𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀; nomin

twenty nine

"I can't believe that school is back already,"Jaemin huffed while walking alongside Renjun who had stayed the night at Jaemin's flat after coming back from the countryside.

"I know, the break felt like a dream, and this is the rude awakening."

The younger nodded in agreement, his head pounding from lack of sleep.

It had been a week since Christmas, and a week since he had last heard from Jeno.

He had knocked on their door after a week of no answers to texts, yet no one seemed to be home. This clearly worried Jaemin and Renjun who were sure Jinsoo was up to no good.

As the pair walked to campus, they noticed the thawing of the ice beneath them. It still coated the footpath with sugary white snow, but the grass was becoming more visible as the days went on.

"Tell me about it."

Once they arrived at their building, they bid farewell, splitting away from each other to get to their first lectures which were coincidently on at the same time. It was common for one to stay in the food hall while the other attended class, but that was not the case that morning.

"Jaem?"

The said boy looked up quickly, his heart thumping wildly in his chest at the sight of Jeno standing up and walking away from his boyfriend.

The brunette came stumbling over to hug Jaemin, he himself surprised by how much he had missed the younger.

He wrapped his arms around Jaemin's waist, his nose nuzzled into the younger's chest as he inhaled the sweet scent of the other.

"I can't believe I actually missed you," he sighed, his soft breaths deflecting off Jaemin's neck. "That sounded mean, but it's in the best way possible."

Jaemin chuckled at this, he too nuzzling closer to Jeno, having missing the older's presence.

As usual, Jinsoo came storming over, his anger not even being slightly masked as he gripped onto Jeno's shoulder, pulling him away from Jaemin in a swift motion.

A warning growl and glare was sent to Jaemin, but it wasn't followed by Jinsoo's usual snarky comments. Instead, the rest of the lecture was spent with Jaemin looking at the back of Jeno's head in wonder.

What would it take to get Jinsoo out of the picture?

•

•

•

The class ended, leaving Jaemin to walk the streets alone as he trailed to the apartment block.

He kept his head low, his mood having been dampened by many things throughout the day, but mostly the fact that he once again missed a chance to talk to his neighbour.

His thoughts were swiftly cut off by the sound of whispered yells coming from the top of the staircase.

"For God's sake Soo, stop being so damn protective!" Jeno hissed, pulling his hand from Jinsoo's hold.
This was unsuccessful and his hand was grasped again, but this time even tighter. "Oww," the younger whined, his throat becoming raspy As he held back tears. "That hurts."

Gone unheard by Jinsoo, he was dragged out of Jaemin's view.

The old Jaemin, the one from months ago, would have turned a blind eye to his neighbours in fear of getting caught up in something he wasn't a part of. But now, he leaped up the stairs, his heart pounding painfully in his chest.

"Jinsoo!" He called out, taking a sharp gulp as the older turned to face him, along with a pained Jeno.

Jinsoo groaned at the sight of Jaemin, knowing that he was up to nothing good. "What do you want?"

As he said this, he threw Jeno's arm to the side, releasing the younger from quite a painful grip.

"I want you to let go of Jeno." Jaemin signalled for Jeno to come to his side, which the older did without hesitation.

"You know what?" Jinsoo paused for a moment to lick his lips in frustration. "You two do whatever you want, but remember that I'm the one keeping that dumb sister of your's alive."

With that, the ravenette stormed off leaving the two side-by-side in dead silence.

"Not for much longer."