"Hey Jaeminie!" Jeno beams at the said boy once he greets him, getting the same handsome and kind smile back from him.

"Ready to go home?" Glancing inside of Jaemin's neat locker just before the elder boy shuts it closed after he grabs something.

"Hey Jen," the younger boy smiles even wider if that was possible (it is, for him at least) by the call of his nickname.

"Ah, sorry baby. But I don't think I can walk home with you today..." Jaemin gives him an apologetic look, purely genuine when Jeno meets his eyes.

Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, Jeno slowly blinks. "Huh? Why not? Is there something up?" Not realizing he was bombarding his best friend with questions, he grows curious.

Jaemin didn't mind, in fact, he sort of had that expectation of Jeno's reaction. He doesn't blame him thankfully, he would literally do the same if it was the other way around.

Reaching out to cup Jeno's cheek, he smiles at him reassuringly. "It's just some partner work I have to worry about," he says.

Still seeing the frown sporting on Jeno's face, Jaemin gently rubs his thumb near where Jeno's mole was located.

One of his favorite features of his best friend.

"Don't worry though, I'll be home afterwards too. I won't fool around or anything." He lightly says to brighten up the mood.

He knows Jeno is sulking quietly, although he's trying not to be vocal about it by whining and all. It's clear enough just by the look in his eyes, at least for Jaemin it is.

Sighing, he purses his lips while Jeno continues to stare at him intently. Almost as if he's quietly persuading the elder boy to at least walk him home first before running off for something else.

It's low-key working if Jaemin's being vocally honest.

Call him a simp, but he has a special place reserved just for Jeno, a soft spot if you will.

Sometimes he admits to it proudly, sometimes he lets their friends do it for him.

The main point is, it's obvious for a lot of people and he doesn't even try to hide it.

Jeno is a literal best friend material. Y'know?

So Jaemin is proud of that, relishes the fact that Jeno is his and he is Jeno's. In a completely platonic way.

Little did he know, it was only one-sided. Because for him, it's just nothing but platonic. But for Jeno, it's something more than that.

"Jeno..." He drawls out his best friend's name, almost like a warning. He knows that certain look of plead, he's seen it a bunch of times before.

And it's somewhat his fault, partially.

You know how you spoil a child a bit too much, that they slowly start to learn which buttons to push to have you give in?

That is like Jaemin's current situation. The only difference is that Jeno is unaware.

He's oblivious, not surprised actually. Knowing that the younger boy can be too humble.

"Jaemin..." Jeno parrots, pouting more as each seconds passes by. Just thinking about the elder boy not by his side on his way home upsets him.

Clingy, as what Donghyuck would tell him.

But then again, it is one of Jaemin's many faults.

Jeno just grew used to their routine, relying on the elder boy as much as he thinks he does. Denying it a bunch of times, but deep down inside he agrees.

"Baby, it's just for a day or two. It's some partner work." Jaemin tries to convince him, brushing off the feeling of his heartstrings being tugged.

But then Jeno whines, and Jaemin bites his inner cheek.

"Jaeminie~ please just walk me home quickly and then go run off." The younger boy tugs on the hem of Jaemin's jacket as a growing habit.

"Jeno, sweetheart." Another attempt of Jaemin's that was instantly a fail the second Jeno huffs loudly in response.

"We can ask Jisung or anyone else in the group to walk you home for the meantime."

"What's going on here?" The both turn to the newcomer's voice, spotting Mark who's just a step or two away from them.

"Ah, Mark hyung. Hi!" Jaemin was the most audible one between him and Jeno. The latter quietly waving at their friend.

"What's up with Jeno?" Mark instantly asks once he sees the obvious frown sporting Jeno's cute face. Raising a brow at Jaemin in suspicion.

Glancing at the younger boy, Jaemin sighs. "Jeno's a little upset I can't walk him home today because I have some partner work to do." He explains to Mark.

Mark then averts his gaze towards Jeno this time, brow still raised, quietly gesturing for the younger boy to speak up his side of the story.

"Jaemin promised."

Mark face palms at the two of them whilst Jaemin frowns as well this time. "Jen, I'm sorry it was sudden."

"Oh my gosh you two, just walk Jeno home first Jaemin and then you can go. If not, Jeno can wait for you if it doesn't take long."

"That's what I've been saying!" Jeno immediately backs him up, flashing Jaemin a glare.

"Can you walk him home instead, Mark?" Jaemin asks, pleading for Mark to be on his side this time.

But unfortunately for him, Mark shakes his head as a no. "Sorry, man. I have to go to the library."

"What about the others?"

"Renjun and Chenle are occupied with their club, Jisung has extra class hours and Dongh-"

"What's this?" Speaking of the devil, the tanned male approaches them in curiosity. "Before you ask, I can smell someone sulking."

Turning to Jeno, he gives him a look. "And by the looks of it, it's most likely you, huh?" Snorting whilst shaking his head.

Jeno blushes in embarrassment, slowly regaining his senses back and realizing how weird he's being.

Holy shit, I'm being so unreasonable and immature just because Jaemin can't walk me home today- stop it, Jeno!

"What's happening now?"

Mark explains to him on what he missed out on, sighing afterwards. "Sorry not sorry, I'm not a babysitter nor a pet sitter." Donghyuck says with a small chuckle.

Getting a whine from Jeno, grumbling about how he's not a pet, Donghyuck rolls his eyes. "Just walk him home, it's that easy."

"Bu-"

"But Min~" Jeno cuts him off. "If you won't walk me home, I'll be alone."

No shit Jeno, great excuse to have your crush think of you weirdly. Shame.

"That's not even the worse part." Donghyuck mumbles, finding this situation ridiculous.

"I know right! Jaemin broke a promise, fucking idiot." Mark comments, soon getting a look from the others.

"Jeno had a bad day, Jaem. Just saying." Donghyuck then brings up, biting back a grin when Jeno raises a brow at him whilst Jaemin's eyes flickers from him to Jeno.

"Alright, I'll walk you home, come on." Jaemin takes Jeno's hand in his and leads them out, leaving their two friends clicking their tongues at them.

"Fucking idiot, am I right?" Mark nudges Donghyuck on his side, getting a nod from the tanned male. Surprisingly not fighting him back.

❈

Well well well, isn't this boring and trashy-

Honestly don't know how to make this story long.

Is it okay if this book MIGHT not have as much chapters as the others have?