Punches and Pirouettes |NOMIN|

Chapter 19

The moment was short-lived, as the buzz of a phone interrupted the silence. Jaemin's eyes widened as he pulled away, his heart racing as he reached into his pocket. It was a message from Lucas, asking if he wanted to go to karaoke. His hand trembled as he read the words, his mind racing with what to say.

"Is that him?" Jeno's voice was tight, his eyes never leaving Jaemin's face.

Jaemin nodded, his thumb hovering over the screen. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely audible. "He wants to go to karaoke tomorrow."

Jeno's grip on his hand tightened, his jaw clenching. "Karaoke?" he repeated, his tone flat.

Jaemin nodded, his heart racing. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We used to go all the time when we were together."

Jeno's eyes narrowed, the jealousy in them unmistakable. "With just the two of you?"

Jaemin nodded, his heart racing. "It's just a friendly outing," he said quickly, his thumbs typing out a response. "It's no big deal."

But Jeno's grip on his hand didn't loosen. "I don't like it," he said, his voice tight. "But if you're just friends, then why can't we all go?"

Jaemin's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't considered that. "You want to come?" he asked, hope blossoming in his chest.

Jeno nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah," he said, his voice gruff. "If you're going to go, then I want to be there."

Jaemin felt a mix of relief and trepidation. He knew that bringing Jeno along would help ease his fears, but he wasn't sure how Lucas would react. "Okay," he said, taking a deep breath. "I'll ask him."

He pulled out his phone, his hands shaking slightly as he typed out the message. *Hey Lucas, I'd love to go to karaoke, but is it okay if I bring some friends along? We can all hang out together.*

Jeno's eyes never left his phone, the tension in the air thick as they waited for a response. When the phone buzzed, both of their hearts skipped a beat.

Jaemin read the message out loud, his voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions inside him. "Lucas says sure, we can all go."

Jeno nodded, his jaw still tense. "Good," he said, his voice tight. "I'll make sure he knows his place."

Jaemin squeezed his hand, his eyes pleading. "Jeno, please don't make it weird," he begged. "I just want to keep things friendly."

Jeno's gaze softened, his thumb tracing the back of Jaemin's hand. "Okay," he said, his voice a low murmur. "But if he tries anything, I won't hold back."

Jaemin swallowed hard, the possessiveness in Jeno's voice sending a thrill through him. "I know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But please, let's just have a good time."

Jeno nodded, his expression unyielding. "Fine," he said. "But I'm not going to sit back and watch him try to win you back."

Jaemin's eyes searched his, understanding the underlying threat. "He won't," he assured Jeno. "We're just friends."

But the doubt lingered in Jeno's gaze, his jaw tightening at the mention of Lucas. "I hope so," he said, his voice laced with a warning.

That evening, they found themselves at Jeno's house, the quiet of the suburbs a stark contrast to the chaos of the city. The house was small but well-kept, a testament to the love and care that had gone into it. The living room was sparsely furnished, with a worn-out couch and a TV that looked like it had seen better days. But the walls were adorned with posters of boxers, both famous and obscure, a silent testament to Jeno's dedication to his craft.