Haven| NCT LJN FF

30

Jeno leading Nari he finally stops and releases her arm. Jeno takes a seat in a bench found there. Nari notices her surroundings right now.

They were at the park. A park that Jeno likes to go when he does Jeno things. Like walking his samoy. Taking his nieces and nephews and playing together.

Nari was too busying being at awe towards the park itself and the view. Nightlife here was absolutely majestic. The stars were also bright and shining. Jeno calls her. Nari sees that her food is placed beside Jeno. She takes the food with her and sits beside Jeno on the bench.

Nari first prepares her food. Jeno munching away with his. Jeno could tell that Nari was more calm now. "I'm assuming that you like surprises?" Jeno makes a conversation. Nari looks at him with noodles in her mouth which makes Jeno laugh. She wipes her mouth with a napkin given by the restaurant. "Ummm... depends on the surprise." She says. "How about this surprise?" He refers to the park. Nari smiles at him. She looks at the sky and back at him. "Oh I like this surprise... this is good." She says.

Jeno gets closer to Nari "I think you love this surprise." He smirks at her. Nari pushes Jeno's aside and they both laugh. "Quit bluffing Lee." The two continue to laugh.

The rest of the time the continued to eat. Finally after having some weird appetizers they got some good food in the end. Nari now realizes that Jeno paid for both of their foods. "Lee-" she calls him, Jeno turning to her while stuffing fish cakes in his mouth. "Sorry, but how much am I gonna pay you?" She asks him. "For what? Oh? The food?" He says with his mouth full of food. Gets the napkin and wipes his mouth.

"You don't need to pay me." He says. Nari being unsure. "You sure?" Jeno nods in response.

"I'm just relieved that you're feeling better now."

Jeno says which makes Nari turn her head towards him. "What?" "I said that-" Nari stops him "I heard you, but what do you mean by that?" She asks him.

"Well.. it was obvious to me that you weren't comfortable, like you looked tense. Literally from the car while going to the party, during the party, when we were walking to the toekbokki place, inside the toekbokki place. And now you seem comfortable now." He says his observations. Nari was baffled. He didn't know he was paying attention to that much detail. The boy was being meticulous with her. It just makes her wonder what else has he been able to observe?

She was impressed on how Jeno noticed the little things about her just for the past two months. "I didn't know you would notice it." She plays with her food a bit while talking to Jeno. "I guess you're good at reading people." Nari spoke out again.

Jeno now acts shy. "I guess so..." he scratches his head. "That's only because you were so obvious anyway." He jokes. Nari rolls her eyes at the boy. Almost flipping him off but resists.

"Shut up! Or like I will literally snap of a branch here and shove it up your ass." She points her finger to Jeno. The two then laugh. They're fights were now in the joking side. Not like before when they were on the verge to and chop their heads down.

After the laughter died down. They had a bit of eye contact for a few seconds before munching on their food again,

"Jung" Jeno calls her. Nari turns to look at him. She sees him struggling a bit on what he was gonna say. Maybe still mentally preparing, what Nari said. "If you are uncomfortable. Like anytime we go out or being forced to be in a fund raising even. And if you get uncomfortable... you tell me. No matter if it's big or small, you have to tell me right away. Okay?" Nari nods her head. She mutters a small yeah.

Nari thinks this isn't serious. Now that Jeno is willing to put more effort in this bodyguard job. "I'm being serious. Like you find me, hit me, as long as you tell me that you want to get out of that situation. I'll take you out of there." He says sternly. "This is just some lame ass excuse, so you can like ditch wherever you want. Right?" She laughs it of awkwardly.

"I'm being serious." He turns to look at her. "If I would ditch you I would. But I wouldn't use you as an excuse. You think of me that low? I'm actually trying make an effort here." He insists. Nari finds it weird that he's being serious of her well being. I mean he should be but she rather see him actually ditch her than helping her. Nari stares at him blankly. Jeno still not knowing what is in her mind.

"Well can you say something-" "I'm trying!" Nari finally spoke out. She gains focus on Jeno and leaves him hanging. "I didn't think I would hear something like this from you. Look, you think I would give you an immediate respond like some ex girlfriend of yours. But I'm still trying to process this like you are." She says.

"What is there to even process. This is just basic human decency. And some basic manners. Do you think I don't know how to process that Jung?!?" Jeno blurts out.

"Basic manners you say. Yeah I know you can do that. But human decency or sympathy for me? You're doing too much here Lee Jeno-" She stands up and faces him. Jeno still remaining calm. He understands that Nari isn't the person who shows affection to everyone. Or show that she cares.

Clearly

"I'm doing too much? Or perhaps I'm just doing everything all right? And you're not use to it?" Jeno says. Nari feels her pride has been ripped off. She is in shocked of course. Having someone that doesn't know you that well. Is the one who knows you well than anyone. She shouldn't be called out like this.

"I-" she tries to say. "You what? Cat got your tongue." He taunts her. "No- I" she sits back down on the bench. Jeno now giving a small smile for his victory. His smile drops when he hears Nari sigh in deep defeat. Usually it amuses him but now it saddens him. "What's the use. You know what?" He hears Nari. He turns to look at her. Nari then smiling like a maniac. The champagne probably hitting her now.

"It's making you happy that you're seeing me in misery. My dad, Jaehyun oppa and literally everyone praising you. The constant comparison about you. You have this, you have that when in fact Lee Jeno you have it all. You have everything." She laughs. Jeno continues to stay silent and listen to her.

Nari takes a big breathe in "We've been having this facade ever since highschool. And we're still going at it now. But guess what." Jeno gets chills.

"You win."

She starts laughing like a maniac. Leaving Jeno still curious on what she had to say.

"You've seen too much. I can't pretend anymore. I can't keep pretending that you didn't see me cry. Or can't keep pretending that you didn't hear my dad calling me literal disgrace. So no I don't need your sympathy Jeno. Might as well not giving it or your time. It's completely usele-"

"Shut up."

Nari looks at Jeno, she could tell that he was trying his best to keep his composure. "Jung Nari, you have no fucking idea what are you even saying. Do you hear yourself?!? I know that's not a way to invalidate your feelings and I'm sorry. I can see that you are lonely, I want to be that person that can accompany you. No I am that person, because I'm your bodyguard. Im suppose to be keeping you safe. Not just physically, but also mentally. Please don't give in to that voice inside your head." He says to her.

Next thing you know it Nari pulls Jeno into a big hug. The first time in her life she feels seen. Jeno wraps her arms around her. "I'm actually willing to try this. And I can't improve if you won't help out too, okay?" He feels Nari pull away from the hug. "Okay I'll try." She whispers.

She looks at Jeno again. "Thanks" she mutters.

"Just doing my job." He smiles.