[ cнapтer ғorтy-ғoυr ➛ ѕтarт ]

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Jaemin could get used to waking up next to Jeno.

After lazily telling each other "Good morning", they got out of bed and changed to feel 365 fresh.

While walking down the stairs to the empty kitchen — their mothers were out, how shocking — they went on random tangents, releasing crackhead thoughts to start their morning healthily.

"So when you live on an average street in some average country," Jaemin started, "and it's winter and God's nutting a lot, so the street side facing the sun never has to deal with driveway shoveling because the sun will just melt God's nut right off. However, the other side of the street ain't facing the sun ever — Donghyuck's ugly, who would wanna look at him all day, I'd rather watch Elmo porn — has a giant ass shadow over their driveway instead, so God's nut never melts! It's unfair, I call hacks and cheats, this is fatalitying my rights and freedoms 'cause those poor houses suffer from a sixty-nine-inch snow blanket all day every day."

"Stan Winner!" Jeno cheered. "Or Mamamoo. I could go on all day about both of the groups and their talented asses but I'll end up borderline psychotic fangirling or being aborted out of existence for mentioning topics that fans are so damn sensitive about. I love death but I don't wanna die yet 'cause I still have goals in life-- just kidding, I don't, I'm a mess and have been a disappointment my whole life bringing dishonor to my family and cow, I've given up on tryna live a fly-ass, bomb-ass, 10-out-of-10-would-suffer-through-again life."

Nodding sympathetically, Jaemin, just like Jeno so long ago the previous summer, popped blueberry Eggos into the toaster and placed spreads on the island.

The older set out cutlery and plates, and Jaemin stated, "Antis call us Koreaboos for stanning talent, when in reality, we're such strong, independent bitches for handling such a time-consuming, sanity-ingesting, brain cell-murdering, uwu-and-weave-snatching, life-swallowing activity."

"Hell yeah I do extreme sports," Jeno whooped along. "I finish homework when the teacher's collecting it, and I stan Kpop and manage cumbacks, shitty companies — when will Donghyuck set Cube's building on fire?! — annoying fans, confusing group structures, and memorizing names, faces, lyrics, and blood types."

"We're so talented," the pink-haired sighed, retrieving the toasted waffles so the two could begin eating their breakfast. "Archie Andrew's artistic, footballing, Veronica-fucking, Betty-bestie-zoning, fake-murdering ass couldn't compete."

Upon seeing Instagram loading on Jeno's phone screen, Jaemin's train of thought changed as he snatched the device and tapped to the older boy's account, screaming when he saw the following. "OH MY HUGE-DICK-- BABE-- 500K!!?! I'M DATING A REAL LIFE CELEBRITY, I'M DATING A GORGEOUS ASS ANGEL, LOOKS OF THE ASIAN GREEK GODS OH MY FUCKING FUCK JENO-- FUCK ME PROPERLY WITH A MINECRAFT DILDO I--"

Thanks to the brunette's modeling career, that he had put on pause for the past few weeks — he was surprised he hadn't been fired yet, considering the number of breaks and general absences he'd taken — perfect photographs provided a perfect feed and theme, showcasing gorgeous angles and beautiful backgrounds. His following had increased drastically too due to the popular brands and labels he modeled for and his memeful captions that sealed the deal.

Despite all this, "We're dating?" was the only thing that flew out of Jeno's mouth.

Of course, he was as elated as Jaemin at his online success but even more so that Jaemin just referred to him as the younger's boyfriend.

Jaemin flushed, both because he found candid pictures he was featured in and read the comments of "who dat who dat who dat king" or "ugh we salami visual couples that run the world with Beyonce", or out of embarrassment over his multiple slip-ups. He glanced up from the screen to meet Jeno's eyes and grinned boyishly, a toothy, shining smile that made the older gush.

"Uh-- we're already exclusive suck buddies, 'play date' who?" Jaemin pointed out, eyes still crinkled and shimmering. "So... nothing Satan-un-friendly with dating? I think? I hope?"

Jeno did the unexpected.

He dropped his partially eaten waffle on his plate and turned right around, bounding to the stairs and up to the second floor.

The pink-haired was left standing in confusion, blinking. Had he just been oofed?

When Jeno finally came back down, a small box wrapped in ribbon was in his hands. He approached the younger, a nervous air to his steps.

"I was gonna do something as big as my dick and extra and cute for you, better than Salami girl's 'birthday present', but fuck it. Trey with his basketball game tomorrow would want me to live my best life and dreams, and just YOLO it."

The younger was still sat on the stool, intrigued as he nodded to the wise words.

"I'm boutta wing a bomb-ass speech that Barry Bee Benson Oppa can't compare to," Jeno began. "I really feel like I've grown and becum spiritually enlightened and empowered, almost as much as Satan. This year, I learned a lot about you, about living with you, about your personality, insert more here. And I've gone through a lot with you, tried to help out when you had your precious heart broken, or gotten jealous 'cause of that Noah Centineo lookin' jackass. And of course, a month ago was... a shock. It caused a relapse of trauma and my old emotional baggage shit, and holy shit do I miss Jisung, so fucking much."

Jaemin was no longer nodding and instead had a crease formed in between his eyebrows while his bottom lip jutted out slightly in a pout. 0.69 to 420 real quick (a/n: quick like jeno in bed🤪🤪👋🍑😏🔥 haha lmao lol rofl im funny😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💯💯🔥🔥😍💯💯😂).

"'Love' is a strong word," the older suddenly brought up, "and I don't really believe in teenage romance, I think we're too young to think or experience something as deep and complex as love." (the worLd is a compLex, wE waS lookiN for loVe--)

The pink-haired returned to nodding. Yes, he was a hoe for a good romantic story or fanfiction on Wattpad or Episode and had had a major crush on Renjun, but he always knew in the back of his mind he wasn't ready for love.

"But," Jeno continued, "I know you pretty damn well. And I know I like you. More than like, actually. I can't describe it, what's it like being with you, or kissing you, or waking up with you, or getting wins on Fortnite with you, but my uneducated ass would say it's the closest thing I've felt to romantic love."

Jaemin bit his lip.

Finally, Jeno presented his gift, and murmured, "For now, I guess I salami you, Jaemin."

The younger could've uwued, or screamed for forever at Jeno's heartfelt words, or sat quietly to contemplate how iconic Salami girl was. Instead, he chose to, in robotic fashion, open the box, lifting a hand to his mouth as tears formed in his eyes.

"Holy shit-- Jeno... I don't need anything extra or amazing, this is fucking amazing, I--"

He looked back up at the older who was fidgeting, sporting an anxious smile. "Do you like it?"

"I'm in fucking love!" Jaemin cried, setting the box and it's contents on the table as he flung his arms around Jeno. The two laughed, holding onto each other tightly while trying to stay balanced.

Smiling bashfully, Jaemin pecked the older's nose. "A Fortnite 10,000 V-bucks gift card? And a cute ass chain necklace?? AND your fucking speech-- how can I top that?!"

The older snorted. "You don't, I'm top, remember?"

Jaemin chose to ignore the false statement and took his own turn at heartfelt speech-making. "Jeno, you make me happier than I could ever show or tell you, with or without presents. You're beautiful inside and out, the hottest but cutest person ever, sweet and considerate and funny, and so talented. If I had to be stuck on an island with one thing, I'd choose you over a Satanic Bible, memes, and Fortnite any day."

Having to blink his tears back, Jeno almost cried at the Fortnite part. It was so touching, a bitch is reduced to tears:')

"I don't know shit about love either, I may have had crushes and heartbreaks, but I'm still a n00b," Jaemin sighed. "I dunno what I'm doing with my life most of the time, but I know that I like you too. A lot. I'd like living with you for the rest of my life, and I'm glad we're going to the same college 'cause... I salami you too."

Jeno smiled back, feeling genuinely cheerful for the first time in a long while. "Thank you, angel. Uh, to clarify, we are dating? Right?"

Right then and there, Jaemin could've exploded with ultimate happiness, the emotion strongly dripping in his actions and expression. "Yes, yes, yes, I'm yours, you're mine, we're boyfriends! Markhyuck but more crack, the homo version of Renjun and Salami girl."

Jeno whistled. "Hot."

And they hugged each other again, bursting of positive energy and emotion.

However, an unspoken dampening was present in the air, the weight of Jisung's passing.

It was never going to go away, the sadness that a loved one was gone.

But at times, it would lessen, would no longer become the focal point of awareness.

It was obvious how the boys had slowly begun to heal, able to truly focus their attention on something happier, something brighter and sweeter.

A warm, fuzzy feeling flooded them, tidal waves of euphoria bubbling all around, and as they stood there in each other's embrace, smiling and laughing, it felt no calamity or worldly affliction could touch them.

They had no idea what their new relationship meant or entailed, but they were united and strong, ready to face anything.

They liked each other, more than like. More than salami and swallow too. Maybe even love.

Whatever the case or label, they were happy to finally be together.

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[ cнapтer ғorтy-ғoυr ➛ end ]

[a/n]:
! ! ! ! ! IMPORTANT ! ! ! ! !

100K SPECIAL:

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ideas suggested (DO NOT vote here)
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1. jisung's a ghost/fairy who watches over chenle + dreamies

2. dreamies all die and sit awkwardly in a room

3. character q&a w a main course of crack

(there were requests for smut but i'd actually make it the cringiest crackheadest thing ever so no)

(and it seems none of y'all want jisung to come back to life but don't worry, i wouldn't write that anyways😊😊)

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vote or else (sike it's closed now)
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1 —>

2 —>

3 —>

(insert nct dream lyrics)

SIKE VOTING IS CLOSED

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💓okie bye ilysm💓
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& the next chapter is the last🌚