I just wanna say I appreciate everyone who takes their time to leave a nice comment or two or any amount to share their thoughts of this book and chapters.

Especially when it comes to long books or slow-burns like this story. Since there will be times I think I'm ruining it and it's not interesting/enjoyable anymore lmao.

It truly helps me a lot and motivates me to keep going :)

So don't feel too shy to comment hehe. Sorry though if you're expecting me to reply like before :(

Don't forget to vote if ever! ><

Also, early Merry Christmas 𓆩♡𓆪

Lol that was so weird, I feel like I'm asking WAYYY too much from my moonbubbas 💀

𖤈

"Honestly, we weren't expecting for you to accept the invite," Patrine spoke up, staring at Jaemin in wonder and amusement all in one.

Amy scoffs beside her, "she didn't, but I did." Emphasizing her words to prove herself.

"That's because you were the only one who saw them kissing, I thought you were joking around or at least drunk that night." Hakim remarks looking up from his phone screen.

Jeno snorts at them and shakes his head in silly, "so... Are you guys official or something?" Patrine pops up the main question everyone else is wondering about all this time.

Jaemin glances at Jeno beside him who's already looking back with many questions in his eyes, feeling hesitant on what to answer as if he'd say the wrong one and Jaemin would be angry.

The blond haired boy smiles at him reassuringly, inching his hand over to rest on Jeno's thigh under the table. "We're working on it..." Caressing the area with his thumb in circles.

Patrine hums in acknowledgment, nodding along with his answer before she says, "well good luck. Whatever happens, we hope it goes well for you two."

"Take your time if you need to," Amy adds with a little wink aimed at Jeno who rolls his eyes in return.

Jaemin raises a brow hearing Patrine's comment, "you're... Okay with this?" He asks, a bit doubtful of the raven haired girl who's known to have an intimidating aura.

She quirks a brow up as well, looking at Jaemin as if he's being ridiculous or stupid. "Why wouldn't I be?"

The blond haired boy was a little quiet at first as Hakim snickers, "you think Amy would be the only one who will approve of you two? Please, Jeno's like my own brother."

"You're thinking as if you're facing Jeno's parents right now. As much as I adore him like my own son, hate to break it to you, darling but I'm not your future mother-in-law."

Patrine's statement has both boys choking on their own saliva, caught off guard as Jeno reaches to squeeze Jaemin's hand on his thigh as if it's leverage– maybe it is on his own sanity.

"Look, Jaemin. I'm pretty sure Jeno has told you a few things by now," Patrine's words has Jaemin blinking, caught off guard for a moment.

"And we can all agree with him, he isn't wrong." She says, "the only reason Jeno was also hesitant to show his relationship with you to us is because he's a shy boy by heart."

"Not true!" As if on cue, the brunet boy who's been quiet all this time squeaks out in defense, his soft cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

Patrine slightly rolls her eyes at him, "but another is that since you guys were still secretive about it, if you told us, it'll spread out without even having us tell others."

Jaemin nods in understanding, almost instantly getting her point. "But since you guys are open about it now, I guess it's safe to talk about it enough."

"I can't believe you two kissed– no, made out that night." Amy brings up with a gasp, recalling what had happened. "And I can't believe I'm the first one to see it!"

"Yes we get it, you're lucky and we're not." Hakim grunts on the spot, slightly annoyed with her shoving the fact to his face.

Amy giggles and sips her drink, whilst Patrine shakes her head. Turning to Jaemin who's slowly starting to smile at their bond, she smiles as well.

"Hey Jaemin," the blond haired boy blinks out of his stupor and averts his eyes to the raven haired girl who's smiling kindly, a rare occurrence for him to see.

Is this what Jeno meant? Are his "friends" a part of those people in this school to have "masks" or an image on?

He can't tell, what if this is actually their true nature or not? What if they're actually jerks and are pretending to be nice for Jeno's sake.

However, he'll ask the latter about it later privately, after all it's pretty rude to talk about them like that in front of their faces.

Especially when he was kindly invited over to join them at lunch. To which he had accepted of course for an obvious reason in his perspective.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to apologize for being a bitch to you back then, especially at those two parties and forcing not only you, but your two friends to do things way out of line."

Hakim nods along, "sorry for teasing you with your keys too, you guys should have had the freedom to leave at any point, but we were being assholes."

"I was just excited to play spin the bottle but everyone was arguing with you and your friends so much I just had to start the game." Amy said, joking about.

Luckily Jaemin took it well and didn't feel offended nor took it seriously. "Great, he has my humor! Take notes Hakim!" She sneers at the said boy who flips her off in return.

"I'm not expecting an immediate response, most likely to be forgiveness, but I hope we're at least okay to be in the same room for now." Patrine continues, ignoring her two friends bickering.

It reminds Jaemin of Renjun and Haechan, but right now, he isn't that fond of speaking about them.

Pondering in thought for a second, Jaemin nods at her with a small smile. "Guess we'll work on this friendship too like Jeno and I." He said, getting a happy nod from Patrine and Hakim.

Amy snorts at him and chews on a fry while speaking, "that's different. You and Jeno aren't friends." She teases that has the brunet boy glaring at her.

"You better shut it, we have the same class after this." He threatens, making his friend snicker mischievously.

Jaemin chuckles along, genuinely amused by them. Slowly but surely feeling comfortable around Jeno's friends, even if it's just for today.

"Speaking of by the way, where's your two friends?" Hakim brings up.

It has Jaemin frowning a bit, but he doesn't blame the boy. He's just curious as to why Jaemin is suddenly here with them or at least didn't bring his two friends.

"Does it have to do with Jeno? Us?" Amy was the most vocal about her thoughts, guessing the possible correct answer.

Jeno looks at Jaemin beside him, pity and guilt filling in his eyes that softens Jaemin's heart. Squeezing Jeno's hand back with his thumb caressing in circles again.

"Uhm..."

"Let's not talk about it if you're not comfortable." Patrine spoke up, warning the two curious friends who pouts back.

Seeing as Jaemin was about to protest, she beats him to it and continues. "I'm serious, Jaemin. You don't have to answer our curiosity if you don't want to, even Jeno is begging."

Her voice was back to stern along with her strict gaze, but despite how intimidating her aura can be, Jaemin feels a sense of reassurance that he can easily tell them 'no' and isn't obligated to reach their expectations.

Is this how Jeno felt towards other people? Probably so.

Nodding off slowly, he takes a moment to breath and mumbles a "thank you" to her, getting a smile in response.

Slowly but surely, he's starting to understand Patrine's behavior, be it an act or not.

She can be intimidating, but behind that, she knows what's best at times (especially when the others aren't thinking carefully) and is trying to reassure you.

Their fun time was unfortunately interrupted by a heavy and rough hand abruptly landing on Jaemin's shoulder, "Jaemin."

Looking up, the said boy wasn't too surprised on who the newcomers were, but Jeno and his friends definitely are.

Although, they wiped their shocked faces off and immediately put on their 'masks' to seem cheeky and unbothered.

Staring at them in annoyance, Jaemin could only stay silent as the tanned male says, "after school. Location is messaged in the group chat."