𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 | 𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐌𝐈𝐍

𝐗𝐈𝐗

the group was still bothered by the other day and they hadn't heard much from jeno since. he wasn't rude to them at the office, but he didn't speak to anyone. he just seemed really bothered by something. and no matter how much renjun and haechan wanted to ask, they were too scared.

suddenly there was a knock at the door, when it opened it revealed sicheng, one of the publishers. "okay, you three each have a meeting with the editors in ten minutes. haechan will go first, then jeno, then renjun. you'll go to mr. na's office." he informed as he wrote somethings on his clipboard. and with that, he left.

the three sat in silence for those ten minutes. renjun was at least relieved to go so jaemin again. he always enjoyed these meetings since he got to be alone with him. he was going to tell him all about what yuta had been saying, and the whole jeno situation. haechan had gone already to his meeting, and came back soon after so jeno could go.

"how did it go?" renjun asked him.

"short as always. i ended up going to that mark guy again. he told me not to come back until i actually write more than two chapters." haechan pout as renjun chuckled in return.

—

jeno sat across from jaemin who sat at his desk reading his drafts. his gold rimmed specs sitting on his nose. it felt like hours before it was going to be over. jaemin would just consistently ask him questions.

"okay, i edited a few things but overall the storyline is really intriguing. just send me the next
person and tell them they have 3 minutes to come up here" jeno took his papers back.

"thank you..."

"you don't seem like yourself today, what's wrong?" jaemin noticed. jeno's thoughts were at it again, everything was going to work out in his favor. in that case, instead of telling the next person they had three minutes, he decided to use them.

"i don't know, i've been really tired lately. it's really hard to write." jeno explained. and he didn't lie, but that wasn't the entire reason to his gloomy state.

"i understand completely. here, i have some books that give really good advice for things like that." jaemin motioned for jeno to come behind the desk. jeno stood behind jaemin, his hand leaning beside jaemin as he showcased the different books to him.

"i didn't know you wore glasses." jeno commented.

"oh right, it's only when i'm editing."

—

"jeno should have been down here by now. the meetings are each ten minutes long and the next person has three minutes to to go up." haechan observed suspiciously.

"how long has it been?"

"about fifteen minutes," haechan waved the older off, "go up there just in case they're expecting you anyways." he said and renjun complied. he made it up to the editors floor, walking throughout the hallway. for some reason his felt sick. maybe it was the same nervousness after hearing about yuta, that had to be it.

—

"and i ended up spilling it all over the floor!" jaemin laughed, remembering the events from the other day.

"you're very clumsy, i see." jeno chuckled deeply, analyzing the younger's every move so he could calculate is own. he heard footsteps down the hallway and he had to think on his feet. so like always, he let his feelings take control.

"shouldn't renjun be coming up soon?" jaemin asked, looking up at jeno who hovered over him. his eyes were dark as they stared at him. jaemin felt small under his gaze, so he leaned back slightly.

a smirk tugged at jeno's lips as he just watched jaemin shift uncomfortably. "mhmm," he replied following jaemin, leaning closer to him, "any minute now."

"j-jeno, i should really—" jeno used his free hand, that wasn't leaning on the desk, to grip jaemin's jaw quickly as he connected their lips. and just like he had thought, the door clicked. creaking loudly as he heard it open. jeno ignored jaemin pushing at his chest, he had to get at least one more second of this moment, just to make sure it was seen.

when he pulled away from jaemin, they both turned their attention to the door. and there renjun stood, tears at the brim of his eyes, his cheeks flushed red, his mouth agape. jaemin was first to speak despite his flustered state.

"renjun! it's...it's not what it looks like!" he stammered, standing up to walk over to him. but renjun had already ran out of the room. jaemin looked over at jeno who didn't even spare the younger a glance. he just made his way out of his office, following renjun close behind.

—

after calling out to him multiple times as he chased the older, he finally caught up to him. renjun turned around swiftly, tears continued to pour down his face has he cried. though jeno's gaze was cold and unapologetic.

"how could you do that to me? you know how i feel about jaemin and our colleagues. he's my fucking boyfriend for fucks sake!" renjun sobbed.

jeno didn't show any expression as he watched the older breakdown in front of his him. renjun could barely even keep himself together as he cried, choking on his sobs. his breathing was fast and uneasy.

"don't act like you're the victim here," jeno said coldly, renjun was confused but he didn't have the guts to reply to him, "you took away the one thing i had to work towards. you don't even spend time with me anymore. i understand you have a boyfriend, but...you don't even try to make time for me."

renjun just blinked at the newly heard information. had he really cut jeno out of his life? so many emotions were consuming him causing his mind to go blank, "now you know how it feels to lose something you love. your happiness." and jeno left without another word.