𝔇𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢 | ɴᴏᴍɪɴ

ᠻ꠸ꪜꫀ

Jeno couldn't sleep that night. It wasn't that he was uncomfortable—Jaemin curled up next to him made the situation more complicated. His heart ached with guilt over the secret he kept. No one knew he was a prince yet; he was lying by omission. Jaemin didn't even know where he was from, adding layers of deceit that Jeno found hard to bear.

Despite his worries, his eyes slowly closed, and the exhaustion eventually lulled him to sleep.

He woke up to a pleasant surprise: Jaemin was already awake and busy in the kitchen, making breakfast. The smell of pancakes and bacon filled the air, a comforting aroma that brought a small smile to Jeno's face.

"Good morning," Jeno said, his voice groggy but warm.

Jaemin turned, his face lighting up with a cheerful grin. "Morning! I thought I'd make us some breakfast before we start the day. I hope you're hungry."

Jeno stretched and sat up, feeling the pang of unease about his secret. "It smells amazing. Thanks for doing this."

"No problem," Jaemin replied, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I figured it would be a nice way to start the day, especially after last night."

As Jeno got up and joined Jaemin in the kitchen, he tried to push aside his guilt. Jaemin was being genuinely kind, and Jeno didn't want his own troubles to overshadow their growing friendship.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Jeno asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

Jaemin flipped a pancake onto a plate and shrugged. "I thought we could hang out, maybe go to the park or something. It's a nice day."

"Sounds good to me," Jeno agreed, his smile widening. "Let's enjoy today and figure things out as we go."

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, and Jeno found himself relaxing in Jaemin's presence. For now, he decided to focus on the present and the new connection he was forming, putting his worries aside.

After they finished breakfast, they decided to head to the beach. The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze made the temperature perfect for a day outdoors.

Jaemin kicked off his shoes as soon as they arrived, reveling in the feel of the sand beneath his toes. "This place is great," he said, taking a deep breath of the salty sea air. "I come here often when I need to clear my mind."

Jeno followed suit, slipping off his shoes and letting the sand warm his feet. "It's beautiful here. I can see why you like it."

They walked along the shoreline, their feet leaving prints in the wet sand. The sound of the waves crashing and seagulls calling created a soothing backdrop for their conversation.

Jaemin glanced at Jeno, noticing how relaxed he seemed. "What made you open up to me a bit?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Jeno hesitated, looking out at the horizon. "I don't know yet."

Jaemin raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? I feel like you're lying, but I'm gonna pretend that you're not."

"Why do you do that?" Jeno asked, turning to face him.

"Do what?" Jaemin replied.

Jeno stopped walking and looked deeply into Jaemin's eyes, unable to ignore the pull of his emotions. "You get this look on your face every time you look at me."

Jaemin's gaze met his, and he responded softly, "I do? Or you do?"

"You look at me like you're waiting for me to go back to how I used to be," Jeno said.

"And you look at me like you want to be close," Jaemin countered.

"I'm not going back to how I used to be," Jeno said firmly.

"Then who are you?" Jaemin asked.

"Here with you right now," Jeno replied.

"Wrong answer. Who are you, Jeno?" Jaemin pressed.

Jeno struggled with his response. "That's a hard answer."

Jaemin nodded, his expression softening. "I know, Jeno. You don't say a lot, but these past days you've said a lot with your eyes."

Jeno sighed, "I know because there's a lot that I can't say."

"And there's a lot of things I won't say," Jaemin said quietly.

They stood in silence for a moment, the sun setting behind them casting a warm, golden light over the beach. The moment felt both intimate and serene, a perfect escape from their worries. Jeno glanced at Jaemin, feeling grateful for the connection they were building and hoping that, in time, he would find the right moment to reveal his true self. For now, he was content to simply enjoy the company and the beauty of the day.