26 and you are?

"It's really okay, Renjun. You should get going soon. I'm sure it's important."

Jaemin patted Renjun on his shoulder, flashing a reassuring smile to the latter.

"But, Jaemin.."

"Hush. Just go. I still have a few hours left before the therapy. I'll just stay at the cafeteria, I'm sure there's something I can do there that isn't too tiring for me to do."

Renjun felt bad for having to leave Jaemin alone. He sighs, pulling the brunet into a quick embrace.

"Fine. I'll be back as soon as I can. Take care while I'm away, okay? I'll notify the front desk on where you are, just in case."

Jaemin hums in response, waving his hand as Renjun bid goodbye.

Jaemin saunters his way inside the cafeteria, humming a random tune while fiddling with the sleeves of his sweater. The cafeteria wasn't crowded. There were only a few patients around. Perhaps it's because of the fact that it's still early, he thought to himself. He puffs his cheeks upon realising that most of the patients were around their 50's. Shaking his head, he walked towards the wide window of the cafeteria that takes over the other side of the wall.

The leaves on the trees were starting to die and fall. It still fascinates him whenever he thinks about how leaves remain colourful despite being lifeless already. He couldn't feel the wind outside, but the way the trees danced along the inaudible song of the breeze made him shiver. It was as if he could feel the autumn breeze touching his bare skin. His longing for feeling only grew stronger.

"Wait here- oh, Jaemin!"

He hears someone call his name. The voice was feminine.

Jaemin averted his gaze from the view and turned around to where the voice came from. It turned out to be one of the nurses who accompanied him at some point during his stay at the hospital.

Jaemin noticed that the nurse wasn't alone. She is with a patient.

Jaemin didn't find it unusual, she's a nurse after all.

The nurse approached him with the said patient, who was seated on a wheelchair. Jaemin got to take a better look of the patient's features. He almost perked up when he thought how the patient look a lot like someone around the same age as him.

"Ah, Nurse Yoo."

Jaemin muttered, bowing his head as the nurse have come to a halt.

"Good morning to you, Jaemin. You're up really early. Are you alone?"

The nurse greeted him. Jaemin glanced at the patient who was staring back at him. The patient wasn't uttering a single word at all. His face unreadable, and Jaemin couldn't decipher what the person felt at all.

He shook his head gently.

"No, not really.. My friend was accompanying me earlier but he had to leave because of some urgent matters. I told him I'll wait for him here."

"I see. Well, how about the both of you get to know each other in the meantime?"

The nurse suggested, Jaemin blinked in confusion.

"He's waiting for his friend, too. But his friend hasn't arrived yet. Rather than spend time on nothing, why not try and make friends, right?"

He then realises that she was referring to the patient. He momentarily stared at them, before slowly nodding his head as he smiled at them.

"Hmm. I guess that isn't a bad idea.."

"Great! Let me just go and prepare your breakfast, okay? Don't forget to introduce yourself to Jaemin."

The patient nodded their head, their gaze following the nurse as the nurse left them.

Jaemin turned his gaze to the patient sitting in front of him. His arm was wrapped with a bandage, hair black, and lips a pale shade of pink. The boy wasn't looking at him. He was looking everywhere else, but not on Jaemin. Something about it made Jaemin nervous.

'Was it a bad idea to agree on making friends?' He thought.

He hid his hands behind him, tugging on the sleeves while he jut down on his bottom lip. He faked a cough, causing the other boy to look at him.

"Hey.. I know that was pretty awkward. You know, having to interact with someone like me whom you barely know. You can just forget about what the nurse said if you feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger-"

Jaemin started, his pace unusually fast. The boy's gaze felt sharp, it almost felt like he was boring holes through Jaemin's body. But on the corner of his eye, he saw how the boy's gaze soften a bit as he looked away from Jaemin.

"I'm Jeno. Lee Jeno."

"Je..no?"

He saw the boy nod a bit.

"Jeno.."

Jaemin muttered.

Something about the name felt familiar to him.

How the name rolled so perfectly out of his mouth.

How it had this ring to it.

Jeno slowly gazed at Jaemin upon hearing the brunet call his name for the second time, flustering himself when he caught Jaemin looking back.

"Is.. Is there something wrong with my name?"

Jeno feebly asks, lowering his head down in panic when Jaemin's brows started to knit together. He silently wishes for his nurse to come back soon, he wishes for Mark to arrive soon.

A smile slowly made it's way to Jaemin's lips.

"It's been a while, Jeno."