THE8 | Junhao | *EDITING*

NINE

| CHAPTER NINE |

"Your name is not Minghao."

Minghao sits straight in his chair, staring at Seungcheol like a deer in headlights, "What do you mean? That is... That's my name-"

"From now on, you're The8... not Minghao."

Minghao's face contorts in confusion, "The8?" The name sounds weird falling from his lips, "What does that even mean? Why is it a number?"

Seungcheol clasps his hands together, resting them on the paperwork in front of him, "Nobody can know you're here. The entire city doesn't even know Pledis exists, let alone any of our members."

"Why The8, though?" Minghao shakes his head, "That just makes it so obvious I'm faking a name."

"You'll tell everyone who asks that it was a nickname from your childhood that you decided to change your name to because of your parent's tragic car accident." Seungcheol reads off a sheet of paper.

He flips a page, "Your sister killed herself when you were 10 and you were put in foster care. When you were 18, you decided to change your name in memory of your family."

Minghao raises his brows, "You really planned out my entire life, huh?"

Seungcheol chuckles, humming.

"And what does The8 even mean?" Minghao asks, curious now, "It has to have a meaning. It does, right?"

"Of course." Seungcheol leans on his desk, "It means infinity. When the number 8 is laid down, it looks like an infinity sign right before your eyes." He tells Minghao, "So for your life story, your parents called you The8 because you were the infinity of the family. They loved you a lot."

Minghao folds his lips together, sighing.

Oh, if that were true.

"People won't find it weird?"

"Not if you explain."

Minghao nods, but is quick to freeze, "Oh."

Seungcheol flickers his eyes up, "What do you mean, oh?"

Minghao nervously chuckles, picking at his nails, "You see... I... I might've already introduced myself as Minghao to a particular person—"

"Who?" Seungcheol groans, taking off his glasses to throw them off the table, "Who was it?"

"I think he said his name was ... DK... or something..." Minghao hums, tapping his finger on his chin. He tilts his head, "Seokmin, I think?"

Seungcheol sighs, pressing a button on the phone placed on the surface of the desk, "Taeyang, please send DK to my office immediately. It's urgent."

"Yes sir."

Minghao looks at Seungcheol with soft eyes, "It's really okay. He seemed polite. There's no way he'd tell anybody." Minghao sighs, cocking his head to the side, "I mean, it's not like anyone would care anyways."

"What do you mean?"

Minghao sighs deeply, picking at his nails still, "You should've seen— I was the laughing stock of the room. I lost count of how many times I got punched and picked on." He sounds sad, defeated, "I haven't even been here a day and everybody already hates me."

"They don't hate you." Seungcheol shakes his head, "Sure, some of my followers lack maturity, but they aren't capable of hate for one of their own... only when it's completely necessary."

"Do you consider me necessary of hate?"

"No." Seungcheol shakes his head, "Only if you have messed with Pledis, or killed someone we care about, picking on you wouldn't be necessary. In fact, if I thought you lacked potential, I wouldn't have brought you here."

Minghao smiles, "That's exactly what Seokmin told me."

Seungcheol nods, "He's a good man." He sighs, leaning back in his chair, "I've always liked him. I don't even think he's ever given me trouble in the couple years that I've known him."

There's soon a buzz that rings through the air, and Minghao almost flinches. God, he's got to get this jumpiness under control.

"Sir?" It's Seokmin.

"You can come on in." Seungcheol says, and the boy soon enters, smiling when he meets Minghao's eyes.

"Hi." He says, sounding friendly, "It's good to see you again." He takes a seat next to Minghao, receiving a greeting in return.

"How are you, DK?" Seungcheol smiles, "Caught up on your training?"

"Of course, sir." Seokmin nods, "Is that what I'm here for?" He watches Seungcheol shake his head, his own brows furrowing, "What am I here for exactly?" He looks at Minghao, "Am I interrupting?"

"Oh no, no." Seungcheol waves his hand in denial, "We've just spoken about his new identity and everything."

"New identity?" Seokmin asks, "You haven't done one of those in years.... What changed?"

Seungcheol looks at Minghao, "This boy has gone through a lot, things I don't prefer to say, and I don't feel comfortable with him going by his actual name, considering some things are still unsolved."

Seokmin nods, not pushing it.

"And unfortunately, we know that you know his actual name." Seokmin looks at Minghao, mouth forming an O, "I know you would never leak any information, but we just wanted to thoroughly run this through with you. Please refrain from spilling things about Minghao's past, and please refrain from calling him by his name. Use The8."

Seokmin furrows his brows, "The8?"

Minghao sighs, "It's a long story."

Seokmin laughs.

"You swear on Pledis you won't betray?" Seungcheol looks serious as he stares at Seokmin, and even though Minghao wasn't the one being stared down, he still felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Of course... Of course, of course, I would never." Seokmin nods, "You can trust me." He smiles, looking between both of them, "I'll keep my mouth shut, you have my word."

Seungcheol nods, "Very well, then." he looks at Seokmin, holding out a hand, "DK, please show The8 the way to his room please."

Seokmin nods, "Of course, sir."

Minghao and Seokmin stand, bidding Seungcheol a goodbye with a slight bow, exciting the room moments later.

"You're doing great so far."

"Great?" Minghao almost scoffs, "I must've gotten hit in the gut by strangers like twenty times today," He whines, rubbing his abdomen, "It'll definitely bruise."

Seokmin laughs as they walk, "Don't worry. They didn't jab you too hard. They actually went easy on you." He sighs, laughing at Minghao's expression.

"Do they always do this to new students?"

"You make Pledis sound like grade school." Seokmin chuckles, turning a hallway, Minghao following, "And yes, most of the time. Every time we get a new member, we greet them with a harmless beating. Simply just to build up their adrenaline for immediate training, and also to show them what they got themselves into."

"So nobody can back out?"

"Hmm?"

"If I wanted to leave, I wouldn't be able to?" Minghao rephrases the question, hoping Seokmin would understand.

Seokmin stops in his place, locking eyes with Minghao. "The8," He sighs, "The moment you agreed to abide with Pledis, was the moment you agreed to step into the gates of hell."

Minghao feels his skin burn when Seokmin places a hand on his shoulder.

"And nobody gets out of hell."