“I ask you again, Seolya. Are you ready to be a part of NCT?” Taeyong’s voice was firm, carrying both authority and expectation.
She looked up, her gaze flickering nervously between her twin brothers. Their worried expressions made her stomach tighten; she wasn’t used to being the center of such attention.
“I-I...” Her voice faltered, almost a whisper, betraying her hesitation.
“Soul, you don’t have to decide right now,” Doyoung interjected gently, noticing her discomfort. “Take your time. Watch us train first. Maybe you’ll even discover something you want to learn.” He smiled encouragingly, glancing at YangYang. “YangYang, will you take her to the training section?”
YangYang nodded warmly, holding out his hand. “Come on, Soul. Don’t worry. I’ll show you around.”
She hesitated a fraction of a second, then placed her hand in his, feeling the gentle reassurance. He led her forward with steady, patient steps. The other boys trailed behind, some whispering quietly to each other, while four of them lingered in the living room, visibly tense and reluctant to let her go.
As they walked, Soul’s heart raced. Every step felt heavy, as if the weight of unseen eyes pressed down on her. She stole quick glances at Sungchan, whose jaw was tight and fists clenched. She could feel his worry radiating toward her, and though it comforted her, it also made her guilty.
“Hyung, you can’t be serious about this!” Sungchan’s voice cracked slightly, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, eyes burning with desperation.. “Soul has a pure heart. She’s innocent! You can’t throw her into this kind of danger!”
Doyoung raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Sungchan, I understand how you feel. I do. But she could be an incredible help. Her skills… they’re exceptional. She’ll fit in here.”
Sungchan shook his head violently, desperation in his eyes. “No! Hyung! I won’t allow her to face this!”
“Allow?” Taeyong raised an eyebrow. “Who are you, her father?”
“Hyung...” Doyoung intervened with a soft voice, placing a hand on his chest, gently pushig him a step back.
“Sungchan—” Doyoung started, trying to reason with him.
“Hyung! She’s my twin! I won’t let her be in danger! She's not like us! She's not like Jaehyun hyung or Taeyong hyung! She’s careful, thoughtful… reserved… she can’t even hurt anyone intentionally! She’s already endured too much in her life. This… it would only make things worse!” His voice broke on the last words.
He spun to his brother, his gaze pleading, hoping Jaehyun would intervene. “Hyung, say something! Please!”
But Jaehyun only stared at his best friend, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he averted his eyes and silently walked away, leaving Sungchan’s plea hanging in the air. His absence hit harder than any argument could.
Sungchan’s chest tightened, a mix of fear, frustration, and helplessness coiling inside him. The silence left by Jaehyun’s retreat felt oppressive, a reminder that some battles he had to face alone. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising panic.
He wanted to scream, to demand that someone—anyone—acknowledge that his sister had no business in this world of danger. His sister… she was too precious. He had to protect her, even if it meant standing against everyone else. And yet… he could feel the quiet logic in Doyoung’s words. If she stayed confined here, she might be in more danger than if she were allowed to move freely under supervision.
