𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝖺 𝗐𝗂𝗌𝗁•𝗇𝖼𝗍 𝟤𝟦𝗍𝗁 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋

𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑠(2)

It was three days after Hwayoung received the first rose. It was three days since Hwayoung last had a full conversation with any of her members. And it has been three days since the very person who tried to ruin her life escaped the only place keeping him from her.

Everyday Hwayoung has been receiving a singular rose. The recent ones all had a small note attached to them that said: 1/24, 2/24, 3/24, 4/24. She didn't understand why they were labeled with numbers. She simply tossed the flowers in the corner of her room, out of sight out of mind, she thought.

It was around dinner time when Hwayoung exited her room. She had been lying low, her company suggesting that she stay put in her dorm until they were updated with the news about finding Sungho.

The other members of NCT were not made aware that her stalker had escaped, that being the reason she was staying home and they also weren't aware that the roses she had been getting were sent with some sort of malicious intent. In their eyes she was being treated differently from them...some would say better? They thought that the company was giving her time off to relax and do who knows what because she was tired. They were jealous. They had been working just as hard as Hwayoung and in return they thought they deserved a break too.

Because of these underlying feelings, Hwayoung was given cold shoulders, short replies, glares and glances of annoyance. They were mad at her...for absolutely nothing. Even Xiaojun. But they clearly didn't care to find out why exactly she was being treated this way by the people in charge.

As Hwayoung walked into the dining room she noticed that they were already eating without her. Feeling a small pang in her heart, she smiled towards the boys as the conversation they were having died down at the sight of Hwayoung.

"I see you guys are eating without me," Hwayoung cringed.

"There's leftovers in the kitchen," Jungwoo huffed.

Nodding, Hwayoung quickly went to gather a plate and make her way to her room. Closing the door to her room, she settled on her bed. Not touching the food at all. She drifted off into her thoughts until she heard a knock at her door. Quickly composing herself she mumbled a 'come in' she looked up and saw Jaehyun enter her room, holding a rose.

"Who the hell keeps sending these to you? Are they from the company too?" Jaehyun scoffed.

"I don't know honestly,"

"Well look at you, you have a secret admirer," Jaehyun mocked.

"Don't do that Jaehyun,"

"Do what? Tell the truth? Does Xiaojun know?"

"I tried to tell him but he barely responds to me anymore, just like the rest of you," She shot.

Jaehyun scoffed and tossed the rose at Hwayoung, then proceeding to leave. Not hearing the sound of pain come from the girl.

What Jaehyun didn't see that when she caught the rose, she was pricked. By a thorn. Hwayoung observed the rose, seeing this one still had all the thorns on it, not like the others. Silently curing to herself as she saw a thin trail of blood trickle down her hand she saw a note attached to it.

5/24. I hope you like the roses Hwayoung. This one has thorns. To remind you that everything can be pretty and seem normal at first glance, but there is always more to it.

Hwayoung shivered. She carefully placed the rose down and went to tend to her hand when she got a message notification from an unknown number. Freezing in place she read the message from afar as her screen stayed on.

If you disappeared now, do you think your members would notice? or would they be too caught up in their own world of resentment against you to care? Also don't forget to take care of the roses

A tear slipped down her face as realizations came to her. Sungho was the one sending the roses.

Of course he was. She wasn't surprised. Hwayoung grabbed her phone and blocked the number then called the only person she could think of right now. Joy.

When she picked up, Hwayoung immediately burst into tears, explaining everything to her. Joy told her that she would stop by for a bit. As soon as she hung up, Hwayoung sat back in her bed holding her phone to her chest. As Hwayoung spaced out she didn't notice the sounds of movement outside her window. She didn't notice the person watching her from the bushes.

Hwayoung didn't notice Sungho was closer than she thought.