Angel ✦ Nomin

18

Jeno knocks rapidly on the door before him with as much force as he can muster, not caring about the fact that the wood was starting to rub his knuckles raw the longer he goes on. He could barely make out the shape of the door through the crocodile tears which stream from his eyes.

"I'm coming!" a voice calls out, but Jeno doesn't stop knocking. Not until the door opens up to a boy with pastel pink hair.

Wait...

Wasn't his hair brown just a few hours ago?

"J-Jaem-min I-I'm s-sorry. I-"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jaemin asks in a loud whisper as his eyes dart around the street behind him, "You have no right bitching me out for visiting you when you show up at my house in broad daylight. You need to go. If anyone sees you-"

"Pl-please!" Jeno begs, "I kn-know you're angr-ry but-but I n-never would p-put my father bef-fore you."

"Woahwoahwoah, where's this coming from? I never accused you of putting your father first," Jaemin speaks as his eyebrows furrow and deep confusion laces his expression.

"Y-yes you did," Jeno argues, but Jaemin just appears to grow more confused.

"I never said that. Why would I say that?" Jaemin questions, "Jeno, are you okay? Have you been drinking or something?"

"N-no, I haven't. You j-just came to m-my house and s-said that earlier t-today," Jeno insists, as a fire rises in the pit of his stomach. Why is Jaemin lying? What does he have to gain from doing this to him?

"I never went to your house. You told me to stay away, so I did. As much as it's been tearing me apart," Jaemin objects, "What is going on with you?"

Jeno pauses and remains silent as his mind begins racing. What if Jaemin was telling the truth? Was he?

Jeno focuses on reading his mind and concentrates as hard as possible despite his hysterics.

Please tell me something's not wrong with him. Oh god, I knew I shouldn't have left him alone. He needed me and I just left him.

"Y-you really don-n't know what I'm-m talking ab-bout, do y-ou?" Jeno inquires as his sobs ease up.

"No," Jaemin answers as he steps closer to Jeno, "Are you okay, Jeno?"

"I...I'm fine," he lies, "J-just..."

"Yes?" Jaemin urges him to go on, his eyes saturated with concern.

Without another word, Jeno springs forward and kisses Jaemin hard, anxiously hoping it wasn't empty like before.

Jaemin resists at first, stiffening at the sudden kiss, but soon enough, he melts into it. He begins to kiss Jeno back, and a warm feeling radiates in Jeno's chest.

It felt calming like the pitter pattering of rain against a window at night. It felt comforting like a warm blanket on a frigid winter's night. It felt safe and secure like the home you go to after a long day.

Jaemin felt like home.

He parts from Jaemin, leaving minimal space between them.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles breathily, "I love you."

"I love you too," Jaemin utters back instinctively.

"I have to go," he announces, "Something's very wrong back at my house."

"What? What happened? What's going on?" Jaemin fires off question after question.

"I'll explain later when I get down to the bottom of this," Jeno states, "Keep your phone nearby. And...don't take the ring off your finger." Jeno glances at the ring he forged for Jaemin as he twists his own around his ring finger mindlessly. He needed to ensure Jaemin wasn't in any danger.

"I never do," Jaemin replies.

"I'll see you soon," Jeno breathes before pecking Jaemin's lips one last time and leaving the confused boy at his threshold. He couldn't stay and explain, nor did he want to just yet. But he decides that worrying over that needed to wait. For now, he has some digging to do.