Night Shift // nomin

12:40am

The boy rubbed his eyes, placing his usual pint on the counter.

"Hey." I beamed, shooting him a warm smile.

He removed his hood from his head, revealing his messy dirty blond locks.

"Hi." his lips curled into his usual weak smile. I tilted my head, examining his face - his under eye bags weren't that visible, his pale skin wasn't ghosty. He looked better, much better.

"Jeno?" he called quietly when I gave him the change.

"Yes Jaemin?"

"Can I stay the night?"

I blinked a few times, a little wave of shock coming over me. He, on his own will, wanted to stay.

I wasn't complaining though.

"Of course." I answered after a few moments, recollecting myself.

He came behind the counter, ice cream in hand and plopped down in the corner, the same spot he sat during the storm.

I sat down across from him, watching him pull off the lid of the pint. Knowing he would ask for a spoon, I reached under the counter (where I had left the box of plastic utensils from last time) and held a spoon out for him.

"Thanks." he muttered, taking the object from my grasp.

"Jaemin," I addressed, watching him slowly place a spoonful into his mouth.

"Mhm?"

I let out a deep breath. "How's your arms?"

He swallowed his ice cream, eyes meeting the tile.

"They're healing..." he muttered.

A worried gaze settled onto my face. "Did you cut yourself again?" I softly asked.

He shook his head.

"Okay, I trust you." I nodded slightly, raising an eyebrow.

He placed his ice cream to side, scooting closer to me.

"Jeno," he brought his hand to my jaw, his fingertips tracing over the skin. I swallowed, my heart beginning to go haywire in my chest.

"Do you mind?" he asked, almost inaudibly, his eyes lifting to mine.

"Not at all." I smiled, leaning my forehead against his.

He closed his eyes, his soft pants brushing against my lips. My hands carded through his soft hair, smoothing down the wild stands.

We stayed like that for a while.

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