DREAMLINQUENT TRILOGY #1: RENEW

09

Mark paced inside the control room, fully agitated as the fast typing sounds of keyboards filled the thick air.

Doyoung is getting as much control over NCT's Ulsan base as possible, keeping in contact with Jung Sungchan, the one they were assigned to manage.

Meanwhile, Jisung took the position to connect to the girls' frequency, equally anxious as the other boys, who's patiently waiting and silently praying for their partners to come back safe.

By now, there's only Taeyong, Doyoung, Mark, Donghyuck, Jaemin, and Jisung inside the huge mansion, yet they all decided to holler in the same room.

"I never said that." the deep-voiced youngest remarked as he kept on bickering with the female leader.

"I just said that maybe you could be kind enough to not cut the line again—JO HANA!"

The boys (except the fully focused hacker) watched as Jisung basically slammed his hands on the desk space, groaning and trying his very best to catch up to the signal once again.

"Jo Hana, I swear– MARK HYUNG! CAN YOU PLEASE?"

Mark can just chuckle halfheartedly at the youngest's distress, yet he is never genuine, as he too can understand how tricky it is not to enter the line. Possible attacks and interference could interrupt in between, and bad things

Mark shook his head to shove off the negative thoughts, gently shooing the younger from the swivel chair as he sat onto it.

The former underboss recalled how to use the buttons and displayed keys, thankful that he had watched Renjun enough before. With some turns and pushes, he managed to connect to the frequency and internally cheered.

[I'll kill you.] Hana warned

"You'll also kill me then."

Silence filled the other line afterwards—just the forceful roar of the car engine.

Mark rolled his eyes and cleared his throat, his eyes momentarily flickering at one of the screens that displayed their location.

"How was there?"

[Fine, Mark, thanks for asking.]

Donghyuck snorted at the girl's tone, also stifling his laughs when the older man glared at him.

"Can you stay on the line, please?"

[You got the other girls' lines. That's enough security, Mark. Also, I don't want to get distracted, so please cut the line.]

"I won't interfere with your line until it is really important."

Mark nervously waited for a reply, his fingers fidgeting on the hem of his wrinkled shirt.

"Hana? You there?"

[Fine. Just when I'm going to at a dead point.]