#jmn:mp

[lmjaem]

down the rabbithole

jaemin only had one lecture to go to today, and to save both of them the time, he took donghyuck ( @lmhaechan ) along with him. he would have skipped the lecture, but he ended up having to do a presentation for the class as a request from his favorite professor. they got to campus a little early so he decided to take his boyfriend on a tour, show him around (and off) a bit. maybe start some rumors and make the girls stop from approaching him every now and then to hand letters or ask for his number.

it hasn't even been a year, but he felt like he's walked through the paths and hallways of the buildings for a long time. jaemin had huge expectations about going to kaist, he imagined a different type of social life but it remained quite similar to that when he was in high school. the lectures were superb, but he supposed he shouldn't have expected more from the people. in all honesty, he's more stressed out about the people than the academics.

"and this is where i usually stay..." he says, like an enthusiastic narrator as he gestures to the concrete table and bench before setting his things down. "sometimes i let the few people i tolerate to actually sit with me," he snickers, pinching haech's cheeks before sitting down and tapping the spot next to him. "it's actually not too bad, but what do you think, haech?" he continues, smiling this time as he looks at his boyfriend.

[rkjaemin]

mission (im)possible

jaemin doesn't realize that he's left something valuable in his room until he was putting together some documents he needed for university. he's gone over the folders exactly fifteen times before he's given up and admitted that he had missed to pack those papers. he curses and groans -- as quietly as he could of course, while haech sleeps next to him at five in the morning. the last thing that he wanted right now was to go back to their house after the hearsay his nosey aunts call him for. there was really no way around it.

and that's how he finds himself, sitting at yet another bus stop, dressed in the all too familiar black hoodie that he only wears if there was something that needed to be done... discreetly. as if he was on a roll with missing out on the details, he caught sight of his cousin, soojin approaching their meeting place. whenever he thought about how many times they had interacted, it's amusing to him that he doesn't realize they were related. he really needed to sleep more, that's for sure.

he gets on his feet and waves at his cousin, a smile as she came closer and closer. there would have been a different welcome greeting if this was someone else, renjun and donghyuck definitely got a different one the first time jaemin brought them along on his... errands. "you sure you want to go do this with me?" he tells her, hands slipping into the front pockets of his jeans. "you can back out now if you want." he adds, sounding a little absurd about something that seems like a normal thing to do. after all, going back home to get some stuff one left behind was something everyone did -- and that's all he told soojin. not exactly how they were getting it. 

@rkxsoojin

[rkjaemin]

guilty pleasures

there was no way that he'd miss this for anything. it hadn't been long since that failed audition with royal, but that was not going to change the admiration and the years of dedication he had put in for han yejin. from what he's told, there will be special merch and he was not one to pass up on those. jaemin knew how much merchandise like those can go for at auctions, and he rather not spend as much if he could get them as soon as they were released. he could bring haech with him too at the cafe, it could be a date -- that's hitting two birds with one stone.

jaemin was sure there will be long lines, and he was used to those, but donghyuck certainly was not. being a fan was not something he was very vocal about, but he was not hiding it either. he just figured it was not an aspect of his life that people understood, and with things they don't understand, they can be annoying. truthfully, he liked keeping things to himself, so donghyuck was probably one of the few people who knew how much time and effort (and money) he had spent on the female idol.

he was all smiles during the walk and the bus ride to the area, arm around donghyuck' shoulder every now and then as they got closer and closer. it was too early for a date, that was for sure, but he had managed to convince haech to go to the organic cafe. he was sure it had very little to do with the date and more of jaemin's excitement to get his hands on special merch. the excitement was bubbling in his chest as they got off the bus, jaemin takes a deep breath, arm circling around haech' shoulder again, pulling him closer to him as they walked, "you excited?"

@rkhaechan

[rkjaemin]

lights, camera, action

jaemin knows that it'd be a challenge to get donghyuck up so early in the morning. he already signed up him up for the audition without him knowing, the last thing he wants today is to have a grumpy lee donghyuck during the shoot. this would be a good opportunity for haech, to explore what other options he has besides singing. he knew that his boyfriend had so much potential, and he wanted donghyuck to see all that and to perhaps to spark his interest in the craft.

he made sure everything that morning was ready, what donghyuck would wear, a light meal they could have on the way to the shoot, and a gentle morning kiss to wake up donghyuck up. he liked to think that he did all those right, and he gives the older boy a kiss on forehead as he slid out of the bed and to get ready for their day ahead. he really hoped things would go well at the shoot, he wanted haech to enjoy the experience.

what they were going to do was not particularly demanding, perhaps just repetitive as the director instructed them to try different expressions for the camera. it was like a casting call, and jaemin had conditioned himself not to get impatient with these things. donghyuck on the other hand was not used to this. when they were given a few minutes between takes, he gives haech a light nudge, smiling as he gives his hand a squeeze, "you okay, haech?" he whispers.

@rkhaechan​​

[rkjaemin]

wrapped in your arms

now that donghyuck was coming back, he wasn't sure how he had survived the last few days without him. it felt longer than it really is, that's for sure -- maybe because he's done so much in the span of those few days. their apartment had been cleaned and polished multiple times, no laundry left to attend to, no dishes waiting to be washed at the sync, and perhaps, the most important, jaemin didn't have any excuse to miss his sessions with his therapist. she said it was a pleasant surprise for jaemin to be sitting in front of her, all on his own volition. the sessions have proven helpful, that he must admit, because they weren't as bad as he thought they were.

he looks at his phone, smiling deletes all the list of things he had to do while donghyuck was away -- the last being pick up haech. the relief that washes over him when he woke up this morning was unlike any other, the hours that he thought he'd dread, being the last mile he needed to go through, didn't feel as exhausting. he made sure he had everything he needed for the dinner he was going to prepare for his boyfriend, checked on everything before he left a few hours ago. now, he just hoped that the distance has given as much clarity to donghyuck as it did with him.

but all his thoughts were put aside when he sees lee donghyuck's face in the crowd, a little more sun-kissed than usual but beautiful as ever. he stands on his toes, waving at the older boy, smile stretched across his face before he makes his way closer to the barriers. "lee donghyuck!" he calls out, motioning to meet him at the far right. his heart raced, excitement and relief mixing in his chest, making him breathless as he makes his way. and as he stood just a few feet from haech, he opens his arms wide, smiling softly at him, "well? what are you waiting for? come home to me..."

@rkhaechan

[rkjaemin]

take my hand

jaemin knew there was something wrong. it doesn't take a genius to know that yujin has been ghosting him for days now. ever since the audition, he hasn't really spoken to yujin, which didn't feel right anymore because jaemin had gotten used to having her around. he knew they had managed to repair their relationship that had been strained because of his negligence, and how yujin has been acting lately doesn't make any sense. he didn't want to think that it was because of the audition, and yujin not making it. but it was the only plausible explanation.

yujin was a good and smart kid, but perhaps not smart enough if she thinks she can avoid jaemin when they go to one school. they were confined in the halls of their school, and jaemin knew the place well to catch his friend no matter where she hides. and yet again, for someone who's trying to hide, she wasn't doing a very good job at it. he didn't have to go too far to find the young girl. during their free period, he decides to see if yujin came to class. he heaves a sigh and shakes his head, rubbing his temples as he mumbles 'dummy' under his breath as he waits for her outside their classroom.

the sound of the lunch bell floods the halls and slowly doors slide open and out comes groups of students walking to the direction of the cafeteria. the same door jaemin waits next to soon opens and out comes his not-so-smart young friend, yujin, whom he taps on the shoulder. he crosses his arms in front of his chest before he raises a brow, "you do know we go to the same school, right? and that we walk the same halls... well, yujin? anything to say?" he could ask her if she was okay right now, but it seemed like the hardest words right now.

@yujinrk

[rkjaemin]

not just a blot of ink

jaemin didn't go out as much as he used to. in the past, he couldn't bear the idea of staying at home with his father -- even if they were in two separate rooms all the time. there was a looming presence, feeling, in their home that made it almost impossible to spend time there. he knew back then that if he did stay longer than necessary, he'd have lost his mind and would have done things that he'll regret today. but being with donghyuck helped him become less anxious, more level-headed. more social opportunities opened up when he was leaving the house for fun rather than to run away from his inner demons.

these days, jaemin's the one asking his friends to hang out at cafes, maybe even a stroll in the park. the young man who once declined every single invitation to spend some time with those he was closed to was now the one initiating it. the event at the jung community & cultural center was announced at the perfect time. jaemin had been thinking about where he and renjun could go. he looked over the classes that were able and he figured that his friend, having been learning the language, would likely appreciate a more in dept class on calligraphy too.

he sends renjun a text to meet him there, leaving the house with a smile on his face, a habit that's stuck with him for a few months now. he goes over the classes available again, thinking of another one he could take with haech or hwi the following day. when he wasn't overthinking things, he was able to do so much more with people he cared about. donghyuck was right about moving out, it was a chance to start over. it was a chance to be a better friend to the others. he spots renjun approaching and he waves at him, jogging over to him before wrapping an arm around his shoulder, "you ready for this, birthday boy?"

@renjunrk

[rkjaemin]

here comes trouble

if this was any other time, jaemin would not have agreed. but he owes his friend big time after that favor last month. so, here he is walking to the center for this 'date'. donghyuck didn't like the idea of jaemin doing it, but he assures him it's not a date at all. that if anything, it was just him returning the favor and him keeping his word. 'not a date, baby', he tells donghyuck, planting a kiss on his forehead before he left. next time, he'll make sure there's a bullet of things that he will not be doing under any circumstances. and filling in for a blind date is on top of that list.

he's told to wear something blue and to wear black rimmed glasses. na jaemin being himself asks his friend why there was a very specific instruction. as soon as he heard the reason being his friend wanting to look like an 'intellectual', he rolls his eyes and shakes his head, groaning. it makes things all the more stupid, supporting his claim that this is, in no way, a date. jaemin would not have had to pretend to be anything but himself on a date. besides, the only one he's ever wanted to go out on a date with is already waiting for him at home.

as jaemin stands at the lobby, waiting for this girl he was supposed to meet, he starts to get a little annoyed. what's taking her forever? he's been looking at the clock a handful of times now, watching people pass by, groups and pairs, one right after another. when he looks over to the door he recognizes someone who he's not exactly happy to see. but then again, it's not like he's going to spend the day with her, right? relief washes over him for a moment, but then she looked his way and she was walking to his direction. "you've got to be kidding me..."

@rkryujin