Na Jaemin was walking down the sidewalk on his way to school with a new fresh bruise on his right eye.

He had a frown on his face as he entered the treacherous building. He straightened his tie and made sure his uniform looked neat and clean. The principal was always picky about neat uniforms.

He walked down the long corridor, receiving a couple of stares from his fellow peers. He turned down a corner and walked to his locker.

He sighed sadly as more graffiti was on the smooth blue metal. He had tried to remove the previous ones but they were all still there. He stared at the word "FAG" written in permanent black ink. He quickly unlocked his locker and retrieved his textbooks. Once he shut his locker, he was immediaty shoved into the lockers. He opened his eyes and saw the familiar faces.

"Where you going fag?"
"Leave me alone taeyong." Jaemin replied to the taller male.

"Oh! He's talkin back now is He? Veeerry impressive." Johnny sarcastically said.

"Yeah, guess he's got some balls after all." Lucas smirked.

"Come on... Just let me go." Jaemin said weakly.

"After you talked back to us? Nuh uh you aren't going anywhere!"

Taeyong yelled as he slammed his fist into jaemin's stomach.

Jaemin doubled over in pain.

"Haha how does that feel bitch!?" Johnny yelled as he smiled maniacally.

"Please...please stop..." Jaemin whined.

"Take him down." Taeyong ordered.

Upon hearing that, Johnny and Lucas on que began furiously kicking him until he fell to the ground. They continued to kick him several times until taeyong decided he had enough.

When they stopped kicking him, Lucas took a Sharpie out of his bag and wrote something on jaemin's locker. The three boys left down the hallway leaving Jaemin curled up on the floor.

Jaemin layed there curled up against himself. He felt like crying but didn't. He just stayed there on the floor awaiting the Inevitable.

Jeno was walking down the hallway his messenger bag snuggly secured around his body. He had one earbud in his ear and stopped when he saw someone laying on the floor.

"What? Hey! Are you Okay!" Jeno called to the boy.

Jaemin just whined in pain.

"Hey? Can you hear me?" Jeno ran over and knelt down next to jaemin.

Jaemin nodded weakly.

" I'm Okay... You can go..."

"Are you sure?" Jeno said as he slightly stood up.

Jaemin nodded as he forced himself upwards. He tried to stand but automatically fell back down unable to support his own weight.

He hit the ground with a thud.

"Hey, take it easy. You are clearly hurt. Let me help." Jeno knelt back down and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Okay, on the count of three I'm gonna pick you up alright?"

Jeno counted to three and lifted Jaemin up onto his back.

Jaemins entire body ached as he was hoisted onto jeno's back and draped over his shoulders.

"Are you alright? Do I need to adjust you?" Jeno asked as he gently wrapped his arms around jaemin's small legs.

"...no...I'm Okay...."
Jaemin responded weakly.

"Okay, the infirmary is just down the hall, we'll be there soon just hang in there." Jeno sped up as he tried to keep Jaemin upright.

They finally reached the infirmary and opened the door.

Jeno stopped when he noticed the nurse wasn't there.

"Shit. Shes not here. Okay, okay hold on." Jeno gently placed Jaemin on the bed and ran into one of the storage closets.

He came out with a small first aid kit.

"Okay, I know I'm not a nurse, but you need checked out now." Jeno said a little panicked.

"No, no it's okay. You don't have to I'll be okay really..."

"Dude, you can't even stand. Just let me help..." jeno said with an eye roll.

"...oh...ok." Jaemin said nervously.

"I'm gonna have to take off your shirt is that Okay?" Jeno asked.

"Uh, I guess..." Jaemin tried to be cool but on the inside he was freaking out. He didn't want Jaemin to question all the scars and old bruises all over his body.

Jeno gently lifted jaemin's shirt off and winced as he saw the bruises all over his body.

"Jesus... this looks bad. There are so many bruises. What even happened?"

Jeno asked as he brushed his fingers over the bruises.

"Uuh, I'm just really uh, clumsy... I uh, I fell down the steps..." Jaemin lied through his teeth.

"Dude, I don't believe that. There is no way all these came from the steps. Some of them are older. Can you just tell me?" Jeno said as he put a bandage on jaemin's knee.

Jaemin looked down at the floor. He felt a lump form in his throat.

"Okay... fine. I get bullied alot... but I'm kinda.... kinda used to it... I guess..." Jaemin felt his eyes water.

"Wait, What? You get Bullied? How often does this happen?"

Jaemin felt more tears form.

"Uuh, pretty much everyday... some days are worse than others..."

"What! Have you told anybody? Your parents? The office?" Jeno asked worried.

"Yeah... they... they told me to ignore it..." He felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"Hey, hey don't cry. It'll be alright." Jeno abruptly stopped what he was doing and sat next to Jaemin on the bed.

"I'm... I'm sorry.... You can go now... I'll be fine." Jaemin sniffled.

"Don't be silly. I'm not going to leave you until you're okay. I'm jeno by the way."

"Thank you. I'm Na Jaemin."

"We can go now. I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Jeno asked sincerely.

"Yeah. I'm sure."

The boys walked out of the nurse and down the hallway.

"So... uh, thanks again for well... everything. I'm gonna head to class now." Jaemin stuttered.

"Okay! No problem dude, I'm glad to help. See ya around nana!" Jeno called as he ran off in the other direction.

Nana? Huh... I like it. Jaemin giggled as he walked down the hall and into the classroom.

When he walked into the classroom, taeyong, Johnny, and Lucas were laughing with each other and then stopped.

"Well, look who it is! Guess he survived. What a shame." Taeyong yelled from the back of the room.

"Yeah! Anybody else think he should just give up? He's so weak." Johnny added.

"That's enough boys." The teacher scolded from her desk.

"Seriously though, why hasn't he killed himself yet? It would be way better for everyone."

"TAEYONG! ENOUGH!" the teacher screamed.

"Whatever, she's just mad cuz she know's it's true!" Taeyong added.

Jaemin walked up to the teachers desk .

"I'm so sorry Jaemin. I don't know what to do with that boy." The teacher said with a small smile.

"Uuh, miss... may I please go to the restroom?"

"Sure honey."

Jaemin ducked his head down as taeyong and Lucas threw rolled up paper at him.

He ran down the hall and locked himself in a stall in the bathroom.

He sat down on the toilet and brought his knees up to his chest.

"Why me!? What did I do to deserve this? First my father, now this? Why won't you just let me die!!?" Jaemin sobbed into his knees.

As Jaemin was crying, he didn't even notice the door open and footsteps emerge.

"Hello? Are you okay?" A kind voice echoed through the bathroom.

Jaemin didn't answer, he didn't even care if someone saw him now, he just wanted to disappear.

"Hey?" Jeno glanced under the stall and saw a familiar pair of white converse.

"Jaemin? Is that you?" Jeno's voice got even softer.

"Je...jeno?" Jaemin choked out.

"Yeah, dude it's me. What's wrong?" Jeno asked worridly.

Silence.

"Jaemin, I'm coming in." Jeno slammed against the stall door until Jaemin finally reached out and unlocked it.

Jeno knelt down next to jaemin and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Na, what happened? Did those guys pick on you again?"

Jaemin just nodded.

"Uugh! Why the fuck can't they just leave you alone? You don't deserve this." Jeno had nothing but anger
running through him.

"Why... why do you care? You
.. you don't ev...even know me..." Jaemin muttered.

"Jaemin! I dont have to know you to care about you! You have bruises all over your body because of some assholes that shouldn't even be here because they're so dumb. I care about you getting injured and harrased by those pricks. I just met you, sure. But I don't want to see you hurt."

Jaemin felt more tears fall as he listened to jeno's kind words.

"What? What did I do? Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry i didn't mean to-

Jaemin leaned forward and hugged the taller.

"Thank you.... thank you so much. Nobody's ever said anything like that to me. I'm glad to call you my only friend. "

Jeno was confused. He has no friends? No one has ever said anything nice to him? What about his parents? Has he not told them about the bullying?

"Of course na na, I'm glad to call you my friend too."

"Na na?" Jaemin giggled as he released from the hug.

"Yeah, it's your nickname! It sounds cute right?" Jeno had a huge cheesy grin on his face trying to make Jaemin feel better.

"Hmm, I like it! It does sound cute doesn't it?" Jaemin giggled again.

"From now on, I walk you to all your classes. I won't let you get hurt again."

Jaemin blushed slightly.

"Oh...Ok, you really don't have to though."

"Yes I Do. I'm not letting it happen again." Jeno replied with a determined look on his face.

The boys walked down the hall and outside to the busses.

"So... What bus do you ride?" Jeno asked.

"Uuuh." Jaemin watched as taeyong, Johnny and Lucas piled into a nearby bus.

"That one..." Jaemin pointed.

"The... one that taeyong just got in?"

"Uh, yeah..." Jaemin replied .

"He rides the same bus as You?" Jeno asked rhetorically.

"Yep... since third grade." Jaemin replied sadly.

"Uugh, whatever, I'm riding your bus with you. I can just walk you home and then walk to my house." Jeno said slightly angry.

"Jeno, it's fine, really, you don't have to." Jaemin waved his arms at jeno as a sign to tell him it was ok.

"Jaemin. I told you I wasn't letting you get hurt again and I meant It!" Jeno yelled.

"*sigh* Okay, fine, you win. Let's go." Jaemin took jeno's wrist and led him to the big yellow bus.

As soon as they stepped into the vehicle, taeyong threw an eraser at the two.

"Haha, guess the fag's gotta boyfriend now. Fuckin gross." Taeyong teased.

"Yeah, also, who the fuck could love that ?" Johnny added.

" Are you seriously going to let them talk about you like that?" Jeno quietly said to Jaemin.

Jaemin just sat down in silence trying to avoid another mental breakdown.

"Jaemin and jeno sitting in a tree f a g g o t!!" Lucas chanted.

"Hey! Shut the fuck up. What's with you guys? Why do you pick on him all the time?" Jeno exploded.

"Oooh, look the little fag has a body guard." Taeyong snapped.

"You guys are fucking assholes and you only bully him because you're just as fucked up yourself aren't ya?" Jeno snapped.

Taeyong just scoffed and turned his attention to his cell phone.

The rest of the ride was completely silent.

The bus stopped at taeyongs stop and as taeyong stood up, he shoved Jaemin to the ground and stepped over him. He quickly ran out of the bus and up the street.

Jaemin stayed lying on the floor of the bus not wanting to move. He had already been through so much that day, he was almost at his breaking point.

"Nana? Are you okay?" Jeno leaned over to help Jaemin up.

Jaemin nodded slightly but jeno knew he wasn't okay.

The bus stopped abruptly.

"Come on, let's go na." Jeno saw jaemin's face and knew he should get him home.

Jeno took Jaemin by the arm and led him out of the bus.

They finally stopped outside of jaemin's house. The sat down on the steps in silence.

"Are you okay Nana?" Jeno asked quietly, still having his hand on jaemin's arm.

"I'm fine, I told you... I'm used to it." Jaemin mumbled.

"Can we just... go inside now?" Jaemin asked.

Jeno nodded and Jaemin took out his little rusted house key.

Jaemin dragged jeno up the stairs and into his small dim room.

Jaemin walked over and sat on his bed bringing his knees up to his chest.

"I don't really know why you're here. My house is really boring, I'm not super entertaining or anything. I'm sure there's plenty of other people you'd rather hang out with." Jaemin muttered sadly.

"Jaemin, why would you think that?" Jeno walked over and sat next to Jaemin on the bed.

"I don't care about doing anything fun. I don't care about my other friends right now, all I care about is you. I know you're lying to me. You say you're alright, but I know you're not. I am saying this now, you can trust me na. You can tell me anything. I will sit here and listen, I will try to help. I know we just met, but I am here for you." Jeno placed a hesitant hand on jaemin's shoulder.

"Jeno, stop." Jaemin brushed jeno's hand away.

"What? What's wrong?" Jeno asked worried.

"Look, jeno. You say all this now but, you really dont wanna be friends with me. I will be nothing but a burden to you. Trust me, it's better to leave me alone." Jaemin informed with a sad look on his face.

Jeno looked shocked. Why would Jaemin say this?

"But, Jaemin, I do wanna be your friend. I wanna help, i...I wanna be there for you. I can't imagine letting you continue to go through this alone." Jeno blurted out really fast, almost as if his words had a mind of there own.

Just then, a loud slam was heard followed by heavy, uneven footsteps.

"Shit!" Jaemin said abruptly.

"What! What is It?" Jeno asked frantically.

"Fuck, uh, okay, jeno, get into my closet!" Jaemin instructed.

"Wait Why?--just do It! Please!" Jaemin cut jeno off as he shoved jeno into his closet and shut the door.

Jaemin jumped into his bed and quickly opened a textbook to act like he was studying.

The door to his bedroom slammed open and a tall burly man with messy hair and a half unbuttoned shirt stumbled in.

"Hey! Fuckin bitch! Why the hell is the house such a goddamn mess!!??"

Jaemin flinched as the volume in his father's voice got louder.

"Sir, I just got home, I haven't done anything down--- I DONT CARE WHERE YOU WERE!!! you dare backtalk me bitch!?"

"No sir! I'm sorry I jus---
"GET OVER HERE NOW!"
Jaemin sighed before standing up and walking in front of his intoxicated father.

His father raised his hand and slapped Jaemin across the face several times. He then, kicked him to the ground and began kicking his stomach repeatedly. He lit a cigarette and quickly put it out on jaemin's arm before leaving the room slamming the door behind him.

Jeno could only hear what was going on. He couldn't stop it and he felt awful. As soon as he heard jaemin's dad leave, he heard sounds of Jaemin weeping come from the room.

After the door slammed, Jaemin sat up, and began crying into his small shaking hands.

Jeno opened the door and approached Jaemin gently.

He wasn't even going to ask. He knew he wasn't okay.

Jeno sat with Jaemin for a few seconds not knowing how to help. He felt angry and sad all at once. How could someone do that to their own child? It broke jeno's heart seeing what Jaemin deals with everyday on top of the constant bullying.

Jaemins cries became more violent as he finally broke down. He couldn't take it anymore, he didn't care that jeno was there, he just sobbed.

"I'm so sorry Jaemin." Jeno was on the verge of tears seeing Jaemin in this state.

Jeno leaned forward and pulled Jaemin into the tightest most comforting hug he'd ever given. He placed his hand on the back of jaemin's head as he cried into his shoulder.

"Nana, buddy, you have to get out of here. It isn't safe for you here. Come to my place with me. I'll take care of you. I won't let him hurt you anymore. I said I wouldn't let you get hurt again, I've already failed you once, I'm not gonna do it again." Jeno tried to say calmly.

Jaemin just squeezed jeno tighter, not wanting to let go.

"As soon as he falls asleep, we're leaving." Jeno ordered as he stroked the back of jaemin's head.

Jeno continued to hug Jaemin until Jaemin calmed his tears and sat up.

"Are you okay now Nana?" Jeno asked.

"I... I think so. Thank you jeno-hyung"

Just then The boys heard another door slam indicated that jaemin's father had gone to bed. They slowly sneaked out of jaemin's room. As they entered the living room, they were startled by a loud bang.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?! Jaemin's father stood tall directly behind them.

Jeno grabbed jaemin's arm securely.

"You aren't going anywhere bitch! No no thats not how this works. Now I'm gonna count to 3 and if you arent back in your goddamn room by then, I will beat you so bad you'll wish you were dead!"

Jaemin shot jeno a worried expression.

Jeno waited till jaemin's dad got to two before abruptly grabbing Jaemin and throwing him out the front door.

"Run Jaemin!! I'll text you and find You!!!!" Jeno called out the door.

Jaemin was hesitant but when he tried to run back, jeno yelled for him to run away.

"You think your'e slick little shit? Oh you are so gonna get it!"

Jeno resisted but ultimately got punched in the eye and kicked in the ribs.

Jeno jabbed jaemin's dad and mad a quick escape. He ran far down the street so jaemin's dad couldn't capture him.
He finally stopped at a park and sat down against the jungle gym.

He opened his phone and clicked on jaemin's contact.

"Jeno! Are you okay!? Where are You!"
"Na, I'm fine. I'm okay, im at Princeton park. Are you okay?"
"No, but that doesn't matter. I'm coming to meet you now."
"Okay, get here fast, it getting dark."
"I'm on the way."

Jaemin ran up the street and turned into the park.

He spotted jeno sitting against the jungle gym and ran over to him.

"Oh my God! Jeno! Did he do this? Are you hurt?!" Jaemin examined jeno's black eye.

"Nana calm down, I'm fine. I can take it. Are you okay?" Jeno said as he noticed jaemin's trembling figure.

Jaemin slumped down next to jeno.

"I'm... I'm really sorry jeno. Nobody was ever supposed to get hurt but me. I can't ask you to continue to deal with this extra stress because of me. We literally just met, and you're already doing too much for me. You should just go. Leave me to deal with my father, I've done it for so long already."

Jeno shifted forward and turned his head to the side.

"Jeno, please, you'll be happier if you get me out of your life."

Just after Jaemin said that, he heard a sniffle come from his right side.

He leaned over and saw a stream of tears falling down jeno's cheeks.

"Jeno? Hey, why are you crying?"

"I don't understand why you won't just let me help you.... you... You deal with so much.... You don't deserve any of it. I want to be your friend and help but.... You just won't let me. Don't shut me out because you think I'm bothered by you. Cuz,.... Cuz I'm not Jaemin! Im.... I'm worried about you. I know those bruises on your body aren't from the stairs! I... care about you. I know you probably havent heard that much, but I mean it. I.... can't keep watching you get hurt."
Jeno let his last few tears fall as he told Jaemin this.

Jaemin was speechless. He had never heard anyone say anything like that to him.

"Jeno, i... I'm sorry. I didn't think you would... actually... care.
Jaemin placed his shaky hand on jeno's shoulder.

"Of course I care nana, I have since this morning. You don't deserve to be hurt like this. You're so sweet and funny and smart and cute and-----
Jaemin stopped when he realized what he just said.

"Jeno? What's wrong?" Jaemin asked when he noticed jeno hang his head in embarrassment.

"I... I uh, didn't mean to say that. Sorry, I didn't mean, uh, look what I'm trying to say----
Jaemin cut jeno off by leaning in and connected their lips.

Jeno was shocked at first, but then placed his hands on jaemin's face and kissed more.

Jaemin wrapped his arms loosely around jeno's neck as the kiss deepened.

Jaemin smiled as he tasted jeno's sweet plump lips. He reached up and ran his small hands through jeno's short, floppy hair.

After a few seconds, they broke apart.

"Jaemin, i..."

"Jeno, I i didn't think you'd kiss back..."

"Well, here we are..." Jeno giggled which made Jaemin smile.

"Jaemin, I know it's sudden, and we just met but uh, do you wanna go out with me?"

Jaemin smiled and pecked jeno's cheek.

"Yes."

"What?" Jeno was surprised.

"Yeah, I will go out with you jeno."

"Wait, really?"

"Yes, why won't you believe me?" Jaemin giggled.

"Its just... I'm so used to rejection, I didn't expect you to actually say yes." Jeno looked down shyly.

"What? Who could reject You? You re perfect." Jaemin smirked.

"Do you wanna go to my house now? It's getting dark and I need to treat your burn." Jeno suggested.

"Yeah, where do you live?" Jaemin asked as they both stood up. Jaemin hissed in pain as his body ached.

"Don't worry nana, I live up the street. About 10 houses down."

"Okay" Jaemin almost whispered.
"Are you alright? Do you need me to carry You?" Jeno asked concerned.

"No...no, I'm okay." Jaemin replied.

"Okay, let's go then." Jeno said as he took jaemin's hand in his own.

They walked up the hill, jeno heard Jaemin hiss in pain every few steps because of his injuries.

"Nana? Are you sure you don't want me to carry You?"

Jaemin shook his head as he continued to trudge up the hill.

After about 10 minutes, they arrived at jeno's house.

Jeno unlocked his door and led Jaemin inside.

"Oh, my goodness!!! What happened baby? Your face is swollen!! You have a black eye! What happened?!" A woman's voice rang through the doorway.

"Mom, mom calm down, I'm okay. We'll explain everything in a bit, but for now, I need to get him patched up."

"Huh? Who?" The woman stood there not noticing jaemin standing just behind jeno.

"Mom, this is Jaemin. He's my boyfriend." Jeno said confidently.

His mother's face went into a warm smile.

"Oh, that's great baby!! I'm so happy for you." She walked over to the smaller boy.

"Hi, I'm sooyoung, jeno's mother. It's a pleasure to meet You!" She smiled warmly as she held her hand out for Jaemin to shake.

Jaemin instead, bowed very politely to the woman.

"Oh, sweetie, you don't have to do that. You are family now. Anything you need, come and ask me."

"Thank you very much auntie sooyoung."

"Of, course dear." She responded.

"Okay, I'm gonna get him fixed up, I promise we'll talk." Jeno reassured His mother as he took jaemin's hand and led him up the stairs.

He walked into the bathroom, and sat Jaemin down on the edge of the bathtub.

He took a cotton pad with some peroxide and gently rubbed the bruises on jaemin's swollen cheek.

Jaemin hissed as the bruises burned.

"I'm sorry Nana, it'll be over soon." Jeno informed.

He rubbed the cotton over his cuts before bandaging them tightly.

He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Are you okay Jeno? You have a huge bruise on your eye. And a cut on your lip." Jaemin reached up and gently brushed the cut.

"I'm okay, really..." jeno's voice faded and tears brimmed his eyes.

"Jeno, you're not okay. I can see it. " Jaemin said quietly as he placed his hand on his cheek.

A tear rolled down jeno's swollen cheek.

"Hey, jeno, it's okay. I knew you weren't okay. You were pretending to be for me weren't You? Jeno, I don't want you to lie to keep me happy, I need you to tell me everything." Jaemin wiped jeno's tear away with his thumb.

"I'm sorry Nana, I really wanted to be strong for you. But, the truth is... I'm not strong. I'm a coward... I don't face conflicts well... I wanted you to see me as a protector. And... and I promised to protect you, but i already failed, three times. And, I thought I could stop your dad.... but..... I was scared of what he was going to do.... And I panicked... so... I let him..in exchange for freedom afterwards." Tears were streaming down jeno's face now.

"Jeno, what.... What did my father do to You?"

Flashback》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》》

"Let me go!!!!" Jeno cried as jaemin's father came towards him with a large knife in hand.

"Please, stop!"

The man knelt down and sliced into jeno's back.

Jeno cried out in pain.

The man just laughed as he sliced another section of jeno's flesh.

"Uugh! Okay, I'll make a deal with you.... if I let you punish me.... then you HAVE to let me go!"

"Hmmm, fine... deal." The man swung the knife and sliced open his lip causing a stream of blood to poor out of his mouth.

He set the knife.down and beat jeno senseless until he could barely move.

Jeno was about to walk out the door when jaemin's father grabbed his wrist.

"You really thought I'd let you go?"

Jeno kicked jaemin's father in the stomach and ran out of the house to the park where he met Jaemin.

End of Flashback 》》》》》》》》》》》》

"I'm sorry i lied to you nana." Jeno looked down in shame as he wiped his face with his wrist.

"Oh, jeno....don't apologize. You don't have to be strong for me. I would never expect you to be...just You telling me this proves that you are stronger than you think jeno. " Jaemin caressed jeno's wet cheek.

Jeno looked into jaemin's deep brown eyes.

Jaemin grabbed jeno's chin and planted a comforting kiss on jeno's lips.

Jeno let his last few tears roll down as he was finally at ease.

Jaemin broke away for a second.

"Don't be strong for me jeno, be strong for yourself. Don't lie about your feelings, don't pretend to be okay. " Jaemin kissed jeno's tears away as he held jeno's hand tightly.

"Thank you nana, i... I love you."

"I love you too jeno."