Ikigai (生き甲斐) || Norenmin

열셋 (part two)

((get ready for part two of really messy chapter that was thrown together in an hour))

Wait. Did he just say crushes? Oh no. No no no. That was not okay. Not at all.

"Hey Renjun, you okay?" Jaemin asked.

Renjun slowly nodded, as if he was unsure.

"Hey, are you having a panic attack?" Jeno asked in a soothing voice. "Do you need to sit down?"

"Y-yeah."

Jen cupped Renjun's face (which made it worse, but Renjun wasn't going to tell him to stop). "It's okay, you're okay, I'm right here for you. Why don't you hand me the baby or put her down and then we can go sit, okay?"

Renjun gave a small smile. "That would probably be best."

Renjun handed Hwa Young to Jeno. Wha Young protested and tried to jump back to Renjun.

"Do you- uh- do you need anything?" Jaemin asked.

"Sit with us?" Renjun responded, more like a question than a request.

"Anything for you."

Renjun sat on the couch, Jeno and Hwa Young on his right and Jaemin on his left.

"Hey can I join?" Haneul asked.

Jaemin opened his arms for the smaller boy. Haneul scoffed.

"I don't want to sit with you. I wanna sit with Renjun. I think I'm in love with him."

"Sure you are."

Jeno smiled and placed his forehead on Renjun's.

"I know you're not having a panic attack, I've been with you for most of them. You're just shaken up. Do you want to talk about what's going on?"

Renjun considered for a moment, but then he remembered what he overheard in the kitchen. He looked away and shook his head.

"No." He said softly.

Jaemin took his hand.

"Hey, it's okay, we won't judge you, no matter what it is. But we won't push you. Tell us when you're ready. Just know that we lo- are here for you no matter what, okay?"

Renjun nodded. "Okay." He said with a soft smile. 

"Otay." Came a small voice.

Jaemin's and Haneul's heads turned immediately to Hwa Young.

"Oh my gosh she just said her first word! Ha Eun's gonna be so happy!" Jaemin exclaimed.

Renjun smiled and opened his arms for Hwa Young to jump into, which she happily obliged.

"Renjun, you're amazing. You're gonna be a great dad. I can't wait until we have kids. Uh- separately of course, cuz we're all straight- uh-"

Renjun and Jeno let out a snort.

"Oh my gosh, Jaemin, Jeno and I are literally the gayest."

"Yeah, remember when were like ten and we were convinced that we would get married? And our moms were like 'sure honey' but we were insisting?"

"Oh my gosh yes, my parents still sometimes ask 'so how's the husband?'."

While Jeno and Renjun were laughing, Jaemin sat with a frown on his lips.

"Jae, you okay?"

"Ah, yeah, I just...I'm good."

Just then, the door opened.

"We're home!"

"Mama!" Haneul yelled happily.

"Mama!" Hwa Young called out.

"...Is that my Hwa Young?"

"Yep. I think she likes Renjun." Jaemin said.

"Me too. He's my new boyfriend." Haneul said.

The four adults stopped and looked at him.

"...what?" Ha Eun asked.

"Boys can like boys just like you like Seo Yeon. So Renjun's my new boyfriend."

Ha Eun looked up at the three boys in confusion. They just shrugged.

"...well...that's nice. Tell you what, in honor of your new boyfriend and Hwa Young's first words, how about Seo Yeon and I take you out for ice cream?"

"Yeah yeah yeah!"

"I'm sure Renjun, Jeno, and uncle Jaemin have a lot of studying to do though, so for today it'll just be the four of us."

"Aww, okay Mommy."

***

nana: thanks for helping me watch the two today

nana: I'm still salty about Hwa Young not liking me today

nana: She normally loves me!

Jenofun: you're welcome nana!

nana: it's all Injun's fault

moomin: haha :)

Jenofun: he has a way with babies

moomin: the baby whisperer

moomin: also thanks you guys for scarring me and making me the third wheel today :')

Jenofun: wym third wheeling???

moomin: like when you guys were staring into each others eyes for like five minutes

Jenofun: we didn't do that

moomin: you did it TWICE

nana: cheer up baby~ cheer up baby~

Jenofun: aw cutie

nana: 눈_눈

Jenofun: don't deny it

Jenofun: you are the cutest of all things

Jenofun: the softest

Jenofun: :*

moomin has changed their name to God!

God has left the chat