Masquerade | Johnyong

★ Chapter sixty-four

Masquerade 64

Taeyong steps outside for a moment of fresh air. The smell of wine or any alcohol suffocates him. He finds Sungchan sitting outside by himself. A lone black cat stops in front of Sungchan. Taeyong watches as he smiles softly at the cat and reaches out to pet its dark fur, but the cat hisses before running off, causing his smile to fall.

Taeyong lightly chuckles, startling the younger one. He descends down the steps and sits just a few steps before Sungchan. "Why are you sitting alone?" He asks.

"Why would I go where I'm not welcomed?" Sungchan replies, his tone bitter and cold. He was forced here of course. Johnny prefers to keep Sungchan in sight, or near at least. "I would rather be in my apartment, studying." Sungchan whispers under his breath.

"At least enjoy your time with Haechan."

"Haechan?" Sungchan scoffs, his face twisting in disgust at the name. Taeyong awkwardly glances away. Whatever had happened between the two seems to have caused a riff in their friendship. A great loss as now Sungchan is vulnerable, no one to protect him if needed.

"Those people despise me. Why? Because I'm a liability? Have I not fought for them? For this organization? I have proven my loyalty time and time again yet they doubt it." Sungchan seethes

"It's how they were raised. NCT runs on blood lines to ensure stability. Close relations allow for that."

"Am I the first outsider? The first detective's son? We have our own members working in the police force. They're as much of a liability." Sungchan argues as he turns to look at Taeyong.

It's simple. "They pick and choose." Taeyong tells him, shrugging his shoulders.

Sungchan stares at his hands, tightly clasped together. It's not fair. It's not fair at all. He knows he doesn't deserve this, after everything he's done. They turned their backs on him so easily, like he was nothing.

Taeyong frowns. He sees a younger version of himself in Sungchan. He knows the anger, the gut retching feeling of rejection, the unjust he feels. He knows it all too well. It's almost like watching his younger self.

"It won't get any better," He says, bluntly. Sungchan turns and stares at him with narrowed eyes. "They see you as weak," It's harsh, perhaps, way harsher than Taeyong expected it to come out but it's the truth. "You want their respect? Force it. Make them fear you."

"Fear?"

"Respect without fear is fragile." Taeyong sits up, deciding he's gotten all the fresh air he needs. "And don't be afraid to strike low." He says before leaving.

Sungchan now sits alone, left to ponder over Taeyong's words. Strike low? Sungchan gets up and for the first time that night, steps into the venue. His eyes immediately land on Irene and Seulgi, happily cutting the cake together as many cheer for them. Their laughs turn into echoes as his blood boils, his anger turning into a low hum in his ears. Strike low? Irene and Seulgi left him to die without hesitation. They didn't even spare a thought to him. Any of them would have left him in that car, bleeding out and desperately pleading.

How they turned his back on him so quickly back then. Why? When he spent the first two years as essentially a hostage.

"Jung Sungchan!" A gentle tone voice calls out. He turns to Ningning, his gaze softening as he sets his eyes on her. She beams, holding a glass champagne in between her fingers. "Where have you been all night?! I wanted to dance with you!" She laughs as she hugs him.

"I don't," He clears his throat. "I don't dance." He says. Ningning shakes her head, not believing him.

She grabs a plate of cake from a server's tray. "Cake?" She offers. Sungchan shakes his head. He didn't have the appetite. How could he anyways?