𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦 | 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗺𝗶𝗻

𝗖

The next morning, Renjun woke with a heavy heart, the events of the previous night playing over and over in his mind. He couldn't shake the image of Jaemin's cold, unreadable expression, the way he had so easily dismissed Renjun's concerns. It was like a bad dream, one that refused to fade with the morning light.

He spent most of the day in a daze, trying to go about his usual routine at the bakery, but his mind was elsewhere. The pastries didn't hold the same joy for him today, and even the customers seemed to sense that something was off. Renjun knew he couldn't keep this to himself any longer—he needed to talk to someone, to figure out what to do next.

By the time evening rolled around, Renjun had made up his mind. He needed to tell Haechan and Chenle. They were his closest friends, and if anyone could help him make sense of this, it was them. With a sense of urgency, he texted them both, asking if they could meet up at Haechan's apartment later that night.

When Renjun arrived at Haechan's place, his nerves were frayed. He had gone over what he was going to say a dozen times in his head, but now that he was here, standing outside the door, the words seemed to slip away from him.

Before he could second-guess himself, the door swung open, and Haechan greeted him with a smile. "Hey, Renjun! Come on in. Chenle's already here."

Renjun forced a smile, stepping inside and slipping off his shoes. "Thanks," he murmured, trying to hide the anxiety that was gnawing at him.

The three of them settled in the living room, with Chenle sprawled out on the couch and Haechan perched on the armrest. They had a few snacks laid out, and the TV was on, but Renjun could tell that his friends were already sensing something was wrong.

"What's going on, Renjun?" Haechan asked, his tone gentle. "You seem... off."

Renjun hesitated, his gaze flicking between his friends. They were both looking at him with concern, and that made it a little easier to finally speak up. "It's about Jaemin," he started, his voice quiet but steady. "Something happened last night, and I'm not sure what to do."

Chenle sat up a little straighter, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern. "What do you mean? Did something bad happen?"

Renjun took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I went to his apartment last night... to surprise him. I brought dinner, but when I got there, I heard him arguing with someone. I didn't hear everything, but... he sounded angry. Really angry. And there was this other voice, someone who sounded scared."

Haechan's brow furrowed. "Scared? Like... what, were they fighting?"

Renjun nodded, the memory sending a chill down his spine. "Yeah. It sounded bad. And then... I knocked on the door, and everything went silent. Jaemin answered, but he was... different. Cold, like he didn't care that I was there. He said it was just 'business,' but he wouldn't tell me what was going on. And he didn't want me to come inside."

Chenle and Haechan exchanged a worried glance, and Renjun could see the gears turning in their minds.

"That doesn't sound good," Chenle said, his voice filled with concern. "What kind of business could Jaemin be involved in that's so... intense?"

Renjun shook his head, frustration bubbling up inside him. "I don't know. That's the thing—I have no idea. I thought I was getting to know him, but now... I'm not sure I know anything at all. He was so... different last night. Like a completely different person."

Haechan leaned forward, his expression serious. "Renjun, you need to be careful. If Jaemin's involved in something dangerous, you might be putting yourself at risk just by being around him."

"I know," Renjun replied, his voice trembling slightly. "But... I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to walk away, to cut him off before things get worse. But another part of me... I don't know, I feel like I'm already too deep into this. Like I've already let him in too far."

Chenle sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated. I get it. But you have to think about your safety, Renjun. If Jaemin's really involved in something dangerous, you could get caught up in it without even realizing it."

Renjun nodded, but the thought of walking away from Jaemin, of cutting ties completely, felt like an impossible choice. Despite everything, despite the fear and the uncertainty, there was still something about Jaemin that he couldn't let go of. Something that made him want to understand, to find out the truth, even if it meant facing whatever darkness Jaemin was hiding.

"I don't want to just... walk away," Renjun admitted, his voice soft. "I feel like there's more to Jaemin than what I saw last night. I want to believe that he's not as bad as he seemed. But I don't know if I'm just fooling myself."

Haechan's expression softened, and he reached out to place a comforting hand on Renjun's shoulder. "You're not fooling yourself, Renjun. You're just trying to see the best in someone you care about. But sometimes, we have to be realistic about people, even if it hurts."

Chenle nodded in agreement. "We're not saying you have to cut Jaemin off completely, but... maybe take a step back. Give yourself some space to figure things out. And if things start getting worse, if you feel like you're in danger... promise us you'll get out, okay?"

Renjun swallowed hard, the weight of his friends' concern pressing down on him. He knew they were right, and deep down, he knew he had to be careful. But the thought of stepping back, of distancing himself from Jaemin, felt like tearing away a part of himself that he wasn't ready to lose.

"I promise," Renjun said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "If things get worse, I'll get out. But... I just need a little more time to figure out what's really going on."

Haechan and Chenle exchanged another glance, but they didn't push any further. Instead, they nodded, their expressions a mix of worry and understanding.

"Just know that we're here for you," Haechan said softly. "Whatever you decide, we've got your back."

"Always," Chenle added, offering Renjun a small, reassuring smile.

Renjun felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, easing some of the tension in his chest. He didn't have all the answers yet, and he didn't know what the future held for him and Jaemin. But at least he wasn't facing it alone. With his friends by his side, Renjun knew that whatever happened next, he would find a way through it.

As the night wore on, they turned their attention back to the movie, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. But even as they laughed and joked together, the shadow of what Renjun had witnessed lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder that the darkness Jaemin carried was never far away.