The Lodger; Noren NCT

✿*｡ Thirty-Five ｡*✿

It was dark by the time Renjun got back to the house and Mrs Lee greets him when he wanders into the kitchen.
"Oh Renjun would you be able to do me a favour?" She asks and the boy nods.

"Of course, what is it?"

"I've ran out of ramen and I need some for dinner, would you be able to run down to the seven eleven and pick me some up, I would do it myself but I have the stew cooking and I can't leave it" she says.

"Sure" he replies, grabbing a thicker jacket from the coat closet.

"If you don't want to walk on your own in the dark I'm sure Jeno would go with you he's upstairs, go ask him" she shoos him along, not really giving Renjun any other option than to ask.

The blonde hesitates before knocking on Jeno's bedroom door, waiting patiently for him to answer. He hears shuffling from inside the room before the door opens to reveal a sleepy looking Jeno. His hair was messy and he stretches a little causing his shirt to rise up and expose a sliver of his toned stomach.

"What?" Jeno asks, his voice a little deeper than usual due to the fact he'd just woken up.

Renjun coughs awkwardly and mentally kicks himself for looking. "It's dark and your mum wants you to come to the store with me" he says bracing himself for Jeno to say no or slam the door in his face. But, to his surprise Jeno nods.

"M-kay, I'll be down in a sec" he mutters before gently closing the door so he could get changed.

Renjun was genuinely surprised. He still wasn't use to this 'new' Jeno but he had to admit he was liking it.
Not in a 'crush' sort of way though. Renjun knew Jeno definitely wasn't worth his time of day, he'd learnt that lesson already.

He gets to the bottom of the stairs and waits near the door. Thankfully he only had to wait a few seconds before Jeno came trudging down the stairs, still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Okay lets go" he mutters, opening the front door and nodding for Renjun to go first.

They walk side by side in silence, Jeno yawning every now and again. "Are you tired?" Renjun asks before mentally rolling his eyes. Obviously he was tired.

Jeno laughs a little but shakes his head "nah I just woke up from a nap, it takes at least twenty minutes before I fully wake up"
Renjun only nods in understanding, pulling on his jacket sleeves when a cold breeze hits.

"What you said the other day was right you know" the blonde says, his gaze moving from the pavement to Jeno. "You really aren't a bad person"

Jeno smiles a little at this "thanks"
They stop walking and Renjun pushes the store door, holding it open for Jeno. Only then did Renjun realise he didn't know what type of ramen he was supposed to get but thankfully Jeno did. It's a good job he was forced to invite him along.

Just as they were going to pay, something catches Renjun's eye causing him to stop. "Omigod no way!" He beams "we have those ice lollies in China"

Jeno looks to where the elder was pointing "are they nice?"

"Delicious" Renjun nods, taking the ramen from Jeno and walking ahead to the till to pay.
The woman behind the counter starts scanning the food but Renjun jumps slightly when two more items were placed on top of the counter.
It was the ice lollies.

Jeno smiles sweetly at the cashier and hands her the money before taking the bag and dragging Renjun out.
"Why did you buy those? They'll be melted by the time we get back" he points out but Jeno pulls them out and hands one over to Renjun.

"Then I guess we'll have to eat them now" he states "come on, it takes my mum just an hour to make the stew before she even starts on the meat and noodles" he grabs Renjun's arm and they cross the road, walking in the opposite way to the house.

Suddenly they come across an empty play park. Renjun was a little hesitant with it being so dark and quiet but he followed Jeno nonetheless.

They both take a seat on the swings, silently eating their ice lollies. Renjun found himself staring at Jeno, still not believing how much he had changed. Had he been the reason Jeno was always so mean to him?

"I'm sorry" he sighs, swinging back and forth a little although the night breeze seemed to do most off the work.

"For what?" Jeno asks, looking over at the smaller male, their eyes locking. As much as Renjun hated to admit it he was still blown away by Jeno's beauty.

"I wasn't exactly the nicest to you either, I guess I've been playing the victim over the past few days but we were both in the wrong" he admits, actually feeling a little better for saying it.

For a moment Jeno doesn't say anything but he nods, a smile visible on his lips even in the faint glow of streetlights. "Yeah we were both in the wrong, but let's admit it, you were only a dick to me because I was a dick to you" he laughs and Renjun joins in.

"True, but it probably would have been better if I didn't argue back" he mutters before finishing off the rest of the ice lolly, twirling the wooden stick between his fingers.

"It doesn't matter now, it didn't happen remember?" Jeno says referring to the deal they had made. Suddenly he moves his swing so it banged into the side of Renjun's, causing the elder to nearly fall off the seat. But this only leads to Jeno laughing so much that he actually does fall off the swing.

Renjun laughs but offers out a hand to help him up. "Yeah I remember".