𝟮 𝗛𝗢𝗧 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗰𝗸 || 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗪

𝗕𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹

After the intense and unexpected moment at the gym, Jeno found himself pacing outside Jaemin's apartment. His heart was still racing, not just from the kiss with Jisung, but also from the fear of confronting what it all meant. He needed advice, someone to talk to, and despite their recent tensions, Jaemin was the one he trusted to understand the complexities of his feelings.

Taking a deep breath, Jeno knocked on the door. He waited, each second stretching out, until Jaemin opened the door. His expression was one of surprise, a guarded tension visible in his posture as he saw who it was.

"Jeno? What are you doing here?" Jaemin's voice held a cautious note, their recent disagreements casting a long shadow over their interaction.

"I... I need to talk. It's important," Jeno said, the urgency in his voice cutting through the evening air.

Jaemin hesitated, his instinct to turn Jeno away battling with the remnants of their old friendship. After a moment's pause, he stepped aside, allowing Jeno to enter. "Alright, but make it quick."

Once inside, Jeno found himself in a familiar setting, a place where they had shared many confidences before their fallout. The familiarity was comforting yet strained under the weight of their recent conflicts.

Jaemin crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "What's so important that you couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

Jeno took a deep breath, his nerves frayed. "I kissed Jisung."

The words hung in the air, and Jaemin's eyebrows shot up in surprise, any lingering annoyance momentarily forgotten. "You what?"

"It just... happened. We were at the gym, and I don't know. It was the heat of the moment," Jeno explained, his words tumbling out in a rush.

Jaemin processed this, his initial shock giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Do you... like him? Like, more than a friend?"

Jeno sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know. I haven't thought about it like that until now. That's why I'm here. I don't know what to do."

Jaemin's demeanor softened, the urgency and confusion in Jeno's voice reminding him of the deeper bond they had shared. Despite their recent issues, he couldn't ignore Jeno's genuine distress. "Okay, let's sit down. Talk to me."

They moved to the couch, and as Jeno recounted the events at the gym and his subsequent panic, Jaemin listened intently. The more Jeno spoke, the more Jaemin realized how conflicted his friend was.

"First, you need to figure out how you feel about Jisung. This could just be a spur-of-the-moment thing, or it could be more," Jaemin advised, his tone even.

Jeno nodded, the turmoil inside him settling slightly with Jaemin's calm approach. "And what if I do like him? What then?"

"Then you talk to him," Jaemin said simply. "Communication, remember? We've both messed up enough in the past by not talking."

Jeno let out a small laugh, despite the situation. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Jaemin. I didn't know who else to go to with this."

Jaemin's expression warmed, a hint of their old camaraderie glimmering through. "We might have our issues, Jeno, but I'm still here. We'll figure this out."

After leaving Jaemin's place, Jeno felt a mix of clarity and apprehension about the conversation he needed to have with Jisung. The evening had settled into a cool, serene twilight, providing a calm backdrop to the turmoil of emotions swirling inside him. As he walked, the quiet allowed him to gather his thoughts, preparing himself to face whatever might come next.

Jisung, meanwhile, had spent the evening in a state of confusion and introspection. The kiss had taken him by surprise, revealing feelings he hadn't fully acknowledged even to himself. Now, alone in his room, he replayed the moment over and over, each time trying to understand his own heart a little better.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Jeno, texting to see if they could meet. A lump formed in Jisung's throat as he read the message. Despite the shock of their last encounter, he knew this was a conversation that needed to happen.

"Can we talk? In person?" Jeno's message read.

Jisung hesitated for only a moment before responding. "Yes. The park? In 30 minutes?"

"See you there," Jeno replied.

The park was quiet, with only a few scattered visitors enjoying the peaceful evening. The familiar paths offered a sense of normalcy as Jisung waited for Jeno near their usual spot, a bench overlooking a small pond. When Jeno arrived, there was a moment of awkwardness as they both tried to gauge the other's emotions.

"Thanks for coming," Jeno started, his voice steady but his hands betraying his nervousness as he fidgeted with the hem of his jacket.

"Of course," Jisung replied, managing a small smile. "We needed to talk."

They sat down, the space between them charged with unspoken words. Jeno took a deep breath, then turned to face Jisung directly. "About what happened at the gym... I'm sorry if I crossed a line. It wasn't planned, and I didn't mean to put you in a difficult position."

Jisung nodded, appreciating Jeno's honesty. "It surprised me, too. But it made me realize something—I might have feelings for you, Jeno. Feelings I hadn't really allowed myself to think about until now."

Jeno's eyes widened slightly, relief and surprise mingling on his face. "Really? I... I think I feel the same. I've been so confused, but talking to Jaemin helped. He said we should talk, figure things out together."

"That sounds like Jaemin," Jisung chuckled softly, the tension between them easing. "I'm glad you talked to him. And I'm glad we're talking now."

They shared a quiet moment, both absorbing the revelations. Jeno reached out, tentatively taking Jisung's hand. "Where do we go from here?"

Jisung squeezed his hand gently. "Let's take it slow. Get to know these new sides of ourselves, together."

"Sounds good to me," Jeno smiled, his heart lighter than it had been in days.

As they sat side by side, watching the gentle ripples on the pond, the initial awkwardness gave way to a comfortable silence. They didn't have all the answers, but they had a starting point, and for now, that was enough. The road ahead might be uncertain, but they were ready to explore it together, step by step.