32 soft, vulnerable, fragile

"Tell me something cool about yourself."

Jaemin grinned toothily, resting his chin on his palms as he gazed at the boy. Jeno blinked twice, his brows knitting together as he thinks of 'something cool' about himself.

The two fell silent after their conversation. Not until Jaemin decided to break the growing walls between the both of them. He knew it would take a while before Jeno will ever open up to him, so he moved his first set of plans aside, and decided to just have a ordinary conversation with the boy. He had his attention on Jeno the entire time. Jeno was too deep in his thoughts to even bother.

"But first, why are you so persistent of getting to know me? I didn't expect you'd take our first encounter seriously and even get as far as coming to my room to personally get to know each other better.." Jeno asked all of a sudden, catching Jaemin off his guard. He didn't expect the boy to ask him such question, especially after saying that it was fine for him that Jaemin hangs around his room for a while. Though, Jaemin should have seen it coming. After all, he left quite an impression on their first encounter.

"It's because I really want to be friends with you. You seem nice to me. It's not like patients around the same age as I am are rare here. There's quite a lot of them, actually. But sadly, all of them don't seem to like making new friends. You're the only one who I was able to start a conversation with even if it didn't end so well.' Jaemin explained, flashing a petite smile at the boy staring back at him.

Jeno remained silent all the while Jaemin explained his self. His lips pursed into a thin line as he shook his head.

"I might end up shutting you out just like I did to everyone else." He mumbled, almost inaudible for Jaemin to pick up and hear. Jaemin raised a brow but Jeno set it aside and preceded to return to their previous topic.

"Hmm, anyways.. I have three pet cats, named after the holidays. But I'm allergic to them."

Jeno hummed to himself. The brunet cooed at him.

"Funny thing is, I can see some kind of resemblance!"

Jeno gave the latter a confused look.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Jaemin emitted a faint chuckle upon witnessing the sight of a confused Jeno. He slipped his hands inside the pockets of his hoodie, leaning his back against the chair.

"Well, you're cute. Cats are cute, too. But you have this somewhat fierce-looking gaze when you're serious, it reminds me of the eyes of a cat."

Jeno scoffed at the remark in disbelief before bursting into laughter. Jaemin stared in amusement. He doesn't recall ever hearing Jeno's laugh on their first encounter. He found it adorable. The way Jeno's eyes form into crescents when he smiles and when he's laughing. He didn't know eyes could smile, too.

"That's nonsensical of you, Jaemin."

"Only if you think it is. I bet you'd be one adorable cat."

Jaemin huffed childishly, shrugging his shoulders in response. He wasn't lying. He thinks the boy would look adorable as a cat. Specifically, a kitten.

"But if I were to be a cat, wouldn't that mean that I'm going to be allergic of myself?"

Jeno asks. Jaemin palmed his face internally because of Jeno. It was a ridiculous question, indeed. Jeno didn't even know where he got the guts to ask. It surprised him. It surprised him on how he is already feeling comfortable with Jaemin. It frightened him, but something about it is also heart-warming to him.

"Geez.. You're ruining the fun. I didn't mean it literally."

Jaemin frowns.

"It's weird.."

Jeno mumbles as he lowers his head down with a sigh, did he make Jaemin upset?

The room suddenly felt warm than usual, and Jeno began to panic inside.

But all of that went away when he heard Jaemin chuckle.

"Well, how unfortunate of you, Jeno. Because I am weird."

Jeno scoffed in disbelief, averting his gaze from the brunet.

"That makes no sense."

"Not everything has to, though. Or does it?"

Jaemin asks in a rather innocent manner, while noticing the evident hue of pink playing on Jeno's cheeks. He might have started to stare at the boy a bit longer than he thought he would.

"It does. Things need to make sense so that well.. they make sense."

"Hmm, I wasn't taught that way. Perhaps I should go back to school?"

The brunet jokes, leaning his back on the chair as he lifted his legs up from the ground and hugging it close to him before emitting a faint chuckle.

Jeno raised a brow at Jaemin, lightly nodding his head as he purses his lips into a thin line to suppress his grin. Something about the way Jaemin chuckled made him want to smile.

"Perhaps you should."

Jaemin hums in response, a gentle smile plastered across his lips.

"Had I wish I can."

"Huh?"

Jaemin shook his head in a dismissive manner, letting out another chuckle as he meets Jeno's gaze.

"I didn't say anything."

He saw Jeno frown a bit while loosely folding his arms above his chest. Jeno was still wearing a bandage around his arm but he hasn't asked the boy about it yet. He thought it would be too early to ask. He didn't want to come off as rude and disrespectful.

"Yes, you did say something."

Jaemin bit his bottom lip in hesitation, looking away and quickly glancing at his wristwatch.

"Oh, would you look at the time. I didn't know an hour passed already. Heh. I'll be taking my leave now, Jeno. It was nice being able to know you a bit more. Thank you, for not telling me to leave. But I'll have to go back now. I promised my nurse I will only be gone for an hour."

Jaemin beamed, setting his foot back on the floor as he stood up, about to put the chair he used back to where he got it from when Jeno held his arm, causing him to freeze and flinch in surprise. Jeno, too, was surprised of what he just did. He stared at Jaemin wide-eyed, but he knew the brunet wouldn't say anything unless he does. He heaves a sigh.

Jeno's hand felt warm against his skin.

"I.. Y-You'll come back, right?"

Jaemin blinked once, twice, thrice. He thought he was hearing things. But he wasn't. He heard Jeno right. The pleading eyes of Jeno were telling him he didn't hear him wrong. Jaemin couldn't help but to chuckle.

"Only if you want me to, I guess."

Jeno bit his bottom lip, lowering his head down as he loosen his grip on Jaemin's arm.

"I want you to."

Jeno momentarily paused, bringing a hand up with his pinky raised. Jaemin's eyes widened in surprise when the latter took his hand and hooked his pinky with his.

"Visit me again, okay?"

Jaemin never thought Jeno would have that kind of side in him. But he knows that Jeno is just like everyone. Everyone has that side in them. Their soft, vulnerable, and fragile side. And perhaps the gesture melted his heart a bit.