Night Shift // nomin

3:08am

"Nana? That's a cute nickname." I chuckled, a little blush rising on his cheeks.

"It's just what my friends use to call me." he murmured, placing his empty ice cream carton to the side.

"Mine is lame. Lee Jeno."

"Lee Jeno. Hm." he nodded his head, taking in the information.

"Yeah, or No jam. Everyone says I'm boring."

"You're not boring." he spoke up, louder than usual.

Our eyes locked, my lips parted slightly.

"Really?" I reached up to scratch the back of my neck.

"Yeah..." he looked down again.

"Well, thanks." I smiled.

There was a moment of silence between us.

"Jaemin," I called, his eyes drifting to mine once again.

"Mhm?" he pressed his lips into a firm line.

"When do you sleep? I mean, you're always here in the middle of the night."

Renjun told me before that Jaemin rarely sleeps.

He swallowed, avoiding eye contact with me again.

"I don't really." he answered, barely audible. "I don't like sleeping."

"Why?" I curiously questioned, tilting my head to the side.

"I have nightmares." he brought one of his hands to his temple. "Constant nightmares."

Pain leaked through those two words.

My lips opened slightly, then pressed into a firm line. "I'm so sorry." I whispered.

I wished I said something more comforting or reassuring.

"It's okay." his voice cracked, as he pulled his sleeves up, the fabric covering half of his palms.

"Jeno,"

My eyes shifted up to his face.

"Thank you for letting me stay here." he said quietly, fiddling with his fingers in his lap.

"Yeah, of course. I'm just helping a friend out." I responded, a small smile tugging at my lips.