It Follows {Book One}

17

Saturday, August 18
13 days

•Jeno•

Donghyuck had been running around the store all morning, calling out for Mark and searching in places that made no sense, but in his current frantic state, looking under boxes didn't seem too far fetched.

Jeno watched him from the mattress that he had dragged out for Jaemin, who was lying across his lap. Every so often, Jeno had to slap him on the back whenever his breathing hitched, and he'd wake up for a few minutes. All smiles, which he was incredibly happy about. Despite being so weak, Jaemin was still the happy and cheerful boy he had known for almost a decade, and Jeno was happy that he hadn't practically crumbled away like the rest of them had once they got sick. 

Jeno felt like complete and utter shit, but he didn't think it was to the point where he needed anyone to look after him, and instead, he ignored everything the seemed abnormal to take care of Jaemin. 

Jeno was too busy watching Donghyuck running around (he seemed to be giving up and was about to burst into tears) so he didn't notice Jaemin reaching his arms up around his neck until he was being pulled down.

"Wha-" His words were cut off by Jaemin's lips pressing against his. Like every time, he felt his heart hammering in his chest and his face getting all hot. He'd been dating Jaemin for two years and he still got all flustered every time they kissed. He wasn't proud of it.

Jaemin stared up at him once he pulled away. He wore a small smile, and let a short puff of air out through his nose. "What?" Jeno asked.

"You."

"What about me?"

"You know it, don't you? I'm dying."

"All of us are dying. "

Jaemin rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. Yukhei is doing just fine. And so is Johnny. You are, too."

"I noticed. It's almost like the subs are the ones dying out-"

"Oh my god, shut up," Jaemin smacked his chest, but he still laughed. "That's awful."

"And true."

"No it's not," Jaemin said with a smirk. "You're still here."

Jeno blushed. "Shut up."

Jaemin continued looking up at him, and Jeno expected a 'you shut up', but was pleasantly surprised. "Hey, Jeno?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to tell you something."

Jeno furrowed his eyebrows. Great. Here it comes. The, 'I'm sorry but I don't want to date you anymore' speech. Or maybe, 'I'm already dead and this is my fucking ghost you're talking to, you psycho'. Honestly, he wouldn't even be surprised at this point. "What's up?" He said, in an attempt to sound casual and hide his nervousness. But of course, because the universe hated him (in case you couldn't tell by the way all of his friends were dying) his voice cracked slightly.

"I love you."

Jeno felt as if his heart had totally stopped. He was expecting . . . well, anything but that. He wasn't disappointment at all, in fact, he couldn't have been happier. "Jaem-"

"I'm not kidding. I'm fucking in love with you and your stupid, dumb face. You're awful and perfect and I just really needed to tell you, okay?"

Jeno wanted to say something back, but his brain didn't seem to want to work. In all honestly he was incredibly disappointed in himself. He could've said something back. It might've been something really suave too, but his mouth just wouldn't work.

"You love me, too, don't you?" Jaemin asked, his eyes widening. Jeno had told him that he loved him many times—too many to count—but Jaemin usually just smiled.  After a few seconds something clicked in Jeno's mind, and Jaemin's panicked expression seemed to shake him out of his trance and he though, shit, he was going to fuck this up. So instead of trying to force a sentence made up of actual, somewhat intelligent words, he settled for the second best thing. Jeno slipped one hand to the back of Jaemin's neck, and he quickly leaned back down kiss him.

"I do," He finally managed to say against Jaemin's lips. He pulled back slightly, only to press another kiss to Jaemin's forehead. "I do love you."

"Can you stay with me? When, you know . . . " Jaemin trailed off. His lips trembled slightly. 

Jeno nodded, threading his fingers through Jaemin's hair, which had grown out quite a bit. After working his fingers through the tangles, he started petting his hair, pushing it back away from his face. Jaemin hummed softly, and his eyes fluttered closed.

"Yeah. Of course I will. You didn't even have to ask."