Chapter Text
When Renjun invited Jisung to meet his boyfriend, he didn’t give it much thought and simply agreed. He should have been more cautious because he never imagined that Renjun’s boyfriend was friends with Lee Jeno.
The same Jeno who was secretly engaged to him and the same Jeno who was currently staring at him as if he were some kind of anomaly.
“Guys! This is my boyfriend, Renjun. And this is his friend, Jisung. They both study astrophysics, but Jisung here is a first-year student. And this is Jaemin, and that’s Jeno.” Haechan introduced them.
“Hello guys! I hope you don’t mind my friend here tagging along. It’s his first day here, and he’s quite nervous.”
“Oh my god! Not at all. He’s so cute, like a little hamster. Come here, Jisungie, sit next to me. Tell me all about yourself.” Jaemin approached Jisung and pulled him to sit next to him.
Jisung simply nodded meekly because across the table, he could feel Jeno’s eyes boring holes into his skull.
Everyone sat at the table. Haechan was next to Renjun, who was next to Jisung, and Jaemin was next to Jeno. Jeno sat across them, sporting a displeased expression.
Renjun timidly whispered in Haechan’s ear, “I don’t think your friend over there likes us sitting at the table.”
Haechan looked at Jeno, who was staring at Jisung with a very displeased look. He said, “Our smoyed here just needs some time to adjust to new people, right, Jeno?”
Jeno gave Haechan a look that immediately silenced him.
“Tell me about yourself, Jisungie.” Jaemin, oblivious to his friend’s inner turmoil, was determined to know everything about Jisung.
“I’m a first-year student majoring in astrophysics with a minor in business,” Jisung replied softly.
“Oho! Aren’t you a smart one! What are your hobbies and what kind of artists do you listen to?”
“I enjoy observing and learning about the stars, and I like Coldplay and Oasis.”
“That’s quite fitting for the emo vibe you have going on,” Jeno commented. It seemed like a harmless remark, but Jisung couldn’t help but notice the underlying distaste.
The rest of their lunch was filled with Haechan and Renjun lost in their own world, while Jaemin making small conversation with Jisung. And Jeno’s piercing gaze made Jisung feel quite nervous.
When it was time to return to class, they exchanged goodbyes and promised to meet again. Jaemin even unexpectedly hugged Jisung, ruffled his hair, and invited him to join them tomorrow.
Before Jisung could escape, Jeno pulled him aside.
“Didn’t expect to run into you here, fiancé.”
“Jeno, I genuinely had no idea that Haechan was your friend. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have joined Renjun.”
“Cut it, Jisung. Listen, I don’t care about your choices or your friends. Don’t you dare tell someone about our contract.”
The word contract instead of engagement stung Jisung deeply.
“You don’t have to worry about that at all.”
“And also, you’re just my fiancé on paper. So, for future reference, you don’t have any say in what I do.”
“Okay.”
Jisung’s easy agreement caught Jeno off guard, but he knew better than to let it show.
He didn’t bother bidding him farewell and left Jisung with his thoughts.
Jisung couldn’t stop thinking about the engagement. He hoped Jeno would eventually come to terms with it, but after today’s encounter, all that hope was dashed.