𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 | 𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐈𝐍

𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈

that night, jaemin took renjun back home to his apartment. they had spent enough time together all day and jaemin figured renjun wanted his space after a party that was so tiring. plus, his friends might want to spend time with him.

when renjun unlocked the door to his apartment, those four idiots were already in there. each of them doing their own thing as if they didn't just break into renjun's home. "renjun! your back!" haechan smiled. the rest of them turned their attention to the older as well.

"congratulations on your book, renjun." jisung and chenle said, renjun just smiled at them before he went to go put his things down. he was too tired to even speak. though he was completely happy about everything that was going on with himself.

after changing into some pajamas, renjun made his way back into the living room to spend time with his friends. "you look tired, ren. why don't you get some rest?" jeno asked. it was true, the older could barely keep his eyelids open. he didn't even have the strength to reply.

"m'not tired...you guys eat yet?" even though renjun was clearly exhausted, the group couldn't help but coo at the how caring renjun was. haechan told him that they ate and to just go to sleep and that's all renjun needed to go off into dreamland. his head resting on jeno's muscular shoulder.

—

coming back into work was like deja vu for renjun. he was feeling the same way he was when he and jaemin innocently hung out at his house. only now, the situation wasn't so innocent. if any other coworkers found out about their relationship, there's no way they can just lie and cover it up. renjun just tried to shake off the negative thoughts so he didn't get sick right then and there.

as he made it to his floor, he saw jaemin talking to some of his colleagues. he's never really noticed it before since he had never seen jaemin interact with those other editors he works with, but renjun didn't like it. he walked slowly as he observed the younger as he spoke to them before walking off to his office.

"i really liked the party, the food on that table was just so delicious." sicheng said. yuta, who was also talking amongst the group, just agreed despite not eating anything from the table that day.

"we did a good job decorating and our boss did a great job planning." jaemin smiled, everyone agreeing. as they continued to laugh and joke around, jaemin's attention fell out from the group when he felt a stare. when he turned his head, just as he expected, renjun turned his gaze back in front of him and continued down the hallway.

"i'll catch up with you guys later." jaemin excused himself as he made his way down the hallway behind renjun. once he finally caught up to the male, he was able to walk at a normal pace beside him.

"good morning, mr. na." renjun said, making the younger frown.

"why mr. na?" he pout, trying to look serious. renjun giggled as he brought his hand to caress jaemin's cheek. "only teasing," he smiled. jaemin leaned into his hand as he hummed.

"now answer me this, why are you following me?" renjun asked, folding his arms.

"i just wanted to come see my boyfriend." jaemin said casually, observing the older as he said so. renjun tensed up at his words, looking around worriedly before he smiled slightly.

"i've got my answer," jaemin sighed, "you seem bothered so i came to check on you. it's because you're scared someone's going to find out?" renjun gulped as he averted his eyes down to the tiled floor. he observed the mosaic pattern, anything just to avoid jaemin's question.

"it's not about other people, it's about our boss. if the other workers find out, it'll surely get to mr. seo." even though jaemin didn't care if anyone found out, he couldn't argue that johnny wouldn't find out, he knew everyone here loved gossiping. especially about those two.

renjun wasn't lying when he said that's what was bothering him, but the main thing that was rubbing him the wrong way wasn't all because he was scared of johnny finding out about them. jaemin noticed how pensive renjun was. he just knew the didn't quite hit the nail on the head when he said he was worried about johnny finding out. something else was clearly eating at him but jaemin didn't want to force it out of him either.

"are you sure that's it?" renjun nodded hesitantly, "alright, renjun-ah. but i trust that if anything is bothering you, and i mean anything, you'll tell me?" jaemin took the older male's hand into his. renjun just nodded slowly as he began to feel guilt consume him. not only because he didn't tell the younger, but the way jaemin looked at him in the eyes with such a worried gaze. renjun just had to look away.

"i'm not upset with you, jaemin. it's just...i'll tell you later okay?" renjun didn't want jaemin to think he was mad at him because he wasn't. this was new to both of them so they had to learn that communication is key. jaemin lightly planted a kiss onto the older's knuckles before leaving to go back to work. renjun doing the same.

it was the end of the day and jaemin still hadn't received an explanation to renjun's bothered state. renjun could just tell jaemin was waiting to hear one, but he just had to talk it over with his friends first. not bothering to pester the older about it, jaemin just took him home and dropped him off at the usual spot in front of the complex.

when renjun came inside, he didn't hesitate to go straight to his phone to call his friends over. of course, they gladly came over right after jeno had picked up the younger males from school.

"what is it, ren?" haechan asked. renjun sighed as he slumped into the couch. he was completely clueless to the fact that his next few words would change everything.