Chapter Text
1 Renjun
In the three years Renjun knew him, Park Jisung was never a flashy person, nor was he rich. He was lucky that he got a scholarship that paid for most of his university fees, along with the sizable savings his parents gave him. He worked a part-time job as a barista at some cafe. Now, why the fuck was he wearing a Rolex?
Renjun squinted his eyes as his friends talked about how to fix the design and marketing strategy for their fake music group. He watched the youngest of their group, Jisung, put his head on his fist as he argued with Jeno on whether or not they should genuinely expand their group’s fake tour to South Asia instead of just East Asia. The shiny new watch was glistening in the sun of Mark and Donghyuk’s apartment window. Mark had his headphones in as he typed away at his thesis project—a superhero movie script. Donghyuk, Mark’s boyfriend, was also busy arguing with Jisung on how the budget for their group would come back in hypothetical profit. Jaemin, Jeno’s boyfriend, was yelling at them to decide quickly so he could make the damn tour poster.
“Do we have the money for that? Where the fuck?!” Jeno angrily hit the touchpad on his laptop. “What even are the venue expenses?”
“I don’t know man, it was just an idea,” said Jisung.
“Well someone fucking decide. I have been staring at a text box for fifteen minutes. Thailand this. Manilla is expensive that. Fucking decide.” Jaemin glared angrily at the both of them.
“So yes or no to extra visas?” Asked Donghyuk. He had a calculator open.
Renjun kept his mouth shut and instead put the new watch in the back of his mind as he put the extra travel expenses into a separate column. He’d bring it up later when this shit was done. Maybe Jisung bought a knock off.
“Food, planes, cars. We’re almost in the red,” he remarked. “What time is it? My eyes hurt.”
Jisung looked at his watch. His eyes widened. “I got to leave like now. It’s almost five.” He started to get up. “We’re doing at least Jakarta and Manilla.”
Renjun paused his typing. “Do you have a shift? I thought you—”
“I swapped with Wonbin. Bye.” And then he was gone.
~*^*~
The next time Renjun saw Jisung was at the mall. Renjun would have called over, but Jisung was with a blonde stranger. The other man was shorter than Jisung and wearing sunglasses. A loose graphic tee and straight legged, faded wash, blue jeans. The pair stood in front of the Prada store, holding a few bags.
Renjun snapped a photo of the two holding hands as they walked away. A sugar daddy? No. He was too young for that. Renjun decided to follow them. This was weird. Being friends with Jaemin turned him into a stalker.
He debated on texting the group chat, but knowing Jaemin and Donghyuk, they’d overwhelm the boy and then they’d never get an answer. Plus he had to focus.
Jisung got a rich boyfriend? When? How? Wait, probably has a reason to not tell us.
The two entered a comic store. Renjun hid behind a bookshelf, eavesdropping.
“Do you think your mother will like the dress?”
“She’d love anything you gave her. I think she loves you more than me.”
“Don’t say that. You bought it, so it’s technically your gift.”
“But you picked it out.”
“I still feel like I should get her something personally.”
“You could make her another ridiculously complicated card.”
“Hey, you like my ridiculously complicated cards.”
“Yes I do.”
“Would it be bad to get another mystery box?”
“How many woodland creature things do you have now?”
“Five.”
“…No. Do it.”
Renjun watched them walk toward the register. He shifted behind a different shelf.
“We should get something to eat.”
“Do you want to eat here?”
“Sure.”
“Is fast food going to fuck up your diet?”
“I’ll care more when it gets closer… Hello… Yes, just this.”
He continued to watch them as they walked out the store. And he would have continued to follow them, if not for his cousin.
“Hey Junnie!” Yelled Hendery, starling Renjun.
“Fuck!” He swore in Mandarin. He looked around. He fucking lost sight of them. “Damnit.”
“Shit, sorry.”
“No, it’s nothing. What are you doing here?”
“Clothes shopping. You should have told us you were here.”
Renjun looked behind his cousin. There stood his cousin’s own boyfriend, rolling his eyes. Someone gloomed Renjun from behind.
“Baby!”
“Hi Yang Yang.”
He turned Renjun around. “You don’t sound excited to see me.”
Renjun sighed and pecked his pouting boyfriend. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Yay!”
Renjun was soon being carted away by the others. Not before he got one last look just to see if they were still there.
Park Jisung, what are you hiding?