Jaemin was happy.
Happy.
He felt a couple glances of the emotion with his friends. He had learned the facial expression of the emotion. But now he truly felt it.
Smile bright, he walked beside his new friend.
Renjun.
He never knew if they were going to successfully befriend the M.C.M. boy, but they had pure intentions, and Renjun was a pure boy, so Jaemin just figured they clicked.
He wasn't sure what else was there, but he could feel something pulling at his heartstrings, looking at the other two boys. Seeing such a soft looking boy, along with his best friend, he felt them pulling.
When he saw the oldest boy in the Corner, he couldn't believe his eyes.
The soft eyes that seemed to hold everything. The impeccable light skin. The expressive facial cues. Even if his face did display pain, he was still beautiful.
Their meeting was rough, but they talked through it, cleared the misunderstanding, and became friends.
Forget happy.
Jaemin was ecstatic. He could finally have a personal definition for the concept, but he didn't know how he was going to sleep tonight.
They continued walking, silent, but Jaemin wanted to break it.
"How do you eat with such a full schedule?" Jeno blurted out, taking Jaemin's chance.
Renjun looked at the speaking boy, smiling at his confused expression.
"I eat before and after. Even if I don't have an appetite, I still manage to down a roll and some rice," Renjun said, shrugging. He looked back down the road, gazing at their lit path.
"Is that why you're so small?" Jaemin asked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, and hugging the smaller into him.
"Y-yah!" Renjun protested, trying to get out of the hold, but ended up relenting when Jaemin held firm. Sighing, he kept walking, trying hard not to focus on the sudden skinship.
Just as he gave up, Jeno took Renjun's hand into his own, flashing the smaller an eyesmile that Renjun could've just melted into.
Sighing again, Renjun accepted his situation.
So that's how they were walking down the street.
Jaemin, with his arms draped around Renjun, holding his shoulders, crushing him to his chest, and Jeno holding Renjun's hand, leaving Renjun with a slight pink tint to his face.
Well that escalated quickly.
Jaemin closed his eyes, making him sway a little back and forth due to him not quite knowing where he was stepping. He suddenly caught himself from falling, nearly bringing down the older he was hanging onto.
Renjun faced him, eyes wide.
"We were going to fall," he stated, silently warning Jaemin not to do it again.
But, alas, Jaemin was not the listening type. He let them walk a couple more meters.
Then he did it again. Closing his eyes once more, he swayed again, confident he would catch himself.
But he didn't.
As expected, he lost his balance, and attempted to catch himself, but his luck was out.
He fell, causing Renjun to tumble with him.
He reached his arms out to break his fall, only to have the weight, although light Jaemin noted, of Renjun to land on top of him.
They both groaned, Jeno helping the two up. They both had deep shades of pink on their faces, Jaemin held the back of his neck.
"Sorry..." he said, only to have Renjun grab his and Jeno's hand, dragging them at a faster pace.
"Guys, I'm going to be late," he said, still blushing.
Jaemin and Jeno looked at each other, looking at their hands holding Renjun's then at each other.
Eyes widened, this was not what they expected.
But, they couldn't say they hated it.
Renjun slowed down after a couple of minutes, not wanting to drag the boys anymore. He continued walking, but significantly slowed down.
The other two noticed, instantly concerned.
"Renjun, are you sure you're good to walk?" Jeno asked, concerned laced into his words.
"Yeah, you're legs gave out back there," Jaemin said, pointing behind him.
"Well, they hurt because I've been sitting all day. But that's life, so I'll deal with it," Renjun answered, shrugging his shoulders.
I just want to go home, he thought, but turned towards the other boys.
But I don't want to leave them.
Jeno had an idea.
He walked slightly faster and crouched in front of Renjun, back facing the other boy.
"W-what are you doing, J-Jeno?" Renjun asked, startled at the sudden fast action.
"If you're in pain, I can help. Hop on!" Jeno said, smiling back at the older.
"A-are you sure?"
"Just get on his back," Jaemin said, pushing the smaller onto his best friend. Smiling as Renjun fell onto Jeno's back, immediately getting flustered.
Jeno quickly grabbed the older's legs and stood up before he could get back off.
Renjun gently hit Jeno's back, upset that the younger had to pick him up.
I can walk like a big boy. I'm not three.
Jeno smiled happily when he felt the older boy's arms wrap gently around his neck for support.
Jaemin felt a little twinge of jealousy, but the problem was that he didn't know who he was jealous of. That Jeno made Renjun happy by giving him a piggy-back ride, or that Renjun was able to make Jeno happy by letting him.
I think we'll be just fine, Jaemin thought, scuffing his shoe on the white concrete.
"We are nearly there," Renjun informed the other two, watching Jaemin's eyes widen as they saw the large building coming into view.
"I-is that yours?!" Jeno asked, staring at the metal building.
"Y-yeah? I-I mean that I board in one of the wings. Don't you guys have a dorm like that?" Renjun asked, getting confused.
"No-"
"We legit have four other guys living with us," Jeno cut Jaemin off, in awe at the building they were getting closer and closer to.
Renjun froze, making Jeno tense and stop walking.
"What's wrong?" he asked, causing Jaemin to look at Renjun.
"You have a total of six guys in one dorm?"
"Yes?" Jaemin answered, slightly confused.
"I don't live with anyone," Renjun said, looking down, voice becoming quiet.
"What?!" Jeno asked, completely taken aback.
They were at the large building, the "moonlight" casting a pale white on the metal.
Renjun hopped off of Jeno's back, wincing at the sudden shock he felt run up his legs, but otherwise ignored it, and pressed his finger onto the scanner. A beep rang out, and the door opened, and Renjun turned towards the other two.
Their eyes wide, he suddenly got shy.
This was borderline too much for the older. He wasn't sure what to do, so the boys awkwardly shuffled between a handshake, hug, and a high five. Giggling the youngest brought them all together in a hug, smiling in content.
Renjun savored the embrace. He hadn't been in human contact for all these years, so he took all he could. In the small huddle of the three boys, Renjun jerked away suddenly, and sneezed to the side, shaking his head from the force.
"I'll see you guys...tomorrow?" Renjun asked, trying to not react to their suddenly sullen looking faces. He didn't want to see their beautiful faces in a frown.
"Yeah, for sure we'll try," Jaemin perked up, trying to lighten the mood.
"Tomorrow," Jeno said, eyesmile returning. He hadn't smiled this much in such a long time.
Renjun waved at them softly, and closed the door, and leaned against it.
This is great.
Jaemin and Jeno looked at each other, smiles big.
Jaemin held his hand out, smiling still, as Jeno took his hand, eyesmile still on display.
Happy.
. . .
A/N:
I hope you all like this. I tried my best, and I'm not gonna lie, kind of made this chapter last minute, because, well, procrastination, but I STILL MADE IT IN TIME !!!
finished: 2018.10.02
published: 2018.10.03