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“Whoa, you really are sick.”
In this predominantly black room, Jeno sat himself on his fluffy mattress. His body was too hot to be inside the blanket that he would be drenched in sweat. All the while his fever reached 39° on the thermometer. He can’t help but quiver from the gushing wind in front of him.
Jaemin has been blowing his face to bring down the sick man’s temperature. Does it do something at least? Well, yes. Jeno’s focus drifted from his spreading ache all over his body, to Jaemin’s breath which was confusingly cold. It’s as if Jaemin’s mouth has an air conditioner… or better, his mouth IS the air conditioner.
“Can you stop?” Haechan rolled his eyes at Jaemin’s antics, “Don’t you see how bothered he is?”
With a Jeno smile, Jeno smiled and shook his head, “No… I’m not bothered, really. Although, I think you can stop. It didn’t do anything significant.”
Jaemin’s eyes shone, “Whoa… I think this is the worst you’ve been, Yed! I genuinely–or should I say Jenouinely–think my magical breath can cure your fever. I mean, it always does….”
“I was sick for at least three days after you came, Jaemin. I don’t think it was your breath.” Jeno spoke almost audibly.
“You shouldn’t say such a thing regarding my magical breath!” Jaemin squinted at Jeno’s lousy face, “Besides, the effect isn’t always instant.”
“It was the aspirin.”
The quickness of Jeno’s response caught Jaemin in disbelief. After all, what he did was to make his friend better. Turns out it wasn’t him… It was the aspirin. Jaemin sighed, “Fair enough.”
With his unwellness, Jeno couldn’t even sit straight on his bed. His back was supported by a big teddy bear Jaemin and Haechan bought for his 24th birthday. He was glad the bear was big enough to be the big spoon this time, not that he usually the big spoon or anything.
Unable to do anything, Jeno sat and listened to his two friends bickering about the magical air from Jaemin’s mouth. It wasn’t even a problem for Jeno. He had no idea why the two of them made such a big fuss.
There’s something wrong with this setting. Jeno can’t quite grasp the reality when his headache feels as if it could kill him. He did realize though that today wasn’t supposed to go like this. This image of him being in bed with Jaemin and Haechan fighting like a cat and a dog doesn't feel right. Something is definitely, undebatably, wrong.
“Excuse me, kind sirs….” Jeno called out, “Can one of you help me grab my phone, please?”
Snappily, Jaemin’s head turned first, “Absolutely not, gentleboy. Can’t you see the state you’re in right now? One second of blue light, you’d be in a coffin the next second.”
“Okay, now you’re just being dramatic and rude!” Haechan snapped back, while walking away from Jaemin. He pulled Jeno’s phone from the charging cable and blew a raspberry at Jaemin’s face.
“Thank you, Haechan.”
The grin on Haechan's face glowed, “Don’t mention it, baby. That’s what a good friend should do.”
Twelve new messages and three missed-calls. All from the same contact.
Huang Renjun.
Gravity dismissed, clock stopped ticking, breath shortened. Jeno could feel his face had gone white. His eyes darted towards Haechan, who still grins like a fool, and Jaemin.
“Renjun.”
Haechan's smile dropped, “Right! Let’s talk about him and about why you always got sick after spending time with him.”
“Yeah, Yed! Did he force you to do something? Like put your feet in the air, head in the water?” For a second, Jeno thought Jaemin tried to crack a joke. No, Jeno didn’t think, Jaemin’s eyes were dead on him, “Oh! Oh! Did he make artificial rain for you so that you caught a cold?”
“What are you talking about? Me getting sick is all my fault. It’s a me-thing, seriously.” Jeno shook his head busily typing on his phone. Must be talking to Renjun, if not searching for a way to hide away from his Crush-Who-Planned-For-A-Not-date-Today but he bailed on because apparently he’s on his deathbed already.
Jeno is a lovesick. Not the good kind of lovesick, though.
Jeno has a curse. Whenever he meets the person he loves, he gets sick.
This time was not an exception. The day before, he went to Renjun’s to accompany the love of his life. It just happened that Mark, Renjun’s roommate, is out of town, and Renjun was bored out of his mind.
When Renjun invited him to ‘go on a not-date’ he didn’t expect it to be in a way, an intimate closeness. Definitely not suffocating. Once they were inside Renjun and Mark’s apartment, every room inside felt below zero degrees. Jeno felt under the weather once they hit the sack–which translates to Renjun on his own and Jeno on Mark’s bed.
Last night didn’t end perfectly. Hence why Renjun invited him today to make up for yesterday’s sloppy not-date. Now let’s be real, who is Jeno to refuse?
Renjun :O
Is it really a coincidence when you ALWAYS refused to meet me the next day?
You should come clear that you can’t stand me, Jeno.
That way, I wouldn’t bother you.
It sucks a little because I’m already in front of your apartment. I’m sorry that I was worried about you.
The headache was undeniably awful, otherwise Jeno would be able to process what Renjun had sent him.
“Oh my heavens….” Jeno’s eyes widened, “Open the door! Renjun is outside!”
It was impulsive. The next second he realized what could possibly happen the moment Renjun stepped inside.
First, his breath will be even more shortened. The oxygen might have disappeared, running away from his lung. Then the headache will truly kill him. Or, there will be a mosquito that bites him too deep inside his veins.
Whatever the way, this will be the end. He will die, for sure.
Unfortunately, before his body could respond to the jarring thoughts, Renjun rushed inside the room, shocking both Jeno and Haechan. His eyes filled with horror. The gleaming on his eyes were not from excitement, it was from tears.
“You’re alive, Jeno….” He spurted along with tears falling dramatically, “Jaemin said you’re dying! He said it can’t be helped! He—”
Renjun sobbed and it broke Jeno in silence. With no second thought, Renjun ran to Jeno, hugged the sick man’s helpless body and wailed. The coldness from Renjun’s body neutralized Jeno’s body heat.
Seeing such a scene, Haechan crabwalked to Jaemin noiselessly and proceeded to whisper, “Thanks a lot. You clearly provoke his dramatic ass by misinforming him, Jaemin-ah....”
“Are you kidding?” Eyebrows furrowed, Jaemin looked at Haechan perplexedly, “This is how you should react to a friend dying, Haechan-ah. It’s beautiful…. Do you see how his tears come down three tears-per-second?”
The upper corner of Haechan’s lips twitched, “Jeno is not dying. You’re not exactly wrong about his tears though.”
“Can you guys leave, please? Stay on guard in the living room or something?” The two guys who had been there before him bewildered, “What? I need to talk to Jeno. This is a private matter.”
Knowing they’re unable to argue further, the both of them walked outside. One of the guys was giving Renjun the stinkiest side eye before he completely closed the door.
“Jaemin, did I hear him correctly?” To be frank, Jaemin doesn’t know, but he nods anyway, “‘Stay on guard’ pfft. Does he think we’re Jeno’s bodyguard? That can’t be. He knows us. Ugh! Why does this piss me off.”
Inside the predominantly black room, Jeno sat himself on the fluffy mattress, this time with Renjun next to him. His body was too hot to be inside the blanket that he would be drenched in sweat. Fortunately, Renjun was colder enough to balance their temperature. He can’t help but quiver from the coldness next to him.
Jeno wasn’t sure if it was Renjun’s natural body temperature or if his nervous system broke, but the contrast when their skins brushed shocked both of them.
It was when Jeno turned his head he began to realize he didn’t die. Or perhaps he died. Perhaps he was in freaking heaven because a freaking angel was sitting freakishly close to him, freaking him. The angel’s face was right in front of his, close enough for their nose tips to touch. The teary eyes startled him.
“I’m sorry, Jeno….” The angel’s lips upturned, trembling beautifully, “I sent you messages you shouldn’t have read when you’re sick.”
Jeno smiled faintly, “Don’t say sorry, Angel. It wasn’t you.”
Perhaps the room grew hotter for Renjun. His cheeks unnoticeably turned red all the way to his ears, “I’m glad you’re alive Jeno….”
“Am I, though?” His smile decorated his pale, nearly-white face. Though his eyes locked with the angel’s eyes, his mind went with the tide of the other’s pair of eyes. The angel is as lifeless as he is, as inanimate as him. Only when Renjun’s eyebrow furrowed and head tilted did Jeno realize he’s alive. They’re in his room. Renjun is next to him in flesh and bones. It was not an angel, it was truly Renjun, “Holy shit…. I am alive.”
The horror on Jeno’s face evoked the horror for Renjun, “What is it? You’re freaking me out, Jen….”
“You’re here…. I was sick…. Shouldn’t I die the moment you’re inside my room?” Jeno’s eyes were empty. They were lurking through his own thoughts, trying to find an answer.
“Please never say that.” There was anger plummeting through Renjun’s voice, “Why did you let me in when you’ll just make matters worse, Jeno. You hate me that much that you think you’d die after seeing me?”
Suddenly, Jeno fell silent. He always hated confrontation. It’s a shameful event. Never once did he imagine the shameful event will come from the one who he cherishes ever since they met. A miscommunication at that.
“Say something, Jeno…. Or I’ll believe you hate me.”
“I wish I can explain this well, Renjun.” Jeno’s eyes locked at Renjun, “Just… trust me, I don’t hate you. I’m sorry I never show up after our not-date, okay? It’s because somehow I always get sick every time we meet.”
“Fuck.” Renjun cussed under his breath, “I made you sick? I’ve been giving you an allergy? Oh, God, don’t tell me… you have a Renjun allergy?”
Jeno was unsure if he’s allowed to laugh at Renjun’s verdict so he swallowed it, “I’m not sure I understand what is a Renjun allergy, but no, Renjun, you’re not the one who puts me on a deathbed.”
“Then why did you get sick after you met me?” Renjun eyes got teary again, “Is it a curse? Did I give you a curse? Am I bad luck to you? An omen?”
“No, don’t.” Jeno shook his head, “Don’t say all that nonsense, Jun. You’re none of those words coming from your mouth, I promise. In fact, the curse was just something I’ve had…. I’m sorry I haven’t told you this…. I have a curse to never be in love. Oh, more like, I should never be in love.”
“What in the universe?” Renjun was visibly taken aback. He even took a step back, “Now you’re saying nonsense! How can someone be cursed with being loveless! You, out of all people.”
“Yet it happens, Renjun-ah.” Jeno, for reasons he didn’t know either, stood and grabbed Renjun’s hands, “Ever since I know how romantic feeling feels like, I’ve never truly loved in peace. If I have to be in contact, especially an intimate one, with the person I treasure romantically, I would get sick. Right now… it’s a consequence for being in your vicinity for too long. This sucks and I can’t dodge the curse…. Otherwise I would never turn down your not-date invitations ever. Do you trust me?”
“Could it be that your body couldn't handle it after being around someone who excites you?” The voice wasn’t Renjun’s. It was Haechan’s, “You guys are just unserious, what the fuck. Talking about curse and a Person allergy.”
“When did you two come inside?” Renjun’s face reddened, looking at Haechan who crossed his hands and Jaemin who grins like a fool.
Jaemin couldn’t stop grinning, “Since you said Jeno has a Renjun allergy.”
“He could be!”
“I told you I don’t….”
“Yeah, Renjun! He couldn’t have that.” Jaemin stood next to Renjun, “He ditched our game night for you, you know. You’re a big deal in our friendship. Mainly for stealing our Yed’s heart. But! He’s not allergic to you. Even if he is, he would’ve rather die from the allergy than acknowledge that. He wouldn’t mind getting sick until he died. Just so you know.”
“Huh, die…. Speaking of the devil….” The room grew quiet, “All you guys talked about is die, die, die. Is this curse really that severe, he could die from it?”
“They’re just being dramatic.” Haechan rolled his eyes, “And it’s not a curse, I’m telling you. Stop being lame and childish.”
“I could die if I keep meeting you for days consecutively…. For example, because we met yesterday and I thought it was pretty intense, the curse casted on me. If I happened to meet you today, the curse might be worse and I could die, I think. Not like I mind, but it will be pretty sad if I die before I get to tell you how I feel.”
All three pairs of eyes locked gaze with Jeno’s eyes. All of their eyebrows furrowed. One out of shock, one out of amusement, one out of confusion.
Frustrated, Haechan brushed his face roughly, “You idiot! What the fuck do you mean by ‘If I meet you today, I could die’? He’s in front of you, and you’re alive! In the fucking flesh! And! You kind of already tell him how you feel towards him!”
“Oh…. Yed.” Jaemin proceeded to hug Jeno’s head, “His headache must be severe he got confused. You’re alive, Samoyed. You’re with us.”
This time, Jeno furrowed his eyebrows, “Huh? My head feels fine though….”
Jaemin laughed so hard he rolled on the ground, “You were just in bed, can’t even sit without your teddy bear because you’ll fall if you–What? Jeno? You are sick. What–How? Get back to bed!”
“Huh? I don’t feel feverish anymore….”
“That fast?” Haechan squinted at Jeno. He then proceeded to put the back of his hand on Jeno’s forehead. His eyes widened, “Whoa…. your fever has gone down….”
“I love you.” The sudden confession left everyone in shock. Renjun gulped, “If you love me too… may I kiss you?”
The question left the room with no space to breathe for Jeno. Half of his conscious mind wished Renjun was merely joking. On the other hand, his sick bodies bring him closer to Renjun, pulling Renjun. Their lips crossed, they found each other.
“Ew! Germs transfer!” Jaemin couldn’t help but look at the two lips which tied and perfectly complement one another as if they were missing puzzle pieces.
They weren’t kissed deeply knowing there were one freak and one moral police in the room with them. The kiss was subtle and quick, enough for both of them to gently speak their heart out. Their eyes found each other, “Jeno…. I think… love is the cure.”
Jeno giggled and left a peck on Renjun’s pouty lips, “I think so too, Renjun-ah. You’re here, and it’s weird because I thought I’d die. Turns out I survived because I got to see you, who loves me too.”
“Ugh, get a room! Both of you are so fucking cheesy. ‘love is the cure’ no, weirdos, in fact—” Haechan couldn’t continue when his eyes caught a clear vision of his friend, Jeno.
Wasn’t it sometimes ago that Jeno’s face was as pale as a ghost? Wasn’t it sometimes ago that Jeno’s lips were as dry as his jokes? This Jeno though…. His eyes shone, as if he wasn’t on his deathbed. His lips were pink and healthy, as if it weren’t just about to crack and bleed. Jeno looked as if he’s an angel descended from Heaven.
Haechan gasped at the state of Jeno, “Goodness gracious…. Love is the cure indeed.”