Chapter Text
“So, where did you apply? Remember we promised to get into the same place, make a boring task less boring. I can’t believe we have to do this over the summer, is worse than slavery” Renjun huffed, refreshing the page he’d been staring at for the past five minutes.
“Apply…” Jeno trailed the phrase attempting to understand the subject, busy scrolling through Instagram.
“The internships Jeno…the deadline was a week ago, the results are in today. Oh god, don’t tell me you…”
Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. I’m so fucked, Jeno thought, his friend throwing him a dirty glance.
“Why didn’t you remind me!”
“I did, and you even wrote it down, what the hell man?! Are you partying too hard that you forgot? What are you going to do now, all the good places closed the process a week ago. Do you even grasp the severity of this situation? If you don’t do this now, you’ll have to pay another year of tuition from you own pocket…Jesus Christ how could you be so stupid!” Renjun whacked Jeno on the head, making him flinch.
“Ouch! What was that for?”
“For being an asshole”
“What should I do now? Any ideas?” Jeno knew Renjun always had a plan A, B and C for anything and everything regarding school. If anyone had the answer to solve his current predicament, it was him.
“Best case scenario? Review the places no one applied for, the ones that are too small or don’t pay, they might have openings” his friend provided, annoyed. “If those are taken, you can kiss your degree goodbye, and our friendship, you dumb fuck”
Jeno juggled the possibilities quickly in his head. Getting pushed back a year was not something he wanted to disclose to his parents, specially considering he had missed the deadlines, being too busy having an unforgettable time during senior year. Renjun used to joke that the only reason they were still friends was the bond they shared since freshman year – Jeno later entered a fraternity and was popular and sought after, his friends keeping a lower profile – but he never imagined in a million years that a single deadline might ruin his whole life. He liked his major and had good grades, but it was thanks to Renjun he was able to remember important events. This time, not even he was able to keep him in on track.
“Ok, let me check the internships page, maybe there’s something still open” Jeno quickly opened his laptop and perused the site. As Renjun had predicted, everything was already closed and assigned. At the bottom of the page were the places no one had chosen, for the reasons his friend had indicated. That was, at that point, his only choice.
“There’s a nursing home no one picked”
“Dude, who wants to work with old and smelly people, no wonder” Renjun mocked. “I’m sure they’ll take you, I doubt they have any business majors fighting to get in. You should go there and speak with someone that can help you. Then, you can charm the secretary and convince her to let you submit your application”
Jeno grinned, albeit the shitshow he’d brought upon himself. Despite his popularity, he was kind and polite with everyone, and people loved him.
“That I can do. I’ll go now, text you later?”
“Beg if you have to, your whole future rides on this!” the other countered.
*~*~*~*~*
The only silver lining in Jeno’s situation was the fact that the nursing home was close to the dorms, and he could save money by walking there instead of taking public transportation. That also meant he would not have to wake up at the wee hours of the morning to commute. And he loved his grandparents, so being around the elderly did not seem so bad. He wasn’t entirely sure what he’d be able to learn in such a small place, but he also pondered it would be more like real work, a taste of what was about to come. Or a punishment for being a dimwit.
The house was modest but clean, and when he entered, he noticed a big backyard and even a couple of dogs running around. I can deal with this, Jeno thought. Now, it was time to turn up his negotiation abilities and convince whomever it took to get a position. There was a young man behind the front desk, and his horny brain immediately supplied that the guy was too handsome to be a staff member. Maybe a part-timer in a similar situation. Jeno approached him confidently and smiled brightly.
“Hi, may I speak with the manager, please?”
“I’m the manager” the man behind the front desk replied.
“I meant, like the HR manager, or General Manager” Jeno tried.
“I’m all of those” the other continued, smiling. “Are you here to visit?”
“No…I’m actually wondering if you’re still hiring interns. I’m a business major at NCTU and I have to fulfill my requirements this summer”
The man gave him the up and down look, not a trace of amusement on his face at the statement.
“I believe applications were done last week. Did I overlook something?”
“I…” Jeno considered his options and realized honesty was the best policy. “I missed the deadline”
“Oh really? Why?” the man countered, staring at him disapprovingly. “Too occupied doing whatever?”
Jeno did not miss the judgmental tone.
“Full disclosure? I forgot. And I can’t let this slide, my parents will kill me if I don’t graduate on time. Come on, I know no one applied here, I think you need me as much as I need you” Jeno retorted.
“And why is that?” the guy queried.
“I mean, who would want to work here? No offense”
“I do take offense…” the other mussed. “You think because we’re a small place we’d be desperate to take you? From what I’ve gathered, we’d be doing you a favor since you slipped and forgot to submit your paperwork. And I don’t like your attitude, you think you’re too good for us? Think again. Fucking NCTU people” the man mumbled.
“What about it?” Jeno was getting upset.
“I know your school and your kind a little too well, I doubt we’ll be a good fit”
Jeno was aware that his demeanor was sometimes perceived as cocky, and his college had a reputation for being that way. However, he knew the stranger held his future in his hands.
“Just give me a chance, please, I’m begging you, I don’t know what else to do and I must graduate” he pleaded. The other seemed to think about it.
“I can’t pay you, for starters…and we’re understaffed, that means we lend a hand wherever is needed, no questions asked. We go above and beyond for our residents. Are you sure you can handle that?”
“I don’t mind. I can”
“Are you sure? the man repeated and smirked almost imperceptibly for Jeno to really comprehend the extent of the situation.
“I am”
“Fine” the other relent. “Bring your papers tomorrow, we start at 8am sharp, I’ll give you a probation period. If you can’t rise to the challenge, I won’t sign anything”
Jeno felt a flood of relief. Even if it was sorting papers or filing documents, he’d be able to get his credits.
“I’ll be here. I’m Jeno, by the way”
“I’m Jaemin. Be on time, I don’t like people who are late”
Jeno shook Jaemin’s hand and agreed to be there the next day at the established hour. He was over the moon when he called Renjun later and told him about it.
*~*~*~*~*
Jeno arrived the next day 10 minutes early. He knew Jaemin would be a tough cookie to crack, and he wanted to impress him. He wanted to prove him wrong. He was surprised when he rang the bell and realized the place was already up and running. Jaemin guided him to a tiny office in the back, noticing there was nowhere for him to sit or work.
“Where’s my desk? I brought my own computer in case you didn’t have one to spare” he declared, proudly.
“Desk? You don’t need a desk, you’re on cleaning duties” Jaemin replied calmly.
“Excuse me? Me, cleaning? This is not what we agreed upon” Jeno spat.
“What we agreed” Jaemin smiled triumphally “was that I would give you an opportunity, and you promised to help us in any way you were able. We’re taking a huge risk selecting you instead of someone who really wants to be here. Besides, if you can’t handle that for a couple of weeks, you can leave now, and I’ll find someone else”
Jeno felt the bile rise in his throat but managed to disguise his anger. Who the fuck did Jaemin think he was? Only because he was gorgeous didn’t give him the right to treat him that way. This is a test, Jeno mulled to himself. He knew Jaemin would push his buttons, thinking he was another stuck up business major trying to be CEO on the first year. He was going to show him otherwise.
Faced with Jeno’s lack of response, Jaemin continued.
“We are a small facility and we’ve all done odd jobs or things outside our scope of responsibility, that’s the type of team we are and the type of people we want. I was also a business major and I did the same when I came here. But if you think you’re too good for it, as I said, thank you for coming, you can go now”
“I’m not going anywhere” Jeno said, defiantly.
“Excellent” Jaemin preened. “We have 50 residents at the moment, most of them are divided into 2 people rooms. You need to clean after them, and make sure their spaces are spotless. Also, if they request something, you need to come to me before making any decisions, some of them are real con artists” Jaemin chuckled softly. “Don’t give them anything without my permission. If you have questions, you can come to the office or the front desk, I split my time between those”
Jeno stood there, waiting for instructions.
“You do know how to clean right? Or do I have to teach you how to use a broom or a duster?”
“I think I can manage, just point me towards the supplies”
Once Jaemin showed him where everything was and gave him general instructions for the day, he left. Jeno was pissed. That was not what he signed up for, but he was going to make the other eat his words, even when he hardly knew how to clean since Renjun was the neat freak of the bunch, assuring the group would not be eaten by rats or cockroaches.
He began swiping the floors and calculating in his mind how long it would take to finish. Some residents remained in their rooms and others shared time in the common spaces. Nonetheless, he quickly noticed that not everyone was self-sufficient, and that meant bedpans. And that wasn’t something he was excited about doing.
In Jeno’s book, old people had trouble hearing. That allowed him to complain without a high chance of being heard and ratted out to his new boss.
“Four years of college for this…unbelievable” Jeno murmured while cleaning a room. The occupant seemed to be deep in reading and ignoring him, until he spoke.
“I was a lawyer and now, here I am, pissing myself every ten minutes. Life’s a bitch, deal with it”
“I’m sorry sir, I didn’t mean to…” Jeno apologized quickly.
“It’s ok, I’d be mad if I were you as well…you don’t look like a janitor, what are you doing here cleaning?”
“Apparently, I’m being hazed” Jeno replied without thinking. “It’s my first day as an intern” he clarified.
“Oh, I see…” the man continued. “Did the lovely Mr. Na force you to do this?
“No sir, I’m doing it out of my own volition”
“Bullshit” the old man laughed. “You don’t even know how to hold a broom correctly”
“I’m sorry sir, I…” Jeno wanted to die right there, but then he’d be giving Jaemin the pleasure of watching him quit.
“Don’t be” the man replied soothingly. “You’re not the first, surely you won’t be the last. What’s your name?”
“Jeno, sir”
“Well Jeno, I’m guessing this is your trial period. Hang in there, Jaemin is a wonderful young man, I’m positive you’ll be friends in no time, if you manage to survive”
“I don’t think he likes me enough not to kill me before that”
“He’s delightful once you get to know him, and you haven’t earned that right yet” the older continued. “He’s kind to everyone here, I couldn’t love him more if he was my own grandson, and since I don’t have any family, he takes care of me”
“What do you mean?” Jeno was intrigued.
“I never had kids, hence, no grandchildren. And my wife passed away years ago”
“May I ask your name, sir?” Jeno felt immediately connected to the old man. He couldn’t even imagine his papa being alone in a place like that, with no one to care for him. It broke his heart.
“You can call me Mr. Kim” the man smiled. “Don’t you worry, people here are really nice and they won’t give you a hard time. Mrs. Lee is chatty so I’d advise you to go to her room when she’s not there, if not, you’ll never leave”
“Copy that. Is there anything I can do for you? Besides learning how to clean better” Jeno joked.
“Maybe you can stop by sometime, read me something? My eyes are not what they used to, and I love reading”
“Do you think Atila the Hun will allow it?” the younger teased.
“My sweet boy, I think you need a crash course about this place…” Mr. Kim sat on his bed, beckoning Jeno closer. “You really should be more respectful of him kid, he saved this place. The last manager embezzled all our funds, and we were about to go homeless. Most of us don’t have families, this is the only place where we are safe. Jaemin…gosh I don’t know how he even managed to do it, but he reached out to every single person he knew just to aid us. He raised money, secured the building and a loan for the next 5 years, all that just with his skills, no prior work experience whatsoever. He learned everything he had to know to convince everyone he was able to keep this place running”
“But I thought he was a graduate…”
“He had to drop out, he didn’t have the money to pay for the rest of his career” the older revealed. “He’s the result of hard work and determination, don’t be a snob and judge him just because he doesn’t have a degree. You can learn a lot from him, if you play your cards right”
Jeno was dumbfounded. All this time he thought Jaemin was only making him relive his own hardships, when in reality, he was almost a superhero without a cape.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped, Mr. Kim”
“No need to apologize dear, it’s a common misconception. There’s a lot more than meets the eye with him, give it some time. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think there’s a movie playing that I have to see for the 30th time” the older kidded, making Jeno laugh.
“Can I come back and visit? If you’re ok with it?”
“Dear, do you see me going anywhere? I’ll be here when you’re done”
As promised, Jeno managed to fulfill his dailies without getting complaints from the residents. He did spend an awful lot of time with Mrs. Lee, the lady overjoyed by the newcomer, sharing stories and reminiscing about her past. Although it would probably make him late, Jeno listened and commented on her tales. His nana would be proud, and probably also mocking him from heaven.
From time to time, he felt eyes on him, just to turn around and find Jaemin checking on him, not making any observations. Or at least that was what it appeared to be from his standpoint. When his lunch break was due, he returned to Mr. Kim’s room to share his day, and to blabber about his boss.
“He’s always watching me, I feel like he’s waiting for me to fail”
“I’m sure he’s not even paying attention to you honey, there’s a lot of things to be done here” Mr. Kim returned.
“By the way, where’s the rest of the staff? Who are they?”
“Staff?” The old man laughed. “You’re certainly not used to this, aren’t you? There’s a couple of nurses for those who need them, but that’s it. All of us are more or less self-sufficient, and we take care of each other. I’d say being together, being one another’s companionship is the main thing”
“And who deals with, I don’t know, a clogged toiled or a busted light?”
“Jaemin does all that. When, I have no idea, I bet he has a pullout couch in his office and sleeps here most of the time. As you mentioned, he’s always around” the older sighed “I wish he would ask for help or hire someone else, but I guess he is still scared of us going under once more and saving every penny”
“Does everyone pay to be here?” Jeno wondered exactly how the place was being financed, considering it wasn’t in ruins to explain Jaemin’s trepidations.
“No, some residents were homeless, and Jaemin took them in regardless. And the ones that can give some money, it’s not that much either, our pensions are very low”
“I would love to review the books and see if there’s anything I can do for you…” Jeno thought out loud. Perhaps his major and experience could become handy, if the younger agreed to let him help.
“Let’s concentrate on getting you through your trial period first, Jeno” Mr. Kim smiled. “Do you have a lot left to do? Do you think you can drop by before you leave and read to me for a few minutes?” the man queried, hopeful.
“I’ll be here around 6pm, Mr. Kim, you can count on it”
Jeno finished his sandwich and returned to his duties. Cleaning the entire place took time and fortitude, but every resident he encountered greeted him warmly and made him reconsider his so-called punishment. The people there were amazing, every single one with a past that only made Jeno more aware of how blessed he was.
When his workday was over, he returned to Jaemin’s office to clock out. The other glanced at him, amused, and only then Jeno realized his appearance was not the same he had when he entered, dress shirt wrinkled and a few stains on his slacks.
“You might want to reconsider your attire for the following days” he pitched in. “If you come back”
Jeno met his gaze and swallowed quietly. Did he miss something? Had he failed already?
“I did everything you told me to, you can go check! Why am I being laid off when…”
“I was not stating anything, I was asking you if you were going to come back tomorrow” Jaemin corrected. “I made the rounds and your work was ok. You should get better”
“I will. As I mentioned, I’m not going anywhere”
“Ok” Jaemin said, dryly. “I’d advise comfortable clothes from now on, things you don’t mind getting dirty”
“I’ll be better prepared” Jeno affirmed.
“You can go now. Same time tomorrow”
“If it’s ok with you, can I stay a bit longer? I promised Mr. Kim I’d read to him for a while”
“I knew he would charm you at first sight” Jaemin grinned. “Don’t bring him anything sweet though, I bet he is waiting for the opportunity to ask you. He’s a diabetic, he can’t have sugar, don’t fall for his tricks”
“I won’t. Or I can bring him some treats for his condition, if that’s allowed?”
“You can do that if you want” Jaemin finished, returning to his paperwork, Jeno taking his cue to leave the office. He was reaching for the door when the other spoke.
“Jeno? Good work today. I’m intrigued to see what you become being here”
Jeno returned to Mr. Kim’s room and read to him until he fell asleep. It didn’t took long, considering the man’s age and probably his health condition. He left the room quietly, and made his way down the hall to the exit. He passed Jaemin’s office only to notice he was still there, as the older had predicted. Even when he was burning to ask what he was doing at those late hours or offer some unrequested assistance, he decided to obey Mr. Kim’s words. Earning Jaemin’s trust and respect would take time, and Jeno was both excited and wary of what might come.
*~*~*~*~*
The student managed to survive his first week with only sore muscles and stained clothes, but in the end, he did become better at his tasks, Jaemin almost praising his improvement. Almost, because he still corrected and pointed out his missteps. Jeno also realized few people dropped by to visit the residents and that made his heart ache. Probably a lot of them didn’t have any relatives or anyone who cared for them. He made a mental note to attempt to save some minutes every day to share with the one’s that could need it the most. When Friday came, Jaemin called him to his office to discuss the following actions.
“Mr. Kim told me you wanted to check our books” Jaemin mentioned casually. Jeno felt embarrassed, and feared the other would think he was questioning the way he managed the place, already considering himself a better fit.
“I was just thinking out loud, I’m not going to pretend to know more than you about this place”
“I also know he shared with you I’m a dropout” Jaemin continued, but this time, he seemed willing to listen. “Since I didn’t have the chance to finish college, perhaps you do have a trick or two up your sleeve…if you’re still interested” the man pushed one of the notebooks in front of him, gesturing at the chair in front of his desk.
“Really?” Jeno was fazed.
“What? You don’t think you can do it? Just say the word” Jaemin challenged. Jeno grinned.
“I’m not an expert, but my family has a business and I’ve been around numbers my whole life”
“You come from money then, uh? No wonder”
Jeno was used to misconceptions, and it didn’t bother him. However, at that moment, he felt the need to set the record straight.
“I’m not what you think I am” he began, earning a surprised glance from the other. “When I say business, it’s a farm what I’m talking about. My papa had a plot of land and did his best to make it grow, but when he got sick, my mom and dad took over. I was 8 years old when I started helping them, cleaning the stables and feeding the chickens. My dad noticed I was always perusing the books and taught me the basics about accounting. We lived in the countryside, and we didn’t own a computer, so I learned the old school way and developed a knack for it. Running around the farm also made me good at sports, which is how I got into NCTU with a scholarship. I don’t come from money, we never had a lot to spare, but I didn’t lack anything growing up either. So, if knowing how many eggs I can trade for vegetables or milk is something I can apply here, I’m the perfect person for the job”
Jaemin felt his face flush at the sudden revelation. He had clearly misjudged Jeno by the way he carried himself and the college he’d chosen to attend. Nonetheless, there was apparently a lot more than met the eye with the man, and he was now, captivated.
“I guess I made a mistake with you” he muttered.
“You did. But I also thought you were something you’re not, and Mr. Kim set me straight. We’re even”
“What did that old fart tell you? Don’t believe everything that comes out of his mouth, he’s a menace” Jaemin chuckled softly. Jeno smiled at the remark.
“He said enough to make me stay and put more effort into my work. And I know I can learn a lot from you, but you can also learn a couple of things from me, if you give me an opportunity…a real one” Jeno countered.
“If you think I’m going to spare you the cleaning, you’re sorely mistaken…” Jaemin declared.
“I wouldn’t dream about it, I know I have a lot to prove… still, I think I can contribute more, I have a few ideas”
“Oh really? Let’s hear them”
Jeno lit up at the offer and browsed through the books while discussing the spending and incomes of the place. As Mr. Kim had predicted, it was outstanding how Jaemin was able to keep the place running with minimum cash flow, a third of the residents unable to pay for their stay. Nevertheless, the ones that were healthy helped with the maintenance, cooking, gardening, and several assorted duties. The bulk of the work was yet on Jaemin’s shoulders, something Jeno found unfair. Jaemin was probably his age, and the fact that someone so young traded his freedom only to aid others made his heart flutter.
“There’s barely any revenue, but all the expenses are justified, and I believe we could apply for some government programs to get some extra money. We could also request sponsorship from different companies and make the home more visible. We don’t have any social media presence, and I think when people see the work we do here, they’ll be more than happy to contribute” Jeno shared. Jaemin raised a brow.
“We?”
“Yes, we” Jeno continued. “We’re in this together unless you’re planning on letting me go today. As I mentioned, I’m not going anywhere”
Jaemin finally caved.
“Fine. You can divide your time next week between cleaning and developing a plan with me for all your…ideas. I don’t know if they’re going to pan out, but I’m willing to give it a shot”
“Are you willing to give me a shot too?” Jeno queried.
“I am” Jaemin couldn’t stop the smile on his lips. “Let’s do it, together”
*~*~*~*~*
The weekend was a welcomed distraction, and Jeno agreed to meet his friends to hear the stories about their internships. He was overjoyed by the fact that Jaemin had opened up and given him an opportunity to pitch in and support the home. The trio met for drinks that Saturday, and they were excited to share their adventures. Or something akin to it.
“Our supervisor is so hot man, it’s ridiculous. I’m gonna tap that as soon as possible”
“Is that true?” Jeno queried, amused.
“He’s fine” Renjun muttered. “He’s nice, but I don’t think he’s ever going to look at him in another way, he’s older”
“Not that old, just 6 years…and I can teach him a trick or two if he wants…or should I say, when he wants” Hyuck wiggled his eyebrows, making the others fake gag.
“Please don’t say those things when I’m in the room and please, not at the office”
“Why not? Just because you’re silently drooling over that nerd in IT, doesn’t mean I have to take the same path”
“Oh really?” Jeno smirked at Renjun, who punched the other man in the arm.
“I’m not! He was helping me set up the systems in my computer, nothing else”
“Yeah right…because ogling at him from afar is totally part of our responsibilities” Hyuck mocked and returned his attention to Jeno. “What about you? Have you met anyone?”
“I did” Jeno smiled. “He’s a lawyer and he’s very smart”
“Uhhh that’s an upgrade! How old is he?”
“About 75, give or take”
“Jeno!!! Are you fucking kidding me?” Hyuck spat.
“Mr. Kim is one of the residents at the nursing home, he was the first person to treat me with kindness and explain to me how everything worked. He’s my favorite, he reminds me a lot of my papa” Jeno said, wistfully.
“Oh Jen, that’s wonderful” Renjun replied, much to the others surprise. “What?! I can be nice sometimes!”
“Not to us!” Hyuck added.
“Oh shut up, or I won’t help you with the supervisor”
“Why would you need his help?” Jeno inquired.
“Smarty pants here is already the golden boy of the group. And Taeil pays attention to him, he might be useful someday” Hyuck huffed.
“I want to know what happened with the sergeant” Renjun spoke. “I thought he was making your life a living hell, and here you are, excited to be cleaning toilets and ready to do it all over again next week”
Jeno’s cheeks went red at the statement. He would be lying to himself if he didn’t acknowledge that spending time with Jaemin wasn’t pleasant. The man was tough as nails, but with a softness underneath that only privileged people were allowed to witness. Jeno was getting glimpses of it the more they talked and discussed plans for the home. Just like Mr. Kim has predicted, getting to know the other had to be earned, and it was an honor.
“He’s not that bad…once you get on his good side, and I’ve done my share of work to prove to him I’m serious” Jeno retorted.
“Then I’ll have you tidy up the dorm from now on, since you’re so good at it” Renjun kidded.
“No thanks, we all know you’re way better at that. But I do need some help” the other declared.
“With what?” Hyuck queried.
“The nursing home. They’re getting by, but I’m positive there’s so much good that could be done there, if only someone paid attention, and Jaemin’s the only one that cares, besides the residents. I looked at the books and gathered some information on programs and aids, but I feel it’s not enough. What do you guys think? What else can we do? Some of the people there have no one, it breaks my heart” Jeno finished, eyes bright with unshed tears.
“Jeez that place really did a number on you” Renjun half mocked, but sobered up quickly. “I get it though, I can’t imagine my grandpa or my parents having to fence for themselves like that. Just tell us what you need so we can come up with some ideas” he finished, already taking some notes for later.
“First and foremost, they need money to stay afloat. And people to come by to visit and care for the elderly. They don’t even have doctors there, just a couple of nurses”
“I can step up with that” Hyuck pitched in. “My dad can bring some interns to check on the residents from time to time, for free of course, and if someone needs a more specific treatment, I bet he can make it happen”
“You think they’ll be willing to do that?” Jeno wondered. “I know your dad’s amazing, but working with old people is not something everyone wants to do”
“Every single intern idolizes him and follow him like ducklings” Hyuck chuckled. “I bet he can ask them to fetch him coffee and rub his feet and they’d be fighting for the opportunity, it’s basically a done deal, I just have to ask him and I’m sure he’ll say yes, he loves to help people”
“I can ask my dad to donate some money or put together some sort of charity event for them” Renjun added. His father was an extremely successful event planner, and had a client list worth millions.
Jeno often wondered how he got so lucky with his friends. Coming from the countryside, he expected to be ostracized for not having wealth, or dressing kind of funny at the beginning. But Renjun and Hyuck took him in the moment he got to college, wide eyed and innocent. After a couple of years, he also caught the attention of the popular cliques, main reason why he joined a fraternity. He’d never been invited to parties or had things just handed to him. It was fun for a while, but now that he’d seen the other side of the coin, he sort of regretted not doing something more meaningful with his time.
“You guys would really do that for me? For them?”
“Do we even know each other?” Renjun spoke. “We may have taken different paths in terms of our social interactions, but you’re an amazing guy, and we love you. We’re your friends, we’d do anything for you, as we know you’d do anything for us”
“That true” Jeno quickly added. “If there’s anything I can do to return the favor, please, just ask”
“I just want to be invited to the wedding later, and I call dibs on the groomsmen” Renjun laughed.
“Hey! I should get something in return too!” Hyuck huffed.
“By that time you’ll have a boyfriend dude, I’m going to help you as well, cause I’m that incredible”
“You heard him Jeno, he can’t take it back”
“Ok ok, I’ll keep tabs on that, but are you sure we can pull this off?” Jeno asked, serious.
“Consider it done”