#does it work

“You’re so hard to read, everyone else is like an open book but when it comes to you I just can’t get a grasp of what you’re thinking”

You chuckled at his statement, finding it funny that the guy who is a Psych major is telling you this. 

“I thought you’re supposed to be good at that”

“I usually am. I’m not a mindreader, god I hate that misconception. I know I study about how the human brain works and all that but I don’ study how to read minds. It’s all based on what you give me: actions, words, mannerism. But you, you are on tough cookie to crack”

“Then try asking me instead, you look like you’re about to pull all your hair out” you decided to spare him from his misery because Haechan did look like he was two seconds away from slamming his head on the table

“I’m living under the same roof as Jaemin, I’ve known him for years but you I’ve never seen him act the way he is when he’s around you. We used to tease him alot in our freshmen year because he kept on chasing after you and you always let him down as gently as you can”

“I tried, he wore me down” you joked, giving up on the book you were reading and turned to look at the boy who was currently interrogating you

“Then what’s with the whole, no label no strings attached thing? you act like a real couple anyways”

“It’s less complicated this way” you answered

“Is it?”

That got to you stop and think to yourself, 

Was it really less complicated this way? The answer? it was. 

“We know what we are to each other, Jaemin’s honest with how he feels. I don’t have any reason to question what we have so why fix what isn’t broken”

Haechan just looked at you, “What?” you asked

“Maybe that’s why” he whispered to himself but you heard him anyways

“Why what?”

“Why he likes you. He’s not too much for you, not lacking either. You’re ready to take whatever he gives you, you’re okay with him not being your boyfriend but you’re also okay with being smothered by him almost 24/7″

“He could be a handful, but that’s who he is. It wouldn’t be Jaemin if he doesn’t atleast ask for an added 10 minute cuddle in the morning” you jokingly told him, the latter smiling at you

“Just be careful, I don’t think neither of you will be able to handle it if something bad happens”

“Knock on wood then” you said then knocked thrice on the table

You must have jinxed yourself because the next day you almost couldn’t believe what your eyes were seeing. 

Across the parking lot, Jaemin was by his car with a girl. 

The one you thought you weren’t going to meet again. 

She looked better than she did the last time you saw her, she’s wearing the same smile she had when you first saw her. She looked beautiful. 

And Jaemin was smiling brightly back at her. 

You thought back to what Haechan asked you before, you did mean it when you said you didn’t feel jealous at all so what is this weird feeling you’re experiencing right now. 

“There you are! I thought we’re going to get cupcakes after school” Karina said from behind you but your eyes stayed on the two figures across the lot

“What are you looking at?” Karina asked when she got beside you then looked at were your gaze was

“Oh. Wait. Who’s that?” she asked again

“Tzuyu, Jaemin’s friend” you answered, your voice voided of any emotion

“I’ve never seen her around here before, does she go here?” 

“Not sure, should we go?” you finally took your gaze away from them and looked at your friend who was already looking at you

“Aren’t you going to say hi to them or something?” she mumbled, giving them a brief glance “No, it’s fine. Let’s go, I’ve been thinking about those cupcakes since you’ve told me about it” you managed to muster a smile before pulling her away towards her car. 

You tried your best to appear unaffected by it, but you can’t help but check your phone every now and then to see if Jaemin has texted you. 

He hasn’t.

It was so unlike him. Usually he’d text you before he gets to his class or when he knows you’re done with yours but today you’re phone was quiet.

“If you’re that worried about it, why don’t you call him first?” Karina asked when she noticed how you kept on checking your phone

“No, it’s fine. He’s probably busy” you mumbled, tucking your phone back in your bag instead of your pocket to prevent your self from checking it again. 

“Was she his ex or something?”

“Not sure, I didn’t really ask, But I think she likes him” you sighed and took a bite of your cupcake. To Karina you looked like a little puppy who was kicked accidently, she didn’t like it one bit. 

“He likes you, thought. Don’t worry yourself over nothing” she shot you a smile before offering you another cupcake. 

You both made your way back to your dorm, just talking about school and stuff while walking back. 

“Oh. Looks like you have a late visitor” Karina said, “I’ll go up first. Don’t stay up to late” she said then skipped ahead, leaving you on the sidewalk. 

There he was sitting on the steps infront of your building. 

“It’s late, what are you doing here?” 

“Waiting for you, sorry I was catching up with a friend that’s why I didn’t get to text you after class. Did you already eat dinner?” Jaemin asks

“Yea, we ate out tonight. Have you?” you asked back making him shake his head, “I thought you were out with a friend? didn’t you grab something to eat?”

“No, we just talked for a bit then I went to back to the dorm. Taeyong hyung called for a family meeting” you chuckled at what he just said, 

“How cute. Who knew one of the most popular frat house have their weekly family meetings” he just laughed too, understanding what you meant. 

You took the seat beside him, not really saying anything for a while. 

“I was talking to Tzuyu, by the way. She’s transferring here this semester, she was asking about classes” he told you, you just hummed along

“You met her back when we were at my parent’s house” he spoke again, looking at you with careful eyes. You seemed a bit off but he can’t quite put a pin on what it was. 

“That’s good” you answer absentmindedly 

“Are we okay?”

“Huh? I mean yeah, why wouldn’t we be” you shot him a half smile but Jaemin wasn’t convinced. He just looked at you for a few seconds then looked down on his lap

“I told you, if there’s anything bothering you just tell me. I feel like we’re taking too many steps back, I’m not even sure why” 

“I’m fine, just a bit tired. Still trying to get back on my routine, I guess” you answered, even when you already both know it wasn’t the truth. You can feel his stare on the side of you face, and yet you don’t turn your head to look at him too. 

“You should go inside now” he said then stood up infront of you, holding a hand out for you but instead you passed him a pink paperbag

“I got you a cupcake, it’s dairy free don’t worry and it’s not strawberry flavored” you said then stood up, since you were standing on the step ahead of him you were on eye level with him. He took the bag from you, looking at it before looking back up at you

“Thanks” 

“We’re okay. Don’t worry about it” you told him then pulled him in for a hug, your arms going around his shoulders while his were around your waist.

“I’m not the worried one, love. You looked like you were having a not so good day, you should’ve called me” he mumbled against your ear

“I will” you feel him press a kiss once on the side of your head then again on your forehead when you pulled away from the hug

Even though you didn’t tell him the whole reason you were upset, he appreciated the fact that you still went out and got something for him. You were the one who didn’t feel okay, he should be the one getting you something to make you feel better but instead you’re the one who got him something.

After bidding goodbye, he drove back to his dorm. Feeling both worried about you and happy about your gift to him. If any of the boys hear about him getting all soft over a cupcake, he probably would never hear the end of it. But he really didn’t care. When it comes to you nothing else matter. 

“Oh there he is. Were you over at Y/N’s?” Jeno asked when Jaemin got back to the house, spotting his bestfriend walk in the kitchen to grab something to drink 

“I was”

“What’s that? Did you bring back some food?” Jeno asked, holding out to take the bag from Jaemin’s grasp but Jaemin quickly held it back

“This is mine, don’t you dare touch it” he warned his bestfriend, making the latter hold his hand up

“Noted on that. By the way, I heard Tzuyu’s transferring here this semester”

“Yea, we talked today actually” that earned a snicker from Jeno, making Jaemin look over to his bestfriend with a confused look

“Have something to share to the class, Jeno-ssi?” Jaemin asked

“It’s pretty obvious she still likes you” Jeno mumbled meanwhile Jaemin just rolled his eyes at him “No she doesn’t”

“She does, anyone with two eyes can see that. Even Y/N can see it”

Then it clicked. That must be the reason why you were upset earlier. Come to think of it, the only other time you were that quiet around him was after Tzuyu visited him over at his parent’s house. 

“I have to go, take this to my room make sure nobody’s going to take it” he instructed Jeno, earning a salute from his bestfriend before running back out the house

Renjun and Haechan met him by the door, the pair holding a few bags of take-out.

“Yah, where are you going?” Haechan screamed after his friend but he was already in his car about to drive away

“Why ask, we already know where he’s going” Renjun answered for him, smiling after his friend. “Let’s go, Jeno’s going to be mad if the food gets cold”

You were just about to call it a night when you heard frantic knocking at your door, you decided whether to open it or not but you weren’t really in your right mind and you feel really tired. So made your way to the front door and opened it, shooked to see who it was.

“What are you doing here?” You asked Jaemin who is now standing by your doorway at 11pm at night

“Jaemin? Is something wrong?” you asked again when he didn’t respond to you, then suddenly you were pulled against him. Pulling the two of in back in your dorm room, closing the door behind you before marching towards your bedroom. 

The moment your bedroom door closed, Jaemin immediately stood infront of you trapping your body between his and the door. 

You felt his hands behind your thighs before he whispers, “Jump” 

Then you were in his arms. Your legs around his waist and arms around his shoulder. You blinked at him, looking like a little deer caught in the headlights. Feeling confused as to what got Jaemin acting like this.

For a moment you just stared at each other, and then you felt his lips on yours. In contrast with how everything else felt too rushed and intense, his lips were soft and gentle on yours. 

He kissed you as if he was scared he might break you but the grip he had on you told you he was holding himself back. Resting his head on the crook of your neck when the two of you broke apart to catch your breath, 

“You okay, Jaem?” you whispered, but once again you didn’t get an answer from him.  

This time though he gently put you down back on your feet but he didn’t let go of you completely, still engulfed in between his arms. He just looked at you like a man seeing light for the first time. Jaemin held his hand up to gently caress your cheek, he kissed you on the forehead once before kissing you lightly on the lips

“Can I ask you something?” he whispered

“Okay”

“Were you feeling worried about me and Tzuyu?”

“I wasn’t-” “Please, just... tell me”

You looked at him looking at you like that, looking so vulnerable in your arms like that. You felt silly feeling the way you did earlier but it was the truth, and Jaemin was never the one to walk away from your truths. 

“It sounds silly, I know but you look like you’re good friends with her. She’s so beautiful too, and she’s nice. Who wouldn’t like a girl like her?” you answered, your hand toying the button of his shirt too afraid to look at him. 

He put a finger under your chin making your chin, now you can’t escape his gaze

“Silly girl, why would you worry over that? Haven’t I told you before you’re the only one I want. How I feel about you hasn’t change, if it seems like it has then let me remind you again” 

Just like that he closed the gap between the two of you again, immediately melting in his arms the way your worries melted away when he spoke those words. If it’s coming from Jaemin’s lip you know it was the truth and nothing but the truth.  

So you let him remind you all night, until you uttered nothing else but his name. Until your worries melted through the sheets and became nothing but long forgotten memories.