Matryoshka Doll - NoRenMin ✔︎

Chapter 4

Leaving Jeno and Jaemin out, the other two immediately started bonding. Apparently, it seemed to be as if they had only had a bad first impression. Jaemin, for a split second, thought that they could be his potential friends but after a while, came to the conclusion that they were way too different and they couldn't be his friends. He wasn't associating with anyone anyway and they still had roughly fifteen minutes to spare so he did the one thing he could do and pulled out his phone to play around with it. 

He had already been playing a game on it for half the time they had remaining when Jeno gasped and caught the attention of the others. 

"Why do you have your phone?" Jeno asked with a look of concern on his face.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Because the letter clearly said you're not allowed to bring an outside device."

Jaemin was confused. What was Jeno talking about?

"Huh? It never said anything like that."

"Yeah It did. It said it in bright red ink at the bottom."

"No? It never did. I read through it several times and none of the rules mentioned anything about no phones," Jaemin frowned.

"Really? So you're telling me that either my paper had a fault or your one did?"

"I think his one did," Donghyuck said, pointing at Jaemin. "Mine also said phones weren't allowed."

"Yeah. Mine did as well," Renjun spoke up, frowning.

Jaemin was worried. Had he already broken a rule before he even officially started at his new school? How would the teachers react? What would they do to him? How would Jaehyun react if he attempted to text and received no reply? Needless to say, Jaemin was terrified.

"Maybe I can just keep it in my pocket until it has been confirmed?" Jaemin asked more than said nervously, switching off his phone and putting it in his pocket.

"Or just explain to someone that your letter had a fault in it," Dongyuck suggested with a shrug.

Yeah, Jaemin could do that. As long as he explained everything, he would be okay, right?

Right?

RIGHT!?

WRONG!

Once they arrived, Jaemin didn't get in trouble for his phone but that didn't mean he was okay. It simply meant it was worse than he thought.

"Welcome, students, to The National School of Unity!" The announcer greeted once the students had been led from the boat dock to the school's auditorium. 

Everyone looked at eachother puzzled. They hadn't joined a school for the purpose of unity, they had all joined a school not necessarily dedicated to their religion but with the intent that they would go to one where they wouldn’t have a problem getting along with someone if they believed what they did.

"Now, now, don't panic. We know what your recruitment letters said and we know that some of the rules are different on each of your applications but trust me, this school is equipped for all of your needs and some of your wants."

Everyone was quiet and slightly stunned. The school they had respected so much and desperately wanted to attend wasn't what they thought it actually was? It was a lie?

"Listen students. I'm sure some of you have already realized, but there are some students that have cellular devices along with them and some that don't. Do you wonder why?"

A chorus of "yes’'' along with head noddings could be heard and seen in the giant room and the announcer slightly chuckled.

"Shall I tell you why?"

Another chorus of "yes'" resonated inside the room.

"This is because the students allowed to have phones are the Christian or Christian Catholic Students. Those that don't have any devices are the Satanists, Wiccans, Buddhists and other religions scattered here and there. Understood? This is because for the time being, we can trust that the Chrisitan students aren't up to any bad in their devices and know how to use them without being distracted, unlike some of you."

Jaemin felt his stomach drop. Satanists? Wiccans? What the hell? There was no way he would be able to live in a setting with such- Such- Such vile and disgusting beliefs. After all, that's what his Mother had taught him growing up.

Jaemin couldn't focus on what was being said anymore and instead tried to figure out how he would continue going to school with these kinds of people. Subconsciously, he shrunk into himself, unable to help the feelings he felt when he knew he’d be living among all of them. How would he tell Jaehyun? He had to get out.

"You all are dismissed and may now find your dorms," the announcer said, allowing everyone to leave, a sharp eye watching how everyone would react walking out the doors.

Would they push? Would they shrink and squirm? Would they simply pretend as if they hadn't been told such news?

"Hey, so you're Christian?" Jeno asked, touching Jaemin's shoulder to get his attention.

"Yeah. Are you?" 

Jaemin prayed that Jeno would at least be one as well so that he could probably befriend him but his hopes were shattered without restraint.

"Nah, I’m Wiccan."

"Oh, I'm a Satanist," Renjun said, leaning against Donghyuck’s shoulder.

"Oh. That's- That's nice?" Jaemin answered in uncertainty. "I assume Hyuck-ie is Wiccan as well if he's cousins with Jen."

"You got that right," Donghyuck said, sending a wink and finger guns at Jaemin.

"I don't know how to say this, but I can't be with you guys," Jaemin whispered, looking at the ground, his disgust building further up his esophagus the longer stayed there and thought about everything. He was trying to be nice. He really was. "My Mother said I can't hang around people like you."

Jaemin spun on his heel and quickly walked away with his head hung low, leaving the three boys behind.

"Wait! Don't tell me it's the Christian bullshit belief?!" Renjun yelled at Jaemin, frustration in his voice.

Donghyuck smacked Renjun's shoulder for insulting Jaemin's beliefs but immediately wished he hadn't when he heard Jaemin's response.

"Yes. It's whatever you want to call it but it's mainly because you guys are vile creatures that will rot in hell for practicing dark and evil witchcraft."

That comment stung the three and it took all Renjun had in him to not march up to him and demand a hand to hand combat. He swore he could win. He grew up with Yukhei and Kunhang for crying out loud! But that wasn’t a choice when Jaemin left them and stomped down the hall, briskly and in slight fear. He had never spoken to anyone like that and what if they would place a curse on him for saying that?

Jeno stared at Jaemin's disappearing figure, not a single expression that he was pissed─ internally it stung a little─ but instead, a thoughtful look adorned his features as he turned to speak to the two.

"I may not really know anything about Christians, but I think he may have been brainwashed into what he believes and it's now our job to show him how wrong he is."

"Why would you do that right after he just insulted us for believing differently?" Renjun asked, crossing his arms with a frown.

"Because he will continue thinking that way if no one tries to help and he might hurt other people with what he says or they might hurt him," Jeno explained, placing his hands on Renjun's shoulders.

"Yeah, Ren. We can help him," Donghyuck chimed, wrapping an arm around the Chinese males shoulder.

"Whatever but if he says something mean again, I won't hesitate to square up."

Jeno rolled his eyes in amusement but nodded.

"Alright, but weren't you the one calling him adorable in the boat?"

"He was adorable before he said those words. Now he's ugly as shit until he improves and can change my mind."

Donghyuck let out a cackle and grabbed Jeno and Renjun's arms, pulling them with him.

"Let's go find our dorms!"