[9:39 PM] Jeno was waiting for his friend Y/N at their usual meeting place: a small playground on a hill that they found when they were kids.
His favorite spot was at the top of the slide. It has the perfect view overlooking the city which shines so brightly against the dark night sky. He always loved the view and solitude here. Tonight was no different.
"Excuse me, sir, but you're not allowed to be here."
Jeno frowned and looked down. His mood immediately went up upon seeing Y/N who was looking up at him with a sly smile.
"Sorry. I was just waiting for a friend who is actually about ten minutes late already," he replied.
"I know, I'm sorry. I saw a dog on the way. I couldn't help myself.” She smiled apologetically. “But I bought you bubble tea."
"If it's because of a dog and you bought bubble tea, then you're forgiven." He smiled, his eyes forming the crescent shape that was so uniquely his. "Come on up."
Y/N handed Jeno the two bubble teas before climbing up the stairs of the slide. "What's up? I was kinda worried when you texted that you needed to see me. You usually just send memes and song recommendations nowadays."
"Nothing," Jeno said, taking a sip of his boba. "I just had to see someone outside of work. Things are getting hectic."
"Everything okay?" she asked, looking at him. The dim light from the post lamp hits his blonde hair at the perfect angle, it almost looks like it's glowing.
"Yeah, it's just the comeback." He sighed. "I'm scared. I mean, what if they don't like it? I just don't want to disappoint them after ten months of almost nothing."
"Relax." She put her hand on top of his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You'll do great. I just heard a few bits of the new song and seen a bit of the dance, but as both your fan and your friend, I know they're going to love it."
Jeno just shrugged. His mind was racing with worry about the comeback just a few minutes ago, but with Y/N's hand on his, he couldn't think straight. "I don't know," he mumbled.
"Jen," she said with such affection, it made his heart flutter.
Stop it, he told himself. It's Y/N. You've been friends since middle school. Why are you being like this now?
"Stop worrying. Your fans got your back as always. Just do your best like you always do." She smiled. "Besides, even if all the cheers die down–which I doubt would ever happen, by the way–I'd still be there shouting your name."
He chuckled silently before looking away, suddenly feeling the heat climb up to his cheeks.
"I'd be like--" she stood up and started shouting, "LEE JENO! LEE JENO! LEE JENO!" Her voice echoed through the empty night.
"Hey, stop it! Get back down," Jeno said, laughing as he gently pulled Y/N down by her wrist. "You're gonna wake up the neighborhood."
"Lee Jeno! Lee Jeno! Lee Jeno!" she whisper-shouted. "Is this volume good enough?"
He shook his head, smiling. "You're crazy," he said.
Y/N laughed. She sat back down against the cool metal of the slide. "Look," she said, being serious again. "I can't say I fully understand what you're going through, but you know I'm always here, right?"
He nodded.
"Good." She leaned on Jeno's shoulder, sipping her bubble tea in silence.
It was something that was natural, something she's done so many times before, but something about Y/N in that moment made Jeno want to just wrap her in his arms.
"It's crazy what you're going through," she said, playing with his hands, pulling out his ring and moving it from finger to finger. "I feel like it'd be much easier if you know what people think of you. No lies, no masks, you'll just know."
He thought about all the feelings and emotions overworking his heart and mind right now. She had always joked about fake-dating him just to piss his manager off. She's always been there, good times or bad. She's become Jeno's go-to person, and now he's wondering why he's only realizing this now.
"I wish I could know how other people think of me sometimes, don't you?" she asked, returning the ring to its original position in his ring finger. She aligned her hand to his, hers definitely smaller and thinner compared to his.
"Sure," he said calmly.
But his mind was in chaos.
I think I'm falling for you, he thought, moving his hands a little bit so his fingers showed in the spaces between Y/N's. I don't know how or when or why, but I am. I'm falling for you, and god yes it would be easier to know what you think of me right now. Do you feel the same way too?
Y/N let her fingers interlace with his, using her other hand to fold his fingers against hers. She laughed lightly.
Jeno's heart was racing. "Your, um, your hands are cold," he stuttered, cursing himself as soon as the words left his mouth.
Idiot, he thought.
"Hey look, it fits perfectly," she said like a little kid discovering how things work for the first time.
"It does," Jeno replied, each and every single one of his nerves screaming. "It really does."
