Little Piglet ♡ Jaemsung

¹⁴ remember me

❀ It was now March, spring break had ended, and Jisung's notebook was filled with love notes for his dear admirer. It's been a few weeks since Jisung last saw Jaemin. It was at Jeno's luncheon in which he, Chen and Haechan were invited. But Chen couldn't make it as he was attending his parents' fundraiser.

Jisung and Haechan arrived to see J, a few classmates and Jaemin sitting at a square table. The seat in which Jisung sat gave a direct line of view of his crush, who happily acknowledged him with a friendly smile. Their eyes stayed interlocked as if they were both communicating telepathically.

Jeno's luncheon was to celebrate his college recruitment for basketball. Even his parents were in attendance but they sat at a separate table with other family members. Jisung couldn't help but wonder how he was even invited to something so intimate. Although he and Haechan were friends, he and J weren't. He sometimes deluded a concept in his mind where Jeno was out to torture him.

There in the well ventilated, semi-outdoor space, the ambience was fitting. After an hour or so, Jeno's family borrowed him to say their goodbyes. He walked them out and Ji saw this as his chance to talk to Jaemin. But another classmate was now occupying his time. He could hear their discussion and and snickered to himself, thinking about how unfulfilling the discussion of sports was now for his crush and how the guy had no idea. He felt a little proud that he knew knew his crush at least second best out of everyone in the room.

Eventually Haechan yelled across the large table to engage Jaemin who was ever so delighted by Haechan's humor. Jisung silently thanked Haechan for saving his crush from that converstaion.

Haechan being the clown that he was, had everyone laughing and joking around so much that Jeno had to come back to calm the jocks, who were now suspected of sneaking in banned beverages. This must be how the sports bus is, Jisung thought as he began feeling more akward for him. It was so easy to want to be Jaemin's protector and he couldn't fault Jeno for falling for it.

Jeno regained his throne where he then leaned beside Jaemin to whisper something Jaemin didn't react so Jisung couldn't tell what it could have been about. He wished he could whisper in his ear, but decided to drown his face in food instead. It was more realistic.

It was now 4pm and time to leave. Because Haechan ran his mouth the whole afternoon Jisung was forced to stay behind so that he could finish his meal.

But at last, Jisung's lover finally paid him enough attention to save him from insanity. Before passing, he placed his hand onto Ji's shoulder and in a soft tone said, "I look forward to seeing you at school again." he left before a response but that didn't stop the aroused boy from answering in a symphonic tone, "mee too."

A mischievous smile ran across Haechan's face and with his mouth full of food he teased, "you're soo srpung."

Between the small glances after a drink or giving a supportive smile here and there, Jaemin gave the boy just enough attention to keep him confident.... confident that even with the other person beside him, he was still all his.

Monday

This semester, just as Jaemin mentioned during tutoring last month, was going to hold a lot more varsity games. Even though Jaemin didn't plan to play in college, he was still dedicated to helping his team finish strong. But upon telling Jeno the news about him attending different colleges, his friend sort of unraveled. Jaemin didn't realize until now just how attached they were to each other. Others interpreted their relationship way differently as a result but sometimes they gave them reason to.

☼

"Jen, I know how to get home perfectly fine," Jae insisted while he and Jeno stood at the bus stop.

"Please," Jeno scoffed. "you barely use your card and the inactivity fees are probably piling."

Jae shrugged. He allowed his pal to use it, so it was certainly getting some use.

Normally, Jen's sister sent for a ride after school. But today she was out of town and it was one of his work days at the vet, so he wouldn't be able to ride with Jaemin all the way home like he wanted. He stood there as if he was thinking of an alternative but Jaemin bickered with him until he promised he would go straight to work. "Fiiine," the boy agreed before rolling his eyes.

Jaemin usually boarded first and Jeno would grab the aisle seat and maybe watch basketball reels, but this time he headed for the window seat.  Jaemin's eyebrows twitched at the change but he followed suit. But after noticing the boy glancing out of the window, he knew the daunting conversation about his future was on revive.

The same future that was no longer a shared one. The future where they attended the same university, graduated together and lived together after college was now only Jeno's future. He was so attached to his best friend that he didn't really imagine a life without him by his side, he kinda assumed he would always be on board. But his bestie had other plans, and it bothered him deeply. Not because he couldn't understand what caused it, but because he never saw his friend do anything that wasn't already pre-planned. He followed everything by the book, checked the boxes of the status quo and always followed his what was expected of him. He was more surprised that he underestimated his dear friend more than anything.

Jaemin peered down the aisle and watched the road out front in the same way as the bus driver. He could feel the moment Jeno gasped for air, "Jae..." it was like he was struggling to maintain his cool. "I just don't know what changed..."

"Anything can change...at any moment.'' Jaemin said while still watching the scenic view out front. Sure, everyone thought he was a black and white book, but he was a robust individual deep inside. He was just waiting for a chance to break free.

Jen turned back to the window as if he was processing a response. Eventually he swung his head around, and Jae stopped him before he could speak—"Whatever you're about to say, the answer is still noooo."

He laughed at first but continued on anyway, "play for one semester.. maybe what you're going through is just a phase."

Jaemin sighed a revelation, "Basketball was a phase..."

Jen spoke quieter, "Well, its gonna take some time getting used to...I imagined us playing together in college... you killed that fantasy," he pouted.

Jaemin understood what this was truly about. His friend simply feared the day they would finally grow apart...

He brushed him with his elbow, "look at us now...We're still playing together," he said gently.

He watched the boy wrestle with that statement, but at last he accepted his wishes.

Jaemin scooted over to his usual spot when Jeno departed for his second bus. Soon after, his mind began to wander. His new life excited him, and a certain person gave him courage. but he still worried he wouldn't be strong enough to bear the pressure.

A sinking feeling overcame him.

Sure, Jeno could accept that he was leaving basketball, but he wouldn't be so accepting of other things he was trying to break.