notes || jaenoren (norenmin)

dix-neuf

"Oh- Oh my god," Renjun squeaked, burying himself under his blanket while a blur of bad and they know and you fucking idiot and other discernible thoughts rampaged through his head.

"Renjun-" Jaemin reached out, but Renjun must have felt something coming near him, and he scooted away from his hand. "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry."

Jeno's heart jumped to his throat and started jumping around like a pinball; he felt like choking. Renjun knew that they liked him- but how long had he known? Where did he get that note? How did he get that note? There was always that fear at the back of his mind that Renjun would find out-

Was- was he apologising because he didn't return either of their feelings? Jeno felt a headache coming on; the thought alone was heart breaking. They should have seen it coming, though. Should have realised how slim the chances were.

Jaemin put his shaking hand on Jeno's arm. Would Renjun think that they were disgusting for liking him while they were dating already? What if he was one of those people who just found the whole concept of polyamory strange? They were going to be rejected, and hard, he knew it. So he tugged on Jeno's sleeve and shook his head sadly when Jeno turned to him. They should get out of here before both of their hearts cracked into four forlorn pieces.

"Then- then we'll get going, Renjun. See you- unless, not. Bye," Jaemin forced out. There was pain evident in his voice, and he cringed at how utterly weak he sounded. Jeno and Jaemin slumped to the door, and Jeno was just reaching for the handle when-

"Is it true?" It was such a tiny whisper that if it weren't for the custard thick silence, it never would have reached their ears.

Jaemin turned slowly, and Jeno's grip loosened from the handle and his arm fell to his side. "Wh- what?" Jaemin asked quietly, unsure if he had imagined it.

"Were you lying? Was it a joke?" Renjun peeked out from under the blanket, blinking away the wetness in his eyes rapidly. Jaemin didn't know what to say, so Jeno stepped in. "No! It was all true, Renjun. We meant every last word of- of everything!"

Renjun took the blanket down from his shoulders, and looked at them with his head tilted sideways, an unreadable look on his face. "Really?"

Jeno nodded in affirmation, and took Jaemin's hand, both bracing themselves for outright rejection. Renjun took a deep breath, Jaemin tightened his hold on Jeno's hand, and they painfully awaited their verdict-

Renjun started laughing, and loudly too. His chuckles bounced off the walls, and he threw his head back in his fit. Jaemin and Jeno thought they had never heard anything more beautiful than his gleeful laughter. But at the same time, fear was creeping up their throats- was he laughing because he thought it actually was a joke- some painfully elaborate plan? Was he laughing at them and their sad, sappy, unrequited affection? What if-

"And all this time, I was worrying for nothing- it's so- ha-" his sentence was interrupted by another round of hysterical laughter fighting it's way out of his throat. Jeno and Jaemin were now beyond the stage of being perplexed. "What do you mean? Why are you laughing?" asked Jaemin, sounding just as bamboozled as he was feeling.

Renjun stopped a moment later, only because his throat was sore by now. He pointed incredulously at Jeno and then at Jaemin, a small smile on face the whole while. "You- Jeno- and you, Jaemin- you both like me?"

"Well, yeah," said Jaemin, his grip loosening on Jeno's hand. "What else do you expect? You are literally perfect," he pointed sideways at Jeno with his thumb, "Jeno agrees too."

Renjun's cheeks warmed at the compliment, and he grinned even wider; his insides felt the warmth of it all too. Because now, now he could-

"Could you guys come here for a minute?" he chirped innocently. Jeno and Jaemin edged slowly towards the bed, wary. "Sit down~" Renjun singsonged. Jeno couldn't help but smile at his behaviour. They sat down at the opposite end of the bed, and Renjun put on a serious face. "Closer."