Maybe You and I

twenty eight

Chapter 28

February 13. Seoul, South Korea.

"Can someone tell me why am I doing this again?" Renjun sighed as he looked up at Haejin who was hanging decorations with the help of a ladder. Donghyuck, on the other hand, was busy pasting some posters on the wall, and Renjun was holding a box which contains the designing materials, around his neck were some of the garlands they'll be hanging later.

Renjun didn't have any work to do because it was Sunday, and since Donghyuck and Haejin need some help in decorating the auditorium which will be used for tomorrow's book conference, Renjun decided to just tag along ang lend a hand.

But what he didn't expect was the ill-ventilated area they're currently in. It wasn't that hot a couple of hours ago, but one of the air conditioners suddenly malfunctioned. Maintenance people are currently fixing the air conditioners, and it was hot. But they could not just slack off and stop decorating because the event will happen tomorrow.

"Yah, you came here on your own will. Not like we forced you to help." Haejin looked down and rolled her eyes at Renjun. She wiped her sweat using the towel that was hanging on her shoulder and continued placing the designs.

Donghyuck nodded, "And stop complaining, Renjun-ah. All of us are suffering here but you're the only one who's complaining." He handed Haejin a pair of scissors and drank water afterwards. "We'll be eating with some of the guys later after this so don't worry because I'll treat you."

"As you should," Renjun sighed and rolled his eyes. "Would you be coming with us, Haejin-ah?"

Haejin shook her head, "Nope, I still have to clean our apartment and go to the laundry shop later." She sighed. "Hand me a glue stick, Hyuck." She said, and Donghyuck complied

"Besides, Renjun, you won't be complaining a little while after this." Donghyuck looked at Haejin and saw that the girl was also grinning.

Renjun, on the other hand, failed to notice that Donghyuck was actually pertaining to something. He was too busy counting the heart cut-outs that were on the box. He didn't even notice that there were already five of them in that certain area.

"Look at this guy," Donghyuck snickered. "He's considered as one of the most intelligent people in our friend group yet he acts like a total dumbass." He facepalmed.

The short guy was still zoning out while staring at the box. Sighing, Haejin signalled Donghyuck to snap the guy back to his senses.

"Yah, Renjun-ah!" Donghyuck shook his shoulders, startling him.

The guy glared at Donghyuck for startling him, but unlike earlier, Renjun didn't fail to notice the girl that was currently assisting Haejin with the banners. She was talking to one of their colleagues while handing Haejin some design materials.

"Ningning?"

The girl look at Renjun and smiled. "I'll talk to you later, Giselle-unnie!" She said as she bids goodbye to the girl who was now walking towards another department. "Oh Renjun!" She waved her hand and gave Haejin a piece of paper. "I didn't know that you were here."

"Oh! I-I..." Renjun's eyes travelled towards Haejin, who was silently laughing, and Donghyuck, who was cheering for him behind Ningning's back. "I'm helping Hyuck and Haejin here. They're my friends, and I don't have work today. I didn't know that you work with them," he said, emphasizing the last few words as he felt shocked that Haejin and Donghyuck never mentioned this to him.

Haejin went down the ladder and nudged Donghyuck, "Mission success."

****

"So you really won't eat with us?" Renjun asked before closing the door of the taxi which Haejin was in.

The girl shook her head, "No, I'm sorry." She sighed. "I have some errands to do, but I'll make it up to you guys next time!" She said.

"Don't worry about it, Haejin-ah!" Donghyuck said. "Just get back safely!"

"I will." Haejin smiled and waved goodbye. Renjun closed the door and watched the taxi disappear from their sight.

The two walked towards another direction, "Hyuck, did Chenle tell you the reason why he suddenly invited us to a dinner?" Renjun asked.

"I should be the one asking you that, you two share the same bedroom." Donghyuck sighed and continued walking. "But to tell you honestly, I kind of had a bad feeling about this." He said which made Renjun nod. "I mean, it's not new that Chenle would treat us to dinner, it's just that, all of us are there."

They entered the restaurant and asked the manager if a guy named Zhong Chenle made a reservation for them. They were assisted by the waiter to the place where their other friends are at and they immediately saw some of their friends.

"Taeil-hyung!" Donghyuck exclaimed and rushed towards their older friend.

Chenle started to count if all of them were already there, but he noticed that Mark wasn't there yet. "Was someone with Mark-hyung earlier today? This is somehow connected to his sister so he needs to be here."

The rest of their friends became quiet when they heard that it's somehow related to Haejin. And Renjun thinks, if this is somehow related to Haejin, could this possibly be about Jaemin?

He looked at Donghyuck who was seated across him, beside the empty chair where Mark was supposed to be.

"Why do you guys look serious?" They looked Mark, who just entered, and Mark could have sworn that he feels his heart pumping blood aggressively. He sat beside Donghyuck and looked at Chenle, "What now?"

The young Chinese male took a deep breath before starting, "There's something you need to know about Jaemin-hyung."

****

Hendery immediately stood up the moment Jaemin arrived, "It's been weeks since you started to come back late." He crossed his arms.

Jaemin raised a brow, "What do you mean hyung? I'm working, of course I'm gonna come home late. Overtime—"

"Overtime? Until 2 in the morning?" The older wasn't having it. He had enough tolerating Jaemin's actions. "What are you really up to, Jaemin?"

—tbc.