Chapter Text
“Okay, so,” Mark initiated, standing by the long, large whiteboard, a marker on hand. “Congratulations to us! The photoshoot was approved by the admins!”
The student council office erupted with applause, especially the seniors for their thorough planning and platform. Their dream was not anymore kept to imagination, but a reality in the making.
“Oh my god, impulsive clothes shopping will always be worth it,” Donghyuck exclaimed, hands clasped and head tilted upwards, an outfit already in the making.
“How are you the Treasurer, yet handle your finance like shit?” Renjun murmured, the Secretary of the council, ready to take note of further details.
“Okay, so as the graduating and pioneer batch to have a photoshoot, we have to coordinate with the editor-in-chief of the school paper.”
Mark started writing on the board, the other council members chatting amongst themselves, as Jaemin sighed, thankful for finishing his last year of highschool with a blast and flying colors.
From doing great in academics, seminars on leadership, workshop on photography, volunteer work in the council, he enjoyed every bit of his experience, from the happiest to the most stressful.
So, this was the last hoorah.
“Since we seniors are graduating and the new batch of the student council are present and taking over, our job is less heavy, more free,” Mark started, done writing on the board.
“We’ve already agreed on our theme Turn Back Time, so today's agenda is designating tasks,” clearing his throat, “Jun, you’ll work with your cous— I mean, the Layout Artist—”
“You can tell everyone Yangyang’s my cousin. No harm,” Renjun reassured, oblivious of Mark’s stutter.
“Right, right, your cousin. You’ll coordinate with Yang about the color palette and designs.” Renjun’s eyes sparkled, excited for his last job as Secretary.
“Hyu— Haechan will work with the EIC in finding a local publishing house. Smaller expenses, the better.” Donghyuck nodded at that, estimating a budget.
“Then,” Mark eyed Jaemin, and—
“Why?” He already knows. Jaemin already knows, but Mark doesn’t want to do anything about it.
“Jaemin, Jeno, collect the ideas and concepts of our batch. We have six sections, so have three each. Communicate with each other before relaying it to me,” Mark instructed, moving on to other members.
So why? Despite nearing the finish line, the few seconds of being on stage to graduate, Jaemin has to work with his classmate, his rival, Jeno.
It’s funny, honestly, how Jaemin is the Vice President (Internal), Jeno the Vice President (External), so no matter what they do, they cross paths.
It’s not even that they hate each other, but that they dislike working with one another. They are — well, can be — civil, but more often than not, they wanna one up the other.
However, there was a divide. It was friendly at first, one feeling proud for having a higher remark on an exam, the other saying a mellow congrats! or whatever back-handed congratulatory response they could come up with.
Until somehow, it became serious? Or much more dense, the air between them. Kinda hard to explain, but one thing’s for sure.
They don’t know why they act that way with each other.
“Okay, that’s all our agendas for this meeting. We’ll have a follow up by the end of the week,” Mark finished, folders in hand.
“If any questions arise, ask away. If in person, I’m in room 404. That would be all; this meeting is dismissed.” Mark and every other council member prepared themselves, Donghyuck approaching Jaemin.
“Don’t even—” Hyuck already smirked and laughed and patted Jaemin’s back before he could get anything out.
“Whatever.” Jaemin left the office, descending the stairs, as Jeno and Renjun were the only ones left inside.
“Can you handle it? We can switch duties if you want to,” Jun offered, albeit feeling bitter.
“Question is if he can handle it. I can manage, Jun. I know you want that role with your cousin,” Jen assured, standing up.
“It’s already the end of the year. Aren’t you both going to, I don’t know, make up?” Renjun queried, hoping they would have closure of some sorts.
“No, but if he comes up to me,” Jeno eyed Renjun, “We’ll see about that.”
hell week: 1st semester
Just like any other enemies to friends troupe, the two had seen each other vulnerable. Maybe that made them warm up to the other, the ounce of friendly and caring and sympathetic they mustered.
“Oh my fucking—” Jaemin pinched the space between his brows, eyes closed in hopes of reducing the radiation from his screen.
“What time is it?” Looking at his watch did not help him one bit, instead making him more stressed.
But Jeno entering the office when he thought everyone already went home at that ungodly hour, before dusk? Not helping.
At first he just stared, then proceeded to the cabinet behind Jaemin, classifying some documents for their meeting the next day.
“Aren’t you going home?” he inquired, Jaemin finding it anything but helpful.
“No, I’m getting this done.” Jeno leaned over his head to see what he was accomplishing and shrugged.
“Wasn’t that given like two weeks ago?” Jaemin saw how Jeno rolled his eyes from a mirror. Definitely at his limit.
“Can’t do anything about the deadline, now can I?” Jaemin stopped typing. Continuing would only worry his Papa when he gets home.
“Really? You? Rushing a paper?” Jeno didn’t bother to ask, just the usual teasing, but Jaemin took it to heart.
He was losing himself to stress, banging the table in a fist.
“Wow, isn’t this great!” Jeno jolted at that, about to leave, hand already on the knob.
“Here I am, rushing a research paper because my group mates are full of shit, giving me seen messages, lackluster contributions, and plagiarized paragraphs.”
Jeno turnt to face him, worry plastered on his face. He didn’t mean to do that to Jaem—
“And I have to cover for them because I want to do well. But at what cost? My health! My time, my leisure, my effort, everything!
“And I work like a dog, day and night, drinking eight shots of espresso in my damn coffee!
“So yes, I am hiding in the office, the student council office of every possible place, and I am becoming an emotional wreck—
“Because I can’t keep my fucking cool!”
Jaemin covered his eyes, back straightening from slouching too much, and oh god…
Jeno heard the most painful sobbing he had ever had to witness, and it took an impulse for him to close Jaemin’s laptop and grab his hands, firm and soft.
“Hey, hey, breathe. I need you to breathe,” Jeno stilled, fingers caressing. He didn’t know if he should act now, but he cannot not do something.
“I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t know, I should’ve been careful…” It was genuine. Jaemin knew what Jeno sounded like if he was genuine.
The act consoled him, as he laid his head low, facing away from Jeno.
“You have two options,” Jeno suggested, handkerchief wiping stressed tears. “You can either remove them from your group or have them do their part under the supervision of a parent or teacher.”
“But—” But what, Jaemin? But what?
“It hurts to see anyone like this, so please, take it. I can’t force you, but again, please, not at the sake of your health.”
And maybe Jeno entering the office let him have solace for a good fifteen minutes.
Maybe… Jaemin thought.
He could warm up to Jeno.
“Bun! Wel— Come?” an adult male greet-asked, a familiar car parked up front.
“Hi, um, I offered Jaemin a ride. He put this cafe as the address and slept on the way here.” Jeno was awkward, handing Jaemin over, whose arm was wrapped around Jeno’s shoulder, but anyway.
“So, uh, good night, Sir,” he bid between broken pauses, mentally face palming.
“Kid!” the man called, Jeno facing back.
“Thank you,” he waved, a gummy smile protruding. “Get home safely!”
Jeno offered a small raise of cheeks and bowed at that.
The next morning, Jaemin looked fresh and bright and fine. The crease on Jeno’s forehead softened at that, then he’s stunned that he is walking up to his desk.
“Thank you,” the younger whispered, placing a drink on his desk, patting his shoulder before going to his own desk.
Jeno blinked three times, eyed the drink on his desk, held it in his hand, turnt it around, and saw a note.
it’s steamed milk mixed with chocolate bits
my father made it, so it’s really, really good
thank you again and enjoy
-jaem :))
How does Jaemin know Jeno’s favorite drink to a tee?
last day: before exams
“God, I’m done.” Jeno groaned, facing up as he released all the built tension on his neck, snapping his wrist.
That was about seven favors, three requirements, and council work done in a day, and he could feel the slump on his shoulders getting heavy.
“I can finally go home,” he muffled between pained body parts, slamming the door closed behind him, his bag on his left.
“The fu—” Whoever heard the slammed door stopped, seeing Jeno wobbly walking, swaying, knees bent low.
“I can finally—” Two steps away from falling down the stairs, Jaemin caught him.
“What is wrong with you!?” He sat Jeno down for a moment, snatching his bag to carry over his shoulder.
jae… min?
“You’re exhausted, and you’re burning up.” Jeno felt numb. Did Jaemin just touch his forehead and neck?
“I’ll bring you to the clinic. Can you walk? I’ll support you.” Jeno slung his arm around Jaemin, taking slow steps down the stairs.
“Shit,” Jaemin grunted. The clinic was closed for the day. Isn’t that amazing.
“You have a car, right? Can I drive you to the hospital?” Jeno nodded, but Jaemin wasn’t sure if he was fully aware at that point.
But whatever, it’s his classmate’s health at stake right now.
“Are you related to him, Sir?” a nurse asked, Jaemin shaking his head. “Any immediate family member you can call?”
…
Was the nurse serious? Would Jaemin actually have any of Jeno’s close contacts? Well, the nurse doesn’t know them, and…
He doesn’t have any at all.
“I don’t, but uh, I can wait ‘till he comes back to his senses. I’ll tell him about it,” Jaemin reasoned, and that was enough for the nurse to move on with her rounds.
Now, what was surprising to Jaemin, albeit the night growing darker, was that he was willing to stay for Jeno.
He told his father that he’d be coming home late, responding with I’ll fetch you later. Keep him company, hm?
Then a ring on the phone echoed through the hospital bed enclosed in curtains.
But it wasn’t Jaemin’s phone, and without much thought, he answered the call.
“Hey, sam. I’ll be home late. Don’t lock the door, hm?”
Jaemin opened and closed his mouth, finding the words to blurt out, but nothing came.
How is he supposed to tell this man — given his deep voice — that Jeno is in the emergency room?
“Jeno? Hello? You good?” he asked, confused at the unusual silence.
“Um…” Jaemin had to be brave. He had to for Jeno.
“Sir, Jeno is hospitalized. He has fatigue and a fever and fainted on the way here. I apologize for driving his car, too, Sir…”
He felt vindicated to get that out his chest, but what would the man feel about it…?
“Text me the address. I’ll be there right away,” and dropped the call, Jaemin heaving in relief.
“Jaemin?” a familiar voice called, groggy and hoarse.
Thank god he gained consciousness.
“You,” Jaemin stomped closer to the bed, as Jeno turnt to his back, hiding beneath the sheets, but a supple touch on his neck made him sneak a peek at his classmate, the latter teary eyed.
“I know you’re kind and helpful and a student leader and all, but…” he inhaled regret, exhaled disappointment.
“Stop. Set a boundary. No is a one-word sentence. It won’t make you bad,” Jaemin advised, rubbing his eyes to prevent falling tears.
“You’re human, too, right? You get tired?” Welp, that hit a nerve, and it sent Jeno into a single tear.
“I’ll keep you company ‘till whoever I answered your call to arrives,” as Jaemin sat beside the bed, hand caressing Jeno’s hair.
“I know it’s hard, but relax, will you?” Jeno hummed at that, staring at the ceiling.
“Sam!” The curtain revealed an adult, Jaemin landing at his eyes, meeting.
“See you at school,” Jaemin whispered, bowing at the man in front of him, excusing himself.
“Bu— Kid,” the adult halted, Jaemin turning a few. “Thanks for accompanying my son,” and patted his head.
“I’ll have him bring you pastries next time,” resulting in a dimpled smile.
Jaemin liked the exchange, bowing respectfully. “I’ll take it, Sir, and you’re welcome,” leaving the vicinity.
Two days later, Jeno finally went to school, a takeaway box with a ham and cheese and an apple-filled croissant inside already on Jaemin’s desk.
hey, thanks for staying back at the hospital
it was my father who chose the flavors
hope you like it
-jen >_<
Jeno got Jaemin’s favorite pastry, and no strawberries, too?