The Lodger; Noren NCT

✿*｡ Forty-Seven ｡*✿

Renjun sat opposite Jeno on the bed, neither knew what to say and the whole situation seemed a little awkward. Since the spontaneous confession, nothing much had been shared other than a few lingering stares and the odd make out when they were alone. They hadn't actually had the chance to sit down and talk about their relationship. Whatever their 'relationship' was exactly.

They were in Jeno's room, waiting for Mrs Lee to make dinner. Renjun could tell Jeno didn't want to have this conversation but it had to be done. Unlike like Jeno, Renjun wasn't comfortable carrying on like they were without truly know what they were. Were they a couple now? Were they still working their way up to being a couple? Renjun wanted answers.

"You're thinking about something" Jeno points out when Renjun seemed to be staring off into space, not saying a word. "Are you thinking about me?" Jeno smirks but Renjun only throws a pillow at his face, laughing at the way Jeno's hair seemed to be messed up.

"I wasn't thinking about just you" he says, leaning back against the head bored, admiring the way the sun was shining through the window onto Jeno's face "I was thinking about us".

Jeno's smile falters a little and he tilts his head to the side like a confused puppy "us?" He repeats "what do you mean?"

Renjun sighs, smiling at the younger boys clueless expression "you know..." he trails off, picking up Jeno's hand and playing with his fingers "...us. What we are now?"

For a moment Jeno doesn't answer, he just sits staring at the way Renjun's small hands fit perfectly in his, it was obvious he had something to say yet he seemed to be holding back.
"I don't understand what you mean"

Renjun laughs at this, not quite believing what Jeno had said. He can see the hint of a smile on Jeno's lips too which only makes his heart skip a beat or two. "Stop acting dumb" he pouts, knowing how Jeno can't resits his pout "I'll hit you with the pillow again" it wasn't much of a threat but it was the best he could come up with.

"I'm not acting dumb, I have no idea what you're talking about" Jeno laughs, moving to lay on his tummy, resting his head in his hands so he could look up at Renjun with that gorgeous eye smile of his.

"I'm talking about us you idiot" Renjun says softly, allowing his fingers to play with Jeno's soft brown hair. "W-What are we now?"

This was Renjun's 'subtle' way of telling Jeno to hurry up and ask him out already. Since they both liked each other he thought that maybe they could be a couple, but the frown on Jeno's face made Renjun question his predictions.

"Jeno?" He asks softly, worried he had said something wrong or if he had sounded a little too desperate. Had he really screwed up already?

"Renjun I need to tell you something and I know you're going to be mad" Jeno says and instantly the elder feels his heart drop to the floor.
Maybe Jeno would be the one to screw it up.
"I do like you. A lot." He starts, taking Renjun's hand in his but the blonde doesn't lace his fingers like he usually would. "You're the first boy I've ever been attracted to, and if it wasn't for Jaemin then I wouldn't have realised my feelings for you"

"Get to the point" Renjun says, tired of Jeno's pointless rambling. If he was going to upset him then he may as well get it over with.

Jeno sighs "the point is that I realised my feelings too late" he finally says but Renjun still had no idea what he was talking about. Too late? How can he be too late?

"W-What?" He whispers, his mind still trying to process what Jeno was saying.

"Renjun I want to be your boyfriend" Jeno smiles and Renjun's heartbeat speeds up, but when he sees the guilt in Jeno's smile he mentally tells himself to not get his hopes up. "But I can't".

Renjun blinks a few times, not quite sure he had heard correctly. He lets his hand move out of Jeno's grip. "W-why not?"

"Because you're moving back to China in a week" Jeno says, the pain in his eyes more than evident "I can't finally have you and then loose you within a week. It's painful enough to know that you'll be moving out of this house. The thought of my boyfriend leaving the country and not being able to see him for god knows how long hurts ten times more." He explains, desperate for Renjun to understand his situation.

"But I can stay for longer, we could spend time together, and even when I have to go back to China we can video call and I can come to visit" he tries to reason with Jeno, he wanted Jeno to know that they could make this work.

Jeno sits up and cups Renjun's cheek with his hand "if you stay it will only make saying goodbye even harder" he whispers, bringing his forehead closer to lean against Renjun's. "I want you to always be here, I can't hug and kiss you if you're in China"

Renjun could feel himself getting more and more upset. He felt like he was being rejected. He felt like Jeno wasn't willing to try.
"B-but I thought-"

"Renjun listen to me" Jeno says, forcing the elder to look him in the eye "I like you a lot. We've been through some shit, I was an ass to you. I took your virginity, I pretty much forced you into sex. When we eventually started to get along I fucked it up. I've been so mean to you Renjun, but you still like me. The fact that we are here, both having feelings for each other just proves that we can get through some shit" he laughs a little "it's taken three months for us to finally get to this point, can't you wait a little longer?"

Weirdly Renjun wasn't mad, he knew what Jeno meant. If Renjun finished his education in China then he could move to Korea after graduation. But that was still a whole six months away. What if Jeno found someone he liked more whilst he was back at home?

"Do you promise you'll wait? You'll wait for me to come back?" He asks, a tear rolls down his cheek and Jeno was quick to wipe it away.

"Renjun I like you so much I'd wait a lifetime if I had to" he moves and places a sweet kiss to the elders lips before pulling away.

They could hear Mrs Lee calling them down for dinner but they ignore it. Too caught up in the moment for distractions.

Renjun sighs and forces a smile "Okay" he whispers "I'll wait too"