Jaemin enters the cafeteria with Jeno beside him as the blue haired boy linked their arms together like what he'd usually do with his friends.

Although, Jaemin couldn't help the feeling of pride or whatever as he puffs out his chest while Jeno leads him to one of the tables at the side of the room.

Sitting down across from Jaemin, both keeping quiet of the weird feeling when they had to pull away from each other's side, and looks around scanning the area.

"Fred said he'll be here in a minute or two, he has something to get from his locker." He informed after taking a glance of the message notification on his cellphone.

Jaemin nodded with a hum as he took out his lunchbox for today (he decided to bring one today because after multiple times he had to wait in the long line or bare to starve) and opens it.

The demon boy looks at his lunch for this afternoon and lets out an excited gasp, "you have jelly!" He points to the said snack.

The black haired boy looks down and chuckled, "do you want some? I don't really mind, I just brought them because I was in a rush." He shrugged.

Jeno nodded happily and takes a few pieces of the bear shaped jelly as he took bite after bite, completely forgetting he has his own lunch.

Jaemin couldn't help but smile, seeing how Jeno got so happy by the simplest thing, especially brought by him, made him feel somewhat proud of himself.

"Do you like Jelly?" He asked as he took a bite of his sandwich instead while uncapping his water bottle.

Receiving a small shy nod from the younger, Jaemin grinned and took a mental note of that. He should bring jelly more often.

After a while, the black haired boy looks around and saw no one that seemed to approach their table making him question about this Fred dude even more.

"Hey, Jen." He calls as the nickname came out naturally that made both of them bite back a smile as their cheeks turned pink.

Jeno hummed as he took out his plastic yellow-striped straw and inserts it in his juice box, smacking his lips together with a satisfied smile at the taste of sweet grapes.

"Who is this Fred? Like elaborate on how he is and all..." Jaemin asked and scans the room again to check if he had accidentally asked something offensive or whatever.

(A/N: lEt's gO kIsS tHis HaNs, whO iS tHis hANs?)

The blue haired boy pursed his lips and tilts his head, "Fred is my first friend, we met at lunch on my first day." He starts off.

With a long pause, Jeno's small smile turns into a confused frown. And Jaemin frowned along with it. Dear God.

"I... Actually..." Jeno hesitated with pause after pause as he leans back, eyebrows knitted as if he's in a mixture of both angry and confused.

"Fred and I don't hangout much.... We have classes together and eat lunch together but... I don't know..." He said sadly as he rubbed his temples.

Jaemin bit his lip before saying, "it seems like you guys are more on being acquaintances rather than being friends or something. No offense by the way."

Jeno just nodded his head stiffly with the same frown on his face, seemingly spacing off as he tried to remember anything that can slightly prove him and Fred are indeed friends.

But to no avail.

"I don't get it... Is it because he doesn't like my company? Am I annoying him? Am I a bad friend?" He rambled with his eyes tearing up slightly.

Jaemin widened his eyes as he immediately stood up and walks around to sit beside Jeno, engulfing the boy in a hug while caressing his back.

"You're not a bad friend, darling." He almost face palms himself from that petname he blurted out before stopping when Jeno looks up, looking like he doesn't mind it.

"I'm not?" He sniffled as he leaned his head on Jaemin's shoulder, sniffing the strong perfume the black haired boy has on for the day.

"No you're not, okay? You're an amazing friend, I'm sure your demon friends and your dad agrees on it too." Jaemin coaxed with a smile.

Jeno nodded, his frown twitching into a small smile as well as they both changed the topic to something else since the blue haired boy didn't want to be all sad today.

"So you're basically like... Independent?" A nod, "learning more about the human lifestyle?" Another nod. "Without using powers unless you have to or when you got to summon your friends and dad?"

This time, a giggle was added to the nod from Jeno who was munching on some chips with one of his leg on top of Jaemin's lap.

The black haired boy didn't want to move, reasoning that he was too tired to go back to his original seat.

Jeno didn't want him to move either, but he didn't hesitate to say, "I like it like this, you're comfy." He smiled and that made Jaemin choke on his water.

"But... You don't want to have someone looking out for you?" Jaemin asked confused about the small story.

Jeno shook his head, "I do, but not from the underworld guards or whoever my dad sent without my permission. I'm not a kid anymore." He stated.

"And I want to do things without his watch, you know? I want to... To be able to feel free and stuff." He murmured.

Jaemin nodded as he placed a hand on top of Jeno's own that was just laying on the table, "I understand. Sometimes that's what I want too."

"Say it. Say it you coward."

He pursed his lips as he stopped his damn inner voice to tell him what to do. Because he knows what he's about to do first, even before said voice could insult him.

"But I would like to be your protector instead of whoever your father sent out. If that works for you." He scratched his nape.

Jeno blinks at him before a wide grin appeared, "you asked permission. And I trust you, so I don't mind." He giggled.

Even though he met Jaemin later than Fred, he feels like he knows the former more and feels a somewhat comfort with him.

A cough interrupted them as they turned to see Fred standing with his lunch in hand, "hi." He greeted smiling as he took a seat across from them which was Jaemin's original seat.

But who cares? Jaemin likes this spot better.

"Jaemin, this is Fred. Fred, this is Jaemin."

Fred greeted him nicely after Jeno's brief introduction while Jaemin could only stare at the newcomer, something clicking in his mind.