CONNECT |Enhypen's 8th member|

Chapter Six: Lessons

"Five, six—Noona, watch the formation. You're going a bit out of place."

Daisy nodded, moving slightly as they continued the choreography. It was day two of practice, and everyone knew someone was likely to come in the next day or so to evaluate them. Niki, Jay and Daisy took turns watching the practices. After another hour, Jay called for a short break.

The three met up, grabbing water bottles and redoing ponytails. "People aren't working hard enough," Niki sighed. "They don't seem motivated because they don't know what practices are like in the I-Land." Daisy pursed her lips, placing a hand over Niki's.

"I get what you're saying Niki. But last time I tried to push people, they got upset. I don't want to deal with that kind of conflict again."

Jay ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to do as the center. "Let's get back to practice."

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Everyone was practicing in their own groups. Daisy was helping Jake at the moment when she heard voices raising on the other side of the room.

"I'm telling you, you're doing it wrong!"
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong!"
"I just showed you!"

Daniel entered the scene, trying to play negotiator between Kyungmin and Niki. "Ah hyung, his condition isn't good. We're all tired. He doesn't mean he can't do it, he just means he can't do it right now." Daisy cringed as she saw Niki getting more and more frustrated. She glanced around and remembered Jay was in the bathroom.

"Boys," Daisy called, jogging over. She stepped between Kyungmin and Niki, and the authority with which she carried herself reminded them she was still their senior despite being smaller in stature. "Take a breath. Kyungmin, go rest for a second. Niki, come with me."

Daniel silently thanked Daisy for her help as she dragged the younger Japanese boy with her outside. It was almost pitch black outside, which told her it was nearing midnight. The thought made her shudder slightly, but she focused on the boy in front of her instead.

"Niki, I know we don't have much time and we have to do well, but getting frustrated like that...don't make enemies of our teammates."

"I just don't get it," he groaned. "How can they already be tired?"

Daisy chuckled quietly. "We've been dancing a lot longer than most of them have. We're built for it." She sighed quietly, laying her head against the wall and closing her eyes.

"I have bipolar disorder."

Niki's head snapped in her direction at her sudden admission. "I take medication for it now, but I'll still have episodes from time to time. One time when I was manic and unmediated, I practiced in the dance room for almost ten hours straight. I didn't even stop to eat or drink." She paused, laughing bitterly at the memory.

"I was lucky Jay and Sunghoon came looking for me when they did. I wouldn't have stopped if they hadn't forced me to...my point is just because you feel like you could go on forever, doesn't mean you should or that other people can too. Everyone has different limits."

Niki leaned against the wall next to her, taking in her words with thought before feeling a bit regretful of his actions. Jay found them at that moment. "Why are you guys out here? It's late, come inside." Daisy smiled, pressing a kiss to Jay's cheek.

"We were just having a little heart to heart. Come on, Niki. I'm sure you wanna talk to Kyungmin."

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Things had gone much smoother since then. Niki was more considerate, and after Daisy talked to the Grounders about the pressure the young boy had dealt with before as the center, they understood why he was afraid of failing and pushing everyone so hard.