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There have only been a few times that Jaemin was completely serious – when he’s studying, when it’s health and safety related and when he’s mad.
Jeno stares at Jaemin from their bed, sitting in the middle with his legs crossed, eyes stuck on Jaemin’s figure by the door. He’s not studying and he’s pretty sure they’re both safe… so Jaemin was mad?
Jeno gulps a little, watching as Jaemin walks over to him with a stoic expression, no emotion on his face. Jeno’s thinking about the different reasons Jaemin could be potentially mad but none come to mind.
Jaemin is rarely mad and Jeno couldn’t think of anything that could suddenly make the other strict-faced and expressionless.
Did something happen during class?
Jeno furrows his eyebrows, remembering clearly how happy the other was during their daily lunch call and Jaemin’s class after was one that he enjoyed. So why was Jaemin mad? Was Jaemin even mad in the first place?
“We need to talk.”
Jeno nods his head slowly as Jaemin climbs onto the bed, sitting in front of Jeno. Jaemin still had a blank expression and Jeno seriously wondered if something was bothering the other.
Jaemin doesn’t say anything and Jeno frowns a little, moving closer to Jaemin. He reaches out to take his hand, rubbing it softly as Jaemin stares at him.
“Are you okay? Did something happen?” he asks worriedly but Jaemin doesn’t budge and Jeno’s face contorts into sadness.
What is happening?
“Jeno,” Jaemin calls out and Jeno cringes at the lack of a pet name, so much more used to hearing Jaemin call him ‘Baby’. “How long have we been together?”
Jeno knots his eyebrows together in confusion. He looks worriedly at Jaemin before answering quietly. “We’ve been friends for 7 years and we’ve been dating for 2, almost 3 years.”
Jeno doesn’t know why is asking this question but it makes him worried. Why is he asking this question? Oh god, is he breaking up with me? Wait– no that can’t be–
“Jaemin–”
Jaemin lifts a hand up between them, stopping Jeno from speaking. Jeno shuts his mouth almost immediately, waiting for Jaemin to speak first, trusting him.
“I’m mad,” Jaemin says, eyes staring so intensely into Jeno’s eyes that he feels intimidated. He’s never seen the other like this before. It’s kinda hot– No.
Jeno looks at him with a frown, pouting his lips. “Why?”
Jaemin doesn’t say anything, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He looks around the room before looking back at a pouty Jeno. He almost breaks character right there and then, Jeno looking like a kid whose lollipop was stolen from him.
“We’ve been friends for 7 years, 2 of which we are dating,” Jaemin starts and Jeno listens carefully, frown still on his face, “And we’ve never gotten matching rings?!”
Jaemin’s face looked animated, eyebrows furrowed in fake anger, lips forming a pout. Jeno blinks at him once, twice and then he sighs. He doesn’t say anything, processing Jaemin’s words once again before looking at the other with a glare.
There’s already a smile spreading across Jaemin’s face, stifling in the laughter he surprisingly held onto for a long time. Jeno doesn’t smile though, a pout on his face as he glares harmlessly at Jaemin.
“You scared me!” Jeno whines and Jaemin laughs cheerfully. “I thought you were gonna leave me. I thought you were mad at me. I thought I did something wrong, or something happened. I was so worried! How dare you?!”
Jaemin bursts out into a fit of laughter, unable to control his laughter as Jeno glares up at him. He grins widely, cupping Jeno’s face in his hands, kissing his pouty lips. And Jeno can’t fight back the smile.
“I’m sorry~,” Jaemin says, kissing all over Jeno’s face. “It wasn’t my intention to scare you.”
Jeno deadpans at him, “Don’t lie.”
Jaemin giggles again before kissing Jeno’s soft lips. “Okay, maybe a little. But you were so cute. And I would never break up with you. I will never leave you either. Okay?”
Jeno pouts, still mad at Jaemin for the stunt he pulled. He hums and Jaemin laughs again. He removes his hand from Jeno’s face and goes to hold his hands. He smiles at Jeno as the frown on his face slowly disappears, turning to a small smile.
“What I actually wanted to tell you is that I have a surprise for you,” Jaemin grins, Jeno relaxing at the more soothing tone of Jaemin’s voice and his familiar smile.
“I was serious about us not having matching rings because how can that be?! We’ve known each other for so long and we’ve been dating for a while, I can’t BELIEVE we haven’t gotten ourselves matching rings yet!” Jaemin rambles and Jeno listens with a smile.
“How can we have matching clothes, matching shoes, matching phone cases but not matching rings?” Jaemin asks, dramatically waving his hand around.
Jeno giggles at Jaemin’s (successful) attempt to cheer him up from the little prank he did on him earlier.
“Anyway.” Jaemin lets go of Jeno’s hand and reaches into his back pocket. Jeno raises his eyebrows at him, confused. Jeno was pretty sure they agreed that marriage was for after graduation and getting a job.
Jaemin faces him again with a smile, a small, white box in his hands. Jeno blinks, feeling his heart pound against his chest.
It wasn’t a proposal, they both knew that but even the simplest of things made them excited – and it’s a ring! Who wouldn’t feel like exploding?!
Jaemin opens the box and there’s a silver ring inside. The design was simple but to Jeno, he didn’t care how it looked. He only cared that it was from Jaemin. His eyes sparkle at the ring and a huge smile spreads across his face.
Jaemin takes the ring from the box and carefully takes Jeno’s hand. He holds at his middle finger, looking at Jeno before putting it on.
“It’s not a proposal. Not a wedding proposal, for obvious reasons,” Jaemin chuckles, “But I also want this to mean two things. The first is that we’ll always be each other’s best friends. We’ve known each other longer than we loved each other and it’s only fair these rings have that meaning.”
Jeno nods, agreeing as he smiles widely at Jaemin.
“Secondly, this ring also means that we have each other. No matter what,” Jaemin says softly, a small smile on his face. “No matter what life throws at us, we always have each other and we can always rely on each other. We’ll always love each other, through our ups and downs.”
Jeno giggles, staring into Jaemin’s eyes. “It almost sounds like we’re getting married.”
Jaemin laughs as Jeno’s eyes turn into crescents. “Not yet,” and Jeno blushes at his words. “This is not quite an ‘I do’ yet.”
Jeno laughs and nods his head. Leaning in to kiss Jaemin. Jaemin smiles into the kisses, Jeno giggling a little. “I love you.”
“I love you,” Jaemin grins and puts the ring on Jeno. Just like Jaemin thought, the ring looked beautiful on Jeno, matching him perfectly.
Jeno stares at the jewellery, a wide smile on his face. He thinks it’s perfect.
“When did you even get this?”
Jaemin laughs, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter! Look, we're matching!” He says cheerfully, showing his own on his fingers.
Jeno smiles, looking up at Jaemin. The rings were beautiful and someday Jeno hopes that one day the ring goes on his ring finger (not that he hated this, he LOVED this. Absolutely adored it and even if this was the last ring Jaemin gave to him he didn’t mind. He just loved the idea of being Jaemin’s husband – that’s for future them to think about, not now).