Work Text:
Jaemin's mom rarely cooks kimchi stew. Although it was the favorite dish of their family, his mom exclusively makes it for very, very special occasions.
Renjun would always reply to his texts in a heartbeat. Sometimes, it seems like Jaemin is still thinking of something to say but Renjun already had something to throw back at him.
Donghyuck is never quiet around Jaemin. For him, talking was equals to breathing.
But today is different.
Strange.
That was the first thing Jaemin thought when he saw his mom preparing kimchi stew ingredients at four in the afternoon.
Jaemin furrowed his brows at the scene in their kitchen, trying to remember what day it was for his mother to cook such food. It's June, obviously not his birthday! Not also his dad nor his mom's. Jaemin paused for a second, about to say something, then he remembered, his brother, Jaehyun, was born on valentines day.
"What's it for, Mom?"
His mom just shrugged her shoulders and shooed him away from the kitchen. When Jaemin made his way to their living room, he kept trying to recall what special event there might be.
Jaemin grabbed his phone from his pockets and went to his conversation with Renjun.
from: nana
'kimchi stew on a non-special day'
3:38PM
'mom is being weird'
3:41PM
'???'
4:27PM
something's really going on today.
Jaemin tried not to mind it and just proceeded to play Subway Surfer on his phone but the itch of Renjun still not replying is distracting him.
It was another hour when Jaemin finally decided to check on Renjun, which is by going upstairs and checking the window of the house adjacent to them. It was a good thing that Renjun lives across them, the window of his bedroom directly facing Jaemin's room.
The moment Jaemin reached his room, he immediately lifted his blinds to call Renjun. However, the sight in front of him was not that pleasing.
This fucker
Renjun was sitting on his study table which is directly placed on his window. He had his back facing jaemin while in fromt of him was non other than Lee Donghyuck. They weren't exactly doing anything suspicious but Jaemin decided that there was something, they are doing something. Jaemin immediately smapped a photo of the two and slumped on his bed.
to: injunie, hyuck
from: nana
[attched photo]
damn, i didn't know you two are like that
i mean
hyuck? mark?
what goes on
?!!??!?????
Still not getting any replies, Jaemin stood up again to shout at the two, only to see the curtains of Renjun's room and his window tightly shut.
Jaemin let out the heaviest sigh he could and scratched his head in frustration.
Whatever.
At 6PM, Jaemin was woken up by his mom. Asking him to bring the kimchi stew she just made to Donghyuck's place. Jaemin wanted to ask questions but once again his mother only shushed him and told him that people are waiting there.
On his way out, he saw his older brother in the living room, sitting with chips between his legs and his dark brown hair tied in pigtails.
"Hyung, everyone's weird!"
Jaehyun looked at him, confusion all over his place and the moment his eyes landed on the pot Jaemin was holding, his mouth formed an 'O'. He looked stupid, Jaemin thought.
He was about to say something but decided not to and shrugged his shoulders, "Just do what you're told. Nothing's weird, Nana."
With that, Jaemin stomped his way out of the house, rolling his eyes over the frustration that is building up.
When Jaemin made it to Donghyuck's house. Things finally made sense. There are three black cars lined up in their sidewalk, there are aslo unfamiliar people outside but they weren't that many. So he decided to go through the back door instead.
Someone in Donhyuck's family is probably home today or they might have a celebration and asked her mother to cook kimchi stew because she was the best at it. Jaemin laughed at himself and thought that maybe he needs to stop overthink sometimes.
He opened the back door without knocking since he's always been welcome in their home. Donghyuck was there, drinking and looked at him in horror the moment his eyes landed on Jaemin. It was also the moment Renjun chose to enter the kitchen, face equally surprised when he saw Jaemin.
"What? you had a celebration in your house and you did not even told me? I love the friendship that we have."
Jaemin rolled his eyes, slightly hurt but he did not really mind it. He placed the pot on the table and the two were still silent.
"What’s wrong with you two?"
The noise from the living room resonated through the house and Jaemin could hear Mark laughing over Doyoung’s stories. He looked at Renjun and Donghyuck again and they are nudging each other with their elbows, murmuring something only them could hear. And finally, Renjun decided to speak up.
"Nana--"
"Hey Hyuck, can I have more--Oh..."
Rejun was cut off by someone. Someone Jaemin did not expect to see, of all billions of people in the world.
He wanted to say something but the words are stuck in his throat. The tension was suddenly thick inside the kitchen, Renjun and Donghyuck started to nudge each other with their elbows again and the other person who interrupted them just scratched his head.
"Oh shit! I forgot I have a homework due later. See you tomorrow Hyuck, Injunnie. Leave some stew for me."
And with that Jaemin immediately left the house, running and pretending he didn't hear his name being called by a voice he used to be very familliar with before.
Jaemin pinched his arms and bit his lips.
It's summer break, there's no homework.
Jaemin was panting so hard when he stepped on their porch. The door opened and Jaehyun came out, already dressed up with his usual black shirt and army print track pants. He raised his brow at Jaemin who is now on the floor, trying to catch his breath.
"You knew it!! You knew he was coming home and you didn't tell me!"
Jaemin screamed. Jaehyun obviously wants to laugh at him, "Come one Nana, It's been years since Jeno left. You can't just act like that, he miss-"
"NO!!"
Jaemin knows he's acting like a child but he just can't welcome someone back that easily after being left without notice.
Jaemin walked passed Jaehyun, pushing him slightly. He's probably going to Donghyuck's place knowing that Doyoung is there.
Alone in the house, Jaemin decided to turn off everything and just huddle up in his thick pile of blankets and stay in his room for the rest of the night.
Jeno.. Lee Jeno. He was a lot of things. If Jaemin were to describe him, he wouldn't know where to start. But for sure, Jeno was close to his everything until he decided to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor and left everything behind.
Jaemin was more mad to himself that Jeno, to be honest. The older has always been passionate about being an actor, he would always tell that to Jaemin everytime he had the chance to but Jaemin just felt so wronged when Jeno was finally accepted by the agency he wanted because it was during his birthday and Jeno did not even bid him goodbye, he did not tell him it was overseas instead of Seoul.
They have always been attached to each others hip . He couldn't remember the first time they met but it was probably when they were still wearing diapers. That's why when Jeno left, it felt like half of of him was missing too.
7 years already passed and Jaemin still couldn't face him. he's just a 21 year old coward who couldn't even talk to his best friend and be proud of what he's become.
Instead of crying over his messed up friendship, Jaemin decided to sleep, snuggling his face to his Ryan plushie that Jeno gifted him on his last birthday they spent together.
If there's one thing that Jaemin hates most, it's being waken up in the middle of a deep slumber. That's why when he felt someone poking his cheeks at god knows what time, he immediately slammed his pillow to that person.
"Fucking disturbing my slee-“
A shrill scream came out of Jaemin’s mouth but Jeno was quick to cover and asked him to shut up in a hushed voice. "No one else is home but you're scream could wake up the neighb--"
He wasn't able to finish his sentence when Jaemin kicked him below the belt. It hurt, Jaemin was sure because Jeno was already rolling on the floor and curling himself into a ball.
"My baby! Ouch! I know you're mad at me but you didn't have to do that!"
Jaemin whispered a spiteful 'deserve' and stood up from his bed, "What do you want from me, Lee Jeno?"
there was a bite in his voice that made Jeno flinch. "Look Jaemin, I really want to talk and apologize properly. Please hear me out."
"No."
"I bought you shoes."
"You can't bribe me."
"And a camera."
"Try harder."
"A samoyed…?"
Jaemin paused and raised his brows at Jeno. The older panicked and immediately grabbed his phone , showing a picture of a small ball of white fur.
"Fake, that's from Naver!"
"No look!"
Jeno swiped the phone and showed the picture of him and the puppy. Cute. Jaemin immediately shook his head. Jeno scrolled again and showed pictures of papers which are the documents of the dog and he saw his name in it, adopted by: LEE JENO. His heart almost melted at that.
"Okay five minutes."
To say the Jeno was alarmed was and understatement. He looked like he was going crazy trying to look for the right words as he stood up and sat on Jaemin's bed facing him.
"Look, I don’t really know where to start other than saying sorry. Im sorry I left you on your special day. I didn't expect it to be that fast when the agency told me to immediately book a flight the next day. They were big and i couldn't mis it. It was my dream!”
Jeno paused for a while and took a deep breath. He was speaking so fast that Jaemin could barely catch it,"I tried to keep contact from you but Renjun and Hyuck told me ot was better not to bother you the day after your birthday because they said you were so upset and even thought of killing me and burning down our house."
He can clearly recall his 14 year old self cursing lee jeno and everything related to him and telling himself he never wants to see hi "ex-bestfriend” again.
"But is till did try to, but you blocked me on every social media I had. I tried to get updates from you through Hyuck, Renjun and Jaehyun Hyung. They know how much I wanted to talk to you again but I was scared over the thought that you never want to hear from me again. I didn't like it. So I chose to give you space, if your insanely mad at me to the point that you’ve blocked me, I rather not disturb you. I made it easy to get through the top, I had multiple projects but doesn't feel right especially when i couldn't tell you everything."
Jeno was fidgeting with his fingers. His shoulder slumped and his eyes downcast. "I missed you so much. I wanted to go home as soon as possible but it was hard. It took me years to finally come back here and it's because I had to sign a contract for my project here. This was a chance for me to talk to you and i don’t want to waste it. Please forgive me… the puppy is waiting downstairs."
Jaemin didn't know what to say. He just stood there looking at Jeno who is now staring at him with his stupid puppy eyes. "Jeno. You could've just told me you're going to leave. It wasn't that hard.."
He also sat on his bed hand held both of Jeno's shaking hands. Jeno was never good with words. This must be hard on him, Jaemin thought.
"I know. I wish I did that. But seeing you, I think I wouldn't want to leave and just stay for a week more which I couldn't. That's why I chose to leave without coming to you first. I was dumb."
There was a voice at the back of Jaemin's head saying tht Jeno's apology wasn't enough but there's also a side of him saying that he couldn't just waste things and lose Jeno again just beacuse he couldn’t let go of his 14 year old self's anger.
"I forgive you, Jeno. I also apologize for not letting you explain for years, I guess I couldn’t just accept everything easily at that time…. We are both dumb but you're dumber."
Those words were enough for Jaemin to finally see Jeno's crescent eyes, he's smiling so brightly it felt like it was broad daylight. Jeno tackled Jaemin for a hug and whispered thank you's and i miss you's in his ears.
The moment was ruined when Jaemin saw the 3:12AM displayed on his clock. He smacked Jeno's head wich earned him an "Ouch, what did a do now?"
Jaemin rubbed the area he smacked, returned Jeno’s hug, nuzzled his nose on the older's neck and decided that fuck sleep, im talking to Jeno till the sun rises.
"Was it hard?"
Jeno looked at him confusedly and let out an "Eung?" sound. Pushing himself away from Jaemin to look at him.
"Being a celebrity, I mean." Jaemin grabbed him to hug again and Jeno melted on his grip, breathing calmly and stroking Jaemin's black hair.
"It was. I could barely speak English when I got there and they would laugh even at the smallest mistakes I made. I had to worked so hard and it was all worth it."
Jeno continued to tell Jaemin about his seven years work experience that he wasn't able to tell him the time it happened. None of them minded what time it already was. The warmth of each other was all that matters at the moment.
"What do you think of my acting skills? Is it good?"
Jeno asked when they finally separated from each other.
"I never watched your movies." Jaemin said nonchalantly, avoiding Jeno's gaze.
"Keep lying to yourself, Nana. I had Donhyuck and Renjun to tell me about you, you know."
Jaemin muttered a curse under his breath which Jeno surely heard. Hopefully the two did not tell him about how he almost had a whole catering celebration when Jeno's first movie aired or how hard he would get mad everytime Jeno didn't get the main role.
"I don't even know your movies."
Jaemin made himself comfortable on his bed, Jeno was smirking and poked his sides. "Says no one ever. You even have the full DVD of my second project!"
Jeno pointed at Jaemi's study table where he displayed a fair amount of official goods from Jeno’s movies displayed on the shelf. Everything was Jeno on that shelf and that's when he knew he had no escape.
"Fine. It was okay..."
Jeno leaned closer to to Jaemin, his left hand supporting his body while the other was pushing away the starnd of hair covering Jaemin’s face. "Just okay?" he whispered. Staring straight into Jaemin’s eyes.
Jaemin let out a low hum and nodded his head, Jeno leaned in a little too close for Jaemin to breathe. "Based on your reaction from the videos they sent me, it wasn't just okay."
Jaemin can't help but blush over it. He's really going to commit murder later. " Okay means you were amazing, you did so great, acting was indeed for you and im so proud of you."
Jaemin was breathless when Jeno stick their forehead and noses together. "Im happy. I rarely have fanboys."
"Fuck you, Jeno."
The said boy chuckled, his voice filling Jaemin's room and god give him strength.
"Ooh~ really? Fuck m—"
"Shut up and just go to sleep!"
The room was filled with Jeno’s laughter,
he shifted from his position and laid beside Jaemin comfortably. Facing him and holding his hands under the comforter.
"Goodnight Nana."
"Goodnight Jen."
"Love.... you.."
Jeno was already drifting to sleep when he said those words and Jaemin felt like he's on cloud nine. It was probably the best sleep he had in the past seven years.