Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Format:
Name- Major/ Minoring

Partner:
Bestie:
Part-time:
Something to be noted

• Taeyong- Fashion/ Architecture

  Partner: Jaehyun
  Bestie: Dongyoung & 95z
  Part-time: Internship
  The mom of the group ofc, hurt him, and the neos will end ur future potential

• Johnny- Physical Education/ Business

  Partner: Ten
  Bestie: 95z & Mark
  Part-time: Bartender
  Loves to have convos over drinks idk, incredibly intimidating

• Yuta- Kinesiology/ Philosophy

  Partner: Sicheng
  Bestie: 95z & Mark
  Part-time: Internship
  A lot more philosophical than you’d expect, plus a great liar for no reason

• Kun- Aerospace Engineer/ Physics/ Astrophysics (Kun seems like the type to triple major, and u cannot change my mind)

  Partner: Dongyoung
  Bestie: China Line (Esp Ten)
  Part-time: TA & Internships
  Every asian's worst nightmare for academic competency, also a godly cook

• Dongyoung- Law/ Literature

  Partner: Kun
  Bestie: Taeyong
  Part-time: TA & Internship & Campus Library Assisant
  Likes orderly things to say the least, don't argue with him unless you're Taeyong (maybe Ten, too)

• Ten- Dance/ Business

  Partner: Johnny
  Bestie: China Line (Esp Kun & Sicheng)
  Part-time: Teaching classes at a studio & Bartender
  Can bend in any way, and enjoys trying to stretch his teammates' flexibility

• Jaehyun- Business/ Accounting

  Partner: Taeyong
  Bestie: Sicheng & Jungwoo
  Part-time: Bartender
  Nonchalant bastard for no reason, looks like a frat boy, is one

• Sicheng- Dance/ Literature

  Partner: Yuta
  Bestie: Jaehyun & China Line (Esp Ten)
  Part-time: Teaches at a dance studio & Campus Library assistant
  Unsupportive parents, but he’s got the entire neo to support and love him

• Jungwoo- Electrical Engineer/ Mathematics

  Partner: Lucas
  Bestie: Jaehyun
  Part-time: Internship
  Unsettling, too happy to be an electrical engineer

• Mark- Theology/ Literature

  Partner: Donghyuck
  Bestie: Johnny & Yuta & Jeno
  Part-time: Campus Cafe
  A hidden prodigy, sauwry in Canadian

• Lucas- Physical Education/ Communications

  Partner: Jungwoo
  Bestie: China Line
  Part-time: Bartender
  Team spirit friend, loves and supports everyone passionately

• Xiaojun- Accounting/ Marketing

  Partner: Hendery
  Bestie: China Line
  Part-time: Internship
  Angry accountant intern, don't ask him about work, ever

• Hendery- Mechanical Engineer/ Bussiness

  Partner: Xiaojun
  Bestie: China Line
  Part-time: Campus Cafe
  Is still sane with good humor after all those physics classes

• Renjun- Architecture Engineer/ Design

  Partner: YangyYang
  Bestie: China Line (Esp Chenle)
  Part-time: Campus Cafe
  Will skin you alive if you mess up his drafting projects

• Jeno- Marine Biology/ Mathematics

  Partner: Jaemin
  Bestie: Sungchan
  Part-time: Internship
  Calm as the ocean, can be as scary as the ocean as well

• Donghyuck- Music/ Economics

  Partner: Mark
  Bestie: Sungchan
  Part-time: Campus Cafe
  Loves singing to Mark, affectionate asf

• Jaemin- Pre Med- Neuroscience Route/ Biochemistry

  Partner: Jeno
  Bestie: YangYang
  Part-time: Internship
  Constantly running on caffeine, incredible potential when motivated

• YangYang- Computer Science/ Business

  Partner: Renjun
  Bestie: China Line & Jaemin
  Part-time: Campus Library Assistant
  No, he does not stink as a computer science major. Stop believing in all the stereotypes

• Shotaro- Dance/ Accounting

  Partner: Sungchan
  Bestie: Jisung
  Part-time: Campus Library Assistant
  Soft in person, new persona taking the stage

• Sungchan- Public Health/ Mathematics
  
  Partner: Shotaro
  Bestie: Jeno & Donghyuck
  Part-time: Campus Library Assistant
  Needs a lot of sleep, so soft when Shotaro is around
  
• Chenle- Chemistry/ Music
  
  Partner: Jisung
  Bestie: China Line (Esp Renjun)
  Part-time: Internship
  Will calculate enough reactants to produce explosions in your home

• Jisung- Dance/ Psychology

  Partner: Chenle
  Bestie: Shotaro
  Part-time: Campus Cafe
  Dance machine and calmly collected a lot more than necessary.

Sorry guys, if you’re looking for frat shit, idk how frat parties go. I am anti-frat or whatever it is. I’m just surrounded by nerdy friends who mean well and are cool just the way they are. They are inspiring.

Though I do hear insane stories about parties, so don’t correct me on any frat facts

Chapter Text

“Jeno, don’t you think that Jaemin needs to be kept away from caffeine?” Sungchan brings up as they’re walking over to their calculus lecture. 

The older raises a brow. “Why?”

“I think we both understand the components and effects of caffeine more than enough to know why,” The taller deadpanned. 

Jeno shakes his head with a grin. “Jaemin is doing just fine.” His amazing boyfriend is surely doing well. He’s always his usual self. Well, except for when he has exams and finals coming along. He turns into a new man. A scary one at that. In all, Jeno still loves him, even his crazed caffeinated side.

“Fine, as in he is constantly hyper and jumpy.” Jeno hears him grimace, and he’s laughing. 

“Are you jealous you can’t get the source of life?” He joked. They’re now taking the elevator up to the sixth floor of the math department. Great. Just great, they must deal with their old professor and their unclear instructions. 

Sungchan snorts. “Just because I’m miserably tired doesn’t mean I’m going to turn to a source of addiction.” 

“Clearly. Your eye bags don’t see its youthful days.” 

“Most of us have eye bags. Even you.” Jeno is pondering whether to throw his bag at his friend or not. His eyes bags are totally fine. Much better than his friend’s, but Sungchan is still handsome even with the dark bruises under his eyes. A hard look to pull, but he does it miraculously. Even Shotaro likes them, good for the couple! 

“You know, Jaemin doesn’t even have significant eye bags.” 

“I’m shocked. Perhaps he applies caffeinated medicine onto his skin, too.” Now that’s just absolutely ridiculous. Scientifically, yes, it could be a solution to the darkness on the skin. Jeno, sharing an apartment with his boyfriend, has never seen him use products for his skin like that. Just face wash and sunscreen, calling it a day. 

Maybe Sungchan should put investment in it instead. 

The elevator dings, and they exit, walking down the halls. “It’s not even that bad.”

“What’s not?” The two men look to the side, seeing Jungwoo exiting the restroom. 

“Jaemin’s addiction to his lethal espresso shots.” 

Jungwoo’s intrigued gaze falters, smile tightening. “Oh, is that so?”

“You make it seem like he’s doing drugs,” Jeno crosses his arms. 

“Well, he’s going to suffer the more he consumes that stuff,” Both Jungwoo and Sungchan reply. 

“Guys, he’s literally been a coffee connoisseur since we were in high school.”

“And it’s only grown worse!” Jungwoo reminded. “You’re going to let your neurosurgeon boyfriend suffer from kidney failure.”

“I’m placing bets on Johnny and Jaehyun for that, actually.” Sungchan notes. “Some of ya’ll are unhealthy bastards and still looking youthful as high schoolers.” 

“We’re Asian,” Jeno states. “Asians don’t raisin.” 

“Aish— shut the hell up,” Sungchan elbows the other. 

“Hey, aren’t you two going to be late to lecture?” Jungwoo redirects their attention.

“Oh fuck! See you soon, Hyung!” The two men are booking it down the hall, checking their phones to make sure they’re on time. 

✎♡

When lunch came, most of the STEM students of their friend group gathered, eating at the dining hall. 

Jaemin is sipping on his second cup of espresso of the day, and Jeno is thinking back to Sungchan’s words. Perhaps he should start thinking about his boyfriend’s caffeine consumption and kidneys. 

“Want some?” Jeno blinks, seeing the dark liquid of supposed life being shaken before him. Jaemin has his head tilted with a beautiful smile plastered on his lips. Too bright and beautiful to be drinking so much damn coffee. But Jeno isn’t one to complain about that, so he politely declines the offer. 

Jaemin shrugs, bringing the straw back to his lips. “Suit yourself, babe.” 

“You Koreans drink Americanos and coffee like water. And yet you have clear skin.” They look over at Hendery, his face scrunched as he eyes Jaemin. 

“I can’t tell if I should be offended,” Sungchan pokes at his food, huffing. “Jaemin, you really need to stop drinking those ten shots of death.” 

“It’s eight,” Jaemin corrects. 

“Not my point. You’re seriously going to kill your own neurons.” 

“That’s not how it works, missy,” Jaemin clicks his tongue.

“I’m a man.”

“I don’t care, missy.” 

Jeno has to fight his laughter for that. Then there’s Chenle cackling, not even hiding it. 

“Fine then, the caffeine is going to block your trillions of adenosine receptors and claw away at your motor function and memory.” 

“That sounds somewhat better. I’ll give it a B.” 

Sungchan seemingly gives up, rolling his eyes. 

“Why so serious?” Chenle rests his arm on the taller’s shoulders. 

“Over the years of being friends, I’m just wondering how long Jaemin will last with this lifestyle.”

“Wow, how thoughtful,” Jaemin muses, now resting his back against Jeno as the older continues to eat his lunch. “I’ll last pretty well, I’ve built this tolerance with extra care.”

“Yeah, a tolerance that will leave you suffering from withdrawal if you can’t have a cup in your hand twenty-four seven,” Jungwoo remarks. “I’m surprised you’re actually here, Chenle.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The chemist eyes the other. 

“Nothing. You’re usually with Yuta, Sicheng, and Jisung before he’s off to practice.” 

“Ah, he’s sick,” The Chinese male suddenly informed. “Ten and Sicheng Ge were making sure he doesn’t come over and spread his illness. Y’know, Sicheng catches germs easily, and I don’t need Ten to be stretching Ji like a Chinese longevity noodle.” 

“Sicheng doesn’t know how to rest,” Kun deadpanned. “Ten is just a sadist.” 

“Whoa, Ge, when did you get here?” Hendery remarks. 

“Now.” Then he turns to the pre-med student.

“Also, Jaemin, you should be spending your money more wisely with the amount of coffee you spend in a single day.”

“Coffee is cheap here. Plus, I get reward benefits, so it’s worth it too.”

Wow, everyone seems to be on the topic of his boyfriend today. Specifically, his caffeine habits. 

“Wait, now that I think of it, Jaemin’s withdrawal would be pretty bad, no?” 

“Not would, will.” Sungchan corrected.

“No, it won’t be bad,” Jaemin offers a challenging gaze to the tallest man here. “You want to see?” 

“Actually, I think we should fix your coffee addiction. It’ll take about what? Nine days?” Sungchan grins closing up his food container. 

Jeno doesn’t like where this is heading. 

“Uh, let’s not try that—” Jaemin brings a finger to his lips to shush him. 

He glances at Jungwoo and Hendery, who are snickering. 

“We shall try that. Nine days is good enough.” 

“I’ll be placing ten dollars that Sungchan is winning,” Kun says. 

“And I’ll be forty dollars richer, and that’s going into my tuition debt.” 

“A wise student, I see.” Kun praised.

Everyone seemingly agrees with the oldest. “Jeno, make sure he isn’t cheating!” Jungwoo raises his brows.

“Jeno is too honest. He won’t let Jaemin cheat on himself of a challenge,” Chenle assured. 

Jeno sits, stumped at this sudden new challenge. Does he even want to know how Jaemin will be during his withdrawal period? 

“Good luck, kiddo, you’re going to need it.” 

✎♡

“Are you sure you want to follow up on Sungchan’s challenge?” Jeno asks his boyfriend when they return to their dorm. He sets down his backpack, and Jaemin is getting ready to plop onto his bed. 

Jeno stops him, gesturing to his outside clothes. Absolutely gross to contaminate the bed with anything the clothes have touched from public vicinities. 

“Why not? Could do something different in this college life.” 

“I don’t need you having a health crisis if you’re completely operable on caffeine. This is like taking out your life support.” 

“Health crisis? Pfft, please.” Jaemin laughs, going over to his drawers to fish out a change of clothes before showering. “If anyone has that, it’s the dancers of our friend group.”

Jeno shakes his head, sitting at his desk as he watches his boyfriend move around the room speedily. “One hundred percent false.” 

Jaemin stops midway as he picks up his phone. He looks up at him, blinking in surprise. As much as the dancers are either getting sick, injurerd, or hospitalized… their other friends are equally suffering from school.

“First off, and foremost, Sungchan doesn’t sleep due to his insomnia and demanding classes.”

“Ah, well he makes it part of his personality by now. Kind of forgot about his insomnia.” Jaemin muses and walks over to take a seat. He’ll shower after Jeno points out the supposed ‘life crises’ of their friends. 

“Johnny and Jaehyun with the drinking.”

“That’s a common crisis, hate to point it out.” Okay, but it’s still a crisis. 

“Renjun has a high chance of getting scoliosis from his drafting projects. Xiaojun’s cortisol levels must be through the roof. Jungwoo is probably relying on the smoke produced by the failed experiments more than his own cigarettes. Chenle is just a hazard factor in the labs…” The Chinese man unknowingly left a gas leak in one of the labs, given that a student had a butane lighter in hand. 

“I fear that Taeyong is going to choke on his own measuring tapes one day. YangYang keeps forgetting to eat. Yuta likes to test his own body limits, which is scary and insane. Lastly, you, of course, are severely reliant on caffeine.” 

Now, if you connect the dots, the majority are STEM majors, which speaks a lot.

“Okay, seems that you have a fair point about our friends and me. How do you know all of that anyway?” 

“The amount of complaints that gets passed around our friends flies like wonders.” Jeno leans over to place his hand on his boyfriend’s knee, holding his gaze. “Take it easy. You can’t immediately cut off an addiction.”

Jaemin cocks a brow, seemingly intrigued. “And how would you know that? Experienced much?” 

“Babe, we’ve been friends since we were five, together since we were juniors in high school. Have you ever seen me use any addictions?” Jaemin hums and thinks, his leg jittering as Jeno’s hand remains on his knee. 

“Does caffeine count?” Of course, he’d ask that.

“No, not really. Because I try to refrain from becoming reliant on them.”

Jeno is very fine without caffeine as long as he gets an average of six hours of sleep. 

“I know this because one of my cousins had told me their experiences on trying to stay off smoking. It’s hard. Reactions and symptoms vary, and I’m scared to watch you handle those symptoms.”

This time, Jaemin’s intrigued expression mellows out into a soft fondness. He places his hand over Jeno’s, softly smiling. “Don’t worry. I knwo you are, but don’t take it to heart. It’s all for the fun and beating Sungchan.” 

Seeing his confidence and beautiful smile, Jeno falls like a weak man. He nods and presses a kiss on Jaemin’s temple. 

✎♡

The first day was an interesting start to say the least. 

Jaemin is quite drowsy as he walks with Jeno over to his physics class. He’s not heavily drowsy, but it’s still evident he’s struggling. So, Jeno tries to keep him awake by talking to him. Get his brain active enough to be awake for the most part. 

“So, how’s day one?” Sungchan accompanies Jeno with YangYang. 

“Day one?” The computer science major questioned.

“Jaemin is going on a no-caffeine challenge for nine days.”

YangYang’s jaw unhinges, eyes wide like saucers. “No way. Na Jaemin, the coffee addict, is not having coffee for nine days? That’s insane.” 

Jeno huffs, eyeing Sungchan, who sheepishly grins. “He’s drowsy for now.”

“Just wait until the fourth day, maybe. Keep him extra hydrated.” 

“If he goes insane, you’re going to be helping me look out for him.” 

Sungchan laughs, finding it ridiculous. “You’ve got it, lover boy. I believe in you.” 

“Huh, you’d think Jaemin would be having kidney failure by now, no?” YangYang questioned, and Sungchan is informing him of how Koreans are surprisingly great at Ameriano consumption in their demanding-paced environment. 

“Damn.” 

Damn indeed. 

When Jaemin is out of physics class, Jeno is waiting under a bench, reviewing his biology notes. Stay studious, and constantly ensure your knowledge doesn’t slip. 

Jeno looks up, trying to smile, but Jaemin looks like he’s in need of coffee. He looks frustrated, and he’s blinking quite harshly to keep his eyes awake. But when he eyes land on Jeno, his hardened expression washes away immediately, smiling wide and picking up his pace to sit right beside his boyfriend, sighing. 

“That hour felt like an eternity.” He sighed. “Any who, now I’m awake to see you, whatchya doing?” He rests his chin on Jeno’s shoulder, peering down at his notes.  

“Just reviewing.” He closes it up, facing his boyfriend. “Wanna go to the library?” 

“Sure, I have a quiz on Wednesday,” The younger groans. 

✎♡

By the third day, Jaemin is jittery and emotionally sensitive. 

They’re both sitting on a lunch bench, eating in comfortable silence. 

Mark and Donghyuck are approaching the couple after their literature lecture. “Hey, guys. What’s—” Mark pauses, staring at Jaemin, before quickly recuperating. “Uh— How are you doing?” 

“Babe, just say Jaemin looks like shit.”

Jeno glances at his boyfriend, who’s slowly chewing on his salad, before his jaw stops, swallowing, and staring at his meal. “You stink of shit.” 

“Excuse me?!” Donghyuck gasps, sliding into his seat. “Wow, you’re like PMS-ing.” Mark sits right beside him, silently agreeing. “Seriously, though, are you okay?” 

“Totally.” Jaemin looks up at Jeno, a silent gesture for him to explain. He’s not in the mood, and frankly, Jeno would prefer himself to explain the ongoing challenge. 

“To make it short, Jaemin is taking a nine-day challenge by Sungchan.” Jaemin has gone back to eating, silent. Although he’s stopped consuming coffee, it doesn’t mean that his sleep schedule is fixed. Still getting in those three hours of sleep. So, at the moment, he’s cranky, caffeine-deprived, and suffering minor headaches. 

“Wow. What do they even benefit?” Mark asks. 

“Sungchan gets a total of forty dollars, and Jaemin is temporarily cleansed.” 

“Both are temporary. That money is going to fly high.” Donghyuck snorts.

“He said it’d go into his college debt.” 

“That’s barely going to cover a fraction of it.” Donghyuck deadpans. 

“But at least it covers something,” Mark is quick to follow suit. Ever the considerate man. He’s an awesome theologian, the only one Jeno has ever met, but Mark has always been a spiritual man of meaning. 

“I’m going to win,” Jaemin swears, stabbing at his salad now. 

Okay, maybe it’s time for them to talk about something else. They don’t need to discuss anything along the lines of coffee that could get Jaemin salivating at the idea of it. 

✎♡

“Oh my god, I’m going to go insane!” Jaemin slaps his notebook against the desk. 

It’s the fifth day, already at its peak. He has severe headaches, seemingly turning to Tylenol to alleviate them. He gets drowsy way too fast. 

Jaemin barged into their own dorm with a red imprint on his forehead. Jeno worriedly came over, assessing the redness, only for the younger to explain that he fell asleep sitting up and face-planted into the hard surface. It was embarrassing. 

“You know, you don’t have to win,” Jeno turns on his chair to face his boyfriend, who is now knocking his head against the tabletop. 

“But it’s a challenge! And it’s fucking Sungchan.” 

Jeno can’t help but laugh. “Okay, well, you can handle it a few other ways. Sleep more. Continue with the Tylenol. But please don’t overdose on that stuff. I think those will kill your kidneys faster.” Jeno grabs his water bottle, placing it on Jaemin’s desk. “And continue to hydrate.” 

“Babe, I literally miss the taste of coffee. Can’t I at least get decaf?” 

Huh. Decaf? 

“Mmm, I don’t know. I’ll ask Sungchan tomorrow before the lecture.” 

“I’m so going to sock him the next time I see him.”

Now that Jaemin’s been off of his stuff, he’s starting to believe that Jaemin will, in fact, punch their friend. “Babe, you took his challenge. Violence won’t win you that way.” 

“Call it self-satisfaction then.” 

“Whatever. You still love him as a friend.”

“Very much to my disappointment.” 

Jeno gestures to the water, and Jaemin huffs a sigh and drinks. 

While he’s hydrating himself, Jeno turns back to his homework. 

✎♡

“Decaf?” Sungchan raises a hand to his chin. “Mmm, no. Because it still contains caffeine. It just implies a lot is removed.” 

“Well, Jaemin is vowing to sock you one way or another. He’s a lot more… serious after being off the caffeine.” 

Sungchan looks at him, scandalized. “Telling you, the withdrawal is crazy.” 

“Just wait until he goes feral.”

That’s when the older nudges him. “He could just accept defeat.” 

“Nah, Jaemin wants to win something in his field of control.” The younger shrugs, pulling away to whip out his calculator. 

“Fine, he can drink decaf. I don’t need to witness or be a victim of a violent Jaemin.”

Later that same day, Jeno returns to the dorms after a long lab, Jaemin still doing his.

Two hours later, Jaemin comes back, nearly screeching in utter rage. 

“What happened? Are you okay?” Jeno stands up and walks over. Jaemin tosses his safety goggles to his desk, shaking his head. 

“I feel like my vision is terribly impaired. I can barely spot the fucking meniscus and the buret lines! Those frickn titrations will be the death of me.” 

“Ah, titration lab?” Jeno holds a seizing breath for the sake of his frustrated boyfriend. 

“Yeah, over shot a a few trials and had to redo the entire thing.” Jeno can’t imagine the amount of frustration that was pent up in that exact moment. 

He’s suddenly pulled into a hug, Jaemin burying his face into his shoulder. “M’ tired.” 

Well, it is 6 p.m. 

“Have you eaten yet?” Jaemin shakes his head. Who is he kidding? He just came back from a lab. 

“How about you freshen yourself up, and we can head over to the school’s cafe.”

“That’s just going to make me crave coffee,” Jaemin whines.

“Okay, then takeout?” Jeno rubs his back. Jaemin’s arms squeeze around him, and he presses a kiss against his neck.

“Sounds good to me. Thank you, Nono.” 

✎♡

“Jaemin Hyung looks scary. Did you do something to get him mad?” Jisung asks as they’re sitting in a study room. He’s wearing a mask as Chenle had advised. 

“No. Did Chenle not tell you about his little caffeine challenge?” Seems that Jisung almost forgot, nodding. 

“Oh, it’s because of all that? How many days has it been?”

“Six.” 

“So three more days.” 

“Yeah, but it’s hard for him since he doesn’t sleep much. Literally suffering headaches. Got him to drink lots of water, but his mind is literally thinking about coffee.”

“How about decaf?”

“Well, yeah, I asked Sungchan, and he said sure. Though I doubt it’s going to do anything.”

Jisung is humming, thinking. “Well, maybe just by the taste, it’ll make him feel better.” The younger is twirling his pencil. “Think of it as a placebo. I’m sure he’ll feel better just by the taste of it.” 

Why didn’t they think of that sooner? 

“Just saying, I don’t think it’s going to solve the headache. But it should make him feel livelier.” 

“Wow, Jisung. You’re putting your psych materials to use!” 

Jisung smiles behind the mask, shrugging. “Thanks?” 

✎♡

So they try decaf, and safe to say, Jaemin is sighing in delight. “Nono, I think I can march through a five-hour lab.”

Wow, that’s… It just took the taste of bitterness to bring Jaemin back to himself?

“Is it the caffeine you’re addicted to or the taste of coffee?”

“Both for sure.” Jaemin hums, happily sipping away.

He looks happy at least. He’s got his goofy grin and swaying in his seat like a child granted a treat. He’s so damn cute. 

“Glad to see you’re doing better already.” 

“All thanks to you,” Jaemins hums, going over to kiss Jeno on the lips. Yup, tastes like coffee, but Jaemin makes it all sweet.

“How are your headaches?” Jaemin sighs, pressing against his temple with a finger to alleviate the pressure. 

“Still there, but it’s not as intense to the point I’m knocking my head on the table.”

“I can see that very much. Come on, let’s continue studying.” Jeno uses a pencil to point at Jaemin’s textbook. 

“Ugh, let me savor this blessed gift, babe.” Jaemin smiles, but complies. 

✎♡

Nine days completed, and Jaemin barely clutched on the fifth day. But he pulled through with the exception granted by the challenger himself. Jeno believes that without the decaf exception, Jaemin would have probably given in to his desires. 

They’re only human after all.

“Now you can go back to caffeine,” Sungchan sighed, bidding farewell to those forty dollars. 

“I’m impressed by your commitment,” Renjun comments. 

“Well, I like the idea of winning and challenging myself with something new.”

“And are you still going to continue up with the coffee stuff?”

Jaemin glances at Jeno, shrugging. “I think… I should definitely chill on the coffee consumption. Maybe one cup a day instead of four.” 

“That sounds significantly way better.” Mark agrees. 

“How would you rate the withdrawal experience?” Sungchan leans back against his seat with his arms behind his head.

“A fuck you out of ten.” 

Everyone laughs around, and Hendery approaches, settling down Jaemin’s drink. “Here’s your large americano with eight espresso shots,” He winks before returning to the back of the counter of the cafe. 

“Ugh, I need to go back. My break is about to end,” Renjun stands up. “Enjoy that cup of death, Min.”

Jaemin snatches his cup of americano from the table, quickly thanking both Hendery and Renjun before drinking intensely while maintaining eye contact with Sungchan.

“Come collect, your man, Jeno,” The tallest gestures to the pre-med student. 

“Yeah, yeah, c’mere, Jaemin,” Jeno pulls Jaemin’s chair closer to his side, and Jaemin leans against Jeno’s arm, sipping his americano in silent contentment.