𝓕𝓪𝓿 | 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐜𝐤

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨

Renjun and Jaemin sat across from each other in a small, dimly lit café, the tension between them palpable. The conversation they were about to have was one Renjun had been dreading, but he knew it couldn't be avoided any longer. Jaemin had been quiet, almost withdrawn, since they sat down, and Renjun could sense that whatever was coming would change everything.

Renjun took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he needed to say. "Jaemin, I saw the tattoo on you."

Jaemin's expression softened slightly, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "It's from my old boyfriend... He passed away a year ago."

Renjun nodded slowly, his heart aching at the pain in Jaemin's voice. But he had to push forward, had to get to the bottom of what he'd seen. "Are you sure?"

Jaemin's gaze snapped back to Renjun, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. "Yes, I'm sure. I was there when it happened. I... I checked the body myself. It was him."

Renjun's throat tightened as he prepared to ask the question that had been haunting him since that day in the hospital. "Then why did I see the same tattoo on a patient?"

Jaemin froze, his eyes widening in shock. "What?"

Renjun leaned forward, his voice firm but gentle. "The patient I treated had the exact same tattoo. I remember it clearly because... it looked like something that was personal. Not just a random design."

Jaemin's hands trembled slightly as he processed what Renjun was saying. "This tattoo... it doesn't just show up on anyone. I designed it myself. It was meant to be unique, something only he and I shared."

Renjun felt a chill run down his spine. "The patient's name was Jeno."

Jaemin's breath caught in his throat, his eyes going wide with disbelief. "Jeno?"

Renjun nodded, watching as Jaemin's face went through a series of emotions—shock, confusion, and finally, a glimmer of hope. "Yes. Jaemin, your boyfriend might still be alive."

Jaemin's world seemed to tilt on its axis. The reality of what Renjun was saying crashed over him like a tidal wave. Jeno, the man he had mourned, the man he had thought was gone forever, could still be out there, alive.

"No... it can't be," Jaemin whispered, more to himself than to Renjun. But the evidence was there—the tattoo, the name—it was too much to be a coincidence.

Renjun reached out, placing a comforting hand on Jaemin's arm. "Jaemin, if there's a chance that Jeno is alive, we have to find him. We have to know the truth."

Jaemin nodded slowly, still reeling from the revelation. But as the initial shock began to wear off, a new fear settled in. He looked up at Renjun, his expression deadly serious. "We can't tell Mark. And that means we can't tell Haechan either."

Renjun frowned, his confusion evident. "Why? Don't you think Mark would want to know?"

Jaemin shook his head, his voice urgent. "No. If Mark finds out that Jeno is alive, he'll kill him. Mark believes that anyone who betrays the family or fakes their death is as good as dead. Jeno left, Renjun. He disappeared without a trace. If Mark thinks Jeno is a threat or a loose end... he won't hesitate."

Renjun's heart pounded in his chest. "But Jeno was your boyfriend. Mark wouldn't—"

"Mark doesn't know everything," Jaemin interrupted, his voice tight with worry. "There are things about Jeno, about our past, that Mark doesn't understand. If he knew Jeno was alive, he'd see it as a betrayal, and he'd act on it."

Renjun felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. "So what do we do?"

Jaemin took a deep breath, his mind racing as he tried to figure out their next move. "We find Jeno first. We get to him before Mark does. And we figure out what's going on."

Renjun nodded, his resolve firming. "I'm with you, Jaemin. Whatever happens, we'll do this together."

Jaemin gave Renjun a small, grateful smile, though the fear in his eyes hadn't faded.