As long as Jeno has known Donghyuck, he has always had a darkness about him. Not the kind you read about in fantasy novels, the kind that shrouds a centuries-old castle riddled with tall tales and mysteries from the townsfolk. The kind that he can only equate to the sky's darkness before a storm. It covers everything, overshadowing the sunshine that was present moments before. The kind that warns away any outdoor activities and there's a weather alert for civilians to take cover. In many ways, he considers Donghyuck much like a storm rather than the darkness it exudes.
It's like the saying, 'When it rains, it pours.' Whatever Donghyuck does, says, exudes—whether it be energy or emotion—those around him feel it in tsunamic-sized waves. You can't help but feel empathetic or at least sympathize with him. Even when Jeno doesn't clearly understand what's going on in Donghyuck's head, he wears his heart on his sleeve, so he uses that as an indicator.
That morning, when Donghyuck so casually announced his relationship to Mark, it was one in a handful of times that Jeno had seen Donghyuck void of that darkness. He watched them, Mark clinging to Donghyuck, and even when he let go, the two didn't keep their hands to themselves throughout the call with Ryujin. It was like Mark chased away the thunderstorm, the darkness in Donghyuck's skies, allowing him to exude the warmth accompanying his sunshine.
There was a lot that bothered Jeno about Jaemin and Donghyuck's dynamic. Not in any way that he was jealous of, only concerned. They were so emotionally intertwined that whatever Donghyuck felt had a physical effect on Jaemin. He supposes when you're so close with someone on the level the two best friends are, things like that are just a given. He's noticed a bit of Donghyuck's darkness clouding Jaemin for some time now. Even if Jaemin is much better at not showing signs of the darkness, Jeno can see it.
But again, this morning, he did as he always did.
He watched them.
He watched Jaemin's expression track every move Donghyuck made. He watched him smile when he smiled, laugh when he laughed, even instinctively reaching towards him when he laughed so hard he started choking on his saliva. He watched his moment of hesitation when Mark got to him first, the flicker of disappointment crossing his expression so fast before he was smiling again and leaving Jeno to think it was never there. He saw Jaemin's body shift when he returned to sitting, followed by a jerk on Donghyuck's side of the table, to which he assumed Jaemin kicked him. Maybe it was his need to offer some kind of physical comfort that made him do it, just to have his attention for a moment before it was stolen once more by Ryujin and Mark.
He watched them throughout the day, up until it was time for them to head to the mall. When Mark headed home to check in with Taeyong and Donghyuck insisting on going with him, he saw Jaemin's exhale of relief when Mark shook his head. When Mark embraced Donghyuck, placing one of numerous kisses he'd delivered to his forehead throughout the morning, Jaemin grabbed his wrist to keep him from following Mark when he retreated.
Donghyuck has always been the clingier one between the three of them. Jaemin reciprocated his indulgence in the comfort of physical touch, and that never bothered Jeno. It still doesn't, but something else does.
A thought forms in his head moments after Mark leaves and says he'll meet them at the mall. Again, he watches Jaemin coddle Donghyuck when he huffs at Mark's absence, petting his hair affectionately in the familiar way that soothed Donghyuck in the past. The way Jaemin closes his eyes, resting his cheek against the mess of Donghyuck's hair almost makes it look as if he's comforting himself.
He opens his eyes, meeting Jeno's observing gaze. The smile he gives him is shy like he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. But much like at breakfast, the expression shifts too fast for Jeno to comprehend.
