behind walls | nomin

17 | greed

[a/n: bittersweet (mk+hc) will be published sometime the upcoming week!! (ill announce ofc) be sure to check it out nd show some love<3]

jeno noticed the change in mark.

but he couldnt really have a word about it. it didnt really matter to him. mark was just a silly little nobody to him. yet he almost missed him. he almost missed those hours they would spend behind the school, smoking cigarettes and talking nonsense. he almost missed those days they would eat out because the school food was inedible. he almost missed those nights they dealt crack downtown. but he didnt. he didnt miss him. he didnt need him. that was his persona.

that was his persona with everyone. jaemin. mark. doyoung. everyone. jaemin had made him realize that it was not the real him. but what is there to do about it now?

"hey, why arent you with mark as much anymore?"
jeno looked up from his phone to see johnny questioning him. school had already ended but they were waiting by the entrance gates for a mutual friend. 
"no reason." jeno shrugged.
"dang. thats sad."
"not really. i couldnt care less."
"shit. yall fought?"
"nah. hes just been avoiding me. i wonder whats gotten in his head now."
johnny chuckled. "i bet he thought you was gonna come chasing after him."
"swear. i never knew what was with him."
"he got that small boost of self-confidence, huh."
"for sure." jeno shook his head. oh, what a bitter person he was.

"hows it going?" karina looked at mark as soon as they were alone at the lunch table. "you know, with jeno."
"eh, its been going well i guess. i havent talked to him since the day before yesterday."
"youre getting there. has he been acting strange?"
"not really. just the same old usual jeno."
"no shocker really."
"right."
as karina turned away, her dreary expression of emptiness transformed into a fiendish smile. it curled upon her lips, revealing a wicked delight that mirrored the thousands of other iniquitous thoughts dancing in the recesses of her mind. her plan was finally beginning to come to light.

karina kept strolling down the hallways. she had a new idea in sight. 
"oh chaehyun! there you are! i was looking for you." she exclaimed cheerfully as she found chaehyun standing outside the toilets.
"oh hey kar! whats up?" she returned the enthusiasm.
"i need to talk to you, girl. its urgent." karina faked the distress.
"oh, what? whats going on?"
"follow me, its a thing you gotta keep between us." she whispered. she lead chaehyun to the balcony of the sixth floor, where she assured that nobody would hear them.
"listen, i know you dont want to talk about it, but its about jeno." karina began in a sympathetic voice. "i overheard him yesterday talking about you and a lot of other girls, and it wasnt sweet. so i have this plan of sabotaging him, and i really need your help."
chaehyuns eyes narrowed. "of course, girls support girls always. whats the plan?" 
"i want you to collect as much proof as possible. stalk him and that shit. is that alright? we spread the proof around the school and let the gossiping do its thing."
"i got you. gosh, what did he say about me?" a look of repugnance spread across her face. 
"oh, its not light, dear. are you sure you want to know?"
"im sure."
"he said that you were a hoe and that you only tried to use him. and he called your mom at fat prostitute..." karina lied.
"what the fuck. are you for real?"
"im sorry, chae. thats why we gotta get him good. i got your back."
"wow. thanks for telling me, kar. we are gonna get that piece of shit so good."
"of course. remember though, only between us, yeah?"
"i got you." they nodded towards each other before heading off to their classes.

karina felt better than ever. as she continued on her way, that vicious smile lingered, leaving a chilling impression of the enigma that she truly was. the world saw one side of her – the facade of outgoingness and goodwill – but behind that mask, a calculating mind plotted and schemed, driven by motivations known only to her. 

jeno and jaemin were walking hand in hand down the darkening streets. the air was cool, but the wind whispered gently at peace with the tranquil evening.
"so, why did you get me out?" jeno asked as their fingers intertwined. he was in his own little realm, where only the romantic bond between himself and jaemin existed.
"i just wanted to talk a bit. its nothing serious, dont worry," jaemin reassured him. they stopped by the middle of a bridge. a bridge that connected two loose pieces of land, separated by a placid, smooth stream.
"go on, i love talking with you, love," jeno encouraged, breaking the eternal serene sound of moving water. "whats going on?"
"i really want to tell my parents about us," jaemin confessed, sighing. the atmosphere held its breath for a while.
"why not?" jeno wrapped his arm around jaemins shoulders, shifting closer.
"im scared, jeno."
"oh, love. i totally understand. but thats life sometimes, isnt it? if you dont feel accepted in your home, then ill make sure you feel accepted in my home. our home" jeno reassured him.
"are you telling your mom?" jaemin inquired, seeking reassurance.
"im not ready yet," jeno admitted.
jaemin nodded, and they returned to the comforting silence.

"love?" jeno suddenly turned to face him.
"yeah?" jaemins voice was so soft, it almost appeared as a whisper.
"i hate being sentimental and that, but im so scared." the sparkles in jenos eyes appeared as the stars in the sky.
"what are you scared of?" jaemin took hold of jenos hand.
jeno broke eye contact. he was soundless for a long while, almost motionless. only the pattern of his breathing was visible through the layers of fabric.
"everything." he said at last. "im scared of losing you, im scared of hurting you, im scared for you, im scared of the situation in school, im scared of my dad, im scared of dying before you and leaving you in grief, im scared of my feelings, im scared of losing self control, im scared of my future, im... im scared of everything." he leaned over the bridge and held his head in his hands.
"oh, jeno." jaemin gave him a big hug from behind.
"hey, its okay."
"no. i hate being the one comforted. im sorry." jeno mumbled, still holding his head in his hands.
"no, my love. dont say that. let it out. listen to your own advice. we are together, so we share the struggles."
jeno sniffled. "gosh i hate this."
"its okay. come, let me wipe your tears for you, love."
as jeno lifted his head to face jaemin, he felt a pair of hands cup his face, and a pair of lips meet his.