all in › nct dream

CHAPTER 11

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"Fight not to win, but to avoid losing.
A surefire losing strategy."

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"Mark this is absolutely ridiculous!" Jeno yelled out as he tried to grab onto his cousin's arm, only to be swatted away in pure haste. The look on his cousin's face screamed fear and distress for what was about to come sooner or later.

"Mark, I'm telling you—"

The younger boy was easily cut off when Mark had turned his way, a piercing glare to be sent towards his cousin's way as his tone deepened. "Jeno, when you are at the bottom of the ranking, what would you do?"

"Tell me, my dear cousin. Would you accept it easily? Would you rather face defeat and humiliation than fight for your freedom?" Mark waited for the younger's response but it had seemed like he had gotten him taken aback. He chuckles dryly and took a few steps closer to the younger male. "You see, Jeno, I'm doing whatever it takes to avoid becoming Narae's servant. Certainly it would not look good for us Lee's when one of has become lower than we already should."

"And who's fault is that?"

Both of them craned their heads towards the voice, recognizing none other than their own relative. That cheeky grin, mischievous eyes, it was never not scrutinized by his fellow cousins. He slowly paced around the room, his eyes still locked with his older cousin's. "Well?" He tilted his head expectantly. "Aren't you gonna say anything?"

Mark cleared his throat and fixed his tie. "I am aware of my mistakes and—"

"And it must come to your attention that today is the day you must pay your dues, Mark Lee." The aforementioned boy could only shut his eyes in pique, aware of who the voice belonged to. It's been so long since he heard that voice—well, more like months. A voice so familiar yet unfamiliar to him.

He opened his eyes and glanced at Haechan who merely smirked at him in return, before turning around to face his uninvited visitor. Seeing Narae standing there in all her glory with Renjun beside her holding that ever-so-familiar collar made his stomach drop. There was no fighting for his freedom now. He had run out of time the moment his eyes laid upon the collar.

Renjun made his way towards Mark, stopping a few feet away and then flashing him a smirk. "Here," he threw the collar in the air, "Catch!"

Mark seethed and thanks to his wonderful reflexes, he had caught the collar in no time. However, it nearly stung his eyes to see his name engraved on the collar stating that he was under the rule of no other than a Seo.

Lee "Mark" Minhyung
[ under President Seo Narae ]

"Thought you might needed some practice, after all, you will become a servant starting today." Renjun jested, a sneer laugh to leave his lips quickly.

"Today?!" Jeno shrieked and looked at the older with wide eyes, not expecting that today was the actual due date of Mark's payment. "You told me it was in the next few days! Not today!"

Mark sighed, giving Jeno a pointed look before saying in a more hushed tone. "Look, I didn't want your help—"

"But Mark, this is much more worse! This ruins your whole reputation!"

"Oh let him be, Jeno Lee. It's not like his parents will come and save the day for him just like always. Not anymore— not when they had found out their son's a big ass failure. I'm surprised you still even considered him as a Lee." Haechan derided, adding more fuel to the fire. It wasn't as if he didn't side with his family, but this was something else. He knew something was off between Narae and Mark, something unspoken yet known to those who were observant enough.