Intricate: Our Bittersweet Love | MARKNOMINHYUCK(bxbxbxb)

Chapter 17

C H A P T E R 17 :

-----Donghyuck-----

"Where are we going, again? And why is Jaemin not with us, again?"

For some reason, I have been feeling more cautious these days. Like something could just about pop out of a bush and ambush us or something so leaving Jaemin behind, without one of us by his side, was not an idea I welcomed.

I found it weird when Jeno announced he had to take me somewhere during lunch, leaving Jaemin with his friends and dragging me away. Well, not literally dragging since we wouldn't do skinship at school but you get what I mean.

Jeno was looking down at his phone, typing, with a slight frown of concentration on his face. He hums in thought. "Taeyong-Hyung said that he has to talk to us. He's busy at any other time of the day." He finally looks up to look at me and I nod in understanding.

"And we're going to the infirmary for this because..?"

"Him and Ms. Kwon met in college and are still quite close so he'll get to see her and us too. It's a win-win," he shrugs nonchalantly.

I decide not to question it and simply trail behind him, leaving space big enough between us. Before, it was easy to keep a distance, it was something we did logically but as our relationship progresses, the harder and stranger it feels to not get close to him (or the others, as a matter of fact) in certain situations. Although, it is easier to interact with Jaemin and Mark than it is with Jeno. It looks okay to put an arm around them and walk around together because to them (students in this school) it will simply look like us being close friends. However, it's different with Jeno. Because he is cold and distant and no one is eligible for being his friend. That's just how people see it and that 'reputation' of his is starting to get annoying.

When we get to the door, Jeno knocks lightly before opening the door, letting me in first before following.

"Hyung!" I exclaim with a smile as soon as I see him, sitting on a chair, in front of Ms. Kwon's desk where she was also sitting.

Taeyong-Hyung turns to look at us with a wide grin. He stands up and opens his arms where I quickly situate myself. "We couldn't talk much the last time we saw each other. How are you, Hyuck?"

I remove myself from him. "I'm doing pretty well," I smile. I turn to Ms. Kwon and bow at her, "Good afternoon, Ms. Kwon."

"Good afternoon, Donghyuck," she nods back with a grin.

She stands up and looks at us. "Well, I'll leave you guys at it. I'll be getting my lunch." She turns to Taeyong-Hyung. "It was nice seeing you. Come see me before taking off again, okay?"

He rolls his eyes playfully. "Yes, yes, I will."

They laugh together. She pats his back before continuing to walk, all the way out the infirmary room.

"So, you needed us?" Jeno asks Taeyong-Hyung, raising both as his eyebrows.

The eldest sits on Ms. Kwon's seat, folding his hands in front of him. "Well..." he sighs, frowning. "Jeno, I really need you to be sure about telling mother and father" he says, looking directly into his eyes.

Jeno turns to look at me and I turn to look at him. We made eye contact for a couple of seconds before he turns back to Hyung, whilst my eyes stayed on him. I had been wondering the same thing. Was it impulse or was he sure?

"Hyung," he ruffles his hair in exasperation. "Please don't question my decision. I want to tell them, giving them respect as my parents. Not because I want their approval, I'm just giving them that luxury. I don't care what happens as a result," he shrugs. "As long as they don't hurt any of the boys."

He looked anxious as he spoke the last sentence, making me feel the same way. Are his parents capable enough to hurt us?

I put my hand on his knee, hoping to comfort him at least in the slightest.

"I'm worried of what they're capable of, Jen," his brother says with a worried expression. "You know that I'll be there for you, and that I'll protect you no matter what but sooner or later, I'll have to leave again on business. I won't always be here, I won't always be able to keep an eye on them and tell you what they're planning or be able to stop them. I just want you two to be safe and on an extension, your boyfriends, too. I care for them because you do, and I know that you'll hurt if anything happens to them. What I want least is for you to be anything but happy."

"I understand, Hyung, I really do. But I don't care of them since what happened five years ago, Jeno gulps, glancing at me with a nervous smile. "I don't care as long as they're by my side."

Jeno takes my hand in his, his eyes on them. A smile rose to his face and he turned to look at me with it.

"I'm scared, to be frank." I spoke and their eyes landed on me. "I know your parents and while they've always been nice and polite to me, I've heard the stories," I laugh nervously. "And it's already a big deal for one of their children to be dating a boy, but dating three? They'll find it abnormal and they'll freak and be furious."

I hadn't actually noticed how worried I was about this until the rant started. What could actually be the worst thing?

"I wasn't even this close to nervous when I met the parents of the others, holy cow," I realize.

"You've met them already before." Jeno laughs.

"Exactly!"

We laugh a little, the tension going down before speaking again. "Guys, I have a bad feeling. I've had a negative gut feeling for the last couple of days."

"Everything will be fine." Jeno reassures, smiling at me. "I'm here and Taeyong-Hyung is here, and so are the others and I think we'll be fine as long as it stays that way."

"You're being really positive, so strange, Nono." I laugh.

———Jeno———

Have to stay positive to mask how scared I really am.

This won't end up well.

A/N: I feel like I'm making this whole meeting Jeno's parents really dramatic but anywazz next chapter is the meeting!!