Night Shift // nomin

12:03am

this is a double update, you're welcome

—

Since it was spring break and I didn't have to get up early for class, now I was able to take a nap and not be as tired at work.

I tapped my foot to the music which softly echoed throughout the mart, expecting Jaemin's usual visit.

I drank the last of my coffee and tossed the plastic into the trash, then the jingle rang through my ears.

He slammed the pint onto the counter and my eyes widened, stunned by his action.

His eyes were bloodshot from what I could see from under his hood.

"Jaemin, are you alright?" I softly asked.

"I'm f-fine." he sniffled, reaching up and wiping (what I assumed to be) a tear from his cheek.

"Are you sure?" I followed up with, maintaining my low volume.

"Yes."

The door swung open and Renjun darted in.

"Jaemin, seriously, I'm sorry-"

"Shut up!" Jaemin interrupted him, hugging the pint to his chest.

The quiet boy I've known for months just shouted. Shouted.

Jaemin turned away, exiting the mart, despite Renjun calling his name.

Renjun walked up to the counter, heaving out a long sigh.

"Jeno, I'm sorry you had to witness that." he apologized, staring down at his feet.

"It's okay." I mumbled, looking down at the counter.

"I addressed him about what you saw on his wrist. He blew up at me, I've never seen him so angry and..." Renjun paused, pressing his lips together. "Hurt."

"I've tried helping him Jeno. I really have." he buried his face into his palms, inhaling deeply.

Without thinking, I reached out, placing my hand onto his shoulder. I attempted to comfort him, though I wasn't the best at it.

After a few moments, Renjun sighed again, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Sorry for crying." he muttered.

"Renjun, it's fine. I don't mind, humans need to express their emotions sometimes."

I pressed my lips into a firm line.

"Is there some way I could help him?" the question slipped out more quietly than I had intended.

"If you could help him, that would be beyond amazing."

Renjun looked at me, his watery eyes glimmering off the artificial lights in the mart. My hand dropped from his shoulder and he turned towards the door.

He looked over his shoulder at me.

"Thank you Jeno, for being such a kind person."

He walked closer to the door.

"You can try helping him.  It'll be one hell of a challenge to set him free."

The door closed, his figure disappeared.

Set him free?

—

BITCHHHHHH THE NEW NCT C OR U IDK?
LIKE TY, DOYOUNG, YUTA, JUNGWOO, JOHNNY, AND HAECHAN???
y'all fab