dissident ｡ nct

2.1 ｡

—Part 2.2—
Deception

❝I personally think they'll disown us.❞
—Hua—

Dinner with my parents is absolutely infuriating. The silence in the dining room was always so suffocating. Sometimes I just want to scream and curse Abnegation and its stupid rules.

I pushed the green beans around my plate, scraping my fork against the plate. My mother had caught on to the noise, fury spreading across her features, "Meihua, you ungrateful child, eat your peas. You've seen the factionless starving. How dare you!"

Keeping myself from glaring, I looked up, "I'm sorry, mother," I said nonchalantly, spooning beans into my mouth, "I was just thinking about the aptitude test."

The mention of the test piqued the interest of my father, who looked to my brother and I, "there is nothing to worry about. You both will be put into Abnegation," he consoled, "Your mother and I have groomed both of you to be flawless members of this faction."

At that, Chenle and I looked at each other. The conversation we had on the way to the donation centre replayed in my head. We both knew we wouldn't be coming back, but that was a secret between us, as always.

I was afraid my voice would give away my true intentions, so I nodded, placing my utensils on one side of my plate. I hope that this action would be noticed, so I could be dismissed with Chenle to clean and talk freely.

"Meihua, Chenle, please collect the dishes and clean up in the kitchen," commanded mother, gesturing us to pick up the plates, "your father and I will clean up the dining room table."

Chenle and I shot up from our chairs excitedly, ready to be rid of this stuffy dining room. We hastily grabbed the plates and stumbled into the kitchen.

"God, you'd think I'd get used to dinner, but I swear, it's only gotten worse over the years."

I placed the plates into the sink, letting the freezing water run as I scrubbed, "It's absolutely insufferable."

Chenle shuffled his way beside me, a towel in hand, ready to dry the utensils, "so, what do you think will happen after the choosing ceremony."

I handed him a plate to dry, "I mean, I know we both don't fit here. Whatever happens, happens, and that's that."

"I personally think they'll disown us."

"And I wouldn't be surprised if they did," I replied, sending him a smile, which he returned.

We continued to do the dishes in silence, lost in our own thoughts. I wondered what my future would look like, would it be better than this? Would I finally find myself? As the comfortable silence grew, the more prominent the conversation got in the dining room.

Curious, I stopped washing the dishes elbowing Chenle. He looked at me questionably as I pointed towards the direction of our secretive parents, gesturing to him to put the towel down and eavesdrop. He and I tiptoed our way near the door, peeking our heads out to see what the commotion was.

My eyes widened at what came into view. The whole dining table was scattered with vials of memory potions, the red liquid gleaming under the dining room lamps. I looked up at Chenle, who seemed to be interested in the vials, the cogs of his brain working to figure out why our parents had this much.

I knew they kept that serum for the faction, but I've never seen this much before. By the looks of it, they could wipe out the memory of the whole population.

"With this, we could reset a whole faction's memories," bragged my father, as he started stashing the serums into a cabinet, "the plan is coming together, Yingyue."

I watched as my mother nodded, scanning a single vial against the light, "Once the kids are back here from the choosing ceremony, we'll tell them about it," she emphasized, looking at father with a fierce look, "they will be part of this Bolin, and we need to pass this down to them."

My father gave my mother a curt nod, not bothering to face her as he stashed the serums away.

Not wanting to witness any more of it, I backed away from the door slowly, silently making my way back to the dishes. Chenle followed suit, an inquisitive look on his face.

"Something about this doesn't seem right, Chenle."

He nodded in agreement, returning utensils in their respective cupboards, "those serums wipe memories, and Abnegation seems to be planning something against another faction."

"Clearly," I claimed, helping him return some glasses.

The discussion in the dining room had stopped, footsteps growing closer to the kitchen. They were coming, and I looked to Chenle in panic. Sensing my alarm, Chenle blurted out the events that unfolded for him in the donation centre, making something up about how he loved helping the Factionless.

"You're both excused to go upstairs," she dictated, voice monotone, "take your rest."

Relieved, Chenle and I bowed our heads in respect, murmuring a good night before exiting the kitchen to go up the stairs.

"We need to figure out what they're up to, Meihua," whispered, Chenle.

I hummed softly, agreeing to his statement, "I agree, something suspicious is happening."

As I finished my response, Chenle and I stepped up into the dimly lit upstairs hallway. Knowing no one was with us, I tiptoed my way into my brother's arms, tucking my head under his chin. Without hesitation, I felt his arms tighten around me, a hand patting my head in comfort, knowing it would help relax me.

This was our little secret. In Abnegation, it was against our values to show affection, as it was considered self-indulgent. Chenle and I have always hated that rule as kids, so we decided that we would break it, giving us a moment to indulge in our bond as siblings, something so strong and unbreakable. I hope the choosing ceremony won't change that.

"Good night, Chenchen."

"Good night, Mei."

He kissed the top of my head before releasing me, "we'll be out of here soon, okay? We wouldn't be together, but we'd finally be free."

I nodded, kissing his cheek before walking towards my room at the other end of the hallway.

Chenle has always been my rock. He was the only person there for me and the only one who understood how I felt about Abnegation. Knowing that we'd be separated soon hurt, but knowing he'd finally be happy, made it a little easier to accept. We both deserved to find ourselves after everything our parents took away.

Sighing, I opened the door to my room to get ready for bed. I put on a pair of pyjamas that were the same drabby colour as my everyday clothes. The fabric was rough and made my skin itch, but at least it kept me warm.

Wanting to ease my aching feet, I slipped under the covers of my dense bed, letting sleep take over me after a long day of volunteer work. Before I lost consciousness, a surge of rebellion coursed through me.

I wanted to get back at my parents for making Chenle and I feel inferior.

This was my only chance to make them pay. I was going to get rid of those serums, and once I've left Abnegation, they'd never catch me again.