Chapter Text
It started like any other day. Renjun woke up, turned the water on in the tub, grabbed a bowl of cereal, and turned on the TV to watch the Saturday morning cartoons. Usually, he was quite a morning person, but he’d been out late night before and he knew he had to be at work by 8:00.
When he stepped into the bathroom, he was overwhelmed by the amount of steam that poured out. He sighed happily. There was nothing in the world more soothing than a bubble bath.
He quickly stripped out of his robe and got into the bathtub. He knew he had a good hour before he needed to be at work, so he grabbed a magazine from the basket between the tub and the toilet and got engrossed in the first article he saw.
“Renjun!” his brother Chenle pounded on the bathroom door, shaking him from a deep sleep he’d fallen into. “You’re going to be late - again!”
“Shit!” he mumbled to himself as he dumped the shampoo and conditioner into his hands and hurriedly mixed it through his hair. He jumped out after he’d ran a washcloth over his body. He grabbed his robe, threw it on, and ran to his room. It took him all of a minute to finish getting ready.
“Thanks, Lele,” Renjun ruffled his hair. Chenle didn’t respond. He was much too occupied by Daegal to acknowledge Renjun. “I’ll be home around three!”
“Huang!” His boss Kim Doyoung shouted as soon as he entered the break room after four hours of work.
He turned to him and pouted. “What now?”
He continued to glare at Renjun, but the icy look in his eyes disappeared. “This is the third time this month that you’ve been late. One more time, I’m gonna have to figure out what to do with you...you know that, right?”
Renjun sighed, turning away from Doyoung. “I know…”
“But you are one of my best employees…” Doyoung went on. “And you know that as well.”
Renjun smiled weakly. “Yeah, I do.” He opened a can of Mt. Dew and gulped nearly half of it down in one sip. “Speaking of your best employees, where’s Jaemin?”
Doyoung turned away from him suddenly. Renjun didn’t like the feeling he was getting from Doyoung’s reaction.
Na Jaemin was Renjun’s best friend. He had been since he moved to Seoul three years ago. He was one of those “I’m a thug” guys when his friends were around, but when it was just Renjun and him, he was one of the sweetest guys Renjun had ever met. He could always make Renjun laugh, even when Renjun thought one of his problems meant the end of the world.
“He’s still sick,” Doyoung informed him. “His brother called in for him today. I guess whatever’s he has is getting worse because this is the first time his brother called in for him.”
Renjun had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Jaemin had been really sick lately. He missed the last three weeks of his junior year, he’d been in and out of the hospital, and he’d been backing away from all his friends. It was confusing for Renjun because he didn’t know what to do about it. He’d go see him every once in a while, but their conversations were uncomfortable. It was like the three years of friendship completely vanished. Jaemin wouldn’t talk to anyone.
Renjun sighed, not knowing what to think. He obviously didn’t feel very good. His best friend was avoiding him...but he couldn’t help to think that he most likely had a really good reason for Renjun which led him to wonder what he’d done wrong.
“Junnie? Are you okay?” Doyoung interrupted his thoughts.
“Yeah...just sorta worried, I guess,” Renjun glanced at the clock. “I should probably get back to work, huh?”
Doyoung looked at him for a second. “Nah, Junnie...you know what? Take the rest of the day off. I can manage.”
Renjun looked at him, skeptical. This was very un-Doyoung-like. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he said after a moment’s hesitation. “I had two people come in for Jaemin anyway. Go spend some time with him.”
Renjun was caught completely off guard. Doyoung was usually really strict about work. Something seemed different today though. He seemed different.
Renjun took advantage of the situation before he could change his mind. He grabbed his bag and quickly punched out.
“You’re gonna get it if you’re late one more time, Huang,” Doyoung shouted after him. Renjun couldn’t help but smile as he unlocked his car. Doyoung really did have a sensitive side. He couldn’t wait to tell Jaemin.
When Renjun pulled into Jaemin’s driveway, nervousness swept through his body. It felt like he was going in front of a large group of people, knowing he was going to fall on his face. He felt like he already lost something.
He shook the feeling away as he knocked quietly on Jaemin’s front door. It took a while for it to be pulled open.
“Hi, Mrs. Na...is Jaemin here?” Renjun asked, trying very hard to ignore the erratic beating of his heart.
She wouldn’t meet his eyes. Normally she was quite the talker. She always wanted to know what was going on in Renjun’s life and how he felt. This time, however, it seemed like she didn’t even realize Renjun was there.
“Yes, he is,” she breathed. “I’m afraid he’s not doing so well today.”
The feeling on Renjun’s stomach got worse. “Would it be alright if I went to see him? Just for a little while.” Renjun questioned quietly.
She seemed to be pondering her choices when Jaemin’s brother Sehun appeared in the doorway. “It’s okay Ma. He wants to see Renjun.”
Now Renjun was scared. Sehun was one of the most energetic people he’d ever met. He was a lot like his mother, usually asking questions or cracking stupid jokes that would make Renjun laugh until he cried. But now...he was just like his mother yet again. Sullen and quiet. He wouldn’t meet Renjun’s eyes either.
“Hi, hyung,” Renjun whispered, gently touching his arm. The motion caused his eyes to finally meet Renjun’s. He looks absolutely terrified. Renjun tore his eyes from Sehun’s gaze almost as soon as it darted. Renjun was now petrified.
“He’s in his room,” he replied softly. Sehun followed his mother onto the porch without another word.
Renjun took the route to Jaemin’s room slower than usual. He was trying to contemplate what to expect when he entered. Whatever it was, he knew it wasn’t good.
Renjun was at the door sooner than expected. It was partially open, but he couldn’t bear to look in. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly for a little while, trying to calm himself down, but it wasn’t working. He had never been more afraid in his entire life. After one more round of deep breaths, he pushed the door open.
Renjun must have gasped at what he saw because Jaemin glanced up at him and then back to the wall. He was attached to many cords and machines. Renjun had been there only four days before and he didn’t look nearly this bad. It seemed like he lost about fifteen pounds in those four days.
“What’s going on Nana?” Renjun inquired before he knew what he was saying. “Why are you...how...what’s going on?”
Renjun felt absolutely hysterical. Jaemin looked like he was inches from death and Renjun didn’t know what to do...what to say. He wanted to throw his arms around Jaemin and hug him until he fall asleep. Renjun suddenly wanted to comfort himself...but he knew that it would soon be the other way around.
“Come here,” Jaemin said gently. He didn’t even sound like Jaemin. He sounded so small, so far away...but he was right in front of Renjun.
Renjun practically ran to his side and he took Renjun’s hand in his. He pressed his lips softly to Renjun’s fingertips before saying anything.
“I have cancer, Injunnie…”
And Renjun’s world finally was ending.
It took Jaemin a little while to finish what he started saying. “And it’s not looking very good.”