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Jeno and Jaemin were a young couple at the age of 21. They were living in a flat together and shared almost everything. Jeno was a bit older than Jaemin and was the one who was working to get money while Jaemin was keeping their dorm clean and steady.
Usually Jeno worked late in the evening so Jaemin would wait for him to get back so they could sleep together.
But today Jenos work was even more late because he decided that Jaemin was the man for his life.
He wanted to ask Jaemin to marry him and so he asked his chef if he could start later and work longer to which he agreed.
Jeno just told Jaemin to dress nicely and to meet up in an expensive dinner and here they were.
Jaemin wore a beautiful white suit with a black shirt and black shoes while Jenos suit was black. They were sitting down at the table and waited for the waiter to get their ordered food.
"Why did you get me here today Jen ?“
"I thought we should spend some time together so I ordered you here.“ Jaemin smiled as he gently stroked over Jenos hand.
"Do you like the restaurant ?“
"I love it Jeno. It looks so romantic and all these roses are so beautiful. You couldn’t have picked a better one.“
Jeno looked at Jaemins bright smile that he loved more than anything in the world.
"Here is your food sir.“ The waiter came and sat two beautiful served meals in front of the couple. "Thank you so much sir.“ Jaemin bowed before the waiter left.
"Good appetite Jaemin.“ Jaemin nodded in a response and started eating the delicious food when his eyes sparkled. "Wow this is so good I love it. Thank you so much for inviting me Jen.“ Jeno smiled back but then got nervous about whats next.
He knew what he was going to do was right but what if Jaemin would say no ? He would lose the person he loved the most. What if Jaemin already had another man and was just so nice today because he wanted to break up ? Jeno knew Jaemin was the one but maybe Jaemin didn’t think the same way.
But it was the way Jaemin was looking at him. So kind and so greatful that told Jeno he truly loved him.
"Come on Jaemin I need to show you something.“
Jaemin looked up from his finished plate in a surprised way but he quickly nodded as Jeno grabbed his hand and left a 50 dollar bill on the table. The two of them got out of the local and onto a big field of flowers and gras right next to it. In front of them there was a cliff falling down since the restaurant was laying on a mountain and the moon was shining over the see in the valley.
"This is so beautiful Jeno.“ Jeno smiled and pulled Jaemin near the cliff. Then he let go of Jaemins hand. And while Jaemin was so amazed by the nice look of his surroundings Jeno got onto his knees and pulled a little dark blue box from behind his back. When Jaemins eyes landed on his boyfriend again he looked shocked.
"Na Jaemin. You are the love of my life and I want to keep you with me forever. Do you want to marry me ?“
Jaemins hands were shaking and clasped over his mouth as tears streamed down both of their faces and then he nodded.
"Yes yes I want to I want to marry you Jeno.“
Jeno broke down in more tears as he got the ring that was placed inside the box and held Jaemins hand to carefully place it onto his ringfinger. Then he stood up and saw Jaemin admiring the expensive jewelry.
The ring was silver with a little blue diamond sat on top. Jenos good paid job let him get this one for his lover. "It is so beautiful Jeno. Thank you. I love you so much.“ Jaemin then kissed his lovers lips and hugged him tightly. "I‘m so glad you said yes Minnie.“ Jeno cried but calmed himself in his fiances arms.
"I would never say no to you Lee Jeno. Youre the love of my life and I couldnt wait for this moment to happen.“ Jeno smiled before pulling Jaemin back with him towards their car.
"I‘m sorry we couldn't stay longer I need to work.“ Jeno said as they were back in their home. "Thats alright don’t worry but don’t be mad at me I will probably go to sleep before you come back. I feel really exhausted.“ Jaemin said as he placed a goodbye kiss on Jenos cheek.
"Don’t worry love its alright. See you tomorrow then.“
Jeno wanted to leave but Jaemin quickly grabbed his arm. "Thank you for this amazing evening Jen. I love you.“
„Love you too Jaemin-ah.“
Jeno then left and Jaemin got back upstairs towards their dorm. It was always so quiet without Jeno but Jaemin never felt so happy before. He looked at the new ring again and smiled to himself. He just had the greatest luck on this earth he thought as he was ready for going to bed. Jaemin hopped under the warm sheets where usually both of them laid and slowly started drifting off to sleep still thinking about Jenos marriage proposal when sleep took finally over him.
Jaemin awoke by a noise coming from the living room. The young man slowly stood up and walked down the dark hallway. His hands touched the walls so he wouldnt fall down as his bare feet tapped against the wooden floor.
"Jen ? Are you home ?“
Jaemin called out but no answer. He continued walking and almost arrived the end of the hallway as a candle stick was blown into the back of his head.
Jaemin couldn’t even scream as he fell onto the carpet, blood coming out of the wound on his head. Jaemin couldn’t move but he was still concious as he recognized two voices coming towards him.
"Fuck I thought nobody was home. What is this dude doing here ?“
One of the men spoke. "Doesn't matter but we need to get him out of the way. Search the flat for money and hurry while I‘m going to tie him up.“
Said another man while Jaemin was still laying on the ground like dead.
"A look here is a picture. Looks like he lives with his boyfriend here.“
Jaemin knew what picture they were talking about. There was one in their living room where Jaemin was hugging Jeno and the older had him onto his arm. Jaemin wanted to scream right now. There were robbers in their dorm but he couldn’t do anything.
His head was throbbing when suddenly he was grabbed under his arms and dragged back towards their bedroom. Jaemin felt so scared and he just wanted to fight but his body didn't react. He felt how he was pushed onto his and Jenos bed and the man looking at his head.
"Hit you pretty hard hum ?“ Without saying another word he got up from the bed and started searching for something but Jaemin couldn’t see for what. Then again he heard the other guy from the living room.
"Wow they actually have so much worth of stuff here. Jackpot.“
Jaemin was now silently crying and the man noticed when he came back. „Shhh stay quiet and we wont kill you.“
At the word kill, Jaemin started trembling but he felt the man pulling his arms behind his back.
A few seconds later his hands were ziptied together way to tight.
Jaemin felt his fingers not getting enough blood and finally he felt like moving again. "T..too tight.“ He whimpered but the man ignored him and also ziptied the youngers feet tightly together.
Just as he was done Jaemin was slowly starting to struggle again and tried breaking out the ties but they were cutting into his soft skin. "L…let me go please.“ The man wanted to answer but his partner came in with all the expensive things and money in a bag and sat next to Jaemin. He showed him the picture of him and Jeno, making Jaemin cry out.
"When will he be back ? Answer me.“
"I…i don’t know… maybe around 2am ?“
The mans gaze went deadly serious when he threw something at his partner and spoke up. „He could be here anytime. Tape him up so he can‘t call for help and then lets just leave. We have more than enough money.“
The other man nodded and got the tape his partner had thrown at him and started tearing the end down. Jaemin started struggling and begged to let him go but that was for no use.
The man pressed harshly onto Jaemins wound on the back of his head making Jaemin struggle and he started to scream only to feel the candle stick hit his head at the same part one more time.
His head fell motionless onto the bed as the man started glueing the tape onto his face.
He didn‘t leave any space taping Jaemins mouth eyes and nose shut. His whole head was wrapped up and you could tell that Jaemin didn’t really get air.
"Okay I‘m done lets get out of here.“ One of the men looked one last time at Jaemin who was concious but not moving one bit and then looking at the tape on the back of his head where blood was running down. Then the robbers left the apartment without thinking about the young boy suffocating inside.
Jaemin was trying to stay calm but he was crying so much that he was hyperventilating. He didn‘t get air through the layers of tape and it wouldn’t take long till he would suffocate in a painful way.
Jaemin didn’t want to die.
Not today.
Not before Jeno and him were married.
Not on such a wonderful day.
But he couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t move. The sticky red liquid on the back of his head was falling down onto the mattress. Jaemin begged for Jeno to come home but he knew it may be the end for him. After a few more seconds Jaemin passed out by the lack of air.
Jeno was humming a melody as he parked his car and got out. He would go into the apartment and cuddle with Jaemin and think about their marriage.
He opened the door and found the apartment deadly quiet. Jeno took off his jacket and shoes before walking down the hallway. Suddenly his bare feet touched something sticky and wet on the ground. Jeno switched on the light and saw what he stepped in.
Blood.
Jenos eyebrows furrowed and he wondered if Jaemin hurt himself but then he looked into the living room and saw the chaos.
Every wardrobe was ripped open the books laid destroyed on the ground and the glas of his and Jaemins pictures was all over the floor.
"What happened here ? Jaemin ?“ Jeno started to panic as he ran through the rooms and looked for his fiance.
"JAEMIN. JAEMINNN.“ There was no answer.
Finally Jeno rushed into the bedroom and his eyes immediately fell on Jaemin who was laying motionless on their bed. "JAEMIN.“ Jeno rushed over to the younger and turned him onto his back so that his face was seen.
More like the tape that covered everything. "Jaemin hey are you there ?“ Jeno didn’t see Jaemin breathing and he saw that his airways were covered. Jeno jumped up and ran to get something to get his boyfriend out of this missable situation. Jeno carefully started cutting through the tape with a scissors until he was able to pull it down.
Jaemins face was red from crying and suffocating as he was limp in Jenos hands. Before Jeno freed him from his ties he immediately called an ambulance.
"Hello what is your emergen…“
"Please I need help my boyfriend isn’t breathing please help me. We live at………… I need help please.“
Jeno was crying into his phone while Jaemin still didn‘t move. "Ok sir we send an ambulance out please stay calm. Turn him onto his back and do cpr if that isn’t working try it with giving him air through his mouth.“
"Okay okay.“ Jeno laid the phone down and got ln top of Jaemin. His hands pressed against the others chest and with some kind of rhythm he tried bringing his boyfriend back. "It doesn’t work.“ Jeno cried out as he tried by blowing air into Jaemins mouth while holding his nose shut.
"It isn’t working.“
"Please stay calm our people are here please stay calm.“ With these words the call ended and Jeno looked at Jaemin, shook his body and tried again to get him to breathe but no.
Nothing happened.
In that moment the door opened and paramedics ran into the room with the couple. "Sir please get away from him we will take care.“ Jeno didn’t want to let go of Jaemin but a woman gently pulled him back and let him sit down. Jeno just watched as the paramedics put a oxygen mask on Jaemin and also started cpr.
"Jaemin wake up please wake up.“Jeno cried and the woman hugged him and patted his back. "He will come back don’t worry its alright.“ Jeno didn’t look as a man carefully cut through the cable ties that Jeno wasn’t able to open himself since they were pressed into Jaemins skin and already causing blood to trickle down his wrists and ankles.
Jeno felt so bad.
He left Jaemin here while he was working late and someone robbed them and maybe killed the younger. Jeno fell asleep during exhaustion and he let the paramedics carry unconscious Jaemin into their car.
Jeno stood next to the hospital bed. Jaemin was breathing again but he didn’t wake up till now. Jeno was holding his hand and softly running through his fiances soft light blue hair.
"Wake up for me Jaemin please.“ Jeno mumbled as he looked at Jaemins bandaged wrists and then his eyes fell onto the place where his ring used to be.
They stole it.
They stole the ring he gave Jaemin when he asked him to marry him.
Jenos eyes watered as he looked back at Jaemins face sleeping peacefully. His head was bandaged up looping around the wound made by the candle stick. Jaemins soft features made Jenos heart jump up. Even tho he was sleeping with a mask on he still looked so beautiful and gentle. As Jeno was focusing on their holding hands again he felt a slight movement. His eyes shot up to see the younger finally waking up. Jaemins eyes opened and he looked into Jenos deep brown ones.
"Jaemin…“ Jaemin didn’t answer but he smiled underneath the mask and Jeno broke down in tears.
"I‘m so sorry Jaemin. I shouldn't have left you for so long.“ Jeno hugged Jaemins upper body and cried into the blanket laying on top. "I thought you died.“ Jeno cried out but then felt Jaemins hand stroking his back.
"I‘m here.“ Jaemin whispered and held Jenos hand tightly. A doctor then came into the room and smiled at the couple before walking over to them. "Hello Jaemin. I‘m glad you woke up. We will take the mask off now and in a few hours you are allowed to leave. Your damages aren't further dramatic and you will be alright again. But you should be careful and sit down when you notice that your head is feeling dizzy. The wound you got there is quite big.“
Jaemin nodded and Jeno thanked the doctor who released Jaemin from the mask. As he left again Jaemin started crying.
"They stole everything Jeno. Our whole apartment is broken and they stole my ring. I‘m sorry.“
Jeno quickly calmed his partner as Jaemin was giving himself the fault for the robbery. "All of that doesn't matter. You’re alive and nothing is more important than that.“
Jeno pressed Jaemins head against his chest and let the younger sob into his shirt as he stroked his hair. "Shhh its fine now Nana. Its alright.“
Jaemin looked up with teary eyes and saw Jenos kind smile making him relax. "I got you a new ring. I know it isn't the same but its still better than nothing.“ Jeno said and pulled out another small box with a silver ring inside. It almost looked the same as the old one but Jaemin was sad.
He had let those robbers get the ring of Jenos marriage proposal without fighting. Not only spend Jeno a lot of money on it but it was also a special memory. Jeno noticed Jaemins concerned look and quickly stuck the ring on his finger.
"Nothing is your fault okay please just forget this horrible memory. We will get married. There is no reason in being sad now.“
Jaemin nodded but what he had experienced was traumatizing and he just hoped that the men who did that would go to jail for that. The police talked to Jaemin in order to make out the robbers but they weren’t able to catch them till now.
Jeno and Jaemin relocated into a small house instead of an apartment and they quickly felt like home again. Jeno made sure to always be back before Jaemin went to sleep so that nothing would happen. And so they waited for the day of their marriage to become true.