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⋘ 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡 – 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎... ⋙

Ⰶ║ September 25 2020 ║Ⰶ

"I said kick it, not nudge it like a pansy," Hendery said, hands placed on his hips as he watched.

Jaemin rolled his eyes and lifted his leg again, this time kicking the dummy hard enough it tilted to the side. "I'm not exactly built for this, y'know."

"No one is. That's why we train and learn. You don't just come out of the womb looking like an Olympic champion." Hendery smiled, side-stepping Jaemin's punch that was aimed exactly at his head. "Nice try, but you're still very slow. And predictable."

Jaemin narrowed his eyes and stepped back, breathing hard. Despite Hendery always driving him up the wall with his snide comments, Jaemin actually enjoyed the time he spent with the man. It started about two weeks ago, Hendery had asked him if he'd want to give kick-boxing a try and seeing as Jaemin was wallowing in a pit of his own despair– he agreed. For 70 minutes everyday the two of them went to the shed that Hendery had transformed into some sort of training/gym area, and he would show Jaemin a workout routine then they'd start practice. It was a lot more relieving than Jaemin thought it'd be, his anger (that he didn't even know he had) dissipating after every 'class.' He'd begun to see the results too, his arms, legs, and back beginning to fill out for a more muscular silhouette.

"What time is it?" He asked, ignoring Hendery's remark. He found that continuing the conversation is the best way to deal with the older man's bullshit.

"I believe," Hendery looked out the window, watching the bright red sun's placement. "It's fifteen after three? That's my best guess."

Jaemin nodded, slipping his sweatshirt over his head. The weather was getting colder, even if it was just the cusp of the fall season. "I should prepare Chenle's medicine then."

"He's been looking a lot better, by the way. It's good to see he no longer needs the cane," Hendery said, opening the shed door with ease. He let the younger go first, closing and locking it once more. The shed was shoved behind the house, originally hidden by overgrown weeds and foliage when he and the other two first found the place.

"Yes, his recovery is going well. I'm pleased with how complacent he's been, all things considered." Jaemin smiled to himself, kicking the dust at his feet as he waited for his friend. Hendery clapped him on the shoulder, leading the way back into the house.

Jaemin went right for the first floor bathroom, grabbing an amalgamation of pill bottles from the cabinet above the sink. It's where all the "real" medicine was kept, usually filled with anti-anxiety pills or miscellaneous pain relievers.

"Chenle! It's 3:20!" He called out to the hall, hoping the boy was somewhere in the house. There was a good chance he was off in the garden with Yangyang and Jisung, but sometimes he could be found in the nursery talking to Xifeng.

Jaemin stepped out of the bathroom, expecting Chenle to either be sitting in the living room or someone telling him that the boy was outside somewhere. Instead he was met with a deep scream coming from somewhere in the house. Jaemin immediately tossed the medicine back in the bathroom and rushed upstairs, feet pounding behind him giving signs that the others heard it too.

"Is everything okay!?" He slammed into the nursery, chest rising and falling quickly. Behind him was Mark, Hendery, and Renjun, all three looking as worried as Jaemin felt. "Xiaojun!"