behind walls | nomin

16 | maybe

"jaemin, right?"

"yep! nice to meet you, miss lee," jaemin bowed deeply as he greeted jenos mother. "thank you so much for inviting me, and thanks for letting me stay last night."
"oh, dont worry about it at all. im glad I could help you out," she replied, smiling warmly. jaemin returned the smile.
"come on, boys, take a seat! tell me whenever you're ready to order," she motioned for them to settle in the seats opposite her.
"what are you getting, jaem?"
"i think ill just get the regular, with pork belly."
"oh wow. i usually get that," jeno smiled shyly behind the menu.
"really? I mean, it does taste great."
"it really does. but I want to try the enoki mushroom one this time."
jaemin nodded. he couldnt help but starting to feel a strange sensation crawling over him. he looked at jeno, who seemed unusually beautiful in the warm sunlight. he was glowing, his eyes shimmering with a million sparkles, and his flawless hair dancing in the wind. jaemin couldnt help but get lost in the sight.

"jaemin?" jeno snapped him out of his thoughts.
"oh- uh- yeah?" jaemin looked to see jeno looking at him worriedly.
"chill with the looks, yeah?" jeno whispered as his mom was ordering their food.
"shit, sorry, i totally zoned out," jaemin smiled awkwardly before looking away.
"what drinks do you guys want?" the waiter suddenly asked.
"just water, please," jeno replied.
"ill have water as well, please," jaemin said after him.
"alright, the food will be out soon," the waiter smiled and left.

"so," jenos mother suddenly turned around to face the pair. "im genuinely curious. how did you guys meet? i havent heard about you before." she looked at jaemin. "are you guys lucky schoolmates by chance?" she smiled at her own remark, and jenos gaze fell.
"yeah... kinda. mom, you know I don't like talking about school."
"right, dear. but im so proud of you, sweetheart. youve really been improving a lot, especially your attendance. and I know you went through a lot," she caressed jenos cheek gently.
"thanks," jeno forced a smile to not kill the mood.
"anyways, hows school going for you, jaemin?" she looked at jaemin, a sad yet sweet smile on her face.
"quite well, i must say, miss lee. im not really that naturally smart, but ive started studying harder, and my results are getting better," he replied as genuinely as possible.
"wow, that sounds great. you should probably come over more often to help jeno out," she joked.
both jeno and jaemin laughed and nodded in agreement, knowing that studying together was probably the last thing on their minds.

the sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the sky as the pair prepared to say their goodbyes. the orange hues painted the horizon, creating a breathtaking canvas that mirrored the warmth of the evening.
"thank you so much again, miss lee. it was truly a pleasure to meet you," jaemin said, bowing respectfully.
"it was a pleasure having you, jaemin. thanks for coming!" jenos mom patted jaemins shoulder gently in return.
"see you tomorrow, jaem!" jeno waved before closing the door. as the door clicked shut, jenos mother turned her firm gaze towards him.
"okay, jeno. talk to me. seriously."
"what?" jeno asked innocently, feigning ignorance.
"first of all, jaemins a really lovely boy. but I havent heard anything about him until now, and i know how you are in school. where have you met him?"
jenos eyes widened. he hadnt expected such a direct question. he had to come up with the quickest lie possible.
"what do you mean, mom? hes just one of marks friends."
"then why are you two closer than you and mark?" she tilted her head, a habit she had when suspecting something.
"marks got a billion other friends," jeno shrugged, attempting to downplay their connection.
"is that so?" she readjusted her head, scrutinizing him. "alright, then. well, im glad youve found some new friends."
jeno breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that the lie had seemingly worked.
however, a lingering unease settled within him, knowing that the truth about his deepening connection with jaemin would eventually have to come to light.

"fuck man!" mark suddenly exclaimed in the silent hallways.
"whats with you?" karina looked up from her phone.
they were alone in the depressing aura of endless lockers and closed classroom doors.
"nothing. its just jeno."
"gosh mark. why are you so attached? jeno clearly couldnt care less about you." karina scoffed and turned her focus back to her phone.
"shut up. im not attached. id just be nobody in this school if i werent friends with him. seriously, everyone knows me as jenos best friend and not mark."
karina sighed.
"well, maybe do something about it? get new friends? develop your own reputation?"
mark cussed as his history book fell tumbling down his locker.
"yeah, i wish i could. jenos mind is so twisted he will literally kill me."
"for exactly what?" 
"if i do the slightest thing that he doesnt like, my neck would be threatened to get snapped off."
"dont you think youre being quite manipulated right now?"
"man, i know. you tell me what to do."
"well, first of all, detach yourself for goodness sake. second of all, distance yourself but do it slowly and keep yourself surrounded at all times so there is a smaller risk of him brutally murdering you or gouging your eyeballs out. third of all, dont be like a pet to him. hes only gonna wanna manipulate you more and control you." she pauses to think for a moment. "thats kinda all i got. good luck, i guess."
"fuck man. i guess ill try. but where the hell is my damn phone?" he yells and begins digging in his locker. dozens off dusty papers begin floating out of his locker, pens and erasers hit the floor.
"oh my goodness. hurry, we are already 10 minutes late."
"i know. can you help at least?"
"nope. help yourself, young man."

mark was not prepared for the genuine relief that came with distancing himself from jeno. no more enduring the everlasting pressure of saying the wrong word, no more fearing the threat of having his face crushed into pieces, and no more enduring embarrassment from being ditched in front of the most popular and feared cliques. the entire feeling of terror and burden lifted off his shoulders like a feather. he felt freedom blossom within him. maybe this wasnt a bad idea after all.