Dream (Norenmin)

13

Jaemin has been pacing the floor on and off since this afternoon. He called Renjun at one point to see if Jeno was with him and he wasn't. He's tried texting and calling a few times to no avail. He can't do it too much because he doesn't want to look like a clingy girlfriend but he's now considering calling Jae and Tae's bar to see if he is there. It's ten pm which wouldn't be too bad but they always at least have a general idea where the other is or at the very least their phones on in case someone needs the other. Jeno has been gone since this morning.
When his phone lights up and he sees Jeno's name on his screen he breathes a deep sigh of relief before answering promptly.
"Jeno?" He asks just to be sure.
"No, Taeyong. I'm calling on his behalf since him and my boyfriend are completely wasted at the moment. Do you think you could come and collect your man?" Jaemin giggles but doesn't argue, he likes the sound of it anyway.
"I'll be there soon." He hums happily as he readies himself, thankful that he's safe.
When he arrives by taxi he notices the lights are switched off in the bar which is unusual but probably has something to do with one of the owners being drunk off his ass.
"Babe, please. You need to come to bed with me. You don't have to stay with him Jaemin is coming for him." Jaemin stands giggling by the door hearing their conversation.
"But I can't leave him, they might hurt him again?" Now Jaemin's curiosity is peaked so he makes his presence known and walks over to them.
When he finally gets to see Jeno he's shocked, he feels like someone just hit him in the stomach.
"What happened to him?" He asks, raising his voice.
"Oh yeah I forgot to mention, earlier there was an incident at the gym and he was attacked. He can tell you details tomorrow. By the way I've been trying all day to have him let me dress his wounds but he won't let me. Maybe you could have some luck?" Jaemin crawls across the booth after Jaehyun left his seat. He gently touches his face and neck. Jeno doesn't argue, he knows who it is on a subconscious level.
"Jaemin is that you? You are very pretty, so you must be." Jaemin blushes even though he knows Jeno is out of his mind at the moment.
"It's me Jeno, I'm going to bandage up your wounds now." Jeno smiles widely.
"Ok, just be gentle." Jaemin chuckles and begins inspecting his wounds. He sees a few scratches and a black eye before opening his shirt a bit, he's shocked at the amount of bruising by his ribs. He wipes the tears away before digging in the first aid kit. He has a gentle and loving touch that soothes the other.
"I love you Jaem." Jaemin smiles sadly, not believing it since he's drunk of course and the fact that right after saying it he hears snoring.
"They say drunk words are sober thoughts you know!" He startled when Taeyong interrupts the silence with his words of wisdom. Jaemin chuckles.
"Yeah, maybe but why can't he say it sober then?" Jaemin asks accepting a beer from Taeyong.
"Maybe he's terrified of you not feeling the same. You know when Jaehyun and I were younger we both loved each other, grew up together, we were both scared to ruin what we had but one day I got fed up and told him to kiss me and he did and that was that." Jaemin chuckles again.
"Cute. But I don't know if it's a risk I'm willing to take either." Taeyong smiles.
"Oh so you do love him? I had a feeling." Jaemin looks nervously at him.
"You don't need to tell him anything." He pouts crossing his arms.
"This isn't elementary school, not my place. I'm just here for the hypotheticals and a shoulder to lean on. Look I think it would be in both of your best interest to just be honest, even if the feelings aren't mutual you will work something out. I know you would." Jaemin sighs.
"Maybe, but sometimes I feel it's easier to live in this fantasy." Taeyong hums.
"What about the other guy? Renjun is it?" Jaemin smiles softly.
"He is such a cutie. I'm falling in love with him too. Is it selfish that I want to live with both of them happily ever after." Taeyong laughs hearing this all too familiar story.
"Not selfish, as long as it's what everyone wants then It's perfect. I feel like the stars have aligned perfectly for the three of you and you should grab on and hold them as tightly as possible." Jaemin smiles with a little hope in his eyes.
"I knew there was a reason Jeno befriended you two. I'm so glad he has you." Taeyong stands and clears their few bottles away.
"You guys can stay if you want. You could leave him and come up and sleep on the sofa." Jaemin smiles and shakes his head no.
"I'll stay with him." Taeyong chuckles, shutting down the lights.
"As expected, there are extra blankets by him. Good night." Jaemin nods.
"Goodnight and thank you, for everything. I am going to take your advice into consideration." He smiles to himself, feeling more confident thanks to Taeyong's words he now thinks he should figure out the perfect plan to tell Jeno he loves him.
He covers Jeno good, fixes his pillow and softly kisses his cheek. He whispers I love you before lying down on the seat across from him.

The groaning at 4 am is what wakes Jaemin from his peaceful dreams. Jeno is in a lot of pain and he can hear it in his voice.
"Hold on, I'll get you some medicine." Jeno is startled to hear Jaemin, he honestly didn't even know where he was at the moment and he certainly didn't expect him to be there.
"Where are we?" He asks groggily.
"We're at Jae and Tae's bar. You passed out. Here's some pain killers." He hands him a glass of water and helps him sit up.
"D-do you want to talk about it? Like who would hurt you? Did they steal from you? Are you ok? Did you see a doctor?" Jeno sighs loudly.
"I'm assuming Taeyong called you, why didn't he just tell you? I don't want to talk about it." Jaemin doesn't understand.
"You told them? But we're best friends, at least we were." He goes back to his side of the booth.
"Don't be dramatic, I said I don't want to tell you. It's not that big of a deal." Jaemin still looks unbelievably sad and it's getting on Jeno's nerves.
"Stop pouting, I'm tired and sore and I just want to sleep why don't you get that? Not everything has to be about us, or you." Jeno knows this was harsh but he's now battling a hangover on top of the pain from getting beat up and he still doesn't know what or how to tell Jaemin and Renjun, he knows they deserve honesty but it's difficult when you're ashamed about something. Jaemin sinks into the booth without a word and closes his eyes. He understands the situation but it still hurts to know that he told his new friends but not him.
After about a half hour Jeno is still lying there angry and really guilty.
"I'm sorry Jaem, can we just talk tomorrow or something?" All he hears are snores.
It takes him a while but he's able to finally back to sleep.
When he wakes again in the morning it's noisier, he can hear dishes clanking like someone is doing dishes.
"Finally your up sleepy head. I don't know what you did or said to Jaemin but he made food then left. He looked awfully sad though. He left a note on the table." Jeno rubs his face.
"Fuck! I was such a dick last night." Taeyong rolls his eyes.
"Well, he rushed here at ten last night and took care of you. You wouldn't let me dress your wounds but you did him. Then when I offered him to sleep on the couch upstairs he chose to stay in that uncomfortable booth with you and you did what?" Jeno slams his fist on the table.
"I already know I'm an asshole you don't need to make me feel guilty." Taeyong laughs.
"I'm sure you deserve much more." Jeno slowly opens his note.

Jeno,
Don't worry, I'm not upset. I understand why you were angry. If you don't want to tell me then it's not my place to know. I'm going home. I don't know if you remember but after our hangout on Saturday Renjun wanted to be with both of us today. I'm going to bath and get ready. Come home when you can.
💚
Now Jeno feels like the biggest dick ever. He new he was supposed to be with Jaemin yesterday he knew about today too. If he would have just kept his plans this wouldn't have happened in the first place.
Taeyong almost panics when he sees Jeno sobbing into his hands. The emotional toll of everything is weighing him down and he feels like the walls are closing in. Jaehyun walks in just in time to help with the situation but neither really know what's going on. Jeno hands the note to Jaehyun who reads it out loud.
"Just go home and beg for forgiveness, be honest and tell him why you ditched him and what happened. He will forgive you."
Jeno finally gets up out of the booth and thanks them for everything they have done for him and heads home hoping for the best.