dicey ↬ nomin

Ch.32

"Aww, they're in the changing room together," Jaemin cooed and loitered outside one of the empty cubicles. The top was draped over his arm and he was clearly trying to listen to their conversation.

"Just leave them alone," Jeno mumbled and pointed at the fitting room dutifully. "Not only are you imposing on your own friend, but you're doing the same to my friend. Have a bit of respect."

Jaemin shushed him quietly and Jeno watched as the smile slowly faded from his face. His eyes squinted and he leaned closer to the drawn curtain.

"What's wrong?" Jeno asked nervously and hesitantly walked over to him, proceeding to eavesdrop even though he had just shunned the action. Inside the fitting room, he heard the soft murmurs of Jisung and Chenle, but they sounded nervous and hasty.

"I-I don't think so," Jisung's voice wavered and was reduced to a small whisper.

Chenle spoke next, his voice also hushed and urgent. It was also soothing. "I'm not saying this to be funny, Jisung, I'm saying it because I'm concerned and you're my friend."

"....How did you even notice?"

"It wasn't hard to see. You're the only person I know who colour codes his colouring pencils, and you always realign the chalks on the chalk board when you're called up to do a maths sum. Also, at the sports festival, you we're constantly adjusting the clips in my hair, and you always make sure your hand is the one behind mine when I hold it."

"I didn't even realise..." Jisung trailed off and it went silent for a moment. Jeno looked over at Jaemin in worry and stepped away from the curtain. He had just overheard something that he shouldn't have.

"It's doesn't seem to be as bad as your mum's, but I wanted to talk to you about it. I don't think anyone else would."

This was the last thing they heard before Jaemin took Jeno's hand and guided him over to the empty fitting room. "I'm sorry you heard that," Jaemin sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry I heard that. That was extremely private."

Jeno looked down and bit his lip nervously. "Jisung...has OCD...?"

"I had no idea," Jaemin felt a piece of his heart disappear. "I know I don't sit with him through class, but we're always together outside school. I can't believe I never noticed."

"I can't believe Chenle did," Jeno added and shook his head quickly to expel his growing guilt. "We heard nothing. If Jisung wants to talk to you about it, then he will, but as far as either of us know, we heard nothing."

"Agreed."

And Jaemin slipped behind the curtain and pulled it across, giving a small, guilt-filled look to Jeno before the curtain fully covered the little room.

***

"I'm so glad I got some swimwear," Renjun smiled and walked with a skip in his step.

"You sounded like a paid actor for a commercial just there," Jaemin chuckled as they wandered through the shopping centre again with no real aims. Mark certainly seemed very happy with himself at his choice of formal clothing he had bought, and Chenle was happily swinging the paper bag with the shirt inside it. Jaemin, on the other hand, figured out that the top with the cat on it was only in women's sizes and none of them quite fitted him. They were either too big or too small.

Jisung and Chenle were even more glued to each other than before and kept their arms linked while they walked.

Donghyuck glanced at Jeno and then Jaemin curiously. "Did he," he whispered into Jeno's ear, "Did Jaemin try to talk to you about Jaewoo?"