Jeno stares at his screen as the clip loops itself. He steals a glance at Jaemin whose eyes are also glued to his screen, mouth agape. The video Renjun had sent to the chat was rather, interesting, and it made his heart thump a little faster and made his hands jitter just a little. “Jaemin!” he whisper yelled, despite the room being empty, and pinched his thigh to pull him out of it. Jaemin all but yelped and then pulled him up by the sleeve down the hall. Jeno allowed himself to get dragged away with hurried steps. Head still filled with a million different thoughts and questions— specifically if a) Renjun was being serious, b) was it bad that he wanted him, too, and c) did Jaemin also want him the same way? Jaemin quickly pulls him into a small utility closet and silence falls upon them. Jaemin speaks first, “Jeno. We need him.” Jeno chokes on his own saliva and a feeling of relief escapes him before he lets out a laugh of disbelief. “Are- are you actually serious? You think Renjun was being serious?” Jaemin’s eyes are serious as he holds Jeno by the shoulders. “I know how much you want him, too! The worse thing he can say is…” Jaemin trails off and this time his eyes morph into something more forlorn. Jeno’s heart also sinks at the possibility of rejection but he also thinks- yeah, the worse thing is that it’s all some joke and at least they have each other to hold at night to soothe whatever pieces of their hearts are left. But they should definitely- at the very least-really just try. Renjun this whole time had given almost no indication about his affections towards the both of them. He was polite and respectful when it came to acknowledging them as a couple and though Jaemin and him each held a special and close relationship with him, it was hard not to end up yearning for more. This, they discussed previously, on a cold night in Tokyo, hands intertwined as they lay in bed and recounted fond memories of the shorter male. It was then that they realized how much their hearts ached for him to fill that one spot they thought was shaped like him. All the while, Renjun’s constant friendliness and oftentimes distance between the two of them left them wondering if their hopes were just flightless paper cranes. So whatever this was- felt like a brave gesture that they both knew they needed to latch on and do their best to show Renjun that they were totally serious about having Renjun-shaped holes in their hearts. And maybe like fools do, they hope with high expectations, hoping that that hope is returned with a promise. So Jeno and Jaemin exit the closet together with determined steps to where Renjun is most likely sleeping, if not just about dozing off, in the waiting room. They peak into it carefully, as if they were afraid to puncture the peace surrounding Renjun. Thankfully, Renjun is laying down, curled up on the couch, cheek adorably squished against his hand. Jeno wants no more than to put his head on his lap (despite the numerous times his thighs would go numb and he’d “complain”). Jaemin slowly approaches the other male and with a soft smile, nudges Renjun awake. They had not planned anything for this impromptu proposal but Jaemin reassured him that if Renjun said yes that they could just kiss him and that’d be okay. Jeno blushed at the thought and secretly hoped that it would be true. Renjun stirred awake with a small pout, careful not to rub his makeup away, and blinked his eyes before they became alert at the sight of two of them. “Jeno? Jaemin? Did I miss my cue?” he said, frantically reaching for his phone before Jaemin grabbed his hand gently. “No, but Jeno and I have an important question to ask you. And we are both absolutely sure and serious. So please hear us out.” Renjun blinks again and a small shiver runs through his body and Jeno has to resist the urge again to reach out and wrap his arms around him. So he opts to sit on the other side of Renjun and takes his other hand with equal gentleness into his. “What is it? Is this about-“ Renjun’s voice becomes small before he sees another wave of panic arise and Jaemin is quick to shush him assuredly before he can garble out, stroking the back of his neck. “Listen, hear us out please. And if you don’t know the answer to what we have to say or just say no, we’ll respect it. Okay?” Renjun’s tongue falls short and he nervously nods, looking at the both of them before retracting his hands and holding them in his lap. “Junnie, will you be our boyfriend? We really like you- and have for a long time now,” Jeno sputters. Wow so much for easing into it he mentally groans. Jaemin looks taken aback but he recovers and adds, “We really do mean it. We’ve… honestly been waiting and hoping that one day you’d see how much you mean to us and how much we want you— more than what we have now…” Renjun gasps and his mouth is agape. A million thoughts must be running through his head now. Jeno and Jaemin exchange a glance that borders worry and optimism. Renjun then nervously chuckles, “Wait are you guys… I mean… you both… you both think about me seriously like that? I didn’t even think you guys…” Renjun is about to bite his nails and Jeno reaches out to intertwine their hands. “Renjun we, I, think about you all the time. I always want to be closer to you I just wasn’t sure if your… feelings allowed it.” Jaemin nods and says too, “Jun-ah, all this time I never for once stopped thinking about how perfect you’d be if you were with us, right alongside us. We want you and we hope you think of us the same way you…” Jaemin trails off unsure how to say ‘do.’

But, it takes a few fast beating hearts for Renjun’s furrowed look to ease up again as he bravely reaches out and tugs them both closer to him. To which they oblige happily. Excitement rises throw Jeno’s chest and he can see Jaemin’s smile grow little by little. Renjun finally holds both their hands in his again and he gives them that endearing look he does when he wants something but isn’t sure how to say it out loud. But he does this time, when he says, “Yes. I want to be both of your boyfriends’.”

Renjun is running late. He was supposed to pick up Chenle’s basketball themed birthday cake ten minutes ago and it’s ten minutes past. Granted, he’s jittering his leg inside the cab that’s painstakingly traversing down the block at a snails pace because of sudden traffic. He’s never going to make it to the surprise party at this pace. So, Renjun quickly hops out of the car, drops a dozen bills into the cab’s cupholder, and /dashes/ to the bakery.

If he was late, Kun was going to whoop
his ass. The older man had already told him to leave the apartment ten minutes early but was it Renjun’s fault that his client kept yapping over the Teams call?

Renjun really hates to sweat in his nice YSL silk shirt but he can just dry clean it after. Friendship first, clothes second. Renjun skids to a stop and all but whirls into the bakery with heaving breaths and shaking legs. He really needed to go to the gym more. He hurriedly walks up to the counter, Chenle’s gift bag hanging off his arm, and catches the attention of one of the owners who quickly deduces his order.

“Cake for Renjun?”

Renjun hurriedly pays for everything, hands shaking out of frazzle yet trying to carefully balance it in his arms, he turns to speed out of the bakery to catch another cab when BAM!

The gutwrenching sound of a cake on a pavement registers in his head. /Fuck, fuck fuck-/ Renjun is about to yell at the stranger who wasn’t looking and flusters when he comes face to face with a handsome man with bright (and apologetic) eyes and sharp cheeks. If Renjun wasn’t in a dire situation he’d stare forever but the frustration comes creeping back in and before he can get a word out the man quickly stoops down to pick up the cake box (with the smashed cake).

“I’m so sorry! Is there a way to make up for this? Can I order you another cake?” the man says frantically with worry, eyes becoming impossibly round.

It must be the reflection of the sun because they almost /sparkle/ but Renjun pulls himself together before he loses it. He’s /already/ fifteen minutes late now.

“Well I was about to deliver this to my friend for his surprise birthday party but now that its been smashed I have no fucking clue,” Renjun confesses in frustration.

“Well… is your friend a fan of other types of desserts?” the man asks.

/Huh??/

“If you will allow me to make it up to you and your friend… I can offer some of the dessert trays I prepared. Please take it as an apology and no I won’t accept no as an answer. I’m the head baker there so I absolutely do not mind,” he smiled.

So… when Renjun arrived /30/ minutes late, Kun’s annoyance and yelling slowly melded into shock when he saw the amount of cakes, pastries, and cookies that Renjun carried in (thankfully without dropping any of the four boxes). And Renjun’s worry quickly turned into great relief when he found out that Chenle himself was going to be late to his own “surprise party” because he got caught up playing basketball. Of course.

As everything got set up, Renjun realized there was a slip of paper wedged in one of the boxes lids and took it out to inspect it. On the paper read /I’m sorry about turning your day upside down. But, I couldn’t help but think of how cute you were the whole time… XXX-XXX-XXXX here’s my number… text me if you need anything sweet :) - Jaemin/

Although Renjun wasn’t good with throwing balls around in sports, maybe this time Renjun would shoot his shot, too.

*wow this was kinda mediocre help