Daddy Jeno | N.JM X L.JN

Chapter 3

"jeno"

he was wearing a business suit, he probably went out of his company to grab some coffee, a car, which he assumed was jeno's car was parked outside. Jaemin noticed how nothing really changed in the latter's feature. he looks more mature, more intimidating, more handsome, but that won't change the fact that jaemin hates him. the fact that jeno looks richer and doing greater in life just make jaemin hate him more.

how can jeno looks so fine and well off while here he is who needs to work extra harder to live for himself and their child.

"I didn't know that you work here" jeno spoke, looking around awkwardly, it was as if he's calculating everything that he'll do or say. Jaemin didn't answer and just look at him sharply, clearing his throat, composing himself.

you should keep your cool, Na jaemin. just pretend that you don't know him.

Jaemin can't yell at him, he can't hurt him, punch him or lash out at him because he's at work. he's the worker while jeno's the customer who has every right to remove him from his current job by just reporting him for bad accommodation, and jaemin can't have that now.

"what's your order, sir?" Jaemin questioned, trying to calm himself, but his last word ended up forced and bitter from his mouth. he shouldn't be affected by the other's presence.

it's jeno that should be affected, he left me. his lost, not mine. Jaemin thought.

Jeno looks so stiff, he looks like he'll gonna poop his pants or something when he turned to look at jaemin in the eye. Jaemin stared back, scoffing inwardly when jeno was the first to avert his gaze.

Jeno cleared his throat, loosening his tie slightly as if it was choking when it wasn't really as he says his order.

"one ice americano, please"

Jeno then held his card to jaemin who get it, for a moment, their fingers touch and jaemin doesn't bother, while jeno was quick to retrieve his hands as if he was pricked or burned. Jaemin doesn't know if his presence is too much for jeno or if the latter is just mocking him. either way, he doesn't give a single fuck.

"that's 2.95$, here's your card" jaemin said politely as he held back the card, careful not to touch jeno.

not that he minds touching the latter though, but it looks like jeno will die upon the brush of their fingers earlier so jaemin is doing him a favor.

"one ice americano!" Mark announced, placing jeno's order on the counter, but once he saw jeno, he stared at him longer, eyes squinting as if trying to remember where he'd seen the latter.

"you look familiar, sir" Mark pointed out, face serious.

Mark had known the story from jisung but he doesn't know jeno personally, it was jisung, chenle and haechan, his other best friend who was there at the beginning and mark came when haechan introduced him as a boyfriend and throughout there, maybe he'd seen a picture or two of jeno.

Jaemin sighed. "hyung, go back to your place" he told the older before turning to jeno, giving him his order. "here's your order sir, thanks for visiting coffee zone, come back again" he politely bid, although there's a part of him that tells him to say that he doesn't want jeno back in the cafe.

Mark shrugged, turning back to go back to his place but jaemin raises his brows when jeno was still standing in front of the counter (good things there's no customer next to him), but jaemin wants him gone in front of him already.

Jeno froze on his spot, he looks like he was thinking deep to himself as he holds his coffee in his hands. Jaemin knows him way too much, and he is certain that other than being nervous, jeno wants to say something but he's contemplating.

even this personality of him didn't change. Jaemin thought, sighing and eyeing jeno sharply.

"do you still need anything?" Jaemin questioned rather irritated as he forgot to say 'sir'

"Uhm..." jeno contemplates, scratching his neck. "Uhm..i-i just...uh.." he stutters, and it's seriously giving jaemin a headache, especially when he saw a customer entering the cafe.

"look, if you want to say something, say it but if you don't have anything to say, then leave. I'm working and there's a customer coming for goodness sake" jaemin snapped, jeno is getting into his nerves and he can't keep it anymore. rolling his eyes at Jeno, the latter gave him a rather sad? bitter? smile?

"it's nice to finally meet you, after two years of finding you" jeno said, but jaemin quiet don't hear his last words so he'd only raised his brows as he shook his head and scoffed.

"no, it's not nice to see you, so if you mind? please, get lost?" Jaemin asked, sounding rather casual that he can see that it's making jeno even more nervous.

should jaemin feel bad? nah, jeno deserves that for leaving him at a time when he needed him the most.

Jeno flashed a bitter smile, nodding, muttering an, "alright, I'll leave" before turning back and walking away.

Jaemin can't help himself but let out a rather bitter laugh as he gave a comment to jeno's words. "yeah, leave. that's where you're good at, better than in bed" he sounds so serious.

Jeno stopped from walking, frozen on his spot, but he was quick to nod and walk away again, not saying any word. Jaemin watched as jeno exited the cafe and entered his car, driving off. Jaemin was left with anger in his heart.

did that hit you? that's the fucking truth.

"uhmm...one cafe latte, please"

Jaemin snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the customer, he bowed down and muttered an apology before taking her order, good thing it was a regular customer, the kind old lady that had taken a soft spot in jaemin's heart.

"aigoo, our jaeminnie" the old lady giggled softly as he got her order from jaemin who gave her a smile, waiting for her next words. the lady then gestured him to lower down his head so she can whisper to him.

Jaemin, even though, confused, still leaned down, and he didn't know that the words the old lady whispered to him will haunt him like that.

his shift that day ended, jaemin went out of the employees room, bidding farewell to renjun who was now taking part on the counter, before he went out of the cafe. the afternoon air hitting his skin as he sighs in content before turning to walk home. his apartment is just a few blocks away from his workplace so he doesn't need to take the bus.

he took his time walking, deep in his thought as he still makes sure that he doesn't bump into someone or something.

"never judge a person for their mistakes, judge a person on how they fix them. everyone deserves a second chance"

the old lady's words rung into jaemin's mind again. just what does she mean by those words? it's not as if she knows what's happening in his life, or was it a pure coincidence? because it is not the first time that the old lady said some inspirational thingies to him.

did she hear jeno and me earlier?

upon that though, jaemin stopped walking. that's right, he had something as closed to a heated argument with jeno earlier, maybe the old lady read upon him and saw how much anger he holds for jeno.

"second chance?" Jaemin muttered to himself.

he was so deep in thought that he didn't notice someone approaching him from behind.

"Jaemin "

Jaemin yelped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, as a reflex, he jumped away and turned to look at the culprit, and he was shocked to see that it's him again.

"Jeno"

"Jaemin, please, let's talk" jeno pleaded, hope was visible in his eyes but there was also sadness and regrets.

Jeno, does he really deserve a second chance after what he did?