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Here's the thing: Jaemin is an athlete. He's on the track team and he is exceptionally good at what he does.
Being an athlete comes with perks (hell, there are a lot of them) but like all things, it also comes with a lot of downsides. For one, he has to eat healthy. No matter how much Jaemin loves coffee, he has to give up his 6-espresso shots of bliss once in a while (it kills him inside every time it’s exam season but hey, such is life). The absolute worst part of it, though, would be the limit on sweets. Jaemin's not too big on sweets but sugar, he decides, isn't something that he can completely live life without. Sugar relieves stress on particularly difficult days and makes him feel happy.
And Jaemin is always stressed. It must be a flaw of his, to be so talented in everything (it’s such a pain sometimes, to be so perfect) because people keep inviting him to do stuff he doesn’t even normally do but is strangely good at. So, he’s a very busy person. Plus, his major is kinda deadly. He could have been blindly throwing darts at a board because he doesn't even remember what drove him to take a medicine course despite the fact that he’s on the track team.
So, anywayㅡsweets? Off limits to him. Not completely, if he’s being honest; maybe a scoop of ice cream here and there (like, every two months give or take). But a slice of cake everyday? Unacceptable. Which is another unfortunate thing in the life of Na Jaemin because he's roommates with an aspiring baker.
The aspiring baker who is currently in the kitchen of their apartment, baking something that Jaemin cannot eat. Again.
Jaemin sighs wistfully, the delicious aroma of vanilla wafting around the room. He grabs his keys from the key bowl and slings his bag over his shoulder. He pads over to the kitchen.
Renjun is wearing a baby blue apron today, his usually tousled brown hair pinned up in places where they’ve grown too long.
"Hey," Jaemin says by way of greeting, making his way to the fridge.
Renjun grunts in reply. His face pinched in concentration, stirring a brown mixture.
Jaemin smiles fondly, used to his roommates' tendency of ignoring the people around him when he’s deep into a baking session. He opens the fridge and takes out a carton of milk and a particularly delicious looking apple.
"Bye, Junnie," Jaemin says, waving at the boy even if he's too busy to look at him. Renjun grunts again in response, his tongue sticking out as he wrestles with the bowl.
Jaemin shakes his head, still smiling at the scene and exits the kitchen. He throws the apple absentmindedly into the air and catches it deftly, mind on his performance yesterday. He's trying to break his personal record and he's slowly getting there. He grips the apple in his hand and brings it to his mouth. He takes a bite.
And immediately frowns.
What the flying fuckㅡ
Jaemin pouts down at his apple.
Which is not an apple.
But is actually...cake.
And no, not even apple-flavored cake.
It’s just...cake. In the shape, color, and texture (surprisingly) of an apple.
Jaemin stands frozen at the door, in too much of a shock to function like a normal, walking human being. He hears the sound of Renjun humming in the background but his focus is all on the apple (not an apple) in his hand. He stews in that realization for a couple of minutes before snapping out of it and shrugging, taking another bite. It caught him off guard but at least it’s frickin delicious. A bit of sugar won’t hurt.
And it starts from there, really. Renjun’s obsession with turning every inanimate object he could think of into cake.
Jaemin had shrugged off the first instance, chalking it up to a usual case of Jaemin Being Too Spaced Out In The Mornings. The apple (cake) had been placed on top of a plate in the fridge, probably for preservation, which should have told Jaemin that it wasn’t a normal apple. Jaemin just happened to pick it up by mistake, perhaps blinded by hunger or lack of sleep. Or by the other boy in the room. Who’s to say.
But anyway, Jaemin had finished the apple (cake), kind of happy about getting an excuse to eat cake during a stressful week. So he had no problem with what had transpired. Except that it interfered with his diet. But it’s whatever, Jaemin can still burn off the calories during the next practice session.
Which is currently where Jaemin is at.
He’s sitting down on the bleachers with his duffel bag beside him. His other teammates are already on the field, stretching and talking. He’s late since he had to drop by the lab but it’s no matter. He’s here now and he has to shift gears. He takes out his water bottle and, feeling hungry, he takes out a protein bar he’d grabbed from the kitchen. He doesn’t know who owns it exactly but it was just on the table, begging to be taken by someone who just happened to have overslept and was rushing to get to class (someone who just happened to be Jaemin. Oops).
He takes a swig from his water bottle and sets it down, waving at Jisung who is also late. Jisung waves back and sits beside him.
“Jaemin-hyung! I’m so sorry for being late! I had to drop by somewhere,” Jisung bewails, setting down his bag and plopping down heavily onto the bleachers.
“Same,” Jaemin says. He brings up his protein bar and begins the motion of unwrapping it. “I had to stop by the lab because this one groupmate of mineㅡ”
He pauses. And squints at the protein bar in his hand.
“Jisung,” he starts, closing his eyes briefly, trying to make sense of everything (he’s tragically failing at it). “Please tell me that what I’m holding is actually an honest to god protein bar.”
He holds it up for Jisung to get a good look.
Jisung furrows his eyebrows, clearly confused but does as he’s told. His eyes glance up and down at the protein bar. It takes several seconds before the younger nods slowly, a look of bemusement still on his face. “It’s a real protein bar, Jaemin-hyung. Wh-why…?”
Jaemin sets it down on his lap and looks at Jisung with dramatically widened eyes. “And what if I tell you it’s not an actual protein bar?”
Jisung’s eyes flit from the protein bar to Jaemin and he starts fidgeting in his seat. He gulps. “Jaemin-hyung, you’re scaring me.”
Jaemin sighs and slumps in his seat. He brings up the protein bar (not) without unwrapping it and takes a small bite. He shows Jisung the bar again.
Jisung’s eyes blow wide and his mouth forms an ‘o’. “It’s… not a protein bar…?”
“Yeah,” Jaemin says flatly, not knowing what to feel about falling prey to Renjun’s I’m Going to Make Everything Into Cake endeavor once again. “It’s not. It’s cake.”
Jisung nods and makes an impressed sound. “Huh. That looks super realistic though. I’m kinda impressed.”
It is impressive. And Jaemin is impressed too. Very much so since this is the second time he’s fallen for it.
“Don’t tell Coach,” Jaemin warns, taking another bite from the protein bar (cake) because god, it’s so fucking good. Obsessed with turning every single thing he sees into cake aside, Renjun really is a skilled baker. But he really can’t help but wonder why. Out of all the things he could have made into cake, why a protein bar? Jaemin may be reading too much into it but was it deliberate? Jaemin was the only one currently on a diet (Jaemin belatedly realizes that he’s also rooming with Jeno who’s on the football team but it’s whatever, let him indulge in this delusion) so could Renjun have purposely chosen a protein bar to turn into cake to play with him? Is this some sort of new...courting ritual that Jaemin doesn’t know about?
“I won’t,” Jisung says, ever obedient, his eyes still locked onto the bar in Jaemin’s hand. “But... can I have a bite?”
Jaemin is startled out of his (delusional) reverie and studies Jisung. Jisung’s eyes are twinkling in anticipation and Jaemin feels a twinge in his chest. The poor boy needs cake so badly. Who is Jaemin to deny him such excellence?
Shaking his head in pity, Jaemin pushes the bar (cake) towards the younger boy. He pats Jisung’s head and watches sympathetically as he smiles widely and takes a big bite from the bar (cake).
Maybe Jaemin will let this one go. For now.
In the next few days, Jaemin ends up eating more cake than he wants to, effectively ruining his diet and forcing him to work out even more. But he’s slowly accumulating reasons to talk to Renjun about it so he’s not that peeved.
Ever since the apple, protein bar, Pocari Sweat, and shoe (don’t ask) incident, Jaemin has been navigating their flat with caution. Not that he didn’t before butㅡ ok, so he was kinda careless when it comes to their shared belongings before but this Guess Which One is An Actual Object and Not a Handful of Sugar game has really changed him .
Donghyuck’s been giving him weirded out looks, especially when he picks up a banana and knocks on it like it’s a door to another dimension. Jaemin could have totally gotten a knife and cut it in half to see whether it’s cake but Renjun was the one who had painstakingly organized all their cutlery. Jaemin is currently too sleep-deprived. He doesn’t dare misplace a knife.
“Dude,” Donghyuck starts, his tone lilting in a way that Mark’s does. “No matter how many times you’re gonna knock on it it’s not going to open. It’s a freaking banana.”
Jaemin looks up at him, pointer finger now poking at the banana. “I’m trying to make sure it’s an actual banana.”
Donghyuck’s eyebrows rise to his hairline. And then he grins. “So, you’re a victim too, huh?”
Too? Jaemin frowns, his previous delusion of Renjun solely targeting him as an excuse to talk to him now dashed. Well, in hindsight it sounded pretty far-fetched. Jaemin’s not his only roommate and Renjun doesn’t really proactively interact with him that much. Jaemin should really tone down his Yearning. “Do you know what’s going on with him? Do we need to hold an intervention or something?”
Donghyuck laughs, looking extremely tickled by the situation. “He’s doing it for some kind of class project.”
Ah.
“Ah. That’s...valid,” Jaemin says blankly. He’s considered that reason, sure, but there has to be a limit to how many times Renjun’s going to cake-ify something, right? (And, alternatively, there has to be a limit to how many times Jaemin falls for it). “So, is it, like, over now? It’s been two weeks.”
“Oh yeah, it is,” Donghyuck is still grinning and it’s now annoying Jaemin because Donghyuck is Donghyuck and that grin spells nothing but trouble.
Jaemin raises an eyebrow and stops prodding at the banana. His tone is skeptical. “Sure, Hyuck. Whatever you say. But answer me this: are these bananas?”
Jaemin picks the hand of bananas up and presents it to Donghyuck. Donghyuck spares it a brief glance before replying, his eyes twinkling with mischief, “They’re both bananas and not bananas.”
Jaemin feels his eye twitch. He closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
Donghyuck laughs at his expression and promptly exits the kitchen. His voice rings out loud and clear in the living room. “You have to be more specific with your questions, Na!”
Turns out, they're real bananas. But somehow, Jaemin isn't overwhelmed with an intense feeling of relief. Does he actually miss Renjun’s cake-ified inanimate objects? The answer, Jaemin is quick to decide, is a yes.
Jaemin nibbles on a banana dejectedly. Renjun’s been inadvertently spoiling Jaemin with sugar lately and he’s feeling the withdrawal in his soul .
And that’s how Renjun finds him, slumped over the kitchen island, gnawing at the insides of a real banana (boring). It’s not cake. His tongue is not met with the sugary taste of fondant nor the sweet and smooth texture of buttercream. Joy is seeping out of him slowly and he could practically crumble into dust right now. If anyone walked in the kitchen right now, they’d see nothing but an empty shell of a man that is Na Jaemin.
“Jaemin?”
Renjun’s angelic voice stands out to him like an oasis in a desert. Quick as a lightning bolt, Jaemin snaps to attention. He drops the banana (not cake) from his mouth and turns around to face his roommate.
He smiles immediately. “Renjun! What a lovely morning, isn’t it?”
Renjun’s lips twitch, a hint of a smile. “It’s the afternoon, Jaemin.”
Oh. Jaemin’s so sad his perception of time is now so skewed. He tilts his head, his smile now uneasy. “Oh. Well. Good afternoon?”
Renjun smiles widely at him this time and Jaemin might be imagining things because his beautiful brown eyes soften, his expression fond. Wow.
“Are you okay? I noticed you slept late last night,” Renjun says, moving around the kitchen island to open the fridge.
So, Renjun noticed. Jaemin relaxes his posture and rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yeah. I had to submit a lab report. I kept falling asleep so I really had a hard time.”
Renjun hums and approaches the island so they’re both on either side of it. Jaemin is made more aware of his heartbeat. And of other things. Particularly about himself. And his appearance. Because Renjun is here, talking to him. Interacting with him. And oh god, did he even brush his teeth? He can’t even remember if he took a bath which is stupid because it’s something so simple so of course heㅡ
“The cakes didn’t work?”
Jaemin’s brain short circuits. Nerve cells stop functioning, the transmittal of any and all information halts until Jaemin is rendered an unthinking being.
“Wha- huh?” Jaemin says, ever so eloquently. He is a sleep deprived med student, after all.
Renjun giggles. And it’s cute. Very cute. Jaemin knows he’s staring but he can’t stop, not when Renjun is blushing and acting shy and it’s the most adorable thing he’s ever seen in his entire life.
“Well, I noticed that you’ve been having a hard time lately,” Renjun says quietly, his expression nervous. He’s wringing his hands. “And I wanted to help you. I always look for sweets when I’m stressed and anxious so I thought, why not? I know you’re on your stupid athlete’s diet thingy so I wanted to be more discreet about itㅡ”
Renjun is now rambling and Jaemin’s pulse quickens because what the fuck he’s been right all along? Jaemin feels his face turn warm. Oh my god, this is really happening.
“ㅡand okay, now that I think of it, it was a really dick move because I interfered with your diet and you must’ve been so confused and I’m so sorry if I made you angry andㅡ”
“Thank you,” Jaemin says breathlessly, cutting Renjun off from whatever self-blaming high he’s on because it’s not true at all. He was confused, yes, but the cakes really helped him get by these past few weeks. He places his elbow on the counter and rests his cheek on his open palm, smiling warmly. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s really helped me, honestly.”
Renjun’s eyes widen. “Really…?”
“Yeah,” Jaemin says, almost dreamily (oh god, he’s got to stay cool and calm).
“That’s good,” Renjun smiles, his voice dripping with relief. “Does that mean I can stop and just outright give you cake, then?”
“Yes,” Jaemin gives in quickly, unthinking. But catches himself when he remembers something. Frowning, he continues, “But wait a minute, I thought this was originally for your class project or something...”
He trails off, realization dawning on him. And like everything that concerns this particular roommate of theirs, he takes a deep breath to calm himself down.
Renjun also seems to have caught on and laughs. “Where did you hear that from? Hyuck?”
“Yeah,” Jaemin says, huffing out a laugh while admiring the dulcet tones of Renjun’s laughter. “I really should stop falling for his lies every damn time.”
“You fell for my cakes a couple of times so I doubt you’ll be spared from Donghyuck’s antics,” Renjun says cheekily. And Jaemin falls again because Renjun is so attractive like thisㅡ the fluorescent light above them softening his features, the oversize pastel yellow sweater making him look so huggable, and his cheeky expression so endearing.
Jaemin smirks at that. "I still don't mind falling for your cakes, though. And Donghyuck is a totally different matter."
"I see," Renjun says, his eyes shining like stars and his grin widening. His eyes flick towards the hand of bananas resting inside a basket and then to the banana in Jaemin's hand. "You'd better eat that banana, then. That's the last one I made for you."
Jaemin is both touched and confused. He holds up the banana he's been eating. It's clear that it's anything but a baked treat. "Are you sure about that? Caus this is clearly not cake."
Renjun giggles again and winks at him (Jaemin inconspicuously brings his hands together to feel for a pulse) (it’s there) (he’s still alive and this is all real). "Better eat the whole bunch then."
Jaemin's heart skips a beat and ignores the fact that Renjun just suggested he finish a whole basket full of bananas by himself (it’s probably not healthy but then again when has he not sacrificed his diet plan for Renjun?). He nods and says dazedly, “Yeah…”
"Well, I'd better start on my paper," Renjun says, his beautiful smile still on his beautiful face. He gestures to the bunch of bananas. "I'll leave you to your… banana cake treasure hunt or whatever."
Jaemin just stands still and watches forlornly as Renjun leaves the kitchen. And he’s feeling all floaty, like he’s jumping on a trampoline endlessly or something, his heart racing so fast he feels pumped with adrenaline.
“And oh, I almost forgot to ask,” Renjun reappears at the kitchen entrance not a few seconds later. He giggles again and Jaemin’s heart keeps on skipping beats (surely, this isn’t healthy and is a very troubling phenomenon) (He’s a med student, he should know). “Do you want to hang out sometime when you’re free? To eat cake? I mean, if your diet allows it...”
Hanging out with Renjun? Eating cake with Renjun? Disregarding his strict diet plan for the sake of hanging out to eat cake with Renjun?
“Of course,” Jaemin says without batting an eyelash. He’s feeling so nervous. Shit. He gulps unconsciously. “After exam week?”
Renjun nods, smiling. “It’s a date. Bye, Jaem!”
And then he’s gone. Just like that.
Huh. Jaemin resumes his previous position, slumping over the island with his head in his hands. His cheeks are warm and he’s so happy and excited that he’s one Renjun sighting away from actually combusting. He’s replaying what just happened in his head and it’s still not sinking in. Jaemin has to make sure he’s not dreaming so he pinches his arm. Hard.
He yelps and frowns down at his arm. Then smiles again. It was all real. Wow.
“Um, what are you doing?”
Jaemin picks his head up. Jeno is at the doorway of the kitchen, all ready to go out with his backpack slung over his shoulder.
“Making sure this isn’t a dream,” Jaemin answers simply, still not quite back down to earth.
“Bro,” Jeno says, looking worried. “You really should go back to sleep.”
“What? No! Cause what if I do that and then wake up and find out I’ve actually been asleep all along and what happened with Renjun was just a dream,” Jaemin stage whispers and pouts.
“Hm,” Jeno says thoughtfully, strangely able to pick apart whatever Jaemin just babbled, then shrugs. “You do you, I guess. And hey, I’m happy for you, man. And for Renjun.”
Jeno pats Jaemin’s shoulder and reaches for the bananas near him.
“Thanks, Jen,” Jaemin says.
Jeno just nods, happily unpeeling his banana when he suddenly stills. He shakes the banana and scratches at it. Jaemin looks on, familiar with that particular kind of behavior.
Jeno frowns at the fruit (not fruit). “What the hell is this? An unpeelable banana? Does that even make senseㅡ”
Jaemin cuts him off by grabbing at the banana (cake). Found it. “That’s for me, sorry.”
Jeno stares at him, blinking. It’s clear he’s still confused, but Jeno being Jeno, he doesn’t dwell on it. “Ooookay. That was really weird. I’ll just...go. Bye, Jaem.”
“Bye!” Jaemin says cheerily. Without a second thought, Jaemin bites into it and then melts onto the island.
Ahhhh. Cake.