolls his eyes, doing nothing to hide his adoring smile directed at Jeno before pushing him aside to enter further into the home. "Move, we have a guest."
"Mark's been here for—oh, you mean him." Jeno blinks as he finally notices Renjun standing behind Jaemin. Renjun watches him with his signature blank stare. "I'm—"
"—Jaemin's boyfriend. Yeah, I know." Renjun interrupts curtly, ignoring Jaemin's subtle glare at his rudeness. "I'd apologize for my first impression, but you're not who I'm here to see so I don't really care. Nice hair though." He manages a smile that Jaemin thinks looks more like a grimace before making his way further into the home.
The couple share a look behind him before following, the three of them finding Lucas, Mark and Donghyuck in the living room gathered around the coffee table. Lucas is stacking Pringles like Jenga pieces while Mark and Donghyuck sit hunched over their laptops, textbooks and notebooks.
"Hi Lucas!" Jaemin greets him with a smile although he was unsure why he was here. He knows Jeno formed a friendship with Mark and Lucas, but he didn't expect to see him in his home—not this soon anyway.
