The Lodger; Noren NCT

✿*｡ One ｡*✿

Jeno wakes up to the sound of his mother yelling. The woman, in her late thirties, stood in the doorway of his room, hands on her hips and a frown on her face. "Jeno do you have any idea what time it is?" She mutters, moving further into the room and scooping up any dirty laundry that lay scattered on his wooden flooring.

"What?" The teenager mumbles, his mind not fully being able to process his mother's question. He rubs sleep from his eyes and allows himself to sit up in bed.

"It's two in the afternoon. You've slept more than half the day away. God you get more like your father everyday" her arms were full of clothes which she dumps into the woven laundry basket beside the door.

"Well why didn't you wake me up?" Jeno questions, allowing himself to lay back down and snuggle into the warm covers once again only to have a pillow thrown at his head.

"I was busy, I told you this yesterday, I knew you weren't listening" the woman sighs and places her hand on the door handle "get dressed and come downstairs, we need to talk". With that she leaves, closing the door behind her.

Jeno groans, his mind thinking back to every bad thing he had done over the past week that his mother would need to speak to him about. There was that girl he slept with at Mark's party but there was no way she could have found out about that. He also fell asleep in class a few days ago, maybe his principal had called.

He shakes the thoughts from his mind and jumps out of bed. It was better to just find out what she was going to lecture him on rather than him trying to guess. He was pretty quick with coming up with believable excuses anyway.

Finally Jeno had dragged himself to his closet, picking out some random clothes and throwing them on, not caring how he looked or wether what he had chosen matched or not. He makes his way downstairs to the kitchen where a plate of buttered toast sat waiting for him. His mum could be a pain in the ass but sometimes she was a pure angel.

He sits down and begins munching on his food as his mother sits across from him at the table. She clasps her hands together in front of her, her gaze on Jeno.
"Please don't stare at me like that when I'm eating, you're putting me off" he mumbles, turning in his seat slightly to try and avoid his mother's stare.

"Jeno I need you to listen to me" her tone was serious and it catches the boys attention. It wasn't the usual serious tone she used when she was about to scold him for something, this was different. He gives her his full attention, twisting back in his chair and pushing his toast away, no longer feeling hungry.
"As you know, your father was the money maker in this family, and although he left us a lot of money, and he still offers to help out, I've decided I'm going to make a little extra cash of my own." She tries to put a cheery tone in at the end but Jeno could tell she was nervous about telling him.

One year ago Jeno's mother and father had gotten a divorce, it wasn't because his dad had done the dirty or his mother had kicked him out, they had simply just fallen out of love. They left off on good terms and Jeno's father often came for visits and sent money to help with the whole single parent situation, that was the only reason they could afford such a large house. His father had a very well paid job, but so did his mother, which is what made Jeno question why she would want to make extra cash.

"We have plenty of money as it is" he says, leaning back in the chair a little, his gaze still on his mother.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a little more Jeno" she laughs at her son and picks up her porcelain mug, taking a long sip of her coffee.
"I've opened the spare room up to lodgers" she rushes and Jeno almost chokes on air.

"What!" He yells, standing from his chair, his eyes wide in shock. His mother couldn't bring a lodger in, what if they let in a total weirdo, what if they robbed them in the middle of the night. "Mum if you want extra cash I can get a job, please don't bring a lodger in, I'm begging you"

"Jeno this is my house and I'll do what I want" she says calmly, placing her mug back down. "Besides, interviews were this morning and I've already chosen who will move in. He seems like a lovely boy"

Jeno felt like he could tear his hair out "Are you crazy?! You're seriously letting a stranger move into our house"

She only scoffs, standing from the table and moving to wash Jeno's plate. "Don't be so overdramatic Jeno, he's barley going to murder you in your sleep"

"Mum please don't do this!" He begs, putting his hands together and pouting like a child.

"Who knows maybe you'll end up being best friends" she smiles, drying her hands and placing a kiss to Jeno's forehead before walking off.

"I doubt it" he mumbles, turning and storming off back upstairs. "She could have at least let me choose". He swings the guest room door open, looking over the neat and tidy room. Clean sheets, fresh towels, freshly dusted, immaculate vacuumed carpet. It was like a five star hotel, his mother had really gone all out for this guy moving in.

An idea pops to mind and a smirk breaks out on his face. "It's only right for me to offer a welcome gift" he says out loud, leaving the room and running towards his own, grabbing the things he needed. He opens every drawer in the guest room, planting his surprise before smiling proudly at his work. "He'll be gone within a week"