𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 | 𝐍𝐂𝐓 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

𝐻𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠

Haechan entered the room, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him even before he had fully crossed the threshold. The anticipation hung in the air, and he took a seat, the unfamiliarity of the situation causing questions to race through his mind. His gaze landed on a certain stranger in the room— the guy he had accidentally bumped into the other day, the one whose coffee he had spilled. His mind swirled with thoughts, ranging from worry to skepticism.

As he settled in, Haechan's attention shifted to the man in a white coat who walked in, introducing himself as Doyoung. The name tag confirmed his role, and Haechan found himself on edge, not knowing exactly what to expect from this group.

Doyoung suggested that everyone introduce themselves, breaking the initial silence that had settled over the room. Jaemin took the initiative, and Haechan couldn't help but note the brightness in his demeanor, a stark contrast to his own uncertainty.

"I'll go first," Jaemin said, his voice carrying a cheerful tone. He introduced himself as a 20-year-old, and his description of his appearance—bubblegum pink hair, ripped jeans, and pink sneakers—seemed to match his vibrant personality. Haechan found himself intrigued by the mismatch between Jaemin's look and the idea of him seeking support in a group like this.

Jeno introduced himself as well, his calm demeanor revealing little about what brought him here. His simple attire and relaxed mannerisms gave off an air of easiness, leaving Haechan curious about what might be beneath the surface.

Then it was Jisung's turn, the younger participant appearing at ease with the introduction. His words flowed smoothly, portraying a sense of simplicity and straightforwardness that contrasted with Haechan's own inner turmoil.

Finally, it was Renjun's turn. Haechan noticed his nervousness, a shared sense of discomfort that resonated with his own feelings. Doyoung spoke to him in sign language, offering an alternative option to alleviate the pressure of speaking. Renjun accepted, and Haechan translated Renjun's gratitude to the group.

Doyoung reassured them all, acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation on the first day. Haechan found himself nodding in agreement, appreciating the facilitator's calming presence. 

- 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑒  -

Mr. Kim's decision to group them alleviated some of the initial awkwardness, pairing Haechan with Mark. As they settled into their seats, Haechan couldn't help but notice the silence between them. It was a reminder of how challenging it could be to break down barriers, even when they were in a situation designed to foster conversation.

Mark finally broke the silence, apologizing for the coffee incident from the other day. Haechan shook his head, his response casual yet tinged with a sense of understanding. He appreciated Mark's acknowledgment, but he didn't want to dwell on the past, especially when they were both here to focus on moving forward.

"It's okay, I wasn't paying attention," Haechan replied, his tone light. Despite the words, he could sense the weight of their shared silence. Mark struck him as someone who was easy to talk to, someone he might feel comfortable opening up to if the circumstances were different.

Their conversation fell into a lull once again, both of them seemingly grappling with their thoughts. Haechan's mind was racing with questions and uncertainties, his anxiety getting the best of him. He wanted to make a connection, to engage in meaningful conversation, but the words were eluding him.

Mark, on the other hand, sensed the tension that seemed to hang in the air around Haechan. He noticed the restlessness in the younger man, the way his fingers tapped against the table and his eyes darted around. He didn't want to pry, but he also didn't want Haechan to feel uncomfortable.

Deciding to steer the conversation in a different direction, Mark began talking about other topics, gently guiding the dialogue away from the unspoken anxieties. He spoke about movies, music, and hobbies, each topic chosen to create a comfortable space for them to engage.

- 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑒  -

Jisung found himself enjoying his conversation with Chenle. His laid-back and easygoing nature was refreshing, a stark contrast to his own internal struggles. Chenle seemed unburdened by the small things that often occupied Jisung's mind, and that quality drew Jisung in.

"You don't smile much," Jisung observed, curiosity evident in his tone. He was genuinely interested in understanding more about Chenle, especially after noticing the calm demeanor he carried.

Chenle's response was just as straightforward as his demeanor. "Not very social like that," he admitted, his words carrying a sense of self-awareness. It was clear that Chenle was comfortable in his own skin, unapologetically himself.

As their conversation flowed, Jisung's curiosity led him to another question. He couldn't help but notice the faint scent that seemed to linger around Chenle, a mixture of cigarettes and something else. It was a peculiar smell, one that Jisung found himself trying to place.

"You smoke?" Jisung asked, his tone neutral, more curious than judgmental.

Chenle's honesty didn't surprise Jisung. "Yeah," he answered, a sense of acceptance in his voice. It struck Jisung that Chenle was open about his habits, unguarded in a way that felt refreshing.

Jisung took in the information, his thoughts drifting as he considered the contrast between them. Chenle's nonchalant attitude toward his choices made Jisung reflect on his own inner struggles and hesitations. It was a reminder that everyone had their own battles, their own ways of coping.

Chenle's honesty seemed to open a door, making Jisung feel more at ease sharing a bit about himself. "I struggle with anxiety a lot," he admitted, his voice soft. It was a statement that carried a mix of vulnerability and relief, as if finally speaking his truth aloud.

Chenle listened, his expression understanding. "It's not easy," he said, his voice carrying empathy. "But you're here, right? That's a step forward."

Jisung nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was a simple acknowledgment, but it meant a lot to him. In this conversation, he found solace in Chenle's presence, a shared understanding that transcended their differences.

- 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓂𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑒  -

Jeno , Jaemin and Renjun decided to text because they didn't know sign language. 

 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐧 𝐼 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑠 𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 

 𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑢𝑚𝑠 

 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 

 𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐻𝑢ℎ𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑟 

 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐶𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 🤨 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝐽𝑒𝑛𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛'𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐽𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 

 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐨𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐽𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 

 𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝑆𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝐼 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡