Doubler || NCT || Completed

58

Yujin sat on the floor in the corner of the kitchen. She was leaning against the cabinet, hugging her knees and looking sleepily as Doyoung prepared ramyeon for everyone. It was almost four o'clock in the morning and the exhilarating happiness caused by the return of the second rescue group and the dreamies' emotional welcoming gesture to Jisung had completely drained the last bits of everyone's energy. Still, Doyoung had announced that no one was allowed to go to bed or leave the apartment before eating something. Most of the dream members wanted to give Jisung a house tour while the rest of the pack was waiting for the food in the living room.

"I'm gonna sleep all day tomorrow", Yujin said, leaning against Taeil who had sat down next to her. "I won't do anything."

"Do you mean today?" Renjun quipped while taking out bowls for everyone. He hadn't participated in Jisung's tour, saying that they shouldn't overwhelm him. Doyoung smiled at the pot.

Yujin rolled her eyes. "I haven't gone to bed yet so the new day hasn't started", she answered dryly even though secretly she was happy that Renjun had spoken to her voluntarily even if it was to correct her.

Taeil nudged her head with his shoulder. "You have to call mom in the morning. I sent her a message already and promised that you'll speak with her when you wake up."

"Can't you do that?" Yujin complained. She knew that Hyunsook auntie would chastise her for being so careless and for getting herself in such a dangerous situation. "She'll kill me."

"That's what you get for getting kidnapped."

Yujin scoffed but didn't press the subject further. "Do you think that the poachers figured out where I'm going?" she wondered out loud, glancing at her cousin. "Do you think it'll be safe for me to just purchase a new flight ticket or should I take the ferry to Fukuoka or something and fly from Japan?"

Taeil stiffened next to her and Yujin noticed that both Renjun and Doyoung turned to look at her as well, surprised looks on their faces.

"What do you mean?" Taeil asked slowly. "Are you still planning to go?"

An awkward chuckle escaped Yujin's mouth and she glanced at the other two who were staring at her. "I promised to go", she reminded Taeil quietly. "That hasn't changed. And we need to work through the manager problem in Shanghai so I don't really have an option."

Taeil opened his mouth but closed it again, considering what to say.

Douyoung shifted his weight from one side to another before turning his eyes back to the pot. The food was almost ready.

Renjun cleared his throat. "It's not safe", he said. Yujin faced him, surprised that he was speaking to her again. "Moving to Mainland China isn't safe for doublers."

While his warning was valid, it pricked the fresh wound. "I'm not really a doubler anymore", Yujin said. Her voice was void of emotions.

Renjun shook his head. "The rat will come back."

"Harvest mouse", Yujin corrected automatically. Renjun shrugged. Yujin studied his face carefully. She remembered that the other members had mentioned something about Renjun losing his doubler side in the past. "Are you sure?"

"It happened to me", he said. "It might take some time but since they injected you only once, it'll return on its own eventually."

Yujin's fingers stated trembling and she felt a lump in her throat. "Even though my doubler side wasn't as strong as yours?" she asked almost shyly. The desperation filled every inch of her body. She couldn't handle the thought of never feeling whole again but the possibility of having false hope made her stomach turn.