The morning sun fills the room as Jaein woke up from one of the best sleeps she's had in her life. She looks over at her phone on the unfamiliar bedside table. 6:32 am, it read. The latest she has awoken in almost a year. She smiles as she looks around the room. It isn't hers, but something about it feels so homely, not just the fact that is is Renjun's but the overall feel of the room. She likes how the room isn't immaculate, how there is a scatter of clothes in random places, how his skincare products are placed for convenience, and how the wall is sprinkled with photos and drawings. But the thing that makes her love where she is the most is the way his bed sheets smell so much like him. Somehow waking up to it has already made her day, she can't imagine how life will me be like if they ever live together. She hopes Renjun doesn't mind that she slept here, Haechan had told her to sleep here saying that it would be weird if she slept anywhere else as Renjun had already taken the couch.
She finally gets out of bed, after a while of shuffling around, not wanting to leave the comfortable blankets. She has a schedule at 10 am so she has about 4 hours, and she would like to head back to the dorm before then to take a shower and get ready for it. But she still has enough time to make the boys some breakfast before she heads off. Jaein makes Renjun's bed, arranging his plushies on it, so that they're ready to greet him when he comes in. She tries not to spend too much time in his room, admiring his drawings or looking through his collection of pens, just in case her curiosity leads her to looking through more of his stuff. The rest of the dorm is quiet as she walks through the hallway that lead her to the kitchen/living/dining area of the dorm. Renjun is still fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in blankets that Jaein had tucked him into. Jaein had always found him so peaceful when he slept, but this time he just looks...adorable. She smiles before going over to the kitchen, looking into what they could possibly eat. She decides on pancakes, as it's easy to make and they happen to have all the ingredients she needs.
Jaein places the batter onto the pan, humming in excitement as she watches them cook. As she gets ready to flip the pancake the sound of the door code interrupts her, and with that a teenage boy enters the dorm wearing a white hoodie pulled over his head, he had evidently just woke up as he yawns while walking into the kitchen, yet to notice Jaein.
"Morning hyung, my parents sent me here cause they had to go to work and didn't want me to stay at home." He says. Jisung, she recognises. She had seen him a few times when she used to hang out with Haechan, and she finds it amazing how much he can grow in two years, but she is yet to be properly introduced to him. She watches as he looks through the fridge, before he closes it with a sigh. "That smells nice."
"Would you like some?" Jaein asks.
"Yeah." He looks at her, before doing a double take. He gasps loudly, stepping back with a hand over his mouth. If he wasn't awake he definitely is now. "I UH- WHA--HUH?"
Jaein bows, greeting him with a smile. "Hi! I'm Jaein."
"P-Park Jisung." He stutters, his hand still covering his mouth. "I'm a big fan."
"Really!?" She finds that surprising considering this kid is way more impressive than she is, he also knows she dated Mark so he should have an idea of what kind of person she is.
"Yeah ever since you guys debuted." He answers, still shy. Jaein flips the pancake before it has the chance to burn before turning back to Jisung. "Also why are you here?"
"Oh that. Because of Renjun." She says as she put the pancake on a plate and pouring more batter into the pan.
"Wait you guys are actually dating?!" Jisung asks in shock.
"Who's dating?" Renjun yawns as he makes his way towards the kitchen, most likely awoken by the loud conversation they were having. He looks up at Jisung and Jaein, his eyes widening. "Oh my god you're still here—and you're wearing my shirt."
"Well someone fell asleep on my lap and I couldn't move for like three hours." She states. His hair is a mess, a look that made Jaein's heart beat quicker. The reason as to why she's wearing his clothes was also because of Haechan, who has pulled random clothes out of Renjun's closet and given it to her.
"I would say I'm sorry but I'm really not." He laughs, his voice still husky from just waking up. This is too much for Jaein to handle in one day.
"So you guys really are dating?" Jisung interrupts, still amazed by the news.
"I literally told you like a week ago." Renjun argues, running a hand through his hair. Jaein tears her eyes away from him and tried to focus on the pancakes instead, not wanting to be distracted.
"I thought you lied." Jisung shrugs.
"Why would I lie about that?"
"I don't know." Jisung answers, with a shrug, already giving up on the conversation. "I'm going to get my Present albums, if you don't mind signing them for me." Jaein nods at Jisung's wish before he runs off happily towards his room, leaving her alone with Renjun. She didn't say a word as she flips the pancakes, keeping her eyes on the pan. The feeling of warmth comes up from behind, arms wrapping around her waist as Renjun rests his chin on her shoulder, the feeling of his breath against her skin taking her by surprise.
"I saw people do this in dramas and thought I should probably too." He explains, causing Jaein to laugh as she turns her head slightly to look at his face, that is now very close to hers."I see why they do it now." He says in a soft whisper.
"Hmm really?" She hums as her eyes shift from his own to his lips. She couldn't help but think about how soft they look.
He smiles before gently connecting his lips to hers, taking them in as if he was reading her mind. It was short but sweet, the feeling still lingering shortly after the kiss. The two look into each other's eyes, the only thoughts in their mind is each other and pancakes. "Are you going to help me out or what?"
"Wow I haven't seen these in a while." Haechan comments as he sits down at the table, where Jaein, Renjun and Jisung has been enjoying their meal. "I've missed your pancakes."
"They really aren't that special." She says as she passed the maple syrup so him.
"Yeah but they're made by you." Haechan adds, emotionlessly. She lifts an eyebrow at him as he begins to devour them.
"He has a point." Renjun says.
"mmmh." Jisung mumbles through his full mouth. "Being able to eat pancakes made by you is unbelievable." He compliments once he swallows.
"Aww thanks." Jaein smiles, thankful for the compliments despite the fact that they're just pancakes.
"Can I ask a question?" Jisung asks, looking between Jaein and Renjun.
"Sure." Jaein answers. Jisung hesitates for a second before clearing his throat.
"I thought you didn't have a tattoo." Jisung says looking at Renjun. "If no tattoo, why soulmate?"
"I wanted to ask the same question." Haechan implores. "But it's those weird birthmarks isn't it?"
"They are actually." Renjun says, surprised by Haechan's brain. Renjun and Jaein put their hands up, showing Jisung their matching birthmarks, Jisung's mouth falling open.
"I kinda had an idea cause I used to hang out with Jaein at school and then see you at the company, and I just found it weird how they matched so well." Haechan explains, smirking. Jaein wavers slightly. If Haechan noticed others might have as well. "But I just thought it was a coincidence to be honest."
"That's crazy." Jisung gasps. "You're like the fifth person out of all twenty one members to find their soulmate."
"Technically fourth, I found her before Taeyong found his." Renjun adds
"You can't really be sure anyways, some of your members could be hiding it the way Renjun did." Jaein says. "Who knows, Jaemin and Jeno could have actually been soulmates this entire time."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Haechan laughs. "I remember Doyoung tried to hide his but failed miserably, the 127 guys were kinda brutal but I was a big part of his defeat not gonna lie."
"Yeah that went down pretty bad, I feel so sorry for the guy and you probably should to." Renjun recommends. Haechan shrugs, whatever it is he did, Jaein can tell that he does feel guilty for it. As far as Jaein knew Taeil was the only nct member who had a public statement put out about him finding his soulmate, Doyoung however was nct's first and only official dating scandal which became quite a big thing last year, he was announced to be dating a pretty famous actor named Shin Ae and Jaehyun had informed Jaein that they were soulmates. Other than that Jaein had no idea there were other members who had found their soulmates.
"Wouldn't it be weird if I found my soulmate next?" Jisung laughs slightly, probably imagining the scene in his head which Jaein and Renjun both awed at.
"Yah you're literally a child, go clean the dishes." Haechan orders, earning a loud exasperated sigh from Jisung.
------
"Hey do you have a spare toothbrush I could use?" Jaein asks Renjun. "It's fine if you don't I could just go back to my dorm and do that, cause I'll be showering there anyways." She informs as Renjun began to search his drawers.
"No I definitely have one somewhere, my dad's a dentist and he says that we should always have an extra tooth brush just in case." He explains as he pulls one out from deep inside his bedside table drawer, giving it to Jaein. "Also, what are you going to be leaving in?"
"Uhh...just the clothes I came here with," She gestures to his desk chair where her clothes were hanging from. Renjun grabs her clothes and places it into a nearby basket filled with his dirty laundry.
"Do her laundry." Jeno's voice echoes in his head.
"I'll find you something."
"Well. Okay then." Jaein says as she watches him walk over to his closet. He shuffles through his clothes, finding something she could wear. She crouches down beside him, joining his search. He pulls out a white polo shirt and hovers it over her chest, observing how it would look on her. She sits up straighter, making it easier for him.
"I think this'll look cute on you." He comments making her giggle. "Do you want something else? I have a lot of nice t-shirts."
"No this is nice, I'll wear it." She agrees, folding the shirt in her hands. "But umm, you seem to have a lot of jeans and I doubt any of them can actually fit me."
Renjun looks into his cluttered closet, realising that all of his pants are just jeans, or denim shorts. He lifts some of them up hoping to find something she could wear. He spots a pair of baggy beige cargo pants that would definitely go with the shirt.
"Ah something that isn't denim." He says as he pulls them out to show her. She happily accepts them along with one of Renjun's many belts before getting changed in the bathroom, whilst Renjun waited patiently on his bed, pretending to be doing something.
She floats into his room, her hair up in a ponytail, showing off the outfit as she does a few spins, giving him a 360 view. Something about her being in his clothes drives him crazy. Though he strongly believes in Jaein being her own person he couldn't help but feel like it's a label that screams "I am Renjun's girlfriend." She smiles happily, seemingly satisfied with it, which was all that Renjun needed.
"Do you like it?" Renjun asks.
"Yes! I feel like you're giving me a hug." She answers before coming up to him and giving him a real hug, catching him by surprise, not because of the hug but the way she is sitting on his lap. "Thanks by the way."
"I never want you to return these clothes, they look too good on you." He says, her arms still wrapped around his neck.
"I'll probably return them once they lose your sent." She says as Renjun hopes she doesn't notice the way his face warmed up. She gets up from his lap, which Renjun desperately wanted her not to do. "Well I should probably go now, the girls want me back."
"Aww." Renjun pouts sadly.
"Don't worry, we'll see each other tomorrow night remember?" She reminds giving him a small peck on the cheek.
"Oh yeah...I guess I'll see you then." He says. "Good luck with your interview."
"Heheh thanks." She grins before making her way out of the dream dorm. As Renjun watches her ponytail swing behind her, he begins to realise how truly amazing it is that he has her in his life, and the fact that he can now admit that he has fallen in love with her.
just a cute chapter.