NIRVANA | RENMIN

03: you

TRACK THREE: YOU

"it was all my fault."

that was exactly what jaemin wanted to say to renjun, once he had explained what had happened with the same blank face as before. jaemin had a similar expression stretched across his face, but inside, he felt guilt tearing him apart.

but jaemin tried to act normal as he brought the elder to the same convenience store.

"so, how can i help you...?" jaemin had asked, fifteen minutes ago on the dot.

and renjun had explained. and no matter how absurd it sounded to sit and have chinese dumplings with a ghost, that was what jaemin was doing anyways.

going to the store and buying chinese dumplings.

honestly, jaemin had no idea if the convenience store sold chinese dumplings. but the pink-haired had no other option, the supermarket was closed for the night.

the glass sliding doors slid open and a small ding rang through the store as jaemin stepped inside, followed by renjun.

"hi, how may i help you- JAEMINNN HYUNGGGGG!!!!!"

jaemin nearly choked as someone came slamming into him.

"c-chenle!" he gasped.

renjun tensed, hesitating at the sight of his very own little brother. but as nostalgia filled the pit of his stomach, he faded from sight and ensured only jaemin could see him.

"hi lele! i haven't seen you for so long! you're back in korea?" jaemin excitedly exclaimed.

"yep! i'm only here because jisung forced me too." chenle wrinkled his nose. "he says i need to learn how to work."

"well, you do." jaemin laughed and patted his head.

they continued chatting for a while, the request of the older chinese completely fading from jaemin's mind. until-

"so hyung ah, why are you here?"

he froze. remembering why and what he had to do.

"u-uh yeah. i wanted to buy some chinese dumplings?"

"there's no dumplings in a 24 hour convenience store, silly." chenle giggled as jaemin'e face fell. "but lucky you, i have some untouched and i'm not hungry anyways. here, mama made it for me."

chenle grabbed a tupperware box off the store counter, capped it and handed it to jaemin.

"didn't know you liked dumplings, hyung." chenle grinned. "chopsticks are inside."

"...thanks, lele." jaemin furtively shifted his eyes around the store, letting out a sigh of relief as he spotted the unmistakable yellow glow outside the store. "i'd better get going then."

"okay, take care! text me!"

jaemin waved goodbye until he left the shop, spotting renjun staring shamelessly at chenle in the store.

"hey..."

"oh, hi." renjun's voice cracked, quickly wiping away tears that had dripped from his eyes. "let's go, yeah?"

"mmhm."