The Difference

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Jeno makes Jaemin sit on the bathroom counter as he grabs the first aid kit.

"Jeno, seriously, I'll be fine."

Jeno glares at him. "For fucks sake Jaemin, just shut up and let me clean your face. I get that you want to be strong, but there's nothing weak about letting someone take care of you." He grabs the disinfectant and a cotton wad. "Honestly.." Jaemin looks at the boy but stays silent and just lets Jeno do what he needs to.

"Ow!"

"Sorry...it'll sting a bit." Jeno whispers, really only focused on the injuries.

Jaemin rolls his eyes and huffs. "Could have said that earlier."

"Jaemin..."

"Sorry." Jeno doesn't respond, but he tries to be a bit more gentle. The two boys stay in a bathroom in silence, one boy trying not to cry from the pain and the other making sure he was ok. 

Jeno reaches into the kit again and takes out a bandaid. He unwraps it and places it delicately above Jaemin's eyebrow. He smooths it out and closes the kit. Looking back up to the boy on the counter, his face softens. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit."

Jeno hums. "Who did it to you?"

The honey-haired boy sighs. "You don't know them. Some underclassmen from my school. The little shits caught me as I was leaving work." He glances to the side, clearly angry.

"...Why did they do it?"

Jaemin takes a breath. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

The younger narrows his eyes. "Jeno."

"Jaemin."

Jaemin groans, giving in. "It's because I'm friends with you. Because they saw me talking to you! It's fucking stupid."

Jeno's eyes widen. "Why would they do it because of our friendship?" He was honestly so confused. But it only made Jaemin scoff.

"Ignorance really is bliss." He shakes his head and looks back down to Jeno. "Because, Lee Jeno, you and I come from different worlds. You live here, in a beautiful and large house. You don't worry about when your next meal is, or if you'll be able to pay for new clothes. You don't worry about those things, you're able to take it for granted. You have people who will do what you want no matter what. You were born into wealth. But people like me...like those guys who beat me up, we weren't. We don't live in a nice house. We can't take things for granted. We work to survive. We live two opposite lives Jeno, you and I have different views on the world. And they...They don't like that. They don't like that I'm talking to someone like you. There are people in the world who are bitter about their situation, and who are jealous of people like you." He laughs sadly, tears stinging his eyes. "And so, when someone who they thought was like them begins to mix in with 'your kind'," He makes are quotations and rolls his eyes. "They get mad. They feel betrayed, which is stupid. It's all so stupid."

"Jaemin...You, you aren't like that right? You don't hate me, do you?" Jeno asks, concerned.

Jaemin sighs and closes his eyes. "No Jeno, I don't hate you. Sure, I'm a bit jealous that you have the ability to live like this. But you can't help where you come from. You didn't choose to be born into wealth, although it's always nice to be wealthy. But you didn't decide that. Those boys are too blinded by their anger to even think rationally. You know," Jaemin opens his eyes. "I believe that good comes to those who work for it. The harder you work and the more determined you are, the farther you'll get in life. That's one of the reasons I work so hard. If I do, then my future will be bright. It doesn't matter what social economic class I'm in, I'd be like this even if I was wealthy like you Jeno. As long as you have a goal in life, then that's what matters. I don't care all that much about money or class or anything, I think relationships should be built on personality and character. It's why I don't care about you and Chenle being richer than me or going to a private school. That shit doesn't matter. But people like Huijin, they don't see that...they're bitter and immature." He rubs his face tiredly. "God, what am I going to tell Taeil...What am I going to tell Coach? Jesus...."

Jeno frowns at the boy and brings him in for a hug, letting Jaemin put his head in his chest. "Jaemin, spend the night."

"Wh- *cough* what?"

"I wasn't asking you, I was telling you."

"Won't your parents..."

"No. They don't really pay attention to me anymore. They won't care, and neither will my siblings." He helps Jaemin off the counter. "My sister loves you actually, along with my nephew."

Jaemin raises a brow and follows his friend down the hall. "I've literally met them once."

Jeno shrugs. "I don't think they care."

"Your family is weird."

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"Jeno you are not buying me a new bike!" Jaemin whisper-shouts as he follows the older into the bike shop. 

Jeno whisper-shouts back. "Yes, I am! Don't think I didn't see how beat up yours was yesterday."

"For fucks sake Jeno..." Jaemin groans, making Jeno click his tongue.

"Nope, come on Nana. Pick out a bike."

"I hate you so much."

Jeno smiles. "Love you too bud." Jaemin rolls his eyes.

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Jisung turns his head when he hears bickering and laughing behind the studio door. It opens and Jaemin walks in hitting another boy on the arm. The stranger was laughing while Jaemin was rolling his eyes.

"Hyung?"

"Oh! Jisungie!" Jaemin smiles and hugs the younger boy. "I'm glad to see you. How are you feeling? Still sick?"

Jisung shakes his head. "No...who's he?" He points to the stranger that stood behind Jaemin.

"Oh, that's my friend Jeno." The boy– Jeno, waves. "Anyways, where's Ten hyung? Didn't he bring you?"

A groan is heard, and soon a short man is walking out of the locker room. "I'm right here- Jeno?"

"Ten?"

Ten walks to the boy ."Why are you here?"

"I was dropping Jaemin off."

"Wait, you two know each other?" Jaemin raises a brow, looking between his friends.

Ten nods and pats Jeno's back. "Yeah, he's my boyfriend's friend." Jeno nods along.

Jaemin narrows his eyes at Jeno. "You didn't tell me you knew Ten."

"I didn't know you knew Ten...?" Jeno says, laughing slightly. "Anyhow, I should get going. I'll see you later Jaemin." He turns to leave, waving his friend goodbye.

Jaemin waves and turns to his dance mates once Jeno was out of sight. Ten smirks. "So you and Jeno?"

"We're literally just friends! Why does everyone think we like each other!?" Jaemin groans and walks into the dance room, ignoring the teasing coming from Ten and Jisung.

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∆Hey guys, this was just a little filler. I'm still deciding if I should make this a long book like my 'Mark Me' one or make it a bit shorter. So it's all kinda choppy right now. Anyways, thank you guys for reading, even though this chapter was pretty damn shitty -_- I'll see you in the next chapter∆