"O-oh yeah... it's a gift from my Jisoo noona." he told him.

"Ah..." Jeno nodded. "You two went out for a date?" he then asked them.

Jae and Ryu glance at one another then back at Jeno. "No, no... w-we didn't g-go on a date. We j-just went out for a t-test drive." he awkwardly explained and Jeno just nodded.

"Oh I see, I hope you guys had fun."

Ryujin answered. "Yes oppa, we did. It was fun being on the roads and Jaemin oppa was telling me jokes all theoughout."

"Oh? He did." Jeno glanced at Jaemin knowingly. "That's nice, my best friend's finally getting comfortable around a female friend."

"Shh! Jeno stop it." Jaemin muttered, giving Jeno the stinky eye and both Ryu and Jeno chuckled at Jae's reaction.

"So can we play video games now, Jae?" Jeno asked.

Jaemin nodded. "Sure, we can. Let's head inside and I'll prepare something to eat while you set up the video games."

———

So while Jae was preparing meal for all three of them, Jeno set up the video games and Ryujin helped him.

Then Jaemin started hearing Ryujin giggle, the same giggles she made when she was with Jeno last time. He couldn't help but to peek from the kitchen door to see what was up.

"You know how to play this game?" - Jeno

"Uh huh, I used to play video games when I was a kid." - Ryujin

It seems like the two had started playing video games without him and they look as if they were really enjoying their time together. Ryujin looked super happy with Jeno around and this made Jaemin think that they were a perfect match, they were too perfect for each other that it made Jaemin's heart break a little.

Jaemin came soon came out of the kitchen to join them with a bowl of mojos in his hand.

"Hey, you guys started without me?" he asked when he got out, the tone of his voice sounded a little blue.

Both Jeno and Ryu turned their heads to face him. "O-oh no... w-we were just trying it out. We haven't activated the scores yet. I asked Ryujin if she wanted to try playing and so she did and she was impressive."

"I am not impressive..." Ryu replied to him.

"Yes, you were." Jeno responded.

"No, I wasn't. You were impressive not me."

"But you were really impressive, Ryujin. I swear. they both started to giggle as they exchange praises and Jae was the only one with a straight face on. He felt like he was a third wheel.

"Can I join you guys?" Jaemin suddenly butted in as he was still standing right infront of them.

"Sure..." Jeno moved aside and patted the couch. He sat between Jeno and Ryujin and he placed the bowl of mojos on table.

So Jae & Jeno started playing while Ryu just watched them. Jeno and Jae were seated on the carpet on the floor, while Ryu was on the sofa. Today was Jeno's day 'cause he kept winning against Jaemin and Jae usually owns this game, so it was very unusual for him to loose in video games

"Woohoo! I won again." Jeno raised both of his arms in joy.

"Wow! Another victory for Jeno oppa. That's awesome." Ryujin cheered for Jeno when he won for the fifth time around.

Jaemin was just fristrated, he threw his controller to the side and placed his hands on his face. Ryujin saw him getting really frustrated and so she got down on the carpet and sat next to him.

She said. "Oppa, it's okay don't feel bad, it's just a video game."

Jaemin glance at her. "I really suck this evening, I don't know what's happening with me." he said.

"Maybe you can win the next round. Don't loose hope, I'm cheering for you too. Go! Jaemin oppa." Ryujin cheered for him with a bright smiled plastered on her lips.

Her bright smile made Jaemin smile too and Jeno was lowkey glancing at them and Jeno, too, was happy seeing Jaemin smile because of Ryu.

"Thanks, Ryujin." Jaemin said.

"Good luck. Do your best." Ryujin said. "Just imagine that your playing this game to win your girl's heart and if you fail... she'll dump you." she told.

Wow, great motivation.

Jaemin chuckled at her words. "Okay, okay. I got it. Thanks for the motivation." he said to her.

"Fighting, oppa!" she said to him.

"Let's play?" Jeno asked him and Jaemin nodded.

So the two started playing again and this time, Jaemin was really determined to win. He didn't want to be a loser, so he tried his best to win this round and finally... he won.

"Oh my gosh! Yey! Jaemin oppa, you won! Congrats!" Ryujin was the first to cheer for him and she got so happy that she ended up hugging him from behind since she was seated on the couch right behind Jaemin.

Jaemin too was very happy that time, he was overjoyed but at the same time, he was flustered when Ryu suddenly hugged her. His heart was skipping a beat because of mixed emotions and his heart couldn't contain it's joy.

Jeno just smiled at his reaction. "Congrats, buddy! Great game." Jeno gave him a fist bump.

Ryujin was still hugging him and Jaemin held unto her arms. "You did amazing, oppa. So proud of you!"

Wow, it felt like Jaemin won the olympics.

"Thanks, Ryujin." he raised his head to meet her gaze and she had a smile on her face. "Thank you for motivating me to win."

———

The two boys continued playing meanwhile Ryujin went upstairs and went to sleep already. They bid her good night and went immediately to her room. Even after Ryujin was gone, Jae still had a smile plastered on his face and Jeno couldn't help but notice it.

"Why are you smiling?" Jeno asked.

"W-what? Huh? No... no, I wasn't smiling." he changed his facial expression but Jeno could see in his eyes that he was still overjoyed.

"Are you... blushing? Wait, you're blushing." Jeno patted his shoulder three times.

"No, I am not. Stop it!" Jaemin opposed.

"Dude, you're blushing seriously." Jeno poked his cheeks.

"No, I am not."

Jeno started to chuckle. "Are you getting flustered? Is it because of Ryujin? You like Ryujin, don't you?"

Jaemin's eyes widened at him and he hushed him. "Shh! Be quiet! She might hear you."

"So you like her?" Jeno asked.

"N-no, of course n-not. I don't like her." he stuttered.

"Why are you stuttering? You're also getting red, even your ears are turning red." Jeno pointed out.

Jeno sat closer to him and whispered. "You like Ryujin don't you? Come on, bro. Be honest with me."

"No, I don't." Jaemin pushed him away but he moved closer to him again.

"Stop lying, you like her. That's why you're blushing. Bro, it's okay if you like her, just be honest."

Jaemin sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. "No, I don't..."

Then Jaemin dumbfoundedly said... "Even if I did like her, she still loves Johnny hyung. I have nothing against him, Ryu gave her whole heart to him even though he was an a*shole to her. She only sees me as a friend, I'll never be anything but a friend to her even if I am certain that I can love her better."

With that being said, Jaemin just indirectly confirmed Jeno's assumption. This made Jeno smile... "So you do like her?"

Jaemin gaze at him and coldly said... "No."

Jeno rolled his eyes. "Psh! Yah, whatever. You just said so yourself. Don't even deny it, Na Jaemin. You're such a bad liar."

Jaemin sighed and threw the controller to his side. "Is it really that obvious?" he asked worriedly, now he's admitting.

Jeno nodded. "Kinda, I kinda knew it when you told me that you two started to get along. You two look perfect together though."

Jaemin gave a bitter smile to him. "I've been doubting this emotion of mine for a little while. Everytime we're together, I get these absurd feelings and I was unsure what these meant. I'm really dumb when it comes to romance but she makes me happy, he makes my heart happy, that's all I know. I just realized that... I was slowly falling in love with her after getting to know her much better, she's amazing, dude, she's just amazing and... I regret depising her in the beginning, she's not a bad person. In fact, she's heaven sent, she's an angel."

Jeno knew he was sincere with his words, he was so happy that his best friend opened up about his feelings for Ryujin and he supports him, one hundred percent.

"You should confess to her dude, seize the opportunity! Let her know you love her." Jeno said to him.

Jaemin shook his head. "She doesn't feel the same way towards me though. She loves Johnny hyung so much. I can never replace him in her heart."

"You should atleast try, Johnny hyung is not around anymore and she and Johnny cut ties already, right? Now is your chance to prove to Ryu that she no longer needs to dwell on her past because you're finally here to show her what true love is." Jeno said to him.

Jamein starting thinking about what Jeno said and he was really doubting but Jeno had a point. "You think I should try?"

Jeno nodded. "Yes!"

"What is she rejects me?"

"Well, at least you tried. It's better than not trying."

"What if she ends our friendship because of me falling in love with her?"

"Nonsense." Jeno said.

"What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

Then Jeno said. "You know what... you have so many what ifs. Let me ask you something too, what if you never tried? Then you'll never know. You only live once, seize every opportunity. You won't lose anything from confessing." Jeno said and it did help Jaemin realize that he should just try.

Jaemin glance at Jeno and said. "Okay, I'll try to be brave and... confess to her, perhaps this week 'til I'm ready."

Jeno nodded and smiled. "Great!"

Then Jaemin gave him a fist bump. "Thanks, Jeno! You're really the supportive and wise friend. So lucky to have you."

———

Meanwhile in Brisbane, Australia...

Johnny's trusted and loyal spy called him that day to inform Johnny what he had noticed over the past few weeks.

Johnny spoke with this spy while Jisoo was asleep. He whispered, careful not to wake his sleeping wife.

"Oh... he is? Jaemin's allowing a girl to live in my house?" Johnny replied unamused to what the spy told him. He kinda knew Jaemin would do such.

"Yes sir. I've noticed that the girl has taken the guest's room."

"Really? And who is this girl? Do you have an idea who she is?" John asked. John had an idea who this female was but he nust wanted to be sure his hunches were right.

"I believe she's a sophomore student in the same high school as Jaemin, she also works with him at the flower shop and she works part time at a diner. Jaemin calls her "Ryu"."

Johnny nodded as his hunches were right, it was indeed Ryujin.

"I see." John sounded calm. "When did this female move into my house? And what have Jaemin and her been up to for the past few weeks? I hope nothing's nasty is going on in my house."

"She moved about a month ago, sir. I've been lurking at your house and I didn't see or notice anything nasty going on with the two. They seem to be just friends."

"Great to hear." John replied.

"But I did caught them hugging each other one evening while they were watching movies, I almost got caught sir 'cause I accidentally knocked on the window but I believe that the hug was accidental sir, it wasn't too intimate or anything sir."

John raised an eyebrow because he had a suspicion. "Really? That's an interesting accidental hug then." John sarcastically replied.

So what Ryu and Jae heard that night at the window was no damn squirrel. It was a damn spy of Johnny.

"I've noticed that he also brings his friends to your home quite often sir. Just this evening, he invited that boy Jeno to comeover to play video games with him." the spy told.

"Oh? He is?" John asked.

Johnny was thinking... he wanted to do something. He was really suspicious that time as to why Jaemin beought Ryujin home and why they were suddenly close. He knew he needed to do something about it, he will not allow Jaemin to be free, that's for sure.

"Thank you for keeping eye on my property and for delivering these information. You have done a good job, I will send the money to you tomorrow." John told.

John then took out his passport from his drawer, he looked at it, he smiled devilishly and said... "Do not worry about Jaemin, I will take care of him and discipline him. I will pay him a visit very very soon."

E N D

Hello, how are you?
Here's a long update. I'm trying to be productive these days but sometimes, I am just... you know, lazy.

A few chapters more and the book is completed. Yey!  It seems only yesterday when I was formulating the plot of the story.

Have an amazing week, besties!!
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