Golden ◂ NCT Jaemin

61 ◂ Unsure

it's the smile, guys

◂ 61 ▸

It had been barely more than a week since the boys had last gathered in the large conference room. When they stepped inside, however, they were quickly engulfed with a feeling that was far from resembling the one from last time. 

This time, there was nervosity and anxiety lingering in the air that clung onto the few words that were occasionally spoken. The present ones were waiting for the couple of boys that were still missing.

"What's going on?" Jungwoo asked in confusion. His eyes fell onto the handful of Dreamies that were present. One of them was missing. 

"We don't know," Renjun replied quickly. He tried to sound confident but the unknowingness was nerve-racking. 

He was worried for Jaemin who had left the house and then was gone for hours only to then call in the early morning asking everyone to stop by at the office. He was worried for Jie whom he didn't hear of yet, although he knew that she had gotten off work a while ago. 

Mark frowned. "Do you know where Jie is?" He looked at Yuta who glimpsed at the Dreamies. He noticed the way Chenle subtly looked at him yet tried to ignore it for Jisung's sake.

So, quietly under his breath, he muttered an unsettled, "Can't you tell?"

Surprised, the younger kept his frown, yet turned to the rest of the room. As he looked around he eventually noticed it - all of the WayV boys were missing.

Only then did it finally sink in. Wide-eyed, he turned to Yuta. 

"Is she--"

With a strong push, the door swung open and Taeyong stepped inside, closely followed by Doyoung, Jaemin and WayV. 

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," he apologized quickly as he made his way over to the middle of the table so that he was standing where everyone could see him. 

Meanwhile, Jeno glimpsed over his shoulder where he saw the WayV boys and Jaemin all standing close to the door. They didn't sit down, just stood next to each other, looking unsettled and tired. Soft crinkles between their brows, yet they didn't seem particularly tense. 

"I didn't want to uselessly worry any of you, so other than apologizing for keeping you waiting, I also have to apologize for not telling you what was going on." 

As Taeyong said that, his eyes were quick to find the Dreamies who were watching him cautiously. Although they could guess what he was going to say, they didn't want to. 

For a few more seconds they would have liked to pretend like they didn't know. 

As if that would bring her back at all. 

Taeyong took a deep breath, looked away from the Dreamies and over to WayV and Jaemin. 

"I didn't think he would take Jie this soon." 

"Li Huang really has her?!" Jisung asked in shock. He jumped out of his seat, yet quickly felt Chenle's hand around his wrist, keeping him close. He didn't care for that though. 

He only cared for what Taeyong was going to answer him. 

And Taeyong hesitated before admitting, "Yes." 

Jaehyun exhaled heavily, looking almost disgusted. "Jeonghan really betrayed us?" It was more an exclamation of disbelief than a question. 

And while Jaehyun had said what all of the seated boys were thinking, something felt off.