The Lodger; Noren NCT

✿*｡ Forty-Two ｡*✿

Renjun packs his bag as slowly as possible. He couldn't understand how a week had gone by so quickly. He had hoped it would have dragged for a little longer. On the other hand, he had been pretty busy. When he wasn't studying, he was helping out with the cafe, and when he wasn't doing that he was sleeping.

As much as he hated to admit to himself, he had missed Jeno. A lot.
A small part of him was happy he was going back, but the other part of him was dreading it completely.

He'd seen Jeno only a handful of times at school during the week. Usually when they locked eyes from across the hall, Jeno would be the first to look away and walk off. The sight hurt Renjun a little but he didn't know why, it's what he deserved for overreacting the way he did. He had also told Jeno to stay away from him. Maybe Jeno was just respecting his wishes.

With a sigh, he shoves his last piece of clothing into his bag, not caring to fold it. He moves to roll up the mattress he had been sleeping on, and pushes it to the back of Sicheng's closet. Sicheng had already gone down to open up the cafe and left Renjun alone to pack up his things.
Of course he had offered to let Renjun stay for a little longer but the younger had declined. He needed to face Jeno at some point. Besides, he was still paying rent on his room and he refused to waste any more money.

He pulls his bag onto his back and wanders down the stairs to the cafe, the strong scent of coffee filling his nose. In a weird way, the smell of coffee had become a sort of comfort since he had come to Korea. The smell will always remind him of Korea that's for sure.

"Are you positive you don't want to stay a little longer?" Sicheng asks when he spots Renjun coming down the stairs. Yuta had actually shown up for work that morning so it was a rare sight to see the brunette hard at work.

Renjun smiles gratefully but shakes his head "I'm sure, I gotta go back" he sighs, grabbing the key to his bike lock from the key hook "thank you though"

Within seconds, Sicheng had moved from around the counter and had pulled Renjun into a tight hug "I'm gonna miss you"

This causes the younger to laugh a little "why? You'll see me again tomorrow". It amused him that he was acting as if he was moving away. But then it dawned on him that he was.

"I gotta hug you as much as I can within the next two weeks. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again after that" he says, pulling away and offering the blonde a warm smile.

"I'm leaving before you start crying and embarrass me" Renjun laughs as he steps away. He gives Yuta a quick wave before opening the door and leaving.

The weather had been pretty good all week, but today it was as if the heavens had opened. Renjun quickly pulls his hood up and runs over to the bike rack, unlocking it and getting on. He cycled as fast as he possibly could, trying to avoid any deep puddles but failing. He was drenched from head to toe.

Thankfully, Jeno's house wasn't too far away and he got there within ten minutes. As soon as he had cycled up the driveway, he practically drops his bike on the ground before throwing the front door open. The ends of his hair were dripping, his clothes were damp and heavy. The weather fit his mood pretty well.

Quickly, he kicks off his shoes and pulls of his wet hoodie as he ran up the stairs. The last thing he wanted to do was leave a trail of rain water through the house, at least if he was in the guest room he could mop it up.

He passes Jeno's bedroom, not even sparing it another glance before he rushes into his own, closing the door quickly.

He drops his backpack to the floor along with his wet hoodie. As he moves towards his closet, something catches his eye.

Slowly he moves closer to his bedside table, examining the tray that held a steaming cup of Jasmine tea. He spots a note leant up against the mug and he hesitantly picks it up. The handwriting was unmistakably Jeno's.
Renjun debated whether or not to read it, but the curiosity got the better of him, and before he knew it he was reading over the written words.

I guessed you'd need this
Jeno x

He reads over the note a few more times before the words actually processed in his mind. Instead of throwing the note into the trash, he neatly folds it up and places it in the top drawer of his dresser. He didn't want to forget about Jeno's small acts of kindness. After all, that's why he couldn't seem to get Jeno off his mind.