secret story | jeno x reader

Chapter 10: Sunday

Sunday mornings were my absolute favorite. The quiet calm that settled over the city, the sun barely peeking over the horizon—it was the one day I could truly take a breath, recharge, and focus on the things that mattered. And today? Today was a special Sunday, the kind where I would make my way to church for some much-needed peace.

As I slipped into my outfit for the day, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The cream off-shoulder blouse from H&M floated delicately around my shoulders, paired with the wide-leg black KHAITE pants that added just the right amount of sophistication. My black patent-leather sandals from KHAITE completed the look, giving me an air of effortless elegance.

I smiled, satisfied with my reflection. It was a far cry from the scrubs I wore at the hospital, and a welcome change from the usual workday attire.

Just as I was about to grab my bag, Jeno's voice cut through the quiet morning air, surprising me.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his eyes scanning my outfit as he leaned against the doorframe. There was a playful curiosity in his voice, but I could tell he was genuinely wondering what I had planned.

"Church," I replied simply, grabbing my bag and giving myself one last glance in the mirror.

Jeno raised an eyebrow. "Should I drive you?" he offered, his casual tone masking the fact that he wasn't one for Sunday morning services.

I shook my head, already knowing that Haechan was supposed to meet me. "Nope. Haechan's going with me."

I could see Jeno's reaction in the mirror, his expression suddenly shifting. His brows furrowed, and his voice came out slightly more serious. "Wait... stop. Can you repeat that?"

I turned around, facing him directly, a little confused by the sudden change in his tone. "I'm going to church with Haechan," I repeated.

He stared at me, almost as if the words weren't quite registering. Then, he folded his arms across his chest, his expression hardening. "You're looking this damn good to meet another guy?"

I laughed softly, realizing what this was all about. "Yes, I'm going to meet another guy. His name is Jesus."

Jeno wasn't amused by my joke. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his gaze stayed locked on me. "I'm not talking about that. I mean Haechan?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his overreaction. "I'm going to meet Jesus with Haechan. It's not that big of a deal," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "We always go to church together."

Jeno's eyes narrowed slightly, but I could see the gears turning in his head. "You could ask me to go with you, you know."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "You don't believe in God," I pointed out, crossing my arms in response. "Isn't it kind of weird for you to just stand there, staying still in a church? Haechan believes in God. It's just something we've always done together."

Jeno scratched the back of his head, an almost sheepish expression crossing his face as he processed what I was saying. He was clearly trying to figure out how to respond, but instead of coming up with an argument, he shrugged, almost in defeat. "I'm going with you."

His words caught me off guard. I blinked, surprised at his sudden change of heart. "You are?"

"Yeah," he muttered, already turning on his heel to head back to his room. "I'm going with you."

I stared after him, half-expecting him to change his mind, but then I heard the soft sound of him rummaging through his closet. Jeno was serious about this. I wasn't entirely sure why, but I wasn't about to question it either.

Within a few minutes, Jeno reappeared, dressed in his usual casual but stylish fashion. He wore an oversized white T-shirt from H&M, layered with a light blue denim jacket from KHAITE that hung loosely off his broad shoulders. His blue denim jeans were fitted, but comfortable, and his cream leather and mesh sneakers from The Row completed the outfit.

He looked like the picture of casual cool, even though we were headed to church. I couldn't help but smirk as I eyed his outfit. "You're really coming?"

Jeno shrugged, looking a little awkward as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, well... I'm not letting you and Haechan have all the fun."

I snorted, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my bag. "Fun? I'm going to pray."

He didn't say anything, just gestured for me to lead the way. And so, we headed out the door together, just as Haechan pulled up in his car, honking lightly to let us know he had arrived.

When we walked outside, Haechan was already leaning against the side of his 2024 Hyundai Kona, looking as relaxed as ever in a crisp button-up and slacks. But his eyebrows shot up when he saw Jeno walking beside me.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Haechan teased, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Jeno Lee, in the flesh, voluntarily going to church. What happened? Did the world stop spinning?"

Jeno shot him a glare, not in the mood for jokes. "Just drive," he muttered, sliding into the backseat.

I couldn't help but laugh as I climbed into the passenger seat beside Haechan, feeling a strange sense of amusement at the whole situation. It wasn't often that Jeno agreed to come to church, let alone without me begging him.

The drive to the church was relatively short, and by the time we arrived, the sun was shining brightly overhead. The familiar stone facade of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis came into view, its grandeur always making me pause for a moment in awe.

As we parked and stepped out of the car, I glanced over at Jeno, who was looking at the church with mild curiosity. His usual confident demeanor was still there, but there was something else beneath the surface—something almost contemplative.

"You okay?" I asked, nudging him gently.

He glanced down at me, his expression softening. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... it's been a while since I've been to a place like this."

I smiled, understanding what he meant. Jeno wasn't exactly the church-going type, but I appreciated that he was making an effort to be here with me today.

Haechan, noticing the quiet moment between us, threw his arm around Jeno's shoulders and grinned. "Don't worry, buddy. If you start feeling lost, just follow my lead. I'm practically a pro at this."

Jeno rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just get inside."

Together, the three of us made our way into the church, the cool air inside a welcome contrast to the warmth of the morning. The cathedral's high ceilings and stained glass windows never failed to take my breath away, and today was no different. The soft hum of quiet prayers filled the space as we found our seats.

As the service began, I couldn't help but glance over at Jeno every now and then, curious about how he was handling everything. For the most part, he sat still, his gaze focused on the altar, though there were moments where he seemed lost in thought. It was strange, but comforting in a way, to have him here with me.

After the service ended, we stepped outside into the sunlight, the peacefulness of the morning still lingering in the air. Jeno stretched his arms above his head, letting out a small yawn.

"So... how was that for you?" I asked, half-expecting him to make some sarcastic comment.

But instead, Jeno looked at me with a soft smile, his expression surprisingly genuine. "It wasn't so bad."

Haechan laughed, clapping Jeno on the back. "See? I told you it wouldn't kill you."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. Maybe Sundays would start to look a little different from now on.